Ce travail porte sur l'étude d'hétérostructures de semiconducteurs II-VI à alignements de bande de type II, en particulier sous forme de superréseaux. Il s'agit d'un système qui peut être prometteur pour une application photovoltaïque, et c'est dans cette optique qu'est orienté ce travail. Une première partie traite ainsi d'une réflexion conceptuelle sur l'apport des interfaces de type II au photovoltaïque.Nous présentons ensuite une étude sur la croissance de CdSe et ZnTe par épitaxie par jets moléculaires, sur différents substrats. Ces matériaux sont particulièrement intéressants et adaptés pour cette application car ils ont un gap direct, quasiment le même paramètre de maille, un alignement de bandes de type II, et le CdSe une bande interdite compatible avec le spectre solaire. Mais en contrepartie il s'agit de semiconducteurs binaires qui n'ont aucun atome en commun, de sorte que la croissance d'échantillons avec des épaisseurs précises à la monocouche près constitue un vrai défi. Pour cette raison nous avons procédé à une étude fine des interfaces grâce à des analyses de diffraction de rayons X et de microscopie en transmission, qui nous permet de conclure sur la nature chimique des atomes à proximité des interfaces.Vient ensuite une étude poussée de spectroscopie sur les effets des interfaces de type II sur les porteurs de charges, à travers leur énergie et cinétique de recombinaison. Nous avons développé un modèle analytique qui permet d'ajuster précisément toutes les caractéristiques observées en relation avec ces interfaces, et qui témoigne d'un mécanisme de séparation des charges très efficace. Nous montrons par la suite que ces effets observés sont des caractéristiques intrinsèques de toutes les interfaces de type II, indépendamment des matériaux et des structures, et que ceux-ci nous permettent d'extraire avec précision les valeurs des décalages de bandes entre différents matériaux à alignement de type II. / This work focuses on the study of II-VI semiconductor heterostructures with type II band alignments, especially in the form of superlattices. This is a system that can be promising for photovoltaic applications, and my work is presented in this perspective. Thus the first part deals with a conceptual reflection on the contribution of type II interfaces for photovoltaics.In a second step I present a study on the growth of CdSe and ZnTe by molecular beam epitaxy on various substrates. These materials are particularly interesting and suitable for this application because they have a direct bandgap, are almost lattice-matched, present a type II band alignment, and CdSe shows a bandgap compatible with the solar spectrum. But in return these are binary semiconductors which have no atoms in common, so that the growth of samples with specific thicknesses close to the monolayer is challenging. For this reason we conducted a detailed study at the interfaces through analysis of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, which allows us to conclude on the chemical nature of the atoms near the interfaces.This is followed by a detailed spectroscopy study on the effects of type II interfaces on the charge carriers through their energy and kinetics of recombination. We have developed an analytical model that allows to precisely adjust all the features observed in relation to these interfaces, and shows a very efficient charge separation mechanism. We show later that these effects are inherent characteristics of all interfaces of type II, regardless of materials and structures, and that they allow us to accurately extract the values of band offsets between different materials with type II band alignments.

Le placenta humain est un organe indispensable au maintien de la grossesse et au développement foetal. Son unité structurale et fonctionnelle est la villosité choriale constituée principalement de trophoblastes qui se différencient selon la voie villeuse endocrine ou extravilleuse invasive. Ces deux populations trophoblastiques sécrètent de l'hormone chorionique gonadotrope humaine (hCG), hormone indispensable à la grossesse. C'est une glycoprotéine constituée de deux sous-unités: la sous-unité alpha commune avec la LH, FSH et la TSH et la sous-unité beta, spécifique à chaque hormone, codée par un cluster de gênes regroupés en type I (gêne beta 7) et type II (gênes beta 3, 5 et 8). L'hCG est sécrétée dans le compartiment maternel où elle joue un rôle endocrine essentiel au maintien de la grossesse en stimulant la production de progestérone par l'ovaire. L'hCG joue également un rôle localement en stimulant la différenciation de chaque type de trophoblaste. Elle présente, dans le sang maternel, un pic de sécrétion à 10-12 semaines d'aménorrhée (SA), période ou le statut oxydatif placentaire change. En effet, les bouchons trophoblastiques obstruant la lumière des artères spiralées utérines se délitent à cette période, permettant l'entrée progressive du sang maternel dans la chambre intervilleuse. La pression en oxygène augmente de 18 mm/Hg (8-9 SA, 1er trimestre précoce) à 60 mm/Hg (12-14 SA, 1er trimestre tardif). Dans mon travail de thèse, j'ai cherché à mettre en évidence in situ et in vitro l'impact de ce changement de statut oxydatif sur la différenciation des trophoblastes villeux du 1er trimestre, et plus particulièrement sur l'expression des hCG beta de type I et de type II. J'ai ainsi mis en évidence que les trophoblastes villeux mononucléés du 1er trimestre précoce sécrétaient plus d'hCG beta de type I et II, fusionnaient plus rapidement et exprimaient un panel de facteurs de transcription différents par rapport aux trophoblastes villeux du 1er trimestre tardif. Dans un deuxième temps, j'ai comparé in vitro l'expression et la régulation des deux types d'hCG beta entre les trophoblastes villeux et extravilleux. J'ai montré que: 1) les trophoblastes villeux expriment plus d'hCG beta de type I et II que les trophoblastes extravilleux, 2) dans les deux cas l'hCG beta de type II est majoritaire et 3) PPAR gamma régule de façon opposée ces deux types d'hCG entre les trophoblastes villeux et extravilleux. Enfin j'ai mis en évidence que l'expression de ces deux types d'hCG était dérégulée dans la pré-éclampsie et le RCIU. L'étude des mécanismes impliqués dans la régulation des gênes codants pour l'hCG représente un enjeu important pour la compréhension de la différenciation du trophoblaste humain, du développement précoce du placenta et des pathologies de la grossesse. / The human placenta is an essential organ to maintain pregnancy and for foetal growth. Its structural and functional unit is the chorionic villous, which is mainly composed of cytotrophoblasts that follow two differentiation pathways: the endocrine villous and the invasive extravillous trophoblasts. These two trophoblastic subtypes secrete the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), an essential hormone for trophoblast differentiation, placental development and pregnancy. hCG is a glycoprotein composed of two subunits: the alpha subunit, which is common to LH, FSH and TSH, and the beta subunit that confers hormone specificity. A gene cluster encodes the beta subunit, type I (CGB7) and type II (CGB3, 5 and 8), that code for two different proteins. hCG is detected in the maternal blood from the first week of pregnancy, with a peak level at 10-12 weeks of gestation (WG). During the first trimester the oxygen concentration in the intervillous space changes from about 2% (prior to 10 WG) to approximately 6-8% (after 12 WG) due to development of blood flow to the placenta. During my PhD work, I studied in situ and in vitro the impact of these different environments during the first trimester on villous cytotrophoblast differentiation, and more specifically on the type I and type II beta hCG gene expression. I showed that type I and type II beta hCG are more expressed in early first trimester cytotrophoblasts and that these cells exibit more fusion features and express a different panel of transcription factors compare to cells from late first trimester. In the second part of my work, I compared the expression and the regulation in vitro of the two types of beta hCG between villous and extravillous cytotrophoblasts. I demonstrated: 1) villous trophoblast express more type I and type II beta hCG compared to the extravillous trophoblast, 2) in both case type II hCG beta is the major form of beta hCG and 3) PPAR gamma differentially regulates type I and type II beta hCG expression in villous and extravillous trophoblasts. Lastly I showed that the expression of type I and type II beta hCG is deregulated in pre-eclampsia and FGR. The study of the mechanisms involved in hCG regulation represents an important issue for the understanding of human trophoblast differenciation and pregnancy pathophysiology.

Ce projet de recherche, réalisé sous la direction de la Dre Leila Ben Amor et la co-direction du Dr Emmanuel Stip, fut possible avec le soutient de la Bourse Daoussis du Département de psychiatrie, de la Faculté de médecine de l’Université de Montréal. / Les antipsychotiques de seconde génération (ASG) peuvent induire des changements métaboliques, tels la prise de poids, la perturbation du métabolisme des glucides et la dyslipidémie. Dans la population pédiatrique, les études analysant les effets métaboliques secondaires à une poly-thérapie par ASG (changement d’ASG et/ou combinaison de deux ASG) sont très rares et à notre connaissance, jusqu’à présent, aucune étude naturalistique n’a comparé directement ces effets selon l’utilisation des ASG en monothérapie (un seul ASG prescrit à la fois) ou en poly-thérapie. L’objectif de cette étude rétrospective est de comparer les changements métaboliques secondaires aux ASG en monothérapie avec ceux des ASG en poly-thérapie. À cet effet, de 147 enfants et adolescents naïfs d’antipsychotiques (âge moyen 12.8 ans ; IC 95% 9.8 à 15.9) sélectionnés entre novembre 2005 et juin 2013, 116 (78.9%) ont reçu des ASG en monothérapie et 31 (21.1%) en poly-thérapie. Nous avons analysé, à l’aide du modèle linéaire mixte, la variation du poids, de l’indice de masse corporelle ajusté pour l’âge et le sexe (IMC-z) et de la glycémie à jeun entre les deux groupes de traitement par ASG, avec le facteur répétitif le temps, relatif au niveau prétraitement et après 1, 3, 6, 12 et 24 mois de suivi. Nos résultats démontrent que le type de thérapie par ASG (monothérapie ou poly-thérapie) n’a pas eu d’impact significatif sur les changements métaboliques entre les deux groupes. Au total, après 24 mois de traitement par ASG, nos résultats montrent une augmentation significative de la moyenne du poids de 12.8 kg (IC 95% 10.4 à 15.0), de l’IMC-z de 0.44 (IC 95% 0.21 à 0.68) et de la glycémie à jeun de 0.29 mmol/L (IC 95% 0.11 à 0.47). L’incidence d’embonpoint/obésité fut de 22.6%, l’augmentation de plus que 0.5 de l’IMC-z de 9.4%, celle de l’intolérance au glucose de 9.6% et celle de diabète de type II de 3.1%. En conclusion, notre étude confirme le risque significatif de complications métaboliques durant le traitement sur 24 mois par ASG, sans différence significative entre leur utilisation en monothérapie ou en poly-thérapie. / Second generation antipsychotics (SGA) can induce metabolic changes such as weight gain, glucose abnormalities and dyslipidemia. In the pediatric population, studies analysing the SGA polytherapy (switch of SGA and/or combination of two SGA) induced metabolic effects are scarce and, to our knowledge, no naturalistic study, until now, directly compared metabolic changes between the SGA monotherapy (a single SGA prescribed during the follow-up) and SGA polytherapy use. The objective of this retrospective study is to compare SGA monotherapy induced metabolic changes to those secondary to SGA polytherapy. To this end, from 147 antipsychotic-naïve children and adolescents (mean age 12.8 years; 95% CI 9.8 to 15.9) selected between November 2005 and June 2013, 116 (78.9%) received a SGA monotherapy and 31 (21.1%) a SGA polytherapy. We used the linear mixed model to compare weight, body mass index adjusted for age and sex (BMI z score) and fasting glucose changes between the two SGA treatment groups with the repeated factor the time relative to baseline at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Our results show that the type of therapy (monotherapy or polytherapy) did not have a significant impact on the metabolic changes between the two groups. Overall, after 24 months of SGA treatment, mean weight increased significantly by 12.8 kg (95% CI 10.4 to 15.0), BMI z score by 0.44 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.68), fasting glucose levels by 0.29 mmol/l (95% CI 0.11 to 0.47). Incidence of overweight/obese was 22.6%, BMI z score increase over 0.5 was 9.4%, glucose intolerance was 9.4% and type II diabetes was 3.1%. In conclusion, our study confirms the significant risk of metabolic complications during 24 months SGA treatment, without a significant difference between monotherapy and polytherapy use.

