超越極限的越野蟑螂車
在本研究中，我模仿蟑螂的行走方式，來製作可以在各種地形以不減速的方式前進的機器車。在偶然機會下，我觀察到，蟑螂可以順利爬越米堆，因此對蟑螂的運動方式感到興趣。我用微型網路攝影機拍攝及觀察蟑螂的行走方式。發現蟑螂在快速行走時，是以三隻腳為一組，六腳兩組交互進行前進的動作。由於三點構成一平面，使蟑螂在快速移動時，相當的平穩。我將此原理融入蟑螂車的設計，並根據這個原理，利用舊玩具四驅車改裝成「六驅車」，成功的製作出模仿六足昆蟲行走方式且可以在各種地形順利前進的機器車。為了更客觀的比較，我應用樂高積木的馬達組合，製作了一部純轉動前進的六輪傳動車，及另一部轉動兼走動的六輪蟑螂車。並利用微電腦控制兩種車維持相同的驅動速度前進(93.33 rpm)，於各種路面實地測試，證實蟑螂車越野的性能的確強很多。未來若可以將六足昆蟲行走方式的概念應用到汽車製造，車輛的越野性能必然大幅提昇。\r \r In this research, I developed a six-wheel driving vehicle simulating the movement of cockroach. The resultant motion machine can un-intermittedly run on terrains without speeding down. Occasionally, I observed that the cockroaches can crossover a heap of rice. Therefore, I was very interested in and eager to learn how cockroach runs. I recorded the movements of cockroaches by using mini web camera and analyzed the moving characteristics of cockroaches. It was discovered that the cockroach marches quickly by interchanging two groups of foot in which each group consists of three feet. As a table can be supported by three legs, the cockroach runs steadily and rapidly. I have designed a motocross vehicle based on the mechanism of the way that cockroach runs. A six-wheel driving car is constructed by modifying four-wheel driving toy cars. By simulating the motion complex of six-foot insects, the six-wheel driving car turns out to be an all-terrain vehicle. To be more objective in comparison, I built two types of six-wheel driving cars by utilizing the LEGO TECHNIC motor building set: one with regular and synchronous rotation, and the other one with eccentric shaft rotation emulating cockroach marching movement. I applied a microprocessor to control the motors in order to maintain the same driving speed (93.33 rpm) for both cars during the road test. The experimental results show that the proposed cockroach motocross car performs superiorly especially for the rugged terrain. In the future, the off-road capability of a jeep can be improved by introducing the concept of six-foot insect movement to vehicle design.
利用自製頻譜儀研究蜜蜂的發聲系統
本研究利用麥克風與相關電腦設備，結合成自製頻譜儀用以觀測多種情況下蜜蜂的聲音頻率。若將蜜蜂的翅膀加以修剪，可測得有不同的頻率，解析頻率發現「翅膀為主要發聲點，但去除翅膀仍有高頻的發聲，且有三種不同的頻率。」將蜜蜂置於不同溫度下，解析頻率得知「一定溫度範圍內，溫度越高蜜蜂發聲頻率越高，反之亦然。」幼期在胸部塗顏料使絨毛無法生長，去除雙翅後，仍有頻率相近的發聲，得知「胸部絨毛不是造成高頻的原因。」靜置５分鐘，待蜜蜂停止發聲後，剪去腳、挑弄蜜蜂會發出高頻，得知「情緒是引起高頻的原因。」將蜜蜂的翅膀加以修剪，分別放回蜂窩口，發現「同一族群蜜蜂可用發聲頻率來辨別同伴。」比較義大利蜂及中華蜜蜂，得知「在多種情況下中華蜜蜂發聲頻率皆較義大利蜂高約７０Hz。」因此本實驗之結論並不受蜂種影響。The study, capitalizing on a hand-made frequency divider, the microphone and computerized equipment, observes a variety of frequency of sound given off by bees. We read different frequencies from the apparatus when the bee’s wings were trimmed. Analyzing it, we discover that the bee’s winds are major source of its sound, but it still gives out high-frequency sound when the wings were completely cut off.” After analyzing the frequency, we discover that within a certain temperature range the higher the temperature is, the higher the frequency is, and vice versa. In one experiment, we painted the thorax at its pupal stage to stop the bee from growing fine hairs. Even though the wings had been removed, it still gave out high-frequency sound. We, therefore, conclude that fine hairs on the thorax have nothing to do with the making of the sound. In another experiment, bees were placed in an undisturbed environment until they are completely silent. Then, some of the bee’s legs were cut off, while others were provoked. And all the bees make high-frequency sound in the process. We make a hypothesis that emotion could be the cause of bees’ sound-making. The bees with different trimmed wings were put back to the beehive; the bees can still recognize one another by the different sound frequencies. If we compare A. m. ligustica with A. c. cerana under different conditions, we find that the frequency from the latter is about 70 Hz higher than that form the former.
突變ras基因造成過度表現在骨髓間質幹細胞啟動氧自由基誘導細胞凋亡
特定基因的表現與不同氧自由基的產生，已知會影響細胞的生長和死亡。我\r 個人有興趣利用間質幹細胞體外培養擴充，以為筋骨組織再生的可能應用。因此\r 利用轉植(transfect)突變ras 基因(Glu61Leu)進入骨髓間質細胞株(HS-5 cells)，來\r 控制ras 基因表現的高低，進而研究這些間質細胞隨著Ras 蛋白質表現的高低，\r 對氧自由基引導細胞生長與死亡之影響。結果發現ras 基因高度表現的間質細胞\r 生長減緩；相較於原生株平均減少62.4%。進一步研究其生長減少是否與細胞凋\r 亡有關，發現ras 基因高度表現的間質細胞凋亡確實比原生株高22.6%。探究其\r 凋亡原因，發現與caspase-3 有關但和粒腺體功能無關：因為caspase-3 有活化，\r 但是以粒腺體膜電位螢光追蹤劑JC-1 測得的膜電位卻沒有改變。追蹤ras 基因高\r 度表現的間質細胞其細胞內氧自由基的產量，發現Ras 高度表現株其細胞內氧自\r 由基明顯增加。當細胞外加入超氧根轉化酵素(SOD, 500 U/ml)去清除超氧根時，\r 對Ras 高度表現細胞的凋亡沒有影響；但是外加觸化酵素(catalase, 500u/ml)於培\r 養液中，卻可以抑制ras 基因高度表現的間質細胞內caspase-3 活化和細胞凋亡；\r 並且增加細胞生長循環促進分子Cyclin D1 的表現。從這些研究我們歸結出兩點\r 重要新發現: 1) ras 基因突變造成Ras 高度表現時，會促成細胞內特定氧自由基產\r 生，使得細胞生長減緩並進行細胞凋亡，只有特定抗氧化酵素(catalase)才能恢復\r 其異常； 2) Ras 蛋白高度表現而引導氧自由基產生的細胞凋亡與caspase-3 活化\r 有關，但與粒腺體功能無關。根據這些發現，未來我們或許可以朝調節特定氧化\r 還原反應或使用caspase-3 抑制劑去調控間質幹細胞的生長，以供筋骨組織再生\r 的應用。Certain gene’s expression as well as different species of oxygen radicals can\r affect cell growth and apoptosis. We are interested in amplifying mesenchymal\r progenitor cells for the application of musculoskeletal tissue regeneration. Thus, we\r transfected a mutant ras gene (61Glu/Leu) to change Ras protein expression in the\r mesenchymal progenitor cell line (HS-5 cells) and studied how ras expressing levels\r influenced intracellular oxygen radicals, and its relationship to cell growth and\r apoptosis. Results showed that Ras over-expressing HS-5 cells grew slower than those\r with wild type ras HS-5 cells and revealed a higher apoptosis rate. The higher\r apoptosis in Ras over-expressing cells was not related to mitochondrial dysfunction\r since mitochondrial membrane potential was normal as determined by flow\r cytometric analysis of JC-1 fluorescent staining assay. The higher apoptosis was\r related to higher caspase-3 activation. Further studies showed that Ras\r over-expressing HS-5 cells revealed a higher production of intracellular oxygen\r radicals in comparison to those with wild type ras HS-5 cells. Addition of catalase\r (500 u/ml) but not superoxide dismutase (SOD; 500 u/ml) specifically revived the cell\r growth associated with increase of cyclin D1 expression, but decrease of apoptosis\r associated with lower caspase-3 activation. Results from these studies demonstrated\r two important findings: 1) the ras gene over-expressing in a ras-mutant HS-5 cell line\r triggers a higher production of intracellular oxygen radicals resulting in higher cell\r apoptosis; and 2) the higher oxygen radicals related cell apoptosis is mediated by\r caspase-3 but not mitochondrial dysfunction. Based on these findings, we may\r propose to regulate mesenchymal progenitor cell growth for musculoskeletal tissue\r regeneration via modulation of redox reactions or caspase-3 inhibitors in the future.
