Cette thèse développe des approches pour le diagnostic et le pronostic de systèmes dynamiques incertains en utilisant la technique de modélisation Bond Graph (BG). Tout d'abord, une représentation par intervalles des incertitudes paramétriques et de mesures est intégrée à un modèle BG-LFT (Linear Fractional Transformation). Une méthode de détection robuste de défaut est développée en utilisant les règles de l'arithmétique d'intervalle pour la génération de seuils robustes et adaptatifs sur les résidus nominaux. La méthode est validée en temps réel sur un système de générateur de vapeur.Deuxièmement, une nouvelle méthodologie de pronostic hybride est développée en utilisant les Relations de Redondance Analytique déduites d'un modèle BG et les Filtres Particulaires. Une estimation de l'état courant du paramètre candidat pour le pronostic est obtenue en termes probabilistes. La prédiction de la durée de vie résiduelle est atteinte en termes probabilistes. Les incertitudes associées aux mesures bruitées, les conditions environnementales, etc. sont gérées efficacement. La méthode est validée en temps réel sur un système mécatronique incertain.Enfin, la méthodologie de pronostic développée est mise en œuvre et validée pour le suivi efficace de la santé d'un sous-système électrochimique d’une pile à combustible à membrane échangeuse de protons (PEMFC) industrielle à l’aide de données de dégradation réelles. / This thesis develops the approaches for diagnostics and prognostics of uncertain dynamic systems in Bond Graph (BG) modeling framework. Firstly, properties of Interval Arithmetic (IA) and BG in Linear Fractional Transformation, are integrated for representation of parametric and measurement uncertainties on an uncertain BG model. Robust fault detection methodology is developed by utilizing the rules of IA for the generation of adaptive interval valued thresholds over the nominal residuals. The method is validated in real time on an uncertain and highly complex steam generator system.Secondly, a novel hybrid prognostic methodology is developed using BG derived Analytical Redundancy Relationships and Particle Filtering algorithms. Estimations of the current state of health of a system parameter and the associated hidden parameters are achieved in probabilistic terms. Prediction of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of the system parameter is also achieved in probabilistic terms. The associated uncertainties arising out of noisy measurements, environmental conditions etc. are effectively managed to produce a reliable prediction of RUL with suitable confidence bounds. The method is validated in real time on an uncertain mechatronic system.Thirdly, the prognostic methodology is validated and implemented on the electrical electro-chemical subsystem of an industrial Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. A BG of the latter is utilized which is suited for diagnostics and prognostics. The hybrid prognostic methodology is validated, involving real degradation data sets.

Effective knowledge sharing within project teams is critical to knowledge-intensive professional service firms. Prior research studies indicate a positive association between trust, social-cognitive factors, and effective knowledge sharing among co-workers. The conceptual framework proposed here builds on these studies, and draws from theoretical foundations from the organizational behavior, psychology, information studies, sociology, and management literature on organizational trust and knowledge sharing, and identifies the most significant factors found to influence organizational knowledge sharing directly and indirectly through trust. The study makes methodological contributions in the form of conceptualizations for knowledge sharing behavior, trust, and tie strength. Also, it provides a more nuanced and focused analysis, by factoring for knowledge type and co-worker working relationship. Data were collected from 275 knowledge workers (‘legal professionals’ and paralegals) engaged in shared legal project work, at one of Canada’s largest multijurisdictional law firms. The nature of their work required a significant reliance on co-workers, for both explicit and tacit knowledge. Multiple regression analysis, among other statistical techniques, was used to test the hypotheses and determine significant relationships. Of the factors examined in the study, the three found to have the strongest effect on respondents’ trust in their co-workers were shared vision, shared language, and tie strength. Furthermore, the two factors found to have the strongest effect on organizational knowledge sharing behavior were trust and shared vision. Overall trust was also found to have a mediating effect between shared vision and knowledge sharing behavior, and between shared language and knowledge sharing behavior. A significant implication for practitioners is that effective knowledge sharing among co-workers requires a nurturing manager to work on developing co-worker trust and shared vision. Furthermore, a manager wanting to promote trust between co-workers must nurture shared language and shared vision.

