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Open educational resource (OER) initiatives have opened new avenues for educational opportunities, yet OER adoption levels globally remain low. Two significant obstacles to more widespread adoption of OER are the challenge of internet connectivity that nearly half the world's population still faces, and the lack of locally-relevant (e.g. in terms of language and curricula) OER resources. This article's contribution is twofold. First, it presents a qualitative landscape analysis of existing primary- and secondary-level Arabic-language digital OERs and of the initiatives that provide these resources. Second, it details applied research via a case study, wherein appropriate resources identified in the analysis were subsequently curated for inclusion in an offline digital library currently being used in schools in Northeast Syria that offers all Open resources. Results from the landscape analysis indicate a limited quantity of Arabic-language OER content available for primary and secondary education. Furthermore, multiple challenges hinder the adoption of OER in resource-constrained settings. Accordingly, recommendations are made that could help to improve these resources' ability to be used, particularly drawing from the article's applied case study for examples. Given the case study's application of providing locally-relevant OER resources in an offline setting, this article provides a real-world example of furthering open e-learning, despite infrastructural, linguistic, and socio-political challenges. As such, it advances research supporting innovative e-learning practice, and should be of interest for scholars and practitioners interested in furthering the adoption of open e-learning in low-resource settings globally.

Abstract Background Both obesity and depression pose significant public health challenges. Understanding the age-gender differences in the BMI-depression associations is crucial, especially in the Saudi context, where cultural norms, lifestyle factors, and socio-economic conditions may significantly influence these associations. We aimed to explore and elucidate these associations in Saudi adults, considering age and gender as crucial factors. Methods The research utilized a cross-sectional web-based survey to examine the impact of age and gender on the associations between BMI and depression. The study included 4,683 Saudi adults aged 18–60 years. The questionnaire assessed socio-demographics, lifestyle factors, chronic illnesses, and self-reported height and weight to calculate BMI. Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), a self-reported scale, was used to evaluate depression, categorizing participants into depression and non-depression groups. A snowball convenience sampling was utilized, with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria established to mitigate potential biases. Data analysis was stratified by age and gender, and binary logistic regression was utilized to determine the associations between depression and BMI, incorporating odds ratios (ORs) in both crude and adjusted forms, along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The prevalence of depression was found to be 43.3%, while 21% of participants were classified as obese. Notably, individuals in the depression group were significantly older, predominantly female, and more likely to reside in the Western and Southern regions of Saudi Arabia. They had lower family income, were more frequently non-smokers, had a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, and had higher BMI. Moreover, obese individuals had significantly higher depression scores (p

Abstract Wheat is an important staple crop not only in Pakistan but all over the globe. Although the area dedicated to wheat cultivation expands annually, the quantity of wheat harvested is declining due to various biotic and abiotic factors. Global wheat production and output have suffered as a result of the drought, which is largely driven by a lack of water and environmental factors. Organic fertilizers have been shown to reduce the severity of drought. The current research was conducted in semi-arid climates to mitigate the negative effects of drought on wheat during its critical tillering (DTS), flowering (DFS), and grain filling (DGFS) stages through the application of three different abscisic acid treatments: ABA0 (0 mgL−1) control, ABA1 (100 mgL−1) and ABA2 (200 mgL−1). Wheat growth and yield characteristics were severely harmed by drought stress across all critical development stages, with the DGFS stage being particularly vulnerable and leading to a considerable loss in yield. Plant height was increased by 24.25%, the number of fertile tillers by 25.66%, spike length by 17.24%, the number of spikelets per spike by 16.68%, grain count per spike by 11.98%, thousand-grain weight by 14.34%, grain yield by 26.93% and biological yield by 14.55% when abscisic acid (ABA) was applied instead of the control treatment. Moreover, ABA2 increased the more physiological indices (water use efficiency (36.12%), stomatal conductance (44.23%), chlorophyll a (24.5%), chlorophyll b (29.8%), transpiration rate (23.03%), photosynthetic rate (24.84%), electrolyte leakage (− 38.76%) hydrogen peroxide (− 18.09%) superoxide dismutase (15.3%), catalase (20.8%), peroxidase (− 18.09%), and malondialdehyde (− 13.7%)) of drought-stressed wheat as compared to other treatments. In the case of N, P, and K contents in grain were maximally improved with the application of ABA2. Through the use of principal component analysis, we were able to correlate our results across scales and provide an explanation for the observed effects of ABA on wheat growth and production under arid conditions. Overall, ABA application at a rate of 200 mgL−1 is an effective technique to boost wheat grain output by mitigating the negative effects of drought stress.

Abstract Drought stress (DS) is a significant abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity worldwide. In semi-arid climates, one potential solution to alleviate the deleterious effects of drought is the use of soil amendments such as nanoparticles. The current research was conducted out to probe the sway of drought at critical growth stages (CGS) of wheat crop (D0: Control, D1: Drought at tillering stage, and D2: Drought at anthesis stage) and the application of Cu-nanoparticles (T0: 0 mg L−1, T1: 300 mg L−1, T2: 700 mg L−1, and T3: 950 mg L−1) in order to improve drought resilience. Results of the study revealed that DS considerably decreased the wheat growth and yield during CGS. However, Cu-nanoparticles application alleviated the detrimental backlash of DS and led to improvements in various aspects of wheat growth and yield, including plant height, spike length, 1000 grain weight, stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, leaf turgor potential, relative water content, and ultimately the grain yield. The use of principal component analysis allowed us to integrate and interpret the diverse findings of our study, elucidating the impact of Cu-nanoparticle treatment on wheat growth and yield under drought. Overall, the study concluded that DS during the anthesis stage had the most significant negative impact on crop yield. However, applying Cu-nanoparticles at the rate of 300 mg L−1 proved to be an effective strategy for improving crop productivity by reducing the harmful effects of drought.

Background: Cardiac arrest remains a critical global health challenge, necessitating effective interventions to improve outcomes. Autopulse Mechanical Chest Compression has emerged as a potential adjunct to conventional manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the association between Autopulse use and various outcomes following cardiac arrest. Methods: A thorough literature review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. Articles were evaluated for eligibility according to predefined criteria. The collected data was synthesized, and the findings were subsequently presented. Results: Sixteen studies were included in the study. A synthesis of diverse studies revealed nuanced perspectives on Autopulse Mechanical Chest Compression. Enhanced CPR success and improved survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were demonstrated, while potential drawbacks were suggested, warranting scrutiny of device design and implementation strategies. Meta-analyses on ROSC favored Autopulse, indicating a statistically significant advantage over Manual CPR (relative risk 1.43, 95% CI 1.07-1.92). Complication analyses showed no significant difference (relative risk 1.11, 95% CI 0.93-1.33), emphasizing comparable safety profiles. Patient survival rates exhibited variations, with Autopulse demonstrating higher rates in some studies, but nuances were observed in 30-day survival and hospital discharge rates. Conclusion: Autopulse Mechanical Chest Compression holds promise as a supplementary strategy in cardiac arrest resuscitation. However, complexities arose in longer-term outcomes, highlighting the need for contextual considerations. [SJEMed 2024; 5(1.000): 030-041]

Global climate variations, mainly extreme temperatures reduce crop production and contributed to global food insecurity. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) improve physiological efficiency, photosynthetic capacity, and assimilate partitioning in field crops. However, their influence on soybean (Glycine max L.) yield and seed quality is under-researched. This study investigates the synergistic effects of auxin (2,4-D) and gibberellin (GA3) at 60 and 90 mg L−1 concentrations. This study investigates the impact of phytohormones, specifically gibberellic acid (GA3) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), on the morphological and biochemical traits of soybean (Glycine max L.) through seed treatment and foliar application. These Growth regulators were applied through seed treatment at the time of sowing and foliar application at the time of flowering initiation stage. The experiment was designed using a RCBD arrangement and each block replicated thrice time. Seed treatment with 2,4-D at 90 mg/L showed that maximum plant height (116.80 cm), first node height (8.04 cm), No. of branches per plant (18.67), root length (18.12 cm) stem diameter (0.05 cm), no. of pods per plant (32.60), seed yield (1532.30 kg ha−1), biological yield (4109.30 ha−1), and harvest index (39.36 %). The GA3 (seed treatment) at conc. of 90 and 60 mg L−1 resulted in a significantly increased no. of nodule fresh weight, nodules per plant, and dry weight respectively. But the no. of seeds per pod did not showed significant results throughout the study. However, the foliar applied of 2,4-D at 90 mg L−1 resulted in significantly increased leaf area index (LAI) compared to the seed treatment. PGRs had a significant influence on quality traits. Thus, the application notably improved the potential of soybean and successful oilseed crop. Therefore, it is showed that using PGRs are extremely helpful for attaining higher growth, yield production, and improved quality of soybean.

The increasing usage of smartphones globally necessitates the creation of reliable and valid scales to evaluate their psychological effects, particularly within academic settings such as universities. The current study aimed to identify the factorial structure of the Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) in the Republic of Yemen. The sample consisted of 1920 university students (1136 males and 784 females). The data was analyzed with the AMOS V25 statistical program. The results of the factor analysis supported the goodness of fit of the five-factor model to the data with excellent indices: RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.910, GFI = 0.931, AGFI = 0.915, TLI = 0.907, NFI = 0.915, RFI = 0.916, and RMR = 0.032, all of which are within the ideal range to support the goodness of fit of the model to the factorial structure of the inventory, as the values of the explained variances ranged between 0.740 and 0.834., with indices of reliability in measurement. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that four items loaded on the Time Spent factor, four items on the Compulsivity factor, eight items on the Daily Life Interference factor, five items on the Craving factor, and three items on the Sleep Interference factor, with all loadings being statistically significant (>0.001). Based on these findings, research direction and recommendations were provided.

Abstract Background Recognizing nurses as pivotal change agents and urgent preparation for the next generation is crucial for addressing sustainability issues and cultivating a sustainable healthcare system. Reports highlight gaps in the integration of sustainable development goals (SDGs) into nursing curricula, prompting the International Council of Nurses to stress the importance of sustainable development in nursing education. The extent to which nursing students are aware of sustainability issues remains to be determined. This study addresses a global and Egyptian research gap by evaluating and comparing Sustainability Consciousness (SC) levels among nursing students at three universities, providing insights into awareness, attitudes, and behaviors related to sustainability. Methods This descriptive comparative study was conducted across three nursing faculties within three Egyptian public universities. The target population for this study was undergraduate nursing students enrolled in these universities during the academic year 2022-2023. This study used the extended version of the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ-L) to measure individuals' knowingness, attitudes, and behaviors related to the three dimensions of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic. Results More than half of the nursing students across the three universities expressed unfamiliarity with the SDGs. Social media was the most common source of information across the three universities. Sohag University recorded the highest median (IQR) scores in sustainability knowingness (72.0, IQR: 70.0-81.0), attitudes (56.0, IQR: 53.0-61.5), and behavior (65.0, IQR: 60.0-69.0) across their respective dimensions, as well as in overall SC (195, IQR: 184.5-208.5). This was followed by Damanhour University, with a median score of 179.0 (IQR: 124.5-194), and then Alexandria University, with a median score of 116.0 (IQR: 85.5-153), all of which were significantly different (all with p values=0.000). Older students from rural areas exhibited higher SC median scores, while students with insufficient family income and no familiarity with the SDGs had lower SC scores. Conclusions This study highlighted the prevalent reliance on social media for information among nursing students across these universities, emphasizing the pivotal role of academic institutions in integrating sustainability development concepts in nursing education. Sohag University's notable commitment to sustainability practices has contributed to the higher SC of its students compared to Alexandria and Damanhour Universities. The study also identified age, place of residence, family income, and familiarity with the SDGs as consistent predictors of sustainability consciousness.

