Este trabajo estudia la función que tiene el arte en la novela La luz difícil, del escritor colombiano Tomás González, empleando para ello conceptos estéticos tradicionales del taoísmo y el budismo zen. Con ese fin, se constatan correspondencias entre el pensamiento taoísta y budista zen y la postura ideológica del autor. Asimismo, se rastrea la interacción de La luz difícil con otros textos que integran el universo narrativo de González y se presentan y examinan las bases conceptuales del taoísmo y el zen pertinentes para llevar a cabo el análisis. Finalmente, se caracteriza la visión de la belleza que determina el quehacer artístico de David (el narrador y personaje principal de La luz difícil) y se traza un paralelo entre la consecución del ideal artístico y la experiencia de la iluminación en el budismo zen.

Abstract: The analysis of telecinematic discourse has been instrumental in our understanding of real-life events. From semiotic theories born in the last century to more recent developments in multimodal film analysis, scholars have attempted to make sense of the codes embedded in the image and in the language used by the characters to illustrate the complex dynamics of culture and society. However, little has been written about the role of pragmatics in the study of fiction. This research intends to fill in that gap by adopting two main pragmatic approaches ─namely fictional characterisation and participation structures in telecinematic discourse─ to the study of a relevant film in the Colombian context: Silence in Paradise. The film, portraying one of the most painful, violent events in recent Colombian history, was examined to determine how communication is organised in interaction as well as the way the roles of victims and perpetrators were depicted along the film in light of the real events occurred in the South American country. The principles to pragmatic film analysis outlined by Messerli (2017), Dynel (2011) and Culpeper and Fernandez-Quintanilla (2017) were considered to chart and interpret the data from three key scenes of the movie. Research findings suggest, on the one hand, that the film vividly portrays the events in spite of some problematic ideas that could help perpetuate violence against the victims and, on the other, that viewers are in fact ratified participants that contribute to the overall comprehension of the movie. Further studies are needed to analyse the extent to which viewers engage cognitively and affectively with the characters as well as to understand more in detail the role of the actors in character construction.

Abstract: This study examines a displaced agricultural family’s entrepreneurial journey in Colombia relying on a single case study and following an inductive and interpretivist approach. The main objective of the dissertation is explaining how family interactions, historical events, and context influence the family’s decision to start and potentially reactivate the agricultural family business. Following the displaced agricultural family through its life context, this study interprets the family members’ accounts of the formation of the family and its business, land displacement and restitution, and the potential reactivation of the business in the backdrop of violence, crime, and land evictions in Colombia. The agricultural family’s entrepreneurial journey is interpreted along four phases to make sense of the family’s interactions and the critical events as per family accounts. The study extends habitualization as a perspective for addressing the underlying processes that influenced the family’s entrepreneurial journey before creating its family business and after the business exit. It proposes that the habitualization perspective can help us better understand the entrepreneurial journeys of displaced agricultural families. Habitualization provides a bridge connecting a family’s past with its present and future. This dissertation also sheds light on the entrepreneurial journey of creating and recreating family dynamics around the possibility of starting and potentially reactivating a family business considering the family’s land and observing the effects of its contextual circumstances. http://hj.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?dswid=8182&pid=diva2%3A1473141&c=1&searchType=RESEARCH&language=en&query=&af=%5B%5D&aq=%5B%5B%7B%22personId%22%3A%22authority-person%3A78771%22%7D%5D%5D&aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&aqe=%5B%5D&noOfRows=50&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&sf=all Resumen: Este estudio examina la travesía emprendedora de una familia agrícola desplazada en Colombia basándose en un estudio de caso único y siguiendo un enfoque inductivo e interpretivista. El objetivo principal de la tesis es explicar cómo las interacciones familiares, los eventos históricos y el contexto influyen en la decisión de la familia de iniciar y potencialmente reactivar la empresa familiar agrícola. Siguiendo