Fully aqueous and air compatible cross-coupling of primary alkyl halides with aryl boronic species : possible and facile

Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - EP/L016419/1; Royal Society.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

College Staff Attitudes Towards the Use of Online Mental Health Interventions in Further Education

This study qualitatively explored college educators’ attitudes towards the use of online mental health interventions in further education. Such research was clearly significant, not only because of the escalating numbers of students disclosing mental health difficulties but also because of the remarkable influence academic professionals’ have on students’ lives. Seven educators partook in this study by utilising semi-structured interviews as a method of data collection. A rigorous thematic analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts, and as a result, three main themes were identified:1. Going beyond the job role 2. Technology as a method of care 3. Environments to address mental health Each overarching theme allowed insight into educators’ attitudes towards utilising online interventions in educational contexts. The research endorses the perspective that educators can effectively support adolescent’s mental well-being. However, findings highlight the complexity of mental health difficulties, requiring adequate support beyond the college environment

A Lateral Flow Assay for Quantitative Detection of Amplified HIV-1 RNA

Although the accessibility of HIV treatment in developing nations has increased dramatically over the past decade, viral load testing to monitor the response of patients receiving therapy is often unavailable. Existing viral load technologies are often too expensive or resource-intensive for poor settings, and there is no appropriate HIV viral load test currently available at the point-of-care in low resource settings. Here, we present a lateral flow assay that employs gold nanoparticle probes and gold enhancement solution to detect amplified HIV RNA quantitatively. Preliminary results show that, when coupled with nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), this assay can detect concentrations of HIV RNA that match the clinically relevant range of viral loads found in HIV patients. The lateral flow test is inexpensive, simple and rapid to perform, and requires few resources. Our results suggest that the lateral flow assay may be integrated with amplification and sample preparation technologies to serve as an HIV viral load test for low-resource settings

Why is Social Protection Gender?blind? The Politics of Gender and Social Protection

Social protection may be high on the policy agenda in international development circles, but the way it plays out in practice at national and local level is deeply political, especially so when viewed through a gender lens. While there is a robust body of evidence on the gendered patterning of poverty and vulnerability, this is seldom reflected in a systematic way in social protection strategies, policies or programmes. This article therefore explores the political economy of social protection and its effects on gender relations to increase understanding about why social protection debates and approaches have been largely gender?blind

Halogenases:a palette of emerging opportunities for synthetic biology–synthetic chemistry and C–H functionalisation

Authors thank ERC GenoChemetics (FP7/2007-2013/ERC consolidator grant GCGXC grant agreement no. 614779 RJMG) for funding, BBSRC Follow on Funding, Synthetic Biology Highlight award. RSE Enterprise Fellowship (SVS), China Scholarship Council and EPSRC CRITICAT EP/L016419/1 for studentship support (Y. Z. & S. M. respectively).The enzymatic generation of carbon–halogen bonds is a powerful strategy used by both nature and synthetic chemists to tune the bioactivity, bioavailability and reactivity of compounds, opening up the opportunity for selective C–H functionalisation. Genes encoding halogenase enzymes have recently been shown to transcend all kingdoms of life. These enzymes install halogen atoms into aromatic and less activated aliphatic substrates, achieving selectivities that are often challenging to accomplish using synthetic methodologies. Significant advances in both halogenase discovery and engineering have provided a toolbox of enzymes, enabling the ready use of these catalysts in biotransformations, synthetic biology, and in combination with chemical catalysis to enable late stage C–H functionalisation. With a focus on substrate scope, this review outlines the mechanisms employed by the major classes of halogenases, while in parallel, it highlights key advances in the utilisation of the combination of enzymatic halogenation and chemical catalysis for C–H activation and diversification.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

AutoSyP: A Low-Cost, Low-Power Syringe Pump for Use in Low-Resource Settings

This article describes the design and evaluation of AutoSyP, a low-cost, low-power syringe pump intended to deliver intravenous (IV) infusions in low-resource hospitals. A constant-force spring within the device provides mechanical energy to depress the syringe plunger. As a result, the device can run on rechargeable battery power for 66 hours, a critical feature for low-resource settings where the power grid may be unreliable. The device is designed to be used with 5- to 60-mL syringes and can deliver fluids at flow rates ranging from 3 to 60 mL/hour. The cost of goods to build one AutoSyP device is approximately $500. AutoSyP was tested in a laboratory setting and in a pilot clinical study. Laboratory accuracy was within 4% of the programmed flow rate. The device was used to deliver fluid to 10 healthy adult volunteers and 30 infants requiring IV fluid therapy at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. The device delivered fluid with an average mean flow rate error of −2.3% ± 1.9% for flow rates ranging from 3 to 60 mL/hour. AutoSyP has the potential to improve the accuracy and safety of IV fluid delivery in low-resource settings

Quantifying health facility service readiness for small and sick newborn care: comparing standards-based and WHO level-2 + scoring for 64 hospitals implementing with NEST360 in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania

Background: Service readiness tools are important for assessing hospital capacity to provide quality small and sick newborn care (SSNC). Lack of summary scoring approaches for SSNC service readiness means we are unable to track national targets such as the Every Newborn Action Plan targets. Methods: A health facility assessment (HFA) tool was co-designed by Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) and UNICEF with four African governments. Data were collected in 68 NEST360-implementing neonatal units in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania (September 2019-March 2021). Two summary scoring approaches were developed: a) standards-based, including items for SSNC service readiness by health system building block (HSBB), and scored on availability and functionality, and b) level-2+, scoring items on readiness to provide WHO level-2+clin‑ ical interventions. For each scoring approach, scores were aggregated and summarised as a percentage and equally weighted to obtain an overall score by hospital, HSBB, and clinical intervention. Results: Of 1508 HFA items, 1043 (69%) were included in standards-based and 309 (20%) in level-2+scoring. Sixtyeight neonatal units across four countries had median standards-based scores of 51% [IQR 48–57%] at baseline, with variation by country: 62% [IQR 59–66%] in Kenya, 49% [IQR 46–51%] in Malawi, 50% [IQR 42–58%] in Nigeria, and 55% [IQR 53–62%] in Tanzania. The lowest scoring was family-centred care [27%, IQR 18–40%] with governance highest scoring [76%, IQR 71–82%]. For level-2+scores, the overall median score was 41% [IQR 35–51%] with vari‑ ation by country: 50% [IQR 44–53%] in Kenya, 41% [IQR 35–50%] in Malawi, 33% [IQR 27–37%] in Nigeria, and 41% [IQR 32–52%] in Tanzania. Readiness to provide antibiotics by culture report was the highest-scoring interven‑ tion [58%, IQR 50–75%] and neonatal encephalopathy management was the lowest-scoring [21%, IQR 8–42%]. In both methods, overall scores were low (\u3c50%) for 27 neonatal units in standards-based scoring and 48 neonatal units in level-2+scoring. No neonatal unit achieved high scores of\u3e75%. Discussion: Two scoring approaches reveal gaps in SSNC readiness with no neonatal units achieving high scores (\u3e75%). Government-led quality improvement teams can use these summary scores to identify areas for health sys‑ tems change. Future analyses could determine which items are most directly linked with quality SSNC and newborn outcomes

Research Article (PLOS ONE) Efficacy of a low-cost bubble CPAP system in treatment of respiratory distress in a neonatal ward in Malawi

Background: Respiratory failure is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in the developing world. Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) is a safe, effective intervention for infants with respiratory distress and is widely used in developed countries. Because of its high cost, bCPAP is not widely utilized in low-resource settings. We evaluated the performance of a new bCPAP system to treat severe respiratory distress in a low resource setting, comparing it to nasal oxygen therapy, the current standard of care.Methods: We conducted a non-randomized convenience sample study to test the efficacy of a low-cost bCPAP system treating newborns with severe respiratory distress in the neonatal ward of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, in Blantyre, Malawi. Neonates weighing >1,000 g and presenting with severe respiratory distress who fulfilled inclusion criteria received nasal bCPAP if a device was available; if not, they received standard care. Clinical assessments were made during treatment and outcomes compared for the two groups. Findings 87 neonates (62 bCPAP, 25 controls) were recruited. Survival rate for neonates receiving bCPAP was 71.0% (44/62) compared with 44.0% (11/25) for controls. 65.5% (19/29) of very low birth weight neonates receiving bCPAP survived to discharge compared to15.4% (1/13) of controls. 64.6% (31/48) of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) receiving bCPAP survived to discharge, compared to 23.5% (4/17) of controls. 61.5% (16/26) of neonates with sepsis receiving bCPAP survived to discharge, while none of the seven neonates with sepsis in the control group survived.Interpretation: Use of a low-cost bCPAP system to treat neonatal respiratory distress resulted in 27% absolute improvement in survival. The beneficial effect was greater for neonates with very low birth weight, RDS, or sepsis. Implementing appropriate bCPAP devices could reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries

Progressing Gender Equality Post?2015: Harnessing the Multiplier Effects of Existing Achievements

This article argues that international efforts to progress gender equality now and post?2015 need to build on the achievements of the MDGs and other international frameworks, but simultaneously address the gender dynamics that underpin the root causes of poverty. The first half of the article seeks to unpack the ways in which gender inequalities underpin five clusters of MDGs: poverty and sustainable development; service access; care and caregiving; voice and agency; international partnerships and accountability. The analysis then turns to highlight the importance of harnessing the momentum from other global initiatives such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) and the Beijing Platform for Action to promote more fundamental change including: the establishment of a more powerful UN agency to champion gender equality; the institutionalisation of gender budgeting and gender?responsive aid effectiveness approaches; and the promotion of gender?sensitive social protection to tackle gender?specific experiences of poverty and vulnerability