Complex Global Issues Research Articles

Prevalence and associated factors of multidimensional poverty among rural households in East Gojjam zone, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundsPoverty is a complex and multifaceted global public health issue, particularly prevalent in Ethiopia, including the East Gojjam Zone. Previous studies on poverty have largely relied on unidimensional measures, providing limited evidence on multidimensional poverty (MP). Therefore, this study tried to assess the prevalence and identify the associated factors of MP among rural households in selected woredas of East Gojjam Zone, Northern Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the fall of 2020 in randomly selected woredas of East Gojjam zone, involving 770 rural households. Multistage cluster sampling was used, and data were collected through structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires covering eleven MP indicators. The global multidimensional poverty index (MPI) was applied to assess poverty status. The multivariable partial proportional odds model (PPOM) was employed to identify the associated factors of MP, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered as significant.ResultsAmong 770 rural households considered 37.27% (25.45% moderately and 11.82% severely) of them were classified as multidimensionally poor. The standard of living dimension accounted for the largest contribution to MP. Household head aged, 30–45years (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.15) and those over 45 years (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.42, 5.33), weather condition(Kolla) (AOR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.05, 3.07), experiencing drought in the preceding 12 months (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.41), dependency ratio (AOR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.13,1.59), and adult equivalence (AOR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.07,1.19) were more likely to experience MP. Conversely, marital status (being married) (AOR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.64), woreda, Machakel (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.86), Sinan (AOR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.95), and road accessibility in the village (AOR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37, 0.81) were significantly associated with lower odds of MP among rural households in the study area.ConclusionApproximately 37% of rural household’s experience moderate to severe MP, and living standards dimension accounted for the largest contribution. Various socio-demographic, agro-ecological, and related factors have been identified to rural MP. To address this issue, stakeholders should prioritize to promote climate-resilient agriculture and strengthening drought coping mechanisms. Furthermore, it is essential to account for the variations in poverty levels across different administrative units and ecological zones to effectively eradicate poverty among rural households.

Generative Artificial Intelligence and Regulations: Can We Plan a Resilient Journey Toward the Safe Application of Generative Artificial Intelligence?

The rapid advancements of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technologies, such as the well-known OpenAI ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, have sparked significant societal, economic, and regulatory challenges. Indeed, while the latter technologies promise unprecedented productivity gains, they also raise several concerns, such as job loss and displacement, deepfakes, and intellectual property violations. The present article aims to explore the present regulatory landscape of GenAI across the major global players, highlighting the divergent approaches adopted by the United States, United Kingdom, China, and the European Union. By drawing parallels with other complex global issues such as climate change and nuclear proliferation, this paper argues that the available traditional regulatory frameworks may be insufficient to address the unique challenges posed by GenAI. As a result, this article introduces a resilience-focused regulatory approach that emphasizes aspects such as adaptability, swift incident response, and recovery mechanisms to mitigate potential harm. By analyzing the existing regulations and suggesting potential future directions, the present article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on how to effectively govern GenAI technologies in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Overcoming Obstacles to Interdisciplinary Research: Empirical Insights and Strategies

This paper presented the significant obstacles to effective interdisciplinary research and discussed strategies to enhance transdisciplinary communication necessary to overcome them. To effectively tackle complex global issues, it is crucial to recognize the pivotal role of interdisciplinary collaboration. This study examined the importance of overcoming communicative barriers to foster innovation and progress. The researchers employed a systematic literature review with a grounded theory approach to navigate the empirical landscape surrounding interdisciplinary research barriers and communication strategies. The findings identified critical barriers, including diverse disciplinary jargon, methodological differences, and a prevailing culture of disciplinary silos. The researchers identified effective strategies for surmounting these challenges, such as promoting inclusive research environments, establishing a common language for interdisciplinary dialogue, and creating transdisciplinary training and collaboration opportunities. The implications of this research suggested that strategic transdisciplinary communication can significantly mitigate barriers to interdisciplinary research, thereby enhancing collaborative outcomes. The authors included two practical examples of the application of transdisciplinary communication to the research collaboration. Moreover, the paper examined specific, actionable strategies that institutions and researchers can implement to foster a more conducive environment for interdisciplinary endeavors. Future directions highlighted in this paper included the need for further empirical research to refine the identified strategies and explore new methodologies for facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, the researchers emphasized the importance of institutional support in implementing these strategies, suggesting a holistic approach to encouraging transdisciplinary communication and collaboration.

