The capture of CO2 from a flue gas stream using chemical absorption was studied using two different aqueous amine solvents: the conventional 30% wt. monoethanolamine (MEA) and the novel 40% wt. piperazine (PZ), using a conventional absorption/stripping flowsheet and different combinations of advanced flowsheet variations including absorber intercooling (AIC), stripper interheating (SIH) and adiabatic lean flashing (ALF), amounting for a total of twelve flowsheet alternatives. Additionally, the conventional flowsheet was also studied using 30% wt. 2-amino 2-methyl 1-propanol (AMP). The simulations were performed in Aspen Plus® v.2006.5 using the latest thermodynamic frameworks published by AspenTech [2010] for each solvent, which include regressed interaction parameters for the ENRTL activity coefficient model, adjusted physical properties and kinetic parameters. The absorption and stripping operations were simulated using the rate-based model built in Aspen Plus®. The conventional MEA flowsheet was found to have a minimum specific reboiler duty around 3.854 GJ/ton CO2 and a minimum total equivalent work around 308 kWh/ton CO2, correspondent to a lean solvent load of 0.24 mol CO2/mol MEA. The limited PZ solubility restricts the correspondent to 0.25 mol CO2/mol PZ, giving a of 3.232 GJ/ton CO2 and a of 286.8 kWh/ton CO2 for the conventional PZ flowsheet. The best technical performance was predicted for the AIC + SIH flowsheet using PZ, obtaining a of 2.463 GJ/ton CO2 and a of 239.5 kWh/ton CO2, representing reductions of 36.1% and 22.4% respectively, when compared to the baseline conventional MEA flowsheet. A simplified economic assessment was performed to account for the different solvents, equipment types and steam quality requirements of the evaluated flowsheets, using the annualised cost of purchased equipment and the utilities cost, obtaining the same preference for the PZ based AIC + SIH flowsheet with 17.7% less cost than the conventional MEA flowsheet.

The album closes with an electronic arrangement of the song ‘La Palomita’, a Peruvian ‘Huayno’ also very widely played by many artists in the Andean region, and still is not very easy to find recorded versions of it; the most relevant aspects of this song is the blend of the synthesisers with a choir arrangement of the song, coexisting also with traditional instruments; a very challenging song to be performed and mixed, where surround sound plays a main role in order to give more detail about all the music going on. Duración: (3:52)

The successful evolution of a power system is achieved when its future growth path is visualized. Visualizing and interpreting the future are crucial to understand the risks to which the power system is exposed. These are mostly caused by the interdependencies between the power system and other systems (e.g., transportation sector, fuels sector, industry, etc.); and the resulting uncertain environment where these systems perform. Then, the objectives of planning are to reduce the risks of uncertainties and to gain some control over the future by linking it with the past; otherwise risks might materialize in catastrophic consequences. In particular, motivated by the need of mitigating future risks in power systems, this work focuses on finding robust and flexible investment strategies in the generation capacity expansion planning problem under exposure to multiple uncertainties. They are present in different sources and types such as fuel costs, investment and operational costs, demand growth, renewables variability, transmission capacity, environmental policies, and regulation. The problem when considering multiple uncertainties is much harder, not only because the increased computational effort, but also because it is hard to model the combination of their occurrences in a single optimization problem. Since each uncertainty deserves special treatment, they are grouped into two categories. Those (categorical) uncertainties that really impact the portfolio investment decisions are classified as global; whereas those that quantitatively describe the intrinsic imperfect knowledge of the categorical are considered local uncertainties. So, to effectively account for robustness, defined as the ability to perform well under unforeseen situations, and flexibility, defined as the ability to adapt cost-efficiently to different situations, modern tools are illustrated and implemented in a computationally tractable manner, resulting in promising planning tools under uncertainty.

Current living conditions and the bottlenecks that restrain agriculture’s progress in Colombia justify the exploration and implementation of public policies aimed at rural development. This dissertation focuses on rural development through smallholders’ agricultural cooperatives. Its main objective is to determine whether the main socio-economic conditions that allow these organizations to successfully develop are currently met in Colombia and to formulate policy implications on how the State may contribute to them. This dissertation argues that the conditions that facilitate the development of agricultural cooperatives are not adequately achieved in Colombia. Furthermore, it suggests that the State and other external agents may have a role to play in advancing these conditions. In short, it proposes the formulation of policies that allow the State to exert a facilitating role that aims to “midwife” the formation of self-reliant grassroots organizations. This “facilitatory” role would represent a third-way between two previous approaches that have failed in Colombia: the “top-down” interventions on farmer enterprises devised by the State in the 1960s and 1970s and the “hands-off” approach that was indifferent toward the development of smallholder organizations in the 1990s and 2000s.

Abstract: The goal of this Capstone is to identify growth opportunities for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Colombia that provide solutions in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This Capstone is divided in three sections. First, it analyzes the current market of ICT in Colombia. Second, it identifies key ICT technological trends with bigger market opportunities in Latin America (LATAM) and analyzes key regional opportunities in Colombia. Third, it analyzes the characteristics of the Colombian SMEs that provide ICT solutions and their current competitiveness in the ICT industry in Colombia. As a result, this Capstone proposes to the managers of a typical SME a list of key ICTs that they should adopt in their company’s portfolios as well as a list of specific strategies that they could adopt in their company’s business plans to ensure their long-term competitiveness in the Colombian ICT market.Resumen: El objetivo de esta Tesis es identificar oportunidades de crecimiento para las Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (PYMEs) en Colombia que proveen soluciones en el área de Tecnologías de Información y Comunicaciones (TICs). Esta tesis se divide en tres secciones. Primero, se analiza el mercado actual de las TICs en Colombia. Segundo, se identifican las principales tendencias tecnológicas con mayores oportunidades de mercado en América Latina y se analizan oportunidades regionales claves en Colombia. Tercero, se analizan las características de las PYMEs colombianas que proporcionan soluciones TICs y su competitividad actual en la industria Colombiana. Como resultado, esta tesis propone a los gerentes de las PYMEs una lista de tecnologías claves que podrían adoptar en sus portafolios de servicios, así como una lista de estrategias específicas que podrían adoptar en sus planes de negocio para garantizar una competitividad sostenida en el largo plazo de sus empresas en el mercado de las TICs en Colombia.

In this project, the aim is the experimentation and further development of a new composite material made out of plywood, fiber glass and resin. It proposes a fabrication logic to design large continuous double skin, self structural and performative surfaces. The project introduces a step forward in the manipulation of plywood panels, pre-stressing them in a form finding process to achieve curvatures; thus, developing large structures. Through a reinforcing construction process necessity of big mandrels is avoided. Digital simulations and physical experiments were implemented in the research in order to achieve real possible geometries, to reduce weight and to simplify the structure. THE OBSESSION WITH A SURFACE The project gets the interest of producing one continuous surface based on the material behavior just as Dieste explored deeply in his research where he recognized that the surface offered a realm formal exploration that in turn, could solve structural problems. The surface is the result of environmental, structural and architectural necessities. Its efficiency responds to the optimization process. Therefore form and expression, fabrication and structural efficiency led the development of a new language of building. The optimization process determines the final shape. The shells are the material with certain thickness, but the shape is still more fundamental as it contains the space and the quality of itself.

This research aims to find relationships through a comprehensive set of themes between four art museum spaces designed in four different cities, in four different years, by four different architects. The relationships highlight the complexities of museum architecture, its multiple constituents, and its permanent shaping by the varying cultural conditions of a certain time. This paper uses the four architecture projects not as the ultimate object of analysis; rather they are instruments to exemplify broader topics extracted from the literature review. These are: the relationship of the museum with its urban settings, the interactions between architectural form, artistic practices and exhibition space, and the varying models of visitor experience they each create. In addition to systematically collecting, reading, and analysing books and articles published during the last two decades and the review of current information on the museums’ online sites, this dissertation relies on four case studies: The Museum of Unlimited Growth (1939), The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1959), The Centre Georges Pompidou (1977), and Tate Modern (2000). Although it relies heavily on the literature, it hopes to raise a critical viewpoint and contribute to the efforts towards understanding what shapes the architecture of the museum as well as the thoughtful responsibilities of those involved in this significant scenario; from museum directors, curators, and artists, to architects, policy makers, and visitors.

