Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) are commonly employed in clinical practice and in research to give pathophysiological information for patients with acute ischemic stroke. DWI is thought to roughly reflect the severely damaged infarct core, while DSC-PWI reflects the area of hypoperfusion. The volumetric difference between DWI and DSC-PWI is termed the PWI/DWI-mismatch, and has been suggested as an MRI surrogate of the ischemic penumbra. However, due to the application of a contrast agent, which has potentially severe side-effects (e.g., nephrogenic systemic fibrosis), the DSC-PWI precludes repetitive examinations for monitoring purposes. New approaches are being sought to overcome this shortcoming. BOLD (blood oxygen-level dependent) signal can reflect the metabolism of blood oxygen in the brain and hemodynamics can be assessed with resting-state fMRI. The aim of this thesis was to use resting-state fMRI as a new approach to give similar information as DSC-PWI. This thesis comprises two studies: In the first study (see Chapter 2), two resting-state fMRI methods, local methods which compare low frequency amplitudes between two hemispheres and a k-means clustering approach, were applied to investigate the functional damage of patients with acute ischemic stroke both in the time domain and frequency domain. We found that the lesion areas had lower amplitudes than contralateral homotopic healthy tissues. We also differentiated the lesion areas from healthy tissues using a k-means clustering approach. In the second study (see Chapter 3), time-shift analysis (TSA), which assesses time delays of the spontaneous low frequency fluctuations of the resting-state BOLD signal, was applied to give similar pathophysiological information as DSC-PWI in the acute phase of stroke. We found that areas which showed a pronounced time delay to the respective mean time course were very similar to the hypoperfusion area. In summary, we suggest that the resting-state fMRI methods, especially the time-shift analysis (TSA), may provide comparable information to DSC-PWI and thus serve as a useful diagnostic tool for stroke MRI without the need for the application of a contrast agent.

Thesis in its theoretical part summarizes research in the area of global software development. Practical part illustrates processes in real firm which develops software in distributed environment. Conclusion then provides reccomendations to be applied in the real company.

<p>This theses covers the design and implementation of recording functionality for a set-top box in a home network. An initial investigation is done and possibilities for extending the system to support specific features are presented. </p><p>Digital TV is becoming more common each day, and soon it will be more widely used than todays analogue standard. At the same time the need for recording TV shows remains the same or is increasing, which is shown by the number of PVR solutions popping up on the market. </p><p>The goal of this thesis work was to investigate the possibilities for extending an existing set-top box to support common PVR features and, if possible, to implement a prototype. This was supposed to be done in a home network environment with the set-top box as the digital media center. </p><p>A satisfying solution, covering basic recording functionality is defined and implemented. The solution includes recording to a USB hard drive and to a PC on the local network. On top of this, a graphical user interface is built and some simple benchmarks show the performance of the set-top box with the new functionality.</p>

This theses covers the design and implementation of recording functionality for a set-top box in a home network. An initial investigation is done and possibilities for extending the system to support specific features are presented. Digital TV is becoming more common each day, and soon it will be more widely used than todays analogue standard. At the same time the need for recording TV shows remains the same or is increasing, which is shown by the number of PVR solutions popping up on the market. The goal of this thesis work was to investigate the possibilities for extending an existing set-top box to support common PVR features and, if possible, to implement a prototype. This was supposed to be done in a home network environment with the set-top box as the digital media center. A satisfying solution, covering basic recording functionality is defined and implemented. The solution includes recording to a USB hard drive and to a PC on the local network. On top of this, a graphical user interface is built and some simple benchmarks show the performance of the set-top box with the new functionality.

Le présent mémoire a pour objet d’étudier la relation entre les modes propres de vibration avec les mesures de saut temporel ultrasonore. La méthode de saut temporel est une technique de l’acoustique non linéaire qui s’intéresse à l’évaluation des dommages internes dans le béton notamment à un jeune âge. Elle est basée sur le décalage temporel dans le temps d’arrivée des ondes ultrasonores après que le milieu de propagation ait été soumis à une excitation mécanique par laquelle le réseau de microfissuration interne est perturbé. Son application in situ avait été testée, mais il y avait un consensus général que l’amplitude du saut temporel pouvait dépendre de la nature du mode propre excité de la structure. La méthode a donc été appliquée au laboratoire sur des poutres en béton armé (non endommagé) afin d’étudier cette influence. Les ondes de surface ont été étudiées à cause de leur sensibilité aux variations de propriétés mécaniques du béton. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les valeurs de saut temporel dépendent fortement du mode excité, les modes ayant manifesté d’une façon notable et énergétique dans le spectre de Fourrier d’accélération sont ceux ayant provoqué un décalage temporel significatif. De plus, l’excitation de deux modes par une même amplitude ne produit pas le même effet. Par ailleurs, les résultats indiquent que le choix du mode à exciter est important, car l’excitation d’un mode inapproprié ne révèle pas l’état réel du béton/de l’ouvrage ausculté. Enfin, la présente étude conclut qu’il y a une dépendance entre les modes propres des structures sur les mesures de saut temporel ; la prise en compte de telle dépendance améliore l’efficacité de la technique de saut temporel, et tout dans une configuration simple et optimale. / Abstract : The purpose of this project is to study the relationship between of eigenmodes of vibration and ultrasonic time shift measurements. Indeed, the method of time shift is a technique of nonlinear acoustics which is interested in the evaluation of the internal damage in the concrete especially at early age. It is based on the time shift in the arrival time of the ultrasonic waves after the medium has subjected a mechanical excitation by which the internal microcracking network is disturbed. Its application in situ was recently experienced, but there was a consensus that the amplitude of the time shift could depend on the nature of the excited eigenmode of the structure. The method was applied in the laboratory on reinforced concrete beams (undamaged) to assess their influence. The surface waves were thus investigated in this experiment because of their sensitivity to the variation of the mechanical properties of concrete. The results show that the time shift values depend strongly on the excited mode; the modes which have manifested in a notable and energetic manner in the acceleration spectrum are tho se which have caused a significant time shift. Moreover, the excitation of two modes by the same amplitude does not produce the same effect. Also, the results indicate that the choice of the mode to be excited is important, because the excitation of an ina ppropriate mode does not reveal the actual condition of the concrete or examined structure. Finally, the present study concludes that there is dependence between the eigenmodes of the structures on the time shift measurements; the taking into account of such dependence improves the efficiency of the time shift technique, all in a simple and optimal configuration.

In this work the relationships between penetrant structure, its transport properties, and its effects on the mechanical properties of a polymer matrix were investigated. Although there is a vast amount of data on the diffusion of low molecular weight molecules into polymeric materials and on the mechanical properties of various polymer-penetrant systems, no attempts have been made to inter-relate the two properties with respect to the chemical structure of the diffusant. Therefore, two series of penetrants - n-alkanes and esters - were examined in this context, with the goal of correlating molecular size, shape, and chemical nature of the penetrant to its final transport and matrix mechanical properties. These correlations have been demonstrated to allow quantitative prediction of one property, given a reasonable set of data on the other parameters. A series of n-alkanes (C6-C17) and esters (C5-C17) have been used to separate the effects of penetrant size and shape, from those due to polymer-penetrant interactions, in the diffusion through a polyamide polymeric adhesive. These effects have been taken into account in order to yield a qualitative relationship that allows for prediction of diffusivity based upon penetrant structural information. Transport properties have been analyzed using mass uptake experiments as well as an in-situ FTIR-ATR technique to provide detailed kinetic as well as thermodynamic information on this process. The phenomenon of diffusion and its effects on the resulting dynamic mechanical response of a matrix polymeric adhesive have been studied in great detail using the method of reduced variables. The concept of a diffusion-time shift factor (log aDt) has been introduced to create doubly-reduced master curves, taking into account the effects of temperature and the variations in the polymer mechanical response due to the existence of a low molecular weight penetrant. / Ph. D.

Résumé : La connaissance de la fiabilité d’une structure dans sa durée de vie est d’une importance stratégique. Plusieurs méthodes non destructives ont ainsi été développées pour évaluer l’état des ouvrages en béton. Parmi ces techniques, les méthodes basées sur l’acoustique non linéaire ont démontré une performance satisfaisante en laboratoire pour détecter les microfissures de façon précoce. L’objectif de cette thèse consiste à apporter de nouvelles idées contribuant au développement de la méthode du saut temporel ultrasonore (en tant que méthode acoustique non linéaire) pour l’évaluation in situ des structures en béton. Ce travail porte plus particulièrement sur la caractérisation du béton atteint de réaction alcalis-silice (RAS). L’originalité de ce travail réside principalement dans l’utilisation des sollicitations naturelles auxquelles les ouvrages d’art sont soumis comme source d’excitation du milieu pendant l’application du saut temporel (ST). La sollicitation fournie par le passage d’un véhicule sur un tablier d’un pont est l’un des exemples de ces sources naturelles. Un programme expérimental a donc été mis sur pied, qui consiste en une phase d’étude au laboratoire et à une phase d’étude sur site. Deux dalles de béton réactif et une dalle de béton non réactif (1,40×0,75×0,3 m[indice supérieur 3]) ont été fabriquées en laboratoire afin d’évaluer l’idée générale de cette thèse. Pour générer les ondes d’excitation de basses fréquences requises pour les essais ST, un vérin hydraulique a été utilisé comme sources d’impact simulant le passage d’un véhicule. Avec ce protocole d’essais, la progression de la RAS a été caractérisée dans les dalles réactives. Il a été démontré que le ST peut détecter sans équivoque la RAS à partir d’une expansion de 0,03%. Les résultats montrent également que la perturbation des éléments structuraux par le passage d’un véhicule serait exploitable pour les investigations in situ. L’effet de la température sur le comportement acoustique non linéaire du béton a également été étudié : les mesures acoustiques non linéaires sont plus fiables dans une plage de température entre 10[degré]C et 30[degré]C. Des essais préliminaires ont été effectués sur le tablier d’un petit pont en béton. Les perturbations requises ont été fournies par le passage d’un camion dans une plage de vitesses variant de 20 km/h à 50 km/h; en utilisant deux types d’excitation (naturelle et amplifiée en utilisant des obstacles). Les résultats ont démontré qu’on peut appliquer la méthode ST sur site en utilisant l’excitation naturelle générée par un camion. Les expériences faites dans cette thèse révèlent la faisabilité de la méthode du ST pour évaluer l’état des structures en béton, notamment celles qui sont dégradées par la RAS. // Abstract : Reliability of a structure during its service life is strategically important. Several non-destructive methods have been developed to evaluate the condition of concrete structures. Among these techniques, the methods based on nonlinear acoustic have shown an excellent performance in laboratory for detecting micro-cracks at early ages. The objective of the thesis is to work on new ideas, which may contribute to develop the method of Ultrasonic Time Shift (as a nonlinear acoustic method) for evaluating concrete structures. This thesis focused was on concrete elements suffering from Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR). The originality of the work is related to the idea that the natural vibrations, which exist in structures, can be used for perturbing structural elements during a Time Shift test. For instance, the vibration generated by a vehicle passing on a bridge is one of the examples of the natural resources of vibration. To reach the objective of this thesis, a research program was conducted in two phases: 1) experiments in laboratory; 2) field experiments. Two concrete slabs with reactive coarse aggregates and one with nonreactive aggregate were fabricated in the lab in order to assess the main idea of the thesis. A hydraulic actuator with an impact form loading pattern was used to generate low frequency waves (used to perturb the test-media) for tests of Time Shift (TS). Such loading pattern is similar to the loading imposed by a vehicle passing on a bridge deck. The progression of ASR-damage in the concrete slabs was successfully tracked using the developed methodology. It was shown that the TS can detect ASR from an expansion level about 0.03%.The results also show that the new methodology used for exciting structural elements can be used for field investigations. The effect of the temperature on nonlinear acoustic behavior of the concrete was also assessed. This investigation revealed that measurements in temperatures ranged from 10oC to 30oC can lead to better results. Some filed tests were carried out on a concrete slab of a small-size bridge. The required perturbations for the tests were provided by a truck. The velocity of the truck ranged from 20 km/h to 50 km/h.; using two types of perturbation (natural and exaggerated using some obstacles on surface). The results showed that the TS is an applicable method for field investigations, where the required perturbations are provided by a truck. The performed experimental program revealed the feasibility of the method of Time Shift for evaluating concrete structures, specifically those damaged by ASR.

This thesis assessed the life-cycle environmental impact of a lithium-ion battery pack intended for energy storage applications. A model of the battery pack was made in the life-cycle assessment-tool, openLCA. The environmental impact assessment was conducted with the life-cycle impact assessment methods recommended in the Batteries Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules adopted by the European Commission (2016). The findings in this study showed that the most important parameter in the cradle-to-grave assessment was the use-stage losses, which can be reduced by using electricity grids with high sharesof renewable energy or by increase the round-trip efficiency of the battery system. However, for the cradle-to-gate assessment, five impact categories were found to be relevant. These categories were: climate change, acidification, fossil resource use, resource use (minerals and metals) and particulate matter. Furthermore, within these impact categories, four materials contributed to more than 65 % of all impact. These key materials were; nickel, aluminium, cobalt and graphite. Therefore, a recommendation to battery manufacturers is to prioritise sourcing these four key materials from sustainable suppliers to reduce the overall cradle-to-gate environmental impact. Lastly, by integrating recycling of the battery pack in the end-of-life-stage, it was possibleto achieve a net reduction of 9-20 % of the cradle-to-grave climate change, acidification and fossil resource use compared to not including recycling. Therefore, the development of efficient and large-scale recycling will likely play a major role in reducing the environmental impact from lithium-ion batteries in the future.

Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) are commonly employed in clinical practice and in research to give pathophysiological information for patients with acute ischemic stroke. DWI is thought to roughly reflect the severely damaged infarct core, while DSC-PWI reflects the area of hypoperfusion. The volumetric difference between DWI and DSC-PWI is termed the PWI/DWI-mismatch, and has been suggested as an MRI surrogate of the ischemic penumbra. However, due to the application of a contrast agent, which has potentially severe side-effects (e.g., nephrogenic systemic fibrosis), the DSC-PWI precludes repetitive examinations for monitoring purposes. New approaches are being sought to overcome this shortcoming. BOLD (blood oxygen-level dependent) signal can reflect the metabolism of blood oxygen in the brain and hemodynamics can be assessed with resting-state fMRI. The aim of this thesis was to use resting-state fMRI as a new approach to give similar information as DSC-PWI. This thesis comprises two studies: In the first study (see Chapter 2), two resting-state fMRI methods, local methods which compare low frequency amplitudes between two hemispheres and a k-means clustering approach, were applied to investigate the functional damage of patients with acute ischemic stroke both in the time domain and frequency domain. We found that the lesion areas had lower amplitudes than contralateral homotopic healthy tissues. We also differentiated the lesion areas from healthy tissues using a k-means clustering approach. In the second study (see Chapter 3), time-shift analysis (TSA), which assesses time delays of the spontaneous low frequency fluctuations of the resting-state BOLD signal, was applied to give similar pathophysiological information as DSC-PWI in the acute phase of stroke. We found that areas which showed a pronounced time delay to the respective mean time course were very similar to the hypoperfusion area. In summary, we suggest that the resting-state fMRI methods, especially the time-shift analysis (TSA), may provide comparable information to DSC-PWI and thus serve as a useful diagnostic tool for stroke MRI without the need for the application of a contrast agent.

