The purpose of this research is to solve several important problems of the AVI system, including the AVI site location problem, travel time forecasting, the study of reliability and accuracy of the forecasted travel time. This thesis serves as a further research toward the modeling of AVI systems in which the effects of AVI site location, AVI site density, travel time forecasting are analyzed. The model based on the genetic algorithms was applied to AVI site location problem to solve it as a multi-objective optimization problem, thus the best locations was determined on the basis of several criteria. The model developed was tested in an assumed transportation network. The achieved CPU time in this stage of the research are promising. MATLAB and its accompanying Neural Network Toolbox, has been applied to data obtained from San Antonio real time AVI Tag database to forecast travel time. The approach to the neural network is detailed in this paper. Two ANN models were tested in this research. The accuracy of AVI travel time forecasting was then assessed and the better model for travel time forecasting was found. Lastly, a comparison of forecasted travel time with different travel time prediction technologies was performed to serve as a reference parameter for the travel time forecasting study. / Master of Science

This thesis presents a prediction model for e-bikes and e-scooters, aimed at enhancing traffic safety and efficiency by sharing their intentions of future possible positions among road users. The research addresses the current automated vehicle technologies which lack communication between road users. The prediction model is based on and tested with a mobility model, adapted for modelling e-bikes and e-scooters in a simulator program primarily used for pedestrians. This implementation has produced the ability to predict future positions and further the development of intention-sharing capabilities in urban traffic scenarios. The model is built upon physical parameters and mathematical models for a controlled and regulated model. Polynomial regression was applied to predict positions based on historical data and the results were evaluated with RMSE metrics, demonstrating the prediction accuracy in different scenarios. The thesis also includes the integration of the prediction model into a hardware setup, a Raspberry Pi. Demonstrating the practical application and retaining the effectiveness of the model in a real-time environment. Gathered from the results, the model can reserve a predicted area every second but also has the capability to work during faster or slower time intervals, depending on the hardware used to enable the model in the protocol. With this, the research highlights the possibility of implementing this in CCAM systems. The results show promising accuracy with a simple controlled model using as little necessary data as possible. The project work contributes to the field of intelligent transport systems by providing a scalable solution to enhance the interaction between VRUs and vehicles, creating a step closer to achieving the Vision-Zero goal of having zero traffic-related accidents or fatalities.

Optimizing connected automated vehicle movements through roadway intersections is a challenging problem. Traditional traffic control strategies, such as traffic signals are not optimal, especially for heavy traffic. Alternatively, centralized automated vehicle control strategies are costly and not scalable given that the ability of a central controller to track and schedule the movement of hundreds of vehicles in real-time is highly questionable. In this research, a series of fully distributed heuristic algorithms are proposed where vehicles in the vicinity of an intersection continuously cooperate with each other to develop a schedule that allows them to safely proceed through the intersection while incurring minimum delays. An algorithm is proposed for the case of an isolated intersection then a number of algorithms are proposed for a network of intersections where neighboring intersections communicate directly or indirectly to help the distributed control at each intersection makes a better estimation of traffic in the whole network. An algorithm based on the Godunov scheme outperformed optimized signalized control. The simulated experiments show significant reductions in the average delay. The base algorithm is successfully added to the INTEGRATION micro-simulation model and the results demonstrate improvements in delay, fuel consumption, and emissions when compared to roundabout, signalized, and stop sign controlled intersections. The study also shows the capability of the proposed technique to favor emergency vehicles, producing significant increases in mobility with minimum delays to the other vehicles in the network. / Ph. D. / Intelligent self-driving cars are getting much closer to reality than fiction. Technological advances make it feasible to produce such vehicles at low affordable cost. This type of vehicles is also promising to significantly reduce car accidents saving people lives and health. Moreover, the congested roads in cities and metropolitan areas especially at rush hours can benefit from this technology to avoid or at least to reduce the delays experienced by car passengers during their trips. One major challenge facing the operation of an intelligent self-driving car is how to pass an intersection as fast as possible without any collision with cars approaching from other directions of the intersection. The use of current traffic lights or stop signs is not the best choice to make the best use of the capabilities of future cars. In this dissertation, the aim is to study and propose ways to make sure the future intersections are ready for such self-driving intelligent cars. Assuming that an intersection has no type of traditional controls such as traffic lights or stop signs, this research effort shows how vehicles can pass safely with minimum waiting. The proposed techniques focus on providing lowcost solutions that do not require installation of expensive devices at intersections that makes it difficult to be approved by authorities. The proposed techniques can be applied to intersections of various sizes. The algorithms in this dissertation carefully design a way for vehicles in a network of intersections to communicate and cooperate while passing an intersection. The algorithms are extensively compared to the case of using traffic lights, stop signs, and roundabouts. Results show significant improvement in delay reduction and fuel consumption when the proposed techniques are used.

