Funktionelle bildgebende Verfahren des Gehirns messen Veränderungen des lokalen cerebralen Blutflusses bzw. der Oxygenierung, die an neuronale Aktivität gekoppelt sind, und nicht die neuronale Aktivität selbst. Diese Veränderungen breiten sich über ein größeres Areal aus als die neuronale Aktivität, das räumliche Auflösungsvermögen der bildgebenden Verfahren bleibt daher begrenzt. Es ist vorgeschlagen worden, dass der Sauerstoffverbrauch unter neuronaler Aktivierung vor dem Blutfluss ansteige. Ein initial steigender Sauerstoffverbrauch würde dann eine Deoxygenierung des Gewebes bewirken, diese bliebe exakt auf das Aeral neuronaler Aktivität beschränkt und liesse sich mit bildgebenden Verfahren darstellen, die die lokale Oxygenierung messen. Um die Hypothese der initialen Deoxygenierung zu überprüfen führten wir Messungen der intravaskulären Sauerstoffkonzentration mittels Phosphorescence Quenching im somatosensorischen Kortex von Ratten unter physiologischer Stimulation (mechanische Auslenkung der Barthaare) durch. Die Tiere wurden mit Chloralose/Urethan anästhesiert und ein kranielles Fenster über dem somatosensorischen Kortex präpariert. Der Zeitverlauf der intravaskulären Sauerstoffkonzentration unter 4s-Stimulation eines einzelnen bzw. aller Barthaare zeigte eine nach ca. 1-1,5s beginnende Hyperoxygenierung, die ihr Maximum etwa 1-1,5s nach Ende der Stimulation erreichte. Es folgte ein gering ausgeprägter post-stimulus-undershoot. Eine reproduzierbare initiale Deoxygenierung liess sich nicht nachweisen. Diese Ergebnisse sind vereinbar mit einer engen Kopplung des lokalen cerebralen Blutflusses an die neuronale Aktivität während der gesamten Stimulationsdauer. / Functional brain imaging techniques such as fMRI or PET measure regional changes in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation related to neuronal activity rather than neuronal activity itself. These changes are believed to spread over a larger area than the neuronal activity thus limiting spatial resolution of imaging techniques. It has been suggested that oxygen consumption increases before blood flow in the region of increased activity. An increased oxygen consumption would lead to an initial deoxygenation limited exactly to the aera of neuronal activity thus providing a signal detectable with techniques measuring blood oxygenation (e.g. BOLD-fMRI). To test the hypothesis of an initial deoxygenation we performed measurements of intravascular oxygen concentration in the somatosensory cortex of rats in response to a physiological stimulus (whisker deflection) using oxygen dependent phosphorescence quenching. Animals were anesthetized with chloralose/urethane and a closed cranial window was implanted over the somatosensory cortex. Timecourses of intravascular oxygen concentration during 4s single-whisker as well as whole pad deflection showed a hyperoxygenation beginning 1-1,5s second after stimulatin onset and peaking one second after the end of the stimulation. A small post-stimulus undershoot was observed. We did not reproducibly detect an initial deoxygenation. These results indicate tight coupling between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow throughout the stimulation period.

