Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse portent sur l’étude et la conception de lentilles continues en guide d’ondes à plans parallèles (PPW) pour des applications multi-faisceaux. La conversion du front d'onde est assurée par une lentille formée d’une lame et d'une cavité transversale. Ce concept, proposant une approche mécanique simplifiée et possiblement purement métallique, est particulièrement attractif pour les futurs systèmes de communications par satellites (GEO/LEO) requérants des solutions à moindre coût tout en maintenant de hautes performances. La première partie de cette thèse présente la réalisation d’un outil d’analyse numérique basée sur l’optique géométrique (GO). Une prédiction rapide et précise des performances en rayonnement est obtenue. En combinant cet outil avec des processus d’optimisation, des performances en dépointage sur un large secteur angulaire sont ensuite démontrées, incluant une stabilité des diagrammes en rayonnement (ouverture à mi-puissance, niveaux de lobes secondaires et pertes en dépointage). Un prototype fonctionnant dans la bande Ka est réalisé, validant les performances précédemment obtenues. De hautes efficacités de rayonnement sont également mises en avant sur l’ensemble de la plage de fréquence. Enfin un second prototype plus compact basé sur de multiples lentilles est proposé et étudié, démontrant des performances similaires à la première solution fabriquée et mesurée. / The activities presented in this PhD focus on the study and development of continuous parallel plate waveguide (PPW) lenses for multiple beam applications. The wave front conversion is ensured by a PPW transversal ridge and cavity. The proposed concept, based on a simplified mechanical approach and possibly full-metal, is particularly suitable for future satellite communication systems (GO/LEO) requiring low-cost antennas while maintaining high performances. The first part of the thesis deals with the development of a numerical analysis tool based on geometrical optics (GO). A fast and accurate prediction of the radiation performance is provided.Combining the tool with optimization processes, large scanning performances have been demonstrated, including a stability of the radiation pattern performance (HPBW, SLL, scan loss). A prototype working at Ka band has been manufactured, validating the performances demonstrated previously. High radiation efficiencies are also proved over the entire frequency range. Finally, a second prototype targeting performances in compactness and based on multiple lenses is proposed and studied, showing similar performances as the first solution fabricated and measured.

[pt] Durante muito tempo, a simulação computacional de fenômenos acústicos tem sido utilizada principalmente no projeto e estudo da acústica de ambientes. Recentemente, no entanto, podemos ver um maior interesse na utilização dessas simulações como forma de aumentar a sensação de imersão em ambientes virtuais. De forma geral, podemos dizer que um ambiente acústico virtual deve ser capaz de realizar duas tarefas: simular a propagação do som em um ambiente e ser capaz de reproduzi-lo com seu conteúdo espacial, isto é, reproduzi-lo de forma a permitir o reconhecimento da direção de propagação do som. Esta dissertação trata desses dois assuntos. São revistos os algoritmos mais comuns para o cálculo da propagação do som e, brevemente, as formas utilizadas para reproduzir áudio com conteúdo espacial. Também é apresentada a implementação de um ambiente acústico virtual, baseado nos algoritmos de beam tracing, que simula a propagação do som em ambientes bidimensionais. Como grande parte do cálculo de propagação é realizada em uma etapa de pré-processamento, o ambiente acústico virtual implementado trata apenas de fontes fixas no espaço. Os caminhos de propagação calculados são compostos de reflexões especulares e difrações do som. / [en] For a long time, computational simulation of acoustic phenomena has been used mainly in the design and study of the acoustic properties of concert and lecture halls. Recently, however, there is a growing interest in the use of such simulations in virtual environments in order to enhance users` immersion experience. Generally, we can say that a virtual acoustic environment must be able to accomplish two tasks: simulating the propagation of sound in an environment and reproducing audio with spatial content, that is, in a way that it allows the recognition of the direction of sound propagation. These tasks are the topic of the present dissertation. We begin with a revision of the most common algorithms for the simulation of sound propagation and, briefly, of the reproduction of audio with spatial content. We then present the implementation of a virtual acoustic environment, based on beam tracing algorithms, which simulates the propagation of sound waves in two-dimensional environments. As most of the computation is made in a pre-processing stage, the virtual acoustic environment implemented is appropriate only for spatially fixed sound sources. The propagation paths computed are made of specular reflections and of diffractions.

