二等獎

本研究的目的為探討文化智商(CQ)、個人因素與國際地理知識之間的關係。本研究以便利抽樣的方式選取台灣北部、中部、南部的三所普通高中的學生為研究樣本發放紙本問卷，期間為1個月，共發放402份紙本問卷，回收的有效問卷數為364份，問卷回收率為90.5%。資料以描述性分析、差異分析、相關分析和迴歸分析進行變數之間的關係探討。研究結果顯示：經過差異分析，我們得知文化智商、國際地理知識並不會因性別不同而有差異；同時也得知，國際地理知識會因個人文化智商分數的高低而有不同。而經過相關分析可以得出，國際地理知識與自評英文能力、人格開放性、文化智商、日常習慣呈正相關。最後，經由迴歸分析後可以了解到文化智商對國際地理知識有正向影響，同時人格開放性對國際地理知識也具有正向關係。最後，本文提供研究討論、結論、與研究限制以供讀者參考。

本研究提出一個新的超通用、每邊w個端點的四邊形水分子形交換方塊(Water-Molecule-Shaped Switch Block; WMSB)架構，以應用在FPGA之多點連線（multipoint interconnection）和諸多交換網路的設計上。超通用交換方塊(HUSB)的領域中，Fan[2]提出當前唯一一個(4, w)-HUSB，但Fan’s (4, w)-HUSB所需的開關個數大約是6.3w個開關，在接下來的篇幅之中，我們將證明(4, w)-WMSB是只需6w個開關的HUSB；此外，我們還證明沒有(4, w)-HUSB可以使用小於6w個開關。本研究中還使用VPR（一種CAD）及其內建的大量標準線路以證明(4, w)-WMSB不僅是理論上最佳的亦是實用性佳的交換方塊。鑑此，(4, w)-WMSB開關效率高(switch-efficiency)的設計十分適用於其他的交換網路設計，如公共電話網路(Public Switched Telephone Network)。

When predicting a hurricane’s landfall location, small improvements in accuracy result in large savings of lives, property, and money. The project’s purpose was to apply a breakthrough method that can predict the geographic location of a hurricane’s landfall with high accuracy. Researchers have known for a long time that there are strong correlations between a hurricane’s landfall location and the geographic regions its track passes through. However, no methods have been developed to mathematically and explicitly describe these correlations. Consequently, the correlations can only serve to meteorologists as vague guidelines for their guestimates and are not usable in making practical forecasts. By studying the correlations and performing numerical optimization on historical hurricane data, this research discovered a set of geographic belt regions in the Gulf of Mexico that can be used as landfall location predictors. When a hurricane passes through any one of these belt lines, a prediction can be made by extending the hurricane’s moving direction vector towards land – the intersection point of this extension line with the coastline is the predicted landfall location. This prediction method is simple and straightforward. It only uses basic measurements from meteorological satellites: the hurricane’s real-time locations and moving directions. In conclusion, when compared to existing methods, the predictive belt method (PBM) created in this research provides a landfall location forecast with higher accuracy. Verification with historical hurricane data demonstrated that the PBM’s average error is less than 50% of the National Hurricane Center models’ error.

The study aims to evaluate the technique of extracting water from humid air using solar energy through greenhouses in local areas. This technique is believed to provide limited amount of water in areas where potable water is not accessible or abundant. To solve this problem a pyramid-shaped device was designed, it is made of glass panels ad equipped with glass doors, fans operated by solar energy, and multiple shelves covered with fabric to act as Absorbent Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) with a 30% concentration. The doors are open during the night for absorption and closed during the day for energy-generating. Humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure are measured every two hours. The amount of water extracted in this area in one full day was around 3.0 liters a day for every square meter. Perhaps the limited amount of water is due to low level of humidity in the area: an average of 50% and temperature of F10 Celsius at night. However, the device itself is independent, does not need power sources, water sources, or infrastructure, can be installed in various places depending on humidity level as well as having the possibility of increasing number or size of device. This makes the device a promising, alternative and environmental friendly solution to produce water. Cost-effective and lighter material can be used to make the device, which will produce an easy-to-use and affordable devices. It is an area in need for further research to improve and further develop it.

我們每天的生活都離不開手機、電腦、電視等產品，因此藍光對眼睛造成的影響是所有人都會遇到的問題。本計劃希望能利用人眼對於不同顏色的敏感度，在人眼感知範圍內減少螢幕的藍光強度，以降低電子產品對眼睛帶來的負擔及傷害，同時維持螢幕畫面的正常顯色。市面上現有的方法除了成本較高，也都會使螢幕畫面變得昏暗; 若為了維持顯色的自然，則成效便會受到限制。本專題根據人眼對於色度的最小可覺差，參考基於麥克亞當橢圓的顏色差異計算方式，分別算出不同色彩空間上看起來相同的顏色關係表，並將螢幕上的顏色換為色差無法察覺且藍色強度較低的顏色，最後以手持式光譜儀量測螢幕輸 出的藍光強度驗證成效。與現行市面上的抗藍光方法相比，除了成本大幅降低以外，也能維持顯示器的正常顯色。未來希望能推廣至所有 LED 螢幕電子產品，並為色盲色弱患者設計不同色度感知能力的最佳調整方式。

