Asia Pacific Academy of Science Pte. Ltd.
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Measuring corporate sustainability in a synthetic way. Is it possible?
Full text linkThis study develops a synthetic sustainability indicator (SSI) to assess corporate sustainability performance using data from Spanish IBEX 35 companies. Utilizing sparse principal components analysis (sPCA), the study condenses 65 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) variables into a single indicator, addressing the lack of standardization in CSR evaluations and enabling comparisons across companies and sectors. The results show that environmental practices are the most significant factor (37.30%), followed by labor practices (19.23%) and corporate governance (18.52%). The study’s key contribution lies in offering a quantifiable, transparent method for evaluating corporate sustainability. The SSI provides valuable insights for investors and analysts, promoting data-driven decision-making and encouraging corporate improvements in sustainability performance
Sex-based analysis of linear body measurements and their correlation with body weight in indigenous Sabi sheep
Full text linkBody weight estimation accuracy is key to efficient sheep management and improved animal performance. This study investigated sex-based differences in the correlation between body weight (BWT) and linear body measurements (LBM) in indigenous Sabi sheep. A dataset comprising 173 Sabi sheep (112 ewes, 22 rams, and 39 wethers) from Zimbabwe’s Matopos Research Institute was analyzed, revealing significant positive correlations between body weight and linear measurements, particularly in ewes and rams. Heart girth exhibited the strongest positive correlation with body weight across sexes, with rams demonstrating higher correlation coefficients than ewes. Notably, body length in rams (r = 0.90) had a significantly higher correlation coefficient with body weight compared to ewes (r = 0.79). Conversely, weaker correlations were observed for Thurl width and pin bone width in wethers. The study identified sex-based differences in the relationships between body weight and linear measurements, indicating sexual dimorphism. Heart girth, body length, and chest depth emerged as key predictors of body weight in indigenous Sabi sheep. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex in understanding the relationship between body weight and linear body measurements in this breed, with implications for enhancing breeding programs and management practices for indigenous Sabi sheep. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the necessity of sex-specific data analysis when examining the correlation between body weight and linear body measurements in indigenous Sabi sheep to ensure accurate and reliable results
Local environmental policies, health and climate risks: Citizens’ perceptions in a Portuguese municipality
Full text linkClimate change is a major public health hazard and a critical component of sustainable development. Understanding public perceptions of these risks is crucial for developing effective local environmental policies that contribute to health and sustainability goals. This research aimed to characterize the perceptions of an adult Portuguese population regarding climate change and its health impact and to examine their awareness of and compliance with municipal policies. The choice of Cascais as a case study reflects its urban character, exposure to climate risks, and its proactive stance in local environmental policy. We conducted research on the environmental programs/guidelines implemented in the urban municipality of Cascais. Subsequently, we employed an online survey to gather data on the perceptions of 200 adults residing/working in Cascais. People with higher awareness are more likely to engage in environmentally conscious behaviors, essential for sustainable development. However, many respondents were unaware of municipal programs and did not participate. Perceptions of climate risk and action priorities varied by sex, age, and education. Improved communication and awareness-raising are needed. This study contributes to the broader understanding of environmental perception by highlighting the influence of demographic factors on climate-related knowledge and behavior. It also demonstrates the value of integrating public perception data into municipal policy planning and sets a replicable framework for comparative research across urban contexts. Incorporating citizens’ perceptions can help municipalities develop effective, community-adapted policies, fostering inclusive and resilient local climate actions to protect public health
Arid Zone Phytochemicals as a Source of Novel Antimicrobials: Synergistic Effects with Nanotechnology in Antibiotic Resistance Microbes
