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Background Microbiome has been shown to substantially contribute to some cancers. However, the diagnostic implications of microbiome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain unknown. Here, we report for the first time, the molecular difference in the microbiome of oral and non-oral HNSCC. Methods Primary data was downloaded from the Kraken-TCGA dataset. The molecular differences in the microbiome of oral and non-oral HNSCC were identified using the linear discriminant analysis effect size method. Using phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUST) and ANOVA-like differential expression (ALDEx2), we predicted bacterial metabolic contributions of oral rich and non-oral rich bacteria, common rich bacteria in two groups and their pathways. A Correlation analysis was performed between RNA expression data and common bacteria data and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed using correlated genes. Finally, to find out unique microbial signatures, we performed Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and Gene ontology (GO) analysis using the PPI results. Results The common microbiomes in oral and non-oral cancers were Fusobacterium, Treponema, and Selenomonas and Clostridium and Massilia, respectively. We found unique microbial signatures that positively and negatively correlated with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in oral cancer and negatively correlated KEGG pathways in non-oral cancer. In oral cancer, positively correlated genes were mostly found in bacterial infection pathways, while negative correlated genes were involved in HTLV-I infection, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and cancer-associated pathway. In non-oral cancer, positively correlated genes did not show any significant results, and negatively correlated genes showed results from focal adhesion pathway and regulation of actin cytoskeleton pathway. Conclusions These results could help in understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of the microbiome of oral and non-oral HNSCC. Microbiome-based oncology diagnostic tool warrants further exploration.

Introduction: Risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are known to increase with duration and generations of U.S. residence, though it remains unclear how living in the U.S. negatively impacts immigrant health. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that dietary acculturation, or shifting of dietary patterns towards a native U.S. pattern, contributes to the disease risk transition in immigrants, via modulation of the gut microbiome. Methods: We characterized disparities in the gut microbiome between racially/ethnically diverse U.S. immigrant and U.S.-born groups, and determined the impact of dietary acculturation on the microbiome. Stool samples were collected from 863 U.S. residents, including U.S.-born (315 White, 93 Black, 40 Hispanic) and foreign-born (105 Hispanic, 264 Korean) groups. We determined dietary acculturation from dissimilarities based on food frequency questionnaires ( Figure 1a ), and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the microbiome. Results: Gut microbiome composition differed across study groups, with the largest difference between foreign-born Koreans and U.S.-born Whites ( Figure 1b ). Bacteroides plebeius , a seaweed-degrading bacterium, was strongly enriched in foreign-born Koreans, while Prevotella copri and Bifidobacterium adolescentis were strongly enriched in foreign-born Koreans and Hispanics, compared with U.S.-born Whites. Dietary acculturation in foreign-born participants was associated with specific sub-operational taxonomic units (s-OTUs), resembling abundance in U.S.-born Whites ( Figure 1c-d ); e.g., a Bacteroides plebeius s-OTU was depleted in highly diet-acculturated Koreans. Conclusions: Dietary acculturation may result in loss of native species in immigrants. Longitudinal research is necessary to determine the role that acculturation-related microbiome changes may play in immigrant and racial/ethnic health disparities.

This chapter highlights a particular character of street life by focusing on a special street event on Chater Road in the centre of Hong Kong. A social design approach, along with ethnographic fieldwork and participatory design methodology, is used to assess the social issues of this complex urban environment from a design perspective.

SUMMARY We find that cardiac group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are essential for the development of IL-33-induced eosinophilic pericarditis. We show a pathogenic role for ILC2s in cardiac inflammation, in which ILC2s activated by IL-33 drive the development of eosinophilic pericarditis in collaboration with cardiac fibroblasts. ILCs, not T and B cells, are required for the development of pericarditis. ILC2s transferred to the heart of Rag2−/−Il2rg−/− mice restore their susceptibility to eosinophil infiltration. Moreover, ILC2s direct cardiac fibroblasts to produce eotaxin-1. We also find that eosinophils reside in the mediastinal cavity and that eosinophils transferred to the mediastinal cavity of eosinophil-deficient ΔdblGATA1 mice following IL-33 treatment migrate to the heart. Thus, the serous cavities may serve as a reservoir of cardiac-infiltrating eosinophils. In humans, patients with pericarditis show higher amounts of ILCs in pericardial fluid than do healthy controls and patients with other cardiac diseases. We demonstrate that ILCs play a critical role in pericarditis., Graphical Abstract, In Brief Choi et al. show a pathogenic role for innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in IL-33-induced eosinophilic pericarditis. ILCs are required for the development of pericarditis, and group 2 ILCs (ILC2s) promote the expression of eotaxin by cardiac fibroblasts. In humans, ILCs are found higher in the pericardial fluid of patients with pericarditis compared to others.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance and performance of middle school foodservice hygiene in Busan. In this study, questionnaires were administered to 1,000 students consisting of 100 students in 10 middle schools in Busan in December, 2013. The students assessed importance and performance of personal hygiene as 3.81 and 3.60 on a scale of 5.00, respectively. Males gave higher scores to importance and performance of personal hygienic than females. First grade students gave significantly higher scores than 2nd and 3rd grade students to importance and performance of personal hygienic. The mean scores of importance of foodservice hygiene were 4.47 for food hygiene, 4.25 for equipment hygiene, 4.23 for employee hygiene, and 4.19 for environment hygiene. For importance of foodservice hygiene, females gave significantly ( P

The purpose of this study was to assess the need for nutritional education in male workers living in Busan, Korea. This study surveyed 310 industrial workers at five companies in Busan using a questionnaire. According to the results, need for nutritional education scored 3.60/5.00 points. The usage rate of mass media as a means of acquiring nutritional information was significantly higher (P

SUMMARY Two types of monocytes, Ly6Chi and Ly6Clo, infiltrate the heart in murine experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). We discovered a role for cardiac fibroblasts in facilitating monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation of both Ly6Chi and Ly6Clo cells, allowing these macrophages to perform divergent functions in myocarditis progression. During the acute phase of EAM, IL-17A is highly abundant. It signals through cardiac fibroblasts to attenuate efferocytosis of Ly6Chi monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and simultaneously prevents Ly6Clo monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. We demonstrated an inverse clinical correlation between heart IL-17A levels and efferocytic receptor expressions in humans with heart failure (HF). In the absence of IL-17A signaling, Ly6Chi MDMs act as robust phagocytes and are less proinflammatory, whereas Ly6Clo monocytes resume their differentiation into MHCII+ macrophages. We propose that MHCII+Ly6Clo MDMs are associated with the reduction of cardiac fibrosis and prevention of the myocarditis sequalae., In Brief Hou et al. show that cardiac fibroblasts facilitate infiltrating Ly6Chi and Ly6Clo monocytes to become macrophages. IL-17A trans-signaling through cardiac fibroblasts increases MerTK shedding and promotes a pro-inflammatory and pro-tissue remodeling gene expression profile in Ly6Chi monocyte-derived macrophages. Paradoxically, IL-17A signaling through cardiac fibroblasts can substantially inhibit Ly6Clo monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation., Graphical Abstract

In this paper, we propose an AR(augmented reality) system using user`s bare hand based on computer vision. It is important for registering a virtual object on the real input image to detect and track correct feature points. The AR systems with markers are stable but they can not register the virtual object on an acquired image when the marker goes out of a range of the camera. There is a tendency to give users inconvenient environment which is limited to control a virtual object. On the other hand, our system detects fingertips as fiducial features using adaptive ellipse fitting method considering the geometric characteristics of hand. It registers the virtual object stably by getting movement of fingertips with determining the shortest distance from a palm center. We verified that the accuracy of fingertip detection over 82.0% and fingertip ordering and tracking have just 1.8% and 2.0% errors for each step. We proved that this system can replace the marker system by tacking a camera projection matrix effectively in the view of stable augmentation of virtual object.

