Theses authorised for defence

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS

• CAMPELLO ROMÁN, VÍCTOR MANUEL: Canonical realizations of Bondi-Metzner-Sachs–like symmetries in field theory
  
  Author: CAMPELLO ROMÁN, VÍCTOR MANUEL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS
  Department: Department of Mathematics (MAT)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 30/05/2024
  Reading date: 08/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala d'Actes de l'FME, Edifici U, Campus Sud.
  Thesis director: BATLLE ARNAU, CARLES | GOMIS TORNÉ, JOAQUIM
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: RUSSO, JORGE
       SECRETARI: TALAVERA SANCHEZ, PEDRO
       VOCAL: FIGUEROA-O\'FARRILL, JOSE
  Thesis abstract: The BMS group appears as an infinite-dimensional group of isometries of asymptotically flat spacetimes first introduced by Bondi, Metzner, van der Burg, and Sachs in 1962. This group has gained interest recently due to the invariance of the gravitational S-matrix under these transformations and the existence of a connection between Weinberg's soft gravitons theorems and Ward identities of BMS supertranslations, and also due to the relation between flat space holography and BMS. Despite being originally related to gravitational physics, the BMS group and its Lie algebra can be realized in free flat field theories by means of the Fourier modes of the field. One of these realizations, which we refer to as the canonical realization, can be built for a free scalar field in Minkowski space using a generalization of the usual Poincar\'e charges. In this Thesis, we study in detail the canonical realization to uncover the expression of the infinite-dimensional conserved charges associated with BMS transformations in d=3 spacetime. The final expression consists of an integral transformation in terms of derivatives of polyharmonic Green functions. We later explore a particle non-linear realization of BMS using the Maurer-Cartan form to find an infinite set of BMS coordinates that are constrained by gauge transformations. We construct the corresponding Poincaré transformation generators in terms of these infinite-dimensional coordinates and the associated momenta. Finally, we study the extension of BMS with conformal transformations in the massless theory. We conclude that it is possible to extend the algebra to a Weyl-BMS realization by defining new superdilatation operators, but the incorporation of special conformal transformations results in an infinite tower of new operators that need further study. The work presented in this Thesis could be of some use for the study of flat-space holography since it describes a field theory in three-dimensional space-time that could act as the dual to asymptotic flat gravity theory in the bulk.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

• GARCÍA DORCE, CRISTINA QUITERIA: Habitat Évolutif
  
  Author: GARCÍA DORCE, CRISTINA QUITERIA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
  Department: Department of Architectural Design (PA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 29/05/2024
  Reading date: 09/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: Presencial (ETSAB. Planta Baixa. Sala de Graus)
  Thesis director: FERRER FORES, JAIME JOSE
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GASTON GUIRAO, CRISTINA
       SECRETARI: DOMINGUEZ MORENO, LUIS ANGEL
       VOCAL: SOLANO ROJO, MONTSERRAT
       VOCAL: MORENO MORENO, MARIA PURIFICACION
       VOCAL: JEREZ ABAJO, ENRIQUE
  Thesis abstract: Often, studying the multiple variations that a building undergoes is like taking a trip back in time. Discovering what is behind this transformation is like an open book for those who know how to read it, where very distant details are told that leave a mark and when that mark becomes visible, it is like returning to the beginning of that journey. It thus becomes a circle of relationships influenced by certain perceptible manifestations. However, on the other hand, most of these will be intangible and will be the ones that will truly determine the more or less adequate quality of what is acquired.The transformation of the environment, conditioned by the existence of human nature, is influenced by multiple factors that affect a probable response to environmental stimuli. The need for shelter and a social setting must be satisfied through an architectural form and the order in the landscape that occurs there through all the instinctive tools that promote survival.This is the case with the shanty towns that cluster around the motley industrial, French colonial area of the coastal city of Casablanca. A period of transition that goes from 1945 to 1956, between the end of colonialism and the beginnings of decolonization, where these slums, slums, slums or, more in line with their colonial origin, bidonvilles, proliferate as a paradigm and pathology.In their attempt to structure and restructure the city in the face of these spontaneous masses that jeopardized the orderly growth of cities, new studies on the change in the coming scenario anticipate ideas and projects on the behaviors and ways of life that have arisen and imposed on the tables of performance. In mind, past and future forms of life seek balance on the direction of the anticipated city that only time in its knowledge will tell.Faced with solutions of acquired interpretation, the contrasting stacks of courtyard houses as a genuine and deep-rooted way of understanding the Moroccan city, awaken in the consciousness of the natural passage of time an advance without a solution of continuity from a past that is still operational. The indeterminate spaces and the adaptation to the different needs as indispensable qualities in the possession of the homes will mark this premise imposed in the face of the inability to take another course other than that of adaptation to wrong situations, the object of European experimentations, where the building manifests as an incomplete assumption until the moment in which it is not inhabited or the individual is capable of appropriating it.In its continuity and on the movement that causes what has already been learned, one more step establishes the development of prolonged growth. The conquest of height, the true upward evolution based on the synthesis of studies on the acquired or imposed place, its people, origins and its multiple errors as true tests of what is understood to last, a constant, a continued evolution to understand or extract an approximation to the so-called habitat.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

• ROIG MAYORAL, ORIOL: Paràmetres definitoris de la façana ventilada i la seva influència sobre el funcionament energètic del sistema
  
  Author: ROIG MAYORAL, ORIOL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
  Department: Department of Architectural Technology (TA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 05/06/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: PARDAL MARCH, CRISTINA | ISALGUE BUXEDA, ANTONIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BASTERRA OTERO, LUIS ALFONSO
       SECRETARI: COLL LOPEZ, JAIME
       VOCAL: LUNA NAVARRO, ALESSANDRA
  Thesis abstract: The negative repercussions of climate change and global warming are becoming more and more evident. We need to find strategies to reduce our environmental impact and at the same time adapt to these new conditions. The ventilated facade is a constructive system that can be useful to avoid overheating of buildings and improve the comfort of users.The commonly used energy calculation systems, incorporated in the regulations, do not take into account many of the characteristics of ventilated facades. Some of their parameters, or their combination, can affect the ventilation of the cavity and the energy performance of the enclosure. Therefore, these systems may not be sufficient to argue for decision-making about aspects involved in the energy performance of the facade as a whole.This thesis hypothesizes that the simplified calculation systems do not consider parameters of the ventilated facade that can greatly influence the energy performance of the envelope. To demonstrate this, an algorithm is developed. It takes into account the defining parameters of the ventilated façade and related variables.It is an algorithm that takes into account the characteristics of the facade, the building as a whole, and the environment, along with the weather conditions. With this information, it relates the energy flows based on their transfer equations. Transient conduction is considered following the explicit method, with surface finite elements. The airflow through the openings and inside the ventilated cavity depends on the wind pressure and the buoyancy, while the dynamic and frictional losses are conditioned by the geometry and characteristics of the channel.This model is incorporated into a calculation tool programmed in Python and is validated by comparing its results with temperatures measured in five buildings. These cases were chosen to represent different situations, and especially uncertain aspects such as airflow and how it is conditioned by the geometry of the cavity and its interruptions and discontinuities.The validation of the tool is carried out at two levels: graphical and numerical. The first allows us to obtain an image of the model operation and to be able to analyse in which situations it best approximates reality, while the second allows us to obtain objective statistical values. The tool is validated with a minimum coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.87 for each of the periods, which indicates a very good correlation.Once validated, the tool is used to analyse how some parameters influence the energy performance of the envelope. The chosen parameters are the colour of the outer surface, the dimensions of the ventilation channel and the material of the outer sheet. It is verified that these parameters imply a variation of the average outer surface temperature of the inner sheet of between 0.64 °C and 7.97 °C, which proves the hypothesis.In the future, it is proposed that the influence of various parameters in different climates and situations be studied in depth so that this information can be extrapolated and used as a design guide. In this way, architects could reasonably estimate how their technical and design proposals influence the energy performance of the enclosure. By being able to adapt the facade to the environmental, climatic, building or system conditions, a lower energy demand for climate control could be achieved. In addition, this knowledge can be used to implement innovative proposals that can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the ventilated façade. Finally, it can also be applied to try to influence the regulations and their simplified calculation systems, with the aim that they reflect the actual energy performance of the ventilated facade more accurately.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BIOINFORMATICS

• CABRERA PASADAS, MÓNICA: Exploring the impact of p53 activation on spatio-temporal genome topology
  
  Author: CABRERA PASADAS, MÓNICA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BIOINFORMATICS
  Department: Department of Statistics and Operations Research (EIO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 27/10/2023
  Reading date: 09/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Sala d'Actes de l'FME, Edifici U, Campus Sud
  Thesis director: JAVIERRE MARTINEZ, BIOLA M | VALENCIA HERRERA, ALFONSO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MARTI-RENOM, MARC A
       SECRETARI: DELICADO USEROS, PEDRO FRANCISCO
       VOCAL: RAMOS RODRIGUEZ, MIREIA
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: STIK, GREGOIRE
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: GÓMEZ MELIS, GUADALUPE
  Thesis abstract: The year I started this Ph.D. (2019) was the 40th anniversary of the discovery of p53 and the 30th anniversary of its characterization as a tumor suppressor. Approximately, half of all human cancers carry mutations or deletions of the p53 gene, while the other half have disruptions to the p53 signaling pathway. Nevertheless, despite decades of extensive research the precise molecular mechanisms underpinning p53-mediated gene regulation and its tumor-suppressive efficacy remain partially elucidated.Under non genotoxic or oncogenic stressed conditions, the MDM2 protein promotes ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of p53 maintaining low cellular levels. However, upon encountering cellular stress, the p53-MDM2 interaction is disrupted leading to p53 accumulation and activation. Once active, p53 promotes critical cell fate decisions such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, or senescence by transactivating an array of target genes, leading to effective tumor regression. Consequently, the loss of p53 functionality is intrinsically linked to cancer susceptibility, rendering p53 an enticing candidate for anti-cancer therapeutic interventions. Cis-regulatory elements master gene expression through the control of transcription in temporal and spatial dimensions. However, the mechanisms by which p53 engages the genome in the context of 3D chromatin to activate transcription are not well understood –the interplay between p53 and 3D genome organization has remained unexplored to date.This doctoral thesis investigates p53s ability to reconfigure the genome and govern transcriptional regulation by inducing alterations in the temporal and spatial genome structure. It is the hypothesis of this dissertation that p53 exerts its influence by modulating physical connections between regulatory elements, enhancers, and gene promoters via the manipulation of DNA loops.To rigorously assess this proposition, a comprehensive investigation into the potential ramifications of p53 activation in HCT116 cell lines achieved through pharmacologically inhibiting MDM2 with Nutlin-3a drug has been outlined. This approach synergistically integrates diverse genomic datasets, encompassing Hi-C, Promoter Capture Hi-C, RNA-seq, and ChIP-seq methodologies. The analysis unveils that p53 activation precipitates both direct and indirect modifications in genome architecture, manifesting within minutes of its induction. By deciphering the nexus between 3D genome organization and p53-driven transcriptional regulation, this thesis aspires to help in the unravel avenues for therapeutic intervention in the realm of cancer treatment.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

• PIÑERA AVELLANEDA, DAVID: Development of Antibacterial, Antiresorptive and Osteogenic Gallium and Silver Doped Titanium Implants
  
  Author: PIÑERA AVELLANEDA, DAVID
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Materials Science and Engineering (CEM)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 23/05/2024
  Reading date: 05/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:30
  Reading place: Aula A0.02 de l'Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Av. d'Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona
  Thesis director: MANERO PLANELLA, JOSE MARIA | BUXADERA PALOMERO, JUDIT
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GÓMEZ RIBELLES, JOSÉ LUIS
       SECRETARI: GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA, CRISTINA
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: MAS MORUNO, CARLOS
  Thesis abstract: The augment in life expectancy has motivated the increase or degenerative disorders, especially in our bones. The skeleton provides us protection and support; however, with aging, bones can undergo an imbalance in its homoeostasis resulting in a high osteoclast activity mediating bone resorption. As a consequence, bones become damaged and they are susceptible to fractures.Diseases involving high bone resorption can be osteoporosis or bone cancer and me tastasis. In these disorders, the traditional treatments are focused on reducing bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclast activation. However, even with the use of anti-resorptive drugs, the risk of fractures still remains high. Therefore, in cases in which bone deterioration is beyond and a fracture occurs; or the tumor must be removed, a prosthesis is required.In this sense, Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most used materials in orthopedic surgeries, mainly due to suitable biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties. Nevertheless, to achieve adequate osteointegration in a compromised environment where bone resorption is highly activated is an arduous labor. In addition, Ti has to face another huge problem to ensure osteointegration: bacterial infection. Bacteria can adhere to the implant surface, provokes surgical site infection (SSI) and compromise the success of the implant and the life of the patient. Moreover, in orthopedic surgeries after malignant bone tumor resection, bacteria can take advantage of the patients immune depression and generate a major complication.In order to solve this unmet medical need, in this PhD thesis we propose a surface thermochemical treatment to improve the Ti performance. This thermochemical treatment is a well-established procedure, developed by Kokubo, T., to enhance the bioactivity of Ti and can be modified with the addition of functional ions. Therefore, in this PhD, we explore the use the addition of silver {Ag) into the thermochemical treatment to provide antibacterial activity {chapter 1 ); the addition of gallium {Ga) to provide anti-resorptive character and osteoinduction {chapter 2); and finally, the addition of both ions to obtain an antibacterial Ti implant with anti-resorptive and osteoinductive properties (chapter 3).After physicochemical evaluation in previous work, this PhD thesis highlights in Chapter 1 that the Ag-doped calcium titanate layer produced on Ti surface as a consequence of the thermochemical treatment inhibits bacterial attachment. shows no toxic effect on osteoblast-like cells. and enhances osteoblasts survival in co-culture with Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. In Chapter 2, the Ga-containing calcium titanate and gallium titanate layer produced as a consequence of the treatment reduces osteoclastogenesis and induces osteodifferentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Finally, in Chapter 3, the combination of both ions generates Ag-doped Ga-containing calcium titanate and gallium titanate capable of reducing osteoclastogenesis and inducing osteodifferentiation of hMSC after co-culturing with Pseudomonas aeruginosa andquorum sensing virulence.As conclusions, the layer generated with the Ag and Ga combination could be a good strategy to reduce bone resorption in bone defects caused by excessive bone resorption. Moreover, the layer would prevent the apparition of SSI by fighting bacterial infection. Therefore, GaAg-treated Ti becomes a promising medical device for its application in osteoporotic and bone tumor prostheses with high incidence of bacterial infection.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

• MOHAMMADI, PAYAM: EXPLORING NANOSAFETY PERFORMANCE IN R+D FACILITIES AND LABORATORIES (WORKPLACES)
  