Full text linkAntibiotic resistance has emerged as one of the most critical global health challenges, exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in healthcare. Resistant bacterial strains pose a greater threat to human health than cancer. This crisis has prompted an urgent search for novel antimicrobial agents, particularly those derived from natural sources. This review explores the potential of arid zone plants as promising sources of new antimicrobial agents. They contain different types of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids with potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds target through a variety of mechanisms, such as disrupting bacterial cell membranes, inhibiting protein synthesis, and inhibiting DNA replication to effectively inhibit or kill the microbes, offering alternative therapeutic pathways. Furthermore, the integration of nanotechnology with phytochemicals enhances the therapeutic potential of nano-phytochemicals by improving bioavailability, controlled release, and enabling site-specific delivery. This innovative approach offers a promising strategy for combating multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens and overcoming biofilm-associated infections. However, challenges related to nanoparticle toxicity, biocompatibility, and regulatory hurdles persist. In this review, we discuss how an interdisciplinary approach to developing arid zone plant-based nanopharmaceuticals can offer an effective and sustainable solution to the escalating threat of MDR pathogens, thereby supporting global public health
The role of humans in the future of medicine: Completing the cycle
Full text linkThe progression of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reshaped our understanding of intelligence, consciousness, and the human condition, challenging long-held assumptions about the mind and its relationship with machines. Starting with Alan Turing’s Imitation Game, the narrative of assessment of AI has continually evolved. This historical context underlines the importance of moving beyond mere facts to confront philosophical questions about AI’s role and limitations, especially in its capacity for consciousness and emotional resonance. In healthcare, the evolution of AI reflects a transformative cycle. Historically, medicine began as an empathic endeavor, where caregivers provided comfort amid limited knowledge. Over centuries, advancements in science elevated physicians to authoritative figures, creating a paternalistic doctor-patient dynamic. Today, with the advent of AI and technologies like the metaverse, healthcare knowledge is becoming democratized. Patients can increasingly access AI-driven diagnostics and interactions, creating a potential era of “algorithmic paternalism” where machines dominate the knowledge hierarchy. Looking to the future, as AI assumes cognitive and diagnostic responsibilities, the human aspect of medicine will gain renewed importance. Physicians will return to their foundational role as empathic caregivers, focusing on human connection and emotional support—qualities that AI, despite its advances, cannot fully replicate today. This shift completes a historical cycle, reaffirming the enduring value of humanity in medicine and positioning the physician as a central figure in the emotionally nuanced landscape of healthcare
Proposed water valuation scheme for a more sustainable agricultural water productivity
Full text linkGrowing depletion of groundwater resources is a global threat and intensified under improper water valuation systems. Here, we proposed an irrigation water valuation framework based on the opportunity cost concept (IWVF), to better differentiate the value of surface water, renewable, and nonrenewable groundwater. In this study, a 10-years dataset was used in Marvdasht-Kharameh irrigation networks (MKINs) in southern Iran, where groundwater depletion overshoots the sustainable level with an annual average rate of 1.42 m y−1. Irrigation water use, net incomes and losses, and economic water productivities (EWP) were estimated under the common and newly developed valuation methods. The reflections of adopting IWVF on EWPs were assessed under current condition and the proposed WP improvement scenarios, including removing irrigation efficiency gaps, changing the cropping calendar, and application of different levels of deficit irrigation. Results showed that the value of irrigation water supply (139.01 million) under current condition, which results in a net loss of m−3, meaning that consuming a unit of blue water causes m−3) indicates that crop production in the study area is not viable due to its considerable environmental damages. Hence, current irrigation system should be revisited when sustainable agriculture is considered. The proposed water valuation method can help decision makers to better assess the consequences of WP improvement strategies, if the true value of different water resources is ignored.
