Les estimations des mouvements de soi provenant des signaux vestibulaires contribuent à la planification et l’exécution des mouvements volontaires du bras lorsque le corps se déplace. Cependant, comme les senseurs vestibulaires sont fixés à la tête alors que le bras est fixé au corps, les signaux vestibulaires doivent être transformés d’un système de référence centré sur la tête à un système centré sur le corps pour pouvoir contribuer de façon appropriée au contrôle moteur du bras. Le but premier de ce travail était d’étudier l’évidence d’une telle transformation. La stimulation galvanique vestibulaire (SGV) a été utilisée pour activer les afférences vestibulaires et simuler une rotation autour d’un axe naso-occipital fixe pendant que des sujets humains faisaient des mouvements du bras dans le plan horizontal, avec la tête dans différentes orientations. Une transformation des signaux vestibulaires implique que la SVG devrait simuler une rotation autour d’un axe horizontal lorsque la tête est droite et autour d’un axe vertical lorsque la tête est en flexion antérieure. La SGV devrait ainsi perturber les mouvements du bras en fonction de l’orientation de la tête. Nos résultats démontrent que les signaux vestibulaires contribuant aux mouvements d’atteinte sont effectivement transformés en un système de référence centrée sur le corps. Le deuxième but de ce travail était d’explorer les mécanismes utilisant ces signaux vestibulaires transformés. En comparant les effets de la SGV appliquée avant ou pendant les mouvements d’atteinte nous avons montré que les signaux vestibulaires transformés contribuent à des mécanismes de compensation distincts durant la planification des mouvements d’atteinte comparativement à l’exécution. / Vestibular signals provide self-motion estimates that contribute to the planning and execution of voluntary reaching movements during body motion. However, because the vestibular sensors are fixed in the head whereas the arm is fixed to the trunk vestibular signals must be transformed from a head-centered to a body-centered reference frame to contribute appropriately to limb motor control. The first goal of the current work was to investigate the evidence for such a transformation. To do so we used galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) to selectively activate vestibular afferents and simulate rotation about a fixed roughly naso-occipital axis as human subjects performed reaching movements with the head in different orientations. If vestibular signals that contribute to reaching are transformed to body-centered coordinates, then with the head upright GVS should simulate mainly tilt about an earth-horizontal axis (roll), whereas with the head pitched forward the same stimulus should simulate rotation about an earth-vertical axis (yaw). We therefore predicted that GVS should perturb horizontal-plane reach trajectories in a head-orientation dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that vestibular signals which contribute to reaching are indeed transformed to a body-centered reference frame. The second goal of this work was to explore the mechanisms that use these transformed vestibular signals. By comparing the effect of GVS applied during versus prior to reaching we also provide evidence that transformed vestibular signals contribute to distinct compensation mechanisms for body motion during reach planning versus execution.

M. Tech. (Engineering: Electrical, Department Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology / The global trends towards energy efficiency have facilitated the need for technological advancements in the design and control of power electronic converters for energy processing. The proposed design is intended to make the practical implementation of converters easier. The development of a universal bidirectional galvanic isolated switch module will be used to drive any MOSFET or IGBT in any position in any topology whether the load is AC or DC. Semiconductor switches are required and are also integrated for fast switching times in power converter applications The structure of the power switch module consists of an opto-coupler which will provide an isolation barrier for maximum galvanic isolation between the control circuitry and power stage. It also consists of a high performance gate drive circuit for high speed switching applications with a floating supply. / Telkom South Africa Ltd, TFMC Pty Ltd, M-TEC, THRIP

Ces travaux présentent l'étude de transformateurs par voie acoustique, basés sur la technologie CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer ), visant à développer des composants monolithiques assurant l'isolation électrique au sein de la commande des interrupteurs à semi-conducteurs. S'agissant de microsystèmes électromécaniques, les CMUTs offrent des perspectives intéressantes en terme d'intégrabilité monolithique avec les interrupteurs à semi-conducteurs. L'architecture proposée est constituée de deux transducteurs CMUTs de part et d'autre d'un substrat en silicium. Un outil de modélisation a été développé dans le but de prédire le comportement du transformateur. Des protocoles de mesure du rendement des dispositifs fabriqués ont été mis en place permettant une évaluation quantitative des performances des prototypes (un rendement de 32 % est atteint avec une marge de progression à 60 %). L'exploitation du modèle développé, et validé par les résultats de caractérisation, a permis de mettre en évidence les limites et perspectives d'amélioration de ces dispositifs. / This work is a study of CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transduer)based acoustical transformers as a step in the development of insulating components in semiconductor switches control chain. CMUT transducers being electromechanical systems (MEMS), their monolithic integration with semiconductor switches is full of interesting perspectives . The proposed architecture consists of two CMUTs layered on each side of a silicon substrate. A computational tool was designed to predict the behaviour of the transformer. Measurement protocols of the power efficiency of the constructed transformers were set up and allowed to quantify the prototypes' performances (A 32 % efficiency is currently reached, with improvements attainable up to 60 %). Exploring the results of the developed model, validated by bench measurements, allowed to determine the current limits of the transformers as well as perspectives of improvement.

Este trabalho objetiva avaliar o uso de resíduos galvânicos de douração/prateação como fonte de micronutrientes (principalmente cobre e níquel) para as plantas, estudando as reações químicas que determinam os processos de solubilidade e adsorção na interface solo-solução-planta. Para isso, resíduos galvânicos foram caracterizados por ICP OES e FAAS, determinando os teores de Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, S e Zn após digestão ácida, detectando Cu entre 2 e 35% e Ni entre 0,007 e 9,7% (m/m), e baixas quantidades de Cd, Cr e Pb em relação aos anteriores. Aspectos físico-químicos caracterizam os resíduos como aglomerados quebradiços, com possível ordenação estrutural na forma de sulfatos, óxidos, hidróxidos ou carbonatos, sendo pouco higroscópicos e facilitando, assim, aplicação agronômica na forma pulverizada. Ensaios de solubilidade em meio aquoso por sistema em fluxo indicaram a dependência da solubilidade de cobre e níquel ao pH. Cobre já apresentaria melhor solubilidade em pHs inferiores a 5, o que não ocorreu, mas simulações em software de equilíbrio químico indicaram solubilidade de cobre no formato de brochantita [Cu4SO4(OH)6] em pHs abaixo de 3, e análises por DRX confirmaram sua presença. Dois dos resíduos utilizados apresentaram solubilidade de níquel em água, provavelmente como NiCl2 ou NiSO4, e todos apresentaram boa solubilização quando complexados com DTPA. Estudos de adsorção e difusão de Cu e Ni em solos por percolação de água em colunas de PVC, após adição de pastilhas de resíduos galvânicos ao meio, mostraram baixa mobilidade dos metais e influência da presença destes pela dissolução das pastilhas, intensificando as reações de adsorção e dessorção. Quando combinados com as isotermas de adsorção e extração sequencial, conclui-se que os solos apresentam elevada capacidade máxima de adsorção e que estes metais estão ligados na maior parte às frações menos disponíveis, mas apresentando aumento da disponibilidade após inserção dos resíduos. Ensaios de solubilidade na presença de plantas em sistema similar ao experimento de adsorção, porém, com os resíduos na forma pulverizada, mostraram a presença de Cu e Ni nas raízes por influência da inserção dos resíduos e na parte aérea somente para níquel, talvez por suficiência nutricional de cobre. As principais reações que ocorrem na interface solo-solução-planta, como de adsorção/dessorção, precipitação/dissolução, complexação e oxirredução, explicam os mecanismos da maior ou menor disponibilidade destes micronutrientes, favorecendo determinadas condições pelos conceitos de equilíbrio químico. Ácidos orgânicos exsudados na rizosfera podem acidificar o meio ou complexar os metais, aumentando sua solubilidade e favorecendo seu transporte para as plantas. Por isso, é recomendado que os resíduos sejam aplicados bem próximo às raízes. Ensaios microbiológicos mostraram que os resíduos apresentam baixa toxicidade, e, associado aos fatos da baixa mobilidade de Cu e Ni e da baixa influência dos contaminantes Cd, Cr e Pb no solo, estima-se que oferecem baixo risco ambiental. O conjunto de resultados confere aos resíduos galvânicos de douração/prateação viabilidade para serem utilizados como fertilizantes agrícolas para suprir deficiências de cobre e níquel, concordando com os objetivos da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos, que estimulam a reciclagem de materiais perigosos, para que voltem à cadeia produtiva, evitando, assim, o desperdício de seu potencial por meio do descarte / This work aims evaluate the use of galvanic wastes of gold/silver-plating as micronutrients source (mainly copper and nickel) for plants, by studying the chemical reactions which determine the solubility and adsorption processes on the soil-solution-plant interface. For this purpose, galvanic wastes were characterized by ICP OES and FAAS, determining the levels of Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, S and Zn after acid digestion, detecting Cu in the range of 2 and 35% and Ni in the range of 0.007 and 9.7% (m/m), and low quantities of Cd, Cr and Pb compared to the previous ones. Physicochemical aspects characterize the wastes as brittle conglomerate, with possible structural ordination in the form of sulfates, oxides, hydroxides or carbonates, low hygroscopicity and facilitating, thus, agronomic application in the pulverized form. Solubility essays in aqueous media by flow system indicating the dependency of copper and nickel solubility with pH. Cupper would present better solubility in pH below 5, what did not happen, but simulations in chemical equilibrium software indicated copper solubility in the form of brochantite [Cu4SO4(OH)6] in pH below 3, and DRX analysis confirmed the their presence. Two of the wastes used presented nickel solubility in water, probably as NiCl2 or NiSO4, and all presented good solubilization when complexed with DTPA. Adsorption and diffusion studies of Cu and Ni in soils by water percolation in PVC column, after addiction of galvanic wastes tablets to the center, demonstrated low metals mobility and influence of their presence by the tablet dissolution, intensifying the adsorption and desorption reactions. When combined with the adsorption isotherms and sequential extraction, it concludes that the soils presented high maximum adsorption capacity and these metals are mostly bonded to less available fractions, but presenting an increasing availability after wastes addition. Solubility essays in the present of plants in a similar system to the adsorption experiment, however, with the wastes in the pulverized form, demonstrated the presence of Cu and Ni in the roots by the influence of the residues insertion and only nickel in the aerial parts, maybe by nutritional sufficiency of copper. The main reactions that occurred in the soil-solution-plant interface, as adsorption/desorption, precipitation/dissolution, complexation and redox, explain the mechanism of the higher or lower availability of these micronutrients, favoring determinate conditions by the chemical equilibrium concepts. Organic acids exuded in the rhizosphere can acidify the medium or complex the metals, increasing their solubility and favoring their transport to the plants. Therefore, it is recommended that the residues must be applied very close to the roots. Microbiological tests have shown that the wastes present low toxicity, and, associated with the low mobility of Cu and Ni and with the low influence of the Cd, Cr and Pb in the soil, it estimated to offer low environmental risk. The results set gives galvanic wastes of gold/silver-plating viability to be used as agricultural fertilizers to supply copper and nickel deficiencies, in line with the objectives of the National Solid Waste Policy, which encourages the recycling of hazardous materials, to get back to productive chain, thus avoiding the waste of its potential by means of the discard

