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Comparing the Conventional and Bootstrap Estimators of Noncentrality Parameter in Structural Equation Modeling
No full text非中參數估計在結構方程模型使用中扮演重要角色。然慣用的非中參數估計式存在偏誤，Raykov（2000）的推導指出非中參數慣用法之偏誤，及其大變異量和高均方誤差，並於2005年提出一非中參數拔靴偏誤校正估計式。非中參數奠基於卡方檢定量在對立假設下之大樣本分配，故其受樣本量與模型誤設程度之影響。為充分評估估計式之表現，亦將模型類型納入考量。因此，本研究採蒙地卡羅模擬方法，藉由操弄樣本量、模型誤設程度與模型類型，以評估比較非中參數慣用估計式（δ ̂）、基於拔靴偏誤校正概念之Raykov（2005）非中參數估計式（δ ̂_bc）與本研究提出之另一拔靴偏誤校正估計式（δ ̃_bc）三者的綜合表現。結果顯示，三非中參數估計式之偏誤、相對偏誤、標準差與均方根誤差主要受模型誤設程度影響，亦受樣本量影響。三估計式相對偏誤之絕對值均隨模型誤設程度和樣本量的增加而減小，標準差與均方根誤差則隨模型誤設程度和樣本量增加變大。δ ̂與δ ̃_bc表現相近，而δ ̂_bc出現過度校正的現象。模型正確時，δ ̂_bc的偏誤幾近於零，然於其他情境則易低估非中參數，其相對偏誤絕對值大都高於δ ̂與δ ̃_bc。δ ̂_bc之標準差基本上較小，然由於偏誤之影響，其均方根誤差於多數情況均較另兩估計式為大。綜整而言，於真實模型中，δ ̂_bc更接近真實值；然除真實模型和誤設程度很小之模型外，δ ̂與δ ̃_bc之偏誤與相對偏誤絕對值和均均方根誤差均較小。考量δ ̂於本研究展現之特性及其計算之簡便性，目前三估計式中仍推薦非中參數慣用估計法，然亦期待於未來能有更佳估計式之發展，以利結構方程模型之應用與分析。Noncentrality parameter (NCP) plays an important role in evaluating structural equation models. The present simulation study compared the behaviors of three estimators of NCP. Raykov (2000) showed that the conventional noncentrality parameter estimator possessed asymptotically potentially large bias, variance, and mean squared error, and further developed a bias-corrected bootstrap estimator (Raykov, 2005) as a possible alternative for the conventional estimator. The noncentrality parameter is based on the asymptotic distribution of the chi-square test statistic under alternative hypothesis and is affected by sample size and degree of model misspecification. This Monte Carlo research therefore systematically manipulated degree of model misspecification, sample size and model type to evaluate the performance of the conventional noncentrality parameter estimator (δ ̂), Raykov’s bias-corrected bootstrap estimator (δ ̂_bc) and another bias-corrected bootstrap estimator proposed in this study (δ ̃_bc). The results showed that degree of model misspecification demonstrated the largest effect on the bias, relative bias, standard deviation and root mean squared error of these three noncentrality parameter estimators, followed by sample size. Absolute relative bias of these three estimators decreased with increasing sample size and degree of model misspecification, while their standard deviations and root mean squared errors increased with larger sample sizes and more severe model misspecifications. Raykov’s δ ̂_bc showed little bias under true models and tended to underestimate the true NCP value in other conditions, resulting in large absolute relative bias compared to the other two estimators. Although the standard deviation of δ ̂_bc was less than δ ̂ and δ ̃_bc, its root mean squared error was larger due to its bias. The other two estimators, δ ̂ and δ ̃_bc, performed similarly. Their absolute biases, absolute relative biases and mean squared errors were smaller than δ ̂_bc except for true models and very mild model misspecifications. The conventional NCP estimator is thus recommended considering its ease of computation and the behaviors shown in this simulation study. Further development of alternative estimators for this critical quantity in structural equation modeling is also encouraged
Synthesis and Applications of Fluorescent Noble Metal Nanoclusters
