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Fakes, tartas de nata y crítica política. Aproximaciones a lo real desde la simulación: Alan y Jeanne Abel, The Yes Men y Sacha Baron Cohen.
No full textTreball de fi de màster en Estudis de Cinema i Audiovisual ContemporanisTutor: Manuel GarínEste trabajo analiza una serie de artefactos audiovisuales que emplean estrategias como el humor, la parodia y la suplantación para desestabilizar los discursos dominantes y confrontar los privilegios de clase. Partiendo del reconocimiento del rol que los medios juegan en la reproducción de la ideología hegemónica, estos dispositivos buscan intervenir en el relato oficial mediante nuevas formas de representación simbólica. El estudio se sitúa en un contexto mediático profundamente transformado por la digitalización, la aceleración de los flujos de información y el debilitamiento del vínculo entre lo visible y lo real. Frente a este ecosistema visual fragmentado y algorítmico, se plantea la hipótesis de que aún es posible construir imágenes emancipadoras capaces de instituir nuevas formas de pensamiento y acción. A través de un enfoque metodológico heterogéneo y crítico, que integra genealogías discursivas, autoetnografía y análisis semiótico, se estudian tres casos del ámbito norteamericano: Faking the President, The Yes Men y Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, ejemplificando distintos momentos de politización, sabotaje mediático y reapropiación simbólica. La investigación concluye proponiendo una reflexión sobre las posibilidades actuales de una imagen crítica, performativa y transformadora
Finding common ground: the framing of environmental issues in climate-sceptical discourses
No full textTreball de fi de màster Estudis Internacionals sobre Mitjans, Poder i DiversitatSupervisora: Núria AlmironResearch into climate scepticism often conflates environmental and climate issues, portraying climate supporters as ‘pro-environment’ and climate sceptics as ‘anti-environment’. This polarising narrative overlooks the environmental care previous research has found among climate-sceptical populations, fuels inertia among climate-supportive groups and limits the potential for collective action. Through qualitative content analysis, this dissertation challenges this narrative by examining how environmental issues are framed in 100 news media posts published by six influential US and UK climate-sceptical news websites, think tanks and blogs (2021–2024). It found that 49% of posts express some concern for environmental issues, particularly pollution, biodiversity loss and landscape destruction. The analysis also revealed potential overlaps between climate-supportive and climate-sceptical discourses in the concerns raised for disadvantaged groups and the types of arguments being waged on both sides to discredit each other’s claims. Ultimately, this dissertation offers suggestions for more inclusive and effective climate communication, built on common ground
Evolving privacy: drift parameter estimation for discretely observed i.i.d. diffusion processes under LDP
No full textThe problem of estimating a parameter in the drift coefficient is addressed for N discretely observed independent and identically distributed stochastic differential equations (SDEs). This is done considering additional constraints, wherein only public data can be published and used for inference. The concept of local differential privacy (LDP) is formally introduced for a system of stochastic differential equations. The objective is to estimate the drift parameter by proposing a contrast function based on a pseudo-likelihood approach. A suitably scaled Laplace noise is incorporated to meet the privacy requirements. Our key findings encompass the derivation of explicit conditions tied to the privacy level. Under these conditions, we establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the associated estimator. Notably, the convergence rate is intricately linked to the privacy level, and in some situations may be completely different from the case where privacy constraints are ignored. Our results hold true as the discretization step approaches zero and the number of processes N tends to infinity
Unsupervised stratification of patients with myocardial infarction based on imaging and in-silico biomarkers
No full textData de publicació electrònica: 25-06-2025This study presents a novel methodology for stratifying post-myocardial infarction patients at risk of ventricular arrhythmias using patient-specific 3D cardiac models derived from late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) images. The method integrates imaging and computational simulation with the fast electrophysiology solver, Arritmic3D, enabling rapid and accurate ventricular arrhythmias (VA) risk assessment in clinical timeframes. Applied to 51 patients, the solver generated thousands of personalized simulations exploring ranges of values for several parameters to evaluate arrhythmia inducibility and predict VA risk. Key findings include the identification of slow conduction channels (SCCs) within scar tissue as critical to reentrant arrhythmias and the localization of high-risk zones for potential intervention. The Arrhythmic Risk Score (ARRISK), developed from simulation results, demonstrated strong concordance with clinical outcomes and outperformed traditional imaging-based risk stratification. The methodology is fully automated, requiring minimal user intervention, and offers a promising tool for improving precision medicine in cardiac care by enhancing patient-specific arrhythmia risk assessment and guiding treatment strategies.This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessible. Corresponding author: Miguel Lozano. This research was funded by Generalitat Valenciana Grant AICO/2021/318 (Consolidables 2021) and Grant PID2020-114291RB-I00 funded by MCIN/ 10.13039/501100011033 and, by ”ERDF A way of making Europe”; D.S. was funded by the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Social Fund (FSE) through the Recruitment of Predoctoral Research Staff ACIF/2021/394 included in the FSE Operational Program 2021-2025 of the Valencian Community (Spain)
