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A POCIS-based approach for the monitoring of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants: Calibration and deployment challenges
No full textThe impact of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments requires complementary monitoring techniques to the more conventional grab sampling approach for an improved sample representativity. This study explores the application of Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS) in the analysis of a wide range of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater effluent, highlighting its advantages over grab sampling. Passive sampling techniques, extending sampling duration several days or weeks, provide continuous and representative data, improving the punctual nature of grab sampling. Despite their advantages, achieving quantitative results remains a challenge. Calibration through precise determination of sampling rates (RS) is recommended to convert the accumulated contaminant mass on the adsorbent to water concentrations. In the present work, 78 pharmaceuticals were preselected for stability suitability for POCIS passive sampling. RS were experimentally determined for 49 stable compounds: 33 of them had not been previously reported and most the other 16 agree with previous published literature. These RS were used to determine the concentration of pharmaceuticals in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) near to Barcelona, Spain over 3 weeks. High concentrations of 1,7-dimethylxanthine (2897 ng L-1), 4-acetamidoantipyrine (191 ng L-1), acetaminophen (165 ng L-1) and rasagiline (152 ng L-1) were found. This study examines POCIS deployment strategies, calibration, and analysis methods for 49 pharmaceutical compounds in an WWTP effluent. This research establishes a robust methodology for quantitative passive sampling of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments, providing critical insights for more accurate monitoring of pharmaceuticals of environmental concern.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Passenger perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in airline operations: Implications for air transport management
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the aviation industry, driving efficiency, automation, and innovation across multiple operational domains. This study examines commercial airline passengers’ perceptions of AI’s role in addressing key industry challenges, including air traffic management, predictive maintenance, passenger experience, and sustainability. Using a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted among 320 airline passengers in Spain to assess their attitudes toward AI-driven applications in aviation. The findings reveal strong support for AI in optimizing flight operations, reducing delays, and enhancing security procedures. However, significant skepticism remains regarding AI’s autonomy in decision-making, particularly in pilot replacement and automated flight rerouting. Statistical analyses indicate that younger and frequent travelers exhibit higher confidence in AI’s potential, whereas older passengers demonstrate greater reluctance toward AI-driven automation. Additionally, AI is perceived as a crucial enabler of environmental sustainability, with respondents acknowledging its role in reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These insights provide valuable implications for policymakers, airlines, and technology developers seeking to align AI adoption with passenger expectations while ensuring safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The study highlights the need for a balanced approach that integrates AI’s technological advancements with human oversight to foster trust and acceptance in the future of AI-powered aviation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Quality-by-design as the pharmaceutical innovation paradigm: mapping the field and proposing a conceptual framework
No full textQuality management (QM) and innovation practices are essential for business competitiveness, yet they often conflict when striving for radical advancements within complex innovation ecosystems. Amid this debate, the concept of Quality-by-Design (QbD) remains underexplored in management literature, despite its extensive development in technical fields. Taking the case of QbD in the pharmaceutical sector, this study aims at researching into its relationship with innovation, considering the interactions within the innovation ecosystem. We perform a bibliometric study, a selective content analysis combined with an assessment of the regulatory framework and relevant examples from the industry. Using the duality of the science-push and marketpull approach as the lens of our analysis and its integration with regulatory push, we propose a conceptual framework and illustrate its application using a case study on the development of COVID-19 vaccines. We propose that regulatory agencies and multinationals play a key role in fostering the adoption of QbD. Besides, we suggest that firms benefit from QbD implementation in terms of continuous improvement and, through the latter, radical innovation. This study contributes to the literature by identifying QbD as an ecosystem-based innovation strategy that enables pursuing more radical advances. Our study also inspires a future research agenda.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Reimagining Tourism Education for a Sustainable and Regenerative Future
No full textThis chapter reports findings from ERASMUS+ EcoHarmony (Ecoharmony project, 2024), a multinational initiative co-funded by the European Union that advances a comprehensive strategy to embed sustainable—and explicitly regenerative tourism within European higher education. Using a sequential mixed-methods design (nine focus groups across Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands; n = 70; followed by a cross-European survey; n = 198), the chapter examines: (1) the extent of sustainability and regenerative integration in curricula; (2) pedagogical, institutional, and technological barriers and enablers; and (3) scalable strategies to align programmes with 21st-century demands. Guided by systems thinking, transformative learning, and a regenerative tourism lens (toward regenerative justice), and attentive to digital transformation (AI/VR/blockchain), the analysis finds progress but fragmentation: roughly 75% of institutions offer sustainability content, yet holistic, cross-curricular embedding is rare; familiarity with regeneration remains limited (≈20–25%). Barriers include legacy programme architectures, constrained faculty development, weak institutional support, and misaligned assessment practices. Enablers include rising student demand, motivated educators, and NGO–industry–government partnerships. The chapter proposes a practical roadmap, intentional interdisciplinarity, assessment reform (systems/ethics/collaboration), quality-assured micro-credentials, and hybrid experiential learning that blends digital simulations with fieldwork and internships, to shift institutions from incremental improvements to systemic transformation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Validation of a large volume-solid phase extraction methodology for biotoxicity assessment of pharmaceuticals in aquatic organisms
No full textThe growing scarcity of freshwater has intensified the need for alternative water sources, which often require advanced treatments to eliminate contaminants. Among emerging pollutants, pharmaceuticals have become a significant concern due to their persistence and potential impact, making their detection essential. However, analysing these contaminants is challenging due to the extremely low concentrations at which they are present. For chemical analysis, minimal or no sample enrichment is often necessary, while bioanalysis typically requires larger sample volumes and an enrichment factor to conduct comprehensive bioassays across various endpoints. Consequently, sample preconcentration techniques for large water volumes are necessary to improve the sensitivity of subsequent toxicological experiments. In this study, a novel large volume solid-phase extraction (LV-SPE) procedure was validated and evaluated for monitoring multiple pharmaceutical compounds in water samples, while maintaining the traditional solid-phase extraction (SPE) methodology using cartridges. This method proved effective extraction and preconcentration of significant amounts of water, with recoveries between 19 % and 109 % in spiked wastewaters (except for fluvoxamine, remdesivir, tamoxifen and tetracycline, with recoveries <10 %). Furthermore, the optimization of this approach covers an expansive chemical space, enabling the capture of a diverse range of pharmaceutical compounds and enhancing the validity of toxicological studies. Bioassays conducted with Daphnia magna juveniles and Danio rerio embryos validated the method's applicability regarding optimized exposure conditions, the absence of adverse effects from SPE blanks or solvent controls and sensitivity in detecting effects across field samples. Overall, the LV-SPE approach enhances sensitivity and reliability for evaluating pharmaceutical mixtures' risks under realistic conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Ultra-sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of 31 neurochemicals in zebrafish larvae and brain
No full textThe precise determination of neurotransmitters and their metabolites in biological matrices is critical for research on neurological disorders, including those originated by the exposure to neurotoxic chemicals. This study presents an optimized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for 31 neurochemicals, including neurotransmitters, their metabolites and precursors. The method is aimed at achieving lower limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) compared to those currently available, while simultaneously expanding the number of compounds analyzed. The proposed approach achieves instrumental detection limits (IDLs) from 0.02 to 7.2 pg, except for homovanillic acid showing a value of 150 pg, with recovery values across all target analytes comprised between 50 and 140 % in zebrafish larvae and 55 and 150 % in adult zebrafish brain, when using internal standard calibration. Overall, the optimized method represents a significant improvement over previous methods, making it robust, accurate and sensitive enough for applications in studies requiring detailed analysis of neurochemicals in complex biological samples, such as zebrafish larvae and adult zebrafish brain. Adult zebrafish brain samples from adults intraperitoneally exposed to 5 doses of 1-methyl-4-phenyl,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 100 mg/kg-1 body weight (bw)) were accurately analyzed using the optimized UHPLC-MS/MS method, which provided insights into neurochemical alterations induced by this neurotoxin.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Epistemic injustice suffered by patients with rare diseases, poorly understood diseases, and underdiagnosed diseases, and the epistemic advantage granted by these diseases
