動脈硬化是個致病率和致死率相當高的慢性發炎疾病，為台灣十大死因之一。在病理過程中血中濃度過高的膽固醇為動脈硬化的一大危險因子，其會誘發一連串的發炎反應驅使血管壁內皮細胞功能喪失，血壓上升，平滑肌細胞增生等。Statin 是臨床上十分有效的降血脂藥物，雖然其作用機制已知在於抑制膽固醇合成酵素 HMG-CoA reductase 而有降血脂功效，但近年來探討 statin 在抗發炎方面的作用也漸受重視。nitric oxide synthase (NOS) 代謝產物如 nitric oxide (NO)，cyclooxygenase (COX) 代謝產物如 prostaglandin (PGE?、PGI?)，及 heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) 代謝產物如 carbon monoxide (CO)，均有文獻指出可以改善血流，而可能在動脈硬化上扮演保護角色。相反的，matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 的表現會誘使更多的免疫細胞浸潤到血管壁，並增加動脈硬化斑破裂，引起栓塞和中風的發生。在此實驗中，我們利用培養的大鼠主動脈血管平滑肌細胞作為研究材料，發現了 statin (lovastatin 、pravastatin、atorvastatin 、fluvastatin) 具有一些和降血脂無關的直接保護血管壁能力。包括會增加 interleukin-1β (IL-1β) 所誘導 iNOS 蛋白的表現及NO 的產生; statin 本身會增加 COX-2 和 HO-1 蛋白的表現及 PGE? 和PGI? 的產生，及抑制 MMP-2 和 MMP-9 蛋白活性的表現。此外分析調控 iNOS 基因轉錄最為關鍵的基因轉錄因子 NF-κB，發現適量的 statin 會增加 IL-1β 活化NF-κB 的作用。值得一提的是雖然適量 NO 有維持血管恆定的功能，過量時則會造成血壓過低休克的現象，這就是細菌感染後因內毒素 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 作用引發敗血性休克的主要原因之一。為更進一步釐清 statin 是否會影響受細菌感染病人的生命危險，我們也探討 statin 對LPS 作用的影響。結果發現 statin 反而會抑制 LPS 誘導大量 iNOS 蛋白的表現，NO 的產生及 NF-κB 的活化。這些新的實驗結果提供更多證據支持 statin 可以藉由維持血管舒張，減緩血管壁的發炎反應，穩定動脈硬化斑的作用，以有效控制動脈硬化各個病程的進展。這發現能讓我們更透徹明白 statin 的作用，且對將來研發 statin 在心血管疾病方面新的臨床治療用途是有所助益的。 ;The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, are potent inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis and have wide therapeutic use in cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence, however, suggests that the beneficial effects of statins may extend beyond their action on serum cholesterol levels. In this study, we investigated the effects of lovastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin, and fluvastatin on cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. We found statins can inhibit LPS-induced iNOS expression and NO production, while they can potentiate IL-1β-elicited responses. Moreover, statins themselves can stimulate COX-2 expression, PGE?, PGI? formation, and HO-1 induction. In contrast, statins can inhibit basal and IL-1β-induced enzyme activities of MMP-9 and MMP-2. In studying the activity of NF-κB, which plays an important role for iNOS gene induction, we found that statin can increase IL-1β-induced NF-κB activity, while inhibit that induced by LPS. All these results suggest that stimulation of iNOS expression in the presence of IL-1β, togeth1er with the increased COX-2 and HO-1 expression might contribute to the beneficial effects of statins in atherosclerotic process in terms of vasodilation and inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. The inhibition of MMP activity might enhance plaque stability and reduce the development of atherosclerosis. All these results strengthen the pleiotropic actions of statins in anti-inflammation and anti-atherosclerosis.

