O crescimento da população mundial associado ao aumento da competição pelos recursos hídricos, desafiam a humanidade a buscar alternativas para solucionar os problemas de abastecimento de água e oferta de alimentos. Isso exige de pesquisadores e institutos de pesquisa soluções para aumentar a eficiência na produção de alimentos e na eficiência no uso dos recursos hídricos. O milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) pode ser uma alternativa viável para a produção de biomassa e forragem com maior eficiência no uso da água. Deste modo, levanta-se a hipótese de que a diminuição na oferta de água aumenta a produtividade da água na cultura; o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o incremento de produtividade da água da cultura, associado à diminuição na oferta de água, bem como, o padrão de resposta termal da cultura em função do déficit hídrico. O estudo foi conduzido em um ambiente protegido na área de pesquisa do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas da Escola Superior de Agricultura -Luiz de Queiroz? entre novembro de 2016 e janeiro de 2017. A variedade utilizada neste trabalho foi a BRS-1501, desenvolvida pela EMBRAPA, o delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro blocos e quatro níveis de reposição hídrica, sendo eles: (L40, L70, L100 e L130).O nível de reposição hídrica de referência (L100) foi mantido ao longo do experimento próximo à capacidade de campo (θcc). A unidade experimental considerada foi de uma caixa com uma área de 0,261 m2, com um volume de solo aproximado de 100 litros contendo seis plantas. Foram avaliados o potencial de água na folha, a temperatura foliar, para o cálculo do CWSI, e, na colheita, foi medido o índice de área foliar (IAF), e a produção de biomassa da parte aérea, para estimativa de produtividade de biomassa da parte aérea, e de água para a cultura. Os tratamentos foram aplicados aos 15 dias após a semeadura (DAS) e se seguiram até a colheita. As variáveis avaliadas apresentaram relações significativas com os tratamentos que foram impostos. O CWSI calculado para a cultura foi representativo e apresentou boa correlação com o potencial de água na folha no modelo linear. O índice de área foliar oscilou entre 5,9m2 m-2 e 9,4 m2 m-2, em valores médios, entre os tratamentos de irrigação. O valor máximo de produtividade de biomassa seca da parte aérea se deu no tratamento L130, com valor médio de 12,1 Mg ha-1, e o menor valor de produtividade de biomassa se deu no tratamento L40, com valor médio de 5,15 Mg ha-1. Os valores médios de produtividade de água foram expressivos para o tratamento de reposição L40, com valor aproximado de 9,1 kg m-3 de biomassa produzida, evidenciando a grande eficiência no uso da água pela cultura. / The growth of the world population associated with increased competition for water resources challenges humanity to seek alternatives to solve the problems of water supply and food supply. This requires researchers and research institutes to increase their efficiency in food production and the efficiency of their use of water resources. The millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) can be a viable alternative for the production of biomass and forage with greater efficiency in the use of water. Thus, it is hypothesized that the decrease in water supply increases the productivity of water in the crop; the objective of this work was to investigate the increase of crop water productivity, associated with the decrease in water supply, as well as the thermal response pattern of the crop as a function of the water deficit. The study was conducted in a protected environment in the research area of the Department of Biosystems Engineering of the \"Luiz de Queiroz\" School of Agriculture between November 2016 and January 2017. The variety used in this work was BRS-1501, developed by EMBRAPA, the experimental design was a randomized block design with four blocks and four water replenishment levels: (L40, L70, L100 and L130). The reference water replenishment level (L100) was maintained throughout the experiment close to the field capacity (θcc).The experimental unit considered was a box with 0.261 m2 containing six plants. Leaf water potential, leaf temperature, for the CWSI calculation, leaf area index (LAI) and leaf biomass production were estimated for estimating biomass productivity of aerial part, and of water for the culture. The treatments were applied at 15 days after seeding (DAS) and were followed until harvest. The evaluated variables presented significant relationships with the treatments that were imposed. The CWSI calculated for the crop was representative and showed good correlation with the leaf water potential in the linear model. The leaf area index ranged from 5.9 m2 m-2 to 9.4 m2 m-2, in average values, between irrigation treatments. The maximum productivity of dry biomass of aerial part was given in the treatment L130, with average value of 12.1 Mg ha-1, and the lowest value of biomass productivity occurred in the treatment L40, with an average value of 5,15 Mg ha-1. The mean values of water productivity were significant for the L40 replacement treatment, with an approximate value of 9.1 kg m-3 of biomass produced, evidencing the great efficiency in the use of crop water.

