Le développement du soudage laser dans divers secteurs industriels particulièrement dans l’aéronautique au cours de la dernière décennie, a nécessité bien des études encore insuffisantes en nombre pour bien comprendre et contrôler les conditions de soudage laser que ce soit au niveau interaction laser/matière, au niveau des transferts thermiques ou au niveau métallurgique. La démarche suivie dans cette étude consiste (1) à mettre en évidence expérimentalement la problématique du soudage laser d’alliage base aluminium, c'est-à-dire le couplage des effets entre les différents paramètres de soudage, (2) à décrire l’histoire thermique d’une opération de soudage laser à partir d’une modélisation et d’une simulation numérique et (3) à exploiter la connaissance de l’évolution thermique d’un assemblage encours de soudage pour optimiser les performances mécaniques de l’assemblage en terme de résistance statique, de résistance à la fissuration à chaud, de tenue à la fatigue et de résistance à la corrosion. Les déficits de performance par exemple en terme de résistance sont principalement attribuable à des vitesses de refroidissement trop faibles au cours du soudage comparativement à des trempes ce qui justifie l’efficacité d’un traitement de mise en solution post soudage préalablement à un traitement de durcissement par précipitation. / The development of laser welding in various branches of industry particularly in the aeronautics during the last decade, required many studies still insufficient in number to understand and control the conditions of laser welding concerning laser / material interaction,as well as thermal transfers or metallurgical aspects. The approach followed in this study consists (1) to bring to light experimentally the problem of laser welding of aluminium based alloy, that is the coupling of the effects between the various welding parameters, (2) to describe the thermal history of an operation of laser welding from a modelling and from a numerical simulation and (3) to exploit the knowledge of the thermal evolution of an assembly all along welding operation to optimize the mechanical performance of the assembly in term of static resistance, resistance to hot cracking, fatigue and corrosion resistance. The deficit of performance for example in term of tensile resistance is mainly related to too low speeds of cooling during welding compared with quenching. It justifies the efficiency of a post welding solution heat treatment before a precipitation hardening treatment.

It is estimated that 10% of the global population is impaired to a significant degree by a decrease in hearing sensitivity. With the greatest proportion of these persons residing in developing countries where communities are grossly underserved, it is incumbent on hearing healthcare professionals to seek means of offering equitable hearing health care services to these communities. The delivery of conventional diagnostic hearing services to these population groups is challenged by limitations in human resources, financial constraints and by the dearth of audiometric testing facilities that are compliant with permissible ambient noise levels for reliable testing. Valid diagnostic hearing assessment without an audiometric test booth will allow greater mobility of services and could extend hearing healthcare service delivery in underserved areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of diagnostic pure tone audiometry in a natural environment, outside a sound treated room, using a computer-operated audiometer with insert earphones covered by circumaural earcups incorporating real-time monitoring of environmental noise. A within-subject repeated measures research design was employed to assess elderly adults with diagnostic air (250 to 8000 Hz) and bone (250 to 4000 Hz) conduction pure tone audiometry. The study was of a quantitative nature and the required data was collected by testing subjects initially in a natural environment and subsequently in a sound booth environment to compare the threshold measurements. One experienced audiologist used audiometric KUDUwave test equipment to evaluate subjects in both environments. A total of 147 adults with an average age of 76 (± 5.7) years were tested. Ears had pure tone averages (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz) of ≥ 25 dB in 59%, >40 dB in 23% and ˃ 55 dB in 6% of cases. Analysis of collected data showed air conduction thresholds (n = 2259) corresponding within 0 to 5 dB in 95% of all comparisons between testing in the natural and sound booth environments. Bone conduction thresholds (n = 1669) corresponded within 0 to 5 dB in 86% of comparisons and within 10 dB or less in 97% of