Introduction : Le syndrome de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil (SAOS) est un trouble très prévalent chez les patients atteints du diabète de type 2 (DT2) et la littérature préconise un lien étroit entre le SAOS et la dysfonction glycémique. Cependant, les essais randomisés actuels évaluant le traitement du SAOS et les effets métaboliques chez les patients diabétiques sont limités au traitement par pression positive continue (PPC) – parcontre, une limitation majeure de ces études est une faible compliance. L’orthèse d’avancée mandibulaire (OAM) est une option de traitement alternative pour le SAOS qui est généralement mieux tolérée et acceptée par les patients que la PPC. Objectifs : L’objectif principal de cette étude est d’évaluer si un traitement de 3 mois avec une OAM améliore le contrôle glycémique chez les patients atteints du SAOS et le DT2 comparé à celui avec un appareil placébo. Les objectifs secondaires sont : 1) d’évaluer la faisabilité d’une OAM comme traitement du SAOS chez une population diabétique, 2) comparer les effets secondaires subjectifs ressentis lors du port de l’OAM ou de l’appareil placébo, 3) comparer les changements subjectifs dans la qualité de vie et sommeil avec les deux appareils, 4) comparer la compliance subjective et objective dans les deux groupes. Méthodes : 17 patients ont participé à cette étude pilote contrôlée et randomisée comparant le traitement du SAOS à l'aide d’une OAM (Somnodent®, n=7) et d'un appareil placébo (appareil Essix® mandibulaire, n=10). Des échantillons de sang mesurant le contrôle glycémique par les taux d'hémoglobine glyquée ont été prélevés avant et après le traitement. Trois polysomnographies ont été réalisées (au départ, après une période de titration de 2 mois et après une période de traitement de 3 mois). Tous les patients ont répondu à un questionnaire sur les effets indésirables après la période de titration. Les questionnaires suivants ont été comparés avant (V1), pendant (V4) et après (V6) le traitement : échelle de somnolence d’Epworth (ESS), questionnaire sur les résultats fonctionnels du sommeil (FOSQ), indice de qualité du sommeil de Pittsburg (PSQI), et l'échelle hospitalière d'anxiété et de dépression (HADS). Les patients ont rapporté leur compliance subjective dans un journal quotidien, et la compliance objective a été mesurée par une micropuce. Résultats : Aucune différence significative n'a été observée pour l’hémoglobine glycquée après 3-mois de traitement entre les deux groupes (p =0.75). L’OAM a présenté une diminution significative du SAOS mesurée par l'indice d'apnée-hypopnée (p =0.02) et l'indice de désaturation en oxygène (p =0.02). Aucune différence significative n'a été constatée lors de la comparaison des questionnaires sur les effets secondaires entre les groupes, plus précisément pour l'inconfort au niveau des mâchoires (p =0.15) et des changements occlusaux (p =0.41). La fréquence des complications était faible dans les deux groupes et n'a montré aucune différence significative (p =1.00). La satisfaction globale des patients était élevée dans les deux groupes et ne montrait aucune différence significative (p =1.00). Les deux groupes ont présenté des améliorations significatives des scores FOSQ (p =0.004 entre V1-4 et p =0.026 entre V1-6), des diminutions significatives pour ESS (p =0.023 entre V1-4), des diminutions significatives des scores d'anxiété (p =0.003 entre V1-4 et p =0.041 entre V1-6), ainsi qu’une diminution significative des scores de dépression (p =0.025 entre V1-6). Les patients du groupe avec OAM ont sur-rapporté de façon significative leur compliance subjective par rapport à la compliance objective mesurée par les micropuces (p =0.02). Conclusion : L’OAM est un traitement faisable pour le traitement du SAOS chez les patients atteints du DT2 et a démontré des effets secondaires minimes et un taux de satisfaction élevé. Un « effet placébo » important a été observé avec l’appareil placébo, ce qui souligne l’importance des études randomisées et contrôlées dans le domaine du traitement du SAOS. Les micropuces utilisées pour mesurer la compliance objective offrent des données plus fiables que les rapports subjectifs des patients. D'autres essais randomisés et contrôlés à grande échelle sont nécessaires, et des analyses futures d’un système de mesure de glucose en continue pourrait être plus précis pour évaluer les effets de l’OAM sur le contrôle glycémique ; l’investigation de phénotypes métaboliques chez certains patients qui pourraient mieux répondre au traitement de leur SAOS serait aussi important. / Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the literature supports a strong link between OSA and glucose dysregulation. However, current randomized trials assessing the effect of OSA treatment on metabolic outcomes have been limited to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, and one of the main limitations of these studies is poor compliance. A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is an alternative treatment option for OSA that is generally better tolerated and accepted by patients than CPAP. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to evaluate if 3 months of treatment with a MAD will improve glycemic control in patients with OSA and T2DM as compared to a Placebo Device. Secondary objectives will be: 1) to evaluate the feasibility of a MAD to treat sleep apnea in a diabetic population, 2) to compare subjective side effects of the MAD and Placebo Device, 3) to compare subjective changes in quality of life and sleep with both devices, and 4) to compare subjective and objective compliance in both groups. Methods: 17 patients participated in this randomized controlled pilot study, comparing treatment of OSA using a MAD (Somnodent, n=7) and a placebo device (mandibular Essix, n=10). Blood samples measuring glycemic control by glycated hemoglobin levels were collected before and after treatment. Three polysomnographies were performed (at baseline, after a 2-month titration period and after a 3-month treatment period). All patients answered a side-effects questionnaire after the titration period, and the following questionnaires were compared before (V1), during (V4) and after treatment (V6): Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Patients recorded subjective compliance in a daily journal, and objective compliance was measured by a microchip. Results: No significant difference was found in glycated hemoglobin levels between groups (p=0.75). The MAD group showed a significant decrease in OSA as measured by the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (p=0.02) and the Oxygen Desaturation Index (p=0.02). No significant difference was found when comparing Side Effects Questionnaires between groups, more specifically for discomfort in jaws (p=0.15) and changes in occlusion (p=0.41). Frequency of complications were low in both groups and showed no significant differences (p=1.00). Overall patient satisfaction was high in both groups and showed no significant differences (p=1.00). Both groups showed significant improvements in FOSQ scores (p=0.004 between V1-4, and p=0.026 between V1-6), significant decreases in ESS (p= 0.023 between V1-4), significant decreases in Anxiety scores (p=0.003 between V1-4, and p=0.041 between V1-6), as well as a significant decrease in Depression scores (p=0.025 between V1-6). Patients in the MAD group significantly over-reported their subjective compliance as compared to the objective compliance measured by a microchip (p=0.02). Conclusion: MAD is a feasible treatment for OSA in patients with T2DM as it was able to significantly improve OSA while demonstrating high overall satisfaction and minimal complications. A strong “placebo effect” was noted with the Placebo Device and reinforces the importance of randomized and controlled studies in the field of OSA treatment. Microchips to measure objective compliance should be used as they offer more reliable data than subjective records. Further large-scale randomized and controlled trials are required, as well as future analyses of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems which may allow for more precise evaluation of glycemic outcomes; investigating possible metabolic phenotypes in patients which may respond better to OSA treatment will be important.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Diabetesprevalensen i världen ökar ständigt, en förklaring kan vara försämrade levnadsvanor vilka ofta leder till övervikt och fetma, kända riskfaktorer för diabetes typ 2. Diabetes typ 2 kan ofta regleras med livsstilsförändringar. En samtalsmetod som visat positiva effekter på förändring av levnadsvanor är motiverande samtal (MI). Behandling som involverar korta interventioner har visat positiva effekter vilket kan vara användbart inom den ofta tidspressade hälso och sjukvården. Syfte: Att kartlägga och beskriva effekter av interventioner baserade på motiverande samtal (MI) vid vård av personer med diabetes typ 2. Metod: Litteraturöversikt, där nio vetenskapliga artiklar med kvantitativ ansats granskades. Databaserna Cinahl with full text, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus och Google Scholar användes. Resultat: Fysiologiska effekter, kost, psykologiska effekter och egenvård var de områden som framkom. Viss effekt av MI kunde visas över tid i flera områden, som bland annat HbA1c, vikt, kunskap och förståelse om diabetes, följsamhet till fysisk aktivitet, känsla av kontroll och egenvård. Dock saknades signifikanta skillnader mellan grupperna i flera av studierna. Konklusion: Resultaten i litteraturöversikten är inte entydiga. Motiverande samtal kan vara en möjlig samtalsmetod att använda i sjuksköterskans möte med personer med diabetes typ 2 för att öka möjligheten att sköta om sin egen hälsa för att minska komplikationsrisker. Ytterligare