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Abstract Background The taxonomy of Taxus Linn. remains controversial due to its continuous phenotypic variation and unstable topology, thus adversely affecting the formulation of scientific conservation strategies for this genus. Recently, a new ecotype, known as Qinling type, is mainly distributed in the Qinling Mountains and belongs to a monophyletic group. Here, we employed multiple methods including leaf phenotype comparison (leaf shapes and microstructure), DNA barcoding identification (ITS + trnL-trnF + rbcL), and niche analysis to ascertain the taxonomic status of the Qinling type. Results Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences in the morphological characters (length, width, and length/width ratio) among the Qinling type and other Taxus species. Leaf anatomical analysis indicated that only the Qinling type and T. cuspidata had no papilla under the midvein or tannins in the epicuticle. Phylogenetic analysis of Taxus indicated that the Qinling type belonged to a monophyletic group. Moreover, the Qinling type had formed a relatively independent niche, it was mainly distributed around the Qinling Mountains, Ta-pa Mountains, and Taihang Mountains, situated at an elevation below 1500 m. Conclusions Four characters, namely leaf curvature, margin taper, papillation on midvein, and edges were put forward as primary indexes for distinguishing Taxus species. The ecotype Qingling type represented an independent evolutionary lineage and formed a unique ecological niche. Therefore, we suggested that the Qingling type should be treated as a novel species and named it Taxus qinlingensis Y. F. Wen & X. T. Wu, sp. nov.

IntroductionMagnolia grandiflora L. (southern magnolia) is native to the southeastern coastal areas of the United States, from North Carolina to eastern Texas (USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 8). It is currently widely cultivated in Zones 5-10 in the U.S. and in southern Yangtze River regions in China. Limited studies have examined the effects of climate change and human activities on the geographical distribution and adaptability of M. grandiflora during its introduction to China.MethodsWe selected 127 occurrence points in the U.S. and 87 occurrence points in China, along with 43 environmental variables, to predict suitable habitat areas for M. grandiflora using present climate data (1970-2000) and projected future climate data (2050-2070) based on a complete niche ensemble model (EM) using the Biomod2 package. We also predicted the niche change of M. grandiflora in both countries using the 'ecospat' package in R.ResultsThe ensemble models demonstrated high reliability, with an AUC of 0.993 and TSS of 0.932. Solar radiation in July, human impact index, and precipitation of the wettest month were identified as the most critical variables influencing M. grandiflora distribution. The species shows a similar trend of distribution expansion under climate change scenarios in both countries, with predicted expansions towards the northwest and northeast, and contractions in southern regions.DiscussionOur study emphasizes a practical framework for predicting suitable habitats and migration of Magnoliaceae species under climate change scenarios. These findings provide valuable insights. for species conservation, introduction, management strategies, and sustainable utilization of M. grandiflora.

Mountains of Southwest China (MSC) serve as a prominent geographical distribution center for Rhododendron delavayi and Rhododendron irroratum (Ericaceae). These mountains are currently experiencing an unparalleled warming trend, which poses severe challenges to the survival of these keystone alpine Rhododendron species. However, the geographical distribution responses of these species to climate change remain incompletely understood and are often overlooked. Here, we constructed ensemble models (EMs) using ten models of five algorithms to calibrate ecological niche models and predict suitable habitat areas for the two Rhododendron species across four climate emission scenarios over three distinct periods. Our analysis indicated the higher importance of elevation than temperature and precipitation in shaping the spatial distribution of the two alpine Rhododendron species. The current suitable habitats of R. delavayi and R. irroratum have areas spanning 14.85 × 104 and 11.01 × 104 km2, respectively, which are mostly distributed in the western and central regions of MSC. The suitable habitat of R. delavayi is projected to decrease by 15.09–75.31 %, but the potential habitat of R. irroratum is expected to shrink by12.71 % to 76.8 % in different future climate scenarios. The suitable habitats of these species may become confined in a “summit trap” within relatively low-altitude regions, whereas habitats distributed at high altitudes may serve as “biological refuges.” The future distribution of the two alpine Rhododendron species will shift to high altitudes in westward and northward regions, with substantial thermal and hydrothermal changes as the primary drivers of habitat alteration and migration patterns. The losses or benefits for species under climate warming depend on their ecological niches and geographical location, which provide a geographical guidance for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of species and essential insights into the spatial conservation assessment of alpine plant groups in biodiversity hotspots in the future.

Plant lead (Pb) tolerance and accumulation are key characteristics affecting phytoremediation efficiency. Bermudagrass is an excellent candidate for the remediation of Pb-polluted soil, and it needs to be mowed regularly. Here, we explored the effect of different mowing frequencies on the remediation of Pb-contaminated soil using bermudagrass. Mowing was found to decrease the biomass and photosynthetic efficiency of bermudagrass under Pb stress, thereby inhibiting its growth. Although mowing exacerbated membrane peroxidation, successive mowing treatments alleviated peroxidation damage by regulating enzymatic and nonenzymatic systems. A comprehensive evaluation of Pb tolerance revealed that all the mowing treatments reduced the Pb tolerance of bermudagrass, and a once-per-month mowing frequency had a less negative effect on Pb tolerance than did more frequent mowing. In terms of Pb enrichment, mowing significantly increased the Pb concentration, total Pb accumulation, translocation factor (TF), and bioenrichment factor (BCF) of bermudagrass. The total Pb accumulation was greatest under the once-a-month treatment, while the TF and BCF values were greatest under the three-times-a-month mowing treatment. Additionally, the decrease in soil pH and DOC were significantly correlated with the soil available Pb content and plant Pb accumulation parameters. The results showed that changes in the rhizosphere are crucial factors regulating Pb uptake in bermudagrass during mowing. Overall, once-a-month mowing minimally affects Pb tolerance and maximizes Pb accumulation, making it the optimal mowing frequency for soil Pb remediation by bermudagrass. This study provides a novel approach for the remediation of Pb-contaminated soil with bermudagrass based on mowing.

