極速骨牌-骨牌終端速度及鏈鎖反應機制之探討
本研究主要在探討骨牌脈波在傳遞時的速度變化，並比較在不同的骨牌和不同的排列方式下骨牌的終端速度有何種差異；同時也研究骨牌在鏈鎖反應下能量的放大現象。觀察後發現單列骨牌脈波在傳遞一段距離後，由於空氣阻力的影響，脈波將會達到一終端速度，此終端速度與骨牌高度成反比，而與骨牌質量平方成正比。骨牌的脈波傳遞在鏈鎖反應下仍有一終端速度，但大於單列之骨牌脈波速，且鏈鎖反應具有放大推力之功能。由我們的研究可預測一列物體傾倒時所花費時間和所能達到之終端速度，而鏈鎖反應可比擬為一雷射模型能量集中和釋放的機制，相信可利用骨牌儲存能量的機制應用於需迅速釋能的機械中 This research is mainly discussing the changing of velocity of a domino pulse, and comparing the terminal velocity of various kinds of dominos and arresting modules. Also we focus on the energy-enlarging fact of chain-reaction of domino series. We found that after running a distance, the pulse of a single-series domino will finally reach a terminal velocity by the friction force of air. The terminal velocity will inversely proportion to the height of a single domino, and will proportion to the square of mass of a single domino. During a chain-reaction, the pulse still has a terminal velocity, but it is higher than the terminal velocity of a single series domino .The chain-reaction has an ability to enlarge the original force, too. By the research, we are able to predict the time interval and the terminal velocity while a series of objects are falling. On the other hand, the chain reaction is similar with mechanism of energy concentration and emission of LASER. We also believe that this mechanism is able to explain and apply to those machines which need to release energy rapidly.
廣鹽性吳郭魚氯離子調節機制- - - NKCC在氯細胞中扮演之角色
本實驗中我們利用廣鹽性吳郭魚進行氯離子調節機制的研究，探討廣鹽性吳郭魚如何能在不同環境中維持體內氯離子恆定，進而適應生存環境。我門想要探討：『是否NKCC 這種蛋白質在淡水吳郭魚MR 細胞中扮演吸收 Cl- 的角色? 如果是，吳郭魚又如何藉NKCC 的調節適應環境中 Cl- 的變化呢？』我們利用細胞免疫螢光染色法、西方墨點法和共軛焦顯微鏡觀察分析NKCC 在不同 Cl- 濃度人工淡水馴養的吳郭魚MR 細胞上的表現量，結果發現 NKCC 分布於頂端細胞膜(又稱為細胞開口)，及其附近的細胞質內；環境中 Na+ 濃度的差異對NKCC 在MR 細胞上的表現影響不大，但低 Cl- 環境馴養的吳郭魚，NKCC 表現量都高出其他組很多。顯示NKCC 參與了氯吸收的機制。另一個實驗中，我們將吳郭魚由淡水中轉移至海水以分析它們在適應海水的過程中NKCC 的表現變化。結果發現在馴養初期（16 小時內），圓點狀NKCC 仍然可以在MR 細胞的開口附近觀察到，但到了24 小時後，NKCC 在開口的表現就明顯減少甚至消失，取而代之的是轉移到底側邊細胞膜上的NKCC。此實驗證實了NKCC 這一個與Cl-運送相關的蛋白質，在廣鹽性吳郭魚氯離子調節中扮演了很重要的角色。
Euryhaline tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is capable of maintaining internal ion constant ineither hypertonic or hypotonic environments (fresh water or seawater).MR cells in the gills of tilapia play critical role in absorbing Cl- from fresh water or pumping redundant Cl- from body fluid into seawater. Chloride transporter (NKCC) which distributed in basolateral membrane of MR cells is involved in Cl- secretion of seawater teleost. However, the mechanism of Cl- absorption in fresh water MR cells is still unclear. Whether NKCC is also involved in Cl- absorption and how do tilapia regulate Cl- absorption are the questions this study aim to answer. By using immunofluorescent staining, western blot, and confocal microscopy, the distribution and expression level of NKCC in fresh water MR cells were examined. We found that NKCC is distributed on the apical membrane of freshwater MR cells where is known to be the site for active Cl- absorption of MR cells. We compared the expression level of NKCC in MR cells from tilapia acclimated in high, normal, and low Cl- artificial water for 7 days. The results showed that NKCC is induced by ambient low Cl- , and in contrast suppressed by high Cl- water, indicating NKCC might be involved in Cl- absorption of freshwater MR cells and up-or down-regulated to maintain Cl- uptake constant. In addition, we also examine the expression pattern of NKCC in MR cells from tilapia transferred from fresh water to seawater. Confocal images show that apical expressed NKCC disappear gradually within 24h seawater acclimation and is substituted by basolateral expressed NKCC. This study provides a novel regulatory mechanism of NKCC in Cl- transporter of MR cells.
