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Co-Digestion and Gas to Grid in New York City
No full textThe Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in New York City hosts one of the first renewable natural gas “gas-to-grid” projects in the United States. The project uses co-digestion, adding processed organic food waste to wastewater digesters to increase biogas production. Through a public-private partnership involving the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Waste Management of New York, and National Grid, the biogas is purified and injected into the city’s natural gas distribution system. The system diverts organic waste from landfills, eliminates routine flaring, and produces enough renewable gas to heat about 5,200 homes. Overall, the project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 90,000 metric tons annually while advancing circular economy infrastructure in cities
Structure, Function and Regulation of the Bestrophin Family of Calcium activated Anion Channels
No full textBestrophins are a family of calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) with relevance to human physiology and a myriad of eye diseases termed “bestrophinopathies”. In humans, Bestrophin1 (Best1) is expressed on the basolateral side of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and its dysfunction due to Best1 mutations leads to retinal degeneration, causing loss of sight and potentially blindness in patients. Best2 is expressed in the ciliary body of the eyes, Best3 is expressed at low levels throughout the body, and Best4 is primarily expressed in a subset of colonic cells. Since the identification of bestrophins as CaCCs nearly two decades ago and the subsequent identification of Best1 as the CaCC responsible for chloride permeation in the RPE, extensive studies from electrophysiological and structural biology perspectives have sought to define bestrophin proteins’ key features including calcium sensing, gating, inactivation, anion selectivity.
Previous X-ray crystallography structures from the prokaryotic homolog of Best1, Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpBest), the Best1 homolog from Gallus gallus (chicken Best1, cBest1), and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of Best2 from Bos taurus (bovine Best2, bBest2) identified two landmark channel constrictions, namely the highly conserved “neck” restriction of the ion conduction pathway at the level of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, and the divergent “aperture” at the cytosolic exit. Meanwhile, whole-cell patch clamp, planar lipid bilayer, and other electrophysiologic analyses using these models as well as the human Best1 have provided ample evidence describing the functional properties of the bestrophin channels.
Yet, at the start of this work, no human bestrophin structures had yet to be solved. Thus, we solved the structures of each of the human bestrophins and elucidated aspects of the channels such as their open/closed probabilities, ion conduction pathway diameters, autoregulatory mechanisms, and determined their intermediate or partial states, which explain their distinct electrophysiologic profiles. Furthermore, while elucidating the structures of bestrophins is critical in uncovering how they function, proteins do not exist in a vacuum – there are other proteins, small molecules, lipids, etc. with which they interact.
For instance, the identification of Best1 in the brain and its role in glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transport in astrocytes is a newer topic of research, only probed within the past decade. How bestrophin channels interact with their environment – to both be influenced and to influence the function of other proteins and small molecules in their physiologic environment – is a largely unexplored area of research.
As is explained here, we identified two protein binding partners of bestrophins – glutamine synthetase (GS) interacts with Best2 with direct physiologic impact in the nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body, and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) interacts with Best1 with relevance in the RPE. Both of these enzymes are involved in the metabolism of critical neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA, and functional studies suggested that both glutamate and GABA can not only pass through but also potentially interact with the bestrophin channels.
We then tested and confirmed direct interactions between these compounds with bestrophins proteins, obtaining multiple small molecule-bound bestrophins structures with altered open probabilities compared to the apo structures. We identified chemical analogs with functional and structural influences on the channels, and confirmed their effect for restoring Best1 function in cells bearing autosomal dominant, loss-of-function disease-causing Best1 mutations back to wild type-like. As there are currently no specific Best1-targeting drugs nor treatment options for bestrophinopathies, this has great biopharmaceutical potential
The Film Poem: Lyric Poetry and the Origins of Documentary Film
No full textThis dissertation considers the use of lyric poetry and lyricism as one of the originary frameworks of early documentary cinema. Through close analysis of both public and archival materials, I demonstrate how an array of influential filmmakers—among them Paul Strand, Charles Sheeler, John Grierson, Pare Lorentz, and Dziga Vertov—recognized lyric poetry as nonmimetic and nonnarrative—a form of epideictic encounter and display that (1) makes direct claims about the world as it (2) foregrounds the ethos and agency of the speaker.
These filmmakers, active during the 1920s and 1930s, paired “actuality footage” with lyric intertitles that demonstrated to audiences the epideictic force of their images. In Manhatta (1921), Strand and Sheeler self-consciously matched images of downtown New York City with excerpts from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, an act that belies the influence of William Carlos Williams in light of the film’s overlapping channels of lyricized evidence and commentary. Grierson, a pioneering force in the British documentary movement, was himself an amateur poet whose lyrics and writings on poetry prefigure his documentary productions and later collaborations with W. H. Auden.
Similarly, the poets and critics writing for the modernist magazine Close Up, among them Roger Burford and H.D., theorized a number of early documentary films as the first “film poems.” Each chapter considers the particular lyric traditions that influenced these early conceptions of documentary media. Although previous scholarship has theorized forms of “poetic documentary,” the present study considers some of the ways in which lyric poetry shaped the development of different modes, including more “expository” forms that are typically considered to be antithetical to lyric expression. As such, I argue that the epideictic force of documentary film is a likely product of the nascent genre’s early engagement with lyric poetry
She Defined Her Own Happiness: Uncovering the Envisioned Reproductive Futures of Sikh Young Women in the United States
No full textEvery human being faces the decision of if, when, and how to become a parent. This decision powerfully shapes how people view themselves and are viewed by others. While these dimensions of reproductive decision-making have been explored in diverse populations worldwide, they have not been sufficiently examined in the Sikh population.
The present narrative inquiry uncovered how a sample of Sikh young women in the United States envisioned their reproductive futures and the factors they considered as they did so. Eligible participants were cisgender and heterosexual Sikh women between the ages of 18 and 24 who had at least one Sikh parent and grew up in the US since age 5 or younger.
Participants were purposively recruited through the Instagram pages of Sikh student associations on college campuses, the Manhattan Sikh Association public WhatsApp group, the newsletter of the Sikh human rights organization SALDEF, and the principal investigator’s personal social media. The secondary recruitment method was snowball sampling. Semi-structured, audio-recorded Zoom interviews were conducted with 30 participants and analyzed through thematic analysis and poetic inquiry. Twenty-four out of the 30 participants wanted to have children.
Most wanted to wait until they were established in their careers and wanted to have them naturally. Reasons for wanting or potentially wanting children included an enjoyment of caregiving, maternal instinct, positive family dynamics, the chance not to repeat negative family interactions, and preservation of Sikhism. However, those who wanted children were not without fears and doubts, including work-life balance and health concerns. Reasons for not wanting or potentially not wanting children included preference for pet parenthood, prioritization of career, lack of maternal instinct or fondness for children, wanting to break intergenerational trauma cycles, the responsibility of raising children, and the state of the world.
Tentative hypotheses drawn from the study include that envisioning reproductive futures starts early, ambivalence and uncertainty are common but strategic, the current generation exhibits autonomy in reproductive decision-making, Sikh young women appear inclined towards having children, family relationships are more important than romantic relationships to childbearing intentions, misinformation about reproductive processes is present among Sikh young women, the state of the world has Sikh young women questioning their envisioned reproductive futures, and different pathways to parenthood are normalized among Sikh young women.
The study revealed the need for safe spaces for emerging adults to reflect on their reproductive identities without judgement, including healthcare and community settings, and to engage entire communities in supporting Sikh young women’s reproductive autonomy. Discrimination against Sikh youth must also be addressed in order for Sikh young women to feel they are raising their potential children in a safe environment.
Future research could take a longitudinal approach; recruit an equal number of participants who want and do not want or have and do not have children; include young men, LGBTQ+ Sikhs, and Sikh young women of different ages and geographies; compare Sikh young women with young women of different religions; allow for participant co-creation of narratives; and include observations in addition to interviews. Overall, the narratives in the present study convey to current and future generations of Sikh young women that they have the power to imagine, to create their own paths, and to define their own happiness.
