果蠅緯度相關晝夜節律特徵：穩定性、活動量分佈與演化意義
Latitude-Dependent Circadian Traits in Drosophila: Stability, Activity Peaks, and Evolutionary Implications
生物時鐘可對生物體的行為與生理造成影響，在探討晝夜節律特徵的差異時，過去研究常侷限於北美大陸的品系，缺少赤道及南半球品系的晝夜節律特徵探討。有鑒於黑腹果蠅在全球各大洲的廣泛分佈，因此我們以黑腹果蠅（近赤道與中高緯度品系）為材料，研究果蠅是否因緯度而有相異的晝夜節律特徵？結果顯示不同緯度的果蠅品系展現出相異的晝夜節律特徵。赤報品系在全暗狀態下仍維持原本光暗12小時的穩定節律，而南北半球的中高緯度品系則具有相似節律特徵，即在全暗狀態下的節律不對齊原本正常光源的穩定節律，其他如活動量、週期、及節律強度等皆有著品系間的差異。更進一步比對實驗中各個品系基因序列，研究發現per和tim在調控區段有許多SNP變異，顯示其與晝夜節律特徵的關係，有助於後續尋找更多造成晝夜節律特徵差異的可能遺傳變異並探討。
The Maximum Area of N-gons within the Intersection Region of Two Congruent Circles
At the 61st National High School Science Fair of Taiwan, the first-rank paper "The Study of the Largest Area of Inscribed Triangle within the Intersection of two circles" was presented. The authors discussed several properties of maximum area of inscribed triangles within intersection regions of two congruent circles. They only claim their results but without providing a rigorous proof. However, we give a proof by showing the convergence of the iteration of finding the largest height. Subsequently, we offer new methods to approach the problems such as the trigonometric identities, Jensen's Inequality to prove the maximum area of triangles and quadrangles within the intersection region of two congruent circles. Finally, we determined the maximum area for the case of n-gons. We conducted further research and discussion on this issue. In the future, we hope to prove why the maximum area of n-gons within the intersection region of two congruent circles occurs when there are two points on the intersection points of the two circles. We aim similar problems in the three-dimensional space, namely the maximum volume of tetrahedron within the intersection of two unit spheres.
Plantastic Pods: The Grow Stick Rooting Revolution for Seeds & Cuttings
Cultivating plants from seeds or cuttings is a fundamental aspect of gardening and agriculture. While traditional methods have been practiced for centuries, there is a persistent need for innovative and efficient approaches to enhance plant growth and development. This section explores the challenges associated with traditional propagation methods and examines potential solutions offered by emerging technologies and materials. Plant propagation is necessary to allow efficient multiplication and distribution of desirable plant varieties (Sorensen & Garland, 2024). Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants. There are two primary methods of propagation: sexual and asexual. ．Sexual propagation involves the union of pollen and egg, drawing genetic material from two parent plants to create a new, genetically diverse offspring. This process utilizes the floral parts of a plant. ．Asexual propagation, on the other hand, involves taking a part of a single parent plant and inducing it to regenerate into a new plant. The resulting offspring is genetically identical to its parent. This method utilises the vegetative parts of a plant, such as stems, roots, or leaves. One emerging technology that has garnered attention in this field is the use of cocopeat, a sustainable growing medium derived from coconut husks (Pane et al. 2021). Cocopeat has been extensively studied as a potential alternative to peat moss in plant propagation (Gericke, 1940). It offers a favourable balance between air porosity and water holding capacity, promoting root development and nutrient uptake (Kalaivani and Jawaharlal, 2019). Furthermore, cocopeat is a renewable and environmentally-friendly resource, making it an attractive option for sustainable seedling cultivation. Research has shown that the use of cocopeat as a growing medium can enhance the growth of both vegetables and various ornamental plants, such as Impatiens. The biostimulant effect of the Trichoderma atroviride fungus, which can readily colonize coir, has been observed to increase aboveground biomass, flower production, pigments, and nutrient concentration in these plants (Traversari et al., 2024).
Proposal for the Restoration of Fire-Damaged Soil Using Water-Soluble Aromatic Compounds Derived from Soil Actinomycetes
The following issues associated with soil affected by wildfires were identified: First, there was a significant decline in the populations of anaerobic and aerobic soil bacteria, which play a critical role in the decomposition and cycling of organic matter. This decline resulted in reduced water retention capacity and porosity of the soil, leading to poor moisture retention and increased evaporation compared to unaffected soil. Moreover, the organic matter content in the soil was significantly depleted, inhibiting plant growth. Additionally, there was a notable proliferation of methane-producing bacteria, which contribute to the greenhouse effect. It was further observed that fire-damaged soils exhibit limited natural recovery, even over prolonged periods. .An investigation into the underlying causes of these problems revealed that actinomycetes, the primary microorganisms responsible for producing watersoluble aromatic compounds in soil, are particularly sensitive to heat compared to other bacterial species. Research demonstrated that the population and diversity of actinomycetes are significantly diminished in soils exposed to wildfires. To mitigate these issues, water-soluble aromatic compounds produced by actinomycetes were extracted and introduced into wildfire-affected soil. This intervention promoted the restoration of actinomycetes populations, enabling their normal growth in the affected soil. Consequently, various wildfire-induced soil problems were effectively resolved. These outcomes were confirmed through the study...Key Words: Actinomycetes, anaerobic and aerobic soil bacteria, methane-producing bacteria, wildfires, water-soluble aromatic compounds.