The low-level jet over the Orinoco River basin is characterized using finer horizontal, vertical, and temporal resolution than possible in previous studies via dynamical downscaling. The investigation relies on a 5-month-long simulation (November 2013–March 2014) performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting model, with initial and boundary conditions provided by the Global Forecast System analysis. Dynamical downscaling is demonstrated to be an effective method to better resolve the horizontal and vertical characteristics of the Orinoco low-level jet, not only improving its diurnal and austral-summer evolution, the identification and location of low-level jet streaks inside the stream tube, but also in determining the mechanisms leading to its formation. The Orinoco low-level jet (OLLJ) is found to be a single stream tube over Colombia and Venezuela with wind speeds greater than 8 m s-1, and four distinctive cores varying in height under the influence of sloping terrain. The OLLJ has its maximum monthly mean wind speed (13 m s-1) and largest spatial extent (2100 km × 400 km) in January. The maxima mean wind peeds (13–17 m s-1) in the diurnal cycle occur in the early morning above the nocturnal inversion; wind speeds are a minimum (8–9 m s-1) in the late afternoon when a deep, approximately unstratified boundary layer is present. The momentum balance analysis performed in a streamwise- and crosswise-rotated coordinate system reveal that the OLLJ is the result of four phenomena acting together to accelerate the wind: a sea-breeze penetration over the Orinoco River delta and Unare River depression, katabatic flow down the Coastal Cordillera, three expansion fans from point wakes in topography, and diurnal variation of turbulent diffusivity. La corriente en chorro de bajo nivel sobre la cuenca del río Orinoco es caracterizada, a través de una reducción dinámica de escala, con mayor resolución horizontal, vertical, y temporal que la obtenida en investigaciones previas. El estudio está basado en una simulación de 5 meses (noviembre 2013-marzo 2014) realizada con el modelo de investigación meteorológica y pronóstico WRF-ARW, y con condiciones iniciales y de frontera provenientes de los análisis del sistema de pronóstico global GFS-Analysis. La reducción dinámica de escala demuestra ser un método eficaz para resolver de una mejor manera las características horizontales y verticales de la corriente en chorro de bajo nivel del Orinoco, no sólo mejorando la descripción de su evolución diurna y estacional (verano austral), la identificación y localización de los núcleos de velocidad máxima del viento, sino también en la determinación de los mecanismos que conducen a su formación. Se encontró que la corriente en chorro de bajo nivel del Orinoco (OLLJ) es un tubo de corriente sobre Colombia y Venezuela con velocidades de viento mayores a 8 m s -1 , que tiene cuatro núcleos característicos que varían en altura debido a la influencia de la topografía circundante. En enero, el OLLJ presenta su máxima velocidad media mensual del viento (13 m s -1 ) y mayor extensión espacial (2100 km x 400 km). La máxima velocidad media del viento (13 – 17 m s -1 ) en el ciclo diurno ocurre temprano en la mañana por encima de la inversión nocturna, mientras que la velocidad mínima (8 – 9 m s -1 ) ocurre en la tarde cuando la capa de límite es profunda y aproximadamente neutra (i.e., sin estratificación). El análisis de balance de momento realizado en un sistema de coordenadas orientado en el sentido del flujo (coordenadas naturales), revela que el OLLJ es el resultado de cuatro fenómenos que actúan juntos para acelerar el viento: una penetración de la brisa de mar sobre el delta del río Orinoco y la depresión del río Unare, vientos catabáticos descendientes de la cordillera de la Costa, tres ventiladores de expansión que se desprenden de puntos topográficos, y la variación diurna en la difusión de la turbulencia.

This work analyses the repertoire for solo cello and cello with electronic media from 2000 to 2015 by Colombian composers, focusing on timbre as the main musical element explored. Nevertheless, a historical view on the European and non-European repertoire is included. This thesis consists of two parts. The first part includes chapters 1, 2, and 3. Chapter 1 classifies the cello playing techniques used in the most well-known pieces and studies the solo cello from the 17th century onwards, emphasising so-called extended playing techniques. Such classification serves as a tool for the further musical analyses in this work and as a foundation for the methodological framework in chapter 2, which discusses the notions of timbral modulation, timbral polyphony, and timbral re-signification. Chapter 3 discusses a new timbral development in the solo cello and cello with electronic media repertoire in the 20th and 21st century. This chapter surveys the crucial historical facts that generated a paradigm shift in the cello repertoire. This includes the emergence of different musical tendencies and the work of pioneer composers and performers. The second part of this study includes chapters 4 and 5, where the solo cello and cello with electronics repertoire from 2000 to 2015 by Colombian composers is analysed. The pieces involved emphasise a new timbral development within the repertoire. To summarise, this thesis emphasises how timbre was one of the elements that bifurcated the cello repertoire in the 20th and 21st century. Furthermore, this study describes how progressive composers and performers have deeply expanded playing techniques and the timbre of the instrument, and the exploration and combination of the medium with apparatus, artefacts, and new instruments into new ways of making music.

LGBTQ issues have been mainstreamed in media and academic literature, especially in countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, where homosexuality has been said to be criminalized through the commonly known “sodomy laws”. This has fueled an international social movement, led by Western human rights organizations, with cultural, political and economic goals seeking to advance LGBTQ rights globally. However, research on these issues in Sri Lanka re-mains limited. This study seeks to overcome this gap by exploring the LGBTQ movement in its capital, Colombo, conducting a series of interviews to LGBTQ leaders, activists and active members of the community. The study uses social movement theory (with the concepts of grievances, collective identity and strategy) and postcolonial theory. Hence, the following research question is answered: How is the politics of the LGBTQ movement expressed in postcolonial Sri Lanka? Findings indicate that the movement’s grievances are connected to the country’s colonial history, as well as to the human rights discourse. Additionally, collective ‘identity’, a complex concept in Sri Lanka, was found to be “hybrid” among activists, and was contested by activists themselves. Lastly, it was found that there is an insinuation of concern in terms of mimicry in the strategies and a suggestion to decolonize from Western models of activism. Los temas LGBTQ han sido ampliamente debatidos en los medios de comunicación y en la literatura académica, especialmente en los países de la Mancomunidad de Naciones, donde la homosexualidad es criminalizada a través de las “leyes de sodomía”. Esto ha alimentado un movimiento social internacional, liderado por organizaciones occidentales de derechos humanos con propósitos culturales, políticos y económicos que busca promover derechos para personas LGBTQ a nivel global. Sin embargo, la investigación académica sobre estos temas en Sri Lanka es limitada. Este estudio busca llenar este vacío explorando el movimiento LGBTQ en la capital del país, Colombo, por medio de entrevistas a líderes, activistas y miembros activos de la comunidad LGBTQ. El estudio usa conceptos de la teoría de movimientos sociales (agravios, identidad colectiva y estrategia) y de la teoría postcolonial. Así, se responde la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿cómo se expresan las dinámicas políticas internas del movimiento LGBTQ en Sri Lanka postcolonial? Los resultados indican que los agravios del movimiento están conectados con la historia colonial del país, así como el discurso de derechos humanos. Adicionalmente, la ‘identidad’ colectiva, un complejo concepto en Sri Lanka, fue identificada como “híbrida” entre los activistas y se configuró como un concepto controvertido entre los mismos activistas del movimiento. Finalmente, se encontró que hay una preocupación en términos de la imitación en las estrategias utilizadas por el movimiento, así como una insinuación para descolonizarlo de los modelos occidentales de activismo. El autor de esta tesis fue nominado al Hydén Award de Lund University, otorgado a las mejores tesis de pregrado y maestría en asuntos socioeconómicos y políticos en países de ingresos bajos y medios.

In the last years Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) has received an increasing attention in academic research due to its ability to achieve optimal process operation of nonlinear processes. NMPC has been applied to several pilot plants; however major obstacles like plant model mismatch and disturbances have to be overcome in order to allow industrial applications. Multi-stage NMPC (MSNMPC) is a robust NMPC approach which achieves optimal process operation under uncertainties of the process model. A complete workflow from simulation studies to real application of MSNMPC has been developed to overcome the mentioned obstacles. However, explicit knowledge from the fields of mathematics, optimization theory, and process control is required. Therefore, efficient methods for evaluation of MSNMPC that support the transition from simulation to application in the real process are required. In this master thesis a module that applies several evaluation methods to offline simulations of MSNMPC is developed. The effectiveness of the module is shown in the case study of an industrial batch polymerization reactor.

Youth suicidality is a worldwide major concern; even more, if a specific population of youth, as young people in the child welfare system, are likely to be at higher risk. Therefore, emerge the need to identify particular characteristics that may be predictors of these suicidal behaviors in order to provide better prevention and intervention programs. Portugal is a country that does not have information regarding youth suicide in care. Seeking to contribute to this matter this study aims to make a profile of young Portuguese people (of 16- and 17- years old) in residential care with suicide attempts, identifying the relation between suicidality and sociodemographic variables, type of placement and maltreatment, mental health problems and risk behaviors. Comparisons of the data gathered were made on adolescents in residential care with suicide attempts and adolescents without it, bivariate analyzes were carried out to identify the difference between samples. Results supported a statistical relationship with physical neglect as a type of maltreatment, and alcohol and drugs abuse as factors that may increase the risk of suicide attempts. Regarding mental health, treatments do not cover the whole population with suicide attempts, with lightly less of half of the adolescents with suicidality not receiving psychiatric treatment. Further analysis is needed to identify if more rigorous mental health treatment might reduce suicidality. Resúmen: La tendencia suicida en los jóvenes es una preocupación importante a nivel mundial; aún más, si una población específica, como aquellos quienes están en el sistema de bienestar, tienen probabilidades de tener riesgos mayores. Por esta razón, surge la necesidad de identificar características particulares de los jóvenes en el sistema de bienestar que puedan predecir comportamientos suicidas con el fin de proporcionar mejores programas de prevención e intervención. Portugal es un país que no tiene información sobre el suicidio juvenil en el sistema de bienestar. Buscando contribuir a esta área, el siguiente estudio pretende hacer un perfil de jóvenes portugueses (de 16 y 17 años) en acogimiento residencial con intentos de suicidio, identificando la relación entre la variable tendencias suicidas y variables sociodemográficas, perfil del acogimiento y tipo de maltrato, problemas de salud mental y comportamientos de riesgo. Se compararon los datos de adolescentes en acogimiento residenciales con intentos de suicidio y adolescentes sin intentos, llevando a cabo análisis bivariados para identificar la diferencia entre las muestras. Los resultados revelaron una relación estadística entre negligencia física como un tipo de maltrato, y abuso de alcohol y drogas como factores que pueden aumentar el riesgo de intentos suicidas. En cuanto a la salud mental, se identificó que los tratamientos no cubren a todos los jóvenes con intentos de suicidio, hallando que no reciben tratamiento psiquiátrico un poco menos de la mitad de los adolescentes con tendencias suicidas. Por esta razón, se considera necesario realizar más análisis para identificar si un tratamiento de salud mental más riguroso podría reducir las tendencias suicidas.

