SCHOLARLY SHOWCASE James P. Evans, Davide Cassanmagnago, Tathagata Chatterji, Andrew Irvin, Banjamin Jance IV, Cathy Oke, Massamba Thioye, Gregory Patrick Trencher, Elvira Uyarra, and Masaru Yarime. “Grand challenges in sustainable cities: urban innovation for global climate and sustainability goals-from policy agenda to research needs.” Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 7 (2025): 1568701. Focus of Study This study explores urban innovation as a core strategy to address global climate and sustainability goals, examining its emergence as a key policy agenda and identifying critical research needs. It defines urban innovation as a place-based, systemic activity driven by cities to solve local challenges while contributing to global targets. The research highlights three central policy themes: governance (multilevel collaboration, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and experimental models like urban living labs), scaling (overcoming the “pilot paradox” through context- adaptive replication, cultural leverage, and innovative financing), and capacity building (skills development, data utilization, and cross-city learning networks). It also notes gaps, including underrepresentation of Global South contexts, undervaluation of informal and indigenous innovation, and limited research on “urban exnovation” (phasing out unsustainable technologies). Policy Recommendations Policymakers should prioritize inclusive, context- sensitive governance for urban innovation, integrating formal and informal stakeholders. Deploy flexible financing (e.g., outcome-based contracts, blended climate finance) to scale successful solutions beyond pilots. Invest in digital infrastructure and cross-city knowledge-sharing networks to boost cities’ analytical and adaptive capacities. Broaden innovation definitions to include frugal, grassroots, and exnovation strategies, ensuring alignment with local needs and global sustainability targets. Yingyu Huang, Shun Wa Tsang, Wai Hung Tsang, King L. Chow. “Mab21l2 is required to promote cell proliferation in stylopods during early limb development.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2025) Focus of Study This study uses conditional gene knockout models to explore Mab21l2’s role in early limb development. It nds Mab21l2 is dynamically expressed in mouse forelimb buds (E10.5–12.5), with a critical function window of E9.5–10.5. Its deletion causes stylopod malformations (humerus shortening, missing deltoid tuberosity) and delayed endochondral ossi cation, due to reduced chondrocyte proliferation at E10.5 Policy . Harini KANNAN, King L. CHOW. “Chemosensory Adaptations in Caenorhabditis Males during the Establishment of Androdioecy.”Biology Letters (2025) Focus of Study This study explores male chemosensory adaptations in Caenorhabditis during the transition from dioecy to androdioecy. It nds androdioecious males have heightened olfactory habituation and reduced mate exploration, while hermaphrodites produce less potent sex pheromones. Replacing the SRD-1 receptor’s cytoplasmic domain reverts these traits, highlighting its key role in facilitating hermaphroditism. 13
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=