Abstract: This work seeks to understand what is the legal value of the soft law tax devices is issued by the OECD from a holistic perspective that contains international public law, local law, own conceptions of this international organization, and so on. Additionally, it is going to highlight the use of these international devices by the Spanish Supreme Court together with the way that these sentences impact in the legal certainty standard. Finally, it is going to point out if this way to apply soft law tools is analogous to the legal value explained previously. Resumen: El presente trabajo busca comprender cuál es el valor jurídico de los instrumentos tributarios de soft law emitidos por la OCDE en materia tributaria desde una visión holística que incluya percepciones de derecho internacional público, derecho interno, concepciones propias de la misma organización internacional, etc. Adicionalmente, se evidenciará el uso dado a estas herramientas internacionales por el Tribunal Supremo Español, así como el impacto que estos fallos pueden tener sobre el principio de seguridad jurídica. Finalmente, se puntualizará si esta forma de aplicación de los instrumentos de soft law es análoga a la valoración jurídica explicada previamente.

Abstract: We explore inflation dynamics in the period following the Great Recession for ten different countries for which we have data on the natural rate of unemployment and agents’ inflation expectations. We find that, out of the ten countries analyzed, there is evidence of missing disinflation for seven of them, and, furthermore, the traditional Phillips curve predicts several quarters with negative average inflation (deflation) for six of those that experienced missing disinflation episodes. While analyzing possible explanations within the framework of an expectations-augmented Phillips curve, we find that controlling for the unemployment gap, accounting for a possible flattening of the Phillips curve across time, and considering either households’ or professionals’ inflation forecasts as proxies for firms’ inflation expectations can account for the absence of strong disinflationary pressures since 2009. Resumen: Exploramos las dinámicas inflacionarias de diez países para los que tenemos datos sobre la tasa natural de desempleo y expectativas de inflación de los agentes económicos, en el período posterior a la Gran Recesión. Encontramos que, de los diez países analizados, hay evidencia de una ausencia de desinflación en siete de ellos y, además, la curva de Phillips tradicional predice varios trimestres con inflación promedio negativa (deflación) para seis de los que experimentaron episodios de desinflación ausente. Al analizar las posibles explicaciones en el marco de una curva de Phillips con expectativas aumentadas, encontramos que controlar por la brecha de desempleo, tomar en cuenta un posible aplanamiento de la curva de Phillips a lo largo del tiempo, y considerar los pronósticos de inflación de los hogares o los profesionales como sustitutos de las expectativas de inflación de las empresas pueden explicar la ausencia de fuertes presiones desinflacionarias desde 2009.

Abstract: Form-Based Code (FBC) is an urban design tool that contributes to building a highquality public realm for cities and particularly, neighbourhood communities. Its principles including mix-uses, physical form over separation of uses, encouraging walkability, and cycling as well as community engagement through charrettes (1). Therefore, it is recognised as an alternative planning tool that can offer an illustrated compilation of regulations and required design elements for specific development to achieve a long-term vision of the cities. Since 2000, in Bogota, Colombia, most of the neighbourhood’s units have been developed by gated neighbourhoods that show lack of relation with the public realm, promoting insecurity and spatial segregation. Indeed, in most cases, the Colombian planning system does not control the development gated enclaves (Blandy & Parsons, 2003) being the housing type preferred by almost 2.7 million of citizens. Even though some regulations have been adopted in the land management plan (POT), partial plans (PP) and other planning tools, they are still wide and scarce to mitigate the unsustainable growth of gated enclaves. Through a comparative analysis, this dissertation address at studying to what extend the existing local regulations and guidelines for developing gated communities agree with the FBC’s principles. The research concluded with some recommendations and actions for applying the FBC in gated communities in Bogota that could be applied in other towns with similar urban conditions. (1) Design Charrette is an intensive, hands-on workshop that brings people from different disciplines and backgrounds together with members of the community to explore design options for a particular area. Resumen: Form-Based Code (FBC) es una herramienta de diseño urbano que contribuye a construir un ámbito público de alta calidad para las ciudades y, en particular, las comunidades barriales. Sus principios incluyen: usos mixtos, la forma física sobre la separación de usos, fomento de la transitabilidad y el ciclismo, así como la participación de la comunidad a través de charrettes (1). Por tanto, se reconoce como una herramienta de planificación alternativa que puede ofrecer una recopilación ilustrada de normativas y elementos de diseño requeridos para el desarrollo específico de una visión a largo plazo de las ciudades. Desde el año 2000, en Bogotá, Colombia, la mayoría de las unidades del barrio han sido desarrolladas a través de conjuntos cerrados que muestran falta de relación con el ámbito público, promoción de inseguridad y segregación espacial. De hecho, en la mayoría de los casos, el sistema de planificación colombiano no controla el desarrollo de enclaves cerrados (Blandy & Parsons, 2003), siendo este, el tipo de vivienda preferido por casi 2,7 millones de ciudadanos. Aunque se han adoptado algunas regulaciones en el plan de ordenamiento territorial (POT), planes parciales (PP) y otras herramientas de planificación, aún son amplias y escasas para mitigar el crecimiento insostenible de los enclaves cerrados. A través de un análisis comparativo, esta disertación aborda el estudio de hasta qué punto las regulaciones y pautas locales existentes para el desarrollo de comunidades cerradas están de acuerdo con los principios de las Formas Basadas en Códigos (FBC). La investigación concluye con algunas recomendaciones y acciones para la aplicación de los FBC, sobre los conjuntos cerrados de Bogotá, que bien podrían también aplicarse en otros lugares con similares condiciones urbanas. (1) Design Charrette es un taller práctico intensivo que reúne a personas de diferentes disciplinas y orígenes con miembros de la comunidad para explorar opciones de diseño para un área en particular.

