Increasing antibiotic pollution in water poses both environmental and health risks, contributing to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study proposes a novel adsorbent made of nanofibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) created through electrospinning incorporating europium and citric acid that has exceptional adsorption capacities for ciprofloxacin (563.7 mg/g) and tetracycline (235.8 mg/g), two antibiotics of everyday use. Our findings demonstrate that this combination results in a swollen fiber structure where europium and citric acid remain immobilized even when in contact with water and promotes the creation of antibiotic chelation sites. Moreover, the adsorbent maintained its performance for four cycles and two reactivations. Finally, we studied how the adsorption of antibiotics is affected by other contaminants commonly found in water, such as dyes (methylene blue and/or rhodamine) and pesticides (atrazine). This innovative approach involving the use of esterified-doped PVA nanofiber has significant potential for enhancing remediation capacity and represents a promising solution for removing antibiotics from multipolluted water., Projects PID2019-104650GB-C21 and PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033,
IT1566-22 funded by Basque Government, BILAT23076 funded by CSIC. We kindly acknowledge the financial support of UBA (UBACYT 2023 N°20020220200117BA and PDE_2_2024), ANPCyT (PICT 2021-I-A-01218
) and PIP 2022-2024 GI. Francesco Coin and Silvina Cerveny acknowledge the mobility program IMOVE CSIC., Peer reviewed

This article belongs to the Special Issue Elastomers Science and Technology., This work connects the calorimetric responses of different rubber–resin blends with varying resin contents with their alpha relaxation dynamics. We used differential scanning calorimetry and broadband dielectric spectroscopy to characterize the calorimetric and dielectric responses of styrene–butadiene, polybutadiene, and polyisoprene with different resin contents. To model the results, we used the Gordon–Taylor equation combined with an extension of the Adam–Gibbs approach. Thus, we propose a simple and effective model that allows us to estimate the blend dynamics from the temperature dependence of the relaxation times of the pure components and the calorimetric measurement of the glass transition temperature of only one blend composition. By estimating an effective interaction parameter from calorimetry, we achieved accurate alpha relaxation dynamics predictions for different resin concentrations. Our highly predictive approach provides a realistic description of the expected dynamics. This study offers valuable insights into the dynamic properties of polymer compounds, paving the way for the fast and effective development of advanced and more sustainable materials., This work was partially supported by Project PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by the Spanish Government, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, by FEDER, UE and the Basque Government (IT-1566-22)., Peer reviewed

Tetracycline (TC) is a widespread contaminant resulting from human, veterinary, and agricultural activities, necessitating urgent removal to protect aquatic ecosystems and the environment from persistent pollutants. We report a novel adsorbent with high efficiency for TC removal, developed by immobilizing europium ions (Eu³⁺) in PVA nanofiber mats through a single-step electrospinning process using an aqueous solution of the polymer containing europium salt (“in situ” process). This approach is three times more efficient than traditional doping methods. Additionally, when “in situ” Eu incorporation is combined with alkaline treatment, the removal capacity significantly increases from 235.8 mg/g to 322.6 mg/g (at pH 7) with only 0.36% Eu³⁺. This improvement results from the excellent dispersion of Eu ions in the mats and the alkaline treatment, which promotes the formation of Eu³⁺-TC diketone complexes and thus enhances the adsorption capacity. The adsorption mechanism follows the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating that TC is adsorbed in a monolayer at specific, homogeneous sites on the adsorbent. Notably, the “in situ” strategy combined with alkaline treatment allows for at least five reuse cycles while maintaining high efficiency. Furthermore, the adsorbent retains its high adsorption capacity even in the presence of coexisting pharmaceuticals such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, trimethoprim, and chlorpheniramine., This research was supported by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT: PICT 2019–04509, PICT 2021–01218), the University of Buenos Aires (UBACyT 2023, No 20020220200117BA and PDE_2_2024 No. EX-2023-02810510--UBA-DME#REC), the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), bilateral agreement CSIC-CONICET (DD287) 29220230100166, PIP-CONICET 2022–2024 No 11220210100785CO, PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, IT1566-22 funded by the Basque Government, BILAT23076 funded by CSIC. Francesco Coin and Silvina Cerveny acknowledge the mobility program IMOVE CSIC., Peer reviewed

The structure of cultural networks emerges from complex interactions among many elements related to people, ideas, and objects. However, these interactions can be very subtle and difficult to quantify, precluding a quantitative analysis of the cultural networks that can be crucial to understanding complex dynamics better. In this work, we propose a new approach that combines the formalism of complex networks, the structural relationship between nodes, and the corpus of Wikipedia to map and analyse the interactions among cultural entities. To test the proposed methodology, we study the case of the interdisciplinary cultural network connecting art, science, and philosophy in Europe in the seventeenth century. The results are aligned with well-established historical knowledge of the period and, more importantly, provide new insights to unveil how elements in these networks interact with each other. In particular, we found that nodes within a given cluster, related respectively to art, science or philosophy, interact with nodes in the same cluster following a core-periphery behaviour. In contrast, inter-cluster interactions across disciplines follow a power law distribution., GAS acknowledges the financial support from the Spanish Government, project PID2023-146348NB-I00 financed by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER (UE). GAS and PA acknowledge the financial support from the Donostia International Physics Centre (Programa Mestizajes) as well as the support of NVIDIA Corporation with the donation of a Quadro RTX 6000 GPU used for this research., Peer reviewed

The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request., Heavy metal contamination risks global water resources, underscoring the need for sustainable remediation strategies. Pectin (PE) is a natural, water-soluble polymer that, when cross-linked with calcium ions (Ca2+), becomes insoluble and a promising bio-adsorbent, providing active sites for the adsorption of heavy metals. This study introduces a new method to evaluate the glass transition temperature (Tg) of dry and hydrated films via physical aging. We also elucidate the structural evolution of neat PE cross-linked with different Ca2+ content and hydration levels (from 0 to 33 wt %) before and after zinc (Zn²⁺) adsorption, using advanced techniques, including thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our findings show that water quickly hydrates calcium-binding sites, allowing for immediate Zn²⁺ capture with an adsorption capacity of 63.9 mg g-1 between pH 6 and 8. We also demonstrate the direct correlation between Ca2+ content, water-induced plasticization (lowering Tg), and adsorption performance, with a higher efficiency observed above Tg (317 K). Furthermore, our evaluation of PE film adsorption capacity for Zn²⁺ reveals a dual mechanism influenced by Ca2+ content: a quick ion exchange between Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ and the direct binding of Zn²⁺ to the pectin backbone., We acknowledge grant PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) and Department of Education of the Basque Government under grant PIBA_2024_1_0011. The authors thank for technical support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU/ ERDF, EU)., Peer reviewed

Software Metapaper., WikiTextGraph is an open-source Python package designed to extract and process text from Wikipedia dumps and construct internal link networks across multiple language editions. It uses efficient parsing, redirect resolution, and multilingual graph-building techniques to tackle the challenges of Wikipedia’s scale, structure, and inherent noise. With a modular architecture and a simple graphical user interface (GUI), it is suitable for both technical and non-technical users. Built for scalability and reproducibility, WikiTextGraph supports interdisciplinary research in network science, computational linguistics, and digital humanities. Its flexible design enables easy adaptation for tasks involving low-resource or cross-lingual language studies., GAS acknowledges the financial support from the Spanish Government, project PID2023-146348NB-I00 financed by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER (UE) and the Basque Government (IT-1566-22). PA and GAS acknowledge the financial support from the Donostia International Physics Centre (Programa Mestizajes) and the support of NVIDIA Corporation, which provided a donation of a Quadro RTX 6000 GPU., Peer reviewed

The authors declare that data will be made available on request., The processing method used to create polymeric blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pectin (PE) can significantly alter their structural and functional properties. This work compares cast films with electrospun mats, demonstrating that electrospinning not only increases surface area but also induces a different molecular reorganization of the blend with respect to the cast. Mat morphology enhances accessibility of PE carboxyl groups and improves the capture of Fe3+ ions, increasing the capacity for pollutant removal. Normalizing to the PE content, the mat captures over 260 % more Fe3+ ions than pure PE casts do, confirming the critical role of the morphology-driven carboxyl group accessibility. SEM micrographs reveal significant differences in the nanoscale morphology of the mat before and after the addition of Fe3+, whereas the continuous cast morphology remains unchanged, indicating different interactions between PE and Fe3+. Through SAXS, FT-IR, and thermal analysis, we provide strong evidence that electrospinning promotes a homogeneous open structure where the carboxyl groups are more accessible. Instead, the casting method embeds PE-rich regions within PVA-rich regions. This defines the material behavior for contaminant removal by Fe3+. We evaluated the adsorption efficiency of tetracycline, as a model pollutant remediated by Fe3+, over the two morphologies. The iron-doped electrospun mat exhibits excellent performance even in the presence of other contaminants and it has the potential for reuse, while the iron-doped cast film is a poor adsorbent. This significant difference is due to the packing of the constituents obtained by each method, in addition to changes in surface area., This research was supported by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT: PICT 2019–04509, PICT 2021–01218), the University of Buenos Aires (UBACyT 2023, No 20020220200117BA and PDE_2_2024 No. EX-2023-02810510–UBA-DME#REC), the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), bilateral agreement CSIC-CONICET (DD287) 29220230100166, PIP-CONICET 2022–2024 No 11220210100785CO, PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, IT1566-22 funded by the Basque Government, BILAT23076 funded by CSIC. Francesco Coin and Silvina Cerveny acknowledge the mobility program IMOVE CSIC. We acknowledge grant PIBA_2024_1_0011 funded by Department of Education of the Basque Government. The authors thank for technical support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU/ERDF, EU)., Peer reviewed

The glass transition temperature (Tg) of water confined in nanoscale environments critically influences its dynamics and structure, thereby impacting the design of sustainable materials. Determining Tg in different confinement matrices remains challenging owing to variations in pore chemistry and geometry. Here, we investigated water confined within calcium-cross-linked pectin (PE-Ca) and metal-organic framework (Fe-BTC) nanochannels using differential scanning calorimetry, broadband dielectric spectroscopy, and FT-IR spectroscopy. We found that confined water exhibited a Tg between 170 and 200 K, with PE-Ca showing a higher Tg (193 K) than Fe-BTC (170 K), correlating with differences in the hydrogen bonding networks. Water in pectin forms a network similar to that of bulk water, whereas Fe-BTC confinement induces distorted structures with strong interfacial hydrogen bonds. These findings suggest that the Tg of bulk water is higher than that previously reported (∼136 K) and highlight how confinement chemistry governs water dynamics, informing the development of eco-friendly materials and advancing our understanding of supercooled water., We acknowledge Grant No. PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI), Department of Education of the Basque Government under Grant Nos. PIBA_2024_1_0011 and IT1566-22 funded by the Basque Government., Peer reviewed

