Two novel antenna designs for mobile handsets are proposed in this thesis. With a helix loading, an inverted-L monopole antenna capable of generating two resonances at about 900 and 1850 MHz is first presented. The operating bandwidths obtained cover the required bandwidths of the GSM/DCS/PCS bands. Besides, an internal mobile handset antenna comprising a PIFA and a PILA, which are, respectively, designed for covering the GSM and DCS/PCS bands is also presented. The PIFA and PILA together occupy a compact volume of 7.2 ¡Ñ 20 ¡Ñ 40 mm3, and are suitable to be built-in within the housing of a mobile handset.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed by cells of the immune system play a central role in the generation of immune responses against pathogens. Following TLR ligation, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators are produced in order to elicit an immune response that controls the microbial infection while limiting tissue damage. Among these mediators, the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are known to play major roles. Here, we show that in vitro or in vivo stimulation with flagellin, the TLR5 ligand, does not result in IL-10 production. Furthermore flagellin inhibits IL-10 production by other specific TLR ligands at the protein and mRNA levels while increasing IL-12p70 production. Several studies have linked the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) with IL-10 induction by TLRs. Our findings that LPS-induced ERK activation is significantly decreased in flagellin-treated macrophages suggest that this pathway might play a role in the inhibition of IL-10 production by flagellin. Flagellin-mediated IL-10 inhibition was not observed in cells that do not express TLR5 supporting that this effect is TLR5-dependent.Flagellin used as an adjuvant is capable of priming antigen specific T cell responses in an in vivo model of tolerance using high dose peptide. Furthermore, DCs differentiated in tolerogenic conditions (tolerogenic-DCs) express higher levels of TLR5 mRNA than standard BM-DCs and respond more vigorously to flagellin stimulation. Antigen presentation by LPS-matured tolerogenic-DCs results in the differentiation of IL-10 producing T cells with a Tr1-like phenotype. On the contrary, antigen presentation by tolerogenic-DCs that have been stimulated with flagellin results in the differentiation of a typical Th1 responseThis study provides a new insight of the role of flagellin recognition by TLR5 in shaping the immune response elicited by flagellated microorganisms.

The Department of Correctional Services (Johannesburg Management Area) is established in the South of Johannesburg in Gauteng Province. It was founded in 1982. According to the Annual Report of the Department of Correctional Services 2009, the institution was initially developed to house 2630 offenders. Presently it accommodates 10130 offenders. These offenders are dependent on the number of facilities and officials for rehabilitation purpose. The discrepancy in the number of officials to that of offenders is a challenge within the Department of Correctional Services with regard to skills development. The study was based on the hypothesis that “effective implementation of skills development within Johannesburg Management Area may lead to a successful social reintegration of offenders”. The empirical research was conducted to support the hypothesis. Questionnaire was distributed and interviews were conducted to obtain responses. the findings reveal that offenders who are skilled are easy to be reintegrated and at the same time skilled officials are able to play a vital role in facilitating the social reintegration of offenders Study further reveals that skilled officials are able to network on behalf of offenders with ease and are able to increase job opportunities for offenders who are already on social reintegration programme. The study recommends that the Johannesburg Management area need to restructure its human resource development office, ensure that experienced and qualified facilitators are employed. Each correctional centre should have qualified facilitators who are experienced in adult education to skill offenders in various areas of development. The study leaves a scope for future research stating that Department of Correctional Services do further analysis on skills development and Social reintegration of offenders nationally to find a common and standard approach that will assist in the full reintegration of offenders / M, Development and Management, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Interest in cellular immunotherapy has increased with the recognition of the pivotal role that dendritic cells (DC) play in the adaptive immune system. The preparation of DC to present tumour antigens and subsequent induction of tumour specific T cells have been widely documented. This thesis studied the ability of cord blood (CB) stem cells to differentiate into functional CD34+DC, followed by the optimisation of electroporation