Keywords: reproductive decision-making, reproductive identity, Sikh, childbearing intentions, reproductive futures, reproductive health, narrative inquiry, poetic inquir
Effect of Interactive Gaming Instruction on SBAR Verbal Reporting in Senior BSN Nursing Students
No full textSituation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) reporting is a method of concise, factual clinical communication that nursing students should develop for future work in clinical settings. Simulations that replicate these clinical settings often evaluate SBAR reporting performance. Self-efficacy and anxiety are factors that have been measured before and after nursing simulations. Interactive gaming instruction is established as a method that engages today’s learners, routinely resulting in knowledge retention that is superior to standard teaching methods.
All of these elements are seen in the existing literature, but very few studies have combined them. A quasi-experimental, comparison group study was conducted to evaluate the effects of interactive gaming instruction on SBAR reporting performance in senior-level, BSN nursing students. Students in the intervention group participated in interactive gaming instruction on SBAR using handheld, screen-based devices. The Materia™ gaming system was used to deliver the content, and required users to respond to both video and written prompts. Participants in the comparison group experienced standard video-based teaching on SBAR, which included captioning. Self-efficacy, state anxiety, and participants’ demographic characteristics were assessed in the pretest survey. All participants subsequently participated in a senior-level, acute chest pain simulation, and then recorded an SBAR report. Self-efficacy, state anxiety, and SBAR reporting performance were assessed in the posttest survey.
The interactive gaming group had statistically significantly better SBAR reporting performance compared to those who experienced video-based teaching. No participant characteristics were associated with SBAR reporting performance. Both groups had slight, but statistically significant, decreases in self-efficacy from pretest to posttest, and no differences were found for self-efficacy between the gaming group and video group. There was no relationship between self-efficacy and SBAR reporting performance, nor any demographic variable. State anxiety levels rose from pretest to posttest; however, there was no difference in state anxiety changes between gaming and video groups. Mean state anxiety levels were observed at, or near, the moderate range before and after the intervention for the entire study sample. There was no association between state anxiety and SBAR reporting performance.
These findings add to the research that shows increased knowledge retention associated with interactive gaming instruction, relative to standard teaching methods. The findings also add to the research on simulated SBAR reporting and changes in self-efficacy and state anxiety in nursing students. The findings of this study reinforce support for the use of interactive gaming instruction in nursing education to teach SBAR concepts. These findings also support interactive gaming as an acceptable alternative for standard video-based methods for teaching SBAR concepts, where self-efficacy and state anxiety are concerned
Perspective Transformation Amid Mass Societal Crisis: The Evolution of Transformative Learning in Adult Workplace Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic
No full textThis dissertation investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed transformative learning among Human Capital leaders in a national Management Consulting firm, emphasizing multidimensional change across cognitive, emotional, social, and societal domains. Drawing on organizational strategies, such as evidence-based decision-making, empathetic leadership, and hybrid work models, the study identifies four leadership archetypes that enable resilience and adaptability.
Findings highlight the role of transparent communication, well-being advocacy, and purpose-driven values in sustaining transformation and fostering belonging during periods of crisis, disruption and change. While limitations included low response rates and reliance on self-reported data, the study offers a framework for future research on organizational change and leadership transformation.
Keywords: Transformative learning, COVID-19 Pandemic, Leadership Development, Psychological Safety, Hybrid Work, Organizational Culture, Well-Being, Social Impact, Resilience, Human Capital Consultin
Factors Associated with Bone Health in Ambulatory Children and Adults with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
No full textIndividuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are at risk for poor bone health and low bone mass (LBM) because of decreased muscle strength and limited physical activity. In healthy individuals, several predictors of bone health have been identified, including lean muscle mass and weight-bearing activity. Individuals with LBM are known to have increased fracture risk. Fractures can negatively impact quality of life for people with SMA (pwSMA) by altering mobility status and independence.
