RETRACTION: Y-C. Wu, R-F. Chen, C-Y. Liu, F. R. Hu, C-J. Huang, and I-J. Wang, “Knockdown of Zebrafish Blood Vessel Epicardial Substance Results in Incomplete Retinal Lamination,” The Scientific World Journal, no. 2014 (2014). 10.1155/2014/803718. The above article, published online on 6 March 2014 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted following the agreement of the journal’s Academic Editor, Bhishma Karki; and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation into concerns initially raised by Xenograpsus ngatama on PubPeer [1]. The investigation identified issues related to Figure 4, in which panels (j) and (k) contained overlapping features despite representing different experimental conditions. Subsequent investigation by the publisher identified further inconsistencies in the raw data provided by the authors. Specifically, an apparent duplication was found between a portion of Figure 1(i’) and Figure 2(k), although rotated and at different magnification, when the experiments described are under different conditions. In light of the above, there are significant concerns with the reliability of the information presented in the article, and therefore the parties agree that the article must be retracted. The authors disagree with this retraction.

Wastewater discharge containing organic dyes may pose a hazard to the environment, which necessitates that dye removal must occur prior to wastewater release into water bodies. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were prepared by a green precipitation method to enable decolorization of a cationic dye (methyl violet; MV) from aqueous media. Complementary tools were employed to characterize the CuO NPs adsorbent: spectroscopy (FTIR and UV‐VIS), microscopy (FESEM and TEM), XRD, BET surface area analysis, and point of zero charge (pHPZC) via potentiometry. The FTIR bands at 722, 663, 569, and 465 cm−1 correspond to the vibrational modes of CuO NPs, along with the optical absorbance band at 275 nm that supports the formation of CuO NPs. The XRD and TEM analyses predicted single‐phase CuO NPs with a monoclinic framework. BET was employed to assess the textural characteristics and accounted for the specific surface area (12.97 m2·g−1). Batch adsorption studies were carried out to assess the role of initial pH (3.58–10.53), CuO NPs dose (0.02–0.25 g/L), initial MV concentration (20–140 mg/L), contact time (5–90 min), and temperature (298, 308, and 318 K) on the dye removal efficiency. The adsorption capacity of CuO NPs for MV was determined to be 5.06 mg/g at 45°C. The pseudo‐second‐order (PSO) model described kinetic isotherms, and equilibrium adsorption data were adequately fitted by the Freundlich model. Thermodynamic results revealed that adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy driven at the solid–liquid interface. The CuO NPs further displayed good reusability with high efficiency for six successive cycles of adsorption–desorption using 0.1 M HCl as a desorbing agent. These findings validate the efficacy of CuO NPs as a green and effective adsorbent for wastewater treatment processes for cationic dye removal.

This study examines the impact of the service marketing mix on tourist satisfaction and loyalty, focusing on Cox′s Bazar, Bangladesh. Utilizing data collected from 500 respondents and analyzed through advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, the study provides key insights into the relationships between marketing mix elements and tourist satisfaction. The reliability of the constructs was assessed using Cronbach′s alpha, all of which exceeded the acceptable threshold of 0.70, indicating strong internal consistency. Multicollinearity issues among predictors were resolved by aggregating closely related variables, reducing the variance inflation factor (VIF) to below 1.05. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that the first two components accounted for 97.88% of the variance, emphasizing the compactness of the data. Predictive modeling revealed that XGBoost outperformed other models with the lowest mean squared error (MSE = 0.10), root mean squared error (RMSE = 0.33), and mean absolute error (MAE = 0.25), alongside the highest R‐squared value of 0.74. Feature importance analysis highlighted that the combined variable price_place_aggregated contributed most significantly (68.20%) to the model′s predictions, followed by promotion and process. Cross‐validation confirmed the robustness of the XGBoost model, with a cross‐validated MSE of 0.1273 ± 0.0170. The findings underscore the critical role of pricing strategies and location in enhancing tourist satisfaction and loyalty. This research validates the stability and reliability of the model by integrating sensitivity analysis and learning curve evaluations. These findings offer pragmatic recommendations for policymakers and tourism stakeholders in Cox′s Bazar to enhance their marketing strategies and enhance the entire tourist experience.

