Carbonate precipitation-derived CO outgassing offsets the mineral weathering sink in the orogenic regime of southwestern Taiwan: Insights from triple Sr isotopes.

Secondary carbonate precipitation plays a crucial role in determining the CO outgassing from carbonate-saturated rivers and influences the short-term terrestrial carbon cycle. The fractionation of stable isotopes has been extensively employed to quantify post-weathering reactions in rivers and assess the quantities of metals removed by secondary carbonates. However, a major challenge is that water isotopic compositions usually reflect both lithological mixing and biogeochemical fractionation, which complicates distinguishing between these signals.

Systematic assessment of mineral distribution and diversity of microbial communities and its interactions in the Taiwan subduction zone of mud volcanoes.

Mud volcanoes are the most dynamic and unstable sedimentary structures in the areas of tectonic compression like the subduction zones. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the distribution of minerals as well as diversity, abundance and metabolic potential of the microbial communities of major mud volcanic groups across Taiwan namely Chu-kou Fault (CKF), Gu-ting-keng Anticline (GTKA), Chi-shan Fault (CSF), and Longitudinal Valley Fault (LVF). The mud volcano fluids recorded relatively higher Na and Cl contents than the other elements, particularly in the CKF and GTKA groups.

Environmental DNA analysis as an emerging non-destructive method for plant biodiversity monitoring: a review.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has recently transformed and modernized biodiversity monitoring. The accurate detection, and to some extent quantification, of organisms (individuals/populations/communities) in environmental samples is galvanizing eDNA as a successful cost and time-efficient biomonitoring technique. Currently, eDNA's application to plants remains more limited in implementation and scope compared to animals and microorganisms.

Surveillance of Adenovirus and Norovirus Contaminants in the Water and Shellfish of Major Oyster Breeding Farms and Fishing Ports in Taiwan.

The enteric viruses, including adenovirus (AdVs) and norovirus (NoVs), in shellfish is a significant food safety risk. This study investigated the prevalence, seasonal occurrence, genetic diversity, and quantification of AdVs and NoVs in the water and cultured shellfish samples at the four major coastal oyster breeding farms (COBF), five major fishing ports (FP), and their markets in Taiwan. The AdVs/NoVs in the water and shellfish samples were isolated by the membrane filtration and direct elution methods.

Reinforcement of Environmental DNA Based Methods () in Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation: A Review.

Recently developed non-invasive environmental DNA-based (eDNA) techniques have enlightened modern conservation biology, propelling the monitoring/management of natural populations to a more effective and efficient approach, compared to traditional surveys. However, due to rapid-expansion of eDNA, confusion in terminology and collection/analytical pipelines can potentially jeopardize research progression, methodological standardization, and practitioner adoption in several ways. Present investigation reflects the developmental progress of eDNA () including highlighting the successful case studies in conservation management.

PETRA IV: the ultralow-emittance source project at DESY.

The PETRA IV project aims at upgrading the present synchrotron radiation source PETRA III at DESY into an ultralow-emittance source. Being diffraction limited up to X-rays of about 10 keV, PETRA IV will be ideal for three-dimensional X-ray microscopy of biological, chemical and physical processes under realistic conditions at length scales from atomic dimensions to millimetres and time scales down to the sub-nanosecond regime. In this way, it will enable groundbreaking studies in many fields of science and industry, such as health, energy, earth and environment, mobility and information technology.

Boron and strontium isotope ratios and major/trace elements concentrations in tea leaves at four major tea growing gardens in Taiwan.

Isotopic compositions of B and Sr in rocks and sediments can be used as tracers for plant provincial sources. This study aims to test whether tea leaf origin can be discriminated using (10)B/(11)B and Sr isotopic composition data, along with concentrations of major/trace elements, in tea specimens collected from major plantation gardens in Taiwan. The tea leaves were digested by microwave and analyzed by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS).