In this paper, the problem of dual actuation in the atomic force microscope (AFM) is analyzed. The use of two actuators to balance the trade-off between bandwidth, range, and precision has been recently extended to nano-positioning systems. Despite existing demands, this concept undergoes fundamental limitations towards its extension to AFMs. This is attributed to the non-conventional requirement imposed on the control signal response, as it used to create the image of the characterized surface. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

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Polycyclische aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAK), Polychlorierte Biphenyle (PCB) und Schwermetalle (SM) sind zusammen mit anderen Elementen und Verbindungen u.a. auch mit Nährstoffen als gemischte gewachsene Kontamination in ballungsraumtypischen Belastungsflächen (z.B. Rieselfelder) vorhanden und stellen bei einem Transfer in Nahrungs- und Futterpflanzen eine besondere Gefährdung für den Menschen dar. Bei Untersuchungen hinsichtlich ökosystemarer Konsequenzen dieser Substanzen wurden bisher vor allem Einzelstoffbetrachtungen angestellt bzw. mehrere Vertreter einer Stoffgruppe untersucht. Ursache für Ertragsdepressionen und Minderungen der mikrobiellen Aktivität auf hochbelasteten Flächen ist aber immer eine Komplexwirkung der verschiedenen Bodeninhaltsstoffe, so daß sich synergistische Effekte einstellen können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die kombinierte Wirkung ausgewählter PAK-, PCB- und SM-Vertreter (Benzo-a-pyren [ BaP] , 2,2?,5,5? Tetrachlorbiphenyl [ PCB 52] , Cadmium [ Cd] und Kupfer [ Cu] ) auf bodenmikrobiologische Parameter, Biomasseproduktion und Schadstoffaufnahme von Pflanzen im Gefäßversuch untersucht. Veränderungen von CO2-Freisetzung, Cellulosezersetzung, N-Mineralisierung und SM-Pflanzenverfügbarkeit in einem schwachbelasteten Rieselfeldboden (RefB) nach dessen Einzelstoff- bzw. Mischanreicherung mit den genannten Schadstoffen in Konzentrationen, wie sie in hochbelasteten Rieselfeldern vorliegen, werden dargestellt. Desweiteren erfolgt eine Auswertung der Daten zu Erträgen und Schadstoffgehalten der auf den Versuchsvarianten geprüften Pflanzen (Roggen, Mais und Kartoffeln). Wechselbeziehungen der Schadstoffe untereinander im Pfad ² Boden-Pflanze² werden diskutiert. Auf allen Cu-Anreicherungsvarianten von RefB reagierten die drei Versuchspflanzen mit Ertragsdepressionen. Als Ursache hierfür und für die Störungen der mikrobiellen Aktivität im Boden konnte Cu als Einzelstoff erkannt werden. Die Ertragsdepressionen gingen mit erhöhten Cu-Gehalten aber auch mit erhöhten Cd-Gehalten der Pflanzen einher. Zugeführtes Cu bewirkte eine Erhöhung der Pflanzenverfügbarkeit von Cd im Boden. PCB 52 bzw. (und) BaP verursachten bei ihrer gleichzeitigen Zufuhr mit Cu dessen Mobilisierung im Boden und erhöhten damit die Cu-Pflanzenaufnahme. Neben PCB 52 dem Boden gegebenes Cd führte zu höheren PCB 52-Gehalten im Pflanzensproß. Die kombinierte Anreicherung von RefB mit Cd, PCB 52 und BaP bewirkte noch höhere PCB 52- und auch höhere BaP-Pflanzengehalte. / Together with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and heavy metals (HM) other elements and compounds as well as nutrients are present in typical contaminated areas like sewage fields. They are found as mixed undisturbed contamination and the transfer of these pollutants into food or forage plants is dangerous for people. So far investigations of ecological effects of these substances are focused mainly on single agents or on some agents of the same chemical group. But in most cases the mixture of different chemical compounds in extremely contaminated fields cause synergistic effects resulting in yield reductions and decreases of microbiological activity. Therefore the aim of the present work is to study combined effects of selected PAH-, PCB- and HM- (benzo-a-pyren [ BaP] , 2,2?,5,5? tetrachlorbiphenyl [ PCB 52] , cadmium [ Cd] und copper [ Cu] ) on parameters of soil biology, biomass production and pollutant uptake by plants in pot experiments. Resulting changes of cellulose decomposition, CO2-release from soil, N-mineralization and availability for plants of heavy metals after separated and combined enrichment of weackly polluted sewage field soil (RefB) with said pollutants up to concentrations of extremely polluted sewage field soils are presented. Data of yields and pollutant contents of plants (rye, maize and potatoes) cultivated on experimental soils are summarised. Interactions of pollutants ² soil-plant² are discussed. Cultivated plants showed yield reductions on all treatments enriched with copper. In this context copper only produced the impairments of microbial activity in the soil and caused its phytotoxicity. The yield reductions were connected with higher copper contents and also higher cadmium contents of plants. Added copper led to increasing availability for plants of cadmium in the soil. PCB 52 or (and) BaP together enriched with copper produced a mobilization of copper in the soil and a higher copper uptake by plants. Added cadmium caused in addition to PCB 52 higher PCB 52 contents of plants. The combined enrichment of RefB with Cd, PCB 52 and BaP led to higher contents of PCB 52 and BaP in plants.

The aim of this work is to study the soil and plant contamination by heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) in five selected places of Brno city. The sampling place Opuštěná represents the heavily polluted locality with high traffic density situated in the city centre. Sampling places Vídeňská and Podstránská belong to medium polluted localities, that are situated close to frequented roads. Relatively clean localities are represented by Musorgského and Šrámkova places, which are situated in peripheral city district with smaller traffic density. Soil and plants were sampled at two time periods (November 2008 and January 2009). Average amounts of mercury, cadmium and lead in collected soil samples are lower then limits of the Directive number 13/1994 of the Code of Ministry of the Environment. The content of heavy metals in soils corresponds to the sampling place. The highest value of metals content was found in the soil sampled at Opuštěná site. The content of lead and mercury in leaves of common dandelion was higher than the content in roots. In the case of cadmium the situation was opposite, the highest content was measured in underground part of the plant. It was found, that the content of heavy metals in leafy and underground part showed only small difference between sampling places. Nevertheless, the locality Opuštěná is found again as the highest contaminated place. Values of pH of collected soil samples were ranged in neutral area between 7 and 7,5.

Proposer l’adoption de la procédure de phytoremédiation des sites de déversement d’hydrocarbures au Cameroun nécessite des arguments scientifiques vérifiés. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de (i) faire une étude floristique des sites de déversement anarchique de produits pétroliers au Cameroun, (ii) tester les potentialités de phytoremédiation de quelques espèces végétales sur des sols contaminés au fioul domestique, (iii) évaluer l’effet de différentes concentrations d’hydrocarbures sur la morpho-anatomie et la physiologie des plantes, (iv) modéliser le transfert sol-plante des HAP. Les prospections floristiques des sites de déversement d’hydrocarbures menées dans 4 villes du Cameroun ont permis d’identifier 106 espèces appartenant à 76 genres et 30 familles ; dont seules 15 espèces sont qualifiées de polluo-tolérantes. Les expérimentations ont permis de montrer que toutes les 3 espèces (C. dactylon, E. indica et A. sessilis) sont impliquées dans les processus de rhizodégradation des HCT et HAP ; E. indica and C. dactylon ayant favorisé une meilleure phytoextraction de quelques HAP comparé à A. sessilis. La modélisation mécaniste du transfert sol-plante des HAP a confirmé ces observations. La tolérance aux HAP est plus accrue chez E. indica et C. dactylon par rapport à A. sessilis. La culture mixte de E. indica et C. dactylon est très impactée par les HAP. En culture seule, le ralentissement des processus physiologiques de C. dactylon dans les sols pollués n’a pas d’impacts majeurs sur ses capacités phytoremédiatrices. Ceci permet donc de recommander C. dactylon pour la gestion durable des sols pollués par les hydrocarbures dans le monde entier en général, et au Cameroun en particulier ; pour des pollutions de sols n’excédant pas 33500 ppm. / To propose the implementation of phytoremediation process to clean up oil spill sites in Cameroon requires verified scientific arguments. The main objective of this thesis is to (i) carry out a floristic study of anarchic oil spill sites in Cameroon, (ii) test the phytoremediation potential of some plant species in soils contaminated with fuel oil, (iii) evaluate the effect of different hydrocarbon concentrations on