No full text螢光貴金屬奈米團簇具獨特光學和催化的特性，如尺寸量化的放光、順磁性及高光穩定性等，故已被廣泛應用於生物感測與生物顯影上。本論文主要著重於水相螢光貴金屬(金和銀)奈米團簇製備、鑑定及應用。首先以特定序列單股去氧核醣核酸(DNA)當模板，以硼氫化鈉(NaBH4)還原銀和金離子成DNA保護的金/銀奈米團簇 (Au/Ag nanoclusters)，此團簇具高螢光亮度與光穩定性。利用電噴灑質譜儀與感應耦合電漿質譜儀鑑定得知此奈米團簇由兩金原子與一個銀原子所組成。相對於銀奈米團簇，金/銀奈米團簇在高離子強度的環境中有較好的穩定性。藉由硫離子(S2−)造成團簇放光淬息(quenching)現象，此金/銀奈米團簇感測器對硫離子偵測極限可達0.83 nM，對其它陰離子選擇性高達55倍以上。我們也進一步結合微脂體(Liposome)與螢光11-巰基十一酸–金微奈米粒子(11-MUA‒Au NDs)製備出11-巰基十一酸–金微奈米粒子/微脂體複合體。此奈米複合體可應用於偵測磷脂酶C (phospholipase C)。磷脂酶C水解微脂體後，產生的疏水二醯基甘油(diacylglycerol)，可與長碳鏈之11-巰基十一酸作用，降低11-MUA‒Au NDs的螢光放光淬息現象。此複合體探針對磷脂酶C偵測極限為0.21 nM，對其他蛋白質和酵素選擇性大於95倍以上。此探針亦應用在乳癌細胞(MCF-7 與 MDA-MB-231細胞株)以及正常細胞(MCF-10A細胞株)中之磷脂酶C活性的分析。為提升金微奈米粒子放光效率與穩定度，我們以不同帶電性之兩親配體分子(如癸酸、十二烷酸、十四烷酸、溴化十二烷基三甲銨、溴化十四烷基三甲銨和溴化十六烷基三甲銨等)與11-巰基十一醇共同修飾於金微奈米粒子。其中以溴化十六烷基三甲銨/11-巰基十一醇–金量子點展現優異的量子產率高達40%。十二烷酸/11-巰基十一醇–金量子點量子產率僅有2.57%，而優異的分散性以及高螢光亮度之特性，可利用此探針作為偵測亞硝酸離子(NO2−)之分析，此探針對亞硝酸離子偵測極限為40 nM，對其他陰離子選擇性高達70倍以上，並應用在自然水體(湖水與海水)中之亞硝酸離子的分析。透過自組裝抗菌表面活性肽(surfactin)與十二烷基硫醇‒金微奈米粒子(DT‒Au NDs)，製備出具有抗菌表面活性肽/十二烷基硫醇‒金微奈米粒子。此抗菌表面活性肽本身已具有抗細菌、抗病毒、抗真菌、抗黴菌以及溶血之作用與性質。而相對於表面活性肽，此金微奈米粒子有著更優異抑制金黃色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、枯草桿菌(Bacillus subtilis)、大腸桿菌(Escherichia coli)、變形桿菌(Proteus vulgaris)與多重抗藥性金黃色葡萄球菌(Methicillin-resistant S. aureus)。我們也探討十二烷基硫醇與抗菌表面活性肽之合成比例，有效提升金微奈米粒子之水溶性、螢光強度以及抗菌效果。金微奈米粒子亦進行哺乳類動物細胞與溶血實驗測試，顯現低毒性與無顯著性的溶血的結果。Fluorescent noble metal nanoclusters (NCs) and nanodots (NDs) are interesting materials and widely employed in the biosensing and bioimaging, mainly because of their unique optical and catalytic properties, including strong fluorescence, size-dependent emission wavelengths, magnetism, and high photostability. This thesis focuses on the preparation, characterization, and application of water-soluble fluorescent noble metallic nanoclusters/nanodots (NCs/NDs). First, we have employed cytosine-rich oligonucleotides to prepare strongly fluorescent and highly photostable DNA-templated gold/silver nanoclusters (DNA–Au/Ag NCs) through the NaBH4-mediated reduction method. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were employed to characterize the DNA–Au/Ag NCs, revealing that each DNA–Au/Ag NCs contain two Au atoms and one Ag atom. Based on that fact that sulfide (S2−) ion-induced fluorescence quenching of DNA–Au/Ag NCs, we further developed a fluorescence turn-off assay for the high sensitive detection of S2− ions at concentrations as low as 0.83 nM. For preparation the functional Au NDs, we combined the biocompatible liposomes (Lip) and fluorescent 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid–gold nanodots (11-MUA–Au NDs) to prepare the 11-MUA–Au ND/Lip hybrids by incorporation of gold nanoparticles (∼3 nm) and 11-MUA molecules in hydrophobic phospholipid membranes that self-assemble to form small unilamellar vesicles. A simple and homogeneous fluorescence assay for phospholipase C (PLC) was developed on the basis of the fluorescence quenching of 11-MUA–Au ND/Lip hybrids in aqueous solution. The fluorescence of the 11-MUA–Au ND/Lip hybrids is quenched by oxygen (O2) molecules in solution, and quenching is reduced in the presence of PLC. PLC catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine units from Lip to yield diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphocholine (PC) products, leading to the decomposition of Lip. The diacylglycerol further interacts with 11-MUA–Au NDs via hydrophobic interactions, leading to inhibition of O2 quenching. The 11-MUA–Au ND/Lip probe provides a limit of detection of 0.21 nM for PLC, with high selectivity over other proteins, enzymes, and phospholipases. For preparation of self-assembly Au NDs, hybridized ligands were used to etching and stabilization of gold nanoparticles (~3 nm). These NDs were employed to detect nitrite based on analyte-induced photoluminescence (PL) quenching. 