The formation of surface films on electrodes in contact with non-aqueous electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries has a vital impact on battery performance. A basic understanding of such films is essential to the development of next-generation power sources. The surface chemistry, morphology and thermal stability of two typical anode and cathode materials, graphite and LiNi0.8Co0.2O2, have here been evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, and placed in relation to the electrochemical performance of the electrodes. Chemical and morphological information on electrochemically formed graphite surface films has been obtained accurately by combining XPS measurements with Ar+ ion etching. An improved picture of the spatial organisation, including thickness determination of the surface film and characterisation of individual component species, has been established by a novel sputtering calibration procedure. The stability of the surface films has been shown to depend strongly on temperature and choice of lithium salt. Decomposition products from elevated-temperature storage in different electrolyte systems were identified and coupled to effects such as capacity loss and increase in electrode resistance. Different decomposition mechanisms are proposed for surface films formed in electrolytes containing LiBF4, LiPF6, LiN(SO2CF3)2 and LiCF3SO3 salts. Surface film formation due to electrolyte decomposition has been confirmed on LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 positive electrodes. An overall surface-layer increase with temperature has been identified and provides an explanation for the impedance increase the material experiences on elevated-temperature storage. Surface phenomena are clearly major factors to consider in selecting materials for practical Li-ion batteries.

Demands for high energy-density batteries have sharpened with the increased use of portable electronic devices, as has the focus global warming is now placing on the need for electric and electric-hybrid vehicles. Li-ion battery technology is superior to other rechargeable battery technologies in both energy- and power-density. A remaining challenge, however, is to find an alternative candidate to graphite as the commercial anode. Several metals can store more lithium than graphite, e.g., Al, Sn, Si and Sb. The main problem is the large volume changes that these metals undergo during the lithiation process, leading to degradation and pulverization of the anode with resulting limitations in cycle-life. The Li-ion battery is studied in this thesis with the goal of better understanding the critical parameters determining high and stable electrochemical performance when using a metal or a metal-alloy anode. Various antimony-containing systems will be presented. These represent different routes to circumvent the problems caused by volume change. Sb-compounds exhibit a high lithium storage capability. At most, three Li-ions can be stored per Sb atom, leading to a theoretical gravimetric capacity of 660 mAh/g. Model systems with stepwise increasing complexity have been designed to better understand the factors influencing lithium insertion/extraction. It is demonstrated that the microstructure of the anode material is crucial to stable cycling performance and high reversibility. The relative importance of the various factors controlling stability, such as particle-size, oxide content and morphology, varies strongly with the type of system studied. The cycling performance of pure Sb is improved dramatically by incorporating a second component, Sb2O3. With a critical oxide concentration of ~25%, a stable capacity close to the theoretical value of 770 mAh/g is obtained for over 50 cycles. Cu2Sb shows stable cycling performance in the absence of oxide. Cu9Sb2 has been presented for the first time as an anode material in a Li-ion battery context. Studies of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) formed on AlSb composite electrodes show an SEI layer thinner than graphite, and with a clearly dynamic character.

The Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is one of the major topics currently studied as a potential way to help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Major car manufacturers are interested in adapting the Li-ion battery in the power trains of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) to improve fuel efficiency. Materials currently used for Li-ion batteries are LiCoO2 (LCO) and graphite—the first materials successfully integrated by Sony into Li-ion batteries. However, due to the high cost and polluting effect of cobalt (Co), and the low volumetric capacity of graphite, new materials are being sought out. LiFePO4 (LFP) and SnO2 are both good alternatives for the cathode and anode materials in Li-ion batteries. But, to create high-performance batteries, nano-sized carbon-coated particles of LFP and SnO2 are required. The present work attempts to develop a new synthesis method for these materials: organic template-assisted synthesis for three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) LFP and porous SnO2. With the newly developed synthesis, highly pure materials were successfully synthesized and tested in Li-ion batteries. The obtained capacity for LFP was 158m Ah/g, which is equivalent to 93% of the theoretical capacity. The obtained capacity for SnO2 was 700 mAh/g, which is equivalent to 90% of the theoretical capacity. Moreover, Hybrid Pulse Power Characterization (HPPC) was used to test LFP and LCO for comparison and feasibility in PHEVs. HPPC is generally used to test the feasibility and capacity fade for PHEVs. It simulates battery use in various driving conditions of PHEVs to study pulse energy consumption and regeneration. In this case, HPPC was conducted on a half-cell battery for the first time to study the phenomena on a single active material, LFP or LCO. Based on the HPPC results, LFP proved to be more practical for use in PHEVs.