This dissertation is a research studies on the dynamics of Crafts its consumerism and contemporary significance within the developed and the developing countries leading to a better understanding of the critical factors and necessary conditions to build up effective strategies to enable craftspeople and organisations to adapt better to the requirements of contemporary society. This study contains relevant reference material to understand the meaning of crafts in different cultural contexts. It also analyses collaborative efforts and promotional strategies which local and international organisations are undertaking in response to new market opportunities for crafts. The outcome is to provide guidance and recommendations on possible new directions for successful exports to organisations and craftspeople concerned with these issues. Following the abstract and introduction, information on “crafts” as an economic issue in the UK and information about International organisations working for the development of crafts in the world such as UNESCO, the World Crafts Council and Aid to Artisans is given in Section I. Section II starts addressing the question that originated from the findings that arise from the review of the topic in section I followed by an explanation of the method of investigation used to carry out the research. This section will provide the reader with information of the Crafts Council and Artesanías de Colombia, the British and Colombian organisations selected as case studies. This section investigates what are the collaborative efforts and the strategies these organisations have undertaken to help craftspeople export their products. Literature review on the relationship design management and marketing and Internet-based research on craft’s promotion are also analysed. Section III will go on to analyse the critical factors that have an impact on the success of British and Colombian crafts within international markets. I will be attempting to respond the key question by discussing the following issues: Understanding the role of crafts in a consumer society, International organisations Vs national organisations, International markets – obstacles for successful exports, The market link – what it is necessary?, Internet – an economically viable promotional medium. Finally, this dissertation concludes with lessons drawn from current practices, which instruct on possible directions for a Colombian craft export model.

When complying with anti-money laundering (AML) regulation, financial institutions faced some problems reflected in the form of risks and costs. In some cases, those problems have legal solutions but, in other cases, place banks in the position to decide between two risks – one being less harmful than the other. The aim of this dissertation is to provide an analysis of such risks and costs handled by financial entities, presenting some solutions provided by courts, but also identifying the gap between regulation and reality. Chapter I includes a general overview of money laundering; it makes reference to Financial Action Task recommendations in this matter and at the end the regulatory context of the crime in United Kingdom (UK). In Chapter II, each subsection refers to the risks banks may have when complying with money laundering regulations; the duality between the risk of being involved in a money laundering offence against the risk of being sued as a constructive trustee, the problem between reporting suspicious transactions against the tipping off offence, the dilemma of whether compliance with AML requirements and breaching contractual duties with customers, and an analysis of how legislation has partially solved the dilemma regarding confidentiality duty. Then, I shall discuss the costs that banks have to assume in implementing the AML system and the perception of the bankers regarding AML regulation.

The e-Invoicing has become a subject of great importance and source of several benefits for the European industry, however there isn`t an realistic and clear view about the status of the e-Invoicing adoption in each country, by the contrary exists different figures and reports with unrealistic statistics and rates that creates uncertainty by the stakeholders inside the country. On this basis, this thesis pretends to go deeply in this subject, researching and analyzing the e-Invoicing European landscape, characterized with different regulations and conditions by each country, but without indicators and realistic figures to identify crucial factors and best practices that facilitate the interoperability and increase the adoption. The main objective of this research is to obtain a reliable and updated view of the e-Invoicing adoption in Europe, confronting the data with local stakeholders and establishing a methodology and criteria that permits compare and classify the different European countries and its behaviors and patterns. Is also a concern of this thesis, to identify the conditions, best practices, barriers and enablers that characterize the e-Invoicing in Europe with the aim of increase the interoperability and enable the interchange cross border of e-Invoices, especially in Italy. Contributing with the studies and research of The Observatory in Electronic Invoicing, in which the idea of this research was born and its support allowed the completion of this work. The methodology followed for perform this research is divided basically in two phases, the data collection and the empirical analysis that allows at the end identify summary notes, facts, measures that create awareness about the actual situation in Europe of the e-invoicing and suggestion to increase the adoption and diffusion of the e-Invoicing. Finally as part of the purpose of this thesis is to show and highlight the best practices, conditions and problems that have presented the electronic invoicing in Europe during the last years, in the summary notes are shown, analyzed and explained the most relevant results of this research that will be useful for further project of the observatory and also for the different experts and stakeholders of electronic invoicing in other countries that helped with this works and are interested in the results to take measures and propose new projects in their own countries. In this section also are described the different clusters and shown the countries that belongs to each one, highlighting the common facts, problems and conditions of the electronic invoicing in Europe. Also are identified and summarized the enablers and barriers of the electronic invoicing in Europe suggesting measures to incentive them and to overcome them respectively.