374472 research outputs found
Sort by
General machine learning models for interpreting and predicting efficiency degradation in organic solar cells
No full textData availability: The program ROBERT (v1.0.6) to model the database is publicly available at: https://github.com/jvalegre/robert/releases. Its online documentation [Dalmau & Alegre Requena, 2025] at: https://robert.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html. The datasets are available in Appendix B and at: https://github.com/POLI-NANO/OSCsPhotovoltaic (PV) energy plays a key role in addressing the growing global energy demand. Organic solar cells (OSCs) represent a promising alternative to silicon-based PVs due to their low cost, lightweight, and sustainable production. Despite achieving power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) over 20 %, OSCs still face challenges in stability and efficiency. Recent advances in manufacturing, artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) achieve optimized and screened OSCs for greater sustainability and commercial viability, thus potentially reducing costs while ensuring stable and long term performance. This work presents optimal ML models to represent the temporal degradation on the PCE of polymeric OSCs with structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Al. First, we generated a database with 166 entries with measurements of 5 OSCs, and up to 7 variables regarding the manufacturing and environmental conditions for more than 180 days. Then, we relied on a software framework that provides a conglomeration of automated ML protocols that execute sequentially against our database by simply command-line interface. This easily permits hyper-optimizing the ML models through exhaustive benchmarking so that optimal models are obtained. The accuracy for predicting PCE over time reaches values of the coefficient determination widely exceeding 0.90, whereas the root mean squared error, sum of squared error, and mean absolute error are significantly low. Additionally, we assessed the predictive ability of the models using an unseen OSC as an external set. For comparative purposes, classical Bayesian regression fitting are also presented, which only perform sufficiently for univariate cases of single OSCs.This work is part of the project CIAICO/2023/193 funded by Generalitat Valenciana. The authors acknowledge that support. J.V.A.-R. and D.D. acknowledge Gobierno de Aragón Fondo Social Europeo (Research Group E07_23R), the State Research Agency of Spain (MCIN/ AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UE) for financial support (PID2022-140159NA-I00) and the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility-Next Generation in the framework of the General Invitation of the Spanish Government’s public business entity Red.es to participate in talent attraction and retention programmes within Investment 4 of Component 19 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (MOMENTUM, MMT24-ISQCH-01).Peer reviewe
Hydrogen bonding mediated magnetic exchange interactions in a Cu(II) complex based on o-phenylenedioxydiacetato ligand: synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties
No full textSingle crystals of the Cu(II) complex [Cu(PDOA)(H2O)3]n (1) with the O-donor ligand (H2PDOA = o-phenylenedioxydiacetic acid) were synthesized and studied. The crystal structure of 1 is formed by zig-zag chains in which the Cu(II) atoms are linked by bridging PDOA2- ligands in a bis(monodentate) fashion via carboxylate oxygen donor atoms. The Cu(II) central atom is penta-coordinated by five oxygen atoms from two different PDOA2- ligands and three oxygen atoms of the aqua ligands yielding an O2O3 donor set. Hydrogen bonds of the O-H···O type afford a 2D supramolecular structure with short distances of 4.8562(7) and 5.1431(7) Å between the Cu(II) atoms. DC magnetic studies in the temperature range 2 – 300 K revealed antiferromagnetic exchange interactions via hydrogen bonds which were corroborated by theoretical calculations.Funding was provided by Grant 09I03-03-V04-00176 (project name: Hybrid materials formed of layered aluminosilicates and molecular magnets - HERCULES) financed by EU/NextGenerationEU/program “Recovery and Resilience Plan, part of Investment 3: Excellent Science”. This research was co-funded by VEGA project 1/0189/22, by Grant PID2021–124880NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/ 501100011033 (Spain) and by “ERDF (FEDER) A way of making Europe.” Support was also provided by the Diputación General de Aragón, Project M4, E11_23R. The authors acknowledge the use of the Servicio General de Apoyo a la Investigación of the University of Zaragoza.Peer reviewe
Corrigendum to "Biochar enhanced floating root mats to reduce recalcitrant contaminants of emerging concern from wastewater effluents" [Bioresour. Technol. 436 (2025) 132960]
No full textThe authors regret that the following affiliation was missing for the first author of the paper: "Department of Chemistry, University of Girona (UdG), 17003 Girona, Spain". The addition of this second affiliation has been requested in order to comply with the recent agreement between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Girona (UdG) regarding doctoral theses and universities, in accordance with the regulations of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.Peer reviewe
Oat-based beverage biofortification with the novel riboflavin-overproducing and dextran-producing Leuconostoc mesenteroides B12-B2 strain
No full textDuring fermentation, incorporation of food grade lactic acid bacteria that synthesize functional metabolites, such as vitamins, prebiotics, and bioactive compounds is an efficient strategy for in situ biofortification of food. In this study, exposure of the dextran-producer Leuconostoc mesenteroides B12 to roseoflavin (300 μg) resulted in the selection of the riboflavin-overproducing B12-B2 strain, which produced high levels of riboflavin (vitamin B2) (1.5 mg/L) and dextran (2.92 g/L) in a synthetic medium. During fermentation of a commercial oat-based beverage over 24 h, B12-B2 exhibited good cell growth (up to 3.16 × 1011 CFU/mL), together with high metabolic activity, acidification capability (42.4°D) and high CO₂ production (26 mM). Moreover, B12-B2 efficiently produced riboflavin (0.57 mg/L), dextran (5.32 mM), mannitol (79.21 mM), lactic acid (29.98 mM) and the prebiotic oligosaccharide panose (13.39 mM). The dynamic viscosity of the oat-based beverage increased significantly during fermentation with B12-B2 (to approximately 305.5 mPa·s). The ability to reduce pH values and influence in cell viability was confirmed after a storage period of 28 days. The present study highlights, for the first time, the potential of L. mesenteroides for the biofortification of plant-based beverages, a product category in which this species has not previously been employed as a starter or additive culture.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Elsevier. This research was supported by the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research [PRFU project N° DO1NO1UN310120220001], the Project AEPP2022 supported by CSIC and Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 [project PDI2022-136874OB-C31].Peer reviewed[PRFU project N° DO1NO1UN310120220001], the Project AEPP2022 supported by CSIC and Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 [project PDI2022-136874OB-C31]
Optimizing the recovery of rare earth elements from acid mine water: A sustainable approach using selective precipitation
No full textThis study focuses on the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from acid mine water (AMW) through a two-step selective process, which consists of a selective extraction with ion exchange followed by a precipitation stage using oxalic acid. Optimization of the effective REE recovery from sulphuric ion-exchange concentrates results in sustainable AMW management, providing a secondary resource for critical metals towards green transition. Experimental results indicate that (1) the use of oxalic acid facilitates the formation of REE-oxalate crystals, yielding recovery efficiencies in light rare earth elements (LREEs) much higher than for heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) at specific excess doses, and that (2) LREEs act as precursors for HREE precipitation. Moreover, REE-oxalate crystallization depends on the oxalic acid dose, pH, and precipitation time (PT). The longer the PT, the larger the crystals, which are economically advantageous. The study highlights that AMW is a potential secondary source for the REE recovery, which contributes to sustainable mining practices and provides confidence for further optimization of REE recovery processes.This research was supported by EIT-Raw Material through the project “Metal Influenced Acid Water as a source of valuable and critical raw materials” (REEcovery, PN-21033) and the Spanish Research Agency (AEI) through the project Upcycling project (Development of upcycling approaches in the agri-food and process industries to promote on-site and sustainable chemicals production; PID2023-147160OB-C21) and the MET4LIBS project (Integration of waste processing technologies to ensure a safe, circular and sustainable battery value chain by promoting urban and industrial mining (MET4LIBS; TED2021-131583B-I00). This work was carried out within the framework of the Multiscale Center of Excellence, funded by the María de Maeztu Program for Units of Excellence (CEX2023-001300-M), supported by MCIN/AEI/Ministerio de Universidades, Spain and the Catalan Government through the R2EM group (2021-SGR-GRC-00596). Support for the research of J.L. Cortina was also received through the “ICREA Academia” recognition for excellence in research funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya. J. Cama acknowledges funding from the Catalan Government through the 2021 SGR 00308 project. We acknowledge the Editor Yang Liu and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that increased the quality of the paper.Peer reviewe
