Field Of Practice Research Articles

Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin: Uptake and challenges in rural Coimbatore

ABSTRACT Introduction: Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related infectious diseases contribute to approximately 5% of the global disease burden. Despite sanitation being a human right, 673 million people worldwide had limited access to toilets. To tackle the same, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) was launched in 2014 to facilitate the construction of over 100 million individual household latrines (IHHLs) across India. However, literature evidence on acceptance of SBM-G in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Coimbatore, is scarce. Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate the utilisation of the SBM-G scheme and its associated factors in rural Coimbatore. Materials and Methods: In 2022, a mixed-methods study incorporating quantitative (using a purpose-designed questionnaire) and qualitative (using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) components was conducted among 60 SBM-G beneficiaries in Kovai Medical Center and Hospital Institute of Health Sciences and Research (KMCH IHSR)’s rural field practice area. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v23 and qualitative data using manual thematic content analysis. Results: Before IHHL construction, 93.7% of respondents practiced open-air defecation (OAD). The issues perceived with OAD were distance (28.8%) and privacy concerns (12.5%). After SBM-G implementation, 78.3% reported using the IHHL ‘all the time’, reflecting a substantial shift in behaviour. Most respondents received financial aid within about six months (INR 8,000), often in a single instalment. The majority had constructed their IHHLs before 2015. The expenditures incurred varied significantly, with 58.3% spending extra costs ranging between INR 10,000 and 30,000. Water supply to households significantly influenced IHHL usage. Conclusion: While rural villagers appreciate the SBM-G financial assistance for IHHLs, concerns about the inadequacy of the sanctioned amount for proper piped water supply and septic tanks persist. Nonetheless, there is a clear demonstration of positive behavioural change, marked by reduced OAD and increased IHHL usage.

Enhancing Village Management and Governance Through Mobile Learning Initiatives

The Institute for Rural Advancement (INFRA), under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), conducted a comprehensive outcome assessment of its mobile learning programme. This evaluation aligned with the TVET principle of practical, hands-on training, emphasizing real-world applications crucial for rural management. The study aimed to assess the programme's impact on enhancing participants' skills and knowledge in village management, including governance, financial management, and file system management. Quantitative survey was used to collect data from 219 trained participants. The results showed significant improvements in village management practices, with high effectiveness ratings across all dimensions. File management skills, demonstrated a strong acceptance of organized filing systems and improved administrative capacity. The findings also revealed notable improvements in village leadership, attributed to the programme's focus on community engagement and practical field experiences. By aligning its mobile learning programme with TVET's practical training pillar, INFRA has established itself as a leader in integrating TVET principles into rural management. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in designing effective rural development initiatives and enhancing village governance through targeted mobile learning programmes.

Simulation Research and Practical Application of Cutting Teeth for Drill Bits in Life-Support Holes

This study aims to achieve rapid drilling of life-support holes, regarding the optimization design of drill bits as the key, among which the simulation analysis of drill bit cutting teeth is an important technical means. Firstly, based on the rock mechanics test results in the study area combined with the corresponding logging information, the analysis and evaluation of the geological conditions in the study area were completed, a complete rock mechanics characteristic profile was established, and the drillability of the rock was calculated to be relatively good. Then, a numerical simulation of parallel cutting of rock with conical teeth was established by experimentally testing rock mechanics parameters and using the discrete element method (PFC2D). The simulation study of the drill bit cutting teeth was completed by parameter calibration, analysis of rock cutting morphology, analysis of the number of rock cutting cracks, and analysis of the specific work of rock cutting and breaking. It was determined that the optimal rock-entering angle of the drill bit cutting teeth in the Shouyang mining area is 14°. Finally, verified by field practice, the optimized drill bit has stable performance, strong cutting ability, and good wear resistance; the maximum instantaneous mechanical drilling speed reaches 58.14 m/h, and it shows a slightly worn state after continuously drilling 582 m in the stratum, meeting the requirements of one-trip drilling and hole formation for life-support holes. This research provides a scientific basis and practical techniques for the construction of life-support holes in the Shouyang mining area and under similar geological conditions. It can provide more effective emergency plans and rescue strategies for possible mine disasters in the future, which is crucial for improving the technical system of emergency rescue for mine accidents and enhancing the emergency rescue capability of surface drilling.

