本研究結合奈米合成技術與生物醫學， 利用表沒食子兒茶素沒食子酸酯 (Epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG) 作為載體 調控摻雜Cu2+/Cu3+與 Fe2+/Fe3+之含量 並以π-π交互作用力附載缺氧性抗癌藥物替拉扎明 (Tirapazamine, TPZ) 成功製備出多功能金屬多酚配位奈米顆粒簡稱為EFeCuTPZ。 材料經紫外-可見光譜 (UV-vis)，、動態光散射 (DLS) 及掃描式電子顯微鏡 (SEM) 確認其粒徑大小、形貌學與穩定性。利用808 nm和671 nm雷射分析其光熱轉換效率 評估光熱療法效果，。在腫瘤微酸性環境下， EFeCuTPZ可利用高濃度之H2O2行芬頓反應 (Fenton Reaction) 產生高活性之氫氧自由基 (•OH)， 展現化學動力療法 (Chemo dynamic-therapy, CDT)，。同時， 藉由材料中的Cu²⁺與腫瘤環境中的穀胱甘肽 (Glutathione, GSH)反應減少高活性物質 (Reactive oxygen species, ROS) 的消耗 增強CDT之療效。酸性條件下 TPZ顯著釋放 有助於腫瘤治療。 另外， 細胞實驗顯示EFeCuTPZ具有高生物相容性與治療效果， 成功開發出具CDT，、CT及PTT功能之奈米複合材料 為醫學新興藥物材料提供可能性。

Conspiracy theories are generally perceived as irrational, absurd and as having a negative effect on our reputation. Yet some people do not see them as such. This may lead us to wonder why and how an individual would come to believe or support such statements. In this work, the primary goal is to obtain the level of absurdity of various conspiracy theories so that they can be used in experiments designed to test Williams' “Strategic Absurdity Hypothesis”. In addition, this study attempts to demonstrate the link between conspiracy mentality and feelings of ostracism. In this research, I analyzed a group of 47 participants recruited via social networks in May 2023. The survey collected their demographic information, their conspiracy mentality, their feeling of ostracism, their knowledge of conspiracy theories and their perception of absurdity toward them. The results were analyzed using correlations and linear regressions. The results show a negative correlation between conspiracy mentality and the perception of absurdity for most theories. In other words, the higher a participant's conspiracy mentality, the less absurd the theory is perceived to be. Therefore, hypothesis (I) is partially supported. On the other hand, hypothesis (II), which says that ostracism predicts conspiracy mentality, is not supported by the results. These results are in line with Williams' “Strategic Absurdity Hypothesis” and Sterelny's signaling theory, explaining that an individual, by expressing agreement with a conspiracy theory typically perceived as absurd, damages their reputation in the eyes of others to show that they belong to the group. However, for the theories relating to COVID-19 and climate change, the conspiracy mentality does not predict the vision of absurdity, suggesting that their currentness and media coverage influence whether they are used as signals. The literature does not fully agree with our results and still presents very divergent opinions regarding the links between feelings of ostracism and conspiracy mentality. Indeed, it remains difficult to determine whether conspiracy mentality influences ostracism or vice versa. In conclusion, this study provides new ideas for future research on the origins and impact of the conspiracy theories.

透過親手磨製岩石薄片及礦物比例數據，探討觀音火山熔岩的差異與其差異原因。根據前人研究得知，觀音山經過五次噴發，共有七種不同的火山岩。比對地質圖，尋找各層出露地點共17處，進行田野調查、空拍記錄及樣本採集，並磨製岩石薄片共14片，進行岩相觀察與礦物面積比例計算。 本研究觀察到觀音山熔岩有漸變關係，符合鮑氏反應序列。從橄欖石玄武岩→普通輝石玄武岩→普通輝石安山岩→兩輝石安山岩→紫蘇輝石安山岩→黑雲母角閃石安山岩。 並依據新的田野調查資料，修正觀音山的地質圖資；建立火山噴發歷程模擬動畫；製作立體地形模型，以瞭解對地質地貌關係，皆可做為日後觀音山地球科學教育之參考。

