User desire for ubiquitous applications on-board a vehicle motivates the necessity for Network Mobility (NEMO) solutions for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs). Due to the dynamic topology of VANETs, this approach incurs excessive infrastructure cost to maintain stable connectivity and support these applications. Our solution to this problem is focused on a novel NEMO-based Network Architecture where vehicles are the main network infrastructure. Within this Architecture, we present a Network Criticality-based clustering algorithm, which adapts to mobility changes to form stable self-organizing clusters of vehicles and dynamically builds on vehicle clusters to form more stable Mobile Networks. Simulation results show that the proposed method provides more stable clusters, lower handoffs and better connectivity compared to popular density-based vehicle clustering methods. In addition, they confirm the validity of the proposed Network Architecture. The proposed method is also robust to channel error and exhibits better performance when the heterogeneity of vehicles is exploited.

The use of different materials is a central part of our development, especially in the electronics industry since it is dependent on materials such as gold, silver and copper etc. to achieve the required performance. The material consumption is increasing, while material production is limited to a few countries. Industries and companies that consume unusual or large amounts of material are most exposed to this problem. Therefore it is important for companies to be able to identify their critical materials. There is a lack of systems that can identify different materials criticality at a company level. This report proposes a system that can identify critical materials at a company level, regardless of the company's industry and size. By combining a literature study with a case study in a leading electronic company, a system that identifies materials criticality at a company level was developed. The theoretical study consisted of a comparison between three existing systems for evaluating critical materials, combined with a qualitative study, interviews, that were conducted at the electronic company Ericsson. The developed system evaluates a material's criticality based on two parameters; supply risk and corporate importance. Each parameter includes several categories and indicators that measure the materials criticality. By testing the system on Ericsson's most important and used materials such as; Al, Au, Ag, Cu, etc., it was found that the company do not have any critical materials. The developed systems corporate importance part is configurable, which makes it company-specific. It is up each company to customize it for their own business and situation. The case study also showed that a nation´s critical material doesn’t necessarily need to be company critical just because the company operates within the nation, it mainly depend on the material usage. Companies that manufacture end products so called OEMs in the electronics industry don’t usually buy materials directly from the mine, but components containing these materials. This makes it difficult for OEMs to trace the material origin. Apart from the material production concentration that is limited to a few countries, the knowledge of how to manufacture certain components may also be limited, by being concentrated in few countries. This factor makes the OEMs to become more dependent on certain suppliers, which can affect the business.

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Cette thèse expérimentale explore les propriétés du point critique de la phase pseudogap dans le diagramme de phase des cuprates supraconducteurs. Dans une première partie, j’expose un état de l’art sur les connaissances du diagramme de phases température-dopage (T-p) de ces systèmes. Des études récentes montrent une chute importante de la densité de porteurs électroniques au voisinage du point critique suggérant une reconstruction de la surface Fermi. Pour comprendre la nature exacte de la transition de phases liée à cette reconstruction, j’ai réalisé des mesures complémentaires de transport thermique et de chaleur spécifique sous champ magnétique intense sur les familles La1.8-xSrxEu0.2CuO4 et La1.6-xSrxNd0.4CuO4.Dans une deuxième partie, après une introduction théorique sur la chaleur spécifique et le transport thermique, je détaille comment ces deux grandeurs ont été mesurées. En particulier, une technique originale de mesures de la chaleur spécifique a été mise au point pour combiner haute résolution et précision absolue en champ magnétique intense et basse température. Différents modèles thermiques et électroniques ont été développés pour comprendre et analyser les mesures et ont permis d’optimiser les différents montages de chaleur spécifique selon les gammes de température.Dans une troisième partie, je présente l’ensemble des résultats obtenus en transport thermique et chaleur spécifique. Le transport thermique confirme la chute de la densité de porteur dans l’état normal (sans supraconductivité) des cuprates déjà observée en transport électrique sous champ intense. Par ailleurs, j ‘ai montré que cette chute existe également au sein de la phase supraconductrice (à champ magnétique nul), montrant qu’elle n’est influencée ni par la présence de la supraconductivité ni par le champ magnétique. Dans l’état normal, la loi de Wiedemann-Franz est respectée prouvant le caractère métallique de la phase pseudogap.La chaleur spécifique électronique montre un comportement non classique à proximité du point critique. Ce comportement anormal est caractérisé par une dépendance logarithmique en fonction de la température au dopage critique p* correspondant à la chute du nombre de porteurs. De plus, ces mesures suggèrent une divergence de la masse effective à p* en fonction du dopage. Ces deux observations sont la signature d’un point critique quantique localisé à T = 0 et p = p* dont l’origine est discutée dans la dernière partie. Les différentes classes d’universalités possibles sont discutées et une comparaison avec d’autres composés (fermions lourds, pnictures) possédant un point critique quantique est présentée. / This experimental PhD thesis explores the properties of the pseudogap critical point in the phase diagram of superconducting cuprates. In a first part, I present a state of the art on the knowledge of the temperature-doping (T-p) phase diagram of these systems. Recent studies show a dramatic drop in the electronic carrier density near the critical point, suggesting a Fermi surface reconstruction. To understand the exact nature of the phase transition related to this reconstruction, I performed complementary high magnetic field measurements of thermal transport and specific heat on La1.8-xSrxEu0.2CuO4 and La1.6-xSrxNd0.4CuO4 cuprates.In a second part, after a theoretical introduction on specific heat and thermal transport, I detail how these two quantities were measured. In particular, an original technique for measuring specific heat has been developed to combine high resolution and absolute accuracy in high magnetic field and low temperature. Different thermal and electronic models have been developed to understand and analyze the measurements in order to optimize the different set-ups according to the temperature range.In a third part, I present the results obtained in thermal transport and specific heat. Thermal transport confirms the drop in carrier density in the normal state (without superconductivity) of cuprates, already observed in high magnetic field electrical transport. Moreover, this drop also exists within the superconducting phase (in zero magnetic field), showing that it is neither influenced by the presence of superconductivity nor by the magnetic field. In the normal state, the Wiedemann-Franz low is satisfied, proving the metallic character of the pseudogap phase.Electronic specific heat shows non-classical behavior in the vicinity of the critical point. This abnormal behavior is characterized by a logarithmic dependence as a function of temperature at the critical doping p *, corresponding to the drop in the carrier density. Moreover, these measurements suggest a divergence of the effective mass at p * as a function of doping. These two observations are the signature of a quantum critical point located at T = 0 and p = p *, whose origin is discussed in the last part. I discuss the possible universality classes, and I compare with others compounds (heavy fermions, pnictides) which present a quantum critical point.

The closed neighbourhood of a vertex in a graph is the vertex together with the set of adjacent vertices. A di®erentiating-dominating set, or identifying code, is a collection of vertices whose intersection with the closed neighbour- hoods of each vertex is distinct and nonempty. A di®erentiating-dominating set in a graph serves to uniquely identify all the vertices in the graph. Chapter 1 begins with the necessary de¯nitions and background results and provides motivation for the following chapters. Chapter 1 includes a summary of the lower identi¯cation parameters, °L and °d. Chapter 2 de- ¯nes co-distinguishable graphs and determines bounds on the number of edges in graphs which are distinguishable and co-distinguishable while Chap- ter 3 describes the maximum number of vertices needed in order to identify vertices in a graph, and includes some Nordhaus-Gaddum type results for the sum and product of the di®erentiating-domination number of a graph and its complement. Chapter 4 explores criticality, in which any minor modi¯cation in the edge or vertex set of a graph causes the di®erentiating-domination number to change. Chapter 5 extends the identi¯cation parameters to allow for orientations of the graphs in question and considers the question of when adding orientation helps reduce the value of the identi¯cation parameter. We conclude with a survey of complexity results in Chapter 6 and a collection of interesting new research directions in Chapter 7. / Mathematical Sciences / PhD (Mathematics)

Les calculs Monte Carlo en neutronique-criticité permettent d'estimer le coefficient de multiplication effectif ainsi que des grandeurs locales comme le flux ou les taux de réaction. Certaines configurations présentant de faibles couplages neutroniques (modélisation de cœurs complets, prise en compte de profils d'irradiations, ...) peuvent conduire à de mauvaises estimations du kef f ou des flux locaux. L'objet de cette thèse est de contribuer à rendre plus robuste l'algorithme Monte Carlo utilisé et améliorer la détection de la convergence. L'amélioration du calcul envisagée passe par l'utilisation, lors du calcul Monte Carlo, d'un flux adjoint obtenu par un pré-calcul détermi- niste réalisé en amont. Ce flux adjoint est ensuite utilisé pour déterminer le positionnement de la première génération, modifier la sélection des sites de naissance, et modifier la marche aléatoire par des stratégies de splitting et de roulette russe. Une méthode de détection automatique du transitoire a été développée. Elle repose sur la modélisation des séries de sortie par un processus auto régressif d'ordre 1 et un test statistique dont la variable de décision est la moyenne du pont de Student. Cette méthode a été appli- quée au kef f et à l'entropie de Shannon. Elle est suffisamment générale pour être utilisée sur n'importe quelle série issue d'un calcul Monte Carlo itératif. Les méthodes développées dans cette thèse ont été testées sur plusieurs cas simplifiés présentant des difficultés de convergence neutroniques. / Monte Carlo criticality calculation allows to estimate the effective mu- tiplication factor as well as local quantities such as local reaction rates. Some configurations presenting weak neutronic coupling (high burn up pro- file, complete reactor core, ...) may induce biased estimations for kef f or reaction rates. In order to improve robustness of the iterative Monte Carlo méthods, a coupling with a deterministic code was studied. An adjoint flux is obtained by a deterministic calculation and then used in the Monte Carlo. The initial guess is then automated, the sampling of fission sites is modi- fied and the random walk of neutrons is modified using splitting and russian roulette strategies. An automated convergence detection method has been developped. It locates and suppresses the transient due to the initialization in an output series, applied here to kef f and Shannon entropy. It relies on modeling stationary series by an order 1 auto regressive process and applying statistical tests based on a Student Bridge statistics. This method can easily be extended to every output of an iterative Monte Carlo. Methods developed in this thesis are tested on different test cases.

Materials in proximity to quantum critical points (QCPs) experience strong fluctuations in the order parameter associated with the transition and often, as a result, display interesting properties. In this dissertation, we have used a variety of experimental probes such as Shubnikov-de Haas quantum oscillations, thermal conductivity and heat capacity, to better understand two such materials — $A_3T_4$Sn$_{13}$ and YFe$_2$Ge$_2$. $A_3T_4$Sn$_{13}$ ($A$ = Ca, Sr; $T$ = Ir, Rh) is a family of quasi-skutterudite superconductors with moderate $T_c$’s between 4 and 8 K. Although the superconductivity is believed to be phonon-mediated with s-wave pairing symmetry, an unusual second-order structural transition makes this material family fascinating to study. Whether this structural transition is a result of three distortions with perpendicular wavevectors resulting in a cubic-to-cubic transformation, or each wavevector acting independently giving rise to cubic-to-tetragonal transformations and formation of twinned domains is a disputed issue. We have measured quantum oscillations in the resistivity of Sr3Ir4Sn13 and compared it to density functional theory (DFT) calculations for both scenarios. Our results strongly suggest that the former interpretation is correct. The structural transition temperature $T^*$ in $A_3T_4$Sn$_{13}$ can be suppressed to zero by tuning with physical or chemical pressure. In (Ca$_x$Sr$_{1−x}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_13$, the quantum critical point can be accessed purely by chemical substitution at x ~ 0.9. In the vicinity of the QCP, we expect large fluctuations of the order parameter at low temperatures, which for a structural transition could manifest as a structural disorder. We have measured thermal conductivity at temperatures much lower than $T_c$ and found that it is well described by a single power law with suppressed exponents near the QCP. The heat capacity, however, remains ~ $T^3$. After excluding conventional phonon scattering mechanisms, we propose the possibility of intrinsic quasi-static spatial disorder that is related to the structural QCP. YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ is closely linked to the “122” family of iron-based superconductors like KFe$_2$As$_2$, although it has a significantly lower $T_c$ ~ 1 K. It has a rather three-dimensional Fermi surface which closely resembles that of KFe$_2$As$_2$ in the pressure-induced collapsed tetragonal phase. YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ is in proximity to several types of magnetic order which are predicted by DFT calculations to have lower energy than the non-spin polarised case. Even though YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ is non-magnetic, its superconductivity could be strongly affected by magnetic fluctuations. Through a collaboration with researchers at the University of Waterloo, we have measured the thermal conductivity of YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ down to millikelvin temperatures and up to 2.5 T in field. Our results suggest that YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ is a nodal superconductor. This result could assist in the explanation of the unconventional superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

Above true strain rates of $10^4$ s$^{-1}$ FCC metals exhibit a rapid increase in strength. Understanding of the physical mechanisms behind this strength transition is hindered by the number and interdependence of candidate mechanisms. Broadly, contributions to strength can be split into `instantaneous' effects and the more permanent `structural' ones. In this thesis a series of experiments are presented which are designed to separate the two types of contribution. Chapter 2 outlines the basics of dislocation plasticity, based on the seminal works of Taylor and Orowan. It then progresses on to discuss recent experimental and theoretical work on the understanding of slip as avalanche behaviour. Chapter 3 summarises traditional modelling approaches for instantaneous strength contributions which are routinely applied below $10^4$ s$^{-1}$. It then continues on to outline a number of different approaches which have been adopted to attempt to explain and model the strength transition. Chapter 4 outlines the methods used in the earliest stages of the study: Instron and split Hopkinson pressure bar methods. Both methods are well established, and cover the majority of the range of rates under study. Emphasis is made on minimising experimental sources of error, and subsequently accounting for those which are unavoidable. Finally, the specimen material is introduced and is shown to be fit for purpose. Chapter 5 presents a set of mechanical tests of specimens at strain rates between $10^4-10^5$~s$^{-1}$. The softening of the specimens with increased temperature is observed to increase with strain rate, both in absolute terms and when normalised to the 300 K measurement for each strain rate. The observations are most easily explained if the strength transition is due to an increase in early stage work hardening, however, some anomalous behaviours remain. Chapter 6 introduces a new experimental technique; direct impact Hopkinson pressure bars, required to perform experiments shown to be necessary by the results of Chapter 5. Photon Doppler velocimetry is applied to the projectiles used in experiments, removing one of the most significant flaws of the technique, and creating a more confident basis with which to perform further experimental work. Chapter 7 presents a series of `jump tests' at ambient temperatures. Specimens are deformed at strain rates ranging from $10^{-2}$ to $10^5$~s$^{-1}$ to a fixed strain of 0.1, then reloaded to yield at a strain rate of $10^{-1}$. The yield point at reload is shown to have the same rapid upturn as seen when the specimens were deforming at high rates, providing strong evidence that the increase in strength is due to changes in the underlying dislocation structure, rather than a dynamic effect, as it remains even when the high strain rate is removed. Chapter 8 continues on from the conclusions of Chapter 7. Jump tests are expanded to a variety of temperatures and strains, to provide a more complete characterisation of metal behaviour. No dramatic change in the saturation of work hardening is observed to coincide with the increase in early stage work hardening. Chapter 9 discusses discrepancies between contemporary high rate models and recent developments in the understanding of plasticity being an avalanche process. Potential consequences of incorporating avalanche plasticity into high rate models are explored. Particular attention is paid to Brown's observation that based on quasi static observations of avalanche behaviour, the formation of dislocation avalanches will begin to fail at strain rates of approximately $10^4$ s$^{-1}$. Consequences of the progressive breakdown of avalanche behaviour are discussed with respect to the experimental observations presented in earlier chapters. In Chapter 10, we will discuss the key conclusions of the work. Finally, a number of avenues are proposed for building upon the current work both theoretically and experimentally.

Cette thèse s'intéresse en premier lieu à l'analyse des effetsfonctionnels des erreurs dans laconfiguration de FPGAs à base de SRAM. Ces erreurs peuvent provenir deperturbations naturelles(rayonnements, particules) ou d'attaques volontaires, par exemple avecun laser. La famille Virtex IIde Xilinx est utilisée comme premier cas pratique d'expérimentation,puis une comparaison est réaliséeavec la famille AT40K de chez ATMEL. Ceci a permis de mieux comprendrel'impact réel dedifférentes sources de perturbations, et les motifs d'erreur devantréellement être pris en compte pouraméliorer la robustesse d'un circuit implanté sur ce type detechnologie. Cette étude a nécessité ledéveloppement d'outils de conception spécifiques, permettantd'automatiser les analyses. Uneméthodologie innovante est proposée pour l'évaluation de lasensibilité de la mémoire de configurationaux SEUs : une classification des bits de configuration est établie enfonction des effets produits parleur inversion sur le fonctionnement normal de l'application. Cecipermet de déterminer les zones lesplus critiques, autorisant le développement de stratégies deprotection sélectives et à faible coût. / This thesis deals primarily with the analysis of the functionaleffects of errors in the configuration ofSRAM-based FPGAs. These errors can be due either to naturalperturbations (radiations, particles) orto malicious attacks, for example with a laser. The Xilinx Virtex IIfamily is used as first case study,then a comparison is made with the ATMEL AT40K family. This workallowed us a betterunderstanding of the real impact of perturbations, and of the errorpatterns that need to be taken intoaccount when improving the robustness of a circuit implemented on thistype of technology. Thisstudy required the development of specific design tools to automatethe analyses. An innovativemethodology is proposed for the evaluation of the configuration memorysensitivity to SEUs: aclassification of configuration bits is made with respect to theeffects produced on the application by asingle bit-flip. This enables us to identify the most critical areas,and to propose selective hardeningsolutions, improving the global reliability of the application at low cost.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:39:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3566.pdf: 855230 bytes, checksum: dd657920aba12e51cbfbf2b68a99a094 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The Brazilian environmental education is multifaceted, consisting of various politicalpedagogical conceptions. According to this background, the environmental educator chooses what ideas are best suited to his or her ideals of society and environment. This research is based in ideals of an egalitarian society, in which the social relations are marked by respect to all forms of life and by equal rights and opportunities for all the people. In this sense, the research had as it purpose to offer more possibilities to actions in the area of environmental education to suggest the concept of dialogic learning in order to increase the use of critical environmental education. At last, it discusses theoretically the possible contributions of dialogic learning for environmental education using the methodology of bibliographical research. The study included surveys of the main references in the Brazilian environmental education and learning dialogic and analyzed them in order to present their similarities and potential contributions of dialogic learning for environmental education. At the end of the analysis, we conclude that many of the assumptions of the dialogic learning are present, even though they are scattered, in different conceptions of environmental education, which is based on the principles of dialogic learning and may have its horizon expanded and make their criticality and the search for social transformation and environmental preservation stronger, suggesting concrete directions so it can be socially built. / A educação ambiental brasileira é múltipla, composta por diferentes concepções políticopedagógicas. Assim, cabe à/ao educadora/or ambiental escolher quais concepções se adequam melhor aos seus ideais de sociedade e de ambiente. Esta pesquisa está pautada nos ideais igualitários de sociedade, em que as relações sociais sejam marcadas pelo respeito a todas as formas de vida e pela igualdade de direitos e oportunidades a todas as pessoas. Neste sentido, teve como objetivo oferecer mais possibilidades de ação dentro do campo da educação ambiental ao apresentar a concepção dialógica de aprendizagem como potencializadora da prática da educação ambiental que se diz crítica. Para tanto, discutiram-se teoricamente as possíveis contribuições da aprendizagem dialógica para a educação ambiental, através da metodologia bibliográfica de pesquisa. O estudo inclui levantamento das principais referências da educação ambiental brasileira e da aprendizagem dialógica e, ao analisá-las, apresenta suas convergências e estrutura possibilidades de contribuição da aprendizagem dialógica para a educação ambiental. Ao final das análises, conclui que muitos dos pressupostos da aprendizagem dialógica já se encontram em diferentes concepções de educação ambiental de forma dispersa e que a educação ambiental, ao se pautar nos princípios da aprendizagem dialógica, poderá ter seus horizontes de atuação ampliados e o fortalecimento de sua criticidade e da busca pela transformação social com preservação ambiental, indicando caminhos concretos para que esta possa ser construída socialmente.