Non-invasive Studies on Age Related Parameters Using a Blood Volume Pulse Sensor

A non-invasive technique is implemented to measure a parameter which is closely related to the distensibility of large arteries, using the second derivative of the infrared photoplethysmographic waveform. Thirty subjects within the age group of 20-61 years were involved in this pilot study. Two new parameters, namely the area of the photoplethysmographic waveform under the systolic peak, and the ratio of the time delay between the systolic and the diastolic peaks and the time period of the waveform ( T/T) were studied as a function of age. It was found that while the parameter which is supposed to be a marker of distensibility of large arteries and T /T values correlate negatively with age, the area under the systolic peak correlates positively with age. The results suggest that the derived parameters could provide a simple, non-invasive means for studying the changes in the elastic properties of the vascular system as a function of age.

Biochemical and molecular investigations on Salmonella serovars from seafood

The present investigation was envisaged to determine the prevalence and identify the different Salmonella serovar in seafood from Cochin area. Though, the distribution of Salmonella serovars in different seafood samples of Cochin has been well documented, the present attempt was made to identify the different Salmonella serovars and determine its prevalence in various seafoods. First pan of this investigation involved the isolation and identification of Salmonella strains with the help of different conventional culture methods. The identified isolates were used for the further investigation i.e. serotyping, this provides the information about the prevalent serovars in seafood. The prevalent Salmonella strains have been further characterized based on the utilization of different sugars and amino acids, to identify the different biovar of a serovar.A major research gap was observed in molecular characterization of Salmonella in seafood. Though, previous investigations reported the large number of Salmonella serovars from food sources in India, yet, very few work has been reported regarding genetic characterization of Salmonella serovars associated with food. Second part of this thesis deals with different molecular fingerprint profiles of the Salmonella serovars from seafood. Various molecular typing methods such as plasmid profiling, characterization of virulence genes, PFGE, PCR- ribotyping, and ERIC—PCR have been used for the genetic characterization of Salmonella serovars.The conventional culture methods are mainly used for the identification of Salmonella in seafood and most of the investigations from India and abroad showed the usage of culture method for detection of Salmonella in seafood. Hence, development of indigenous, rapid molecular method is most desirable for screening of Salmonella in large number of seafood samples at a shorter time period. Final part of this study attempted to develop alternative, rapid molecular detection method for the detection of Salmonella in seafood. Rapid eight—hour PCR assay has been developed for detection of Salmonella in seafood. The performance of three different methods viz., culture, ELISA and PCR assays were evaluated for detection of Salmonella in seafood and the results were statistically analyzed. Presence of Salmonella cells in food and enviromnental has been reported low in number, hence, more sensitive method for enumeration of Salmonella in food sample need to be developed. A quantitative realtime PCR has been developed for detection of Salmonella in seafood. This method would be useful for quantitative detection of Salmonella in seafood.

Drastic variation in the surface boundary layer parameters over Cochin during the annular solar eclipse: Analysis using sonic anemometer data

Atmospheric surface boundary layer parameters vary anomalously in response to the occurrence of annular solar eclipse on 15th January 2010 over Cochin. It was the longest annular solar eclipse occurred over South India with high intensity. As it occurred during the noon hours, it is considered to be much more significant because of its effects in all the regions of atmosphere including ionosphere. Since the insolation is the main driving factor responsible for the anomalous changes occurred in the surface layer due to annular solar eclipse, occurred on 15th January 2010, that played very important role in understanding dynamics of the atmosphere during the eclipse period because of its coincidence with the noon time. The Sonic anemometer is able to give data of zonal, meridional and vertical wind as well as the air temperature at a temporal resolution of 1 s. Different surface boundary layer parameters and turbulent fluxes were computed by the application of eddy correlation technique using the high resolution station data. The surface boundary layer parameters that are computed using the sonic anemometer data during the period are momentum flux, sensible heat flux, turbulent kinetic energy, frictional velocity (u*), variance of temperature, variances of u, v and w wind. In order to compare the results, a control run has been done using the data of previous day as well as next day. It is noted that over the specified time period of annular solar eclipse, all the above stated surface boundary layer parameters vary anomalously when compared with the control run. From the observations we could note that momentum flux was 0.1 Nm 2 instead of the mean value 0.2 Nm-2 when there was eclipse. Sensible heat flux anomalously decreases to 50 Nm 2 instead of the mean value 200 Nm 2 at the time of solar eclipse. The turbulent kinetic energy decreases to 0.2 m2s 2 from the mean value 1 m2s 2. The frictional velocity value decreases to 0.05 ms 1 instead of the mean value 0.2 ms 1. The present study aimed at understanding the dynamics of surface layer in response to the annular solar eclipse over a tropical coastal station, occurred during the noon hours. Key words: annular solar eclipse, surface boundary layer, sonic anemometer

