Nas topologias de redes WDM-PON (Wavelength Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Network) baseadas em transmissores colorless, isto é, transmissores que possam operar em uma grande gama de comprimentos de onda, que empreguem técnica de auto-alimentação e reuso de comprimento de onda, tem despertado grande interesse devido a sua comprovada eficiência, granularidade e custo reduzido em relação às alternativas. Entretanto, o alcance destas redes é limitado pelo emprego de remodulação, devido a dependência existente com a qualidade dos sinais a serem remodulados. Neste cenário, mantendo-se uma melhor relação custo-benefício, taxas de operação típicas são da ordem de 1,25, e 2,5 Gb/s (20 quilômetros). Neste trabalho é investigada uma nova topologia que combina as técnicas de auto-alimentação e reuso de comprimento de onda, bem como, utiliza um circuito de dupla cavidade óptica, possibilitando um reforço no apagamento óptico e manutenção do estado da polarização no percurso de recirculação da cavidade externa, objetivando uma melhora na qualidade dos sinais a serem remodulados, possibilitando altas taxas de transmissão e um maior alcance da rede. Nesta topologia, amplificadores ópticos semicondutores refletivos são utilizados como transmissores colorless, por meio da emissão espontânea amplificada, garantido assim uma redução no custo da rede óptica de acesso. Como metodologia adotada, inicialmente foram realizadas caracterizações ópticas no ambiente de simulação, validação da palheta configurada no simulador com resultados experimentais e avaliações da topologia em taxas simétricas de 1,25 Gb/s. Ademais, são conduzidas análises comparativas entre a topologia proposta frente a topologias disponíveis na literatura no estado da arte. Com os resultados obtidos, acredita-se que essa proposta atende aos requisitos de capacidade agregada e custo reduzido, podendo alcançar taxas de transmissão de até 10 Gb/s utilizando transmissores de baixa complexidade, características essenciais para impulsionar a implementação de redes de acesso óptico. / WDM-PON topologies based on colorless transmitters employing self-seeding and wavelength-reuse techniques have attracted a great deal of interest because of its well known efficiency, granularity and reduced cost, when compared to other alternatives in the literature. Nevertheless, the network reach is limited by the use of remodulation scheme. Maintaining an adequate cost-benefit relation requires typical operating rates of the order of 1.25 Gb/s to 2.5 Gb/s over 20 km of SSMF. In the above framework, we investigate a new topology which combines self-seeding and wavelength-reuse techniques, but also employs a scheme to reinforce the data erasure in the optical carrier, simultaneously providing state of polarization (SOP) maintenance in the external cavity recirculation path. The proposed configuration improves the quality of the signals to be remodulated, thus allowing high rate and broader reach. Specifically, in our work, reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers are employed as colorless transmitters, by using their own amplified spontaneous emission as a seed to provide the optical carrier. Optical analysis were performed in a simulation environment, including self-seeding layout validation by comparison to experimental results at the symmetric transmission rate of 1.25 Gb/s. Next, comparative analysis are conducted between the topology proposed in this work and topologies in the state of the art, found in the literature. According to the results, we believed that the proposal meets the requirements of aggregate capacity and reduced cost, being able to reach transmission rates of up to 10 Gb/s by using transmitters of low complexity, essential features to drive optical access networks implementation.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Environmental Science and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Environmental Science and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Environmental Science and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Chionochloa, a genus of snow tussock grasses native to New Zealand, exhibits pronounced mast seeding. Chionochloa suffers very high levels of pre-dispersal flower and seed predation by three main insects: Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae, a cecidomyiid midge, which is formally described here; Megacraspedus calamogonus, a gelechiid moth and Diplotoxa similis, a chloropid fly. Seven species of parasitoids that attack these seed predators were discovered. Four species parasitize M. calamogonus (one tachinid fly and three hymenopteran wasps), one parasitizes D. similis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and two parasitize E. chionochloae, (a pteromalid wasp Gastrancistrus sp. and a platygastrid wasp Zelostemma chionochloae, which is given a formal description here). The abundance, predation levels by each of the insect species, and interactions between all the organisms in the community were studied across three elevations at Mount Hutt over three summer seasons. M. calamogonus was most abundant at 450 m altitude during all three seasons. D. similis was most common at 1070 m altitude, while its predation levels peaked in low flowering seasons and decreased in high seasons. E. chionochloae was abundant in all three altitudes and increased its predation levels with increasing flowering intensity. E. chionochloae was confirmed to use prolonged diapause of at least three years. Prolonged diapause was also confirmed in its two parasitoids. Chionochloa plants were manipulated with various treatments to test the effect on diapause in E. chionochloae and its two parasitoids. Treatments included plant warming, root pruning, gibberellic acid sprayed on the plants and combinations of these treatments. All three insects changed their emergence in response to some treatments and therefore it was suggested that combined with risk-spreading diapause, they may use some predicting to emerge from prolonged diapause. E. chionochloae control their diapause following some of the cues that Chionochloa use for flowering, while Z. chionochloae and Gastrancistrus in some cases follow their host’s cues and in others use similar cues as Chionochloa plants. Emergence or diapause predictions differed across elevations and plant species in all three insect seed/flower predators. E. chionochloae had female-biased sex ratios in different populations even after prolonged diapause. There was week evidence that both parasitoid species are female-biased in the first emergence year and male-biased after more than one year in diapause. Therefore it was suggested that diapause is not more costly for females of E. chionochloae and its parasitoid than for males. Females of all three species were not found to be better predictors (i.e, more likely to respond to treatments by not entering extended diapause) than males. The complex interactions of all the organisms in this web are thought to be sensitive to climate, and it was suggested that the global climate change may alter this sensitive system.

Ce travail présente les résultats de recherches sur le contrôle d'écoulement dans les liquides diélectriques. L'objectif est d'étudier les potentialités du contrôle d'écoulement au moyen d'actionneurs ElectroHydroDynamiques. La 1re partie de cette thèse est notamment consacrée à l'étude bibliographique générale du contrôle d'écoulement et des techniques disponibles pour la mesure de vitesse de fluide. La méthode PIV est choisie pour caractériser l'écoulement de panache chargé. Cependant la présence d'un champ électrique intense dans un liquide diélectrique remet potentiellement en question l'hypothèse selon laquelle les traceurs suivent fidèlement les mouvements du liquide. Des études théorique et expérimentale permettent de préciser les conditions d'un traceur idéal et de choisir le meilleur type d'ensemencement pour l'huile de silicone. La 2nde partie de ce travail est consacrée à l'étude du contrôle d'écoulement sur un profil d'aile NACA0015 à ultra-bas Reynolds (Re < 5000). Une étude bibliographique présente les stratégies de contrôle d'écoulement autour de profil d'aile ainsi que les types d'actionneurs EHD appliqués aux liquides diélectriques. L'écoulement naturel en champ de vitesse moyen puis instationnaire est caractérisé et comparé à l'écoulement contrôlé. Le calcul de la force à partir d'un bilan de quantité de mouvement (Navier-Stokes), permet d'estimer les efforts hydrodynamiques appliqués par le fluide sur le profil immergé. Des polaires de portance et de traînée sont obtenues et permettent de quantifier l'efficacité de l'actionneur EHD. Enfin, les mécanismes de contrôle sont précisés et mettent en lumière les potentiels et les limites de l'actionneur. / This work presents results of research on flow control in a dielectric liquid. The aim is to demonstrate our ability to control flow by means of ElectroHydroDynamic actuation. The first part of this PhD thesis is dedicated to a general overview of flow control and the methods available for measuring fluid velocity. The PIV method is selected to charaterize the flow of a charged plume. However, the presence of a high electric field in the dielectric liquid might bring into question the validity of using PIV, which is based on the fact that tracers accurately follow fluid movement. Theoretical and experimental studies were performed to find the proper conditions for using an ideal tracer that guarantees the accuracy of velocity measurements. This part enables us to choose the best seeding particle in silicone oil. The second part of this work is devoted to the study of flow control on a NACA0015 wing profile at ultra-low Reynolds numbers (Re < 5000). A bibliographic study presents strategies of flow control around wing profiles and in addition deals with different EHD actuators for dielectric liquids. Mean velocity fields and unsteady velocity fields of baseline flow are characterized and compared to controlled flow. The calculation of force based on the conservation of momentum (Navier-Stokes equations) enables us to estimate the hydrodynamic stresses applied by the fluid to the immersed profile. Lift and drag polarities are obtained to quantify the efficiency of the EHD actuator. Finally, the mechanisms of control are clarified and highlight the potential and limits of the EHD actuator for flow control applications.

O cultivo de plantas de cobertura como cultura de inverno para produzir palha e proteger o solo após a colheita da cultura de verão, na região do Cerrado brasileiro, tem sido um dos maiores desafios para os produtores que optaram pela adoção do sistema semeadura direta. Outra dificuldade inerente ao sistema semeadura direta, com peculiaridade para o Cerrado, refere-se ao manejo do nitrogênio (N) na cultura do milho, já que o ciclo deste nutriente é extremamente dependente das condições climáticas, apresentando, por isto, comportamento diferente da região Sul do país. Nesta situação, a aplicação de N na semeadura da cultura de cobertura de solo com o objetivo de aumentar a produção de palha ou em pré-semeadura da cultura principal, buscando otimizar tempo, pode ser uma estratégia que apresente a mesma eficiência da fertilização na cobertura no milho em sucessão à soja. Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar a produção de massa de matéria seca de culturas de cobertura de solo e de espécies espontâneas; determinar a influência das épocas da fertilização nitrogenada nos caracteres fenológicos, na produtividade de grãos e de massa de matéria seca da cultura do milho cultivado após 2 anos de soja e, também, quantificar a eficiência da adubação nitrogenada, utilizando a técnica da diluição isotópica (15N). Foram desenvolvidos dois experimentos na região do Triângulo Mineiro, no Estado de Minas Gerais, avaliando-se doses, fontes e épocas de aplicação de N. As doses de N foram: 110 kg ha-1 no experimento em solo de textura média e 70 kg ha-1 no experimento em solo de textura muito argilosa, como dose suplementar à adubação de semeadura. As culturas de cobertura de solo, cultivadas após a colheita da cultura de verão, não foram eficientes na produção de palha; a adubação nitrogenada aplicada na semeadura da cultura de cobertura de solo também não resultou em produção de palha. No experimento em solo de textura média houve resposta à aplicação de N em relação à testemunha e beneficio do parcelamento em diferentes épocas, em relação à aplicação de maiores doses em uma única aplicação. Neste experimento, não houve diferença na produtividade de grãos na fertilização de cobertura do milho, usando uréia ou sulfato de amônio. Em solo de textura muito argilosa não houve resposta na produtividade de grãos do milho quando se aplicou N suplementar à adubação de semeadura, independente da época de aplicação. A eficiência da adubação nitrogenada variou de 26 a 70% para as diferentes épocas de aplicação, sendo que a média de aproveitamento foi de 50%. A aplicação antecipada não se mostrou eficiente em relação à recuperação do fertilizante, sendo recomendada adubação em cobertura, principalmente em solos mais arenosos / Cultivation of soil cover crops as second crop willing to produce straw and protect the soil after the harvest of the summer crop at the Brazilian Cerrados region had been one of the biggest challenges faced by farmers that decided for the no tillage system. Another problem inherent to the no tillage system in the Cerrados in relation with the nitrogen management (N) for corn crops is due to the cycle of this nutrient is extremely dependent on climatic conditions and for this reason, a totally different activity in comparison with Southern region of Brazil must be considered. In this situation, N supply whether in the seeding time of the soil cover crops in order to increase the straw production or before the of main cultivation (pre-seeding) looking to optimize time, it might be a strategy that demonstrates the same efficiency offered by the topdressing of the corn in soybean succession. The objectives of the study were to evaluate dry matter production in the soil cover crops and spontaneous species; to determine the influence of different timing of N-fertilizer supply in the phenology characters, yield and dry matter of corn after 2 years of soybean cultivation and, also, to quantify the efficiency of the nitrogen supply using the isotopic dilution technique (15N). Two experiments were carried out at the Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, where rates, sources and timing of N applications were evaluated. The rates of N were: 110 kg ha-1 for the sandy clay loam soil experiment and 70 kg ha-1 for the very clayed soil experiment, besides the nitrogen supplied at the corn crop seeding. The cultivation of the soil cover crops after the harvest of the summer crop was not efficient for cover straw production; the nitrogen supplied at the seeding time of the cover crops also did not result in cover straw production. On the sandy clay loam experiment there was response to nitrogen regarding to the control treatment and also pointed benefit using split time application in relation with higher dose n a unique application. Also there was no difference in the corn yield whether by using urea fertilization or ammonium sulfate topdressing. For the very clayed soil experiment, there was no response on corn yield when nitrogen was supplied at the seeding independent of application timing. The efficiency of the nitrogen fertilization ranged from 26 to 70% among the different application timing and the average efficiency was 50%. The anticipated application did not demonstrate efficient with regard to the fertilizer recovery, being recommended topdressing applications, especially in sandy soils

Nas topologias de redes WDM-PON (Wavelength Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Network) baseadas em transmissores colorless, isto é, transmissores que possam operar em uma grande gama de comprimentos de onda, que empreguem técnica de auto-alimentação e reuso de comprimento de onda, tem despertado grande interesse devido a sua comprovada eficiência, granularidade e custo reduzido em relação às alternativas. Entretanto, o alcance destas redes é limitado pelo emprego de remodulação, devido a dependência existente com a qualidade dos sinais a serem remodulados. Neste cenário, mantendo-se uma melhor relação custo-benefício, taxas de operação típicas são da ordem de 1,25, e 2,5 Gb/s (20 quilômetros). Neste trabalho é investigada uma nova topologia que combina as técnicas de auto-alimentação e reuso de comprimento de onda, bem como, utiliza um circuito de dupla cavidade óptica, possibilitando um reforço no apagamento óptico e manutenção do estado da polarização no percurso de recirculação da cavidade externa, objetivando uma melhora na qualidade dos sinais a serem remodulados, possibilitando altas taxas de transmissão e um maior alcance da rede. Nesta topologia, amplificadores ópticos semicondutores refletivos são utilizados como transmissores colorless, por meio da emissão espontânea amplificada, garantido assim uma redução no custo da rede óptica de acesso. Como metodologia adotada, inicialmente foram realizadas caracterizações ópticas no ambiente de simulação, validação da palheta configurada no simulador com resultados experimentais e avaliações da topologia em taxas simétricas de 1,25 Gb/s. Ademais, são conduzidas análises comparativas entre a topologia proposta frente a topologias disponíveis na literatura no estado da arte. Com os resultados obtidos, acredita-se que essa proposta atende aos requisitos de capacidade agregada e custo reduzido, podendo alcançar taxas de transmissão de até 10 Gb/s utilizando transmissores de baixa complexidade, características essenciais para impulsionar a implementação de redes de acesso óptico. / WDM-PON topologies based on colorless transmitters employing self-seeding and wavelength-reuse techniques have attracted a great deal of interest because of its well known efficiency, granularity and reduced cost, when compared to other alternatives in the literature. Nevertheless, the network reach is limited by the use of remodulation scheme. Maintaining an adequate cost-benefit relation requires typical operating rates of the order of 1.25 Gb/s to 2.5 Gb/s over 20 km of SSMF. In the above framework, we investigate a new topology which combines self-seeding and wavelength-reuse techniques, but also employs a scheme to reinforce the data erasure in the optical carrier, simultaneously providing state of polarization (SOP) maintenance in the external cavity recirculation path. The proposed configuration improves the quality of the signals to be remodulated, thus allowing high rate and broader reach. Specifically, in our work, reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers are employed as colorless transmitters, by using their own amplified spontaneous emission as a seed to provide the optical carrier. Optical analysis were performed in a simulation environment, including self-seeding layout validation by comparison to experimental results at the symmetric transmission rate of 1.25 Gb/s. Next, comparative analysis are conducted between the topology proposed in this work and topologies in the state of the art, found in the literature. According to the results, we believed that the proposal meets the requirements of aggregate capacity and reduced cost, being able to reach transmission rates of up to 10 Gb/s by using transmitters of low complexity, essential features to drive optical access networks implementation.