Does community of inquiry really matter in understanding online learning? A confirmed perspective using mixed method

AbstractHigh dropout rates in online courses, caused by potential factors such as financial issues, low motivation and poor self‐regulation among learners, pose a significant challenge to the sustainable development of online education. Therefore, continuance of online courses has become a critical topic in both the academic and practical fields. By combining the Community of Inquiry framework (CoI) with Expectation‐Confirmation Theory, this study introduces three new constructs—confirmed teaching presence (CTP), confirmed cognitive presence (CCP) and confirmed social presence (CSP)—into the research model to understand how confirmed expectations towards CoI determine online learners' course continuance intention. Utilizing a mixed‐methods approach, the study conducted quantitative analysis on 409 learner surveys using partial least squares (PLS), followed by semi‐structured interviews, which revealed the depth and breadth of the confirmed CoI expectations on learners' willingness to continue learning. Specifically, the quantitative results uncovered the differential effects of CTP, CCP and CSP on learners' course continuance intentions by elucidating the internal mechanisms. The interviews provided deeper insights by illuminating online learners' initial expectations as well as their pre‐course and post‐course expectations. The findings of the study not only provide evidence of the crucial role of confirmed expectations in shaping online learners' course continuance intention but also offer actionable recommendations for improving online course design and fostering lifelong learning. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Online courses have expanded in scale and attracted a large number of learners in recent years, the large base of online learners has brought tremendous and unprecedented challenges to online course development. A high dropout rate is especially considered as a severe issue for online course development. The issue of learners' continuance intention was often explored from a technological perspective and at the platform level by using Information system (IS) theories. The community of inquiry (CoI) framework was extensively utilized as a theoretical basis for understanding online learning experiences and its three elements—teaching, cognitive and social presences—have long been deemed as major antecedents that influence learners' online learning behaviours and intentions. What this paper adds This paper integrated the community of inquiry (CoI) framework with Expectation confirmation theory and proposed three new variables: confirmed teaching presence (CTP), confirmed cognitive presence (CCP) and confirmed social presence (CSP). The study reveals the internal mechanisms by which the three confirmed expectations impact online learners' courses continuance intention. This implies that different confirmed expectations may have varying effects on online learners' learning behaviour. This research collects data from multiple sources to comprehensively explore online learners' expectations and perceptions. It also sheds light on the importance of learners' actual participation in the learning process for predicting their behavioural intentions. Implications for practice and/or policy The finding that learners' confirmed expectations impact their online course continuance intention conveys an important message to course practitioners: exaggerated or false claims for the online course must be avoided to prevent students from forming unrealistic expectations. Improving online learners' course completion rate cannot be hinged upon simply and blindly fostering and extending the three presences. Instead, knowing learners' confirmed expectations of the three presences allows course practitioners to reconsider and organize the important course elements. The research reveals the distinct role that each confirmed presence plays in promoting online learners' course continuance intention and, meanwhile, expands the understanding of learners' learning needs and experiences. Practitioners could make timely and appropriate strategies based on these to better motivate course learners' engagement and retention.

Collaborative design and construction analysis of building structure and foundation of subway overlying complex

With the acceleration of urbanization, land resources are becoming more and more precious, especially in densely populated urban centers. As an efficient land use model, the subway overlying complex can not only optimize the urban spatial layout, but also promote the integration of public transportation and urban development. This paper aims to discuss the collaborative design and construction technology of the building structure and foundation of the subway overcover complex, in order to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the practice in related fields. Based on the literature review of domestic and foreign subway overcover development projects, this paper reviews the research status and development trend in this field, and identifies the main problems in structural safety, foundation stability and construction efficiency. On this basis, the paper puts forward the design principle of the subway overcover complex, and emphasizes the key role of the synergistic relationship between the structure and the foundation to the success of the whole project. The paper further analyzes the construction technology of subway overcover complex, including specific construction technology, reasonable construction sequence and project management measures. Through comparative analysis of success and failure cases, it reveals the problems that may be encountered in the actual operation and its coping strategies.

