Opportunistic Networks Research Articles

Reconfigurable-Intelligent-Surface-Enhanced Dynamic Resource Allocation for the Social Internet of Electric Vehicle Charging Networks with Causal-Structure-Based Reinforcement Learning

Charging stations and electric vehicle (EV) charging networks signify a significant advancement in technology as a frontier application of the Social Internet of Things (SIoT), presenting both challenges and opportunities for current 6G wireless networks. One primary challenge in this integration is limited wireless network resources, particularly when serving a large number of users within distributed EV charging networks in the SIoT. Factors such as congestion during EV travel, varying EV user preferences, and uncertainties in decision-making regarding charging station resources significantly impact system operation and network resource allocation. To address these challenges, this paper develops a novel framework harnessing the potential of emerging technologies, specifically reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) and causal-structure-enhanced asynchronous advantage actor–critic (A3C) reinforcement learning techniques. This framework aims to optimize resource allocation, thereby enhancing communication support within EV charging networks. Through the integration of RIS technology, which enables control over electromagnetic waves, and the application of causal reinforcement learning algorithms, the framework dynamically adjusts resource allocation strategies to accommodate evolving conditions in EV charging networks. An essential aspect of this framework is its ability to simultaneously meet real-world social requirements, such as ensuring efficient utilization of network resources. Numerical simulation results validate the effectiveness and adaptability of this approach in improving wireless network efficiency and enhancing user experience within the SIoT context. Through these simulations, it becomes evident that the developed framework offers promising solutions to the challenges posed by integrating the SIoT with EV charging networks.

Integrated Waqf Farm: A Contemporary Model for Waqf Land Development

The important role of waqf is felt to have been greatly reduced recently, due to various problems faced in developing waqf land. The lack of nazhir competence, limited development capital, and management that is not yet professional are some of the many problems in waqf. Various approaches are needed to close this problem, such as changing the form of waqf, cooperation between lines, and other alternative innovations. This research aims to reveal contemporary innovation models in integrated agricultural waqf land development and analyze the benefits, opportunities, costs and risks using the analytic network process approach-Benefit, Opportunity, Cost and Risk (BOCR). This research design uses an interpretative paradigm with a qualitative approach in the form of a case study. Through content analysis, data obtained from interviews is then interpreted according to the research objectives. This research reveals that there are two types of innovation developed through the integration of agriculture in waqf development. �Bersamamu sadar ternak� is a livestock-based innovation, this innovation is the result of collaboration with farmers to produce sheep without costs being charged to partners. To strengthen the existence of tourism on this waqf land, "Kopi Bersamamu" is the next caf�-based innovation. Through BOCR analysis among waqf experts, "waqf land becomes productive" is the benefit element that is considered the most important with an average of 0.34. "Business development opportunities" is the most important element in the opportunity elements with a mean of 0.38. Meanwhile, "high costs for technology, management and maintenance" is considered the highest element in the cost aspect. Finally, "Shariah compliance risk" is the greatest risk in developing agricultural-based waqf land with an average of 0.45

An Analysis of the Obstructive Factors that Impact the Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

The sector of small and medium enterprises is considered an encouraging platform for the economic empowerment of women through participating in economic development as entrepreneurs. The lower productivity exhibited by these SMEs in Sri Lanka was identified as a result of the high participation rate of female entrepreneurs in the informal economy. An unfavourable environment has been created obstructing the transition of women entrepreneurs towards the upper echelon of the business world through diverse impediments. Thus, the research focused on exploring the barriers that hinder the business growth of women entrepreneurs in small and medium-scale enterprises. Accordingly, the research was conducted as secondary research: a literature survey. In Sri Lanka, a minor percentage of female participation in small and medium enterprises occurs due to limited access to financial resources, lack of financial literacy, social prejudices, social and cultural restrictions, and limited opportunities for networking and communicating with external resources. Thus, closing the gender gap in education, giving access to capital through a concerted policy action and providing women entrepreneurs with opportunities to improve their financial literacy and educational level were highlighted as the major recommendations in the study to empower women entrepreneurs to climb the value chain. Women entrepreneurs in small and medium-scale enterprises need to be facilitated with greater access to the domestic, regional and international markets in order to enable them to expand their businesses with productivity and innovation. Thus, vital policy measures should be taken to mitigate the barriers involved in formalizing the business mechanisms while focusing on increasing the benefits that women entrepreneurs can gain through that standardizing process.

Dynamic Node Selection Approach for 6G Heterogeneous Cellular Networks (HCN) to Enhance QoS and Low Latency

A wireless multi-hop network is a group of nodes that can interact directly with one another or across longer distances by using other nodes as relay points and routers. 6G heterogeneous cellular network support several transmission modalities, such as single hop, multi-hop transmission and device-to-any device transmission. These transmission services can greatly increase 6G cellular network capacity, spectral efficiency, power efficiency, Quality of Service (QoS) and Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC). According to current research, Heterogeneous Cellular Networks (HCN) can benefit even more from the integration of demand-driven opportunistic networking into HCN. Devices can search look for the connections between nodes that are most efficient. in Proactive HCN connections by taking advantage of the URLLC acceptability of many mobile data services. Multiple Transmission modes necessitate node selection schemes that can determine the best node for each transmission. Previous proposals for node selection schemes have taken into account the introduction of D2X and HCN. Proactive HCN connections, however, cannot be incorporated into the selection process by current node selection schemes. By implementing outward the first node selection scheme that can incorporate Proactive HCN sharing information within 6G and beyond networks, this research work enhances the existing work. The analysis that was carried out shows the potential for Proactive HCN communications as well as the ability of the suggested node selection scheme to choose the best communication node to enhance QoS and Low Latency.

An Analysis of Sumbawa University of Technology Nusantara Students’ Motivation to Study Sumbawa Language

Sumbawa University of Technology is one of the universities in Indonesia. According to the data from the head of Sumbawa University of Technology students’ admission (Mustaram, personal communication, March 21, 2024), the students of UTS come from 28 provinces in Indonesia. It is assumed that this condition impetuses the students to learn the local language, which is the Sumbawa language. Therefore, the aim of this study is to look at the motivation of Sumbawa University of Technology Nusantara students to study the Sumbawa language. The design of this study was descriptive quantitative research. There were 7 students completed the questionnaire. The data was analyzed in five steps; scoring, adding up, determining the mean, categorizing the mean, and interpreting the mean. There are two motivations for UTS Nusantara students to study the Sumbawa language: intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The intrinsic motivation consists of personal interests and enjoyment of language learning, such as the desire to add linguistic knowledge, interact with Sumbawa people, and avoid discomfort with locals. Extrinsic motivation relates to external rewards or social approval such as the desire to live in Sumbawa, work in Sumbawa, get networking opportunities, and be asked by others to learn the Sumbawa language.

The Value of Master's Degree Programmes in Health Professions Education: A Scoping Review.

There are increasing numbers of Master's Degree Programmes in Health Professions Education (MHPE), and the value to their students and graduates is not well understood. We conducted a scoping review to explore what is known about the value of MHPE programmes to their students and graduates. A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, BEI, ERIC and EThOs databases were searched in addition to cited reference searching. Original research with an evaluation and published in the English language were included. Nineteen studies were included. Studies were based in a variety of locations on five continents, and included in-person, distance and blended learning. Students and graduates of MHPE programmes self-reported development of their pedagogical knowledge, confidence and credibility in their role as an educator, and educational scholarship. Enhanced career opportunities and opportunities for collegial interactions and networks were also reported. Important barriers included struggling with the time and financial commitments required for studying on a MHPE programme. There are a variety of dimensions of value of MHPE programmes to their students and graduates. Important practical recommendations for MHPE programme providers and employers include providing opportunities for the development of networks and supporting the time and financial commitments required for studying.

Developing a mentoring program to support the next generation of immunologists.

Mentorship refers to the guidance given by a mentor to a less experienced individual to enhance their professional and personal development. For graduate research students, seeking independent mentors external to their institution offers the rewarding opportunity to obtain objective guidance on a variety of work, study and life matters. This article outlines the steps taken to develop a professional society-based, international mentoring program of over 70 participants. This 6-month program aimed to connect graduate research students with more senior academic scientists in response to the limited networking opportunities imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Australia. Outlined here are the resources used to maximize the potential of this successful program, which include (1) an 'Introduction to Mentoring' workshop, (2) the use of a mentoring software or communication strategy to maintain program momentum and (3) the integration of in-person networking events. Overall, the program was a great success, with a high satisfaction rating (8.7/10) and a large number of participants reported that they would maintain their mentoring relationship. All participants stated that they would recommend the program to a peer, and thus reiterations of the program would likely be similarly well-received and beneficial to the Australasian immunology community.