  Author: MOHAMMADI, PAYAM
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
  Department: Department of Management (OE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 08/05/2024
  Reading date: 19/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula 28.8 - ETSEIB- UPC ( Avda. Diagonal, 647-Barcelona)
  Thesis director: GALERA RODRIGO, ASUNCIÓN
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: FERREIRA MARTINS AREZES, PEDRO MIGUEL
       SECRETARI: CREMADES OLIVER, LAZARO VICENTE
       VOCAL: GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA, MARÍA DE LAS NIEVES
  Thesis abstract: This dissertation explores the realm of nanosafety within workplace environments, underscoring the pivotal role of extensive knowledge management as the field of nanotechnology continues its rapid expansion. At the heart of this study lies a tripartite research methodology designed to seamlessly bridge the theoretical underpinnings of nanosafety with their practical applications in occupational health and safety (OHS), particularly concerning the management and handling of nanomaterials.The research embarks on its journey with a detailed bibliometric analysis aimed at assessing the current landscape of knowledge creation within the domain of nanosafety. This foundational step not only illuminates the breadth and depth of existing scholarly work but also serves to identify prevalent trends, key thematic areas, and notable knowledge gaps within the field. By dissecting the fabric of existing literature, the study sets the stage for the subsequent phases of research, each tailored to address the intricacies of nanosafety in occupational settings.Following the bibliometric analysis, the dissertation ventures into a critical examination of the identified knowledge gaps. Through a methodical synthesis of literature reviews, expert interviews, and case study analyses, the research sheds light on the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that lie within the realm of nanosafety dissemination and application. This segment of the study is instrumental in proposing a set of innovative strategies aimed at enhancing the dissemination and practical application of nanosafety knowledge among key stakeholders, including industry practitioners, policymakers, and the academic community.The final step of this research endeavor is the development of an innovative diagnostic tool designed to revolutionize the implementation of nanosafety protocols in workplace environments. Rooted in the latest scientific insights and aligned with prevailing EU standards, this tool offers a pragmatic solution for businesses seeking to not only comply with but also proactively enhance their nanosafety measures. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application, this diagnostic tool epitomizes the dissertation's core objective: to mitigate the risks associated with nanomaterials in the workplace while fostering a culture of safety and compliance.Collectively, this dissertation not only illuminates the complex landscape of nanosafety management but also champions the need for a dynamic, multidisciplinary approach to OHS in the context of nanotechnology. It underscores the indispensability of continuous research, agile knowledge transfer, and the creation of practical tools that synergize theoretical insights with real-world needs. In doing so, the study makes a significant contribution to the field of nanosafety, paving the way for the adoption of safer, more sustainable technological practices in professional settings.
  
• YIN, JIARUI: Navigating the Landscape of HR Analytics: A Multi-Perspective Analysis and Research Roadmap
  
  Author: YIN, JIARUI
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
  Department: Department of Management (OE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/06/2024
  Reading date: 12/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: FIB- UPC Sala d'actes Manuel Martí Recober B6-planta 0
  Thesis director: GALLARDO GALLARDO, EVA | FERNANDEZ ALARCON, VICENÇ
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GOMES MENEZES, IGOR
       SECRETARI: SALLAN LEYES, JOSE MARIA
       VOCAL: TURSUNBAYEVA, AIZHAN
  Thesis abstract: Context: Against the backdrop of big data and digitalization, HR Analytics (HRA) has garnered substantial attention in both research and practice. HRA has been considered transformative for HR functions and organizations. However, as HRA practice prevails, the research on HRA has been criticized as lagging behind the practical interest and underdeveloped as a research field.Objectives: The overall objective of the thesis is to examine the current research narrative and provide high-potential directions for future research on HRA. The thesis is divided into three studies, each with its own specific objectives. The first study explores how Business Analytics (BA) research from an organizational focus has been conducted since BA as a research field is more developed than HRA. Moreover, it seeks to understand how insights from BA can inform and enhance HRA research. The objective of the second study is to assess the current state of research knowledge sharing and collaboration in analytics applied to HR (HRA) compared to other business domains such as supply chain (Supply Chain Analytics, SCA) and marketing (Marketing Analytics, MA). It discusses methods and strategies to facilitate this sharing and collaboration, with implications for enhancing future research on HRA. Finally, the third study analyzes how HRA can contribute to social outcomes, moving beyond the traditional strategic and financial value measures. The aim is to explore the broader impacts of HRA implementation in organizational settings.Methods: A variety of methods were employed to conduct the research. In the first study, thematic analysis was used to compare HRA and BA. This analysis was based on 45 HRA articles and 77 BA articles, all derived from a systematic literature search on the Web of Science (WoS). In the second study, various bibliometric methods were used to illustrate the current status of knowledge sharing and collaboration in the three analytics research streams: HRA (34 articles), SCA (80 articles), and MA (51 articles). Finally, the third study involved a conceptual analysis, using social sustainability principles as the theoretical framework to explore the link between HRA and social sustainability within the paradigm of sustainable HRM.Results: While both BA and HRA research evidence converge on the goal of enabling data-driven decisions and enhancing business performance, notable discrepancies exist between the two. These discrepancies can be attributed not only to the specific HR context but also to the differing maturity level of HRA. In comparing analytics research across three business domains–HRA, SCA, and MA–, I found that HRA research is considerably different from the other two research streams regarding covered concepts, intellectual structure, and research approaches. Additionally, HRA research lacks integration with the broader BA literature. Through conceptual analysis, I argue that HRA can positively impact social sustainability by promoting employee development contingent upon the principles of fairness and transparency.Implications: This thesis delineates several high-potential directions for HRA research, advocating for an expanded scope, the leveraging of knowledge from BA, and enhanced cross-functional and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also introduces technology considerations to Sustainable HRM and establishes a connection between HRA and social sustainability, thus framing sustainable HRA practices beyond merely financial returns. On a practical level, the research underscores the necessity of developing HRA capabilities through collaborative efforts while emphasizing the importance of ethical practices in operationalizing HRA.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING

• AGUILAR MORENO, MIGUEL: Liquid-Liquid membrane contactors for sustainable ammonia recovery and valorization: experimental insights, novel approaches and applications
  
  Author: AGUILAR MORENO, MIGUEL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 16/04/2024
  Reading date: 05/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: EEBE (Escola d'Enginyeria Barcelona Est), Sala Polivalent de l'Edifici A, planta baixa, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: CORTINA PALLAS, JOSE LUIS | VALDERRAMA ANGEL, CESAR ALBERTO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: DOSTA PARRAS, JOAN
       SECRETARI: GIBERT AGULLO, ORIOL
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: REZAKAZEMI, MASHALLAH
  Thesis abstract: This comprehensive research represents a significant stride in the exploration of innovative strategies aimed at enhancing ammonia recovery within diverse wastewater streams. The study is structured into distinct phases, each addressing crucial aspects of the ammonia recovery process. In the initial phase, the research focuses on augmenting membrane contactor performance, employing coagulation-flocculation (C/F) and aeration as preliminary treatments. The outcomes of this phase demonstrate substantial increases in both the mass transfer coefficient and overall efficiency ofammonia recovery, particularly notable when treating the real sidestream centrate. A pivotal finding underscores the efficacy of dosing aluminum sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) at 30 mg Al+/L in the C/F process, yielding remarkable efficiencies in the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, and total suspended solids (TSS). Into the second phase, the study delves into the sustainable application of liquid-liquid membrane contactors (LLMC) for ammonia recovery. An array of experimental conditions is meticulously explored, with the results illuminating the considerable impact of replacing the acid washing liquid between steps on the overall performance of the LLMC. Additionally, the study highlights the nuanced relationship between the initial ammonia concentration and the subsequent recovery, providing valuable insights. This phase effectively showcases the potential versatility and efficiency of LLMCs in the valorization of ammonia within wastewater streams. The third and final phase introduces a novel asymmetric hollow fiber liquid-liquid membrane contactor (HF-LLMC) with distinctive selectivity for ammonia over water. The investigation entails a comprehensive examination of various operational parameters, including feed and acid flow rates, mass transfer coefficients, and acid consumption. Notably, the results affirm the high selectivity of the HF-LLMC for ammonia, coupled with minimal water transfer. This establishes the HF-LLMC as a promising technology for the recovery and concentration of ammonium in diluted urban and industrial streams. The amalgamation of these findings, approached with a global perspective, significantly contributes not only to the advancement of sustainable nutrient recovery technologies but also underscores their pragmatic feasibility for implementation within the frameworks of the circular economy and efficient resource management.
  
• LEÓN OVIEDO, TAMARA ELIZABETH: Application of bipolar electrodialysis to the generation of alkaline and acidic solutions from concentrated seawater brines from saltworks
  
  Author: LEÓN OVIEDO, TAMARA ELIZABETH
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 08/05/2024
  Reading date: 03/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:30
  Reading place: Defensa pública: EEBE (Escola d'Enginyeria Barcelona Est), Sala Polivalent de l'Edifici A, planta baixa, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: JOFRE CRUANYES, LLUÍS | CORTINA PALLAS, JOSE LUIS
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GIBERT AGULLO, ORIOL
       SECRETARI: LICON BERNAL, EDXON EDUARDO
       VOCAL: PAWLOWSKI, SYLWIN
  Thesis abstract: Brines should be treated as waste and disposed accordingly. Nevertheless, brines are typically discharged back into water bodies, thereby affecting the marine environment, soil quality, and groundwater. However, the potential benefits and applications of these brines are worth further investigation. In addition to the high concentration of salt (NaCl), some important elements, such as Critical Raw Materials (e.g. Li, Sr, Ga, Ge) can be found. This has increased interest in using brines as an alternative source for recovering strategic elements, the large content of strong electrolytes (e.g., NaCl and Na2SO4) has opened the possibility of using brines as a source to produce chemical commodities (e.g., strong acid and bases). Specifically , owing to the highly saline nature of brines, they are well-suited for use in electro-membrane processes such as Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes (EDBM). EDBM allows for the generation of chemicals from their corresponding salts; the protons and hydroxide ions generated in the bipolar membranes generate, together with the cations and anions removed from the salts , acidic and alkaline solutions, respectively. However, EDBM technology still needs to be improved to reduce the high energy expenses and boost the concentration of products. EDBM remains a non-scale-up technology that requires more research and study to be able to compete with well-established technologies to produce acidic/alkali solutions from brines, including chlor-alkali technology.There fore, it is necessary to investigate mass transfer processes in complex systems such as those involving EDBM with solutions of high salt composition. Additionally, there are a limited number of bipolar membranes and limited information on the behaviour of the membranes in concentrated solutions .In this context, the present thesis aims to carry out an extensive evaluation of the production of acidic and alkaline solutions from brines using EDBM. This involved moving from theoretical proposals based on Computational Fluidic Dynamics (CFO) models to a comprehensive experimental campaign using synthetic brines, in which numerous operational parameters were examined. Two CFO models were introduced using 2-0 geometry, one was time-dependent and the other was not; both aimed to study the mass transpo rt, potential distribution, and water splitting phenomena.The results from both theoretical studies and experiments offered valuable insights into how to enhance the performance of EDBM and make them more competitive with current popular technologies, ultimately leading to the growth and expansion of this technology.
  
• MESA GÓMEZ, ADRIANA MARÍA: Analysis and modelling of natech accidents originated by strong winds
  
  Author: MESA GÓMEZ, ADRIANA MARÍA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Change of supervisor
  Deposit date: 11/04/2024
  Reading date: 08/07/2024
  Reading time: 16:00
  Reading place: Aula Hemiciclo_02, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Los Andes, Colòmbia // 16:00 (GMT+2) Barcelona (9:00 am (GMT-5) Bogotá - Colombia)
  Thesis director: CASAL FABREGA, JOAQUIM | MUÑOZ GIRALDO, FELIPE | SANCHEZ SILVA, EDGAR MAURICIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PLANAS CUCHI, EULALIA
       SECRETARI: PALACIOS ROSAS, ADRIANA
       VOCAL: DEMICHELA, MICAELA
  Thesis abstract: In recent decades, there has been an increase in the frequency of natural events, coinciding with the simultaneous development of industrial activities in many countries. Consequently, the frequency of Natech accidents, which are technological disasters triggered by natural hazards, has also risen. This trend has spurred researchers to explore new risk analysis methods to prevent and mitigate potential damage to populations, the environment, and industrial facilities. There is a growing awareness in the literature about the impact of natural events, particularly when they occur concurrently, cascade, or accumulate over time.This thesis proposes a research initiative to conduct a risk assessment that includes the Natech risk associated with strong winds. The primary objective is to develop a methodology for analyzing Natech risk in storage units in coastal zones that are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.Firstly, the thesis introduces the integration of natural events, specifically strong winds, into a quantitative Natech risk analysis methodology. This integration represents a significant advancement in assessing the potential impacts of technological accidents triggered by natural events. By incorporating strong winds as a hazard, the methodology offers a more comprehensive approach to evaluating the vulnerability of industrial facilities, especially storage tanks, to natural-technological events. This integration enables stakeholders to better understand and quantify the risks posed by Natech events involving strong winds, facilitating the implementation of targeted mitigation measures and enhancing preparedness. Ultimately, it contributes to improving the resilience of industrial facilities and surrounding communities to the risks posed by natural events.Secondly, the thesis describes the development of two models for environmental and socioeconomic risk assessment, respectively. These models provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts of Natech events, thereby enhancing the understanding of the overall risk landscape. By incorporating previously overlooked vulnerable elements, such as cultural heritage sites, sensitive environmental areas, water catchment sites, and so on, the models offer a more holistic perspective on Natech risks, ensuring that mitigation strategies can protect not only human safety and infrastructure, but also socioeconomic and environmental assets.Thirdly, the thesis outlines the development of a computational tool designed to facilitate the implementation of these models. This tool streamlines the risk assessment process, enabling stakeholders to analyze and manage Natech risks efficiently.Overall, the generation of these models and the accompanying computational tool represents a significant advancement in Natech risk management. By integrating environmental and socioeconomic considerations into the risk assessment process, these models provide a more robust foundation for decision-making and emergency preparedness, ultimately contributing to the resilience of communities and ecosystems in the face of Natech events. Finally, the methodology is applied in a case study to verify its applicability
  
• MUÑOZ NAVARRO, JUAN ANTONIO: Assessing the fire hazard of vegetation at the wildland-urban interface
  
  Author: MUÑOZ NAVARRO, JUAN ANTONIO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 03/05/2024
  Reading date: 12/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: EEBE (Escola d'Enginyeria Barcelona Est), Sala Polivalent de l'Edifici A, Edifici A, planta baixa, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: PLANAS CUCHI, EULALIA | PASTOR FERRER, ELSA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: OLIVERAS MENOR, IMMACULADA
       SECRETARI: ÁGUEDA COSTAFREDA, ALBA
       VOCAL: DE ALMEIDA, MIGUEL ABRANTES DE FIGUEIREDO BERNARDO
  Thesis abstract: Human population is growing worldwide, so are the places where we live, move and work. These places, like neighbourhoods, networks for transportation of people and materials or industries are frequently near, or even immersed, within forested areas. These areas, where human activity meets with forestlands, are known as the wildland-urban interface. Here, we, our properties and our activities get exposed to forest fires, with a high potential for the loss of human lives and assets. The solution to this problem is complex, comprises various aspects and involves reducing the risk at the wildland-urban interface.One of the main features of this problem is the vegetation, that act as a natural fuel for the fire. Here, the ornamental vegetation has an active role driving the fire within the wildland-urban interface, while the wild vegetation drives the fire front from the forest where the fire ignites to the boundaries of our settlements.The goal of this thesis is to assess the fire hazard at the wildland-urban interface, addressing the problem from the perspective of these natural fuels. To meet this goal, the chapters of this thesis characterize and model the burning behaviour of ornamental and wild vegetation and develop documents, methodologies and tools to implement this knowledge.To characterize ornamental vegetation and the way it burns, this thesis shows detailed fuel samplings, real-scale burning experiments and a forensic study of a real fire in the wildland-urban interface. With this information it was possible to develop custom scripts to simulate ornamental vegetation fires in Fire Dynamics Simulator, which is a Computational Fluid Dynamic simulator specially designed to simulate heat and smoke transportation from the fire.To characterize fires burning wild vegetation, this thesis focuses on the boundaries of the wildland-urban interface and develops models able to predict flame geometry from the environmental conditions, which is necessary to forecast fire impact on the people and the structures. Finally, this thesis presents a software ready to be used by fire managers that uses the information obtained from these models to size the preventive infrastructures that surround our settlements.
  
