by Diao, Zhenyu = 模板辅助下制备有生物形态的MoO₃化合物以及它对降解甲基紫的催化作用 / 刁振玉. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Diao, Zhenyu = Mo ban fu zhu xia zhi bei you sheng wu xing tai de MoO₃ hua he wu yi ji ta dui jiang jie jia ji zi de cui hua zuo yong / Diao Zhenyu. / Abstract --- p.I / 摘要 --- p.II / Acknowledgement --- p.III / Table of contents --- p.IV / List of figures --- p.VII / List of tables --- p.X / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Biomorphic materials --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Semiconductor catalysts --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Methyl violet --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Photocatalysis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- Synthesis of biomorphic catalysts --- p.8 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives and thesis layout --- p.10 / References / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methodology and Instrumentation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1 --- Sample preparation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Synthesis --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Paper templates and precursors --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Characterization --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Scanning electron microscope (SEM) --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Differential thermal analysis (DTA) --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Catalytic performance --- p.26 / References --- p.26 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Paper template --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Thermal properties --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Composition of paper template --- p.32 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Morphology of paper --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2 --- Chemical precursors --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3 --- Infiltrated paper templates --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4 --- Biomorphic products --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Influence of annealing temperature --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Phase and composition --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1.2. --- Surface morphology --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Effects of annealing durations --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Phase and composition --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Surface morphology --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5 --- Formation mechanism --- p.56 / References --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Catalytic performance Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1 --- Degradation of MV under visible light --- p.60 / Chapter 4-2 --- Effects of the UV irradiation on MV --- p.64 / Chapter 4-3 --- Degradation of MV dye using M0O3 under UV light --- p.65 / Chapter 4.4 --- Mechanism of photocatalysis --- p.69 / References --- p.70 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and future work --- p.72 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusions --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2 --- Future work --- p.73 / References --- p.74

by Wong Chun Wing = 銀膠媒介內結晶紫的表面增強共振拉曼散射研究 / 黃振榮. / Thesis submitted in: December 2004. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-79). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Wong Chun Wing = Yin jiao mei jie nei jie jing zi de biao mian zeng qiang gong zhen la man san she yan jiu / Huang Zhenrong. / Abstract --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.2 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Experimental Setup --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Raman probe --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Spectrophotometer for absorption spectra --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- TEM and AFM --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Sample Preparation --- p.9 / Chapter 3.1 --- Chemicals --- p.9 / Chapter 3.2 --- Silver Colloid --- p.9 / Chapter 3.3 --- Slide Coated with Silver Colloid --- p.10 / Chapter 3.4 --- Sampling Probe --- p.10 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.12 / Chapter 4.1 --- Dependence of SERRS on CV Concentration --- p.12 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Resonant Raman spectra of CV --- p.12 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- TEM Images of Ag Colloid --- p.17 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- SERRS at different CV Concentrations in Solution --- p.20 / Chapter 4.2 --- Dependence of CV SERRS on Ag Concentration --- p.36 / Chapter 4.3 --- Dependence of CV SERRS on NaCl Concentration --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- UV-VIR Absorption Spectra of NaCl added Ag Colloid --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Dependence on NaCl Concentration --- p.49 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions --- p.64 / Appendix A / Chapter A.1(part A) --- Estimation of the Number Density of Colloidal Ag Particles --- p.66 / Chapter A.1(part B) --- Estimation of CV Concentration needed for Monolayer Coverage on Ag colloids --- p.67 / Chapter A.2 --- Assignments of Crystal Violet (CV) Vibrational Modes --- p.69 / Appendix B Estimation of the Probed Volume of the Microscope Objective --- p.70 / Appendix C Estimation of the Effective Molar Absorption Coefficient (α) of CV --- p.71 / References --- p.74

