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Background: Diverse genomic breakpoints of fusions that localize to intronic, exonic, or intergenic regions have been identified by DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS), but the role of exonic breakpoints remains elusive. We investigated whether exonic-breakpoint fusions could predict matched targeted therapy efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: NSCLC samples were analyzed by DNA NGS, RNA NGS, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results: Using DNA NGS, kinase fusions were identified in 685 of 7148 (9.6%) NSCLCs, with 74 harboring exonic-breakpoint fusions, mostly anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusions. RNA NGS and IHC revealed that 11 of 55 (20%) exonic-breakpoint fusions generated no aberrant transcript/protein, possibly due to open reading frame disruption or different gene transcriptional orientations. Four cases of genomic-positive but RNA/protein-negative fusions were treated with matched targeted therapy, but progressive disease developed within 2 months. Nevertheless, 44 of 55 (80%) exonic-breakpoint fusions produced chimeric transcripts/proteins, possibly owing to various alternative splicing patterns, including exon skipping, alternative splice site selection, and intron retention. Most of these genomic- and RNA/protein-positive fusion cases showed a clinical response to matched targeted therapy. Particularly, there were no differences in objective response rate (P = 0.714) or median progression-free survival (P = 0.500) between intronic-breakpoint (n = 56) and exonic-breakpoint ALK fusion subtypes (n = 11) among ALK RNA/protein-validated patients who received first-line crizotinib. Conclusions: Exonic-breakpoint fusions may generate in-frame fusion transcripts/proteins or not, and thus are unreliable for predicting the efficacy of targeted therapy, which highlights the necessity of implementing RNA or protein assays for functional validation in exonic-breakpoint fusion cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-assembly behavior of AB diblock copolymers under cylindrical confinement is investigated using the self-consistent field theory. We focus on the impact of the confinement on the order-order transitions of three-dimensional morphologies by constructing two types of phase diagrams with continuously varying block compositions. One type is with respect to the block composition and the immiscibility parameter for various pore sizes, in which the order-order transitions are shown to be strongly impacted by the pore curvature and thus largely different from the bulk ones. Note that the morphologies are categorized by the intrinsical geometry of their domains, i.e., that helical morphologies are regarded as one type of cylindrical phase. Another type of phase diagram is with respect to the block composition and the pore diameter, which exhibits a number of interesting order-order transitions, especially the transition sequence from a straight line of spheres, to one straight cylinder and stacked disks as the pore diameter increases. A critical point is observed at which the stability region of the straight cylinder vanishes and thereby the spheres transform into the stacked disks continuously. The mechanism of these phase transitions is rationalized in the context of the bulk factors as well as an additional factor, i.e., the competition between the spontaneous curvature of the copolymer and the imposed curvature by the nanopore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the relationship model between flow characteristics and efficiency of reciprocating porous medium burner is built by energy spectrum analysis method, it is disturbed by a large number of factors affecting combustion efficiency, so it is impossible to accurately analyze the relationship between flow characteristics and efficiency of the burner. A new relationship model between flow characteristics and efficiency of reciprocating porous medium burner is constructed. According to the symmetry of reciprocating porous medium burning system structure and the periodic exchange characteristics of internal gas flow, a physical model of reciprocating porous medium burning system is constructed. On this basis, a reciprocating porous medium burner is established. After giving the initial boundary conditions of the model equation, the finite volume method is used to discretize the model equation, boundary conditions and calculation area. The Gauss-Seidel iteration method is used to solve the mathematical model, and the relationship between the flow characteristics and efficiency of the reciprocating porous medium burner is analyzed. The experimental results show that the model can effectively analyze the relationship between flow characteristics, such as reversal half cycle, gas calorific value, secondary air ratio and efficiency in reciprocating porous medium burner, and the stability of the model is strong. The analysis time is less than 0.5 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining the excellent biocompatibility and mechanical flexibility of cellulose with the outstanding electrical, mechanical, optical and stability properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), cellulose-CNT composites have been extensively studied and applied to many flexible functional materials. In this review, we present advances in structural design strategies and various applications of cellulose-CNT composites. Firstly, the structural characteristics and corresponding treatments of cellulose and CNTs are analyzed, as are the potential interactions between the two to facilitate the formation of cellulose-CNT composites. Then, the design strategies and processing techniques of cellulose-CNT composites are discussed from the perspectives of cellulose fibers at the macroscopic scale (natural cotton, hemp, and other fibers; recycled cellulose fibers); nanocellulose at the micron scale (nanofibers, nanocrystals, etc.); and macromolecular chains at the molecular scale (cellulose solutions). Further, the applications of cellulose-CNT composites in various fields, such as flexible energy harvesting and storage devices, strain and humidity sensors, electrothermal devices, magnetic shielding, and photothermal conversion, are introduced. This review will help readers understand the design strategies of cellulose-CNT composites and develop potential high-performance applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behavior of ABC star triblock copolymers is examined using real-space self-consistent mean-field theory. The central part of the triangular phase diagram for ABC triblock copolymers with equal A/B, B/C, and C/A interactions is determined by comparing the free energy of a number of candidate ordered phases. In this region of the phase diagram, the dominant microstructures are cylinders with polygonal cross sections or two-dimensional polygon-tiling patterns. Most of the known polygon-tiling patterns observed in experiments and simulations, plus some neighboring morphologies, are considered in the construction of the phase diagram. The resulting phase behavior is consistent with experiments and computer simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depletion potential between a hard sphere and a planar hard wall, or two hard spheres, imposed by suspended rigid spherocylindrical rods is computed by the acceptance ratio method through the application of Monte Carlo simulation. The accurate results and ideal-gas approximation results of the depletion potential are determined with the acceptance ratio method in our simulations. For comparison, the depletion potentials are also studied by using both the density functional theory and Derjaguin approximations. The density profile as a function of positions and orientations of rods, used in the density functional theory, is calculated by Monte Carlo simulation. The potential obtained by the acceptance ratio method is in good agreement with that of density functional theory under the ideal-gas approximation. The comparison between our results and those of other theories suggests that the acceptance ratio method is the only efficient method used to compute the depletion potential induced by nonspherical colloids with the volume fraction beyond the ideal-gas approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although some targeted therapies have been shown to be effective in treating HER2-altered non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the survival demands have not yet been met due to the high cost and limited availability. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of pyrotinib plus antiangiogenic agents, including apatinib, anlotinib, and bevacizumab, in previously treated patients with HER2-altered advanced NSCLC. Methods: In this retrospective real-world study, patients with HER2-altered NSCLC who received pyrotinib plus antiangiogenic agents as a second- or later-line treatment between November 2015 and January 2022 were reviewed. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety profiles of patients were analyzed. Results: A total of 107 patients were included in the analysis, of which 59 patients (55.1%) had received at least two lines of prior chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Most of them (87.9%) were identified as harboring HER2 exon 20 insertions. At the data cutoff date (May 13, 2022), the ORR, DCR, median PFS, and median OS were 19.6% (21/107), 94.4% (101/107), 7.13 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.26– 8.01), and 19.50 months (95% CI: 12.83–26.17), respectively. There was no difference in the PFS between patients receiving apatinib or anlotinib/bevacizumab (median PFS, 7.13 vs. 6.27 months, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.49, 95% CI: 0.87–2.54, p = 0.15). The most frequent grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events was diarrhea (17.6%), followed by hypertension (11.0%) and nausea (3.3%). No treatment-related death occurred. Conclusion: In this study, pyrotinib plus antiangiogenic agents demonstrated promising efficacy and were tolerable in HER2-altered NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key requirement to put terahertz (THz) imaging systems into applications is high resolution. Based on a self-developed THz quantum cascade laser (QCL), we demonstrate a THz inline digital holography imaging system with high lateral resolution. In our case, the lateral resolution of this holography imaging system is pushed to about 70 μm, which is close to the intrinsic resolution limit of this system. To the best of our knowledge, this is much smaller than what has been reported up to now. This is attributed to a series of improvements, such as shortening the QCL wavelength, increasing Nx and Ny by the synthetic aperture method, smoothing the source beam profile, and diminishing vibration due to the cryorefrigeration device. This kind of holography system with a resolution smaller than 100 μm opens the door for many imaging experiments. It will turn the THz imaging systems into applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are emerging as a new type of cancer biomarkers. Exosome is a bilayered nano-sized vesicle secreted by various living cells in all body fluids. Based on the expanding albeit incomplete knowledge of their biogenesis, secretion by cells and cancer cell-specific molecular and genetic contents, exosomes are viewed as promising, clinically-relevant surrogates of cancer progression and response to therapy. Preliminary proteomic, genetic and functional profiling of cancer cell-derived or cancer plasma-derived exosomes confirms their unique characteristics. Alterations in protein or nucleic acid profiles of exosomes in plasma correlate with pathological processes of many diseases including cancer. However, previous studies on exosome application in cancer diagnosis and treatment mainly focussed on miRNAs. With the development of rapid large-scale production, purification, extraction and screening of exosomal contents, exosomal protein application can be explored for early stage cancer diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis evaluation. Here, we summarized the recent developments in application of exosomal proteins for cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolayers of linear and miktoarm star ABC triblock copolymers with equal A and C blocks were investigated using self-consistent field theory. Monolayers of ABC triblock copolymers were formed between two parallel surfaces that were attractive to the A and C blocks. The repulsive interaction parameter χACN between the A and C blocks was chosen to be weaker than the A/B and B/C interactions, quantified by χABN and χBCN, respectively, such that the B blocks were confined at the A/C interface, resulting in various B domains with different geometries and arrangements. It was observed that two variables, namely, the strength of the surface fields and the film thickness, were dominant factors controlling the self-assembly of the B blocks into various morphologies. For the linear triblock copolymers, the morphologies of the B domains included disks, stripes (parallel cylinders), and hexagonal networks (inverse disks). For the miktoarm star triblock copolymers, the competition between the tendency to align the junction points along a straight line and the constraint on their arrangement from the surface interactions led to richer ordered morphologies. As a result of the packing of the junction points of the ABC miktoarm star copolymers, a counterintuitive phase sequence from low-curvature phases to high-curvature phases with increasing length of B block was predicted. The study indicates that the self-assembly of monolayers of ABC triblock copolymers provides an interesting platform for engineering novel morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunological response is thought to play a crucial role in the development of a severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) infection in children, but the mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study was designed to help in elucidating the immunopathological pathways involved in the disease by quantifying Toll-like receptor (TLR) mRNAs, MAPK factors and cytokine levels in children experiencing the disease. A total of 86 enterovirus 71 (EV71)-infected HFMD children (49 with mild and 27 with severe disease), along with 30 healthy children were involved in the study. Peripheral vein blood samples were collected from each individual, and used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for mRNA extraction and sera for measuring levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. The average expression levels of TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR8 mRNA in PBMCs of children with severe HFMD were significantly higher than those in the other children, the lowest values were found in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of TLR2 and TLR9 mRNA were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the groups. Additionally, the expression levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 in the serum of the children in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the other two groups, and the lowest values were again found in the control group (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR8 mRNA levels in PBMCs were positively correlated with the TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the serum (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression levels of the ERK, JNK and p38 mRNA in PBMCs of children in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the other two groups, with the lowest values being in the control group (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR8 mRNA levels in PBMCs were positively correlated with ERK, JNK and p38 mRNA levels (P<0.05). The results of our study seem to indicate that the high expression levels of TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR8 induced in severe EV71 HFMD regulate the expression of cytokines by MAPK signaling pathway and negatively affect the ability of the organism to resolve the infection. Further studies are needed to test the hypothesis that immuno-modulation would be an effective treatment approach in pediatric cases of severe HFMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granular computing (GrC) is a frame computing paradigm that realizes the transformation between two granule spaces with different granularities. A comparative analysis of granular computing clustering is discussed in the paper. Firstly, a granule is defined as the form of vectors by the center and the granularity, especially, an atomic granule is induced by a point which has the granularity 0. Secondly, the join operator realizes the transformation from the granule space with smaller granularity to the granule space with lager granularity, and is used to form the granular computing clustering (GrCC) algorithms. Thirdly, the granular computing clustering algorithms are evaluated from the view of set, such as Global Consistency Error (GCE), Normalized Variation of Information (NVI), and Rand Index (RI). The superiority and feasibility of GrCC are compared with Kmeans and FCM by experiments on the benchmark data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Osteosarcoma (OsC) is the most common primary bone malignant tumor with lower incidence and high degree of malignancy, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. More evidence demonstrated microRNAs (miRNAs) could contribute to tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the expression and functions of miR-320 in OsC cells.Materials and Methods: miR-320 expression levels in several human OsC cell lines and human normal osteoblastic cell line were tested by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). U2OS cells were transfected with miR-320 mimics or negative control oligos. MTT assay and cell flow cytometry assay by PI staining were performed to access the cell growth rate. Bioinformatic prediction and luciferase assays were used to identify the predicted target E2F1. qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to access the molecular alteration of E2F1.Results: miR-320 was decreased in human OsC cell lines. Heterogeneous expression of miR-320 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest. Besides, we proved that miR-320 could directly regulate the expression of E2F1 in U2OS cells.Conclusion: These data suggested that miR-320 regulates the proliferation and cell cycle by targeting E2F1 in human OsC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermodynamics of dislocations in thin films of lamella-forming diblock copolymers and their climb and glide motions are investigated using single-chain-in-mean-field (SCMF) simulations and self-consistent field theory (SCFT) in conjunction with the string method. The glide motion of a defect perpendicular to the stripe pattern is characterized by large free energy barriers. The barriers not only stem from altering the domain topology; an additional barrier arises from a small-amplitude but long-range domain displacement. In contrast, the climb motion along the stripes does not involve a free energy barrier in accord with the continuous translational invariance along the stripe. Thus, the perpendicular distance ("impact parameter") between a pair of defects is approximately conserved. Dislocation pairs with opposite Burgers vectors attract each other and move toward each other ("collide") via climb motion. We find that the forces between apposing defects significantly depend on system size, and the Peach-Koehler force in smectic structures only becomes accurate for extremely large system sizes. Moreover, we observe in SCMF simulations that the defect annihilation time qualitatively and nonmonotonously depends on the defects' perpendicular distance and rationalize this finding by the collective kinetics along the minimum free energy path (MFEP) and the single-chain dynamics in an inhomogeneous environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute cerebral hemorrhage accounts for approximately 25% of strokes for elderly patients. Consequently, treatments to improve prognosis should be identified. The aim of the present study was to examine the clinical values of the application of clinical nursing pathway for patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage. Between January 2013 and January 2015, 92 patients diagnosed with acute intracerebral hemorrhage were enrolled in the study based on the guidelines recommended for providing appropriate surgical or conservative treatment and the sequence of admission. The 92 patients were randomly divided into the control and observation groups. Patients in the control group underwent routine nursing mode prior to and after admission, and underwent clinical nursing path model (hierarchical partitioning prior to admission to hospital plus general professional program of nursing in hospital) was applied to the observation group. Barthel index scores for the observation group were significantly higher than that of the control group. The length of hospital stay for patients in the observation group was significantly lower while the average score for patients' satisfaction on nursing care while in hospital was significantly higher than that of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The incidence of complications such as fever, infection, bedsore, gastrointestinal function, electrolyte disturbances, and malnutrition, in the observation group was significantly lower, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The functional independence measure (FIM) and Fugl-Meyer scores after 6 months for the observation group were significantly higher, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In conclusion, application of the clinical nursing pathway for patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage significantly improved the clinical effects and nursing satisfaction, reduced adverse reactions, and had a greater clinical application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread use of wheeled mobile robots (WMRs) in various applications, new challenges have arisen in terms of designing its control system. One of such challenges is caused by wheel slippage. This study proposes a new method for haptic teleoperation control of a WMR with longitudinal slippage (not including sliding). In this teleoperation system, the mobile robot's linear velocity follows the master haptic interface's position. The proposed teleoperation controller also includes an acceleration-level control law for the mobile robot such that the velocity loss caused by slippage is compensated for. Information about the magnitude and timing of slippage is displayed to the human operator through haptic (force) feedback. Despite the functional benefits of displaying slippage information as haptic feedback to the user, there are system stability related