2199 research outputs found
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Breaking the Boundaries of the Traditional Curriculum to Develop Collaboration and Cognitive Diversity
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10440/10611-thumbnail.jpgResearch predicts a growing demand for future skills that are difficult to automate. This paper argues that the situation is threatened by reduced emphasis on design and technology education, accentuated by the lack of inclusivity. To address this shortfall, UK educational institutions are recognizing the value of collaboration to enable innovation and creativity.
A case study methodology is used, with cases from two universities, where collaborative opportunities are embedded into the curriculum in recognition of the current industry requirement for cognitive diversity. However, the disruption to the curriculum poses a challenge and provocation to both staff and students through the mindset and culture shift to make a successful transition to new ways of thinking and working.
The paper explores the interdisciplinary educational experience at Nottingham Trent University, which involved collaboration between mobile app development students from the School of Science & Technology and fashion management students from the School of Art & Design to co-develop a mobile app proposal. The second case study involves students from the Manchester Fashion Institute investigating new initiatives within fashion and collaborating with industry professionals to develop sustainable products.
The shared findings were that students gained more strategic cross-industry knowledge, with an emphasis on self-critique and a greater understanding of inclusivity and cultural awareness. The conclusion discusses the positive impact of collaboration and cognitive diversity on the student learning experience and points to future directions for research and educational practice through the creation of a thinking space for participants to implement in their own discipline.</p
Dissolving Gender in Fashion Design Education
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10445/10616-thumbnail.jpgAs a creative practice and production process, fashion design follows a mainly traditional perspective of a binary gendered body. Likewise, the education sector catering to this industry takes a similar approach, establishing programs that offer specializations in womenswear and menswear.
This research advocates for a more diverse and accessible understanding of gender, sizing,
and prerequisite notions of dress codes in undergraduate education for fashion. This approach is addressing a shift of attention to a more heterogeneous perspective of the body in relation to new questions of body politics, ethics, social justice, and trans-species communications. Based on this premise, this paper proposes a new perspective on how curriculum could be structured for fashion design education.
This structure has been evaluated based on data gathered over a two-year period, with focus on the second and third level of study in a Bachelors in Fashion Design and Textiles Program in Singapore. Findings from this research aim to prove that this paradigm shift for fashion design education is applicable and allows an expanded area for experimentation and play for students while opening up new horizons for criticality and reflection about what gender represents for society and culture today and in the future.</p
The #GiveCredit Campaign and Why It Matters: A Case Study of La blouse Roumaine
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10454/10625-thumbnail.jpgFashion has always played a vital role in how individuals present themselves and integrate into society. From individual emblems to globally recognized trademarks, fashion has proven that it does not only survive the pressure of time but elegantly flourishes because of it. As such, when local folklore becomes an internationally recognized symbol, campaigns that raise awareness and give credit to local craftsmen have the potential to develop a meaningful basis for establishing new brands and fighting cultural appropriation.
This paper aims to address the role of campaigns in promoting folklore and ethical fashion by using the case study La blouse Roumaine. The first part is a historical synopsis, depicting the role of folklore in symbolism and tradition. The second part focuses on theory, arguing that fashion can be used as an instrument for both cultural diplomacy and the promotion of narratives. The third part covers the case study of La blouse Roumaine. From the expansion of globalized capitalism to marketing and public relations strategies, the case of the Romanian blouse stands out because of its impact on the fashion industry and Romanian society. It is interesting to observe how the #GiveCredit campaign emerged, and if it truly mattered. From Matisse to YSL and the creation of Bihor Couture, the paper presents the story of the Romanian blouse as an international label associated with fighting cultural appropriation.</p
Every Body Fits Here
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10461/10632-thumbnail.jpgThis project was built around celebrating body diversity. Images of people were translated into a work of textile art through digital printing and embroidery. Bodies and body positive messages were represented in a stylized manner and subjects were engaged in the design process to promote community engagement in the message.</p
Fashion Activism with Community: Co-Design Project Between Fashion Designers & Bike Commuters in Hong Kong
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10463/10634-thumbnail.jpgA dynamic range of new denimwear including Qipao jumpsuit, Modern Cycling Dress, Biker Set, Engineered Denim Gear were co-created by 4 matchup of fashion designers and bike commuters in Hong Kong. This collaboration serves as a practice-based example of fashion activism giving rise to innovation over ordinary products for specific community group.</p
Associations between fear of covid-19, mental health, and preventive behaviours across pregnant women and husbands: An actor-partner interdependence modelling
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10682/11444-thumbnail.jpgThe present cross-sectional study examined the actor-partner interdependence effect of fear of COVID-19 among Iranian pregnant women and their husbands and its association with their mental health and preventive behaviours during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A total of 290 pregnant women and their husbands (N = 580) were randomly selected from a list of pregnant women in the Iranian Integrated Health System and were invited to respond to psychometric scales assessing fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, suicidal intention, mental quality of life, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. The findings demonstrated significant dyadic relationships between husbands and their pregnant wives\u27 fear of COVID-19, mental health, and preventive behaviours. Pregnant wives’ actor effect of fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with depression, suicidal intention, mental quality of life, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours but not anxiety. Moreover, a husband actor effect of fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with depression, anxiety, suicidal intention, mental quality of life, and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Additionally, there were significant partner effects observed for both the pregnant wives and their husbands concerning all outcomes. The present study used a cross-sectional design and so is unable to determine the mechanism or causal ordering of the effects. Also, the data are mainly based on self-reported measures which have some limitations due to its potential for social desirability and recall biases. Based on the findings, couples may benefit from psychoeducation that focuses on the effect of mental health problems on pregnant women and the foetus.</p
Interferons and viruses induce a novel primate-specific isoform dACE2 and not the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10691/83863-thumbnail.jpgSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for entry into target cells. ACE2 has been proposed as an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG). Thus, interferon-induced variability in ACE2 expression levels could be important for susceptibility to COVID-19 or its outcomes. Here, we report the discovery of a novel, transcriptionally independent truncated isoform of ACE2, which we designate as deltaACE2 (dACE2). We demonstrate that dACE2, but not ACE2, is an ISG. In The Cancer Genome Atlas, the expression of dACE2 was enriched in squamous tumors of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. In vitro, dACE2, which lacks 356 amino-terminal amino acids, was non-functional in binding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and as a carboxypeptidase. Our results suggest that the ISG-type induction of dACE2 in IFN-high conditions created by treatments, an inflammatory tumor microenvironment or viral co-infections is unlikely to increase the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and promote infection.
Preprint available here on biorxiv: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.19.210955</p
Viewpoint: K-12 virtual schooling, COVID-19, and student success
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10695/11455-thumbnail.jpgThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected K-12 education in 2020. To protect students and staff, as well as to flatten the infection
curve, parents, teachers, and policy makers endorsed and implemented a
modified version of homeschooling in the spring in the US and across the
globe. Teachers used some form of paper mailings and electronic
technology (eg, video conferencing, emailing) to deliver content to
students, while parents assumed a coteaching responsibility. Most
parents, schools, and teachers were unprepared and untrained to handle
the complexities inherent to educating as well as the demands of the
technology needed to support these efforts. Although teachers deserve
high praise for their rapid response, the educational outcomes were
unsatisfying, families were burdened, and most are hesitant to repeat
the same format. As government officials attempt to plan for the fall,
the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement supporting the
return to traditional school as soon as possible to preserve education
and socialization while limiting the exacerbation of existing
educational disparities for high-risk populations.</p
Wetland Roofs for Ecosystem Services
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10073/10192-thumbnail.jpgConventional green roof systems provide many ecological services and are an effective solution for reintroducing green space into urban centers. However, wetland roofs are a new type of green roof with hydric ecology aimed to provide a greater amount of ecosystem services to humans while delivering diverse community of species. As cities demand further environmental infrastructure, wetland roofs may have the potential to become an effective green roof type. To begin, three studies explore to understand if wetlands are a viable ecosystem to emulate in green roofs. First, common criteria between wetlands and roof environments must be explored for translation into design guidelines and construction parameters. Second, local wet novel ecosystem can be studied for informing guidelines in wetland roof design. Finally, a field experiment testing a blue-green roof’s hydrologic and nutrient behavior will assess for additional and unique ecosystem services. Results of the research will aid in the definition, design, and construction of wetland roofs. Understanding the performance of wetland roofs will allow them to be used in urban areas for decentralized water management, conservation efforts, and additional ecosystem services in built environments.</p
Bending Active Woven Systems and Hydroponic Textile Potentials
No full texthttps://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/10077/10195-thumbnail.jpgThe purpose of this comprehensive chart was to compile the possible categories, relationships, and qualities of ancient basket weaving techniques as they relate to bending active structures and textile weaving. Bending-active structures are structural systems that include curved beam or shell elements that base their geometry on the elastic deformation from an initially straight or planar configuration. These weaving attributes are then studied for their viability for the application of coconut coir fiber textile growing systems. The chart begins with an ancient weaving pattern either from Japanese or Native American descent and creates connections to current day projects that use similar techniques. From these ancient practices, we discovered new ways of deploying geometry, form, surface, and connection for possible coconut coir hydroponic growing textiles. The chart summarizes the similarities and attributes for the projects within each category or typology. The chart concludes with the hybridization of material assemblies and effects found within the outstanding basket weaving and joinery system potentials. The investigation of this study evolved from the involvement in a research project, BeTA Pavilion, that explored the formal opportunities of biotensegrity using bent fiber reinforced plastic rods and CNC knit textiles in a bending-active system. The global geometry of the structure was inspired by human anatomy and animal vertebrae typologies to reach structural equilibrium with a bandwidth of dynamic motion. The characteristics of pre-stressed and self-stabilizing modules prompted the investigation of basket-weaving techniques and their possible applications in architectural tectonics and hydroponic textile creation. The CNC knit textile for this project led to the next step in the study of creating a hydroponic textile to span between the tetrahedron vertebrae to deploy a lightweight growing system.</p