Ce travail de thèse présente une étude théorique, numérique et expérimentale de l’intégration sur un guide d’onde diélectrique de chaînes de nanoparticules d’or supportant des résonances « plasmon de surface localisé ». Les guides d’onde à plasmon de surface localisé procurent un confinement sub-longueur d’onde de la lumière, ce qui permet d’envisager la réalisation de composants optiques ultra-compacts. Cependant, leurs pertes optiques élevées restreignent leur application à de courtes distances de propagation, contrairement aux guides d’onde diélectriques. Une combinaison judicieuse des deux types de guide doit donc permettre de bénéficier de leurs avantages respectifs. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié théoriquement les propriétés des chaînes des nanoparticules grâce à un modèle analytique basé sur l’approximation de dipôles ponctuels couplés, que nous avons développé. Cette étude a permis de déterminer la forme et les dimensions des nanoparticules qui ont ensuite été introduites dans un logiciel de FDTD pour simuler le couplage entre la chaîne de nanoparticules et le guide diélectrique (SOI ou en Si3N4). De cette étude numérique, nous avons déduit les géométries des structures à fabriquer. Les structures réalisées ont été caractérisées à l’aide d’un banc de transmission résolue spectralement, mis en place pendant cette thèse, et d’un système de mesures en champ proche optique en collaboration avec le LNIO (Troyes). Pour la première fois, nous avons montré expérimentalement les propriétés d’une chaîne courte de nanoparticules intégrée sur un guide SOI, ainsi que le phénomène de guides couplés entre une chaîne longue de nanoparticules et un guide SOI. Une valeur record de la constante de couplage a été obtenue, et ce, aux longueurs d’onde des télécoms (proche infrarouge). L’énergie lumineuse transportée par le mode TE du guide SOI peut ainsi être entièrement transférée au guide plasmonique en 4 ou 5 nanoparticules, soit une distance de propagation de moins de 600 nm. Nous avons également étudié les propriétés de réseaux de Bragg à base de plasmon de surface localisé en confrontant les résultats de mesures de transmission résolue spectralement aux résultats théoriques d’un modèle analytique basé à la fois sur l’approximation de dipôle ponctuel en régime quasi-statique et la théorie des modes couplés. Ces travaux ouvrent la voie à des applications de pinces optiques, de capteurs ou de spaser, qui bénéficieront de l’intégration de nanoparticules métalliques dans les circuits photoniques. / This PhD work presents a theoretical, numerical and experimental study of the integration of a gold nanoparticle chain supporting "localized surface plasmon resonances" on a dielectric waveguide. The localized surface plasmon allows a sub-wavelength confinement of light which could lead to the achievement of ultra-compact optical components. However, the high level of optical losses restricts their application to short propagating distances unlike dielectric waveguides. A judicious combination of both types of guides should therefore allow taking profit of their respective advantages. Firstly, we have theoretically studied the properties of nanoparticles chains using an analytical model that we have developed following the coupled dipoles approximation. This has helped us to determine the shape and size of nanoparticles, which have been further used in a FDTD software, to simulate the coupling between the chain and the dielectric waveguide (SOI or Si3N4). Using this numerical study, we have deduced the geometries of structures to be fabricated. The realized structures have been characterized using a spectrally resolved transmission set-up, built during this thesis, and an optical near field measurement set-up (collaboration LNIO Troyes). For the first time, we have experimentally shown the properties of short nanoparticle chains integrated on a SOI waveguide as well as the existence of a coupled waveguide phenomenon between long nanoparticle chains and SOI waveguides. A record value has been obtained for the coupling constant at telecom wavelengths (near infrared). The light energy carried by the TE mode of the SOI waveguide can be completely transferred into the plasmonic waveguide via the first 4 or 5 nanoparticles of the chain, which means a distance of less than 600 nm. We have also studied the properties of Bragg gratings based on localized surface plasmon. Experimental results from spectrally resolved transmission measurements have been compared to theoretical results obtained from an analytical model based on the point dipole approximation in quasi-static regime, on one hand, and using the coupled mode theory, on the other hand. This work opens the way for applications to optical tweezers, sensors or spasers, which will benefit from the integration of metal nanoparticles in photonic circuits.