11-Mercaptoundecanol (11-MU) and its complexes with amphiphilic ligands (ALs) etch Au nanoparticles through hydrophobic interactions and form a densely packed ligand shell on the surface of each core in the as-formed Au NDs. We tested such ALs as three fatty acids and three quaternary ammonium surfactants with alkyl chain lengths of 10–16 carbons. The results show that chain length, ligand density, and functional group (charge) of ALs play important roles in determining the optical properties of Au NDs. Tetradecanoic acid (TA)/11-MU–Au NDs are highly dispersible in aqueous solution and allow detection of nitrite down to 40 nM with selectivities (>100-fold) greater than that for common ions present in natural (lake and sea) water samples. We further prepared antimicrobial Au NDs which surfaces were co-immobilized with antibacterial peptide (surfactin; SFT) and 1-dodecanethiol (DT). SFT, a cyclic lipopeptide, has been credited with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-mycoplasma and hemolytic activities. The hybrid SFT/DT-capped Au NDs (SFT/DT-Au NDs) were prepared through the self-assembly of antimicrobial peptides (SFT) on DT-anchored Au NDs by the nonspecific hydrophobic interactions between the alkyl chains of the SFT and the DT molecules. Relative to SFT and DT-Au NDs, SFT/DT-Au NDs possessed superior antimicrobial activity toward non-multi-drug resistant (non-MDR) Escherichia coli (E. coli), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris), Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. enteritidis), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria as well as the multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). We demonstrated the water solubility, PL as well as antibacterial activity of Au NDs were highly dependent on the ligand ratio of SFT/DT on Au NDs. In vitro haemolysis and cytotoxicity analyses of SFT/DT-Au NDs have revealed their insignificant haemolysis in red blood cells (RBCs) and low toxicity in selected cell lines
The Neighborhood Size Effect in Chinese Character Recognition： Facilitative or Inhibitory?
No full text在中文單字辨識的領域，近幾年湧現出大量有關鄰群效果的研究。對於中文單字辨識中鄰群數目呈現促進還是抑制的效果，研究者們觀點不一，且此議題始終處於熱議中(Bi et al., 2006; Zhang & Jiang, 2008; Bi & Weng, 2008; Zhang & Wang, 2010; Li et al., 2010; Li et al., 2011). 為了釐清此問題，本研究設計了兩個實驗，這兩個實驗的刺激材料分別為不規則不一致的形聲字（實驗1），規則一致的形聲字（實驗2）. 研究者操弄了目標字的鄰群數目和更高頻鄰居的數量，并控制住了字頻。實驗結果顯示，無論目標字的規則性和一致性如何，研究者都觀察到了抑制的鄰群數目效果。而且無論目標字是否有更高頻鄰居，依然觀察到抑制的鄰群數目效果。研究者據此提出了中文單字辨識中鄰群數目效果背後的可能機制，并針對中文單字和雙字詞中的鄰群效果勾勒出整體的理論框架。In recent years, there has been an increase of research investigating neighborhood effect in Chinese character recognition. As for whether orthographic neighborhood size (NS) effect reveals facilitative or inhibitory in Chinese character recognition, opinions vary and the question is still under debate (Bi, Hu & Weng, 2006; Zhang & Jiang, 2008; Bi & Weng, 2008; Zhang & Wang, 2010; Li, Bi & Zhang, 2010; Li, Bi, Wei & Chen, 2011). To clarify this topic, the present study implemented two experiments, the materials of which respectively were irregular & inconsistent phonograms in Experiment 1, and regular & consistent phonograms in Experiment 2. Researchers manipulated the orthographic neighborhood size and the number of higher frequency neighbors (HFNs) of the target characters, with the character frequency controlled. Results indicated that, regardless of the regularity and consistency of the stimuli, an inhibitory NS effect was observed. And both in the conditions of targets without HFNs and with HFNs, the NS effect was stably inhibitory. Researchers raised the possible underlying mechanism of the orthographic neighborhood size effect in Chinese character recognition, and exploited a global theoretical framework involving the neighborhood effect of characters and words in Chinese
Applications of functionalized SBA-15 nanoparticles in hydrolysis of cellulose
