Vehicle pose estimation using G-Net: multi-class localization and depth estimation

In this paper we present a new network architecture, called G-Net, for 3D pose estimation on RGB images which is trained in a weakly supervised manner. We introduce a two step pipeline based on region-based Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for feature localization, bounding box refinement based on non-maximum-suppression and depth estimation. The G-Net is able to estimate the depth from single monocular images with a self-tuned loss function. The combination of this predicted depth and the presented two-step localization allows the extraction of the 3D pose of the object. We show in experiments that our method achieves good results compared to other state-of-the-art approaches which are trained in a fully supervised manner.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Applications of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation to gravity

Treballs Finals de Grau de Física, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2017, Tutor: Cristiano GermaniIn this paper the main characteristics of the interior solution of a static black hole as a Bose-Einstein condensate of gravitons are explored. We find that, even up to the boundary of the black hole, quantum corrections cannot be ignored which in turn leads to the conclusion that, in this framework, not even in the classical limit the interior of the black hole is described adequately by General Relativity. Furthermore, a non-singular interior solution is found

Monte Carlo study of few-bosons in a one-dimensional trap

Treballs Finals de Grau de Física, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2023, Tutors: Bruno Juliá-Díıaz, Grigori AstrakharchikWe consider a one-dimensional system of few-bosons in a harmonic trap that interact via a contact potential. In addition, we explore a system of non-interacting bosons in the presence of an impurity. The Variational Monte Carlo method is utilised to calculate an upper bound of the ground state energy. Furthermore, we numerically obtain the one-body density matrix, which allows us to determine the occupation numbers and the impurity density profile. The occupation numbers reveal that, in the absence of any impurity, the condensation diminishes as the repulsive interaction strength among bosons increases. Finally, in the presence of an impurity, we show the existence of two distinct regimes: a miscible regime and a non-miscible one

Nutrition, bioenergetics, and metabolic syndrome

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global nutrition report shows that whilst part of the world's population starves, the other part suffers from obesity and associated complications. A balanced diet counterparts these extreme conditions with the proper proportion, composition, quantity, and presence of macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds. However, little is known on the way these components exert any influence on our health. These nutrients aiming to feed our bodies, our tissues, and our cells, first need to reach mitochondria, where they are decomposed into CO2 and H2O to obtain energy. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and mainly responsible for nutrients metabolism, but they are also the main source of oxidative stress and cell death by apoptosis. Unappropriated nutrients may support mitochondrial to become the Trojan horse in the cell. This review aims to provide an approach to the role that some nutrients exert on mitochondria as a major contributor to high prevalent Western conditions including metabolic syndrome (MetS), a constellation of pathologic conditions which promotes type II diabetes and cardiovascular risk. Clinical and experimental data extracted from in vitro animal and cell models further demonstrated in patients, support the idea that a balanced diet, in a healthy lifestyle context, promotes proper bioenergetic and mitochondrial function, becoming the best medicine to prevent the onset and progression of MetS. Any advance in the prevention and management of these prevalent complications help to face these challenging global health problems, by ameliorating the quality of life of patients and reducing the associated sociosanitary burden

Precise localization for aerial inspection using augmented reality markers

The final publication is available at link.springer.comThis chapter is devoted to explaining a method for precise localization using augmented reality markers. This method can achieve precision of less of 5 mm in position at a distance of 0.7 m, using a visual mark of 17 mm × 17 mm, and it can be used by controller when the aerial robot is doing a manipulation task. The localization method is based on optimizing the alignment of deformable contours from textureless images working from the raw vertexes of the observed contour. The algorithm optimizes the alignment of the XOR area computed by means of computer graphics clipping techniques. The method can run at 25 frames per second.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Control corporativo y riqueza de los accionistas en el sector eléctrico europeo

Este artículo analiza el efecto de los anuncios de cambios en el control corporativo (Ofertas Públicas de Adquisición - OPA) sobre el precio de cotización en Bolsa de Endesa, Hidrocantábrico y Scottish Power y el impacto que estos acontecimientos tienen sobre los rendimientos de los competidores más cercanos a la empresa OPAda. Por medio de la metodología de “estudio de acontecimiento”, empleando modelos GARCH y MCO, se encuentra que las OPA lanzadas sobre estas empresas hacen que ellas presenten rendimientos anormales positivos, estadísticamente significativos a un nivel del 1%. Los resultados también sugieren que en industrias con alto poder de mercado, el anuncio del lanzamiento de una OPA tiene un impacto positivo estadísticamente significativo sobre los rendimientos de los competidores más cercanos a la empresa OPAda.This paper analyzes how announcel changes in the corporate control (takeover) of Endesa, Hidrocantábrico and Scottish Power affect their stock market returns and the impact that these events have on the stock market returns of competitors of the target firm. Using an “event study” methodology we find that takeovers positively and significantly affect at the 1% level, the stock market return of the target firm. Results are robust across several econometric specifications as GARCH and MCO models. Also, the results suggest the announcement of the launching of a takeover positively and significantly affects the stock market return of the target firm´s competitors in industries with high market power

European energy industry shocks, corporate control and firm's value

The deregulation process in the EU electricity sector triggered strategic decisions that led to industry restructuring. This paper presents preliminary evidence of the impact of this process on investors, using event studies and estimation techniques such as least squares and GARCH. Our findings suggest three stylized facts: 1) regulatory reform in Europe was certainly accompanied by a takeover wave, as predicted by Mitchell and Mulherin (1996); 2) mergers and acquisitions had a positive impact on the stock price of target firms, and a much lower and sometimes even a negative impact for the bidding firms; 3) the effect of takeover announcements on the returns of competitors of the merging firms depends on the degree of market power. In countries with high market power (like Spain) competitors significantly increase share returns upon takeover announcements, whereas in countries with lower market power (like England and Wales) returns do not change significantly

Regulatory Reform and Corporate Control in European Energy Industries

The deregulation process in the EU electricity sector triggered strategic decisions that led to industry restructuring. This paper presents preliminary evidence of the impact of this process on investors, using event studies and estimation techniques such as least squares and GARCH. Our findings suggest three stylized facts: 1) regulatory reform in Europe was certainly accompanied by a takeover wave, as predicted by Mitchell and Mulherin (1996); 2) mergers and acquisitions had a positive impact on the stock price of target firms, and a much lower and sometimes even a negative impact for the bidding firms; 3) the effect of takeover announcements on the returns of competitors of the merging firms depends on the degree of market power. In countries with high market power (like Spain) competitors significantly increase share returns upon takeover announcements, whereas in countries with lower market power (like England and Wales) returns do not change significantly

Emotion identification from text using semantic disambiguation

Este artículo presenta un sistema de identificación de emociones basado en texto con una arquitectura independiente del idioma. Éste usa distintas tareas de procesamiento del lenguaje natural además de un diccionario afectivo. Su principal novedad es la incorporación de un desambiguador semántico que permite considerar el significado de la palabra en la frase antes de categorizarla emocionalmente. Los experimentos muestran la mejora obtenida sobre un corpus de titulares en inglés.This paper presents a text-based emotion identification system based on text implemented by means of a language-independent architecture. The system includes several natural language processing tasks besides an affective keyword dictionary. The main novelty of the system is the incorporation of a semantic disambiguation module which focuses on the meaning of the word within the sentence before labelling it emotionally. The achived results show the this purpose. The conducted experiments show the achieved improvement on a corpus of English headlines