Success of transmetatarsal amputation for limb salvage in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Limb salvage is a difficult path for patients to travel as there is no guarantee of the outcome, often the major factor is perfusion. For patients who underwent transmetatarsal amputation (TMA), success rate is crucial as the next option is most likely a major amputation. We performed a 10 years (2010-2020) retrospective review of patients that underwent a TMA and had an angiogram or computed tomography angiography (CTA) perioperatively at the Dallas VA Medical Center. Failure after TMA was defined as a patient requiring a proximal amputation within 1 year. There were 125 TMAs performed between 2010 and 2020 at the institution. Forty-four (35.2%) patients had an angiogram/CTA peri-operative and met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen subjects (38.6%) had a higher level of amputation. Of the 17 failures, 2 (11.8%) patients had no patent vessel runoff to the foot, 9 (52.9%) had one vessel, 4 (23.5%) had two vessels, and 2 (11.8%) had three vessels runoff. One vessel runoff to the foot yielded a high rate of poor outcomes (56.3%) defined as a higher level of amputation. Two or more vessels runoff to the foot had over 75% success of limb salvage with a TMA.

An examination of the implementation of a patient navigation program to improve breast and cervical cancer screening rates of Chinese immigrant women: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Chinese Americans have lower breast and cervical cancer screening rates than the national average and experience multiple barriers to cancer care. Patient navigators have improved screening and follow-up rates for medically underserved populations, yet investigations of cancer navigation programs and their implementation among Chinese Americans are limited. To address this gap, we used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to examine facilitators and barriers to implementing the Chicago-based Chinatown Patient Navigation Program (CPNP) for breast and cervical cancer screening, follow-up, and treatment. METHODS: Stakeholders from clinical care, supportive care services, and community organizations were invited to participate in qualitative interviews to illuminate implementation processes and stakeholder perspectives of facilitators and barriers to implementing the CPNP. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and deductively coded according to CFIR domains, including (1) intervention characteristics; (2) outer setting; (3) inner setting; and (4) the implementation process. RESULTS: We interviewed a convenience sample of 16 stakeholders representing a range of roles in cancer care, including nurses, clinical team members, administrators, physicians, a community-based organization leader, and a CPNP navigator. Findings detail several facilitators to implementing the CPNP, including patient navigators that prepared Chinese-speaking patients for their clinic visits, interpretation services, highly accessible patient navigators, and high-quality flexible services. Barriers to program implementation included limited regular feedback provided to stakeholders regarding their program involvement. Also, early in the program's implementation there was limited awareness of the CPNP navigators' roles and responsibilities, insufficient office space for the navigators, and few Chinese language patient resource materials. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide valuable information on implementation of future patient navigation programs serving Chinese American and other limited-English speaking immigrant populations.

Vacuum Steam Treatment of Metrosideros polymorpha Logs for Eradication of Ceratocystis huliohia and C. lukuohia.

A new and devastating disease, rapid ohia death (ROD), in Hawaii led to a state quarantine that regulates interisland transport of ohia wood and plant material to prevent spread of the causal pathogens. Heat treatments of ohia logs in commercial trade were considered for phytosanitary treatment. Vacuum steam (VS) was evaluated for its ability to eradicate the pathogens, Ceratocystis lukuohia and C. huliohia, in main stem logs from ROD-affected forest trees. Replicate loads of three debarked logs (24 to 43 cm in diameter, 1.7 to 2.0 m long) were VS treated at 56°C for 30 min (five loads) or 60°C for 60 min (four loads) at a sapwood depth equal to 70% of log radius. Percentage isolation of Ceratocystis from VS and ambient temperature logs before treatment and summarized by source tree ranged from 12 to 66% and 6 to 31% based on carrot baiting assays of tissue taken from outer and inner sapwood, respectively. No viable Ceratocystis was detected in sapwood locations for the 60°C/60 min schedule or inner locations for the 56°C/30 min schedule after treatment. Only one subsample (0.48%, n = 208) of the latter schedule treatment yielded Ceratocystis. Time needed for treatment ranged from 7.4 to 15 h for the 56°C/30 min schedule and from 8.6 to 19.2 h for the 60°C/60 min schedule. These results demonstrate that VS is an effective and efficient method for treating large-diameter ohia logs that mill owners and regulatory plant pathologists may consider for use in Hawaii.

Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework Solid Solutions.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) generally leverage one or two monomers with specific sizes and shapes to access highly symmetric and periodic polymer networks. Almost all reported COFs employ the minimum sets of monomers needed for the polymerization (usually two, sometimes one) and crystallize in high-symmetry topologies. COFs synthesized from more than two monomers usually employ mixtures with different pendant functionalities to distribute these groups statistically throughout the structure, or monomers with different sizes in ratios targeting lower symmetry topologies. Here, we demonstrate that mixtures of monomers with different lengths generate single-phase, hexagonal two-dimensional covalent organic framework (2D COF) solid solutions at continuously variable feed ratios. X-ray diffraction measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Pawley refinement indicate that both monomers distribute randomly within the same lattice, and the lattice parameters continuously increase as more of the larger linker is incorporated. Furthermore, COF solid solutions are accessed directly by polymerizing a mixture of monomers but not via linker exchange from a preformed COF. As strain develops from the lattice accommodating monomers with different sizes, the nonlinear relationship between the monomer incorporation and the COF's lattice parameters suggests that bond-bending of the monomers plays a role in incorporating monomers of different lengths into the solid solutions. Solid solution formation represents a new strategy to design 2D COFs and increase their complexity. Specifically, varying the monomer composition of a given network enables many properties, such as the average pore size, to be continuously tuned between those of corresponding pure COFs.

APOE: The New Frontier in the Development of a Therapeutic Target towards Precision Medicine in Late-Onset Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a critical unmet medical need. The consensus around the amyloid cascade hypothesis has been guiding pre-clinical and clinical research to focus mainly on targeting beta-amyloid for treating AD. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the clinical trials have repeatedly failed, prompting the urgent need to refocus on other targets and shifting the paradigm of AD drug development towards precision medicine. One such emerging target is apolipoprotein E (APOE), identified nearly 30 years ago as one of the strongest and most reproduceable genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). An exploration of APOE as a new therapeutic culprit has produced some very encouraging results, proving that the protein holds promise in the context of LOAD therapies. Here, we review the strategies to target APOE based on state-of-the-art technologies such as antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and gene/base editing. We discuss the potential of these initiatives in advancing the development of novel precision medicine therapies to LOAD.

Elevation through reflection: closing the circle to improve librarianship.

Reflective practice is a strategy promoted as a way to improve professional performance and to develop expertise. Intentional reflection on work situations can lead to improved understanding of a specific situation, identify strategies for similar situations in the future, and uncover assumptions that hinder service to patrons. Research has identified lack of knowledge to be a barrier to health sciences librarians engaging in reflective practice. This article introduces the use of intentional reflection at work: what it is, how it helps, and how it can be applied in librarianship. It also provides practical advice on how to choose a format, how to use a model to guide reflection, and how to incorporate it into work.

Services and staffing practices in academic health sciences libraries serving college of osteopathic medicine programs: a mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes and assesses services, staffing practices, and trends in academic health sciences libraries that serve accredited college of osteopathic medicine (COM) programs in the United States. METHODS: The study was conducted in three phases. In phase one, the investigators collected data on library services and staffing through the publicly facing websites of the COM libraries. In phase two, thirty-five COM library directors were invited to complete a survey regarding their services, staffing, supported programs, and students served. In phase three, seven COM library directors participated in phone interviews regarding services that increased their visibility, their motivation to offer expanded services, adequacy of staffing, and competencies required for new librarian roles. The investigators incorporated the Medical Library Association (MLA) competencies as a framework to structure the results. RESULTS: Phase one identified 35 COM libraries serving between 162 and 8,281 students. In phase two, 30 out of a possible 35 survey respondents indicated that the top services offered or considered by COM libraries were in the MLA competency areas of "Instruction & Instructional Design" and "Evidence-Based Practice & Research." In addition, we discovered that COM libraries had a median of 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff per 1,000 students. Phase three data revealed that library directors attributed their libraries' success to the skills and talents of their staff, the wide range of resources and services they offered, and the desirability of their physical spaces. Library directors identified skills in the same MLA competency areas as phase two, as well as in the MLA competency areas of "Information Management" and "Leadership & Management," as being desirable for new staff. CONCLUSION: The study results provide information for medical school administrators and library directors to help identify trends across US osteopathic medical schools in order to justify the need for additional services and staffing. These results can assist medical and library leadership in COM schools in planning for their future academic health sciences libraries. Finally, the findings could assist programs in library and information sciences in redesigning their curriculums based on the MLA competencies for students who seek future careers in academic health sciences libraries.

