Biological membranes form a protective barrier around cells and cellular compartments. A broad range of biochemical processes occur in or at membranes demonstrating that they are not only of structural but also of functional importance. One important class of membrane proteins are membrane-associated glycosyltransferases. WaaG is a representative of this class of proteins; its function is to catalyze one step in the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, which are outer membrane lipids found in Gram-negative bacteria. To study protein-membrane complexes by biophysical methods, one must employ membrane mimetics, i.e. simplifications of natural membranes. One type of membrane mimetic often employed in solution-state NMR is small isotropic bicelles, obloid aggregates formed from a lipid bilayer that is dissolved in aqueous solvent by detergent molecules that make up the rim of the bicelle. In this thesis, fast dynamics of lipid atoms in bicelles containing lipid mixtures that faithfully mimic plant and bacterial membranes were investigated by NMR relaxation. Lipids were observed to undergo a broad range of motions; while the glycerol backbone was found to be rigid, dynamics in the acyl chains were much more rapid and unrestricted. Furthermore, by employing paramagnetic relaxation enhancements an ‘atomic ruler’ was developed that allows for measurement of the immersion depths of lipid carbon atoms. WaaG is a membrane-associated protein that adopts a GT-B fold. For proteins of this type, it has been speculated that the N-terminal domain anchors tightly to the membrane via electrostatic interactions, while the anchoring of the C-terminal domain is weaker. Here, this model was tested for WaaG. It was found by a set of circular dichroism, fluorescence, and NMR techniques that an anchoring segment located in the N-terminal domain termed MIR-WaaG binds electrostatically to membranes, and the structure and localization of isolated MIR-WaaG inside micelles was determined. Full-length WaaG was also found to bind membranes electrostatically. It senses the surface charge density of the membrane whilst not discriminating between anionic lipid species. Motion of the C-terminal domain could not be observed under the experimental conditions used here. Lastly, the affinity of WaaG to membranes is lower than expected, indicating that WaaG should not be classified as a monotopic membrane protein but rather as a peripheral one. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

Over the last couple of decades, sustainability has gained importance in the business world, and a concept that has often been used as a prime example of how to deal with today’s environmental problems is circular economy. Even though the topic is relatively new, there has already been quite some debate about its actual advantages and disadvantages, and while there is as of yet no consensus, the majority argues that the application of circular economy practices will be beneficial for the environment. Which is exactly what this research has attempted to ascertain by looking at 78 firms from a wide range of industries yet all from the Nordic region, since this geographical area has been hailed repeatedly for their sustainability. This was done by performing a hierarchical regression analysis on the data in order to explore a possible relationship between the score of a firm on the benchmark of circular economy practices and its corresponding environmental performance, specifically energy consumption, water usage and greenhouse gas emissions. The hierarchical regression analysis showed a significantly positive relationship between a firm’s score on the benchmark of circular economy practices and its energy consumption, while controlling for firm size, industry, debt ratio,slack resources and country of origin, which was contrary to expectations. No such relationship was found between a firm’s benchmark score and their water usage, the same goes for greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, this research has taken an important step in understanding the relationship between circular economy practices and a firm’s environmental performance, and in doing so has opened up new avenues to explore in terms of future research. While the Nordic region is on the right track, there is still a long road ahead.

