Asia Pacific Academy of Science Pte. Ltd.
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Review on the modern analytical advancements in impurities testing
Full text linkImpurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and pharmaceutical drug products (DPs) lead to broader antithetical effects related to drug safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance. This review discusses organic, elemental, and inorganic impurities, and residual solvents and stresses their impact on the quality of APIs and pharmaceutical DPs regarding patient safety. It endorses immensely developed contemporary analytical techniques like High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography (GC), for organic impurities and discusses their hyphenated Mass Spectrometry (MS) chromatographic methodologies. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) hyphenated with MS, and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) techniques are discussed for mainly improved sensitivity and accuracy in the detection and identification of elemental and inorganic impurities. High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC), and ICP-hyphenated techniques alongside automation are among the emerging technologies that are discussed concerning their impending potential to solve intricacies related to complex drug matrices, challenging regulatory requirements, and new impurity profiles. The review underlines the discussion on harmonized global regulations and affordable access to advanced analytical techniques so that wider adoption is facilitated in the pharmaceutical industry. Imminent prospects are Artificial Intelligence (AI) incorporation, Machine Learning (ML), and green analytical methodologies to overcome the present confinements and to cater to the growing demands of the progressive pharmaceutical sector. This in-depth analysis is intended to help pharmaceutical stakeholders embrace novel impurity management approaches resulting in significantly enhanced drug quality and better healthcare outcomes on a global scale
From paper to virtual: The meta-life of a historical cartographic artifact
Full text linkThe Charta of Rigas Velestinlis is one of the most important works of the eighteenth-century Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment and the most characteristic sample of Greek scholar cartography. Printed in Vienna in 1220 copies in 1796-1797, this emblematic map of the Balkan peninsula significantly influenced the development of ideas and perspectives that inspired the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. The sixty (60) known remaining copies of this valuable material in Greece and abroad remain stored in the confined spaces of libraries, museums, and archives, strictly guarded for security, conservation, and preservation. This renders their access difficult to both the general public and the educational community. Since the Onassis Library and the General State Archives of Greece—Cartographic Heritage Archives both possess an original copy of this historical document each, they design and implement many educational programs aiming at highlighting its importance and reintroducing it to the public. This paper will present how the usage of new technologies, both in software and hardware, has facilitated the showcasing of cultural heritage artifacts, such as Rigas’ Charta, with an emphasis on technologies and resources that are freely available to everyone. It will also be demonstrated how the digitization projects, the digital libraries, repositories, and platforms implemented by many cultural and research organizations during the last decade, presented the opportunity for the new generation to come in contact with a variety of “locked away” historical documents, like Rigas’ Charta, allowing their reuse and reinterpretation while providing unlimited potential for the collection, research and presentation of facts, evidence and data. Furthermore, the incorporation of this digital cultural wealth in the school curriculum through targeted educational programs and the creative combination with open-source metaverse development tools, unleashed the possibilities of reviving the past, extending the life span of old materials to perpetuity. As a result, this multimodal approach paved the way for the emergence of a new more democratic, open-access, and inclusive educational model
Integration of IoT, fog, and cloud in a blockchain network for future smart cities
Full text linkIn recent times, the concept of smart cities has gained traction as a means to enhance the utilization of urban resources, delivering sustainable services across sectors like energy, transportation, healthcare, and education. Applications for smart cities leverage information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and fog computing. By merging these technologies with platforms like the metaverse, cities can improve service delivery and create more engaging experiences for residents. The metaverse, in this context, serves as a virtual space for interactions between citizens and city authorities, contributing positively to urban planning and management. Nonetheless, data security and privacy remain significant challenges for smart cities implementing these technologies. To address this, blockchain-based security solutions can be effective in supporting sustainable smart city applications. By integrating IoT, fog computing, and cloud services into a blockchain framework, it’s possible to establish a secure and advanced platform for the creation and deployment of applications aimed at sustainable urban development. This paper proposes a conceptual model that combines IoT, fog, and cloud technologies within a blockchain structure, enabling smart city applications to harness the strengths of each technology, thereby optimizing operations, improving service quality, and ensuring robust security
Research on the influence mechanism of rural tourism gentrification based on rural revitalization
Full text linkBased on the background of China’s social development in the new era and the realistic needs of rural revitalization and sustainable tourism development, this paper takes typical rural tourism destinations in Huzhou city, Zhejiang Province and Huangshan city, Anhui Province as examples, and discusses the influence mechanism of rural tourism gentrification using grounded theory. The results show that the driving mechanism of rural tourism gentrification acts on rural areas through different ways, promoting the development and evolution of rural tourism gentrification. The interactive influence mechanism of rural tourism gentrification advances the sustainable development of rural tourism and rural revitalization. This study enriches the research on rural tourism gentrification and provides theoretical support and practical reference for rural revitalization and the sustainable development of rural tourism
High-speed rail’s impact on athlete mobility, event management, and tourism: Enhancing recovery, accessibility, and experience
Full text linkThis study investigates the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) on athlete mobility, sport event management, and regional economic development, particularly in the context of major international sporting events. The research aims to address the role of HSR in improving accessibility, reducing travel times, and supporting efficient logistics for athletes, event staff, and spectators. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology, using data from Scopus, to synthesize existing research. The review process involved screening 962 documents, resulting in the analysis of 71 relevant articles. The study follows PRISMA and SPAR-4-SLR guidelines to ensure methodological rigor and transparency in selecting and analyzing studies. The study highlights both the positive contributions of HSR, including enhanced mobility and economic benefits for host cities, as well as the challenges posed by spatial imbalances in infrastructure development. While HSR facilitates improved connectivity and contributes to the economic growth of metropolitan areas, smaller cities and peripheral regions often face marginalization in terms of economic opportunities and event participation. The findings suggest that although HSR significantly enhances event logistics, there is a pressing need for more inclusive infrastructure planning to ensure equitable access to these benefits. Additionally, the study underscores the environmental sustainability of HSR systems as an alternative to more carbon-intensive transport modes. Overall, this research provides insights into how HSR can be leveraged to improve the management of international sporting events and contribute to long-term urban and regional development while also addressing the existing disparities in accessibility and economic development across regions
Quarry operations and soil health: Tracing metal pollution in Awi and Njagachan communities, Nigeria
Full text linkThis study investigated the influence of quarry operations on soil health by evaluating the metal pollution status of soils around major quarry communities (Awi and Njagachan) in Akamkpa, Nigeria. Soil samples were subjected to wet digestion and quantified using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Model AA-6800, Japan). The concentrations of lead (63.34–96.34 mg/kg), cadmium (4.29–7.40 mg/kg), mercury (2.34–3.76 mg/kg), arsenic (2.48–5.21 mg/kg), and selenium (1.22–2.75 mg/kg) were all below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), Dutch remediation levels, and other soil guidelines. However, significant spatial variation in metal levels across quarry sites points to anthropogenic influences, with quarries likely contributing to the elevated metal concentrations. Contamination factors indicated moderate contamination by lead, considerable contamination by cadmium, and very high contamination by mercury. The degree of contamination was high for all quarries except Ding Zing quarry, which showed a very high degree during the wet season. Ecological risk assessment revealed low potential risk from lead and arsenic, moderate to high risk from cadmium, and very high risk from mercury. Geo-accumulation indices suggested that soils were largely unpolluted by lead and arsenic but ranged from unpolluted to moderately polluted by cadmium and mercury. The study concludes that quarry activities contribute to elevated metal concentrations, posing varying levels of ecological risk. Continuous monitoring is strongly recommended to prevent potential long-term human and environmental health risks, with a focus on addressing mercury contamination. Regulatory measures should be enforced to mitigate further pollution.