ObjectiveThe involvement of immune cells in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their interplay with metabolic disorders are yet to be fully elucidated. This study examines how peripheral immune cells, inferred genetically, affect CRC and investigates the intermediary roles of metabolites.MethodsWe employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to assess the causal influence of immune cells on CRC. Additionally, a two-step MR strategy was utilized to pinpoint potential metabolites that mediate this effect. Our analysis incorporated data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), involving 731 immune cell types, 1,400 metabolites, and CRC outcomes. The primary method of analysis was randomized inverse variance weighting (IVW), supported by MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode analyses. Sensitivity checks were conducted using Cochran’s Q test, MR-PRESSO test, MR-Egger regression intercept, and leave-one-out analysis.ResultsThe study identified 23 immune cell types and 17 metabolites that are causally linked to CRC. Our mediation analysis highlighted that nine metabolites act as intermediaries in the relationship between nine specific immune cells and CRC risk. Notably, The ratios of Adenosine 5’-monophosphate (AMP) to aspartate and Retinol (Vitamin A) to linoleoyl-arachidonoyl-glycerol (18:2 to 20:4) were found to concurrently mediate the promoting effects of Myeloid DC %DC and BAFF-R on B cells in colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, iminodiacetate (IDA) was found to mediate the protective effect of CD14+ CD16- monocytes on CRC, contributing 11.8% to this mediation. In contrast, IDA was also seen to decrease the protective effect of IgD+ CD38br %B cells on CRC risk, with a mediation effect proportion of -10.4%.ConclusionThis study delineates a complex network involving immune cells, metabolites, and CRC, suggesting a multifaceted pathophysiological interaction. The identified causal links and mediation pathways underscore potential therapeutic targets, providing a foundation for interventions aimed at modulating immune responses to manage CRC.

Ag-based solid solutions have gained significant attention in the electronic packaging field due to their remarkable plasticity. In this work, the generalized planar fault energy (GPFE), critical strength and stresses, and electronic properties after adding solutes with different types and size misfits were studied for Ag-based solid solutions. Furthermore, we explored the underlying mechanism behind the impact of solutes on the plasticity of Ag and confirmed it through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) analyses. Importantly, we introduced the novel concepts of size and chemical misfit factors, electronic factors, and twinning factor into the plasticity enhancement mechanism of Ag-based solution systems. The predictions based on these factors were in agreement with experimental observations using TEM and HRTEM. Remarkably, the (Ag)–Bi system exhibited the lowest critical resolved shear stress for slip and twinning, as well as the most superior plasticity, positioning it as a crucial candidate for future development. This study presents a scientific framework for designing and developing Ag-based solid solutions with excellent plasticity, encompassing size/chemical factors, electronic factors, and twinning factor.

Abstract In this paper, a main gearbox using an encased differential gear train to achieve coaxial contra-rotating is considered, and a dynamic modeling method of the rotor–stator coupling system of the gearbox based on box model updating is introduced. The transverse torsional dynamic model of the gear transmission subsystem is established based on the lumped parameter method. The finite element model of the box is updated according to the modal test data, and the reduced dynamic parameters of the box are obtained. According to the displacement coordination condition, the dynamic model of the rotor–stator system of the gearbox is established. The vibration response of the transmission components with or without the coupling box is calculated by numerical integration, and the response of the box caused by the dynamic support reaction force is analyzed by the finite element method. The results show that the vibration peak and fluctuation range of the transmission parts with coupling box are smaller than those without coupling box. The box response at the support of the input bevel gear pair is large, while that at the support of the output shaft is small.

Abstract In received signal strength (RSS) based radio source localisation, RSS measurements can be converted to the squared distance estimates between the emission source and the sensors to construct a system of pseudolinear equations, allowing for the use of the weighted linear least squares (WLLS) estimators for location estimation. The WLLS estimators are widely applied in practice because of their simplicity and computational efficiency. Nevertheless, the major challenge of this approach lies in estimating the squared distance from RSS measurements governed by the log‐normal shadowing effect. A pseudo conditional distribution (PCD) of the squared distance between the emission source and the sensor is introduced first, given the RSS measurement at each sensor. Then, the authors propose a series of new WLLS location estimators, using three typical statistical characteristics, that is, mean, median, and mode, of the PCD. Analysis of their estimation performance are also provided through performance rankings in terms of their mean square errors and covariances. It is found that estimation performance of the PCD‐induced WLLS estimators heavily depends on the choice of the statistical characteristic of the PCD and different choices lead to estimators with better, worse, or equal performance. Numerical examples show that the proposed mode‐WLLS estimator always performs better than the existing WLLS estimators, and also better than the existing convex optimisation based algorithms in most cases but with much less computations.

