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Background Styrax , a vital raw material for shipbuilding, construction, perfumes, and drugs, represents the largest and most diverse genus in the Styracaceae. However, there is a relative scarcity of research on Styrax , particularly in evolution and genetics. Therefore, this study conducted comparative and evolutionary analyses of the chloroplast genomes of five rare Styrax species ( S. argentifolius , S. buchananii , S. chrysocarpus , S. finlaysonianus , and S. rhytidocarpus ). Results The results indicated that, despite high levels of conservation in chloroplast genome structure among these species, specific mutation hotspot regions exist, particularly involving the expansion and contraction of the IR region. Additionally, evidence of positive selection was detected in eight genes ( atpB , ccsA , ndhD , petA , rbcL , rpoC1 , ycf1 , and ycf2 ), which may be associated with adaptive evolution in response to environmental changes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed conflicts between trees constructed based on coding sequences and complete chloroplast genomes for several species, which were similar to previous phylogenetic studies. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of increasing sample sizes to enhance the accuracy of phylogenetic analyses and provides a new perspective on understanding the adaptive evolution of Styrax species. These findings are not only important for the conservation and sustainable use of Styrax , but also provide valuable insights for research in plant evolution and ecology within the genus.

Viburnum laterale Rehder is a poorly known shrub endemic to southeastern China that has remained taxonomically unresolved since its publication more than a century ago. The species was known only from a few historical collections that lacked critical characters, and no living populations had been documented for nearly a century. Here, we report the rediscovery of this taxon and clarify its taxonomic identity using an integrative approach combining morphological and molecular evidence. Observations of living plants reveal several previously undocumented reproductive traits, including inflorescences with conspicuous white sterile marginal flowers, as well as fruit and seed morphology. Comparative analyses of living material, type specimens, and protologues indicate that V. laterale is most similar to V. hanceanum Maximowicz, with V. laterale differing mainly in its nearly absent indumentum, longer peduncles, and more coarsely serrate leaf margins. Phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast coding sequences, together with an expanded dataset comprising nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and three plastid markers (matK, ndhF, and rbcL), consistently place V. laterale within sect. Tomentosa (Maximowicz) Nakai, where it forms a strongly supported clade with V. hanceanum. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, V. laterale is transferred to sect. Tomentosa and treated as a variety of V. hanceanum, namely V. hanceanum var. depilatum M. Tang & L.C. Zhao. Our study resolves a long‐standing taxonomic problem and highlights the importance of rediscovering historically ambiguous taxa for accurate species delimitation in Viburnum. Viburnum laterale, a poorly known species endemic to southeastern China, is rediscovered after nearly a century and reassessed using integrated morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Newly documented reproductive traits and multilocus phylogenies place this taxon within Viburnum sect. Tomentosa, where it forms a strongly supported clade with V. hanceanum. Based on combined evidence, V. laterale is reduced to varietal rank as V. hanceanum var. depilatum, resolving a long‐standing taxonomic uncertainty.

Synotis lhozhagensis , a new species belonging to Senecioneae (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated herein after being discovered during biodiversity surveys in Lhozhag County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. This species is similar to S. acuminata (Wall. ex DC.) C.Jeffrey & Y.L.Chen, but differs mainly in having the ray floret absent (vs. 1), the leaf margins irregularly coarsely serrate (vs. finely mucronulate-serrate) and the phyllaries five (vs. three or four). It is also allied to S. glomerata C.Jeffrey & Y.L.Chen in growth habit, leaf blade morphology and inflorescence structure, but is distinguished by the corymbs loose and spreading (vs. dense and glomeruliform), the ligulate floret absent (vs. one or two) and the disc florets five (vs. three or four). Phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms its distinct taxonomic status within Synotis . A line drawing and colour plates, a geographic distribution map, a detailed comparison table including the aforementioned three species and the provisional IUCN status are provided.

, a new species belonging to Senecioneae (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated herein after being discovered during biodiversity surveys in Lhozhag County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. This species is similar to (Wall. ex DC.) C.Jeffrey & Y.L.Chen, but differs mainly in having the ray floret absent (vs. 1), the leaf margins irregularly coarsely serrate (vs. finely mucronulate-serrate) and the phyllaries five (vs. three or four). It is also allied to C.Jeffrey & Y.L.Chen in growth habit, leaf blade morphology and inflorescence structure, but is distinguished by the corymbs loose and spreading (vs. dense and glomeruliform), the ligulate floret absent (vs. one or two) and the disc florets five (vs. three or four). Phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms its distinct taxonomic status within . A line drawing and colour plates, a geographic distribution map, a detailed comparison table including the aforementioned three species and the provisional IUCN status are provided.

