Vertical farming for lettuce production in limited space: a case study in Northern Thailand.

Background: Greenhouse vertical farming under natural sunlight is an alternative farming technique that grows crops in a stacking column and extends in a vertical direction. Sunlight availability is one of the crucial factors for crop development in vertical farming. Therefore, this investigation aimed to examine the effect of sunlight availability on lettuce growth and yields at different levels of vertical shelves. Methods: Six shelves were constructed with three levels: upper, middle and lower levels. Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) as 'Baby Cos' and 'Green Oak' at 14 days after sowing were planted on the three levels. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was recorded, and the PPFD values were then converted to the daily light integral (DLI). Plant height and canopy width were measured three times at 14, 21 and 28 days after transplanting. At maturity, fresh weight (FW) was directly monitored after harvest. Results: The results showed that the highest PPFD and DLI values were found at the upper level (PPFD 697 µmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 29 mol m-2 d-1) in comparison to the middle (PPFD 391 µmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 16 mol m-2 d-1) and lower (PPFD 322 µmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 13 mol m-2 d-1) levels. The lowest plant height and canopy width values were observed on the upper levels for both lettuce varieties during the three measurement dates. The middle ('Baby Cos' = 123.8 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 190.7 g plant-1) and lower ('Baby Cos' = 92.9 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 203.7 g plant-1) levels had the higher values of FW in comparison to the upper level ('Baby Cos' = 84.5 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 97.3 g plant-1). The values of light use efficiency (LUE) showed an increased trend from the upper to lower levels in both varieties, with values of 'Baby Cos' of 0.10 g mol-1 in the upper level, 0.28 g mol-1 in the middle level and 0.26 g mol-1 in the lower level and 'Green Oak' of 0.12 g mol-1 in the upper level, 0.44 g mol-1 in the middle level and 0.57 g mol-1 in the lower level. The findings of the study indicated the viability of utilizing vertical shelves for lettuce production.

High synthetic cost-amino acids reduce member interactions of acetate-degrading methanogenic microbial community.

Introduction: The cooperation among members of microbial communities based on the exchange of public goods such as 20 protein amino acids (AAs) has attracted widespread attention. However, little is known about how AAs availability affects interactions among members of complex microbial communities and the structure and function of a community. Methods: To investigate this question, trace amounts of AAs combinations with different synthetic costs (low-cost, medium-cost, high-cost, and all 20 AAs) were supplemented separately to acetate-degrading thermophilic methanogenic reactors, and the differences in microbial community structure and co-occurring networks of main members were compared to a control reactor without AA supplementation. Results: The structure of the microbial community and the interaction of community members were influenced by AAs supplementation and the AAs with different synthetic costs had different impacts. The number of nodes, links, positive links, and the average degree of nodes in the co-occurrence network of the microbial communities with AAs supplementation was significantly lower than that of the control without AAs supplementation, especially for all 20 AAs supplementation followed by the medium- and high-cost AAs supplementation. The average proportion of positive interactions of microbial members in the systems supplemented with low-cost, medium-cost, high-cost, all AAs, and the control group were 0.42, 0.38, 0.15, 0.4, and 0.45, respectively. In addition, the ecological functions of community members possibly changed with the supplementation of different cost AAs. Discussion: These findings highlight the effects of AAs availability on the interactions among members of complex microbial communities, as well as on community function.

Silicon, a quasi-essential element: Availability in soil, fertilizer regime, optimum dosage, and uptake in plants.

The essentiality of silicon (Si) has always been a matter of debate as it is not considered crucial for the lifecycles of most plants. But beneficial effects of endogenous Si and its supplementation have been observed in many plants. Silicon plays a pivotal role in alleviating the biotic and abiotic stress in plants by acting as a physical barrier as well as affecting molecular pathways involved in stress tolerance, thus widely considered as "quasi-essential". In soil, most of Si is found in complex forms as mineral silicates which is not available for plant uptake. Monosilicic acid [Si(OH)4] is the only plant-available form of silicon (PAS) present in the soil. The ability of a plant to uptake Si is positively correlated with the PAS concentration of the soil. Since many cultivated soils often lack a sufficient amount of PAS, it has become common practice to supplement Si through the use of Si-based fertilizers in various crop cultivation systems. This review outlines the use of natural and chemical sources of Si as fertilizer, different regimes of Si fertilization, and conclude by identifying the optimum concentration of Si required to observe the beneficial effects in plants. Also, the different mathematical models defining the mineral dynamics for Si uptake at whole plant scale considering various natural factors like plant morphology, mineral distribution, and transporter expression have been discussed. Information provided here will further help in increasing understanding of Si role and thereby facilitate efficient exploration of the element as a fertilizer in crop production.