De nouveaux électrocatalyseurs avec nanofilm de platine pour la réaction de réduction de l'oxygène avec application dans des piles à combustible à membrane échangeuse de protons ont été développés. Ces catalyseurs comprennent des films minces de platine déposés sur des réseaux de nanofibres de carbone. Des supports de nanofibres de carbone et de nanobrosse ont été préparés par électrofilage suivi de traitements thermiques pour la stabilisation et la graphitisation. Une méthode innovante d’électrodéposition pulsée à surpotentiel élevé a été développée pour le dépôt de nanofilm de platine sur des supports de nanofibres de carbone et de nanobrosse, ainsi que sur du graphite pyrolytique hautement orienté dont la planéité permet de caractériser le dépôt avec microscopie à force et électronique. Ces approches ont conduit à des électrodes en nanofibres autosupportées avec une porosité qui a été accordée à un matériau de plus en plus dense d'un côté à l'autre, où le côté présentant la plus grande surface était utilisé pour déposer du platine. Les électrodes ont été caractérisées ex situ en utilisant voltampérométrie cyclique, en démontrant une activité plus élevée pour la réaction de réduction de l'oxygène et une durabilité contre des cycles de tension plus élevée que les catalyseurs classiques au platine sur carbone. Ces électrodes ont été assemblés directement avec une membrane et une anode et caractérisés in situ dans une pile à combustible. Des films minces de platine ont également été préparés à la surface des nanofibres de nickel en utilisant le nouvelle approche de l'échange galvanique assisté par micro-ondes ; divers paramètres expérimentaux ont été étudiés pour déterminer leur effet sur l'échange et la morphologie du platine. Les fibres de nickel@platine résultantes ont présenté une électroactivité élevée pour la réaction de réduction d'oxygène et ont été caractérisées comme des électrocatalyseurs non supportés à la cathode d'un assemblage d'électrodes à membrane; des travaux supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour les stabiliser contre la perte de nickel de l’électrocatalyseur vers l’électrolyte. / Novel platinum thin film electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction of proton exchange membrane fuel cells were developed. These catalysts comprise platinum thin films deposited on carbon nanofibrous webs. Carbon nanofibres and nanobrush supports were prepared by electrospinning followed by thermal treatments for stabilisation and graphitisation. An innovative pulsed high overpotential electrodeposition method was developed to deposit platinum thin films both on carbon nanofibre and nanobrush supports, and also on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, the planarity of which allowed detailed characterisation of the conformity, contiguity and thickness of the platinum films using atomic force and electron microscopy. These approaches led to self-standing nanofibre electrodes with porosity that was tuned to increasingly dense material from one side to the other, where the side presenting highest surface area was used to deposit platinum. The electrodes were characterised ex situ using cycling voltammetry where they demonstrated higher activity for the oxygen reduction reaction and greater durability on voltage cycling than conventional platinum on carbon catalysts. They were also assembled directly with a membrane and anode and characterised in situ in a single fuel cell. Thin platinum films were also prepared at the surface of nickel nanofibres using a novel approach to galvanic exchange assisted by microwaves, and a range of experimental parameters was investigated to determine their effect on the extent of exchange and the resulting platinum morphology. While the resulting nickel@platinum core@shell fibres demonstrated high electroactivity for the oxygen reduction reaction and were characterised as unsupported electrocatalysts at the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly, further work is required to stabilise them against nickel leaching from the catalyst to the electrolyte.

