Ce mémoire de thèse s'inscrit dans le contexte du projet FUTUR financé par l'ANR et concernant le développement de Fonctions optiques pour les Transmissions à très haut débit dans le Réseau coeur et porte sur la génération de sources optiques fibrées très hautes cadences et la caractérisation de fibres optiques microstructurées en verre de Chalcogénure. A cet effet, nous étudions les caractéristiques linéaires et non-linéaires au sein de fibres microstructurées en verre de chalcogénures conçue et réaliser via différentes collaborations dans le cadre du projet de l'ANR FUTUR. Pour cela un grand nombre de méthodes de caractérisations ont été mises au point donnant une comparaison entre une fibre SMF standard et ces fibres microstructurées chalcogénures. Par exemple, un montage interférométrique pour la mesure de la dispersion chromatique pour échantillon court, ou encore de nombreux banc expérimentaux permettant la caractérisation des propriétés non-linéaires de ces fibres (diffusion Raman, diffusion Brillouin, Coefficient non linéaire Kerr...). La seconde partie de ce mémoire présente la mise au point de méthode de conversion d'un battement sinusoïdal en un train d'impulsions hautement cadencé. Il est montré dans ce manuscrit que cette technique a été exploitée au plus prêt de ses limites, par l'obtention d'impulsions extrêmement courtes et par des débits très élevés. Les trains d'impulsions à très hautes cadences ont été caractérisés par un dispositif expérimental SHG-FROG. Une démonstration de la multiplication du débit par deux a été démontrée par l'effet Talbot. / This memory of thesis s' registered voter in the context of the FUTUR project financed by l'ANR and concerning the development of optical finctions fot the high bit-rate transmissions in the Network heart and carries on very high rates optical fibers sources generation and the optical chalcogenide microstructured fiber charaterization. For this purpose, we study the linear and non-linear characteristics of microstructured chalcogenide fibers conceived and realized in various collaborations within the framework of the ANR FUTUR project. For that a great number of characterizations methods were developed giving a comparison between a standard single mode fiber and there microstructured chalcogenide fibers. For exemple, an interferometric setup for the chromatic dispersion measurement for short sample, or many experimental setup allowing the nonlinear properties characterizations as of these fibers (Raman scattering, nonlinear Kerr Coefficient). The second part of this memory presents the settling of sinusoidal beat conversion into a high bit rate generation method. It is shown in this manuscript that this technique was exploited with readiest of its limits, by obtaining extremely short pulses and by very high bit-rate. The pulses train at very high rates were characterized by an experimental device SHG-FROG. A demonstration of the multiplication of the bit-rate by two at summer shown by Talbot effect.

Thesis (MSc)-- University of Stellenbosch, 1954 / Published in the Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, Volume 31, Section A, No.1 (1955) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pelvic girdles of the two anuran genera Ascaphus and Leiopelma of the family Ascaphidae are very similar. Attached to them by cartilage (or connective tissue in some Ascaphus specimens) is a cartilaginous, in Leiopelmu somewhat ossified, epibubis. In Ascaphu8, as in Xenopus, the epipubis originates from two Anlages, and its muscles are also paired in the Ascaphidae, while in Xenopus only one is present, although this also appears to originate (rom two muscles. The cloaca extends behind the pelvic girdle in both sexes in Al:lcaphus, and it is supported by two rods consisting of strong connective tissue (Faserknochen?). These rods are attached to the ventral surface of the pelvic girdle, in the female closely, in the male by means of tendons. Between the rods and the epipubis a broad tendinous band extends, which is thick in the male; in the latter the mm. compressores cloacae have their origins posteriorly on the rods, while in the female the rods are completely imbedded in these muscles posteriorly. In the female particularly there are transverse muscle fibres which are not striped although probably derived from the mm. compressorcs cloacae. Behind the pelvic girdle there is cavernous tissue in both layers of the tunica muscularis, and ventrally it covers the mm. eompressores cloacae. The circular and longitudinal muscle layers are poste riorly separated by gliding planes. The cloaca is supplied by branches of the a. mcsenterica posterior and the au. pudendae anteriores, and is drained by the vv. pudendae and a small medial v. eaudalis. The cloaca is innervated dorsally by the plexus ischio·coccygeus and ventrally by a branch of the n.ischiadicus (the n. pudendus). The cloaca of the male serves as a copulatory organ. There is internal fertilization. / No Afrikaans abstract available. / The copy we received from the author were pages individually scanned in as JPEG images.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Endocrine disrupting contaminants (EDCs) coming from households, industrial parks, wastewater (sewage) treatment and agricultural areas have been shown to pollute our freshwater systems. These contaminants may disrupt early development and reproductive systems in freshwater organisms (fish, frogs and crocodile species) as well as humans. Agricultural pesticides are shown as a large contributor to endocrine disruption activity in water catchment areas through spray drift, runoff, and/or groundwater leeching. Although South Africa is recognized as the largest consumer of agricultural pesticides in Africa, few studies have been undertaken to assess the prevalence and impact of endocrine disorders activities of pesticides in local freshwater systems. Recent studies have suggested that various agricultural pesticides, especially fungicides, might have adverse effects on the male endocrine system. There is therefore a need to test for a wider range of endocrine disrupting activities (mechanisms) in environmental waters other than conventional estrogenic (feminising) activities. Furthermore, there is a need to establish biomarkers in endemic species (bio-indicators) to show endocrine disruption in vertebrates (therefore also apply to humans). The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) describe and confirm the use of androgen-controlled breeding glands in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) as a biomarker for (anti)androgenic endocrine disruption activity (Chapter 2), (2) to investigate the premature development of breeding glands in X. laevis tadpoles (pre-metamorphic) and young froglets (post-metamorphic) (Chapter 2), (3) to investigate the disruption of male reproductive traits in adult X. laevis frogs by exposure to substances disrupting two different anti-androgenic endocrine disruption pathways (Chapter 3), (4) screen for (anti)androgenic activity of individual and binary mixtures of pesticides, which are regularly used in agricultural areas in the Western Cape Province of South Africa (Chapter 4), and (5) to test for (anti)androgenic and estrogenic endocrine disrupting activities by making use of in vitro assays as well as adult male X. laevis frogs collected from selected ponds surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards in the Stellenbosch Winelands. The present study confirmed that male breeding glands can serve as biomarkers for (anti)androgenic endocrine disruption and that male reproductive and secondary sexual characteristics can be disrupted through two different biochemical control pathways. The study also confirmed that the expression of androgen-regulated breeding glands can be stimulated in pre-metamorphic tadpoles and immature, post-metamorphic frogs, and can thus be used for (anti)androgenic testing. The rapid testing and predictive value of an in vitro recombinant yeast screen for androgen receptor binding inhibition of selected individual or binary mixtures of pesticides was also confirmed. However, the current study showed that the predicted in vitro (anti)androgenic activity did not always correspond with in vivo (anti)androgenic biomarker outcomes. This It also confirmed that single-cell in vitro assays can be used as a first-level prediction for (anti)androgenic activities of individual or mixtures of agricultural pesticides. This study provides a better understanding for potential mixture interactions of commonly used agricultural pesticides, the hormonal control of secondary sexual characteristics in male frogs and the use of reproduction biomarkers to study long-term effects of endocrine disruptors in local water supplies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Endokriene versteurings-kontaminante (EVKe) wat vanaf huishoudings, industriële parke, afvalwater(riool)-behandeling en landbougebiede kom, besoedel ons varswaterstelsels. Hierdie kontaminante mag versteuring van vroeë ontwikkeling- en voorplantingstelsels in varswater-organismes (vis-, padda- en krokodil-spesies) sowel as die mens inhou. Landbou-plaagdoders word uitgesonder as ’n bydraer van endokriene versteuring-aktiwiteite in wateropvangs-gebiede deur spuitnewel, afloop-water en/of grondwater-deurvloei. Hoewel Suid-Afrika erken word as die grootste verbruiker van landbou-plaagdoders in Afrika, word min studies onderneem om die voorkoms en impak van endokriene versteurings-aktiwiteite van plaagdoders in plaaslike varswaterstelsels te ondersoek. Onlangse studies het voorgestel dat verskeie landbou-plaagdoders, veral swamdoders, nadelige uitwerkings kan hê op die manlike endokriene stelsel. Daar bestaan dus 'n behoefte om te toets vir 'n wyer verskeidenheid van endokriene versteurings-aktiwiteite (meganismes) in omgewingswater anders as konvensionele estrogeniese (vervroulikings) aktiwiteite. Verder bestaan daar ’n behoefte om biomerkers in endemiese spesies te gebruik as bio-indikators van endokriene