Adaptation of Well-being Literacy Scale to Turkish: Validity and Reliability Study

The view that well-being cannot be taught directly to individuals, but rather individuals can be taught to use language to improve their well-being, has led to the concept of "well-being literacy". Recent studies in the field of positive educational practices emphasize the importance of well-being literacy, which is defined as the ability to improve the well-being of oneself and others, in the social field as well as in the field of education. This study aimed to adapt the Well-being Literacy Scale to Turkish and test its validity and reliability in adults. Also, the relationship between well-being literacy, socioeconomic status, perceived general success, and health was investigated. The study group consists of 307 adults, 210 women and 96 men. Personal Information Form, Well-being Literacy Scale, General Well-being Scale Short Form, and Subjective Socio-economic Scale were used as data collection tools. It was found that the Well-being Literacy Scale had good levels of fit index in the confirmatory factor analysis results. Within the scope of criterion validity studies, a positive and moderate relationship was found between the Well-being Literacy Scale and the General Well-being Scale Short Form (r=.413, p=.000). Within the scope of reliability analysis, a .75 test-retest coefficient and a .88 Cronbach Alpha coefficient were determined. The second stage of the study found that the socioeconomic level predicted well-being literacy, though it is very low. Also, it was found that well-being literacy predicted individuals' perceived success at a low level but did not have a significant predictive effect on perceived general health levels. It is suggested that studies to investigate the sources and outputs of well-being literacy, which has started to become an essential focus in positive education practices and social health policies, will contribute to the field. In addition, adapting measurement tools in lower age groups may be necessary to focus on these skills in educational institutions.

Programming and Setting Up the Object Detection Algorithm YOLO to Determine Feeding Activities of Beef Cattle: A Comparison between YOLOv8m and YOLOv10m.

This study highlights the importance of monitoring cattle feeding behavior using the YOLO algorithm for object detection. Videos of six Charolais bulls were recorded on a French farm, and three feeding behaviors (biting, chewing, visiting) were identified and labeled using Roboflow. YOLOv8 and YOLOv10 were compared for their performance in detecting these behaviors. YOLOv10 outperformed YOLOv8 with slightly higher precision, recall, mAP50, and mAP50-95 scores. Although both algorithms demonstrated similar overall accuracy (around 90%), YOLOv8 reached optimal training faster and exhibited less overfitting. Confusion matrices indicated similar patterns of prediction errors for both versions, but YOLOv10 showed better consistency. This study concludes that while both YOLOv8 and YOLOv10 are effective in detecting cattle feeding behaviors, YOLOv10 exhibited superior average performance, learning rate, and speed, making it more suitable for practical field applications.

Human Resource Management Practices in Agricultural Development; the Role of Leadership, Motivation and Work Engagement

