In this dissertation, we first introduce an equal-area spherical map, HEALPix, which is borrowed from astrophysics. Its associated sample pattern is uniformly distributed over the sphere surface. Then we discuss its application in environment mapping. Although the HEALPix representation is more balanced than the traditional cubemap, it cannot utilize the built-in hardware operations like cubemap, and the mipmapping construction is more complicated. Therefore, its rendering speed is not comparable to that of the cubemap. This motivates us to invent a new six-face spherical map, called isocube. Unlike cubemap, isocube is an equal-area mapping, i.e., each texel spans the same area and is equally important. Due to the six-face representation, isocube can fit nicely into the cubemap hardware and hence can fully exploit the hardware operations tailored for cubemap. In addition, its mapping computation only involves a small overhead. Therefore the look-up speed for isocube is very fast. / Next we discuss another application of HEALPix map, the dynamic environment sequence sampling. Previous work only considers the static case where the environment map is approximated by finite directional light sources. In the dynamic case, the individual regeneration of samples for each frame may introduce abrupt, changes in the rendering animation. To handle this temporal inconsistency problem, we propose spherical q2-tree based on IIEALPix map. The adaptiveness of the quadtree can suppress the abrupt changes between consecutive frames, and hence a rather smooth rendering can be produced. This method, however, generates sample pattern independently for each environment frame, and therefore it may still cause unexpected, lumps in some situations. To fully utilize the temporal coherence in the sequence, we present a global sampling approach which treats the dynamic environment sequence as a all volume and performs sampling in the volume. The volumetric sampling adapts the sample number according to each frame and restricts the temporal/spatial changes within small subdivided volumes, and hence ensures a smooth sampling sequence. Within the framework, we present a volumetric importance metric and develop a binary-quad tree to perform stratification. Experimental results show that our volumetric sampling method can generate light samples with a better temporal consistency. / Spherical map is the foundation for many applications in computer graphics, such as environment mapping, precomputed radiance transfer, radiosity and image-based rendering. For these applications that involve intensive computation on spherical domain, it is generally desirable to employ equal-area and uniform spherical maps as the underlying parameterization. However, equal-area spherical maps are less exploited in graphics. / Wan, Liang. / "August 2007." / Adviser: Tien-Tsin Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 1121. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-123). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Finally, for improving the security of P2P-based CDNs against peer misbehaviors, we present a stochastic analytical model for understanding the performance of the P2P rating systems, which are widely engaged for safeguarding P2P-based CDNs. We study two representative designs, namely the unstructured self-managing rating (UMR) system and the structured supervising rating (SSR) system with the model under various network environments and adversary attacks. We also propose a configurable loosely supervising rating (LSR) system, and show that the system works inexpensively, and could make tradeoffs between the features of the UMR and the SSR system, thus providing a better overall performance according to the application context. / Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks, especially P2P-based content distribution networks (CDN), have enabled large-scale content distribution without major infrastructure support in recent years. However, P2P-based CDNs suffer from performance issues such as stability and scalability, as well as security threats due to their decentralized nature. In this thesis, we address the performance and security issues in P2P-based CDNs. / We first consider a BitTorrent-like file swarming system. A simple mathematical model is presented for understanding its performance. With the model we find that under the stable state the peer distribution follows an asymmetric U-shaped curve, which is determined and influenced by various factors. We also analyze the content availability in the system and study its dying process, in which the integrity of the content is endangered. An innovative "tit-for-tat" unchoking strategy enabling more peers to finish their download jobs and prolong the system's lifetime is proposed. We then consider an application-layer tree-like overlay for the synchronous live media multicasting system. In particular we address the instability issue of the multicast overlay caused by nodes' abrupt departures. A set of algorithms are proposed to improve the overlay's stability based on actively estimating the nodes' lifetime model. To support our solution, we have studied the lifetime model via real-world measurements, and have formally proved the effectiveness of the algorithms. The experimental performance evaluation indicates that our algorithms work inexpensively, and could improve the overlay's stability considerably. We also consider the asynchronous on-demand media (MoD) streaming using P2P networks. In particular, we aim to improve the scalability of the system by proposing a novel probabilistic caching mechanism. Theoretical analysis is presented to show that by engaging the proposed mechanism with a flexible system parameter, better scalability could be achieved by a MoD system with less workload imposed on the server. Moreover, we show by simulation that our proposed caching mechanism could improve the streaming service conceived by peers under various conditions of server capacities and network environments. / Tian, Ye. / "July 2007." / Adviser: Kam-Wing Ng. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 1119. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-193). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

利率模型廣泛應用於利率衍生品的定價。為了吻合實證利率的分佈和隱含波動率，一種可能的辦法是用Lévy過程替換Hull- White模型中的布朗隨機變量的利率模型，但是這種方法很難實施。本文建立了一種有效的網絡數值方法對利率進行估測。利用Lévy過程的馬爾可夫性質， FFT網絡實質上是多項樹模型的擴展。這種數值方法的優勢在於一直固定不變的狀態點，對現時利率期限結構的超級校準以及基於對Lévy過程的特徵方程的快速傅裡葉變換(FFT) 去恢復概率密度函數以實現轉移概率的計算過程。這種網絡數值方法對利率衍生品的定價與利率樹類似。對利率上限期權和交換期權的解析解和數值解的比較表明網絡數值方法是準確和有效的。FFT網絡還可以對百慕達式利率交換期權以及美式期權進行定價。最後， FFT網絡被擴展去適應路徑依賴變量，因此，能對利率依賴的結構性票據進行定價，比如目標贖回票據和範團積息結構票據。 / Short rate models are widely used in valuing interest rate derivatives. To fit empirical distribution of interest rates and implied volatility, a possible way is to replace Brownian motion by a Lévy process in short rate models. However, this approach is difficult to implement. This thesis establishes an efficient network approach for interest rate valuation. The FFT-network is essentially an extension of multinomial tree model, taking advantage of the Markov property of Lévy processes. Its fixed and unchanged states at all time, super-calibration ability to the current term structure, and elegant computation procedure for transition probabilities using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) from the characteristic function of Lévy processes make it attractive and distinct from other numerical methods. The interest rate derivatives value is determined in a way similar to that of the tree approach. The comparison between the closed-form solution of interest rate caplets and swaptions and the numerical results under the network demonstrates that the proposed network is accurate and efficient. In addition, the FFT-network can also be used to pricing the Bermudan swaption and American-style option. Finally, the FFT-network is expanded to accommodate path-dependent variables, and hence can be used for pricing some path-dependent structured notes, such as the target redemption notes and range of accrual notes. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Xu, Zhuolu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-93). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Preliminaries --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Elementary techniques --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Characteristic function --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Cumulant generating function --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Fourier Transform --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Lévy Processes --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Definition --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Lévy-Khintchine --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Lévy Processes in Interest Rate --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- Hull-White Model --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Model setup --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Interest rate caps --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- European Swaptions --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- A Tree-building procedure --- p.19 / Chapter 3 --- HW-Lévy Model --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1 --- Model Setup --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Characteristic Function --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3 --- Analytic result on interest rate derivatives --- p.26 / Chapter 4 --- Valuation: FFT Network Model --- p.35 / Chapter 4.1 --- Drawbacks of Tree Approach --- p.35 / Chapter 4.2 --- FFT Network Setup --- p.37 / Chapter 4.3 --- Transition Probability Matrix --- p.38 / Chapter 4.4 --- Yield Curve Fitting --- p.42 / Chapter 4.5 --- Pricing Algorithm under FFT Network --- p.45 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- European Interest Rate Derivatives Pricing --- p.45 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Bermudan Interest Rate Derivatives Pricing --- p.49 / Chapter 5 --- Extended FFT Network for Path-dependent Structured Notes --- p.55 / Chapter 5.1 --- Extended FFT-netwok --- p.55 / Chapter 5.2 --- Target Redemption Notes (TARN) --- p.61 / Chapter 6 --- Numerical Study --- p.69 / Chapter 6.1 --- Numerical Scheme --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2 --- Numerical Examples --- p.74 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.89 / Bibliography --- p.91

了解表面等子體和外部環境之間的相互作用對表面等子體應用的開發非常重要。我們的研究集中在表面等子體與遠場的耦合，以及表面等子體模之間的耦合。 / 首先，我們研究由表面等子體模式耦合所產生的射衰變的變化。我們以角分辨反射光譜測同孔大小的納米孔陣上的簡併表面等子體模的衰減。對於每個孔的大小，我們觀察到在發生共振耦合的光譜區，衰減速有很大的改變，顯示出暗模和模的形成。耦合模很好地解釋衰變的變化。推導出的耦合常隨著孔直徑的增加而增加。我們也對耦合模一些有趣的特性及衰減變化的微觀起源進探討。 / 第二，我們以偏振分辨反射光譜從二維屬陣射散射。我們發現，反射光譜遵循的法模型可以由耦合模和瓊斯矩陣演算推導出。通過用正交方向的偏光器和分析器，反射光譜上的谷翻轉成峰，從以能夠測定出射散射效。我們發現，射散射效與波長和孔直徑的依賴關係和單孔的瑞散射相符合。 / 最後，我們開發一個新的方法，以偏振分辨光譜在實驗中測射衰變。這方法的有效性通過時域有限差分計算得到證明。我們還將此方法應用在實驗據上作為示範。 / Understanding the interaction between surface plasmon and outer environment is crucial in development of plasmonic applications. Our study is focused on the coupling between surface plasmons and far field, and also the coupling between surface plasmon modes. / First, we studied the change in radiative decay rate due to coupling of degenerate surface plasmon modes. We measured the decay rates of two degenerate surface plasmon modes in Au nanohole arrays with different hole sizes by angle-resolved reflectivity spectroscopy. For each hole size, at the spectral region where resonant coupling occurs, we observed a large modification in decay rates, leading to the formation of dark and bright modes. The change in decay rates is well explained by coupled-mode theory. The deduced coupling constant is found to increase with increasing hole diameter. Interesting properties of the coupled modes and microscopic origin of the change in decay rate is also discussed. / Second, we measured the radiative scattering from two-dimensional metallic arrays by using polarization-resolved reflectivity spectroscopy. We found that the reflectivity spectra follow the Fano-like model which can be derived from coupled-mode theory and Jones matrix calculus. By orthogonally orienting the incident polarizer and the detection analyzer, reflectivity dips flip into peaks and the radiative scattering efficiency can be determined accordingly. The dependence of total radiative scattering efficiency on wavelength and hole diameter is found to agree well with Rayleigh scattering by single hole. / Finally, we developed a new method to measure radiative decay rates experimentally by polarization-resolved reflectivity spectroscopy. The validity of this method is proved by finite-difference time-domain simulation. We also applied this method on experimental data as a demonstration. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Lo, Hau Yung = 表面等離子體在金屬納米孔陣列的輻射衰減及耦合 / 羅孝勇. / "December 2012." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-92). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Lo, Hau Yung = Biao mian deng li zi ti zai jin shu na mi kong zhen lie de fu she shuai jian ji ou he / Luo Xiaoyong. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Basic Theory and Techniques --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Macroscopic Maxwell Equations and Boundary Conditions --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Symmetries and Band Structure --- p.4 / Chapter 2.3 --- Coupled-mode Theory --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4 --- Finite-difference Time-domain Simulation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.5 --- Preparation of Metallic Nano-hole Arrays --- p.14 / Chapter 3 --- Fundamentals of Surface Plasmons on Metallic Nanohole Array --- p.18 / Chapter 3.1 --- Confinement and Propagation Nature of SPs --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- Skin Depth and Propagation Length --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3 --- Dispersion Relation and Phase-matching Conditions --- p.21 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurement of Band Structure: Angle-resolved Reflectivity Mapping --- p.23 / Chapter 3.5 --- Red Shift of Band Structure --- p.26 / Chapter 3.6 --- Comparison of Two Presentations of Band Structure: "ω against k" versus "λ against θ" --- p.28 / Chapter 3.7 --- Resonance Peak Shape: FanoModel and Wood's Anomalus --- p.30 / Chapter 3.8 --- Resonance Peak Shape: "Fano-like" Model --- p.34 / Chapter 3.9 --- Appendix A: Derivation of Eq(3.1) --- p.36 / Chapter 4 --- Decay Rates Modification though Coupling of Degenerate Surface Plasmon modes --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2 --- Measurements of Degenerate Surface Plasmon Modes --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3 --- Decay rates of Coupled Modes --- p.45 / Chapter 4.4 --- Hole Diameter Dependence of Coupling Constants --- p.47 / Chapter 4.5 --- Understanding the S-polarized Surface Plasmon Modes --- p.50 / Chapter 4.6 --- TE-like Surface Plasmon Modes --- p.53 / Chapter 4.7 --- Microscopic Origin of the Modification in Decay Rate --- p.54 / Chapter 4.8 --- Summary --- p.60 / Chapter 5 --- Direct Measurement of Radiative Scattering of Surface Plasmon Resonance from Metallic Arrays by Polarization-resolved Reflectivity Spectroscopy --- p.61 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 5.2 --- Theory of Direct Measurement of Radiative Scattering --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3 --- Comparison with Experiment --- p.65 / Chapter 5.4 --- Comparison with Rayleigh Scattering Model --- p.71 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.74 / Chapter 6 --- A Method of Obtaining Radiative Decay Rates From Experiment --- p.76 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.76 / Chapter 6.2 --- Method --- p.77 / Chapter 6.3 --- Prove of Validity --- p.78 / Chapter 6.4 --- Experimental Demonstration --- p.82 / Chapter 6.5 --- Summary --- p.85 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.86 / Chapter 8 --- Bibliography --- p.88 / Chapter 9 --- Curriculum Vitae --- p.93

骨肉瘤是最常見的原發性骨腫瘤之一。青少年和年輕成年人屬于患上骨肉瘤的高危群組。利用現今的治療方法，非轉移性骨肉瘤病患者的長期存活率達百份之七十。不過，轉移性和復發骨肉瘤病人的預後並不理想，其五年存活率低於百份之二十。骨肉瘤的高死亡率帶出進一步瞭解骨肉瘤成因的重要性。雖然多個與骨肉瘤病發機理有關的遺傳風險因素已被發現，例如TP53基因和Rb基因的功能喪失性突變均會使其攜帶者傾向於出現骨肉瘤。但是這些結果仍未能找出專一性較強的骨肉瘤遺傳標記。因此有需要進一步研究骨肉瘤的主要病發機理。其中Hedgehog信號通路對於出生前後階段的骨絡生長和發育均有重要的調控作用。再者，之前在Ptch1{U+1D9C}/{U+1D9C}; HOC-Cre小鼠模型所做的研究也表明，於造骨細胞上調Hedgehog信號通路會導致長骨局部增生。另外，多種癌症的病發亦已知與Hedgehog信號通路失調有密切關係。根據這些發現，本研究項目假設Hedgehog信號通路失調是導致骨肉瘤病發的一個遺傳風險因素。一種新穎的小鼠模型 Ptch1{U+1D9C}/⁺; p53⁺/⁻; HOC-Cre被構建並採用於證明此假設。在這小鼠模型，Hedgehog信號通路只有在造骨細胞部分地上調。另外，p53的雜合敲除有助增加骨肉瘤的病發機率。實驗結果表明七至十二個月週歲的Ptch1{U+1D9C}/⁺; p53⁺/⁻; HOC-Cre小鼠出現類此骨肉瘤的症狀。原帶類骨肉瘤組織含有大量類骨質和多核細胞。由原帶類骨肉瘤組織所衍生的細胞系Kios-5有癌細胞在體和離體的特性。及後又發現由上調Hedgehog信號通路所導致的類骨肉瘤與Hippo信號通路有聯動關係。這個結果與一種由Hedgehog信號通路上調所導致的成神經管細胞瘤的結果互相吻合。故此，本研究也想探討Hippo信號通路和骨肉瘤的病變之間的關聯。實驗結果指出由Hedgehog信號通路上調而導致的骨肉瘤亦連帶上調Hippo信號通路的轉錄活度。與此同時，兩個Hippo信號通路的主要轉化啟動因子(Yap1和Taz) 還有Hippo信號通路的下游目標基因（Ctgf和Cyr61）的表達在原帶類骨肉瘤組織和類骨肉瘤衍生的細胞系均有上調。這印證了越來越多的研究結果表示Hippo信號通路在癌症的病變過程起關鍵作用。再者，類骨肉瘤細胞系的致腫瘤性也依賴於Yap1。更重要是，在組織陣列裡百份之八十七的人體骨肉瘤樣本表達YAP蛋白。這結果表明Hippo信號通路在骨肉瘤有臨床方面的一定重要性。另外，Kios-5活化一個多潛性標記基因Nanog的表達。這顯示本研究的骨肉瘤模型帶有類似幹細胞的特質。Kios-5還能夠被誘導分化成有骨質特性和脂肪特性的細胞。這些跡象顯示Kios-5的可塑性比較高。及後的一組實驗進一步地識別出潛在的分秘物質控制著Hedgehog與Hippo信號通路之間的相互作用。總結，我們的結果表明在雜合敲除p53基因的情況下於造骨細胞上調Hedgehog信號通路會引發骨肉瘤。當中亦上調Hippo信號通路的轉錄活度。而這兩條信號通路之間透過潛在的分秘物質而產生相互作用。 / Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common primary bone tumors. Adolescence and young adults are the high risk groups of OS development. Under the current treatment, the overall survival rate for patients with non-metastatic OS approaches 75-80%. However, the 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic and recurrent approached 60%. Though OS was treatable, the high incidence of OS metastasis disease and severe sequelae accompanying medical intervention necessitate better understanding of the etiology of OS. Multiple genetic risk factors, such as loss-of-function mutations in TP53 or RB1, predispose individual to OS development. However, these findings did not identify specific genetic markers for OS and thus, major mechanisms underlying OS pathogenesis require further investigation. In particular, Hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been well implicated in regulating bone growth and development at both embryonic and postnatal stages. Previous studies using Ptch1c/c; HOC-Cre mutant mice have shown that upregulation of Hh signaling in mature osteoblasts leads to focal bone overgrowth in the long bones. Dysregulated Hh signaling has also been implicated in a wide range of cancers. Based on these facts, the current studies hypothesized that dysregulation of Hh signaling in bones is a genetic risk factor that predispose to osteosarcoma development. A novel mouse model, Ptch1{U+1D9C}/⁺ ; p53⁺/⁻; HOC-Cre was generated to test this hypothesis in vivo. The mutants have partial upregulation of Hh signaling specifically in mature osteoblasts in a p53⁺/⁻ background to enhance the incident rate of OS. The results demonstrated that the mutant mice developed OS-like phenotypes starting from 7-12 months of age. The primary OS-like tumor tissues possessed massive osteoid with the presence of multinucleated cells. The tumor-derived cell line Kios-5 revealed cancer properties both in vitro and in vivo. The Hh signaling-induced OS in the mutant mice was shown to crosstalk with Hippo signaling pathway, which was previously demonstrated to be involved in a subset of medulloblastoma that is caused by Hedgehog signaling upregulation. Consistent with emerging evidence that Hippo pathway has critical roles in cancer development, results from the current studies suggested that OS initiated by upregulated Hedgehog signaling in mature osteoblasts led to upregulated transcriptional activity of Hippo signaling. The mutant mice showed upregulated expression of the main transcriptional coactivators of the Hippo pathway, Yap1 and Taz as well as the downstream target genes of Hippo pathway, Ctgf and Cyr61. The tumorigenicity of OS-like tumor derived cells showed Yap1-dependence. Importantly, Hippo pathway has clinical relevance in OS pathogenesis as 78% of human OS samples in tissue array showed YAP expression. Besides, tumor cells derived from the OS model showed stem cells properties through upregulating the expression of the key pluripotent marker gene, Nanog. And the OS cells revealed higher lineage plasticity as they were inducible to undergo osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation. Further, the results suggested potential secretory factor(s) was/were mediated the interaction between Hh and Hippo pathways were recognized. In conclusion, the findings indicated that upregulated Hedgehog signaling in the mature osteoblasts under the p53⁺/- context initiated osteosarcoma development, which also led to upregulated Hippo pathway transcriptional activity. The crosstalk between these two signaling pathways was mediated through some potential secretory factor(s). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chan, Lok Hei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-205). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT OF THESIS ENTITLED --- p.iii / 中文摘要 --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.viii / CONTENTS --- p.ix / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introductory statement --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Introduction of osteosarcoma --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Clinical feature and treatment --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Genetic risk factors --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Bone formation in mammals and its regulation by Hedgehog signaling --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Overview of bone formation in vertebrates --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Hedgehog signaling in bone formation --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4 --- Hedgehog signaling and cancer development --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Hedgehog signaling pathway --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Hedgehog signaling in cancer pathogenesis --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.2.1 --- Mutation-driven, ligand-independent activation of Hedgehog in cancer development --- p.38 / Chapter 1.4.2.2 --- Hedgehog signaling in cancer stem cells --- p.42 / Chapter 1.4.2.3 --- Hedgehog-targeting therapy in cancers --- p.44 / Chapter 1.5 --- Emerging roles of Hippo signaling in organ development and cancer pathogenesis --- p.47 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Hippo signaling pathway --- p.47 / Chapter 1.5.1.1 --- Sensing the environmental cues by the Hippo pathway --- p.47 / Chapter 1.5.1.2 --- Salvador-Warts-Hippo (SWH) tumor-suppressor kinase cascade --- p.51 / Chapter 1.5.1.3 --- Transcriptional regulation of Hippo pathway target genes --- p.52 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Emerging roles of Hippo signaling in cancer pathogenesis --- p.54 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Therapeutic potential through targeting the Hippo pathway --- p.56 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aim of studies --- p.57 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.58 / Chapter 2.1 --- Animal studies --- p.58 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Genotyping --- p.58 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- DNA purification --- p.58 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis and imaging --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cell culture --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Isolation and culturing of primary osteosarcoma cells --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Primary culture of wild-type calvarial osteoblasts --- p.62 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Culture of MC3T3-E1, Hela, SaOS-2, U2-OS and HEK-293 --- p.62 / Chapter 2.3 --- MTT proliferation assay --- p.63 / Chapter 2.4 --- Differentiation assay --- p.64 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining --- p.64 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Alizarin Red S staining --- p.65 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Von Kossa staining --- p.65 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Oil Red O staining --- p.65 / Chapter 2.5 --- Immunofluorescence staining --- p.66 / Chapter 2.6 --- Anchorage-independent (soft agar) assay --- p.67 / Chapter 2.7 --- Migration assay --- p.68 / Chapter 2.8 --- Transwell invasion assay --- p.69 / Chapter 2.9 --- In vitro treatment of Hedgehog agonists/antagonists --- p.70 / Chapter 2.10 --- RNA extraction and qRT-PCR --- p.71 / Chapter 2.10.1 --- RNA extraction --- p.71 / Chapter 2.10.2 --- Reverse-transcription --- p.72 / Chapter 2.10.3 --- Real-time PCR --- p.72 / Chapter 2.11 --- Nude mice injection --- p.75 / Chapter 2.11.1 --- Subcutaneous injection --- p.75 / Chapter 2.11.2 --- Intra-tibial inoculation --- p.75 / Chapter 2.12 --- Western blot --- p.76 / Chapter 2.12.1 --- Protein extraction --- p.76 / Chapter 2.12.2 --- Protein concentration determination --- p.77 / Chapter 2.12.3 --- Western blot analysis --- p.77 / Chapter 2.13 --- Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay --- p.79 / Chapter 2.13.1 --- Transfection of plasmids by electroporation --- p.79 / Chapter 2.13.2 --- Sample harvesting and dual-luciferase assay --- p.80 / Chapter 2.14 --- Lentivirus preparation and Transduction of Kios-5 --- p.80 / Chapter 2.14.1 --- Lentivirus preparation --- p.80 / Chapter 2.14.2 --- Transduction of Kios-5 --- p.81 / Chapter 2.15 --- Conditioned medium studies --- p.82 / Chapter 2.15.1 --- Conditioned medium preparation --- p.82 / Chapter 2.15.2 --- Neutralizing OPN antibody treated conditioned medium --- p.83 / Chapter 2.15.3 --- Conditioned medium treatment --- p.83 / Chapter 2.16 --- Recombinant OPN treatment --- p.84 / Chapter 2.17 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.84 / Chapter 2.18 --- Statistical analysis --- p.85 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.87 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introductory statement --- p.87 / Chapter 3.2 --- Design of the OS mouse model Ptch1{U+1D9C}/+; p53+/-; HOC-Cre --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3 --- Characterization of the osteosarcoma mouse model --- p.93 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Development of osteosarcoma-like tumor from the mouse model --- p.93 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Characterization of