• NASR ESFAHANI, KOUROSH: Mathematical modeling of advanced oxidation processes for the efficient wastewater treatment: Integrated Management of advanced oxidation processes and conventional Bio-Processes for the removal of recalcitrant components
  
  Author: NASR ESFAHANI, KOUROSH
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 28/03/2024
  Reading date: 02/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala Polivalent de l'Edifici I, Planta baixa, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: PEREZ MOYA, MONTSERRAT | GRAELLS SOBRE, MOISES
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PAIS VILAR, VÍTOR JORGE
       SECRETARI: SOLER TURU, LLUIS
       VOCAL: GARCIA MONTAÑO, JULIA
  Thesis abstract: The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the development of mathematical modeling of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) aimed at the competent treatment of recalcitrant organic compounds in wastewater. In particular, the Ph.D. thesis first focuses on developing mathematical models of AOPs, implementing these models in software tools, and enabling a deeper understanding of the complex nature of these processes through the detailed simulation of the evolution of chemical species along the reaction time for diverse and unexplored scenarios. Hence, these tools are next used for fitting the models to the experimental data obtained in the laboratory in the course of the thesis or reported in the literature. The fitted models are analyzed and refined through sensitivity analysis techniques, and finally, they are validated and their accuracy assessed. Models are mainly used for addressing operational issues, but also design aspects are considered in regard of the simulation of integrated processes using AOPs and conventional biotreatment processes.The thesis specifically addresses the development of a model for AOPs, above all photo-Fenton processes, including flexible H2O2 supply given as a function of time. The model contributes a practical tool aimed at providing model-based simulation for solving the problem of the management of the H2O2 dosage profile of the photo-Fenton process.The thesis also addresses the problem of the pH dependency of the photo-Fenton by modeling the possibility of performing the photo-Fenton process at near-neutral pH. This is studied by considering the use of iron complexing agents such as ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS). In a subsequent stage, as a step forward in improving photo-Fenton processes, a reported kinetic model of the Fe(3+)-EDDS mediated photo-Fenton process is extended to include the reactions occurring in the absence of H2O2, when EDDS(• 3- )radical generated from the lysis of the Fe(3+)-EDDS complex is responsible for the organic matter degradation. This is achieved by adopting a novel semi-empirical approach based on lumping radical species.Ozonation of wastewater is also studied as a different case of AOPs, focusing in the modeling of ozone decay during the treatment of secondary effluents containing organic matter. This is addressed by proposing a new model, based again in the used of lumped or surrogate concentrations. The ozone model developed is shown to be capable of describing the complex profile of the ozone at different initial concentrations, and has proved accurate to describe the experimental data obtained in the lab, as well as data reported in the literature.The modeling approach adopted in this thesis has also been used to explore integrated processes combining AOPs with other processes, namely conventional biotreatment processes which main acknowledged limitation is the incapacity to remove recalcitrant compounds from wastewaters. The study combined the AOP models developed with standard models such as ASM1 to map the correspondence between the variables employed in each model, and produce the simulation of different scenarios combining these two technologies.As a final remark, the thesis has also addressed the design and development of chemical reactors, particularly prototypes for photo-Fenton processes using 3D-printing. This last study addresses the selection of materials according to different criteria for reactor prototyping and subsequent testing of the chemical suitability of the reactor for carrying out AOPs.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

• LIN, QIN: Challenges and opportunities of Chinese ports: the multi-faced perspectives
  
  Author: LIN, QIN
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 24/05/2024
  Reading date: 11/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública presencial ETSECCPB, Sala Tesines C1-002 (C/Jordi Girona 1-3, mòdul C1, Campus Nord, Barcelona).
  Thesis director: GRIFOLL COLLS, MANUEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GONZALEZ-AREGALL, MARTA
       SECRETARI: MARTÍNEZ DÍAZ, MARGARITA
       VOCAL: CHEN, GANG
  Thesis abstract: In this thesis, challenges and opportunities of Chinese ports and shipping is investigated from the multi-faced perspectives, i.e., the challenges between ports in the background of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the challenges of new trade routes to traditional shipping pattern, the opportunities of traditional shipping in the dominant era of land-based transportation and the challenges of prosperous shipping to the port traffic.Hong Kong, which is one of the world’s largest shipping centres and once the leading port in the GBA, has experienced a continuous decline in recent years and has been successively overtaken by two other GBA ports (i.e. Shenzhen and Guangzhou). Chapter 2 explores the concentration, inequality, and competition of the GBA multi-port system during the 1972–2020 period. Results indicate that: 1) Hong Kong has witnessed an entire K-wave evolution, and 2) the evolution of the GBA multi-port system is a result of the asynchronous development stages of different GBA ports; 3) Missing the opportunity period of 2000–2008, the transfer of capital from Hong Kong and the Chinese “opening up” policy are the direct, the underlying and the root causes behind this evolution; 4) A tri-hub multi-port system has gradually taken shape in the GBA finally, in which Hong Kong is the second runner-up after Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The prospect of the Hong Kong Port would not be optimistic, and a negative impact of Guangzhou on Hong Kong could be expected in the near future. The newly opened Trans-Asian Railway offers opportunities for trade logistics between China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Chapter 3 selected six factors including cost, time, transport volume, reliability, safety, and environmental friendliness to investigate the impact on logistics for trade between China and ASEAN. It explores the most ideal solution for the Sino-Thai logistics route by using the AHP-TOPSIS approach and ranks the current five Sino-Thai logistics routes. The results indicate that the Sea-land transport (0.787) is still the best option, the Kunming-Bangkok Roadway (0.452) came in second, followed by the newly opened Trans-Asian Railway (0.431); The Nanning-Bangkok Roadway (0.373) ranks second to last, and the river-land transport service (0.249) is the last resort. In this sense, the newly opened Trans-Asian Railway would influence the current pattern of Sino-Thai logistics to some extent. Efficient inter-island transportation is crucial for the development of an island’s economy and traffic accessibility. Chapter 4 investigates the travel mode choice of passengers between two different scenarios (i.e. short sea shipping (SSS) and road transport) and also examines the factors influencing the travel mode choice with an anonymous questionnaire based on the state preference survey. Logit-based models (i.e. Multinomial Logit Model, Random Parameter Multinomial Logit Model, and Finite Mixture model) are used to estimate the determinants of mode choice. Sensitivity analysis is proceeded to determine the impact of adjusting variables on mode choice. Findings suggest that passengers who choose SSS pay more attention to the convenience of the journey, while those who choose road transport are more concerned about the travel cost. Ships’ routeing was first adopted to reduce the risk of ship collisions and promote marine traffic efficiency. In chapter 5, a quantitative assessment method based on the Gini coefficient is proposed to evaluate the ship collision risk in ships’ routeing waters. This method is applied to Ningbo Zhoushan Port (NZP), the Gini coefficient of the course over ground (COG) for each leg is calculated with the historical Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, and then the Hierarchical Clustering Algorithm (HCA) is applied to classify the 28 legs of the ships’ routeing waters in NZP into 5 risk levels. The results show that: PA 4 and 7 are high-risk areas; PA 1 and 2 are medium-high-risk areas.
  
• NÚÑEZ CORBACHO, MARC: Aerodynamic shape optimization under uncertainties using embedded methods and adjoint techniques
  
  Author: NÚÑEZ CORBACHO, MARC
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
  Department: Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 09/04/2024
  Reading date: 04/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, edifici C1, sala 002, Campus Nord, Barcelona.
  Thesis director: ROSSI BERNECOLI, RICCARDO | BAIGES AZNAR, JOAN
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: LEHMKUHL BARBA, ORIOL
       SECRETARI: MARTINEZ FRUTOS, JESUS
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: RICCHIUTO, MARIO
  Thesis abstract: This thesis develops a framework to perform shape optimization under uncertainties for a body under the action of aerodynamic forces. The solution of the flow is performed with finite elements using the full potential equation with an embedded approach, where the object of study is defined implicitly with a level set function. The optimization problem is solved by combining different software packages to perform the solution of the flow, advance in the optimization loop and perform uncertainty quantification. The first contribution of the thesis is the development of a full embedded approach for the solution of the full potential equation. Due to the inviscid hypothesis of potential solvers, these require the definition of a gap in the computational mesh in order to generate lift, known as the wake. Based on previous works where the wake is defined implicitly with an embedded approach, this work also considers the geometry as an embedded body. Mesh refinement and numerical terms are employed to improve the definition of the geometry in the mesh and ensure the definition of the Kutta condition. The solver is validated for two and three dimensions for subsonic and transonic flows with different reference data. Another contribution of the thesis is the development of the adjoint analysis for the subsonic full potential equation with embedded geometries in two dimensions. Each coordinate of the object of study is considered a design parameter in the adjoint analysis, where the effect of the level set function is considered. The sensitivities of the objective function with respect to the design parameters are validated by comparing them to the sensitivities obtained by using a finite differences approach. A shape optimization problem where the lift coefficient is maximized with geometrical constraints is solved as an example of application of the adjoint sensitivities. The embedded shape optimization problem is extended to consider uncertainties in the inlet condition. The optimization problem is reformulated by choosing a risk measure, the Conditional Value-at-risk, which is minimized. The adjoint sensitivities are adapted for the stochastic case, considering the selected risk measure. The estimation of the risk measure is performed thanks to an external uncertainty quantification library, by applying a novel approach which uses Monte Carlo methods to estimate the Conditional Value-at-risk. The stochastic case is solved in a distributed environment, where each optimization step deploys a Monte Carlo hierarchy to estimate the objective function and its gradients.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTATIONAL AND APPLIED PHYSICS

• LOPEZ BLANCO, SAMUEL: Current-controlled flash sintering for ultra-fine control of the microstructure of lead-free ferroelectric perovskites.
  
  Author: LOPEZ BLANCO, SAMUEL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTATIONAL AND APPLIED PHYSICS
  Department: Department of Physics (FIS)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 09/05/2024
  Reading date: 03/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula 002, Edifici C4, Jordi Girona 1- 3, Campus Nord, Barcelona
  Thesis director: GARCIA GARCIA, JOSE EDUARDO | OCHOA GUERRERO, DIEGO ALEJANDRO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PEREZ MAQUEDA, LUIS ALLAN
       SECRETARI: JIMENEZ PIQUÉ, EMILIO
       VOCAL: BELTRAN MIR, HECTOR
  Thesis abstract: The global environmental crisis imposes the need to perform changes in modern industrial manufacturing systems. In the context of ferroelectric ceramics, it is required to move towards energy efficient sintering methods and eco-friendly materials. Flash sintering emerges as a potential alternative owing to its rapid densification and reduced energy consumption. This technique has been investigated in depth since its discovery in 2010 but it is yet to be fully understood. In this thesis, flash sintering is employed in order to obtain dense environmentally-friendly ferroelectric ceramics. A proper control of the sintering parameters is used to achieve highly controlled microstructures and enhanced functional properties for specific applications. The flash technique is then taken a step further by exploring the current control mode, which proves to grant further dominion over the microstructure. In this work a comprehensive study of sintering parameters in multiple ferroelectric materials, from well-known compositions to complex perovskite-structured systems, is performed in order to accomplish fine microstructure tailoring. The ultimate goal was to demonstrate that flash sintering is an efficient method of obtaining ferroelectric polycrystals with high quality properties that can rival their conventional counterparts while overcoming the aforementioned environmental concerns.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

• GÓMEZ SÁNCHEZ, GONZALO: Exploring genomic datasets through machine learning methods leveraging high-performance computing
  
  Author: GÓMEZ SÁNCHEZ, GONZALO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of Computer Architecture (DAC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 16/04/2024
  Reading date: 10/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a la Sala E106 - Edifici C6 de la Facultat d'Informàtica de Barcelona - Campus Nord - Barcelona
  Thesis director: BERRAL GARCÍA, JOSEP LLUÍS | CARRERA PÉREZ, DAVID
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GARCÍA LÓPEZ, PEDRO
       SECRETARI: RUIZ RAMÍREZ, MARC
       VOCAL: CIRILLO, DAVIDE
  Thesis abstract: In recent years, the exponential increase of generated data has raised the need for implementing new methodologies to process the huge datasets being created. High-Performance Computing (HPC) brings together a set of technologies mainly based on parallel computing that help reduce the time expended analyzing these datasets. A research field where these technologies are needed is Computational Genomics. Furthermore, the complexity of the genomic datasets limits the use of basic conventional methods for the discovery of complex significant relations, introducing the need for Machine learning (ML) algorithms and robust statistical methods to better classify these variants. In the first part of the thesis, we aim to identify complex patterns of somatic genomic rearrangements in cancer samples, which are triggered by internal cellular processes and environmental factors. The problem of classification becomes particularly challenging when considering thousands of rearrangements at a time, often composed of multiple DNA breaks, increasing the difficulty in classifying and interpreting them functionally. Here we present a new statistical approach to analyze structural variants (SVs) from 2,392 tumor samples from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium and identify significant recurrence. The proposed methodology is able not only to identify complex patterns of SVs across different cancer types but also to prove them as not random occurrences, identifying a new class of pattern composed of three SVs that was not previously described. In the second part of the thesis, we approach another challenge of human genetics, which is the study of the relation between single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and complex diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, or Alzheimer's. The study of these disease-variant associations is usually performed in a single independent manner, disregarding the possible effect derived from the interaction between genomic variants. Here, we have created a containerized framework that uses Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) to detect combinations of variants associated with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), called Variant Interaction Analysis (VIA). This methodology has been tested in the Northwestern University NUgene project cohort using a subset of 1,883,192 variant pairs with some degree of association with T2D and identifying a subset of 104 significant pairs, two exhibiting a potential functional relationship with T2D. The developed algorithm has been released in an open-source repository, including the containerized HPC framework, which can be used to search for significant pairwise interactions in other datasets.In both frameworks developed within the thesis, the use of large-scale supercomputing architectures has been a hard requirement to find relevant clinical indicators. To ensure open and broad access to HPC technologies, governments, and academia are pushing toward the introduction of novel computing architectures in large-scale scientific environments. This is the case of RISC-V, an emerging open standard instruction-set architecture. To evaluate such technologies, in the last two parts of the thesis, we propose the use of our VIA use case as a benchmarking, providing the first genomic application for RISC-V. With this use case, we provide a representative case for heavy ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) data processing. We developed a version of the VIA workload for RISC-V and adapted our implementation in x86-based supercomputers (e.g. Marenostrum IV at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC)) to make a fair comparison with RISC-V, since some technologies are not available there. With this benchmark, we have been able to indicate the challenges and opportunities for the next RISC-V developments and designs to come, from a first comparison between x86 and RISC-V architectures on genomic workload executions over real hardware implementations.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

• VINYETA MEDINA, GIL: Modelo de priorización de inversiones de soluciones tecnológicas en Smart Buildings con criterios de desarrollo sostenible.
  
