Wireless systems with emerging applications are leaning towards small size, light-weight and low cost. Another trend for these wireless devices is that new applications and functionalities are being added without increasing the size of the device. To accomplish this, individual components must be miniaturized and the system should be designed to maximize the integration of the individual components. The high level of 3D integration feasible in system on package design (SoP) concept can fulfill the latter requirement. Bandpass filters are important components on all wireless systems to reject the unwanted signals and reduce interference. Being mostly implemented with passive and distributed components, bandpass filters take considerable space in a wireless system. Moreover, with emerging bands and multiple applications encompassed in a single device, many bandpass filters are required. The miniaturization related to bandpass filters can be approached by three main ways: (1) at the component level through the miniaturization of individual bandpass filters, (2) at the system level through the use of tunable filters to reduce the overall number of filters, and (3) at the system level through the high level of integration in a 3D SoP platform. In this work we have focused on all three aspects of miniaturization of band pass filters mentioned above. In the first part of this work, a low frequency (1.5 GHz global positioning system (GPS) band) filter implemented through 3D lumped components in two leading SoP technologies, namely low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) and the liquid crystal polymers (LCP) is demonstrated. The miniaturized filter is based on a second order topology, which has been modified to improve the selectivity and out-of-band rejection without increasing the size. Moreover, for the case of LCP, the filter is realized in an ultra-thin stack up comprising four metallization layers with an overall thickness of only 100 _m. Due to its ultra-thin structure, the LCP filter is ten times smaller size as compared to the filters reported in published work. The filter is exible and, therefore, suitable for conformal applications. In the second part of this work, relatively higher frequency (Ku band) distributed bandpass filter is presented which can be tuned through an applied magnetic field. This has been realized in a relatively new LTCC tape with magnetic properties, known as ferrite LTCC. Traditionally, magnetically tunable filters require large external electromagnets or coils, which are non-integrable to typical planar circuit boards and are also inefficient. To demonstrate high level of integration, completely embedded windings realized in multiple layers of LTCC have been used instead of the external coils. As a result, the presented bandpass filter is several orders of magnitude smaller that the reported ones. Aside from reducing the size, the embedded windings based design is more efficient than the external coils because it can avoid the demagnetization effect (fields lost at air-ferrite interface) and thus require much smaller bias fields for tunability. Though the embedded windings bring in a number of advantages as mentioned above, the currents passing through these windings generate considerable heat which can inuence the performance of the microwave structure (bandpass filters in our case). This has never been studied before fro Ferrite LTCC based designs with embedded windings. In this work, the effect of the heat generated by these windings has been investigated. It has been found that this self-heating effect inuences the tunability of the filters considerably so it must be estimated at the design stage. Therefore, a strategy to simulate this effect has been developed. The resultant simulations agree well with the measurements verifying the simulation strategy. The designs presented in this work demonstrate the feasibility of realizing highly integrated, miniaturized and tunable filters in SoP platform which are very suitable for modern and futuristic small form factor and slim wireless devices.

Under specific conditions short peptides modified with an N-terminal fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group can self-assemble into hydrogel scaffolds similar in properties to the natural extracellular matrix. Fmoc-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) for instance, has been shown to form hydrogels at physiological pH that have the ability to support 2D and 3D cell culture. The aim of this investigation is to provide further understanding of the self-assembly mechanism of such systems in order to progress towards the establishment of design rules for the preparation of scaffolds with tuneable properties.First, Fmoc-dipeptides composed of a combination of hydrophobic aromatic residues phenylalanine (F) and glycine (G) were studied with a particular emphasis on the effect of pH variations. The systems were investigated in order to assess what influence the position of such residues in the peptide sequence had on the physical properties of the molecules, and what impact the chemical structure had on the self-assembly behaviour and the gelation properties of the materials. Subsequently, phenylalanine was replaced by leucine (L), a non-aromatic amino acid that had the same relative hydrophobicity in order to determine whether the self-assembly of such molecules is driven by aromatic interactions or hydrophobic effects.Using potentiometry, the behaviour of the systems in solution has been investigated, revealing that they were all characterised by pKa shifts of up to six units above the theoretical values. Fmoc-FF exhibited two transitions whereas the other Fmoc-dipeptides only displayed one. These transitions were found to coincide with the formation of distinct self-assembled structures with differing molecular conformations and properties that were characterised using transmission electron microscopy, infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray scattering and shear rheometry.π-stacking of the aromatic moieties was thought to be the driving force of the self-assembly mechanism, generating dimers that corresponded to the building blocks of the supramolecular structures formed. On the other hand, the peptide components were stabilised via hydrogen bonding and could form antiparallel β-sheets depending on the amino acid sequence and the associated influence on the rigidity of the molecules. Below their (first) apparent pKa transition, Fmoc-FF, Fmoc-LL, Fmoc-FG, Fmoc-LG and Fmoc-GG formed hydrogels, with the mechanical properties and stability varying depending on the amino acid sequence. Fmoc-FF and Fmoc-LL exhibited the lowest storage modulus values (G′ ~ 0.5–5 Pa) of the studied systems while Fmoc-LG displayed the highest (G′ ~ 1000–2100 Pa). Fmoc-FG and Fmoc-LG had the peculiarity of being obtained upon heating and where found to be particularly stable, as opposed to Fmoc-GG gels which showed a tendency to crystallise. On the microscopic scale, these gels were all associated with the presence of entangled fibrillar networks of different size and morphology, which in some cases could self-assemble further through a lamellar organisation. Again, Fmoc-FG and Fmoc-LG distinguished from the other systems as they were the only Fmoc-dipeptides to show a supramolecular chirality in the form of twisted ribbons under specific pH conditions. In contrast, Fmoc-GF and Fmoc-GL did not form hydrogels below their apparent pKa due to the formation of sheet-like and spherical structures respectively.

