Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and biodiversity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, diverting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities.

Prolinamides are present in secondary metabolites and have wide-ranging biological properties as well as antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. N -(4′-substituted phenyl)- l -prolinamides 4a – 4w were synthesized in two steps, starting from the condensation of p -fluoronitrobenzene 1a – 1b with l -proline 2a – 2b , under aqueous–alcoholic basic conditions to afford N -aryl- l -prolines 3a – 3c , which underwent amidation via a two-stage, one-pot reaction involving SOCl ₂ and amines, to furnish l -prolinamides in 20–80% yield. The cytotoxicities of 4a – 4w against four human carcinoma cell lines (SGC7901, HCT-116, HepG2 and A549) were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; with good tumour inhibitory activities (79.50 ± 1.24%–50.04 ± 1.45%) against HepG2. 4a exhibited the best anti-tumour activity against A549 with percentage cell inhibition of 95.41 ± 0.67% at 100 µM. Likewise, 4s (70.13 ± 3.41%) and 4u (83.36 ± 1.70%) displayed stronger antineoplastic potencies against A549 than the standard, 5-fluorouracil (64.29 ± 2.09%), whereas 4a (93.33 ± 1.36%) and 4u (81.29 ± 2.32%) outperformed the reference (81.20 ± 0.08%) against HCT-116. SGC7901 showed lower percentage cell viabilities with 4u (8.02 ± 1.54%) and 4w (27.27 ± 2.38%). These results underscore the antiproliferative efficacies of l -prolinamides while exposing 4a and 4u as promising broad-spectrum anti-cancer agents. Structure-activity relationship studies are discussed.

The raging COVID-19 pandemic accentuates the urgent and compelling need for non-contact fingerprinting biometric authentication devices to mitigate the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other contagious infections. Current approaches to contactless fingerprinting scanners suffer limitations ranging from poor compatibility with two-dimensional equivalent touch-based fingerprint images to perspective distortions, inconstant resolution, motion blur images and low correlation factors. Herein, these constraints are tackled by implementing a system that enables the positioning of the target finger(s) at fixed vertical and horizontal distances away from the camera lens without the physical contact of the fingers with the device framework during scanning. A high-precision fingerprint pattern recognition of up to 97.51 % correlation factor has been achieved, using this contactless method, by varying the background illuminating light and implementing two-dimensional imaging techniques and near-constant resolution. Additionally, a convenient contactless fingerprint acquisition process is reinforced through a unique architectural design.

The SDG-2 action plan is predicated on eradicating poverty and hunger, globally. It underpins the significance of agriculture – a source of raw materials, sustenance and income for many. Notably, transportation is a crucial part of distribution and pertinent to the success of agriculture. Herein, problems associated with transporting agricultural produce in rural areas are examined; with Esan-West Local Government Area (Edo State, Nigeria) as a case study. It evaluated the mode of transportation and concomitant effects on the market and distribution of produces. Two hundred questionnaires were analyzed and two hypotheses tested, using Pearson’s product–moment correlation and Likert scale. The data indicate that the transportation of agricultural products is significantly constrained and impacts on development and sustainability.