Resorcinarene Cavitand Polymers for the Remediation of Halomethanes and 1,4-Dioxane.

Disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes are commonly found in drinking water. Trihalomethanes are formed upon chlorination of natural organic matter found in many drinking water sources. Inspired by molecular CHCl3⊂cavitand host-guest complexes, we designed porous polymers composed of resorcinarene receptors. These materials show higher affinity for halomethanes than a specialty activated carbon used for trihalomethane removal. The cavitand polymers show similar removal kinetics as activated carbon and have high capacity (49 mg g-1 of CHCl3). These materials maintain their performance in drinking water and can be thermally regenerated. Cavitand polymers also outperform commercial resins for 1,4-dioxane adsorption, which contaminates many water sources. These materials show promise for water treatment and demonstrate the value of using supramolecular receptors to design adsorbents for water purification.

Vacuum Steam Treatment Eradicates Viable Bretziella fagacearum from Logs Cut from Wilted Quercus rubra.

Methyl bromide (MB) fumigation is required for U.S. Quercus log exports due to concern over unintentional spread of Bretziella fagacearum. MB alternatives are needed due to the chemical's ability to damage the earth's ozone layer. Vacuum steam (VS) is an environmentally friendly method that was evaluated for its ability to eradicate B. fagacearum in logs (24 to 61 cm diameter; 1.7 to 1.9 m long) obtained from Q. rubra that had wilted following natural infection (NI) or artificial inoculation (AI). Five replicate loads of two NI and one AI logs were VS-treated at 56°C for 30 min and 60°C for 60 min (at 5.0 cm sapwood depth). Mean frequencies of pretreatment fungus colonization ranged from 12.5 to 24.4% in NI and 29.4 to 45.6% in AI logs based on isolation from wood chips of inner and outer sapwood, respectively, of two disks per log. Frequencies of pathogen DNA detection were similar to those for isolation. No viable pathogen or its DNA were detected in posttreatment logs. Treatment times ranged from 5 to 9 h for the 56°C/30 min schedule and from 8 to 10 h for the 60°C/60 min schedule. Based on these results, VS is worthy of further development as a MB alternative.

Product Distribution from Precursor Bite Angle Variation in Multitopic Alkyne Metathesis: Evidence for a Putative Kinetic Bottleneck.

In the dynamic synthesis of covalent organic frameworks and molecular cages, the typical synthetic approach involves heuristic methods of discovery. While this approach has yielded many remarkable products, the ability to predict the structural outcome of subjecting a multitopic precursor to dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) remains a challenge in the field. The synthesis of covalent organic cages is a prime example of this phenomenon, where precursors designed with the intention of affording a specific product may deviate dramatically when the DCC synthesis is attempted. As such, rational design principles are needed to accelerate discovery in cage synthesis using DCC. Herein, we test the hypothesis that precursor bite angle contributes significantly to the energy landscape and product distribution in multitopic alkyne metathesis (AM). By subjecting a series of precursors with varying bite angles to AM, we experimentally demonstrate that the product distribution, and convergence toward product formation, is strongly dependent on this geometric attribute. Surprisingly, we discovered that precursors with the ideal bite angle (60°) do not afford the most efficient pathway to the product. The systematic study reported here illustrates how seemingly minor adjustments in precursor geometry greatly affect the outcome of DCC systems. This research illustrates the importance of fine-tuning precursor geometric parameters in order to successfully realize desirable targets.

Electrostatically Driven Guest Binding in a Self-Assembled Porous Network at the Liquid/Solid Interface.

We present here the construction of a self-assembled two-dimensional (2D) porous monolayer bearing a highly polar 2D space to study guest co-adsorption through electrostatic interactions at the liquid/solid interface. For this purpose, a dehydrobenzo[12]annulene (DBA) derivative, DBA-TeEG, having tetraethylene glycol (TeEG) groups at the end of the three alternating alkoxy chains connected by p-phenylene linkers was synthesized. As a reference host molecule, DBA-C10, having nonpolar C10 alkyl chains at three alternating terminals, was employed. As guest molecules, hexagonal phenylene-ethynylene macrocycles (PEMs) attached by triethylene glycol (TEG) ester and hexyl ester groups, PEM-TEG and PEM-C6, respectively, at each vertex of the macrocyclic periphery were used. Scanning tunneling microscopy observations at the 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene/highly oriented pyrolytic graphite interface revealed that PEM-TEG was immobilized in the pores formed by DBA-TeEG at higher probability because of electrostatic interactions such as dipole-dipole and hydrogen bonding interactions between oligoether units of the host and guest, in comparison to PEM-C6 with nonpolar groups. These observations are discussed based on molecular mechanics simulations to investigate the role of the polar functional groups. When a nonpolar host matrix formed by DBA-C10 was used, however, only phase separation and preferential adsorption were observed; virtually no host-guest complexation was discernible. This is ascribed to the strong affinity between the guest molecules which form by themselves densely packed van der Waals networks on the surface.