concerns that have been addressed using the proposed controller. Experiments of the proposed controller demonstrate that it results in stable bilateral teleoperation with a satisfactory tracking performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information diffusion process in single complex networks has been extensively studied, especially for modeling the spreading activities in online social networks. However, individuals usually use multiple social networks at the same time, and can share the information they have learned from one social network to another. This phenomenon gives rise to a new diffusion process on multiplex networks with more than one network layer. In this paper we account for this multiplex network spreading by proposing a model of information diffusion in two-layer multiplex networks. We develop a theoretical framework using bond percolation and cascading failure to describe the intralayer and interlayer diffusion. This allows us to obtain analytical solutions for the fraction of informed individuals as a function of transmissibility T and the interlayer transmission rate 0. Simulation results show that interaction between layers can greatly enhance the information diffusion process. And explosive diffusion can occur even if the transmissibility of the focal layer is under the critical threshold, due to interlayer transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between a polymorphism (rs2910164) in the microRNA (miR)-146a precursor and the prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), as well as to examine the possible underlying mechanism in a Chinese population. A total of 380 patients with histologically confirmed GBM were recruited between 2008 and 2012, and were genotyped for the rs2910164 polymorphism using Sanger sequencing. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS), and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of miR-146a polymorphisms on OS. It was identified that the rs2910164 CC genotype was significantly associated with a decreased OS among the patients with GBM (P=0.002). It was confirmed that Notch1 and Notch2 were targets of miR-146a and it was demonstrated that the introduction of miR-146a mimic suppressed the levels of Notch1 and Notch2 to different extents, resulting in a reduced Notch1/Notch2 ratio with an increase in miR-146a mimic concentration in U251 cells. Additionally, resected tumor specimens were collected from 138 GBM patients and the expression levels of miR-146a, Notch1 and Notch2 were examined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Consistent with the in vitro study, lower levels of miR-146a, higher levels of Notch1 and Notch2, and a higher Notch1/Notch2 ratio were identified in the CC genotype group compared with those of the GG/GC group. In the present study, the rs2910164 C allele was found to be associated with a reduced survival rate in patients with GBM, and the observed association between the CC genotype and poorer prognosis of GBM was at least partially mediated by the decreased expression of miR-146a, which interfered with the balance of Notch1 and Notch2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate the expression of a variety of genes, which are important in the development of several types of tumor, including Ewing's sarcoma (ES), at the post-transcriptional level. Although previous studies have identified that the expression of miRNA-199b-5p was downregulated in various types of tumor, the expression levels of miR-199b-5p in ES cells remain to be elucidated. The mechanism underlying ES via the miRNA pathway remains to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that miR-199b-5p was an important regulator in ES cells and its expression was downregulated in ES originated A673/TC252 cells. The ES cell lines, A673 and TC252, were transfected with an miR-199b-5p mimic to overexpress the levels of this miRNA. This forced expression of miR-199b-5p suppressed the cell proliferation and invasion, arrested cell cycle progression, and promoted cell apoptosis. Furthermore, CCNL1 was identified by bioinformatic software as a potential target gene of miR-199b-5p. Following this, the present study identified CCNL1 as a direct target of miR-199b-5p in ES cells. Taken together, the present study established a functional link between ES, miR-199b-5p and CCNL1, and suggested that miR-199b-5p acts as a tumor suppressor and may be of diagnostic and therapeutic importance for human ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeoniflorin is one of the active ingredients of the commonly used herbal medicine derived from Paeonia, which exhibits anticancer properties. MicroRNA-16 (miR-16) is upregulated in CD133- cells, but downregulated in CD133+ cells from glioma tissue. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in glioma tissue samples is significantly higher than that in healthy brain tissue samples. Therefore, miR-16 and MMP-9 expression may be associated with glioma pathogenesis. In the present study, the effects of paeoniflorin on glioma were analyzed. U87 cells were treated with paeoniflorin at 0, 5, 10 and 20 μM concentrations. The results suggested that paeoniflorin inhibited U87 cell proliferation and accelerated cell apoptosis. In the present study paeoniflorin treatment increased miR-16 expression and reduced MMP-9 protein expression in U87 cells. Additionally, the results of the present study suggested that miR-16 may regulate MMP-9 expression in miR-16-transfected U87 cells. Furthermore, anti-miR-16 antibodies were used in order to investigate the apoptotic effects of paeoniflorin on U87 cells. The results demonstrated that paeoniflorin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human glial cells, via miR-16 upregulation and MMP-9 downregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the need to improve fundamental understanding of the coating of discrete objects, the influence of surfactants on the flow of thin liquid films around rotating cylinders is considered in this work. The lubrication approximation is applied to derive three coupled nonlinear evolution equations describing the variation of the film thickness, surfactant surface concentration, and surfactant bulk concentration as a function of time and the angular coordinate. In the absence of gravitational effects, linear stability analysis reveals that Marangoni stresses suppress the growth rate of instabilities driven by centrifugal forces and hinder the leveling of perturbations to the film thickness. When gravitational effects are present, Marangoni stresses lower the critical rotation rate needed to cause motion of a liquid lobe around the cylinder. These stresses also lead to faster damping of oscillations in the film thickness at relatively short times, but if strong enough, it can increase the oscillation amplitude at longer times. In all cases examined, surfactant solubility has the effect of weakening the influence of Marangoni stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of prototypical defect morphologies in thin films of symmetric diblock copolymers on chemically patterned substrates is investigated by self-consistent field theory. The excess free energy of defects and barriers of defect-removal mechanisms are obtained by computing the minimum free-energy path. Distinct defect-removal mechanisms are illustrated demonstrating that (i) defects will become unstable at a characteristic value of incompatibility ϰA* above the order-disorder transition and (ii) the kinetics is accelerated at weak segregation. Numerical findings are placed in the context of physical mechanisms, and implications for directed self-assembly are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an