Geothermal Explorations on the Slate Formation of Taiwan

Currently, over 90% operated geothermal power plants are distributed in the volcanic- or magmatic intrusion-related geological systems. Only a few cases are done in metamorphic terranes, especially on the slate formation. Taiwan is located at the ring of fire and is famous for the young orogenic belt, which has wide distributions of rapid uplifting terranes with few active volcanoes. The metamorphic rocks, for example, schist and slate formations with high geothermal gradients, are occurring in the major mountain range. This chapter introduces the techniques or methods we used for geothermal exploration in the slate formation of the Chingshui geothermal field of Taiwan, where a 3-MW pilot geothermal power plant had been installed in 1983 and operated for 12 years

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF INNOVATION GENERATION ON ADAPTABILITY IN ELECTRONIC SUPPLY CHAINS

This paper aims to examine how information technology infrastructure flexibility interacts with innovation generation influencing the adaptability in electronic supply chains. A novel research model comprises three constructs and three research hypotheses, with innovation generation as mediating constructs. The empirical study is conducted on electronic supply chains, with data collected from Taiwan’s manufacturing firms. The findings of the study provide useful insights into how electronic supply chain members should reinforce their open innovation via enhancing the innovation generation and in turn enhance the adaptability for the electronic supply chain as a whole

Rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by a new array format-based surface plasmon resonance method

Tubercle bacillus [TB] is one of the most important chronic infectious diseases that cause millions of deaths annually. While conventional smear microscopy and culture methods are widely used for diagnosis of TB, the former is insensitive, and the latter takes up to 6 to 8 weeks to provide a result, limiting the value of these methods in aiding diagnosis and intermediate decisions on treatment. Therefore, a rapid detection method is essential for the diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and recurrence monitoring. A new surface plasmon resonance [SPR] biosensor based on an array format, which allowed immobilizing nine TB antigens onto the sensor chip, was constructed. Simultaneous determination of multiple TB antibodies in serum had been accomplished with this array-based SPR system. The results were compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a conventional immunological method. Array-based SPR showed more advantages in providing label-free and real-time detection. Additionally, the high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of TB infection showed its potential for future development of biosensor arrays for TB diagnosis

HLA typing in Taiwanese patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

AbstractBackground/purposeThe human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system, which plays a vital role in immunity, is the most polymorphic gene complex found in the human genome. This study investigated HLA-related alleles and haplotypes in Taiwanese patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Materials and methodsHLA class I (HLA-A and HLA-B) antigens and class II (HLA-DRB1) alleles were determined in 105 patients with OSCC and compared with those in 190 healthy controls. The antigens were measured serologically and the alleles by sequencing-based typing.ResultsCompared with the control group, patients with OSCC had higher frequencies of HLA-A24, HLA-B54, HLA-DRB1*0405, and HLA-DRB1*1201, while they had lower frequencies of HLA-B58 and HLA-DRB1*1302. Haplotype frequencies also varied significantly in individuals with OSCC, with certain haplotypes associated with lymph node metastases or a particular tumor stage.ConclusionThese results suggest that HLA genetic factors influence susceptibility to OSCC and perhaps to lymph node metastasis and tumor progression

RssAB Signaling Coordinates Early Development of Surface Multicellularity in Serratia marcescens

Bacteria can coordinate several multicellular behaviors in response to environmental changes. Among these, swarming and biofilm formation have attracted significant attention for their correlation with bacterial pathogenicity. However, little is known about when and where the signaling occurs to trigger either swarming or biofilm formation. We have previously identified an RssAB two-component system involved in the regulation of swarming motility and biofilm formation in Serratia marcescens. Here we monitored the RssAB signaling status within single cells by tracing the location of the translational fusion protein EGFP-RssB following development of swarming or biofilm formation. RssAB signaling is specifically activated before surface migration in swarming development and during the early stage of biofilm formation. The activation results in the release of RssB from its cognate inner membrane sensor kinase, RssA, to the cytoplasm where the downstream gene promoters are located. Such dynamic localization of RssB requires phosphorylation of this regulator. By revealing the temporal activation of RssAB signaling following development of surface multicellular behavior, our findings contribute to an improved understanding of how bacteria coordinate their lifestyle on a surface

Polarization-gated imaging techniques based on time-resolved Stokes vectors for filament tissues

We report the discovery of using various time-resolved Stokes vector components for more efficient imaging of filament tissues. In particular, the Stokes vector components S2 and S3 were found more useful, compared with the other two components. The time-resolved Stokes vectors of signals transmitting chicken breast tissue, mouse cardiac muscle tissue, and polystyrene micro-sphere solution are compared. A target of chicken bone in chicken breast tissue is used for demonstrating the effectiveness of various Stokes vector components for imaging purpose. Also, Monte Carlo simulations were conducted for comparison

Integration of Chinese Herbal Medicine into Routine Care Was Related to Lower Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Nested Case–Control Study in Taiwan

Objective Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used as the first-line agents for the symptomatic relief of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but it may insidiously provoke the onset of renal diseases, especially chronic kidney disease (CKD). While Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has become an increasingly popular adjunctive therapy among RA groups, there are currently no available data on the effect of CHM use towards risk of CKD. This study aimed to explore on a population-level whether CHM use decreases sequent CKD risk among them. Methods In this nested case–control study retrieved from the nationwide insurance database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2012, we looked at the association between CHM use and the likelihood of developing CKD, with a focus on usage intensity. Cases with CKD claims were defined and matched to one randomly selected control case. Conditional logistic regression was then applied to estimate odds ratio (OR) of CKD from CHM treatment measured before the index date. For each OR, we calculated a 95% confidence interval for CHM use relative to the matched control. Results This nested case–control study included 5464 patients with RA, where after matching comprised 2712 cases and 2712 controls. Among them, there were 706 and 1199 cases that ever received CHM treatment, respectively. After the adjustment, CHM use in RA individuals was related to a lower likelihood of CKD, with an adjusted OR of 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44–0.56). Additionally, a dose-dependent, reverse association was found between the cumulative duration of CHM use and risk of CKD. Conclusion Integrating CHM into conventional therapy may reduce the likelihood of developing CKD, which could be a reference in instituting novel preventive strategies to improve treatment outcomes and reduce related fatalities for RA subjects

Evolution of hot fluids in the Chingshui geothermal field inferred from crystal morphology and geochemical vein data

The Chingshui geothermal field once hosted the first geothermal power plant in Taiwan from 1981 to 1993. After a long period of inactivity, this field is attracting renewed interest to meet the need for clean energy. A 213-m length of cores (IC-21) with continuous recovery, the longest in the Chingshui geothermal field, was recovered from 600 m to 813 m below the surface in 2010. Three types of calcite crystal morphologies have been identified in the veins of the cores of well IC-21: bladed, rhombic and massive crystals. Bladed calcites are generated via degassing under boiling conditions with a precipitation temperature of ∼165 °C and calculated δ18O value of −6.8‰ to −10.2‰ VSMOW for the thermal water. Rhombic calcites grow in low concentration Ca2+ and CO32− meteoric fluids and precipitate at approximately ∼180 °C. Finally, massive calcites are characterized by co-precipitation with quartz in the mixing zone between meteoric water and magmatic or metamorphic fluids with calculated δ18O value of up to 1.5 ± 0.7‰ VSMOW. Furthermore, the scaling and hot fluids at a nearby pilot geothermal power plant confirm a meteoric origin. Based on these observations, we propose that the current orientations of the main conduits for geothermal fluids are oriented at N10°E with a dip of 70°E. This result provides the basic information needed for deploying production and injection wells in future developments of the geothermal power plant in this region

Isolation, Culture and Characterization of Hirsutella sinensis Mycelium from Caterpillar Fungus Fruiting Body

The caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (previously called Cordyceps sinensis) has been used for centuries in Asia as a tonic to improve health and longevity. Recent studies show that O. sinensis produces a wide range of biological effects on cells, laboratory animals and humans, including anti-fatigue, anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities. In view of the rarity of O. sinensis fruiting bodies in nature, cultivation of its anamorph mycelium represents a useful alternative for large-scale production. However, O. sinensis fruiting bodies harvested in nature harbor several fungal contaminants, a phenomenon that led to the isolation and characterization of a large number of incorrect mycelium strains. We report here the isolation of a mycelium from a fruiting body of O. sinensis and we identify the isolate as O. sinensis’ anamorph (also called Hirsutella sinensis) based on multi-locus sequence typing of several fungal genes (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, RPB1, RPB2, MCM7, β-tubulin, TEF-1α, and ATP6). The main characteristics of the isolated mycelium, including its optimal growth at low temperature (16°C) and its biochemical composition, are similar to that of O. sinensis fruiting bodies, indicating that the mycelium strain characterized here may be used as a substitute for the rare and expensive O. sinensis fruiting bodies found in nature