This thesis presents the results of a research project to develop methods to carry out fire safety design of welded steel tubular trusses at elevated temperatures due to fire exposure. It deals with three subjects: resistance of welded tubular joints at elevated temperatures, effects of large truss deflection in fire on member design and effects of localised heating. The objectives of the project are achieved through numerical finite element modelling at elevated temperatures using the commercial Finite Element software ABAQUS v6.10-1 (2011). Validation of the simulation model for joints is based on comparison against the test results of Nguyen et al. (2010) and Kurobane et al. (1986). Validation of the simulation model for trusses is through checking against the test results of Edwards (2004) and Liu et al. (2010).For welded tubular joints, extensive numerical simulations have been conducted on T-, Y-, X-, N- and non-overlapped K-joints subjected to brace axial compression or tension, considering a wide range of geometrical parameters. Uniform temperature distribution was assumed for both the chord and brace members. Results of the numerical simulations indicate for gap K- and N-joints (two brace members, one in tension and the other in compression) and for T-, Y- and X-joints with the brace member under axial tensile load (one brace member only, in tension), it is suitable to use the same ambient temperature calculation equation as in the CIDECT (2010) or EN 1993-1-8 (CEN, 2005a) design guides and simply replace the ambient temperature strength of steel with the elevated temperature value. However, for T-, Y- and X-joints under brace compression load (one brace member only, in compression), the effect of large chord deformation should be considered. Large chord deformation changes the chord geometry and invalidates the assumed yield line mechanism at ambient temperature. For approximation, the results of this research indicate that it is acceptable to modify the ambient temperature joint strength by a reduction factor for the elastic modulus of steel at elevated temperatures. In the current fire safety design method for steel truss, a member based approach is used. In this approach, the truss member forces are calculated at ambient temperature based on linear elastic analysis. These forces are then used to calculate the truss member limiting temperatures. An extensive parametric study has been carried out to investigate whether this method is appropriate. The parametric study encompasses different design parameters over a wide range of values, including truss type, joint type, truss span-to-depth ratio, critical member slenderness, applied load ratio, number of brace members, initial imperfection and thermal elongation. The results of this research show that due to a truss undergoing large displacements at elevated temperatures, some truss members (compression brace members near the truss centre) experience large increases in member forces. Therefore, using the ambient temperature member force, as in the current truss fire safety design method, may overestimate the truss member critical temperature by 100 °C. A method has been proposed to analytically calculate the increase in brace compressive force due to large truss deformation. In this method, the maximum truss displacement is assumed to be span/30. A comparison of the results calculated using the proposed method against the truss parametric study results has shown good agreement with the two sets of results, with the calculation results generally being slightly on the safe side. When different members of a truss are heated to different temperatures due to localised fire exposure, the brace members in compression experience increased compression due to restrained thermal expansion. To calculate the critical temperature of a brace member in a localised heated truss, it is necessary to consider this effect of restrained thermal expansion. It is also necessary to consider the beneficial effects of the adjacent members being heated, which tends to reduce the increase in compressive force in the critical member under consideration. Again, an extensive set of parametric studies have been conducted, for different load ratio, slenderness and axial restraint ratio. The results of this parametric study suggest that to calculate the critical temperature of a brace member, it is not necessary to consider the effects of the third or further adjacent members being heated. For the remainder of the heated members, this thesis has proposed a linear elastic, static analysis method at ambient temperature to calculate the additional compressive force (some negative, indicating tension) in the critical member caused by the heated members (including the critical member itself and the adjacent members). The additional compressive force is then used to calculate the limiting temperature of the critical member. For this purpose, the approximate analytical equation of Wang et al. (2010) has been demonstrated to be suitable.

Pour comprendre la gestion des déchets à Yaoundé, deux angles d’analyse ont été abordés. Il s’agit de la gestion linéaire basée sur les stratégies de collecte, de transport, de traitement, de mise en décharge des déchets et de la transition vers une économie circulaire. Le chevauchement des pouvoirs, les insuffisances organisationnelles, techniques et managériales à Yaoundé sont à l’origine d’inégalités environnementales et d’accès au service public de déchet. Ceci a engendré les risques et nuisances comme la prolifération des dépôts sauvages, les incinérations à ciel ouvert, les inondations et les pathologies liées aux déchets.Les limites de la gestion linéaire ont amené les pouvoirs publics à poser à partir de 1992 les bases d’un nouveau système basé sur le recyclage des déchets appelé aujourd’hui sous le vocable international économie circulaire. Celle-ci se développe sur le terrain à travers les filières formelles et informelles de récupération, de réparation, de réemploi/réutilisation, d’achat et de revente des déchets, de compostage et de recyclage. Cette stratégie gouvernementale, appuyée par les acteurs de la société civile et privés, se structure depuis 2010 par la création de nouvelles filières comme le projet de méthanisation à la décharge de Nkol Foulou, le recyclage des déchets d’équipements électriques et électroniques et l’adoption en 2012 d’un cadre juridique sur l’économie du déchet. L’activité de la réparation connait un dynamisme qu’il serait important de structurer. Mais la perception négative du déchet par les populations freine encore l’essor de ce domaine d’activités. D’où la nécessité de sensibiliser, d’informer et d’éduquer les yaoundéens afin d’améliorer la gestion des déchets. / In a bid to construe the issue of solid household waste management in Yaounde, two analytical frameworks were adopted. A linear management of waste based on strategies of collection, transportation, processing, dumping-ground for waste accumulation and a switch towards a circular economy. Since the overlapping of powers as well as the technical, management and organisational shortcomings stand originally as the root cause of environmental disparities, it hardly favours the public management of waste. This has entailed stakes and harm such as irregular dumping sites, open incineration, floods as well as waste related pathologies.Because of lapses in linear management, the authorities have decided to lay the foundations of a new system relying on the recycling of waste known internationally as “circular economy”. Circular economy is being developed in precise areas such as formal and informal recoveries, repair, reuse, buying and resale of waste, composting and recycling. Such a governmental strategy, supported by actors of the civil and private societies was concretised by the creation in 2010 of new sectors such as the project of methanisation in the dumping-ground of Nkol Foulou, the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment wastes. In addition, the adoption of a juridical framework of the waste economy followed in 2012. To sum up, it is evident that, as time goes by, the repairing activity is become so dynamic that there is a greater need to restructure it. However, people still have negative perception of waste that hinders the breakthrough of this area. Finally, it is compulsory to sensitize, inform and educate Yaounde city dwellers for the improvement of solid waste management in Cameroon.

