Frugivore behavior and plant spatial genetics

Spatial genetics aims to understand the influence of environmental features and biological interactions on gene flow and genetic structure. In plants, spatial genetics is determined by the rate, pattern and spatial extent of gene dispersal within and between populations. Gene dispersal in plants is composed by seed dispersal and pollination. Seed dispersal increases the probabilities of mating between spatially distant, non-related, individuals, reducing the probability of biparental inbreeding, decreasing the incidence of unfavorable traits and increasing genetic diversity. In animal seed dispersal, foraging behavior and post-feeding movement range affect seed dispersal pattern and distance, with consequences in plant spatial genetics. This thesis aims to understand the relationship between frugivore behavior and spatial genetics while strengthening the current knowledge on seed dispersal by tamarins and using their dispersal of Leonia cymosa as a case study for a finer analysis of the effect of frugivore behavior on spatial genetics. Leonia cymosa Mart. (Violaceae), a small Neotropical understory tree, is exclusively dispersed at our study site by tamarins, Saguinus mystax, and Leontocebus nigrifrons. Leonia cymosa is, therefore, a good model for understanding the effects of frugivore behavior and plants spatial genetics. First, I analyzed the presence and strength of SGS in animal-dispersed plants studied in the last 20 years. I found animal behavior has an effect on spatial genetic structure, but pollination and marker type used could also have an influence on the strength of SGS. Second, I analyze seed dispersal distance of Leonia cymosa by tamarins, using plant genetics and animal behavior data in parallel. Methods for estimating seed dispersal distance did not differ significantly and mean seed dispersal distance for Leonia cymosa was between 218 and 304m. Third, I analyze spatial genetic structure (SGS) in Leonia cymosa through its life stages and put it in the context of tamarin behavior. SGS was present in seedlings, and weaker in juveniles and absent in adults of Leonia cymosa, likely due to tamarin seed dispersal patterns and extent. Clumped seed dispersal patterns might have a strong influence on SGS of seedlings, while the combination of-density-dependent mortality and relatively long seed dispersal distance likely reduces this effect in adulthood. Fourth, I analyzed the genetic composition of Leonia cymosa individuals growing on different tamarin home ranges. Home ranges were expected to create a seed dispersal barrier influencing overall gene flow. However, even though the parentage analysis showed no seed exchange across home ranges, genetic makeup shows no difference between individuals located in different home ranges, at all life stages, giving evidence that pollination or small shifts in time of home ranges, could have a strong effect in maintaining gene flow across home ranges. The results of this thesis give evidence that seed dispersal patterns and distance can strongly and differently affect plant spatial genetic structure, while, pollination might play an important role in maintaining gene flow in case of seed dispersal constraints

Measuring project success in local government.

Local government (councils) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, are responsible for the management and delivery of projects in various fields such as: information technology; engineering; and planning. Council budgets for capital works can vary from less than 2 million ($AUD) in smaller councils to over one hundred million ($AUD) in large city councils. Although projects are publicised and promoted as examples of effective local government, operations often comprise the bulk of the statutory reporting requirements. One reason for the preference of operational reporting over project reporting is the difficulty associated in measuring the success of projects. This paper will discuss the issues local government project managers must consider to determine if their project is a success

Dislocations in sound design for 3-d films: sound design and the 3-d cinematic experience

