Conventional agricultural practices are often contrary to human health and environmental conservation. Use of and exposure to pesticides in agricultural communities in tropical countries is a pressing public health problem and an important facet of environmental degradation. This research project was undertaken by documenting use and exposure behaviors among agricultural communities in San Cristobal, Antioquia (Colombia). The research questions were: (1) What are the primary factors associated with the use of pesticides and do those factors differ between pesticide users and agroecological adherents? (2) How do campesino pesticide users and agroecological adherents(non-pesticide users) differ in their attitudes and beliefs with regards to pesticide use and exposure? and (3) How do these factors influence campesinos‟ behaviors associated with pesticide use and exposure? I implemented qualitative and quantitative methods in this investigation. The qualitative approach was based on community participatory ethnographic research. The latter involved participant observation, interviews, and focus groups aimed at existing pesticides users and agroecological adherents. The quantitative approach used questionnaires to derive demographic information, scale-based evaluations of attitudes and beliefs, pesticides decision making, perceived confidence, and perceived control. Findings showed that the most relevant factors related to pesticide use and their categories included: a) individual: beliefs, attitudes and knowledge; b) interpersonal: family support and cultural acceptance of pesticide use; c) economic: fear of living within financially unviable constraints, market conditions and lack of economic support from the government; d) cultural: collective acceptance or tolerance of pesticide use and exposure and onset of negative reactions when stopping pesticide use; e) political: deficient regulations for controlling pesticide use control and adequate utilization of protective equipment. Pesticide users experienced the most apprehension regarding stopping pesticide use as they often believed pesticides allow them to obtain better crop yields and, therefore, higher monetary gains. Pesticide users lacked a positive attitude toward personal protectionequipment, regardless of the risks to which they may be exposed. Pesticide training was deficient in this population showing a clear need to improve safety conditions and training to reduce occupational hazards. Future studies should explore with greater detail these attitudes and beliefs so as to promote mid- to long-term public health interventions that directly address the sense of food and income insecurity found among the population of pesticides users, which blocks their transition into a non-pesticide scenario for agricultural production. Over the short-term, public health programs should continue to educate the population of pesticide users on the immediate risks of exposure. The decision making process surrounding pesticide use in the studied population was influenced by a variety of factors. Campesinos who were prone to use pesticides for their crops often exhibited diminished degrees of knowledge about adverse effects of pesticides on human health, believed pesticides are necessary for their crops, had negative attitudes about stopping pesticide use, had a strong family influence toward the use of pesticides, experienced economic fear of stopping pesticide use, cultivated flowers as their main source of income, expressed strong social acceptance of pesticide use, experienced negative community reactions when attempting to stop pesticide use, received government subsidies for pesticide use, and had never received any training on the use of required protective equipment. Campesinos who showed more proclivities towards the use of pesticides were convinced that pesticides are necessary for their crops as they guarantee substantial yields and larger specimens of the different crop varieties. They also exhibited low perceived control, low perceived confidence, and a low perception of adverse pesticide effects on human health and the natural environment. Future studies are required to fully comprehend the unique occupational health and safety needs of these campesinos. Additionally, future studies should be aimed at designing and introducing long-term, well-structured public health interventions to increase awareness about the harmfulness of pesticides on human and environmental health so as to promote a well-established behavioral change in relation to pesticides use reduction among these communities.

The objective of the present work was to develop a business model for nautical cartography offered by the Colombian General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR), in order to contribute to its consolidation as a modern, efficient and competitive entity, which promotes the safety of navigation for the seas of the world. A contextualization was made about DIMAR and its close relationship with the Colombian National Navy (ARC). It was explored about the types of nautical charts that DIMAR can trade, a diagnosis of nautical cartography was developed as a value proposition, aspects that served as inputs to generate a business model CANVAS which allows observing how it captures value for Colombia and delivers value to customers within the field of nautical cartography. This work was framed in a theoretical research at the descriptive level, with a documentary field design based on interview or structured questionnaire, non-experimental and cross-sectional questionnaire for the analysis of data from the empirical evidence. The results showed that only four countries in Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia) have the capacity to produce nautical charts, but as Commander Ramírez (2017) stated on his interview, only Mexico has attempted to manage it as a lucrative business, without achieving any resounding success to date, as a result, these countries are dedicated only to cartographic production, with a focus on domestic maritime safety. The rest of the countries of the region, due to economic, technological and human resources deficiencies to carry out their cartographic surveys, appeal to Hydrographic powerful Offices such as the United Kingdom, the United States or Japan, with whom they face barriers such as the language and stagnation of alliances and agreements due to delayed diplomatic procedures. The business model Canvas placed in this work aims to serve two segments. The first segment is the countries which are geographically close to Colombia and have a high maritime activity and the second segment aims to countries geographically close to Colombia, without a significant commercial flow through their maritime ports and which have problems or limitations to carry out all their hydrographic surveys in order to ensure a safe navigation on their waters in spite of their acquired international obligations. In other words, this business model will allow Colombia to cooperate with countries and contribute to the maritime safety in the region among other benefits. The appendices include the survey, all the notes of the unstructured interviews carried out, as well as all the interviews that were done in a structured way, including personnel who worked or still work in DIMAR, interviews with international organizations such as the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), as well as interviews with people from some Central American countries who are responsible to the IHO on issues related to the hydrography of their countries. The interviews that were carried out in Spanish, are in the appendices in the original language with translation to English. The appendices have also taken into account a contextualization of the reader with a political map of Central America and additionally annexed a gallery of photos of the ships with which DIMAR currently carries out its naval operations.

Since the dawn of the digital age, our society has experienced big cultural changes. Questions have arisen as to how to manage this new digital world surrounding us and influencing our daily lives, how to deal with its purposes and the associated phenomena, both positive and negative. It seems undeniable that this new media is here to stay and won‟t cease to impregnate our social spheres and our human spaces in many ways, so it‟s crucial to understand it as much as possible. In this research particularly, cases of virality online are analyzed. These cases are content (or people) that gain widely and rapidly, popularity and exposure online, for many different reasons. How does this virtual fame influence the lives of these people? What does it mean to be popular online for a reason which seems positive? What does it mean to be popular online for a reason which seems negative? Does „going viral’ suppose a risk for the person involved in it? Given the contemporary nature of these events, it is important to take a look at them from an academic perspective, in order to understand our online behavior and therefore ourselves as a social species. The novelty of this topic supposes an interesting look on our communication style and our culture as well. An ethnographic perspective constitutes the approach of study elected, because virality implicates masses, masses that follow with individuals that feel the need to be part of something, to be informed about a common knowledge. Through the method of interviews, this topic will be address. Three people involved in viral cases online will be questioned; some of them went viral for good reasons, some of them for not very good ones. A contrast is expected to emerge. Desde el surgimiento de la era digital, nuestra sociedad ha experimentado grandes cambios culturales. Varias preguntas se han presentado con respecto al manejo de este nuevo mundo que nos rodea e influencia, cómo lidiar con sus propósitos y fenómenos, tanto positivos como negativos. Es inevitable la presencia de estos nuevos medios, los cuales permean nuestras esferas sociales y espacios humanos de muchas maneras. Es crucial alcanzar un entendimiento sobre esto. En esta investigación particular, se analizaron casos de viralidad online. Estos casos se refieren a contenidos (o personas) que adquirieron una amplia y rápida popularidad online, por muchas razones. ¿Cómo influye entonces esta fama en la vida de estas personas?, ¿Qué significa ser popular online por una razón que parece positiva?, ¿Qué significa ser popular online por una razón que parece negativa?, “volverse viral” ¿supone un riesgo para la persona involucrada? Dada la contemporaneidad de estos episodios, es importante mirarlos desde una perspectiva académica, para poder entender nuestro comportamiento digital y por ende entendernos a nosotros mismo como especie. La novedad de este tema supone un interesante estudio sobre la comunicación y la cultura humana. Este estudio se lleva a cabo desde una perspectiva etnográfica, debido a que la viralidad implica el análisis de masas, masas compuestas por individuos que desean ser parte de algo, desean conocer un conocimiento común. Este proceso se lleva a cabo por medio de entrevistas. Tres personas involucradas en casos virales son cuestionadas; unos individuos se volvieron famosos online por razones positivas, y otros por razones no tan buenas. Emerge entonces un contraste interesante.

Nowadays, intensive longitudinal data gathering that acknowledge the dynamic nature of human characteristics such as ecological momentary assessment or experience sampling methods have become more and more popular. Conceptually, the variability and stability of human characteristics are acknowledged by the concepts state and trait, which are the basis of several longitudinal structural equation models. In this study, we explore how to apply some of these models to intensive longitudinal data. For this purpose, an empirical dataset and three models were used: The multistate-singletrait model, the trait-state-occasion model, and the common and unique trait-state model. Each model was fitted to the data using different constraints. The results showed that fitting these models to intensive longitudinal data is possible. In general, the models are useful to identify whether the variables were more trait-like or state-like on certain measurement occasions, however, different models may lead to different conclusions. Moreover, at the individual level, the predicted scores seem to be fairly close to the observed scores. Nevertheless, an important drawback was that the goodness of fit of the models was considerably poor. In the conclusions, we argue that these state-trait longitudinal structural equation models did not seem to be suitable to analyze the intensive longitudinal data at hand. However, a simulation study is necessary to obtain a definitive answer on this matter in general. En los últimos años, métodos para la recolección de datos longitudinales intensivos que reconocen la naturaleza dinámica de las características del ser humano como evaluación ecológica momentánea o métodos de muestreo de experiencias se han vuelto más y más populares. Conceptualmente, la variabilidad y la estabilidad de ciertas características del ser humano se ha explicado con los términos estado y rasgo, los cuales han sido la base para el desarrollo de diversos modelos longitudinales de ecuaciones estructurales. En este estudio, se explora como aplicar algunos de estos modelos a datos longitudinales intensivos. Para esto, se utilizaron datos empíricos de un estudio que utilizó métodos de muestreo de experiencias y tres modelos longitudinales de ecuaciones estructurales: El modelo multiestado-multirasgo, el modelo de rasgo-estado-ocasión y el modelo de rasgo-estado común y único. Cada modelo fue ajustado a los datos con diversas restricciones. En los resultados se observó que estos modelos pueden ser ajustados a datos longitudinales intensivos y que pueden identificar cuando una variable psicológica se caracteriza más por ser de rasgo o de estado. Sin embargo, los modelos usados pueden resultar en conclusiones contradictorias y la bondad de ajuste de los modelos es considerablemente mala. Finalmente, se discute que estos modelos longitudinales de ecuaciones estructurales parecen no ser adecuados para el análisis de datos longitudinales intensivos. Aun así, es necesario un estudio de simulación con el propósito de dar conclusiones certeras frente a la utilidad de los modelos utilizados.

Los docentes en danza que desarrollan su trabajo en los colegios públicos de Bogotá, constantemente se ven enfrentados a las reticencias de sus estudiantes frente a las expresiones corporales de índole tradicional o folclórico, debido a la aparente distancia espacial, generacional y sensible entre las danzas que cotidianamente interpretan y las memorias populares que Colombia posee. Dicho abismo educativo tiene su origen en una educación conductual dedicada al aprendizaje de temáticas claramente importantes para el conocimiento cultural e identitario de las tradiciones que forjan ciertas comunidades colombianas. Las formas como se intenta llegar a ese conocimiento poco vinculan la cotidianidad del estudiante y sus manifestaciones corpóreas urbanas, visibilizando las tradiciones danzarias colombianas como una temática memorística más, dentro de lo que la escuela debería enseñar .

En el desarrollo de perspectivas historiográficas sobre la música occidental, la musicología histórica ha priorizado un enfoque basado en los sujetos (compositores) y los objetos (obras musicales), dispuestos en una concepción del tiempo lineal, unidireccional y compuesta de relaciones causales. Este trabajo tiene como propósito la búsqueda de un equilibrio historiográfico, que contemple la permanencia como complemento del cambio en la narración histórica musical. Fundamentado en la discusión sobre los Universales del Hombre realizados desde la antropología, la lingüística, la biología y la música, este es un aporte a la manera como tradicionalmente se ha contado la historia de la música, en el cual se armonizan los cambios que suponen los hechos y las eras de la historia con las constantes invariables derivadas de los Universales.

De memorias, mujeres y retratos es resultado de un proceso de investigación-creación, en el campo de los Estudios Artísticos. Explora relaciones entre el recuerdo, el tema problemático de los ideales sobre el ser buena mujer y la fotografía de retrato. En un acercamiento de tipo etnográfico, biográfico y visual, propicio espacios de encuentro con mujeres de distintas generaciones de mi sistema familiar, preguntándome por cuáles son o han sido esos ideales. En la imagen fotográfica y en la conversación, reconozco herramientas para construir y multiplicar la memoria, a partir de la revisión del álbum familiar y del relato de vida. Me encuentro con el carácter poético de los recuerdos, cuando son despertados por la contemplación de los retratos familiares y cuando son narrados. En términos poéticos, cada vez que es leída, relatada o vivenciada, la memoria se nutre constantemente con la manera en que se recuerda y la forma como se narra.

La contratación pública es la actividad a través de la cual grandes cantidades de recursos públicos son utilizados por entidades de esa misma naturaleza para comprar y adquirir bienes y servicios del sector privado. Cuando a esta actividad se le incorpora el uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación se genera el concepto de contratación publica electrónica, en inglés e-government procurement que a su vez tiene como sigla eGP. El presente documento describe el proceso de elaboración de política pública y regulación en material de eGP en Colombia. Subraya que sólo hasta hoy en día el sistema de contratación publica colombiano logró incorporar los dos pilares que la CNUDMI ha propuesto como bases legales para el eGP: 1. Reglas sobre publicación de información sobre procesos de contratación y, 2. Reglas sobre Equivalencia Funcional de documentos electrónicos expedidos con ocasión de la actividad contractual. Por Equivalencia funcional se debe entender el principio según el cual los documentos electrónicos reciben la misma validez y fuerza vinculante que los documentos expedidos en sopote papel. Esta investigación enfatiza que antes del 8 de julio de 2005, la regulación de Contratación Publica electrónica carecía del pilar de equivalencia funcional y que tal circunstancia hacia nugatoria la posibilidad de usar Tecnologías de Información en las labores de la Administración Publica. El documento explica cómo gracias a la expedición de la Ley 962 de 2005, el pilar faltante de equivalencia funcional fue establecido, ya que esta norma incorporó este principio para el general funcionamiento de la administración y sus procedimientos administrativos. Antes de exponer sus conclusiones, el autor sugiere su propia interpretación de la Ley 962/2005. Las fuentes que han servido de insumos para la elaboración del documento han sido documentos oficiales del gobierno colombiano así como regulación local, igualmente, legislación y reportes de organizaciones internaciones, libros y artículos en la materia. Este documento llega a la conclusión de que con la Ley 962/2005 las interpretaciones que existían en materia de contratación pública electrónica deben cambiarse al punto de que se acepte el uso de TI para el efecto de generar eGP en Colombia.

La vivienda ha estado presente como un elemento revelador de las diferentes evoluciones sociales. Como laboratorio de experimentación, ya sea en términos técnicos, espaciales o sociales, podemos constatar que la arquitectura doméstica evoluciona para adaptarse a los modos de vida. Sin embargo, hoy en día, algunos investigadores han comprobado que los proyectos de vivienda se encuentran frente a la ausencia de innovación y no son adaptados a los modos de vida de los habitantes, salvo algunas excepciones. Aunque los actores que participan en la producción de la vivienda, los arquitectos y los habitantes parecen ser insensibles al conocimiento de la evolución del habitat, las mutaciones sociales que transforman la vida en la ciudad indican que la vivienda no puede quedarse rezagada. Esta tesis propone un análisis de la evolución en los estilos de vida, como el motor de la innovación arquitectónica y urbana en la vivienda colectiva. El análisis de los mecanismos de innovación en la vivienda colectiva está construido en dos partes. El objetivo de la primera parte, es el de presentar las diferentes mutaciones sociales que tienen una incidencia en el habitat y los “dispositivos espaciales” correspondientes. La propuesta de esta tesis, plantea una atención particular en la vivienda colectiva como tipología residencial ubicada en el corazón de los desafíos de la evolución de los modos de vida. La segunda parte está consagrada al estudio de dos casos en una de las operaciones urbanas más importantes en Paris: Paris Rive Gauche. El tratamiento del contexto de la operación, el papel de los actores, los factores comunes y diferentes de los dos proyectos que condicionaron el éxito respectivo son presentados. De esta manera, gracias al análisis de las realizaciones efectivas de los “dispositivos espaciales”, las hipótesis de las mutaciones sociales evocadas en la primera parte son comprobadas. En fin, un tercer punto propone el análisis del proceso de innovación: el management del proyecto, la adhesión de los actores a este proceso, el desarrollo de las operaciones, las fuentes de la innovación. Para que la innovación en la vivienda colectiva se acerque más a la realidad que a una utopia, la tesis propone la declaración de algunas pistas de reflexión.

This investigation seeks to compare the legal frameworks developed in the 1990-2010 period in Colombia, Peru and Mexico to prevent and tackle informal artisanal/small scale mining. It does so by assessing the impact on the levels of informality of: (i) the incentives provided to miners to operate within legality; and (ii) the mechanisms devised to compensate such miners’ disadvantageous position vis-à-vis large scale mining companies. For such assessment a thorough examination of the countries’ mining codes is carried out. Concurrently, information extracted from semi-structured interviews with experts and triangulated with secondary sources is used to evaluate the codes’ impact on informality. The analysis supports the hypothesis that simple inexpensive mine title acquisition procedures, granting long lasting property rights, as well as guaranteeing technical and financial assistance, are key drivers of formalization. The impact of such incentives is, however, more complex: firstly, as the Mexican case illustrates, the absence of incentives combined with strong police persecution, can reduce informal mining by rendering it an unattractive activity with no prospective of future formalization. Secondly, the Colombian and Peruvian case exemplify how entry barriers also encourage miners to create associations which, in turn, are able to better access information, can comply with formal requirements more easily and can play an important role in influencing policy design. Furthermore, considering the incentives of large scale companies also proved crucial to reduce informality, given that a significant share of mining areas are already under concession. This means that the number of mine titles informal miners could potentially obtain is limited. Therefore, as the Colombian and Peruvian case exemplify, formalizing is to a large degree dependent on the willingness of these companies to voluntarily engage in associative contracts with informal miners. However, so far none of the observed countries has managed to prompt strong alliances between small and large scale miners to fruitfully implement such collaborative models. With regard to the compensation mechanisms, this study supports the hypothesis that granting political voice to small scale miners is of utmost importance to guarantee that differentiated costs, procedures and requirements are contemplated in the law. All in all, such policies have been innocuous and even counterproductive when not accompanied by measures that enhance access to information as well as local bureaucratic competences. In a context of scarce local bureaucratic resources, promissory formalization schemes generate a demand for mine titles that surpasses mining authorities’ capacity and, thereby, potentially incites more informality and social unrest. As observed in Peru, in such cases formalization processes can, paradoxically, induce higher levels of informal mining. In light of these findings, the study recommends the partner institution -Transparency International- to: (i) support the implementation of informational campaigns that explain the benefits of operating in formality and of doing so by means of associating; (ii) encourage policy dialogue spaces in order to prompt mutual monitoring and align the different stakeholders’ incentives; (iii) support capacity building programs targeting local mining authorities; (iv) support monitoring mechanisms in the mine title distribution and contracting processes.