The pharmacological properties of Annona reticulata Linn. (Annonaceae) leaves, as reported by some tribal tribes, were investigated in this study. The antidiabetic and liver‐renal protective potentials of methanolic leaf fraction and its combination with glibenclamide were evaluated in rats having alloxan‐induced diabetes at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight; demonstrated notable antidiabetic potential which was dose‐dependent. Following 21 days course of treatment, methanol leaf fraction (400 mg/kg) and combination of extract (200 mg/kg) along with glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg) exhibited fasting blood glucose levels of 5.25 ± 0.06 mmol/L and 6.02 ± 0.07 mmol/L; whereas standard drug glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) showed fasting blood glucose level of 5.91 ± 0.09 mmol/L. Furthermore, the diabetic rats in extract group (400 mg/kg dosage) and in combination group showed body weight reduction values of 14.67 and 16.5 gm; which was lower than the value obtained group of rats treated with glibenclamide alone (21.83 gm). Additionally, the extract and its combination with glibenclamide were found to have significant protective impacts on the kidney and liver (p < 0.001) and to aid in the maintenance of lipid profile even in the presence of diabetes; these effects were comparable with the outcomes obtained from standard drug. Although diabetic rats demonstrated elevated liver and kidney markers levels, the groups of mice treated with methanolic leaf extract at both 200 and 400 mg/kg dosages exhibited notable maintenance of both liver and kidney markers levels. Furthermore, combination of methanol extract and glibenclamide showed serum ALT, AST, bilirubin and creatinine, BUN values of 15.20 ± 1.58 IU/L, 10.73 ± 0.45 IU/L, 3.60 ± 0.22 μmol/L; and 0.73 ± 0.03 mg/dL, 18.13 ± 2.13 mg/dL (p < 0.001); which were markedly lower than the values obtained from diabetic control rats. Moreover, both methanolic leaf extract and standard drug glibenclamide as well as their combination exhibited beneficial effect in the maintenance of serum TC, TG, LDL, and HDL levels. Methanolic extract at 400 mg/kg dosage and the combination demonstrated serum TC, TG, LDL, and HDL values of 84.33 ± 3.00 mg/dL, 62.32 ± 3.13 mg/dL, 42.67 ± 3.01 mg/dL, 37.43 ± 6.47 mg/dL; and 80.43 ± 3.53 mg/dL, 65.20 ± 6.29 mg/dL, 44.50 ± 2.88 mg/dL, 43.52 ± 3.33 mg/dL (p < 0.001), respectively. Additionally, the extract′s potential components that may have played crucial roles in achieving these bioactivities were identified using the reports from the GC‐MS analysis.

Climate change poses profound global challenges, especially for agriculture and food security in developing countries. This study investigates the impact of climate change on household food security and assesses the effectiveness of farm‐level adaptation strategies in mitigating its impacts in the Enebse Sar Midir District of the East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected through a household survey of 184 rural households using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Version 26. The findings reveal that 85.9% of respondents observed changes in temperature, while 90.2% noted altered rainfall patterns. The key climate‐related challenges affecting food security included drought (79.3%), erratic rainfall, and flooding. Household food security was assessed using indicators such as the months of adequate household food provisioning (MAHFP), Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and household dietary diversity score (HDDS). The study showed that 33.7%, 42.9%, and 32.1% of households were food secure according to MAHFP, HFIAS, and HDDS, respectively, while the majority remained food insecure. Binary logit regression analysis revealed nine significant determinants of household food security, including age, family size, educational level, livestock ownership, and rainfall variability (p < 0.05 and p < 0.1). Moreover, 82.1% of households adopted climate adaptation strategies, such as soil and water conservation, modified planting time, and improved crop management practices. This result points out the critical need to strengthen household‐level adaptation strategies and improve access to climate information to improve food security in drought‐prone rural areas of Ethiopia.

Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. Cantaloupe) is classified as a climacteric fruit, which means its quality deteriorates quickly after harvest. Early‐harvested melons often exhibit inferior color quality and lower sugar content but have a longer shelf life than those harvested later. This study aims to improve the postharvest quality of early‐harvested cantaloupe melons by evaluating the effect of Ethrel treatment on their sweetness and overall quality throughout the storage period. The melons were immersed in an Ethrel solution at 0 (control), 25, 50, and 100 ppm concentrations. After treatment, the melons were air‐dried and stored in a controlled environment at 28°C ± 1°C with 80% ± 5% relative humidity for 21 days. The results indicated that treating the melons with Ethrel at a concentration of 25 ppm significantly enhanced their quality and shelf life. This concentration increased sweetness levels and sugar content (sucrose), which measured 2% higher than the other treatments after 7 days of storage. Additionally, the 25 ppm Ethrel treatment improved the melons′ color to a vibrant orange and helped retain their hardness, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content. Furthermore, this treatment resulted in minimal fruit damage and extended the melons′ shelf life for up to 21 days during storage. In conclusion, Ethrel at a concentration of 25 ppm is considered the optimal treatment for improving sugar content and maintaining the quality of early‐harvested cantaloupe melons.

The Seka Chekorsa District in Jimma Zone holds significant potential for irrigation, particularly for small‐scale wheat production under irrigation farming system. Recently, the Ethiopian government has given irrigation facility construction a lot in order to boost Agricultural productivity and output. However, limited research has been conducted in the adoption of small‐scale irrigation for wheat production and its impacts on household food security in the Seka Chekorsa District. The aim of this study was to examine the adoption of small‐scale irrigation wheat production and its impacts on household food security in the Jimma Zone, Seka Chekorsa district. A cross‐sectional study design was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative data collected through survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with 100 adopters and 153 nonadopters from February to April 2023. Secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished sources. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, Logit models, and propensity score matching. A binary logit model analysis result showed education level, family size, credit use, frequency of extension contacts, and ownership of livestock significantly and positively influenced the adoption of irrigated wheat production. However, the distance of land plot from the water source negatively affected small‐scale irrigation wheat production adoption. The propensity score matching results indicated that the adoption of irrigated wheat production raised the caloric intake of households by 518.86 kcal/AE/day compared with nonadopters. The qualitative findings indicated key constraints to small‐scale irrigation wheat production, including lack of irrigation equipment, limited access to improved seeds, high input costs, water logging, bird attacks, and untimely rainfall. But, water and labor availability were noted as opportunities. The study also found that adopters of irrigated wheat production are more food secure than nonadopters. Therefore, raising awareness among nonadopters and promoting further research in this area is recommended.