Development is the government's performance goal. Experts agree that agricultural development is the key to a nation's progress. At the same time, development must be supported by human resource capabilities. This research investigates human resource management practices in certain agricultural development activities. Two main objectives will be presented in this research. The first is an analysis to present new facts regarding HRM practices in the agricultural sector, including topics that are the focus of expert discussion on HRM variables such as leadership, motivation, and work engagement in reflecting performance. Second, presenting facts regarding management aspects of several variables discussed in management practice, namely the role of leadership, motivation, and work engagement on performance. This research uses a systematic review of 29 journals on HRM in agricultural development and 36 journals on the performance of non-agricultural organizations. There are several techniques used to get these numbers; (1) Journals are limited to topics that match the research topic with the search keyword "human resource management practices in the agricultural sector"; (2) To meet data quality, the journal prioritizes indexed and reputable publications (Scopus); and (3) Limiting the publication year to 2014-2024. Specifically search for journals related to HRM practices with the keywords "work engagement, leadership, and work motivation on performance". The results of the analysis then produce major themes which are then reconstructed into a road map for further research, as well as representing the scientific contribution (novelty) of the research. The results of the analysis show that human resource management practices in the agricultural sector are focused on ten topics that are widely discussed, namely: HR Management in General; Sustainable Agriculture; Empowerment and Welfare; Agro-industry; Department/Personnel; Digital Agriculture; Agribusiness; food security; Entrepreneurship; and Farm. The resulting theoretical implication is that HRM practices are starting to shift to practical development fields such as agriculture. HRM can answer several management problems in companies and the agricultural industry, such as leadership behavior and work engagement. To contribute to knowledge, the work involvement variable is a control variable in reflecting the relationship between leadership and performance; and performance motivation. For originality, the object of study can be a case in the agricultural sector. The practical implication is that the government and agricultural business actors must jointly look at problems at the worker level to increase productivity. Several behaviors hinder progress in the agricultural sector, such as low motivation and low levels of cooperation (which causes low work engagement). These things then need to be improved in the future so that organizations and companies become more productive.

Conformity or differentiation? The role of CEO turnover

This study investigates the nexus between CEO turnover and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices using all US-listed companies as the sample. Considering each company's different fields in the CSR practice, we use conformity and differentiation to quantify the CSR practice. Our generalized difference-in-difference method shows that incoming CEOs can positively impact differentiation and negatively affect conformity. Our empirical evidence further indicates that CEO career horizon and compensation structure are the two potential mechanisms through which CEO turnover affects the CSR practice. Our results provide insightful implications for companies that wish to gain a competitive advantage via the CSR practice.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding blood donation among the residents in the urban field practice area of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute: a community based cross sectional study

Background: The act of donating blood is crucial for healthcare systems worldwide. Despite its significance, blood donation rates are sub-optimal in many regions, especially urban areas. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to blood donation among urban residents in Bangalore. The study also aimed to identify misconceptions, motivators and barriers for guiding public health strategies to promote blood donation. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Urban field practice area of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru from May 2024 to July 2024. Sample size was calculated according to study done by Samreen et al. Data was collected using simple-random-sampling and analysed via SPSS 26.0. Results: The study investigated knowledge, attitude, and practice of blood donation among 148 participants. Findings showed 6% having good knowledge, 92% having fair knowledge, and 1.3% having poor knowledge about blood donation. 70.9% had favourable attitude, while 29.1% had unfavourable attitude. 14.2% of participants had donated blood despite a high level of favourable attitude. Barriers identified were fear of infections (21%), fear of needles (15%), and laziness along with lack of information (27.2%), ineligibility (17.6%) and fear for health (13.2%). Conclusions: This study indicated that while the population has fair knowledge and favourable attitude towards blood donation, very less proportion have actually donated blood. The study also identified misconceptions, motivations, and barriers to donation. Targeted measures are required to improve blood donation practices.

Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the pregnant women: a mixed-method study from field practice area of Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

Background: The World Health Organization defines vaccine hesitancy as a “delay in acceptance or refusal of safe vaccines despite availability of vaccine services”. While pregnancy does not inherently increase susceptibility to COVID-19, pregnant women face higher risks of severe illness if infected. Misconceptions during the crucial antenatal care period contribute to vaccine hesitancy. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted using multistage random sampling. The study involved 70 unvaccinated pregnant women from the field practice area of Polyclinic Chameli Chowk and in-depth interviews with 17 key informants, including district immunization officers, vaccination officers, and health care workers. Inclusion criteria were unvaccinated pregnant women under 50 years, willing to participate, and without contraindications for COVID-19 vaccination. Data collection tools included a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire for quantitative data and a question guide for qualitative data. Results: Among the 70 unvaccinated pregnant women, 49 (70%) were primigravida, and 21 (30%) were multigravida. A significant majority, 57 (81.3%), were unemployed (housewives). Vaccine hesitancy was identified in 66 (94.2%) women, while 4 (5.7%) were resistant to vaccination. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of communication from trusted sources, easy access to vaccines, and community engagement in addressing vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. The findings suggest targeted interventions to reduce hesitancy and ensure timely mass immunization against COVID-19.