a la familia agrícola desplazada a través de su contexto de vida, este estudio interpreta los relatos de los familiares sobre la formación de la familia y su negocio, el desplazamiento y restitución de tierras, y la potencial reactivación del negocio en un contexto de violencia, crimen y desalojos en Colombia. La travesía emprendedora de la familia agrícola se interpreta a lo largo de cuatro fases para dar sentido a las interacciones de la familia y los eventos críticos según los relatos familiares. El estudio amplía la habitualización como perspectiva para abordar los procesos subyacentes que influyeron en la trayectoria empresarial de la familia antes de crear su empresa familiar y después del retiro familiar de la misma. Propone que la perspectiva de la habitualización puede ayudarnos a comprender mejor las travesías emprendedoras de las familias agrícolas desplazadas. La habitualización proporciona un puente que conecta el pasado de una familia con su presente y futuro. Esta disertación también arroja luz sobre la travesía emprendedora de crear y recrear dinámicas familiares en torno a la posibilidad de iniciar y potencialmente reactivar una empresa familiar considerando la tierra de la familia y observando los efectos de sus circunstancias contextuales. http://hj.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?dswid=8182&pid=diva2%3A1473141&c=1&searchType=RESEARCH&language=en&query=&af=%5B%5D&aq=%5B%5B%7B%22personId%22%3A%22authority-person%3A78771%22%7D%5D%5D&aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&aqe=%5B%5D&noOfRows=50&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&sf=all

Abstract: Undocumented immigrants face different difficulties and barriers in order to access the health care system. Even when they get to access medical care, they face situations of xenophobia, discrimination and the fear towards their legal status can affect their experience and can have an impact in the continuity and success of their treatments. In a context of migration emergencies in both the United States and Colombia, immigration measures and policies have directly impacted the health outcomes of undocumented immigrants, creating a situation of a structural health injustice. This thesis argues that advocacy is a way in which physicians can successfully contribute to document, address and tackle this injustice and improve the lives and health of undocumented immigrants. This thesis defends physician advocacy by arguing that: i) Advocacy actions are connected and grounded in the legitimate goals of medicine and their contemporary reinterpretation. In this line, advocacy can be an effective way to promote health justice and contribute to restore the trust that undocumented immigrants have lost in doctors; ii) advocacy actions are an effective way in which physicians can take advantage of their unique position based on their historical social privilege and the access they have to undocumented immigrants ́ health. Furthermore, to show how physicians can advocate for the health of undocumented immigrants, using their knowledge and expertise, this work analyses the case of: i) Sanctuary Doctoring, ii) Physicians for Human Rights and iii) Profamilia-Colombia. Resumen: Los migrantes indocumentados enfrentan diferentes dificultades y barreras para acceder al sistema de salud. Incluso cuando llegan a acceder a la atención médica, se enfrentan a situaciones de xenofobia, discriminación y el miedo a su estatus legal puede afectar su experiencia y puede repercutir en la continuidad y el éxito de sus tratamientos. En un contexto de emergencias migratorias tanto en Estados Unidos como en Colombia, las medidas y políticas migratorias han impactado directamente los resultados de salud de los migrantes indocumentados, creando una situación de injusticia estructural en salud. Esta tesis sostiene que la incidencia o el activismo por parte de los médicos es una forma en la que estos pueden contribuir con éxito a documentar, abordar y retar esta injusticia y mejorar la vida y la salud de esta población. Esta tesis defiende la incidencia y el activismo por parte de los médicos argumentando que: i) Las acciones de incidencia están conectadas y basadas en los objetivos legítimos de la medicina y su reinterpretación contemporánea. En esta línea, la incidencia puede ser una forma eficaz de promover la justicia en salud y contribuir a restablecer la confianza que los migrantes indocumentados han perdido en los médicos; ii) las acciones de incidencia son una forma efectiva en la que los médicos pueden aprovechar su posición única en función de su privilegio social histórico y el acceso que tienen a la salud de los migrantes. Además, para mostrar cómo los médicos pueden abogar por la salud de los inmigrantes indocumentados, utilizando sus conocimientos y experiencia, este trabajo analiza el caso de: i) el modelo santuario de la medicina, ii) la organización Médicos por los Derechos Humanos y iii) Profamilia-Colombia.

