This research introduces a new, more efficient method of age determination for eclipsing Binary through use of celestial Positioning . Statistical Analysis of x-y plots of eclipsing Binary Stars within our, Milky Way Galaxy were conducted in order to find the standard deviation of each eclipsing binary star’s distance from the celestial equator. Before the standard deviations could be considered for comparison, the medians from each of the three s-y plots were examined. There medians had to show a value close to zero in order for the standard deviations to be relevant. A value close to zero indicates a proportional and symmetrical plot with an equal distribution of stars on each side of the plot. All three plots generated indicted a median no greater than 1/100 in distance from the celestial equator. A low standard deviation indicates young relative age. The statictical analysis calculated standard deviations of 2.41 for W Ursae Majoris, 1.77 for Algol, and 1.20 for Deta Lyrae. The statistical analyses were then compared to the previously made visual and mathematical analyses conducted in previous years’ studies. All analyses conducted conclude that W Ursae Majoris is the oldest type and Beta Lyrae is the youngest type of eclipsing binary star. This method can be implemented to greatly reduce time in studying the relative ages of individual objects and types of objects within our Milky Way Galaxy.

人類粒線體蘋果酸.可利用NAD+或NADP+為輔.，幫助腫瘤細胞獲得能量，但一般生理條件較傾向以NAD+為輔.。本研究將K346 修改成偏好NADP+之粒線體蘋果酸.家族中具有高度保留性的絲胺酸、及不具極性之丙胺酸，探討為何此酵素較偏好以NAD+為輔.。天然及突變株酵素的催化常數 (kcat)、基質Km 值、及抑制常數 (Ki) 測定結果顯示K346 之點突變不會影響基質Km 值，但K346S 之kcat明顯上升，繼而改變此酵素對NADP+之選擇性。本研究對於人類粒線體蘋果酸.催化機制的了解，有助設計具專一性的活性抑制劑，未來可應用於抑制腫瘤細胞能量來源，進而抑制腫瘤細胞生長。;Human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme can help tumor cells gain energy, using either NAD+ or NADP+ as the cofactor, but prefers NAD+ as the coenzyme. By mutating the K346 to Ser, conserved in NADP+-dependent ME and to Ala with non-polar, we explore why human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme prefers NAD+ as the coenzyme. We measured the proteins kcat, Km and the Ki values. The experiments showed that mutantions don’t affect the Km values, but K346S increased in the kcatvalue, transferring the coenzyme specificity to NADP+. If we develop deeper understanding of the human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme, we can design a specific drag to inactivate the enzyme activity, and inhibit tumor cell growth.

本研究目的在探索不同大小之氣泡在不同黏滯性液體中運動情形。實驗結果發現大氣泡向上運動的速度較大，其下方會漸漸向內凹。並且觀察到氣泡間結合時的相互作用：氣泡在相同黏滯性膠水中上升時，若下方氣泡體積較大，其較快的速率會使距離縮短。此時小氣泡的下半向內凹，大氣泡的下半則向外呈現流線型尖端並且在接近小氣泡時速率增加，最後與小氣泡結合。若上方氣泡體積很小，與下方大氣泡的距離縮短至相互貼合，小氣泡會先停留在大氣泡的上半表面，再沿大氣泡表面下滑至大氣泡的下半才與大氣泡結合。This research traces the motions of bubble with different volume in viscid liquid. The experimental results show that the bigger bubble rises at faster speed. The shape of the small bubble is round. As the volume of the bubble increases, it turns hamburger-like. And if the bubble is big enough, its underside would be concaved. In viscid liquid, the speed of the bubble is not smooth but waved. The smaller the bubble is, the more the variation in speed is. The interaction of two bubbles is also studied. There are two types of the combination of two bubbles. While the big one closes to the small one, it is accelerated. The underside of the small one becomes concave. And the big one becomes streamline shape. If the difference in volume between two bubbles is significant, the small one slides along the surface of the big one, and goes into the concave beneath it, then combines with it.

In the fast-paced environment of a hospital intensive care unit (ICU), good doctor-patient communication is essential. However, medical conditions and devices often inhibit a patient’s ability to speak, write or type. Current assistive communication devices are either prohibitively expensive or cumbersome and time-consuming, creating a gap in communication during a patient’s first days in the ICU. This project applies computer vision to develop a low-cost software solution that bridges this gap by enabling patients to generate words with eye movements. In the system, a webcam acquires an image of the patient, and an image processing algorithm classifies patient’s gaze as pointing in one of eight directions. Each direction corresponds to an option on a graphical menu presented to the patient on the computer’s display. The patient can use the menu to select a preformed phrase from a list of common phrases. Patients desiring to express more complex ideas can type custom words using the menu as an ambiguous keyboard (similar to a phone keypad). In either case, the patient-generated text will be displayed on screen and read aloud through the computer’s audio system. The only hardware requirements are an existing computer and a $6 webcam. The program can process and respond to an image in 148ms. A new user can be trained in approximately 10 minutes, and after training can type a simple phrase such as “hello world” in 40 seconds. While further testing and improvement is required before the system will be ready for implementation, the project shows promise as a low-cost solution to ICU communication.

本研究的目的在於探討蜻蜓兩對翅膀在不同的相位差之下對升力有什麼影響。在觀察蜻蜓及察閱相關網站、研究後發現蜻蜓前後翅的相為差有相差0.5 週期、相差0.25 週期、同週期三種不同振翅方式。在界定欲實驗的種類和評估現有的能力及資源後，決定研究加上相差為0.125 週期的四種振翅方式，於無風條件、相同的振翅頻率下進行實驗，測量其升力的變化週期。測量結果參照前人的文獻後發現，0.5週期產生的升力雖最小，但最平穩，所以為蜻蜓最常用的飛行方式。而0.25 週期升力會疊加，往下的力被抵銷，故為向上加速時使用。 ;The purpose of this study is to investigate the phase-shift between the front-pair and rear-pair wings on the maximum lift of a dragonfly. As observing the flight of a dragonfly and the literature survey from web sides, it has been observed that the general phase-shift modes of the dragonfly are in-phase-shift, 1/2 period and 1/4 period. It has been decided to include a 1/8 period phase-shift mode into the known three modes under the no wind condition with a fixed flapping frequency, the cyclic lift force of the dragonfly wing model has been measured. When it is flapping, we put the model on an electronic scale for measuring the weight of the model. After that we minus the original weight of the model, knowing the increasing or decreasing weight and the extra weight is the lift force. The results show that 1/2 period phase-shift mode produces the least lift force; however, it is the most stable flight, and is being adopted by the dragonfly for level flight. The in-phase-shift mode can produce more lift force on the flapping processes. The 1/4 period phase-shift mode produce the most acceleration, being adopted by the dragonfly for the climb flight.