cases. Average threshold differences (–0.6 to 1.1) and standard deviations (3.3 to 5.9) were within typical test-retest reliability limits. Recorded thresholds showed no statistically significant differences with a paired samples t-test (p ˃ 0.01) except at 8000 Hz in the left ear. Overall the correlation between the air-conduction thresholds recorded in the sound booth environment and the natural environment was very high (˃ 0.92) across all frequencies while for bone conduction threshold correlation for the two environments fell between 0.63 and 0.97. This study demonstrates that valid diagnostic pure tone audiometry in an elderly population can be performed in a natural environment using an audiometer employing insert earphones covered by circumaural earcups with real-time monitoring of ambient noise levels. Mobile diagnostic audiometry performed outside of an audiometric sound booth may extend current hearing healthcare services to remote underserved communities where booths are scarce or inaccessible. In combination with Telehealth applications this technology could offer a powerful and viable alternate diagnostic service to persons unable to attend conventional testing facilities for whatever reasons. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted

The need for hearing health care services across the world far outweighs the capacity to deliver these services with the present shortage of hearing health care personnel. Automated test procedures coupled with telemedicine may assist in extending services. Automated threshold audiometry has existed for many decades; however, there has been a lack of systematic evidence supporting its clinical use. The aim of this study was to systematically review the current body of peer-reviewed publications on the validity (test-retest reliability and accuracy) of automated threshold audiometry. A meta-analysis was thereafter conducted to combine and quantify the results of individual reports so that an overall assessment of validity based on existing evidence could be made for automated threshold audiometry. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted using peerreviewed publications. A multifaceted approach, covering several databases and employing different search strategies, was utilized to ensure comprehensive coverage and crosschecking of search findings. Publications were obtained using the following three databases: Medline, SCOPUS and PubMed, and by inspecting the reference list of relevant reports. Reports were selected based according to inclusion and an exclusion criterion, thereafter data extraction was conducted. Subsequently, the meta-analysis combined and quantified data to determine the validity of automated threshold audiometry. In total, 29 articles met the inclusion criteria. The outcomes from these studies indicated that two types of automated threshold testing procedures have been utilized, the ‘method of limits’ and ‘method of adjustments’. Reported findings suggest accurate and reliable thresholds when utilizing automated audiometry. Most of the reports included data on adult populations using air conduction testing, limited data on children, bone conduction testing and the effects of hearing status on automated threshold testing were however reported. The meta-analysis revealed that test-retest reliability for automated threshold audiometry was within typical testretest reliability for manual audiometry. Furthermore, the meta-analysis showed comparable overall average differences between manual and automated air conduction audiometry (0.4 dB, 6.1 SD) compared to test-retest differences for manual (1.3 dB, 6.1 SD) and automated (0.3 dB, 6.9 SD) air conduction audiometry. Overall, no significant differences (p>0.01; Summarized Data ANOVA) were obtained in any of the comparisons between test-retest reliability (manual and automated) and accuracy. Current evidence demonstrates that automated threshold audiometry can produce an accurate measure of hearing threshold. The differences between automated and manual audiometry fall within typical test-retest and inter-tester variability. Despite its long history however, validation is still limited for (i) automated bone conduction audiometry; (ii) automated audiometry in children and difficult-to-test populations and; (iii) automated audiometry with different types and degrees of hearing loss. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

