Sergio Cabrera is a prominent figure in the history of Colombian cinema: with seven long-feature films made throughout a career of more than thirty years, the director is one of the most renowned Colombian filmmakers in the country and abroad. His oeuvre has always aimed to address Colombian social reality through an original blending of his approach to cinema as an auteur and the deployment of accessible genres, narratives, and aesthetics. However, his relevance has not always been accompanied by a thorough scholarship that methodically analyses his films. This dissertation aims to fill this gap regarding academic studies about Cabrera’s films, especially considering his work as a corpus, not separately. In the following study, the author makes a textual analysis that aims to critically describe the aesthetic and ideological elements within three films from the 1990’s by Sergio Cabrera that constitute the director’s representation of Colombian society, focusing on three main social issues depicted in each film: social class (La estrategia del caracol), gender (Ilona llega con la lluvia), and armed conflict (Golpe de estadio). To do such analysis, this dissertation uses the concept Melorealism, an encompassing category coined by Paul A. Schroeder Rodríguez to outline the aesthetic, ideological, and economical factors that have shaped Latin American films from 1990s. The analysis will ultimately show that Cabrera’s oeuvre is constantly moving within a spectrum defined by utopia and reality. Resumen: Sergio Cabrera es una figura destacada en la historia del cine colombiano: con siete largometrajes realizados a lo largo de una carrera de más de treinta años, el director es uno de los cineastas colombianos más reconocidos en el país y en el extranjero. Su obra siempre ha tenido como objetivo abordar la realidad social colombiana a través de una combinación original de su enfoque del cine como autor y el despliegue de géneros, narrativas y estéticas accesibles. Sin embargo, su relevancia no siempre ha estado acompañada de un estudio exhaustivo que analice metódicamente sus películas. Esta tesis tiene como objetivo llenar este vacío con respecto a los estudios académicos sobre las películas de Cabrera, especialmente considerando su trabajo como un corpus, no por separado. En el siguiente estudio, se realiza un análisis textual que tiene como objetivo describir críticamente los elementos estéticos e ideológicos dentro de tres películas de la década de 1990 de Sergio Cabrera que constituyen una representación de la sociedad colombiana desde la perspectiva del director, centrándose en tres temas sociales principales representados en cada película: clase social (La estrategia del caracol), género (Ilona llega con la lluvia) y conflicto armado (Golpe de estadio). Para hacer dicho análisis, esta disertación utiliza el concepto Melorealismo, una categoría acuñada por Paul A. Schroeder Rodríguez para delinear los factores estéticos, ideológicos y económicos que han dado forma a las películas latinoamericanas de la década de 1990. El análisis finalmente mostrará que la obra de Cabrera se mueve constantemente dentro de un espectro definido por la utopía y la realidad.

In 2019, the European Commission published the “2030 Clean Energy for All Europeans” package, as part of the 2050 Energy roadmap. To comply with the European directives, Italy published the National Energy and Climate Plan setting a target of 55% for RES share in electricity generation by 2030. This high RES generation target raises concerns about the operational flexibility of the Italian power system. The flexibility of the Italian power system was measured using currently available flexibility frameworks and indexes (e.g.: AFPER, FAST2). Hence, the 2030 Base Scenario and 15 alternative scenarios were simulated using Promed Grid, a market tool developed by CESI and able to perform a coordinated hydro- thermal dispatching over a one-year horizon, considering the adoption of some flexibility sources such as storage systems and demand response. The results were then compared to characterize the performance of each flexibility source and its influence on the power system. BESS, PHS, and DR showed a level of complementarity while covering flexibility needs and controlling price spikes. Daily needs are covered mainly by BESS and weekly needs by PHS, mainly during the summer since both technologies were more used due to high solar power generation. Conversely, peak shedding DR was primarily activated in winter since prices are higher and storage systems lees used. In the case of V2G and DR, the role of aggregators is vital to have a representative capacity to be offered in the power markets. Finally, from a holistic perspective, the benefits of implanting all flexibility source are higher than the costs. Nevertheless, such benefits should be redistributed to incentivize the deployment of certain sources with low benefit-cost ratios. The results of this thesis can serve as a starting point to delve into the technical performance and economic implications of each flexibility source. In addition, it highlighted the advantages for Italy of boosting and supporting some schemes such as DR and V2G, as well as incentivizing the installation of storage systems.

