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Background: Despite efforts to extend Universal Health Coverage in Colombia, rural and remote populations still face significant challenges in accessing equitable health services. Social innovation has been growing in Colombia as a creative response to the country's social problems including access to healthcare. This paper presents the findings of a social innovation case study, which was implemented in the rural area of Sumapaz in Colombia, with the purpose of holistically addressing the health needs of the local population and enhancing health service access. Methods: A case study methodology was used to investigate and understand the process by which the Model of Integral Health Care for Rural Areas was developed and how the various strategies were defined and implemented. Qualitative methods were used in the data collection and all data was analysed using Farmer et al. staged framework on grassroots social innovation which includes growing the idea; implementing the idea; sustainability and diffusion. Results: The social innovation model was designed as a co-learning process based on community participation. The model was implemented adopting a holistic health approach and considerate of the conditions of a rural context. As a result of this process, access to quality health services were enhanced for the vulnerable rural community. The model has also provided outcomes that transcend health and contribute to individual and community development in different areas eg. agriculture. Conclusion: The Model of Integral Health Care for Rural Areas is a social innovation in health that demonstrates how Universal Health Coverage can be achieved for vulnerable populations through a series of creative strategies which fill systemic voids in access and co-ordination of care, as well as in addresings upstream environmental factors responsible for ill-health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite efforts to extend Universal Health Coverage in Colombia, rural and remote populations still face significant challenges in accessing equitable health services. Social innovation has been growing in Colombia as a creative response to the country's social problems including access to healthcare. This paper presents the findings of a social innovation case study, which was implemented in the rural area of Sumapaz in Colombia, with the purpose of holistically addressing the health needs of the local population and enhancing health service access. Methods: A case study methodology was used to investigate and understand the process by which the Model of Integral Health Care for Rural Areas was developed and how the various strategies were defined and implemented. Qualitative methods were used in the data collection and all data was analysed using Farmer et al. staged framework on grassroots social innovation which includes growing the idea; implementing the idea; sustainability and diffusion. Results: The social innovation model was designed as a co-learning process based on community participation. The model was implemented adopting a holistic health approach and considerate of the conditions of a rural context. As a result of this process, access to quality health services were enhanced for the vulnerable rural community. The model has also provided outcomes that transcend health and contribute to individual and community development in different areas eg. agriculture. Conclusion: The Model of Integral Health Care for Rural Areas is a social innovation in health that demonstrates how Universal Health Coverage can be achieved for vulnerable populations through a series of creative strategies which fill systemic voids in access and co-ordination of care, as well as in addresings upstream environmental factors responsible for ill-health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a nonlinear mathematical model, describing the spread of high-risk alcohol consumption behavior among college students in Colombia. We proved the existence and stability of the alcohol-free and drinking state equilibrium by means of Lyapunov function and LaSalle's invariance principle. Also, we apply optimal control to study the impact of a preventive measure on the spread of drinking behavior among college students. Finally, we use numerical simulations and available data provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Colombian Ministry of Justice to validate the obtained mathematical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare costs is one of the most studied issue in our days because of increasing demand and the aging of population. Final costs of medicines is one of the most important issue in patient treatment and determine its real value is an important task within hospitals. Simulation models and in this case system dynamics allows to build representations of reality considering the interaction of the whole variables that affect the system where first a causal loop diagram allows to represent and identify the interaction between variables for develop a stock flow diagram to determine the final results. Objective: Develop a simulation model that allows decision makers in Hospitals and Governments to identify the variables that affect the final cost of medicines and to determine the legal reimbursement allowed by national agencies. Methods: This paper presents a conceptual modeling framework using a causal loop diagram and a dynamic simulation model in the real case of a hospital in Colombia to explore how different internal charges for medicines affect the behavior of the final unit-dose cost of medicines, considering the complexity of the pharmaceutical system. We developed a simulation model to represent and characterize the pharmaceutical supply chain in a hospital and by using real data we validate the results of the model and conclude about the supply chain of medicines in Colombia using the legal regulations as a main factor of analysis. Results and conclusions: We found that in some cases the maximum reimbursement value is less than the final cost of medicines within the hospital, which means that hospitals lose money on the administration of medicines to patients. The benefit of this model is that with the result the hospital can determine the real final monetary value of medicines, including the different processes starting from the reception of the medicines, ending with the administration to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a decisional framework and a mathematical model for the sustainable design of biodiesel supply chain networks (BSCND). We consider a broad group of sustainable aims, i.e. standard economic goals (revenue and logistics costs of BSCND), environmental issues based on a biodiesel production life cycle assessment (LCA), and the social incidental aspects (e.g. crime control, political stability, and community attitude, among others). The framework begins with a simulation of the biodiesel production system, feeding later, with suitable input parameters and suitable solutions, and a macro-location model designed to establish the regional positioning of biofuel conversion plants. Optimal regions are used as initial feasible solution space for the proposed micro-location model. In this part of the framework, we introduce an adaptation of Extended Goal Programming to rank the best municipalities (definitive locations) emphasizing the social aspects under consideration. The framework application is set up in the following Colombian context: first generation biodiesel production from palm oil feedstock. Our computational results indicate that the Colombian city of Rionegro (in the Santader region) is the most sustainable location for a new biodiesel plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion of fossil fuels in the transport sector represents the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason, governments are fostering diversification of energy sources by creating a set of governmental environmental policies and initiatives. In this context, biofuels are expected to represent a substantial part of source diversification, but it is necessary to assess the sustainability of their market to explore its effect on economical, technological, social, political and environmental dimensions. This research presents a dynamic simulation modelling of the Colombian biodiesel market and analyzes the policy support instruments for creating and managing it. A system dynamics based model is proposed to enable decision-makers to understand the influences between the different variables that describe the system and the impact of the biodiesel government policy in Colombia. The primary focus of this paper is to establish the characteristics of each sustainability dimension for the case of study and apply the system dynamics methodology with different types of validation. Finally, the Colombian market status and a sensitivity analysis are developed. The results show that in order to support the development of this sector, it is necessary to diversify the raw materials for the production of biodiesel in the medium term, which means raw materials without competence for the primary rainforest or competition with food productive lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality modeling intends to represent a water body in order to assess their status and project the effects of different measures taken for their protection. This paper presents the results obtained from the Qual2kw model implementation in the first 50 kilometers of the Aburrá-Medellín River, in their most critical conditions of water quality, which correspond to low flow rates. After the model calibration, three recovery scenarios (short-term, medium-term and long-term) were evaluated. In the first scenario the sanitation only improved in some streams, in accordance with the Plan of Sanitation and Management of Discharges that was considered. Medium and long-term scenarios, with the operation of the new Water Waste Treatment Plant (WWTP) of the Bello municipality and an increase in the sewage collection, were considered. The obtained results show the positive impact of the operation of the WWTP of Bello in the balance of BOD5, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper propose an additional plan of production in a Company, including employees in a handicap condition, which will count with different times to execute the different tasks and sometimes incompatible in specific activities. The Model of mixed integer linear programming seeks to maximize production as well as the respective cash flow. The tributary benefits of the Colombian government associated to the inclusion of handicap condition personnel, are considered for the model. The Model is validated with a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The districting problem in home health care (HHC) is part of the logistics decisions that healthcare providers face when designing service networks to deliver coordinated medical care to patients' homes. In this paper we study such problem in the context of a rapid-growing city, phenomenon that refers to the increment of the population in urban areas, and which results in problems such as the proliferation of marginal neighborhoods, increment of epidemic diseases, absence of governmental control and security, and lack of basic health services. Consequently, three factors derived from this phenomenon are integrally studied: geographical disposition of the population, security conditions to access basic units, and trends on demand for HHC services. We propose a bi-objective mathematical model and identify trade-offs, allowing finding better compromised solutions. We evaluate the model with real data instances from a HHC institution which delivers services in the largest cities in Colombia. Results show that better districting configurations can be obtained and deteriorations of less than 10% in Travel Workload can produce improvements of more than 80% in Workload Deviations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last stage of classical transport modelling, known as the sequential model of the four steps, estimates the flow pattern of the system. Then, in a post-processing phase all measures of system performance such as the level of service and externalities are estimated. This paper compares the estimated BPR and conical volume-delay with data taken in six multilane roads in Bogota, finding ranges of recommended function parameters values. We concluded that the values traditionally used for these functions are not the best for explaining the congestion that occurs in the environment studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a real-life course timetabling and classroom assignment problem found at Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia. The problem is characterized and modeled using integer linear programming. Because of its complexity in the number of decision variables and constraints, a hierarchical two-phase solution approach is proposed: course timetabling firstly, and classroom assignment, secondly. The approach is validated using real data from the first semester of year 2012. Results show that the proposed approach obtains a better utilization of classrooms satisfying both hard and soft constraints of the original problem. A sensitivity analysis is finally carried out, in which it was possible to verify the possibility of reducing both the number of classrooms to be assigned and the number of course groups. Both analyses allow an increase in teaching resource availability and a reduction of total cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper presents the results of a study carried out during oncologic clinical practices as a nurse, with the objective of analysing the role of patient care after the patient has died. It is based on experiences gathered during the practice, which supposes a contribution for the discipline of nursing. For the analysis of this theory the hierarchic structure of knowledge in nursing is revisited, and from meta-paradigms we move onto philosophy and from this onto meta-paradigmatic concepts, to conclude by analysing the patters of knowledge the situation reflects. The model which directs the guidelines used is the conceptual model of nursing as care, presented by Boykin and Schoenhofer. The guidelines were used for the analysis of nursing situations developed by the Care for Chronic Patients and their Families Group of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, which allowed us to include the narrative of an experience lived by the author in her practise at the National Institute for Cancer Research (ESE) in order to identify the theoretical-conceptual components of transcendent care. The situation analysed reflects a nursing care that can be catalogued as a nursing situation, where the meta-paradigmatic concepts of the professional discipline, the philosophical view of reciprocity, and the knowledge required by transcendent care can be identified. Epistemological and ontological analysis of the care experience lived in the nursing situation with a middle-aged woman in the final stage of her life, allowed the nurse to see past her daily clinical routine and understand how, by identifying the different elements that clarify the dimensions and possibilities enclosed in nursing, viewed as care, it is possible to transcend and to create better tools for qualifying our own practise and that of our colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology based on genetic algorithms that allows the reordering of the existing park transformers voltage level I of the distribution systems of Bogotá city, Colombia, in order to maximize the recognition of assets that the regulator CREG (Comisión Reguladora de Energía y Gas) made to the various network operators, as set out in resolution 097 of 2008. For the application of the algorithm, we obtained maximum active power measurements for each hour of the year 2009 in a number of transformers of different capacities, chosen at random, installed in the distribution system CODENSA SA ESP, the company that provides electric service in the Bogotá city. With this information we built representative daily load curves and developed a database that contains the operating costs of moving equipment and tariffs, from which it was possible to model the objective function and constraints of the problem, obtaining a high number of possible combinations (about 1 * 10134) due to the large number of nodes and processors present in the distribution system. Conventional search of a solution in the above situation implies the use of prohibitive times. For this reason we implemented a classical genetic algorithm, thus obtaining an optimal solution that offers a financial gain in the first year, associated with the increase in the usage charge, of $ 253.446.362,47 (COP), profits that could be increased considerably when running the algorithm on larger transformers parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is on a mathematical model to determine the main parameters in the sugar cane juice extraction process by using cylindrical rollers. The main characteristic of such a process is the sugar cane compression, which makes it different from other models to extract juice. Rotation speed, roller geometry sugar cane physical mechanical characteristics involved in the process are included in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the use of the stated-preference technique in a discrete choice experiment carried out to examine the behavior of car users concerning changes in parking costs in the central business district of Bogotá. The research seeks to determine the level of elasticity between parking costs and car use for work trips. First, the area of interest is selected, bearing in mind compatibility with other studies. Then, the experiment is designed taking into account variables such as costs, commuting time, parking time and walking distance from the parking lot to the workplace. A multinomial logit model is used in order to determine elasticity between the parking cost and the use of the car, and to experiment with the variables included in the model. The model shows that the elasticity between parking costs and car use is -0.13496, which is considered low when compared to international standards. However, the model indicates high sensitivity on the part of car users with respect to walking distances. This work contributes to improving parking pricing policies to discourage the use of cars in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies in software development in Colombia face a number of problems such as the construction of software in a artesian, empirical and disorganized way. Therefore, it is necessary for these companies to implement projects to improve their development processes, because ensure the quality of products, by improving their software processes, is a step that should give to be able to compete in the market. To implement process improvement models, it is not enough to say whether a company is actually getting benefits, definitely one of the first actions in a to improvement project is to be able to determine the current status of the process. Only by measuring it is possible to know the state of a process in an objective way, and only through this it is possible to plan strategies and solutions, about improvements to make, depending on the objectives of the organiza-tion. This paper proposes a light model to assess software development process, which seeks to help the Colombian software development companies to determine whether the process of implementing improvements, being effective in achieving the objectives and goals set to implement this, through the use of measures to evaluate the process of improving their development processes, allowing characterize the current practices of the company, identifying weak-nesses, strengths and abilities of the processes that are carried out within this and thus control or prevent the causes of low quality, or deviations in costs or planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a mathematical model of the problem of the planning of systems of electrical distribution which considers the location and sizing of new feeders and substations, and the reconductorazing of existing feeders. The mathematical model used is of the type Lineal Mixed Integer Programming (LMIP) and to solve it, an algorithm of Branch and Bound is used. In order to test the proposed algorithm, the electrical system of the city of Pereira is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results provided by the fine-scale thermohaline structure of near-surface layer (NSL) study done in the Colombian Pacific Ocean (CPO). Mathematical models for different regimes of the near-surface layer are formulated. Based on three stations, an hourly analysis of meteorological data, thickness change, temperature and salinity of this layer was done. The principles of formation of the thermohaline structure for NSL over CPO are related to night convection, wind-wave mixing, volume absorption of radiant energy and precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]