Introducing sspaneltvp: A Code to Estimating State-Space Time-Varying Parameter Models in Panels. An Application to Okun’s Law

This paper introduces a new code that provides researchers with a complete toolbox for estimating state-space time-varying parameter models. Our proposal extends the simple seminal framework into a panel-data one, combining both fixed (either common or country-specific) and varying components. Under specific conditions, this setting becomes a mean-reverting model, where the fixed mean parameter may include a deterministic trend. Regarding the transition equation, we allow for estimating different autoregressive alternatives and control instruments whose coefficients can be set up either common or idiosyncratic (this is particularly interesting for detecting asymmetries among individuals, i.e., countries, to common shocks). Furthermore, the GAUSS code allows for restrictions to the variances of both the transition and measurement equations. Finally, we illustrate our proposal with an empirical application to explore Okun’s Law for a panel of EU peripheral countries during the period 1965–2021

Depth Error and Noise Analysis in Multi-frequency Indirect Time-of-Flight Imaging

Compendi d'articles, Doctorat industrialThis PhD thesis investigates the fundamental limitations and performance factors of indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) camera systems, with a focus on improving phase estimation accuracy and depth reliability. The global objective is to enhance the understanding of error sources in iToF systems and to develop models and methodologies that improve their robustness and precision in both academic and industrial contexts. The research is structured around three main contributions. First, a multi-objective optimization framework is proposed for selecting modulation frequencies in multi-frequency iToF systems. This model simultaneously minimizes phase unwrapping errors and maximizes depth precision, while incorporating constraints such as maximum unambiguous range and frequency limits, adapting to specific application requirements. Thanks to this multi-objective formulation, the proposed optimization model improves the performance over existing methods. Second, the thesis presents a generalized shot noise model for traditional sampling architectures. This model accounts for key system parameters including modulation frequency, signal amplitude, background illumination, integration time and the number of points in the Discrete Fourier Transform. It provides a deeper understanding of noise behaviour. A second order-order error propagation is modelled to get a more accurate phase variance estimation. Third, the analysis is extended to the differential sampling architecture used in commercial sensors, such as those developed by Analog Devices Inc (ADI). This architecture simplifies the analog front-end and removes the DC component of the received light, optimizing the use of the dynamic range of the Analog to Digital Converter. A new shot noise model is derived, showing that phase error is inversely proportional to signal amplitude and directly proportional to background illumination, while remaining independent of the number of points in the Discrete Fourier Transform. Together, these contributions form a unified framework that links frequency design and noise modelling, offering practical tools for optimizing iToF systems. The proposed methodologies have been validated through extensive simulations and experimental data, and have been integrated into the development of next-generation iToF modules at ADI. This work lays the foundation for future research in adaptive frequency selection strategies and enhanced noise mitigation, particularly in environments affected by multipath interference and dynamic scene conditions.Programa de Doctorat en Informàtic

Los inicios de la automoción en la provincia de Castellón (1909-1953). Desarrollo y elementos decisivos.

La historia de la automoción en la provincia de Castellón, desde sus orígenes hasta el triunfo del vehículo utilitario (1909-1953), había sido completamente soslayada por los investigadores. La presente tesis viene llenar un hueco en el conocimiento y la visión de la evolución social de dicha provincia en aquella época. Es un período no muy lejano en términos históricos, pero sí en términos vitales, por lo que muchos aspectos claves que ayudarían a su exégesis aún permanecen oscuros. Esta investigación esclarece los condicionantes previos al fenómeno de la automoción, entendidos como compendio del marco físico, el marco humano, la superestructura y la infraestructura provinciales propias. Posteriormente aborda la llegada del automovilismo a los municipios provinciales, la extensión y la pervivencia del fenómeno, así como su arraigo; y la naturaleza de los vehículos matriculados en la provincia estudiando sus tipologías, su uso, sus marcas y sus modelos.When it comes to the history of the automotive in the province of Castellon, since its origins to the trump of utility vehicle (1909-1953), this subject has been totally overlooked by investigators as something worth of being attended. I feel strongly that, for this reason, the current doctoral thesis fills a gap in our understanding concerning of the social evolution of this province, and offers information that will help in order to complete the view that, from today's perspective, can be gained of that period. The time studied was particularly turbulent and traumatic, “age of catastrophes”, to quote Eric Hobsbawm. These are times that, although not so far removed from the present in historical terms, are certainly so in vital terms, and many key aspects that would aid to their exegesis still remain obscure.Programa de Doctorat en Història i Estudis Contemporani

Field Food losses reduction strategies: Clean tree

This action aims to optimize citrus harvesting by ensuring that all fruit present on the tree—including those located in higher/less accessible areas or low caliber—is collected and utilized. It is a simple but powerful technique to reduce on-field food losse

Improving heat-to-electricity energy conversion with thermoelectric materials by means of electrochemical strategies

Compendi d'articlesApproximately 72% of global energy consumption is lost in the form of waste heat. Thermoelectric (TE) devices have gained significant attention owing to their potential to transform heat into electricity, thus contributing to mitigate the present energy crisis. The TE performance is evaluated by the figure of merit zT=S2σT/κ, where S denotes the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, T represents the absolute temperature, and κ refers the thermal conductivity. Therefore, obtaining a high zT requires a large power factor (PF=S2σ) together with low κ. This thesis explores the enhancement of the PF in PEDOT:PSS, Ag-ZnO composite, bismuth/antimony telluride alloys, and Sb-doped SnO2 through electrochemical strategies. Upon treatment with 4,4'-bipyridine or LiBF4, PEDOT:PSS exhibited over 3 times PF enhancements. Ag-ZnO combined with BMII ionic liquid resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the PF. Sb-doped SnO2 functionalized with redox molecules produced 2.5-fold PF improvements.Programa de Doctorat en Tecnologies Industrials i Material

Electrophoretic fabrication of alcohol-stable CsPbBr3 nanocrystalline photoelectrodes for formaldehyde production

Beyond their established role in photovoltaics and optoelectronics, halide perovskites (HPs) are emerging as promising photoactive materials for solar-driven (photo)electrochemical (PEC) reactions, aimed at fuel and energy generation. However, their fast degradation in polar solvents severely affects their PEC redox performance, making protective coatings or the use of non-polar systems essential to preserve their structural integrity. Here, we report the fabrication of bulky quaternary ammonium-stabilized CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystal (PNC) photoanodes via butanol (BuOH)- mediated electrophoretic deposition (ED), without any encapsulation, exhibiting high PEC performance in fully alcoholic environments. By carrying out the ED of PNCs in the presence of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) dissolved in BuOH, we modulate the PEC behavior of the films, obtaining an average photocurrent of 1.17 ± 0.19 mA cm−2 with a maximum value up to 1.45 mA cm−2 in methanol (MeOH) under visible light irradiation. We attribute this performance to a fine balance between DDAB-mediated surface defect passivation, limited alcohol permeation and efficient electron transport within the PNC active layer. These factors collectively result in a high oxidizing power, enabling the selective conversion of MeOH into formaldehyde, with a faradaic efficiency ∼60% after 30 min of continuous operation. This work offers a novel and facile approach to fabricate high-quality PNC photoelectrodes with enhanced PEC activity for solar-driven chemical reactions in polar solvents

Literatura intercultural y traducción: expresiones fraseológicas y metafóricas en obras de Emine Sevgi Özdamar y Yoko Tawada traducidas al español

La creciente mezcla cultural y lingüística de nuestro mundo contemporáneo se manifiesta también en la llamada literatura intercultural. Este «género» destaca por un uso innovador de la lengua de escritura, en la que, además, resuenan ecos de la primera lengua de las autoras y autores. Este trabajo investiga hasta qué punto y de qué maneras se plasma la interculturalidad en la dimensión lingüística y estética de los textos cuando se traducen a una tercera lengua. El trabajo se centra en cuatro obras de dos autoras que escriben en alemán –Emine Sevgi Özdamar, de origen turco, y Yoko Tawada, de origen japonés– y sus traducciones al español, concretamente en tres elementos microtextuales portadores de interculturalidad: las metáforas, las expresiones fraseológicas modificadas y los compuestos creados ad hoc. El análisis muestra que, con matizaciones, se conserva el carácter innovador y la «extrañeza» de estos elementos en las traducciones.The growing cultural and linguistic fusion of our contemporary world also becomes evident in what is known as intercultural literature. Characteristic of this “genre” is the innovative use of the language in which it is written, as well as echoes from the authors' first language. This work investigates the extent to which and the ways in which interculturality is reflected in the linguistic and aesthetic dimensions of texts when they are translated into a third language. The study focuses on four works by two authors who write in German —Emine Sevgi Özdamar, of Turkish origin, and Yoko Tawada, of Japanese origin— and their translations into Spanish, specifically on three microtextual elements that convey interculturality: metaphors, modified idiomatic expressions, and ad hoc compounds. The analysis shows that, with some nuances, the innovative character and “strangeness” of these elements are preserved in the translations.Programa de Doctorat en Llengües Aplicades, Literatura i Traducci

Efficient and Stable Hydrogen Evolution from HI Splitting Using a Robust 2D Tin-Iodide Perovskite

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production with 2D Ruddlesden–Popper tin-iodide perovskites has recently emerged as a promising route toward sustainable solar-to-fuel conversion. However, a major limitation of these systems lies in their rapid degradation caused by tin and iodide oxidation. In the present study, we report the synthesis of 4-fluorophenethylammonium tin-iodide (4FPSI) perovskite microcrystals in a mixture of hydroiodic acid (HI) and H2O, which exhibit remarkable long-term photostability and sustained photocatalytic H2 production via HI splitting. Intermittent light irradiation was shown to further boost H2 production by promoting efficient charge separation and suppressing the accumulation of trapped charge carriers that drive recombination. Notably, reused and aged materials showed enhanced photocatalytic performance, which theoretical simulations attributed to surface reconstruction that exposes additional tin catalytic active sites. The samples that underwent degradation after multiple photocatalytic tests could be recovered through a simple chemical treatment and restore the H2 production capability. Together, these findings highlight tin-iodide perovskites as highly promising photocatalysts for solar H2 production, combining durability, recyclability, and facile recovery strategies to simultaneously advance all key performance metrics.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

Biodegradation of PHBV-based biocomposites in two different marine environments of the Mediterranean Sea

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues worldwide, with large amounts of conventional plastics accumulating in terrestrial and marine ecosystems due to their persistence and ineffective waste management. Developing and understanding the biodegradation behavior of environmentally friendly alternatives, such as bioplastics, is therefore crucial to mitigate this problem. In this context, the degradation of PHBV-based biocomposites containing purified cellulose (TC), wood flour (WF), and almond shell (AS) fibers have been investigated and compared with neat PHBV in two Mediterranean marine locations—a port and the open sea, within the same geographic region. Changes in weight, surface morphology, surface roughness, surface chemistry, and mechanical properties were monitored and periodically evaluated over 18 months of seawater exposure at the two sites. After 18 months of immersion, PHBV/AS showed the highest disintegration degree (88% for 150 µm films and 33% for 500 µm sheets), with the port environment promoting up to a two- to three-fold higher biodegradation rate compared to the open sea. Additionally, mineralization was studied in lab-simulated marine conditions by tracking CO2 release in order to study the actual effect of the fibers on the biodegradation rate of the PHBV. The research highlighted the significant influence of habitat-specific factors on biodegradation, with the port environment exhibiting a more pronounced impact on bacterial adhesion, weight loss, and the deterioration of mechanical properties compared to the open sea. Lignocellulosic fillers, regardless of type, promoted PHBV biodegradation in both conditions. In particular, PHBV/AS exhibited the highest disintegration degree, followed by PHBV/TC and PHBV/WF. Fiber characteristics such as size, shape, and porosity predominantly governed biocomposite disintegrability. Almond shell was revealed as the most favorable fiber for PHBV biodegradation during mineralization test. Under laboratory-simulated marine conditions, the composites reached 50% mineralization between 55 and 70% faster than neat PHBV, confirming the accelerating effect of the fibers on the biodegradation kinetics. This study aims to shed light on the understanding of the biodegradation mechanism of biodegradable polymers and the effect of cellulosic fillers on this natural process. Additionally, the study includes tests and measurements of biodegradation under real conditions, which will provide further insights into the kinetics of this process. This knowledge is of interest for designing biodegradable products and predicting their biodegradation time.This research was supported by projects PID2021-128749OB-C32 and TED2021-130211B-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE, and by MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR respectively.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume IFunding for open access charge: CRUE-Universita

Review and innovations in transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders: advances towards group and blended formats

Compendi d'articlesEmotional disorders (ED) are the most prevalent mental health problems and are among the psychological disorders with the highest burden of disease worldwide. This thesis aims to contribute to psychological evidence-based treatments reach a greater number of people with ED. First study presents the most comprehensive meta-analysis to date on the effectiveness of transdiagnostic interventions for the treatment of ED in the adult population. Second and third studies explore in depth the feasibility, patient acceptability, and preliminary clinical utility of a transdiagnostic intervention administered in a group and blended format, following both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Fourth and fifth studies aim to determine whether the proposed treatment in blended format is equivalent to group transdiagnostic treatment administered in a standard or in-person format, while also improving the cost-benefit ratio.Programa de Doctorat en Psicologi