Promising Practices Research Articles

Perspectives of public health organizations partnering with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities for comprehensive COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing.

To understand public health organizations' experiences providing comprehensive COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing, and related promising practices with refugee, immigrant and migrant communities. We interviewed public health professionals (September 2020 to February 2021) from local and state health departments using a geographically stratified, purposive sampling approach. A multidisciplinary team at the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants (NRC-RIM) conducted a thematic analysis of the data. Six themes were identified: understanding community and public health context, cultivating relationships, ensuring linguistic and cultural concordance, communicating intentionally, evolving response, and implementing equity. The interconnection of themes and promising practices is explored. As public health continues to learn from and build upon COVID-19 response experiences, the thematic findings and potential promising practices identified in this project may foster proactive, community-engaged solutions for public health, and other organizations working and partnering with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities. Implementing these findings with COVID-19 into current and future public health crisis responses may improve public health, collaborations with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities, and staff wellbeing.

Subsoiling tillage increased core microbiome associated with nitrogen fixation in the fallow season under rainfed maize monoculture

Subsoiling tillage (ST) is a promising agronomy practice to improve soil physicochemical properties, soil microbial diversity during the crop growing season, and ultimately crop yield, but little is known about whether and how the ST practice will impact soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities in fallow season and their impacts on crop growth in next season. Here, a four-year continuous field experiment was conducted to compare the impacts of three tillage treatments, i.e., the ST, the no-tillage (NT), and the rotary tillage (RT), on soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities in maize fallow season. The results showed that compared with the RT treatment, the ST treatment improved maize yield by 2.3%, 4.2%, 11.4%, and 9.7% from 2018 to 2021, respectively, while there was no significant yield loss between the NT and RT. The ST treatment improved root biomass and soil available nitrogen by 25.1% and 34.0%, respectively, but scarcely impacted soil bulk density and water-filled pore space in comparison with the RT treatment in the maize fallow season in 2021. In addition, changes in root biomass further altered soil bacterial core microbiomes. Compared with the RT treatment, the ST treatment increased the relative abundance of core microbiomes related to nitrogen fixation and denitrification by 169.5% and 62.0%, respectively, but reduced the relative abundance of core microbiomes related to nitrification by 39.0%. The potential functional profile of core microbiomes predicted by the FAPROTAX database also showed that the ST treatment significantly improved nitrogen fixation and ureolysis by 115.9% and 346.9%, respectively, while decreased nitrification by 57.1% in comparison with the RT treatment. The results of the structural equation model showed that ST-induced changes in the function of nitrogen fixation improved soil available nitrogen content in the maize fallow season, which could supply nutrients for maize growth in the next growing season. Additionally, although the NT treatment improved microbial diversities in comparison with the RT and ST treatments, it reduced the relative abundance of microbiomes related to nitrogen cycling in the maize fallow season. These results indicate that the subsoiling tillage could increase the abundance of core microbiomes related to nitrogen fixation and mineralization, which increase soil available nitrogen content in the fallow season of maize cropping in the northeast of China.

Embodiment in online education: promising practices

Embodied experiential learning is central to dance/movement therapy (DMT) education. During the pandemic, DMT educators pivoted to hybrid-online educational delivery and attended to multiple dimensions of student learning and societal crises while attempting to maintain educational quality. Building on the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and embodied aesthetic theories of care, the authors explored how educators and supervisors accounted for embodied learning in DMT education and training in an online setting. Data were generated and analysed reflexively from a preliminary conference workshop survey and workshop interactions. An aesthetic, relational experience of caring may be incorporated into an online learning space through developing intra and interpersonal oscillation, which can validate embodied experiences and aid in developing bodily agency. The authors elaborate on emerging promising practices and considerations for future research.

Using the Sustainable Development Goals in undergraduate leadership programs.

Undergraduate leadership education prepares students for meaningful roles in various aspects of civic and professional life. In this article, the authors explore the contextual facets of undergraduate academic leadership programs and courses utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for addressing local and global challenges through leadership education and development at two higher education institutions. Each example is described contextually followed by promising classroom practices embedded through the use of the SDG framework.

