Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

J-PAS: Semisupervised Sim-to-Obs Transfer for Robust Star–Galaxy–Quasar Classification

Abstract Modern astrophysics and cosmology increasingly rely on simulations and cross-survey analyses, yet differences in instrumentation, calibration, and modeling introduce distribution mismatches between simulated and observed datasets (domain shift). This occurs when the join...

Spurious Drifts in the ITCZ Location and Associated Atmospheric Circulation in Decadal Climate Predictions

Abstract Decadal predictions are affected by initialization shocks and drift, typically diagnosed in ocean circulation or temperature. It is not known, however, to what extent the drift can affect atmospheric dynamics. Here we investigate how the drift causes spatial shifts in th...

Assessing machine learning and statistical models for pipe failure prioritisation in water distribution networks using shared data

The progressive ageing of water distribution networks has significantly increased the frequency of failures in recent years, underscoring the critical need for predictive models capable of anticipating these events to optimise maintenance operations. In this work, we evaluate the...

The State of the Art in Satellite Quantum Key Distribution: Protocols, Technologies, and Physical Limits

ABSTRACT This review presents the state of the art in quantum key distribution (QKD) for satellite‐to‐ground free‐space optical links. It first surveys continuous‐variable, discrete‐variable, entanglement‐based, measurement‐device‐independent, and twin‐field protocols, and discus...

Modeling the human vaginal microbiome and its protection against pathogens using the replicator framework for invasion

Abstract The human vaginal microbiota plays a central role in protecting against urogenital infections, including bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, HIV, and urinary tract infections. However, the ecological mechanisms connecting microbial community structure to clinical indi...

Client clustering versus personalization in federated residential load forecasting: A personalization-fair benchmark of accuracy and communication overhead

Residential load forecasting underpins demand response and local energy trading, yet privacy regulations such as the EU GDPR prevent service providers from collecting fine-grained household consumption data. Federated learning (FL) enables collaborative training without raw data...

A low-cost imaging platform for quantitative characterisation of scaffold surface macrotopography with potential application in craniofacial tissue engineering

Craniofacial bone regeneration is a demanding application of tissue engineering (TE) in which scaffold architecture—pore size, shape and spatial distribution—is a determinant of regenerative success, so that reliable geometric quality control is a prerequisite for translation. Co...

Combining chemotherapy and cold atmospheric plasma treatment: Empirical and theoretical insights

Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone in oncology, but drug resistance and dose-dependent side effects limit its efficacy. Cold atmospheric plasma emerges as a powerful tool that can sensitize cancer cells and synergize with chemotherapy. It is an ionized gas and an exogenous source...

Techno-economic feasibility of offshore wind-based ammonia production for La Guajira, North Sea, and Gulf of Roses

This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of offshore wind-based ammonia production in 2035 and 2050. A pseudo-dynamic modeling framework with capacity optimization is applied to three offshore sites in Colombia, Denmark, and Spain using long-term wind data to capture...

A digital-twin testbench for centrifugal pump systems

This paper presents the Centrifugal Pump Digital Twin Testbench (CPDTT), an instrumented and fully automated experimental platform developed to study mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic failure modes in centrifugal pump systems under controlled conditions. The setup features an...

Antibacterial Interventions for Orthodontic Appliances; Surface Modifications, Coatings and Bulk-Incorporated Antibacterial Agents: Materials, Mechanisms and Clinical Application—A Scoping Review

Biofilm accumulation on orthodontic appliances is a recognized risk factor for white spot lesion formation and caries during treatment. Antibacterial surface modifications and coating strategies have been proposed as appliance-level preventive approaches. Studied interventions in...

ODIN: Confirmation and 3D Reconstruction of Six Massive Protoclusters at Cosmic Noon

Abstract Protoclusters represent sites of accelerated galaxy formation and extreme astrophysical activity characteristic of dense environments. Identifying massive protoclusters and mapping their spatial structures are therefore crucial for understanding how large-scale environme...

CAMS-REG-UNC-v8.1: a detailed uncertainty product for the gridded CAMS-REG-v8.1 emission inventory

Abstract. Independent verification of greenhouse gas emission reductions and trends in air pollution levels is receiving increasing attention. Atmospheric observations can provide such a constraint on emission estimates through inverse modelling, which requires a detailed quantif...

A sustainability index for strategic mine planning: integrating closure and environmental costs into phase prioritization

Abstract This paper proposes a phase-based evaluation workflow for strategic mine planning in which environmental and closure costs associated with each project phase are quantified after a base-case block sequencing and then compared with the economic performance of the resultin...

Predicting consumers' intention to purchase local foods with GI certification: the interplay of consumer ethnocentrism, place identity, attitude and perceived credibility of origin-labelling

Purpose Nudging consumers to choose local products is gaining importance for relocalisation of agri-food system. Origin labelling, such as Geographical Indication (GI) certification, is being widely promoted as a tool of place branding and for signalling the localness of products...

Reversible Electrolyte-Supported Solid Oxide Cells Fabricated by Aqueous Mold-Casting

Reversible Solid Oxide Cells (rSOCs) are highly efficient energy conversion systems for power generation in fuel cell mode (SOFC) and energy storage in electrolysis mode (SOEC). These devices are typically manufactured through multi-step processing routes based on conventional fu...

Greenland's Topography Triggers Cyclogenesis: Synergy Between Lee Cyclogenesis and Jet Streak

Abstract Arctic cyclones play a crucial role in shaping Arctic weather patterns and influencing sea ice concentrations. During the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition in April 2020, an Arctic cyclone was observed at the leeside of Gre...

Burned Area Evidence for Process-Sensitive Post-Fire Hydrogeomorphic Monitoring Across Mediterranean and Iberian–Atlantic Regions

In operational terms, post-fire landscapes require monitoring priorities that reflect hydrogeomorphic susceptibility rather than burned extent alone. This study tests whether European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) burned area evidence, combined with open terrain, rainfal...

Experimental evidence and consequences of biomolecular corona formation on inhaled mRNA lipid nanoparticles

Abstract Inhalable messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics are moving pulmonary drug delivery from local deposition of small molecules toward transient, programmable expression of antigens, secreted proteins, antibodies, gene-editing enzymes and replacement proteins directly within the...

Critical neuronal avalanches arise from excitation-inhibition balanced spontaneous activity

Neuronal avalanches are sequences of neural activations exhibiting scale-invariant statistics, indicative of critical dynamics. Theoretical studies proposed that the balance between excitation (E) and inhibition (I), along with neuromodulation, are key factors influencing this cr...