Anthropocene futures: Regeneration as a decarbonization strategy
Full text linkIn the context of the Anthropocene, and in the face of an unprecedented climate crisis generating 20 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, this study critically examines the transition from a ‘grey’ economy based on fossil fuels to a ‘green’ and regenerative economy, proposing two interrelated strategies: the transformation of terrestrial and agricultural systems to enhance natural carbon sequestration (including halting deforestation, regenerative agriculture and sustainable livestock systems), and the restructuring of global social metabolism (promoting reduced consumption, circular economies and renewable energy). The analysis emphasizes that this transition will require unprecedented global cooperation and bold government policies and will face significant challenges such as resistance from entrenched interests and global inequalities; however, the expected benefits—including a stable climate, healthy ecosystems and a sustainable economy—justify the necessary efforts, framing this transformation not just as a technical challenge but as an ethical and ontological imperative to move from an extractive relationship with the planet to a co-creative role that ensures intergenerational prosperity and planetary health
The application of big data analytics in sports as a tool for personalized fan experience, operations efficiency, and fan engagement strategy
Full text linkIn the contemporary sports industry, big data analytics [BDA] has become a cornerstone of marketing, fundamentally reshaping how sports organizations engage with their audiences by providing unprecedented opportunities for personalization and deeper fan connections. Sports organizations, by utilizing a diverse array of data sources, ranging from ticket sales and social media interactions to in-venue sensor data, can construct detailed profiles of their fanbase, facilitating highly targeted marketing strategies and personalized content that align closely with individual preferences and behaviors. This paper delves into the strategic deployment of BDA across the sports sector, emphasizing its role in customizing fan experiences, optimizing operational processes, and crafting immersive interactions that elevate fan engagement and loyalty. Adopting a theoretical approach, the research seeks to illuminate how BDA can be harnessed not only to boost fan engagement but also to streamline operational efficiencies. It further addresses the challenges and considerations that come with implementing these cutting-edge strategies and introduces a set of recommendations to successfully navigate the challenges. Through this exploration, the paper highlights the transformative impact of BDA on redefining fan interactions and engagement within the sports landscape. Ultimately, the paper underscores BDA’s transformative role in redefining fan interactions and engagement in sports, providing strategic insights for practitioners and suggesting paths for future research to further capitalize on this dynamic digital landscape
About therapeutic action of silver ions: A brief overview
Full text linkA problem of sufficiency of the widespread worldview about the mechanism of silver ion’s therapeutic action as its toxicity and destructivity for pathogens has been raised. Is such a therapeutic action always conjugated with direct destruction of the undesirable organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and cancer cells? Several works demonstrating a stimulating action of silver preparations on viability, proliferation of cells, behavioral and cognitive functions, and fertility of laboratory animals and on plants, as well as depletion of induced inflammation, have been considered. The observed effects can not be explained from the point of view of silver ion’s toxicity. A mechanism, which is in eustress (positive stress) induction by silver ions in the exposed organism, is suggested. The mechanism is confirmed by experimental observations and centuries of successful experience in the use of silver preparations in medicine. However, for eustress realization and distress (negative stress) prevention, significant attention should be paid to the form of silver in the preparation, its dose, and the period of exposure as well as to the adaptive resources of the organism. The revealed mechanism should be taken into account at the development and testing of medicine as well as when it may be applied in clinical practice
Identification of PROZ as a Cancer-related Gene inHepatocellular Carcinoma under Hypoxia Condition
Full text linkBackground: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common human malignancy. In recent years, the study of biomarkers for
HCC progression has become a hot topic. This study focused on identifying the key gene protein Z (PROZ) associated with the
tumorigenesis of HCC by bioinformatics methods, and exploring its function and regulatory mechanism.
Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC cells under hypoxia condition and normoxia condition were analyzed
with the data of GSE15366 and GSE41666. The genes associated with the prognosis of HCC patients were analyzed in the
Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database and intersected with hypoxia-related DEGs in HCC to obtain key genes. Gene Expression
Profiling Interactive Analysis database was used to analyze the relationship between expressions of the above key genes in HCC
and the prognosis of patients. The mRNA expression level of PROZ was analyzed by qPCR. Immunohistochemical staining
results of PROZ in HCC were obtained from the HPA database. The cell viability and apoptosis were testified by CCK-8 and
TUNEL methods. The glucose consumption and lactic acid production of cells were also detected. LinkedOmics database was
used to analyze the relevant signaling pathways regulated by PROZ in HCC. Western blot was adopted to detect expressions
of Hexokinase 2 (HK2) protein, cyclin D1 (cyclin B1) and Notch signaling pathway-related proteins including notch receptor 1
(Notch1) and Hes family BHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1).
Results: PROZ was greatly down-regulated in HCC cells (HepG2 and Hep3B) in hypoxia condition. PROZ overexpression in
HepG2 cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and glycolysis, and promoted apoptosis; PROZ knockdown worked oppositely. In
terms of mechanism, PROZ inhibited the expression levels of cell cycle-related proteins, Notch1 and Hes1.
Conclusions: PROZ inhibits HCC cell proliferation and glycolysis, and promotes apoptosis by inhibiting cell cycle and Notch
signaling pathways. PROZ could be a potential biomarker/therapy target for HCC