Determinadas espécies arbóreas apresentam ciclos anuais de crescimento e dormência, registrados no lenho por conspícuas estruturas anatômicas – os anéis de crescimento. Nessas árvores pode-se determinar a idade e taxas de crescimento, com resolução calendária anual, através da análise temporal dos anéis de crescimento (dendrocronologia), bem como estudar a variação dessas estruturas segundo as condições ambientais (dendroecologia). Pesquisas recentes têm descrito anéis de crescimento anuais num grande número de espécies tropicais e subtropicais. A exemplo do que ocorre em zonas temperadas e áridas, o desenvolvimento da dendroecologia pode contribuir substancialmente ao conhecimento da dinâmica do clima e da vegetação em ecossistemas tropicais e subtropicais. Nesta tese eu reviso e desenvolvo estudos dendroecológicos em biomas brasileiros, principalmente, em ecossistemas subtropicais montanos, visando solidificar a dendroecologia no país. Segundo ampla revisão bibliográfica, estudos relacionados à dendroecologia nos biomas brasileiros, em sua maioria, versam sobre a anatomia e periodicidade de formação de anéis de crescimento na flora; poucos efetivamente relacionam séries anuais de anéis de crescimento com variações do ambiente. As pesquisas estão concentradas em biomas florestais, notadamente na Amazônia. No intuito de facilitar estudos futuros, apresento uma compilação de 124 espécies que formam anéis anuais. Pesquisas inéditas sobre anéis de crescimento em Araucaria angustifolia, espécie típica de formações florestais e campestres em regiões montanas do sul e sudeste do Brasil, comprovam seu potencial dendroecológico. Através de análise da atividade cambial demonstro que esta espécie forma anéis de crescimento anuais, relacionados à variação sazonal de temperatura e fotoperíodo. Estudando séries temporais de largura de anéis de crescimento verifiquei a existência de padrões regionais de crescimento, relacionados à variação interanual do clima, principalmente da temperatura. Regionalmente, A. angustifolia parece sensível a déficit hídrico em Dezembro e Janeiro, bem como responde de forma complexa às condições térmicas em Maio e Junho. Padrões de crescimento divergente entre árvores de campo e de floresta podem estar relacionados ao regime de queimada da vegetação campestre, por sua vez, moderado pela precipitação no mês de ignição de queimadas (Agosto). / Certain tree species present annual cycles of growth and dormancy, imprinted in wood as conspicuous anatomical structures – the growth rings. Temporal analysis of annual growth rings (dendrochronology) allows the determination of tree age and growth rate, with calendar year resolution, and to study long-term relationship between tree-growth and environmental conditions (dendroecology). Recent studies have found annual growth rings in many tropical and subtropical species. As in temperate and arid zones, dendroecological investigations may contribute for understanding the dynamics of climate and vegetation in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Here, I review and develop dendroecological studies in biomes of Brazil, aiming to support further advances. According to a broad literature review, dendroecological studies in Brazilian Biomes have focused mostly on anatomy and periodicity of growth ring formation; few of them relate growth ring time-series to environmental conditions. The studies are concentrated in forested biomes, noticebly in Amazonia. In order to assist future studies I present a compilation of 124 species that produce annual growth rings. Novel studies on Araucaria angustifolia, a typical conifer growing in forest and grassland ecosystems of south and southeast Brazilian highlands, confirm its dendroecological potential. By means of cambium activity examination I show that this species produces annual growth rings, related to seasonal variations of temperature and photoperiod. Analyses of ring-width time series revealed regional growth patterns related to inter-annual climate variations. In a regional extent, A. angustifolia trees are, probably, sensitive the water deficit in December and January, as well respond to thermal conditions of May and June, in a complex manner. Divergent patterns between grassland and forest trees may be related to grassland fire regimes, moderated by rainfall during the fire ignition period (August).

