Effects Of Practice Research Articles

The Impact of Dexamphetamine Treatment for Obesity on Executive Function: A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Pilot Study

Background: Amphetamines increase dopamine levels in mid-brain regions which, in turn, impact top-down executive function. Repeated exposure is linked to substance use disorders. Nonetheless, amphetamines are used to manage attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and eating-related disorders. In ADHD, amphetamines upregulate a system characterised by low dopaminergic tone, assisting to improve executive function. A similar process might be at play with eating disorders; however, the effect of amphetamine treatment on executive function in this case has not been thoroughly considered. Methods: Participants (N = 52, Mage = 47.06, SD = 12.29) with a body mass index of 25–60 were randomised to treatment (6-week dexamphetamine titration) or control (placebo) groups. They completed an executive function measure—Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS-SF)—and response inhibition task—Stop-Signal Task (SST)—at Baseline, throughout titration, at Maintenance, and at Follow-up. Mixed effects models examined whether BDEFS-SF score or the SST variable, stop-signal reaction time (SSRT), changed across sessions as a function of treatment. Results: There was no effect of group (p = 0.440), but an effect of session (p = 0.024) on BDEFS-SF, with scores at Time 2 (p = 0.011, 95% CI [0.47, 3.49]) and Maintenance (p = 0.022, 95% CI [−4.89, −0.39]), respectively, higher and lower than other timepoints. There was no group by session interaction (p = 0.659). R2 (conditional) = 0.74; ICC = 0.73. There was an effect of group (p = 0.039) and session (p < 0.001) on SSRT, but no interaction (p = 0.707). Baseline SSRT was significantly longer than the mean of all subsequent timepoints (p < 0.001, 95% CI [16.29, 33.84]). R2 (conditional) = 0.47; ICC = 0.39. Conclusions: There was no discernible impact of amphetamine treatment for obesity on executive function. Our results suggest some variation related to sample size and/or practice effects. Thus, while treatment appears unlikely to render individuals susceptible to substance use disorders, parallels with ADHD might be overstated.

Tahneek practice and use of dextrose/glucose gel in neonatal hypoglycemia

In this article, we discussed tahneek practiceand use of dextrose/glucose gel in neonatalhypoglycemia (NH) to draw attention to tahneekpractice in newborn infants. NH is a commonmetabolic problem in newborn infants. There are stillno data available that define how low a glucoseconcentration must be, respectively how long it mustpersist at which level to cause brain injury inneonates. An universal approach to diagnosis andmanagement of NH is still lacking. Oraldextrose/glucose gel is the recommended first linefor the management of NH in many guidelines;however, more data on safety and efficacy and theeffect of dextrose/glucose gel long-termneurological outcome are needed. Date is anessential high-energy food with a low-glycemicindex. Tahneek, a rubbing process of an chewed date on the soft palate of the neonate immediately afterdelivery, has been performed for over 1,400 years,because it is one of the Prophet Muhammad’s(Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) sunnahs. We thinkthat tahneek practice can be used in the prophylaxisand treatment of NH. Furthermore, tahneek practicemay be more effective and safer than dextro-se/glucose gel in correcting NH because it is moreadvantageous than oral dextrose/glucose gel in manyfeatures. However, no clinical trial has beenpublished about use of tahneek practice in newborninfants. We strongly recommend that randomizedcontrolled studies, including large series, should beconducted about effects of tahneek practice on NH.

Z-Ligustilide: A Potential Therapeutic Agent for Atherosclerosis Complicating Cerebrovascular Disease

Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the major catalysts of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and the death and disease burden from AS and its cerebrovascular complications are increasing. Z-ligustilide (Z-LIG) is a key active ingredient in Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. In this paper, we first introduced LIG’s physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics. Then, we reviewed Z-LIG’s intervention and therapeutic mechanisms on AS and its cerebrovascular complications. The mechanisms of Z-LIG intervention in AS include improving lipid metabolism, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, protecting vascular endothelium, and inhibiting vascular endothelial fibrosis, pathological thickening, and plaque calcification. In ischemic cerebrovascular diseases complicated by AS, Z-LIG exerts practical neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke (IS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), and vascular dementia (VaD) through anti-neuroinflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-neuronal apoptosis, protection of the blood-brain barrier, promotion of mitochondrial division and angiogenesis, improvement of cholinergic activity, inhibition of astrocyte proliferation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This paper aims to provide a basis for subsequent studies of Z-LIG in the prevention and treatment of AS and its cerebrovascular complications and, thus, to promote the development of interventional drugs for AS.

