氣流式薄膜測厚儀
醫學上的植皮手術成功率受皮膚厚度影響,皮膚愈薄癒合速度愈快,其中以取皮厚度介於0.05mm 到0.1mm 為佳。在實驗量測時,需要經過一連串繁複的薄皮標本製作,再放到光學顯微鏡下測量,這種厚度測量方式不但耗時,又因嚴重損毀皮膚而不精確。由於使用螺旋測微器做接觸式測量會有形變的問題,因此我們想做間接接觸式的測量,所以採用氣體為媒介,做非破壞性檢測膜厚,這對於在皮膚上的施力遠小於螺旋測微器或是接觸式膜厚計。我們設計一套三頭連管線,使用空氣為媒介,儀器運作原理為在管線一端針頭非常靠近被測物時,所流出的氣體會受到被測物阻礙產生反壓使管線內的壓力上升,導致連通於另一管路的氣泡指示計壓出氣泡,當氣泡為最大氣泡時(半球形)視為達到平衡狀態。實驗時先用已知厚度且不變形的蓋玻片來當作被測物,此時可以算出針尖至蓋玻片的實際距離做為參考值。在量測軟性薄膜時,設計上採用兩側雙針頭靠近軟性被測薄膜兩側以達到氣流氣泡平衡,這時使用螺旋測微器讀取兩針尖距離,減去已知參考值的兩倍距離,即可測出未形變的軟物質厚度。本研究開發一套能測量軟性薄膜的厚度裝置,尤其在皮膚厚度測定上,不但不會直接接觸標本造成損毀,並且能夠快速地測量出厚度值,此為本儀器的最大特色。The thickness of skin graft has deterministic influences on the success of graft surgery. Experimental measurements of skin graft thickness involve complicated specimen preparation processes followed by optical microscopic examination, which are time-consuming and may incur inaccuracy due to possible damage. Here we propose a novel method using air as the media to avoid direct contact of the measured object. The physical operation relies on the following principles: When the tip of a needle connecting to a catheter system is placed close to the object to be measured, the air pumped forward from the catheter system becomes impeded by the object. The resulting backflow pressure opposing the air flow causes an increase in air pressure within the catheter and inflates the bubble connected at the other end. Balance at maximal surface tension is attained when the bubble reaches its maximum volume in hemispherical shape. In practice, a two-needle design was used, each approaching simultaneously from each side of the object. A micrometer was then used to read the distance between the two needle tips, from which the film thickness was derived, subtracting the thickness of the air layer pre-calibrated using cover glass with known thickness. The system implemented was capable of measuring thickness on soft thin films with an accuracy of ± 0.001mm. In addition to rapid measurements with high accuracy, since the pressure exerted on the skin graft is much less than in conventional calipers requiring direct contact, our method has the unique non-distorted and non-destructive advantages.
利用浮沈子測量液體表面張力並演示"Cheerios Cheerios effect"
密閉容器置入待測液,放入浮沉子,施加壓力,當浮沉子恰要沒入液中瞬間,因表面張力的總力達極大值且向上,外加壓力(p1)為極大值,浮沉子沒入液中;液面減壓,當浮沉子在液面正下方時,外加壓力 p2,量 p1、(p1- p2),浮沉子的質量 m,外半徑 R,及玻璃管的體積 G V ,可求得液體表面張力。 液面再減壓,浮沉子恰要露出液面時,表面張力的總力達極大值且向下,外加壓力(p3)為極小值,量 p3、(p2- p3),浮沈子的質量 m,外半徑 R及 G V ,應亦可求得表面張力;但實驗時浮沉子漂移到容器邊,並吸附在器壁上,因此發現浮沉子的”Cheerios effect”。 利用浮沉子和容器的相吸及相斥現象,可解釋西式早餐的小榖片放入牛奶中為何會漂移到碗緣,並支持 Vella在 2005 年 9 月份美國物理期刊(AJP)認為 Cheerios effect的成因除了由於接觸角不同外,浮力、重力、表面張力共同作用,使小榖片間有相吸、相斥現象。 The experiment apparatus is equipped with a Cartesian diver by using a glass tube with air trapped inside that floats or submerses in a closed vessel containing liquid. The external pressure may be varied with a syringe and measured with a water manometer. The maximum pressure P1 inside the vessel is measured when the diver is just about to sink, where the surface tension that acts on the diver is upward. Then the pressure P2 of the vessel is measured when the diver is just beneath the liquid surface, where no surface tension acts on the diver. Finally, the surface tension is calculated from P1, P2 and the radius of the diver, R. When the pressure inside the vessel is decreased, the diver will rise. As the diver is about to emerge from the liquid, we get the minimum pressure P3 inside the vessel, and the surface tension that acts on the diver is downward. By measuring P3, P2, and R, the magnitude of surface tension is found to be the same as above. When the diver is just about to sink into the liquid, it floats to the center of the vessel. When the diver is about to emerge from the liquid, it sticks to the wall of the vessel. This phenomenon is named the “Cheerios effect.” Our results again strongly support that the cause of the effect is due to the different contact angles between the diver and water, as well as the balance of gravity and surface tension in the case of the sinking diver, and the balance of buoyancy and surface tension in the case of rising diver as Vella claimed in his paper (AJP 73, 817 (2005)).
