環境標籤---地衣與環境污染的探討
隨著工商業發展，環境污染日益嚴重，對多數生長在這塊土地上的人，無疑造成了非常嚴重的影響。但若想要監控目前環境中的空氣品質，則必須具備專業的訓練，及昂貴的實驗設備，對一般民眾而言，根本就做不到。\r 藉由指標植物對所生長環境的高度敏感性，可以發展出一套純天然且免費的環境污染偵測器，不但方便、免攜帶、無須高級儀器協助、更不需要專業的分析技術。為此，我們以對二氧化硫等空氣污染物極為敏感的地衣作為指標植物，對其進行生態與環境污染關係的一系列觀察，並設計相關的實驗，找出環境污染物對地衣的實際影響，使其能夠實際的應用於日常生活，並可加以推廣，讓人人都可以利用地衣來了解自己所處的環境是否遭受污染，為自己家園的環境優劣把關。\r \r 文摘要 :\r With the development of industry and business , environmental pollutions become more and more serious . Undoubtedly , those pollutions have a great effect on us.\r However , by the means of the indicator plant which is highly sensitive to its environment , we can develop a set of natural and free environmental pollution detectors . In this project , we use lichenes,which are very sensitive to air pollution , to do a series of observations and to find out the influence the pollutants have on lichenes . If we can apply this to our regular lives , everyone can use lichenes to see if their environment is polluted or not .
Microbial diversity in the Mediterranean hypersaline deep-sea lake Tyro
1. Purpose of the research Characterization of bacterial and viral diversity of brine Tyro using molecular methods of identification. 2. Procedures For bacteria: 1. Amplification or multiplication of 16S rRNA gene (one of the most conservative gene) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 2. Agarose gel electrophoresis and purification of PCR product 3. Ligation of purified PCR product into the vector pGEM-T 4. Transformation of plasmids containing an insert into competent cells E.coli XB1 5. Blue-white selection (we need white colonies, they contain the insert of interest) 6. Isolation of plasmids containing an insert of interest 7. Sequencing of inserts 8. Bioinformatics analysis: matching homologues from GeneBank database, construction of phylogenetic trees, statistical analysis. For viruses: The same methods were used for gp23 gene, which code a major head protein of T-even bacteriophages; to amplify gp23 gene a special set of primers was used, along with a standard cloning protocol described above. 3. Data 1) Two libraries of clones were obtained during analysis: lake Tyro (24 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 10 classes) and sea water (6 OTUs, 2 classes of eubacteria). 2) The most abundant classes were: gamma-, delta-, epsilon- Proteobacteria, which is in agreement with previous reports about bacteria in brines of Mediterranean Sea. 3) The number of clones was not sufficient to obtain stable estimates of diversity, the analysis require additional data. 4) The diversity of bacteria was unexpectedly high in brine but not in the seawater, due to higher and more diverse ion composition. 5) Most of the detected bacteria in the deep-sea lake belonged to the previously undescribed (18,75%) bacteria or had unusual metabolism (43,75%). 4. Conclusions The analysis demonstrated unexpectedly high diversity of halophilic bacteria inhabiting Tyro lake. Most of bacteria presented in brine water had unique and uncommon characteristics based on information about its closest relatives. Therefore, the deep-sea hypersaline lakes of Mediterranean Sea have great potential for further investigations. Preliminary results of diversity of viruses of Tyro lake were obtained during analysis, more complete description is coming soon.
Bezier曲線與蚶線間之關聯性的探討與推廣
在這篇報告中，我們以貝斯曲線的做圖原理建立出一種新的曲線－環狀貝斯曲線，進而得到不少有趣的結果。我們發現有名的古典曲線－蚶線，也是屬於二次環狀貝斯曲線。軌跡方程式為：，此時，係數恰符合二項式定理。之後我們推廣至n次環狀貝斯曲線的軌跡方程式：，也符合二項式定理。
在複數平面上，給定z0、z1、z2三點，我們定義出一個二次變換 ，若，，可映射成蚶線的圖形；若z∈實數，則可映射成拋物線。利用此結果類推我們找到一個複數平面上由 z0、z1、...、zn 所決定的n次變換將以原點為圓心的單位圓，映射成n次環狀Bezier曲線。
In this essay, we use the method of forming a Bezier Curve to establish a new curve, circular Bezier Curve, and find a lot of interesting results. We discover the famous classical curve ＂limacon＂, which belongs to the Quadratic Circular Bezier Curve. The locus of Quadratic Circular Bezier Curve is, where. Its coefficients match the binomial theorem. Then we apply it to the locus of nth-circular Bezier Curve:, and it also matches the binomial theorem.On the complex plane, we define a quadratic transformation corresponding to three points—z0,z1 and z2 as .If , where , a limacon is mapped. If z is a real number, a parabola is mapped. With this result, we will find a nth transformation defined by z0、z1、...、zn on the complex plane. It will form a nth-circular Bezier Curve with unit circle centering on the origin.
Fast Fabulous Flush
Water is very vital in our lives as we cannot live without it. However our world is now facing a serious problem. Owing to the increasing population, water resources are scarce. In recent years, we can see that droughts have been affecting millions of people around the globe. In the meantime, people in developed countries have been wasting huge amount of water for flushing the toilet. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 30% of household water goes toward flushing the toilet. Countries like China, US, Canada and UK are still using fresh water in flushing, consuming 190 million L of fresh water every day, not to mention the energy needed in pumping the water. In fact, it is not necessary to use so much water to flush away substances like tissue, hair, urine etc. The water we used is far more than we need. However, as we cannot control how much water is used when we flush, all water in the cistern is flushed away. Realizing the seriousness of water shortage and wastage in flushing, we tried to invent a device to conserve water by controlling the amount of flushing water used. Firstly, we study the principle of normal flushing system so as to understand why flushing cannot be controlled. Then, we tried to think of ways to control flushing. We have tried various methods and materials. After the 6-month testing and modification, we successfully invented Fast Fabulous Flush. It is a device which can be fit into existing cistern to conserve water. With our invention, users can control the amount of water flushed according to needs, so as not to waste unnecessary water. Our invention costs a low price which is no more than 2 US dollar. Also, it can be fit into existing cistern within 3 minutes with simple installation process. Most importantly, flushing water can be conserved effectively. It is estimated that around 200L of water can be saved per household every day.