What corpus data reveal about the Position of Antecedent Strategy: anaphora resolution in Spanish monolinguals and L1 English-L2 Spanish bilinguals.

This study investigates the acquisition of anaphora resolution (AR) in Spanish as a second language (L2). According to the Position of Antecedent Strategy (PAS), in native Spanish null pronominal subjects are biased toward subject antecedents, whereas overt pronominal subjects show a "flexible" bias (typically toward non-subject but also toward subject antecedents). The PAS has been extensively investigated in experimental studies, though little is known about real production. We show how naturalistic production (corpus methods) can uncover crucial factors in the PAS that have not been explored in the experimental literature. We analyzed written samples from the CEDEL2 corpus: L1 English-L2 Spanish adult late-bilingual learners (intermediate, lower-advanced and upper-advanced proficiency levels) and a control group of adult Spanish monolinguals (N = 75 texts). Anaphors were manually annotated via a fine-grained, linguistically-motivated tagset in UAM Corpus Tool. Against traditional assumptions, our results reveal that (i) the PAS is not a privileged mechanism for resolving anaphora; (ii) it is more complex than assumed (in terms of the division of labor of anaphoric forms, their antecedents and the syntactic configuration in which they appear); (iii) the much-debated "flexible" bias of overt pronouns is apparent since they are hardly produced and are replaced by repeated NPs, which show a clear non-subject antecedent bias; (iv) at the syntax-discourse interface, the PAS is constrained by information structure in more complex ways than assumed: null pronouns mark topic continuity, whereas overtly realized referential expressions (overt REs: overt pronouns and NPs) mark topic shift. Learners show more difficulties with topic continuity (where they redundantly use overt pronouns) than with topic shift (where they normally disambiguate by using overtly realized REs), thus being more redundant than ambiguous, in line with the Pragmatic Principles Violation Hypothesis (PPVH) (Lozano, 2016). We finally argue that the insights from corpora should be implemented into experiments. The triangulation of corpus and experimental methods in bilingualism ultimately provides a clearer understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.

Grado de cumplimiento del protocolo de identificación de vías de administración en unidades de críticos / Level of adherence to the protocol for identification of ways of administration in critical patient units

Objetivo: determinar el grado de cumplimiento del mencionado protocolo en Unidades de Cuidados Críticos de un hospital universitario madrileño. Como objetivos secundarios se planteó detectar las causas de los efectos adversos si los hubiera. Material y método: estudio descriptivo longitudinal prospectivo con tres cortes de evaluación (I: tras la implantación del protocolo “Identificación de las vías de administración y nutrición enteral mediante código de colores en unidades de críticos”; II:tras sesión recordatoria; III: al mes de la sesión) sin programación conocida por el equipo de Enfermería, en tres Unidades de Cuidados Críticos: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI), Unidad de Neonatología y la Unidad de Recuperación Post Anestésica(URPA). Se diseñó un indicador sintético basado en la triple identificación para evaluar el cumplimiento. Resultados: se estudiaron 46 pacientes con 129 dispositivos. El nivel de cumplimiento en la URPA fue del 55,33% (58,98 -42,22 - 64,81, según corte I, II y III), UCI del 84,61% (80,05 - 69,8– 100, según corte I, II y III) y Neonatos del 31,75% (50 - 28,57 - 16,67, según corte I, II y III).Conclusiones: en el tercer corte los servicios de URPA y Cuidados Intensivos mejoraron sus resultados, no así en Neonatología. Un sistema de cortes de evaluación como medida de control del protocolo, puede incentivar tanto a nivel docente como a nivel de los profesionales hacia una mejora continua encaminada a prevenir efectos adversos (AU)

Objective: to determine the level of adherence to said protocol in Critical Care Units of a University Hospital in Madrid. As secondary objective, the detection of the causes of adverse effects, if any, was considered. Materials and methods: prospective longitudinal descriptive study with three assessment time points (I: after implantation of the protocol “Identification of ways of administration andenteral nutrition through color code in Critical Patient Units”; II:after a reminder session; III: at one month of the session) without known programming by the Nursing team, in three Critical Care Units: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). A synthetic index was designed, based on the triple identification, to assess adherence. Results: forty-six patients were studied with 129 devices. The level of adherence in the PACU was 55.33% (58.98 - 42.22 -64.81, at time points I, II and III), at ICU of 84.61% (80.05 - 69.8 - 100, at time points I, II and III), and at the Neonatal Unit of31.75% (50 - 28.57 - 16.67, at time points I, II and III).Conclusions: in the third time point, the PACU and Intensive Care Units improved their results, but not Neonatology. A system of assessment time points as a measure of control for the protocol may encourage a continuous improvement targeted to prevent adverse effects, both at teaching and professional levels (AU)

Clasificación de pacientes por códigos de complejidad para medición de cargas de trabajo enfermero en una Unidad de Recuperación Postanestésica / Classification of patients by complexity codes for measurement of the nursing staff workload in a post-anesthesia recovery unit

Objetivo: conocer la utilidad de la nueva clasificación de pacientes por códigos de complejidad en función de los dispositivos utilizados en los cuidados, para determinar cuál sería el ratio enfermero adecuado para la adaptación al progresivo aumento de la actividad en la unidad de recuperación de nueva creación. Método: estudio descriptivo prospectivo durante seis meses, de abril a septiembre de 2009. La población objeto de estudio fueron los enfermos que ingresan en la unidad procedentes de las áreas de quirófano, pruebas funcionales, urgencias y hospitalización, y la muestra fueron todos los ingresados durante el tiempo del estudio. Se utiliza un sistema de clasificación de pacientes basado en códigos de complejidad, asignando a cada uno un código (del 1 al 5) en función de las necesidades de vigilancia y/o cuidados durante el postoperatorio inmediato y de la cantidad de los dispositivos que porten. Se analiza el número de usuarios de cada código en tramos horarios establecidos para 24 horas. Resultados: los pacientes menos complejos (códigos 1 y 2) representaron el72,98%, mientras que los de mayor complejidad (códigos 3, 4 y 5) fueron del26,62%, correspondiendo el resto a ingresos para técnicas realizadas, pacientes pediátricos y exitus. Los enfermos con códigos más complejos aumentaron: código 3 de 14,5% a 31,7%; código 4 de 1,16% a 2,75%; codigo5 de 0,5% a 1,9%. Los pacientes pediátricos aumentaron de un 0,3% a un 4,8%.Los tramos horarios con mayor número de pacientes ingresados en la unidad, independientemente del mes, fueron entre las 11 y las 17 horas. Conclusiones: el aumento de la complejidad de los cuidados en la Unidad de Recuperación Postanestesica (URPA), identificado mediante la clasificación codificada, evidencia la necesaria optimización en la dotación de recursos humanos para poder conseguir un ratio enfermera-paciente adecuado, precisándose nuevos estudios para su validación (AU)

Objective: to understand the usefulness of the new patient classification by complexity codes based on the devices used for care, to determine which the adequate nurse ratio should be in order to adapt to the progressive increase of activity in the recently established recovery unit. Method: prospective descriptive study for six months, from April to September,2009. The population object of the study were nurses joining the unit, from the areas of operating rooms, functional tests, emergencies and hospitalization; and the sample included all patients admitted to hospital during the time of the study. A patient classification system based on complexity codes was used, assigning a code (from 1 o 5) to each patient, based on their needs for watch and/or care during the immediate post-operatory period, and on how many devices they had. The number of users from each code was analysed in time segments established for 24 hours. Results: those patients with lower complexity (Codes 1 and 2) represented72.98% of the sample, while those with higher complexity (Codes 3, 4 and5) represented 26.2%; the rest consisted of admissions for techniques performed, pediatric patients and exitus. Patients with more complex codes increased: Code 3 from 14.5% to 31.7%; Code 4 from 1.16% to 2.75%; Code5 from 0.5% to 1.9%. Pediatric patients increased from 0.3% to 4.8%. The time segments with a higher number of patients admitted to the unit, regardless of the month, were from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conclusions: the increase in care complexity in the Post-Anesthesia Recovery Unit (PARU), identified through classification by codes, shows the optimization required in terms of human resources in order to achieve an adequate nurse-patient ratio; this requires new studies for its validation (AU)

Virgibacillus olivae sp. nov., isolated from waste wash-water from processing of Spanish-style green olives.

Four bacterial strains (E(30)8(T), E(55)49, I(30)77 and N(30)129) were isolated from the residual wash-water produced during the processing of Spanish-style green table olives. The isolates were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study using phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic methods. The bacteria were Gram-positive, spore-forming rods. Moreover, they were heterotrophs that were able to utilize cellobiose, glucose, mannose and rhamnose as carbon sources. The G+C content of their genomic DNA ranged from 30.7 to 33.4 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids found in strain E(30)8(T) were iso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0). DNA-DNA hybridization shows 76.2-88.3 % relatedness among the four strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of isolate E(30)8(T) shows that it belongs to the genus Virgibacillus, with the highest sequence similarity (99 %) to Virgibacillus marismortui 123(T). However, phenotypic differences and DNA-DNA relatedness between strain E(30)8(T) and V. marismortui ATCC 700626(T) of less than 47 % suggest the placement of these strains within a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus. The name Virgibacillus olivae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain E(30)8(T) (=LMG 23503(T)=DSM 18098(T)) as the type strain.

Salicola salis sp. nov., an extremely halophilic bacterium isolated from Ezzemoul sabkha in Algeria.

A novel, extremely halophilic bacterium was isolated from brine samples collected from Ezzemoul sabkha in north-east Algeria. Cells of this isolate, designated B2T, were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and motile. Growth occurred between 10 and 25% (w/v) NaCl and the isolate grew optimally at 15-20% (w/v) NaCl. The pH range for growth was 6.0-9.0 with an optimum at pH 7.0-7.5. The predominant fatty acids were C16:0 and C18:1omega9c. Other fatty acids present were C16:1omega9c, C18:0 10-methyl, C12:0 3-OH, C10:0 and C12:0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 56.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain B2T was closely related to Salicola marasensis in the Gammaproteobacteria. The level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain B2T and the type strain of Salicola marasensis was 99%. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments between strain B2T and Salicola marasensis indicated a level of relatedness of 52%. The phenotypic characteristics of strain B2T allowed its differentiation from recognized species of the genus Salicola. Strain B2T was able to hydrolyse starch but not aesculin. It was unable to use carbohydrates and could not use citrate, pyruvate or succinate as sole carbon and energy sources. On the basis of the polyphasic data presented, strain B2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Salicola, for which the name Salicola salis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B2T (=CECT 7106T=LMG 23122T).

Halorubrum ezzemoulense sp. nov., a halophilic archaeon isolated from Ezzemoul sabkha, Algeria.

A novel extremely halophilic archaeon was isolated from Ezzemoul sabkha, Algeria. The strain, designated 5.1(T), was neutrophilic, motile and Gram-negative. At least 15 % (w/v) NaCl was required for growth. The isolate grew at pH 6.5-9.0, with optimum growth at pH 7.0-7.5. Mg(2+) was required for growth. Polar lipids were C(20)C(20) derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, and phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and sulfated diglycosyl diether. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 5.1(T) was 61.9 mol% (T(m)). Phylogenetic analysis based on comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 5.1(T) clustered with Halorubrum species. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 5.1(T) from other Halorubrum species. The name Halorubrum ezzemoulense sp. nov. (type strain 5.1(T)=CECT 7099(T)=DSM 17463(T)) is proposed.

Synthesis, activity, and molecular modeling studies of novel human aldose reductase inhibitors based on a marine natural product.

Aldose reductase (ALR2) has been implicated in the etiology of diabetic complications, including blindness. Because of the limited number of currently available drugs for the prevention of these long-term complications, the discovery of new ALR2 inhibitors appears highly desirable. In this study, a polybrominated diphenyl ether (1) naturally occurring in a marine sponge was found to inhibit recombinant human ALR2 with an IC(50) of 6.4 microM. A series of polyhalogenated analogues that were synthesized and tested in vitro to explore the structure-activity relationships displayed various degrees of inhibitory activity. The most active compounds were also capable of preventing sorbitol accumulation inside human retinal cells. In this cell-based assay, the most potent synthesized analogue (16) showed a 17-fold increase in inhibitory activity compared to that of sorbinil (IC(50) = 0.24 vs 4 microM). A molecular representation of human ALR2 in complex with the natural product was built using homology modeling, automated docking, and energy refinement methods. AMBER parameters for the halogen atoms were derived and calibrated using condensed phase molecular dynamics simulations of fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, and bromobenzene. Inhibitor binding is proposed to cause a conformational change similar to that recently reported for zenarestat. A free energy perturbation thermodynamic cycle allowed us to assess the importance of a crucial bromine atom that distinguishes the active lead compound from a much less active close natural analogue. Remarkably, the spatial location of this bromine atom is equivalent to that occupied by the only bromine atom present in zenarestat.