L’origine et l’évolution des différentes structures qui peuplent l’au-delà de la photosphère du Soleil, ainsi que les processus qui interviennent dans la dynamique et le chauffage de sa couronne demeurent de nos jours assez peu compris. L’inextricable complexité inhérente aux phénomènes physiques qui gouvernent l’atmosphère externe solaire s’accompagne de l’absence de données adaptées au besoin scientifique. En effet, l’interprétation et la modélisation des « mécanismes » qui raccordent les échanges entre la chromosphère et la couronne dépendent de paramètres d’observation critiques. Il est par exemple essentiel de pouvoir mesurer de larges bandes de températures et densités verticales s’adaptant aux multiples échelles spatiales et temporelles caractéristiques des différents évènements qui se déroulent dans le Soleil. La compréhension de la dynamique des plasmas repose aussi sur l’analyse Doppler de la scène observée. Ceci implique notamment la capacité de combiner des techniques de spectroscopie et d’imagerie simultanément dans le temps. Pour la couronne, le passage à l’UV spatial est incontournable, et relève d’un véritable défi technique. Malgré les excellents progrès technologiques, l’étude UV du Soleil est une science relativement récente, et aucune mission spatiale solaire n’a pu fournir jusqu’à présent une spectro-imagerie combinée et simultanée dans le domaine spectral qui nous intéresse. C’est pour répondre à cette attente que l’étude d’un nouveau dispositif appelé IFTSUV (abréviation de Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer working in the far UV), est présentée dans cette recherche. Malgré l’absence de missions d’opportunité dans l’horizon proche, les travaux de thèse se sont déroulés suivant le plan de l’action R&T du CNES R-S11/OT-0004-040, concernant la définition d’un spectro-imageur à transformée de Fourier dans l’UV lointain, et la réalisation en laboratoire d’un démonstrateur de métrologie dédié, pierre angulaire de la faisabilité technique de l’instrument. Ainsi, partant de la détermination du besoin scientifique et de la justification du choix technique, le premier objectif de cette étude est de concevoir un modèle instrumental préliminaire complet de l’IFTSUV. La spécification technique est fondée sur le calcul de dimensionnement et l’évaluation théorique des spécifications en termes de précision spectrale, qualité de l’image et rapport signal sur bruit. A travers l’identification des points durs, la réalisation d’une métrologie d’asservissement du miroir d’échantillonnage apparait tout naturellement, comme un besoin intrinsèque de la validation du concept. En effet, l’acquisition de l’interférogramme doit se faire de manière rigoureusement constante et le pas d’échantillonnage doit être connu avec une grande exactitude, car il fixe les nombres d’onde pour lesquels les spectres bruts sont calculés. Le maquettage d’une solution métrologique constitue donc le deuxième objectif de ce travail. L’architecture optique mise en place a été choisie afin de satisfaire les besoins de stabilité angulaire (< 2.5 μrad) et de précision linéaire (< 8 nm) discernés, et testée en laboratoire. Les résultats sur la maquette valident le concept, même si ses performances s’éloignent des prédictions théoriques. L’évaluation expérimentale des performances permet d’établir des solutions aux problèmes rencontrés qui convergent vers l’optimisation et le prototypage d’un système pouvant être intégré dans une application spatiale. / The origin and evolution of the different structures that inhabit beyond the Sun’s photosphere, as well as the processes involved in the dynamics and the heating of the corona remain quite unknown. The inextricable complexity of the physical phenomena that govern the solar outer atmosphere is accompanied by the lack of suitable data adapted to the scientific need. Indeed, the interpretation and the models of the mechanisms that connect the exchanges between the chromosphere and the corona depend on critical observational parameters. It is for example essential to measure broad bands of vertical temperature and density ranges that fit the multiple spatial and temporal scales that are characteristic of the different events that take place in the Sun. The understanding of the dynamics of the plasma must be also based on the Doppler analysis of the observed scene. That implies the ability to combine time resolved spectroscopic and imaging technologies. Moreover, space is the place to observe the far UV corona and that implies a real technical challenge. Despite excellent advances in technology and instrumentation, the study of the Sun in the far UV is a fairly recent. To date, no solar space mission could provide a combined and simultaneous diagnostic of both observable in the spectral range of interest. It is because of these expectations that the study of a new device called IFTSUV (the acronym of Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer working in the far UV) is presented in this research. Despite the lack of opportunity missions on the near horizon, these thesis works have been conducted thanks to the R&D funding R-S11/OT-0004-040 from the CNES, concerning either the definition of an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer in the far UV, or the realization of a laboratory metrology demonstrator that is the cornerstone of the instrument’s feasibility. Thus, starting from the definition of the scientific requirements that lead to the technical choice, the first objective of this study is to develop a preliminary instrumental model of the IFTSUV. The overall technical and design specifications are based in theoreticalcalculations that have been expressed in terms of spectral accuracy, image quality and signal to noise ratio. Throughout the identification of difficult points, the realization of a servo-metrology system dedicated to the sampling mirror appears naturally as an intrinsic need of proof of concept. Indeed, the wavenumbers from the raw spectra are set by the interferogram. That implies that acquisition must be rigorously constant and that the sampling steps must be known with high accuracy. The mockup of a metrological solution is therefore the second objective of this work. The optical breadboard architecture under test has been chosen to meet the needs of angular stability (< 2.5 μrad) and linear accuracy (< 8 nm). The results on the demonstrator validate the concept even if its performances are away from the theoretical predictions. The experimental performance evaluation is used to establish solutions to the instrumental problems encountered. That converge to the optimization and prototyping of a system that could be integrated in a space based application.

Bluetongue virus belongs to the Orbivirus genus from the Reoviridae family. It infects predominantly domestic and wild ruminants and is economically significant worldwide. Bluetongue virus VP7 forms the intercepting layer between the outer capsid (VP2 and VP5) and VP3 which surrounds the genomic material. BL21(DE3), NiCo21(DE3), C43(DE3) pLysS and KRX Escherichia coli cells were transformed with a pET28a plasmid with the cDNA sequence encoding Bluetongue virus VP7. Expression of Bluetongue virus VP7 was tested at post induction temperatures between 16˚C and 37 ˚C, at inducer concentrations between 0.1 mM and 1.0 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside in BL21(DE3), NiCo21(DE3) and C43(DE3) pLysS cells and 0.05 % and 0.15 % rhamnose for KRX cells, in two types of growth media (LB and 2xYT) and post-induction growth times between two and 16 hours. Under all conditions tested; Bluetongue virus VP7 expression was found to be predominantly in the insoluble fraction (pellet). BL21(DE3) and NiCo21(DE3) cells were chosen and grown for five hours post induction, induced with 0.1 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside and grown at a post-induction temperature of 37 ˚C. Bluetongue virus VP7 in bacterial cell inclusion bodies was solubilised using urea and a freeze-thaw step. Solubilisation was tested with urea concentrations between 2 M and 8 M, with solubilisation efficiency not increasing past 5 M urea. Solubilized Bluetongue virus VP7 was purified using nickel-affinity chromatography. Purified Bluetongue virus VP7 was then probed with far-UV circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence in several buffer conditions including different urea and guanidinium chloride concentrations as well as in the presence of glycerol and sodium chloride. Guanidinium chloride was able to cause Bluetongue virus VP7 unfolding, and the unfolding transition had 94 % and 89 % reversibility at 218 nm and 222 nm respectively. Bluetongue virus VP7 was shown to contain a native-like structure in 20 % glycerol and in up to 8 M urea and was found to be stable till at least 55 ˚C, even in the presence of 5 M urea. Glycerol and sodium chloride influenced the conformation of the protein resulting in different unfolding transitions. Thermal unfolding of Bluetongue virus VP7 was found to be irreversible. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

In forensic chemistry, a quicker and more accurate analysis of a sample is always being pursued. Speedy analyses allow the analyst to provide quick turn-around times and potentially decrease back-logs that are known to be a problem in the field. Accurate analyses are paramount with the futures and lives of the accused potentially on the line. One of the most common methods of analysis in forensic chemistry laboratories is gas chromatography, chosen for the relative speed and efficiency afforded by this method. Two major routes were attempted to further improve on gas chromatography applications in forensic chemistry.<br> The first route was to decrease separation times for analysis of ignitable liquid residues by using micro-bore wall coated open-tubular columns. Micro-bore columns are much shorter and have higher separation efficiencies than the standard columns used in forensic chemistry, allowing for faster analysis times while maintaining the expected peak separation. Typical separation times for fire debris samples are between thirty minutes and one hour, the micro-bore columns were able to achieve equivalent performance in three minutes. The reduction in analysis time was demonstrated by analysis of ignitable liquid residues from simulated fire debris exemplars.<br> The second route looked at a relatively new detector for gas chromatography known as a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrophotometer. The VUV detector uses traditional UV and far-ultraviolet light to probe the pi and sigma bonds of the gas phase analytes as well as Rydberg traditions to produce spectra that are nearly unique to a compound. Thus far, the only spectra that were not discernable were from enantiomers, otherwise even diastereomers have been differentiated. The specificity attained with the VUV detector has achieved differentiation of compounds that mass spectrometry, the most common detection method for chromatography in forensic chemistry labs, has difficulty distinguishing. This specificity has been demonstrated herein by analyzing various classes of drugs of abuse and applicability to “real world” samples has been demonstrated by analysis of de-identified seized samples.<br>