二等獎

Water is very vital in our lives as we cannot live without it. However our world is now facing a serious problem. Owing to the increasing population, water resources are scarce. In recent years, we can see that droughts have been affecting millions of people around the globe. In the meantime, people in developed countries have been wasting huge amount of water for flushing the toilet. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 30% of household water goes toward flushing the toilet. Countries like China, US, Canada and UK are still using fresh water in flushing, consuming 190 million L of fresh water every day, not to mention the energy needed in pumping the water. In fact, it is not necessary to use so much water to flush away substances like tissue, hair, urine etc. The water we used is far more than we need. However, as we cannot control how much water is used when we flush, all water in the cistern is flushed away. Realizing the seriousness of water shortage and wastage in flushing, we tried to invent a device to conserve water by controlling the amount of flushing water used. Firstly, we study the principle of normal flushing system so as to understand why flushing cannot be controlled. Then, we tried to think of ways to control flushing. We have tried various methods and materials. After the 6-month testing and modification, we successfully invented Fast Fabulous Flush. It is a device which can be fit into existing cistern to conserve water. With our invention, users can control the amount of water flushed according to needs, so as not to waste unnecessary water. Our invention costs a low price which is no more than 2 US dollar. Also, it can be fit into existing cistern within 3 minutes with simple installation process. Most importantly, flushing water can be conserved effectively. It is estimated that around 200L of water can be saved per household every day.

由於在銀河系中的多數恆星是以雙星系統存在，因此雙星的形成機制在恆星演化理論中扮演極重要的角色。但目前其形成的機制未有定論，而爭論的焦點主要為兩個假說：一個假說為當分子雲在裂解為雲核時，同一雲核會形成兩顆恆星互繞；另一假說為不同雲核會分別塌縮為不同的恆星。這份研究中，我們以金斯最小質量與半徑為理論依據，找尋上萬筆的觀測數據，並對其資料來源做觀測限制上的確認，進而分析雙星間距的分布，且以雙星的星團與光譜型為分類作圖。分析後的結果中，我們發現前主序雙星間距分布圖出現了一個小於金斯最小半徑的峰值，得出了分裂說必定存在，然無法排除捕獲說的存在；並且發現不同星團、光譜型對間距的關係有顯著的差別。

Increasing concentrations of copper in discharged effluents pose hazards to aquatic food chains. This project aimed to develop a self-sustained copper remediation system based on electrical and microbiological principles. The production of electrons during yeast fermentation was investigated to catalyze the reduction reaction of dissolved copper ions. An electrical circuit was designed to harness electrons produced from either a pure or mixed culture of yeast, and were compared for voltage outputs. This system utilized a combination of carbon cloth and copper wire as the electrodes, and a magnesium sulfate based electrolyte. The better-performing cell was subjected to copper reduction analysis, in which various initial concentrations of copper were examined. Further data analysis was carried out on the voltage outputs achieved with both the mixed and pure cultures of yeast, in which an average base line was established and voltage flunctuations were compared to that of the base line. In this way, it was possible to determine the amount and severity of each voltage flunctuation — thus demonstrating whether mixed or pure cultures of yeast produced more stable outputs. Throughout the experiment, self-constructed equipment, including arduino microcontroller moderated incubators and drip-feed systems were implemented to maintain an optimum yeast growth rate. It was found that mixed yeast cultures produced smoother electrical potential outputs in response to feeding and stress intervals. The copper recovery experiment was therefore conducted using the mixed culture. Through a series of conductivity measurements indicative of copper concentrations, metal recovery was successfully demonstrated. Trend line analysis indicated similar flunctuations between voltage output and copper recovery rates, demonstrating how copper was recovered as a result of electrons harnessed from the yeast culture. These findings can be applied to the development of an energy efficient and cost-effective copper remediation system for contaminated water effluents.

本研究主要探討水滴在高溫鋸齒面上之爬坡現象。實驗中發現在高達四百度的鋸齒面上能形成懸浮水滴，且水滴可持續一段時間而不會立即蒸發，在水平之鋸齒面沿特定方向移動，特別的是，水滴甚至沿著傾斜之鋸齒面向上運動。首先，水滴因受熱在周圍形成一層蒸氣層，阻隔熱的傳遞，使其不會立即蒸發。實驗中改變鋸齒齒廓之兩斜邊的比例，可以驅動水滴往長斜邊所面對的方向運動。進一步實驗顯示，水滴內部的流動趨勢分別為：水滴前端呈順時針方向流動，而水滴後端則呈逆時針方向流動。此外，爬坡中的水滴，其後半部具有較高之蒸發速率，經由設計一個類比的實驗，我們發現，在高溫金屬平面上，透過其平面上的一個凹槽，可以控制水滴前後部位蒸發速率的差異性，也造成水滴向上爬坡的結果。由實驗結果證明，蒸氣壓力與氣體運動對水滴造成的摩擦力為驅動水滴爬坡的力量來源。

