The impact of a study abroad experience on the use of discourse markers by heritage speakers and L2 learners

Discourse markers (e.g., bueno, pues, es que, o sea, entonces, este) are linguistic items without a syntactic function that aid in interpreting utterances (Martín Zorraquino & Portolés Lázaro, 1999). These markers are common in native speech and help maintain the smoothness of the interaction (D’Arcy, 2017). Despite the fact that the use of these expressions contributes to increased perceived fluency, research on the effects of study abroad on the acquisition of discourse markers has been scarce. This study addresses this research gap through a corpus-based analysis of discourse marker usage by heritage speakers and second language (L2) learners of Spanish before and after a study abroad experience. The study examines whether proficiency level, Spanish language background and language contact abroad affect the use of filled pauses and discourse markers in oral speech. Oral data were collected from 46 participants in a Spanish study abroad program at different proficiency levels (advanced vs. intermediate). Participants took a placement test upon arrival and engaged in semi-structured oral interviews before, during, and after their sojourn. These interviews, which included open-ended questions about their study abroad experience, were transcribed and coded for quantitative analysis of pause frequency and discourse marker frequency and variety. Based on prior research (Fernández et al., 2014; Llanes, À., Barón, J., & Sánchez-Hernández, 2024; Mostacero-Pinilla, 2020; Torres & Potowski, 2008; Said-Mohand, 2006; Sánchez-Muñoz, 2007), we hypothesize that heritage speakers will initially use more frequent and diverse discourse markers than L2 learners. Additionally, we predict that both groups will increase their use of discourse markers by the end of the study abroad experience, both in frequency and variety, and will decrease their use of filled pauses. Preliminary results suggest that proficiency level and speaker type significantly affect discourse marker use, with heritage speakers using them more frequently initially and with greater variety by the end of the study abroad experience. These findings are discussed in relation to previous research on discourse markers, their role in perceived oral fluency, and the benefits of immersion settings for acquiring pragmatic language skills often not emphasized in classroom instruction

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

LIF regulates CXCL9 in tumor-associated macrophages and prevents CD8+ T cell tumor-infiltration impairing anti-PD1 therapy

Cancer response to immunotherapy depends on the infiltration of CD8 T cells and the presence of tumor-associated macrophages within tumors. Still, little is known about the determinants of these factors. We show that LIF assumes a crucial role in the regulation of CD8 T cell tumor infiltration, while promoting the presence of protumoral tumor-associated macrophages. We observe that the blockade of LIF in tumors expressing high levels of LIF decreases CD206, CD163 and CCL2 and induces CXCL9 expression in tumor-associated macrophages. The blockade of LIF releases the epigenetic silencing of CXCL9 triggering CD8 T cell tumor infiltration. The combination of LIF neutralizing antibodies with the inhibition of the PD1 immune checkpoint promotes tumor regression, immunological memory and an increase in overall survival

Genome Sequence of Airborne Acinetobacter

Acinetobacter spp. are found in 53% of air colonization samples from the hospital environment. In this work, we sequenced all the genome of airborne Acinetobacter sp. strain 5-2Ac02. We found important features at the genomic level in regards to the rhizome. By phylogenetic analysis, A. towneri was the species most closely related to Acinetobacter sp. 5-2Ac02

Genome Sequence of Airborne Acinetobacter sp. Strain 5-2Ac02 in the Hospital Environment, Close to the Species of Acinetobacter towneri

Acinetobacter spp. are found in 53% of air colonization samples from the hospital environment. In this work, we sequenced all the genome of airborne Acinetobacter sp. strain 5-2Ac02. We found important features at the genomic level in regards to the rhizome. By phylogenetic analysis, A. towneri was the species most closely related to Acinetobacter sp. 5-2Ac02

Good Environmental Status of marine ecosystems: What is it and how do we know when we have attained it?

The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires EU Member States (MS) to achieve Good Environmental Status (GEnS) of their seas by 2020. We address the question of what GEnS entails especially with regard to the level at which targets are set (descriptors, criteria, indicators), to scales for assessments (regional, sub-divisions, site-specific), and to difficulties in putting into practice the GEnS concept. We propose a refined and operational definition of GEnS, indicating the data and information needed to all parts of that definition. We indicate the options for determining when GEnS has been met, acknowledge the data and information needs for each option, and recommend a combination of existing quantitative targets and expert judgement. We think that the MSFD implementation needs to be less complex than shown for other similar directives, can be based largely on existing data and can be centred on the activities of the Regional Seas Conventions.This manuscript has resulted from the DEVOTES (DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing Good Environmental Status) project funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme, ‘The Ocean of Tomorrow’ Theme (Grant Agreement No. 308392), www.devotesproject. eu. This paper is contribution number 654 from AZTITecnalia (Marine Research Division)