Abstract: The amygdala is a key hub for the acquisition, storage and extinction of fear memories, which are important in adaptive behaviors. The intercalated cell clusters (ITCs) are groups of inhibitory cells within the amygdaloid complex that have been recently shown to play an important role in fear-related states, especially in the context of fear extinction. Apart from the canonical view that points ITCs as feedforward and feedback inhibitors between the input and output stations towards motor centers, it has been starting to suggest that they could have diverse outputs to different regions beyond the amygdaloid complex. Although some preliminary studies have given some indications of this potential new role of the ITCs, indicating an increase in the complexity of their function in fear behavior and emotional processing, very little is still known. In this thesis, two ITC clusters –lateral and dorsomedial– are the object of the study and two main questions are addressed: (1) Do lateral and dorsomedial ITCs (latITCs and dmITCs) extend long-range projections towards the non-lemniscal (NL) thalamus and the dopaminergic (DA) midbrain? If yes, are their innervation patterns different from each other across these structures? I evaluated the outward latITCs and dmITCs projections to the NL-thalamic and DA-midbrain subnuclei, using anterograde tracing upon Cre-dependent expression of ChR2-EYFP in FoxP2-Cre transgenic mice and less extensively, using retrograde tracing to confirm the results from the anterograde tracing. With these methodological approaches I showed that latITCs and dmITCs do send long-range projections in a differential fashion towards the distinct examined subnuclei. I also showed that these projections are inhibitory (most likely GABAergic) and also, that to assess the innervation pattern, it is necessary to make either automated counting of the fibers, or measure the general innervation in terms of at least two variables–area coverage and fibers’ density– that indirectly provide a more comprehensive innervation index. Resumen: La amígdala es un centro fundamental en la adquisición, almacenamiento y extinción de memorias de miedo, que son importantes para los comportamientos adaptativos. Los grupos de células intercaladas (ITCs) se localizan del complejo de la amígdala, y la regulación inhibitoria sobre ésta, ha demostrado demostrado tener un papel importante en los estados relacionados con el miedo, especialmente en el contexto de la extinción. Aparte de la visión canónica que señala a las ITCs como inhibidores retroalimentadores y proalimentadores entre las estaciones de input y output hacia los centros motores, se ha empezado a sugerir que podrían tener diversas salidas hacia diferentes regiones más allá del complejo de la amígdala. A pesar de que algunos estudios preliminares han dado algunos indicios que soportan este nuevo rol de las ITCs, indicando un aumento de la complejidad de su función en el comportamiento del miedo y el procesamiento emocional, actualmente se conoce muy poco sobre este rol extendido. En esta tesis, dos grupos de células intercaladas diferentes -lateral y dorsomedial- son objeto de estudio y se abordan dos cuestiones principales (1) ¿Los ITCs laterales y dorsomediales (latITCs y dmITCs) extienden proyecciones extendidas hacia núcleos no lemniscales del tálamo (NL) y el cerebro medio dopaminérgico (DA)? En caso de hacerlo, ¿se presenta un patrón inervación diferencial hacia estas estructuras? Para responder esto, he evaluado las proyecciones de los grupos latITCs y dmITCs hacia múltiples subnúcleos del tálamo no lemniscal y del mesencéfalo dopaminérgico, utilizando el trazado viral anterógrado tras la expresión de ChR2-EYFP, que es dependiente del sistema Cre, en ratones transgénicos FoxP2-Cre y, de forma menos extensa, utilizando el trazado retrógrado para confirmar los resultados del trazado anterógrado. Con estos enfoques metodológicos me fue posible demostrar que los grupos de latITCs y dmITCs envían proyecciones extendidas hacia los distintos subnúcleos examinados, de forma diferencial. También demostré que estas proyecciones son inhibitorias (muy probablemente GABAérgicas) y también, que para evaluar el patrón de inervación, es necesario hacer un recuento automatizado de las fibras (por medio de un algoritmo), o medir la inervación general en términos de al menos dos variables -cobertura de área y densidad de fibras- que de forma indirecta, proporcionan un índice de inervación más completo.

