Local Practitioners Research Articles

Religious Belief, Calling, and Marginalized Communities

This paper attempts to identify the Christian religious beliefs that motivate and sustain engagement in neighborhood revitalization efforts with marginalized communities and to identify a possible causal mechanism of these beliefs. The argument of the paper is that a transcendent calling forms consistently salient beliefs that operate on a deontological (versus utilitarian) level through sacred values. Using a mixed-method approach of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interviews) data, the results find significant differences in beliefs between local congregants and practitioners in Evansville, Indiana, USA. In one-on-one semi-structured interviews, practitioners cite a transcendent calling with deontological language as the reason for their engagement with marginalized communities. Utilitarian language was not entirely absent during these interviews, but it occurred primarily in relation to the sustaining of the behavior, thereby hinting at a hierarchical and sequential structure where the primary and initial motivation is deontological in nature followed and sustained through utilitarian language. Narrative evidence for this initial deontological shift is that of taking a “step of faith.” The large majority of practitioners report receiving this call after their initial engagement with a marginalized community suggesting that increasing this behavior is more a matter of increasing personal exposure rather than articulating better rational arguments.

Principles, barriers and enablers to agroecological animal production systems: a qualitative approach based on five case studies

Agroecology is among the most promising options to alleviate the negative impacts of animal farming on the environment and build local food systems based on ethically-acceptable production methods. So far, most of the research on agroecological animal production systems was conducted at farm scale, and the potential of agroecological principles addressing social dimensions and food system level approaches has been underexplored. Here, we analyze how the whole set of agroecological principles was mobilized in five case studies on grassland-based, silvopastoral or integrated crop-livestock systems in Switzerland, Guadeloupe, French uplands, Bulgaria and Andalucía. Following a multilevel perspective, we propose a new eight-category framework to categorize barriers and enablers in these different socioecological contexts, and discuss the implications of these results for scaling out and scaling up agroecological niche innovations in animal production areas. Though we could observe activities related to each agroecological principle in each case study, the relative importance of each principle differed. For instance, in Switzerland the focus was on ecological processes operating in multi-species mixtures, and therefore on mobilizing principles of input reduction, synergy, soil health and biodiversity, while in Andalucía, a civil society organization, a regional agricultural office, researchers, and farmers mainly mobilized transformational principles at the food system level, e.g. social values, connectivity and participation. Such contrasts highlight how agroecology allows different equilibria among principles, adapting to the needs of farmers and local communities. Inadequate infrastructure and lack of technology were frequently reported as barriers to agroecological transitions. Policy needs to go beyond the mere support of agroecological practices on livestock farms and adopt a systems approach looking downstream and upstream if it is to enable a large-scale agroecological transition with EU public policies. Market as an enabler was linked to direct sales and short distribution circuits, generating added value to the benefit of local communities. Most agroecological systems benefited from a positive image among citizens and consumers, but cultural barriers resulted from change in product characteristics, e.g. veal meat color in dairy system that promote long-lasting cow-calf contact. All case studies were very advanced in the social dimensions of agroecology, and cooperation networks were always reported among the enablers for scaling out. The multi-actor network approach fostered knowledge exchange between farmers, researchers and citizens, and allowed participants to share values. Long-term commitment from local practitioners is required so that co-designed solutions are implemented, which can strengthen the economic and social viability of animal production areas.

Examining the Tourism Development in Bulacan Province, Philippines: Assessing Factors Shaping Tourism Growth

This research endeavors to assess the current state of tourism in Bulacan Province in the Philippines, examining the factors that influence its growth. It aims to provide valuable insights for local policymakers, stakeholders, and industry practitioners. Employing a quantitative approach, data is collected through surveys and statistical analyses to gain a comprehensive understanding of tourism dynamics in Bulacan. Key factors affecting tourism expansion, such as landscape, accessibility, and hospitality, are closely examined. Challenges faced by tourists, particularly in transportation and accommodation, are highlighted as significant factors influencing their experiences. Strategies to address these challenges are explored, offering practical recommendations to enhance the province’s tourism potential. The study’s findings contribute to the existing knowledge on destination management and regional tourism development. They offer guidance to policymakers, tourism planners, and industry stakeholders in devising effective strategies to leverage Bulacan’s unique attributes, promoting sustainable tourism growth and establishing the province as a prominent tourist destination.