INTRODUÇÃO: A poliquimioterapia (PQT-OMS) para tratamento da hanseníase resultou em drástica redução da sua prevalência, mas em limitado impacto na detecção de casos novos (CN), que se manteve estável em Santa Catarina, estado na fase de pós-eliminação. Casos com altos índices baciloscópicos apresentam risco de recidiva tardia e podem consistir em focos persistentes de transmissão da doença. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a recidiva da doença em amostra de pacientes virchowianos regularmente tratados com PQT-OMS 24 doses; ensaios de resistência terapêutica em camundongos para os casos suspeitos; resposta imune específica (celular e humoral) e detecção do DNA do M. leprae nos casos-índices (CI) e seus contatos indradomiciliares (CID); e os achados frente aos indicadores epidemiológicos e operacionais de Santa Catarina. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: A partir da busca no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), foram selecionados 46 CI, tratados entre 1990-2000, e 187 CID, dos municípios de Itajaí e Joinville. A avaliação constituiu de: exames dermatoneurológico e anatomopatológico da pele; baciloscopia do esfregaço cutâneo; reação de Mitsuda; sorologia para glicolipídeo fenólico-I (IgM-anti-PGL-I); ensaios de resistência terapêutica em camundongos e de detecção do DNA bacilar no muco nasal por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para as seqüências repetitivas específicas RLEP-130 e RLEP-372. RESULTADOS: Entre os CI após alta por cura (m=11,2 ± 3 anos), a idade média (57,3±14,5 anos) foi superior (p<0,05) comparada aos CID, com predomínio de homens (p=0,001) e Mitsuda-negativos (78,6%). Em quatro casos (8,7%) considerados recidivados, o valor sérico médio (0,365) e as freqüências da positividade do anti-PGL-I e a da RLEP-130 (75%; p=0,03) foram consistentemente elevados, e os testes em camundongos, negativos. Dentre os 187 CID, 22 (11,8%) adoeceram (CIDd), a maioria (10 casos; 45,4%) foi diagnosticada entre 2 a 19 anos; 6 casos (27,3%), no mesmo período do seu respectivo CI; e 6 CN (3 dimorfo-tuberculóides e 3 tuberculóides) foram detectados durante a intervenção. Os CN evidenciaram elevada freqüência da positividade da RLEP-130 (50%) contrastante com a do anti-PGL-I (20%) e seu valor sérico médio (0,075) inferior. Entre os CI após a alta PQT-MB (>10 anos), houve inferioridade da freqüência da positividade (14,3%) e do valor sérico médio do anti-PGL-I (0,072), estabelecendo uma correlação negativa (p=0,038,r=-0,32) com o tempo decorrido. Valores similares da freqüência de positividade para RLEP-130 foram encontrados em: CI com alta por cura (26,7%), em períodos superiores (25%) a 10 anos de conclusão do tratamento e CID saudáveis (20,5%). A positividade para a RLEP-130 foi mais freqüente (p<0,001) comparada à da RLEP-372. CONCLUSÕES: A taxa de recidiva após PQT-MB 24 doses é baixa e prevalece alta percentagem de cura (91,3%). É racional considerar que o anti-PGL-I e a detecção do DNA bacilar por RLEP-130 devam ser analisados em conjunto com os demais achados clínicos e laboratoriais, ainda que nossos resultados possam ter diferenciado os grupos nas distintas condições: recidiva e alta por cura, e identificado doentes, contatos e famílias em risco. O seguimento e o monitoramento clínico e laboratorial por períodos prolongados incrementariam a detecção precoce de novos casos entre os comunicantes, desde que o intervalo para o diagnóstico foi longo para a maioria daqueles que adoeceram. Estas estratégias seriam potencialmente facilitadas em áreas com reduzida prevalência, e particularmente valiosas para a manutenção do controle na fase de pós-eliminação / Introduction: Multidrugtherapy (MDT-WHO) resulted in marked reduction of leprosy prevalence in Brazil, without impact on detection of new cases in Santa Catarina (SC) state in the post-elimination phase. Lepromatous cases with high bacilloscopic index have late relapse risk and can consist in the disease transmission focus. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease recurrence and microbiological resistance in lepromatous leprosy patients regularly treated with MDT-WHO/24 doses; specific immune response (cellular and humoral) and M. leprae DNA detection in index cases (IC) and their household contacts (HHC); and the findings face to the epidemiological and operational indicators of Santa Catarina state. Casuistic and methods: After consulting the Brazilian Information System of Notification (SINAN) database, 46 IC successfully diagnosed and treated between 1990 and 2000, and their 187 HHC from Joinville and Itajaí (SC) municipalities were selected. A dermatoneurological examination was performed, as well as the skin biopsies for histopathology and therapy resistance assay in mouse pads, skin smears for bacilloscopy, anti-PGL-I IgM serology, Mitsuda reaction, polymerase