The concept of tailored force fields is seen as an enabler for the construction of large scale space structures. Manufacturing would take place in space using in-situ resources thereby eliminating the size and weight restriction commonly placed on space vehicles and structures. This thesis serves as the first investigation of opening the way to a generalized fabrication technology by means of force fields. Such a technology would be non-contact, flexible, and automated. The idea is based on the principle that waves carry momentum and energy with no mass transport. Scattering and gradient forces are generated from various types of wave motion. Starting from experiments on shaping walls using acoustic force fields, this thesis extends the technology to electromagnetic fields. The interaction physics of electromagnetic waves with dielectric material is studied. Electromagnetic forces on neutral dielectric material are shown to be analogous to acoustic forces on sound-scattering material. By analogy to the acoustic experiments, force fields obtained by optical tweezers are extended to longer wavelength electromagnetic waves while remaining in the Rayleigh scattering regime. Curing of the surface formed takes place by use of a higher frequency beam that scans the surface and melts a subsurface layer enabling a sintering effect to take place between the particles. The resulting capability is explored at its extremes in the context of building massive structures in Space. A unification of these areas is sought through a generalization of the various theories provided in the literature applicable for each field.

<p>In this thesis the interactions in cellulose systems havebeen studied with emphasis on surface forces and adsorptionphenomenon. The study was limited to surfaces and polymers ofinterest for papermaking. During papermaking both therunability of the paper machine as well as the properties ofthe final paper will depend on the molecular interactionsbetween the components present in the suspension. The objectiveof this work was to gain a better understanding of theseinteraction forces and how they are affected by solutionconditions like pH and electrolyte concentration. The maintechniques employed for this purpose were direct surface forcemeasurements using both the interferometric surface forceapparatus (SFA) and the atomic force microscopy (AFM)colloidal-probe technique. In addition, both electronspectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and AFM imaging wereused for surface characterisation and to study adsorptionbehaviour. Since a smooth and transparent surface is needed forsurface force studies using SFA, Langmuir-Blodgett films ofcellulose were employed.</p><p>The interactions between cellulose surfacesand xylansurfaces were studied. Cellulose is the main constituent of thewood fibre. In close association with cellulose in the cellwall are the hemicelluloses, xylan being a commonhemicellulose. Steric forces were found to dominate theinteractions between these substances in aqueous solutions.Still factors like charge density, solution pH and electrolyteconcentration were important. The adhesion between cellulosesurfaces in air depended on the contact area. The effect of acationic polyelectrolyte on the forces between cellulosesurfaces and between cellulose and mineral surfaces wasinvestigated to obtain a better understanding of the effects ofcationic retention and strength additives. In the presence of acationic polyelectrolyte the forces at large distances weredominated by double-layer repulsion. Bridging attraction was insome cases observed, but the presence and magnitude of thisforce was dependent on the properties of the substratesurface.</p><p>Lignin on the fibre surface affects brightness, swelling andstrength of paper. In addition, dissolved lignin interfereswith added polymers during papermaking. For this reason theadsorption of lignin on cellulose fibre surfaces was explored.The adsorption of lignin was influenced by the concentration oflignin in solution and by the electrolyte composition of thesolution. The retention of lignin was affected by the presenceof a cationic polyelectrolyte and particularly by how thepolyelectrolyte was added. The AFM imaging revealed thestructure of the adsorbed lignin, which varied with the way ofadding the polyelectrolyte, and gave an idea about theadsorption mechanism. The effect of lignin on strengthproperties of paper sheets was also evaluated.</p><p>Keywords: cellulose, hemicellulose, xylan, lignin, surfaceforces, adsorption, polyelectrolyte, SFA, AFM, ESCA,Langmuir-Blodgett films, chitosan, steric forces,bridging,adhesion</p>

