Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in AChR-Ab Positive Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Real World Study About Its Early Response.

Background: Since there is no clear priority or selection principle in the guidelines for myasthenia crisis, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and intravenous immunoglobulin are often administered randomly. However, it should be more prudent in taking TPE due to its higher cost and risk. Studying its early response factors is crucial for managing myasthenia crisis and can improve medical and economic benefits. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted, and patients classified as having "impending myasthenia crisis" or experiencing a myasthenia crisis and treated by TPE were included. The primary endpoint was the response after TPE. Univariate logistic regression analysis and repeated measurement were performed to analyze factors related to TPE efficacy. Results: A total of 30 patients who treated with TPE as their fast-acting treatments were enrolled. After TPE, those whose QMGs and/or MGCs decreased by ≥5 points or ≥30% of the baseline were judged as "response group", accounting for 66.67% (20/30). Respiratory symptoms had a response rate of 72.00% (18/25), showing the most remarkable improvement. Meanwhile, extraocular symptoms were the least sensitive, with only 8.00% (2/25) showing efficacy. Thymoma (100.00% vs 50.00%, P=0.002) and a high concentration of AChR-Ab (37.37 nmol/L vs 25.4 nmol/L, P=0.039) were common in the early response group. Repeated measures showed significant changes in AChR-Ab and CD19+ B cells before and after TPE (all with P < 0.05). After treatment, the CD19+ B cells tended to decrease in the response group. Discussion: These results indicated that, for AChR-Ab positive generalized MG, TPE can quickly improve respiratory symptoms. Thymoma and a high concentration of AChR-Ab before TPE predict an early better response. Additionally, TPE may work by decreasing AChR-Ab levels and inducing immune regulation. Future prospective and randomized controlled studies are needed.

Physiological and molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of artemisinin on Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

Artemisinin, a novel plant allelochemical, has attracted attention for its potential selective inhibitory effects on algae, yet to be fully explored. This study compares the sensitivity and action targets of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) and Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) to artemisinin algaecide (AMA), highlighting their differences. Results indicate that at high concentrations, AMA displaces the natural PQ at the QB binding site within M. aeruginosa photosynthetic system, impairing the D1 protein repair function. Furthermore, AMA disrupts electron transfer from reduced ferredoxin (Fd) to NADP+ by interfering with the iron-sulfur clusters in the ferredoxin-NADP+ reductases (FNR) domain of Fd. Moreover, significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation triggers oxidative stress and interrupts the tricarboxylic acid cycle, hindering energy acquisition. Notably, AMA suppresses arginine synthesis in M. aeruginosa, leading to reduced microcystins (MCs) release. Conversely, C. pyrenoidosa counters ROS accumulation via photosynthesis protection, antioxidant defenses, and by regulating intracellular osmotic pressure, accelerating damaged protein degradation, and effectively repairing DNA for cellular detoxification. Additionally, AMA stimulates the expression of DNA replication-related genes, facilitating cell proliferation. Our finding offer a unique approach for selectively eradicating cyanobacteria while preserving beneficial algae, and shed new light on employing eco-friendly algicides with high specificity.

Community Structure and Water Quality Assessment of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Hongze Lake.

This study investigated the species, density, biomass and physicochemical factors of benthic macroinvertebrates in Hongze Lake from 2016 to 2020. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to analyze the relationship between physicochemical parameters and the community structure of macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrate-based indices were used to evaluate the water quality conditions in Hongze Lake. The results showed that a total of 50 benthic species (10 annelids, 21 arthropods and 19 mollusks) were collected. The community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates varied in time and space. The dominant species were Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (L.hoffmeisteri), Corbicula fluminea (C.fluminea), Nephtys oligobranchia (N.oligobranchia). In 2016, arthropods such as Grandidierella sp. were the dominant species of benthos in Hongze Lake while annelids and mollusks dominated from 2017 to 2020, such as L.hoffmeisteri, N.oligobranchia, C.fluminea. The benthic fauna of Chengzi Lake and Lihewa District were relatively abundant and showed slight variation, while the benthic macroinvertebrates of the Crossing the water area were few and varied greatly. RDA showed that changes in benthic macroinvertebrate structure were significantly correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO), Pondus Hydrogenii (pH) and transparency (SD). The Shannon Wiener, Pielou, and Margalef indices indicate that Hongze Lake is currently in a moderately polluted state. Future studies should focus on the combined effects of various physicochemical indicators and other environmental factors on benthic communities.

Decoding Microcystis aeruginosa quorum sensing through AHL-mediated transcriptomic molecular regulation mechanisms.

Acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) serves as a key signaling molecule for quorum sensing (QS) in bacteria. QS-related genes and physiological processes in Microcystis aeruginosa remain elusive. In this study, we elucidated the regulatory role of AHL-mediated QS in M. aeruginosa. Using AHL activity extract and transcriptomic analysis, we revealed significant effects of the AHL on growth and photosynthesis. AHL significantly increased chlorophyll a (Chl-a) content and accelerated photosynthetic rate thereby promoting growth. Transcriptome analysis revealed that AHL stimulated the up-regulation of photosynthesis-related genes (apcABF, petE, psaBFK, psbUV, etc.) as well as nitrogen metabolism and ribosomal metabolism. In addition, AHL-regulated pathways are associated with lipopolysaccharide and phenazine synthesis. Our findings deepen the understanding of the QS system in M. aeruginosa and are important for gaining insights into the role of QS in Microcystis bloom formation. It also provides new insights into the prevalence of M. aeruginosa in water blooms.

Quorum sensing regulation in Microcystis aeruginosa: Insights into AHL-mediated physiological processes and MC-LR production.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a widespread regulatory mechanism in Gram-negative bacteria, primarily involving the secretion of N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) to facilitate population density sensing. However, the existence of QS in blue-green algae, a subset of photoautotrophic Gram-negative bacteria forming high-density communities in water blooms, remains elusive. This study delves into the unexplored realm of QS in Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) by investigating AHL-related regulatory mechanisms and their impact on various physiological processes. Utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and biosensors, a hitherto unknown long-chain AHL exhibiting a mass-to-charge ratio of 318 was identified in sterile M. aeruginosa cultures. Our investigation focused on discerning correlations between AHL activity fluctuations and key parameters such as microcystin (MC-LR) production, algal density, photosynthesis, buoyancy, and aggregation. Furthermore, the AHL extract was introduced during the logarithmic stage of M. aeruginosa cultures to observe the response in physiological processes. The results revealed that AHL, functioning as an autoinducer (AI), positively influenced algal growth and photosynthesis, as evidenced by the upregulated photosynthetic conversion efficiency of PSI and chlorophyll synthesis gene (psbA). AI also played a crucial role in altering surface characteristics through the synthesis of polysaccharides and proteins in EPS, subsequently promoting cell aggregation. Concomitantly, AI upregulated mcyD, enhancing the synthesis of MC-LR. Notably, our investigation pinpointed the initiation of QS in Microcystis at a density of approximately 1.22 × 10^7 cells/mL. This groundbreaking evidence underscores the regulatory role of AI in governing the physiological processes of growth, aggregation, buoyancy, and MC-LR production by activating pertinent gene expressions. This study significantly expands the understanding of QS in AHL, providing crucial insights into the regulatory networks operating in blue-green algae.

Physiology, microcystin production, and transcriptomic responses of Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to calcium and magnesium.

Calcium ions (Ca2+) and magnesium ions (Mg2+) are pivotal in the community composition and stability of harmful cyanobacteria, yet the physiological and molecular responses remains poorly understood. This study aims to explore these responses in the high microcystin producer Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa). Results indicate that the growth of M. aeruginosa is inhibited by Ca2+/Mg2+ exposure (0.5-10 mM), while Fv/Fm photosynthetic parameters and extracellular microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) concentrations increase. Additionally, MC-LR release is significantly elevated under exposure to Ca2+/Mg2+, posing potential aquatic environmental risks. Transcriptomic analysis reveals downregulation of genes related to cell architecture, membrane transport, and metabolism, while the genes linked to photosynthesis electron transmission and heavy metal-responsive transcriptional regulators are upregulated to adapt to environmental changes. Further analysis reveals that Ca2+ and Mg2+ primarily impact sulfur metabolism and transport of amino acids and mineral within cells. These findings provide insights into M. aeruginosa cells responses to Ca2+ and Mg2+ exposure.

Causality between rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of cognitive impairment: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: There is mounting proof that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cognitive decline are related. These studies, however, have not all been uniform, and others have not discovered such a correlation. It is essential to investigate the link between RA and cognitive decline. METHOD: We conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis utilizing three different publicly accessible RA GWAS summary datasets and a variety of meticulously verified instrumental variables. We mostly used inverse variance weighting (IVW), as well as MR-Egger, weighted median, MR-PRESSO, and several sensitivity analyses, to figure out the link between RA and cognitive impairment (CI). RESULTS: Our MR study identified the causality between RA and declining cognitive performance (ß = - 0.010, 95% CI of - 0.017 to - 0.003, P = 4.33E-03) and cognitive function (ß = - 0.029, 95% CI of - 0.053 to - 0.005, P = 1.93E-02). The consistent direction of the connection is revealed by sensitivity analysis utilizing the weighted median and the MR-Egger method. Furthermore, we reproduced our findings across two additional RA datasets and found identical outcomes, strengthening the validity of our findings. CONCLUSION: This study offers proof of causality between RA and an increased risk of CI. Our findings highlight the importance of examining RA patients for cognitive ability, which may open up fresh ideas for the prevention of CI.

Spatial memory requires hypocretins to elevate medial entorhinal gamma oscillations.

The hypocretin (Hcrt) (also known as orexin) neuropeptidic wakefulness-promoting system is implicated in the regulation of spatial memory, but its specific role and mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we revealed the innervation of the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) by Hcrt neurons in mice. Using the genetically encoded G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based Hcrt sensor, we observed a significant increase in Hcrt levels in the MEC during novel object-place exploration. We identified the function of Hcrt at presynaptic glutamatergic terminals, where it recruits fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive neurons and promotes gamma oscillations. Bidirectional manipulations of Hcrt neurons' projections from the lateral hypothalamus (LHHcrt) to MEC revealed the essential role of this pathway in regulating object-place memory encoding, but not recall, through the modulation of gamma oscillations. Our findings highlight the significance of the LHHcrt-MEC circuitry in supporting spatial memory and reveal a unique neural basis for the hypothalamic regulation of spatial memory.

Study of serum exosome miRNA as a biomarker for early onset adult ouclar myastthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: By extracting and sequencing miRNAs from serum exosomes of patients with early-onset ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG), generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG) and healthy controls, we screened differentially expressed miRNAs and explored the possibility as potential biomarkers for early-onset OMG. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with early-onset OMG, early-onset GMG, and age-matched healthy subjects, with 6 samples in each group. All these patients were diagnosed as MG for the first time and did not undergo any treatment. Exosomes miRNAs were extracted from the serum and performed deep sequencing; the differentially expressed miRNAs were compared and analyzed between OMG, GMG, and healthy control groups using edgeR. The differential expression standard was set to | log2FC |>1, p < 0.05. Target prediction of mRNAs were performed using miRTarBase, TargetScan, and miRDB databases, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed subsequently. The miRNAs with a significant difference were validated using RT-qPCR (10 early-onset OMG patients, 10 early-onset GMG patients and 10 age-sex-matched healthy subjects), and the value of the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy and evaluate clinical prognostic value. RESULTS: In total, one upregulated (miR-130a-3p) miRNA was obtained through the upregulated intersection between control vs OMG and OMG vs GMG; four downregulated (miR-4712-3p; miR-6752-5p; miR-320d; miR-3614-3p) miRNAs were obtained through the downregulated intersection between control vs OMG and OMG vs GMG. A total of 408 target genes were predicted for the five differentially expressed miRNAs. The mTOR signaling pathway and Rap1 signaling pathway were significantly enriched based on the enrichment results. RT-qPCR findings revealed that for the OMG, the expression of miR-320d, miR-4712-3p and miR-3614-3p was markedly up-/down-regulated as compared to GMG and healthy control group. The AUC for the three miRNAs between OMG and healthy control groups were 0.78, 0.79 and 0.79 respectively; the AUC between OMG and GMG was 0.84. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified three novel miRNAs as candidate biomarkers for early-onset OMG patients and it was expected to provide a possibility and a new orientation for serum exosomal miRNAs as OMG diagnostic biomarkers.

Correlation analysis between the in vivo bioavailability and in vitro bioaccessibility of nitro PAHs in soil: Application of simplified FOREhST in vitro methods based on the Chinese pharmacopoeia.

