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The Chinese Mars rover Zhurong successfully landed in southern Utopia Planitia on Mars in May 2021. Previous research suggested a Hesperian ocean may have existed in the northern lowland on Mars. Recent research observed water-related features at the Zhurong landing site from in situ data. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive geomorphological analysis of the landing area using remote sensing data, supplemented by in situ observations, and unveiled features consistent with the existence of a nearshore zone in southern Utopia. Different types of water-related geomorphological features were separated by specific topographic contours, suggesting different types of marine environments. The area was subdivided into a foreshore highland-lowland transition unit, a shallow marine unit and a deep marine unit. In situ observations including sedimentary deposit rocks, water-related lamination features, and subsurface sedimentary layers, also indicate past water activities. Results suggested an evolution scenario of the nearshore zone in southern Utopia: (1) Flooding of the Utopia Planitia in Late Noachian around 3.65-3.68 Ga reached the foreshore unit; (2) formation of the shallow and deep marine units after the flooding was completed by about 3.5 Ga and 3.42 Ga in Early Hesperian, respectively; (3) gradual loss of subsurface volatiles during the Amazonian epoch., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Macrophages played an important role in the progression and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify macrophage-related genes (MRGs) and classify patients with HNSCC into two distinct subtypes. A macrophage-related risk signature (MRS) model, comprising nine genes: IGF2BP2, PPP1R14C, SLC7A5, KRT9, RAC2, NTN4, CTLA4, APOC1, and CYP27A1, was formulated by integrating 101 machine learning algorithm combinations. We observed lower overall survival (OS) in the high-risk group and the high-risk group showed elevated expression levels in most of the immune checkpoint and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, suggesting a strong immune evasion capacity. Correspondingly, TIDE score positively correlated with risk score, implying that high-risk tumors may resist immunotherapy more effectively. At the single-cell level, we noted macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) predominantly stalled in the G2/M phase, potentially hindering epithelial-mesenchymal transition and playing a crucial role in the inhibition of tumor progression. Finally, the proliferation and migration abilities of HNSCC cells significantly decreased after the expression of IGF2BP2 and SLC7A5 reduced. It also decreased migration ability of macrophages and facilitated their polarization towards the M1 direction. Our study constructed a novel MRS for HNSCC, which could serve as an indicator for predicting the prognosis, immune infiltration and immunotherapy for HNSCC patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ferroelectric BaBi 4 Ti 4 O 15 was prepared using solid-state calcination at 950 °C for four hours. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were utilized to understand its microstructure and other structural aspects. Particle size was around < 1.5 µm. This oxide is able to demonstrate piezocatalysis and tribocatalysis as reflected in its dye degradation performance. This oxide showed piezocatalytic activity around 40% in 2 h and tribocatalytic activity around 90% in 12 h. The rate constant for the piezocatalytic reaction is 0.003 min -1 and for tribocatalytic reaction is 0.169 h -1 . The rotation speed also affected the tribocatalytic activity of the oxide. Oxide showed 25%, 90%, and 94% tribocatalytic activity at 300, 500, and 700 rpm respectively. This material has demonstrated notable performance of catalysis under different types of mechanical energy sources and under different mechanisms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Osteoporosis is a major public health concern that significantly increases the risk of fractures. The aim of this study was to develop a Machine Learning based predictive model to screen individuals at high risk of osteoporosis based on chronic disease data, thus facilitating early detection and personalized management. A total of 10,000 complete patient records of primary healthcare data in the German Disease Analyzer database (IMS HEALTH) were included, of which 1293 diagnosed with osteoporosis and 8707 without the condition. The demographic characteristics and chronic disease data, including age, gender, lipid disorder, cancer, COPD, hypertension, heart failure, CHD, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and stroke were collected from electronic health records. Ten different machine learning algorithms were employed to construct the predictive mode. The performance of the model was further validated and the relative importance of features in the model was analyzed. Out of the ten machine learning algorithms, the Stacker model based on Logistic Regression, AdaBoost Classifier, and Gradient Boosting Classifier demonstrated superior performance. The Stacker model demonstrated excellent performance through ten-fold cross-validation on the training set and ROC curve analysis on the test set. The confusion matrix, lift curve and calibration curves indicated that the Stacker model had optimal clinical utility. Further analysis on feature importance highlighted age, gender, lipid metabolism disorders, cancer, and COPD as the top five influential variables. In this study, a predictive model for osteoporosis based on chronic disease data was developed using machine learning. The model shows great potential in early detection and risk stratification of osteoporosis, ultimately facilitating personalized prevention and management strategies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The present study is to design an eco-friendly mode to rapidly synthesize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) through Ceropegia bulbosa tuber's aqueous extracts and confirming SeNPs synthesis by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM-EDS mapping, HR-TEM, DLS and zeta potential analysis. In addition, to assess the anti-cancer efficacy of the SeNPs against the cultured MDA-MB-231, as studies have shown SeNPs biosynthesis downregulates the cancer cells when compared to normal HBL100 cell lines. The study observed the IC 50 value of SeNPs against MDA-MB-231 cells was 34 µg/mL for 48 h. Furthermore, the SeNPs promotes growth inhibitory effects of certain clinical pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Apart, from this the SeNPs has shown larvicidal activity after 24 h exposure in Aedes albopitus mosquito's larvae with a maximum of 250 g/mL mortality concentration. This is confirmed by the histopathology results taken at the 4th larval stage. The histopathological studies revealed intense deterioration in the hindgut, epithelial cells, mid gut and cortex region of the larvae. Finally, tried to investigate the photocatalytic activity of SeNPs against the toxic dye, methylene blue using halogen lamp and obtained 96% degradation results. Withal computational study SeNPs was shown to exhibit consistent stability towards breast cancer protein BRCA2. Overall, our findings suggest SeNPs as a potent disruptive agent for MDA-MB-231 cells, few pathogens, mosquito larvae and boosts the photocatalytic dye degradation.

