菲律賓

Recently, there have been several researches aimed at the feasibility of electroactive polymers (EAPs) replacing motors as robotic actuators – the driving forces behind mechanical devices. However, current EAP actuators are either hard to control or incapable of discrete accurate movements. The research aims to design a computer interface that makes it possible for the electroactive polymer, VHB 4910, to become an effective substitute for bulky motors in effecting precise and accurate control of a robotic arm.

A polysiloxane elastomeric lens was formed by mixing a silicone elastomeric base and silicone elastomer curing agent. It was molded from a +100 glass lens attached to a milled Plexiglas mold. The changing focal length as a result of the application of different degrees and ways of applying strain was observed with the help of a diverging laser beam and 28 and 30- diopter lenses. The shortening of the focal length as a function of applied strain using weights was observed for two treatments namely low weight and high weight. The focal lengths were measured using a vernier caliper and an adjustable white board on which the laser beam was reflected. Data for the experiment involving weights showed that there is a general decrease in the length of the foci of the elastomeric lenses as more weights were added to the set-up. This can be attributed to the increase in curvature of the lenses as more weights were added. Data for the experiment involving spring balances showed that there is a general increase in the length of the foci of the elastomeric lenses as the spring balances are pulled harder. This can be attributed to the flattening or decrease in curvature of the lenses as the spring balances are pulled harder. A stretchable lens can be used to replace intraocular lenses in cataract extraction. By changing the focal length, the lens can work for a wide range of distances, and therefore serve as the definite solution to the development of cataracts and other conditions that affect visual activity.

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.

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.

Fluorescent proteins are used to label and tag tumor cells. These are also used in molecular cloning methods, and in monitoring cellular processes. However, the Philippines does not have a local source of fluorescent proteins, and thus imports these expensive chemicals from other countries. Possible sources of fluorescent proteins may come from marine organisms and certain plants. This work presents the screening, isolation, and characterization of fluorescent proteins from a potential local source—nudibranchs. The pigments of nudibranchs function to make their different body parts, as well as the cerata, brilliantly colored for defense and protection as in camouflage and aposematic behavior. The pigmentation in the skin of the nudibranchs was used as the fluorescent protein source. Crude protein extracts from the seven species of nudibranchs collected from Mabini, Batangas, Philippines were run through Reversed- Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for screening. Graphs of the absorbance of the seven species showed which species exhibit the most number of aromatic amino acids, the main component of fluorescent proteins. The species with the highest absorbance at 280 nm, which is Chromodoris willani, was run through the HPLC again for recovery and collection of fractions. The fractions were examined through fluorescence microscopy, wherein the samples were filtered at three emission ranges, the first at 450-470nm,the second at 515-545 nm, and the third at 600-650 nm, which corresponds to blue, green, and red, respectively. The proteins which emit at the said ranges were the only component allowed to pass through. The results, which are images of the excited proteins, showed that fluorescent proteins are present in the fractions of Sample 6—Chromodoris willani.

Cultures of bacteria were analyzed using fractal geometry and statistics to provide a method for predicting organism growth, paving the way for a better design of treatment drugs. Images of three cultures of isolated Bacillus subtilis were taken at time intervals of two to three hours for eight days. The images were processed using the IDOLON program and quantitatively described using three statistical formulas: fractal dimension D, Renyi dimension and Hausdorff-Besicovitch dimension. The three variables were integrated to compute the maximum of the distribution and were used as coordinates for a 3-dimensional graph f. A 2-dimensional graph g containing the maximum of a distribution under time analysis was also constructed. Topological properties of the graphs, including slope, direction and area were used to determine the interrelationship of the three fractal values. The two graphs, described as φ - : X -? P1 where X is the smooth algebraic assimilation of the four variables under time analysis, was extended using Java. A computer-aided prediction model of the graphs f and g were made which combined the topology of f and g at infinity. The computed fractal values showed the existence of a fractal pattern in the growth of Bacillus subtilis with fractal dimension ranging from 0.900 to 4.000, indicating a linear iteration. This was supported by the values of the Renyi dimension, which showed a horizontal growth pattern of the bacterial cultures, establishing the growth of the bacteria to be inclined to go towards the North East direction. There was consistency in the computed fractal values, maximum of distribution and topographical computations of all three cultures which also indicated the existence of a pattern of growth which could be extended to tinfinity, thereby allowing prediction of the direction and rate of growth of the bacterial colonies. The fractal patterns in the growth of bacteria, in this case Bacillus subtilis, yielded the direction and rate of growth of the bacteria as shown by the analysis of the fractal patterns and statistical values, showing that the growth of harmful organisms can therefore be predicted, making it possible to improve on the design of drugs for the control of perilous cells. By preventing the growth of insidious cells, the potential effects of virulent organisms may be avoided, and treatment may be made more possible.

