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This dissertation closely examines industrial pollution along the Atlantic coast of Cameroon. In recent years, there has been the formulation of both governmental initiatives and corporate voluntary practices with the view of curbing industrial pollution along the coast of Cameroon. However, a majority of studies have failed to ascertain the extent to which these initiates and practices have been successful in addressing industrial pollution, which is undoubtedly fundamental to policy makers in the decision making process. Therefore, this thesis attempts to bridge this major gap by examining both governmental and voluntary corporate practices vis-à-vis industrial pollution along the polluted coast of Cameroon. The thesis analysis efforts formulated by the government of Cameroon to mitigate industrial pollution. It identifies constraints to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practice in Cameroon. Environmental management system (EMS) initiatives adopted by industries along the coast of Cameroon that has been hitherto ignored is unveiled as well in this thesis. Furthermore, a more compelling case is made by addressing the drivers, benefits and barriers stemming from EMS implementation by these industries. A robust reflexive methodological research strategy is developed and utilized both qualitative and quantitative data collected from unstructured interviews, questionnaire based surveys, personal observations, relevant literature, consultancy reports and documentation form governmental departments. Analysis of these data facilitates detailed discussion of both governmental initiatives and corporate environmental management systems.The thesis contends that there is an urgent need to complement governmental policy and regulations with corporate voluntary environmental management systems. It purports that efforts made by the government of Cameroon to address industrial pollution have had minimal impacts on industrial pollution along the coast of Cameroon and submits that the EMS process in these industries is still at its infancy. Moreover, it is argued that a plethora of barriers still prevail that deter a rigorous implementation of EMS in these industries. On the basis of this, the thesis advances a comprehensive strategy for the effective and efficient management of industrial pollution along the coast of Cameroon and emphasizes that a holistic or concerted approach from all stakeholders is absolutely mandatory for the successful implementation of the recommended strategies.
By offering good ride safety and ride comfort to passenger cars, active suspensions have attracted more and more attentions of investigators. Numerous approaches of designing controller for active suspension systems have been introduced mostly restricted to linear time-invariant systems. In this dissertation, optimization methods are applied to a special three degree-of-freedom spatial car model with active suspensions to define an optimal controller. The optimal control law with state-feedback and disturbance-feed forward parts is derived by extending the linear-quadratic regulator (LQR) control to linear systems with measurable disturbances and combining it with a multi-criterion optimization (MCO) procedure. This allows to reduce the number of design variables of the MCO problem significantly. The approach is applied also to gain-scheduling control of the linear-parameter varying spatial car model. The effectiveness of the designed controller with respect to ride safety and ride comfort of the car in yaw motion is demonstrated through the simulation of double-lane-change maneuvers, where the paths are found by an optimization procedure.
Aim of the study In this thesis, the recovery of biogas from Unsorted Municipal Solid Waste with high methane content was investigated. Special attention was given to unsorted municipal solid waste since its management is posing a big challenge for solid waste management authorities especially in developing countries (e.g. Accra, Ghana). Common solid waste management practice in most of the communities involves having the entire components of the waste mixed together and deposited in bins or on a bare ground at locations within communities and subsequently hauled to the dumpsite by the waste authority. In a laboratory study, a simulated waste was developed representing the real waste situation in Accra, Ghana to leach out the biodegradable organic fraction and subsequent biogas recovery. Method of investigation In order to optimize the biodegradation of Unsorted Municipal Solid Waste, the double-stage anaerobic digester with optimum design capability and with both intra and inter liquid recirculation, and microaerophilic hydrolysis conditions was employed. In order to biomethanize the waste, the following hypotheses were tested: · Effect of water flow rate (dilutions) on the extent of hydrolysis/ liquefaction. · Solid retention time and biodegradation. · Temperature on the extent of hydrolysis. · Effect of preprocessed feeding material on hydrolysis and gas yield. Results and technical applicability The results indicate that the various conditions tested are effective in determining the biogas production from the Unsorted Municipal Solid Waste. Following several runs for the optimization process, volume and mass reduction of 30±19% and 42±13% was achieved respectively. Importantly, almost 42% of the organic total solids reduction with equivalent of methane yield of 232±66 l CH4/kg OTS was obtained. A concept is developed for the application of the double-stage digester for the biomethanization of Unsorted Municipal Solid Waste. This concept involves the appropriate optimum conditions required for the biodegradation process. Finally the potential of using Unsorted Municipal Solid Waste for commercial biogas production was emphasized.