En utilisant la méthode de génétique inverse, la mutation causale d'un bloc de conduction cardiaque familial a été localisée sur le bras long du chromosome 19 en 13.3 dans une grande famille libanaise. Après avoir testé 12 gènes candidats, nous avons trouvé 3 mutations différentes dans trois familles indépendantes de bloc de conduction cardiaque isolé. Les conséquences des 3 mutations ont été explorées par des études électrophysiologiques. Il s'agit dans les 3 cas d'un gain de fonction. Puis, une cohorte de 248 patients atteints de syndrome de Brugada a été étudiée. Onze mutations du gène TRPM4 ont été trouvées chez 20 patients. Les conséquences électrophysiologiques des mutations étaient diverses. Ensuite, des cohortes de patients atteints de syndrome du QT long, de fibrillation auriculaire ou de cardiomyopathie dilaté ont été étudiées. Nous avons également trouvé des mutations ou des variants prédisposants du gène TRPM4 chez ces patients. Une étude électrophysiologique doit être réalisée pour comprendre le rôle de TRPM4 dans ces autres pathologies. Enfin, notre étude immunohistochimique a démontré que TRPM4 est fortement exprimé dans le système de conduction cardiaque mais aussi plus faiblement dans les cardiomyocytes auriculaires et ventriculaires communs. Ce travail a permis d'impliquer pour la première fois le gène TRPM4 dans des maladies humaines. Ce travail donne les bases pour comprendre le rôle du canal TRPM4 dans le fonctionnement cardiaque. C'est le préalable nécessaire avant de pouvoir développer de nouvelles thérapeutiques dans le futur / By using reverse genetics, the causal mutation of a familial cardiac conduction block was localized to the long arm of chromosome 19 in 13.3. After screening 12 candidate genes, we found 3 different mutations in three independent families with isolated cardiac conduction block. The consequences of these 3 mutations were explored by electrophysiological studies. In all 3 mutations it was a gain of function. Then, a cohort of 248 patients with a Brugada syndrome was studied. Eleven mutations were found in the TRPM4 gene in 20 patients. The electrophysiological consequences of these mutations were diverse. Then, cohorts of patients with long QT syndrome, atrial fibrillation, and dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. We found also mutations or predisposing variants in these patients. An electrophysiology study should be conducted to understand the role of TRPM4 in these other pathologies. Finally, our immunohistochemical study showed that TRPM4 is highly expressed in the cardiac conduction system but also although with less intensity in common auricular and ventricular cardiomyocytes. This work implied for the first time the TRPM4 gene in human diseases. This work provides the basis to understand the role of the TRPM4 channel in cardiac function. This is a prerequisite to be able to develop novel therapies in the future

Les matériaux diélectriques utilisés au sein des applications internes aux satellites sont soumis à des contraintes radiatives et thermiques extrêmes qui peuvent conduire à des perturbations sur l'instrumentation embarquée. Le rendement des applications électroniques diminue ainsi en raison des effets de charge et de dégradation des céramiques utilisées. Dans le but de comprendre et de prédire ces phénomènes, l'étude des mécanismes de transport de charges et de vieillissement électrique sur ces matériaux est primordiale. La démarche de cette étude a alors consisté à définir un protocole et une méthode expérimentale qui permettent d'étudier hors application, les comportements électriques et physico-chimiques sous irradiation électronique, du nitrure de bore brut et revêtu d'une couche mince d'alumine. Pour cela, une étude paramétrique a été réalisée dans l'enceinte d'irradiation CEDRE (ONERA Toulouse), afin d'évaluer l'influence de l'énergie incidente, du flux d'électrons primaires, de la température et de la dose, sur les cinétiques de charge, de relaxation et de vieillissement électrique des céramiques industrielles. Il a été démontré qu'il était possible de limiter fortement la charge de ces céramiques par l'application d'un dépôt d'alumine et par un traitement thermique adéquat. En effet, le rendement d'émission secondaire élevé de l'alumine et l'augmentation de la conductivité de surface, engendrée par le recuit, contribuent à la limitation du potentiel de surface du matériau. Des dépôts d'alumine ont ensuite été élaborés par PVD-RF puis caractérisés en chambre d'irradiation afin de cibler les paramètres d'élaboration qui permettent d'optimiser les propriétés électriques du système. Il a été montré que l'optimisation de la rugosité et de l'épaisseur des dépôts limite le potentiel de surface des matériaux. Une étude amont a été menée dans le cadre d'une collaboration internationale avec le Groupe de Physique des Matériaux de l'Université d'Etat de l'Utah (Logan, USA), afin d'étudier l'influence de la nature et de la population des pièges électroniques sur les propriétés électriques des différentes céramiques. La technique de cathodoluminescence a été utilisée et a ainsi permis d'expliquer la différence de conductivité apparente entre les matériaux bruts, revêtus et recuits. Une nouvelle méthode de mesure de potentiel de charge sous irradiation continue (méthode REPA) a été mise au point puis validée. Des mécanismes de décharge partielle ont été identifiés en surface des échantillons recuits grâce au dispositif optimisé qui a été développé. Une étude de dégradation accélérée des matériaux a ensuite été réalisée en laboratoire dans le but de reproduire la détérioration observée en orbite sur le long terme. Il a été déterminé que la charge des matériaux revêtus et recuits s'amorce après avoir reçu une dose ionisante critique. Des caractérisations physico-chimiques ont donc été effectuées au CIRIMAT afin d'étudier l'évolution des propriétés structurales et chimiques des céramiques. Cette évolution a été corrélée à celle des propriétés électriques après détérioration sous irradiation électronique critique. Les mécanismes de contamination et de détérioration des dépôts de céramiques, responsables de leur vieillissement électrique, ont été mis en évidence. Enfin, ces caractérisations expérimentales approfondies ont servi de base au développement d'un modèle physique qui rend compte des différents mécanismes mis en jeu sur les céramiques et dépôts irradiés. / Dielectric materials used on satellites are subject to radiative and thermal extreme stresses which may lead to disturbances on board instrumentation. The application efficiency can then decrease significantly due to charging and aging effects of used ceramics. With the aim to understand and predict these phenomena, the mechanisms investigation of charges transport and electrical aging on these ceramics is of high importance. The scientific approach of this study was to define a protocol and an experimental method which allows characterising the electrical and physico-chemical behaviours of raw boron nitride and coated with a thin coating of alumina. For this purpose, a parametric study was performed in the irradiation chamber, named CEDRE (at ONERA Toulouse) in order to assess the influence of some parameters such as, incident energy, primary electron flux, temperature, ionising dose, on charging, relaxation and electrical aging kinetics of these industrial ceramics. This study demonstrated that it is possible to greatly limit the dielectrics charging thanks to the use of a ceramic coating and suitable annealing thermal treatment. Indeed, the high secondary electron emission of alumina and the increase of surface conductivity generated by the annealing thermal treatment partly govern the low surface potential of coated boron nitride. Some alumina coating were subsequently elaborated through PVD-RF and then characterised in the irradiation chamber in order to identify the preparation parameters which allow optimising the electrical properties of system. It was shown that the optimisation of the roughness and the coating thickness limits the surface potential of ceramics. An experimental study was conducted in the frame of an international collaboration with the Materials Physics Group of the Utah State University (Logan, USA), in order to investigate the influence of nature and densities of electron defects on the electrical properties of different ceramics. The cathodoluminescence method was used and brought to light the origin of total conductivity difference between materials, raw, coated and annealed. A new method to measure the surface potential under continuous electron irradiation was developed and then validated. A partial discharges mechanism was identified on surface of annealed samples with this optimised device. Ageing processes of the irradiated materials was also studied in the irradiation chamber to reproduce the observed degradation in orbit over the long time. It was demonstrated that the charging of annealed coated materials is noticeable when the sample receive a critical ionising dose. Several physico-chemical characterisations were thus performed at CIRIMAT in order to study the evolution of structural and chemical properties of ceramics. This evolution was correlated with that of electrical properties after deterioration under critical electron irradiation. The contamination and deterioration mechanisms of coated ceramics are responsible of the electrical aging observed experimentally. Finally, these thorough experimental characterisations allowed the development of physical model for the description of the different mechanisms involved on irradiated ceramics and coating.

