Thesis (S.T.M.)--Concordia Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-144). Includes additional title p. and some bibliographical references in Chinese.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-166). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Regent College, 1992. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 213-224).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 198-203).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2005. / Thesis submitted to the Dept. of Chinese Language and Literature. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-199).

ix, 106 p. / This thesis focuses on the metafictional elements in selected works of the contemporary Chinese authors Gao Xingjian, Huang Jinshu, and Wang Xiaobo. I define metafiction as both a formal feature inherent in the text and the result of an approach towards that text. I argue that metafiction confronts us with the (postmodern) issues of 1) the ontological status of the text, 2) the figure of the author and reader, and 3) the (ambiguous) relationship between fiction and reality. Simultaneously, it accepts and celebrates this self-conscious and ambiguous character, encouraging readers to do the same. By combining elements from the indigenous literary tradition and international literary movements, contemporary Chinese metafiction is a valuable contribution to the study of metafiction. Ultimately, it shows what it means to write and read in a Chinese as well as in a global context. / Committee in charge: Prof. Alison Groppe, Chairperson; Prof. Maram Epstein, Member; Prof. Xiaoquan Raphael Zhang, Member

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2016-09-30T21:08:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lucas de Souza Ferreira - 2016.pdf: 964364 bytes, checksum: 53a985295d81269cf08a064398f305f0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-10-03T12:57:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lucas de Souza Ferreira - 2016.pdf: 964364 bytes, checksum: 53a985295d81269cf08a064398f305f0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-03T12:57:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lucas de Souza Ferreira - 2016.pdf: 964364 bytes, checksum: 53a985295d81269cf08a064398f305f0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In 1943, Ashkin and Teller (AT) proposed a model to describe the behavior of a system composed by four components that interact with each other. However the problem has not been solved analytically for all parameters due to the complexity of the model. Only thirty years later Fan (1972) proposed a change in order to analyze the system. He made an analogy with the Ising model and described the interactions between the components in terms of spins, leading to a simple matching with the Ising and Potts q = 4 models and, enabling therefore a clearer comprehension of the model and allowing the implementation of various techniques to investigate the behavior of the system with the temperature. In 2001 Wang and Landau developed a Monte Carlo algorithm that estimates directly the density of states and can be applied in the study of phase transitions and the thermodynamic properties. This algorithm is based on a random walk in the space of energies that leads to an estimate for the density of states. During the simulations an energy histogram monitors the evolution of the density of states: whenever the flatness criterion is satisfied, we obtain a finer level of the density of states. In this work we perform a study of the Ashkin-Teller model using the Wang-Landau algorithm, determining the behavior of the magnetization and the specific heat and estimating the critical exponents , and and the critical temperature through the finite-size theory for different values of the model parameters. / Em 1943, Ashkin e Teller (AT) propuseram um modelo para descrever o comportamento de um sistema composto por quatro componentes que interagem entre si. Todavia o problema não foi resolvido analiticamente para todos parâmetros do sistema devido à complexidade de modelo. Somente trinta anos após a publicação do trabalho Fan (1972) propôs uma mudança na forma de analisar o sistema. Ele fez uma analogia com o modelo de Ising e escreveu as interações entre as componentes em termos de spins, o que levou a uma fácil correspondência com os modelos de Ising e Potts q = 4 e, de certa forma, tornou mais clara a compressão do modelo e possibilitou a aplicação de várias técnicas para se obter o comportamento do sistema com a temperatura. Em 2001 Wang e Landau elaboraram um algoritmo de Monte Carlo que estima diretamente a densidade de estados e pode ser aplicado no estudo de transições de fase e propriedades termodinâmicas. Esse algoritmo é baseado em um passeio aleatório no espaço das energias em que constroi-se uma estimativa da densidade de estados juntamente com um histograma de energia: toda vez que o critério de nivelamente é satisfeito, obtêm-se um nível mais refinado da densidade de estados. Este trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo do modelo de Ashkin-Teller usando o algoritmo de Wang-Landau, para o qual, determinamos o comportamento da magnetização e calor específico bem como os expoentes críticos , e e a temperatura crítica, através da teoria de tamanho finito para diferentes conjuntos de parâmetros do modelo.

An investigation is made into the mathematics behind the noniterative inversion algorithm of Shimon Coen and Michael Wang-Ho Yu [1981]. The algorithm determines the conductivity profile of a horizontally uniform earth from surface measurements of apparent resistivity with a Schlumberger array. The algorithm is checked by performing the inversion on both artifical and raw field data

This thesis aims to shed new light on the Chinese character xia 侠 and the literature and history of the Republican Era (1912-1949) that revolves around it. Xia refers to either a concept (identifiable with kindness, altruism, righteousness, etc.) or to a person who practices this concept. Ever since its arrival in Chinese texts in the sixth century BC, it has created controversy for some and sympathy for others. In Modern China, xia became the central aspect of a literary genre that reached its zenith in production and consumption in the Republican Era, i.e. wuxia fiction 武侠小说, which can be translated as “using martial arts (wu 武) to obtain xia”. The concept of xia was an integral part of presumably the most widespread literary genre of the time, but why were Republican-era readers so interested in it? Why did they relate to xia and what do the themes of these novels say about the chaotic Republican Era? To answer these questions, this thesis presents a case study of a wuxia pentalogy written by Wang Dulu at the end of the Republican Era and attempts to identify the topics and aspects most reflective of that historical period, showing that, despite the heavy criticism of intellectuals of that time, these “easy” popular novels contain innovative and modern aspects and can become today of great historical importance. The thesis starts with two literature reviews. The first determines that the term xia has not received enough scholarly attention, calling for a reassessment. The second literature review focuses on Republican Era wuxia fiction, showing how there is a gap in scholarship on this period. This is followed by a discussion of the methodology used for the analysis of the case study on Wang Dulu’s Crane-Iron Series written in Qingdao (1938-1944), presented in the final three chapters of the thesis. Chapter one analyses the origins of the term xia in texts from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), presenting new interpretations for a more comprehensive understanding of the term. Chapter two gives a historical overview of xia¬-related literature and addresses the historical reasons for the changes that xia underwent throughout Chinese history. Chapter three includes a historiography of the Republican Era in combination with the life of the author Wang Dulu and identifies the aspects of the author’s life that will become important in the textual analysis in the chapters to follow. Chapter four focuses on xia in the Crane-Iron Series. After having collected the terms and identified the semantic spheres that include the Chinese character xia, the chapter demonstrates how the story of one of the series’ protagonist can be seen as an personification of Republican-era China, proving the historical dimension and value of these novels. Chapter five analyses yi 义 (righteousness) and represents the virtuous aspect of xia, concluding that, according to Wang Dulu, for the concept of xia, virtue is more important than being trained in martial arts (wu). Chapter six focuses on the literary figure of the baobiao 保镖 (protector) and is seen as the commercialisation of martial arts not necessarily linked to xia, showing how entrepreneurship and violence were characteristics of the time.