As the demand for energy continues to increase around the world, more vessels used in the transport of energy, such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and crude oil tankers are being built to transport energy to market overseas. The escort tug has been developed in order to assist in the safe transit of such vessels in confined waterways. Designed to apply emergency braking and steering forces to the stern of a tanker while underway, an escort tug features a hull shape that generates large hydrodynamic lift and drag forces when operating at high angles of attack, this is known as indirect mode. This escorting mode is highly effective at speeds 8 knots and above, often generating towline forces well in excess of bollard pull. Escort performance prediction is a vital aspect of the design of escort tugs. It is important to know a priori if a design will meet the necessary performance criteria. In the past, performance predictions have relied heavily on model testing and empirical methods. With the recent emergence of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a commercially viable design tool for naval architects, extensive escort performance predictions can now be carried out more accurately in less time and at less cost than was previously possible. This thesis describes the methodology of a CFD based escort performance prediction method that is accurate and cost effective. / Graduate

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and its onset is highly incident in the lungs, with very low long-term survival rates. Chemotherapy plays a significant role for lung cancer treatment, and pulmonary delivery may be a potential route for anticancer drug delivery to treat lung tumors. Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a poorly-water soluble compound that is being investigated for the treatment of carcinomas. In this work, we hypothesize that formulations of CoQ10 may be developed for pulmonary delivery with a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile that will have the potential to improve a pharmacodynamic response when treating lung malignancies. The formulation design was to use a vibrating-mesh nebulizer to aerosolize aqueous dispersions of CoQ₁₀ stabilized by phospholipids physiologically found in the lungs. In the first study, a method was developed to measure the surface tension of liquids, a physicochemical property that has been shown to influence the aerosol output characteristics from vibrating-mesh nebulizers. Subsequently, this method was used, together with analysis of particle size distribution, zeta potential, and rheology, to further evaluate the factors influencing the capability of this nebulizer system to continuously and steadily aerosolize formulations of CoQ₁₀ prepared with high pressure homogenization. The aerosolization profile (nebulization performance and in vitro drug deposition of nebulized droplets) of formulations prepared with soybean lecithin, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) were evaluated. The rheological behavior of these dispersions was found to be the factor that may be indicative of the aerosolization output profile. Finally, the pulmonary deposition and systemic distribution of CoQ₁₀ prepared as DMPC, DPPC, and DSPC dispersions were investigated in vivo in mice. It was found that high drug amounts were deposited and retained in the mouse lungs for at least 48 hours post nebulization. Systemic distribution was not observed and deposition in the nasal cavity occurred at a lower scale than in the lungs. This body of work provides evidence that CoQ₁₀ may be successfully formulated as dispersions to be aerosolized using vibrating-mesh nebulizers and achieve high drug deposition in the lungs during inhalation.

L’objectif de cette thèse est l’élaboration de sondes organiques pour la microscopie optique non-linéaire par fluorescence excitée à deux photons (F2P) et génération de seconde harmonique (GSH). Dans une première partie, cette thèse décrit la synthèse de sondes pour l’imagerie de potentiels de membrane par GSH, comportant un ou plusieurs motifs sucres ainsi que leurs caractérisations spectroscopiques. Les premiers essais en imagerie biologique ont permis de démontrer une bonne affinité des sondes sucres pour la membrane cellulaire et un signal de GSH sur cellule neuronale a pu être observé sur une période de temps allant jusqu'à près de trois heures. La seconde approche a consisté à synthétiser et étudier des chromophores possédant des propriétés de fluorescence à l’état solide pour des applications dans la synthèse de nanoparticules fluorescentes pour l’imagerie biologique. 18 des 21 composés synthétisés ont pu être cristallisés et leur structure résolue par diffraction des rayons X et les propriétés spectroscopique en solution et à l’état solide ont été réalisées. Cette étude a permis de montrer que l’arrangement des molécules les unes par rapport aux autres avait une grande influence sur la fluorescence à l’état solide et donc que les substituants avaient une grande importance. Enfin, cette partie se termine sur les premiers essais effectués pour synthétiser des nanoparticules fluorescentes. / The objective of this thesis is the design of new organic probes for nonlinear optical microscopy by two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG). In the first part, we describe the synthesis of probes for voltage sensitive imaging by SHG, bearing one or more sugar units and their spectroscopic characterization. The first biological imaging tests have shown good affinity of the probes to the cell membrane and the SHG signal of neuronal cell was observed over a period of nearly three hours. The second part comprises the synthesis and the study of chromophores with solid state fluorescence properties for use in fluorescent nanoparticles for biological imaging. 18 of the 21 compounds synthesized have been crystallized, their crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction and their spectroscopic properties studied in solution and in the solid state. These studies showed that the arrangement of molecules relative to each had a great influence on the solid state fluorescence and therefore that the substitution was very important. The chapter ends with the first tests of fluorescent nanoparticles synthesis.

有越來越多品牌商除了管理直接客戶(代理商)外，也會積極與非直接客戶(下游客戶)建立關係，這樣的拉式策略不但能夠幫助品牌商取得市場資訊，也可藉此讓下游客戶對品牌商產生偏好，讓代理商因此對品牌商的產品產生需求；在這樣的情況下，代理商可能套牢在與該品牌商的關係中。本論文探究在品牌商的拉式策略下，對於品牌商、代理商與下游客戶的三方交換關係所造成的影響，以及處於中樞地位的代理商應如何降低負面衝擊。 本論文以台灣代理商為研究對象，藉由177份有效樣本進行實證研究。子研究一以品牌商觀點出發，研究結果指出，「品牌商對下游客戶的專屬資產投入」與「品牌商的品牌形象」將正向影響「下游客戶對品牌商的關係承諾」，進一步提高「代理商對品牌商的依賴」；另外，此研究也發現，代理形式將在「下游客戶對品牌商的關係承諾」與「代理商對品牌商的依賴」兩者的關係間扮演調節變數的角色。 子研究二則從代理商觀點出發，研究結果指出，當「下游客戶對品牌商與代理商的關係承諾正向差距」越大，則「代理商對品牌商的依賴」將越高；在這樣的情況下，若代理商提高「對下游客戶的專屬資產投入」與「對下游客戶的快速回應能力」，將有助於減少「下游客戶對品牌商與代理商的關係承諾正向差距」。另外，「代理商高層與下游客戶高層間的人際關係」與「代理商與品牌商的結盟程度」在本研究中則扮演調節變數角色，當「代理商高層與下游客戶高層間的人際關係」及「代理商與品牌商的結盟程度」越好時，將弱化「下游客戶對品牌商與代理商的關係承諾正向差距」與「代理商對品牌商的依賴」的負向關係。 / Increasing numbers of brand owners are actively investing marketing resources in not only their direct customers(distributors), but also those customers’ customers (downstream customers). This indirect customer marketing approach follows the “pull strategy” principle proposed in the channel literature. This kind of strategy provides the brand owner with valuable market information, creates product preference among the downstream customer, and aims to stimulate derived demand. Thus, the distributor faces a lock-in situation, and this leads to the brand owner occupying a stronger position and enhancing its profits. Under such a situation, the distributor may change its cooperative behaviors with the brand owner. The study interviewed 177 independent distributors who sell brand owners' products to downstream customers. The dissertation has two sub-studies. Study One is from the brand owner's perspective to investigate how the brand owner get stronger position in the channel system when it expands in overseas markets. The result showed specific investments from the brand owner to the downstream customer and the brand owner's good brand image may increase the downstream customer's relationship commitment to the brand owner. If the downstream customer’s commitment to the brand owner is high, the distributor may increase its dependent on the brand owner. In addition, the research also found that the number of distributors plays a moderating role in this study. If there are multiple distributors, the positive relationship between commitment of the downstream customer to the brand owner and the dependence of the distributor on the brand owner may become stronger. Study Two of the dissertation is from the distributor’s perspective. The brand owner's pull strategy may cause a decrese in the relationship performance of the distributor to the downstream customer. In order to solve this difficult situation, the study provides the distributor with the following solutions. The distributor can make specific investments to the downstream customer or improve its responsive ability to decrease the difference of commitment between the downstream customer to the distributor and the downstream customer to the brand owner. Moreover, the distributor can develop personal guanxi with the downstream customer or try to align with the brand owner to reduce the negative impact from this commitment disparity.

