Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Dans l'industrie aéronautique, la génération d'énergie dépend presque exclusivement de la combustion d'hydrocarbures. La meilleure façon d'améliorer le rendement de ces systèmes et de contrôler leur impact environnemental, est d'optimiser le processus de combustion. Avec la croissance continue du de la puissance des calculateurs, la simulation des systèmes complexes est devenue abordable. Jusqu'à très récemment dans les applications industrielles le rayonnement des gaz et la conduction de chaleur dans les solides ont été négligés. Dans ce travail les outils nécessaires à la résolution couplée des trois modes de transfert de chaleur ont été développés et ont été utilisés pour l'étude d'une chambre de combustion d'hélicoptère. On montre que l'inclusion de tous les modes de transfert de chaleur peut influencer la distribution de température dans le domaine. Les outils numériques et la méthodologie de couplage développés ouvrent maintenant la voie à un bon nombre d'applications tant scientifiques que technologiques. / In the aeronautical industry, energy generation relies almost exclusively in the combustion of hydrocarbons. The best way to improve the efficiency of such systems, while controlling their environmental impact, is to optimize the combustion process. With the continuous rise of computational power, simulations of complex combustion systems have become feasible, but until recently in industrial applications radiation and heat conduction were neglected. In the present work the numerical tools necessary for the coupled resolution of the three heat transfer modes have been developed and applied to the study of an helicopter combustion chamber. It is shown that the inclusion of all heat transfer modes can influence the temperature repartition in the domain. The numerical tools and the coupling methodology developed are now opening the way to a good number of scientific and engineering applications.

Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) consists of an injection of local anaesthetic alongside the thoracic vertebra close to where the spinal nerves emerge from the intervertebral foramen. Clinically TPVB can be accomplished either as a single-injection or as a multiple-injection. It can also be used as a continuous paravertebral infusion through an indwelling catheter for continuous pain relief. However compared to an epidural block, TPVB is less well understood and not commonly used for anaesthesia and or analgesia in anaesthetic practice. I hypothesized that TPVB is effective for producing unilateral segmental thoracic anaesthesia and managing pain of unilateral origin from the thorax. / The objective of this thesis was to develop the technique of TPVB so that it becomes a useful technique for anaesthesia and pain management. So to test my hypothesis a series of clinical studies were performed on 416 patients (396 adults and 20 young infants), presenting for anaesthesia and or acute pain management, to evaluate various aspects of TPVB, namely; clinical application, anatomy of the thoracic paravertebral space, technique and safety, and pharmacology of local anaesthetic after TPVB. Also included are 9 published case reports and letters-to-editor (Appendix 1-9) based on my research that have provided new insights into the mechanism and applications of TPVB. The following section summarizes my research... / Karmakar, Manoj Kumar. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 270-285). / Appendix includes Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.v / PREFACE --- p.xxvii / STATEMENT OF WORK --- p.xxviii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.xxix / PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS --- p.xxxii / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xxxviii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xli / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xliii / Chapter Part 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Objective and Plan of Research --- p.2 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block A Review of the Literature. --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1. --- Introduction --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2. --- History --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3. --- Anatomy: --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4. --- Techniques --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- Anatomical Landmark Based Techniques --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.1.1. --- Loss-of-resistance Technique --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.1.2. --- Advancing the Block Needle by a pre-determined Distance --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4.1.3. --- Other Landmark Based Techniques --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4.2. --- Fluoroscopic Guidance or Injection of Radiopaque Contrast medium --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4.3. --- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.4. --- Pressure Measurement Technique --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Catheter Placement --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6. --- Ultrasound Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.1. --- Two Dimensional (2D) Sonoanatomy of the Thoracic Paravertebral Region --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.1.1. --- Basic Considerations --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.1.2. --- Transverse Scan of the Thoracic Paravertebral Region --- p.33 / Chapter 2.6.1.3. --- Sagittal Scan of the Thoracic Paravertebral Region --- p.42 / Chapter 2.6.2. --- Three Dimensional (3D) Sonoanatomy of the Thoracic Paravertebral Region --- p.46 / Chapter 2.6.3. --- Ultrasound Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block - Techniques --- p.49 / Chapter 2.6.3.1. --- Transverse scan with short axis needle insertion (Technique 1) --- p.54 / Chapter 2.6.3.2. --- Paramedian Sagittal scan with in-plane needle insertion (Technique 2) --- p.56 / Chapter 2.6.3.3. --- Transverse scan with in-plane needle insertion or the Intercostal approach to the TPVS (Technique 3) --- p.58 / Chapter 2.7. --- Mechanism and Spread of Anaesthesia --- p.58 / Chapter 2.8. --- Indications --- p.65 / Chapter 2.9. --- Contraindications --- p.65 / Chapter 2.10. --- Drugs Used and Dosage --- p.68 / Chapter 2.11. --- Pharmacokinetic Considerations --- p.70 / Chapter 2.12. --- Failure Rate and Complications --- p.72 / Chapter 2.13. --- Clinical Applications of Thoracic Paravertebral Block --- p.76 / Chapter 2.13.1. --- Pain Relief after Thoracic Surgery --- p.76 / Chapter 2.13.2. --- Pain Relief after Multiple Fractured Ribs --- p.78 / Chapter 2.13.3. --- Anaesthesia and Analgesia for Breast Surgery --- p.80 / Chapter 2.13.4. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block and Chronic Pain after Breast Cancer Surgery --- p.84 / Chapter 2.13.5. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block and Cancer Recurrence after Breast Cancer Surgery --- p.85 / Chapter 2.13.6. --- Anaesthesia and Analgesia for Inguinal Herniorrhaphy --- p.87 / Chapter 2.13.7. --- Pain Relief after Cholecystectomy and Renal Surgery --- p.90 / Chapter 2.13.8. --- Anaesthesia and Analgesia for Liver and Biliary Tract Surgery --- p.91 / Chapter 2.13.9. --- Analgesia after Cardiac Surgery --- p.92 / Chapter 2.13.10. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block and Chronic Pain Management --- p.94 / Chapter 2.13.11. --- Bilateral Thoracic Paravertebral Block --- p.94 / Chapter 2.13.12. --- Miscellaneous Applications --- p.95 / Chapter Part 2. --- Studies Evaluating the Efficacy of Thoracic Paravertebral Block in Adults. --- p.96 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Prospective Randomized Evaluation of the Effects of Combining a Single-injection Thoracic Paravertebral Block with General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy. --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Continuous Thoracic Paravertebral Infusion of Bupivacaine for Postthoracotomy Analgesia A Prospective, Randomized, Double Blind, Controlled Trial. --- p.120 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Continuous Thoracic Paravertebral Infusion of Bupivacaine for Pain Management in Patients with Multiple Fractured Ribs. --- p.137 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block and Its Effects on Chronic Pain and Health-related Quality of Life after Modified Radical Mastectomy. --- p.154 / Chapter Chapter 7. --- Right Thoracic Paravertebral Anaesthesia for Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumours. --- p.186 / Chapter Part 3. --- Studies Evaluating The Efficacy Of Thoracic Paravertebral Block In Children. --- p.198 / Chapter Chapter 8. --- Continuous Extrapleural Paravertebral Infusion of Bupivacaine for Postthoracotomy Analgesia in Young Infants. --- p.199 / Chapter Part 4. --- Studies Evaluating The Anatomy Relevant For Thoracic Paravertebral Block. --- p.213 / Chapter Chapter 9. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Sonography - A Quantitative Evaluation of the Paramedian Sagittal Window for Visualizing the Anatomy Relevant for Thoracic Paravertebral Block. --- p.214 / Chapter Chapter 10. --- Volumetric 3D Ultrasound Imaging of the Anatomy Relevant for Thoracic Paravertebral Block. --- p.228 / Chapter Part 5. --- Pharmacokinetics of Ropivacaine after Thoracic Paravertebral Block. --- p.242 / Chapter Chapter 11. --- Arterial and Venous Pharmacokinetics of Ropivacaine With and Without Epinephrine after Thoracic Paravertebral Block. --- p.243 / Chapter Part 6. --- Summary and Conclusions --- p.266 / Chapter Chapter 12. --- Summary and Conclusions --- p.266 / Chapter Part 7. --- Bibliography --- p.270 / Chapter Part 8. --- Appendix --- p.296 / Chapter A. --- Published Case Reports and Letters-to-editor. --- p.297 / Chapter Appendix: 1.0. --- Variability of a Thoracic Paravertebral Block. Are we ignoring the endothoracic fascia? (Published Commentary) --- p.297 / Chapter Appendix: 2.0. --- Ipsilateral Thoraco-lumbar Anaesthesia and Paravertebral Spread after Low Thoracic Paravertebral Injection. (Published Case Report) --- p.301 / Chapter Appendix: 3.0. --- The Use of a Nerve Stimulator for Thoracic Paravertebral Block Reply. (Published Letter-to-editor) --- p.310 / Chapter Appendix: 4.0. --- Bilateral Continuous Paravertebral Block Used for Postoperative analgesia in an Infant having Bilateral Thoracotomy. (Published Case Report) --- p.312 / Chapter Appendix: 5.0. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block: Radiological evidence of Contralateral Spread Anterior to the Vertebral Bodies. (Published Case Report) --- p.317 / Chapter Appendix: 6.0. --- Lymphatic Drainage of the Thoracic Paravertebral Space A Reply. (Published Letter-to-editor) --- p.325 / Chapter Appendix: 7.0. --- Thoracic Paravertebral Block for Management of Pain Associated with Multiple Fractured Ribs in Patients with Concomitant lumbar Spinal Trauma. (Published Case Report) --- p.328 / Chapter Appendix: 8.0. --- Right Thoracic Paravertebral Analgesia for Hepatectomy. (Published Case Report) --- p.340 / Chapter Appendix: 9.0. --- Resolution of ST-segment Depression after High Thoracic Paravertebral Block during General Anesthesia. (Published Case Report) --- p.348 / Chapter B. --- Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Questionnaire (SF-36) - Appendix 10. --- p.353 / Chapter C. --- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Appendix 11. --- p.362 / Chapter D. --- Postoperative Telephone Follow Up Questionnaire: Appendix 12. --- p.364

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Restricted until May 2006. Bibliography: leaves 67-74.

This work explores two very different structural systems: n-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) suspended in a matrix of organic ligands. For a-Si:H, examination of the gas-phase concentration of dopant (1-6% PH3/SiH4) and argon diluent effects includes the temperature dependent conductivity, low-frequency electronic noise, and Raman spectroscopy to examine structure. It is found that a-Si:H samples grown with high dopant concentration or with argon dilution exhibit an anomalous hopping conduction mechanism with an exponent of p=0.75. An experimental approach is used to determine correlations between conduction parameters, such as the pre-exponential factor and the characteristic temperature, rather than an analysis of existing models to explain the anomalous conduction. From these results, the anomalous conduction is a result of a change in the shape of the density of states and not a shift of the Fermi level with dopant. Additionally, it is found that argon dilution increases the carrier mobility, reduces the doping efficiency, and causes a degradation of the short-range order. With AuNPs, a comparison of temperature dependent conductivity and low-frequency noise shows that the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) is independent of the length of interparticle distance while the noise magnitude decreases.

L’électro-localisation est le nom donné aux capacités sensorielles de certains poissons électriques, vivant en eaux troubles, capables de détecter les perturbations électrostatiques dues à la présence d’objets dans leurs voisinages. Cette aptitude à interpréter un signal électrique pour se repérer dans l’espace ouvre l’importance perspectives, notamment dans le domaine de la robotique brio-inspiré. Mathématiquement, l’électrolocalisation est proche de la tomographie d’impédance électrique : il s’agit donc d’un problème inverse non linéaire, notoirement mal posé. Nous proposons dans cette thèse d’étudier des méthodes de reconstruction qui permettraient d’obtenir de manière robuste certaines caractéristiques de la forme des obstacles, plutôt que l’ensemble des détails de leurs géométries. Il s’agit donc d’étudier la stabilité de la partie observable des obstacles par rapport à des erreurs dans les mesures. / Electrolocation is the name given to the sensor ability for certain electric fish robots, which are able to detect electrostatic perturbations caused to the presence of some objects in their neighborhood. This ability to interpret an electrical signal to locate itself in space opens important perspectives, including in the field of biologically inspired robotics. Mathematically, electrolocation is linked to the electric impedance tomography: so it’s about a non-linear inverse problem, particularly ill-posed problem. We will, in this Phd, study some methods of reconstruction, which could be obtain robustly some characteristic of the obstacle’s shape, rather all of their geometry details. So, it’s about to study the stability between the observable part of the obstacles and the errors of measurements.

