Miniaturisation d'antennes en bande VHF pour applications spatiales

Le développement de l électronique embarquée et miniaturisée est pleinement d actualité de nos jours, dans les domaines tels que l armement, la médecine, et les télécommunications. La miniaturisation des antennes large-bande, opérationnelles sur plus d une décade, présentent un défi particulier. Ces travaux de thèse proposent de travailler sur la miniaturisation d une antenne spirale, afin d en réduire l encombrement, à savoir son diamètre, tout en conservant au mieux ses caractéristiques de rayonnement et polarisation intrinsèques. Cette recherche sera appliquée à la bande des Très hautes Fréquence (Very High Frequencies VHF), allant de 30MHz à 300MHz La géométrie inédite proposée consiste à associer à une antenne spirale un ensemble d anneaux résonnants, dont le diamètre n excède pas celui de la spirale, et permettant de diminuer la fréquence basse de fonctionnement. Pour un ensemble de cinq anneaux associé à la spirale, la réduction de la fréquence basse de fonctionnement est de plus de 30%. Pour deux antennes spirales de même fréquence basse de fonctionnement, l antenne miniaturisée a donc un diamètre réduit de 30%, soit une surface réduite de 50%. Les performances de l état de l art d après lesquelles les réductions sur le diamètre des antennes spirales n excèdent pas 15% sont donc dépassées. De plus, d après cet état de l art, les méthodes de réduction appliquées aux antennes large bande dégradent en général le gain et l axial ratio dans les bandes basses de fréquences de fonctionnement. La méthode proposée permet de conserver l efficacité de l antenne, voire de l augmenter, dans les fréquences proches de la fréquence basse de fonctionnement. Le rayonnement de l antenne spirale miniaturisée dans la bande passante de l antenne sans anneaux n est pour autant pas modifiée. Ces résultats très encourageant ont été confirmés par la mesure d antennes spirales miniaturisées, réalisées pour un diamètre de 8cm et de 1m : une réduction de 30% du diamètre sans dégradation du rayonnement a été observée. Les mesures ont par ailleurs donné lieu à l étude de la réalisation d une antenne en bande VHF, avec pour implication les problématiques de réalisation (masse, encombrement, résistance mécanique) et de mesure (isolation, effets parasites en VHF avec une longueur d onde de 4m).Miniaturizing electronic devices is a great challenge in crucial research domain such as defense, medicine, and telecommunications. Wideband antenna miniaturization operating on more than a decade is a particular issue. This thesis presents an original method for miniaturizing a spiral antenna, reducing its diameter while keeping its bandwidth, its radiating performances and its axial ratio characteristics. This method is applied to UHF spiral antenna (from 750MHz) and VHF antenna (from 75MHz). The new geometry adds stacked resonant rings to an Archimedean spiral antenna. Their diameter are the same, hence no rise of the antenna diameter. For a 5-ring spiral antenna, the lowest operating frequency reduction is higher than 30%. That is equivalent to a 30% reduction of the diameter for two antennas sharing the same lowest operating frequency, hence a 50% reduction of the area of the antenna. These reduction factors surpass the reduction factors of the state of art of 15%. Besides, according to the state of art, the miniaturizing techniques imply some degradation of the gain and axial ratio performances at the lowest operating frequencies. The new method improves on the other hand these characteristics at these frequencies. At higher frequencies, the rings do not interfere with the matching of neither the spiral antenna nor its radiation characteristics. These results were validated by fabricated antenna measurements. A 30% reduction of the diameter was obtained on a 5-ring-8cm-large antenna as well as on a 5-ring-1m-large antenna. No impairment was noticed on the radiation of the antennas, even at the lowest operating frequencies. The thesis also discusses the difficulties which came in addition for the fabrication (mass, size and mechanical resistance) and measurement (radiation interferences and measurement isolation the wavelength being 4m) of the VHF antenna.TOULOUSE-INP (315552154) / SudocSudocFranceF

