International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / This paper investigates the spectral properties and the bit error rate (BER) performance of enhanced FQPSK (EFQPSK) and constrained envelope modulation (CEM) techniques. Both the techniques are found to provide good spectral efficiencies. The EFQPSK signals are found to generate spectral lines for unbalanced data. An analytical spectral study for the spectral lines is presented. While the performance of CEM techniques has been presented in [6] for an ideal nonlinear amplifier, we present results for more realistic amplifiers with AM/AM and AM/PM effects. It is shown that such an amplifier generates spectral regrowth and a predistorter is required to reduce the adverse effects. A BER performance study with/without channel coding is also presented for the two techniques.

In the present study we aim to further our understanding of charged particle transport in a magnetized medium. To this end, we perform direct numerical simulations of particle transport in a turbulent magnetic field. From the particle trajectories we calculate diffusion and drift coefficients. In contrast to previous numerical simulations of this nature, we also consider a background magnetic field that contains a gradient perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. By using a non-uniform background magnetic field, we can investigate the simultaneous large scale drift due to the gradient in the background magnetic field and the diffusion due to the turbulence which is superimposed on this background magnetic field. Upon comparison with the simulated diffusion coefficients, the newly proposed weakly non-linear theory (WNLT) of Shalchi et al. (2004b) seems to be the most appropriate theory for the simultaneous description of parallel and perpendicular diffusion over a wide range of fluctuation amplitude and particle rigidity. As for the effect of large scale drift on perpendicular diffusion, we find that under conditions of small amplitude turbulence and/ or high particle rigidity the transport perpendicular to the background field can exhibit super-diffusive behaviour. Diffusive behaviour seems to be recovered for the cases when the turbulence amplitude is sufficiently large and/ or the particle rigidity is sufficiently small. We furthermore find that both the drift coefficient and the drift speed are reduced from their weak scattering counterparts in the presence of scattering, with the reduction becoming more pronounced with increasing turbulence amplitude. For the drift coefficient in particular, the reduction from its weak scattering counterpart behaves differently for the cases in which the background magnetic field is either uniform or non-uniform. For the former case the reduction is predominantly at small rigidities, while for the latter case the reduction is predominantly at large rigidities. The latter result might be of significance for heliospheric modulation models in which the background magnetic field is highly non-uniform. Finally, we use a two-dimensional steadystate cosmic ray modulation model to see how our improved understanding of the underlying transport processes influences the overall cosmic ray modulation in the heliosphere. We conclude that in the absence of a theory which connects large scale drift with small scale diffusion, any statements about the inadequacy of a two-dimensional steady-state modulation model might be premature. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The purpose of this study was to determine the pitch and intensity level characteristics found in the vibrati of preferred oboe players whose vibrato was ranked by a panel of experts. The investigation also sought to discover factors that distinguish the preferred oboe vibrato from vibrato that is less preferred.

L'Internet des objets est l'un des concepts clefs stimulant l'évolution des réseaux mobiles dans le but de leur donner de nouvelles fonctionnalités de communication et de gestion d'objets dits connectés. Comparativement aux terminaux mobiles standards, les usages associés à ces objets connectés sont en général caractérisés par des débits modestes et de faibles ressources en capacité de calcul et en énergie. Les techniques de modulation spatiale (SM) sont proposées comme une solution prometteuse pour assurer les débits des objets connectés tout en maîtrisant le critère de la consommation énergétique. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'étudier les performances de différents schémas de transmission basés sur le concept SM mis en oeuvre en transmission ou en réception. Nous avons notamment proposé un système global de communication en liaisons montante (SM en transmission) et descendante (SM en réception) entre une station de base et un objet, dans lequel l'essentiel de la complexité de calcul est concentré à la station de base. Par ce système, une liaison avec un objet peut être établie en limitant les traitements au sein de l'objet à di simples fonctions d'activation/désactivation d'antenne et de détection à seuil. Par ailleurs, nous avons proposé des schémas SM étendus grâce auxquels l'efficacité spectrale atteignable devient égale au nombre d'antennes au sein de l'objet. Les expressions analytiques de la probabilité d'erreur binaire ont été développées pour l'ensemble des systèmes étudiés en utilisant différentes méthodes de détection. L'impact de la connaissance imparfaite de l'état des canaux de propagation ainsi que l'effet des corrélations entre antennes ont également été incorporés dans l'étude des performances des schémas SM de réception. Dans une dernière partie, nous avons proposé d'adapter les schémas SM de réception dans un environnement de propagation en ondes millimétriques en utilisant une formation de faisceau hybride analogique/numérique au niveau de l'émetteur. / Internet of Things is one of the keyword that represents the evolution in 5G that is able to connect the so-called Connected Devices (CD) to the network. These CDs are expected to require modest data rates and will be characterized by low resources in terms of both computation and energy consumption compared to other mobile multi-media devices. Spatial Modulation (SM) is proposed to be a promising solution to boost the data rate of the CD with a small ( or no) increase in energy consumption. Inspired by the advantages of SM, the objective of this thesis is to study the performance of different transmission scheme based on the SM concept at the transmitter and at tht receiver, for respectively an uplink and a downlink transmission between a BS and a CD. We proposed a global system where the higher computational complexity remains at the BS: The transmit SM is used for uplink, and the receive SM for downlink. It is shown that with SM, an ON­OFF keying for uplink and Single Tap detector for downlink could be sufficient for the transmission a the CD. Also, with Extended SM schemes, we increased the spectral efficiency of SM to be equal t< the number of antennas of CD in both uplink and downlink transmission. A framework for the derivation of the Bit Error Probability (BEP) is developed for all schemes with different detection methods. Impact of imperfect CSIT transmission has been studied when linear precoding is implemented for the receive spatial modulation, as well as the effect of antenna correlations. Finally we proposed to adapte the spatial modulation at the receiver with the mmWave environment, using hybrid beamformina at the transmitter.

Francisella tularensis est une bactérie intracellulaire à Gram négatif et l'un des agents les plus infectieux connu à l'heure actuelle, en particulier par voie respiratoire. L'inhalation d'une dizaine de bactéries suffit à provoquer une maladie mortelle : la tularémie pulmonaire. Sa facilité de dissémination par aérosols, ainsi que le caractère létal de cette pathologie, ont contribué à considérer F. tularensis comme une arme biologique potentielle. La tularémie pulmonaire est une infection aigue qui s'accompagne d'une réponse immunitaire inadaptée. F. tularensis infecte en premier lieu les cellules phagocytaires, notamment les macrophages. Alors que ces derniers sont des acteurs majeurs de la défense contre les agents infectieux, de nombreux mécanismes d'échappement permettent à F. tularensis d'éviter ou de résister aux réponses de l'hôte et ainsi de se multiplier et de disséminer dans l'organisme. Ainsi, après un retard initial dans la mise en place de la réponse immunitaire, la présence d'un grand nombre de bactéries et de signaux de danger libérés par les cellules infectées, conduisent au déclenchement d'une réponse inflammatoire excessive. Celle-ci se caractérise par une tempête cytokinique provoquant un recrutement massif de cellules immunitaires, en particulier de neutrophiles, dans les tissus infectés. Les dommages tissulaires associés à cette réponse inflammatoire sont en grande partie responsable de la mortalité associée aux infections pulmonaires par F. tularensis. La tularémie est actuellement traitée par antibiothérapie. Malheureusement, l'absence de symptômes spécifiques de cette maladie rend le diagnostic difficile et, par conséquent, retarde la prescription du traitement adapté. Or, l'efficacité des antibiotiques est considérablement réduite par cette administration tardive. De nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques sont donc nécessaires pour remplacer ou compléter l'antibiothérapie. Dans ce contexte, nous avons cherché à déterminer si la modulation de la réponse inflammatoire excessive induite par F. tularensis pouvait être bénéfique pour l'hôte infecté et ainsi être utilisée comme thérapie accessoire. L'objectif de mon travail de thèse était d'évaluer les propriétés anti-inflammatoires et le potentiel bénéfice thérapeutique du mannodendrimère 3T (M3T), un composé synthétisé par l'équipe de J. Nigou, dans un modèle murin d'infection pulmonaire par F. tularensis. Le M3T, conçu pour mimer les propriétés anti-inflammatoires d'un glycolipide de la paroi de Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a précédemment montré un effet inhibiteur sur la production de cytokines pro-inflammatoires et le recrutement de neutrophiles dans un modèle murin d'inflammation pulmonaire aigue induite par le LPS. La souche F. novicida, provoquant chez la souris une pathologie similaire à une infection pulmonaire par F. tularensis, a été utilisée comme souche de substitution dans ces travaux. In vitro, nous avons montré que le M3T inhibe la production de cytokines pro-inflammatoires induite par F. novicida dans des macrophages et cellules dendritiques humaines. D'un point de vue mécanistique, l'ensemble des données suggère que le M3T inhibe la réponse inflammatoire induite par F. novicida via le récepteur TLR2, en activant une voie de signalisation dépendante du récepteur DC-SIGN. In vivo, le M3T a été administré par injection intraveineuse 6 h post-infection, puis quotidiennement pendant 3 jours, en combinaison avec un traitement antibiotique sous-optimal. / Francisella tularensis is an intracellular Gram negative bacterium and the causative agent of tularemia. It is one of the most infectious agents known to date. Infection by the respiratory route leads to the deadly pulmonary form of tularemia. For these reasons, F. tularensis has been considered for years as a potential biological weapon. Pulmonary tularemia is characterized by an acute infection and a defect in immune responses. Particularly, the innate immune system plays a central role in F. tularensis infection and pathology. Macrophages, key cells of the innate immune system, are the main target for F. tularensis. This bacterium has evolved many strategies to escape host defenses that allow it to replicate within the cells and then disseminate into the whole organism. At this systemic stage, bacteria, along with alarm signals from infected cells, are recognized by innate immune receptors, triggering an inappropriate inflammatory response. The latter is characterized by a cytokine storm leading to a massive recruitment of immune cells, particularly neutrophils, in infected tissue. Tissue damages caused by this inflammation are a major cause of mortality associated with F. tularensis infections. Today, the treatment of tularemia is based on antibiotherapy. However, no specific symptoms can be assigned to pulmonary tularemia making its diagnosis difficult. This delays the administration of an appropriate antibiotiotherapy whose efficacy is therefore decreased. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are needed to replace or complement antibiotics. In this context, we investigated whether reducing the excessive inflammation induced by F. tularensis could be beneficial for the host and be considered as an adjunctive host- directed therapy. The aim of my work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties and the therapeutic potential of mannodendrimer 3T (M3T), a synthetic coumpond designed in the team, in a mouse model of pulmonary infection by F. tularensis. M3T was previously designed to mimic the anti-inflammatory traits of a specific glycolipid from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was previously shown to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophils recruitment in a mouse model of LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation. Here, we used F. novicida as a surrogate for F. tularensis since it induces an identical inflammatory pathology. In vitro, M3T was found to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human macrophages and dendritic cells infected by F. novicida. M3T modulates inflammatory response triggered by F. novicida via TLR2 most likely by the activation of a DC-SIGN-dependant pathway. In vivo, M3T was administered 6 h post-infection and then, daily for 3 days, by intraveinous injection and combined with a suboptimal antibiotic. This combination increases the survival rate of mice infected with F. novicida as compared to mice treated with antibiotic alone. M3T treatment has no impact on bacterial burden but seems to reduce tissue damages as observed by histological analyses of lungs, liver and spleen of infected mice. Altogether, our data demonstrate that M3T administration provides a therapeutic benefit in a mouse model of pulmonary infection by F. novicida. On a more general perspective our results suggest that targeting inflammation can be considered as an adjunctive treatment in acute pulmonary infections.

