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Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’élaboration de matériaux siliciques mésostructurés par des agents structurants originaux : les micelles complexes de polyions ou micelles PICs, qui présentent la particularité de s’assembler de façon réversible dans l’eau. Les micelles PICs sont des assemblages formés par interactions électrostatiques entre un copolymère à blocs double-hydrophiles (DHBC) neutre-ionisable et un agent de micellisation de charge opposée au DHBC. Le DHBC utilisé est un poly(oxyde d’éthylène)-b-poly(acide acrylique) POE-b-PAA synthétisé par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée par transfert d’atome (ATRP) et les agents de micellisation sont commerciaux (oligochitosane OC, antibiotiques aminoglycosides). Tout d’abord, l’influence de divers paramètres (pH, température, concentration) sur les propriétés d’association des micelles PIC a été étudiée en solution aqueuse. Puis, l’influence de ces mêmes paramètres sur la structuration de la silice en présence de complexes de polyions POE-b-PAA/OC a été recherchée, et a permis de mieux appréhender les mécanismes de formation des matériaux hybrides. Il a ainsi été montré qu’en jouant sur les interactions entre les divers constituants, il était possible de contrôler la mésostructure des matériaux (hexagonale, lamellaire, vermiculaire) et leur morphologie (nanoparticules, microparticules). Enfin, la versatilité de l’utilisation de micelles PIC en tant qu’agents structurants de la silice a été mise en évidence avec des systèmes POE-b-PAA/aminoglycosides, qui ont permis d’obtenir directement des matériaux structurés ordonnés chargés en principes actifs. Par ailleurs, les possibilités offertes par l’utilisation des micelles PIC notamment en termes de fonctionnalité et de réversibilité de la micellisation, ont été exploitées et ont permis d’obtenir facilement des matériaux mésoporeux fonctionnalisés par les chaînes ionisables du DHBC, suite à l’extraction sélective de l’agent de micellisation. Il a été montré que de tels matériaux fonctionnels sont capables de complexer des espèces de charges opposées et notamment des principes actifs, qui peuvent par la suite être relargués de façon pH-dépendante. / Mesostructured hybrid materials were prepared by using original silica-structuring agents, which are polyion complex (PIC) micelles. A great advantage of PIC micelles is that they can be reversibly assembled in aqueous solution by varying physico-chemical parameters. PIC micelles are formed by electrostatic complexation between a neutral-anionic double-hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) and an oppositely charged agent of micellization; here a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) PEO-b-PAA (synthesized by controlled radical polymerization by atom transfer ATRP) and commercial polyamines (oligochitosan OC or aminoglycoside antibiotics) were respectively used. First, the influence of various parameters (pH, temperature, concentration) on PIC micelle association properties was investigated in aqueous solution. Then, the effect of these parameters on the silica mesostructuring process was studied, it provides a better understanding of the formation mechanisms. It was shown that varying interactions between constituents allows to control the mesostructure (hexagonal, lamellar, wormlike) and the material morphology (nanoparticle, microparticle). Finally, the versatility of the approach has been demonstrated with PEO-b-PAA/aminoglycoside systems. Drug-loaded ordered mesostructured materials were prepared following a one-pot route. Moreover, taking advantage of the high degree of functionality of DHBC polymers and of the reversibility of the micellization, polyacid-functionalized mesoporous materials were directly prepared by selectively extracting the micellization agent. PAA-functionalized silica materials were then used to complex diverse active entities such as drugs, whose delivery could be pH-controlled.