Death Anxiety: An Exploration of Professional Counselor Experiences.

This quantitative research study guided by Terror Management Theory (TMT) provides a theoretical framework to understand death anxiety among practicing counselors while providing support for implementing death education into counseling graduate programs. The total sample comprised 97 total practicing counselors and current counseling students who were recruited from online platforms consisting of professional memberships, listservs, private practice, and Facebook groups. This study explored the level of death anxiety in counselors (measured by the Death Anxiety Scale-Extended (DAS-E; Templer et al., 2006) and examined the relationships between religious and/or spiritual affiliation, death education exposure, and years of practice (measured by a demographic questionnaire) through an online survey that measured counselor's religious and/or spiritual affiliation, death education exposure, years of practice in the field, and their self-reported levels of death anxiety. A Pearson correlation indicated that religious and/or spiritual affiliation and death education were significantly positively associated with years of practice in the counseling field. A regression analysis revealed that death education significantly predicted death anxiety levels. The results of the study indicated that the more death education an individual had received the less likely they were to experience death anxiety. The findings of this study affirm the need for support of a death education curriculum and to encourage CACREP counseling graduate programs to promote knowledge and awareness around death in order to better prepare counseling master's students to serve clients.

On the issue of classification (division) of the subject of the claim

The article analyzes such a category as the subject of a claim, its place and role in civil proceedings. Disputes about the presence or absence of a legal relationship between the parties, about the obligations of the defendant, about the change or termination of the legal relationship are types of the subject of a claim. The authors give examples of the types and analyze the criteria for differentiating between the types of lawsuits on the subject of the claim. It is also noted that in disputes about the change and termination of a legal relationship the court realizes the exclusive powers granted by the legislator. The article puts forward two arguments about the limits of employing the types of the subject of the claim. The authors believe that there are no clear criteria for differentiating between the groups of lawsuits on the subject matter of the claim. Also, the authors find that in the practical field (in rule-making, courts) the subject of the claim is applied in general, without dividing it into groups. The subject matter of the claim, together with the existence of a dispute, affects the type of judicial proceedings. In judicial practice, there is an erroneous interpretation of the subject of the claim, which has negative consequences. The paper argues that the requirement to establish the fact of recognition of paternity should be considered in a lawsuit only within the framework of the requirement to establish paternity.

Making PBPK models more reproducible in practice.

Systems biology aims to understand living organisms through mathematically modeling their behaviors at different organizational levels, ranging from molecules to populations. Modeling involves several steps, from determining the model purpose to developing the mathematical model, implementing it computationally, simulating the model's behavior, evaluating, and refining the model. Importantly, model simulation results must be reproducible, ensuring that other researchers can obtain the same results after writing the code de novo and/or using different software tools. Guidelines to increase model reproducibility have been published. However, reproducibility remains a major challenge in this field. In this paper, we tackle this challenge for physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models, which represent the pharmacokinetics of chemicals following exposure in humans or animals. We summarize recommendations for PBPK model reporting that should apply during model development and implementation, in order to ensure model reproducibility and comprehensibility. We make a proposal aiming to harmonize abbreviations used in PBPK models. To illustrate these recommendations, we present an original and reproducible PBPK model code in MATLAB, alongside an example of MATLAB code converted to Systems Biology Markup Language format using MOCCASIN. As directions for future improvement, more tools to convert computational PBPK models from different software platforms into standard formats would increase the interoperability of these models. The application of other systems biology standards to PBPK models is encouraged. This work is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration involving the ELIXIR systems biology community. More interdisciplinary collaborations like this would facilitate further harmonization and application of good modeling practices in different systems biology fields.