Evolutionary Perspectives on Neural Network Generations: A Critical Examination of Models and Design Strategies

Abstract: In the last few years, Neural Networks have become more common in different areas due to their ability to learn intricate patterns and provide precise predictions. Nonetheless, creating an efficient neural network model is a difficult task that demands careful thought of multiple factors, such as architecture, optimization method, and regularization technique. This paper aims to comprehensively overview the state-of-the-art artificial neural network (ANN) generation and highlight key challenges and opportunities in machine learning applications. It provides a critical analysis of current neural network model design methodologies, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Also, it explores the use of different deep neural networks (DNN) in image recognition, natural language processing, and time series analysis. In addition, the text explores the advantages of selecting optimal values for various components of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). These components include the number of input/output layers, the number of hidden layers, the type of activation function used, the number of epochs, and the model type selection. Setting these components to their ideal values can help enhance the model's overall performance and generalization. Furthermore, it identifies some common pitfalls and limitations of existing design methodologies, such as overfitting, lack of interpretability, and computational complexity. Finally, it proposes some directions for future research, such as developing more efficient and interpretable neural network architectures, improving the scalability of training algorithms, and exploring the potential of new paradigms, such as Spiking Neural Networks, quantum neural networks, and neuromorphic computing.

African Swine Fever Diagnosis in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.

The global spread of African swine fever (ASF) in recent decades has led to the need for technological advances in sampling and diagnostic techniques. The impetus for these has been the need to enable sampling by lay persons and to obtain at least a preliminary diagnosis in the field for early control measures to be put in place before final laboratory confirmation. In rural Africa, rapid diagnosis is hampered by challenges that include lack of infrastructure as well as human and financial resources. Lack of animal health personnel, access to affordable means to transport field samples to a laboratory, and lack of laboratories with the capacity to make the diagnosis result in severe under-reporting of ASF, especially in endemic areas. This review summarizes the challenges identified in gap analyses relevant to low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on Africa, and explore the opportunities provided by recent research to improve field diagnosis and quality of diagnostic samples used. Sampling techniques include invasive sampling techniques requiring trained personnel and non-invasive sampling requiring minimal training, sampling of decomposed carcass material, and preservation of samples in situations where cold chain maintenance cannot be guaranteed. Availability and efficacy of point-of-care (POC) tests for ASF has improved considerably in recent years and their application, as well as advantages and limitations, are discussed. The adequacy of existing laboratory diagnostic capacity is evaluated and opportunities for networking amongst reference and other laboratories offering diagnostic services are discussed. Maintaining laboratory diagnostic efficiency in the absence of samples during periods of quiescence is another issue that requires attention, and the role of improved laboratory networking is emphasized. Early diagnosis of ASF is key to managing the disease spread. Therefore, the establishment of the Africa Chapter of the Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance (GARA) increases opportunities for collaboration and networking among the veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the region.

Beyond the Degree: Gendered Outcomes for BSBA Marketing Management Graduates

This study describes the profile, educational experiences, number of employed, career preparation, and employment data of the BSBA Marketing Management graduates from the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy at Mariano Marcos State University City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, from 2013-2014 to 2017-2018, using gender-based analysis. Through descriptive research methods and adapting the CHED-Graduate Tracer Study survey questionnaire, data was collected from a random sample of 209 graduates, representing 37.59% of the total BSBA Marketing Management graduates. The findings reveal a higher percentage of female graduates, the majority are single and from Region 1. Male and female graduates were primarily driven by the desire for immediate employment opportunities. Although females performed better in academic honors, males tended to receive more non-academic awards. The study emphasizes high employment rates among BSBA Marketing Management graduates, emphasizing the program's efficiency in imparting job-related skills. Career preparation strategies, such as walk-in applications and internships, proved effective for both genders, with males prioritizing special skills and females focusing on career challenges. Employment data indicates a balanced distribution across employment status and industries, although there are slight variations in preferences between genders. Recommendations include curriculum diversification, ensuring gender equality in awards, enhancing internship programs, promoting ongoing learning, addressing gender disparities, facilitating networking opportunities, and continuous program evaluation.

Understanding the Unique Factors Affecting South Asian International (SAI) Student Transitions into PhD Programs in the US: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

International students comprise over 50% of the graduate student population in the life sciences in the US, over 70% of whom are Asian. Research that aims to understand international students’ experiences has often treated Asian students as a monolith, discounting significant cultural and historical differences between regions in Asia that may affect students’ motivations for pursuing graduate degrees, their experiences in graduate school, and their identities as scientists in training. To begin to understand the experiences of SAI students as they transition to PhD programs in the sciences, we conducted an exploratory study in which we interviewed 10 SAI students and 12 US native students during the first six months of their doctoral programs. We performed a content analysis of the interview data with the aim of identifying factors that shaped students’ doctoral transitions. We then selected factors that were distinctive to SAI students. Finally, we carried out an interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand and describe the following factors that SAI students experienced as influencing their doctoral transitions: prior exposure to research; opportunities for networking; challenges with and affordances for acculturation; attitudes toward and understanding of mental health issues; financial affordances and constraints of pursuing a PhD, and barriers to communication. The results of this work have the potential to be useful to graduate programs seeking to ease SAI students’ transition to doctoral programs.

Understanding equity and diversity needs among health library professionals in Canada: a survey.

Objective: The Canadian Health Libraries’ Association (CHLA/ABSC) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Task Force conducted an EDI survey in 2023. In addition to gathering information about the demography, education, and employment of health information professionals working in Canadian institutions, the goal of the survey was to assess the support, education and leadership needs of the association in matters relating to diversity and inclusion. Methods: A survey was created based on EDI surveys conducted previously by similar associations, with additional questions relevant to health information professionals in Canada and CHLA/ABSC’s role in matters of EDI. The survey, consisting of 31 questions and employing a variety of formats, was translated into French and administered via SurveyMonkey. It was distributed through email and other channels over the course of two weeks in January 2023. Results: One hundred and sixty-six health information professionals completed the 2023 survey. Most (83%) were CHLA/ABSC members and sixty-three percent were members of CHLA/ABSC chapters. Most were employed in full-time permanent positions (91%) as librarians (67%) or in administration/management positions (16%). Nearly half worked in post-secondary institutions (42%) and half worked in hospital libraries (43%), and most have access to professional development funds from their employers (84%). Most of the respondents do not belong to a visible minority group (86%), do not consider themselves to be of Indigenous ancestry (96%), do not consider themselves to have a disability (72%), and do not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (79%). Fifty-nine percent were aged between 35 and 54 years old and sixty-eight percent had less than fifteen years of experience. Slightly over half (54%) reported a salary between $65,000 and $99,999. Respondents indicated that they felt welcome and included (78%) and treated with respect (84%) at CHLA/ABSC events, that there were opportunities within CHLA/ABSC for them to participate at levels they felt comfortable with (82%) and that they felt comfortable sharing their personal perspectives and experiences within CHLA/ABSC (65%). Conclusion: The survey illustrates that CHLA/ABSC consists of a very homogeneous group of professionals. While the majority of members felt welcomed, respected, and were given opportunities to participate in association work and activities, there is definitely room for improvement. Generally, respondents felt that CHLA/ABSC should continue to listen and improve its EDI work by engaging and collaborating with members to deliver current and relevant networking and CE opportunities.

The 24th International Seaweed Symposium - ‘Seaweeds in a changing world’

The 24th edition of the International Seaweed Symposium (ISS), an academic-industry event that dates back to 1952, was held for the first time in Oceania. The local organizing committee chaired by Professor Catriona Hurd, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, and Professor Michael A. Borowitzka, Murdoch University, Western Australia worked tirelessly to curate a program that balanced scientific rigor with engaging discussions, providing ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. “Seaweeds in a changing world” was the theme of this symposium, participants from 48 countries from all over the world attended this symposium from 19-24 February 2023. More than 576 on-site and 207 virtual participants registered for the Symposium who contributed to the success of this event. The International Seaweed Association (ISA) ensures the continued development of seaweed and its benefits and serves as a bridge between research academia and industry. The ISA is ready to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the ISS and is also proud to announce that the 25th International Seaweed Symposium (ISS) will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 4-9 May, 2025 with the Local support of Ocean Networks Canada, Cascadia Seaweed, and the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association (https://iss25.com).

