Texte remanié de: Ph. D. Th.--London--University of London, 1996. / Bibliogr. p. 247-286. Index.

Th. 3e cycle--Math. pures--Toulouse 3, 1977. N°: 2001.

Th.--Sci. phys.--Pau, 1977. N°: 23.

Th. doct.-ing.--Électronique, électrotech., autom.--Toulouse 3, 1980. N°: 709.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2008. / Includes graphs and tables. Title from title screen (viewed November 28, 2008) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

<p> Patients and care providers fail to embrace the quality-driven relationships that were once part of the clinical consultation. To improve what some have referred to as a dampened relationship social scientists and medical professionals are pursuing a &lsquo;patient-centered&rsquo; model where healthcare is delivered in ways that are &ldquo;respectful and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values&rdquo; (Institute of Medicine 2001:6). The model sets standards for identifying and responding to patient concerns regarding illness and treatment, and cherishes the benefits of shared decision-making and responsibility (Epstein 2000). Undoubtedly, this model works best when the patient&rsquo;s interest and values are central to the delivery of care.</p><p> A sample survey of 94 patients seeking treatment at an urban, hospital-based primary care clinic, are analyzed to answer three separate, but fundamental questions: 1) Is there a significant association between components of cultural capital (marital status and/or education) and patient-centered events? 2) Does the presence of any of these patient-centered events associate itself with a patient&rsquo;s overall experience? And 3) is there a significant association between components of cultural capital and overall patient experience? I hypothesize that marital status and/or education are directly associated with the presence of patient-centered events, that the presence of any one patient centered event is positively correlated with the overall clinical experience, and that a patients overall experience is directly associated with marital status and/or education.</p>

The termotropic polymorphism of anhydrous lithium stearate (n-octadecanoate, LiCi8), lithium oleate (cis-9-octadecenoate) and an unusual semi-crystalline lithium phenylstearate (LiPS) soap mixture composed of 12 positional isomers, was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing microscopy (plus x-ray diffraction and 7Li NMR spectroscopy for the latter). Each soap exhibited a characteristic stepwise melting behaviour. In contrast to the oleate, both LiC[18] and LiPS formed high temperature liquid crystal phases (lamellar and reversed hexagonal structures respectively) directly preceding their amorphous melts. The phase behaviour of LiCi8 in the hydrocarbon solvents n-hexadecane and squalane and that of LiPS in 1-phenylheptane was investigated using DSC and microscopic and macroscopic observations in polarized light (plus x-ray diffraction and [7]Li NMR spectroscopy for the latter). Phase diagrams were constructed. The phase behaviour of each system was critically dependent upon the thermotropic polymorphism of the solvent-free soap itself. At high temperatures two distinct mesophases were formed in the LiPS-l-phenylheptane system; a solvent-swollen reversed hexagonal mesophase at low solvent concentrations and a novel reversed micellar nematic mesophase at higher solvent concentrations. No mesophase formation was observed, however, in the LiC[18]-hydrocarbon systems. The phase behaviour of LiPS with [2]H[2]O was investigated (using the experimental techniques employed for the 1-phenylheptane system plus 2H NMR spectroscopy) and a phase diagram constructed. LiPS was shown to form a single homogeneous lamellar mesophase on addition of [2]H[2]O at room temperature with a broad composition and temperature range of stability.

