Doctoral School

Reading date: 24/01/2025

• FIOL DURAN, VICTÒRIA INMACULADA: A Mallorca, S'Arenal. Dibuixos d'un paisatge encobert. Traçats per a un nou model territorial.
  
  Author: FIOL DURAN, VICTÒRIA INMACULADA
  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: 17/12/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: EIZAGUIRRE GARAITAGOITIA, FRANCISCO JAVIER | CORTELLARO, STEFANO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PARCERISA BUNDO, JOSEP
       SECRETARI: GALINDO GONZALEZ, JULIAN
       VOCAL: HORRACH ESTARELLAS, GABRIEL PERE
       VOCAL: ANASTASIA, CATERINA
       VOCAL: SIMÓN ROJO, MARIAN
  Thesis abstract: Platja de Palma, Mallorca, is a strategic place for its combination of natural attractions and its geographical location, as well as being a clear setting for the construction and transformation of the pre-existing landscape. This is not only due to its having been one of the laboratories in which to experiment with tourist landscapes, but also as it has had a leading role in some of the main actions to improve seasoned tourist destinations over recent years.All these actions aim to rebuild a territory that was once idyllic for summer holidaymakers and which conserves hidden qualities, with risks and threats for the future, but hidden qualities that are able to be restructured.This doctoral thesis aims to analyse, describe, identify, develop and classify the territory of Platja de Palma based on its free open spaces ¤C squares, parks, woodland, residential areas, sand and beaches ¤C in their original state and it considers the evolution of the elements which remain, which are transformed, which disappear, which are grouped together or which become dispersed, for example. In other words, it aims to understand the structure of the countryside and strike a balance between that which has been constructed and that which has not. It will take the concept of ¡°constructed¡– in the most literal sense of the word, but at no point will it consider non-urban or urbanised space as exempt from form, construction or use. In fact, the whole territory is a space constructed to different extents and this research shows that less density and solidity in constructed areas implies greater value.This updated project aims to explore new ways to continue sharing tourism, which is here to stay, as well as the landscape supporting it.This research project also intends to use the methodology of zoning, classification and the nomenclature of public spaces and their systems, as trialled and applied in conventional urban planning. It is therefore clear that the coastal territory is unique and that it is necessary to offer specific features for the new systems of unoccupied spaces and their dynamics within the territory of S’Arenal, which are always linked to supporting its landscape.The features retained aim to better understand the particular features of open spaces in the coastal territory of Platja de Palma. These features are key to creating structures which readjust the existing territorial model together with a study of their relationships and interactions of the support analysed. Today there are new challenges to be faced with the intrinsic objective of using mapping.Maps and plans are descriptions referring to territories¡fl and cities¡fl pasts and presents. They are also interpretations that speak of the conception of the space and the relationships that residents establish with it. They go beyond being a mere representation of what is known, making way for unknown elements, values and relationships to appear. They anticipate and induce changes to the landscape and project the future. They will therefore condition the future regeneration developments and modifications to Platja de Palma.In short, the relevance of the biogeophysical support determining development is recognised. The network will address flow management and improve the permeability of the current limits, as well as transitions between urban and rural uses. It will also sketch out a well-balanced blend of forests, agriculture and cities integrated into a sequence of landscapes all the way to the sea. It is only by restoring the metabolic cycles of the land and water, and increasing biodiversity and reinforcing its environmental function, that Platja de Palma can be transformed into S¡flArenal: a privileged area combining urban, rural and agricultural values to restore a typical landscape.
  

• FULLANA PONS, AÏDA MAGDALENA: Management strategies of Meloidogyne-resistant plant germplasm to avoid virulence selection
  
  Author: FULLANA PONS, AÏDA MAGDALENA
  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 AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
  Department: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 16/12/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: SORRIBAS ROYO, FRANCISCO JAVIER | GINÉ BLASCO, ARIADNA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CASTILLO CASTILLO, PABLO
       SECRETARI: SERRANO PORTA, LIDIA
       VOCAL: MORTON JUANEDA, ANA
       VOCAL: HELDER, JOHANNES
       VOCAL: PISA MATA DA CONCEIÇÃO, ISABEL LUCI
  Thesis abstract: During the development of the PhD, several studies were conducted to explore the potential of plant resistance for the management of Meloidogyne in horticultural crops, none of which promoted the selection of virulent populations in the resistant germplasms used. Specifically: i) the effect of three growing seasons of resistant germplasm rotation; ii) the effect of Solanum torvum as a tomato rootstock as a method of alternating resistance sources in monoculture situations; iii) the capacity of zoophytophagous mirids to induce resistance in tomato germplasm susceptible to nematodes to reduce the frequency of use of resistant germplasm.; and iv) the response of potential rootstocks of melon and cucumber or watermelon to quarantine species in Spain as a possible management tool if they are found and not eradicated. The results obtained showed that: i) the rotation sequence with resistant germplasm ( tomato grafted (grft.) onto ‘Brigeor’ - melon grft. onto Cucumis metuliferus - pepper grft. Onto ‘Oscos’ – watermelon grft. onto Citrullus amarus - resistant tomato cv. Caramba) cultivated in plots infested by an avirulent (Avi) or partially virulent (Vi) population of M. incognita to the Mi1.2 resistance tomato gene reduced the Avi population density by 94% and the Vi population density to below detectable levels. Cumulative yield was 1.5 and 2.4 times higher in plots infested with Avi and Vi, respectively, compared to rotation with susceptible germplasm. The Avi population did not acquire virulence to any of the resistant germplasms used in the rotation; ii) the severity of the disease and nematode reproduction in tomatoes grafted onto S. torvum were reduced by 8.6 and 56 times, respectively, compared to non-grafted tomatoes, and yield was up to 87% higher at densities above 1 J2/cm3 of soil. The resistance of S. torvum remained unchanged after three consecutive crops; iii) exposure of susceptible tomatoes to 15 nymphs/plant of Nesiodiocoris tenuis or Macrolophus pygmaeus for 24 hours before transplanting such as (Z)-3-hexenil propanoato volatile emitted by fed tomato plants, reduce nematode’s reproduction until 60, 70 and 45% respectively; and iv) Cucumis metuliferus was immune to M. chitwoodi, highly resistant to M. enterolobii, and resistant to M. luci. Citrullus amarus ranged from resistant to moderately resistant to M. chitwoodi and M. enterolobii, and resistant to M. luci.The results of these studies provide valuable information for nematode control, even in scenarios where species and/or populations virulent to specific resistance genes coexist, which are increasingly common in production areas.
  

• JIMENEZ GUERRA, MAYKEL: Innovative bulk and interfaces management on Q-1D Sb2Se3 based solar cells
  
  Author: JIMENEZ GUERRA, MAYKEL
  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: 31/10/2024
  Reading date: 24/01/2025
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula A1.08, EEBE, campus Besós
  Thesis director: SAUCEDO SILVA, EDGARDO ADEMAR | SÁNCHEZ GONZÁLEZ, YUDANIA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: SPALATU, NICOLAE
       SECRETARI: PLACIDI, MARCEL JOSE
       VOCAL: GARCÍA SÁNCHEZ SÁNCHEZ, MARIO FIDEL
  Thesis abstract: This thesis investigated antimony Q-1D (Sb)-based solar cells as a promising alternative for sustainable energy generation, addressing critical challenges related to material properties, interfaces, and device architecture. Innovative strategies were developed to optimize optoelectronic properties and improve conversion efficiency, focusing on Sb2Se3, but including also preliminary studies on the Sb2(S,Se)3 solid solution, as well as exploring cadmium-free (Cd-free) materials as electron selective transport layers (ETL).A major achievement was the optimization of the Sb2Se3/CdS interface using chemical etching techniques, such as KCN treatment, which increased the average efficiency of solar cells from 4% to 5%, reaching 5.3% in the best-performing sub-cell. These treatments not only enhanced surface passivation but also altered surface polarity, resulting in the formation of a "buried junction" that improved the fill factor and overall energy conversion efficiency.High-pressure thermal annealings proved effective in enhancing crystal quality by increasing grain size, promoting preferred crystal orientations, and reducing defect density, which enabled a 5.8% efficiency using a new co-evaporation method. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of these techniques to improve device performance and reproducibility.Cadmium-free or significantly Cd-reduced configurations were explored to reduce environmental impact, achieving an efficiency of 6.6% in superstrate-configuration devices based on Sb2(S,Se)3, approaching the 7.6% benchmark achieved with CdS. In the substrate configuration, a Cd-free Sb2Se3 cell reached an efficiency of 5.2%, surpassing the 4.8% achieved with CdS, highlighting the potential of alternative materials to replace cadmium.Despite the progress made, several challenges remain, such as ensuring the stability of Sb2Se3 interfaces under operational conditions and optimizing new materials like SbSeI and SbSeBr. Improving the scalability of fabrication processes and the cost-effectiveness of new treatments are also key areas for future research. The results of this thesis provide a solid foundation for developing more efficient and sustainable Sb2Se3-based solar cells, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation in materials science and device engineering to overcome the remaining challenges and advance toward more scalable and efficient photovoltaic technologies.
  

• LOPES E SILVA, BRUNO MIGUEL: Artificial Intelligence to Improve Plastic Molding Processes
  
  Author: LOPES E SILVA, BRUNO 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 AUTOMATIC CONTROL, ROBOTICS AND VISION
  Department: Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (IRI)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 17/12/2024
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: ALENYÀ RIBAS, GUILLEM | CHARRUA DE SOUSA, JOÃO MIGUEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BRANCO SIMÕES DA SILVA, CATARINA HELENA
       SECRETARI: ÁLVAREZ NAPAGAO, SERGIO
       VOCAL: SORGATO, MARCO
  Thesis abstract: This thesis advances the field of production processes, specifically injection molding, toward the goal of Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM), with an emphasis on improving quality prediction methods through Artificial Intelligence (AI). It explores innovative strategies for improving the efficiency and quality of manufacturing processes, highlighting the importance of minimizing defects in industrial production.The research begins with an analysis of the current state of predictive quality systems in injection molding processes, identifying the critical need for advances to achieve ZDM. By collecting data from legacy and modern equipment, this work establishes a basis for a comprehensive analysis, using standard protocols and new methodologies for data collection. Central to this thesis is the application of feature selection algorithms, which employ a combination of filter, wrapper, embedded, and hybrid approaches. This framework is designed to accurately identify the key parameters that influence the quality of the injection molding process, thereby facilitating more effective and predictive modeling of manufacturing results. In addressing quality prediction, the thesis introduces both supervised and unsupervised models to predict manufacturing quality. It particularly focuses on enhancing these models with human knowledge, integrating expert insights into the predictive algorithms to better adapt to the complex dynamics of the manufacturing environment. This approach not only improves the accuracy of predictions but also enriches the models with practical, real-world applicability. Through a series of detailed use cases, the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies is demonstrated across various equipment and manufacturing scenarios. The results highlight significant improvements in process predictability, contributing to the reduction of defects and moving closer to the ideal of ZDM. The conclusion of this thesis reiterates the importance of its contributions to the field of AI used in production processes, with a focus on injection molding, providing a solid foundation for future research aimed at improving the integration of data-driven and human-centered approaches in manufacturing. The thesis outlines potential pathways for continued innovation in digitalization, feature selection, and quality prediction, emphasizing the ongoing pursuit of excellence in manufacturing processes.
  

• NIKSERESHT, SASAN: Self-Powered Integrated Circuits with Optical Communication
  
  Author: NIKSERESHT, SASAN
  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: 26/11/2024
  Reading date: 24/01/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula de Postgrau C5-116, de l'ETSETB
  Thesis director: COSP VILELLA, JORDI | FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍNEZ, DANIEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: URANGA DEL MONTE, ARANTZAZU
       SECRETARI: MARTINEZ GARCIA, HERMINIO
       VOCAL: MICHALIK, PIOTR JOZEF
  Thesis abstract: The rapid development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is transforming data collection, analysis, and use across various industries, from industrial to biomedical applications. A specialized class of IoT, known as Smart Dust Motes (SDMs), has recently gained attention. These ultra-miniaturized, self-sustaining devices are capable of sensing, computation, and communication at a millimeter scale. However, despite their vast potential, SDM and IoT applications face significant challenges, particularly in power management, miniaturization, and communication efficiency.One of the primary challenges in distributing SDM technology is managing energy consumption. As the number of SDMs increases and they are deployed in remote environments, sustainable energy sources will be needed for autonomous operation over extended periods without maintenance. Traditional power solutions, such as batteries, are impractical for these systems due to size limitations and frequent maintenance requirements. Moreover, wireless communication, especially through Radio Frequency (RF), uses a significant amount of energy, which affects the requirements of these applications. As a result, current approaches, such as batteries and RF communication, often struggle to provide sustainable, long-term solutions for maintaining both power and communication efficiency.This dissertation proposes the design of a self-powered Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) specifically developed for SDM and IoT applications, with the goal of addressing these challenges. The proposed system incorporates multiple key components, including a hybrid optical and RF transceiver and energy harvesting units. At the core of the system is the integration of negative photodiodes, which function both as light energy harvesters and optical data receivers, significantly minimizing the system's size and power consumption. The negative photodiodes provide higher efficiency than traditional positive photodiodes, improve energy conversion, and reduce both chip area and cost. The energy generated by the integrated photodiode is stored and regulated through an integrated voltage converter, which efficiently boosts the harvested energy to power the entire system. The hybrid communication system methods, offer flexibility for SDM applications where line-of-sight optical communication to be supplemented by RF transmission for enhanced range and reliability. A low-power reconfigurable RF transmitter, capable of operating in multiple modulation modes, enhance reliable communication even in non-line-of-sight conditions.To validate the proposed design, three prototype chips were fabricated using 0.18 µm CMOS technology and tested experimentally. The first prototype, featuring the hybrid optical/RF communication platform, achieved a data transmission rate of 20 kb/s with an optical receiver power consumption of 11 pJ/bit and RF transmission power of −18.65 dBm using light-harvested energy. The second optical receiver improved light data sensitivity using the DC-adapting comparison block technique. It consumed 60 nW of power and 1.5 pJ/bit at a transmission rate of 40 kb/s with a 0.5 V supply voltage. The energy-harvesting system demonstrated 57% efficiency and generated up to 8.7 µW of power from a negative photodiode area of 240 × 480 µm². These results demonstrate the system's capability to operate autonomously for extended periods, without the need for battery replacements or external power sources.