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BACKGROUND:Transglutaminase-4 (TGase-4), also known as the Prostate Transglutaminase, is an enzyme found to be expressed predominately in the prostate gland. The protein has been recently reported to influence the migration and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of TGase-4 on cell-matrix adhesion and search for the candidate active domains] within the protein.METHODS:Human prostate cancer cell lines and prostate tissues were used. Plasmids that encoded different domains and full length of TGase-4 were constructed and used to generate sublines that expressed different domains. The impact of TGase-4 on in vitro cell-matrix adhesion, cell migration, growth and in vivo growth were investigated. Interactions between TGase-4 and focal adhesion complex proteins were investigated using immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and phosphospecific antibodies.RESULTS:TGase-4 markedly increased cell-matrix adhesion and cellular migration, and resulted in a rapid growth of prostate tumours in vivo. This effect resided in the Core-domain of the TGase-4 protein. TGase-4 was found to co-precipitate and co-localise with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, in cells, human prostate tissues and tumour xenografts. FAK small inhibitor was able to block the action mediated by TGase-4 and TGase-4 core domain.CONCLUSION:TGase-4 is an important regulator of cell-matrix adhesion of prostate cancer cells. This effect is predominately mediated by its core domain and requires the participation of focal adhesion complex proteins.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) as suitable feed-structures for the Parabolic Dish Reflector antennas that are intended to form a large part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is currently the topic of conversation in various SKA research groups. The simulation of these structures however, relies on intensive computational resources, which can result in very long simulation runtimes - a serious problem for antenna designers. It was the purpose of the research to investigate efficient simulation techniques, based on the Method of Moments (MoM). In this thesis, the reader will be introduced to ways of improving FPA design by using resources such as High Performance Clusters, developing efficient MoM formulations for FPAs such as the Vivaldi antenna array and by developing efficient solution techniques for the resulting MoM equations by using techniques such as the Characteristic Basis Function Method (CBFM). In addition to the above mentioned methods, the concept of distributed computing is explored as a way to further aid the antenna designer in obtaining desired results in a reasonable time and with sufficient accuracy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van Fokus Punt Samestellings (FPS) vir die voer van Paraboliese Skottel Antennas in die Square Kilometer Array (SKA), geniet tans baie aandag in verkeie navorsing-sirkels. Die analise van hierdie samestellings vereis egter intensiewe berekenings-infrastrukture, wat tot lang simulasies kan lei - ’n ernstige probleem vir antenna ontwerpers. Die doel van die skrywer se navorsing was om effektiewe simulasie metodes te ondersoek, gebaseer op die Moment Metode. In hierdie tesis, sal die leser bekendgestel word aan verskeie metodes om die ontwerp van Fokus Punt Samestellings doeltreffend te verrig; nl. die gebruik van Parallel Rekenaar Klusters, die ontwikkeling van effektiewe Moment Metode kode vir samestellings soos die Vivaldi antenna konfigurasie, asook die ontwikkeling van effektiewe oplos-metodes vir die matrikse wat deur die Moment Metode gelewer word, deur die sogenaamde Karakteristieke Basis Funksie Metode (KBFM) te gebruik. Hierby ingesluit word die konsep van verspreide numeriese berekening ondersoek, as ’n manier waarop die antenna ontwerper resultate binne ’n aanvaarbare tyd en akkuraatheid kan verkry.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Worldwide, more large antenna arrays are being deployed in areas of science previously dominated by other antenna geometries. Applications for large arrays include Radar, Satellite Communications and Radio Astronomy. Even though the use of large arrays solve some of the difficulties posed by more traditional antennas, new challenges are also faced. One of these challenges is the problem of noise coupling, and how the overall system performance is affected by it. The Focal Plane Array (FPA), which is a new example of a large antenna array, is currently being researched at a number of institutions worldwide for use in Radio Astronomy. As a result, FPA’s were used as an example element to demonstrate the practical importance of this research. In this study, the effect of mutual coupling on the noise performance of FPA’s was illustrated. This was done by calculating the mutual coupling between the elements of the array, and then calculating the noise power received by each element as a result of the mutual coupling. Next, the Active Noise Figure and Active Noise Temperature were calculated. These parameters were introduced to visualise the effect of mutual coupling on the overall noise performance of the array. Since FPA’s are by definition large, conventional brute-force analysis techniques are very resource intensive. Solving the coupling terms using these methods therefore requires the use of computer clusters even during the design phase of the antenna, which is very expensive. A method was therefore developed to calculate the coupling terms of a large array using Periodic Boundary Conditions. The method uses infinite array analysis, which resulted in an improvement in memory usage in orders of magnitude. This improvement comfortably places the memory requirements for the analysis of large arrays within the range of current personal computers. The results also displayed a reasonable amount of accuracy for use during the design phase of an array. The additional noise power on each element as a result of mutual coupling were also calculated. This was achieved by developing an equivalent circuit diagram that represents the system in terms of the noise and transmission parameters of the LNA of each receiver channel, and the coupling terms of the antenna array. Lastly, the active noise temperature and active noise figure are calculated. The theory was implemented by means of a script with a graphical user interface, to provide easy-to-use access to the theory. A quick reference table of estimated noise coupling penalty versus first term coupling and LNA noise temperature was also compiled. The results of an example calculation showed a significant amount of noise coupling in an 8×8 Vivaldi array. The noise coupling resulted in an increase in system noise temperature, Tsys, in the order of 9% of the LNA noise temperature, TLNA. According to the SKA Tsys budget, this results in an approximate Tsys increase of 1.3 Kelvin. In the context of Radio Astronomy, this additional source of noise cannot be ignored, as it can greatly affect the usebility of the telescope for certain areas of research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Groot antennaskikkings word deesdae al hoe meer ingespan in plek van ander tradisionele antennamodelle. Toepassings vir groot antennaskikkings sluit Radar, Satellietkommunikasie en Radioastronomie in. Alhoewel die gebruik van groot antennaskikkings baie van die probleme wat deur ander tradisionele antennamodelle veroorsaak word oplos, word nuwe uitdagings terselfdertyd geskep. Een van hierdie nuwe uitdagins is ruiskoppelling en hoe dit die ruisgedrag van die stelsel as ’n geheel affekteer. ’n Beeldvlakskikking (FPA), is ’n opwindende nuwe voorbeeld van ’n groot antennaskikking en die moontlikheid vir die gebruik daarvan in radioastronomie word tans wêreldwyd nagevors. Om hierdie rede is die FPA gekies as voorbeeldelement om die bruikbaarheid van hierdie navorsing in die praktyk te beklemtoon. In hierdie studie word die effek van wedersydse koppelling op die ruisgedrag van FPA’s geïllustreer. Dit word gedoen deur eers die wedersydse koppelling tussen die elemente van die antennaskikking te bereken en dan die ruisdrywing wat deur elke element ontvang word as gevolg van wedersydse koppelling. Daarna word die Aktiewe Ruistal en die Aktiewe Ruistemperatuur bereken. Hierdie nuwe parameters word bekendgestel om die gevolge van wedersydse koppelling op die ruisgedrag van die stelsel as ’n geheel te visualiseer. Omdat FPA’s per definisie groot is, vereis die analise daarvan deur middel van konvensionele metodes baie rekenaar hulpbronne. Hierdie metodes vereis dus die gebruik van rekenaarbondels of superrekenaars selfs gedurende die ontwerpfase van die antenna, wat baie duur en onprakties is. Daar is dus ’n metode ontwikkel wat gebruik maak van periodiese randvoorwaardes om groot antennaskikkings te analiseer. Die metode benader ’n groot antennaskikking as ’n eindig-opgewekte oneindige skikking van antennas. As gevolg hiervan, word die geheueverbruik met ordegroottes verbeter. Hierdie verbetering plaas dus die analise van groot antennaskikkings binne die vermoëns van huidige persoonlike rekenaars. Die resultate wys ook ’n aanvaarbare graad van akkuraatheid vir gebruik gedurende die ontwerpfase van die skikking. Die bykomende ruisdrwying op elke element as gevolg van wedersydse koppelling is ook bereken. Om dit te vermag, is daar ’n ekwivalente stroombaandiagram ontwikkel wat die gekoppelde stelsel in terme van die ruis- en transmissieparameters van die laeruisversterker (LNA) aan elke ontvangerkanaal en die koppelterme van die antenna skikking voorstel. Laastens word die aktiewe ruistal en die aktiewe ruistermperatuur ook bereken. Die teorie is geïmplimenteer deur gebruik te maak van ’n grafiesegebruikerskoppelvlak (GUI). Die GUI verskaf aan die gebruiker maklike toegang tot die teorie wat onwikkel is in hierdie navorsing. Daar is ook ’n snelnaslaantabel geskep met benaderde waardes van ruiskoppelling vir ’n verskeidenheid waardes van LNA ruistemperature en eerste element koppelling. Die resultate van ’n 8×8 Vivaldiskikking voorbeeld, het ’n beduidende hoeveelheid ruiskoppelling getoon. Die ruiskoppelling het ’n maksimum toename in stelsel ruistemperatuur, Tsys, van ongeveer 9% van die LNA ruistemperatuur tot gevolg gehad. Volgens die huidige Tsys begroting van die SKA, kom dit neer op ’n Tsys toename van byna 1.3 Kelvin. In die konteks van die radioastronomie, kan hierdie toename in ruistemperatuur nie geïgnoreer word nie aangesien dit die bruikbaarheid van die teleskoop vir sekere velde van navorsing nadelig kan beïnvloed.

