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The design of a high speed circuit accepting a bipolar analog signal with a 3 db bandwidth of 20 MHZ and an eight bit unipolar gain control signal is presented in this thesis. The system produces the product of these two signals at a rate of one digital byte every 25 nsec. At the heart of the system are two multiplying digital to analog converters (DACs) operating in parallel. The circuit design was based on a statistically validated model for a multiplying DAC. This circuit could be used for controlling the intensity of each picture element (i.e. pixel) for many existing video display systems.

The purpose of this dissertation is to defend William James's will to believe doctrine from the main lines of criticism which have been leveled against it throughout the last century. Principal among such criticisms are accusations that James fideistically advocated an intrusion of the subject into doxastic practice which opens the door to wishful thinking, and that he confused belief and hypothesis-adoption. My defense of James against such charges will be based upon analyses of two important but neglected components of his position--the "liveness" of certain options and propositions, and the "strenuous mood''-and upon a contextualization of the role assigned by James to "passional nature" within the terms of reference of his work on immediate experience. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Sketch-to-photo synthesis usually faced the problem of lack of labeled data, so we propose some methods based on CycleGAN to train a model to translate sketch to photo with unpaired data. Our main contribution is a proposed Sketch-to-Skeleton-to-Image (SSI) method, which performs skeletonization on sketches to reduce variance on the sketch data. We also tried different representations of the skeleton and different models for our task. Experiment results show that the generated image quality has a negative correlation with the sparsity of the input data.

Virginia Tech contributes significantly to social and economic progress at the regional, state and national levels through its teaching, research and public service activities. The study is motivated by the current debate on the appropriate level of support for higher education in Virginia's largest university. This study measures the benefits of the university's undergraduate teaching mission. The results suggest that a VT undergraduate degree significantly increases the lifetime earnings of the graduates and also leads to several other benefits to the graduate, to his/her family, and to society. This study can help policy-makers to better understand the important contribution of Virginia Tech's teaching mission to society, and thus make more-informed decisions regarding the appropriate level of support for higher education. / Master of Science

A demand for requested death in the human society seems to be increasing nowadays. In some countries, there has been such an institue legitimized. However, this demand is not usually accepted by the branches of state power. The main argument against the right for assisted life ending is often appointed as, what is so called, right for life. These are the appointments in international and national documents, which gurantee opportunity of human beeings' lives, as a unique organism. This appointment first appears in Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is then used in every other document dealing with basic human rights. Because of some sort of unclear thoughts, when deeper analysing right for life, it is possible to contest and disagree with an interpretation of above mentioned institute and its place of shield against positive efforts of setting the human's right of a decision, how and when to end the life. The problem seems to lie right in the creation of such an institue - which interpretation have had people, who have been creating original document, on their minds? Another unclear thoughts seem to appear in the effort of setting a subject and the content of the mentioned right. The main point is, if the right-for-lifeholder is a human after or before the birth and if before, when...

