La croissance rapide du trafic aérien et les besoins en nouveaux services notamment pour les passagers imposent l'introduction de nouveaux moyens de communication pour les avions avec une bande passante globale fortement accrue. Les satellites sont appelés à jouer un rôle important dans ce contexte, non seulement en complément des systèmes terrestres pour les services « cockpit » (services ATM, Air Traffic Management) mais aussi pour les services « cabine » (In-Flight Entertainment). L'objectif de la thèse est d'étudier l'architecture d'un système satellite supportant l'ensemble de ces services, en se focalisant sur l'architecture du terminal embarqué à bord des aéronefs. L'architecture retenue repose sur des liaisons DVB-S2/DVB-RCS normalisées par l'ETSI. Cette option permet d'utiliser efficacement l'importante bande passante disponible en bande Ka pour les services mobiles aéronautiques (allocation primaire) ou en bande Ku (allocation secondaire). Ces normes ont été conçues pour les applications multimédia (Broadband Satellite Multimedia). Le défi est alors d'utiliser de telles liaisons satellite pour des services aux caractéristiques et besoins fortement hétérogènes. Par ailleurs, l'utilisation de la bande Ka n'est pas concevable sans l'activation de techniques de lutte contre les affaiblissements (FMT – Fade Mitigation Techniques). L'utilisation d'une marge statique conduit à une perte importante de capacité. Les techniques FMT reposent sur une évaluation dynamique du bilan de liaison et permettent une modification de la forme d'onde. Le système utilise ainsi la forme d'onde la plus efficace spectralement pour chaque terminal et maximise la capacité globale du système. Par contre, chaque terminal observe une modification de la ressource allouée au fil du temps. L'objectif de la thèse est de concevoir une architecture au niveau terminal qui permette d'exploiter les liaisons DVB-S2/RCS afin de fournir les services passagers (Internet et téléphonie mobile de type GSM/UMTS) et un canal haute fiabilité pour les services aéronautiques. Deux approches ont été retenues. La première repose sur une application du modèle ETSI BSM (Broadband Satellite Multimedia) en couches séparant strictement les couches dépendantes satellite et les couches indépendantes satellite. Les simulations de cette architecture montrent que les liaisons ne peuvent être utilisées de façon efficace sans une interaction entre couches afin de tenir compte de l'évolution de la capacité disponible. La seconde approche consiste en la concentration de la gestion de la ressource et la gestion de la qualité de service dans la même couche protocolaire. L'idée de départ est d'utiliser la méthode d'encapsulation générique Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE). GSE a été conçu pour la projection des paquets de couches supérieures à l'intérieur des trames DVB-S2. GSE tient compte de la taille variable des trames DVB-S2 et introduit une capacité de multiplexage entre différents flux (identification de fragments). Sur cette base, une gestion de l'accès est introduite pour gérer la liaison DVB-RCS au format MF-TDMA. Nous introduisons ainsi une utilisation conjointe de GSE, d'une politique de service différentiée et de flux de signalisation inter-couches (« cross-layer »). Les performances des deux approches sont étudiées à l'aide d'un modèle de simulation développé à l'aide du logiciel OPNET Modeler (simulations à événements discrets). Les résultats obtenus démontrent le meilleur comportement de la seconde architecture avec une meilleure utilisation de la ressource et des performances de transmission satisfaisant les objectifs. / The rapid growth of air traffic needs a new communication infrastructure with increased bandwidth, high speed services and applications to satisfy expected air-ground communication requirements. Satellite communication systems play a significant role in this context, not only as a complement to terrestrial systems for Air Traffic Management (ATM) by offering global coverage but also as a promising solution to enrich In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) for passengers. DVB-S2/RCS technology is an attractive proposition to provide the cost-effective broadband services for both ATM and IFE, mainly because a large radio bandwidth is primarily allocated to aeronautical mobile communications in Ka-band, where the open standards DVB are implemented. However, such system design with convergence of heterogeneous traffics involves two main challenges. Firstly, using Ka-band means the implementation of Fade Mitigation Techniques (FMT) in order to cope with deep fades caused by atmospheric attenuation. Otherwise, the waste of capacity would be excessively high in a constant link margin design. FMT adapt in real time the link budget to the propagation conditions, this adaptivity has an impact not only on physical layer but also on upper layers. An efficient ressource management strategy with dynamic bandwidth allocation is required in this case, especially in DVB-RCS return link where FMT are not natives. Secondly, the proposed system must be able to multiplex the trafic flows with highly different characteristics and Quality of Service (QoS) expectations into a single link, the corresponding capacity management and QoS support seem with higher complexity. In this paper, we present an adaptive system design using a single DVB-S2/RCS based satellite link to provide Internet access and mobile telephony (GSM/UMTS) for passengers and a high-reliability channel for ATM. Concerning the airborne terminal architecture, two approaches are investigated. The first one is in compliance with ETSI Broadband Satellite Multimedia (BSM) architecture and based on a layering paradigm. The conducted simulation experiments highlight the need of dynamic interactions and adaptations among the layers to achieve an overall performance optimization. We propose then an enhanced approach with the concentration of both resource allocation and QoS management at the same interface – adaptation layer. The idea comes from the success of the recent Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE) protocol, which carries the network protocol packets over DVB-S2 forward link in a simple, flexible and efficient way, especially when used with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM). Furthermore, GSE can be easily extended to use in our design for DVB-RCS return link thanks to a proper design of MF-TDMA structure in which the suitable FMT (ACM and Dynamic Rate Adaptation) are context-aware configured. With the combined use of GSE, service policy and the interactions between adaptation and access layers, incoming heterogeneous traffics can be dynamically scheduled, segmented and encapsulated at the same adaptation layer. Performance evaluation of two proposed approaches is derived by a network-level simulation model developed using OPNET. Results prove the enhanced approach outperforms the first one leading to better resource utilization and satisfactory performance.