[pt] Um dos métodos adotados para a caracterização das ligações mistas semirrígidas é o método das componentes descrito no Eurocode 3 e no Eurocode 4. O modelo de componentes desenvolvido nesse método considera para a contribuição mista à incorporação da componente da barra de armadura, aspectos relativos ao concreto e a resistência do conector. Porém, o modelo é baseado em suposições ainda não totalmente estudadas quanto à resposta estrutural da parcela mista da ligação, principalmente em regiões de momento negativo. Todo esse aspecto tem limitado o uso do método para o projeto de estruturas mistas. Esse fato motivou a concepção e o desenvolvimento de um programa experimental para investigar as ligações em estruturas mistas, por meio de testes de pull out, considerados os modos de falha devido a ruptura da barra, da ancoragem da barra e da solda dos conectores. Adicionalmente, foi realizada uma investigação da influência da solda dos conectores devido a falha desse elemento no decorrer de alguns ensaios. Os resultados dos ensaios desenvolvidos permitiram que conclusões gerais pudessem ser determinadas e possibilitaram um maior conhecimento sobre a solda e seus impactos ao sistema. A correta utilização de soluções de ligações mistas pode aumentar a competitividade do sistema estrutural, propiciando construções mais econômicas e eficientes. / [en] One of the methods adopted for the characterization of the composite semirigid joints is the method of the components described in Eurocode 3 and Eurocode 4. The model developed in the method considered for the composite contribution the incorporation of reinforcement bar components, aspects related to the concrete and the connector strength. However, the model is based on not fully validated assumptions as to structural response of the composite portion of the joint, mainly negative moment areas. All this aspect has limited the use of the method for the design of composite structures. This fact encouraged to the conception and development of an experimental program to investigate joints in composite structures, by means of pull out tests, considering the failure modes due to rupture of the reinforcement bar, of the anchorage of the bar, and of the weld connectors. Additionally was made a research of the weld connectors influence due to failure of this element in the course of a few pull out tests. The results of the tests developed have allowed general conclusions could be determined and made possible a better understanding of the weld and its impacts to the system. The correct use of composite joints solutions can increase the competitiveness of the structural system, providing more economical and efficient buildings

The thesis analyses manufacturing process of wooden handles as a component part of bench chisels. The introductory part summarizes basic theoretical knowledge regarding production process, production preparation, production management and cycle, as well as layout of the workplace. The main part focuses on analysis of wooden handle production with the use of in-dustrial engineering methodology. Analysis of material flow, workplace arrangement, methodics 5S, low-cost automation, pull system, Kanban and utilization of waste were carried out in order to find improvement possibilities in the wooden handles production. Solutions for better production efficiency and increase of production capacity are proposed from the findings of this thesis.

The ability of vehicles to traverse soft soils is an important aspect of their performance. The geological, climate and topography diversity originated, in Rio Grande do Sul, extensive areas of hydromorphic clay soils, as example, Planssoils and Gleissoils. When saturated of water, these soft soils present low loads support, difficult agricultural machinery work and limit the traverse of military wheeled vehicles. The aim of this study was to determine the limit of soil conditions for trafficability of military 6 x 6 wheeled trucks (Cascavel and Urutu), determine the ground pressure and predict the mobility condition from soil cone index (SCI) and vehicle characteristics. This study also proposed to evaluate the performance of a four wheel drive tractor in drawbar pull test and trafficability performance, to correlate the reduced tire inflation pressure and vehicle loading effect on slipping, drawbar pull, fuel consumption and mobility under different soil moisture conditions. It was found that the Cascavel military truck had a minimal ground pressure of 357 kPa and it needed SCI of 402 kPa in the critical layer for a single pass. The Urutu truck had a ground pressure of 401 kPa and required at least 431 kPa in SCI for one-way pass. The NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) and Mean Maximum Pressure (MPP) predicting model underestimate the soil cone index required for these military vehicles to traverse soft-soils, however, MMP was more appropriate to predict the correct SIC for the tested vehicles. For the tractor experiment it was found that tire inflation pressure changed the ground pressure and the vehicle loading didn t change the ground surface pressure. The greatest drawbar pull were obtained at low tractor speed, reduced inflation pressure and high loading level, operating on hard ground. The lowest specific fuel consumption was obtained on hard ground, empty weight, low tire pressure and operating in high speed gear. The increase of soil moisture decreased the dynamic traction coefficient from 0.57 to 0.31 and the traction efficiency decrease from 50 to 37%. Reduced inflation tire pressure had positive effects on tractor mobility in waterlogged soils, reducing slipping and increasing traverse speed. Using height loading level had negative effect on wet soils because it require more engine power and increase the fuel consumption. / A habilidade de um veículo se locomover em solos com baixa capacidade de carga é um aspecto importante em seu desempenho. A diversidade geológica, climática e de relevo originou, no Rio Grande do Sul, extensas áreas de solos Hidromórficos argilosos, entre eles, os Planossolos e os Gleissolos. Quando saturados, estes solos apresentam baixa capacidade de suporte de carga, dificultando o trabalho de máquinas agrícolas e o deslocamento de veículos militares de roda. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar as condições de solo limite para a trafegabilidade de veículos militares de roda com tração 6 x 6 (Cascavel e Urutu), determinar a pressão de contato pneu-solo e predizer a condição de mobilidade a partir índice de cone do solo (ICS) e das características do veículo. O trabalho também propôs avaliar o desempenho de um trator agrícola com TDA em ensaio de tração e trafegabilidade, para verificar a influência da baixa pressão interna dos pneus e a quantidade de lastro do trator sobre o patinamento dos rodados, a capacidade de tração, o consumo de combustível e a mobilidade sob diferentes condições de umidade do solo. Foi verificado que a viatura militar Cascavel exerce pressão mínima pneu-solo de 357 kPa e requer ICS de 402 kPa na camada crítica para se locomover. O veículo Urutu exerce uma pressão pneu-solo de 401 kPa e necessita de uma resistência do solo mínima de 431 kPa para o tráfego singular. Os modelos de predição de trafegabilidade de veículos militares NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) e Mean Maximum Pressure (MMP) subestimam o ICS necessário para os solos estudados, porém, o modelo que mais aproximou o ICS ao requerido pelos veículos testados foi o MMP. No experimento com tratores verificou-se que a pressão interna dos pneus alterou e a adição de lastro não alterou a superfície de contato pneu-solo. Os maiores esforços na barra de tração foram obtidos em baixa velocidade de deslocamento, baixa pressão interna dos pneus e com trator completamente lastrado, operando em solo firme. O menor consumo específico de combustível foi obtido em solo firme, com trator sem lastro, baixa pressão nos pneus e operando em marcha alta. O acréscimo de umidade no solo diminuiu o coeficiente dinâmico de tração de 0,57 para 0,31 e a eficiência de tração de 50 para 37%. A utilização de baixa pressão interna nos pneus tem efeitos positivos na trafegabilidade em solos alagados, reduzindo significativamente o patinamento e aumentando a velocidade de deslocamento. A utilização de lastro no trator em condições de solo saturado tem efeito negativo, porque aumenta a demanda de potência e o consumo de combustível da operação.

Cette étude porte sur la mise en forme des matériaux composites renforcés par des fibres ou des mèches de fibres courtes tels que les SMC ou les BMC. Un travail expérimental a dans un premier temps été réalisé à l’échelle macroscopique. Ce travail a permis de mettre au point un rhéomètre de compression lubrifiée ainsi que des méthodes d’essais et de dépouillement. Ceci permet de mieux caractériser la rhéologie des compounds SMC et BMC en traitant les problématiques de leur compressibilité et des frottements éventuels entre les parois du rhéomètre et la matière déformée. Un travail numérique a ensuite permis de simuler la mise en forme d’un BMC après l’identification des paramètres d’un modèle rhéologique simple à partir des données expérimentales obtenues sur le rhéomètre. Enfin, un travail expérimental à l’échelle microscopique a permis d’une part de caractériser finement les microstuctures de SMC modèles à partir de microtomographies à rayons X, et d’autre part de caractériser et de modéliser par le biais d’essais d’extraction de fibres les interactions entre les mèches formant le renfort fibreux de ces matériaux. / This study focuses on the processing of composite materials reinforced with short fibres or fibres bundles such as SMC or BMC. Firstly, an experimental work was carried-out at the macroscopic scale. This work led to the development of a lubricated compression rheometer and associated analysis methods to better characterize the rheology of SMC and BMC compounds, by accounting for the compressibility of compounds and the possible friction between the rheometer wall and the flowing composite. Numerical simulation was then achieved in order to simulate the forming of a BMC. For that purpose, the constitutive parameters of a simple tensorial rheological model were determined from experimental data obtained with the rheometer. Finally, an experimental work at the microscopic level allowed (i) the microstuctures of SMC models from X-ray microtomography micrographs and (ii) fibre pull-out experiment to be characterized, and the interaction mechanisms between the fiber bundles forming the fiber reinforcement of these materials to be modelled.

Ce travail de thèse, effectué dans le cadre du projet européen MClocks (http://www.inrim.it/mclocks), reporte le développement et la caractérisation métrologique d’une horloge atomique à cellule de césium de haute performance basée sur le phénomène de piégeage cohérent de population (CPT). Cette horloge exploite un schéma de pompage CPT optimisé nommé push-pull optical pumping (PPOP), permettant la détection de résonances CPT à fort contraste sur la transition d’horloge 0-0. Une caractérisation détaillée des différents éléments de l’horloge est reportée. L’horloge fut exploitée en mode continu (CW) et en mode impulsionnel de type Ramsey. Dans les deux modes de fonctionnement, l’horloge démontre une stabilité relative de fréquence de l’ordre de 2 10−13 τ−1/2 jusque 100 s d’intégration, principalement limitée par des effets de puissance laser. Cette horloge atomique, parmi les meilleures horloges à cellule développées à travers le monde, pourrait trouver des applications pour les systèmes de télécommunications, d’instrumentation, de défense ou navigation par satellite.Cette thèse reporte aussi une technique originale de stabilisation de fréquence laser par spectroscopie sub-Dopplerbi-fréquence en cellule. La plateforme constituée par l’horloge a été utilisée pour mener des tests de physique plus amont incluant la caractérisation par spectroscopie CPT d’une cellule de césium avec un revêtement anti-relaxant OTS (octadecyltrichlorosilane) ou la caractérisation de microcellules à vapeur de césium avec gaz tampon développées à FEMTO-ST pour des horloges atomiques miniatures. / This thesis work, performed in the frame of the MClocks European project (http://www.inrim.it/mclocks), reports the development and metrological characterization of a high-performance Cs vapor cell atomic clock based on coherent population trapping (CPT). The clock uses an optimized CPT pumping scheme, named push-pull optical pumping (PPOP), allowing the detection of high-contrast CPT resonances on the 0-0 magnetic-field insensitive clock transition. A detailed characterization of key components of the clock is reported. The clock was operated in the continuous-wave (CW) regime and in a Ramsey-like pulsed regime. In both regimes, the clock demonstrates a short-term fractional frequency stability at the level of 2 10−13 τ−1/2 up to 100 s averaging time, mainly limited by laser power effects. This CPT clock, ranking among the best microwave vapor cell atomic frequency standards, could find applications in telecommunication, instrumentation, defense or satellite-based navigation systems.This thesis reports also a novel laser frequency stabilization technique using dual-frequency sub-Doppler spectroscopy in a vapor cell. The clock ”platform” has also been used to perform using CPT spectroscopy the characterization of a Cs vapor cell coated with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) or original buffer-gas filled Cs vapor micro-fabricated cells developed in FEMTO-ST for CPT-based miniature atomic clocks.