Aurelia spp. Ecology in the Mediterranean Sea

5th International Jellyfish Bloom Symposium, 30 May to 3 June 2016, Barcelona.Aurelia spp. are cosmopolitan scyphozoan species and probably the most studied jellyfish in the world. They inhabit nearshore waters, especially closed basins, such as coastal embayments, fjords and estuaries, occupying a great variety of habitats worldwide. Recent studies have addressed the biogeography of the genus Aurelia and reported that it constitutes a speciescomplex embracing numerous locally adapted species. The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of biodiversity threatened by climate change, which is expected to have a significant influence on the biodiversity and biogeography of marine populations. Here we compiled a comprehensive data set on Aurelia spp. occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea and assessed the thermal niches as well as the phenology of the various populations. Our results indicate that the species biogeography is restricted to temperate areas of the Mediterranean basin, whereas the seasonal pattern generally displayed an unimodal peak that occurs earlier in warmer systems. Our results highlight that the thermal niche of the species, where the bulk of the population (90%) is present, shows a temperature window from 12 to 20°C, although it is further constrained when accounting only for the northern populations of the western and Adriatic basins. Hence, while global warming has been claimed as one of the most important triggers for jellyfish outbreaks, the projected temperature increase of the Mediterranean Sea warns on the shrinking of favorable environmental conditions for the species with the concomitant risk of its potential decline and perhaps extinction in the Mediterranean Sea.N

Cytomegalovirus infection management in solid organ transplant recipients across European centers in the time of molecular diagnostics: An ESGICH survey

Background: Scant information is available about how transplant centers are managing their use of quantitative molecular testing (QNAT) assays for active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection monitoring in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The current study was aimed at gathering information on current practices in the management of CMV infection across European centers in the era of molecular testing assays. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted by the European Study Group of Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts (ESGICH) of the Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). The invitation and a weekly reminder with a personal link to an Internet service provider (https://es.surveymonkey.com/) was sent to transplant physicians, transplant infectious diseases specialists, and clinical virologists working at 340 European transplant centers. Results: Of the 1181 specialists surveyed, a total of 173 responded (14.8%): 73 transplant physicians, 57 transplant infectious diseases specialists, and 43 virologists from 173 institutions located at 23 different countries. The majority of centers used QNAT assays for active CMV infection monitoring. Most centers preferred commercially available real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays over laboratory-developed procedures for quantifying CMV DNA load in whole blood or plasma. Use of a wide variety of DNA extraction platforms and RT-PCR assays was reported. All programs used antiviral prophylaxis, preemptive therapy, or both, according to current guidelines. However, the centers used different criteria for starting preemptive antiviral treatment, for monitoring systemic CMV DNA load, and for requesting genotypic assays to detect emerging CMV-resistant variants. Conclusions: Significant variation in CMV infection management in SOT recipients still remains across European centers in the era of molecular testing. International multicenter studies are required to achieve commutability of CMV testing and antiviral management procedures

Cytomegalovirus infection management in solid organ transplant recipients across European centers in the time of molecular diagnostics: An ESGICH survey

Background: Scant information is available about how transplant centers are managing their use of quantitative molecular testing (QNAT) assays for active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection monitoring in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The current study was aimed at gathering information on current practices in the management of CMV infection across European centers in the era of molecular testing assays. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted by the European Study Group of Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts (ESGICH) of the Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). The invitation and a weekly reminder with a personal link to an Internet service provider (https://es.surveymonkey.com/) was sent to transplant physicians, transplant infectious diseases specialists, and clinical virologists working at 340 European transplant centers. Results: Of the 1181 specialists surveyed, a total of 173 responded (14.8%): 73 transplant physicians, 57 transplant infectious diseases specialists, and 43 virologists from 173 institutions located at 23 different countries. The majority of centers used QNAT assays for active CMV infection monitoring. Most centers preferred commercially available real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays over laboratory-developed procedures for quantifying CMV DNA load in whole blood or plasma. Use of a wide variety of DNA extraction platforms and RT-PCR assays was reported. All programs used antiviral prophylaxis, preemptive therapy, or both, according to current guidelines. However, the centers used different criteria for starting preemptive antiviral treatment, for monitoring systemic CMV DNA load, and for requesting genotypic assays to detect emerging CMV-resistant variants. Conclusions: Significant variation in CMV infection management in SOT recipients still remains across European centers in the era of molecular testing. International multicenter studies are required to achieve commutability of CMV testing and antiviral management procedures