inertial microfluidic device with a simple serpentine micro-channel to continuously separate particles with high performance. Separation of micro/nano-particles has a variety of potential applications in biomedicine and industry. Among the existing separation technologies, a label-free technique without the use of antibody affinity, filter or centrifugation is highly desired to ensure minimal damage and alteration to the cells. Inertial microfluidics utilising hydrodynamic forces to separate particles is one of the most suitable label-free technologies with a high throughput. Our separation concept relies on size-based differential equilibrium positions of the particles perpendicular to the flow. Highly efficient separation is demonstrated with particles of different sizes. The results indicate that the proposed device has an integrative advantage to the existing microfluidic separation techniques, taking accounts of purity, efficiency, parallelizability, footprint, throughput and resolution. Our device is expected to be a good alternative to conventional separation methods for sample preparation and clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double threshold method realized by hardware circuits and high performance timing chip TDCGP21 was successfully adapted to solve the key problem of ultrasonic distance measurement, the accurate time-of-flight (TOF) measurement of ultrasonic wave. Compared with other techniques of TOF measurement, the double threshold method presented in this work can suppress noise in the received signal, and achieve a time resolution of around 22 ps and real-time. This method is easy to realize and pertains the advantage of low cost. To compensate temperature and pressure deviations, a temperature measurement module of 10 mK in precision as well as a pressure measurement module of 0.01% in accuracy was developed. The system designed in this work can be exactly used as a two paths ultrasonic gas flowmeter without any adjustment of the hardware circuit. The double threshold method was further corroborated using experiment results of both the ultrasonic distance measurement and ultrasonic gas flow measurement. In distance measurement, the maximum absolute deviation and the maximum relative error are 0.69 mm and 0.28%, respectively, for a target distance range of 100-600 mm. In flow measurement, the maximum absolute deviation and the worst repeatability are 1.16% and 0.65% for a flow in the range of 50-700 m³/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of simvastatin on insulin secretion in mouse MIN6 cells and the possible mechanism. MIN6 cells were, respectively, treated with 0 µM, 2 µM, 5 µM, and 10 µM simvastatin for 48 h. Radio immunoassay was performed to measure the effect of simvastatin on insulin secretion in MIN6 cells. Luciferase method was used to examine the content of ATP in MIN6 cells. Real-time PCR and western blotting were performed to measure the mRNA and protein levels of inward rectifier potassium channel 6.2 (Kir6.2), voltage-dependent calcium channel 1.2 (Cav1.2), and glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2), respectively. ATP-sensitive potassium current and L-type calcium current were recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results showed that high concentrations of simvastatin (5 µM and 10µM) significantly reduced the synthesis and secretion of insulin compared to control groups in MIN6 cells (P < 0.05). ATP content in simvastatin-treated cells was lower than in control cells (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of Kir6.2 increased with treatment of simvastatin (P < 0.05), and mRNA and protein expression of Cav1.2 and GLUT2 decreased in response to simvastatin (P < 0.05). Moreover, simvastatin increased the ATP-sensitive potassium current and reduced the L-type calcium current. These results suggest that simvastatin inhibits the synthesis and secretion of insulin through a reduction in saccharometabolism in MIN6 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manifold learning methods have been widely used in machine condition monitoring and fault diagnosis. However, the results reported in these studies focus on the machine faults under stable loading and rotational speeds, which cannot interpret the practical machine running. Rotating machine is always running under variable speeds and loading, which makes the vibration signal more complicated. To address such concern, the NPE (neighborhood preserving embedding) is applied for bearing fault classification. Compared with other algorithms (PCA, LPP, LDA, and ISOP), the NPE performs well in feature extraction. Since the traditional time domain signal denoising is time consuming and memory consuming, we denoise the signal features directly in feature space. Furthermore, NPE and SOM (self-organizing map) are combined to assess the bearing degradation performance. Simulation and experiment results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and stability of superstructured cylindricalphasesin frustrated ABC linear triblock copolymers are investigated by theself-consistent field theory. Our results reveal that the complexsingle/double/triple helices-on-cylinder phases are formed when thestraight cylinders-on-cylinder and rings-on-cylinder phases are frustrateddue to packing constraints. A free energy comparison indicates thatthe double and triple helical phases are stable, whereas the othercylinders-on-cylinder phases are metastable. In addition, the chiralityand rotation for the helical supercylinders are considered in ourcalculations. Our theoretical prediction is consistent with a numberof experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles with size of 20-30nm were synthesized in water at room temperature with a self-made novel imidazoline Gemini surfactant quaternary ammonium salt of di (2-heptadecyl-1-formyl aminoethyl imidazoline) hexanediamine. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, and Fourier transforminfrared ray were used to characterize the Ag nanoparticles. Results showed that the micellized aggregation of imidazoline Gemini surfactant in water, the growth of Ag initial particles, and the interaction (adsorption and coordination) between surfactant and Ag+/Ag nanoparticles took place simultaneously to form the well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles. Catalytic results show that the surfacemodified Ag product was an active metal catalyst for methyl orange reduction reaction due to the effective adsorption between Ag nanoparticles and methyl orange molecules, which was of promising application in environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arsenic (As) concentration in different tissues of maize was analyzed using a set of RIL populations derived from an elite hybrid, Nongda108. The results showed that the trend of As concentration in the four measured tissues was leaves>stems>bracts>kernels. Eleven QTLs for As concentration were detected in the four tissues. Three QTLs for As concentration in leaves were mapped on chromosomes 1, 5, and 8, respectively. For As concentration in the bracts, two QTLs were identified, with 9.61% and 10.03% phenotypic variance. For As concentration in the stems, three QTLs were detected with 8.24%, 14.86%, and 15.23% phenotypic variance. Three QTLs were identified for kernels on chromosomes 3, 5, and 7, respectively, with 10.73%, 8.52%, and 9.10% phenotypic variance. Only one common chromosomal region between SSR marker bnlg1811 and umc1243 was detected for QTLs qLAV1 and qSAC1. The results implied that the As accumulation in different tissues in maize was controlled by different molecular mechanism. The