In this study, the relative bioavailability (RBA) of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in soil samples (n = 30) was assessed using an in vivo mouse model. Based on the correlation between the bioaccessibility data obtained from the Tenax improved traditional Fed ORganic Estimation human Simulation Test (FOREhST) in vitro method (TITF) and the bioavailability data obtained from in vivo experiments, the TITF method was further optimized and simplified by referring to the "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China: Volume IV, 2020" to adjust the formulation and parameters of the gastrointestinal fluid (GIF) in order to establish a simpler and lower cost in vitro method for the determination of the bioaccessibilities of NPAHs. The dose-accumulation relationship of the in vivo experiment showed that the linear dose-response was better in adipose tissue (R2 = 0.77-0.93), and the accumulation of NPAHs in adipose tissue was higher than that in kidney or liver tissue. Depending on the mouse adipose model, the NPAHs-RBA ranged from 1.88 % to 73.92 %, and a strongly significant negative relationship (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.05) was found between the NPAHs-RBA and Log Kow. The simplified experiment of the TITF showed that the composition of the GIF medium had a significant effect on the bioaccessibilities of NPAHs. The NPAH bioaccessibilities measured by the Tenax improved simplified FOREhST method (TISF) (9.0-36.5 %) were higher than that of the traditional FOREhST method (6.8-22.8 %) but significantly lower than that of the TITF method (16.8-55.2 %). With an increase in the bile concentration in the GIF (from 6 to 10 g/L), the bioaccessibilities of NPAHs increased from 9.0 to 36.5 % to 12.9-42.4 %. The accuracies of the four in vitro methods for predicting the bioavailabilities of NPAHs was in the following order: Tenax improved simplified FOREhST method with increased bile concentration (TITF-IB) (R2 = 0.54-0.87) ≈ TITF (R2 = 0.55-0.85) > TISF (R2 = 0.41-0.77) > FOREhST (R2 = 0.02-0.68). These results indicated that the simple in vitro method could also effectively predict the bioavailabilities of NPAHs.

Identification and functional prediction of long non-coding RNAs related to oxidative stress in the jejunum of piglets.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress (OS) is a pathological process arising from the excessive production of free radicals in the body. It has the potential to alter animal gene expression and cause damage to the jejunum. However, there have been few reports of changes in the expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the jejunum in piglets under OS. The purpose of this research was to examine how lncRNAs in piglet jejunum change under OS. METHODS: The abdominal cavities of piglets were injected with diquat (DQ) to produce OS. Raw reads were downloaded from the SRA database. RNA-seq was utilized to study the expression of lncRNAs in piglets under OS. Additionally, six randomly selected lncRNAs were verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) to examine the mechanism of oxidative damage. RESULTS: A total of 79 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in the treatment group compared to the negative control group. The target genes of DE lncRNAs were enriched in gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways. Chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, the Foxo signaling pathway, colorectal cancer, and the AMPK signaling pathway were all linked to OS. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that DQ-induced OS causes differential expression of lncRNAs, laying the groundwork for future research into the processes involved in the jejunum's response to OS.

Iron 3D-Orbital Configuration Dependent Electron Transfer for Efficient Fenton-Like Catalysis.

Transition metals are excellent active sites to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for water treatment, but the favorable electronic structures governing  reaction mechanism still remain elusive. Herein, the authors construct typical d-orbital configurations on iron octahedral (FeOh ) and tetrahedral (FeTd ) sites in spinel ZnFe2 O4 and FeAl2 O4 , respectively. ZnFe2 O4 (136.58 min-1 F-1 cm2 ) presented higher specific activity than FeAl2 O4 (97.47 min-1 F-1 cm2 ) for tetracycline removal by PMS activation. Considering orbital features of charge amount, spin state, and orbital arrangement by magnetic spectroscopic analysis, ZnFe2 O4 has a larger bond order to decompose PMS. Using this descriptor, high-spin FeOh is assumed to activate PMS mainly to produce nonradical reactive oxygen species (ROS) while high-spin FeTd prefers to induce radical species. This hypothesis is confirmed by the selective predominant ROS of 1 O2 on ZnFe2 O4 and O2 •- on FeAl2 O4 via quenching experiments. Electrochemical determinations reveal that FeOh has superior capability than FeTd for feasible valence transformation of iron cations and fast interfacial electron transfer. DFT calculations further suggest octahedral d-orbital configuration of ZnFe2 O4 is beneficial to enhancing Fe-O covalence for electron exchange. This work attempts to understand the d-orbital configuration-dependent PMS activation to design efficient catalysts.

Structural characteristics of zooplankton communities in Hongze Lake driven by water environmental factors from 2016 to 2020.