Effective knowledge sharing within project teams is critical to knowledge-intensive professional service firms. Prior research studies indicate a positive association between trust, social-cognitive factors, and effective knowledge sharing among co-workers. The conceptual framework proposed here builds on these studies, and draws from theoretical foundations from the organizational behavior, psychology, information studies, sociology, and management literature on organizational trust and knowledge sharing, and identifies the most significant factors found to influence organizational knowledge sharing directly and indirectly through trust. The study makes methodological contributions in the form of conceptualizations for knowledge sharing behavior, trust, and tie strength. Also, it provides a more nuanced and focused analysis, by factoring for knowledge type and co-worker working relationship. Data were collected from 275 knowledge workers (‘legal professionals’ and paralegals) engaged in shared legal project work, at one of Canada’s largest multijurisdictional law firms. The nature of their work required a significant reliance on co-workers, for both explicit and tacit knowledge. Multiple regression analysis, among other statistical techniques, was used to test the hypotheses and determine significant relationships. Of the factors examined in the study, the three found to have the strongest effect on respondents’ trust in their co-workers were shared vision, shared language, and tie strength. Furthermore, the two factors found to have the strongest effect on organizational knowledge sharing behavior were trust and shared vision. Overall trust was also found to have a mediating effect between shared vision and knowledge sharing behavior, and between shared language and knowledge sharing behavior. A significant implication for practitioners is that effective knowledge sharing among co-workers requires a nurturing manager to work on developing co-worker trust and shared vision. Furthermore, a manager wanting to promote trust between co-workers must nurture shared language and shared vision.

Nos travaux de thèses s’intéressent au pronostic de défaillance de composant critique et à l’estimation de la durée de vie résiduelle avant défaillance (RUL). Nous avons développé des méthodes basées sur l’expérience. Cette orientation nous permet de nous affranchir de la définition d’un seuil de défaillance, point problématique lors de l’estimation du RUL. Nous avons pris appui sur le paradigme de Raisonnement à Partir de Cas (R à PC) pour assurer le suivi d’un nouveau composant critique et prédire son RUL. Une approche basée sur les instances (IBL) a été développée en proposant plusieurs formalisations de l’expérience : une supervisée tenant compte de l’ état du composant sous forme d’indicateur de santé et une non-supervisée agrégeant les données capteurs en une série temporelle mono-dimensionnelle formant une trajectoire de dégradation. Nous avons ensuite fait évoluer cette approche en intégrant de la connaissance à ces instances. La connaissance est extraite à partir de données capteurs et est de deux types : temporelle qui complète la modélisation des instances et fréquentielle qui, associée à la mesure de similarité permet d’affiner la phase de remémoration. Cette dernière prend appui sur deux types de mesures : une pondérée entre fenêtres parallèles et fixes et une pondérée avec projection temporelle. Les fenêtres sont glissantes ce qui permet d’identifier et de localiser l’état actuel de la dégradation de nouveaux composants. Une autre approche orientée donnée a été test ée. Celle-ci est se base sur des caractéristiques extraites des expériences, qui sont mono-dimensionnelles dans le premier cas et multi-dimensionnelles autrement. Ces caractéristiques seront modélisées par un algorithme de régression à vecteurs de support (SVR). Ces approches ont été évaluées sur deux types de composants : les turboréacteurs et les batteries «Li-ion». Les résultats obtenus sont intéressants mais dépendent du type de données traitées. / Our thesis work is concerned with the development of experience based approachesfor criticalcomponent prognostics and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) estimation. This choice allows us to avoidthe problematic issue of setting a failure threshold.Our work was based on Case Based Reasoning (CBR) to track the health status of a new componentand predict its RUL. An Instance Based Learning (IBL) approach was first developed offering twoexperience formalizations. The first is a supervised method that takes into account the status of thecomponent and produces health indicators. The second is an unsupervised method that fuses thesensory data into degradation trajectories.The approach was then evolved by integrating knowledge. Knowledge is extracted from the sensorydata and is of two types: temporal that completes the modeling of instances and frequential that,along with the similarity measure refine the retrieval phase. The latter is based on two similaritymeasures: a weighted one between fixed parallel windows and a weighted similarity with temporalprojection through sliding windows which allow actual health status identification.Another data-driven technique was tested. This one is developed from features extracted from theexperiences that can be either mono or multi-dimensional. These features are modeled by a SupportVector Regression (SVR) algorithm. The developed approaches were assessed on two types ofcritical components: turbofans and ”Li-ion” batteries. The obtained results are interesting but theydepend on the type of the treated data.

In diploma thesis Open Call I focus on unequal position of artists in current art world in which, despite the transparent practices like open calls, still persists the cult of name, the power of networking and personal recommendation. This topic I artistically process in form of practical artistic intervention, which is close to the tactics of 1:1 scale of Arte Útil - specifically by creation of software tool called Nomin. Its purpose is to support weakened or marginalized groups of artists. Nomin uses properties of email protocol SMTP to allow its users-spectators to send fake self-recommending emails - from email addresses of famous curators to the inboxes various galleries or other art institutions. During development of program Nomin and its technical background (software documentation, web page etc.) I followed the paradigm of free, libre, open source software (FLOSS) and also the methodology of agile software development in order to provide in this gesamtsoftwerk the users-spectators with fully functional, user-friendly software and give them possibility to influence further development of Nomin or directly participate on it. Created artwork is thus not a single artefact but rather a set of interconnected objects and practices grounded in the network of social bonds and behaviours which balances on the edge of institutional critique, useful art, participatory art and collective performance.

Hlavní cílem dizertace je poskytnutí uceleného pohledu na problematiku technické prognostiky, která nachází uplatnění v tzv. prediktivní údržbě založené na trvalém monitorování zařízení a odhadu úrovně degradace systému či jeho zbývající životnosti a to zejména v oblasti komplexních zařízení a strojů. V současnosti je technická diagnostika poměrně dobře zmapovaná a reálně nasazená na rozdíl od technické prognostiky, která je stále rozvíjejícím se oborem, který ovšem postrádá větší množství reálných aplikaci a navíc ne všechny metody jsou dostatečně přesné a aplikovatelné pro embedded systémy. Dizertační práce přináší přehled základních metod použitelných pro účely predikce zbývající užitné životnosti, jsou zde popsány metriky pomocí, kterých je možné jednotlivé přístupy porovnávat ať už z pohledu přesnosti, ale také i z pohledu výpočetní náročnosti. Jedno z dizertačních jader tvoří doporučení a postup pro výběr vhodné prognostické metody s ohledem na prognostická kritéria. Dalším dizertačním jádrem je představení tzv. částicového filtrovaní (particle filtering) vhodné pro model-based prognostiku s ověřením jejich implementace a porovnáním. Hlavní dizertační jádro reprezentuje případovou studii pro velmi aktuální téma prognostiky Li-Ion baterii s ohledem na trvalé monitorování. Případová studie demonstruje proces prognostiky založené na modelu a srovnává možné přístupy jednak pro odhad doby před vybitím baterie, ale také sleduje možné vlivy na degradaci baterie. Součástí práce je základní ověření modelu Li-Ion baterie a návrh prognostického procesu.

L’objectif de ce travail est d’élaborer un modèle performant/précis de la machine électrique permettant de proposer une technique de pronostic. Dans cette thèse, nous commençons par un état de l’art sur les véhicules électriques hybrides (VHE), les différents types de machines électriques utilisées dans les VHE ainsi que les différents types de défauts pouvant survenir dans ces machines électriques. Nous identifions également les indicateurs de défauts appropriés aux différents défauts considérés. Ensuite, une synthèse de techniques de pronostic pouvant être appliquées est proposée. Le modèle à éléments finis électromagnétiques, thermiques et vibratoires (FEM) de la machine à aimants permanents est présenté. Le modèle est élaboré en fonctionnement normal et défaillant. Les types de défauts considérés sont : démagnétisation, court-circuit et excentricité. Une comparaison entre les deux approches analytique et FEM (méthode numérique) pour la modélisation de machines électromagnétiques est effectuée. Les indicateurs de défauts analysés pour l’extraction les plus pertinents utilisent les différents signaux mesurées suivants : le couple, la température ainsi que les signaux vibratoires en états sains et défectueux. L’approche de pronostic adoptée qui est le modèle de Markov caché (HMM) est développée. L'aspect technique de la méthode est présenté et le module du pronostic est formulé. La méthode de HMM est utilisée pour détecter et localiser les défauts à petites amplitudes. Une stratégie systématique a été développée. Le vieillissement de l’équipement de la machine, en particulier des éléments sensibles comme la bobine de stator et l’aimant permanent, est une question très importante pour le calcul du RUL (Remaining Useful Life). Une stratégie d’estimation pour le calcul RUL est présentée et discutée. La configuration en boucle fermée est très importante. Elle est adoptée par tous les systèmes de véhicules disponibles. Par conséquent, les mêmes étapes mentionnées précédemment s'appliquent également à une configuration en boucle fermée. Un modèle global où l’entrée du FEM de la machine provient de l’onduleur modélisé est élaboré. / The core of the work is to build an accurate model of the electrical machine where the prognostic technique is applied. In this thesis we started by a literature review on hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), the different types of electrical machine used in HEV’s and the different types of faults that may occur in those electrical machine. We also identify the useful monitoring parameters that are beneficial for those different types of faults. Then, a survey is presented where all the prognostic techniques that can be applied on this application are enumerated. The electromagnetic, thermal and vibration finite element model (FEM) of the permanent magnet machine is presented. The model is built at healthy operation and when a fault is integrated. The considered types of faults are:demagnetization, turn to turn short circuit and eccentricity. A confrontation between analytical and FEM (numerical method) for electromagnetic machine modeling is illustrated. Fault indicators where useful measured parameters forfault identification are recognized and useful features from the measured parameters are extracted; torque, temperature and vibration signal are elaborated for healthy and faulty states. The strategy of the adopted prognostic approach which is Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is explained. The technical aspect of the method is presented and the prognostic model is formulated. HMM is applied to detect and localize small scale fault small scale faults were where a systematic strategy is developed. The aging of the machine’s equipment,specially the sensitive ones that are the stator coil’s and the permanent magnet, is a very important matter for RUL calculation. An estimation strategy for RUL calculation is presented and discussed for those mentioned machine’s components. Closed loop configuration is very important; it is adopted by all available vehicle systems. Hence, the same previously mentioned steps are applied for a closed loop configuration too. A global model where the input of the machine’s FEM comes from the modeled inverter is built.

MSCAGR ( Plant Production) / Many high valued tree species of medicinal significance in the Limpopo Province, South Africa exhibit seed dormancy, and also contain aromatic oils which inhibit rooting of their stem cuttings. These plant species are under pressure due to human over-exploitation. The main objective of this study was to investigate effects of rooting hormones on the rooting ability that will help in domesticating some of the selected high valued medicinal plants, Elaeodendron transvaalense (bushveld saffron), Brackenridgea zanguebarica (yellow peeling plane), and Warburgia salutaris (pepper-bark tree). Stem cuttings of these plant species were prepared and treated with various concentrations (500, 1000 and 2000 ppm) of IBA, IAA and NAA in different growth media (Natural soil, farm soil and hygromix) at a nursery house. 180 experimental units were sown and arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), each treatment replicated five times and then monitored for a period of three months. Data were only obtained from Brackenridgea zanguebarica as other species dried up two weeks after sprouting. The two variables measured from the experiments were sprouted stems and number of leaves. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability level was used to compare treatment using STATISTICA software analysis package. The hormone, hormone concentration, growth media and their interactions had effect on sprouted stems and number of leaves produced on Brackenridgea zanguebarica cuttings, with no record of rooting ability. IBA (500 ppm and 1000 ppm) and control (without rooting hormone) showed high significant results with natural soil and farm soil in terms of leaf production compared to the hygromix, which is significantly lower from others. IBA at the various concentrations (500, 1000 and 2000 ppm) and the control gave the highest percentage sprouted stem on both natural soil and farm soil as compared with other hormones at the same / NRF

MSc (Botany) / Department of Botany / Since time immemorial plants have traditionally been used for various purposes in many parts of the world including Vhembe district, Limpopo province of South Africa. The use of C. abbreviata plants at Matsa village of Vhembe district also contributes significantly to the livelihood of the community. However, little work has been made in the past to properly document and promote the knowledge. The purpose of the present study was to record and analyse the ethnobotanical knowledge of C. abbreviata within the people of Matsa village around Nzhelele in Vhembe district. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered on 50 informants from different households selected randomly to gather data regarding the local name of C. abbreviata, the uses and its availability. Significantly higher number of medicinal use was reported by elderly people including both men and women as compared to middle-aged, younger people. Other use categories included firewood, furniture and joinery production and shade for people in the area. Awareness on the importance of the species should therefore be created amongst the people, especially the young ones. Understanding the ethnobotanical knowledge of indigenous species within an area is crucial towards development of its management plan. / NRF

PhD (Botany) / Department of Botany / Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv. (Ochnaceae) commonly known as “Yellow Peeling Plane”, is an important medicinal plant species, and one of the most threatened tree species that is endemic to Thengwe village in Vhembe District, South Africa. It is widely harvested for traditional purposes and difficult to propagate sexually and asexually. Nowadays, it has become threatened and this unique plant population is believed to be declining in the Brackenridgea Nature Reserve (BNR). According to the Red List of South African plants, B. zanguebarica is considered a critically endangered medicinal plant. All these facts combined with a lack of knowledge on the conservation of this species prompted this study on its conservation. To ascertain the effective conservation and proper management of this multipurpose tree, this study was conducted with the aim to improve its conservation strategy by investigating current threats to the existence of B. zangueberica, the chemical constituents from the different plant parts, the propagation methods of the species, and the factors delaying the germination of its seeds. In this study, an assessment of the current population threats was important as a first step in conservation; this would update the status of the species in its natural habitat. The current status of Brackenridgea zanguebarica was conducted through an extensive field survey in the Brackenridgea Nature Reserve (BNR), where a belt transect method was deployed to record quantitative information, while the harvesting damage was estimated using a sliding scale from 0 to 5. The structure of the populations in terms of the stem diameter size classes showed a bell shape vi pattern. About 60% of individuals showed some signs of plant parts extraction as the stem bark was reported to be the main plant part harvested. The population structure, however, was dominated by juvenile plants due to the selective harvesting of mature individuals; this hinders fruit production leading to poor or slow seed production. The present study aimed to compare the chemical constituents and the antimicrobial activities of some parts of this plant species. The extracts were screened for phytochemicals using standard methods. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was carried out to compare the chemical constituents using various solvent systems of varying polarity. Agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of plant extracts respectively, against three bacteria and four fungi. The phytochemical analysis revealed a close similarity of various phytoconstituents of the three plant parts (stem bark, twigs and leaves). TLC analysis showed a slight difference in the acetone extract of different plant parts with more bands on the leaves than the stem bark and twigs. Acetone extracts of the three plant parts exhibited varying degrees of antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida glabrata, while none of the extracts showed any activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis. However, analysis of the antibacterial activity of various extracts revealed that the best inhibitory activity was produced by the stem bark extract compared to the leaf and twig extract. vii The sustainable way to meet the growing demand of Brackenridgea zanguebarica is to increase its availability through propagation practices. Unfortunately, the conservation of B. zanguebarica is hampered by lack of information on how it can be propagated. Sexual and asexual propagations were conducted to determine an efficient method to increase the number of individuals of this plant species. Seed propagation was carried out to study the effect of various pre-treatments on germination, in order to understand the germination requirements; vegetative propagation was conducted to assess if B. zanguebarica could be successfully propagated via stem cuttings if the appropriate growth hormones and growing media were applied. Brackenridgea zanguebarica seed did not germinate at all under any of the conditions tested. However, the results, showed the potential of propagating this species from stem cutting despite the poor results obtained. Thus B. zanguebarica was found to be difficult to propagate sexually and asexually. Seeds serve as a means of reproduction and a vital element to ensure the survival of plant species. Seed germination is controlled by a number of factors. The propagation of B. zanguebarica via seed is very difficult and research has not been undertaken to understand possible factors that may delay its germination. This study was aimed to investigate and describe both the morphological and anatomical features of B. zanguebarica seed, in order to identify structural features implicated in its poor germination. To achieve this goal, a morphological and anatomical study was conducted based on the observation of seeds under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). Water uptake potential was assessed by the increase in seed mass. The morpho-anatomical analysis indicated that some structures of the seed, such as seed coat, and the presence of endosperm viii surrounding the embryo that consisted of two prominent cotyledons, seem to greatly hinder the germination of this species. The research findings provided information regarding the seed structure which is one important step in identifying useful techniques to improve seed germination for conservation purposes. / NRF