DAU - Digital Archive of URL (Ramon Llull University)
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Fomentant una nova generació de científics: Campanya "Be a Researcher"
Get PDFLa campanya “Be a Researcher” de La Salle-URL té com a objectiu promoure les vocacions investigadores entre les noves generacions, abordant les percepcions i motivacions divergents entre els estudiants joves i els investigadors consolidats. Mitjançant grups de discussió, s’han identificat els reptes i
oportunitats que planteja aquest diàleg intergeneracional. Els joves busquen una carrera amb impacte, col·laborativa i dinàmica, mentre que els investigadors veterans destaquen la necessitat d’adaptar els enfocaments de mentoria. Aquesta campanya també pretén fomentar una cultura investigadora que
connecti el campus, la indústria i la societat.info:eu-repo/semantics/updatedVersio
Eco-Friendly Mechanochemical Fabrication of Polypyrrole/Ag-ZnO Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange
Get PDFA Ppy/Ag-ZnO catalyst was successfully synthesized at room temperature using a novel, green methodology. It involves a mechanically assisted metathesis reaction. The Ppy/Ag-ZnO catalyst was analyzed via X-ray diffraction Technique (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV–visible spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and zeta potential. Debye Scherrer’s calculation suggested a crystallite size of 2.30 nm for Ppy/Ag-ZnO nanocomposite. SEM confirmed the production of aggregated particles with an average size of 2.65 μm, endorsing the -ve zeta potential value (−6.78 mV) due to the presence of Van der Waals forces among the particles of Ppy/Ag-ZnO. DSC confirms that the strong interfacial interaction between Ag-ZnO and the polar segments of Ppy is responsible for the higher Tg (107 °C) and Tm (270 °C) in Ppy/Ag-ZnO. The surface area and average pore size of Ppy/Ag-ZnO catalyst were determined to be 47.08 cm3/g and 21.72 Å, respectively. Methyl orange (MO) was used as a probe in a photocatalytic reaction of fabricated material, which demonstrated exceptional efficiency, exhibiting a removal rate of 91.11% with a rate constant of 0.028 min−1. Photocatalytic degradation of MO was shown to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A dialogical approach to unveil hybrid researcher identities of educational PhD holders
Get PDFPhD careers are becoming increasingly diverse, giving rise to hybrid career trajectories. PhD holders holding multiple concurrent academic and non-academic jobs navigate varied institutional contexts and cultures, often encountering contradictions. However, they can also foster distinct career opportunities and develop unique research identities. This study explored the identity development of educational hybrid researchers. We drew on Dialogical Self Theory, which conceptualises the uniqueness yet multiplicity of positionings within the professional self. Through in-depth interviews and the systematic use of Journey Plots and Repertoire of Personal Positions instruments, we explored how hybrid researchers construct their professional identities and the extent to which these identities embodied hybridisation. Our findings revealed diverse I-positions associated with academic and non-academic sectors, illustrating a dialogical hybrid space where distinct meanings and practices blended. Furthermore, participants demonstrated varied identity dynamics, including distinctive ways to resolve tensions and the significant influence of external voices and career support mechanisms. Overall, the results indicated differing levels of hybridisation among PhD holders pursuing hybrid careers. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the paper.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Sound event detection by intermittency ratio criterium and source classification by deep learning techniques
Get PDFUrban environments are characterized by a complex interplay of various sound sources, which ignificantly influence the overall soundscape quality. This study presents a methodology that combines the intermittency ratio (IR) metric for acoustic event detection with deep learning (DL) techniques for the classification of sound sources associated with these events. The aim is to provide an automated tool for detecting and categorizing polyphonic acoustic events, thereby enhancing our ability to assess and manage environmental noise. Using a dataset collected in the city center of Barcelona, our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the IR metric in successfully detecting events from diverse categories. Specifically, the IR captures the temporal variations of sound pressure levels due to significant noise events, enabling their detection but not providing information on the associated sound sources. To fill this weakness, the DL-based classification system, which uses a MobileNet convolutional neural network, shows promise in identifying foreground sound
sources. Our findings highlight the potential of DL techniques to automate the classification of sound sources, providing valuable insights into the acoustic environment. The
proposed methodology of combining the two above techniques represents a step forward in automating acoustic