Silver nano-rod, nano-zigzag, nano-saw, and nano-particle arrays are fabricated with glancing angle bideposition. The structure-dependent anisotropic optical properties of those bideposited nanostructured arrays are measured and investigated. The equivalent birefringence values of nano-rod and nano-zigzag arrays are much larger than crystals found in nature and liquid crystal used in display products. The fact that induced localized plasmon-magnetic field between nanorods dominates the strong phase retardation between p-polarized and s-polarized transmitted wave. For the nano-saw, the strong localized electric field induced between the saw teeth leads to strong SERS signals. Although the bideposited nanoparticles own weak morphological anisotropy, strong optical phase retardation is still detected at wavelengths near 400 nm.

Printing techniques are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern manufacturing. However, its biggest drawback is the limit in printing resolution. In this paper, we present solvodynamic printing as a novel printing system which aims to improve print resolution by incorporating an additional immiscible carrier solvent into the ink delivery system. The resolution is improved due to the solvent-solvent interactions between the ink and the carrier solvent which alter the contact angle of the ink on the substrate and limit the printed feature size. We demonstrate the proof of concept of solvodynamic printing by printing silver nanoparticle inks on a polyethylene naphthalate substrate. Silver nanoparticle tracks with widths of 35.2 ± 7.0 μm were achieved using a 300 μm nozzle. This is equivalent to 11.7 ± 2.3% of the nozzle diameter. The result shows great potential in solvodynamic printing as not many modern printing techniques can achieve such nozzle to feature size ratios.

Real-world data regarding the effectiveness and safety of generic sofosbuvir (SOF)-based interferon-free direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remain limited. A total of 517 chronic HCV-infected patients receiving 12 or 24 weeks of SOF-based therapies were retrospectively enrolled in 4 academic centers in Taiwan. The rate of sustained virologic response at week 12 off-therapy (SVR 12 ) and that of treatment completion were assessed. The baseline characteristics and on-treatment HCV viral kinetics to predict SVR 12 were analyzed. By evaluable population (EP) analysis, the SVR 12 rate was 95.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 93.2-96.9%). The SVR 12 was achieved in 29 of 34 patients (85.3%, 95% CI: 69.6-93.6%), 130 of 139 patients (93.5%, 95% CI: 88.2-96.6%), 119 of 124 patients (96.0%, 95% CI: 90.9-98.3%) and 215 of 220 patients (97.7%, 95% CI: 94.8-99.0%) who received SOF in combination with ribavirin (RBV), ledipasvir (LDV), daclatasvir (DCV) and velpatasvir (VEL), respectively. Of 517 patients, 514 (99.4%) completed the scheduled treatment. All 15 patients with true virologic failures were relapsers. Two decompensated cirrhotic patients had on-treatment deaths which were not related to DAAs. All 7 patients who were lost to follow-up had undetectable HCV RNA level at the last visit. The SVR 12 rates were comparable in terms of baseline patient characteristics and viral decline at week 4 of treatment. In conclusion, generic SOF-based regimens are well tolerated and provide high SVR 12 rates in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Complex learned behaviors, like bird song and human speech, develop under the influence of both genetic and environmental factors. Accordingly, learned behaviors comprise species specificity and individual variability. Auditory information plays a critical role in vocal learning by songbirds, both to memorize tutor songs and to monitor own vocalizations. Nevertheless, audition-deprived songbirds develop structured, species-specific song patterns. It remains to be elucidated how the auditory input contributes to the development of individual variability of song characteristics. Here we show that an open-ended vocal learner, the canary, annually recapitulates individually unique songs without audition. Although the total number of syllable types was reduced by auditory deprivation, other vocal phenotypes examined in the syllable, phrase, and syntax of songs were conserved between the 1 st and 2 nd years, both in deafened and intact birds. In deafened canaries, approximately 60% of the syllables were yearly reproduced with consistent acoustic features, whereas the remaining syllables were replaced with new ones in an annual cycle of song development. These results indicate that the open-ended vocal learning of canaries involves an audition-independent mechanism for the development of recurrent song idiosyncrasy.

