From Waste to Employment Opportunities and Wealth Creation: A Case Study of Utilization of Livestock By-Products in Hargeisa, Somaliland

This article was conducted to establish the involvement of vulnerable women and youths in creating alternative employment opportunities and diversify wealth creation livelihood activities through DFID UKaid Sustainable Employment and Economic Development (SEED) funded programme and implemented by FAO Somalia in the security fragile state of Somaliland.Mqaalkan waxaa loo sameeyey si haweenka nugul loogu abuuro shaqo ay ka heli karaan masaruufka reerka. Waxaana barnaamijlaas Hargeysa ku hirgeliyay FAO (DFID UK e SEED).Questo articolo è stato condotto per stabilire la partecipazione di donne vulnerabili e giovani nella creazione di opportunità di lavoro alternative e nella diversificazione delle attività creatrici di sostentamento attraverso programmi DFID UK e SEED sovvenzionati dalla FAO in Somaliland

Comparative efficacy of human papillomavirus vaccines: systematic review and network meta-analysis

Despite their use, differences in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine efficacies remain uncertain. This study assesses efficacy differences among bivalent, quadrivalent, and nine-valent HPV (2vHPV, 4vHPV, and 9vHPV) vaccines. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing HPV vaccine efficacy against persistent infection (≥6 months) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+). Network meta-analysis yielded direct and indirect comparisons. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were reported, and robustness was evaluated via sensitivity analysis. In 11 randomized controlled trials with 58,881 healthy women, for persistent infection with HPV 16, 9vHPV was most effective at 97% (RR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01–0.08); for HPV 18, 2vHPV (Cecolin) was most effective at 98% (RR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00–0.29); for CIN2+ associated with HPV 16 and 18, 4vHPV was most effective at 99% (RR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00–0.10) and 97% (RR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00–0.45), respectively; for persistent infection with HPV 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, 9vHPV was ≥ 95% effective; both 2vHPV vaccines were cross-effective against HPV 31, 33, and 45; and 4vHPV was cross-effective against HPV 31. HPV vaccine efficacies differ for different HPV types. Additional data are needed to determine the cross-efficacy of 2vHPV (Cecolin).</p

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Degradable poly-L-lysine-modified PLGA cell microcarriers with excellent antibacterial and osteogenic activity

We, the Editors, Authors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Hanyang Zhang, Jianhang Jiao & Hui Jin (2019) Degradable poly-L-lysine-modified PLGA cell microcarriers with excellent antibacterial and osteogenic activity. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47:1, 2391–2404, DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2019.1623230 Since publication, the authors continued their study and found that the original experimental results were unverifiable. The authors checked their data and confirmed there are fundamental errors present. Therefore, they have agreed to the retraction of this article. The authors apologise for this oversight. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as ‘Retracted’.</p

Metal-Doped Boron Quantum Dots for Versatile Detection of Lactate and Fluorescence Bioimaging

To improve the stability and fluorescence (FL) of monoelemental boron nanomaterials, this work put forward a metal-coordination strategy to explore emerging metal-doped boron quantum dots, Co@BQDs. Through theoretical calculations, B–Co bonding as predicted can suppress the B–O reaction and protect the electronic structures of exfoliated two-dimensional (2D) boron from oxidation and decomposition upon exposure to oxygen. In experimental studies, Co2+ was added into a dispersion liquid of bulk boron and subjected to probe sonication to promote Co2+ adsorption on the surface of exfoliated 2D boron, followed by Co2+ coordination with exposed boron atoms. Solvothermal treatment of exfoliated 2D boron resulted in the generation of Co2+-doped 0D boron Co@BQDs. Experimental results confirm that Co@BQDs have higher colloidal and FL stability than BQDs as a reference. B–Co bonding formation to suppress the B–O reaction ensures the high stability of exfoliated boron structures. A dispersion liquid of Co@BQDs with stable and bright FL was used for visual FL imaging of solutions and solid substrates. Based on enzymatic and cascade oxidation-induced FL quenching of Co@BQDs, a novel FL bio-probe of lactate was explored. This bio-probe, with a broad detection range of 0.01–10 mM and a low detection limit of 3.1 μM, enables FL sensing of lactate in biosamples and shows high detection recoveries of 98.0–102.8%. Moreover, this bio-probe realized versatile FL imaging and visual detection of lactate in liquid/solid-phase systems. These results demonstrate great prospects of Co@BQDs as emerging and efficient imaging reagents for long-term tracking and bioimaging applications

Role of Configuration at C6 in Catalytic Activity of l‑Proline-Derived Bifunctional Organocatalysts

l-Proline-derived chiral bifunctional (thio)­urea organocatalysts <i>epi</i>-<b>PTU</b> and <i>epi</i>-<b>PU</b> were newly synthesized, and their catalytic performances were compared with their C6 epimeric catalysts <b>PTU</b> and <b>PU</b> in various Michael reactions of nitrostyrene in terms of reactivities and stereoselectivities. The experimental results indicate that a proper relative stereochemistry at C2 and C6 in l-proline-derived bifunctional organocatalysts is important for successful catalysis and that catalysts (<b>PTU</b> and <b>PU</b>) with the 2<i>S</i>,6<i>R</i> configuration are much more efficient

l‑Proline Derived Bifunctional Organocatalysts: Enantioselective Michael Addition of Dithiomalonates to <i>trans</i>-β-Nitroolefins

A series of novel l-proline derived tertiary amine bifunctional organocatalysts <b>9</b> are reported, which were applied to the asymmetric Michael addition of dithiomalonates <b>2</b> to <i>trans</i>-β-nitroolefins <b>1</b>. The reaction proceeded in high yields (up to 99%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). The synthetic utility of this methodology was demonstrated in the short synthesis of (<i>R</i>)-phenibut in high yield

Bioinspired Supramolecular Lubricating Hydrogel Induced by Shear Force

Bioinspired lubricating materials are great challenge toward artificial joints. In this contribution, we synthesize a bioinspired hydrogel by combining a thixotropic supramolecular network and polymer double network, exhibiting a unique shear-responsive lubricating property. The disassembly of the <i>N</i>-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-l-tryptophan supramolecular network triggered by shear force will endow lubricating function to the hydrogel; meanwhile PAAm and PVA double network acts as the supporting skeleton with high mechanical property. This work will bring new insight on the design of artificial lubricating joint

A Simple Evaluation of Soil Quality of Waterlogged Purple Paddy Soils with Different Productivities

<div><p>Evaluation of soil quality can be crucial for designing efficient farming systems and ensuring sustainable agriculture. The present study aimed at evaluating the quality of waterlogged purple paddy soils with different productivities in Sichuan Basin. The approach involved comprehensive analyses of soil physical and chemical properties, as well as enzyme activities and microbial community structure measured by phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). A total of 36 soil samples were collected from four typical locations, with 12 samples representing high productivity purple paddy soil (HPPS), medium productivity purple paddy soil (MPPS) and low productivity purple paddy soil (LPPS), respectively. Most measured soil properties showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among HPPS, MPPS and LPPS. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to identify appropriate soil quality indicators. A minimum data set (MDS) including total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), acid phosphatase (ACP), total bacteria (TB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was established and accounted for 82.1% of the quality variation among soils. A soil quality index (SQI) was developed based on the MDS method, whilst HPPS, MPPS and LPPS received mean SQI scores of 0.725, 0.536 and 0.425, respectively, with a ranking of HPPS > MPPS > LPPS. HPPS showed relatively good soil quality characterized by optimal nutrient availability, enzymatic and microbial activities, but the opposite was true of LPPS. Low levels of TN, AP and soil microbial activities were considered to be the major constraints limiting the productivity in LPPS. All soil samples collected were rich in available N, K, Si and Zn, but deficient in available P, which may be the major constraint for the studied regions. Managers in our study area should employ more appropriate management in the LPPS to improve its rice productivity, and particularly to any potential limiting factor.</p></div

Total Synthesis of Tanshinone I

A novel total synthesis of tanshinone I (<b>1</b>) via the intermediate 3-hydroxy-8-methyl-1,4-phenanthrenedione (<b>8</b>) is described. The low overall yields and the use of expensive reagents in the synthesis process were minimized by the use of the Diels–Alder reaction to directly construct the 1,4-phenanthrenedione scaffold, providing tanshinone I (<b>1</b>) in only three steps

AS-IV blocked Aβ1-42-induced mPTP opening.

<p>A. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore detection by Calcein-AM staining. Mitochondria were counterstained with Mitotracker Red (red fluorescence). (a) vehicle; (b) 50 µM AS-IV; (c) 5 µM Aβ1-42; (c, d, e, f) 10, 25, 50 µM AS-IV+ 5 µM Aβ1-42; (g) 1 µM CsA+ 5 µM Aβ1-42, respectively. B. Quantification analysis of Calcein-AM staining relative to the vehicle group. 1 µM CsA was applied as positive control. ^#<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs</i> vehicle; ^*<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs</i> Aβ1-42 (n = 6). Scale bar = 10 µm</p