La thèse est consacrée à la synthèse et à l’étude des propriétés des matériaux hybrides inorganique-organique à base de polyaniline (PANI) et de polypyrrole (PPy) avec des nanoparticules TiO2 (rutile et anatase) et SnO2 applicables à détection l'ammoniac et aux amines. La croissance directe du polymère sur la surface des nanoparticules a permis l’obtention de matériaux nanocomposites avec une structure “core-shell” qui diffère du mélange mécanique simple par une distribution plus uniforme des polymères et une interaction plus forte entre les composants source. L’objet de la recherche est le processus de formation de nanocomposites de polyaniline et de polypyrrole avec des oxydes métalliques. L’objectif de la recherche est de révéler les particularités de la formation et les propriétés des matériaux composites nanostructurés à base de polymères conducteurs et nanoparticules d’oxydes métalliques sensibles à l’ammoniac et aux amines. Les méthodes de recherche incluent le RedOx et la surveillance du pH, FTIR et UV-spectroscopie, SEM, TEM, thermogravimétrie, chromatographie liquide, mesures de conductivité et tests de capteurs. La nouvelle approche d’étude de la cinétique du processus de polymérisation de l'aniline par la surveillance simultané du RedOx et du pH du milieu réactionnel a été proposée. Pour la première fois, on a montré l’influence des acides sulfoniques et des oxydes métalliques sur le procédé de polymérisation de l’aniline et les caractéristiques moléculaires du polymère obtenu. En outre, une corrélation linéaire entre le contenu en nanoparticules et la durée réciproque des stades séparés de la polymérisation a été démontrée. Les nanocomposites “core-shell” formés ont une sensibilité à l’ammoniac et aux amines environ 2 fois supérieure à celle du polymère pur. Les nouveaux matériaux développés peuvent être utilisés dans la fabrication de couches actives des capteurs chimiorésistifs. / The thesis is devoted to the synthesis and investigation of properties of inorganic-organic polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy) based hybrid materials with TiO2 (rutile and anatase) and SnO2 nanoparticles applicable for ammonia and amines detection. The direct polymer growth on the surface of nanoparticles allowed obtaining of nanocomposite materials with a “core-shell” structure which differs from simple mechanical mixture by more uniform polymer distribution and stronger interaction between source components.The object of research is the process of formation of polyaniline and polypyrrole nanocomposites with metal oxides. The research goal is to reveal formation peculiarities and properties of nanostructured composite materials based on conducting polymers and metal oxides nanoparticles that are sensitive to ammonia and amines. Research methods include RedOx and pH monitoring, FTIR and UV-spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, thermogravimetry, liquid chromatography, conductivity measurements and sensor tests.The new approach to study kinetics of aniline polymerization process by simultaneous RedOx and pH monitoring of reaction medium was proposed. For the first time the influence of sulfonic acids and metal oxides on the aniline polymerization process and molecular characteristics of the obtained polymer was shown. For the first time a linear correlation between the nanoparticles content and reciprocal duration of separate stages of polymerization was shown. Formed "core-shell" nanocomposites have sensitivity to ammonia and amines of about 2 times higher than the pure polymer. Developed new materials can be used in the manufacturing of chemoresistive sensors' active layers.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Ryan Elizabeth Keutzer, for the Master degree in Architecture, presented on July 10, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: LOOKING TO THE PAST TO PLAN A FUTURE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Craig Anz Preserving, conserving, rehabilitating, renovating and adaptively reusing historic buildings is one of the most "sustainable"*; building practices today. "Older and historic buildings comprise more than half of the existing buildings in the United States and the retention and reuse of these buildings preserves the materials, embodied energy, and human capital already expended in their construction. The recycling of buildings is one of the most beneficial `green' practices, and stresses the importance and value of historic preservation in the overall promotion of sustainability." The focus of this project will be Shryock Auditorium, located within Southern Illinois University's campus. The research will establish significance of the 1917 building through analysis of the Architect**, the University, the architecture, and the social framework surrounding its inception. Analysis of the current needs of the Auditorium will be done by working with its users and staff. By comparing the current needs with the original intent of the building, the design solution, will be a compromise of both old and new. * "Sustainable", in the context of this project, refers to the idea of preserving the sense of place within a "community" - in this case the community of SIU, Carbondale, and southern Illinois. ** Placing the building in its historical narrative and studying the architect, James B. Dibelka, a prominent Bohemian Chicagoan and also the State Architect of this time, gives significance to the importance of preserving its spirit within the context. Technical Committee on Sustainable Preservation, "Greening Preservation through Collaboration," The Association for Preservation Technology International, http://www.apti.org/about/technical.cfm#A5A (accessed June 25, 2009).

The genome is more than a linear sequence of bases; its spatial organisation is a key part of its function. In humans, three billion base pairs, or approximately two metres of DNA are packaged into a nucleus a few micrometres in diameter. The genome must also be organised so that it can be replicated and partitioned into daughter cells, and so that regulatory elements are positioned to affect their targets. Until recently, little was known about the organisation of the genome at the scale of single genes. The packaging of DNA onto nucleosomes, and the segregation of chromosomes into chromosome territories was well understood, but the development of chromatin conformation capture (3C) techniques has enabled the first thorough study of intermediate scales. These methods provide information about the distances between pairs of genomic loci, which gives indirect information about their positions. By applying these techniques to single cells, it has become possible to calculate a structure from the observed distance restraints. Through the prior constraints placed on the model, such as the existence of a continuous backbone, these structures provide additional information about the conformation of DNA. To overcome the limitations of 3C, it is useful to integrate additional sources of information. I present several methods for the validation and improvement of Hi-C structures by adding data from microscopy, and for characterising dyes used in single-molecule light microscopy. It is found that single-cell Hi-C structures agree with fluorescence microscopy when observing the distance of genes from the edge of the nucleus, and that centromeres are not a suitable label for direct validation. Adding absolute positional restraints from images is shown to be useful in better determining chromatin structure in synthetic tests. Finally, the presence of a FRET acceptor near a fluorescent protein is shown to improve its photophysical properties.