The analysis of wide-angle cellular light scattering patterns is a challenging problem. Small changes to the organization, orientation, shape, and optical properties of scatterers and scattering populations can significantly alter their complex two-dimensional scattering signatures. Because of this, it is difficult to find methods that can identify medically relevant cellular properties while remaining robust to experimental noise and sample-to-sample differences. It is an important problem. Recent work has shown that changes to the internal structure of cells---specifically, the distribution and aggregation of organelles---can indicate the progression of a number of common disorders, ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disease, and can also predict a patient's response to treatments like chemotherapy. However, there is no direct analytical solution to the inverse wide-angle cellular light scattering problem, and available simulation and interpretation methods either rely on restrictive cell models, or are too computationally demanding for routine use. This dissertation addresses these challenges from a computational vantage point. First, it explores the theoretical limits and optical basis for wide-angle scattering pattern analysis. The result is a rapid new simulation method to generate realistic organelle scattering patterns without the need for computationally challenging or restrictive routines. Pattern analysis, image segmentation, machine learning, and iterative pattern classification methods are then used to identify novel relationships between wide-angle scattering patterns and the distribution of organelles (in this case mitochondria) within a cell. Importantly, this work shows that by parameterizing a scattering image it is possible to extract vital information about cell structure while remaining robust to changes in organelle concentration, effective size, and random placement. The result is a powerful collection of methods to simulate and interpret experimental light scattering signatures. This gives new insight into the theoretical basis for wide-angle cellular light scattering, and facilitates advances in real-time patient care, cell structure prediction, and cell morphology research.

No description available.

Optical scattering measurement devices are used to measure light reflection and light scattering from materials, to obtain data of the surface and bulk properties of materials. The measurement data are often used in research and development projects where material requirements are important, also for quality control in manufacturing processes, in different optical simulations and can be used for photorealistic rendering. In this master thesis project conducted at AFRY, a multifunctional team will develop an optical scattering measurement device that aims to collect data more accurately than current devices on the market. This thesis will focus on the mechanical design of the device which consists of the stability and movement of the components, the environment of the measurements and material selection with a focus on performance and sustainability. The optical model that will act as a basis for the development will be a gonioreflectometer consisting of a material sample, sample holder, light source, detector and an environment in which the measurements are conducted. Some of the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of the intended user are efficient use, low risk of misuse, reliable and high precision. A thorough requirement specification was made as a framework for the concept generation. The selected concept provides the movement of the optical components with an angular step enabling the desired optical scattering measurement. The selected stepper motor and gear ratio provides the flexibility of the movement, making it easy for the user to change angular steps of the optical components, enabling both fine and rough measurements. A separating screen was chosen for both concepts in order to avoid light contamination between measurements and the material sample holder resembles a frame that allows for mounting the material sample outside of the device. The mechanical system has a high stability and the material black anodized aluminum further contributes to the sturdiness of the construction. A physical prototype was created to validate the movement, since the movement of the detector and light source will be similar, only the detector movement was prototyped. The prototype showed that the movement of the detector worked in the desired way, hence the construction of the movement is approved. The scope was delimited in consensus with the project members and supervisors due to the time frame, hence there is future work on the device that should be accounted for. In conclusion, the purpose of the project was fulfilled after delimiting the goals and a conceptual solution was created that fulfilled the requirements of the project. / Optiska mätinstrument används för att mäta ljusreflektion och ljusspridning från material, för att erhålla data om materialets yt- och bulkegenskaper. Mätdata används ofta i forsknings- och utvecklingsprojekt där materialkrav är viktiga, även för kvalitetskontroll i tillverkningsprocesser, i olika optiska simuleringar och kan användas för fotorealistisk rendering. I detta examensarbete, genomfört på AFRY, kommer ett multifunktionellt team att utveckla en optisk spridningsmätningsenhet som syftar till att samla in data mer noggrant. Denna avhandling kommer att fokusera på den mekaniska designen av enheten som består av stabiliteten och rörelsen av komponenterna, mätmiljön och materialval med fokus på prestanda och hållbarhet. Den optiska modellen som kommer att ligga till grund för utvecklingen kommer att vara en gonioreflektometer bestående av ett materialprov, provhållare, ljuskälla, detektor och en miljö där mätningarna genomförs. Några av de fysiska, kognitiva och emotionella behoven hos den avsedda användaren är effektiv användning, låg risk för felanvändning, pålitlighet och hög precision. En noggrann kravspecifikation gjordes som en ram för konceptgenereringen. Det valda konceptet möjliggör rörelse av de optiska komponenterna med ett vinkelsteg som tillåter den önskade optiska spridningsmätningen. Den valda stegmotorn och utväxlingen ger flexibilitet i rörelsen, detta bidrar till att det är enkelt för användaren att ändra vinkelstegen för de optiska komponenterna, vilket tillåter både fina och grova mätningar. En avskiljningsskärm valdes för att undvika ljuskontaminering mellan mätningarna och materialprovhållaren liknar en ram där materialprovet monteras utanför enheten. Det mekaniska systemet har en hög stabilitet och materialet svart anodiserad aluminium bidrar till konstruktionens robusthet. En fysisk prototyp skapades för att validera rörelsen, eftersom rörelsen av detektorn och ljuskällan kommer att vara liknande, återskapades endast detektorns rörelse. Prototypen visade att detektorns rörelse fungerade på önskat sätt, därmed godkänns konstruktionen av rörelsen. Projektets mål avgränsades i samförstånd med projektmedlemmarna och handledarna på grund av tidsramen, därmed finns det framtida arbete för mätinstrumentet som bör beaktas. Sammanfattningsvis uppfylldes projektets syfte efter att målen avgränsats och en konceptuell lösning skapades som uppfyllde projektets krav.