O presente trabalho pretende estudar a rev1sao constitucional periódica estabelecida na Constitu ição da República Portuguesa de 1976 como ferramenta de aprimoramento institucional, vislumbrando a sua adequação ao ordenamento constitucional brasileiro. Inicialmente, resgatam-se os conceitos ligados ao poder reformador para depois estabelecer a trad ição histórica da reforma constitucional em Portugal, traçando um paralelo comparativo com o procedimento de alteração constitucional adotado no Brasil. Para tanto, foi necessária a análise do instituto da revisão constitucional portuguesa , explicitando, em especial, a periodicidade revisional, para verificar, através da experiência lus itana, a eficácia do instituto em questão. Por fim, apresenta-se a revisão constitucional periódica como instrumento apto para gerar estabilidade constitucional aliado a sua capacidade de oportunizar periodicamente o aprimoramento das institu ições do Estado. / This study aims to investigate the periodic constitutional review established as an institutional improvement tool in the Portuguese Constitution of 1976, setting a sight on its adequacy concerning the Brazilian constitutional order. This research recovers the concepts related to the reforming power in order to establish the historical tradition of the constitutional reform in Portugal, drawing a comparison with the constitutional amendment procedure adopted in Brazil. Therefore, the analysis of the Portugues.e lnstitute of constitutional review was necessary to particularly explain the reviewing periodicity in order to verify the effectiveness of the institute through the Portuguese experience. Finally, this study presents the periodic constitutional review as an effective means to generate constitutional stability together with its facility to periodically provide the opportunity for improvement of the national institutions.

Determinadas espécies arbóreas apresentam ciclos anuais de crescimento e dormência, registrados no lenho por conspícuas estruturas anatômicas – os anéis de crescimento. Nessas árvores pode-se determinar a idade e taxas de crescimento, com resolução calendária anual, através da análise temporal dos anéis de crescimento (dendrocronologia), bem como estudar a variação dessas estruturas segundo as condições ambientais (dendroecologia). Pesquisas recentes têm descrito anéis de crescimento anuais num grande número de espécies tropicais e subtropicais. A exemplo do que ocorre em zonas temperadas e áridas, o desenvolvimento da dendroecologia pode contribuir substancialmente ao conhecimento da dinâmica do clima e da vegetação em ecossistemas tropicais e subtropicais. Nesta tese eu reviso e desenvolvo estudos dendroecológicos em biomas brasileiros, principalmente, em ecossistemas subtropicais montanos, visando solidificar a dendroecologia no país. Segundo ampla revisão bibliográfica, estudos relacionados à dendroecologia nos biomas brasileiros, em sua maioria, versam sobre a anatomia e periodicidade de formação de anéis de crescimento na flora; poucos efetivamente relacionam séries anuais de anéis de crescimento com variações do ambiente. As pesquisas estão concentradas em biomas florestais, notadamente na Amazônia. No intuito de facilitar estudos futuros, apresento uma compilação de 124 espécies que formam anéis anuais. Pesquisas inéditas sobre anéis de crescimento em Araucaria angustifolia, espécie típica de formações florestais e campestres em regiões montanas do sul e sudeste do Brasil, comprovam seu potencial dendroecológico. Através de análise da atividade cambial demonstro que esta espécie forma anéis de crescimento anuais, relacionados à variação sazonal de temperatura e fotoperíodo. Estudando séries temporais de largura de anéis de crescimento verifiquei a existência de padrões regionais de crescimento, relacionados à variação interanual do clima, principalmente da temperatura. Regionalmente, A. angustifolia parece sensível a déficit hídrico em Dezembro e Janeiro, bem como responde de forma complexa às condições térmicas em Maio e Junho. Padrões de crescimento divergente entre árvores de campo e de floresta podem estar relacionados ao regime de queimada da vegetação campestre, por sua vez, moderado pela precipitação no mês de ignição de queimadas (Agosto). / Certain tree species present annual cycles of growth and dormancy, imprinted in wood as conspicuous anatomical structures – the growth rings. Temporal analysis of annual growth rings (dendrochronology) allows the determination of tree age and growth rate, with calendar year resolution, and to study long-term relationship between tree-growth and environmental conditions (dendroecology). Recent studies have found annual growth rings in many tropical and subtropical species. As in temperate and arid zones, dendroecological investigations may contribute for understanding the dynamics of climate and vegetation in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Here, I review and develop dendroecological studies in biomes of Brazil, aiming to support further advances. According to a broad literature review, dendroecological studies in Brazilian Biomes have focused mostly on anatomy and periodicity of growth ring formation; few of them relate growth ring time-series to environmental conditions. The studies are concentrated in forested biomes, noticebly in Amazonia. In order to assist future studies I present a compilation of 124 species that produce annual growth rings. Novel studies on Araucaria angustifolia, a typical conifer growing in forest and grassland ecosystems of south and southeast Brazilian highlands, confirm its dendroecological potential. By means of cambium activity examination I show that this species produces annual growth rings, related to seasonal variations of temperature and photoperiod. Analyses of ring-width time series revealed regional growth patterns related to inter-annual climate variations. In a regional extent, A. angustifolia trees are, probably, sensitive the water deficit in December and January, as well respond to thermal conditions of May and June, in a complex manner. Divergent patterns between grassland and forest trees may be related to grassland fire regimes, moderated by rainfall during the fire ignition period (August).

A basic premise of the investigation is that the acquisition and exercise of advanced reading skills are essential for effective adolescent learning. For the benefits of reading to accrue maximally, learners should continue to read avidly during leisure and long after basic reading instruction, traditionally the domain of the primary school, has ceased. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influence the voluntary reading of some South African adolescents, specifically at an age when they undergo emotional, intellectual, social and physical changes which influence their behaviour, habits and choices. The research problem focuses on the transition from primary to secondary school, since extant literature shows that numerous factors influence adolescents’ reading habits during this phase, sometimes resulting in declining voluntary reading. Parameters for the investigation are set by the theoretical framework, centring on four domains that highlight the research problem, namely adolescence, literature, literacy and voluntary reading. Facets of these domains are explored, specifically motivation, qualitative change and the influence of home, school and community. Vygotsky’s theories on adolescent development underscore the research, as well as research on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation since, axiomatically, reading strategies develop optimally with high motivation. Stage-environmental fit theories - applied to motivation, self-efficacy or reading development - assert that learners have different sets of psychological, cognitive and psychosocial needs at different developmental levels, and unless these needs are met, academic achievement, appreciation for learning and effective reading development can decline. The often critical transition from primary to secondary school can result in a variety of lifestyle changes, and periodicity theories support the pattern and scaffolding of these transformational factors. Merging the relevant domains with developmental theories creates a matrix of Piagetian cognitive stratification. Chall’s model of developmental reading stages crafts an epistemological foundation and further refines constructivist principles developed by Vygotsky. Together they form a network explaining factors of transitional change that influence adolescents’ voluntary reading activities. The study’s methodology is delineated and followed by a description of the qualitative research design, data collection, data analysis strategies and ethical considerations. The course of the inquiry is refined in a closer focus on three domains and an explanation of the research instruments. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed, as well as issues of reliability, validity, authenticity and generalisability. The empirical results are extrapolated from face-to-face interviews with ten respondents and their views generate the findings after a four-tiered analysis of the interview transcripts. Themes and conclusions are couched in three domains of the theoretical framework in an endeavour to address the research problem. The final chapter offers a synthesis by interweaving the theoretical outline and empirical findings. A hypothesis opening future avenues for investigation is identified, namely the factor of the internalisation of speech on reading in general and voluntary reading in particular. Two significant findings indicate that developmental stage theories effectively describe the transitional nature of the reading experiences of Grade Eight learners, and that intrinsic motivation, mastery learning and self-efficacy views play central roles in the continuation of voluntary reading. / Thesis (PhD (Learning Support, Guidance and Counselling))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Cette thèse étudie la stabilité linéaire et le contrôle linéaire optimal d’écoulements périodiques en temps. Le cadre d'étude développé a été appliqué au jet rond pulsé.Lorsqu'un jet rond laminaire est forcé au niveau de sa buse périodiquement et de façon axisymétrique, une allée régulière d'anneaux de vorticité se forment. Dans cette configuration, nous étudions deux types d’instabilités. D'une part, de façon intrinsèque, un appariement tourbillonnaire peut parfois survenir. D'autre part, l'ajout d'un terme hélicoïdal sous-harmonique au forçage axisymétrique peut générer un jet bifurqué. Ces deux phénomènes conduisent à une importante augmentation de l'évasement du jet et à une amélioration de ses propriétés de mélange.Tout d'abord, nous présentons une méthode de stabilisation d’orbites périodiques instables, basée sur un contrôle avec un retard temporel. Cette technique, appliquée au cas du jet pulsé, fournit un écoulement périodique non-apparié, dans des gammes de paramètres où l'appariement surgit naturellement. Cet écoulement non-apparié forme la base des études de stabilité et d’optimisation suivantes.Ensuite, nous étudions la dynamique intrinsèque des perturbations de cet état. D'une part, grâce à la théorie de Floquet, nous calculons sa stabilité modale, ce qui prédit le comportement à long-terme de ces perturbations. Pour ce faire, une base de Krylov est construite à l'aide d'une méthode d'Arnoldi par blocs à partir de simulations temporelles. D'autre part, nous caractérisons sa croissance transitoire, qui contrôle le comportement à court-terme des perturbations. Tandis que l'analyse de Floquet prédit avec précision les nombres de Reynolds et de Strouhal critiques pour observer une croissance modale sur le long terme des perturbations puis un appariement, la croissance non-modale contrôle entièrement la bifurcation entre l’état non-apparié et l’état apparié.Enfin, nous optimisons le déclenchement de la bifurcation du jet. Ainsi, le forçage hélicoïdal maximisant l'évasement et le mélange du jet dans un plan préférentiel est calculé. Nous comparons ensuite par simulation numérique directe l'efficacité de ce forçage avec des forçages ad hoc utilisés dans des études précédentes. Le forçage optimal déclenche la bifurcation beaucoup plus tôt, avec un évasement bien plus marqué, et pour une gamme de nombres de Strouhal bien plus large que les forçages précédents. / This thesis describes the linear instability analysis and the design of linear optimal control of time-periodic flows. The numerical framework developed is applied to the study of pulsed jets.When a laminar round jet is forced axisymmetrically and time-periodically at the inlet, a regular street of vortex rings is formed. Two instability phenomena of such arrays are investigated. Firstly, intrinsic mechanisms may trigger vortex pairing. Secondly, if an additional subharmonic helical component is superposed onto the fundamental axisymmetric forcing, jet bifurcation is induced. Both phenomena result in strongly increased spreading and mixing in the mean flow.In a first step, a numerical stabilisation technique is devised, allowing the computation of exact periodic flow solutions, even when they are subject to instrinsic instabilities. This method, based on a time-delayed feedback, is then applied in order to recover unpaired periodic flow states of pulsed jets, in parameter regimes where vortex pairing naturally occurs. These unpaired flow states form the basis for the following instability and optimal control calculations.In a second step, the instrinsic perturbation dynamics in pulsed jets is investigated. Modal instability properties, governing the long-time flow behaviour, are examined in the framework of Floquet theory. Numerically, a Krylov basis is constructed from linear time-stepping using a block-Arnoldi algorithm to maximise efficiency. Transient dynamics, governing the short-time growth of initial perturbations, are characterised by an optimal perturbation analysis. While the modal Floquet analysis accurately predicts the critical Reynolds and Strouhal numbers of the long-time occurrence of vortex pairing, transient growth dynamics dominates the bifurcation.Finally, the optimal way to trigger jet bifurcation through subharmonic inlet forcing is computed. Inlet helical forcing is identified that maximises the jet spreading and mixing in one privileged meridional plane. This optimal forcing is implemented in direct numerical simulations, and its efficiency in the nonlinear regime is compared to that of ad hoc forcing used in previous studies. The optimal forcing results in bifurcation further upstream, at higher spreading angles, and over a much wider range of Strouhal numbers than found previously.

<p>A topologically interlocked material (TIM) system belongs to a class of architectured materials and is known to perform outstanding mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, and toughness. TIM systems are assemblies of polyhedral or building blocks, where individual elements constrain each other on inclined sides of building blocks. This thesis first focuses on developing novel designs of TIM plates composed of building blocks that interact with each other. The resulting TIM systems can be characterized concerning their periodicity and symmetry. Consequently, this study investigates how the proposed geometric features enhance mechanical properties and contribute to emerging properties. Specifically, four research questions provide a clear direction and framework for the investigation. For efficient analysis, finite element calculations are employed, and physical validation methods are used to verify them.</p> <p>The first research question is how the mechanical properties of aperiodic systems differ from those of periodic systems. Aperiodic systems offer diverse possibilities in terms of forms and arrangements. In this thesis, aperiodicity is further divided into two aspects: disrupting symmetry and preserving symmetry. In the approach that disrupts symmetry, the shapes of the tiles are randomly generated. An aperiodic system does not necessarily possess inherently superior or inferior mechanical properties compared to a periodic system. However, the flexibility of aperiodic systems allows for numerous forms and arrangements, presenting promising alternatives to identify factors or patterns that contribute to improved mechanical performance. To simplify these complex configurations, network theory is employed.</p> <p>Each building and its contact interfaces are represented as nodes and links. By utilizing network theory, a focused analysis of the links is conducted, enabling a comprehensive understanding of force propagation across TIM systems. The quantification of the significance of each link assists in reinforcing critical links while potentially sacrificing less critical ones.</p> <p>This approach not only simplifies the research problem but also facilitates the creation of customized design systems by adjusting the links.</p> <p>The other approach to achieve aperiodicity while preserving symmetry utilizes quasicrystal structures. This is based on another research question: What are the benefits of creating TIM systems with quasi-crystal tilting? Quasi-crystals possess a unique characteristic of maintaining 5-fold rotational symmetry while breaking away from periodic patterns observed in traditional systems. The arrangement of elements in quasi-crystal structures extends in a non-repetitive pattern from the center outward, offering a multitude of potential possibilities for TIM systems. By incorporating quasi-crystal tiling, TIM systems are expected to open up exceptional mechanical properties and unconventional behaviors.</p> <p>The third research question investigates whether the influence on mechanical performance varies based on the symmetry level of TIM systems. Despite using identical unit blocks, the arrangement of an assembly can lead to different levels of symmetry. Furthermore, it is possible to modify the symmetry of the unit block, thereby impacting the overall symmetry of the assembly. To achieve this, the symmetry of a unit block is adjusted by modifying the angles of side faces, transitioning from larger angles to smaller angles or vice versa. This modification introduces directionality (rotational symmetry) to the unit block and creates a greater variety of symmetry levels depending on the arrangements of these blocks. By implementing a broader range of symmetry levels that conventional TIM systems cannot achieve, this research aims to investigate the relationship between these symmetries and mechanical properties.</p> <p>The fourth research question is about what emerging properties could be present in TIM systems. While the primary application of TIMs is to enhance the damage tolerance of brittle materials against an external load, there have been ongoing attempts to research emerging properties like negative stiffness, sound absorption, and chirality. Chirality, in particular, serves as a valuable geometric property to describe a circulation of force propagation. Generally, the ability of TIM systems to carry transverse loads is explained through equivalent Mises truss along x− and y − axis. However, chirality enables the representation of not only axial force paths but also circulations of forces within TIM systems. In addition, a rich variety of geometric patches are observed in quasi-crystal structures. In crystal structures, a limited number of patches are repetitively arranged, resulting in a restricted range of properties. However, quasi-crystals like Penrose are non-periodic and possess a greater capacity to generate diverse patches, allowing for the selection of various mechanical properties.</p>

The problem of location or movement prediction can be described as the task of predicting the future location of an item using the past locations of that item. It is a problem of increasing interest with the arrival of location-based services and autonomous vehicles. Even if short term prediction is more commonly studied, especially in the case of vehicles, long-term prediction can be useful in many applications like scheduling, resource managing or traffic prediction. In this master thesis project, I present a feature representation of movement that can be used for learning of long-term movement patterns and for long-term movement prediction both in space and time. The representation relies on periodicity in data and is based on weighted n-grams of windowed trajectories. The algorithm is evaluated on heavy transport vehicles movement data to assess its ability to from a search index retrieve vehicles that with high probability will move along a route that matches a desired transport mission. Experimental results show the algorithm is able to achieve a consistent low prediction distance error rate across different transport lengths in a limited geographical area under business operation conditions. The results also indicate that the total population of vehicles in the index is a critical factor in the algorithm performance and therefore in its real-world applicability. / Lokaliserings- eller rörelseprognosering kan beskrivas som uppgiften att förutsäga ett objekts framtida placering med hjälp av de tidigare platserna för objektet. Intresset för problemet ökar i och med införandet av platsbaserade tjänster och autonoma fordon. Även om det är vanligare att studera kortsiktiga förutsägelser, särskilt när det gäller fordon, kan långsiktiga förutsägelser vara användbara i många applikationer som schemaläggning, resurshantering eller trafikprognoser. I detta masterprojekt presenterar jag en feature-representation av rörelse som kan användas för att lära in långsiktiga rörelsemönster och för långsiktig rörelseprediktion både i rymden och tiden. Representationen bygger på periodicitet i data och är baserad på att dela upp banan i fönster och sedan beräkna viktade n-grams av banorna från de olika fönstren. Algoritmen utvärderas på transportdata för tunga transportfordon för att bedöma dess förmåga att från ett sökindex hämta fordon som med stor sannolikhet kommer att röra sig längs en rutt som matchar ett önskat transportuppdrag. Experimentella resultat visar att algoritmen kan uppnå ett konsekvent lågt fel i relativt predikterat avstånd över olika transportlängder i ett begränsat geografiskt område under verkliga förhållanden. Resultaten indikerar även att den totala populationen av fordon i indexet är en kritisk faktor för algoritmens prestanda och därmed även för dess applicerbarhet för verklig användning.

The natural unsteadiness in the post-breakdown flowfield of a 75° sweep delta wing at 40° angle of attack was studied with dual and single point hot-wire anemometry in the Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) Wind Tunnel at a Reynolds number Re = 210,000. Data were taken in five crossflow planes surrounding the wing's trailing edge. Results showed a dominant narrowband Strouhal frequency of St = 1.5 covering approximately 80% of the area with lower-intensity broadband secondary frequencies over 15% of that region. Cross-correlations between a fixed and traversing wire were calculated and phase and coherences mapped to determine the convection speed and trajectory of the helical mode instability. High-speed Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was conducted over a 75° sweep delta wing at 40° angle of attack in the ESM Water Tunnel II at Re = 45,000. Data were taken along the axis of the vortex in the breakdown flowfield at a speed of 0.1% of the convective time scale of the flow. Animations of instantaneous streamlines and velocity vectors revealed the impression of a helically spiralling vortex core on the measurement plane. Spectral analysis of the PIV data showed reduced frequencies which confirmed those found with the single-point measurements made in the ESM Wind Tunnel. The effect of four novel control surfaces on the breakdown flowfield of the delta wing was studied with surface pressure measurements along the axis of the vortex in the ESM Wind Tunnel. The apex flap was found effective and delayed vortex breakdown by 8° for a fixed wing. The flowfield was characterized over the delta wing executing a pitch-up maneuver at a reduced frequency of 0.06. Surface pressure measurements were taken in the ESM Wind Tunnel and Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) was employed in the ESM Water Tunnel I as both the unmodified wing and then the wing with an apex flap deployed at an optimal angle <font face="Symbol">b</font> = 15° executed the pitch-up. Both sets of data confirmed the hysteresis of the flowfield. The LDV data, taken in two crossflow planes throughout the maneuver, showed an asymmetric breakdown development. As a practical extension of the study of the breakdown wake flowfield, hot-wire measurements were made over an F/A-18 model to determine the spectral characteristics of the flowfield. Three-dimensional vortex interactions were investigated with helium bubble flow visualization in the VPI Stability Tunnel. / Ph. D.

Traditionally, fish oil (FO) has been used extensively in aquafeeds. The stagnation in global fish oil production coupled with an increased demand for its use in aquaculture feeds, especially salmonid feeds, has greatly inflated fish oil prices. Therefore, in order to sustain the rapid growth of the tilapia industry, the dependence on these commodities in feeds should be reduced through use of cheaper and more sustainable sources of dietary lipids, such as palm oil. This study therefore investigated several, previously poorly understood, effects of palm oil on reproductive performance of the commercial tilapia species, Oreochromis niloticus; which currently ranks as second most popular species in world aquaculture. In the present study broodstock were fed on experimental diets at full and half ration regimes throughout their entire life cycle from exogenous feeding. Studies were conducted in standardised and controlled hatchery conditions, thereby reducing the potential influence of environmental variations. First feeding O. niloticus fry were fed on four diets, cod liver oil (D 1), palm oil (D 2), mixed palm and cod liver oil (D 3) (9:1 ration) and a commercial trout diet as control (D 4) (Skretting, U.K.) on a reducing ration based on fish size. The present study investigated the effect of dietary lipid sources on (1) growth performance, (2) biochemical composition of eggs (total lipid and fatty acid composition), (3) morphological parameters of eggs (total and relative fecundity, egg size, egg weight and EW:BW), (4) larval quality (larval length and weight) and (5) oocyte recruitment and its associated sex steroid hormones. Experimental diets and feeding ration significantly influenced (p<0.05) the growth performance over a period of 120 days. Total lipid and fatty acid composition of eggs originating from broodstock fed on palm oil, mixed palm and cod liver oil (9:1) or a control diet were not significantly different (P>0.05) when fed at either full (3% BWday-1) or half ration (1.5% BWday-1). The present study, however, confirmed that fatty acid composition of fish eggs reflected the fatty acid composition of the diet, although specific fatty acids were selectively utilized or retained in the eggs. The mean inter-spawning interval (ISI) increased with increasing fish size and averaged 14, 19 and 24 days for fish fed on palm oil, mixed palm and cod liver oil or control diets, respectively. The shortest ISI observed was 7 days for fish fed a palm oil diet. Total fecundity ranged from 660 - 820 eggs/clutch. Mean total fecundity was 750, 820 and 660 eggs/clutch for fish fed a palm, mixed palm and cod liver oil or a control diet, respectively, but these differences were not significant (P>0.05). However, relative fecundity and egg weight to body weight rates as a percentage (EW: BW) were found significantly differ (p<0.05) between fish fed the control diet and experimental diets. Mean egg diameter (2.2 mm) was not significantly influenced (p>0.05) by experimental diets. The egg volume, egg dry and wet weight, fertilisation and hatching rate were also not significantly different between fish fed the experimental diets. Oocyte development was classified into distinct stages based upon oocyte size, biochemical properties and structure. The recrudescence to these stages was not significantly influenced by broodstock fed experimental diets either at full or half ration. Steroid hormones and histological analyses provided valuable data concerning the oocyte development and recruitment in this species. Levels of 17ß-oestradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) peaked within 6 days of spawning, suggesting that vitellogenesis began as early as day 2 or 3 post-spawning. By day 6, ovaries were dominated by large late-vitellogenic/maturing oocytes (stages 6 & 7) occupying about 70% of the ovary. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) reached maximal levels by day 6. It is suggested that pre-vitellogenic oocytes are recruited into vitellogenic growth immediately after spawning and complete vitellogenesis on day 6 post-spawning. Finally, the present study investigated the effect of food restriction at two rations (full and half) on broodstock reproductive performance. Oreochromis niloticus were rationed from first feeding and throughout their life-cycle. The dietary regime, full ration (3%) and half ration (1.5%), influenced fish size but despite this variation no significant differences (p>0.05) were detected in total lipid and fatty acid composition in the eggs, total fecundity, egg diameter, total egg volume and larval size. These results suggested that despite large differences in food availability throughout their life cycle, investment in reproduction had remained remarkably consistent. It appeared that during food restriction, O. niloticus sacrificed body weight and growth so as to maintain reproductive investment. In summary, this study provides valuable information using a novel experimental design on the effects of dietary lipid sources on reproductive performance of female O. niloticus. Substituting palm oil for fish oil as the dietary lipid source and reducing ration by half (1.5% BWday-1) had no significant effect on reproductive performance. Therefore it is suggested that under controlled conditions, lipids of non-marine origin, such as palm oil, can be successfully substituted for broodstock diets. Halving feed requirement should also increase profitability of seed production. KEYWORDS: Tilapia; O. niloticus; palm oil; diet; fecundity; spawning periodicity; oocyte recruitment; reproductive performance.

Cette thèse contient deux contributions à l’homogénéisation en espace-temps des équations de Hamilton-Jacobi du premier ordre. Ces équations sont en lien avec la modélisation du trafic routier. Enfin, sont présentés des résultats d’homogénéisation en milieu presque périodique. Le premier chapitre est consacré à l’homogénéisation d’un système infini d’équations différentielles couplées avec temps de retard. Ce système provient ici d’un modèle microscopique de trafic routier simple. Les conducteurs se suivent sur une route rectiligne infinie et l’on tient compte de leur temps de réaction. On suppose que la vitesse de chaque conducteur est une fonction de l’interdistance avec le conducteur qui le précède: on parle d’un modèle du type “follow-the-leader”. Grâce à un principe de comparaison strict, on montre la convergence vers un modèle macroscopique pour des temps de réaction inférieurs à une valeur critique. Dans un second temps, on exhibe un contre-exemple à l’homogénéisation pour un temps de réaction supérieur à cette valeur critique, pour des conditions initiales particulières. Pour cela, on perturbe la solution stationnaire dans laquelle les véhicules sont tous équidistants aux instants initiaux. Le second chapitre porte sur l’homogénéisation d’une équation de Hamilton-Jacobi dont l’Hamiltonien est discontinu en espace. Le modèle de trafic associé est une route rectiligne comportant une infinité de feux tricolores. Ces feux sont supposés identiques, équidistants et le déphasage entre deux feux successifs est supposé constant. On étudie l’influence à grande échelle de ce déphasage sur le trafic. On distingue la portion de route libre, qui sera représentée par un modèle macroscopique, et les feux, qui seront modélisés par des limiteurs de flux périodiques en temps. Le cadre théorique est celui par C. Imbert et R. Monneau (2017) pour les équations de Hamilton-Jacobi sur réseaux. L’étude se décompose en l’homogénéisation théorique, où l’Hamiltonien effectif dépend du déphasage, puis l’obtention de propriétés qualitatives de cet Hamiltonien à l’aide d’observations via des simulations numériques. Le troisième chapitre présente des résultats d’homogénéisation en milieu presque périodique. On étudie tout d’abord un problème d’évolution avec un Hamiltonien stationnaire, presque périodique en espace. À l’aide d’arguments presque périodiques, on effectue dans un second temps une nouvelle preuve du résultat d’homogénéisation du second chapitre. L’Hamiltonien est alors périodique en temps et presque périodique en espace. Sont également présentes des questions encore ouvertes, notamment dans le cas où l’Hamiltonien est presque périodique en temps-espace, et dans le cas d’un modèle de trafic où les feux sont assez proches, avec donc un modèle microscopique entre les feux / This thesis report deals with the homogenization in space and time of some first order Hamilton-Jacobi equations. It contains two contributions. The corresponding equations are derived from traffic flow modelling. We finally present some results of almost periodic homogenization. In the first chapter, we consider a one dimensional pursuit law with delay which is derived from traffic flow modelling. It takes the form of an infinite system of first order coupled delayed equations. Each equation describes the motion of a driver who interacts with the preceding one: such a model is referred to as a ``follow-the-leader" model. We take into account the reaction time of drivers. We derive a macroscopic model, namely a Hamilton-Jacobi equation, by a homogenization process for reaction times that are below an explicit threshold. The key idea is to show, that below this threshold, a strict comparison principle holds for the infinite system. Above this threshold, we show that collisions can occur. In a second time, for well-chosen dynamics and higher reaction times, we show that there exist some microscopic pursuit laws that do not lead to the previous macroscopic model. Such a law is here derived as a perturbation of the stationnary solution, for which all the vehicles are equally spaced at initial times. The second chapter is dedicated to the homogenization of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation for traffic lights. We consider an infinite road where lights are equally spaced and with a constant phase shift between two lights. This model takes the form of a first order Hamilton-Jacobi equation with an Hamiltonian that is discontinuous in the space variable and the notion of viscosity solution is the one introduced by C. Imbert and R. Monneau (2017). Each light is modelled as a time-periodic flux limiter and the traffic flow between two lights corresponds to the classical LWR model. The global Hamiltonian will be time-periodic but not periodic in space for a general phase shift. We first show that the rescaled solution converges toward the solution of the expected macroscopic model where the effective Hamiltonian depends on the phase shift. In a second time, numerical simulations are used to analyse the effect of the phase shift on the effective Hamiltonian and to reveal some properties of the effective Hamiltonian from the numerical observations. In the third chapter, we are interested in some homogenization problems of Hamilton-Jacobi equations within the almost periodic setting which generalizes the usual periodic one. The first problem is the evolutionary version of the work cite {ishii2000almost}, with the same stationary Hamiltonian. The second problem has already been solved in the second chapter but we use here almost periodic arguments for the time periodic and space almost periodic Hamiltonian. We only study the ergodicity of the associated cell problems. We finally discuss open problems, the first one concerning a space and time almost periodic Hamiltonian and the second one being a microscopic model for traffic flow modelling where the Hamiltonian is almost periodic in space