Plant-feeding mites represent major pests in agriculture that are of importance to crops world-wide, as large populations of mites reduce the quality and quantity of yields. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their negative effects and bio-control agents (predatory mites) remain advantages as they suppress spider mites and other plant pests. This study aims to determine species status of plant-feeding and predatory mites on plants of the family Solanaceae and to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among economically important Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Tetranychidae. The material for this study was collected through plant beating and specimens were preserved in 75% and 96% ethanol respectively and mounted in Heinz’s PVA medium on microscope slides. A survey was conducted during peak seasons to provide enough samples of pest and predatory species. Morphological analysis was performed and initial results indicate that 94% of the species identified were parasitic and 6% were predatory, which led to a predator:prey ratio of 1:17, where Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard had the highest frequency of appearance. A modified Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit extraction protocol was used and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to amplify ribosomal ITS and mitochondrial COI gene fragments. The nucleotide sequence of a 700-bp fragment for ITS was determined by direct sequencing as well as for a 700-bp and 800-bp fragments for COI. The resulting data included 4 isolates that corresponded morphologically and molecularly with Phytoseiidae and 10 with Stigmaeidae. The phylogenetic trees agreed with the morphological data. For species that lack morphological descriptions in GenBank and are not placed within expected clades, one has to accept the possibility of miss identification and highlights the need to combine morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnosis. Ultimately, Solanaceae contain various parasitic mites, but predators seem low in numbers. This could be problamatic in finding effective bio-control agents. / MSc (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Plant-feeding mites represent major pests in agriculture that are of importance to crops world-wide, as large populations of mites reduce the quality and quantity of yields. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their negative effects and bio-control agents (predatory mites) remain advantages as they suppress spider mites and other plant pests. This study aims to determine species status of plant-feeding and predatory mites on plants of the family Solanaceae and to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among economically important Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Tetranychidae. The material for this study was collected through plant beating and specimens were preserved in 75% and 96% ethanol respectively and mounted in Heinz’s PVA medium on microscope slides. A survey was conducted during peak seasons to provide enough samples of pest and predatory species. Morphological analysis was performed and initial results indicate that 94% of the species identified were parasitic and 6% were predatory, which led to a predator:prey ratio of 1:17, where Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard had the highest frequency of appearance. A modified Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit extraction protocol was used and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to amplify ribosomal ITS and mitochondrial COI gene fragments. The nucleotide sequence of a 700-bp fragment for ITS was determined by direct sequencing as well as for a 700-bp and 800-bp fragments for COI. The resulting data included 4 isolates that corresponded morphologically and molecularly with Phytoseiidae and 10 with Stigmaeidae. The phylogenetic trees agreed with the morphological data. For species that lack morphological descriptions in GenBank and are not placed within expected clades, one has to accept the possibility of miss identification and highlights the need to combine morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnosis. Ultimately, Solanaceae contain various parasitic mites, but predators seem low in numbers. This could be problamatic in finding effective bio-control agents. / MSc (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Dead wood plays an important role in forest ecosystems in the context of C dynamics, nutrient cycling, forest regeneration and biodiversity. Decaying wood sustains biodiversity by providing habitats and energy for fungi, bacteria, invertebrates, and many other organisms. Dead wood is resistant to decomposition and its decay is driven mainly by filamentous fungi. Community structure of wood- inhabiting fungi changes during decomposition, but the relationship between substrate quality and decomposer community is still poorly understood. This work studied fungal community composition with respect to tree species, stage of decay, volume and physico-chemical properties (such as pH, carbon and nitrogen content) of dead wood. Fungi were identified using next generation sequencing approaches - 454-pyrosequencing and Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Tree species, volume of dead wood (branches x logs) and stage of decay were the main variables affecting fungal community composition. Higher enzyme activities and content of fungal biomass indicate faster colonization of small branches than tree trunks by fungi. Fungal community composition, wood chemical properties and enzyme activities changed during decomposition. Both content of nitrogen and fungal biomass increased during decomposition. Enzyme activites peaked...

La diversité fongique des meules de plusieurs espèces de Macrotermitinae a été analysée au niveau taxinomique, fonctionnel et génétique à l’aide d’une approche polyphasique associant plusieurs techniques complémentaires. L’objectif étant d’évaluer la spécificité des taxons fongiques associés aux meules ainsi que les relations qu’ils entretiennent avec les termites champignonnistes. Une grande variété de phylotypes cultivables appartenant majoritairement au phylum des Ascomycètes a été obtenue par isolement et séquençage des ITS fongiques, et peu de séquences se sont révélées être spécifiques à un genre de Macrotermitinae particulier. Les profils physiologiques obtenus ont mis en évidence la nature saprophytique de la majorité des phylotypes et confirmé l’absence de taxons spécifiques. Par PCR-DGGE de l’ADN total de meules, 100% des phylotypes ITS et 28S fongiques identifiés étaient affiliés au genre Termitomyces. La technique Suicide Polymerase Endonuclease Restriction (SuPER) a été adaptée à la mycoflore des meules pour limiter l’impact de l’ADN majoritaire du Termitomyces symbiotique. Celle-ci a permis la détection de plusieurs autres populations fongiques. Les analyses phylogénétiques ont montré d’une part la spécificité des Xylaria associés aux meules de Macrotermitinae bien qu’aucune co-évolution n’ait été observée avec les termites hôtes et d’autre part leur affiliation dans un sous-genre spécifique. Une analyse préliminaire des facteurs d’inhibition a également révélé l’implication des termites dans la régulation des communautés fongiques des meules. Dans leur ensemble, nos résultats illustrent clairement l’influence des Macrotermitinae sur les communautés fongiques telluriques pendant leurs différentes activités. / Fungal diversity of several Macrotermitinae fungus combs was analyzed at taxonomic, functional and genetic levels using a polyphasic approach. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the specificity of fungal strains from combs and to elucidate their relationship with fungus-growing termites. A large variety of culturable phylotypes mainly belonging to Ascomycota phylum was retrieved using conventional isolation techniques followed by sequencing of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. Based on the obtained results, there is evidence for any speciesspecificity between these taxa and a given genus of Macrotermitinae. This finding was supported by the physiological profile of some representative phylotypes which revealed the saprophytic nature of most of the isolates. By PCR-DGGE analysis of fungal ITS and LSU, all of the sequences were belonged to Termitomyces genus. The Suicide Polymerase Endonuclease Restriction method was adapted to the analysis of comb mycoflora for restricting the impact of the dominant Termitomyces DNA. As expected, this latter technique revealed non-Termitomyces fungal populations. Phylogenetic analysis also showed the specificity of termiteassociated Xylaria although they do not evolved with termite hosts, and also their affiliation to a new genus or at least a specific sub-genus. Preliminary investigation revealed the implication of termite workers in fungal regulation in fungus combs. All in one, our results clearly underline the great impact of fungus-growing termite species on soil fungal community during their activities.

Os veículos que compõem o tráfego urbano são considerados como o principal agente causador de poluição afetando diretamente a qualidade do ar nas cidades, sendo um desafio ter mecanismos de monitoramento que possibilitem uma visão geral das condições ambientais. Para proporcionar uma visão abrangente seria necessário um grande número de estações fixas de monitoramento da qualidade do ar, além de um incremento constante para acompanhar o crescimento da cidade. Neste cenário, surge a oportunidade de instrumentação de ônibus coletivo com sensores que medem a qualidade do ar durante seu trajeto, assim aproveitando as características de mobilidade do transporte público, o qual transita em áreas povoadas, com postura dinâmica de crescimento, adaptando-se de forma coerente à mutabilidade populacional e geográfica da cidade. A presente tese apresenta novas formas de realizar análises espaçotemporais da qualidade do ar de regiões urbanas. Os modelos cartográficos criados permitem analisar regiões mapeadas usando perspectivas espaciais e temporais com informações obtidas de kits sensores móveis, para análises a cada 100 metros, promovendo uma resolução maior que os modelos tradicionais de monitoramento (escala quilométrica), os quais ainda não oferecem esta possibilidade. Esta maior resolução permite uma nova perspectiva de análises de microrregiões e, desta forma, permite que os especialista ou gestores urbanos possam entender melhor as situações, ao utilizarem as ferramentas e recursos apresentados pela presente tese. Para atingir os objetivos optou-se pela criação e validação de um kit sensor para ser hospedado em ônibus coletivo, o qual foi validado e testado, quanto à sua eficiência de medição. Este kit foi integrado a uma plataforma computacional construída para extrair e processar informações com algoritmos matemáticos. Todos os componentes da plataforma foram legitimados com experimentos que confirmaram as hipóteses inicialmente formuladas para validação. E por fim, mapeamentos com mais de 70 mil pontos foram utilizados na criação de modelos espaçotemporais para realização de estudo de caso de regiões da cidade de São Paulo, os quais demostraram os usos potenciais das proposições desta tese. / The vehicles in urban traffic are considered as the main cause of urban pollution with a direct impact on air quality, being a challenge to have monitoring tools that enable an overview of the environmental conditions influenced by vehicle emissions. One option is to instrument the entire city with low-cost fixed sensors to collect environmental data; however, to provide a comprehensive view would require a large number of sensors, and a constant increase to follow the growth of the city. In this scenario, arises the opportunity for urban bus instrumentation with sensors that measure the environmental pollution, to take advantage of the mobility characteristics of public transport, which moves in populated areas, with dynamic attitude of growth, adapting in a coherent way to population and geographic variability of the city. This PhD Thesis proposes the monitoring of air quality inside urban roads by Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), hosted on city buses. Thus, new ways of performing spatiotemporal analyzes of the air quality of urban regions are possible with the cartographic models created by this thesis. These allow to analyze mapped regions using spatial and temporal perspectives with information obtained from mobile sensor kits, for analyzes every 100 meters, promoting a resolution higher than the traditional monitoring models (kilometer scale), which still do not offer this possibility. This higher resolution allows a new perspective of analyzes of micro regions and, in this way, allows specialists or urban managers to have a better understanding of the urban scenario. Sensor kits are created to be hosted by bus, which has been validated and tested for its efficiency in measurement. This was integrated into a computational platform built to extract and process information with mathematical algorithms. All the components of the platform were validated with experiments that confirmed the hypotheses originally formulated for validation. Finally, mappings with more than 70,000 points were used in the creation of spatiotemporal models for the study of the case of regions of the city of São Paulo, which denoted the potentials constructed by this thesis.

Zwei Populus-Pfropfchimären (MA und AI), die aus P. x canadensis ‘Marilandica’ (M), P. maximowizcii x P. trichocarpa ‘Androscoggin’ (A) and P. nigra L. ’Italica’ (I) aufgebaut sind, wurden für Untersuchungen zur Laub- und Blütenblattentwicklung genutzt. In MA bildet M die äußere Lage (L1) und ihr Derivat, die Epidermis, während die inneren Lagen (L2, L3 etc.) von A gebildet werden. Bei AI stammt die L1 von A und L2, L3 etc. werden von I gebildet. Die genotypisch andersartige Epidermis bedingt bei Periklinal-Chimären morphologische Effekte wie zum Beispiel einen Fruchtknoten in einigen MA-Blüten. Morphologische Besonderheiten verschiedener Gewebe sowohl von M und A als auch von MA wurden verglichen, um festzustellen, wie sie durch die Gewebetransplantation verändert oder beeinflusst wurden und, um mögliche Genotyp- Interaktionen oder -Wechselwirkungen in einem Gewebe ausfindig zu machen. Für die Genotypidentifizierung in verschiedenen Organen wurde die RAPD-PCR getestet. Einer von 20 getesteten 10mer Zufallsprimern (GGAGTGGACA) ermöglichte bei der Verwendung von DNA aus Blattmaterial die Erzeugung verschiedener Bandenmuster für M und A. Bei der Verwendung von MA-Blattmaterial zeigte sich eine Kombination der Muster von M und A, sodass ein Chimärennachweis für das MA-Blattmaterial erbracht wurde. Für ein übertragbares System wurde die spezifische PCR getestet. Unter Verwendung spezifischer Primer für die 16s-rDNA zeigten die PCR-Produkte einheitliche Banden und nach anschließender Sequenzierung eine weitgehende Übereinstimmung der phylogenetischen Verwandtschaft von I, M und A. Weiterhin wurden die kernkodierten rDNA Bereiche ITS 1 und ITS 2 zwischen 18S und 25S getestet. Für I, M und A konnten jeweils zwei Banden von unterschiedlicher Größe und Sequenz ermittelt werden, die vermutlich auf funktionierende rDNA aber auch auf Pseudogene (beschnitten) in niedriger Kopienzahl hinweisen. Die ITS-Regionen von I, M und A wurden charakterisiert, um einen Einblick in die Struktur und Phylogenie der Salicacaee-Familie zu erhalten. Aus den Sequenzunterschieden konnten für I und A spezifische Primerpaare abgeleitet werden, die für die Identifizierung von I und A in AI und MA verwendet werden können. Mittels A-Marker konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass Fruchtknoten aus MA-Blüten neben M-Gewebe auch den A-Genotyp enthalten. / Two Populus graft chimeras (MA and AI) produced of P. x canadensis ‘Marilandica’ (M), P. maximowizcii x P. trichocarpa ‘Androscoggin’ (A) and P. nigra L. ’Italica’ (I) were used for investigations of leaf and flower development. In MA the exogenous layer (L1) forms the epidermis and is derived from M while inner layers (L2, L3 etc.) descend from A whereas in AI L1 is formed by A while L2, L3 etc. descend from I. The exogenous epidermis of the periclinal chimeras imposes morphological effects such as an extra female sex in some of the MA flowers. The morphological characteristics of different plant tissues of parents and chimera were compared to determine how they were modified or altered by the tissue transplantation and possibly identify co-existing or interacting genotypes in one tissue. RAPD-PCR was tested for its usefulness to amplify polymorphic fingerprints including donor specific DNA fragments. One random 10mer primer (GGAGTGGACA) out of 20 tested revealed the amplification of patterns including donor specific DNA bands using extracts from leaf tissues of the M and A parents that were combined using extract from leaf tissue of the MA chimera. This indicates that the leaves of the MA chimera are formed by tissues of M and A. However, the inherent disadvantage of RAPD-PCR is the reproducibility of PCR product generation. Therefore the discriminative potential of the ITS region located between the rRNA genes was investigated. The application of specific 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) primers for amplification and sequencing of PCR products revealed a closely phylogenetic relationship between I, M and A. Consequently the ITS1 and ITS2 of nuclear rDNA between 18S and 25S were used. The amplified fragments were purified, cloned in E. coli and sequenced. Analyses of multiple clones demonstrated extensive paralogy within and between I, M and A ITS operons. For each parent were at least two rDNA operons as well as multiple paralogous sequences within operons identified. The use of PCR and sequence analyses showed that one of the operons encodes a putative expressed (functional) rDNA whereas the second encodes a pseudogen (truncated) in low copy number. We also characterized the ITS regions of I, M and A to gain insights into structure and phylogeny of the Salicacaee family. Based on sequence divergence primers were designed for A and I and used for the identification of A in MA carpels.

Le genre Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) est l'un des genres ayant le plus grand nombre de représentants parmi les angiospermes. Son centre d'origine et de diversité est situé dans les zones arides des montagnes de l'Asie centrale et sud-ouest. Au Liban, ce genre est aussi l'un des plus genres représentés dans la flore, avec 62 espèces et sous-espèces et 22 espèces endémiques identifiés. Les différents taxons de ce genre sont difficiles à identifier en se basant uniquement sur les caractères morphologiques et leur statut actuel de la distribution doit être évaluée. Les relations phylogénétiques, les variations dans la taille du génome et le rôle de la polyploïdie dans l'évolution du genre Astragalus dans les chaînes de montagnes du Liban ont été étudiés. Nos données confirment qu'un polymorphisme chromosomique interspécifique significatif existe dans le genre Astragalus du Liban et la polyploïdie et l'évolution subséquente du génome peuvent être d'importants moteurs de l'évolution de ce genre. Le processus de diversification du genre Astragalus qui a eu lieu au Liban a été analysé en utilisant des méthodes de datation phylogénétiques et moléculaires et des analyses des aires ancestrales. Nos résultats confirment que le Liban est le troisième centre de diversité pour les Astragales et doit être considéré comme un «berceau» de la biodiversité. Par conséquent, cette étude est une contribution à une meilleure compréhension de l'évolution et des processus biogéographiques à l'origine de la mise en place de la biodiversité au Liban, avec une finalité appliquée de conservation biogéographique. / The genus Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) is one of the genera with the largest number of representatives among the angiosperms. Its center of origin and diversity is located in the arid mountains of Central and Southwest Asia. In Lebanon, this genus is also one of the most represented genera in the flora, with 62 species and subspecies and 22 endemic species identified. The different taxa of this genus are difficult to identify based only on morphological characters and their current status of distribution must be evaluated. Phylogenetic relationships, changes in genome size and the role of polyploidy in the evolution of Astragalus genus in the Lebanese mountains range were studied. Our data confirm that a significant interspecific chromosomal polymorphism exists in the genus Astragalus of Lebanon and polyploidy and the subsequent evolution of the genome may be important drivers of the evolution of this genus. The diversification process of Astragalus genus that took place in Lebanon was analyzed using phylogenetic and molecular dating methods and analysis of ancestral areas. Our results confirm that Lebanon is the third center of diversity and should be considered as a "cradle" of biodiversity. Therefore, this study is a contribution to a better understanding of evolutionary and biogeographic processes behind the development of biodiversity in Lebanon, with an applied purpose of biogeographic conservation.