morpho-anatomy and plant physiology, (iv) modelling the soil-plant transfer of PAHs. Floristic surveys of oil spill sites carried out in 4 Cameroonian cities have identified 106 species belonging to 76 genera and 30 families; amoung which 15 species are qualified as polluo-tolerant. Experiments have shown that the (C. dactylon, E. indica and A. sessilis) are involved into rhizodegradation of TPHs and PAHs; E. indica and C. dactylon having promoted a better phytoextraction of some PAHs compared to A. sessilis. Mechanistic modelling of the soil-plant transfer of PAHs confirmed these observations. Tolerance to PAHs is higher for both E. indica and C. dactylon than A. sessilis. The mixed cropping of E. indica and C. dactylon is highly impacted by PAHs. Cropping alone, the slowing down of C. dactylon's physiological processes in polluted soils does not have a significant impact on its phytoremediation potentialities. This makes it possible to recommend C. dactylon in the sustainable management of hydrocarbon-polluted soils worldwide in general, and particularly in Cameroon; for soil pollution not exceeding 33500 ppm.

[pt] O Vale do Paraíba recebeu no século XIX o empreendimento cafeeiro, profundo transformador das paisagens da região, que em menos de cem anos se esvaneceu da paisagem. Ao explorarmos as agências costumeiramente negligenciadas, novas possibilidades de análises sobre a ecologia histórica das áreas que resultaram do declínio cafeeiro emergem. Abordagens que consideram as relações multiespécies têm a oportunidade de revelar interações socioecológicas ocultadas pela historiografia,e (re) contar a história da paisagem. Assim, o objetivo geral desta tese foi compreender a distribuição de gramíneas africanas e os legados socioecológicos a elas associados na paisagem atual do vale em uma perspectiva temporal ampla. Para tanto foram utilizados levantamentos documentais iconográficos e textuais em acervos históricos em conjunção com a observação da paisagem em trabalhos de campo para aquisição de dados vegetacionais e de compactação do solo. Foram observadas relações entre pessoas negras e a prática de pecuária nas propriedades de plantation, assim como usos variados para gramíneas de origem africana nos registros históricos. A atividade econômica do tropeirismo produziu significativa mudança em áreas de difícil acesso da Serra do Mar, indicando a incrível necessidade de pastos distribuídos por rotas comerciais para que se efetivassem. A densidade aparente de pastagens e de locais que foram pastagens há no mínimo 30 anos mostram a heterogeneidade destes ambientes. Concluímos que as agências humanas e não humanas trazem perspectivas que podem auxiliar na explicitação da paisagem atual da região. / [en] In the nineteenth century, the Paraíba do Sul Valley received the coffee enterprise, a profound transformer of the region s landscapes, which in less than one hundred years has faded from the landscape. By exploring the usually neglected agencies, new possibilities for analyses of the historical ecology of these areas emerge. Approaches that consider multispecies relationships can reveal social-ecological interactions hidden by historiography and (re)tell the story of the landscape. Thus, the general objective of this thesis was to understand the distribution of African grasses and their associated social-ecological legacies in the current landscape of the valley from a broad temporal perspective. To this end, iconographic and textual documentary surveys in historical collections were used in conjunction with landscape observation in fieldwork to acquire vegetational and soil compaction data. Relations between Black people and the practice of cattle-raising on plantation properties were observed, as well as varied uses for grasses of African origin in the historical records. The economic activity of tropeirismo - the commercial trade made by free man in association with mules - produced a meaningful change in difficult access areas in the Serra da Bocaina, regional name for the larger Serra do Mar, indicating the dependence on pastures distributed by trade routes for their effect. Today, the apparent density of pastures and sites that were pastureland at least 30 years ago show the heterogeneity of environments in which ranching occurs or occurred, indicating multiple trajectories for land uses from grazing. We conclude that human and non-human agencies bring perspectives that can assist in explaining the current landscape of the region.