The genus Lagerstroemia L. (Lythraceae), known for its exquisite flowers and prolonged flowering period, is commonly employed in traditional medicinal systems across Asian countries, where it has always been consumed as tea or employed to address ailments such as diabetes, urinary disorders, coughs, fevers, inflammation, pain, and anesthesia. Its diverse uses may be attributed to its rich active ingredients. Currently, at least 364 biological compounds have been identified from Lagerstroemia extracts, encompassing various types such as terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. Extensive in vitro and in vivo experiments have examined the pharmacological activities of different extracts, revealing their potential in various domains, including but not limited to antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, 20 core components have been proven to be associated with antidiabetic and hypoglycemic effects of Lagerstroemia. Overall, Lagerstroemia exhibit substantial medicinal potential, and the alignment between its traditional applications and contemporary pharmacological findings present promising opportunities for further investigation, particularly in food and health products, drug development, herbal teas, and cosmetics. However, evidence-based pharmacological research has largely been confined to in vitro screening and animal model, lacking clinical trials and bioactive compound isolations. Consequently, future endeavors should adopt a more holistic approach.

Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial impact of plants on the overall well-being of elderly individuals. However, there remains a gap in our understanding which specific plant species have a notable influence on the physical and mental health of the elderly population. Among the various woody ornamental plants used worldwide, crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) holds a growing significance in the natural environment. This study aimed to investigate the physiological parameters (such as blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and fingertip pulse) as well as psychological aspects (measured using positive and negative affect schedule scores and smile face scale) associated with crape myrtle observation activities. The finding revealed the following key points: 1) engaging in crape myrtle observation activities significantly enhanced the physical and mental well-being of elderly participants; 2) the impact of observing crape myrtle flowers differed notably from that of observing its leaves, with flower observation having a more positive effect on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals; and 3) the natural environment was found to exert an influence on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals through visual stimulation. Following the observation of crape myrtle, there was a significant decrease in the physiological indices of elderly individuals. Our findings offer valuable insights into the therapeutic benefits of crape myrtle observation activities and contributing evidence-based recommendations for future landscape design aimed at enhancing well-being.

Abstract China has became the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market, and the number of her registered clinical trials exceeded 3000 in 2021. Although thousands of healthy volunteers are participating in a large number of clinical trials in this country, there is no report about the characteristics, recognition, attitude of Chinese healthy volunteers and their concerns of clinical trials. A questionnaire survey was designed and given to 324 healthy volunteers participating in clinical trials in Wuhan, China. Four important findings emerged from our data. First, young, single and less educated men constituted the majority of Chinese healthy volunteers. Second, differences between the male and female healthy volunteers were observed. Female healthy volunteers are supposed to face more challenges and pressure in life, be more cautious about the clinical trials and more concerned about their health and feelings than the male. Third, no sociodemographic characteristic was associated with poorly understanding of the protocol research content, which was subjectively evaluated. Fourth, more support from society/family and more positive media reports about the participation of healthy volunteers in clinical trials are badly needed. These findings would help us to get a better understanding of Chinese healthy volunteers as a group for protecting them and promoting drug development.

Light oil, a high-quality energy resource abundant in deep basins, is prevalent in the northern zone of the Dongying Depression. To elucidate the formation mechanism of light oil reservoirs, this study investigates the molecular and stable isotope composition, biomarkers, light hydrocarbons, and diamondoid compositions of petroleum. The results reveal that the gas primarily consists of oil-cracking gas from a late filling event, mixed with oil-associated gas generated during the source rock’s “oil window” maturity phase. Methane exhibits enriched light carbon isotopes, indicating noticeable migration fractionation effects. The crude oil in the same deep strata exhibits high maturity, originating from both terrestrial and aquatic organic matter in the source materials. Molar proportions of n-alkanes and light hydrocarbon indices (Tol/nC7, nC7/MCH) indicate significant evaporative fractionation in the petroleum reservoirs. This fractionation process modified early-formed oil reservoirs due to the late filling of highly mature gas reservoirs. The evaporative fractionation at different stages has varying effects on the diamondoid ratio (1- + 2-MA)/(3- + 4-MD). It is considered a pivotal mechanism in the formation of deep condensate reservoirs and volatile oil reservoirs.

Lagerstroemia is a genus with a wide geographical range extending from Southeast Asia to Australia, and it plays a significant role in many aspects of urban life, including supporting ecosystems, beautifying cities, and affecting human health. To gain insights into the current state of Lagerstroemia research, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using 138 publications from the Web of Science core database between 2002 and 2022. The analysis involved co-occurrence analyses of authors’ affiliated institutions, a keyword co-occurrence analysis, and a timeline view of keywords. The results of the analysis revealed three stages of Lagerstroemia research: the initial stage (2002–04); the rapid growth stage (2005–13); and the in-depth stage (2014–present). Furthermore, 335 keywords from 10 clusters were identified, which indicated that genetic diversity, breeding, and landscape utilization were the three main research areas of Lagerstroemia. Collaboration among authors mainly occurred within major natural and cultivated regions, such as China and the United States. Based on the bibliometric evaluation, future research of Lagerstroemia should focus on areas such as whole-genome sequencing, male sterility problems, resistance, ornamental characteristics, and landscape utilization guidelines. The findings of this study provide an important reference for further studies and can guide the development, innovation, and application of Lagerstroemia.

