Studies that show discrepancy between nocturnal and diurnal activity under laboratory and field conditions, respectively, have become increasingly common in rodents and suggest that the definition of temporal niche is far more plastic than originally suspected. Recently, it has been proposed that factors that challenge the animal\'s energy balance play an important role in temporal niche switches. Food availability and environmental temperatures could then be one of the fundamental differences between field and laboratory that could alter the temporal daily pattern of activity. In laboratory, animals are fed ad libitum, while in nature they need to expend energy for foraging. The \"circadian thermo-energetics hypothesis\" suggests that daytime activity could be a response to the high energetic costs of foraging, allowing the animal to save energy during the cooler night hours by resting and taking shelter in burrows where temperatures are higher than on the surface. In this thesis, we explored the interplay of plasticity in nocturnal/diurnal activity definition and energetic metabolism in two rodent species, tuco-tucos (Ctenomys aff. knighti) and laboratory mice (Mus musculus). Tuco-tucos are subterranean rodents which face peculiar energetic challenges in their habitat and were shown to be diurnal in the field and nocturnal in the laboratory. We characterized how their energy expenditure varies across day and night and described the peculiar finding of some factor inside the metabolic chamber being itself a trigger for the nocturnal to diurnal switch. Moreover, we estimated the amount of energy tuco-tucos would save by being diurnal in the field, by combining metabolic rate measurements at various ambient temperatures with records of environmental temperature in the tuco-tuco\'s natural habitat. We also described further investigations of circadian plasticity in both locomotor activity and body temperature of laboratory mice subjected to food restriction in semi-natural conditions. The findings of these three studies provided valuable evidence for the discussion of the role of environmental factors, particularly energetic challenges, in the plasticity of daily rhythms / Estudos que apontam discrepâncias entre atividade noturna e diurna, respectivamente, sob condições de laboratório e de campo, estão cada vez mais comuns em roedores e sugerem que a definição de nicho temporal é muito mais plástica do que se suspeitava inicialmente. Recentemente, foi proposto que fatores que desafiam o balanço energético do animal desempenham um papel importante em mudanças de nicho temporal. A disponibilidade de alimento e as temperaturas ambientais poderiam ser algumas das diferenças fundamentais entre campo e laboratório, os quais poderiam alterar o padrão temporal de atividade diária. No laboratório, os animais são alimentados ad libitum, enquanto na natureza eles precisam gastar energia para forrageamento. A \"hipótese circadiana termoenergética\" sugere que a atividade diurna pode ser uma resposta aos altos custos energéticos do forrageamento, permitindo que o animal economize energia durante as horas mais frias da noite, descansando e se abrigando em tocas onde as temperaturas são mais altas do que na superfície. Nesta tese, exploramos a interação entre a plasticidade da definição noturnalidade/diurnalidade e o metabolismo energético em duas espécies de roedores, o tuco-tucos (Ctenomys aff. knighti) e o camundongo de laboratório (Mus musculus). Tuco-tucos são roedores subterrâneos que enfrentam desafios energéticos peculiares em seu habitat e verificamos que são diurnos em campo e noturnos em laboratório. Nós caracterizamos a variação de seu gasto energético ao longo do dia e da noite e descrevemos o achado peculiar de que algum fator presente no interior da câmara metabólica pode ser um gatilho para a mudança de noturnalidade para diurnalidade. Além disso, estimamos a quantidade de energia que os tuco-tucos economizariam ao serem diurnos em campo, combinando medidas de taxa metabólica em várias temperaturas ambientes com registros dessa temperatura no habitat natural do tuco-tuco. Descrevemos também investigações adicionais sobre a plasticidade circadiana na atividade locomotora e na temperatura corporal de camundongos submetidos à restrição alimentar, em condições seminaturais. Os achados desses três estudos forneceram evidências valiosas para a discussão do papel dos fatores ambientais, particularmente os desafios energéticos, na plasticidade dos ritmos diários

