The challenge of collaboration for a good school: a research with secondary school teachers

Studies suggest that in school contexts collaboration can improve quantity and quality of instructional practices as well as teachers’ professional well-being (Moolenaar, Sleegers & Daly, 2012; OECD, 2014; Schratz, 2003). About students, collaboration implies better learning, better social skills and a positive class climate (Ianes, Cramerotti & Cattoni, 2015; Petter, 1998; Pugach & Johnson, 1995). Moreover, collaboration is considered relevant at a political level (OECD, 2014). But there are not so many studies aimed at exploring cultures before the practices. The research is realised with 54 secondary school teachers and is aimed at exploring teachers’ perceptions and meanings about collaboration: starting from that, it seems possible to develop experimentations and training paths towards a good school embracing the challenge of collaboration. La sfida della collaborazione per una scuola di qualità: una ricerca con docenti di scuola secondariaLa letteratura mostra che collaborazioni didattiche positive possono migliorare sia la quantità che la qualità del lavoro svolto in classe aumentando, di conseguenza, la soddisfazione professionale e il ben-essere degli insegnanti (Moolenaar, Sleegers & Daly, 2012; OECD, 2014; Schratz, 2003) e promuovendo migliori apprendimenti e abilità sociali negli studenti e un clima di classe più partecipe e motivato (Ianes, Cramerotti & Cattoni, 2015; Petter, 1998; Pugach & Johnson, 1995). Inoltre, la collaborazione viene individuata come dimensione necessaria e rilevante anche a livello politico-normativo (OECD, 2014). Tuttavia, pochi sono gli studi che tentano di esplorare le culture collaborative prima delle pratiche. Questa ricerca, svolta con 54 docenti di scuola secondaria di secondo grado, si propone di contribuire allo sviluppo di un filone di ricerca sui significati che assume la collaborazione tra docenti per i docenti stessi: a partire da tali significati è possibile costruire sperimentazioni e percorsi formativi che, accogliendo la sfida della collaborazione, promuovono una scuola di qualità

The challenge of collaboration for a good school: a research with secondary school teachers

Studies suggest that in school contexts collaboration can improve quantity and quality of instructional practices as well as teachers’ professional well-being (Moolenaar, Sleegers & Daly, 2012; OECD, 2014; Schratz, 2003). About students, collaboration implies better learning, better social skills and a positive class climate (Ianes, Cramerotti & Cattoni, 2015; Petter, 1998; Pugach & Johnson, 1995). Moreover, collaboration is considered relevant at a political level (OECD, 2014). But there are not so many studies aimed at exploring cultures before the practices. The research is realised with 54 secondary school teachers and is aimed at exploring teachers’ perceptions and meanings about collaboration: starting from that, it seems possible to develop experimentations and training paths towards a good school embracing the challenge of collaboration.   La sfida della collaborazione per una scuola di qualità: una ricerca con docenti di scuola secondaria La letteratura mostra che collaborazioni didattiche positive possono migliorare sia la quantità che la qualità del lavoro svolto in classe aumentando, di conseguenza, la soddisfazione professionale e il ben-essere degli insegnanti (Moolenaar, Sleegers & Daly, 2012; OECD, 2014; Schratz, 2003) e promuovendo migliori apprendimenti e abilità sociali negli studenti e un clima di classe più partecipe e motivato (Ianes, Cramerotti & Cattoni, 2015; Petter, 1998; Pugach & Johnson, 1995). Inoltre, la collaborazione viene individuata come dimensione necessaria e rilevante anche a livello politico-normativo (OECD, 2014). Tuttavia, pochi sono gli studi che tentano di esplorare le culture collaborative prima delle pratiche. Questa ricerca, svolta con 54 docenti di scuola secondaria di secondo grado, si propone di contribuire allo sviluppo di un filone di ricerca sui significati che assume la collaborazione tra docenti per i docenti stessi: a partire da tali significati è possibile costruire sperimentazioni e percorsi formativi che, accogliendo la sfida della collaborazione, promuovono una scuola di qualità