event detection and classification in urban soundscapes
and providing important information to manage noise
mitigation actions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Alterations in topology, cost, and dynamics of gamma-band EEG functional networks in a preclinical model of traumatic brain injury
Get PDFTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability leading to multiple sequelae in cognitive, sensory, and physical domains, including posttraumatic epilepsy. Despite extensive research, our understanding of its impact on macroscopic brain circuitry remains incomplete. We analyzed electrophysiological functional connectomes in the gamma band from an animal model of blast-induced TBI over multiple time points after injury. We revealed differences in small-world propensity and rich-club structure compared with age-matched controls, indicating functional reorganization following injury. We further investigated cost-efficiency trade-offs, propose a computationally efficient normalization procedure for quantifying the cost of spatially embedded networks that controls for connectivity strength differences, and observed dynamic changes across the injury timeline. To explore potential links between altered network topology and epileptic activity, we employed a brain-wide computational model of seizure dynamics and attribute brain reorganization to a homeostatic mechanism of activity regulation with the potential unintended consequence of driving generalized seizures. Finally, we demonstrated post-injury hyperexcitability that manifests as an increase in sound-evoked response amplitudes at the cortical level. Our work characterizes, for the first time, gamma-band functional network reorganization in a model of brain injury and proposes potential causes of these changes, thus identifying targets for future therapeutic interventions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Exploring age-friendly urban design through co-creation: insights from EngAGE4Change, a Health CASCADE study
Get PDFThis study showcases a co-creative approach to urban design spe-cifically tailored to meet the physical activity and socializationneeds of older adults in Barcelona, Spain. It explores how olderadults can be involved in the planning process of spaces that fostertheir physical and social activities. Utilizing a mixed-methodsapproach, the research facilitated a collaborative design effortthat engaged older adults, community stakeholders, and research-ers to ensure a wide range of perspectives and inclusivity. Thesefindings underscore the feasibility of a co-creative process in urbandesign and planning, revealing older adults’ preferences for publicspaces that promote healthy ageing and social well-being.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Combined use of Artificial Intelligence and BPMS: current implementation and functional future challenges in Spanish companies
Get PDFLas herramientas de Inteligencia Artificial (IA) son una realidad, cada vez más implementada en las empresas para el control de entornos, que están modificando continua y rápidamente la forma de trabajar. La utilización de estas herramientas se centra en los departamentos más críticos de las empresas, debido al coste de las mismas y a la dificultad de su implementación. Esta investigación se centra en el uso de herramientas de IA para la gestión de procesos en los departamentos de la empresa imprescindibles para su funcionamiento correcto, con el objetivo de conocer el grado de automatización de procesos mediante la combinación de Inteligencia Artificial y aplicaciones BPMS (Business Process Management Software) que existe en las empresas españolas en función de su dimensión. Se ha utilizado combinación de metodología cuantitativa (encuesta a empleados y personal directivo de diversas empresas españolas de varios sectores) y cualitativa (entrevistas semiestructuradas a responsables de cuatro tipos de departamentos) con el fin de conocer la implementación real de propuestas de automatización y si las empresas están preparadas culturalmente para estos cambios. Los resultados constatan un bajo grado de automatización y uso de herramientas BPMS en empresas de prácticamente todos los tamaños, aunque mayor a medida que las empresas tienen más empleados, así como una predisposición al cambio en general positiva. Se concluye que existe un amplio consenso en diversas áreas funcionales sobre la utilidad del uso combinado de herramientas de IA y aplicaciones BPMS en la gestión de procesos corporativos.Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are a reality that is increasingly being implemented in companies to control environments which are continuously and rapidly changing the way of working. The use of these tools is focused on the most critical departments of companies, due to their cost and the difficulty of their implementation. This research focuses on the use of AI tools for process management in company departments that are essential for their correct functioning, with the aim of knowing the degree of process automation through the combination of Artificial Intelligence and BPMS (Business Process Management Software) applications that exists in Spanish companies depending on their size. A combination of quantitative methodology (survey of employees and management personnel of Spanish companies in various sectors) and qualitative methodology (semi-structured interviews with managers of four types of departments) has been used in order to know the real implementation of automation proposals and whether the companies are culturally prepared for these changes. The results confirm a low degree of automation and use of BPMS tools in companies of practically all sizes, although greater as companies have more employees, as well as a generally positive predisposition to change. It is concluded that there is a broad consensus in various functional areas about the usefulness of the combined use of AI tools and BPMS applications in the management of corporate processes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A semantic-based model for the management of people with reduced mobility in airport facilities
Get PDFThe growing need for inclusive transportation systems has emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges faced by people with reduced mobility (PRM) in airport environments. Nonetheless, its correct performance is subject to different threats and uncontrollable aspects: flight delays, no-show passengers, gate changes, or a high volume of non-registered last-minute PRM passengers, among others. Increasingly, PRM service providers try to deal with such problems by relying on software tools connected to airport information systems to obtain up-to-date data (e.g., flight status, estimated time of arrival or departure of flights, etc.). However, there is no standard representation of the data within this domain that may support the development of aiding tools and enhance their features. To respond to this need, in this article we present an ontology to represent the data domain of PRM services management in airport facilities. The aim is to facilitate the access and combination of the data from different sources under a standardized approach and common understanding of the terminology. The article describes the steps that have been followed to develop the ontology, as well as some usage examples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Retabit: A data-driven platform for urban renewal and sustainable building renovation
Get PDFThe Retabit platform is a data-driven tool designed to bridge the gap between building rehabilitation and urban regeneration by integrating energy, economic, and social dimensions into a single framework. Leveraging multiple public data sources, the platform provides actionable insights to local and national authorities, public housing agencies, urban planners, energy service providers, and research institutions, helping to align renovation initiatives with broader urban transformation goals and climate action objectives. The platform consists of two main components: Analyse, for examining building conditions through multidimensional indicators, and Plan, for designing and simulating renovation projects. Retabit contributes to more transparent and informed decision-making, encourages collaboration across sectors, and addresses long-term sustainability by incorporating participatory planning and impact evaluation. Its scalable structure makes it applicable across diverse geographic areas, policy contexts, and domains linked to sustainable urban development.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Dress to Impress the Planet: How Emotions, Environmental Concern and Personal Values Influence Sustainable Fashion Consumption
Get PDFNegative externalities produced by the fashion industry have become more apparent in recent years. While some companies are engaging in more sustainable practices, a shift in consumer behavior toward more sustainable fashion alternatives is also needed. Our research explores the psychological mechanisms influencing consumers to purchase fashion sustainably, with the aim of exploring how environmental concern and the emotions consumers feel toward sustainable fashion, influence or would influence consumers' intention to behave more sustainably when purchasing fashion products. Data collected through an online survey with 414 participants from Italy suggest that emphasizing positive emotions could contribute to fostering more sustainable fashion consumption, while negative emotions might not be as important as previously thought. In turn, environmental concern has a significant impact on both positive and negative emotions and intention, but mostly boosts the relationship between positive emotions and intention. Results also confirm that personal values significantly moderate the relationships between environmental concern, emotions, and intention. Our study represents an advancement in understanding the mechanisms driving sustainable fashion consumption, signaling the importance of highlighting positive emotions when designing sustainable marketing communications, which could assist academics, businesses, and public organizations interested in changing fashion behaviors 'for the common good'.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio