Reconfiguración del estado colombiano: el difícil balance entre consenso y coerción

Este artículo analiza la transformación del estado nacional colombiano bajo el gobierno de Álvaro Uribe, centrándose en el Plan Colombia y los proyectos estatales que se desprenden de él, a fin de dar cuenta de la militarización estatal y la represión social asociada a ambos. Se argumenta que políticas de gobierno amparadas en dicho Plan tienen como objetivo la consolidación de un régimen de acumulación de mercado extractivo y especulativo que, aunque vinculado a un impulso hegemónico transnacional centrado en los Estados Unidos, también está íntimamente ligado a desarrollos locales y al conflicto interno de Colombia. Estas interacciones ofrecen una ilustración ejemplar de la reconfiguración a múltiples escalas de la política en la economía del mundo actual.This article analyzes the transformation of the Colombian national State under the government of Álvaro Uribe, focusing on Plan Colombia and the State projects that flow from it, in order to reflect on the militarization of state and the social repression associated with both. It is argued that government policies under the Plan are aimed at consolidating a regime of market accumulation and speculation that, while linked to a transnational hegemonic thrust emanating from the United States, is also closely linked to local developments and Colombia's internal conflict. These interactions provide an exemplary illustration of the reconfiguration at multiple levels of the world political economy today

The Effects of Task Demands and Interspersal Ratios on Student Accuracy in Mathematics

The primary purpose of this study is to extend research on increasing accuracy on academic assignments through use of the additive interspersal procedure. Additive interspersal is the addition of brief and/or easy problems among longer, more difficult target problems. Research has shown additive interspersal is effective in promoting student choice in regards to engaging in assignments. Only one study has found an increase in student accuracy on interspersed assignments as compared to control assignments when using additive interspersal. The current study attempted to determine if the results of that study are a statistical outlier or whether the uniqueness of that study using assignments requiring different task demands, can increase problem accuracy. Students (N=52) from three fifth-grade classes completed six math assignments incorporating two task demands and three ratios of interspersal. The interspersal ratios applied were no interspersal, on interspersed problem per three target problems, and one interspersal problem per one target problem. Each of these three ratios was used in two task demands. In the written (low-attention) task, students completed problems via paper and pencil. In the oral (high-attention) task, students had to compute mathematics problems in their head. Results showed students performed more accurately on written tasks compared to oral tasks. A target to interspersal problem ratio of 3:1 on oral tasks led to a significant increase in accuracy compared to the no interspersal and 1:1 interspersal conditions. A target problem to interspersed problem ratio of 1:1 on written tasks led to a significant increase in accuracy when compared to the no interspersal condition. The results of this study suggest the interspersal procedure can be used to increase student accuracy in math. However, the most effective ratio of interspersal to target problems is dependent on task demands. Interspersal studies have shown mixed results regarding student accuracy on assignments under the additive interspersal procedure. Currently, there is no understanding of the causal mechanisms to explain why interspersal increases accuracy in some instances but has no effect in other instances. Future theoretical research that explains the causal mechanism(s) of the interspersal procedure may allow us to maximize its impact on performance

Explosives recognition and awareness training: a psychological approach to pre-blast mitigation

The nation\u27s security strategy tends to be reactionary to a specific event. It is rare when established policies have proven successful, even though there is substantial financial and resource investment. The payoff is measured by analyzing the desired minimal effect rather than prevention of the event altogether. Such is the case in combating explosives-related threats. Today, research and development, science and technology, are plugged as the saviors of a post-blast event. Synthetic and composite materials are used to strengthen barriers and cutting-edge technology is utilized to refine the latest in standoff detection. These legitimate measures provide a sense of security for those who are protected . By establishing acceptance that the blast will occur, a facility\u27s infrastructure and occupants fall into a specific category where minimizing is the accepted goal, rather than blast prevention being the ultimate objective. Although massive walls can act as a deterrent to terrorist attacks, evil doers are capable of breaching those barriers both from the exterior and interior. Therefore, a more logical goal of preventing the blast must be emplaced. Like safety, where the aim is to prevent injury, explosives training must be implemented to enhance a site\u27s capabilities to deter possible attacks. This paper investigates the current practices in explosives recognition and awareness (ERA) training, the availability of such training to pertinent security personnel and first responders, the tactics utilized to mitigate explosives events and develops a comprehensive psychological training mechanism, site awareness of firing and explosives devices (SAFE-D), on which both the private and public sector can build an authentic explosives site security plan --Abstract, page iii

A study of M0R1/GEM1 and kinl-like kinesins arabidopsis

Microtubules perform essential functions in eukaryotic cells and, with other cytoskeletal elements, are involved in diverse cellular processes. Plant cells construct four microtubule arrays; There are two cortical arrays, the interphase cortical array, and the preprophase band, the mitotic spindle and the cytokinetic phragmoplast. The control and rearrangement of these arrays through the cell cycle is coordinated by Microtubule Associated Proteins or MAPs. These proteins have diverse functions including anchoring & crosslinking microtubules or otherwise regulating microtubule formation and destruction within the cell. MOR1/GEM1 is the Arabidopsis member of the conserved XMAP215/TOGp family of proteins which are microtubule stablising MAPs and promote microtubule polymerization in vitro. In many organisms such stabilization is opposed by Kinl catastrophic kinesins, which depolymerise and destabilize microtubules. In addition to the further characterization of MOR1/GEM1, here in this thesis, two putative KinI kinesins are identified in the Arabidopsis genome, a subfamily of kinesins previously uncharacterized in plants, AtCMK1 & AtCMK2. Immunolocalisation shows that MOR1/GEM1 associates with all plant microtubule arrays throughout the cell cycle and Is found to concentrate at the plus end of microtubules In the spindle next to chromosomes and the midline of the phragmoplast where oppositely orientated microtubules overlap. Furthermore, consistent with this localization, we show that a C-terminal fragment of MOR1/GEM1 which Is absent in the pollen cytokinesis mutant, gem1 can bind microtubules and as such we propose that the defects in the phragmoplast In gem1 mutant is a result of the reduction of the MOR1/GEM1 protein to bind microtubules. Further studies indicate that unlike its budding yeast homologue Stu2, MOR1/GEM1 does not for dimers.Immunolocalisation shows that AtCMK2 associates with all the plant microtubule arrays throughout the cell cycle, particularly the metaphase spindle. However in our experiments, AtCMKI does not, but rather locates to structures within the cytoplasm, such as golgi vesicles or organelles. Here we also show that AtCMK kinesins form homodimers and do not physically Interact with MOR1/GEM1 suggesting that these factors may be genetic interactors instead. Over-expression of AtCMK2 as a GPP fusion protein results in the disruption of microtubules, leaving short microtubule fragments and tubulin oligomers or aggregates, suggesting that AtCMK2 Is a true Arabidopsis catastrophic kinesin. In addition, GUS promoter fusions show that the expression patterns of these two kinesins are very different

Critique of schooling : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education

At one time compulsory schooling was a social gain. On the one hand children were released from economic exploitation and servitude. On the other they were to be released from the bondage of ignorance, and initiated into the lush areas of knowledge which had been previously reserved for a privileged few. Social change does occur, however, and changes in society and people can render formerly useful social arrangements inappropriate. The simple message contained in the discussion below is that 'schooling', as currently conceived and implemented is a pernicious anachronism. The shadow of schooling has, according to a number of commentators, cast an unhealthy darkness over increasing numbers of persons. Schooling, to them, produces the alienated, the intellectually rigid, the inadequate, the non-self-actualising, the fearful, the recipients of 'trained incapacity'. Farber (1969)(1) presents a passionate portrayal of the plight of the pupil within the jaws of schooling. He asserts that schooling does not liberate, rather it encapsulates and represses. To him schooling does not keep abreast of social change, it tenaciously and viciously attempts to press children into moulds which are no longer appropriate. Also, it is not only the outmoded content and objectives which are alone corrosive, but the mode of functioning too

Revitalizing Deteriorated Urban Neighborhood Real Estate Markets Through Concentrated Homeownership Development: Determining the Spillover Effects of New Homes on the Value of Surrounding Homes

The promotion of homeownership opportunities represents an important approach used by localities to support the revitalization of deteriorated urban neighborhoods. Homeownership is associated with a variety of social and economic benefits to the homeowner including increased residential stability and equity accumulation. The introduction of new homeownership opportunities into a deteriorated urban neighborhood as part of local public policy is intended to capitalize upon the anticipated positive social and economic outcomes. Such new homeownership development also presents the opportunity to generate positive spillover effects on the adjacent existing properties in the neighborhood which may ultimately result in higher real estate tax values for the locality. Although the theory and research considering such spillover effects are limited, the gravity model provides a basis for examining the spatial interaction between the new homes and the surrounding existing homes. The application of this model to the new homeownership intervention accounts for the influence of the new development in terms of density (number of units) and distance in relation to the existing units. In order to further consider the applicability of gravity theory, this study examines the impact of two new homeownership revitalization developments on surrounding residential property values in Newport News, Virginia. Geographic information systems (GIS) provided the framework for identifying properties located within specified rings surrounding the two homeownership revitalization areas. Real estate property value assessments were furnished by the City of Newport News for 2000 to 2005 and provided the opportunity to create a hedonic model to identify the primary property amenities which accounted for the variation in property values. The GIS-facilitated ring variables were incorporated into the hedonic model to enable the consideration of spillover effects generated by the new homes on the adjacent existing homes. The results of the study indicate that the introduction of the new homes appears to influence property values in the surrounding neighborhood where there was a dense core of new development and an existing homogenous neighborhood housing stock. Therefore, concentrated homeownership revitalization efforts offer the potential to positively influence the values of adjacent residential properties thereby enhancing a locality\u27s real estate market

Adolescent Sexual Norms and College Sexual Experiences: Do High School Norms Influence College Behavior?

Research on adolescent and young adult sexuality typically does not examine how social norms and other messages learned in adolescence may impact sexual behavior in emerging adulthood. This research uses a life course framework to examine how social norms about sexuality in high school influence subsequent sexual behavior within university cultures promoting casual sex. Forty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate women on a large public Western United States university campus. Women were asked about family, peer, school, and community norms about sexuality in adolescence, and their sexual and romantic relationships in college. Five groups of women emerged from the data: the Religious, the Relationship Seekers, the High School Partiers, the Late Bloomers, and the Career Women. Women within each group had similar normative backgrounds and also utilized similar strategies to integrate into cultures of casual sex on their University campus. It is concluded that social norms from adolescence have striking implications for sexual behavior in the college setting, and that research on sexuality must adopt a life course perspective that acknowledges women’s previous normative environments in order to understand women’s sexual behavior in college

THE TRADE MANUFACTURE AND DESIGN OF ENGLISH BLACKSMITHING IN THE POST WAR PERIOD

Blacksmithing has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last twenty five years. This study examines the changes and the context within which they have taken place. The effects upon the products of the blacksmith are considered through empirical research and practical work. The working methods and philosophies of blacksmiths representative of a continuity of traditions and innovatory practice are investigated through interviews and other approaches. From its origins as a rural and industrial craft, blacksmithing has emerged in the form of art-blacksmithing. Institutional and government intervention, new technologies and markets provide the context in which the ideologies and practices are examined. It is argued that these new blacksmiths are selfconscious designer-makers who are technically innovative, and commercially aware, operating successfully between and within the cultural and commercial arenas. In combining practical and decorative functionalism, and producing site-specific art work at a competitive price, artist blacksmiths successfully inhabit the worlds of art, industry, trade and craft, often simultaneously