No full text目前將纖維素水解成葡萄糖比較常見的催化劑有勻相無機酸與纖維素水解酶。由於無機酸使用上會有腐蝕器材、殘酸等問題，而纖維素水解酶則有成本昂貴、反應時間長、效率低等問題。近年來固態酸觸媒開始被應用在纖維素水解反應，因為其具有易與產物分離、對器材較無傷害等優點，可以克服上述方法的缺點。 由於纖維素具有非常強的疏水性，必須使用離子液體來破壞其中的分子內與分子間氫鍵來幫助水解，但離子液體並不易與產物分離也對海洋生物具有毒性。因此為了回收離子液體，本篇研究將烷基咪唑鹽類以不同方式固定在SBA-15 奈米粒子(簡稱 SBA-15n)上。在此所使用的材料會經過X光粉末繞射、氮氣吸脫附、熱重分析、掃描式電子顯微鏡、固態核磁共振等方法鑑定。產物則由高效液相層析來鑑定。 本文章將探討纖維素水解中有無添加離子液體觸媒之影響，與其嫁接不同碳鏈長度之烷基咪唑鹽類(簡稱: SBA-15n-IL3 and SBA-15n-IL6)在磺酸化SBA-15n (簡稱: PrSA-SBA-15n)下水解纖維素的差異。 在此使用PrSA-SBA-15n作為酸觸媒，發現在有添加離子液體官能基化的SBA-15n作為實驗組的產物中有效地減少多醣生成，並顯著地提高葡萄糖產率。除此之外，還發現短碳鏈的SBA-15n-IL3較長碳鏈的SBA-15n-IL6在纖維素水解的實驗中有較高的葡萄糖產率。本論文中纖維素水解效果最佳化條件是取PrSA-SBA-15n與SBA-15n-IL3以1:1重量比混合在180 °C下反應4.5小時可得到33.0%葡萄糖產率。Although mineral acids and cellulases are the most common catalysts for the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose, they possess serious problems such as reactor corrosion, waste treatment and poor recyclability for the mineral acids, and high cost, low efficiency and long reaction time for cellulases. In order to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, solid acid catalysts, which have the advantages of easy product separation, recyclability, and less damage to the reactor, have attracted great attention in recent years. Ionic liquids have been considered green media for dissolving cellulose by breaking the inter- and intra-molecular H-bonds of cellulose chains. In order to recycle ionic liquids, two alkylimidazolium salts were immobilized onto SBA-15 nanoparticles (abbreviated SBA-15n). The functionalized SBA-15 nanoparticles were examined with powder-XRD, N2 sorption, TGA, EA, SEM and solid-state NMR. The yield of the hydrolysis product was analyzed by HPLC. In this study, the influence of immobilized ionic liquids and the tether length of imidazolium chloride (abbreviated as SBA-15n-IL3 and SBA-15n-IL6) in cellulose hydrolysis catalyzed by PrSA-SBA-15n was studied. In this study, cellulose was hydrolyzed using PrSA-SBA-15n as the catalysts, and the presence of ionic liquid functionalized SBA-15n could reduce the production of oligosaccharides and enhance the yield of glucose. In addition, SBA-15n-IL3 has higher glucose yield than SBA-15n-IL6 in the hydrolysis of cellulose. The optimal 33.0% glucose yield was obtained after 4.5 h hydrolysis of cellulose at 180 °C in the presence of PrSA-SBA-15n and SBA-15n-IL3 in 1:1 weight ratio
Analysis of Amino Acids in Sarcosine Treated Rat Brain by Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry with Fluorescence Detection
No full text生物體的胺基酸分析十分重要但同時也需要面對許多挑戰。生物樣品的複雜性與樣品內微量的胺基酸需仰賴高解析能力與高靈敏度的分析方法，在許多的分析方法中，鄰苯二醛（OPA）試劑的衍生化方法是最廣為人用的。該衍生化方法搭配高效能液相層析儀與螢光偵檢器的使用，可以有效地提高解析能力與靈敏度，達到分析生物樣品內胺基酸的目的。在我的研究中，鄰苯二醛衍生化方法更被進一步的優化及透過串聯質譜儀來提高定性的準確度，並且應用在研究思覺失調症（Schizophrenia）大鼠模型中藥物治療對大鼠腦部胺基酸與神經傳導物質的影響。 思覺失調症是一種極為盛行且嚴重的精神疾病，全球超過百分之一的人口皆深受其害。截至目前為止仍未發展出有效的治療方法，而這也是目前的首要議題。麩胺酸神經傳導系統中N-甲基-D-天門冬胺酸（NMDAR）受體功能低下是目前被廣泛研究於緩解思覺失調症之症狀的新興假說。根據此假說，藉由作用於N-甲基-D-天門冬胺酸受體上之甘胺酸調節位（GMS）的藥物，可以提升N-甲基-D-天門冬胺酸受體的功能並達到治療的效果。在臨床試驗上亦證實增加突觸間甘胺酸濃度將可以提高於甘胺酸調節位的作用，進而提升N-甲基-D-天門冬胺酸受體功能，因此甘胺酸被視為治療思覺失調症的潛力藥物。但是只有高劑量的甘胺酸才能通過血腦屏障進入腦中，而過高的劑量將會導致其他相關的副作用。因此，肌胺酸作為一種甘胺酸轉運體抑制劑，可以透過抑制甘胺酸的回收，以提高突觸間甘胺酸濃度至安全的範圍內，取代甘胺酸及其他直接作用於甘胺酸調節位之制效劑。 在此研究中，透過鄰苯二醛的衍生化方法，分析以肌胺酸注射後之大鼠的腦脊髓液中之甘胺酸濃度。在透過單一注射中等劑量的肌胺酸後，我們以抽取腦脊髓液的時間分成兩群不同組別，分別為 20 分鐘與80分鐘，與單一注射生理食鹽水的大鼠為控制組進行研究與分析。我們發現在單一注射肌胺酸80分鐘後，甘胺酸以及絲胺酸相較於控制組皆有顯著的濃度增加。同時，甘胺酸及D型絲胺酸於生物體內皆會作用於甘胺酸調節位，因此我們的研究結果可以提供強而有力的數據支持肌胺酸為有效治療思覺失調症的潛力藥物。Amino acids analysis in biological samples is a challenging task due to complex matrix and low concentrations of amino acids. The standard analytical technique for amino acids relies on derivatization with O-phthalaldehyde (OPA), followed by HPLC and fluorescence detection. In my thesis, this technique was applied to the study of amino acid neurotransmitters in rat model of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a pervasive and debilitating mental disorder that severely affects more than 1 % of the population worldwide. More effective therapeutic treatments of schizophrenia are greatly required. A new hypothesis, based on the hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) transmission, a