Les matériaux actifs, tels que les matériaux piézoélectriques et électrostrictifs, sont couramment utilisés dans la conception de dispositifs exploitant leurs propriétés respectives. La propriété principale de ces matériaux réside dans le fort couplage entre les comportements électrique et mécanique (piézoélectricité). Dans la majorité des cas, ces matériaux sont utilisés séparément. L’utilisation combinée de ces matériaux permet la réalisation de dispositifs innovants basés sur l’effet électrostrictifs: l’apparition d’une polarisation électrique induite par une contrainte mécanique et réciproquement l’apparition d’une déformation mécanique sous l’action d’un champ électrique. Les applications « support » concernent les capteurs et les actionneurs. L’étude de ce couplage passe par la caractérisation de ces matériaux, puis par la mise en place de modèles décrivant finement leurs comportements et enfin par le développement d’outils pour la conception. L’objectif de la thèse est de remplacer le matériau céramique, rigide et à faible déformation, par un film polymère nanocomposite électroactifs, présentant des grandes déformations et forces d'actionnement sous champ électrique modéré grâce à l'incorporation dans la matrice polymère de micro et nano-objets (charge) conducteurs ou semi-conducteurs. De plus, pour des applications plus spécifiques de la récupération d’énergie, la charge du film polymère par des micro et nano-objets conducteurs sera également étudiée. Idéalement, il serait très intéressant de réaliser un matériau multifonctionnel, sensible à la fois à une stimulation mécanique (propriétés de détection et/ou de récupération d’énergie par couplage électromécanique). / In the last decades, direct energy conversion devices for medium and low grades waste heat have received significant attention due to the necessity to develop more energy efficient engineering systems. A great deal of research has in recent years been carried out on harvesting energy using piezoelectric, electrostatic, electromagnetic , and thermoelectric ,transduction, with the aim of harvesting enough energy to enable data transmission. For this purpose, piezoelectric elements have been extensively used in the past; however they present high rigidity and limited mechanical strain abilities as well as delicate manufacturing process for complex shapes, making them unsuitable in many applications. Thus, recent trends in both industrial and research fields have focused on electrostrictive polymers for electromechanical energy conversion. This interest is explained by many advantages such as high productivity, flexibility, and processability. Hence, electrostrictive polymer films are much more suitable for energy harvesting devices requiring high flexibilities, such as systems in smart textiles and mobile or autonomous devices. Electrostrictive polymers can also be obtained in many different shapes and over large surfaces. . In the last years, electrostrictive polymers have been investigated as electroactive materials for energy harvesting. However for scavenging energy a static field is necessary, since this material is isotope, there is no permanent polarization compare to piezoelectric material. A solution for avoid this problem; concern the hybridization of electrostrictive polymer with electret. Finally, the implementation of electrostrictive materials is much simpler for small-scale systems (MEMS). Hence, several studies have analyzed the energy conversion performance of electrostrictive polymers, both in terms of actuation and energy harvesting.

We use four current meter mooring records and quasi-synoptic hydrographic observations in conjunction with a one-dimensional quasi-geostrophic (QG) linear stability model to investigate the downstream changes in the Brazil Current (BC) System off the southeast Brazil (22°S-28°S) as well as its implications. The dataset depicts the downstream thickening of the BC: Its vertical extension increases from 350 m at 22.7°S to 800 m at 27.9°S. Most of this deepening occurs between 25.5°S and 27.9°S, and it is likely linked to the Santos bifurcation. To the south of that bifurcation, the BC transport is increased by at least 5 Sv. Moreover, the analysis of the water column average kinetic energy (IKE) and its barotropic/baroclinic partition show that the Santos bifurcation is associated with a substantial increase in the barotropic component of the BC System: The IKE is, on average, 70 % baroclinic to the north and becomes 63 % barotropic to the south of that bifurcation. The water column average eddy kinetic energy (IEKE) and its ratio to the IKE quantitatively reveal the conspicuous mesoscale activity associated to the BC off the southeast Brazil; accordingly, the IEKE accounts for (30-60)% of the IKE. The linear stability model predicts southwestward-propagating fastest-growing waves [~(180-190) km] within 25.5°S-27.9°S and quasi-standing most-unstable waves (~230 km) at 22.7°S, roughly consistent with observations and previous work. We also assess the ability of the QG modes and surface QG (SQG) solutions to represent the vertical structure of the sub-inertial time-varying flow in the southwestern Atlantic. At two moorings, which present a sharp near-surface decay in the vertical structure of the 1st empirical orthogonal function (EOF) of current meter time series, the SQG solutions are consistent with the data, accounting for up to 85 % of the 1st EOF variance. The SQG solutions are nonetheless indistinguishable from a four QG mode representation. In contrast, at a third mooring that do not present such sharp-decay, the vertical structure of the 1st EOF is fairly well-captured by the traditional barotropic/1st baroclinic mode combination, which accounts for 91 % of its variance. We argue that such vertical structures may be associated with the type of instability experimented by the mean flow in each region. \"Charney-like\" or surface-intensified \"Phillips-like\" instabilities may rationalize the observed SQG-like vertical structures depicted at two moorings. Mid-depthintensified \"Phillips-like\" instabilities are consistent with a two QG mode representation at a third mooring. / Séries temporais correntográficas, observações hidrográficas quase-sinóticas e um modelo linear quase-geostrófico (QG) são combinados com o propósito de investigar as transformações no Sistema Corrente do Brasil (CB) ao largo da costa sudeste (22°S-28°S) e suas implicações. O conjunto de dados revela o espessamento vertical da CB, que ocupa os 350 m superiores da coluna de água em 22,7°S e atinge 800 m em 27,9°S. Parte significativa deste espessamento ocorre entre 25,5°S e 27,9°S, provavelmente relacionado à Bifurcação de Santos. Ao sul desta bifurcação, o transporte da CB é pelo menos 5 Sv superior. Ademais, a análise da energia cinética média na coluna de água (ECM) e sua partição entre componentes barotrópica e baroclínica revela que a Bifurcação de Santos está associada ao aumento significativo da componente barotrópica do Sistema CB. A ECM é, em média, 70% baroclínica ao norte da bifurcação, tornando-se 63% barotrópica ao sul desta. A análise da energia cinética turbulenta média na coluna de água (ECTM) corrobora o importante papel da atividade de mesoescala do Sistema CB ao largo do sudeste do Brasil: A ECTM é responsável por (30-60)% da ECM. O modelo de estabilidade linear prevê ondas com maiores taxas de crescimento [~(180-190) km] que se propagam para sudoeste entre 25,5°S-27,9°S. Em 22,7°S, as ondas mais instáveis (~230 km) crescem essencialmente sem propagação, consistente com as observações e também com informações presentes na literatura. A habilidade dos modos QG e das soluções QG superficiais (QGS) em representar a variabilidade subinercial no Atlântico Sudoeste também é investigada. Em dois fundeios, a estrutura vertical da 1ª função empírica ortogonal (FOE) apresenta um decaimento agudo. Este decaimento é consistente com soluções QGS, que contêm até 85% da variância da 1ª FOE. No entanto, estas soluções convergem para uma representação por quatro modos QG. Por outro lado, a estrutura vertical da 1ª FOE em um terceiro fundeio não apresenta tal decaimento marcante. Consequentemente, a 1ª FOE é bem representada pela tradicional combinação dos modos barotrópico/1o baroclínico. Argumentamos que estas estruturas podem estar associadas ao tipo de instabilidade experimentada pelo escoamento médio em cada região. Instabilidades tipo \"Charney\" ou \"Phillips\" (intensificadas em superfície) são consistentes com estruturas verticais tipo QGS presentes em dois fundeios. Instabilidades tipo \"Phillips\" (intensificadas em meia água) são consistentes com a representação por dois modos QG em um terceiro fundeio

Human’s energy demand is growing and there is a necessity to solve questions of sustainable energetics, such as security of energy supply, energy efficiency and environment protection. Possible way of the solution of these problems is new and more efficient technologies and new energy sources. Fuel cells are one of the developing and environmentally clean technologies. This master’s report is dealing with cogeneration technologies and only fuel cells are analyzed thoroughly. Most usable type of fuel cells for decentralized power and heat generation is identified and its operating principles and properties are analyzed. Advantages and disadvantages of solid oxide fuel cells are given. Power of the fuel cell is chosen in the particular case, when energy demand of building complex of the hospital is analyzed. The fuel cell is integrated into the energy supply system with other equipment. There are made several alternatives to estimate the operation of the system technologically and economically. The simple pay back period and the net present value are used to estimate economical benefit of the system, when prices of energetic sources and fuel cells are varied. Finally, academic knowledge and calculation results are summarized and conclusions of the final report are given.