本研究主要通過對香港七位MTFs（變性女人）進行深度訪談，以她們的經驗為立足點，探討其性別認同和體現（embodiment），及從中反映何種的性別文化及話語權力關係，並思考改變的可能。 / 香港社會和制度對變性人長期忽視，公眾也對變性人存在不少誤解和歧視。學術上香港缺少專門關注變性（者）經驗的研究，但性/別研究界卻受到西方主流性/別理論及論述的影響，把變性者想像為顛覆性別規範的戰士。同時，這些想像或理念也存在於本地性/別小眾運動裡。面對各種誤解或迷思，我認為亟需一種在地的探討--香港特有的脈絡和變性主體的經驗--來建構在地的變性和性/別知識與理論。 / 論文在性別作為話語、結構、體現三個層面展開：展現MTFs與醫療體制及話語的互動，她們並非被動的接受者，而是懂得利用緊缺資源和有限話語的主體；呈現她們在性別二元結構下受的壓迫及其生存策略，反映社會建構性別空間的限制；面對與自己身體及親密關係裡的矛盾，她們的主體性在徘徊、掙扎、妥協、協商、反抗中體現；從她們的切身經驗反思學術及運動裡主流性/別話語的局限。最後從女性主義的立場再思變性者為理論和實踐帶來的新視野，提出模糊主體疆界來超越當下主流的顛覆對保守二元思維、消融小眾對大眾對立模式之可能。 / This study is mainly based on in-depth interviews with seven local MTFs (Male-to-Females/Transsexual women) in Hong Kong. Taking off from MTFs’ lived experiences, the study focuses on their gender identity and embodiment, and explores the power relationships and discourses of gender in our culture. And it also suggests some possibilities for ideological and social changes. / The rights and needs of transsexual people have been neglected in our society, and there are often misunderstandings and discrimination from the public. In academic context, there is a lack of consideration for transsexual people’s voices and experiences in gender studies in Hong Kong. In particular, in the field of gender studies - nowadays seemingly dominated by sexuality issues - there is a non-critical tendency to imagine transsexual people to be warriors who subvert gender dualism and gendernorms warriors. Such imagination or discourse also exists in local movements of sexual and gender minorities. Realizing these misunderstandings and myths in society, academia and movement, I think a more localized and grounded study is needed to construct new knowledge and theories about transsexuality and gender/sexuality. / This thesis analyzes MTFs’ experiences at three levels: gender as discourse (including medical and theoretical-political), gender as structure, and gender as embodiment. Firstly, by analyzing how MTFs interact with the medical institution and discourse, I find that MTFs did not or do not play a passive or victim role, but nevertheless they can make use of these medical resources, although limited and restricted, to “do gender. And then, I explore oppression and survival strategies of MTFs living within the gender structure, and the possibilities and limitation of doing gender in our society can be analyzed. Afterwards, I reveal the contradictions inside MTFs’ own bodies and intimate relationships. Only by looking into their hesitation, struggling, compromise, negotiation and resistance in these contradictions can their gender embodiment and subjectivity be understood. The last analytical part focuses on what critiques and reflection MTFs’ experiences could bring us on the mainstream gender/sexuality discourses and identity politics in academia and movement. In conclusion, by theorizing transsexuality, with insights from feminist epistemology, I suggest destabilization and melting the boundary among different subjects, in order to surpass the binary thinking of Subversion vs Convention, and transcend the structure of opposing the Minority vs Majority into new theoretical, practical and political possibilities. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 陳文彦. / "2012年3月". / "2012 nian 3 yue". / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-178). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in Chinese and English. / Chen Wenyan. / 簡介 --- p.I / 感謝 --- p.III / 目錄 --- p.V / Chapter 第一章 --- 背景 --- p.1 / Chapter 1 --- 語言的局限 --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- 變性的社會背景 --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- 美國變性歷史和GID的誕生 --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- 香港變性的醫療背景介紹 --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- 香港和變性有關的法律介紹 --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4 --- 香港跨性別、變性的研究概括 --- p.11 / Chapter 2.5 --- 和變性有關的香港社會文化 --- p.11 / Chapter 2.6 --- 香港的跨性別社群與組織 --- p.13 / Chapter 3 --- 我的故事 --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1 --- 我的性/別經歷 --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2 --- 我與女性主義 --- p.16 / Chapter 3.3 --- 廣州人在香港 --- p.17 / Chapter 第二章 --- 文獻回顧與概念框架 --- p.18 / Chapter 1 --- 文獻回顧 --- p.18 / Chapter 1.1 --- 西方變性研究 --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2 --- 非西方變性研究 --- p.23 / Chapter 1.3 --- 香港本土研究 --- p.25 / Chapter 2 --- 理論爭議 --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1 --- 分離女性主義論述下的變性者 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2 --- 北美跨性別政治下的變性者 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3 --- 顛覆主流性/別的論述 --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4 --- 小結：研究的借鑒 --- p.30 / Chapter 3 --- 本研究的概念框架 --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- 性別作為社會結構 --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2 --- 性別作為話語與權力關係 --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- 性別作為體現 --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4 --- 小結 --- p.44 / Chapter 第三章 --- 研究問題與方法論 --- p.45 / Chapter 1 --- 研究問題 --- p.45 / Chapter 2 --- 女性主義方法論 --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1 --- 主體經驗：研究的起始點 --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2 --- 以女性主義為指導的研究實踐 --- p.47 / Chapter 3 --- 研究設計與執行 --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- 文獻、文件資料收集 --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- 與專業人士訪談 --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3 --- 與TS訪談 --- p.51 / Chapter 4 --- 研究的倫理 --- p.56 / Chapter 5 --- 方法論的反思 --- p.57 / Chapter 5.1 --- 「朋友-研究者」的位置 --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2 --- 「學者」與「學習者」 --- p.58 / Chapter 5.3 --- 介乎於當局者和局外人的位置 --- p.58 / Chapter 第四章 --- 性別作為醫療體制和話語 --- p.60 / Chapter 1 --- 香港的變性醫療制度 --- p.60 / Chapter 1.1 --- 香港醫療制度簡介 --- p.60 / Chapter 1.2 --- 變性醫療服務的歷史 --- p.62 / Chapter 1.3 --- 變性醫療服務的資源問題 --- p.64 / Chapter 1.4 --- 有心人遊走的空間 --- p.66 / Chapter 2 --- 變性醫療話語的運作 --- p.68 / Chapter 2.1 --- GID話語分析 --- p.69 / Chapter 2.2 --- 香港變性醫療話語：灰色地帶背後的話語/權力運作 --- p.72 / Chapter 3 --- MTFs與醫療體制的互動 --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1 --- 輾轉的變性歷程 --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2 --- 取得一定的話語權 --- p.77 / Chapter 4 --- MTFs與GID話語的互動 --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1 --- GID作為MTFs自我理解與表達的途徑 --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2 --- 對GID除病化的思考 --- p.82 / Chapter 5 --- 小結 --- p.87 / Chapter 第五章 --- 性別作爲社會結構 --- p.89 / Chapter 1 --- 非主流性別氣質在青少年時期的生存空間 --- p.90 / Chapter 1.1 --- 壓制，欺凌，孤立 --- p.90 / Chapter 1.2 --- 生存策略 --- p.92 / Chapter 2 --- MTFs在工作場所的生存空間 --- p.96 / Chapter 3 --- 敏銳的「自動判別性別機制」 --- p.103 / Chapter 3.1 --- 衣著打扮的性別意涵 --- p.103 / Chapter 3.2 --- 聲音與性別判別機制 --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3 --- 身體、氣質與性別判別機制 --- p.107 / Chapter 4 --- 性別二分場所 --- p.109 / Chapter 5 --- 異性戀規範的性別秩序 --- p.112 / Chapter 6 --- MTFs與家庭的互動 --- p.115 / Chapter 7 --- 小結 --- p.119 / Chapter 第六章 --- 性別作為矛盾中的體現（embodiment） --- p.121 / Chapter 1 --- 體認的矛盾 --- p.122 / Chapter 2 --- 性/別體現（the embodiment of gender and sexuality） --- p.126 / Chapter 2.1 --- 親密關係 --- p.127 / Chapter 2.2 --- 矛盾的性興奮/性幻想 --- p.130 / Chapter 2.3 --- 小結：性態與變性者的主體性 --- p.131 / Chapter 3 --- 身體的實踐 --- p.132 / Chapter 3.1 --- 作為客體的身體 --- p.133 / Chapter 3.2 --- 作為卑賤體（abject）的身體 --- p.135 / Chapter 3.3 --- 作為主體的身體 --- p.137 / Chapter 4 --- 小結：矛盾中體現的主體性 --- p.142 / Chapter 第七章 --- 性別作為政治身份（political identity）：變性者与政治身份/身份政治 --- p.144 / Chapter 1 --- 概述變性者與三種政治身份 --- p.145 / Chapter 2 --- MTFs在身份認同上的差異：想像中的「跨性別」？ --- p.147 / Chapter 3 --- MTFs與性（別）小眾運動：有志未必一同？ --- p.152 / Chapter 4 --- 顛覆性別二元之外的可能？ --- p.155 / Chapter 第八章 --- 結論 --- p.158 / Chapter 1 --- 對理論框架的反思 --- p.158 / Chapter 2 --- 對西方有關變性（者）的三個理論爭議之回應 --- p.159 / Chapter 2.1 --- 變性醫療制度及話語的複雜性 --- p.160 / Chapter 2.2 --- 肯定變性女人作為女人的經驗 --- p.161 / Chapter 2.3 --- 超越保守vs顛覆的論述：變性（女）人在理論與運動定位 --- p.163 / Chapter 3 --- 再思主體與主體性 --- p.165 / Chapter 3.1 --- 「自相矛盾」的主體 --- p.166 / Chapter 3.2 --- 變化：主體性的體現 --- p.167 / Chapter 3.3 --- 聽見主體的眾生喧嘩 --- p.168 / Chapter 3.4 --- 與矛盾共存的主體 --- p.170 / Chapter 3.5 --- p.171 / Chapter 4 --- 小結：變性者的矛盾與可能 --- p.172 / p.174

