Essays on identification and estimation of structural parametric and semiparametric models in microeconomics.

This thesis focuses on identification and estimation of structural parametric and semi-parametric models in microeconometrics. The analysis of the conditions under which in the context of an econometric model-data can be informative about the parameters of interest of an economic process is essential and must be of high priority in any econometric work. When considering models with which to identify interesting features, emphasis should be placed on imposing the minimum set of restrictions in order to achieve identification, since inappropriate restrictions may lead to inconsistent estimates of the parameters of interest. For this reason in the literature one finds that some attention has been paid to relaxing parametric distributional assumptions on the unobservables or functional forms of the relationships between observables and unobservables. To begin with, I examine how the parameters of interest of a general class of models can be identified and then estimated when not all of the relevant variables are jointly observed in the same dataset. To do so, the existence of an additional data set with information on both the missing variables and on some common variables in the original data set is necessary. I then move on to an analysis of the identification of the preference parameters in a discrete choice demand model in which individuals only derive utility from the characteristics of the goods they consume. I discuss how this particular model makes the estimation of these parameters feasible without imposing distributional assumptions in the errors even if the number of goods in the choice set is very large. Finally, I consider the comparison of nonparametric regression curves between different samples. I propose to estimate the parameters that explain these differences between the conditional mean functions by using an estimator developed in the semiparametric literature which avoids the computational problems faced by the previously proposed estimators

Qualitative analysis of the best possible self intervention: underlying mechanisms that influence its efficacy

Background The Best Possible Self is a Positive Psychology Intervention which asks participants to write down about themselves in their best possible future. Previous studies have shown its efficacy to enhance wellbeing, but the mechanisms that underlie its efficacy are still unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the content of the essays of the BPS intervention and to examine how this content was related to the efficacy of the intervention to increase positive affect. Method Participants (N = 78) were randomized to either the Best Possible Self condition, or one of two variants of the intervention: one''s best self in the present, and one''s best self in the past. Qualitative analyses of the texts were carried out to explore the main themes and features of the essays. Then, a mixed-methods approach with quantitative and qualitative data was followed, in order to analyze the relationship between the content of the texts and the change in positive affect produced by the interventions. Results Significant differences between conditions were found in the content of the compositions. Regression analyses showed that different variables predicted the change in positive affect depending on the condition. Mediation analyses also found differences among conditions. Conclusions These findings suggest that these interventions respond to different underlying mechanisms which influence their efficacy. This study contributed to a better understanding of how Positive Psychology Interventions work, and how to increment their efficacy

Analysis of Energy Efficiency in Construction Solutions at the Facade-slab Connection

Façade-slab connection is the main thermal bridge of buildings. In this work, different options are analyzed according to the location of the thermal insulation. Heat loss is measured for each option. According to thermal analysis performed we conclude that cover the building¿s façade completely without interruption at the slab¿s front is essential to avoid thermal bridges. The new option that interrupts the cantilever to put insulation on the entire façade is just effective to isolate the entire cantilever and is an easier constructive solution. This insulation continuity is needed to prevent ceiling condensation, since the energy saving is not important compared to windows thermal loss.Vercher Sanchis, JM.; Lerma Elvira, C.; Vidal Martinez, M.; Gil Benso, E. (2013). Analysis of Energy Efficiency in Construction Solutions at the Facade-slab Connection. Advanced Materials Research. 787:731-735. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.787.731S731735787He, J., Hoyano, A., Asawa, T. A numerical simulation tool for predicting the impact of outdoor thermal environment on building energy performance. Applied Energy 86 (2009) 1596–1605. DOI: 10. 1016/j. apenergy. 2008. 12. 034.Füllsack-Köditz, R. Bauphysikalische Kennwerte für Balkonplattenanschlüsse. Bauphysik 34 (2012), Heft 3, pp.121-129. DOI: 10. 1002/bapi. 201200015.Sami A. Al-Sanea, M.F. Zedan. Effect of thermal bridges on transmission loads and thermal resistance of building walls under dynamic conditions. Applied Energy 98 (2012) 584–593. DOI: 10. 1016/j. apenergy. 2012. 04. 038.ZT Ai, CM Mak, JL Niu, ZR Li. Effect of balconies on thermal comfort in wind-induced, naturally ventilated low-rise buildings. Building Serv. Eng. Res. Technol. 32, 3 (2011) p.277–292. DOI: 10. 1177/0143624410396431.Lerma, C., Mas, Á., Gil, E., Vercher, J., Peñalver, MJ. Identification of construction material pathologies in historical buildings using infrared thermography. Materiales de Construcción (2013) pp.24-34. DOI: 10. 3989/mc. 2013. 06612

Implementation of activities for the evaluation of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects in the area of mechanical engineering

[EN] Most of the higher education frameworks work and evaluate transversal competences, to achieve the excellence of graduates, not only academically but also integrating social aspects, ethics, communication, teamwork, etc. To this end, the present work studies a common methodology both in the activities, to improve the acquisition of the ¿Specific Instrumental¿ transversal competence, as well as in its evaluation. In the practical sessions, the student uses a detailed tutorial with the procedure to obtain the numerical result. The evaluation of the ¿Specific Instrumental¿ transversal competence is deficient following this structure, since it does not show whether the student acquires autonomy to solve similar problems. Therefore, an unguided alternative activity was proposed at the end of each session, which allows to see the evolution of the student in the face of a different problem without guidelines. Experience shows that it is rash to expect the student to handle the program autonomously in the first session. For this reason, the delivery deadline for tasks will be extended by a few weeks. Obviously, guarantee of authenticity is lost, but responsibility for learning is transferred to the student. Allowing the student to spend the time necessary for deep learning, without the pressure of ending the session.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación and the Vicerrectorado de Recursos Digitales y Documentación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (project PIME B/19-20/165) and the Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (EICE INTEGRAL).Pedrosa, AM.; Sánchez Orgaz, EM.; Lozano-Mínguez, E.; Martinez-Sanchis, S. (2020). Implementation of activities for the evaluation of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects in the area of mechanical engineering. IATED Academy. 597-602. https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2020.0197S59760

The long-term relationship between economic development and regional inequality: South-West Europe, 1860-2010

This paper analyses the long-term relationship between regional inequality and economic development. Our data set includes information on national and regional per capita GDP for four countries: France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, compiled on a decadal basis for the period 1860–2010. Using parametric and semiparametric regressions, our results confirm the rise and fall of regional inequalities over time although in recent decades they are on the rise again. Finally, we identify structural change as being a significant transmission mechanism of the inverted-U relationship. The arrival of technological shocks, beginning during the onset of industrialization, and the transition from agrarian to industrial economies, would explain this result

Constitutional Syndrome, Ascites and Duodenal Thickening Presenting as Groove Pancreatitis

Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a very infrequent subtype of chronic pancreatitis affecting the pancreatic-duodenal junction. It usually manifests in middle-aged men with a history of chronic alcoholism, though it has also been described in women and in individuals who do not consume alcohol[1]. Even though the underlying etiology is unclear, chronic alcohol consumption is known to increase the viscosity of the pancreatic juice and exacerbate the inflammatory process[2]. We present a case of GP that posed diagnostic difficulties because it manifested as ascites and duodenal thickening, with pancreatic imaging findings initially normal

Estimating the Relative Stiffness between a Hepatic Lesion and the Liver Parenchyma through Biomechanical Simulations of the Breathing Process

[EN] In this paper, a method to in vivo estimate the relative stifness between a hepatic lesion and the liver parenchyma is presented. Tis method is based on the fnite element simulation of the deformation that the liver undergoes during the breathing process. Boundary conditions are obtained through a registration algorithm known as Coherent Point Drif (CPD), which compares the liver form in two phases of the breathing process. Finally, the relative stifness of the tumour with respect to the liver parenchyma is calculated by means of a Genetic Algorithm, which does a blind search of this parameter. Te relative stifness together with the clinical information of the patient can be used to establish the type of hepatic lesion. Te developed methodology was frst applied to a test case, i.e., to a control case where the parameters were known, in order to verify its validity. Afer that, the method was applied to two real cases and low errors were obtained.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through research projects DPI2013-40859-R and TIN2014-52033-R, both also supported by European FEDER funds.Martinez-Sanchis, S.; Rupérez Moreno, MJ.; Nadal, E.; Pareja, E.; Brugger, S.; Borzacchiello, D.; López, R.... (2018). Estimating the Relative Stiffness between a Hepatic Lesion and the Liver Parenchyma through Biomechanical Simulations of the Breathing Process. Mathematical Problems in Engineering. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5317324S110Kmieć, Z. (2001). Introduction — Morphology of the Liver Lobule. Advances in Anatomy Embryology and Cell Biology, 1-6. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-56553-3_1Cequera, A., & García de León Méndez, M. C. (2014). Biomarkers for liver fibrosis: Advances, advantages and disadvantages. 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Tensional homeostasis and the malignant phenotype. Cancer Cell, 8(3), 241-254. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2005.08.010Kuo, Y.-H., Lu, S.-N., Hung, C.-H., Kee, K.-M., Chen, C.-H., Hu, T.-H., … Wang, J.-H. (2010). Liver stiffness measurement in the risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma for patients with chronic hepatitis. Hepatology International, 4(4), 700-706. doi:10.1007/s12072-010-9223-1Heide, R., Strobel, D., Bernatik, T., & Goertz, R. (2010). Characterization of Focal Liver Lesions (FLL) with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastometry. Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound, 31(04), 405-409. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1245565Frulio, N., Laumonier, H., Carteret, T., Laurent, C., Maire, F., Balabaud, C., … Trillaud, H. (2013). Evaluation of Liver Tumors Using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography and Correlation With Histologic Data. 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E., Dhyani, M., Vij, A., Bhan, A. K., Halpern, E. F., Méndez-Navarro, J., … Chung, R. T. (2015). Shear-Wave Elastography for the Estimation of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease: Determining Accuracy and Ideal Site for Measurement. Radiology, 274(3), 888-896. doi:10.1148/radiol.14140839Toshima, T., Shirabe, K., Takeishi, K., Motomura, T., Mano, Y., Uchiyama, H., … Maehara, Y. (2011). New method for assessing liver fibrosis based on acoustic radiation force impulse: a special reference to the difference between right and left liver. Journal of Gastroenterology, 46(5), 705-711. doi:10.1007/s00535-010-0365-7Barr, R. G., Ferraioli, G., Palmeri, M. L., Goodman, Z. D., Garcia-Tsao, G., Rubin, J., … Levine, D. (2015). Elastography Assessment of Liver Fibrosis: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement. Radiology, 276(3), 845-861. doi:10.1148/radiol.2015150619Venkatesh, S. K., Yin, M., & Ehman, R. L. (2013). 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J., Martínez-Martínez, F., Monserrat, C., Larra, E., Güell, J. L., & Peris-Martínez, C. (2015). A new methodology for the in vivo estimation of the elastic constants that characterize the patient-specific biomechanical behavior of the human cornea. Journal of Biomechanics, 48(1), 38-43. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.11.009Lago, M. A., Rupérez, M. J., Martínez-Martínez, F., Martínez-Sanchis, S., Bakic, P. R., & Monserrat, C. (2015). Methodology based on genetic heuristics for in-vivo characterizing the patient-specific biomechanical behavior of the breast tissues. Expert Systems with Applications, 42(21), 7942-7950. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2015.05.058Hoyt, K., Castaneda, B., Zhang, M., Nigwekar, P., di Sant’Agnese, P. A., Joseph, J. V., … Parker, K. J. (2008). Tissue elasticity properties as biomarkers for prostate cancer. Cancer Biomarkers, 4(4-5), 213-225. doi:10.3233/cbm-2008-44-505Xu, W., Mezencev, R., Kim, B., Wang, L., McDonald, J., & Sulchek, T. (2012). Cell Stiffness Is a Biomarker of the Metastatic Potential of Ovarian Cancer Cells. PLoS ONE, 7(10), e46609. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046609Martinez-Sanchis, S., Rupérez, M. J., Nadal, E., Borzacchiello, D., Monserrat, C., Pareja, E., … López-Andújar, R. (2017). Estimating the Patient-Specific Relative Stiffness Between a Hepatic Lesion and the Liver Parenchyma. Lecture Notes in Computational Vision and Biomechanics, 485-494. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-68195-5_5