Treatment ineffectiveness towards Haemonchus contortus is highly prevalent in sheep and goat farms of North-Eastern Italy

BackgroundAnthelmintic resistance (AR) is a global threat to grazing livestock farming. In Italy, anthelmintic efficacy remains high compared to other European countries, but many parts of the country haven’t been investigated yet. Local veterinary practitioners from Trentino and Veneto regions reported suspected inefficacy towards anthelmintic drugs in some of their farms, prompting a study on AR in sheep and goat farms of northern Italy. The study aimed to assess anthelmintic effectiveness using genus-specific faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT), to detect differences in treatment response among nematode genera involved in the infection.ResultsTwelve farms (6 sheep and 6 goat farms) were included based on clinical suspicion of AR. Treatments were carried out with either benzimidazoles (BZ) or macrocyclic lactones (ML) Treatment was effective in 3/6 goat trials, with reduced effectiveness to BZ in two farms and to ML the last one. In sheep farms (6/6), effectiveness was consistently and more severely insufficient. Ineffectiveness was particularly high towards Haemonchus contortus, while Oesophagostomum/Chabertia maintained susceptibility in nearly all trials. Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia exhibited intermediate results.ConclusionsThis study reveals diminished efficacy of both BZ and ML in small ruminant farms in north-eastern Italy, an area previously lacking data on the topic, except for goats in South Tyrol. Variability in treatment responses among nematode genera support suspicions of AR, and further concerns are raised by the prevalence of treatment ineffectiveness against the highly pathogenic Haemonchus contortus. This finding underscores the urgent need for comprehensive AR monitoring in the area and improved management practices to prevent further resistance development and protect livestock health.

Towards understanding capacity development as a system: perceptions from multiple conservation stakeholder groups in Bhutan

Summary Capacity development is crucial for enduring conservation success. Recent scholarship has called for a systems perspective based on input from local stakeholders to better understand and develop conservation capacity. However, few studies have adopted such an approach to explore interactions among capacities or how capacity development needs and priorities evolve. We address this gap through a case study from Bhutan, centred on perceptions from 52 local conservation practitioners, planners, funders and community members. We use mixed methods to identify which capacities have been important for conservation success, which capacities are needed for future success, which capacities are foundational and how capacities interact. We find that capacity needs have shifted from individual-level knowledge and skills to community- and societal-level capacities in response to changing political and economic dynamics. Participants identified political support and leadership, reliable and sufficient funding, strengthening the research base, and increasing community awareness and engagement as critical future needs. Investing in these capacities holds the promise of further augmenting capacity development, thus increasing the value of limited resources. Our results demonstrate that capacity development should be viewed as a dynamic process and supported by strategic investment even in countries with track records of conservation success.

Icelandic Prevention Model in Rural Appalachian Communities: Gauging Stakeholder Experience with the Core Processes Three Years into County-Level Implementation

Background: This study assessed stakeholder experience with the core processes of The Integrated Community Engagement (ICE) Collaborative, a primary prevention approach addressing adolescent substance use in rural West Virginia, after three years of county-level implementation. Objectives: Guided by the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM), the ICE Collaborative aims to enhance cooperation between researchers, policy makers, local practitioners, and community members and facilitate a paradigm shift in youth and community substance use prevention. This shift involves moving away from strategies focused on the repeated allocation of short-term grants that fund time-limited programs to a long-term, holistic, and sustainable approach overseen by local practitioners and coalitions. Results: We conducted qualitative interviews and focus groups with 33 stakeholders during the fall of 2022. Data analyses generated six major themes: 1) It Takes a Village to Prevent Adolescent Substance Use, 2) Improving Understanding and Commitment to Prevention Through Outreach, 3) Enhancing Student Engagement and Program Accessibility, 4) Addressing the Chronic Underfunding of Prevention and Youth Development Programs, 5) Acknowledging Family Contexts and Family Member Substance Use as Risk Factors, and 6) ICE/IPM Inspiring Solution-based Conversations, Goal Setting, and Strategy Selection. Conclusions: Stakeholders reported multiple positive characteristics of ICE for their communities and applauded the long-term focus and access to local data. Several suggestions for improved strategies were also reported. Results are discussed in line with the theoretical underpinnings of the IPM and current discourse around community health promotion in rural areas.

Needs and opportunities for developing health and well-being profiles in Estonian local governments

Abstract The creation and implementation of health and wellbeing profile, an evidence-based framework for planning health promotion as holistic process, is the responsibility of public health practitioners, who tend work part-time and sometimes lack professional competences. The current study maps the level of awareness, attitudes, needs and possibilities of local government leaders and public health practitioners to develop and implement profiles effectively in Estonian local governments. Semi-structured interviews with leaders in local governments (10) and practitioners (9) were conducted in 2022-2023. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Sample included representatives from all Estonian local governments (79 in total) and were categorized into subgroups based on local governments size, status of the profile, public health specialist employment, and educational background. Preliminary results indicate that leaders find as a supportive factors for enabling and encouraging profile compilation process for example: mandatory requirement; motivated implementors; well organized and effective workplan. Specialists find supportive factors to be cooperation on the national level, good communication practices and joint responsibility. Barriers for health promoters are the lack of time, motivation, financial resources, stakeholders understanding and meaningful action. The first qualitative study on these topics in Estonia highlight that creating a profile is supported by previous positive experience and have per contra an opposite negative effect to start the process. In general, the profile was considered necessary for helping identify problems and support decision-making processes for managing resources, however, assessment whether the profile should be obligatory is needed. In addition, there is a need for further support for the evidence-based decision-making process on the local level in health promotion by offering education and guidance from the national level. Key messages • Knowledge about the importance of public health, barriers and decision-making principles of local government leaders and specialists helps to develop interventions based on actual needs. • Continuously updated health and well-being profile ensures sustainability of health promotion action and is useful knowledge to policymakers, local government leaders and public health practitioners.

The adoption of a place-based framework to inform municipal health strategies

Abstract Background Health is a place-based issue. Research shows that inequalities in health are significantly influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors, making local policies related to these domains critical determinants. Yet, place-based health planning remains underutilized by local practitioners, not receiving adequate attention from policy-makers. Departing from the Municipal Health Strategy of Coimbra, this presentation aims to showcase the framework used for guiding municipal health planning, addressing multidimensional factors, geographic analysis, intersectoral collaboration and participatory approaches. Methods The conceptual and methodological framework followed a population health approach with a geographic lens, looking at how the health outcomes and health determinants were geographically distributed across the municipality (data disaggregated at sub-municipal level), as well as the extent to which policies from multiple sectors can address them. The planning cycle followed an iterative seven-stage process based in five key actions: 1 - Assess (Health Profile), 2 - Prioritize (Priorities), 3 - Plan (Objectives and Strategies), 4 - Implement (Action Plan) and 5 - Monitor (Targets and Measures, Monitoring Plan). Participatory processes were conducted involving local stakeholders and citizens to identify needs, establish priorities and actions. Results The framework for action integrates 14 goals and 94 actions across six policy domains: Sustainable Mobility and Public Places, Safe and Adequate Housing, Accessible Healthcare, Social Cohesion and Participation, Education and Health Literacy and Intersectoral and Collaborative Leadership. Conclusions Adopting a place-based framework to health planning, involving a geographical and multidimensional health assessment as well as the participation of local stakeholders and citizens, was considered effective in turning evidence into practice. Key messages • Municipal health strategies should be developed with a place-based perspective, prioritizing health as the focal point across various intersectoral municipal policies. • The integrated framework shed light on the experience of co-creation to inform health-oriented planning, ensuring that actions address specific needs of localities.

Ensuring sustainable impact of the national report on climate change and health in Germany 2023

Abstract Issue/problem The Robert Koch Institute recently coordinated a status report on climate change and health for Germany, detailing the current and future impact of climate change on health through 14 chapters. Description of the problem A central aim was to ensure the report’s long-term impact and public health value. Essential areas of focus have therefore been stakeholder-specific communication and establishing a network of experts for continued scientific exchange. Results The publication of the report as peer-reviewed articles has served to reach the scientific community. Another target group are public health practitioners and decision makers at subnational levels, who can contribute towards climate change mitigation and adaptation measures relevant to health, as recommended in the report. This latter group was reached through various methods and formats of science communication, including conferences aimed at the public health sector, through target-group oriented podcasts, social media engagement and digital town hall discussions. Following publication, the experts involved in writing, reviewing and using the report were invited to establish a network in order to support long-term scientific exchange and collaborations and in turn ensure the report’s sustainable impact and value. Lessons Through follow-up evaluations, the reception of the report and the further communication needs of this target group were analysed. A major lesson was to include the insights of public health practitioners more systematically and at an earlier stage in any future reports. As for the establishment of a network, a survey amongst the authors and other experts showed what this group considers the goals of this network: creating synergies and connections with existing initiatives and providing a platform for further exchange, especially amongst researchers addressing similar questions, such as the efficacy of mitigation and adaptation measures, from different angles. Key messages • Local public health practitioners are important stakeholders for climate change and health for ensuring public health impact. • The expertise in the network will support continued scientific exchange on climate change and health and thus ensure the national report’s sustainability.

Long-Term Effects of Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

In the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, had positive cardiorenal effects in patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression. Post-trial follow-up was designed to assess how the effects of empagliflozin would evolve after the discontinuation of the trial drug. In the active trial, patients with chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to receive either empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo and were followed for a median of 2 years. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area or an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Subsequently, surviving patients who consented were observed for 2 additional years. No trial empagliflozin or placebo was administered during the post-trial period, but local practitioners could prescribe open-label SGLT2 inhibitors, including open-label empagliflozin. The primary composite outcome was kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death as assessed from the start of the active-trial period to the end of the post-trial period. Of the 6609 patients who had undergone randomization in the active trial, 4891 (74%) were enrolled in the post-trial period. During this period, the use of open-label SGLT2 inhibitors was similar in the two groups (43% in the empagliflozin group and 40% in the placebo group). During the combined active- and post-trial periods, a primary-outcome event occurred in 865 of 3304 patients (26.2%) in the empagliflozin group and in 1001 of 3305 patients (30.3%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.87). During the post-trial period only, the hazard ratio for a primary-outcome event was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.76 to 0.99). During the combined periods, the risk of kidney disease progression was 23.5% in the empagliflozin group and 27.1% in the placebo group; the risk of the composite of death or end-stage kidney disease was 16.9% and 19.6%, respectively; and the risk of cardiovascular death was 3.8% and 4.9%, respectively. There was no effect of empagliflozin on death from noncardiovascular causes (5.3% in both groups). In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk for progression, empagliflozin continued to have additional cardiorenal benefits for up to 12 months after it was discontinued. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and others; EMPA-KIDNEY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03594110; EuDRACT number, 2017-002971-24.).

Clinical Effect of Descent in Infants with Bronchiolitis Diagnosed at Altitude: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Poirier, Anne, Amélie Basso, Sarah Bonnet-Ducrot, Ellen Katranji, Sophia Cherif-Alami, Sophie Chateigner-Coelsch, Manon Navarre, Cécile Ricard, and Corentin Tanné. Clinical Effect of Descent in Infants with Bronchiolitis Diagnosed at Altitude: A Prospective Multicenter Study. High Alt Med Biol. 00:00-00, 2024. Objective: This study aims to assess the clinical impact of descending to a lower altitude in infants with bronchiolitis diagnosed at an altitude above 1,000 m. Methods: We performed a prospective, observational, multicenter study during two consecutive winters (2022-2023 and 2023-2024). The diagnosis was made by local general practitioners (GPs) who then sent the patients who were younger than 1 year and had a Wang respiratory score (WRS) ≥4 to any of the five emergency departments (EDs) located at lower altitudes. The WRS, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and respiratory rate (RR) recorded by the GPs and at the EDs were compared. Results: We included 74 infants (59% females, median age 5.4 [3.6-8.0] months). Compared with the median values recorded by the GPs at altitudes above 1,000 m, the median values at the lower-altitude EDs were significantly better for the WRS (5.0 vs. 6.0, p = 0.002), RR (50/min vs. 60/min, p = 0.001), and SpO2 (97.0% vs. 91.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Descending to a lower altitude significantly improved respiratory function in infants younger than 1 year with bronchiolitis diagnosed at altitudes above 1,000 m.

A practitioner-led research agenda for local government

ABSTRACT The last 50 years of local government studies have documented extraordinary changes: economic transformations, international democratisation, the digital revolution and the rise of the internet have transformed local government. Looking forward to the next 50 years: climate change, ageing populations, financial pressure, populist politics, will all come home to roost in the day-to-day work of local government. This paper makes the case for building a research agenda around the practical experiences of local policy practitioners. Using our experience from a series of interviews with over sixty local government chief executives, and the example of two research projects built around LGIU’s local authority members network in England, the paper describes the valuable opportunities that come from engaging with local government practitioners for developing and directing research.

A machine learning-based approach for flash flood susceptibility mapping considering rainfall extremes in the northeast region of Bangladesh

Flash floods are catastrophic global events, especially in northeast Bangladesh, and assessing flash flood susceptibility is crucial for preparedness and mitigation. Traditional geographic system-based flash flood susceptibility mapping struggles to capture flash floods’ non-linear and complex nature. However, machine learning models have recently emerged as an efficient alternative to address these limitations. This study evaluates four machine learning models—Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Random Forest – Gradient Boosting (RFGB) Hybrid, and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost)—for flash flood susceptibility. It categorizes areas into five susceptibility levels: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. Covering 24,424.25 km2 across eight districts, the study uses 400 points (200 flood and 200 non-flood) for training and validation, based on field investigation, historical flood information, Sentinel-1 SAR GRD: C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data using Google Earth Engine, and insights from the local people. The models’ predictive performances are evaluated by incorporating topographical attributes and rainfall indices and using accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Area Under the Curve (AUC) score, with 70% of the data for training and 30% for testing. The ANN model performs best with rainfall indices, achieving high accuracy (maximum AUC = 0.802). The RFGB hybrid model shows excellent training accuracy (AUC ≥ 0.971) but suffers from overfitting during validation (AUC ≤ 0.674), requiring careful hyperparameter adjustment. The CatBoost model effectively uses both rainfall indices and terrain features, achieving AUC = 0.701 in training and AUC = 0.667 in validation. The ANN model conservatively includes the largest area (2198.3 km2) under ’very high’ susceptibility. This study’s flash flood susceptibility maps, which include rainfall extremes, are more robust than those without, helping local administrative authorities and national flood practitioners prepare for flash floods.

International Burn Disaster Nursing: Care, Commitment, Compassion, and Cost.

Burn mass casualty incidents can overwhelm local resources, challenging effective communication, triage, and provision of care. International responders can help by providing education and direct patient care. On November 5, 2021, a fuel tanker truck exploded in Freetown, Sierra Leone, killing or injuring hundreds of people. The needs of the severely burned survivors overwhelmed local resources, requiring an international response. Burn specialist teams from several countries, including the United States, were deployed to provide assistance. Members of the US burn care team educated local health care practitioners about wound care, physical therapy, and fluid and pain management. Educational content was delivered through lecture and discussion, case studies, clinical application, and bedside teaching. Demonstration of cultural competence and humility, as well as attentiveness to nuances of local communication, helped avoid ethnocentrism and other barriers to collaboration. Public congratulations and formal completion certificates were used to provide meaningful recognition of successful class participation. Before the lecture and discussion intervention, 57 students participating in a pretest assessment had an average score of 53.9% (high, 80%; low, 27.5%). After the intervention, 38 students participating in a posttest assessment had an average score of 79.3% (high, 95%; low, 55%), and local health care providers delivered care with more attention to patient comfort and shared new knowledge with colleagues. Providing optimal burn care and education under austere conditions requires cultural humility and a spirit of inquiry. Attentiveness to communication and cultural nuances promotes collaboration, improves educational effectiveness, and builds local burn care capacity.