In order to facilitate a paradigm shift from traditional high volume chemical experiments to an environmentally friendly microdose experiment; I had to innovate and overcome a lot of difficulties. After six generations of experiment design I successfully reduced the volume of the combined reactants to a single drop. I utilized many recycled components to build my apparatus including a vintage computer, a simple CD disk, optical sensors and a transistor from a common computer mouse. By using a CCD monitor with an external camera feed, the single drop chemical reaction can be observed in real time and a recording of the event can be made. I chose the focus of the experiment to be the reaction of sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid to create a colloidal solution of sulfonium nanoparticles. By employing a custom-made transparency target to achieve a higher precision of measurement I have also conducted deeper research into the reaction order and the rate constants. 為了將傳統高劑量的化學實驗順利的推向顯微液滴的化學實驗上，今年我們更是創新突破了很多困難的關卡。 儀器設計由第一代減量研究到第六代的減量設計，目前已能成功的運用報廢的光碟片、報廢的電腦、報廢滑鼠內的感光二極體元件及電晶體來自製設計出兩反應物各一滴溶液做自動偵測反應的記錄。透過顯微鏡加裝的CCD電子螢幕目視觀看、拍成電子影片檔由電腦播放的目標。 因此，我選定了硫代硫酸鈉溶液和鹽酸溶液反應可產生硫奈米微粒的膠態溶液作為實驗的主軸及設計可較精確定量的投影片載液面，我們也企圖對其反應速率式的級數及反應速率常數做更深入的探討。

Arabidopsis thaliana bZIPs（AtbZIPs）是一群影響層面相當廣泛的轉錄因子，一半以上的 AtbZIPs 基因表現受到光的調控，且近九成的分子機制尚未明瞭，因此探討 AtbZIPs 在植物光調控機制中所扮演的角色將是個有趣的課題。AtbZIP16 與 AtbZIP17 皆被推測會參與光的調控機制，然而迄今少有文獻針對這二個轉錄因子進行更多的研究。因此，我們想藉由細菌單雜合系統（Bacterial one hybrid system）的方法，找出能與 AtbZIP16 與 AtbZIP17轉錄因子結合的 DNA 序列，以瞭解此二轉錄因子調節下游基因表現的分子機制，並探討其在光訊息傳導途徑中所扮演的角色。針對 AtbZIP16 與 AtbZIP17，本實驗分別找到了 7 與10 種可能的結合序列。首先，經由資料庫比對分析，我們發現其序列上帶有的 motifs 功能，主要參與在光調控、環境逆境反應機制、組織發育、賀爾蒙調節、病原菌防禦、鈣離子訊息傳遞等方面，其中又以光調控佔最大的比例。再者，藉由將 motifs 的功能繪製成文氏圖，並與 HY5 （AtbZIP56）做比較，結果顯示，這三個轉錄因子雖同屬於 AtbZIP family，據推測皆受到光的調控，可能參與某些相似的生理調節過程，但都各自具備不同的功能，影響植物體的發育。如此的差異，表示他們有實質上的不同，值得我們更深入的研究。整體而言，本實驗結果除了說明 AtbZIPs 的功能確實廣泛之外，也顯示AtbZIP16 與AtbZIP17 是執行光訊號傳導很重要的調控因子。Arabidopsis thaliana bZIPs (AtbZIPs) is a group of transcription factors affecting a wide range of responses in Arabidopsis. The expression of more than half of the AtbZIPs is regulated by light, and the molecular mechanism for roughly 90% of these AtbZIPs remains unknown. Therefore, the roles AtbZIPs play in Arabidopsis light signal transduction is an interesting topic to pursue. AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP17 have been suggested to participate in the regulation mechanism mediated by light. However, only limited studies for these two transcription factors have been previously performed. For this reason, we intended to determine the DNA-binding sequences for AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP17 via the bacterial one hybrid system to reveal their target binding sites in the promoter region of their downstream genes and to speculate their possible biological function especially in light signal transduction pathway. We have identified 7 and 10 possible recognition sequences for AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP17, respectively. Using motif-finding programs analyses, we found the motifs identified are mainly involved in light and stress signaling, tissue development, hormone regulation, pathogen defense and Ca2+ signaling. Among these regulation pathways, sequences involved in light regulation owns the highest proportion. Furthermore, a Venn diagram was generated to compare functions of genes regulated by AtbZIP16, AtbZIP17 and HY5. Results revealed that, although these three transcription factors all belong to the AtbZIP family and are predicted to be regulated by some similar physiological regulation process (e.g. light), they still possess distict biological functions in plant development. Further studies are thus required to put these transcription factors into their shared and unique biological context. Taken together, the results of this experiment not only indicated light is a key regulation factor for AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP17, but also showed the function of AtbZIPs could be diverse.

This research analyzes goldfish’ (Carassius auratus) environmental preference behavior by setting up different environmental color-models to spur goldfish’reactions. It is investigated that pre-conditioned preference of goldfish was stressed by electric shock or high osmotic pressure. We’re interested in how stress experience modulate goldfish’ exploring behavior and its environmental preference. Goldfish that prefers brown-colored environment (compared with white) is suitable for being an model animal to investigate fish’s environmental preference. Both electric shocks and high osmotic pressure, two different kinds of stress, can affect goldfish’ behavior. It shows that fish have the ability to learn and memorize the stress experience. Besides, different stress has different effects on fish’ environmental preference behavior. It proves that there are complicated interactions among environmental stimulus, memories of stress and behavior caused by different kinds of stress.本研究利用環境色彩特徵的差異，建立朱文錦(Carassius auratus)環境偏好行為之動物模式，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，以研究魚類的逆境經驗，是否可形成記憶，並影響其行為。我們發現朱文錦偏好土色環境(相對於白色環境)，適合作為探討魚類對環境偏好的實驗動物。電擊與高滲透壓兩種不同性質的逆境經驗，皆可影響朱文錦的環境偏好，顯示魚類具有記憶逆境環境的學習能力。此外，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。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。

Based on environmental protection and new energy development, the energy containing low pollution and having high efficiency becomes more popular. The fuel cell is an emerging technology, which is the reason why it is considered as Green energy. However, high-price membrane electrode assembly (MEA) inhabits the development of fuel cell. Among these components in MEA, platinum-based electrode leads the most cost. We select the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as catalyst support to improve electrode material performance and reduce Pt utilization. But the particle size and dispersion of platinum as well as character of catalyst support may significantly affect the efficiency of electrode.燃料電池因為具備低排放污染、低噪音及高轉換效率等環保特性，故被稱為綠色能源，可取代內燃機作為發電之能源系統。然而燃料電池中觸媒粒徑大小、分散情形以及使用不同的觸媒載體，均有可能會影響其電觸媒的催化效能，所以我們以「觸媒粒徑大小」、「觸媒分散情形」為主軸，著手以下的研究。本實驗在不同的酸鹼值下製備燃料電池的電極材料，並以電子顯微鏡等器材，觀察已披覆在電極上白金觸媒的特性，探討不同酸鹼環境對白金觸媒粒徑大小的影響，並探究白金觸媒粒徑大小與其發電效率的關係。

現今日常生活充斥著有機污染物，然而處理含有有機污染物的廢水需要極高的成本，有鑑於此，我們參考Fenton Reaction，從成本、毒性、活化能、操作方便性、二次污染及經濟效益的多方考量下，選擇以分子篩來固定鐵、鈷、鎳、錳、鋅之金屬離子，並決定以鐵分子篩為研究主軸，並探討其催化過氧化氫對有機物的分解。鑒於粉末狀的分子篩容易流失，我們以陶土固定分子篩，製作成反應杯槽，發現了分子篩與陶土的結合性。接著藉由二氧化碳感測器及光譜儀來感測有機物的分解速率，在控制溫度，濃度等條件下，探討分解有機物的反應及其反應時的特性。由實驗結果得知，分子篩能有效分解簡單醇類、氯仿、四氯化碳及indigo。使用0.35克陶土鐵分子篩，1M 以下的雙氧水50ml，其分解異丙醇所生成二氧化碳的速率可達0.34-0.55ppm/sec 之間（3.1-4.9×10-9mol/sec），此外有機氯化物分解後生成無毒性的氯離子；indigo染料分解後褪色。本實驗證實，陶土鐵分子篩：一、可以重複使用；二、可在較低濃度環境下運作；三、在酸性較弱環境下運作；四、可在低溫環境下運作(10℃)；五、不須對大量鐵離子做沉澱回收的工作（此五點優於Fenton Reaction）。相較於TAML 等人工合成的催化劑雖有避免污染的優點，但卻有無法重複使用的缺點，綜合以上幾點看來，陶土鐵分子篩在操作方便性及經濟與環境保護上具有相當的潛力及價值。With organic pollutants everywhere and the high cost to dispose of them, this study, a two-stage experiment, aimed first to evaluate the efficiency of zeolite with different metal ions and then to compare their rates in reacting to the decomposition of organic matter with hydrogen peroxide as the catalyst. Since zeolite powder can be easily washed away, we tested zeolite with clay to hold such metal ions as Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Zn and finally used the Argillaceous Fe-zeolite for its superiority on the basis of cost, toxin, activation energy, easy operation, and contamination. A carbon dioxide sensor and a spectrometer for visible light were used to measure the decomposition rate of organic matter under controlled temperature and resolution concentrations. The results of the experiments showed that zeolite achieved excellent effects in decomposing organic chlorides such as lower alcohols, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. When 0.35g of zeolite and less than 1M of hydrogen peroxide resolution were used the rate of carbon dioxide production reached 0.34-0.35 ppm/sec (3.1-4.9x10-9 mol/sec). The decomposition of organic chloride produced nontoxic Cl and the indigo dye faded after it was decomposed. Our experiments proved that Argillaceous Fe-zeolite has the following five advantages over Fenton Reaction. First, it can be reused. Second, it performed well at lower concentrations. Third, it worked well under weak acid conditions. Fourth, it worked at a lower temperature (20℃). And finally, there was no need to recycle a large amount of Fe ions. Argillaceous Fe-zeolite was also found to be superior to TAML, which has the advantage of avoiding contamination but is not reusable. The above observation and discussion demonstrate that Argillaceous Fe-zeolite possesses very significant value in terms of easy application, economy, and environmental protection.

a. Purpose of the Research Nowadays people are getting unhealthy, especially the heart. Since the outbreak of SARS, the Hong Kong citizens cared more about their health. In the past two decades, due to the technological advancement, many medical instruments that were used by doctors are now available to the public. One of the examples is the sphygmomanometer used for measuring blood pressure. On the other hand, very few heart monitoring devices are developed for public use. As a result, there is a need that such heart monitors should be available to the public. b. The device Our device is a modified stethoscope, which electronic components are added to this common medical instrument. The device mainly consists of 3 parts: 1. The sensor: modified from ordinary stethoscope, which a condenser microphone is added to change the heart sounds into electrical signals 2. The signal processor: integrated circuits and resistor-capacitor couples, which the cost is much lower than digital electronic components, are used to amplify and filter the noise in the electrical signals. The processor is divided into 3 stages: - Preamplifier: Amplifies the electrical signals converted from heart sounds - Low pass filter: Filters the noise in the signal. The cut-off frequency is 600Hz, which most of the heart sounds are below 600Hz. - Power amplifier: Amplifies the filtered signals before outputting into computers or earphones. 3. The output devices: it can be a computer or an earphone. In a computer, the heart sounds can be converted into graphs, enabling precise graphical analysis. Since many abnormal heart conditions will alter the heart sounds, with the aid of computers and graphs, people can know whether their hearts are normal or not, and can seek for medical support before developing any critical situation. Moreover, abnormal heart sounds are more significant in graphs, so any heart problems can be discovered more easily. c. Data During an exhibition in Hong Kong, about 1000 people tried the device. Among them approximately 150 people were confirmed to have heart problems with abnormal heart sounds. Using our device, we discovered 109 of them. As a result, the accuracy of the device is about 72.6% d. Conclusion With the low cost of our device (~€9.80/US$12.80), everyone would be able to afford it. As a result, people can check their conditions of their hearts more frequently, and would be able to discover any early heart problems.

My aim was to test the effectiveness of coolboxes under different\r conditions, to use this information to do comparisons using commercially\r available coolboxes and finally to build an effective and cheaper coolbox\r appropriate to Namibia\r The general method used to compare different coolboxes involved\r measuring the rate at which ice melted inside the cool boxes under\r different conditions.

The first aim of my project is to learn more about mushrooms: their lifecycle, their structures, the nutritional value of mushrooms, the medicinal values of mushrooms as well as the biological importance of mushrooms.\r The second aim of my project was to find how mushroom are cultivated in the world and specifically how they are cultivated in Namibia, where climatic conditions are rather harsh for mushrooms. Through interviews, I aimed to understand why mushroom cultivation is not widely practiced in Namibia and what are direct economic advantages of mushroom cultivation in Namibia.\r The third aim of my project was to see whether I could find cheap and economic methods of cultivating mushrooms in Namibia, a semi arid country where humidity is so scarce.

To measure the air quality of the city of Prince George by using lichen as bio-indicators of pollution.

打開水龍頭，水鉛直落到正下方的水平板時形成圓形水躍。我們實驗研究20＜Nr＜150 的低雷諾數圓形水躍的變因，探討圓形水躍半徑和流量、出水口高度、以及液體黏滯係數間的關係。改用高黏滯係數的液體（4：1 的乙二醇水溶液），鉛直落入板上方深h 的相同液體時，先形成圓形，h 漸大時形成環形圓紋曲面，再加大h，形成多邊形水躍，內外圍同方向旋轉，轉速ω；液中加水，黏滯係數高於及低於某定值，多邊形都消失，側面觀察，外圍液體作鉛直面旋轉。將水平板改置於旋轉盤上方，使高黏滯係數（4：1）的乙二醇水溶液鉛直落入板上方形成多邊水躍，逐漸加快旋轉盤的轉速至 ω 時，多邊形都消失；逐漸減少乙二醇的濃度，至完全用水實驗，亦有多邊形出現，我們認為；平板上方的液體的轉動是非圓形水躍的成因。When a jet of water falls vertically on to a horizontal plate, it spreads out rapidly in a thin layer until it reaches a critical radius at which the layer depth increases abruptly. This phenomenon commonly called the circular hydraulic jump. We study the variations of the circular hydraulic jump radius, as a function of volume flow rate of the jet, the drop height, and the viscosity of the fluid at low Reynold numbers (20＜Nr＜150). When a jet of ethylene-glycol mixed with water (the kinetic viscosity is 10 times of water) falls on to a horizontal plate which is immersed in the same liquid with height h. We find the circular state frequently undergoes spontaneous breaking at its axial symmetry into a stationary polygonal shape. Rather than displaying the weak angular deformation generally seen in fluids, the jump forms clear corners and edges that are often straight. Several of these polygon formations show consistency in height h. And we find the polygon structure rotates in a horizontal motion. When a jet of water falls on to a horizontal plate, and the plate is rotated by a motor ,we find the axial symmetry of the free surface of circular hydraulic jump is spontaneously broken a various number of cornered polygonal shapes. We study the number of corners as a result of the volume flow rate of the jet, the drop height and the viscosity of the fluid in the experiment. And the frequency of rotation of the plate is taking into consideration.

本研究是藉由數學手法探討；如何由一疊 36 張四種花色的撲克牌中，尋找出保證可猜中最多張花色的方法。研究過程是以在適當的猜牌時機，以邏輯推理、二進位、分析與歸納 … … 等數學原理與方法，搭配巧妙的策略運用而達到目的。 猜牌方法：先約定好猜牌規則，助手將 36 張牌背圖樣相同但非對稱的撲克牌，以旋轉牌背的方向傳達訊息。在本研究中得出「經由巧妙的猜牌方法保證可以猜中不少於 26 張花色」，並得出「當總張數趨近於無窮大時，保證可以猜中不少於 81 . 07 ％的牌，並且證出若僅使用獨立的訊息猜牌，無論任何猜牌方法皆無法猜中多於 87 . 37 ％的牌」 · 其中一個猜中多於 80 ％的例子是‘「當總張數等於 23006 張時，保證可以猜中不少於 1 8405 張牌（18405/23006 > 4/5）」 ·The study is mathematically based with reasonable explanations behind it. We are to correctly guess as many cards as possible from a deck of 36 cards, with random numbers and four different suits. We will apply mathematical methods, such as logic inference, binary system, and analytical reduction, upon right timing. Using careful arrangement of the principles and reasoning, we can reach our ultimate goal. To state guessing: Conference between the guesser and the assistant about the guessing rules, the assistant will have 36 cards with the same exact pattern on the back but not symmetrical. The pattern of the cards will be different when rotated 180o. The only communication between the two is by rotating cards. In this study, we can prove that through mathematical method, we can assure 26 or more cards can be correctly guessed. Furthermore, when the total amount of cards is close to infinity, we can assure 81.07% or more of the cards can be correctly guessed, and prove that if the cards are guessed from independent information, no more than 87.37% of the cards will be correctly guessed by any guessing methods. One of the examples, which 80% of the cards are correctly guessed, is that when the amount of the cards is 23006, 18405 or more of the cards can be correctly guessed. （18405/23006 > 4/5）