forskning av hög kvalitet behövs inom området. / Background: The prevalence of diabetes continues to rise worldwide, and oneexplanation being the decrease in positive lifestyle habits which often lead to weight gain and obesity, well known risk factors for diabetes type 2. Diabetes type 2 can be more easily managed by lifestyle changes. One counselling approach which has been found to have positive effect on lifestyle changes is Motivational Interviewing (MI).Treatment that involve short interventions have shown to have positive effects and may be useful in an often time poor environment such as the healthcare system. Objective: To map out and describe the effects of interventions based on motivational interviewing (MI) done in treatment of people with diabetes type 2. Methodology: Literature review of nine quantitative scientific articles. The databases Cinahl with full text, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Google Scholar was used. Results: Physiological effects, diet, psychological effects and personal care were addressed. An effect of MI over time was found on several areas such as HbA1c, weight, knowledge about and understanding of diabetes type 2, compliance to physical activity, locus of control as well as personal self-care. However a lack of significant differences were found between groups in several studies. Conclusion: The results of the literature review are inconsistent. Motivational interviewing may be a possible counselling approach to apply in the nursing setting together with people with diabetes type 2, as a way to improve health behaviours such and decrease the risk of complications.

The work contained within this thesis Is made up primarily of two pieces Both address active galactic nuclei And the galaxies that live nearby The obscured fraction of the population Is the topic of one publication And the type-II fraction in the optical regime In chapter four this is the theme I research the vicinity overdensity Around radio galaxies in chapter three, you’ll see I reduce some spectra at redshift one But not all observations in the end got done With the spectra I have I do what I can As if all target observations had actually ran In the end I conclude with results and the theme of research to be done further downstream. The works contained herein addresses two major topics in extragalactic astrophysics, namely the Type-II AGN fraction and the Overdensity-Radio power relation. Quantifying the Type-II AGN fraction has been attempted by many works in many different observational regimes, finding rather contrasting results. Accretion onto supermassive black holes contributes between 5 per cent and 20 per cent of the luminosity of the Universe, and seems to be closely linked to star formation processes. The large uncertainty on this value is due to the ill-determined contribution from obscured accretion, namely the Type-II fraction. In Chapters 3 and 4 I address this issue from a theoretical standpoint in the X-ray regime and an observational standpoint in the optical regime respectively. In Chapter 3 I show how crude X-ray spectroscopy of partially obscured AGN can lead to catastrophic underestimations of the intrinsic X-ray luminosity of these sources. Acting over an entire population, these partial obscurers can produce an obscured AGN fraction which decreases as a function of observed luminosity. The results are consistent with observations in the X-ray vs. IR luminosity of AGN classes. In Chapter 4 I select a statistically significant sample of AGN from an unbiased 250μm galaxy sample. After spectroscopic classification I find the optical Type- II AGN fraction to be consistent across several decades in [OIII] luminosity, a common proxy for intrinsic AGN luminosity. I also investigate the relation of AGN activity to host galaxy mass, as well as star formation activity and star formation history. Probing the environments of protoclusters will help to constrain the models of structure formation in the Universe. Until now, no dataset has been big enough to probe the environments of high redshift radio galaxies at a statistical level; While many believe that the feedback processes of high luminosity radio jets will have a direct impact on star formation in the surrounding medium it has not been tested. In Chapter 2 I investigate this on an statistical level, finding no meaningful correlation between radio galaxy radio power and source overdensity in the vicinities of these sources. In Chapter 5 I discuss the reduction of a 24μm sample at redshift z ∼ 1 for direct comparison with a local 12μm sample. With only a fraction of the target sample being observed, no statistically significant results could be derived, but the objects are spectroscopically classified and spectroscopic redshifts are measured where possible. Correlations in the data set are investigated and the limitations of the sample selection strategy are discussed.

Consumer-resource interactions are the basic building blocks of every food web. In spite of being a central research theme of longstanding interest in ecology, the mechanisms governing the stability and persistence of consumer-resource interactions are still not entirely understood. In particular, theoretical predictions on consumer-resource stability along gradients of temperature and nutrient enrichment diverge widely and are sometimes in conflict with empirical results. In this thesis I address these issues from the angle of the functional response, which describes a consumer’s feeding rate as a function of resource density. Specifically, I explore mechanistic, nutrient-based consumer-resource interaction models with respect to the influence of feeding behavior (the shape of the functional response), environmental temperature, nutrient enrichment, and resource quality on consumer-resource stability and persistence. In order to parameterize these models I performed extensive laboratory experiments with pairs of freshwater pelagic algae and grazers of the genus Daphnia, which are widespread, ecologically important model organisms. I found a sigmoidal type III functional response in every studied Daphnia-algae species pair. The exact form of its shape is described by an exponent b which is determined by fitting functional response models to the experimental data. A high value of b can stabilize consumer-resource systems under the otherwise destabilizing influence of nutrient enrichment, as predicted by a novel stability criterion relating b to the consumer’s prey handling time, food conversion efficiency and mortality. Estimated parameter values and, consequently, stability predictions are sensitive to the method of parameter estimation, and I propose a new estimation procedure that minimizes parameter uncertainty. Because many consumers’ feeding rates depend on temperature, warming is expected to strongly affect food web stability. In functional response experiments over a broad temperature gradient, I found that the attack rate coefficient and the maximum ingestion rate of Daphnia are hump-shaped functions of temperature. Moreover, the functional response exponent increases with warming towards stronger type III responses. Plugging these findings into a nutrient-based consumer-resource model, I found that predator persistence is a U-shaped function of temperature in nutrient enrichment-temperature space. Enrichment easily turns the system unstable when the consumer has a type II response, whereas a type III response opens up a large region of stability at intermediate, for the consumer optimal, temperatures. These findings reconcile seemingly conflicting results of earlier studies of temperature effects on consumer-resource dynamics, which can be mapped as special cases onto the enrichment-temperature space. I finally demonstrate the utility of three key model ingredients - temperature dependence of rate parameters, a mechanistic description of the dynamics of algal resources, and a type III functional response in Daphnia - by successfully implementing them in the description and explanation of phytoplankton-Daphnia dynamics in a mesocosm experiment exploring effects of warming on the spring succession of the plankton.

This thesis explores how the carrier dynamics within semiconductor nanocrystals can be directly engineered through specific core-shell design. Emphasis is placed on how material characteristics, such as strain or alloying at a core-shell interface, can influence the exciton energies and the recombination dynamics within semiconductor nanocrystals. This study synthesises type-II heterojunction ZnTe/ZnSe core-shell nanocrystals via a diethyl zinc-free synthesis method, producing small size distributions and quantum yields as high as 12%. It was found that the 7% lattice mismatch between the core and shell materials places limitations on the range of structures in which coherent growth is achieved. By developing compositional and strained atomistic core-shell models a variety of physical and optical properties could be simulated and has led to a clear picture of the core-shell architecture to be built. This characterisation provides evidence that the low bulk modulus ZnTe cores are compressed by the higher bulk modulus smaller lattice constant ZnSe shells. Further studies show how strain is manifested in structures with 'sharp' core-shell interfaces and how intentional alloying the interface can influence the growth and exciton energies. A (2-6)-band effective mass model was able to distinguish between the as-grown 'sharp' and 'alloyed' interfaces which indicated that strain accentuates the redshift of the excitonic state whilst reduced strain within an alloyed interface sees a reduced redshift. Single nanocrystal spectroscopy investigations of brightly emitting single graded alloyed nanocrystals and of a size series of commercially available CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals showed almost no fluorescence intermittency (nearly 'non-blinking'). These investigations also identified trion recombination as the main mechanism within the blinking 'off' state. Ultimately this thesis adds to the growing understanding of how specific core-shell architectures manipulate the electronic structure and develops techniques to identify specific material characteristics and how these characteristics influence the physical and optical properties within semiconductor nanocrystals.