Les mesures fines des faibles radioactivités par la spectrométrie gamma nécessitent l’optimisation de la géométrie de détection et la connaissance du schéma de niveaux des raies gamma. Ainsi, on peut augmenter le taux de comptage et par conséquent, réduire l’incertitude statistique des pics spectraux exploités pour le calcul de l’activité des radio-isotopes en rapprochant le plus possible l’échantillon du détecteur. Cependant, l’augmentation du volume de l’échantillon demande une correction de l’auto-absorption des émissions par l’échantillon même, et le rapprochement du détecteur est à l’origine du phénomène de pic-somme. L’utilisation de MCNPX a permis de mettre en évidence les effets séparés de la densité de l’échantillon et le nombre atomique effectif dans l’atténuation des photons d’énergie inférieure à 100 keV. Les facteurs de correction du pic-somme sont obtenus par MCNPX, GESPCOR et ETNA. Ainsi, une base des données pour 244 radionucléides a été établie pour des géométries SG50 et SG500 au contact d’un détecteur. Dans une application à la radioprotection, des échantillons de matériaux de construction ont été analysés par la spectrométrie gamma. L’Uranium-238, le Thorium-232 et le Potassium-40 ont été identifiés et corrigés des effets sus-cités. La dosimétrie de leurs rayonnements gamma a permis d’évaluer les indices de risque, la dose absorbée et la dose efficace annuelle reçues provenant de ces matériaux. Les simulations par MCNPX corroborent le modèle de calcul de la dose absorbée. Il a permis aussi d'étudier la distribution de la dose dans les habitations de différentes dimensions. Les résultats obtenus sont en accord avec les limites règlementaires. / Precisely measuring weakly radioactive samples by gamma-ray spectrometry requires optimizing the detection geometry and knowledge of the gamma-ray decay scheme. One can thus increase the counting rate and reduce the statistical uncertainty of the spectral peaks used to determine radioisotope activities. However, an increased sample volume requires a correction for the self-absorption of y-rays in the sample itself, and approaching a sample to the detector gives rise to coincidence summing. MCNPX simulations permitted finding the separate influence of sample density and effective atomic number of the sample in the attenuation of photons with energies less than 100 keV. Peak-summing corrections were obtained with MCNPX, GESPCOR and ETNA. Thus a data base for 244 radionuclides could be established for SG50 and SG500 geometries in contact with a planar detector. In an application of the results to the health physics domain, construction materials were analyzed. Naturally-occurring Uranium-238, Thorium-232 and Potassium-40 activities were identified and corrected for the above-mentioned effects in order to evaluate the risk indexes, the absorbed dose and the annual effective dose received from different dimensions built of these materials. MCNPX simulations corroborated the model used to calculate the absorbed dose and gave its distribution in an enclosed space. The results obtained are within the recommended norms.

Abstract The aims with this report are to document the upgrade and development of new software for the distance laboratory at Blekinge Tekniska Högskola. The work has been focused on implementing the identification number in a microcontroller, to read its data from a so called look-up table and to be able to control digital components through a serial bus (SPI). The look-up table is a list of data from which the software reads data for the different types of printed circuit boards in the hardware component of the distance laboratory is in focus. The results of the report are an implemented, upgraded version of the software and all three aims has been accomplished. Sammanfattning Syftet med detta arbete har varit att utveckla och uppgradera en ny mjukvara till distanslaboaratoriet på Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, genom att implementera adressen till en microcontroller, att läsa dess data från en så kallad look-up table, samt att kunna styra digitala komponenter med en seriell buss (SPI). Fokus i programmeringen har legat på look-up table, vilket är en datalista som mjukvaran läser funktionsdata från för de olika korttyperna i matrisen. Resultatet är en implementerad, uppgraderad version av mjukvaran och alla tre målen har gått att genomföra.

Cette thèse porte sur l’application de la technique de corrélation de bruit sismologique ambiant pour l'imagerie et le suivi des réservoirs géothermiques de Rittershoffen (ECOGI) et de Soultz-sous-Forêts (GEIE-EMC). La forte variabilité spatio-temporelle des sources du bruit de fond sismologique dans la gamme de période 0.2-7s limite la reconstruction des fonctions de Green. Cela induit des erreurs dans la construction des modèles de vitesse. Deux approches sont proposées pour s’affranchir des effets de la non-uniformité spatiale du bruit. Par ailleurs, la variabilité temporelle des sources de bruit est un facteur limitant pour le suivi du réservoir. On estime que les perturbations de vitesse doivent être de l’ordre de 0.1% à 1% pour pouvoir être détectées par les réseaux disponibles. Ce seuil n’a pas été franchi lors de la construction du site Rittershoffen mais une modification probable des propriétés diffractantes du milieu a été observée à la suite d’une stimulation. / This work focuses on the application of the ambient seismic noise correlation technique for the imaging and monitoring of deep geothermal reservoirs near Rittershoffen (ECOGI) and Soultz-sous-Forêts (GEIE-EMC). The strong spatial and temporal variability of the noise sources in the period range 0.2-7s limits the reconstruction of the Green’s functions. This results in significant errors in the velocity models. Two approaches are proposed to overcome the spatial non-uniformity of the noise and to improve the quality of the velocity models. Besides that, the temporal variability of the noise sources is a limiting factor for monitoring purposes. We estimate that the speed variations should be larger than 0.1% to 1% to be detected by the available networks. This threshold was not reached at Rittershoffen during the drillings or the stimulations. However, a probable change of the diffracting properties of the medium was observed following a hydraulic stimulation.

