Understanding the orientation of small organic acid modifiers on metal oxide electrodes is important in advancing the field of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). In this work, the orientation of a group of these small organic acid modifiers will be investigated on indium zinc oxide (IZO). Polarization modulation-infrared reflectance-absorbance spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) is the primary technique used to determine these orientations. In order to determine orientations from PM-IRRAS data, other chemical and physical properties of the modifiers, such as density and surface coverage, must be experimentally determined. Neutral buoyancy is used to determine the density of the modifiers, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to estimate surface coverage of these modifiers on IZO. These techniques are also used to determine binding mode of these modifiers on IZO. The tilt angles (θ) were found to be 50 ± 3°, 64 ± 2°, and 43 ± 3° for F₅BnPA, F₅BnCA, and F₅BnHA, respectively, meaning that the phenyl ring in F₅BnHA is more perpendicular to the surface while the phenyl ring in F₅BnCA more parallel to the surface. All three modifiers were also found to bind to IZO in a bidentate manner. In contrast, F₅BnSA etches away significant portions of the IZO substrate.

I denna studie undersöks polisstudenters och yrkesverksamma polisers bruk av evalueringar i avrapporterings-pm. Evalueringar är språkhandlingar som värderar, bedömer, uttrycker känslor eller ståndpunkter. Förekomsten av evalueringar har undersökts genom en Appraisal­analys, som är en form av textanalys. Materialet består av tio yrkestexter och tio studenttexter. Evalueringarna beskrivs och ställs i relation till de krav på objektivitet som finns i Rikspolisstyrelsens riktlinjer för skrivande (2011). Resultaten antyder att Rikspolis­styrelsens riktlinjer är svåra att leva upp till. Både yrkespoliser och polisstudenter använder evaluerande språk i sina pm, men studenttexterna innehåller fler evalueringar och en större andel subjektiva bedömningar. Resultatet är värt att uppmärksamma eftersom attitydbärande evalueringar kan äventyra objektiviteten i texterna, vilket i förlängningen skulle kunna påverka rättsprocessen.

Work had been established for traction machine design aspects in this research. The effect of multiphase design for Permanent Magnet (PM) machine was investigated. The electromagnetic characteristics of both 3-phase and 9-phase machine, along with different magnet designs, were simulated and analyzed by using the program developed during the process. The software used were FEMM and MATLAB. The iron loss for different designs was established, based on the analytical flux density obtained by 2-D stepping FEA method. The harmonic of flux waveform and rotating field were also considered for difference areas in the machine models. The prediction was compared with experimental data collected in open circuit. The simulation result shown that there was a minimum 4% torque gain and noticeable less torque ripples for 9-phase machine, comparing with 3-phase one, with the same excitation phase current. The embedded magnet rotor design was suggested to monitor the demagnetization of each magnet closely, since some area of the magnet could be demagnetized even when the working point of magnet was well distance away from the nonlinear region of its characteristic. There were about 6% less iron loss was produced in 9-phase model than 3-phase model. The implemented method for calculating iron loss was more accurate within 3500 rpm rotor speed comparing with other approaches.