Using gentian and petunia as the experimental systems, potential alternative post-harvest treatments for cut flowers were explored in this project. Pulsing with GA₃ (1 to 100 µM) or sucrose (3%, w/v) solutions delayed the rate of senescence of flowers on cut gentian stems. The retardation of flower senescence by GA₃ in both single flower and half petal systems was accompanied by a delay in petal discoloration. The delay in ion leakage increase or fresh weight loss was observed following treatment with 5 or 10 µM GA₃ of the flowers at the unopen bud stage. Ultrastructural analysis showed that in the cells of the lower part of a petal around the vein region, appearance of senescence-associated features such as degradation of cell membranes, cytoplasm and organelles was faster in water control than in GA₃ treatment. In particular, degeneration of chloroplasts including thylakoids and chloroplast envelope was retarded in response to GA₃ treatment. In the cells of the top part of a petal, more carotenoids-containing chromoplasts were found after GA₃ application than in water control. In petunia, treatment with 6% of ethanol or 0.3 mM of STS during the flower opening stage was effective to delay senescence of detached flowers. The longevity of isolated petunia petals treated with 6% ethanol was nearly twice as long as when they were held in water. Senescence-associated petal membrane damage, weight decline, ovary growth and decrease in protein and total RNA levels were counteracted in ethanol-treated petals. The accumulation of ROS, particularly superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, was also inhibited or delayed by ethanol application. Anti-senescence mechanisms, particularly the changes of oxidative / antioxidant metabolism involved in petal senescence, were investigated. In gentian, activities of AP and SOD but not POD in the GA₃-treated petals were significantly higher than those of the control. In isolated petunia petals, the decreased trends of antioxidative SOD and AP activities during senescence were apparently prevented in response to ethanol treatment although the levels of ascorbate and photo-protective carotenoids were not affected. Furthermore, by optimizing a range of critical PCR parameters such as primer combinations, cDNA concentrations and annealing temperatures, a reliable protocol has been established for quantifying the expression level of Cu-Zn SOD gene in petunia petals using SYBR Green I based real-time RT-PCR. A 228 bp gene fragment of Cu-Zn SOD was isolated from petunia (var. 'hurrah') using RT-PCR. It was found that the mRNA level (relative to 18S rRNA level) of Cu-Zn SOD decreased significantly after 6 days in water. However, there was about a 55-fold increase in Cu-Zn mRNA level after 6 days of ethanol treatment when compared to water-treated petals. Similarly, down-regulation of the mRNA level of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was also observed during senescence of petunia petals. Increased vase life of petunia petals by ethanol treatment was correlated with promotion of GAPDH expression by a factor of about 16 on day 6. Taking together, the anti-senescence effects of GA₃ and ethanol are at least partially associated with an increased efficiency of petal system utilizing ROS since the selected antioxidants were significantly maintained when compared to the corresponding values for the control.

The diploma program summarized in this paper was to evaluate the habitats of Gentianella Praecox, subsp. Bohemica, in the Chvalšiny and Český Krumlov areas where the taxon can be encountered on eight sites. The narrative section, summarizing the biological and ecological aspects of the species, provides also information on why the taxon is endangered and how it can be protected. A special chapter is dedicated to the program of its recovery. The methodological section, characterizing the area of interest and its different sites, describes also the procedure applied to create and evaluate phytocoenological relevés. The chapter is complemented with information on the numbers of plants in bloom, a figure representing the communities of Gentianella praecox, subsp. bohemica, as found at the individual habitats. Statistical evaluations of the phytocoenological relevés revealed, inter alia, a certain change in the species composition and coverage, primarily on all sites at Svatý Kříž (Chvalšiny). The change observed in these habitats manifested itself also through the increase in coverage of the more mesic species of Plantago lanceolata, Achillea millefolium, and Lotus corniculatus. The numbers of individual plants of Gentianella praecox, subsp. bohemica, encountered in bloom showed substantial year-on-year fluctuation.

The decrease of semi-natural grasslands in Europe during the last decade has made several previously common species rare or declining in numbers. One of these species is the endangered field gentian Gentianella campestris, which has been proposed as an important indicator species for semi-natural grasslands. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of consistent management and shown how local conditions affect the species. Less is known about how the population is affected by isolation and changes in the surrounding landscape, both of which are potential consequences of habitat loss.This study utilized long term citizen science data on the population changes to explore if local and regional factors, such as connectivity could explain the rapid decline and local extinctions that the field gentian population in Östergötland, Sweden, has experienced since the beginning of the 1990’s. Generalized linear models showed that the declining field gentian population can partly be explained by changes in the surrounding landscape which has led to decreased connectivity of semi-natural grasslands. The study also indicate that there is a need for future management plans to consider the surrounding landscape on a distance of 1-3 km from field gentian localities as this scale seems to be the most important.