This dissertation explores humanism, the rediscovery of the culture of ancient Greece and Rome, in late fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century England. It does so with reference to texts, institutional settings, and networks both within and beyond England, and examines the activities of several seemingly minor figures who have been absent from recent scholarship on the topic: John Holt, William Lily, Richard Croke, Leonard Cox, and Thomas Lupset. These figures made distinctive and original contributions to the genres in which they operated, whether the grammatical manual, educational treatise, dialogue, or philosophical meditation. They are also noteworthy for their considerable influence, whether in England or further abroad. With regard to Croke and Cox, the integration of previously unknown sources from France and Germany and overlooked ones from eastern Europe reveals that England could be an exporter and not merely an importer of humanism. Taken together, these individuals demonstrate that English humanism was more sophisticated and complex than its frequent characterisation as 'Erasmian' would suggest. In addition, this dissertation analyses the influence of humanism on two school foundations: St Paul's School and Ipswich College. It re-evaluates the portrayal of John Colet as an anti-intellectual, and understands St Paul's as a deeply personal endeavour, reflecting his desire to do better for the next generation. It establishes the depth and significance of humanism in Cardinal Wolsey's foundation of Ipswich College, hitherto accorded less importance by historians than his Oxford college. The examination of the little-known materials he published on the eve of his fall in 1529, together with reports from staff on its progress, show that he regarded it as central to his ambitious vision for England and to the creation of his own reputation as a civic humanist. This research therefore revises our understanding of a neglected period, and engages with the vexed questions at the heart of the study of humanism: how contemporaries dealt with the tension between their faith and their enthusiasm for pagan culture, and regarded the rival attractions of scholarly leisure and active public service.

Veratrum californicum (common name: corn lily) is a wild plant species that grows in the Intermountain West, its range extending from British Columbia to Mexico. Corn lily is of interest because it has the potential to provide pharmaceutical precursors for use in the treatment of cancer. Pharmaceutical companies are currently running clinical trials of new drugs that use these precursors. As such, a sustainable supply of corn lily is needed if these drugs are ever to enter the market. Unfortunately, wild populations of corn lily will not be able to meet the market demand. Therefore, it is necessary that horticultural guidelines be established so that corn lily can be grown in an agricultural setting. Establishing irrigation criteria is one crucial component in this process, as corn lily grows in naturally wet areas and will most likely require supplemental irrigation in an agricultural setting. In order to determine the appropriate level of irrigation for corn lily, an appropriate range of irrigation levels to test in a field trial must be determined. Plant success as a function of irrigation level can then be measured. In order to determine what irrigation levels should be tested, the OSU Malheur Experiment Station monitored the natural environment of corn lily at a variety of locations over the course of four seasons. Results showed that for the majority of its growing season, corn lily occupies a narrow environmental niche where soil water tension ranges from 0 kPa to 30 kPa. With this information, irrigation levels ranging from 5 kPa to 30 kPa were chosen for irrigation trials. In 2009, corn lily plots were established at Ontario, Oregon and McCall, Idaho. Irrigation trials were run in 2010, 2011, and 2012 at Ontario and McCall. Plots were assigned to five irrigation treatments: 5 kPa (added halfway through the 2010 growing season), 10 kPa, 15 kPa, 20 kPa, and 30 kPa. Collectively, the data indicate that the 5 and 10 kPa treatments are most conducive to corn lily survival and growth. In addition, the observed data are consistent with the hypothesis that soil moisture levels in the first month of growth may be the most important determinant in plant growth and survival. / Graduation date: 2013

新聞報導是一種語藝的行動或一種說服之過程，也是一種真實的再現，透過不斷的傳播，建構出團體成員對外在世界的共同認知，逐漸成為閱聽人的共同印象。以社會運動來說，新聞工作者往往認為「衝突、對抗、造勢」等戲劇性效果，最具新聞價值，也最能代表社運，因此，媒體建構了社運，同時建構了人們對社運的印象。而以學生為主體的社會運動，因角色的轉換與社會的想像，使得媒體刻意在報導中多了些「保護」與「憐惜」，易產生與其它社會運動不同的報導取徑。 　　本研究以《聯合報》的野百合學運和太陽花學運的新聞報導作為研究對象，透過「幻想主題分析」的研究架構，輔以外在分析，探討單一媒體建構學運的語藝視野是否會隨著時代變遷而有所變化？ 　　研究發現，在《聯合報》語藝建構下，兩代學運呈現迥然不同的語藝視野，野百合學運的語藝視野為「憲政改革眾望所歸」和「民主自由難能可貴」；太陽花學運的語藝視野為「朝野惡鬥國會失能」和「民主之恥民主鬧劇」，並發現學運期間的讀者投書，具明顯的覆誦現象，形成一致的語藝社群，不僅如此，本研究同時驗證了單一媒體在建構不同世代學運的語藝視野，並不會全然產生相同的觀看視角與報導取徑。