Methods for testing short- and long-term phosphorus fertilizing efficiency of products with varying solubility.

Phosphorus (P) recovery from nutrient-rich side streams (NRSS) and derived products is crucial to ensure sustainable food production in the future and to enhance the circular economy, but the agronomic efficiency of these products needs to be validated to reach these targets. In this study, we used a Hedley fractionation scheme and the diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) method to determine P availability in 83 NRSS and derived products originating from Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Furthermore, two independent short- and long-term growth experiments with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), respectively, were conducted to evaluate P availability in 15 selected NRSS. In addition to the DGT soil test, different fertilizer extractants, 2 % formic acid (FA), 2 % citric acid, and neutral ammonium citrate, were tested for predicting P availability in growth experiments. Livestock manures and slurries were found to contain a notable portion of labile P and were comparable to superphosphate (SP). Despite the low shares of labile P in struvite (7.2 %) and AshDec® (1.3 %), they exhibited P availability comparable to SP fertilizer, as indicated by DGT (99 % and 238 % of SP equivalence, respectively). This suggests that factors other than solubility influenced P availability in these side streams. The DGT method as a promising soil test predicted both short- and long-term P availability better than the selected conventional chemical extraction methods did. The 2 % FA extract exhibited the poorest performance, overestimating P availability in some nutrient sources while underestimating others in long-term. These findings enhance our understanding of P availability in potential raw materials for fertilizers, facilitating more effective P management strategies in the circular economy.

Genetics and metabolic responses of Artemisia annua L to the lake of phosphorus under the sparingly soluble phosphorus fertilizer: evidence from transcriptomics analysis.

The medicinal herb Artemisia annua L. is prized for its capacity to generate artemisinin, which is used to cure malaria. Potentially influencing the biomass and secondary metabolite synthesis of A. annua is plant nutrition, particularly phosphorus (P). However, most soil P exist as insoluble inorganic and organic phosphates, which results to low P availability limiting plant growth and development. Although plants have developed several adaptation strategies to low P levels, genetics and metabolic responses to P status remain largely unknown. In a controlled greenhouse experiment, the sparingly soluble P form, hydroxyapatite (Ca5OH(PO4)3/CaP) was used to simulate calcareous soils with low P availability. In contrast, the soluble P form KH2PO4/KP was used as a control. A. annua's morphological traits, growth, and artemisinin concentration were determined, and RNA sequencing was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under two different P forms. Total biomass, plant height, leaf number, and stem diameter, as well as leaf area, decreased by 64.83%, 27.49%, 30.47%, 38.70%, and 54.64% in CaP compared to KP; however, LC-MS tests showed an outstanding 37.97% rise in artemisinin content per unit biomass in CaP contrary to KP. Transcriptome analysis showed 2015 DEGs (1084 up-regulated and 931 down-regulated) between two P forms, including 39 transcription factor (TF) families. Further analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, enzyme catalytic activity, signal transduction, and so on, such as tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glycolysis, starch and sucrose metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, P metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. Meanwhile, several artemisinin biosynthesis genes were up-regulated, including DXS, GPPS, GGPS, MVD, and ALDH, potentially increasing artemisinin accumulation. Furthermore, 21 TF families, including WRKY, MYB, bHLH, and ERF, were up-regulated in reaction to CaP, confirming their importance in P absorption, internal P cycling, and artemisinin biosynthesis regulation. Our results will enable us to comprehend how low P availability impacts the parallel transcriptional control of plant development, growth, and artemisinin production in A. annua. This study could lay the groundwork for future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying A. annua's low P adaptation.

Modelling policies to improve affordability and consumption of nutritious foods for complementary feeding in Kenya.

In Kenya 26% of children under age 5 experience stunted growth, 4% are wasted and 11% are underweight. In pregnant women, the prevalence of iron deficiency is 36% and iron-deficiency anaemia prevalence is 26%. Previous studies have identified affordability as a key barrier to the intake of nutrients, particularly from animal-source foods (ASFs). Thus, this study analyzes to what extent the affordability of ASF in Kenya can be improved. It focuses on four ASFs: eggs, milk, chicken and beef. Using a computable general equilibrium model, three policy simulations were undertaken to establish the impact of potential changes on nutritious ASF availability and affordability: a 20% increase in total factor productivity (TFP) for the four products; a 20% TFP increase plus a 25% reduction in trade and transportation margins; and a 20% TFP increase for ASF and maize (a key input in animal feed). Simulations suggest increasing the productivity of the four ASF products would increase their availability and lower consumer prices (up to 17% lower). Household consumption of the four commodities would increase, resulting in improved household dietary diversity. Rural households would gain more compared with urban households. Poor households (the lowest 40%) would register larger welfare (Equivalent Variation) gains than other households in both urban and rural areas. The richest 20% of the population would neither lose nor gain following the policy changes. Reducing transportation costs and trade margins and increasing maize productivity could further reduce the price of ASFs through lower production costs and increased consumption.

Preliminary exploration of herbal tea products based on traditional knowledge and hypotheses concerning herbal tea selection: a case study in Southwest Guizhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Herbal tea usually refers to "beverage plants that do not belong to the genus Camellia", and it holds a significant historical legacy as a traditional beverage among specific regions and ethnic groups. In light of this, our research aims to investigate and analyze the traditional knowledge pertaining to herbal tea plants used by local people in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. We also initiated preliminary efforts to create tea products from herbal tea leaves using various processing techniques. Additionally, we attempted to test hypotheses to elucidate how local people select herbal tea plants. METHODS: Data related to the use of herbal tea plants in this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations in four villages in Qianxinan. Quantitative indicators, including the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the relative importance (RI) value, were calculated, and the availability of plants was also evaluated. General linear model was performed to examine the relationship between the frequency of citation and resource availability, as well as the correlation between the relative frequency of citation and the relative importance, to test both the resource availability hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis. Centella asiatica tea was processed using techniques from green tea, black tea and white tea, with a preliminary sensory evaluation conducted. RESULTS: A total of 114 plant species were documented as being used for herbal teas by local residents, representing 60 families and 104 genera. Of these, 61% of herbal tea plants were found growing in the wild, and 11 species were exotic plants. The family with the highest number of species was Asteraceae (20 species). The study identified 33 major medicinal functions of herbal tea, with clearing heat-toxin and diuresis being the most common functions. General linear model revealed a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.72, p < 0.001) between the frequency of citation and plant availability, as well as a significant correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.63, p < 0.001) between RFC and RI. Under different processing conditions, the characteristics of Centella asiatica tea exhibited variations and were found to be suitable for consumption. CONCLUSION: The consumption of herbal tea serves as a preventive measure against common ailments for local residents. The resource availability hypothesis, diversification hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis were shown to provide some insight into "how and why local communities select plants for use." Exotic herbal tea plants in the study area also possess valuable therapeutic properties. The processing and production of Centella asiatica herbal tea products hold promising prospects.

Combined use of biochar and phosphate rocks on phosphorus and heavy metal availability: A meta-analysis.