Um die wirtschaftliche Relevanz und die Flexibilität des Formdrückens zu erweitern, ist ein Maschinen- und Steuerungskonzept entwickelt worden, dass auch die Herstellung von nichtrotationssymmetrischen Bauteilen erlaubt. Neben experimentellen Untersuchungen zur Verfahrensentwicklung wurde ebenfalls eine numerische Verfahrensoptimierung des neu entwickelten Prozesses „Unrunddrücken“ durchgeführt, um unrunde Bauteile falten- und rissfrei sowie mit geringer Blechdickenreduktion herstellen zu können. In ersten experimentellen Untersuchungen wurden die technologischen Haupteinflussgrößen auf die Versagensformen Falten- und Rissbildung sowie die Blechausdünung ermittelt. Aufbauend auf diesen Ergebnissen ist ein kalibriertes Simulationsmodell erarbeitet worden, mit dem es möglich ist, das Prozessverständnis zu erhöhen und somit die Versagensfälle ganzheitlich über den Prozess zu betrachten. Die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse wurden genutzt, um Optimierungsmaßnahmen für das Unrunddrücken abzuleiten. Es konnte experimentell nachgewiesen werden, dass sowohl die Falten- und Rissbildung als auch die Blechdickenreduktion durch die Optimierungsmaßnahmen deutlich reduziert werden können. Das in der vorliegenden Arbeit entwickelte Verfahren des Unrunddrückens stellt einen effizienten, kostengünstigen und vor allem flexiblen Fertigungsprozess für die Herstellung von nichtrotationssymmetrischen Bauteilen mit nahezu konstantem Blechdickenverlauf dar.

Les cryptophanes constituent une famille de molécules chirales qui comportent une cavité dans laquelle elles peuvent accueillir des espèces invitées de taille et de nature variables (halogénométhanes, xénon, cations). Nous nous sommes intéressés aux propriétés d’encapsulation présentées par trois espèces solubles dans l’eau : le cryptophane-A hexa-hydroxyle, le cryptophane-A penta-hydroxyle et le cryptophane-A hexa-acide carboxylique. La chiralité de ces systèmes a été utilisée pour en étudier les propriétés de complexation au moyen de techniques chiroptiques : la polarimétrie, le dichroïsme circulaire électronique (ECD) et le dichroïsme circulaire vibrationnel (VCD), cette dernière technique étant associée à des calculs de chimie théorique. Les effets de différents paramètres, tels que le pH de la solution et la nature des contre-ions, sur la complexation de molécules invitées ont été analysés. Les modifications conformationnelles induites sur les cryptophanes lors de l'encapsulation ont également été déterminées. De plus, des propriétés d'énantiodiscrimination de ces cryptophanes hydrosolubles énantiopurs vis-à-vis de petites molécules invitées chirales ont été mises en évidence. Enfin, ces cryptophanes ont montré une affinité exceptionnelle pour le cation césium Cs+ en solution aqueuse. Ces deux derniers résultats permettent d’envisager des applications intéressantes de ces systèmes en chromatographie chirale d’une part, et en chimie de l’environnement pour la détection de césium radioactif d’autre part. / Cryptophanes derivatives are a family of chiral molecules containing a cavity which enables them to encapsulate guest species with variable size and nature (halogenomethanes, xenon, cations). We have been interested in the encapsulation properties of three different water soluble cryptophanes: hexa-hydroxyl cryptophane-A, penta-hydroxyl cryptophane-A and hexa-carboxylic acid cryptophane-A. The chirality of these systems have been exploited to study their complexation properties using chiroptical techniques: polarimetry, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), the latter being associated with theoretical calculations. The effects of different parameters such as the pH of the solution and the nature of the counter-ions on the complexation of guest molecules have been analyzed. The conformational changes induced on the cryptophanes upon encapsulation have been also determined. In addition, enantiodiscrimination properties of these enantiopure water soluble cryptophanes toward small chiral guest molecules have been evidenced. Finally, these cryptophanes have shown an exceptional affinity for the cesium cation Cs+ in aqueous solution. These last two results allow to consider interesting applications of these systems in chiral chromatography and environmental chemistry, in particular for the detection of radioactive cesium, respectively.

La navigation dans les environnements contraints tels que les zones portuaires ou les zones urbainesdenses est souvent exposée au problème du masquage des satellites GPS. Dans ce cas, le recours auxcapteurs proprioceptifs est généralement la solution envisagée pour localiser temporairement le véhiculesur une carte. Cependant, la dérive de ces capteurs met rapidement en défaut le système de navigation.Pour localiser le véhicule, on utilise dans cette thèse, un magnétomètre pour la mesure du cap dans unrepère absolu, un capteur de vitesse et une carte numérique du réseau de routes.Dans ce contexte, le premier apport de ce travail est de proposer la mise en correspondance desmesures de cap avec la carte numérique (map matching) pour localiser le véhicule. La technique proposéefait appel à un filtre particulaire défini dans le domaine circulaire et à un préfiltrage circulairedes mesures de cap. On montre que cette technique est plus performante qu’un algorithme de map matchingtopologique classique et notamment dans le cas problématique d’une jonction de route en Y. Ledeuxième apport de ce travail est de proposer un filtre circulaire multi-modèles CIMM défini dans uncadre bayésien à partir de la distribution circulaire de von Mises. On montre que l’intégration de cettenouvelle approche dans le préfiltrage et l’analyse des mesures de cap permet d’améliorer la robustesse del’estimation de la direction pendant les virages ainsi que d’augmenter la qualité du map matching grâce àune meilleure propagation des particules du filtre sur le réseau de routes. Les performances des méthodesproposées sont évaluées sur des données synthétiques et réelles. / Navigation in constrained areas such as ports or dense urban environments is often exposed to theproblem of non-line-of-sight to GPS satellites. In this case, proprioceptive sensors are generally used totemporarily localize the vehicle on a map. However, the drift of these sensors quickly cause the navigationsystem to fail. To localize the vehicle, a magnetometer is used in this thesis for heading measurementunder an absolute reference together with a velocity sensor and a digital map of the road network.In this context, the first contribution of this work is to provide a matching of the vehicle’s headingwith the digital map (map matching) to localize the vehicle. The proposed technique uses a particle filterdefined in the circular domain and a circular pre-filtering on the heading measurements. It is shown thatthis technique is more efficient than a conventional topological map matching algorithm, particularly inambiguous cases like a Y-shape road junction. The second contribution of this work is to propose a circularmultiple model filter CIMM defined in a Bayesian framwork from the von Mises circular distribution.It is shown that the integration of this new approach in the pre-filtering and analysis of the heading observationsimproves the robustness of the heading’s estimation during cornering and increases the mapmatching’s quality through a better propagation of the particles on the road network. The performancesof the proposed methods are evaluated on synthetic and real data.

The furniture industry is a thriving industry in the past decades all over the world. The increase in production and sales of furniture products means that more raw materials are needed and more furniture waste is produced at the same time. Taking into account the unsolved environmental issues, it is necessary to make innovation changes to reduce the waste and overcome the continuously increasing resource consumption. Circular economy draws a wide attention under this situation. As an alternative to replace the traditional linear consumption model, it balances the economic development and environmental concern. Turning waste into a new resource is a profitable opportunity for the furniture industry. However, product recovery in this industry meets obstacles due to the character of the furniture.This study considers discarded bulky furniture products. It focuses on the first step of furniture waste recovery: the collection process. The aim of this research is improving the efficiency of a “many to one” collection process in a reverse logistics system and increasing the recovery level within the hierarchy of options for discarded furniture. By using the soft system methodology, this study explores the current discarded furniture collection situation within Europe and then analyzes each essential element of this collection system. After that, combining with the relevant circular economy theory and information gathered from a case furniture company, we design a new conceptual business process model for discarded furniture collection.In the newly designed model, the collection process is carried out by the individual transport option with sufficient capacity from customer’s home to the furniture store. The new model is based on a collaborative lifestyle information platform. By managing the real-time information, the platform aligns individuals’ transport resources with discarded furniture demand to reduce the transport cost of the collection process. This model aims for optimal use of the available individual resources to complement the transport process. Moreover, this information platform helps to collect information in the early stage to reduce the uncertainty of reverse logistics.

La réflectométrie GNSS (GNSS-R) est une technique d'observation de la Terre reposant sur un système radar bi-statique passif qui utilise, comme signaux d'opportunité, les signaux GNSS en bande L. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit de thèse ont pour but de développer des méthodes de traitement du signal dédiées à l'altimétrie au sol par GNSS-R. L'altitude entre le récepteur GNSS-R et la surface de réflexion est déduite de la différence de chemin entre les signaux direct et réfléchi. On propose trois méthodes d'estimation dédiées à l'altimétrie par GNSS-R, pour un récepteur mono-fréquence, utilisant respectivement les observables de code, de puissance (carrier-to-noise ratio C/N₀) et de phase des signaux GNSS observés. Nous proposons un estimateur de la pseudo-distance qui utilise la mesure de délais de code sous-échantilloné aidée par la mesure de phase. On montre que l'estimateur sub-résolution proposé permet d'obtenir une précision qui est inférieure à la résolution en délai de code. Le deuxième estimateur s'appuie sur une méthode de calibration qui normalise la puissance de la somme des signaux direct et réfléchi (Interférence Pattern Technique). On montre par l'étude des bornes de Cramèr-Rao que l'estimateur proposé permet de réduire le temps de mesure et de conserver une précision centimétrique. La mesure de phase est une grandeur circulaire qui évolue linéairement avec l'élévation du satellite. Dans ce contexte, nous proposons deux estimateurs qui s'appuient sur un modèle de régression circulaire et la distribution circulaire de von Mises. Des expérimentations sur données réelles viennent conclure ce manuscrit de thèse et montrent la faisabilité des trois méthodes d'estimation proposées. La précision centimétrique est atteinte. / The Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is an Earth observation technique. It is based on a passive bi-static radar system using the L-band signal coming directly from a GNSS satellite and this same signal reflected by the Earth surface. The aim of the presented work is to develop signal processing methods for altimetry measurements using ground based GNSS-R. The altitude is derived from the difference of path between the direct and reflected signals. We propose three estimators for GNSS-R altimetry measurement using respectively the code observations, the carrier-to-noise ratio C/N₀ observations, and the phase observations obtained by a mono-frequency receiver. Firstly, we define a pseudo-range estimator using under-sampling code delay observations aided by phase measurements. We show that the proposed estimator allows avoiding accuracy limitations due to the receiver resolution. Secondly, a calibration method has been developed for the Interference Pattern Technique, for normalizing the C/N₀ of the combination of the direct and reflected signals. The Cramèr-Rao Lower Bound of this estimation technique is studied. We show that the proposed estimator allows reducing the observation duration while keeping the centimeter accuracy. Thirdly, a last method is proposed in order to evaluate the difference of path between the direct and reflected signals using phase measurement.The phase measurement is an angular data evolving linearly with the satellite elevation. In this context, we propose two estimators based on a circular-linear regression and the von Mises distribution. Experimentation on real data conclude this manuscript and show the feasibility of these methods. The centimeter accuracy is reached.

In this paper, a new millimeter wave 3D imaging radar is proposed. The user just needs to move the radar along a circular track, and high resolution 3D imaging can be generated. The proposed radar uses the movement of itself to synthesize a large aperture in both the azimuth and elevation directions. It can utilize inverse Radon transform to resolve 3D imaging. To improve the sensing result, the compressed sensing approach is further investigated. The simulation and experimental result further illustrated the design. Because a single transceiver circuit is needed, a light, affordable and high resolution 3D mmWave imaging radar is illustrated in the paper.