ABSTRACT: Malus is an important ornamental plant around the world and widely used in commercial production due to its diversity and wide adaptability. ‘Zi Dieer’ crabapple has good adaptability to a wide temperature range (high and low), disease resistance, and high commercial value. To satisfy the market demand, we established ‘Zi Dieer’ crabapple micro-regeneration system for large-scale reproduction. Induced buds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg/L) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA: 0.05, 0.1, 0.3 mg/L) for 35 days. The highest bud induction rate (93.3%) was observed on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 0.1 mg/L NAA, with average micro-shoot length of 1.32 cm. The germinated buds (1 cm in length) were propagated and cultured on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg/L) and NAA (0.1, 0.3, 0.5 mg/L), after 35 days, on the MS basal medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L BAP and 0.3 mg/L NAA, the best average number of new shoots is 8.56±0.13 (P

Silver-indium solid solution is the key material in advancing low-temperature/pressure solid-state technology for electronics packaging, due to its rare solid solution softening (SSS) phenomenon. In this work, the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for slip, ideal shear strength and critical twinning stress of silver-indium disordered solid solutions were systematically evaluated by the generalized planar fault energy (GPFE) analysis, using first-principles modelling. Compared with others, Ag-based metals have much lower ideal shear strength and critical twinning stress, whereas the CRSS for slip of silver-indium solid solutions decreases with the increases of indium content, therefore exhibiting a general trend of softening behaviors. For the first time, the electronic origin of silver-indium SSS mechanism has been unveiled, where the modification of its GPFE structure was the fundamental cause for the reduction of CRSS for slip, critical twinning stress and the corresponding SSS phenomenon. As confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, this work presents a new design criterion for the next-generation solid-state bonding materials development.

Ilex × attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ represents a yellow leaf mutant originating from I. × attenuata ‘Foster#2’, a popular ornamental woody cultivar. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this leaf color mutation remain unclear. Using a comprehensive approach encompassing cytological, physiological, and transcriptomic methodologies, notable distinctions were discerned between the mutant specimen and its wild type. The mutant phenotype displayed aberrant chloroplast morphology, diminished chlorophyll content, heightened carotenoid/chlorophyll ratios, and a decelerated rate of plant development. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to chlorophyll metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis and photosynthesis. The up-regulation of CHLD and CHLI subunits leads to decreased magnesium chelatase activity, while the up-regulation of COX10 increases heme biosynthesis—both impair chlorophyll synthesis. Conversely, the down-regulation of HEMD hindered chlorophyll synthesis, and the up-regulation of SGR enhanced chlorophyll degradation, resulting in reduced chlorophyll content. Additionally, genes linked to carotenoid biosynthesis, flavonoid metabolism, and photosynthesis were significantly down-regulated. We also identified 311 putative differentially expressed transcription factors, including bHLHs and GLKs. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf color mutation in I. × attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ and provide a substantial gene reservoir for enhancing leaf color through breeding techniques.

Ilex L. (holly), Aquifoliaceae, represents the largest woody dioecious genus within the angiosperm phylum. Ilex species are primarily cultivated for their ornamental and pharmaceutical properties (Yao et al. 2022; Zhou et al. 2022). There are ∼700 deciduous and evergreen trees or shrubs in the Ilex genus, distributed globally from tropical to temperate regions. China, in particular, nourishes more than 200 documented species (Cuénoud et al. 2000; Su et al. 2020; Yao et al. 2020). Although hundreds of species exist in the genus Ilex, their flowers and fruits are fairly uniform compared with their leaves (Yao et al. 2016). Ilex leaves are diverse in terms of texture, shape, size, color, and margins, and these characteristics significantly contribute to their germplasm identification and commercial values (Chong et al. 2022). Ilex dabieshanensis ‘Ning Qing 3’ is a unique cultivar for its peculiar oblong leaf morphology (Chong et al. 2023).

Magnolia figo (Lour.) DC. var. crassipes (Law) Figlar & Noot. is a captivating, purple-flowered plant of the Magnoliaceae family (Magnolia). It is a small tree or shrub up to 2 to 5 m in height. Indigenous to China, M. figo var. crassipes holds a significant position as a parental contributor in controlled crosses within the Magnoliaceae lineage. This acclaim arises from its strikingly deep-purple hue and the entrancing fragrance exuded by its blossoms. Magnolia figo is a native to the southern provinces of China. This evergreen shrub maintains a stature of 2 to 3 m and has garnered popularity for its aromatic blooms. Notably, both M. figo var. crassipes and M. figo exhibit considerable potential in terms of development and use as ornamental trees. Their intrinsic value finds expression in horticulture, garden design, and urban landscapes, as elaborated by Chai et al. (2018).

Abstract Phellodendron has always been of great significance in promoting human health and ecological restoration. However, human activities and climate change have severely affected habitat, population dynamics and sustainable use of Phellodendron. Little is known about the geographical distribution pattern and their responses to climate change of Phellodendron. In order to reveal the impact of climate change on Phellodendron, we conducted a study based on natural distribution data of two species (297 occurrence points), 20 environmental factors, and an optimized MaxEnt model. Our results identified the main environmental factors influencing Phellodendron, predicted their potential geographical distribution, and assessed migration trends under climate change in China. Our analysis showed that Ph. amurense and Ph. chinense have potential suitable habitats of 62.89 × 104 and 70.71 × 104 km2, respectively. Temperature and precipitation were found to play an essential role in shaping the present geographical distribution of Phellodendron populations. Based on two future climate scenarios, we forecasted that the potential suitable habitat of Ph. amurense would decrease by 12.52% (SSP245) and increase by 25.28% (SSP585), while Ph. chinense would decline by 19.61% (SSP245) and 15.78% (SSP585) in the late‐21st century. The potential suitable habitats of Ph. amurense and Ph. chinense would shift to northward and westward, respectively. Hydrothermal change was found to be the primary driver of the suitable habitat of Phellodendron populations in the future. We recommend establishing nature reserves for existing Phellodendron populations, especially Ph. chinense. Our study provided a practical framework for the impact of climate change on the suitable habitat of Phellodendron species and guided regional cultivation, long‐term conservation, and sustainable use.