Abstract: As online classes became the norm in many countries as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concern for child and adolescent mental health became an issue of concern. This study evaluates the differences in the psychosocial status of school children based on engagement in in-person or Emergency Remote Education (ERE) and assessed the prevalence and predictors of symptom-derived risk levels for anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Cross-sectional data were collected from students at a Florida K-12 school and their household members through an online survey conducted in October 2020 (n = 145). No significant difference was found between ERE and in-person learning for risk of anxiety, depression, or OCD. Prevalence of students presenting as at risk for anxiety, depression, and OCD was 42.1%, 44.8%, and 41.4%. Several student factors (e.g., child sex, school level) and parental factors (e.g., parental COVID-19 attitudes) were associated with students presenting as at risk for anxiety, depression, or OCD; child’s participation in sports was protective against all three outcomes. Participation in sports was found to be protective against risk of anxiety (aOR = 0.36, CI = 0.14–0.93), depression (aOR = 0.38, CI = 0.15–0.93), and OCD (aOR = 0.31, CI = 0.11–0.85). Resumen: A medida que las clases en línea se convirtieron en la norma en muchos países como respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19, la preocupación por la salud mental de niños y adolescentes se convirtió en un tema de preocupación. Este estudio evalúa las diferencias en el estado psicosocial de los niños en edad escolar con base en la participación en la Educación Remota de Emergencia o en persona (ERE) y evaluó la prevalencia y los predictores de los niveles de riesgo derivados de los síntomas de ansiedad, depresión y trastornos obsesivo-compulsivos (TOC). Se recopilaron datos transversales de estudiantes en una escuela K-12 de Florida y los miembros de su hogar a través de una encuesta en línea realizada en octubre de 2020 (n = 145). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el ERE y el aprendizaje en persona para el riesgo de ansiedad, depresión u TOC. La prevalencia de estudiantes con riesgo de ansiedad, depresión y TOC fue 42,1%, 44,8% y 41,4%. Varios factores de los estudiantes (p. ej., sexo del niño, nivel escolar) y factores de los padres (p. ej., Las actitudes de los padres ante el COVID-19) se asociaron con estudiantes que presentaban riesgo de ansiedad, depresión u TOC; La participación de los niños en los deportes protegía a los tres resultados. Se encontró que la participación en deportes protege contra el riesgo de ansiedad (ORa = 0,36, IC = 0,14-0,93), depresión (ORa = 0,38, IC = 0,15-0,93) y TOC (ORa = 0,31, IC = 0,11-0,85).

Abstract: Using Scrum as the central process framework for capstone project courses has shown to be beneficial for the learning of the students. However, these capstone project courses rarely focus on teaching students how to become a Scrum Master and do not empower them to assume the role of the Scrum Master. As a consequence, not much is known on the responsibilities that are actually assumed by those few students assuming the role of the Scrum Master in capstone project courses. Moreover, there is not much known about how these students should be taught in order to become a proficient Scrum Master. In this thesis, a case study was carried out in the Software Project 3 course held at Aalto University. The Software Project 3 course is one of the few capstone project courses that allows the students to assume the role of the Scrum Master and supports student learning through complementary teaching methods. This thesis aimed to identify the responsibilities assumed by the Scrum Master in capstone projects, and how successfully the Scrum Master contributed to the teamwork and team effectiveness of the Development Team. In addition, this study attempted to assess the contribution of complementary teaching methods, employed in the Software Project 3 course, to the learning of the students on how to become a proficient Scrum Master. This study also aimed to identify the lessons learnt by the students who assumed the role of the Scrum Master in the Software Project 3 course. In this study, the data was collected through interviews with the Scrum Masters, surveys targeted at both Scrum Masters and Developers, as well as data collected from the course content and artifacts submitted by the teams for the project reviews. They were able to successfully promote teamwork and team effectiveness within the Development Team. In addition, The results of this study show that the students, who acted as a Scrum Master, assumed all the responsibilities of the Scrum Master defined in the Scrum Guide However, in this capstone project course, these students also undertook additional responsibilities that are not explicitly mentioned in the Scrum Guide or should have been assumed by the Development Team or Product Owner. Assessment of the complementary teaching methods shows that the two-day Certified Scrum Master course and the Scrum Game, were highly valued by most of the students who felt that these two teaching methods contributed to their learning on how to become a Scrum Master. Coaching was perceived to contribute positively to the quality of the project. However, the opinion about coaching was not shared by all the students. Experience Exchange Sessions were deemed to contribute little to the learning of students. Although students faced several difficulties throughout the project that hindered the implementation of Scrum, all of them undertook the role of the Scrum Master successfully and learnt how to promote and support Scrum in their teams.