Applying circular economy principles to intensification of livestock production in Sub-Saharan Africa

In the context of sustainable agricultural development, much has been made of the need to apply agroecology or regenerative principles to improve rural livelihoods and to align the sector with critical planetary health boundaries. This movement is a reaction to the perceived private and social costs arising from both production and consumption associated with industrialised agriculture, mostly in upper-income countries, with several default assumptions being apparent about applicability elsewhere. The notion of circularity, or the circular economy, is frequently conflated with agro ecological rhetoric, often overlooking a longer tradition of circular resource use efficiency in traditional mixed crop–livestock farming in low-income settings. This paper examines the concept and origins of circularity and reviews some examples of historic circular economy research within the international agricultural research system as applied to smallholder agriculture. These include (i) studies focusing on the impact of crop residue retention, (ii) work on residue incorporation and/or mulching and their effects on crop yields and soil fertility, (iii) research on the effects of manure use on crop yields and soil fertility and (iv) work on the feeding of crop residues to livestock. We consider some promising innovations or practices adhering to circular economy principles. Candidate innovations focus on the improvement of livestock feeding practices including the breeding of dual-purpose crops to enhance livestock nutrition, conversion of cereal straw residues to high-quality feed, use of cassava waste as livestock feed and use of insects as livestock feed. We conclude by considering how circular bio-economy principles might be maintained in the future evolution of food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Utilization of coal bottom ash from thermal power plants as a cement replacement for building: A promising sustainable practice

Coal bottom ash (CBA) is claimed to carry some pozzolanic qualities that can be stimulated by pre-treatment. This study investigates the feasibility of partially replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with ground CBA to produce CBA-cement paste. A thorough experimental program was designed to explore the effect of the CBA source and particle size, liquid-to-binder ratio (l/b), and superplasticizer (SP) on the 28-day compressive strength of CBA-cement paste. The CBA source with a high SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (approximately 3.6) and CaO content (5.3%) yielded higher compressive strengths. Grinding breaks down the large raw CBA particles and enhances their reactivity with water and pozzolanic character. Specimens with 50% ground CBA attained a 28-day compressive strength of up to 51 MPa at l/b of 0.225. The low pozzolanic nature combined with the porous texture of CBA necessitates the incorporation of a superplasticizer to enhance workability at low l/b. A 28-day strength of 61 MPa was achieved at 30% cement replacement with 150 μm CBA at l/b of 0.25 using 1% SP. In view of this, partial replacement of cement with ground CBA has proven to be a viable and sustainable construction option.

Community engagement for early recognition and immediate action in stroke (CEERIAS): Pre and post COVID-19

Engagement science can help healthcare providers understand promising practices that address health disparities. The Community Engagement in Early Recognition and Immediate Action in Stroke (CEERIAS) study began in 2014 with the aim of improving health outcomes related to stroke and addressing racial inequities among at-risk South Side Chicago neighbourhoods by engaging community members called ‘Stroke Promoters’ in designing and implementing a stroke preparedness programme. Launched in 2020, Phase II (2CEERIAS) furthered this aim by developing a replicable virtual platform for the programme in response to challenges prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CEERIAS community engagement programme results provided meaningful data to South Side Chicago communities; nearly 40,000 ‘Pact to Act FAST’ pledges were collected over 11 months, and although early hospital arrival and emergency medical services (EMS) usage for confirmed stroke did not increase overall, early arrivals for suspected stroke increased significantly for men, younger people and black community members along with EMS usage for suspected stroke. The 2CEERIAS virtual programme collected nearly 3,800 new pledges in a 90-day window during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The engagement of trusted nonclinical laypeople during both phases of the CEERIAS study demonstrates that community engagement can positively influence clinical outcomes and increase reach and sustainability for such efforts. The use of engagement science can also generate a deep sense of co-creation among community members, and the ‘social contract’ approach can effect behavioural change. The virtual adaption reinforced important engagement science principles for interventions aimed at eliminating stroke disparities. To this day, eight years after research support ended for the CEERIAS programme, community members trained as ‘Stroke Promoters’ remain connected to the researchers and continue to educate family and neighbours about stroke preparedness.