Electrocardiograms are important medical devices used to monitor the cardiac activity of patients over a period of time. Designed to provide convenient monitoring of patients, although most useful, ECG’s however are expensive and usually not portable, limiting its availability and therefore usefulness. Taking advantage of current technological developments, the researchers developed an ECG System with Androidâ„¢ smartphone based monitor, and Bluebeat© ECG Front circuit based electrodes. The system is divided into two, software and hardware interface. The developed software interface code used an Android based Java language which displays the converted ADC values in the LCD. Saving and user friendly features were also included in the smartphone. The hardware interface is composed of the ECG front and the Data Acquisition Module. The ECG front contains the filters and amplifiers that will receive the human cardiac signal. The DAT Module will then receive it with its Gizduino (Arduinoâ„¢ clone) microcontroller which converts the analog signals into ADC values, and finally sends it to the smartphone using Bluetooth© wireless communication. The first phase of data gathering used signal generator and indicates the system’s accuracy and speed. The second phase testing of the study meanwhile utilizes the ECG front to get actual cardiac signals from human. This phase has already been done, though it still needs more polishing and further trials. For the final testing, nine patients of varying ages and cardiac health status will be taken with ECG readings, three replicates from the developed ECG system, and one from an actual ECG device. Using cardiologists’ and patients’ feedback, the user friendliness and accuracy of the ECG-system will be confirmed, and further modifications shall be made. Lastly, the overall cost of producing the ECG system shall be compared to the price of an ECG device, to see if the developed system is indeed cheaper. However, it is ensured that the system is far more portable than its bulkier ancestors. Once the project is fully finished, the accuracy, replicability and usefulness of the system shall be confirmed using F-test.

Nano-sized calcium phosphate was used in the synthesis of starch-based composite plastics to provide a cheap but sturdier biodegradable alternative to petroleum derived plastics used in film packaging. Nano-sized calcium phosphates were produced from the precipitation reaction of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO3)2 ‧ 4H2O) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The nanoparticles were co-extruded and molded with thermoplastic starch (TPS) at ratios of 0%, 1%, and 5% by mass. Tensile strength and elongation percentage of the resultant composite plastics were tested in three replicates. The results show that there is a significant difference between the tensile strengths of the 0% and 5% calcium phosphate composites at a 5% level of significance. The trend between the composite’s tensile strength and percentage calcium phosphate follows a geometric progression, enabling a projection for the 10% nano-calcium phosphate to have a tensile strength of 10 MPa, the average tensile strength for low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This shows that it is feasible to synthesize a 10% nano-calcium phosphate-TPS plastic that can be a viable substitute for LDPE plastics in film packaging, paving the way for the commercialization of starch-based plastics. The use of biodegradable plastics with improved physical characteristics will lessen consumer dependence on petroleum derived plastics and solve the environmental issues brought about by the use of such plastics.

A study was done to determine if the antioxidants found in peanut hulls could be used\r for lessening the corrosion rate of iron. Peanut hulls were ground then divided into two\r batches, P1 and P2, then oven-dried at temperatures of 50°C and 60°C, respectively. The\r moisture content of each batch was then determined before performing methanolic extraction\r to isolate the antioxidants. Eighteen iron strips of approximately the same surface areas were\r thoroughly cleaned and weighed, then divided into six groups. The iron strips in the first five\r groups were respectively coated with pure extract from batch P1; a 1:1 mixture of P1 extract\r and turpentine; pure P2 extract; a 1:1 mixture of P2 extract and turpentine; and pure\r turpentine. No treatment was done on the sixth group. All iron strips were exposed to air to\r allow formation of rust thru atmospheric corrosion. After 12 days, the iron strip were cleaned\r and weighed; then the individual corrosion rates of the metals were determined.\r The corrosion rates of the metals treated with pure P1 extract, the P1-Turpentine, and\r the P2-Turpentine mixtures were found to be significantly lower than the corrosion rates of\r the metals without treatment, at 5% level of significance in a t-Test for independent samples.\r The average corrosion rates of all the treated metals were found to be lower than that of\r metals treated with pure turpentine, though not significantly. The corrosion rate of the metals\r coated with turpentine was not significantly less than that of untreated metals. The corrosion\r rates of the metals were also found not to be dependent with the moisture as there was no\r significant difference in the mean corrosion rates of metals treated with P1 extract and those\r treated with P2 extract, with or without turpentine.\r The project has shown that peanut hull extracts can be used to lessen the production\r of rust on the surface of the metal. Moisture content of the hulls was not found to be a factor\r in lessening the corrosion rate.