Liquid crystals are traditionally aligned via a rubbed substrate. The rubbing creates anisotropic defects and strain in the material which provide an energetically favorable orientation for the liquid crystal (LC). This is a well-developed technology that is used in virtually all liquid crystal displays (LCDs). However, it is only capable of uniform alignment on a large planar substrate. This work utilizes a new class of photoalignment materials (PM) that replace the traditional buffing technique. PMs allow for patterned LC alignment using polarized photo-lithography. Further, instead of using a nematic liquid crystal, a UV curable liquid crystal polymer (LCP) is coated on this patterned alignment material. This generates a cured, aligned, and patterned thin film that has retardance and diattenuation if a dichroic dye is incorporated in the LCP. Using these materials and methods, retarders, polarizers, and polarized fluorescent sources are fabricated with dimensions as small as a few microns. In addition to exploring the material and processing properties of the PM and LCP system, arrays of micropolarizer are fabricated for the construction of a prototype polarization camera, termed an imaging polarimeter. An imaging polarimeter is a device that measures not only the intensity but also the polarization state of a light field. My imaging polarimeter design incorporates a patterned LCP polarizer focal plane array (FPA) that is aligned and mounted to a charge-couple-device (CCD) image sensor. A polarizer FPA allows an individual pixel on a CCD sensor to detect a unique polarization state, such as a specific linear polarization orientation or right or left handed circular polarization. Neighboring pixels are designed to detect different states and each cluster can then estimate the incident polarization state. Results of a linear LCP polarimeter operating in the visible spectrum are presented.

Focal epilepsy in childhood is associated with increased risk for developing behavioral, emotional, cognitive and social–adaptive impairments. The present thesis focused on mental health difficulties in paediatric refractory focal epilepsy. It undertook a detailed evaluation of the predictive power of several demographic (gender, age at assessment), clinical (age at onset and duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency), localization (lobe and lateralization of pathology) and cognitive variables (performance in intellectual, memory and academic attainment measures) for mood, conduct, inattention/hyperactivity and peer relationship difficulties, as assessed by parental report. Data from a population of 282 children and adolescents, previously collected for clinical purposes, were examined, using a series of univariate and multivariate analyses. Mental health difficulties were found to be highly prevalent, with peer relationships the most frequently reported area of difficulty, followed by inattention/hyperactivity and emotional difficulties. Different patterns of associations between the variables examined here and individual emotional/behavioural difficulties were revealed, partially confirming and extending previous findings in the literature. Longer duration of epilepsy was found to increase the risk for developing emotional difficulties; male gender and earlier age at onset the risk for conduct difficulties; male gender, earlier age at onset, longer duration and frontal lobe localization the risk for attention/hyperactivity difficulties; and finally longer duration, higher seizure frequency and right hemisphere lateralization the risk for peer difficulties. Lower cognitive functioning was found associated with overall increased mental health difficulties and a lower VIQ was predictive of all types of difficulties. Developing a firm understanding of the risk factors that contribute to mental health comorbidities in focal paediatric epilepsy can help identify and provide assessment and intervention to children who are at higher risk earlier, thus significantly improving quality of life.

Transient elevations in Ca2+ have previously been shown to promote focal adhesion disassembly and cell motility. Yet the targets of these Ca2+ transients have not been fully examined. In this study, we demonstrate that CaMK-II, a Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase, is activated in response to β1 integrin engagement with fibronectin to influence fibroblast adhesion and motility. We also show that CaMK-II is dynamically localized to the cell surface using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy (TIRFm) and that inhibition of CaMK-II with two mechanistically distinct, membrane permeant inhibitors accelerates spreading on fibronectin, enlarges paxillin-containing focal adhesions and blocks cell motility. On the other hand, expression of constitutively active CaMK-II reduces cell attachment, eliminates paxillin from focal adhesions and decreases the phospho-tyrosine levels of both FAK and paxillin. Cell spreading, paxillin incorporation into focal adhesions and phospho-tyrosine levels of FAK and paxillin are restored when cells expressing constitutively active CaMK-II are subsequently treated with myr-AIP, a specific CaMK-II catalytic inhibitor. Like CaMK-II inhibition, constitutively active CaMK-II blocks cell motility. Thus, both CaMK-II inhibition and constitutive activation block cell motility through over-stabilization or destabilization of focal adhesions, respectively. These findings provide the first direct evidence that CaMK-II promotes focal adhesion turnover and thus enables cell motility by stimulating tyrosine dephosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins.

3 Title: Moment-tensor inversion of earthquakes in Greece, method ISOLA Author: Dana Červinková Department: Department of Geophysics Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Jiří Zahradník, DrSc. Supervisor's e-mail address: jz@karel.troja.mff.cuni.cz Abstract: The possibility of obtaining a reliable moment tensor using a low-frequency waveform inversion from a single seismic station is studied. Deviatoric part of the moment tensor is described in usual way, using its orientation (angles strike, dip, rake), scalar seismic moment M0 and the double-couple percentage (DC%), and also by means of the coefficients of linear combination of elementary mechanisms. We estimate the formal error of the coefficients and study conditionality of the inverse problem. Data from earthquakes Trichonis (Mw = 5.2, April 2007) and Leonidio (Mw = 6.2, January 2008), Greece, are processed using software ISOLA (Sokos and Zahradník). The moment tensor is calculated from many stations and its stability is tested. This reference solution is compared to those independently obtained from single stations. Synthetic tests are performed to understand why the single-station estimates are sufficient for Trichonis, but not for Leonidio, paying attention to the focal depth, station azimuth and epicentral distance. It is found that the depth is crucial at...