Ndumo Game Reserve is the only officially protected area within the Phongolo Floodplain; an area in the northern parts of KwaZulu-­‐Natal known to boast a rich diversity of amphibians, thus becoming one of the focal areas for this study. The study’s aim was to monitor and record amphibian diversity, as well as associated blood parasite biodiversity. For the purpose of monitoring, a number of active and passive techniques were employed. Habitat preferences for the expected species were divided into five types, namely endorheic, lacustrine, palustrine, riverine and terrestrial. Endorheic habitats were found to harbour the highest diversity (70%) of frog species. A permanent song meter was used to passively record calling activity of frog species associated with endorheic systems. This call data indicated peak breeding season, preferred calling times and intensities of the different species. Historical records from the same area were used as a basis to which this study’s data were compared. In the case of the polychromatic Argus Reed Frog Hyperolius argus Peters, 1854, questions were raised concerning the major colour changes during development of the apparent sub-­‐adult to adult life stages, an observation which was has caused some confusion as to whether these forms represented a single species or multiple cryptic species. These issues were clarified using techniques such as DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, a blood parasite survey was conducted. Thin blood smears for morphometrics and whole blood for molecular work, were collected from 29 species and 436 individual frogs. For the majority of the recorded parasites, techniques such as light microscopy were utilized for the morphological description and classification of these parasites. Among the recorded frog blood parasites observed, 20% of the frog specimens were infected with at least one blood parasite group. Hepatozoon and Trypanosoma species accounted for most of the infections; the former demonstrated significant differences in intensity of infection across species, families and habitat types (P = 0.028; P = 0.006; P = 0.007 respectively). Methods, such as transmission electron microscopy, examining the ultrastructure, as well as parasite DNA extraction and 18S rDNA gene sequences for the molecular and phylogenetic characterization, were reserved for Hepatozoon species infecting common toad species (Amietophrynus). Parasite stages observed were measured and compared to each other, as well as to other described African bufonid haemogregarines. Resulting sequences were compared with each other and to comparative haemogregarine sequences selected from GenBank. In the current study a number of important aspects with regards to monitoring and assessment of amphibians in their natural environment were explored, including looking at and determining diversity and prevalence of blood parasites. Furthermore, important data on gaining a better understanding of amphibians and their behavioural activities were also gathered, which should be able to assist in conservation actions to effectively protect South African anurans and their required habitat types. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Ndumo Game Reserve is the only officially protected area within the Phongolo Floodplain; an area in the northern parts of KwaZulu-­‐Natal known to boast a rich diversity of amphibians, thus becoming one of the focal areas for this study. The study’s aim was to monitor and record amphibian diversity, as well as associated blood parasite biodiversity. For the purpose of monitoring, a number of active and passive techniques were employed. Habitat preferences for the expected species were divided into five types, namely endorheic, lacustrine, palustrine, riverine and terrestrial. Endorheic habitats were found to harbour the highest diversity (70%) of frog species. A permanent song meter was used to passively record calling activity of frog species associated with endorheic systems. This call data indicated peak breeding season, preferred calling times and intensities of the different species. Historical records from the same area were used as a basis to which this study’s data were compared. In the case of the polychromatic Argus Reed Frog Hyperolius argus Peters, 1854, questions were raised concerning the major colour changes during development of the apparent sub-­‐adult to adult life stages, an observation which was has caused some confusion as to whether these forms represented a single species or multiple cryptic species. These issues were clarified using techniques such as DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, a blood parasite survey was conducted. Thin blood smears for morphometrics and whole blood for molecular work, were collected from 29 species and 436 individual frogs. For the majority of the recorded parasites, techniques such as light microscopy were utilized for the morphological description and classification of these parasites. Among the recorded frog blood parasites observed, 20% of the frog specimens were infected with at least one blood parasite group. Hepatozoon and Trypanosoma species accounted for most of the infections; the former demonstrated significant differences in intensity of infection across species, families and habitat types (P = 0.028; P = 0.006; P = 0.007 respectively). Methods, such as transmission electron microscopy, examining the ultrastructure, as well as parasite DNA extraction and 18S rDNA gene sequences for the molecular and phylogenetic characterization, were reserved for Hepatozoon species infecting common toad species (Amietophrynus). Parasite stages observed were measured and compared to each other, as well as to other described African bufonid haemogregarines. Resulting sequences were compared with each other and to comparative haemogregarine sequences selected from GenBank. In the current study a number of important aspects with regards to monitoring and assessment of amphibians in their natural environment were explored, including looking at and determining diversity and prevalence of blood parasites. Furthermore, important data on gaining a better understanding of amphibians and their behavioural activities were also gathered, which should be able to assist in conservation actions to effectively protect South African anurans and their required habitat types. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Master of Music / Department of Music / Julie Yu / This report contains an extensive technical and historical analysis of tenor repertoire. It contains modern technical approaches to “Every Valley” and “Thou Shalt Break Them” from Messiah by George Frederic Handel. The report also reviews the history, music theory, and performance techniques of several late Romantic and Neoromantic art songs and arias from Italy, France, and England. The pieces reviewed are the following: “Ouvre tes yeux bleus” by Jules Massenet, “En fermant les yeux” from Manon by Jules Massenet, Three Pastoral Songs by Roger Quilter, Nell by Gabriel Fauré, “Quando ti rivedró” from 36 Arie De Stile Antico by Stefano Donaudy, and “O del mio amato ben” from 36 Arie De Stile Antico by Stefano Donaudy. Finally, this report reviews the popular Spanish art song Granada by Agustin Lara.

