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This dissertation is concerned with the problem of slewing large flexible structures in space and simultaneously suppressing any vibrations. The equations of motion for a three-dimensional spacecraft undergoing large rigid-body maneuvers are derived. The elastic motions are assumed to remain in the linear range. A method of substructure synthesis is presented which spatially discretizes the equations of motion. A perturbation approach is used to solve the equations of motion. The zero-order equations describing the rigid-body maneuver are independent of the first-order vibration problem which includes small rigid-body motions. The vibration problem is described by linear nonself-adjoint equations with time-dependent coefficients. Minimum-time, single-axis rotational maneuvers are considered. The axis of rotation is not necessarily a principal axis. The optimal maneuver force distribution is proportional to the corresponding rigid-body modes with the mass acting as the control gain. The premaneuver eigenvectors are used as admissible vectors to reduce the degrees of freedom describing the vibration of the spacecraft during the maneuver. Natural control and uniform damping control are used to suppress the vibrations during the maneuver. Actuator dynamics cause a degradation of control performance. The inclusion of the actuator dynamics in the control formulation partially offsets this effect. The performance of these control techniques is adversely affected by actuator saturation but they remain effective. Numerical results are presented for a spacecraft in orbit and in an earth-based laboratory. / Ph. D.

Dans le cadre des procédés de clarification d'eau de surface, les flocs formés au cours des étapes de coagulation et de floculation peuvent être séparés de l'eau traitée par décantation ou par flottation. Dans ce dernier cas, le procédé actuellement en vigueur est la flottation à air dissous et présente un certain nombre d'inconvénients. Ainsi, dans ce contexte, la présente thèse consiste à développer un matériau innovant, à la fois flottant et floculant, pour une application dans un procédé de flottation sans air. Dans un premier temps, l'élaboration de billes de polystyrène expansibles utilisant l'eau ou l'éthanol comme agent gonflant a été réalisée. D'autres billes ont ensuite été préparées en présence de 4-(chlorométhyl)styrène comme co-monomère puis la polymérisation par transfert d'atome amorcée en surface (SI-ATRP) de l'acrylamide a été effectuée avec succès. L'impossibilité d'expanser ces matériaux a ensuite conduit à l'exploration de nouvelles voies de synthèse avec la fonctionnalisation de matériaux flottants existants par des techniques de « grafting from » ou « grafting onto ». Quelle que soit la voie envisagée, la première étape a consisté à réduire les fonctions nitrile en amine primaire en présence d'hydrure d'aluminium lithium. Après fonctionnalisation par du bromure de bromoisobutyryle ou du chlorure d'acryloyle, il a été possible de venir greffer de l'acrylamide par SI-ATRP ou de l'amidon via un amorceur redox, respectivement. Les matériaux flottants/floculants obtenus ont été testés lors de flottatests. Les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenus avec les microsphères fonctionnalisées par de l'amidon anionique. Ces dernières ont permis d'abattre la turbidité de l'eau, ont ensuite été régénérées avec succès, par des bains d'acide oxalique ou de dithionite de sodium, et employées durant plusieurs cycles flottatest/régénération avec des résultats reproductibles. / At the end of clarification process, after coagulation-flocculation steps, flocs can be removed from treated water by settling or flotation. In the latter case, Dissolved Air Flotation is the currently used process. However, this method showed important drawbacks, especially an important energetic cost due to the production of air saturated water. In that context, the goal of the reported work dealt with achieving air-free flotation using innovative floating materials. First of all, the synthesis of expandable polystyrene beads using water or ethanol as blowing agent was investigated. Other beads containing both styrene and 4-(chloromethyl)styrene were prepared. Then, surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of acrylamide (SI-ATRP) was achieved. Unfortunately, the expansion of such materials was not possible. Therefore, the second part focused on the functionalization of Expancel beads by “grafting from” or “grafting onto” techniques. The first step consisted in reducing some nitrile functions at the surface into primary amine ones. After functionalization with bromoisobutyryl bromide, the SI-ATRP of acrylamide was performed in water at room temperature. On the other hand, the acryloyl chloride was grafted onto amine functions, and grafting of starch was achieved using a redox initiator. All materials obtained have been used for flocculation/flotation tests and demonstrated satisfactory performances in terms of turbidity removal. Beads functionalized with starch have been successfully regenerated with oxalic acid and sodium dithionite and kept appropriate efficiency during several flotation/regeneration cycles.

