Luvina is a short ballet for chamber orchestra based on well-known Mexican writer Juan Rulfo's short story Luvina, from his book El Llano en Llamas. This three-movement ballet evokes the dark world of Luvina. Each movement depicts three images from the story resulting in nine images. Musically the text is represented by the use of diverse textures and compositional techniques, including tone rows, cryptograms and the use of timbre, color, and contour. The wind - as stated in the text - is used as a leit motif serving as a transition vehicle to move the story along. Unlike other ballets that contain an inherently Mexican quality to them, this twentieth first century ballet fits under the category of a modern work that makes use of uncommon instrumentation, extended techniques and contains an atmospheric quality to it.

Globally, overweight and obesity in childhood has already reached pandemic proportions, and this condition is associated with various health problems such as, insulin-resistance, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular problems, such as hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, and stroke. Overweight and obesity are increasing in most countries, especially developing countries where the rates of obesity have tripled in those that have adapted a Western lifestyle. In low- and middle-income populations, particularly in urban areas, overweight and obesity in children is on the increase. Thus body composition profiles are used to determine the risk category of children such as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Overweight and obesity have a negative impact on both the physical and psychological levels of wellbeing during childhood and adolescence. Research on African and South African children living in rural areas on the body composition and prevalence rates will provide an opportunity to understand the role of development in children and adolescents and the importance thereof. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of body composition and the effect of gender, age, and race on body composition. This dissertation comprises four chapters, of which one chapter can be read independently as it is written in the form of a research article. MAIN FINDINGS A literature review was conducted to gain more insight regarding body composition status of children throughout the world, and in Africa and South Africa, and the role that body composition plays in children and adolescents. The importance of these aspects is highlighted and discussed in Chapter Two. Cross-sectional data on a total of 280 learners (109 boys and 171 girls) aged 14 years, who are part of the Physical Activity Longitudinal Study from the Tlokwe municipality area, are participants in the study. Body mass, stature, and skinfolds were used to determine body composition and body mass index of the participants. All data was analysed using SPSS Version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., 2012). The statistical level was set at p-value ≤ 0.05. The results of this study indicate that out of 280 learners 13.1% are overweight, 29.1% normal weight and 57.8% underweight. Boys had a lower overweight value when compared to the girls (9.1% vs 15.7%). In addition, the results show that African girls had a higher prevalence for overweight (15.8% vs 15.4%) than their Caucasian counterparts. As for the impact of gender, age and race-independent effects on body composition or BMI, the results also show no significant (p ≥ 0.05) age-independent effect on body composition measures of percentage body fat, sum of six skinfolds, fat free mass and waist-to-height ratio. In conclusion, overweight and obesity is a growing problem among children and adolescents, especially African girls and Caucasian girls in the Tlokwe municipality. Furthermore, recommendations are made about the implementation of school-screening programmes in semi-urban areas. The role of the government, parents, and teachers, and the importance of health professionals must also be considered. / MSc (Biokinetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Globally, overweight and obesity in childhood has already reached pandemic proportions, and this condition is associated with various health problems such as, insulin-resistance, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular problems, such as hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, and stroke. Overweight and obesity are increasing in most countries, especially developing countries where the rates of obesity have tripled in those that have adapted a Western lifestyle. In low- and middle-income populations, particularly in urban areas, overweight and obesity in children is on the increase. Thus body composition profiles are used to determine the risk category of children such as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Overweight and obesity have a negative impact on both the physical and psychological levels of wellbeing during childhood and adolescence. Research on African and South African children living in rural areas on the body composition and prevalence rates will provide an opportunity to understand the role of development in children and adolescents and the importance thereof. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of body composition and the effect of gender, age, and race on body composition. This dissertation comprises four chapters, of which one chapter can be read independently as it is written in the form of a research article. MAIN FINDINGS A literature review was conducted to gain more insight regarding body composition status of children throughout the world, and in Africa and South Africa, and the role that body composition plays in children and adolescents. The importance of these aspects is highlighted and discussed in Chapter Two. Cross-sectional data on a total of 280 learners (109 boys and 171 girls) aged 14 years, who are part of the Physical Activity Longitudinal Study from the Tlokwe municipality area, are participants in the study. Body mass, stature, and skinfolds were used to determine body composition and body mass index of the participants. All data was analysed using SPSS Version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., 2012). The statistical level was set at p-value ≤ 0.05. The results of this study indicate that out of 280 learners 13.1% are overweight, 29.1% normal weight and 57.8% underweight. Boys had a lower overweight value when compared to the girls (9.1% vs 15.7%). In addition, the results show that African girls had a higher prevalence for overweight (15.8% vs 15.4%) than their Caucasian counterparts. As for the impact of gender, age and race-independent effects on body composition or BMI, the results also show no significant (p ≥ 0.05) age-independent effect on body composition measures of percentage body fat, sum of six skinfolds, fat free mass and waist-to-height ratio. In conclusion, overweight and obesity is a growing problem among children and adolescents, especially African girls and Caucasian girls in the Tlokwe municipality. Furthermore, recommendations are made about the implementation of school-screening programmes in semi-urban areas. The role of the government, parents, and teachers, and the importance of health professionals must also be considered. / MSc (Biokinetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study compared three indirect calorimetry determinations, as kcals/minute, over three consecutive days on 28 healthy, sedentary women of varying body composition. No significant within-individual variation for VO2, CO2, respiratory quotient (RQ), or Kcals/minute was found among the three days. A low coefficient of variation (3.4 +/- 3%) and a relatively small standard deviation in mean Kcals/day (1383 +/- 214) suggests possibly one or only a few measures are necessary for predicting resting metabolic rate (RMR) within a range applicable for clinical use. There were strong correlations of body weight and body composition variables (fat and LBM) with RMR. Knowing both LBM and fat mass increased the ability to predict RMR significantly over the prediction with either variable alone. The Harris Benedict equation over-predicted RMR by 11.1% compared to RMR measured by indirect calorimetry. When equations are based on body weight, rather than LBM, metabolic rate may be over-predicted in obese populations.

