Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-21T20:29:32Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Natana Becker.pdf: 1266893 bytes, checksum: 018f6e1bf563008837c534403e5c801e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-21T20:29:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Natana Becker.pdf: 1266893 bytes, checksum: 018f6e1bf563008837c534403e5c801e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-21T20:29:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Natana Becker.pdf: 1266893 bytes, checksum: 018f6e1bf563008837c534403e5c801e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-21 / Os fármacos valsartana (VAL), hidroclorotiazida (HCT) e besilato de anlodipino (ANL) são utilizados em associação e comercializados no Brasil como agentes anti-hipertensivos. Geralmente a determinação simultânea destes fármacos é realizada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). Este trabalho teve por objetivo a determinação simultânea de VAL, HCT e ANL em uma formulação comercial de comprimidos através da técnica de espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo com transformada de Fourier e acessório de esfera de integração (FT-NIR) associadas a métodos de análise multivariada. Os modelos de calibração foram construídos utilizando mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS) e seleção de variáveis através dos algoritmos mínimos quadrados parciais por intervalo (iPLS) e mínimos quadrados parciais por sinergismo de intervalos (siPLS). Um total de 36 amostras sintéticas e 1 amostra real (26 amostras para o conjunto de calibração e 11 amostras para o conjunto de previsão), foram utilizadas as faixas de concentração de 261,9-500,0 mg g-1 para VAL; 20,2-83,3 mg g-1 para HCT e 11,6-49,6 mg g-1 para ANL. Os dados espectrais foram adquiridos na faixa de 4000 a 10000 cm-1 com resolução de 4 cm-1 por FT-NIR. Os melhores modelos foram obtidos através da utilização do pré-processamento centrado na média (CM) e do tratamento de correção do espalhamento de luz (MSC). O erro relativo de previsão (RSEP%) de 1,27% para VAL, 1,92% para HCT e 5,19%para ANL, foi obtido após seleção dos melhores intervalos por siPLS para dados obtidos por FT-NIR. Não foi encontrada diferença significativa (teste t-pareado, 95% de confiança) entre os valores do método de referência e do método proposto. Os resultados mostraram que modelos de regressão PLS (associados a métodos de seleção de variáveis, como iPLS e siPLS) combinados com FT-NIR são promissores no desenvolvimento de metodologias mais simples, rápidas e não destrutivas. Estes modelos permitem a determinação simultânea de VAL, HCT e ANL na formulação farmacêutica. / Valsartan (VAL), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) and amlodipine besylate (ANL) drugs are used in combination and they are commercialized in Brazil as antihypertensive agents. Generally, the simultaneous determination of these drugs is carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (CLAE). This study aimed to the simultaneous determination of VAL, HCT, and ANL in a comercial tablet formulation through the technique near infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform and integrating sphere accessory (FT- NIR) associated with methods of multivariate analysis. The calibration models were built using partial least squares (PLS) and variable selection through partial least squares algorithms for interval (iPLS) and partial least squares by synergism intervals (siPLS). A total of 36 synthetic samples 1 and commercial sample (26 samples for the calibration sample set and 11 for the prediction set), were used the concentration ranges of 261.9-500.0 mg g-1 for VAL; 20.2-83.3 mg g-1 for HCT and 11.6-49.6 mg g-1 for ANL. The spectral data were acquired in the range 4000-10000 cm-1 with resolution of 4 cm-1 by FT-NIR. Multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and the data centered in the media (CM) produced the best models. A relative standard error of prediction (RSEP%) of 1.27% for VAL, 1.92% for HCT and 5.19% for ANL was obtained after selection of the best intervals for data obtained by siPLS FT-NIR. There was no significant difference (paired t-test, 95% confidence) between the values of the reference method and the proposed method. Results showed that PLS models regression (associated with iPLS and siPLS regression models) combined with FT-NIR are promising in the development of simpler methods, rapid and non-destructive. These models allow simultaneous determination of VAL, HCT, and ANL in the pharmaceutical formulation.

Measurement of tissue hemodynamics provides vital information for the assessment of tissue viability. This thesis reports three noninvasive near-infrared diffuse optical systems for spectroscopic measurements and tomographic imaging of tissue hemodynamics in vulnerable tissues with the goal of disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring. A hybrid near-infrared spectroscopy/diffuse correlation spectroscopy (NIRS/DCS) instrument with a contact fiber-optic probe was developed and utilized for simultaneous and continuous monitoring of blood flow (BF), blood oxygenation, and oxidative metabolism in exercising gastrocnemius. Results measured by the hybrid NIRS/DCS instrument in 37 subjects (mean age: 67 ± 6) indicated that vitamin D supplement plus aerobic training improved muscle metabolic function in older population. To reduce the interference and potential infection risk on vulnerable tissues caused by the contact measurement, a noncontact diffuse correlation spectroscopy/tomography (ncDCS/ncDCT) system was then developed. The ncDCS/ncDCT system employed optical lenses to project limited numbers of sources and detectors on the tissue surface. A motor-driven noncontact probe scanned over a region of interest to collect boundary data for three dimensional (3D) tomographic imaging of blood flow distribution. The ncDCS was tested for BF measurements in mastectomy skin flaps. Nineteen (19) patients underwent mastectomy and implant-based breast reconstruction were measured before and immediately after mastectomy. The BF index after mastectomy in each patient was normalized to its baseline value before surgery to get relative BF (rBF). Since rBF values in the patients with necrosis (n = 4) were significantly lower than those without necrosis (n = 15), rBF levels can be used to predict mastectomy skin flap necrosis. The ncDCT was tested for 3D imaging of BF distributions in chronic wounds of 5 patients. Spatial variations in BF contrasts over the wounded tissues were observed, indicating the capability of ncDCT in detecting tissue hemodynamic heterogeneities. To improve temporal/spatial resolution and avoid motion artifacts due to a long mechanical scanning of ncDCT, an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device based noncontact speckle contrast diffuse correlation tomography (scDCT) was developed. Validation of scDCT was done by imaging both high and low BF contrasts in tissue-like phantoms and human forearms. In a wound imaging study using scDCT, significant lower BF values were observed in the burned areas/volumes compared to surrounding normal tissues in two patients with burn. One limitation in this study was the potential influence of other unknown tissue optical properties such as tissue absorption coefficient (µa) on BF measurements. A new algorithm was then developed to extract both µa and BF using light intensities and speckle contrasts measured by scDCT at multiple source-detector distances. The new algorithm was validated using tissue-like liquid phantoms with varied values of µa and BF index. In-vivo validation and application of the innovative scDCT technique with the new algorithm is the subject of future work.

<p>The mortality of thoracic aortic diseases (mainly aneurysms and dissections) is high, even with surgical treatment. Epidemiology and long-term outcomes are incompletely investigated. Stroke is a major complication contributing to mortality, morbidity, and possibly to reduced quality of life. </p><p><i>Study I</i> Increasing incidence of thoracic aortic diseases 1987 – 2002 was demonstrated (n=14229). Annual number of operations increased eight-fold. Overall long-time survival was 92%, 77%, and 57% at 1, 5, and 10 years. Risk of operative and long-term mortality was reduced across time.</p><p><i>Study II</i> 2634 patients operated on the proximal thoracic aorta (Swedish Heart Surgery register) were examined. Aortic valve replacement, coronary revascularization, emergency operation, and age were independently associated with surgical death. Long-term mortality was similar for aneurysms and dissections. Operative mortality was reduced (13.7% vs 7.2%) for aneurysms but remained unchanged (22.3% vs 22.4%) for dissections across time.</p><p><i>Study III</i> 65 patients underwent selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) uni- or bilaterally. Stroke was significantly more common after unilateral SACP (29% vs 8%, p=0.045), confirmed by propensity score-matched analysis. Subclavian artery cannulation with Seldinger-technique entailed vascular complication in one case (1.5%).</p><p><i>Study IV</i> Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to monitor cerebral tissue saturation (rSO2) during SACP in 46 patients. Lower rSO2 were encountered (1) in patients suffering a stroke (2) with unilateral SACP, and (3) in the affected hemisphere of stroke victims. A decrease of rSO2 by 14 – 21% from baseline increased the risk of stroke significantly.</p><p><i>Study V</i> Quality of life (QoL) in 76 survivors of thoracic aortic surgery was examined with the SF-36 health questionnaire. Except for pain, QoL was reduced in all dimensions. QoL was not affected by acuity of operation. Tendencies of lower QoL after descending aortic operations, after major complications, and with persistent dysfunction were non-significant.</p>