Biochar (BC) and phosphate rocks (PR) are alternative nutrient sources with multiple benefits for sustainable agriculture. The combination of these soil amendments serves two main purposes: to increase soil phosphorus (P) availability and to remediate heavy metal (HM) contamination. However, a further demonstration of the benefits and risks associated with the combined use of BC and PR (BC + PR) is needed, considering the specific characteristics of raw materials, soil types, experimental conditions, and climatic contexts. This meta-analysis is based on data from 28 selected studies, including 581 paired combinations evaluating effects on extraction and fractionation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), and 290 paired combinations for soil labile and non-labile P. The results reveal that BC, PR, and BC + PR significantly increase soil labile and non-labile P, with BC + PR showing a 150% greater increase compared to BC alone. In tropical regions, substantial increases in P levels were observed with BC, PR, and BC + PR exhibiting increments of 317, 798, and 288%, respectively. In contrast, temperate climate conditions showed lower increases, with BC, PR, and BC + PR indicating 54, 123, and 88% rises in soil P levels. Moreover, BC, PR, and BC + PR effectively reduce the bioavailability of Cd and Pb in soil, with BC + PR demonstrating the highest efficacy in immobilizing Cd. The synergistic effect of BC + PR highlights their potential for Cd remediation. BC + PR effectively reduces the exchangeable fraction of Cd and Pb in soil, leading to their immobilization in more stable forms, such as the residual fraction. This study provides valuable insights into the remediation potential and P management benefits of BC and PR, highlighting their importance for sustainable agriculture and soil remediation practices.

Improving liming mode for remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils: Identifying the optimal soil pH, model and efficacies.

Liming has been widely taken to remediate Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils, whereas liming mode involving in the relevant optimal soil pH, model and efficacies remain unclear. Both soil and field liming experiments were conducted to improve liming mode for precise remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils. Soil batch liming experiments indicated soil DTPA-Cd and CaCl2-Cd were piecewise linearly correlated to soil pH with nodes of 6.8-8.0, and decreased respectively by 15.3%37.7% and 80.7%93.8% (P < 0.05) when soil pH raised over the nodes, indicating an appropriate target soil pH 7.0 for liming. Stepwise linear regression revealed that liming ratio (LR, kg ha-1) could be estimated from soil basal pH (pH0) and the interval to the target soil pH (ΔpH), as [LR=exp(1.10 ×ΔpH+0.61 ×pH0-4.98), R2 = 0.97, n = 42, P < 0.01]. The model exhibited high prediction accuracy (95.2%), low mean estimation error (-0.02) and root mean square error (0.20). Field liming experiment indicated liming to target pH decreased respectively soil CaCl2-Cd by 95.2-98.0% and rice grain Cd by 59.8-80.6% (P < 0.01), whereas uninfluenced rice grain yield. Correlation analysis and structural equation models (SEM) demonstrated that great reduction in Cd phytoavailability was mainly attributed to the transformation of soil water-soluble and exchangeable Cd to carbonate-bound Cd and Fe/Mn oxides-bound Cd and reduced Cd in iron plaque as increasing soil pH. However, rice grain Cd of 50% samples met national food safety standards limit of China (0.2 mg kg-1) due to the high soil Cd level (0.8 mg kg-1). In conclusion, liming to target soil pH 7.0 could be considered as a precise and effective remediation mode for Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils and complementary practices should be implemented for severe pollution. Our results could provide novel insights on precise liming remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils.

Multi-imaging platform for rhizosphere studies: Phosphorus and oxygen fluxes.

Rhizosphere is a soil volume of high spatio-temporal heterogeneity and intensive plant-soil-microbial interactions, for which visualization and process quantification is of highest scientific and applied relevance, but still very challenging. A novel methodology for quick assessment of two-dimensional distribution of available phosphorus (P) in rhizosphere was suggested, tested, and development up to the application platform. Available P was firstly trapped by an in-situ diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) sampler with precipitated zirconia as the binding gel, and subsequently, the loaded gel was analyzed with an optimized colorimetric imaging densitometry (CID). The imaging platform was established linking: i) DGT, ii) planar optode, and iii) soil zymography techniques to simultaneously determine available P, oxygen, and acid phosphatase in rhizosphere at sub-millimeter spatial scales. The DGT identified available P level in rice rhizosphere were spatially overlapping to the localized redox hotspots and phosphatase activity. The spatial relationship between available P and acid phosphatase activity was dependent on root development. The root radial oxygen loss (ROL) remained active during the experimental observations (2-3 days), while a flux of available P of 10 pg cm-2 s-1 was visualized within 2-3 mm of roots, confirming the correlative response of rice roots to oxygen secretion and P uptake. Summarizing, the established imaging platform is suitable to capture spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of root activities, nutrient bioavailability, ROL and enzyme activities in rhizosphere.

Cattle manure hydrochar posed a higher efficiency in elevating tomato productivity and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions than plant straw hydrochar in a coastal soil.

Rehabilitation of degraded soil health using high-performance and sustainable measures are urgently required for restoring soil primary productivity and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of coastal ecosystems. However, the effect of livestock manure derived hydrochar on GHG emission and plant productivity in the coastal salt-affected soils, one of blue carbon (C) ecosystems, was poorly understood. Therefore, a cattle manure hydrochar (CHC) produced at 220 °C was prepared to explore its effects and mechanisms on CH4 and N2O emissions and tomato growth and fruit quality in a coastal soil in comparison with corresponding hydrochars derived from plant straws, i.e., sesbania straw hydrochars (SHC) and reed straw hydrochars (RHC) using a 63-day soil column experiment. The results showed that CHC posed a greater efficiency in reducing the global warming potential (GWP, 54.6 % (36.7 g/m2) vs. 45.5-45.6 % (22.2-30.6 g/m2)) than those of RHC and SHC. For the plant growth, three hydrochars at 3 % (w/w) significantly increased dry biomass of tomato shoot and fruit by 12.4-49.5 % and 48.6-165 %, respectively. Moreover, CHC showed the highest promotion effect on shoot and fruit dry biomass of tomato, followed by SHC ≈ RHC. Application of SHC, CHC and RHC significantly elevated the tomato sweetness compared with CK, with the order of CHC (54.4 %) > RHC (35.6 %) > SHC (22.1 %). Structural equation models revealed that CHC-depressed denitrification and methanogen mainly contributed to decreased GHG emissions. Increased soil phosphorus availability due to labile phosphorus supply from CHC dominantly accounted for elevated tomato growth and fruit production. Comparably, SHC-altered soil properties (e.g., decreased pH and increased total carbon content) determined variations of GHG emission and tomato growth. The findings provide the high-performance strategies to enhance soil primary productivity and mitigate GHG emissions in the blue C ecosystems.

Granular bacterial inoculant alters the rhizosphere microbiome and soil aggregate fractionation to affect phosphorus fractions and maize growth.

The constraint of phosphorus (P) fixation on crop production in alkaline calcareous soils can be alleviated by applying bioinoculants. However, the impact of bacterial inoculants on this process remains inadequately understood. Here, a field study was conducted to investigate the effect of a high-concentration, cost-effective, and slow-release granular bacterial inoculant (GBI) on maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth. Additionally, we explored the effects of GBI on rhizosphere soil aggregate physicochemical properties, rhizosphere soil P fraction, and microbial communities within aggregates. The outcomes showed a considerable improvement in plant growth and P uptake upon application of the GBI. The application of GBI significantly enhanced the AP, phoD gene abundance, alkaline phosphatase activity, inorganic P fractions, and organic P fractions in large macroaggregates. Furthermore, GBI impacted soil aggregate fractionation, leading to substantial alterations in the composition of fungal and bacterial communities. Notably, key microbial taxa involved in P-cycling, such as Saccharimonadales and Mortierella, exhibited enrichment in the rhizosphere soil of plants treated with GBI. Overall, our study provides valuable insight into the impact of GBI application on microbial distributions and P fractions within aggregates of alkaline calcareous soils, crucial for fostering healthy root development and optimal crop growth potential. Subsequent research endeavors should delve into exploring the effects of diverse GBIs and specific aggregate types on P fraction and community composition across various soil profiles.

Urbanization increases the risk of phosphorus loss in sandy soils of tropical ecosystems.

