Application of genetic algorithms for the calibration of an air quality model and its validation using pollutant measures from the surroundings of an electric power plant

[EN]This work presents the calibration and validation of an air quality finite element model applied to emissions from a thermal power plant located in Gran Canaria. The calibration is performed using genetic algorithms. To calibrate and validate the model, the authors use empirical measures of pollutants concentrations from 4 stations located nearby the power plant; an hourly record per station during 3 days is available. Measures from 3 stations will be used to calibrate, while validation will use measures from the remaining station…

System level design space exploration for MPSoC : methods, algorithms and new infrastructure

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Genetic characterization and molecular identification of the bloodmeal sources of the potential bluetongue vector Culicoides obsoletus in the Canary Islands, Spain

[EN] Background: Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges are vectors for a diversity of pathogens including bluetongue virus (BTV) that generate important economic losses. BTV has expanded its range in recent decades, probably due to the expansion of its main vector and the presence of other autochthonous competent vectors. Although the Canary Islands are still free of bluetongue disease (BTD), Spain and Europe have had to face up to a spread of bluetongue with disastrous consequences. Therefore, it is essential to identify the distribution of biting midges and understand their feeding patterns in areas susceptible to BTD. To that end, we captured biting midges on two farms in the Canary Islands (i) to identify the midge species in question and characterize their COI barcoding region and (ii) to ascertain the source of their bloodmeals using molecular tools.Methods: Biting midges were captured using CDC traps baited with a 4-W blacklight (UV) bulb on Gran Canaria and on Tenerife. Biting midges were quantified and identified according to their wing patterns. A 688 bp segment of the mitochondrial COI gene of 20 biting midges (11 from Gran Canaria and 9 from Tenerife) were PCR amplified using the primers LCO1490 and HCO2198. Moreover, after selected all available females showing any rest of blood in their abdomen, a nested-PCR approach was used to amplify a fragment of the COI gene from vertebrate DNA contained in bloodmeals. The origin of bloodmeals was identified by comparison with the nucleotide-nucleotide basic alignment search tool (BLAST). Results: The morphological identification of 491 female biting midges revealed the presence of a single morphospecies belonging to the Obsoletus group. When sequencing the barcoding region of the 20 females used to check genetic variability, we identified two haplotypes differing in a single base. Comparison analysis using the nucleotide-nucleotide basic alignment search tool (BLAST) showed that both haplotypes belong to Culicoides obsoletus, a potential BTV vector. As well, using molecular tools we identified the feeding sources of 136 biting midges and were able to confirm that C. obsoletus females feed on goats and sheep on both islands.Conclusions: These results confirm that the feeding pattern of C. obsoletus is a potentially important factor in BTV transmission to susceptible hosts in case of introduction into the archipelago. Consequently, in the Canary Islands it is essential to maintain vigilance of Culicoides-transmitted viruses such as BTV and the novel Schmallenberg virus.

Shape design optimization of road acoustic barriers featuring top-edge devices by using Genetic Algotithms and Boundary Elements

[EN] This paper presents a Boundary Elements (BE) approach for the efficiency improvement of road acoustic barriers, mora specifically, for the shape design optimization of top-edge devices in the search for the best designs in terms of screening performance, usually represented by the insertion loss (IL).

Optimization of thin noise barrier designs using Evolutionary Algorithms and a Dual BEM Formulation

[EN]This works aims at assessing the acoustic efficiency of differente this noise barrier models. These designs frequently feature complex profiles and their implementarion in shape optimization processes may not always be easy in terms of determining their topological feasibility. A methodology to conduct both overall shape and top edge optimisations of thin cross section acoustic barriers by idealizing them as profiles with null boundary thickness is proposed.

Application of evolutionary algorithms and the boundary element method in the optimization of noise barrier profiles

[EN]This Ph.D. thesis presents a general, robust methodology that may cover any type of 2D acoustic optimization problem. A procedure involving the coupling of Boundary Elements (BE) and Evolutionary Algorithms is proposed for systematic geometric modifications of road barriers that lead to designs with ever-increasing screening performance. Numerical simulations involving single- and multi-objective optimizations of noise barriers of varied nature are included in this document. results disclosed justify the implementation of this methodology by leading to optimal solutions of previously defined topologies that, in general, greatly outperform the acoustic efficiency of classical, widely used barrier designs normally erected near roads.

Lost at sea: Genetic, oceanographic and meteorological evidence for storm-forced dispersal

[EN] For many species, there is broad-scale dispersal of juvenile stages and/or long-distance migration of individuals and hence the processes that drive these various wide-ranging move- ments have important life-history consequences. Sea turtles are one of these paradigmatic long-distance travellers, with hatchlings thought to be dispersed by ocean currents and adults often shuttling between distant breeding and foraging grounds. Here, we use multi- disciplinary oceanographic, atmospheric and genetic mixed stock analyses to show that juvenile turtles are encountered ‘downstream’ at sites predicted by currents. However, in some cases, unusual occurrences of juveniles are more readily explained by storm events and we show that juvenile turtles may be displaced thousands of kilometres from their expected dispersal based on prevailing ocean currents.

Lost at sea: Genetic, oceanographic and meteorological evidence for storm-forced dispersal

[EN] For many species, there is broad-scale dispersal of juvenile stages and/or long-distance migration of individuals and hence the processes that drive these various wide-ranging move- ments have important life-history consequences. Sea turtles are one of these paradigmatic long-distance travellers, with hatchlings thought to be dispersed by ocean currents and adults often shuttling between distant breeding and foraging grounds. Here, we use multi- disciplinary oceanographic, atmospheric and genetic mixed stock analyses to show that juvenile turtles are encountered ‘downstream’ at sites predicted by currents. However, in some cases, unusual occurrences of juveniles are more readily explained by storm events and we show that juvenile turtles may be displaced thousands of kilometres from their expected dispersal based on prevailing ocean currents.

Contributions to underwater glider path planning

[ES] La Planificación de Rutas o Caminos es un disciplina de Robótica que trata la búsqueda de caminos factibles u óptimos. Para la mayoría de vehículos y entornos, no es un problema trivial y por tanto nos encontramos con un gran diversidad de algoritmos para resolverlo, no sólo en Robótica e Inteligencia Artificial, sino también como parte de la literatura de Optimización, con Métodos Numéricos y Algoritmos Bio-inspirados, como Algoritmos Genéticos y el Algoritmo de la Colonia de Hormigas. El caso particular de escenarios de costes variables es considerablemente difícil de abordar porque el entorno en el que se mueve el vehículo cambia con el tiempo. El presente trabajo de tesis estudia este problema y propone varias soluciones prácticas para aplicaciones de Robótica Submarina.