Avec le développement des bâtiments basse consommation de plus en plus hermétiques, la nécessité de renouveler l’air intérieur à l’aide de système de ventilation mécanique s’est accrue. Or, les concentrations en polluants dans les environnements urbains augmentent continuellement, favorisant ainsi le transfert de polluants atmosphériques dans l’air intérieur. Ces travaux de thèse porte sur l’étude de procédés pour l’élimination combinée des principaux polluants de l’air extérieur urbain entrant dans les logements individuels via les systèmes de ventilation. A l’issue d’un état de l’art des polluants de l’air, des systèmes de ventilation et des procédés de traitement, les procédés de filtration par médias fibreux et d’adsorption ont été choisis pour traiter l’air urbain caractérisé par les PM₁₀, les PM₂ ₅, les aérosols microbiens, les BTEX et les NOₓ. Une méthodologie a été mise en œuvre pour sélectionner parmi différents matériaux étudiés et selon des critères de performances la solution de traitement la mieux adaptée, à savoir un filtre F7-combiné en fibres de verre et contenant des grains de charbon actif. Après étude, une stratégie de chauffage journalier du filtre à 70°C durant 1h30 a été proposée pour régénérer partiellement l’adsorbant afin de prolonger sa durée de vie et pour limiter la croissance microbienne sur le filtre notamment par dessiccation de ce dernier. Une campagne expérimentale en conditions de génération multi-polluants contrôlées a permis de quantifier les performances de traitement du filtre F7-combiné. Le traitement thermique utilisé a permis de maintenir une efficacité d’adsorption du toluène de 40% et de limiter la prolifération microbienne sur le filtre. Des interactions entre les polluants ont été observées, notamment une augmentation de l’efficacité de filtration des PM₁₀ par la présence de PM₂ ₅ qui permettent rapidement le passage à la phase de filtration en surface. En outre, le mélange toluène/NO₂ entraine une diminution de l’adsorption du NO₂ au profit du toluène. Enfin, une campagne expérimentale en conditions réalistes a été menée pendant 3 mois afin notamment d’étudier les performances du traitement thermique. Les niveaux de concentration des polluants dans la zone péri-urbaine de l’étude étaient faibles. Le traitement thermique appliqué au filtre F7-combiné, pour les conditions opératoires étudiées et après 3 mois de suivi, a permis de limiter significativement la croissance fongique sur le filtre mais pas d’améliorer de façon significative l’adsorption des COV et des NOₓ. / The development of low energy buildings, which are more and more hermetic, leads to the necessity of indoor air renewal with mechanical ventilation system. However, the concentration of pollutants in urban environments increases continually, which promotes the pollutant transfer from the outdoor to the indoor air. This PhD thesis consists in the study of processes for the combined purification of the main urban outdoor air pollutants coming in individual dwellings through the ventilation systems.Out of a state of the art of the air pollutants, the ventilation systems and the treatment processes, filtration with fibrous media and adsorption were the two processes chosen to treat the urban air characterized by PM₁₀, PM₂ ₅, microbialaerosol, BTEX and NOₓ. A methodology was setup to select, through the different studied materials and with some performance criterion, the most suitable treatment solution i.e. a combined-F7 filter with glass fiber and granular activated carbon. A daily heating strategy of the combined-F7 filter at 70°C for 1h30 was proposed to partially regenerate the adsorbent in order to improve its lifetime and to limit the microbial growth on the filter, inparticular by desiccation.An experimental campaign in controlled conditions with multi-pollutant generation permitted to quantify the performances of the combined-F7 filter. The thermal treatment permitted to maintain the adsorption efficiency of the toluene at 40% and to limit the microbial proliferation. Competitions within pollutants were observed, in particular an increase of the filtration efficiency of PM₁₀ with the presence of PM₂ ₅ by promoting the cake filtration stage. Moreover the mix toluene/NO₂ leads to a decrease of the NO₂ adsorption in favor of the toluene.Finally, an experimental campaign in realistic conditions was conducted for 3 months in particular to study the performances of the thermal treatment. Concentration levels of the pollutants in the suburban area of the study were low. The thermal treatment applied to the combined-F7 filter, with the operating conditions studied and after 3month of follow-up, permitted to significantly limit the fungal growth on the filter but it did not permit to improve significantly the VOC and NOₓ adsorption.

Práce je zaměřena na problematiku zavádění softwarových nástrojů pro podporu projektového řízení. Na konkrétním projektu implementace ukazuje možnosti dnešních PM nástrojů a navrhuje postup projektu, který umožní co nejlépe využít vlastností zaváděného systému ve vztahu k požadavkům a možnostem organizace. Cílem práce je ukázat, že vhodnout konfigurací lze dosáhnout mnohem širšího využití tohoto typu nástrojů pro řízení celé společnosti

