Assessing the learning outcomes of Fashion Design students who studied away

As we recognize the importance of global competency to a fashion student\u27s education, we offer various opportunities for our students to be involved in international programs. Having several programs running simultaneously across the globe under one curriculum presented several challenges, such as discrepancies in learning outcomes, varied physical and emotional responses, and diverging acquired skillsets. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to assess learning outcomes for fashion design students, after studying away. Using online surveys, a total of 62 study away participants during academic year 2014-15 were invited, and 29 responses were collected (response rate = 46.7%), to find out where they studied away, and how prepared they felt regarding the list of knowledge/skills that are required as a senior design student. The findings from this study shed light on understanding our current students\u27 perception of their learning outcomes after studying away, as well as their preparedness for the senior-level design coursework

Bifidobacterium bifidum Actively Changes the Gene Expression Profile Induced by Lactobacillus acidophilus in Murine Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DC) play a pivotal regulatory role in activation of both the innate as well as the adaptive immune system by responding to environmental microorganisms. We have previously shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus induces a strong production of the pro-inflammatory and Th1 polarizing cytokine IL-12 in DC, whereas bifidobacteria do not induce IL-12 but inhibit the IL-12 production induced by lactobacilli. In the present study, genome-wide microarrays were used to investigate the gene expression pattern of murine DC stimulated with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium bifidum Z9. L. acidophilus NCFM strongly induced expression of interferon (IFN)-β, other virus defence genes, and cytokine and chemokine genes related to the innate and the adaptive immune response. By contrast, B. bifidum Z9 up-regulated genes encoding cytokines and chemokines related to the innate immune response. Moreover, B. bifidum Z9 inhibited the expression of the Th1-promoting genes induced by L. acidophilus NCFM and had an additive effect on genes of the innate immune response and Th2 skewing genes. The gene encoding Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2), a transcription factor regulating the activation of JNK, was one of the few genes only induced by B. bifidum Z9. Neutralization of IFN-β abrogated L. acidophilus NCFM-induced expression of Th1-skewing genes, and blocking of the JNK pathway completely inhibited the expression of IFN-β. Our results indicate that B. bifidum Z9 actively inhibits the expression of genes related to the adaptive immune system in murine dendritic cells and that JPD2 via blocking of IFN-β plays a central role in this regulatory mechanism

Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy

B cells are frequently found in the margins of solid tumours as organized follicles in ectopic lymphoid organs called tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). Although TLS have been found to correlate with improved patient survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), the underlying mechanisms of this association remain elusive. Here we investigate lung-resident B cell responses in patients from the TRACERx 421 (Tracking Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Evolution Through Therapy) and other lung cancer cohorts, and in a recently established immunogenic mouse model for lung adenocarcinoma. We find that both human and mouse lung adenocarcinomas elicit local germinal centre responses and tumour-binding antibodies, and further identify endogenous retrovirus (ERV) envelope glycoproteins as a dominant anti-tumour antibody target. ERV-targeting B cell responses are amplified by ICB in both humans and mice, and by targeted inhibition of KRAS(G12C) in the mouse model. ERV-reactive antibodies exert anti-tumour activity that extends survival in the mouse model, and ERV expression predicts the outcome of ICB in human lung adenocarcinoma. Finally, we find that effective immunotherapy in the mouse model requires CXCL13-dependent TLS formation. Conversely, therapeutic CXCL13 treatment potentiates anti-tumour immunity and synergizes with ICB. Our findings provide a possible mechanistic basis for the association of TLS with immunotherapy response

Assessing the learning outcomes of Fashion Design students who studied away

As we recognize the importance of global competency to a fashion student's education, we offer various opportunities for our students to be involved in international programs. Having several programs running simultaneously across the globe under one curriculum presented several challenges, such as discrepancies in learning outcomes, varied physical and emotional responses, and diverging acquired skillsets. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to assess learning outcomes for fashion design students, after studying away. Using online surveys, a total of 62 study away participants during academic year 2014-15 were invited, and 29 responses were collected (response rate = 46.7%), to find out where they studied away, and how prepared they felt regarding the list of knowledge/skills that are required as a senior design student. The findings from this study shed light on understanding our current students' perception of their learning outcomes after studying away, as well as their preparedness for the senior-level design coursework.</p

Advances in Computational Science and Engineering: Second International Conference, FGCN 2008, Workshops and Symposia, Sanya, Hainan Island, China, December 13-15, 2008. Revised Selected Papers

International audienc