The mortality of thoracic aortic diseases (mainly aneurysms and dissections) is high, even with surgical treatment. Epidemiology and long-term outcomes are incompletely investigated. Stroke is a major complication contributing to mortality, morbidity, and possibly to reduced quality of life. Study I Increasing incidence of thoracic aortic diseases 1987 – 2002 was demonstrated (n=14229). Annual number of operations increased eight-fold. Overall long-time survival was 92%, 77%, and 57% at 1, 5, and 10 years. Risk of operative and long-term mortality was reduced across time. Study II 2634 patients operated on the proximal thoracic aorta (Swedish Heart Surgery register) were examined. Aortic valve replacement, coronary revascularization, emergency operation, and age were independently associated with surgical death. Long-term mortality was similar for aneurysms and dissections. Operative mortality was reduced (13.7% vs 7.2%) for aneurysms but remained unchanged (22.3% vs 22.4%) for dissections across time. Study III 65 patients underwent selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) uni- or bilaterally. Stroke was significantly more common after unilateral SACP (29% vs 8%, p=0.045), confirmed by propensity score-matched analysis. Subclavian artery cannulation with Seldinger-technique entailed vascular complication in one case (1.5%). Study IV Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to monitor cerebral tissue saturation (rSO2) during SACP in 46 patients. Lower rSO2 were encountered (1) in patients suffering a stroke (2) with unilateral SACP, and (3) in the affected hemisphere of stroke victims. A decrease of rSO2 by 14 – 21% from baseline increased the risk of stroke significantly. Study V Quality of life (QoL) in 76 survivors of thoracic aortic surgery was examined with the SF-36 health questionnaire. Except for pain, QoL was reduced in all dimensions. QoL was not affected by acuity of operation. Tendencies of lower QoL after descending aortic operations, after major complications, and with persistent dysfunction were non-significant.

In the breeding of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L. Moench) towards improved nutrition and agronomic performance, new methodologies are required to increase genetic diversity and lower the inputs required to track and screen breeding populations. Near-infrared calibration models were developed by partial least squares (PLS) and test-set validation on 364 sorghum samples to predict crude protein and moisture content on whole-grain and milled flour samples. Models using milled flour spectra were more accurately predictive than those from whole grain spectra for all constituents (eg. Protein: R2 = 0.986 on flour vs R2 = 0.962 on whole grain). Discriminant calibrations were established to classify grain colour using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) based upon CIE L*a*b* reference values and visual ranking. Preliminary calibrations were developed for quantities of 18 amino acids, fat and apparent metabolisable energy (AME) on 40 samples using cross-validation, highlighting potential for reliable calibration for these parameters in sorghum. An investigation into the potential of 12C6+ heavy-ion beam mutagenesis of sorghum seed was undertaken by treatment at RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility (Saitama, Japan) and subsequent breeding at Ukulinga research farm and analysis at the Department of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Dosage rates of 75, 100 and 150 Gy were compared in seven sorghum varieties to establish optimal dose treatments as determined by germination and survival rates, visible morphological changes and field data over two seasons of field trials. Crude protein variation within the M2 generation was analysed to compare dose rate effects. The need for higher dose rates was indicated by few quantified differences between treatments and control although good correlations between protein deviation and treatment dose rate were elucidated. Differences in varietal response suggest a need to optimize dose rate for specific varieties in future endeavours. In addition, all mutagenized populations were screened for crude protein content using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Significant differences in protein levels and standard deviations were observed between treated self-pollinated M2 generations and untreated control populations. Individual plants displaying significantly different protein levels were isolated. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

L’atteinte de la fonction endothéliale représente une phase précoce de l’athérosclérose, un stade où les patients sont généralement asymptomatiques. Il existe donc un intérêt certain à détecter la dysfonction endothéliale. Nous avons développé une technique de mesure des variations de flot artériel au niveau des membres supérieurs, basée sur la spectroscopie proche infrarouge (NIRS). Cette approche permettrait d’étudier le niveau d’atteinte vasculaire et probablement de quantifier le degré de dysfonction endothéliale périphérique lors d’une hyperémie réactive. L'expérience a été exécutée sur deux cohortes de 13 et de 15 patients et a été comparée à la pléthysmographie par jauge de contrainte (SGP) qui est considérée comme une méthode de référence. Par la suite, nous avons caractérisé la réponse endothéliale par modélisation de la courbe