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Bensulfuron methyl (BSM) residues have caused serious yield reductions of sensitive crops. Chemical oxidation is an effective remediation technology, while it affects soil quality and subsequent agricultural activity, necessitating approriate improvement measures. So Fe2O3-Mn3O4 with excellent bimetallic synergistic effect was synthesized to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for BSM degradation. The catalytic activity and influencing factors were systematically predetermined in water in view of soil remediation. Results showed Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS oxidized 99.3 % BSM within 60 min with the help of multi-reactive species and electron transfer. Meanwhile, Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS treatment exhibited technical feasibility in soil that 97.6 % BSM was degraded in 5 days under the low usages of Fe2O3-Mn3O4 (0.8 %) and PMS (0.15 %). Although Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS decreased BSM phytotoxicity and improved maize growth, a few gaps existed between the remediated group and uncontaminated group, including biomass, length, available potassium, organic matters, pH, redox potential (Eh) and sulfate content. The introductions of biochar and chitosan in remediated soils promoted growth, increased organic matters content, improved soil resistance to acidification and decreased Eh, alleviating the negative effects of Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS. Overall, the study provided new insights into the combination of Fe2O3-Mn3O4/PMS and biochar and chitosan in BSM-contaminated soil, achieving BSM degradation and improvements of soil quality and plant growth.

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Following soil disturbances, establishing healthy roadside vegetation can reduce surface water runoff, improve soil quality, decrease erosion, and enhance landscape aesthetics. This study explores the use of organic soil amendments (OAs) as alternatives to conventional vegetation growth approaches, aiming to provide optimal compost mixing ratios for poor soils, and clarify guidelines for OAs' use in roadside projects. Three sandy loam soils and one loam soil were chosen for the study. Organic amendments included yard waste (Y), food waste (F), turkey litter and green waste-based (T) composts, and wood-derived biochar (B). Treatment applications targeted specific increases in the organic matter (OM) percentage of the soils. A selection of seven native species (grasses and forbs) in a total of 156 pots (4 control soils + 4 soils x 4 OAs x 3 application rates, all prepared in triplicates) was used for the pot study experiment. A significant correlation between electrical conductivity (soluble salts) in soil-OA blends and corresponding percent green coverage (%GC) was found. High salts from the T compost either delayed or curtailed growth. Notably, 3 out of the 4 soils amended with biochar exhibited rapid vegetation coverage during initial growth stages compared to other soil-OA blends but reduced the nitrogen (N) uptake and leaf area in black-eyed Susan (BES) plants. In contrast, N uptake was higher in the BES plants emerging from composts T, F, and Y compared to biochar. It is recommended to minimize concentrated manure-based (e.g., turkey litter) composts for roadside projects as an OM source, and alternatively, enriching wood-based biochar with nutrients when used as a soil amendment. Within the current study, composts such as F and Y were well-suited to establish healthy and long-lasting vegetation.

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The extraction of copper and cobalt from mines has led to the contamination of agricultural soils by trace metal elements (TMEs) (e.g. Cu: 204 to 1355 mg/kg). The mining industry is one of the sources of metal discharges into the environment, contributing to water, soil, and air contamination and causing metabolic disorders in the inhabitants of the city of Lubumbashi (R.D. Congo). This study assessed the effectiveness of organocalcareous soil improvers applied to TME-contaminated soils to reduce their transfer to plants. Following a factorial design, increasing doses of organic soil improvers (chicken droppings and sawdust) and agricultural lime were applied to the soils of three market gardens (high, medium, and low Cu contamination). The experiment was monitored for 60 days. Soil physicochemical properties (pH, TOC, and total and available copper, cobalt, lead, cadmium, and zinc (mg/kg)) were determined for the three gardens and in the vegetable biomass. The daily consumption index of the vegetables was determined based on total TME content. The results show that organocalcareous soil improvers did not promote plant growth and survival on soils with high and medium levels of copper contamination. However, on soils with low copper content, organocalcareous soil improvers improved germination and plant survival and reduced the transfer of metals from the soil to the plants. The best germination and plant survival rates were obtained with the lightly contaminated market garden. In addition, the organo-limestone amendments applied to the soils slightly increased the soil pH from acidic to slightly acidic, with pH values ranging from (5.43 ± 0.07 to 7.26 ± 0.33). The daily vegetable consumption index obtained for cobalt in the low-contaminated garden ranged from (0.029 to 0.465 mg/60 kg/day), i.e. from 0.5 to 8.45 times higher than the FAO/WHO limit, unlike the other trace metals (Cd, Cu and Pb) for which the daily consumption index found was lower than the FAO/WHO limit. Organocalcareous soil improvers can only be applied to soils with low levels of TME contamination, but for soils with medium to high levels of metal contamination, new soilless production techniques such as hydroponics or bioponics are needed.

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The salinity and alkalinity of soils are two fundamental factors that limit plant growth and productivity. For that reason, a field study conducted at Sakha Agric. Res. Station in Egypt during the 2022-2023 winter season aimed to assess the impact of gypsum (G), compost (C), and zinc foliar application in two images, traditional (Z1 as ZnSO4) and nanoform (Z2 as N-ZnO), on alleviating the saline-sodic conditions of the soil and its impact on wheat productivity. The results showed that the combination of gypsum, compost, and N-ZnO foliar spray (G + C + Z2) decreased the soil electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) by 14.81%, 40.60%, and 35.10%, respectively. Additionally, compared to the control, the G + C + Z2 treatment showed improved nutrient content and uptake as well as superior wheat biomass parameters, such as the highest grain yield (7.07 Mg ha-1), plant height (98.0 cm), 1000-grain weight (57.03 g), and straw yield (9.93 Mg ha-1). Interestingly, foliar application of N-ZnO was more effective than ZnSO4 in promoting wheat productivity. Principal component analysis highlighted a negative correlation between increased grain yield and the soil EC and SAR, whereas the soil organic matter (OM), infiltration rate (IR), and plant nutrient content were found to be positively correlated. Furthermore, employing the k-nearest neighbors technique, it was predicted that the wheat grain yield would rise to 7.25 t ha-1 under certain soil parameters, such as EC (5.54 dS m-1), ESP (10.02%), OM (1.41%), bulk density (1.30 g cm-3), infiltration rate (1.15 cm h-1), and SAR (7.80%). These results demonstrate how adding compost and gypsum to foliar N-ZnO can improve the soil quality, increase the wheat yield, and improve the nutrient uptake, all of which can support sustainable agriculture.

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In the present study, persistence and degradation of tembotrione, a triketone herbicide, was studied in loamy soil collected from maize field. Effects of organic amendments, moistures and temperatures on tembotrione dissipation were evaluated. Soil samples were processed according to the modified QuEChERS involving dichloromethane solvent and MgSO4 without PSA. Analysis using LC-MS/MS showed >95% recoveries of tembotrione its two metabolites TCMBA and M5 from fortified soils. Tembotrione residues dissipated with time and 85.55 to 98.53% dissipation was found on 90th day under different treatments. Tembotrione dissipation increased with temperature and moisture content of the soil. Among organic amendments, highest dissipation was observed in vermicompost amended soil. Minimum and maximum half-lives of tembotrione were recorded under 35 °C (15.7 days) and air-dry (33 days) conditions, respectively. Residues of tembotrione declined with time while that of TCMBA increased steadily up to 10-45th day in different treatments and declined thereafter. Residues of M5 were not detected in our experiments. Tembotrione persistence was negatively correlated with the organic carbon (%), moisture regimes, and temperature. A good correlation between soil microbial biomass carbon and degradation was found. A two-way ANOVA indicated significant differences between the treatments at 95% confidence level (p < 0.05).

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Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs) are widely used in urban agriculture to improve soil quality. Although BSAAO use is regulated due to risks for introducing foodborne pathogens, effects on antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria are not well established. Here, we aimed to explore the impacts of BSAAOs on levels of resident AMR bacteria in leafy vegetable production environments (i.e., kale, lettuce, chard, cabbage) across urban farms and community gardens in the greater Washington D.C. area (n = 7 sites). Leaf tissue (LT), root zone soil (RZS; amended soil in crop beds), and bulk soil (BS; site perimeter) were collected and analyzed for concentrations of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), ampicillin (Amp) or tetracycline (Tet) resistant THB, and coliforms. As expected, amended plots harbored significantly higher concentrations of THB than bulk soil (P < 0.001). The increases in total bacteria associated with reduced fractions of Tet-resistant bacteria (P = 0.008), as well as case-specific trends for reduced fractions of Amp-resistant bacteria and coliforms. Site-to-site variation in concentrations of AMR bacteria in soil and vegetable samples reflected differences in land history and crop management, while within-site variation was associated with specific amendment sources, as well as vegetable type and cultivar. Representative isolates of the AMR bacteria and coliforms were further screened for multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes, and a high frequency was observed for the former. In amended soils, as the soil pH (range 6.56-7.80) positively correlated with the fraction of Tet-resistant bacteria (rho = 0.529; P < 0.001), crop management strategies targeting pH may have applications to control related risks. Overall, our findings demonstrate that soil amendments promote soil bacteria concentrations and have important implications for limiting the spread of AMR bacteria, at least in the urban landscape.

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Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Guidelines recommend BE screening in populations with multiple risk factors, for which non-endoscopic esophageal cell collection with biomarker testing is considered as an acceptable alternative to esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The aim of this study was to evaluate analytical performance characteristics of EsoGuard® (EG), a DNA methylation biomarker assay, as a laboratory-developed test (LDT) in esophageal samples collected with the swallowable EsoCheck® (EC) device. EG is a next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay that evaluates methylated vimentin (VIM) and cyclin A1 (CCNA1), clinically validated biomarkers for the detection of BE and EAC. The studies were conducted according to standards of College of American Pathology (CAP), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), and New York (NY) state requirements for the analytical validation of molecular assays. Comparison to Sanger sequencing showed that EG was 100% accurate at all 31 CpG sites evaluated by the assay. The analytical sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the assay were 89%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. Intra- and inter-assay precision was 100%. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1 in 400 methylated cells, and the reference range was 84%. In summary, EsoGuard demonstrates high analytical accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility in samples collected using the EsoCheck device.

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The excessive application of phosphorus (P) fertiliser and its poor utilisation efficiency have led to significant amounts of P being retained in agricultural soils in unavailable forms. The application of alkaline lignin to soil and its inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have both been shown to improve plant P nutrition. However, their combined effects on soil P transformation remain unclear, particularly in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils. A potting experiment was conducted to examine the combined effects of AMF and alkaline lignin on soil P and Cd bioavailability and on the uptake of P and Cd by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) that were grown for 56 d in a growth chamber. Combined AMF and alkaline lignin treatment increased soil P availability and alkaline phosphatase activity. It furthermore increased bioavailable Cd concentrations of rhizosphere and bulk soils by 48 % and 72 %, respectively, and the Cd concentration in roots by 85 %, but the Cd concentration was not affected in the edible parts (shoots) of the lettuce. Moreover, the combined treatment increased shoot biomass by 26-70 % and root biomass by 99-164 %. Our findings suggested that the combined use of AMF and alkaline lignin mobilised both P and Cd in soil but did not increase the accumulation of Cd in the shoots of plants growing in Cd-contaminated soils, these results would provide guideline for increasing Cd tolerance of plants and their yield.

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This policy brief summarizes current U.S. regulatory considerations for ensuring patient safety and health care quality of genetic/genomic test information for precision medicine in the era of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). The critical role of innovative and efficient laboratory developed tests (LDTs) in providing accurate diagnostic genetic/genomic information for U.S. patient- and family-centered healthcare decision-making is significant. However, many LDTs are not fully vetted for sufficient analytic and clinical validity via current FDA and CMS regulatory oversight pathways. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Policy Analytical Framework Tool was used to identify the issue, perform a high-level policy analysis, and develop overview recommendations for a bipartisan healthcare policy reform strategy acceptable to diverse precision and systems medicine stakeholders.

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Drought stress deteriorates agro-ecosystems and poses a significant threat to crop productivity and food security. Soil amended with biochar has been suggested to mitigate water stress, but there is limited knowledge about how biochar affects the physiology and vegetative growth of quinoa plants under soil water deficits. We grew three quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) varieties, Titicaca (V1), Quipu (V2), and UAFQ7 (V3) in sandy loam soil without (B0) and with 2% woodchip biochar (B2) under drought conditions. The drought resulted in significant growth differences between the varieties. V3 performed vegetatively better, producing 46% more leaves, 28% more branches, and 25% more leaf area than the other two varieties. Conversely, V2 displayed significantly higher yield-contributing traits, with 16% increment in panicle length and 50% more subpanicles compared to the other varieties. Woodchip biochar application significantly enhanced the root development (i.e., root biomass, length, surface, and projected area) and plant growth (i.e., plant height, leaf area, and absolute growth rate). Biochar significantly enhanced root growth, especially fresh and dry weights, by 122% and 127%, respectively. However, biochar application may lead to a trade-off between vegetative growth and panicle development under drought stress as shown for V3 grown in soil with woodchip biochar. However, V3B2 produced longer roots and more biomass. Collectively, we suggest exploring the effects of woodchip biochar addition to the soil on the varietal physiological responses such as stomatal regulations and mechanisms behind the increased quinoa yield under water stress conditions.

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Cadmium (Cd) has become an important heavy metal pollutant because of its strong migration and high toxicity. The industrial production process aggravated the Cd pollution in rice fields. Human exposure to Cd through rice can cause kidney damage, emphysema, and various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, posing a grave threat to health. As modern technology develops, the Cd accumulation model in rice and in-situ remediation of Cd pollution in cornfields have been extensively studied and applied, so it is necessary to sort out and summarize them systematically. Therefore, this paper reviewed the primary in-situ methods for addressing heavy metal contamination in rice paddies, including chemical remediation (inorganic-organic fertilizer remediation, nanomaterials, and composite remediation), biological remediation (phytoremediation and microbial remediation), and crop management remediation technologies. The factors that affect Cd transformation in soil and Cd migration in crops, the advantages and disadvantages of remediation techniques, remediation mechanisms, and the long-term stability of remediation were discussed. The shortcomings and future research directions of in situ remediation strategies for heavily polluted paddy fields and genetic improvement strategies for low-cadmium rice varieties were critically proposed. To sum up, this review aims to enhance understanding and serve as a reference for the appropriate selection and advancement of remediation technologies for rice fields contaminated with heavy metals.

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Vermicompost is an organic material that is abundant in humic acids and nutrients. It is obtained through the bio-oxidation and stabilization processes carried out by earthworms. It has been proven to bring several benefits to different soil properties, including bulk density, soil structure, and plant available water capacity (PAWC). This investigation was conducted to fill the knowledge gap in some critical factors related to vermicompost application, specifically the short-term influence of a single vermicompost application with increasing doses on soil wettability and physical quality of differently textured soils. Water repellency of vermicompost and soil/vermicompost mixtures was investigated at different moisture contents by the water drop penetration time test, whereas physical quality was assessed by 35 soil indicators related to bulk density, soil water retention curve, and pore size distribution function. Despite vermicompost showed from strong to severe hydrophobicity at moisture content lower than the field capacity, amended soils were at the most slightly water repellent thus indicating that, under field conditions, the hydrophobicity attributable to soil amendment with vermicompost could be considered negligible. Soil physical quality was effectively affected by vermicompost addiction with different outcomes depending on soil texture. Indicators linked to PAWC generally increased at increasing the vermicompost rate in the coarse soils whereas no significant effect was observed for intermediate and fine soils. For example, plant available water capacity of coarse-textured soils increased from an average initial value of 0.056 cm3 cm-3 to an optimal value of 0.15 cm3 cm-3 when a vermicompost addition dose of about one-third by volume (34 %) was applied. In the finest soil, drainable porosity significantly increased from an initial value of 0.09 cm3 cm-3 to 0.23 cm3 cm-3 when the maximum vermicompost dose (43 %) was applied thus indicating that amendment could be effective in enhancing water and air circulation.

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The efficacy of RemBind® 300 to immobilize per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)-impacted soil (∑28 PFAS 1280-8130 ng g-1; n = 8) was assessed using leachability (ASLP) and bioaccumulation (Eisenia fetida) endpoints as the measure of efficacy. In unamended soil, ∑28 PFAS leachability ranged from 26.0 to 235 µg l-1, however, following the addition of 5% w/w RemBind® 300, ∑28 PFAS leachability was reduced by > 99%. Following exposure of E. fetida to unamended soil, ∑28 PFAS bioaccumulation ranged from 18,660-241,910 ng g-1 DW with PFOS accumulating to the greatest extent (15,150-212,120 ng g-1 DW). Biota soil accumulation factors (BSAF) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSA; 13.2-50.9) compared to perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA; 1.2-12.7) while for individual PFSA, mean BSAF increased for C4 to C6 compounds (PFBS: 42.6; PFPeS: 52.7; PFHxS: 62.4). In contrast, when E. fetida were exposed to soil amended with 5% w/w RemBind® 300, significantly lower PFAS bioaccumulation occurred (∑28 PFAS: 339-3397 ng g-1 DW) with PFOS accumulation 23-246 fold lower compared to unamended soil. These results highlight the potential of soil amendments for reducing PFAS mobility and bioavailability, offering an immobilization-based risk management approach for AFFF-impacted soil.

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Soil acidification has emerged as a critical limiting factor for the sustainable development of the tea industry. In this article, a comprehensive review of 63 original research articles focusing on the impact of amendments on the pH in tea plantations soil was conducted. Through meta-analysis, the effect of applying soil amendments to increase the pH of tea plantation soil and its influencing factors were investigated. The results revealed that lime had a significant impact, increasing the pH by 18% in tea plantation soil, while rapeseed cake had a minimal (2%) effect. It was observed that as the quantity of amendments and pH levels increased, so did their impact on the pH of tea plantation soil. Subgroup analysis within biochar showed varying effects, depending on soil pH, with an 11% increase in acidic soil. Among these amendments, biochar produced at pyrolysis temperature ranging from 501-600 °C and derived from animal waste demonstrated significant effect on increasing soil pH in tea plantations by 9% and 12%, respectively. This study offers valuable insights into improving and ensuring the health and sustainability of tea plantations.

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In situ immobilization is a widely used measure for passivating Cd-contaminated soils. Amendments need to be continuously applied to achieve stable remediation effects. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of consecutive application of amendments on soil health and the microecological environment. A field experiment was conducted in a Cd-contaminated paddy (available Cd concentration 0.40 mg kg-1) on the Chengdu Plain to investigate the changes in soil Cd availability and response characteristics of soil bacterial communities after consecutive application of rice straw biochar (SW), fly ash (FM) and marble powder (YH) amendments from 2018 to 2020. Compared with control treatment without amendments (CK), soil pH increased by 0.6, 0.5 and 1.5 under SW, FM and YH amendments, respectively, and the soil available Cd concentration decreased by 10.71%, 21.42% and 25.00%, respectively. The Cd concentration in rice grain was less than 0.2 mg kg-1 under YH amendment, which was within the Chinese Contaminant Limit in Food of National Food Safety Standards (GB2762-2022) in the second and third years. The three amendments had different effects on the transformation of Cd fractions in soil, which may be relevant to the specific bacterial communities shaped under different treatments. The proportion of Fe-Mn oxide-bound fraction Cd (OX-Cd) increased by 11% under YH treatment, which may be due to the promotion of Fe(III) and Cd binding by some enriched iron-oxidizing bacteria, such as Lysobacter, uncultured_Pelobacter sp. and Sulfurifusis. Candidatus_Tenderia and Sideroxydans were enriched under SW and FM amendments, respectively, and were likely beneficial for reducing Cd availability in soil through Cd immobilization. These results revealed the significance of the bacterial community in soil Cd immobilization after consecutive application of amendments and highlighted the potential of applying YH amendment to ensure the safe production of rice in Cd-contaminated soil.

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Disturbed soils, including manufactured topsoils, often lack physical and chemical properties conducive to vegetation establishment. As a result, efforts to stabilize disturbed soils with vegetation are susceptible to failure. Urban organic waste products such as wood mulch, composted leaf and yard waste, and biosolids are widely distributed as organic amendments that enhance sustainability and plant establishment. Correct use can be determined by examining soil properties such as pH; the concentration of soluble salts (SS); and plant available nutrients - particularly N, C and P; as well as root and shoot growth. This research examined the effects of three typical organic amendments on fertility, establishment, and nutrient loss. A manufactured topsoil was used as the base soil for all treatments, including a control unamended soil (CUT), and soil amended with either mulch (MAT), composted leaf and yard waste (LAT), or biosolids (BAT). A 2 % organic matter concentration increase was sought but not achieved due to difficulty in reproducing lab results at a larger scale. Results showed that LAT improved soil fertility, particularly N-P-K concentrations while maintaining a good C:N ratio, pH, and SS concentration. BAT was the most effective at enhancing shoot growth but results suggest that improved growth rates could result in increased maintenance. Additionally, biosolids were an excellent source of nutrients, especially N-P-K and S, but diminished root growth and N leachate losses indicate that N was applied in excess of turfgrass requirements. Therefore, biosolids could be used as fertilizer, subject to recommended rates for turfgrass establishment to prevent poor root growth and waterborne N pollution. To ensure establishment efforts are successful, MAT is not recommended without a supplemental source of soluble N. Altogether, study results and conclusions could inform others seeking to improve specifications for disturbed soil where turfgrass establishment is needed to stabilize soil.

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Amendments were proposed to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) in January [Arahal et al. (2024) Int. J Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 74: 006188] that would cause major changes in the treatment of Candidatus names. The amendments introduce Section 10 to name taxa whose names cannot be validly published under the ICNP because of the absence of type strains. This section creates a parallel 'pro-nomenclature' and formalizes alternative material which could serve as nomenclatural types. When conspecific isolates of taxa with Candidatus names are deposited in culture collections as type strains, the names can be validly published, and it is required that the same Candidatus name be used. While the amendments are promoted to provide stable names and rules of nomenclature for uncultivated taxa, the system is deeply flawed. It removes the permanent association between names and types, which will make the meaning of names imprecise and ambiguous. It creates 'pro-nomenclature', which is confusing and unnecessary. Since many taxa which cannot be validly named under the ICNP can already be named under the SeqCode, it duplicates and creates overlap with an established nomenclatural system without providing tangible benefits. As the SeqCode recognizes names formed under the ICNP, the ICNP should recognize names formed under the SeqCode as they have done for the Cyanobacteria named under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN). For these reasons, we urge the members of the International Committee of Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) to reject these amendments.

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Objectives: To solicit quantifiable feedback from clinical laboratorians on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule to regulate laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) as medical devices. Design and Methods: A ten-item questionnaire was developed and submitted to clinical laboratory customers of ARUP Laboratories, a national nonprofit clinical laboratory of the University of Utah Department of Pathology. Results: Of 503 clinical laboratory respondents, only 41 (8 %) support the FDA's proposed rule. 67 % of respondents work in laboratories that perform LDTs and were therefore asked additional questions regarding the proposed rule. 84 % of these respondents believe that the proposed rule will negatively impact their laboratories, while only 3 % believe that they have the financial resources to pay for FDA user fees. 61 % of respondents anticipate removing tests from their laboratory menus if the proposed rule is enacted, while an additional 33 % indicated that they do not yet know. Only 11 % of respondents believe that they would pursue FDA submissions for all of their existing LDTs if the final rule is enacted. The vast majority of respondents (>80 %) were either 'extremely concerned' or 'very concerned' about the impact of the proposed rule on patient access to essential testing, financial and personnel resources to comply, innovation, the FDA's ability to implement the rule, and send-out costs and test prices. Conclusions: The majority of clinical laboratorians surveyed do not support the FDA's proposed rule on LDTs and report having insufficient resources to comply with the rule if it is enacted.

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Climate change poses major challenges for agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions, with drought conditions severely affecting water-intensive crops such as tomatoes. This study evaluates the efficacy of organic amendments, derived from horse manure, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on enhancing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit quality and soil health under semi-arid field conditions. The experimental design included two irrigation regimes (well-watered and drought stress) and two levels of vermicompost application (C1 5 t ha-1 and C2 10 t ha-1), applied individually or in combination with AMF. The results indicate that drought stress reduced tomato fruit growth and yield, while osmoprotectant accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activity, and bioactive compound levels increased, and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of tomato fruit also increased. Notably, the biostimulants application, especially (C1+AMF), counteracted the adverse effects of drought, compared to the control, by significantly enhancing fruit yields (60%), as well as increasing ascorbic acid levels (59%) and free amino acids content (90%). These treatments also improved the activity of bioactive compounds and nutrient uptake in the fruit. Furthermore, biostimulant application positively affected the physicochemical properties of soil. The results obtained confirm that the application of biostimulants can be suitable for improving crop sustainability and adaptability under conditions of water stress in semi-arid field regions.