Depuis la révolution industrielle en Europe (XIXe siècle), les nombreuses activités anthropiques ont provoqué des changements environnementaux globaux considérables. La composition de l'atmosphère terrestre en particulier, a été fortement modifiée par l'émission de polluants gazeux et particulaires. Actuellement, l'industrie métallurgique de seconde fusion contribue de façon significative aux émissions atmosphériques de métaux. C'est pourquoi ce travail de thèse s'est focalisé sur l'étude des transferts et impacts sur les sols, les végétaux et l'homme, des particules émises par le procédé de recyclage du plomb en relation avec leurs propriétés physico-chimiques. Trois sources principales d'émissions de particules ont été identifiées dans le procédé du recyclage du plomb et caractérisées en vue d'étudier les impacts potentiels sur les cibles végétales et humaines. Les particules échantillonnées (postes de travail et émissions canalisées) et ségréguées en fonction de leur taille (PMtot, PM10 et PM2,5) sont principalement composées de métaux (jusqu'à 50% en masse de la composition totale en métaux de transition, alcalins et alcalino-terreux), avec une majeur partie de plomb (25-45 %). Les spéciations majoritaires du plomb sont la galène (PbS), le sulfate du plomb (PbSO4) ou dérivés (xPbO.PbSO4 x=1,2 ou 3). L'étude du transfert des particules dans le sytème sol-plante a montré que, lorsque la taille des particules de process présentes dans le sol diminue (de 10µm à 2.5µm), le tranfert du plomb vers les parties aériennes des salades augmente de 20%. Le transfert foliaire de plomb issu des particules de process a été mis en évidence et des mécanismes d'absorption.ont été proposés. Enfin, l'étude exploratoire des particules riches en plomb sur la santé humaine a permis de montrer que la diminition de la taille des particules ingérées augmentait la bioaccessibilité gastrique du plomb. Dans le cas de l'inhalation, il a été démontré que les particules n'induisaient pas de cytotoxicité jusqu'à 50µg/cm2, mais provoquaient une réponse inflammatoire dose-dépendante des cellules épithéliales pulmonaires. / Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe (XIXe century), human activities have caused significant global environmental changes. The composition of the atmosphere in particular, has been extensively modified by the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Currently, the secondary (or recycling) metallurgical industry contributes significantly to air emissions of metals. Therefore, this thesis focused on the study of transfers and impacts on soils, plants and humans, of particles from the recycling process of lead in relation to their physicochemical properties. Three main sources of particulate emissions have been identified in the process of recycling lead and characterized, to study the potential impacts on plant and human targets. The particles sampled (workstations and channelled emissions), and segregated according to their size (PMtot, PM10 and PM2, 5), are mainly composed of metals (up to 50% by weight of the total composition in transition metals alkaline and alkaline), with a major part of lead (25-45%). The major speciations of lead are galena (PbS), lead sulfate (PbSO4) or derivatives (xPbO.PbSO4 x = 1,2 or 3). The study of transfer of particles in the soil-plant system has shown that when the particle size of processes in the soil decreases (from 2.5µm to 10µm), the transfer of lead into the aerial parts of lettuce growing at 20 %. The uptake of lead from particles process by leaves has been demonstrated and mechanisms of absorption have been proposed. Finally, exploratory study of lead-rich particles on human health has shown that diminution of the size of particles ingested increased gastric bioaccessibility of lead. In the case of inhalation, it was shown that the particles did not induce cytotoxicity up 50µg/cm2, but caused a dose-dependent inflammatory response of lung epithelial cells