Design, implementation and application of a generic framework for integrated regional land-use modeling

Land use is a crucial link between human activities and the natural environment and one of the main driving forces of global environmental change. Large parts of the terrestrial land surface are used for agriculture, forestry, settlements and infrastructure. Given the importance of land use, it is essential to understand the multitude of influential factors and resulting land use patterns. An essential methodology to study and quantify such interactions is provided by the adoption of land-use models. By the application of land-use models, it is possible to analyze the complex structure of linkages and feedbacks and to also determine the relevance of driving forces. Modeling land use and land use changes has a long-term tradition. In particular on the regional scale, a variety of models for different regions and research questions has been created. Modeling capabilities grow with steady advances in computer technology, which on the one hand are driven by increasing computing power on the other hand by new methods in software development, e.g. object- and component-oriented architectures. In this thesis, SITE (Simulation of Terrestrial Environments), a novel framework for integrated regional sland-use modeling, will be introduced and discussed. Particular features of SITE are the notably extended capability to integrate models and the strict separation of application and implementation. These features enable efficient development, test and usage of integrated land-use models. On its system side, SITE provides generic data structures (grid, grid cells, attributes etc.) and takes over the responsibility for their administration. By means of a scripting language (Python) that has been extended by language features specific for land-use modeling, these data structures can be utilized and manipulated by modeling applications. The scripting language interpreter is embedded in SITE. The integration of sub models can be achieved via the scripting language or by usage of a generic interface provided by SITE. Furthermore, functionalities important for land-use modeling like model calibration, model tests and analysis support of simulation results have been integrated into the generic framework. During the implementation of SITE, specific emphasis was laid on expandability, maintainability and usability. Along with the modeling framework a land use model for the analysis of the stability of tropical rainforest margins was developed in the context of the collaborative research project STORMA (SFB 552). In a research area in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, socio-environmental impacts of land-use changes were examined. SITE was used to simulate land-use dynamics in the historical period of 1981 to 2002. Analogous to that, a scenario that did not consider migration in the population dynamics, was analyzed. For the calculation of crop yields and trace gas emissions, the DAYCENT agro-ecosystem model was integrated. In this case study, it could be shown that land-use changes in the Indonesian research area could mainly be characterized by the expansion of agricultural areas at the expense of natural forest. For this reason, the situation had to be interpreted as unsustainable even though increased agricultural use implied economic improvements and higher farmers' incomes. Due to the importance of model calibration, it was explicitly addressed in the SITE architecture through the introduction of a specific component. The calibration functionality can be used by all SITE applications and enables largely automated model calibration. Calibration in SITE is understood as a process that finds an optimal or at least adequate solution for a set of arbitrarily selectable model parameters with respect to an objective function. In SITE, an objective function typically is a map comparison algorithm capable of comparing a simulation result to a reference map. Several map optimization and map comparison methodologies are available and can be combined. The STORMA land-use model was calibrated using a genetic algorithm for optimization and the figure of merit map comparison measure as objective function. The time period for the calibration ranged from 1981 to 2002. For this period, respective reference land-use maps were compiled. It could be shown, that an efficient automated model calibration with SITE is possible. Nevertheless, the selection of the calibration parameters required detailed knowledge about the underlying land-use model and cannot be automated. In another case study decreases in crop yields and resulting losses in income from coffee cultivation were analyzed and quantified under the assumption of four different deforestation scenarios. For this task, an empirical model, describing the dependence of bee pollination and resulting coffee fruit set from the distance to the closest natural forest, was integrated. Land-use simulations showed, that depending on the magnitude and location of ongoing forest conversion, pollination services are expected to decline continuously. This results in a reduction of coffee yields of up to 18% and a loss of net revenues per hectare of up to 14%. However, the study also showed that ecological and economic values can be preserved if patches of natural vegetation are conservated in the agricultural landscape. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Second Generation Pakistanis in the UK from 1994 to 2005

In spite of being the second largest immigrant group in the United Kingdom, Pakistanis are still one of the most disadvantaged immigrant groups with respect to labour market integration. Hence, dealing with their labour market integration is the first step to improve it. This paper compares second generation Pakistanis in the United Kingdom with their British peers and analyses, whether the gap between the two ethnicities with respect to labour market integration decreased or not. Both groups in the analysis were born in the United Kingdom and possess British nationality. The only difference is the ethnicity; while Pakistanis have Pakistani ethnicity; British people have “white” ethnicity. The analysis covers people whose age are between 18 and 33 years old and compares the time period of December 1993-February 1995 and December 2004-February 2006. To carry out this analysis, I operationalise labour market integration as employment chance and utilise the United Kingdom Quarterly Labour Force Survey data. Empirical findings show that the gap between the labour market integration of second generation Pakistanis and their British peers in the sample did not change significantly from 1994 to 2005.

Das Einzugsgebiet der Fulda - Untersuchung der Methoden der Hochwasserstatistik im Zeichen des Klimawandels

Numerous studies have proven an effect of a probable climate change on the hydrosphere’s different subsystems. In the 21st century global and regional redistribution of water has to be expected and it is very likely that extreme weather phenomenon will occur more frequently. From a global view the flood situation will exacerbate. In contrast to these discoveries the classical approach of flood frequency analysis provides terms like “mean flood recurrence interval”. But for this analysis to be valid there is a need for the precondition of stationary distribution parameters which implies that the flood frequencies are constant in time. Newer approaches take into account extreme value distributions with time-dependent parameters. But the latter implies a discard of the mentioned old terminology that has been used up-to-date in engineering hydrology. On the regional scale climate change affects the hydrosphere in various ways. So, the question appears to be whether in central Europe the classical approach of flood frequency analysis is not usable anymore and whether the traditional terminology should be renewed. In the present case study hydro-meteorological time series of the Fulda catchment area (6930 km²), upstream of the gauging station Bonaforth, are analyzed for the time period 1960 to 2100. At first a distributed catchment area model (SWAT2005) is build up, calibrated and finally validated. The Edertal reservoir is regulated as well by a feedback control of the catchments output in case of low water. Due to this intricacy a special modeling strategy has been necessary: The study area is divided into three SWAT basin models and an additional physically-based reservoir model is developed. To further improve the streamflow predictions of the SWAT model, a correction by an artificial neural network (ANN) has been tested successfully which opens a new way to improve hydrological models. With this extension the calibration and validation of the SWAT model for the Fulda catchment area is improved significantly. After calibration of the model for the past 20th century observed streamflow, the SWAT model is driven by high resolution climate data of the regional model REMO using the IPCC scenarios A1B, A2, and B1, to generate future runoff time series for the 21th century for the various sub-basins in the study area. In a second step flood time series HQ(a) are derived from the 21st century runoff time series (scenarios A1B, A2, and B1). Then these flood projections are extensively tested with regard to stationarity, homogeneity and statistical independence. All these tests indicate that the SWAT-predicted 21st-century trends in the flood regime are not significant. Within the projected time the members of the flood time series are proven to be stationary and independent events. Hence, the classical stationary approach of flood frequency analysis can still be used within the Fulda catchment area, notwithstanding the fact that some regional climate change has been predicted using the IPCC scenarios. It should be noted, however, that the present results are not transferable to other catchment areas. Finally a new method is presented that enables the calculation of extreme flood statistics, even if the flood time series is non-stationary and also if the latter exhibits short- and longterm persistence. This method, which is called Flood Series Maximum Analysis here, enables the calculation of maximum design floods for a given risk- or safety level and time period.

Downscaling and Modeling the Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology and Water Resources in the Upper Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia

The Upper Blue Nile River Basin (UBNRB) located in the western part of Ethiopia, between 7° 45’ and 12° 45’N and 34° 05’ and 39° 45’E has a total area of 174962 km2 . More than 80% of the population in the basin is engaged in agricultural activities. Because of the particularly dry climate in the basin, likewise to most other regions of Ethiopia, the agricultural productivity depends to a very large extent on the occurrence of the seasonal rains. This situation makes agriculture highly vulnerable to the impact of potential climate hazards which are about to inflict Africa as a whole and Ethiopia in particular. To analyze these possible impacts of future climate change on the water resources in the UBNRB, in the first part of the thesis climate projection for precipitation, minimum and maximum temperatures in the basin, using downscaled predictors from three GCMs (ECHAM5, GFDL21 and CSIRO-MK3) under SRES scenarios A1B and A2 have been carried out. The two statistical downscaling models used are SDSM and LARS-WG, whereby SDSM is used to downscale ECHAM5-predictors alone and LARS-WG is applied in both mono-model mode with predictors from ECHAM5 and in multi-model mode with combined predictors from ECHAM5, GFDL21 and CSIRO-MK3. For the calibration/validation of the downscaled models, observed as well as NCEP climate data in the 1970 - 2000 reference period is used. The future projections are made for two time periods; 2046-2065 (2050s) and 2081-2100 (2090s). For the 2050s future time period the downscaled climate predictions indicate rise of 0.6°C to 2.7°C for the seasonal maximum temperatures Tmax, and of 0.5°C to 2.44°C for the minimum temperatures Tmin. Similarly, during the 2090s the seasonal Tmax increases by 0.9°C to 4.63°C and Tmin by 1°C to 4.6°C, whereby these increases are generally higher for the A2 than for the A1B scenario. For most sub-basins of the UBNRB, the predicted changes of Tmin are larger than those of Tmax. Meanwhile, for the precipitation, both downscaling tools predict large changes which, depending on the GCM employed, are such that the spring and summer seasons will be experiencing decreases between -36% to 1% and the autumn and winter seasons an increase of -8% to 126% for the two future time periods, regardless of the SRES scenario used. In the second part of the thesis the semi-distributed, physically based hydrologic model, SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool), is used to evaluate the impacts of the above-predicted future climate change on the hydrology and water resources of the UBNRB. Hereby the downscaled future predictors are used as input in the SWAT model to predict streamflow of the Upper Blue Nile as well as other relevant water resources parameter in the basin. Calibration and validation of the streamflow model is done again on 1970-2000 measured discharge at the outlet gage station Eldiem, whereby the most sensitive out the numerous “tuneable” calibration parameters in SWAT have been selected by means of a sophisticated sensitivity analysis. Consequently, a good calibration/validation model performance with a high NSE-coefficient of 0.89 is obtained. The results of the future simulations of streamflow in the basin, using both SDSM- and LARS-WG downscaled output in SWAT reveal a decline of -10% to -61% of the future Blue Nile streamflow, And, expectedly, these obviously adverse effects on the future UBNRB-water availibiliy are more exacerbated for the 2090’s than for the 2050’s, regardless of the SRES.

Numerical Feasibility Study for Treated Wastewater Recharge as a Tool to Impede Saltwater Intrusion in the Coastal Aquifer of Gaza – Palestine

The ongoing depletion of the coastal aquifer in the Gaza strip due to groundwater overexploitation has led to the process of seawater intrusion, which is continually becoming a serious problem in Gaza, as the seawater has further invaded into many sections along the coastal shoreline. As a first step to get a hold on the problem, the artificial neural network (ANN)-model has been applied as a new approach and an attractive tool to study and predict groundwater levels without applying physically based hydrologic parameters, and also for the purpose to improve the understanding of complex groundwater systems and which is able to show the effects of hydrologic, meteorological and anthropogenic impacts on the groundwater conditions. Prediction of the future behaviour of the seawater intrusion process in the Gaza aquifer is thus of crucial importance to safeguard the already scarce groundwater resources in the region. In this study the coupled three-dimensional groundwater flow and density-dependent solute transport model SEAWAT, as implemented in Visual MODFLOW, is applied to the Gaza coastal aquifer system to simulate the location and the dynamics of the saltwater–freshwater interface in the aquifer in the time period 2000-2010. A very good agreement between simulated and observed TDS salinities with a correlation coefficient of 0.902 and 0.883 for both steady-state and transient calibration is obtained. After successful calibration of the solute transport model, simulation of future management scenarios for the Gaza aquifer have been carried out, in order to get a more comprehensive view of the effects of the artificial recharge planned in the Gaza strip for some time on forestall, or even to remedy, the presently existing adverse aquifer conditions, namely, low groundwater heads and high salinity by the end of the target simulation period, year 2040. To that avail, numerous management scenarios schemes are examined to maintain the ground water system and to control the salinity distributions within the target period 2011-2040. In the first, pessimistic scenario, it is assumed that pumping from the aquifer continues to increase in the near future to meet the rising water demand, and that there is not further recharge to the aquifer than what is provided by natural precipitation. The second, optimistic scenario assumes that treated surficial wastewater can be used as a source of additional artificial recharge to the aquifer which, in principle, should not only lead to an increased sustainable yield of the latter, but could, in the best of all cases, revert even some of the adverse present-day conditions in the aquifer, i.e., seawater intrusion. This scenario has been done with three different cases which differ by the locations and the extensions of the injection-fields for the treated wastewater. The results obtained with the first (do-nothing) scenario indicate that there will be ongoing negative impacts on the aquifer, such as a higher propensity for strong seawater intrusion into the Gaza aquifer. This scenario illustrates that, compared with 2010 situation of the baseline model, at the end of simulation period, year 2040, the amount of saltwater intrusion into the coastal aquifer will be increased by about 35 %, whereas the salinity will be increased by 34 %. In contrast, all three cases of the second (artificial recharge) scenario group can partly revert the present seawater intrusion. From the water budget point of view, compared with the first (do nothing) scenario, for year 2040, the water added to the aquifer by artificial recharge will reduces the amount of water entering the aquifer by seawater intrusion by 81, 77and 72 %, for the three recharge cases, respectively. Meanwhile, the salinity in the Gaza aquifer will be decreased by 15, 32 and 26% for the three cases, respectively.

An analysis of household farm investment decisions under varying land tenure arrangements in Ghana

Land tenure insecurity is widely perceived as a disincentive for long-term land improvement investment hence the objective of this paper is to evaluate how tenure (in)security associated with different land use arrangements in Ghana influenced households’ plot level investment decisions and choices. The paper uses data from the Farmer-Based Organisations (FBO) survey. The FBO survey collected information from 2,928 households across three ecological zones of Ghana using multistaged cluster sampling. Probit and Tobit models tested the effects of land tenancy and ownership arrangements on households’ investment behaviour while controlling other factors. It was found that marginal farm size was inversely related to tenure insecurity while tenure insecurity correlate positively with value of farm land and not farm size. Individual ownership and documentation of land significantly reduced the probability of households losing uncultivated lands. Individual land ownership increased both the probability of investing and level of investments made in land improvement and irrigation probably due to increasing importance households place on land ownership. Two possible explanations for this finding are: First, that land markets and land relations have changed significantly over the last two decades with increasing money transaction and fixed agreements propelled by population growth and increasing value of land. Secondly, inclusion of irrigation investment as a long term investment in land raises the value of household investment and the time period required to reap the returns on the investments. Households take land ownership and duration of tenancy into consideration if the resource implications of land investments are relatively huge and the time dimension for harvesting returns to investments is relatively long.

Resultados funcionales en el trasplante de mano : revisión sistemática de la literatura

Introducción: El trasplante de mano es una opción en el tratamiento de pacientes amputados. Su recuperación funcional determina, junto con el manejo de la inmunosupresión, el éxito del trasplante. Este estudio buscó identificar y describir los resultados funcionales, sensibilidad y recuperación motora, en pacientes trasplantados. Metodología: Búsqueda sistemática de la literatura incluyendo estudios prospectivos, retrospectivos y reportes de caso en tres bases de datos primarias y una base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas, bajo criterios de búsqueda específicos. Resultados: Once artículos cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. La discriminación de dos puntos, la estrognosis, el signo de Tinel, la temperatura, el tacto superficial y profundo y el dolor fueron evaluados. Seis pacientes recuperaron los tres últimos durante los primeros 12 meses, tres más lograron discriminación de dos puntos en los pulpejos entre 1.5 y 3 años. De los restantes uno tiene reporte de normalidad a los seis años y en el otro refieren disminución de la sensibilidad protectiva en el mismo plazo. El rango total de movilidad de los dedos sirvió como evaluación de la función motora en cinco pacientes, tres tuvieron reportes por debajo del 50% de lo normal al año del trasplante, el cuarto logró cerca de un 60%, el último fue artodesado. El tiempo mostró ser un factor para la mejoría en la valoración global de la extremidad superior mediante el uso del DASH. Discusión, conclusiones: es necesaria la estadarización y su publicación, de la medición de los resultados funcionales en los pacientes de trasplante de mano.

Mortalidad por cáncer de mama en Colombia y Bogotá 1995 y 2009. Análisis edad – periodo – cohorte

El cáncer de mama es la neoplasia más frecuente en mujeres en el mundo y en Colombia. Este artículo describe las tendencias de mortalidad por cáncer de mama en Bogotá y Colombia entre 1995 y 2009. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo de análisis de tendencias de las tasas de mortalidad a través del modelo estadístico de Edad – Periodo – Cohorte. Los casos se tomaron de los certificados de defunción por cáncer de mama registrados en el Departamento Nacional de Estadística entre 1995 y 2009. Se evaluaron diferentes modelos: periodo, periodo-drift (cambio lineal en el tiempo), periodo-edad, periodo-cohorte, periodo-edad-cohorte por el método funciones estimables. Resultados: La tasa de mortalidad por cáncer de mama en Colombia fue 6.78 por 100.000 con comportamiento constante en los tres periodos. Mientras en Bogotá fue de 7.78 por 100.000 con tendencia a la disminución entre 40 y 69 años, en el último periodo estudiado. En este estudio el efecto periodo + cohorte es el que mejor describe el comportamiento de las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer de mama en ambos escenarios (Bogotá AIC: 13.8 p=0,314; Colombia: AIC=27.4 p=0,238). Conclusiones: Existe una tendencia a la disminución en la mortalidad por cáncer de mama en ciertos grupos etáreos en Bogotá en el periodo 2005-2009, diversas hipótesis explicarían dicho fenómeno, entre estas el acceso a métodos de tamizaje, aunque no hay estudios al respecto. Se recomienda reforzar los métodos de tamizaje y diagnóstico temprano en el resto del país.

How Does Age at Onset Influence the Outcome of Autoimmune Diseases?

