Tsunamis are among the most terrifying and complex physical phenomena potentially affecting almost all coastal regions of the Earth. Tsunami waves propagate in the ocean over thousands of kilometres away from their generating source at considerable speeds. Among several other tsunamis that occurred during the past decade, the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami in Japan, considered to be the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in the history of mankind, respectively, have hit wide stretches of densely populated coastal areas. During these major events, severe destruction of inland structures resulted from the action of extreme hydrodynamic forces induced by tsunami flooding. Subsequent field surveys in which researchers from the University of Ottawa participated ultimately revealed that, in contrast to seismic forces, such hydrodynamic forces are not taken into proper consideration when designing buildings for tsunami prone areas. In view of these limitations, a novel interdisciplinary hydraulic-structural engineering research program was initiated at the University of Ottawa, in cooperation with the Canadian Hydraulic Centre of the National Research Council, to help develop guidelines for the sound design of nearshore structures located in such areas. The present study aims to simulate the physical laboratory experiments performed within the aforementioned research program using a single-phase three-dimensional weakly compressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical model. These experiments consist in the violent impact of rapidly advancing tsunami-like hydraulic bores with individual slender structural elements. Such bores are emulated based on the classic dam-break problem. The quantitatively compared measurements include the time-history of the net base horizontal force and of the pressure distribution acting on columns of square and circular cross-sections, as well as flow characteristics such as bore-front velocity and water surface elevation. Good agreement was obtained. Results show that the magnitude and duration of the impulsive force at initial bore impact depend on the degree of entrapped air in the bore-front. The latter was found to increase considerably if the bed of the experimental flume is covered with a thin water layer of even just a few millimetres. In order to avoid large fluctuations in the pressure field and to obtain accurate simulations of the hydrodynamic forces, a Riemann solver-based formulation of the SPH method is utilized. However, this formulation induces excessive numerical diffusion, as sudden and large water surface deformations, such as splashing at initial bore impact, are less accurately reproduced. To investigate this particular issue, the small-scale physical experiment of Kleefsman et al. (2005) is also considered and modeled. Lastly, taking full advantage of the validated numerical model to better understand the underlying flow dynamics, the influence of the experimental test geometry and of the bed condition (i.e. dry vs. wet) is investigated. Numerical results show that when a bore propagates over a wet bed, its front is both deeper and steeper and it also has a lower velocity compared to when it propagates over a dry bed. These differences significantly affect the pressure distributions and resulting hydrodynamic forces acting on impacted structures.

This thesis explores to role of theatre in the lives of criminalized women. It seeks to better understand the ways in which theatre initiatives can be used as a tool for participants through various means, such as potentially being a form of self-expression, or a way to gain voice. This exploration was facilitated by conducting a case study of the Clean Break Theatre Company, a theatre company for criminalized women in London, England. Data was collected through performance and course observations and interviews with twelve women. The final themes shape the exploration as participants identify the importance of self expression through theatre, and its ability to aid in personal transformation or growth. Theatre initiatives are important because they create a unique lens into the experiences of these women, as well as being used as a tool for change in their lives.

This paper analyzes effect of gun buyback that took place in Great Britain in years 1996 and 1997 on crime rate and compares the results with theoretical arguments and previous empirical findings. It contains analysis of three independent time series: crime rate in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Models of the time series are built using Box-Jenkins methodology. The models are tested for presence of a structural break using visual analysis, Chow test and Quandt-Andrews test. These tests are used as an evaluation criterion of the effect of buyback on crime rate. The result of the analysis is that it is not possible to reject the null hypothesis that buybacks do not have effect on crime rate.

An investigation into the thermo-mechanical closure effect when a fluid leaks through a crack is presented here. The extended finite element method is the modelling scheme adopted for this, and the application of heat flux and pressure jump conditions along the crack is one of the novel contributions of this work. By modelling the fluid as one dimensional steady state and obtaining a heat transfer coefficient, it has been shown here that coupling the fluid with the structure is possible all within a single element. Convergence studies done with analytical models as a benchmark demonstrate the accuracy of the new method. Simulations are performed with the new element for conditions seen in both gas cooled and water cooled reactors. Significant crack closure is observed when the bulk fluid temperature is 20oC hotter than the structure. It was also found that the amount of closure due to crack wall heating varies depending on the external boundary conditions, this is quantified in the thesis.

This dissertation examines the robust regression methods. The primary purpose of this work is to propose an extension, derivation and summary (including computational algorithm) for Theil-Sen's regression estimates (or in some literature also referred to as Passing-Bablok's regression method) for multi-dimensional space and compare this method to other robust regression methods. The combination of these two objectives is the primary and the original contribution of the dissertation. Based on the available literature it is unknown if anyone has discussed this problem in greater depth and solved it in total. Therefore this work provides a summary overview of the issue and offers a new alternative of this multidimensional, nonparametric, robust regression method. Secondary goals include a clear summary of other robust methods, a summary of findings related to these robust regression methods, robust methods compared with each other placing emphasis on the comparison with the proposed Theil-Sen's regression estimates method and with the least squares method. The summary also includes individual mathematical context and interchangeability of the proposed methods. These secondary objectives are also another benefit of this dissertation in the field of robust regression problems; this is especially important to gain a unified view of the problems of robust regression methods and estimates in general.

La méiose est essentielle pour tous les organismes à reproduction sexuée car cette division cellulaire spécialisée conduit à la formation de gamètes. Au cours de la méiose, la formation de bivalents est une étape clé dans la répartition équilibrée des chromosomes homologues. Dans la majorité des espèces, la formation de ces bivalents repose sur le mécanisme de la recombinaison homologue qui est un mécanisme de réparation des cassures double brin (CDB) de l’ADN. En méiose, la cassure est programmée et provoquée par l’action de Spo11. A.thaliana contient deux homologues SPO11-1 et SPO11-2 qui ne sont pas redondants dans la formation des CDB. Spo11 est une protéine apparentée à la sous-unité A des topoVI d’Archaea. Or, les topoVI d’Archaea fonctionnent en hétérotétramère composé de deux sous-unités A et deux sous-unités B pour former une cassure double brin (CDB) mais jusqu'à mon travail de thèse, aucun homologue méiotique de sous unité B n'avait été identifié. Au cours de ma thèse, j’ai caractérisé la fonction méiotique de la protéine MTOPVIB et montré que c’est un homologue structural de la sous-unité B des TopoVI d’Archaea. Par différentes approches, j’ai montré que MTOPVIB est nécessaire à l’hétérodimérisation de SPO11-1 avec SPO11-2 et je propose que chez A. thaliana, un complexe catalytique de type TopoVI composé de MTOPVIB, SPO11-1, et SPO11-2 est nécessaire à la formation des CDB méiotiques. Chez A. thaliana, en plus de SPO11-1, SPO11-2 et MTOPVIB, quatre autres protéines sont nécessaires à la formation des CDB : PRD1, PRD2, PRD3 et DFO. Par des approches double hybride, j’ai analysé le réseau d’interaction entre ces protéines de « cassure ». Les résultats suggèrent que ces protéines interagiraient au sein d’un « super » complexe essentiel à la formation des CDB méiotiques. / Meiosis is an essential step in sexual reproduction because it leads to the formation of haploid gametes. During meiosis, the formation of bivalents is a key step for the balanced chromosome distribution. In most species, the formation of bivalents lies on the mechanism of homologous recombination that is a repair mechanism for double stranded DNA breaks (DSB). In meiosis, DSB formation is programmed and provoked by the action of Spo11. A.thaliana contains two SPO11-1 and SPO11-2 counterparts which are not redundant in the formation of DSB. Spo11 is related to the A subunit of Archaea topoVI. However, Archaea topoVI operate through a heterotetramer composed of two A subunits and two B subunits but until my thesis work, no meiotic homolog of the B subunit had been identified. During my thesis, I characterized the meiotic function of the new protein MTOPVIB and showed that it shares structural similarities with the B subunit of Archaea TopoVI. Using different strategies, I also demonstrated that MTOPVIB is necessary to the SPO11-1/ SPO11-2 heterodimerization strongly suggesting that in A. thaliana, a catalytic TopoVI like complex is necessary for the formation of meiotic DSB. In addition to SPO11-1, SPO11-2, and MTOPVIB, four other proteins are necessary for the formation of meiotic DSB in A. thaliana : PRD1, PRD2, PRD3 and DFO. By yeast two hybrid approach, I analysed the interaction network between the "DSB" proteins. The results suggest that these proteins could act in a "super" complex which would be essential to the formation of DSBs.

L’organisation non-aléatoire du noyau des cellules eucaryotes et la compaction de l’ADN en chromatine plus ou dense peuvent influencer de nombreuses fonctions liées au métabolisme de l’ADN, y compris la stabilité du génome. Les cassures double-brin sont les dommages à l’ADN les plus néfastes pour la cellule. Pour préserver l’intégrité de leur génome, les cellules eucaryotes ont développé des mécanismes de réparation des cassures double-brin qui sont conservés de la levure à l’homme. Parmi ceux-ci, la recombinaison homologue utilise une séquence homologue intacte présente ailleurs dans le génome et peut se diviser en deux sous voies de réparation. La conversion génique transfère l’information génétique d’une molécule à son homologue, tandis que le Break Induced Replication (BIR) établit une fourche de réplication qui peut procéder jusqu’à la fin du chromosome.Mon travail de thèse s’est attaché à caractériser la contribution du statut chromatinien et de l’organisation tridimensionnelle du génome à la réparation des cassures double-brin. L’organisation du noyau de la levure S. cerevisiae ainsi que la propagation de l’hétérochromatine au niveau des régions subtélomériques peuvent être modifiées via la surexpression des protéines Sir3 et sir3A2Q. Nous avons montré que le groupement des télomères accroit la conversion génique entre deux séquences subtélomériques, soulignant le rôle clé de la proximité spatiale et de la recherche d’homologie. Nous avons également constaté que la présence d’hétérochromatine au niveau du site de cassure limite la résection, ce qui permet une disparition plus lente des extrémités, qui resteraient disponibles plus longtemps pour réaliser la recherche d’homologie et achever la réparation. Enfin, nous avons observé que la présence d’hétérochromatine au site donneur diminue l’efficacité de recombinaison et qu’elle doit moduler une étape commune aux deux voies de réparation, à savoir l’invasion de brin. Ces travaux nous ont permis de décrire de nouvelles voies de régulation de la réparation de l’ADN. / The non-random organization of the eukaryotic cell nucleus and the folding of genome in chromatin more or less condensed can influence many functions related to DNA metabolism, including genome stability. Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious DNA damages for the cells. To preserve genome integrity, eukaryotic cells thus developed DSB repair mechanisms conserved from yeast to human, among which homologous recombination (HR) that uses an intact homologous sequence to repair a broken chromosome. HR can be separated in two sub-pathways: Gene Conversion (GC) transfers genetic information from one molecule to its homologous and Break Induced Replication (BIR) establishes a replication fork than can proceed until the chromosome end.My doctorate work was focused on the contribution of the chromatin context and 3D genome organization on DSB repair. In S. cerevisiae, nuclear organization and heterochromatin spreading at subtelomeres can be modified through the overexpression of the Sir3 or sir3A2Q mutant proteins. We demonstrated that reducing the physical distance between homologous sequences increased GC rates, reinforcing the notion that homology search is a limiting step for recombination. We also showed that heterochromatinization of DSB site fine-tunes DSB resection, limiting the loss of the DSB ends required to perform homology search and complete HR. Finally, we noticed that the presence of heterochromatin at the donor locus decreased both GC and BIR efficiencies, probably by affecting strand invasion. This work highlights new regulatory pathways of DNA repair.

This thesis presents a research effort aimed at developing using construction methods and techniques in army tactical shelter. The beginning step focuses on developing and identifying different activities and work breakdown structure applicable in shelter prototype. The next step focuses on identifying resource allocation. This include allocate resources based on the delivered project as per alternative one and for the second alternative as optimization, resource allocation modified and tried to level and minimize resource peak. In addition, the cost calculated for the whole project as well as for each WBS and activities which consider as alternative one and in the second alternative, cost mitigation applied according to available resources and adjusting predecessors and successors of each activity. In conclusion, two alternatives compared, available outcome presents, and future work suggested for the project team to continue this effort.

This diploma thesis deals with the development of the business plan that will serve the company's management as a basis for implement the introduction of an entirely unique service. The theoretical part deals with the problems of small and medium businesses, subjects of the national economy and the demands of the business plan. The practical part deals with the identification and analysis of the selected company, judging the possible options of implementation of the business plan, including a tipping point.

Au cours de son cycle sexuel, le cilié Paramecium tetraurelia procède à de massifs réarrangements programmés de son génome (RPG). Ils consistent, entre autres choses, en l’excision de 45 000 séquences précisément délimitées, appelées IES (Internal Eliminated Sequences). La transposase domestiquée Piggymac (Pgm) introduit les cassures double-brin (CDB) à l’extrémité des IES. La réparation très précise de ces dommages est réalisée par la voie de réparation des extrémités non-homologues (NHEJ). Un des acteurs de cette voie est l’hétérodimère Ku70/Ku80. Suite à des duplications globales du génome, la paramécie possède trois gènes KU80, Un seul de ces gènes est induit lors des RPG (KU80c) et une expérience d’ARN interférence (ARNi) contre KU80c montre une complète inhibition de l’introduction des CDB. De plus, des expériences de Co-IP en système hétérologue montrent que Ku70/Ku80c interagit avec Pgm. Ces résultats prouvent le rôle essentiel de Ku dans l’introduction des CDB lors des RPG et soulèvent la question du mécanisme impliqué. Au cours de ma thèse j’ai caractérisé le couplage entre Ku et Pgm en analysant des expériences d’immunofluorescence avec ou sans pré-extraction, permettant de déterminer les interdépendances de ces protéines pour leur localisation et pour leur stabilité nucléaire. Ces approches ont permis de démontrer que Pgm requiert la présence de Ku pour être stablement localisé dans les noyaux lors des RPG. Ku80c partage 74% de sa séquence protéique avec Ku80a. Des expériences de complémentations fonctionnelles surexprimant Ku80a lors des RPG ont montré que Ku80a n’est pas capable ni de se localiser stablement dans les noyaux ni de participer à la stabilisation nucléaire de Pgm. De plus, les RPG sont inhibés. Ces résultats montrent que Ku80c s’est spécialisé dans le couplage avec Pgm pour l’introduction des CDB lors des RPG. L’utilisation de protéines chimériques a permis de déterminer que la spécialisation de Ku80c est portée par son domaine N-terminal ∝-β. / During its sexual cycle, the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia undergoes massive Programmed Genome Rearrangements (PGR). They consist, among others, in excision of 45,000 precisely delimited sequences, called IES (Internal Eliminated Sequences). A domesticated transposase, PiggyMac (Pgm), introduces double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) at IES ends. The Non Homologous End Joining pathway (NHEJ) handles highly precise repair of DSB. One of the actors of this pathway is the heterodimer Ku70/Ku80. In P. tetraurelia, the KU80 gene is present in three paralogous copies. Only KU80c is specifically expressed during PGR and RNA interferences against KU80c showed a complete inhibition of DNA cleavage. Furthermore, a Co-IP experiment in a heterologous system showed that both Ku70/Ku80c interact with Pgm. These results provide evidence that Ku is an essential partner of Pgm for DSB introduction; raising the question of the activating mechanism involved. During my PhD, I characterized the coupling between Ku and Pgm by analyzing immunofluorescence experiments, with or without pre-extraction, allowing the determination of inter-dependencies between those proteins for their nuclear localization and stability. Those methods demonstrated that Pgm requires the presence of Ku for a stable nuclear localization during the PGR. Ku80c shares 74% of the protein sequence with Ku80a. Functional complementation assays overexpressing Ku80a during the PGR showed that Ku80a is not capable to stably localize in nuclei nor to participate in Pgm nuclear stability. Furthermore, PGR are inhibited. Those results show that Ku80c has specialized for the DSB introduction during PGR. The use of chimeric proteins allowed to determine that Ku80c specialization was carried out by its N terminal domain.