We investigated the effect of air humidity on two gold nanoparticle systems, one functionalized with an oligo(ethylene glycol) ligand, and one functionalized with a mixture of the same with a dimannoside ligand. The dimannoside ligand was chosen to mimic the surface chemistry of viral spike proteins. We characterized the particles by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and infrared spectroscopy. We probed particles adsorbed on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy, both operated under variable air humidity. For AFM, we additionally tested hydrophilic and hydrophobic tips. While VSFG indicated preferential hydration of the dimannoside and proved conformational changes in the organic ligands, AFM provided sub-nanometer changes in particle topography due to water adsorption. In general, the dimannoside nanoparticles condense ultrathin water layers upon humidity increase. In contrast, we found that the water adsorption on the oligo(ethylene glycol) particles depends little on humidity. Our insights into structural changes on glyconanoparticles and the hydration properties of glycosylated particles are of application value for biosensors and help model the transmission of airborne viruses, such as influenza., We are grateful for funding by grants EU-MSCA 101072645 nanoremedi, EIC-pathfinder 101115292 (“textadna”), the Spanish MINECO for the Maria de Maeztu Units of Excellence Program (CEX2020-001038-M/MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), and for the projects PID2019-104650GB-C22 (Bridge), PID2023-147987OB-C32, PID2023-146348NB-I00; the Basque Government for the Elkartek ng; the Diputacion Foral Gipuzkoa for the project “shifte”. MAIA received an EMBO and a DAAD travel grant that allowed her to work at FHI Berlin., With funding from the Spanish government through the "Unit of Excellence Maria de Maeztu" accreditation (CEX2020-001038-M)., Peer reviewed

This article belongs to the Section Polymer Membranes and Films., Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer high porosity for water remediation but face challenges in handling as powders. We address these limitations by physically immobilizing Fe–BTC MOF within calcium-crosslinked low-methoxyl pectin matrices (PE–Ca–MOF). Solvent-cast films and freeze-dried foams were fabricated using water-based and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted Fe–BTC dispersions, preserving MOF and pectin structures confirmed by FT–IR. PVP improved Fe–BTC dispersion and reduced particle size, enhancing distribution and plasticizing the matrix proved by DSC. Incorporation of water-dispersed Fe–BTC increased the equilibrium adsorption capacity but reduced the initial adsorption rate, while the PVP-assisted foam further enhanced uptake in comparative batch tests through its more open porous structure. At pH 7, PE–Ca–5%MOF films showed high adsorption capacities and removal efficiencies for paraquat (35.5 mg/g, 70.6%) and tetracycline (14.5 mg/g, 46.8%), while maintaining Zn2+ uptake compared to calcium-pectin films without MOF. Adsorption followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherms. Green regeneration with acetic acid enabled >80% capacity retention over five adsorption–desorption cycles. Foam architectures increased porosity and active-site accessibility (SEM), improving performance even at lower MOF loadings. Overall, controlling MOF dispersion and composite morphology enables efficient, reusable, and environmentally friendly bio-based adsorbents for water purification., This research was funded by grant PID2023–146348NB–I00 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) and Department of Education of the Basque Government under grant PIBA_2024_1_0011 and IT-1820-26., Peer reviewed

[Significance] The current understanding of the glass transition temperature (Tg) in confined water is highly debated, hindering our comprehension of various biological and terrestrial phenomena. This study resolves this controversy by identifying three distinct contributions to the calorimetric response of supercooled confined water. We demonstrate that confined water has a Tg in the 170 to 200 K range, depending on the confinement size and wall interactions. The fast and standard calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy results linking the glass transition with the dynamics support this observation. Furthermore, our findings reveal thermal events at temperatures higher and lower than the Tg, which are connected to the adsorption/desorption of water at the inner surfaces and an “annealing prepeak” or, equivalently, “shadow glass transition,” respectively., The ability of vitrification when crossing the glass transition temperature (Tg) of confined and bulk water is crucial for myriad phenomena in diverse fields, ranging from the cryopreservation of organs and food to the development of cryoenzymatic reactions, frost damage to buildings, and atmospheric water. However, determining water’s Tg remains a major challenge. Here, we elucidate the glass transition of water by analyzing the calorimetric behavior of nano-confined water across various pore topologies (diameters: 0.3 to 2.5 nm). Our approach involves subjecting confined water to annealing protocols to identify the temperature and time evolution of nonequilibrium glass kinetics. Furthermore, we complement this calorimetric approach with the dynamics of confined water, as seen by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and linear calorimetric measurements, including the fast scanning technique. This study demonstrated that confined water undergoes a glass transition in the temperature range of 170 to 200 K, depending on the confinement size and the interaction with the confinement walls. Moreover, we also show that the thermal event observed at ~136 K must be interpreted as an annealing prepeak, also referred to as the “shadow glass transition.” Calorimetric measurements also allow the detection of a specific heat step above 200 K, which is insensitive to annealing and, thereby, interpreted as a true thermodynamic transition. Finally, by connecting our results to bulk water behavior, we offer a comprehensive understanding of confined water vitrification with potential implications for numerous applications., We acknowledge grant No. PID2019-104650 GB-C21 and PID2023-146348NB-I00 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) and Eusko Jaurlaritza, code: IT1566-22. Financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Project No. 492723217 (CRC 1585), subproject A04 is gratefully acknowledged., Peer reviewed

Nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) strongly influence water dynamics, yet their magnitude and environmental tunability in biologically relevant systems remain poorly quantified. Using dielectric spectroscopy and calorimetry on H2O, D2O, and H218O, we show that substituting 16O with 18O causes only a small (∼5%) mass-induced slowdown in both bulk water and supercooled solutions, confirming that H2O and H218O exhibit identical quantum behavior. In bulk liquid water at 290 K, the relaxation-time ratio is ρ = τD2O/τH2O ≈ 1.3, consistent with quantum simulations attributing this difference to NQEs. At supercooled temperatures (200 K), the isotope ratio ρ increases moderately to ≈2 in neutral poly(vinyl methyl ether) solutions, and reaches ≈4 for fast-water relaxation in basic lysine solutions, revealing a 3-fold enhancement of NQEs. These findings demonstrate that biological environments can amplify the magnitude of NQEs on water dynamics, with implications for biochemistry and quantum-accurate aqueous modeling., The authors gratefully acknowledge the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades code PID2023-146348NB-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) and the Basque Government, IT-1820-26., Peer reviewed

Remediation of emerging contaminants (ECs) using powdered activated carbon is limited by its difficult recovery and tendency to agglomerate. This study addresses these issues by employing a strategy of autogenous synthesis of nanocomposite membrane. This process involves the pyrolysis of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) network to produce nanocarbon (SBET = 1007 m2. g−1), which is then sonicated and introduced into the PVA/citric acid solution before being electrospun. A matrix of cross-linked nanofibres (68 ± 3 nm) with homogeneously dispersed nanocarbons was produced by the final heat treatment. This architecture prevented the aggregation of active sites, achieving maximum capacities of 243, 223, and 161 mg/g for tetracycline (TC), methylene blue (MB), and rhodamine B (RhB), respectively. The composite exhibited a dual-mode adsorption mechanism governed by the nature of the contaminant: TC and MB adsorption followed Langmuir isotherms, with Weber–Morris intraparticle diffusion, indicating uptake at internal sites, whereas RhB adsorption proceeded via rapid surface interactions in heterogeneous domains, as described by the Freundlich and pseudo-first order models. Binary-contaminant adsorption tests further demonstrated modulated selectivity with minimal competitive interference. A selectivity factor (S(TC/RhB)) of 4.08 was quantified. The membrane structure morphology allowed the adsorbent to be recovered without filtration, with 96% removal efficiency after five cycles. This method offers a scalable, sustainable material that surpasses traditional carbons by transforming a low-cost polymer into a carbonaceous filler with a high surface area and an efficient, well-structured support., This research was supported by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion, the University of Buenos Aires (UBACyT 2023, No 20020220200117BA and PDE_2_2024 No. EX-2023-02810510—UBA DME#REC), the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), bilateral agreement CSIC-CONICET (DD287) 29220230100166, PIP-CONICET 2022-2024 No 11220210100785CO and BILAT23076. Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades code PID2023- 146348NB- I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) and Basque Government, IT-1820-26., Peer reviewed