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Due to the increasingly documented prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases in Malaysia, a number of water-related programmes have been implemented in an attempt to improve health status through the reduction of incidence of waterborne communicable diseases associated with poor public water supplies. The implicit assumption underlying these projects is that the enhancement of the physical infrastructure, and subsequent improvements in the quality of the water supply, will substantially reduce waterrelated disease. This thesis questions the veracity of this hypothesis, and therefore the justifiability of an emphasis upon engineering and urban infrastructural interventions. Research centred upon Port Dickson, a district which typifies existing water and sanitation conditions in much of semi-rural Malaysia. The specific objectives of the thesis were: to determine the measured burden of illness of waterborne disease within the district and to estimate levels of underreporting; to determine morbidity-related factors influencing the decision to seek medical treatment; to provide a demographic profile of the population experiencing diarrhoeal episodes; and to identify risk markers or predictors of morbidity. Burden of illness was measured by health services utilization, while values for underreporting and risk markers were derived from a 268 household diarrhoeal morbidity survey. Diarrhoeal incidence was estimated to be 12-16% annually, much higher than Malaysia's official average. This incorporated a rate of non-reporting of 19~, which was influenced by chronicity, duration and severity of episodes. Individuals found to be most at risk were young children and adults in their child-bearing years, minority racial groups, and those with poor water supply and sanitation infrastructure and inappropriate hygiene habits. While water quality was found to influence diarrhoeal rates, factors in addition to infrastructure - partially hygiene - were shown to play a greater role. Thus, it is suggested that the impact of water and sanitation improvement projects would likely be minimal, unless accompanied by complementary behavioural education programmes. The spatial bias of the aforementioned risk factors suggests a need to refocus intervention initiatives upon rural areas. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2016-12-15T15:01:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Davi José dos Santos - 2016.pdf: 5567090 bytes, checksum: 5606aa47f640cc5cd4495d2694f38cda (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jaqueline Silva (jtas29@gmail.com) on 2016-12-15T17:28:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Davi José dos Santos - 2016.pdf: 5567090 bytes, checksum: 5606aa47f640cc5cd4495d2694f38cda (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-15T17:28:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Davi José dos Santos - 2016.pdf: 5567090 bytes, checksum: 5606aa47f640cc5cd4495d2694f38cda (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-30 / This research with theoretical approach seeks to investigate inmathematics, octonions,which is a non-associative extension of the quaternions. Its algebra division 8-dimensional formed on the real numbers is more extensive than can be obtained by constructing Cayley-Dickson. In this perspective we have as main goal to answer the following question: "What number systems allow arithmetic operations addition, subtraction, multiplication and division? " In the genesis of octonions is the Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamilton, motivated by a deep belief that quaternions could revolutionize mathematics and physics, was the pioneer of a new theory that transformed the modern world. Today, it is confirmed that the complexs/quaternions/octonions and its applications are manifested in different branches of science such as mechanics, geometry, mathematical physics, with great relevance in 3D animation and robotics. In order to investigate the importance of this issue and make a small contribution, we make an introduction to the theme from the numbers complex and present the rationale and motivations of Hamilton in the discovery of quaternions/octonions. Wemake a presentation of the algebraic structure and its fundamental properties. Then discoremos about constructing Cayley-Dickson algebras that produces a sequence over the field of real numbers, each with twice the previous size. Algebras produced by this process are known as Cayley-Dickson algebras; since they are an extension of complex numbers, that is, hypercomplex numbers. All these concepts have norm, algebra and conjugate. The general idea is that the multiplication of an element and its conjugate should be the square of its norm. The surprise is that, in addition to larger, the following algebra loses some specific algebraic property. Finally, we describe and analyze certain symmetry groups with multiple representations through matrixes and applications to show that This content has a value in the evolution of technology. / Esta pesquisa com abordagem teórica busca investigar na matemática, os octônios, que é uma extensão não-associativa dos quatérnios. Sua álgebra com divisão formada de 8 dimensões sobre os números reais é a mais extensa que pode ser obtida através da construção de Cayley-Dickson. Nessa perspectiva temos comometa principal responder a seguinte questão: "Que sistemas numéricos permitemas operações aritméticas de adição, subtração, multiplicação e divisão?" Na gênese dos octônios está o matemático irlandêsWilliam Rowan Hamilton que, motivado por uma profunda convicção de que os quatérnios poderiam revolucionar a Matemática e a Física, foi o pioneiro de uma nova teoria que transformou o mundo moderno. Hoje, confirma-se que os complexos/quatérnios/octônios e suas aplicações se manifestam em diferentes ramos da ciências tais como a mecânica, a geometria, a física matemática, com grande relevância na animação 3D e na robótica. Com o propósito de investigar a importância deste tema e dar uma pequena contribuição, fazemos uma introdução ao tema desde os números complexos e apresentamos o raciocínio e motivações de Hamilton na descoberta dos quatérnios/octônios. Fazemos uma apresentação da estrutura algébrica, bem como as suas propriedades fundamentais. Emseguida discoremos sobre a construção de Cayley-Dickson que produz uma sequência de álgebras sobre o campo de números reais, cada uma com o dobro do tamanho anterior. Álgebras produzidas por este processo são conhecidas como álgebras Cayley-Dickson; uma vez que elas são uma extensão dos números complexos, isto é, os números hipercomplexos. Todos esses conceitos têm norma, álgebra e conjugado. A idéia geral é que o produto de um elemento e seu conjugado deve ser o quadrado de sua norma. A surpresa é que, além de maior dimensão, a álgebra seguinte perde alguma propriedade álgebrica específica. Por fim, descrevemos e analisamos alguns grupos de simetria, com várias representações através de matrizes e aplicações que demonstram que este conteúdo tem uma utilidade na evolução da tecnologia.

This thesis consists of studies in the separate fields of operator algebras and non-associative algebras. Two natural operator algebra structures, A ⊗_max B and A ⊗_min B, exist on the tensor product of two given unital operator algebras A and B. Because of the different properties enjoyed by the two tensor products in connection to dilation theory, it is of interest to know when they coincide (completely isometrically). Motivated by earlier work due to Paulsen and Power, we provide conditions relating an operator algebra B and another family {C_i}_i of operator algebras under which, for any operator algebra A, the equality A ⊗_max B = A ⊗_min B either implies, or is implied by, the equalities A ⊗_max C_i = A ⊗_min C_i for every i. These results can be applied to the setting of a discrete group G pre-ordered by a subsemigroup G⁺, where B ⊆ C*_r(G) is the subalgebra of the reduced group C*-algebra of G generated by G⁺, and C_i = A(Q_i) are digraph algebras defined by considering certain pre-ordered subsets Q_i of G. The 16-dimensional algebra A₄ of real sedenions is obtained by applying the Cayley-Dickson doubling process to the real division algebra of octonions. The classification of subalgebras of A₄ up to conjugacy (i.e. by the action of the automorphism group of A₄) was completed in a previous investigation, except for the collection of those subalgebras which are isomorphic to the quaternions. We present a classification of quaternion subalgebras up to conjugacy.