One of the main factors that contribute to fire incidents and the excessive heat people feel during a heat wave is the building materials used, and one such material that possesses durable and heat-resistant properties is sandwich panels. A possible structure that can be used to model sandwich panels is honeycomb structures; however, further research has yet to be conducted on its applications as a heat-resistant urban construction material. This study aims to design a three-dimensional model of a honeycomb sandwich panel and simulate its performance under different thermal and structural stressors. A 3D model of the honeycomb sandwich panel was generated using Autodesk Fusion 360. Then, multiple versions of the panel were generated with varying heat-resistant core materials—namely, aluminum, nickel, nickel-copper alloy 400, and copper—along with polystyrene as the core material for the control model. The following properties of every panel were assessed using finite element analysis (FEA): static deformation, stress distribution, strain distribution, total heat flux, and thermal gradient. Results showed that when subjected to varying structural loads (2 kN, 5 kN, 7 kN), the nickel-core panel demonstrated the best results in terms of static deformation and strain distribution due to its relatively lower deformation and elongation values, respectively. Meanwhile, under the same structural loads, the aluminum-core panel performed better than other core materials in terms of stress distribution due to it having the relatively highest difference between its simulated von Mises stress and its yield strength. The honeycomb sandwich panels have also shown to possess heat-resistivity when subjected to a thermal load of 90°C, with polystyrene being the most promising material overall in terms of heat-resistance due to its relatively lower heat flux and thermal gradient. The results from this study would contribute to future research on honeycomb sandwich panels and may be used in real-life applications.

As of 2021, there are 368 harmful algae blooms and over 6000 invasive species in the United States of America. Furthermore, it is reported that the United States spends more than 11.1 billion dollars per year on clean-up methods for marine debris. However, there currently isn’t a method to monitor aquatic problems simultaneously, autonomously, and efficiently, creating a capability in the aquatic biosecurity sector. To combat this, we have created an autonomous vehicle that can conduct long-term monitoring of freshwater bodies for up to 60 hours.

1.1. Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms Biofilms are bacterial aggregates in a matrix of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids (Donlan, 2002). They account for 80% of all chronic infections and cause over 500,000 deaths annually. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder characterized by mucus accumulation in the respiratory tracts (Morrison et al., 2020). This impairs mucociliary clearance, allowing chronic colonization by bacterial biofilms, leading to fatal respiratory failure, lung scarring, and necrosis of pulmonary epithelial tissues (Martin et al., 2021). 1.2. Obstacles in Current Treatments Three major therapies are used against CF biofilms: (1) aminoglycoside antibiotics like tobramycin, (2)non-aminoglycoside antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, and (3) non-antibiotic therapies including flushing, chlorination, and ultraviolet disinfection. These have two major flaws. First, they are cytotoxic; 30% of patients experience acute kidney injury after three days of intravenous aminoglycoside therapy (Joyce et al., 2017). Furthermore, non-aminoglycoside therapies can cause phospholipid buildup in lysosomes of proximal tubule epithelial cells, accounting for 10-20% of acute renal failure cases. Second, antibiotic resistance due to horizontal gene transfer and mutations has significantly reduced treatment effectiveness. Therefore, cystic fibrosis biofilms remain a critical threat with few effective treatments. 1.3. Salicylate Derivatives This project tackled this issue using an innovative non-antibiotic approach with salicylate derivatives. Salicylates, a class of benzoic acids—benzene-based carboxylic acids (Figure 1)—used in painkillers and blood thinners, were investigated for their antibiofilm potential through a 3-step process: 1. Literature review: Identified three key biofilm therapeutic targets: quorum sensing, bacterial adhesion, and cell motility. Disrupting these pathways would result in biofilm eradication. 2. Molecule Identification: Recognized key molecules in each pathway: LasR, adhesins, and flagellin. Inhibiting these molecules would disrupt the pathways. 3. Screening: Found that salicylates could inhibit the identified molecules, though they had never been tested against cystic fibrosis biofilms.