本研究的方向是以還原氧化石墨烯(RGO)為基礎，利用本材料具有優異的電子傳導以及高比表面積之特性，可成為燃料電池的優良電極觸媒材料。再進一步修飾上金屬奈米粒子以加強其電化學催化活性，並探討其用於甲醇氧化反應的效果。 本研究中藉由調整金屬奈米粒子成長的時間、反應溫度和與RGO的合成比例，探討改變不同變因下製備出的金屬奈米粒子/還原氧化石墨烯材料對催化效能的影響。最後藉由此最佳化的奈米複合材料做為直接甲醇燃料電池的陽極催化劑並探討其催化效果。

本計畫採用數值模擬進行研究，並建立一維電漿模型來模擬電漿孤立子在不均勻背景中的演化。藉由模擬及觀察一維電漿系統中的各種振盪，驗證模型之正確性。在模型建構的過程中，曾針對數值精度問題、能量、動量不守恆提出各種解決辦法，最終完成的模型可以完全詮釋馬克士威方程組中所有電場與磁場的行為。此模型已檢驗過幾種在電漿中的波，包括：Plasma oscillation、Ion acoustic wave、Hybrid oscillation、Extraordinary wave(X wave)以及Magnetosonic wave。其模擬結果與理論值相當接近，代表此模型可以正確演示真實電漿之行為。接著模擬在強磁場以及不均勻磁場中，孤立子的各種行為表現以及演化方式，我們可以尋找某些物理量，其足以代表孤立子在系統中的行為，這個結果或許可以提供線索幫助我們了解星雲的能量來源。且這個模型未來將用於預測電漿物理學的未知現象及分析電漿態星體。

雌激素為一種固醇類的環境賀爾蒙，若水生動物長時間暴露於低濃度的雌激素中，即會導致其生理及行為異常。我們企圖從迪化汙水處理廠中分離純化出能有效降解雌激素之菌株，希冀了解這些菌株的生理特性與降解雌激素的能力。首先在活性污泥中加入高濃度雌二醇(1mM)，以增進雌激素降解菌在菌群中的比例，接著利用十倍序列稀釋進行菌株純化。培養期間以薄層層析檢測雌激素降解活性。隨後以固態培養基培養法取得單一菌落，並進行聚合酶連鎖反應及核酸定序。之後我們亦將純化出之菌株進行其他固醇降解測定。目前純化出一株Novosphingobium屬的變形菌，其為一新的菌種，確實能降解雌二醇及其他固醇，包含雌酮、雄烯二酮、膽酸、孕酮和睪酮。然而，其並不能降解乙炔雌二醇。該菌株具有修復受汙染環境及製備雌激素相關藥品之應用潛力。

It became necessary to implement a project for the use of vegetable waste generated in the process of handling plantain cultivation, harvest and postharvest, since in Mexico at harvest large quantities of vegetable waste is produced, since only the fruit is used wasting the Pseudostem with leaves and spine. Based on this information, you can take advantage of banana fiber as raw materials in the manufacture of biodegradable sheets and support options that are feasible and possible to make alternative. This is an inexpensive process, also friendly with the environment, so that thousands of banana plants that bear fruit after they become sterile and are discarded without realizing their Pseudostem.

The rate and production of conventional petroleum based plastics is unsustainable and not eco-friendly. Plastics often end up in marine environments and can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. According to Statistica, in 2015 alone, global plastic production was approximately 322 million metric tonnes and is projected to increase in the future. PHB bioplastic or Polyhydroxybutyrate is both biologically produced and biodegradable and can serve as a viable alternative to conventional plastics. But can it be broken down by soil microbes within a reasonable time frame? I have set out to answer this question. My aim was to isolate and analyse microorganisms from the Rotorua area that are capable of degrading Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) bioplastic . I isolated PHB degrading microorganisms from Rotorua soils by culturing on an agar based mineral salt media supplemented with PHB powder (MSM PHB agar). Samples were taken from Mount Ngongotaha and Te Puia geothermal soils as well as Okareka, termite frass and termite guts. One isolate from the Te Puia sample (labelled G2) was found to successfully degrade PHB powder. After isolation and purification of the G2 isolate, it was cultured on a range of media types to examine properties exhibited under differing nutrient conditions. Multiple organisms were found to be involved in the degradation of PHB bioplastic and work together symbiotically, this included bacteria and fungi which was identified as penicillium. The sample isolated from Te Puia soils (site 2 – G2Clear) in the Rotorua environment was found capable of competently degrading PHB, clearing 8% of PHB after 26 days. The G2Clear isolate is a mixture of bacteria and fungi working in an endosymbiotic relationship to degrade PHB and are unable to successfully degrade PHB individually. It is through the secretion of an extracellular PHB depolymerase enzyme that PHB is degraded, conforming with my hypothesis. This proves that PHB bioplastic is a viable alternative to conventional petroleum based plastics as PHB can be relatively quickly broken down by soil microorganisms.