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Although short-term feeding studies demonstrated effects of grains, fiber, and gluten on gut microbiome composition, the impact of habitual intake of these dietary factors is poorly understood. We examined whether habitual intakes of whole and refined grains, fiber, and gluten are associated with gut microbiota in a cross-sectional study. This study included 779 participants from the multi-ethnic Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation study. Bacterial 16SV4 rRNA gene from baseline stool was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. Read clustering and taxonomic assignment was performed using QIIME2. Usual dietary intake was assessed by a 137-item food frequency questionnaire. Association of diet with gut microbiota was assessed with respect to overall composition and specific taxon abundances. Whole grain intake was associated with overall composition, as measured by the Jensen–Shannon divergence (multivariable-adjusted Ptrend for quartiles = 0.03). The highest intake quartile was associated with higher abundance of Bacteroides plebeius, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Blautia producta, and Erysipelotrichaceae and lower abundance of Bacteroides uniformis. These bacteria also varied by dietary fiber intake. Higher refined grain and gluten intake was associated with lower Shannon diversity (Ptrend < 0.05). These findings suggest that whole grain and dietary fiber are associated with overall gut microbiome structure, largely fiber-fermenting microbiota. Higher refined grain and gluten intakes may be associated with lower microbial diversity. Significance: Regular consumption of whole grains and dietary fiber was associated with greater abundance of gut bacteria that may lower risk of colorectal cancer. Further research on the association of refined grains and gluten with gut microbial composition is needed to understand their roles in health and disease.

Background and objective: There have been increasing correlations between the keywords 'carbon' and 'tree' in response to issues related to climate change adaptation. Given this, a study that explores how these keywords relate to issues on climate change adaptation would be significant contribution to the literature. Therefore, this study aims to determine the correlation between these keywords and their network.Methods: To address the aim, the study employed a bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software to conduct network-mapping interface analysis using co-occurrence-based visualization and quantification. A two-step approach was applied: the first approach identifies recent driver changes of the keywords 'carbon' and 'tree' and further meaningful keywords. The second approach conducts an in-depth network mapping analysis based on the results drawn by the first approach.Results: The results suggested that, first, 'carbon' and 'tree' were shown to reflect the assessment system and contemporary issues based on the keywords 'carbon sequestration' and 'climate change.' In addition, 'biomass,' 'tree growth,' 'tree ring' and 'trade-off' were shown to be important keywords, which indicated the need for an in-depth correlation analysis. Second, 'biomass' was the key factor in the assessment system for 'carbon sequestration,' in which 'tree growth' and 'tree ring' were included. Third, the network analysis did not report varying results on 'trade-off' compared to 'carbon' and 'tree' with respect to the basic issues on climate change.Conclusion: The conventional assessment system based on the keywords 'carbon' and 'tree' should be improved by incorporating the issues drawn from the keywords 'biomass' and 'trade-off' so that it may reflect the latest contemporary needs. The network analysis on the keywords 'carbon' and 'tree' nevertheless indicated that the two keywords were at the centre of the latest contemporary issues and the assessment system.

A disproportionately high number of deadly crash-incidents involve fire-tanker rollovers during emergency response driving. Most of these rollover incidents occur at dangerous horizontal curves ("curves") due to unsafe speed. This study examined the effects of a curve speed warning system (CSWS) on fire tanker drivers' emergency response behavior to develop system improvement suggestions.Twenty-four firefighters participated in driving tests using a simulator. A fire tanker model, carrying a full tank of water, was used in emergency driving tests performed with and without CSWS. The CSWS was designed using the algorithm for passenger vehicles with a few initial modifications considering the unique requirements of heavy fire tanker and emergency driving.The results indicated that the CSWS was effective in issuing preemptive warnings when the drivers were approaching curves with unsafe speed during emergency response. Warnings occurred more frequently at curves with smaller radius. Although the CSWS improved driving performance, it did not significantly reduce the number of rollover events. A detailed analysis of the rollover events provided suggestions for improvement of CSWS algorithms.To further improve the CSWS algorithm, the following may be considered: including increased safety speed margin below the rollover critical speed, moving the speed warning trigger from the curve apex to the curve entry point, extending the safe speed-control zone to cover the entire curve, and employing artificial intelligence to accommodate individual driving styles.Fire tankers continue to be at increased risk of rollover during emergency response due to unsafe negotiation of dangerous curves. Development and use of advanced driver assist systems such as CSWS evaluated in this study may be an effective strategy to prevent deadly rollover crash-incidents. The knowledge generated by this study will be useful for system designers to improve the CSWS specifically designed for heavy emergency vehicles.