Climate-smart agriculture practice promotes sustainable maize production in northeastern China: Higher grain yield while less carbon footprint

Maize production is facing multiple challenges toward increasing crop productivity, enhancing resource utilization, and mitigating climate change nowadays. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an emerging concept, which pursues the synthesis of higher crop productivity, lower carbon emissions, and improved soil resilience to the climate change. However, few studies have been done to evaluate the productivity and environmental consequences following the CSA of maize production. Herein, the effects of CSA practice on maize yield, nitrogen use efficiency (partial factor productivity, PFPN), soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, and carbon footprint (CF) were evaluated based on a nine-year in-situ field experiment in northeastern China. The experiment followed a randomized block design with three treatments including in traditional farmers’ practices (FM), optimized agronomic practices (OPT, aiming to high grain yield and PFPN), and climate-smart agriculture practices (CSA, aiming to higher grain yield, PFPN, SOC stock, while lower CF). Compared with FM, OPT and CSA practices significantly increased grain yield and PFPN by 25.0%− 30.1% and 92.2%− 100.2% on average of experimental duration, respectively. CSA practice had significant higher global warming potential (GWP) but equivalent global warming potential intensity (GWPI) than these of FM and OPT practices during 2016 and 2017. Meanwhile, CSA practice also achieved the highest SOC sequestration in 0–40 cm soil depth compared to other treatments. Consequently, CF per hectare (CFa) of CSA significantly decreased by 41.4% on average than that of FM mainly due to higher SOC sequestration. Concerning the profit of cropping system, CSA had the highest net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB) of 2090.62 $ ha−1 among the treatments. Overall, CSA practice showed advantages in promoting maize yield while reducing carbon footprint by integrated agronomic management (e.g. dense planting, subsoiling tillage, manure amendments, nitrogen fertilizer optimization, and so on), which could be regarded as a promising practice towards food security and carbon emission mitigation.

The Evolution of Alternative Care in Nepal over the Last Decade and Way Forward

Our article focuses on the national efforts advancing children’s right to alternative care services in Nepal. It presents the government’s existing laws and policies in providing responsible care to children in need of special protection and for children who cannot be placed in parental care due to various reasons for family separation. This article also looks into the history of alternative care in Nepal and discusses the alternative forms of care practised in the communities and their evolution, upholding the best interest of the child. We share the promising practices of kinship care and foster care (informal and formal) for children at risk of separation and child institutionalisation and for children removed from orphanages and children’s homes for family reintegration, implemented by The Himalayan Innovative Society in Nepal in partnership with Forget Me Not and Hope and Homes for Children. We, finally, conclude by sharing the key challenges and opportunities in the implementation of alternative care services for children in Nepal driving the care reform in the country.

Support Interventions for Young People in Housing Programs: A Rapid Literature Review.

This rapid review synthesizes current original research studies concerning support interventions intended for young people who experienced homelessness and are housed through youth-focused housing programs. Peer-reviewed articles on interventions for young people between 13 and 25 years of age with experience of homelessness living in youth-focused housing published between January 2017 and May 2022 were search in Scopus, Web of Sciences, PubMed, and EBSCO. Ten articles were included in the review. Interventions examined in the reviewed literature included case management, psychosocial and mental health support interventions; social support through peer support, mentorship, and positive social networks; and socioeconomic inclusion through skill building. Evidence found in the current review provides directions for the development of promising practices.

Family Engagement during the Pandemic: Challenges, Inequities, and Opportunities for Adaptation

The pandemic created a uniquely challenging situation in which educators pursued ways to engage family members. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with educators from six demographically diverse schools in New York State, this qualitative study contributes to emerging scholarship that has begun to document the efforts of educators to engage families during the pandemic. Findings have implications for educators and policymakers seeking to better understand family engagement challenges during the pandemic and offers practical guidance on promising practices educators might use to engage the diverse array of families and children they serve during times of disruption.

