In many cultures palms offer a vast number of products, especially Non-Timber-Forest Products (NTFPs), which have been traditionally used by indigenous and mestizo groups in Latin America. Some species have gone beyond the domestic use and their commercialization has reached local, national and international markets. Among the palm products that are widely commercialized in South America are palm heart (Euterpe oleracea), extracted from the young unfolded spear leaves of the palms, and the handicraft woven from fibers (Astrocaryum chambira, A. malybo and A. standleyanum), all extracted from the leaflets. In Colombia, these four palm species are economically important for the harvesting communities as well as for wholesalers and retailers. However, commercialization has been based on the extraction of raw material from wild palm stands up to the point that several palm species are threatened by developing markets for their products, and the need of income for the harvest communities and industry. The general objective of this thesis is to describe the value chains of palm products from E. oleracea, A. chambira, A. malybo and A. standleyanum in different Colombian regional markets, as well as national and international markets, and to analyze the economic importance, potentials and implications of this trade. Data on the four value chains was gathered through interviewing all actors of the value chain and revising the literature about the commercialization of these palm products. This study assesses the main actors or organizations in the commercialization chains, their specific activities, different routes to trade products, and how well the chains currently work by conducting a qualitative and quantitative value chain analysis.Major results involve particular dynamics and distributions of the profits along each value chain, as well as common aspects: the value chains are short, simple, the commercialization channels need to be strengthened, the scarcity of the raw material is a crucial constraint for the commercialization of the products. Unsustainable harvest practices are common. Moreover, the marketing potential of each group of palm products as well as promised target markets are characterized. The principal contribution of this thesis consists in shedding light on the current status of the value chains of these four palm species in Colombia, and proposing possible routes of development to strive for sustainability in each of the value chains analysed. Moreover, this study provides information about the economic importance of the palm products to the local communities and the need to upgrade the commercialization channels, products and communal incentives to assign equitable incomes along the chain.

Abstract: Currently, there are available several models to design and evaluate sprinklers and heat vents independently. However, models that study the interaction between these two components are scarce and are not sufficiently developed. The following work presents a literature review of experiments and models developed to study this interaction. Next, a CFD model is developed based on the large test room from the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute reported by Ingason and Olsson (1992) . In this model, the effect of sprinkler location and water ow on heat vents is studied. A second CFD model based on the report of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Sprinkler, Smoke and Heat Vent, Draft Curtain Interaction (1998) is also developed to study the effect of vents on sprinkler activation times. A discussion of the experimental results and validation of the two models is presented to then show the main conclusions found during this work. Resumen: En la actualidad existen varios modelos para diseñar y evaluar independientemente sistemas de rociadores y extractores de calor. Sin embargo, no existen modelos completamente desarrollados que estudien la interacción entre estos dos sistemas de protección. El siguiente trabajo presenta una revisión bibliográfica sobre experimentos y modelos disponibles en la actualidad. Posteriormente, un modelo basado en DFC es desarrollado con base a los experimentos reportados por Ingason y Olson (1992). En este modelo se ha estudiado la influencia que tiene la ubicación y el flujo de agua de los rociadores sobre los extractores de calor. Un segundo modelo es desarrollado con base a los experimentos a gran escala presentados por el Instituto Nacional de Estándares y Tecnología (NIST por sus siglas en inglés). En este modelo, se ha estudiado el efecto que tienen los extractores de calor sobre el tiempo de activación de los rociadores. Este trabajo finaliza con una discusión sobre los resultados de los experimentos y los modelos para luego, presentar las principales conclusiones sobre esta interacción.

The following research is an exploration on the development of solutions from the discipline of graphic communication, to support war victims in Colombia. The research was focused on the study of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the methods to treat this mental disorder such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Art Therapy. The initial phase of the project consisted on creating a book inspired onthe therapies mentioned above, exploring how graphic communication could facilitate trauma treatment and visually reinforce those methods previously studied. Afterwards, the project advanced into using illustration as a tool to criticize the psychological and sociocultural effects of Colombian war on victims and society. The social discomfort motivated by war led me to think of Colombia as a nation suffering from analogue trauma, a moderated emulation of PTSD. Thus, my illustrations were collages inspired on each symptom of PTSD, Magic Realism – One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, and photojournalists Jesús Abad Colorado, Josh Rushing and Álvaro Ybarra. Finally, these illustrations explored how graphic communication could motivate debates and nurture critical perspectives about armed conflict in Colombia; also, raise awareness about the importance of supporting victims with mental health programs.

