abstract: Saudi Arabia has been facing issues with completing construction projects on time and on budget. It has been documented that 70% of public construction projects are delayed. Studies have identified the low-bid delivery method as an important factor in causing such delays. The procurement system (low-bid) ignores contractors’ performance, and that is reflected in projects’ performance. A case study was performed, at a University campus in northern Saudi Arabia, identifying the major causes of project delays and cost overruns. The University was experiencing delays from 50% to 150%. Also, the actual project costs for four projects were examined and found that all four projects’ costs were higher than the original bid. The delay and cost overruns factors were gathered from the University engineers. A literature research identified one construction management method, best value performance information procurement system (BV PIPS), has documented multiple times its ability to improve project performance. In a comparison using the result of a case study and the results of (BV PIPS), Saudi Arabia’s delivery system was identified as a potential cause of project performance issues. The current procurement system was analyzed and modified to adapt with the (BV PIPS). The proposed procurement system using BV PIPS, which can be implemented in Saudi Arabia, was created with owner side. A large survey was conducted of 761 classified contractors and 43 universities’ representatives who rated causes of delay factors and cost overruns. The delay factors were then compared to delay factors experienced on Saudi construction projects, identified by performing a literature research. The comparison identified 14 important causes of delays. Moreover, the survey showed that classified contractors and universities’ representatives unsatisfied with low-bid, and they agreed with BV PIPS which selecting vendors based on performance with price. The proposed model required a submitted level of experience (LE), risk assessment (RA), and value added (VA). Besides, project managers of vendors should be interviewed during the clarification phase. In addition, venders should submit the project’s scope, technical schedule, milestone schedule, and risk management plan. In the execution phase, vendors should submit a weekly risk report (WRR) and director’s report (DR). / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction 2016

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, 2007. / Submitted by Raquel Viana (tempestade_b@hotmail.com) on 2009-11-23T18:09:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_AdrianaMeloAlves.pdf: 7338161 bytes, checksum: b7aae54a18c5e22aa1efad22a20dd471 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Carolina Campos(carolinacamposmaia@gmail.com) on 2009-11-23T20:03:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_AdrianaMeloAlves.pdf: 7338161 bytes, checksum: b7aae54a18c5e22aa1efad22a20dd471 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2009-11-23T20:03:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_AdrianaMeloAlves.pdf: 7338161 bytes, checksum: b7aae54a18c5e22aa1efad22a20dd471 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09 / Esta pesquisa objetiva compreender os processos decisórios que podem resultar na regularização fundiária em favor das famílias moradoras ou na manutenção das Áreas de Preservação Permanente urbanas, considerando as tensões atualmente existentes entre a legitimação do direito à moradia e a consolidação do ambiente enquanto tema político. Investiga projetos contratados do programa de urbanização de favelas Habitar Brasil BID (Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento) nos últimos anos, que apresentaram distintas, e até mesmo conflitantes, estratégias de intervenção sobre as Áreas de Preservação Permanente. Parte da hipótese que os processos decisórios não são respostas tecnocráticas nem resultados determinísticos de fatores unidimensionais. Estão vinculados à gestão do território e são influenciados por processos não-evidentes e de diversas naturezas que preponderam na tomada de decisão em cada projeto ou localidade específica. A pesquisa pressupõe que tais processos estão vinculados a diferentes dimensões: a econômico-fundiária, relacionada à composição do preço da terra urbana; a político-ideológica, relacionada às manifestações normativas e simbólicas, como leis, discursos e ações projetuais, a serviço do poder do Estado e de grupos de pressão; e a dimensão socioambiental, relacionada aos riscos ambientais e civis, bem como ao valor paisagístico específico do assentamento em cada localidade. A análise considerou as dimensões mencionadas e abordou os projetos SQ 19, em Cidade Ocidental (Goiás), Coroa do Meio, em Aracaju (Sergipe) e Alagados, em Salvador (Bahia), caracterizados pelas distintas estratégias de intervenção sobre Áreas de Preservação Permanente à margem dos cursos d’água. Enquanto o primeiro foi mais atento ao quadro natural, no segundo o processo resultou numa estratégia mediada entre aspectos naturais e sociais, e o terceiro foi mais atento ao quadro social. As conclusões apontam que as três dimensões mostraram-se relevantes e articuladas em cada localidade. Enquanto as decisões mais extremadas decorreram da preponderância de uma gestão local centralizada, a decisão mediada decorreu de uma gestão compartilhada, onde o ativismo dos grupos de pressão pôde se manifestar. São aspectos igualmente relevantes o valor da terra urbana em função da localização do assentamento em relação ao centro urbano e os princípios estéticos ou ecológicos de intervenção paisagística sobre o assentamento. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / This research aims to understand the decision making processes that may result in land tenure regularization in favor of the resident families or in the permanence of the urban Areas of Permanent Preservation, considering the existing tensions between the legitimation of housing rights and the consolidation of the environment while a political theme. It studies projects within the programme for slums urbanization Habitar Brasil BID (Inter-American Development Bank) in recent years, which presented distinct, and even conflicting, intervention strategies on Areas of Permanent Preservation. The analysis starts with the hypothesis that the decision making processes are a result neither of tecnocratic answers nor of unidimensional deterministic factors. They are tied with the management of the territory and are influenced by not explicit processes of various types that influence the decision making process in each project or specific locality. The research presupposes that such processes are tied to different dimensions: the economic and land related dimension, concerning the price composition of the urban land; the politician-ideological one, related to the normative and symbolic manifestations, as laws, speeches and projectual actions, at the service of the power of the State and the lobbies; and the socio-environmental dimension, related to the environment and civil risks, as well as the specific landscape value of the settlement in each locality. The analysis considered the mentioned dimensions and tackled the projects SQ 19, in Cidade Ocidental (Goiás), Coroa do Meio, in Aracaju (Sergipe) and Alagados, in Salvador (Bahia), characterized by the distinct intervention strategies on Areas of Permanent Preservation to the edge of the water courses. While the first was more attentive to the natural picture, in the second the process resulted in a strategy mediated between natural aspects and social aspects, and third was more attentive to the social picture. The conclusions point that the three dimensions had revealed relevant and articulated in each locality. While the extreme decisions elapsed of the predominance of a centralized local management, the mediated decision elapsed of a shared management, where the activism of the lobbies could be expressed. The value of urban land in function of localization of the settlement in relation to the urban center and the esthetic or ecological principles of landscape intervention on the setllement are equally relevant aspects.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-03-07T15:34:52Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) dissertação formatada - versão DIGITAL.pdf: 1379319 bytes, checksum: a71b89ea4a2e92f71e212a64f1c9023b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-07T15:34:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) dissertação formatada - versão DIGITAL.pdf: 1379319 bytes, checksum: a71b89ea4a2e92f71e212a64f1c9023b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-24 / Este trabalho analisou os procedimentos de compras e contratações de serviços da UFPE, sobre a Dispensa de Licitação nos contratos realizados pelas Unidades Gestoras - UGs, enfatizando o gasto orçamentário e financeiro da referida dispensa acima do limite de 10% (dez por cento) em compras e serviços, como também, observou as normas e diretrizes internas que regem este processo na UFPE. Um outro aspecto foi a Adesão em Atas de Registro de Preços de outras Instituições, conhecida como ‘carona’, interpretando a legalidade desta adesão. O referencial teórico do trabalho é a Lei nº. 8.666, de 21 de junho de 1993, da Presidência da República, bem como o embasamento de ideias disponíveis na literatura, além de noções gerais sobre compras e contratações de serviços. Realizou-se um estudo de caso na UFPE, coletando-se dados, mediante entrevistas estruturadas com os servidores responsáveis pelas compras das UG’s, além de observação direta dos processos de compras e, pesquisa em documentos dos processos de licitação indeferidos. Adicionalmente, realizou-se uma visita ao Comando Militar do Nordeste, para conhecer os seus procedimentos de compras e contratações, já que suas Atas de Registro de Preços são utilizadas pela UFPE. Como resultado tem-se o diagnóstico dos problemas enfrentados de um lado, em relação aos processos internos e, de outro, pela constatação de que as despesas são realizadas através da ‘carona’, pregão e dispensa de licitação e, neste caso ultrapassando o limite legal. Por fim é apresentada uma proposta de procedimento para as atividades de compras, cada UG faz seu planejamento anual, usando uma cartilha (a ser elaborada) de forma padronizada e centralizar as demandas. / This study analyzed the procurement procedures and service contracts from Federal University of Pernambuco - UFPE, about the Bid Waiver contracts made by Management Units – MU´s, emphasizing the budget and financial costs of that exemption above the limit of 10% (ten percent) of purchases and services, but also noted the rules and internal guidelines governing this process at university. Another aspect was the Accession on Prices Registration Minutes of other institutions, known as 'lift', interpreting the legality of accession. The theoretical work of reference is the Law no. 8666 of 21 June 1993, the Presidency, as well as the basis of available ideas in the literature, and general notions on procurement and contracting services also. We conducted a case study at UFPE, by collecting data through structured interviews with the officers responsible for the MU's purchases, and direct observation of procurement processes and research documents of rejected bidding processes. Additionally, there was a visit to the Military Command of the Northeast, to know their procurement procedures and contracts, because their prices Registration Minutes are used by UFPE. As a result there is the diagnosis of the problems faced on one side with respect to internal processes and on the other, by the fact that expenditure is carried out through the 'ride', trading and bidding process and in this case exceeding the limit cool. Finally, is the suggested procedure for purchasing activities, each MU makes its annual planning, using a primer (to be developed) in a standardized manner and centralize demands.