of RNA into these cells. Total RNA derived from a leukaemic cell line and a primary human leukaemic sample was electroporated into CD34+DC DC and we were able to generate anti-leukaemic cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The CTL specifically targeted leukaemia but not normal cells. While the in vitro data showed promising results of the CTL specificity, a NOD-SCID model of human ALL was established to allow the CTL to be tested in vivo. We established a reproducible model of human ALL in NOD-SCID mouse using four primary human ALL samples. The adoptively transferred anti-leukaemic CTL into the ALL bearing NOD-SCID mice showed that ALL engraftment was significantly delayed. However, the addition of total RNA loaded CD34+DC DC did not enhance the in vivo CTL effect. Lastly, by dissecting the CTL response, we found that the polyclonal CTL were targeting survivin, HM1.24 and CT-7 antigens. The CTL clones generated from these polyclonal CTL showed high specificity for leukaemia but not normal cells. In conclusion, these preliminary data support the use of total RNA electroporated CD34+DC as a means of inducing anti-leukaemic CTL, and have demonstrated the efficacy of the CTL in a NOD-SCID model of ALL. This study has also provided insight into the polyclonal CTL response and future studies will likely continue along this path.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho de Mestrado é avaliar compensadores que tentam diminuir o efeito do atrito estático existente em válvulas de controle. Os compensadores de atrito utilizados neste trabalho foram: CR1, CR2 Knocker, Two-move, controle por modos deslizantes e controle por modos deslizantes integrador. Estes compensadores são implementados em um ambiente industrial (SDCD). Devido ao atrito, o sistema tem um comportamento não-linear, o qual pode afetar o bom rendimento de um controlador PID, sendo que o sistema em malha fechada pode ter oscilações. Então, para obter uma diminuição do efeito do atrito, empregam-se compensadores de atrito. Para implementá-los, é necessário conhecer os parâmetros do atrito existente. Portanto, a primeira parte deste trabalho consiste em uma explicação dos diferentes modelos e métodos que se vai usar neste trabalho. Também foram realizadas simulações das estratégias de controle utilizadas. Após estes tópicos, vai se identificar o modelo do sistema que conta com uma malha de controle de vazão, com o objetivo de auxiliar na sintonia do controlador PID. Depois, introduzem-se os compensadores de atrito, os quais tentam minimizar os índices ITAE (Integrated Time Absolute Error) e IAE (Integrated Absolute Error), bem como o desgaste que se produz nos equipamentos, devido ao uso (excessiva movimentação da haste das válvulas). O objetivo assumido é implementar as estratégias de controle em um software industrial. Os resultados mostraram que os compensadores CR1 e CR2 obtiveram os melhores índices de desempenho e conseguiram compensar o atrito na haste da válvula de controle. / The main objective of this work is to evaluate compensators that try to decrease the static friction effect existent in control valves. The friction compensaters used in this work were: CR1, CR2, Knocker, Two-move, sliding mode control and sliding mode control with integrator. These compensators are implemented in an industrial environment (DCS). Due to friction, the system has a nonlinear behavior, which may affect the good performance of a PID controller, wherein the closed loop system can have oscillations. So to get a decrease in the effect of friction, friction compensators are employed. To implement them, it is necessary to know the parameters of the friction existent. So the first part of this work consists of an explanation of the different models and methods that will be use in this work. Also, simulations were made of the control strategies used. After these topics, it will be identify the system model which has a own control loop, in order to help the PID controller tuning. Then it will be introduced friction compensators, which attempt to minimize the ITAE (Integral Time Absolute Error) and IAE (Integrated Absolute Error), and wear that occurs on the equipment due to the use (excessive movement of the valve stem). The assumed objective is to implement control strategies in industrial software. The results show that the compensators CR1 and CR2 have the best performance indexes and they compensate for the friction in the control valve stem.

The master thesis deals with the issue of evaluation of efficiency and data collection of lines in production, using the APROL program from B\&R automation. The aim of this work is to create a program completed requirement, which is going to be compared with already implemented projects of the company and will serve to create a company standard. The first part is devoted to the description of the theory of this issue and used software. The second part describes the solution of the line simulator and the whole concept of collection and evaluation.

Localization is a fundamental part of achieving fully autonomous vehicles. A localization system needs to constantly provide accurate information about the position of the vehicle and failure could lead to catastrophic consequences. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can supply accurate positional measurements but are susceptible to disturbances and outages in environments such as indoors, in tunnels, or nearby tall buildings. A common method called simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) creates a spatial map and simultaneously determines the position of a robot or vehicle. Utilizing different sensors for localization can increase the accuracy and robustness of such a system if used correctly. This thesis uses a graph-based version of SLAM called graph SLAM which stores previous measurements in a factor graph, making it possible to adjust the trajectory and map as new information is gained. The best position state estimation is gained by optimizing the graph representing the log-likelihood of the data. To treat GNSS outliers in a graph SLAM system, robust optimization techniques can be used, and this thesis investigates two techniques called realizing, reversing, recovering (RRR), and dynamic covariance scaling (DCS). High-end GNSS and Lidar sensors are used to gather a data set on a suburban public road. Information about the position and orientation of the vehicle are inferred from the data set using graph SLAM together with robust techniques in three different scenarios. The scenarios contain disturbances called multipathing, Gaussian disturbances, and outages. A parameter study examines the free parameters Φ in DCS and the p-value in the RRR method. The localization performance varies less when changing the free parameter in RRR than in DCS. The localization performance from RRR is consistent for most values of p. DCS shows greater variation in the localization performance for different values of Φ. In the tested cases, results conclude that Φ should be set to 2.5 for the most consistent localization across all states. RRR performed best with a p-value set to 0.85. A lower value led to too many discarded measurements which decreased performance. DCS outperforms RRR across the tested scenarios but further testing is needed to determine whether RRR is better suited for handling larger errors. / Lokalisering är en fundamental del i att uppnå självkörande fordon. Lokaliseringssytemets uppgift är att kontinuerligt förse exakt information om fordonets position, och vid fel kan detta leda till katastrofala följder. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) används ofta i ett lokaliseringssystem för att uppnå exakta positionsmätningar, men i vissa miljöer så som parkeringshus, tunnlar eller storstäder kan störningar uppstå. Genom att förlita sig på fler typer av sensorer kan lokaliseringen bli mer noggrann och robust mot störningar. En vanlig metod som kan skatta ett fordons position och samtidigt skapa en karta över omgivningen är simultaneous localization and mapping SLAM. I detta examensarbete används graph SLAM, en version av SLAM som utnyttjar en faktorgraf för att representera mätvärden och sedan estimera position av fordonet. Robusta metoder kan användas inom SLAM för hantering av felaktiga mätningar i ett grafbaserat SLAM-nätverk, och här undersöks två metoder, realizing, reversing, recovering (RRR) och dynamic covariance scaling DCS. Data från GNSS och Lidarsensorer av hög kvalitet samlades in på en offentlig väg i stadsmiljö. I tre olika scenarion beräknas testfordonets position och orientering med graph SLAM tillsammans med de två robusta metoderna som undersöks. Scenarion utgör fall med olika typer av störningar som agerar på gnss-mätningarna. Störningarna är av typerna multipath, Gaussiskt brus, samt avbrott. DCS presterar bättre jämfört med RRR under de tester som utförts. En parameterstudie har utförts som undersöker parametern Φ i DCS och p i RRR. När Φ varieras i DCS ger det en större skillnad på resultatet än när p varieras i RRR. Detta indikerar att det är lättare att hantera och använda RRR optimalt. Trots att DCS presterar bättre än RRR i de testade fallen, krävs vidare undersökning för att besluta om RRR hanterar stora fel bättre än DCS. De bästa inställningarna visades vara 2,5 för Φ i DCS och större än 0,85 för p i RRR.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, within this categoryof diseases it is among the most prevalent worldwide. The etiology of PD isbased in progressive deterioration of neural tissue in the basal ganglia (neuronalnuclei located at the base of the cerebrum) and their related structures. Current research is focusing on treatment approaches to either enhance or replaceexisting pharmaceutical treatment approaches, such as dopamine replacementtherapy. In this project, the focus was on finding correlates between movementdata and neurological signals to provide insight into potential biomarkers forcomplex motor symptoms of PD. This will in turn provide a starting point forspecifically targeted closed-loop neural stimulation that alleviates these symptoms. Although the data available at the time of this thesis did not providesufficient insight to derive a conclusion on the neural correlates, a pipeline wasdeveloped, which analyzes and synchronizes kinematic and neural data and willenable further exploration as additional data is obtained.