Organisation and integrated healthcare approaches for people living with HIV, multimorbidity, or both: a systematic review

BackgroundUniversal recommendation for antiretroviral drugs and their effectiveness has put forward the challenge of assuring a chronic and continued care approach to PLHIV (People Living with HIV), pressured by aging and multimorbidity. Integrated approaches are emerging which are more responsive to that reality. Studying those approaches, and their relation to the what of delivery arrangements and the how of implementation processes, may support future strategies to attain more effective organizational responses.MethodsWe reviewed empirical studies on either HIV, multimorbidity, or both. The studies were published between 2011 and 2020, describing integrated approaches, their design, implementation, and evaluation strategy. Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods were included. Electronic databases reviewed cover PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. A narrative analysis was conducted on each study, and data extraction was accomplished according to the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care taxonomy of health systems interventions.ResultsA total of 30 studies, reporting 22 different interventions, were analysed. In general, interventions were grounded and guided by models and frameworks, and focused on specific subpopulations, or priority groups at increased risk of poorer outcomes. Interventions mixed multiple integrated components. Delivery arrangements targeted more frequently clinical integration (n = 13), and care in proximity, community or online-telephone based (n = 15). Interventions reported investments in the role of users, through self-management support (n = 16), and in coordination, through multidisciplinary teams (n = 9) and continuity of care (n = 8). Implementation strategies targeted educational and training activities (n = 12), and less often, mechanisms of iterative improvement (n = 3). At the level of organizational design and governance, interventions mobilised users and communities through representation, at boards and committees, and through consultancy, along different phases of the design process (n = 11).ConclusionThe data advance important lessons and considerations to take steps forward from disease-focused care to integrated care at two critical levels: design and implementation. Multidisciplinary work, continuity of care, and meaningful engagement of users seem crucial to attain care that is comprehensive and more proximal, within or cross organizations, or sectors. Promising practices are advanced at the level of design, implementation, and evaluation, that set integration as a continued process of improvement and value professionals and users’ knowledge as assets along those phases.Trial registrationPROSPERO number CRD42020194117.

Yes, Developmental Students Can Thrive in Integrated Courses and Compressed Terms

Developmental educators in higher education are caught in a crossfire. On one side, researchers, organizations, companies, non-profits, practitioners, and to some extent, the public, are clamoring for massive reform in developmental coursework in higher education (American Association of Community Colleges, 2018; Edgecombe et al., 2014; Complete College America, 2012). One such reform is the push for integrated reading and writing (IRW) courses. According to Armstrong et al. (2019), this is the promise of IRW: “Integration is an approach that values literacy-based academic communication processes equally and that coordinates those processes purposefully for new-to-college learners.” All of these groups present a compelling argument, but that argument is founded upon a small body of research and practices that work in some situations and with some populations when implemented with fidelity. In spite of that lack of research, some states have forced colleges to develop and implement IRW courses, but Maryland has not.
 On the other side, researchers and organizations that have been the backbone of developmental education paint a different picture (Goudas, 2023; Goudas & Boylan, 2012; Saxon et al., 2016a & 2016b). They argue that change and evolution are needed, but not such dramatic, massive reforms, which may sound like quick and easy fixes, but actually create new barriers and disservice to students, and moreover make a good deal of money for those researchers, speakers, and organizers.
 The pressure for redesign of developmental reading and writing programs is intense, but other transformations in higher education are also shaping the future of developmental education. For example, as a result of joining Achieving the Dream’s core program in 2019, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) made a commitment to shift the majority of courses to a compressed 7-week format by fall term of 2021. Part of the Achieving the Dream (2023) mindset is that “Before we can help your institution transform, we have to understand where you’ve been,” which begins with exploring, “your student demographics; your legislative environment; mission and theory of change; past initiatives and student success efforts; and more.” Thus in 2020, the time was ripe to take a deep dive into CSM’s past practices and data and to cull promising practices from the published literature. This dive was the beginning of an 18-month redesign process.