Bakgrund: Egenvård och utbildning i egenvård som omvårdnadsåtgärd är en viktig del i behandlingen av kroniskt sjuka patienter då det bidrar till att patienten blir delaktig i sin egen vård och hälsa samt att det kan förhindra försämring och komplikationer. Diabetes Mellitus typ II (DMT2) är en kronisk sjukdom där egenvård är central och kan göra skillnad för patientens hälsa. Kopplat till ökningen av DMT2 över hela världen, speciellt i låg- och medelinkomstländer, är sjuksköterskors arbete med egenvård och utbildning i egenvård av stor vikt. Få tidigare studier har fokuserat på hur sjuksköterskor i Uganda arbetar med egenvård inom DMT2. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur sjuksköterskor arbetar med egenvård och utbildning av egenvård som omvårdnadsåtgärd för att upprätthålla och förbättra hälsan hos patienter med diabetes typ II i Uganda. Metod: Deskriptiv kvalitativ design. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer hölls individuellt med sex sjuksköterskor på en endokrinologisk avdelning samt på en diabetesmottagning på ett sjukhus i Uganda. Huvudresultat: Intervjusvaren resulterade efter analys i tre kategorier och en underkategori; Patientundervisning, Klargöra patientens ansvar, Ta hänsyn till svårigheter samt underkategorin Identifiera behovet av ökad kunskap. Kategorin Patientundervisning beskriver hur sjuksköterskor arbetade med patientundervisning för att bibehålla och förbättra patientens hälsa och vilka huvudområden som ingick i undervisningen för att ge patienten möjligheter att uppnå egenvård. Under kategorin Klargöra patientens ansvar visas hur sjuksköterskor arbetar med patienternas förmåga att ta ansvar för genomförandet av egenvård. Kategorin Ta hänsyn till svårigheter beskriver vilka svårigheter som upplevdes avseende egenvård och utbildning av egenvård, samt hur sjuksköterskorna hanterade dessa. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskorna upplevde att arbetet med patientundervisning gav goda resultat och bättre hälsoförståelse hos patienterna, fortsatt patientutbildning för patienter med DMT2 i Uganda upplevs därför viktig. Sjuksköterskornas arbete med att klargöra patientens eget ansvar i arbetet med egenvård upplevs som viktigt för att behandlingen ska bli optimal och för att patientens hälsa på lång sikt ska kunna bibehållas och förbättras. De svårigheter som sjuksköterskorna upplevde och som de måste ta hänsyn till var komplexa och relaterade till så väl hälso- och sjukvårdssystemet liksom det omgivande samhället i Uganda. / Background: Self-care and education in self-care as a nursing action is an important part in the treatment of chronic diseases, since it involves the patients and increases the control of their own care and health. Diabetes Mellitus type II (DMT2) is a chronic disease where self-care is a central component in the care. One nursing responsibility is to educate the patient about self-care. DMT2 is increasing globally, specifically in low and middle-income countries, why nurses’ work with self-care and education of self-care as a nursing action in diabetes care is important. Few previous studies have focused on how nurses work with self-care of DMT2 in Uganda. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore how nurses work with self-care and education of self-care as a nursing action in order to maintain and improve the health of patients with diabetes type II in Uganda. Method: Descriptive qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were held individually with six nurses working in an out-, or in-patient clinic on a hospital in Uganda. Results: Analysis of the interviews generated three categories and one sub category; Patient education, Emphasize patients’ responsibilities, Handle the difficulties and the sub-category Identify the need for increased knowledge. The category “Patient education” describes how the nurses worked with patient education in order to maintain and improve the patients’ health. The category “Emphasize patients’ responsibilities” describes how nurses work to strengthen the patients’ ability and their own responsibilities to maintain and improve their own health. The category “Handle the difficulties” describes the nurses’ experienced difficulties related to working with self-care and education about self-care. Conclusion: The nurses experienced that their work with patient education increased patients’ knowledge about diabetes and created a better understanding of the importance of self-care. Continuous patient education and the nurses’ work with emphasizing the patients’ responsibilities is experienced as important in order for the patients to maintain and improve in their health. The difficulties experienced by the nurses in this study were complex and are related to the health care system as well as the surrounding society in Uganda.