Tumor Infiltrating Neutrophils Are Enriched in Basal-Type Urothelial Bladder Cancer

15noBackground: Urothelial bladder cancers (UBCs) are distinct in two main molecular subtypes, namely basal and luminal type. Subtypes are also diverse in term of immune contexture, providing a rationale for patient selection to immunotherapy. Methods: By digital microscopy analysis of a muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) cohort, we explored the density and clinical significance of CD66b(+) tumor-associated-neutrophils (TAN) and CD3(+) T cells. Bioinformatics analysis of UBC datasets and gene expression analysis of UBC cell lines were additionally performed. Results: Basal type BC contained a significantly higher density of CD66b(+) TAN compared to the luminal type. This finding was validated on TCGA, GSE32894 and GSE124305 datasets by computing a neutrophil signature. Of note, basal-type MIBC display a significantly higher level of chemokines (CKs) attracting neutrophils. Moreover, pro-inflammatory stimuli significantly up-regulate CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL8 in 5637 and RT4 UBC cell lines and induce neutrophil chemotaxis. In term of survival, a high density of T cells and TAN was significantly associated to a better outcome, with TAN density showing a more limited statistical power and following a non-linear predicting model. Conclusions: TAN are recruited in basal type MIBC by pro-inflammatory CKs. This finding establishes a groundwork for a better understanding of the UBC immunity and its relevance.openopenMandelli, Giulio Eugenio; Missale, Francesco; Bresciani, Debora; Gatta, Luisa Benerini; Scapini, Patrizia; Caveggion, Elena; Roca, Elisa; Bugatti, Mattia; Monti, Matilde; Cristinelli, Luca; Belotti, Sandra; Simeone, Claudio; Calza, Stefano; Melocchi, Laura; Vermi, WilliamMandelli, Giulio Eugenio; Missale, Francesco; Bresciani, Debora; Gatta, Luisa Benerini; Scapini, Patrizia; Caveggion, Elena; Roca, Elisa; Bugatti, Mattia; Monti, Matilde; Cristinelli, Luca; Belotti, Sandra; Simeone, Claudio; Calza, Stefano; Melocchi, Laura; Vermi, Willia

Deciphering the fate of slan+ -monocytes in human tonsils by gene expression profiling

Monocytic cells perform crucial homeostatic and defensive functions. However, their fate and characterization at the transcriptomic level in human tissues are partially understood, often as a consequence of the lack of specific markers allowing their unequivocal identification. The 6-sulfo LacNAc (slan) antigen identifies a subset of non-classical (NC) monocytes in the bloodstream, namely the slan+ -monocytes. In recent studies, we and other groups have reported that, in tonsils, slan marks dendritic cell (DC)-like cells, as defined by morphological, phenotypical, and functional criteria. However, subsequent investigations in lymphomas have uncovered a significant heterogeneity of tumor-infiltrating slan+ -cells, including a macrophage-like state. Based on their emerging role in tissue inflammation and cancer, herein we investigated slan+ -cell fate in tonsils by using a molecular-based approach. Hence, RNA from tonsil slan+ -cells, conventional CD1c+ DCs (cDC2) and CD11b+ CD14+ -macrophages was subjected to gene expression analysis. For comparison, transcriptomes were also obtained from blood cDC2, classical (CL), intermediate (INT), NC, and slan+ -monocytes. Data demonstrate that the main trajectory of human slan+ -monocytes infiltrating the tonsil tissue is toward a macrophage-like population, displaying molecular features distinct from those of tonsil CD11b+ CD14+ -macrophages and cDC2. These findings provide a novel view on the terminal differentiation path of slan+ -monocytes, which is relevant for inflammatory diseases and lymphomas

Hyper-Activation of STAT3 Sustains Progression of Non-Papillary Basal-Type Bladder Cancer via FOSL1 Regulome

Urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) are classified into luminal and basal subtypes showing distinct molecular features and clinical behaviour. Recent in silico data have proposed the activation on the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) as relevant transcription factor in UBC. To answer this question, we have combined the retrospective analysis of clinical samples, functional assays on cell lines, interrogation of public UBC datasets and a murine model of basal-type UBC. Immunohistochemistry on a retrospective UBC cohort uncovered that STAT3 Y705 phosphorylation (pSTAT3) is significantly increased in infiltrating basal-type UBC compared to luminal UBC. In vitro, STAT3 silencing in UBC cell lines significantly reduced tumor cell viability and invasion. Gene expression profile of UBC cell lines combined with the analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE32894 UBC datasets showed that increased expression of a set of STAT3 targets predicts basal-type, propensity to local progression and worse prognosis. MYC and FOSL1 represent relevant STAT3 downstream targets, as validated by their co-localization in pSTAT3+ UBC cancer cells. These findings were largely reproduced in the BBN-induced murine model of basal-type UBC. Of note, FOSL1 protein resulted strongly expressed in the non-papillary UBC pathway and FOSL1-regulated transcripts were significantly enriched in the transition from NMIBC to MIBC, as indicated by the interrogation of the GSE32894 dataset. The blockade of the STAT3 pathway might represent a novel treatment option for these neoplasms. Monitoring pSTAT3 and the downstream targets, particularly FOSL1, could provide meaningful levels of UBC stratification

Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in human carcinoma-draining lymph nodes: a novel TAN compartment

Objectives: The role of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in the nodal spread of cancer cells remains unexplored. The present study evaluates the occurrence and clinical significance of human nodal TANs.Methods: The relevance, derivation, phenotype and interactions of nodal TANs were explored via a large immunohistochemical analysis of carcinoma-draining lymph nodes, and their clinical significance was evaluated on a retrospective cohort of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). The tumor-promoting function of nodal TAN was probed in the OSCC TCGA dataset combining TAN and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signatures.Results: The pan-carcinoma screening identified a consistent infiltration (59%) of CD66b+TANs in tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs). Microscopic findings, including the occurrence of intra-lymphatic conjugates of TANs and cancer cells, indicate that TANs migrate through lymphatic vessels. In vitro experiments revealed that OSCC cell lines sustain neutrophil viability and activation via release of GM-CSF. Moreover, by retrospective analysis, a high CD66b+ TAN density in M-TDLNs of OSCC (n=182 patients) predicted a worse prognosis. The analysis of the OSCC-TCGA dataset unveiled that the expression of a set of neutrophil-specific genes in the primary tumor (PT) is highly associated with an EMT signature, which predicts nodal spread. Accordingly, in the PT of OSCC cases, CD66b+TANs co-localised with PDPN+S100A9- EMT-switched tumor cells in areas of lymphangiogenesis. The pro-EMT signature is lacking in peripheral blood neutrophils from OSCC patients, suggesting tissue skewing of TANs.Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with a novel pro-tumoral TAN compartment that may promote nodal spread via EMT, through the lymphatics

The Mouse Intestinal Bacterial Collection (miBC) provides host-specific insight into cultured diversity and functional potential of the gut microbiota

Intestinal bacteria influence mammalian physiology, but many types of bacteria are still uncharacterized. Moreover, reference strains of mouse gut bacteria are not easily available, although mouse models are extensively used in medical research. These are major limitations for the investigation of intestinal microbiomes and their interactions with diet and host. It is thus important to study in detail the diversity and functions of gut microbiota members, including those colonizing the mouse intestine. To address these issues, we aimed at establishing the Mouse Intestinal Bacterial Collection (miBC), a public repository of bacterial strains and associated genomes from the mouse gut, and studied host-specificity of colonization and sequence-based relevance of the resource. The collection includes several strains representing novel species, genera and even one family. Genomic analyses showed that certain species are specific to the mouse intestine and that a minimal consortium of 18 strains covered 50-75% of the known functional potential of metagenomes. The present work will sustain future research on microbiota-host interactions in health and disease, as it will facilitate targeted colonization and molecular studies. The resource is available at www.dsmz.de/miBC.</p