A Preliminary Estimation on Carbon Footprint of Raw Water from the Reservoirs for Domestic Use in Taiwan.

This study aims to evaluate the carbon footprint of raw water from reservoirs for domestic use in Taiwan. It also provides a preliminary measure and reference database for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of reservoir systems in Taiwan. Four reservoirs, Feitsui (F.T.) and Liyutan (L.Y.T.) in subtropical zone and Nanhua (N.H.) and Tsengwen (T.W.) in tropical zone, were selected as the cases to be examined for carbon footprint inventory, including the GHG emission from the water body and from human activities. Carbon footprint inventory followed PAS 2050 (2011 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services). GHG emission from water body followed the instruction of UNESCO guidelines. The boundary of this inventory covers the water intake works, impoundment region, the dam, the affiliated hydroelectricity power plant, the administration center and other facilities. In this study, the floating chambers with gas chromatography (GC) were chosen to measure the GHG flux from the water body. For the emission of CH4 and N2O from the water body, there are no significantly difference between the fluxes during the daytime and nighttime. For carbon dioxide, the instantaneous flux during the nighttime is higher than the daytime flux. The two reservoirs in tropical zone emit more CO2e from the water body than those in subtropical zone. Summarizing the direct and indirect GHG emission, for the four reservoirs, the annual emission quantities ranged from 653 ton of CO2e to 23,146 ton of CO2e. The carbon footprint of water supply for domestic use ranged from 0.002 kg CO2e/m3 to 0.028 kg CO2e/m3. Roughly speaking, the total GHG emission quantity of the 24 main reservoirs in Taiwan was estimated to be around 121,800 ton of CO2e with the total yield of 4.35 billion m3 of water annually using the highest carbon footprint 0.028 kg CO2e/m3.

Toxoplasma gondii infection and cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients, particularly from developing countries. This article summarizes current literature on cerebral toxoplasmosis. It focuses on: Toxoplasma gondii genetic diversity and its possible relationship with disease presentation; host responses to the parasite antigens; host immunosupression in HIV and cerebral toxoplasmosis as well as different diagnostic methods; clinical and radiological features; treatment; and the direction that studies on cerebral toxoplasmosis will likely take in the future.

Studies on the development of DNA vaccine against Cysticercus cellulosae infection and its efficacy.

DNA vaccine against Cysticercus cellulosae infection was developed and its efficacy was tested. A pair of primers specific to antigen B gene of C. cellulosae was designed which amplified the gene successfully with RT-PCR. The gene was ligated to PV93 vector, and the recombinant of antigen B gene and PV93 was transformed to JM83 cells. The transformed JM83 cells were cultured in a large scale and the plasmid purified. Based on the recombinant plasmid. a DNA vaccine was developed and used to vaccinate two groups of experimental pigs. In each group, there was a routine vaccine, an enhanced vaccine and a control group. Groups 1 and 2 were challenged at 4 months and at 14 days post vaccination respectively with eggs of Taenia solium. The antibody response was also tested with ELISA. The results suggested that all animals vaccinated AgB gene DNA vaccine, no matter by routine or enhanced vaccine, their antibodies reached maximum peak 23 days post vaccination and decreased gradually. When the animals were challenged 4 months after vaccination, they had strong immunity and the parasites decrease rates were 91.2% and 93.1% respectively. When pigs vaccinated with AgB gene DNA vaccine were challenged 14 days post vaccination with 18,000 eggs/pig. The animals showed strong immunity and the parasite decrease rates were 99.5% and 84.9% respectively. However at that time, the antibodies did not reach the peak. While in the control group, the number of C. cellulosae was as many as 2,500. It was concluded that the pigs vaccinated with DNA vaccine had strong immunity against infection of eggs of T. solium.

Isotypic antibody responses of a population in an endemic area of schistosomiasis japonica and their epidemiologic significance.

The present study was designed to explore if there exists a correlation between predominant isotype-defined antibody levels and reinfection in low age groups of the population in an endemic area of schistosomiasis japonica in China. One hundred and thirty-eight individuals aged 3-25 years old were selected for serological investigations including the levels of IgG, IgG4, IgM and IgE, detected by ELISA with soluble egg antigen and soluble adult worm antigen. Results show that age is a determinant for SEA-specific IgG, IgG4, and IgE, and SWA-specific IgG and IgG4 antibody levels, which increased with age, and that SEA- and SWA- specific IgG4 antibody levels are risk factors of reinfection, ie, the risk of reinfection occurrence of the population with high level of SEA or SWA-specific IgG4 is 2.83 or 2.40 times, respectively, that with low level of SEA or SWA-specific IgG4, suggesting that in the endemic area of schistosomiasis japonica, there exists a possibility that in the population aged 3-25 years, SEA and SWA-specific IgG4 antibodies mediate a blocking immunity response.