We investigated the predictors of plasma mid-dose concentrations (C12) of efavirenz by enrolling 456 HIV-positive patients who had received 2 nucleos(t)ide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus efavirenz (600 mg daily) for 2 weeks or longer and had their CYP2B6 516G>T polymorphism and efavirenz C12 determined. The median efavirenz C12 was 2.41 mg/L (IQR, 1.93-3.14). In analysis of covariance models, patients with CYP2B6 516GT and TT genotypes compared to those with GG genotype had higher efavirenz C12 (for GT genotype, an increase by 0.976 mg/L [95%CI, 0.765-1.188], and TT genotype, 4.871 mg/L [95%CI, 4.126-5.616]), while per 10-kg increment in weight decreased C12 by 0.199 mg/L (95%CI, 0.111-0.287). Models incorporating CYP2B6 516G>T polymorphism and weight had moderate predictive values in predicting efavirenz C12 ≥ 2 mg/L (ROC area under curve = 0.706 [95%CI, 0.656-0.756]). In the absence of CYP2B6 516G>T polymorphism, weight ≤58 kg provided better predictabilities for efavirenz C12 ≥ 2 mg/L (probability, 77.1% [95%CI, 69.0-83.5%] for weight = 50 kg and 70.6% [95%CI, 64.1-76.4%] for weight = 58 kg).

A stratiform metamaterial, comprising metal and dielectric thin films, exhibits both near-perfect antireflection and strong light extinction to function as a perfect and ultra-thin light absorber. The equivalent admittance and extinction coefficient of the metamaterial are tailored using a visual method that is based on an admittance diagram. A five-layered metamaterial was designed and deposited with a total thickness of 260 nm on a mirror to exhibit strong and wide angle absorption over wavelengths from 400 nm to 2000 nm. A seven-layered metamaterial with a total thickness of less than 200 nm was designed and deposited to have equivalent admittance around unity and an extinction coefficient that is comparable to that of metal. Such a metal-like metamaterial exhibits low reflectivity so couples most visible light energy into the films and dissipates energy with an equivalent skin depth of less than 55 nm over visible wavelengths.

Aberrant IgG glycosylation is a feature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection but its effect on a long-term efficacy of antiviral therapy has never been addressed. After a screening of 1,085 patients, 132 eligible HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 101 HBeAg-negative patients with anti-HBV nucleos(t)ide analogue monotherapy were enrolled with on-treatment follow-ups for at least one year. IgG1 N-glycome was profiled using mass spectrometry and evaluated for its relevance in treatment responses. The results indicated that a high level of serum fucosyl-agalactosyl IgG1 (IgG1-G0F) at baseline was associated with the severity of liver inflammation and damage but advanced treatment responses, including HBV DNA loss, HBeAg seroconversion, a reduced drug resistance rate, and a liver histological improvement at year 1, thereby improving the long-term treatment efficacy and the probability of treatment discontinuation in HBeAg-positive patients. Stepwise Cox regression analyses revealed that baseline IgG1-G0F >30% was an independent factor that links to virological response (HR 3.071, 95% CI 1.835-5.141, P < 0.001) or HBeAg seroconversion (HR 2.034, 95% CI 1.011-4.093, P = 0.046). Furthermore, a high IgG1-G0F level at the treatment endpoint was associated with an off-treatment sustained virological response. In conclusion, IgG1-G0F favors the medication outcome for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Metals have been formed into nanostructures to absorb light with high efficiency through surface plasmon resonances. An ultra-thin plasmonic structure that exhibits strong absorption over wide ranges of wavelengths and angles of incidence is sought. In this work, a nearly perfect plasmonic nanostructure is fabricated using glancing angle deposition. The difference between the morphologies of obliquely deposited aluminum and silver nanohelices is exploited to form a novel three-dimensional structure, which is an aluminum-silver nanohelix array on a pattern-free substrate. With a thickness of only 470 nm, densely distributed nanohelices support rod-to-rod localized surface plasmons for broadband and polarization-independent light extinction. The extinctance remains high over wavelengths from 400 nm to 2000 nm and angles of incidence from 0° to 70°.