Phosphorus (P) is naturally present in soils. However, urbanization can promote additional inputs of P into the soil that lead to saturation of the binding sites exceeding the maximum sorption capacity. Soils saturated with P act as important diffuse sources of pollution of water resources. The flow of P from the soil to aquatic ecosystems is an aggravating factor for water scarcity, especially in the semiarid region. Knowing phosphorus dynamics in the soil is essential to protect water quality and ensure its multiple uses. In this paper, a total of fifty soil samples, twenty-five from natural soils and twenty-five from urban soils, were evaluated for the effect of urbanization on P sorption characteristics and their relationship with the physical and chemical attributes of the soil. The soil samples were characterized physically and chemically, and the P sorption characteristics were obtained from the adjustment of Langmuir and Freundlich equations by nonlinear regression. Urbanization results in increased soil P saturation and reduced P sorption capacity. Our results show that the sandy texture of the soils studied had a standardizing effect on the soil's physical properties, maintaining, even after urbanization, the physical quality similar to natural soil. In contrast, pH (in water and KCl), base saturation, sodium saturation, potential acidity, exchangeable Al3+, exchangeable Mg2+, available P, and P-rem are valuable indicators in the segregation between natural and urban soils. The reduction of P sorption capacity in urban soils increases the risks related to P loads in aquatic ecosystems that experience urban expansion worldwide. These data serve as a basis for decision-making regarding the appropriate soil monitoring and management of urban expansion areas in watersheds to control P flow to aquatic systems.

Consequences of excess urea application on photosynthetic characteristics and nitrogen metabolism of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings.

Urea is the most frequently used nitrogen (N) fertilizer worldwide. However, the mechanisms in plants to cope with excess urea are largely unknown, especially for woody legumes that can meet their N demand by their own N2-fixation capacity. Here, we studied the immediate consequences of different amounts of urea application and exposure duration on photosynthesis, N metabolism, and the activity of antioxidative enzymes of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings. For this purpose, seedlings were grown for 3 months under normal N availability with rhizobia inoculation and, subsequently, 50 mg N kg-1 was applied to the soil twice with urea as additional N source. Our results show that excess urea application significantly promoted photosynthesis, which increased by 80.3% and 84.7% compared with CK after the 1st and 2nd urea applications, respectively. The increase in photosynthesis translated into an increase in root and nodule biomass of 88.7% and 82.0%, respectively, while leaf biomass decreased by 4.8% after the first application of urea. The N content in leaves was 92.6% higher than in roots, but excess urea application increased the N content of protein and free amino acids in roots by 25.0%, and 43.3%, respectively. Apparently, enhanced root growth and N storage in the roots constitute mechanisms to prevent the negative consequences of excess N in the shoot upon urea application. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity of leaves and roots increased by 74.4% and 26.3%, respectively. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity in leaves and roots was enhanced by 337% and 34.0%, respectively, but then decreased rapidly to the initial level before fertilization. This result shows that not only N metabolism, but also antioxidative capacity was transiently promoted by excess urea application. Apparently, excess urea application initially poses oxidative stress to the plants that is immediately counteracted by enhanced scavenging of reactive oxygen species via enhanced GR activity.

Association of the availability of pharmaceutical facilities provided in secondary and tertiary hospitals with clinical pharmacists' work performance.

BACKGROUND: Clinical pharmacists always work as the pivotal role in the process of facilitating the proper use of drug. Based on the person-environment fit theory, the availability of facilities required in pharmaceutical service may influence pharmacists' performance, but which of them may have positive or negative impact remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analysed the quantitative association of the availability of pharmaceutical facilities provided in Chinese hospitals and clinical pharmacists' work performance to assist hospitals formulating plans of the improving pharmaceutical working conditions to enhance clinical pharmacists' performance. METHOD: Demonstrated by the panel of expert and literature review, the questionnaire for administrators and clinical pharmacists of secondary and tertiary hospitals in China was formed. Then a mixed sampling was adopted to gather data on information of the participants, as well as evaluation indexes of the availability of facilities and clinical pharmacists' work performance. RESULTS: Overall, 625 questionnaires distributed to administrators of hospitals and 1219 ones distributed to clinical pharmacists were retrieved. As for the Pharmaceutical facilities, while the increased availability of Traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy (p = 0.02) has a significantly positive impact on clinical pharmacists' performance, the great availability of the preparation room (p = 0.07) negatively influences their work performance. CONCLUSION: Improving the availability of facilities that significantly influence clinical pharmacists' work performance possibly reduce their workload, enhance their efficiency and further promote progress in pharmaceutical service.