Since the success of James Cameron’s Avatar (2009),1 the feature film industry has embraced 3-D feature film technology. With 3-D films now setting a new benchmark for contemporary cinemagoers, the primary focus is directed towards these new stunning visuals. Sound is often neglected until the final filmmaking process as the visuals are taking up much of the film budget. 3-D has changed the relationship between the imagery and the accompanying soundtrack, losing aspects of the cohesive union compared with 2-D film. Having designed sound effects on Australia’s first digital animated 3-D film, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010),2 and several internationally released 3-D films since, it became apparent to me that the visuals are evolving technologically and artistically at a rate far greater than the soundtrack. This is creating a dislocation between the image and the soundtrack. Although cinema sound technology companies are trialing and releasing new ‘immersive’ technologies, they are not necessarily addressing the spatial relationship between the images and soundtracks of 3-D digital films. Through first hand experience, I question many of the working methodologies currently employed within the production and creation of the soundtrack for 3-D films. There is limited documentation on sound design within the 3-D feature film context, and as such, there are no rules or standards associated with this new practice. Sound designers and film sound mixers are continuing to use previous 2-D work practices in cinema sound, with limited and cautious experimentation of spatial sound design for 3-D. Although emerging technologies are capable of providing a superior and ‘more immersive’ soundtrack than previous formats, this does not necessarily mean that they provide an ideal solution for 3-D film. Indeed the film industry and cinema managers are showing some resistance in adopting these technologies, despite the push from technology vendors. Through practice-led research, I propose to research and question the following:Does the contemporary soundtrack suit 3-D films? ; Has sound technology used in 2-D film changed with the introduction of 3-D film? If it has, is this technology an ideal solution, or are further technical developments needed to allow greater creativity and cohesiveness of 3-D film sound design? ; How might industry practices need to develop in order to accommodate the increased dimension and image depth of 3-D visuals? ; Does a language exist to describe spatial sound design in 3-D cinema? ; What is the audience awareness of emerging film technologies? And what does this mean for filmmakers and the cinema? ; Looking beyond contemporary cinema practices, is there an alternative approach to creating a soundtrack that better represents the accompanying 3-D imagery

Development of new test instruments and protocols for the diagnostic of fuel cell stacks

In the area of fuel cell research, most of the experimental techniques and equipments are still devoted to the analysis of single cells or very short stacks. However, the diagnosis of fuel cell stacks providing significant power levels is a critical aspect to be considered for the integration of fuel cell systems into real applications such as vehicles or stationary gensets. In this article, a new instrument developed in-lab is proposed in order to satisfy the requirements of electrochemical impedance studies to be led on large FC generators made of numerous individual cells. Moreover, new voltammetry protocols dedicated to PEMFC stack analysis are described. They enable for instance the study of membrane permeability and loss of platinum activity inside complete PEMFC assemblies. Keywords: PEMFC; Stack; Characterization; Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy; Cyclic Voltammetry; Linear Sweep Voltammetry

Hacer región desde la universidad: La Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo (AUGM) como política de internacionalización autonomizante en la construcción de la gobernanza regional de Educación Superior (ES)

El presente artículo pretende constituir un aporte a las reflexiones sobre internacionalización de la Educación Superior (ES), inscripto en la perspectiva elaborada desde la región latinoamericana para analizar y problematizar este proceso, en el marco de dinámicas gnoseoeconómicas globales. Se propone la adopción de un enfoque en el cual confluye la internacionalización de universidades, una resignificación de la gobernanza en términos situacionales y, los aportes de la Escuela Autonómica, a partir del cual se introduce el concepto de política de internacionalización autonomizante. Se considera la adecuación de esta perspectiva, habida cuenta de que facilita el reconocimiento de la incidencia de actores no gubernamentales, ocasionalmente soslayados en el análisis de la constelación de actores con capacidad para articular estas configuraciones políticas, así como las diversas esferas y niveles en los cuales se desplazan. Luego, se analiza específicamente, la actuación de la Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo (AUGM), en relación a las diversas dimensiones que integran una política de internacionalización autonomizante. Finalmente, se concluye que la AUGM, despliega una política que tributa a la construcción de un proyecto de gobernanza regional de orientación autonómico, en la esfera de la ES. Aunque se encuentra ante el desafío de consolidar su participación,a través del desarrollo de proyectos de intervención en áreas estratégicas

Hacer región desde la universidad: La Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo (AUGM) como política de internacionalización autonomizante en la construcción de la gobernanza regional de Educación Superior (ES)