Brushless permanent magnet (PM) drive systems offer a high efficiency over a wide power/torque-speed operating envelope, however, there are a number of problems that may limit, or complicate, their operation particularly in automotive and aerospace vehicular applications, i.e. the loss of control of the power silicon gate drive circuitry during fluxweakening operation, control of high-speed low-inductance machines and the presence of large electrolytic capacitors on the inverter DC link. Current Source Inverters (CSIs) could potentially address some or all of the above issues. However, they have found little application to date due to the wide use of the Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) circuit topology.This thesis investigates feasibility of utilising Current Source Inverters (CSIs) to control permanent magnet synchronous machines in automotive and aerospace actuation systems. CSIs, switching at the fundamental frequency, were used in some of the first semiconductor based, electronic variable speed drive systems that utilised the simple, low maintenance AC induction motor. However, the rapid progress of semiconductors and discovery of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques soon resulted in the Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) replacing the CSI in all but the highest power applications. Modern power electronics and (micro-processor based) control systems mean that the advantages of VSI systems may no longer be significant and combined with the unique environmental conditions that automotive and aerospace applications present, could allow the CSI to offer advantages over VSIs in these applications.The thesis presents the switching and control logic for CSIs and mapping to the more conventional VSI logic. Analysis is made of the various loss mechanisms in VSI and CSI power circuitary. Simulation models of the VSI and CSI structures are presented and representative drive systems designed, built and tested to validate the model developed. Comparisons are made of the two inverter topologies based on power conversions and loss audits of the test validation hardware.

Grâce à des études de processus in vitro, on a pu montrer que les effets sanitaires des particules atmosphériques (aérosols) sont principalement attribués à leur potentiel inflammatoire via les espèces oxydantes qu’ils véhiculent : métaux et molécules organiques, principalement. Les maladies déclenchées diffèrent ensuite régionalement selon les mélanges spécifiques des différentes sources de pollution, la durée d’exposition et la susceptibilité des personnes. Les paramètres clefs à quantifier sont donc la bioaccessibilité (fraction potentiellement réactive de l’aérosol) et la capacité oxydante intrinsèque des aérosols afin de prédire leur toxicité. A cette fin, des tests non invasifs, c’est-à-dire effectués sur le mélange de polluants lui-même et non pas sur l’individu, ont été récemment développés (Cho et al. 2005; Sauvain et al. 2009; Denys et al. 2009; Li et al. 2003; Uzu et al. 2011). Peut-on les utiliser en l’état alors que la composition chimique des aérosols diffère drastiquement en fonction de l’environnement? On sait notamment que les bactéries présentes dans l’air sont capables d’abaisser la capacité oxydante des nuages, en est-il de même pour les particules (Vaïtilingom et al. 2012)? Peut-on relier ces tests à certaines espèces caractérisées chimiquement et/ou à des sources spécifiques de PM (Particulate Matter) ? Ce sont des questions préalables au développement d’une évaluation systématique des effets sanitaires des polluants atmosphériques, qui sont l’objet de programmes de recherche très actifs dans de nombreux groupes internationaux, mais encore très peu abordés en France. Elles doivent être prises en compte avant que ne soit développées des campagnes à grande échelle (risque sanitaire, épidémiologie...) qui pourront être mises en oeuvre en partenariat avec les réseaux de mesure de la qualité de l’air dans les années à venir (Kelly and Fussell 2012).Ce projet de thèse vise à mettre en place de nouveaux outils caractérisant la qualité de l’air et son impact biologique, avec les objectifs suivants :-Optimiser et valider un test d’évaluation du potentiel oxydant des aérosols suivant différents types de mélanges ;-Relier ces « proxy » de l’impact sanitaire à la chimie des particules et à la part attribuable des PM selon leurs sources. / In vitro studies have shown that the health effects of airborne particles (aerosols) are mainly attributed to their inflammatory potential due to the oxidative species they carry on: mostly metals and organic molecules. Diseases triggered then, regionally differ depending on the specific mixtures of different sources of pollution, duration of exposure and susceptibility of individuals. Key parameters to investigate are the bioaccessibility (reactive fraction of the aerosol) and the PM (Particulate matter) oxidative potential to predict aerosol toxicity. To this end, non-invasive tests, that is to say made on the mixture of pollutants itself and not on human or cells, have recently been developed (Cho et al 2005, Sauvain et al 2009, Denys et al 2009, Li et al 2003, Uzu et al 2011). Can we use them evenly, since the chemical composition of aerosols differs drastically between regional areas? We know that such bacteria present in the air are able to lower the oxidative capacity of clouds. Is it the same for particles (Vaïtilingom et al. 2012)? Can we connect these tests to some species or specific sources of identified PM? These preliminary questions need to be addressed before developing a systematic assessment of health effects of air pollutants, which are the subject of very active research programs in many international groups, but poorly discussed in France. They must be taken into account before being developed for large-scale campaigns (health risk, epidemiology...) that can be implemented in partnership with the networks of air quality measurment in the coming years (Kelly and Fussell 2012).This PhD project aims to develop new tools characterizing the air quality and its biological impact, with the following objectives:- Optimize and validate a test evaluation of oxidative potential of aerosols following different types of mixtures;- Connect the "proxy" of the health impact of chemicals and particles attributable PM according to their origin.