Un grand défi actuel consiste à réaliser des capteurs innovants tirant partie des propriétés singulières de nanoparticules colloïdales synthétisées par voie chimique et assemblées de manière contrôlée sur des surfaces. L’objet de cette thèse est le développement de jauges de contrainte résistives à base de nanoparticules. Ces jauges de contrainte sont constituées de lignes parallèles, de quelques micromètres de large, denses, de nanoparticules colloïdales d’or synthétisées par voie chimique et assemblées sur des substrats souples par assemblage convectif contrôlé. Le principe de ces capteurs résistifs repose sur la conduction tunnel entre les nanoparticules qui varie de manière exponentielle lorsque que l’assemblée est déformée. Des mesures électro-mécaniques couplées à des observations en microscopie électronique à balayage et à force atomique ont permis d’identifier, de quantifier et de comprendre l’impact de la taille et de la nature des ligands des nanoparticules sur la sensibilité et les phénomènes de dérive de la résistance à vide des jauges de contrainte. Ces travaux, associés à des mesures de diffusion de rayons X aux petits angles ont permis de corréler les variations macroscopiques de résistance électrique des jauges de contrainte aux déplacements relatifs des nanoparticules. Finalement, ces jauges de contrainte ultra-sensibles et miniatures, mises en matrices, ont été exploitées pour réaliser des surfaces tactiles souples multi-points et sensibles à l’intensité de l’appui / One recent big challenge is to implement innovative sensors that take advantage of the unique properties of colloidal nanoparticles chemically synthesized and assembled on various surfaces. The goal of this work is the development of nanoparticle based resistive strain gauges. These strain gauges are constructed of few micrometers wide parallel wires of close packed colloidal gold nanoparticles, chemically synthesized, and assembled on flexible substrates by convective self assembly. The principle of these resistive sensors is based on the tunnel conduction between the adjacent nanoparticles which varies exponentially as the assembly is stretched. Electro-mechanical measurements coupled with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy observations were used to identify, quantify and understand the impact of the nanoparticle size and the nature of the protecting ligands, on the gauge sensitivity and the drift of the resistance at rest of the nanoparticle based strain gauges. Coupled with small angle x-ray scattering measurements, these studies allowed us to correlate the macroscopic changes in electrical resistance of the strain gauges to the relative displacement of the nanoparticles at the nanoscale. Finally, a matrix of these miniature ultra-sensitive gauges was used to construct flexible touch screen panels capable of measuring the intensity of several touches simultaneously

Le traitement thermique est une méthode appropriée pour la valorisation d'essences européennes peu durables. Les modifications chimiques en résultant confèrent au bois une meilleure stabilité dimensionnelle et durabilité aux attaques fongiques, alors que les propriétés mécaniques diminuent plus ou moins. Le verrou actuel de ce procédé reste la grande difficulté à produire à l'échelle industrielle un produit de qualité constante (durabilité, stabilité dimensionnelle, couleur). Ces difficultés sont dues à l'hétérogénéité du matériau et des conditions de traitement réalisé généralement par convexion. La mise au point d'un pilote de traitement thermique par conduction permettant une mesure en dynamique de la perte de masse a été réalisée pour optimiser la conduite du traitement, mieux comprendre les réactions de thermodégradation et développer un outil de contrôle de la qualité du bois traité. Les résultats obtenus, réalisés dans des conditions de traitement proches des conditions industrielles, indiquent un effet important de l'essence de bois traitée sur les cinétiques de perte de masse observées, les feuillus étant généralement plus sensibles à la thermodégradation que les résineux. Il a ensuite été établi une forte corrélation entre le niveau de thermodégradation du bois estimé à partir de sa perte de masse et l'augmentation de sa durabilité aux champignons basidiomycètes. L'analyse fine et la compréhension des mécanismes réactionnels intervenant durant le traitement ont permis de mettre en évidence un lien direct entre la composition élémentaire du bois et la perte de masse due aux réactions de thermodégradation, permettant également de prédire la durabilité aux attaques fongiques. Le taux de carbone, d'oxygène ou encore le rapport O/C peuvent de ce fait être considérés comme des marqueurs pertinents permettant de contrôler la qualité du bois traité thermiquement. / Thermal treatment has been used to improve properties of non durable European species. Chemical modification of some of the wood components provides improved dimensional stability and biological performance against decay fungi while mechanical properties such as modulus of rupture are reduced. Quality control of commercially made thermally treated wood is one of the major road blocks of its industrial development. The variability inherent within a wood species and between wood species, density and chemical compositions variation combined with the heat treatment parameters such as temperature duration and levels contribute to the production of heterogeneous heat treated wood. The development of a heat treatment process by conduction which monitors the weight changes during the process will facilitate and help in controlling, in understanding and predicting the properties of heat treated wood. Data collected from a pilot study of heat treated wood using conditions similar to commercial process show that hardwood species were more susceptible to thermal degradation as compared to softwood. It was also established that wood chemical composition is directly connected to the percent of weight loss due to thermodegradation, allowing the use of chemical composition to predict fungi durability. Carbon and oxygen contents and/or oxygen to carbon ratio of heat treated wood can be therefore used as valuable markers to develop quality control assessment of heat treated wood.