Exploring adaptation responses of maize to climate change scenarios in southern central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

In this study, we assessed responses of adaptation options to possible climate change scenarios on maize growth and yield by using projections of 20 coupled ensemble climate models under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 by means of a DSSAT model. Growth and yield simulations were made across present and future climate conditions using the hybrid maize variety (Shone). Subsequently, simulated yields were compared with farmer’ average and on-farm trial yields. Results showed that on-farm trial yield (5.1–7.3 t ha−1) lay in between farmers’ average yield (2.9–5 t ha−1) and water-limited potential yield (6.3–10.6 t ha−1). Maize yields achieved in farmers’ fields are projected to decline towards mid-century and further towards the end of the century regardless of the adaptation options compared with baseline in low potential clusters. Results of a combination of adaptation options including February planting, use of 64 kg ha−1 N and conservation tillage provided yield advantage of 5.8% over the 30 cm till under medium GHGs emission scenario during mid-century period at Shamana. Mulching with 5 t ha−1 was projected to produce a 4–5% yield advantage in the Hawassa cluster during the mid-century period regardless of changes in tillage or planting window. Under a high GHGs emission scenario, over 13.4% yield advantage was projected in the Bilate cluster due to conservation tillage and June planting during the mid-century period. In the Dilla cluster, the use of 10 t ha−1 mulch, conservation tillage and early planting (February) would result in a 1.8% yield advantage compared with the control either in medium or high GHGs emission scenarios. Thus, the most promising and least risky practices among simulated strategies were the use of nitrogen and mulching in combination with tillage or planting date adjustment. However, adaptation options remained least promising and highly risky if not integrated with mulching or nitrogen use. Hence, the negative impacts of future climate change and subsequent yield gaps would be reduced by optimizing the application of nitrogen, mulch and their interaction with planting date and tillage in high and low potential areas of maize production.

Community-based Aboriginal staff taking the lead in family support: a case study of transforming practices prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT The Play to Connect programme is an ongoing action research project investigating implementation of a parenting programme for families and children living in disadvantaged remote Aboriginal communities in Australia’s Northern Territory. The aim of this research was to identify critical skills and supports needed for community staff to deliver family support services in their community. The presented collaborative research project was undertaken by two community-based Aboriginal implementation officers and two visiting practitioners between March 2020 and December 2021. At this time, social service delivery was impacted by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions when visiting staff were temporarily permitted to fly into remote communities. The visiting practitioners interviewed the local Aboriginal community staff after family visits to explore how to build their professional competencies and contribute to the nature of programme delivery. Thematic analysis of the interviews and debriefing notes emphasise three key factors crucial in building professional competencies: experiential and reflective learning; partnership and collaboration; and increased self-efficacy. The promising practices identified have potential for broader application across Aboriginal communities to enhance cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary teamwork for service delivery. These professional development processes can ensure more accessible programmes for Indigenous communities based on cultural relevance and the diverse needs of participating families.

Promising Practices Observed in High-Throughput COVID-19 Vaccination Sites in the United States, February-May 2021.

Objectives. To identify promising practices for implementing COVID-19 vaccination sites. Methods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessed high-throughput COVID-19 vaccination sites across the United States, including Puerto Rico, after COVID-19 vaccinations began. Site assessors conducted site observations and interviews with site staff. Qualitative data were compiled and thematically analyzed. Results. CDC and FEMA conducted 134 assessments of high-throughput vaccination sites in 25 states and Puerto Rico from February 12 to May 28, 2021. Promising practices were identified across facility, clinical, and cross-cutting operational areas and related to 6 main themes: addressing health equity, leveraging partnerships, optimizing site design and flow, communicating through visual cues, using quick response codes, and prioritizing risk management and quality control. Conclusions. These practices might help planning and implementation of future vaccination operations for COVID-19, influenza, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Public Health Implications. These practices can be considered by vaccination planners and providers to strengthen their vaccination site plans and implementation of future high-throughput vaccination sites. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(8):909-918. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307331).