subtype of glutamate receptors, has emerged as a promising target on developing alternative medications to ameliorate schizophrenia symptoms. Enhance the activity of NMDAR via glycine modulation site (GMS) can improve the schizophrenia symptoms. Clinical evidence suggests that increasing synaptic glycine levels at the GMS of NMDARs is a possible approach in the treatment of schizophrenia. Unfortunately, due to the poor penetration across the blood-brain barrier, a high dosage of glycine is needed, which leads to concomitant peripheral side effects. An alternative approach to increase GMS agonist availability is to block glycine reuptake by introducing sarcosine, a naturally occurring glycine transport inhibitor, which may increase extra-synaptic glycine levels in a relatively safe manner. In this study, glycine levels in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of sarcosine-treated rats were detected using the OPA method. After a single dose of sarcosine, we measured CSF amino acids at two different time points (20, 80 minutes), and compared with the control group that received a single dose of saline. We found that both glycine and serine became significantly elevated after 80 minutes. Since D-serine and glycine both bind to the GMS site on NMDAR in vivo, our data provided very strong evidence to support the therapeutic effects of sarcosine
「Defense」or「Self-cultivation」：Cross-cultural Perspectives on Psychological Coping Strategies to Death
No full text恐懼管理理論認為：人類在面對死亡意念時，會啟動一系列心理防衛機制，包括將死亡想法壓抑至潛意識中，並藉由維護文化世界觀等方式提升和維持自尊，以抗衡對死亡事實無能為力的恐懼。不過，近來許多實徵研究與後設分析研究紛紛指出，在西方心理學占有一席之地的恐懼管理理論其實存有某些缺陷：雖然該理論在西方文化社會屢屢被印證，但卻經常無法符應非西方文化社會中的實際情形。為了探索問題所在，本研究使用普世性的自我與行動架構──「自我的曼陀羅模型」進行分析後發現，恐懼管理理論無法外推至非西方文化社會的原因在於其文化包容性的不足。有鑑於此，本研究繼續在自我的曼陀羅模型架構下，以華人文化為例，探討傳統儒、道、佛文化對死亡的理解，並將這些對文化脈絡的考量納入對創新理論的思考當中。經過理論層次的探討後，本研究選取華人社會的文化本源，亦是影響範圍和程度最為廣大的儒家文化進行實徵驗證。本研究的整體結果發現：儒家文化確實有著與西方文化相當不同的死亡恐懼心理因應內涵，例如儒家文化影響下的華人社會是直接在可知覺的意識層面（而非潛意識）對死亡進行思考，且以追求內在修養和圓滿人際關係（而非追求外顯個人價值和維護自尊）作為消解死亡恐懼的途徑。本研究希望藉由這些創新理論的思考及實徵研究的嘗試來修正和突破恐懼管理理論的限制，為往後建構能完整含攝文化的死亡因應心理學理論開啟可能性。Terror management theory proposes that people often adopt defensive mechanisms, such as suppressing thoughts about death and protecting unique cultural worldviews unconsciously, to enhance self-esteem and overcome fear-of-death. Nonetheless, recent empirical studies and meta-analyses concluded that TMT cannot be verified and is not applicable in non-Western cultures, there are some limitations of TMT in predicting and explaining individuals’ fear-of-death in non-Western cultures. To solve this issue, this study put TMT in the Mandala Model of Self（an universal structure which describes human mind and action）and compared the cultural background of TMT with the Chinese traditions, then point out that there are such different ways facing to death in traditional Chinese society. For example, “thinking more about death in the consciously,” “making harmonious relationships between oneself and others, like family, mate, friends…” lead to the heightened cognitive accessibility of death and meaning of life in a Confucian society. 478 participants in Taiwan（represent the traditional Chinese Confucianism characteristics）were recruited for this study. The process of recalling near-death experiences was used to manipulate the participants’ feeling of mortality, then some following death-related situational judgment questions were asked in order to measure the participants’ concepts of coping strategies when faced the feeling of mortality. As predicted, results showed that the fear-of-death reducing process in Confucian society is different from that in Western cultures. People in a Confucian society usually think more about death in the conscious mind and dedicate their