Climate changes that include ocean acidification and global warming are serious problems in the ecosystem, affecting marine phytoplankton, including Nannochloropsis oceanica. In the effort to further explore the impact of rising temperature and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations on oceanic ecosystems, the phytoplankton Nannochloropsis oceanica was used as a model organism. This study explored the effect of temperature change and CO₂ concentration on the growth of Nannochloropsis oceanica, achieving 243 samples that were tested with three different temperatures (24 degrees Celsius (°C), 28°C, 32°C) and CO₂ concentrations (0 milliliter (ml)/min, 0.4 ml/min, 0.6 ml/min), utilizing a hemocytometer counting method. Results indicate that the CO₂ concentration has a significant effect on the population of Nannochloropsis oceanica. But the temperature doesn't affect a lot. The Nannochloropsis oceanica in the lowest temperature and highest concentration of CO₂ in its environment had the highest population growth, and in the highest temperature and lowest concentration of CO₂, it had the lowest population growth. Results show the serious negative effect of climate change on the cosystem and the importance of environmental protection. Population blooms due to excess CO₂ taking up ocean resources causing dangerous ecological imbalances.

In this paper, I investigated the motion of a nonlinear coupled oscillator system consisting of two leaf springs secured to a non-magnetic base with magnets attached to the upper ends such they repel and are free to move. My results showed that the system exhibits the beats phenomenon, and interestingly that the frequencies show a dependence on initial conditions. I hence hypothesized this sensitivity is due to two sources of nonlinearities: geometric nonlinearity during large deflections of the leaf springs and the nonlinearity in the magnetic force. To test this hypothesis, a nonlinear mathematical model was developed, accounting for nonlinear beam effects up to third order and fully solving the nonlinear magnetic force using a current cylinder model, accounting for the tilting of the magnets. An approximate linear model was also developed for comparison. The theoretical models were validated experimentally by investigating the dynamic motion of the springs through time, as well as how the modal frequencies in the system depend on the initial displacement, the length of the spring, and the distance between the springs. The more accurate nonlinear model I derived shows good agreement with experimental results while the linear theory does not, highlighting the importance of nonlinearities in this system. An improved understanding of these nonlinear systems could lead to advancements in design and efficiency, and safety in various applications such as energy harvesting.

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), reactive oxygen species are generated within the cytoplasm to destroy cancer cells selectively. Using porphyrinic structures (PS) as photosensitizers holds promise for targeting cancer cells. However, direct incorporation of the porphyrins into cancer cells remains elusive. Hence, Dr. Martina Vermathen’s research introduced specific membranous phospholipid nanocarriers for topical porphyrin applications. However, since a sufficiently high enough concentration of PS in cancer cells has not yet been achieved, this study aimed to improve skin uptake of the nanocarriers. Two approaches were examined: (1) comparing polar and nonpolar porphyrins and (2) assessing the effect of a penetration enhancer, DMSO, through a neat and diluted application. The polarity of the porphyrins was first quantified with a log P test. The nanocarriers were assembled by incorporating two different PS compounds, either the mono- or tetra-4-carboxy substituted phenyl porphyrin. They were then characterized by 1D and 2D-NMR analysis. The porphyrin permeation was tested by Franz diffusion tests on pig ear skin. For the second approach, DMSO was added in the Franz diffusion test, either directly applied on the skin (“neat“) or diluted in the nanocarriers (“diluted”). The log P test for the mono- and the tetra-carboxyphenyl porphyrin resulted in values of 4.5 and -1.1, respectively. The more polar tetra-carboxyphenyl porphyrin exhibited 2.8 times better skin uptake compared to the mono-carboxyphenyl porphyrin. The neat DMSO application increased uptake by a factor of 5.5. The diluted DMSO application worsened skin uptake slightly. Analytical techniques revealed differences in porphyrin encapsulation: The mono-carboxyphenyl porphyrins were encapsulated in the centre, whereas tetra-carboxyphenyl porphyrins were localised around the nanocarriers. Results indicated potential instability of the nanocarriers. The more polar tetra-substituted porphyrins showed superior skin diffusion than the mono-substituted derivative. The neat DMSO application facilitated enhanced skin uptake by inducing membrane destabilization and pore formation but may have limited applicability. Further research is suggested to explore porphyrinic PS with alternative polar substitution patterns and tailored penetration enhancers for lipid-based delivery systems. Overall, the study underscores the importance of molecular properties of the PS system and demonstrates the potential of penetration enhancers in optimizing PDT for skin cancer treatment.

可再現醫療效益之腸道益生菌關鍵分子是重要蛋白質，蛋白質純化極重要但傳統方法費時耗力，導致發展腸道益生菌保健食品的成本很高。本研究取用助於改善糖尿病和血脂異常的腸道益生菌 Akkermansia muciniphila 外膜蛋白Amuc_1100為樣品，先以傳統方法開發純化製程，利用親和性層析和離子交換層析找出純化臺灣本土菌株isolate 02和國際標準菌株BAA-835之條件及其差異，確認純化蛋白質可維持3日穩定。本研究進行AlphaFold 電腦模型預測蛋白質結構並進行蛋白質序列分析，發現蛋白質本身結構和電性不同才導致isolate 02和BAA-835純化製程條件有所差異。本研究提供全新展望，透過人工智慧將蛋白質結構對應到合適製程，大幅減少研發純化條件的時程，完善蛋白質純化方法學，並得到可量產且品質穩定的純化蛋白質。未來將選用其他臺灣本土 Amuc_1100樣品以擴大驗證及建立蛋白質結構與純化製程資料庫。

可再現醫療效益之腸道益生菌關鍵分子是重要蛋白質，蛋白質純化極重要但傳統方法費時耗力，導致發展腸道益生菌保健食品的成本很高。本研究取用助於改善糖尿病和血脂異常的腸道益生菌 Akkermansia muciniphila 外膜蛋白Amuc_1100為樣品，先以傳統方法開發純化製程，利用親和性層析和離子交換層析找出純化臺灣本土菌株isolate 02和國際標準菌株BAA-835之條件及其差異，確認純化蛋白質可維持3日穩定。本研究進行AlphaFold 電腦模型預測蛋白質結構並進行蛋白質序列分析，發現蛋白質本身結構和電性不同才導致isolate 02和BAA-835純化製程條件有所差異。本研究提供全新展望，透過人工智慧將蛋白質結構對應到合適製程，大幅減少研發純化條件的時程，完善蛋白質純化方法學，並得到可量產且品質穩定的純化蛋白質。未來將選用其他臺灣本土 Amuc_1100樣品以擴大驗證及建立蛋白質結構與純化製程資料庫。

光柵作為常見的分光元件，應用於許多光學儀器中。然而，傳統光柵彈性較差且硬度較高，限制了其應用範圍。本研究利用具有高彈性和易形變特性的 PDMS 作為柔性光柵的材料，對不同厚度和彎曲程度的光柵進行一系列測試。為了探討厚度和彎曲曲率對繞射效果的影響，進行了不同厚度柔性光柵的繞射點分析實驗。實驗結果顯示，增加柔性光柵的厚度會提升其彎曲時第一亮紋的變化率；相反，減少厚度則會降低該變化率。隨後的研究進一步探討不同施力方式是否會影響柔性光柵的分光效果。通過拉伸和壓縮光柵，發現拉伸會使光柵的軌距變大，而壓縮則會使軌距變小。此外，研究還探討了利用 PDMS 複製類似光柵的結構是否具有分光效果。實驗結果顯示，複製的指紋確實展現了類似特性，期望未來能夠將這些特性實際應用於相關領域。