Governance of Friedrich-Wintgen bound states in the continuum by tuning the internal coupling of meta-atoms.

Bound state in the continuum (BIC) is a phenomenon that describes the perfect confinement of electromagnetic waves despite their resonant frequencies lying in the continuous radiative spectrum. BICs can be realized by introducing a destructive interference between distinct modes, referred to as Friedrich-Wintgen BICs (FW-BICs). Herein, we demonstrate that FW-BICs can be derived from coupled modes of individual split-ring resonators (SRR) in the terahertz band. The eigenmode results manifest that FW-BICs are in the center of the far-field polarization vortices. Quasi-BIC-I keeps an ultrahigh quality factor (Q factor) in a broad momentum range along the Γ-X direction, while the Q factor of the quasi-BIC-II drops rapidly. Our results can facilitate the design of devices with high-Q factors with extreme robustness against the incident angle.

In Situ N, O Co-Doped Nanoporous Carbon Derived from Mixed Egg and Rice Waste as Green Supercapacitor.

The conversion of nitrogen-oxygen-rich biomass wastes into heteroatomic co-doped nanostructured carbons used as energy storage materials has received widespread attention. In this study, an in situ nitrogen-oxygen co-doped porous carbon was prepared for supercapacitor applications via a two-step method of pre-carbonization and pyrolytic activation using mixed egg yolk/white and rice waste. The optimal sample (YPAC-1) was found to have a 3D honeycomb structure composed of abundant micropores and mesopores with a high specific surface area of 1572.1 m2 g-1, which provided abundant storage space and a wide transport path for electrolyte ions. Notably, the specific capacitance of the constructed three-electrode system was as high as 446.22 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 and remained above 50% at 10 A g-1. The capacitance retention was 82.26% after up to 10,000 cycles. The symmetrical capacitor based on YPAC-1 with a two-electrode structure exhibited an energy density of 8.3 Wh kg-1 when the power density was 136 W kg-1. These results indicate that porous carbon materials prepared from mixed protein and carbohydrate waste have promising applications in the field of supercapacitors.

Yangxinshi Tablet Improves Exercise Capacity for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: Results from a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Multicenter Trial.

Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness of Yangxinshi (YXS) tablets on exercise capacity and symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods and Results: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed to assess the effects of YXS tablets on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with CHD. A total of 82 patients were included in this trial. Compared with the placebo group, the YXS group showed significant improvement in peak VO 2 (0.22 L/min vs 0.01 L/min; difference 0.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.16, p = 0.000), peak Mets (0.58 vs 0.09; difference 0.3, 95% CI 0.12-0.47, p = 0.005), anaerobic threshold (AT) VO 2 (0.23 L/min vs 0.04 L/min; difference 0.12, 95% CI 0.07-0.18, p = 0.000), AT Mets (0.62 vs 0.16; difference 0.35, 95% CI 0.2-0.5, p = 0.001), and 6 minutes walking test (6MWT) (50.05 m vs 11.91 m; difference 29.92, 95% CI 18.78-41.07, p = 0.000). There were no differences in Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A score (1.97 vs 2.07; difference 2.03, 95% CI 0.99-3.06, p = 0.926) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) score (1.06 vs 1.7; difference1.42, 95% CI 0.24-2.6, p = 0.592). Conclusions: In patients with CHD, YXS tablets, compared with placebo, could improve exercise capacity, without beneficial effects on anxiety and depression symptoms.

Chloroplast phylogenomics and character evolution of eastern Asian Astragalus (Leguminosae): Tackling the phylogenetic structure of the largest genus of flowering plants in Asia.

Astragalus, as the largest genus of the flowering plants, is well-known for its high species richness and morphological diversity. Previous studies suggested that many of the subgenera of Astragalus are not monophyletic and the phylogenetic relationships within the genus are still poorly known. In this study, we sampled 117 accessions of Astragalus and its close relatives, covering 55 sections of the genus plus 30 outgroup taxa to recover the main clades of eastern Asian Astragalus based on sequences of the whole chloroplast genome and 65 chloroplast CDSs. Astragalus is supported to be monophyletic and it is sister to the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade. Within Astragalus, we recovered ten clades, and the ten clades differ substantially from Bunge's subgenera. The former segregate genus Astracantha is also monophyletic, but embedded within Astragalus s. str., supporting the merge of the spiny former genus Astracantha with Astragalus. We detected the atpF intron losses in the chloroplast genome of the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade, i.e., the sister clade to Astragalus. Furthermore, we estimated the ancestral states of the trichome morphology and habit via the Bayesian Binary Method. The medifixed hair type is inferred to have developed at least five times and the annual habit originated at least six times. In addition, Astragalus is estimated to have originated in the mid Miocene (stem age, 16.09 Ma, 95% HPD: 12.46-20.50 Ma). The divergence times of the medifixed hair groups ranged from 4.03 to 0.87 Ma, mostly 2-1 Ma, which are correlated with the estimated phased uplifts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). We hypothesize that the uplifts of the QTP, which contributed to aridification in eastern Asia and the adjacent regions, may have accelerated the rapid speciation of Astragalus, especially the xerophilous groups (i.e. the medifixed hair groups).

Measurement of Magic Wavelengths for the

We demonstrate experimentally the existence of magic wavelengths and determine the ratio of oscillator strengths for a single trapped ion. For the first time, two magic wavelengths near 396 nm for the ^{40}Ca^{+} clock transition are measured simultaneously with high precision. By tuning the applied laser to an intermediate wavelength between transitions 4s_{1/2}→4p_{1/2} and 4s_{1/2}→4p_{3/2}, the sensitivity of the clock transition Stark shift to the oscillator strengths is greatly enhanced. Furthermore, with the measured magic wavelengths, we determine the ratio of the oscillator strengths with a deviation of less than 0.5%. Our experimental method may be applied to measure magic wavelengths for other ion clock transitions. Promisingly, the measurement of these magic wavelengths paves the way to building all-optical trapped ion clocks.

[Relationship between occupational stress and depression in migrant workers].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between occupational stress and depression in migrant workers. METHODS: Migrant workers in the textile industry were selected as subjects, and the self-made Occupational Stress Questionnaire and Self-rating Depression Scale were used to investigate the sex, age, seniority, educational level, and marital status of these subjects. Data analysis was performed by independent-samples t test, analysis of variance, Spearman rank correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Sex, seniority, and educational level were not influential factors for depression scores. The lower age group had a higher moderate depression score than the higher age group; the unmarried group had a higher moderate depression score than the married group. Severe depression was negatively correlated with decision-making power, psychological job demands, social support, and external pay-return, but positively correlated with skills and internal input; moderate depression was positively correlated with psychological job demands and external pay, but negatively correlated with other factors; mild depression was negatively correlated with all factors. The stepwise regression analysis showed that the influential factors for depression included, from major to minor, supervisor support, skills, internal input, and colleague support, according to the standardized regression coefficients; internal input was the contribution factor, and the remaining ones were negative factors. CONCLUSION: Among migrant workers, certain mental health problems exist, and occupational stress is associated with depression.

Hedysarumqilianshanense sp. nov. (Fabaceae, Hedysareae), a new species from the Qilianshan Mountains in Gansu, China.

Hedysarumqilianshanensesp. nov. (Fabaceae, Hedysareae) is described and illustrated from the Qilianshan Mountains in Gansu, China. This new species is similar to H.przewalskii, but can be distinguished by its corolla being light purple to purple, standard 15-19 mm long, wings 14-16 mm long, keels 16-19 mm long, and the ovary and legume being glabrous. The new species can be easily distinguished from H.neglectum Ledeb. by its bract being shorter than the pedicel, and the ovary and legume being glabrous. Phylogenetic tree based on the nuclear ITS and ETS sequences shows that H.qilianshanense is sister to H.przewalskii, while the tree based on the plastid psbA-trnH, trnC-petN, trnL-F, trnS-G and petN-psbM sequences shows H.qilianshanense as sister to a clade consisting of H.hedysaroides, H.inundatum, H.americanum and H.neglectum. The new species is a diploid with the chromosome number 2n = 14. Based on morphological, phylogenetic and karyotypic evidence, the new species may originate from an ancient homoploid hybrid speciation event.

Non-stationarity of runoff and sediment load and its drivers under climate change and anthropogenic activities in Dongting Lake Basin.