同步現象的研究
In our daily life, objects and the contacts between objects they will have mutually affect each other, some initially chaotic systems after a sufficient amount of time will mutually correct each other, and finally achieve synchronization (example: the speed of bird and fish migration, market prices, infantry…), although some are unable to achieve this. We will illustrate and explain the synchronization system, its process and discover the conditions for synchronization. Using linking concepts, we will integrate the coupled map lattices with global coupling and coupled map lattices with intermediate-range models into a synchronization mode in order to simulate a synchronization system. We first used a small system of n≦50 to obtain results that will demonstrate the linking concepts: 1. The more chaotic a system, a longer period of time is required for synchronization. 2. An increase in the number of individual objects requires an increase in the range of concepts and the amount of time in order to achieve an in depth synchronization. 3. Initial concept values which randomly effect synchronization critical point conditions are not obvious in a mathematically incorrect graph. In a closer look, when we increased the synchronization to n≦400 and the number of times to t-->100,000 we discovered:1. Using the function G(x) we hoped the results from the graph after apply the function and correction able to overlap and test with “Scaling and Universality in Transition to Synchronous Chaos with Local-Global Interactions”, but the part which overlapped the measurements was not identical: 2. We can use the significance of the critical point and the Interactive Process to find the approximate value of the critical value up to 4 digits following the decimal point. 3. We can also use the approximate value to find out the range for the simultaneous conditions and the various points on the system itself, as well as obtain a negative correlation between them, and then it can be similarly expressed with using a curve. A computer can calculate values with this kind of enumerating method, even without any special resolution capabilities to quickly obtain large amounts of approximate values of simultaneous conditions, this is especially true when calculating unfamiliar systems. 日常生活中，物件與物件的接觸，彼此會互相影響，有些原本雜亂的系統再經過充裕時間的互相修正後，最後竟能達成同步(例如：鳥群、魚群遷徙的速度、市場價格、行軍步伐…)，有些則不能。因此，我們試著利用描述同步系統的模型，觀察系統同步的過程，並且找出同步的條件。由連結的觀點，我們將Coupled map lattices with global coupling 和Coupled map lattices with intermediate-range 模型的優點整合成Synchronization mode 去模擬同步系統。我們先用小系統(n≦50)得到能印證連結觀點的結果：(一)、系統越雜亂，就需要稍長的時間同步；(二)、個體數越多時，各點需要更大範圍的點數去影響於每單位時間內以及更深的影響才能同步；(三)、起始值隨機影響同步臨界條件並不明顯，在誤差範圍內。更進一步，我們將系統推向n≦400 點,t→100,000 次，我們發現：(一)、在”G(x)”我們希望能將圖形經過函數修正之後能疊和，驗證”Scaling and Universality In Transition to Synchronous Chaos with Local-Global Interactions ”中的結果，但只有部分疊和，尺度不相同；(二)、可以直接利用臨界點的意義用十分逼近法求出臨界值的近似值到小數後四位；(三)、我們用近似值也能發現同步條件與系統各點本身可跳躍的數值範圍是負相關，可用曲線去近似。這種窮舉方式，交由電腦運算，不需要特別的解析能力就能夠快速且大量求得同步條件的近似值，尤其在運算不熟悉的系統時。
臭氧濃度與天氣因子
本實驗的觀測乃著重於觀測各定點之臭氧濃度與該地天氣因子；如溫度、相對溼度、氣壓、雲量、風速、日照強度等與之比較並控制所有可能的變因，來推測一地空氣污染的程度，並從中思考影響一地臭氧濃度變化的要素。 利用自製的熊本試紙來測量在對流層中臭氧的濃度，進而來推論出我們所設的測站附近的空氣污染程度。 由實驗了解臭氧濃度和其他天氣因子如溫度、相對溼度、風向、風速、日照強度、紫外線強度、工廠作息或交通流量等因素有著很微妙的關係。 最後，我們歸納出在做此實驗時所遇到的相關問題與解決方法。 This experimentation is about the ozone of troposphere. We try to find out how the weather elements affect the ozone consistency (for example: air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, cloudage, wind speed, solar insolation), and to discover the relation between the ozone consistency and the air pollution. We use the test paper which is made by ourselves to measure the ozone consistency of troposphere, so that we con use the date to infer the air pollution level at the area where we conduct our tests. According to our experiment, we find out the ozone consistency and other weather elements (ex: air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, cloudage, wind speed, solar insolation or traffic), have some delicate relations with each other. Finally, we conclude all the relative problems we face in this experiment and their solutions.
黏質色拉雷菌(Serratia marcescens)發光重組菌偵測環境中含酚環之毒性化合物之?
A pair of bacterial two-component system RssB-RssA was cooperated into Serratia marcescens for toxicity phenolic compound detection. First step of this study, E coli was used to accept the plasmid and certified by fluorescent. Then transfer the system from E coli into Serratia marcescens. Finally, 7 kinds of chemical, included phenol, benzene, toluene, xylenes, 4-chlorotoluene, 2-nitrotoluene, and kerosene, were used to check the sensitivity of this gene modified Serratia marcescens line. The results showed that this gene modified Serratia marcescens line had good performances and responses to those chemicals. 本實驗是以一受到二元訊號傳遞系統調控的發光基因重組質體，送入黏質色拉雷菌中，並以製備好的菌株進行毒性化合物之測試。在實驗的第一階段，我們將重組質體送入大腸桿菌內，並以其發光的有無來判斷是否達到送入的目的，其後再以電泳法確認各基因片段是否正確。第二階段再以相同的方法將選殖好的重組發光質體送入黏質色拉雷菌。第三階段，以發光重組菌針對酚、苯、甲苯、二甲苯、4-氯甲苯、2-硝基甲苯及煤油進行發光測試。結果方面，我們發現黏質色拉雷菌發光重組菌對於這一系列的酚環類化合物的確具有相當高的敏感度。
Eye gone V.S.eyeless決定果蠅複眼發育基因之協同作用與未知調控基因之尋覓
In this study, we try to know how ectopic eye genes: eyeless(ey), eye gone(eyg), twin of eyeless(toy), twin of eye gone(toe) act cooperatively, and look for some unknown genes which affect the function of eyg. First, through human trans gene screening, we find two human genes change the phenotype of ey>eyg into dorsal out-growth when they co-express with eyg (ey>eyg+X). It means the two genes may relate to cell proliferation. Second, by sequencing the insert genes of mutant fly which was found by EP screening, the result shows the site of the insertion is the same as effete (eff) gene. eff translated wrong proteins which differ from functional ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme may be the major cause of the mutant eye . 本研究係探討果蠅複眼異位基因eyeless(ey)、eye gone(eyg)、twin of eyeless(toy)、 twin of eye gone(toe)間的協同作用，並尋找與eyg 有交互作用的基因、突變株。藉由人類基因轉殖篩選，找到兩株人類基因轉殖株，當其與eyg 共同表現時(ey>eyg+X)，會改變ey>eyg 的複眼性狀，造成dorsal out-growth，顯示這兩個基因可能與細胞增生有關，此外，藉由EP screening 複眼發生突變的果蠅之UAS 下游基因經比對後，位置與effete（eff）部分契合，推測複眼發生突變的原因是eff 的功能發生異常，致使細胞內蛋白質代謝失常所致。
液晶面板在不同電場下穿透光譜之研究
本研究主要是探討液晶面板在不同的電壓下，對紅外光區及可見光區之穿透光譜。藉由控制外加液晶面板兩側的電壓，改變內部的電場強度，驅使液晶分子長軸方向改變(偏轉)，以達到控制穿透率之目的。施加於液晶面板兩側的電壓V大於起始電壓V0時，液晶分子長軸受電場作用與電場方向平行，減弱引導偏振光扭轉之能力，讓部分光通過偏振片。令及分別代表穿透率達到最大穿透率之10%及90%時的外加電壓，則定義「光-電開關斜率」γ為：γ =(V90-V10)/V10。透射光強度與外加電壓關係曲線則稱為「光-電開關特性曲線」。穿透率除與液晶分子之旋光程度有關，我們也做了在不同電壓下，液晶分子之穿透光譜，並討論其特性。The main idea of the project is to discuss the transmittance spectra of liquid-crystal device in the range of infrared and visual light (400~900 nm) with different electric field by changing voltage. Different biases are applied to the liquid-crystal cell, causing the axis of liquid-crystal to rotate, and the transmittances are measured. If the application of bias is greater than the threshold voltage (V0), the axis of liquid-crystal will be parallel to the electric field, and make the beam pass through polaroid. Electro-optical switching slope γ is defined as γ =(V90-V10)/V10 , where V10 and V90 are the applied voltages enabling output light signal reaches up to 10% and 90% of its maximum intensity, respectively. It is understood that transmittance depends on the optical activity of liquid-crystal cells. Besides, we will discuss the relation between wavelength and transmittance of liquid-crystal cells.
