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Abstract This thesis focuses on transceiver optimization for heterogeneous multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications systems. The aim is to design decentralized beamforming methods with low signaling overhead for improved spatial spectrum utilization. A wide range of transceiver optimization techniques are covered, with particular consideration of decentralized optimization, fast convergence, computational complexity and signaling limitations. The proposed methods are shown to provide improved rate of convergence, when compared to the conventional weighted minimum MSE (WMMSE) approach. This makes them suitable for time-correlated channel conditions, in which the ability to follow the changing channel conditions is essential. Coordinated beamforming under quality of service (QoS) constraints is considered for interfering broadcast channel. Decomposition based decentralized processing approaches are shown to enable the weighted sum rate maximization (WSRMax) in time-correlated channel conditions. Pilot-aided decentralized WSRMax beamformer estimation is studied for coordinated multi-point (CoMP) joint processing (JP). In stream specific estimation (SSE), all effective channels are individually estimated. The beamformers are then constructed from the locally estimated channels. On the other hand, with direct estimation (DE) of the beamformers, only the intended signal needs to be separately estimated and the covariance matrices are implicitly estimated from the received pilot training matrices. This makes the pilot design more robust to pilot contamination. These methods show that CoMP JP is feasible even in relatively fading channel conditions and with limited backhaul capacity by employing decentralized beamformer processing. In the final part of the thesis, a relay-assisted cellular system with decentralized processing is considered, in which users are served either directly by the base stations or via relays for WSRMax or sum power minimization subject to rate constraints. Zero-forcing and coordinated beamforming provide a trade-off between complexity, in-band signaling and spectrum utilization. Relays are shown to be beneficial in many scenarios when the in-band signaling is accounted for. This thesis shows that decentralized downlink MIMO transceiver design with a reasonable computational complexity is feasible in various system architectures even when signaling resources are limited and channel conditions are moderately fast fading. / Tiivistelmä Tämä väitöskirja keskittyy lähetin- ja vastaanotinoptimointiin heterogeenisissä monikäyttäjä- ja moniantennijärjestelmissä. Tavoitteena on parantaa tilatason suorituskykyä tutkimalla hajautettuja keilanmuodostusmenetelmiä, joissa ohjaussignaloinnin tarve on alhainen. Erityisesti keskitytään hajautetun keilanmuodostuksen optimointiin, nopeaan konvergenssiin, laskennalliseen kompleksisuuteen sekä signaloinnin rajoitteisiin. Esitettyjen menetelmien osoitetaan parantavan konvergenssinopeutta ja vähentävän signaloinnin tarvetta, verrattaessa tunnettuun WMMSE-menetelmään. Nämä mahdollistavat lähetyksen aikajatkuvissa kanavissa, joissa kanavan muutosten seuraaminen on erityisen tärkeää. Näiden menetelmien osoitetaan mahdollistavan hajautetun ja priorisoidun tiedonsiirtonopeuden maksimoinnin monisolujärjestelmissä sekä aikajatkuvissa kanavissa käyttäjäkohtaisilla siirtonopeustakuilla. Pilottiavusteisten lähetys- ja vastaanotinkeilojen estimointia tutkitaan yhteislähetysjärjestelmissä. Yksittäisten lähetyskanavien estimoinnissa effektiiviset kanavat estimoidaan yksitellen, ja lähetys- ja vastaanotinkovarianssimatriisit muodostetaan summaamalla paikalliset kanavaestimaatit. Suoraestimoinnissa ainoastaan oman käyttäjän effektiivinen kanava estimoimaan erikseen. Tällöin kovarianssimatriisit saadaan suoraan vastaanotetuista pilottisignaaleista. Tämä tekee estimaateista vähemmän herkkiä häiriölle. Hajautetun yhteislähetyksen osoitetaan olevan mahdollista, jopa verrattain nopeasti muuttuvissa kanavissa sekä rajallisella verkkoyhteydellä lähettimien välillä. Viimeisessä osassa tutkitaan välittäjä-avusteisia järjestelmiä, joissa käyttäjiä palvellaan joko suoraan tukiasemasta tai välittäjä-aseman kautta. Optimointikriteereinä käytetään siirtonopeuden maksimointia sekä lähetystehon minimointia siirtonopeustakuilla. Nollaanpakottava sekä koordinoitu keilanmuodostus tarjoavat valinna laskennallisen kompleksisuuden, ohjaussignaloinnin sekä suorituskyvyn välillä. Välittäjä-avusteisen lähetyksen osoitetaan olevan hyödyllisiä useissa tilanteissa, kun radiorajanpinnan yli tapahtuvan signaloinnin tarve otetaan huomioon keilanmuodostuksessa. Tässä väitöskirjassa osoitetaan hajautetun keilanmuodostuksen olevan mahdollista verrattaen vähäisillä laskennallisilla resursseilla heterogeenisissä moniantennijärjestelmissä. Esitetyt menetelmät tarjoavat ratkaisuja järjestelmiin, joissa ohjaussignalointiresurssit ovat rajallisia ja radiokanava on jatkuvasti muuttuva.

Les langages contrôlés sont des langages artificiellement définis utilisant un sous-ensemble du vocabulaire, des formes morphologiques, des constructions syntaxiques d'une langue naturelle tout en en éliminant la polysémie. En quelque sorte, ils constituent le pont entre les langages formels et les langues naturelles. De ce fait, ils remplissent la fonction de communication du médium texte tout en étant rigoureux et analysables par la machine sans ambiguïté. En particulier, ils peuvent être utilisés pour faciliter l'alimentation de bases de connaissances, dans le cadre d'une interface homme-machine.Le Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM) publie depuis 1971 les Instructions nautiques, des recueils de renseignements généraux, nautiques et réglementaires, destinés aux navigateurs. Ces ouvrages complètent les cartes marines. Elles sont obligatoires à bord des navires de commerce et de pêche. D'autre part, l'Organisation Hydrographique Internationale (OHI) a publié des normes spécifiant l'échange de données liées à la navigation et notamment un modèle universel de données hydrographiques (norme S-100, janvier 2010). Cette thèse se propose d'étudier l'utilisation d'un langage contrôlé pour représenter des connaissances contenues dans les Instructions nautiques, dans le but de servir de pivot entre la rédaction du texte par l'opérateur dédié, la production de l'ouvrage imprimé ou en ligne, et l'interaction avec des bases de connaissances et des outils d'aide à la navigation. En particulier on étudiera l'interaction entre le langage contrôlé des Instructions nautiques et les cartes électroniques correspondantes. Plus généralement, cette thèse se pose la question de l'évolution d'un langage contrôlé et des ontologies sous-jacentes dans le cadre d'une application comme les Instructions nautiques, qui ont la particularité d'avoir des aspects rigides (données numériques, cartes électroniques, législation) et des aspects nécessitant une certaine flexibilité (rédaction du texte par des opérateurs humains, imprévisibilité du type de connaissance à inclure par l'évolution des usages et des besoins des navigants). De manière similaire aux ontologies dynamiques que l'on rencontre dans certains domaines de connaissance, on définit ici un langage contrôlé dynamique. Le langage contrôlé décrit dans cette thèse constitue une contribution intéressante pour la communauté concernée puisqu'il touche au domaine maritime, domaine encore inexploité dans l'étude des langages contrôlés, mais aussi parce qu'il présente un aspect hybride, prenant en compte les multiples modes (textuel et visuel) présents dans le corpus constitué par les Instructions nautiques et les documents qu'elles accompagnent. Bien que créé pour le domaine de la navigation maritime, les mécanismes du langage contrôlé présentés dans cette thèse ont le potentiel pour être adaptés à d'autres domaines utilisant des corpus multimodaux. Enfin, les perspectives d'évolution pour un langage contrôlé hybride sont importantes puisqu'elles peuvent exploiter les différents avantages des modes en présence (par exemple, une exploitation de l'aspect visuel pour une extension 3D). / Controlled Natural Languages (CNL) are artificial languages that use a subset of the vocabulary, morphological forms and syntactical constructions of a natural language while eliminating its polysemy. In a way, they constitute the bridge between formal languages and natural languages. Therefore, they perform the communicative function of the textual mode while being precise and computable by the machine without any ambiguity. In particular, they can be used to facilitate the population or update of knowledge bases within the framework of a human-machine interface.Since 1971, the French Marine Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) issues the French Coast Pilot Books Instructions nautiques , collections of general, nautical and statutory information, intended for use by sailors. These publications aim to supplement charts, in the sense that they provide the mariner with supplemental information not in the chart. They are mandatory for fishing and commercial ships. On the other hand, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) issued standards providing information about navigational data exchange. Among these standards, one of a particular interest is the universal model of hydrographic data (S-100 standard, January, 2010).This thesis analyses the use of a CNL to represent knowledge contained in the Instructions nautiques. This CNL purpose is to act as a pivot between the writing of the text by the dedicated operator, the production of the printed or online publication, and the interaction with knowledge bases and navigational aid tools. We will focus especially on the interaction between the Instructions nautiques Controlled Natural Language and the corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC).More generally, this thesis asks the question of the evolution of a CNL and the underlying ontologies involved in the Instructions nautiques project. Instructions nautiques have the particularity of combining both strictness (numerical data, electronic charts, legislation) and a certain amount of flexibility (text writing by human operators, unpredictability of the knowledge to be included due to the evolution of sailors¿ practices and needs). We define in this thesis a dynamic CNL in the same way that dynamic ontologies are defined in particular domains. The language described in this thesis is intended as an interesting contribution for the community involved in CNL. Indeed, it addresses the creation of a CNL for the unexploited domain of maritime navigation, but its hybrid aspects as well through the exploration of the multiple modalities (textual and visual) coexisting in a corpus comprising ENC and their companion texts. The mechanisms of the CNL presented in this thesis, although developed for the domain of the maritime navigation, have the potential to be adapted to other domains using multimodal corpuses. Finally, the benefits in the future of a controlled hybrid language are undeniable: the use of the different modalities in their full potential can be used in many different applications (for example, the exploitation of the visual modality for a 3D extension).

The main objective of this study is to evaluate climate change mitigation strategies in the forestry and energy sectors in the SADC with emphasis on the DRC and the RSA. This study is evaluative and cross-sectional. Its results were got through interviews of 56 key informants using the interview guide, and four focus group discussions in the DRC based on the focus group guide. The non-probability sample, mainly the purposive sample and the snowballing sampling were used. After the data analysis, the following results were found: In terms of the strategies for fighting drivers of deforestation both in the DRC and in RSA, it was revealed that the DRC focuses more on the REDD+ projects and NGO activities while the RSA protects its small existing natural forests through Acts, laws, advanced research and establishment of commercial plantations. The results which are related to the contribution of REDD programmes and NGOs to climate change mitigation in the RSA and the DRC have revealed that there are no REDD programmes in the RSA for carbon stock. In the DRC, the NOVACEL REDD+ pilot project has a carbon stock of 60 000 tons which continues to grow with 8 tons of CO2 /ha/year; 210 tons/ha/year on the left side of the Congo River, and on the right side 195 tons/ha/year is generated by the Isangi Geographically Integrated REDD+ pilot project. The WCS Mambasa Forestry REDD+ pilot project has 230 tons/ha/year, while 16 000 tons of CO2/year are stocked under the Luki REDD+ pilot project. The Eco-Makala and Equatorial REDD+ pilot projects have not yet estimated their carbon stocks. Regarding the involvement of the civil society in activities of climate change mitigation in the DRC, people are more involved in REDD’s alternative activities which are funded by the projects. However, in the RSA, people are used as labour in commercial plantations. The RSA derives its major energy from coal (94%) but the DRC has a high potential in hydropower that can generate up to 100 000 MGW. On the use of remote sensing, both the DRC and the RSA employ remote sensing but the RSA has a Spatial Agency while the DRC does not / College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences / D. Litt. et Phil. (Environmental Science)