<p>The issue of libation poses an important challenge to Christianity in Africa and, more specifically, among the Akan people in Ghana. Libation is traditionally a key ritual for the Akan as an ethnic group. However, the European missionaries who operated in West Africa condemned this ritual as idolatrous. Following the emergence of African Christian theology, especially within the Ghanaian context, various African theologians have contributed to a more systematic discussion of such libation practices. This thesis entails a critical comparison of the views of four Akan (in Ghana) theologians on Christian participation in libation practices. On this basis, the research problem in this thesis is stated in the following way: ―What are the points of divergence that lie beneath the different positions of Kwesi Sarpong, Kwesi Dickson, John Pobee and Kwame Bediako on the question of whether and in what forms Christian participation in libation practices in an Akan context in Ghana may be regarded as compatible with the Christian faith? This thesis describes analyses, compares and assesses the cultural and theological presuppositions of the views of these four Akan Ghanaian theologians on Christian participation in libation rituals. It shows how the views of these four theologians on libation are influenced by their views on the tatus which is attributed, both in Akan culture and in contemporary Christianity in Ghana, to abosom (lesser divinities) and nsamamfo (ancestors) in relation to Onyame (Supreme Being). The purpose of this thesis is therefore to clarify the cultural and theological assumptions underlying current debates on the observance of libation rituals by Christians in Ghana. The task is a description of the views of Sarpong, Dickson, Pobee and Bediako on the compatibility of Christian participation in libation practices in an Akan context with the Christian faith - just as they themselves understand its content and significance. In this thesis I approached the debate on libation in African Christian theology in two ways, namely following a direct and a thematic approach. In the direct approach the focus is explicitly on libation as a topic either in the context of African traditional religion and culture by itself or in its encounter with Christianity. In the thematic approach the focus is on libation within the context of its wider religious (with reference to God, the lesser divinities and ancestors) and cultural (the relationship between Christianity and African culture) contexts. The research indicates that the point of divergence amongst the four theologians mentioned above is almost always related to the invocation and petition of the lesser divinities and the ancestors. In addition to these major theological issues, ―ecclesiastical sanctions‖ also forms a major determining factor that influences the positions of these&nbsp / theologians. On their respective views, Sarpong asserts that libation in its present form is not incompatible with the Christian faith. By contrast, Bediako maintains that libation as is presently practiced among the Akan is not compatible with the Christian faith neither can it be adapted into the Christian faith. On the other hand, Dickson and Pobee maintain that libation rituals are not compatible with the Christian faith, but that it can be adopted and adapted into the Christian faith if the content of the accompanying prayer is made in consonance with Christian theology. The thesis is comprised of eight chapters and a postscript. In the postscript, I offer some personal views and argue that libation has to be adapted before it can be compatible with the Christian faith. I suggest that libation should be made only to God and to the ancestors. Petitions during libation rituals should be made only to God, while the presence of the ancestors should be recognized in a ―symbolic manner‖ by an invitation to join the living human beings to make such petitions.</p>

In the present thesis, I have proposed methodology of two stages Dickson charge pump, which is capable of harvesting energy at 2.45 GHz RF signal to power any low powered device. Presented design uses a simple and inexpensive circuit consisting of four microstrip patch antennas, some zero-bias Schottky diodes, Wilkinson power divider and a few passive components. Circuit was fabricated on a 60 mils RO4350B substrate (=3.66), with 1.4 mils copper conductor. Demonstration showed the charge pump provides a good performance, as it drives the low powered devices with as low as 10dBm input power at 1m away from the energy source. Thesis paper will present design techniques illustrated with data obtained on prototype circuits. The objective is to wirelessly gather energy from one RF source and convert it into usable DC power that is further applied to a set of low power electronic devices. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag system could also be improved using this method. RF-to-DC conversion is accomplished by designing and characterizing an element commonly known as a Rectenna, which consists of an antenna and an associated rectification circuitry. The rectenna is fully characterized in this dissertation and is used for charging low powered devices.

Due to the continuous power supply reduction, Charge Pumps, also referred to as DC-DC converters, circuits are widely used in integrated circuits (ICs) to generate high voltages for many applications, such as EEP-ROMs, Flash memories for programming and erasing of the floating gate, switched capacitor circuits, operational amplifiers, voltage regulators, LCD drivers, piezoelectricactuators, etc. A charge pump is a kind of DC to DC converter that uses capacitors as energy storage elements to create either a higher or lower voltage power source. The development of the charge pumps is motivated by ever increasing the needs for the small form factor (i.e small size and low weight), high-conversion-efficiency and low costpower management system, which is the best candidate suitable to meet the needs of continuosly shrinking portable electronic devices like MP3 players, cellular phones, PDA's. / text

In the present thesis, I have proposed methodology of two stages Dickson charge pump, which is capable of harvesting energy at 2.45 GHz RF signal to power any low powered device. Presented design uses a simple and inexpensive circuit consisting of four microstrip patch antennas, some zero-bias Schottky diodes, Wilkinson power divider and a few passive components. Circuit was fabricated on a 60 mils RO4350B substrate (=3.66), with 1.4 mils copper conductor. Demonstration showed the charge pump provides a good performance, as it drives the low powered devices with as low as 10dBm input power at 1m away from the energy source. Thesis paper will present design techniques illustrated with data obtained on prototype circuits. The objective is to wirelessly gather energy from one RF source and convert it into usable DC power that is further applied to a set of low power electronic devices. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag system could also be improved using this method. RF-to-DC conversion is accomplished by designing and characterizing an element commonly known as a Rectenna, which consists of an antenna and an associated rectification circuitry. The rectenna is fully characterized in this dissertation and is used for charging low powered devices.

<p>The issue of libation poses an important challenge to Christianity in Africa and, more specifically, among the Akan people in Ghana. Libation is traditionally a key ritual for the Akan as an ethnic group. However, the European missionaries who operated in West Africa condemned this ritual as idolatrous. Following the emergence of African Christian theology, especially within the Ghanaian context, various African theologians have contributed to a more systematic discussion of such libation practices. This thesis entails a critical comparison of the views of four Akan (in Ghana) theologians on Christian participation in libation practices. On this basis, the research problem in this thesis is stated in the following way: ―What are the points of divergence that lie beneath the different positions of Kwesi Sarpong, Kwesi Dickson, John Pobee and Kwame Bediako on the question of whether and in what forms Christian participation in libation practices in an Akan context in Ghana may be regarded as compatible with the Christian faith? This thesis describes analyses, compares and assesses the cultural and theological presuppositions of the views of these four Akan Ghanaian theologians on Christian participation in libation rituals. It shows how the views of these four theologians on libation are influenced by their views on the tatus which is attributed, both in Akan culture and in contemporary Christianity in Ghana, to abosom (lesser divinities) and nsamamfo (ancestors) in relation to Onyame (Supreme Being). The purpose of this thesis is therefore to clarify the cultural and theological assumptions underlying current debates on the observance of libation rituals by Christians in Ghana. The task is a description of the views of Sarpong, Dickson, Pobee and Bediako on the compatibility of Christian participation in libation practices in an Akan context with the Christian faith - just as they themselves understand its content and significance. In this thesis I approached the debate on libation in African Christian theology in two ways, namely following a direct and a thematic approach. In the direct approach the focus is explicitly on libation as a topic either in the context of African traditional religion and culture by itself or in its encounter with Christianity. In the thematic approach the focus is on libation within the context of its wider religious (with reference to God, the lesser divinities and ancestors) and cultural (the relationship between Christianity and African culture) contexts. The research indicates that the point of divergence amongst the four theologians mentioned above is almost always related to the invocation and petition of the lesser divinities and the ancestors. In addition to these major theological issues, ―ecclesiastical sanctions‖ also forms a major determining factor that influences the positions of these&nbsp / theologians. On their respective views, Sarpong asserts that libation in its present form is not incompatible with the Christian faith. By contrast, Bediako maintains that libation as is presently practiced among the Akan is not compatible with the Christian faith neither can it be adapted into the Christian faith. On the other hand, Dickson and Pobee maintain that libation rituals are not compatible with the Christian faith, but that it can be adopted and adapted into the Christian faith if the content of the accompanying prayer is made in consonance with Christian theology. The thesis is comprised of eight chapters and a postscript. In the postscript, I offer some personal views and argue that libation has to be adapted before it can be compatible with the Christian faith. I suggest that libation should be made only to God and to the ancestors. Petitions during libation rituals should be made only to God, while the presence of the ancestors should be recognized in a ―symbolic manner‖ by an invitation to join the living human beings to make such petitions.</p>