published_or_final_version / Chinese / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chinese / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chinese Historical Studies / Master / Master of Arts

本論文共一冊，五章，都九萬言。 第一章：緒論。分述詠花詞之義界、研究動機與研究方法。 第二章：宋代詠花詞之先聲。就宋以前詠花詩、賦、詞作一介紹。 第三章：宋代詠花詞之盛行。就詠花詞盛行之因素作一探究，並概述北宋、南宋，及 宋末元初遺民詠花詞之發展與演變情況；同時選列各期詠花大家數人，舉證以明之。 第四章：宋代詠花詞之研析。就詠花詞之題材、寫物、寄興等表現法，分別闡述之。 第五章：結論。就詠花詞於文學上之價值作一論評。

本文旨在考述兩宋有關孟子著作之初步面貌，期能藉此辨章兩宋各學派研究孟子之流 源本末，並可由各家討論孟子仁義、心性、王霸等問題，得以探尋宋代理學之一端。 全文分序例及總論、現存書目考述、亡佚書目考述、結論四章，約十萬言，各章大旨 如下： 一、總論：總述歷代有關孟子著述之情形，略於漢唐，詳於兩宋，而求其影響元明清 者。兩宋之部，則分列學派以述，並及於其間之關係，俾便探究兩宋孟子學術。 二、現存書目考述：不予分類，惟以作者寺代先後排列，就作者、宗旨、內容、評述 、版本（著錄）分項敘述，期能便於學者尋檢。 三、亡佚書目考述：分可輯佚書目及不可輯佚書目二類。可輯佚者，則於後人著作中 搜羅，以補闕失，並予評述。其不可輯佚者，則查考文（集墓誌銘）、史志、方志等 資料，詳其作者，探其孟子著述旨趣，以見其書之大概。惟里氏生平不可考，又無文 集留存，後人亦未述及者，則列目以存，俾為參考。 四、結語：綜述全文，分述兩宋孟子著述之特點並其影響。

Fonds Français 2245 is a fifteenth-century chansonnier of the Duke of Orleans which is property of the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France. This thesis describes the document and provides commentary and transcriptions.

Complex behaviors using wings have facilitated the insect evolutionary success and diversification. The Drosophila indirect flight muscles (IFM) have evolved a highly ordered myofilament lattice structure and uses oscillatory contractions by pronounced stretch activation mechanism to drive the wings for high powered flight subject to natural selection. Moreover, the IFM is also utilized during small amplitude wing vibrations for species-specific male courtship song (sine and pulse), an important Drosophila mating behavior subject to sexual selection. Unlike flight, the contractile mechanism and contribution of any muscle gene in courtship song is not known. To gain insight into how separate selection regimes are manifested at the molecular level, we investigated the effect on flight and mating behaviors of mutations in two contractile proteins essential for IFM functions: an IFM-specific protein, flightin (FLN), known to be essential for structural and mechanical integrity of the IFM, and a ubiquitous muscle protein, myosin regulatory light chain (MLC2), known to enhance IFM stretch activation. Comparison of FLN sequences across Drosophila spp., reveal a dual nature with the N-terminal region (63 aa) evolving faster (dN/dS=0.4) than the rest of the protein (dN/dS=0.08). A deletion of the N-terminal region (fln�N62) resulted in reduced IFM fiber stiffness, oscillatory work and power output leading to a decreased flight ability (flight score: 2.8±0.1 vs 4.2±0.4 for fln+ rescued control) despite a normal wing beat frequency. Interestingly, the FLN N-terminal deletion reduced myofilament lattice spacing and order suggesting that this region is required to improve IFM lattice for enhancing power output and flight performance. Moreover, fln�N62 males sing the pulse song abnormally with a longer interpulse interval (IPI, 56±2.5 vs 37±0.7 ms for fln+) and a reduced pulse duty cycle (PDC, 2.6±0.2 vs 7.3±0.2 % for fln+) resulting in a 92% reduction in their courtship success. This suggested that FLN N-terminal region fine-tunes sexually selected song parameters in D. melanogaster, possibly explaining its hypervariability under positive selection. That FLN N-terminal region is not essential but required to optimize IFM functions of both flight and song, indicate that FLN could be an evolutionary innovation for IFM-driven behaviors, possibly through its role in lattice improvement. Mutations of the highly conserved MLC2 [N-terminal 46 aa deletion (Ext), disruption of myosin light chain kinase phosphorylations (Phos), and the two mutations put together (Dual)] are known to impair or abolish flight through severe reductions in acto-myosin contractile kinetics and magnitude of the stretch activation response. Unlike FLN, these MLC2 mutations do not show a pleitropic effect on flight and song. Flight abolished Phos and Dual mutants are capable of singing suggesting that these mutations affect song minimally compared to flight. Moreover, unlike FLN, none of these mutations affect interpulse interval, the most critical sexually selected song parameter in Drosophila. Also, in contrary to the known additive effects of Ext and Phos in the Dual mutant on flight wing beat frequency, a subtractive effect on sine song frequency is found in this study. That mutations in MLC2 are manifested differently for song and flight suggest that stretch activation plays a minimal or no role in song production. The results in this study suggest that the conserved regions of FLN and MLC2 are essential to support underlying IFM contractile structure and function necessary for flight, whereas the fast evolving FLN N-terminal region optimizes IFM's biological performance in flight and species-specific song possibly under positive selection regime.