  Author: VINYETA MEDINA, GIL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/05/2024
  Reading date: 22/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula 28.8 (ETSEIB) Av. Diagonal, 647 08028 Barcelona - Campus Sud UPC
  Thesis director: CUERVA CONTRERAS, EVA | PUJADAS ÁLVAREZ, PABLO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ARMENGOU ORÚS, JAUME
       SECRETARI: PARDO BOSCH, FRANCESC
       VOCAL: ECHARRI IRIBARREN, VICTOR
  Thesis abstract: This Doctoral Thesis addresses aspects of interest for designers, promoters, owners, and managers of office buildings, with the intention of providing clarity on the Smart Building paradigm, as well as identifying decision support tools necessary to accelerate technological transformation, without underestimating the sustainable development, in the building sector.The main goal is to develop a new methodology for prioritizing investments in technological solutions for Smart Buildings, enabling an objective, transparent, traceable, and participatory distribution using sustainable development criteria throughout the various stages of a building's life cycle. To develop this the methodology three tools need to be created: (1) the Catalogue of technological solutions and (2) the Model for prioritizing technological solutions, both as decision support tools for the design and conceptualization phases, and (3) the Platform for integrating technological solutions to improve asset management during the operation phase.Firstly, a methodology for analyzing and classifying the universe of existing technological solutions applicable to the building sector is developed, with the aim of identifying their true potential and implementation requirements. This information is crucial for subsequently selecting the most suitable solutions for each project.Secondly, once the solutions are catalogued, it is essential to prioritize actions to achieve the desired Smart Building level and ensure meeting the real needs of the client and the end-users who will interact with the building. Therefore, a multicriteria model is generated to prioritize the technological solutions based on sustainable development criteria, involving end-users while relying on sector reference standards. To verify the robustness of this model, a sensitivity analysis is conducted.Thirdly, after the technological solutions are prioritized and selected, the implementation of a foundational, modular, flexible and scalable platform is necessary to ensure comprehensive management of all implemented technological solutions, both present and future. This platform aims to collect, standardize, analyze, and visualize all generated data centrally, optimizing the overall building performance.Finally, the functionality of the developed tools has been verified through two real practical applications. First in a more confined scope, such as the offices of JG Ingenieros, and then in a project for a real JG client, Simon's new corporate headquarters, SWITCH.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

• ARNAIZ MARTÍNEZ, DAVID MARIANO: Bringing Self-Awareness to the Extreme Edge - A Distributed Approach for Adaptive Energy Management in WSNs Applied to Structural Health Monitoring
  
  Author: ARNAIZ MARTÍNEZ, DAVID MARIANO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 21/03/2024
  Reading date: 02/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa: Aula de postgrau, edifici C5, Campus Nord, ETSETB
  Thesis director: ALARCON COT, EDUARDO JOSE | MOLL ECHETO, FRANCESC DE BORJA | VILAJOSANA GUILLEN, XAVIER
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CHOWDHURY, KAUSHIK ROY
       SECRETARI: ABADAL CAVALLÉ, SERGI
       VOCAL: DINI, PAOLO
  Thesis abstract: In today's landscape, data are increasingly becoming an invaluable resource to enhance decision-making, enable predictive insights, improving operational efficiency, among numerous other applications. Within the current data-centric mindset, wireless sensors play a facilitator role, allowing the collection of data in a flexible, low-cost, and simple-to-deploy way.One of the ever-pending challenges of wireless sensor node technologies is their limited energy availability, particularly their limited battery life. To extend their battery life, sensor nodes need to use their energy as frugally as possible. The optimal behavior for a sensor node is highly dependent on the varying operation conditions. Thus, to operate optimally, sensor nodes need to incorporate adaptive mechanisms to dynamically adjust their behavior at runtime. These adaptive mechanisms are commonly referred to as Dynamic Energy Management (DEM).Despite the progress made in DEM, commercial sensor nodes continue to mostly operate using static behaviors, wasting energy. The main limitation impeding the widespread adoption of DEM is that it renders the node's behavior dependent on the operating conditions, thereby making the node's behavior unpredictable. In recent years, self-awareness has been proposed as a promising solution to this challenge. Self-aware systems autonomously adjust their behavior at runtime based on their internal and external operating conditions to achieve their operational goals as efficiently as possible. Consequently, while the behavior of a self-aware system may not be known at a given time, these systems provide some level of predictability by complying with their operational goals.This thesis delves into the use of self-awareness at the sensor node level to guide the node's adaptive behavior. The main objective of this thesis is to provide a solid foundation to support future progress in self-aware sensor nodes. In pursuit of this goal, it presents a reference architecture of a self-aware sensor node solving the existing lack of standardization in their design. Additionally, it proposes two self-aware monitoring methods enabling the node to comply with its battery lifetime target while optimizing its energy allocation to maximize its monitoring accuracy. Another key aspect that limits the adoption of self-awareness at the sensor node level is the node's lack of information and computing capabilities to model complex environments, as is usually the case in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) applications. This thesis tackles this issue by proposing an anomaly-aware monitoring method tailored for SHM applications, which models the local vibration patterns measured by the node to determine the current monitoring requirements for the node. Finally, the thesis ends by exploring how the concept of self-awareness can be extended through the network, enabling the interaction between self-aware sensor nodes and a self-managing monitoring application running in the cloud.
  
• CAMPOS SALAZAR, JOSE MANUEL: Design and Analysis of Battery Chargers for Electric Vehicles Based on Multilevel Neutral-Point-Clamped Technology
  
  Author: CAMPOS SALAZAR, JOSE MANUEL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 30/05/2024
  Reading date: 23/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSEIB: Defensa pública a la Sala de Presentacions 28.8-Avda. Diagonal, 647-Campus Sud, Barcelona
  Thesis director: BUSQUETS MONGE, SERGIO | FILBÀ MARTÍNEZ, ÀLBER
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: TRILLA ROMERO, LLUÍS
       SECRETARI: BORDONAU FARRERONS, JOSE
       VOCAL: BARAIA-ETXABURU ZUBIAURRE, IGOR
  Thesis abstract: This thesis presents an exploration into the field of advanced battery charger design and control, addressing critical needs across a spectrum of modern applications. It first outlines the increasing importance of battery chargers in various domains, emphasizing the requirements of efficiency, adaptability, and reliability. A detailed review of existing technologies and control strategies underscores the urgent need for innovation in charger design.The focus of this research is the design and development of a battery charger topology. This topology is based on cascaded multilevel converters that provide bidirectional power flow and galvanic isolation. It addresses the charging requirements of multiple batteries connected in series and incorporates two distinct dc links. The charger develops from a three-level configuration to a four-level configuration, finally leading to a generalized n-level charger.Integral to this work is the formulation of comprehensive linear models, from state-space to s-domain representations, which highlight the charger's complex dynamics. This allows for an in-depth understanding of its operational behavior and control characteristics.The thesis also introduces a well-tuned control system that synchronizes the operation of the two multilevel converters. This ensures optimal operation of the charger. The ac-dc converter regulates the dc link voltage and grid power factor, while the dc-dc converter regulates the shared dc link voltage and battery bank charging currents. The user has the flexibility to determine which converter controls the dc-link voltage regulation.A key innovation is the independent charge control for each battery bank. This feature allows batteries to reach full charge independently, regardless of their initial state of charge or rated capacity. This improves overall efficiency and battery management.In addition, the thesis provides a practical and straightforward design methodology for compensators based on the charger's linear schemes. It employs uncompensated gain loops and uses Bode plots for effective tuning of compensator parameters.Finally, the thesis outlines future research directions. These include experimental validation, exploring vehicle-to-grid integration, exploring nonlinear control systems, assessing off-board charger viability, examining renewable energy integration, enhancing grid-supporting features, evaluating scalability and efficiency, and evaluating real-world applications. Together, these efforts promise to advance and optimize the proposed battery charger, placing it as a central element in the field of efficient and sustainable energy systems.
  
• IÑIGUEZ AMIGOT, JOSÉ IGNACIO: Estrategias de Control de Potencia en Inversores de Generación Distribuida ante un Fallo Desbalanceado de la Red Eléctrica
  
  Author: IÑIGUEZ AMIGOT, JOSÉ IGNACIO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/06/2024
  Reading date: 23/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula Màster, Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Vilanova i la Geltrú (EPSEVG)
  Thesis director: MIRET TOMAS, JAUME | CAMACHO SANTIAGO, ANTONIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GARCERÁ SANFELIU, GABRIEL
       SECRETARI: GARCIA DE VICUÑA MUÑOZ DE LA NAVA, JOSE LUIS
       VOCAL: FIGUERES AMORÓS, EMILIO
  Thesis abstract: This PhD thesis examines various reactive current injection techniques and strategies to address the challenges associated with power grid management during abnormal conditions. The aim is to offer new perspectives and practical solutions to improve the operation and reliability of the power system. To this end, three contributions are presented. The first contribution focuses on a new control approach for reactive current injection in distributed generation systems. The method proposes a method of independent reactive current injection for each phase, which optimises the system's ability to handle load imbalances and fault events. In addition, peak current control is incorporated to protect inverters, ensuring safe and efficient performance. The second contribution focuses on improving voltage support in isolated microgrids during short-circuit events. An innovative strategy is introduced that uses electric vehicles to provide voltage support by injecting active power, instead of conventional reactive injections. This approach not only improves system stability during disturbances, but also avoids unwanted overvoltages through coordinated control between distributed generators and electric vehicles. The third contribution proposes a control scheme for the remote elimination of voltage unbalance in grid-connected inverters. This approach uses the virtual grid concept to compensate negative sequence voltage at remote points of the power system. In addition, it integrates peak current control to protect inverters and ensure optimal performance with low control data traffic. To summarise, these contributions address various aspects of the operation and control of distributed generation systems and microgrids, including reactive current injection and voltage unbalance compensation. They provide innovative and efficient solutions to enhance grid stability and security.
  
• ROS COSTALS, ELOI: Unconventional semiconductor junctions and their application in photovoltaic devices
  
  Author: ROS COSTALS, ELOI
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 03/06/2024
  Reading date: 10/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula Polivalent de l'edifici A de l'EEBE (Escola d'Enginyeria Barcelona Est-Campus Besòs).
  Thesis director: VOZ SANCHEZ, CRISTOBAL | PUIGDOLLERS GONZALEZ, JOAQUIN
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: DUEÑAS, SALVADOR
       SECRETARI: JEHL, ZACHARIE VICTOR SAMUEL NATHANAEL
       VOCAL: CAMPOY QUILES, MARIANO
  Thesis abstract: A solar cell consists in an absorber material that transforms light into excited charge carriers, and carrier selective contacts that allow the flow of the carriers {electrons/ holes) only in a particular direction. In this work different materials that can be used as carrier selective contacts have been studied and characterized by means of methodologies used in c-Si solar cells to understand their operation principles. The exploration of these novel materials resolves around the need of solving multiple problems of current technologies. These include the difficulty in generating ohmic contacts due to interface effects such as Fermi Level Pinning {FLP) in n type c-Si as well as the use of hazardous dopants in high temperature steps to fabricate Silicon solar cells. Finally, the knowledge on the deposited materials has been used in other technologies to prove their application extends beyond crystalline Silicon.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

• ALCOVERRO BASSOLS, JORDI: Constitutive Models for Unsaturated Soils. A Thermodynamic Approach
  
  Author: ALCOVERRO BASSOLS, JORDI
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 30/05/2024
  Reading date: 25/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB. UPC, Campus Nord Building D2. Classroom: 216 C/Jordi Girona, 1-3 08034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: NAVARRO GAMIR, VICENTE
       SECRETARI: RAMON TARRAGONA, ANNA
       VOCAL: PINTADO LLURBA, XAVIER CESAR
  Thesis abstract: Unsaturated soils are particular instances of porous materials, which are characterized by a solid skeleton and a number of fluids that can move through the skeleton. At the microscale, a porous material is made of interacting entities of various dimensions (3D phases, 2D interfaces, 1D common lines, 0D common points), which contain various species (mineral, water, air, …). If representative volume elements (REV) can be defined, averaging yields a set of macroscale interacting continua, which can be modeled using mixture theory. After averaging, the microscale geometric features of the entities and the microscale distributions of thermodynamic properties within the entities are lost. In order to recover part of this information, macroscale geometric variables (e.g. volume, area, length or number of points of each entity in the REV) and macroscale density variables (e.g. mass of each species in each entity in the REV) are defined. Additional macroscale variables can be defined in order to characterize the anisotropy of the porous material (e.g. structure tensors).The state of a porous material is assumed to be given by the deformation of the solid skeleton, the measure (volume, area, length, number of points) of each microscale entity in the REV, the mass of each species in each microscale entity in the REV, the temperature and a set of internal variables. The number of state variables can be significantly reduced by assuming that the evolution of the porous material is along local equilibrium states. These states are such that, for prescribed values of the strain tensor of the solid skeleton, the total mass of each species per unit reference volume, the temperature and the internal variables, the measure of each microscale entity in the REV and of the mass of each species in each microscale entity in the REV take unique values, such that the total free energy per unit reference volume is minimum. As a result, the state of a porous material is given by the strain tensor of the solid skeleton, the total mass of each species per unit reference volume, the temperature and the internal variables. The constitutive model of a porous material is derived using the framework of thermodynamics with internal variables, in which the porous material is considered to be an open thermodynamic system. The state equations are derived from the free energy and the evolution equations of the internal variables are derived from the dissipation or a dissipation potential. For unsaturated soils, additional simplifying assumptions are made: (1) small strains of the solid skeleton; (2) isothermal atmospheric conditions; (3) three species: solid mineral, water and gas; and (4) elastoplastic response of the deformation of the solid skeleton and of the water mass content.In some soils short-range interaction forces bond water to the solid skeleton. Vicinal water is bond to the solid skeleton, whereas free water is not. The behavior of free water is as if it were outside the soil, so that microscale pressure distributions are uniform (neglecting gravity), so that chemical potentials and temperature allow to define a macroscale pressure. In contrast, the behavior of vicinal water depends on the interaction forces, so that microscale pressure distributions are not uniform. The behavior of a soil is assumed to be given by three different regimes: (1) saturated (fixed vicinal water, variable free water, no gas phase); (2) capillary (fixed vicinal water, variable free water, gas phase), with an hysteretic water retention curve; and (3) dry (variable vicinal water, no free water, gas phase). At each of these regimes a different constitutive model for the soil is used. Generic examples of these models are given: elastoplastic for the saturated regime, elastoplastic with water content hysteresis for the capillary regime and elastoplastic for the dry regime.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