The sample comprised 92 candidates who have completed the Ground School Phase of the trainee pilot training programme. The independent variables are Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices Test, the Blox Test and the Vienna Determination Test. The dependent variable is the candidates' results after the Ground School Phase of their training. The results indicated that only the Advanced Ravens test and the Vienna Determination test (Phase 3} correlate positively with the Ground School Phase results of the candidates. The current battery emphasises cognitive abilities and psycho-motor functioning and does not cover personality traits of prospective candidates. It is recommended that new instruments are included (to cover the measurement of personality traits), that the sample size should be increased by promoting pilot training among previously disadvantaged students and that the current pilot profile should be updated as a matter of urgency. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

L’objectif de cette thèse est le développement et la validation d’un outil numérique permettant d’évaluer la performance d’un ouvrage de décantation. L’approche Euler-Lagrange est retenue pour la modélisation de l’écoulement et du transport solide. De nouvelles conditions d’interaction particule/paroi permettent de restreindre le dépôt aux zones présentant des caractéristiques géométriques et hydrodynamiques favorables. Le modèle numérique est confronté à quatre jeux de données expérimentales. L’ensemble de ces expérimentations permettent d’investiguer une large gamme des paramètres représentatifs de l’écoulement et du transport solide. La comparaison des résultats numériques et expérimentaux permet de conclure sur la capacité du modèle à prévoir l’abattement des particules dans un ouvrage de décantation avec une précision de l’ordre de 5 pourcents lorsque les dépôts ont lieu sur l’ensemble du fond et de 10 pourcents dans le cas de dépôts localisés dans des zones préférentielles. / The objective of this thesis is the development and the validation of a numerical tool to estimate the trapping efficiency of settlers. The Euler-Lagrange approach is chosen to simulate the flow and the sediment transport. New particle/wall interaction conditions are developed to take into account the geometric and hydrodynamic characteristics to enable the deposit. The numerical model is compared to four sets of experimental data. All these experiments enable to study a wide range of parameters that describe the flow and the solid transport. The comparison between the numerical and experimental results shows that the model is able to estimate the trapping efficiency of particles in a settler with an accuracy of about 5 percent when the particles settle all over the bed of the basin and about 10 percent in case of located deposits.

Abstract This thesis focuses on the design of coordinated downlink beamforming techniques for wireless multi-cell multi-user multi-antenna systems. In particular, cellular and cognitive radio networks are considered. In general, coordinated beamforming schemes aim to improve system performance, especially at the cell-edge area, by controlling inter-cell interference. In this work, special emphasis is put on practical coordinated beamforming designs that can be implemented in a decentralized manner by relying on local channel state information (CSI) and low-rate backhaul signaling. The network design objective is the sum power minimization (SPMin) of base stations (BSs) while providing the guaranteed minimum rate for each user. Decentralized coordinated beamforming techniques are developed for cellular multi-user multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems. The proposed iterative algorithms are based on classical primal and dual decomposition methods. The SPMin problem is decomposed into two optimization levels, i.e., BS-specific subproblems for the beamforming design and a network-wide master problem for the inter-cell interference coordination. After the acquisition of local CSI, each BS can independently compute its transmit beamformers by solving the subproblem via standard convex optimization techniques. Interference coordination is managed by solving the master problem via a traditional subgradient method that requires scalar information exchange between the BSs. The algorithms make it possible to satisfy the user-specific rate constraints for any iteration. Hence, delay and signaling overhead can be reduced by limiting the number of performed iterations. In this respect, the proposed algorithms are applicable to practical implementations unlike most of the existing decentralized approaches. The numerical results demonstrate that the algorithms provide significant performance gains over zero-forcing beamforming strategies. Coordinated beamforming is also studied in cellular multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The corresponding