The role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development goals

Renewable energy is a critical enabler of global efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), serving as a foundation for addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. This review explores the multifaceted role of renewable energy in driving progress across several SDGs, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), while also contributing to goals such as poverty alleviation (SDG 1), improved health outcomes (SDG 3), economic growth (SDG 8), and sustainable cities (SDG 11). The transition to renewable energy sources—such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal—offers pathways to reduce global carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, and ensure universal access to clean energy. In addition, renewable energy projects promote economic empowerment through job creation and rural electrification, driving inclusive growth in underserved communities. The integration of renewable energy in urban planning also supports sustainable development in cities. However, the adoption of renewable energy faces barriers such as high initial investment costs, technological limitations, and regulatory challenges. This review discusses strategies to overcome these obstacles, emphasizing the importance of supportive policy frameworks, international cooperation, and public-private partnerships. It highlights successful case studies from countries that have leveraged renewable energy to make significant strides toward the SDGs, offering valuable insights for global implementation. As the world approaches the 2030 deadline for the SDGs, renewable energy remains a vital driver of sustainable development, providing innovative solutions to complex global issues while fostering a cleaner, more equitable future.

Introduction to the LINK PRAXIS V.2 I.1 second section

This collection of 13 manuscripts presents the exegetical writing produced by final-year undergraduate students completing their Bachelor of Visual Design, with a major in Communication Design, at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). These manuscripts are a key component of the students’ Level 7 capstone projects, where creative practice is critically contextualised through academic reflection. Following the connective exegesis model proposed by Hamilton and Jaaniste (2010), the project integrates 15 credits from Design Research, which focuses on research methodologies, and 45 credits from the Design Studio, which adopts a practice-led, research-driven approach. This framework encourages students to develop creative responses to complex global and cultural issues, connecting personal practice with broader social contexts. The capstone project’s thematic focus on Design Citizenship encourages students to engage in transdisciplinary work that addresses contemporary cultural, environmental, and social challenges. This approach fosters innovation and authenticity, allowing students to explore how design can offer both personal and socially relevant responses to critical questions. The programme has notably generated increased interest in postgraduate study, with many students continuing their research in the Master’s programme. These manuscripts offer a platform for students to engage in scholarly publishing, providing a space for them to reflect on how practice-oriented research can yield meaningful, contextually informed design outcomes. This collection contributes to broader discussions about the role of creative practice in higher education and its potential to generate new insights and knowledge through design research.

Research trends of collaborative governance in climate change: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose Climate change, a complex global issue, has prompted a wide range of actors – from nations to tiny communities – to seek solutions to mitigate its consequences. The growing emphasis on collaborative governance has resulted in substantial research on the topic. This paper aims to address the existing research void by using a bibliometric approach to investigate the evolution of studies on collaborative governance in the context of climate change. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a bibliometric mapping of research on collaborative governance on climate change issues from the first study presented in 2007 to the research conducted in 2023, using 222 articles derived from the Scopus database and Web of Science. Steps for comprehensive bibliometric literature mapping via the VOSviewer software. Findings The study includes a complete overview of significant themes, including the most cited research, contributions from authors, countries, and institutions, as well as network analysis including co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and co-occurrence. Notably, the study looks at which countries have made the most substantial contributions, with the United States dominating with 40 studies over the last decade. The analysis reveals that collaborative governance in climate change, emphasizing its importance as a tool for governments and communities to mitigate climate risks. This is consistent with research emphasizing the need for coordination across multiple players to accomplish effective climate adaptation. The paper focuses on nine diverse research clusters, including community engagement, urban governance, disaster response and economic implications. Research limitations/implications This study is restricted to bibliometric analysis, which is conducted using sources from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Future research is required to investigate the use of additional databases that offer a wider range of sources. In the interim, this investigation provides an overview of the concept of Collaborative Governance, which has the potential to serve as a strategy for the adaptation and resilience to climate change in global regions, cities and urban areas. Originality/value This study conducts a rigorous bibliometric review that improves our theoretical knowledge and practical use of collaborative governance in addressing climate change. It reveals innovative trends, research gaps and important recommendations for future studies, strengthening the strategic approach to collaborative climate action.

Ramie Fibers from Agroforestry System as Sustainable Materials for Functional Textiles: A Review

Agroforestry system is a form of integrated land use involving forestry and agriculture, which is expected to help overcome the problems of increasing demand for agricultural land, decreasing environmental quality and poverty rates, and resulting in increasingly complex global issues. This system includes a combination of forestry crops with agricultural crops or other plants that can grow together on the same land. The application of agroforestry can improve agricultural welfare, overcome the environmental crisis and poverty, and maintain the sustainability of natural resource conservation. Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) fiber is an interesting plant to cultivate using an agroforestry system. It is easy to cultivate, positively impacts the environment, and has many application benefits because it is known as a strong and long-lasting fiber. On the other hand, the textile industry in Indonesia still predominantly uses cotton fiber which has low productivity, so the value of cotton imports increases yearly. Given the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable textiles, researchers and industry stakeholders are looking for other materials that provide functionality and environmental advantages. Ramie fiber is a type of natural fiber with advantages compared to other natural fibers, such as tensile strength, mechanics, and cellulose content, which has similar characteristics to cotton so that ramie can be applied as a functional textile material to replace cotton. This review paper aims to provide an in-depth overview of all ramie fiber properties, methods, and applications for functional textiles. This article highlights the environmental benefits of ramie fiber and its potential to encourage a more sustainable textile industry, citing various sources. Keywords: agroforestry, forestry crops, functional textile, ramie fiber, ramie’s properties

Access to Medicines in Low- and Middle-Income Countries – Is the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to blame?

This paper argues that the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement is not solely responsible for the lack of access to medicines (ATM) in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). ATM is a complex global health governance issue influenced by various factors, including intellectual property laws, trade agreements, domestic policies, and manufacturing capacity. While the TRIPS Agreement provides flexibilities to address public health concerns, such as compulsory licensing and parallel imports, their effective implementation is hindered by several challenges. This paper emphasizes the need for a multifaceted approach to address ATM, involving domestic policy reforms, international cooperation, and investment in domestic manufacturing capacity. By leveraging these strategies, LMICs can enhance access to essential medicines and improve health outcomes for their populations.

Call for Research: Leveraging Social Networking for Modern Slavery &amp; Human Trafficking Awareness

ABSTRACTHuman trafficking is a complex global issue that continues to challenge efforts aimed at raising awareness and preventing its occurrence. Overall, the literature suggests that social networking platforms have the potential to significantly enhance human trafficking awareness efforts but require careful strategy development to overcome algorithmic limitations and ensure meaningful engagement with users. Further research is needed to evaluate the long‐term impact of social networking campaigns on human trafficking awareness and prevention. This poster is an extension of a presentation at the ASIS&amp;T Midwest Chapter Spring 2024 Symposium with the purpose of increasing attention to this important research area. This poster provides five broad research questions that can be immediately addressed by information science researchers for the purpose of increasing understanding of this devastating global issue.

Implementasi Deteksi Objek Real-Time Sebagai Media Edukasi dengan Algoritma YOLOv8 pada Objek Sampah

Waste is one of the complex global issues and is one of the points of the SDGs indicators related to municipal waste, food waste, hazardous waste and recycling systems that cannot be resolved. According to data from SIPSN in 2022, waste generation in Indonesia will reach 35,289,535.55 tons/year while about 47.32% of waste handling is done, which is 16,697,790.76 tons/year. The National Research and Innovation Agency said that currently there are still few Indonesians who have the awareness to start sorting waste from their own homes. As many as 80% of Indonesians do not sort their waste. To overcome these problems, everyone needs to make changes early on by making waste management a habit so as to change people's skeptical attitude towards waste management. Thus, research was conducted to identify the type of waste using the YOLOv8 algorithm, with a dataset of 17,617 data which was then analyzed by creating a yolov8 model. The best accuracy results were obtained by using the yolov8l variant as well as 16 batch sizes and the SGD optimizer with a learning rate value of 0.001 as a parameter. The model training process was then evaluated using confusion matrix with a percentage reaching 86.5%.

Investigating Problem-Based Learning Model’s Impact on Student’s Critical Thinking Skills in Environmental Conservation Context

In the educational context of the 21st century, where critical thinking and problem-solving are essential skills, the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model offers numerous advantages. In contrast to traditional learning models that only focus on knowledge transfer, PBL encourages students to solve real environmental problems, promotes active learning, and encourages the development of critical thinking skills to solve complex global issues. Environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, and other issues require students' ability to integrate various information and analyze, synthesize, and formulate holistic and comprehensive solutions. This research discusses the implementation of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model and aims to determine its effect on students' critical thinking skills in discussions related to the environment. The type of research applied was a quasi-experiment with a non-equivalent control-group design pre-test and post-test and the experimental class subjects were 29 and the control class was 32 students as a result of cluster random sampling. Data were collected in the form of essay tests and observations and then analyzed to determine significant differences using the t-test. The results of this study show that there is a significant difference in critical thinking skills with a value of p = 0.004 α 0.05 between the experimental class and the control class, where the experimental class gets a higher score of 71 compared to the control class of 61. In the event that learning involves interdisciplinary and abstract material such as environmental topics and aims to develop students' critical thinking skills, the PBL model can be a teacher's choice in implementing learning.

Interdisciplinary collaboration: addressing global challenges through innovative learning strategies

In this era of globalization, students in Indonesia face increasingly complex challenges in understanding, addressing, and contributing to global issues. However, the existing curriculum often fails to provide adequate perspectives and skills to tackle these global problems. Therefore, this research aims to provide students with a holistic, practical, and relevant learning experience to address global challenges through a Team-Based Project strategy that integrates compulsory courses in higher education with a global citizenship education approach. Cross-curricular collaboration helps students see the interconnectedness of various disciplines, which is essential in addressing complex global issues. Survey results indicate a variation of views among student groups regarding their understanding of global issues. This innovative learning strategy utilizes principles of behaviorist theory, such as stimulus-response, positive reinforcement, and social interaction, to create an engaging, relevant, and responsive learning environment tailored to students' needs. Through involvement in joint projects focused on global issues, students are stimulated to contribute and take concrete actions in seeking solutions and bringing about positive change on a larger scale. Thus, this learning strategy is expected to enhance students' understanding, skills, and commitment to addressing global challenges in the contemporary era.

Does Critical Thinking Mediate the Relationship between Sustainability Knowledge and Tourism Students’ Ability to Make Sustainable Decisions?

The complex and critical global issues of the 21st century resulting from the unsustainable growth of tourism and hospitality, like air, land, and water pollution, have exacerbated concerns over whether educational institutions equip future managers and employees with adequate skills to meet the new demands of the current era. These ever-growing global sustainability issues stemming from the sophisticated interactions between people and the planet have no simple answers. They require well-skilled critical thinkers disposed of analyticity and systematicity to consider them and make positive contributions through their sustainable decisions. Despite this recognition, there are limited studies of the tourism and hospitality industry focusing on this crucial topic, and it is unclear how sustainability knowledge may result in more sustainable decision-making abilities. Accordingly, the current study proposed a model that links tourism and hospitality students’ sustainability knowledge to their sustainable tourism decision-making, testing the mediating role of critical thinking. Applying a quantitative research design, the researchers used a self-administered online survey to collect data from 146 full-time tourism students in Northern Cyprus. The PROCESS plug-in for the statistical package for social sciences was used to test the hypotheses of this study. The result of this study revealed that sustainability knowledge and critical thinking play significant roles in students’ sense of sustainable tourism competency and their sustainable tourism decision-making power. This study discusses how critical thinking serves as a mediating factor between knowledge of environmental sustainability, perceived competency in sustainable tourism, and sustainable decision-making ability. This study offers a more nuanced view of critical thinking’s function in terms of converting knowledge into sustainable tourism practices.

ANALISIS REGRESI LOGISTIK ORDINAL UNTUK MEMODELKAN TINGKAT.KEPARAHAN.PENYAKIT HIV/AIDS.DI RUMAH SAKIT DAERAH IDAMAN BANJARBARU

HIV is a virus that infects the immune system cells, thereby damaging the human immune system. AIDS is a collection of symptoms that arise due to the compromised immune system of the human body as a result of a positive infection by the HIV virus. HIV/AIDS remains a complex and significant global health issue. Despite advancements in treatment and prevention, the severity of HIV/AIDS remains a primary focus in healthcare management efforts. This study aims to determine the factors influencing the severity of HIV/AIDS patients at the Regional Hospital of Idaman Banjarbaru using ordinal logistic regression analysis. Ordinal logistic regression is employed to understand the relationship between the dependent variable (severity of the disease) and independent variables, where the dependent variable is ordinal in scale. The data used for this analysis is secondary data extracted from the inpatient medical records of the Idaman Banjarbaru Regional Hospital, comprising a total of 68 cases of HIV/AIDS. Assumed factors influencing the severity of patients include gender, age, duration of hospitalization, education, employment status, marital status, and place of residence. The analysis results indicate a significant relationship between the severity of HIV/AIDS patients and marital status. The highest likelihood of patients experiencing HIV/AIDS is in the divorced response category with a stage 3 category, where the probability value is 0.943. Individuals in the married and divorced categories are 1.53 times more likely to experience HIV/AIDS with a stage 4 status and complications ranging from 3 to 5. Keywords: Severity of Disease, HIV/AIDS, Ordinal Logistic Regression, Odds Ratio

Impact From Mental Health Problem to Pregnant Woman: A Literatur Systematic Review

Teenage pregnancy is a complex global issue with a significant impact on maternal mental health. This study aims to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) analysis of the relationship between teenage pregnancy and maternal mental health, with a focus on the impact, influencing factors, and variations in findings based on geographic and cultural context. Literature searches were carried out through scientific databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and several international journals. Inclusion criteria included studies that addressed the impact of teenage pregnancy on maternal mental health, with analysis of factors influencing this relationship as well as variations in findings based on geographic and cultural context. This SLR analysis identified that teenage pregnancy consistently has a negative impact on maternal mental health, including increasing the risk of stress, anxiety and depression. Factors such as social support, social stigma, and economic conditions play an important role in influencing the mental health of teenage mothers. The variety of findings suggests that cultural norms, family structure, and global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic may significantly influence the experience and impact of teen pregnancy. These findings highlight the need for a holistic approach in supporting the mental health of teenage mothers, including increasing access to affordable mental health services, strong social supports, and educational programs that strengthen community awareness. Evidence-based policy implications can help reduce the negative impact of teenage pregnancy on maternal mental health, by integrating cultural and contextual perspectives in interventions aimed at improving the well-being of teenage mothers worldwide.

Making transdisciplinarity work for complex systems: A dynamic model for blending diverse knowledges

The world is increasingly characterized by a paradigm of interconnectivity within a complex system, so that impact to any single element or location is likely to cause unanticipated, unequal, and disruptive impacts elsewhere. As society has become more complex, the intractable problems of our global community have also become complex, interconnected, dynamic and nonlinear. Potential solutions to complex global issues will not be identifiable through efforts associated with any single discipline. Boundary-spanning collaborations and collective action are required to create the necessary paradigm shifts. In response to this need, this paper presents a transdisciplinary framework designed to blend different knowledges and resources via a non-hierarchical, self-organizing collaboration. This boundary-spanning process fosters the integration of diverse scholarly expertise, artistic expression and lived experiences to engage broad audiences in knowledge exchange. As illustration, a virtual art + science exhibition produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Long COVID: We Are Here! is examined. The exhibition, co-created by six artists and six scientists, curated multiple voices, skills, talents and artefacts to explore perspectives of an emerging global health and social problem. This paper scrutinizes the design process, production, and outcomes of the exhibition as a model for engaging with complexity, at multiple scales; as a method of knowledge sharing and new knowledge creation, of disseminating empirical knowledge to a broad audience, and for enabling and catalyzing transformative and sustainable pathways for social change.