Research on Secure Community Opportunity Network Based on Trust Model

With the innovation of wireless communication technology and the surge of data in mobile networks, traditional routing strategies need to be improved. Given the shortcomings of existing opportunistic routing strategies in transmission performance and security, this paper proposes a community opportunistic routing decision-making method based on the trust model. This algorithm calculates the node’s trust value through the node’s historical forwarding behavior and then calculates the node’s trust value based on the trust model. Thresholds and trust attenuation divide dynamic security communities. For message forwarding, nodes in the security community are prioritized as next-hop relay nodes, thus ensuring that message delivery is always in a safe and reliable environment. On this basis, better relay nodes are further selected for message forwarding based on the node centrality, remaining cache space, and remaining energy, effectively improving the message forwarding efficiency. Through node trust value and community cooperation, safe and efficient data transmission is achieved, thereby improving the transmission performance and security of the network. Through comparison of simulation and opportunistic network routing algorithms, compared with traditional methods, this strategy has the highest transmission success rate of 81% with slightly increased routing overhead, and this algorithm has the lowest average transmission delay.

Residents and Fellows of US Medical Residencies and Fellowships Strongly Prefer In-Person to Virtual Conference Format: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Medical conferences are an integral aspect of medical education as they allow attendees to stay up to date with recent advancements in medicine, to develop presentation and communication skills, and to network and establish connections with professionals in their field of interest. But, when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared in March 2020, face-to-face medical conferences were suspended, and conference organizers began shifting their meetings to virtual platforms. These new virtual conferences afforded medical residents and fellows the unique opportunity to attend conferences from the comfort of their own home or workplace; however, the virtual meeting platforms did not provide attendees with the same networking experiences as in-person conferences. Since the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, medical conferences are now faced with the question of whether they should remain virtual, shift back to in-person meetings, or develop a hybrid model of both options. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze medical resident and fellow sentiments and preferences by comparing virtual and in-person conference formats. A voluntary electronic survey was distributed to medical residents and fellows across the United States through their program coordinators and directors. The main findings of this study suggest that medical residents and fellows largely prefer in-person conferences (85%) as compared to a virtual format because of the networking opportunities afforded to them along with the development of camaraderie with their peers. The findings in this study suggest that the largest benefit in attending a virtual conference is the flexibility to attend from any location (79% important or very important), which offered convenience, flexibility, and comfort to participants (n = 100). These results support our hypothesis that despite the convenience and portability afforded by attending conferences virtually, medical residents and fellows still ultimately prefer to attend conferences in person. Overall, the findings in this study are of relevance to conference organizers in understanding the driving forces behind attendance and should be considered in determining meeting format.

Leadership Development for Contemporary Post-Secondary Academic Leaders: Challenges, Content and Approach

In the dynamic landscape of contemporary higher education, the demand for leaders well-versed in the intricacies of its challenges has become paramount. Despite the availability of leadership fellowships and retreats globally, there is a notable dearth of institution-specific leadership development programs tailored for post-secondary education leaders. This deficiency leaves a substantial number of higher education leaders ill-equipped with the fundamental competencies needed for effective leadership. This review underscores the pressing necessity to establish institution-based leadership development initiatives explicitly crafted for academic leaders and faculty members. The exploration encompasses diverse platforms and methodologies for delivering such programs, drawing insights from empirical studies that underscore the advantages of leadership development. Also, the review discusses the content of leadership development curricula. Focusing on academic leaders and faculty, these curricula cover competencies such as strategic planning, interpersonal communication, talent management, and adaptive leadership. The outcomes underscore the significance of institutions integrating leadership development efforts within their academic domains. The discussion delves into the manifold benefits of instituting leadership development programs, not only as a cost-effective alternative to external fellowship courses but as a strategic move with multifaceted advantages. These advantages encompass streamlining competitive succession planning, magnetizing and retaining talent, cultivating expansive networking opportunities, and augmenting the capacity to confront contemporary challenges in higher education. By prioritizing the nurturing of academic leaders, institutions can effectively bridge the gap between current leadership skills and the evolving demands of the higher education landscape.

Inclusive Science Communication Approaches Through an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EDISJ) Lens

Science communication has taken center stage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines in the context of public outreach and citizen science. Developing practical communication skills is imperative for all scientists to be highly successful in their careers and more so for underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in STEM. The program, led by the Engineering and Science Librarian at the University of Victoria (UVic) Libraries, aimed to equip students and early career scientists with critical communication skills by leveraging the unique voices and lived experiences of BIPOC speakers in STEM disciplines. Through this program, a unique toolkit with engaging modules consisting of 30 short videos, each three minutes long (30 x 3) by BIPOC speakers was created to provide broad foundational skills in verbal and visual communication, using an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EDISJ) lens. A two-day conference offered networking and communication development opportunities to students and early-career scientists in STEM disciplines by connecting them with BIPOC STEM leaders and visionaries who promote STEM advocacy. This paper will discuss the methods used in the creation of the toolkit and conference using an EDISJ lens.

VADIA-Verkle Tree-based Approach for Dealing Data Integrity Attacks in Opportunistic Mobile Social Networks

Opportunistic Mobile Social Networks (OMSN) are prone to data integrity attacks that jeopardize the integrity of the routing data inside the network. Among the several techniques that cope with these attacks in OMSN, tree-based approaches have proven to be the most effective due to its ease of data verification and ensurance in data integrity. This paper evaluates two tree-based data structures, Merkle tree and Verkle tree in terms of their effectiveness in detecting and preventing such attacks. The evaluation considers tree-generation time and proof-checking time, and the results demonstrate that the Verkle tree is a bandwidth-efficient solution and have lower proof-checking time, with a reduction of 98.33% than Merkle tree. This makes Verkle tree a good choice for handling data integrity attacks in OMSN. A Verkle tree-based approach, named VADIA, is proposed to handle data integrity attacks such as packet dropping, packet modification and pollution attack in OMSN. The proposed approach is implemented in the Opportunistic Network Environment (ONE) simulator and is shown to be effective in detecting malicious nodes and paths, reducing false negative rates, and improving accuracy in detecting malicious activities. The results demonstrate a 47%, 84% and 69% improvement in malicious node, malicious path and malicious activity detection over a period of time. Furthermore, the approach achieves an 80% reduction in false negative rates.

Contributing factors for career goal advancement of pharmacy learners in the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community.

To explore factors influencing career goals and goal attainment for pharmacy learners (eg, students, residents, fellows) who identify as part of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. In late 2021 and early 2022, US-based pharmacy learners were invited to participate in two focus groups. In the first focus group, participants were asked to reflect on career goal influences, barriers, and facilitators. In the second focus group, participants were asked to provide suggestions for educational institution and healthcare organization improvement to support career goal attainment for learners in the BIPOC community. Focus group transcripts were coded using both deductive and inductive coding and thematic analysis. Fifteen learners were included in the first focus group, and 10 learners were included in the second. The most common career goal motivators were self-efficacy factors. Barriers and facilitators were often closely related. The most common barriers were financial, lack of representation, and lack of support. Common facilitators included mentorship and informal networking opportunities. Participants suggested multiple strategies for educational institutions and healthcare organizations to support BIPOC learner success, including genuine investment, representation, financial support, improved access to professional development opportunities, partnering with other professional organizations, and prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Institutions should prioritize effective, positive mentoring relationships and exposure to BIPOC professionals. Training programs and associations should consider improving financial support and lowering the cost of involvement to reduce barriers. All stakeholders should prioritize DEI in their organizational culture to promote career advancement of BIPOC learners and professionals.

Unveiling urban governance diversity: Clustering cities based on mitigation actions

Embracing a “more global” urban comparison in scientific assessments of climate actions by cities is essential to drive greater and more inclusive participation in global efforts to curb climate change. This comparison needs to engage cities irrespective of their size and status: when we do so, distinctive patterns of urban climate mitigation actions across a diverse range of cities emerge. Employing K-means clustering as a pattern recognition method, this study compares cities based on selected aspects of their reported mitigation actions to the Carbon Disclosure Project. It explores whether the identified clusters facilitate the comparison of a socio-spatially diverse range of cities. The study identifies five clusters within two themes, namely the nature and finance–implementation of actions, shedding light on shared and distinct governance aspects of mitigation actions by cities. Notably, the study underscores how governance patterns transcend city size and global status. These findings offer valuable insights for broadening the comparative imagination of cities and inter-city networking opportunities.