竹筍老化之謎
本研究是在探討收割後的綠竹筍(Bambusa oldhamii, green bamboo)的老化(aging)現象。一般人說的竹筍老了，通常是指竹筍的質地變硬，口感變差，此即是竹筍硬化的現象，而硬化的主因可能是竹筍受到逆境 (stress) 的刺激後，影響了基因表現的形態，導致纖維素和木質素的增加。竹筍採收後以不同方式處理，觀察切面的變化後發現，以0.2 M蔗糖水浸泡48小時後的竹筍，其切面比浸泡於水中或置於空氣中的竹筍切面較白，筍尖較綠且沒有枯萎的情況。不管是浸泡糖水、水或置於空氣中，都無法防止竹筍的硬化，但浸水和糖水可延緩竹筍硬化的情形，可見要防止竹筍老化，基本上要從抑制合成纖維素與木質素的酵素來著手。抽取竹筍切面處組織中的DNA並以DNA電泳分析之後發現，竹筍的DNA有被降解成小片段的現象，其大小差不多是180 bp的倍數，可見竹筍遇到逆境時也可能會有類似PCD (programmed cell death, 細胞程序性死亡) 的現象。抽取不同處理竹筍的蛋白質進行2D電泳，比較電泳結果發現，三種處理的竹筍的共同點在於減少的蛋白質幾乎都分布在等電點較低的部分。增加的蛋白質大多數分布在等電點較高的區域，這些增加的蛋白質可能和竹筍老現象與PCD有關。本研究還有兩個方向可以繼續延伸研究，第一個是將2D電泳上有明顯差異的蛋白質色點挖出，進行蛋白質定序，再從資料庫中比對，推測可能是何種蛋白質。第二個是研究抑制竹筍合成纖維素和木質素的?的方法，保持竹筍的口感，使竹筍能成為一種能外銷的食品。 The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the aging of the harvested green bamboo shoots. The research focused on how to prevent the aging of bamboo shoots and why green bamboo shoots become aging. The term “aging” means that the taste of bamboo shoots becomes hardness post harvest. At first, we tried to find out an anti-aging method, which is not only to keep the green bamboo shoots fresh, but also delicious. The method was to soak bamboo shoots in 0.2 M sucrose, in the water or without any treatment. After 48 hours, the cutting surfaces of bamboo shoots treated with sucrose were whiter, and their outer sheaths were greener than those of shoots soaked in the water or without treatment. The results showed that none of them can stop hardness. But the aging of sucrose- or water-treated shoots was retarded. The results suggest that inhibition of the enzyme activities involving cellulose and lignin synthesis may be required to prevent the aging of bamboo shoot post harvest. To get insight into the reason why bamboo shoots become hardness, the differences of protein patterns and DNA patterns between aging and fresh green bamboo shoots were analyzed and compared. The DNA from the bamboo tissues near cutting surface was isolated and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that DNA from shoots was partially degraded. The fragments appear as a ladder of DNA with sizes in multiples of approximately 180 bp. The presence of the olignucleosome-size DNA fragments suggest that the cells may undergo programmed cell death (PCD). The degradation of DNA was not observed in shoots treated with sucrose. By comparing the results of 2-D gel electrophoresis, it was found that some proteins with low pI values decreased or disappeared post harvest, while proteins with increased levels were detected in the high pI area. These changes in these proteins may result in the aging of the bamboo shoots. Prevention of the aging of green bamboo shoots is not easy. However, I found out from this study that soaking the bamboo shoots in the 0.2 M sucrose was a possible way to preserve them. The cutting surface of sucrose-treated shoots remained white, and the sheaths of the shoots was greener than those treated with other methods. Moreover, the degradation of DNA was not observed. However, it still cannot completely stop the aging of bamboo shoots. Reducing the enzyme activities involving cellulose and lignin synthesis may be a direct way to prevent the aging of bamboo shoots. It seems like there are many things to discover in the future.