The persistency of rural poverty along with a widened gap between urban and rural areas, darken the picture of progress in Colombia. This dissertation analyses the state of social protection in rural areas, paying attention to the different instruments available to the government in order to find out whether rural dwellers have effective protection tools against shocks. Using different diagnoses on the determinants of rural poverty, this work identifies the limited scope of the actual social protection system in addressing the many different sources of vulnerability that rural inhabitants have to face in Colombia. In addition, there is a lack of comprehensive rural development strategy to complement the operation of the social protection system in rural settings.  

Exports concentration in a reduced number of economic sectors has been always a concern for trade policy makers, mostly in developing countries. According to the economic theory and some recent empirical evidence, market access in international trade is improved through free trade agreements and preferential tariff rate programs which could affect positively export diversification. Following a similar approach used by Debaere and Mostashari (2005) and Volpe and Gómez (2007), this paper estimates the effects on Colombia’s export diversification induced by the lower tariffs offered by Mexico and the broader preference margin vis-à-vis third countries in the Mexican market derived from the G3 Free Trade Agreement (FTA).For this purpose, dynamic Probit and dynamic Poisson models are estimated using an unbalanced panel data available from 1995 –year when the G3 FTA entry into force– to 2010, the latest year available. Moreover, this paper also attempts to estimate the effects of Venezuela’s withdrawal from G3 in 2006 and the effects of the bilateral crisis between Colombia and Venezuela in the second half of 2000s. In general, results show that lower tariffs faced by Colombian products in Mexico are associated with higher export diversification but this impact is sensitive to the economic cycle and a negative impact on diversification can arise depending on the specification of the model. Also, broader preferential margins in Mexico induce higher export diversification for Colombian products.However, there exists a strong dependence of export diversification in Colombia on the initial conditions and the past of the export portfolio offered to Mexico. On the other hand, Venezuela’s withdrawal from G3 FTA in 2006 had no effect on export diversification from Colombia to Mexico meanwhile the bilateral crisis showed –in some specifications– positive effects on the export diversification to Mexico, the latter revealing a trade deviation pattern. Macroeconomic control variables –including the real exchange rate– showed to be irrelevant to the model.

El patrimonio cultural se ha tratado de presentar como un espacio de consenso en el que afloran los acuerdos en cuanto a la identidad de una sociedad. Los cambios en la concepción de ‘cultura’, y consecuentemente del patrimonio cultural, trasladaron la atención del objeto patrimonial a la patrimonialización, entendiendo ahora el patrimonio como una construcción social y una producción cultural en la que se presentan convergencias y divergencias relativas a las distintas versiones de identidad involucradas, los criterios para la designación de los bienes patrimoniales y los usos de dicho patrimonio. El carácter de constructo del patrimonio permite encontrarse con un entramado de tensiones que lo convierte en lo que Bourdieu ha denominado un “campo”.El patrimonio cultural inmaterial es un tema propenso a consensos y disensos por las dificultades que han representado tanto su definición como la determinación y aplicación de medidas de protección, salvaguarda, fomento o viabilidad, pero sobre todo porque potencia la participación social al residir dicho patrimonio en las personas y/o comunidades. Barichara, Santander, es un pueblo que se presenta en el discurso turístico como un apacible destino colombiano en el que existe un total acuerdo sobre el hecho de que la valía del municipio reside en su patrimonio construido, en sus oficios artesanales y en su capacidad creadora. No obstante, al aproximarse a la vida cotidiana de sus habitantes se descubren una serie de tensiones que emanan de un proceso dinámico de construcción social del patrimonio inmaterial, acelerado por el crecimiento del turismo y, especialmente, por la llegada de nuevos habitantes que han elegido este lugar como sitio de primera o segunda residencia.El escenario para las tensiones se hace fértil debido a la falta de aplicación de las políticas nacionales y departamentales, y la ausencia de políticas locales, expresamente culturales y, también, transversales. Este texto busca identificar y describir los actores involucrados en el proceso de construcción social del patrimonio cultural inmaterial en Barichara - específicamente en lo relativo a oficios artesanales-, las nociones y criterios explícitos o implícitos que rigen dichos procesos, y los principales ámbitos de tensión que de ello se derivan.