• GHONJIZADEHSAMANI, FARNAZ: Environmentally friendly phosphorus flame retardant systems for acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene (ABS): strategies to enhance mechanical properties and development of novel phosphorus/cork powder hybid solutions
  
  Author: GHONJIZADEHSAMANI, FARNAZ
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Materials Science and Engineering (CEM)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/05/2024
  Reading date: 11/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala de Conferències de la ETSEIAAT (Escola Superior d’Enginyeries Industrial, Aeroespacial i Audiovisual de Terrassa), Campus de Terrassa, Edifici TR1. C. Colom, 1 08222.
  Thesis director: DE REDONDO REALINHO, VERA CRISTINA | HAURIE IBARRA, LAIA | MALET MURILLO, RAMON
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: FRANCO URQUIZA, EDGAR ADRIÁN
       SECRETARI: DE SOUSA PAIS ANTUNES, MARCELO
       VOCAL: YANG, YUNXIAN
  Thesis abstract: Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is one of the most widely used and versatile thermoplastic due to its toughness, chemical resistance and processability. These characteristics make it suitable for various applications as in electronic and automotive fields. However, its inherent flammability could limit its use. To counteract it, the incorporation of phosphorus-based flame retardants (PFRs) in ABS, as a more environmentally friendly alternative to the halogenated ones, has been used in the past years. However, the use of PFRs has an adverse impact on ABS mechanical properties, limiting its use where both fire safety and mechanical performance are required. In order to solve this problem, new strategies to enhance mechanical behavior of PFR-ABS composites were proposed in the present thesis. Also, due to the current challenge of promoting more ecological solutions, new research regarding the use of bio-wastes of forestry industry, as potential bio-based flame retardants in ABS was also made.The first part of the thesis is devoted to the improvement of mechanical properties of an ABS composite, containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and aluminum diethyl phosphinate (AlPi), by combining an ultrahigh molecular weight silicone rubber (UHMW-SR) and ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers (EMA) with different wt.% of methyl acrylate (MA). Their effect on the microstructure, mechanical and fire behavior of the ABS composite was discussed. Improvement in interfacial interaction between the flame retardant particles and ABS matrix, as well as, in the molecular mobility in the presence of EMA and/or UHMW-SR was noticed. As a result, remarkable synergies were observed in impact strength. Particularly, a 212% increase was achieved when added 5 wt.% of EMA, with 29 wt.% of MA, and 2 wt.% of UHMW-SR in flame retarded ABS, maintaining its self-extinguished behavior.To address the development of more friendly flame retardant systems for ABS, cork powder (C), a bio-waste of cork industry with no economic value, was proposed to be used as a potential bio-flame retardant (bio-FR). First, to better understand the flammability behavior of C, the effect of cork components on its pyrolysis decomposition was analyzed. It was observed that suberin plays a major role in enhancing the thermal stability of cork; however, it did not show a significant charring ability, contrarily to cork lignocellulosic part. Furthermore, the effect of combining APP with C on ABS microstructure, thermal stability and fire performance was discussed. By only replacing 3 wt.% of APP by cork, an optimum improvement in fire retardancy was achieved with the highest efficiency in reducing the heat release rate (HRR). It was also revealed that replacing 20 wt.% of APP by cork led to a similar fire performance to the ABS with 30 wt.% APP.Moreover, to increase C efficiency as bio-FR, phosphorus moieties were grafted to its surface by chemical modification. Phosphorylation of C with glyphosate (Cg), triethyl phosphate (Ct) and dimethyl-3-triethoxysilanepropylphosphoramidate (Cd) resulted in a registered phosphorus content of 0.9, 0.3 and 2.4 wt.%, respectively. Compared to natural C, phosphorylated cork contributed to an enhancement of flame retardancy in ABS composites. The highest improvement was observed for ABS with 30 wt.% Cd, by showing a higher combustible gasses dilution effect on the gas phase and a more cohesive char layer formation on the condensed phase that led to the reduction of heat and mass transfer phenomena.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MECHANICAL, FLUIDS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

• PERARNAU OLLÉ, ENRIC: Design of service-purpose-vehicles through the sense of smell
  
  Author: PERARNAU OLLÉ, ENRIC
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MECHANICAL, FLUIDS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering (EM)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 05/06/2024
  Reading date: 02/07/2024
  Reading time: 13:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a la Sala de conferencies de l'Edifici TR1. (Terrassa)
  Thesis director: CASALS TERRE, JASMINA | FARRÉ LLADÓS, JOSEP
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: KAUSHIK, AJEET
       SECRETARI: CUSOLA AUMEDES, ORIOL
       VOCAL: WESTERBERG, LARS-GÖRAN
  Thesis abstract: This thesis arose from the need to design new tools that enable a better control of indoor air quality in vehicles. Even though indoor air quality has been widely explored in buildings, this topic has often been overlooked by most automotive manufacturers. In recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, a better control of in-vehicle air quality has become a prominent need for most customers and operators of vehicle fleets. Traditionally, on-demand ventilation systems have used carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration to regulate indoor air quality. However, within the confined space of vehicles, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can also pose a real risk to the health and comfort of passengers. Therefore, in order to ensure optimal air quality conditions, it seems necessary to complement CO2 detectors with sensors that can effectively monitor VOCs. In the new era of e-mobility and connectivity, vehicles incorporate dozens of sensors in their architecture. Thus, reducing the fabrication and operational costs of new monitoring devices has become a critical requirement to justify their implementation. Recent advancements in micro-fabrication techniques and new materials have enabled the creation of VOCs sensors that are increasingly sensitive, compact, and cost-effective. However, the performance of some of these devices is still conditioned to high energy requirements during operation. In addition, the effectiveness of current gas sensors needs further improvement, so that they not only have high sensitivity, but also a certain degree of selectivity towards multiple VOCs in the environment.This thesis focuses on the design, fabrication, and implementation of a new device for the monitoring of VOCs in vehicles. The results demonstrate the suitability of integrating a gas sensor and a microfluidic channel, which exploit the unique properties of polymers for the sensitive and selective detection of VOCs at ambient temperature. First, this work evaluates the response of a gas sensor coated with single and hybrid polymer films. The addition of carbon nanoparticles within the polymer not only contributes to an increase in the sensitivity and response times of the sensor, but also helps to improve the selectivity of the polymer films. Secondly, this work evaluates the responses of a microfluidic channel for the discretization of VOCs in a mixture. The empirical results obtained in this thesis indicate that polymer thickness is critical in both the sensitivity and selectivity of the different fabricated devices. In general, thicker polymer films help to increase or optimize the performance of both, the gas sensor and the microfluidic channel. Moreover, the chemical compatibility between VOCs and the polymer also proves to be very important in the performance of both devices. For this reason, this work proposes a new methodology, based on the Hansen solubility parameters, which can help assess and predict the response of polymers for VOCs monitoring. Finally, this thesis describes the implementation of an air quality monitoring system that effectively measures CO2 and VOCs levels inside the vehicle cabin. A series of pilot tests validate that VOCs monitoring is relevant to the customer experience and the proper control of indoor air quality in vehicles. Furthermore, these activities contribute to defining how this system should be integrated with the overall vehicle and environment. To the authors knowledge, it is the first time that the devices presented in this thesis have been investigated for their implementation in vehicles, which showcase the originality and potential of this work.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NETWORK ENGINEERING

• HAASTRUP, ADEBANJO: Enhanced Dynamic Bandwidth Algorithms for Passive Optical Networks
  
  Author: HAASTRUP, ADEBANJO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NETWORK ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Network Engineering (ENTEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 22/04/2024
  Reading date: 10/07/2024
  Reading time: 15:00
  Reading place: Defensa localitzada a la sala 028-2 de l'edifici C4 (EETAC) del Campus de Castelldefels.
  Thesis director: RINCON RIVERA, DAVID | PINEY DA SILVA, JOSE RAMON
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: KHALILI, HAMZEH
       SECRETARI: SPADARO, SALVATORE
       VOCAL: PAPAGIANNI, CHRYSA
  Thesis abstract: The telecommunications industry faces rapid changes due to the deployment of ultra-high speed access networks (5G and beyond, fiber-to-the-home), promising unparalleled experiences with high bandwidth and low latency. However, this transition brings challenges. With the surge in smart device numbers and bandwidth demand, optimizing network architecture, management, and resource usage is crucial for cost-efficiency. Passive Optical Networks (PONs) offer efficient broadband access for residential and commercial sectors, with advantages like energy efficiency and robust security and high performance. Leading organizations, such as IEEE and ITU-T, are actively developing standards to increase the capabilities of next-generation PONs. The goal is to meet the demands by implementing innovative mechanisms for efficient management, resource allocation, QoS, energy savings, and low latency.Next-generation PONs have introduced the use of multiple wavelengths based on TWDM techniques. However, managing multiple wavelengths presents challenges, as DBA algorithms need to consider both the time and wavelength dimensions of the network. This follows a Joint Time and Wavelength Scheduling (JTWS) scheme, which requires complex implementation. TWDM-PON also utilizes tunable transceivers in ONUs to switch between wavelengths, but this introduces a delay called Laser Tuning Time (LTT) which is often ignored, but it is an important consideration when designing our DBA algorithms. Additionally, there is a demand to integrate metro and access networks for streamlined telecom infrastructure. Long Reach PON (LRPON) offers a solution by expanding coverage from 20 km to 100 km, enabling high-speed, long-distance data transmission over optical fibers. This reduces the need for central offices, resulting in cost savings. However, the extended reach of LRPONs introduces new challenges, particularly in the area of DBA algorithms. Traditional DBA algorithms like IPACT may not be as efficient for LRPONs due to increased propagation delays and round-trip times (RTT) between the OLT and ONUs. To address these challenges, a novel DBA algorithm called the Distance Weighted DBA (DWDBA) algorithm is proposed.This thesis delves into the limitations of traditional DBA algorithms and proposes novel Enhanced DBA solutions for PONs. Leveraging techniques such as the Longest Processing Time (LPT) scheduling method to minimize queue delays, our DBAs also consider the concept of laser tuning time to bring a practical, real-world approach to our system. The main contributions of this thesis are: - Incorporating the often-overlooked laser tuning time (LTT) concept in our analysis of DBA for TWDM PONs, therefore obtaining more realistic results. - Introducing an innovative algorithm for PONs employing LPT to minimize queue delay and enhance throughput, resulting in a notable reduction (up to 73%) with respect to the queue delay when compared to IPACT. - Developing a Distance Weighted DBA (DWDBA), specifically tailored for LRPONs, aimed at preventing the penalization of ONUs located farther from the OLT. This results in improving up to 30% and 10% the queue delay and throughput, respectively, over IPACT.The effectiveness of these proposed algorithms is rigorously evaluated through comprehensive simulations, demonstrating their potential to meet the demands of future networks.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NUCLEAR AND IONISING RADIATION ENGINEERING

• BENSADON OLIART, TOMAS: Analysis of ICRF Heating Schemes for Tokamaks using Predictive Integrated Plasma Modelling
  
  Author: BENSADON OLIART, TOMAS
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NUCLEAR AND IONISING RADIATION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Physics (FIS)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 24/05/2024
  Reading date: 05/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula H.6.22 de l'ETSEIB - Av. Diagonal, 647, Les Corts, 08028 Barcelona, UPC
  Thesis director: MANTSINEN, MERVI JOHANNA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: OTÍN FORTUÑO, RUBÉN
       SECRETARI: FUTATANI, SHIMPEI
       VOCAL: GALDON QUIROGA, JOAQUIN
  Thesis abstract: Heating plasmas to fusion-relevant temperatures stands as a pivotal factor in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. Theapplication of radio frequency (RF) heating through electromagnetic waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) hasdemonstrated its efficacy as an auxiliary method in existing fusion devices such as tokamaks. Moreover, ITER will incorporateICRF antennas as a primary heating mechanism. Consequently, investigating various heating schemes to enhance fusionperformance becomes critically significant. This thesis presented the development and assessment of theoretical models forICRF heating at two operational devices, i.e JET and AUG, and at the ITER upcoming tokamak, with a special focus on this lastone.The main objective of this thesis was to use, for the first time, the heating code PION integrated into the European TransportSimulator (ETS) to study and predict how the plasma parameters would be affected and evolve when ICRF heating was appliedto ITER Pre-Fusion Power Operation (PFPO), non-active plasmas. Special attention was given to bulk ion heating, temperatureenhancement, sensitivity of the ICRF power partition to minority concentration, and to the comparison between the resultsobtained in this thesis and the results obtained in previous works. The presence of ICRF physics such as Doppler effects, finiteorbit width (FOW) effects, finite Larmor radius (FLR) effects, and the screening effect were studied, and their impact wasdiscussed. In order to prove the feasibility of using the PION+ETS integration on currently working reactors, PION+ETS was usedto study a JET baseline scenario and an AUG deuterium plasma, even though the emphasis was on the predictions of the ITERnon-active phase.The results presented in this thesis are the first results obtained with the PION+ETS integration. Considering the dependence ofITER on every unit of auxiliary heating power that can be introduced into the plasma, it is essential to conduct both numerical andexperimental investigations of this nature. The efforts in this thesis were directed towards testing and enhancing the performanceof ICRF scenarios. Such endeavours play a critical role in ensuring the successful operation of ITER during its early phase. Onthis basis, this thesis offered valuable insights into optimising plasma performance through various heating schemes. The resultspresented here serve as a guide for maximising absorption, bulk ion heating, and final temperature by appropriately configuringthe ICRF heating schemes.Of special relevance for the ITER PFPO phase was the study of three ICRF schemes; fundamental minority H heating in He4plasma at half field (referred to as Scenario 1), second harmonic minority H heating in He4 plasma at the third field (Scenario 2),and fundamental He3 heating in a three-ion scheme in H plasma at 3.3T (Scenario 3). In terms of power density absorbed,single-pass absorption (SPA) coefficients, and final thermal ion temperature, Scenario 1 presented the best alternative ascompared to the other two ITER scenarios, with appropriate results obtained with the smallest minority concentration of 1%.Scenario 2 showed the highest electron temperature and the largest thermal ion temperature enhancement, with an interestingpossibility of using only a minority concentration of 1% as well. Finally, the three-ion scheme in Scenario 3 presented the bestbulk ion heating with minority concentrations two orders of magnitude smaller than the other two Scenarios. FOW and FLReffects were present in all simulations, most notably affecting Scenario 2, where the FLR effects limited the range of energies thatthe resonating ions could reach.Future steps involve enhancing understanding of available transport modelling tools in the ETS framework, conducting thoroughbenchmarking against JET and AUG experimental results, and applying PION+ETS to ITER active phase scenarios.
  
