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Owing to the toxicity and adverse effects of arsenic on human health, its levels in aquatic environments are among the most serious threats to humans globally. To improve our understanding of its occurrence and cycling in aquatic environments, herein we review the concentration, speciation, and distribution of arsenic in freshwater, seawater, and sediments. Many natural processes, such as rock weathering and geothermal activities, contribute to the background arsenic concentrations in the natural environment, whereas metal mining and smelting are anthropogenic sources of arsenic in the water. The high solubility and mobility of arsenic in aquatic environments affects its global cycling. Furthermore, the biological processes in the aquatic environment are discussed, especially the possible microbe-mediated reactions of arsenic in sediments. In addition, various environmental factors, such as redox conditions, pH, and salinity, which influence the transformation of arsenic species, are summarized. Finally, the differences between freshwater and seawater with reference to the concentration as well as speciation and distribution patterns of arsenic are addressed. This review provides deep insights into arsenic occurrence and cycling between freshwater and seawater aquatic environments, which can more accurately distinguish the risks of arsenic in different water environments, and provides theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of arsenic risks.

Background The burden of thyroid cancer (TC) among young people aged 10–24 years has not been systematically studied to date. This study aims to analyze the burden of TC among young people aged 10–24 years globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. Methods We collected data on the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates for TC among young people aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2021 using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. Joinpoint regression analysis, frontier analysis, and health inequality analysis were employed to examine the variations and changes in TC burden among young people aged 10–24 years across different countries and regions. Results From 1990 to 2021, the global burden of TC among young people has increased from 2.726 per 100,000 people [95% Uncertainty Interval (UI) 2.38–3.181] to 2.956 per 100,000 people (95% UI: 2.339–3.922), with an Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) of 0.258 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.138—0.378). The highest incidence rates were observed in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (China), and Vietnam, while the highest mortality rates were in India, China, and Bangladesh. Frontier analysis revealed that the largest disparities in effective differences were found in the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, the United States of America, and Guinea-Bissau. The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) for DALYs increased slightly from -0.15 in 1990 to -1.3 in 2021. Conclusions Over the past three decades, the burden of TC has increased globally among young people, particularly in poorer countries and regions. This study highlights the importance of formulating public health policies tailored to the specific circumstances of different countries and regions aimed at reducing the TC burden among young people.

This article explores the cultural complexities of participatory censorship among young Chinese netizens, particularly within and beyond fan communities, through a digital ethnographic lens. By examining the interplay between social media practices and state governance, the study introduces the concepts of algorithmic folklore and interpretive labor to elucidate how fans engage in censorship as both a routine task and a form of ideological negotiation. Through immersive participant observations and in-depth interviews with 25 informants involved in fan conflicts, the findings highlight that while fans perceive their participation in reporting as a form of empowerment, this engagement paradoxically reinforces state control and self-censorship. The study argues that the dynamics of fan conflicts are intricately linked to broader political contexts, where fans become both agents and subjects of censorship. Ultimately, this research underscores the cultural complexities of participatory censorship, revealing the ways it can obscure deeper systemic inequalities and exploitation within the framework of cultural governance in China.

The global incidence of thyroid cancer, especially papillary thyroid cancer, has increased in recent decades, making it a significant global health issue. Pyroptosis, an important form of programmed cell death, is characterized by pore formation in the cell membrane, membrane rupture, cell swelling, and the subsequent release of cellular contents. Factors released during this process, such as interleukin-1β and interleukin-18, amplify inflammatory effects and trigger immune activation. Increasing evidence indicates that pyroptosis has either tumour-promoting or tumour-suppressing effects at various stages of tumour progression, which has garnered significant attention and warrants further investigation. Thus, harnessing the tumour-inhibitory effects while mitigating the tumour-promoting effects of pyroptosis represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of thyroid cancer. Furthermore, pyroptosis-related genes are significantly correlated with the prognosis of thyroid cancer. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current research regarding the role of pyroptosis in thyroid cancer, focusing on its mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and predictive biomarkers. These findings highlight the importance of pyroptosis in thyroid cancer and offer valuable insights for the development of innovative treatment strategies and accurate prognostic markers.

Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) display abnormal autonomic activities at rest and during gameplay. Here, we examined whether and how in-game autonomic activity is modulated by human characteristics and behavioral performance of the player. We measured heart rate variability (HRV) in 42 male university student habitual gamers (HGs) when they played a round of League of Legends game online. Short-term HRV indices measured in early, middle and late phases of the game were compared between the players at high risk of developing IGD and those at low risk, as assessed by the revised Chen Internet addiction scale (CIAS-R). Multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to identify significant predictors of HRV measured over the whole gameplay period (WG), among CIAS-R, ranking score, hours of weekly playing and selected in-game performance parameters. The high-risk players showed a significantly higher low-frequency power/high-frequency power ratio (LF/HF) relative to the low-risk players, regardless of game phase. MLR analysis revealed that LF/HF measured in WG was predicted by, and only by, CIAS-R. The HRV indicators of sympathetic activity were found to be predicted only by the number of slain in WG (NSlain), and the indicators of parasympathetic activity were predicted by both CIAS-R and NSlain. Collectively, the results demonstrated that risk of developing IGD is associated with dysregulated autonomic balance during gameplay, and in-game autonomic activities are modulated by complex interactions among personal attributes and in-game behavioral performance of the player, as well as situational factors embedded in game mechanics.

Insects, as the most abundant animal group on earth, and their symbionts help their hosts to adapt to various environments. Conogethes punctiferalis, Ostrinia furnacalis and Helicoverpa armigera are three main pests co-occurring in the ear stage of corn, which significantly affect the yield and quality of corn. The purpose of this study was to compare the diversity and function of the intestinal bacteria of the three co-occurring lepidopteran pests, C. punctiferalis, O. furnacalis and H. armigera, and to explore the reason of their prevalence from the microbiota’s view. Our results showed the difference of diversity and abundance of the gut bacteria of three co-occurring lepidopteran pests at the ear stage. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla, and the Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae were the dominant families in the three pests. Compared with the other two pests, Bacteroidetes was found much more in C. punctiferalis. In addition, C. punctiferalis showed more correlation and similarity in bacteria composition with corn endophytic bacteria, as well as had obvious advantages in metabolic, environmental information processing, cellular processes and organic systems function pathways. Our findings may provide insight into the prevalence of corn earworm larvae from the perspective of gut microbiota and function prediction.

The interaction of particles with the chamber walls has been a significant source of uncertainty when analyzing results of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation experiments performed in Teflon chambers. A number of particle wall-loss correction methods have been proposed including the use of a size-independent loss rate constant, the ratio of suspended organic mass to that of a conserved tracer (e.g., sulfate seeds), and a size-dependent loss rate constant, etc. For complex experiments such as the chemical aging of SOA, the results of the SOA quantification analysis can be quite sensitive to the adopted correction method due to the evolution of the particle size distribution and the duration of these experiments. We evaluated the performance of several particle wall-loss correction methods for aging experiments of α-pinene ozonolysis products. Determining the loss rates from seed loss periods is necessary for this system because it is not clear when chemical reactions have been completed. Results from the OA ∕ sulfate ratio and the size-independent correction methods can be influenced significantly by the size dependence of the particle wall-loss process. Coagulation can also affect the particle size distribution, especially for particles with diameter less than 100 nm, thus introducing errors in the results of the wall-loss correction. The corresponding loss rate constants may vary from experiment to experiment, and even during a specific experiment. Friction between the Teflon chamber walls and non-conductive surfaces can significantly increase particle wall-loss rates and the chamber may require weeks to recover to its original condition. Experimental procedures are proposed for the characterization of particle losses during different stages of these experiments and the evaluation of corresponding particle wall-loss correction.

Background Uncontrolled immune response with T cell activation has a key role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disorder that is characterized by generalized fibrosis affecting particularly the lungs and skin. Costimulatory molecules are key players during immune activation, and recent evidence supports a role of CD28 and ICOS in the development of fibrosis. We herein investigated the efficacy of acazicolcept (ALPN-101), a dual ICOS/CD28 antagonist, in two complementary SSc-related mouse models recapitulating skin fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Methods Expression of circulating soluble ICOS and skin-expressed ICOS was investigated in SSc patients. Thereafter, acazicolcept was evaluated in the hypochlorous acid (HOCL)-induced dermal fibrosis mouse model and in the Fra-2 transgenic (Tg) mouse model. In each model, mice received 400 μg of acazicolcept or a molar-matched dose of an Fc control protein twice a week for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, skin and lung were evaluated. Results ICOS was significantly increased in the sera from SSc patients and in SSc skin biopsies as compared to samples from healthy controls. Similar body weight changes were observed between Fc control and acazicolcept groups in both HOCL and Fra-2 Tg mice suggesting a good tolerance of acazicolcept treatment. In mice challenged with HOCL, acazicolcept induced a significant decrease in dermal thickness, collagen content, myofibroblast number, and inflammatory infiltrates characterized by B cells, T cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. In the Fra-2 Tg mouse model, acazicolcept treatment reduced lung collagen content, fibrillar collagen, histological fibrosis score, and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). A reduction in frequency of CD4+ and T effector memory cells and an increase in the percentage of CD4+ T naïve cells in spleen and lung of acazicolcept-treated Fra-2 Tg mice was observed as compared to Fc control-treated Fra-2 Tg mice. Moreover, acazicolcept reduced CD69 and PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells from the spleen and the lung. Target engagement by acazicolcept was demonstrated by blockade of CD28 and ICOS detection by flow cytometry in treated mice. Conclusions Our results confirm the importance of costimulatory molecules in inflammatory-driven fibrosis. Our data highlight a key role of ICOS and CD28 in SSc. Using complementary models, we demonstrated that dual ICOS/CD28 blockade by acazicolcept decreased dermal and pulmonary fibrosis and alleviated pulmonary hypertension. These results pave the way for subsequent research on ICOS/CD28-targeted therapies.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a T cell-dependent, B cell-mediated autoimmune disease targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and other proteins of the neuromuscular junction postsynaptic membrane. Production of pathogenic autoantibodies results from B cell activation and expansion of antibody-secreting cells, including plasma cells, whose differentiation and survival are reliant on the TNF family cytokines APRIL and BAFF. Povetacicept (ALPN-303; TACI vTD-Fc) is an Fc fusion protein of an engineered TACI domain with significantly more potent dual inhibition of APRIL and BAFF than wild-type (WT) TACI-Fc (e.g., telitacicept). In this study, the activity of povetacicept was evaluated in the mouse experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) model, compared to (i) telitacicept, (ii) a depleting anti-CD20 antibody, (iii) neonatal Fc receptor blocker efgartigimod, (iv) a matched Fc control protein, and (v) PBS as vehicle. Therapeutic administration of povetacicept ameliorated clinical manifestations in EAMG mice and was associated with significantly lower levels of immunoglobulin subclasses and anti-AChR antibody titers in serum, along with increased muscle AChR content - superior to the evaluated comparators. Povetacicept treatment also reduced the number of total B220 and Ki67 proliferating cells in draining lymph node follicles and resulted in modifications of splenic T and B cell subset frequencies, compared to controls. The potent, dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor povetacicept significantly improves clinical disease activity in EAMG, associated with reductions in pathogenic anti-AChR autoantibodies and superior to comparator therapeutic interventions based on WT TACI-Fc, CD20 depletion, or FcRn inhibition. Povetacicept may therefore confer beneficial clinical outcomes in the treatment of MG and other autoantibody-related neurological diseases.

Therapeutic agents targeting the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily cytokines B‐cell activating factor (BAFF, BLyS) and/or A PRoliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL) have demonstrated clinical effectiveness in multiple autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). However, their clinical utility can often be limited by incomplete and/or prolonged times to clinical response and inconvenient dosing regimens, which may be improved by more potent dual inhibition of both cytokines. Povetacicept (ALPN‐303; TACI vTD‐Fc) is a crystallizable fragment (Fc) fusion protein of an engineered transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) domain which mediates more potent inhibitory activity than wild‐type TACI‐Fc or BAFF‐ or APRIL‐specific antibodies and demonstrates superior pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activity in multiple preclinical disease models. In this first‐in‐human study in healthy adults, povetacicept was well‐tolerated as single ascending doses of up to 960 mg administered intravenously or subcutaneously. Dose‐dependent pharmacokinetics were observed. Coverage of BAFF and APRIL was observed for 2–3 weeks and ≥4 weeks after doses of 80 mg and ≥240 mg, respectively. Maximal pharmacodynamic effects were observed at dose levels ≥80 mg for a single dose, associated with on‐target reductions in antibody‐secreting cells as well as in all circulating immunoglobulin isotypes, including the IgAN disease‐related biomarker galactose‐deficient‐immunoglobulin A1 (Gd‐IgA1), and were superior to results reported for wild‐type TACI‐Fc. These data strongly support further development of povetacicept for the treatment of B‐cell‐mediated automimmune diseases.