This study investigated zooplankton species, density, biomass, and water physicochemical factors in Hongze Lake between 2016 and 2020. The correlation between zooplankton community changes and physicochemical factors was explored using canonical correspondence analysis and Spearman correlation analysis. The investigation found 48 species of protozoa, 52 species of rotifers, 36 species of cladocera, and 32 species of copepoda. The yearly mean density fluctuated between 529.01 and 2234.51 individuals per liter. The yearly mean zooplankton biomass was 950.14 mg/L, ranging from 271.92 to 1365.835 mg/L. A high diversity of zooplankton was found in the Overwater Area, with a large proportion of protozoa and copepoda. Correlation analysis revealed that nitrogen content, pH, water temperature, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, water transparency, and chlorophyll a were important factors influencing the distribution of zooplankton in Hongze Lake. These factors collectively contributed to the evolution of the zooplankton community structure in Hongze Lake.

Gas-particle partitioning of organophosphate esters in indoor and outdoor air and its implications for individual exposure.

The extensive utilization of organophosphate esters (OPEs) has resulted in their widespread presence in the environment, raising concerns about potential human health risks. In this study, 13 OPEs were analyzed in both gas and particle phases as well as in indoor and outdoor atmospheric environments. Moreover, human exposure to OPEs were investigated within a university environment, focusing on forehead contact and individual PM2.5 inhalation. The results showed similar distribution patterns of OPEs indoors and outdoors, although higher concentrations were found indoors. The average atmospheric concentration of ∑OPEs (combining particle and gaseous OPEs) was 1575 pg/m3 in the outdoor environment and 6574 pg/m3 ∑OPEs in the indoor microenvironments. The overwhelming majority of OPEs exhibit a pronounced propensity to adsorb onto PM2.5 particles. Notably, the concentration of OPEs on the forehead differed significantly from that in the atmospheric environment, whereas individual PM2.5 exposure was consistent with the concentration of indoor PM2.5. Intriguingly, some OPEs with high octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) were not detected in the environment but found on human foreheads. Gas-particle partitioning was predicted using the Harner-Bidleman and Li-Ma-Yang models and the results were in agreement with the monitoring data for approximately half of the OPE monomers. Correlations between OPEs exposure and gas-particle partitioning were found to be more significant for novel OPEs. No non-cancer risk to humans through individual exposure to OPEs was identified via forehead exposure or inhalation. The previously unreported relationship between individual exposure and the environmental occurrence of traditional and novel OPEs demonstrated in this study highlights the importance of evaluating the potential health risks associated with actual OPE exposure.

Sublobar resection reduces the risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction compared with lobectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Sublobar resection, including wedge resection and segmentectomy, is non-inferior to lobectomy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer treatment. We aimed to compare the risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) between sublobar resection and lobectomy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study. Patients with sublobar resection or lobectomy were divided into the sublobar group or the lobar group, respectively. Cognition was assessed before and after surgery with Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Minimum Mental State Examination tests. POCD is defined as Z score of Montreal Cognitive Assessment change ≤-1.96. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to make demographics well-balanced between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients were enrolled. Both the postoperative 1-day POCD rate (sublobar 5.5% vs lobar 18.2%, P < 0.001) and the postoperative 1-month POCD rate (sublobar 7.9% vs lobar 21.8%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the sublobar group compared with lobar group, with demographics unbalanced between the 2 groups. In the 133 demographics-matched pairs obtained by PSM, both the postoperative 1-day POCD rate (sublobar 5.3% vs lobar 17.3%, P = 0.005) and the postoperative 1-month POCD rate (sublobar 8.3% vs lobar 18.8%, P = 0.018) remained significantly lower in the sublobar group than in the lobar group. The incidences of postoperative 1-day (P = 0.109) and postoperative 1-month (P = 0.026) Minimum Mental State Examination abnormity were also lower in the sublobar group than in the lobar group but only the latter was with statistical significance after PSM. CONCLUSIONS: Sublobar resection has an advantage over lobectomy in preventing POCD. Our findings might be a reference for selecting the most suitable type of resection for non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Indoor exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with solid fuel use in rural China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants associated with various health risks including lung cancer. Indoor exposure to PAHs, particularly from the indoor burning of fuels, is significant; however, long-term large-scale assessments of indoor PAHs are hampered by high costs and time-consuming in field sampling and laboratory experiments. A simple fuel-based approach and statistical regression models were developed as a trial to predict indoor BaP, as a typical PAH, in China, and consequently spatiotemporal variations in indoor BaP and indoor exposure contributions were discussed. The results show that the national population-weighted indoor BaP concentration has decreased substantially from 46.1 ng/m3 in 1992 to 6.60 ng/m3 in 2017, primarily due to the increased use of clean energies for cooking and heating. Indoor BaP exposure contributed to > 70% of the total inhalation exposure in most cities, particularly in regions where solid fuels are widely utilized. With limited experimental observation data in building statistical models, quantitative results of the study are associated with high uncertainties; however, the study undoubtedly supports effective countermeasures on indoor PAHs from solid fuel use and the importance of promoting clean household energy usage to improve household air quality.