versteuring in werweldiere (daarom ook van toepassing op die mens). Die spesifieke doelwitte van die studie het ingesluit om: (1) die gebruik van androgeen-beheerde parings- velkliere (“breeding glands”) in manlike platannas (Xenopus laevis) as 'n biomerker vir (anti)androgeniese endokriene versteuring-aktiwiteit te beskryf en bevestig (Hoofstuk 2); (2) ondersoek in te stel na die voortydige ontwikkeling van parings-kliere in X. laevis paddavisse (pre-metamorfose) asook jong paddas (post-metamorfose) as biomerkers van androgeniese (vermanlikheids) aktiwiteite (Hoofstuk 2); (3) ondersoek in te stel na die versteuring van manlike geslags-eienskappe in volwasse X. laevis paddas deur middel van blootstelling aan stowwe wat twee verskillende androgeniese endokrien reaksie-weë verteenwoordig (Hoofstuk 3); (4) toets vir (anti)androgeniese aktiwiteit van individuele en binêre mengsels van landbou-plaagdoders wat gereeld in die Westelike Provinsie van Suid Afrika gebruik word (Hoofstuk 4) en (5) te toets vir (anti)androgeniese en estrogeniese endokriene versteurings aktiwiteite deur gebruik te maak van in vitro toetse asook volwasse manlike X. laevis paddas wat uit geselekteerde damme (omring deur wingerde en vrugte boorde in die Stellenbosch wynland distrik) versamel was. Die huidige studie het bevestig dat die manlike parings-velkliere as biomerkers vir (anti)androgeniese versteuring kan dien en dat manlike voortplanting en sekondêre geslagskenmerke deur twee verskillende biochemiese beheer-weë ontwrig kan word. Die studie het verder bevestig dat die uitdrukking van androgeen-gereguleerde parings-velkliere voortydig gestimuleer kan word in pre-metamorfose paddavissies asook onvolwasse, post-metamorfose paddas. Die vinnige toetsing en voorspellingswaarde van 'n rekombinante in vitro gis toets om binding-inhibisie van die androgeen reseptor deur geselekteerde individuele of binêre mengsels van plaagdoders aan te toon is ook bevestig. Alhoewel, die huidige studie het getoon dat die voorspelde in vitro (anti)androgeniese aktiwiteit nie altyd ooreenstem met in vivo (anti)androgeniese biomerker uitkomstes nie. Hierdie studie bevestig dat enkel-sel in vitro toetse aangewend kan word as eerste vlak- en voorspelling-toetse vir (anti)androgeniese aktiwiteite van enkel of mengsels van landbou-plaagdoders. Sodoende is 'n beter begrip verkry vir potensiële mengsel-interaksies van algemeen-gebruikte landbou plaagdoders, die hormonale beheer van sekondêre geslagskenmerke in manlike paddas asook die aanwending van voortplantingsbiomerkers om langtermyn effekte van endokriene versteurders in plaaslike waterbronne te ondersoek.

Increasing population, diminishing supplies and variable climatic conditions can cause difficulties in meeting water demands. When this long range water supply plan is developed to cope with future water demand changes, accuracy and reliability are the two most important factors. To develop an accurate model, the water supply system has become more complicated and comprehensive structures. Future uncertainty also has been considered to improve system reliability as well as economic feasibility.In this study, a general large-scale water supply system that is comprised of modular components was developed in a dynamic simulation environment. Several possible scenarios were simulated in a realistic hypothetical system. In addition to water balances and quality analyses, construction and operation of system components costs were estimated for each scenario. One set of results demonstrates that construction of small-cluster decentralized wastewater treatment systems could be more economical than a centralized plant when communities are spatially scattered or located in steep areas.The Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (SFLA), then, is used to minimize the total system cost of the general water supply system. Decisions are comprised of sizing decisions - pipe diameter, pump design capacity and head, canal capacity, and water/wastewater treatment capabilities - and flow allocations over the water supply network. An explicit representation of energy consumption cost for the operation is incorporated into the system in the optimization process of overall system cost. Although the study water supply systems included highly nonlinear terms in the objective function and constraints, a stochastic search algorithm was applied successfully to find optimal solutions that satisfied all the constraints for the study networks.Finally, a robust optimization approach was introduced into the design process of a water supply system as a framework to consider uncertainties of the correlated future data. The approach allows for the control of the degree of conservatism which is a crucial factor for the system reliabilities and economical feasibilities. The system stability is guaranteed under the most uncertain condition and it was found that the water supply system with uncertainty can be a useful tool to assist decision makers to develop future water supply schemes.

Estudamos sistemas de passeios aleatórios sobre os vértices de um grafo completo. Inicialmente há uma partícula em cada vértice do grafo das quais somente uma está ativa, as outras estão inativas. A partícula ativa realiza um passeio aleatório simples a tempo discreto com tempo de vida que depende do passado do processo, movendo-se ao longo de elos. Quando uma partícula ativa encontra uma inativa, esta se ativa; quando salta sobre um vértice já visitado, morre. O objetivo desta dissertação é estudar a cobertura do grafo completo, ou seja, a proporção de vértices visitados ao fim do processo, quando o número $n$ de vértices tende ao infinito. Analisamos as equações de campo médio para o processo descrito acima, comparando os seus resultados com os do modelo aleatório. Aqui, os resultados do campo médio parecem reproduzir os do modelo aleatório. Depois, apresentamos um estudo similar entre o modelo estocástico e as equações de campo médio para o caso em que cada partícula possui 2 vidas. Finalmente, observamos a cobertura do grafo completo para as equações de campo médio quando o número de vidas por partículas é maior que dois. / We study random walks systems on complete graphs. Initially there is a particle at each vertex of the graph; only one is active and the other are inactive. An active particle performs a discrete-time simple random walk with lifetime depending on the past of the process moving along edges. When an active particle hits an inactive one, the latter is activated. When it jumps on a vertex which has been visited before it dies. The goal of this work is to study the coverage of the complete graph, that is, the proportion of visited vertices at the end of the process, when the number of vertices goes to infinity. We analyze the mean field equations to the process cited above, comparing their results with the ones of the random model. Here the results of the mean field approach seem to reproduce the ones of the random model. After we present a similar study between the stochastic model and mean field approximation to the case that each particle has 2 lifes. Finally we observe the coverage of the complete graph to the mean-field equations when the number of lifes by particle is bigger than two.

Estudamos um modelo de passeios aleatórios simples em grafos, conhecido como modelo dos sapos. Esse modelo pode ser descrito de maneira geral da seguinte forma: existem partículas ativas e partículas desativadas num grafo G. Cada partícula ativa desempenha um passeio aleatório simples a tempo discreto e a cada momento ela pode morrer com probabilidade 1-p. Quando uma partícula ativa entra em contato com uma partícula desativada, esta é ativada e também passa a realizar, de maneira independente, um passeio aleatório pelo grafo. Apresentamos limites superior e inferior para o parâmetro crítico de sobrevivência do modelo dos sapos na árvore, e demonstramos que este parâmetro crítico não é uma função monótona do grafo em que está definido. / We study a system of simple random walks on graphs, known as frog model. This model can be described generally speaking as follows: there are active and sleeping particles living on some graph G. Each particle performs a simple random walk with discrete time and at each moment it may disappear with probability 1 - p. When an active particle hits a sleeping particle, the latter becomes active and starts to perform, independently, a simple random walk on the graph. We present lower and upper bounds for the surviving critical parameter on the tree, and we show that this parameter is not a monotonic function of the graph it is defined on.

Estudamos sistemas de passeios aleatórios sobre os vértices de um grafo completo. Inicialmente há uma partícula em cada vértice do grafo das quais somente uma está ativa, as outras estão inativas. A partícula ativa realiza um passeio aleatório simples a tempo discreto com tempo de vida que depende do passado do processo, movendo-se ao longo de elos. Quando uma partícula ativa encontra uma inativa, esta se ativa; quando salta sobre um vértice já visitado, morre. O objetivo desta dissertação é estudar a cobertura do grafo completo, ou seja, a proporção de vértices visitados ao fim do processo, quando o número $n$ de vértices tende ao infinito. Analisamos as equações de campo médio para o processo descrito acima, comparando os seus resultados com os do modelo aleatório. Aqui, os resultados do campo médio parecem reproduzir os do modelo aleatório. Depois, apresentamos um estudo similar entre o modelo estocástico e as equações de campo médio para o caso em que cada partícula possui 2 vidas. Finalmente, observamos a cobertura do grafo completo para as equações de campo médio quando o número de vidas por partículas é maior que dois. / We study random walks systems on complete graphs. Initially there is a particle at each vertex of the graph; only one is active and the other are inactive. An active particle performs a discrete-time simple random walk with lifetime depending on the past of the process moving along edges. When an active particle hits an inactive one, the latter is activated. When it jumps on a vertex which has been visited before it dies. The goal of this work is to study the coverage of the complete graph, that is, the proportion of visited vertices at the end of the process, when the number of vertices goes to infinity. We analyze the mean field equations to the process cited above, comparing their results with the ones of the random model. Here the results of the mean field approach seem to reproduce the ones of the random model. After we present a similar study between the stochastic model and mean field approximation to the case that each particle has 2 lifes. Finally we observe the coverage of the complete graph to the mean-field equations when the number of lifes by particle is bigger than two.

Estudamos o modelo dos sapos na árvore homogênea, um sistema de partículas a tempo discreto cuja dinâmica é sintetizada a seguir. No instante inicial, existe em cada vértice da árvore um número aleatório independente e identicamente distribuído de partículas; aquelas posicionadas em um vértice fixado estão ativas, as demais inativas. Partículas ativas realizam passeios aleatórios simples, independentes, a tempo discreto, com probabilidade de desaparecimento (1 - p) em cada instante. Uma partícula inativa torna-se ativa assim que seu vértice é visitado por uma partícula ativa. Consideramos nesta tese o valor crítico p_c que separa a fase em que o processo se extingue quase certamente da fase em que existem partículas ativas em todos os instantes com probabilidade positiva. Provamos um limitante superior para a probabilidade crítica p_c, o qual melhora o resultado anteriormente conhecido para o caso de configuração inicial de uma partícula por vértice. O argumento utilizado consiste na descrição do modelo dos sapos como um modelo de percolação orientada que domina processos de ramificação convenientemente definidos. Obtemos também o valor assintótico do limitante superior estabelecido, mostrando ser igual ao valor assintótico da probabilidade crítica. / We study the frog model on the homogeneous tree, a discrete-time particle system whose dynamics is summarized next. Initially there is an independent and identically distributed random number of particles at each vertex of the tree; those placed at a fixed vertex are active, the others being inactive. Active particles perform independent discrete-time simple random walks, with probability of disappearance (1 - p) at each instant. An inactive particle becomes active once its vertex is hit by an active particle. We consider in this thesis the critical value p_c that separates the phase in which the process dies out almost surely from the phase in which there exist active particles at all times with positive probability. We prove an upper bound for the critical probability p_c, which improves the formerly known result for the case of one particle per vertex initial configuration. The employed argument builds on the description of the frog model as an oriented percolation model which dominates suitably defined branching processes. We also obtain the asymptotic value of the stated upper bound, showing that it equals the asymptotic value of the critical probability.

