全國中小學科展

2016年

Prototyping a Compact Multi-Format Optical Transmitter for Next Generation Regional and Long Haul Terabit Networks

The last two decades have seen 60% annual growth rate (AGR) in the global IP traffic and it is expected that the AGR will keep the exponential growth in the next five years. Recent advances in digital signal processing enabled the implementation of the dual polarization (DP) optical coherent digital receivers, which substantially improved their performance. The goal of this research is to develop a prototype of a compact superchannel flexible DP M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM) optical transmitter and demonstrate its reconfigurability to accommodate baud rates ranging from 8-32 Gbaud∕s to achieve 1 Tb/s and beyond using the same hardware. The research work consists of three phases; Phase I is the study of transmitter electrical and optical parts; Phase II investigates the potential configurations for frequency comb generator circuit; Phase III deals with the superchannel experimental prototype. The results obtained so far are pertaining to phase I and phase II with some preliminary experimental validation pertaining to phase III. The experimental results show that the measured component characteristics are matched with the components specifications data sheets. Additionally, the designed frequency comb generator was able to create up to 9 optical subcarriers with flat gain of 0.5 dB amplitude. Transmission over optical subcarriers has been attempted using standard optical transmitter. These results show promise towards the generation of a variable data rate up to 1Tb∕s. IEEE and ITU-T standardization effort considered these data rates to appear around 2017, and are intended for Next Generation Regional/Long-haul Networks.

Remedies Recovered from Roof Top Resources

Moss from a roof top was used to treat ear infections in my grandfather’s village. This remedy sparked my curiosity and so I began researching. I was bewildered to discover that the resistance to antibiotics has been labelled as a “Catastrophic Threat” and has been ranked in the same category as terrorism and climate change. Governments globally are urging scientists to identify and produce new antibiotics and reassess novel approaches1. This project aims to evaluate two objectives through the use of several integrated technologies and modified methods: (a) To determine if the extracts, solutions and raw materials derived from Heart wood portion of Picea glauca, Populus tremuloides, Salix spp, Betula papyrifera, Pinus contorta, Quercus alba, Thuja occidentalis, Climacium dendroides, Dicranum fuscescens and Kieselgur, will inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Escherichia coli. (b) To scientifically reassess my grandfather’s traditional method of treating ear infections using roof moss. The Heartwood portion of each tree was removed using a hammer and mallet. The Heartwood was then burnt to derive the ash and a miter saw was used to make sawdust. The moss was collected, dried and labelled. A Methanol Extraction was performed on all saw dust samples and moss using a Soxhlet Extractor for 24 hours. The ash solutions were diluted, filtered, and neutralized to pH 7. The solvents were evaporated in a Rotary evaporator and the residual material was stored in round bottom flasks. The Kirby Bauer method was modified and a Well Infusion method was devised for the biological assay. The Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Escherichia coli were plated using a 0.5 McFarland Standard. Paper filter discs containing 20uL of each extract solution and raw material were precisely placed onto the inoculated plates and incubated for 24 hours. The preliminary results were initially unfavourable, as data could only be collected and analysed for one species; Thuja occidentalis (White Cedar). However, these results were extremely encouraging when the zones of inhibition were measured and analyzed. Confidence Intervals were calculated at 95% and the T-Tests were calculated at a 0.05 alpha level, which indicated significance when compared to the control. The Chi Square values were greater than the critical value of 7.8 and therefore the thorough statistical analysis indicates that the results were not due to chance alone. Literature has indicated that certain components of trees do indeed have antibacterial properties, however there is very limited research specific to the Heartwood portion. Furthermore, I discovered that the Heartwood portion of the White Cedar tree does have certain antibacterial properties that definitely justify further testing. In addition, a combination of examining my grandfather’s possessions and analyzing present data, I can confidently support my grandfather’s traditional method. In conclusion, the use of the Heartwood portion of the White Cedar to combat bacterial infection warrants further exploration. Remedies Recovered from Roof Top Resources may be the solution to this catastrophic threat.

What would you do?——以捷運實地實驗探討旁觀者的助人行為

本研究透過實地實驗的方式,旨在針對旁觀者表現的助人行為作探討。研究者於台北捷運站分別扮演強勢者、弱勢者以及普通人的角色,並且讓強勢者表現違反社會常規的行為(欺凌弱勢者),從旁紀錄當以上三者分別需要幫助時,旁觀者表現的幫助比率,進一步分析其中的差異。實驗結果主要顯示以下三點: (一) 幫助率普遍皆低於50% (二) 對照組的普通人獲得的幫助率明顯高於另外兩者 (三) 強勢者獲得的幫助率高於弱勢者 由此推知在類似情況下,弱勢的形像反而會降低旁觀者的幫助意願。因此我們分別從事件本身、旁觀者本身、社會因素、服從權威現象等面向分析此結果,並佐以過去的相關實驗及文本資料,以期獲得現今大眾普遍表現的助人行為及背後的影響因素。

Beets Revolution

There is currently an interest in developing supercapacitors as the booming of smartphones and other mobile electric devices. Despite offering key performance advantages, many capacitors pose significant environmental hazards once disposed. They often contain fluorine, sulfur, toxic transition metal and cyanide groups, which are harmful if discarded by using conventional landfill or incineration methods. The objective of this project is to find an environmentally benign alternative for building various key components of supercapacitors structures. From the electrolyte, carbon substrate and materials corresponding for Faradic reaction, all the materials were devised from renewable biomass. In our research, two novel designs of betanin/sulfonated carbon supercapacitor and quinone/sulfonated carbon supercapacitor were invented. Betanin and quinone, extracted from beets and Sencha, was preloaded on the sulfonated carbon nanosphere as the composite. While sulfonated carbon nanosphere were fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis of renewable biomaterial, followed by surface functionalization - sulfonation for increasing the loading capacity of nanoparticle. Nanostructured morphology and surface functional groups were examined and confirmed by SEM and IR spectroscopy. Specific capacitance can be boosted up through optimizing the particle size, morphology and surface polarity of carbon substrate and the type of electrolyte. From the experimental result, it is believed that the nano-architecture, with active functional groups, of carbon nanosphere enables the efficient charge transport and electrode stability, allowing the composite with high capacitance (94–209 F g–1 at a current density ranging from 1 to 4 mA cm–2), high capacitance retention of over 90% after over 20,000 cycles respectively, and over a wide range of temperature. Superior electrochemical performance of both betanin/sulfonated and quinone/sulfonated carbon supercapacitor can be attributed to the large accessible surface area of the porous structure, low interfacial resistance and its structural stability. It shows that they have relatively higher tolerant towards heat and extreme pH mediums. The green electrochemical capacitor exhibits a promising capacitive performance of 209 F g–1 with high capacitance retention of over 90%, opening up new possibilities for the production of environmental friendly, cost efficient and lightweight energy storage system using renewable biomass as the basic building materials without harming the environment.

小兵立大功-發現日常生活中可抑制腦癌細胞之植物萃取物

本實驗藉由「篩檢抑制癌細胞增長的藥物」來尋找可以抑制癌細胞生長的植物萃取物。我們希望從日常生活中唾手可得的蔬果類植物中尋得抗癌藥物。曾經在生物課聽老師提過,紫衫中的紫衫醇可抑制乳癌;由此我們產生一個想法:是否從日常生活中的植物中也能找出有效抑制癌症的成份?因此便著手進行。先從尋找相關論文、蒐集植物,經由萃取、篩檢四種蔬果類的不同部位之水粗萃物或酒粗萃物,我們得到三種蔬果類可有效抑制腦癌細胞的增長。之後選出實驗效果較為顯著兩種水粗萃物進行西方墨點法,初步確認影響腦癌細胞生長的可能機轉:Akt以及Erk;實驗過後發現以上有兩種水粗萃物能透過這兩種訊息傳遞分子影響細胞生長。最後再進行高效液相層析法,期望能夠找出抑制腦癌細胞生長的物質。日後希望這部份的實驗能完整,以期最後的成果。

利用硫醇分子合成之金銅奈米團簇偵測過氧化氫及葡萄糖

本研究的方向是利用聚苯乙烯磺酸鈣(PSS)、硫醇小分子(PA)、銅離子(Cu2+)和金離子(Au3+)於最佳比例下合成的穩定金銅奈米團簇,分析此穩定、具有響應性之金銅奈米團簇並探討此系統用於過氧化氫以及葡萄糖偵測的效果,確認最佳合成比例(也就是改變PA、Cu2+、Au3+的比例)、分析特性(螢光強度、奈米團簇大小、團簇溶液分散性、有無加入PSS之影響)後,探討偵測待分析物的效果。以葡萄糖為例,加入葡萄糖氧化酶後,製造出葡萄糖酸及過氧化氫,就能藉由過氧化氫改變團簇表面特性,使螢光強度減弱來進行間接偵測葡萄糖濃度。最後藉由此金銅奈米團簇做為偵測試劑於真實樣品中進行過氧化氫與葡萄糖之偵測並探討其效果。

