Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Predicting the Unpredictable: Development and External Validation of the GO SOAR Surgical Risk Calculator for Data-Driven Predictions of Surgical Complications in Gynaecological Oncology Surgery

Background/Objectives: Universal surgical risk calculators are not validated for use and poorly predict postoperative morbidity and mortality for women undergoing gynaecological oncology surgery. This adversely affects communication of risk resulting in poorly informed decisions...

Comparative cost analysis of community-based tuberculosis screening: Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) alone versus CAD with point-of-care C-reactive protein testing in South Africa and Lesotho

Community-based active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis (TB) is recommended in high-burden settings, yet evidence on implementation costs from prospective programmatic data remains limited. We estimated and compared the costs of two community-based ACF screening approaches: Co...

Genome-wide analysis of social behaviour across social domains, reporters and developmental stages: a meta-regression approach

Abstract Social behaviour is a heritable trait linked to well-being and mental health, yet it varies across social context, including social domains, informants and development, which may shape its underlying genomic architecture. Here, we conducted a genome-wide meta-regression...

Microsecond-pulsed nanocalorimetry: a scalable approach for ultrasensitive heat capacity measurements

Abstract We introduce a nanocalorimetric technique based on microsecond-pulsed heating (µs-PHnC) that enables high-sensitivity, quasi-isothermal heat capacity measurements on nanoscale samples. Such resolution is critical for exploring thermodynamic signatures in low-dimensional...

The philosophy of biolinguistics: a perspectival approach

Abstract In this paper, I present a philosophical analysis of Biolinguistics, including a number of proposals that point in the direction of its recognition as a full-fledged discipline or, perhaps, an interfield theory. My approach shall be a perspectival one, both in the spirit...

KOH-Activated Iron-Modified Corn Straw Biochar for Nitrate Removal: Preparation, Adsorption Performance, and Mechanism

Nitrate contamination of groundwater requires low-cost adsorbents with strong affinity for anionic species. This study developed an iron-modified corn straw biochar (Fe-BC) by coupling KOH activation with FeCl3 impregnation and secondary pyrolysis, thereby integrating a porous ca...

Survival benefit of deceased donor kidney transplantation versus continued dialysis: international target trial emulation

Abstract Objective To quantify the survival benefit of deceased donor kidney transplantation versus continued dialysis according to patients’ characteristics (age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), donor quality (standard criteria donor or expanded criteria donor) and donor retr...

The effect of partial replacement of soybean oil with insect fats on dietary short-term preference in laying hens

Assessment of the acceptance of novel feed ingredients provides valuable insights into their potential integration into practical animal feed formulations. However, despite growing interest in insect-derived feed ingredients, information on the short-term palatability of insect f...

Reappraisal of Cisplatin vs Carboplatin Treatment for Solid Tumors

Importance Cisplatin and carboplatin are central pillars of chemotherapy in solid tumor oncology, but their comparative efficacy and tolerability remain variably defined in the literature across tumor types and settings. Objective To quantify and grade the certainty of evidence c...

Interaction of walking activity and long-term air pollution on exacerbation rate in COPD

Background Regular walking activity can improve the prognosis in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its benefit may be reduced when living in highly polluted areas. Aim To assess the combined effects of walking activity and air pollution on the rat...

Efficient Hamiltonian, structure and trace distance learning of Gaussian states

Abstract When learning descriptions of many-body quantum systems, assuming locality of interactions can dramatically reduce the required number of observations and computational time compared to unstructured approaches. In this work, we uncover an infinite-dimensional instance of...

International Protocol for the Study of Amorphous Charred Objects in Archaeology (IPSACO 1.0)

Abstract Archaeobotanists around the world increasingly recognise that, alongside commonly studied materials such as seeds, fruits, wood charcoal, and chaff, archaeobotanical samples also contain fragments of carbonised organic (and sometimes inorganic) matter that vary in shape...

Gut–brain axis alterations suggest a low feed intake syndrome in weanling pigs

Abrupt weaning imposes highly variable physiological stress on pigs, yet the mechanisms underlying this variability remain poorly understood. We applied an integrative approach combining transcriptomics, gastrointestinal phenotyping, and blood biomarkers to characterize gut–brain...

From past, persisting, and consolidating ecologies of segregation to ecologies of repair

Across the United States and Europe, urban and periurban spaces have historically been shaped by land dispossession and enclosure that systematically exclude marginalized, non-White communities from the benefits of society, including access to nature. These dynamics, which have p...

Circulating tumor DNA-guided de-escalation or escalation of adjuvant therapy in high-risk stage II and stage III colon cancer: the phase 2 PEGASUS trial

Oxaliplatin–fluoropyrimidine combinations are standard adjuvant therapy after radical resection of high-risk stage II and stage III colon cancer but expose many patients to toxicity while failing to prevent relapse in others. PEGASUS was a multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 trial e...

Expanding frameworks: Integrating vulnerability, exposure, and critical infrastructure to assess pluvial flood risks in New York City

Extreme precipitation events are increasing their frequency and intensity across the United States, posing growing risks to urban communities through pluvial flooding. Effective adaptation against pluvial flooding through structural and nonstructural measures requires understandi...

Phytolith evidence for Last Glacial Maximum grass-rich landscapes and postglacial forest development in the highlands of Tenerife

Transitions from glacial to interglacial periods are well documented across many regions through paleoenvironmental records, indicating that most forests suffered transformations linked to global climatic shifts through species migration or decline. On mountainous islands, forest...

Effects of Polyaromatic Film Interfaces on Cu Catalysts for Selective Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Abstract Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) offers a sustainable pathway to convert CO2 into energy-dense fuels and value-added chemicals, addressing both climate and energy storage challenges. This study investigates the effect of polyaromatic film (PAF) coatings on Cu-based...

Blue-sky thinking about pronunciation research and teaching

Abstract In the fall of 2024, Ron Thomson and Tracey Derwing invited 15 pronunciation scholars representing several subspecialties to participate in a full-day symposium to discuss directions for pronunciation research. To prepare for the symposium, held in conjunction with the P...

The Comprehensive Aphasia Test in Catalan (CAT-CAT): preliminary psychometric properties

Background Standardized tools for the diagnosis of aphasia are essential for reliable assessment and treatment planning. Most existing tools have been developed for English, leaving minority and understudied languages, such as Catalan, without validated diagnostic instruments.Aim...