A monitoring was performed around water bodies associated to the El Quimbo Dam that is located on the Magdalena river, at the south of Huila Department, Colombia. This monitoring study was part of the Ecological Restoration Project of Tropical Dry Forest that is being executed by the Fundación Natura and Enel-Emgesa, which are joining efforts to restore ecosystems that have been affected by the construction of El Quimbo Dam. The construction of El Quimbo Dam began in February, 2011 and the dam was opened in 2015. It is suggested that construction of dams has caused upstream/downstream environmental impacts along river continuums, for example, along the Magdalena-Cauca basin. The Fundación Natura and Enel-Emgesa have been taking measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of El Quimbo Dam´s construction. One of these measures has been the reforestation of 40 km 2 of vegetation, to compensate the loss of 30 km 2 of vegetation that was cut down to construct the dam. The reforestation, performed by people from the Fundación Natura and Enel-Emgesa, is being developed in three specific zones around El Quimbo Dam. In 2016, the Fundación Natura performed previous studies of biotic and abiotic characterization of water reservoirs located in these three specific zones. Afterwards, in 2017, researchers from the Universidad Surcolombiana and Enel-Emgesa performed water quality studies on water bodies located in the high basin of Magdalena River. The present internship aimed at supplementing those studies executed in 2016 and 2017. During the present internship, biotic and abiotic aspects were analysed in 16 new water bodies to answer the following questions: -Are there differences in animal diversity among the 16 water bodies studied? -Is there similarity in the vegetation composition among the 16 water bodies? -Are there differences in abiotic conditions among the water bodies monitored? The 16 water bodies comprised 3 lakes and 13 streams. For all these water bodies, a field form was used, which consisted in a table organized in 8 columns. Each column contained data of depth, degree of shading, color of water, substrate, vegetation, fauna, water discharge (in the streams) and wind presence (in the lakes). A Shannon index was calculated to measure the fauna diversity along the 16 water bodies located around El Quimbo Dam. For vegetation, the number of trees was counted among the water bodies to find the richest ones in numbers of tree species. Analyses of similarity in composition of tree species were performed between pairs of water bodies as a well as a likely estimation of the most abundant tree species.Finally, environmental impacts of human activities were related to the animal diversity and abiotic aspects observed in the water bodies.

The study set out to shed light on the key drivers and barriers that influence leaders deciding whether or not to invest in legal tech. Understanding these factors is a starting point to reduce the uncertainty that surrounds the future of the law industry. Accordingly, the fundamental question in the study asks what are the main drivers and barriers that influence the decision-making process to allocate resources on legal tech. The following sub-questions are discussed through the dissertation to find a reasonable answer: - What is legal tech, and why is it relevant? - How do the barriers/drivers found in the research influence the innovation-decision process? La tesis busca indagar acerca de las motivaciones y barreras clave que influencian a los altos gerentes de las firmas de abogados al momento de tomar la decisión de invertir en legal tech. Entender estos factores es un punto inicial para reducir la incertidumbre que rodea el futuro de la industria del derecho. De acuerdo con lo anterior, la pregunta central que hace el estudio es cuáles son las causas que influyen el proceso de toma de decisión para destinar recursos en legal tech. Adicionalmente y con el propósito de encontrar una respuesta a la inquietud planteada, la investigación aborda las siguientes sub-preguntas: - Qué es legal tech, y por qué es relevante? - Cómo influencian los motivos y las barreras encontrados en la investigación, el proceso de decisión de innovación.

Deforestation is a relevant topic in socioeconomic and environmental studies. It is estimated that three-quarters of terrestrial biodiversity is covered by forest and 15% of all greenhouse emissions are produced by deforestation globally. Colombia contains 4.1% of the rainforest at the global scale and has a long-armed conflict. The vacuum of power left by FARC’s retreat has promoted that pre-existing illegal armed groups and the emergence of new actors began to occupy the municipalities where FARC used to have a presence. This dynamic has increased the rapacious behavior of illegal armed groups, exerting pressure over natural resources and thereby increasing alarmingly deforestation. The present paper demonstrates through an impact evaluation that uses fixed effect as an empirical strategy, that FARC discouraged deforestation before the unilateral ceasefire in the municipalities where they used to have presence at the end of 2014, even though the heterogeneity of its force armed structure also generate negative impacts on forest land. Likewise, the paper also shows that the socioeconomic dynamics both legal and illegal that are promoting deforestation in Colombia should be examined jointly since these dynamics are interlinked. Resumen: La deforestación es un tema relevante en los estudios socioeconómicos y ambientales. Se estima que tres cuartas partes de la biodiversidad terrestre están cubiertas por bosques y el 15% de todas los Gases de Efecto Invernadero (GEI) son producidas por la deforestación a nivel mundial. Colombia contiene el 4,1% de la selva tropical a escala mundial y tiene un conflicto de larga duración. El vacío de poder dejado por la retirada de las FARC ha promovido que los grupos armados ilegales preexistentes y la aparición de nuevos grupos de interés comenzaran a ocupar los municipios donde las FARC solían tener presencia. Esta dinámica ha aumentado el comportamiento rapaz de los grupos armados ilegales, ejerciendo presión sobre los recursos naturales y, por lo tanto, aumentando la deforestación de manera alarmante. El presente documento demuestra, mediante una estrategia empírica de efectos fijos, que las FARC desincentivaron la deforestación antes del cese unilateral en los municipios donde solían tener presencia a finales de 2014, sin embargo, se precisa que la heterogeneidad de su estructura armada también generó impactos negativos en la cobertura forestal. Del mismo modo, el documento también muestra que las dinámicas socioeconómicas, tanto legales como ilegales, que promueven la deforestación en Colombia deben examinarse conjuntamente, ya que estas dinámicas están interrelacionadas.

Avi's Revelation (08 min. 30 sec.) / Balmer -- Media Distinctio (02 min. 58 sec.) / Balmer -- Unfolding (03 min. 28 sec.) / Balmer -- Begin Again (03 min. 44 sec.) / Balmer -- Honey-metered Morning (04 min. 47 sec.) / Balmer -- Joy-filled Afternoon (05 min. 53 sec.) / Balmer -- The Way Evening Speaks (03 min. 09 sec.) / Balmer -- Dusk (05 min. 58 sec.) / Balmer

II. Allemande (02 min. 46 sec.) / Bach -- III. Courante (01 min. 57 sec.) / Bach -- IV. Sarabande (02 min. 17 sec.) / Bach -- V. Les agrements de la meme Sarabande (02 min. 29 sec.) / Bach -- VI. Gavotte I (01 min. 49 sec.) / Bach -- VII. Gavotte II (NaN min. NaN sec.)(55 sec.) / Bach -- VIII. Gavotte I (da capo) (NaN min. NaN sec.)(58 sec.) / Bach -- IX. Gigue (02 min. 43 sec.) / Bach -- I. Prelude (03 min. 23 sec.) / Bach -- I. Arioso: Adagio (01 min. 35 sec.) / Bach -- II. — (01 min. 17 sec.) / Bach -- III. Adagiosissimo (02 min. 52 sec.) / Bach -- IV. — (NaN min. NaN sec.)(43 sec.) / Bach -- V. Aria di Postiglione: Allegro poco (01 min. 24 sec.) / Bach -- VI. Fugue all'imitatione di Posta (02 min. 13 sec.) / Bach -- 18 Chorales, BWV 651-668, "Leipziger Chorale": Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (arr. W. Kempff for piano)  (04 min. 35 sec.) / Bach -- Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit, BWV 307 - Nun freut euch, BWV 734 (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (02 min. 40 sec.) / Bach -- Flute Sonata in E-Flat Major, BWV 1031: II. Siciliano (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (03 min. 39 sec.) / Bach -- Herzlich tut mich verlangen, BWV 727 (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (02 min. 11 sec.) / Bach -- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: Chorale: Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring) (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (03 min. 23 sec.) / Bach -- In dulci jubilo, BWV 751 (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (02 min. 10 sec.) / Bach -- Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29: Sinfonia (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (04 min. 35 sec.) / Bach -- Keyboard Suite No. 1 in B-Flat Major, HWV 434: IV. Minuet (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (04 min. 04 sec.) / Handel -- Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme: Zion hört die Wächter singen (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (04 min. 49 sec.) / Bach -- Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056: Largo (arr. W. Kempff for piano) (03 min. 41 sec.) / Bach -- Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesus Christus, BWV 639 (arr. W. Kempff for piano)  (02 min. 31 sec.) / Bach -- La Plainte d'Orphee (03 min. 02 sec.) / Gluck -- Ronde des esprits bienheureux (01 min. 40 sec.) / Gluck