The field of micro total analysis systems (μTAS) aims at developments toward miniaturized and fully integrated lab-on-a-chip systems for applications, such as drug screening, drug delivery, cellular assays, protein analysis, genomic analysis and handheld point-of-care diagnostics. Such systems offer to dramatically reduce liquid sample and reagent quantities, increase sensitivity as well as speed of analysis and facilitate portable systems via the integration of components such as pumps, valves, mixers, separation units, reactors and detectors. Precise microfluidic control for such systems has long been considered one of the most difficult technical barriers due to integration of on-chip fluidic handling components and complicated off-chip liquid control as well as fluidic interconnections. Actuation principles and materials with the advantages of low cost, easy fabrication, easy integration, high reliability, and compact size are required to promote the development of such systems. Within this thesis, liquid displacement in microfluidic applications, by means of expandable microspheres, is presented as an innovative approach addressing some of the previously mentioned issues. Furthermore, these expandable microspheres are embedded into a PDMS matrix, which composes a novel thermally responsive silicone elastomer composite actuator for liquid handling. Due to the merits of PDMS and expandable microspheres, the composite actuator's main characteristic to expand irreversibly upon generated heat makes it possible to locally alter its surface topography. The composite actuator concept, along with a novel adhesive PDMS bonding technique, is used to design and fabricate liquid handling components such as pumps and valves, which operate at work-ranges from nanoliters to microliters. The integration of several such microfluidic components promotes the development of disposable lab-on-a-chip platforms for precise sample volume control addressing, e.g. active dosing, transportation, merging and mixing of nanoliter liquid volumes. Moreover, microfluidic pumps based on the composite actuator have been incorporated with sharp and hollow microneedles to realize a microneedle-based transdermal patch which exhibits on-board liquid storage and active dispensing functionality. Such a system represents a first step toward painless, minimally invasive and transdermal administration of macromolecular drugs such as insulin or vaccines. The presented on-chip liquid handling concept does not require external actuators for pumping and valving, uses low-cost materials and wafer-level processes only, is highly integrable and potentially enables controlled and cost-effective transdermal microfluidic applications, as well as large-scale integrated fluidic networks for point-of care diagnostics, disposable biochips or lab-on-a-chip applications. This thesis discusses several design concepts for a large variety of microfluidic components, which are promoted by the use of the novel composite actuator. Results on the successful fabrication and evaluation of prototype devices are reported herein along with comprehensive process parameters on a novel full-wafer adhesive bonding technique for the fabrication of PDMS based microfluidic devices. / QC 20100817

Macroporous ceramic materials have found widespread technological application ranging from particulate filters in diesel engines, tissue engineering scaffolds, and as support materials in carbon capture processes. This thesis demonstrates how the pore space of macroporous alumina can be manipulated, analysed in three-dimensions (3D) using visualisation techniques, and functionalised with a CO2-adsorbing material. A novel method was developed to produce macroporous alumina materials: by combining sacrificial templating with thermally expandable polymeric microspheres and gel-casting of an alumina suspension. This method offers a versatile production of macroporous ceramics in which the level of porosity and the pore size distribution can easily be altered by varying the amount and type of spheres. The permeability to fluid flow could be regulated by controlling the connectivity of the pore space and the size of the smallest constrictions between the pores. Sacrificial templating with particle-coated expandable spheres significantly increased the fraction of isolated pore clusters and reduced both the sizes and the numbers of connections between neighbouring pores, compared to templating with un-coated spheres. The macroporous alumina materials were characterised with X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). The 3D data-sets obtained by X-ray μ-CT were used to calculate the spatial variation in porosity, the throat and pore size distributions and to calculate the permeability to fluid flow. The throat and pore size distributions were also able to be accurately quantified in only one extrusion and intrusion cycle with water-based porosimetry; a relatively novel and simple characterisation technique. The pore walls of the macroporous alumina materials were also coated with zeolite films by a colloidal processing technique. The CO2-uptake of the coated alumina materials and of hierarchically porous monoliths of zeolites was evaluated and compared. / As the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 4: Accepted. Paper 5: Manuscript. Paper 6: Submitted.

Introdução: obstrução gastroduodenal maligna é uma condição frequente em neoplasias gástricas e pancreáticas em estágio avançado. O tratamento paliativo visa a melhora dos sintomas e da qualidade de vida, sendo realizado pelas técnicas cirúrgicas ou endoscópicas. Embora a terapêutica cirúrgica seja consagrada, as complicações relacionadas ao procedimento e as condições clínicas desfavoráveis dos pacientes devem ser consideradas. Apesar dos avanços do tratamento endoscópico e da possibilidade de oferecer um tratamento menos invasivo, deve-se considerar as complicações e a taxa de reintervenção desta modalidade terapêutica. Novas tecnologias foram desenvolvidas para minimizar as complicações relacionadas ao uso de próteses e demandam uma análise pormenorizada. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática é comparar o tratamento endoscópico com próteses cobertas e não cobertas e o cirúrgico com gastrojejunoanastomose para obstrução gastroduodenal. Métodos: ensaios clínicos randomizados foram identificados nas bases de dados do MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, SCOPUS e CINAHL. A comparação entre as próteses metálicas cobertas e não cobertas incluiu o sucesso técnico, sucesso clínico, complicações, obstrução, migração, sangramento, perfuração, fratura das próteses e reintervenção. Os desfechos usados na comparação da terapêutica cirúrgica com gastrojejunoanastomose e endoscópica com próteses foram o sucesso técnico, complicações e reintervenção. A avaliação da patência não pode ser incluída devido à falta de uniformidade dos dados extraídos. Resultados: oito artigos foram selecionados, três comparando gastrojejunostomia e próteses e cinco comparando próteses cobertas e não cobertas. A metanálise dos estudos sobre gastroenteroanastomose e próteses não demonstrou diferença significativa no sucesso técnico e número absoluto de complicações. O tratamento com próteses apresentou uma maior taxa de reintervenção que a terapêutica cirúrgica (DR = 0,26, IC 95% = 0,05 a 0,47, NNH = 4). A metanálise que comparou próteses metálicas cobertas e não cobertas não demonstrou diferença estatística significativa considerando o sucesso técnico, sucesso clínico, complicações, fratura das próteses, perfuração, sangramento e necessidade de reintervenção. Uma maior taxa de migração foi atribuída à terapêutica com próteses cobertas (DR = 0,09, IC 95% = 0,04 a 0,14, NNH = 11). Entretanto, o tratamento com próteses cobertas apresenta menor taxa de obstrução em relação às não cobertas (DR = -0,21, IC 95% = -0,27 a -0,15, NNT = 5). Uma análise de subgrupo de estudos com próteses metálicas que incluíram apenas pacientes com câncer gástrico demonstrou resultado semelhante à metanálise com todos os artigos. Conclusões: o tratamento endoscópico paliativo da obstrução gastroduodenal maligna com próteses cobertas apresenta maior taxa de migração e menor número de obstruções quando comparado com o uso de próteses não cobertas. A terapêutica cirúrgica com gastrojejunoanastomose associa-se a uma menor taxa de reintervenção em relação ao uso de próteses / Introduction: malignant gastric outlet obstruction is a frequent condition in advanced gastric and pancreatic neoplasms. Palliative treatment can be performed by endoscopic or surgical techniques. Palliation aims to relief symptoms and increase quality of life. Although surgical therapy is the established treatment, the complication rate of the procedure and the unfavorable clinical conditions must be considered. Despite the advances in the endoscopic treatment and the possibility to offer a minimally invasive therapy, complication rate and need of reintervention must be reminded. New technologies have been developed to minimize the complications related to the use of stents and require a detailed analysis. This systematic review aims to compare surgery and covered and uncovered stent treatments for gastric outlet obstruction. Methods: randomized clinical trials were identified in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, LILACs, BVS, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases. Comparison of covered and uncovered stents included: technical success, clinical success, complications, obstruction, migration, bleeding, perforation, stent fracture and reintervention. The outcomes used to compare Gastrojejunostomy and stents were technical success, complications and reintervention. Patency rate could not be included because of lack of uniformity of the extracted data. Results: eight studies were selected, three comparing gastrojejunostomy and stents and five comparing covered and uncovered stents. The meta-analysis of surgical and endoscopic stent treatment showed no difference in the technical success and overall number of complications. Stents had higher reintervention rates than surgery (RD: 0.26, 95% CI [0.05, 0.47], NNH: 4). There is no significant difference in technical success, clinical success, complications, stent fractures, perforation, bleeding and the need for reintervention in the analyses of covered and uncovered stents. There is a higher migration rate in the covered stent therapy compared to uncovered self-expanding metallic stents in the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (RD: 0.09, 95% CI [0.04, 0.14], NNH: 11). Nevertheless, covered stents had lower obstruction rates (RD: -0.21, 95% CI [-0.27, - 0.15], NNT: 5). A subgroup analysis with studies that included only patients with gastric cancer showed similar results when compared with the analysis with all trials. Conclusions: in the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction, covered stents had higher migration and lower obstruction rates when compared with uncovered stents. Gastrojejunostomy is associated with lower reintervention rates than stents

Introdução: obstrução gastroduodenal maligna é uma condição frequente em neoplasias gástricas e pancreáticas em estágio avançado. O tratamento paliativo visa a melhora dos sintomas e da qualidade de vida, sendo realizado pelas técnicas cirúrgicas ou endoscópicas. Embora a terapêutica cirúrgica seja consagrada, as complicações relacionadas ao procedimento e as condições clínicas desfavoráveis dos pacientes devem ser consideradas. Apesar dos avanços do tratamento endoscópico e da possibilidade de oferecer um tratamento menos invasivo, deve-se considerar as complicações e a taxa de reintervenção desta modalidade terapêutica. Novas tecnologias foram desenvolvidas para minimizar as complicações relacionadas ao uso de próteses e demandam uma análise pormenorizada. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática é comparar o tratamento endoscópico com próteses cobertas e não cobertas e o cirúrgico com gastrojejunoanastomose para obstrução gastroduodenal. Métodos: ensaios clínicos randomizados foram identificados nas bases de dados do MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, SCOPUS e CINAHL. A comparação entre as próteses metálicas cobertas e não cobertas incluiu o sucesso técnico, sucesso clínico, complicações, obstrução, migração, sangramento, perfuração, fratura das próteses e reintervenção. Os desfechos usados na comparação da terapêutica cirúrgica com gastrojejunoanastomose e endoscópica com próteses foram o sucesso técnico, complicações e reintervenção. A avaliação da patência não pode ser incluída devido à falta de uniformidade dos dados extraídos. Resultados: oito artigos foram selecionados, três comparando gastrojejunostomia e próteses e cinco comparando próteses cobertas e não cobertas. A metanálise dos estudos sobre gastroenteroanastomose e próteses não demonstrou diferença significativa no sucesso técnico e número absoluto de complicações. O tratamento com próteses apresentou uma maior taxa de reintervenção que a terapêutica cirúrgica (DR = 0,26, IC 95% = 0,05 a 0,47, NNH = 4). A metanálise que comparou próteses metálicas cobertas e não cobertas não demonstrou diferença estatística significativa considerando o sucesso técnico, sucesso clínico, complicações, fratura das próteses, perfuração, sangramento e necessidade de reintervenção. Uma maior taxa de migração foi atribuída à terapêutica com próteses cobertas (DR = 0,09, IC 95% = 0,04 a 0,14, NNH = 11). Entretanto, o tratamento com próteses cobertas apresenta menor taxa de obstrução em relação às não cobertas (DR = -0,21, IC 95% = -0,27 a -0,15, NNT = 5). Uma análise de subgrupo de estudos com próteses metálicas que incluíram apenas pacientes com câncer gástrico demonstrou resultado semelhante à metanálise com todos os artigos. Conclusões: o tratamento endoscópico paliativo da obstrução gastroduodenal maligna com próteses cobertas apresenta maior taxa de migração e menor número de obstruções quando comparado com o uso de próteses não cobertas. A terapêutica cirúrgica com gastrojejunoanastomose associa-se a uma menor taxa de reintervenção em relação ao uso de próteses / Introduction: malignant gastric outlet obstruction is a frequent condition in advanced gastric and pancreatic neoplasms. Palliative treatment can be performed by endoscopic or surgical techniques. Palliation aims to relief symptoms and increase quality of life. Although surgical therapy is the established treatment, the complication rate of the procedure and the unfavorable clinical conditions must be considered. Despite the advances in the endoscopic treatment and the possibility to offer a minimally invasive therapy, complication rate and need of reintervention must be reminded. New technologies have been developed to minimize the complications related to the use of stents and require a detailed analysis. This systematic review aims to compare surgery and covered and uncovered stent treatments for gastric outlet obstruction. Methods: randomized clinical trials were identified in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, LILACs, BVS, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases. Comparison of covered and uncovered stents included: technical success, clinical success, complications, obstruction, migration, bleeding, perforation, stent fracture and reintervention. The outcomes used to compare Gastrojejunostomy and stents were technical success, complications and reintervention. Patency rate could not be included because of lack of uniformity of the extracted data. Results: eight studies were selected, three comparing gastrojejunostomy and stents and five comparing covered and uncovered stents. The meta-analysis of surgical and endoscopic stent treatment showed no difference in the technical success and overall number of complications. Stents had higher reintervention rates than surgery (RD: 0.26, 95% CI [0.05, 0.47], NNH: 4). There is no significant difference in technical success, clinical success, complications, stent fractures, perforation, bleeding and the need for reintervention in the analyses of covered and uncovered stents. There is a higher migration rate in the covered stent therapy compared to uncovered self-expanding metallic stents in the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (RD: 0.09, 95% CI [0.04, 0.14], NNH: 11). Nevertheless, covered stents had lower obstruction rates (RD: -0.21, 95% CI [-0.27, - 0.15], NNT: 5). A subgroup analysis with studies that included only patients with gastric cancer showed similar results when compared with the analysis with all trials. Conclusions: in the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction, covered stents had higher migration and lower obstruction rates when compared with uncovered stents. Gastrojejunostomy is associated with lower reintervention rates than stents

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