Eco-farming policies and sustainable food security in Qatar: The role of hydroponics
Full text linkThis article explores how hydroponics can help the State of Qatar implement sustainable agricultural policy in the face of the nation’s climatic and environmental problems, including a lack of arable land and water. Because it uses nutrient solutions to grow plants without soil, hydroponics is a cutting-edge substitute for conventional agriculture. It reduces water consumption and increases production efficiency. The article discusses how Qatar is adopting hydroponics within the framework of its National Vision 2023, which seeks to achieve food security by promoting innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector. It also focuses on the environmental and economic benefits of hydroponics, such as reducing dependence on food imports and improving the use of natural resources by analysing available data. The article reviews the challenges of applying hydroponics in the State of Qatar, including the high initial cost and lack of public awareness. The article concludes that the demand for hydroponics in Qatar is rising due to a number of causes. Given Qatar’s harsh climate, hydroponics is a cutting-edge and environmentally friendly farming technique that enables year-round growing. Hydroponics is an effective method for growing crops, including fruits and vegetables, on a small amount of arable land and water
Petrov-Galerkin Lucas polynomials approach for solving the time-fractional diffusion equation
Full text linkIn this research paper, a spectral method is used for numerically solving the time-fractional diffusion equation as the time fractional diffusion equations are a powerful tool for simulating physical systems. We employ the Lucas polynomials (LPs) with Petrov-Galerkin for the linear combination basis. The main idea of the proposed technique is to convert the governed boundary-value problem into a system of linear algebraic equations by applying the Petrov-Galerkin method. Many procedures can solve the resulting linear system. The method’s accuracy is shown through several examples
COVID-19, nature of ownership and surplus value correlation
Full text linkThe outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has caused major changes in China’s economic environment. This paper takes the outbreak of the new crown epidemic in early 2020 as a node, and takes the annual reports of A-share listed companies from 2018 to 2021 as a sample, and uses the price model and income model to empirically test the impact of the new crown epidemic on and after the impact of accounting information and property rights. The moderating effect of structure on both. The research results show that the outbreak of the new crown epidemic has enhanced the correlation of surplus value, and in the normalization stage of the epidemic, the correlation of surplus value will return to the original state, while state-owned property rights can speed up the recovery of the correlation of surplus value, making it drop to the original state. There are levels
Land use effects on soil properties and carbon stocks of agricultural and agroforestry landscapes in a rainforest zone of Nigeria
Full text linkThis study examined the impacts of land use on the physical and chemical properties of soils of land use types along agroforestry and agricultural landscapes in a rainforest zone of Nigeria. The land use systems are forest, agroforestry, fallow, and ornamental plant fields in addition to permanent crop fields (cocoa, oil palm, and citrus) and annual crop fields (maize). Profile pits were dug on the land use types and samples were collected 0–20 cm and 20–50 cm for laboratory analysis. Soil samples were collected from undisturbed soil and profile pits for bulk density and moisture content determination following standard analytical procedures. Among the land use types, physical properties (sand, clay, soil bulk density) and chemical properties (soil pH, SOC, total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and CEC) differed significantly. Bulk density, pH, SOC, total, and stocks of SOC and N differed statistically for 0–20 and 20–50 cm soil depths with downward increases in N and SOC stocks along sampling depth. Permanent croplands (forest and agroforestry fields) had higher soil pH, SOC, total N, and CEC, while arable crop fields had relatively lower pH, SOC, TN, P, K, Ca, Mg, and CEC. Arable fields had significantly lower C and N stocks within 50 cm compared with permanent crop fields, which may be attributed to continuous tillage by the smallholder farmers and soil erosion-enhanced SOC and N removal from top soil. For both permanent and annual crop fields, SOC and total N stocks ranged from 5.75 to 3.12 kg/m2 for 0–20 cm depths and 2.44 to 1.93 kg/m2 for deeper (20–50 cm) layers. Relative to forest soil, stocks of SOC in the surface soils (0–20 cm) decreased in the order: agroforestry > ornamental plant field > cocoa > fallow land > citrus > oil palm > annual cropping system. Following this decreasing order, soil deterioration indices are equivalent to 27% > 28% > 30% > 31% > 32% > 34% > 38% compared with forest soil, respectively. Strong significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between SOC and TN stocks and some soil properties (bulk density, clay contents, pH, and CEC) with R2 values ranging from 1.0 to 0.85. It is concluded that the soil's physical and chemical properties and carbon storage potential differed among the land uses of the study site