Abstract: In this thesis, I test if the effect of state intervention on economic growth and inequality depends on the level of institutional quality a country presents. I use three different proxies to measure the degree of state intervention in the economy, then I specify a model which includes an interaction term between rule of law and one of the proxies of state intervention. The model is tested in a cross-panel dataset for at most 58 countries in 7 three-year periods, from 1998 to 2018. I find evidence for a non-linear relationship between income per capita and state intervention when the latter is proxied as market openness, varying on the level of rule of law. Contrary to expectations, countries with better institutional quality do not benefit the most from freer markets. As for inequality, I find non-robust evidence of a crossover interaction between public employment and rule of law, yet this result is not economically meaningful. Resumen: En esta tesis, compruebo si el efecto de la intervención estatal sobre el crecimiento económico y la desigualdad depende del nivel de calidad institucional que presenta un país. Utilizo tres indicadores distintos para medir el grado de intervención estatal en la economía y, a continuación, especifico un modelo que incluye un término de interacción entre la variable de Estado de Derecho (rule of law) y uno de los indicadores de intervención estatal. El modelo se testea en una base de datos de panel con un máximo de 58 países en 7 períodos de tres años, de 1998 a 2018. Encuentro pruebas de una relación no lineal entre la renta per cápita y la intervención estatal cuando esta última se aproxima como apertura del mercado, variando en función del nivel de Estado de Derecho (rule of law). Contrario a lo esperado, los países con mejor calidad institucional no son los que más se benefician de mercados más libres. En cuanto a la desigualdad, encuentro pruebas no robustas de una interacción cruzada entre el empleo en el sector público y el Estado de Derecho, aunque este resultado no es económicamente significativo.

Abstract: This thesis aims to discuss and analyze the influence of women's work on the social construction of the Tarapacá territory, located in the Amazon region of Colombia. Tarapacá was established as a Colombian district as a result of the territorial conflict between Colombia and Peru over the Amazonian border. The period studied extends from the 1930s, when the border conflict occurred, to the year 2022. The research is based on historical documentary sources, interviews, and academic works that highlight the ways in which women understand, produce, and transform the environment. The theoretical framework falls within the field of environmental history with a focus on gender. The study of the relationships between gender and the environment throughout the history of this Amazonian territory seeks to document the legacy of women and understand how it manifests in the present. This work analyzes the relationship of women with the territory from the perspective of socio-spatial formation, considering the historical influence of their work in the construction of social space. Among the results, it is highlighted that the colonialist view tends to treat nature as passive and subordinate, resulting in the oppression of both nature and individuals considered ""non-agents"" and ""non-subjects,"" especially indigenous women. An approach aligned with the perspective of Well-Living (in Spanish, Buen Vivir) of the Andean-Amazonian peoples challenges this view and recognizes the agency and subjectivity of all living beings. For Amazonian women, their connection with nature is used as a strategy to position themselves in the political sphere, sustain life, and protect their territories. This symbolic and practical relationship with the environmental surroundings is fundamental for cultural preservation and resistance against exploitation and territorial dispossession. Resumen: Esta tesis tiene como objetivo discutir y analizar la influencia del trabajo de las mujeres en la construcción social del territorio de Tarapacá, ubicado en la región amazónica de Colombia. Tarapacá fue establecido como un distrito colombiano como resultado del conflicto territorial entre Colombia y Perú por la frontera amazónica. El período estudiado abarca desde la década de 1930, cuando ocurrió el conflicto fronterizo, hasta el año 2022. La investigación se basa en fuentes documentales históricas, entrevistas y trabajos académicos que destacan las formas en que las mujeres conocen, producen y transforman el ambiente. El marco teórico se enmarca en el campo de la historia ambiental con enfoque de género. El estudio de las relaciones entre género y ambiente a lo largo de la historia de este territorio amazónico busca documentar el legado de las mujeres y comprender cómo se manifiesta en el presente. El trabajo analiza la relación de las mujeres con el territorio desde la perspectiva de la formación socioespacial, considerando la influencia histórica de sus trabajos en la construcción del espacio social. Entre los resultados, se destaca que la visión colonialista tiende a tratar la naturaleza como pasiva y subordinada, lo que ha resultado en la opresión tanto de la naturaleza como de las personas consideradas ""no agentes"" y ""no sujetos"", especialmente las mujeres indígenas. Un enfoque cercano a la perspectiva del Buen Vivir de los pueblos andinoamazónicos desafía esta visión y reconoce la agencia y subjetividad de todos los seres vivos. Para las mujeres amazónicas, su vínculo con la naturaleza es usado como una estrategia para posicionarse en el ámbito político, sustentar la vida y proteger sus territorios. Esta relación simbólica y práctica con el entorno ambiental es fundamental para la preservación cultural y la resistencia contra la explotación y la desposesión territorial.

Abstract: Background: Multidrug resistant TB cases have been on the rise, risking advances in TB prevalence and control. Early diagnosis and targeted initial treatment are paramount for effective management and control of spreading of MDR/XDR-TB cases Methods: 161 isolates from patients with L-J culture confirmed TB in Lima, Peru, were tested with MODS+ assay, the diagnostic test and Sensititre, the reference standard. Analysis of growth patterns of bacteria in both methods were used to determine susceptibility/resistance of each isolate to three first line and six second line anti-TB agents, using two different critical concentrations (CC) for each antibiotic. Results: Agreement between susceptibility profiles and operational characteristics of diagnostic test yielded high performance and strong agreement with rifampicin 1μg/ml (agreement percent 90%, Kappa value 0.80) and amikacin 1μg/ml (agreement percent 96%, Kappa value 0.81), moderate for isoniazid 0.4μg/ml (agreement percent 89.4%, Kappa value 0.78), moxifloxacin at both CC’s 0.5μg/ml and 0.25μg/ml (agreement percent 93 and kappa values 0.73 for both), levofloxacin 2μg/ml (agreement 93%, kappa 0.69) and amikacin 2μg/ml (agreement 96%, Kappa 0.81), minimal for levofloxacin at CC 1.5μg/ml (agreement 90%, kappa 0.57) kanamycin at both CC’s 10μg/ml and 5μg/ml (agreement 87%, kappa 0.52) and ethionamide 5μg/ml (agreement 89%, kappa 0.46), weak for PAS 10μg/ml (agreement percent 93.9, kappa value 0.29), and none for ethambutol (Kappa value 0.02 for CC 10μg/ml, 0.07 for CC 5μg/ml). Conclusions: MODS+ assay is a cost-effective option for the diagnosis of TB and MDR/XDRTB, specially, in low resource settings with high TB incidence. Further operational research using lower CC’s, results read on different days and placed in settings with high and low TB and MDR/XDRTB burden could offer better sensitivities and wider applicability of results.

Abstract: The central aim of this research is to scrutinize the liability regime associated with environmental harm resulting from mining activities in the Area. The thesis endeavors to identify and analyze the gaps in the existing legal framework, particularly under UNCLOS. It questions whether the current standards, which are predominantly based on negligence, are sufficient for safeguarding the ecological integrity of this vital global common. The research is driven by the pressing need for an effective legal regime that aligns with the CHM principle and adequately protects the marine environment from the risks of deep-sea mining. Resumen: El objetivo central de esta investigación es examinar el régimen de responsabilidad asociado con el daño ambiental resultante de las actividades mineras en la Zona. La tesis se esfuerza por identificar y analizar las lagunas en el marco legal existente, especialmente bajo la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar (UNCLOS). Se cuestiona si las normas actuales, que se basan predominantemente en la negligencia, son suficientes para salvaguardar la integridad ecológica de este vital bien común global. La investigación se impulsa por la apremiante necesidad de un régimen legal efectivo que se alinee con el principio del Patrimonio Común de la Humanidad (CHM) y proteja adecuadamente el medio ambiente marino de los riesgos de la minería en el lecho marino profundo.

Abstract: The following document is a proposal to enhance and improve the way in which the Colombian craft sector exposes and sells its products, through a unified platform in which stories, craftsmen, creative professionals, and products converge in a dynamic and simplified way. Here they may show the modern, fresh, high aesthetic and professional face of the Colombian craft sector, always having as a horizon the new global dynamics of digitalization and virtualization of everyday life. In this process, the Association Artesanías de Colombia is taken as the main reference, being the main channel that groups and manages the national artisan activity, the platform is formulated as the future tool for the management of the artisan sector. Facing problems that the artisans manifest, punctually the lack of visibility and participation in new markets, the physical limitations that they have to exhibit and sell their products, followed by the low participation in exhibitions and fairs. In order to face these inconveniences, which overwhelm Colombian artisans on a daily basis, the document begins by reviewing the artisan sector as such, identifying its principles and values. This is followed by the evaluation of initiatives and programs that have been and are still in place, focusing on the digital development of the sector, and reviewing interesting national and international case studies of collaborations between the artisan sector and the creative industries, highlighting the importance of these joint ventures for obtaining results that combine contemporaneity with tradition. Finally, the thesis closes with a proposal for the design of a system that simplifies the essential components of the craft sector, enhancing the relationship between craftsman and designer, giving special emphasis to the way in which products are displayed digitally using 3d scanner methods, thus raising the level and homogeneity of the platform. Link to the website prototype: https://www.figma.com/proto/zpEVy5JmhPjY7lfvWqjFMB/Artesanias?node-id=1-6&scaling=minzoom&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node-id=1%3A6

Abstract: The use of bacterial pigments with biotechnological potential advances are growing and more and from this natural source are developed several products with different applications in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and other industries, presenting advantages in economic and environmental issues, fulfilling a demand and bringing benefits For consumer health and reducing the use of chemical synthetized products. The aim of this study was the production, working volume and characterization of pigments synthesized by Chryseobacterium KR6 and Lysobacter A03 bacteria isolated from chicken and penguin feathers, respectively. The pigments were characterized by KOH 20% test, UV-visible, colors system CIELAB, HPLC-DAD-MS, FTIR and was evaluated the antioxidant capacity. The pigments from KR6 and A03 presents some characteristics from flexirubin and xanthomonadin non- brominated type pigments respectively. Pigment from KR6 shows a positive bathochromic shift when colonies or the extracted pigment are in presence of alkaline solution (KOH20%) and also have a λmax at 450nm in acetone when analyzed by UV-Vis. The FTIR analysis shows some principal functional groups that might be from a flexirubin molecule. Pigment from A03 didn’t present any shift when flooded with KOH and the λmax was 419 nm and 427 nm in acetone and chloroform respectively. The two pigments presented antioxidant activity evaluated by the capture of the free radical ABTS. It was not possible to propose a chemical structure for the two pigments; purification processes are necessary for a molecular identification of the biotechnologically viable pigments.

Abstract: Stochastic time series methods for load forecasting are the traditional methods used by electric power companies [1] because they can model seasonal and stochastic behavior of the load [2]. A load time series has patterns that repeat at different time scales such as daily, weekly or yearly. These patterns indicate that load can be predicted and the shortest seasonality component has the highest effect on the forecast. There might be conditions in which load is in different time resolutions, has a different amount of missing data or is under special events such as COVID-19 pandemic. Load forecasting methods should be able to perform well under these circumstances. On the other hand, neural networks are a wide research topic, they can learn [3] and have low forecasting errors [4]. In this work we explain the main characteristics of load demand in time, load forecasting and we compare stochas-tic time series methods with neural networks for load forecasting in terms of the error with respect to the real load. Resumen: Los métodos de series de tiempo estocásticos para pronósticos de carga son los métodos tradicionales usados por compañías de energía eléctrica [1] porque pueden modelar el comportamiento estocástico y estacional de la carga [2]. Una serie de tiempo de carga tiene patrones que se repiten en diferentes escalas de tiempo como diaria, semanal o anual. Estos patrones indican que la carga puede ser predicha y que el componente de estacionalidad más corto tiene el efecto más grande en el pronóstico. Pude que haya condiciones en las cuales la carga este en diferentes resoluciones de tiempo, tenga una diferente cantidad de datos faltantes o este bajo eventos especiales como la pandemia COVID-19. Los métodos de pronóstico de carga deberían ser capaces de llevarse a cabo bien bajo estas circunstancias. Por otra parte, las redes neuronales son un tema de investigación amplio, ellas pueden aprender [3] y tienen errores de pronóstico bajos [4]. En este trabajo explicamos las principales características de la demanda de carga en el tiempo, pronósticos de carga y comparamos métodos de serie de tiempo estocásticos con redes neuronales para pronósticos de carga en términos del error con respecto a la carga real. [1] H. Wang, B.-S. Li, X.-Y. Han, D.-L. Wang and H. Jin, "Study of Neural Networks for Electric Power Load Forecasting," Third International Symposium on Neural Networks - Advances in Neural Networks - ISNN 2006, Proceedings, Part II, pp. 1277-1283, 2006. [2] K. Berk, Modeling and Forecasting Electricity Demand, Siegen: Springer Spektrum, 2015. [3] H. Alfares and N. Mohammad, "Electric load forecasting: Literature survey and classification of methods," International Journal of Systems Science - IJSySc. 33, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 23-34, 2002. [4] M. Singh and R. Maini, "Various Electricity Load Forecasting Techniques with Pros and Cons," International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), vol. 8, pp. 220-229, 2020.

Resumen: De acuerdo con la información suministrada por el Grupo Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre Cambio Climático (IPCC), la temperatura media del planeta ha aumentado 1°C desde el periodo industrial (Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, 2017a). Así, de seguir con las tendencias actuales de emisiones contaminantes la temperatura media en todo el mundo se incrementará en más de 4°C y, en consecuencia, aumentará la probabilidad de que se manifiesten impactos severos e irreversibles a causa del clima, como los desastres naturales, la pérdida de ecosistemas, la inseguridad alimentaria, entre otros. Como resultado de investigación se logró consolidar una síntesis que integra los conceptos de apropiación social del conocimiento, gobernanza, y cambio climático. Propiamente en Colombia, se requieren fortalecer procesos de gobierno con una base de acción pública más cooperativa, y caracterizada por un trabajo más horizontal que vertical, donde confluyan una cantidad de actores e instituciones. En lo que concierne al cambio climático, las circunstancias actuales reflejan que el país podría estar lejos de cumplir las cifras pactadas y que requiere fortalecer iniciativas que apoyen las acciones de mitigación y adaptación. Asimismo, se destaca que se consiguió diseñar una estrategia para soportar un proceso de apropiación social del conocimiento que facilita la generación y uso del conocimiento en cambio climático, y que propende a un buen modelo de gobernanza en Colombia. Previo a este diseño, se evidenció que la apropiación y educación sobre el cambio climático y el desarrollo sostenible también resalta por la diversidad de enfoques de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Finalmente, la validación de la estrategia propuesta permitió llegar a inferencias relacionadas sobre su aplicación dentro de un contexto real, y analizar su viabilidad por medio de una recopilación de evidencia que respalda su interpretación, resultados, y conclusiones. Abstract: According to the information provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average temperature of the planet has increased by 1°C since the industrial era. Thus, if the current trends in pollutant emissions continue, the average temperature worldwide will increase by over 4°C and, the probability of severe and irreversible impacts caused by weather changes also will rise, such as natural disasters, loss of ecosystems, food availability, among others (Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, 2017a). As one of the main results, a research synthesis integrating the concepts of social appropriation of knowledge, governance, and climate change was conducted. In the Colombian context, it is necessary to strengthen government processes with a public action founded on horizontal rather than vertical structures, where several actors and institutions converge. Regarding climate change, the current circumstances reflect that the country may be far from fulfilling its commitments and that it needs to strengthen initiative that support mitigation and adaptation actions. A strategy was also designed to support a process of social appropriation of knowledge that facilitates the generation and use of knowledge on climate change, and that also integrates and strengthens good governance actions in Colombia. Prior to this design, it became clear that the appropriation of knowledge on climate change and sustainable development is also highlighted by the diversity of teaching and learning approaches. Finally, the validation of the proposed strategy made it possible to draw related inferences about its application as a support for a process of social appropriation of knowledge and governance in the face of climate change within a real context, and to analyze its viability through a collection of evidence that supports results and conclusions.

Abstract: This project revises the 3D conceptual model for the Hvíthólar sub-area in the South Zone of Krafla Geothermal Field. Hvíthólar is one of 6 sub-areas in south Krafla, located at the intersection of the south boundary of Krafla caldera, striking E-W, and the NNE-SSW oriented fissure swarms of the North Volcanic Zone. The model developed in this study extends along Vestursvæði, Þríhvrningar, Hvíthólar and Sandabotnaskarð sub-areas with a combined area of around 30 km2. Hvíthólar is the only southern sub-area connected to Krafla power station and has exhibited a considerable production decline over the period of 1990 – 2013. According to a lumped simulation, the Hvíthólar reservoir follows a two tank open system with a volume of 6.00004 km3. The Hvíthólar enthalpy is approximately 1200 kJ/kg; chemically it presents a low concentration of Cl−, and high CO2. To date, most studies support the hypothesis that Hvíthólar characteristics and behaviour are due to the lack of a heat recharge and that the sub-area is in a phase of waning or even becoming extinct. An improved understanding of heat source location and permeability variations will provide the basis of future utilisation decisions. This study presents two alternative conceptual models for Hvíthólar in addition the existing one, as a means to test the current conceptual model in order to determine the potential to extend the life of the asset. An update of the geological model was carried out based on data from shallow and deep wells along the southern part of Krafla geothermal field. This update combined with existing data from surface exploration was used to generate three conceptual models in Leapfrog Geothermal. The models focus on the location of heat source, and the permeability variation at the intersection between caldera boundary and fissure swarm. Each of the models are validated with TOUGH2 simulations. Resumen: Este proyecto revisa el modelo conceptual 3D para la subárea Hvíthólar en la Zona Sur del Campo Geotérmico Krafla. Hvíthólar es una de las 6 subáreas en el sur de Krafla, ubicada en la intersección del límite sur de la caldera de Krafla, con rumbo E-O, y los enjambres de fisuras orientados NNE-SSO de la Zona Volcánica Norte. El modelo desarrollado en este estudio se extiende a lo largo de las subáreas Vestursvæði, Þríhvrningar, Hvíthólar y Sandabotnaskarð con un área combinada de alrededor de 30 km2. Hvíthólar es la única subárea sur conectada a la central de energía de Krafla y ha mostrado una disminución considerable de la producción durante el período 1990 - 2013. Según una simulación de lumped, el reservorio de Hvíthólar sigue un sistema abierto de dos tanques con un volumen de 6.00004 km3. La entalpía de Hvíthólar es de aproximadamente 1200 kJ / kg; químicamente presenta una baja concentración de Cl−, y alta concentración de CO2. Hasta la fecha, la mayoría de los estudios apoyan la hipótesis de que las características y el comportamiento de Hvíthólar se deben a la falta de una recarga de calor y que la subárea se encuentra en una fase de menguante o incluso de extinción. Un mejor entendimiento de la ubicación de la fuente de calor y las variaciones de permeabilidad en el campo proporcionarán la base de futuras decisiones de utilización. Este estudio presenta dos modelos conceptuales alternativos para Hvíthólar además del existente, como un medio para probar el modelo conceptual actual con el fin de determinar el potencial para extender la vida útil del activo. Una actualización del modelo geológico basado en datos de pozos poco profundos y profundos a lo largo de la parte sur del campo geotérmico Krafla fue realizada. Esta actualización, combinada con los datos existentes de la exploración de la superficie, se utilizó para generar tres modelos conceptuales en3D utilizando Leapfrog Geothermal. Los modelos se centran en la ubicación de la fuente de calor y la variación de la permeabilidad en la intersección entre el límite de la caldera y el enjambre de fisuras. Cada uno de los modelos está validado con simulaciones TOUGH2.

Abstract: CO2 emissions in recent years have reached the highest levels historically, with peaks in 2018 and stabilization in 2020 due to the pandemic. Construction and materials production is among the most contributing industries to the greenhouse gas emission (GHG) effect. Architectural design has become an essential tool to face this environmental problem, just like civil engineering with creating, manipulating, and implementing less toxic and harmful building materials, and the energy consumption control in the structure's life cycle, becoming strategies for the significant reduction of anthropogenic emissions. Charcoal manages to store 50% of its carbon content for centuries, while Biochar, due to its pyrolysis production process and natural decomposition, releases up to 90% of carbon in the first ten years. Biochar, the solid subproduct of the pyrolysis process, is widely considered an effective water retention composite thanks to its morphology and high surface area. The opportunity of using it to improve the mechanical properties and achieve rheological requirements in cement pastes and cement mortar on a micro-scale is explored in this study. The results have demonstrated that with small percentages (1 - 5% and 7%) of Biochar used as a filler and substitution by cement weight in the sample preparation process, not only the compressive and flexural strength are increasing, but also the fracture energy, with a more tortuous crack path that increases the final fracture surface at an early age of maturation. However, this same behavior is not reflected at a late maturation age since there is an enhancement compared to the plain cement samples, but not as significant as that which occurs at an early maturation. In cement paste samples, Biochar used as 2% filler by cement weight can increase by 63% and 23% the flexural and compressive strength after 7-days of curing, respectively, while 29% and 13% the flexural and compressive strength after 28-days of curing, respectively. When taking about fracture energy and ductility factor, the behavior still being positive, with an improvement of 124% and 18% respectively after 7-days of curing, while 150% and 14% respectively after 28-days of curing. In cement mortar samples, Biochar was used as a filler and as substitution by cement weight. In this case, the samples do not seem to follow the same trend or behavior as the cement paste, especially at a late maturity; the mechanical properties seem to remain the same as the plain mortar, close to about 6 MPa and 70 MPa at flexural and compressive strength, respectively. The rheological tests' experimental results suggest that the addition of Biochar can increase the consistency of cementitious paste at the fresh state (e.g., increase in plastic viscosity, shear stress, and yield stress) compared to the reference mixture, also offering a way to waste recycling. This main rheological parameter evaluated appears to increment as the addition of Biochar increments, making the sample more viscous. Biochar's effect in the cement matrix in main rheological properties depends on the sample's preparation and the agglomeration of the particles and their content in each preparation.