19468 research outputs found
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Red Star Over Good Earth: Individual American Experiences in China and the Construction of Cross-Cultural Images, 1931-1949
No full textThis honors thesis examines American perceptions and conceptions of China during the 1930s and 1940s, providing an intellectual history by synthesizing the experiences of Pearl Buck, the author; Edgar Snow, the journalist; and John S. Service, the foreign service officer. I traveled to archives around the country to access historical documentation of these image-makers’ observations, and combined this with secondary scholarship to contextualize their individual experiences. Buck's novels and other writings, Snow's reporting and books, and Service's official State Department memoranda painted a vivid, colorful set of images of China for different audiences of Americans. The portrayals of China and Chinese in each of these figures' observances were crafted with determined purpose and intent; each writer had a precise audience for which they were writing, and various historical, cultural, and ideological contexts significantly shaped their individual experiences. The thesis features chapters on China in the American book, political reporting on the Chinese Communist Party, and the individuals themselves as image-makers while applying the theory of Orientalism to their images. Summarily, this intellectual history speaks to broad ideas of cultural perception, exchange of ideas, and historical contextualism, or the historiographic focus on context.HistoryBachelors of Arts (BA
1-km ROMS Model Output for Drake Passage and Scotia Sea (November–December 2017)
No full textModel output with 1-km, 3-hr resolution, and 50 sigma layers was produced using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS, https://www.myroms.org/), a free-surface, hydrostatic, primitive equation model (Shchepetkin and McWilliams, 2005). 10-day runs covering 12-November-2017 through 29-December-2017 were initialized using 1/12º resolution Operational Mercator. Flux forcing was computed with turbulent fluxes from bulk formulae (Fairall et al., 1996; Large and Pond, 1981) using the atmospheric state obtained from JRA-55 (Tsujino et al., 2018). The model is described in Ferris et al. (2024b) and is provided courtesy of Harper Simmons.
Associated Publications:
Ferris, L., Gong, D. (2024a). Damping effects of viscous dissipation on growth of symmetric instability. arXiv e-Print. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2406.16818
Ferris, L., Gong, D., Klinck, J. (2024b). Topographic forcing of submesoscale instability in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. arXiv e-Print. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2410.10721Computational resources were provided by Research Computing Systems at University of Alaska Fairbanks
No One is Coming to Save You: Divinity and Its Absence in Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native and Tess of the D’Urbervilles
No full textThe following thesis considers Victorian author Thomas Hardy’s engagement with the metaphysical as a technique for expressing a character’s conscience in relation to Eustacia in The Return of the Native and Tess in Tess of the D’Urbervilles. This was one of the increasingly sophisticated methods Hardy had to employ to avoid censorship during a time in which psychological understandings of women were particularly limited and problematic. Eustacia and Tess are realistic representations of Victorian womanhood as Hardy does not diminish their passions but instead grants them the full range and complexity of reason and emotion. An analysis of the role of divinity in these novels allows for a more complete understanding of Eustacia and Tess as women who are born with or experience trauma and express symptoms of mental illness.EnglishBachelors of Arts (BA
Direct Address in the Work of Obayashi Nobuhiko
No full textThis thesis provides a cursory examination of the work of Japanese director Obayashi Nobuhiko by focusing on his early period, as well as his latest films. To introduce his body of work, the stylistic predilections of the early period are used to project forward onto his latest, anti-war films. The bulk of this thesis covers his anti-war films (Casting Blossoms to the Sky, Seven Weeks, Hanagatami, and Labyrinth of Cinema), exploring them through their presentation of direct address as it relates to anti-war messaging. In addition, this thesis applies theoretical writings on photography as a medium to the context of these films, as they are intensely preoccupied with the presence of the physical camera and photographs. Last, this thesis covers the position of these films within the scheme of Japanese atom bomb films as they relate to Deleuze's Cinema books.Film StudiesBachelors of Arts (BA
The League in Austria and the Anschluss Aspiration
No full textExcerpt from paper: The time of empires was over. At the end of the Great War, the Treaty of Saint Germain splintered the Austro-Hungarian empire into independent successor states, and the once great Habsburg capital became the Republic of Austria, an unstable nation with weak institutions. Having lost vast territories and one-third of its German population, Austria lacked a national identity and suffered a deep sense of victimhood. At the core, Austria was a sovereign nation that refused her sovereignty. Throughout the republic’s existence, the people rejected Austrian independence, convinced that their homeland could not survive without German unification. Although the Allies forbade Anschluss, the Austrian people could never surrender the longing to unite with their German countrymen.1Histor
Pumpkin Pie’s Analogs in the Indian Ocean Trading System
No full textIn discussing the origins of civilization on the Swahili Coast, scholars have historically attributed achievements in this area to the colonizing interests of Arab settlers. More recently, research has revealed much more ancient origins for the Swahili cities. Similarly, historical archaeologists studying the colonial Chesapeake once ignored contributions by forced African emigrants and Native Americans to the developing culture in the area. This view has largely been rejected in favor of “creolization” theory, whereby interacting cultures contribute practices and ideas which reformulate to produce an integrated mix entirely different from either antecedent. In my research, I apply creolization theory to an archaeological study of the Swahili Coast and the Indian Ocean trading system in which it was involved, examining the archaeological record of the area for evidence of creolization as it manifests itself in the New World. I cite examples in many areas, specifically in ceramics, metallurgy, religious practice, costume and cosmetics, and architecture. I argue that these crosscultural similarities allow us to analyze the Swahili Coast and the broader Indian Ocean trading system using creolization theory as a tool in the same way that historical archaeologists of the Chesapeake have applied the theory.I'd like to thank the Charles Center at the College of William & Mary, Dr. Chapurukha Kusimba of the Field Museum, Dr. Neil Norman and Dr. Marley Brown at the College of William and Mary, and my family for all their support in the course of conducting this research
Ontological Perfection, the Rex, and the Principle of Path Maximization
No full textThis paper attempts to reconcile opportunity cost with virtue ethics in the Abrahamic and Aristotelian traditions, concentrating on Al-Farabi, Maimonides, and Aquinas. I frame opportunity cost in terms of decision making procedures in the Problem of Optimization. The Problem of Optimization asks “Is it wrong to not seek perfection?”, qualifying opportunity costs in teleological virtue ethics frameworks as massive and compounding harms. It forces teleological frameworks to confront what happens there aren't normative obligations to seek perfection perfectly by asserting that wasted time and opportunities is a harm. The aim of this thesis is to assess and critique the teleological frameworks of al-Farabi, Maimonides, and St. Aquinas in order to find a more complete, consistent, and balanced framework to sufficiently respond to the Problem of Optimization.This thesis establishes ontological perfection as a coherent telos, and that the New Rex is the exemplar of the fulfilled telos. The New Rex is both an ideal person and moral exemplar, best qualified as a prophet-philosopher-king. The construct of the New Rex is used to formulate an answer to the Problem of Optimization. Finally, I argue that the Principle of Path Maximization is a way to respond to the Problem; the Principle asserts that actions are impermissible in a teleological framework if they prevent perfection later, and actions are permissible if they ensure that perfection is still viable and is more accessible than before the action was taken.PhilosophyBachelors of Arts (BA
GIS Data – 2025 Shoreline Management Model - Middlesex County
No full textGeodatabase: Middlesex_SMMv6_2025_FileGDB
Feature classes:
• Middlesex_SMMv6_ShorelineBMPs _2025 - a polyline feature class containing best management practices recommendations.
• Middlesex_SMMv6_OysterSuitabilityModule_2025 - a polygon feature class containing suitable areas for oyster structure placement.
The metadata file is embedded in the geodatabase feature classes and defines attribute accuracy, data development, and any use restrictions that pertain to data
Disclaimer: The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) provides these data with the understanding that they are not guaranteed to be correct or complete, and conclusions drawn from the data set are the sole responsibility of the user. Every attempt has been made to ensure that these data and the documentation are reliable and accurate. CCRM, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (VA-DEQ -VCZMP) assume no liability for any damages caused by inaccuracies in the data or documentation; and make no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or utility of this information, nor does the fact of distribution constitute a warranty. CCRM, VIMS, and VA-DEQ -VCZMP endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this dataset.In 2011, the Virginia General Assembly adopted a policy into law that specifies living shorelines as the preferred management practice for erosion control in Virginia waters. The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has been developing tools for many years to guide local governments in shoreline management. In particular, they have focused on the use of ecologically preferred alternatives for erosion control and have conducted research into refining the appropriate uses for a large suite of possible treatments based on existing shoreline conditions. A series of Decision Trees were developed to determine shoreline best management practices (BMPs) when conducting onsite inspections. These were developed to support integrated guidance at the management and regulatory level. This body of work has been expanded and re-developed as a GIS spatial model known as the Shoreline Management Model (SMM) to determine appropriate shoreline BMPs from the desktop using available spatial data and the decision tree logic. The assessment is conducted at a parcel level scale, but the output represents a reach-based or cumulative approach to shoreline management.
In 2023, CCRM began an update of the SMM. Version 6.0 continues to use fetch, nearshore bathymetry, bank height, marsh presence, beach presence, presence of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), roads and permanent structures within the riparian zone, and existing shoreline erosion control structures. To enhance the model’s capabilities for evaluating best management practices and determining where erosion control practices may impact ecologically sensitive areas, version 6.0 adds wave energy, federal Form 06/27/2023 navigation channels, presence of RTE species via predicted suitable habitat, bank slope, and narrow creeks.
Most appropriate for desktop reviews, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive planning, the recommendations derived from the SMM may be altered due to lot size, shoreline length along a single parcel, proximity of primary buildings to the shoreline, type of existing erosion control structures, land use practices, and local biota.
The SMM v.6.0 also includes a module that identifies suitable areas for oyster structure placement, which can provide erosion control and habitat enhancement benefits.This project was funded in part by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant #NA24NOSX419C0026 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
An Investigation of Prominence Alternations in English: Must “big” syllables carry stress in English?
No full textThis paper examines the relationship between segmental content and stress in English, and proposes that such relationship is not inseparable. Instead, this paper posits that phonological stress is distinct from segmental content, but that being “bigger” because of segmental content can make a syllable therefore confusable as stressed. The studies in this paper expand on previous research concluding that rhythmic prominence can come from both phonetic and phonological sources. This paper gives evidence for the hypothesis that other phonetic characteristics of syllables can lead to the perception of phonological rhythmic alternation. Specifically, this paper investigates two types of syllables—syllables with full vowels and CVC syllables—and their effects on perceived rhythm in English. The results and analysis from this paper conclude that at least syllables with full vowels may be stressless, but their inherent bigness accounts for why they are confusble as bearing stress, and is why they can contribute to a perceived rhythmic alternation.LinguisticsBachelors of Arts (BA
GIS Data - 2025 Shoreline Management Model - Gloucester County
No full textGeodatabase: Gloucester_SMMv6_2025_FileGDB
Feature classes.
• Gloucester_SMMv6_ShorelineBMPs _2025 - a polyline feature class containing best management practices recommendations.
• Gloucester_SMMv6_OysterSuitabilityModule_2025 - a polygon feature class containing suitable areas for oyster structure placement.
The metadata file is embedded in the geodatabase feature classes and defines attribute accuracy, data development, and any use restrictions that pertain to data.
Disclaimer: The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) provides these data with the understanding that they are not guaranteed to be correct or complete, and conclusions drawn from the data set are the sole responsibility of the user. Every attempt has been made to ensure that these data and the documentation are reliable and accurate. CCRM, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (VA-DEQ -VCZMP) assume no liability for any damages caused by inaccuracies in the data or documentation; and make no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or utility of this information, nor does the fact of distribution constitute a warranty. CCRM, VIMS, and VA-DEQ -VCZMP endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this datasetIn 2011, the Virginia General Assembly adopted a policy into law that specifies living shorelines as the preferred management practice for erosion control in Virginia waters. The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has been developing tools for many years to guide local governments in shoreline management. In particular, they have focused on the use of ecologically preferred alternatives for erosion control and have conducted research into refining the appropriate uses for a large suite of possible treatments based on existing shoreline conditions. A series of Decision Trees were developed to determine shoreline best management practices (BMPs) when conducting onsite inspections. These were developed to support integrated guidance at the management and regulatory level. This body of work has been expanded and re-developed as a GIS spatial model known as the Shoreline Management Model (SMM) to determine appropriate shoreline BMPs from the desktop using available spatial data and the decision tree logic. The assessment is conducted at a parcel level scale, but the output represents a reach-based or cumulative approach to shoreline management.
In 2023, CCRM began an update of the SMM. Version 6.0 continues to use fetch, nearshore bathymetry, bank height, marsh presence, beach presence, presence of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), roads and permanent structures within the riparian zone, and existing shoreline erosion control structures. To enhance the model’s capabilities for evaluating best management practices and determining where erosion control practices may impact ecologically sensitive areas, version 6.0 adds wave energy, federal Form 06/27/2023 navigation channels, presence of RTE species via predicted suitable habitat, bank slope, and narrow creeks.
Most appropriate for desktop reviews, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive planning, the recommendations derived from the SMM may be altered due to lot size, shoreline length along a single parcel, proximity of
primary buildings to the shoreline, type of existing erosion control structures, land use practices, and local biota.
The SMM v.6.0 also includes a module that identifies suitable areas for oyster structure placement, which can provide erosion control and habitat enhancement benefits.This project was funded in part by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant #NA24NOSX419C0026 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administratio