The effects of road building on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in Huangshan Scenic Area.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are vital soil microbes that connect many individual plants into a large functional organism via a vast mycelial network under the ground. In this study, the changes of soil AM fungal community in response to road-building disturbance caused by tourism development in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Scenic Area are assessed. Road building have brought negative effects on AM fungal community, inducing lower diversity parameters, including species number, spore density and diversity indices. However, the dominant genus and species of AM fungi which play key roles in the AM fungal community composition are quite similar before and after road building. Moreover, there are no significant differences in species richness of AM fungi associated with plants, suggesting the tolerance of AM fungal community to the disturbance of road building.

Hexagonal Molecular Tiling by Hexagonal Macrocycles at the Liquid/Solid Interface: Structural Effects on Packing Geometry.

We present here hexagonal tiling using hexagonal phenylene-ethynylene and phenylene-butadiynylene macrocycles attached by alkyl ester groups, PEM-C6 and PBM-C8, respectively, or triethylene glycol ester groups, PEM-TEG and PBM-TEG, respectively, at each vertex of the macrocyclic periphery at the liquid/solid interface. In this study, we focused on the effects of macrocyclic core size and the chemical properties of side chains attached to macrocyclic cores as well as solute concentrations on the hexagonal geometry of self-assembled monolayers. STM observations at the 1,2,4-trichrolobenzene/graphite interface revealed that PEM-C6 formed a honeycomb structure by van der Waals interactions between the interdigitated alkyl chains. However, upon increasing solute concentration, it changed to more dense hexagonal structure (tentatively called loose hexagonal structure I). In contrast, PBM-C8 formed loose hexagonal structure II of a slightly different packing mode at low concentration, while at high concentration it formed a high-density hexagonal structure in which alkyl chains are not adsorbed on the surface (dense hexagonal structure). In the dense hexagonal structure, macrocyclic cores are linked by hydrogen bonds between the ester carbonyl oxygen and the aromatic hydrogen atoms of the neighboring macrocycles. The packing geometries of loose hexagonal structures of PEM-C6 and PBM-C8 are different due to the different distance between the attachment of the alkyl ester groups which are located in confined space. On the other hand, PEM-TEG and PBM-TEG formed dense hexagonal structures, similar to PBM-C8 at high concentration, with their TEG units not adsorbed on the surface.

Halobaculum roseum sp. nov., isolated from underground salt deposits.

Two extremely halophilic archaea, strains D90T and D93, were isolated from underground salt deposits of Yunnan salt mine, China. Both strains were pleomorphic or short rods, non-motile, Gram-negative and required 1.7 M NaCl for growth, with optimum at 3.4 M. Mg2+ was not required for growth. Multiple copies of the 16S rRNA gene were obtained for both strains. Sequence similarity analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed that strains D90T and D93 were closely related to Halobaculum magnesiiphilum MGY-184T and Halobaculum gomorrense DSM 9297T with the sequence similarity between 96.2-98.1 %. The sequence similarity of the rpoB' gene between strain D90T and Halobaculum gomorrenseJCM 9908T was 94.1 %. The DNA G+C contents of strains D90T and D93 were 65.9 and 67.6 mol%, respectively. The major polar lipids of both strains were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and glycolipid. The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strains D90T and D93 was 90.1±0.5 %, while that between strain D90T and Halobaculum gomorrenseJCM 9908T was 30.0±0.7 %. The comparison of physiological and biochemical characteristics, including the requirements of NaCl, Mg2+, pH, etc., differentiated strains D90T and D93 from Halobaculum magnesiiphilum MGY-184T and Halobaculum gomorrenseJCM 9908T. Therefore, strains D90T and D93 represent a novel species of the genus Halobaculum, for which the name Halobaculum roseum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D90T (=CGMCC 1.15501T=JCM 31273T).

Kinetically Trapped Tetrahedral Cages via Alkyne Metathesis.

In dynamic covalent synthesis, kinetic traps are perceived as disadvantageous, hindering the system from reaching its thermodynamic equilibrium. Here we present the near-quantitative preparation of tetrahedral cages from simple tritopic precursors using alkyne metathesis. While the cages are the presumed thermodynamic sink, we experimentally demonstrate that the products no longer exchange their vertices once they have formed. The example reported here illustrates that kinetically trapped products may facilitate high yields of complex products from dynamic covalent synthesis.

Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Primer.

OBJECTIVE: To review the management of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), including lifestyle modifying strategies and pharmacological interventions. DATA SOURCES: A literature search of PubMed through March 2016 was conducted utilizing the keywords hepatic encephalopathy, ammonia, and cirrhosis All published articles evaluating treatments for HE were considered. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Available English-language data from reviews, abstracts, presentations, and clinical trials of the treatment of HE in humans were reviewed; relevant clinical data were selected and included. DATA SYNTHESIS: HE is a prevalent complication of portal hypertension and cirrhosis that results in altered mental status and neuropsychiatric impairment. Although the pathogenesis has not been elucidated, numerous treatment options exist. This review will explore the role of dietary interventions and supplements, including use of zinc, acetyl-l-carnitine, and probiotics, in the management of HE. Additionally, the use of various ammonia-lowering agents will be evaluated. The nonabsorbable disaccharides represent first-line therapies for the management and prophylaxis of HE; rifaximin use has been demonstrated to be effective for both treatment and prophylaxis of HE symptoms, with use relegated to those patients who fail to respond to or tolerate the nonabsorbable disaccharides. In light of toxicities associated with the use of neomycin and metronidazole, recent guidelines recommend both as alternatives for the treatment of HE, with the use of vancomycin discouraged. CONCLUSION: Although numerous treatment options are available, management of HE remains a clinical challenge. Additional research is needed to explore the pathogenesis and better understand the role of pharmacotherapy in managing this condition.

Effects of the synergistic treatments of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and trehalose on adaptability to salt stress in tomato seedlings.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could establish symbiosis with plant roots, which enhances plant resistance to various stresses, including drought stress and salt stress. Besides AMF, chemical stimulants such as trehalose (Tre) can also play an important role in helping plants alleviate damage of adversity. However, the mechanism of the effect of AMF combined with chemicals on plant stress resistance is unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the synergistic effects of Claroideoglomus etunicatum AMF and exogenous Tre on the antioxidant system, osmoregulation, and resistance-protective substance in plants in response to salt stress. Tomato seedlings were inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum and combined with exogenous Tre in a greenhouse aseptic soil cultivation experiment. We measured the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiont development, organic matter content, and antioxidant enzyme activity in tomato seedlings. Both AMF and Tre improved the synthesis of chlorophyll content in tomato seedlings; regulated the osmotic substance including soluble sugars, soluble protein, and proline of plants; and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase. The combination of AMF and Tre also reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde and alleviated the damage of harmful substances to plant cells in tomato seedlings. We studied the effects of AMF combined with extraneous Tre on salt tolerance in tomato seedlings, and the results showed that the synergistic treatment of AMF and Tre was more efficient than the effects of AMF inoculation or Tre spraying separately by regulating host substance synthesis, osmosis, and antioxidant enzymes. Our results indicated that the synergistic effects of AMF and Tre increased the plant adaptability against salt damage by enhancing cell osmotic protection and cell antioxidant capacity. IMPORTANCE: AMF improve the plant adaptability to salt resistance by increasing mineral absorption and reducing the damage of saline soil. Trehalose plays an important role in plant response to salt damage by regulating osmotic pressure. Together, the use of AMF and trehalose in tomato seedlings proved efficient in regulating host substance synthesis, osmosis, and antioxidant enzymes. These synergistic effects significantly improved seedling adaptability to salt stress by enhancing cell osmotic protection and cell antioxidant capacity, ultimately reducing losses to crops grown on land where salinization has occurred.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Sepsis in Adult Patients Meeting Two or More Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Criteria.