La pollution de l'environnement, et particulièrement la pollution atmosphérique et son possible impact sur la santé humaine, suscite un intérêt grandissant dans les pays en voie de développement. Ce travail de thèse s'inscrit dans cette thématique et constitue une étude pionnière en Afrique, et au Bénin plus particulièrement. Nos résultats ont montré que l'essence utilisée à Cotonou était de piètre qualité, caractérisée par l'absence d'additifs et par une forte concentration en benzène, et pouvait être à l'origine de la dégradation de la qualité de l'air de la ville. De même, l'analyse d'échantillons de particules (PM₂․₅ et PM>₂․₅) prélevés dans le quartier de St Michel à Cotonou, a mis en exergue un taux anormalement élevé de particules en suspension dans l'air. La caractérisation physicochimique de ces particules a montré la présence d'un cocktail de composés chimiques (ions, métaux, COVs, paraffines, HAPs, etc.), en proportion plus élevées dans les particules fines PM₂․₅. L'appareil respiratoire constituant la principale voie d'exposition de l'Homme à ces particules atmosphériques, leur potentiel toxique a été évalué au travers d'une étude in vitro menée sur des cellules épithéliales bronchiques humaines (BEAS-2B). Il a été ainsi démontré les propriétés cytotoxiques des deux échantillons de particules ainsi que leur capacité à induire l'expression génique des enzymes de métabolisation des composés organiques et à générer un stress oxydatif. Le déclenchement du processus inflammatoire via l'induction de l'expression génique et la sécrétion protéique de cytokines et l'apparition de modifications dans la voie de l'acide arachidonique (leucotriènes, prostaglandine, thromboxane) ont été notés. Enfin l'approche comparative des PM₂․₅ prélevées au niveau de trois villes d'Afrique de l'Ouest a permis de mettre en évidence des caractéristiques proches au Bénin, en Côte d'Ivoire et au Sénégal et la contribution des émissions du trafic routier dans la pollution de l'air. / Air pollution and its adverse health effects have shown a growing interest in developing countries. This study deals with this subject and is one of the first conducted in African countries, particularly in Benin. Our results showed that the quality of gasoline used in cotonou was poor, characterized by the absence of additive and a high concentration of benzene. Thus, it could be responsible for the degradation of the city air quality. Therefore, particulate matter samples (PM₂․₅ and PM>₂․₅) were collected in St Michel neighborhood at Cotonou and results showed very high levels of particles in the ambient air. Physicochemical characterization of these particles revealed a presence of various chemicals compounds (ions, metals, VOCs, paraffins, PAHs, ect.) in higher proportion in PM₂․₅ than PM>₂․₅. The respiratory system, the main way of exposure to these airborne particles, was investigated through an in vitro study assessing the toxic potential of PM on human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). It has been demonstrated that the two types of particules have cytotoxic properties and ability to induce gene expression of organic compounds metabolizing enzymes and to generate oxidative stress. These particles have triggered the inflammatory process through the induction of gene expression and protein secretion of cytokines, and changes in the arachidonic acid pathway (leukotrienes, prostaglandin, and thromboxane). Finally, comparative approach for PM₂․₅ sampled in three West African cities highlighted the closeness of particles characteristics in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, and a significant contribution of road traffic emissions in the air pollution.

The global spread of COIVD-19, as well as the worsening air pollution throughout the world have brought tremendous attention into the development of materials that can efficiently capture particulate matter (PM). Traditional filters made from fabric, glass fibers, or melt blown fibers exhibit a low efficiency at removing sub-micrometer and nanoscale particles. Additionally, they exhibit limited performance in high humidity, high temperature environments. We suggest that the high porosity of filters composed of nanofibers could provide minimal obstruction to air flow, while their high tortuosity and surface area-to-volume ratio presents an excellent platform for particle capture. Electrospinning is a simple and well-studied process to produce randomly accumulated nano- and micro-scale diameter fibers. The main advantages of electrospun nanofibers include their tunable fiber morphology and diameter under specific electrospinning parameters, as well as the ease of post-process modification. Studies have demonstrated its promising applications ranging from tissue engineering, water purification to wearable electronics. Giving the tunable aspect of the process, various polymers were electrospun with different morphology and fiber diameter which all demonstrated high particle removal efficiency. Cellulose was chosen as the base material for our study since it is the most abundant biopolymer and its affinity for further chemical modification. In this study, the removal of nanoscale particles via in-house fabricated cellulose nanofilters is significantly enhanced by chemically functionalizing the fibers’ surface via the deposition of the bio-inspired glue polydopamine (PDA) and the polycation poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). Nanofilters were electrospun from cellulose acetate solutions before being regenerated to cellulose via an alkaline treatment. Cellulose nanofilters were then functionalized using only PDA or the codeposition of PDA with PDADMAC. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the nanofilters. The effects of filter packing density, filter layering, and surface functionalization on their performance, i.e., their filtration efficiency, most penetrating particle size (MPPS), performance in a high humidity environment, and filter pressure drop were investigated. Furthermore, by introducing hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanofibers within a composite filter structure, the performance of the composite filter remained unchanged even in high humidity.

Many commercial and laboratory applications of fiber optics require an ability to manipulate, change and control the state of polarization of light. This is usually accomplished with bulk-optic wave plates which are inherently narrowband, bulky, and often require careful manual tuning and adjustments. H.C. Huang has recently proposed that a variably spun birefringent fiber with spin rate slowly varying from zero to very fast (or vice versa) will transform the state of polarization (SOP) from linear to circular (and vice versa). The most remarkable feature of a Huang fiber is that the transformation from linear to circular polarization is independent of wavelength over entire single mode range of the fiber. In this thesis, using simulations and experiments we explore the properties of such a fiber element and investigate its similarities and differences as compared to a bulk-optic quarter-wave plate. In the simulations, we modeled the Huang fiber as a stack of birefringent waveplates and used this model verify the theoretically predicted polarization transformation behavior and the wideband nature of the Huang fiber. We analyzed the dependence of the polarization transformation by this device on various structural parameters and showed that while the fiber has loose tolerances with respect to the fiber length and the spin variation, it has a strong dependence on the maximum spin rate at the high-spun end. We investigated the PMD characteristics of the Huang fiber for short pulse applications. Using simulations we also verified that two such quarter wave-transforming fibers can be appropriately cascaded to obtain half-wave and full-wave transformation, analogous to bulk optics half wave and full wave plate respectively. In the experiments we studied the polarization transformation behavior of a Huang fiber sample when it is excited by different input states of polarization both from the un-spun end and the high-spun end. We found that the results from the experiments strongly support the simulation results. The experiment was performed at 1310 nm and 1550 nm to verify the wideband nature of the Huang fiber sample. We found that the Huang fiber indeed performs the prescribed state of polarization transformation over a wide band. / Master of Science