Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts as Potential Targets for the Prognosis and Treatment of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma

To understand the etiological, structural, and immunological characteristics of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), we conducted single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) experiments for cervical samples from 20 individuals. When exploring the possible factors shaping the intra-individual immune heterogeneity in CSCC, we identified a cluster of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) enriched around some tumors, which highly expressed ACTA2, POSTN, ITGB4, and FAP. Results showed that the CAFs might support the growth and metastasis of tumors by inhibiting lymphocyte infiltration and remodeling the tumor extracellular matrix. Moreover, high CAF signals predicted poorer clinical outcomes for CSCC patients. Our data also revealed the infection profiles of HPV in tumors, the critical factors involved in the progression of cervical cancerous lesions, and the association between tumor metabolism and immune response intensity. Collectively, our findings may improve the prognostic and therapeutic methods for CSCC.

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Adolescents of Russian Federation: Results of Cross-Sectional Population Analysis of Seroprevalence

Background. Cytomegalovirus infection (CMVI) is the reason of high mortality in perinatal period, disability in children from risk groups with further development of congenital malformations and chronic diseases. Clear understanding of epidemiology and determination of focus population groups is crucial for development of measures and algorithms of congenital CMVI prevention.Objective. The aim of the study is to study CMVI seroprevalence among immunocompetent adolescents in Russian Federation with reference to the gender, regional, social and economic, and age factors.Methods. We have used for our study data from the survey of senior schoolchildren from 7 municipalities representing various regions of Russian Federation: group 1 (10–12 years old) and group 2 (14–16 years old). The study of CMVI seroprevalence and immune response was performed via the analysis of the level of IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in blood serum. The social and economic well-being of the region was determined by "RIA Rating" experts.Results. Serological prevalence of CMVI in the study group of adolescents (n = 1403) was 70.6% (n = 990). There were no statistically significant gender differences in the distribution of seropositive children in regions (p = 0.525). Infection in boys (72.6%; n = 455; median age — 12.9 (11.0; 14.9)) did not prevail over the infection in girls (68.8%; n = 535; median age — 13.1 (11.0; 14,9)); p = 0,117. The overall prevalence of CMVI increased statistically significant with age — from 68% (n = 486) in group 1 to 73% (n = 504) in group 2 (p = 0.036). The prevalence of CMVI varied statistically significant by region (p = 0.003). There was no correlation between the regional seropositive level and the social and economic situation in the region (r = 0.034, p = 0.192). Immune response intensity did not differ by age, gender, and region with the antibody median of 88.9 CU/ml.Conclusion. More than half of adolescents (by the age of 10) in Russian Federation are infected, and infection increases with approaching to childbearing age, however, age is not the only aspect associated with serological status. Factors affecting immune response intensity require further study. Understanding of the CMV prevalence among children is crucial for determining future prevention approaches in target groups.

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Adolescents of Russian Federation: Results of Cross-Sectional Population Analysis of Seroprevalence

Background. Cytomegalovirus infection (CMVI) is the reason of high mortality in perinatal period, disability in children from risk groups with further development of congenital malformations and chronic diseases. Clear understanding of epidemiology and determination of focus population groups is crucial for development of measures and algorithms of congenital CMVI prevention.Objective. The aim of the study is to study CMVI seroprevalence among immunocompetent adolescents in Russian Federation with reference to the gender, regional, social and economic, and age factors.Methods. We have used for our study data from the survey of senior schoolchildren from 7 municipalities representing various regions of Russian Federation: group 1 (10–12 years old) and group 2 (14–16 years old). The study of CMVI seroprevalence and immune response was performed via the analysis of the level of IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in blood serum. The social and economic well-being of the region was determined by "RIA Rating" experts.Results. Serological prevalence of CMVI in the study group of adolescents (n = 1403) was 70.6% (n = 990). There were no statistically significant gender differences in the distribution of seropositive children in regions (p = 0.525). Infection in boys (72.6%; n = 455; median age — 12.9 (11.0; 14.9)) did not prevail over the infection in girls (68.8%; n = 535; median age — 13.1 (11.0; 14,9)); p = 0,117. The overall prevalence of CMVI increased statistically significant with age — from 68% (n = 486) in group 1 to 73% (n = 504) in group 2 (p = 0.036). The prevalence of CMVI varied statistically significant by region (p = 0.003). There was no correlation between the regional seropositive level and the social and economic situation in the region (r = 0.034, p = 0.192). Immune response intensity did not differ by age, gender, and region with the antibody median of 88.9 CU/ml.Conclusion. More than half of adolescents (by the age of 10) in Russian Federation are infected, and infection increases with approaching to childbearing age, however, age is not the only aspect associated with serological status. Factors affecting immune response intensity require further study. Understanding of the CMV prevalence among children is crucial for determining future prevention approaches in target groups.

Simulating the Response of the Surface Urban Heat Environment to Land Use and Land Cover Changes: A Case Study of Wuhan, China

With the rapid process of urbanization, the urban heat island (UHI), the phenomenon where urban regions become hotter than their surroundings, is increasingly aggravated. The UHI is affected by multiple factors overall. However, it is difficult to dissociate the effect of one aspect by widely used approaches such as the remote-sensing-based method. To qualify the response of surface UHI to the land use and land cover (LULC) changes, this study took the numerical land model named u-HRLDAS (urbanized high-resolution land data assimilation system) as the modeling tool to investigate the effect of LULC changes on the UHI from 1980 to 2013 in Wuhan city, China. Firstly, the simulation accuracy of the model was improved, and the summer urban heat environment was simulated for the summer of 2013. Secondly, taking the simulation in 2013 as the control case (CNTL), the LULC in 1980, 1990, and 2000 were replaced by the LULC while the other conditions kept the same as the CNTL to explore the effect of LULC on UHI. The results indicate that the proper configuration of the modeling setup and accurate surface input data are considered important for the simulated results of the u-HRLDAS. The response intensity of UHI to LULC changes after 2000 was stronger than that of before 2000. From the spatial perspective, the part that had the strongest response intensity of land surface temperature to LULC changes was the region between the third ring road and the inner ring road of Wuhan. This study can provide a reference for cognizing the urban heat environment and guide policy making for urban development.

Effects of Strongbacks and Strappings on Vibrations of Timber Truss Joist Floors

It is well known that the vertical vibrations of lightweight timber floors would cause discomfort to the occupants. As a new kind of flooring system, the metal-plate-connected timber truss joist floors were developed due to their larger spans and easier crossing of pipes and cables after sawn timber and I-joist floors. In this paper, the vibration modes and transfer functions of sixteen metal-plate-connected timber truss joist floors over a nominal span of 6 m were determined experimentally to measure the changes in vibration frequencies and transmissions obtained after the installation of strongbacks and strappings. The results showed that the fundamental natural frequencies of the metal-plate-connected timber truss joist floors at a 400 mm joist spacing were about 15 Hz, while the frequencies of the floors at a 600 mm joist spacing were about 12.5 Hz. The bracing elements of the strongbacks and strappings mainly enhanced the system stiffness in the across-joist direction of the flooring system, but they did not govern the fundamental natural frequencies of the floors and just changed the spacing of adjacent natural frequencies. The bracing elements as secondary elements of the floors also altered the vibration transmission paths in the across-joist direction. The frequencies where the stronger vibration transfers happened in the direction perpendicular to floor joists were generally above 15 Hz. Proper installation measurements of bracing elements in practical control need to be taken to alleviate the vibration response intensity at the targeted locations and frequencies.

Effect of Multilayer Configuration on Spectral Response of Thin Film TiO2/NiO Heterojunction Photodetector

In this work, a multilayer design for the TiO2/NiO heterojunction device is proposed. In this design, layers of TiO2 nanostructures are consecutively deposited on layers of NiO nanostructures deposited on ITO substrates. This design was compared to the conventional design of thin film TiO2/NiO heterojunction device by measuring the spectral response of both designs in the spectral range of 200–1200 nm. The proposed design showed increased response intensity by 14%, narrowing spectral width by 23% and single peak of response at 440nm.

Mobbing-like response to secondary predator cues is not a form of teaching in meerkats

Across many taxa, individuals learn how to detect, recognise and respond to predators via social learning. Learning to recognise and interpret predator cues is essential in the accurate assessment of risk. Cues can come directly from a predator’s presence (visual, acoustic) or from secondary predator cues (SPCs, such as hair/feathers, urine or faeces) left in the environment. Animals show various responses to encountering SPCs, which are thought to act in reducing risk to the individual. Meerkats, Suricata suricatta, show a response to SPCs not described in any other species: they display a mobbing-like behaviour. The function of this behaviour is unclear as unlike mobbing, the response it so closely resembles, it cannot serve to drive predators away. We used experiments to investigate whether adults may use this mobbing-like response to teach naïve young how to recognise and respond to predators. Meerkats are known to teach pups hunting skills, but there is as yet no evidence that any species other than humans teaches across multiple contexts. We used experimental presentations of SPCs to test whether wild adult meerkats respond more intensely to SPCs in the presence of naïve pups, as would be expected if the behaviour serves to promote learning. Contrary to this prediction, response intensity was lower when pups were present than when they were absent, and declined as the number of pups in the group increased, possibly due to costs associated with foraging with dependent young. Response intensity instead increased with increasing group size, number of group members interacting with the cue, and varied with predator cue type. These results suggest that the mobbing-like response to SPCs is not a form of teaching in meerkats. Instead, this behaviour may function to increase the recruitment of others to investigate the SPC. Exposing group members to SPCs may better inform them of the nature of the threat, facilitating more effective defensive group responses.