BMI: BODY MASS INDEX or BELGIUM MATHEMATICIAN'S INVENTION？
Purpose Although Body Mass Index (BMI) is accepted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the standard method of measuring a person’s obesity or lack thereof, it is restriction to the two measurements of height and weight. This makes its accuracy questionable. By using other easily obtainable body measurements, a better way of evaluating Body Mass Index is possible. The purpose of this project was to show that the BMI formula is only accurate to a certain degree and that its validity varies depending on certain factors used in my project. Procedure 50 Adolescent female aged 16-20 and 50 women aged 40-56 none of whom were noticeably obese or underweight volunteered. Using a simple questionnaire, several measurements were taken – age in months, caliper measurement of tricep and hip bone, shoe size, height in metres, hip waist and wrist measurements (cm), exercise per week, heart rate and body type. Results were tabulated and graphs drawn using EXCEL. BAI (Body Adiposity Index) measurements were calculated for all volunteers. Results The girls and women with pear and hourglass figures were classified by BMI as overweight or obese. The girls and women who exercised a lot were also unfairly classified by their BMI readings. Many of the graphs show that BMI is not accurate, however, others show that there is merit to the formula. Conclusions The results while interesting require a larger sample group to be conclusive. It would appear that the BMI formula needs to be extended in order to improve its accuracy. Further research includes: 1. Larger sample group, 2. Representative age groups, 3. Investigate males, 4. Look at data for different ethnic groups, 5. Research into BAI formula as a possible substitute, 6. Develop an improvement on BMI. Although, there is some merit to BMI formula, it could be greatly improved with the use of other measurements including those used in this project.
環境因子影響美洲蜚蠊觸角擺動模式之研究
本研究以攝影紀錄的方式，透過電腦進行影像分析，記錄不同刺激下美洲蜚蠊(Periplaneta americana)的觸角擺動模式，計算出各項觸角運動的參數，以瞭解光線(光刺激或光適應)、震動刺激、喝水與進食對其觸角行為的影響。我們發現在不同因子的刺激下，觸角擺動的模式具有差異，若兩種不同的刺激同時發生，蜚蠊觸角的行為亦具整合性的反應。蜚蠊於不同狀態下(如喝水或進食)，對相同的刺激有不同的反應，證明蜚蠊觸角的行為模式，受環境因子與個體狀態調節。透過掃瞄式電子顯微鏡的觀察，也發現觸角具多種感覺毛，且雌雄的感覺毛的分佈與數量具有差異。綜合以上發現，證明觸角除了為敏感的受器，亦為能反映出生理與環境狀態的動器，同時也適合進行發展檢測器的仿生學應用，用來檢測環境中物理及化學因子。The aim of this study is to investigate the different swing motion modes of antennae of American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) by computer-aided Imaging Analysis. The parameters of each swing movement were calculated in order to analyze how light (including light stimulation or light adaptation), vibration, food and drinking water may affect the antennae behavior of American cockroach. It was found that the antennae swing motion modes were significantly different under different types of stimulus. If two different types of stimulus occurred at the same time, the reactions of antennae motion may become conformable. Under different environmental conditions (such as food or water), same stimulus may result in different reactions. The antennae behavior has shown to be significantly affected by environmental conditions and individual physiological status. Through the observation with scanning electron microscope (SEM), it was found that the antennae has many types of sensilla; and the distribution and quantity of these sensilla are significant different between sexes. In conclusion, not only the antennae are considered as the sensitive receptors, but also they are the important effectors to reflect physiological status and environmental conditions. The current model is suitable for the development of specific detectors in the applications of Bionics to detect the physical and chemical factors in certain environments.
