Universitat de Barcelona

Go out and meet queer people! Interpersonal LGBT contact and attitudes as determinants of HIV-related stigma among Spanish young adults

Despite biomedical advances that have transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition, stigma remains a persistent social issue, particularly in everyday interactions. This study examines the factors associated with behavioural expressions of HIV-related stigma among Spanish...

Pyridinium Cations Act as Charge Reservoirs in Expanded Halide Perovskite Analogs at High Pressure

ABSTRACT Introducing charge reservoirs within semiconductors is a promising strategy for controlled electronic doping. We previously showed that dmpz 2+ ( N , N ’‐dimethylpyrazinium) molecules placed within the cavities of an expanded analog of halide perovskites, (dmpz)[Sn 2 I 6...

COPD Assessment Test Variability as a Predictor of Exacerbations in Patients with COPD: A Prospective Study Using Virtual Assistant Monitoring

Although short-term CAT score variability has been associated with COPD exacerbations, evidence supporting its integration into virtual assistant-based monitoring remains limited. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term variability in CAT scores using a virtual managem...

Evaluating three alternative scenarios for the origin of a disjunct Arctium tomentosum population in the Pyrenees

Background Disjunctions in species distributions offer natural experiments for investigating the mechanisms underlying distributional breaks, such as range contraction, long-distance pollen transport, or long-distance seed dispersal. Here, we document and characterise a floristic...

Introducing relative pollen productivity estimates for Iberian taxa: methodological insights and implications for landscape modelling in the Western Mediterranean

Abstract. Understanding the impact of ongoing global change on plant communities requires long-term quantitative reconstructions of past vegetation dynamics. Fossil pollen records offer one of the most powerful tools to reconstruct past landscapes, yet for their accurate interpre...

Predicting SILENT after lithium poisoning: a multicenter cohort study and pragmatic risk stratification model

INTRODUCTION: The Syndrome of Irreversible Lithium-Effectuated Neurotoxicity (SILENT) is a rare but potentially devastating complication of lithium poisoning. Current evidence rests on case reports and small series, leaving its true incidence, risk factors, and follow-up tools po...

Quantifying atmospheric and land drivers of hot temperature extremes through explainable Artificial Intelligence

Abstract. Different drivers have been shown to play a central role in modulating the occurrence and intensity of summer temperature extremes, yet their individual contributions remain difficult to quantify. In this study, we develop an explainable machine‐learning framework to di...

Immersive virtual reality versus standard video-based training for personal protective equipment use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a quasi-experimental study of perceived effectiveness and acceptability

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for rapid and safe training strategies for healthcare professionals, particularly about vital procedures such donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE). Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as potential alternativ...

Self-sustained, out-of-equilibrium inflation

A bstract We use holography to study dS-invariant states of non-conformal, strongly coupled quantum field theories in four-dimensional de Sitter space. We show that out-of-equilibrium effects can sustain the exponential inflation within the regime of validity of semiclassical gra...

Presence of Dolosigranulum pigrum in the nasopharynx and its relationship with respiratory health status in paediatric population

ABSTRACT Background Respiratory tract infections range from asymptomatic colonisation to an invasive disease. Recent studies suggest that nasopharyngeal microbiota may influence this variability. Emerging evidence points to Dolosigranulum pigrum, a nasopharyngeal commensal, as a...

Hallux Valgus, Not Hallux Abductus Valgus: A Short Report on Historical and Anatomical Terminology

Background: This short report argues that the term “hallux abductus valgus” is anatomically inconsistent and should be replaced by “hallux valgus.” Hallux valgus describes a lateral deviation of the great toe with a medial deviation of the first metatarsal. Although the deformity...

LDL Cholesterol Lowering With Evolocumab Before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Importance: Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition is recommended as second- or third-line lipid-lowering therapy after myocardial infarction (MI), resulting in prolonged periods of inadequate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control. Whether...

Cognitive vergence and pupillary responses as functional oculomotor signatures to differentiate AT(N) biological profiles in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Abstract The locus coeruleus (LC), the earliest site of tau accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease, directly influences pupillary and vergence oculomotor systems. Whether task-evoked oculomotor dynamics can non-invasively differentiate AT(N) profiles, A+T+ (biological Alzheimer’s di...

Synchronous human-dolphin foraging increases fishing success despite prey unpredictability

Abstract Foraging theory predicts that individuals adjust their behaviour in response to environmental conditions and prey availability. One solution to finding and capturing unpredictable prey is social foraging, yet it remains unclear whether its benefits arise from behavioural...

Addressing anthropogenic noise and electrical anisotropy hints in magnetotelluric data from the Annecy area (French Pre-Alps)

The magnetotelluric (MT) method is a widely used tool for geothermal reservoir exploration due to its capability of imaging fluids in the Earth’s crust. However, in urbanised environments, its application is often challenged by anthropogenic noise and low signal-to-noise ratios....

Underground hydrogen storage site suitability from the views of efficiency, cost, and risk — A site selection framework for decision-makers

Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) in porous media is emerging as a key enabler of large-scale, long-duration energy storage to support net-zero energy systems. However, determining suitable storage sites remains a complex, multidisciplinary challenge based on the integration of...

De novo E-cadherin/catenin complex formation controls basal epithelial mechanics and force transmission for apoptotic cell clearance

Abstract Beyond serving as cohesive barriers, epithelia clear apoptotic cells to regulate development, homeostasis and inflammation. How epithelial cells remodel their shape during phagocytosis while preserving tissue integrity, and the role of adhesion receptors in this process,...

Treating a Disorder Caused by an Overactive Enzyme: BCKD‐Kinase Deficiency

ABSTRACT Branched‐chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. Loss of this kinase leaves the branched‐chain α‐ketoacid dehydrogenase complex constitutively active, leading to depletion of branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) rather...

MOF‐Derived Cu‐TiO 2 /Alginate Micromotors for Buoyancy‐Regulated 3D Motion

ABSTRACT Micro‐ and nanomotors (MNMs) promise impact in the areas of environmental remediation and biomedicine, but reliable three‐dimensional (3D) control remains challenging. Conventional bubble‐propelled MNMs can move in 3D, yet their trajectories are stochastic and energy‐ine...

LINC00152 is a lncRNA modulated by microenvironmental stimuli that has pathogenetic and clinical relevance in CLL

Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common lymphoid neoplasm with heterogeneous biological features and clinical behavior, influenced by acquired genetic alterations and microenvironment interactions. We explored non-coding RNAs expression to understand their role in...