Comprehensive understanding of farmers′ breeding goals and reproductive performance of sheep is a foundational prerequisite in designing successful breeding strategies for smallholder systems. This study characterized sheep husbandry, breeding management, and reproductive performance among smallholder households in Loma District, Dawro Zone. A cross‐sectional survey of 138 sheep‐owning households was complemented by focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, chi‐square tests, ranking indices, and qualitative triangulation. Results showed that sheep production was multifunctional, with income generation and risk management receiving the highest importance among the identified purposes. Natural pasture was the dominant feed resource, whereas improved forage and nonconventional feeds were used less frequently. Natural mating was the principal breeding approach practiced by the farmers; none of them used artificial insemination. Selection of breeding rams was widely practiced by farmers irrespective of agroecological differences, where the ram was sourced from neighbors and from the replacement flock. Farmers focus on body conformation (34.1%) and age (26.8%), considering pedigree (10.9%) and coat color (9.4%) less frequently. Disease and parasites (index = 0.18), feed and water shortages (0.18), and weak extension (0.16) were the most severe bottlenecks of sheep herding; marketing problems, drought, and lack of credit services were the least limiting ones. The AFS (age at first service) of rams and ewes was noted to be 6.55 ± 0.91 and 7.28 ± 1.21 months, respectively, whereas AFL (age at first lambing), LI (lambing interval), and SAR (slaughter age of ram) were 12.30 ± 0.93, 7.67 ± 1.28, and 8.11 ± 0.84 months, respectively. The findings indicate that improvement efforts in Loma should build on existing farmer practices while strengthening feed availability, animal health services, farmer training, community‐based ram selection, and extension support.

Anxiety and depression are significant neurological disorders with limited treatment efficacy and notable side effects associated with conventional synthetic drugs. This study investigated the anxiolytic and antidepressant potential of the methanolic leaf extract of Drimycarpus racemosus Hook. f. (MEDR) using both in vivo behavioral models and in silico molecular docking approaches. GC–MS analysis of MEDR identified 39 phytochemical constituents, including bioactive terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and fatty acid esters. In vivo experiments were conducted (n = 5 per group) on Swiss albino mice randomly divided into control, standard (diazepam 1 mg/kg), and treatment groups receiving MEDR (200 and 400 mg/kg) using the elevated plus maze (EPM), hole‐board test (HBT), light–dark box (LDB), and forced swim test (FST). MEDR exhibited significant dose‐dependent effects. At 400 mg/kg, MEDR significantly increased time spent in the open arms of the EPM by approximately 89% (140.0 ± 1.79 s vs. 74.2 ± 2.71 s in control, ∗p < 0.05) and number of open‐arm entries (17.2 ± 1.43 vs. 10.4 ± 1.57) while markedly reducing immobility time in the FST by ~44% (102.2 ± 1.16 s vs. 182.6 ± 1.94 s in control, ∗p < 0.05). These effects were comparable to the standard drug diazepam (1 mg/kg). Molecular docking studies against the potassium channel (PDB ID: 4UUJ), GABAA receptor (PDB ID: 6X3X), and human serotonin transporter (hSERT, PDB ID: 5I6X) revealed that β‐sitosterol acetate and 2‐[4‐cyclohexylbutanoylamino]‐3‐chloro‐1,4‐naphthoquinone exhibited higher binding affinities than diazepam across all three targets. The combined in vivo and in silico findings indicate that D. racemosus exerts multitarget neuropharmacological effects, primarily through modulation of GABAergic and serotonergic systems. These results highlight the phytochemical richness and therapeutic promise of MEDR as a potential source for developing safe, plant‐based neurotherapeutics for anxiety and depression.

RETRACTION: F. L. Faraj, M. Zahedifard, M. Paydar, C. Y. Looi, N. A. Majid, H. M. Ali, N. Ahmad, N. S. Gwaram, M. A. Abdulla, “Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Activity of New Quinazoline Derivatives against MCF-7 Cells,” The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 212096, 10.1155/2014/212096 Figure 11a is identical to Figure 3a in [2] The control panels in Figure 12a appear identical to the Control panels shown in the correction posted in [3] No response was received from the authors regarding the concerns raised. After assessment by the Editorial Board, the results and conclusions presented can no longer be considered reliable, and the article is therefore retracted. The authors did not respond to the retraction.