鑒於氨氮會消耗水中溶氧，造成水質惡化、危害水域生態，且政府將逐步管制廢水的氨氮含量，處理氨氮的技術日益重要。去除氨氮的方法有物理、化學及生物法，但物理、化學法成本高且有二次汙染的風險，因此本實驗希望找到能有效分解廢水中氨氮之菌種。採取可口可樂工廠的七池汙水，以高氨氮培養基篩出七種細菌(RW、ST、ET、BA、BS、SR、CA)，並挑選出三種氨氮分解效率最佳的細菌(RW、ST、ET)。進一步發現其能有效降低廢水中氨氮，並減少氨氮廢水對水中動植物的危害。因此，我們認為RW、ST、ET能有效處理廢水中的氨氮並減緩氨氮對於環境的危害。

In this work, techniques to explore the capabilities of multi-walled carbon nanotubes\r (MWNTs) in sorting nanoparticles (NPs) were presented. A droplet of a solution comprising of quantum dots (QDs) with various sizes was deposited on an aligned array of intertwined MWNTs. Photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence microscopy (FM) revealed that MWNTs were effective nano-sieves that could effectively sort out QDs with a size difference of ~ 2.1 nm.\r Cadmium Selenide/Zinc Sulfide (CdSe/ZnS)core-shell QDs and Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) QDs were used to explore whether chemical properties of NPs affect the sieving capability of MWNTs. Further investigation on the effects of micro-patterning on the sieving ability of MWNTs was also carried out.PL and FM results suggested that micro-patterning could aid in separation of QDs and thus improve sieving capability of MWNTs. With the above findings, QDs emitting different colors as a result of size difference could efficiently be assembled onto the MWNTs en route to three-dimensional architectures with controlled assembly of NPs.\r Together with controlled laser power to remove desired amounts of QDs decorated MWNTs, a multi-colored display could be achieved. Further experiments were also carried out to determine the feasibility of introducing MWNTs as filters for NPs. Dilute solutions containing NPs such as gold colloid was run through these MWNTs filters by gravity. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images of the samples showed that MWNTs were successful in trapping the nanoparticles. Explorations into the length dependent effect of using MWNTs as filters, suggested that 300μm MWNTs are better nano-sieves compared to 50μm MWNTs.

本研究從1960年到2010年間臺北、臺中、日月潭、阿里山、玉山、臺南、花蓮、成功和恆春測站的時雨量資料中，發現東部測站的夜晚累積雨量多過白天，與其他測站相反，於是進一步挑選臺北、臺南和花蓮測站以探討不同地區海陸風環流對降雨量的影響。經過統計發現，花蓮測站降雨日週期的極值發生在海陸風環流發展後六小時發生，進而造成東部夜晚降雨量比白天多；而臺北測站是在二小時後發生；臺南測站則無時間落後現象。北部地區海陸風與日夜降雨變化沒有顯著的年代際變化，而東部與南部地區則可能因為地表使用改變而有變化。在季節分析方面，我們發現各地主要以夏季的海陸風與日夜降雨變化有明顯的關係。

本研究主要著重在以三極式電化學測試探討不同有機酸燃料甲酸、草酸、檸檬酸與不同觸媒Pt/C、PtRu/C、PtPd/C 在陽極電極的氧化反應之研究。從CV 圖可得知，分子量較低的甲酸有較低的氧化電位。以CV 與LSV 圖可知，以較高的氧化電流區分，是以PtRu/C 為三種觸媒中最適合當陽極電極的；若以穩定度區分，則以PtPd/C 為最佳。我們挑選PtRu/C 此觸媒進行燃料電池放電性能測試，得到的電流不高，原因在於配置的甲酸溶液為1M，甲酸在PtRu/C 電極反應太快，質傳推動力不足，使得燃料供應不足，造成電位迅速下降。This main target of this study is using three-electrode cells to choose which Formic Acid, Oxalic Acid or Citric Acid and Pt/C, PtRu/C or PtPd/C are better for fuel cell. From CV test, Formic acid which structure is simple has the lowest oxidation potential. Combine CV with LSV, if we focus on current, PtRu/C is the best catalyst for fuel cell. But if we focus on Stability, PtPd/C has the best of them. We choose PtRu/C to do the cell performance test. The current density isn’t enough high, this is because the concentration of formic acid is just 1M. Oxidation reaction of formic acid on PtRu/C is very fast. Mass transfer driving isn’t enough for this high reaction rate, so the potential drop is very fast.

從直徑數公分的小漩渦，到直徑可達10公尺的巨型海漩；由F1~F5級的龍捲風到輕重度颱風，大自然中有各種渦流。不久之前還有雙眼颱風（杜鵑颱風）經過台灣，颱風出現雙眼時其行進路徑常有不尋常的擺動，行進方向忽而偏北，忽而偏南，擺動的頻率比一般颱風來得頻繁，又其結構紮實，對流旺盛，常造成莫大的災害。研究這個主題主要的目的是嘗試探討此雙渦流運動的起因、其運動方式和可能的控制方法。