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A series of alkoxylated isobenzofuranones were conveniently synthesized from the reaction of 2-(1-arylvinyl)benzoic acids with PhI(OR)2, generated in situ from the reaction of iodosobenzene (PhIO) with alkyl alcohols. This hypervalent iodine mediated one-pot transformation is postulated to undergo a cascade reaction involving lactonization, 1,2-aryl migration and alkoxylation processes. The organocatalytic and chiral organoiodine-catalyzed asymmetric reactions of the current transformation were also probed.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted two key issues in our education. (1) Educational disruption of millions of students across the world due to the lockdown for Covid-19 indicates that the current model of education in most parts of the world is not sustainable. (2) Extensive sharing of social media information without checking its authenticity indicates that our education is not empowering students as critical beings. The chapter discusses the need of re-thinking education and sustainability teaching in the light of the aforementioned issues.

Nanoparticles (NPs) specifically synthesized from leaves’ extracts with a high content of phytonutrients have gained significant importance in personal care products such as sunscreens. The objective of this study was to estimate the in vitro sunscreen activity of an emulsion comprising ZnO and Ag NPs synthesized with the leaves’ extract of Laurus nobilis and Citrus limon based on their stability and capping agents. The sun protection factor (SPF) of cream emulsion containing ZnO and Ag NPs was assessed by an ultraviolet spectrophotometric process along with the Mansur equation. At certain and controlled parameters, the synthesized NPs were finely characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and an energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy technique followed by analyzing some physicochemical parameters such as the hydrogen ion concentration (pH), stability test, viscosity analysis, irritancy patch test, and physical texture verification. The SPF values of the cream emulsion containing ZnO and Ag NPs were recorded as 0.573 and 0.601, respectively. The concentrations of hydrogen ion (pH) of the cream emulsion were 5.5 and 6.3 and are according to the nature of skin. Viscosity summary for the cream emulsion specified comparable rheology, which is considered a basic trait for the emulsion. The emulsion was found stable as there was no phase segregation and liquefaction was detected after centrifugation. Obtaining innovative results that have been concluded from experiments showed that the cream emulsion has photo-protective action and may be employed to improve cosmetics formulation that can be explored as profitable commercial products.

Background Sepsis is a major contributor to neonatal mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). WHO advocates ampicillin–gentamicin as first-line therapy for the management of neonatal sepsis. In the BARNARDS observational cohort study of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in LMICs, common sepsis pathogens were characterised via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance profiles. In this substudy of BARNARDS, we aimed to assess the use and efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapies commonly used in LMICs for neonatal sepsis. Methods In BARNARDS, consenting mother–neonates aged 0–60 days dyads were enrolled on delivery or neonatal presentation with suspected sepsis at 12 BARNARDS clinical sites in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. Stillborn babies were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected from neonates presenting with clinical signs of sepsis, and WGS and minimum inhibitory concentrations for antibiotic treatment were determined for bacterial isolates from culture-confirmed sepsis. Neonatal outcome data were collected following enrolment until 60 days of life. Antibiotic usage and neonatal outcome data were assessed. Survival analyses were adjusted to take into account potential clinical confounding variables related to the birth and pathogen. Additionally, resistance profiles, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic probability of target attainment, and frequency of resistance (ie, resistance defined by in-vitro growth of isolates when challenged by antibiotics) were assessed. Questionnaires on health structures and antibiotic costs evaluated accessibility and affordability. Findings Between Nov 12, 2015, and Feb 1, 2018, 36 285 neonates were enrolled into the main BARNARDS study, of whom 9874 had clinically diagnosed sepsis and 5749 had available antibiotic data. The four most commonly prescribed antibiotic combinations given to 4451 neonates (77·42%) of 5749 were ampicillin–gentamicin, ceftazidime–amikacin, piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin, and amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin. This dataset assessed 476 prescriptions for 442 neonates treated with one of these antibiotic combinations with WGS data (all BARNARDS countries were represented in this subset except India). Multiple pathogens were isolated, totalling 457 isolates. Reported mortality was lower for neonates treated with ceftazidime–amikacin than for neonates treated with ampicillin–gentamicin (hazard ratio [adjusted for clinical variables considered potential confounders to outcomes] 0·32, 95% CI 0·14–0·72; p=0·0060). Of 390 Gram-negative isolates, 379 (97·2%) were resistant to ampicillin and 274 (70·3%) were resistant to gentamicin. Susceptibility of Gram-negative isolates to at least one antibiotic in a treatment combination was noted in 111 (28·5%) to ampicillin–gentamicin; 286 (73·3%) to amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 301 (77·2%) to ceftazidime–amikacin; and 312 (80·0%) to piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. A probability of target attainment of 80% or more was noted in 26 neonates (33·7% [SD 0·59]) of 78 with ampicillin–gentamicin; 15 (68·0% [3·84]) of 27 with amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 93 (92·7% [0·24]) of 109 with ceftazidime–amikacin; and 70 (85·3% [0·47]) of 76 with piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. However, antibiotic and country effects could not be distinguished. Frequency of resistance was recorded most frequently with fosfomycin (in 78 isolates [68·4%] of 114), followed by colistin (55 isolates [57·3%] of 96), and gentamicin (62 isolates [53·0%] of 117). Sites in six of the seven countries (excluding South Africa) stated that the cost of antibiotics would influence treatment of neonatal sepsis. Interpretation Our data raise questions about the empirical use of combined ampicillin–gentamicin for neonatal sepsis in LMICs because of its high resistance and high rates of frequency of resistance and low probability of target attainment. Accessibility and affordability need to be considered when advocating antibiotic treatments with variance in economic health structures across LMICs. Funding The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.