Zugl.: Giessen, Univ., Diss., 2009

<p>Enterochromaffin-like (ECL) and ghrelin cells, in the human gastric mucosa and in gastric endocrine tumours (GETs), were subclassified with respect to immunohistochemical reaction <i>vs.</i> vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2), ghrelin/obestatin, and histidine decarboxylase (HDC). The immunohistochemical expression of ghrelin/obestatin and HDC in GETs was related/correlated to plasma ghrelin/obestatin and urinary methyl imidazole acetic acid (U-MeImAA) excretion respectively, with the intention of identifying markers for these tumour types. </p><p>ECL cells in the gastric mucosa appear either with VMAT-2 only, or with HDC immunoreactivity only, or they can express both proteins; but in GETs the transporter protein and the enzyme were almost always co-expressed in the same cells. Furthermore, ghrelin and obestatin were co-localized in the same cells in the gastric mucosa and in the tumours. In the gastric mucosa, occasional ghrelin/obestatin cells expressed VMAT-2, but in GETs these proteins were always co-localized. Ghrelin expressing cells were non-immunoreactive to HDC. Plasma ghrelin/obestatin concentrations remained low in patients with GETs, irrespective of the relative incidence of these cells in the mucosa and in tumours. The plasma values were not related/correlated to various clinico-pathological parameters. A malignant ghrelinoma was however an exception. The tumour released high total and active ghrelin concentrations into the blood circulation. The patient suffered from diarrhoea, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus, but it is not clear if these conditions were due to hyperghrelinaemia. The excretion U-MeImAA was increased in a few patients with GETs, but this increase was not always related to clinical symptoms.</p><p>In conclusion, ECL cells are an heterogeneous group according to VMAT-2 and HDC immunoreactivity. Ghrelin and obestatin are expressed in the same cells in the gastric mucosa, and a few of these cells display VMAT-2 immunoreactivity. Ghrelinoma is a new gastric tumour entity.</p>

Enterochromaffin-like (ECL) and ghrelin cells, in the human gastric mucosa and in gastric endocrine tumours (GETs), were subclassified with respect to immunohistochemical reaction vs. vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2), ghrelin/obestatin, and histidine decarboxylase (HDC). The immunohistochemical expression of ghrelin/obestatin and HDC in GETs was related/correlated to plasma ghrelin/obestatin and urinary methyl imidazole acetic acid (U-MeImAA) excretion respectively, with the intention of identifying markers for these tumour types. ECL cells in the gastric mucosa appear either with VMAT-2 only, or with HDC immunoreactivity only, or they can express both proteins; but in GETs the transporter protein and the enzyme were almost always co-expressed in the same cells. Furthermore, ghrelin and obestatin were co-localized in the same cells in the gastric mucosa and in the tumours. In the gastric mucosa, occasional ghrelin/obestatin cells expressed VMAT-2, but in GETs these proteins were always co-localized. Ghrelin expressing cells were non-immunoreactive to HDC. Plasma ghrelin/obestatin concentrations remained low in patients with GETs, irrespective of the relative incidence of these cells in the mucosa and in tumours. The plasma values were not related/correlated to various clinico-pathological parameters. A malignant ghrelinoma was however an exception. The tumour released high total and active ghrelin concentrations into the blood circulation. The patient suffered from diarrhoea, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus, but it is not clear if these conditions were due to hyperghrelinaemia. The excretion U-MeImAA was increased in a few patients with GETs, but this increase was not always related to clinical symptoms. In conclusion, ECL cells are an heterogeneous group according to VMAT-2 and HDC immunoreactivity. Ghrelin and obestatin are expressed in the same cells in the gastric mucosa, and a few of these cells display VMAT-2 immunoreactivity. Ghrelinoma is a new gastric tumour entity.

Le développement de lasers solides de puissance-moyenne élevée doit faire face à des problèmes très spécifiques. La gestion de la thermique et de l'amplification de l'émission spontanée (ASE) pour de larges amplificateurs lasers deviennent des points clés lorsque l'augmentation de l'énergie de vient conséquente. Lucia est une chaîne laser de forte puissance moyenne qui repose sur le concept du miroir actif avec un cristal ou une céramique d'Yb:YAG comme milieu à gain. Comme pour d'autres systèmes lasers comparables, la distribution des ions actifs du milieu à gain est homogène en volume. Un profil variable du taux de dopage présente des avantages significatifs en termes de gain et par conséquent ouvre le chemin à une minimisation efficace des effets délétères de l'ASE et de l'échauffement. Cette thèse concerne la fabrication de tels milieux à gain. La méthode de croissance cristalline Bagdasarov, grâce à plusieurs de ses particularités, a permis d'obtenir plusieurs cristaux d'Yb:YAG avec profils de dopage variables contrôlés jusqu'à des valeurs de gradient de 3 at%/cm. Les résultats expérimentaux sont en bon accord avec les modèles mathématiques. Des simulations complémentaires de la température et du profil de gain montre que même avec des gradients plus faibles, les performances énergétiques des amplificateurs Lucia peuvent être améliorées jusqu'à 30%. Il est aussi alors possible d'utiliser des milieux à gain plus fins ce qui a pour conséquence positive une meilleure extraction de la chaleur. De larges cristaux d'Yb:YAG de 90 mm de diamètre ont été produits.

Les réseaux de transport d’électricité multi-terminaux à courant continu se révèlent être la solution adéquate pour une intégration massive d’énergie renouvelable dans les réseaux alternatifs existants. En effet, les réseaux en courant continu sont capables de transmettre de manière efficace des niveaux de puissance élevés sur de très longues distances par rapport aux réseaux alternatifs car, à partir d'une certaine puissance à transmettre, il existe une distance limite à partir de laquelle la transmission d’énergie en courant alternatif perd sa compétitivité face à la transmission en courant continu. L'un des principaux défis liés au développement de ces réseaux de transport d’électricité à courant continu ou Supergrid, concerne leur protection contre des défauts de type court-circuit sur des liaisons en courant continu. . Dans ce travail de thèse, un nouveau concept de stratégie de protection des réseaux en courant continu à haute tension en cas de défaut court-circuit est proposé. La stratégie repose sur une philosophie de protection ayant comme priorité la suppression du courant de défaut avant l’isolation de la liaison en défaut. Elle est basée sur l’utilisation de disjoncteurs mécaniques à courant continu sans avoir recours à des limiteurs de courant de défaut. Une séquence de protection primaire ainsi que deux séquences de sauvegarde en cas de défaillance de disjoncteurs ont été développées, testées et validées à l’aide de simulations de transitoires électromagnétiques et de simulations temps-réel. En outre, les algorithmes des relais de protection ont été implémentés avec l'aide de l’outil d’analyse fonctionnelle descendante SADT (Structured Analysis and Design System). Cette thèse a été effectuée dans le cadre du SuperGrid Institute, une plate-forme de recherche collaborative visant à développer des technologies pour les futurs réseaux de transport d'électricité et regroupant l'expertise d'industries telles que GE Grid Solutions et les laboratoires de recherche publique comme le laboratoire de génie électrique de Grenoble (G2Elab). / Multi-terminal High Voltage Direct Current (MTDC) grids,have been proven to be an adequate solution for massive integration of renewable energy power to existing High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) grids. Indeed, HVDC grids are capable of transmitting efficiently high level of power over very long distances compared to HVAC grids since, from a certain power to be transmitted, there is a limited distance from which the AC power transmission loses its efficiency and becomes very costly compared to DC power transmission. One of the main challenges related to the development of theses multi-terminal HVDC grids, or Supergrids, concerns their protection against DC short-circuit faults. In this thesis, a new concept of protection strategy for MTDC grids in case of permanent short-circuit fault on a DC cable has been proposed. The strategy is based on the non-selective fault clearing philosophy where the priority is given to the suppression of the fault current before isolating the faulty transmission line. The strategy is based on mechanical DC breakers and no fault current limiting devices are used. A primary protection sequence as well as two back-up sequences in case of breakers operation failure have been developed, tested and validated through Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) and Real-Time (RT) simulations. Also, algorithms to be implemented on protective relays have been designed with the help of the Structured Analysis and Design System (SADT). This PhD thesis has been performed in the frame of the SuperGrid Institute, a collaborative research platform aiming to develop technologies for the future electricity transmission network and bringing together the expertise of industries such as GE grid solutions and public research laboratories as the Grenoble Electrical Engineering Laboratory (G2Elab).

This thesis presents work on a holistic approach for improving the overall design of solar cooling systems driven by solar thermal collectors. Newly developed methods for thermodynamic optimization of hydraulics and control were used to redesign an existing pilot plant. Measurements taken from the newly developed system show an 81% increase of the Solar Cooling Efficiency (SCEth) factor compared to the original pilot system. In addition to the improvements in system design, new efficiency factors for benchmarking solar cooling systems are presented. The Solar Supply Efficiency (SSEth) factor provides a means of quantifying the quality of solar thermal charging systems relative to the usable heat to drive the sorption process. The product of the SSEth with the already established COPth of the chiller, leads to the SCEth factor which, for the first time, provides a clear and concise benchmarking method for the overall design of solar cooling systems. Furthermore, the definition of a coefficient of performance, including irreversibilities from energy conversion (COPcon), enables a direct comparison of compression and sorption chiller technology. This new performance metric is applicable to all low-temperature heat-supply machines for direct comparison of different types or technologies. The achieved findings of this work led to an optimized generic design for solar cooling systems, which was successfully transferred to the market.