Exploring the future impacts of urbanization and climate change on groundwater in Arusha,Tanzania

ABSTRACT

We combine satellite imagery, urban growth modelling, groundwater modelling and hydrogeological field expeditions to estimate the potential impacts in 2050 of rapid urbanization and climate change on groundwater in Arusha, Tanzania, and by extension similar areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our analysis suggests that a reduction of groundwater recharge by 30–44% will cause groundwater levels to drop by up to 75 m, mainly due to increased evapotranspiration and to an expansion in paved surface. If this scenario becomes reality, we predict that wells will run dry, creating health, social and environmental risks.     

Constructal multiscale cylinders rotating in cross-flow

This work describes the effect of steady-state laminar forced convection on multiscale rotating cylinders in cross-flow. The objective was to numerically maximise the heat-transfer-rate-density from the multiscale cylinder assembly under a prescribed pressure drop. Two main configurations were studied, the first was with two different-sized cylinders aligned along the same centreline, and the second configuration was that in which the axis of rotation of the two cylinders was not on the same centreline but the leading edges of the cylinders were on the same line. In both configurations, the cylinders were subjected to two types of rotations, counter-rotation and co-rotation. Numerical solutions for stationary and rotational cylinders were solved to determine the optimum cylinder diameter, spacing and the corresponding maximum heat transfer rate density. The effects of different centres of rotation and the dimensionless pressure drop on the cylinder-to-cylinder spacing, optimal diameter of the cylinder and the maximum heat transfer rate density were reported. Results show that the optimal smaller cylinder diameter was robust with respect to the dimensionless pressure drop number, for both configurations. Results further showed that rotation was only beneficial for cylinders with the same axis of rotation and the effect was minimal when the axis of rotation is different.     

Computer Aided Model for Casting Aluminium Using Die-Casting

Computer aided casting of aluminum using die-casting was developed. A piston, which is an automobile part and very important in internal combination engine, was chosen for the research. Pistons are made of aluminum alloy. Models of the products were developed to aid the casting process. Mathematical models that show the dimensions of the casting were also developed. Since the project is about using computer to aid casting process, a program using visual basic （VB） Language was developed. The program was used to incorporate die-casting process into computer system. The written program was tested and the model of the casting product （piston） was displayed. The result shows that computer which is faster with accurate result can be used as an aid in the production of aluminum piston using die-casting process, for accurate planning in the manufacture of the product.     

Zinc Nutrition and Inflammation in the Aging Retina

Zinc is an essential nutrient for human health. It plays key roles in maintaining protein structure and stability, serves as catalytic factor for many enzymes, and regulates diverse fundamental cellular processes. Zinc is important in affecting signal transduction and, in particular, in the development and integrity of the immune system, where it affects both innate and adaptive immune responses. The eye, especially the retina‐choroid complex, has an unusually high concentration of zinc compared to other tissues. The highest amount of zinc is concentrated in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) (RPE‐choroid, 292 ± 98.5 µg g^?1 dry tissue), followed by the retina (123 $\pm$62.2 µg g^?1 dry tissue). The interplay between zinc and inflammation has been explored in other parts of the body but, so far, has not been extensively researched in the eye. Several lines of evidence suggest that ocular zinc concentration decreases with age, especially in the context of age‐related disease. Thus, a hypothesis that retinal function could be modulated by zinc nutrition is proposed, and subsequently trialled clinically. In this review, the distribution and the potential role of zinc in the retina‐choroid complex is outlined, especially in relation to inflammation and immunity, and the clinical studies to date are summarized.     

Constructal conjugate cooling channels with internal heat generation

This paper presents a geometric optimisation of conjugate cooling channels in forced convection with internal heat generation. Two configurations were studied; circular channels and square channels. The configurations were optimised in such a way that the peak temperatures were minimised subject to the constraint of fixed total global volume. The fluid was forced through the cooling channels by the pressure difference across the channels. The structure has one degree of freedom as design variable: channel hydraulic diameter and once the optimal channel hydraulic diameter is found, optimal elemental volume and channel-to-channel spacing result. A gradient-based optimisation algorithm is applied in order to search for the best and optimal geometric configurations that improve thermal performance by minimising thermal resistance for a wide range of dimensionless pressure difference. This optimiser adequately handles the numerical objective function obtained from CFD simulations. The results obtained show the behaviour of the applied pressure difference on the optimised geometry. There are unique optimal design variables for a given pressure difference. The numerical results obtained are in agreement with the theoretical formulation using scale analysis and method of intersection of asymptotes.     

Entropy generation on MHD flow of a Casson fluid over a curved stretching surface with exponential space-dependent heat source and nonlinear thermal radiation

The present model concentrates on entropy generation on a steady incompressible flow of a Casson liquid past a permeable stretching curve surface through chemical reaction and magnetic field effects. The exponential space-dependent heat source cum heat and mass convective boundary conditions are accounted for. The resulting nonlinear boundary layer model is simplified by the transformation of similarity. Chebyshev spectral technique is involved for obtaining numerical results of the converted system of the mathematical models. Behavior of the determining thermo-physical parameters on the profiles of velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction, heat, mass transfer rate, rate of entropy generation, and finally the Bejan number are presented. The major point of the present investigation show that the curvature term weakens the mass transfer profile as the fluid temperature reduces all over the diffusion regime. A decrease in heat generation strengthens the species molecular bond, which prevents free Casson particle diffusion. Furthermore, the mass transfer field diminishes in suction and injection flow medium.     

Kaduna

Compared with other ancient towns like Kano, Ile-Ife or Oyo, Kaduna is relatively new in the hierarchy of towns in Nigeria. It has, however, the distinction of having being established in the large northern protectorate solely for colonial administrative purposes. Kaduna was originally built on a grid pattern, with all roads intersecting and properly named. Facilities were well planned and most town planning rules obeyed. But the pressure of urbanization, the existence of many development agencies whose activities are not coordinated and political interference in planning functions are threatening to deface the beauty of the city. The government is constantly evolving strategies to maintain and enhance the beauty of the town through various land management procedures.     

Three‐dimensional optimisation of a fuel gas channel of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for maximum current density

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells operated with hydrogen and air offer promising alternative to conventional fossil fuel sources for transport and stationary applications because of its high efficiency, low‐temperature operation, high power density, fast start‐up and potable power for mobile application. Power levels derivable from this class of fuel cell depend on the operating parameters. In this study, a three‐dimensional numerical optimisation of the effect of operating and design parameters of PEM fuel cell performance was developed. The model computational domain includes an anode flow channel, membrane electrode assembly and a cathode flow channel. The continuity, momentum, energy and species conservation equations describing the flow and species transport of the gas mixture in the coupled gas channels and the electrodes were numerically solved using a computational fluid dynamics code. The effects of several key parameters, including channel geometries (width and depth), flow orientation and gas diffusion layer (GDL) porosity on performance and species distribution in a typical fuel cell system have been studied. Numerical results of the effect of flow rate and GDL porosity on the flow channel optimal configurations for PEM fuel cell are reported. Simulations were carried out ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 mm for channel width, 0.5 to 3.0 mm for channel depth and 0.1 to 0.7 for the GDL porosity. Results were evaluated at 0.3 V operating cell voltage of the PEM fuel cell. The optimisation results show that the optimum dimension values for channel depth and channel width are 2.0 and 1.2 mm, respectively. In addition, the results indicate that effective design of fuel gas channel in combination with the reactant species flow rate and GDL porosity enhances the performance of the fuel cell. The numerical results computed agree well with experimental data in the literature. Consequently, the results obtained provide useful information for improving the design of fuel cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.