MFA Thesis for Shanell B. Papp on Loners, textiles, video/film, re-purposing and pattern breaking.<p> w/ work from Marcel Duchamp, Edward Keinholz, Rene Magritte, Joseph Beuys, Eugene Atget, Arthur Fellig (Weegee), David Hoffos, Sarah Lucas, Tracey Emin, Mike Kelly, Allyson Mitchell, Madonna, Weird Al.

MFA Thesis for Shanell B. Papp on Loners, textiles, video/film, re-purposing and pattern breaking.<p> w/ work from Marcel Duchamp, Edward Keinholz, Rene Magritte, Joseph Beuys, Eugene Atget, Arthur Fellig (Weegee), David Hoffos, Sarah Lucas, Tracey Emin, Mike Kelly, Allyson Mitchell, Madonna, Weird Al.

This study aimed to determine the applicability of western migration models to the movement patterns of foreign migrant traders at the Hartebeespoort Dam. After reflecting on theoretical dimensions of migration and the informal sector, an overview was provided of the historical development of migration patterns to and within South Africa. The complex nature of migration phenomena ensures the application of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. A snowball sampling technique was used to select 30 respondents for the purpose of the questionnaire survey. Information obtained from this survey was supplemented by five in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyse the information obtained from the survey. The study concluded that western migration models do not offer adequate explanation for the migration patterns observed among foreign migrant traders at the Hartebeespoort Dam. The study also established the merit of the combined use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in migration studies. / Geography / M.A. (Geography)

This thesis has two focuses. The first problem facing the olive industry in the Eastern Cape is the growers’ perceptions of both what the industry will provide them and what a pest management program might entail. The second focus is the biology of olive pests in the Eastern Cape in terms of understanding their populations and their natural enemies on private farms, with future hopes of understanding how Integrated Pest Management strategies can be developed for this crop. Eastern Cape private farmers, small-scale farmers and workers from agricultural training institutions were interviewed regarding the history and cultivation of the local olive crop. Only one commercially viable olive grove was identified; other groves were small, experimental pilot ventures. The introduction of olives to small-scale farmers and agricultural training schools was generally a top-down initiative that led to a lack of sense of ownership and the trees being neglected. Other problems included poor human capital; poor financial capital; lack of adequate support; lack of knowledge transfer and stability; lack of communication and evaluation procedures of the project; miscommunication; and finally, olive pests. Apart from hesitancy to plant at a commercial scale, the main problem facing private farmers (Varnam Farm, Hewlands Farm and Springvale Farm) was pests. Therefore an investigation of pests from private farms was conducted ranging from collection of cultivated and wild olive fruit and flea beetle larvae for parasitism, trapping systems both for fruit flies and olive flea beetle adults. A survey of olive fruits yielded larval fruit flies of the families Tephritidae (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), B. biguttula (Bezzi) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)) and Drosophilidae (Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen)) from wild olives (O. europaea cuspidata (Wall. ex G. Don) Cif.) but none from cultivated olives (O. e. europaea L.). Braconid wasps (Opiinae and Braconinae) were reared only from fruits containing B. oleae and B. biguttula. This suggests that B. oleae is not of economic significance in the Eastern Cape, perhaps because it is controlled to a significant level by natural enemies, but B. biguttula may be a potential economic pest. A survey of adult fruit flies using ChamP traps baited with ammonium bicarbonate and spiroketal capsules and Sensus trap baited with methyl eugenol and Questlure confirmed the relative importance of B. biguttula over B. oleae. ChamP traps were over 50 times better than Sensus traps for mass trapping of B. biguttula but both were ineffective for trapping B. oleae and C. capitata. Six indigenous flea beetles of the genus Argopistes Motschulsky (Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) were found, three described by Bryant in 1922 and 1944 and three new species. Their morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and mutivariate morphometric analysis. The leaf-mining larvae are pests of wild and cultivated olives in South Africa and threaten the local olive industry. At Springvale Farm, A. oleae Bryant and A. sexvittatus Bryant preferred the upper parts of trees, near new leaves. Pseudophanomeris inopinatus (Blkb.) (Braconidae) was reared from 23 Argopistes larvae. The beetle larvae might not be controlled to a significant level by natural enemies because the rate of parasitism was low. The olive flea beetles showed no attraction to traps containing various volatile compounds as baits. The lace bug, Plerochila australis Distant (Tingidae), was sometimes a pest. It showed a preference for the underside of leaves on the lower parts of the trees. A moth, Palpita unionalis Hübner (Crambidae), was reared in very low numbers and without parasitoids. A twig-boring beetle larva, chalcidoid parasitoids and seed wasps of the families Eurytomidae, Ormyridae and Eupelmidae were also recorded.

摘　要 電子商務行動化已變成趨勢，而消費者個人間的C2C交易市場也越來越受到注目，尤其是讓使用者輕鬆上架商品、簡化繁複流程的新型態行動拍賣App，更是熱門議題。本研究欲了解台灣目前C2C行動拍賣App中，最具話題性及代表性的「蝦皮拍賣」之顧客體驗流程，研究方法採半結構式深度訪談法，以使用網路購物經驗超過五年以上且使用蝦皮經驗滿三個月以上、同時具有買家跟賣家雙重身分之使用者為研究對象。 本研究主要發現如下：1.使用蝦皮的正向使用經驗在於有清楚直觀好用的使用者介面、擁有即時性及雙向互動並保有使用者隱私性的即時通訊「聊聊」功能、採用可降低風險的第三方支付、因免運費帶起的方便性物流選擇-超商寄貨取貨、讓賣家寄件步驟簡化的整合寄件物流以及使資訊透明的物流追蹤。2.初次使用動機則是受到免運費吸引及社群口碑推薦影響。3.持續使用因素除了涵蓋正向使用經驗因素外，還包括常有免運費或運費補助的促銷活動、同時身兼買賣家身分、因平臺上商品及賣場多而選擇性高及免費的商品置頂推廣功能。4.蝦皮的待改進項目則在於商品上架過程從簡易變複雜、評價多為制式評價因此參考價值有限、推播通知字數多易遭使用者忽略。本研究並且透過「顧客歷程地圖」來綜觀傳統網路拍賣流程的問題，並以訪談內容對照以往流程上的階段，檢視蝦皮是如何提升顧客體驗。 最後，根據訪談發現，提出蝦皮可思考之改善建議為： 1.加速刊登功能及改良照片上傳便利度。2.提供誘因讓使用者填寫真實評價並改進評價機制。3.推播通知精簡及圖像化。4.從後勤面降低物流成本。5.透過推薦系統提升使用者黏著度。本研究以使用者角度出發，建議企業應站在使用者的角度來思考使用者需求，才有機會提供更好的顧客體驗，持續吸引使用者，本研究之發現希望有助於行動電商平臺往後策略發展時的參考。 / Abstract E-commerce has become a universal sales trend that has spread from consumers shopping on their home computers to shopping on their mobile phones through the use of various shopping apps. Much attention has been placed on consumer C2C transactions, especially with respect to consumers’ access to store goods. Simplifying this access, which can be a complicated process, through a new mobile auction app is a highly relevant issue. This study aims to understand the customer experience flow of the most current representative C2C mobile auction app in Taiwan from Shopee Taiwan Co. Ltd. This study adopts a semi-structured depth interview method for users that have over five years of Internet shopping experience in total, and at least three months of experience with the Shopee Mobile Auction App. Both buyers and sellers are classified as users in this study. The main findings are as follows. 1) Positive experiences with the Shopee Mobile Auction App are due to its clear and intuitive user interface, instant messaging two-way interaction availability, high degree of user privacy, third-party risk reduction payment systems, and convenient logistics through the availability of free shipping. Consumers have the option to pick up their goods at local convenience stores, which simplifies the shipment process for sellers, and leads to a clear and streamlined logistics process. 2) The initial motivation for consumers is the reward of free shipping and public recommendations. 3) The factors behind the continuous use of this mobile auction app service include the positive experience, the free shipping or freight subsidy promotional activities that are often included for both the buyer and seller, the wider product selection than what is offered in physical stores, and the offers for promotional free products with the purchase of related goods. 4) The Shopee Mobile Auction App still leaves something to be desired, including: (a) The processures of putting the items for sale have become time-consuming due to more and more requrements. (b) Standardized evaluations and rating systems may limit reference values. (c) Current promotional messages sent via app notification are easily ignored by users. This study uses the customer journey map to take a broad view of issues related to the traditional online auction process, and uses customer experience-based interviews to examine how the Shopee Mobile Auction App improves on these issues. Finally, based on conducted interviews, several suggestions for improvement of the Shopee Mobile Auction App include the following: 1) increasing the speed of new feature releases, and improve the convenience of the photo upload process; 2) providing promotional incentives for users to complete the evaluation, thereby improving the evaluation mechanism; 3) streamlining push notifications and images; 4) reducing logistical costs; 5) improving user loyalty through implementing a recommendation system. This study simultaneously considers both sides of C2C commerce (i.e., the sellers and buyers). It focuses on the user point of view, as selling platforms need to be aware of the opportunity to provide a better customer experience, which will in turn attract more users. The findings from this study can assist mobile platform creators with their future development strategies.

Aphthona spp. flea beetles were released in the Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) in western North Dakota in 1999 to control leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). The changes in soil seed bank composition and leafy spurge density were evaluated on two ecological sites five (2004) and ten years (2009) after Aphthona spp. release to monitor the effectiveness of the insects on weed control and associated change in plant communities. In 2009, leafy spurge stem density averaged 2 and 9 stems m-2 in the loamy overflow and loamy sites, respectively, compared to 110 and 78 stems m-2, respectively, in 1999 and 7 and 10 stems m-2, respectively, in 2004. Leafy spurge constituted nearly 67% of the loamy overflow seed bank in 1999 compared to 17% in 2004 and 2% in 2009. In the loamy seedbank, the weed represented nearly 70% in 1999 compared to approximately 11% in 2004 and 15% in 2009. As leafy spurge was reduced, native species diversity and seed count increased ten years following Aphthona spp. release. High-seral species represented 17% of the loamy overflow seedbank in 2009, an increase from 5% in 1999. However, Kentucky bluegrass, a non-target weedy species, increased over 250% in the loamy overflow seedbank from 2004 to 2009. The reestablishment of native plant species has often been slow in areas where leafy spurge was controlled using Aphthona spp. A bioassay was completed to evaluate native grass establishment when grown in soil from Aphthona spp. release and non-release sites throughout North Dakota. Native grass production was not affected when grown in soil collected from established Aphthona spp. sites (1.5 g per pot) compared to soil without insects (1.6 g per pot). The cause of reduced native grass production in sites with Aphthono spp. previously observed is unknown but may have been due to a chemical inhibition caused by the insects within the soil that no longer exists. The native warm-season switchgrass (Ponicum virgotum L.) may be an alternative to corn for efficient biofuel production; however, control of cool-season grassy weeds has been a problem in switchgrass production. Various herbicides were evaluated for smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and quackgrass [Elymus repens (L.) Gould] control in an established switchgrass stand near Streeter, ND and a weed-infested field in Fargo, ND. Switchgrass yield was higher than the control 14 mo after treatment (MAT) when aminocyclopyrachlor or sulfometuron were applied early in the growing season, but no treatment provided satisfactory long-term grassy weed control. Herbicides were reevaluated at increased rates for smooth bromegrass or quackgrass control in Fargo. Sulfometuron provided 99% smooth bromegrass control when applied at 280 g ha-1 in the fall but injured other grass and forb species as well. Sulfometuron would likely be injurious to switchgrass and could not be used for biofuel production. Aminocyclopyrachlor did not injure other grass species but only reduced smooth bromegrass control by 76% when applied at 280 g ha-1 in the fall. No treatment provided satisfactory long-term quackgrass control.