Published Article / The growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain W303-1A(a) was evaluated in complex and chemically defined media. The use of chemically defined medium allowed the complete utilisation of glucose within 20 h. as well as all of the produced ethanol within 45 h. Maximum specific growth rates (µmax) were increased from 0.28 h-1 to 0.42 h-1 and the volumetric rate of ethanol production increased from 0.204 g l-1 h-1 to 0.597 g l-1 h-1. However, when the ethanol concentration exceeded a threshold value of 10 g l-1, the µmax value was significantly decreased. These observations suggest that ethanol metabolism related growth experiments for the relevant strain should be carried out in chemically defined medium with ethanol concentrations below 10 g l-1.

L'obésité et le vieillissement sont tous les deux associés à un risque accru d'incapacité physique. Ainsi, puisque la prévalence de l'obésité de même que l'âge moyen de la population canadienne augmentent en flèche, le nombre de personnes à risque d'incapacité physique est de plus en plus important. Présentement, il existe une controverse quant à I'élément de composition corporelle qui est davantage associé à I'incapacité chez les personnes âgées: le faible niveau de masse maigre (sarcopénie) ou le haut niveau de masse grasse (obésité), et quel niveau de sarcopénie ou d'obésité est nécessaire pour affecter significativement la capacité physique. De plus, aucune étude, à ce jour, n'a quantifié l'association entre la distribution de la masse grasse, au moyen de mesures directes (au niveau du tronc, des jambes et des bras) et I'incapacité physique. II semble donc primordial d'accentuer les efforts pour mieux comprendre les éléments de la composition corporelle associés à I'incapacité physique et ainsi créer des stratégies pour limiter le faible niveau de capacité physique associé à I'âge et à l'obésité. Enfin, il est aussi important de déterminer si les différents types de mesures (objectives ou auto-rapportées) sont équivalents pour déterminer la capacité physique. L'objet de la présente thèse est donc 1) d'explorer la relation entre la composition corporelle et la capacité physique des personnes âgées ; 2) d'établir s'il existe un seuil au-dessus duquel le niveau d'obésité affecte significativement la capacité physique des personnes âgées; 3) de quantifier I'association entre la distribution de la masse grasse et la capacité physique ; 4) d'étudier I'impact d'une restriction calorique seule ou combinée à un programme d'exercices sur la capacité physique ; 5) de comparer I'amplitude de changement de la capacité physique par des mesures objectives et auto-rapportées suite à une intervention. Pour répondre aux trois premiers objectifs, cette thèse rapporte les données provenant d'une étude longitudinale intitulée « Nutrition as a Determinant of Successful Aging », plus communément nommée « NuAge ». Cette étude québécoise a été initiée afin d'étudier le rôle de la nutrition comme déterminant d'un vieillissement réussi. La cohorte étudiée, dans le cadre de la présente thèse, est composée de 465 femmes et de 439 hommes âgés entre 68 et 82 ans. Cinq différents tests objectifs ont été utilises pour évaluer la capacité physique. La composition corporelle a été mesurée par I'absorptiométrie biphotonique (DXA). Finalement, nous avons conduit une étude clinique afin de répondre aux deux derniers objectifs de la thèse. Dans cette optique, 48 femmes post-ménopausées, obèses et sédentaires ont été recrutées pour participer à un programme de perte de poids et/ou d'exercices de musculation d'une durée de 12 semaines. La composition corporelle par DXA ainsi que des mesures de la capacité physique (11 différents tests objectifs et un questionnaire [SF-36]) constituaient les variables principales de I'étude. À la lumière de nos résultats, nous pouvons conclure de façon sommaire que : 1. la masse grasse est I'élément de la composition corporelle qui affecte le plus la capacité physique des gens âgés ; 2. malgré une relation significative entre le niveau d'obésité et de la capacité physique, il est difficile d'établir un seuil d'obésité au-dessus duquel la capacité physique est significativement plus faible comparativement au groupe de référence; 3. la distribution de la masse grasse mesurée de façon objective (au niveau du tronc, des jambes et des bras) n'a pas d'impact significatif sur la capacité physique des gens âgés; 4. I'exercice de musculation est associé à I'amélioration de la capacité physique générale, suite à un programme de 12 semaines chez la femme âgée, obèse et sédentaire; 5. II n'existe pas de relation significative entre les changements de la capacité physique mesurée objectivement et auto-rapportée suite à une intervention avec restriction calorique et/ou d'exercices de musculation. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de répondre à quelques unes de nos questions de recherche. Globalement, les données des études transverses indiquent qu'il existe un lien I'obesité et la capacité physique chez la personne âgée. Cependant, il ne semble pas y avoir de seuil clairement identifiable au-dessus duquel le niveau d'obésité affecte significativement la capacité physique. D'un autre côté, nos résultats font également ressortir que le tour de taille (mesure indirecte de la distribution de la masse grasse) est négativement associé à la capacité physique. Les résultats découlant de nos études expérimentales démontrent qu'il est possible d'améliorer la capacité physique des femmes âgées obèses et sédentaires en entreprenant un programme d'exercices en musculation à raison de 3 fois par semaine. Par contre, une restriction calorique ne semble pas améliorer la capacité physique, même lorsqu'associée à un programme d'exercices de musculation. Finalement, le dernier article de la présente thèse démontre que les mesures auto-rapportées et les mesures objectives ne rapportent pas les mêmes pourcentages de changements suite à une intervention visant I'amélioration de la capacité physique.

Thesis (D.Tech.: Language Practice) - Dept. of Language and Translation, Durban University of Technology, 2007 / An in-depth investigation into the nature of composing was carried out to provide the theoretical basis for a computer mediated learning application, an interactive writing tutor computer program which might be customised by users to fit different educational contexts. The investigation was carried out within a critical realist perspective, from which viewpoint composing can be seen to have an external reality in common with other social phenomena. The intended outcome was to arrive at a description of writing which more closely approximated the reality so as to design more effective learning interactions, in particular, the writing tutor program itself

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This report focuses on subtleties in different musical elements composed for the two films Francis and The Pink Cloud Syndrome, produced at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts between 2014 and 2015. Examples of how subtleties in the film scores were intentionally implemented in relation to the films are provided to give the reader an insight to this specific topic. Through analysis and reflections it was shown that subtleties could be found in every musical element addressed in this report at some point in the films. / <p>Bilaga: 1 DVD</p>

As a performer of firstly acoustic and latterly electronic and electro-instrumental music, I constantly seek to improve my mode of interaction with the digital realm: that is, to achieve a high level of sensitivity and expression. This thesis illustrates reasons why making use of haptic interfaces—which offer physical feedback and resistance to the performer—may be viewed as an important approach in addressing the shortcomings of some the standard systems used to mediate the performer’s engagement with various sorts of digital musical information. By examining the links between sound and touch, and the performer-instrument relationship, various new compositional and performance strategies start to emerge. I explore these through a portfolio of original musical works, which span the continuum of composition and improvisation, largely based around performance paradigms for piano and live electronics. I implement new haptic technologies, using vibrotactile feedback and resistant interfaces, as well as exploring more metaphorical connections between sound and touch. I demonstrate the impact that the research brings to the creative musical outcomes, along with the implications that these techniques have on the wider field of live electronic musical performance.