The physical properties of polymer quench bath directly affect the cooling rate of a quenched part. These properties include the type of quenchant, its temperature, concentration, and agitation level. These parameters must be controlled to optimize the quenching process in terms of alloy microstructure, properties and performance. Statistically designed experiments have been performed to investigate the effects of the process parameters (i.e. polymer concentration and agitation) on the heat transfer behavior of cast aluminum alloy A356 in aqueous solution of Aqua-Quench 260 using the CHTE quenching-agitation system. The experiments were designed using Taguchi technique and the experimental results were analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) based on the average cooling rate. It is found that average cooling rate dramatically decreases with the increase in polymer concentration. Agitation only enhances the average cooling rate at low and medium concentration levels. From ANOVA analysis, the process parameter that affects the variation of average cooling rate most is the polymer concentration, its percentage contribution is 97%. The effects from agitation and the interaction between polymer concentration and tank agitation are insignificant. The mechanical properties of age-hardenable Al-Si-Mg alloys depend on the rate at which the alloy is cooled after the solutionizing heat treatment. A model based on the transformation kinetics is needed for the design engineer to quantify the effects of quenching rates on the as-aged properties. Quench Factor analysis was developed by Staley to describe the relationship between the cooling rate and the mechanical properties of an age-hardenable alloy. This method has been previously used to successfully predict yield strength, hardness of wrought aluminum alloys. However, the Quench Factor data for aluminum castings are still rare in the literature. In this study, the Jominy End Quench method was used to experimentally collect the time-temperature and hardness data as the inputs for Quench Factor modeling. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed on the experimental data to estimate the kinetic parameters during quenching. Time-Temperature-Property curves of cast aluminum alloy A356 were generated using the estimated kinetic parameters. Experimental verification was performed on a L5 lost foam cast engine head. The predicted hardness agreed well with that experimentally measured.

Les micro-irradiateurs pour la radiothérapie préclinique du petit animal permettent d’effectuer des irradiations au plus proche des techniques de traitement chez l’homme, facilitant la transposition de résultats d'études radiobiologiques à la clinique. La spécificité des faisceaux millimétriques de moyenne énergie (< 300 keV) utilisés génère cependant des problématiques dosimétriques inédites. Ce travail de thèse a consisté à mettre en œuvre la dosimétrie par fibre scintillante plastique pour ce domaine d’utilisation, là où peu de détecteurs conviennent. Dans une première partie, les faisceaux d’un micro-irradiateur ont été caractérisés en dose d’une part et leur spectres en énergie obtenus par simulations Monte Carlo d’autre part, afin d’étudier les performances du dosimètre prototype. La deuxième partie a montré ses excellentes caractéristiques dosimétriques telles que la répétabilité, reproductibilité et linéarité de réponse. Un des enjeux majeurs a alors été de caractériser sa dépendance en énergie, problématique inhérente à la dosimétrie à moyenne énergie et intrinsèque au scintillateur plastique en dessous de 100 keV. Une méthode d’étalonnage a été proposée pour prendre en compte cette dépendance en conditions précliniques (mini-faisceaux et petit volume diffusant), à partir de spectres en énergie simulés. Le dosimètre a ensuite été utilisé pour la vérification de plans de traitement sur fantôme puis in vivo sur des rats, avec des résultats très concluants. Il a montré des performances prometteuses pour l’évaluation en temps réel de la dose délivrée aux tumeurs soumises aux mouvements respiratoires des animaux. / Small animal micro-irradiators designed for preclinical radiotherapy experiments mimic human clinical irradiation techniques thus facilitating the transposition of radiobiological research findings to clinical practice. These devices deliver millimetric x-ray beams of medium-energy (< 300 keV) which implies specific dosimetric issues. The objective of this thesis was the implementation of plastic scintillating fiber dosimetry in this specific field of use, for which few existing dosimeters are suitable. In a first part, beams from a micro-irradiator were characterized. Dosimetric measurements along with energy spectra Monte Carlo simulations allowed the study of the dosimeter prototype performances. In the second part of this work, excellent dosimetric properties of the detector such as repeatability, reproducibility and dose response linearity were shown. Then, a major issue was to determine the detector energy dependence, which is inherent to medium-energy dosimetry and also an intrinsic property of plastic scintillator, below 100 keV. A calibration method based on the simulated energy spectra was proposed to correct this dependence in preclinical conditions (mini-beams, small scattering volume). The dosimeter showed very conclusive results for treatment plan verification in a heterogene phantom and during rats in vivo experiments. The dosimeter also demonstrated promising performances for online control of the delivered dose to mobile tumors, subject to the animal respiratory movements.

