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Efforts to concurrently test for enemy release of both above- and belowground enemies for invasive plants in non-native range are limited. Moreover, direct evidence for the causal link between enemy release and performance is rare for invasive plants. Thus, we sought to investigate if above- and/or belowground enemies are involved in the enemy release mechanisms at various life stages of a temperate invader and their consequences on plant community properties. We conducted field surveys of enemy damage and plant performance, and plant-soil feedback experiments in the glasshouses using Ambrosia trifida in both its non-native and native ranges across the seed, seedling, and adult life stages. Field surveys showed that seeds of A. trifida were more severely damaged by aboveground enemies in the native relative to the non-native range, while the difference in leaf damage between ranges was small. Plant-soil feedback experiments showed that release from belowground enemies was also important, as seed germination and plant growth were significantly reduced in soils from the native range compared with soils from the non-native range. Consistent with the above results, A. trifida was larger, produced more seeds, had higher density, and exerted stronger impacts on co-occurring native plants in the non-native relative to the native range. Our results demonstrated that release from both above- and belowground enemies at various life stages contributed to the invasion success of A. trifida in its non-native range and highlighted the importance of considering both above- and belowground enemy release when studying plant invasions.

Background Shoulder function complications are common after treatment for breast cancer. Quite a few survivors still report a limited shoulder range of motion, even though the free range-of-motion upper limb exercise is helpful to restore shoulder function. Mirror therapy (MT) is a classical and effective rehabilitation technique to recover motor and sensory function for the limbs; in addition, studies have reported that MT has an influence on patients with shoulder functional dysfunction including increasing shoulder range of motion, improving shoulder function scores, and decreasing pain scores. Here, we describe a protocol of a randomized controlled trial to explore if free range-of-motion upper limb exercise based on MT has efficacy on shoulder function in survivors after surgery of breast cancer. Methods/design This is a prospective, single-blind, two-arm randomized controlled trial. An estimated 70 participants will be randomly allocated to (1) the MT group or (2) the control group. The participants in the control group receive free range-of-motion upper limb exercise, and participants in the MT group will engage in free range-of-motion upper limb exercise based on MT. The intervention will start on the first day after surgery and be completed at 8 weeks after surgery. The primary outcome in this protocol is shoulder range of motion (ROM), while the Constant-Murley Score (CMS); Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH); Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (13-item TSK); visual analog scale (VAS); grip strength; arm circumference; and lymphedema are the secondary outcomes. Assessment will be conducted before allocation (baseline) and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after surgery. Discussion Based on the results that MT has an influence on shoulder function immediately after intervention in patients without nerve injury, this randomized controlled trial is to observe the efficacy of MT on shoulder function after a long-term intervention in breast cancer survivors. We look forward to the innovation of this study for both breast cancer rehabilitation and MT. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2000033080. Registered on 19 May 2020

The development of an electrocatalyst based on abundant elements for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is important for water splitting associated with renewable energy sources. In this study, we develop an interconnected Ni(Fe)OxHy nanosheet array on a stainless steel mesh (SSNNi) as an integrated OER electrode, without using any polymer binder. Benefiting from the well-defined three-dimensional (3D) architecture with highly exposed surface area, intimate contact between the active species and conductive substrate improved electron and mass transport capacity, facilitated electrolyte penetration, and improved mechanical stability. The SSNNi electrode also has excellent OER performance, including low overpotential, a small Tafel slope, and long-term durability in the alkaline electrolyte, making it one of the most promising OER electrodes developed.