• LUCHKOV, MAKSYM: Airborne Gamma Spectrometry using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  
  Author: LUCHKOV, MAKSYM
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NUCLEAR AND IONISING RADIATION ENGINEERING
  Department: Institute of Energy Technologies (INTE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/06/2024
  Reading date: 11/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula 31.07 de l'ETSEIB - UPC ( Avda. Diagonal, 647-Barcelona)
  Thesis director: VARGAS DRECHSLER, ARTURO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BUTTERWECK, GERNOT
       SECRETARI: DUCH GUILLEN, MARIA AMOR
       VOCAL: ALEGRIA GUTIERREZ, NATALIA
  Thesis abstract: The protection of the public against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and radioactive contaminations caused by nuclear or other accidents is of major importance and may affect thousands of people. Following a radiological incident, radiation protection and other authorities need quick and credible information on affected areas. Large-scale contamination requires radiation measurement methods and tools able to quantify the risks in a timely manner. The unmanned airborne gamma spectrometry method brings together the benefits of vast area coverage by an aircraft system, the mature spectrometric techniques for nuclide identification, and the safety of an operator staying out of the affected area. Building upon the vast background of manned aircrafl radiometric surveys, this thesis investigates the metrological and technical challenges of implementing the aerial gamma spectrometry method at the time of booming usage of unmanned aircraft systems. For this purpose, a spectrometer-based dosimetric system was designed and implemented on a commercial drone. The system is built around a 1.5-inch cerium bromide scintillation detector, incorporates necessary telemetry instruments, and can be attached as a payload to a drone. During the flight, the system measures and transmits the radiation and telemetry data to the ground station where geo-tagged spectra are processed. The software package with the graphical interface has been developed to process the aerial data and supply an operator with radiological (dose rate map, spectrum history) information and flight telemetry (altitude, temperature, pressure). This work describes the steps of the unmanned airborne radiation monitoring system characterization necessary for the traceable measurement of radiation quantities. The author introduces new techniques for the temperature stabilization of radiation spectra and the traceable spectrum-to-dose conversion that enhance the data quality of the gamma spectrometry system. Tested in a range of measurement campaigns conducted within the EMPIR project "Preparedness", the developed radiation monitoring system has proved itself as a promising tool for routine and emergency aerial surveys. These campaigns covered major radiological surveillance tasks, including dose rate mapping, measuring concentrations of ground-deposited radionuclides, and the search and localization of a point-like radiation source. The results conclude that the detector confidently follows changes in dose rates at a fast 0.5 Hz acquisition rate with up to 1 mSv/h (Cs-137) dynamic range. Coupling dose rate with metrics such as the man-made gross count rate or the energy band flux, the system can determine and quantify the presence of artificial radiation components with high efficacy. The aerial point source localization campaign successfully demonstrated the system's ability to pinpoint the source while providing a good estimation of its activity. The author has gained profound experience in the subject through building, programming, calibrating, and operating the aerial system, including the piloting itself. Alongside the novel methods applied to the characterization and data analysis of the airborne radiation detector, this thesis provides feedback on the development and operation of an unmanned airborne radiation monitoring system.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN OPTICAL ENGINEERING

• AZOR MORÓN, JUAN ANTONIO: Evaluación de la calidad óptica de lentes intraoculares en presencia de aberraciones
  
  Author: AZOR MORÓN, JUAN ANTONIO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN OPTICAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Optics and Optometry (OO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 04/06/2024
  Reading date: 12/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a a l’Auditori Joan Salvadó del Centre Universitari de la Visió, Terrassa, UPC
  Thesis director: MILLAN GARCIA VARELA, MARIA SAGRARIO | VEGA LERIN, FIDEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PIÑERO LLORENS, DAVID PABLO
       SECRETARI: TORRENTS GÓMEZ, AURORA
       VOCAL: BIARNÉS PÉREZ, MARC FRANCESC
  Thesis abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) is an implant that is used in cataract surgery to replace the clouded natural lens (cataract) and restore the loss of transparency. Currently, there is a wide variety of designs, brands, and models of IOLs available on the market, which can be classified, according to the number of foci and physical principle of each design, into monofocal,multifocal, and extended range of vision (ERV). This thesis focuses on the evaluation of the optical quality of IOLs and the methods employed to determine it using an eye model as an image-forming system on an optical bench.Optical characterisation of an IOL on an optical bench allows its performance to be measured, before implantation, in conditions close to those required by visual function. This analysis is conducted under controlled conditions of variables such as pupillary size or spherical aberration (SA), which provides good repeatability to the tests. This approach enables objective comparisons between different IOL designs and models, as well as facilitating personalised selection, in accordance with the patient's requirements. For this purpose, an optical device previously designed by the research group has been employed, which adheres to the recommendations set forth in the ISO 11979-2:2014 standard. Meanwhile, the construction, characterisation and commissioning of a new experimental setup, which incorporates a model eye closer to the human eye, has been carried out. This configuration comprises units that permit the control of the optical input information of the test object and the light beam, an adaptive optics (AO) system, and a matrix sensor with a spectral sensitivity close to that of the standard observer in photopic vision. The characterisation of the subsystems and specific components of the assemblies has enabled the determination of their working conditions, with the knowledge and control of their performance. Once the IOL had been placed in the eye model, its optical quality was analysed using objective metrics under a variety of working conditions. Particular attention was paid to image quality and the effects of multifocality and aberrations on its degradation.The potential formation of halos has also been assessed, given the clinical significance of dysphotopic effects. The incorporation of the AO system has enabled the simulation of corneal astigmatism (including IOL rotation errors onceimplanted) and corneas with different degrees of SA, reproducing practical and realistic cases of clinical interest (forexample, corneas undergoing refractive surgery prior to IOL implantation). The research findings provide the values achieved by the lenses under study – 16 IOL models of different des ign and provided by five manufacturers – in a s et of optical quality metrics, as well as their evolution from distance vision to near vision. By means of characterisation, it has been possible to estimate the average postoperative visual acuity values over the full range of vision and to predict the depth of field (with visual acuity 0.2 logMAR or better), thus enabling a comparison with clinical results obtained using defocus curves. Information derived from both optical and clinical methodologies constitutes a valuable contribution to the field of cataract surgery with IOL implantation. This information can be used for a variety of purposes, including the selection of lenses, the design of new products, their manufacture, and quality control. Furthermore, these advances reaffirm the importance of considering the individual characteristics of each patient when selecting the most appropriate IOL.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PHOTONICS

• BALDELLI, NICCOLÒ: Classical and Quantum simulation of quantum matter beyond symmetry breaking
  
  Author: BALDELLI, NICCOLÒ
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PHOTONICS
  Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 03/06/2024
  Reading date: 05/07/2024
  Reading time: 14:00
  Reading place: ICFO, Mediterranean Technology Park, Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona
  Thesis director: LEWENSTEIN, MACIEJ | BARBIERO, LUCA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ECKARDT, ANDRÉ
       SECRETARI: ACÍN DAL MASCHIO, ANTONIO
       VOCAL: BAÑULS POLO, MARIA CARMEN
  Thesis abstract: When matter is cooled to temperatures near absolute zero, its quantum nature begins to emerge. The interactions between its microscopic constituents can then lead to the emergence of fascinating physical properties. While the framework of spontaneous symmetry breaking has been incredibly successful in describing how a macroscopic number of particles cooperate to give a system its properties, there are manysituations where this is not sufficient to describe quantum systems. This is especially true for strongly interacting many-body systems.In recent years, multiple techniques have been developed to address this problem. On the one hand, the incredible advances in classical computing hardware and algorithms, have made it possible to study systems with a number of elementary components that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. In particular, the development of techniques such as tensor networks has unified the framework of quantum information with condensed matter physics, making it possible to optimize the computational complexity of simulating a system, based on its entanglement content.On the other hand, the development of platforms to directly perform simulations on quantum systems is a highly sought objective. While a hypothetical universal quantum computer could dramatically increase our understanding of the quantum nature of matter, its difficult development makes it essential to study analog platforms where specific many-body models can be studied directly in a controlled environment. In these quantum simulators, novel quantum phenomena can be studied in an environment free of disorder, with excellent control over parameters and measurement capabilities.In this thesis, we aim to explore these two paths to study some of the most relevant active topics in physics beyond the symmetry breaking paradigm. In the first part, devoted to topology, we propose and analyze new techniques for the detection of topological excitations. We start by proposing a protocol to detect anyons, quasiparticles that do not behave either as bosons or fermions, in Fractional QuantumHall Effect systems through measuring the angular momentum of impurities binding to the anyons. We then show how similar excitations can be identified in topological superconductors through an interaction between the electromagnetic field of a strong laser pulse and the system in a process called High Harmonic Generation In the second part, we move to the study of quantum frustration. This phenomenon,which describes a situation in which various constraints of the system cannot be satisfied simultaneously, can lead to the emergence of unexpected phases of matter. In particular, we study how frustrated phases and a particular class of quantum critical points, called deconfined can emerge in one-dimensional frustrated systems, potentially realizable in quantum simulators. We then study how frustrationcould explain the onset of superconductivity mixed with charge density modulations in two-dimensional strongly-correlated systems.
  
• BOGHIU CRIHAN, EMANUEL-CRISTIAN: Bell nonlocality and causal networks
  
  Author: BOGHIU CRIHAN, EMANUEL-CRISTIAN
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PHOTONICS
  Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 10/06/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: ACÍN DAL MASCHIO, ANTONIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: TAVAKOLI, ARMIN
       SECRETARI: LEWENSTEIN, MACIEJ
       VOCAL: VENKATESH, VILASINI
  Thesis abstract: Understanding the cause and effect relationships behind observed correlations is central to how we reason and interact with the world. Causal relationships help us make sense of the patterns we observe and predict what interventions in nature might lead to a desired outcome. These patterns can be mathematically framed as the joint probability distribution of a set of classical random variables which capture information gathered from the environment. This information may range from abstract data, like survey response statistics, to physical events, such as the probability of triggering a photon detector. A fundamental question is that of causal compatibility: Are the observed correlations compatible with a given causal explanation? A causal explanation can be expressed in terms of causal models, which can be systematically studied with the tools provided by the field of causal inference. Causal models consist of observable random variables with known probability distributions and latent variables with unknown distributions which, together, explain observed correlations through causal influences, that is, functional relationships between the values of these variables. Quantum theory---one of the most accurate theories at a fundamental level---is inherently probabilistic. Measurement results are, therefore, represented as random variables. This naturally leads to causal analysis: Which cause and effect relationships can explain observed measurement statistics in a quantum experiment? One of the simplest quantum experiments is that of two distant parties performing space-like separated, independently chosen measurements on a shared quantum state. In 1964, John Bell showed that in this experiment quantum theory predicts correlations that defy any classical common-cause explanation through a result known as Bell's Theorem. This phenomenon is known as Bell nonlocality. This thesis aims to operationally characterize the fundamental differences between classical and quantum theories within causal scenarios beyond Bell's common-cause scenario. Such an understanding may eventually help integrate quantum phenomena into a coherent, conceptually clear framework of causality. Towards this goal, we explore how classical and quantum causal models diverge in operational tasks in specific causal scenarios. We focus on simple scenarios that go beyond Bell's, while seeking to discover new forms of quantum advantage that are fundamentally different from traditional Bell nonlocality. Our goal is to link these new forms of quantum advantage to different nonclassical features of quantum theory and study their potential applications. A critical component of this research is testing for the causal compatibility of specific correlations with a given causal model. As such, an important part of this thesis is dedicated to expanding and refining the scope of current methods for testing causal compatibility.
  
• LUQUE MERINO, RAFAEL: Optoelectronic studies of strongly correlated 2D materials
  
  Author: LUQUE MERINO, RAFAEL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PHOTONICS
  Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/06/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: EFETOV, DMITRI K.
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: POCCIA, NICOLA
       SECRETARI: KOPPENS, FRANK
       VOCAL: TÖRMÄ, PÄIVI
  Thesis abstract: The study of strongly-correlated matter in two-dimensional materials has emerged as a exciting prospect for the exploration of condensed matter physics, as well as the design of novel device platforms. Moiré engineering , where the 20 layers feature an interlayer twist angle, has proven to be a powerful tool to engineer electronic correlations . In magic angle twisted bilayer graphene, a twist angle of 1.1° between the graphene layers generates a moiré superlattice potential. A flat electronic band appears at the Fermi level, in which a variety of interaction-driven , many-body quantum phases can emerge . Another avenue to study strong electronic correlations in two dimensions is the exfoliation of intrinsically correlated bulk crystals into the atomic limit.The optoelectronic study of strongly-correlated systems in 20 heterostructures stands out as a powerful probe, as it can provide insight into both the electronic transport properties and the fundamental light-matter interaction in these systems . In this thesis , we study two strongly correlated 20 materials: MATBG and the cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu208-delta (BSCC0-2212). We leverage different optoelectronic techniques to study the fundamental properties of the correlated electrons in the MATBG flat bands and the potential of two-dimensional BSCC0-2212 layers for applications in quantum sensing .First, we investigate the electronic spectrum of the MATBG flat bands through the study of their thermoelectric transport . We use an optical excitation to induce a thermal gradient, which in turn generales a charge curren!. We report anomalous thermoelectricity which provides strong evidence for the coexistence of localized and de-localized electronic states in the strongly-interacting flat bands.Next, we study the dynamics of hot carrier cooling in the MATBG flat bands using a frequency-resolved photomixing technique . Strikingly, we find that hot carriers can efficiently relax their energy down to cryogenic temperatures ; in contras! to the case of bilayer graphene samples . We propose a novel Umklapp electron-phonon scattering mechanism for hot carriers in MATBG, enabled by the moiré superlattice potential.Lastly, we explore the development of superconducting photodetectors with high-T_c based on ultrathin BSCC0-2212 flakes . We fabricate high quality samples that exhibit remarkable performance at telecom wavelengths . We observe fast and sensitive bolometric response at T = 77 K in free-space and waveguide-coupled devices , as well as single-photon sensitivity at T = 20 K through a non-bolometric , avalanche detection mechanism .
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS

• LOZANO HERNÁNDEZ, NEKANE: Microtexturization of liquid silicone rubber surfaces by injection moulding
  