ABSTRACT Title: The Internet and Marketing: A case study of SmartGuy AB. and PostNord AB. Level: D-Level Final Master Thesis in Business Administration Authors: Naa A. Allotey and Ashenafi T. Degefie Supervisor: Professor Akmal Hyder Date: 2013 June Aim: Technology has changed the way businesses are being done specifically in the internet marketing. Even though the growth &amp; development of internet marketing is rapid, many new firms doing e-business are increasing. To make use of this ever increasing opportunity many companies without adequate knowledge and lack of concepts about internet marketing enter into this business that leads into failure. This study examines how businesses use the internet as an effective marketing tool in order to increase business efficiency and survive in the competitive business. The study also identifies the various problems that are affecting the internet marketing business and review possible strategies. Method: The study adopted a qualitative method through a deductive approach. Research questions were developed to gather the data. A semi structured interview was conducted with personnel from Nordpost and SmartGuy. The data was analysed and linked with the theory to provide answers to the research questions. To enhance the richness of the study secondary data sources has been employed in a form of scientific articles, literature, annual reports from the case companies and online sources.  Results and Conclusions: The result of this study shows that the rapid development of online marketing makes it imperative for businesses to seriously consider the internet as a marketing tool in order to remain competitive. There is no specific strategy to adopt but firms could develop internet marketing strategies depending on the nature of their business in order to cope up with the ever changing environment. It also identified the difficulties traditional marketers face when integrating internet marketing. The conclusion is that businesses can overcome the barriers affecting Internet marketing if they take time to identify their micro and macro environments and adopt appropriate strategies. Suggestions for future research: Although this study identified that there are some factors affecting the internet marketing and suggested key elements in developing e-marketing strategy, the results of this study and conclusion, to some extent have some limitations.  Firstly there are only two case companies investigated which makes it hard to generalize the outcomes. Secondly, current literatures in the area of study were very limited showing that researchers are not really giving time to this all important topic.  Thus future research could look more into this subject area, broaden the scope of the investigation to more companies and could also concentrate in the areas where there is a need for a unique strategy development for different internet companies. Future researchers could also look at how the transition from traditional to internet marketing could be made very simple. Contribution of the thesis: The study provides significant insights into the factors affecting internet marketing and e-business strategies that can be adopted to make it an effective marketing tool, a topic often overlooked by published material. Even though there are no specific e-marketing strategies to directly copy or implement, the study suggests specific areas a business should take into consideration while developing the strategy. For businesses, the question of using the internet as a marketing tool should be one of ‘when, why and how’. A well-structured and well thought out business plan which is still applicable is the backbone of any company who is going to be successful in the e-commerce industry.

El trabajo realizado en esta tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo mejorar las metodologías de la química teórica y computacional en la descripción de los efectos del entorno en sistemas químicos. La primera parte se centra en el efecto del solvente, en concreto en el desarrollo de modelos cuánticos continuos de solvatación, y en la derivación de modelos de solvatación fraccional obtenidos a partir de métodos continuos capaces de descomponer energías libres de solvatación y de transferencia entre solventes en contribuciones asociadas a fragmentos químicos de una molécula. Esto permite obtener el perfil tridimensional de las regiones hidrofóbicas/hidrofílicas de una molécula a partir de sus contribuciones fraccionales a la solvatación, siendo esta información muy útil en el establecimiento de relaciones cuantitativas estructura-actividad para el desarrollo de nuevos fármacos, o en la definiciones de índices