榕樹粗萃取液對種子萌發及生長之影響
相剋作用是指植物在代謝過程中釋放出有毒物質以抑制本身或鄰近植物種子萌發及植株發育生長的過程。一般認為,榕樹是具有相剋作用的常見植物,但很少見到相關的文獻探討。本實驗利用榕樹不同組織萃取液,以小白菜、結球白菜與阿拉伯芥作材料,探討該萃取液對上述植物發芽與生長之影響,結果顯示榕樹葉萃取液所造成之影響較顯著,不同榕樹組織的萃取液、不同濃度的萃取液對不同植物所產生的效果不盡相同,針對不同生長期的植物進行處理所造成的影響亦有差異。進一步以管柱層析法與高壓液相層析法(HPLC)分離葉萃取液,結果發現以正己烷和乙酸乙酯75:25為沖提液的條件下,於HPLC的層析圖中分離時間約8分時所流出的物質具最明顯的抑制作用。電泳剖面分析顯示處理與未處理間有些許蛋白質條帶差異,此變化蛋白可能與植物幼苗對該萃取液之耐受性有關。利用核酸微陣列(microarray)對榕樹萃取液處理之阿拉伯芥植物進行基因表現分析,發現榕樹萃取液對植物部分基因表現也有促進和抑制的情形,經由基因體與蛋白質體分析法可推論出一些受影響之相關基因。 Allelopathy was defined as a phenomenon which certain plant species, by secreting metabolites to the environment, can suppress the growth of themselves, seed germination and/or growth of other plants in the same habitats. Banyan (Ficus microcarpa L.f.) is a plant species in our campus likely to have allelopathy effect. However, documents describing such action on allelopathy were rare. In this study, we applied the crude tissue extracts including leaves, stems, roots of banyan onto the germinating seeds of Pai-Tsai (Brassica rapa L.ssp.chinensis(Rupr.(Olsson))), Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis Rupr.) and Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana, ecotype Columbia-0) to study the effects of such plant extract on the germination and seedling growth of other plants. It is found that allelopathic effects on seed germination vary among different tissues used for extract preparation. Different concentration of the extract also yield various degree of allelophathic effects. It is also noted that the application of extract onto the post-germinated sprouts has less effects on plant growth. The extract of leaves was subsequently chromatographed over silica gel using hexane/EtOH gradient solvent system and HPLC. The result showed that there was one fraction about 8 min in the chromatography of HPLC eluted with 25% EtOAc in hexane had the most inhibitory effect. SDS-PAGE analysis on the electrophoretic profiles of water soluble proteins has explored a different band pattern between the treated and non-treated sprouts. The observed band difference might provide a clue for exploring proteins which reacted differently upon the application of extract. DNA microarray analysis on the effect of banyan extract on Arabidopsis gene expression has also been employed to characterize genes responsive to the allelophathic treatment. Cross-comparison between the differential transcript and protein profiles will reveal key regulators in plants experiencing allelophathic condition. \r
蟋蟀的聲音分析與聲音行為探討
蟋蟀聲音與行為的關係密不可分。取北部四種蟋蟀樣本,以數位錄音筆錄製及電腦軟體分析蟋蟀的聲音,並用PCR技術萃取蟋蟀的粒線體DNA(16S)加以分析,藉此和傳統的形態學分類相互比較。結果發現蟋蟀聲音的頻率特性中主頻率的差異在親緣遠近有關聯性,但聲音的時間特性方面則沒有特定關聯,不過聲學分析圖仍可作為單一種的鑑定指標。此外,研究發現此4種蟋蟀的聲音頻率範圍有重疊現象,但主頻率、脈衝比、唧聲率及唧聲長不同,推測雌蟋蟀應是綜合這些特性辨別同種。另一方面,以黑蟋蟀作為研究對象,進行干擾實驗,觀察並繪製出其聲音行為模式; 並將此作為對照,結果發現蟋蟀的生殖行為主要受到雄蟋蟀的聲音支配,而雄蟋蟀則以嗅覺辨別雌蟋蟀位置,決定下一步行動,與視覺較無關係。 Cricket's voice is closely related to the behavior. We select four species of crickets from the northern Taiwan to study the acoustic and mating behaviors. The digital sound recorder and acoustic software are used to analyze their acoustic characters. Furthermore, the PCR technology is used to amplify and sequence parts of mtDNA sequences and the results were compiled as the comparison to the traditional morphological character. The result shows that the resolution in acoustic characters of main frequency, pulse number, chirp rate, and the length of chirp are different among four species, though the minor frequency pattern is overlapping. Moreover, we find that frequency characteristic difference among four species is partly related to their phylogenetic relationship, yet is not seen in time characteristic. It is obvious that difference of acoustic behavior can be regarded as identified index among species. Results of acoustic analysis impel us to infer that the female crickets take the comprehensive acoustic behavior to distinguish their specific male. In addition, behavior pattern and model of Gryllus bimaculatus are established as the comparison of interfering experiment is undertaken. Which results suggest that the mating behavior in cricket is dominated by males’ acoustic behavior, and is initiated by male’s olfactory sense rather than that of sight.