Functional Reconstitution into Liposomes of Purified Human RhCG Ammonia Channel

BACKGROUND: Rh glycoproteins (RhAG, RhBG, RhCG) are members of the Amt/Mep/Rh family which facilitate movement of ammonium across plasma membranes. Changes in ammonium transport activity following expression of Rh glycoproteins have been described in different heterologous systems such as yeasts, oocytes and eukaryotic cell lines. However, in these complex systems, a potential contribution of endogenous proteins to this function cannot be excluded. To demonstrate that Rh glycoproteins by themselves transport NH(3), human RhCG was purified to homogeneity and reconstituted into liposomes, giving new insights into its channel functional properties. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: An HA-tag introduced in the second extracellular loop of RhCG was used to purify to homogeneity the HA-tagged RhCG glycoprotein from detergent-solubilized recombinant HEK293E cells. Electron microscopy analysis of negatively stained purified RhCG-HA revealed, after image processing, homogeneous particles of 9 nm diameter with a trimeric protein structure. Reconstitution was performed with sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid lipids in the presence of the C(12)E(8) detergent which was subsequently removed by Biobeads. Control of protein incorporation was carried out by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Particle density in liposomes was a function of the Lipid/Protein ratio. When compared to empty liposomes, ammonium permeability was increased two and three fold in RhCG-proteoliposomes, depending on the Lipid/Protein ratio (1/300 and 1/150, respectively). This strong NH(3) transport was reversibly inhibited by mercuric and copper salts and exhibited a low Arrhenius activation energy. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study allowed the determination of ammonia permeability per RhCG monomer, showing that the apparent Punit(NH3) (around 1x10(-3) microm(3)xs(-1)) is close to the permeability measured in HEK293E cells expressing a recombinant human RhCG (1.60x10(-3) microm(3)xs(-1)), and in human red blood cells endogenously expressing RhAG (2.18x10(-3) microm(3)xs(-1)). The major finding of this study is that RhCG protein is active as an NH(3) channel and that this function does not require any protein partner

High mean arterial pressure target to improve sepsis-associated acute kidney injury in patients with prior hypertension: a feasibility study

Background : The optimal mean arterial pressure (MAP) in cases of septic shock is still a matter of debate in patients with prior hypertension. An MAP between 75 and 85 mmHg can improve glomerular filtration rate (GFR) but its effect on tubular function is unknown. We assessed the effects of high MAP level on glomerular and tubular renal function in two intensive care units of a teaching hospital. Inclusion criteria were patients with a history of chronic hypertension and developing AKI in the first 24 h of septic shock. Data were collected during two 6 h periods of MAP regimen administered consecutively after haemodynamic stabilisation in an order depending on the patient's admission unit: a high-target period (80–85 mmHg) and a low-target period (65–70 mmHg). The primary endpoint was the creatinine clearance (CrCl) calculated from urine and serum samples at the end of each MAP period by the UV/P formula. Results : 26 patients were included. Higher urine output (+0.2 (95%:0, 0.4) mL/kg/h; P = 0.04), urine sodium (+6 (95% CI 0.2, 13) mmol/L; P = 0.04) and lower serum creatinine (− 10 (95% CI − 17, − 3) µmol/L; P = 0.03) were observed during the high-MAP period as compared to the low-MAP period, resulting in a higher CrCl (+25 (95% CI 11, 39) mL/mn; P = 0.002). The urine creatinine, urine–plasma creatinine ratio, urine osmolality, fractional excretion of sodium and urea showed no significant variation. The KDIGO stage at inclusion only interacted with serum creatinine variation and low level of sodium excretion at inclusion did not interact with these results. Conclusions : In the early stage of sepsis-associated AKI, a high-MAP target in patients with a history of hypertension was associated with a higher CrCl, but did not affect the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine, which may reflect no effect on tubular function

The rhesus protein RhCG: a new perspective in ammonium transport and distal urinary acidification

Urinary acidification is a complex process requiring the coordinated action of enzymes and transport proteins and resulting in the removal of acid and the regeneration of bicarbonate. Proton secretion is mediated by luminal H(+)-ATPases and requires the parallel movement of NH(3), and its protonation to NH(4)(+), to provide sufficient buffering. It has been long assumed that ammonia secretion is a passive process occurring by means of simple diffusion driven by the urinary trapping of ammonium. However, new data indicate that mammalian cells possess specific membrane proteins from the family of rhesus proteins involved in ammonia/μm permeability. Rhesus proteins were first identified in yeast and later also in plants, algae, and mammals. In rodents, RhBG and RhCG are expressed in the collecting duct, whereas in humans only RhCG was detected. Their expression increases with maturation of the kidney and accelerates after birth in parallel with other acid-base transport proteins. Deletion of RhBG in mice had no effect on renal ammonium excretion, whereas RhCG deficiency reduces renal ammonium secretion strongly, causes metabolic acidosis in acid-challenged mice, and impairs restoration of normal acid-base status. Microperfusion experiments or functional reconstitution in liposomes demonstrates that ammonia is the most likely substrate of RhCG. Similarly, crystal structures of human RhCG and the homologous bacterial AmtB protein suggest that these proteins may form gas channels.Kidney International advance online publication, 6 October 2010; doi:10.1038/ki.2010.386