This study was conducted to provide sustainable measures for conservation and management to protect valuable natural/ecological resources, offer differentiated quality assurance services for eco-tourism products, and explore measures for eco-tourism certification/designation systems. To achieve its goals, the study discussed domestic and overseas trends and literatures that concern eco-tourism certification/designation system and investigated case studies that were presently operational. A group of experts and a group of non-experts were surveyed separatedly to investigate the awareness of the national eco-tourism certification/designation system. The results from the investigation indicate that Europe, since the late 1990s to early 2000, has actively introduced a system that establishes and operates a dedicated institution, and European members have created a cooperation framework to formulate international partnerships and develop standardized assessment benchmarks to adhere to the goals of the system, the period for certification was designated from one year to five years, and renewals were granted based on periodic monitoring and reassessment. In Korea, from early 2000, the Ministry of Culture, Sorts and Tourism and other organizations have certified product quality and assessed travel products and national park tour programs. The certification period was established to be set between one and three years, and the vast majority were not reassessed. Upon investigating the results for awareness of national eco-tourism certification/designation system, a high number of respondents agreed with the need to establish a eco-tourism certification/designation system (90% of respondents), and the respondents cited eco-tourism quality assurance, conservation of value, means to maintain established institutions, and environmental education and information as reasons for needing a certification/designation system. In Korea, a certification/designation system for the eco-tourism industry is presently in operation, but the system regulates target institutions based on their characteristics. Therefore, this study proposes its suggestions via various categories, including designated institutions, designated purpose, designated subjects, designated organization, laws, regulations, and incentives.

Background: RAD001 is an oral mTOR inhibitor that has exhibited activity in breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer cells are unable to repair double stranded DNA breaks and hence have sensitivity to platinum agents that cause interstrand cross-links. Rapamycin acts synergistically with platinum agents to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in at least two different breast cancer cell lines (including ER/PR negative cell lines). We propose that combination RAD001 and carboplatin may have activity in triple-negative breast cancer. Methods: The primary objective of the study is to determine clinical benefit (complete remission (CR) + partial remission (PR) + stable disease (SD)) and the toxicity of this combination in women with triple negative metastatic breast cancer who have had 0–3 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease. Secondary objectives are to determine progression free survival as well as investigating the relationship between pretreatment sensitivity (biopsy at baseline) and clinical response (biopsy post 2 cycles) using IHC staining for abundance of key proteins in the Akt-mTOR pathway and their activity using surrogate phosphorylation site-specific antibodies (Akt and phospho-serine 473, phospho-threonine and phospho-threonine 308 Akt; mTOR and phospho-serine 2448 mTOR; ribosome protein S6 kinase (S6K) and phospho-threonine 378 S6K; 4E-BP1 and phospho-serine 65 4E-BP1). Prior carboplatin is allowed. Women with treated brain metastasis are eligible. According to the original study plan, carboplatin AUC 6, was to be given intravenously every three weeks. Five mg of RAD001 was to be given daily with a 3 patient run-in and then 10 mg daily if there were no dose-limiting toxicities. Due to a unexpected amount of thrombocytopenia with this combination the dose of carboplatin was first amended to AUC 5 and most recently to AUC 4 with 5 mg of RAD001 (and no plan to escalate to 10 mg). Results: Fourteen patients of a planned 25 have been recruited thus far. Median age is 58.5. Median number of prior regimens is 2 (0-3). Of the 7 patients assessable for response at this time, there have been 2 PR's and 5 patients with SD. One SD was achieved in a patient progressing on single agent carboplatin at study entry. Median duration of SD + PR is 28.5 weeks (5 patients have ongoing response ranging from 8–46.5 weeks). Five of 8 patients assessable for toxicity had grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia and 2 patients had grade 3 neutropenia. No cases of febrile neutropenia were observed. Four patients have required blood transfusion and one patient has required platelet transfusion. All patients have had treatment held and/or dose reductions secondary to hematological toxicity, however, since amended carboplatin dose the regimen has been very well tolerated with only one out of six patients) with grade 3 neutropenia and grade 3 thrombocytopenia. There have been no non-hematological grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Conclusions: Clinical benefit was observed in all 7 assessable patients. Dose limiting thrombocytopenia was an unexpected side effect requiring protocol amendment. We continue to accrue study subjects at the amended dosing. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-17-07.

In recent years, there has been an active movement toward databasing, systematizing, and unifying environmental information. Such efforts facilitate the utilization of spatial environment planning in environment conservation officially planned at the metropolitan and provincial levels. This in turn clarifies the management direction of space, thereby serving as an effective tool with which to not only conserve land, but also provide a reasonable compromise to all the related solutions at odds with one another. As such, this study forwards a method for inclusion of spatial environment planning in environment conservation plans, paying particular attention to the place, with in such a planning method, of the natural ecosystem, arguably the most sensitive arena among environmental factors. Spatial environment planning can be broadly divided as follows: first, basic direction; second, collection of spatial information; third, compilation of status of spatial environment; and fourth, management strategy for spatial environment. In particular, the second phase, namely the collection of spatial information, delineates clearly spatial information hitherto amassed by government agencies at both the national and local levels; the ensuing lists facilitate maximum utilization of the previously accumulated data. Used during the planning phase, status maps should include not only the status of land use(land cover), but also systematic data on the superior resources of the natural ecosystem as well as the status of the given spatial environment. Establishing plans for ecological networks, their conservation, and restoration areas based on the aforementioned aspects, this study sought to formulate ways in which to spatialize environment conservation plans that encompass consideration for the natural ecosystem. Devised based previous studies and examples, the compilation of status and plans as stated, applied to Gyeonggi Province, afforded an examination of the potential applicability and usability of the proposed plans. Ultimately, these will contribute not only to the establishment of plans encompassing consideration for the value and level of significance of the given natural ecosystem in spatial development planning, but also provide fundamental data for investigating appropriateness of plans and validity of location in any regional development plan.

This study investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Busan, Republic of Korea. 944 patients (440 men and 504 women) were hospitalized in four Busan general hospitals from March through April, 2011. Nutritional status was assessed on admission by the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002. Data were collected from the electronic medical records system for the characteristics of the subjects, clinical outcomes, biochemical laboratory data, and nutrition support states. Clinical dietitians interviewed the patients using structured questionnaires involving data on weight loss and problems related to oral intakes. Malnourished patients were significantly older (P

Spatial planning is at the core of national land and urban development. Many countries and cities seek sustainable development through various means such as coordinated environmental planning, environmental assessment, and internalization of environmental analysis and planning. A Planning Support System (PSS) is a GIS (Geographic Information System)-based, spatial decision-making support system that incorporates a variety of theories and pertinent models. This study adopted the “What if?” model to design an alternative spatial plan that includes generation of predictive scenarios and is relatively easy to use. In the cities studied, we identified a total of six scenarios based on the main drivers of development—namely, population and spatial policies. Subsequently, we assessed the alternatives for their environmental impact, preparing sensitivity maps for each major environmental issue in the target area (natural ecosystem, air and microclimate, natural disasters). One projected advantage of the “What if?” model is that its digital visualization of proposed plans may improve public awareness and involvement. Furthermore, the tool is expected to be highly useful in ensuring the objectivity of quantitative analyses. However, it is necessary to develop a PSS that is both standardized and tailored to the particular needs of each area. Finally, the development of an e-governance system will be beneficial in ensuring public access to the decision making process.

This article has been retracted by the Editor-in-Chief because the author did not have permission (implicit or explicit) to publish this data in our journal. The results presented in this work were obtained under supervision of Dr Choi’s former colleagues at the University of Oxford, and were included without their knowledge or permission. Given the copyright and authorship issues involved, the Environment, Development, and Sustainability article in question is being retracted. The online version of this article contains the full text of the retracted article as electronic supplementary material.