Search

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious global health problem that is ranked third among the leading causes of death worldwide. However, underdiagnosis remains common, especially in Spain. The CARABELA-COPD initiative aims to address these issues by optimizing processes across the diverse healthcare settings in Spain. Material and methods: CARABELA-COPD employs lean methodology and fosters partnership between scientific societies, industry, clinicians, and managers to improve COPD care. The methodology consists of 4 phases: Phase 1 involved experts analyzing COPD care models and unmet needs; Phase 2, validation and priorization of improvement areas in 7 pilot hospitals, selecting healthcare quality indicators (QIs) in a national meeting; Phase 3, cocreation and refinement of results from a regional perspective; and Phase 4 is ongoing, disseminating the results and implementing them locally. Results: Initial phases of the initiative have defined a generic patient journey for COPD management from a multidisciplinary approach, identified 7 improvement areas for optimal COPD care, developed 4 care models tailored to different settings, and established QIs that have been validated in national and regional meetings. Discussion: CARABELA-COPD is a novel practical approach to COPD management in Spain that acts as catalyst for a system transformation to boost overall system efficiency and enhance patient outcomes. It provides a clear framework for improvement, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. The ongoing implementation phase will require flexibility and constant evaluation to further enhance COPD care, ultimately improving patient quality of life and healthcare effectiveness. Resumen: Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es un problema de salud global grave y se sitúa como la tercera causa de muerte en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, su infradiagnóstico sigue siendo común, especialmente en España. La iniciativa CARABELA-EPOC tiene como objetivo abordar estos problemas mediante la optimización de los procesos asistenciales en los diversos entornos sanitarios en España. Material y métodos: CARABELA-EPOC emplea una metodología estructurada y eficiente que fomenta la colaboración entre sociedades científicas, industria, clínicos y gestores para mejorar la atención de las personas con EPOC. La metodología consta de cuatro fases: la fase 1 involucró a expertos que analizaron los modelos de atención en EPOC y las necesidades no cubiertas; la fase 2, implicó la validación y la priorización de áreas de mejora en siete hospitales piloto, seleccionando indicadores de calidad asistencial (IC) en una reunión nacional; la fase 3, co-creación y refinamiento de resultados desde una perspectiva regional, y la fase 4 está en curso, difundiendo los resultados e implementándolos a nivel local. Resultados: Las fases iniciales de la iniciativa han definido un recorrido genérico del paciente para el manejo de la EPOC desde un enfoque multidisciplinar, han identificado 7 áreas de mejora para una atención óptima de la EPOC, han desarrollado 4 modelos de atención adaptados a diferentes entornos, y han establecido IC que han sido validados en reuniones nacionales y regionales. Discusión: La iniciativa CARABELA-EPOC representa un enfoque innovador en la gestión de la EPOC en España, actuando como un catalizador para la transformación del sistema de salud, con el objetivo de incrementar su eficiencia y mejorar los resultados para los pacientes. Este proyecto proporciona un marco claro para la mejora continua, destacando la importancia de la colaboración y la comunicación interdisciplinarias. La fase de implementación, actualmente en curso, exigirá flexibilidad y una evaluación constante para seguir optimizando la atención de la EPOC, lo que finalmente se traducirá en una mejor calidad de vida para los pacientes y una mayor efectividad en la atención sanitaria.

A versatile and robust procedure is developed that allows the identification of individual target molecules using antibodies bound to a DeepTipTM functionalized atomic-force microscopy probe. The model system used for the validation of this process consists of a biotinylated anti-lactate dehydrogenase antibody immobilized on a streptavidin-decorated AFM probe. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is employed as target molecule and covalently immobilized on functionalized MicroDeckTM substrates. The interaction between sensor and target molecules is explored by recording force–displacement (F–z) curves with an atomic-force microscope. F–z curves that correspond to the genuine sensor–target molecule interaction are identified based on the following three criteria: (i) number of peaks, (ii) value of the adhesion force, and (iii) presence or absence of the elastomeric trait. The application of these criteria leads to establishing seven groups, ranging from no interaction to multiple sensor–target molecule interactions, for which force–displacement curves are classified. The possibility of recording consistently single-molecule interaction events between an antibody and its specific antigen, in combination with the high proportion of successful interaction events obtained, increases remarkably the possibilities offered by affinity atomic-force microscopy for the characterization of biological and biomimetic systems from the molecular to the tissue scales.

The interaction between the plant lipid transfer protein Pru p 3 and phytosphingosine was assessed using an atomic force microscope. Phytosphingosine was covalently immobilized on DeepTipTM probes and Pru p 3 on MicroDeckTM functionalized substrates. Single-molecular interaction events between both molecules were retrieved and classified and the distribution for each one of the identified types was calculated. A success rate of over 70% was found by comparing the number of specific Pru p 3-phytosphingosine interaction events with the total number of recorded curves. The analysis of the distribution established among the various types of curves was further pursued to distinguish between those curves that can mainly be used for assessing the recognition between phytosphingosine (sensor molecule) and Pru p 3 (target molecule) in the context of affinity atomic force microscopy, and those that entail details of the interaction and might be employed in the context of force spectroscopy. The successful application of these functionalized probes and substrates to the characterization of the low-intensity hydrophobic interaction characteristic of this system is a clear indication of the potential of exploiting this approach with an extremely wide range of different biological molecules of interest. The possibility of characterizing molecular assembly events with single-molecule resolution offers an advantageous procedure to plough into the field of molecular biomimetics.

Abstract For birds, maintaining an optimal nest temperature is critical for early‐life growth and development. Temperatures deviating from this optimum can affect nestling growth and fledging success with potential consequences on survival and lifetime reproductive success. It is therefore particularly important to understand these effects in relation to projected temperature changes associated with climate change. Targets set by the 2015 Paris Agreement aim to limit temperature increases to 2°C, and, with this in mind, we carried out an experiment in 2017 and 2018 where we applied a treatment that increased Great Tit Parus major nest temperature by approximately this magnitude (achieving an increase of 1.6°C, relative to the control) during the period from hatching to fledging to estimate how small temperature differences might affect nestling body size and weight at fledging and fledging success. We recorded hatching and fledging success and measured skeletal size (tarsus length) and body mass at days 5, 7, 10, and 15 posthatch in nestlings from two groups of nest boxes: control and heated (+1.6°C). Our results show that nestlings in heated nest boxes were 1.6% smaller in skeletal size at fledging than those in the cooler control nests, indicating lower growth rates in heated boxes, and that their weight was, in addition, 3.3% lower. These results suggest that even fairly small changes in temperature can influence phenotype and postfledging survival in cavity‐nesting birds. This has the potential to affect the population dynamics of these birds in the face of ongoing climatic change, as individuals of reduced size in colder winters may suffer from decreased fitness.

The first experimental results obtained by the ion beam-induced luminescence technique from the ceramic bodies of ancient tiles are reported in this work. The photon emission from the ceramic bodies is related to the starting minerals and the manufacturing conditions, particularly the firing temperature and cooling processes. Moreover, the results indicate that this non-destructive technique, performed under a helium-rich atmosphere instead of an in-vacuum setup and with acquisition times of only a few seconds, presents a promising alternative to traditional, often destructive, compositional characterisation methods. Additionally, by adding other ion beam-based techniques such as PIXE (Particle-Induced X-ray Emission) and PIGE (Particle-Induced Gamma-ray Emission), compositional information from light elements such as Na can also be inferred, helping to also identify the raw materials used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multifarious selective pressures can interact to affect species' life history evolution, with predation and thermal exposure as selective pressures for nesting birds. Gray Vireos (Vireo vicinior) seemingly nest on the periphery of their nesting substrate because of lower predation rates, thereby increasing exposure to weather. We explored how nest placement and vegetation structure can be used to account for the increased weather exposure that Gray Vireos experience when nesting on the periphery of the nesting substrate to avoid predation. Methods: For each Gray Vireo nest, we placed temperature and light data loggers at three locations: at the nest site, at the opposite orientation of the nest within the nesting tree, and at the same orientation of the nest but in an adjacent tree. To measure nest orientation, we recorded the inverse compass azimuth (+/-1°) from the nest toward the trunk of the nesting tree, while accounting for declination. Nest temperatures and light exposure were compared across various dimensions of nest placement. Results: The orientation of nests was cooler than the opposite orientation in the mornings and in the late afternoons. When nests were placed in hotter orientations (e.g., south- or west-facing), nests surrounded by more foliage or placed closer to the interior of trees could compensate for the increased exposure. Discussion: Our findings suggest Gray Vireos accounted for the increased thermal exposure that comes from predator avoidance by using secondary dimensions of nest placement. Specifically, nests could be placed in orientations with cooler temperatures or in hotter orientations with greater shade potential. These results highlight how the interactive selection pressures of predation risk and microclimate can be tiered and shape life-history characteristics of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra‐pair paternity (EPP) has been broadly reported in socially monogamous bird species and it has been hypothesized that females engage in extra‐pair copulations to increase the genetic variability of the offspring and to reduce the risk of inbreeding and genetic incompatibilities. This hypothesis makes two predictions: within populations, females should engage with more dissimilar/heterozygous males and, among populations, females should pursue more frequently EPP in populations characterized by a lower genetic variability and a higher homozygosity. However, support is still unclear throughout literature, and usually involves the study of a single population. We compared a peripheral population of rock sparrow Petronia petronia living at the marginal distribution of the species and characterized by a high EPP level (> 50%) (Italian Alps) with a population located in the centre of the species' distribution (central Spain), to understand if variations in EPP could be linked to differences in mean heterozygosity and genetic similarity both between and within populations. EPP in the Spanish population was 18.1%, three times lower than that observed in the Alpine one (51.2%), and this difference remained fairly constant across different years. Supporting the between populations prediction, we found lower heterozygosity and reduced allelic richness in the Alpine population compared to the Spanish one. In contrast, social and extra‐pair males, as well as within and extra‐pair offspring, did not significantly differ in terms of genetic similarity and heterozygosity within brood in either population. Social and extra‐pair males did not differ in tarsus size, body weight or yellow badge size, suggesting that females were not choosing extra‐pair partners based on heterozygosity, genetic similarity or phenotypic quality. Although based on a limited sample in the within population analysis, our results indicate that EPP may evolve in response to a low level of genetic variability in the population.

Single molecule interactions between biotin and streptavidin were characterized with functionalized DeepTipTM probes and used as a model system to develop a comprehensive methodology for the high-yield identification and analysis of single molecular events. The procedure comprises the covalent binding of the target molecule to a surface and of the sensing molecule to the DeepTipTM probe, so that the interaction between both chemical species can be characterized by obtaining force–displacement curves in an atomic force microscope. It is shown that molecular resolution is consistently attained with a percentage of successful events higher than 90% of the total number of recorded curves, and a very low level of unspecific interactions. The combination of both features is a clear indication of the robustness and versatility of the proposed methodology.