chain reaction for M. leprae DNA detection in nasal secretion based on 130bp and 372bp specific repetitive sequences (RLEP). Results: Cured IC (m=11.2±3 years) had mean age higher ((57.3±14.5 years old; p<0.05) than HHC, most of them were males (p=0.001) and Mitsuda negative (78.6%). In 4 relapsed cases (8.7%) the average anti-PGL-I serum levels (0.365), as well as frequency of positive antibody and RLEP-130 (75%; p=0.03) were consistently high and the mouse footpads assays resulted negative. Among 187 HHC, 22 (11.8%) became sick (sHHC), 10 cases (45.4%) were diagnosed between 2 and 19 years, being 6 cases (27.3%) in the same year of their IC; 6 new cases (3 borderline-tuberculoid and 3 tuberculoid) were detected during the study, with high RLEP-130 positive frequency (50%), as opposed to anti-PGL-I (20%) and low average serum levels (0.075). Among IC with more than 10 years of discharge, frequency of positive anti-PGL-I (14.3%) and average serum levels (0.072) were lower and had negative correlation (p=0.038, r= -0.32) with time after cure. Similar values of frequency of positivity for RLEP-130 were found: IC with discharge by cure (26.7%), when time interval was higher than 10 years (25%) and in healthy HHC (20.5%). RLEP-130 positivity was more frequent (p<0.001) than RLEP-372. Conclusions: Relapse rate after MDT-WHO 24 doses was low, with high cure rate (91.3%). Serology anti-PGL-I and M. leprae DNA detection by RLEP-130 must be analyzed together with other clinical and laboratory findings, though our results had differentiated groups in the following conditions: relapse and discharge by cure, patient identification, HHC and families at risk. Long term follow-up with laboratorial and clinical monitoring could lead to early detection of new cases among HHC, since the period between diagnoses was long for most sHHC. This strategy may be useful in areas with decreased prevalence, and of particular value for maintenance of disease control in the post-elimination phase

Der Zustrom von Grundwasser zu Seen (lacustrine groundwater discharge, LGD) kann signifikante Auswirkungen auf Qualität und Quantität des Seewassers haben. Viele Ansätze zur Identifikation und Quantifizierung von LGD basieren auf Temperaturunterschieden zwischen Grund- und Seewasser und der Messung des damit einhergehenden Wärmetransports. Ziel der Doktorarbeit ist es, Signalfortpflanzung und -ausbreitung des Grundwasserzustroms von der Punktskala an der Sediment-Wasser-Grenzfläche über den Wasserkörper bis zur Grenzfläche Wasseroberfläche-Atmosphäre zu untersuchen. Getestet wird die Hypothese, dass das im Verhältnis zum Umgebungswasser wärmere und daher leichtere Grundwasser in der kalten Wassersäule aufsteigt und die Detektion von LGD an der Wasseroberfläche mit thermalen Infrarot Aufnahmen (TIR) erlaubt. Zunächst wird mit der hierarchical patch dynamics ein Konzept entwickelt, das eine angemessene Kombination multipler Techniken zur Erfassung von Wärme- und Wasserflüssen anbietet (Kap. 2). Dabei werden verschiedene räumliche Skalen und ökohydrologische Grenzflächen abgedeckt. Darauf basierend werden in einem Mesokosmos-Experiment unterschiedliche LGD-Raten durch den Zustrom von warmem Wasser am Grund eines Outdoor-Pools simuliert (Kap. 3 und 4). Ein Glasfaserkabel (fibre-optic distributed temperature sensing, FO-DTS) wird in verschiedenen Tiefen installiert, um das Wärmesignal des Grundwasserzustroms unter verschiedenen Bedingungen zu verfolgen. Mit einer TIR-Kamera wird die Temperatur des Oberflächenwassers aufgezeichnet. Die Aufnahmen werden mit FO-DTS-Temperaturen von 2 cm unter der Wasseroberfläche validiert. Die Anwendung von TIR und FO-DTS ermöglicht die Detektion von LGD in der Wassersäule und an der Grenzfläche Wasseroberfläche-Atmosphäre. Wolkenbedeckung und der Tagesgang der Netto-Strahlung kontrollieren den Auftrieb von LGD und die Zuverlässigkeit der TIR-Ergebnisse. Die besten Ergebnisse werden bei Bewölkung und nachts erzielt. / Lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) can have significant impacts on lake water quantity and quality. There is a need to understand LGD mechanisms and to improve measurement methods for LGD. Approaches to identify and quantify LGD are based on significant temperature differences between GW and lake water. The main goal of this PhD thesis is to trace heat signal propagation of LGD from the point scale at the sediment-water interface across the overlying water body to the water surface-atmosphere interface. The PhD thesis tests the hypothesis that the positive buoyancy of warm GW causes upwelling across the cold water column and allows detection of LGD at the water surface by thermal infrared imaging (TIR). First, a general conceptual framework is developed based on hierarchical patch dynamics (HPD). It guides researchers on adequately combining multiple heat tracing techniques to identify and quantify heat and water exchange over several spatial scales and ecohydrological interfaces (Chapter 2). Second, the conceptual framework is used for the design of a mesocosm experiment (Chapters 3 and 4). Different LGD rates were simulated by injecting relatively warm water at the bottom of an outdoor mesocosm. A fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) cable was installed in a 3D setup in the water column to trace the heat signal of the simulated LGD under different weather conditions and over entire diurnal cycles. Finally, a TIR camera was mounted 4 meters above the mesocosm to monitor water surface temperatures. TIR images were validated using FO-DTS temperature data 2 cm below the water surface (Chapter 4). The positive buoyancy of relatively warm LGD allows the detection of GW across the water column and at the water surface-atmosphere interface by FO-DTS and TIR. Cloud cover and diurnal cycle of net radiation strongly control the upwelling of simulated LGD and the reliability of TIR for detection of LGD at the water surface-atmosphere interface. Optimal results are obtained under overcast conditions and during night.

The aim of this study is to analyse the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats idea development in the issue of migration in 2010-2018. The inquiry consists of the following two research questions. How has the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats positions regarding migration developed in 2010-2018? How can institutional theories explain the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats idea development? The study is encompassed by three theoretical perspectives also recognised as rational-choice institutionalism, historical institutionalism and discursive institutionalism. In regard to the methodological approach, the study employs the comparative case study design with the most-similar system and is essentially an idea analytical study. The main results reveal that both the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats have adjusted their migration policies but to different degrees. The Swedish Democrats promote similar policies in 2010 as in 2018 with smaller alterations while the Moderate Party has customised larger alterations, distinguishing the party’s migration policy from 2010 and 2018. These policy alterations are primarily explained as a result of rational action, societal discourses and critical junctures.

This thesis explores the political use of branding in international relations by focusing on the branding exercises of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the State of Qatar over the last two decades. In most of the existing literature, branding is theorised as a representational and instrumental practice that is strategically used to increase a country's competitive edge. Adopting a critical constructivist lens to the study of International Relations (IR), this thesis challenges this reading and argues instead that branding is a productive and inherently political practice that (re)produces dominant interpretations of state-identity rather than merely describing them. Based on the core constructivist claim that much of politics revolves around the competition to give meaning to the world, this thesis argues that the version of the state promoted through branding is neither neutral nor brand new, but inherently politicised and tied to the conversation and legitimation of the incumbent political regime. Inspired by the ongoing practice turn in IR, the starting point for the analysis is a focus on the display of the state through a range of everyday practices long ignored by IR scholars. In particular, it focuses on how the political leadership in both Kazakhstan and Qatar has used the urban development of their capital cities, the hosting of international sports events, and the construction of 'world-class' universities to present new ideas about their state to various inter/national audiences. Using an original data corpus of multimodal primary and secondary material, the analysis traces how branding practices produce and normalise a certain interpretation of Kazakhstani and Qatari statehood, and then interrogates how we can understand this interpretation as politicised and tied to the interests of the regime. The goal of the analysis is twofold. First, this thesis aims to elucidate how relevant instances of state- branding unfold and travel across different empirical contexts (Kazakhstan and Qatar) and cases (urban development, sports and education). Second, it aims to push current scholarly understandings by (re)conceptualising branding as a genre of contemporary identity politics, and produce broader insights about the characteristics and mechanisms of this increasingly normalised - yet often as politically non-salient dismissed - practice of international relations.

Pour commercialiser un véhicule, les constructeurs automobiles doivent se soumettre à la réglementation sur le bruit extérieur. Le règlement de la commission économique pour l'Europe, ECE R51.03, spécifie les niveaux admissibles que peut rayonner un véhicule automobile en roulage. Ce règlement est entré en vigueur depuis le 1er juillet 2016 pour remplacer l'ancien règlement ECE R51.02 (changement de méthode d’essai et sévérisation des niveaux de bruit admissibles). La diminution drastique des niveaux sonores tolérés se fait en trois étapes : passage de 74 dB (A) sous l'ancien règlement, à 68 dB (A) en 2024. Par conséquent, les constructeurs ainsi que les fournisseurs automobiles seront confrontés à un grand défi pour atteindre cet objectif. Ainsi, l'objectif de ces travaux de thèse consiste à développer une aide à la modélisation totale du bruit de passage d’un véhicule, comme le préconisent les essais réglementaires. Le but est de construire des modèles optimaux pour prévoir et évaluer avec précision le bruit que peut rayonner un véhicule en roulage plus tôt dans son cycle de développement, i.e. avant l'étape d'industrialisation. Il faut alors se placer dans la recherche d'un compromis entre précision des estimations, sensibilité aux paramètres, robustesse de la méthode et efficacité numérique. / Currently, to put a vehicle on market, car manufacturers must comply to a certification test of exterior noise. The regulation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, ECE R51-03, specifies permissible levels a rolling motor vehicle can emit. This regulation is applied since July 1st, 2016, to replace the old regulation ECE R51-02 (test method change and tightening of permissible levels). The drastic reduction in noise levels will be done in 3 steps: from 74 dB (A) under the old regulation to 68 dB (A) in 2024. Therefore, manufacturers as well as their suppliers will face a great challenge to achieve this goal. The objective of this thesis is to develop an aid to the modeling of the pass-by noise of a vehicle, as called for in regulatory testing. The goal is to predict and evaluate accurately the noise emissions earlier in the vehicle development cycle, i.e. before the industrialization stage. We must then seek a trade-off between accuracy of estimates, sensitivity to parameters, robustness of the method and numerical efficiency.

À l'heure actuelle, les dispositifs embarqués regroupent une grande variété d'applications, ayant des fonctionnalités complexes et demandant une puissance de calcul de plus en plus importante. Ils évoluent actuellement de systèmes multiprocesseur sur puce vers des architectures many-core et posent de nouveaux défis au développement de logiciel embarqué. En effet, Il a classiquement été guidé par les performances et donc par les besoins spécifiques des plates-formes. Or, cette approche s'avère trop couteuse avec les nouvelles architectures matérielles et leurs évolutions rapprochées. Actuellement, il n'y a pas un consensus sur les environnements à utiliser pour programmer les nouvelles architectures embarquées. Afin de permettre une programmation plus rapide du logiciel embarqué, la chaîne de développement a besoin d'outils pour la mise au point des applications. Cette mise au point s'appuie sur des techniques d'observation, qui consistent à recueillir des informations sur le comportement du système embarqué pendant l'exécution. Les techniques d'observation actuelles ne supportent qu'un nombre limité de processeurs et sont fortement dépendantes des caractéristiques matérielles. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons EMBera~: une approche à base de composants pour l'observation de systèmes multiprocesseurs sur puce. EMBera vise la généricité, la portabilité, l'observation d'un grand nombre d'éléments, ainsi que le contrôle de l'intrusion. La généricité est obtenue par l'encapsulation de fonctionnalités spécifiques et l'exportation d'interfaces génériques d'observation. La portabilité est possible grâce à des composants qui, d'une part, ciblent des traitements communs aux MPSoCs, et d'autre part, permettent d'être adaptés aux spécificités des plates-formes. Le passage à l'échelle est réussi en permettant une observation partielle d'un système en se concentrant uniquement sur les éléments d'intérêt~: les modules applicatifs, les composants matériels ou les différents niveaux de la pile logicielle. Le contrôle de l'intrusion est facilité par la possibilité de configurer le type et le niveau de détail des mécanismes de collecte de données. L'approche est validée par le biais de différentes études de cas qui utilisent plusieurs configurations matérielles et logicielles. Nous montrons que cette approche offre une vraie valeur ajoutée dans le support du développement de logiciels embarqués. / Embedded software development faces new challenges as embedded devices evolve from Multiprocessor Systems on Chip (MPSoC) with heterogeneous CPU towards many-core architectures. The classical approach of optimizing embedded software in a platform-specific way is no longer applicable as it is too costly. Moreover, there is no consensus on the programming environments to be used for the new and rapidly changing embedded architectures. MPSoC software development needs debugging tools. These tools are based on observation techniques whose role is to gather information about the embedded system execution. Current techniques support only a limited number of processors and are highly dependent on hardware characteristics. In this thesis, we propose EMBera, a component-based approach to MPSoC observation. EMBera aims at providing genericity, portability, scalability and intrusion control. Genericity is obtained by encapsulating specific embedded features and exporting generic observation interfaces. Portability is achieved through components targeting common treatments for MPSoCs but allowing specialization. Scalability is achieved by observing only the elements of interest from the system, namely application modules, hardware components or the different levels of the software stack. Intrusion control is facilitated by the possibility to configure the type and the level of detail of data collection mechanisms. The EMBera approach is validated by different case studies using different hardware and software configurations. We show that our approach provides a real added value in supporting the embedded software development.

Ce travail présente une étude, par microscopie optique et de fluorescence, de matériaux hybrides, basés sur des monolithes de silice contenant des dérivés du cyano-anthracène : 9,10-dicyano-anthracène (DCA) ou 9,14-dicyano-benzo(b)triphénylène (DBTP), qui sont des photo-sensibilisateurs de l'oxygène singulet. Alors que ces matériaux sont bien caractérisés du point de vue de la photo-oxydation des sulfures sous des conditions hétérogènes par des études macroscopiques, certaines propriétés concernant l'association du photosensibilisateur avec l'absorbant peuvent être masquées, dominées ou encore mal interprétées par uniquement des mesures d'ensemble. Ici, nous combinons la spectroscopie d'ensemble et la microscopie optique et de fluorescence, et développons des protocôles expérimentaux concernant des échantillons solides épais, dans le but d'étudier la distribution spatiale et la mobilité des photosensiblisateurs dans la matrice hôte ainsi que d'analyser les interactions entre ces deux entités. La microscopie optique montre dans tous les cas des inhomogénéités localisées à l'interface du monolithe et attribuées à la formation de bulles pendant la synthèse et une accumulation locale du DBTP. A partir de simulations Monte-Carlo de lancer de rayons, nous développons un protocôle pour corriger les artéfacts de réfraction dans les profils d'intensité de fluorescence en fonction de la profondeur, obtenus par des mesures confocales, pour déterminer la distribution axiale du photosensibilisateur ce qui permet de mettre en évidence une nette augmentation de la concentration en photosensibilisateurs dans les premiers 50—100 m dessous la surface. L'analyse FRAP montre la très lente mobilité de tous les photosensibilisateurs et un retour partiel de l'intensité ce qui signifie que les photosensibilisateurs se trouvent dans des régions compartimentées, probablement dues à des contraintes aléatoires du réseau de pores. De plus, l'analyse FLIM montrent des propriétés photo physiques semblables pour le DBTP inclus et greffé ce qui permet d'envisager l'inefficacité de la fonctionnalisation. Ces observations soulignent que les monolithes à base de silice sont des systèmes hors d'équilibre et correspondent à un instantané des inhomogénéités gelées pendant les derniers instants du processus de condensation-hydrolyse des monomères de silice. Enfin, corréler la spectroscopie classique avec nos observations confocales sur différentes formes de DBTP, nous permet d'établir que la bande d'émission de fluorescence non-structurée et fortement déplacée vers le rouge est probablement due à la formation d'excimères. / This work presents an optical and fluorescence microscopy study of hybrid materials based on porous silica monoliths containing derivatives of cyano-anthracene: 9,10-dicyano-anthracene (DCA) or 9,14-dicyano-benzo(b)triphenylene (DBTP), photo-sensitizers of singlet oxygen. While these materials are well known from bulk studies for the efficient photo-oxidation of sulphides under heterogeneous conditions, some characteristics of the association of the photo-sensitizer and the absorbent may be masked, overlooked or otherwise misinterpreted by bulk investigations alone. Here, we combine classical bulk spectroscopy with optical and fluorescence microscopy, and develop experimental protocols for thick solid state samples, to study the spatial distribution and the mobility of the guest in the host matrix, and analyse guest-host interactions. Optical microscopy shows in all cases localised inhomogeneities at monolith interface, ascribed to bubble formation during synthesis; wide-field fluorescence microscopy shows that these features are associated with local accumulation of the larger, more hydrophobic of the two photo-sensitizers, DBTP. Photo-sensitizer lateral distribution at the monolith interface is otherwise homogeneous. Based on Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulations, we develop a protocol for correcting refraction artefacts in measured confocal fluorescence depth profiles, to obtain the photo-sensitizer axial distribution. While it in general exhibits a sharp increase in concentration in the first 50—100 m below the surface compared to the bulk, this layer contributes negligibly to the total content of the monoliths. FRAP analysis shows mobility of the photo-sensitizers in all cases, but with diffusion constants