lives making harmonious relationships between themselves and others to reduce the fear-of-death. According to recent empirical studies and meta-analyses, TMT is no longer a universal theory as we once believed. As such, we need to take the issue of cultural tradition into consideration while conducting culture-inclusive fear-of-death studies. This study seeks to explain how cultural tradition impacts an individual’s concept of death and to generate new interests in culture-inclusive psychological theories on the topic of fear-of-death in the hope of finding better solutions
A Study on Empathy in Rats: Prosocial Behavior in Active Avoidance Task
No full text同理心(empathy)意指源自其他個體的身體狀態產生的情緒反應，同理心可以促進親社會行為(prosocial behavior)，親社會行為意指自發而有利於其他個體的行為。早期行為研究試圖在實驗室複製動物的親社會行為，經常遭遇的批評是無法排除條件化、致敏化與社會促進作用三種非自主性行為的介入，最近的研究使用新的行為典範探討大鼠的親社會行為，但對它們是否真的涉入同理心並沒有直接的證據。本論文使用主動壓桿作業訓練動物學習躲避將出現的電擊或逃脫已出現的電擊，接著讓兩隻老鼠在相鄰的透明實驗箱，只由學習較佳的老鼠按壓槓桿。我們利用共軛情境訓練動物發現按壓槓桿與幫助同伴的必然關聯性，同時引入偶發的遺漏情境來測試動物是否能夠利用這個知識幫助同伴躲避或逃脫電擊，在遺漏情境中操作者按壓槓桿只幫助自己躲避或逃脫電擊，它必須再次按壓槓桿才能幫助同伴。實驗結果發現動物可以再次按壓槓桿幫助同伴逃脫電擊，但無法利用預警訊號協助同伴躲避電擊。在實驗二我們使用分隔測試來檢驗動物的行為是否來自同理心，我們發現動物確實是對於同伴的危難做出反應，而非工具反應、致敏化或社會促進作用。在實驗三我們完全移除操作者的電擊測試動物在自身安全的環境下是否能按壓槓桿幫助同伴，動物同樣可以幫助同伴逃脫電擊，但無法協助躲避。在實驗四我們讓同伴遭受隨機電擊，操作者在安全的環境下仍能按壓槓桿幫助同伴。由以上的結果我們提出動物同理心引發的親社會行為必須具備的三個基本要素：(1)意圖、(2)知識、(3)技能。Empathy is defined as a kind of cognitive and affective reactions appropriate for someone else’s situation rather than one’s own. This empathic concern of others drives human pro-social behavior, which is defined as voluntary behavior intended to benefit the in-group members. Attempting to replicate prosocial behavior in laboratory animals had encountered difficulty and had been criticized for three involuntary confounding factors: Conditioning, sensitization and social facilitation. Recent studies had found several types of pro-social behavior in rats, but whether they indeed involved empathy was still unclear. We trained rats to learn an active avoidance task (AA) depending on a non-reflexive voluntary act—lever pressing. After AA training, two rats were tested in pairs within two transparent adjacent Skinner boxes. Only one lever in one of two boxes was active to prevent or stop delivery of shock and was accessible only to the better trained rat of the pair. To train rat to acquire the contingency between lever pressing and to rescue the neighbored rat from shock, the procedure started with a lever pressing to avoid or escape of shock for both rats in a yoked condition. At the mean time an intermittent leakage condition was introduced to assess if the rat did learn that a lever pressing rescued the partner. The leakage condition was arranged such that pressing the lever saved only the pressed rat rather than both, rescue of the neighbored rat required a second press of the lever after the self-serving first press. Rats did show a higher rate of second press in the leakage condition than in the yoked condition in which the first press saved both and the second press was a random and meaningless act. In next stage, we examined if the second press behavior in the leakage condition continued if the companion partner was removed from the adjacent box. The results showed that this empathic rescuing response dropped to a chance level after the partner’s removal. We further verified that rats would continue this rescuing behavior even the rescuer was no longer endangered but the rescued rat received signaled or not-signaled shocks, even though the rescuer responded more readily to the responses of the shocked companion rather than the signals predicting the upcoming shock. Further analysis ruled out the possibility that this empathy-like sharing of emotion was confounded by conditioning, sensitization or social facilitation. We proposed that the active rescuing behavior observed in our study meets the three key factors characterized pro-social behavior driven by empathy: (1) intention, (2) knowledge and (3) skills
Palladium and Ruthenium Complexes with bidentate Ligands - Preparation and Catalytic activity
No full text摘要 本研究主要涵蓋重氮雙牙配位基 (E)-4-(pyridin-2-yldiazenyl)phenol (4) 及 (E)-2-(phenyldiazenyl)pyridine (5) 的合成，以及探討其與 Ru(II) 和 Pd(II) 之配位化學。所合成出許多鈀金屬錯合物有 [(4)PdCl2] (4aa)、[(4)Pd(TFA)2] (4ab)、[(4)Pd(CH3)Cl] (4b)、[(5)PdCl2] (5a) 及 [(2-(2’-hydroxy-arylazo)pyridine)PdCl] (5b); 與含三聯吡啶之釕金屬錯合物 [(2)(terpyridine)RuCl] (4d)。這些錯合物可由NMR、ESI-MASS及FAB-MASS確認其結構，其中錯合物4aa、4b及4d更進一步以X光單晶繞射分析儀解析確認。配位基4上具有羥基酸性基團，利用紫外光分析儀探討pH值改變對錯合物所造成的影響。 在催化探討上，選用Suzuki耦合反應來比較這一系列鈀金屬錯合物在催化活性上的不同，以及不同取代基對此反應速率的差異，進而探討其反應機制。利用鹼性環境下配位基去質子化之特性使其溶於水中，使其在水相中仍維持其催化活性，進而實現綠色化學的理念。In this work, bidentate azo-contained ligand (E)-4-(pyridin-2-yldiazenyl)phenol (4) and (E)-2-(phenyldiazenyl)pyridine (5) were synthesized. Complexes containing these ligands including [(4)PdCl2] (4aa)、[(4)Pd(TFA)2] (4ab)、[(4)Pd(CH3)Cl] (4b)、[(5)PdCl2] (5a)、[(2-(2’-hydroxy-arylazo)pyridine)PdCl] (5b) and [(4)(terpyridine)RuCl] (4d) were prepared. Complex 4aa、4b and 4d have been characterized by NMR,ESI-MASS,FAB-MASS and X-ray crystallography. Because of the characteristic of hygroxy group, the use of UV-Vis analyzer investigate influence of pH changes caused by complexes. Discussion on catalysis, the choice of Suzuki coupling reaction to compare this series of palladium metal complexes differ in catalytic activity, as well as various substituents reacted rate differences, and then explore the reaction mechanism. Deprotoned ligand in the base environment can enhance the solubility in water. So that it maintains its catalytic activity in the aqueous phase, realizing the concept of green chemistry
A Normative Study on the National Taiwan University Ordering Test in Healthy Individuals in Taiwan
No full text背景：台大排序作業(NTUOT)是被用來為評估時序記憶與錯誤記憶的神經心理測驗工具，且可測量背外側前額葉功能，具有使用方便、測量時間短及平行副本等優點，然而，目前台灣缺乏NTUOT之常模資料。 目的：本研究主要目的為建立台灣正常人NTUOT之常模，主要目標為：一、探討人口學變相對測驗表現的影響；二、檢驗NTUOT的心理計量特性；三、本常模於台灣健康成年人之適用性。 方法：本研究共收集台灣300位16至93歲、教育程度0至18年隻健康成年人於NTUOT之常模資料，同時隨機取33位受試者進行邏輯記憶測驗、修訂版卡片分類測驗、路徑描繪測驗與語意流暢度測驗等資料以檢驗NTUOT之效度，此外，部分樣本同時收集複本資料與再測資料以進行信度檢驗。 結果：年齡與教育程度為主要影響測驗表現的人口學變相，性別則無影響，此外本研究具有良好再測信度、效標關聯效度與建構效度；本研究提供之常模資料具有良好代表性、新進性與適切性。 結論：本研究確認人口學變項對測驗表現之影響，並排除人口學變項的效果，以校正分數建立NTUOT之百分等級對照表，可供臨床工作者偵測前額葉改變，且可評估要旨記憶之復健效果，此外研究結果亦顯示NTUOT具有良好的信效度。未來應驗證NTUOT與DRM派典的關係，以及NTUOT再認測驗之複本信度。Background: The National Taiwan University Ordering Test (NTUOT) is a good task for measuring temporal order memory as well as false memory in normal aging. In addition, NTUOT performance likely reflects dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function. Further, this test has several advantages, such as convenience, short administration time, and availability of multiple parallel versions. However, there is currently a lack of normative data for the NTUOT in the Taiwanese population. Objective: The present study aimed to obtain normative data for the NTUOT. The specific objectives were as follows: (1) to assess the influence of demographic variables on test performance, (2) to establish psychometric properties, and (3) to determine norm appropriacy. Methods: Participants (N = 300) were recruited through stratified sampling by current age (ranging from 16 to 93 years old), education (ranging from 0 to 18 years), and area of residence. Participants (N=33) additionally completed the Logical Memory subtests of the WMS-III, the Modified Card Sorting Test, the Trail Making Test, and the semantic Association of Verbal Fluency test. Test-retest and alternate-forms reliability were derived from a subgroup of participants. Results: Age and education, but