In vielen promisken Paarungssystemen konkurrieren die Männchen einer Gruppe um den Zugang zu fertilen Weibchen. Um es Rivalen zu erschweren, haben sie verschiedene Paarungstaktiken entwickelt. Eine von Vertebraten und Invertebraten oft genutzte Strategie ist das „mate-guarding“. Hier bewacht ein hochrangiges Männchen das fertile Weibchen indem es ständig in dessen Nähe bleibt, wodurch es den Zugang der anderen Männchen stark minimiert. Durch diese Monopolisierung des Weibchens erhöht ein Männchen seinen Reproduktionserfolg und damit zusätzlich die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Vaterschaft. Diese für das Männchen gewinnbringende Strategie birgt jedoch auch energetische Kosten. Solche negativen Verknüpfungen zwischen Kosten und Gewinn, sogenannte „trade-offs“, beeinflussen den Fortpflanzungserfolg ebenso wie die Körperkondition und die Überlebenschance eines Männchens. Haben solche Kosten beispielsweise eine Verschlechterung der körperlichen Verfassung zur Folge, kann sich das negativ auf die Fähigkeiten der Männchen, ein Weibchen zu monopolisieren, auswirken und damit den Vaterschaftserfolg der Männchen mindern. Die mit solch einer Paarungstaktik wie dem „mate-guarding“ einhergehenden Kosten könnten sich auch auf die Entstehung von Strategien zur Partnerwahl bei den Männchen auswirken: Männchen sollten ihre Energie vor allem auf die Reproduktion mit den fittesten Weibchen aufwenden. Um die grundlegenden Faktoren der Partnerwahl sowie die Verteilung des Reproduktionserfolges unter den Männchen („reproductive skew“) besser zu verstehen, müssen die bei der Monopolisierung des Weibchens entstehenden Kosten quantifiziert werden. Primaten sind ein interessantes Taxa um diese Fragen zu untersuchen, da viele Arten in stabilen Mehr-Männchen-Gruppen leben und „mate-guarding“ eine vorteilhafte Taktik ist, die oft von hochrangigen Männchen angewandt wird. Allerdings haben sich bisherige Studien an Primaten auf die Quantifizierung der Futterkosten beschränkt und die Ergebnisse sind bisher sehr widersprüchlich. Unser Verständnis dieser Kosten wird weiterhin durch das Fehlen eines zuverlässigen, nicht-invasiven physiologischen Markers, der den energetischen Zustand von Nicht-Menschenaffen misst, beeinträchtigt. Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit war es daher, die Kosten des „mate-guarding“ in einer Primatenart, die in Mehr-Männchen-Gruppen lebt wie die Javaneraffen (Macaca fascicularis), zu quantifizieren. Bisherige Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Alpha-Männchen dieser Primatenart ihre Weibchen weniger monopolisieren als das „Priority of Access-Model“ vorhersagt. Der Monopolisierungserfolg scheint demnach durch die Kosten, die den Männchen durch das „mate-guarding“ entstehen, limitiert zu sein. In Studie 1 der vorliegenden Arbeit habe ich die Eignung von Urin C-Peptiden (UCP, ein Nebenprodukt der Insulinproduktion), als Marker für den Energiestatus von Makakenmännchen, evaluiert. In Studie 2 und 3 quantifizierte ich die energetischen, physiologischen und physischen (z.B. Aggression) Kosten des „mate-guardings“. In der vierten Studie untersuchte ich den Einfluss der Qualität der Weibchen auf die Kosten der des „mate-guardings“ und die Investition der Männchen in dieses Verhalten. Als erstes betrachtete ich den Zusammenhang zwischen den UCP Werten und Indikatoren für den Zustand der körperlichen Verfassung bei frei- und in Gefangenschaft lebender Makaken, um UCP als zuverlässigen Marker für Energiestatus (Studie 1) zu validieren. Die UCP Level waren positiv korreliert mit dem BMI (Body-Mass-Index) sowie mit dem Fettgehalt einer Hautfalte. In einem Experiment, bei dem die Futterzufuhr reduziert wurde, stellte sich heraus, dass UCP Level mit Änderungen des BMI und der geminderten Futterzufuhr kovariiert. Demzufolge ist UCP ein nützlicher Marker um nicht-invasiv intra- und interindividuelle Veränderungen der Körperkondition und des Ernährungszustandes zu ermitteln. Für die weitere Fragestellung beobachtete ich drei freilebende Javaneraffengruppen während zwei Paarungsperioden, in Ketambe, Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesien. Um ein möglichst umfassendes Bild der potentiellen Kosten des „mate-guarding“ bereitzustellen, kombinierte ich zum einen meine durchgeführten Verhaltensbeobachtungen der Männchen, den Aufenthalt der Männchen in den Bäumen und sexuelle Interaktionen der Männchen mit den Weibchen. Zum anderen ermittelte ich GPS-Daten der Wanderungsdistanz, non-invasive Indikatoren für physiologischen Stress (faecal glucocorticoid, fGC), den Energiestatus (UCP) und bewertete die Verfügbarkeit von Früchten. Insgesamt konnten 2088 Fokusstunden, 331 Urin- und 771 Kotproben gesammelt und analysiert werden. Zudem wurden jeden Monat 360 Fruchtbäume begutachtet. In Studie 2 konnte ich zeigen, dass „mate-guarding“ die Parameter der Energieaufnahme und des Energieverbrauches reduziert. Dies hatte jedoch keine signifikanten Auswirkungen auf den gesamten Energiestatus (UCP Level) eines Männchens. Dieses Ergebnis weist auf ein ausbalanciertes Verhältnis von Energieaufnahme und Energieverbrauch der Männchen während des „mate-guardings“ hin. In Studie 3 konnte ich nachweisen, dass die Männchen während des „mate-guardings“, höhere fGC Werte aufwiesen. Dieser Wert wurde jedoch durch die Zeit, die Männchen in Vigilanz investieren, moduliert. „Mate-guarding” erhöhte einerseits die Vigilanzzeit eines Männchens und andererseits auch die Aggressionsrate der Männchen. Alpha-Männchen waren das ganze Jahr über gestresster als andere Männchen, unabhängig von Paarungskonkurrenz. Dies suggeriert, dass erhöhte Glucocorticoidlevel während des „mate-guarding“ den Männchen helfen ihre energetische Homöostase aufrechtzuerhalten, jedoch könnte dies Langzeitkosten darstellen, die bei lang anhaltender Belastung zu chronischem Stress führen können. Die Kombination dieser physiologischer Kosten und dem Verletzungsrisiko, dass mit Aggressionen einhergeht, könnte die Möglichkeit eines Alphamännchens ein Weibchen zu monopolisieren minimieren und damit auch Einfluss auf die Verteilung des Reproduktionserfolges der Männchen in einer Gruppe haben. In Studie 4 konnte ich zeigen, dass männliche Javaneraffen einige der Kosten des „mate-guarding“ reduzieren können indem sie gezielt Weibchen mit hohem reproduktiven Wert bewachen, da sie dann geringere fGC Werte haben. Darüber hinaus passten Männchen ihre Investition in „mate-guarding“ an, indem sie aufmerksamer und aggressiver waren wenn sie hochrangige Weibchen oder Weibchen mit denen sie starke Bindungen formten, bewachten. Diese Ergebnisse bestätigen, dass Männchen nicht nur hochwertige Weibchen auswählen, sondern diese auch länger und besser monopolisieren. In meiner Arbeit konnte ich die Kosten, die „mate-guarding“ für die Männchen einer Primatenart mit sich bringt, aufzeigen und hervorheben wie diese Kosten die Verteilung des Reproduktionserfolges unter den Männchen in der Gruppe beeinflusst. Auf Grundlage meiner Ergebnisse schlage ich vor, dass männliche Javaneraffen eine „unvollständige Weibchenmonopolisierungs-Strategie“ entwickelt haben, bei der sie die Kosten des „mate-guarding“ reduzieren indem sie Weibchen selektiv nach deren Reproduktionsqualität wählen und Weibchen mit geringerer Qualität weniger gründlich monopolisieren. Diese unvollständige Weibchenmonopolisierung könnte eine entscheidende Komponente des Energiemanagements von Alphamännchen sein, die ihnen erlaubt ganzjährig adäquat auf versuchte Rangübernahmen zu reagieren und somit ihre Amtszeit zu verlängern und die damit einhergehenden Fitnessvorteile zu erhalten. Beim Vergleich meiner Ergebnisse mit anderen Säugetier-Taxa, diskutiere ich in meiner Arbeit weiterhin die Beziehung zwischen den Kosten des „mate-guarding“ und der Verteilung des Reproduktionserfolges der Männchen in der Gruppe, die durch 1) reproduktive Saisonalität, 2) Energie-Management-Strategien der Männchen, 3) Errungenschaft eines hohen Ranges in der Gruppe und 4) der Sozialstruktur, moduliert sein kann. Zukünftige Studien, die die Kosten der Paarungstaktiken der Männchen untersuchen, sollten die Komplexität des Reproduktionsaufwandes, den Männchen investieren, bedenken. Diese Investitionen scheinen nicht ausschließlich auf die reproduktive Phase im Jahr beschränkt zu sein, sondern können sich über das ganze Jahr verteilen und spiegeln sich in Form der Konkurrenz zwischen Männchen in Bezug auf Rangstatus und sozialen Interaktionen wider.

Les suspensivores ont la tâche importante de séparer les particules de l'eau. Bien qu'une grande gamme de morphologies existe pour les structures d'alimentation, elles sont pratiquement toutes constituées de rangées de cylindres qui interagissent avec leur environnement fluide. Le mécanisme de capture des particules utilisé dépend des contraintes morphologiques, des besoins énergétiques et des conditions d'écoulement. Comme nos objectifs étaient de comprendre ces relations, nous avons eu recours à des études de comparaison pour interpréter les tendances en nature et pour comprendre les conditions qui provoquent de nouveaux fonctionnements. Nous avons utilisé la dynamique des fluides numérique (computational fluid dynamics, CFD) pour créer des expériences contrôlées et pour simplifier les analyses. Notre première étude démontre que les coûts énergétiques associés au pompage dans les espaces petits sont élevés. De plus, le CFD suggère que les fentes branchiales des ptérobranches sont des structures rudimentaires, d'un ancêtre plus grande. Ce dernier point confirme l'hypothèse qu'un ver se nourrit par filtration tel que l'ancêtre des deuterostomes. Notre deuxième étude détermine la gamme du nombre de Reynolds number critique où la performance d'un filtre de balane change. Quand le Re est très bas, les différences morphologiques n'ont pas un grand effet sur le fonctionnement. Cependant, une pagaie devient une passoire lorsque le Re se trouve entre 1 et 3,5. Le CFD s’est dévoilé être un outil très utile qui a permis d’obtenir des détails sur les microfluides. Ces études montrent comment la morphologie et les dynamiques des fluides interagissent avec la mécanisme de capture ou de structures utilisées, ainsi que comment des petits changements de taille, de forme, ou de vitesse d'écoulement peuvent conduire à un nouveau fonctionnement. / Suspension feeders have the important task of separating particles from the liquid medium surrounding them. Although a wide range of morphologies exist for feeding structures, essentially all consist of arrays of cylinders interacting with their fluid environment. The particle capture mechanism employed depends on morphological constraints, energy requirements, and flow conditions, therefore our objectives were to understand these relationships through comparison studies to interpret trends in nature and to understand the conditions in which novel functioning arises. Our studies used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to create controlled experiments and to simplify analyses. The first study demonstrates the unfeasibly high energetic costs of pumping in small and medium pharynx sizes of hemichordates, implying the gill pores of pterobranchs are likely vestigial structures from a larger ancestor. This last point further supports the hypothesis of an acorn worm as the ancestor to all deuterostomes. Our second study determined the critical Reynolds number (Re) range where barnacle filters transition from a paddle to a sieve. At very low Re, morphological differences have no major effect on functioning and filters behave as paddles, however, at Re 1 - 3.5, these differences dictate when a paddle becomes a sieve. CFD proved to be a very useful tool for simplifying studies and providing detailed microfluidics. These studies demonstrate how morphology and fluid dynamics interact to dictate the capture mechanisms or appendages employed and how simple changes in size, shape, or flow speed can lead to novel functioning.

The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of the effectiveness of different forms of direct marketing ? namely direct mail, direct email and social networks advertising. According to the analysis results the direct mail was offered for the real launch of the product. This decision was confirmed by multi-criteria decision method, which also includes different weight of each criterion.

Studies that show discrepancy between nocturnal and diurnal activity under laboratory and field conditions, respectively, have become increasingly common in rodents and suggest that the definition of temporal niche is far more plastic than originally suspected. Recently, it has been proposed that factors that challenge the animal\'s energy balance play an important role in temporal niche switches. Food availability and environmental temperatures could then be one of the fundamental differences between field and laboratory that could alter the temporal daily pattern of activity. In laboratory, animals are fed ad libitum, while in nature they need to expend energy for foraging. The \"circadian thermo-energetics hypothesis\" suggests that daytime activity could be a response to the high energetic costs of foraging, allowing the animal to save energy during the cooler night hours by resting and taking shelter in burrows where temperatures are higher than on the surface. In this thesis, we explored the interplay of plasticity in nocturnal/diurnal activity definition and energetic metabolism in two rodent species, tuco-tucos (Ctenomys aff. knighti) and laboratory mice (Mus musculus). Tuco-tucos are subterranean rodents which face peculiar energetic challenges in their habitat and were shown to be diurnal in the field and nocturnal in the laboratory. We characterized how their energy expenditure varies across day and night and described the peculiar finding of some factor inside the metabolic chamber being itself a trigger for the nocturnal to diurnal switch. Moreover, we estimated the amount of energy tuco-tucos would save by being diurnal in the field, by combining metabolic rate measurements at various ambient temperatures with records of environmental temperature in the tuco-tuco\'s natural habitat. We also described further investigations of circadian plasticity in both locomotor activity and body temperature of laboratory mice subjected to food restriction in semi-natural conditions. The findings of these three studies provided valuable evidence for the discussion of the role of environmental factors, particularly energetic challenges, in the plasticity of daily rhythms / Estudos que apontam discrepâncias entre atividade noturna e diurna, respectivamente, sob condições de laboratório e de campo, estão cada vez mais comuns em roedores e sugerem que a definição de nicho temporal é muito mais plástica do que se suspeitava inicialmente. Recentemente, foi proposto que fatores que