Abstract: The dispersion of pollutants from urban sources needs to be investigated and the mechanisms which have an influence on the dispersion need to be totally understood. UAV-based systems offer great potential for mobile exploration of air pollutants in the lower atmosphere due to the high maneuverability of multi-rotor UAVs. The aim of this study was to develop a UAV platform capable of performing high-resolution three-dimensional profiling of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), ultrafine particles (UFP), black carbon (BC), as well as meteorological parameters including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction. This study included a smoke test to examine the propeller-caused airflows. The results showed that the sensor air inlets and wind sensor should be located at least 90 cm above the propeller level. In addition, a field test was conducted to evaluate the stability of the UAV platform and the in-flight performance of the sensors. During the three flights carried out, the UAV platform was stable, and the data collected with the sensors were consistent. Finally, a three-day measurement campaign was conducted to examine the short-term three-dimensional variation of the traffic-related pollutant concentrations near the federal road B14. The vertical profiles showed that concentrations were higher on the ground due to the proximity to the source and that high wind speeds help the fast dispersion of the pollutants. The horizontal profiles showed that the pollutant concentrations were higher at the roadside and decreased with increasing distance from the road. In conclusion, this UAV platform represents a low-cost, practical, and reliable method to study the three-dimensional distribution of pollutants near the source. Resumen: La dispersión de contaminates originado por fuentes urbanas necesita ser investigado y los mecanismos que tienen influencia en la dispersión deben ser totalmente comprendidos. Los sistemas basados en VANT ofrecen gran potencial en la exploración de contaminantes del aire en la parte inferior de la atmósfera debido a la alta manejabilidad de los VANT multirotor. El objetivo de este estudio fue el desarrollo de una plataforma, usando un VANT, capaz de realizar perfiles tridimensionales de alta resolución de contaminantes como material particulado, particulas ultrafinas, carbón negro, así como parámetros meteorológicos incluyendo temperatura, humedad relativa, presión, velocidad y dirección del viento. Este estudio incluyó una prueba de humo para examinar los flujos de aire provocados por las hélices del VANT. Los resultados mostraron que las entradas de aire de los sensores y el sensor de viento deben ubicarse al menos 90 cm por encima del nivel de la hélice. Además, se realizó una prueba de campo para evaluar la estabilidad del VANT equipado y el desempeño de los sensores en vuelo. Durante los tres vuelos realizados, VANT se mantuvo estable y los datos recolectados con los sensores fueron consistentes. Finalmente, se llevaron a cabo mediciones durante tres días para examinar la variación tridimensional a corto plazo de las concentraciones de contaminantes relacionados con el tráfico cerca de la carretera federal B14 en Stuttgart. Los perfiles verticales mostraron que las concentraciones eran mayores en el suelo debido a la proximidad a la fuente y que las altas velocidades del viento ayudan a la rápida dispersión de los contaminantes. Los perfiles horizontales mostraron que las concentraciones de contaminantes eran más altas al costado de la carretera y disminuían al aumentar la distancia desde la carretera. En conclusión, este VANT equipado representa un método de bajo costo, práctico y confiable para estudiar la distribución tridimensional de contaminantes cerca de la fuente.

Abstract: The environmental burdens of cement production and the construction field play a major role in the current climate crisis. Nearly 50 % of the carbon emissions are associated with the burning of limestone and cannot be avoided unless a different raw material is used. Additionally, the construction and demolition waste is an important source of debris that typically ends up in landfills, even though it has a significant potential for upgrading into recycled cement. In this research, the thermal treatment at clinkering temperatures of hydrated Ordinary Portland cement and mortars was evaluated as a source for cement production. Hydrated blends with ground granulated blast furnace slags were evaluated as well. The thermal treatment was comparatively performed in an electric furnace at 1250 °C, 1350 °C, and 1450 °C and 2.45 GHz microwave furnace at input powers of 0.5 kW, 1 kW, 1.5 kW, and 2 kW. Microwaves are a promising technology to assure greener industrial thermal processes due to lower energy consumption, high heating rates, and low processing times. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray Diffraction, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Furthermore, performance characterization was done with calorimetry and compressive strength. Finally, microstructure analysis was accomplished using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis. Cement type CEMI 52.5R was used as a reference. In Addition, the microwave heating was simulated in COMSOL multiphysics for a better understanding of the interaction between the cement-based materials and the microwave irradiation. The geometry of the furnace’s cavity, the input power, the heating rate, and the influence of the fraction of quartz were evaluated. The experimentation proved that microwaving is a suitable technology to recover clinker phases from hydrated samples. The materials obtained were significantly similar in mineralogic composition to the reference cement. However, the presence of quartz drastically hindered the formation of the primary clinker phases while slags additions enhanced the formation of belite rather than to alite. The mechanical characterization showed that mortars produced with 20 % of replacement of the reference Ordinary Portland Cement by recycled cement obtained by microwave treatment develop a similar compressive strength as the reference cement reaching up to 50 MPa at 28 days similar to the 52.2 MPa expected for the reference. Moreover, the simulation demonstrated the capability for short-time processing of less than 5 min for nearly 15 g of sample. In contrast, the conventional treatment for 60 g of samples took beet 7 and 10 h. The model showed that the heating is highly localized. Processing at 0.5 kW and 1 kW are recommended for a more controlled process. Finally, from the thermal point of view, additions of nearly 20 % of quartz increase the heating rate and enable more homogeneous heating. The research proved the potential of microwave treatment for a more sustainable way to produce cement from hydrated samples and could be suitable for the cement fractions from construction and demolition waste.

Abstract: According to the World Bank, with the dramatic increase of the world´s population in the last decade, the generation of solid waste has reached 2.01 billion tonnes/annually (almost a kilogram per person daily). Bearing into mind that urban centres concentrate almost 70% of the world´s inhabitants and are the most technologically developed areas, the necessity to run them as Sustainable and Smart cities is vital for the planet´s health. One of the main and most threatening sources of waste are lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to the lack of logistics and technology to handle them properly, despite the increasing popularity of their usage. Besides mobile devices (phones and laptops), LIBs feed several public transportation networks, self-owned vehicles (cars, bicycles, and scooters) and mobility shared services. In fact, 140-million new electric vehicles are expected to replace internal combustion engines in the following decade worldwide, which will reduce the carbon footprint of cities, but can become a potential source of environmental, social and economic challenges if the 11-million metric tons of E-waste are not addressed from a Whole-Lifecycle perspective. This trend has been accelerated by the changing commuting dynamics and increasing social fragility triggered by COVID-19. Therefore, researchers, policy- and decision-makers are struggling to find environmentally safe disposal strategies to reach the balance between development and sustainability within the built environment. Taking this into account, the thesis presents an approach related to the most efficient solution of integrating a closed-loop reverse-logistics Circular Economy into the batterie´s supply chain. Throughout the document, the authors developed a feasible business model dedicated to collect and process LIBs to generate high-purity components to produce new batteries. The business conceptualization implied an extensive understanding of the stateof-the-art of the sector (SWOT and PESTLE analysis), an analytic benchmarking process, and the implementation of Industry-4.0 and Lifecycle Market Seeking. The result was a detailed business plan that maximised the organizational and financial aspects in order to optimize processes and resources, the strategic location of the pilot factory based on a Multicriteria Analysis, and a 3-levelled hierarchical organizational planning. The final part of the document deepened into the pilot phase by developing the architectural masterplan of the spokes (collection points) and hubs (factory). Furthermore, some expansion plans were discussed at a strategic level to propose future research topics.