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This dissertation aims at constructing a description of reduplication in Old Chinese, developing a generative theory of morpho-phonological interaction to account for the formation of the reduplication patterns, and re-examining general reduplication theories and issues of other linguistic components by drawing lessons from Old Chinese reduplication. The investigation of the source data reveals that Old Chinese reduplication has four basic patterns: progressive reduplication with either "smallness" or "vividness", retrogressive pattern with "repetition", fission reduplication with "specialization", and total reduplication with a vivid impression (a parasitic sense). The formation of the reduplication patterns results from the interaction between morphology and phonology. With motivation from semantics, the monosyllabic base is reduplicated as two identical syllables, which undergo further modification. 1) Since the reduplicative form with "diminutive" or "vividness" is semantically undecomposable, OOP (One Syllable One Meaning Principle) forces the two syllables to sound like one, which is achieved by raising the sonority of the onset of the second syllable. As such, the progressive pattern arises. 2) For the same reason, the reduplicative form with "specialization" has the same shape as the progressive at one stage. Pressure from the system thus compels it to undergo further modification, eventually producing the fission pattern. 3) The reduplicative form with a vivid impression is not under the control of OOP; thus it can keep its two identical syllables intact, yielding total reduplication pattern. 4) Reduplicative verbs are semantically decomposable; thus OOP does not come into effect. That the form is actually modified stems from the pressure of an already-existent total reduplication pattern, while this modification of the first rhyme is determined by quasi-iambic stress. This interaction produces a retrogressive pattern. This study sheds light on reduplication processes in general and other linguistic issues. During reduplication, full reduplication occurs first; then the reduplicant is modified. That reduplication operates on the interface between morphology and phonology is a universal phenomenon, but how this operation proceeds is language-specific. The consistent distinction between Type A syllables and Type B syllables seen in Old Chinese reduplication patterns indicates the unreasonableness of reconstructing a "medial" yod for Old Chinese.

Zugl.: Mannheim, Universiẗat Diss., 2008.