On the Way to Be(Coming) a Social Worker: Phenomenological Reflections by Social Work Students on Their Final Year as a Site of Professional Identity Exploration

Abstract In the field of social work research and practice, considerable focus has been placed on the preparedness of students as they transition from being students to becoming professionals. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the processes that occur during the final academic year of their training—a critical transition period that requires a deeper examination. Using a qualitative approach, the study examined the phenomenological perspectives of twenty-nine social work students at an Israeli university during the final academic year of their bachelor’s degree, employing the photovoice methodology. Content analysis of the results identified four key characteristics of the final academic year: (1) the liminal-transitional nature of identity work during the final year; (2) separation from the student identity; (3) the doorknob effect; and (4) entering the professional shoes. The research results are discussed and conceptualised within the framework of the theory of liminality, highlighting its relevance to understanding the transition processes that characterise professional identity work. Additionally, the study explores the implications of liminality in preparing students for entering the job market, particularly considering the distinction between being a professional and becoming a professional.

Biochar and Straw Amendments over a Decade Divergently Alter Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation Pathways

Exogenous organic carbon (C) inputs and their subsequent microbial and mineral transformation affect the accumulation process of soil organic C (SOC) pool. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps exist on how different long-term forms of crop straw incorporation (direct straw return or pyrolyzed to biochar) modifies SOC composition and stabilization. This study investigated, in a 13-year long-term field experiment, the functional fractions and composition of SOC and the protection of organic C by iron (Fe) oxide minerals in soils amended with straw or biochar. Under the equal C input, SOC accumulation was enhanced with both direct straw return (by 43%) and biochar incorporation (by 85%) compared to non-amended conventional fertilization, but by different pathways. Biochar had greater efficiency in increasing SOC through stable exogenous C inputs and inhibition of soil respiration. Moreover, biochar-amended soils contained 5.0-fold greater SOCs in particulate organic matter (POM) and 1.2-fold more in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) relative to conventionally fertilized soils. Comparatively, although the magnitude of the effect was smaller, straw-derived OC was preserved preferentially the most in the MAOM. Straw incorporation increased the soil nutrient content and stimulated the microbial activity, resulting in greater increases in microbial necromass C accumulation in POM and MAOM (by 117% and 43%, respectively) compared to biochar (by 72% and 18%). Moreover, straw incorporation promoted poorly crystalline (Feo) and organically complexed (Fep) Fe oxides accumulation, and both were significantly and positively correlated with MAOM and SOC. The results address the decadal-scale effects of biochar and straw application on the formation of the stable organic C pool in soil, and understanding the causal mechanisms can allow field practices to maximize SOC content. These results are of great implications for better predicting and accurately controlling the response of SOC pools in agroecosystems to future changes and disturbances and for maintaining regional C balance.

Efficient physics-informed transfer learning to quantify biochemical traits of winter wheat from UAV multispectral imagery

Accurate and efficient estimation of biochemical traits, including leaf index area (LAI), leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and canopy chlorophyll content (CCC), is crucial for crop growth monitoring in agricultural management. Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral remote sensing have enabled fast and cost-effective measurements of these traits. However, traditional statistical regression models trained on specific datasets lack scalability and transferability across practical field conditions without retraining. This study proposed an efficient physics-informed transfer learning model (PITL) for winter wheat biochemical traits estimation from UAV multispectral data. The PITL integrates the strengths of physical radiative transfer simulations and deep neural network architectures through transfer learning to improve the estimation of biochemical traits from UAV multispectral data. The PITL was tested with convolutional neural network (CNN), deep neural network (DNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) architectures. Results indicated that PITLDNN had better accuracy than PITLCNN and PITLLSTM models in predicting LAI (R2=0.94, RMSE = 0.32 m2/m2), LCC (R2=0.81, RMSE = 5.20 μg/cm2) and CCC (R2=0.928, RMSE = 0.2 g/m2). Moreover, PITLDNN demonstrated higher capability in computational efficiency, making it suitable for processing large volumes of UAV multispectral data in crop growth monitoring applications. Furthermore, PITL's integration of radiative transfer knowledge with labeled field data yielded higher predictive accuracy compared to physically-based inversion model, pure data-driven deep neural network approaches, and hybrid models. This study highlighted the performance of PITLDNN in accurately and efficiently quantifing biochemical traits from UAV multispectral data, thereby providing timely and accurate information for guiding crop growth monitoring applications.

