Prebiotic chemistry in neutral/reduced-alkaline gas-liquid interfaces.

Acknowledgements The authors used the research facilities of the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) and were supported by the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas” (INTA) and by the Spanish MINECO project ESP2014-55811-C2-2-P. M.R.M.-Y. was supported by a research training grant from INTA. C.M. and P.E. were fellows of “Plan de Formación” from INTA. M.-P.Z. and E.G.-T. acknowledge the Spanish MINECO projects CGL2014-55230-R and CGL2015-69758-P. Additionally, we are grateful to M.T. Fernández for the recording of the FT-IR spectra.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Genera of phytopathogenic fungi: GOPHY 3

This paper represents the third contribution in the Genera of Phytopathogenic Fungi (GOPHY) series. The series provides morphological descriptions, information about the pathology, distribution, hosts and disease symptoms for the treated genera, as well as primary and secondary DNA barcodes for the currently accepted species included in these. This third paper in the GOPHY series treats 21 genera of phytopathogenic fungi and their relatives including: Allophoma, Alternaria, Brunneosphaerella, Elsinoe, Exserohilum, Neosetophoma, Neostagonospora, Nothophoma, Parastagonospora, Phaeosphaeriopsis, Pleiocarpon, Pyrenophora, Ramichloridium, Seifertia, Seiridium, Septoriella, Setophoma, Stagonosporopsis, Stemphylium, Tubakia and Zasmidium. This study includes three new genera, 42 new species, 23 new combinations, four new names, and three typifications of older names

Surgical checklist: seeking the involvement of professionals and patients

Objetivos: Los objetivos fueron mejorar la adherencia al listado de verificación quirúrgica (LVQ), identificar barreras y reclamar el apoyo de profesionales y pacientes. Material y Métodos: Se registró la participación en el proyecto PaSQ-WP5/ LVQ entre 2013 y 2015: Plan de Acción con dos líneas de trabajo, dirigidas a profesionales y pacientes, que contemplaban rondas de evaluación, análisis de barreras, evaluación de percepción del listado mediante cuestionarios de la Hauté Autorité de Santé, formación en seguridad y diseño del folleto Cirugía Segura Salva Vidas. Resultados: Los datos de presencia del LVQ en la historia clínica reflejaron una mejora estadísticamente significativa respecto a los iniciales. En 68,2% de las rondas se cumplimentó el listado correctamente. La opinión del profesional sobre la utilidad del listado fue positiva en 79,8% y consideró que había ayudado a identificar e interceptar incidentes de seguridad en 25,6%. Sin embargo, resultó difícil de aplicar durante urgencias quirúrgicas (51,8%), al enfermero le costó gestionar el listado (59,5%) y el intercambio de información en voz alta se interrumpió con frecuencia (51,2%). Del análisis de barreras destacaron el sobre-registro, falta de liderazgo del gestor del listado, escasa implicación de facultativos y ausencia de trabajo en equipo. Conclusiones: La implantación del LVQ fue laboriosa pero la implicación de profesionales y pacientes ayudó a avanzar en la cultura de seguridad. La actitud general de los sanitarios es positiva y por tanto no se trata de imponer el uso obligatorio del LVQ, sino de convencer de que su cumplimiento reduce los eventos adversos evitables.Objectives: To improve the adhesion to the surgical safety checklist (SSC), identify barriers and claim the support of professionals and patients. Methods: The experience includes our participation in the Pasq-WP5 / SSC project, directed to surgical professionals and patients. An Action Plan was developed from 2013 to 2015 with two lines of work, one for professionals and other for patients; whose activities are: evaluation rounds, barrier analysis, evaluation SSC perception (using Hauté Autorité de Santé questionnaires), safety training and brochure design Safe Surgery Saves Lives. Results: Data of SSC in the medical record reflect a statistically significant improvement. In 68.2% of the rounds, SSC was filled in correctly. Professional opinion on the usefulness of SSC is positive in 79.8%; consider that it is difficult to apply in emergency in 51.8%, it is difficult for a nurse to manage the SSC in 59.5%, the exchange of information aloud is difficult to obtain in 51.2% and the SSC has helped identify and intercept security incidents 25.6%. Analysis of barriers includes the over-registration, lack of leadership SSC manager, limited involvement of doctors and lack of teamwork. Conclusions: The involvement of professionals and patients will help further progress in safety culture. The goal is not to impose the SSC, but convinced that compliance reduce preventable adverse events

In vitro antileishmanial activity and iron superoxide dismutase inhibition of arylamine Mannich base derivatives

Leishmaniasis is one of the world’s most neglected diseases, and it has a worldwide prevalence of 12 million. There are no effective human vaccines for its prevention, and treatment is hampered by outdated drugs. Therefore, research aiming at the development of new therapeutic tools to fight Leishmaniasis remains a crucial goal today. With this purpose in mind, we present twenty arylaminoketone derivatives with a very interesting in vitro and in vivo efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi that have now been studied against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. infantum, L. donovani and L. braziliensis strains. Six out of the twenty Mannich base-type derivatives showed Selectivity Index between 39 and 2337 times higher in the amastigote form than the reference drug glucantime. These six derivatives affected the parasite infectivity rates; the result was lower parasite infectivity rates than glucantime tested at a IC25 dose. In addition, these derivatives were substantially more active against the three Leishmania species tested than glucantime. The mechanism of action of these compounds has been studied, showing a greater alteration in glucose catabolism and leading to greater levels of Fe-SOD (iron superoxide dismutase) inhibition. These molecules could be potential candidates for Leishmaniasis chemotherapy

Assessment policies and academic performance within a single course: The role of motivation and self-regulation.

Despite the frequently reported association of characteristics of assessment policies with academic performance, the mechanisms through which these policies affect performance are largely unknown. Therefore, the current research investigated performance, motivation and self-regulation for two groups of students following the same statistics course, but under two assessment policies: education and child studies (ECS) students studied under an assessment policy with relatively higher stakes, a higher performance standard and a lower resit standard, compared with Psychology students. Results show similar initial performance, but more use of resits and higher final performance (post-resit) under the ECS policy compared with the psychology policy. In terms of motivation and self-regulation, under the ECS policy significantly higher minimum grade goals, performance self-efficacy, task value, time and study environment management, and test anxiety were observed, but there were no significant differences in aimed grade goals, academic self-efficacy and effort regulation. The relations of motivational and selfregulatory factors with academic performance were similar between both assessment policies. Thus, educators should be keenly aware of how characteristics of assessment policies are related to students’ motivation, self-regulation and academic performance

A Novel Therapy for Melanoma Developed in Mice: Transformation of Melanoma into Dendritic Cells with Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacteria and human pathogen widely used in cancer immunotherapy because of its capacity to induce a specific cytotoxic T cell response in tumours. This bacterial pathogen strongly induces innate and specific immunity with the potential to overcome tumour induced tolerance and weak immunogenicity. Here, we propose a Listeria based vaccination for melanoma based in its tropism for these tumour cells and its ability to transform in vitro and in vivo melanoma cells into matured and activated dendritic cells with competent microbicidal and antigen processing abilities. This Listeria based vaccination using low doses of the pathogen caused melanoma regression by apoptosis as well as bacterial clearance. Vaccination efficacy is LLO dependent and implies the reduction of LLO-specific CD4+ T cell responses, strong stimulation of innate pro-inflammatory immune cells and a prevalence of LLO-specific CD8+ T cells involved in tumour regression and Listeria elimination. These results support the use of low doses of pathogenic Listeria as safe melanoma therapeutic vaccines that do not require antibiotics for bacterial removal