osteosarcoma-like tumor derived cell line --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Osteoblastic properties of Kios-5 --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Functional assays of Kios-5 --- p.101 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- In vivo cancer properties of Kios-5 --- p.106 / Chapter 3.3.2.4 --- Molecular characterizations of Kios-5 and its derived secondary tumors --- p.109 / Chapter 3.4 --- Interaction between Hedgehog signaling and Hippo pathway in osteosarcoma mouse model --- p.114 / Chapter 3.5 --- Secretory factor-mediated interaction between Hedgehog signaling and Hippo pathway --- p.133 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.160 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introductory statement --- p.160 / Chapter 4.2 --- Mouse model of Hedgehog signaling-induced osteosarcoma --- p.160 / Chapter 4.3 --- Hedgehog signaling interacted with Hippo pathway in the osteosarcoma mouse model --- p.167 / Chapter 4.4 --- Autocrine/paracrine mechanism in Hedgehog signaling-induced osteosarcoma --- p.171 / Chapter 4.5 --- Future studies --- p.174 / APPENDIX --- p.177 / Chapter A-1 --- List of reagents and chemicals --- p.177 / Chapter A-2 --- Recipes of buffers --- p.181 / Chapter A-3 --- Data sheet of human osteosarcoma tissue array --- p.185 / REFERENCES --- p.187

鐵調素，作為關鍵的鐵調節激素，在維持外周系統的鐵平衡中具有重要作用。外周鐵調素的表達受到多種因素的平衡調節，包括鐵的狀態，炎症，造血活動和缺氧。這一激素肽在腦內的存在和廣泛分佈，提示它可能在腦鐵平衡中也發揮作用。本研究檢測了炎症是否對腦內鐵調素表達起調節作用，從而影響腦鐵代謝。 / 在本研究的第一部分，我們檢測了炎症是否調節腦內鐵調素的表達，以及這種調節作用在腦內是否具有區域特異性。利用脂多糖（一種廣泛使用的炎症誘導劑）誘導的炎症模型，我們發現腦室內注射脂多糖可區域特異性地誘導腦內鐵調素的表達，即誘導皮層和黑質的鐵調素表達，而海馬的鐵調素水準無顯著改變。與此相伴隨的是腦內膜鐵轉運蛋白區域特異性的表達下降。此外，我們發現脂多糖處理引起的腦內鐵調素表達升高發生在神經元而不是星形膠質細胞內。這些發現提示，炎症能夠區域特異性地上調腦內鐵調素表達，上調的鐵調素轉而下調特定腦區膜鐵轉運蛋白的表達。 / 在本研究的第二部分，我們檢測了離體水準上炎症對原代皮層神經元和MES23.5多巴胺能細胞鐵調素表達的影響。我們觀察了炎症對這些細胞鐵調素和膜鐵轉運蛋白表達的作用。我們發現脂多糖不增加原代皮層神經元鐵調素的表達。但在與BV-2小膠質細胞共培養的條件下，原代皮層神經元的鐵調素表達水準經脂多糖刺激後上升。我們檢測了一系列可能由小膠質釋放的促炎細胞因數對神經元鐵調素表達的影響。結果表明，白介素-6介導了脂多糖誘導的神經元鐵調素表達升高的作用。我們進一步發現，白介素-6在短時間內直接增加神經元鐵調素表達和降低膜鐵轉運蛋白表達。最後我們進一步探究了白介素-6對腦內鐵調素表達的調控機制，發現在原代皮層神經元和MES23.5多巴胺能細胞中白介素-6誘導的鐵調素表達是通過信號轉導和轉錄啟動因數3信號通路介導的。 / 綜上所述，我們的研究結果表明，炎症在調節腦內鐵調素表達和控制腦內鐵轉運中發揮重要的作用。在腦內，炎症區域特異性地誘導鐵調素表達上調和膜鐵轉運蛋白表達下調。白介素-6/ 信號轉導和轉錄啟動因數3這一信號通路介導了在炎症情況下腦內鐵調素表達。這些發現加強了我們對於腦內鐵調素表達的調節過程的理解，並提供了一種新的關於鐵調素在腦內抗炎作用的治療觀點。 / Hepcidin, as the central iron regulatory hormone, plays a key role in maintaining peripheral iron homeostasis. The expression of hepcidin in the periphery is regulated by multiple factors homeostatically, including iron status, inflammation, erythropoietic activity and hypoxia. The presence and widespread distribution of this peptide in the brain suggests that hepcidin may also have an essential role in brain iron homeostasis. In this study we tested the hypothesis that inflammation exerts an important role in the regulation of brain hepcidin expression, which might alter brain iron metabolism. / To investigate whether inflammation could regulate brain hepcidin expression and whether this regulatory role is regionally specific in the brain, in the first part of study, we explored the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a widely used inflammation-inducing agent, on hepcidin expression in different brain regions of the rat brain in vivo. We found that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of LPS induced brain hepcidin expression regionally specifically, that is, in the cortex and substantia nigra but not in the hippocampus. This effect was accompanied by a regionally specific decrease in brain ferroportin expression. Besides, brain hepcidin was found to be increased in neurons but not in astrocytes by LPS treatment. These findings indicate that inflammation could up-regulate brain hepcidin expression regionally specifically in the brain, which in turn down-regulates ferroportin expression in specific brain regions. / In the second part, we investigated the effects of inflammation on hepcidin expression in primary cortical neurons and MES23.5 dopaminergic cells in vitro. The expression of hepcidin as well as ferroportin was observed. We found that LPS did not increase hepcidin expression in primary cortical neurons. However, LPS induced neuronal hepcidin expression with the presence of BV-2 microglia cells. We examined the effects of a series of pro-inflammatory cytokines which could be released by microglia cells, on hepcidin expression, and found that interleukin-6 (IL-6) mediated neuronal hepcidin expression induced by LPS. Furthermore, we found that IL-6 directly increased hepcidin expression and decreased ferroportin expression in an acute manner. Finally, we further investigated the mechanisms underlying the regulatory effects of IL-6 on brain hepcidin expression, and found that IL-6-induced hepcidin expression is via signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) signaling in primary cortical neurons and MES23.5 dopaminergic cells. / In conclusion, the results of the present study implied that inflammation plays an important role in regulating brain hepcidin expression and controlling brain iron transport. In the brain, hepcidin up-regulation and ferroportin down-regulation is induced by inflammation in a regionally specific way. IL-6/ STAT3 signaling pathway is essential for brain hepcidin expression during inflammation. These findings enhance our understanding of the regulatory process of hepcidin in the brain, and provide a new therapeutic perspective of hepcidin in anti-inflammation in the brain. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / He, Xuan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-128). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT OF THESIS ENTITLED --- p.II / ACKNOWLEDGENENTS --- p.VII / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VIII / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.XII / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.XV / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introductory statement --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Hepcidin in the periphery --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Biological functions of hepcidin --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Regulation of hepcidin synthesis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Regulation of hepcidin by iron --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Regulation of hepcidin by inflammation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Regulation of hepcidin by anemia, erythropoiesis and hypoxia --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Misregulation of hepcidin --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Hepcidin deficiency --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Hepcidin excess --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3 --- Hepcidin in the brain --- p.28 / Chapter 1.4 --- Neuroinflammation --- p.30 / Chapter 1.5 --- Summary --- p.33 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives . --- p.34 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1 --- Animal experiments --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Intracerebroventricular LPS injection --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Animal sacrifice and sample collection --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cell cultures --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Primary cortical neurons culture --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- BV-2 microglia cells --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- MES23.5 dopaminergic cells --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3 --- Western blot analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4 --- ELISA measurement --- p.42 / Chapter 2.5 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.43 / Chapter 2.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- IN VIVO STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF INFLAMMATION ON BRAIN HEPCIDIN EXPRESSION --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1 --- ABSTRACT. --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- RESULTS --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- LPS injection induced hepcidin expression in neurons in the cortex and substantia nigra but not in the hippocampus of the rat brain --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- LPS injection did not induce hepcidin expression in astrocytes in the cortex, hippocampus and substantia nigra of the rat brain --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- LPS injection induced hepcidin up-regulation and ferroportin down-regulation in the cortex and substantia nigra but not in the hippocampus of the rat brain --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- LPS injection induced IL-6 production and STAT3 phosphorylation in the cortex, hippocampus and substantia nigra of the rat brain --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.54 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- IN VITRO STUDY OF THE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE EFFECTS OF INFLAMMATION ON BRAIN HEPCIDIN EXPRESSION --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1 --- ABSTRACT --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.74 / Chapter 4.4 --- RESULTS --- p.76 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- IL-6 mediated LPS-induced hepcidin expression in primary cortical neurons with the presence of BV-2 microglia --- p.76 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- IL-6 induced hepcidin up-regulation and ferroportin down-regulation in primary cortical neurons in an acute manner --- p.77 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Inhibition of STAT3 activity suppressed IL-6-induced hepcidin up-regulation and ferroportin down-regulation in primary cortical neurons --- p.79 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- IL-6 rather than other cytokines induced STAT3 activation in primary cortical neurons --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Inhibition of STAT3 activity suppressed IL-6-induced hepcidin up-regulation and ferroportin down-regulation in MES23.5 dopaminergic cells --- p.80 / Chapter 4.5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.81 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- GENERAL DISCUSSION --- p.102 / REFERENCE --- p.110

表面等離子體基元共振是自由電子在納米尺寸的集體共振效應，該效應會產生一系列新奇的性質。貴金屬納米結構由於可以產生表面等離子體基元共振而受到各個領域廣泛的關注。在共振激發的情況下，貴金屬納米結構具有極大的散射和吸收截面積以及極強的進場放大效應。這些奇特的性質可以應用於傳感、成像、光學調製、光熱療、光催化和太陽能電池等領域。金和銀納米結構由於其表面等離子體基元共振波長處在可見和近紅外波段而受到廣泛研究。然而，在某些應用中純金或純銀納米結構不能起到很好的作用。例如，金和銀對很多化學反應的催化活性很弱或者沒有催化活性。如果把金和銀與其他金屬複合在一起就可以同時獲得表面等離子基元共振和其他效應。在我的博士研究期間，我製備了Au/Ag 和Au/Pd 複合雙金屬納米結構和研究了該複合結構的表面等離子體基元共振的性質和在氫氣傳感和光催化中的應用。 / 由於在金屬納米結構的製備中晶種起著至關重要的作用，所以我首先研究了晶種的晶體結構和形狀對雙金屬納米結構合成的影響。我研究了銀和鈀分別在相同條件下在單晶金納米棒、多晶金納米棒和納米雙錐種子上的生長過程。研究發現當晶種是單晶金納米棒時，銀和鈀的生長形成長方體雙金屬納米結構。然而，當晶種是多晶的金納米棒和納米雙錐時，銀和鈀的生長生成納米棒雙金屬結構。銀和鈀在多晶金納米棒上的生長由兩端開始，而在多晶金納米雙錐上的生長由臺階面開始。這表明在雙金屬納米結構的生長過程中納米晶種的晶體結構對最終納米結構的形貌具有決定性的作用，而納米晶種的形狀對生長動力學有明顯的影響。 / 在Au/Ag納米晶製備過程中，我發現Au/Ag納米晶具有四個表面等離子體基元共振峰。於是我對這四個共振峰的演變和共振模式進行了實驗和理論研究。電動力學模擬表明能量最低的共振峰是縱向的電偶極共振，能量次低的共振峰是沿橫向的電偶極共振，兩個高能量的共振峰是沿著橫向的電八極共振。遲滯效應和兩個垂直橫向激發的干涉是導致形成兩個電八極共振的關鍵因素。研究發現隨著銀殼厚度的增加，縱向電偶極共振峰藍移，橫向電偶極共振峰先藍移后稍微紅移，兩個電八極共振沒有明顯的峰位移動。四個表面等離子體基元共振的強度都隨著銀殼厚度的增加而增強。 / 鈀被廣泛地應用於氫氣傳感和催化反應中。於是我研究了Au/Pd 雙金屬納米結構的氫氣傳感和光催化性能。在氫氣傳感研究中，我製備了兩種不同結構的Au/Pd 納米結構。一種具有連續的鈀殼層，另一種鈀殼層不連續。對於具有連續鈀殼層的納米結構，氫氣的傳感性能隨著鈀殼層厚度的增加而增加。實驗發現當納米結構暴露在4%的氫氣中時表面等離子體基元共振峰移動高達56 nm。不連續鈀殼層的納米結構的氫氣傳感性能不如連續鈀層的納米結構。我進一步對Au/Pd 雙金屬納米結構的光催化性能進行了研究。所選取的催化反應是Suzuki 偶聯反應。研究結果表明Au/Pd 納米結構可以有效地捕獲光能來促進化學反應。由於Au/Pd 納米結構使表面等離子體基元共振功能和催化功能緊密集成在一個納米結構中，因此表面等離子基元共振部份所捕獲的光能可以有效地傳遞到催化功能部份而實現光催化。研究發現熱電子效應和光熱轉化效應同時加速化學反應。其中光熱轉化在我的實驗中體現為非局部加熱效應，熱電子對化學反應的促進作用依賴于環境溫度。因此，光熱轉化效應可以促進熱電子轉移效應。 / 本論文的研究結果有助於人們瞭解具有表面等離子體基元共振性質的雙金屬納米機構的設計和應用。對Au/Ag雙金屬納米結構表面等離子體基元共振性質的研究不僅加深了人們對雙金屬表面等離子體基元共振的瞭解而且對利用不同共振模式實現特定功能有著指導意義。對Au/Pd雙金屬納米結構在氫氣傳感和催化反應應用中的研究明確表面雙金屬表面等離子體納米結構可以實現單一組成不具備的功能，這在一定程度上有助於擴展表面等離子基元共振在生命科學、能源和環境領域的應用。 / Noble metal nanocrystals have attracted great interest from a wide range of research fields because of their intriguing properties endowed by their localized surface plasmon resonances, which are the collective oscillations of free electrons. Under resonant excitation, metal nanostructures exhibit very large scattering and absorption cross sections and large near-field enhancement. These extraordinary properties can be used in different applications, such as plasmonic sensing and imaging, plasmon-controlled optics, photothermal therapy, photocatalysis, solar cells, and so on. Gold and Silver nanocrystals have plasmon resonances in the visible and near-infrared regions. However, gold and silver are not suitable for some applications. For example, they are generally inactive for catalyzing chemical reactions. The integration of plasmonic metals with other metals can offer superior or new physical/chemical properties. In this thesis, I prepared Au/Ag and Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures and studied their lasmonic properties and applications in hydrogen sensing and photocatalysis. / Seeds have a crucial importance in the synthesis of bimetallic nanostructures. I therefore first studied the roles of the crystalline structure and shape of seeds on the overgrowth of bimetallic nanostructures. The overgrowth of silver and palladium on single crystalline Au nanorods, multicrystalline Au nanorods, and nanobipyramids were studied under the same conditions for each metal. The growths of silver and palladium on single crystalline Au nanorods gave cuboidal nanostructures, while rod-shaped nanostructures were obtained from the growths of silver and palladium on multicrystalline Au nanorods and nanobipyramids. Moreover, the growths of silver and palladium on multicrystalline Au nanobipyramids started at the stepped side facets, while the growths started at the twin boundaries on multicrystalline Au nanorods. These results unambiguously indicate that the crystalline structure of seeds plays a significant role on the final morphologies of multimetallic nanostructures, while the seed shape has a prominent effect on the growth kinetics. / Four plasmon resonance bands were observed in Au/Ag bimetallic nanocrystals. I then studied the evolution and nature of the four plasmon bands during the silver coating on Au nanorods both experimentally and theoretically. Electrodynamic simulations revealed that the lowest-energy peak belongs to the longitudinal dipolar plasmon mode, the second-lowest-energy peak is the transverse dipolar plasmon mode, and the two highest-energy peaks can be attributed to octupolar plasmon modes. The retardation effect and the interference between two perpendicularly polarized excitations along the edge directions are important for the formation of the distinct highest-energy and second-highest-energy octupolar plasmon modes, respectively. As the Ag shell thickness is increased, the longitudinal plasmon mode blue-shifts, the transverse plasmon mode first blue-shifts and then red-shifts slightly, and the two octupolar plasmon modes stay at nearly constant wavelengths. The extinction intensities of all the four plasmon bands increase with the increase of the overall particle size. / Palladium is widely used in hydrogen sensing and catalysis. I therefore studied the applications of Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures in hydrogen sensing and photocatalysis. Two types of Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures, nanostructures with continuous and discontinuous Pd shells, were employed to study their hydrogen sensing performances. For the nanostructures with continuous Pd shell, the hydrogen sensing performances were improved with the increase in the Pd shell thickness. A plasmon shift of 56 nm was observed when the hydrogen concentration was 4%. The nanostructures with discontinuous Pd shell exhibited smaller plasmon shifts compared with those with continuous Pd shell. For the photocatalytic application of Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures, I studied their photocatalytic performance for Suzuki coupling reactions. The results indicate that plasmonic Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures can efficiently harvest light energy for chemical reactions. The intimate integration of plasmonic and catalytic components in one nanostructure enables the light energy absorbed by the plasmonic component to be directly transferred to the catalytic component. Both hot electron transfer and photothermal heating contribute to the plasmon-enhanced chemical reactions. The photothermal effect is a nonlocal heating and the contribution of the hot electron transfer effect is dependent on the environmental temperature. Therefore, the photothermal heating effect can promote the hot electron transfer effect. / I believe that my research work will be very helpful for the design and application of plasmonic bimetallic nanostructures. My study on the plasmonic properties of Au/Ag bimetallic nanocrystals has deepened the understanding of the plasmons of Au/Ag nanorods and will be helpful for utilizing the different modes to achieve specific functions. The hydrogen sensing and photocatalysis of Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures have shown that the integration of functional components with plasmonic nanostructures can achieve unconventional properties, which will flourish the applications of plasmons in life sciences, energy, and environmental areas. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Jiang, Ruibin = 雙金屬納米結構表面等離子體基元共振的研究及其在氫氣傳感和化學反應中的應用 / 江瑞斌. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Jiang, Ruibin = Shuang jin shu na mi jie gou biao mian deng li zi ti ji yuan gong zhen de yan jiu ji qi zai qing qi chuan gan he hua xue fan ying zhong de ying yong / Jiang Ruibin. / Abstract --- p.I / Acknowledgements --- p.VI / Table of Contents --- p.VIII / List of Figures --- p.X / List of Tables --- p.XIII / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Localized surface plasmon resonances --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Applications of localized surface plasmon resonances --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Overview of this thesis --- p.13 / Chapter 2 --- Theory, Simulation, and Experimental Methods for the Investigation of LSPRs --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1 --- Theoretical methods --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Simulation methods --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3 --- Experimental methods --- p.35 / Chapter 3 --- Preparation of Metal Nanostructures --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1 --- Preparation methods for Au nanocrystals --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Seed-mediated growth method --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3 --- Metal nanostructure preparations --- p.54 / Chapter 4 --- Crystalline Structure-Determined Growth of Bimetallic Nanocrystals --- p.62 / Chapter 4.1 --- Au nanocrystal seed preparation --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2 --- Au/Ag bimetallic nanocrystals --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3 --- Au/Pd bimetallic nanocrystals --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.77 / Chapter 5 --- Plasmons of Au/Ag Core/Shell Bimetallic Nanocrystals --- p.83 / Chapter 5.1 --- Variations of plasmons with Ag shell thickness --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2 --- Nature of the different plasmon modes --- p.94 / Chapter 5.3 --- Summary --- p.99 / Chapter 6 --- Au/Pd Bimetallic Nanostructures for Hydrogen Sensing --- p.105 / Chapter 6.1 --- Au nanorods with continuous Pd shell for hydrogen sensing --- p.107 / Chapter 6.2 --- Au nanorods with discontinuous Pd shell for hydrogen sensing --- p.114 / Chapter 6.3 --- Theoretical simulations --- p.117 / Chapter 6.4 --- Summary --- p.119 / Chapter 7 --- Plasmon-Enhanced Chemical Reactions --- p.124 / Chapter 7.1 --- Mechanisms of plasmon enhancement in chemical reactions --- p.125 / Chapter 7.2 --- Plasmon-enhanced Suzuki coupling reactions --- p.129 / Chapter 7.3 --- Summary --- p.149 / Chapter 8 --- Conclusions --- p.156 / Curriculum Vita --- p.160

中国大陆近年来的高校管理变革，如高校教师聘任制改革、大学的扩招及分类、本科教学评估、产学研结合政策等，都对大学教师学术工作产生了深刻的影响。这些变革体现出新公共管理的部分特点，如“仿市场竞争、“量化指标的表现性评估、“多元化经费来源等，并且型构了当前大学教师学术工作的内涵、执行和感知。本研究采用质化研究取向，选取两所案例大学，在综合考虑了学校层级、学科、职称等因素基础上，对32名大学教师进行深度访谈，试图深入了解他们如何阐释和理解学术工作内涵、执行和感知。 / 研究发现，相对于大学教师个体的能动性，大学行政力量推动的管理要求对学术工作有更强的作用力。其一，受访者所理解的学术工作内涵中，发现的学术地位最高，应用的学术次之，教学的学术只产生了萌芽，整合的学术很少被提及。其二，大部分受访教师衍生出“符应和“巧妙利用的应对策略，少部分教师“抵制和超然于制度要求。其三，大学教师在教学、人事和科研三个方面的参与权依次减弱。无法有效的参与学术管理，使得大部分受访者调整工作优先次序，服务工作获得最大优先权，科研投入增加，教学时间被压缩。按照管理要求调整工作优先性的教师，获得更多回报和晋升机会。团队合作、交流与访学、深造都是大学教师寻求专业发展的重要途径，但受到聘任制及学校资源的限制。 / 本研究在文献综述的基础上，围绕学术工作内涵、执行和感知形成概念框架，在实证研究中，受访者的阐释和理解丰富了概念框架，为学术观、学术工作感知、学者应对策略等提供了本土理解。学术工作管理和实践偏重发现的学术，与西方大学教师采用“双账本和“多重语言体系等策略不同，大部分受访教师附应和巧妙利用于管理要求，甚至衍生出不利于学术工作发展的行为。学术工作中，服务优先，科研时间增加，教学被挤压。工作收入低、差距大。晋升机会在学校、学科和职称之间存在差异。旧制度的遗留和传统文化对青年大学教师的晋升造成障碍。教师发展需要合作，但这与聘任要求中的竞争理念矛盾。普通高校的教师专业发展需要更多支持。政府对大学从直接控制逐渐转为通过表现性指标评估、竞争性经费分配进行远程调控。市场通过提供部分经费，对大学的影响力逐渐增强。大学教师有意愿通过参与学术管理，在学术工作理想与执行之间达致有效的沟通。 / Some major reforms of Mainland China’s higher education management have affected university teachers’ work significantly, such as competitive contract-centered employment of staff, integration of industrial sectors, universities, and research institutes, and the evaluation of teaching quality at the undergraduate level. These reforms highlight some features of new public management, including quasi-market competition, quantitative index-based performance evaluation, and diversified fund-investment. Meanwhile, the reforms have shaped the meaning, action, and perception of current university teachers’ work. By using a qualitative research method, this study selected two universities as the cases, which are on different levels within China’s higher education system. 32 in-depth interviews with the academic staffs based at different disciplines and academic rankings have been done in order to gain insights into their interpretations and understandings on the meaning, action and perception in terms of academic work. / The research findings show that the administrative-force-driven management requirements are more powerful than individuals’ agency in regard of academic work. First, within the interviewees’ understandings of academic work, scholarship of discovery is on the top following by scholarship of application and scholarship of teaching. However, scholarship of integration is seldom mentioned. Second, most of the participants value the coping strategies of “conforming to and “manipulating with the management, while only a few hold a view of resistance or ecstasy over the system. Third, university teachers’ participation decline in sequence of teaching, staffing, and research.As seldom could gain the opportunity to participate in academic management, most of the participants have rescheduled the priorities of academic work by putting service on the top priority followed by research and teaching. Staff members who make the priorities well-rescheduled would achieve more returns and opportunities of promotion. Though team work, overseas visiting, and further study are critical for teachers’ career development, they are limited by the new employment reform and the university’s resources. / Basing on the literature review, this study has framed the conceptual framework in terms of the meaning, action, and perception of academic work. The empirical data has enriched the framework by providing local understandings and perceptions of academic work and their coping strategies. The management and practice of academic work value the scholarship of discovery. Different from the strategies of “double-booking and adopting “bilingualism used by western scholars, most of the participants in this study conform or ingenously manipulate with the management requirements though some actions are harmful for the development of academic work.Within the academic work, services occupy the top priority while academics prefer research to teaching. Academic’s salary is relatively low and income disparity have widened. The opportunities of promotion highly dependon the university, discipline and academic ranking. For the young university teachers, theirpromotions are largely blocked bythe inherited old system and traditional cultures. The new employment reform requires teachers compete with each other though collaboration is the most needed for faculty development. More support is needed in lower-level universities to improve faculty development. The government has transformed its management style from direct control to remote monitor by using performance evaluation and competitive funding distribution. While, the influence of market has increased by providing universities research funds. The university teachers are willing to participate in the academic management, which is crucial to the effectively communication between the academic ideal and its everyday practice. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 李琳琳. / "2013年8月". / "2013 nian 8 yue". / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-261). / Abstract in Chinese and English. / Li Linlin. / Chapter 第一章 --- 导论 --- p.1 / Chapter 第一节 --- 研究背景 --- p.1 / Chapter 一、 --- 政策背景 --- p.1 / Chapter 二、 --- 理论背景 --- p.5 / Chapter 第二节 --- 研究目的与问题提出 --- p.8 / Chapter 一、 --- 研究目的 --- p.8 / Chapter 二、 --- 研究问题 --- p.9 / Chapter 第三节 --- 研究意义 --- p.9 / Chapter 一、 --- 理论意义 --- p.9 / Chapter 二、 --- 实践意义 --- p.10 / Chapter 第二章 --- 文献综述 --- p.11 / Chapter 第一节 --- 大学管理变革的背景 --- p.11 / Chapter 一、 --- 传统管理方式下的学术工作 --- p.11 / Chapter 二、 --- 影响大学管理变革的因素 --- p.12 / Chapter 三、 --- 新公共管理下的学术工作 --- p.15 / Chapter 四、 --- 国家、市场、大学之间的关系 --- p.19 / Chapter 第二节 --- 学术工作的内涵 --- p.21 / Chapter 一、 --- 学术工作内涵的讨论与发展 --- p.22 / Chapter 二、 --- 学术工作内涵的多元度向 --- p.24 / Chapter 三、 --- 学术工作内涵的实证研究 --- p.26 / Chapter 第三节 --- 学术工作的执行 --- p.27 / Chapter 一、 --- 学术责任观的发展 --- p.28 / Chapter 二、 --- 实证研究中的学术工作执行 --- p.29 / Chapter 三、 --- 大学教师的应对策略 --- p.33 / Chapter 第四节 --- 学术工作的感知 --- p.34 / Chapter 一、 --- 对学术工作优先次序的感知 --- p.34 / Chapter 二、 --- 对工作发展机会的感知 --- p.37 / Chapter 三、 --- 对学术管理的感知 --- p.39 / Chapter 第五节 --- 中国的学术工作 --- p.44 / Chapter 一、 --- 建国以来高等教育变革对大学教师和学术工作的影响 --- p.45 / Chapter 二、 --- 学术工作的内涵 --- p.56 / Chapter 三、 --- 学术工作的执行 --- p.58 / Chapter 四、 --- 学术工作的感知 --- p.60 / Chapter 第六节 --- 概念框架 --- p.65 / Chapter 第三章 --- 研究方法及研究设计 --- p.69 / Chapter 第一节 --- 研究问题 --- p.69 / Chapter 第二节 --- 研究方法 --- p.70 / Chapter 一、 --- 质化研究取向 --- p.70 / Chapter 二、 --- 个案研究方法 --- p.71 / Chapter 第三节 --- 研究设计 --- p.72 / Chapter 一、 --- 个案与访谈对象的选择 --- p.72 / Chapter 二、 --- 资料收集 --- p.75 / Chapter 三、 --- 资料分析 --- p.76 / Chapter 第四节 --- 研究可靠性与研究伦理 --- p.76 / Chapter 第四章 --- 学术工作的内涵和执行：理想与现实之间 --- p.78 / Chapter 第一节 --- 大学教师理想的学术工作 --- p.78 / Chapter 一、 --- 从事学术工作的初衷 --- p.78 / Chapter 二、 --- 学术工作满意感 --- p.82 / Chapter 三、 --- 学术工作之间的理想关系 --- p.89 / Chapter 第二节 --- 学术工作的管理要求 --- p.91 / Chapter 一、 --- 大学实践中的聘任制改革 --- p.91 / Chapter 二、 --- 学术工作的考评与晋升 --- p.96 / Chapter 第三节 --- 应对策略：在理想和现实之间 --- p.111 / Chapter 一、 --- 附应 --- p.112 / Chapter 二、 --- 寻找制度空间，巧妙利用 --- p.114 / Chapter 三、 --- 抵制 --- p.116 / Chapter 四、 --- 超然 --- p.117 / Chapter 第四节 --- 本章结语 --- p.120 / Chapter 第五章 --- 学术工作的感知：优先次序与发展机会 --- p.124 / Chapter 第一节 --- 学术工作优先次序 --- p.124 / Chapter 一、 --- 保证最低的课堂教学时间 --- p.124 / Chapter 二、 --- 备课、指导学生、编写教材的时间可以挤压 --- p.128 / Chapter 三、 --- 服务工作的随机性和优先性 --- p.130 / Chapter 四、 --- 科研的重要性和机动性，挤占生活时间 --- p.133 / Chapter 第二节 --- 工作发展机会 --- p.136 / Chapter 一、 --- 工作收入 --- p.136 / Chapter 二、 --- 职称晋升 --- p.141 / Chapter 三、 --- 专业发展 --- p.146 / Chapter 第三节 --- 学术工作感知的调节作用：三个典型案例的分析 --- p.155 / Chapter 一、 --- 从沮丧到满意：附应管理要求的“海归女 --- p.155 / Chapter 二、 --- 痛并快乐着：追求理想的“非主流名师 --- p.159 / Chapter 三、 --- 逃避和无奈：被边缘化的“老讲师 --- p.163 / Chapter 第四节 --- 本章结语 --- p.165 / Chapter 第六章 --- 学术工作管理的感知 --- p.169 / Chapter 第一节 --- 参与和发声 --- p.169 / Chapter 一、 --- 教学管理 --- p.170 / Chapter 二、 --- 科研管理 --- p.175 / Chapter 三、 --- 人事管理 --- p.182 / Chapter 第二节 --- 大学教师感知到的学术管理 --- p.186 / Chapter 一、 --- 学术管理人员 --- p.187 / Chapter 二、 --- 无管理职务的“杰出学者 --- p.192 / Chapter 三、 --- 普通大学教师 --- p.196 / Chapter 第三节 --- 大学、市场和政府 --- p.202 / Chapter 一、 --- 大学内部：权力下放还是权力集中？ --- p.202 / Chapter 二、 --- 政府和市场对大学的影响力：从横向课题和纵向课题分析 --- p.204 / Chapter 三、 --- 大学的独立性 --- p.207 / Chapter 第四节 --- 本章结语 --- p.210 / Chapter 第七章 --- 结论 --- p.213 / Chapter 第一节 --- 研究发现 --- p.213 / Chapter 一、 --- 大学教师理解的学术工作内涵和管理要求 --- p.214 / Chapter 二、 --- 大学教师对学术工作的感知 --- p.216 / Chapter 三、 --- 主要研究结论 --- p.220 / Chapter 第二节 --- 理论贡献 --- p.223 / Chapter 一、 --- 对学术观的回应 --- p.223 / Chapter 二、 --- 新公共管理对大学教师工作的影响 --- p.225 / Chapter 三、 --- 对学术工作感知的回应 --- p.227 / Chapter 四、 --- 学者的应对策略 --- p.230 / Chapter 第三节 --- 政策建议 --- p.231 / Chapter 一、 --- 聘任制改革 --- p.231 / Chapter 二、 --- 大学教师考评政策 --- p.232 / Chapter 三、 --- 教授会制度 --- p.233 / Chapter 第四节 --- 研究局限 --- p.234 / Chapter 第五节 --- 后续研究展望 --- p.235 / 参考文献： --- p.237 / 附录访谈提纲 --- p.262

金屬氧化物納米材料因其優異的催化、光、電性能，在催化、環境修復、氣敏、光電裝置、鋰電及能源存儲等領域具有廣泛的潛在應用價值。科學研究表明，材料的性能取決于其組成、晶相、形貌和尺寸等，因此，對金屬氧化物納米材料的結構和形貌可控合成的研究具有重要意義。 / 本論文的主要研究內容包括：在純溶劑或混合溶劑中，采用無模板的水熱/溶劑熱方法合成了形貌可控的金屬氧化物納米材料，并系統研究了反應物及其濃度、反應溫度、時間和反應介質等參數對材料形貌的影響。此外，基於詳細的實驗數據，我們提出了各金屬氧化物納米材料的可能形成機理並對這些材料的光學性能和環境修複應用進行了深入研究。 / 在純水溶劑中，我們只采用一種反應物Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O 成功合成了由納米顆粒組合而成的六邊形氧化鋅“微米杯“和“微米環“材料。此前驅體在反應中不僅作爲鋅源，還提供了一種有效的侵蝕劑CH₃COOH，此侵蝕劑對氧化鋅晶體材料空心結構的形成起著關鍵作用。在混合溶劑乙醇/乙二醇體系中，我們成功合成了氧化鋅納米顆粒，并可以通過改變溶劑的體積比調控納米顆粒的粒徑，還對其尺寸依賴的光學性質進行了詳細研究。而介孔氧化鎂納米線和“微米花“則是通過無模板溶劑熱合成並煅燒而制得。實驗結果表明，反義介質對前驅體氫氧化鎂納米結構的形貌控制起了決定性的作用，在極性大的純水中更有利於氫氧化鎂的極性生長，從而生成直徑約80 nm 的納米線；而在極性较小的水/乙醇混合溶劑（其體積比小於2:1）中则得到由納米片組成的“微米花“超結構，並且隨著水/乙醇體積比的減小，納米片的厚度以及“微米花“的尺寸都相應地增大。我們還進行了氧化鎂納米結構對有機染料甲基橙的吸附能力測試，結果顯示氧化鎂納米線和“微米花“都具有很高的吸附容量，分別為48.9 mg g⁻¹ 和56.8 mg g⁻¹，而商品氧化鎂對甲基橙的吸附量僅為13.6 mg g⁻¹，其原因可歸結于制备的納米材料具有孔結構和較大的比表面積。此外，我們希望通過把氧化鋅摻入到氧化鎂中得到(ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x 納米片，將氧化鎂較強的吸附能力和氧化鋅的光催化特性整合在一起，從而提高其對甲基橙的去除效果，甲基橙的紫外光降解測試結果表明結合兩種優勢的(ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x 納米片具有很好的光催化性能。我們還利用紫外可見吸收光譜和陰極發光發射光譜研究了(ZnO)x(MgO)₁₋x 納米片的光學性質，前者顯示樣品的能帶隨著氧化鋅的摻入量而發生改變，後者表明(ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x 納米片的表面具有明顯的氧空位等缺陷。 / Metal oxides nanomaterials have the potential for a wide variety of applications such as catalysis, environmental remediation, gas sensors, optoelectronic devices, lithium ion batteries, and energy storage. It is because of their unique catalytic, optical, and electrical properties. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that these properties are strongly dependent on their compositions, phases, shapes, and sizes. Therefore, the studies on structure and morphology controlled synthesis of nanomaterials are of great interest and are actively being pursued. / In this thesis, we present an environmentally friendly and template-free hydro/solvothermal synthetic method for the morphology-controlled synthesis of metal oxides nanomaterials in pure solvent or in mixed solvent systems. Moreover, the effects of the reaction parameters including reactants and their concentration, reaction temperature, time, and reaction medium on the morphology of the target products were investigated systematically in this work. The possible formation mechanisms of these metal oxides nanostructures were also discussed in-depth on the basis of detailed experimental data. In addition, their shape and size-dependent optical properties as well as their applications in environmental remediation were also investigated. / In this work, hexagonal ZnO micro-cups and micro-rings assembled by nanoparticles were obtained by using only one reactant Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O in pure water system. The precursor not only served as the zinc source, but also provided an effective etchant CH₃COOH that played a strategic role in the formation of the hollow structures in the ZnO crystals. We also synthesized ZnO nanoparticles with controllable size in a mixed solvent system. The average size of the nanoparticles could be tailored by adjusting the volume ratio of ethanol/ethylene glycol (EG). Mesoporous MgO nanowires and microflowers were prepared by a template-free solution phase synthetic method combined with subsequent calcination. Our results indicated that the reaction medium played a crucial role in the morphological control of the precursor Mg(OH)₂ nanostructures. The high polarity of pure water favored the polar growth of the precursor, resulting in the formation of nanowires with a diameter of 80 nm, whereas water/ethanol mixtures with a lower polarity, at a volume ratio of and below 2:1, generally led to the formation of microflowers composed of nanoplates. Moreover, as the volume ratio of the water/ethanol mixture reduced, both the thickness of the nanoplates and the size of microflowers increased. In addition, the removal capacities of the mesoporous MgO nanostructures for organic dye MO from water were studied and calculated to be 48.9 mg g⁻¹ and 56.8 mg g⁻¹ for MgO nanowires and microflowers, respectively, which were higher than that of commercial MgO powder (13.6 mg g⁻¹). The superior removal performance was attributed to the excellent porous structure and high surface area of the as-prepared MgO nanostructures. In order to improve the removal performance, we had combined these two merits in terms of the adsorption ability of MgO and photocatalytic property of ZnO together by doping ZnO into MgO nanostructures. Thus, mesoporous (ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x nanoplates were obtained. The UV-induced degradation of MO indicated that the mesoporous (ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x nanoplates with the combinative merits had high photocatalytic performance and would be a promising candidate for environmental remediation. Moreover, their optical properties were also investigated by the UV-vis absorption and room temperature cathodoluminescence (CL) emission spectroscopy. The UV-vis absorption spectra showed the band gap variation of the as-prepared samples, due to the presence of ZnO in the MgO nanostructures. The result indicated that the design of surface structure could produce oxide nanocrystals with controlled optical properties. The CL spectra showed strong broad peaks in visible range from 450 to 700 nm, which implied there were significant oxygen vacancy defects created on the surface of (ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x nanoplates. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Lian, Jiabiao = 金屬氧化物納米材料的無模板水熱/溶劑熱合成、表徵及其應用 / 連加彪. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Lian, Jiabiao = Jin shu yang hua wu na mi cai liao de wu mu ban shui re/rong ji re he cheng, biao zheng ji qi ying yong / Lian jia biao. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgment --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.viii / List of Figure Captions --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Nanomaterials --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Definitions and Classfications --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Characteristics and Applications --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Fabrication Methods --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Metal Oxides Nanomaterials --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2 --- Methodology of This Work --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Method and Experimental Setups for Sample Preparation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Techniques for Sample Characterizations --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- X-ray Powder Diffractometry (XRD) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.2.4 --- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.2.5 --- Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) Absorption Spectroscopy --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.2.6 --- Cathodoluminescence (CL) Emission Spectroscopy --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.2.7 --- N2 Adsorption Surface Analysis --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Evaluation of MO Adsorption or Degradation --- p.25 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of This Work --- p.27 / References --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Hexagonal ZnO Micro-cups and Micro-rings --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2 --- Experiments --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Samples Preparation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Instruments and Characterizations --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.37 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusions --- p.44 / References --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- ZnO Nanoparticles with Controllable Size and Size-Dependent Optical Properties --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experiments --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Samples Preparation --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Instruments and Characterizations --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusions --- p.54 / References --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Mesoporous MgO Nanostructures --- p.56 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.56 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experiments --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Samples Preparation --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Instruments and Characterizations --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Water Treatment Experiments --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Structure Characterization --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Morphology Characterization --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Reaction Mechanisms --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Treatment of Polluted Water --- p.68 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.70 / References --- p.72 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Mesoporous (ZnO)x(MgO)₁-x Nanoplates --- p.74 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.74 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experiments --- p.77 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Samples Preparation --- p.77 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Samples Characterization --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Water Treatment Experiments --- p.78 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Structure Characterization --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Morphology Characterization --- p.83 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Reaction Mechanisms --- p.85 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Optical Properties --- p.85 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Treatment of Polluted Water --- p.88 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusions --- p.93 / References --- p.94 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions and Suggestions for Future Work --- p.97 / Chapter 6.1 --- Conclusions --- p.97 / Chapter 6.2 --- Suggestions for Future Work --- p.99 / References --- p.100

已有文獻指出幼兒能夠根據他人的意圖、慾望和信念以解釋對方的行為。本硏究的主要目的為探究幼兒能否理解音樂所傳達的情緒以及能否運用情緒來推測對方的行為，並了解這兩種能力之間的關係。在第一項測試中，我們用了Phillip et al.（2002）的注視時間飾演方範式（looking-time paradigm)來測試幼兒能否透過觀察他人的情緒(包括面部表情及說話)來推斷他的行為。在此項測試中，幼兒會觀看兩種情景（一）實驗人員首先會笑著面向物件甲說話，跟著手抱該物件（一致的情況）；（二）實驗人員首先會笑著面向物件甲說話，但接著手抱另一物件（不一致的情況）。因為在不一致的情況下實驗人員的面部表情與她的行為不協調，假若幼兒能夠理解實驗人員的情緒與行為之間的關係，幼兒將會對這種情況比較感到驚訝，因而注視時間會較長。在另一項測試中，我們運用了跨感官比對飾演方範式（intermodal matching paradigm）來探究幼兒能否理解音樂所表達的情緒。我們在播放開心的音樂之後，幼兒同樣地會觀看兩種情景：（一）螢幕中的實驗人員面露笑容地講話（一致的情況）；（二）螢幕中的實驗人員面帶哀傷地說話（不一致的情況）。由於在不一致的情況下音樂傳達的情緒與實驗人員的面部表情不相符，如果幼兒能夠理解音樂中的情緒，他們對這種情況的注視時間將會較長。此外，鑬於幼兒的語言能力與理解他人的行為及想法有著密切的關連，我們亦要求家長填寫《漢語溝通發展量表》來評估幼兒的語言溝通能力。是次硏究對象為三十五名十八個月大幼兒（平均年齡為十八月及四天）。硏究結果顯示，（一）當實驗人員對一件物件面露笑容時，她便會手握該物件；（二）當實驗人員聽到開心的音樂時，她會面露笑容；相反，當她聽到悲傷的音樂時她便會愁眉苦臉。結果亦顯示幼兒在以上兩項測試中的表現並沒有正向的關聯，即與我們的假設不相符。由於我們認為次序效應（order effect）影響了本硏究的結果，因此我們建議在量度幼兒對音樂中的情緒之理解，以及對情緒與行為之間的關係的理解應作出適當的修改。總括而言，是次硏究把動作及視覺經驗延伸至聽覺經驗，以及由理解意向和信念延伸至理解情緒，因此本硏究對了解自身經驗和理解他人行為及想法之間的關係潛在莫大的貢獻。 / Prior studies demonstrated infants’ precocious mentalistic reasoning of attributing others’ behaviours to intentions, desires and beliefs. However, fewer studies looked at infants’ interpretation of behaviours in terms of agents’ emotional expressions. The present study examined the relationship between infants’ perception of emotions in music and their understanding of behaviours as motivated by emotional states. In Task 1, we adapted Phillips et al.’s (2002) looking-time paradigm to assess infants’ use of emotional information to predict agent’s action. Infants were shown an actress with positive emotional-visual regard directed towards one object and subsequently grasping the same object (consistent event) or the other one (inconsistent event). If infants appreciated the connection between actress’ affect and her action, they should show greater novelty response to inconsistent events in which the actress’ expressed emotion contradicted the expected action. In Task 2, an intermodal matching paradigm was used to test whether infants are sensitive to emotions conveyed in music. We exposed infants to happy or sad music and later showed them an actress portraying either happy or sad dynamic facial expressions on a monitor. If they could discern the emotions embedded in the musical excerpts, they should look longer when the actress’ posed emotion is inconsistent with the emotion represented in the music. Parental report of language skills as measured by the Mac-Arthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories was also obtained to partial out the effect of language ability on psychological reasoning. Results from 35 18-month-olds (M = 18 months 4 days) revealed that as a group (a) they recognized that the actress tended to grasp the object with which she had positively regarded previously, and (b) they appreciated that the actress tended to show happy face upon hearing positive music excerpts whereas sad facial expression was displayed when listening to sad music. Contrary to our hypothesis, we failed to find a positive correlation between these two conceptual understanding. We speculate that the result was obscured by order effects, and suggestions have been proposed to ameliorate the measurement of infants’ looking preferences as reflecting their conceptual understanding. Despite the null result, the current study is potentially significant in corroborating the role of first-person experience in social cognition by extending from motor and visual experience to auditory experience on the one hand, as well as from intention and belief attribution to emotion attribution on the other. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Siu, Tik Sze Carrey. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-84). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Introduction --- p.11 / Infants’ Early Psychological Reasoning --- p.11 / Self-experience as a Mechanism underlying Infants’ Psychological Reasoning --- p.14 / Infants’ Attribution of Behaviours to Emotions --- p.17 / Music as a Language of Emotions --- p.23 / The Perception of Emotions in Music among Young Children and Infants --- p.25 / The Hypothesis of the Present Study --- p.29 / Method --- p.32 / Participants --- p.32 / Apparatus and Materials --- p.33 / Chapter Task 1 --- : Ability to predict agent’s action based on expressed emotion --- p.33 / Chapter Task 2 --- : Ability to decode emotions in music --- p.33 / Musical stimuli --- p.33 / Facial expressions --- p.34 / The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories --- p.35 / Procedure --- p.36 / Chapter Task 1 --- : Ability to predict agent’s action based on expressed emotion --- p.36 / Chapter Task 2 --- : Ability to decode emotions in music --- p.38 / Reliability Coding --- p.39 / Results --- p.41 / Chapter Task 1 --- : Ability to Predict Agent’s Action Based upon Expressed Emotion --- p.41 / Familiarization --- p.41 / Test events --- p.41 / Chapter Task 2 --- : Ability to Decode Emotions in Music --- p.42 / 42 / Test events --- p.42 / The Link between Task 1 and Task 2 --- p.43 / Discussion --- p.46 / Limitations and Further Research --- p.53 / Significance and Implications --- p.59 / Conclusion --- p.60 / References --- p.62 / Appendices --- p.85 / Table --- p.85 / Figures --- p.86