本研究自2005 年12 月開始，以臺北市內湖區大湖自公園死亡的漂浮琵琶鼠魚(Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish )為主要研究對象，探討外來物種與放生行為對大湖生態系的影響。 研究期間共觀察到死亡的琵琶鼠魚隻數計有1085 隻，可記錄到個體形質資料的隻數為910 隻，背鰭棘數則有11 棘、12 棘、13 棘與14 棘四種，分析四種不同棘數的琵琶鼠魚後發現：在體長、頭寬及吻到背鰭長度均無差異(p>0.05)，因此判斷所記錄的個體應是棘甲鯰科(Loricariidae) Pterygoplichthys 屬中的同一種魚種。由檢視魚體並分析記錄數量與環境因子相關性後推測：琵琶鼠魚死亡主因是劇烈起伏的溫度差異，其次是人為因素的刻意傷害。 所記錄到大湖池塘水棲動物有：環節動物、軟體動物、節肢動物、魚類、兩棲動物及爬行動物等六大類共34 種，其中外來物種有16 種，本地入侵物種有3 種，而這些外來動物進入大湖的主要管道應是由個人的棄養或放生行為所造成。琵琶鼠魚因繁殖能力強、具攻擊性、吞食其他魚種卵塊、可適應高污染水體及垂釣客對魚種的篩選等因素，而成為最具生存競爭能力的優勢魚種。不但造成大湖池塘呈現嚴重魚種單一化，更可由靜止水域大量擴散至流動水域。未來如何將政府相關部門、學術研究單位與民間社團等力量結合，共同防範大湖琵琶鼠魚的持續蔓延、宣導民眾正確的放生觀念、積極改善大湖水體污染狀況，並訂定完整之外來物種移除計畫，以期恢復大湖池塘物種歧異度，都將是刻不容緩的重要生態課題。;This research began in December of 2005. Focusing on dead floating Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish in Dahu Park, Nei-hu Distrct, Taipei city. We discuss the impacts of Alien and of behaviors of the release of captured animals on Dahu Park’s ecosystem. During observation period, there were totally 1085 dead Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish, of which 910 bodies were found. The number of the thorn bushes on dorsal fins includes 11, 12, 13,and 14. After analyzing four kinds of different thorn bushes, we find that no differences exist in Total length, Head width, Predorsal length (p>0.05). We hence conclude that the recorded object should be species with identical with Loricariidae Pterygoplichthys. With the inspection of the fish’s body and the analysis of the relevance of the recorded quantity and the environmental factor, we infer that the main reason of the Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish’s death is violent temperature differences and the second is attributed to human’s intentional abuse. The aquatic animals of Dahu Park amount to 34 kinds and six classes such as Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Pisces, Amphobian, and Reptilia. Among them, 16 kinds that are Alien and 3 kinds are Native Invasive Species. Intentional abandon and release behavior channel of these Alien to Dahu Park. Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish are highly productive, aggressive, and adaptable to highly polluted water. Besides, they eat ovums from other fishes. Moreover, they are not the fisher’s preference and hence often thrown back into pond once hooked . Thus, they become the most competitive survival fish species in Dahu Park. The high competitive ability of Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish causes Dahu Park to present a serious unification of fish species. This serious unification of fish species could also be spread from static water areas of Dahu Park to flowing water areas. According to our research, certain urgent ecological issues in Dahu Park are to take precautions against the spread of Many-rayed Sailfin Sucker Catfish, to promote the correct idea of releasing captured animals, to improve Dahu Park’s water pollution, and to stipulate a complete plan about eliminating Alien. Our research suggest that government’s relevant departments, academic research units, and folk corporations should be cooperated to achieve the above four goals. Once the four goals are achieved, we believe that the fish species of Dahu Park will be full of varieties again.

This study investigates the possibility that “Digital Buses” would actually be used in real life. In addition to the basic mathematics knowledge that I have acquired over the years, I have used “Microsoft Visual Basic” and “LEGO ROBOLAB SOFTWARE” to implement the idea as a program. It simulates the way in which a digital bus travels in a city with a rectangular grid. Various plans are tested to find the best paths for providing the most efficient, convenient and speedy transportation. This study has not only shown that “Digital Buses” are sure to be used in a modern city when wireless communication networks has developed to a certain point, but also supplied a framework for future researchers who may wish to study the optimal way in which more than one digital buses could efficiently run in cities according to their population distributions and road arguments, in order to overcome the traffic problems from the current bus systems. 本研究探討數位公車在人類未來生活中實際運行的可行性。本人以所學的數學知識進行公車路徑規劃，並透過「樂高機器人控制系統」以及Microsoft Visual Basic 軟體程式之撰寫，在棋盤式城市區域中模擬公車行駛情境，靈活搭配各種方案找出最佳路徑，達到便利快捷的高運輸效能。本研究顯示當現代化都市無線通訊網路發達到一定的程度時，數位公車的發展是可以預期的。本研究之結果可提供後續研究者繼續探討多台數位公車在實際都市中依人口分佈、道路狀況來規劃最佳行駛路徑，以解決現今機械公車無法克服之繁雜交通困境。

This project is a research to find out if prawn pond sludge can be used as a fertilizer . This because so far there is no beneficial use of these prawn pond sludge from over 154,000 hectares of water pond culture in Sarawak . The objectives of this project were to determine if this sludge can be combined with topsoilito produce an eco-friendly and effective fertilizer for plants and to investigate what combination of sludge and top soil is the best for plant growth . It was found that sludge has high nutrient contents such as nitrogen , phosphorus , sulphur , potassium , calcium , magnesium and iron . The effectiveness of sludge as a fertilizer was investigated by growing water spinach or “kangkong” (Ipomoea aquatica) in 5 different mixture of sludge and topsoil for 3 weeks . After the third weeks , the results showed that the combination of 30% sludge and 70% topsoil produced the best results in terms of height of plant , survival , number of leaves , stem thickness and average plant weight as compared to the other combination of 0%：100% , 50%：50% , 70%：30% and 100%：0% sludge top soil ratio . Therefore , prawn ponds sludge has a great potential to be process to become a fertilizer .

在模式植物──阿拉伯芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）中，AtYAK1（Arabidopsis thaliana Yak1-related protein kinase）是目前發現唯一屬於DYRK（Dual specificity Yak1-Related protein Kinase）的蛋白激?。雖然之前研究已證明，不同物種之DYRKs 和細胞的生長與發育過程有關。然而，其在植物中的生理功能卻尚未被明確地研究報導過。在先前的研究中，為瞭解AtYAK1 在阿拉伯芥內作用之位置，前人選取AtYAK1 基因ATG 上游約2.5 kb 的序列（Upstream Element, 2.5KUSE）建構至一含有GUS（β-glucuronidase）報告基因的質體中，並轉形至阿拉伯芥，進行GUS 組織染色分析。但在初步結果中，並沒有在轉殖株觀察到明顯的GUS 表現。進一步分析，我們發現在2.5KUSE 序列末端約0.5 kb 的5’非轉譯區（5’untranslated region, 5’UTR）中，有四組開放讀序框（Upstream Open Reading Frame, uORF）。有趣的是，許多研究也顯示，uORFs 會影響轉譯過程中的再起始（re-initiation）作用而調控該基因的表現。另一方面，前人亦透過構築好的2KUSE 轉殖株（即不含有5’UTR）進行上述GUS 實驗。結果發現，此2KUSE 轉殖株的GUS 表現非常顯著。本實驗即要瞭解AtYAK1 的uORFs 是否也會影響其蛋白質的合成。首先，我們以點突變的方式將四組uORFs 中之ATG 換成TTG，目的為構築不含有uORFs 之5’UTR（mutated uORFs, ΔuORFs）。在進行原生質體短暫表現分析法（protoplast transient assay）及GUS 組織染色分析後，將結果與含有uORFs 的結果作比較：當缺乏uORFs 後，其3’端報告基因的表現量確實比原來顯著。綜合以上，我們認為此uORFs 對於AtYAK1 蛋白質之表現佔有相當重要的影響地位。最後，我們對5’非轉譯區是否存在開放讀序框進行阿拉伯芥全基因組分析，相關結果亦於本研究報告中分析討論。AtYAK1（Arabidopsis thaliana Yak1-related protein kinase）is the first DYRK（Dual specificity Yak1-Related protein Kinase ） family member identified in the model plant ─ Arabidopsis thaliana and exists as one copy gene in Arabidopsis. Previous studies showed that many eukaryotic DYRKs are involved in regulating the growth and development of cells. However, the study of AtYAK1 in Arabidopsis is lacking to date. In order to understand where AtYAK1 expresses and functions in plants, a 2.5 kb fragment which is located upstream from the major ATG of AtYAK1（termed Upstream Element, 2.5KUSE）was previously constructed to drive the expression of a reporter gene, GUS（β-glucuronidase）, in transgenic Arabidopsis. Much to our surprise, no GUS expression signal could be detected in such transgenic plants. When further analyses were performed, we found that there are four upstream open reading frames （uORFs） in the 5’untranslated region ( 5’UTR ) within the 2.5KUSE. Many studies indicating that the uORFs can regulate the translation of downstream ORF encoding the major gene product through the procedure of translation re-initiation. This action represents a mode of translational regulation for gene expression. Indeed, GUS activity could be readily detected in transgenic plants expression 2KUSE::GUS, a construct lacking the 5’UTR of AtYAK1. In this study, I have tried to elucidate whether the uORFs of AtYAK1 can regulate the translation of the downstream major ORF. First, in order to construct a 5’UTR fragment of which uORFs have been mutated（ΔuORFs）, we apply site-directed mutagenesis to substitute ATG with TTG for the four uORFs and examine the expression of GUS driven by this mutated 2.5KUSE. After analyzing the results in both Arabidopsis protoplast transient assay and transgenic Arabidopsis, stronger expression of reporter genes in both systems were observed when the four uORFs were mutated. We have also confirmed that, in transient expression system, the increase of reporter gene activity was not due to the excess accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs. Rather, it is the four uORFs which play an important role in negatively regulating the translation of AtYAK1, possibly via inhibiting the translation re-initiation of major ORF. A genome-wide examination of uORFs in all Arabidopsis genes was also performed to assess the possible contribution of uORF in regulating gene expression.

In this research, we investigated the interactions between goldfish’ (Carassius auratus) sensory experiences (electric shock, high osmotic pressure and colors). We separated the sensory experiences into two parts. One of them, we used different kinds of environmental color-models to analyze goldfish’s environmental preference behavior and different kinds of stress experience(electric shock and high osmotic pressure) to build the animal model of environmental preference behavior. We found that goldfish prefer brown-colored environment (compared with white) and different stress has different effects on fish’s environmental preference behavior. It proves that fish has the ability to learn and memorize the stress experience and shows that there are complicated interactions among environmental stimulus, memories of stress and behaviors caused by different kinds of stress. Also, we investigated the interactions between spatial memory and color distinction. We measured the duration of goldfish getting through the color-marked barriers driven by regular electric shock. We found that goldfish spend less time to get through color-marked barriers than those unmarked. It shows that there are some interactions between spatial memory and color distinction. In conclusion, the research proves that different sensory experiences can affect goldfish’s behaviors.本實驗利用感官經驗(電擊、高滲透壓、色彩)，探討與朱文錦(Carassius auratus)行為調控的交互作用。我們將感官經驗分成兩模式：利用環境色彩特徵的差異，探討不同逆境刺激經驗(施予電擊或高滲透壓環境)，與魚類環境偏好行為的交互作用，建立朱文錦環境偏好行為之動物模式。我們發現朱文錦偏好土色環境(相對於白色環境)，而不同性質的逆境經驗，對魚類的環境偏好行為具有不同的影響，顯示魚類具有記憶逆境環境的學習能力，且證明「環境刺激—經驗(記憶)—行為表現」三者之間具複雜的交互作用。另外，我們亦探討空間記憶與色彩辨識的交互作用，利用規律的電擊刺激使朱文錦通過有色彩標示的關卡，以研究色彩差異與空間變化對朱文錦通過關卡能力的影響。我們發現色彩的標示可降低通過關卡的時間，且不同的色彩具不同程度的效果，顯示空間記憶與色彩辨識具交互作用。本實驗證明了不同的感官經驗或刺激，對朱文錦的行為調控具質與量的差異。

The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the floral biology of Jatropha curcas Linn. as well as its possible pollinators, (2) the correlation between the number of pollen on stigma and the frequency of floral visitors, (3) the attractiveness of essential oil extracts from three species of Lamiaceae, i.e. Hyptis suaveolens, Plectranthus ambonicus and Orthosiphon aristatus, to Apis florae, (4) the repellent effect of crude extracts from three species of Graminae, i.e. Imperata cylindrica, Eleusine indica and Dactyloctenium aegyptium, on Polyphagotarsonemus latus, and (5) the effect of appropriate combination between lamiacean essential oil and graminaceous crude extract on the percentage of fruit setting and insect pest protection. \r Jatropha curcas is monoecious plants with tiny male and female flowers borne on the same paniculate cyme. One plant produces 15-30 inflorescence. Each inflorescence composes of 70-120 florets, and only 4-8 florets are successfully setting fruits. Each flower takes approximately 17 days in developing from floral bud till floral opening. The appropriate time for pollination is from 09.00 am to 10.00 am. While bees, wasps, hornets, flies and dragonflies are its potential pollinators, mites, aphids and worms are its harmful insect pests. \r Three volumetric, 1, 3, 6 and 9 ml, of each essential oil extracts were separately sprayed on each observed inflorescence. According to the experiment, 6 and 9 ml of each of the essential oil extracts give similar effective outcome, However, The H. suaveolens extract at 6 ml is the most effective attractant for A. florae. because it uses less of the oil extracts.\r Four concentrations, 0.1 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 %, 1.5 % and 2.0 % of each of the crude extracts from three graminaceous plants were sprayed on each tested plants separately. Concentations above 1.0% consistently provided an effective biocidal activity against Imperata cylindrica , however 1.0% is accecptable. because it uses a reduced level of the crude extracts\r The combination of H. suaveolens’s essential oil and I. cylindrica crude extract both significantly enhanced fruit setting of J. curcas and protected the plant from Polyphagotarsonemus latus without adverse effect on its pollinators.

臉部皮膚會長出小小骨頭喔！皮膚多發性粟粒型骨瘤的發現，X光顯像，治病機轉與雷射在治療上的應用。本篇研究是探討一種特殊又不易偵測的骨瘤，皮膚多發性粟粒型骨瘤(MMOC)，利用各種X光顯像技術，應用在痤瘡病患，偵測其分佈、發生率和疾病之可能相關；並利用組織病理發現去推測致病機轉；且利用各種雷射光，在體內與體外進行治療性的探索，並獲致重要的結論如下：(1)MMOC非常常見，每個人都有可能發生，但臨床不易被偵測，跟性別無關，但與年齡增長成正相關；(2)病灶分佈包括額頭、眼皮、鼻子、臉頰及頸部，與痤瘡的病灶分佈十分類似，但與痤瘡的疾病活性與疤痕的嚴重度並無相關。(3)利用乳房攝影的斜切照影技術，是最簡易有效的偵測方式。(4)病理組織中有些皮膚腫瘤伴有MMOC存在，並非此腫瘤有其特異性。(5)MMOC是一個因為皮膚毛囊皮脂腺在不明顯的發炎下所造成的轉化型骨形成反應。(6)紅寶石雷射及銣-雅鉻雷射對色素性骨瘤是一有效的去除技術。鉺-亞鉻雷射及二氧化碳雷射磨皮技術，對嚴重痤瘡疤痕並有MMOC患者，亦為一良好治療方式。Multiple Miliary Osteoma Cutis(MMOC) is a kind of special condition and difficult to detect clinically. By using different kinds of X-ray techniques and compared the clinical data from the patients with acne of face, by observing the changes of skin tissue specimens for searching the possible mechanism of osteogenesis and by using scanning electron microscopic observation and energy dispersive Xray analysis for evaluating the biophysical effects on osteoma after Ruby, ND-YAG, Erbium:YAG or CO2 Laser irradiation, we concluded that: MMOC, a very common condition, may develop in everyone. MMOC can be easily demonstrated by the modified mammographic technique. The density of calcification in MMOC is not related to the sex of patients, the activity of acne, and the severity of atrophic scar but correlated with the age of the patients. MMOC, a non-specific condition, results from metaplastic ossification occurring within preexisting subclinical inflammatory processes of the pilosebaceous unit and may be found incidentally in different kinds of facial tumor. Ruby or ND-YAG laser may have some explosive effect on pigmented MMOC. CO2 or Erbium:YAG laser dermabrasion can be used to treat MMOC with acne scar.