Abstract: The development of new technologies in genetic research and the increasing understanding of the human genome has led, in the last decades, to an increase in the use of human tissue in the fields of research, diagnosis and medical treatment. Several legal models have been proposed for the protection of the rights of the original source of the tissue and for the circulation and use of this material for research. The main aim of this thesis is to explore the so-called contractual model. According to this model, the conclusion of contracts on human tissue could protect better than any other mechanism the rights and interests of the parties involved in the circulation of tissue for research. For this purpose, the objective of this thesis is to answer the following research question: what are the limits to the validity of contracts on human tissue in the Italian, English and EU legal system? In order to establish such limits, this study focuses on the following possible cases of contractual relations for the transfer and use of human tissue: a) Gratuitous contracts between the first transferor and the first recipient of human tissue; b) Non-gratuitous contracts between the first transferor and the first recipient; c) Contracts between the first and subsequent recipients. The research was carried out using two different legal methods. Firstly, the doctrinal research method was used to investigate the scope and content of the multi-level sources of law (national, supranational and international) that constitute the legal framework for the determination of the limits to the validity of contracts on human tissue. Secondly, the functional approach was used for the comparative analysis of the national legal systems of Italy and England. The research concludes that it is desirable to regulate, via contract law legislative provisions, the tissue transfers for the purposes of research. This regulation should place on the first recipient a clear set of information duties towards the first transferor of the tissue. In addition, such regulation should include mandatory and default rules for contracts between the first transferor and first recipient. The interaction between mandatory norms and default rules could achieve a strengthened protection of the autonomy of the first transferor of tissue. This research also demonstrates that the conclusion of sales and other non-gratuitous contracts on human tissue between first transferor and the first recipient should not be prohibited.