Abstract Large amount of wastes are burnt or left to decompose on site or at landfills where they cause air pollution and nutrient leaching to groundwater. Waste management strategies that return these food wastes to agricultural soils recover the carbon and nutrients that would otherwise have been lost, enrich soils and improve crop productivity. The incorporation of liming materials can neutralize the protons released, hence reducing soil acidity and its adverse impacts to the soil environment, food security, and human health. Biochar derived from organic residues is becoming a source of carbon input to soil and provides multifunctional values. Biochar can be alkaline in nature, with the level of alkalinity dependent upon the feedstock and processing conditions. This study conducted a characterization of biochar derived from the pyrolysis process of eggplant and Acacia nilotica bark at temperatures of 300 °C and 600 °C. An analysis was conducted on the biochar kinds to determine their pH, phosphorus (P), as well as other elemental composition. The proximate analysis was conducted by the ASTM standard 1762-84, while the surface morphological features were measured using a scanning electron microscope. The biochar derived from Acacia nilotica bark exhibited a greater yield and higher level of fixed carbon while possessing a lower content of ash and volatile components compared to biochar derived from eggplant. The eggplant biochar exhibits a higher liming ability at 600 °C compared to the acacia nilotica bark-derived biochar. The calcium carbonate equivalent, pH, potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) levels in eggplant biochars increased as the pyrolysis temperature increased. The results suggest that biochar derived from eggplant could be a beneficial resource for storing carbon in the soil, as well as for addressing soil acidity and enhancing nutrients availability, particularly potassium and phosphorus in acidic soils.

This case report describes a 32-year-old Pakistani male patient with an Ewing sarcoma (ES) of the adrenal gland. Presenting complaints were abdominal distention, pain, low-grade fever, and weight loss. Initial studies, including imaging and tumor markers, ruled out any other possible origins of the mass. A percutaneous biopsy verified the tumor's neuroendocrine origin. Extensive involvement of nearby anatomical structures was discovered through exploratory laparotomy, rendering total resection difficult. Based on the presence of malignant, round, blue cells that were positive for specific immunostaining markers, the histopathology report supported the diagnosis of an ES with a staging of T3N0M0. Chemotherapy, in accordance with the VAC-IE protocol, was administered after debulking surgery. Subsequent imaging and close monitoring revealed no metastatic or residual tumors. Adrenal ES is an uncommon, aggressive tumor that mandates prompt diagnosis and management. This case report highlights the value of early detection and multimodal therapy in enhancing patient outcomes for this rare malignancy.

This case report details an extraordinary occurrence following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a 42-year-old woman. Despite ERCP being a commonly performed procedure, this case presented an unusual combination of acute pancreatitis, pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum, and pneumomediastinum resulting from a Stapfer type III perforation. The patient managed conservatively with nil per os, nasogastric tube, intravenous fluids, pain relief, and antibiotics, exhibited clinical improvement. Remarkably, resolution of complications occurred without surgical intervention. This case underscores the significance of vigilance in diagnosing and appropriately managing ERCP-related complications, contributing to the broader understanding of these rare events and fostering improved patient outcomes.

Nanotechnology is an innovative method of elevating agricultural output without sacrificing quality due to nanoparticles (NPs) unique characteristics and numerous potential uses. It is also nature-friendly, advantageous to living organisms, and cost-effective. Sustainable agricultural practices are gaining attention on NPs and nanofertilizers (NFs) as practical substitutes for traditional fertilizers and pesticides that nanotechnology could surpass some of the issues with traditional farming methods. There should be an emphasis on cutting-edge studies of NPs applications in agriculture. This article presents a positive perspective on the mechanisms leading to the formation of NPs and their application as NFs for managing nutrients in agriculture. We also share up-to-date findings on NPs interactions with plants, the fate of NPs and potential risks associated with them in plants. The as well as on the role of NPs nanomaterials in decreasing abiotic and heavy metal toxicity stress. NFs help reduce the environmental damage caused by traditional, inorganic fertilizers. Due to their enhanced responsiveness and ability to pierce the epidermis, NFs can decrease nutrient surplus while increasing nutrient usage efficiency. It was also established that NPs are essential for protecting against abiotic stress. However, some studies have shown that NPs are harmful to higher plants because the NPs they are deposited upon the surface of cells or in the cell organelles, leading to oxidative stress symptoms. In this review article, we explore the utilization of NPs for nutrient and abiotic stress management for crop production and protection during the climate change era.