"The dissertation is an analytical review of the available literature on marine protected areas (MPAs) to propose some governance, and spatial management mechanisms in the Colombian Caribbean Sea, particularly in the Seaflower MPA. The Seaflower MPA is facing several challenges regarding political issues of boundary disputes and also adverse impacts on the marine environment from the increase in shipping activities. This is largely due to the expansion of the Panama Canal and the possible Nicaragua Canal, which is increasing the maritime traffic of international shipping to almost double that of today. In addition, the increase in seabed activities is also a threat to the ecosystems within it. This research describes the Colombian framework of MPAs, and it also shows the issues that face the Seaflower MPA today. The aim is to propose and to recommend some governance and management measures based on the ecosystem-based approach to establish a transboundary agreement keeping the integrity of the MPA and giving regional relevance for the protection of the unique ecosystems. Furthermore, to address the issues of negative impacts from shipping, some protective measures have to be taken to protect the ecosystems and safe navigation guaranteeing long-term sustainable development. "

Abstract: Regarding regulative changes in Latin America, the literature has highlighted a decisive role played by International Financial Institutions (hereafter, IFI's), suggesting a direct influence in determining reforms on policies and particular norms. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and, in the Latin American region, the Inter-American Development Bank, are seen as having a central role in inducing structural and concrete reforms and, more specifically, changes in land regulation. Research on the topic has shown that those transformations occur when there is a conjunction of factors such as economic difficulties in the recipient country (crisis), sympathetic technocrats sharing a common mindset with those of the IFI's and a proper political environment willingly to facilitate the reforms. The changes seem to depend on the country's characteristics and its interaction with international agents, making more complex the process of legal change, rather than on impositions from IFI's based upon their bargaining power. This research tries to answer whether the Colombian land regulation has been determined by IFI's, by focusing on the last legal change introduced in the country: Law 1776/2016, also known as ZIDRES law. It is argued that in the Colombian case the regulative change embodied in ZIDRES law was the outcome of a confluence among interests from local elites, big national and international agro-industrial companies and the general land policy of the country, instead of a direct determination from IFI's. Moreover, it is suggested that the developmentalist discourse played a central role in providing the ideological and rhetoric toolbox for supporting the regulative change. Resumen: En relación con los cambios regulativos en América Latina la literatura ha destacado el rol decisivo jugado por las Instituciones Financieras Internacionales (IFI), para sugerir una influencia directa en la determinación de reformas sobre políticas publicas generales y normas concretas. El Banco Mundial, el Fondo Monetario Internacional y, en América Latina, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, son vistos como actores centrales en la inducción de reformas de diverso nivel y, concretamente, en cambios en la regulación sobre tierras. Investigaciones relacionadas han mostrado que dichas transformaciones ocurren cuando confluyen factores como el surgimiento de dificultades económicas en los países que implementan las reformas (crisis), la participación de tecnócratas locales que simpatizan con los puntos de vista de las IFI y la existencia de un ambiente político dispuesto a facilitar las reformas. Los cambios regulativos parecen depender de las características internas de los países y de su interacción con agentes internacionales, lo que hace más complejo el proceso de cambio regulativo, en lugar de las imposiciones que puedan venir de las IFI con base en su poder de negociación. Esta investigación se cuestiona si la regulación colombiana sobre tierras ha sido determinada por IFI, lo cual se explora teniendo como foco de atención el último cambio regulativo sobre tierras introducido en el país: la Ley 1776 de 2016, también conocida como Ley ZIDRES. Se argumenta que en el caso colombiano el cambio regulativo encarnado en la Ley ZIDRES fue el resultado de una confluencia de los intereses de élites locales, grandes empresas agroindustriales nacionales e internacionales y la política pública de tierras del país, en lugar de ser una determinación directa de IFI. Adicionalmente, se sugiere que el discurso desarrollista jugó un papel central al proveer de las herramientas ideológicas y discursivas para facilitar el cambio regulativo.

Documento en el que Narciso González Lineros, militante del Partido Liberal, comenta la forma en que se está ejecutando el decreto ejecutivo del 11 de junio de 1862, alusivo a la venta de bienes desamortizados a lo largo del territorio nacional. A lo largo del documento, que conserva la ortografía de la época, menciona los riesgos que tiene la aplicación de este decreto para la nación, pues en ella se prohíbe a los partícipes de los remates hacer propuestas en nombre del gobierno, lo que favorece a los particulares.

Informe en el que el ingeniero militar José Cornelio Borda, resume las diferentes acciones bélicas y políticas en las que ha participado del lado del Partido Conservador. En el documento, que conserva la ortografía de la época, Borda exige que sus copartidarios reconozcan y agradezcan sus buenos oficios, algunos de los cuales lo han llevado a poner en riesgo su vida.

Informe presentado por Manuel Esguerra, en calidad de Ministro de Hacienda de Colombia, a los miembros del Congreso de la República en 1898. A lo largo del documento, Esguerra señala los principales negocios fiscales adelantados por la cartera de la que estuvo a cargo durante ese año, además de ofrecer un estado general de las finanzas públicas de la nación.

Informe general de la economía regional del Caquetá durante el 2015. A lo largo del documento se hace mención del aumento en la tasa de desempleo en Florencia, a pesar de la demanda de mano de obra que se registró. Respecto a los precios se menciona un aumento de la inflación anual de Caquetá, caracterizada por alzas en el precio de los alimentos y gastos de vivienda.

Informe general de la economía departamental de Amazonas para el primer semestre del año 2005. A lo largo del documento se mencionan variaciones en los índices de desempleo, exportaciones e importaciones, actividades financieras, construcción de infraestructura y sacrificio de ganado con respecto al periodo anterior.