Articles publicats (Química, Física i Ciències Ambientals i del Sòl)
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- ItemOpen AccessTopology-enhanced superconducting qubit networks for in-sensor quantum information processing(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2026) Settino, J.; Luciano, Giuseppe Gaetano; Bartolomeo, A. Di; Silvestrini, P.; Lisitskiy, M.; Ruggiero, B.; Romeo, F.We investigate the influence of topology on the magnetic response of inductively coupled superconducting flux-qubit networks. Using exact diagonalization methods and linear response theory, we compare the magnetic response of linear and cross-shaped array geometries, used as paradigmatic examples. We find that the peculiar coupling matrix in cross-shaped arrays yields a significant enhancement of the magnetic flux response compared to linear arrays, this network-topology effect arising from cooperative coupling among the central and the peripheral qubits. These results establish quantitative design criteria for function-oriented superconducting quantum circuits, with direct implications for advancing performance in both quantum sensing and quantum information processing applications. Concerning the latter, by exploiting the non-linear and high-dimensional dynamics of such arrays, we demonstrate their suitability for quantum reservoir computing technology. This dual functionality suggests a novel platform in which the same device serves both as a quantum-limited electromagnetic sensor and as a reservoir capable of signal processing, enabling integrated quantum sensing and processing architectures.
- ItemOpen AccessObservational constraints on the modified cosmology inspired by string T-duality(Elsevier, 2026) Luciano, Giuseppe Gaetano; Paliathanasis, A.; Sheykhi, A.We explore the cosmological consequences of a modified cosmology inspired by string T-duality. We incorporate the zero-point length correction, l0, into the gravitational potential and derive the modified Friedmann equations via thermodynamic approach at the apparent horizon of a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe. The resulting framework introduces a dimensionless coupling parameter quantifying deviations from the standard ΛCDM model. Using Bayesian inference with Cobaya and MCMC sampling, we constrain the model parameter against late-time observations, including PantheonPlus and Union3 Type Ia supernovae, cosmic chronometers, DESI DR2 BAO measurements, and Amati-calibrated GRBs. The joint analysis yields an upper bound (68% C.L.), implying that any deviation from the standard ΛCDM scenario () is extremely small within the current observational precision. Model comparison through the Akaike Information Criterion shows that the ΛCDM and T-duality models provide statistically equivalent fits to the data, exhibiting only a marginal preference for ΛCDM. These results provide the first quantitative observational constraints on the cosmological imprint of string T-duality-inspired modifications and underscore the potential of future high-precision surveys to test possible residual effects of such corrections in the late-time Universe.
- ItemOpen AccessFlow chemistry synthesis and sustainability assessment for choline chloride, a deep eutectic solvent constituent(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026-02) Escribà i Gelonch, Marc; Hessel, Volker; Long, Nguyen Van Duc; Canela-Garayoa, RamonThe continuous use of traditional solvents is not aligned with green chemistry principles, driving interest in natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) as sustainable alternatives. This paper presents a two-step continuous-flow process for choline chloride production only from common biomass-derived precursors. Using water as the solvent, the method delivers 99% pure choline chloride and can generate NaCl as a byproduct depending on the base used. With a residence time of just 1 minute, the process reaches full conversion, achieving a 20-fold improvement in productivity compared to batch operation and enabling annual throughputs of up to half a ton per microcapillary. A comprehensive sustainability assessment highlights the advantages of using choline hydroxide (Ch-OH) as the base. When using Ch-OH, the process requires substantially less material and generates no byproducts, leading to a 51% reduction in energy demand and a 24% decrease in overall environmental impacts relative to NaOH. These benefits arise from lower input requirements, reduced wastewater generation, and higher process efficiency. Circularity performance also improves with Ch-OH, and life cycle assessment confirms that increased productivity outweighs the higher impacts associated with its production. Overall, the combined flow chemistry and Ch-OH strategy offers a highly efficient and more sustainable route to choline chloride.
- ItemOpen AccessTree ripening and postharvest firmness loss of eleven commercial nectarine cultivars under Mediterranean conditions(Elsevier, 2017) Reig Córdoba, Gemma; Alegre, Simó; Cantín, Celia M.; Gatius Cortiella, Ferran; Puy Llorens, JaumeOn-tree and postharvest softening of 11 yellow flesh nectarine cultivars with different commercial harvest seasons (early, mid and late) were studied under Mediterranean conditions (Lleida, NE-Spain). Fruit were harvested weekly at five consecutive harvest dates (from H1 to H5) over three consecutive years (2009–2011). Diameter, percentage of skin overcolor (SC), flesh firmness (FF), IAD index (the difference in absorbance between 670 and 720 nm), visible reflectance spectra, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), ethylene synthesis, objective skin color and postharvest softening rate were measured. The decline in flesh firmness and the IAD were both significantly affected by cultivar and ripening season. Low acid (TA < 6 g of malic acid L−1) cultivars such as ‘Big Top’, ‘Nectareine’, ‘Honey Royale’, ‘Big Nectared’ and ‘Nectalady’, had a lower firmness decline than acid ones (TA ≥ 6 g of malic acid L−1), both on-tree and during postharvest, resulting in a better commercial and postharvest performance. A high and significant positive correlation was found between IAD and flesh firmness (r = 0.72, P ≤ 0.01). Early cultivars tended to lose flesh firmness and IAD faster than mid and late cultivars. The softening rate during the postharvest period was mainly dependent on ripening season. Early ripening nectarines soften faster than mid and late ones.
- ItemOpen AccessTracing chemical diversity in dissolved organic matter from freshwaters to marine environments(American Chemical Society, 2026) Alves Macedo, Joao Carlos; Puy Llorens, Jaume; Rey-Castro, Carlos; David, Calin; Lodeiro, PabloDissolved organic matter (DOM) shapes carbon cycling, nutrient availability, and contaminant transport in aquatic systems through its proton and metal binding properties. Here we investigate seasonal variation in DOM heterogeneity and proton binding affinity along the Ebro River, from its headwaters to the Mediterranean Sea, revealing clear spatial and temporal shifts in composition. River samples contained higher concentrations of low-affinity binding groups (94.9 ± 0.4 to 133.6 ± 0.4 mmol·mol C–1) compared with the marine endmember (84.9 ± 0.2 mmol·mol C–1). They also showed a broader range of high-affinity groups, though at lower concentrations (14.1 ± 0.2 to 33 ± 2 mmol·mol C–1), encompassing marine values (23 ± 2 mmol·mol C–1). Organic contributions to total alkalinity ranged from 2.5 to 15.6 μmol of binding groups per L of water sample. Seasonal patterns were linked to greater heterogeneity of proton binding sites in headwaters, while downstream processes, including groundwater inflows, terrestrial inputs, and degradation, reduced both the abundance and diversity of oxygen-rich groups. Overall, the findings are consistent with the River Continuum Concept in this watershed, capturing the downstream loss of acidic functional groups and the associated reduction in binding site diversity.