Yes / Currently, several microwave filter designs contend for use in wireless communications. Among various microstrip filter designs, the reconfigurable planar filter presents more advantages and better prospects for communication applications, being compact in size, light-weight and cost-effective. Tuneable microwave filters can reduce the number of switches between electronic components. This paper presents a review of recent reconfigurable microwave filter designs, specifically on current advances in tuneable filters that involve high-quality factor resonator filters to control frequency, bandwidth and selectivity. The most important materials required for this field are also highlighted and surveyed. In addition, the main references for several types of tuneable microstrip filters are reported, especially related to new design technologies. Topics surveyed include microwave and millimetre wave designs for 4G and 5G applications, which use varactors and MEMSs technologies. / This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016 SECRET-722424.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of chiral oxazoline directed lithiation provides a highly diastereoselective (up to >99% de) route to meta functionalised inherently chiral calixarenes. This methodology can be used on both the butylated and debutylated calixarene systems and is tolerant of a wide range of different electrophillic quenches allowing access to a structurally diverse range of inherently chiral metafunctionalised calixarenes. The oxazoline directing group can be removed via hydrolysis, generating a range of functionalised calixarene carboxylic acids in high ee. We also demonstrate that the use of derivative alkyllithiums such as cyclopentyl lithium can provide significantly enhanced diastereoselectivity over the conventional organolithiums such as sec-butyl lithium, when employed in ortholithiation reactions of this nature. The differences in diastereoselectivity associated with the different alkyllithiums can be tied, in certain cases, to the steric bulkiness associated with the individual reagents. In this regard we have found that the use of the so called Tolman angle or cone angle approach allows quantification of the relative steric bulk of the alkyllithium. We also detail that the oxazoline directing group provides a hitherto unknown ability to be diastereoselectively tuned through the choice of the ligand system in the ortholithiation reaction. In this regard the development of a series of diglyme based ligands have proved to provide a highly diastereoselective means of inverting the chirality from that which the use of the conventional TMEDA ligand is able to generate (up to –92% de). The use of diglyme ligands to invert the sense of chirality is also shown to occur on the ferrocenyloxazoline system and presents an apparently general and hitherto unknown facet of asymmetric oxazoline directed ortholithiation. This diglyme induced inversion has been shown to be controlled through a secondary nitrogen coordinated mechanism that is able to operate with chiral oxazolines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van chirale oksasoliengerigte litiëring verskaf ’n hoogs diastereoselektiewe (tot en met >99% do) roete om metagefunksionaliseerde, inherente chirale calixareen produkte te sintetiseer. Deur gebruik te maak van verskillende elektrofiele kan die metodologie toegepas word op beide gebutileerde en de-gebutileerde calixareen sisteme om ’n reeks uiteenlopende inherente chirale, meta-gefunksionaliseerde calixareen produkte te vorm. Die oksasolien groep kan daarna verwyder word deur hidroliese om ’n reeks gefunksionaliseerde calixareenkarboksielsure te vorm in baie hoë eo. Ons het ook gedemonstreer dat die gebruik van afgeleide alkiel-litiums, soos siklopentiel-litium, kan bydrae tot aansienlik verhoogde diastereoselektiwiteit as dit vergelyk word met meer algemene organolitiums soos sekbutiellitium, tydens ortolitiëring reaksies van hierdie natuur. Die verskille in diastereoselektiwiteit kan verbind word, in sekere gevalle, tot die steriese bonkigheid van die individuele reagense. Deur gebruik te maak van die sogenaamde Tolmanhoeke of die koniesehoek benadering is dit moontlik om die relatiewe steriese bonkighied van alkiellitiums te kwantifiseer. Daar was ook bepaal dat die oksasoliengroep die ongekende vermoë besit om die diastereoselektiwiteit van die produk te stem deur die keuse van verskillende ligand sisteme tydens die ortolitiëring reaksie. Daar was bepaal dat die chiralitiet van die produkte omgekeer kan word op ’n hoogs diastereoselektiewe manier, deur gebruik te maak van ’n reeks ontwikkelde diglymegebaseerde ligande, indien dit vergelyk word met die produkte wat deur die konvensionele TMEDA gegenereer was (tot en met –92% do). Die gebruik van diglyme ligande was ook getoets op ferroseenoksasolien sisteme en dit was bevind dat dieselfde omkering in chiraliteit ook plaasvind wat aanleiding kan gee tot 'n oënskynlik algemene en tot nou toe onbekende faset van asimmetriese oksasoliengerigte orto-litiëring. Dit is bepaal dat hierdie diglyme geïnduseerde omkering in chiraliteit beheer word deur middel van 'n sekondêre stikstofgekoördineerde meganisme, wat in staat is om saam te werk met chirale oksasoliene.

This master thesisinvestigates the possibilities to implement a digital filter for wire guidancein a truck. The analog circuits in the truck, today, are analyzed to understandtheir signal processing. The component MAX261 is especially interesting and itis analyzed in a special Section to make sure that all needed details, todevelop a digital filter, are available. When all theoretical calculation wasfinished, all the circuits were simulated to make sure that the calculationsare correct.   The digital filter is based onan analog filter which is expensive and not so easy to purchase. A requirementspecification was developed by analysis of the properties of the analog filterand how it is currently used. The analog filter is a part of a chain of analogsignal processing which mostly can be performed digitally instead.   The special type of the analogfilter makes the requirements, on the digital filter, very tough and anextensive analysis of digital filter structures was performed in order to finda suitable filter. The digital filter is of WDF (Wave Digital Filter)-type andit is very special, because it has two variable coefficients, one for thesteepness and one for the center frequency. The digital filter consists of anumber of first order filters, because a higher order filter with desiredproperties has coefficient values that are large which makes the stabilityproperties worse.   The best type ofimplementation of this filter and the signal processing are also analyzed.Finally, a prototype was developed on a development board where the maincomponent is a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The program for the prototype iswritten in C-code and the performance of the system was verified by differenttests and measurements.

In pharmaceutical development cell cultures are used as in vitro models to evaluate the function of drug candidates. In such research it is vital to have models that resemble the in vivo environment to get reliable results. In 3D models with hydrogels ECM like scaffolds are supporting the cells in a more in vivo like environment than flat 2D cultures. In this project PEG-peptide based hydrogels with cell binding RGD incorporated on one PEG-peptide type has been evaluated for culturing of HepG2 cells. Structure and viscoelastic properties were evaluated with techniques like circular dichroism spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and rheology. Sterilisation impact was also evaluated for PEG-peptides. For cell culturing, observations in light microscope and evaluation with Live/Dead assay and albumin assay were performed. A few companies were interviewed regarding 3D culturing and interest in mechanically tuneable hydrogels. The HepG2 cells grows and forms spherical clusters in the 3D environment with hydrogels, percentage of RGD seems to not impact cell adhesion, growth or albumin secretion. UV irradiation was the most suitable sterilisation method for gel components. The most rigid gel combination formed had storage modulus of around 230 Pa. Mechanically tuneable hydrogels is interesting for the industry. The PEG-peptide based gels are suitable tor growing cells but too soft to closely resemble the in vivo rigidity of hepatocytes.