Le typage bactérien est une mesure de contrôle essentielle pour lutter contre la diffusion des bactéries multirésistantes, mais les techniques actuelles sont longues et coûteuses. L'objectif de cette thèse était d'évaluer la capacité de la technique MALDI-TOF MS à typer les 3 principales espèces bactériennes responsables d'infections nosocomiales - Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus et Pseudomonas aeruginosa. L'analyse par MALDI-TOF MS permet d'identifier les souches de E. coli appartenant au phylogroupe B2, souches les plus virulentes parmi les souches extra-intestinales, et au STI 31, clone très impliqué dans la dissémination des P-lactamases à spectre étendu. Chez S. aureus, cette technique reconnait les souches appartenant au CC398, impliquées dans une proportion importante d'infections graves chez des personnes fragiles. La technique MALDI-TOF MS identifie également cinq clones de P. aeruginosa à haut risque épidémique - STI 11, STI 75, ST235, ST253, ST395. Si nous avons confirmé des pics caractéristiques du phylogroupe B2 décrit également par d'autres auteurs, les pics biomarqueurs identifiant E. coli ST131 ou des clones épidémiques de S. aureus varient suivant les études. Différents paramètres peuvent influencer les résultats de typage par MALDI-TOF MS et doivent donc être standardisés. La technique MALDI-TOF MS permet d'identifier certains clones épidémiques. En gardant à l'esprit que le choix d'une méthode de typage doit être fait en fonction des objectifs mais aussi des performances des différents systèmes disponibles, la technique MALDI-TOF MS pourrait se positionner comme un outil de typage de première ligne. / Bacterial typing is crucial to tackle the spread of bacterial pathogens but current methods are time-consuming and costly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to type the 3 main bacterial species re.sponsible for nosocomial infections - Escherichia coti, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Analysis of MALDI-TOF mass spectra allow the identification (i) of E. coti isolates belonging to phylogroup B2, that fosters the most virulent extra-intestinal strains, and (ii) of E. coli STl 31, a clone involved in the dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamases. MALDI-TOF MS also recognizes S. aureus isolates belonging to CC398, a pathogen responsible for invasive infections in fragile patients and associated with a higher 30-day mortality. Furthermore the MALDI-TOF MS based typing method identifies the major high risk epidemic clones of P. aeruginosa STl 11, STl 75, ST235, ST253, and ST395. We confirmed phylogroup B2 specific peaks also described by other authors. However the identification of E. coli STl 31 or epidemic clones of S. aureus is based on biomarkers that differs between studies. Different parameters can influence the MALDI-TOF MS typing results and must therefore be standardized. MALDI-TOF-based typing methods allow the detection of epidemic pathogens. Keeping in mind that the choice of a method for routine bacterial typing should be made according to the objectives but also the performance of the different systems available, the MALDI-TOF MS technique could become a first-line typing method.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / In many forensic cases, such as mass disasters reconstruction cases, the recovered DNA is highly degraded. In such incidences, typing of STR loci has become one of the most powerful tools for retrieving information from the degraded DNA. However, as DNA degradation proceeds, three phenomena occur consecutively: loci imbalance, allele dropout and no amplification. To solve the problem of degraded DNA, redesigned primer sets have been developed in which the primers were positioned as close as possible to the STR repeat region. These reduced primer sets were called Miniplexes. Unfortunately, a few of the CODIS STR loci cannot be made into smaller amplicons. For this reason non-CODIS miniSTRs have been developed. The present study was undertaken for the population genetic analysis of microsatellite variation in four South African populations; Afrikaner, Xhosa, Mixed Ancestry and Asian Indian using eight non-CODIS miniSTR loci. These miniSTRs loci were characterized within the populations by estimating the levels of diversity of the markers, estimating the population genetic parameters, and studying the inter-population relationships. All of the miniSTRs were amplified successfully and the genetic variability parameters across all loci in Afrikaner, Mixed Ancestry, Asian Indian and Xhosa were estimated to be in the range of 3 (D4S2364) to 12 (D9S2157) alleles, the total number of alleles over all loci ranged from 100 to 204, the allelic richness ranged from 3.612 to 10.307 and the heterozygosity ranged