Analysing non-stationarity in runoff and sediment load is crucial for effective water resource management in the Dongting Lake basin amid climate change and human impacts. Using the Mann-Kendall test, Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape framework, and Random Forest models, we evaluated non-stationarity and its drivers in the annual runoff and annual sediment load series at eight hydrological stations from 1961 to 2021. These stations include three inflow sites at the Jingjiang Three Outlets (Ouchi, Songzi, and Hudu Rivers), four inflow sites in the Four Rivers basin (Xiang, Zi, Yuan, and Li Rivers), and one outflow site at Chenglingji. Results revealed a significant decrease in annual runoff at the Three Outlets and Chenglingji, while the Four Rivers basin showed no significant trend. The non-stationary models with multiple physically-based covariates better captured non-stationarity compared to single covariate models. Annual rainfall was a key contributor to annual runoff in the Four Rivers basin, while reservoir storage capacity played a more dominant role in the Three Outlets. At Chenglingji station, both factors significantly influenced annual runoff. For annual sediment load, reservoir storage capacity emerged as the most critical factor across all regions. These findings provide a basis for improving runoff and sediment regulation in the Dongting Lake basin.

Effective CO2 capture by in-situ nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon derived from waste antibiotic fermentation residues.

It is of great environmental benefit to rationally dispose of and utilize antibiotic fermentation residues. In this study, oxytetracycline fermentation residue was transformed into an in-situ nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon material with high CO2 adsorption performance by low-temperature pyrolysis pre-carbonization coupled with pyrolytic activation. The results indicated the activation under mild conditions (600 °C, KOH/OC = 2) was able to increase micropores and reduce the loss of in-situ nitrogen content. The developed microporous structure was beneficial for the filling adsorption of CO2, and the in-situ nitrogen doping in a high oxygen-containing carbon framework also strengthened the electrostatic adsorption with CO2. The maximum CO2 adsorption reached 4.38 mmol g-1 and 6.40 mmol g-1 at 25 °C and 0 °C (1 bar), respectively, with high CO2/N2 selectivity (32/1) and excellent reusability (decreased by 4% after 5 cycles). This study demonstrates the good application potential of oxytetracycline fermentation residue as in-situ nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon materials for CO2 capture.

In situ N, O co-doped porous carbon derived from antibiotic fermentation residues as electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

With the widespread use of antibiotics, the safe utilization of waste antibiotic fermentation residues has become an urgent issue to be resolved. In this study, in situ N, O co-doped porous carbon was prepared using fresh oxytetracycline fermentation residue under the mild activation of the green activator K2CO3. The optimal sample exhibited a 3D grid carbon skeleton structure, excellent specific surface area (SBET = 948 m2 g-1), and high nitrogen and oxygen content (N = 3.42 wt%, O = 14.86 wt%). Benefiting from its developed morphology, this sample demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance with a high specific capacitance of 310 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 in the three-electrode system. Moreover, it exhibited superior cycling stability with only a 5.32% loss of capacity after 10 000 cycles in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. Furthermore, the symmetric supercapacitor prepared from it exhibited a maximum energy density of 7.2 W h kg-1 at a power density of 124.9 W kg-1, demonstrating its promising application prospects. This study provided a green and facile process for the sustainable and harmless treatment of antibiotic fermentation residues.

Tension zone trapped by exogenous cline: Analysis of a narrow hybrid zone between two parapatric Oxytropis species (Fabaceae).

Hybrid zones have been widely highlighted for their interest in understanding evolutionary processes. It is generally accepted that hybrid zones can be maintained in a balance between dispersal and selection. However, the selective forces can either be endogenous (i.e., genetic incompatibilities between parental taxa) or exogenous (i.e., parental taxa are adapted to different environments). In this study, we evaluated these alternatives and determined the maintenance of a narrow hybrid zone between parapatric distributed Oxytropis diversifolia and O. leptophylla in Nei Mongol, China. For 507 individuals sampled from two populations in the hybrid zone, 12 O. diversifolia populations and five O. leptophylla populations, we measured leaf-morphological characteristics, quantified genetic structure using 11 nuclear microsatellite loci and five chloroplast DNA intergenic regions, collected micro- and macrohabitat data, and conducted geographical cline analysis. We found that the two species differed in leaf morphology, and putative hybrids showed either intermediacy or a bias to O. diversifolia. Parental taxa formed two genetically distinct clusters, while populations in the hybrid zone consisted of both parental forms and various admixed individuals, exhibiting a bimodal pattern. The hybrid zone was coupled to ecological transitions of both microhabitat (i.e., the slope) and macroclimatic conditions. However, the genetic clines were significantly narrower than the environmental cline. Our results indicate that endogenous selection can be primarily responsible for maintaining the hybrid zone, while local adaptation accounts for the position of the zone. We further suggest the probable outcome of hybridization could be introgression.

Effects of Water Availability on the Relationships Between Hydraulic and Economic Traits in the Quercus wutaishanica Forests.

Water availability is a key environmental factor affecting plant species distribution, and the relationships between hydraulic and economic traits are important for understanding the species' distribution patterns. However, in the same community type but within different soil water availabilities, the relationships in congeneric species remain ambiguous. In northwest China, Quercus wutaishanica forests in the Qinling Mountains (QM, humid region) and Loess Plateau (LP, drought region) have different species composition owing to contrasting soil water availability, but with common species occurring in two regions. We analyzed eight hydraulic traits [stomatal density (SD), vein density (VD), wood specific gravity (WSGbranch), lower leaf area: sapwood area (Al: As), stomatal length (SL), turgor loss point (ΨTlp), maximum vessel diameter (Vdmax) and height (Height)] and five economic traits [leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf tissue density (TD), leaf dry mass per area (LMA), Leaf thickness (LT) and maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax)] of congeneric species (including common species and endemic species) in Q. wutaishanica forests of QM and LP. We explored whether the congeneric species have different economic and hydraulic traits across regions. And whether the relationship between hydraulic and economic traits was determined by soil water availability, and whether it was related to species distribution and congeneric endemic species composition of the same community. We found that LP species tended to have higher SD, VD, WSGbranch, Al: As, SL, ΨTlp and Vdmax than QM species. There was a significant trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety across congeneric species. Also, the relationships between hydraulic and economic traits were closer in LP than in QM. These results suggested that relationships between hydraulic and economic traits, hydraulic efficiency and safety played the role in constraining species distribution across regions. Interestingly, some relationships between traits changed (from significant correlation to non-correlation) in common species across two regions (from LP to QM), but not in endemic species. The change of these seven pairs of relationships might be a reason for common species' wide occurrence in the two Q. wutaishanica forests with different soil water availability. In drought or humid conditions, congeneric species developed different types of adaptation mechanisms. The study helps to understand the environmental adaptive strategies of plant species, and the results improve our understanding of the role of both hydraulic and economic traits during community assembly.

Why More Leaflets? The Role of Natural Selection in Shaping the Spatial Pattern of Leaf-Shape Variation in Oxytropis diversifolia (Fabaceae) and Two Close Relatives.

Leaf shape exhibits tremendous diversity in angiosperms. It has long been argued that leaf shape can affect major physiological and ecological properties of plants and thus is likely to be adaptive, but the evolutionary evidence is still scarce. Oxytropis diversifolia (Fabaceae) is polymorphic for leaf shape (1 leaflet, 1-3 leaflets, and 3 leaflets) and exhibits clinal variation in steppes of Nei Mongol, China. With two close relatives predominantly fixed for one phenotype as comparison (Oxytropis neimonggolica with 1 leaflet and Oxytropis leptophylla with 5-13 leaflets), we used a comprehensive cline-fitting approach to assess the role of natural selection in shaping the spatial pattern of leaf-shape variation in this system. For 551 individuals sampled from 22 populations, we quantified leaf-morphological differentiation, evaluated patterns of neutral genetic variation using five chloroplast DNA intergenic regions and 11 nuclear microsatellite loci, and performed microhabitat and macroclimatic-association analyses. We found that 1-leaflet proportions in O. diversifolia populations significantly increased from west to east, and three phenotypes also differed in leaflet-blade size. However, compared with the other two species, populations of O. diversifolia showed little neutral genetic differentiation, and no population structure was detected at either marker. We further revealed that the leaf-shape cline could largely be explained by three macroclimatic variables, with leaflet number decreasing and leaflet-blade size increasing with annual precipitation and showing the reverse trends with temperature seasonality and isothermality. Our results suggest that spatially varying abiotic environmental factors contribute to shape the leaf-shape cline in O. diversifolia, while the interspecific pattern may be due to both local adaptation and historical events.

Whole genome based insights into the phylogeny and evolution of the Juglandaceae.

BACKGROUND: The walnut family (Juglandaceae) contains commercially important woody trees commonly called walnut, wingnut, pecan and hickory. Phylogenetic relationships and diversification within the Juglandaceae are classic and hot scientific topics that have been elucidated by recent fossil, morphological, molecular, and (paleo) environmental data. Further resolution of relationships among and within genera is still needed and can be achieved by analysis of the variation of chloroplast, mtDNA, and nuclear genomes. RESULTS: We reconstructed the backbone phylogenetic relationships of Juglandaceae using organelle and nuclear genome data from 27 species. The divergence time of Juglandaceae was estimated to be 78.7 Mya. The major lineages diversified in warm and dry habitats during the mid-Paleocene and early Eocene. The plastid, mitochondrial, and nuclear phylogenetic analyses all revealed three subfamilies, i.e., Juglandoideae, Engelhardioideae, Rhoipteleoideae. Five genera of Juglandoideae were strongly supported. Juglandaceae were estimated to have originated during the late Cretaceous, while Juglandoideae were estimated to have originated during the Paleocene, with evidence for rapid diversification events during several glacial and geological periods. The phylogenetic analyses of organelle sequences and nuclear genome yielded highly supported incongruence positions for J. cinerea, J. hopeiensis, and Platycarya strobilacea. Winged fruit were the ancestral condition in the Juglandoideae, but adaptation to novel dispersal and regeneration regimes after the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary led to the independent evolution of zoochory among several genera of the Juglandaceae. CONCLUSIONS: A fully resolved, strongly supported, time-calibrated phylogenetic tree of Juglandaceae can provide an important framework for studying classification, diversification, biogeography, and comparative genomics of plant lineages. Our addition of new, annotated whole chloroplast genomic sequences and identification of their variability informs the study of their evolution in walnuts (Juglandaceae).

Strong Environmental Filtering Based on Hydraulic Traits Occurring in the Lower Water Availability of Temperate Forest Communities.

The trait-based approaches have made progress in understanding the community assembly process. Here, we explore the key traits that may shape community assembly patterns of the same community type but within different water availabilities. Natural Quercus wutaishanica forests were chosen as a suitable study system to test the difference between economic and hydraulic traits across water availability on the Loess Plateau (LP, drought region) and Qinling Mountains (QL, humid region) of China. A total of 75 plots were established separately in two sites, and 12 functional traits (seven hydraulic traits and five economic traits) of 167 species were studied. Community-weighted mean trait values and functional diversity indices were compared between the two sites. Canonical component analysis was performed to infer whether the changes of community traits and their relationships are driven by intraspecific variation or species turnover. Evidence for likely community assembly processes was tested using the null model to determine whether functional structure among seven hydraulic traits and five economic traits was dominated by different ecological processes between two sites. We found that forests in the Loess Plateau and Qinling Mountains showed different hydraulic and economic traits. Hydraulic and economic traits coupled at the community level were driven by species turnover. Hydraulic traits showed more significant convergent patterns on LP than that in QL. Our results suggest a strong environmental filtering process occurred in hydraulic-based community assembly in the temperate forest with low water availability. Reveal the relationship of hydraulic and economic traits at the community level. Emphasize the critical role of multi-dimensional traits selecting like hydraulic traits in community ecology.

The complete chloroplast genome of Carex agglomerata C. B. Clarke (Cyperaceae), an endemic species from China.

Carex agglomerata C. B. Clarke is a sedge with excellent ornamental characters, it is an important ecosystem stabilizer. Here we report the complete chloroplast genome of C. agglomerata to provide a foundation for further phylogenetic studies on the Cyperaceae. The chloroplast (cp) genome is 184,157 bp in size and consists of a large single-copy (LSC) region 106,654 bp in length, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 36,099 bp, two inverted repeats (IR) regions each 20,702 bp. The total GC content of the cp genome is 33.9% with the LSC, SSC, and IR regions 32, 32.5, and 42.9%, respectively. The cp genome contains 128 genes, including 80 protein-coding, 40 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed C. agglomerata is in a clade with Carex neurocarpa Maxim and Carex siderosticta Hance. This study provides a basis for further phylogenetic studies of Carex.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Primula filchnerae Knuth (Primulaceae), an endangered species in China.

Primula filchnerae Knuth is an endangered species endemic to China. Its complete chloroplast genome was reported in this study for the first time. The whole chloroplast genome was 151, 443 base pairs in length with 131 genes, including 66 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. In addition, the accD was inferred to be a pseudogene. Phylogenetic analysis showed a sister relationship between P. filchnerae and P. sinensis Sabine ex Lindl.

Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet.