not gender, significantly influenced NTUOT performance. The results also showed sound test-retest reliability, criterion-related validity, and construct validity for the NTUOT. The normative data showed good representativeness, recency, and relevance. Conclusion: The present study determined the influence of demographic effects on NTUOT performance, established appropriate normative data for evaluating temporal order memory, and provided a referential table for percentile ranks. Moreover, the reliability and validity of the NTUOT were further verified in an adult Taiwanese sample. The NTUOT is useful for detecting changes in the prefrontal lobe and for evaluating the effect of rehabilitation on gist memory. However, further exploration of the issue of assessing the relationship between NTUOT and DRM paradigm and the alternate-forms reliability of the NTUOT for recognition is necessary
Functional Specialization of Semantic Processing to Chinese Characters: Developmental Studies
No full text閱讀發展歷程伴隨著大腦的成熟變化。然而，至今對於閱讀發展的神經機制尚未完全了解。本論文以行為測量及功能性磁振造影（fMRI），檢驗處理中文字的字音、字形及語意表徵時的發展變化。實驗一以fMRI進行縱貫發展研究，探討在整字的層次上，處理中文語意對應的發展神經機制。在弱語意相關字對中，孩童在兩次施測間，顳中回（middle temporal gyrus）的活化增加相較於青少年的活化增加更多，反映出發展相關的語意表徵連結強化。實驗二以fMRI進行橫斷發展研究，呈現視覺相似作業及視覺不相似作業，檢驗在整字及部件的層次上，字形和語意之間的交互作用所對應的神經機制。隨著年齡增加，在強語意相關字對，視覺相似作業比視覺不相似作業在角回（angular gyrus）有更多活化，反映出共有的語意部件能促進整合字對共享的語意特徵。實驗三以行為測量進行縱貫發展研究，呈現跨感官語意作業，探討語意、字形及語音在整字和部件層次的對應關係。孩童在高語意透明度相對於低語意透明度，在強語意關聯強度下有較好的表現。相對於第一次施測，第二次施測時的高語意透明度與低語意透明度之間的差距減少。推論孩童隨著年齡增加，其語意判斷由部件處理轉變為整字處理的發展上的變化。透過這篇論文能幫助我們更了解孩童的字彙辨識系統。Reading development is associated with maturational changes in the brain. However, the neural mechanisms of reading development are not fully understood. This thesis used behavioral measures and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate developmental changes in orthographic, phonological, and semantic representations for reading Chinese characters. Experiment 1 used a longitudinal fMRI approach to explore the neural substrates of semantic processing to written Chinese characters in the lexical level. The results demonstrated that processing weak association pairs produced greater activation in posterior middle temporal gyrus, reflecting a greater developmental increase between time 1 and time 2 for the children as compared to that for the adolescents. The developmental increase indicates greater improvements of accessing semantic representations via enhanced interconnections for weaker association pairs. Experiment 2 used a cross-sectional fMRI study with two visual tasks (visually-similar task vs. visually-dissimilar task) to investigate the interaction of semantic and orthography in both the lexical and sublexical levels. The results showed a greater developmental increase in left angular gyrus (BA 39) activation in the visually-similar compared to the visually-dissimilar task for strong association pairs. The results suggest that shared semantics at the sublexical level facilitates the integration of overlapping features at the lexical level in older children. Experiment 3 used a behavioral study with a cross-modal paradigm to demonstrate the relationship among semantic, orthography, and phonology in both the lexical and sublexical levels. Children performed better on accuracy for high relative to low transparency in the strong association. Moreover, the results showed a reduced difference in accuracy for high than for low transparency for time 2, compared to that of time 1. These findings demonstrate developmental changes from a focus on radical components (i.e., sublexical processing) to a focus on whole characters (i.e., lexical processing). The findings in this thesis will advance our understanding of the functional architecture of word recognition systems in children