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Soybean (Glycine max) yield is significantly affected by soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, and causes an annual loss of billions of US dollars. In this study, Glycine max xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase gene (Gm-XTH52) was transformed into a nematode susceptible G. max [Williams 82/PI 518671] variety of soybean to test whether the protein expression has a role in resistance to H. glycines, and possible chemical changes the expression may cause in the plant composition. Expression level of the Gm-XTH52 gene was three times higher than in controls. Significant reduction in the number of SCN cysts suggested suppression of H. glycines parasitism upon transformation. While total sugar amounts did not significantly differ between the transformed and control plants, xyloglucan amounts of loosely bound sugars of genetically mosaic plants were significantly lower in comparison to controls. Control plants showed lower molecular weight sugars than the transformed plants not subjected to H. glycines infection.

Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) poses a significant threat to soybean production in North America and the world at large. Early and accurate detection of SCN infestations is crucial for implementing effective management strategies and minimizing yield losses. The conventional method of SCN detection involves uprooting plants to examine the roots and collecting soil samples. Drone-based multispectral imaging has been used as a viable alternative for crop monitoring due to its detailed spatial and spectral information and scheduling flexibility. This thesis aims to examine the potential of using multispectral drone images for SCN detection in a soybean production field and develop a non-destructive approach to support improved precision agricultural management practices. Using the DJI Matrice 210 drone and a MicaSense Altum sensor, at a height of 50 meters above ground level and top speed of 6 meters/second, a total of 2,550 multispectral images per flight were collected for a total of fourteen flights beginning in June 2022 up to September 2022 from a production field with variable SCN infestation levels located in Carmi, IL. These images were postprocessed with geometric and radiometric correction to produce orthomosaic photos.   Ten vegetation indices namely, NDRE, NDVI, EVI, GNDVI, BNDVI, SIPI, R-EDGE/G, NIR/G, R-EDGE/R and MSR, were computed for each flight date and study plot. The count of SCN eggs was appended to each study plot to find the correlation between the vegetation indices and the field parameters. The VIs having the highest correlation with the eggs and also having the highest number of correlation coefficients significantly different from zero were NDRE, NDVI and GNDVI. I computed the mean values of these VIs for each study plot and flight date which resulted into a time-series trend analysis. To identify study plots with similar trends, an agglomerative hierarchical clustering was performed which resulted into two clusters for each VI. After conducting the ANOVA test, NDVI returned statistically significant results for all the field parameters, GNDVI returned one while NDRE returned three outcomes that were not statistically significant. The study plots belonging to Cluster 1 had a higher mean of SCN count while those in Cluster 2 portrayed little or no SCN. I found NDVI to be the optimal VI because the results from statistical tests and modeling techniques conducted were significant for all SCN parameters, such as cyst and egg count for the plots clustered based on the NDVI trend. Therefore, I used the plots clustered based on the NDVI trend to train and test six ML classification models (Support Vector Classifier, Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors, Linear Discriminant Analysis, MLP-Neural Network and Gradient Boost) such that when presented with information in a format like that used in training, it becomes possible to identify plots with high or no SCN. Gradient Boost, MLP-NN and LDA performed with 89%, 82% and 80% accuracy respectively.

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Introduction: Targeted pharmaceuticals for labelling with radio-isotopes for very specific imaging (and possibly later for targeted therapy) play a major role in Theranostics which is currently an important topic in Nuclear Medicine as well as personalised medicine. There was a need for a very specific lung cancer radiopharmaceutical that would specifically be uptaken in integrin 3 expression cells to image patients using a Positron Emission Tomography- Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanner. Background and problem statement: Cold kits of c (RGDyK)–SCN-Bz-NOTA were kindly donated by Seoul National University (SNU) to help meet Steve Biko Hospital’s need for this type of imaging. These cold kits showed great results internationally in labelling with a 0.1 M 68Ge/68Ga generator (t1/2 of 68Ge and 68Ga are 270.8 days and 67.6 min, respectively). However the same cold kits failed to show reproducible radiolabeling with the 0.6 M generator manufactured under cGMP conditions at iThemba LABS, Cape Town and distributed by IDB Holland, the Netherlands. Materials and methods: There was therefore a need for producing an in-house NOTA-RGD kit that would enable production of clinical 68Ga-NOTA-RGD in high yields from the IDB Holland/iThemba LABS generator. Quality control included ITLC in citric acid to observe labelling efficiency as well as in sodium carbonate to evaluate colloid formation. HPLC was also performed at iThemba LABS as well as Necsa (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation). RGD was obtained from Futurechem, Korea. Kit mass integrity was determined by testing labelling efficiency of 10, 30 and 60 μg of RGD per cold kit. The RGD was buffered with sodium acetate trihydrate. The original kits were dried in a desiccator and in later studies only freeze dried. Manual labelling was also tested. The radiolabelled in-house kit’s ex vivo biodistribution in healthy versus tumour mice were examined by obtaining xenografts. The normal biodistribution was investigated in three vervet monkeys by doing PET-CT scans on a Siemens Biograph TP 40 slice scanner. Results: Cold kit formulation radiolabeling and purification methods were established successfully and SOPs (standard operating procedures) created. HPLC results showed highest radiochemical purity in 60 μg cold kit vials. 68Ga-NOTA-RGD showed increased uptake in tumours of tumour bearing mouse. The cold kit also showed normal distribution according to literature with fast blood clearance and excretion through kidneys into urine, therefore making it a suitable radiopharmaceutical for clinical studies. Conclusion: The in-house prepared cold kit with a 4 month shelf-life was successfully tested in mice and monkeys. / MSc (Pharmaceutics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Introduction: Targeted pharmaceuticals for labelling with radio-isotopes for very specific imaging (and possibly later for targeted therapy) play a major role in Theranostics which is currently an important topic in Nuclear Medicine as well as personalised medicine. There was a need for a very specific lung cancer radiopharmaceutical that would specifically be uptaken in integrin 3 expression cells to image patients using a Positron Emission Tomography- Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanner. Background and problem statement: Cold kits of c (RGDyK)–SCN-Bz-NOTA were kindly donated by Seoul National University (SNU) to help meet Steve Biko Hospital’s need for this type of imaging. These cold kits showed great results internationally in labelling with a 0.1 M 68Ge/68Ga generator (t1/2 of 68Ge and 68Ga are 270.8 days and 67.6 min, respectively). However the same cold kits failed to show reproducible radiolabeling with the 0.6 M generator manufactured under cGMP conditions at iThemba LABS, Cape Town and distributed by IDB Holland, the Netherlands. Materials and methods: There was therefore a need for producing an in-house NOTA-RGD kit that would enable production of clinical 68Ga-NOTA-RGD in high yields from the IDB Holland/iThemba LABS generator. Quality control included ITLC in citric acid to observe labelling efficiency as well as in sodium carbonate to evaluate colloid formation. HPLC was also performed at iThemba LABS as well as Necsa (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation). RGD was obtained from Futurechem, Korea. Kit mass integrity was determined by testing labelling efficiency of 10, 30 and 60 μg of RGD per cold kit. The RGD was buffered with sodium acetate trihydrate. The original kits were dried in a desiccator and in later studies only freeze dried. Manual labelling was also tested. The radiolabelled in-house kit’s ex vivo biodistribution in healthy versus tumour mice were examined by obtaining xenografts. The normal biodistribution was investigated in three vervet monkeys by doing PET-CT scans on a Siemens Biograph TP 40 slice scanner. Results: Cold kit formulation radiolabeling and purification methods were established successfully and SOPs (standard operating procedures) created. HPLC results showed highest radiochemical purity in 60 μg cold kit vials. 68Ga-NOTA-RGD showed increased uptake in tumours of tumour bearing mouse. The cold kit also showed normal distribution according to literature with fast blood clearance and excretion through kidneys into urine, therefore making it a suitable radiopharmaceutical for clinical studies. Conclusion: The in-house prepared cold kit with a 4 month shelf-life was successfully tested in mice and monkeys. / MSc (Pharmaceutics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar o comportamento dos campos eletromagnéticos no interior de câmaras reverberantes de modos misturados através do método numérico TLM (Transmission Line Matrix). Inicialmente, apresenta-se uma descrição dos diversos tipos de câmaras aplicáveis na avaliação de desempenho de compatibilidade eletromagnética de equipamentos e sistemas elétricos, destacando-se suas principais características físicas e geométricas, com ênfase nas câmaras reverberantes. Os aspectos teóricos relacionados à descrição do método TLM são detalhados e sua aplicação na avaliação do ambiente eletromagnético das câmaras é então abordada. Diversos resultados são apresentados, considerando-se configurações pré-definidas de câmaras reverberantes, ressaltando-se a definição e cálculo de índices de mérito, bem como os principais aspectos relacionados à representação e definição de critérios adotados nas simulações destas. / The aim of this report is the evaluation of the behavior of electromagnetic fields inside reverberation chambers by means of Transmission Line Modeling (TLM). Initially, it is presented a description of several kinds of chambers applicable for electromagnetic compatibility tests followed by a more detailed description regarding reverberation chambers. Theoretical aspects of TLM method and its application for electromagnetic fields solution are covered. Some results are presented, considering pre-defined reverberation chambers configurations, highlighting some merit indicators and the main aspects adopted on its simulation.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar o comportamento dos campos eletromagnéticos no interior de câmaras reverberantes de modos misturados através do método numérico TLM (Transmission Line Matrix). Inicialmente, apresenta-se uma descrição dos diversos tipos de câmaras aplicáveis na avaliação de desempenho de compatibilidade eletromagnética de equipamentos e sistemas elétricos, destacando-se suas principais características físicas e geométricas, com ênfase nas câmaras reverberantes. Os aspectos teóricos relacionados à descrição do método TLM são detalhados e sua aplicação na avaliação do ambiente eletromagnético das câmaras é então abordada. Diversos resultados são apresentados, considerando-se configurações pré-definidas de câmaras reverberantes, ressaltando-se a definição e cálculo de índices de mérito, bem como os principais aspectos relacionados à representação e definição de critérios adotados nas simulações destas. / The aim of this report is the evaluation of the behavior of electromagnetic fields inside reverberation chambers by means of Transmission Line Modeling (TLM). Initially, it is presented a description of several kinds of chambers applicable for electromagnetic compatibility tests followed by a more detailed description regarding reverberation chambers. Theoretical aspects of TLM method and its application for electromagnetic fields solution are covered. Some results are presented, considering pre-defined reverberation chambers configurations, highlighting some merit indicators and the main aspects adopted on its simulation.