Recruiting and Retaining Higher Education Leaders for the Rural Community College “Lifestyle”

A significant amount of recent research and media coverage has focused on the challenges related to K–12 teacher shortages, particularly in rural regions of the United States. Far less research, however, has been conducted on the challenges faced by rural community colleges related to recruiting and retaining both academic and professional personnel. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to understand how current rural community college leaders are perceiving and addressing these challenges regarding recruitment and retention of personnel. A total of eight senior leaders in rural community colleges or state oversight agencies throughout one Mountain West state were interviewed. Through their experiences and insight, the authors synthesized their collective concerns to construct various promising practices on how to employ and hold on to personnel at rural community colleges.

Relationship-building, community-building, and security of the building: staff perspectives on tenant retention in permanent supportive housing

Abstract Objectives: The objective of this article is to explore how housing practitioners navigate the challenge of tenant retention within Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs and the practices they associate with program success. Methods: This article draws on semistructured interviews with 10 housing practitioners from 7 organizations operating 8 PSH programs in Edmonton, a city with roughly one million people in Alberta, Canada. Results: This article focuses on 3 specific challenges that have implications for the retention of residents: (1) interpersonal conflict, (2) property damage, and (3) guest management. It also focuses on 3 “promising practices” that practitioners have utilized to mitigate these challenges: (1) relationship-building, (2) community-building, and (3) security of the buildings. Conclusions: Tenant retention is integral to the realization of positive program outcomes in PSH. There are several factors affecting tenant retention. To address these challenges, the staff interviewed in this research found success in building programmatic elements that fostered positive interpersonal relationships, managed the behavior of guests on the property, and ensured the physical integrity of the buildings.

Applying RE-AIM to evaluations of Veterans Health Administration Enterprise-Wide Initiatives: lessons learned.

The United States Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health funds Enterprise-Wide Initiatives (system-wide initiatives) to spread promising practices to rural Veterans. The Office requires that evaluations of Enterprise-Wide Initiatives use the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. This presents a unique opportunity to understand the experience of using RE-AIM across a series of evaluations. The authors conducted a study to document the benefits and pitfalls of using RE-AIM, capture the variety of ways that the team captured the elements of RE-AIM, and develop recommendations for the future use of RE-AIM in evaluation. The authors first conducted a document review to capture pre-existing information about how RE-AIM was used. They subsequently facilitated two focus groups to gather more detailed information from team members who had used RE-AIM. Finally, they used member-checking throughout the writing process to ensure accurate data representation and interpretation and to gather additional feedback. Four themes emerged from the document review, focus groups, and member checking. RE-AIM: provides parameters and controls the evaluation scope, "buckets" are logical, plays well with other frameworks, and can foster collaboration or silo within a team. Challenges and attributes for each RE-AIM dimension were also described. Overall, participants reported both strengths and challenges to using RE-AIM as an evaluation framework. The overarching theme around the challenges with RE-AIM dimensions was the importance of context. Many of these benefits and challenges of using RE-AIM may not be unique to RE-AIM and would likely occur when using any prescribed framework. The participants reported on the RE-AIM domains in a variety of ways in their evaluation reports and were not always able capture data as originally planned. Recommendations included: start with an evaluation framework (or frameworks) and revisit it throughout the evaluation, consider applying RE-AIM PRISM (Practical Robust Implementation Framework) to gain a broader perspective, and intentionally integrate quantitative and qualitative team members, regardless of the framework used.

Promoting local food products for sustainability: Developing a taxonomy of best practices

AbstractThe number of practices promoting local food have been rapidly growing in recent years, mainly in response to the increasing interest from consumers and their sustainability benefits. The objective of this scoping review is to present a taxonomy of the most promising promotion practices in this domain. A targeted search within a database specialized in storing newspaper articles resulted in the identification of 78 documents that were published prior to COVID‐19 pandemic. Their analysis led to the development of a taxonomy containing four major categories regrouping 14 types of initiatives to promote local food products. The review also highlighted the principal strengths of these initiatives (e.g., facilitating access to local food products, promoting social diversity, integration, and solidarity), as well as some obstacles (e.g., funding, infrastructure, and volunteer recruitment). The taxonomy presented in this review can be used to guide the analysis of existing or the development of new local food promotion initiatives, thus encouraging sustainability in this domain.