Ce travail est consacré à une étude numérique des effest produits sur les signaux sismiques par la structure géométrique des formations superficielles, dans une optique essentiellement tournée vers le risque sismique. Pour cela nous avons appliqué la méthode d'Aki et Larner ( milieux viscoélastiques linéaires homogènes isotropes) au calcul de la réponse de reliefs topographiques et de remplissages sédimentaires bidimentionnels ( 2D) à des ondes de volume planes incidentes. Npous nous sommes attachés à faire le lien entre les phénomènes physiques de base, les caractéristiques des spectres de réponse calculés en surface et les observations expérimentales. Le calcul montre clairement l'importance des phénomènes de diffraction et de formation d'ondes de surface sur toute variation latérale de la structure superficielle; de plus, pour les vallées alluviales, les ondes ainsi diffractées sont au moins partiellement piégées dans la couverture, et il en résulte sous certaines conditions géométriques des phénomènes de résonance bidimensionnelle extrêmement prononcés. Quant aux spectres de réponse, une étude paramétrique portant sur les facteurs sismiques, géométriques et mécaniques fait apparaître les résultats généraux suivants: - pour les reliefs topographiques, les effets, relativement large bande, sont maximaux pour des longueurs d'onde comparables à leur dimension horizontale. Les sommets des reliefs subissent alors une amplification, leur base une déamplification, et leurs versants d'importants mouvements différentiels. Cela est conforme aux résultats expérimentaux, bien que les amplifications observées soient souvent plus importantes que celles obtenues ici. - les vallées alluviales sont toujours sujettes à de fortes amplifications et prolongations des signaux sismiques, et leurs bords à d'importants mouvements différentiels. On peut cependant distinguer deux types de comportements: lorsqu'elles sont peu profondes, Ieur fréquence fondamentale est identique à celle prévue par l'approche 1 D, mais les amplificatIons correspondantes peuvent être 2 fois plus importantes, et les ondes de surface donnent lieu à des pics spectraux secondaires nombreux et rapprochés. Au contraire, la résonance 2D dans les vallées alluviales profondes survient à des fréquences reliées tant à leur largeur qu'à leur épaisseur, et l'amplification peut atteindre 4 fois celle prédite par l'approche 1D. La comparaison tant quantitative que qualitative avec les résultats expérimentaux s'avère tres bonne. Enfin, on discute l'applicabilité pratique de l'approche 2D et des resultats présentés ici au domaine du risque sismique. Comme le souligne en particulier un exemple d'étude de micro* zonage du site de Nice, les modèles 1D couramment utilisés en génie sismique peuvent non seulement sous-estimer l'ampleur des effets de site, mais en oublier "une des composantes essentielles, les mouvements différentiels .

Ce travail propose une méthodologie pour l'analyse du fonctionnement global d'un système HPP ainsi qu'une étude théorique et expérimentale des systèmes commutateur à plasma (POS), schéma LL et Compression de Flux. Une modélisation analytique des phases de fonctionnement est donnée pour évaluer leur rendement et les comparer. En s'appuyant sur un développement de la MHD Hall et sur un modèle de distribution du plasma, l'étude POS expose les modes de pénétration de B pendant la conduction et la transition vers la physique de l'ouverture. L'analyse des essais LL montre des spécificités (configuration de B, pertes) et conduit à un modèle électrique complet. L'usage du modèle analytique pour l'étude des essais CF révèle la circulation du courant dans l'épaisseur du plasma et son impact sur l'efficacité du schéma. Enfin, les performances des futures machines sont traduites en caractéristiques spécifiques aux schémas et comparées à l'expérience pour aborder leur viabilité et les travaux à venir.

La propagation régionale de deux types d'ondes sismiques guidées, l'onde Lg et le mode fondamental de l'onde de Rayleigh, est étudiée expérimentalement. Dans la première partie, nous traitons les données de l'expérience SISBALIG II pour étudier le phénomène de blocage des ondes Lg dans la Mer Ligure (sud-est de la France). En utilisant les diagrammes énergétiques, nous montrons que l'extinction de l'onde Lg se produit dans une zone d'une largeur d'environ 20 km près de la marge Provençale. En comparant lesobservations avec des simulations numériques, nous montrons que le facteur qui contribue le plus à ce blocage de l'onde Lg est la diffraction de l'énergie dans les sédiments océaniques. Dans la deuxième partie, nous étudions la propagation de l'onde de Rayleigh et la structure de la croûte au Sud du Mexique. Nous utilisons une approche classique d'étude de structure lithosphérique à partir de l'inversion des courbes de dispersion. Pour la mesure des courbes de dispersion de la vitesse de groupe, nous développons une méthode de sommation logarithmique dans le domaine période-temps ou période-vitesse de groupe. Nous utilisons une méthode d'inversion de la courbe de dispersion composée de deux étapes : (1) l'inversion linéarisée et (2) l'inversion de Monte-Carlo. Après avoir mesuré les courbes de dispersion dans les différentes régions et les avoir inversées pour des modèles locaux ID, nous construisons un modèle hétérogène de la croûte du Mexique. Ce modèle permet de simuler les caractéristiques majeures de la propagation des ondes émises par des séismes dans la zone de subduction Centraméricaine. Ainsi, nous montrons que l'amplification régionale aux périodes comprises entre 8 et 10 s dans la région de la Vallée de Mexico s'explique par la présence d'une couche superficielle à moindre vitesse sous la partie sud de la Chaîne Volcanique Transmexicaine.

Advancements in the field of biotechnology are expanding the scientific horizon and a promising era is envisioned with personalized medicine for improved health. The amount of genetic data is growing at an ever-escalating pace due to the availability of novel technologies that allow massively parallel sequencing and whole-genome genotyping, that are supported by the advancements in computer science and information technologies. As the amount of information stored in databases throughout the world is growing and our knowledge deepens, genetic signatures with significant importance are discovered. The surface of such a set in the data mining process may include causative- or marker single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), revealing predisposition to disease, or gene expression signatures, profiling a pathological state. When targeting a reduced set of signatures in a large number of samples for diagnostic- or fine-mapping purposes, efficient interrogation and scoring require appropriate preparations. These needs are met by miniaturized and parallelized platforms that allow a low sample and template consumption. This doctoral thesis describes an attempt to tackle some of these challenges by the design and implementation of a novel assay denoted Trinucleotide Threading (TnT). The method permits multiplex amplification of a medium size set of specific loci and was adapted to genotyping, gene expression profiling and digital allelotyping. Utilizing a reduced number of nucleotides permits specific amplification of targeted loci while preventing the generation of spurious amplification products. This method was applied to genotype 96 individuals for 75 SNPs. In addition, the accuracy of genotyping from minute amounts of genomic DNA was confirmed. This procedure was performed using a robotic workstation running custom-made scripts and a software tool was implemented to facilitate the assay design. Furthermore, a statistical model was derived from the molecular principles of the genotyping assay and an Expectation-Maximization algorithm was chosen to automatically call the generated genotypes. The TnT approach was also adapted to profiling signature gene sets for the Swedish Human Protein Atlas Program. Here 18 protein epitope signature tags (PrESTs) were targeted in eight different cell lines employed in the program and the results demonstrated high concordance rates with real-time PCR approaches. Finally, an assay for digital estimation of allele frequencies in large cohorts was set up by combining the TnT approach with a second-generation sequencing system. Allelotyping was performed by targeting 147 polymorphic loci in a genomic pool of 462 individuals. Subsequent interrogation was carried out on a state-of-the-art massively parallelized Pyrosequencing instrument. The experiment generated more than 200,000 reads and with bioinformatic support, clonally amplified fragments and the corresponding sequence reads were converted to a precise set of allele frequencies. / QC 20100813

In 2001 the human proteome organization (HUPO) was created with the ambition to identify and characterize all proteins encoded in the human genome according to several criteria; their expression levels in different tissues and under different conditions; the sub-cellular localization; post-translational modifications; interactions, and if possible also the relationship between their structure and function.When the knowledge of different proteins and their potential interactions increases, so does the need for methods able to unravel the nature of molecular processes in cells and organized tissues, and ultimately for clinical use in samples obtained from patients. The in situ proximity ligation assay (in situ PLA) was developed to provide localized detection of proteins, post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions in fixed cells and tissues. Dual recognition of the target or interacting targets is a prerequisite for the creation of a circular reporter DNA molecule, which subsequently is locally amplified for visualization of individual protein molecules in single cells. These features offer the high sensitivity and selectivity required for detection of even rare target molecules. Herein in situ PLA was first established and then employed as a tool for detection of both interactions and post-translational modifications in cultured cells and tissue samples. In situ PLA was also adapted to high content screening (HCS) for therapeutic effects, where it was applied for cell-based drug screening of inhibitors influencing post-translational modifications. This was performed using primary cells, paving the way for evaluation of drug effects on cells from patient as a diagnostic tool in personalized medicine. In conclusion, this thesis describes the development and applications of in situ PLA as a tool to study proteins, post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions in genetically unmodified cells and tissues, and for clinical interactomics.

Mechanomyography (MMG) has been proposed as a control modality for alternative access technologies for individuals with disabilities. However, MMG recordings are highly susceptible to contamination from limb movements. Pressure-based transducers are touted to be the most robust to external movement although there is some debate about their optimal chamber geometry, in terms of low frequency gain and spectral flatness. To investigate the question of preferred geometry, transducers with varying chamber shapes were designed, manufactured and tested. The best performance was achieved with a transducer consisting of a low-frequency MEMS microphone, a 4 micron thick aluminized mylar membrane and a rigid conical chamber 7 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height. Furthermore, microphone-derived MMG spectra were found to be less influenced by motion artifact than corresponding accelerometer-derived spectra. However, artifact harmonics were present in both spectra, suggesting that bandpass filtering may not remove artifact influences permeating into MMG frequency bands.

Mechanomyography (MMG) has been proposed as a control modality for alternative access technologies for individuals with disabilities. However, MMG recordings are highly susceptible to contamination from limb movements. Pressure-based transducers are touted to be the most robust to external movement although there is some debate about their optimal chamber geometry, in terms of low frequency gain and spectral flatness. To investigate the question of preferred geometry, transducers with varying chamber shapes were designed, manufactured and tested. The best performance was achieved with a transducer consisting of a low-frequency MEMS microphone, a 4 micron thick aluminized mylar membrane and a rigid conical chamber 7 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height. Furthermore, microphone-derived MMG spectra were found to be less influenced by motion artifact than corresponding accelerometer-derived spectra. However, artifact harmonics were present in both spectra, suggesting that bandpass filtering may not remove artifact influences permeating into MMG frequency bands.

We demonstrate four experimentally simple methods for measuring very complex ultrashort light pulses. Although each method is comprised of only a few optical elements, they permit the measurement of extremely complex pulses with time-bandwidth products greater than 65,000. First, we demonstrate an extremely simple frequency-resolved-optical gating (GRENOUILLE) device for measuring the intensity and phase of pulses up to ~20ps in length. In order to achieve the required high spectral resolution and large temporal range, it uses a few-cm-thick second harmonic-generation crystal in the shape of a pentagon. This has the additional advantage of reducing the device's total number of components to three. Secondly, we introduce a variation of spectral interferometry (SI) using a virtually imaged phased array and grating spectrometer for measuring long complex ultrashort pulses up to 80 ps in length. Next, we introduce a SI technique for measuring the complete intensity and phase of relatively long and very complex ultrashort pulses. It involves making multiple measurements using SI (in its SEA TADPOLE variation) at numerous delays, measuring many temporal pulselets within the pulse, and concatenating the resulting pulselets. Its spectral resolution is the inverse delay range--many times higher than that of the spectrometer used. The waveforms were measured with ~ fs temporal resolution over a temporal range of ~ns and had time-bandwidth products exceeding 65,000, which to our knowledge is the largest time-bandwidth product ever measured with ~fs temporal resolution. Finally, we demonstrate a single-shot measurement technique that temporally interleaves hundreds of measurements with ~fs temporal resolution. It is another variation of SI for measuring the complete intensity and phase of relatively long and complex ultrashort pulses in a single shot. It uses a grating to introduce a transverse time delay into a reference pulse which gates the unknown pulse by interfering it at the image plane of an imaging spectrometer. It provided ~125 fs temporal resolution and a temporal range of 70 ps using a low-resolution spectrometer.

The objective of this thesis is to study of optical effects, arising in the form of non-uniform waveguide structure, complicated refractive index profiles or due to pulse propagation in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical communication systems. These effects are important and critically influence the performance of DWDM optical systems. A comprehensive survey of current literature on optical effects due to nonuniform optical structure and nonlinear optical effects is first done, showing their advantages and disadvantage in optical communication systems. A survey on methods of optical waveguide analysis is also done. The main contribution has been made to three main aspects of the problem : Accurate analysis of uniform/non-uniform optical waveguides with arbitary refractive index profiles Pulse propagation and distortion in DWDM Raman amplification systems. Use of non-uniform FBG to compensate for pulse distortion We study several existing analytical techniques developed so far for analyzing the mode of non-uniform optical waveguide structures. Later, we verify the analytical results by finite element method (FEM). The convergence study is also carried out. A new computational technique is proposed modifying the finite element method to analyze complex refractive index profiles required for the analysis, namely single mode step index profile, multi clad fiber, W -profile, chirp profile etc. An accuracy of 10−4 in the calculation of propagation constant/eigen-value is demonstrated. Dispersion characteristics of optical fibers w.r.t. different profile parameters is evaluated. A modification to scalar BPM is proposed and applied to study the effects of inhomogeneities along the propagation direction. The applicability and accuracy of the method is tested using integrated optic waveguide devices, namely, graded index slab waveguide. The proposed BPM uses Fourier decomposition of the transverse field. Coupled mode theory (CMT) of optical waveguides in non-homogeneous optical medium is applied to study the interaction of lightwaves propagation together such as in a DWDM system. The BPM results is verified by CMT. The inhomogeneous waveguide theory is extended to study pulse propagation in DWDM optical communication system. Nonlinear optical effects are an important aspects of DWDM systems with fiber Raman amplifier. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is necessary to study these nonlinear optical effects as other conventional methods are not suitable here. Here, we discuss DWDM optical communication systems due to nonlinearity in the form of SRS effect. In case of FRA, we study the various kinds of fiber profile design parameters, for the purpose to achieve and extend the flat gain bandwidth over the EDFA window. We also propose and study, a new bi-directional optical fiber transmission scheme with various constraints, using Raman amplification process with and without pump depletion. Our scheme, provides an advantage like high SNR, low pump induced noise, for long-haul communication link. We find that, there is a quite significant crosstalk and power coupling among the dense DWDM channels but earlier discussed BPM fails to account for possible interference effects among the channels. To reduce the harmful nonlinear optical effects like four wave mixing (FWM), we need to deploy a high chromatic dispersion fiber, which will ultimately lead to high pulse walk-off rate among the DWDM channels; hence for high bit rate long haul systems, walk-off effect can not be ignored. Application of FDTD provided an improved insight into the effect of GVD on stimulated Raman scattering crosstalk than different modulation techniques and line codes. It is shown through analysis that pulse walk-off phenomena may distort the data asymmetrically; especially for case of wide-band DWDM transmission system. Hence, the pulse walk-off effect should be considered in future systems containing optical amplifier. It is shown, that large walk-off rate may reduce the crosstalk among DWDM channels but tends to increase the asymmetric pulse distortion. Data may lose due to high walk-off effect. We also investigate channel addition/removal process in DWDM fiber Raman amplifier. We also demonstrate that the pulse walk-off effect tends to lead significantly to positive chirp for higher frequency channels. This feature can be exploited to overcome the chromatic dispersion effects in DWDM transmission systems. Pulse walk-off induced chirp, can be compensated by using the nonuniform fiber Bragg grating (NUFBG). The CMT due to periodic perturbation of the circular cylindrical waveguide structures is applied here. Here, we discuss the function of fiber Bragg grating as a transmission versus reflecting grating filter. We also discuss, FBG application to gain flattening of an EDFA window as well as how the group velocity dispersion (GVD) will be affected with bandwidth and coupling coefficient. We develop a new analytical technique to estimate the bandwidth of FBG based optical system. Finally, we investigate the dispersion compensation properties, pulse distortion, peak reflectivity analysis in uniform/non-uniform FBG due to an uniform/non-uniform incoming signal. More complicated refractive index profile can significantly reduce the GVD as well as side lobes intensity. Dispersion characteristic due to an arbitrary refractive index profile is discussed in details for the case of non-uniform FBG. Thus, we concluded that wide band DWDM optical communication system need to closely take into account various inhomogeneities and nonlinearities of optical fibers w.r.t. wave and pulse propagation.

