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São Paulo: the Resilient Municipalities Program
No full textThe São Paulo Resilient Municipalities Project aims to articulate actions and streamline databases so that mayors and other city leaders can identify vulnerabilities related to climate change and discuss best policymaking entry points (SEMIL, 2023d). General coordination of the works has been performed by the State Environment Secretariat, supported by the Civil Defense
Biomechanical Testing of Human Uterine and Cervical Tissues – Literature Review Dataset
No full textThis dataset compiles peer-reviewed studies reporting experimental ex vivo biomechanical tests of human uterine and cervical tissues across reproductive states. It is intended as a reusable reference for academic applications. Users should still consult original publications for detailed methodology and interpretation.
This dataset accompanies the following book chapter (in press): Louwagie, E. and Fodera, D. (2026) Biomechanics of the Uterus and Cervix Across Pregnancy and Disease: Considerations for Biomaterial Design. In: Biomaterials for Women’s Health Engineering. Springer Nature
Improving Science-To-Policy Information Pathways To Support Planning And Action On Climate Change In African Agriculture: Workshop Report
No full textClimate change threatens to worsen already pervasive food insecurity across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To successfully advance climate-resilient agriculture, scientists, policy, and decision makers must improve efforts to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice. Success requires coordinating extensive research on adaptation and mitigation strategies with the planning, policy, funding, and implementation processes that can leverage scientific insights to improve food security and nutrition outcomes. Improving food security requires, for example: research into which crop varieties and livestock breeds can thrive under the changing conditions in the variety of agro-climatic, socio-economic, and governance contexts present in SSA; identifying what inputs these resilient varieties need; understanding farmers' capacity to select and cultivate appropriate varieties; and determining which agricultural outputs can meet both nutritional requirements and consumer preferences.
The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), University of Ghana (UG), and Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rural (IPAR), co-led a workshop titled “Improving Science-to-Policy Information Pathways to Support Planning and Action on Climate Change in African Agriculture,” as part of a project titled “AgMIP Demand-Scoping Study in Sub-Saharan Africa.” AgMIP is a global network of climate, crop, livestock, economics, nutrition, and policy experts who co-develop with stakeholders model-based evidence that can inform adaptation and mitigation planning and action in agriculture. The AgMIP approach employs integrated climate, crop, livestock, and economic models to assess vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies under different climate and socioeconomic scenarios. UG and IPAR are members of the AgMIP network in Ghana and Senegal, respectively.
The goal of the workshop was to strengthen the science-policy interface for planning climate adaptation and mitigation in agriculture in SSA. Policymakers and researchers representing Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and the United States participated in the workshop. The workshop was generously supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom (FCDO). It was hosted by the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana on May 21st to 22nd, 2025. This report documents the discussions and main insights from the workshop, which had three main objectives:
1) To assess the highest priority needs for science-based information to support national planning, policy, and decision-making processes related to climate resilience in agriculture
2) To collaboratively develop elements of a decision support framework that can strengthen the utilization of science-based information in policy and decision making
3) To shape future efforts that can enhance the links between research, policy, and practice in each of the participating countrie
Elucidating the role of Protein Kinase RNA-like ER Kinase (PERK)-mediated unfolded protein response in modulating smooth muscle cells during atherosclerosis
No full textAtherosclerosis is the main underlying cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is characterized by the buildup of inflammatory lipid-rich deposits containing smooth muscle cells (SMCs), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and various infiltrating immune cells including macrophages and T-cells in the arterial vessel. The size and cellular composition of these lesions impact their stability, with less stable lesions imposing increased CVD pathological risk. Atherosclerotic lesion development begins within the first two decades of life, and while existing lipid-lowering therapies can significantly reduce atherosclerotic burden, additional strategies to bias developing lesions towards stability will further reduce residual CVD vulnerability. During lesion development, SMCs de-differentiate and modulate to form non-classical SMC-derived cell types (SDCs) in a process termed phenotype switching.
Together, SMCs and SDCs form the majority of a lesion’s cellular content and can therefore influence lesion stability. However, little is known about SDC function, the factors driving their modulation, and their effect on CVD outcomes. A recent paper from Chattopadhyay et al. linked the modulation of a subset of SDCs to the Perk unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR describes a three-pronged approach to reinstating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis in response to ER stress. Perk, an ER stress sensor and activator of one prong of the UPR pathway, was reported to be necessary in the formation and expansion of a subset of SDCs in atherogenic mice. The UPR has been studied previously in the context of other diseases, and Perk inhibition was reported to influence infiltrating leukocyte proportions and function in developing lesions. However, it is not clear what role a Perk-dependent SDC population plays in atherosclerotic lesions and if this has any impact on lesion stability.
Using single cell analysis (scRNA-seq) and SMC lineage-traced atherogenic mice, we assayed the effect of Perk on SMC modulation. As pharmacological Perk inhibition resulted in adverse events that confounded our efforts to characterize Perk’s role in lesion development, we created a SMC-specific, inducible Perk knockout (KO) mouse on our atherogenic SMC lineage-traced background. Across multiple timepoints of lesion development, we determined that SMC modulation was unchanged by SMC Perk depletion. Perk WT and Perk KO mice developed lesions of comparable sizes, compositions, and features predicting lesion stability. We integrated our data with scRNA-seq data from Chattopadhyay et al. and determined that the SDC population previously reported as being Perk-dependent was not entirely SMC derived nor detectable in other comparable studies.
Furthermore, analysis of human carotid lesion samples failed to identify a correlation between UPR activity at the transcriptional level and CVD outcomes. Our findings suggest that the Perk UPR pathway in SMCs is not significantly coupled to its modulation, and that furthermore, UPR does not sufficiently correlate with lesion stability in human lesions to be an ideal therapeutic target for addressing residual CVD risk
Exploring the Role of Teacher-student-parent Relationships in Shaping Learning Outcomes During Remote Violin Instruction
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted an unprecedented shift from in-person to remote private music instruction, transforming the communication, routines, and dynamics of relationships that shape children’s instrumental learning. Although extensive research has examined online learning in general education, little is known about how young student’s violin learning is supported or constrained by the relationships within the teacher-student-parent triad in a remote setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate how each dyadic relationship within teacher-student-parent relationship shaped communication, collaboration, student motivation and engagement, and student learning outcomes during remote applied violin lessons and how factors within students’ ecological systems influenced these dynamics.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants (N=9): three students (ages 5-8 during the pandemic), three parents, and three violin teachers. Interview data were coded and analyzed through Brofenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Suzuki Triangle framework to illustrate how learning was situated within the student’s microsystem and mesosystem during remote learning period. A cross-case thematic analysis revealed how each dyadic relationship contributed uniquely to students’ learning experiences.
The study found that strong teacher-student relationships anchored communication, promoted collaborative problem-solving, and supported students’ technical and musical growth despite the limitations of virtual instruction. Student–parent relationships reinforced practice routines, emotional safety, and reflective dialogue at home, helping students remain motivated and resilient. Teacher–parent relationships acted as essential mesosystemic links, aligning expectations across settings and ensuring instructional continuity when physical modeling and in-person adjustments were unavailable. Across triads, differences in student temperament and family context produced distinct relational patterns—parent-integrated, student-integrated, and teacher-integrated triads—which shaped how each child experienced remote learning
Bridging the Gap: A guide for parents and teachers to navigate language, culture, and education together / Cerrando Brechas: Una guía para que padres y maestros se apoyen mutuamente con el idioma, la lengua y la educación
No full textIn New York City and New Jersey, but also in most of the United States, English is key to integration, opening doors to education, community engagement, and future opportunities. However, many parents feel overwhelmed by the thought of supporting their children’s English learning, especially if they are not fluent themselves. In particular, parents of children coming in recent years from Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela are struggling with helping their offspring get familiarized with the K-12 school system. Teachers, too, face challenges in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps, often with limited resources and time. This resource guide serves as a bridge between families and schools, providing actionable steps to foster collaboration and mutual understanding.