No full textFricker (Epistemic Injustice. Power and the Ethics of Knowing, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007) coined the term epistemic injustice to refer to the downgrading of credibility of speakers provoked either by prejudices—which she labeled testimonial injustice—or by a gap in interpretative resources that account for a given phenomenon—which she referred to as hermeneutical injustice. This paper reviews the existing literature on how patients with rare diseases, poorly understood diseases, and underdiagnosed diseases are questioned by the healthcare practitioners who assist them in order to explore how they suffer from both these types of epistemic injustice. At the same time, the paper argues that the very epistemic marginalization suffered by these patients actually grants them some epistemic advantages over patients with better-known diseases, and even some meta-epistemic advantages—that is, a deeper understanding of how the very taxonomy that marginalizes or excludes them is, to some extent, a sociocultural construction. The paper therefore applies the notion of “epistemic advantage”, coined by contemporary standpoint theorists, to the field of healthcare.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Analytical study, environmental risk assessment, and toxicity-based bioassays of effluents from phosphate fertilizer industry: a case study in Gafsa mining basin (SW Tunisia)
No full textThe phosphate fertilizer industry (PFI) in M’dhilla-Gafsa, Tunisia, discharges untreated effluents, creating environmental concerns due to unknown composition and toxic effects, leading to potential ecological and human health risks. This study characterized wastewater from three sampling points (SP1, SP2, SP3), and revealed their high acidity pH (2–3) and salinity (32.5–96.23 g/L). BOD5/COD ratios indicated the high recalcitrance (0.01–0.1) of the effluents, reflecting their low biodegradability and persistence in the environment. Excessive levels of phosphorus (206–2094 mg/L), fluoride (154–1071 mg/L), and sulfates (835.5–9266 mg/L) were detected by ionic chromatography. ICP-MS analysis highlighted for the first time the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) content in Tunisian PFI effluent, such us Cd (0.31–0.44 mg/L), Al (7.1–27.8 mg/L), Mn (1.9–3.5 mg/L), B (15.9–25.2 mg/L), Fe (15.7–28.7 mg/L), Ni (0.37–0.48 mg/L), and Cr (1.1–2.12 mg/L). These levels exceeded the permissible national and international limits for industrial discharges, as well as those of the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water, indicating serious potential environmental risks. Moreover, phytotoxicity tests on Medicago sativa, Pisum sativum, and Zea mays showed decreased amylolytic and proteolytic activities during germination. Blood toxicity assays indicated significant hemolytic effects. Indeed, 50% of SP1, SP2, and SP3 wastewaters caused hemolysis percentages equal to 52.04%, 57%, and 66.77%, respectively, implying therefore an acute toxicity of the effluents. Additionally, HEK-293 cells mortality was higher after exposure to effluents, with IC50 of 12.06%, 24.23%, and 17.68% for SP1, SP2, and SP3, respectively. These findings emphasized the potential risks posed by PFI effluents to the surrounding ecosystem and the agricultural sector, leading to the contamination of the food chain. This alarming threat imposes stricter wastewater treatment measures and regulatory enforcement in the PFI sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
New Trends in Brain Shuttle Peptides
No full textThe pharmacological treatment of central nervous system diseases faces significant challenges due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This barrier naturally protects the brain and prevents therapeutics from reaching their targets efficiently. However, the BBB allows the passage of nutrients and other molecules that guarantee brain homeostasis through selective transport mechanisms present at the BBB. These mechanisms provide an opportunity for delivering therapeutic agents into the central nervous system using brain shuttles. Here we review the progress of brain shuttle peptide development from 2015 until 2025. We highlight the most utilized peptides and describe trends in strategies to develop new shuttles and enhance their transport efficiency. Additionally, we compared them with other types of brain shuttles and emphasize the progress of peptide shuttles toward clinical translation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
The effect of aerobic and resistance training in patients with type 2 diabetes on vitamin D (DIAVITEX): a study protocol
Full text linkIntroduction: Aerobic and resistance training can effectively improve clinical management in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low vitamin D (VitD) levels are associated with T2D risk and metabolic disturbances, and may help reduce this risk, particularly in individuals with low VitD levels. In this line, many individuals with T2D, who may also be older adults or have osteoporosis, regularly include VitD treatment in their healthcare routines. Although the impact of exercise has been extensively studied, its effect on diabetic patients taking VitD remains limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aerobic and resistance training on clinical parameters in patients with T2D already taking VitD.
Methods: The DIAVITEX study is a randomized controlled superiority trial, with four parallel arms, including 80 individuals with T2D. Patients will be selected at the Primary Care Centers and stratified according to their pre-existing VitD treatment. Participants will subsequently be randomized to the exercise intervention or control as follows: Group 1, Exercise + VitD users (n = 20); Group 2, Exercise + VitD non-users (n = 20); Group 3, VitD only (no exercise) (n = 20); and Group 4, Control (No VitD & No Exercise) (n = 20). In this study, a sarcoplasm-stimulating training program will be carried out online, three sessions per week for a total of 16 weeks. Before and after the physical activity subjects will perform fitness and blood tests. Nutritional education programs will be provided to normalize their diets for study consistency. The primary endpoint of the trial is the change in HOMA-IR index from baseline to week 16. Secondary endpoints include changes in HbA1c, lipid profile, body composition, and inflammatory biomarkers.
Discussion: Expected improvements in insulin resistance, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers are anticipated following a 16-week regimen of exercise in patients with T2D on VitD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio