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AbstractDue to the increasing need for food security across the world, it has become urgent to develop a combination of different agricultural inputs that can enhance higher crop productivity under plant growth limiting environment. Thus, the effects of a cellulose decomposing bacterium (Geobacillus stearothermophilus SSK-2018), humic acid, and wheat straw were evaluated on the growth of Cucurbita pepo L. (squash) under an arid land condition during a two-year (2020 and 2021) field trials. Laboratory analysis revealed that G. stearothermophilus SSK-2018 was a gram-positive bacterium capable of promoting plant growth by producing indole-3-acetic acid as well as enzymatic activities including cellulase, amylase, protease, gelatinase, and phosphatase. Consequently, the inoculation of SSK-2018 significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) squash’s fresh stem, leaf, and root weights by 14.70%, 18.63% and 11.13%, respectively, compared to the uninoculated control. Humic acid significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased fresh stem, leaf, and root weights by 78.78%, 62.5% and 63.74%, respectively, compared to the control. Wheat straw also significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) fresh stem, leaf, and root weights by 52.68%, 30.32% and 42.30%, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, the combinations of the treatments, including humic acid and straw, SSK-2018 and straw, and humic acid, SSK-2018 and straw, significantly increased the growth of squash. Soil properties including bulk density, moisture content, and basic cations were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved by humic acid, SSK-2018 and wheat straw. This study suggests that like NPK, bio-organic treatments including SSK-2018, humic acid and straw, can equally improve plant’s fresh stem, leaf, and root weights as well as soil’s bulk density, moisture content, and basic cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+). Therefore, the present study recommends the continuous use of bio-organic amendments to achieve a sustainable improvement in plant growth and soil properties under arid land conditions. However, the continuous use of soil bio-organic amendments should be regularly monitored for potential increase in greenhouse gas emissions that may be at par with that of N fertilizers.

The importance of inorganic fertilizers in squash crop productivity is enormous. However, the continuous use of inorganic fertilizers constitutes a serious problem to the environment and human health due to nitrate accumulation. Thus, two seasons (2020 and 2021) of field trials were carried out to investigate the effects of bio-organic amendments on squash under arid land conditions in Saudi Arabia. The bio-organic amendments were comprised of humic acid (HA) at three levels (0, 50 and 100 L/ha), inoculation of a cellulose-decomposing bacterium (CDB; Geobacillus stearothermophilus SSK-2018) and wheat straw at four levels (0, 20 and 30 t/ha and NPK 20:20:20 at 600 kg/ha as a positive control). A randomized split-split plot design replicated three times was used in laying out the field trials. The independent application of HA, CDB and wheat straw significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved squash growth, yield and water-use efficiency in both seasons. Furthermore, HA significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced fruits’ nitrate content. HA (100 L/ha) reduced nitrate content in squash fruits by 87% and 71.6% compared to the control in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The application of 20 t/ha of wheat straw significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced nitrate accumulation in fruits compared to the positive control (NPK) by 5.9% and 13.6% in 2019/20 and 2020/21, respectively. Regression analysis shows that increased nitrate accumulation in fruits results in decreased squash growth and fruit yield. This study demonstrates the significance of bio-organic amendments in improving squash growth and yield while reducing nitrate accumulation in fruits.

Salinity impedes soil and crop productivity in over 900 million ha of arable lands worldwide due to the excessive accumulation of salt (NaCl). To utilize saline soils in agriculture, halophytes (salt-tolerant plants) are commonly cultivated. However, most food crops are glycophytes (salt-sensitive). Thus, to enhance the productivity of saline soils, gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) as well as bio-organic (combined use of organic materials, such as compost and straw with the inoculation of beneficial microbes) amendments have been continuously recognized to improve the biological, physical and chemical properties of saline soils. CaSO4·2H2O regulates the exchange of sodium (Na+) for calcium (Ca2+) on the clay surfaces, thereby increasing the Ca2+/Na+ ratio in the soil solution. Intracellularly, Ca2+ also promotes a higher K+/Na+ ratio. Simultaneously, gypsum furnishes crops with sulfur (S) for enhanced growth and yield through the increased production of phytohormones, amino acids, glutathione and osmoprotectants, which are vital elicitors in plants’ responses to salinity stress. Likewise, bio-organic amendments improve the organic matter and carbon content, nutrient cycling, porosity, water holding capacity, soil enzyme activities and biodiversity in saline soils. Overall, the integrated application of gypsum and bio-organic amendments in cultivating glycophytes and halophytes is a highly promising strategy in enhancing the productivity of saline soils.