聽聽貝多芬作品的下一代:將碎形及基因演算法應用於數位音樂產生器
本研究整合了碎形圖形的迭代運算方法與基因交配觀念來達到音樂創新,並透過音樂和諧性判別機制來提高創新音樂的悅耳程度。利用基因觀念之交配的方法來解決長短的問題。這個方法是把原始音符輸入後,找出它們的中心點,以這個中心點為準,其他的音符按照一定比例向外延展,成為新的迭代點。再利用這些迭代點,迭代出新的音符。把製造好的音符染色體放置到交配池中,以隨機的方式在交配池中選取其中之一個染色體進行交配的動作,此二音符染色體會交換彼此的基因,產生下一代新的代表音符長短之染色體,隨後以「模仿母體判斷式」來判斷這新一代的音樂是否與母體音樂相似,藉此淘汰掉「不肖的」下一代,而若新一代與母體的相似程度高的話,它的悅耳性相信也會相對提高。最後把這些技術應用於數位音樂創作,以衍生新穎應用與創新的結果。Fractals can be produced by IFS (Iterated Function Systems). By iterative computation of many times, we can obtain the similar graphics. In my research, the methods to generate the iterative algorithms were presented. In addition, I would discuss the regularity and the content as well as the properties of those digital patterns. At last, the advanced application of fractals to digital music pieces was presented. The program took a note of several measure of music as the beginning point, and made the IFS calculations for each new note in each measure. But there was no difference in beats if you just make the IFS iteration. So I changed the beats with genetic crossover method. In this research, the expression of the DNA to each beat of note was adopted. The same way, it took a note as a beginning point. And the system obtained the new DNA from the old notes for new ones randomly. After producing the new pieces of music, I want to know if it is good to listen. So I used the algorithm that checks the simulation to the shape of mother music. If its shape is similar to the mother music, the probability that the new music is pleasing may even increase. That would make a piece of brand new music. What I want to do in this research is improve the multiformity of music and find what the relationship is of ‘good music’ and mathematical algorithms
見微知「駐」-水珠律動與圓駐波
It is always fascinating to see water droplet’s dancing around on a Japanese teppanyaki hotplate surface. The water usually does not evaporate immediately, but form interesting shapes, dance around and follow by evaporation of gaseous water and disappear. In this experiment, we designed a very simple experimental set-up to observe the little water droplets dancing on a heated hotplate. A homemade stainless plate and a small heater attached to the plate, and a thermal couple was assembled. With this simple setup, we observed the variation of water droplet’s shape as a function of the hotplate temperatures. The temperature of the water droplets, the duration of the water on the hotplate, and the shape number were measured. The shape formation mechanism was proposed. We found when the water droplet was subject to high heat due to the contact of the surface and the hotplate, the abrupt evaporation of the water molecules and violent vibration cause the formation of the various shapes to reach thermal equilibrium; the number of the shapes and the oscillation can be described by Laplace’s equation,Using a high-speed camera, we found the higher the temperature of the water, the more variations of the water droplet shapes can be observed. In addition, at a certain temperature range, the number of the water shapes did not change, suggesting a similar phase transformation behavior on the shape formation.