A coleta eficiente da radiação através de processos de transferência de energia de ressonância Förster (FRET, por sua sigla em inglês) constitui uma forma atraente de melhorar aplicações nanotecnológicas que envolvam o uso da radiação solar como fonte de energia. Sistemas constituídos de zeólita L funcionalizada em sua superfície com ftalocianina (PC) foram estudados visando a inativação de patógenos mediante o uso de luz solar natural. No entanto, na velocidade de fotoinativação observou-se uma dependência com a intensidade da radiação que foi relacionada com a absorção ineficiente de PC na região transversal de 400-650 nm da irradiância solar. Visando uma aplicação nesses sistemas, neste trabalho estudou-se a transferência de energia tipo Förster utilizando os corantes catiônicos Pironina Y (PyY) e Tionina (Th) encapsulados na zeólita L que se caracterizam por absorver na região espectral visível onde a absorção de PC é limitada. Os corantes foram inseridos no interior dos canais da zeólita L por um processo de troca iônica e a distância de separação entre estes foi variada com o carregamento das amostras (% de moléculas inseridas em relação ao espaço disponível na zeólita). Foram preparadas amostras com a inserção de PyY e Th nos canais da zeólita L, individualmente, bem como, amostras dos dois corantes misturados aleatoriamente na razão doador:receptor 1,0:1,4. A transferência de energia foi estudada mediante a detecção da emissão sensibilizada do receptor Th quando o doador PyY foi seletivamente excitado nas amostras de PyY-Th-zeólita L e, através da comparação dos tempos de vida de fluorescência do doador na presença e na ausência do receptor. O conjunto de resultados a diferentes carregamentos sugere a FRET nas amostras testadas, no entanto, devido à baixa emissão de Th detectada, o material preparado não seria adequado para a transferência de energia ao PC. / The efficient harvesting of solar energy through Förster Resonance Energy Transfer processes (FRET) is an attractive way to improve nanotechnology applications involving the use of solar radiation as energy source. Systems based on zeolite L functionalized on its surface with phthalocyanine (PC) have been studied to inactivate pathogens by natural sunlight. However, there was observed a dependency between the photoinactivation rate and the radiation intensity which was related to the inefficient absorption of PC in the vertical cross-section of 400-650 nm of the solar spectral irradiance. Aimed at applying in these systems, we studied the Förster type energy transfer between the cationic dyes Pyronin Y (PyY) and Thionin (Th) encapsulated into the zeolite L which are characterized by absorbing in the visible spectral region where the absorption of PC is limited. The dyes were inserted inside the zeolite L channels through ion exchange process, and the separation distance between them was tuned with the sample loading (% of inserted molecules in relation to the available space in the zeolite). Different samples were prepared with one and two randomly mixed dyes keeping the donor:acceptor ratio in 1.0:1.4. The energy transfer was studied by detection of the acceptor sensitized emission when the donor PyY was selectively excited in PyY-Th-zeolite L samples, and by comparison of the donor fluorescence lifetimes in the presence and absence of the acceptor. The set of results in different loadings suggests FRET in the samples tested, however, due to the low detected emission of Th the prepared material would not be appropriate for energy transfer to PC.

A coleta eficiente da radiação através de processos de transferência de energia de ressonância Förster (FRET, por sua sigla em inglês) constitui uma forma atraente de melhorar aplicações nanotecnológicas que envolvam o uso da radiação solar como fonte de energia. Sistemas constituídos de zeólita L funcionalizada em sua superfície com ftalocianina (PC) foram estudados visando a inativação de patógenos mediante o uso de luz solar natural. No entanto, na velocidade de fotoinativação observou-se uma dependência com a intensidade da radiação que foi relacionada com a absorção ineficiente de PC na região transversal de 400-650 nm da irradiância solar. Visando uma aplicação nesses sistemas, neste trabalho estudou-se a transferência de energia tipo Förster utilizando os corantes catiônicos Pironina Y (PyY) e Tionina (Th) encapsulados na zeólita L que se caracterizam por absorver na região espectral visível onde a absorção de PC é limitada. Os corantes foram inseridos no interior dos canais da zeólita L por um processo de troca iônica e a distância de separação entre estes foi variada com o carregamento das amostras (% de moléculas inseridas em relação ao espaço disponível na zeólita). Foram preparadas amostras com a inserção de PyY e Th nos canais da zeólita L, individualmente, bem como, amostras dos dois corantes misturados aleatoriamente na razão doador:receptor 1,0:1,4. A transferência de energia foi estudada mediante a detecção da emissão sensibilizada do receptor Th quando o doador PyY foi seletivamente excitado nas amostras de PyY-Th-zeólita L e, através da comparação dos tempos de vida de fluorescência do doador na presença e na ausência do receptor. O conjunto de resultados a diferentes carregamentos sugere a FRET nas amostras testadas, no entanto, devido à baixa emissão de Th detectada, o material preparado não seria adequado para a transferência de energia ao PC. / The efficient harvesting of solar energy through Förster Resonance Energy Transfer processes (FRET) is an attractive way to improve nanotechnology applications involving the use of solar radiation as energy source. Systems based on zeolite L functionalized on its surface with phthalocyanine (PC) have been studied to inactivate pathogens by natural sunlight. However, there was observed a dependency between the photoinactivation rate and the radiation intensity which was related to the inefficient absorption of PC in the vertical cross-section of 400-650 nm of the solar spectral irradiance. Aimed at applying in these systems, we studied the Förster type energy transfer between the cationic dyes Pyronin Y (PyY) and Thionin (Th) encapsulated into the zeolite L which are characterized by absorbing in the visible spectral region where the absorption of PC is limited. The dyes were inserted inside the zeolite L channels through ion exchange process, and the separation distance between them was tuned with the sample loading (% of inserted molecules in relation to the available space in the zeolite). Different samples were prepared with one and two randomly mixed dyes keeping the donor:acceptor ratio in 1.0:1.4. The energy transfer was studied by detection of the acceptor sensitized emission when the donor PyY was selectively excited in PyY-Th-zeolite L samples, and by comparison of the donor fluorescence lifetimes in the presence and absence of the acceptor. The set of results in different loadings suggests FRET in the samples tested, however, due to the low detected emission of Th the prepared material would not be appropriate for energy transfer to PC.

L’étude du comportement des éléments métalliques est primordiale compte tenu leur effet souvent toxique dansde nombreux écosystèmes. Ces derniers lorsqu’ils interagissent avec la Matiere Organique (MO), peuvent formerdes complexes plus ou moins stables. Ainsi, la MO joue un rôle important dans leur spéciation chimique et leurtransport. Dans ce travail, l’analyse de cette complexation est réalisée par Quenching de Fluorescence (QF).Cette technique permet de modéliser la fixation des sites de complexation à l’aide d’une constante thermodynamiquedéterminée à partir d’un modèle 1 : 1. Le quenching de fluorescence a été mesuré par spectroscopie defluorescence en mode stationnaire et en mode résolue en temps. Les mesures de fluorescence en mode stationnairefournissent des Matrices d’Excitation et d’Émission de Fluorescence (MEEFs). L’extraction des différents composantsde ces MEEFs est effectué