Submitted by isabela.moljf@hotmail.com (isabela.moljf@hotmail.com) on 2017-02-09T14:07:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 hivyqueirozpereira.pdf: 733279 bytes, checksum: dc66de0bd1d5374dc4c99682044ef5ea (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-02-10T10:38:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 hivyqueirozpereira.pdf: 733279 bytes, checksum: dc66de0bd1d5374dc4c99682044ef5ea (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-10T10:38:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 hivyqueirozpereira.pdf: 733279 bytes, checksum: dc66de0bd1d5374dc4c99682044ef5ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-02-22 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo comparativo das características de convergência das formulações convencional polar, convencional retangular e injeção de corrente na solução do fluxo de potência trifásico. As metodologias polar e retangular utilizam as equações de potência injetada nas barras expressas em função das coordenadas polares e retangulares da tensão, respectivamente. A formulação de injeção de corrente utiliza as equações de corrente injetada nas barras expressas em termos das coordenadas retangulares da tensão. As equações não lineares referentes a cada um dos métodos são resolvidas através do processo iterativo de Newton-Raphson. Além disto, a manutenção da matriz Jacobiana constante durante o processo iterativo é também investigada. Por outro lado, este trabalho também propõe uma metodologia para a solução do fluxo de potência trifásico sujeito a condições iniciais desfavoráveis. Este método baseia se numa característica particular inerente à formulação de injeção de corrente. O método é simples e rápido, garantindo a convergência do processo iterativo. Os resultados são bastante satisfatórios, demonstrando a eficácia do método proposto em situações nas quais as formulações convencionais de solução do fluxo de potência falham na convergência do processo iterativo. / This work presents a comparative study on convergence characteristics of some three-phase power flow methods, namely, conventional polar, conventional rectangular and current injection formulations. The polar and rectangular methodologies use the injected power equations written in terms of voltage polar and voltage rectangular coordinates, respectively. The current injection method employs the injected current equations expressed in function of voltage rectangular coordinates. The nonlinear equations associated with each method are solved iteratively through Newton-Raphson approach. Moreover, the strategy of keeping the Jacobian matrix constant throughout the iterative process is also investigated. On the other hand, this work also proposes a new methodology for solving threephase power flow problems subjected to poor initial conditions. This method is based on a particular convergence feature inherent in the power flow current injection formulation. It is simple and fast, ensuring the convergence of the iterative process. The results are quite satisfactory and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach on problems where standard three-phase power flow formulations fail to converge.

Aujourd’hui, l’impact des conservateurs sur l’homme est remis en question. Il a été entrepris de mieux comprendre les agents antimicrobiens d’un point de vue physico-chimique pour fournir des règles de formulation, qui pourront être utilisées pour proposer à nos laboratoires de formulation des alternatives aux antimicrobiens classiquement utilisés. Ce travail a consisté en la compréhension des caractéristiques structurelles de molécules ayant, entre autre, des propriétés antimicrobiennes ; l’analyse des mécanismes physico-chimiques qui relient ces caractéristiques structurelles à leurs propriétés ; l’optimisation, à la lumière de ces informations, de la formulation de ces molécules. L’étude des familles chimiques, complétée par une étude plus large reliant la modélisation QSAR aux propriétés antimicrobiennes, a permis de conclure que certaines familles d’alcools et dérivés sont des alternatives de choix aux antimicrobiens usuels. Les caractéristiques permettant les meilleures performances étant : une structure asymétrique marquée ; une tête polaire comportant deux groupements hydrophiles, type diol ou mono glycéride ; une longueur de chaîne apolaire comprenant entre 6 et 12 carbones, avec un optimum entre 7 et 10 carbones ; le calcul du HLB résultant de ces caractéristiques donne un HLB compris entre 7 et 11. Les dérivés acides ou la famille des décanols ont permis de préciser l’intérêt d’une insaturation ou la présence d’un β-hydroxy. L’impact de la formulation d’une molécule modèle, le caprate/caprylate de glycérol a montré que dans une émulsion directe, les tensioactifs hydrophiles piègent dans leurs micelles l’actif, ce qui induit une diminution de l’activité antimicrobienne. L’épaisseur hydrophile des têtes polaires empêchent le passage de l’actif en dehors de la micelle vers le micro-organisme. Il est donc recommandé d’utiliser la quantité de tensioactif utile pour tapisser sans excès la surface des gouttes d’huiles. L’épaisseur des têtes polaires hydrophile peut être réduite en sélectionnant les tensioactifs, par exemple des ioniques phosphatés. D’autres paramètres ont été démontrés comme influant, dans une moindre mesure : il est recommandé de privilégier les gélifiants aux tensioactifs lors de l’élaboration d’une texture, d’optimiser le taux d’actif antimicrobien sur taux d’huile et d’utiliser de préférence des huiles peu solvantes de l’actif. / Nowadays, preservatives in personal care are obviously a current issue. The aim of this study was to find out rules for molecular design and formulation conception dealing with a physico-chemistry point of view, in order to avoid classic preservatives. We have studied on structural features for antimicrobial activity and their behaviors in direct emulsions. After studies of various structural families, and a wide QSAR analysis, the result was that molecule with one or two alcohol groups are among the better antimicrobial agents. Especially, we focus on some characteristics, which improve considerably the antimicrobial activity : an asymmetric structure ; a two-hydroxylated polar head like diols or monoglycerids ; the main hydrocarbon tail should contain between 6 and 12 carbons with an optimum between 7 and 10 ; with these characteristics, the HLB value must be located between 7 and 11. An unsaturated bond in a linear chain or a β-hydroxylated group leads to an increase of decontamination. The impact of the formulation in direct emulsions of a model molecule, glycerol octanoate/decanoate, seemed to show that hydrophilic surfactants trap in their micelles the active product, which induces a decrease of the antimicrobial activity. The hydrophilic thickness of polar heads prevents the passage of the active product beyond the micelle to the micro-organism. It is therefore recommended that the quantity of surfactant used to create and stabilize the drops of oil be reduce to a minimum. The hydrophilic thickness of polar heads may be reduced by selecting the surfactants, for example an ionic phosphate. Other parameters have been demonstrated as affecting, to a lesser extent: it is recommended polymers and micro gels are used rather than surfactants in the preparation of a texture to customize the ration antimicrobial on oil and to use preferably non-polar oil.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this work was to employ the microwave radiation in the processes of frying potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), and evaluate of the impact on lipids oxidation parameters and mass transfer in the product. The potatoes (Asterix CV.) were cut in stick form and subjected to conventional system of fry (CF) and adapted microwave system (MW) in soybean oil (SO) and vegetable fat (VF), under the same conditions of mass, volume, time and temperature of process. Physico-chemical quality parameters of the potatoes and SO/VF were determined. The results of the moisture content indicated that dehydration in potatoes was 45% higher in microwave system, and in addition a greater absorption of lipids was observed. The contents of total polar compounds in SO were greater than 25% in MW and CF after 5 and 7 days of frying, respectively, while the VF systems did not exceed 19.5% at 20 days of use. The peroxide values presented higher values for SO in MW system. High values of conjugated dienes parameters, peroxide values, total polar compounds and refractive index in treatments with MW. Possibly the major loss of water from the product in these system has favored the hydrolytic and oxidative reactions. Regarding the SO fatty acids a decreased was observed of monounsaturated 4.0 and 2.0%, and poly-unsaturated 6.3 and 3.6%, respectively for MW and CF, and VF presented an opposite behavior in both systems. The MW frying process provided a higher inside temperature of the potatoes in both fats, SO and VF. When OS was only heated with MW radiation observed, based on the results, a similar behavior to the conventional system in almost all parameters. The application of MW for frying potato in chips form showed favorable values of mass transfer and heat, obtaining a product with similar characteristics to the reference product. Thus it was demonstrated a potential use of MW radiation in the frying potato process and its use only as a heating source for the OS and VF. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi empregar a radiação micro-ondas em processos de fritura de batata (Solanum tuberosum L.) e avaliar o impacto sobre a oxidação dos lipídios e a transferência de massa no produto. As batatas da cultivar Asterix foram cortadas na forma de palito e submetidas à fritura em fritadeira convencional (FC) e micro-ondas adaptado (MW), em óleo de soja (OS) e gordura vegetal (GV), nas mesmas condições de massa, volume, tempo e temperatura. Foram feitas análises dos aspectos físico-químicos das batatas e da qualidade do OS e da GV. Os resultados do teor de umidade indicaram que a desidratação das batatas foi 45% maior em micro-ondas, proporcionando uma maior absorção de lipídios. O teor de compostos polares totais em OS foram maiores do que 25% para MW e FC, a partir de 5 e 7 dias de fritura, respectivamente, enquanto da GV não passou de 19,5% em 20 dias de uso. O índice de peróxidos apresentou maiores valores para OS em MW. Foram observados maiores valores dos parâmetros dienos conjugados, índice de peróxidos, compostos polares e índice de refração nos tratamentos com MW. Possivelmente a maior perda de água do produto tenha favorecido as reações hidrolíticas e oxidativas. Em relação aos ácidos graxos do OS houve uma redução dos monoinsaturados de 4,0 e 2,0%, e de 6,3 e 3,6% dos poli-insaturados, respectivamente para MW e FC. Para a GV o comportamento foi inverso, sendo a redução maior no sistema convencional. O processo de fritura em MW proporcionou maior temperatura no interior das batatas fritas tanto em óleo quanto em gordura. No experimento em que o OS foi somente aquecido com radiação MW observamos, com base nos resultados, um comportamento semelhante ao sistema convencional em quase todos os parâmetros avaliados. A aplicação de MW para fritura de batatas chips apresentou valores favoráveis de transferência de massa e calor, obtendo um produto com características semelhante ao produto de referência. Dessa forma foi evidenciado um potencial de uso da radiação MW no processo de fritura de batata, bem como o seu uso apenas como uma fonte de aquecimento para o OS e a GV.

Ce travail concerne l'étude de la polymérisation de l'éthylène allant de l'homopolymérisation purement radicalaire jusqu'à la copolymérisation utilisant un mécanisme hybride radicalaire/catalytique. Ce travail montre que le polyéthylène peut être synthétisé par voie radicalaire dans des conditions expérimentales beaucoup plus douces que celles utilisées industriellement (P>1000 bar et T>100°C). L'éthylène a été polymérisé à partir de 10°C et 5 bar de pression d'éthylène. Un important effet activateur du solvant a été mis en évidence. De plus la polymérisation en milieu dispersé aqueux de l'éthylène a aussi été étudiée. Des latex stables de PE avec des taux de solide de 40% ont pu être obtenus. Deux morphologies de nanoparticules, cylindre ou sphère, ont été observées. La copolymérisation radicalaire avec des monomères vinyliques polaires a été également étudiée en solution ou en émulsion. Des insertions d'éthylène jusqu'à 50% ont été obtenues. De plus l'influence du comonomère et du solvant organique utilisé sur la polymérisation radicalaire de l'éthylène a été quantifiée. Une nouvelle technique de polymérisation hybride radicalaire/catalytique a été développée pour pouvoir obtenir toute la gamme de compositions possibles de copolymères éthylène/monomère polaire à partir d'un complexe de nickel qui amorce la polymérisation radicalaire et catalyse également la polymérisation de l'éthylène. Ce complexe subit une rupture homolytique réversible de la liaison nickel carbone et permet la synthèse de copolymères multiblocs. Des insertions d'éthylène de 1% à 99% ont été obtenues en faisant varier la pression d'éthylène et la concentration en comonomères polaires / This work aims to study ethylene polymerization from the free radical polymerization process to the copolymerization by a hybrid radical/catalytic mechanism. PE is synthesized by free radical polymerization under milder experimental conditions than industrial ones (P>1000 bar and T>100°C). Indeed free radical polymerization of ethylene is efficient even down to pressure of 5 bar and temperature of 10°C. Several unexpected behaviors are observed such as a high solvent activation effect. Beside the slurry process in organic solvent, polymerization in aqueous dispersed media is also performed. Stable PE latexes are obtained with solid contents up to 40%. Two different PE particles morphologies are observed cylinder-like and sphere-like. Then free radical copolymerization is studied using a broad range of polar vinyl monomers in organic solvent and emulsion. Insertions up to 50% of ethylene are obtained under mild conditions. The ambivalent role of comonomer as monomer and activator of the polymerization is highlighted. In order to obtain a wide range of composition of polar/non-polar copolymers a new technique of polymerization has been developed. A nickel complex is used to initiate the free radical polymerization and to catalyse the coordination/insertion ethylene polymerization. This nickel complex is capable of a reversible homolytic cleavage of its nickel-carbon bond. Finally, this hybrid process is used to copolymerize efficiently ethylene with various polar vinyl monomers. Multiblock copolymers with ethylene content from 1% to 99% are obtained by simply varying the monomer feeds

No description available.

Diffusion is a fundamental process which plays a crucial role in many processes occurring in nature. It is governed by the Fickian laws of diffusion. The laws of diffusion explain how diffusive flux is related to the concentration gradient. However, diffusion occurs even when there is no concentration gradient. Chapter 1 introduces diffusion and related concepts such as random walk, Brownian motion, etc. Present understanding with relation to ionic conduction and diffusion in polar solvents and the anomalies observed in the variation of ionic conductivity with ionic radii has also been discussed. Walden’s rule states that the product of limiting ionic conductivity and viscosity is constant for a given ion in different solvents and it is inversely proportional to ionic radius in a given solvent. However, experimental observations indicate that in a given solvent limiting ionic conductivities show an increase followed by a decrease with increase in ionic radii. This is often referred to as the breakdown of Walden’s rule. Several theories have been proposed in the past to explain the breakdown in Waldens rule. Solvent-berg model, continuum based theories and microscopic theories are some of theories that have been proposed. These theories are discussed briefly. The limitations in these theories are also outlined. There are several computer simulation investigations of ions in water and these are discussed. Also described is diffusion of hydrocarbons in zeolites. Various interesting observations such as window effect, nest effect, single file diffusion and the levitation effect are discussed. In Chapter 2, we have analysed the experimental ionic conductivity data as a function of the ionic radius for monovalent cations and anions in aqueous solution. Molecular dynamics simulations on LiCl and CsCl dissolved in water are also reported. The results suggest that the activation energy is responsible for the anomalous dependence of ionic conductivity on ionic radii. It is seen that ions with high conductivity posses low activation energy. The reason for the variation of activation energy with ionic radii are explained in terms of Derouane’s mutual cancellation of forces or levitation effect. This provides an alternative to the existing theories. Experimental limiting ionic conductivity, λ0 of different alkali ions in water shows markedly different dependences on pressure. Existing theories such as that of Hubbard-Onsager are unable to explain this dependence on pressure of the ionic conductivity for all ions. Experimental ionic conductivity data shows that smaller ions such as Li+ exhibit a monotonic increase in λ0 with pressure. Intermediate sized ions such as K+ exhibit an increase in λ0 followed by a decrease at still higher pressures. Larger ions such as Cs+ exhibit a monotonic decrease in λ0 with increase in pressure. In the present thesis, we have explored this intriguing behaviour shown by alkali ions in water in the next few chapters. In Chapter 3, we report molecular dynamics investigation of potassium chloride solution (KCl) at low dilution in water at several pressures between 1 bar and 2 kbar. Two different potential models have been employed. One of the models successfully reproduces the experimentally observed trend in ionic conductivity of K+ ion in water over 0.001-2 kbar range at 298K. We also propose a theoretical explanation, albeit at a qualitative level, to account for the dependence of ionic conductivity on pressure in terms of the previously studied Levitation Effect. A number of properties of the solvent in