Estudamos o modelo dos sapos na árvore homogênea, um sistema de partículas a tempo discreto cuja dinâmica é sintetizada a seguir. No instante inicial, existe em cada vértice da árvore um número aleatório independente e identicamente distribuído de partículas; aquelas posicionadas em um vértice fixado estão ativas, as demais inativas. Partículas ativas realizam passeios aleatórios simples, independentes, a tempo discreto, com probabilidade de desaparecimento (1 - p) em cada instante. Uma partícula inativa torna-se ativa assim que seu vértice é visitado por uma partícula ativa. Consideramos nesta tese o valor crítico p_c que separa a fase em que o processo se extingue quase certamente da fase em que existem partículas ativas em todos os instantes com probabilidade positiva. Provamos um limitante superior para a probabilidade crítica p_c, o qual melhora o resultado anteriormente conhecido para o caso de configuração inicial de uma partícula por vértice. O argumento utilizado consiste na descrição do modelo dos sapos como um modelo de percolação orientada que domina processos de ramificação convenientemente definidos. Obtemos também o valor assintótico do limitante superior estabelecido, mostrando ser igual ao valor assintótico da probabilidade crítica. / We study the frog model on the homogeneous tree, a discrete-time particle system whose dynamics is summarized next. Initially there is an independent and identically distributed random number of particles at each vertex of the tree; those placed at a fixed vertex are active, the others being inactive. Active particles perform independent discrete-time simple random walks, with probability of disappearance (1 - p) at each instant. An inactive particle becomes active once its vertex is hit by an active particle. We consider in this thesis the critical value p_c that separates the phase in which the process dies out almost surely from the phase in which there exist active particles at all times with positive probability. We prove an upper bound for the critical probability p_c, which improves the formerly known result for the case of one particle per vertex initial configuration. The employed argument builds on the description of the frog model as an oriented percolation model which dominates suitably defined branching processes. We also obtain the asymptotic value of the stated upper bound, showing that it equals the asymptotic value of the critical probability.

The decline of the Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa), a Pacific Northwest endemic now federally listed as threatened, has been attributed to several aspects of ecosystem alteration, primarily habitat degradation and loss. The introduced American Bullfrog (Rana (Aquarana) catesbeiana) has been widely implicated in those declines, but the basis of that contention has been difficult to characterize. The bullfrog occurring at every site of recent Oregon Spotted Frog extirpation has focused concern about its impact. Here, I present a suite of interconnected studies that examine the behavioral ecology of both species to better understand the potential for bullfrog-mediated Oregon Spotted Frog extirpation. I quantified Oregon Spotted Frog anti-predator behavior from the only known population successfully co-occurring with bullfrogs (Conboy Lake) and a population devoid of bullfrog impact (Big Marsh), and compared these behaviors to the predatory traits of the bullfrog. The initial study revealed that captive-reared individuals from the Oregon Spotted Frog population that has successfully co-occurred with bullfrogs respond faster to a predatory stimulus (measured as latency to response) than Oregon Spotted Frogs from a population not to exposed to bullfrogs. Subsequent field investigations of the approach distance allowed by a predator stimulus before taking evasive action (termed the flight initiation distance: FID) conducted with the Oregon Spotted Frog population co-occurring with bullfrogs first demonstrated that FID of recently metamorphosed bullfrogs is consistently greater than that of recently metamorphosed Oregon Spotted Frogs. Further, examination of FID across all post-metamorphic age classes of Oregon Spotted Frogs revealed that older frogs do not allow as close approach as recently metamorphosed Oregon Spotted Frogs. This age class shift in FID did not occur in the Oregon Spotted Frog population not exposed to bullfrogs. In the latter population, FID did not differ among age classes. Since the bullfrog might be driving this age-based change in anti-predator behavior, I explored the variation in strike distance of bullfrogs from the site of co-occurrence in both the field and laboratory to determine the extent of overlap with Oregon Spotted Frog FID. I found that the bullfrog strike distance significantly overlaps the FID of all ages of Oregon Spotted Frogs from the bullfrog-free site but only that of youngest (recently metamorphosed) frogs at the site of co-occurrence. Older Oregon Spotted Frogs from the site of co-occurrence generally escaped at distances greater than the strike distance of bullfrogs. I also collected > 880 bullfrogs from the site of co-occurrence and analyzed the stomach contents to assess their dietary trends. I found that bullfrogs consume Oregon Spotted Frogs at the site, but do not eat the larger (older) frogs. Moreover, the body size ratio between Oregon Spotted Frogs as prey and bullfrogs as predators suggests that nearly all of the adult size distribution of bullfrogs at Conboy would be incapable of preying on adult Oregon Spotted Frogs. Collectively, these studies strongly suggest that bullfrogs have altered the escape behavior of Oregon Spotted Frogs at Conboy Lake and that most adult Oregon Spotted Frogs at Conboy may have a size-based release from predation by bullfrogs. Implicit in this finding is that bullfrogs may pose a real threat via predation to other Oregon Spotted Frog populations with which they might come into contact where the distribution of bullfrog body sizes differ substantially from that at Conboy Lake.