de similaridad hidrofóbicos, basados en la similitud de este perfil tridimensional entre dos compuestos. Con este objetivo se ha parametrizado satisfactoriamente el modelo continuo MST para la predicción de coeficientes de partición octanol/agua y de energías libres de solvatación en agua, cloroformo, tetracloruro de carbono y octanol, tanto a nivel ab initio HF/6-31G(d) como a niveles semiempíricos AM1 y PM3. También se ha parametrizado el modelo MST para el estudio de especies iónicas en solución. Finalmente, se ha llevado a cabo una comparación entre la respuesta electrostática obtenida a partir de diferentes modelos continuos SCRF (MST, SM5.42R y MPE), ilustrando las grandes diferencias que se pueden encontrar entre las contribuciones electrostáticas y no electrostáticas según sea el modelo usado, y poniendo así de manifiesto la estrecha relación que hay que considerar entre estas contribuciones a la solvatación y la parametrización específica de cada modelo continuo. La metodología de solvatación fraccional usada ha permitido además ilustrar la dependencia de estas contribuciones fragmentales respecto a efectos electrónicos, estéricos o tautoméricos. La segunda parte de este trabajo se centra en el desarrollo de metodologías eficientes y precisas para la descripción de las fuerzas de polarización en campos de fuerzas clásicos. Se han estudiado dos metodologías, una basada en un tratamiento implícito de estas fuerzas a partir de un modelo de doble carga, que permite describir satisfactoriamente la distribución de carga de una molécula en un entorno aislado, y frente a la acción de un campo externo, respectivamente, permitiendo reproducir de forma adecuada las energías de polarización para una serie de complejos por puente de hidrógeno y catión-pi. También se ha estudiado la inclusión de los efectos de polarización mediante dipolos puntuales inducidos. En este sentido, se ha profundizado en una metodología capaz de obtener modelos distribuidos de polarizabilidades atómicas isotrópicas muy eficiente computacionalmente y que permite reproducir de forma precisa la polarizabilidad global de las moléculas para la serie de derivados bencénicos estudiados, así como la contribución de polarización en sus energías de interacción catión-pi con un catión de sodio. / The objective of this work is the improvement of the methodologies available in the field of theoretical and computacional chemistry for the description of the effects of environment in chemical systems.First, it is presented a set of studies on the effect of the solvent, in particular on the development of quantum continuum solvation models and the decomposition of free energies of solvation and transfer into contributions associated to chemical fragments of a molecule. In this way, it can be obtained a 3D picture of the hydrophobic/hydrophylic regions of a molecule, and this information is very valuable in the establishment of quantitative structure-activity relationships for the development of new drugs, and permits also the definition of a hydrophobic similarity index based on the the hydrophobic profile of two different compounds. The parametrization of the MST model presented is able to satisfactorily reproduce octanol/water partition coefficients and free energies of solvation in water, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and octanol, both at the ab initio HF/6-31G(d) and semiempirical AM1 and PM3 levels of theory. The hydration of ionic species has also been revised in the framework of the MST model. Finally, a comparison of the electrostatic response obtained from different SCRF continuum models (MST, SM5.42R and MPE) is presented. A different balance between the electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions has been obtained from the different models, and show that it is necessary to mantain a close correspondece between each SCRF formalism and the specific details of its parametrization. Finally, the transferability of fragmental contributions to solvation has been explored. The second part of this work is aimed at the development of efficient methodologies for the description of polarization forces in classical force fields. Two methodologies has been explored. The first is based on an implicit treatment of these forces through a dual charge model, that represent the charge distribution of a molecule alone and in response to an external field, respectively. Finally, the explicit treatment of polarization effects through induced point dipoles has been studied. In particular, it has been explored an efficient methodology to obtain distributed models of atomic isotropic polarizabilities.

Thesis (Master').