核醣核酸蛋白粒之K 蛋白基因表現及功能之研究
核糖核酸蛋白粒之K 蛋白具有多種功能，可參與在基因轉錄和蛋白質轉譯等過程。我們發現\r 一新奇的cDNA 較已報告的K 蛋白cDNA 少了72 個核?酸，分別命名為S 形與L 形。由基因\r 組DNA 的分析，S 形可能是經由替代剪接少了第8 個exon 所形成。以西方墨點法分析細胞中\r 的K 蛋白，亦證明有S 形存在，其表現量較少且多存在於細胞核中。為了探究兩種K 蛋白等\r 形的表現和功能，我們以PCR 偵測K 蛋白在不同組織與細胞株和人類乳腺腫瘤組織中的RNA\r 表現，結果顯示主要以L 形為主;我們並將S 形與L 形K 蛋白分別轉染至人類乳癌細胞株MCF7\r 中，以抗生素篩選出穩定表現K 蛋白之細胞株，生長速率分析顯示表現S 形之細胞株生長速\r 率較慢，其分子機轉仍有待研究。另外在比對K 蛋白之基因組DNA 時，除了在第九對色體\r 上有完整之K 蛋白基因組DNA，我們亦發現在第2、3、5 及11 對染色體上有類似K 蛋白基\r 因的序列，以cDNA 的形式存在，這些DNA 序列是否可以表現RNA 及其意義為何，目前尚\r 不清楚。Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) is a multifunctional protein known to be\r involved in the regulation of transcription, translation, nuclear transport and signal transduction. We\r have identified an alternative splicing transcript of hnRNP K lacking exon 8. This novel isoform\r (named S form compares to L form of full-length hnRNP K) encodes a protein that is 24 amino acids\r depletion between RNA binding KH1 and KH2 domain. To explore the functional roles of both isoforms,\r we detect their expression in several tissues (including liver, lung, kidney and heart), cell lines (MCF7,\r 293T, HeLa, NIH3T3, WEHI, P388D1) and specimens of human mammary gland tumor by RT- PCR.\r The results showed that L form was expressed in all samples, whereas S form was only expressed in cell\r lines. Using Western blotting analysis, we found that L form existed in both cytosol and nuclear\r fractions, and little amount of S form was detected in the nuclear extract. Furthermore, we construct the\r MCF7 cell lines that stably expressed S form or L form hnRNP K. Growth rate analysis indicates that\r the overexpression of S form of hnRNP K could decrease cell growth rate. The molecular mechanisms\r of growth inhibition by S form hnRNP K are to be further investigated. On the other hand, when we\r blast the human genomic genebank, we found except the chromosome 9 containing complete hnRNP K\r genomic DNA, there are near complete hnRNP K cDNA sequence appears in chromosome 2, 3, 5, and 11.\r The meaning of these sequences is unclear.
千金難買「蚤」知道
我們的研究重心是設計簡便的裝置來檢測生活周邊的用水 · 利用生物對於環境污染的生理特徵、活動力、忍受極限 … 等變化，作觀察、實驗之後，將紀錄結果分析、做成表格，進而形成明確、簡易的指標，以供給一般人更容易的了解用水的品質。本實驗不必使用昂貴的儀器來檢測河水與用水，成本低廉的水生生物為本實驗的最佳選擇 · 可於任何地點完成，作為大及化的檢測方法，本實驗參考水樣急性檢測方法一水蚤靜水式，以水蚤在不同眾屬離子、酸鹼值溶液中的實驗結果，用以做為分析水質的標準，佐證我們生活圈附近的水質現況。Our point of study is design the simple and convenient device to measure the water with peripheral life. Utilize the living beings to the physiological characteristic , energy of the environmental pollution, stand limit. Wait for and change, after making observation , experiment. noting down the result will be analysed , make into the form , and then form the clear , simple and easy index , in order to supply common people with the quality of easier understanding water. This experiment needn’t use the expensive instrument to measure river and water . the best choice of the experiment that the cost is based on living beings cheap aquatically. Can finish in any place , as the popular detection method. This experiment consults the acute detection method of water sample — Water flea’s quiet ability of swimming. with the experimental result in different metal and ion sour soda value solution of water flea, use the standard taking making as water quality of analysis, prove the present situation of water quality of adjacent place of our life range.