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small chains of amino acids with the ability to cause bacterial death. AMPs are usually amphiphilic but diverse in charge and structure. The mechanism or mechanisms that AMPs implement to kill bacteria are still under discussion. Studies in model membranes have widely demonstrated the capacity of AMPs to interact with and disrupt the bacterial cell membrane. There are however, good reasons to suspect that AMP interactions with nonmembrane components of bacteria are important. For instance, there is an enormous discrepancy between the peptide to lipid molar ratio (P:L) necessary to generate membrane disruption in model systems (1:100), and the P:L necessary to stop bacterial growth, i.e. the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (10-100:1). One potential explanation for this discrepancy is that AMPs may interact with non-membrane components of the bacterial cell envelope. The peptidoglycan (PGN) layer is one of the primary non-membrane components of Gram-positive bacterial cell envelopes and is responsible for cell shape and stability. Currently, there is an open discussion about whether PGN can entrap AMPs and prevent them from reaching the cell membrane or, instead promote the accumulation of AMPs on the cell membrane. The primary experimental approach employed in this thesis was 2H NMR spectroscopy of intact bacteria with 2H-labeled membranes. Specifically, since the quadrupolar splittings obtained from the spectra are proportional to the order parameter of the lipid acyl chains, the spectra reflect the structure and dynamics of the membrane. In particular, 2H NMR spectroscopy allows us to characterize the disruption of lipid bilayers caused by AMPs. In this study, different methods to grow 2H-membrane-enriched bacteria were optimized to obtain 2H NMR spectra of E. coli LA8, E. coli JM109 and B. subtilis. Additionally, 2H NMR was used to observe the level of disruption of the cell membrane of B. subtilis caused by the presence of different AMPs, MSI-78 and BP100. Both MSI-78 and BP100 caused the same level of membrane disruption at similar concentrations. Separately, comparison of the 2H NMR spectra of B. subtilis with intact and compromised PGN layers showed no differences. The lack of change in the spectra of PGN-compromised and PGN intact bacteria indicates that there is no change in the dynamics or structure of the lipid bilayer even with a weakened PGN layer. Finally, the disruption caused by MSI-78 and BP100 was measured in B. subtilis with a compromised PGN layer. The results indicate that there is no change in the level of membrane disruption caused by MSI-78 and BP100 when the PGN layer is partially removed.

Abstract: Anodic porous alumina (AAO) are used in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The heat treatments during fabrication, characterization, or device performance, can change their thermal properties. It was found that the thermal conductivity of AAO is highly dependent on the temperature at which the sample was exposed. Different AAO templates produced in the most common electrolytes: sulfuric, oxalic, and phosphoric acids. They were heated from RT up to 1100 °C and were analyzed at RT using 3ω-Scanning Thermal Microscopy (3ω-SThM). It was concluded that at low temperatures of heat treatment, below 100 °C, the AAOs lose water, which explains the reduction of their thermal conductivity. The minimum value of thermal conductivity was found for AAO samples prepared in sulfuric acid and heated at 100 °C (0.78 ± 0.19 W m−1 K−1), which corresponds to a 50% reduction from the original value. It has also been found that for AAO annealed above 950 °C, the variations in the thermal conductivity are mainly related to phase transitions from amorphous to crystalline alumina and gas evolution of CO2, or SO2 and SO, depending on the electrolyte used during the anodization. The thermal conductivity values of the AAO can reach values as high as 4.82 ± 0.36 W m−1 K−1 for AAO samples prepared in oxalic acid and heated up to 1300 °C. The understanding of the changes in their thermal conductivity can explain the different values found in the literature for AAOs. Resumen: Aluminas anódicas porosas (AAO) son usadas en nanociencia y nanotecnología. Los tratamientos de calor durante la fabricación, caracterización o desarrollo de dispositivos, pueden cambiar sus propiedades térmicas. Se ha encontrado que la conductividad térmica de las AAO es altamente dependiente de la temperatura a la cual la muestra ha sido expuesta. Diferentes plantillas de AAO fueron producidas en los electrolitos más comunes: ácidos sulfúrico, oxálico y fosfórico y calentadas desde temperatura ambiente hasta 1100 °C; fueron analizadas a temperatura ambiente usando la técnica 3ω-Microscopía Térmica de Barrido (3ω-SThM). Se concluye que, en tratamientos a baja temperatura, por debajo de 100 ºC, las AAO pierden agua, y esto explica la reducción de la conductividad térmica. El valor mínimo de conductividad térmica encontrado es para las muestras de AAO preparadas en ácido súlfurico y calentadas a 100 ºC (0.78 ± 0.19 W m−1 K−1), el cual corresponde a una reducción del 50% del valor original. También se ha encontrado para AAO calentadas sobre 950 ºC, variaciones en la conductividad térmica que son principalmente relacionadas con transiciones de fase desde amorfo hasta alumina cristalina y evolución de los gases CO2, SO2 y SO, dependiendo del electrolito usado durante la anodización. Los valores de conductividad térmica de AAOs pueden ser tan altos como 4.82 ± 0.36 W m−1 K−1 para muestras preparadas en ácido oxálico y calentadas hasta 1300 °C. El entendimiento de los cambios en conductividad puede explicar porque en la literatura se encuentran diferentes valores para la conductividad térmica de las AAOs.

Abstract: Armed conflicts affect almost every aspect of a country’s economy. Although the characteristics of armed conflicts are highly heterogenous, all of them have devastating effects on human capital, social infrastructure, burden of disease and population displacement. Health systems are invariably affected in countries stressed by armed conflicts. Several mechanisms might weaken health systems during the conflict: destruction of health infrastructure, loss of health professionals, interruptions on the supply of drugs and other medical devices or lack of funding as a result of the conflict itself. Decreases in the utilization of healthcare services further add to the suffering of these populations. This research finds that although preventive services might not be directly affected in areas affected by armed conflicts in Colombia, the utilization of non-preventive services might be directly affected. The hypotheses that might explain this phenomenon are discussed and recommendations for further research at made at the end of this report.

Abstract: Born in 1953 in Paris, Sophie Calle is a French artist who has exhibited extensively throughout the world since the late 1970s. She has been described as a conceptual artist, a photographer, a movie director or even detective; her work has a very recognizable shape that includes altering the means of expression. Douleur exquise narrates the break-up of a love affair the artist went through in 1984. Where the artist decides to begin a journey to alleviate her suffering, the work contrasts Sophie Calle’s own feelings with anonymous people’s answers to the question “Which was the day when I suffered the most?”. Towards her own recovering, she develops a very intricate ritual which fades away as her texts darken to the point of completely disappearing, symbolising a return to life. Our analysis is divided in three specific parts that aim to understand the process in which the artist can overcome her grief by comparing her own suffering to the others’ in the context of a ritual. The book concretizes the result of the shared exercise that explores the possibilities of literature from different angles, that we analyze under two types of interaction with respect to the ritual: it appears from the fact of having relativized collective mourning from a structure that will be reviewed in this work. To this end, it was necessary to analyze the way in which the two stories interact (that of Calle and that of the interrogated ones) by finding the peculiarities of the result: a possible structure and the elements involved, considering always that it concerns a collective exercise that pushes the boundaries between the personal and the public.