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, School of Historical Studies, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

L'arthrose de la main est une pathologie qui engendre des douleurs et des impotences fonctionnelles fortement handicapantes pour la vie quotidienne. Malheureusement, du fait de la complexité biomécanique de la main et du manque de quantification des forces subies par les articulations des doigts, la prévention et la réhabilitation de cette pathologie demeurent problématiques. L'objectif de ce travail doctoral a été de développer une modélisation musculo-squelettique de la main pour améliorer la compréhension de l'arthrose du point de vue biomécanique. Un modèle complet de la main, incluant les cinq doigts et le poignet, ainsi qu'un protocole expérimental de mesure de la cinématique et des forces externes appliquées à la main ont d'abord été développés pour estimer l'ensemble des forces musculaires et des forces articulaires durant la préhension. Ces outils méthodologiques ont permis de clarifier les risques d'arthrose associés aux types de préhension ainsi que ceux spécifiques aux articulations. Afin d'analyser plus précisément les facteurs de risques associés à chaque individu, une méthode d'individualisation des paramètres musculaires a été développée afin de mettre le modèle de la main à l'échelle des capacités réelles des individus. Cette méthode a été employée pour l'analyse de deux patientes et a permis de caractériser les adaptations et les conséquences biomécaniques associées à leurs affections spécifiques. Le modèle de la main et les protocoles expérimentaux développés ont ainsi fournit des données quantifiées qui représentent un intérêt concret pour l'amélioration de la prévention ainsi que pour l'élaboration et l'évaluation de programmes de réhabilitation. / Hand osteoarthritis is a pathology which results in pain and functional impotencies which are problematic for everyday life. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of hand biomechanics and the lack of quantification of finger joint loadings, the prevention and the rehabilitation of this pathology remain problematic. The objective of this doctoral work was to develop the musculoskeletal modelling of the hand to improve the understanding of hand osteoarthritis from a biomechanical point of view. A complete model of the hand, including the five fingers and the wrist, as well as an experimental protocol for measuring hand kinematics and grip forces were first developed to estimate all the muscle forces and joint forces during prehension tasks. These methodological tools have then been used to clarify the risk factors of hand osteoarthritis associated to prehension tasks and to specific joints. To investigate more precisely the risk factors associated to individuals, a method has been developed to individualise muscle parameters of the hand musculoskeletal model in order to provide a better representation of the real performances of each subject. This method has then been applied to the analysis of two osteoarthritis patients and allowed a complete characterization of the specific biomechanical adaptations and consequences associated to their specific affections. The hand musculoskeletal model and the experimental protocols developed during this doctoral work provided quantified data which represents a concrete interest to improve prevention but also to elaborate and evaluate rehabilitation programs.

Cette thèse de doctorat présente une étude expérimentale des propriétés rhéologiques d’électrolytes confinés et de la mécanique des doubles couches électrostatiques.Afin d’étudier simultanément les propriétés d’équilibre et de transport d’électrolytes confinés proches de parois électriquement chargées, nous avons développé un appareil à forces de surfaces dynamique. Cette technique combine à la fois des mesures à l’équilibre, à l’instar des appareils à forces de surfaces classiques, et des mesures dynamiques permettant de caractériser les phénomènes de transport.Nous avons tout d’abord étudié le cas d’électrolytes très dilués. Nous avons montré l’existence d’une sur-dissipation induite par les ions issus des électrolytes par rapport à un comportement newtonien classique. De plus, nous avons mis en évidence un comportement élastique des doubles couches électrostatiques dépendant de la fréquence. Une approche théorique vient compléter et expliquer en partie les résultats expérimentaux.Enfin nous nous sommes intéressés à la dynamique d’électrolytes concentrés : les liquides ioniques. Nous avons étudié l’influence, sur la viscosité et les propriétés du liquide à l’interface solide-liquide, d’un champ électrique intense appliqué perpendiculairement à l’écoulement, comme rencontré dans les super-condensateurs. / This thesis presents an experimental study of rheological properties of confined electrolytes and mechanics of electric double layer.In order to study simultaneously equilibrium and transport of confined electrolytes nearby charged surfaces, we developed a dynamic surface force apparatus. This technique enables both steady state measurements, as provided by common surface forces apparatus, and dynamic measurements that allow characterizing the transport phenomenona.First, we showed the existence of an over-dissipative behavior of weak electrolytes compared to a classical newtonian fluid. Furthermore we highlighted a frequency dependence of the EDL elastic behavior. Alongside, a theoretical approach completes and explains partially the experimental observations.Finally we studied the dynamics of ionic liquid, a type of concentrated electrolytes. We looked at the influence of a huge electric field, applied perpendicularly to the surfaces, on the viscosity and the properties of the liquid nearby the surfaces, as found in super-capacitors.

L'étude du couplage hybride entre les vibrations d'un résonateur mécanique et un degré de liberté quantique requiert une très grande sensibilité en force. Ceci a motivé le développement récent de nano-oscillateurs ultra-légers, qui constituent des sondes de force ultra-sensibles opérant désormais au niveau de l'attoNewton.Le premier volet de ce travail traite de l'habillage mécanique d'un nanofil suspendu de carbure de silicium, oscillant dans deux directions transverses. Son évolution Brownienne ou excitée dans un champ de force externe perturbe ses propriétés : fréquences et directions propres de vibration. Une technique de mesure optique des vibrations du nanofil en deux dimensions a été développée. Elle a permis, dans un premier temps, de cartographier un champ de force électrostatique, révélant une phénoménologie de l'habillage spécifique aux dimensions supérieures à un. En particulier, les composantes cisaillantes du champ induisent une rotation des directions propres de vibration. Dans un deuxième temps, la technique de mesure a été testée dans un champ de force optique, produit par un laser focalisé sur le nanofil, et qui contient une composante rotationnelle, non conservative. On rapporte l'observation d'une brisure de l'orthogonalité des modes propres, d'une distorsion et d'une amplification des spectres de mouvement Brownien, toutes en accord avec le modèle décrivant l'habillage mécanique du nanofil par ce champ de force externe non potentiel. A partir d'un protocole adapté à la multi-dimensionnalité du système, une déviation à la relation fluctuation-dissipation a également été mesurée : il s'agit d'une conséquence de la sortie de l'équilibre induite par la force optique non-conservative. L'étude des propriétés thermodynamiques du système suggère des corrections à la relation fluctuation-dissipation et prédit enfin un phénomène de compression du bruit thermique de l'oscillateur en champ de force rotationnel.Le deuxième volet de la thèse concerne le système hybride constitué d'un nanofil et d'un qubit de spin, un centre coloré NV du diamant attaché à son extrémité. Les propriétés optiques de cette source de photons uniques oscillante sont caractérisées à partir de la mesure de corrélations spatio-temporelles de la fluorescence du centre NV sur lesquelles les vibrations de l'oscillateur se retrouvent encodées. Nous avons ainsi développé un système de mesure du mouvement compatible avec de très faibles flux de photons, inférieurs en particulier au taux de décohérence mécanique. La dernière partie de ce manuscrit présente une étude préliminaire du couplage du spin-mécanique. Après l'observation d'un triplet de Mollow phononique, les développements expérimentaux de la première partie de la thèse ont été intégrés à une expérience hybride de seconde génération stabilisée amenant la mesure de force ultra-sensible à la portée du système hybride. / The study of the hybrid coupling between the vibrations of a mechanical resonator and a quantum degree of freedom requires extremely high force sensitivities. This was one of the motivations for the recent development of ultra-light nano-oscillators which are ultra-sensitive force probes now routinely operating at the attoNewton level.The first part of this work deals with the mechanical dressing of a silicon carbide suspended nanowire oscillating in two transverse directions. Its Brownian or driven evolution in an external force field modifies its mechanical properties: eigen-frequencies and eigen-directions of oscillation. An optical technique to measure the nanowire vibrations in two dimensions was developed. First, this technique enabled to map out an electrostatic force field, which revealed a dressing phenomenology specific to dimensions greater than one. In particular, shearing components of the force field are responsible for a rotation of the eigen-directions of vibration. Second, the measurement technique was tested in an optical force field applied by a laser focused on the nanowire. This field contains a rotational, non-conservative component. The reported experimental observations: eigenmodes orthogonality breaking, distorsion and amplification of Brownian motion spectra, are all in good agreement with the model of the mechanical dressing. Using a protocol adapted to the multidimensionality of the system, a deviation to the fluctuation-dissipation relation has also been measured, as a consequence of the non-conservative force bringing the system out of equilibrium. The study of this system's thermodynamic properties suggests corrections to the fluctuation-dissipation relation and predicts a squeezing of the oscillator's thermal noise in rotational force fields.The second part of the thesis concerns the hybrid system composed of a nanowire and a spin qubit: a colored NV center in diamond bound to its extremity. The optical properties of this oscillating single photon source are characterized through the measurement of space-time fluorescence correlations on which the oscillator's vibrations are encoded. We then developed a motion measurement technique compatible with very low photon fluxes, in particular inferior to the mechanical decoherence rate. The last part of the manuscript presents a preliminary study of the spin-mechanical coupling. After the observation of a phononic Mollow triplet, the experimental developments of the first part of the thesis were integrated in a second-generation stabilized hybrid experiment bringing the ultrasensitive force measurement within the reach of the hybrid system.

Quelle obligation morale peut être désormais pensée et pratiquée, à l’heure du déclin des absolus religieux et des sciences évolutionnistes ? Tel est le problème auquel Jean-Marie Guyau, philosophe français de la fin du XIXème siècle, entend apporter une contribution décisive. Dans ce travail, nous proposons de redécouvrir l’itinéraire logique et chronologique suivi par Guyau pour élaborer sa propre pensée. Celle-ci doit se comprendre comme le dénouement logique d’une problématisation qui passe par l’étude de l’histoire de la philosophie morale. Après avoir élaboré une méthode de commentaire pour l’étude des doctrines passées, Guyau pense pouvoir interpréter l’histoire de la morale comme un antagonisme entre le naturalisme (d’Épicure à Mill et Spencer) et l’idéalisme (d’Épictète à Kant et Fouillée). Une exposition critique détaillée permet à Guyau de montrer les lacunes de chacune de ces traditions : l’idéalisme absolutise ce qui n’est qu’hypothétique ; l’obligation théorisée par le sensualisme est dissoute par cette théorie même ; et l’évolutionnisme, forme ultime que prend la science des mœurs, pense indûment l’avenir sur le modèle du passé. Dès lors, l’obligation ne peut plus être conçue ni comme catégorique ni comme instinctive : elle doit être pensée à partir du principe qui engage le moins de présupposés (la vie), et ne doit plus être considérée comme uniforme mais comme anomique. Partant des prémisses naturalistes, la philosophie de Guyau tente alors d’idéaliser l’existence morale de l’homme ; le principal relais de cet accroissement de la vitalité est l’éducation, dont Guyau reconsidère non seulement le but (la moralisation) mais encore les moyens (la suggestion). / At the time of evolutionist science and the decline of the religious absolute, what moral obligation can be thought and practised nowadays ? Such is the problem Jean-Marie Guyau, a French philosopher of the late 19th century, intends to make a decisive contribution to.In this research work, we suggest rediscovering the logical and chronological route followed by Guyau to elaborate his own thought. This thought has to be understood as the logical outcome of a raised issue which starts by studying the history of moral philosophy.After elaborating a method of comment upon past doctrines, Guyau thinks he can interpret the history of morality as an antagonism between naturalism (from Epicurus to Mill and Spencer) and idealism (from Epictetus to Kant and Fouillée). A thorough scrutiny allows Guyau to show the gaps of each of these traditions : idealism absolutises what is only hypothetical ; the obligation theorized by sensualism is dissolved by this same theory ; as for evolutionism, the ultimate shape taken by the science of customs, its view of the future is wrongfully based on the model of the past. From then on, obligation cannot be conceived either as categorical or as instinctive any more : it must be thought from the principle which involves as few presuppositions (life) as possible, and must not be considered as uniform but anomic any more. Relying on naturalist beginnings, Guyau’s philosophy then tries to idealize the moral existence of Man ; this increase in vitality is mainly handed over through education. Actually, not only does Guyau reconsider its purpose, i-e raising moral standards, but also its means, namely suggestion.