The age at onset refers to the time period at which an individual experiences the first symptoms of a disease. In autoimmune diseases (ADs), these symptoms can be subtle but are very relevant for diagnosis. They can appear during childhood, adulthood or late in life and may vary depending on the age at onset. Variables like mortality and morbidity and the role of genes will be reviewed with a focus on the major autoimmune disorders, namely, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), Sjögren's syndrome, and autoimmune thyroiditis (AITD). Early age at onset is a worst prognostic factor for some ADs (i.e., SLE and T1D), while for others it does not have a significant influence on the course of disease (i.e., SS) or no unanimous consensus exists (i.e., RA and MS).

Una relación especial: Privatización de la seguridad, élites vulnerables y sistema político (1982-2002)

En las décadas comprendidas entre 1982 y 2002, Colombia ya se afirmaba como un Estado democrático. Sin embargo, en este período el paramilitarismo agenció uno de los más agudos niveles de violencia homicida en el país. Ante esta realidad incuestionable, surgen planteamientos que intentan explicar esta paradoja: a) Colombia no es una democracia: es un régimen terrorista que acaba con la oposición para mantener un sistema de exclusiones desde arriba; b) las instituciones colombianas han sido una víctima más de la violencia paramilitar; y c) el paramilitarismo obedece a la insurgencia de élites locales y regionales contra procesos de paz impulsados desde arriba. Las dos primeras, claramente cuestionables. La última, todavía insuficiente a la hora de identificar el papel de los tomadores de decisiones a nivel central, tanto en el Estado como en el sistema político, en el despliegue y auge del fenómeno paramilitar.Este artículo evalúa estas tres afirmaciones y analiza, con base en documentos oficiales e informes de prensa de la época, los alcances del paramilitarismo en las décadas comprendidas entre 1982 y 2002, al tenor del papel desempeñado por la democracia colombiana y sus instituciones, pues –alcontrario del discurso oficial de los gobiernos, quienes por más de treinta años han afirmado haber sufrido la penetración y agresión del paramilitarismo de la mano de “manzanas podridas” o “casos aislados”– el fenómeno paramilitar en Colombia durante el período estudiado disfrutó de un estatus especial agenciado públicamente por políticos centristas, prosaicos y conciliadores apuntalados en las presiones de sectoresclave del sistema político y de las élites vulnerables del país.

Rearrangement of the urban space in the sector of Saint Victorino and Saint Ines (Bogota) in relation with the dynamics of informality and marginality (1948-2010)

The present article analyze the urban transformations happened in the sector of Saint Victorino and Saint Ines in the city of Bogota D.C. between 1948 and 2010, making use of the "Genealogical Methodology" during the process of inquiry that allow to contrast the visions that are usually accepted of "progress" and "urban renovation" in the urban market context by the existence of a informal economic and a population in conditions of marginality that configures a good part of the "popular urban culture" of the Bogota in the 20th and 21st century. This vision permit to observe from various perspectives the changes that happened in this sector of the city, the impacts of the history facts occurred en this time period and, in special, the real effects of a rearrangement urban process that began in 1998 and has been prolonged to date, which has left a significant mark about the urban and social physiognomy of the place.

Patrones de cambio en el paisaje urbano del sector patrimonial Quinta Camacho por cambios en el uso del suelo diferentes al residencial. Periodo: 2000-2015

El legado cultural, producto de las tradiciones de cada grupo poblacional, queda plasmado en el territorio por medio de objetos que hacen parte del Patrimonio Construido. Este, debe ser perdurable en el tiempo, manteniendo viva su esencia al evocar una época o hecho particular. Para dicha preservación, las sociedades han desarrollado un gran arsenal de herramientas, pero, ¿Es realmente adecuada su conservación? ¿El Patrimonio Construido realmente cumple una función acorde al territorio donde se ubica? Frente a estos dos grandes cuestionamientos se apela a la gestión y el desarrollo urbano como la disciplina idónea para intervenir el patrimonio, ya que genera una aproximación multidisciplinar en donde la gestión y la toma de decisiones concernientes al patrimonio se dan de forma eficiente, logrando conservar un legado del pasado a la vez que cumplir una función en el presente acorde a las dinámicas cambiantes de un asentamiento humano.