S1. Gut microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity according to energy-adjusted quartiles of dietary fiber intake in the Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation (FAMiLI).S2. Gut microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity according to energy-adjusted quartiles of whole grain intake in the Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation (FAMiLI), stratified by race/ethnicity.S3. Gut microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity according to energy-adjusted quartiles of whole grain intake in the Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation (FAMiLI).S4. Gut microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity according to energy-adjusted quartiles of whole grain intake in the Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation (FAMiLI), excluding participants with self-reported inflammatory bowel disease (N=21) at enrollment.S5. Gut microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity according to energy-adjusted quartiles of refined grain (with sweets/desserts) intake in the Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation (FAMiLI).S6. Gut microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity according to energy-adjusted quartiles of gluten (with sweets/desserts) intake in the Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation (FAMiLI).

Although short-term feeding studies demonstrated effects of grains, fiber, and gluten on gut microbiome composition, the impact of habitual intake of these dietary factors is poorly understood. We examined whether habitual intakes of whole and refined grains, fiber, and gluten are associated with gut microbiota in a cross-sectional study. This study included 779 participants from the multi-ethnic Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation study. Bacterial 16SV4 rRNA gene from baseline stool was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. Read clustering and taxonomic assignment was performed using QIIME2. Usual dietary intake was assessed by a 137-item food frequency questionnaire. Association of diet with gut microbiota was assessed with respect to overall composition and specific taxon abundances. Whole grain intake was associated with overall composition, as measured by the Jensen–Shannon divergence (multivariable-adjusted Ptrend for quartiles = 0.03). The highest intake quartile was associated with higher abundance of Bacteroides plebeius, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Blautia producta, and Erysipelotrichaceae and lower abundance of Bacteroides uniformis. These bacteria also varied by dietary fiber intake. Higher refined grain and gluten intake was associated with lower Shannon diversity (Ptrend < 0.05). These findings suggest that whole grain and dietary fiber are associated with overall gut microbiome structure, largely fiber-fermenting microbiota. Higher refined grain and gluten intakes may be associated with lower microbial diversity.Significance:Regular consumption of whole grains and dietary fiber was associated with greater abundance of gut bacteria that may lower risk of colorectal cancer. Further research on the association of refined grains and gluten with gut microbial composition is needed to understand their roles in health and disease.

Background: This study aimed to explore the long-term management of diabetes patients in domestic general hospitals by reviewing 2013 and 2018 data on diabetes management status.Methods: Of 1,802 type 2 diabetes patients who received outpatient treatment at nine general hospitals in Korea and who participated in the 2013 study, 1,124 were enrolled in this study. General characteristics, comorbidities, complications, and management were investigated through medical records.Results: The average age of the subjects was 65.4 ± 10.6 years, the average duration of diabetes mellitus was 15.6 ± 8.0 years, and 58.2% of the subjects had a family history of diabetes. Concomitant diseases were hypertension in 63.0% and dyslipidemia in 78.8%. Diabetic retinopathy was observed in 31.5%, nephropathy in 24.6%, and neuropathy in 24.5%. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was 7.4 ± 2.2% and according to Korean Diabetes Association guidelines, 20.4% of patients with diabetes achieved a HbA1c level of < 6.5%, 70.1% achieved a blood pressure of < 140/85 mm Hg, and 77.1% achieved a low density lipoprotein cholesterol level of < 100 mg/dL. The target achievement rate was 12.5% for blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid parameters.Conclusion: In diabetes management, blood sugar control was poor compared to blood pressure and lipid control. A systematic management plan is needed to ensure proper blood sugar control.

This paper focuses on the character of multi-level pedestrian accessibility and walkability within the public and quasi-public realm in Hong Kong, using the particular case of the redevelopment of Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay. In an era when the value of public space as a space for public activity and debate is coming under increasing scrutiny, both in Hong Kong and internationally, this paper explores multi-level interior and exterior public and quasi-public realm, as a hybrid form of interior open and transit space in a commercial setting that has becomes a central part of the city’s planning, designed to both serve and profit from the high level of pedestrian traffic. This paper draws on empirical research of pedestrian behaviour patterns to interrogate the value and significance of linked-spaces within commercial districts, both to the users and the real estate travelled through, using the city of Hong Kong as a reference and the specific case of Taikoo Place.