implying months or years to equilibrate the centimetre-sized monoliths. Classical bulk and confocal spectroscopy with FLIM analysis show similar photo-physical properties of DBTP included and grafted. The main effects of funcionalization in this photo-sensitizer are to slow down diffusion and to counter its aggregation. Incomplete FRAP recovery implies photo-sensitizer mobility is compartmented, probably due to random constrictions in the pore network. These observations underline that silica-based monoliths are non-equilibrium systems encapsulating a snapshot of any homogeneities frozen in during the later stages of hydrolysis-condensation of silicate units. Correlating classical bulk spectroscopy with our confocal observations on the different DBTP forms, conclude that its unusual structureless, red-shifted emission is probably due to excimer emission.

A segmentação de imagens é um problema muito importante em visão computacional, no qual uma imagem é dividida em regiões relevantes, tal como para isolar objetos de interesse de uma dada aplicação. Métodos de segmentação baseados na transformada imagem-floresta (IFT, Image Foresting Transform), com funções de conexidade monotonicamente incrementais (MI) têm alcançado um grande sucesso em vários contextos. Na segmentação interativa de imagens, na qual o usuário pode especificar o objeto desejado, novas sementes podem ser adicionadas e/ou removidas para corrigir a rotulação até conseguir a segmentação esperada. Este processo gera uma sequência de IFTs que podem ser calculadas de modo mais eficiente pela DIFT (Differential Image Foresting Transform). Recentemente, funções de conexidade não monotonicamente incrementais (NMI) têm sido usadas com sucesso no arcabouço da IFT no contexto de segmentação de imagens, permitindo incorporar informações de alto nível, tais como, restrições de forma, polaridade de borda e restrição de conexidade, a fim de customizar a segmentação para um dado objeto desejado. Funções não monotonicamente incrementais foram também exploradas com sucesso na geração de superpixels, via sequências de execuções da IFT. Neste trabalho, apresentamos um estudo sobre a Transformada Imagem-Floresta Diferencial no caso de funções NMI. Nossos estudos indicam que o algoritmo da DIFT original apresenta uma série de inconsistências para funções não monotonicamente incrementais. Este trabalho estende a DIFT, visando incorporar um subconjunto das funções NMI em grafos dirigidos e mostrar sua aplicação no contexto da geração de superpixels. Outra aplicação que é apresentada para difundir a relevância das funções NMI é o algoritmo Bandeirantes para perseguição de bordas e rastreamento de curvas. / Image segmentation is a problem of great relevance in computer vision, in which an image is divided into relevant regions, such as to isolate an object of interest for a given application. Segmentation methods with monotonically incremental connectivity functions (MI) based on the Image Foresting Transform (IFT) have achieved great success in several contexts. In interactive segmentation of images, in which the user is allowed to specify the desired object, new seeds can be added and/or removed to correct the labeling until achieving the expected segmentation. This process generates a sequence of IFTs that can be calculated more efficiently by the Differential Image Foresting Trans- form (DIFT). Recently, non-monotonically incremental connectivity functions (NMI) have been used successfully in the IFT framework in the context of image segmentation, allowing the incorporation of shape, boundary polarity, and connectivity constraints, in order to customize the segmentation for a given target object. Non-monotonically incremental functions were also successfully exploited in the generation of superpixels, via sequences of IFT executions. In this work, we present a study of the Differential Image Foresting Transform in the case of NMI functions. Our research indicates that the original DIFT algorithm presents a series of inconsistencies for non-monotonically incremental functions. This work extends the DIFT algorithm to NMI functions in directed graphs, and shows its application in the context of the generation of superpixels. Another application that is presented to spread the relevance of NMI functions is the Bandeirantes algorithm for curve tracing and boundary tracking.