緣起: 邂逅專題研究、水珠漫舞、剪輯影片,引起我們想更進一步揭開它的神秘面紗。
緣續: 了解熱平台上水滴大小的變化及水珠基本的形狀及變化律動。
緣繫: 進一步研究水珠多變的面貌,並探討水珠的大小、溫度、停滯時間及變化規律相關機制。
緣定: 糾纏在水珠圓舞曲中有如大珠小珠落玉盤的曼妙,其中埋藏了平均圓與能量量子化的律動。
含環胺-亞胺雙牙配基及其鎳錯合物的合成、結構鑑定,及烯烴催化聚合反應
本研究合成含環形胺—亞胺雙牙配基鎳金屬催化劑,用以催化烯烴聚合反應。將2-甲基丙醛經由溴化、胺化及亞胺化的步驟合成含胺—亞胺的雙牙配基,Et2NCMe2CH=N(2,6-iPr2C6H3) (3a)、(c-C4H8)N- CMe2CH=NPh (3b)、RNCMe2CH=N(2,6-Me2C6H3) (R = c-C4H8 3c,c-C5H10 3d)。再將配基和Ni(DME)Br2 (DME = 1,2- 二甲烷氧基乙烷) 反應, 形成鎳金屬錯合物Ni [Et2NCMe2CH=N(2,6-iPr2C6H3)]Br2 (4a)、Ni[RNCMe2CH=N (2,6-Me2C6H3)]Br2 (R = c-C4H8 4c,c-C5H10 4d),並作結構鑑定。其中3b、3c、3d、4c、4d 均為合成的新化合物,4d 獲得X 光單晶繞射結構。
以合成之鎳錯合物作為催化劑,催化乙烯或降冰片烯(C7H10)的聚合反應,探討反應活性和高分子產物的性質。與含相同碳數的錯合物比較,在胺基具環形取代基的錯合物對乙烯的催化活性較佳,聚乙烯產物分子量較高,分子量分布範圍狹窄;其對降冰片烯的催化活性略遜於非環形者。同為環形取代基時,六環較五環者對乙烯的催化活性較差,但對降冰片烯的催化活性較佳。顯示乙烯聚合與降冰片烯聚合有不同的反應決定步驟。催化劑及配基的設計的確可以操控聚合反應及其高分子產物的性質。
The synthesis of α-amino aldeimines Et2NCMe2CH=N(2,6-iPr2C6H3) (3a), (c-C4H8)NC Me2CH=NPh (3b), RNCMe2CH=N(2,6-Me2C6H3) (R = c-C4H8 3c,c-C5H10 3d), as well as the nickel complexes Ni [Et2NCMe2C- H=N(2,6-iPr2C6H3)]Br2 (4a), Ni[RNCMe2CH=N (2,6-Me2C6H3)]Br2 (R = c-C4H8 4c,c-C5H10 4d) has been succeeded. Their structures were mainly determi ned by spectroscopy or elemental analysis. The complex 4d was characterized by X-ray crysta llographic analysis. It shows that the nickel complex has distorted tetrahedral configuration.
The catalytic reactions of ethylene or norbornene polymerization using the newly synthesized nickel complexes are studied. All catalyts show high activity toward studied olefin polymerization. Comparing the data of the catalytic ethylene polymerization for complex 4c with those of its isomer complex 4a, the former is found to results in higher activity as well as the larger molecular weight of the PE products with the narrower dispersity. On the contrary, 4c shows lower activity in the reactions of norbornene polymerization than 4a. For the cyclic amine derivatives, 4c of five-membered amino group shows better catalytic activity toward ethylene polymerization than 4d of six-membered amino group. But 4d gives better perfomance for norbornene polymerization than 4c. Such results indicate that the processes of ethylene and norbornene polymerization might have different rate-determining steps. These study confirms that the design of ligand and catalyst are crucial with respect to the control of the catalytic olefin polymerization and the properties of the polymeric products.