The mechanochemical polycondensation between a diamine and a dialdehyde constitutes a sustainable alternative to classical solvent-based polymerization reactions. This process not only allows for a higher conversion and a shorter reaction time as compared to standard solvent-based syntheses of this conjugated polymer, but the reaction can also be adjusted by the energy introduced via the ball mill.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

L'objectif de la thèse était d'étudier la mobilité de traceurs particulaires dans des milieuxcomplexes par microscopie confocale à balayage laser (CLSM) combinée avec le suivi demultiple particules (MPT) et le recouvrement de fluorescence après photoblanchiment (FRAP).Tout d'abord, nous avons étudié la diffusion de particules dans les gels formés par des protéinesglobulaires. Dans ce but, des gels avec structures variés ont été préparés en faisant varier lesconcentrations en protéine et en sel. La structure a été caractérisée par l'analyse des imagesobtenues par CLSM en termes de fonction de corrélation de paires. La mobilité de particulesavec une large gamme de tailles (2nm - 1 micron) a été étudiée à la fois dans des gels homogèneset hétérogènes et reliée à la structure du gel.Deuxièmement, nous avons étudié des émulsions eau dans eau préparées en mélangeant dessolutions aqueuses de PEO et de dextran. Il a été montré que lorsque des particules colloïdalessont ajoutées, elles sont emprisonnées à l'interface eau-eau, car elles réduisent la tensioninterfaciale. La structure et le déplacement des particules à l'interface ont été déterminés parCLSM combinée avec MPT. / The objective of the thesis was to investigate the mobility of tracer particles in complex media byConfocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) combined with multiple particle tracking (MPT)and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP).First, we investigated the diffusion of tracer particles in gels formed by globular proteins. Gelswith a variety of structures were prepared by varying the protein and salt concentrations. Thestructure was characterized by analysis of the CLSM images in terms of the pair correlationfunction. The mobility of particles with a broad range of sizes (2nm - 1μm) was investigatedboth in homogeneous and heterogeneous gels and related to the gel structure.Second, we studied water-in-water-emulsions prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of PEO anddextran. It is shown that when colloidal particles are added they become trapped at the waterwaterinterface because they reduce the interfacial tension. The structure and the displacement ofthe particles at the interface were determined using CLSM combined with MPT.

L'utilisation de matériaux polymères a su s'imposer au cours du 20ième siècle, en remplaçant ou se combinant aux matériaux métalliques, pour des applications mécaniques toujours plus techniques. La grande diversité des propriétés physiques des polymères est intimement lié à leur forte complexité microstructurale, qui malgré leur utilisation massive reste, au demeurant, encore très incomprise. Afin de mieux comprendre les évolutions microstructurales aux échelles nano et micrométrique dont résultent le comportement macroscopique il est nécessaire de développer de nouvelles techniques de caractérisation in situ. Ce travail fait état de l'utilisation de la spectroscopie Raman couplée au système VidéoTractionTM afin d'obtenir des informations microstructurales de la déformation de polymère semi-cristallins. Pour cela, des polypropylènes de formulations diverses ont été étudiés, permettant de souligner le rôle joué par la matrice et les charges organiques et minérales dans le processus de déformation plastique. Des mesures in situ de l'orientation des chaînes macromoléculaires déterminées in situ par Raman ont été confirmées, au synchrotron Petra III d'Hambourg, par une expérience couplant le système VidéoTractionTM-Raman à un dispositif de diffusion des rayons X aux grands angles. L'endommagent volumique des matériaux a été étudié post mortem par Tomographie X et radiographie X. Les améliorations apportées au système VidéoTractionTM-Raman ainsi qu'une étude de la diffusion de la lumière incohérente de nos matériaux au cours de leurs déformations ont permis l'établissement d'un critère de mesure de l'endommagement volumique in situ par Raman / The use of polymer materials - replacing or combining with metallic materials - has successfully established itself in the 20th century for increasingly technical mechanical applications. The great diversity of polymers physical properties is closely related to their high microstructural complexity, which is still very misunderstood despite their massive use. The development of new techniques for in situ characterization allows to better understand the microstructural evolutions on nanoscale and micrometer scale which affect the macroscopic behavior. This work report the use of Raman spectroscopy coupled with the VideoTractionTM system in order to obtain information about the microstructural deformation of polymer. Various formulations of polypropylene were studied to highlight the role played by the polypropylene matrix and the organic and mineral fillers in the plastic deformation process. The in situ measures of the macromolecular chains' orientation determined by Raman were confirmed by the performing of an experimental setup coupling the Raman-VideoTractionTM system with a device of Wide angle X-ray scattering. The volume damage of material was studied post mortem using X-ray tomography. The improvements made to VideoTractionTM-Raman system and a study of the incoherent light scattering of our materials enabled the setting of a Raman criterion for measuring in situ the volume damage. The studies carried out to evaluate in situ macromolecular orientation and volume damage highlight the existence of competition between these two processes. The degree of influence of organic and mineral fillers in this competition within the polypropylene matrix was determined

Um polieletrólito catiônico (poliamina), com baixo peso molecular e elevada densidade de carga, normalmente aplicado como agente coagulante do lixo aniônico, foi usado para estudos de retenção e drenagem na fabricação de papel. O uso do carboximentil celulose de sódio para simulação do teor de lixo aniônico e seu efeito na retenção de cargas minerais foi uma característica importante para este trabalho. Pode ser observado que o aumento da dosagem do polímero catiônico tanto melhora a retenção de cargas minerais, avaliada pela turbidez do filtrado, quanto melhora a drenagem do sistema, avaliada pela velocidade de escoamento. Entretanto, elevadas dosagens deste polímero comprometeram os resultados destes parâmetros devido à inversão de carga do sistema. Pode também ser confirmado que forças de cisalhamento excessivas prejudicam a retenção de cargas minerais. Ademais, um polianfótero, com peso molecular e densidade de carga elevados, contendo grupos positivo (N-[3-(N,N-dimetilamino)propil]acrilamida), negativo (ácido metileno butanodióico) e nulo (acrilamida) na mesma cadeia, foi testado como agente de resistência a seco do papel. Todos os estudos em nível molecular sobre o comportamento do polianfótero em solução e o seu comportamento de adsorção sobre superfícies modelos carregadas, em diferentes condições de pH e de força iônica, foram importantes para explicar tanto dos fenômenos de adsorção, envolvendo fibras celulósicas e polianfótero, quanto o seu efeito na resistência mecânica do papel. Foi observado que a solubilidade do polímero aumenta à medida que o pH se distancia do seu ponto isoelétrico, pHPIE 7,3, e reduz para valores de pH próximos ao pHPIE. O tamanho das estruturas do polianfótero depende do pH do meio de dispersão. As características de tamanho do polianfótero tanto sob a forma de cadeias individuais ou quanto sob a forma de agregados, foram medidas através da técnica de espalhamento dinâmico de luz. As propriedades viscoelásticas das camadas adsorvidas e a quantidade de polímero adsorvida foram medidas através da técnica da balança microgravimétrica com dissipação de energia. Estas duas determinações, associadas às imagens no microscópio de força atômica, foram importantes para o entendimento dos resultados práticos do uso do polianfótero como agente de resistência a seco do papel. Maiores resultados de resistência do papel, avaliada através da resistência à tração, foram alcançados para valores de pH próximos ao ponto isoelétrico onde foram encontrados o seguinte: (1) maiores tamanhos para as estruturas do polímero em solução, (2) maior quantidade de massa nas camadas adsorvidas e (3) a formação de camadas mais viscoelásticas. O fenômeno de separação de fases, associado à mudança da solubilidade do polímero em solução devido ao balanço dos grupos