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.
隨機物體轉移過程的實驗時間之初探
有二系統A和B，A中一開始有2k個物體，，B中有0個物體。在一個單位時間內，兩系統可以互相轉移最多一個物體。當B中物體的個數為 i-1，i∈{1,2,...,k+1}，我們稱其為狀態 i，從狀態1﹝初態﹞開始計時，到達狀態 k+1﹝相同態﹞便即刻停止實驗，經過之時間為一隨機變數T，稱之為實驗時間。問當兩個系統的物體數剛好相等時，經過的實驗時間之分佈為何？本文將以上述問題為核心，分別探討不同條件下系統的實驗時間所反映出來的現象，如機率、期望值、變異數等等。
Define two systems, A includes 2k objects, and B has none. They can transfer at most one object from one system to another in a time unit. When the number of objects in B is i-1, i∈{1,2,...,k+1} , we say the system is at state i. As soon as system transfer form state 1 ( initial state ) to state k+1 ( the same state ), the experiment stop. Random variable T, called the experiment time, is the time before stop. What would be the distribution of the experiment time if all systems have the same amount of objects within? This article will focus on the described question and discuss what property the experiment time of the system under various conditions has, such as probability, mean, and variance.
佛手瓜卷鬚之向觸性及其參與蛋白質之探討
本研究利用佛手瓜的卷鬚探討向觸性的原理。本研究大致分為兩部份，一方面我們在卷鬚中發現了含量極為豐富的構造，此一螺旋狀構造分布於維管束中，且用雙縮?詴劑檢測後發現其含有蛋白質，且不具有運輸水分的功能；並發現此一構造的分布疏密，會影響到螺旋內側外側以及切割後片段泡溫水的彎曲方向。此外，在進行卷鬚蛋白質電泳的過程中，我們發現使用含尿素的緩衝液萃取蛋白質的效果最佳，1克的卷鬚乾重約可萃取到5毫克的蛋白質，且蛋白質總量會隨著卷鬚的成熟而遞減。利用軟體比對及質譜分析八個蛋白質點，得知此八點的蛋白質為：malate dehydrogenase, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1, oxyen-evolving enhancer protein 2, calreticulin, peroxidase, stromal 70 kDa heat shock-related protein, and AP2/ERF and B3 domain-containing transcription repressor。由此可知，向觸性為植物經過一連串訊號傳遞後，對外界刺激的順應。
Equtatetor-新一代智慧型數學處理器
此研究的目的是要設計出一套完整編輯顯現數學式、加以計算，並求出解的一套方法與成品。而這項工作的執行者，在此稱之Equatetor 。一般的數學式子，若要計算的話，普通的計算機是不足夠的。原因是它們沒有辦法表現出數學式的「原貌」，例如分號、指數、函數、根號等數學符號混在一起時的情況。於是，我便擬定了一個研究，希望設計出一套更方便且實用的方法。換句話說，我要設計出一個功能強大的工程計算機程式。其中，自然牽扯到數學式子的顯現方式（以MathML 實現），以及計算機科學的演算法及資料結構。我主要的目的有四：(1) 顯示數學式(2) 方便編輯數學式(3) 計算數學式(4) 處理可以以不同形式輸出解答的計算（如輸出分數、根號、函數解等）。研究結果中，成功地運用XML 中的MathML 與二分逼近分數等演算法及若干資料結構，達到了以下實用的幾點：(1) 結構化的數學式編輯(2) 完整地顯示數學式(3) 正確運算並輸出運算式的答案(4) 提供一般數學形式之解（非小數之解）;The object of this study is to design a method and processor which is able to edit, display a mathematical expression representing a number, calculate and output the answer. The executor of this task is called Equatetor. Normal calculators are not adequate for this kind of task. The main reason is that they can’t reveal the original expression, such as fractions, radicals, exponents or mathematic functions. Therefore, a simple and convenient method is needed. To perform the possible way of handling those tasks, a computer program has been written. Several techniques were used, such as MathML, computing algorithms, data structures, and so on. Following are main purposes: (1) Displaying mathematical expressions. (2) Editing mathematical expressions simply. (3) Calculating mathematical expressions. (4) Outputting the answers(in different expressions). And the achievements:(1) Structured methods of editing of mathematical expressions. (2) Displaying mathematical expressions completely. (3) Calculating mathematical expressions precisely. (4) Offering answers in different expressions.
無孤力點無交錯分割的區塊細分及五個新的Riordan組合結構
將一個集合{1,2,...,n}分成數個非空的集合（組，區塊），稱為此集合的一個分割。如果可以找到1 ≦ a 已知無孤立點無交錯分割以Riordan 數{rn}n≥0 =1,0,1,1,3,6,15,36,... 來計數。在這篇文章中我們研究無孤立點無交錯分割的一些性質。
首先我們考慮無孤立點的無交錯分割按區塊的細分。我們得出：集合{1,2,...,n}恰含k個區塊的無孤立點的無交錯分割的個數為：
其次，我們證明bn,k和多邊形的剖分有令人訝異的關連。令dn,k是用不相交對角線將凸n 邊形分成k 塊的方法。我們用代數方法證出 bn,k = dn+2−k ,k，也給了一個新的組合證明。
最後，透過對應的方法，我們找出了七個嶄新的組合結構，這些結構都是以Riordan 數來計數。
Partition the set {1,2,...,n} into several nonempty sets (blocks) and call it a partition. If there exists 1 ≦ a It is known that the nonsingleton noncrossing partitions are counted by Riordan numbers {rn}n≥0 =1,0,1,1,3,6,15,36,... In this paper we study the properties of them.
First we consider the enumeration of nonsingleton noncrossing partitions in respect to the blocks. We prove that the number of nonsingleton noncrossing partitions of {1,2,...,n} with k blocks is
Then we give a connection between nonsingleton noncrossing partitions and polygon dissections. Let dn,k be the ways to dissect an n –gon with noncrossing diagonals. We prove that bn,k = dn+2−k ,k
We also give a combinatorial proof. Furthermore, by way of the technic of bijection, we find 7 new combinatorial structures counted by Riordan numbers.
阿拉伯芥AtYAK1 基因5'UTR 中的開放讀序框(uORFs)對基因表現調控之探討
在模式植物──阿拉伯芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）中，AtYAK1（Arabidopsis thaliana Yak1-related protein kinase）是目前發現唯一屬於DYRK（Dual specificity Yak1-Related protein Kinase）的蛋白激?。雖然之前研究已證明，不同物種之DYRKs 和細胞的生長與發育過程有關。然而，其在植物中的生理功能卻尚未被明確地研究報導過。在先前的研究中，為瞭解AtYAK1 在阿拉伯芥內作用之位置，前人選取AtYAK1 基因ATG 上游約2.5 kb 的序列（Upstream Element, 2.5KUSE）建構至一含有GUS（β-glucuronidase）報告基因的質體中，並轉形至阿拉伯芥，進行GUS 組織染色分析。但在初步結果中，並沒有在轉殖株觀察到明顯的GUS 表現。進一步分析，我們發現在2.5KUSE 序列末端約0.5 kb 的5’非轉譯區（5’untranslated region, 5’UTR）中，有四組開放讀序框（Upstream Open Reading Frame, uORF）。有趣的是，許多研究也顯示，uORFs 會影響轉譯過程中的再起始（re-initiation）作用而調控該基因的表現。另一方面，前人亦透過構築好的2KUSE 轉殖株（即不含有5’UTR）進行上述GUS 實驗。結果發現，此2KUSE 轉殖株的GUS 表現非常顯著。本實驗即要瞭解AtYAK1 的uORFs 是否也會影響其蛋白質的合成。首先，我們以點突變的方式將四組uORFs 中之ATG 換成TTG，目的為構築不含有uORFs 之5’UTR（mutated uORFs, ΔuORFs）。在進行原生質體短暫表現分析法（protoplast transient assay）及GUS 組織染色分析後，將結果與含有uORFs 的結果作比較：當缺乏uORFs 後，其3’端報告基因的表現量確實比原來顯著。綜合以上，我們認為此uORFs 對於AtYAK1 蛋白質之表現佔有相當重要的影響地位。最後，我們對5’非轉譯區是否存在開放讀序框進行阿拉伯芥全基因組分析，相關結果亦於本研究報告中分析討論。AtYAK1（Arabidopsis thaliana Yak1-related protein kinase）is the first DYRK（Dual specificity Yak1-Related protein Kinase ） family member identified in the model plant ─ Arabidopsis thaliana and exists as one copy gene in Arabidopsis. Previous studies showed that many eukaryotic DYRKs are involved in regulating the growth and development of cells. However, the study of AtYAK1 in Arabidopsis is lacking to date. In order to understand where AtYAK1 expresses and functions in plants, a 2.5 kb fragment which is located upstream from the major ATG of AtYAK1（termed Upstream Element, 2.5KUSE）was previously constructed to drive the expression of a reporter gene, GUS（β-glucuronidase）, in transgenic Arabidopsis. Much to our surprise, no GUS expression signal could be detected in such transgenic plants. When further analyses were performed, we found that there are four upstream open reading frames （uORFs） in the 5’untranslated region ( 5’UTR ) within the 2.5KUSE. Many studies indicating that the uORFs can regulate the translation of downstream ORF encoding the major gene product through the procedure of translation re-initiation. This action represents a mode of translational regulation for gene expression. Indeed, GUS activity could be readily detected in transgenic plants expression 2KUSE::GUS, a construct lacking the 5’UTR of AtYAK1. In this study, I have tried to elucidate whether the uORFs of AtYAK1 can regulate the translation of the downstream major ORF. First, in order to construct a 5’UTR fragment of which uORFs have been mutated（ΔuORFs）, we apply site-directed mutagenesis to substitute ATG with TTG for the four uORFs and examine the expression of GUS driven by this mutated 2.5KUSE. After analyzing the results in both Arabidopsis protoplast transient assay and transgenic Arabidopsis, stronger expression of reporter genes in both systems were observed when the four uORFs were mutated. We have also confirmed that, in transient expression system, the increase of reporter gene activity was not due to the excess accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs. Rather, it is the four uORFs which play an important role in negatively regulating the translation of AtYAK1, possibly via inhibiting the translation re-initiation of major ORF. A genome-wide examination of uORFs in all Arabidopsis genes was also performed to assess the possible contribution of uORF in regulating gene expression.