study demonstrated that maize could be a useful plant for phytoremediation of As-contaminated paddy soil, and the QTLs will be useful for selecting inbred lines and hybrids with low As concentration in their kernels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To synchronize their molecular rhythms, circadian pacemaker neurons must input both external and internal timing cues and, therefore, signal integration between sensory information and internal clock status is fundamental to normal circadian physiology. Methodology/Principal Findings: We demonstrate the specific convergence of clock-derived neuropeptide signaling with that of a deep brain photoreceptor. We report that the neuropeptide PDF receptor and the circadian photoreceptor CRYPTOCROME (CRY) are precisely co-expressed in a subset of pacemakers, and that these pathways together provide a requisite drive for circadian control of daily locomotor rhythms. These convergent signaling pathways influence the phase of rhythm generation, but also its amplitude. In the absence of both pathways, PER rhythms were greatly reduced in only those specific pacemakers that receive convergent inputs and PER levels remained high in the nucleus throughout the day. This suggested a large-scale dis-regulation of the pacemaking machinery. Behavioral rhythms were likewise disrupted: in light:dark conditions they were aberrant, and under constant dark conditions, they were lost. Conclusions/Significance: We speculate that the convergence of environmental and clock-derived signals may produce a coincident detection of light, synergistic responses to it, and thus more accurate and more efficient re-setting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that assesses the impact of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) on female workers in three 1-BP factories in Yixing, China. Researchers did four-time investigations on 60 female and 26 male workers and found 1-BP decreased the sensory nerve conduction velocity of female workers' aural nerve, red blood cells and hematocrit. They concluded that it induced dose-dependent neurotoxicity of female workers.

Background: The Hepatitis B Virus X protein (HBx) plays a major role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, however, its contribution to tumor invasion and metastasis has not been established so far. Heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90alpha) isoform is an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone that maintains the active conformation of client oncoproteins in cancer cells, which is abundantly expressed in HCC, especially in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related tumors, might be involved in tumor progression. Methods: The levels of HSP90alpha, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p- ERK1/2) and c-Myc in HBx-transfected HepG2 cells were determined by western blots analysis. The endogenous ERKs activity was demonstrated by ELISA assay. The regulation of c-Myc-mediated HSP90 alpha promoter transactivation by HBx was evaluated through electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA). The c-Myc-mediated HSP90alpha transcription was analysed by promoter assay. The HBx-expressing cells were transfected with specific small interference RNA (siRNA) against c-Myc. The in vitro invasion potentials of cells were evaluated by Transwell cell invasion assay. Results: HBx induces HSP90alpha expression at the transcription level. The induction effect of HBx was inhibited after treatment with c-Myc inhibitor, 10058-F4. In addition, the luciferase activity of the HSP90alpha promoter analysis revealed that the HBx is directly involved in the c-Myc-mediated transcriptional activation of HSP90alpha. Furthermore, HBx induces c-Myc expression by activation of Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 cascades, which in turn results in activation of the c-Myc-mediated HSP90alpha promoter and subsequently up-regulation of the HSP90alpha expression. Overexpression of HSP90alpha in HBx-transfected cells enhances tumor cells invasion. siRNA-mediated c-Myc knockdown in HBx-transfected cells significantly suppressed HSP90alpha expression and cells invasion in vitro. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the ability of HBx to promote tumor cells invasion by a mechanism involving the up-regulation of HSP90alpha and provide new insights into the mechanism of action of HBx and its involvement in tumor metastasis and recurrence of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C22H20CdCuN8O5, monoclinic, P21/c (No. 14), a=9.6729(7) Å, b=18.9327(13) Å, c=15.0121(8) Å, β=118.323(3)°, V=2420.1(3) ų, Z=4, Rgt(F)=0.0213, wRref(F²)=0.0560, T=110(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the influence of the surface field on lamellar morphologies that form in a diblock copolymer melt confined in a cylindrical nanopore, using self-consistent mean-field theory. By varying the pore diameter and surface field strength and by introducing a slight composition asymmetry, we systematically explore the stability regions of parallel and perpendicular lamellar phases and accurately compute the phase boundaries. When the surface field is weak, or the natural period of the lamellae is incommensurate with the pore size, lamellae perpendicular to the pore wall are preferred. A strong surface preference and/or a small composition asymmetry can lead to the formation of concentric parallel lamellae. In narrow pores, we find that complex structures can exist as equilibrium phases between regions of parallel and perpendicular lamellae. When we reduce the volume fraction of the block preferred by the pore wall, this composition asymmetry competes with the surface preference and can lead to the formation of perpendicular lamellae. This suggests a route to produce perpendicular lamellar phases in the common experimental situation where a surface preference is present. This competition also enables us to characterize the strength of the surface field in the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen receptors (ER) belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily, and two subtypes, ERα and ERβ, have been identified to date. The differentiated functions and receptor expressions of ERα and ERβ made it attracted to discover subtype-specified ligands with high selectivity. However, these two subtypes are highly homologous and only two residues differ in the ligand binding pocket. Therefore, the mechanism of ligand selectivity has become an important issue in searching selective ligands of ER subtypes. In this study, steered molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to investigate the unbinding pathways of two selective ERβ ligands from the binding pocket of both ERα and ERβ, which demonstrated that the pathway between the H11 helix and the H7∼H8 loop was the most probable for ligand escaping. Then potentials of mean force for ligands unbinding along this pathway were calculated in order to gain insights into the molecular basis for energetics of ligand unbinding and find clues of ligand selectivity. The results indicated that His524/475 in ERα/ERβ acted as a “gatekeeper” during the ligand unbinding. Especially, the H7∼H8 loop of ERβ acted as a polar “transmitter” that controlled the ligand unbinding from the binding site and contributed to the ligand selectivity. Finally, the mechanism of ligand selectivity of ER subtypes was discussed from a kinetic perspective and suggestions for improving the ligand selectivity of ERβ were also presented. These findings could be helpful for rational design of highly selective ERβ ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behavior of ternary homopolymer/gradient copolymer blends is studied theoretically using a multiblock model of gradient copolymers. Critical lines and Lifshitz points of the blends are determined by a random phase approximation analysis. Phase diagrams and microphase structures of the blends are studied using self-consistent mean-field theory. It is discovered that the chain gradient distribution has a significant effect on the phase behavior of the blends. When the chain gradient distribution is gradual, a larger amount of copolymers and a higher incompatibility are needed for the formation of a microphase. In addition, the ability of copolymer domains to absorb homopolymers decreases, whereas the solubility of copolymers in homopolymer matrix increases, as the gradient distribution becomes gradual. Another important effect is that gradient copolymers lead to a broad interface between two incompatible polymers. These results indicate that interfacial structure and morphology of these blends can be fine-tuned by specifically designed gradient distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behavior of A(BC)nBA multiblock copolymer melts is investigated using self-consistent mean-field theory (SCMFT). Solutions of the SCMFT equations corresponding to hierarchical lamellar structures are obtained. The free energy of these structures are used to construct phase diagrams. It is predicted that hierarchical lamellar structures with different number of “internal” BC layers can be formed. The number of BC layers of the stable lamellar structure is determined by the competition between chain entropy and interfacial energy. It is found that more BC layers are preferred when the interactions between A and BC blocks are much stronger than that between B and C blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The response of subaqueous dunes to the variation of riverine sediment supply in an estuary is rarely reported. Five sets of field measurements of bed sediments and topography were made in the Changjiang estuary, China during dry and flood seasons for the past 9 years. Results show that dunes were mainly three-dimensional (3D) during flood seasons and two-dimensional (2D) dunes during dry seasons. Dunes were also much larger in flood seasons. Dunes mainly occurred within the main channels of the estuary although they extended 11.7km seaward of their normal extent in the South Channel during dry seasons from 2002 to 2006. This extension of the dune field is likely due to a sharp decline of sediment discharge caused by large reservoirs such as Three Gorges. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Estrogen receptor (ER) and (ER) are ligand activated transcription factors that have different physiological functions and differential expression in certain tissues. The ligand binding domain of ER shares 58% sequence identity with that of ER. However, in the binding pocket there are only two relative residue substitutions. This high similarity at the active site is a great challenge for designing selective estrogen receptor modulators. ER is shown to be related to several diseases. To understand the molecular basis of ER selectivity, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for both ER and ER complexes. Our simulations revealed the conformational changes at the active site of the ERs and the difference of affinity with ligand. The electrostatic repulsion between the Satom of ER Met421 and the acetonitrile group nitrogen atom of the ligand led to unfavorable binding. The repulsion resulted in the conformational change of the side chain of ER Met421, which changed the conformation of both Leu346 and Phe425. These residues changes expanded the volume of binding cavity, which led to unstable binding of the ligand. In addition, ER Met336 formed more hydrophobic contacts with the ligand relative to corresponding residue ER Leu384. Furthermore, the binding free energy analysis was shown to be correlated with the previous results determined by experiment. At last, free energy decomposition evidently indicated the contributions of key residues. The present results could help explain the mechanism of ER selectivity and may be considered in the design of subtype-selective ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphologies and crystal structures of a series of even−even polyamides X18 have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), where X varies from 2 to 12. It is shown that solution-grown crystals of these polyamides are lath-like lamellae, which consist of chain-folded hydrogen-bonded sheet. Selected-area electron diffraction reveals that both pphase and pphase present in these samples except for polyamide 2 18, while the latter only shows pcrystal structure. Moreover, the unit cell parameters of all polyamides under consideration are obtained based on electron diffraction and WAXD results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents an analytical solution for two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane P waves by circular-arc alluvial valleys with shallow saturated soil deposits. The solution is based on Biot''s dynamic theory for saturated porous media, and derived by employing Fourier–Bessel series expansion technique. In this analysis, soil deposits in the circular-arc valley are modeled as saturated porous media based on Biot''s dynamic theory, and the circular-arc valley is assumed to be imbedded in an infinite half-space, filled with elastic single-phase media. Numerical results from this solution show that the amplitudes of displacement at the surface of an alluvial valley are mainly relative to the angle of incidence, the dimensionless frequency of incident P wave, the degree of saturation and porosity of soil deposits, and the stiffness and Poisson''s ratio of the solid skeleton of the soil deposits. Furthermore, the proposed solution is compared with the previous solution, in which the soil deposit was modeled as an elastic single-phase solid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: On the basis of Biot dynamic theory, an analytic solution of two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SV waves by circular cylindrical canyons in a half space of saturated porous media is presented in this paper for the first time. The solution is obtained by employing the Fourier–Bessel series expansion technique. Parametric studies had been carried out, which includes: the angle of incidence, the frequency of the incident SV wave, the porosity of saturated porous medium and the stiffness and Poisson''s ratio of the solid-skeleton. All the outcomes are useful for the seismic analysis of the surface topography conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Antioxidant action of Rosmarinic acid (Ros A), a natural phenolic ingredient in many Lamiaceae herbs such as Perilla frutescens, sage, basil and mint, was analyzed in relation to the Ik-B activation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Ros A inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein synthesis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and also effectively suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced superoxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Peroxynitrite-induced formation of 3-nitrotyrosine in bovine serum albumin and RAW264.7 macrophages were also inhibited by Ros A. Moreover, Western blot analysis demonstrated that LPS-induced phosphorylation of Ik-Bα was abolished by Ros A. Ros A can act as an effective protector against peroxynitrite-mediated damage, and as a potent inhibitor of superoxide and NO synthesis; the inhibition of the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are partly based on its ability to inhibit the serine phosphorylation of Ik-Bα. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) possess an otherwise functional sense of taste, they, unlike most mammals, do not prefer and may be unable to detect the sweetness of sugars. One possible explanation for this behavior is that cats lack the sensory system to taste sugars and therefore are indifferent to them. Drawing on work in mice, demonstrating that alleles of sweet-receptor genes predict low sugar intake, we examined the possibility that genes involved in the initial transduction of sweet perception might account for the indifference to sweet-tasting foods by cats. We characterized the sweet-receptor genes of domestic cats as well as those of other members of the Felidae family of obligate carnivores, tiger and cheetah. Because the mammalian sweet-taste receptor is formed by the dimerization of two proteins (T1R2 and T1R3; gene symbols Tas1r2 and Tas1r3), we identified and sequenced both genes in the cat by screening a feline genomic BAC library and by performing PCR with degenerate primers on cat genomic DNA. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR of taste tissue, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. The cat Tas1r3 gene shows high sequence similarity with functional Tas1r3 genes of other species. Message from Tas1r3 was detected by RT-PCR of taste tissue. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies demonstrate that Tas1r3 is expressed, as expected, in taste buds. However, the cat Tas1r2 gene shows a 247-base pair microdeletion in exon 3 and stop codons in exons 4 and 6. There was no evidence of detectable mRNA from cat Tas1r2 by RT-PCR or in situ hybridization, and no evidence of protein expression by immunohistochemistry. Tas1r2 in tiger and cheetah and in six healthy adult domestic cats all show the similar deletion and stop codons. We conclude that cat Tas1r3 is an apparently functional and expressed receptor but that cat Tas1r2 is an unexpressed pseudogene. A functional sweet-taste receptor heteromer cannot form, and thus the cat lacks the receptor likely necessary for detection of sweet stimuli. This molecular change was very likely an important event in the evolution of the cat's carnivorous behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach is proposed towards on-line and real-time detection and isolation of parametric faults in a multivariable linear continuous-time (CT) system. The problem of fault detection and isolation (FDI) is formulated in terms of a CT state space model. Since parameters in a CT model usually have simple relationships with physical parameters of the system, isolating parametric faults in the CT model can lead to the isolation of undesired changes in the physical parameters. Isolating parametric faults is very challenging, because even in a linear time-invariant system, the fault model can be time-varying and random. To obtain a constant fault model, many existing parametric FDI schemes have to make unrealistical assumptions. Our proposed FDI approach can generate an optimal primary residual vector (PRV), in which the fault model is constant without making any assumptions. To isolate faults, the PRV is transformed into a set of structured residual vectors (SRVs), where one SRV is made insensitive to a specified subset of faults, but most sensitive to other faults. The proposed approach is successfully applied to detection and isolation of undesired changes in the physical parameters of a simulated continuously stirred tank process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During ongoing C-type retrovirus infection, the probability of leukemia caused by insertional gene activation is markedly increased by the emergence of recombinant retroviruses that repeatedly infect host cells. The murine mink cell focus-inducing (MCF) viruses with this property have acquired characteristic changes in the N-terminal domain of their envelope glycoprotein that specify binding to a different receptor than the parental ecotropic virus. In this report, we show that MCF virus infection occurs through binding to this receptor (termed Syg1) and, remarkably, by a second mechanism that does not utilize the Syg1 receptor. By the latter route, the N-terminal domain of the ecotropic virus glycoprotein expressed on the cell surface in a complex with its receptor activates the fusion mechanism of the MCF virus in trans. The rate of MCF virus spread through a population of permissive human cells was increased by establishment of trans activation, indicating that Syg1 receptor-dependent and -independent pathways function in parallel. Also, trans activation shortened the interval between initial infection and onset of cell-cell fusion associated with repeated infection of the same cell. Our findings indicate that pathogenic retrovirus infection may be initiated by virus binding to cell receptors or to the virus envelope glycoprotein of other viruses expressed on the cell surface. Also, they support a broader principle: that cooperative virus-virus interactions, as well as virus-host interactions, shape the composition and properties of the retrovirus quasispecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the exception of an ability of a cat to taste sweet stimuli and identifies the DNA sequences and examined the structures of the genes, Tas1r2 and Tas1r3, of domestic animals that identifies the sweet receptor heteromer TIR2/TIR3 in other animals. Cat circumvallate and fungiform papillae were exposed to polyclonal antibodies against T1R3 and T1R2. It shows that T1R3 was present in the taste buds of circumvallate and fungiform papillae. It was concluded that cats fail to respond to sweet stimuli and it provides on the development of carnivorous behavior in Felidae.

C22H22ClCoN4O10, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 8.4566(7) Å, b = 11.9163(7) Å, c = 12.4333(9) Å, α = 99.770(1)°, β = 103.490(1)°, γ = 90.290(1)°, V = 1199.38(15) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0295, wRref(F2) = 0.0774, T = 150 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive plants often impact the abiotic and biotic conditions of the ecosystems they invade. These impacts can persist after the removal of the invader as legacy effects that may hamper restoration. We assessed whether the invasion of Cumberland Plain Woodland in Australia by African Olive impacts the performance of native species through legacy effects. We also tested whether the addition of soil inocula from uninvaded Cumberland Plain Woodland and rhizosphere soils can mitigate the effects of invaded soils on native plant performance. To do this, we grew four native Cumberland Plain Woodland species (Australian Indigo, Climbing Saltbush, Hickory Wattle, Wedge-leaf Hop-bush) in mesocosms containing either uninvaded Cumberland Plain Woodland soil, African Olive-invaded Cumberland Plain Woodland soil or invaded Cumberland Plain Woodland soil inoculated with uninvaded or native rhizosphere soil. We found invaded soils to not consistently impact the growth of the Cumberland Plain Woodland species studied. In invaded soil, Hickory Wattle produced lower above and belowground biomass, Climbing Saltbush produced lower belowground biomass and Australian Indigo had a lower root to shoot ratio compared to plants grown in Cumberland Plain Woodland soil. The nodulation of Australian Indigo did not differ between soil treatments, while that of Hickory Wattle responded positively to inoculation. Our results suggest that the addition of native soil biota may improve the outcomes of ecological restoration projects on a species-specific basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]