L’objectif général de ce travail doctoral était de étudier la résultante entre les bénéfices induits par l’activité physique chronique et les effets délétères de l’avancée en âge sur la fonction d’équilibration. Pour cela, différentes techniques de manipulations sensorielles (e.g. stimulation vestibulaire galvanique, vibration tendineuse, électromyostimulation, tapis de mousse) ont été employées dans le cadre de tâches posturales bipodales. Les principaux résultats montrent que les manipulations sensorielles affectent le contrôle postural quel que soit l’âge et le niveau de pratique physique du sujet. Par ailleurs, l’avancée en âge semble majorer les effets perturbateurs des manipulations sensorielles. Le comportement postural observé pourrait, en grande partie, résulter d’une dégradation de la proprioception. Lorsque l’information proprioceptive est manipulée (i.e. vibration tendineuse), le groupe de sujets âgés ne pratiquant aucune activité physique saturerait plus rapidement le système proprioceptif que les autre groupes de sujets. En revanche, l’activité physique chronique limiterait la dégradation de la capacité d’équilibration. Elle pourrait améliorer la capacité des sujets âgés à recalibrer l’information sensorielle erronée et renforcerait l’efficacité de la proprioception. En filigrane, une optimisation fonctionnelle du système postural permettrait de compenser partiellement les effets du vieillissement. En effet, les involutions qui s’opèrent au cours de l’avancée en âge au niveau des systèmes sensoriels et du système nerveux central s’avèrent inéluctables. Elles empêchent les sujets âgés pratiquant une activité physique régulière de maintenir une habileté à compenser une perturbation posturale similaire à celle de sujets jeunes sportifs. / The overall objective of this thesis was to analyse the benefits resulting from the chronic physical activity and the deleterious effects induced by aging on postural control. To this end, different sensory manipulation techniques (e.g. vestibular galvanic stimulation, tendon vibration, electromyostimulation, foam surface) were used in the context of bipedal postural tasks. The main results showed that sensory manipulations affect postural control whatever the age and the level of physical practice of the subject. In addition, the disruptive effects of the sensory manipulations on postural control seem to increase with aging. This postural behaviour could largely result from the involution of the proprioception. When proprioception is disrupted (i.e. tendon vibration), the non-active old subjects group would saturate the proprioceptive system more quickly than the other groups. In contrast, the chronic physical activity would limit the involution of the postural control effectiveness. It could improve the ability of the old subjects to reweight sensory information and enhance the proprioception effectiveness. Hence, a functional postural control optimization might partly compensate the aging effects. Indeed, age-related involutions of sensory systems and central nervous system occurring across life span are inevitable. They prevent the older subjects who practice regular physical activity to maintain a similar ability to cope with postural disruptions in comparison with young athletes.

