Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
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Enhancing asset allocation and portfolio rebalancing through dynamic theme detection
No full textTraditional industry classification systems, such as the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), have long served as the backbone of financial analysis, portfolio construction, and risk management. However, these systems rely on static categorizations, typically assigning each company to a single sector based on its main revenue source. In today’s interconnected and rapidly evolving economy, this approach fails to capture the complexity of corporate activities. Modern companies increasingly operate across multiple industries and emerging themes, which cannot be adequately represented by rigid taxonomies. This thesis introduces and evaluates Dynamic Industry Classification (DIC), a novel framework that leverages artificial intelligence and natural language processing to provide a multidimensional and continuously updated view of corporate activities. Unlike static models, DIC identifies a company’s exposures across multiple industries and themes, offering a more accurate representation of its business reality. The research compares DIC with GICS by examining their effectiveness in portfolio optimization, risk management, and thematic investing. By constructing and testing portfolios based on both systems, the study assesses whether DIC delivers better diversification, improved risk control, and earlier recognition of emerging trends. The findings contribute to both academic literature and practical applications, providing insights for investors, regulators, and policymakers in a highly dynamic financial landscape
Elaboración de un modelo de curso de formación para lavado de tanques de crudo en petroleros
No full textLas operaciones de lavado de tanques con crudo (Crude Oil Washing, COW) constituyen una fase crítica dentro de la explotación de los buques petroleros, al combinar riesgos significativos para la seguridad del buque, la tripulación y el medio ambiente con un elevado impacto económico y operativo. Una ejecución inadecuada de estas operaciones puede dar lugar a situaciones de riesgo como atmósferas inflamables, exposiciones a gases tóxicos, pérdidas de carga o contaminación marina.
A pesar de la existencia de un marco normativo internacional consolidado y de guías técnicas ampliamente reconocidas, se identifican carencias formativas relevantes entre los profesionales responsables de planificar, supervisar y ejecutar operaciones de COW. Estas deficiencias afectan tanto a oficiales de la marina mercante como a otros actores implicados en la gestión de la carga, y se traducen en prácticas operativas conservadoras, ineficientes o potencialmente inseguras.
El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo el desarrollo de un modelo de curso de formación marítima específicamente orientado a las operaciones de lavado de tanques con crudo en buques petroleros. Para ello, se analizan las propiedades fisicoquímicas del petróleo crudo, los riesgos asociados a su manipulación, el marco normativo aplicable y las buenas prácticas operativas recogidas en la literatura técnica y en la normativa internacional. A partir de este análisis, se propone una estructura formativa que integra contenidos teóricos y prácticos, alineada con las necesidades reales del sector y orientada a mejorar la seguridad, la eficiencia operativa y la protección del medio ambiente
Diseño y análisis estructural de un portador de tablas de paddle surf
No full textEste Trabajo de Fin de Estudios tiene como objetivo realizar un diseño y análisis estructural de un portador para tablas de Paddle Surf (SUP, stand up paddle), orientado a mejorar la ergonomía, la comodidad y la seguridad de manera económica durante el transporte de las tablas fuera del agua. Las tablas de SUP presentan dificultades significativas de manipulación y de transporte. Las soluciones actuales del mercado son a menudo poco ergonómicas, voluminosas y caras. El trabajo sigue una metodología de diseño industrial e ingeniería mecánica. En primer lugar, se realiza un estado del arte con un análisis de mercado y de las alternativas existentes. Usando una matriz de clasificación basada en criterios como precio, reducción de carga y otros, se identifican las oportunidades de mejora. Paralelamente, se estudia la normativa europea aplicable al producto, incluyendo el Reglamento de Seguridad General de Productos (2001/95/CE), el reglamento REACH (CE 1907/2006) y varias normas ISO relacionadas con la seguridad, la ergonomía y la resistencia mecánica. El desarrollo del diseño se realiza mediante un prototipado rápido e iterativo, incorporando criterios ergonómicos basados en datos antropométricos del 90% de la población recogidos en la norma ISO 7250. El diseño final consiste en un sistema compacto de ruedas formado por diversos componentes (estructura tipo puente, ejes, ruedas, elementos de unión y protecciones), diseñados con SolidWorks y mediante diversos procesos de fabricación como la extrusión, el taladrado y la impresión 3D. El análisis de materiales compara diversas opciones (PETG, ABS, PLA, resinas y metales), seleccionando materiales poliméricos resistentes a la corrosión marina. El comportamiento mecánico de los componentes críticos se evalúa mediante simulaciones por elementos finitos (FEA) con ANSYS y mediante ensayos experimentales, para estudiar el efecto del porcentaje de relleno, la orientación de las fibras y de los tratamientos térmicos en piezas impresas en 3D. Los resultados muestran que una orientación óptima de las fibras puede incrementar la resistencia hasta un 64% respecto a las configuraciones estándar. Como resultado, se construyó un prototipo funcional, validado mediante pruebas de campo con usuarios reales. Las valoraciones obtenidas indican una reducción considerable del esfuerzo físico, una buena facilidad de instalación y una comodidad superior a muchas de las soluciones comerciales existentes. El estudio económico muestra la viabilidad del producto mientras que el impacto ambiental se mantiene bajo gracias al uso de materiales reciclables y a los procesos de fabricación eficientes. En conclusión, el trabajo demuestra que el portador diseñado es técnicamente viable, ergonómico, competitivo y sostenible, y constituye una base sólida para un futuro desarrollo industrial o comercial del producto
Obrim els laboratoris: activitat conjunta amb alumnes de FP de la família de Química i de l'ESO
No full textL’objectiu principal d’aquest projecte ha estat apropar l’alumna de l’ESO al laboratori i aconseguir nous alumnes de FP pels cursos vinents. Cada alumnes de grau superior (GS) feia de cotutors d’un o dos alumnes de 3r de l’ESO. Aquest alumnes van fer una pràctica de laboratori. Durant aquest tres anys que hem realitzat l’activitat sempre han elaborat algun producte que l’alumne es pogués emportar a casa, l’últim va ser bàlsam labial. Amb aquesta activitat l’alumnat de GS ha adquirit habilitats anomenades soft skill tan ben valorades a nivell empresarial. L’alumnat de l’ESO va realitzar una activitat STEAM en entorn més entenedor i més amable per ell al treballar junt amb alumnes d’edat propera, a més, van adquirir capacitats comunicatives, de responsabilitat i van treballar a un entorn més proper al professional. Hem innovat en el desenvolupament de competències clau i professionals de l’alumnat de GS en el nostre centre; hem impulsat el treball cooperatiu i col·laboratiu, ja que l’alumnat de GS van desenvolupar un rol de professor i l’alumnat de l’ESO va cooperar amb l’alumnat de FP; hem fomentat l’orientació educativa i professional augmentat la matrícula d’alumnes del propi centre, i hem impulsat mesures per prevenir l’abandonament escolar prematur
Robots en acció! Una proposta gamificada per fomentar el desenvolupament del pensament computacional a l’aula
No full text“Robots en acció!” és una proposta educativa impulsada per l’Àrea de Cultura Digital del Departament d’Educació i Formació Professional amb l’objectiu de contribuir en el desenvolupament de la competència digital de l’alumnat i el pensament computacional, mitjançant l’ús d’ equipaments de robòtica. El projecte es compon de 6 reptes o missions que l’alumnat haurà de superar amb l’ajuda dels robots disponibles al centre educatiu. Cada mes, es llença un repte en format de “missió”, que es publica en l’espai de suport. Coincidint amb l’Any Internacional de la Ciència i la Tecnologia Quàntiques, els reptes han introduït conceptes relacionats amb la física, de manera senzilla, amb animacions que faciliten la comprensió d’aquests fenòmens naturals. Amb la superació dels reptes els alumnes obtenen insígnies que els permeten passar de ser astronautes a enginyers de la nau o, fins i tot, herois o heroïnes de tota la galàxia
Refined segmentation of synchrotron XCT-based characterization of metal powders under different noise conditions
No full textThe characterization of metal powders is crucial for assessing their suitability in additive manufacturing applications. Synchrotron X-ray computed tomography provides high-resolution, three-dimensional data for evaluating particle morphology and internal porosity. However, accurate interpretation of such datasets, particularly for metallic powders, remains challenging due to reconstruction artifacts and segmentation sensitivity. This study presents an optimized post-reconstruction segmentation framework using marker-controlled watershed implemented using Fiji, aimed at improving robustness and reproducibility in synchrotron-based powder analysis. Aluminum alloy powders sieved to less than 150 µm and less than 100 µm were analyzed to investigate the influence of image quality, filtering, and marker definition on segmentation outcomes. The finer powder sample, affected by noise voxels, required a two-step adaptive filtering strategy and careful tuning of the contrast threshold based on the distance map, using the h-parameter in the extended maxima function. In contrast, the coarser sample, exhibiting minimal noise, showed stable segmentation performance across a broader range of threshold values. Morphological metrics such as Feret diameter and Equivalent Spherical Diameter were employed to evaluate the accuracy of segmentation and particle shape. Results indicate that dataset-specific preprocessing and distance-driven marker definition are essential for minimizing under- and over-segmentation in noise-affected data. The proposed framework enhances the reliability of synchrotron X-ray computed tomography-based powder analysis, supporting its use in quality control of feedstock materials for additive manufacturing.This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101034328. Results reflect the author's view only. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
The authors acknowledge the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) for provision of beamtime at the ID19 beamline under Proposal ID ME1613, and the Australian Synchrotron (ANSTO) for provision of beamtime at the MCT beamline under Proposal ID M19903. The technical support provided by the beamline scientists, including Dr. Alexander Rack (ESRF), is sincerely appreciated.
We acknowledge travel funding provided through the International Synchrotron Access Program (ISAP-AS/IA243/23653), managed by the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO, and funded by the Australian Government.
The authors further acknowledge RMIT's Advanced Compute Ecosystem (RACE) for providing access to the computational resources used in this work.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Evaluation of biochar in cementitious pastes properties
No full textBiochar is an industrial byproduct that, after thermal treatment through pyrolysis, results in a material primarily composed of solid carbon. It has potential for use as a chemical regulator and as a carbon uptake to reduce emissions in cementitious composites. It presents itself as a potential alternative for reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry. In this manuscript was evaluated the performance of biochar in cementitious composites in partial substitution cement Portland in levels of 1, 2 and 3% in weight. For this, cement pastes with a water/cement ratio of 0.5 were produced and tested fresh and hardened state. Specific gravity, trapped air, mini-slump and hydration kinetics (evaluated by isothermal calorimetry up to 48h) of the pastes were determined in the fresh state. Thus, in the hardened state, the compressive and flexural strength tests at 28 days, specific gravity, void ratio, MEV, DRX, FTIR and TG were carried out. In the fresh state, the sample with 3% biochar showed 13.03% higher workability and an increase of up to 77.9% in the induction period compared to the reference series. In the hardened state, the sample with 2% biochar achieved a 215.1% higher rate of entrapped air compared to the reference series. Regarding carbon uptake, the biochar samples showed an average of 9.77% more uptake than the reference series, while the 1% biochar series showed 11.01% more uptake than the reference series. This simple methodology, replacing cement with biochar, highlights the potential of using biochar to promote a cement industry with a lower carbon footprint. It employs a simple methodology that does not require significant industrial changes to the current production line of the construction industry, proving itself as an alternative for short-term industrial application.The first author would like to thank to Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering, this study was financed in part by the Coordenaçao de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. The last author would like to thank to National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for financial support through the project MCTI 10/2023 - UNIVERSAL 404650/2023-6.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
A Strategic framework for Chinese SMEs entering the European smart hardware B2B market
No full textChinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increasingly seek to enter the European smart hardware business-to-business (B2B) market. However, despite initial market access, many SMEs encounter significant challenges during early project execution, coordination, and relationship stabilization. Existing internationalization models primarily focus on entry modes and access decisions, offering limited guidance for managing executionstage risks in complex European B2B contexts.
In this study, market entry is understood not as the initial point of market contact or contract signing, but as the process through which Chinese SMEs become embedded in European B2B customer ecosystems through project-based collaboration and sustained interaction. Adopting a qualitative and exploratory research approach, this thesis employs a single-case study of a Chinese smart hardware SME engaged in European B2B projects. Data were collected through field observations, internal project documentation, interviews, and secondary sources, enabling triangulation and in-depth analysis.
The findings reveal that market entry challenges arise primarily during execution and stabilization phases, particularly in relation to customer requirement interpretation, trust management, collaboration effectiveness, and organizational responsiveness. Based on these insights, the study develops a strategic framework integrating four interrelated dimensions: customer underlying logic alignment, hybrid collaboration mechanisms, process governance and execution discipline, and decision authority with organizational responsiveness.
The proposed framework contributes to a more nuanced understanding of European B2B market entry as an embedded, execution-driven process and provides practical guidance for Chinese smart hardware SMEs operating under uncertainty and resource constraint
Dynamic simulation and stability analysis of power systems: Development of RMS and EMT tools within VeraGrid at eRoots
No full textThis master’s thesis addresses the development and extension of a dynamic simulation frameworkforpowersystemswithintheVeraGridplatform, theeRoots’s open-source power systems software, with the objective of incorporating both small-signal analysis and the foundations of electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation. The entire development has been carried out in Python, with a strong emphasis on code modularity and scalability through a clear architecture designed to support the future evolution of the tool. The work is framed within the current context of power systems, characterized by an increasing penetration of power-electronicsbaseddevicesandbytheneedforsimulationtoolscapableofrepresentingdynamicphenomena across multiple time scales. In the first part, a small-signal analysis module for root mean square(RMS)-domain dynamic modelsis developed, based on thesymbolic formulation of differential-algebraic equations and their linearization around the operating point. This approach enables the automatic computation of Jacobians, eigenvalues, and participation factors, ensuring consistency between nonlinear simulation and linearized system analysis, and facilitating the study of system stability and modal behavior. The obtained results are validated through comparison with ANDES, a reference tool in the symbolic-numeric simulation domain. Subsequently, the foundations for EMT simulation are established through the implementation of time-domain models using instantaneous variables in the abc reference frame. Basic models of synchronous generators, transmission lines and loads are developed, with particular emphasis on the transmission line model based on the Bergeron’s model and traveling-wave theory. The EMT formulation is implemented using the Dommel algorithm in combination with the symbolic-numeric framework and trapezoidal integration schemes, ensuring a physically consistent representation of fast electromagnetic phenomena. Validation is performedthroughseveral case studies that allow the analysis of wave propagation and reflection mechanisms under different conditions. The obtained results exhibit behavior fully consistent with classical electromagnetic transient theory and confirm the correctness of both the mathematical formulation and the numerical implementation. This work establishes a solid, extensible, and robust foundation for the development of an advanced EMT simulation engine integrated within VeraGrid, with significant potential impact in both academic research and real-world industrial applications