Waste management is one of the growing problems in many highly populated cities around the world, and the amount of strategies designed to solve it has changed during the last decade. It passed from land filing to incineration and mechanical biotechnology; this quick change was partially induced by the threat that garbage is for the environment, and later on by the acceleration of climate change, since the public services industry was bound to comply with the emissions reduction targets. The newest technologies are being applied in Europe and North America, giving them a new way to face their waste issues. However, the industrialized States are not the only ones with these concerns, in the developing countries, it is a matter that is becoming an structural problem, because of the population growth and the dynamics of the capitalist practice; moreover, it is difficult to solve due to low budget or lack of knowledge on the topic.In Bogotá D.C, waste management became one of the most controversial topics due to the many problems presented during the implementation of the Zero-Waste program and the past administrative issues with the Landfill Doña Juana that led to many health and land predicaments for the population. As a consequence, this dissertation seeks to create a new strategy to fix the gaps of the original policy, by designing five time-limited specific objectives, a reform to the segregation strategy and proposing the construction Anaerobic Digestion plant as the best solution for the sustainable control of bio-waste.Therefore, this work will show throughout all the chapters the background of the waste management system, the new strategies to be taken into account by the local administration, the advantages of the AD technology and the possible financing channels for the renovation of the Basuras- Cero Policy. All the information above will be use to conclude, that for the case of Bogotá D.C, the use of bio-waste as a new energy source will strengthen the recycling industry (with the establishment of a better segregation system and the construction of and AD plant) reduce the amount of waste sent to Landfill and decrease GHG emissions; and even though it is a small step, it can become the foundation for fixing some weaknesses of the economic system and some social mores.

Abstract:The publications on the Multi-Objective Flexible Job-shop Scheduling Problem (MOFJSP) usually aim at optimizing a combination of classical criteria not related to due dates, i.e. makespan, maximum workload and total workload, whose primary goal is to optimize the utilization of the machines.We propose a general approach for solving efficiently the MOFJSP, which aims at determining the Pareto front for multiple regular criteria. Optimizing regular criteria is relevant for improving the competitiveness of firms, since they can take into account cycle times, due dates and customer service through weights that can be given to jobs with different priority.Our approach uses a fast estimation function and an iterative local search in which a criterion to minimize is randomly selected at each move. Numerical experiments are conducted on test instances of the literature to minimize simultaneously the makespan, the maximum tardiness, the total tardiness and the total number of tardy jobs. The results show that, our approach provides a set of non-dominated solutions that is close to the Pareto front.Resumen: Las publicaciones sobre el Problema de Programación de Job-shop Flexible (MOFJSP) usualmente apuntan a optimizar una combinación de criterios clásicos no relacionados con fechas de vencimiento, como por ejemplo, makespan, carga de trabajo máxima y carga de trabajo total, cuyo objetivo principal es optimizar la utilización de la Máquinas.Este artículo propone un enfoque general para resolver eficientemente el MOFJSP, que tiene como objetivo determinar el frente de Pareto para múltiples criterios regulares. La optimización de criterios regulares es relevante para mejorar la competitividad de las empresas, ya que pueden tener en cuenta los tiempos de ciclo, las fechas de vencimiento y el servicio al cliente a través de pesos que se pueden dar a los trabajos con diferentes prioridades.El enfoque utiliza una función de estimación rápida y una búsqueda local iterativa en la que un criterio para minimizar se selecciona al azar en cada movimiento. Los experimentos numéricos se llevan a cabo en instancias de prueba de la literatura para minimizar al mismo tiempo el makespan, la tardanza máxima, la tardanza total y el número total de trabajos tardíos. Los resultados muestran que, nuestro enfoque proporciona un conjunto de soluciones no dominadas que está cerca del frente de Pareto.

The dramatic evolution of technology has encouraged the shape of hypercompetitive landscapes where only highly adaptable firms can survive. The Financial Services traditional sector adoption of technology allowed it to remain unchanged until recent times where FinTech disruptors have emerged, thus requiring global companies become more dynamic, adaptable and flexible by the adoption of Agile mindset through management of change and knowledge, culture awareness and best practices methodologies deployment across the businesses. This study uses grounded theory and case study research methods to explore the status, effects and challenges experienced in the Russian Financial Subsidiary of a Dutch European Multinational company by the Agile Global implementation strategy directed from Headquarters, in order to answer the research questions: “What are the challenges, particularities and status in the adoption of Global Agile policies in project management and IT teams in a Russian subsidiary of a financial European multinational enterprise?, “What is the influence of the adoption level of Global Agile policies on certain projects and possible improvement actions?”.Valuable results include the compatibility of the methodology with the business roles, the usefulness of Agile-Stage-Gate hybrids to facilitate product development and the usage of knowledge management strategies to propel adoption, as well as the hierarchical, cultural and bureaucratic challenges to integrate Business and IT teams that provoked questionable results in the initial phase of a non-standard Testing Automation outsource project. Further research can be done to explore the degree of adoption in other subsidiaries, monitor the pilot phase of automation project and the evolution of the integration between the business and IT teams.

Abstract:The manufacturing brick generates a direct effect in the air quality affecting the health of the surrounding communities of this type of industry. In the Colombian municipality of Nemocón, in the Patio Bonito rural locality, the majority of small and micro-sized brick fields uses craft techniques for manufacturing different types of bricks. The manufacturing plant is basically represented by a kiln and a plot of land as a farmyard; the area where these elements are concentrated is commonly named “Chircal”. Craft brickers usually use kilns of direct fire and upward firing for cooking. The main fuel used in the manufacture of bricks is coal, followed by natural gas and diesel.The present work aims to characterize air quality, taking into account the massive growth of the brick manufacturing activity in the rural locality of Patio Bonito, Nemocón, Colombia, specifically assessing the particulate matter PM10, which is one of the most critical air pollutant due to its impact on health of its inhabitants and on the local environment. The year 2013 was selected for the analysis, because the highest PM10 concentrations of the last five years that happened in that year, according to historical data from the environmental authority of Cundinamarca region.For assessing the air quality in Patio Bonito, a Gaussian air quality model named URBAIR, developed by the University of Aveiro, was applied. For an adequate operation of this model, it was necessary to collect input data as emission sources and meteorological data. The modeling periods were August 8th, November 20th and 24th 2013, when daily averaged with concentrations above 100 µg/m3, limit regulated by Colombian legislation were registered.Moreover, two improvement scenarios were proposed. The first considered the operation of “Colmena” kilns with an emission control system. The second implied Hoffman and Tunnel kilns, because those showed the lowest PM10 emissions. Results allowed to conclude that those improvement measures can reduce the PM10 contribution to air pollution levels.Resumen:La fabricación del ladrillo genera un efecto directo en la calidad del aire afectando la salud de las comunidades circundantes de este tipo de industria. En el municipio colombiano de Nemocón, en la localidad rural de Patio Bonito, la mayoría de las pequeñas ladrilleras utilizan técnicas artesanales para la fabricación de diferentes tipos de ladrillos. La planta de fabricación está básicamente representada por un horno y una parcela de tierra como un patio; el área donde se concentran estos elementos se denomina comúnmente ""Chircal"". Los trabajadores artesanales generalmente usan hornos de fuego directo y fuego ascendente para cocinar. El principal combustible utilizado en la fabricación de ladrillos es el carbón, seguido del gas natural y el diesel.El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo caracterizar la calidad del aire, teniendo en cuenta el crecimiento masivo de la actividad de fabricación de ladrillos en la localidad rural de Patio Bonito, Nemocón, Colombia, evaluando específicamente el material particulado PM10, que es uno de los contaminantes atmosféricos más críticos debido a su impacto en la salud de sus habitantes y en el entorno local. El año 2013 fue seleccionado para el análisis, debido a las mayores concentraciones de PM10 de los últimos cinco años que ocurrieron en ese año, según datos históricos de la autoridad ambiental de la región de Cundinamarca.Para evaluar la calidad del aire en Patio Bonito, se aplicó un modelo Gaussiano de calidad del aire denominado URBAIR, desarrollado por la Universidad de Aveiro. Para un funcionamiento adecuado de este modelo, fue necesario recopilar datos de entrada como fuentes de emisión y datos meteorológicos. Los periodos de modelación fueron el 8 de agosto, el 20 y el 24 de noviembre de 2013, cuando se registró un promedio diario con concentraciones superiores a 100 ?g / m3, límite regulado por la legislación colombiana. Además, se propusieron dos escenarios de mejora. El primero consideró la operación de hornos ""Colmena"" con un sistema de control de emisiones. El segundo implicaba los hornos Hoffman y Tunnel, porque aquellos mostraban las emisiones más bajas de PM10. Los resultados permitieron concluir que estas medidas de mejora pueden reducir la contribución de PM10 a los niveles de contaminación del aire.

Desde nuevas vertientes del conocimiento, tales como las teorías sistémicas y las filosofías de la complejidad, existe claridad sobre el hecho de que todo individuo o agente social participa de las vicisitudes de un ecosistema, el cual, en estos tiempos de interconexión cada vez más densa y acentuada de los flujos e intercambios humanos, adquiere una connotación de carácter mundial e involucra a más y más actores, aún si esta inserción es marginal y asimétrica respecto de las oportunidades, los beneficios y los recursos que dicho ecosistema global ofrece a sus habitantes.La perspectiva ecosistémica aplicada al análisis de la pobreza conduce a la noción de sostenibilidad. El bienestar de las comunidades habitantes en un entorno local determinado es parte integral de la perdurabilidad del ecosistema. Aunque suele afirmarse que la resolución de los factores de pobreza tiene que ver con la dimensión social del desarrollo sostenible, en realidad esta problemática es también causa y consecuencia de las dificultades económicas y ambientales existentes en un territorio. Lo anterior hace pensar que los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible en los destinos turísticos se encuentran íntimamente ligados a la resolución del círculo de la pobreza en los escenarios donde se despliega esta actividad.

AlN films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using an Nd: YAG laser (?= 1064 nm). The films were deposited in a nitrogen atmosphere as working gas; the cathode was an aluminium high purity (99.99%) target.The films were deposited using 7 J/cm2 laser fluence for 10 minutes on silicon (100) substrates. The working pressure was 9x10-3 mbar and the substrate temperature was varied from 200 C to 630 C. The thickness measured by profilometer was 150 nm for all films. Moreover, surface acoustic wave (SAW).

Hoy en día, la sociedad moderna se está olvidando del verdadero valor de los objetos. Una prueba de esto es el costo de algunos productos producidos en masa. Éstos pueden ser comprados a un precio muy bajo. Los productos de bajo precio generalmente no son tan apreciados y valorados como los productos de alto costo.  La conexión del producto con el dueño está limitada por el corto periodo de tiempo que el objeto es usado.En algunas ocasiones, el objeto no tiene ningún significado mas allá de la función inmediata que cumple. Esta tendencia está llevando a un consumo irresponsable creando además, problemáticas de desecho y un crecimiento de los vertederos de basuras. El mobiliario es uno de los ítems que mas crea inconvenientes para el desecho. Por una parte, no cabe en una caneca de basura normal y no está categorizado para el reciclaje. Sin embrago, por otra parte, el mobiliario representa la extensión de un espacio.Determina la interacción entre usuarios, espacios y entre ellos dos.En algunas comunidades populares de Colombia, el mobiliario es heredado. El gran paso de salir de la casa de los padres significa establecer un nuevo hogar propio. Generalmente, este paso viene acompañado con muebles donados por los padres.  Esta práctica continúa de generación en generación y establece una conexión entre la familia a través del mueble. Sin embargo, esta práctica no siempre tiene un final feliz.Algunos de estos muebles luego de varias generaciones se encuentran viejos y averiados, ya no son deseados o simplemente, han alcanzado un estado de desuso. Contribuyendo al incremento de los vertederos de basuras. El reto de AL TALLER, es dar una nueva razón de ser a estos muebles viejos. Cambiar su ciclo de vida para que así sean deseados nuevamente.Los diseñadores tienen el importante papel de analizar el estado del objeto, interpretar las necesidades y deseos de los usuarios y proveer una solución creativa. Una solución creativa dando un nuevo propósito al objeto. Haciéndolo entrar de nuevo en un ciclo en el cual durará más. A demás, el mayor valor impreso al nuevo mueble será que el trabajo es hecho por el dueño. Haciendo la pieza un orgullo y especialmente, única.

En el presente estudio se analizan los mecanismos implicados en la fragmentación del aparato de Golgi (AG) en células neuronales PC12 tratadas con las neurotoxinas 6-hidroxidopamina o metanfetamina como modelos celulares de la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Nuestros datos demuestran que la fragmentación del AG precede y podrían dar lugar a la agregación de la proteína ?-sinucleína, con la subsecuente formación de inclusiones, conduciendo a alteraciones en el transporte anterógrado y retrógrado entre el retículo endoplásmico y el AG, y daño en el citoesqueleto.Por el contrario, la fragmentación del AG está directamente relacionada con alteraciones en los niveles de expresión de las GTPasas Rab1, 2 y 8 y la proteína SNARE sintaxina 5. Así, la sobreexpresión de las proteínas Rab1 y 8 y la depleción de Rab 2 y sintaxina 5 restauran la morfología del AG. En conclusión, la homeostasis de un número limitado de proteínas Rab y SNARE es importante para la comprensión de la citopatología de la EP. La fragmentación del AG puede ser una especie de señal indicativa de que algo en la célula está mal y que el mecanismo de defensa celular se debe iniciar, lo que podría inducir la formación de cuerpos de inclusión del tipo agresomas, que funcionarían como un sistema de adaptación y “supervivencia” celular.

Latin American integration is a core issue in Rodolfo Stavenhagen’s “Seven Erroneous Theses about Latin America.” A critical reading of the sixth thesis suggests an alternative interpretation. Changes in the past 50 years with regard to Latin American ethnic integration, for example in Mexico and Colombia, have called into question the model of integration through assimilation. The current challenges to integration in Latin America point to an alternative approach that attributes positive value to hybrid status as a path toward overcoming internal colonialism.

The financial industry operates in a rapidly changing environment, where participants need to adapt to the preferences and requirements of customers, the entrance of new competitors and regulation. Along history, Investment Banks have played an important role in the financial industry providing products and services that promote economic growth and providing structure to the market. They are sophisticated and powerful organizations, that before 2007 were believe to be too big to fail.However, the financial crisis exposed their failures and how vulnerable their interconnected structure is, making evident the latent risk that they represent for the economy. Since the crisis regulation become strict and regulators strengthen the vigilance over the activities Investment Banks undertake, undoubtedly creating a new scenario. Simultaneously in the UK a credit crunch occurs, and the access to funds sources for SMEs and individuals suffer a drastic contraction. In that complex environment the Alternative Finance Market emerged, proposing a solution for that segment of the market that was claiming for an efficient, flexible and easy source of fundraising. P2P Lending and Crowdfunding are the most known and relevant models from the Alternative Finance sector, and they had played a significant role, exhibiting a rapid growth, since they began to operate in 2005.After analysing both, the Investment Banking and the Alternative Finance Industry, and performing some empirical analysis, some conclusions were reached. First of all, from the Investment Banking side, they must recognize that more than a threat the Alternative Lending model represent a new source of opportunities. However, Investment Banks will face some challenges in the next years, and they need to work to defend their position in the industry. The research identified four main areas in which Investment Banks should work in the short term. Firstly, they should focus on restoring investors’ and clients’ confidence, which was weakened after the financial crisis. As it was mentioned in the paper, reputation plays a significant role in the financial industry and profits are highly related with it.If Investment Banks do not recover their status and reputation they might lose market-share. On the second place, they must overcome the phase of adjusting to the new regulatory requirements. After meeting the requirements, they can focus their strategy to compete in the current environment and face the challenges that P2P Lending and Crowdfunding are proposing. Thirdly, for defending their position IBs can work to reinforce and innovate in other of their business, taking advantage of their diversified structure. Finally, regarding the Alternative Finance Market, Investment Banks can support the platforms with the complex infrastructure that they already have. Also, they can work towards financial integration and exploit the expertise and reputation they possess.In respect to the Alternative Finance Market, this paper guided us towards some conclusions about some aspects regarding the current situation and the short-term perspectives for the industry. First of all, it was observed that P2P Lending and Crowdfunding have experienced exponential growth that began from the year the first platforms started to operate. Data from the Liberum AltFi Volume Index UK and the volume of origination showed in Zopa´s and RateSetter´s loan books confirmed the trend.The fact that the industry was created to fulfil the demand and abolish the limitations to which SMEs, start-ups and individuals were subject, gave them an advantage from the beginning in the lending business sphere. In addition, they brought to the market a new investment opportunity and opened the access to small investors, who were seeking attractive investment opportunities. Furthermore, the Alternative Finance sector incorporates some elements that make of it an attractive and innovative lending model. Important factors such as transparency, differential pricing, disintermediation, flexibility and that it is built on the online concept give it competitive advantages over the traditional fundraising sources.In the second place, it can be concluded that this alternative lending model may be possibly entering a phase of stabilization. The monthly volume of origination seems to be slowing its growing pace, even though it continues growing, as the Liberum AltFi Volume Index UK indicates. By stabilization, it means grow at a rate of no more than two digits. The next conclusion at which this projects led us is that it seems that everyone has a positive and optimistic perspective about the future of this emerging industry.From academics to practitioners, they are expecting that in the short-term the knowledge and the awareness of the industry increase, causing that more borrowers and investors approach to the business. Moreover, the interest of the government and regulatory entities in the market will improve the existing regulation, creating high standards, what will be perceived by borrowers and lender as a safety signal, inviting them to select these alternatives over the traditional ones.Other factors that are consider as a potential sources of growing are the partnerships that P2P and Crowdfunding platforms are establishing, the new products derived from P2P loans, the creation of a secondary market, the process of securitization and the big flows coming from institutional investors. There is much work that P2P Lending and Crowdfunding platforms need to do in the next years. It is vital that they work to meet the requirements that regulation imposes and achieve the challenges that borrowers, investors and competitors propose. If so, they can secure their position in the financial market.The next years are crucial, they will define the way in which lending model will be structured from now on. The Alternative Finance Market represents a significant opportunity for borrowers, investors, as well for Investment Banks.They need to find a way that ensures that they are going to be active players of this emerging concept and defend their position. Finally, P2P Lending and Crowdfunding must continue working on developing the business model, walking towards establishing their reputation, imposing high standards and offering a differentiated service.