This study illustrates the ability of SWNT to nucleate and template polymer crystallization and orientation, and produce materials with improved properties and unique polymer morphologies. This research work focuses primarily on the physical interaction between single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and the flexible polymer system polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Polymer crystallization in the near vicinity of SWNT (interphase) has been studied to understand the capability of SWNT in influence polymer morphology in bulk films and fibers. Fibrillar crystallization was achieved by shearing PVA/SWNT dispersions and resulted in the formation of oriented PVA/SWNT fibers or ribbons, while PVA solutions produce unoriented fibers. PVA single crystals were grown in PVA solutions as well as PVA/SWNT dispersions over a period of several months at room temperature (25 C). PVA single crystal growth in PVA/SWNT dispersions is templated by SWNT, and these crystals show the presence of new morphologies for PVA. PVA single crystals of differing morphology were also grown at elevated temperatures, and show morphology dependant electron beam irradiation resistance. Gel-spinning was used to produce PVA, and PVA/SWNT fibers where, PVA crystallization in the bulk fiber was observed. With 1 wt% SWNT loading in PVA, the fiber tensile strength increased from 1.6 GPa for the control PVA to 2.6 GPa for PVA/SWNT. Analysis of this data suggests stress of up to ~120 GPa on the SWNT. This is the highest reported stress on the SWNT to date and confirm excellent reinforcement and load transfer of SWNT in the PVA matrix. Raman spectroscopy data show high SWNT alignment in the fiber where the ratio is measured to be 106. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) is used to characterize polymer morphology near the polymer-SWNT interface for PVA/SWNT fibers. HR-TEM studies of Polymer/CNT composites show distinct morphological differences at the polymer-SWNT interface/interphase for semi-crystalline and amorphous polymer systems which may be related to polymer-SWNT interaction in the composite. Studies on polymer crystallization, carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer composite, and polymer composite interfacial literature in summarized in Chapter 1. Fibrillar crystallization of PVA and PVA/SWNT is presented in Chapter 2. PVA single crystal grown at varying temperatures is discussed in Chapter 3, followed by single crystal growth studies in PVA/SWNT dispersions in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 summarizes the gel-spinning studies of PVA and PVA/SWNT fibers. Conclusions and recommendations for future work pertaining to this study are given in Chapter 6. Results of HR-TEM studies on other polymer/SWNT composites are given in Appendix A, Appendix B summarizes work on PE crystallization in the SWNT/DMF dispersions, and studies of PVA and PVA/SWNT gel films are summarized in Appendix C.

The eye lens grows continuously throughout life and changes its shape as the eye changes focus from a distant to a near object (the process of accommodation). These changes are complex because they may affect not only the shape of the lens, but also its refractive index distribution. To date there has been no satisfactory technique for directly and non-invasively measuring these changes. In this study the refractive index distribution through the isolated lens was measured non-invasively using a novel MRI technique. The dependence of the refractive index value of lens tissue on its transverse relaxation rate (R2) was determined empirically from measurements on lens homogenate samples. Using a multi-spin-echo imaging sequence, data were acquired for constructing R2 maps of a central slice through the isolated lens. These R2 maps were transformed to refractive index maps using the empirically determined dependence of refractive index on R2. Using a standard algorithm for ray tracing through gradient index media, the propagation of light rays through the index map were simulated. The optical properties of the lens, such as focal length, were then measured. The technique was validated by also directly measuring the focal length of each lens using laser ray tracing. The subtle changes in refractive index distribution that are responsible for the dramatic change in the optical properties of the isolated lens with age, were observed for the first time. The decrease in surface power of the isolated lens with age accounted only partially for the decrease in total lens power with age, the remainder resulting from a reduction in the gradient of refractive index (GRIN) power. It is likely that this reduction in GFUN power is the mechanism by which the eye maintains emmetropia (good distant vision) with age despite the increasing curvature of its surfaces. The reduction in the GRIN power of the lens was found to be mainly due to a flattening of the refractive index profile in the central region of the lens, accompanied by steepening of the profile near the edge of the lens. In agreement with a previous MRI study of the isolated human eye lens, this study found a decrease in the refractive index of the nucleus with age. However the age related change in this study was not as large and not found to be statistically significant. The results demonstrate that existing simple models for the optics of the eye lens are inadequate to accurately describe its properties. Several more sophisticated models were considered in an attempt to describe better the age-dependent changes that occur in both the power of the lens and its longitudinal aberration. Mathematical modelling was also used to simulate the accommodative process and investigate possible changes in the index distribution of the lens that may occur with accommodation. A preliminary in vivo study was performed aimed at observing the change in the refractive index distribution of the eye lens with age and accommodation. These results demonstrated the feasibility of the technique for in vivo applications and showed that within experimental error there is little change in the central refractive index of the lens with age. However the resolution achievable with standard clinical imaging sequences and signal detection hardware was not optimal for in vivo refractive index mapping of changes in the human eye lens with accommodation. Finally therefore, methods for refining the technique for in vivo applications are discussed which may make it possible to directly and simultaneously measure both the shape and refractive index distribution of the lens with age and accommodation.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2007. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

The objective of this study is to identify and describe the cases reported / investigated of Congenital Syphilis in the Santa Maria’s University Hospital (HUSM), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the period of 2010 to 2014. Is a retrospective, cross-sectional, study in which secondary data found in records of notification/investigation of Congenital Syphilis Information System notification where evaluated. 128 records notification/investigation Congenital Syphilis where evaluated. The survey instrument was developed based on research of Congenital Syphilis records and pregnant women, where with the data collected has built up a database, which was submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. The analyzed variables consisted on the genitor: sociodemographic; realization or not of the prenatal care; period of maternal diagnosis of the Syphilis, nontreponemal test achievement in prenatal and childbirth; Prenatal treponemic test and delivery; treatment performed in pregnancy, partner treatment. The variables relating to infant were: not treponemal test, cerebrospinal fluid change, not treponemic test cerebrospinal fluid; radiological diagnosis; clinical diagnosis; in child treatment regimen; developments. Results: 128 cases of congenital syphilis were reported during the study. Pregnant women analyzed were the age from 20 to 35 years old, all of them of white color, educational level of 5th to 8th grade incomplete, underwent the prenatal care, had the diagnosis carried out in the third-trimestrer or childbirth, with inadequate treatment and with partners who were not treated. Newborns were male, white, have been notified within seven days after the birth date, treponemal test in peripheral blood reagent and asymptomatic in most cases. Three cases with non treponemal test in the reagent liquor six cerebrospinal change and a case with abnormal X-ray of the long bones, and more than half of the cases received treatment with Penicillin Cristalina for 10 days. Conclusion: Persisting vertical transmission, there is failure in the health care network focused on prenatal quality. / O objetivo deste estudo é identificar e descrever os casos notificados/investigados de sífilis congênita no Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM) no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul-Brasil, no período de 2010 a 2014. Constitui um estudo retrospectivo, transversal, no qual avaliou dados secundários encontrados nas fichas notificação/investigação do Sistema Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) de sífilis congênita. Foram avaliadas 128 fichas de notificação/investigação de Sífilis Congênita. O instrumento de pesquisa foi elaborado com base nas fichas de investigação de sífilis congênita e em gestantes, os dados coletados construiu-se um banco de dados o qual foi submetido à análise estatística descritiva. As variáveis analisadas consistiram relativas a genitora: sociodemografica; realização do pré-natal; período do diagnóstico materno, realização de teste não treponêmico no pré-natal e no parto; teste treponêmico pré-natal e parto; tratamento realizado na gestante, tratamento do parceiro. As variáveis referentes à criança são idade, cor, sexo teste não treponêmico, alteração liquórica, teste não treponêmico no liquor; diagnóstico radiológico da criança; diagnóstico clínico; esquema de tratamento na criança; evolução do caso. Como resultados: foram notificados 128 casos de sífilis congênita no período de estudo. As gestantes analisadas tinham faixa etária de 20 a 35 anos, da cor branca, nível de escolaridade de 5º a 8º serie incompleta, realizaram o pré-natal, diagnóstico realizado no 3º trimestre ou no parto, com tratamento inadequado e com parceiros que não foram tratados. Os recém-nascidos eram do sexo masculino, brancos, foram notificados em até sete dias da data de nascimento, teste treponêmico no sangue periférico reagente e assintomáticos na maior parte dos casos. Três casos com exame não treponêmico no liquor reagente, seis com alteração liquórica e um caso com alteração no Raio X dos ossos longos, sendo que mais da metade dos casos recebeu tratamento com penicilina cristalina por 10 dias. Com isso, conclui-se que persistindo a transmissão vertical, verificou-se falhas na rede de atenção à saúde voltada para um pré-natal de qualidade.

No description available.

Le mélange de solutés par les écoulements en milieux poreux contrôle les réactions chimiques dans un grand nombre d'applications souterraines, dont le transport et la remédiation des contaminants, le stockage et l'extraction souterrains d'énergie, et la séquestration du CO2. Nous étudions les mécanismes du mélange à l'échelle du pore et plus précisément comment la topologie de l'écoulement est reliée à la dynamique du mélange d'espèces conservatives; en particulier, l'émergence d'un mélange chaotique est-elle possible dans un milieu poreux tridimensionnel (3D) ? Nous calculons donc numériquement ou mesurons expérimentalement les vitesses d'écoulement et l'évolution temporelle des champs de concentration afin de caractériser la déformation et le mélange à l'échelle du pore. Une première étude, expérimentale, permet de caractériser le mélange dans un fluide s’écoulant à travers un milieu poreux bidimensionnel (2D). Nous mesurons les vitesses par suivi de microparticules solides (''PTV''). L’évolution temporelle de la distance séparant deux particules permet de caractériser la dynamique de la déformation lagrangienne. Des mesures de transport conservatif dans le même milieu fournissent l'évolution temporelle du gradient de concentration moyen (une mesure du mélange). À partir de ces résultats expérimentaux nous proposons la première validation expérimentale à l'échelle du pore de la théorie lamellaire du mélange, reliant les propriétés de la déformation du fluide à la dynamique du mélange. Dans une deuxième étude nous examinons les conditions d'apparition du mélange chaotique dans l’écoulement dans des milieux poreux 3D granulaires ordonnés. Nous effectuons des calculs numériques hautement résolus de d'écoulement de Stokes entre des sphères empilées selon une structure cristalline (cubique simple ou cubique centrée), périodique. La déformation lagrangienne, obtenue à partir des champs de vitesse à l'aide d'outils numériques développés spécifiquement, met en lumière une large variété de dynamiques de la déformation dans ces milieux 3D, selon l'orientation de l'écoulement. Quand la direction de l'écoulement n'est pas normale à l'un des plans de symétrie de réflection du cristal, l'évolution temporelle de la déformation est exponentielle, traduisant une advection chaotique. L’émergence (ou non) du chaos est contrôlée par un mécanisme similaire à la ''transformation du boulanger'': les particules fluides se déplaçant autour d'un grain solide se retrouvent séparées par une surface virtuelle (appelée “variété”) qui émerge de la surface du grain. De multiples variétés existent dans l’écoulement, et la façon dont elles s'intersectent contrôle la nature - chaotique ou non - du mélange, et l'intensité du chaos. En particulier, l'exposant de Lyapunov (une mesure du chaos), est contrôlé par la fréquence spatiale des intersections appropriées à la génération du chaos, nommées ''connections hétéroclinines'' entre variétés. L'image conventionnelle, 2D, des mécanismes du mélange, impose des contraintes topologiques qui ne permettent pas le développement de ces mécanismes 3D. Elle pourrait donc être inadaptée aux milieux poreux naturels. La troisième étude a deux objectifs: (i) fournir une preuve expérimentale de la nature chaotique de l'advection, par la visualisation des variétés et par l'obtention d'une mesure de l'exposant de Lyapunov; et (ii), évaluer si nos résultats numériques obtenus pour des milieux granulaires ordonnés peuvent être généralisés à des milieux désordonnés, plus proches des milieux naturels. L’expérience est fondée sur un empilement désordonné de sphères rendu transparent par l'ajustement optique du liquide avec les sphères. La fluorescence induite par laser (''LIF'') permet de détecter les variétés au sein de l'écoulement, et des techniques PTV de mesurer les vitesses d'écoulement et quantifier l'exposant de Lyapunov. Les premiers résultats expérimentaux sont prometteurs. / Solute mixing in porous media flows plays a central role in driving chemical reactions in a number of subsurface applications, including contaminant transport and remediation, subsurface energy storage and extraction, and CO2 sequestration. We study the mechanisms of solute mixing, in particular how the pore scale flow topology is related to the mixing dynamics of conservative solutes, with a particular emphasis on the possible emergence of chaotic mixing processes in three-dimensional (3D) porous media. To do so, we perform numerical computations or experimental measurements of the flow velocities and temporal evolution of the concentration fields, and characterize fluid deformation and mixing at the pore scale. This PhD work consists of three main studies. In the first study, we experimentally characterize mixing in a fluid flowing through a two-dimensional (2D) porous medium built by lithography. We measure the velocity distributions from Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV). The time evolution of the separation distance between two particles is analyzed to characterize the Lagrangian deformation dynamics. In parallel we perform conservative transport experiments with the same porous media, and quantify the temporal evolution of the mean concentration gradient, which is a measure of the mixing rate. From these experimental results we obtain the first experimental pore scale validation of the lamella mixing theory, which relates the fluid deformation properties to the mixing dynamics. In the second study, we investigate the conditions of emergence of chaotic mixing in the flow through 3D ordered granular porous media. In these periodic cubic crystalline packings (Simple Cubic - SC - and Body-Centered Cubic - BCC) of spheres, we are able to perform highly resolved computations of the 3D Stokes flow. Using custom-developed numerical tools to measure the Lagrangian deformation from the computed velocity fields, we uncover the existence of a rich array of Lagrangian deformation dynamics in these 3D media, depending on the flow orientation. When the flow direction is not normal to one of the reflection symmetry planes of the crystalline lattice, we find that the Lagrangian deformation dynamics follow an exponential law, which indicates chaotic advection. This chaotic behavior is controlled by a mechanism akin to the baker's transformation: fluid particles traveling around a solid grain along different paths end up either separated by, or on the same side of, a virtual surface projecting from the grain surface and called a manifold. Multiple such manifolds exist within the flow, and the way they intersect controls the nature of mixing (that is, either non-chaotic or chaotic), and the strength of chaos. We show in particular that the magnitude of the Lyapunov exponent (a measure of the vigor of chaos) is controlled by the spatial frequency of transverse connections between the manifolds (called heteroclinic intersections). We thus demonstrate that the conventional 2D picture of the mechanisms of mixing may not be adapted for natural porous media because that picture imposes topological constraints which cannot account for these important 3D mechanisms. The third study has two objectives: (i) provide experimental evidence of the chaotic nature of pore scale advection/mixing, both by visualizing the manifolds and by obtaining a quantitative estimate of the Lyapunov exponent; and (ii) assess if the results obtained numerically in ordered packings of spheres extend to random packings, which are closer to natural porous media. The experiment features a random packing of glass beads rendered transparent by optical index-matching between the fluid and solid grains. We use Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) to detect the manifolds, and PTV techniques to measure flow velocities and subsequently quantify Lyapunov exponent. The first experimental results are promising.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste trabalho foram estudadas as propriedades estruturais e termomagnéticas dos pseudobinários Ho1-yGdyAl2, através de abordagens experimentais e teóricas. A parte experimental envolveu a preparação de cinco amostras, com as concentrações y = 0, 0,25, 0,5, 0,75 e 1, assim como medidas de magnetização, calor especifico e da variação adiabática da temperatura. Na parte teórica usamos um hamiltoniano modelo que leva em consideração a interação dos íons com o campo magnético aplicado, com o campo elétrico cristalino e a troca entre os íons magnéticos. A entropia da rede foi considerada na aproximação de Debye e a entropia eletrônica na aproximação do gás de elétrons livres. A influência das reorientações de spin, espontâneas e induzidas pelo campo magnético, na magnetização e no calor especifico foram investigadas sistematicamente tanto a partir de dados experimentais quanto teoricamente. Também obtemos resultados teóricos para a variação de entropia e variação adiabática da temperatura alterando a intensidade ou a direção do campo magnético. / In this work the structural and thermomagnetic properties of the pseudobinaries Ho1-yGdyAl2 have been studied by experimental and theoretical approaches. The experimental part included the preparation of five samples, with concentrations y = 0, 0,25, 0,5, 0,75 and 1, as well as magnetization, specific heat and adiabatic temperature change measurements. In the theoretical part we used a model Hamiltonian which includes the interaction of the ions with the applied magnetic field, the crystalline electrical field and exchange interactions with others magnetic ions. The lattice entropy has been considered within Debyes approach and the electronic entropy as that of a free electron gas. The spin reorientation influence, spontaneous and magnetic field induced ones, in magnetization and specific heat has been systematically investigated either from experimental data as well as theoretically. We have also obtained theoretical results for the isothermal entropy change and the adiabatic temperature change by modifying either the magnetic field strength or its direction.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Nesta dissertação, foram investigadas as propriedades magnéticas e magnetocalóricas nos compostos intermetálicos de terras-raras Gd1-xDyxAl2 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 e 1.00) usando abordagens teórica e experimental. Do ponto de vista teórico, a série Gd1-xDyxAl2 foi descrita através de um modelo para o hamiltoniano magnético, incluindo o efeito Zeeman, interação de troca e a anisotropia de campo elétrico cristalino. As entropias da rede e eletrônica foram consideradas nas aproximações de Debye e de gás de elétrons livres, respectivamente. A parte experimental inclui a preparação do material, sua caracterização e medidas das quantidades magnéticas e magnetocalóricas. Os resultados experimentais e os cálculos teóricos da variação adiabática da temperatura (ΔTad) e da variação isotérmica da entropia (ΔS T), sob variações de campo magnético ao longo da direção de fácil magnetização, estão de bom acordo. O efeito da aplicação do campo magnético ao longo de uma direção de difícil magnetização foi estudado e as componentes da magnetização em função da temperatura foram investigadas. Também foi observado que a temperatura de reorientação de spin, TR, diminui quando a intensidade do campo magnético aumenta. Além disso, as concentrações molares ótimas de um material híbrido formado pelos compostos Gd1-xDyxAl2 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 e 1.00) foram simuladas usando um método numérico de matriz proposto por Smaili e Chahine. O compósito apresenta um bom intervalo de temperatura para um refrigerador magnético de 60 até 170 K. / In this work, the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties were investigated in the rare earth intermetallic compounds Gd1-xDyxAl2 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 e 1.00) using both theoretical and experimental approaches. From theoretical point of view, the Gd1-xDyxAl2 series was described through a magnetic model Hamiltonian including the Zeeman effect, exchange interaction and the crystalline electrical field anisotropy. The crystalline and electronic entropies were considered in Debye and free electrons gas approximations, respectively. The experimental work included the material preparation, characterization and measurements of magnetic and magnetocaloric quantities. Good agreement between experimental data and calculations were obtained for the adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad) and the isothermal entropy change (ΔS T), upon applied magnetic field changes along the easy magnetic direction. The effect of magnetic field applied along non easy magnetic direction was studied and the temperature dependence of the magnetization components was full investigated. Also, we observed that the spin reorientation temperature, TR, decreases when the magnetic field intensity increases. Besides, the optimal molar concentrations of the hybrid material formed by compounds Gd1-xDyxAl2 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 e 1.00) were simulated using numerical matrix method proposed by Smaïli and Chahine. The obtained composite presents a good temperature interval for magnetic refrigeration from 60 to 170 K.

Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST) is an established phase-change material that undergoes fast reversible transitions between amorphous and crystalline states with a high electro-optical contrast, enabling applications in non-volatile optical and electronic memories and optically-switchable structured metamaterials. This work demonstrates that optical anisotropy can be induced and recorded in pure and doped GST thin films using circularly polarised light (CPL), opening up the possibility of controlled induction of anisotropic phase transition in these and related materials for optoelectronic and photonic applications. While the amorphous-to-crystalline phase transition in GST has generally been understood to proceed via a thermal mechanism, significant optical anisotropy (measured by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in this work) strongly suggests that there is an electronic athermal component of the phase change induced by the handedness of circularly polarised nanosecond laser pulses and implies the existence of chiral structures or motifs. Optically active and inactive regions in the films have also been studied using X-ray and electron diffraction and spectroscopic techniques in order to obtain a structural picture that can be correlated to the optical changes observed and the findings offer surprising evidence of the nature of the phase transition. Regions exhibiting higher CD signal intensities were found to be mostly amorphous with elemental phase separation observed within modified surface features. Several mechanisms are proposed for the observed phenomena, including the retention of chiral crystalline fragments in laser- irradiated and melt-quenched amorphous regions, which could explain the results of CD spectroscopy. This may be extended to other material systems and harnessed in potential metamaterials, plasmonics, photonics or chiroptical applications.

Les matériaux polymères sont à l'heure actuelle peu considérés dans le vaste domaine des micro et nano technologies. Ils présentent toutefois certaines propriétés remarquables en comparaison des matériaux traditionnels de la microélectronique. Par exemple leur déformabilité et leur légèreté permettent d'envisager des fonctions de supports flexibles pour des composants électroniques. Par ailleurs, ils offrent des solutions d'assemblage de matériaux de diverses natures. Cette étude porte précisément sur ces deux thématiques. En premier lieu, nous avons étudié les mécanismes de collage impliqués dans l'assemblage de substrats de type silicium par une couche de polymère. D'autre part, nous avons proposé des modèles de mécanisme de transfert de films monocristallins sur polymère. Les propriétés mécaniques des matériaux considérés, principalement du silicium monocristallin et des polymères de type vitreux et caoutchoutique, ainsi que leurs épaisseurs, peuvent varier sur plusieurs ordres de grandeur selon la configuration considérée. L'originalité de l'étude est de déterminer et d'aborder des configurations expérimentalement favorables, par des modèles mécaniques simples, élaborés à partir de lois d'échelle. Nous avons proposé, dans un premier temps, ces modèles pour expliquer des résultats liés à des configurations particulières et ainsi démontrer la pertinence de cette approche. Le cœur de notre étude porte sur le transfert de films monocristallins, aussi fins qu'une centaine de nanomètres d'épaisseur, sur polymère par adaptation du procédé Smart-CutTM (transfert par implantation ionique et fracture). En comparaison d'une configuration standard de cette technologie, nous avons notamment étudié l'impact des propriétés mécaniques propres aux polymères (de types vitreux ou caoutchoutique). Les méthodes en loi d'échelle nous ont ainsi permis de proposer des mécanismes de transfert, de l'échelle du nanomètre jusqu'à la fracture macroscopique. Nous avons également exposé un exemple d'application concret par la réalisation d'objets microélectroniques modèles sur et dans un film monocristallin de silicium. La structure, composée d'un film de quelques micromètres d'épaisseur supporté par un polymère, constitue ainsi une structure flexible d'un point de vue mécanique. / Polymers are little considered at the moment, in the wide domain of micro- and nano- technologies. They present however certain remarkable properties by comparison with the materials used in microelectronics. For example their flexibility and their lightness allow thinking to polymers as flexible supports for microelectronic components. Besides, they offer solutions for assembling various materials.This study concerns exactly these two items. First of all, we studied bonding mechanisms implied in the assembly of silicon wafers via polymer layers. Then we proposed models for mechanism of single-crystalline layer transfers onto polymers. The mechanical properties of the considered materials (mainly single-crystalline silicon and glassy or rubber polymers) as well as their thicknesses can vary on several orders of magnitude according to the application.The originality of the study is to determine favorable experimental configurations, by simple mechanical models developed from scale laws, and to realize demonstrators. The heart of our study concerns the transfer of single-crystalline layers as thin as about hundred nanometers onto polymers by tuning of the Smart-CutTM technology (based on ion implantation and splitting for transfer). By comparison with a standard configuration of this technology, we studied the impact of the specific mechanical properties of polymers (glassy or rubber types). The methods in scale laws allowed us proposing transfer mechanisms, from the nanometer scale up to the macroscopic one. Finally we reported on a realization of micro-technology devices, made in and on single-crystalline thin silicon membranes. The stacked structures, consisting in silicon membranes thick of a few micrometers supported by polymer films, may be considered as very flexible structures.