Pin1 is an essential peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase) that catalyzes cis-trans prolyl isomerization in proteins containing phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline motifs (pSer/Thr-Pro). It has an N-terminal binding domain (WW) and a C-terminal PPIase domain. Pin1 targets pSer/Thr-Pro motifs by its WW domain and catalyzes isomerization through its PPIase domain. This dissertation is focused on elucidating the interactions between Pin1/substrate, the inter-domain dynamics upon binding, and the catalytic activity of Pin1 upon binding different substrates. Specifically, we investigated the Pin1-Histone H1 interaction and designed a series of chimeric peptides based on the H1.4 sequence (KATGAApTPKKSAKW). NMR titrations were performed for each peptide using both full-length Pin1 as well as the WW domain alone, to analyze the binding affinities. Here we combined 15N relaxation and residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) to monitor the degree to which peptide binding induced inter-domain interactions. We also investigated whether our chimeric sequences could alter catalysis (kex) using 1H-1H EXSY NMR experiments. Finally, when combined with molecular modeling, our results suggest a structural basis for how substrate binding can alter Pin1 inter-domain dynamics.

Master of Science / Department of Chemical Engineering / Larry E. Erickson / Caprolactam (C₆H₁₁NO) is produced in industry primarily as a monomer to be converted to nylon-6 via a polymerization reaction. More demanding purity requirements for nylon-6 have increased the performance requirements of extraction columns in the purification train of caprolactam production. Caprolactam is produced by performing a Beckmann Rearrangement on cyclohexanone oxime followed by a neutralization of the excess oleum post reaction. The resulting side product is ammonium sulfate in water with a residual amount of caprolactam that has to be extracted with benzene from the aqueous ammonium sulfate solution to reduce product losses. The aqueous caprolactam liquor is extracted in another column into benzene which purifies the product from water soluble impurities. The resulting caprolactam dissolved in benzene is back extracted into water where the final purification steps are completed prior to storage. Rotating disk contactor (RDC) extraction columns were invented by Royal Dutch Shell in the early 1950’s. The columns have a rotor in the center that is driven by an electric motor to rotate equally spaced flat disks inside the column. There are equally spaced annulus shaped stators that serve to provide mixing-separation compartments for each of the mounted disks on the rotor. Of the variables to consider for the optimum performance of the extraction in the RDC extraction column is the rotor speed. Rotor speed curves are generated for the 3 RDC extraction columns of the caprolactam purification as well as calculations of the number of theoretical stages for each of the columns based on actual performance data. Benzene is the solvent of choice in this purification process however recent push by environmental groups and agencies as well as tightening regulations have driven a desire to find a more benign alternative to benzene for this process. A review of the research and literature on potential alternative solvents for caprolactam purification is summarized with positives and drawbacks for each possible alternative.

A falta de qualidade das obras públicas no Brasil povoa os noticiários diários. Os exemplos são abundantes, atribuídos a contratos mal elaborados, falhas graves nos projetos ou mesmo à ausência desses, licitações frustradas, obras interrompidas e superfaturadas, desvios de recursos e corrupção. Tentar compreender melhor essa situação é a motivação desta dissertação, que discorre sobre a contratação pública de projetos de edificações e, para isso, estuda o projeto e sua encomenda. A licitação é um procedimento obrigatório para a celebração de qualquer contrato público. Entre outros requisitos, a lei de licitações exige que a proposta seja a “mais vantajosa” para a administração, algo que tem levado à adoção indiscriminada do critério do “menor preço”, sendo incoerente com a doutrina jurídica e contrariando as pesquisas científicas, que consideram o projeto relevante para a qualidade final da obra. O problema de pesquisa questiona exatamente por que a Administração Pública tem contratado por menor preço um serviço que deveria ser contratado por critérios técnicos e de qualidade? O objetivo da dissertação é propor uma explicação para essa situação a partir de revisão bibliográfica, análise da legislação, realização de pesquisa documental com editais de licitação, aplicação de questionários de opinião com arquitetos e outros atores, além de entrevista direta com o autor da lei de licitações. Finalmente, o trabalho comprova a relevância do projeto, mas também desvenda sua irrelevância identificando que o menor preço não é o único problema e, mesmo que “todos” afirmem ser contra o menor preço, o povo segue pagando caro por projetos baratos. / The qualityless of public works in Brazil is currently in the daily news. Examples of it are plentiful, attributed to poorly drafted contracts, serious failures or even absence of projects, frustrated bids, discontinued and overpriced works, waste of resources and corruption. The motivation of this dissertation is trying to better understand this situation, which focuses on the public contracting of building projects and, for this, studies the project itself and its order. Bidding is a mandatory procedure for obtaining any public contract. Among other requirements, the bidding law requires that the proposal be the "most advantageous" for the administration, which ledded to the indiscriminate adoption of the "lowest price" criteria, incoerent with the juridical doctrine and opposite to scientific research, which consider the project relevant to the final quality of the building work. The research problem questions why the Public Administration has contracted for a lower price a service that should be contracted by technical and quality criteria? The objective of the dissertation is to propose an explanation for this situation from a bibliographical review, an analysis of the legislation, a documental research on bid’s documents, an opinion questionaries applying to architects and other actors, as well as direct interview with the author of the bidding law. Finally, the research proves the relevance of the project, but also reveals its irrelevance by identifying that the lowest price is not the only problem, and even if "everyone" claims to be against the lowest price, people continue to pay expensive for cheap projects.

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A falta de qualidade das obras públicas no Brasil povoa os noticiários diários. Os exemplos são abundantes, atribuídos a contratos mal elaborados, falhas graves nos projetos ou mesmo à ausência desses, licitações frustradas, obras interrompidas e superfaturadas, desvios de recursos e corrupção. Tentar compreender melhor essa situação é a motivação desta dissertação, que discorre sobre a contratação pública de projetos de edificações e, para isso, estuda o projeto e sua encomenda. A licitação é um procedimento obrigatório para a celebração de qualquer contrato público. Entre outros requisitos, a lei de licitações exige que a proposta seja a “mais vantajosa” para a administração, algo que tem levado à adoção indiscriminada do critério do “menor preço”, sendo incoerente com a doutrina jurídica e contrariando as pesquisas científicas, que consideram o projeto relevante para a qualidade final da obra. O problema de pesquisa questiona exatamente por que a Administração Pública tem contratado por menor preço um serviço que deveria ser contratado por critérios técnicos e de qualidade? O objetivo da dissertação é propor uma explicação para essa situação a partir de revisão bibliográfica, análise da legislação, realização de pesquisa documental com editais de licitação, aplicação de questionários de opinião com arquitetos e outros atores, além de entrevista direta com o autor da lei de licitações. Finalmente, o trabalho comprova a relevância do projeto, mas também desvenda sua irrelevância identificando que o menor preço não é o único problema e, mesmo que “todos” afirmem ser contra o menor preço, o povo segue pagando caro por projetos baratos. / The qualityless of public works in Brazil is currently in the daily news. Examples of it are plentiful, attributed to poorly drafted contracts, serious failures or even absence of projects, frustrated bids, discontinued and overpriced works, waste of resources and corruption. The motivation of this dissertation is trying to better understand this situation, which focuses on the public contracting of building projects and, for this, studies the project itself and its order. Bidding is a mandatory procedure for obtaining any public contract. Among other requirements, the bidding law requires that the proposal be the "most advantageous" for the administration, which ledded to the indiscriminate adoption of the "lowest price" criteria, incoerent with the juridical doctrine and opposite to scientific research, which consider the project relevant to the final quality of the building work. The research problem questions why the Public Administration has contracted for a lower price a service that should be contracted by technical and quality criteria? The objective of the dissertation is to propose an explanation for this situation from a bibliographical review, an analysis of the legislation, a documental research on bid’s documents, an opinion questionaries applying to architects and other actors, as well as direct interview with the author of the bidding law. Finally, the research proves the relevance of the project, but also reveals its irrelevance by identifying that the lowest price is not the only problem, and even if "everyone" claims to be against the lowest price, people continue to pay expensive for cheap projects.

A falta de qualidade das obras públicas no Brasil povoa os noticiários diários. Os exemplos são abundantes, atribuídos a contratos mal elaborados, falhas graves nos projetos ou mesmo à ausência desses, licitações frustradas, obras interrompidas e superfaturadas, desvios de recursos e corrupção. Tentar compreender melhor essa situação é a motivação desta dissertação, que discorre sobre a contratação pública de projetos de edificações e, para isso, estuda o projeto e sua encomenda. A licitação é um procedimento obrigatório para a celebração de qualquer contrato público. Entre outros requisitos, a lei de licitações exige que a proposta seja a “mais vantajosa” para a administração, algo que tem levado à adoção indiscriminada do critério do “menor preço”, sendo incoerente com a doutrina jurídica e contrariando as pesquisas científicas, que consideram o projeto relevante para a qualidade final da obra. O problema de pesquisa questiona exatamente por que a Administração Pública tem contratado por menor preço um serviço que deveria ser contratado por critérios técnicos e de qualidade? O objetivo da dissertação é propor uma explicação para essa situação a partir de revisão bibliográfica, análise da legislação, realização de pesquisa documental com editais de licitação, aplicação de questionários de opinião com arquitetos e outros atores, além de entrevista direta com o autor da lei de licitações. Finalmente, o trabalho comprova a relevância do projeto, mas também desvenda sua irrelevância identificando que o menor preço não é o único problema e, mesmo que “todos” afirmem ser contra o menor preço, o povo segue pagando caro por projetos baratos. / The qualityless of public works in Brazil is currently in the daily news. Examples of it are plentiful, attributed to poorly drafted contracts, serious failures or even absence of projects, frustrated bids, discontinued and overpriced works, waste of resources and corruption. The motivation of this dissertation is trying to better understand this situation, which focuses on the public contracting of building projects and, for this, studies the project itself and its order. Bidding is a mandatory procedure for obtaining any public contract. Among other requirements, the bidding law requires that the proposal be the "most advantageous" for the administration, which ledded to the indiscriminate adoption of the "lowest price" criteria, incoerent with the juridical doctrine and opposite to scientific research, which consider the project relevant to the final quality of the building work. The research problem questions why the Public Administration has contracted for a lower price a service that should be contracted by technical and quality criteria? The objective of the dissertation is to propose an explanation for this situation from a bibliographical review, an analysis of the legislation, a documental research on bid’s documents, an opinion questionaries applying to architects and other actors, as well as direct interview with the author of the bidding law. Finally, the research proves the relevance of the project, but also reveals its irrelevance by identifying that the lowest price is not the only problem, and even if "everyone" claims to be against the lowest price, people continue to pay expensive for cheap projects.

High Level Synthesis (HLS) is a new method for developing applications for use on FPGAs. Instead of the classic approach using a Hardware Descriptive Language (HDL), a high level programming language can be used. HLS has many perks, including high level debugging and simulation of the system being developed. This shortens the development time which in turn lowers the development cost. In this thesis an evaluation is made regarding the feasibility of using SDAccel as the HLS tool in the OpenCL environment. Two image processing algorithms are implemented using OpenCL C and then synthesized to run on a Kintex Ultrascale FPGA. The implementation focuses both on low latency and throughput as the target environment is a video distribution network used in vehicles. The network provides the driver with video feeds from cameras mounted on the vehicle. Finally the test result of the algorithm runs are presented, displaying how well the HLS tool has preformed in terms of system performance and FPGA resource utilization.

The attention for low latency computer vision and video processing applications are growing for every year, not least the VR and AR applications. In this thesis the Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) and Radial Dis- tortion algorithms are implemented using both CUDA and OpenCL to determine whether these type of algorithms are suitable for implementations aimed to run at GPUs when low latency is of utmost importance. The result is an implemen- tation of the block versions of the CLAHE algorithm which utilizes the built in interpolation hardware that resides on the GPU to reduce block effects and an im- plementation of the Radial Distortion algorithm that corrects a 1920x1080 frame in 0.3 ms. Further this thesis concludes that the GPU-platform might be a good choice if the data to be processed can be transferred to and possibly from the GPU fast enough and that the choice of compute API mostly is a matter of taste.

RésuméContexte :Les avortements provoqués sont un problème de santé publique, et cela de par leur fréquence, la survenue de complication, et la mortalité et morbidité qui en découlent. Les décès peuvent ainsi représenter jusqu’à 18% de décès maternels. Très peu des données y relatives sont disponibles pour la RDC, alors que ce pays montre une mortalité maternelle très élevée avec un ratio qui est passé de 546 à 1188 décès maternels pour 100.000 naissances vivantes de 2007 à 2016 malgré l’amélioration de l’accessibilité et de l’utilisation des services de santé maternelle de 2001 à 2014. Objectif :Analyser les complications des avortements provoqués et les effets de l’intégration de la stratégie standard des soins après avortement dans les structures sanitaires de référence de la ville de Kinshasa, capitale de la RDC.Méthodes :L'analyse des complications des avortements provoqués incluait trois études transversales. La première étude a déterminé la prévalence des avortements provoqués et les complications y relatives. La deuxième et la troisième ont analysé les cas de complications des avortements provoqués admis dans les structures sanitaires de référence de Kinshasa du niveau secondaire et tertiaire successivement. Ensuite, l’analyse des effets de l’intégration de la stratégie standard des soins après avortement dans les structures sanitaires de référence de la ville de Kinshasa incluait une étude quasi expérimentale avec un design avant-après-comparatif. En outre, une étude qualitative avait été menée afin de contribuer à produire un modèle des soins après avortement adapté à la ville de Kinshasa.Résultats :Il ressort de nos études que le taux des avortements provoqués en 2015 était de 55 pour 1000 femmes en âge de procréer à Kinshasa, capitale de la RDC, et que la pratique de ces avortements était significativement plus souvent observée chez les femmes célibataires, séparées, ou divorcées, chez celles n’ayant pas étudié ou n’ayant fait que l’école primaire, et chez les consommatrices d'alcool, pour la plupart au moyen de doses élevées de médicaments administrées par les femmes elles-mêmes ou par des agents de santé. Un peu plus de la moitié de ces avortements avaient entraîné des complications, principalement hémorragiques, infectieuses, et traumatiques. Les patientes présentant ces complications représentaient entre 12,4 et 17,3% de l’ensemble des admissions dans les services de gynéco-obstétrique des structures sanitaires de référence du niveau secondaire, et environ 12,2% dans celle du niveau tertiaire. Dans ces structures, la durée médiane d'hospitalisation était de 9 à 10 jours, significativement plus longue pour des patientes ayant subi une intervention chirurgicale pour pelvipéritonite post perforation utérine que pour celles ayant subi une césarienne ou une hystérectomie. De plus, cette durée était significativement plus longue pour des patientes traitées pour d’autres types de complication post-abortive, que celles traitées pour un avortement spontané. Le taux de mortalité lié à ces complications était de 2,3 à 11,3% dans les structures du niveau secondaire, et de 37,8% dans celle du niveau tertiaire.La mise en place de la stratégie standard des soins après avortement dans les structures sanitaires de référence du niveau secondaire de la ville de Kinshasa a significativement amélioré la fréquence de la pratique de l’Aspiration Manuelle Intra-Utérine qui est passée de moins de 25% à 32−82% dans les structures expérimentales (p=0,025) au détriment de dilatation-curetage, ainsi que la durée d’hospitalisation des patientes admises pour une complication d’avortement provoqué (1 jour de moins dans les structures expérimentales, p=0,020). Par contre, elle n’a pas eu d’effets significatifs sur l’utilisation des services relatifs aux complications d’avortement provoqué, la létalité, et l’offre effective de la contraception moderne post avortement.Pour ce qui est des obstacles au succès des interventions qui visent l’amélioration de la prise en charge des complications des avortements provoqués dans les structures sanitaires de référence de la ville de Kinshasa, il y a notamment la culture, les normes sociales préétablies, la défaillance de l’éducation, le manque des moyens financiers, l’automédication, le manque d’un personnel formé, l’indiscrétion dans les structures sanitaires officielles, et les influences des pharmaciens/vendeurs des médicaments, des tradipraticiens, et des certains pasteurs.Conclusion :Les études présentées dans cette thèse ont montré que la pratique des avortements provoqués était fréquente à Kinshasa, capitale de la RDC, et que les complications survenaient dans plus de la moitié des cas, lesquelles complications n’étaient pas correctement prises en charge dans les structures sanitaires de référence et menaient à un décès dans plus de 5% de l’ensemble des cas. Ces études ont, en plus, permis de mettre en évidence une insuffisance des résultats de la stratégie standard des soins après avortement implémentée par le Ministère de la Santé Publique via le Programme National de Santé de la Reproduction, et de proposer une série d’actions de réajustementSummaryContext:Induced abortions are a public health problem because of their frequency, the occurrence of complications, and the resulting mortality and morbidity. Deaths can thus represent up to 18% of maternal deaths. Very little relative data is available for the DRC, although this country shows a very high maternal mortality with a ratio that went from 546 to 1188 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births from 2007 to 2016 despite the improvement in accessibility, and use of maternal health services from 2001 to 2014.Goal:Analyze the complications of induced abortions and the effects of integrating the standard postabortion care strategy into referral health structures in the city of Kinshasa, capital of the DRC.Methods:The analysis of complications from induced abortions included three cross-sectional studies. The first study determined the prevalence of induced abortions and related complications. The second and third analyzed the cases of complications from induced abortions admitted to the referral health structures in Kinshasa at the secondary and tertiary level. Then, the analysis of the effects of integrating the standard postabortion care strategy into referral health facilities in the city of Kinshasa included a quasi-experimental study with a before-after-comparative design. In addition, a qualitative study was carried out to help produce a postabortion care model adapted to the city of Kinshasa.Results:Our studies show that the rate of induced abortions in 2015 was 55 per 1000 women of childbearing age in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, and that the practice of these abortions was significantly more observed among single, separated or divorced women, those with no or only primary school education, and among female alcohol users, mostly with high doses of drugs administered by women themselves or by health workers. Just over half of these abortions resulted in complications, mainly hemorrhagic, infectious, and traumatic. Patients with these complications represented between 12.4 and 17.3% of all admissions to the gyneco-obstetrics departments of referral health facilities at the secondary level, and around 12.2% at tertiary level. In these facilities, the median duration of hospitalization was 9-10 days, and this period of time was significantly longer for the patients who underwent surgery for pelvic peritonitis due to uterine perforation compared with the patients who underwent Caesarean section/hysterectomy. Furthermore, it was significantly longer for the patients who were treated for other inducedabortion related complications compared with patients treated for spontaneous abortion. The mortality rate associated with these complications was 2.3-11.3% at secondary level facilities, and 37.8% at tertiary level facilities.The implementation of the standard postabortion care strategy in the referral health facilities at the secondary level of the city of Kinshasa has significantly improved the frequency of the practice of Manual Intrauterine Aspiration, which has gone from less than 25% at 32−82% in the experimental structures (p = 0.025) to the detriment of dilation-curettage, as well as the length of hospitalization of patients admitted for a complication of induced abortion (1 day less in the experimental structures, p = 0.020). However, it did not have a significant effect on the use of services related to induced abortion complications, the lethality, and the effective supply of modern postabortion contraception.Finally, with regard to the obstacles to the success of interventions aimed at improving the management of complications from induced abortions in referral health facilities in the city of Kinshasa, there is in particular the culture, the standards social pre-established, lack of education, lack of financial means, self-medication, lack of trained staff, indiscretion in official health structures, and the influences of pharmacists / drug sellers, traditional healers, and some pastors.Conclusion:The studies presented in this thesis showed that the practice of induced abortions was frequent in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, and that complications occurred in more than half of the cases, which complications were not well managed in the referral health facilities and led to death in more than 5% of cases. These studies have, in addition, made it possible to highlight an inadequacy of the results of the standard postabortion care strategy implemented by the Ministry of Public Health via the National Reproductive Health Program, and to propose a series of actions. readjustment / Doctorat en Sciences de la santé Publique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Plusieurs études théoriques intéressées par l’Afrique subsaharienne, plus particulièrement par la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), abordent dans une perspective de genre, la problématique de l’accès des femmes à la terre. Elles se concentrent sur les restrictions de l’accès à la terre et exposent les failles de la gouvernance foncière. Elles se focalisent, par exemple, sur la dualité dans la gestion foncière, les discriminations et obstacles auxquels sont sujettes les femmes, la non-application de la loi, les pratiques coutumières, etc. L’originalité de la présente thèse consiste à aborder la problématique de l’accès des femmes à la terre et du contrôle qu’elles peuvent concrètement exercer, par le biais d’une étude empirique à Beni, ville du nord-est de la RDC. D’une part, l’objectif est d’étudier le niveau auquel un outil « hybride », soit le modèle du domaine de la tenure sociale (STDM), a été intégré ou adapté par les acteurs afin d’être plus acceptable pour le système d’administration foncière étatique existant, en RDC, qui est un système rigide. D’autre part, analyser la sensibilité du STDM aux enjeux de genre relatives au foncier. L’étude se fonde sur la revue de la littérature et sur une analyse qualitative des résultats. Ceux-ci ont été classés par thématiques. Les analyses ont révélé que le STDM a fonctionné parallèlement avec le système préexistant. Il a quand même influencé le système d’administration foncière. Pourtant, ce système hybride n’a pas effectivement résolu les conflits fonciers, sécurisé les droits des pauvres et surtout des femmes pauvres. Les documents initiaux du projet ne priorisent pas les questions genre. Ainsi, ce dernier thème suscite une incompréhension ou une indifférence de la part des parties prenantes.