The balance between T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and other Th cells is critical for antiviral and anti-tumor responses, but how this fine balance is achieved remains poorly understood. Here, we dissected the dynamic regulation of Th1 cell differentiation during in vitro polarization, as well as in vivo differentiation upon acute viral infection, using scRNA-seq and multiple in vitro and in vivo CRISPR screens. We confirmed the role of known regulators and identified 5 novel regulators for Th1 differentiation. Among the novel regulators the neuropeptide receptor RAMP3, which is a component of the receptor for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), plays a cell-intrinsic role in Th1 cell-fate determination. Using a unique Th1/Th2 dichotomous culture system, we identified that RAMP3-CGRP interaction directly restricted the differentiation of Th2 cells but promoted Th1 differentiation through activation of downstream cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling in T cells. Mechanistically, RAMP3 and cAMP signaling resulted in global changes in chromatin accessibility, blocking Th2 genes and specific induction of Th1 programs through activation of IFNγ-STAT1 pathway. Furthermore, both CGRP and RAMP3 were required for inducing effective anti-viral T cell responses to control acute viral infection. Our work reveals a novel neuro-immune circuit in which tissue itself participates in T cell fate determination by producing a neuropeptide during acute viral infection, which acts on RAMP3 expressing T cells to induce an effective anti-viral Th1 response.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that tobacco smoking, a well-known driver of carcinogenesis, influences the gut microbiome; however, these relationships remain understudied in diverse populations. Thus, we performed an analysis of smoking and the gut microbiome in a subset of 803 adults from the multi-ethnic NYU FAMiLI study. Methods: We assessed fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and clustered samples into Amplicon Sequence Variants using QIIME2. We evaluated inferred microbial pathway abundance using PICRUSt. We compared population β-diversity, and relative taxonomic and functional pathway abundance, between never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Results: We found that the overall composition of the fecal microbiome in former and current smokers differs significantly from that of never smokers. The taxa Prevotella and Veillonellaceae were enriched in current and former smokers, whereas the taxa Lachnospira and Tenericutes were depleted, relative to never smokers. These shifts were consistent across racial and ethnic subgroups. Relative to never smokers, the abundance of taxa enriched in current smokers were positively correlated with the imputed abundance of pathways involving smoking-associated toxin breakdown and response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conclusions: Our findings suggest common mechanisms of smoking associated microbial change across racial subgroups, regardless of initial microbiome composition. The correlation of these differentials with ROS exposure pathways may suggest a role for these taxa in the known association between smoking, ROS and carcinogenesis. Impact: Smoking shifts in the microbiome may be independent of initial composition, stimulating further studies on the microbiome in carcinogenesis and cancer prevention.

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.

This study attempts to identify the direction of urban regeneration projects in declining areas by using the concept of urban resilience to cope with climate change and disaster. To this end, urban resilience was classified into a Green Resilient Infrastructure (GRI) and an Interactive Safety System (ISS), through a review of previous studies, and categorized into vulnerability, adaptability, and transformability. A total of 12 detailed indicators were derived and indexed using Euclidean distance. Using the indicators, three Korean urban regeneration targets, in Daegu, Mokpo, and Seosan, were selected to evaluate resilience before and after the urban regeneration plan. Consequently, the postplanning resilience index improved in all three target sites, compared to before the regeneration plan. Additionally, previously the regeneration plan showed lower index values in comparison to places not designated as urban regeneration areas. These results suggest that urban resilience needs to be considered in future urban regeneration projects, and that resilience indicators can be used as a means to set the direction of urban regeneration projects. To improve the overall resilience of a region, these indices can help local government establish a reference point for urban resilience in its region.

A curve speed warning system (CSWS) for firetrucks was developed and tested in this study. The CSWS algorithm was developed based on guidelines in the public domain for general vehicles and modified for firetrucks for their configuration and emergency driving. Twenty-four firefighters participated in the test in a driving simulator. The results show that the CSWS was effective in issuing preemptive warnings when the drivers were approaching curves with unsafe speed during emergency responses. Drivers reduced their driving speed at curve approaching and entering phases for most challenging curves, without affecting the overall time in completing the test route. Drivers had reduced number of severe braking and decreased average in-curve distance traveled over the safety speed limits, when the CSWS was in use. Drivers also rated the CSWS as assisting, effective and useful. In summary, the CSWS can enhance firetruck safety during emergency driving without sacrificing drivers’ precious response time.

Little is known regarding the impact of immigrant acculturation on the gut microbiome. We characterized differences in the gut microbiome between racially/ethnically diverse US immigrant and US-born groups, and determined the impact of dietary acculturation on the microbiome. Stool samples were collected from 863 US residents, including US-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, and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the microbiome. Gut microbiome composition differed across study groups, with the largest difference between foreign-born Koreans and US-born Whites, and significant differences also observed between foreign-born and US-born Hispanics. Differences in sub-operational taxonomic unit (s-OTU) abundance between foreign-born and US-born groups tended to be distinct from differences between US-born groups. 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 US-born Whites. Dietary acculturation in foreign-born participants was associated with specific s-OTUs, resembling abundance in US-born Whites; e.g., a Bacteroides plebeius s-OTU was depleted in highly diet-acculturated Koreans. In summary, we observed that US nativity is a determinant of the gut microbiome in a US resident population. Dietary acculturation may result in loss of native species in immigrants, though further research is necessary to explore whether acculturation-related microbiome alterations have consequences for immigrant health.

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.

The extensive, diverse communities that constitute the microbiome are increasingly appreciated as important regulators of human health and disease through inflammatory, immune, and metabolic pathways. We sought to elucidate pathways by which microbiota contribute to inflammatory, autoimmune cardiac disease. We employed an animal model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), which results in inflammatory and auto-immune pathophysiology and subsequent maladaptive cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Antibiotic dysbiosis protected mice from EAM and fibrotic cardiac dysfunction. Additionally, mice derived from different sources with different microbiome colonization profiles demonstrated variable susceptibility to disease. Unexpectedly, it did not track with segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB)-driven Th17 programming of CD4+ T cells in the steady-state gut. Instead, we found disease susceptibility to track with presence of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). Ablating ILCs by antibody depletion or genetic tools in adoptive transfer variants of the EAM model demonstrated that ILCs and microbiome profiles contributed to the induction of CCL20/CCR6-mediated inflammatory chemotaxis to the diseased heart. From these data, we conclude that sensing of the microbiome by ILCs is an important checkpoint in the development of inflammatory cardiac disease processes through their ability to elicit cardiotropic chemotaxis.

The trans-activator Tat protein of HIV-1 belongs to the large family of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), and is known to recruit various host proteins for the transactivation of viral RNA synthesis. Tat protein interacts with the transactivator response RNA (TAR RNA), exhibiting RNA chaperone activities for structural rearrangement of interacting RNAs. Here, considering that Tat-TAR RNA interaction is mutually cooperative, we examined the potential role of TAR RNA as Chaperna – RNA that provides chaperone function to proteins - for the folding of HIV-1 Tat. Using EGFP fusion as an indirect indicator for folding status, we monitored Tat-EGFP folding in HeLa cells via time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. The live cell imaging showed that the rate and the extent of folding of Tat-EGFP were stimulated by TAR RNA. The purified Tat-EGFP was denatured and the fluorescence was monitored in vitro under renaturation condition. The fluorescence was significantly increased by TAR RNA, and the mutations in TAR RNA that affected the interaction with Tat protein failed to promote Tat refolding. The results suggest that TAR RNA stabilizes Tat as unfolded, but prevents it from misfolding, and maintaining its folding competence for interaction with multiple host factors toward its transactivation. The Chaperna function of virally encoded RNA in establishing proteome link at the viral-host interface provides new insights to as yet largely unexplored RNA mediated protein folding in normal and dysregulated cellular metabolism.

This chapter examines four selected public spaces with diverse forms, sizes and locations in order to understand how public space can be operationalized by specific users.

This chapter depicts a view of the foreign domestic helpers’ quality of life through their work and activity, and how their activities and quality of life are influenced by the environmental conditions in Hong Kong.

This chapter examines the spatial structure of social division in Hong Kong and stresses the impact of the urban marginalities on both the social and physical aspects of the urban environment in Hong Kong. This gives an evolving meaning for cultural landscape and provides a new social map of people and place within the context of the physical built form in Hong Kong.

This chapter focuses on the public spaces and walkways within the urban city centre. The socio-economic characteristics of these areas are examined using geographical information system (GIS) and space syntax methodology. The chapter examines how significant and collective gatherings of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) within the public spaces of Hong Kong contribute socially, culturally and economically, on the ground and at a local level.

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.