Impacts of land-use and management changes on cultural agroecosystem services and environmental conflicts: a global review
No full textAs an outcome of interactions and interdependencies with people, agroecosystems provide cultural ecosystem services (CES), such as traditional knowledge, recreation, and places for social gatherings. Today however, agroecosystems undergo biophysical changes because of land-use and management changes (LUMC), such as intensive agriculture, urbanisation, and land abandonment. Typically, environmental conflicts emerge between stakeholders with differing interests in land areas around the LUMC. Cumulatively, these changes and conflicts have substantial influence on the CES appreciation of the farmland, triggering different types of responses, including social mobilisation and resistance. A comprehensive analysis of these processes was missing in the literature. Here we present a systematic review of CES provided by agroecosystems at the global level, we explore their interconnections through network analysis, and analyse the interrelation between LUMC, CES and environmental conflicts. The review includes 155 peer-reviewed articles, representing empirical data from 81 countries. Twenty main categories of CES and their subcategories delivered by agroecosystems are identified. Through the network analysis we demonstrate how CES are interrelated, with agricultural heritage as a connecting core. In a comprehensive map, we further identify which LUMC types have influence upon specific CES categories, and what are the causes, outcomes of, and responses to environmental conflicts that emerge from these processes. CES and agroecosystems cannot be seen separately from one another, as a reflection of secular or recently-created relationships people have with their environments. While these relationships are dynamic, LUMC may lead to their impairment or even loss, with ensuing impacts on biocultural diversity. The resulting environmental conflicts push most frequently for greater participation of actors involved in farming, socio-cultural revalorisation of farmland activities and the promotion of multi-functionality
Surveillance: exposure and resistance through art practices : A proposal for an exhibition script, framed as a challenge-oriented project by the Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona.
No full textTreball de fi de Màster en Cultura Digital i Mitjans Emergents (DiCEM)Tutor: Andrea Olmedo RioThe project Surveillance: exposure and resistance through art practices is a curatorial exhibition script proposal that explores how contemporary art practices reveal and contest surveillance mechanisms for control purposes in digital societies. The exhibition script was developed as part of the challenge-oriented project by the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), adapted to the type, vision and space of the Center. The curators propose an exhibition consisting of three main sections: a timeline depicting the evolution of artistic responses to different surveillance techniques and apparatus, from 1791 until now, and two sections approaching surveillance from the perspectives of exposure and resistance. The timeline created is a prototype of the intended final version. It starts from the design of the Panopticon by Betham in 1791, as the authors deemed it an important event to the context of the exhibition proposed. It ties to the concept of self surveillance likewise seen with contemporary time government and capital surveillance. Special emphasis has been placed on reaching out to local and underground artists and researchers, providing a deeper understanding of the local scene and socio-cultural context. The project proposes a four-month exhibition featuring contemporary artistic interventions, experts and publics’ reflection and public participation and interaction. The exhibition invites visitors to critically engage with the dynamics of power, visibility and control in the digital age
Predictive modeling for sales forecasting: a time series analysis of Molaris biotech product sales
No full textTreball fi de màster de: Master's Degree in Data Science. Master Program in Data Science for Decision Making. Curs 2023-2024Tutor: Christian BrownleesAccurate sales forecasting is essential for effective inventory planning, resource
allocation, and customer service. This thesis evaluates machine learning methods for predicting sales using Molaris Biotech data from January 2014 to April 2024. We compare the performance of ElasticNet, Random Forest, XGBoost, and neural networks. Results show that ElasticNet and Random Forest deliver the highest performance, reducing MAPE by up to 30% relative to the firm’s current approach. These findings highlight the value of predictive analytics for improving operational efficiency and strengthening competitive positioning in the retail sector.La previsió de vendes precisa és essencial per a una planificació d’inventari eficient, una assignació òptima de recursos i un millor servei al client. Aquesta tesi avalua mètodes d’aprenentatge automàtic per predir vendes utilitzant dades de Molaris Biotech entre gener de 2014 i abril de 2024. Comparem els resultats utilitzant ElasticNet, Random Forest, XGBoost i xarxes neuronals. Els resultats mostren que ElasticNet i Random Forest ofereixen el millor rendiment, reduint el MAPE fins a un 30% en relació amb l’enfocament actual de l’empresa. Aquests resultats destaquen el valor de l’analítica predictiva per millorar l’eficiència operativa i enfortir el posicionament competitiu en el sector minorista
The future of the European Union: existential & constitutional challenges from a human rights perspective: the case of the environment