  Author: LOZANO HERNÁNDEZ, NEKANE
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 29/05/2024
  Reading date: 03/09/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala Polivalent de l'Edifici I, Edifici I, planta baixa, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: PUIGGALI BELLALTA, JORGE | DEL VALLE MENDOZA, LUIS JAVIER
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: RODRÍGUEZ FERNÁNDEZ, ISABEL
       SECRETARI: CASELLAS PADRO, DANIEL
       VOCAL: TYLKOWSKI, BARTOSZ
  Thesis abstract: Nature is in continuous change and evolution in response to environmental shifts. That is because different micro- and nanotextures have emerged on some plant leaves or insect skins. These surface patterns enable them to possess advanced surface properties. Some examples include the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning leaves of the lotus plant, or the dry adhesion found on gecko feet. There has been a strong trend in recent years to transfer these surface textures to industrial applications to replace various coatings currently in use. The development of transformation technologies and the extensive knowledge of materials developed in recent decades have allowed for the extension of materials onto which these microtextures can be replicated.In the case of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR), studies on replication focus on laboratory-scale technologies that allow for high replication but low production throughput. However, these materials possess properties of great interest and can have many synergies with microtexturing: good biocompatibility for use in medical devices, weather resistance for self-cleaning or superhydrophobic surfaces, or good mechanical and chemical resistance that can extend the lifespan of microtextures on the surface. In order to extend studies on replication techniques of microtextures on liquid silicone surfaces, this thesis has been developed focusing on replication through injection of microtexturized inserts. There have been some previous works on replication using this technology; however, they fail to achieve good demolding or uniform textures in height due to the use of textured metallic inserts. Therefore, this thesis proposes the use of textured films to facilitate demolding due to the flexibility of the film.This thesis is divided into two main parts: The first part consists of the development of tools and technology for the replication of liquid silicone parts by injection. Firstly, optimization is carried out on the manufacture of textured films by nanoimprint lithography to withstand the injection conditions of this material. After this initial optimization and with the manufacturing of the necessary tools, a study and optimization of different part geometries for the different studied microtextures (pillars, lines, and holes ranging from 1 to 50 microns) are conducted. The second part of the thesis consists of an extensive study of different advanced surface properties due to microtexturing. This includes properties such as surface wettability or roughness studies, as well as different studies of part durability for the application of different mechanical stresses. Additionally, emphasis is placed on the study of biological properties, of interest in the medical sector. The studies focus on the variation of cellular growth and adhesion due to the presence of microtextures. Based on all the results obtained, a use case of an optogenetic implant is proposed.From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the replication method proposed and developed in this thesis is an optimal method for industrial scaling of these microtextures in liquid silicone. Not only because of its high production throughput but also because of the versatility of part geometries and microtextures it allows. This versatility of microtextures enables the acquisition of a wide range of surface properties of high interest at an industrial level. Particularly in the case of the medical sector, where a use case of a microtexturized implantable device with this technology has been demonstrated, which could be extendable to other applications.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS

• LI, WANTAO: Digital Control and Linearization of Multi-Input Power Amplifiers
  
  Author: LI, WANTAO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS
  Department: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 10/06/2024
  Reading date: 08/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'edifici C4-023G, EETAC - Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia, Carrer Esteve Terradas 7, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona)
  Thesis director: GILABERT PINAL, PERE LLUIS
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ZHU, ANDING
       SECRETARI: COLLADO GOMEZ, JUAN CARLOS
       VOCAL: BECERRA GONZÁLEZ, JUAN ANTONIO
  Thesis abstract: With the increasing demand for linearity and efficiency in radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers(PAs). This thesis focuses on the development and implementation of digital predistortion (DPD)techniques for linearizing various high-efficiency PA architectures, including envelope tracking (ET)PAs, outphasing PAs, and Pseudo-Doherty load-modulated balanced amplifiers (PD-LMBAs). Themain objective is to achieve an optimal efficiency-linearity trade-off while addressing the challengesposed by modern communication standards, such as dynamic signal bandwidth and frequencyallocation in 5G New Radio (NR). The thesis introduces novel shaping functions and DPD algorithmstailored for multiple-input-single-output (MISO) PAs. For ET PAs, novel envelope optimizationtechniques are presented for better linearizing the ET PA when operating with 200 MHz widebandsignals for handsets. A novel shaping function extraction method is developed for outphasing PAs,enabling the operation of current mode outphasing (CMOP) PAs with wideband signals. For PD-LMBAs, a frequency-domain shaping function and an artificial neural network (ANN)-based modelare adopted to address the challenging nonlinearity, along with a hardware-in-the-loop pruningmethod to reduce the computational complexity.To cope with the dynamic signal bandwidth and frequency location requirements in mobileapplications, an elastic DPD is proposed. It incorporates frequency-dependent polynomials andincremental-bandwidth techniques, along with a modified doubly orthogonal matching pursuit(DOMP) algorithm, to adapt to varying operating conditions and non-flat frequency responses. Theobjective is to create low complexity DPD models suitable for the implementation in handsets. Thethesis also explores the implementation of DPD algorithms on both field-programmable gate array(FPGA) and graphics processing unit (GPU) platforms. An FPGA implementation of the ET PAlinearizer based on the envelope leakage cancellation and generalized memory polynomial ispresented as a case study. GPU-based implementations of conventional GMP and NN-based DPDmodels are also evaluated.The contributions of this thesis advance the state-of-the-art in DPD techniques for high-efficiencyRF PAs, enabling the realization of highly linear and efficient wireless communication systems. Theproposed methods and implementations provide valuable insights for future research anddevelopment in the field of PA linearization.
  
• LÓPEZ MENCHÓN, HÉCTOR: Algorithms for High Performance Computing Applied to Simulation of Ensembles of Nanoparticles
  
  Author: LÓPEZ MENCHÓN, HÉCTOR
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS
  Department: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 07/06/2024
  Reading date: 05/07/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: defensa pública a l'Aula D5-010, edifici D5, Departament de TSC (Teoria del Senyal i de les Comunicacions) Campus Nord, Barcelona
  Thesis director: RIUS CASALS, JUAN-MANUEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BOAG, AMIR
       SECRETARI: HELDRING, ALEXANDER
       VOCAL: VIPIANA, FRANCESCA
  Thesis abstract: The objective of this thesis is to increase the computational efficiency of integral equation based methods for solving theelectromagnetic scattering problem by incorporating random computations. Randomization allows to ease the computationalburden by replacing costly exact operations by inexpensive approximate ones. Besides, it minimizes the need for inter-processorcommunications, leading to highly scalable algorithms. We select electromagnetic scattering in clusters of plasmonicnanoparticles as our case of study. Randomized methods are suitable for these kind of problems since their collective behaviorcan often be efficiently characterized by statistical means.The electromagnetic scattering problem in the integral form is discretized by the Method of Moments, which consists onexpanding the unkown of the problem as a linear combination of basis functions and projecting both members of the equationonto a set of weighting functions. The result is a linear system of algebraic equations that approximates the original functionalequation. This linear system is usually solved by iterative methods. Also, computing and manipulating the system matrix isunfeasible for most realistic problems. This is resolved by compression methods that take advantage of the reduced number ofdegrees of freedom of the electromagnetic interaction between distant subdomains of the scattering object.In this work, we propose a method for solving the electromagnetic scattering problem based on the Born-Neumann series. Thisformalism expresses the inverse of the scattering operator as a power series of the operator itself. Due to the structure of thisexpansion, Monte Carlo methods can be employed to accelerate the computation of the solution of the scattering problem. Thisthesis presents contributions on the following two topics:First, the relation of the Born-Neumann series with semiiteratiive methods, Krylov subspace methods and conformal mapping.Both Krylov and semiiterative methods approximate the inverse of a linear operator as a linear combination of powers of theoperator itself. The difference lies on the way of finding the coefficients of such linear combination: whereas Krylov subspacemethods actively find these coefficients by minimizing a certain residual, semiiterative methods compute them by applying a fixedtransformation based on assumptions about the operator spectrum. We analyze the relation between both families of methodsand study their connection with conformal maps.Second, the convergence properties of the Ulam-Neumann Monte Carlo algorithm. This method approximates the solution of alinear equation by performing random sampling on the terms of the Born-Neumann expansion. We study the convergenceproperties of this method when submatrices are sampled instead of single matrix elements, and propose an alterantive samplingscheme based on independently approximating each term of the Born-Neumann series that converges on a wider range ofsituations.In the last part of the work, we implement and test a randomized compression method for the impedance matrix obtained by theMethod of Moments. The inherent parallelism of this method allows to exploit the dense linear algebra capabilities of highthroughput processors as GPUs.
  
• TAGDULANG, NIKKI: Surface Impedance Characterization ofHigh-Temperature Superconducting Coated Conductors for Potential Application in the Future Circular Collider Beam Screen
  
  Author: TAGDULANG, NIKKI
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS
  Department: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 06/06/2024
  Reading date: 05/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública al Sincrotró ALBA Carrer de la Llum, 2, 26, 08290 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona
  Thesis director: O'CALLAGHAN CASTELLA, JUAN MANUEL | PONT, MONTSERRAT
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: HERNÀNDEZ FERRÀS, JOAN MANEL
       SECRETARI: KOUBYCHINE MERKULOV, YOURI ALEXANDROVICH
       VOCAL: RUMOLO, GIOVANNI
  Thesis abstract: The Future Circular Hadron Collider (FCC-hh) is a proposed hadron-hadron collider, with a center-of-mass collision energy of 100 TeV in an approximately 100-km long circular tunnel, aiming to push the frontiers of particle physics. One of the key elements in such a high-energy accelerator is the beam screen, which shields the cold superconducting magnets from the synchrotron radiation emitted by the proton beams at such high energies, ensures ultra-high vacuum conditions, and provides a low impedance to the circulating beams. Beam impedance depends on the electromagnetic interaction between the fields generated by the proton beam and the beam screen. In the current baseline design, the beam screen is made of 1 mm thick stainless steel plates coated with 0.3 mm of copper (Cu), but its surface impedance may not be low enough to guarantee a stable beam operation. The use of High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) is thus being considered to improve the beam screen performance, particularly, those based on REBa2Cu3O7−x coated conductors (REBCO-CCs being RE = Y, Gd, Eu). It is therefore essential to estimate the surface impedance of these materials in the range of frequencies (2.1 kHz to 3 GHz), DC magnetic fields (1 to 16 T), and temperature (40-60 K) relevant for their use in the FCC-hh. The experimental characterization at the exact FCC-hh operating conditions is extremely challenging, and the surface impedance has to be inferred at conditions that are feasible with the current experimental capabilities. In this thesis, we have addressed the full characterization of REBCO-CC as possible coatings for the beam screen. The first part presents a system of dielectric resonators to characterize the surface impedance of REBCO-CC materials at conditions as similar as possible to those foreseen in the FCC-hh. Results on representative REBCO-CC samples show the validity of the approach developed, providing surface impedance characterization up to 16 T, in a wide temperature range (4-100 K) and a frequency range between 6 and 15 GHz. The second part evaluates the impact of using REBCO-CC to beam stability by performing calculations of the resistive wall beam impedance using a combination of finite integration techniques and beam coupling impedance theory for beam pipes of general cross-section. To this end, hybrid beam screen models combining REBCO-CC and Cu have been considered. The position of REBCO-CC and the percentage of coverage have been systematically studied to determine the optimum configuration that lowers the resistive wall impedance compared to that presented by Cu, while maintaining the magnetic field homogeneity seen by the beam within the specifications. We demonstrate in this study that it is possible to find a REBCO-CC coverage that improves the performance of the nominal beam screen.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

• PORTO SOLANO, ANDRÉS FELIPE: Addressing seasonal and uncertain demand in service companies through a triple labor flexibility strategy based on multiskilling, annualized hours, and overtime
  
  Author: PORTO SOLANO, ANDRÉS FELIPE
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
  Department: Department of Management (OE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 03/06/2024
  Reading date: 12/07/2024
  Reading time: 14:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula 28.8 de l'ETSEIB - Av. Diagonal, 647, Les Corts, 08028 Barcelona, UPC
  Thesis director: LUSA GARCIA, AMAIA | HENAO BOTERO, CESAR AUGUSTO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MULA BRU, JOSEFA
       SECRETARI: OLIVELLA NADAL, JORGE
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: LÜER VILLAGRA, ARMIN MAURICIO
  Thesis abstract: Workforce management in the service sector, especially in the retail industry, faces both predictable phenomena such as demand seasonality and unpredictable phenomena such as demand variability and unplanned employee absences. These phenomena complicate efficient workforce planning because they make it difficult to match the available workforce (i.e., staffing levels and shift schedules) with customer-driven demand (i.e., staffing requirements), resulting in higher labor costs and lower service quality. The main barriers to better workforce management are that employees are typically trained to perform only one type of task and are scheduled within rigid working hours schemes. Therefore, to ensure operational efficiency and customer satisfaction in this and other service industries, it is essential to consider labor flexibility strategies that minimize periods of overstaffing and understaffing.The main objective of this doctoral thesis is to develop, at a strategic-tactical level, a triple labor flexibility strategy to address staffing challenges in service sector firms, considering seasonality and uncertain demand scenarios. The solution methodology proposes to combine: (i) annualized hours schemes, which allow an irregular distribution (e.g., weekly, monthly) of an annual number of hired hours per employee; (ii) multiskilling with 2-chaining, where employees are trained to work on up to two task types, forming closed training chains; and (iii) overtime. A deterministic model followed by a sensitivity analysis and a two-stage stochastic optimization model are presented to determine the optimal staff size, develop a training plan under a 2-chaining approach, and allocate weekly regular and overtime hours, all while considering demand uncertainty first implicitly and then explicitly. For a case study in the Chilean retail industry, both deterministic and stochastic demand scenarios were evaluated using real, processed, and simulated data.The results showed that multiskilling and overtime are complementary sources of flexibility under an annualized hours contract. Specifically, across different numbers of skills (store sizes), seasonal demand patterns, and levels of demand variability, the proposed strategy achieved nearly 100% demand coverage and approximately 0% overstaffing and understaffing. In addition, the expected costs and robustness of the solution, in terms of staff size, training plan, and overtime, overstaffing, and understaffing costs, obtained from the stochastic model were compared to those obtained from the deterministic model. The results showed that the two-stage stochastic model provides more robust solutions than the deterministic model under demand uncertainty, effectively minimizing training costs and expected average costs associated with overstaffing, understaffing, and wages. This study also confirms the complementarity between multiskilling and overtime in managing demand uncertainty. Ultimately, this research provides valuable insights for retail and service workforce managers seeking to manage uncertainty and optimize their staffing and training plans.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SUSTAINABILITY

• PAZMIÑO FLORES, YADIRA CARMEN: Evaluación de los usos de suelo y valor ecosistémico del páramo de la Subcuenca Chambo (Ecuador)
  
  Author: PAZMIÑO FLORES, YADIRA CARMEN
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SUSTAINABILITY
  Department: University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 17/04/2024
  Reading date: 23/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB, Sala Conferències C2-212 (C/Jordi Girona 1-3, mòdul C2, Campus Nord, Barcelona).
  Thesis director: FELIPE BLANCH, JOSE JUAN DE | VALLBE MUMBRU, MARC
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: AGUILERA BENAVENTE, FRANCISCO
       SECRETARI: ALCARAZ SENDRA, OLGA
       VOCAL: GUAITA PRADAS, INMACULADA
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: HERNÁNDEZ CLEMENTE, ROCÍO
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: GILABERT NAVARRO, M. DESAMPARADOS
  Thesis abstract: The scarcity of information that allows understanding the importance of natural resources from an economic approach is a limitation to establish parameters related to environmental investment in conservation plans. This research proposes a methodology that allows modeling the variability of páramo land uses and the Ecosystem Valuation (EV) of the Chambo-Ecuador sub-basin from a bioeconomic monitoring that links the economic rent of páramo land uses with remote sensing tools and geographic information systems. The main results of the methodology determined that temporal monitoring of land covers is essential to identify areas of greatest vulnerability to EV degradation. The thresholds, functions and interrelationships determined in the Cart Decision Tree (CDT), Multilayer Perception (MLP), Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) models for land cover recognition were efficient; the models performed 88%, 85%, 83% and 81% respectively. The hybridization of the models, Markov chains and cellular automata was appropriate for predicting future land cover changes in Andean areas in relation to their VE, the methods achieved acceptable accuracy for recognizing páramo land uses. The variables chosen for land cover classification were adequate to identify land cover particularities.The opportunity cost and benefit transfer methods proposed obtained a good performance in the evaluation of food production trajectories linked to environmental services (ES) of carbon supply and concentration associated with indirect and support ES, so it was determined that the information from the dynamics of environmental services is an important indicator to understand the real state of the resource and consequently allows understanding the necessary strategies to undertake sustainable actions for ecological management.The mapping generated allowed us to determine that the páramo decreased by 13% between 2000-2010 and 19% between 2010-2020. It was estimated that the loss of the ecosystem between 2000 and 2030 will increase to 28%. From the first year of the study to the last year considered in the work, the páramo will go from occupying 92% to 64% of the area studied. The changes in the EV reveal that the categories with anthropogenic activity analyzed maintain a constant growth that has a direct impact on the EV of the páramo. The most affected areas are those up to 3500 meters above sea level. The EV of the Chambo sub-basin from 2000 to 2020 will increase from 2.86×108 USD to 2.59×108 USD and it is estimated that by 2030 the EV will decrease to 2.48×108 USD, which leads us to recognize that, although the loss of the EV of the natural resource is not critical, its degradation is increasing.Through this methodology it will be possible to obtain, in a practical way, data on the conservation status of the resource over time, allowing to solve problems related to the scarcity of data and leading to the understanding of changes in the area from a socioecological approach, i.e., covering the environmental impacts of human activities on natural systems. The basis of the developed method allows replication of the methodology.The information generated by this study will be of vital importance to understand the causes of the changes in the Andean systems in monetary and environmental terms, which will allow the development of management plans and conservation policies aimed at protection and sustainable management from an economic approach.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

• CAMPRUBÍ PUIG, MELITÓ: Valorar i conservar el patrimoni arquitectònic en un territori perifèric. Continuïtats i discontinuïtats a la Comissió Provincial de Monuments Històrics i Artístics de Lleida, 1844-1938
  
  Author: CAMPRUBÍ PUIG, MELITÓ
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of History and Theory of Architecture and Communication Techniques (THATC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 24/05/2024
  Reading date: 18/07/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública Presencial (ETSAB. Planta Baixa. Sala de Graus)
  Thesis director: GRAUS ROVIRA, RAMON | NAVAS FERRER, MARIA TERESA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PUIGVERT I SOLÀ, JOAQUIM MARIA
       SECRETARI: GARCIA ESTEVEZ, CAROLINA BEATRIZ
       VOCAL: GANAU CASAS, JOAN
  Thesis abstract: The 19th century witnessed both the initial and the most significant steps to be taken by the Spanish government with respect to preserving architectural heritage, in steps that were closely linked to the country's modernisation. The administrative instruments established for this purpose, which were known as the Comisiones Provinciales de Monumentos Históricos y Artísticos, were introduced in 1844.The operation of this Commission in Lleida faced difficulties from the very start, some of which were shared by other commissions and which included a lack of authority, limited support from authorities, insufficient economic resources, and circumstances arising from the unprecedented nature of such ventures. Other issues were more specific to Lleida itself and included the fact that many board members were self-educated, as well as the balance between progressive and conservative political factions, the closed co-optation system, and the Church's control over the Commission itself. Remoteness was also a decisive factor. Madrid was a considerable distance from Lleida, and the provincial region, both vast and poorly connected, exacerbated the perception of cultural and physical difference.Parallel to the birth of the Renaixença, the most dynamic cultural figures from the peripheral society of Lleida (Centre Excursionista de Lleida or Ateneu Lleidatà) organized themselves to promote awareness initiatives within the context of the currents of new, national, and modern culture that were emerging in Catalonia beyond the official scope of the Commission. The most significant elements of heritage were valued as being a "living proof" of a history that was being brought back to the fore. It went from using broad descriptive terms such as "treasures", "jewels", and "beauties" in the 19th century, to shift towards the specific “artistic legacy of our past”, and a common heritage. This was an idea of heritage that was intended to improve the cultural conditions of the populace and facilitate their awareness and progress.This thesis studies the Commission's day-to-day activities in Lleida. Based on records preserved since 1866 at the Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs, the sluggish creation of an awareness to heritage sensitivity is revealed, demonstrating the Commission's inhibitions, or its incapacity to take action in specific cases, while analysing its relations with other bodies that focused on heritage.In Catalonia, a profound interest in heritage had been fostered by the work of some architects with the rambling associations. While traveling throughout the region, Lluís Domènech i Montaner educated his students in the wealth of Catalan architectural heritage. Some of them would later go on to work with initiatives undertaken by the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, in the Institut d'Estudis Catalans, and in the Servei de Conservació i Catalogació de Monuments, which was created by the Mancomunitat de Catalunya in 1914. Two important examples here concern the architects Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Jeroni Martorell i Terrats.During this process, architectural styles that had been disregarded up until then due to their lack of ornamentation, such as the Romanesque and the austere Gothic, were to acquire greater appreciation. Simultaneously, the robustness and sobriety of these architectural styles would go on to shape the image of the national construction project.The impact of this project, however, was not uniform everywhere and the initiatives took on characteristics of their own, due to the economic, social, and cultural differences that modified the pace and effects of the transformation.The contrast between the actions of the Commission and of the other entities, based on the content of the records and publications in a peripheral regional context, reveals the positions, conflicts, and failures, as well as those cases that were successful, while providing several lessons on the conservation of Catalan architectural heritage.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN URBANISM

• CLOS COSTA, ORIOL: Manuel de Solà-Morales, escritura y pensamiento
  
  Author: CLOS COSTA, ORIOL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN URBANISM
  Department: Department of Urbanism, Territory and Landscape (DUTP)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 10/06/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: PARCERISA BUNDO, JOSEP
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MONEO VALLÉS, JOSE RAFAEL
       SECRETARI: CROSAS ARMENGOL, CARLES
       VOCAL: ROSAS VERA, JOSÉ
       VOCAL: LLEÓ FERNÁNDEZ, BLANCA
       VOCAL: GÓMEZ ESCODA, EULÀLIA MARIA
  Thesis abstract: The written work of Manuel de Solà-Morales deserves a central place in his intellectual biography, along with the pedagogical experience and the urban projects he developed; teaching, practice and writings are the three pillars on which his scientific personality is based. The thesis’s object of study is his urban thought matured in articles and books, synthetic expression of ideas and urban visions.“Manuel de Solà-Morales, writing and thought” presents three groups of results:1. Systematic catalogues of articles and books (plus some complements) organized according to a chronological basis. The exhaustive register of the written material allows “access” to the entire documentary body of the thesis. Subsidiarily, it suggests links and facilitates knowledge of four unpublished texts (in annex).2. A hypothesis of grouping of articles (and books) -accents to the catalogue- based on complementary concepts and chronological sequences; it allows to “describe” with prospective intention the material under study based on twenty topics that deconstruct and structure his complex thinking. This chapter establishes the bases for a potential scientific biography.3. The identification and glossing of some emerging ideas of the thought of Manuel de Solà-Morales. They are developed in seven essays based on some of his theoretical texts. The essays relate concepts, complementary or contradictory, that encompass, seen as a whole, the main axes of his thinking; they allow to “understand” his intellectual legacy.The essays, personal and speculative, do not pretend to be a precise chronicle (although they do not avoid it) of the evolution of Manuel de Solà-Morales. They are autonomous texts that perhaps outline a narrative. Indirectly, they hint at a canon of significant writings.The essays highlight the themes that constitute the conceptual framework of Manuel de Solà-Morales's thought. In addition to identifying the “ensanche” (extension) as a relevant topic in his synthesis of the urban knowledge -not only because the content of the articles, but also because the methodological exemplarity they show as an illustration of an intellectual intention-, from the intersection of arguments they present, emerge other issues: the urban history based on the concept “ idea in city ” that is stated in the Deu lliçons methodology; the fragmentary vision of the city, indebted to the current value of the 19th century proto-urbanism; the roman idea of foundation that underlies the growth processes on the abstraction of the layout; the urban project and architecture in the “ artifact city ”, which progressively incorporates the sensitivity of the peri-urban and new forms of growth on informal territories; the city – territory dialectic as an open debate between the metropolitan and the materiality of urban places. In this line, as a background argument -more thought than theory- the action on the urban is elucidated between sensory experience and memory -individual and collective- as an expression of the narratives that construct the phenomena in the city, from observation and consciousness, from interpretation and intuition.We can establish, as an open end, a certain duality -chronological and methodological- between a world of study focused on the structures of urban growth and the ideas that support the meaning of each urban fact -perfectly illustrated by the accumulation of writings on the ensanches- and a more material vision of the urban focused on the dialectic architecture vs city -illustrated by the idea of “the urban things”- that culminates the intellectual journey of Manuel de Solà-Morales.
  
• KARAMANEA, PANAGIOTA: Diachronic terrains: Three landscape narrations on the west Attic coast
  
  Author: KARAMANEA, PANAGIOTA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN URBANISM
  Department: Department of Urbanism, Territory and Landscape (DUTP)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 23/04/2024
  Reading date: 11/07/2024
  Reading time: 12:30
  Reading place: Videoconference + Face-to-face (Sala de Graus ETSAB. Main floor) meet.google.com/fxt-xkax-dos
  Thesis director: SABATE BEL, JOAQUIN | GOULA, MARIA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: SARDÀ FERRAN, JORDI
       SECRETARI: SPANOU, IOANNA
       VOCAL: MORAITIS, KONSSTANTINOS
  Thesis abstract: The thesis researched for a hybrid interdisciplinary system of tools that could help decode coastal landscapes. The west Attic shoreline, a space of contrasts and surprises, stands as a forgotten landscape awaiting rediscovery. Amidst the interplay of urbanity and landscape Attica, unfolds dynamic perspectives as a cultural ecotone. Until now, a comprehensive cartographic study of the western Attic coast, has been absent. The research delves into the cultural formation of perspectives on the coast, examining how both foreign and local intellectuals have shaped these views over time. It investigates the Grand Tour and its contemporary interpretations, the 1930’s, seeking to understand their influence on the collective imagination regarding Attica. It provides a synthesized overview of the historical aspect, spanning from antiquity to the touristic evolution of today. The research navigated through toponymy and landscape, historical archives and old maps focusing especially on the west Attic coastal terrain. The research also endeavors to adopt the lens of the seventh art, cinema. The research explores the sensorial gaze Attica and the local cinema 1950’s selection of coastal shots. From a cultural and sensory standpoint, cinema offers a unique lens through which the coast is perceived. It allows to explore the emotional and experiential aspects of coastal life, capturing the essence of the seaside environment. Cinema, with its storytelling capabilities can help us connect with the coast on a personal and emotional level. By dissecting films where the landscape takes on a protagonist role, the research shifts its focus to cinema as a tool for articulating the intricacies of the coastal environment – a novel and imaginative approach to apprehending its essence. In this context, cinema is not merely regarded as a narrative artistic form; rather, it emerges as a potent medium for both representation and comprehension. Finally, the thesis delves into an exploration of the landscape through original mapping and cartography, aiming to uncover dynamics and qualitative attributes. The overarching goal is to dissect the coastal expanse, unravelling its configuration, fundamental traits, and prominent landscape elements. Through cartography, an effort is made to discern the intricate relationships between various entities, navigating scales and offering an interpretive lens grounded in landscape perspective. On the other hand, the morphological and cartographical approach involves an examination of the physical characteristics and spatial layout of the coast. This includes the topography, land use patterns, and geographical features that shape the coastal region. By delving into these aspects, a deeper understanding of how the coast functions is gained and how it can be harnessed for various purposes, from urban landscape planning to environmental conservation. The spatial configuration of the ground, the surface as infrastructure in the sense of landscape armature and ecological aspects seen as a systemic network, could help integrate the natural landscape in the discussion of rejuvenating the city in a resilient way. Landscape architecture as an interface between city and nature is proposing interdisciplinary processes to apply.
  
• RASTIEMADABADI, AYDA: Iranian bazaar as a living organism: Searching the patterns of Iranian bazaar complexes in the contemporary city
  
  Author: RASTIEMADABADI, AYDA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN URBANISM
  Department: Department of Urbanism, Territory and Landscape (DUTP)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/06/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: SABATE BEL, JOAQUIN | PESOA MARCILLA, MELISA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MARTI CASANOVAS, MIQUEL
       SECRETARI: BRAVO, LUISA
       VOCAL: OKTAY, DERYA
  Thesis abstract: Iran's traditional bazaars, having endured since the inception of urban centres, represent pivotal urban complexes integral to the historical and cultural fabric of the city. With their remarkable physical and functional resilience and adaptability, they grew and evolved in the dense fabric of traditional Iranian cities over a long time. This study recognises these bazaars as living entities that have developed and persisted, some traversing the expanse of centuries to reach the present era. These sites are considered treasuries of urban planning, architectural innovation, and repositories of societal values, signifying one of Iran's most significant national heritages. They serve as physical embodiments of Iranian artistry and manifestations of Iranian thought, reflecting spatial and semantic unity within their diverse physical structures.During the pre-modern era, the bazaar served as the nucleus of Iranian cities, acting as the central public gathering space and significantly shaping their socio-spatial structure. However, the bazaar's role and significance in the postmodern town have become increasingly obscured, influenced by a complex interplay of political, economic, social, and urban management transformations over the past century.The natural coexistence and clarity of the bazaar within the old city persisted for centuries. Yet, the advent of modernity has made the relationship between the city and its constituent elements considerably more intricate. This research endeavours to elucidate the present-day dynamics of this relationship, embarking on an exploration of the Iranian bazaar's historical and contemporary existence, conceptualised as a dynamic, living entity. With the help of this analogy, the study seeks to dissect the evolutionary stages, lifestyles, behavioural patterns, and the factors contributing to the survival or decline of these urban organisms.The study tried to portray the contemporary essence of Iran's oldest and noblest urban spaces by using diverse quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including descriptive analysis and visual documentation. The comparative method was used to analyse a set of Iranian bazaars in terms of physical and social life in different periods. Consequently, inductive research was done by gathering an extensive dataset from diverse bazaar samples and subjecting them to meticulous morphological and typo-morphological analysis. Furthermore, the research addressed the vitality of Iranian bazaars by focusing on a specific case study, the Shiraz bazaar, using a multifaceted approach encompassing observation, interviews, and fieldwork. Ultimately, the research findings were converted into simple and understandable patterns, facilitating a cohesive understanding of the results.The outcomes of this research will likely contribute substantively to the preservation and better understanding of this invaluable urban legacy, helping maintain the position of these urban complexes in Iranian cities and related projects in the future.