溫泉中的秘密
The experiment was primarily focused on studying whether the enzymes from different bacterial species collected in various hot spring areas still exhibited activities at high temperatures. A further study would be conducted on analyzing the unique characteristics universally found in the genes of selected bacteria. First, hot spring samples were collected form Peitou and Wulai, and then cultured on the PY, PTG, MFB, and TS media in the laboratory. After the broth media growing with thermophilic bacteria, a series of continuous dilution method and solid-plate spreading were applied to separate these bacterial clones. The genomic DNA of the selected bacteria was extracted and used to analyze subtilisin-like gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis. Finally, we examined the six selected thermophilic bacteria with the enzymatic activities of fibrin- and milk-protein degradation. We successfully concluded the experiment by proving that these thermophilic bacteria still exhibited significant enzymatic activitives in the high-temperature environments. The results of this experiment can be applied in numerous fields, for example, thrombus treatment and food processing, and a more in-depth study shall warrant the due consideration. 這次的實驗，主要是研究在不同的溫泉區中所採集不同種類細菌，是否酵素在高溫下仍具活性，如果有，再進而研究它們的基因有何特別的共同之處。首先，我分別自北投和烏來採集水樣，到實驗室後再以PY、PTG、MFB 和TS 四種培養基做細菌的培養，接著再利用連續稀釋和固態塗抹來做細菌的分離。經過挑選和培養之高溫菌直接進行DNA 的抽取，並利用「聚合?鏈反應」和「電泳跑膠」技術分析其類似蛋白質分解酵素subtilisin 基因。另外，本研究同時針對所選定之6 株高溫細菌利用血栓和牛奶蛋白來測試其蛋白質分解酵素的活性。由以上實驗結果可以證明某些細菌在高溫的環境下酵素仍具活性。這次在高溫菌的實驗結論，可應用在很多地方，例如：血栓的治療、在高溫下食品處理‧‧‧等，應用相當廣泛。
揭開變化球的神秘面紗 --- 探討丘腦至前額葉的路徑連結
During the evolution of humankind, development of frontal cortex has played a critical role, where higher brain function like emotions, self-consciousness, decisions…etc, were all related to frontal cortex. On the other hand, thalamus is usually associated with relaying the sensory signals from peripheral receptors. In order to understand the functional role of frontal cortex, the signal processing mechanisms in the thalamo-frontal cortical pathway became an important research issue. The aim of this experiment was to find a method to dissect a brain slice that contains a connecting route in vitro between thalamus and frontal cortex with functional activity. Through nerve fibers tracking technique using fluorescent-dye (DiI), it was understood that the 3D-space connection between thalamus and frontal surface was an upward curve with a turn of about 110 degrees and bending inwards from the two sides. If a conventional horizontal section was performed, the route would be cut-off and its integrity lost regardless of the direction. To solve this problem, a novel section method was developed to retain the route. Based on the route direction shown by the fluorescent-dye, a piece of brain block was cut and flattened of about 110 degrees. Other sections were performed as control for studying the effectiveness of the sectioning on the plane of the route. Finally, electrophysiological methods were used to verify the connection route was complete and functional. Thalamus-evoked extracellular field potentials in the frontal cortex were observed by changing stimulation strength, adjusting slice temperature and prepared oxygen supply and administration of drugs like CNQX and picrotoxin in the 110 degree flattened slice but not the others. It was found that the reaction was essentially a neuronal response, indicating the pathway between thalamus and frontal surface was retained substantially. With this novel brain slice technique, we can assess the functional connection between thalamus and frontal cortex and investigate the cellular mechanisms of the signal processing in this connection pathway. It is anticipated that present technique provides an important step to further elucidate the functional role of the frontal cortex. 在人類的演化史上，前額葉的發展扮演了極為重要的角色，凡舉情緒、自我意識、決策等，皆與前額葉有關。而丘腦通常與視覺、聽覺及本體感受如痛覺、觸覺、溫度覺的訊息傳遞有關。要了解前額葉的功能，丘腦到前額葉的徑路及訊息處理機制，便成為一個很重要的研究課題。本實驗的目的是尋找一個方法能在離體的腦切片上維持具有丘腦到前額葉連結的徑路並且有功能的活性。經由螢光染料(DiI)神經束追蹤技術，了解從丘腦至前額葉路徑的三度空間連結為一先向下再向上約110度的角度轉折，並同時先由內向外再轉向內的曲線，若用一般水平之切片方法，無論何種方向，其路徑必定會被切斷，不能保持其完整性。為了解決此問題，發展出一種可以保存其路徑的腦切片方法。依照螢光染料所顯示出的的路徑走向，在腦塊的皮質上切一刻痕，將腦塊以110度的角度展平，使其路徑處在一個平面上再切片。最後利用電生理的方法來證明所切出的連結路徑是完整且具有活性。改變在丘腦的刺激強度、調整腦切片(腦脊髓液)溫度、氧氣的供給以及施予藥物CNQX、picrotoxin，觀察其前額葉之電位變化，發現其反應確實為神經反應，表示從丘腦至前額葉的路徑已在這種特殊的腦切片中被完整保存。藉由這個方法，將有助於研究丘腦至前額葉功能性連結，神經網路結構，及其訊息處理機制，並期待以這樣一個全新的方法將來有助於瞭解前額葉的功能。
模擬複雜系統的演化
複雜系統廣泛地存在每個人生活的周遭，儘管這些系統在表象上有明顯的差異，卻不約而同的都呈現出臨界現象。一個簡單的物理概念卻能廣泛地使用在許多不同的場合當中，這是令人始料未及的。這份報告在尋找，是什麼原因導致這許多似乎與物理沒什麼關聯的系統，都呈現出臨界現象？以及這類系統是如何演化的？臨界現象在系統的演化歷史中，又是扮演怎樣的一個角色？一開始，先介紹臨界現象在實際系統中表現的形式，在這以文字系統作為範例。接下來，進入思考的階段，猜測系統個體間存有的關聯性，提出如何影響的假設，並建立模型。從模型結果，可以了解複雜系統隨時間演化的趨勢改變，並發現臨界現象在系統中扮演的角色以及代表的意義。這份報告有三項結論：1. 臨界現象在複雜系統中呈現的形式 2. 模型結果與實際系統十分相似 3. 臨界現象代表著系統的穩定態。The theory of Scaling Law and Universality was originally used in researching Critical phenomena, and now we find it existing in our normal life. A simple physical concept can be used extensively in different courses. This study try to find out the relation between individuals which causes Critical phenomena appear in such different courses in our normal life, and figure out the effect time brings about. To begin with, we introduce the sights of Scaling Law and Universality by exploring the formation of complicated system. Facing a complicated word system as a real example, we observe an extraordinary phenomena, and find out the Universality and Scaling Law in different kinds of linguistics. In the main part, to think further, what’s the relation between the individuals that leads to Critical phenomena? We will give hypotheses and build a model to simulate complicated system from the view of Universality, trying to find out the cause of the interaction of complicated system. From this model, we could understand: When a complicated system evolves with time, the Critical phenomena will naturally occur in this system that could be considered as dynamic equilibrium. From this study we found out(1) The Universality and Scaling Law in complicated systems, here we use linguistics as an example.(2) Under the hypotheses, the simulation is almost as same as the real result of linguistics system.(3) Time plays an important part in the Critical phenomena which can be found in many different complicated systems, and Critical phenomena symbolize a stable state of such systems.
利用奈米級二氧化鈦(Tio2)在不同的變因下降解膠原蛋白之研究
本實驗使用奈米級二氧化鈦能經紫外線催化，分解空氣中的水分子產生自由基，攻擊膠原蛋白中碳與氫鍵結的部份，使膠原蛋白的分子量成功的從300000 減少至少到20000 以下。其次，利用紫外線波長或酸鹼值的變因之下，控制降解出來的分子量大小。利用此法可在4個小時內得到很好的降解效果，不僅可以節省反應所需的時間，所需的成本也比當今所使用的酵素降解法來得低。 其次，我們檢測降解完後膠原蛋白的活性，發現只要不照光超過2 小時，膠原蛋白所剩的活性還不錯。如此一來，我們就可以利用此法快速的製造出有用的膠原蛋白了。 ;In the experiment, we use the properties of TiO2 which can be catalyzed by UV rays and breaking the molecules of H2O and produce free radicals that can attack the bond between carbon and oxygen in collagen, degrading collagen's molecular weight from 300000 to at least below 20000. We also use different UV rays and pH to conduct the experiment, controlling the molecular weight by degradation. By using this technique, we can get good effect of degradation in 4 hours. It can not only cut back the reaction time, but also costs much lower than the way using enzyme to degrade collagen. Furthermore, after the degradation of collagen, we also carry out the experiment to make sure whether collagen is “alive” or not. We have got the result that collagen can still work if it is not shone under UV rays more than 2 hours. In this way, we can use the technique to produce useful collagen rapidly.
總站該設在哪裡？—另類費馬點的研究
The definition of "Fermat Point" is that a dot, which lies in a triangle, has the minimum distance to the three apexes. In other words, "Fermat Point" has the minimum distance to three dots which are not on the same line. In the broad sense, then, in a N polygon, a dot which has the minimum distance to the N apexes could be named "Fermat Point." But what if we link up the N apexes and find out that they cannot make a convex polygon? The above is what we wish to fully discuss. Our inspiration comes from a paper on"Fermat Point." It just describes N convex polygon, so we think of putting the case to naturally polygon. The case may be that it is a concave polygon or part of the apexes which lies on the same line. We would not base our study on the conventional methods. Moreover, strictly defined, the repeated line segment will not be taken into account. That is, if the "Fermat Point" drops on the line with more than two dots on it, we just count the\r line segments except for the shorter line segments which were originally included in other studies. According to the theorem, our conclusions are as follows: 1. If N points lie on the same line segment, then the "Fermat Point"can be any point on the line segment. 2. If (N-1) points are on the same line segment, then the "Fermat Point" is on the point which two lines join together. One is that the line segment, and the other is the one which passes the remaining point and\r perpendicular to the first line segment. 3. Now there are (M+N) points. Among them, M points will make a M jog-polygon. The others all drop in the polygon. As the diagram shown beneath, we know that the "Fermat Point" drops on the point which two lines join together. The two lines must pass as many points as possible. 所謂的「費馬點」是指三角形內到三頂點距離和最小的點。換言之，「費馬點」就是到平面上不共線三點距離和最小的點。因此，我們可定義，廣義的「費馬點」即是n 多邊形內到各頂點距離和最小的點，亦即到平面上不共線n 點距離和最小的點，但若平面上n 點不能恰為n 多邊形的頂點呢？這就是我們所要討論的。由於我們的靈感來自一份關於「費馬點」的科展作品，所以我們想到，當平面上n 點不能恰為n 凸多邊形的頂點，甚或其中有一部分的點共線時，將不能以n邊形的方法來探討，但我們可以將之化為m 邊形內（n-m）個點來討論。而更重要的是，我\r 們增加了另一個限制，重複的線段將不被我們列入計算。亦即當所求點落在某一多點共線的線段上時，我們只計算該線段的總長，而不計其中重複的較短線段。根據這個原則，我們試行證明平面上三點、四點、五點及六點的可能情況，期望能從中找出足以推廣至平面上n 點的一般性。結果雖不完美，但我們總算差強人意的歸納出了下列結論：1.若n 點共線段，所求點可為所共線段上任一點。2.若（n-1）點共線段，則由該不共線點引一線與共線段垂直，其交點即為所求。3.若（n+m）個點中有m 個點為一m 多邊形的頂點，另外n 個點落在該m 多邊形內，則由兩個外頂點引直線盡可能通過最多點，該兩直線的交點即為所求。