hyperémique du flot artériel. Des études préliminaires avaient démontré que la réponse hyperémique adoptait majoritairement une forme bi-modale. Nous avons tenté de séparer les composantes endothéliales-dépendantes et endothéliales-indépendantes de l’hyperémie. La quantification des deux composantes de la réaction hyperémique permet de calculer un indice de la ‘santé’ du système endothélial local. Cet indice est nommé le ηfactor. Les résultats montrent une forte corrélation des mesures de flots entre la technique développée et la méthode de référence (r=0.91). Nous avons conclu que NIRS est une approche précise pour la mesure non-invasive du flot artériel. Nous avons obtenu une bonne répétabilité (ICC = 0.9313) pour le ηfactor indiquant sa robustesse. Cependant des études supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour valider la valeur de diagnostic du facteur défini. Mots clés: hyperémie réactive, réponse myogénique, oxyde nitrique, athérosclérose, spectroscopie proche infrarouge / Atherosclerotic diseases are mainly caused by coronary and peripheral blood vessel disorders. Endothelial dysfunction represents an early phase in these diseases, when patients are generally asymptomatic. We developed a technique, based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), for measurement of arterial blood flow variations in limbs during reactive hyperemia. The technique allows the study of the level of vascular impairment and probably quantifying the level of endothelial dysfunction at peripheral arteries. The experiment was performed on two cohorts of 13 and 15 patients and was compared to strain gauge plethysmography (SGP) which is considered as gold standard. Afterward, we characterized endothelial reaction during reactive hyperemia through blood flow variations by modeling the hyperemic curve. Preliminary studies have shown that the hyperemic response generally adopts a bimodal form. The first peak was attributed to myogenic reaction that is endothelial independent and the second one to local endothelial cells reaction. The quantification of the two hyperemic response components makes it possible to calculate an index of ‘health’ for local endothelial cells, named ηfactor. The results showed a strong correlation (r = 0.91) of blood flow measurements between the developed method and the gold standard. We concluded that NIRS is a precise technique for non-invasive measurement of blood flow. Moreover, we found a high repeatability (ICC = 0.9313) of the ηfactor in repeated measurements indicating its robustness. Nonetheless, more studies are required to validate the diagnosis value of the defined factor. Key words: reactive hyperemia, myogenic response, endothelial dependent vasodilatation, nitric oxide, atherosclerosis, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)

Au cours du vieillissement, des modifications dans la compréhension du discours ont été rapportées, attribuées en partie aux changements cognitifs encourus lors du vieillissement. Néanmoins, diverses études suggèrent une réorganisation cérébrale lors du vieillissement. Cette étude a pour but d'évaluer l'influence de l'âge lors d'une tâche de compréhension du discours à l'aide de l'imagerie optique. Comme première hypothèse, il est attendu que les participants jeunes auront plus de bonnes réponses au niveau des micropropositions et des macropropositions et des performances équivalentes au niveau du modèle de situation. La deuxième hypothèse est que les réseaux neuronaux utilisés lors de la compréhension du discours subiront une réorganisation cérébrale lors du vieillissement. Trente-deux participants ont pris part à cette étude : 16 jeunes adultes et 16 adultes âgés. Alors que les participants étaient sous enregistrement en imagerie optique au niveau du cortex préfrontal (CPF), ils ont lu des courtes histoires chacune suivie d’une phrase et devaient décider si elle était en accord ou non avec la précédente histoire. Les résultats ne montrent aucune différence entre les groupes au niveau de l’exactitude des réponses, contrairement à la littérature. Le CPF a été davantage activé par les adultes âgés comparativement aux jeunes adultes témoignant d’une réorganisation cérébrale. / During aging, changes in discourse comprehension have been reported, attributed in part by cognitive changes that occur during aging. Moreover, various studies suggest a cerebral reorganization with aging. This study aims to evaluate the influence of aging on cerebral reorganization during discourse comprehension using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The first hypothesis is that younger adults will have better accuracy on micropropositions and macropropositions, but will have equivalent performance for the situation model. The second hypothesis is that the neural networks used for discourse comprehension will be reorganized during aging. Thirty-two participants took part in this study: 16 young adults and 16 older adults. While undergoing NIRS recording on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the participants read short stories each followed by a sentence deciding if it was in agreement or not with the previous story. Results didn’t show any differences for accuracy between the group, in opposition with the literature. The PFC was more activated by the older adults compared to the younger adults showing a cerebral reorganization.

Le vieillissement normal est associé à une réorganisation cérébrale qui peut être influencée par plusieurs facteurs. Des théories comme la réserve cognitive de Stern (2002) tentent d’expliquer les effets de ces différents facteurs. Certains, le niveau de scolarité par exemple, sont encore mal connus. Pourtant, le niveau de scolarité est connu pour avoir un impact sur les performances cognitives tout au long de la vie. Le but de ce mémoire est d’étudier les effets du niveau de scolarité sur l’oxygénation cérébrale de personnes âgées en santé lors d’une tâche d’évocation lexicale orthographique et sémantique. Chaque tâche est divisée selon un critère « plus productive » et « moins productive ». Les âgés faiblement scolarisés produisent moins de mots que les âgés fortement scolarisés. De plus, la différence de mots produits entre le critère plus productif et moins productif est plus grande pour la tâche sémantique que pour la tâche orthographique. Du point de vue hémodynamique, les deux groupes ont des activations semblables, contredisant le phénomène HAROLD. De plus, les participants peu scolarisés tendent à activer de façon plus importante l’hémisphère gauche, peu importe la tâche ou la condition. Par contre, les activations varient selon la tâche et la condition dans le cas du groupe fortement scolarisé. / Normal aging is associated with cerebral reorganisation which can be influenced by many factors. For example, the theory cognitive reserve (Stern, 2002) is trying to explain how those factors can have an impact on the reorganization. However, some factors, such as educational level, are known to have an impact on cognitive performance. The aim of this dissertation is to study the effect of educational level in cerebral oxygenation of healthy older adults during both phonologic and semantic verbal fluency tasks. Each task is divided into two criteria: more productive and less productive. Behavioural data showed that less educated elderly generate fewer words than more educated ones for both tasks. Moreover, the differences between the number of words for the more productive criterion and the less productive one are higher for the semantic than for the phonologic task. NIRS data showed that both groups activated prefrontal cortex, without difference between them. In addition, less educated participants tend to have bigger activations in the left hemisphere regardless of the task and the criterion. On the other hand, higher educated participants’ activations vary according to the task and the criterion unlike the HAROLD model’s predictions.

L’étude du cerveau humain est un domaine en plein essor et les techniques non-invasives de l’étudier sont très prometteuses. Afin de l’étudier de manière non-invasive, notre laboratoire utilise principalement l’imagerie par résonance magnétique fonctionnelle (IRMf) et l’imagerie optique diffuse (IOD) continue pour mesurer et localiser l’activité cérébrale induite par une tâche visuelle, cognitive ou motrice. Le signal de ces deux techniques repose, entre autres, sur les concentrations d’hémoglobine cérébrale à cause du couplage qui existe entre l’activité neuronale et le flux sanguin local dans le cerveau. Pour être en mesure de comparer les deux signaux (et éventuellement calibrer le signal d’IRMf par l’IOD), où chaque signal est relatif à son propre niveau de base physiologique inconnu, une nouvelle technique ayant la capacité de mesurer le niveau de base physiologique est nécessaire. Cette nouvelle technique est l’IOD résolue temporellement qui permet d’estimer les concentrations d’hémoglobine cérébrale. Ce nouveau système permet donc de quantifier le niveau de base physiologique en termes de concentrations d’hémoglobine cérébrale absolue. L’objectif général de ma maîtrise était de développer un tel système afin de l’utiliser dans une large étude portant sur la condition cardiovasculaire, le vieillissement, la neuroimagerie ainsi que les performances cognitives. Il a fallu tout d’abord construire le système, le caractériser puis valider les résultats avant de pouvoir l’utiliser sur les sujets de recherche. La validation s’est premièrement réalisée sur des fantômes homogènes ainsi qu’hétérogènes (deux couches) qui ont été développés. La validation des concentrations d’hémoglobine cérébrale a été réalisée via une tâche cognitive et appuyée par les tests sanguins des sujets de recherche. Finalement, on présente les résultats obtenus dans une large étude employant le système d’IOD résolue temporellement en se concentrant sur les différences reliées au vieillissement. / Our understanding of the functional organization of the human brain has been greatly influenced by the development of new medical imaging techniques. Pr. Hoge’s research has focused on the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and continuous diffuse optical imaging (DOI) for non-invasive localization and quantification of brain activity associated with behavioral stimuli or tasks (e.g. cognitive, motor or visual). The respective signals of both techniques are based on cerebral haemoglobin concentrations because of the coupling that exists between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow. Relating BOLD fMRI signals with those acquired using DOI has been complicated by the fact that fMRI yields fractional change values, while the majority of DOI methods have provided absolute changes from an unknown baseline. To address this, we adopted a newer technique known as time-resolved DOI, which allows absolute quantification of cerebral haemoglobin concentrations. Time-resolved DOI thus has the capacity to quantify the subject’s resting hemoglobin concentrations in absolute micromolar units. The main objective of my masters’ project was to implement and optimize a time-resolved DOI system for use in a large study exploring the links between cardiovascular fitness, aging, neuroimaging markers, and cognitive performance. In this thesis we describe the fabrication of the system, followed by its characterisation and validation using solid optical phantoms (homogeneous and heterogeneous) developed for this purpose. Haemoglobin concentrations obtained non-invasively with the system are validated against blood draws, while the sensitivity to variations in concentration are assessed during a cognitive task. Finally, we present the results of a large study in which the time-resolved DOI system was used to characterize age-related vascular changes in the brain.

Eucalyptus macarthurii is one of the cold tolerant eucalypt species grown in South Africa for pulp and paper. However, little research has been done on this species’ growth performance. A study was therefore initiated to: i) analyse growth characteristics of Eucalyptus macarthurii at two sites and to calculate genetic parameters (genetic and phenotypic correlations, heritabilities and genetic gains), ii) develop a non-destructive near infrared calibration model to predict whole tree pulp yield of Eucalyptus macarthurii, and iii) screen a second generation Eucalyptus macarthurii breeding population, using the developed near infrared calibration model on core samples, to predict screened pulp yield and to rank and identify families with superior pulping properties. Eucalyptus macarthurii population growth data (diameter under bark, diameter over bark, bark thickness, bark stripping, height, basic wood density and stem form) were measured at Pinewoods and Vlakkloof sites and their respective genetic parameters calculated. Genotype by environment interaction was found in this population, indicating that different populations should perhaps be developed independently of each other for the two sites. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between diameter over bark and diameter under bark were, 0.96 and 0.98 for Pinewoods and 0.98 and 0.99 for Vlakkloof, respectively. These correlations indicated that selection of diameter over bark would lead to a positive indirect selection for diameter under bark. The heritability estimates also ranged from 0.03 to 0.23 at both sites, which indicated a reasonable response to selection. The predicted gains for all traits found at Pinewoods were higher than those at Vlakkloof for progeny trials E76/P1, except height for progeny trial E76/P2, which was 2.09m at Pinewoods site and 3.52m at Vlakkloof site which showed that, selection for taller trees will be more effective at Vlakkloof site. A preliminary study was undertaken from eleven second generation trees (2007 tree collection) to investigate if the radial strip core taken at breast height predicts the whole tree wood properties. Correlations found between laboratory Kraft pulping of whole tree wood discs and whole tree NIR spectra with that of the radial strip core NIR spectra were 0.9472 and 0.9506, respectively. These results confirmed that NIR spectra of the radial strip core at breast height predict the whole tree wood properties. A non-destructive near infrared calibration model using wood samples was obtained from Eucalyptus macarthurii felled trees. The wood samples were chipped into wood chips, pulped using Kraft pulping (reference method) and a sub-sample of wood chips of the same trees were ground into sawdust samples and analysed through near infrared spectroscopy for screened pulp yield. The screened pulp yield values obtained from both processes had a narrow screened pulp yield range of 40 to 48%. The Eucalyptus macarthurii screened pulp yield values obtained from both processes, as well as from values obtained from other eucalypt species, were subjected to Vision® Software for calibration and validation of the near infrared calibration model. The results indicated a strong calibration correlation coefficient of 94%, between Kraft pulping and near infrared spectroscopy with a validation coefficient of 89%. The strong correlation and validation coefficient indicated that a reliable non-destructive near infrared model to predict screened pulp yield was successfully developed. The successful development of the valid calibration model required a wider range of other eucalypts species, which improved the development of the model. The developed calibration model was applied to the second generation breeding population planted in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces, using wood core samples obtained from standing trees for the prediction of screened pulp yield. The highest screened pulp yield achieved was 48%, which compared well to that found for Kraft pulping, which confirmed the success of the development of the calibration model. There was a wide scope of growth variation found amongst traits, which will be useful in selecting superior trees for the next generation. The development of the nondestructive near infrared calibration model was a success due to the strong correlation coefficients found between the screened pulp yields obtained from Kraft pulping and near infrared spectroscopy processes, which was achieved by the inclusion of other eucalypt species in the dataset. The calibration model can be used to select the top performing individual and family trees for the next generation based on screened pulp yield. Tree improvement trials can now be conserved for further breeding, without felling the trees for determination of pulping properties. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.