Beyond growth: Reshaping fisheries for a wellbeing economy
No full text14 pages, 1 figureContemporary fisheries have been shaped by a paradigm of perpetual growth, characterized by increasing global production and consumption. While this growth has driven economic benefits and technological progress, it has jeopardized the sustainability of marine ecosystems, with implications for the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of fishers, consumers and resource dependent coastal populations worldwide. This paper advocates for a shift beyond growth towards a wellbeing economy. It considers how five fundamental principles intrinsic to a wellbeing economy - purpose, nature, fairness, participation and dignity - can help reorient the fisheries sector. The paper then provides ten actionable recommendations for reshaping the composition and structure of economic activity in fisheries to enhance societal wellbeing and equity within ecological boundaries. In a world grappling with the consequences of unchecked economic growth, this paper offers insights into fostering a regenerative fisheries system that safeguards human prosperity and environmental integrityPeer reviewe
Intertwined Memories of Roman Emperors in Early Medieval Iberia
No full textReception and memory therefore offer perspectives of analysis that allow us to examine the representation and remembrance of certain historical characters and deeds in later contexts, such as the Early Middle Ages, when antiquity became a central element in the construction and deconstruction of identity or political and religious legitimacy. With this in mind, the present work analyses how the Roman emperors were remembered, focusing on the Iberian Peninsula between the eighth and tenth centuries as the specific political, religious and cultural characteristics of the period following the Islamic conquest of 711 offer a particularly interesting case study.Peer reviewe
Chromonic-liquid-crystal-templated synthesis of powdered and monolithic silica materials: mechanism, textural properties and drug delivery
Full text linkLyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLC) enable the templating of silica fibers with aligned porous structures and tunable pore size, properties that hold significant potential for applications like controlled drug delivery. LCLC guide the synthesis of microporous and mesoporous silicas through sol-gel reactions in the presence of silicon alkoxides, such as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), typically producing fibers with long, aligned pores and specific surface areas around 200–300 m2/g. Here, we develop micro/mesoporous silica materials using a cationic chromonic perylene diimide as template, combined with a porogenic silica precursor, hexadecyl trimethoxysilane (HDTMS), to achieve increased specific surface areas and larger pore sizes compared to conventional TEOS-based chromonic-templated silicas. The resulting silica materials can be fabricated as macroscopic, centimeter-sized monoliths with tunable porosity, composed of entangled silica nanofibers forming a networked structure. These highly porous monoliths were evaluated as carriers of small drugs (ibuprofen), and demonstrated high encapsulation efficiencies, as well as sustained drug release in a simulated body fluid (SBF, pH = 7.4), achieving complete release within 24 h. In contrast, powdered silica samples of the same composition showed poorer encapsulation efficiencies and faster release rates, highlighting the advantages of monolithic structures for drug delivery. Furthermore, hydroxyapatite (HAp) was deposited onto the silica monoliths to produce robust composite scaffolds, whose degradation products did not affect HEK293 cell viability.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CTQ2017-84998-P and PID2021-122187NB-C31 projects, and Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores: PRE2018-085-994), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, “FEDER”), the Generalitat de Catalunya that supports the consolidated group (“Grup de Tensioactius”, 2017SGR01778), the CIBER-BBN and the Banco Santander. The authors thank the Nanostructured Liquid Characterization Unit (U12, NANBIOSIS) for the use of the equipments S3 Micro SAXS/WAXS, BX51TRF6 Olympus Optical Microscope, and SEM TM-1000 and TM-4000Plus (Hitachi), and the “Grupo de Nanotecnología Farmacéutica” from the University of Barcelona in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, which forms a R&D Associated Unit to CSIC.
C. Müller-Sánchez and M. Reina acknowledge the financial support of the project FBG 300412, from the Fundació Bosch i Gimpera (Universitat de Barcelona).
Soraia P. S. Fernandes acknowledges the financial support of the project ATE – Aliança para a Transição Energética, with the reference n° C644914747-00000023, co-funded by Component C5 – Capitalisation and Business Innovation under the Portuguese Resilience and Recovery Plan, through the NextGenerationEU Fund. This work is based, in part, upon research conducted under COST Action CA21101 “Confined molecular systems: from a new generation of materials to the stars” (COSY), which was supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology.Peer reviewe
Diatoms and macroinvertebrates show distinct metacommunity assembly patterns in temporary rivers
No full textEnvironmental and spatial filtering are key drivers of metacommunity assembly in streams. Their relative importance may depend on factors such as network connectivity or species’ dispersal abilities. However, studies comparing different taxonomic groups across connectivity gradients in the same area remain rare. Here, we assessed metacommunity assembly in two groups with contrasting dispersal abilities (diatoms and macroinvertebrates) in a Mediterranean catchment where connectivity is disrupted by stream flow cessation. We combined local predictors (e.g., water and habitat quality) with drying variables at local and regional scales to evaluate the role of environmental and spatial factors using variation partitioning at annual and seasonal scales. Diatoms were mainly shaped by spatial factors, while macroinvertebrates responded more to local environmental conditions. High dispersal in diatoms and ongoing input from suboptimal habitats suggest a mass-effect archetype. In contrast, macroinvertebrates showed dispersal limitation, preventing mass effects but allowing for species-sorting. Drying effects varied seasonally, with a lower influence in spring. Considering flow direction improved the explanation of diatom distributions, shedding light on drift processes. These results underscore the importance of analyzing aquatic communities independently, accounting for taxonomic and seasonal differences, particularly in dynamic systems such as temporary rivers. Multi-taxon studies incorporating seasonal variability and river network connectivity are essential to deepen our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Such approaches can guide conservation and management efforts in temporary rivers worldwide, which are increasingly prevalent owing to global change.This study was carried out in the FEHM research group (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management) and supported by the MECODISPER (CTM2017-89295-P) and the DRY-Guadalmed projects (PID2021-126143OB-C21) funded by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades – Agencia Estatal de Investigación’’ and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Núria Bonada are Serra Húnter Fellows. DCM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101062388.Peer reviewe
Effect of alternative nectar sources and herbivore-induced plant volatiles on the fitness and attraction of Aphidoletes aphidimyza
No full textEnhancing natural enemy populations in agricultural systems by combining habitat manipulation and herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) offers a promising approach to conservation biological control. The aphidophagous midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza is widely used in biological control programs in many crops, and the development of novel attract and reward (A&R) strategy may promote the establishment and survival of A. aphidimyza in crops. Here, we focus on (i) the attractiveness (under laboratory conditions) to A. aphidimyza of the HIPVs phenylacetaldehyde (Pal) and methyl salicylate (MeSA) and plants in the families Brassicaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae, all evaluated separately, and (ii) the effect of consuming nectar from Eruca vesicaria, Euphorbia segetalis, Moricandia arvensis, Calendula officinalis, Vicia faba, V. sativa, Medicago sativa, and Centaurea cyanus on A. aphidimyza survival, as well as the impact of the first five species on egg load. Neither of the tested HIPVs (Pal and MeSA) induced a positive chemotactic response in double-choice bioassays, nor did any of the tested plants. Survival curves varied according to the food provided; A. aphidimyza females fed V. faba, V. sativa (Fabaceae), or E. vesicaria (Brassicaceae) had the highest survival rates, significantly higher than those of A. aphidimyza fed only water. Plant food sources also impacted egg load, which was significantly higher in females fed C. officinalis than in those fed V. faba; egg numbers in females fed E. vesicaria did not differ significantly from either. Together, these findings represent a first step toward determining the potential of insectary plants for improving A. aphidimyza performance.Acknowledgements
The authors thank Aleix Teruel i Subirats and Pilar Hernández García for their support. This research work was funded by grants PID2019-107030RB-C21 and PID2022-139988OB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and, by ERDF/EU. LGMB is a beneficiary of the grant PRE2020-092229 funded by MICIU/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and, by “ESF Investing in your future”. All IRTA’s authors were also funded by the CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya.
Funding
Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. The authors have not disclosed any funding.Peer reviewe