non-convex SPMin problem is divided into transmit and receive beamforming optimization steps that are alternately solved via successive convex approximation method and the linear minimum mean square error criterion, respectively, until the desired level of convergence is attained. In addition to centralized design, two decentralized primal decomposition-based algorithms are proposed wherein the transmit and receive beamforming designs are facilitated by a combination of pilot and backhaul signaling. The results show that the proposed MIMO algorithms notably outperform the MISO ones. Finally, cellular coordinated beamforming strategies are extended to multi-user MISO cognitive radio systems, where primary and secondary networks share the same spectrum. Here, network optimization is performed for the secondary system with additional interference constraints imposed for the primary users. Decentralized algorithms are proposed based on primal decomposition and an alternating direction method of multipliers. / Tiivistelmä Tämä väitöskirja keskittyy yhteistoiminnallisten keilanmuodostustekniikoiden suunnitteluun langattomissa monisolu- ja moniantennijärjestelmissä, erityisesti solukko- ja kognitiiviradioverkoissa. Yhteistoiminnalliset keilanmuodostustekniikat pyrkivät parantamaan verkkojen suorituskykyä kontrolloimalla monisoluhäiriötä, erityisesti tukiasemasolujen reuna-alueilla. Tässä työssä painotetaan erityisesti käytännöllisten yhteistoiminnallisten keilanmuodostustekniikoiden suunnittelua, joka voidaan toteuttaa hajautetusti perustuen paikalliseen kanavatietoon ja tukiasemien väliseen informaationvaihtoon. Verkon suunnittelutavoite on minimoida tukiasemien kokonaislähetysteho samalla, kun jokaiselle käyttäjälle taataan tietty vähimmäistiedonsiirtonopeus. Hajautettuja yhteistoiminnallisia keilanmuodostustekniikoita kehitetään moni-tulo yksi-lähtö -solukkoverkoille. Oletuksena on, että tukiasemat ovat varustettuja monilla lähetysantenneilla, kun taas päätelaitteissa on vain yksi vastaanotinantenni. Ehdotetut iteratiiviset algoritmit perustuvat klassisiin primaali- ja duaalihajotelmiin. Lähetystehon minimointiongelma hajotetaan kahteen optimointitasoon: tukiasemakohtaisiin aliongelmiin keilanmuodostusta varten ja verkkotason pääongelmaan monisoluhäiriön hallintaa varten. Paikallisen kanavatiedon hankkimisen jälkeen jokainen tukiasema laskee itsenäisesti lähetyskeilansa ratkaisemalla aliongelmansa käyttäen apunaan standardeja konveksioptimointitekniikoita. Monisoluhäiriötä kontrolloidaan ratkaisemalla pääongelma käyttäen perinteistä aligradienttimenetelmää. Tämä vaatii tukiasemien välistä informaationvaihtoa. Ehdotetut algoritmit takaavat käyttäjäkohtaiset tiedonsiirtonopeustavoitteet jokaisella iterointikierroksella. Tämä mahdollistaa viiveen pienentämisen ja tukiasemien välisen informaatiovaihdon kontrolloimisen. Tästä syystä ehdotetut algoritmit soveltuvat käytännön toteutuksiin toisin kuin useimmat aiemmin ehdotetut hajautetut algoritmit. Numeeriset tulokset osoittavat, että väitöskirjassa ehdotetut algoritmit tuovat merkittävää verkon suorituskyvyn parannusta verrattaessa aiempiin nollaanpakotus -menetelmiin. Yhteistoiminnallista keilanmuodostusta tutkitaan myös moni-tulo moni-lähtö -solukkoverkoissa, joissa tukiasemat sekä päätelaitteet ovat varustettuja monilla antenneilla. Tällaisessa verkossa lähetystehon minimointiongelma on ei-konveksi. Optimointiongelma jaetaan lähetys- ja vastaanottokeilanmuodostukseen, jotka toistetaan vuorotellen, kunnes algoritmi konvergoituu. Lähetyskeilanmuodostusongelma ratkaistaan peräkkäisillä konvekseilla approksimaatioilla. Vastaanottimen keilanmuodostus toteutetaan summaneliövirheen minimoinnin kautta. Keskitetyn algoritmin lisäksi tässä työssä kehitetään myös kaksi hajautettua algoritmia, jotka perustuvat primaalihajotelmaan. Hajautettua toteutusta helpotetaan pilottisignaloinnilla ja tukiasemien välisellä informaationvaihdolla. Numeeriset tulokset osoittavat, että moni-tulo moni-lähtö -tekniikoilla on merkittävästi parempi suorituskyky kuin moni-tulo yksi-lähtö -tekniikoilla. Lopuksi yhteistoiminnallista keilanmuodostusta tarkastellaan kognitiiviradioverkoissa, joissa primaari- ja sekundaarijärjestelmät jakavat saman taajuuskaistan. Lähetystehon optimointi suoritetaan sekundaariverkolle samalla minimoiden primaarikäyttäjille aiheuttamaa häiriötä. Väitöskirjassa kehitetään kaksi hajautettua algoritmia, joista toinen perustuu primaalihajotelmaan ja toinen kerrointen vaihtelevan suunnan menetelmään.

The diploma thesis deals with the technological stage of the lower structure, namely laying on piled foundations, including laying of a building pit with pilot reinforced concrete walls, and a rough top structure made of reinforced concrete walls, cores and reinforced concrete ceiling structure. The content is a technical report, solutions of wider transport relations, time and financial planning, studies of the main technological stages, equipment of the construction site of solved stages, design of the main building machines and mechanisms, technological regulations, control and test plans, safety and health protection at work, , thermal engineering assessment of selected constructions, budget, staff deployment balance, work progress scheme.

The most significant environmental problems related to the food industry is water consumption and pollution, energy consumption and waste production. Most of the water that does not become a part of the products ultimately leaves plants in the form of wastewater, which is often very specific and requires adequate handling / treatment / disposal. For the purpose of this thesis, brewery industry was chosen, because of its very long tradition in the Czech history and culture. Anaerobic technologies are applied for still wider range of industrial wastewater treating. In general anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) can very effectively treat wastewater of different concentration and composition and produce treated water (outlet, permeate) of excellent quality, that can be further utilised. At the same time, it can promote energy self-sufficiency through biogas production usable in WWTPs / plants. Main disadvantages include unavoidable membrane fouling and generally higher CAPEX / OPEX. Within the framework of Ph.D. studies and related research activities, immersed membrane modules for anaerobic applications were selected and lab-scale tested (designed and assembled laboratory unit), an AnMBR pilot plant was designed, built and subsequently tested under real conditions - at Černá Hora Brewery WWTP (waste waters from the brewery and associated facilities). The pilot AnMBR and the technology itself has been verified over more than a year (5/2015 – 11/2016) of trial operation - the initial and recommended operational parameters have been set up, minor construction adjustments / modifications and measurement & regulation optimizations have been made, the recommended membrane cleaning and regeneration procedure has been verified. Last, but not least, conclusions and recommendations of the trial operation were summarised - some key findings and recommendations for further operation, use and modifications of the existing AnMBR pilot plant are presented.

The aim of this thesis is to narrate and analyze lynching and atypical violence in Denton County, Texas, between 1920 and 1926. Through this intensive study of a rural county in north Texas, the role of law enforcement in typical and systemic violence is observed and the relationship between Denton County Officials and the Ku Klux Klan is analyzed. Chapter 1 discusses the root of the word lynching and submits a call for academic attention to violence that is unable to be categorized as lynching due to its restrictive definition. Chapter 2 chronicles known instances of lynching in Denton County from its founding through the 1920s including two lynchings perpetrated by Klavern 136, the Denton County Klan. Chapter 3 examines the relationship between Denton County Law Enforcement and the Klan. In Chapter 4, seasons of violence are identified and applied to available historical records. Chapter 5 concludes that non-lynching violence, termed "disappearances," occurred and argues on behalf of its inclusion within the historiography of Jim Crow Era criminal actions against Black Americans. In the Prologue and Epilogue, the development and dissolution of the St. John's Community in Pilot Point, Texas, is narrated.