La pile à combustible H+-SOFC (Protonic Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) basée surl’utilisation d’un électrolyte conducteur protonique peut représenter une alternative intéressanteà la pile SOFC qui présente actuellement le meilleur rendement. Cependant, la surtension à lacathode reste élevée et ce travail est dédié à la compréhension du mécanisme de réductionl'oxygène à cette électrode.Différents matériaux conducteurs mixtes O2- / e- de structures dérivées de la perovskite ABO3,tels que les doubles perovskites LnBaM2O5+d (Ln = Pr, Nd et Gd et M = Co et Fe) ainsi que lesphases de Ruddlesden-Popper A2MO4+d (Ln = Pr et Sr et M = Ni), ont été étudiés. Leur niveaude conductivité électronique ainsi que leur non-stoechiométrie en oxygène ont d’abord étédéterminées. Puis, à l’aide de la détermination des coefficients de diffusion de l’oxygène par laméthode de relaxation de conductivité électrique, leur conductivité ionique O2- a été estimée.Une étude électrochimique et plus spécialement la détermination des étapes limitant la réactionde réduction de l’oxygène à la cathode de pile H+-SOFC a ensuite permis de démontrer le rôledu proton dans le mécanisme de réaction pour les matériaux présentant les meilleuresperformances électrochimiques.Enfin, dans le cadre d’un projet ANR HPAC 2009 « CONDOR », des mono-cellules de piles H+-SOFC ont été mises en forme et des densités de puissance proche de 180 mW/cm² à 0.6 V à600°C ont été obtenues. / The H+-SOFC (Protonic Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) based on a protonic conductingelectrolyte can represent an interesting alternative to the SOFC fuel cell. Nevertheless, the highcathodic overpotential remains a severe drawback and this thesis is dedicated to the study of theunderstanding of the oxygen reduction at the cathode.Several mixed O2- / e- conductors derived from perovskite ABO3 such as double perovskiteLnBaM2O5+d and Ruddlesden Popper phases A2MO4+d were studied. Their electronic conductivityas well as their oxygen non-stoichiometry were first determined. Then, their oxygen diffusioncoefficients were measured using the electrical conductivity relaxation method and their O2-conductivity estimated. Rate determining steps of the oxygen reduction reaction weredetermined from electrochemical measurements and it was shown that proton is involved in theoxygen reduction for materials showing the best electrochemical performances.Finally, single H+-SOFC cells were developed in the framework of the ANR HPAC 2009 project“CONDOR” and power densities of about 180 mW/cm² at 0.6 V at 600°C were obtained.

Introduktion: Vid perifera nervundersökningar med elektroneurografi spelar temperaturen i vävnaden som undersöks stor roll. Kall vävnad leder till försämrad funktion i nervernas jonkanaler, vilket leder till att aktionspotentialer utlöses långsammare och nervledningshastigheten minskar vilket därmed kan ge falskt patologiska undersökningsresultat. För att minska den risken mäts och korrigeras alltid hudtemperaturen. Vid registrering från övre extremiteter mäts hudtemperaturen standardmässigt på handryggen. Trots att stimulering sker från handflatan och från fingrar så mäts inte temperaturen där. Syftet med studien är därför att undersöka om kalla fingrar på en i övrigt varm hand påverkar conduction velocity och peaklatenstiden, jämfört med när hand och fingrar har samma varma temperatur. Metod: 30 unga, friska personer deltog i studien. Ortodrom elektroneurografiundersökning utfördes på nervus medianus sensoriska del. Handryggstemperaturen var konstant 32° Celsius (C) och fingertoppstemperaturerna var 32° C, 27° C respektive 22° C. Vid varje fingertoppstemperatur registrerades conduction velocity och peaklatenstiden vid stimuleringar från handflatan, fingerbasen och fingertoppen på digitorum III. Resultat: En statistiskt signifikant skillnad fanns i både nervledningshastigheten och peaklatenstiden vid registrering från fingerbasen vid fingertoppstemperaturen 32° C jämfört med såväl 27° C som 22° C. Slutsats: Kalla fingrar på en varm hand ger en statistiskt signifikant påverkan på både nervledningshastigheten och peaklatenstiden. / Background: In peripheral nerve examinations with electroneurography, temperatures in the tissue that is being examined is important. Cold tissue leads to impaired function of the ion channels of the nerves, which causes action potentials to be triggered more slowly and the nerve conduction velocity to decrease, which can cause false pathological examination results. To reduce this risk, the skin temperature is always measured and corrected. When registering from the upper extremities, the skin temperature is measured by default on the back of the hand. Despite stimulating in the palm and on the fingers, the temperature is not measured there. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether cold fingers on a warm hand affects the conduction velocity and peak latency time, compared with the hand and the fingers having the same warm temperature. Methods: 30 young, healthy persons participated in the study. An orthodrome electroneurography examination was performed on the sensory part of the median nerve. The backhand temperature was constant 32° Celsius (C) and the fingertip temperatures were 32 ° C, 27 ° C and 22 ° C. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in both nerve conduction velocity and peak latency time when registering from the finger base with fingertip temperature 32 ° C compared with both 27 ° C and 22 ° C Conclusions: Cold fingers on a warm hand give a statistically significant effect on both the nerve conduction velocity and the peak latency time.

<p> This study focuses on developing a new online recursive numerical algorithm for a coupled nonlinear inverse heat conduction-microstructure problem. This algorithm is essential in identifying, designing and controlling many industrial applications such as the quenching process for heat treating of materials, chemical vapor deposition and industrial baking. In order to develop the above algorithm, a systematic four stage research plan has been conducted. </P> <p> The first and second stages were devoted to thoroughly reviewing the existing inverse heat conduction techniques. Unlike most inverse heat conduction solution methods that are batch form techniques, the online input estimation algorithm can be used for controlling the process in real time. Therefore, in the first stage, the effect of different parameters of the online input estimation algorithm on the estimate bias has been investigated. These parameters are the stabilizing parameter, the measurement errors standard deviation, the temporal step size, the spatial step size, the location of the thermocouple as well as the initial assumption of the state error covariance and error covariance of the input estimate. Furthermore, three different discretization schemes; namely: explicit, implicit and Crank-Nicholson have been employed in the input estimation algorithm to evaluate their effect on the algorithm performance. </p> <p> The effect of changing the stabilizing parameter has been investigated using three different forms of boundary conditions covering most practical boundary heat flux conditions. These cases are: square, triangular and mixed function heat fluxes. The most important finding of this investigation is that a robust range of the stabilizing parameter has been found which achieves the desired trade-off between the filter tracking ability and its sensitivity to measurement errors. For the three considered cases, it has been found that there is a common optimal value of the stabilizing parameter at which the estimate bias is minimal. This finding is important for practical applications since this parameter is usually unknown. Therefore, this study provides a needed guidance for assuming this parameter. </p> <p> In stage three of this study, a new, more efficient direct numerical algorithm has been developed to predict the thermal and microstructure fields during quenching of steel rods. The present algorithm solves the full nonlinear heat conduction equation using a central finite-difference scheme coupled with a fourth-order Runge-Kutta nonlinear solver. Numerical results obtained using the present algorithm have been validated using experimental data and numerical results available in the literature. In addition to its accurate predictions, the present algorithm does not require iterations; hence, it is computationally more efficient than previous numerical algorithms. </p> <p> The work performed in stage four of this research focused on developing and applying an inverse algorithm to estimate the surface temperatures and surface heat flux of a steel cylinder during the quenching process. The conventional online input estimation algorithm has been modified and used for the first time to handle this coupled nonlinear problem. The nonlinearity of the problem has been treated explicitly which resulted in a non-iterative algorithm suitable for real-time control of the quenching process. The obtained results have been validated using experimental data and numerical results obtained by solving the direct problem using the direct solver developed in stage three of this work. These results showed that the algorithm is efficiently reconstructing the shape of the convective surface heat flux. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)