Ancoragens são muito utilizadas na estabilização do maciço rochoso pela rapidez e baixo custo, embora sua análise não seja completamente entendida devido à interação de diferentes materiais como rocha, graute e aço. Este documento apresenta os resultados de um estudo realizado em juntas lisas reforçadas com ancoragens. Foram ensaiadas ancoragens com barras de diferentes diâmetros e diferentes orientações em relação ao plano da descontinuidade. Os ensaios realizados para avaliar o comportamento deste tipo de reforço foram o ensaio de arrancamento em tubo duplo e o ensaio de cisalhamento em juntas lisas reforçadas. Os ensaios de arrancamento em tubo duplo demonstraram que a resistência ao arrancamento é dependente da resistência à tração da barra. As deformações internas no sistema foram idealizadas através da obtenção de um comprimento livre hipotético de uma barra livre submetida a tração. Nos ensaios de cisalhamento, avaliou-se a melhora da resistência ao cisalhamento de descontinuidades lisas reforçadas com barras ancoradas. Observaram-se dois picos de carga mobilizada antes da ruptura do sistema no caso de barras perpendiculares ao plano da descontinuidade. Este fato introduz significativa ductilidade ao sistema e é importante do ponto de vista de confiabilidade do sistema. A ruptura das ancoragens se produz devido a uma combinação de efeitos de tração, flexão, e cortantes. Os sistemas reforçados com áreas maiores de aço apresentaram maior ductilidade, e, portanto oferecem maior segurança. Os resultados sugerem que uma vez superado o comprimento mínimo ancorado a ruptura das ancoragens acontecerá por ruptura das barras de aço e não por aderência na interface barra-graute, concluindo-se que a resistência das ancoragens é dependente da resistência de ruptura e da área de aço utilizada. Finalmente, esta pesquisa contribui ao entendimento dos mecanismos de ruína que acontecem num maciço reforçado com ancoragens. / Rock anchors are widely used to stabilize rock masses due to their rapid installation and low cost. Their behavior is not fully understood because of the interaction of different elements such as rock, grout and steel. This document presents the results of both pull-out and shear tests on steel bar reinforced discontinuities. Tests were carried out with different diameters and orientations of bars with respect to the discontinuity plane. Double-pipe pullout tests and smooth-joint anchor-reinforced shear tests were performed. The results of double-pipe pull-out tests were analyzed in terms of both strength and deformations. Internal strains were idealized through a model based on hypothetical length of a free bar. In the smooth-joint anchor-reinforced shear tests, both increase in shear strength and ductility were evaluated. Two load peaks were observed in test with bars perpendicular to the joint plane. Ductility is significantly increased with respect to joints reinforced with inclined bars. This is important for reliability evaluation. The failure of anchors is produced by a combination of tensile, bending, and shear internal forces. The systems reinforced with a greater amount of steel presented more ductile behavior than those less reinforced. The results suggest that since the minimum anchor length is exceeded, the system failure is governed by the rebar failure and not by the adhesion in the rebar-grout interface. From this, it is concluded that the anchor strength is dependent on the strength and cross section area of the rebar. Finally, this research contributes to better understanding of the failure mechanisms of anchor-reinforced rock masses.