AEC industry is currently facing a remarkable transformative stage given by the use of disruptive technologies alongside a gradually increasing interest form project participants to enhance collaborative dynamics in projects, throughout the implementation of technologies such as Building Information Modelling, migrating from a fragmented conduct workflow in the built environment projects, to a share and open- access iterative process. The rising popularity and the wide adoption of these technology had unleash a high level of digital information and sharing transactions, overcoming the capacity of current digital infrastructures, entailing some collateral effects for the AEC organisations, such as handling with vast amount of information during multiple projects, increasing the complexity of data and resulting in a mistrust on the reliability on the information. Blockchain is the unbounded innovation technology behind cryptocurrencies, the characteristics of this platform presents multiple similarities with the database in the BIM files and the network workflows of information set a feasible scenario for the application of this technology as a backbone of BIM, this study sought to unveil and explore possible technological fusion between these two ground-breaking technologies, to achieve these goals, this study sets a qualitative methodology conducted with two approaches, a systematic literature review regarding previous research about this technologies alongside personal interviews with professionals in the AEC industry related to this. The findings on these two approaches are later discussed and analysed unveiling the best path that future researchers might follow to continue with the development of these technologies, benefiting the AEC industry in the long term. Resumen: La industria de AEC se enfrenta actualmente a una notable etapa de transformación dada por el uso de tecnologías disruptivas junto con un interés gradualmente creciente de los participantes del proyecto para mejorar la dinámica de colaboración en los proyectos, a lo largo de la implementación de tecnologías como el Modelado de información de construcción, migrando desde un flujo de trabajo fragmentado en entornos constructivos, a un proceso iterativo de acceso abierto y compartido. La creciente popularidad y la amplia adopción de estas tecnologías han desencadenado un alto nivel de información digital y transacciones de intercambio, superando la capacidad de las infraestructuras digitales actuales, lo que conlleva algunos efectos colaterales para las organizaciones de AEC, como el manejo con gran cantidad de información durante múltiples proyectos, aumentando la complejidad de los datos y dando lugar a una desconfianza en la fiabilidad de la información. Blockchain es la tecnología de innovación ilimitada detrás de las criptomonedas, las características de esta plataforma presentan múltiples similitudes con la base de datos en los archivos BIM y los flujos de trabajo de la red de información establecen un escenario factible para la aplicación de esta tecnología como columna vertebral de BIM, este estudio buscó Revelar y explorar la posible fusión tecnológica entre estas dos tecnologías innovadoras, para lograr estos objetivos, este estudio establece una metodología cualitativa realizada con dos enfoques, una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre investigaciones anteriores sobre estas tecnologías junto con entrevistas personales con profesionales en la industria de AEC relacionados a esto. Los resultados de estos dos enfoques se discuten y analizan más tarde, revelando el mejor camino que los futuros investigadores podrían seguir para continuar con el desarrollo de estas tecnologías, beneficiando a la industria de AEC a largo plazo.

This research contrasts two of the most common methods used to estimate sprinkler response, semi-empirical correlations and computational models based on fluid dynamics. The semi-empirical calculations are based on Alpert’s relations and the modelling task is carried out with the software tool Fire Dynamic Simulator, FDS. The case studies implemented in this work were defined considering the limitations of Alpert’s equations. Different enclosure configurations were considered, such as, unconfined spaces (open rooms - steady state and time-dependent fires), confined spaces (rooms with parallel walls creating corridors – steady state fires) and obstructed areas (rooms with beams in the ceiling – steady state fires). The results obtained show that both approaches predict accurately the sprinklers activation time for unconfined configurations, except for the heat release of 500 kW since Alpert's relationships are not applicable for small fires. In general, the tendency observed is that semi-empirically calculated values are more conservative, resulting in the prediction of longer activation times. Therefore, this would result in designs based on the worst-case scenario, showing that Alpert’s correlations can be applied with certain confidence. On the contrary, for confined and obstructed scenarios, the outcomes show that the semi-empirical correlations are not completely reliable for this type of enclosures. In confined configurations, regardless of the magnitude of the heat release rate, the more confined the corridor, the sooner the sprinkler activation occurs. Therefore, in these cases, although Alpert's relationships consider the worst risk scenario by predicting longer activation times, the design of fire protection systems will be based on inappropriate values. In obstructed scenarios, even the smallest obstruction modifies the ceiling jet flow due to the presence of the beams, varying also the smooth ceiling jet attributes characteristic of unconfined scenarios. Therefore in rooms with obstructions, the semi-empirical correlations are not applicable anymore for devices located in a bay other than the primary, since Alpert´s equations predict shorter activation times to those that could be expected in reality, which means that the worst risk scenario would not be considered. This study demonstrates the importance of using computational tools for sprinkler response estimations, being a useful and valid alternative to analyse complex fire scenarios and to improve fire protection systems designs.

This dissertation explores the relationship between corruption and social trust in Colombia through a mixed methods study that combines descriptive statistics and semi-structured interviews. Two hypotheses are established: first, that corruption is a cause of low social trust and second, that there are external factors that affect the relationship between corruption and social trust. The analysis confirms both hypotheses as results show that there is a strong correlation between the two factors, corruption is a cause of low social trust in the country, and three main external factors affect this relationship in the national context, which are culture, violence and drug trafficking, and Catholicism.

In representative democratic systems, governments are expected to act in the interest of citizens in a responsive manner. A core feature of democracy settings is accountability which is needed for citizens to judge the propriety and effectiveness representatives’ actions and decisions. Generally, elections are seen as the main accountability mechanisms but they have shown to be insufficient for citizens to control their representatives and effective democracy. Despite its importance, literature on the field shows significant variance in its conceptualization what has hindered the development of a fixed tool for the systematic and rigorous analysis of accountability. This research focuses on the relationship between citizens and their representatives to hold them accountable –social accountability– by means other than elections. Qualitative content analysis was employed by this research to critically compare and analyse eight prominent tools developed to assess the level or quality of accountability. Furthermore, I argue that the Between Elections Democracy framework and its core concepts (e.g. responsiveness, ongoing interactions) can help to advance but so far the approach has not included the study of accountability. Thus, this research contributes to fill a gap in the BED framework by identifying social accountability as relevant phenomena to study and including other actors besides governments as representatives. Another significant contribution is the proposal of an initial set of indicators for a systematic and comparative evaluation of social accountability. Resumen: En sistemas de democracia representativa, se espera que los gobiernos actúen respondiendo a los intereses de los ciudadanos. Una característica esencial de establecimientos democráticos es la accountability (rendición de cuentas), la cual es necesaria para que los ciudadanos juzguen la efectividad de las actuaciones y decisiones de sus representantes. Generalmente, las elecciones son vistas como el principal mecanismo para juzgar y ‘exigir’ cuentas, pero éstas han mostrado ser insuficientes para que los ciudadanos ejerzan control sobre sus representantes y procurar una democracia efectiva. A pesar de su importancia, la literatura en este campo muestra una significativa variedad en la conceptualización, lo que ha obstaculizado el desarrollo de una herramienta para el estudio riguroso y sistemático de accountability. Esta investigación se enfoca en la relación entre ciudadanos y sus representantes para ejercer control sobre estos últimos – rendición de cuentas social- por medios distintos a las elecciones. El análisis cualitativo de contenido fue utilizado para críticamente, comparar y analizar ocho herramientas destacadas, desarrolladas para evaluar niveles o calidad de accountability. Incluso, este trabajo argumenta que el marco teórico de Democracia Entre Elecciones (BED en inglés) que incluye conceptos como receptividad e interacción permanente puede ayudar a avanzar en la tarea, pero hasta ahora no ha sido aplicado al estudio de rendición de cuentas. De esta manera, esta investigación contribuye al marco BED al incluir la rendición de cuentas como un fenómeno relevante. Otra importante contribución es la propuesta de indicadores para el análisis sistemático y comparativo de la rendición de cuentas.

This Master’s directed study is the result of three years (2015-2018) of interdisciplinary research on the construction of the Museum of Historical Memory of Colombia or Museo de Memoria Histórica de Colombia (MMH). This research focuses on the challenges confronted by the museum professionals (curators, museographers, architects) responsible for implementing the institution’s mandate, sanctioned through a national law, into the design of a national memorial museum. Specifically, this study analyses the complexities involved in the conception process of the MMH’s general framework, as well as the curation of its first official exhibition, Voces para transformar a Colombia, or Voices for the transformation of Colombia. Resumen: Este trabajo final de maestría es el resultado de tres años (2015-2018) de investigación interdisciplinaria sobre la construcción del Museo de Memoria Histórica de Colombia (MMH). Esta investigación se centra en los desafíos enfrentados por los profesionales de museo (curadores, museógrafos, arquitectos) encargados de implementar el mandato legal de la institución y de desarrollar el diseño conceptual de este museo memorial nacional. Específicamente, este estudio analiza las complejidades del proceso de concepción del marco general de MMH, así como los desafíos curatoriales de su primera exposición oficial, Voces para transformar a Colombia.

The Carnival of Barranquilla represents the maximum cultural expression of the city’s cultural life and, just as it produces an alternate life for its inhabitants, also transforms its urban space, understood as form and life, on different dimensions. Regarding a notion of cultural consumption as closely related to the place and the social network in which it takes place, this research raises the comprehension of carnival as a urban phenomenon and as a collective construction that allows new possibilities on space for different social actors and groups that inhabit it, although they are segregated on the daily scene. From a phenomenological perspective, this work makes a qualitative approach to characterize through cartographies, ethnographic narratives and in-depth interviews, the practices of use and appropriation of urban space, and the meanings and representations that are constructed about it. The results of the research showed an alterity of urban life during carnival: changes in the routes, destinations and spatial limits; different ways of using and appropriating public space and collective symbolization processes around carnival and the diverse scenarios that it generates. Resumen: El Carnaval de Barranquilla representa la máxima expresión de la vida cultural de la ciudad y, así como produce una vida alterna para sus habitantes, transforma también su espacio urbano, en tanto forma y vida urbana, en diferentes dimensiones. Considerando una noción de consumo cultural en estrecha relación con el lugar y la trama social en que se desarrolla, esta investigación plantea la comprensión del Carnaval como fenómeno urbano y como construcción colectiva que permite nuevos posibles en el espacio para los diferentes actores y grupos sociales que lo habitan, pese a que se encuentran segregados cotidianamente. Desde una perspectiva fenomenológica, el trabajo hace una aproximación cualitativa para caracterizar a través de cartografías, relatos etnográficos y entrevistas en profundidad las prácticas de uso y apropiación del espacio urbano y los significados y representaciones que sobre este se construyen. Los resultados de la investigación mostraron una alteridad en la vida urbana durante el Carnaval: cambios en las rutas, destinos y límites espaciales; diferentes formas de uso y apropiación del espacio público y procesos de simbolización colectiva en torno al Carnaval y los diversos tipos de escenarios que genera.

Using LatAm data from 2000 to 2018, this research investigates asset pricing anomalies that have been found to generate outperformance globally. Specifically, we examine the Value, the Momentum, the Low Volatility, and the Quality anomaly in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. All anomalies are found to be profitable, but Value and Momentum are the strongest in these markets. Alternative definitions for the effects generate higher expected returns and lower standard deviations than the traditional ones. The performance of single-factor portfolios can be enhanced by combining two or more anomalies simultaneously, and the portfolio blending approach is the best method to multi-factor portfolio construction. We find that a dynamic asset allocation strategy, leveraged by the concept of Absolute Momentum, can significantly improve the Sharpe ratio of multi-factor portfolios and reduces the exposure to extremely adverse events. It also makes the distribution of monthly returns to be positively skewed. Finally, we show that single- and multi-factor portfolios may have long periods of bad performance, while a dynamic asset allocation strategy to multi-factor portfolios performs well in all business cycles. Resumen: Usando información de Latinoamérica desde el 2000 hasta el 2018, este estudio investiga anomalías que han generado retornos superiores a nivel global. Especialmente, se examina las anomalías de Valor, Momento, Baja Volatilidad, y Calidad en Brasil, México, Chile, Perú, y Colombia. Se encontró que todas las anomalías son rentables pero Valor y Momento son las más fuertes en estos mercados. Definiciones alternativas para cada efecto generan retornos esperados más altos y una menor desviación estándar que las definiciones tradicionales. El rendimiento de portafolios de un único factor se puede mejorar combinando dos ó más anomalías de forma simultánea, y la metodología de combinación por portafolios es el mejor enfoque para crear portfolios multifactoriales. Se encontró que una estrategia dinámica de asignación de activos, apalancada por el concepto de Momento Absoluto, puede significativamente mejorar la razón de Sharpe de los portafolios multifactoriales y reducir la exposición a eventos extremos adversos. Esta estrategia también hace que los retornos estén positivamente sesgados. Finalmente, se demostró que los portafolios de un único factor y multifactoriales pueden tener largos periodos de malos rendimientos, mientras que una estrategia de asignación de activos dinámica se comporta bien en todos los ciclos económicos.

This paper analyses the forces and dynamics organizing the real estate development process, both from the provision of affordable housing and the promotion of real estate sector as the engine of the local economy. An indepth case-study of Bogotá has been conducted looking at the structural determinants of the urban real estate trajectory and how a particular administration affects the same. Two main findings are brought forward: firstly, the distribution and land use has been the most important factor of production in the-defining the urban trajectory of Bogotá through processes of ‘accumulation by dispossession’. This reflects in the coexistence of formal and informal markets, which are mediated by the growing scarcity of land and high prices. Secondly, while the Administration of Gustavo Petro strived to address these issues, its policies were not effective in reversing the speculation patterns or providing housing for the poor. Rather, they deepened these issues and further impacted the performance of the local economy. Resumen: Este documento analiza las fuerzas y dinámicas que organizan el proceso de desarrollo inmobiliario, tanto desde la provisión de viviendas asequibles como desde la promoción del sector inmobiliario como motor de la economía local. Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de caso en Bogotá que analiza los determinantes estructurales de la trayectoria de los bienes inmuebles urbanos y la manera como una administración particular los influye o afecta. Se presentan dos hallazgos principales: en primer lugar, la distribución y el uso del suelo han sido el factor de producción más importante en la definición de la trayectoria urbana de Bogotá a través de procesos de ""acumulación por despojo"". Esto se refleja en la coexistencia de los mercados formales e informales, que están mediados por la creciente escasez de tierras y los altos precios. En segundo lugar, si bien la Administración de Gustavo Petro se esforzó? por abordar estos problemas, sus políticas no fueron efectivas para revertir los patrones de especulación o proporcionar viviendas a los pobres. Más bien, profundizaron estos problemas e impactaron aún más el desempeño de la economía local.