Investigating pre-professional dancer health status and preventative health knowledge.

Introduction: Dance is a highly demanding physical pursuit coupled with pressure to conform to aesthetic ideals. Assessment of health status and preventative health knowledge of pre-professional dancers may help inform educational strategies promoting dancers' health and career longevity. The aim of this research was to establish a baseline understanding of dance students at a single pre-professional institution based on metrics focused on current health, nutrition, lifestyle, and wellbeing while also gauging knowledge of longer-term health implications. Methods: Adopting a cross-sectional study design, the Dance-Specific Energy Availability Questionnaire was tailored for Australian participants and administered online. Results: The response rate was 59.5% (69/116 eligible students) and the survey was completed in full by 63 students. Mean BMI was 20 kg/m2, although among females, 47% had a BMI < 20 (range 16 to 25 kg/m2), and at their lowest reported weight BMI was 14 to 25 kg/m2. Over a third had either experienced (31%) or were currently experiencing (3.4%) secondary amenorrhea (period absence ≥ 3 consecutive months). Most dancers did not exclude food groups, however, 24% had been advised to exclude particular foods in the past, mostly by dance teachers. A large percentage used nutritional supplements (68%) with 60% supplementing with iron and more than half (53%) taking two or more supplements. Only 25% had ever utilised a qualified dietitian, although 16% reported a history of eating disorders and 25% reported vegetarian or vegan eating patterns. REDs risk scores ranged from -16 to +16 points with negative scores indicating LEA and higher risk of REDs. The mean score for males was 5.2 (SD = 3.9) and 2.1 (SD = 5.9) for females, with 33.3% producing a negative score. Conclusion: Results provide insight to health knowledge and particular issues pertinent for dancers and highlights the need for specific education strategies to promote a preventative health focus for those entering a pre-professional programme. This study also highlights the need for improved awareness of LEA and REDs among all practitioners working with dancers along with cultural and structural changes within the broader dance community to help protect and promote the wellbeing of dancers.

Online information and availability of three doping substances (anabolic agents) in sports: role of pharmacies.

Background: The Internet has become an important source for easy access to doping substances, where people and athletes may acquire, outside pharmacies and without a (medical) prescription. These online websites do not always offer quality-assured products, and are outside the regular distribution channels of medicines. The aim of this study was to estimate the availability and accessible information on the Internet about the sale of three doping substances (oxandrolone, DHEA, androstenedione). Methods: Cross-sectional exploratory study, being an observation at a point in time of the online availability of these three doping substances (WADA S1 category: anabolic agents), purchased from Spain, Puerto Rico, Canada, United States, Ukraine and Russia. The characteristics of the websites, the countries the webs sold to, the pharmaceutical forms offered and the recommendations for its use were analyzed by using a computer tool designed ad hoc. Results: There were significant differences between countries in the number of webpages that sold the products (Chi-square test, p < 0.05). Oxandrolone was available for purchase mainly when buying from Spain (27.12%) and Ukraine (26.58%), in websites dedicated to sports (77.26%). For DHEA, most of the pages offered it if the search was done from Canada (23.34%) and Russia (21.44%). Products containing androstenedione or DHEA are claimed to enhance sports performance or for sports use without providing details. Compared to the total number of websites checked, the proportion of pharmacies offering these products was low, ranging from 4.86% for DHEA to 15.79% for androstenedione. Conclusion: The three substances selected are easily available without control through the Internet. Only a small number of websites offering them were online pharmacies, and requested a prescription. Most of the doping substances are purchased from the country where they are requested. Product information described benefits for sports performance, but did not do the same with their side effects. It would be advisable for these products to be sold through pharmacies, to guarantee their quality and provide evidence-based information on their safe use, benefits and risks, and only with a prescription. Athletes should be encouraged to consult health professionals about those supplements suitable for their type of training and sports objectives.

Improving soil phosphorus availability in saline areas by marine bacterium Bacillus paramycoides.

The utilization of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in agriculture has long been proposed as an eco-friendly method to enhance soil phosphorus (P) availability, thereby reducing reliance on chemical P fertilizers. However, their application in saline soils is challenged by salt-induced stress on common PSB strains. In this study, we sourced bacterial strains from marine environments, aiming to identify robust PSB strains adaptable to saline conditions and assess their potential as P bio-fertilizers through a microcosm experiment. Our findings indicate that the inoculation of a selected marine PSB, Bacillus paramycoides 3-1a, increased soil available P content by 12.5% when applied alone and by 61.2% when combined with organic amendments. This enhancement results from improved inorganic P solubilization and organic P mineralization in soils. Additionally, these treatments raised soil nitrogen levels, reshaped microbial community structures, and significantly enhanced wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, with P accumulation increasing by 24.2-40.9%. Our results underscore the potential of marine PSB in conjunction with organic amendments for the amelioration of saline agricultural soils.

[Resource components and utilization values of different parts of Panax quinquefolium in Shandong province].

To explore the resource components and availability of different parts of Panax quinquefolium in Shandong province, the paper employed the non-targeted metabolomics technology based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) to analyze the metabolites and their metabolic pathways in the root, fibril, stem, and leaf of P. quinquefolium. The content of seven ginsenosides and polysaccharides in different parts was determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry(UV-Vis). The results showed that the metabolites were mainly sugars, glycosides, organic acids, amino acids and their derivatives, terpenoids, etc. The total abundance of metabolites followed the trend of leaf > root > fibril > stem. Most of the differential metabolites were concentrated in phenylpropane biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, citric acid cycle, and amino acid biosynthesis. The leaf contained high levels of sugars, glycosides, amino acids and their derivatives, and flavonoids; the root was rich in terpenoids, volatile oils, vitamins, and lignin; the fibril contained rich organic acids; and the stem had high content of nucleotides and their derivatives. The content of ginsenosides Re and Rb_1 was significantly higher in the root; the content of ginsenosides Rg_1, Rg_2, Rd, F_(11), and polysaccharide was significantly higher in the leaf; and the content of ginsenoside Rb_2 was significantly higher in the stem. We analyzed the resource components and availability of different parts of P. quinquefolium, aiming to provide basic information for the comprehensive development and utilization of P. quinquefolium resources in Shandong province.

National survey on the availability of oncology palliative care services at tertiary general and cancer hospitals in China.

BACKGROUND: This nationwide survey studied the level of palliative care (PC) access for Chinese patients with cancer among cancer care providers either in tertiary general hospitals or cancer hospitals in China. METHODS: Using a probability-proportionate-to-size method, we identified local tertiary general hospitals with oncology departments to match cancer hospitals at the same geographic area. A PC program leader or a designee at each hospital reported available PC services, including staffing, inpatient and outpatient services, education, and research, with most questions adapted from a previous national survey on PC. The primary outcome was availability of a PC service. RESULTS: Most responders reported that some type of PC service (possibly called "comprehensive cancer care," "pain and symptom management," or "supportive care") was available at their institution (84.3% of tertiary general hospitals, 82.8% of cancer hospitals). However, cancer hospitals were significantly more likely than tertiary general hospitals to have a PC department or specialist (34.1% vs. 15.5%, p < 0.001). The most popular services were pain consultation (> 92%), symptom management (> 77%), comprehensive care plans (~ 60%), obtaining advanced directives and do-not-resuscitate orders (~ 45%), referrals to hospice (> 32%), and psychiatric assessment (> 25%). Cancer hospitals were also more likely than tertiary general hospitals to report having inpatient beds for PC (46.3% vs. 30.5%; p = 0.010), outpatient PC clinics (28.0% vs. 16.8%; p = 0.029), educational programs (18.2% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.014), and research programs (17.2% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer hospitals are more likely to offer PC than are tertiary general hospitals in China. Our findings highlight opportunities to further increase the PC capacity in Chinese hospitals.