Abstract In this thesis, new methods for mobile terminal antenna frequency control and user effect compensation are presented. The thesis is divided into two parts. The first part includes frequency reconfigurable and tuneable antennas for mobile terminals. At first, the efficient frequency reconfiguration methods for a slot-, planar inverted-F (PIFA) and inverted-F (IFA) antennas are presented. Methods are based either on the use of RF switches, or on variable capacitor loading. One of the frequency tuneable antennas is used for the antenna frequency bandwidth enhancement in an internal digital television reception antenna, offering a continuous tunability range from 470 MHz to 702 MHz with 8 MHz instantaneous bandwidth. The second part of this thesis is concentrated on the user effect on the mobile terminal antennas, and especially, on the active compensation of the user-induced losses. At first, an experimental user effect study is conducted for triple-band PIFA and the body loss, comprising both the reflection loss and absorption loss, is characterized and formulated. It was observed that with the highly loaded mobile terminal antenna the majority of the losses are absorption losses and the user-induced reflection losses play a minor role. An active method of compensating the body loss, and especially the absorptive part of it, is designed and developed in this thesis. The switchable two-antenna arrangement is applied to a dual-band top-bottom PIFA that yielded up to 9 dB compensation of the body loss with a specific phantom hand grips in the lower band (GSM 850). In the higher band (GSM 1900 and WCDMA) 2 dB compensation is obtained. The same method is verified with two side by side-located PIFA and monopole configurations in order to compensate the effect of the user’s index finger. The losses from switching circuitry proved to be smaller than the benefit achieved by the compensation method. / Tiivistelmä Tässä työssä esitään uudenlaisia menetelmiä matkaviestinantennin taajuussäätöön ja käyttäjän vaikutuksen kompensointiin. Työ jakautuu kahteen osaan, joista ensimmäisessä käsitellään taajuussädettäviä matkaviestinantenneja. Aluksi esitetään tehokkaita taajuussäätömenetelmiä rako-, tasomainen käännetty-F- ja käännetty-F -tyyppisille antennirakenteille. Menetelmät perustuvat joko RF kytkimen tai säädettävän kapasitanssin käyttöön. Yhtä säätömenetelmää sovelletaan päätelaitteen sisäisen vastaanottoantennin taajuuskaistanleveyden kasvattamiseen. Säätömenetelmällä saavutettu jatkuva säätöalue on 470–702 MHz ja hetkellinen kaistanleveys on 8 MHz. Työn toisessa osassa keskitytään käyttäjän matkaviestimen antennille aiheuttamaan vaikutukseen ja erityisesti käyttäjän aiheuttamien häviöiden kompensointiin. Aluksi esitetään kokeellinen tutkimus käyttäjän vaikutuksesta kolmikaistaiseen PIFA-antenniin. Tutkimuksessa arvioidaan kehohäviöiden määrää, antennin impedanssimuutoksesta aiheutuvaa heijastushäviötä ja absorptiohäviötä. Tutkimuksen perusteella absorptiolla on suurempi vaikutus kokonaishäviöön kuin heijastushäviöllä. Työssä esitetään aktiivinen kehohäviön ja erityisesti absorptiohäviön kompensointimenetelmä. Menetelmässä antennikytkentää sovelletaan päätelaitteen ylä- ja alapäähän sijoitettuihin kaksitaajuus antenniin. Tutkimuksen perusteella todetaan, että tietyn käsiotteen aiheuttamia häviöitä voidaan kompensoida 9 dB matalammalla taajuuskaistalla (GSM 850) ja 2 dB korkeammalla taajuuskaistalla (GSM 900 ja WCDMA). Kompensointimenetelmän toimivuus todennetaan myös kahdella monopoli- ja PIFA-antennirakenteella käyttäen erilaista antennijärjestelyä, jossa pääpaino on käyttäjän etusormesta johtuvien häviöiden kompensoinnissa. Antennikytkennän aiheuttamat häviöt ovat pienemmät kuin kompensointimenetelmällä saavutettu etu.

The potential advantages of tilting trikes have been tantalizing for years: they can lean like a bike so that they do not have to be low, wide, or slow in turns; and they can keep the rider upright like a trike when stopped or going slow. Implementing this functionality, however, has been somewhat problematic. Many tilting trikes have been built in which the extra wheel only offers some redundant traction, in the case of inconsistent friction with the road surface. Some have been built with a so-called ''tilt-lock', in which the third wheel can also act as a kickstand to hold the trike rigid when stopped. A few tilting trikes have been built with sophisticated sensors, actuators, and control algorithms to assume the proper tilt angle in every situation, and the motorcycle press breathlessly announces the latest patent filings in this area from major motorcycle manufacturers. [from Introduction]

No description available.

General Secretariat of Education and Scientific Research, Libya. / The only available copy is the print version kept in the J.B.Priestley Library for reference.