Generalized Wardowski type contractive mappings in b-metric spaces and some fixed point results with applications in optimization problem and modeling biological ecosystem.

In the realm of b-metric spaces, this study introduces a novel generalized Wardowski-type quasi-contraction, denoted as β-(θ, ϑ). We begin by applying this new contraction to derive standard fixed point results. Subsequently, we establish the existence of a generalized quasi-contraction of the Wardowski type, thereby validating the robustness of our findings. Specifically, we utilize Nadler's work to model biological ecosystems and apply our results to solve an optimization problem. To illustrate the practical implications and effectiveness of our approach, we provide a comparative analysis between our results and those of Nadler. This comprehensive study underscores the significance and utility of our generalized contraction in both theoretical and applied contexts.

Negotiation of new international health law on intellectual property, technology transfer, open science and pathogen access and benefit sharing: a textual and contextual analysis

IntroductionThis original research article reframes new international law and policy developments at the intersections of open science, technology transfer, intellectual property and access and sharing the benefits of biomedical innovation...

Effects of the systematic practice of a swimming program on the self-perception of physical and mental quality for professional performance.

Effects of the systematic practice of a swimming program on the self-perception of physical and mental quality for professional performance.

A multi-criteria approach to egress location selection in buildings: integrating economic, technical and social factors

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce an innovative decision-making framework designed to optimize egress location selection in buildings, significantly enhancing safety during emergencies. By integrating social, economic and technical criteria through the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP), this framework effectively manages the uncertainties inherent in emergency scenarios, providing a robust tool for safeguarding lives and property.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed methodology employs the F-AHP to systematically integrate and evaluate social, economic and technical criteria for egress location selection. A comprehensive case study conducted on a one-story school building demonstrates this approach’s practical application and effectiveness.FindingsThe analysis reveals that economic criteria are the most significant in determining the optimal egress location, constituting 61.9% of the overall weight, followed by technical criteria at 26.8% and social criteria at 11.3%. The findings highlight the practical application and effectiveness of the proposed approach in addressing uncertainties and optimizing egress location selection. Integrating social, economic and technical considerations gives decision-makers a robust tool to optimize safety, cost-effectiveness and evacuation efficiency.Practical implicationsThe findings underscore the practical benefits and effectiveness of the proposed approach in managing uncertainties and improving the selection of optimal egress locations. Integrating social, economic and technical considerations gives decision-makers a robust tool to optimize safety, cost-effectiveness and evacuation efficiency. This approach equips practitioners with a comprehensive framework for enhancing emergency preparedness and resilience in various building scenarios.Originality/valueThis research introduces a novel framework for egress location selection that addresses the limitations of existing studies by integrating multiple criteria – social, economic and technical – into a cohesive decision-making process. Using the F-AHP in a case study illustrates the framework’s practicality and adaptability, providing a dynamic solution that enhances the overall effectiveness of emergency plans. By prioritizing safety, cost-effectiveness and efficiency, this framework ensures that emergency plans are robust and adaptable, thereby significantly enhancing resilience in the face of emergencies.

OT-PCA: New Key-Recovery Plaintext-Checking Oracle Based Side-Channel Attacks on HQC with Offline Templates

In this paper, we introduce OT-PCA, a novel approach for conducting Plaintext-Checking (PC) oracle based side-channel attacks, specifically designed for Hamming Quasi-Cyclic (HQC). By calling the publicly accessible HQC decoder, we build offline templates that enable efficient extraction of soft information for hundreds of secret positions with just a single PC oracle call. Our method addresses critical challenges in optimizing key-related information extraction, including maximizing decryption output entropy and ensuring error pattern independence, through the use of genetic-style algorithms.Extensive simulations demonstrate that our new attack method significantly reduces the required number of oracle calls, achieving a 2.4-fold decrease for hqc-128 and even greater reductions for hqc-192 and hqc-256 compared to current state-of-the-art methods. Notably, the attack shows strong resilience against inaccuracy in the PC oracle—when the oracle accuracy decreases to 95%, the reduction factor in oracle call requirements increases to 7.6 for hqc-128.Lastly, a real-world evaluation conducted using power analysis on a platform with an ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller validates the practical applicability and effectiveness of our approach.

Innovative Strategies for Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Language Laboratory Teaching in the Context of Educational Modernization

With the development of science and technology, artificial intelligence has risen in the field of education, bringing new opportunities and challenges to language laboratory teaching. This study aims to explore effective strategies for language laboratory teaching from the perspective of artificial intelligence to improve teaching quality. Through theoretical analysis and practical cases, the application principles, personalized learning theories and strategy applications of artificial intelligence in language laboratory teaching are elaborated, including the innovative application of intelligent teaching platforms and the use of intelligent evaluation and feedback mechanisms. The practical effects of artificial intelligence in language laboratory teaching are analyzed, such as improving learning efficiency and effectiveness and creating rich learning resources and environments. Finally, the research conclusions are summarized, and the future research directions are prospected, including technological innovation and integration, deepening of personalized learning, transformation and development of teachers' roles, and education equity and popularization.

Innovation and Practice of Vocational Skill Appraisal Management Mode in the Electric Power Industry

In response to the current situation and existing problems of the vocational skill appraisal management mode in the electric power industry, a new practical scheme is proposed in this paper. By constructing a diversified evaluation system, implementing intelligent management methods, and strengthening the effective connection between vocational skill training and appraisal, an innovative management mode is constructed. Combined with practical case analysis, the practical effects and significance of the new management mode in the electric power industry are elaborated.

Exploration and Practice of a Graded, Flat, and Flexible Teaching Model for Cultivating Cyber Defense and Offense Capabilities

In alignment with the educational requirements for the multifaceted nature of knowledge, the comprehensiveness of skills, the adversarial nature of practice, and the specificity of thinking in cyber defense and offense capabilities, this paper adopts a student-centric pedagogical philosophy. Guided by educational theories such as constructivism, connectivism, and group dynamics, we have established a graded, flat, and flexible teaching model. This model is characterized by a progressively challenging teaching framework, the construction of contextually linked case scenarios through a flat knowledge network, the organization of a multidimensional and elastic teaching process, and the support of skill training through multimodal hybrid collaboration. It synergistically transforms the relationship between teaching and learning across four dimensions: framework structure, content arrangement, process organization, and training methods. This systematic shift has led to a significant increase in the knowledge capacity and diversity of the curriculum, an optimization of the flexibility and adaptability of teaching organization, an enhancement of students' understanding and learning capabilities, an improvement in students' comprehensive skills and practical combat effectiveness, and the stimulation of innovative thinking and specific cognitive traits.

DMYTRО DONTSOV’S TEXTS IN THE ASPECT OF CORPUS LINGUISTICS AND LEXICOGRAPHY

Increasingly, computer technologies in linguistics offer their advanced tools to process, store and select language data, which has triggered the fast development of the actual branch of linguistic studies – corpus linguistics. Through the use of large-scale empirical data and advanced computer technologies to reach objective insights into language function, linguistic corpora have quickly become invaluable resources. Data obtained through corpus analysis facilitate the drawing of qualitatively new conclusions about language and highlight research directions that previously received little attention. Despite substantial linguistic work on Dmytro Dontsov’s writings, there still exist a number of questions not studied so far. Among these are compiling a linguistic language corpus as well as a concordance of this prominent thinker, public figure, publicist utilizing modern methods to calculate and fix lexemes in order to identify their attributive collocation. Any available means of programming, facilitating processing language material of a big mass, have been realized to be an undoubtedly productive way to properly perform conceptual analysis and to serve as an additional tool for studying. The purpose of the study is to determine the peculiarities of the unique features of Dmytro Dontsov’s maxims in the aspect of corpus linguistics and lexicography on the basis of the corpus space that forms the linguistic vision of the world and is a source of creating lexicographical pieces of work (concordances, a writing language, a writer language, etc.). We emphasize that the creation of Dmytro Dontsov’s writing concordance has become the subject of corpus linguistics study for the first time. The subject of our study is the writings of Dmytro Dontsov, their lexicographical parametrization which provides all possible words with their description (phonetic, word-creating, grammatical), along with quantitative indices, i.e. it is the result of learning many linguistic disciplines, unified by the dictionary. The methodology of study is the combination of general theoretical methods (analysis, generalization, explanation) with the applied methods of linguistics. Analysis of the studied conception is grounded in “The Spirit of Our Antiquity” text corpus compiled by using the Sketch Engine program. On the basis of the analysis, it is found out that an electronic corpus provides the opportunity to accelerate language study and increase its effectiveness, probability and checkability significantly. The article reveals heuristic potential, practical effectiveness of the corpus and application of concordant technologies in conceptual studies. It was discovered that, the construction of the full concordance of the writings of Dmytro Dontsov will enable showing the picture of the world on the basis of learning the author’s lexical wealth and reproducing his understanding of the political situation. The created concordance is a stage of forming lexicographical works about Dontsov, which provides understanding of stages, methods, principles and peculiarities of compiling Dmytro Dontsov’s writing language dictionary. The multifaceted study of D. Dontsov’s writings is believed to be of importance. The concordance serves as a new material, important for politicians, journalists, teachers, students, for it is an entrance in a system of new words, filling with new ideas, and possibility to perceive the world through the nation-state aspirations of a great thinker. Realization of his project will help to create a political-intellectual product of great importance to offer bright prospects for future linguistic study, whose tasks are supposed to use linguistic material.

Innovative Photovoltaic-Aeration Integration: Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Grid Stability in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract This paper presents a detailed investigation into enhancing the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems, emphasizing power flow analysis and experimental validation. Recognizing the substantial energy demands of aeration processes in WWTPs, this study proposes an innovative integration of PV panels with aeration tanks. This approach generates renewable energy and optimizes energy use through the thermal interaction between the PV panels and the aeration tanks. Key findings demonstrate a 15% overall increase in energy efficiency and a 5% improvement in PV efficiency due to aeration-induced cooling, along with a reduction in voltage fluctuations by up to 30% during high-demand periods. Additionally, the integration offsets approximately 20% of the WWTP's total energy consumption. The research is structured into two main components: a comprehensive power flow study using DIgSILENT PowerFactory and a laboratory experiment to validate the integration's effectiveness. The power flow analysis evaluates the electrical impact of PV integration on the WWTP's power grid, focusing on scenarios such as load fluctuations, grid disturbances, and the synchronization of PV generation with plant energy needs. The simulation results indicate that the integration significantly enhances the stability and efficiency of the plant's electrical system, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. Concurrently, a laboratory experiment explored the practical effects of integrating PV systems with aeration tanks. The experiment demonstrated that the cooling effect provided by the aeration tanks leads to increased PV efficiency and notable energy savings. These experimental results align with the simulation findings, confirming the efficacy of this integrated approach. This study introduces a novel methodology for integrating renewable energy technologies into industrial processes, showcasing the potential for significant energy savings and improved operational efficiency in WWTPs. Future research will focus on scaling this integration strategy and assessing its long-term impacts on energy efficiency and wastewater treatment effectiveness.

Effects of mindfulness-based strengths practice (MBSP) among women undergraduates in enhancing positive mental health

ABSTRACT The study investigates the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) intervention to enhance the positive mental health of women undergraduates by focusing on the development of character strengths, flourishing, mindfulness, and the reduction of psychological distress. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study involved 162 undergraduate women (mean age 18.55) from rural backgrounds; 80 volunteered for intervention and 82 for the control group. Participants completed pre-, post-, and three-month follow-up assessments, and the results showed significant gains in mindfulness, PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) flourishing, character strengths, and a reduction in psychological distress, with moderate to large effect sizes. A follow-up after three months showed persistent effects in certain aspects. This investigation among the Indian population contributes to the literature on MBSP in an Eastern context. It underscores the effectiveness of MBSP as a positive psychological, mindfulness-based intervention on college campuses for promoting well-being and mitigating mental health challenges among college students.

Efficient Positioning of QTL and Secondary Limit Thresholds in a Clinical Trial Risk-Based Monitoring.

In the high-stakes world of clinical trials, where a company's multimillion-dollar drug development investment is at risk, the increasing complexity of these trials only compounds the challenges. Therefore, the development of a robust risk mitigation strategy, as a crucial component of comprehensive risk planning, is not just important but essential for effective drug development, particularly in the RBQM (Risk-Based Quality Management) ecosystem and its component-RBM (Risk-Based Monitoring). This emphasis on the urgency and significance of risk mitigation strategy can help the audience understand the gravity of the topic. The paper introduces a novel modeling framework for deriving an efficient risk mitigation strategy at the planning stage of a clinical trial and establishing operational rules (thresholds) under the assumption that contingency resources are limited. The problem is solved in two steps: (1) Deriving a contingency budget and its efficient allocation across risks to be mitigated and (2) Deriving operational rules to be aligned with risk assessment and contingency resources. This approach is based on combining optimization and simulation models. The optimization model aims to derive an efficient contingency budget and allocate limited mitigation resources across mitigated risks. The simulation model aims to efficiently position each risk's QTL/KRI (Quality Tolerance Limits/Key Risk Indicators at a clinical trial level) and Secondary Limit thresholds. A case study illustrates the proposed technique's practical application and effectiveness. This example demonstrates the framework's potential and instills confidence in its successful implementation, reassuring the audience of its practicality and usefulness. The paper is structured as follows. (1) Introduction; (2) Methodology; (3) Models-Risk Optimizer and Risk Simulator; (4) Case study; (5) Discussion and (6) Conclusion.

Effects of deliberate practice and structured feedback in psychotherapy training (DeeP): a study protocol of a randomized-control-trial

BackgroundPsychotherapeutic competencies encompass a variety of skills that influence the work and therapeutic success of psychotherapists. In particular, interpersonal skills and the associated ability to react appropriately in complex therapy situations have already shown significant correlations with later therapeutic success. Strengthening interpersonal skills should therefore be a central aim of psychotherapy training. However, previous studies have shown that not only content learning is decisive for later learning success and skill development, but also the didactic method has a significant effect. Deliberate Practice and Structured Feedback have shown to be promising didactic tools. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of Deliberate Practice and Structured Feedback as well as their combination in the context of psychotherapy training in comparison to classic didactic training. The trainees’ learning progress of interpersonal skills and its influence on subsequent outpatient therapies will be examined. Secondary, the study aims to identify further determinants of trainees’ therapeutic skills and to investigate the effects of ruptures on the course of therapy.MethodsThe underlying study, a randomized-control-trial with three intervention groups (Deliberate Practice, Structured Feedback, combination of both) and an active control group, will be conducted on a sample of N = 240 trainees and their patients (N = 1000). All trainees will each attend three consecutive workshops on “Strengthening therapeutic skills in challenging therapy situations”, which will be carried out using the corresponding didactic tool. Scientific assessments will take place online for the trainees (pre, in-between, post, follow-up) and for the patients (after each therapy session for 24 weeks, follow-up). Primary outcomes will be constituted by the trainees’ Facilitative Interpersonal Skills and the patients’ symptoms. Multilevel as well as structural equation modelling will be used to analyze the data.DiscussionThe study investigates the efficacy of different didactic tools regarding the strengthening of trainee’s interpersonal competencies as well as their effects on subsequent therapies. Results of this study address a research gap concerning the improvement of psychotherapy training as well as the quality assurance of future therapies.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trial Register (DRKS) – DRKS00034279; retrospectively registered.

Linear quadratic control and estimation synthesis for multi‐agent systems with application to formation flight

AbstractThis paper concerns the optimality problem of distributed linear quadratic control in a linear stochastic multi‐agent system (MAS). The main challenge stems from MAS network topology that limits access to information from non‐neighbouring agents, imposing structural constraints on the control input space. A distributed control‐estimation synthesis is proposed which circumvents this issue by integrating distributed estimation for each agent into distributed control law. Based on the agents' state estimate information, the distributed control law allows each agent to interact with non‐neighbouring agents, thereby relaxing the structural constraint. Then, the primal optimal distributed control problem is recast to the joint distributed control‐estimation problem whose solution can be obtained through the iterative optimization procedure. The stability of the proposed method is verified and the practical effectiveness is supported by numerical simulations and real‐world experiments with multi‐quadrotor formation flight.

Immigration from a Christian Perspective: The Challenge and Imperative of Racial Justice

ABSTRACT This Essay seeks to encourage Christians – especially those working communities who identify with or are perceived as evangelical – who speak and advocate for greater humanity in immigration to engage more deeply with the interconnectedness of racial justice and immigration law and policy today. Framing a self-consciously Christian approach to immigration to include concerns about racial justice raises challenges related to the fraught nature of both immigration and racial discourse during an era of deep politicization and polarization. But positive practical effects might also follow from such engagement, such as enhancing Christian communities’ ability to ameliorate the harms imposed by contemporary immigration enforcement on people of color, bringing Christians into greater proximity with the concerns animating movements for immigrant and racial justice, and theological enrichment around faith-based discourse regarding immigration.

Surface functionalization of bio-based polymers in FDM: A pathway to enhanced material performance

Such rapid advancement places FDM as a transformative technology in additive manufacturing generally, and particularly into the context of the fabrication of complex geometries using bio-based polymers. However, with such inherent limitations regarding their mechanical and thermal properties, these face significant obstacles that need innovative approaches toward improvement. Surface functionalization is now considered one of the frontline strategies in the advanced improvements of the interfacial properties and durability of biobased polymers within FDM applications and represents opportunities for enhancing material performance. This paper discusses recent advances in surface functionalization methods, including plasma treatment, grafting, and nanocoatings applied to optimize PLA, PHA, and their composites functionality. These techniques tune the surface properties at the molecular level and consequently strengthen adhesion, minimize moisture intake, and enhance thermal stability toward improved mechanical properties and longer operating time for the printed parts. Our findings indicate that incorporating functionalization of the surface in the FDM process overcomes some of the challenges of bio-based polymers and achieves the targets of sustainable manufacturing. The work underlines contemporary methods and shows both their implications and practical effects, thus opening a path to future research and industrial applications in high-performance eco-friendly materials.

Adoption of a sustainable land management practice for invasive Prosopis juliflora in East Africa

BackgroundWoody invasive alien species are among the world’s worst invaders, significantly affecting ecosystem services, increasing the cost of farming and reducing access to land. Prosopis juliflora (“prosopis”), a spiny shrub or tree, was introduced from its native Latin America into Eastern Africa to reduce dust and sandstorms and provide wood and fodder for livestock, but it has spread from the original areas of introduction and invaded large areas of land, thereby replacing grazing and arable land with impenetrable thickets. Stakeholders in two invaded regions of Kenya and Tanzania selected and tested, through an inclusive and participatory process guided by the Woody Weeds project, one sustainable land management (SLM) practice to manage prosopis through uprooting and subsequent use of the cleared land for continuous crop and fodder production. The practice was successful and was adopted by stakeholders in the communities where it was tested.MethodsWe assessed reasons why people adopted the practice or not, as well as whether there was an effect of the Woody Weeds project on the adoption, through in-person interviews with 154 household heads in Baringo, Kenya, and 148 in Kahe, Tanzania.ResultsAbout 75% of the respondents implemented the practice, 76 didn’t implement the practice and ten respondents no longer implemented the practice. We found that the likelihood of people adopting was higher for male than female respondents and was positively related to farm size. Results of a choice experiment revealed that almost all respondents prefer the SLM over a situation where their land is invaded by prosopis, even if the investment is high, which confirms that people prefer farming over prosopis, and that their perception of the SLM became more positive over time. Altogether, our results illustrate the beneficial effects of the SLM practice, despite high initial investment and risk of injury while uprooting prosopis. The results further indicate the value of communal meetings for dissemination, as many people learn about new practices through observation of their neighbours’ activities and during public barazas and village meetings.ConclusionsWe recommend awareness raising about these SLM practices and their benefits and upscaling of the practices to other areas infested by prosopis.