The main idea of this project is to identify possible indicators to evaluate civil engineering works that involves geotechnical techniques. Furthermore, the idea to encourage the developing of new technologies using as base, properly process that are available at the moment, might be attempt. However, to find these indicators of sustainable geotechnical engineering is the principal objectives of the project. In general words, the objectives of this thesis are:In base of sustainable indicators from different areas such as economics, water management, environment regulations, productivity in the industrial field among others, adapted and developed indicators for geotechnical engineering field.According with the sustainable geotechnical requirements, proposed new indicators relevant for this field.Validate and prove the use of the mentioned indicators with a case study and apply them to analyze their results.Develop an evaluation model to summaries and illustrated the indicators performance.Show the viability of new technologies confronting to regular procedures.This dissertation has found an important and fundamental tool for geotechnical engineers that want to go further that the actual design parameters. Moreover, the necessities to supply the present requirements are covering with the use of sustainability geotechnical evaluation model (S.G.E.M) that is the final result of this dissertation.

The purpose of this essay is to explain why it is not only reasonable but also necessary for companies that aim to survive in the long term, to adapt to the shifts that have happened in the market by embedding a system thinking and becoming sustainable businesses, through the adoption of sustainable business strategies that deliver benefits for the Triple Bottom Line.This paper first describes the current situation of the Earth, it will also describe the existing criticism towards businesses and the raising expectations for business acting as a source of long-term solutions and change. Subsequently, it exposes the main reasons why it has been so difficult for businesses to see a business case for sustainability. Finally, this essay demonstrates that to survive in the long term it is of vital importance for companies to embed sustainable business strategies and sustainable business models that deliver benefits for the Triple Bottom Line.

The following report describes the work done during my internship in AlbaTERN Ltd, a company focused in the design and construction of wave energy devices that capture energy from ocean waves and convert it into sustainable low- carbon electricity. A background of existing research in the area of Wave Energy conversion and its potential around the world is given in the first chapters. The main objective of my thesis has been support the design and construction of a unique wave energy conversion system constructed from multiple SQUID modules in a hexagonal array configuration.The project has been focused to look specifically at improving the hydraulic energy conversion efficiency, the feasibility of auto-setting operational variables according to the sea conditions, and the overall adaptability of the design to suit the specifications of the site and power requirements. Simulations using SimHydraulics have been developed to assess the design an optimal Hydraulic energy conversion system. With the output of the several simulations and hydraulic laboratory tests have been possible the sizing of its different components, and the design of special manifold blocks with self-setting hydraulic control, reducing the quantity and complexity the electronic devices for the general control.The key challenge facing the Wave Energy conversion Industry is lowering the cost of energy generation, where is required research and Development in order to design a device with high efficiency, high availability and low cost for the mass production. So achieving a viable wave energy future depends as much upon developing a technology that can be rapidly and economically scaled to high volume production. This project provides a solid foundation for scaling WaveNET arrays in excess of 10 MW.

This research is part of the project entitled ""CANOPOR"". Overall, this project aims to carry out studies of forest canopy dynamics through Airborne LiDAR scanning. From this perspective, this study focus on developing a methodology for segmentation automatic or semi-automatic tree crowns in tropical rain forest. The study area corresponds to Paracou experimental in French Guiana.On this scenario, a combination of combination of high resolution optical images and LiDAR scanners is used. The present document provides full details about the pre-treatment process, images treatment, results and comparisons with different segmentation approaches. The validation method is also discussed. Results revealed that the use of LiDAR and variables such as elevation and intensity are a valuable source of information for understanding the structure of complex ecosystems in tropical forests. 

Resumo: Neste estudo analisam-se o câncer de colo uterino como problema social e as contribuições da enfermagem na realização de testes para detectá-lo precocemente. Metodologicamente se fundamenta na epidemiologia descritiva e na revisão sistemática. Os resultados são apresentados na forma de artigos. No primeiro, Câncer de colo do útero: um problema social mundial, é analisado o câncer de colo de útero como problema social. Estudo transversal, com dados populacionais coletados na base de dados Globocan-2008. Foram utilizados dados das Taxas de Incidência e das Taxas de Mortalidade por 100.000 mulheres e percentuais de risco acumulado de incidência e mortalidade antes dos 75 anos pela doença nas regiões desenvolvidas e em desenvolvimento do mundo.Na análise são aplicadas as classificações da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) de desenvolvimento dos países ou regiões com base em projeções sociais e demográficas e os níveis de classificação das Taxas de Incidência e de Mortalidade do International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). O segundo artigo, Câncer de colo do útero: mortalidade em Santa Catarina – Brasil, 2000 a 2009, foi desenvolvido com base nos dados dos óbitos de mulheres por câncer de colo do útero, inclusive os de porção não especificada, ocorridos em Santa Catarina no período de 2000 a 2009, obtidos no Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade (SIM) do Ministério da Saúde e do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Observou-se que as taxas de mortalidade mais elevadas incidiram em mulheres a partir dos trinta anos e que o câncer de colo uterino ainda não foi controlado.No terceiro artigo, A enfermagem na detecção precoce do câncer de colo uterino: revisão sistemática, são analisadas as contribuições da Enfermagem para a título e resumo foram pré-selecionados 174, os quais foram lidos integralmente, resultando na seleção de 10 artigos. O pessoal de enfermagem atuou como participante em nove pesquisas e como pesquisador em três pesquisas. A maioria dos artigos foi classificada com o nível de evidência 3B segundo a classificação Oxford; somente um obteve nível 4.Há contribuição de Enfermagem na realização de exames para detecção precoce do câncer de colo uterino, apesar do nível de evidência com que foram classificados os artigos. Conclui-se que o impacto da doença nas mulheres, nas suas famílias e nas sociedades demanda modificações no quadro das iniquidades sociais com adoção de estratégias intersetoriais que também facilitem o acesso aos serviços de saúde. O cuidado de enfermagem é uma estratégia para atender a responsabilidade social com as mulheres, as famílias e as sociedades e contribuir na detecção precoce da doença, favorecendo a qualidade de vida de milhares de mulheres. Resumen: En este estudio se analizan el cáncer de cuello uterino como problema social y las contribuciones de la enfermería en la realización de pruebas para detectarlo precozmente. Metodológicamente se fundamenta en la epidemiologia descriptiva y en la revisión sistemática. Los resultados son presentados en la forma de artículos. En el primer, El cáncer de cuello de útero: un problema social mundial, es analizado el cáncer de cuello de útero como problema social. Estudio transversal, con datos poblacionales recolectados en la base de datos Globocan-2008. Fueron utilizados datos de las Tasas de Incidencia y de las Tasas de Mortalidad por 100.000 mujeres y porcentajes de riesgo acumulado de incidencia y mortalidad antes de los 75 años por cáncer de cuello uterino en las regiones desarrolladas y en desarrollo.En el análisis son aplicadas las clasificaciones de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) de desarrollo de los países o regiones con base en proyecciones sociales y demográficas y los niveles de clasificación de las Tasas de Incidencia y de Mortalidad de la International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). El segundo artículo, Cáncer de cuello de útero: mortalidad en Santa Catarina – Brasil, 2000 a 2009, fue desarrollado con base en los datos de las muertes de mujeres por cáncer de cuello de útero, inclusive los de porción no específica, ocurridos en Santa Catarina en el período de 2000 a 2009, obtenidos en el Sistema de Información de Mortalidad (SIM) del Ministerio de Salud y del Instituto Brasileiro de Geografía y Estadística (IBGE).Se observó que las tasas de mortalidad elevadas incidieron en mujeres a partir de los treinta años y que el cáncer de cuello uterino todavía no fue controlado. En el tercer artículo, Contribuciones de la enfermería en la detección precoz del cáncer de cuello de útero: revisión sistemática, son analizadas las contribuciones de la enfermería para la detección precoz de esa neoplasia. Revisión sistemática con artículos recuperados en el año de 2010 en las bases de datos MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINHAHL y LILACS. De los 3091 artículos identificados, después de la lectura del título y resumen fueron preseleccionados 174, los cuales fueron leídos integralmente, resultando en la selección de 10 artículos.El personal de enfermería actuó como participante en nueve investigaciones y como investigador en tres investigaciones. El nivel de evidencia 3B, en la clasificación Oxford, ocurrió en la mayoría de los artículos; solamente uno obtuvo nivel 4. Hay contribuciones de enfermería en la realización de exámenes para detección precoz del cáncer de cuello uterino, a pesar del nivel de evidencia en el que fueron clasificados los artículos. Se concluye que el impacto de la enfermedad en las mujeres, en las familias y en las sociedades demanda modificaciones en el cuadro de las inequidades sociales con adopción de estrategias intersectoriales que también faciliten el acceso a los servicios de salud. El cuidado de enfermería es una estrategia para atender la responsabilidad social con las mujeres, las familias y las sociedades y contribuir en la detección precoz de la enfermad, favoreciendo la calidad de vida de millares de mujeres. Abstract: In this study cervix cancer is analyzed as a social problem and the contribution of nursing in applying screening tests for the early detection of cervical cancer. Methodology is based on descriptive epidemiology and a systematic review. The results were presented like articles. In the first article, Cervical cancer: a social problem, and analyzing cervical cancer as a social problem. Cross sectional Study, with population data collected using the Globocan-2008 databases. Data from incidence and mortality rates per 100.000 women, and accumulated risk rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality before the age of 75 in developed and developing regions of the world were used.In the analysis, the United Nations Organization classifications of countries or regions development based on social and demographic projections and the levels of classification of the incidence and mortality rates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) are applied. The second article, Cervical Cancer: Mortality in Santa Catarina – Brazil, 2000 to 2009, obtained from the Information Mortality System (SIM) of the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). It was observed that the Mortality rate was higher in women in their early thirties and in whom the cervical cancer was not yet controlled.In the third article, Contributions of Nursing in the early detection of cervical cancer: systematic review. The contributions of nursing for the early detection of the disease were analyzed. Systematic review with articles recovered in the year of 2010 from MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL and LILACS databases. After reading the titles and abstracts of the articles, from 3091 identified, 174 were pre-selected and read exhaustively resulting in the selection of 10 articles. The nursing staff participated in nine of the researches and in three of them they participated as researchers. Most of the articles had a level of evidence 3B, in the Oxford classification; only one of them had a level 4.There are also nursing contributions in the application of tests for the early detection of cervical cancer despite the level of evidence in which the articles were classified. It is concluded that the impact of the disease in women, their families and the society demand modifications in the role of social inequities with the adoption of inter-sector strategies that also facilitate the access to health services. Nursing care is a strategy to attend the social responsibility with women, their families and the society and contribute in the early detection of diseases, favoring the quality of life of millions of women.

A technological and environmental alternative has been studied for about a decade to reduce the consumption of coal. It consists of substitute one part of the coal by biomass (neutral generated of CO2) in a co-_ring process. The co-_ring process consists of the controlled combustion of two or more fuels in the same burner. According to research performed in the US and Europe this process has economic and technical viability. And depending on the characteristics of the fuel, this process can contribute reducing the greenhouse gases (GHG).This thesis presents a methodological proposal to analyze and evaluate a thermoelectric power plant from the exergoenviromental point of view, operating in co-_ring process and using coal and biomass. The boundary of the problem is composed by the power plant and the technological paths to obtain and manipulate the fuels. Exergy is used in the thermodynamic analysis and the life cycle assessment method is proposed to quantify the environmental impact. The climate change category was used following the global warming potential index.Two scenarios were evaluated: scenario A corresponds to the power plant operating with 100% coal and scenario B corresponds to the power plant operating in co-_ring with 90% of coal and 10% of biomass. The technological route used for the coal is established between the southern mineral region of the state of Santa Catarina and the Jorge Lacerda thermoelectric power plant complex, which is located at Capivari de Baixo. The information utilized for the biomass path was obtained from the research performed in the thermoelectric power plant complex. The purpose of this task was to use the biomass from the rice farms as fuel.The analysis showed that the power plant is largely responsible for exergy destruction. Moreover it has the largest generated impact associated with the analyzed category. From these results, an exergoenvironmental analysis for the representative thermodynamic cycle was performed. The results showed that the boiler constitutes the equipment with the largest potential of improvement. Finally, an exergoenvironmental global index was proposed to compare the exergoenvironmental impact of the thermoelectric generation process for both scenarios, which were compared with Carnot cycle scenario. The exergoenvironmental global index showed that 11% improvement is possible for the scenario B when compared with scenario A without taking in account the biomass microbial decomposition and up to the 35% when the decomposition was considered.

Tesis presentada por Leonardo de la Motta para obtener el título de doctor en Medicina y Cirugía de la Facultad de Medicina en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia en 1891, en la que discute acerca de los procedimientos utilizados para curar heridas por armas de fuego. A lo largo del documento se explican los procedimientos a seguir en dos tipos de tratamiento: el general que exige reposo, y el tratamiento local que se aplica en casos de hemorragia, desbridamiento, extracción de cuerpos extraños y amputación. Adicionalmente, el autor presenta una serie de consideraciones a tener en cuenta según el sitio de la herida, estas últimas documentadas con registros de pacientes que acudieron a la clínica del Hospital San Juan de Dios y casos de hombres heridos en campos de batalla.