Antiretroviral therapy containing an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) plus two NRTIs has become the recommended treatment for antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients in the updated guidelines. We aimed to determine the prevalence of INSTI-related mutations in Taiwan. Genotypic resistance assays were performed on plasma from ARV-naïve patients (N = 948), ARV-experienced but INSTI-naive patients (N = 359), and raltegravir-experienced patients (N = 63) from 2006 to 2015. Major INSTI mutations were defined according to the IAS-USA list and other substitutions with a Stanford HIVdb score ≧ 10 to at least one INSTI were defined as minor mutations. Of 1307 HIV-1 samples from patients never exposed to INSTIs, the overall prevalence of major resistance mutations to INSTIs was 0.9% (n = 12), with an increase to 1.2% in 2013. Of these 12 sequences, 11 harboured Q148H/K/R, one Y143R, and none N155H. Of 30 sequences (47.6%) with INSTI-resistant mutations from raltegravir-experienced patients, 17 harboured Q148H/K/R, 8 N155H, and 6 Y143C/R. Other than these major mutations, the prevalence of minor mutations were 5.3% and 38.1%, respectively, in ARV-naive and raltegravir-experienced patients. The overall prevalence of INSTI mutations remains low in Taiwan. Surveillance of INSTI resistance is warranted due to circulation of polymorphisms contributing to INSTI resistance and expected increasing use of INSTIs.

With increasing use of cardiac fluoroscopic intervention, the incidence of fluoroscopy-induced radiation ulcer is increasing. Radiation ulcer is difficult to manage and currently there are no treatment guidelines. To identify the optimal treatment approaches for managing cardiac fluoroscopy-induced radiation ulcers, we retrospectively reviewed medical records of 13 patients with fluoroscopy-induced radiation ulcers receiving surgical interventions and following up in our hospital from 2012 to 2015. Conventional wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy were of little therapeutic benefit. Twelve patients received reconstruction with advancement flap or split thick skin graft. One-stage radical excision of radiation damaged area in eight cases with immediate reconstruction led to better outcomes than conservative excisions in four cases. Radical surgical excision to remove all the radiation damaged tissues in combination with immediate reconstruction appears to offer the optimal treatment results for cardiac fluoroscopy-induced radiation ulcers. Adequate excision of the damaged areas in both vertical (to the muscular fascia) and horizontal (beyond the sclerotic areas) dimension is pivotal to achieve good treatment outcomes.

Scaling-up of high-cell-density fermentation (HCDF) of Pichia pastoris from the lab or pilot scale to the demonstration scale possesses great significance because the latter is the final technological hurdle in the decision to go commercial. However, related investigations have rarely been reported. In this paper, we study the scaling-up processes of a recombinant P. pastoris from the pilot (10 to 100-L) to the demonstration (1,000-L) scales, which can be used to convert 7-β-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol into 10-deacetyltaxol by the β-xylosidase for semi-synthesis of Taxol. We demonstrated that a pure oxygen supplement can be omitted from the HCDF if the super atmospheric pressure was increased from 0.05 to 0.10 ± 0.05 MPa, and we developed a new methanol feeding biomass-stat strategy (0.035 mL/g/h) with 1% dissolved oxygen and 100 g/L initial induction biomass (dry cell weight). The scaling-up was reproducible, and the best results were obtained from the 1,000-L scale, featuring a shorter induction time and the highest enzyme activities and productions, respectively. The specific growth and specific production rates were also determined. This study lays a solid foundation for the commercial preparation of 10-deacetyltaxol through the recombinant yeast. It also provides a successful paradigm for scaling-up HCDF of P. pastoris to the demonstration scale.

Data are limited on the effectiveness and safety of peginterferon plus ribavirin in HIV-infected Asian patients with acute or chronic HCV infection. HIV-infected Taiwanese patients with acute HCV infection received peginterferon plus weight-based ribavirin for 24 weeks (n = 24), and those with chronic HCV genotype 1 or 6 (HCV-1/6) and HCV genotype 2 or 3 (HCV-2/3) infection received response-guided therapy for 12-72 and 24-48 weeks, respectively (n = 92). The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks off-therapy. The SVR rates were 83% and 72% in patients with acute and chronic HCV infection (p = 0.30), and 68% and 72% in patients with chronic HCV-1/6 and HCV-2/3 infection (p = 0.48), respectively. While no factors predicted SVR in acute HCV and chronic HCV-2/3 infection, age (odds ratio [OR] per 1-year increase: 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.99, p = 0.04), HCV RNA (OR per 1-log10 increase: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.03-0.98, p = 0.03), IL28B genotype (OR: 5.52, 95% CI: 1.55-12.2, p = 0.02), and RVR (OR: 9.62, 95% CI: 3.89-15.3, p = 0.007) predicted SVR in chronic HCV-1/6 infection. In conclusion, the SVR rates of peginterferon plus ribavirin for 24 weeks and for response-guided 12-72 weeks are satisfactory in HIV-infected Taiwanese patients with acute and chronic HCV infection.