Miniaturisation d'antennes en bande VHF pour applications spatiales

Pas de résumés en anglai

Antenna miniaturization in VHF bandwidth for spatial applications

Le développement de l’électronique embarquée et miniaturisée est pleinement d’actualité de nos jours, dans les domaines tels que l’armement, la médecine, et les télécommunications. La miniaturisation des antennes large-bande, opérationnelles sur plus d’une décade, présentent un défi particulier. Ces travaux de thèse proposent de travailler sur la miniaturisation d’une antenne spirale, afin d’en réduire l’encombrement, à savoir son diamètre, tout en conservant au mieux ses caractéristiques de rayonnement et polarisation intrinsèques. Cette recherche sera appliquée à la bande des Très hautes Fréquence (Very High Frequencies – VHF), allant de 30MHz à 300MHz La géométrie inédite proposée consiste à associer à une antenne spirale un ensemble d’anneaux résonnants, dont le diamètre n’excède pas celui de la spirale, et permettant de diminuer la fréquence basse de fonctionnement. Pour un ensemble de cinq anneaux associé à la spirale, la réduction de la fréquence basse de fonctionnement est de plus de 30%. Pour deux antennes spirales de même fréquence basse de fonctionnement, l’antenne miniaturisée a donc un diamètre réduit de 30%, soit une surface réduite de 50%. Les performances de l’état de l’art d’après lesquelles les réductions sur le diamètre des antennes spirales n’excèdent pas 15% sont donc dépassées. De plus, d’après cet état de l’art, les méthodes de réduction appliquées aux antennes large bande dégradent en général le gain et l’axial ratio dans les bandes basses de fréquences de fonctionnement. La méthode proposée permet de conserver l’efficacité de l’antenne, voire de l’augmenter, dans les fréquences proches de la fréquence basse de fonctionnement. Le rayonnement de l’antenne spirale miniaturisée dans la bande passante de l’antenne sans anneaux n’est pour autant pas modifiée. Ces résultats très encourageant ont été confirmés par la mesure d’antennes spirales miniaturisées, réalisées pour un diamètre de 8cm et de 1m : une réduction de 30% du diamètre sans dégradation du rayonnement a été observée. Les mesures ont par ailleurs donné lieu à l’étude de la réalisation d’une antenne en bande VHF, avec pour implication les problématiques de réalisation (masse, encombrement, résistance mécanique) et de mesure (isolation, effets parasites en VHF avec une longueur d’onde de 4m).Miniaturizing electronic devices is a great challenge in crucial research domain such as defense, medicine, and telecommunications. Wideband antenna miniaturization operating on more than a decade is a particular issue. This thesis presents an original method for miniaturizing a spiral antenna, reducing its diameter while keeping its bandwidth, its radiating performances and its axial ratio characteristics. This method is applied to UHF spiral antenna (from 750MHz) and VHF antenna (from 75MHz). The new geometry adds stacked resonant rings to an Archimedean spiral antenna. Their diameter are the same, hence no rise of the antenna diameter. For a 5-ring spiral antenna, the lowest operating frequency reduction is higher than 30%. That is equivalent to a 30% reduction of the diameter for two antennas sharing the same lowest operating frequency, hence a 50% reduction of the area of the antenna. These reduction factors surpass the reduction factors of the state of art of 15%. Besides, according to the state of art, the miniaturizing techniques imply some degradation of the gain and axial ratio performances at the lowest operating frequencies. The new method improves on the other hand these characteristics at these frequencies. At higher frequencies, the rings do not interfere with the matching of neither the spiral antenna nor its radiation characteristics. These results were validated by fabricated antenna measurements. A 30% reduction of the diameter was obtained on a 5-ring-8cm-large antenna as well as on a 5-ring-1m-large antenna. No impairment was noticed on the radiation of the antennas, even at the lowest operating frequencies. The thesis also discusses the difficulties which came in addition for the fabrication (mass, size and mechanical resistance) and measurement (radiation interferences and measurement isolation – the wavelength being 4m) of the VHF antenna

Immunological studies of mouse decidual cells. I. Membrane markers of decidual cells in the days after implantation

The mechanisms by which the mammalian embryo is protected from allograft rejection by the mother remain unclear at present although several hypotheses have been brought forward (1-3). Recent advances seem to favor the lack of detectable transplantation antigens on the postimplantation trophoblast (4, 5) and of blocking antibodies (6). On the other hand, the decidua in the pregnant uterus may provide a locally privileged environment to the embryo (7, 8). For example, extracts from artificially induced decidua have been shown recently to possess immunosuppressive properties (9). Little is known of the exact role or origin of the decidua that develops and surrounds the postimplantation embryo in the pregnant uterus (10). Most decidual cells seem to be derived from uterine stroma cells that resemble embryonic fibroblasts (11, 12), but morphological data have suggested that some of the cells present in mouse and rat decidua may be lymphocytes or derived from lymphocytes (13, 14). Moreover, recent data show that immunoglobulincontaining cells are present in the mouse decidua shortly aider implantation (15) as well as in the rat metrial gland at a later stage (16). We report here the results of an attempt to define immunologically the cells of the mouse decidua in the days after implantation. It is shown that, in addition to H-2 antigens, Thy-1 antigen can be detected on a sizable fraction of decidual cells and that an apparently increasing number of cells bearing receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G can be detected in the decidua as pregnancy proceeds from day 6 to day 8