  We prove that under certain topological conditions on the set of universal
elements of a continuous map $T$ acting on a topological space $X$, that the
direct sum $T\oplus M_g$ is universal, where $M_g$ is multiplication by a
generating element of a compact topological group. We use this result to
characterize $\R_+$-supercyclic operators and to show that whenever $T$ is a
supercyclic operator and $z_1,...,z_n$ are pairwise different non-zero complex
numbers, then the operator $z_1T\oplus {...}\oplus z_n T$ is cyclic. The latter
answers affirmatively a question of Bayart and Matheron.