This thesis aims to explore heterodox ideological currents that developed in the Cultural Revolution, focusing on the background and writings of the “August 5” activists and the Li Yizhe group in Guangzhou. While the Cultural Revolution produced catastrophic consequences in many regards, this thesis intends to show that there are still ways in which young participants exercised their independent thinking and developed novel political ideas that significantly diverged from the official ideology. Beginning with an overview of the development of the Cultural Revolution in Guangzhou, I study the analyses of the “August 5” activists and the Li Yizhe group as well as examine how their heterodox views about China’s social and political system were inspired by their participation in the movement.

This thesis aims to explore heterodox ideological currents that developed in the Cultural Revolution, focusing on the background and writings of the “August 5” activists and the Li Yizhe group in Guangzhou. While the Cultural Revolution produced catastrophic consequences in many regards, this thesis intends to show that there are still ways in which young participants exercised their independent thinking and developed novel political ideas that significantly diverged from the official ideology. Beginning with an overview of the development of the Cultural Revolution in Guangzhou, I study the analyses of the “August 5” activists and the Li Yizhe group as well as examine how their heterodox views about China’s social and political system were inspired by their participation in the movement.

Increasing pressure from environmental, political and economic sources are driving the development of an electric vehicle powertrain. The advent of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) bring significant technological and design challenges. The success of electric vehicle powertrains depends heavily on the robustness and longevity of the on-board energy storage system or battery. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are the most suitable technology for use in electrified vehicles. The majority of literature and commercially available battery performance data assumes a working environment that is at room temperature. However, an electrified vehicle battery will need to perform under a wide range of temperatures, including the extreme cold and hot environments. Battery performance changes significantly with temperature, so the effects of extreme temperature operation must be understood and accounted for in electrified vehicle design. In order to meet the aggressive development schedules of the automotive industry, electrified powertrain models are often employed. The development of a temperature-dependent battery model with an accompanying vehicle model would greatly enable model based design and rapid prototyping efforts. This paper empirically determines the performance characteristics of an A123 lithium iron-phosphate battery, re-parameterizes the battery model of a vehicle powertrain model, and estimates the electric range of the modeled vehicle at various temperatures. The battery and vehicle models will allow future development of cold-weather operational strategies. As expected the vehicle range is found to be far lower with a cold battery back. This effect is seen to be much more pronounced in the aggressive US06 drive cycle where the all-electric range was found to be 44% lower at -20°C than at 25°C. Also it was found that there was minimal impact of temperature on range above 25°C

Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major source of inter-individual genetic difference, accounting for a greater proportion of the human genome than other forms of variation. Recently, the identification of benign and pathogenic CNVs has improved due to arrays with increased coverage. Nevertheless, most CNVs have not been studied with great precision and questions persist regarding their exact breakpoint, gene content, frequency and functional impact. This is especially true in cancer, in which a role for CNVs as risk factors is under-explored. Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a dominantly inherited disorder with an increased risk of early-onset breast cancer, sarcomas, brain tumors and other neoplasms in individuals harboring germline TP53 mutations. Known genetic determinants of LFS do not fully explain its clinical phenotype. In this thesis we describe the association between CNVs and LFS. First, by examining DNA from a healthy population and an LFS cohort using oligonucleotide arrays, we show that the number of CNVs per genome is well conserved in the healthy population, but remarkably enriched in these cancer-prone individuals. We found a significant increase in CNVs among carriers of germline TP53 mutations with a familial cancer history. Second, we find that ii specific CNVs at 17p13.1 are associated with LFS or developmental delay, depending on the exact breakpoint with respect to TP53. Using a purpose built array with 93.75% accuracy, we fine-mapped these microdeletions and find that they arise by Alu-mediated non-allelic homologous recombination, and contain common genes, whose under-expression distinguishes the two phenotypes. Third, we explore somatic CNVs in choroid plexus carcinoma tumor genomes. We show that this tumor is over-represented in LFS, and the number of somatic CNVs is associated with TP53 mutations and disease progression. These studies represent the first genomic analyses of LFS, and suggest a more generalized association between CNVs and cancer.

Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major source of inter-individual genetic difference, accounting for a greater proportion of the human genome than other forms of variation. Recently, the identification of benign and pathogenic CNVs has improved due to arrays with increased coverage. Nevertheless, most CNVs have not been studied with great precision and questions persist regarding their exact breakpoint, gene content, frequency and functional impact. This is especially true in cancer, in which a role for CNVs as risk factors is under-explored. Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a dominantly inherited disorder with an increased risk of early-onset breast cancer, sarcomas, brain tumors and other neoplasms in individuals harboring germline TP53 mutations. Known genetic determinants of LFS do not fully explain its clinical phenotype. In this thesis we describe the association between CNVs and LFS. First, by examining DNA from a healthy population and an LFS cohort using oligonucleotide arrays, we show that the number of CNVs per genome is well conserved in the healthy population, but remarkably enriched in these cancer-prone individuals. We found a significant increase in CNVs among carriers of germline TP53 mutations with a familial cancer history. Second, we find that ii specific CNVs at 17p13.1 are associated with LFS or developmental delay, depending on the exact breakpoint with respect to TP53. Using a purpose built array with 93.75% accuracy, we fine-mapped these microdeletions and find that they arise by Alu-mediated non-allelic homologous recombination, and contain common genes, whose under-expression distinguishes the two phenotypes. Third, we explore somatic CNVs in choroid plexus carcinoma tumor genomes. We show that this tumor is over-represented in LFS, and the number of somatic CNVs is associated with TP53 mutations and disease progression. These studies represent the first genomic analyses of LFS, and suggest a more generalized association between CNVs and cancer.

The Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is one of the major topics currently studied as a potential way to help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Major car manufacturers are interested in adapting the Li-ion battery in the power trains of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) to improve fuel efficiency. Materials currently used for Li-ion batteries are LiCoO2 (LCO) and graphite—the first materials successfully integrated by Sony into Li-ion batteries. However, due to the high cost and polluting effect of cobalt (Co), and the low volumetric capacity of graphite, new materials are being sought out. LiFePO4 (LFP) and SnO2 are both good alternatives for the cathode and anode materials in Li-ion batteries. But, to create high-performance batteries, nano-sized carbon-coated particles of LFP and SnO2 are required. The present work attempts to develop a new synthesis method for these materials: organic template-assisted synthesis for three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) LFP and porous SnO2. With the newly developed synthesis, highly pure materials were successfully synthesized and tested in Li-ion batteries. The obtained capacity for LFP was 158m Ah/g, which is equivalent to 93% of the theoretical capacity. The obtained capacity for SnO2 was 700 mAh/g, which is equivalent to 90% of the theoretical capacity. Moreover, Hybrid Pulse Power Characterization (HPPC) was used to test LFP and LCO for comparison and feasibility in PHEVs. HPPC is generally used to test the feasibility and capacity fade for PHEVs. It simulates battery use in various driving conditions of PHEVs to study pulse energy consumption and regeneration. In this case, HPPC was conducted on a half-cell battery for the first time to study the phenomena on a single active material, LFP or LCO. Based on the HPPC results, LFP proved to be more practical for use in PHEVs.

Cultural tourism provides opportunities for ethnic minorities to showcase their cultures, customs and heritage. At the same time, it causes a series of tensions and issues of authenticity and commodification have been the subjects of lively debate among tourism researchers. However, little research has been done to date concerning the roles of stakeholders who authenticate cultural resources. This thesis develops a conceptual framework that is employed to enhance understanding of the authenticity of cultural tourism when ethnic Li communities in Hainan Island, China, experience tourism development. Folk villages are used as a significant point of access for investigating the tensions which emerge in authenticating cultural resources. Four key stakeholders are identified: (1) governments; (2) tourism businesses; (3) visitors; and, (4) ethnic communities. Five pairs of yardsticks were developed based upon Swain's (1989) work to examine the issue of authentification. These constructs are: non-commercialization versus commodification, cultural evolution versus museumification, economic development versus cultural preservation, ethnic autonomy versus state regulation, and mass tourism development versus sustainable cultural tourism. The findings suggest that authenticity is relative rather than absolute and, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Therefore, it is necessary to shift from a previous focus on the nature and identification of authenticity to the more tractable question of authentification. The various stakeholders exhibit different positions with respect to the various paradoxes and the tensions that exist between their poles. For example, governments pay more attention on the control of ethnic autonomy whilst tourism businesses prioritize the economic development. Tourists exhibit blurred perceptions of authenticity whilst ethnic minority supports the maintenance of their of culture but gives priority to jobs and remuneration. This thesis demonstrates that it is more useful to evaluate who authenticates and the interests that such claims serve, rather than to adhere to some absolute standard of 'authentic' ethnicity. It makes recommendations for tourism planners, such as ethnic participation in the decision-making process, the development of strategic alliance among tourism stakeholders, and the taking of steps to promote the maintenance of Li culture. It also suggests opportunities for applying this conceptual framework of cultural tourism to other different situations, both within Hainan and elsewhere.