Ce travail de thèse s'inscrit dans le contexte de la fonctionnalisation de matériaux cellulosiques dans le domaine de l'électronique imprimée. Une première approche a mis en évidence la possibilité d'imprimer des formulations aqueuses à base de nanoparticules de polymères semi-conducteurs photoluminescents. L'influence de la taille des nanoparticules, ainsi que leur composition (ajout d'un polymère dérive de la cellulose) sur la couleur de l'émission a été mise en évidence. Les applications potentielles peuvent être l'élaboration de papiers sécurisés. Une seconde approche s'est portée sur l'utilisation de microfibrilles de cellulose et de microparticules de cuivre afin d'élaborer des films composites conducteurs autoportants grâce aux excellentes propriétés mécaniques des microfibrilles. L'influence d'un calandrage (pression et température de calandrage) des films sur la conductivité électrique a en particulier été étudiée. / The context of this project is the cellulosic material functionalization in the printed electronic domain. The first part highlighted the ability to print photoluminescent formulations. The aqueous dispersion was composed of semiconducting polymer nanoparticles. The influence of the size and the composition of the particles on the emission colour was studied. Security paper is one of the main potential application of these particles. The second part dealed with the use of cellulose microfibrills and copper microparticles for the elaboration of conductive composite films. The films were self-supporting thanks to the high mechanical properties of the microfibrills. A calendering study was carried out on the electric conductivity of the films based on the influence of the pressure and the temperature of calendering.

Cette thèse vise à étudier la diffusion protonique, et dans une moindre mesure ionique, au sein d’un matériau électrolyte pour pile à combustible BaCeO3 dopé Gd, en adoptant une démarche multi-échelle. Tout d’abord, des calculs ab initio ont été réalisés afin de déterminer les positions stables des défauts protoniques OH_O et des lacunes d’oxygène VO dans le matériau. Puis, en utilisant toujours le formalisme de la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité, les barrières d’énergies pour les deux types de défauts entre deux positions stables ont été calculées. Enfin, ces barrières ont été utilisées dans un algorithme de Monte-Carlo cinétique afin de simuler des trajectoires de protons et de lacunes d’oxygène. Cette méthode permet d’accéder à des grandeurs macroscopiques, accessibles expérimentalement, telles que l’énergie d’activation, le coefficient de diffusion ou la mobilité, en se basant uniquement sur des données atomiques issues de simulations ab initio. Le gadolinium semble être un dopant intéressant pour le cérate de barium au vu de son faible pouvoir attractif sur le proton : il permet ainsi la création de nombreuses lacunes d’oxygène, qui pourront incorporer des molécules d’eau, sans toutefois piéger l’hydrogène. Ces deux conditions sont nécessaires pour obtenir un bon électrolyte pour les oxides solides conducteurs de protons. / This thesis deals with the study of protonic diffusion, and to a lesser extent ionic, inside a Gd-doped BaCeO3, a possible electrolyte for fuel cell, using a multi-scale approach. First of all, first principles calculations have been made to determine stable positions for protonic defects OH_O and oxygen vacancies V O in the material. Then, using the same formalism of density functional theory, energy barriers for both kinds of defects have been computed between two stable positions. Finally, these barrier heights have been used in a Kinetic Monte-Carlo algorithm to simulate trajectories of protons or oxygen vacancies. This method allows to access macroscopic values that can be found by experiments, such as activation energy, diffusion coefficient or mobility, using only atomic data coming from ab initio simulations. Gadolinium seems to be an interesting dopant in barium cerate considering its weak power of attraction on the proton: the introduction of gadolinium creates lots of oxygen vacancies that will be able to incorporate water molecules, without trapping the hydrogen. Both these conditions are necessary to get a good electrolyte for protonic ceramic fuel cell.

La production d'acier fait partie des productions mondiales les plus consommatrices d'énergie. L'état de l'art montre que les brames, après la coulée continue, sont refroidies à l'air libre de 900 °C à la température ambiante. Durant ce processus 540 MJ/tonne d'acier sont perdues. Cette thèse a permis de définir une méthode et un équipement aptes à extraire de l'énergie à haute valeur exergétique lors du refroidissement.Deux voies de récupérations sont présentées. La première voie est via un cycle thermodynamique direct. Le cycle choisi pour cette voie est le cycle de Hirn avec resurchauffe ayant un rendement global de 30 % produisant 10 MW de puissance électrique. La deuxième voie est via un système indirect utilisant le SYLTHERM 800 comme fluide caloporteur entre la brame et un cycle ORC, fonctionnant avec du R-245fa et avec un rendement globale de 17,6 %. Dans les deux configurations, les transferts thermiques choisis sont la conduction et le rayonnementUn banc d'essais, dimensionné utilisant la technique de similitude, a permis d'étudier les transferts thermiques intervenant dans l'équipement de récupération. La variation de la résistance de contact à l'interface brame-sole est étudiée en fonction de la température ainsi que le comportement thermique de l'échangeur de conduction. L'étude thermodynamique ainsi que l'étude thermique ont permis d'effectuer un pré-dimensionnement de l'équipement de récupération pour les deux configurations étudiées.Un modèle numérique utilisant la méthode des réseaux de composants est élaboré. Ce modèle est capable de reproduire les mêmes phénomènes physiques que ceux intervenant dans l'équipement de récupération / Steel production industry is one of the most energy consuming sectors. The state-of-the-art indicates that steel slabs leaving the continuous casting process are cooled without energy recovery by radiating to the atmosphere and convection. Not only a large amount of energy is wasted but this type of cooling is time consuming. During the cooling process of steel slabs from an initial temperature of approximately 900°C to outdoor air temperature, 580 MJ per ton of steel are wasted. This study has defined a method and an equipment capable of extracting the energy at high exergy value during cooling.The energy could be recovered using two different systems. The first is a direct thermodynamic generation cycle. The selected direct cycle is the Hirn cycle with intermediate reheating having an overall efficiency of 30 % and producing about 10 MW electric power. The second is an indirect system using SYLTHERM 800 as an intermediate heat transfer fluid between the metal slabs and an organic Rankine cycle using R-245fa as a working fluid with 17.6 % efficiency and producing about 6 MW. In both systems the dominant heat transfers to recover heat are conduction for the floor heat exchanger and radiation for the ceiling heat exchanger.A test bench was mounted, using a similitude technique, to study heat transfers. The variation of the thermal contact resistance as a function of the contact temperature is studied as well as the thermal behaviour of the conduction heat exchanger. The thermodynamic and the thermal studies led to a preliminary design of the recovery equipment.A numerical model is developed using the component interaction network. This model can reproduce the same physical phenomena taking place in the recovery equipment.

The master's thesis focuses on creating a numerical model of a polymeric heat sink with emphasis on its significant thermal conductivity anisotropy. This anisotropy is caused by highly thermally conductive graphite filler. Its final orientation is given by the melt flow inside the mould cavity during injection molding. The numerical model is created on the basis of a heat sink prototype subjected to experimental measurements, whose physical conditions are reliably replicated by the model. The determination of anisotropy is divided into two parts. The qualitative part is based on the fracture analysis of the heat sink prototype and determines the principal directions of the conductivity tensor in individual sections of the geometry. The computation of principal conductivities falls into the quantitative part, in which this task is formulated as an inverse heat conduction problem. The input data for the proposed task are experimentally obtained temperatures at different places of the geometry. The values of principal conductivities are optimized to minimize the difference between the measured and simulated temperatures.