Nous ne pouvons ni prévoir, ni lutter contre un séisme. Nous ne pouvons que tenter de limiter les dégâts et désastres humains qu'ils occasionnent au sein des zones urbaines. Celles-ci, pour des raisons purement pratiques (culture et eau) sont souvent construites sur des bassins sédimentaires ou lacustres. Or, ces sites, de part les caractéristiques physiques de leur sous-sol, sont parmi les plus dangereux lorsqu'un séisme les touche (Mexico en 1985, Izmit en 1999...).<br />La compréhension des mécanismes et phénomènes mis en jeu constitue la première étape pour l'élaboration de moyens d'action visant à limiter les effets des séismes en zone urbaine. Ceux-ci peuvent être classés en deux catégories principales qui vont interagir fortement entre elles. D'une part, les mécanismes et phénomènes liés à "l'histoire" de l'onde touchant le milieu urbain, et d'autre part ceux de l'interaction, au sein de ce milieu urbain, de l'onde incidente et des bâtiments. <br />Nous montrons, analytiquement et numériquement, que l'excitation d'une configuration par une onde plane en incidence verticale ne fournit pas une représentation correcte ni de la réponse, ni des phénomènes lorsque l'épicentre est localisé loin de la ville. A la limite, une telle excitation peut être employée pour l'étude de séismes touchant des villes telle que Nice, mais en aucun cas pour celle de séismes touchant des villes comme Mexico. Dans ce second cas, nous montrons que certaines des caractéristiques de la coda étaient présentes avant l'entrée dans la ville et que ces caractéristiques sont dues à l'excitation des modes réels de la configuration sur un parcours régional.<br />Nous dégageons ensuite, toujours analytiquement et numériquement, les mécanismes majeurs de l'interaction de cette onde avec les bâtiments qui induisent une modification notable du champ de déplacement dans la ville, conduisant un effet encore plus dévastateur (surtout dans le cas des mouvements anti-plans).<br />Cette étude constitue une preuve analytique de l'importance et de la complémentarité de ces deux classes de mécanismes dans la compréhension des phénomènes qui, nous l'espérons, un jour se traduira par des actions concrètes sur l'urbanisme, de façon à compléter les mesures déjà mises en oeuvre pour limiter les dégâts et désastres humains lors d'un sisme.