CLIMATE-RELATED DISCUSSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: CRITICAL LESSONS FOR POLICYMAKERS

Abstract Climate change is a complex global issue that requires widespread understanding, support and collaboration for effective solutions. This research delves into the crucial role of communication in tackling climate change and reaching net-zero goals. Leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, we focus on 10 core climate change topics derived from social media conversations over time. This analysis underscores the importance of a holistic and interconnected approach, involving a diverse array of policies at local, national and global levels to combat climate change effectively and attain net-zero objectives. We offer key policy suggestions that can significantly contribute to this vital cause.

Mapping Fiscal Research Trajectories through Bibliometric Analysis: Echoes of Global Crises in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract World economies have faced numerous crises throughout history. Fiscal issues have accordingly become a crucial aspect of economic policy discussions, particularly in Eastern Europe, a region shown to be especially vulnerable to the recent economic shocks. The paper therefore aims to provide a bibliometric examination of trends in fiscal research via the lenses of major economic and financial crises. The bibliometric analysis is based on 6,640 documents published between 1970 and 2022 and indexed in the Scopus database. The results reveal that fiscal research associated with crises has grown sharply over time, with significant bursts one year following each major economic and financial crisis. The most cited journal articles in fiscal research highlighted the following issues in all countries, including Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries: economic reform policies (1970-1997), economic development and financial conditions (1998-2008), crises in Europe and post-crisis recovery (2009-2019) and post-crisis recovery and effects (of the COVID-19 pandemic) on the public and business sectors (2020-2022). As well as identifying key countries and journals, although diverging in approach and scope the findings show shared interests in macroeconomic policy, fiscal stability, and the impact of crises on economic performance and public finance. Developed countries have addressed complex global economic issues and advanced development, whereas Central and Eastern European nations have focused on the transition from planned to market economies. This observation reflects their distinct economic paths and fiscal research interests, as revealed in detailed content analysis by subperiods. The findings maybe of benefit for both the scientific community and evidence-based policymaking.

Determining The Frequency of Tubal Blockage in Infertility Patients Undergoing X-Rays Hysterosalpingography

Background: Infertility is a complex global health issue, affecting millions of couples and necessitating detailed diagnostic evaluations. Among the various diagnostic procedures, X-ray hysterosalpingography (HSG) is pivotal for assessing tubal patency and identifying underlying causes of infertility. Objective: To determine the frequency of tubal blockages, particularly hydrosalpinx, in patients undergoing HSG at a tertiary care facility. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital DG Khan from July 2022 to February 2024. A total of 210 female patients with consecutive infertility were included, excluding those with prior tubal surgeries. Data were extracted from medical records, focusing on demographics, clinical history, and HSG results. Results: The mean age of the participants was 32.35 ± 3.56 years, and the mean duration of infertility was 3.5 ± 2.1 years. Among the patients, 65% were nulliparous, and 35% were parous. Prior fertility treatments were reported in 75% of cases. Tubal blockage was identified in 45 patients (21.4%), with 25 (11.9%) exhibiting unilateral blockage and 20 (9.5%) bilateral blockage. Hydrosalpinx was the most common abnormality, occurring in 30 patients (66.7%). Conclusion: Tubal blockage, particularly hydrosalpinx, is a significant contributor to infertility, found in 21.4% of the study population. These findings emphasize the need for thorough tubal evaluations in infertility assessments.

In partnership, for partnership

After almost a year of planning an international conference on student partnership for humanitarian action with the UN Refugee Agency, a student-faculty partnership reflect on the learning process they undertook, and how years of working together built a strong foundation for this project. Working in partnership to communicate the importance of partnership to address complex global issues signifies the importance of engaging multi-level stakeholders in new, innovative solutions. This introduction to the special section titled after the conference provides the context for this challenging yet rewarding feat made possible with a community of partnerships.