The following study aims to examine the success of using option-implied volatility to forecast realized volatility in derivative markets as the preferred market practice. The approach adopted by this study was to compare realized volatility against the monthly average forecast over the period 2005 to 2010. The data selection spanned across currency and commodities markets; short and long-term horizons; before and after the global financial crisis; as well as developed and developing (emerging) markets. To test the success of the forecasting technique, the study used the T-test to test the sample means for any statistical differences between the means of the forecast variable (optionimplied volatility) and the realized variable. The data for the study was obtained from BloombergTM. The findings across all research question showed that this forecasting technique has performed poorly in general for various reasons. There are different arguments in literature as to which forecasting method works best and under what conditions, some practitioners prefer using historical data methods others prefer more technical methods such as the GARCH 1.1. The use of financial derivatives to mitigate financial risk has become a common practice for organizations with a global presence; however market volatility poses a great risk to the financial stability of these organizations. Forecasting volatility continues to be a challenge for market practitioners. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), a serine/threonine kinase, plays a role in DNA damage repair, redox sensing, and metabolism. In the heart, ATM contributes significantly in the myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac remodeling with effects on fibrosis, hypertrophy, apoptosis and inflammation. This study investigates the role of ATM deficiency in 14 weeks Western-type diet (WD)-induced cardiac outcomes prior to and 1-day post-MI in a sex-specific manner using wild-type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice. In male mice, ATM deficiency induced rapid body weight gain and preload-associated dysfunction, while WT mice displayed afterload-associated dysfunction 14 weeks post-WD. Myocyte apoptosis and hypertrophy were higher in hKO-WD versus WT-WD. WD increased fibrosis, and expression of collagen-1α1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 only in WT-WD. AMPK activation was higher, while activation of mTOR and NF-kB was lower in hKO-WD versus hKO-NC. Serum levels of IL-12(p70), eotaxin, IFN-γ, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β were higher in hKO-WD versus WT-WD. Conversely, female hKO-WD mice exhibited an attenuation of weight gain and maintenance of heart function. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels were higher in female hKO-WD. WD-induced apoptosis and Bax expression were lower in hKO-WD vs WT-WD. Collagen-1α1 expression was higher in hKO-WD vs WT-WD. MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression increased only in WT-WD. MI decreased cardiac function in both male and female mice versus their WD counterparts. The cardioprotective effects of ATM deficiency in terms of heart function were abolished in female mice 1 day post-MI. MI led to a similar infarct size and increase in apoptosis in the two WD-MI groups of both sexes. These data suggest that – 1) ATM deficiency associates with systolic and preload associated diastolic dysfunction, and exacerbates apoptosis, hypertrophy, and fibrosis in male mice in response to WD; 2) In female mice, ATM deficiency plays a cardioprotective role with preserved systolic function and decreased apoptosis in response to WD; 3) the sex-specific cardioprotective effects of ATM deficiency in females were abolished 1day post-MI. Thus, ATM deficiency affects cardiac structure and function in a sex-specific manner in response to WD and early post-MI.