Background. Global nursing shortages have led to the recruitment of culturally and linguistically diverse nurses from various countries. However, nurses face integration challenges in their host countries. Objective. This systematic review aimed to find the most recent evidence of factors associated with integrational strategies and models to support the transition and adaptation of culturally and linguistically diverse nurses to the professional workforce in healthcare settings. Methods. This systematic review used the population, exposure, outcome framework to select studies according to JBI guidelines. Original peer‐reviewed quantitative studies published between 2000 and 2021 were identified. Two researchers independently screened the studies based on eligibility criteria using title, abstract, and full text. The JBI critical appraisal tool assessed the methodology's quality for analytical cross‐sectional studies. Data were extracted, tabulated, and analysed narratively. PRISMA checklist was used in reporting. Data Sources. CINAHL (Ebsco), PubMed, Medic, ERIC (ProQuest), and Scopus. Results. The systematic review encompassed 19 articles and identified multiple factors associated with successful integration. These factors were classified into the following six categories: sociodemographic characteristics, discrimination, social support, organisational support, workplace environment, and acculturation. Conclusions. Comprehensive cultural competency training for healthcare staff, including managers, enhances cultural proficiency in work environments. Clear guidelines addressing bias and discrimination create a supportive environment where culturally and linguistically diverse nurses feel valued and respected, facilitating their adaptation and integration. Relevance to Clinical Practice. Patient care quality can be improved by ensuring sustainable culturally and linguistically diverse nurses' integration into healthcare organisations. Cultural diversity is a unique opportunity to bring a diverse range and experience to clinical settings. The diversity can also help enhance the cultural competence of healthcare staff, allowing them to better understand and cater to the needs of culturally diverse patients. Patient or Public Contribution. Not required for study design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleifera and Musa sapientum are ethno-medicinal plants, while 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a] anthracene is a carcinogen. This study evaluated anticancer potentials of MOF6 (extracted from Moringa oleifera leaves) and MSF1 (extracted from Musa sapientum suckers) in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mutagenesis in rats. Forty-five adult male rats were randomly divided into 9 groups (n = 5). Group 1 was Control. Groups 2 - 6 received single intra-peritoneal administration of 15 mg/Kg bodyweight of Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene on Day 1. Groups 3 - 6 were post-treated with 15 and 30 mg/Kg bodyweight MOF6 (Days 15 - 56), 10 mg/Kg bodyweight MSF1 (Days 15-56) and Doxorubicin/Cisplatin-dose (Days 15 - 29) respectively. Groups 7 - 9 received only MOF6-doses and MSF1-dose respectively. Doses of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and extracts were administered orally. Skin histo-pathology (Haematoxylin and Eosin), thiobarbituric acid assay of Malondialdehyde (in Liver homogenates), and ELISA concentrations of sera TNFα and Liver homogenates' p53 were evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed (p≤0.05). Histopathological evaluations showed normal skin histology in Groups 1, 4, 8 and 9. Significant skin histo-alteration was observed in Group 2. Mild skin histo-alterations were observed in Groups 5 and 6. Statistical analyses showed decreased levels of TNF-alpha, Malondialdehyde and p53 in Groups 3 - 9 compared with Group 2. Overall, MOF6 and MSF1 ameliorated 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced skin histo-pathology, inflammation, hepatic oxidative stress and mutagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Inadequate care within Tanzania’s primary health system contributes to thousands of preventable maternal and child deaths, and unwanted pregnancies each year. A key contributor is lack of coordination between three primary healthcare actors: public sector Community Health Workers (CHWs) and health facilities, and private sector Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs). The Afya-Tek program aims to improve the continuity of care amongst these actors in Kibaha district, through a mobile-application based digital referral system that focuses on improving maternal, child and adolescent health. The digital system called Afya-Tek was co-created with users and beneficiaries, and utilises open-source technology in-line with existing government systems. The system guides healthcare actors with individualised decision support during client visits and recommends accurate next steps (education, treatment, or referral). From July 2020 to June 2023, a total of 241,000 individuals were enrolled in the Afya-Tek program covering 7,557 pregnant women, 6,582 postpartum women, 45,900 children, and 25,700 adolescents. CHWs have conducted a total of 626,000 home visits to provide health services, including screening clients for danger signs. This has resulted in 38,100 referrals to health facilities and 24,300 linkages to ADDOs. At the ADDO level, 48,552 clients self-presented; 33% of children with pneumonia symptoms received Amoxicillin; 34% of children with diarrhoea symptoms received ORS and zinc; and 4,203 referrals were made to nearest health facilities. Adolescents preferred services at ADDOs as a result of increased perceived privacy and confidentiality. In total, 89% of all referrals were attended by health facilities. As the first digital health program in Tanzania to demonstrate the linkage among public and private sector primary healthcare actors, Afya-Tek holds promise to improve maternal, child and adolescent health as well as for scale-up and sustainability, through incorporation of other disease conditions and integration with government’s Unified Community System (UCS).