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This thesis proposes a low-IF receiver architecture suitable for the realization of single-chip receivers. To alleviate the image-rejection requirements of the front-end filters an oversampling complex discrete-time ΔΣ ADC with a signal-transfer function that achieves a significant filtering of interfering signals is proposed. A filtering ADC reduces the complexity of the receiver by minimizing the requirements of analog filters in the IF digitization path. Discrete-time ΔΣ ADCs have precise resonant frequency and clock frequency ratios and, hence, do not require the calibration or tuning that is necessary in the case of continuous-time ΔΣ modulator implementations. This feature makes the proposed discrete- time ΔΣ ADC ideal for multistandard receiver applications.

This thesis relates to the earliest West Saxon charters, that is those dating from the period c. 670 to the end of the reign of Ecgberht in 839. All charters which have any direct and specific relevance to the West Saxon kingdom in this period are included. The early West Saxon charters are among the most problematical and neglected of all Anglo-Saxon charters. There are various reasons for this: only a small amount of material survives, and it is difficult to form any judgement of, or base any conclusions on, such fragmentary evidence; there are no original West Saxon charters for the period before 838, and consequently no fixed point from which a study of the material could proceed; the main collections, such as those of Malmesbury and Glastonbury, have been widely regarded with suspicion; there is a dearth of other types of evidence for the period which might have illuminated the charters; and the whole period has been largely neglected by modern historians in comparison with the earlier and later periods of West Saxon history. The purpose of this study is to examine each of the documents in detail, to establish as far as possible which of the texts or portions of them are authentic, and to identify a body of genuine material which scholars may in future use as historical evidence with some confidence. Charters are arranged under the archives in which they survived in the medieval period, and each document is discussed individually. Judgements regarding authenticity are presented, and, where the document is genuine in whole or in part, some attempt is made to suggest the historical conclusions which can be drawn from it. A summary of early West Saxon diplomatic is provided and an analysis of the charters according to authenticity. The chief conclusion of this study is that a substantial proportion of the early West Saxon charters are authentic in whole or in part, and that they constitute a considerable body of evidence for the history of the early West Saxon kingdom.

The Rhesus (Rh) D antigen is important in transfusion medicine and is the major target in haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). The aims of this project were to characterise the helper-T (Th) cell response that drives anti-D alloantibody production in HDN as a first step towards developing an improved or alternative strategy to the current programme of prophylaxis, based on the manipulation the T-cell response. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 22 individuals, who had developed anti-RhD alloantibodies following natural or deliberate immunisation, and from 22 RhD negative and from 12 RhD positive control donors who had not been immunised with RhD. A panel of 69 overlapping synthetic 15-mer peptides, spanning the sequence of the RhD protein, was screed for the ability to stimulate recall proliferation and cytokine production from T-cells in cultures of the PBMC. T cells from all 22 of the alloimmunised donors proliferated in response to RhD peptides and typically multiple peptides were stimulatory. In contrast, only a few minor responses were observed in the control donors. RhD peptides 6, 13, 17, and 28 were identified as immunodominant peptides that stimulated proliferation in over 50% of the alloimmunised donors. Each of these peptides were promiscuous in their ability to stimulate T-cells from donors of the common HLA allotypes in this study. Each immunodominant peptide contains multiple core epitopes and multiple sets of MHC/TCR contacts. Preliminary findings indicate that neither peptides shorter than 15mer length nor analogues can be designed to boost or tolerise alloimmunised donors. The RhD peptides induced a complex pattern of cytokine production from alloreactive T cells. Both IFN-gamma and IL-4 could be produced to the RhD peptides indicative of a Th0 response. In addition, particular peptides elicited the production of the potentially inhibitory cytokines IL-10 or TGFb and not proliferation.

Earlier histories of the Scottish parliament have been somewhat constitutional in emphasis and have been exceedingly critical of what was understood to be parliament's subservience to the crown. Estimates by constitutional historians of the extreme weakness of parliament rested on an assessment of the constitutional system. The argument was that many of its features were not consistent with a reasonably strong parliament. Because the 'constitution' is apparently fragmented, with active roles played by bodies such as the lords of articles, the general council and the convention of estates, each apparently suggesting that parliament was inadequate, historians have sometimes failed to appreciate the positive role played by the estates in the conduct of national affairs. The thesis begins with a discussion of the reliability of the printed text of APS and proceeds to an examination of selected aspects of the work of parliament in a period from c 1424-c 1625. The belief of constitutional historians such as Rait that conditions In Scotland proved unfavourable to the interests and. effectiveness of parliament in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, is also examined. Chapter 1 concludes that APS is a less than reliable text, particularly for the reign of James I. Numerous statutes were excluded from the printed text and they are offered below for the first time. These statutes have been a useful addition to our understanding of the reign of James I. Chapter 2 analyses the motives behind the schemes for shire representation and concludes that neither constitutional theory nor political opportunism explains the support which James I and James VI gave to these measures. Both these monarchs were motivated by the realisation that their particular ambitions were dependent on winning the support of the estates whose ranks should include representatives from the shires. Chapter 3 examines the method of electing the lords of articles, the composition of this committee, and some aspects of its operation. The conclusion is that in the main the estates were the deciding force in the choice of the lords of articles. The committee's composition was more a reflection of a desire for a balance between representatives from north and south of the Forth and for the most important burghs and clergy to be selected than an attempt at electing government favourites. The articles did exercise a significant control over the items which came before parliament but this control was not absolute and applied to government as well as private legislation. Chapter 4 questions the traditional view that the general council and convention of estates were the same body. It is argued that they were two different institutions with different powers, but that they nevertheless worked within certain limits and were careful not to usurp the authority of parliament. Chapter 5 concedes that taxation was sometimes decided outside parliament; that the irregularity of taxation certainly weakened the bargaining power of the estates and that the latter did not appear to capitalise on these occasions when taxation was an issue. But the tendency was to ensure that, whether in or out of parliament, the decision to impose taxation was taken by a large number of each estate. The infrequency of taxation was a direct consequence of an unwillingness among the estates to agree to a regular taxation and their preference to ensure for the crown an alternative source of income. Moreover taxation was one issue, which more than any other, would be subject to contentious opposition by the estates, and could lead to the crown's defeat. Chapter 6 is concerned with ecclesiastical representation after the Reformation and the church's attitudes to the possibility of ministerial representation. Some ministers had doctrinal misgivings but the majority came to believe that the church's absence from parliament bad severely reduced. the influence of the church. That no agreement was forthcoming on a system of ministerial representation, particularly after 1597, is attributable to the estates' unwillingness to compromise and, not to the strength of opposition in the church. Chapter 7 examines the institutions which are sometime seen as 'rivals' of parliament and concludes that institutions such as the privy council were generally very careful in matters which needed the approval of parliament, and seemed aware of the greater authority of parliament. Chapter 8 which illustrates how parliament had the right to be consulted in all important matters of state, brings together the main points of the earlier chapters and offers further illustrations of the essential role which parliament played in the conduct of national affairs. Whether or not the system can be regarded as constitutionally sound, the estates in Scotland could observe parliament's day-to-day operation with some satisfaction. All in all, there is little convincing evidence that parliament was as weak as some historians would have us believe.

The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the D cells of the islets of Langerhans in six different species of mammals.