archives@tulane.edu / 1 / Blas Isasi gutiérrez

PHD. Silvia Sánchez Oller (Costa Rica), Mg. Ana Lucía Elera (España) Licenciada y egresada del programa de psicología UPC Andrea Vivanco Vidal. Moderadores: Emilio Lafferranderie, Carmen Doris Sánchez Ortega y Carmen Rosa Lozano Paz. / Conferencias magistrales por el día del psicólogo Nos acompaña PHD. Silvia Sánchez Oller (Costa Rica), Mg. Ana Lucía Elera (España) Licenciada y egresada del programa de psicología UPC Andrea Vivanco Vidal.

Thesis project; 'Post-Industrial infrastructure: re-imagined spaces of form' revolves around several important issues regarding the treatment, appreciation/non-appreciation and architectural qualities of abandon Post-Industrial sites. As many of these types of sites offer many fine qualities that I find valuable within the architectural construct. Furthermore, Post-Industrial sites offer an array of established infrastructure(s) e..g buildings, lots of space, high ceilings, lots of windows, natural light as well as connectivity and accessibility to the urban environment. I decided to study an abandoned site in Newark, New Jersey USA. The site had be shuttered since 1990 and is/was in very poor condition. A formal chemical company that was owned an operated by Maas & Waldstein Chemical Company. The main theme of the thesis was to remediate the contaminated site as well as re-purposed three remaining brick structures. As to re-imagine and re-generate the entire site with pathways, flower gardens, Zen-huts for sitting, relaxing and contemplation. There is also a tree mall with a walking paths that guide you around the site, lots of trees and a bee-coup area to help with the pollination of the large array of flowerbeds, a Post-Industrial walking park. As for the structures, each structure was designated in accordance with its condition. All three of the structures were salvageable, the Enamel building is to become an exhibition/gallery space with artisan lofts on the second and third floors. The Laboratory building will house a café with a nice sized sitting area as well as a small seminar area opposite the café. The second floor will become an office space for the administrators of the site. The third and final building is called the Lacquer building which is in very poor condition but it was saved and converted into a ruin-park. I kept the integrity of  the 'ruin' as natural as possible. As for the interior, an array of flowerbeds, sitting benches and a small sitting/tea-room to enjoy a tea/coffee etc. is an excellent addition to the structure. Of note, the entire roof infrastructure had been totally destroyed over time, creating prefect conditions for the inner-park concept.  The structure also needed to be stabilized with an iron exo-structure which has a two-fold design element, one being to stabilize the integrity of brickwork and the second being to create open air canopy, giving the inner space a more comfortable, dynamic atmosphere, additionally it also adds and architectural element and quality to the existing structure. To summarize, the project became very complex due to discovery and complexities of the contamination which added a fair amount dedicated research time to the project. The highlights of the project are the very detailed site plan as wells as the Lacquer building i.e. Ruin-Park and exo-structure as well as the Thinner building park (see the site plan) wooden planked pathway through the remediation flowerbeds. Over the course of the project, all three designs became the flagship(s) of the project.

No description available.

This thesis on Dominica is the only study in the social sciences which deals extensively and exclusively with the life experience of Dominicans. The study has three interrelated purposes. It analyses and interprets the life experience of Dominicans as subjects of their own experiences rather than as objects or victims of colonial forces. It seeks to reveal to Dominicans that, despite their colonization, they have a positive identity of which they can be proud and which can be useful to them in the realization of their future aspirations. Finally, it argues consistently against more common metropolitan perspectives used in the analysis of Caribbean experience. The thesis attempts to accomplish these interrelated purposes by an examination of those significant activities in the Dominican life experience which have been directed towards human survival and change in the colonial situation. Specifically, the study shows how Dominicans themselves, beginning with the slave period, through the emancipation era, the creation of political organizations, right up to the Castle Bruce Cooperative Movement, have acted constantly on their own behalf in order to achieve the dual objectives of survival and change. Finally, given the emphasis of the thesis and because Dominica is probably the least studied Island in the British Caribbean, the study is considered a contribution not only to the understanding of Dominican political and social life, but also to Caribbean and general social science literature. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In this thesis, I focus on the health-seeking experiences of women diagnosed with HIV in a prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program in Lilongwe, Malawi. Based on ethnographic research, which included participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups with women participating in the program, I explore women's motivations for HIV testing, capacity to engage in health interventions, and the meaning they give to life with HIV. While the PMTCT program is delivered at a local site, it is produced at a local-global intersection where local actors and international processes converge. I utilize critical approaches to medical anthropology to examine the global political and economic context of local life and the PMTCT program. The program is one where lives are at stake; where women learn of their HIV status, available medical interventions, and work to prolong their lives. Women engage in this program because nurses communicate messages of hope in the face of HIV. These messages are the new benefits of HIV in countries with growing opportunities for therapeutic intervention. This thesis contributes to an emerging health/social science literature that seeks to develop successful HIV interventions by focusing on patients ' experiences of HIV and HIV therapies newly available in Africa. Yet, as reported in this study, women experience barriers to the purported benefits because of the dominant health-delivery paradigm. Specifically, its verticality; human resources, counseling, and education limitations; and structural constraints that prevent women's full participation in the program. Successful PMTCT programs will need a more comprehensive approach to health and disease treatment, to provide more than just techno-medical solutions. Successful therapeutic interventions need to not only provide drugs, but also address other barriers to health maintenance. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Yes / Peacebuilding, as a remedy for all the ailments afflicting any society emerging from war, has placed this complex and overloaded concept at the centre of a growing network of actors engaged in its formulation and implementation. This paper critically examines the implications of a growing convergence in definitions and approaches amongst this `international post-war peacebuilding community'.

By its nature a spliced girder must contain a number of post tensioning tendons throughout its length. The focus of the experimental program described in this dissertation is the evaluation of the strength and serviceability of post-tensioned girders loaded in shear, and, more specifically, how a post-tensioning duct located in the web of a girder affects the shear transfer mechanism of a bulb-tee cross-section. Due to the limited number of tests in the literature conducted on full-scale post-tensioned girders, eleven shear tests were performed on seven prestressed concrete bulb-tee girder specimens. Of these tests, ten were conducted on specimens that contained a post-tensioning duct within their web and additional pretensioning reinforcement in their bottom and top flanges. The remaining shear test was conducted on a control specimen that did not have a post-tensioning tendon but contained the same pretensioning reinforcement as the post-tensioned girder specimens. The behavioral characteristics of these eleven test specimens at service level shear forces and at their ultimate shear strengths were evaluated in regards to five primary experimental variables: (i) the presence of a post-tensioning duct, (ii) post-tensioning duct material (plastic or steel), (iii) web-width, (iv) duct diameter, and (v) the transverse reinforcement ratio. The findings of this experimental study are described in detail within this dissertation, but can be summarized by the following two points. (i) No differences were observed in the ultimate or service level shear behavior in girders containing plastic grouted ducts when compared to those containing steel grouted ducts and (ii) The current procedure of reducing the effective web width to account for the presence of a post-tensioning duct is ineffective because it addresses the incorrect shear transfer mechanism. A method that correctly addresses the reduction in shear strength due to the presence of a post-tensioning duct was developed and verified using the tests performed during this experimental program and tests reported in the literature. / text

Background: Despite the increased awareness and education to the public, concussions in children continue to ensue without proper concussion education and management in school systems. Whether the child suffers a concussion in school or at home, it is essential for school nurses to have proper concussion education and evidence based management strategies to further monitor post-concussive symptoms in the school setting. Concussion symptoms can affect the student up to 7-10 days following the injury. Concussions can range from mild to severe, with symptoms lasting hours, days, months or longer. Children who experience a concussion can experience academic challenges that will affect them in the classroom. Without proper concussion education for school nurses, concussed youth may experience post-concussive symptoms. School nurses have a significant role, collaborating with the parents, providers, and the student in providing accommodations and support while transitioning back into the classroom. Purpose: To assess the knowledge of Utah school nurses regarding concussion education and management of the concussed student. In addition evaluating the educational intervention, which changed the knowledge base of the participants. Methods: A one group pre-test and post-test design was used. Study materials were emailed via the Utah School Nurse Association listserv to all Utah school nurses. A concussion educational power point was provided to these nurses before having them complete the post-test. Results: The results of the paired sample t-test revealed that there was a significant difference (p= .000) in comparison of the pre-test and post-test results after viewing the concussion educational power point. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test results after viewing the concussion educational power point. Therefore it can be concluded that providing education and awareness regarding concussion and its management will increase the knowledge and ultimately may change practice which in turn may improve patient outcomes.

La vie politique de Madagascar, durant 54 ans d’indépendance, est jalonnée de crises post-électorales et de mouvements de contestation socio-politiques multiples. De ce constat, le peuple malgache se sent en droit de disposer de ses richesses et de vivre un développement soutenu à partir d’une considération des valeurs traditionnelles. Madagascar exige une vraie mutation de la classe politique qui s’avère être inéluctable, mais le principal doute est de savoir si elle ira dans le sens escompté… Des résistances à cet élan se font sentir cardivers enjeux politiques et économiques, aussi bien internes qu'internationaux, exigent la mise aux pas du pays vers le modèle stéréotypé du développement à l’occidentale. Par conséquent, les termes « démocratie, bonne gouvernance, mondialisation » apparaissent galvaudés au point parfois de perdre la précision et la pertinence nécessaires à la compréhension des systèmes de valeurs et d'échanges politiques qu'ils sont supposés fonder et véhiculer. D’autres corollaires à ces superficiels changements imposés se font jour : prolifération d’acteurs politiques avec la multitude de groupements que cela suppose. Sachons que l’île compte actuellement 150 partis et associations politiques enregistrés auprès du ministère de l’Intérieur alors que, face à l’évolution politique,aucune « opposition » digne de ce nom ne se manifeste positivement. En fin de compte, Madagascar se trouve confrontée à des problèmes d'ordre culturel, historique, institutionnel, économique et social, face à cette inévitable mutation de sa classe politique. Après un essai de définition de la notion de pouvoir à Madagascar etun survol descriptif des acteurs politiques malgaches durant la colonisation, une étude sur le fondement de la classe politique actuelle a été menée afin de déceler les motifs réels de cette résistance à la mutation. Des difficultés socio-économiques internes viennent s'ajouter aux intérêts internationaux géopolitiques et économiques. Une observation particulière a été entreprise sur le comportement des investisseurs et décideurs français. Il s'agit, en fait, d'une illustration réelle et précise des comportements pater familias que la France adopte auprès de ses partenaires africains. / The political life of Madagascar is marked by post-election crises and sociopolitical protests, during its 54 years of independence. From this observation, Malagasy people feel entitled to enjoy their riches and live a sustained development based on consideration of traditional values. Madagascar demands a real transformation of its political class. This change seems inevitable, but the main question is whether it will go to the expected direction... Opposition to this impulse is felt, since domestic and international political and economic issues require that Madagascar conforms to the stereotypical pattern of western development. Therefore, the words “democracy, good governance, globalization” seem so overused. By this way, sometimes, they lose the necessary precision and relevance for an understanding of system of values and political exchanges they are supposed to express and establish. Other corollaries of these superficial changes that were imposed are emerging, namely the proliferation of political stakeholders that involve a multiplication of related groups. Infact, there is currently about 150 political parties and associations that are registered at the Ministry of DomesticAffairs. However, with these political developments, no real “opposition” manifest positively. Ultimately, faced with this famous and inevitable change of its political class, Madagascar is encountering cultural, historical, institutional, economic and social problems. To uncover the real motives of this resistance to change, first, atentative definition of the concept of power in Madagascar and a descriptive overview of the Malagasy politicians during the colonial period is conducted. Afterwards, a study on the basis of the current Malagasy political class is performed. In addition to domestic social and economic difficulties, there are international geopolitical and economic interests. A particular observation is undertaken on the behavior of French investors and policymakers. This is actually a real and accurate illustration of pater familias behaviors that France adopts vis-à-vis its African partners