Diploma thesis deals with assign and distribution quality of service in mobile UMTS telecommunication networks. The project consists of two parts, theoretical and practical. Theoretical part of the project is focused to familiarize with functionality of the UMTS network with the main aspect at admission mechanism in radio part of the network as well as quality of service assign mechanisms according to service demands within core network of UMTS. Practical part of the project is given to simulation program OPNET Modeler and its capabilities in network design and testing various parameters of UMTS network with implementation quality of service mechanism. As the asset of diploma thesis becomes designed functional prototype of UMTS network with various options for individual settings user equipment as well as fixed mobile networks nodes.

Magister Commercii - MCom / This study investigates the financial, marketing as well as technological feasibility of turning the current University of Western Cape (UWC) Student ID Card into a more featured debit card called the "Hoop Kaarf'. This debit card will offer the functionality of access to secure UWC areas, the purchase and use of photocopying credits, the purchase of printing credits, taking out library books; and identification, as the old student card does. It will also have the added functionality of replacing cash when paying for vending machines, cafés, takeaways, shops, supermarkets and withdrawing money from ATMs, at UWC, within South Africa and outside the country.

CD4 T cell death or survival following initial HIV infection is crucial for the development of viral reservoirs and latent infection, making its evaluation critical in devising strategies for HIV cure. Here we infected primary CD4 T cells with a wild-type HIV-1 and investigated the death and survival mechanisms in productively infected and bystander cells during early HIV infection. We found that HIV-infected cells exhibited increased programmed cell death, such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, than uninfected cells. However, productively infected (p24+) cells and bystander (p24-) cells displayed different patterns of cell death due to differential expression of pro-/anti-apoptotic proteins and signaling molecules. Cell death was triggered by an aberrant DNA damage response (DDR), as evidenced by increases in γH2AX levels, which inversely correlated with telomere length and telomerase levels during HIV infection. Mechanistically, HIV-infected cells exhibited a gradual shortening of telomeres following infection. Notably, p24+ cells had longer telomeres compared to p24- cells, and telomere length positively correlated with the telomerase, pAKT, and pATM expressions in HIV-infected CD4 T cells. Importantly, blockade of viral entry attenuated the HIV-induced inhibition of telomerase, pAKT, and pATM as well as the associated telomere erosion and cell death. Moreover, ATM inhibition promoted survival of HIV-infected CD4 T cells, especially p24+ cells, and rescued telomerase and AKT activities by inhibiting cell activation, HIV infection, and DDR. These results indicate that productively infected and bystander CD4 T cells employ different mechanisms for their survival and death, suggesting a possible pro-survival, pro-reservoir mechanism during early HIV infection.

Background: Ataxia-telangiectasia results from mutations in ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) gene. We recently reported that ATM deficiency attenuates left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and dilatation 7 days after myocardial infarction (MI) with increased apoptosis and fibrosis. Here we investigated the role of ATM in the induction of inflammatory response, and activation of survival signaling molecules in the heart acute post-MI. Methods and Results: LV structure, function, inflammatory response, and biochemical parameters were measured in wild-type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice 1 and 3 days post-MI. ATM deficiency had no effect on infarct size. MI-induced decline in heart function, as measured by changes in percent fractional shortening, ejection fraction and LV end systolic and diastolic volumes, was lower in hKO-MI versus WT-MI (n=10 to 12). The number of neutrophils and macrophages was significantly lower in the infarct LV region of hKO versus WT 1 day post-MI. Fibrosis and expression of a-smooth muscle actin (myofibroblast marker) were higher in hKO-MI, while active TGF-β1 levels were higher in the WT-MI 3 days post-MI. Myocyte cross-sectional area was higher in hKO-sham with no difference between the two MI groups. MMP-9 protein levels were similarly increased in the infarct LV region of both MI groups. Apoptosis was significantly higher in the infarct LV region of hKO at both time points. Akt activation was lower, while Bax expression was higher in hKO-MI infarct. Conclusion: ATM deficiency results in decreased dilative remodeling and delays inflammatory response acute post-MI. However, it associates with increased fibrosis and apoptosis.