This article tries to offer a contribution to the reflections on the internationalization of universities, inscribed in the perspective elaborated from the Latin American region to analyze and problematize this process, within the framework of global gnoseoeconomic dynamics.The adoption of an approach in which the internationalization of universities, a redefinition of governance in situational terms and the contributions of the Autonomous School, come together, from which the concept of autonomizing internationalization policy is introduced. The adequacy of this perspective is considered, given that it facilitates the recognition of the incidence of non-governmental actors, occasionally overlooked in the analysis of the constellation of actors with the capacity to articulate thesepolitical configurations, as well as the various spheres and levels in which ones move.Then, the performance of the Association of Montevideo Group Universities (AUGM) is specifically analyzed, in relation to the various dimensions that make up an autonomizing internationalization policy. Finally, it is concluded that the AUGM deploys a policy that contributes to the construction of a regional governance project with an autonomous orientation, in the sphere of HE. Although it is facing thechallenge of consolidating its participation, through the development of intervention projects in strategic areas.El presente artículo pretende constituir un aporte a las reflexiones sobre internacionalización de la Educación Superior (ES), inscripto en la perspectiva elaborada desde la región latinoamericana para analizar y problematizar este proceso, en el marco de dinámicas gnoseoeconómicas globales.Se propone la adopción de un enfoque en el cual confluye la internacionalización de universidades, una resignificación de la gobernanza en términos situacionales y, los aportes de la Escuela Autonómica, a partir del cual se introduce el concepto de política de internacionalización autonomizante. Se considera la adecuación de esta perspectiva, habida cuenta de que facilita el reconocimiento de la incidencia de actores no gubernamentales, ocasionalmente soslayados en el análisis de la constelación de actores con capacidad para articular estas configuraciones políticas, así como las diversas esferas y niveles en los cuales sedesplazan.Luego, se analiza específicamente, la actuación de la Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo (AUGM), en relación a las diversas dimensiones que integran una política de internacionalización autonomizante.Finalmente, se concluye que la AUGM, despliega una política que tributa a la construcción de un proyecto de gobernanza regional de orientación autonómico, en la esfera de la ES. Aunque se encuentra ante el desafío de consolidar su participación,a través del desarrollo de proyectos de intervención en áreas estratégicas

Experiments of a twenty cell PEFC operating under fault conditions with diode by-pass circuit for uninterrupted power delivery

International audienceThe work presents the results of experiments related to the electrical and dynamical behaviour of a 500W, twenty cell Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) stack operated under fault condition and connected to an anti-parallel diode acting as a by-pass. The stack is placed in an experimental set-up that reproduces the electrical coupling in series of two fuel cells. The results allow the evaluation of the by-pass diode solution in the case of specific degraded working modes such as the break of the gas reactant feeding. The experiments presented in this article constitute an extrapolation and a complementary investigation of the preliminary results already achieved on a two cell PEFC stack and which had demonstrated the capability of the reverse diode to electrically isolate a fuel cell stack under fault. The proposed experiments focus on the dynamic behaviour of the stack under degraded working modes and point out the key-role of the fuel cell stack impedance in the triggering of the anti-parallel diode switching

Analysis of PEM fuel cell experimental data using Principal Component Analysis and Multi linear regression

International audiencePolarisation curves performed at the Fuel Cell System Laboratory (FC LAB) at Belfort on a PEM fuel cell stack using a homemade fully instrumented test bench led to more than 100 variables depending on time. Visualising and analysing all the different test variables are complex. In this work, we show how the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method helps to explore correlations between variables and similarities between measurements at a specific sampling time (individuals). To complete this method, an empirical model of the PEM fuel cell is proposed by linking the different input parameters to the cell voltage using Multiple Linear Regressions. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell; Principal Component Analysis (PCA); Multiple Linear Regression; statistical analysis

ELECTRICAL ANALOGY MODELLING OF PEFC SYSTEM FED BY A COMPRESSOR

14International audienceThe PEFC generator for automotive application is expected to have a low cost, a low weight and a low size, to compete with more and more efficient combustion engine. To reach this aim, the complete system has to be taken into account, not only the stack itself, but also the fluid circuit ancillaries. A model is developed with the aim in view to be integrated in the simulation of an electrical vehicle power train. As many components have to be modelled, a macroscopic approach has been chosen. A general scheme of the system is proposed, which structure is representative of an embedded generator, i.e. few sensors, few actuators. Gaseous hydrogen is stored in a tank. The anode output is closed by a solenoid valve. It is opened when the fuel cell voltage reaches a minimum threshold, allowing flushes of the channels. Air is provided by a compressor which flow is controlled by the motor speed. The modelling of the fuel cell electrical response is developed, based on semi-empirical approach. The decrease of the output voltage which can be attributed to the anodic dead end operation is taken into account. The fluidic behaviour of the gas circuits has been dealt through an electrical analogy to facilitate the implementation in a usual electrical engineering software (Matlab/Simulink®). Each component of volume V and fluidic resistance Rf is represented by a RC cell. In a formal approach, the flow is related to the current and the pressure is related to the voltage. The model is validated with experimentations carried out on a low power test bench (100W). Then, it is simulated on a load cycle, compatible with vehicle application dynamics