Database caching techniques promise to improve the performance and scalability of client-server database applications. The task of a cache is to accept requests of clients and to compute them locally on behalf of the server. The content of a cache is filled dynamically based on the application and users' data domain of interest. If data is missing or concurrent access has to be controlled, the computation of the request is completed at the central server. As a result, applications benefit from quick responses of a cache and load is taken from the server. The dynamic nature of a cache, the need of transactional consistency, and the complex nature of a request make database caching a challenging field of research. This thesis presents a novel approach to the shared and parallel execution of stored procedure code between a cache and the server. Every commercial database product provides such stored procedures that are coded in a complete programming language. Given a request in form of such a procedure, we introduce the concept of split twin transactions that logically split the procedure code into two parts, say A and B, such that A is executed at the cache and B at the server in a simultaneous and parallel manner. Furthermore, we analyse the procedure code to detect suitable parts. To the best of our knowledge, this has not yet been addressed by any existing approaches. Within a detailed case study, we show that our novel scheme improves the performance of existing caching approaches. Furthermore, we demonstrate that different load conditions of the system require different sizes of the parts A and B to gain maximal performance. As a result, we extend database caching by a new dimension of optimization, namely by splitting of the procedure code into A and B. To solve this problem of dynamically balancing the code execution between cache and server, we define the maximum performance of a database cache over time and propose a stochastic model to capture the average execution time of a procedure. Based on the execution frequencies of primitive database operations, the model allows us to partially predict the response times for different sizes of A and B, hence providing a partial solution to the optimization problem.
Key management is a fundamental security service to enable secure wireless ad hoc networks (WAHN). To date existing key management solutions based on either public key infrastructures (PKI) or key pre‑distribution scheme (KPS) exhibit limitations for WAHNs. We firstly develop the Hybrid Key Management Infrastructure (HKMI) for WAHNs composed of moderate‑resource devices. The HKMI complements PKI with trust and cooperation protocols to construct an performance efficient security solution. We secondly develop the Deterministic Pairwise Key Pre-Distribution Scheme (DPKPS) for large‑scale dynamic WAHNs composed of low‑resource devices. The DPKPS applies a combinatorial design for the pre-distribution of multiple bivariate polynomial shares to WAHN nodes. Future work comprises further improving the resiliency of the DPKPS, completing a key management infrastructure on the basis of the DPKPS, the design of DPKPS‑based access control mechanisms, and the integration of the HKMI with the DPKPS in a unified key management architecture.
This thesis presents the design and implementation of the RF power amplifiers in modern silicon based technologies. The main challenge is to include power amplifier on a single chip with output power level in watts, operating at high frequencies where the transit frequency (fT) is just a few times higher than the operating frequency. This work describes the design procedure for bipolar and CMOS transformer-based Class-A, Class-AB and Class-B power amplifiers. The design procedure is based on the HICUM for bipolar and BSIM4 for CMOS transistor models and is divided in four parts: •Building a one transistor prototype power amplifier which is based on the analytical analysis of the output characteristics and transistor model. •Load-pull simulation to define the final input and output impedances. •Derivation of the analytical equations for the transformer-based matching network. •Design of the final transformer-based push-pull power amplifier. A good agreement between the proposed analytical analysis and large-signal (harmonic balance) simulation results proofs usefulness of the proposed power amplifier design approach. Additionally, it shows the contribution of the separated devices at the final design that helps to find a technology limits in the current circuit design. The main achievements include: •A 2.4 GHz power amplifier in 0.13 um CMOS technology. An output power of 28 dBm is achieved with a power added efficiency of 48 % at a supply voltage of 1.2 V [Vasylyev 04]. •Two 17 GHz power amplifiers in 0.13 um CMOS technology (one fully integrated while the other with external matching network) with output power exceeding 50 mW. The former exhibits a power added efficiency of 9.3 % while the latter a 15.6 % power added efficiency [Vasylyev 06]. •A fully integrated K and Ka bands power amplifier in 0.13 um CMOS technology. A 13 dBm output power along with power added efficiency of 13 % is achieved at an operating frequency of 25.7 GHz with 1.2 V supply [Vasylyev 05,a]. •A fully integrated power amplifier based on a novel power combining transformer structure in 28 GHz-fT SiGe-bipolar technology. A 32 dBm output power along with power added efficiency of 30 % is achieved at an operating frequency of 2.12 GHz with 3.5 V supply [Vasylyev 05,b].
A series of two-dimensional and three-dimensional quasi-steady state numerical simulations have been performed for the initial stages (seeding process) of the Czochralski (CZ) growth of oxide crystals using the finite element method (FEM). We have considered different cases and configurations with respect to real systems in the CZ-dielectrics laboratory of the Institute for Crystal Growth (IKZ). Using induction heating in metallic parts as heat source the fluid flow and temperature field were determined in the whole CZ system. The aim of these calculations was to investigate and reveal the effect of several parameters such as the geometry and location of an active afterheater with respect to the crucible, arrangement and design of thermal insulation, crucible bottom shape, and seed rotation rate on the flow and temperature field of the system and the seed-melt interface shape. The results demonstrate that the temperature and fluid flow in the gas domain is strongly affected by an active afterheater and its insulation as well as their geometry and position. The results also show the important role played by the seed rotation rate for influencing the shape of the seed-melt interface.
A computational tool and a methodology for steady state heat exchanger simulations of recuperated gas turbines and aero-engines have been developed. As an example a compact tube bundle heat exchanger with oval shaped tubes was chosen. The simulation tool proved to work for different layouts of the heat exchanger and for different geometrical configurations of the gas turbine engine exhaust ducts. The resistance tensors were tuned against both CFD-data and experimental data and the computational model was to some extent validated against experimental results. For the validation isothermal experimental data from the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery at the Technical University of Thessaloniki was used together with hot gas channel data from MTU. The calculated and measured velocity profiles showed an acceptable agreement that in some of the cases was even very good. The calculated pressure drop deviated less than 10% for the compared cases, which must be considered to be acceptable. The calculared results for the hot gas cases showed an exaggerated heat transfer rate, most likely due to the use of a cold side heat transfer correlation for fully turbulent flow, although the Reynolds numbersindicated transitional flow.
In this work, growth and characterisation of 3C-SiC thin films, investigation of oxidation of thus prepared layers and Pr-silicate and AlON based interface with SiC have been studied. Chemical vapor deposition of 3C-SiC thin films on Si(001) and Si(111) substrates has been investigated. Prior to the actual SiC growth, preparation of initial buffer layers of SiC was done. Using such a buffer layer, epitaxial growth of 3C-SiC has been achieved on Si(111) and Si(001) substrates. The temperature of 1100°C and 1150°C has been determined to be the optimal temperature for 3C-SiC growth on Si (111) and Si(001) substrates respectively. The oxidation studies on SiC revealed that a slow oxidation process at moderate temperatures in steps was useful in reducing and suppressing the g-C at the SiO2/SiC interface. Clean, graphitefree SiO2 has been successfully grown on 3C-SiC by silicon evaporation and UHV anneal. For the application of high-k Pr2O3 on silicon carbide, plausible interlayer, Pr-Silicate and AlON, have been investigated. Praseodymium silicate has been prepared successfully completely consuming the SiO2 and simultaneously suppressing the graphitic carbon formation. A comparatively more stable interlayer using AlON has been achieved. This interlayer mainly consists of stable phases of AlN along with some amount of Pr-aluminates and CN. Such layers act as a reaction barrier between Pr2O3 and SiC, and simultaneously provide higher band offsets.
Primary and secondary data were collected during the period of January – May 2005 and questionnaires were issued between August – December 2004 to know the Status of Wildlife and its Utilisation in Faro and Benoué National Parks North Cameroon: Case study of the Derby Eland (Taurotragus derbianus gigas Gray, 1947) and the African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus Temminck, 1840). The line transect method was used to assess wildlife population. Geographical Information System (GIS) maps of Faro and Benoué National Parks were drawn to show their distribution. Eleven different wildlife species were studied in Faro and Benoué National park. The density of Kobus kob in Faro was 0.39 animals/km² and 0.28 animals/km² in Benoué and that for Acelaphus buselaphus was 0.4 animals/km² in Benoué National park. The encounter rate was calculated for all other species and it was weak in Faro ranging from 0.009 – 0.01 while in Benoué it was higher ranging from 0.03 – 0.87. The highest encounter rate was from Benoué National Park for Loxodonta africanna. The total biomass for wildlife was 13,224.4 kg/km² with the higest percentage contribution of which 60.49% coming from Taurotragus derbianus gigas in Faro National Park.The total biomass in Benoué National Park was 37, 1839 kg/km² with the biomass for Taurotragus derbianus gigas as 20 kg/km² and percentage contribution of 9.68%. The higest percentage contribution to the total biomass in Benoué National Park was 85.52% coming from Loxodonta Africana. No observations or trace of the Lycaon pictus was seen in the two parks (Faro and Benoué) within the study period. Removal and replacement rates of Taurotragus derbianus gigas showed a polynomial shaped curve with periods of population increase and decrease with regards to yearly behaviour while the previewed Lycaon pictus for hunting showed a polynomial shaped curve while its actual removal dwindled on a straight line. Removal and replacement is not influenced by sport hunting activities alone but prey availability, absence and presence of predators, disease, car accidents and other human influences. However, the critical value for the exploitation (sport hunting) of wildlife over a period of 20 years in Faro and Benoué National Parks was necessary to be determined though it was a difficult attempt. Income generated from park activities had doubled from 42.8 million F CFA to 92.5 million F CFA in 2001. Categories of hunters coming to the parks for hunting activities were 90% non-residents, 6% residents and 4% nationals hunting by permit. The estimated annual revenue from wildlife was 91,185.00 Euros and 773,685.00 Euros in Faro and Benoué National Parks respectively. Taurotragus derbianus gigas had the highest value of 19,400 Euros in Faro National Park and 87,000 Euros in Benoué National Park. Both parks contribute 0.58% of the total revenue generated by wildlife in Faro and Benoué. There was a high level of awareness about conservation of the Taurotragus derbianus gigas and the Lycaon pictus. Also was a general willingness to pay for the conservation of resources though it was an issue of a social dilemma of choosing between self interest and collective gains. However, the population was willing to pay 500 F CFA to generate a conservation fund to sustain identified conservation projects. Assessing the management policy of the government, 40% of the population wish to be compensated for giving away their resource while 28% opt for exchange, 9% expropriation, 16% continuation and 1% had indicated no option (neutral).