This doctoral dissertation examines the social representation of masculinities in the contemporary Colombian cultural industry. The corpus of the study is composed by the novels of four Colombian writers (Santiago Gamboa, Alonso Sánchez Baute, John Better, and Efraím Medina) and their contributions to SoHo, a magazine for heterosexual men that is considered the Colombian version of Playboy. The research proves that gay and trans male bodies and subjectivities are commodified, spectacularized, and appropriated in order to include them in the late-capitalist logic that Colombia adopted at the beginning of the 90s. This dissertation relies on an interdisciplinary approach that combines Literary, Cultural and Gender Studies, and Queer Linguistics. In the first chapter, I argue that SoHo is a site of hybridization where local, regional, global, as well as hegemonic and counterhegemonic discourses about male Colombian sexuality concur. The second chapter focuses on the representation of gay and trans masculinities in Locas de felicidad (2009) by John Better and Al diablo la maldita primavera (2007) by Alonso Sánchez Baute, and shows how these Colombian authors question the neoliberal policies implemented in their country by constructing the male gay body as a commodity. Such construction reveals that LGBTQ subjects can only be fully considered citizens if they are useful to the imperatives of a liberal market economy. In chapter three, I explore the connection between Colombia's armed conflict, neoliberal policies, and masculinities in the novel Plegarias nocturnas (2012) by Santiago Gamboa. In this analysis I demonstrate that a violent, protectionist, and liberal masculine figure was erected in Colombia's national discourse as one of the means to cope with the longstanding military conflict in the country. Plegarias nocturnas contests this figure by emphasizing queer ways of living. The final chapter deals with Sexualidad de la Pantera Rosa (2004) by Efraím Medina and shows that although the subaltern protagonist of the novel presents himself as a critic of patriarchy, the power of his criticism is concealed through the use of an ironic and ambiguous discourse that, in the end, leads to the conservation of his heterosexual dominance. This research project is the first to analyze contemporary Colombian masculinities. The study of the rhetorical strategies employed by several writers to portray late capitalist masculinities enriches our knowledge of 20th and 21st-century Latin American literature demonstrating how it reflects the sociopolitical and economic changes of this period. In addition, by looking at how Colombian masculinities intertwine with regional and global gender politics, this research contributes to the current debates about sexual minorities and their role in maintaining neoliberal normative ways of living. Therefore, this study proposes innovative discussions regarding how the South reproduces and/or contests hegemonic discourses.

Este estudo trata da relação de afinidade entre a religião, a família e a escola e suas influências no desempenho escolar de alunos provenientes das chamadas \"classes populares\". Com base em entrevistas, realizadas em uma escola pública da periferia da cidade de São Paulo, investiga-se o estilo de vida de famílias de alunos protestantes, que apresentaram um rendimento escolar favorável no ensino fundamental. Para tanto, utiliza-se, como referência, o consumo, considerado em termos de práticas culturais relacionadas às demandas escolares. Analisa-se a articulação entre as práticas socializadoras da religião protestante, da escola e das famílias protestantes entrevistadas, a partir das afinidades eletivas entre elas, com o objetivo específico de determinar disposições de habitus que contribuem para que o aluno apresente um rendimento escolar favorável. Demonstra-se, por meio de evidências empíricas, baseadas nas observações de campo e no discurso dos informantes, que o êxito escolar de alunos protestantes apresenta-se associado a um feixe de situações socializadoras, uma vez que tal êxito não se deve apenas ao fato da pertença religiosa protestante, mas ao modo como as famílias se relacionam com a religião. Dessa forma, focaliza-se o êxito no rendimento escolar dos alunos investigados enquanto relacionado a uma coerência nos projetos das instâncias de socialização aos quais esses alunos estão sujeitos - família, escola e religião. / This research is about the relation linking religion, family and school, and their influences on the schooling development on students who belong to layers named \"popular classes\". Based on interviews made within a public school in São Paulo City suburbia, it\'s surveyed the sort of life Protestants students\' families take due to their better shown schooling development at the elementary school. For this survey to happen it\'s searched the purchasing habits considered in term of cultured practices in relation to the schooling demands. It\'s analyzed the articulation between the Protestant religion socializing practices of schools and families from the interviewed ones, with the specific aim to determine the dispositions of habitués that contribute to the student with a better schooling development. It\'s shown, by the usage of empirics evidences, based on field observations and on informing speeches that the schooling improvement of Protestant students is linked to socializing situations, once this improvement doesn\'t happen just due to the fact of the Protestant religion presence, but to the way families relate to religion. Through this the schooling improvement is spotlighted within the surveyed students along with coherence on the socialization to which these students are subjected - family, school and religion.

In this thesis, a new improved V-Ray subsurface scattering shader based on the improved diffusion theory is proposed. The new shader supports the better dipole and the quantized diffusion reflectance model for layered translucent materials. These new implemented models build on previous diffusion BSSRDFs and in the case of quantized diffusion uses an extended source function for the material layer. One of the main contributions and significant improvement over V-Ray’s existing subsurface scattering shader is the front and back subsurface scattering separation. This was achieved by dividing the illumination map that is used to calculate each shading’s point color, in two parts: the front part that comes of front lighting and the back one that comes of back lighting. Thus, the subsurface scattering layer can be divided in its consisting parts and each of them can be controlled, weighted and used independently. Finally, the project’s outcome is a new V-Ray material that provides all the above improvements in an intuitive, practical and efficient shader with several intuitive algorithm and light map controls, where artists can create subsurface scattering effects through three subsurface scattering layers.

This thesis is focused on the labor conditions of garment industry in developing countries. The text is structured as a comparative case study that is concerned with the situation in Cambodia and Bangladesh. Case studies of these countries describe domestic garment industry, its general and specific problems and a rate of compliance with labor standards. The goal of the thesis is to determine whether international organizations have an influence on the improvement of labor conditions in developing countries and compare it with other relevant actors. In this particular case the attention is focused on the International Labor Organization which manages its supportive programs in both countries but in a different manner. A pilot ILO program focused on the private sector has started in Cambodia thirteen years ago while in Bangladesh ILO had managed to run traditional program focused on the public sector until the Rana Plaza tragedy. Moreover, in the case of Bangladesh is a characterization of change after the tragedy. The thesis examines innovative ILO program that focuses on the monitoring of the garment factories, its functioning and outcomes. It also examines the role of ILO and its orientation by a theory of institutional change: whether it is possible to restore efficacy of one of the oldest...

Yes / Objectives To pilot a complex intervention to support healthcare and improve early detection and treatment for common health conditions experienced by nursing home (NH) residents. Design Pilot cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting 14 NHs (7 intervention, 7 control) in London and West Yorkshire. Participants NH residents, their family carers and staff. Intervention Complex intervention to support healthcare and improve early detection and treatment of urinary tract and respiratory infections, chronic heart failure and dehydration, comprising: (1) ‘Stop and Watch (S&W)’ early warning tool for changes in physical health, (2) condition-specific care pathway and (3) Situation, , Assessment and Recommendation tool to enhance communication with primary care. Implementation was supported by Practice Development Champions, a Practice Development Support Group and regular telephone coaching with external facilitators. Outcome measures Data on NH (quality ratings, size, ownership), residents, family carers and staff demographics during the month prior to intervention and subsequently, numbers of admissions, accident and emergency visits, and unscheduled general practitioner visits monthly for 6 months during intervention. We collected data on how the intervention was used, healthcare resource use and quality of life data for economic evaluation. We assessed recruitment and retention, and whether a full trial was warranted. Results We recruited 14 NHs, 148 staff, 95 family carers and 245 residents. We retained the majority of participants recruited (95%). 15% of residents had an unplanned hospital admission for one of the four study conditions. We were able to collect sufficient questionnaire data (all over 96% complete). No NH implemented intervention tools as planned. Only 16 S&W forms and 8 care pathways were completed. There was no evidence of harm. Conclusions Recruitment, retention and data collection processes were effective but the intervention not implemented. A full trial is not warranted.

ln a class action suit brought to obtain a judgment declaring that the Kentucky system of financing public elementary and secondary education violated the Kentucky Constitution Judge Ray Corns ruled the system unconstitutional on May 31, 1988. He held that the system violated not only the state constitution but also the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the study traced the historical and legal development of the financial support system for public elementary and secondary education from 1830 to the present date. Second, the study analyzed the facts surrounding the ruling declaring the system unconstitutional. The study was a historical review of the legislative documents, historical records, and legislative acts which set the stage for the unconstitutional judgment. Judge Ray Corns, the Circuit Court judge rendering the decision, and other key actors in The Council for Better Education v. Wilkinson were interviewed to analyze facts and events related to the ruling that the system was unconstitutional. / Ed. D.

此論文係以商業營運計畫為撰寫架構，希望透過創新的異業整合方式，結合油品銷售業者、整車製造廠、鋰鐵磷電池廠和資、通訊電子業者等跨越不同產業的廠商，以電動車為基礎打造全新的營運模式，並為各領域之廠商在現有事業之外另闢新的產銷契機。 本計畫以在台灣擁有最多加油站數的台灣中油公司為核心，建議由其負責主導與整合，並創設名為「綠寶石電池」的新公司，借重中油的加油站據點等無人可及的實體通路優勢來吸引不同電動車與鋰鐵磷電池的上、下游業者一起共相盛舉，進而共同在即將爆發大成長商機的電動車與鋰鐵磷電池市場獲得領先地位。 中油可將裕隆等整車製造廠、鋰鐵磷電池廠商和資、通訊電子業者視為可提供營運綜效的策略投資與合作夥伴，初期規劃的總資本額為新台幣100億元，由中油負責其中的40~50億元，希望引進的其他投資金額分別由裕隆等數家整車製造廠投資共約30~40億元，以及數家具備優異技術開發與量產能力的鋰鐵磷正極材料廠商共約20~30億元。 綠寶石計畫投入的市場包括依行駛里程收取充電費用，舊鋰鐵磷電池儲電模組轉售，和各種娛樂休閒與商務的資、通訊與網路服務等，自2011年開始營運，預估2011年到2015年的總營收分別為22.85億元、59.82億元、96.78億元、136.95億元和179.11億元。 其中，來自依行駛里程收取充電費用的收入約佔總營收60%，自舊鋰鐵磷電池儲電模組轉售業務所取得的營業收入約佔總營收30%~35%，來自資、通訊網路服務的營業收入則佔總營收的5%~10%左右。 綠寶石預估在2013年即可正式轉虧為盈，稅前淨利達22.92億元，每股獲利可達1.72元，2014年與2015年的營運將更上層樓，稅前獲利分別為43.95億元和77.06億元，每股獲利可達4.40元和7.71元。

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:47:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Natalia Aparecida de Meira Franco.pdf: 464060 bytes, checksum: 4c4cdf3320f82f4b21658a578c0520aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-27 / The following study has as main objective to analyze the benefits of cultural activities in the improvement of elder´s health that are a part of the Better Age group from the Dom Bosco Social work, located in the Itaquera neighborhood/São Paulo. Through the specific goals there is the survey of the social demographic profile of the subjects, levels of the arterial pressure and the realized social activities. The methodological approach of the research was quantitative and qualitative, and through the used procedures it´s highlighted the semi-structured interview, taped and transcript by the researcher, the measurement of the arterial pressure and the field journal. It was selected 9 subjects, from which 7 women, between the ages of 70 and 76, and two men, between the ages of 70 and 71, characterizing the feminization of old age . The criteria of choice were: be over 60 years old and present history of arterial hypertension. Regarding their status, one woman was single, three were widowers, one married and two separated; regarding the men, one widower and one married. All of the subjects were retired and Catholics. It was found that the majority was alphabetized in the Better Age Group. Regarding the pressure levels, it was verified that in the first week, before initializing the activities after vacation, a man and a woman had the arterial pressure of 150X90, and two women with 140X90, values considered as hypertension by the Brazilian Cardiology Society. On the second week, about one month after the beginning of activities, all the participants presented normal levels: 130X80 in one man and one woman; 130X70 in two women; 120x80 in one man and in three women; and 120x70 in one woman. Of the obtained results none of the subjects presented arterial pressure above 130x90, which proves that their health improved after participating of the cultural activities. During the field-research we observed that to compare the perceived and the real health, as well as to get the health track of the subjects before they entered the program, through the nursing historic, we felt the need of the realization of the Nursing Assistance Systematization (SAE). These results indicated that the health of the elders who were part of this research improved or maintained in control of their arterial pressure; improving as a consequence the sociability which was found on the answers of the question which are the impacts of cultural activities in the improvement of health and sociability of the elders of the Better Age group. Understanding health as a culture is fundamental for the comprehension and experience of the human life extension, recognizing elders as subjects and also as cultural constructors. The possibilities of experience and sociability starting from the cultural activities influence in your new state of living your aging process / O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal analisar os benefícios das atividades culturais na melhoria da saúde de idosos participantes do grupo Melhor Idade da Obra Social Dom Bosco, situado no bairro de Itaquera/ São Paulo. Entre os objetivos específicos estão o levantamento do perfil sócio demográfico dos sujeitos, os níveis de pressão arterial dos mesmos e as atividades culturais realizadas. A abordagem metodológica da pesquisa foi quanti-qualitativa, e entre os procedimentos usados estão destacamos a entrevista semi-estruturada, gravada e transcrita pela pesquisadora, a mensuração da pressão arterial e o diário de campo. Foram selecionados nove sujeitos, dos quais sete mulheres, entre 70 e 76 anos, e dois homens, entre 70 e 71 anos, caracterizando a feminização da velhice . Os critérios de escolha foram: ter acima de 60 anos e apresentar antecedentes de hipertensão arterial. Em relação ao estado civil, uma mulher era solteira, três viúvas, uma casada e duas separadas; dos homens, um viúvo e um casado. Todos aposentados e católicos. Constatamos que a maioria foi alfabetizada no grupo Melhor Idade. Em relação aos níveis pressóricos, verificamos que na primeira semana, antes de iniciarem as atividades após as férias, um homem e uma mulher estavam com a pressão arterial de 150x90, e duas mulheres com 140x90, valores considerados como hipertensão arterial pela Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia. Na segunda semana, cerca de um mês após o início das atividades, todos os participantes apresentaram níveis normais: 130x80 em um homem e uma mulher; 130x70 em duas mulheres; 120x80 em um homem e três mulheres; e 120x70 em uma mulher. Dos resultados obtidos nenhum sujeito apresentou pressão arterial acima de 130x90, o que realmente comprova que a saúde melhorou após participar das atividades culturais. No decorrer da pesquisa de campo observamos que para compararmos a saúde percebida e a real, como também para ter dados da saúde dos sujeitos da pesquisa antes de entrarem no programa, pelo histórico de enfermagem, sentimos necessidade da realização da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (SAE). Estes resultados indicam que a saúde das pessoas idosas desta pesquisa melhorou ao manterem o controle da pressão arterial; melhorando, consequentemente, a sociabilidade o que se constatou nas respostas à pergunta sobre quais seriam os impactos das atividades culturais na melhoria da saúde e sociabilidade dos idosos do grupo Melhor Idade. Entender saúde como cultura é fundamental para a compreensão e vivência da extensão da vida humana, reconhecendo as pessoas idosas como sujeitos e, como tais, também como construtores culturais. As possibilidades de convivência e sociabilidade a partir das atividades culturais influem em seu novo modo de viver seu processo de envelhecimento

This paper observes Hong Kong nostalgia cinema. After the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed, a tendency of anxiety loomed among the society of Hong Kong. People started to feel nostalgic toward their past and concerned their uncertain future. From the late 80s to mid 90s, nostalgia films were produced as a trend, reflecting Hong Kong's identity crisis of its ambiguous entity and fear of reuniting with its Communist motherland. Based on Hong Kong's historical and cultural backgrounds, my thesis examines the nature of nostalgia through Stanley Kwan's Rouge (1988) and the impact of nostalgia by contrasting John Woo's A Better Tomorrow (1986) and Wong Kar-wai's Days of Being Wild (1990).

Aufgrund des Mißerfolges der Mars Observer Mission 1992 und allgemeiner sinkender Raumfahrtetats, entwickelte NASA 1995 die „Faster Better Cheaper“ (FBC) Philosophie. Diese sah vor, daß planetare Missionen innerhalb eines kurzen Zeitraumes und mit begrenzten Budgets geplant, gebaut, getestet und gestartet werden sollten. Dabei sollten neue Technologien und neue Betriebsmethoden zum Einsatz kommen. Mögliche Fehlschläge durch unerprobte Instrumente oder Prozesse wurden dabei nicht ausgeschlossen. Der Mißerfolg der Mars-Missionen im Jahr 1999 und weiterer Projekte zwangen jedoch zu einem Umdenken der „Faster Better Cheaper“ Philosophie. Eine Vielzahl von Abhandlungen und Untersuchungen wurden daraufhin veröffentlicht, die Fehler der FBC Philosophie aufzeigten, ohne dabei jedoch auf mögliche Verbesserungen einzugehen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit besteht in der Ermittlung effektiver Maßnahmen, so daß Ressourcen während des Lebenszyklus eines Projektes optimal eingesetzt werden können. Aus der Analyse der fehlgeschlagenen Missionen und einer Erläuterung der Funktionen verschiedener planetarer Missionskonzepte, werden mögliche Maßnahmen zur Verringerung der Kosten ermittelt. Die Effektivität dieser Maßnahmen wird anhand eines Bewertungskataloges im Rahmen einer Simulation zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten einer Mission bestimmt. Es wird dabei eine Handlungshilfe erstellt, mit der ein Projektmanager die Verteilung von Ressourcen optimieren kann. Die Systemtechnik bietet hierzu eine Vielzahl von Analyse- und Simulationsmethoden, mit der die hier gemachten Angaben bewertet und überprüft werden können. / Due to the failure of the Mars Observer Mission in 1992 and decreasing budgets, NASA developed a new philosophy for the development, design and operations called „Faster Better Cheaper“ (FBC). New technologies and new management methods were deployed to reduce lift cycle costs. Possible mission failures were expected. After the losses of the Mars Missions in 1999 and other missions, NASA was forced to rethink its FBC approach. Numerous papers have been published in the meantime which identified the mistakes of the missions and of FBC, but none have identified potential improvements. The objective of this paper is the development of potential measurements for the design of the operations of unmanned space missions that should be applied during its life cycles. A new tool in form of an EXCEL spreadsheet will be developed based on historical missions, which can be used a program manager who can allocate resources in optimal way. Systems Engineering Techniques will be used in various ways to identify problems and to measure potential improvements.