Excitabilité et structures localisées sont des phénomènes universels qui ont été observés dans une grande variété de systèmes. Chacun des deux phénomènes a des propriétés intéressante pour des applications potentielles, surtout dans l'optique. L'excitabilité est la propriété intrinsèque du neurone, elle décrit sa réponse à une stimulation: pour des stimulations en-dessous d'un certain seuil, le neurone reste dans son état de repos mais quand la stimulation dépasse ce seuil, il émet une impulsion dont la taille ne dépend pas de la force de la stimulation. Les structures localisées dans les systèmes optiques sont des pics de surintensité qui coexistent avec un fond homogène sur la section transversale spatialement étendue d'une cavité laser. Dans cette thèse nous avons étudié l'apparition de ces deux phénomènes non-linéaires dans des microcavités à semi-conducteur, pour lesquelles les applications dans le traitement tout-optique de l'information sont prometteuse. En outre, nous avons étudié la possibilité de trouver un nouveau phénomène à l'intersection entre les deux: les structures localisées excitables. D'une part nous avons étudié les propriétés des structures localisées qui se forment dans un laser à solitons. Celui-ci est constitué par deux laser à semiconducteur à cavité verticale (VCSEL) mutuellement couplées dans une configuration de laser avec absorbant saturable (LSA). Nous observons l'émissions aléatoire et localisée d'impulsions que nous affirmons être la première évidence expérimentale de structures localisées excitables. D'autre part nous avons démontré le comportement excitable d'un laser avec signal injecté par la possibilité de contrôler les impulsions excitable grâce à une perturbation externe appropriée. Nous avons également réalisé des simulations numériques qui montrent l'existence des structures localisées excitables dans un modèle de VCSEL avec absorbant saturable. / Excitability and localized structures are universal phenomena, observed in various systems. Both possess interesting properties for potential applications, especially in optics. Excitability is the intrinsic property of the neuron defining its response to an external stimulus: for a sub-threshold stimulus the neuron stays quiescent; for a super-threshold stimulus, it emits a well-calibrated pulse independent on the strength of the stimulus. Localized structures in optics are bright intensity peaks coexisting with a homogeneous low intensity background. They appear in the transverse section of spatially-extended laser resonators. We study the occurrence of these nonlinear phenomena in semiconductor microcavities since the applications in all-optical processing of information are promising. Moreover we investigate the possibility of a novel kind of localized structure which stands at the intersection of these two phenomena: the excitable localized structures. On the one hand we study the properties of localized structures arising from a cavity soliton laser composed of two mutually coupled broad-area VCSELs in a LSA (Laser with Saturable Absorber) configuration . We report on the observation of a random and localized emission of pulses which we claim to be the first experimental evidence of noise-triggered excitable localized structures whose excitability is induced by inhomogeneities and drift. On the other hand we demonstrate the excitability in an optically injected laser by showing the control of excitable pulses by means of an external perturbation. We also perform numerical simulations which reveal the existence of excitable localized structures in a model of broad area VCSEL with saturable absorber.

The content of this thesis is based upon the interaction of light with metallic nanoparticles arranged in different array geometries. An incident electric field (light) can force the conduction electrons of a metallic nanoparticle to oscillate. At particular frequencies, in the optical regime for gold and silver particles, absorption and scattering of the light by the particle is enhanced, corresponding to the particle plasmon resonance. The spectral position and width of the particle plasmon resonance of an isolated single particle may be tuned by adjusting its size and shape, thus changing the surface charge distribution. Periodic arrays of particles offer additional control over the frequency and width of the resonance attributed to the re-radiating (scattering) property of plasmonic particles. By fabricating arrays with a pitch comparable to the wavelength of an isolated single particle plasmon resonance, a coherent interaction between particles may be produced, known as surface lattice resonances (SLRs). The electromagnetic coupling between in-plane particle plasmon modes for different particle array geometries is explored through experiment and theory. Firstly, SLRs in square, hexagonal and honeycomb arrays are investigated by normal-incidence extinction measurements and compared to a simple-coupled dipole model. Secondly, to verify the nature of the coupling between the scattered electric field associated with particle resonances, the incident electric field polarization-dependence of the extinction of rectangular arrays and chains is studied. Thirdly, the optical response of square arrays with a symmetric two-particle basis is investigated, particularly the retardation of the scattered electric field between particles in a pair. Fourthly, square arrays with an asymmetric two-particle basis are fabricated to explore the symmetric (dipole moments of both particles are parallel) and anti-symmetric (dipole moment of both particles anti-parallel) SLRs, excited by normal-incidence light.

INTRODUÇÃO: A esclerodermia é uma doença auto-imune, de evolução crônica, caracterizada pela esclerose progressiva do tecido conjuntivo e alterações da microcirculação. A etiologia da doença ainda não está esclarecida. Em sua patogênese ocorre dano no endotélio vascular, com ativação inflamatória e imunológica, levando ao aumento da síntese do colágeno e outras proteínas da matriz extracelular. A esclerodermia cutânea é uma doença autolimitada e as formas superficiais evoluem com resolução em meses ou anos, deixando pouca ou nenhuma seqüela. Entretanto, em dez por cento dos casos ocorrem lesões atróficas, deformantes, que retardam ou dificultam o desenvolvimento normal. Relatos da literatura apontam a fototerapia como uma modalidade terapêutica com resposta favorável nas formas cutâneas da esclerodermia. A fototerapia, através do seu efeito imunossupressor, inibe a produção do colágeno além de induzir aumento da síntese de colagenase. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o tratamento da esclerodermia cutânea com fototerapia. Utilizou-se o exame clínico e a ultra-sonografia da pele como metodologia para demonstrar os resultados obtidos com o tratamento proposto. MÉTODOS: Durante o período de janeiro a dezembro de 2007, foram selecionados 11 pacientes com diagnóstico de esclerodermia cutânea, para o tratamento com fototerapia no Setor de Alergia e Fototerapia da Clínica de Dermatologia da Santa Casa de São Paulo. Os pacientes foram classificados de acordo com o tipo de esclerodermia cutânea e o estágio evolutivo das lesões: inflamatórias ou de estado. Os tipos de fototerapia escolhidos para esse estudo foram PUVA sistêmico, PUVA tópico e UVB banda estreita. As lesões foram avaliadas pela palpação clínica em busca de resistência ao pinçamento da pele, e submetidas ao exame de ultra-som de alta freqüência, com a finalidade de mensurar a espessura da derme, antes do tratamento e ao final da 12ª semana de fototerapia. RESULTADOS: Foi observado o início da melhora clínica das lesões com média de 10 sessões de fototerapia. A palpação clínica mostrou amolecimento em todas as lesões estudadas, tanto em lesões inflamatórias como nas lesões de estado, com redução nos escores quando comparado pré e pós-tratamento. No exame de ultra-som, a maioria das lesões avaliadas mostrou diminuição da espessura da derme e apenas cinco mantiveram sua medida. Não se observou diferença na resposta ao tratamento de acordo com o tipo de fototerapia instituída. CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento proposto foi efetivo em todas as lesões, independentemente do tipo de fototerapia realizada. A melhora foi observada em todas as lesões tratadas, e comprovada pela avaliação clínica e exame de ultra-som da pele / INTRODUCTION: Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive connective tissue sclerosis and microcirculatory changes. Its etiology is still unknown. Its pathogenesis shows endothelial cell damage, inflammation and immunologic activation that stimulate collagen and other extra cellular matrix protein production. Localized scleroderma is a limited disease and its superficial forms may be resolved in months or years, and leave little or no sequel. However, in ten percent of the cases atrophic and deforming lesions may be observed that delay or hinder normal development. Literature reports indicate phototherapy as a limited scleroderma therapeutic modality with favorable response. Through its immunosuppressant effect, phototherapy inhibits collagen production and induces increased collagenase synthesis. This study had the purpose of evaluating the phototherapy treatment for localized scleroderma. The clinical evaluation and the skin ultrasound were used to demonstrate the results thus obtained. METHODS: From January to December 2007, eleven patients with localized scleroderma were selected for phototherapy treatment in the Allergy and Phototherapy Division, Dermatology Clinic, Santa Casa of São Paulo Hospital. They were classified according to the type of localized scleroderma and lesion evolution: inflammatory or stadial. The lesions were treated with systemic PUVA, topic PUVA or UVB narrow band. The skin lesions were assessed by clinical palpation and high-frequency ultrasound to measure dermis thickness at baseline and at the end of 12 weeks of phototherapy. RESULTS: Some clinical improvement was observed after an average of 10 phototherapeutic sessions. All skin lesions, either inflammatory or stadial, were softer at clinical palpation with scores reduction upon pre and post treatment comparison. The ultrasound showed that most of the assessed lesions presented a decrease in dermis thickness, and only five maintained their previous measure. Treatment response was similar regardless of the phototherapeutic treatment employed. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment that was proposed was effective for all the lesions, regardless of the phototherapeutic modality employed. The improvement was observed in all skin lesions and evidenced by clinical evaluation and skin ultrasound

In the present work, CO2 corrosion of API 5L X65 pipeline steel in the presence of acetic acid (HAc) was investigated. The objective of this research was to study a qualitative behaviour frequently found in the case of the so-called top-of-line corrosion (TLC). That is, increasing corrosion rates and steep shrinkage after certain - not predictable - time delay. The focus was on the role of HAc in the growth and stifling of localized attacks in CO2-containing media. The kinetic behaviours of carbon steel in such brines indicated that the overall effect of HAc is a balance between an enhanced cathodic reaction rate and a slightly inhibited anodic reaction rate. Results also showed that the active dissolution is not directly related to the presence of acetic acid but rather to what is generically referred to as CO2 corrosion. Zero resistance ammeter (ZRA) measurements on artificial pit electrode assembly, coupled to numerical simulation results, indicated that local HAc concentration gradients sustain the pit growth mechanism to a certain critical depth. Beyond this critical depth, the coupling current sharply drops off and the pit undergoes a process of stifling. However, a substantial effect of the purely ohmic drop on the pit stabilization process appeared unlikely in such conditions. Instead, initiated pits were shown to propagate and stifle mainly according to the counteracting depletions of HAc and CO2. On the basis of the obtained results, a complete scenario was therefore proposed for the morphological trend of localized attacks, which is in good agreement with field occurring TLC cases.

Le contrôle des instabilités de bord connues sous le nom d' "Edge Localized Modes" (ELMs) est une question capitale pour le futur tokamak ITER. Ce travail est consacré à l'une des plus prometteuses méthodes de contrôle des ELMs, basée sur un système de bobines produisant des Perturbations Magnétiques Résonantes (PMRs), dont le fonctionnement a été démontré en premier lieu dans le tokamak DIII-D en 2003. Nos objectifs principaux sont, d'une part, d'éclaircir la compréhension physique des mécanismes en jeu, et d'autre part, de proposer un design concret de bobines de contrôle des ELMs pour ITER. Afin de calculer et d'analyser les perturbations magnétiques créées par un ensemble de bobines donné, nous avons développé le code ERGOS. Le premier calcul ERGOS a été consacré aux bobines de contrôle des ELMs de DIII-D, les I-coils. Il montre que celles-ci créent des chaines d'îlots magnétiques se recouvrant au bord du plasma, engendrant ainsi une ergodisation du champ magnétique. Nous avons par la suite utilisé ERGOS pour la modélisation des expériences de contrôle des ELMs à l'aide des bobines de correction de champ d'erreur sur JET et MAST, auxquelles nous participons depuis 2006. Dans le cas de JET, nous avons montré l'existence d'une corrélation entre la mitigation des ELMs et l'ergodisation du champ magnétique au bord, en accord avec le résultat pour DIII-D. Le design des bobines de contrôle des ELMs pour ITER s'est fait principalement dans le cadre d'un contrat EFDA (European Fusion Development Agreement)-CEA, en collaboration avec des ingénieurs et physiciens de l'EFDA et d'ITER. Nous avons utilisé ERGOS intensivement, le cas des I-coils de DIII-D nous servant de référence. Trois designs candidats sont ressortis, que nous avons présentés au cours de la revue de design d'ITER, en 2007. La direction d'ITER a décidé récemment d'attribuer un budget pour les bobines de contrôle des ELMs, dont le design reste à choisir entre deux des trois options que nous avons proposées (ou proches de celles que nous avons proposées). Enfin, dans le but de mieux comprendre les phénomènes de magnétohydrodynamique non-linéaires liés au contrôle des ELMs par PMRs, nous avons recouru à la simulation numérique, notamment avec le code JOREK pour un cas DIII-D. Les simulations révèlent l'existence de cellules de convection induites au bord du plasma par les perturbations magnétiques et le possible "écrantage" des PMRs par le plasma en présence de rotation. La modélisation adéquate de l'écrantage, qui demande la prise en compte de plusieurs phénomènes physiques supplémentaires dans JOREK, a été entamée.

<p>The aims of this study are to first immobilize positively charged gold nanorods to negatively charged cell culture surfaces. Second, to use polyelectrolytes for controlling the distance between gold nanorods and fluorophores. This is used to optimally determine the distance, of which maximum fluorescence enhancement is achieved, between gold nanorods and fluorophores. In order to approach these aims, we use UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and ellipsometry. The results show that we could control the immobilization of gold nanorods on plastic microwell plates and create reproducible polyelectrolyte layers, in order to control the distance between the gold nanorods and fluorophores. In addition, the localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength red shifted as the PELs increased. In conclusion, we found that the maximum fluorescence enhancement of the fluorophores (Cy7) is about 2.3 times at a fluorophores-nanoparticles separation of approximately 9-12 nm. This work contributes some research information towards the design of optical biochip platforms based on plasmon-enhanced fluorescence.</p>

The aims of this study are to first immobilize positively charged gold nanorods to negatively charged cell culture surfaces. Second, to use polyelectrolytes for controlling the distance between gold nanorods and fluorophores. This is used to optimally determine the distance, of which maximum fluorescence enhancement is achieved, between gold nanorods and fluorophores. In order to approach these aims, we use UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and ellipsometry. The results show that we could control the immobilization of gold nanorods on plastic microwell plates and create reproducible polyelectrolyte layers, in order to control the distance between the gold nanorods and fluorophores. In addition, the localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength red shifted as the PELs increased. In conclusion, we found that the maximum fluorescence enhancement of the fluorophores (Cy7) is about 2.3 times at a fluorophores-nanoparticles separation of approximately 9-12 nm. This work contributes some research information towards the design of optical biochip platforms based on plasmon-enhanced fluorescence.

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have recently achieved a great deal of attention due to its numerous attractive applications in many different fields. Sensors and WSNs possesses a number of special characteristics that make them very promising in many applications, but also put on them lots of constraints that make issues in sensor network particularly difficult. These issues may include topology control, routing, coverage, security, and data management. In this thesis, we focus our attention on the coverage problem. Firstly, we define the Sensor Energy-efficient Scheduling for k-coverage (SESK) problem. We then solve it by proposing a novel, completely localized and distributed scheduling approach, naming Distributed Energy-efficient Scheduling for k-coverage (DESK) such that the energy consumption among all the sensors is balanced, and the network lifetime is maximized while still satisfying the k-coverage requirement. Finally, in related work section we conduct an extensive survey of the existing work in literature that focuses on with the coverage problem.