from 0.4360 to 0.8073. Genetic distance was least between Afrikaner and Asian Indian and highest between Xhosa and Mixed Ancestry. Deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were not observed for most of the loci. The low mean FIS (-0.027) and FIT (-0.010) and FST (0.017) values across the populations indicated low level of inbreeding within (FIS) and among (FST) the populations. The Asian Indian population showed higher levels of the inbreeding coefficient, indicating less gene exchange between it and other populations. These 8 markers can be used for genetic investigations and assessing population structure. The study contributed to the knowledge and genetic characterization of four South African populations. In addition, these MiniSTRs prove to be useful in cases where more genetic information is needed. / South Africa

Diplom work describes a proposal and the design of the device for controlling the temperature test in a climatic chamber Heraeus and the creation of software for operating equipment. Work describes in detail the design and construction interface for the climate chamber, with which will be able to run automated test sequences and the development of the firmware and the operating software to start the temperature test.

This thesis deals with multi-axis position sensors, their nature and individual parts and types of these sensors. It is outlined their historical origin and the most used modern types, such as micro-electro-mechanical sensors. Further, the properties of these sensors, error sources and their compensation are discussed. Output data formats are also discussed here, such as Euler angles, their calculation and applications. The selected sensor is implemented in the simulator electronics, and the graphical application demonstrates its functions.

Industrial innovation is mostly driven by miniaturization. As a result of remarkable technological advancements in the fields of equipment, materials and production processes, transistor, the fundamental active component in conventional electronics, has shrunk in size. Semiconductor technology is unique in that all performance metrics are enhanced, while at the same time unit prices are reduced. Moore’s Law, which predicts that the number of components per chip will double every two years, was established in 1965, and the industry has been able to keep up with this prophetic prognosis since. Thermal management, on the other hand, has become a key limiting factor for current electronic circuits and is set to put a stop to Moore’s Law. Given the fact that complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) scaling is reaching fundamental limits, there are several new alternative processing devices and architectures that have been investigated for both traditional integrated circuit (IC) technologies and novel technologies, including new technologies aimed at contributing to advances in scaling progress and cost reductions in manufacturing operations in the coming decades. These factors will encourage the development of new information processing and memory systems, new technologies for integrating numerous features heterogeneously and new system architectural design layouts, among other things. Energy efficiency is advantageous from a sustainability perspective and for consumer electronics, for which fewer power-hungry components mean longer times between charges and smaller batteries. The creation of novel chip-scale tools that can aid in the transfer of information across optical frequencies and microscale photonics between nanoscale electronic devices is now a possibility. Bridging this technological gap may be achieved by plasmonics. The incorporation of plasmonic, photonic and electrical components on a single chip may lead to a number of innovative breakthroughs. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) enable the realization of ultra-small, high-efficiency, ultra-responsive and CMOS-compatible devices that can be used in applications ranging from optical wireless communication systems (6G and beyond) and supercomputers to health and energy.   This thesis provides a platform from which to design nanoplasmonic devices while facilitating high-transmission and/or absorption efficiency, miniaturized size and the use of near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths for telecom applications. With a significant amount of Internet traffic transmitted optically, communication systems are further tightening the requirements for the development of new optical devices. Several new device structures based on the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic waveguide are proposed and investigated using performance metrics. The transmission line theory (TLM) from microwave circuit theory and coupled mode theory (CMT) is studied and employed in the design process of the nanostructures, in particular to address the losses in plasmonic-based devices, which has been the major factor hampering their widespread usage in communication systems. By taking advantage of well-established microwave circuit theory (through new design that paves the way for mitigating these losses and enabling efficient transmission of power flow in the optical devices), we have suggested a number of high-transmission efficiency nanodevices that offer highly competitive performance compared with other platforms. As a result, a promising future for plasmonic technology, which would enable design and fabrication of multipurpose and multifunctional optical devices that are efficient in terms of losses, footprint and capability of integrating active devices, is anticipated. / Branschinnovation drivs främst av miniatyrisering. Som ett resultat av anmärkningsvärda tekniska framsteg inom områdena utrustning, material och produktionsprocesser kunde transistoren, den grundläggande aktiva komponenten i samtida elektronik, krympa i storlek. Halvledarteknik är unik genom att alla prestandamått förbättras, samtidigt som enhetspriserna sänks. Moores Lag, som förutspår att antalet komponenter per chip skulle fördubblas vartannat år, inrättades 1965, och branschen har kunnat hålla jämna steg med den profetiska prognosen sedan dess. Termisk hantering, å andra sidan, har blivit en viktig begränsande faktor för nuvarande elektroniska kretsar, och är inställd på att sätta stopp för Moores Lag. Med tanke på att CMOS-skalningen (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) når grundläggande gränser finns det flera nya alternativa bearbetningsanordningar och arkitekturer som har undersökts för både traditionell integrerad kretsteknik och ny teknik. Ny teknik som syftar till att bidra till framsteg i skalningen av framsteg och kostnadsminskningar i tillverkningsverksamheten under de kommande årtiondena. Dessa faktorer uppmuntrar utvecklingen av nya informationsbehandlings- och minnessystem, ny teknik för att integrera många funktioner heterogent och nya systemarkitekturdesignlayouter, bland annat. Energieffektivitet är fördelaktigt ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv och för hemelektronik, där färre krafthungriga elektroniker innebär längre tid mellan laddningar och stimulerar för ett mindre energilagringssystem ombord. Skapandet av nya chip-scale verktyg som kan bidra till överföring av information över optiska frekvenser och mikroskala fotonik mellan elektroniska enheter i nanoskala är nu en möjlighet. Överbrygga denna tekniska klyfta kan uppnås av plasmonics. Införlivandet av plasmoniska, fotoniska och elektriska komponenter på ett enda chip kan leda till ett antal innovativa genombrott. Fotoniska integrerade kretsar (PIC-enheter) möjliggör förverkligande av ultrasmå, högeffektiva, ultraresponsiva och CMOS-kompatibla enheter som kan användas i applikationer som sträcker sig från optiska trådlösa kommunikationssystem (6G och därefter), superdatorer till hälso- och energiändamål. Denna avhandling ger en plattform för att designa nanoplasmoniska enheter samtidigt som den innehåller hög överförings- och eller absorptionseffektivitet, miniatyriserad storlek och vid önskade våglängder av nära infraröd (NIR) för telekomapplikationer. Med den betydande mängden Internettrafik som överförs optiskt skärper kommunikationssystemen ytterligare kraven för utveckling av nya optiska enheter. Flera nya enhetsstrukturer baserade på metall-isolator-metall (MIM) plasmonisk vågledare föreslås och numeriskt undersöks. Överföringslinjeteorin (TLM) från mikrovågskretsteori och kombinationslägesteori (CMT) studeras och används i nanostrukturerna. För att ta itu med de förluster i plasmonbaserade enheter som har varit den viktigaste parametern som hindrade deras utbredda användning i kommunikationssystem, genom att dra nytta av den väletablerade mikrovågskretsteorin (genom ny design som banar väg för att mildra förlusterna och möjliggöra effektiv överföring av kraftflödet i den optiska enheten).  Vi har framgångsrikt föreslagit ett antal nanodevices med hög överföringseffektivitet som erbjuder en mycket konkurrenskraftig prestanda jämfört med andra plattformar. Som ett resultat förväntar vi oss en lovande framtid för plasmonisk teknik som skulle möjliggöra design och tillverkning av mångsidiga och multifunktionella optiska enheter som är effektiva när det gäller förluster, fotavtryck och förmåga att integrera aktiva enheter. / <p>Vid tidpunkten för framläggandet av avhandlingen var följande delarbeten opublicerade: delarbete II inskickat, III, IV, V manuskript.</p><p>At the time of the licentiate defence the following papers were unpublished: paper II submitted, III, IV, V manuscript.</p>