Understanding the diversity of private conservation in the Peruvian Amazon

AbstractGlobal awareness about the threats of ecosystem degradation in the Amazon is growing. While state‐managed protected areas remain key instruments for forest conservation, private actors are increasingly funding and implementing a broad range of conservation initiatives. Private actors are transforming the Amazonian conservation landscape and its governance, however, many aspects of private conservation, especially the diversity of local practitioners and the challenges they face, remain understudied. Drawing on a case study of Madre de Dios in the Peruvian Amazon, we aim to generate a better understanding of private conservation practitioners and their various approaches to conservation on private and public land. We used an extensive review of literature and databases, in addition to 13 semi‐structured interviews with various private conservation practitioners, to map privately conserved areas, and to gather perceptions about challenges, opportunities, and future pathways for private conservation. A total of 590 privately conserved areas, covering over one million hectares, were identified and mapped in Madre de Dios. We find that, while most initiatives are managed by individuals and families, for‐profit companies manage half of the total area privately protected. Furthermore, we find that private conservation initiatives face significant barriers and pressures. These barriers include complex bureaucratic processes, legal contradictions and incoherencies, corruption, weak law enforcement, and financial insecurity. Conservation policies largely favor national and international actors and less so local, grassroots initiatives run by individuals and communities. Finally, we highlight the need for more accessible and inclusive policies that recognize the contribution of less powerful actors, to foster more effective conservation efforts for the future of the Amazon.

Site-based climate-smart tree species selection for forestation under climate change

Global climate change threatens ecosystem functions and resilience, prompting large-scale planting initiatives to mitigate its impacts. To ensure new plantations are adaptive to future climates, it is crucial to consider climate mismatches resulting from climate change when selecting tree species. However, current research is all species-based, which is not effective for species selection across species at specific plantation sites. Our research developed a novel site-based approach that can identify optimal tree species for specific planting sites under projected future climates. We evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of this method across 10 representative sites in diverse climatic zones in China based on climate niche projections for 100 key tree species. Our findings demonstrated the necessity and effectiveness of this approach, which can select a suit of suitable tree species tailored for any potential planting site across China under different climate change scenarios. For instance, at Tibet Dongjiu Forest farm, Aibes densa and Quercus pannosa currently showed high suitability scores above 0.8 (on a scale of 0–1). However, by the 2080s, Aibes densa's suitability was projected to drop to 0.25, while Quercus pannosa was expected to maintain its suitability. Conversely, Quercus aquifolioides currently had a low suitability of 0.08, but it was projected to increase to 0.74 by the 2080s. These findings demonstrate the importance of using this approach to avoid selecting the wrong species or overlooking potentially suitable species. In addition, our simulation analysis suggests that a dataset of 40–50 species is necessary to ensure that most planting sites can identify 2–3 suitable species. This advancement significantly enhances the precision and effectiveness of tree species selection strategies for local practitioners, offering vital insights for forestry, conservation, and ecological restoration projects. These results highlight the tremendous potential and practical applicability of our site-based approach in enhancing forestry adaptation and ecological functions in response to global climate change.

Standards, Instruction and Assessment of EFL Writing in Schools: Lessons From China's Basic Education

ABSTRACTThis paper analyses the current situation of English as a foreign language (EFL) writing in basic education in mainland China with a focus on the English curriculum standards, instruction and assessment. The National English Curriculum Standards launched by China's Ministry of Education ratified a general framework for EFL writing instruction and assessment in schools while the municipal curriculum guides, such as the one of Shanghai, include more specific writing performance descriptors. Comparisons of EFL curricula with other countries and regions suggest diverse examples and updated resources be added to China's current curriculum standards to improve feasibility and modernity. Moreover, there are discrepancies between the Curriculum Standards and the implementation in the classroom. Sociocultural factors, such as teachers' beliefs, instructional materials and the exam culture, have led to the tension between new pedagogies advocated in the Curriculum Standards and conventional instructional practices. This study further explores the writing section in the large‐scale high‐stake exams, that is, Zhongkao and Gaokao, which have long exerted strong influence on teachers' instruction and assessment practices. Regularising professional training in writing instruction and improving teachers' assessment literacy are thus suggested. Local practitioners' attempts to integrate the process approach into traditional teaching methods and scholars' efforts to develop the writing scales for assessment are discussed to offer policy and pedagogical implications for other education contexts that are faced with similar challenges.