自行車離心自動變速器

本研究將離心力的概念導入變速機構中,設計—機械式自行車自動變速器,以達成自動變速的目的。在自行車變速系統中加上配重、凸輪和槓桿組合成一離心機構。從初步的機構模型實驗後得知,車輪轉速變快,配重承受到的離心力越大,配重的位置改變去推動凸輪帶動變速器作動,將鏈條推向小齒輪方向,變速到較高的檔位,踏板變重,避免發生速度過快而踩空的情況,反之當車輪轉速變慢,配重因承受離心力降低而被推回靠近軸心的位置,凸輪跟著被推回,變速器將鏈條拉向大齒輪,進而變速到較低的檔位,達到離心力驅動變速的效果。道路騎乘實驗中可知,裝有離心自動變速機構的自行車,在上坡時能依據踏板速度降低檔位,讓騎乘者可輕鬆完成上坡工作;下坡時則會變速到較高檔位,避免發生踩空情況;平地加速時,檔位也會處於較重檔位,達到準確變速輕鬆騎乘的目的。

Bubble film with vortex

A simple and cheap bubble film experiment system was constructed by us. Although it is simple, it can observe the phenomenon similar to those observed in the wind tunnel system or PIV system. But because of gravity, bubble film become a little more complex. We programed some codes to analyze the data and showed bubble thickness is proportional to the Reynolds number. The low frequency sound can make bubble film rotate. And we also study the wing’s attack angle, from 0 to 75 degree with interval of 15 degree, discovering the 15 degree is the best flying attack angle.

格子點上選擇位置之性質研究

本文從一個現象開始:一群陌生人在坐一排座位時常不與他人鄰座,對此現象建立了一對數學模型探討。我們主要研究一維的情況下,能坐下的人數、以及若第一個人策略性的選擇,其至多能坐下的人數及策略、和隨著椅子數的增加至多能坐下的人數之變化。進一步地,我們將其中一個模型推廣到二維的情況,推導出在正方形的格子點中能坐下的人數。過程中我們先做一些預處理得到遞迴函式,然而常會遇到帶有高斯符號或是分段的遞迴函式,因此我們主要採取的手法是先猜出遞迴式的通式再歸納,或是利用調整法。最後雖然礙於二維以上的一般情況會因沒有規律而導不出完整的結論,但本文中我們做出了一些部分結果,未來也會試圖往更廣的情況突破。

高效率藍光LED路燈的再改造及應用

行政院逐漸將全國的路燈更換成LED,又為了達到高亮度且省電的效果,多是採用100 lm/W以上的A級產品。這些高亮度的LED,在出廠的時候全部都被訂走做路燈,一般市面上買不到,零售的多是40 lm/W以下。但路燈只要有一小部分損害就要全部丟棄,有時只是變壓器壞掉而已。半導體的製程往往需要花費很高的成本,或是污染環境的代價,不該就這樣被丟棄。 本實驗嘗試著將路燈LED改造成植物生長燈。將路燈上的Y.A.G.螢光劑移除後,就是一個高效率的藍光LED。再塗佈LED專用的紅色螢光粉,使之發出植物生長需要的紅藍光,研究搭配不同的濃度或厚度,可發出不同比例的紅藍光。將所有實驗成品送至大學做積分球測量,發現自製植物生長燈電費與白熾燈相比可省下82%,與市售植物生長燈比較則省了37%。雖然LED專用的螢光粉很貴,但其實每顆所需的量極小。LED是回收來的,所以燈的成本很低,同時也省下可觀的電費。 五年前不太有人重視回收手機裡的貴金屬。隨著智慧型手機普及 現在卻可能是個大商機。同樣的,回收路燈再製成植物生長燈。隨著LED路燈全世界漸漸普及,回收再製高效率LED。未來會是個無限商機。我利用手工製作或許成果有限,但希望這個創意能被大家看見。