par séparation de sources : la décomposition multilinéaire CP/PARAFAC,qui permet de caractériser spectralement les composants. Les mesures par Spectroscopie Laser Résolue en Temps(SLRT) permettent une caractérisation spectrale et temporelle des composants fluorescents. L’étude des lois dedécroissance de la fluorescence induite par impulsion laser nanoseconde en l’occurrence a permis de déterminerle type d’interaction entre la MO et les quencheurs. Pour se faire, un algorithme de déconvolution temporellea été appliqué à chaque décroissance de fluorescence mesurée. L’interprétation des données temporelles a étéaccomplie en utilisant le graphique de Stern–Volmer. Les résultats des interactions du cuivre, de l’europiumet de l’uranium avec les Acides Humiques (AH) et les Acides Fulviques (AF) montrent des décroissances defluorescences importantes et des constantes de stabilité entre 2,04 et 4,52. Le cuivre a permis de valider notremodèle d’étude et l’interaction de l’europium et l’uranium avec les AH et AF étudiés a révélé des constantesde stabilité en général en bonne corrélation avec la littérature. Les résultats de la SLRT ont souvent révélé desdécroissances bi–exponentielles et des temps de vie entre 0,40 et 14 ns et montrent que les interactions étudiéesont principalement engendrer un quenching statique et donc la formation d’un complexe moléculaire à l’étatfondamental. Cette étude a donc permis par caractérisation spectrale et temporelle, de déterminer l’interactionde la matière organique avec les métaux plus ou moins toxiques. / The study of metal elements behavior, considering their impact in various ecosystems, is of paramount importance.The latter, upon contact with Organic Matter (OM) can form weak or strong stable complexes. Therefore,OM plays an important role in their chemical speciation and transport. The analysis of these properties is carriedout by Fluorescence Quenching (QF). This technique allows introspecting ligands–metal interactions andthe 1 : 1 modeling (one ligand site, one metal) gives information about the conditional thermodynamic constant.Fluorescence quenching was measured using steady–state and time–resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.The steady–state measurements provides Excitation and Emission Matrices of fluorescence (EEMs). The extractionof the different components from these matrices is carried out by a multi–mode factor analysis such asCP/PARAFAC, which allows a spectral composition of the samples. Time-Resolved Laser Spectroscopy (TRLS)measurements allow temporal and spectral characterization of the fluorescent components. Indeed, the study ofthe fluorescence decays induced by a nanosecond pulsed laser in this case allowed to measure the interaction betweenthe OM and the quencher. For those purposes, a fluorescence lifetime deconvolution algorithm was appliedto each fluorescence decay. Analysis of the fluorescence lifetime data was accomplished using the Stern–Volmerplot which gave reliable information on the quenching process that takes place. Copper, europium and uraniuminteractions with Humic Acids (HA) and Fulvic Acids (FA) shows significant fluorescence decays and stabilityconstants between 2.04 and 4.52. Copper allowed to calibrate our model study and the interactions of europiumand uranium with the HA and FA studied reported stability constants in agreement with the literature. TRLSresults have often revealed a bi–exponential decays and fluorescence lifetimes between 0.40 and 14 ns and showsthat the studied interactions mainly lead to static quenching and thus the formation of a molecular complex inthe ground state. This study has allowed spectral and temporal characterization to determine organic matterinteraction with toxic metals.

Homogene Immunoassays sind immunologische Testverfahren, bei deren Durchführung vollständig auf Separations- und Waschschritte verzichtet werden kann. Der Substrate Channeling Immunoassay beruht auf der Weitergabe eines Substrates in einem immunologischen Komplex aus zwei Enzymen. Das Produkt des ersten Enzyms dient dem zweiten Enzym als Substrat zur Generierung eines photometrisch nachweisbaren Produktes. Voraussetzung für diese Weitergabe ist die enge räumliche Nähe beider Enzyme. Diese Nähe wird durch eine Bindung zwischen Analyt und anti-Analyt Antikörper vermittelt. Ein solcher Substrate Channeling Immunoassay wurde unter Verwendung der Enzyme Glucoseoxidase und Peroxidase aufgebaut. Das so etablierte System war funktionstüchtig, jedoch blieb seine Sensitivität hinter der normaler, heterogener Immunoassays zurück. Die Grundlage eines Fluorescence Quenching Immunoassays ist der gegenseitige Ausschluß zweier Antikörper bei der Bindung eines Dihapten-Konjugates. Das Konjugat besteht dabei aus dem Analyten und einem Fluorophor. Die beiden um die Konjugatbindung konkurrierenden Antikörper sind ein anti-Analyt Antikörper und ein anti-Fluorophor Antikörper, der zudem über die Eigenschaft verfügt, bei Bindung des Fluorophors dessen Fluoreszenz zu löschen. Externe Gaben des freien Analyten verschieben das eingestellte Gleichgewicht in Richtung Fluorophor-Bindung und damit Fluoreszenz-Löschung. Die Änderung der Fluoreszenz ist direkt an die Konzentration des freien Analyten gekoppelt und dient zu deren Bestimmung. Ein solcher Fluorescence Quenching Immunoassays wurde für die Konzentrationsbestimmung des Herbizides Diuron etabliert. Die erreichten Sensitivitäten erlauben die praktische, immundiagnostische Anwendung des Systems. Ein Dihapten-Konjugat wurde ebenfalls zum Aufbau eines Verfahrens zur Selektion Antikörper produzierender Zellen eingesetzt. Die Selektion der Antikörper produzierenden Zellen erfolgt unter Verwendung eines Toxinkonjugates. Dieses Konjugat besteht aus einem Liganden und einem Toxin. Die Antikörperbindung des Liganden behindert sterisch die Wechselwirkung der Toxinkomponente im Konjugat mit deren Zielstruktur in oder auf der Zelle. Nur Zellen die einen geeigneten Antikörper sezernieren, überleben die Selektion und reichern sich in der Kultur an. Das Selektionsverfahren wurde erfolgreich für die Selektion von E.coli Zellen eingesetzt, die einen rekombinanten, Fluorescein bindenden Antikörper produzierten. Das hierfür synthetisierte Toxinkonjugat bestand aus Fluorescein (Ligand) und Ampicillin (Toxinkomponente). Eine Ablösung der bisher für diese Aufgabe gebräuchlichen, außerordentlich kostenintensiven, Screening Methoden wird damit möglich. / Homogeneous immunoassays are test systems which do not depend on separation steps. The substrate channeling immunoassay is based on the product/substrate transfer in an immunological complex built up by two enzymes. The product of the first enzyme functions as substrate for the second enzyme. The second enzyme generates a photometrically detectable product. The close proximity of these two enzymes is the basis of the substrate channeling. This proximity is created by antibody binding to the corresponding analyte. The enzymes glucose oxidase and peroxidase were used for the development of such an assay system. The established homogeneous immunoassay was functional. But the sensitivity of the assay was much lower than that of conventional heterogeneous immunoassays. The principle of a fluorescence quenching immunoassay is based on the fact that two antibodies exclude each other from binding to a dihapten conjugate. The conjugate consists of the analyte and the fluorophore. The two antibodies which compete for the conjugate binding are an anti-analyte antibody and an anti-fluorophore antibody. This anti-fluorophore antibody quenches the fluorescence of the fluorophore after binding. The addition of free analyte alters the equilibrium of the system so that the anti-fluorophore antibody is bound to the fluorophore and the fluorescence is quenched. The change in fluorescence is therefore an indicator of the concentration of free analyte added. A homogeneous fluorescence quenching immunoassay was established for the determination of the herbicide diuron. The sensitivities obtained allow the practical immunodiagnostic application of the system. A dihapten conjugate was also employed for the development of a selection method for antibody-producing cells. Toxin conjugates were used in this system. Each conjugate consisted of a ligand and a toxin. Antibody binding to the ligand sterically inhibits the toxin component to interact with its target structure. Only cells secreting a binding antibody will survive the selection and will accumulate in culture. The system was applied to the selection of E.coli cells producing a recombinant fluorescein-binding antibody. The toxin conjugate used in experiment consisted of fluorescein (ligand) and ampicillin (toxin component). This selection procedure allowed the isolation of recombinant antibody-producing E.coli cells. It has the potential to replace the time-consuming and labour-intensive methods used so far.

Le biocontrôle est défini comme un ensemble de méthodes de protection des végétaux par l’utilisation de mécanismes naturels. Son principe repose sur la gestion des équilibres des populations d’agresseurs plutôt que sur leur éradication. La protection des cultures de la pomme de terre Solanum tuberosum contre les bactéries pectinolytiques (Dickeya et Pectobacterium) a été précédemment proposée comme une application du biocontrôle. Il s’agit ici de perturber (quencher) la communication quorum-sensing (QS) utilisée par l’agent pathogène pour coordonner son attaque et sa virulence. Afin d’optimiser cette méthode de lutte par quorum-quenching (QQ) et d’en contrôler l’efficacité, nous avons étudié la voiecatabolique des -lactones d’un agent de biocontrôle, la bactérie Rhodococcus erythropolis. Cette voie est impliquée dans la dégradation des signaux N-acyl-homoserine lactones du pathogène. Nous avons d’abord étudié le rôle du répresseur QsdR ainsi que la régulation transcriptionnelle de l’opéron qsd impliqué dans la dégradation des signaux. La compréhension de cette régulation a permis de générer des biosenseurs capables de monitorer les activités QS du pathogène et QQ du protecteur. Sous microscopie confocale à balayage laser, ces outils ont apporté des preuves visuelles du rôle et du lien entre ces deux activités dans les tissus du tubercule. Enfin, la faible spécificité du répresseur QsdR pour ses ligands, apermis de proposer la -caprolactone, un analogue structural des signaux de QS, comme inducteur de l’opéron qsd. Dans l’ensemble, ces travaux permettent d’approfondir nos connaissances sur le rôle et le fonctionnement du QQ chez R. erythropolis. Ils permettent aussi d’envisager le contrôle de la maladie via un agent dont l’activité de QQ pourra être biostimulée par des lactones peu coûteuses lors de la formulation puis de l’épandage aux champs. / Biocontrol is defined as a set of plant protection methods through the use of natural mechanisms. Its principle involves the control of populations of aggressors rather than their eradication. The protection of the potato Solanum tuberosum against soft-rot bacteria (Dickeya and Pectobacterium) has been previously proposed as an application of biocontrol. This involves disturbing the quorum-sensing (QS) communication used by the pathogen to coordinate its attack and virulence. In order to optimize this quorum-quenching (QQ) biocontrol method and to control its effectiveness, we have studied the catabolic pathway of -lactones of a biocontrol agent, the Rhodococcus erythropolis bacterium. This pathway is involved in the degradation of the pathogen N-acyl-homoserine lactones signals. We firststudied the role of the QsdR repressor as well as the transcriptional regulation of the qsd operon involved in signal degradation. The understanding of this regulation has made it possible to generate biosensors capable of monitoring the QS of the pathogen and QQ of the protector. Under confocal laser scanning microscopy, these tools provided visual evidence of the role and link between these two activities in the tuber tissues. Finally, the low specificity of the QsdR repressor for its ligands made it possible to propose the -caprolactone, a structural analog of QS signals, as an inducer of the qsd operon. Overall, this work provides insight into the role and function of QQ in R. erythropolis. It also allows to envisage the control of the disease using a biocontrol agent whose QQ activity can be biostimulated by inexpensive lactones during formulation then spreading in the field.