No full textTreball de Fi de Màster: Master in European and Global Law. Curs 2024-2025Tutora: Lela MélonThis thesis analyses the future of the European Union from the intersecting perspectives of Constitutional Law, Human Rights, and Environmental governance. Taking as a departure point the fact that the EU is currently facing a crisis that is existential, normative, and institutional in its nature, this work aims to expose the case for stating that the global climate emergency constitutes an illuminating case study to question the Union’s current legal and political architecture, specially when it comes to its human rights and environmental stances. While the EU’s foundational principles emphasize peace, prosperity, and fundamental rights, contemporary challenges—ranging from demographic shifts and geopolitical instability to ecological degradation—pose serious threats to its legitimacy and cohesion. Based on the Treaty of Lisbon and inspired by the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the thesis charts the development of the EU’s constitutional identity and an assessment of its current ability to implement environmental human rights. Key elements of the 2017 White Paper on the Future of Europe and the recent 2024 Draghi Report, which are carefully scrutinised to place debates such as sovereignty and strategic autonomy in the Union into perspective. The study also analyses the EU legislative package — having the European Green Deal as the cornerstone, and also considering other pieces such as the EU Emissions Trading System and the rest of the legislation on sustainability and due diligence — in the context of existing international legal obligations and recent case law, highlights the advancements and shortcomings evidenced in human rights terms. Ultimately, this essay aims to offer a critical reflection on the State of the Union in front of these global challenges and its role in their world and upon its citizens: whether, amid rising internal and external fragmentation, the Union can reassert itself as a legitimate and capable actor, committed to a sustainable and rights-based future
Fluctuation-dissipation theorem and the discovery of distinctive off-equilibrium signatures of brain states
No full textThe brain is able to sustain many different states as shown by the daily natural transitions between wakefulness and sleep. Yet, the underlying complex dynamics of these brain states are essentially in nonequilibrium. Here, we develop a thermodynamical formalism based on the off-equilibrium extension of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT) together with a whole-brain model. This allows us to investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of different brain states and more specifically to apply this formalism to wakefulness and deep sleep brain states. We show that the off-equilibrium thermodynamical signatures of brain states are significantly different in terms of the overall level of differential and integral violation of FDT. Furthermore, the framework allows for a detailed understanding of how different brain regions and networks are contributing to the off-equilibrium signatures in different brain states. Overall, this framework shows great promise for characterizing and differentiating brain states in health and disease.J.M.M. acknowledges financial support from CONICET through external scholarship for researchers. G.D. was supported by several sources: NEMESIS project (Ref. 101071900) funded by the EU ERC Synergy Horizon Europe; AGAUR research support Grant (Ref. 2021 SGR 00917) funded by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalunya; and Project PID2022-136216NB-I00 financed by the MCIN /AEI /10.13039/501100011033 / FEDER, UE., the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the State Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund. M.L.K. is supported by the Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing (funded by the Pettit and Carlsberg Foundations) and Center for Music in the Brain (funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, DNRF117). Y.S.P. is supported by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant 896354
Violència mediàtica i joves a Catalunya: efectes i percepció del delicte
No full textTreball de Fi de Grau en Criminologia i Polítiques Públiques de Prevenció. Curs 2024-2025Tutor: Marc Balcells MagransAquest treball analitza l’impacte de la violència mediàtica en joves de Catalunya, amb especial atenció als efectes psicològics i emocionals associats a l’exposició reiterada a continguts violents. L’objectiu principal és comprendre com aquest consum pot influir en la percepció de la realitat, la sensibilitat emocional i la tolerància envers la violència. El marc teòric se centra en la teoria del cultiu de George Gerbner, que planteja que els mitjans poden modificar la visió del món de les persones a través d’un missatge simbòlic constant. A partir d’un enfocament mixt, la recerca combina una enquesta adreçada a joves de 12 a 30 anys amb entrevistes a psicòlogues expertes en salut mental juvenil. Els resultats mostren patrons de dessensibilització, percepcions més negatives sobre la realitat i una certa normalització de la violència, especialment en absència d’acompanyament adult o educació mediàtica. Es conclou que cal reforçar la formació crítica dels joves envers els mitjans i garantir entorns de suport emocional que en redueixin els possibles efectes nocius.The present study analyses the impact of media violence on young people in Catalonia, with a particular focus on the psychological and emotional effects associated with repeated exposure to violent content. Its main objective is to understand how such media consumption may influence their perception of reality, emotional sensitivity, and tolerance towards aggression.
The theoretical framework is based on George Gerbner’s cultivation theory, which suggests that constant exposure to symbolic violence through the media can shape individuals’ worldview. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a survey addressed to young people aged 12 a 30 with interviews conducted with psychologists specialized in youth mental health. The findings reveal patterns of desensitization, more negative perceptions of reality, and a degree of normalization of violence, especially in the absence of adult mediation or media literacy. The study concludes that it is essential to promote critical thinking in young audiences and to strengthen emotional support Systems that can help prevent the potential negative effects of uncritical exposure to violent content