Tuberculoma of deep peroneal nerve- a rare case report

Tuberculosis can mimick various diseases, causing a diagnostic dilemma.Tuberculomas of peripheral nerves arerare, only 9 cases were reported till date, we report a case of tuberculoma of deep peroneal nerve. A 29 year old subject, presented with complaints of painful swellings over right leg& foot since 2months. Patient developed diffuse swelling of right lower limb 5 years ago, for which he was treated with NSAIDs & serratiopeptidase by a local practitioner for 2 weeks after which he noticed tiny swellings on lower half of right shin & right foot which grew in size gradually &became painful since 2 months. Examination revealed tiny palpable mobile nodular soft swellings over lower aspect of right leg & over right foot. Ultrasonography of the swellings showed multiple ovale capsulated hypoechoic swellings largest measuring 18.9∗6.1 mm in the mid/lower leg subcutaneous plane anteriorly & similar lesions in the lower leg & dorsum of foot, suggesting benign neoplastic etiology of neural origin. Excision biopsy from deep peroneal nerve sheath tumour showed extensive areas of caseous necrosis with few epitheloid clusters with dense lymphocytic collections in the periphery, suggesting caseating granulomasof tubercular etiology. After making a diagnosis of tuberculoma of deep peroneal nerve, the patient has been initiated on Anti tubercular therapy & the patient respoded to ATT. Tuberculomas of peripheral nerves are rare. Final diagnosis comes from histopathology that reveals caseous necrosis surrounded by epitheloid histiocytes with or without granulomas Nerve exploration, lesion resection, and ATT results in good neurological recovery.

Junior High School Need For Students’ Workbook Based on Local Wisdom in Merdeka Curriculum

This study aims to explore the need for students' workbooks based on local wisdom in the Merdeka Curriculum for junior high school students, particularly at SMPN 3 Air Besar. The study is motivated by the importance of local wisdom in shaping students' character and identity, as well as the need for appropriate teaching materials that can support the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum. This study employed a survey research design to elicit information. To identify the students' needs, data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and direct observations. The interviews were conducted with students, English teachers, and villagers to gather in-depth information about the students' needs in the materials design. The study proposes various positions for EFL teachers to perform, including visionaries, cultural mediators on a local level, intercultural educators, and role model practitioners. It offers strategies for EFL teachers to include local cultural elements into their classroom instruction, such as establishing a local culturally responsive pedagogy, cultural sensitivity and awareness, and leveraging technology and information to support teaching. Incorporating local culture into EFL teaching can benefit students by raising cultural awareness, developing cultural literacy, building intercultural competence, enhancing language learning experiences, and acquiring skills in eliciting meaning. By using a workbook that takes into account the specific requirements of the students, teachers can better address their learning needs and create a more effective and engaging learning environment. It is recommended that English language teachers utilize the workbook that is based on local wisdom, as it aligns with the Indonesian National Educational System and the current Merdeka Curriculum, which emphasizes the relation between teaching English and the learners' closest environment for meaningful language use. Overall, the study focuses on exploring the need for a supplementary workbook that integrates local wisdom and culture into English language teaching, aiming to enhance students' language proficiency and cross-cultural communication skills.

Integrating high-resolution remote sensing and empirical wildlife detection data for climate-resilient corridors across tropical elevational gradients

Corridors are essential tools for promoting biodiversity resilience under climate change. However, corridor design studies are often conducted at spatial scales too coarse to guide implementation by local conservation practitioners. We mapped potential climate-resilient corridors linking lowland to highland protected areas within a highly biodiverse but fragmented landscape of southwestern Costa Rica (6311 km2) using least cost path and circuit theory approaches at high spatial resolution (10 m). We then applied an extensive camera trap dataset of medium-large vertebrates to examine corridor functionality. Although least cost paths (n = 40) were predominantly forested (median = 76 %, range = 57–82 %) and somewhat protected (median = 31 %, range = 3–55 %), they were also highly fragmented. Least cost paths from lowland to highland protected areas traversed medians of 252 forest patches (range = 162–328), 11,186 agriculture patches (range = 822–1,771), and 106 roads (range = 50–252), translating to 2 forest patches, 11 agriculture patches, and 1 road crossed every kilometer. Circuit analyses identified many high-connectivity areas outside of protected areas, including but not limited to least cost paths, but these high-connectivity areas were mostly small forest fragments. Nonetheless, capture rates for medium-to-large mammals at camera traps indicated that many species are currently unlikely to use unprotected, fragmented areas thought to be important for connectivity. In other words, additional conservation and restoration are necessary to establish functional corridors within the landscape. More broadly, this study exemplifies an approach to bridging the gap between regional-scale connectivity analyses and the needs of local practitioners by identifying locations that could be targeted for conservation or restoration within multi-use tropical landscapes.