Dans les écosystèmes littoraux, les communautés microphytobenthiques sont soumises à des conditions environnementales qui peuvent être extrêmes en particulier en ce qui concerne l'intensité lumineuse. Les mécanismes de protection mis en place dépendent étroitement du type d'habitat où se développent ces communautés et cette thèse a pour objectifs d'analyser les caractéristiques de l'activité photosynthétique et les mécanismes de protection développés par des assemblages microphytobenthiques dans deux écosystèmes littoraux très différents : les vasières intertidales atlantiques de la Baie de L'Aiguillon (France) et la lagune côtière non tidale de Puck Bay dans la Mer Baltique (Władysławowo, Pologne). Pour réaliser ces objectifs, trois études ont été réalisées : (1) la description des communautés microphytobenthiques, (2) la caractérisation de leur activité photosynthétique et (3) l'analyse des mécanismes de photoinhibition et de photoprotection.La structure taxonomique du microphytobenthos a été décrite en se basant sur des observations en microscopie optique et sur la mesure des caractéristiques des pigments photosynthétiques par chromatographie liquide à haute performance (HPLC). L'activité photosynthétique a été étudiée par des méthodes de microrespirométrie volumétrique et de spectrofluorométrie de la chlorophylle a. Les mécanismes de photoinhibition et de photoprotection ont été étudiés par fluorométrie en modulation d'amplitude pulsée (PAM).Les résultats obtenus nous ont permis de montrer que :1) Les communautés atlantiques sont fortement dominées par des diatomées épipéliques, alors que le microphytobenthos de la Mer Baltique est plus diversifié et comporte, outre des diatomées, une large part de cyanobactéries,2) Les microphytobenthos atlantique est bien acclimaté à des valeurs d'intensités lumineuses plutôt faibles, alors que les communautés de la Mer Baltique ont encore une bonne activité photosynthétique à de fortes irradiances,3) Les diatomées atlantiques présentent une plus forte photoinhibition que les microalgues de la Baltique,4) L'activité photosynthétique des communautés microphytobenthiques non perturbées montre un des rythmes circadien et tidal, qui semblent être contrôlés par des facteurs endogènes, qui mettent en jeu des adaptations comportementales comme la migration verticale pour les diatomées atlantiques,5) En ce qui concerne le microphytobenthos de la Mer Baltique, qui n'a pas de capacité migratoire, la photoprotection est assurée en premier lieu par la mise en jeu de processus physiologiques. Nous avons pu montrer la très grande flexibilité du photsystème PSII qui est capable de suivre très rapidement les changements à court terme de lumière ambiante. / The scope of this thesis includes the characteristics and comparison of photosynthetic activity and photoprotection mechanisms of microphytobenthos assemblages inhabiting the Atlantic intertidal mudflats of Aiguillon Bay (Esnandes, France) and the littoral zone of the Baltic Sea in non-tidal Puck Bay (Władysławowo, Poland). In order to accomplish the main aims of the work the following tasks were carried out: (1) characterization of microphytobenthic assemblages; (2) characterization of their photosynthetic activity and (3) description of photoinhibition and photoprotective mechanisms. The structure of microphytobenthos was described based on observation of the material in light microscope (LM) and through the characteristics of photosynthetic pigments using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Photosynthetic activity was described using various methods including classical (volumetric micro-respirometer) and modern (chlorophyll a fluorescence) ones. In addition, the measurements of variable fluorescence were also used to study photoinhibition and photoprotective mechanisms. Based on the obtained results it was stated that:1.) the Atlantic assemblages were strongly dominated by epipelic diatoms, while the Baltic microphytobenthos was more diverse and cyanobacteria, next to diatoms, were also very important component,2.) it was shown that the Atlantic microphytobenthos was well acclimated to rather low light intensities, while the Baltic assemblages showed good utilization of higher irradiance,3.) the Atlantic diatoms were more susceptible to photoinhibition than the Baltic microalgae,4.) the photosynthetic activity described for the undisturbed microphytobenthos communities revealed circadian and circatidal rhythms, which seemed to be controlled by endogenous factors, supporting diatoms’ behavioural adaptations i.e., vertical migration,5.) in case of the Baltic microphytobenthos, the lack of the ability to move caused their physiological processes the first line of defence against excess irradiances. The analysis revealed extreme flexibility of PSII which was able to follow rapidly the short-term changes in ambient light

Heat treatment of different steel products have existed for thousands of years. It has always been an important tool to get the microstructure and resulting properties such as hardness and case hardness and it is even more important today than ever before. This project concentrated on the quenching process and means to decrease the distortion caused by this process. The effect of different oils, temperatures, agitation and if gas quenching could give better results were investigated. The results showed that Miller´s 75 quench oil was better than Park´s 420 at slow agitation and that the viscosity of the oils influenced how much changes in agitation speed and oil temperature affected the distortion. It also shows that gas quenching is an alternative to oil quenching if the microstructure can be improved. Otherwise using Miller´s 75 with low agitation in the Surface combustion furnace will give best results.