L'eczéma allergique de contact (EAC) est une pathologie inflammatoire cutanée de plus en plus fréquente. Il s’agit d’une sensibilisation vis-à-vis de substances chimiques, appelées haptènes, qui sont en contact répété avec la peau. A l’heure actuelle, le pouvoir sensibilisant d’une molécule est évalué principalement grâce à des modèles animaux. Cependant, dans un contexte européen exigeant le développement de méthodes alternatives, la compréhension et la reproduction in vitro des mécanismes de l’EAC permettent le développement de nouvelles stratégies. Le but de ce travail, réalisé sur des cellules dendritiques (DCs) et la lignée humaine U937, est de mettre en évidence les événements précoces de la signalisation intracellulaire à l’origine de l’activation des DCs induite par des allergènes, et notamment par le composé mercurique thimerosal. Les résultats obtenus démontrent que l’induction d’un stress oxydant par les allergènes est un mécanisme induit précocement. L’utilisation d’antioxydants montre que ce mécanisme participe de manière directe à l’initiation du processus d’activation des DCs (expression du CD86 et sécrétion d’IL-8) et de l’apoptose. Le stress oxydant, caractérisé par une production d’ERO associée à une chute du potentiel membranaire mitochondrial et une déplétion en glutathion intracellulaire, est un acteur majeur de la signalisation induite par les allergènes et notamment dans la réponse induite par le thimerosal et le DNCB. Plus particulièrement, ce travail démontre le rôle des groupements thiols dans l’initiation de la transduction du signal aboutissant à l’activation des DCs. Par ailleurs, une signalisation calcique, dépendante du stress oxydant, a également été mise en évidence en réponse aux allergènes. Ces résultats mettent en valeur l’importance de l’étude de la réactivité des allergènes vis-à-vis des groupements thiols et de la nécessité de tenir compte du potentiel oxydant (rédox) des haptènes ainsi que du métabolisme cellulaire dans la mise en place de modèles prédictifs in vitro. / Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) resulting from skin sensitization is a frequent inflammatory skin disease linked to the use of chemicals, called haptens. At this time, the sensitizing potential of a new chemical is evaluated on animal models. However, new European legislation requires alternative methods for skin sensitization. In this context, a better knowledge of ACD and the capacity to reproduce in vitro its mechanisms lead to the development of new alternative methods. The aim of this study performed with human dendritic cells (DCs) and the human cell line U937 was to determine the early events involved in dendritic cell activation induced by contact sensitizers and especially by the mercury compound thimerosal. Data show that oxidative stress induced by sensitizers is an early signaling event leading to DC activation (expression of CD86 and IL-8 release) and to apoptosis. Using antioxidants, our data show that oxidative stress, characterized by ROS production in correlation with the depletion of the mitochondrial membrane potential and of intracellular glutathione, is a key player in signal transduction induced by sensitizers, especially in the response of DCs towards thimerosal and DNCB. More specifically, these studies demonstrate that thiol groups play a direct role in the initiating events leading to DC activation. In addition, calcium influx was detected in DCs exposed to sensitizers, in correlation with oxidative stress. These data highlight the great interest in the development of a hapten-protein binding assay based on thiol groups and the necessity to better understand the redox status of chemicals as well as cell metabolism for predicting skin sensitization.

Cancer immunotherapy has recently made remarkable clinical progress. Adoptive transfer of T-cells engineered with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against CD19 has been successful in treatment of B-cell leukemia. Patient’s T-cells are isolated, activated, transduced with a vector encoding the CAR molecule and then expanded before being transferred back to the patient. However some obstacles restrict its success in solid tumors. This thesis explores different aspects to improve CAR T-cells therapy of cancer. Ex vivo expanded T-cells are usually sensitive to the harsh tumor microenvironment after reinfusion. We developed a novel expansion method for T-cells, named AEP, by using irradiated and preactivated allo-sensitized allogeneic lymphocytes (ASALs) and allogeneic mature dendritic cells (DCs). AEP-expanded T-cells exhibited better survival and cytotoxic efficacy under oxidative and immunosuppressive stress, compared to T-cells expanded with established procedures. Integrating retro/lentivirus (RV/LV) used for CAR expressions randomly integrate in the T-cell genome and has the potential risk of causing insertional mutagenesis. We developed a non-integrating lentiviral (NILV) vector containing a scaffold matrix attachment region (S/MAR) element (NILV-S/MAR) for T-cells transduction. NILV-S/MAR-engineered CAR T-cells display similar cytotoxicity to LV-engineered CAR T-cells with undetectable level of insertional event, which makes them safer than CAR T-cells used in the clinic today. CD19-CAR T-cells have so far been successful for B-cell leukemia but less successful for B-cell lymphomas, which present semi-solid structure with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We have developed CAR T-cells armed with H. pylorineutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP). HP-NAP is a major virulence factor and plays important role in T-helper type 1 (Th1) polarizing. NAP-CAR T-cells showed the ability to mature DCs, attract innate immune cells and increase secretion of Th1 cytokines and chemokines, which presumably leads to better CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphoma. Allogeneic-DCs (alloDCs) were used to further alter tumor microenvironment. The premise relies on initiation of an allo-reactive immune response for cytokine and chemokines secretion, as well as stimulation of T-cell response by bringing in tumor-associated antigen. We demonstrated that alloDCs promote migration and activation of immune cells and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice by attracting T-cells to tumors and reverse the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment.