Tracing the development of intercultural competence in telecollaborative interaction: An analysis of evaluative language in eTandem exchanges

Numerous studies have been conducted into telecollaborative eTandem exchanges and their potential to foster the development of participants’ intercultural competence. These studies have included content analyses of learner interaction, end-of-project questionnaires, interviews and attitudinal surveys. However, studies that analyse the development of intercultural competence in telecollaboration through a linguistically grounded approach are still scarce. To address this gap in the literature, in this chapter we analyse how forty American and Spanish university students used evaluative language in their samples of attitudinal objectives (Byram, 1997) taking Vinagre and Corral’s (2017) data and findings as a starting point for this analysis. Preliminary results show that the participants used similar evaluative tokens both in their interaction and attitudinal objectives, which could be understood as a strategy to converge by adapting to their partners’ communicative practicesThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (EDU2014-54673R

Evaluative language for rapport building in virtual collaboration: an analysis of appraisal in computer-mediated interaction

This is an original manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Language and Intercultural Communication on 3 Oct. 2017, available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14708477.2017.1378227The main objective of this study is to explore how students who participate in virtual intercultural exchanges use evaluative language to build rapport and encourage collaboration. Data were gathered from 211 email messages sent by 40 Spanish and American university students and were tagged following Martin and White’s Appraisal model. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the lexico-grammatical tokens revealed that the participants used mostly Affect tokens in their interaction. This suggests that the students preferred expressing their own feelings and emotions rather than judging their partners’ behaviour or evaluating phenomena as a strategy to construct a positive and appealing personal identityThis work was supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad: [Grant Number EDU2014 54673R

The orbital period of the recurrent nova V2487 Oph revealed

We present the first reliable determination of the orbital period of the recurrent nova V2487 Oph (Nova Oph 1998). We derived a value of $0.753 \pm 0.016$ d ($18.1 \pm 0.4$ h) from the radial velocity curve of the intense He II $\lambda$4686 emission line as detected in time-series X-shooter spectra. The orbital period is significantly shorter than earlier claims, but it makes V2487 Oph one of the longest period cataclysmic variables known. The spectrum of V2487 Oph is prolific in broad Balmer absorptions that resemble a white dwarf spectrum. However, we show that they come from the accretion disc viewed at low inclination. Although highly speculative, the analysis of the radial velocity curves provides a binary mass ratio $q \approx 0.16$ and a donor star mass $M_2 \approx 0.21$ M$_\odot$, assuming the reported white dwarf mass $M_1 = 1.35$ M$_\odot$. A subgiant M-type star is tentatively suggested as the donor star. We were lucky to inadvertently take some of the spectra when V2487 Oph was in a flare state. During the flare, we detected high-velocity emission in the Balmer and He II $\lambda$4686 lines exceeding $-2000$ km s$^{-1}$ at close to orbital phase 0.4. Receding emission up to $1200$ km s$^{-1}$ at about phase 0.3 is also observed. The similarities with the magnetic cataclysmic variables may point to magnetic accretion on to the white dwarf during the repeating flares.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (October 9, 2023

Identifying Early Infections in the Setting of CRS With Routine and Exploratory Serum Proteomics and the HT10 Score Following CD19 CAR-T for Relapsed/Refractory B-NHL

Infections; Serum proteomicsInfeccions; Proteòmica sèricaInfecciones; Proteómica séricaEarly fever after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy can reflect both an infection or cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Identifying early infections in the setting of CRS and neutropenia represents an unresolved clinical challenge. In this retrospective observational analysis, early fever events (day 0–30) were characterized as infection versus CRS in 62 patients treated with standard-of-care CD19.CAR-T for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Routine serum inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], procalcitonin [PCT]) were recorded daily. Exploratory plasma proteomics were performed longitudinally in 52 patients using a multiplex proximity extension assay (Olink proteomics). Compared with the CRSonly cohort, we noted increased event-day IL-6 (median 2243 versus 64 pg/mL, P = 0.03) and particularly high PCT levels (median 1.6 versus 0.3 µg/L, P < 0.0001) in the patients that developed severe infections. For PCT, an optimal discriminatory threshold of 1.5 µg/L was established (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUCROC] = 0.78). Next, we incorporated day-of-fever PCT levels with the patient-individual CAR-HEMATOTOX score. In a multicenter validation cohort (n = 125), we confirmed the discriminatory capacity of this so-called HT10 score for early infections at first fever (AUCROC = 0.87, P < 0.0001, sens. 86%, spec. 86%). Additionally, Olink proteomics revealed pronounced immune dysregulation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with severe infections as evidenced by an increased ANGPT2/1 ratio and an altered CD40/CD40L-axis. In conclusion, the high discriminatory capacity of the HT10 score for infections highlights the advantage of dynamic risk assessment and supports the incorporation of PCT into routine inflammatory panels. Candidate markers from Olink proteomics may further refine risk-stratification. If validated prospectively, the score will enable risk-adapted decisions on antibiotic use.This work was supported by a grant within the Gilead Research Scholar Program (to KR, MS). Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) research grant provided within the Sonderforschungbereich SFB-TRR 388/1 2021 – 452881907, and DFG research grant 451580403 (to MS). The work was further supported by the Bavarian Elite Graduate Training Network (to MS), the Wilhelm-Sander Stiftung (to MS, project no. 2018.087.1), the Else-Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung (to MS), and the Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BZKF). KR received a fellowship from the School of Oncology of the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK). KR, VB, and VLB were funded by the Else Kröner Forschungskolleg (EKFK) within the Munich Clinician Scientist Program (MCSP)

Autocrine stimulation of clear-cell renal carcinoma cell migration in hypoxia via HIF-independent suppression of thrombospondin-1

Thrombospondin-1 is a matricellular protein with potent antitumour activities, the levels of which determine the fate of many different tumours, including renal carcinomas. However, the factors that regulate this protein remain unclear. In renal carcinomas, hypoxic conditions enhance the expression of angiogenic factors that help adapt tumour cells to their hostile environment. Therefore, we hypothesized that anti-angiogenic factors should correspondingly be dampened. Indeed, we found that hypoxia decreased the thrombospondin-1 protein in several clear cell renal carcinoma cell lines (ccRCC), although no transcriptional regulation was observed. Furthermore, we proved that hypoxia stimulates multiple signals that independently contribute to diminish thrombospondin-1 in ccRCC, which include a decrease in the activity of oxygen-dependent prolylhydroxylases (PHDs) and activation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. In addition, thrombospondin-1 regulation in hypoxia proved to be important for ccRCC cell migration and invasionThis work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MCINN) SAF2009-11113 and METOXIA, a Collaborative Project under the 7th Research Framework Programme of the European Union FP7-HEALTH-2007B (ref. HEALTH-F2-2009-222741

Best Treatment Option for Patients With Refractory Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma in the CAR-T Cell Era: Real-World Evidence From GELTAMO/GETH Spanish Groups

CAR-T cell therapy; Real world evidence; B cell lymphomaTerapia con células CAR-T; Evidencia del mundo real; Linfoma de células BTeràpia amb cèl·lules CAR-T; Evidència del món real; Limfoma de cèl·lules BReal-world evidence comparing the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy against that of the previous standard of care (SOC) for refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is scarce. We retrospectively collected data from patients with LBCL according to SCHOLAR-1 criteria treated with commercial CAR T-cell therapy in Spain (204 patients included and 192 treated, 101 with axicabtagene ciloleucel [axi-cel], and 91 with tisagenlecleucel [tisa-cel]) and compared the results with a historical refractory population of patients (n = 81) obtained from the GELTAMO-IPI study. We observed superior efficacy for CAR-T therapy (for both axi-cel and tisa-cel) over pSOC, with longer progression-free survival (PFS) (median of 5.6 vs. 4–6 months, p ≤ 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (median of 15 vs. 8 months, p < 0.001), independently of other prognostic factors (HR: 0.59 (95% CI: 0.44–0.80); p < 0.001] for PFS, and 0.45 [(95% CI: 0.31–0.64)] for OS). Within the CAR-T cohort, axi-cel showed longer PFS (median of 7.3 versus 2.8 months, respectively, p = 0.027) and OS (58% versus 42% at 12 months, respectively, p = 0.048) than tisa-cel. These differences were maintained in the multivariable analysis. On the other hand, axi-cel was independently associated with a higher risk of severe cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Our results suggest that the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy is superior to pSOC in the real-world setting. Furthermore, axi-cel could be superior in efficacy to tisa-cel, although more toxic, in this group of refractory patients according to SCHOLAR-1 criteria

Real-world evidence of tisagenlecleucel for the treatment of relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma

Recerca clínica del càncer; Càncer hematològic; Limfoma no HodgkinInvestigación clínica del cáncer; Cáncer hematológico; Linfoma no HodgkinClinical cancer research; Hematological cancer; Non-Hodgkin's lymphomaTisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) is a second-generation autologous CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). The approval was based on the results of phase II JULIET trial, with a best overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) rate in infused patients of 52% and 40%, respectively. We report outcomes with tisa-cel in the standard-of-care (SOC) setting for R/R LBCL. Data from all patients with R/R LBCL who underwent leukapheresis from December 2018 until June 2020 with the intent to receive SOC tisa-cel were retrospectively collected at 10 Spanish institutions. Toxicities were graded according to ASTCT criteria and responses were assessed as per Lugano 2014 classification. Of 91 patients who underwent leukapheresis, 75 (82%) received tisa-cel therapy. Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity occurred in 5% and 1%, respectively; non-relapse mortality was 4%. Among the infused patients, best ORR and CR were 60% and 32%, respectively, with a median duration of response of 8.9 months. With a median follow-up of 14.1 months from CAR T-cell infusion, median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3 months and 10.7 months, respectively. At 12 months, patients in CR at first disease evaluation had a PFS of 87% and OS of 93%. Patients with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase showed a shorter PFS and OS on multivariate analysis. Treatment with tisa-cel for patients with relapsed/refractory LBCL in a European SOC setting showed a manageable safety profile and durable complete responses

Sex Differences in Multimorbidity, Inappropriate Medication and Adverse Outcomes of Inpatient Care : MoPIM Cohort Study

There is no published evidence on the possible differences in multimorbidity, inappropriate prescribing, and adverse outcomes of care, simultaneously, from a sex perspective in older patients. We aimed to identify those possible differences in patients hospitalized because of a chronic disease exacerbation. A multicenter, prospective cohort study of 740 older hospitalized patients (≥65 years) was designed, registering sociodemographic variables, frailty, Barthel index, chronic conditions (CCs), geriatric syndromes (GSs), polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) according to STOPP/START criteria, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Outcomes were length of stay (LOS), discharge to nursing home, in-hospital mortality, cause of mortality, and existence of any ADR and its worst consequence. Bivariate analyses between sex and all variables were performed, and a network graph was created for each sex using CC and GS. A total of 740 patients were included (53.2% females, 53.5% ≥85 years old). Women presented higher prevalence of frailty, and more were living in a nursing home or alone, and had a higher percentage of PIP related to anxiolytics or pain management drugs. Moreover, they presented significant pairwise associations between CC, such as asthma, vertigo, thyroid diseases, osteoarticular diseases, and sleep disorders, and with GS, such as chronic pain, constipation, and anxiety/depression. No significant differences in immediate adverse outcomes of care were observed between men and women in the exacerbation episode

Lectura de contexto y abordaje psicosocial desde los enfoques narrativos. Ibagué.

El presente trabajo colaborativo corresponde a la actividad final del Diplomado de Acompañamiento Psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Tiene como finalidad hacer un abordaje de diferentes contextos del conflicto armado desde el enfoque narrativo que es una herramienta muy importante que atiende y trabaja en el conflicto armado, y hace parte del pensamiento sistémico (Modelo predominante en estudio de la familia). El enfoque narrativo nos habla de los problemas y dificultades, es una metáfora para entender y comprender que las historias que se cuentan acerca de las experiencias vividas, moldean nuestra identidad. También nos enseña que el enfoque narrativo en la conocida psicología contemporánea ha logrado un camino reflexivo significativo en los procesos terapéuticos y también psicosociales de violencia. Este trabajo está enfocado en fortalecer diferentes equipos psicosociales para atender las víctimas del conflicto armado. Así con estos recursos nos acercaremos a comprender y conocer la importancia del enfoque narrativo en el acompañamiento psicosocial. En la unidad cinco como recurso complementario observamos el artículo de Michel White pionero de la terapia narrativa y titulado: El Trabajo con Personas que Sufren las Consecuencias de Trauma Múltiple: Una Perspectiva Narrativa. A continuación, hacemos un breve análisis del relato de “Edison Medina”, un desmovilizado de las FARC, que trata de reconstruir su proyecto de vida y a su vez ayudar a su familia y su comunidad. Finalmente, en el “caso Pandurí”, relacionamos algunas estrategias para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia.The present collaborative work corresponds to the final activity of the Psychosocial Accompaniment Diploma in scenarios of violence. Its purpose is to approach different contexts of the armed conflict from the narrative approach that is a very important tool that attends and works in the armed conflict, and is part of the systemic thinking (predominant model in the study of the family). The narrative approach tells us about the problems and difficulties, it is a metaphor to understand and understand that the stories that are told about the lived experiences shape our identity. It also teaches us that the narrative approach in the well-known contemporary psychology has achieved a significant reflexive path in the therapeutic and also psychosocial processes of violence. This work is focused on strengthening different psychosocial teams to attend the victims of the armed conflict. So with these resources we will get closer to understanding and knowing the importance of the narrative approach in the psychosocial accompaniment. In unit five as a complementary resource we observed the article by Michel White, pioneer of narrative therapy, entitled: Working with People Suffering the Consequences of Multiple Trauma: A Narrative Perspective. Here is a brief analysis of the story of "Edison Medina", a demobilized FARC, who tries to rebuild his life project and in turn help his family and community. Finally, in the "Pandurí case", we related some strategies for the psychosocial approach in scenarios of violence