Abstract: This study examined inclusion practices from three ‘strategy as practice’ categories: identity work, discourse and materiality, which also contributes to open strategy knowledge. The case around the Colombian peace process made two differences: first, the study of strategy as practice at the national level, while previous studies have focused on organizational level; second, this study focuses on inclusion of a somehow illegitimate organization into a legitimate context, while earlier studies have an implied assumption of legitimate bodies to be included. The aim of this research was to identify manifestations and consequences of inclusion dynamics when governing with an open strategy, as a contribution to strategy as practice and open strategy body of knowledge. Initially, literature review focused on strategy as practice evolution, which has been focused on managerial levels, opening an opportunity for the study of grassroots in strategy making. This identification of a gap led to the idea of study inclusion in strategy making. Thus, a second literature review on inclusion was needed in order to understand how this concept has evolved in social sciences, and particularly in organization studies and strategy. In addition, it was necessary to understand the concept of legitimacy due to the case focuses on the inclusion of a declared terrorist organization that transformed into a political party. A qualitative content analysis of nearly 500 documents facilitated to interpret data from multiple sources such official documents, books, reports, academic documents, personal documents, news, websites, images, popular culture, and social media. The contents came mainly from the period of the Colombian peace process (2012-2016); however, other historical documents were needed to understand the context as well as other recent contents as the study also focuses on consequences of inclusion. The data analysis led to the identification of inclusion manifestations and consequences in terms of identity work, discourse and materiality, which contributes to understand some of the several challenges that strategy practitioners face in practice when open strategy process, as the case involved the endorsement of the peace process through a referendum. The study presents three main findings: first, in terms of the individual, inclusion moves in two dimensions, the individual identity and the identity of the other, which involves a personal transformation, while putting oneself in the shoes of the other. Second, intended inclusion involves the emergence of multiple inclusion and exclusion dynamics that interact and change along strategy making, questioning the promised benefits of inclusion, but also recognizing the value of emergent inclusion over intended. Third, the multiple manifestations of inclusion along this dissertation suggest nine levels of inclusion that may be considered for organizations and further studies in order to advance in inclusion implementation and understanding. Resumen: Este estudio examina las prácticas de inclusión a partir de tres categorías del área conocida como ʻstrategy as practice’ (estrategia como práctica): trabajo de identidad, discurso y materialidad, el cual también contribuye al conocimiento de estrategia abierta. El caso alrededor del proceso de paz colombiano hizo dos diferencias: primero, el estudio de la estrategia organizacional llevada al nivel nacional; segundo, este estudio se enfoca en la inclusión de un grupo que parte desde una posición de nula o escasa legitimidad, mientras que los estudios previos sobre legitimidad han partido desde el supuesto de una legitimidad implícita. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar manifestaciones y consecuencias de las dinámicas de inclusión cuando se gobierna con una estrategia abierta, como contribución al conocimiento de estrategia como práctica y de estrategia abierta. Inicialmente la revisión de literatura se enfocó en la evolución de la estrategia como práctica, la cual se ha enfocado en los niveles gerenciales de las organizaciones, lo cual abrió una oportunidad para el estudio de los niveles inferiores de las organizaciones en la construcción de la estrategia. Esta identificación de una brecha del conocimiento llevó a la idea de estudiar el concepto de la inclusión en la estrategia. Por lo tanto, una segunda revisión de literatura científica fue necesaria para entender como el concepto de inclusión ha evolucionado en las ciencias sociales, en particular en estudios organizacionales y estrategia. Adicionalmente fue necesario profundizar en el concepto de legitimidad dado que el caso de estudio se enfocó en la inclusión de una organización que estaba por fuera de la ley y se convirtió en un partido político. Un análisis de contenido cualitativo de cerca de 500 documentos facilitó la interpretación de datos provenientes de múltiples fuentes tales como documentos oficiales, libros, reportes, documentos académicos, documentos personales, noticias, sitios web, imágenes, cultura popular y redes sociales. Los contenidos provinieron principalmente del período del proceso de paz colombiano (2012-2016); sin embargo, otros documentos históricos fueron necesarios para comprender el contexto así como otros contenidos recientes dado que el estudio también se enfocó en las consecuencias de la inclusión. El análisis de datos llevó a la identificación de manifestaciones y consecuencias de la inclusión en términos de trabajo de identidad, discurso y materialidad, lo cual contribuye a entender alguno de los muchos retos a que se ven abocados quienes practican la estrategia cuando deciden llevar a cabo un proceso de estrategia abierta, dado que este caso en particular envolvió el desarrollo de un plebiscito para refrendar el proceso de paz. Este estudio presenta tres hallazgos principales: primero en términos de los individuos la inclusión se mueve en dos dimensiones, la identidad individual y la identidad del otro, lo cual involucra una transformación personal mientras uno se pone en los zapatos del otro; segundo, la inclusión planeada involucra también una serie de dinámicas de inclusión y exclusión que interactúan y cambian a lo largo que la estrategia se va construyendo, cuestionando los beneficios prometidos de la inclusión, pero también reconociendo el valor de la inclusión emergente, aún sobre la inclusión planeada; tercero, las múltiples manifestaciones de inclusión a lo largo del presente trabajo de grado sugieren nueve niveles de inclusión que pueden ser considerados por organizaciones y estudios posteriores con el fin de avanzar en la implementación y entendimiento de la inclusión.

Abstract: This research emerged out from the gap between the value added to collaborative governance and the empirical evidence of such benefits in Colombia. Despite the fact that there is not monitoring indicators that clearly illustrate how collaboration improves the implementation of complex public policies, national government has been promoting this strategy, ignoring the disparities among local and regional government, thus actual outcomes of multi-level governance. In particular, the paper observes the case of capital cities agreement for implementing Victims’ and Land Restitution law, as the more tangible case of a collaborative initiative boosted by local entities. Beyond the traditional input-output analysis, the paper explores into drivers, motivations and organizational dynamics among cities. The theoretical lenses used are the ones of Network governance and collaborative public management theories. The study’s findings suggest that the speech of collaboration has progressed faster than the institutional mechanisms for doing so. The vagueness means for acting collectively blurs how collaboration can clearly contribute to improve local governments tasks when it comes to social policies. Findings also identify and explain how exchanges took place in the case of capital cities agreement, illustrating the impact of power imbalances and motivations when conducting a collaboration.