desafiam o balanço energético do animal desempenham um papel importante em mudanças de nicho temporal. A disponibilidade de alimento e as temperaturas ambientais poderiam ser algumas das diferenças fundamentais entre campo e laboratório, os quais poderiam alterar o padrão temporal de atividade diária. No laboratório, os animais são alimentados ad libitum, enquanto na natureza eles precisam gastar energia para forrageamento. A \"hipótese circadiana termoenergética\" sugere que a atividade diurna pode ser uma resposta aos altos custos energéticos do forrageamento, permitindo que o animal economize energia durante as horas mais frias da noite, descansando e se abrigando em tocas onde as temperaturas são mais altas do que na superfície. Nesta tese, exploramos a interação entre a plasticidade da definição noturnalidade/diurnalidade e o metabolismo energético em duas espécies de roedores, o tuco-tucos (Ctenomys aff. knighti) e o camundongo de laboratório (Mus musculus). Tuco-tucos são roedores subterrâneos que enfrentam desafios energéticos peculiares em seu habitat e verificamos que são diurnos em campo e noturnos em laboratório. Nós caracterizamos a variação de seu gasto energético ao longo do dia e da noite e descrevemos o achado peculiar de que algum fator presente no interior da câmara metabólica pode ser um gatilho para a mudança de noturnalidade para diurnalidade. Além disso, estimamos a quantidade de energia que os tuco-tucos economizariam ao serem diurnos em campo, combinando medidas de taxa metabólica em várias temperaturas ambientes com registros dessa temperatura no habitat natural do tuco-tuco. Descrevemos também investigações adicionais sobre a plasticidade circadiana na atividade locomotora e na temperatura corporal de camundongos submetidos à restrição alimentar, em condições seminaturais. Os achados desses três estudos forneceram evidências valiosas para a discussão do papel dos fatores ambientais, particularmente os desafios energéticos, na plasticidade dos ritmos diários

A présent, les bâtiments résidentiels et commerciaux sont en phase de devenir le secteur le plus consommateur d’énergie dans de nombreux pays, comme par exemple en France. Diverses recherches ont été menées de manière à réduire la consommation énergétiques des bâtiments et augmenter leur confort thermique. Parmi tous les différentes approches, la technologie du stockage de chaleur latent se distingue par une très bonne capacité à stocker la chaleur afin de réduire les écarts entre la disponibilité et la demande d’énergie. Dans le cadre de l’un de nos projets, nous avons l’intention d’intégrer au design des murs des bâtiments un type de brique transparente remplie de matériaux à changement de phase (MCP). Les MCP à l’intérieur de la brique sont soumis à des changements de phase liquide-solide. Cette thèse s’attaque à la problématique du processus de fusion au sein de la brique. Au cours de cette thèse, une méthode expérimentale non-intrusive a été développée afin d’améliorer les techniques expérimentales existantes. La vélocimétrie des images des particules (VIP) et la fluorescence induite par laser (FIL) ont été couplées pour étudier la convection naturelle et la distribution de la température. Puisqu’aucun thermocouple n’a été inséré au sein de la brique, le processus de la fusion a été considéré sans perturbation. Les résultats montrent que cette conception expérimentale a un avenir prometteur, même si elle reste à améliorer. Par la suite, nous présentons deux simulations numériques. Ces simulations se fondent sur la méthode de Boltzmann sur réseau à temps de relaxation multiple (LBM MRT), employée pour résoudre le champ de vitesse, et sur la méthode de différences finies, pour obtenir la distribution de la température. La méthode d’enthalpie a quant à elle été utilisée pour simuler le changement de phase. Les simulations en deux dimensions et trois dimensions ont toutes deux été réalisées avec succès. Point important, ces simulations numériques ont été développées en langage C pour tourner spécifiquement sur un processeur graphique (GPU), afin d’augmenter l’efficacité de la simulation en profitant de la capacité de calcul d’un GPU. Les résultats des simulations concordent bien avec les résultats de nos expériences et avec les résultats analytiques publiés. / The domestic and commercial buildings are currently becoming the major sector that consumes the biggest share of the energy in many countries, for example in France. Various researches have been carried out in order to reduce the energy consumption and increase the thermal comfort of builds. Among all the possible approaches, the latent heat storage technology distinguishes itself because of its excellent heat storage ability which can be used to efficiently reduce the discrepancy between the energy consumption and supply. In one of our project, we intend to integrate a type of transparent brick filled with phase change material (PCM) into the buildings' wall design. The PCM inside the brick undergoes the solid-liquid phase change. This dissertation addresses the important issues of the melting process inside the brick. In this dissertation, a non-intrusive experimental method was proposed to improve the existing experiment technique. The particle image velocimetry (PIV) and the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) were coupled to investigate the natural convection and the temperature distribution. Because there was no thermocouple installed inside the brick, the melting process was thus considered to be less impacted. The results showed that this experimental design has a promising future, yet still needs to be improved. Two sets of efficient numerical simulations were also presented in this dissertation. The simulations were based on the thermal lattice Boltzmann method (TLBM), where the natural convection got solved by the LBM and the temperature equation was solved by the finite difference scheme. The enthalpy method was employed to simulate the phase change. Both the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional configurations were successfully simulated. Moreover, the simulation programs were specifically developed - using the C language - to be run on the graphic processing unit (GPU), in order to increase the simulation efficiency. The simulation results demonstrated a good agreement with our experimental results and the published analytical results.

La climatisation automobile est un enjeu majeur pour les constructeurs automobiles dans la mesure où elle occasionne un rejet de 10 g de CO2 par km, une surconsommation énergétique de près de 5 % et sera pris en compte dans le bilan MEVG à l'horizon 2020. Dans cette perspective, le constructeur automobile PSA Peugeot Citroën a développé un nouveau procédé : la climatisation par absorption de vapeur d'eau par une solution saline de bromure de lithium, qui marque la rupture avec le système classique à compression de vapeur. Le travail mené dans ce manuscrit s'est focalisé au niveau de l'organe principal du système, l'évaporateur/absorbeur où les deux fluides s'écoulent et sont confinés chacun entre deux grilles tissées par des effets capillaires. Les transferts de masse et de chaleur qui s'y produisent, ont lieu à l'interface liquide/vapeur formée par des ménisques de forme complexe qui constituent la surface de d'échange. L'objectif est d'intensifier les transferts de masse et de chaleur qui diffuse à travers l'interface. Un banc expérimental permettant la description tridimensionnelle de la forme des ménisques au moyen de la microscopie confocale a été développé. Le modèle « volume of fluid » a été utilisé pour la reconstruction numérique de l'interface liquide/ vapeur. La comparaison entre les données expérimentales et les simulations numériques a montré un bon accord. Ces simulations montrent que l'écoulement est influencé par la grille avec la création de zones mortes et des mouvements de vorticité. Une optimisation numérique a été menée avec comme fonction objectif le flux qui diffuse à travers l'interface. Celle-ci a permis de définir des paramètres optimales de la grille permettant d’atteindre un flux de chaleur de près de 2,5 fois supérieur à celui du cas de référence. Cette optimisation a permis l'identification d'une zone préférentielle dans laquelle les transferts de chaleur sont maxima. Le travail a aussi abordé l'influence de la forme des fils et de la forme des ménisques, montrant qu'il est préférable d’adopter des matériaux à caractère hydrophobe avec des fils à section circulaire. / Abstract The automotive air conditioning is a major challenge for the automotive manufacturers insofar it causes a release of 10 g/CO2/km, engenders an extrafuel consumption of 5 % and will be taken into account in the balance sheet in 2020 MEVG. In this perspective, the automotives constructor PSA Peugeot Citroën has developed a new process, absorption air conditioning of water vapor by lithium bromide solution, which marks a break with the classic vapor-compression system. This manuscript is focused at the main body of the system, an innovative evaporator/absorber where both fluids are flowing down and confined between two finely meshed plastic wire screens and maintained between them by capillary effects. The heat and mass transfers in this system occur at the liquid/vapour interface formed by complex menisci that represent the surface of transfer. An experimental test bench allowing the description of three-dimensional shape of menisci using confocal microscopy has been carried. The volume of fluid model has been used for the numerical reconstruction of the liquid/vapour interface. The comparison between numerical and experimental data has shown a good agreement. Numerical simulations have shown that the flow is influenced by the geometry that promotes the creation of stagnant layer solution and vorticity zones. A numerical optimization has been carried with as objective function the heat rate that di uses through the interface. This one has allowed to get out the optimal parameters allowing to have an heat rate of more than 2.5 times higher compared to the reference case. This optimization has highlighted a preferential zone in which heat transfers are maximum. The work has also dealt with the e ect of the shape of the wires and the effect of the shape of menisci on the transfer, showing that it is preferable to work with hydrophobic materials and with cylindrical wires.