This study explored different chemical characterization methods of agricultural and urban airborne particulate matter. Three different field campaigns are discussed. For the agricultural aerosols, measurement of the chemical composition of size-resolved agricultural aerosols collected from a ground site at the nominally downwind and upwind edge of a feedlot in West Texas were reported. High volume cascade impactor samplers were used for the collection of the particles, and two major analytical methods were applied to characterize different components of the aerosols, ion chromatography (IC ) was used to measure ionic composition with the main targets being ammonium (NH4 ), nitrate (NO3 -), and sulfate (SO4 2-), direct thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection (GC-MS/FID) methodology was used to identify and quantify organic compounds in the aerosol particles. For the urban aerosols, I report the measurement of mass, and the chemical composition of size-resolved aerosols collected from two different locations in Houston, analyzed by the thermal desorption GC-MS/FID method. The investigation of single particle composition using RM is reported as well: RM and chemical mapping techniques have been applied for the qualitative analysis of components in the samples of air particulate matter collected in downtown Houston.

Designers of power electronic converters usually face the challenge of having multiple performance indices that must be simultaneously optimized, such as maximizing efficiency while minimizing mass or maximizing reliability while minimizing cost. The experienced engineer applies his or her judgment to reduce the number of possible designs to a manageable number of feasible designs for which to prototype and test; thus, the optimality of this design-space reduction is directly dependent upon the experience, and expertise and biases of the designer. The practitioner is familiar with tradeoff analysis; however, simple tradeoff studies can become difficult or even intractable if multiple metrics are considered. Hence a scientific and systematic approach is needed. In this dissertation, a multi-objective optimization framework is presented as a design tool. Optimization of power electronic converters is certainly not a new subject. However, when limited to off-the-shelf components, the resulting system is really optimized only over the set of commercially available components, which may represent only a subset of the design space; the reachable space limited by available components and technologies. While this approach is suited to cost-reduce an existing design, it offers little insight into design possibilities for greenfield projects. Instead, this work uses the Technology Characterization Methods (TCM) to broaden the reachable design space by considering fundamental component attributes. The result is the specification for the components that create the optimal design rather than an evaluation of an apriori selected set of candidate components. A unique outcome of this approach is that new technology development vectors may emerge to develop optimized components for the optimized power converter. The approach presented in this work uses a mathematical descriptive language to abstract the characteristics and attributes of the components used in a power electronic converter in a way suitable for multi-objective and constrained optimization methods. This dissertation will use Technology Characterization Methods (TCM) to bridge the gap between high-level performance attributes and low-level design attributes where direct relationship between these two does not currently exist. The loss and size models for inductors, capacitors, IGBTs, MOSFETs and heat sinks will be used to form objective functions for the multi-objective optimization problem. A single phase IGBT-based inverter is optimized for efficiency and volume based on the component models derived using TCM. Comparing the obtained designs to a design, which can be made from commercial off-the-shelf components, shows that converter design can be optimized beyond what is possible from using only off-the-shelf components. A module-integrated photovoltaic inverter is also optimized for efficiency, volume and reliability. An actual converter is constructed using commercial off-the-shelf components. The converter design is chosen as close as possible to a point obtained by optimization. Experimental results show that the converter modeling is accurate. A new approach for evaluation of efficiency in photovoltaic converter is also proposed and the front-end portion of a photovoltaic converter is optimized for this efficiency, as well as reliability and volume.

Mit wellenlängenabhängigen Messungen der Oberflächenphotospannung (Surface Photovoltage, SPV) lässt sich die Diffusionslänge von Ladungsträgern im Volumen von Siliziumproben messen. Das Ziel der Arbeit war es, mit Hilfe temperatur- und injektionsabhängiger Messungen der Diffusionslänge die Natur rekombinationsaktiver Defekte in kristallinem Silizium zu untersuchen. Im Rahmen der Arbeit wurde eine zu diesem Zwecke geeignete Messanlage sowie die nötigen Mess- und Auswerteprozeduren entwickelt. Die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der aufgebauten Anlage wurden durch Messungen an gezielt mit Eisen, Kupfer oder Chrom verunreinigten mono- und multikristallinen Siliziumproben bewertet. Es zeigt sich, dass die SPV-Methode in einem jeweils begrenzten Temperatur- und Injektionsbereich bei Vorhandensein dominanter Defekte zur Defekt-Spektroskopie einsetzbar ist. Eine Anwendung fand das Verfahren an industriell relevantem, aufbereitetem metallurgischen Silizium (umg-Si).

O objetivo deste trabalho é aplicar os métodos de medidas dinâmicos dos polímeros piezoelétricos na caracterização dos eletretos termo-formados de Teflon-FEP desenvolvidos no Laboratório de Medidas e Padrões da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC) - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Para isso, foram implementados os métodos dinâmico direto, acústico direto, acústico inverso e interferométrico. Também foram desenvolvidos neste trabalho dois aplicativos computacionais de controle e aquisição de dados dos equipamentos de medidas, Lock-in SR510, osciloscópio Tektronix TDS 210 e gerador de áudio Tektronix CFG253. Esta caracterização é importante porque visa utilizar os eletretos termo-formados como dispositivos eletromecânicos para realizar inúmeras aplicações nas áreas da robótica, da bioengenharia e nas medidas elétricas e mecânicas. A vantagem dos eletretos termo-formados com relação aos demais polímeros piezoelétricos, é que estes são estruturas homogêneas, com grande reprodutibilidade no processo de fabricação e apresentam altos coeficientes piezoelétricos. / The aim of this work is to apply the dynamical measurement methods of piezoelectric polymers into the characterization of thermo-formed electrets of Teflon-FEP developed in the Laboratory of Measurements and Standards of the School of Engineering of Sao Carlos (EESC) - University of Sao Paulo (USP). The direct dynamical, direct acoustic, inverse acoustic and interferometric methods are aplyed to implement these measurements. Two routines were also developed to control and realize the data acquisition of the measurement equipments Lock in SR510, Tektronix TDS-210 oscilloscope and Tektronix CFG-253 function generator. The characterization of these termo-formed electret is important because they can be used into electromechanical devices for innumerable applications in the areas such as robotics, bioengineering and electric and mechanic measurements. The advantage of the thermo-formed electrets, compared to all others piezoelectric polymers, is that they are homogeneous structures with reproducible fabrication process, to presenting high piezoelectric coefficients.

β-glucan is a major component of the fungal cell wall consisting of (1→3)-β linked glucose polymers with (1→6)-β linked side chains. The published classical isolation procedure of β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is expensive and time-consuming. Thus, the aim of this research was to develop an effective procedure for the extraction of glucans. We have developed a new method for glucan extraction that will be cost effective and will maintain the native structure of the glucan. The method that we developed is 80% faster and utilizes 1/3 of the reagents compared to the published classical method. Further, the method developed increases the yield from 2.9 % to 10.3 %. Our new process has a branching frequency of 18.4 down from 197 and a side chain of 5.1 up from 2.5. The data indicate a more preserved native structure of isolated glucans.

O objetivo deste trabalho é aplicar os métodos de medidas dinâmicos dos polímeros piezoelétricos na caracterização dos eletretos termo-formados de Teflon-FEP desenvolvidos no Laboratório de Medidas e Padrões da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC) - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Para isso, foram implementados os métodos dinâmico direto, acústico direto, acústico inverso e interferométrico. Também foram desenvolvidos neste trabalho dois aplicativos computacionais de controle e aquisição de dados dos equipamentos de medidas, Lock-in SR510, osciloscópio Tektronix TDS 210 e gerador de áudio Tektronix CFG253. Esta caracterização é importante porque visa utilizar os eletretos termo-formados como dispositivos eletromecânicos para realizar inúmeras aplicações nas áreas da robótica, da bioengenharia e nas medidas elétricas e mecânicas. A vantagem dos eletretos termo-formados com relação aos demais polímeros piezoelétricos, é que estes são estruturas homogêneas, com grande reprodutibilidade no processo de fabricação e apresentam altos coeficientes piezoelétricos. / The aim of this work is to apply the dynamical measurement methods of piezoelectric polymers into the characterization of thermo-formed electrets of Teflon-FEP developed in the Laboratory of Measurements and Standards of the School of Engineering of Sao Carlos (EESC) - University of Sao Paulo (USP). The direct dynamical, direct acoustic, inverse acoustic and interferometric methods are aplyed to implement these measurements. Two routines were also developed to control and realize the data acquisition of the measurement equipments Lock in SR510, Tektronix TDS-210 oscilloscope and Tektronix CFG-253 function generator. The characterization of these termo-formed electret is important because they can be used into electromechanical devices for innumerable applications in the areas such as robotics, bioengineering and electric and mechanic measurements. The advantage of the thermo-formed electrets, compared to all others piezoelectric polymers, is that they are homogeneous structures with reproducible fabrication process, to presenting high piezoelectric coefficients.

Wood fibres can be used as reinforcement in plastics for load carrying purposes. Some advantages compared with conventional man-made fibres are that wood fibres come from a renewable resource, have high specific stiffness and strength, are generally less hazardous to health, biodegradable, and can be manufactured at low cost and high volumes. A clear disadvantage with cellulose-based materials for structural use is their dimensional instability in humid environments. The hygroelastic properties are of high importance in materials development of improved wood-fibre composites. This work deals with the stiffness and hygroexpansion of wood fibres for composite materials. The long-term aim is to design engineered wood fibre composites based on better basic knowledge of wood fibres. Mechanistic models have been used to link the fibrous microstructure with macroscopic composite engineering properties. The properties have been characterized experimentally for various wood-fibre composites and their fibre-mat preforms, by means of curvature measurements at various levels of relative humidity, as well as tensile and compressive tests. From these test results and microstructural characterization, the longitudinal Young’s modulus and transverse coefficient of hygroexpansion of wood fibres were identified by inverse modelling. Some effects of various pulp processes and fibre modifications on the elastic properties of the fibre were observed, illustrating how the mixed experimental-modelling approaches can be used in more efficient materials screening and selection. An improved micromechanical analysis for wood-fibre composites has been presented. The model is more appropriate to combine with laminate analogy, to link fibre properties on the microscale to the macroscopic composite properties and vice versa. It also offers the possibility to include the effects of ultrastructure since it can account for an arbitrary number of phases. An approach to model ultrastructure-fibre property relations has been demonstrated. It includes analytical modelling of multilayered cylindrical fibres as well as finite element modelling of fibres with irregular geometry characterized with microscopy. Both approaches are useful and could be combined with experiments to reveal insights that can pave way for a firmer link between the wood fibre ultrastructure and wood fibre properties. / QC 20100914

Mit wellenlängenabhängigen Messungen der Oberflächenphotospannung (Surface Photovoltage, SPV) lässt sich die Diffusionslänge von Ladungsträgern im Volumen von Siliziumproben messen. Das Ziel der Arbeit war es, mit Hilfe temperatur- und injektionsabhängiger Messungen der Diffusionslänge die Natur rekombinationsaktiver Defekte in kristallinem Silizium zu untersuchen. Im Rahmen der Arbeit wurde eine zu diesem Zwecke geeignete Messanlage sowie die nötigen Mess- und Auswerteprozeduren entwickelt. Die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der aufgebauten Anlage wurden durch Messungen an gezielt mit Eisen, Kupfer oder Chrom verunreinigten mono- und multikristallinen Siliziumproben bewertet. Es zeigt sich, dass die SPV-Methode in einem jeweils begrenzten Temperatur- und Injektionsbereich bei Vorhandensein dominanter Defekte zur Defekt-Spektroskopie einsetzbar ist. Eine Anwendung fand das Verfahren an industriell relevantem, aufbereitetem metallurgischen Silizium (umg-Si).

Les nanomédecines injectées par voie intraveineuse interagissent avec les éléments biologiques qui les entourent dans le compartiment sanguin. Parmi ces interactions, celles avec les protéines sanguines se révèlent être très importantes dans le devenir de ces nanovecteurs, leur conférant une identité biologique influençant leur chemin jusqu’au tissu et aux cellules cibles. La compréhension et le contrôle de ces phénomènes reste un enjeu crucial dans le développement des nanomédecines. Des méthodes permettant une étude facilitée de ces interactions sont nécessaires à cet égard. Les travaux de cette thèse ont eu pour but de développer des méthodes, utilisables en routine, permettant une caractérisation fine des nanomédecines et de leurs interactions avec les protéines plasmatiques, applicables dans un contexte clinique. Ils s’inscrivent dans un projet intitulé « Nano Innovation for CancEr » (NICE, BPI France) regroupant un consortium de partenaires industriels en développement clinique de nanomédecines.Dans un premier temps, un travail bibliographique sur les méthodes actuellement mises en œuvre pour une telle caractérisation ont pu mettre en avant deux limitations majeures. (i) D’une part, la complexité des méthodes actuelles disponibles pour lesquelles la spécificité des équipements et l’expertise requise limitent une utilisation à large échelle. (ii) D’autre part, les propriétés aujourd’hui caractérisées en routine (taille, morphologie globale, charge) ne sont que grossières comparées à la finesse des processus biologiques qui interagissent et « analysent » les nanovecteurs une fois introduits dans le milieu biologique. Ces deux aspects limitent aujourd’hui un développement plus sûr des nanomédecines pour une bonne reproductibilité en clinique et garantir des essais de contrôle qualité fiables.Au cours de nos travaux, nous avons développé des méthodes permettant de répondre en partie à la problématique posée par la caractérisation des nanomédecines. Une méthode d’analyse à haut débit de l’activation du système du complément par immunoélectrophorèse en deux dimensions a été développée et validée. Elle permet l’analyse reproductible de l’activation de la protéine C3. Elle est applicable à l’étude de l’effet de la présence de nanoparticules dans le sérum humain et leur degré d’action sur la cascade du complément. Cette méthode a été utilisée pour mener une étude plus fondamentale du mécanisme de l’activation du système du complément en regard de l’architecture de la surface de nanoparticules.Une deuxième méthode d’étude de l’activation du complément produit par des nanomédecine a été proposée sur la base de la résonnance plasmonique de surface (SPR). Une puce permettant un screening automatisé de l’activation du complément a été développée. L’application de cette méthode comparée à d’autres méthodes d’études de l’activation du système du complément (Immunoélectrophorèse 2D, ELISA) a permis d’identifier des biais lors de leur application à l’évaluation des nanomédecines.Enfin, une approche originale de caractérisation de la surface de nanoparticules a été proposée utilisant des protéines pour sonder la capacité de la surface des nanoparticules à adsorber ou repousser ces dernières. Dans cette méthode, l’électrophorèse capillaire est utilisée comme outil analytique permettant une analyse directe de l’échantillon sans séparation préalable des nanomédecines.Les méthodes développées au cours de ces travaux peuvent être appliquées à la caractérisation de nanomédecines et proposées comme des méthodes de contrôle en routine de façon plus générale. Un développement de la caractérisation dans ce sens constitue l’un des leviers pour une translation plus fructueuse des nanomédecines entrant en phase clinique. / Nanomedicines injected intravenously interact with surrounding biological elements in the bloodstream. Among these interactions, those with blood proteins turn out to be very important regarding the becoming of the nanovectors. They acquire a biological identity upon interaction with proteins which influence their path to target tissue and cells. The understanding and mastering of these phenomena remains a crucial issue in nanomedicine development. Methods allowing an easier study of these interactions are needed. The aim of these PhD thesis was to develop such methods, usable on a routine basis in a clinical context, allowing a fine characterization of nanomedicines and their interactions with plasmatic proteins. This PhD is part of the project “Nano Innovation for CancEr” (NICE, BPI France), gathering a consortium of industrials partners developing clinical nanomedicines.In a first time, a bibliographic study about current methods used for such a characterization could identify two major limitations. (i) On one hand, the complexity of current available methods for which the equipment specificity and required expertise prevent their use at a large scale. (ii) On the other hand, properties today characterized on a daily basis (size, morphology, charge) are too rough compared to the sharpness of biological processes who interact and “analyze” the nanovectors introduced in biological media. These two aspects are limiting a safer development of nanomedicines as well as a good reproducibility of their action in clinics.During this thesis, we developed methods allowing a beginning of answer to the wide problematic of nanomedicine characterization. A method for a high throughput analysis of complement activation by nanomedicines via 2D immunoelectrophoresis was developed and validated. It allows the reproducible analysis of protein C3 fragmentation. This method is applicable to the study of the impact of nanoparticles in human serum and their degree of action on the complement cascade. This method has been used for a more fundamental study on complement activation pathways activated according to the architecture of nanoparticles surface.A second method for the study of complement activation produced by nanoparticles has been proposed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A chip allowing an automated screening of complement activation has been developed. This method was compared to other methods for complement activation study (2D immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA) and allowed the identification of bias during nanomedicine evaluation.Finally, an original approach for the characterization of nanomedicine’s surface architecture using proteins as molecular probes has been proposed. In this method, capillary electrophoresis has been used as analytical tool to allow a direct analysis of sample without preliminary nanoparticle removal step.Methods developed during this work can be applied to the characterization of nanomedicines and proposed as routine methods for quality control. A development of nanomedicines characterization in this direction constitute one of the lever for a more fruitful translation of nanomedicines entering in clinical phase.

Currently, a sustainable energy transition is underway to reduce CO2 emissions. To meet the targets outlined in international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol, a rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems, is underway. Due to photovoltaic technology's rapid development and integration, reliable testing and evaluation methods are essential. This master's thesis is dedicated to developing a PV system simulator to study the PV systems. PV simulators serve as precious tools due to their capacity to control and replicate the environmental conditions experienced by PV panels. Consequently, these simulators facilitate thorough research, design refinement, and PV system performance assessment. The developed PV system simulator is essentially a PV remote lab, offering the capability to monitor, gather data, and evaluate the performance of the PV system remotely. The proposed system's flexibility and scalability enable its application to study various types of PV installation. The PV remote lab is expected to be a training centre for students and industry professionals. A comprehensive literature review on photovoltaic technology has been undertaken. Following the literature review, the different components that form a PV system have been defined and selected. The system will have a communication block to achieve a flexible and scalable PV remote lab. In this way, different configurations of the PV panels and different system outputs can be implemented. This commutation block can be remotely controlled using an Arduino, and an interface can be designed where the desired PV panel configurations and system outputs can be selected. In this interface, visualising the tests' results will also be possible. / För närvarande pågår en hållbar energiomställning för att minska koldioxidutsläppen. För att uppfylla de mål som fastställts i internationella avtal som Kyotoprotokollet pågår en snabb utbyggnad av förnybara energikällor, särskilt solcellssystem (PV). På grund av solcellsteknikens snabba utveckling och integration är tillförlitliga test- och utvärderingsmetoder av avgörande betydelse. Denna masteruppsats handlar om att utveckla en solcellssimulator för att studera solcellssystem. PV-simulatorer är värdefulla verktyg eftersom de kan kontrollera och återskapa de miljöförhållanden som PV-panelerna utsätts för. Följaktligen underlättar dessa simulatorer grundlig forskning, designförbättring och bedömning av PV-systemets prestanda. Den utvecklade PV-systemsimulatorn är i grunden ett fjärrstyrt PV-labb som gör det möjligt att övervaka, samla in data och utvärdera PV-systemets prestanda på distans. Det föreslagna systemets flexibilitet och skalbarhet gör att det kan användas för att studera olika typer av solcellsinstallationer. PV-fjärrlabbet förväntas bli ett utbildningscenter för studenter och yrkesverksamma inom branschen. En omfattande litteraturgenomgång om solcellsteknik har genomförts. Efter litteraturgenomgången har de olika komponenterna som bildar ett solcellssystem definierats och valts ut. Systemet kommer att ha ett kommunikationsblock för att uppnå ett flexibelt och skalbart PV-fjärrlabb. På så sätt kan olika konfigurationer av solcellspanelerna och olika systemutgångar implementeras. Detta kommutationsblock kan fjärrstyras med en Arduino och ett gränssnitt kan utformas där de önskade konfigurationerna av solcellspaneler och systemutgångar kan väljas. I detta gränssnitt kommer det också att vara möjligt att visualisera testresultaten.