The purpose of this study was to (a) identify low bone mass in ambulatory pwSMA, (b) evaluate the association of body composition and BMD in ambulatory pwSMA, (c) explore the association of bone health with muscle quality, muscle volume, strength, and function and (d) identify factors that influence bone health in ambulatory pwSMA.
This dissertation is a retrospective data analysis of data previously collected as part of an ongoing, observational, cross-sectional study (Columbia University Irving Medical Center Institutional Review Board [IRB] #AAAT5811 and Teachers College IRB #25-434). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to study bone health, measured by cortical bone area (CBA) and bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) as well as muscle volume and quality of the bilateral lower extremities. Additionally, strength and function were assessed and their association with bone health was examined. The focus of this study was to better understand factors that are associated with and influence bone health in ambulatory pwSMA who are treated with disease-modifying therapy.
Muscle volume was moderately associated with both CBA (r = .614, p = .001) and BMAT (rs = .511, p = .009). Worse muscle quality as measured by greater inter-/intra-muscular adipose tissue was also moderately associated with increased CBA (r = .521, p = .008), although the association was weaker, implicating that lean muscle is more beneficial for building larger, stronger bone. CBA was moderately associated with ankle dorsiflexion (r = .504, p = .010) and ankle plantarflexion (r = .455, p = .025) but not significantly associated with knee flexion or extension strength (p > .05), which may be due to the increased strength distally in SMA. In individuals who reported a history of fracture(s) (n = 9), there was significantly higher BMAT (p = .037).
Children and adults with SMA have poorer bone health than their healthy peers. CBA and BMAT are two variables that can be used to assess bone health and demonstrate associations with measures of muscle volume, quality, and strength. This dissertation addressed a gap in the literature by studying bone health in ambulatory pwSMA on disease-modifying therapy. Additionally, it is the first study to evaluate MRI-measured CBA and BMAT in pwSMA. While these results provided a baseline understanding and implied that these variables are relevant in pwSMA, further work is needed to better understand how BMAT is related to other known variables of bone health such as BMD and how these measures change over time.
Overall, this work will help contribute to improvement in the assessment and identification of bone health in pwSMA and eventually lead to more targeted interventions and treatment to improve care for individuals with poor bone health
Managing Flooding in Venice, Italy
No full textVenice faces increasing flood risks due to sea level rise, land subsidence, storm surges, and intense precipitation affecting the Venetian Lagoon. To address these hazards, Italy implemented the MOSE Project, a system of movable barriers designed to temporarily isolate the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea during extreme high-tide events. The system consists of 78 mobile gates that can be raised to prevent seawater and watershed inflows from flooding the historic city. While MOSE has successfully reduced short-term flood risk and protected critical infrastructure and cultural heritage, its operation raises environmental, financial, and governance challenges. The project highlights the complexities of large-scale coastal adaptation infrastructure in historic and highly vulnerable coastal cities
Reducing Food Waste for Climate Mitigation in Lisbon and Porto’s Urban Solid Waste Systems
No full textIn Lisbon and Porto, the Ugly Fruit initiative addresses food waste caused by aesthetic standards by connecting farmers with consumers through a cooperative model, redirecting ‘ugly’ but edible produce to the market. Over a decade, the project has prevented thousands of tonnes of food from being wasted, reduced associated greenhouse gas emissions, and promoted environmental awareness and food security. Its success demonstrates the scalability of community-driven, circular approaches to sustainably reduce food waste in urban settings
Workforce — not Policy — Is the Biggest Obstacle to India’s Nuclear Energy Ambitions
No full textAs India accelerates its energy expansion, it is re-centering nuclear power as a critical pillar of its long-term energy strategy. The scale of India’s ambition is formidable. The country currently operates about 8.8 GW of nuclear capacity across seven sites, which provide roughly 3% of the country’s electricity. Its official plans call for around 22 GW by 2031–32 and an ambitious 100 GW by 2047. Achieving this would require sustained annual additions at a pace India has never attempted in the nuclear domain