Com o aumento da concorrência sofrido pelas operadoras de telecomunicações frente à entrada de diversas empresas de outros ramos no mercado de comunicação, como, por exemplo, os Provedores de Serviço de Internet (ISPs - Internet Service Providers) através da oferta de serviços de voz sobre IP, tais operadoras viram-se obrigadas a diversificar sua oferta de serviços para gerar novas fontes de receita. Por possuírem ampla infra-estrutura instalada, as operadoras de telecomunicações passaram a oferecer, também, serviço de TV aos usuários, através de suas redes (convergentes) de telefonia e dados já existentes, o chamado IPTV. O objetivo deste trabalho foi possibilitar, neste cenário, que estas empresas consigam oferecer, além dos serviços convencionais de TV (e.g., transmissões lineares dos conteúdos nos canais de TV), serviços diferenciados empregando-se a mesma infra-estrutura. O foco deste trabalho é a oferta do serviço de apresentação deslocada no tempo dos conteúdos transmitidos linearmente nos canais de TV, sem a necessidade de configuração prévia por parte do usuário. Desta maneira, dá-se maior flexibilidade ao usuário, possibilitando-o assistir aos conteúdos que lhe interessam, no horário mais conveniente, sem ter que se preocupar com isso antecipadamente (i.e., sem a necessidade de configurar algum equipamento para gravar o conteúdo ou saber antecipadamente quais programas lhe interessam). Para isso foram pesquisadas e analisadas tanto tecnologias de transmissão e distribuição de conteúdos, como também o paradigma peer-to-peer, muito utilizado atualmente no compartilhamento de arquivos na Internet. A partir daí, foi concebida uma arquitetura capaz de oferecer tanto o serviço tradicional de transmissão linear de TV, quanto de apresentar vídeos deslocados no tempo (i.e., vídeos cuja transmissão linear já foi iniciada ou até concluída, a partir de qualquer posição já transmitida), combinando-se técnicas de multidifusão de dados, armazenamento distribuído e protocolos peer-to-peer. Desta maneira, obteve-se uma solução eficiente, utilizando-se os recursos disponíveis em todo o sistema, incluindo recursos ociosos dos usuários finais, para auxiliar no armazenamento e distribuição dos conteúdos deslocados no tempo. Finalmente, um protótipo foi desenvolvido como prova de conceito da arquitetura proposta neste trabalho, e, juntamente com os testes realizados, comprovam a viabilidade de se utilizar redes P2P para a distribuição dos conteúdos para a apresentação deslocada no tempo. / Telecommunication companies are suffering from the increasing offer of cheap and reliable voice over IP services, being forced to diversify their services looking for new revenue possibilities. Since these companies have a vast infrastructure, they are now providing TV services through the same telephony and data infrastructure, using their IP networks to offer IPTV. The goal of the present work is to allow, in this scenario, that such companies offer, additionally to the traditional TV services (e.g., the linear transmissions of the TV channels), differentiated services through the same infrastructure. The focus of the present work is, therefore, the offering of the time-shift service, allowing users to watch linear transmitted contents, time-shifted, without the need for any in-advance configuration. This approach gives more flexibility to the users, allowing them to choose the most appropriate time to watch some content without having to specify their interests in advance (i.e., without configuring some equipment to record the content or knowing in advance which programs will interest themselves). To achieve this goal, technologies for content transmission and distribution, as well as the peer-to-peer paradigm for file sharing were studied, resulting in the development of an architecture capable of offering the traditional linear transmissions service as well as the possibility of time-shift, combining multicast, distributed caching and peer-to-peer technologies. Accordingly, an efficient solution was envisioned, making use of all available resources in the system, including idle resources in the user equipments, to help in the caching and distribution of the time-shifted contents. Finally, a prototype was developed as a proof-of-concept for the designed architecture, which together with the performed tests, shows the viability of utilizing P2P networks in the distribution of time-shifted contents.