Les télécommunications optiques en espace libre pour les applications satellites deviennent unealternative aux communications radiofréquences pour les liens feeder (segment Satellite-Gateway) quicommencent à présenter une saturation en termes de bande passante avec une faible capacité desliaisons. Ces liaisons optiques présentent des avantages majeurs notamment une large bande passantedisponible, l’insensibilité aux interférences ou encore l’absence de régulation (pas de coût lié àl’utilisation de telle ou telle bande de longueur d’onde a contrario de la RF). Elles sont envisagées pourles futurs systèmes satellitaires utilisant des satellites en orbites géostationnaires (GEO : GeostaionaryOrbit) ou des orbites terrestres basses (LEO : Low Earth Orbit) afin d’augmenter la capacité desdonnées transmises. L’architecture des terminaux (OGS et satellites) et la modulation optique utiliséesont déterminantes pour la robustesse d’une telle liaison aux effets induits par les couches del’atmosphère. Bien que des expérimentations aient démontré la faisabilité de ce type de solution pourles télécommunications par satellites à des débits de l’ordre du Gb/s, des travaux de recherche sontencore nécessaires pour identifier les solutions techniques adaptées à ce nouveau médium detransmission et développer des émetteurs et récepteurs pouvant supporter des débits allant jusqu’à1Tb/s. Les travaux menés au cours de cette thèse ont pour objectif de développer des architecturesdes liaisons optiques utilisant différents formats de modulation afin de maitriser le comportement desrécepteurs après propagation atmosphérique (lien montant et lien descendant). Après avoir simulé laliaison avec un logiciel dédié à l’optique, un banc expérimental émulant le lien laser atmosphérique aété développé. Dans les deux cas, l’impact des effets atmosphériques a été pris en compte. Latraversée des couches de l’atmosphère présente des variations brusques d’atténuation dues auxturbulences atmosphériques qui agissent directement sur l’indice de réfraction affectant l’amplitudeet la phase du signal optique (on parle aussi des effets de scintillation). Il en résulte potentiellementdes pertes de paquets d’informations. Différents scénarii de perturbations atmosphériques (Faibleturbulences, Beam Wander, Fortes turbulences) ont été appliqués pour simuler numériquementchaque modèle de canal de communication. Le développement du banc ELLA (Emulateur Lien LaserAtmosphérique) a été réalisé pour émuler la traversée des couches atmosphériques et pour validerexpérimentalement en laboratoire les différents scénarii simulés numériquement. Le taux d’erreurbinaire (BER, Bit Error Rate) a été estimé avec et sans effet de fading induit par l’atmosphère dansdifférentes conditions de turbulences atmosphériques afin de déterminer les caractéristiques desliaisons optiques les plus robustes. / Due to expected capacity bottlenecks of exploited microwave technologies, feeder links for data relayor broadband access systems will require the implementation of high capacity optical communicationlinks between space and the ground. In this context, it is necessary to detail the investigation of theoptical technologies and techniques that could enable the transmission of high data rates at opticalfrequencies through the Earth’s atmosphere, with regard to all kinds of the atmospheric phenomena.In particular, the adverse effects of atmospheric turbulence fading are of special relevance to opticalcommunication systems for ground-to-space uplink applications. Although previous studies andexperiments have demonstrated the feasibility of such optical links at low data rate, research is stillneeded to identify technical solutions and strategies adapted to the specific constraints imposed tothese high-speed links in order to ensure the required level of performance. Against this background,various test benches have been developed to characterize different modulations and detectiontechniques for optical communication systems prior to be incorporated in the conceptual design offuture 1-Tb/s ground-space optical links. The expected performances of such experimentaldemonstration are derived based on simulation models taking into account the atmosphericturbulence effects, in order to prove the feasibility of reliable ground-to-space high date rate opticalcommunication links. The main objective of this thesis is the investigation of the free space opticalcommunication through the atmosphere under different turbulence regimes. Both simulation andexperimental demonstrations of such communications are considered and the associated results aredetailed.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) has been used extensively for motor control, DC-AC converters, DC-DC converters and in audio applications. The conventional method of generating a pulse width modulated signal involves generating an accurate sawtooth or triangle wave using analog circuits. In CMOS, being analog circuit intensive puts extra constraints on the fabrication process used for manufacture, thus requiring a higher cost than digital CMOS. Delta-Sigma Modulation on the other hand is analog intensive, but requires only quality capacitor matching, which can be obtained with current digital CMOS processes. This thesis describes a method to generate a digital PWM with pulse dithering using a Delta-Sigma modulator. The Delta-Sigma modulator provides accuracy and allows the circuit to be implemented in a digital CMOS process, while the pulse dithering in the PWM spreads out harmonic noise generated from the PWM fundamental frequency. / Graduation date: 1998

Alzheimers disease (AD) represents one of the greatest health problems in industrialized countries considering the ageing population. Only four drugs are currently approved for the treatment of this disease. As these drugs are characterized with a limited time efficacy, it has become urgent to develop additional innovative AD treatments. Amongst the approaches that are actively investigated, the one consisting in potentiating a subclass of glutamate receptors appears attractive. This well advanced pharmacological approach includes three major classes of compounds amongst which appear the benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides. The present thesis is a pursuit of the preliminary efforts that were published in 1998 and 2001 by our team. Based on promising in vitro results obtained with the lead compound 59, pharmacomodulations around 59s structure have been achieved in order to enhance its in vivo activity and to optimize its pharmacokinetic parameters. First efforts were devoted to exploratory synthesis where attention was paid to the impact of the substituent introduced at the 7-position. Moreover, some pyridothiadiazine dioxides as well as thienothiadiazine dioxides were prepared. The most important part of our pharmacomodulations was focused on the thiadiazine ring system. Considering that the poor in vivo results obtained with 59 could be due to a metabolic weakness of the latter, the introduction of fluorine atoms was tempted as a lead optimization strategy. This approach was successful, since it led to the synthesis of 95b which was selected for further pharmacological evaluations. This new lead compound was shown to exert significant cognitive-enhancing effects in vivo after oral administration to Wistar rats. Moreover, the study of the metabolic degradation of 95b allowed the assessment of the starting hypothesis that had dictated the pharmacomodulations philosophy. Finally, additional exploratory pharmacomodulations were achieved notably leading to the preparation of a quinazolinone series and 1,4-benzothiazine compounds. This research allowed to significantly improve the pharmacokinetic profile of our series and led to the identification of 95b as a new lead compound. However, many pharmacomodulations remain to be explored. The data collected during this thesis are appealing further studies. Efforts in the near future should lead to the design of novel drug candidates among which a future innovative AD treatment could emerge. Au vu du vieillissement de la population dans les pays industrialisés, la maladie dAlzheimer constitue un problème majeur en termes de santé publique. A lheure actuelle, seuls quatre médicaments sont utilisés pour traiter cette maladie. Sachant que ces substances nont quune efficacité limitée, la conception de nouveaux médicaments actifs contre cette pathologie apparaît comme une priorité. Dans cette optique, la potentialisation des récepteurs glutamatergiques de sous-type AMPA semble une approche thérapeutique intéressante. Parmi les composés étudiés dans cette voie, apparaissent les benzothiadiazine dioxydes. Cette thèse sinscrit dans la continuité des recherches publiées en 1998 et 2001 par notre équipe et poursuit les pharmacomodulations entamées autour du composé leader 59. Ce travail sest principalement focalisé sur lamélioration de lactivité in vivo de ce dérivé et sur loptimisation de ses paramètres pharmacocinétiques afin dobtenir un candidat médicament potentiel. Notre attention sest tout dabord portée sur la subsitution aromatique en position 7. Par ailleurs, plusieurs séries pyrido- et thiénothiadiazines ont été également préparées. Ensuite, en postulant que le manque dactivité in vivo du composé 59 pouvait être dû à une faiblesse métabolique de ce composé, lintroduction judicieuse datomes de fluor a été choisie comme stratégie doptimisation. Cette approche nous a notamment amené à lidentification du composé 95b. Ce dérivé sest montré particulièrement actif dans un test de reconnaissance dobjets chez le rat Wistar. Ce résultat encourageant a amené à réaliser toute une série dévaluations pharmacologiques sur ce produit, afin de caractériser son mécanisme daction. Les données récoltées à lissue de ces investigations suggèrent que le composé 95b présente un intérêt potentiel en tant quagent procognitif. Dautre part, létude du profil de dégradation métabolique de ce dérivé a permis de confirmer lhypothèse qui avait dicté lintroduction datomes de fluor. Enfin, des pharmacomodulations supplémentaires ont été réalisées de façon exploratoire et ont entre autres débouché sur une série de quinazolinones et une série de 1,4-benzothiazines. Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse ont permis daméliorer grandement le profil pharmacocinétique des séries explorées. Néanmoins, de nombreuses pharmacomodulations restent à explorer. Des études complémentaires savèrent nécessaires et devraient déboucher sur de nouveaux candidats médicaments innovants, parmi lesquels pourraient figurer un futur traitement de la maladie dAlzheimer.

Abstract The aim of this essay is to find out what kinds of adaption are necessary when translating an English text from a specialist book into a text that will suit Swedish students in upper secondary school. In order to obtain the data needed for the study I translated a part of a chapter from the book North American Indian Wars by Richard H. Dillon. The analysis focuses on how to make the target text as clear and unambiguous as possible for the intended readers and what methods can be used to reach this aim. The analysis shows that one kind of adaption that had to be made during the translation process mainly consisted of additions and omissions. The additions were made in order to clarify certain passages in the source text that otherwise could have been difficult for the target readers to understand. The omissions, on the other hand, were often made due to the fact that some of the words or phrases in the source text are very specific and may refer to things that may be unknown to the target readers. In some cases such words or phrases could be omitted without making the target text lose any vital information, and in some cases they had to be exchanged with an explanation or a word that would be easier for the intended readers to understand. Apart from addition and omission of information, Vinay and Darbelnet’s procedures of modulation and equivalence were used in order to make the target text accessible to the target readers. The analysis shows that obligatory modulation had to be used due to differences in point of view between English and Swedish, whereas optional modulation was used to suit the target readers’ level of attainment. The analysis also shows that Vinay and Darbelnet’s procedure of equivalence was very useful when translating idioms, metaphors and similes in order to make the target text easy to understand for the target readers.

Time-dependent cosmic ray modulation in the heliosphere is studied by using a two-dimensional time dependent modulation model. To compute realistic cosmic ray modulation a compound approach is used, which combines the effect of the global changes in the heliospheric magnetic field magnitude and the current sheet tilt angle to establish realistic time dependent diffusion and drift coefficients. This approach is refined by scaling down drifts additionally (compared to diffusion) towards solar maximum. The amount of drifts needed in the model to realistically compute 2.5 GV proton and electron and 1.2GV electron and helium intensities, as measured by Ulysses from 1990 to 2004, is established. It is shown that the model produces the correct latitudinal gradients evident from the observations during both the Ulysses fast latitude scan periods. Also, much can be learned on the magnitude of perpendicular diffusion in the polar direction, K┴θ, especially for solar minimum conditions and for polarity cycles when particles drift in from the poles. For these periods K┴θ = 0.12K║ in the polar regions (with K║ the parallel diffusion coefficient)and K┴θ /K║ can vary between 0.01 to even 0.04 in the equatorial regions depending on the enhancement factor toward the poles. The model is also applied to compute radial gradients for 2.5 GV cosmic ray electrons and protons in the inner heliosphere. It is shown that, for solar minimum, and in the equatorial regions, the protons (electrons) have a radial gradient of 1.9 %/AU (2.9 %/AU), increasing for both species to a very fluctuating gradient varying between 3 to 4 %/AU at solar maximum. Furthermore, the model also computes realistic electron to proton and electron to helium ratios when compared to Ulysses observations, and charge-sign dependent modulation is predicted up to the next solar minimum expected in 2007. Lastly the model is also applied to model simultaneously galactic cosmic ray modulation at Earth and along the Voyager 1 trajectory, and results are compared with> 70 MeV count rates from Voyager 1 and IMP8. To produce realistic modulation, this model gives the magnitude of perpendicular diffusion in the radial direction as K┴r/K║= 0.035 and that the modulation boundary seemed to be situated between at 120 AU and 140 AU. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.