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.
鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)捕獵四部曲
Feeding behavior is the action which animals depend on maintain livelihood. Snakes usually use the three following ways to catch their preys: winding, venom-releasing and pressing their game to death. However, previews study is rare about the feeding behavior of Ramphotyphlops braminus. This puzzles us, prompting us to do in-depth research on it. When performing an experiment, we will use the camera with infrared function to record entire experiment and the obtained data will transform the graph. Our result shows the feeding behavior of R.braminus is a new way to catch their game, and the minute process of this special way is also written down in our report. We hope that the result can let everyone be clear about Ramphotyphlops braminus of soil ecosystem status, and it is an essential contribution for building the archive of Family Typhlopidae. 攝食行為是動物賴以維生的行為。在蛇類中，常見的捕捉方式有：纏繞、 使用毒液、壓斃等三種類型。但，文獻中卻沒有任何有關於鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)的捕食行為。這使我們感到疑惑，並想深入探討。在實驗進行當中，我們使用紅外線攝影機將實驗全程錄製下來，並將所得的數據轉化成圖表。而其結果顯示鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)的捕食行為是一種全新的模式，這種模式的詳細過程也被我們全部收錄到報告中。我們希望做出來的結果能讓大家對鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)在土壤生態系中的地位更加了解，而且對於建立盲蛇科(Typhlopidae)資料庫有實質的貢獻。
線鋁之情-以陽極氧化鋁模板製作氧化亞銅奈米線
我們使用陽極氧化鋁(AAO)模板來製備銅及其氧化物的奈米線。以硫酸銅和乳酸配製電鍍液，利用氫氧化鈉水溶液(NaOH)將其pH 值調整到12，供以不同電壓，可電鍍出銅及氧化亞銅奈米線。在較高電壓下可製備出銅奈米線，而在較低電壓下可製成氧化亞銅奈米線，若使用中間電壓則能製得銅及氧化亞銅的混合態。利用x 光繞射分析儀(XRD)來分析其結晶構造、使用場發射掃描式電子顯微鏡(SEM)以得知其表面形貌。電鍍出的奈米線直徑約60 nm。奈米線的長度可藉由調整電鍍時間或電壓來控制。在製作IC 內部導線方面，銅奈米線深具開發潛能；在提升太陽能電池的轉換效率、製作可見光光觸媒方面，氧化亞銅奈米線極具前瞻性。We electrodeposited copper and cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanowires with anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Both Cu and Cu2O nanowires could be prepared with an alkaline cupric lactate solution, which was adjusted to pH 12 using a 6 M NaOH, when supplied with different electrolytic voltages. Cu nanowires could be prepared when a higher voltage was supplied, and Cu2O nanowires could be prepared with a lower voltage. A mixture of Cu and Cu2O nanowires could be prepared with a supply of a voltage in between. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to determine the phase composition, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is employed to characterize the morphology of the nanowires. The length of nanowires can be controlled by adjusting the time spent on electrodeposition and the voltage supplied. The resultant diameter of the nanowires was about 60 nm. Cu nanowires are promising materials for making the conductive wires in IC, and Cu2O nanowires hold great promise for improving the conversion efficiency of solar cells and manufacturing visible-light photocatalyst.
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.
Biochar: the Solution to the Next Green Revolution
1. Purpose of research \r To investigate the feasibility of using municipal cellulosic wastes as feedstock for production of biochar in pyrolysis, the effects of metal catalysts in pyrolysis, and the applicability of the produced biochar as a fertilizer\r 2. Procedures \r A. Investigation into the characteristics of (metal catalyzed) pyrolysis of various cellulosic wastes \r 1. The cellulosic waste (and catalyst) was weighed and put into a boiling tube. The tube was stopped with a plastic bung with holes. A plastic tube and a thermocouple were inserted through the holes. The other end of the plastic tube was submerged. \r 2. A Bunsen flame was used to pyrolyse cellulosic waste. Temperature and time of reaction were recorded. Gas produced was collected underwater. Biochar and bio-oil were obtained and weighed. \r B. Evaluation of adsorptive capabilities of different materials \r 1. Blue light absorbances of KH2PO4 solutions (mixed with vanadate-molybdate reagent to form yellow solutions) at different concentrations were found and an absorbance-concentration curve was established. \r 2. 5g of each material being evaluated was sandwiched between two pieces of filter paper before being put into a suction funnel. KH2PO4 solution was poured into the funnels. The setups were left overnight and filtrates were collected. \r 3. Collected filtrates were mixed with vanadate-molybdate reagent. Concentration of phosphates in each filtrate was found by the curve.\r 3. Data \r I. Highest percentage conversion from waste to biochar: 94.1% (paper towel, iron wool) \r II. Highest sequestration rate of carbon: 98.6% (paper towel, zinc) \r III. Lowest pyrolysis temperature: 162°C (paper towel, copper) \r IV. Best catalyst in terms of speed of biochar production: copper (+47.7%) \r V. Highest speeds of biochar production (w/ and w/o catalyst): 46.4g/hr (paper towel, copper) and 27.7g/hr (sawdust) \r VI. Adsorptions of KH2PO4: 14.4% (biochar from sawdust)/ 9.02% (sawdust)\r 4. Conclusions \r The pyrolysis of cellulosic waste to biochar was achievable at school laboratory conditions, with satisfactory results in carbon sequestration, production speed and percentage conversion. \r Under catalysis by various metals, the production of either biochar or pyrolytic gas and oil can be optimized, providing a low-cost way to derive fuel and sequestration-ready carbon, both crucial as answers to looming crises. The use of copper greatly speeds up pyrolysis and lowers the pyrolysis temperature, further increasing the economic potential of the process. \r Biochar is also an effective means to soil management, as shown in field and laboratory experiments. Its adsorption capability far exceeds that of untreated cellulosic waste, retaining nutrients to be taken by plants instead of leaching away. It was also shown to improve fruit yield and induce ripeness in tomato, making it obvious that biochar is also a viable fertilizer. \r All in all, metal-catalyzed biochar production from municipal cellulosic waste and the subsequent use of biochar as fertilizer have the benefits of: low feedstock cost, low energy cost, fast production, carbon sequestration, soil management and waste recycling. It is a remedy to some of the most persistent and serious global problems: food and energy crisis, water pollution, excessive greenhouse effect alongside waste treatment.
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.