Submitted by Suethene Souza (suethene.souza@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-03T18:32:34Z No. of bitstreams: 2 DissertacaoDesignBuild.pdf: 3398710 bytes, checksum: ef609f38cfa0477d8bd3c9f076675594 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-03T18:32:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 DissertacaoDesignBuild.pdf: 3398710 bytes, checksum: ef609f38cfa0477d8bd3c9f076675594 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-31 / Este estudo objetiva identificar as contribuições do método design-build, bem como riscos envolvidos na sua adoção, com vistas à minimização de problemas entre projeto e construção de obras públicas, oriundos em parte da dissociação entre projeto e construção imposta pela legislação brasileira ao determinar contratações distintas para ambos. Para que as contribuições do método fossem visualizadas foi necessário compará-lo ao que atualmente é utilizado pela Administração, método design-bid-build. Assim, foi realizado um estudo de caso de natureza qualitativa, no qual foram realizadas pesquisas documentais e de campo, na forma de entrevistas. Sobre os dados documentais e de campo foi aplicada análise de conteúdo, bem como triangulação de métodos e fontes, o que possibilitou investigar os problemas sob pontos de vistas diversos, captados por métodos diferentes, oferecendo um panorama bem mais próximo da realidade. Dentre os problemas identificados figuram falta de interação direta entre projetistas e construtoras, prazos irreais determinados pelo contratante para elaboração dos projetos e longo período de tempo entre concepção do projeto e efetiva execução da obra. Identificados os problemas foi verificado quais deles poderiam ser solucionados ou minimizados com a adoção do método de contratação design-build, considerando sua principal característica de concepção do projeto e execução da obra realizados por uma única empresa, em uma única contratação. Ao mesmo tempo, com vistas a uma possível adoção do método, foram levantados aspectos negativos, riscos prováveis e respectivas estratégias de enfrentamento. Dentre os aspectos críticos observados pelos entrevistados sobressaíram a possibilidade da empresa contratada se beneficiar elaborando um projeto ajustado às suas disponibilidades e não à real necessidade do contratante, associada à falta de estrutura dos órgãos públicos para exercerem o controle requerido pelo método design-build. Verificou-se que o método design-build seria uma solução possível para alguns dos problemas encontrados. Entretanto, o contratante deve precaver-se dos aspectos negativos e riscos possíveis, adotando medidas que eliminem ou minimizem seus efeitos. Os resultados encontrados contribuirão certamente não apenas para uma possível implantação do método, em contextos inclusive distintos do público, como também para a melhoria dos processos concernentes a projeto e execução de obras, independente do método de contratação porventura utilizado. No âmbito acadêmico poderá contribuir incentivando a realização de mais pesquisas sobre projeto e execução de empreendimentos de construção

Abstract This thesis investigates a set of equity market phenomena associated with investors' trading activity, using a comprehensive Finnish Central Securities Depository (FCSD) database that records practically all trades by Finnish investors. This database enables us to classify a large number of heterogeneous investors using both economic and institutional characteristics. The first essay classifies investors by trading activity. It analyzes trading styles of active and passive investors during the boom in technology stocks 1997–2000. We find that the herding tendency of active investors grew monotonically, year by year. Particularly large active investors used momentum and growth strategies. Moreover, buy pressures of active investors were positively related to contemporaneous daily returns. Passive investors, on the other hand, herd very strongly and their trading exhibited a contrarian style throughout the sample period. The second essay focuses on the relation between day trading of individual investors and intraday stock price volatility. I find a strong positive relation between the individual investors' day trades and volatility for actively day traded stocks. This finding suggests that day trading tends to increase volatility and/or day traders tend to become more active on the days of high volatility. The third essay tests the theoretical proposition of Amihud and Mendelson (1986) that investors hold assets with higher bid-ask spreads for longer periods. We measure holding periods of individual investors directly and find that they are positively related to spreads. The models control for a variety of other stock characteristics (e.g. value vs. growth orientation) and investors' attributes (e.g. gender) affecting holding periods. The fourth essay studies how both individual and institutional investors with different levels of capital gains and losses react to earnings announcements. I find that both sign and magnitude of capital gains affect individual investors' abnormal trading volumes. Individual investors are less prone to sell when they are carrying loses rather than gains. Furthermore, they react less to earnings announcements when capital gains or losses are large (over 20%). Taken together these findings provide support for prospect theory. Institutional investors appear to be less affected by psychological factors underlying prospect theory.

A majority of previous studies reveal evidences of negative or no abnormal returns for the bidder/acquirer firm upon the announcement of a merger or acquisition (M&A). Additionally, these studies stress on the importance of ‘bid premium’ announced as a key factor influencing acquirer returns post M&A announcement. This paper aims to find validity for the above-mentioned statements in case of a ‘Pharmaceutical sector setting’ because not many previous studies have analyzed the role of bid premium influencing abnormal stock returns for the acquirer/bidder firm in M&A’s taking place in the pharmaceutical sector. We applied ‘event study methodology’ to study the abnormal returns’ and our results suggest positive returns to M&A announcements around the world for the period from 1997-2015. Furthermore, we carried out an OLS regression to observe the influence of ‘bid premium’ (announced at the time of M&A announcement), on the abnormal stock returns. We control for acquirer firm characteristics by adding them as control variables in the analysis. Our findings suggest that bid premium negatively affects the acquirer abnormal returns around the time of the M&A announcement.

Online auction, as one way of the online shopping has become increasingly popular. During the process of online auction, there are many factors influencing the the final auction price. This dissertation will focus on the factors influencing the online auction price. Thus, the sellers and buyers in online auction process will be much more clear how to make decision in future auction process.

AIF fait partie des protéines mitochondriales inductrices de mort mais possède aussi un rôle vital nécessaire à la respiration cellulaire. Les recherches menées lors de cette thèse portent sur ces deux fonctions. D'une part, j'ai approfondi l'étude de la nécrose régulée induite par un agent alkylant de l'ADN. J'ai découvert l'importance de RIP1 dans cette voie de mort cellulaire et ainsi conduit à la définir comme nécroptose. J'ai aussi mis en évidence le rôle de BID, BH3-only de la famille BCL-2, dans la libération d'AIF des mitochondries. J'ai montré que les protéases calpaïnes clivaient BID permettant à sa forme tronquée de relocaliser aux mitochondries et d'y activer le facteur pro-apoptotique BAX. Cette étude contribue à replacer le rôle des BH3-only dans des voies de mort cellulaire au delà de l'apoptose. D'autre part, j'ai étudié le rôle d'AIF dans l'hématopoïèse grâce à un modèle murin invalidé pour AIF dans ce système. J'ai observé un blocage de différenciation thymique et le développement d'une pancytopénie sévère. J'ai démontré que cette dernière est associée à la perte des cellules souches hématopoïétiques dont j'ai testé les capacités ex vivo et in vivo. Pour comprendre les raisons de ce défaut, j'ai caractérisé les conséquences associées à la perte d'AIF : perte du complexe I de la chaine respiratoire, diminution d'activité de phosphorylation oxydative, diminution de la production d'ATP, augmentation des espèces réactives de l'oxygène. Cette deuxième étude démontre l'importance d'une phosphorylation oxydative fonctionnelle et de mitochondries saines pour une hématopoïèse normale et particulièrement pour le maintien des cellules souches hématopoïétiques. / AIF is one of the cell death effectors released from mitochondria but it also possess a vital role by regulating the cellular respiration. Throughout this thesis work, I have focused my studies on these two functions. On one hand, I have performed a deeper characterization of the DNA alkylating agent induced regulated necrosis. I have identified RIP1 as a crucial determinant of this cell death pathway, hence linking it to necroptosis. I have also highlighted the role of BID, a BH3-only member of the BCL-2 family, in the mitochondrial release of AIF. I have shown that calpains proteases cleave BID into tBID which relocalize to mitochondria where it helps activating the pro-apoptotic factor BAX. This study contributes to reconsider the role of BH3-only proteins in cell death pathways beyond apoptosis. On the other hand, I have studied AIF role in hematopoiesis thanks to a mouse model with hematopoietic lineage-specific deletion of AIF. I have observed a block in T-cell development and the rapid development of severe pancytopenia. I have demonstrated that this pancytopenia is associated with the loss of hematopoietic stem cells whom capacities were tested both ex vivo and in vivo. In order to understand the underlying determinants of these defects, I have characterized the cellular consequences related to AIF deletion : loss of the respiratory chain complex I, decrease of the oxidative phosphorylation capacity, decreased levels of ATP, increased levels of reactive oxygen species. This second study reveals the importance of a proper oxidative phosphorylation system combined with healthy mitochondria for a normal hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cells maintenance.

In the last decade, a tremendous gain in knowledge concerning the molecular events of apoptosis signaling and execution has been achieved. The aim of this thesis was to clarify the role of lysosomal membrane permeabilization and lysosomal proteases, cathepsins, in signaling for apoptosis. We identified cathepsin D as an important factor in staurosporine-induced human fibroblast cell death. After release to the cytosol, cathepsin D promoted mitochondrial release of cytochrome c by proteolytic activation of Bid. Cathepsin D-mediated cleavage of Bid generated two fragments with the apparent molecular mass of 15 and 19 kDa. By sequence analysis, three cathepsin D-specific cleavage sites, Phe24, Trp48, and Phe183, were identified. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism by which cathepsins escape the lysosomal compartment, and found that Bax is translocated from the cytosol to lysosomes upon staurosporine treatment. In agreement with these data, recombinant Bax triggered release of cathepsins from isolated rat liver lysosomes. Conceivably, the Bcl-2 family of proteins may govern release of pro-apoptotic factors from both lysosomes and mitochondria. The importance of lysosomal cathepsins in apoptosis signaling was studied also in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells following exposure to the redox-cycling drug naphthazarin or agonistic anti-Fas antibodies. In this experimental system, cathepsins were released to the cytosol, however, inhibition of neither cathepsin D, nor cysteine cathepsin activity suppressed cell death. Interestingly, cysteine cathepsins still appeared to be involved in activation of the caspase cascade. Cathepsins are often overexpressed and secreted by cancer cells, and it has been reported that extracellular cathepsins promote tumor growth and metastasis. Here, we propose that cathepsin B secreted from cancer cells may suppress cancer cell death by shedding of the Fas death receptor. Defects in the regulation of apoptosis contribute to a wide variety of diseases, such as cancer, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity. Increased knowledge of the molecular details of apoptosis could lead to novel, more effective, treatments for these illnesses. This thesis emphasizes the importance of the lysosomal death pathway, which is a promising target for future therapeutic intervention. / In the last decade, a tremendous gain in knowledge concerning the molecular events of apoptosis signaling and execution has been achieved. The aim of this thesis was to clarify the role of lysosomal membrane permeabilization and lysosomal proteases, cathepsins, in signaling for apoptosis. We identified cathepsin D as an important factor in staurosporine-induced human fibroblast cell death. After release to the cytosol, cathepsin D promoted mitochondrial release of cytochrome c by proteolytic activation of Bid. Cathepsin D-mediated cleavage of Bid generated two fragments with the apparent molecular mass of 15 and 19 kDa. By sequence analysis, three cathepsin D-specific cleavage sites, Phe24, Trp48, and Phe183, were identified. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism by which cathepsins escape the lysosomal compartment, and found that Bax is translocated from the cytosol to lysosomes upon staurosporine treatment. In agreement with these data, recombinant Bax triggered release of cathepsins from isolated rat liver lysosomes. Conceivably, the Bcl-2 family of proteins may govern release of pro-apoptotic factors from both lysosomes and mitochondria. The importance of lysosomal cathepsins in apoptosis signaling was studied also in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells following exposure to the redox-cycling drug naphthazarin or agonistic anti-Fas antibodies. In this experimental system, cathepsins were released to the cytosol, however, inhibition of neither cathepsin D, nor cysteine cathepsin activity suppressed cell death. Interestingly, cysteine cathepsins still appeared to be involved in activation of the caspase cascade. Cathepsins are often overexpressed and secreted by cancer cells, and it has been reported that extracellular cathepsins promote tumor growth and metastasis. Here, we propose that cathepsin B secreted from cancer cells may suppress cancer cell death by shedding of the Fas death receptor. Defects in the regulation of apoptosis contribute to a wide variety of diseases, such as cancer, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity. Increased knowledge of the molecular details of apoptosis could lead to novel, more effective, treatments for these illnesses. This thesis emphasizes the importance of the lysosomal death pathway, which is a promising target for future therapeutic intervention.

The aim of this master thesis is primarily to develop a methodological framework for a contracting authority receiving an abnormally low bid. The theoretical part of the thesis outlines the basic terms and definitions, analyzes a public tender from the perspective of a contracting authority and defines an extremely low bid price. The practical part of the thesis applies the methodological framework for dealing with an extremely low bid price on the case study, where on the set of selected areas of mechanical items indicates possible views above the limit costs of individual items costing unit prices of construction work.