A pair of studies investigating the deposition and surface chemical properties of ultrathin metal films were pursued: (i) Pt-Co alloys on Mo(110); and (ii) Pd on Pt(111). Experimental measurement was based on a combination of electron spectroscopy (low energy ion scattering spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and low energy electron diffraction) and electrochemistry (voltage efficiency, voltammetry, and coulometry). Mixed-metal preparation of Pt-Co films by thermal vapor deposition (TVD) resulted in a thin-film binary alloy. Careful analysis revealed a substantial divergence between the composition at the interface and that in the interior. This outcome was observed for all compositions and allowed for the construction of a ?surface phase diagram?. The proclivities of the alloys of pre-selected compositions towards enhanced catalysis of the oxygen-reduction reaction were assessed in terms of their voltage efficiencies, as manifested by the open-circuit potential (OCP) in O2-saturated dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte. The particular alloy surface, Pt3Co (XPt=3,XCo=1), whether from the thin film or a bulk single crystal, exhibited the highest OCP, a significant improvement over pure Pt but still appreciably lower than the thermodynamic limit. Under test conditions, the degradation of thusly-prepared films was primarily due to Co corrosion. Ultrathin Pd films on well-defined Pt(111) surfaces, with coverages from 0.5 to 8 monolayers (ML), were prepared by surface-limited redox replacement reaction (galvanic exchange) of underpotentially deposited Cu. Spectroscopic data revealed that films prepared in this manner are elementally pure, pseudomorphic to the substrate, and stable, independent of the surface coverage (?) of palladium. Analysis of the voltammetric profiles in the hydrogen evolution region revealed unique properties of hydrogen adsorption unseen in bulk electrodes. Notably, at 1 ML coverage, a step-free film was produced that did not exhibit hydrogen absorption. At higher coverages, digital (layer-by-layer) deposition gave way to 3D islands in a Stranski- Krastanov growth mode; under these conditions, onset of bulk-like behavior was observed. This method makes possible the synthesis of well-ordered noble-metal films in the absence of high-temperature treatment

Thesis (MSc. (Human Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

In dieser Arbeit wurde das elektrochemische Korrosionsverhalten von zwei Nietverbindungen in Hybridbauweise untersucht. Auf der Grundlage von elektrochemischen Polarisationsversuchen der Nietkomponenten sowie durch Simulation mit der Methode der Finiten Elemente konnte das Korrosionsverhalten für den gefügten Zustand abgeleitet werden. Das Korrosionsverhalten für den gefügten Zustand wurde aus der grafischen Analyse der erhaltenen Stromdichte-Potential-Kurven abgeleitet. Zudem wurde in der Simulation ein kritischer Abstand für galvanisch induzierte Lochkorrosion auf der Aluminiumlegierung berechnet. Das grafisch abgeleitete sowie das berechnete Korrosionsverhalten wurden für beide Nietverbindungen im Experiment bestätigt. Weiterhin wurde ein systemspezifischer Werkstoffparameter mit einer neuentwickelten Analysemethode extrahiert und dessen Abhängigkeit von der Expositionszeit der Nietverbindungen in dem Klimawechseltest nach VDA 621-415 und dem VDA 621-414 Freibewitterungstest untersucht.

Galvanic anode technology has in recent years come to the fore as a cost-effective method of successfully mitigating the corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete structures. Developments in the field of cathodic protection have included the introduction of a novel Hybrid anode system, which uses the same sacrificial anode to pass a short-term impressed current before being connected to the steel directly to provide a long-term galvanic current. Galvanic and hybrid technologies are often seen as less powerful solutions in the treatment of reinforcement corrosion, and the test methodologies which determine the efficacy of cathodic protection systems favour impressed current technologies. The work completed has investigated the application of traditional and novel corrosion assessment techniques to laboratory samples to assess the protection offered by the hybrid treatment methodology in both treatment phases. In addition, the response of both galvanic and hybrid anodes to environmental conditions has been recorded and assessed before being discussed in the context of steel protection criteria. Finally, an investigation is presented into the on-site deterioration of commercially pure titanium feeder wire installed as part of the hybrid anode system and potential solutions to the problem have been documented. The research undertaken found that the hybrid anode system is capable of protecting steel in challenging, aggressive environments. This was confirmed by steel corrosion rate and indicative steel potential measurements. The responsive behaviour investigation showed that the current output of galvanic and hybrid anodes responds rapidly to changes in the corrosion risk posed to the steel and that this has a direct effect on anode system lifetimes. An assessment of the polarisation-based protection criteria applied to steel in concrete has found that the standard inhibits the use of responsive behaviour, and that revisions which consider the present risk of steel corrosion by considering the corrosion current resulting from the relative aggressivity of the concrete environment would be more valid in their application. A cathodic protection system based on the concepts of pit re-alkalisation and pH maintenance can fully utilise galvanic anode responsive behaviour. It was discovered that the deterioration of commercially pure titanium feeder wire seen on site installations was due to anodising in the presence of chloride media which had the potential to lead to pitting corrosion. The pitting risk varied depending on the duration of the treatment and proximity to the installed anode. An anodically grown oxide delayed the onset of corrosion in aqueous KBr solution, but did not significantly increase the pitting potential.