β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation induces cardiac myocyte apoptosis and plays an important role in myocardial remodeling. Here we investigated expression of various apoptosis-related genes affected by β-AR stimulation, and examined first time the role of ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) in cardiac myocyte apoptosis and myocardial remodeling following β-AR stimulation. cDNA array analysis of 96 apoptosis-related genes indicated that β-AR stimulation increases expression of ATM in the heart. In vitro, RT-PCR confirmed increased ATM expression in adult cardiac myocytes in response to β-AR stimulation. Analysis of left ventricular structural and functional remodeling of the heart in wild-type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout mice (hKO) 28 days after ISO-infusion showed increased heart weight to body weight ratio in both groups. M-mode echocardiography showed increased percent fractional shortening (%FS) and ejection fraction (EF%) in both groups 28 days post ISO-infusion. Interestingly, the increase in %FS and EF% was significantly lower in the hKO-ISO group. Cardiac fibrosis and myocyte apoptosis were higher in hKO mice at baseline and ISO-infusion increased fibrosis and apoptosis to a greater extent in hKO-ISO hearts. ISO-infusion increased phosphorylation of p53 (Serine-15) and expression of p53 and Bax to a similar extent in both groups. hKO-Sham and hKO-ISO hearts exhibited reduced intact β1 integrin levels. MMP-2 protein levels were significantly higher, while TIMP-2 protein levels were lower in hKO-ISO hearts. MMP-9 protein levels were increased in WT-ISO, not in hKO hearts. In conclusion, ATM plays a protective role in cardiac remodeling in response to β-AR stimulation.

<div> <div> <div> <p>As the demand and complexity of air traffic increase, it becomes crucial to maintain the safety and efficiency of the operations in airspaces, which, however, could lead to an increased workload for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) and delays in their decision-making processes. Although terminal airspaces are highly structured with the flight procedures such as standard terminal arrival routes and standard instrument departures, the aircraft are frequently instructed to deviate from such procedures by ATCs to accommodate given traffic situations, e.g., maintaining the separation from neighboring aircraft or taking shortcuts to meet scheduling requirements. Such deviation, called vectoring, could even increase the delays and workload of ATCs. This thesis focuses on developing a framework for trajectory pattern identification and classification that can provide ATCs, in vectored airspace, with real-time information of which possible vectoring pattern a new incoming aircraft could take so that such delays and workload could be reduced. This thesis consists of two parts, trajectory pattern identification and trajectory pattern classification. </p> <p>In the first part, a framework for trajectory pattern identification is proposed based on agglomerative hierarchical clustering, with dynamic time warping and squared Euclidean distance as the dissimilarity measure between trajectories. Binary trees with fixes that are provided in the aeronautical information publication data are proposed in order to catego- rize the trajectory patterns. In the second part, multiple recurrent neural network based binary classification models are trained and utilized at the nodes of the binary trees to compute the possible fixes an incoming aircraft could take. The trajectory pattern identifi- cation framework and the classification models are illustrated with the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data that were recorded between January and December 2019 in In- cheon international airport, South Korea . </p> </div> </div> </div>

HIV infection leads to a phenomenon of inflammaging, in which chronic inflammation induces an immune aged phenotype, even in individuals on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) with undetectable viremia. In this study, we investigated T cell homeostasis and telomeric DNA damage and repair machineries in cART-controlled HIV patients at risk for inflammaging. We found a significant depletion of CD4 T cells, which was inversely correlated with the cell apoptosis in virus-suppressed HIV subjects compared to age-matched healthy subjects (HS). In addition, HIV CD4 T cells were prone to DNA damage that extended to chromosome ends—telomeres, leading to accelerated telomere erosion—a hallmark of cell senescence. Mechanistically, the DNA double-strand break (DSB) sensors MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1 (MRN complex) remained intact, but both expression and activity of the DNA damage checkpoint kinase ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and its downstream checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) were significantly suppressed in HIV CD4 T cells. Consistently, ATM/CHK2 activation, DNA repair, and cellular functions were also impaired in healthy CD4 T cells following ATM knockdown or exposure to the ATM inhibitor KU60019 in vitro, recapitulating the biological effects observed in HIV-derived CD4 T cells in vivo. Importantly, ectopic expression of ATM was essential and sufficient to reduce the DNA damage, apoptosis, and cellular dysfunction in HIV-derived CD4 T cells. These results demonstrate that failure of DSB repair due to ATM deficiency leads to increased DNA damage and renders CD4 T cells prone to senescence and apoptotic death, contributing to CD4 T cell depletion or dysfunction in cART-controlled, latent HIV infection.