positivos e negativos ionizados ao longo da faixa de pH estudada, foi considerado o principal aspecto para a variação em tamanho dos agregados. Embora este polímero tenha apresentado comportamento antipolieletrólito devido à expansão da sua cadeia e ao aumento da densidade de carga com o aumento da força iônica, considerando o efeito da força iônica para pH 4,3, o comportamento de adsorção do polianfótero foi avaliado como o comportamento de um polieletrólito monocarregado de alta densidade de carga. Maiores e menores quantidades de massas adsorvidas foram encontradas para valores intermediários e extremos de força iônica, respectivamente. As interações eletrostáticas foram consideradas as principais responsáveis pela adsorção do polímero sobre superfícies carregadas. Entretanto, a blindagem de cargas foi considerada a explicação para os baixos valores de massa adsorvida para valores mais elevados de força iônica. / A cationic polyelectrolyte (polyamine), with low molecular weight and high charge density, usually applied as anionic trash coagulant, was used for the retention and drainage studies in the papermaking. The use of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to simulate the anionic trash content and its effect on the filler retention was an important feature of the work. It could be noted that the increasing of the cationic polymer dosage improves both the filler retention, evaluated by the turbidity of the filtrate, and the system drainage, evaluated by the flow speed. However, high dosages of this polymer compromised the results of these parameters due to the reversal of the system charge. It can also be confirmed that excessive shear forces affect the filler retention. Furthermore, a polyampholyte, with high molecular weight and charge density, containing positive (N-[3-(N,N- dimethylamino)propyl]acrylamide), negative (methylene butanedioic acid), and neutral (acrylamide) groups in the same chain, was tested as a dry strength agent. All of the studies at molecular level concerning to the polyampholyte behavior in the solution and its adsorption behavior on charged model surfaces at different conditions of pH and ionic strength, were important to explain both the adsorption phenomena, involving cellulosic fibers and polyampholyte, and its impact on the paper strength. It was observed that the polymer solubility increases as the pH moves away from its isoelectric point, pHIEP 7.3, and decreases when the pH approaches close to pHIEP. The sizes of the structures of the polyampholytes depend on the pH of the dispersion medium. Also the size characteristics of polyampholyte, both in individual and aggregated forms, were measured by dynamic light scattering technique. The viscoelastic properties of adsorbed layers, as well as the amount of the adsorbed polymer, were measured by quartz crystal microbalance technique with energy dissipation. These two measurements, associated with the atomic force microscopy images, were important to understand the practical results of polyampholyte usage as a dry strength agent. Best results of paper strength, evaluated by paper strength index, were achieved at pH close to the isoelectric point on which one were found the following features: (1) larger sizes of the polymer structures in solution, (2) higher amount of mass in the adsorbed layers, and (3) the formation of more viscoelastic layers. The phase separation phenomenon, associated with the change in the solubility of the polymer due to the balance of the positive and negative groups throughout the studied pH range, was considered the main aspect for the variation in size of the aggregates. Although this polymer shows antipolyelectrolyte behavior due to the expansion of the its chain and the increasing in charge density with the ionic strength, considering the effect of ionic strength at pH 4.3, the adsorption behavior of polyampholyte was evaluated as a monocharged polyelectrolyte behavior with high charge density. Major and minor amounts of adsorbed masses were found for intermediates and extremes values of ionic strength, respectively. The electrostatic interactions were considered the main cause of the adsorption on charged surfaces. However, the electrostatic screening was considered the explanation for the low values of adsorbed mass at higher values of ionic strength.

Structural colours arise from the interaction of visible light with nano-structured materials. The occurrence of such structures in nature has been known for over a century, but it is only in the last few decades that the study of natural photonic structures has fully matured due to the advances in imagining techniques and computational modelling. Even though a plethora of different colour-producing architectures in a variety of species has been investigated, a few significant questions are still open: how do these structures develop in living organisms? Does disorder play a functional role in biological photonics? If so, is it possible to say that the optical response of natural disordered photonics has been optimised under evolutionary pressure? And, finally, can we exploit the well-adapted photonic design principles that we observe in Nature to fabricate functional materials with optimised scattering response? In my thesis I try to answer the questions above: I microscopically investigate $\textit{in vivo}$ the growth of a cuticular multilayer, one of the most common colour-producing strategies in nature, in the green beetles $\textit{Gastrophysa viridula}$ showing how the interplay between different materials varies during the various life stages of the beetles; I further investigate two types of disordered photonic structures and their biological role, the random array of spherical air inclusions in the eggshells of the honeyguide $\textit{Prodotiscus regulus}$, a species under unique evolutionary pressure to produce blue eggs, and the anisotropic chitinous network of fibres in the white beetle $\textit{Cyphochilus}$, the whitest low-refractive index material; finally, inspired by these natural designs, I fabricate and study light transport in biocompatible highly-scattering materials.

La thermodiffusion, également appelé effet Soret, décrit le couplage entre les gradients de température et les flux massiques qui en résultent. Ce phénomène intervient dans de nombreux processus naturels et applications industrielles. En particulier, les réservoirs pétroliers sont sujets à ce phénomène impliquant des fluides multi constituants confinés dans une matrice poreuse et soumis à un gradient de température. Néanmoins, malgré beaucoup des progrès, il existe relativement peu de mesures fiables de ce phénomène et sa modélisation reste largement un problème ouvert. L’objectif principal de cette thèse s’inscrit dans ce cadre, à savoir développer une approche expérimental permettant de fournir des données de références sur la thermodiffusion notamment dans l’optique de quantifier l’effet de la pression sur cette dernière. Ainsi, durant cette thèse, nous avons développé une cellule de thermodiffusion en milieu libre qui permet d’étudier par shadowgraphie les fluctuations de non équilibre induites par effet Soret. L’appareil de mesure a ensuite été utilisé pour étudier deux mélanges binaires représentatifs de fluides pétroliers, à savoir le mélange équimassique tétraline/dodécane (en phase liquide) et le mélange dioxyde de carbone/méthane (en phases gaz et supercritique). En complément, des simulations de dynamique moléculaire ont été réalisées sur le mélange dioxyde de carbone/méthane. Par analyse dynamique des images de shadowgraphie nous avons pu déterminer les coefficients de diffusion et Soret en fonction de la pression pour le mélange tétraline/dodécane. Aux incertitudes près, nous observons une décroissance linéaire avec la pression pour ces coefficients. De plus nous avons observé l’effet du confinement de la cellule sur les fluctuations en très bon accord avec la théorie et les simulations. Pour le mélange dioxyde de carbone/méthane l’analyse dynamique a montré une cinétique difficilement accessible de par les limites physiques et informatiques du dispositif expérimental utilisé. L’analyse statique montre, quant à lui, une croissance rapide de l’amplitude des fluctuations avec la pression jusqu’à un seuil au-delà duquel elle décroît. Sur ce mélange les simulations de dynamique moléculaire ont montré un bon accord avec les prédictions théoriques. / Thermodiffusion, also called the Soret effect, describes the coupling between temperature gradient and resulting fluxes. This phenomenon is involved in a number of natural and industrial processes. In particular, multi components fluids in petroleum reservoirs are subjected to this phenomenon because of the geo-thermal gradient. Nevertheless, in spite of a lot of advances, there are few available data of this phenomenon and the establishment of a theoretical model, able to give a quantitative estimation of these transport coefficients whatever molecules in presence, is still an open question. The principal aim of this thesis is to develop an experimental approach allowing providing reference data on thermodiffusion as a function of the pressure. During this thesis, we developed a high pressure thermodiffusion cell in free medium, enabling us to study concentration non-equilibrium fluctuations induced by the Soret effect by means of shadowgraph optical technique. With this setup we investigated two binary mixtures representatives of petroleum fluids; namely the equimassic tetralin/dodecane mixture in liquid phase and the carbon dioxide/methane mixture in gaseous and super critical state. Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulations on the second mixture were performed. Using a dynamic image analysis, we have measured molecular diffusion and Soret coefficient for the tetralin/dodecane mixture. Within experimental uncertainties, we observed a linear decrease of these coefficients with the pressure. Furthermore, we were able to observe the effect of confinement (finite size effect induced by cell vertical boundary conditions) on fluctuation dynamics, in good agreement with calculations and simulations based on hydrodynamic fluctuation theory on similar solutal Rayleigh number. Concerning the carbon dioxide/methane mixture, the dynamic analysis revealed a kinetic too fast for our experimental apparatus. Conversely, static analysis revealed a rapid increase of the non-equilibrium fluctuation magnitude as a function of the pressure up to a threshold beyond which it decreases. On this mixture, performed molecular dynamic simulations provided results in good agreement with expected theoretical behaviour.