全國中小學科展

2010年

鐵基奈米顆粒製程及物性分析

超導體具有兩大特性 - 抗磁性及零電阻,若善加利用便能大量減少能量損\r 失。不過目前發現的超導體有的結構太複雜,其他則是臨界溫度太低。一年前科\r 學家發現不同於以往銅氧組成的鐵基超導體(FeSe),結構簡單但其臨界溫度仍\r 然太低。故我們利用原料濃度比例不同的Fe 及Se 以TOPO 熱熔法析出奈米顆\r 粒,分析其超導性質。結果顯示Fe 比Se 難析出,故Fe 濃度應比Se 多,且在油\r 性水域中較好混合。

低像差可變倍率透鏡之設計分析與應用

傳統光學玻璃透鏡的焦距和倍率都是固定,改變倍率必須靠多重透鏡組和改\r 變鏡組距離。可變倍率透鏡則在單一透鏡中具有多重倍率,可讓光學器材簡單輕\r 巧。我使用高彈性薄膜和高折射率液體,進行可變倍率液體透鏡的設計、分析和\r 製作,並不斷地改進,讓其達到輕薄化、微小化及低成本的特性。同時我推導出\r 液體透鏡之各種理論焦距與倍率,找出倍率與液量之關係,並以實驗驗證。\r 而像差是液體透鏡很難解決的問題。我透過電腦模擬和分析,建立減少液體\r 透鏡像差的方法,並以實驗驗證此方法的可行性。研究中也設計發展出多項應用,\r 包括成像教具、生物觀察器、非接觸式測距器、內視鏡、可調兩段式聰明眼鏡,\r 對教學、日常應用、醫療保健等,都提供相當大的幫助。

Nonlinear Time Series Analysis of Electroencephalogram Tracings of Children with Autism

Methods of nonlinear time series analysis were compiled for use in the analysis of Electroencephalogram (EEG) tracings of children aged three to seven with varying degrees of autism in order to provide a quantitative means of diagnosing autism and determining its severity in a child. After determining the EEG leads to be used for analysis, the identified methods were coded and saved as functions on Scilab. To test the compiled program, a minimum of five EEG readings per cluster of children diagnosed with mild, moderate, severe and no autism will be obtained. The project was able to identify the mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis and other higher order moments, the autocorrelation function, and the Fourier Series as the time-resolved statistical methods to be used for time series analysis. The nonlinear analysis methods identified include the use of the correlation integral, time-delay embedding and the Lorenz equations. One-way ANOVA testing will then be used on the numerical data obtained from the analysis to determine if a significant numerical differentiation has been obtained between the different clusters of EEG. This will provide a definitive way to medically diagnose autism, pinpointing children afflicted with the disorder and giving them proper treatment.\r Two copies of the "Abstract of Exhibit" (in English) should be sent to the National Taiwan Science Education Center or email to fung@mail.ntsec.gov.tw or yuonne@mail.ntsec.gov.tw before December 31, 2009.

震到電離層

本研究探討大地震前電子濃度的減少與地震之間的關係,以1999年921集集及日本地區2008/06/13規模7.2兩個地震個案進行檢驗。分別以疊圖的方式累積24小時電離層全電子含量(TEC),採前15天TEC中位數當作背景參考值,探討電子濃度的增加或減少,且以標準差σ檢驗確認其異常現象的程度。此外為分析太陽活動性對電離層TEC之影響,各選取相同磁緯、相同地方時的一點與F10.7指數相似時期做驗證,結果顯示電子濃度值異常減少可排除太陽活動的影響,而極有可能來自於大地震。

Why Spiderman cannot do without his silk?-The effects of dragline silk on jumping performance of jumping spider (Hasarius adansonl)

由於蜘蛛絲複雜的分子結構及產生過程,長久以來一直被視為一個特殊的生物材料(高延展性,高韌性,和高強度),此外,前人研究指出蜘蛛能自己調控絲的性質,並受到環境的影響。然而,大多數的研究多以結網性蜘蛛為主,只有極少數研究著重在探討非結網性蜘蛛,如:跳蛛。本研究中,以安德遜蠅虎為材料,分析跳蛛的跳躍行為,以及探討曳絲在跳躍過程時所造成的影響。我們初步的研究結果顯示: (一)曳絲在跳蛛跳躍過程中,對於安全降落扮演重要的角色,及(二)跳蛛會藉由改變身體的角度來維持身體的平衡。在跳躍過程中,蜘蛛的跳躍速度會因空氣阻力而減少,但是蜘蛛絲的彈性恢恢復力(根據虎克定律)會讓跳蛛跳躍速度更顯著的減少,並藉著身體的轉動與曳絲的作用達到身體平衡。對於一個非結網性蜘蛛是另外一個不可或缺的輔助工具。相對於其他跳躍動物,有絲的跳蛛具備另一項能減緩降落速度的工具以增加降落的安全性。

The Use of Simulated Annealing in Predicting Solar Flare Activity

A program based on the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm was developed to allow for a longer-term prediction of the occurrence of solar flares, thus reducing the risks they may pose to astronauts, satellites, and ultimately the planet Earth. Sunspot data such as the solar cycle, the appearance of sunspots, the sun's magnetic field, the occurrence of solar flares and other factors that concern the sun were considered in the development of the algorithm. The program, coded in C++, included providing for an initial random state that pertained to the sun's state at a specified time. A neighborhood function was designed based on how sunspots are formed and how they disappear, and the probability function was designed using previous solar cycles to show relationships between the number of sunspots and the time it takes for the sun to reach solar maxima. Finally, the cooling function was designed as a representation of the time. Recorded sunspot counts obtained from the US National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) during the solar cycle 22 from 1986 to 1996 was used as test data. The output was compared to the actual recorded solar events or the period. The program was found to be 66.7% accurate in predicting solar flares when compared on a smoothed trendline, while it exhibited a 50.5% accuracy when comparing day-to-day data. Since solar flare acitivty is predicted in terms of the trend of activity and intensity, improving daily data accuracy is superfluous. Smoothed trendline prediction accuracy may however be improved by altering the importance of each factor in predicting solar flare activity and by devising a different sunspot classification scheme for intensity and activity.

佛手瓜卷鬚之向觸性及其參與蛋白質之探討

本研究利用佛手瓜的卷鬚探討向觸性的原理。本研究大致分為兩部份,一方面我們在卷鬚中發現了含量極為豐富的構造,此一螺旋狀構造分布於維管束中,且用雙縮?詴劑檢測後發現其含有蛋白質,且不具有運輸水分的功能;並發現此一構造的分布疏密,會影響到螺旋內側外側以及切割後片段泡溫水的彎曲方向。此外,在進行卷鬚蛋白質電泳的過程中,我們發現使用含尿素的緩衝液萃取蛋白質的效果最佳,1克的卷鬚乾重約可萃取到5毫克的蛋白質,且蛋白質總量會隨著卷鬚的成熟而遞減。利用軟體比對及質譜分析八個蛋白質點,得知此八點的蛋白質為:malate dehydrogenase, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1, oxyen-evolving enhancer protein 2, calreticulin, peroxidase, stromal 70 kDa heat shock-related protein, and AP2/ERF and B3 domain-containing transcription repressor。由此可知,向觸性為植物經過一連串訊號傳遞後,對外界刺激的順應。

Mechanisms of Tumor Cell Invasion: The Role of Stat3 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Skin cancer, including basal cell and squamous cell skin carcinoma, is known to\r be the most common cancer type. Skin cancer is thought to make up half of all known\r cancers. Over one million non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are reported every year. \r Approximately 300,000 of these cases are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is\r estimated that about 2,000 people die from NMSC each year. Of the two skin cancer\r types, SCC tends to be the more clinically aggressive and likely to spread and invade,\r typically by way of blood or lymphatic vessels. Understanding the signaling pathways\r in SCC cells that regulate invasion will be important for developing improved cancer\r treatments. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) protein is a\r central regulator of numerous cellular activities, including proliferation, survival, and\r motility. Stat3 also has enhanced activity in many cancers, including skin SCC. This\r study shows that Stat3 regulates several invasive properties in a human skin SCC cell culture model.\r HGF (hepatocyte growth factor)- induced cell schattering was assessed for\r SRB12-p9 cells (p9WT), a human skin SCC cell line, along with SRB12-p9 cells\r engineered to have reduced Stat3 activity. Next, a cell viability-based adhesion assay\r was performed with these cells. Finally, severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)\r mice were injected subcutaneously with P9WT and S3DN cells and tumors were\r measured twice weekly. Extracted tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting for expression of the invasion related enzyme, MMP-2 and MMP-9.\r The suppression of Stat3 activity in S3DN cell lines resulted in reduced motility,\r greater adhesion, and a less invasive phenotype in SCID mice. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting indicated higher levels of MMPs in the P9WT cells with\r expression localization towards the outer perimeter of the tumors. This data suggests\r that Stat3 plays a role in skin SCC invasion and better understanding of Stat3 function\r could lead to improved treatment and prevention of the disease.

YWHAZ(14-3-3ζ)蛋白在肺腺癌細胞中可能活化Wnt路徑之探討

YWHAZ(14-3-3δ)蛋白被證實在肺腺癌中會引發上皮-間葉的轉變作用(epithelial - mesenchymal transition ; EMT)導致癌轉移,然而其分子機制卻不清楚。先前實驗室利用cDNA微陣列技術(microarray)發現肺腺癌細胞大量表現YWHAZ蛋白會導致Wnt訊息傳遞路徑之相關基因大量表現。因此,本研究目的是探討YWHAZ蛋白在肺腺癌細胞中是否會活化Wnt途徑而引發EMT。\r 本研究結果發現大量表現YWHAZ蛋白除了會增加細胞質中β-catenin的表現量,也會增加細胞核內 β-catenin 和TCF4 的蛋白表現量,並且在細胞核中與β-catenin和TCF4形成複合體;而臨床肺腺癌病患檢體中發現,相較於正常肺葉組織,YWHAZ蛋白與β-catenin在肺癌組織的檢體有較高的表現量,同時少部分會進入細胞核內。經由以上結果,我們推測YWHAZ蛋白可能會結合β-catenin與TCF4蛋白並活化Wnt途徑,因而引發EMT之產生,而促進肺癌轉移。說明YHWAZ蛋白有潛力成為日後診斷肺腺癌的指標蛋白(marker protein),同時亦成為治療肺腺癌的標的蛋白(target protein)。\r 重要性\r 1.提出YWHAZ可能在肺腺癌細胞中活化Wnt訊息傳遞路徑(Wnt signaling pathway)而導致癌轉移。\r 2.再度指出YWHAZ在腫瘤生物學的重要性。\r 3.對於肺腺癌轉移提供了臨床診斷及治療的另一種選擇 ─ YWHAZ。

The Titanium Dioxide Toilet Disinfectant

This project aims to improve the quality of toilet hygiene. The product designed should fulfill the requirements of being an environmentally friendly, user friendly and economical toilet seat system which guarantees the safety and hygiene of the toilet. This project also aims to discover the efficiency of the toilet seat system in eliminating pathogens through conducting various experiments.\r In this project, the photocatalytic property of titanium dioxide is applied. When titanium dioxide is under exposure to ultraviolet radiation, they generate free radicals, which are efficient oxidizers of organic substances. Also, research has shown that the safest ultraviolet light used will be UVA. Thus, by using titanium dioxide paint under exposure to ultraviolet light to oxidize pathogens and toxins, the aims will be achieved. Other than that, experiments will be conducted to explore the efficiency of titanium dioxide under exposure to UV radiation in eliminating pathogens by counting the number of bacteria on the toilet seat system after different time intervals the seat system has been turned on.\r The procedure of constructing the product includes drafting the product, purchasing the appropriate apparatus and materials, constructing the prototype, and checking if the product fits the goals set. Lastly, improving the design based on the flaws found during the checking procedure, as well as checking the product to see if it fits the original goals set.\r The procedure of the experiments aimed to explore the efficiency of titanium dioxide under exposure to UV radiation in eliminating pathogens conducted includes\r counting the number of bacteria on the toilet seat system after different time intervals by inoculation of bacteria on the agar plates.\r Test results showed that the number of bacteria had a steady and notable decline after different time intervals. Results also showed that bacteria would be thoroughly terminated after the system had been turned on for at most one hour. The information was then used to set the delay timer to restrict the amount of time the ultraviolet lamp was turned on to save energy.\r Moreover, the toilet seat system has also been improved so that it will complete the automatic cleaning procedure even without the user lowering the toilet seat. This improvement was made so that the product could be more convenient to toilet users.\r The system also deodorizes the toilet as the oxidization of bacteria and organic substances reduces the putrid odor released by them when they carry out chemical reactions.\r In conclusion, the project succeeds in accomplishing the goals set and is capable of improving the quality of toilet hygiene, especially in common households. The project is also successful in finding out that the toilet seat system is efficient in eliminating pathogens.