Since the outbreak of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, the disease has cost the lives of over 30 million people, and a further 33 million are currently living with the HIV infection. With the appropriate treatment, HIV/AIDS can today be regarded as a chronic but manageable disease. However, treatment is not available globally and UNAIDS still estimates that there are currently 5000 AIDS-related deaths worldwide per day. HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) constitute one of the fundaments of HIV treatment, and are commonly used in so-called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), together with reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Although there are ten PIs on the market, there is still a need for novel structures. The rapid development of resistant strains, due to the high frequency of mutations, together with the commonly observed adverse effects of the drugs available, illustrate the need to develop new potent structures. Two novel scaffolds were investigated in this work. A tertiary alcohol-containing scaffold comprising a three-carbon tether, and a β-hydroxy γ-lactam-based scaffold were designed, synthesized and evaluated using enzyme- and cell-based assays. X-ray analyses of inhibitors from each class provided information on inhibitor–protease interactions. The inhibitors containing the tertiary alcohol provided at best an enzymatic inhibition (Ki) of 2.3 nM, and an inhibition in the cell-based assay (EC50) of 0.17 µM. The γ-lactam-based inhibitors exhibited better inhibition than the first series; the best values being Ki = 0.7 nM and EC50 = 0.04 µM. The second part of these studies involved the evaluation of a novel non-resonance continuous-flow microwave instrument. The instrument was validated regarding heating capacity, temperature stability and temperature homogeneity. A number of model reactions were performed with low- and high-microwave-absorbing solvents. It was found that the microwave heating source allowed rapid temperature adjustment, together with easily regulated, flow-dependent reaction times, providing an efficient tool for reaction optimisation.

[pt] A necessidade de executar manipulações espaciais (como seleção, deslocamento, rotação, e escalamento) de objetos virtuais 3D é comum a muitos tipos de aplicações do software, inclusive aplicações de computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided modeling (CAM) e aplicações de visualização científica e de engenharia. Neste trabalho é apresentado um protótipo de aplicação para manipulação de objetos virtuais 3D utilizando movimentos livres de mãos e sem o uso de marcadores, podendo-se fazer gestos com uma ou duas mãos. O usuário move as mãos no volume de trabalho situado imediatamente acima da mesa, e o sistema integra ambas as mãos (seus centróides) no ambiente virtual que corresponde a este volume de trabalho. As mãos são detectadas e seus gestos reconhecidos usando o método de detecção de Viola-Jones. Tal reconhecimento de gestos é assim usado para ligar e desligar modalidades da manipulação. O rastreamento 3D de até duas mãos é então obtido por uma combinação de rastreamento 2D chamado flocks- of-KLT-features e reconstrução 3D baseada em triangulação estéreo. / [en] The need to perform spatial manipulations (like selection, translation, rotation, and scaling) of virtual 3D objects is common to many types of software applications, including computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided modeling (CAM) and scientific and engineering visualization applications. In this work, a prototype application for manipulation of 3D virtual objects using free-hand 3D movements of bare (that is, unmarked, uninstrumented) hands, as well as using one-handed and two-handed manipulation gestures, is demonstrated. The user moves his hands in the work volume situated immediately above the desktop, and the system effectively integrates both hands (their centroids) into the virtual environment corresponding to this work volume. The hands are being detected and their posture recognized using the Viola-Jones detection method, and the hand posture recognition thus obtained is then used for switching between manipulation modes. Full 3D tracking of up to two hands is obtained by a combination of 2D flocksof-KLT-features tracking and 3D reconstruction based on stereo riangulation.

<p dir="ltr">Understanding the nonlinear rheological properties of food is essential for improving processes involving large-amplitude deformation such as pumping, extrusion, and consumer consumption. The development of mathematical analyses for analyzing these nonlinear responses has witnessed a notable upswing in the past decades. A novel mathematical analysis called "Sequence of Physical Processes" (SPP) was developed by Rogers et al. in 2011. Ever since, SPP has shown tremendous potential in characterizing and predicting the nonlinear rheological behavior of soft materials and polymers, yet more investigations are required to validate the efficacy of the SPP approach in the realm of food materials. Therefore, this thesis focuses on applying SPP method onto a range of food materials. Most importantly, we compared the analysis with the results obtained from the well-established Ewoldt-McKinley method of coupling “Fourier Transform with Chebyshev Decomposition” (FTC). As a result, it is found that SPP can provide a detailed picture of the material’s deformation history within an oscillation cycle. The time-dependent nature of SPP data allows a more accurate capture of important rheological transitions, which leads to a higher correlation with compositional and microstructural changes in comparison to the FTC method. Recognizing the potential of SPP analysis in studying food materials, this research emphasizes the necessity for further exploration across a diverse array of food types. The thesis contributes valuable insights to the evolving landscape of nonlinear rheological understanding, with the potential to improving methodologies in food processing.</p>

[pt] Este trabalho estuda o texto de Jó 14,13 17, considerando sua data de redação, de forma a permitir a compreensão do contexto e consequente significado teológico. Com a datação do texto, as fontes históricas, bíblicas e não bíblicas permitem concluir o contexto histórico, econômico, social e religioso da época, e suas implicações na vida do povo de Israel. Comenta-se o significado dos termos e expressões usados no texto poético. Estabelece-se, então, o que motivou o autor a desejar ser escondido no sheol, por tempo determinado, até YHWH desistir de sua ira e voltar a se recordar dele. Analisa-se, também, como a doutrina da retribuição influenciou o conflito que surgiu no meio da comunidade e como ele foi enfrentado. A poesia de Jó 14,13 17 é parte do esforço desenvolvido para solução dos conflitos sociais causados pela miséria e sofrimento do povo. Enquadra-se no contexto do trabalho pastoral que conclamou a classe social alta a uma atitude de solidariedade, como resposta à convocação de YHWH ao homem. / [en] The present paper studies the text of Job 14 two point 13 17, taking into account the time and the context in which it was written in order to allow the understanding of its theological significance. Given the information on the text dating, historical, biblical and non-biblical sources establish the historical, economic, social and religious context of that time, and its implication on the lives of the People of Israel. The meaning of terms and expressions are analyzed in the poetic text. This study establishes what prompted the author’s wish to be hidden in Sheol for a given time, awaiting for the divine wrath to end, of provided that YHWH could still remember him. This paper also analyses how the doctrine of retribution influenced the conflict that arose in middle of the community and how it was faced. The poetry of Job 14 two point 13 17 is part of the effort to solve social conflicts caused by the misery and suffering of the people. This text falls within the context of the pastoral work developed, which urged the upper class to show an attitude of solidarity as a response to the summons of YHWH to man.