Effect of Metal Cations on Colloids-Microcystin-LR Interaction.

Colloidal particles, mixture with continuous molecular weight distribution and multiple organic components, is widespread in lake and have significant impact on the retention, migration, transportation, and fate of contaminants in lake ecosystems. Here we extract sedimentary colloids from algal growth dominant area (AD) in Taihu Lake and further separated into four different particle size ranges by cross-flow ultra-filtration (CFUF). The interaction mechanism between colloids and Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was investigated under different cation conditions by dialysis equilibrium experiment method. Adsorption kinetics research shows the adsorption of MC-LR by colloids follows second-order kinetics and can be simulated by Freundlich isotherms. The effects of different cations on colloids-MC-LR interaction shows the addition of Mg(II) decreased colloids-MC-LR interaction, while Cu(II) increased colloids-MC-LR binding. MC-LR also increased Cu(II) binding to colloids, while MC-LR decreased Mg(II) binding. Therefore, different effect of cations to colloids-MC-LR interaction was proposed.

Prevalence, risk factors, and mortality of COPD in young people in the USA: results from a population-based retrospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been considered a disease of the elderly, but it could also occur in young people aged 20-50 years. However, the characteristics and prognosis of COPD in such young people remain unclear. METHODS: Our retrospective cohort study was based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Participants who 20-50 years old at baseline and completed the pulmonary function test were enrolled in our study cohort. These participants were followed up to 31 December 2019. The sample weight and Taylor Linearization Procedures were adapted to make representative estimations of prevalence and baseline characteristics. The weighted logistic regression model was used to assess the risk factors. The propensity score method and Cox proportional hazard models were applied to calculate the risk of mortality. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of COPD in young people in the USA was 1.64% and it increased with age, with a higher prevalence in males than females (2.59% vs 0.72%, p<0.001). The proportion of Global Initiative for COPD 1-2 was 96.7%. Males (OR=4.56, 95% CI: 2.74 to 7.61), non-Hispanic black (OR=2.77; 95% CI: 1.14 to 6.75), non-Hispanic white (OR=4.93; 95% CI: 2.16 to 11.28) and smoking (current smoking, OR=2.36; 95% CI: 1.40 to 3.98; ever smoking, OR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.05 to 3.51; passive smoking, OR=2.12; 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.20) were shown to be independent risk factors for COPD in young people. Compared with those matched by sex, age and race, the young people with COPD had a higher risk of all-cause death (HR=3.314, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: COPD in young people has a low prevalence in the USA and its independent risk factors included male, race (non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white) and smoking. Young COPD has a higher risk of all-cause mortality than the matched non-COPD.

Learning-Based IRS-Assisted Secure Transmission for Mine IoTs.

Mine Internet of Things (MIoT) devices in intelligent mines often face substantial signal attenuation due to challenging operating conditions. The openness of wireless communication also makes it susceptible to smart attackers, such as active eavesdroppers. The attackers can disrupt equipment operations, compromise production safety, and exfiltrate sensitive environmental data. To address these challenges, we propose an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted secure transmission system for an MIoT device which enhances the security and reliability of wireless communication in challenging mining environments. We develop a joint optimization problem for the IRS phase shifts and transmit power, with the goal of enhancing legitimate transmission while suppressing eavesdropping. To accommodate time-varying channel conditions, we propose a reinforcement learning (RL)-based IRS-assisted secure transmission scheme that enables MIoT device to optimize both the IRS reflecting coefficients and transmit power for optimal transmission policy in dynamic environments. We adopt the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm to explore the optimal transmission policy in continuous space. This can reduce the discretization error caused by traditional RL methods. The simulation results indicate that our proposed scheme achieves superior system utility compared with both the IRS-free (IF) scheme and the IRS randomly configured (IRC) scheme. These results demonstrate the effectiveness and practical relevance of our contributions, proving that implementing IRS in MIoT wireless communication can enhance safety, security, and efficiency in the mining industry.