the hydration shell are also reported. In Chapter 4, residence times of water in the solute and water hydration shell are reported for KCl in water as a function of pressure. Two different approaches – Impey, McDonald and Madden’s approach as well as the recently proposed stable state picture (SSP) of Laage and Hynes yield somewhat different values for the residence times. The latter suggests that the hydration shell is more labile. As pressure is varied, the analysis suggests drastic changes in the hydration shell around water and little or no change in the hydration shell of the ions at higher pressures. The residence times τIMM as well as τSSP show a decrease with increase in pressure upto 1.5 kbar and a small increase beyond this pressure. This correlates with the dependence of the ionic conductivity of potassium ion on pressure. Similar correlation is also seen for chloride ion between ionic conductivity and residence time in hydration shell. However, no such correlation is seen in the case of water. We also report variation of residence time as a function of t∗, the minimum time that a water has to leave the hydration shell to be excluded from it. In Chapter 5, a molecular dynamics study of LiCl dissolved in water is reported at several pressures between 1 bar and 4 kbars at 240K. Structural properties such as radial distribution function, distribution of the angle between ion-oxygen and dipole vector of water in the hydration shell, angle between ion-oxygen and OH vector, oxygen-ion oxygen angle for water in the hydration shell, mean residence times by two different approaches are reported. Self-diffusivity of both Li+ and Cl− exhibit an increase with pressure in agreement with the experimentally observed trend. We also report the velocity autocorrelation function as a function of pressure. We show that the changes in these can be understood in terms of the levitation effect. For the first time we report the self part of the intermediate scattering function, Fs(k, t), at different pressures. These show for Li+ at small wavenumber k, a bi-exponential decay with time at low pressures. At higher pressures when the ionic conductivity is high, Fs(k, t) exhibits a single exponential decay. We also report wavenumber dependence of the ratio of the full width at half maximum to 2Dk2. These changes in these properties can be accounted for in terms of the levitation effect. The changes in the void structure of water with pressure plays a crucial role in the changes in ionic conductivity of both the ions. In Chapter 6, a detailed molecular dynamics study of self-diffusivity of model ions in water is presented as a function of pressure. First, we have obtained the dependence of self-diffusivity on ionic radius for both cations and anions by varying the radius of the ion, rion. Self-diffusivity exhibits an increase with ionic radius when rion is small and reaches a maximum at some intermediate value, before decreasing with increase in rion for rion > . The velocity autocorrelation function for different sizes of cations as well as anions suggest that the ion with maximum self-diffusivity has facile motion with little back scattering. These trends can be understood in terms of the levitation effect which relates the dependence of self-diffusivity on ionic radius to the bottleneck radius of the pore network provided by the solvent or water. The ratio ζ, defined as the full width at half maximum of the self part of the dynamic structure factor at wavenumber k to its value (2Dk2) at k = 0 is seen to increase with k for ions far away from the diffusivity maximum while a decrease with k is observed for ions closer to the diffusivity maximum. Calculations have also been carried out at pressures of 0.001, 2 and 4 kbars to obtain the variation of ionic conductivity with pressure for model ions of several different sizes. It is shown that for small ions (rion < ), self-diffusivity increases with pressure or exhibits an increase followed by a decrease. In contrast, we show that whenever ionic radius is large, (rion > ), a decrease in self-diffusivity with increase in pressure is seen. We suggest that there is a relation between the dependence of self-diffusivity on ionic radius and its dependence on pressure. The nature of this relationship arises through the levitation effect. Increase in pressure leads to decrease in the bottleneck radius, thus increasing the levitation parameter. For small ions (rion < ), this will lead to increase in diffusivity whereas for large ions (rion > ) this will lead to decrease in diffusivity. For small ions (rion < ), the increase in pressure leads to lowered back scattering in the velocity autocorrelation function. In contrast to this, for large ions (rion ≥ ), any increase in pressure leads to increase in back scattering in the velocity autocorrelation function. For the 1.7 °A anion, the ratio ζ is seen to exhibit a minimum at intermediate k and increase with k at large k for 0.001 kbar pressure. This changes to a less pronounced minimum at 2 kbars and by 4 kbars to a nearly monotonically decreasing function of k. These changes suggest, in agreement with the predictions of the levitation effect, the approach of the bottleneck radius to values similar to that of the ionic radius of 1.7 °A on increasing pressure to 4 kbars. Thus, this work offers an unification in our understanding of the dependence of ionic conductivity on ionic radius and pressure. It is seen that when the ionic radius is varied the numerator of the expression for levitation parameter is varied whereas by varying the pressure, the denominator is varied. The variation of diffusivity with density of the host medium and degree of disorder of the host medium is explored in Chapter 7. The system consists of a binary mixture of a relatively smaller sized solute (whose size is varied) and a larger sized solvent interacting via Lennard-Jones potential. Calculations have been performed at three different reduced densities of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.933. These simulations show that diffusivity exhibits a maximum for some intermediate size of the solute when the solute diameter is varied. The maximum is found at the same size of the solute at all densities which is at variance with the prediction of the levitation effect. In order to understand this anomaly, we have carried out additional simulations in which we have varied the degree of disorder at constant density and find that the diffusivity maximum gradually disappears with increase in disorder. We have also carried out simulations in which we have kept the degree of disorder constant but changed only the density. We find that the maximum in diffusivity is now seen to shift to larger distances with decrease in density. In these simulations we have characterized the disorder by constructing the minimal spanning tree. These results are in excellent agreement with the predictions of the levitation effect. They suggest that the effect of disorder is to shift the maximum in diffusivity towards smaller solute radius while that of the decrease in density is to shift it towards larger solute radius. Thus, in real systems where the degree of disorder is lower at higher density and vice versa, the effect due to density and disorder have opposing influences. These are confirmed by the changes seen in the velocity autocorrelation function, self part of the intermediate scattering function and activation energy. In Chapter 8 we report a molecular dynamics study of the dependence of diffusivity of the cation on cation radii in molten superionic salt containing iodine ion. In this study, we have employed modified Parinello-Rahman-Vashistha interionic pair potential proposed by Shimojo et al (F. Shimojo and M. Kobayashi, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn 60, 3725 (1991)). Our results suggest that the diffusivity of the cation exhibits an increase followed by a decrease as the ionic radius is increased. Several other properties like velocity auto correlation function, intermediate scattering function, activation energy are reported. The next two chapters deal with diffusion of hydrocarbon isomers containing aromatic moiety. Chapter 9 reports structure, energetics and dynamic properties of the three isomers of trimethyl benzene in β-zeolite. Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations have been performed at 300K. Of the three isomers, it is observed that 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene(124 TMB) shows fast dynamics inside the channels of β-zeolite. It is seen that both translational and rotational diffusivities are in the order D (124 TMB) > D (123 TMB) > D (135 TMB). 124 TMB seems to perform jumps between perpendicular channels more frequently whereas 123 and 135 isomers experience more hindrance to these jumps. It is also shown that there is a lower energetic barrier for 124 TMB across the window that separates two perpendicular channels in β-zeolite. Reorientational correlation functions suggest that reorientation of C6 axis (axis perpendicular to the plane of the phenyl ring) is highly restricted in case of 135 TMB. Reorientation of C2 axis (axis on the plane of the phenyl ring) seems to be more facile than that of C6 axis in case of both 123 TMB and 135 TMB. And interestingly, C6 and C2 axis reorientations are equally facile in case of 124 TMB. Chapter 10 presents molecular dynamics simulation results carried out on an equimolar binary mixture of cumene (isopropyl benzene) and pseudo-cumene (1,2,4-trimethyl benzene) in zeolite-NaY at four different temperatures. We compare different structural, energetic and dynamic properties of cumene and pseudo-cumene in zeolite-NaY. Our results suggest that both translational and rotational diffusivities are higher for cumene as compared to pseudo-cumene. Potential energy landscapes show that there is an energetic barrier for diffusion past the 12 MR window plane that separates two neighboring super cages. Such an energetic barrier is large for pseudo-cumene (3 kJ/mol) as compared to that of cumene (1.5 kJ/mol). Activation energies corresponding to both translational and rotational diffusion suggest that pseudo-cumene encounters larger energetic barriers for both translation and rotation as compared to cumene. Reorientational correlation functions suggest that reorientation of C2 axis is more facile than that of C6 axis in case of both cumene and pseudo-cumene. Activation energies corresponding to reorientational relaxations suggest that C6 axis encounters larger energetic barriers as compared to C2 axis in case of both cumene and pseudo-cumene. Chapter 11 discusses the main conclusions of the thesis and directions for future work.

One of the most persistent problem in solar physics is the identification of the mechanism that heats the solar corona and accelerates the fast solar wind. Magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD)waves play a crucial role in heating of the solar corona and acceleration of the solar wind. Different types of oscillations have been now observed by various instruments. These are interpreted as due to ubiquitous presence of MHD waves. The magnetic field plays a fundamental role in the propagation and properties of these MHD waves. The topology (structure)of the magnetic fields are different in different regions of the solar atmosphere viz., active regions (high-lying closed magnetic fields), quiet Sun (low-lying closed magnetic fields) and coronal holes (open magnetic fields). The purpose of this dissertation is to study the nature of these propagating MHD waves in different regions of the solar atmosphere. It is believed that polar coronal holes which connects the inner corona and the solar wind, are the source regions of the fast solar wind. The on-disk part of a polar coronal hole can be divided into network and internetwork regions. Long time series(sit-and-stare)data have been obtained from the SUMER/SoHO spectrometer in N iv 765Å and Ne viii 770Å spectral lines to search for the presence of waves in these two different regions from a statistical approach. The network bright regions indicate the presence of compressional waves with a dominant period of ≈ 25 min in both the lines. Moreover, we found that there is a difference in the nature of the wave propagation in the bright (‘network’), as opposed to the dark (‘internetwork’) regions, with the latter sometimes showing evidence of downwardly propagating waves that are not seen in the former. This is consistent with the magnetic topology, as open field lines are rooted in network regions whereas internetwork region has low lying closed field lines. From a measurement of propagation speeds, we found all waves are subsonic, indicating that the majority of them are slow magneto-acoustic in nature. The off-limb part of coronal holes can be divided into plume and inter-plume regions. The simultaneous observations were performed with EIS/Hinode and SUMER/SoHO spectrometer in Fe xii 195Å and Ne viii 770Å spectral lines respectively. We detected the presence of accelerating waves in a polar inter-plume region with a period of 15 min to 20 min in both the spectral lines and a propagation speed increasing from 130 ± 14 km s−1 just above the limb, to 330 ± 140 kms s−1 around 160” above the limb. These waves can be traced to originate from a bright region of the on-disk part of the coronal hole which can be visualized as the base of the coronal funnels. The adjacent plume region also shows the presence of propagating disturbance with the same range of periodicity but with propagation speeds in the range of 135 ± 18 kms s−1 to 165 ± 43 kms s−1 only. We found that the waves within the plumes are not observable (may be getting dissipated) far off-limb whereas this is not the case in the inter-plume region. We suggested that the waves are likely either Alfv´enic or fast magneto-acoustic in the inter-plume regions and slow magneto-acoustic in the plume regions. These results support the view that the inter-plume regions area preferred channel for the acceleration of the fast solar wind. The quiet Sun can be further divided into bright magnetic (network), bright non-magnetic and dark non-magnetic (internetwork) regions. Simultaneous observations were performed in Ca ii filtergram from SOT/Hinode, TRACE 1550Åpassband and with SUMER/SoHO spectrometer in N iv 765ÅandNe viii 770Åspectral lines to study the oscillations in these different regions. We detected the presence of long period oscillations with periods between 15 min to 30 min in bright magnetic regions. The oscillations were detected from chromospheric height to low coronal heights. Power maps showed that low period powers are mainly concentrated in dark regions whereas long period powers are concentrated in bright magnetic regions. We proposed that these 15 min and above periods can propagate up to the coronal heights through ‘magneto¬acoustic portals’. However in this case only with the spectral imaging data, it was not possible to identify the mode of wave propagation. To detect the presence of waves in active regions, we have analysed the imaging and spec¬troscopic data acquired during the total solar eclipse of 2006 and 2009 respectively. We found the oscillations of periods 27 s and 20 s in imaging data obtained in green (Fe xiv 5303Å) and red (Fe x 6374Å) coronal emission lines respectively. Significant oscillations with high proba¬bility estimates were detected at boundary of active region and in the neighbourhood, rather than within the loops itself. We also reported the detection of oscillations in intensity, velocity and line width having periods in the range of 25 s to 50 s with spectroscopic data again obtained in green and red coronal emission lines. These high frequency oscillations were interpreted in terms of presence of fast magneto-acoustic waves or torsional Alfv´en waves. These detected propagating MHD waves may carry sufficient energy to heat the corona and provide enough momenta to accelerate the fast solar wind. In addition, these waves may also provide input for the measurement of coronal magnetic field using the technique of ‘coronal seismology’.

Group III-Nitrides (GaN, InN & AlN) are considered one of the most important class of semiconducting materials after Si and GaAs. The excellent optical and electrical properties of these nitrides result in numerous applications in lighting, lasers, and high-power/high-frequency devices. Due to the lack of cheap bulk III- Nitride substrates, GaN based devices have been developed on foreign substrates like Si, sapphire and SiC. These technologies have been predominantly developed on the so called Ga-polarity epitaxial stacks with growth in the [0001] direction of GaN. It is this orientation that grows most easily on sapphire by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), the most common combination of substrate and deposition method used thus far. The opposite [000¯1] or N-polar orientation, very different in properties due to the lack of an inversion centre, offers several ad- vantages that could be exploited for better electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, its growth is more challenging and needs better understanding. The aim of the work reported in this dissertation was a systematic investigation of the relation between the various growth parameters which control polarity, surface roughness and mosaicity of GaN on non-miscut sapphire (0001) wafers for power electronics and lighting applications, with emphasis on the realization of N-polar epitaxial layers. GaN is grown on sapphire (0001) in a two-step process, which involves the deposition of a thin low temperature GaN nucleation layer (NL) on surface modified sapphire followed by the growth of high temperature device quality GaN epitaxial layer. The processing technique used is MOCVD. Various processing methods for synthesis of GaN layers are described with particular em- phasis on MOCVD method. The effect of ex situ cleaning followed by an in situ cleaning on the surface morphology of sapphire (0001) wafers is discussed. The characterization tools used in this dissertation for studying the chemical bond nature of nitrided sapphire surface and microstructural evolution (morphological and structural) of GaN layers are described in detail. The effect of nitridation temperature (TN) on structural transformation of non- miscut sapphire (0001) surface has been explored. The structural evolution of nitrided layers at different stages of their process like as grown stage and thermal annealing stage is investigated systematically. The chemical bond environment information of the nitrided layers have been examined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that high temperature nitridation (TN ≥ 800oC) results in an Al-N tetrahedral bond environment on sapphire surface. In contrast, low temperature nitridation (TN = 530oC) results in a complex Al-O-N environment on sapphire surfaces. Microstructural evolution of low temperature GaN NLs has been studied at every stage of processing by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface roughness evolution and island size distribution of NLs measured from AFM are discussed. It is found that NLs processed on sapphire wafers nitrided at (TN ≥ 800oC) showed strong wurtzite [0002] orientation with sub-nanometre surface roughness. In contrast, NLs processed at (TN = 530oC) showed zinc blende phase in the as grown stage with higher surface roughness, but acquired a greater degree of wurtzite [0002] orientation after thermal annealing prior to high temperature GaN growth. Polarity, surface quality and crystal quality of subsequently grown high temperature GaN epitaxial layers is described in relation to the structure of the trans- formed nitrided layers. Higher nitridation temperatures (TN ≥ 800oC) consistently yield N-polar GaN whereas lower nitridation temperatures (TN = 530oC) yield Ga-polar GaN. It is found that the relative O atom concentration levels in nitrided layers control the density of inversion domains in N-polar GaN. The effect of various growth parameters (NH3 flow rate, growth temperature, NL thickness) on surface morphology and mosaicity of both Ga & N-polar GaN layers is discussed in detail. We report device quality N-polar GaN epitaxial layers on non-miscut sapphire (0001) wafers by careful optimization of growth temperature. It is found that lower growth temperatures (800oC) are favorable for obtaining smooth N- polar GaN layers. In contrast, N-polar GaN layers grown at higher temperatures (1000 to 1080oC) are rough with hexagonal hillocks.

Performing tasks with a robotic hand often requires a complete knowledge of the manipulated object, including its properties (shape, rigidity, surface texture) and its location in the environment, in order to ensure safe and efficient manipulation. While well-established procedures exist for the manipulation of rigid objects, as well as several approaches for the manipulation of linear or planar deformable objects such as ropes or fabric, research addressing the characterization of deformable objects occupying a volume remains relatively limited. The fundamental objectives of this research are to track the deformation of non-rigid objects under robotic hand manipulation using RGB-D data, and to automatically classify deformable objects as either rigid, elastic, plastic, or elasto-plastic, based on the material they are made of, and to support recognition of the category of such objects through a robotic probing process in order to enhance manipulation capabilities. The goal is not to attempt to formally model the material of the object, but rather employ a data-driven approach to make decisions based on the observed properties of the object, capture implicitly its deformation behavior, and support adaptive control of a robotic hand for other research in the future. The proposed approach advantageously combines color image and point cloud processing techniques, and proposes a novel combination of the fast level set method with a log-polar mapping of the visual data to robustly detect and track the contour of a deformable object in a RGB-D data stream. Dynamic time warping is employed to characterize the object properties independently from the varying length of the detected contour as the object deforms. The research results demonstrate that a recognition rate over all categories of material of up to 98.3% is achieved based on the detected contour. When integrated in the control loop of a robotic hand, it can contribute to ensure stable grasp, and safe manipulation capability that will preserve the physical integrity of the object.

A presente tese descreve a síntese e caracterização de 10 novas séries de moléculas na forma de banana contendo os anéis isoxazolina e isoxazol como reais candidatos na preparação de cristais líquidos polares. Foram avaliados parâmetros estruturais tais como o tipo de função conectora do centro curvado com os braços mesogênicos, a natureza do heterociclo e a sua posição relativa ao núcleo. A síntese dos compostos contou com a metodologia de preparação do anel isoxazolina, a cicloadição [3+2] 1,3-dipolar entre alcenos e óxidos de nitrila, os quais foram gerados pelas oximas preparadas a partir de aldeídos alifáticos e aromáticos. Todas as isoxazolinas foram oxidadas aos seus respectivos isoxazóis utilizando dióxido de manganês. Foram utilizadas ainda reações de alquilação, redução, desproteção, hidrogenólise, olefinação, adição de aminas à aldeídos e esterificação. Todas as moléculas sintetizadas foram caracterizadas por RMN de 1H e 13C, além de serem observadas por MOLP para determinação dos seus pontos de fusão. As moléculas que apresentaram comportamento mesomórfico foram ainda caracterizadas por DSC, XRD e voltagem triangular. No capítulo 3 é descrita a síntese dos isoftalatos 19a-b, 20a-b, 26a-b e 27a-b. No subgrupo dos Isoftalatos derivados de isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3,5-diarilsubstituídos foi possível a síntese apenas do composto 11d que não apresentou comportamento líquido cristalino No subgrupo dos isoftalatos derivados de isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3-alquil-5-arilsubstituídos as isoxazolinas 19a-b não apresentaram comportamento líquido-cristalino. Foram encontradas mesofases para os compostos 20a-b que ainda não foram determinadas com as técnicas disponíveis. Os isoxazóis 20a-b apresentaram uma provável Blue Phase logo após o resfriamento do isotrópico, que rapidamente se converte em uma provável mesofase monotrópica ferroelétrica com texturas e padrão de XRD peculiares até então não observada na literatura. No subgrupo dos isoftalatos derivados de isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3-aril-5-alquilsubstituídos 26a-b e 27a-b não foi observado comportamento líquido-cristalino. O capítulo 4 descreve a síntese das isoftaliminas 35, 36, 44, 45, 50a-b, 51a-b, 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b e 64a-b. No subgrupo dos isoxazóis e isoxazolinas 3,5-diarilsubstituídos 35, 36, 44 e 45 foram observadas as mesofases B7 e B1 apenas com a inversão da orientação do anel isoxazol como braçomesogênicos dos compostos finais, enquanto que as isoxazolinas não apresentaram mesofases. A mesofase B7 do composto 36 apresentou comportamento antiferroelétrico enquanto que a mesofase B1 do composto 45 não mostrou resposta frente ao campo elétrico aplicado, além disso, o XRD mostrou que tal mesofase colunar B1 pode ser uma fase 3D modulada. No subgrupo das isoxazolinas e isoxazóis 3-alquil-5-arilsubstituídos 50a-b e 51a-b foram observadas fases do tipo DC para as isoxazolinas 50a-b, a qual deve ser confirmada por FFTEM. No subgrupo dos materiais 3-aril-5-alquilsubstituídos 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b e 64a-b foram observadas mesofases SmXPF para os compostos 56b-d. Os isoxazóis 57a-d apresentaram texturas similares, porém não apresentaram mesofase, mas os mesmos seguem o mesmo padrão de difração das isoxazolinas do capítulo 3. Apenas a isoxazolina 63b dos compostos perfluorados apresentou mesofase No capítulo 5 é descrita a síntese de ésteres não-simétricos contendo os heterociclos isoxazol e isoxazolinas como núcleo central 71a-f, 82, 83, 84 e 85. No primeiro subgrupo todos os ésteres cinâmicos 71a-f apresentaram comportamento mesomórfico com grandes faixas de temperaturas nas mesofases. No segundo subgrupo as isoxazolinas 82 e 83 apresentaram comportamento completamente distinto, onde só foi observada a formação de uma mesofase SmB para o composto que tem a posição éster localizada na direção do nitrogênio do heterociclo. Já os isoxazóis 84 e 85 deste subgrupo apresentaram as mesofases N e SmC em temperaturas bastante similares, porém, a observação desses materiais em uma cela alinhada revelou o crescimento de filamentos na transição N-SmC apenas para o composto 85, o qual também possui a porção éster na direção do nitrogênio do anel isoxazol. O capítulo 6 traz a síntese dos ésteres e iminas simétricos 88, 89, 94 e 95 utilizando os heterociclos como núcleo central, os quais apresentaram mesofases SmC e N. Além disso, o diéster 89 derivado de isoxazol apresentou a mesma característica que o composto 85 do capítulo 5, apresentando uma transição N-SmC com crescimento de filamentos perpendiculares à direção de alinhamento da amostra dentro da cela, podendo estar relacionada à uma mesofase NTB. / This thesis describe the synthesis and characterization of 10 new series of banana shaped molecules containing the isoxazoline and isoxazole rings as real players for preparation of polar liquid crystals. It was evaluate structural parameters such as the type of connecting function of the bent core with the mesogenic arms, the heterocycle nature and its position relative to the central core. The synthesis of the compounds included the methodology of preparation of the isoxazoline ring, the [3 + 2] 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between alkenes and nitrile oxides, which were generated by the oximes prepared from aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. Furthermore, all isoxazolines were oxidized to its respective isoxazoles using manganese dioxide. Besides the described methodologies, alkylation, reduction, deprotection, hydrogenolysis, olefination, addition of amines to the aldehydes and esterification reactions were used. All the synthesized molecules were characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR, and also observed by POM for determination of its melting points. The molecules previously analyzed by POM that showed mesomorphic behavior were characterized by DSC, XRD and triangular voltage still. Chapter 3 describes the synthesis of isophthalates 19a-b, 20a-b, 26a-b e 27a-b. In the subgroup of isophthalates derived from isoxazoles and isoxazolines 3,5-diarylsubstituted it was possible to synthesize only compound 11d which did not show liquid crystalline behavior In the subgroup of the isophthalates derived from isoxazoles and isoxazolines 3-alkyl-5-arylsubstituted the isoxazolines 19a-b did not show liquid crystalline behavior. It was found mesophases for compounds 20a-b that still could not be determined with the available techniques. The isoxazoles 20a-b presented a probable Blue Phase soon after cooling from the isotropic which quickly converts into a probable ferroelectric monotropic mesophase with peculiar textures and pattern of XRD until then not observed in the literature. In the subgroup of the isophthalates of isoxazoles and isoxazolines 3-aryl-5-alkylsubstituted 26a-b and 27a-b no liquid crystalline behavior was observed. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of isophthalimines 35, 36, 44, 45, 50a-b, 51a-b, 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b and 64a-b. In the subgroup of the isoxazoles 3,5-diarylsubstituted 35, 36, 44 and 45 the B7 and B1 mesophases were observed only with the inversion of the isoxazole ring orientation as mesogenic arm of thefinal compounds whereas the isoxazolines did not present mesophases. The B7 mesophase of the compound 36 showed antiferroelectric switching while the B1 mesophase of the compound 45 showed no response to the applied electric field, in addition, the XRD showed that such B1 columnar mesophase could be a 3D modulated phase one. In the subgroup of 3-alkyl-5-arylsubstituted isoxazolines and isoxazoles 50a-b and 51a-b DC phases were observed for isoxazolines 50a-b which should be confirmed by FFTEM. The SmXPF mesophase were observed for componds 56b-d in the subgroup of 3-aryl-5-alkylsubstituted materials 56a-d, 57a-d, 63a-b e 64a-b. The isoxazoles 57a-d presented similar textures although did not showed mesophase, but they follow the same diffraction pattern of the chapter 3 isoxazolines. Only the isoxazoline 63b of the perfluorinated compounds showed mesophase In chapter 5 is described the synthesis of non-symmetric esters containing isoxazol and isoxazolines heterocycles as central core 71a-f, 82, 83, 84 e 85. In the first subgroup all the cinnamic esters 71a-f showed mesomorphic behavior with large mesophases temperature ranges. In the second subgroup the isoxazolines 82 and 83 showed completely different behavior which only was observed the SmB mesophase formation for compound having the ester position towards the heterocycle nitrogen. Furthermore, the isoxazoles 84 and 85 of this subgroup showed the N and SmC mesophases at very similar temperatures, however, the observation of these materials in an aligned cell revealed the filamentary growth in the N-SmC transition only for compound 85, which also has the ester moiety in the direction of the isoxazole ring nitrogen. Chapter 6 brings forward the synthesis of symmetrical esters and imines 88, 89, 94 and 95 using the heterocycles as the central cores, which showed SmC and N mesophases. Moreover, the isoxazole derived diester 89 showed the same feature as compound 85 of Chapter 5, exhibiting a N-SmC transition with filament growth perpendicular to the rubbing direction of the cell which may be related to a NTB mesophase.