Defining Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Distinguishing it from Virtual Exchange

AbstractCollaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is often framed as an example of a broader practice known as Virtual Exchange (VE). The term Virtual Exchange has increasingly been used as an attempt to unify a fragmented field of Higher Education practice and is often used interchangeably with the term COIL. However, the design of COIL, with its strong focus on collaborative and intercultural learning, is often very different to other VE initiatives. Labelling all VE initiatives, including COIL, generally as VE, can lead to both educators and researchers having difficulty identifying and distinguishing COIL. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review of VE and define COIL and its key characteristics. This article also describes how theory can inform practice and explains why continued interchangeable use of the term COIL with the umbrella term Virtual Exchange is unhelpful for future research and practice.

Production and management practices and technologies used for growing potatoes and tomatoes

Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess production and management practices and technologies used by farmers for tomato and potato production, as well as their productivity. Methodology / approach. This research was conducted in Ziway-Dugda and Tiyo districts of Arsi Zone in Oromia National Regional State of Ethiopia during 2022 cropping season. Data were collected from 400 households in 10 kebeles (local administrative unit) of both districts using Kobo toolbox from respondents through face-to-face interview and descriptive analysis using SPSS version 22. Results. The results of the study showed that farmers in the study areas used different pre-harvest practices. These include cultivation tools and methods, planting locations, tomato staking, potato hilling and irrigation practices to successfully grow vegetables and increase land productivity by rotating different crops on their land. Various diseases, weeds and insects have been observed on their farms, which were managed by cultural, agronomic, mechanical and chemical management practices on tomato and potato farms during the last cropping years in the study districts. Thus, majority farmers in the study areas have used insecticides and fungicides on tomato and potato farms; but most of the weeds were removed by hand weeding. Most tomato and potato farmers have determined the type of chemical and its use from their own previous experience, in consultation with salespeople and extension agents in their regions. However, the study results showed that there are unused production and management practices for tomato and potato cultivation by some farmers. There are many production and management practices and technologies used by farmers to improve vegetable productivity in the study areas, although some farmers did not adopt improved production and management technologies, resulting in reduced production, which requires future interventions to increase their capacity through training and technology adoption. Originality / scientific novelty. This study stands out in the field of production and management practices and technologies used by smallholder tomato and potato producers due to its innovative approach and unique contribution to existing knowledge and skills. While previous studies have examined the relationship between production and management practices and technologies in an agricultural context, particularly focusing on state farms, our study focuses on small-scale tomato and potato producers. Through our thorough case study research and interview structure, we not only deepened our understanding of production and management practices in the agricultural sector, but also provided practical recommendations for improving the efficiency and sustainability of small-scale tomato and potato producers on different farms/fields. Practical value / implications. The findings of this study can be used to develop recommendations for policy makers and researchers on how to improve labour productivity in the future Thus, the policy focuses on developing strategies for producers to adopt modern production and management practices and technologies, raising farmers’ awareness of available technologies, improving management practices and increasing crop productivity in the study area.

Prevalence of Non-Communicable disease in Geriatrics population of Kalaburagi District: A Cross-sectional Study in Urban Field Practice Area.

Prevalence of Non-Communicable disease in Geriatrics population of Kalaburagi District: A Cross-sectional Study in Urban Field Practice Area.