The composition of many Chenopodiaceae genera in different parts of Himalaya and Tibet has been insufficiently known or contradictory. A revision of the family in Himalaya including Bhutan, Nepal, parts of India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand) and Tibet (Xizang, China) is presented for the first time. Altogether, 57 species from 20 genera are reported, including three species new to science (Agriophyllumtibeticum, Salsolaaustrotibetica and Salsolahartmannii). Atriplexcentralasiatica, Corispermumdutreuilii and Salsolamonoptera are identified as new records for India and Chenopodiumpamiricum is recorded in China for the first time. Dysphaniaambrosioides and Sympegmaregelii are recorded for Xizang. The generic and species keys, species distributions (including maps) and taxonomic notes are provided. We indicate for the first time that the presence of short yellow hairs is the remarkable morphological characteristic of the genus Grubovia. Evident heterocarpy and heterospermy is found in Dysphania for the first time (Dysphaniatibetica). Agriophyllumpungens, Atriplexcrassifolia, Atriplexlaciniata, Atriplexsagittata, Axyrisamaranthoides, Axyrishybrida, Bassiaindica, Corispermumkorovinii, Dysphaniaschraderiana (=Chenopodiumfoetidum auct.), Halocharisviolacea and Suaedamicrosperma are excluded from the species list. Neobotrydiumcorniculatum is synonymised with Dysphaniakitiae, Neobotrydiumlongii with Dysphaniahimalaica and Neobotrydiumornithopodum seems to be conspecific with Dysphanianepalensis. Corispermumladakhianum is a new synonym of Corispermumtibeticum. Amaranthusdiandrus is added to the synonyms of Acroglochinpersicarioides, and Bassiafiedleri, previously considered as conspecific with Gruboviadasyphylla, is added to the synonymy of Bassiascoparia. Lectotypes of Anabasisglomerata (≡Halogetonglomeratus), Halogetontibeticus (=Halogetonglomeratus), Amaranthusdiandrus (=Acroglochinpersicarioides), Chenopodiumtibeticum (≡Dysphaniatibetica), Corispermumdutreuilii, Corispermumfalcatum, Corispermumlhasaense, Corispermumpamiricumvar.pilocarpum (=Corispermumgelidum, syn. nov.), Corispermumtibeticum, Kochiaindica(≡Bassiaindica), Kochiaodontoptera (≡Bassiaodontoptera) and Salsolamonoptera are selected. Out of 53 native elements, 42 are restricted in their distribution to Himalaya and Tibet at altitudes 2000-4500 m above sea level. The greatest taxonomic diversity of the Chenopodiaceae is represented in Jammu and Kashmir (India) and Xizang (China) with a continuous decrease in the number of species southwards.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Oxytropis bicolor Bunge (Fabaceae).

The first complete chloroplast genome of Oxytropis bicolor Bunge is reported and characterized in this study. The whole chloroplast genome was 122,461 base pairs in length with 110 genes, including 76 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. In addition, the atpF intron was absent. Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis indicated that O. bicolor and species of Astragalus were closely related, which is congruent with previous studies.

New morphological and DNA evidence supports the existence of Calligonum jeminaicum Z. M. Mao (Calligoneae, Polygonaceae) in China.

Calligonum jeminaicum Z. M. Mao, a species regarded as endemic to China, was thought to be nonexistent owing to a lack of scientific records. The similarity of C. jeminaicum to C. mongolicum Turcz. warranted an investigation into the taxonomical relationship between these species. In this study, a naturally occurring population of C. jeminaicum was discovered and the taxonomical relationships of this species with C. mongolicum were resolved. Morphological traits, including fruit and flower characteristics, as well as nuclear (ETS, ITS) and chloroplast (psbA-trnH, ycf6-psbM, rpl32-trnL, rbcL, and trnL-F) DNA sequence data were studied to confirm the taxonomic status of C. jeminaicum. The nrDNA data (ITS1-2 and ETS) from C. jeminaicum reflected variability from the whole C. mongolicum complex, showing distinctive haplotypes in the Calligonum sect. Medusa Sosk. & Alexandr. The cpDNA data supplied similar evidence, showing unique branching in Bayesian and ML tree analyses. The specific status of C. jeminaicum is confirmed based on both morphological and molecular analyses. Here we present a revised description of C. jeminaicum along with its DNA barcode and discuss suggestions for the conservation of this species. Based on current evidence, this species was evaluated as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN criteria.