Introduction: Determining which patients who meet systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria have bacterial sepsis is a difficult challenge for emergency physicians. We sought to determine whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could be used to exclude bacterial sepsis in adult patients who meet ≥2 SIRS criteria and are being evaluated for sepsis. Methods: Consenting adult patients meeting ≥2 SIRS criteria and undergoing evaluation for sepsis were enrolled. We recorded patient age, gender, vital signs, and laboratory results. We then later reviewed health records for culture results, end organ dysfunction, survival to discharge, and final diagnoses. Patients were classified as having sepsis if they met ≥2 SIRS criteria and were ultimately diagnosed with a bacterial source. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and sensitivity and specificity analyses. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was created to determine test characteristics. Results: A total of 231 patients had complete datasets. Patients' median age was 69 (interquartile range [IQR] 54-81), and 49.6% were male. There were 154 patients (66.7%) ultimately diagnosed with sepsis with an identified bacterial source, while 77 patients with ≥2 SIRS criteria had non-infectious reasons for their presentations (33.3%). Septic patients had a median NLR 12.36 (IQR [interquartile range] 7.29-21.69), compared to those without sepsis (median NLR 5.62, IQR 3.89-9.11, P < 0.001). The NLR value of 3 applied as a cutoff for sepsis had a sensitivity of 96.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 92.2-98.8), and a specificity of 18.2 (95% CI 10.6-29.0). The ROC for NLR had an area under the curve of 0.74. Conclusion: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a sensitive tool to help determine which patients with abnormal SIRS screens have bacterial sepsis.

Biogeographic effects shape soil bacterial communities across intertidal zones on island beaches through regulating soil properties.

Island coastal zones are often mistakenly perceived as "ecological desert". Actually, they harbour unique communities of organisms. The biodiversity on islands is primarily influenced by the effects of area and isolation (distance from the mainland), which mainly focused on plants and animals, encompassing studies of entire islands. However, the application of area and isolation effects to soil microorganisms on island beaches across the intertidal zones remains largely unexplored. We hypothesized that island area and isolation shape soil bacterial communities by regulating soil properties on island beaches, due to the fact that local soil properties might be strongly influenced by land-use, which may vary among islands of different sizes and isolations. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a study on 108 plots spanning 4 intertidal zones on 9 representative island beaches within Zhoushan Archipelago, eastern China. We employed one-way ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test to assess the differences in diversity, composition of soil bacterial communities and soil properties among intertidal zones. Redundancy analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to examine the direct and indirect impacts of beach area and isolation on soil bacterial communities. Our findings revealed that the area and isolation did not significantly influence soil bacterial diversity and the relative abundance of dominant soil bacterial phyla. However, soil nitrogen (soil N), phosphorus (soil P), organic carbon (SOC), available potassium content (soil AK), and electrical conductivity (soil EC) showed significant increases with the area and isolation. As the tidal gradient increased on beaches, soil bacterial OTU richness, Chao 1, and relative abundance of Planctomycetota and Crenarchaeota decreased, while relative abundance of other soil bacterial phyla increased. We found that influences of island area and isolation shape soil bacterial communities on beaches by regulating soil properties, particularly soil moisture, salinity, and nutrients, all of which are also influenced by area and isolation. Island with larger areas and in lower intertidal zones, characterized by higher soil water content (SWC), soil EC, and soil AK, exhibited greater soil bacterial diversity and fewer dominant soil bacterial phyla. Conversely, in the higher intertidal zones with vegetation containing higher soil N and SOC, lower soil bacterial diversity and more dominant soil bacterial phyla were observed. These findings have the potential to enhance our new understanding of how island biogeography in interpreting island biome patterns.

Quantitation of Enterovirus A71 Empty and Full Particles by Sedimentation Velocity Analytical Ultracentrifugation.

The enterovirus A71 (EV71) inactivated vaccine is an effective intervention to control the spread of the virus and prevent EV71-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). It is widely administered to infants and children in China. The empty particles (EPs) and full particles (FPs) generated during production have different antigenic and immunogenic properties. However, the antigen detection methods currently used were established without considering the differences in antigenicity between EPs and FPs. There is also a lack of other effective analytical methods for detecting the different particle forms, which hinders the consistency between batches of products. In this study, we analyzed the application of sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC) in characterizing the EPs and FPs of EV71. Our results showed that the proportions of the two forms could be quantified simultaneously by SV-AUC. We also determined the repeatability and accuracy of this method and found that both parameters were satisfactory. We assessed SV-AUC for bulk vaccine quality control, and our findings indicated that SV-AUC can be used effectively to analyze the percentage of EPs and FPs and monitor the consistency of the process to ensure the quality of the vaccine.