Somnolence is a common adverse effect of antipsychotic drugs used to treat psychotic disorders. It causes problems in many areas of life, such as gainful employment, driving, childcare, and social interactions. Somnolence is a major problem for a relatively new antipsychotic drug, lurasidone, whose dose-effect relationship remains unclear. Based on data from a bioequivalence study of two 40 mg lurasidone hydrochloride tablets, we designed two case-control studies to explore the correlation between somnolence and exposure to lurasidone and determine the factors associated with lurasidone-induced somnolence. In the first case-control study, lurasidone was administered to healthy volunteers; 30 experienced somnolence (as pre-defined) but 29 did not. Moreover, plasma concentration at 1 h was significantly associated with somnolence (OR = 1.124; p = 0.001). In the second case-control study, 48 volunteers administered lurasidone were classified into somnolence and no-somnolence groups based on different time-related criteria. We observed a positive association between plasma concentration at 0.75 h and somnolence (OR = 1.024; p = 0.002). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that a plasma lurasidone concentration >21.65 ng/mL 1 h after administration strongly predicted somnolence. Our findings in healthy volunteers need to be further validated in patients in clinical settings to determine the optimal dose and duration of lurasidone administration.

As a popular ornamental plant and an effective species for controlling rocky desertification, the identification and protection of potential habitats of Lagerstroemia excelsa habitats hold significant importance. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the natural resources and growing conditions for L. excelsa, predictive modeling was employed to estimate the potential geographical distribution of the species during the Mid-Holocene (MH), the present, and the years 2050 and 2070. The projection was based on current occurrences, and we selected the relevant environmental attributes through the Pearson analysis and the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt). The analysis revealed that temperature and precipitation are the primary environmental factors influencing L. excelsa distribution, with the Wuling Mountains identified as a center distribution hub for this species. The anticipated suitable area for L. excelsa is expected to experience marginal expansion under future climate scenarios. These results are invaluable for guiding the protection and sustainable utilization of L. excelsa in the face of climate change. Additionally, the data generated can be leveraged for enhanced introduction, breeding, selection, and cultivation of L. excelsa, taking into account the challenges posed by global warming.

Abstract Background Elaeagnus angustifolia L. is a deciduous tree in the family Elaeagnaceae. It is widely used to study abiotic stress tolerance in plants and to improve desertification-affected land because of its ability to withstand diverse types of environmental stress, such as drought, salt, cold, and wind. However, no studies have examined the mechanisms underlying the resistance of E. angustifolia to environmental stress and its adaptive evolution. Methods Here, we used PacBio, Hi-C, resequencing, and RNA-seq to construct the genome and transcriptome of E. angustifolia and explore its adaptive evolution. Results The reconstructed genome of E. angustifolia was 526.80 Mb, with a contig N50 of 12.60 Mb and estimated divergence time of 84.24 Mya. Gene family expansion and resequencing analyses showed that the evolution of E. angustifolia was closely related to environmental conditions. After exposure to salt stress, GO pathway analysis showed that new genes identified from the transcriptome were related to ATP-binding, metal ion binding, and nucleic acid binding. Conclusion The genome sequence of E. angustifolia could be used for comparative genomic analyses of Elaeagnaceae family members and could help elucidate the mechanisms underlying the response of E. angustifolia to drought, salt, cold, and wind stress. Generally, these results provide new insights that could be used to improve desertification-affected land.

Hafnium-based ferroelectric memories are a promising approach to enhancing integrated circuit performance, offering advantages such as miniaturization, compatibility with CMOS technology, fast read and write speeds, non-volatility, and low power consumption. However, FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) still faces challenges related to endurance and retention susceptibility to process variations. Hence, testing and obtaining the core parameters of ferroelectric capacitors continuously is essential to investigate these phenomena and explore the potential solution. The traditional method for measuring ferroelectric capacitors has limitations in timing generation capability, introduces parasitic capacitance, and lacks accuracy for small-area capacitors. In this study, we analyzed the working principle of ferroelectric capacitors and designed a method to detect the remnant polarization, saturation polarization, and imprint offset of ferroelectric capacitors. Further, we further proposed a circuit implementation method. The proposed test circuit conquers these limitations and enables high-precision testing of ferroelectric capacitors, contributing to developing hafnium-based ferroelectric memories. The circuit includes a flip-readout circuit, a capacitance calibration circuit, and a voltage-to-time converter and time-to-digital converter (VTC&TDC) readout circuit. According to simulation results, the capacitance calibration circuit reduces the deviation of the capacitance by 84%, and the accuracy of the readout circuit is 5.91 bits, with a readout time of 150 ns and a power consumption of 1 mW. This circuit enables low-cost acquisition of array-level small-area ferroelectric capacitance data, which can guide subsequent device optimization and circuit design.

Abstract Background In angiosperms, phenotypic variation of floral organs is often considered as the traditional basis for the evolutionary relationship of different taxonomic groups above the species level. However, little is known about that at or below the species level. Here, we experimentally tested the phenotypic variation of Malus floral organs using combined methods of intraspecific uniformity test, interspecific distinctness analysis, principal component analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and Q-type cluster analysis. The ancestor-inclined distribution characteristic analysis of Malus species and cultivars floral attributes was also carried out, so as to explore its taxonomic significance. Results 15/44 phenotypic traits (e.g., flower shape, flower type, flower diameter, ...) were highly consistent, distinguishable, and independent and could be used as the basis for Malus germplasm taxonomy. The studied 142 taxa were divided into two groups (A, B) and five sub-groups (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3), with significantly variable floral phenotypic attributes between groups and within sub-groups. Malus natural species were relatively clustered in the same section (series) while homologous cultivars showed evidence of ancestor-inclined distribution characteristics. However, no significant correlation between the evolutionary order of sections (Sect. Docyniopsis → Sect. Chloromeles → Sect. Sorbomalus → Sect. Eumalus) and group/sub-groups (B3 → B2 → B1 → A). Conclusions Phenotypic variation of floral organs could better explore the genetic relationship between Malus taxa. The findings improved our cognition of floral phenotypic variation taxonomic significance under the species level.

Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-based multi-level cell (MLC) ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM) has great potential for high-density storage applications. However, it is usually limited by the issues of a small operation margin and a large input offset. The study of circuit design and optimization for MLC FeRAM is necessary to solve these problems. In this work, we propose and simulate a configuration for a Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-based 3TnC MLC FeRAM macro circuit, which also presents a high area efficiency of 12F2 for each bit. Eight polarization states can be distinguished in a single fabricated Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-based memory device for potential MLC application, which is also simulated by a SPICE model for the subsequent circuit design. Therein, a nondestructive readout approach is adopted to expand the reading margin to 450 mV between adjacent storage levels, while a capacitorless offset-canceled sense amplifier (SA) is designed to reduce the offset voltage to 20 mV, which improves the readout reliability of multi-level states. Finally, a 4 Mb MLC FeRAM macro is simulated and verified using a GSMC 130 nm CMOS process. This study provides the foundation of circuit design for the practical fabrication of a Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-based MLC FeRAM chip in the future, which also suggests its potential for high-density storage applications.

PurposeDuring the COVID-19 outbreak, medical staff working in high-risk workplaces had a higher rate of epidemic infection. They also faced heavy workloads and pressure, which means they are more likely to suffer from psychological problems than others. To understand the mental health of medical staff during the epidemic, we explore the characteristics of medical staff susceptible to negative psychological emotions during the outbreak of public safety and health events. At the same time, we provide corresponding prevention and intervention measures to help them relieve negative emotions, this study compared the psychological symptoms of front-line and non-front-line medical staff, then explored its influencing factors.MethodsThis research investigated 5,924 medical staff in Guangdong, Beijing, Hubei, Hainan, Jiangxi, and Henan in China. The questionnaires were released online by Questionnaire Star, and levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social support were measured by Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS).ResultsThe depressive, anxious, and insomniac scores of front-line medical staff during the COVID-19 epidemic period were higher than those of non-front-line with significant differences (P < 0.001). In addition, front-line nurses went through the most serious psychological problems. Age, education, and anxiety level were the influencing factors of depression and insomnia in front-line medical staff. Among them, age was a protective factor for depression (OR = 0.71

The WRKY gene family plays important roles in plant growth and development, as well as in the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum has high ornamental and medicinal value. However, few WRKY genes have been reported in this plant, and their functions remain unknown. To explore the roles that the WRKY genes play in L. chinense var. rubrum, we identified and characterized 79 LcWRKYs through BLAST homology analysis and renamed them (as LcWRKY1–79) based on their distribution on the chromosomes of L. chinense var. rubrum. In this way, according to their structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, they were divided into three groups containing 16 (Group I), 52 (Group II), and 11 (Group III) WRKYs, respectively. LcWRKYs in the same group have similar motifs and gene structures; for instance, Motifs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10 constitute the WRKY domain and zinc-finger structure. The LcWRKY promoter region contains light response elements (ACE, G-box), stress response elements (TC-rich repeats), hormone response elements (TATC-box, TCA-element), and MYB binding sites (MBS, MBSI). Synteny analysis of LcWRKYs allowed us to establish orthologous relationships among the WRKY gene families of Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Solanum lycopersicum L., Vitis vinifera L., Oryza sativa L., and Zea mays L.; furthermore, analysis of the transcriptomes of mature leaves and flowers from different cultivars demonstrated the cultivar-specific LcWRKY gene expression. The expression levels of certain LcWRKY genes also presented responsive changes from young to mature leaves, based on an analysis of the transcriptome in leaves at different developmental stages. White light treatment led to a significant decrease in the expression of LcWRKY6, 18, 24, 34, 36, 44, 48, 61, 62, and 77 and a significant increase in the expression of LcWRKY41, blue light treatment led to a significant decrease in the expression of LcWRKY18, 34, 50, and 77 and a significant increase in the expression of LcWRKY36 and 48. These results enable a better understanding of LcWRKYs, facilitating the further exploration of their genetic functions and the molecular breeding of L. chinense var. rubrum.

Light quality is a vital environmental signal used to trigger growth and to develop structural differentiation in plants, and it influences morphological, physiological, and biochemical metabolites. In previous studies, different light qualities were found to regulate the synthesis of anthocyanin. However, the mechanism of the synthesis and accumulation of anthocyanins in leaves in response to light quality remains unclear. In this study, the Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum “Xiangnong Fendai” plant was treated with white light (WL), blue light (BL), ultraviolet-A light (UL), and blue light plus ultraviolet-A light (BL + UL), respectively. Under BL, the leaves were described as increasing in redness from “olive green” to “reddish-brown”. The chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin, and total flavonoid content were significantly higher at 7 d than at 0 d. In addition, BL treatment also significantly increased the accumulation of soluble sugar and soluble protein. In contrast to BL, ultraviolet-A light increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activities of three antioxidant enzymes in the leaves, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in varying degrees over time. Moreover, we also found that the CRY-like gene, HY5-like gene, BBX-like gene, MYB-like gene, CHS-like gene, DFR-like gene, ANS-like gene, and UFGT-like gene were significantly upregulated. Furthermore, the SOD-like, POD-like, and CAT-like gene expressions related to antioxidase synthesis were found under ultraviolet-A light conditions. In summary, BL is more conducive to reddening the leaves of “Xiangnong Fendai” and will not lead to excessive photooxidation. This provides an effective ecological strategy for light-induced leaf-color changes, thereby promoting the ornamental and economic value of L. chinense var. rubrum.

The Loropetalum chinense and Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum are typical as well as traditional ornamental and Chinese herbal medicines in Asia; however, more information is needed on the mechanisms underlying their flower coloring. Here, we profiled the flavonoid metabolome and carried out full-length sequencing in addition to transcriptome analyses to investigate the flavonoid biosynthesis and global transcriptome changes among different petal coloring cultivars of L. chinense and L. chinense var. rubrum. The total anthocyanins in addition to the RHSCC values and CIE 1976 L*a*b* values of petals were highly consistent with petal color. Moreover, a total of 207 flavonoid components were identified. Of these, 13 flavonoid compounds were considered significantly different expression compounds highly consistent with color information in the 4 samples. Meanwhile, the first reference full-length transcriptome of L. chinense var. rubrum was built, which had 171,783 high-quality nonredundant transcripts with correcting with next-generation sequencing (NGS). Among them, 52,851 transcripts were annotated in the seven databases of NR, KOG, GO, NT, Pfam, Swiss-Port, and KEGG. Combined with NGS analyses, the DETs involved in flavonoids and anthocyanins contributed greatest to the flower coloring. Additionally, the different expressions of eight LcDFRs and four LcANS genes were positively correlated with flavonoid biosynthesis, and the four LcBZ1 as well as one Lc3Mat1 were positively correlated with the content of seven anthocyanins revealed by coupling with metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses. Together, these results were used to mine candidate genes by analyzing flower coloring changes at comprehensive metabolic and transcriptomic levels in L. chinense and L. chinense var. rubrum.

MIKCC-type MADS-box genes are involved in floral organ identity determination but remain less studied in the Malus lineage. Based on the conserved domains of this gene family, we identified 341 genes among 13 species. Classification results showed that the MIKCC-type were generated later than the M-type, after the formation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. By phylogenetic analysis, three different groups were divided among 12 plant species, and one group was an ancestral MIKCC-type MADS-box homologous gene cluster from lower moss to higher flowering plants. Comparative analysis of these genes in A. thaliana and Malus lineages revealed a similar pattern evolutionary relationship with the phylogenetic analysis. Three classes of genes of the ABC model in A. thaliana had orthologous genes in the Malus species, but they experienced different evolutionary events. Only a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event was considered to act on the expansion of ABC-model-related genes in the Malus lineage. Additionally, the expression pattern of genes showed to be involved in flowering development stages and anther development processes among different M. domestica cultivars. This study systematically traced the evolutionary history and expansion mechanism of the MIKCC-type MADS-box gene family in plants. The results also provided novel insights for ABC model research of flower development in the Malus lineage.

China is the distribution center of Malus and has 22 of the 35 worldwide species (Li, 1999). Chinese crabapples (Malus) were introduced to North America and Europe in the 18th century and were planted widely.

Regarding applicative, facile, green chemical research, a bio-inspired approach is being reported for the synthesis of Ag nanoparticles by pectin as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent without using any toxic and harmful reagent. The biosynthesized Pectin/Ag NPs were characterized by advanced physicochemical techniques like ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) study. It has been established that pectin-stabilized silver nanoparticles have a spherical shape with a mean diameter from 15 to 20 nm. After that, the biological performance of those biomolecules functionalized Ag NPs was investigated. In the MTT assay, human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-8 [HRT-18], Ramos.2G6.4C10, HT-29, and HCT 116) and normal cell lines (HUVEC) were used to study the cytotoxicity and anticancer potential of human colorectal over the AgNO3 and Pectin/Ag NPs. The cell viability of Pectin/Ag NPs was very low against human colorectal carcinoma cell lines without any cytotoxicity on the normal (HUVEC) cell line. The best anti-human colorectal carcinoma properties of Pectin/Ag NPs against the above cell lines was in the case of the HCT 116 cell line. The antioxidant properties of the AgNO3 and Pectin/Ag NPs were calculated against DPPH free radicals. The IC50 of Pectin/Ag NPs was 167 µg/mL. According to the above results, the Pectin/Ag NPs may be administrated to treat human colorectal carcinoma in humans.

Ilex dabieshanensis K. Yao & M. B. Deng is not only a highly valued tree species for landscaping, it is also a good material for making kuding tea due to its anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering medicinal properties. Utilizing next-generation and long-read sequencing technologies, we assembled the whole chloroplast genome of I. dabieshanensis. The genome was 157,218 bp in length, exhibiting a typical quadripartite structure with a large single copy (LSC: 86,607 bp), a small single copy (SSC: 18,427 bp) and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRA and IRB: each of 26,092 bp). A total of 121 predicted genes were encoded, including 113 distinctive (79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs) and 8 duplicated (8 protein-coding genes) located in the IR regions. Overall, 132 SSRs and 43 long repeats were detected and could be used as potential molecular markers. Comparative analyses of four traditional Ilex tea species (I. dabieshanensis, I. paraguariensis, I. latifolia and I. cornuta) revealed seven divergent regions: matK-rps16, trnS-psbZ, trnT-trnL, atpB-rbcL, petB-petD, rpl14-rpl16, and rpl32-trnL. These variations might be applicable for distinguishing different species within the genus Ilex. Phylogenetic reconstruction strongly suggested that I. dabieshanensis formed a sister clade to I. cornuta and also showed a close relationship to I. latifolia. The generated chloroplast genome information in our study is significant for Ilex tea germplasm identification, phylogeny and genetic improvement.

Abstract Background Phenotypic diversity of floral organs plays an important role in plant systematic taxonomy and genetic variation studies. Previous research have focused on the direction of variation but disregarded its degree. Phenotypic variation (including directions and degrees) of 17 floral traits from wild to cultivated crabapples were explored by comparing their distributions and deviations in three different dimensions: floral organ number, size, and the shape. Results Except for petal number, petal length / petal width, and sepal length / sepal width, the analyzed floral traits of cultivated crabapples all showed downward distributed box bodies in box plot analysis and left deviations of fitted curves in frequency distribution function analysis when compared to the wild, which revealed consistent variation directions of petaloid conversion (pistils or stamens → petals), size miniaturization (large → small), and shape narrowness (petal shape: circular → elliptic; sepal shape: triangular → lanceolate). However, only seven floral traits exhibited significant differences in box plot analysis, while all of the traits in frequency distribution function analysis were obviously offset. The variation degrees were quantitatively characterized by sizing traits > shaping traits > numbering traits and by horizontal dimensions > radial dimensions. Conclusions Frequency distribution function analysis was more sensitive than the box plot analysis, which constructed a theoretical basis for Malus flower type breeding and would provide a new quantitative method for future evaluation of floral variation among different groups of angiosperms at large.

Background: Icariin, a traditional Chinese medicine, plays a protective role in the treatment of exercise fatigue. Zinc, a trace element, plays an important role in the reproductive system. Therefore, we aimed to synthesize an Icariin-Zinc complex (by chemical means) and verify its protective effect on exercise fatigue and the reproductive system using animal experiments.Methods: The icariin-zinc complex was prepared by the reaction of icariin carbonyl and zinc ions (molar ratio 1:3). The molecular formula and structural formula of the complex were identified and tested. Fifty-six rats selected by swimming training were randomly divided into six groups: static control, exercise control, icariin, gluconate zinc (G-Zn group), icariin glucose zinc and icariin-zinc exercise ( low, high dose/L-E group, H-E group) groups. These groups respectively received the following doses: 1 ml/100 g, daily gavage with NS (for the first two groups), 45 mg/kg icariin, 110 mg/kg Gluconate Zinc, Icariin glucose zinc (45 mg/kg Icariin and 110 mg/kg Gluconate Zinc), 60 mg/kg icariin zinc and 180 mg/kg icariin zinc. After 3 weeks of gavage, we conducted 6 weeks of exhaustive swimming training. Test indices such as exhaustive swimming time of rats and body weight were evaluated after the last training exercise. The seminal vesicles, testes, and prostate gland were weighed, and their indices were calculated. The levels of testosterone (in the plasma) and glycogen (in the liver and muscle homogenates) were also evaluated using ELISA.Results: Compared with the static control group, the exhaustive swimming time of the rats in each group was prolonged. Compared with the other groups, the exhaustive swimming time of the L-E and H-E groups was significantly longer (p < 0.01); the Icariin-Zinc complex significantly increased the exhaustive swimming time of the rats. Compared with the static control group, the plasma testosterone content of the L-E and H-E groups increased significantly (p < 0.05). Compared with the exercise control group and G-Zn group, the plasma testosterone content of the H-E group also increased significantly (p < 0.01). The Icariin-Zinc complex significantly increased the serum levels of testosterone in rats. Compared with the control group, the muscle glycogen reserves of each group decreased, indicating that the muscle glycogen reserves of the rats decreased after swimming. Compared with other groups, the Icariin-Zinc complex can reduce the level of glycogen in the muscles, indicating that it can increase the utilization efficiency of glycogen in muscles. Compared with the static control and exercise control groups, the testicular weight of rats in the administration groups increased slightly. The Icariin-Zinc complex increased the testicular weight, indicating that the function of the reproductive system was improved to some extent.Conclusion: Icariin-Zinc can significantly prolong the exhaustive swimming time, improve exercise ability, and increase the plasma testosterone level (which is beneficial for improving the reproductive ability of male rats). Moreover, the beneficial effect of Icariin-Zinc on the glycogen content, testis index, and other reproductive system glands is dose-dependent.