Association between the microbiomes of tonsil and saliva samples isolated from pediatric patients subjected to tonsillectomy for the treatment of tonsillar hyperplasia

Oral microbes have the capacity to spread throughout the gastrointestinal system and are strongly associated with multiple diseases. Given that tonsils are located between the oral cavity and the laryngopharynx at the gateway of the alimentary and respiratory tracts, tonsillar tissue may also be affected by microbiota from both the oral cavity (saliva) and the alimentary tract. Here, we analyzed the distribution and association of the microbial communities in the saliva and tonsils of Korean children subjected to tonsillectomy because of tonsil hyperplasia (n = 29). The microbiome profiles of saliva and tonsils were established via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on the alpha diversity indices, the microbial communities of the two groups showed high similarities. According to Spearman’s ranking correlation analysis, the distribution of Treponema, the causative bacterium of periodontitis, in saliva and tonsils was found to have a significant positive correlation. Two representative microbes, Prevotella in saliva and Alloprevotella in tonsils, were negatively correlated, while Treponema 2 showed a strong positive correlation between saliva and tonsils. Taken together, strong similarities in the microbial communities of the tonsils and saliva are evident in terms of diversity and composition. The saliva microbiome is expected to significantly affect the tonsil microbiome. Furthermore, we suggest that our study creates an opportunity for tonsillar microbiome research to facilitate the development of novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.Subject terms: Comparative genomics, Metagenomics     

Evaluation of the performance of a soft X-ray charger for the bipolar charging of nanoparticles

The use of soft X-rays in a neutrahzer represents an alternative technique that could replace conventional radioactive sources.In this study,we evaluated the charging characteristics of a soft X-ray aerosol neutralize!".In addition,the results from the evaluation of the soft X-ray charger were compared with results obtained using a neutralizer incorporating an ²⁴¹Am radioactive source.The tandem differential mobility analyzer technique was used previously to determine the size-dependent positive,negative,and neutral charge fractions of a soft X-ray neutralizer.This technique was used to show that the neutral fractions obtained using the soft X-ray charger agreed well with the predictions of bipolar diffusion charging theory,and that the soft X-ray charger could be used as a neutralizer for a scanning mobility particle sizer system.     

Sparse polynomials, redundant bases, gauss periods, and efficient exponentiation of primitive elements for small characteristic finite fields

Gauss periods give an exponentiation algorithm that is fast for many finite fields but slow for many other fields. The current paper presents a different method for construction of elements that yield a fast exponentiation algorithm for finite fields where the Gauss period method is slow or does not work. The basic idea is to use elements of low multiplicative order and search for primitive elements that are binomial or trinomial of these elements. Computational experiments indicate that such primitive elements exist, and it is shown that they can be exponentiated fast.     

Efficient microwave induced direct α-halogenation of carbonyl compounds

A novel and direct method for the synthesis of α-halocarbonyl compounds using sequential treatment of carbonyl compounds with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene followed by magnesium halides under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions is described.     

Fluorescent oligonucleotide incorporating 5-(1-ethynylpyrenyl)-2-deoxyuridine: sequence-specific fluorescence changes upon duplex formation

We describe the design and properties of a pyrene-labeled deoxyuridine that can be inserted efficiently into oligodeoxynucleotides using phosphoramidite chemistry. An oligonucleotide incorporating the pyrene-labeled deoxyuridine is a sensitive fluorescence probe that can discriminate between perfect and single-base-mismatched pairing by changes in its fluorescence intensity.     

Facile modifications of a polyimide via chloromethylation. I. Novel synthesis of a new photosensitive polyimide

A soluble aromatic polyimide was chloromethylated via a reaction with chloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of tin(IV) chloride to produce a new starting material for the modification of aromatic polyimides. The chemical structure of the resulting polymer was confirmed by ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The maximum number of chloromethyl groups per repeat unit was 1.81. The chloromethylated polyimide was stable up to 250 °C and soluble in both chloroform and tetrahydrofuran. So that its utilization for further modification could be demonstrated, cinnamic acid was reacted with the formed polyimide, and it produced a new photosensitive polyimide with a cinnamoyl side chain. The photosensitivity of the resulting polyimide was investigated with ultraviolet spectroscopic methods. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 22–29, 2003     

Effects of poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] on the charge distributions of low‐density polyethylene/polystyrene blends

The effect of the triblock copolymer poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS) on the formation of the space charge of immiscible low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/polystyrene (PS) blends was investigated. Blends of 70/30 (wt %) LDPE/PS were prepared through melt blending in an internal mixer at a blend temperature of 220 °C. The amount of charge that accumulated in the 70% LDPE/30% PS blends decreased when the SEBS content increased up to 10 wt %. For compatibilized and uncompatibilized blends, no significant change in the degree of crystallinity of LDPE in the blends was observed, and so the effect of crystallization on the space charge distribution could be excluded. Morphological observations showed that the addition of SEBS resulted in a domain size reduction of the dispersed PS phase and better interfacial adhesion between the LDPE and PS phases. The location of SEBS at a domain interface enabled charges to migrate from one phase to the other via the domain interface and, therefore, resulted in a significant decrease in the amount of space charge for the LDPE/PS blends with SEBS. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2813–2820, 2004     

Ferritin immunosensing on microfabricated electrodes based on the integration of immunoprecipitation and electrochemical signaling reactions.

A signal registration strategy from micropatterned immunosensors that converts antigen-antibody binding reactions into electrochemical signals was demonstrated. An array-type micropatterned gold electrode on a silicon wafer was fabricated, containing two electrode geometries of rectangular (100 microm x 500 microm) and circular (r. 50 microm) types, exhibiting electrochemical characteristics of bulk and micro-electrodes, respectively. Ferritin was employed as a model analyte for immunosensing because it has an advantageous molecular structure for functionalization to the sensing interface, and is regarded as a general marker protein for tumors and cancer recurrence. With the fabricated and ferritin-functionalized immunosensors, biospecific interactions were performed with antiferritin antiserum and secondary antibody samples, followed by electrochemical signaling via an immunoprecipitation reaction by the label enzyme. Under the optimized affinity-surface construction steps and reaction conditions, both types of microfabricated electrodes exhibited well-defined calibration results as a function of the protein concentration in antiserum samples. Furthermore, circular-type micropatterned immunoelectrodes exhibited voltammetric characteristics of microelectrodes, which is advantageous in terms of sensor operation under a fixed potential and low signal drift during the signaling reaction compared with the bulk-type electrodes. The results support that the employed signaling method with the proposed immunosensor configuration is fit for sensor miniaturization and integration to future biomicrosystems.