En Nueva York y en Nueva Jersey, pero también en la mayor parte de Estados Unidos, saber inglés es clave para sentirse integrado, abrirse puertas educativas, interactuar en comunidad y obtener oportunidades a futuro. Sin embargo, muchos padres se sienten abrumados de solo pensar en la educación de sus hijos, sobre todo si ellos mismos no hablan inglés con fluidez. En particular, los padres de niños colombianos, haitianos y venezolanos que han llegado en los últimos años están teniendo dificultades para ayudar a sus pequeños a acostumbrarse al sistema educativo. Al mismo tiempo, los maestros se ven en la necesidad de sortear lagunas lingüísticas y culturales, esto sin contar con el tiempo y recursos suficientes. Esta guía busca servir de puente entre familias y escuelas al proveer de acciones, paso por paso, para fomentar la colaboración y el entendimiento mutuo
Το αλφάβητο που ζητούσα
No full textΗ ετερογλωσσία των Ελλήνων βοηθάει τους φοιτητές μου να καταλάβουν ότι στον κόσμο δεν υπάρχει τίποτα που να επιδέχεται μόνο μία απάντηση. Τώρα, μάλιστα, που το να είσαι Έλληνας σημαίνει να είσαι και Ευρωπαίος και από τα Βαλκάνια και από τη Σομαλία, αυτή η αντίληψη του «διπλού βιβλίου» παίρνει άλλες διαστάσεις. Για τον Αμερικανό, που από μικρός μαθαίνει ότι ανήκει σε ένα και αδιαίρετο έθνος («One nation under God, indivisible»), η ιδέα να ανήκεις σε ένα έθνος μέσα από πολλά φαίνεται ριζοσπαστική. Κι ακόμα, η ιδέα ότι «επίσημη γλώσσα» είναι κάθε γλώσσα της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, είναι εντυπωσιακή. Για τους φοιτητές μου, η ελληνική γλώσσα και η ελληνική κουλτούρα στο Κολούμπια είναι η πύλη που οδηγεί σ’ έναν διαφορετικό κόσμο, σ’ έναν κόσμο όπου δεν υπάρχουν απόλυτα, όπου επικρατεί η συνδιαλλαγή
Strengthening Local Capacity through International Collaboration in Şanlıurfa
No full textThis case study explores how international collaboration has strengthened local adaptive capacity in Şanlıurfa, Turkey, a semi-arid, agriculture-dependent city facing climate risks, population influx from Syrian refugees, and post-disaster recovery challenges. In the absence of a comprehensive local climate action plan and under centralized governance constraints, Şanlıurfa has leveraged partnerships, particularly with the United Nations Development Programme, to advance climate adaptation, renewable energy, waste management, energy efficiency, and social integration initiatives. The case highlights the intermediary role of local government in translating international support into locally relevant action, while emphasizing the importance of transparent governance, inclusive participation, and long-term monitoring to ensure equitable and resilient adaptation outcomes
Two Australian Policy Approaches for Integrating Local Food System Adaptation Strategies
No full textThis case study examines two policy approaches in Queensland, Australia, that integrate local food system adaptation within non-food policy frameworks. Focusing on Cairns in Far North Queensland and Logan in South East Queensland, it shows how regions facing climate extremes, population growth, and long food supply chains embed food resilience into disaster management, climate action, and urban design policies. In Cairns, disaster risk management and climate strategies support local food access through initiatives such as the Local Food Resilience Hub, strengthening food security and reducing emissions. In Logan, urban design frameworks and youth co-design projects promote local food production, edible landscapes, and community cohesion in a high-growth context. Together, the cases demonstrate how cross-portfolio collaboration, shared responsibility frameworks, and university–government partnerships can enhance adaptive capacity and advance multiple resilience outcomes through locally grounded food system planning
The Legal Implications of Urban Governance Approaches for Mitigating Climate Change
No full textClimate change is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century, driven primarily by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In urban areas, the most important source of GHG emissions is the consumption of fossil fuels. The Tehran metropolis is the largest center of population and economic activity in Iran. Its dispersed spatial structure, urban sprawl, and car-oriented mobility patterns, combined with high fossil fuel consumption, have led to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Urban governance in Tehran is dominated by approaches characterized as elitist, technocratic, mandatory, regulatory, and top-down, with limited consideration of target groups, shaping the policies, laws, regulations, and plans governing the metropolis