Toll-like receptor（TLR） signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the innate immune system. Studies on TLR signaling pathway genes in Zhikong scallop（Chlamys farreri） have mainly focused on sequence analysis and expression profiling, no research has been carried out on their localization. The chromosomal position of TLR signaling pathway genes can be valuable for assemblying scallop genome and analysizing gene regulatory networks. In the present study, five key TLR signaling pathway genes（Cf TLR, Cf Myd88, Cf TRAF6, Cf NFκB, and Cf IκB） containing bacterial artificial chromosomes（BACs） were isolated and physically mapped through fluorescence in situ hybridization on five non-homologous chromosome pairs, showing a similar distribution to another five model species. The isolation and mapping of these key immune genes of C. farreri will aid to the research on innate immunity, assignment of interested genes to chromosomes, and integration of physical, linkage and cytogenetic maps of this species.

We report the physical properties of the 18 brightest (S 870 μm = 12.4–19.2 mJy) and not strongly lensed 870 μm–selected dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs), also known as submillimeter galaxies (SMGs), in the COSMOS field. This sample is part of an ALMA band 3 spectroscopic survey (AS2COSPEC), and spectroscopic redshifts are measured in 17 of them at z = 2–5. We perform spectral energy distribution analyses and deduce a median total infrared luminosity of L IR = (1.3 ± 0.1) × 1013 L ⊙, infrared-based star formation rate (SFR) of SFRIR = 1390 ± 150 M ⊙ yr−1, stellar mass of M * = (1.4 ± 0.6) × 1011 M ⊙, dust mass of M dust = (3.7 ± 0.5) × 109 M ⊙, and molecular gas mass of M gas = (α CO/0.8)(1.2 ± 0.1) × 1011 M ⊙, suggesting that they are one of the most massive, ISM-enriched, and actively star-forming systems at z = 2–5. In addition, compared to less massive and less active galaxies at similar epochs, SMGs have comparable gas fractions; however, they have a much shorter depletion time, possibly caused by more active dynamical interactions. We determine a median dust emissivity index of β = 2.1 ± 0.1 for our sample, and by combining our results with those from other DSFG samples, we find no correlation of β with redshift or infrared luminosity, indicating similar dust grain compositions across cosmic time for infrared luminous galaxies. We also find that AS2COSPEC SMGs have one of the highest dust-to-stellar mass ratios, with a median of 0.02 ± 0.01, significantly higher than model predictions, possibly due to too-strong active galactic nucleus feedback implemented in the model. Finally, our complete and uniform survey enables us to put constraints on the most massive end of the dust and molecular gas mass functions.

We introduce an ALMA band 3 spectroscopic survey targeting the brightest submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) in the COSMOS field. Here we present the first results based on the 18 primary SMGs that have 870 μm flux densities of S 870 = 12.4–19.3 mJy and are drawn from a parent sample of 260 ALMA-detected SMGs from the AS2COSMOS survey. We detect emission lines in 17 and determine their redshifts to be in the range of z = 2–5 with a median of 3.3 ± 0.3. We confirm that SMGs with brighter S 870 are located at higher redshifts. The data additionally cover five fainter companion SMGs, and we obtain line detection in one. Together with previous studies, our results indicate that for SMGs that satisfy our selection, their brightest companion SMGs are physically associated with their corresponding primary SMGs ≥40% of the time, suggesting that mergers play a role in the triggering of star formation. By modeling the foreground gravitational fields, <10% of the primary SMGs can be strongly lensed with a magnification μ > 2. We determine that about 90% of the primary SMGs have lines that are better described by double Gaussian profiles, and the median separation of the two Gaussian peaks is 430 ± 40 km s−1. This allows estimates of an average baryon mass, which, together with the line dispersion measurements, puts our primary SMGs on the similar mass–σ correlation found on local early-type galaxies. Finally, the number density of our z > 4 primary SMGs is found to be 1−0.6+0.9×10−6 cMpc−3, suggesting that they can be the progenitors of z ∼ 3−4 massive quiescent galaxies.

Hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis afflict over 75% of patients with type 2 diabetes, causing diabetic dyslipidemia. (CP) leaf is a herbal tea which has long been consumed by the Chinese population, particularly people suffering from obesity and diabetes. CP appears to exhibit a hypolipidemic effect in lipid loaded mice (Kurihara et al., 2003), although the detailed mechanisms and active ingredients for this hypolipidemic effect have not yet been answered. In this study, we investigated the beneficial effects of CP and predicted the mechanisms by utilizing lipidomics, serum-pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology approaches. Our results revealed that serum and hepatic levels of total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), as well as 30 lipids including cholesterol ester (CE), diglyceride (DG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and sphingomyelin (SM) in CP-treated mice were improved in comparison with untreated diabetic mice. In parallel, 14 phytochemical compounds of CP were determined in mice serum after CP administration. Mechanistically, the network pharmacology analysis revealed the predicted targets of CP's active ingredients ALOX12, APP, BCL2, CYP2C9, PTPN1 and linked lipidome targets PLD2, PLA2G(s), and PI3K(s) families could be responsible for the CP effects on diabetic dyslipidemia. In conclusion, this study revealed the beneficial effects of CP on diabetic dyslipidemia are achieved by reducing accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets and regulating circulatory lipids in diabetic mice, possibly through PI3K signaling and MAPK signaling pathways. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTWork flow of the evaluation of the effects and mechanisms of leaves tea on dyslipidemia in diabetic mice.

Leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus are a sweet tea traditionally used to treat obesity and diabetes in China. However, its protective mechanisms against hyperglycemia remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the extract of C. paliurus leaves significantly decreased body loss, food intake and blood glucose level, and increased blood insulin level, β-cell number and insulin-producing β cells in high-fat diet-low dose STZ-induced diabetic mice. In vivo and in vitro studies also showed the extract of C. paliurus leaves significantly inhibited pancreatic β cell apoptosis by suppressing the expression of caspase 8, caspase 9 and cleaved caspase-3, as well as Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, down-regulating p38, ERK and JNK phosphorylation, and up-regulating Akt phosphorylation. These effects were significantly enhanced by inhibitor p-38 or ERK or JNK, and counteracted by inhibitor of PI3K. In addition, the extract of C. paliurus leaves also significantly improved hepatic steatosis, nephropathy and cardiac hypertrophy of diabetic mice. Taken together, these results provide the insight into the effects of C. paliurus leaves on pancreatic β cell preservation in standing glucolipotoxicity. Therefore, C. paliurus tea leaves may be used as a new remedy for diabetes through enhancing pancreatic β cell preservation by inhibiting β cell apoptosis.

Theileria spp. are a group of parasites primarily transmitted by ticks and can pose a significant threat to domestic and wild animals globally. The main objective of this study was to understand the epidemiology of Theileria spp. in goats of Hainan Island/province, which is the only tropical region of China, and to study their hematological profiles in naturally infected goats. A total of 464 blood samples were collected from randomly selected local adult goats ( Capra hircus , local domestic breed with black hair), from six cities and eight counties of Hainan, from November 2017 to October 2020. Blood smear microscopy of the sample and a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene combined with DNA sequencing were used to detect piroplasm infections in goats. Data analysis of the obtained sequences revealed that all the sequences were highly similar to the Theileria luwenshuni 18S rRNA gene sequence from the database. This result is consistent with the microscopic examination. In the hematological test, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin of the goats naturally infected with T. luwenshuni significantly increased, while mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were significantly decreased. Results showed that T. luwenshuni could cause macrocytic, hypochromic anemia in goats. This study provides reliable and comprehensive information about the epidemiology of the parasite infections and hematological profile of the infected goats in Hainan, which encourages further investigations to develop practical control strategies for Theileria spp. infections in tropical areas. Les Theileria spp. sont un groupe de parasites principalement transmis par les tiques qui peuvent constituer une menace importante pour les animaux domestiques et sauvages dans le monde. L’objectif principal de cette étude était de comprendre l’épidémiologie de Theileria spp. chez les chèvres de l’île/province de Hainan, qui est la seule région tropicale de Chine et étudier les profils hématologiques des chèvres naturellement infectées. 464 échantillons de sang ont été prélevés sur des chèvres adultes locales sélectionnées au hasard ( Capra hircus , race domestique locale à poils noirs), dans 6 villes et 8 comtés de Hainan, de novembre 2017 à octobre 2020. L’étude microscopique du frottis sanguin de l’échantillon et la réaction en chaîne par polymérase nichée (nPCR) ciblant le gène de l’ARNr 18S combinée au séquençage de l’ADN ont été utilisées pour détecter les infections à piroplasmes chez les chèvres. L’analyse des séquences obtenues a révélé que toutes les séquences étaient très similaires à la séquence du gène de l’ARNr 18S de T. luwenshuni de la base de données. Le résultat est cohérent avec l’examen microscopique. Dans le test hématologique, l’hématocrite, le volume corpusculaire moyen et l’hémoglobine corpusculaire moyenne des chèvres naturellement infectées par T. luwenshuni ont augmenté de manière significative, tandis que la concentration moyenne d’hémoglobine corpusculaire et la largeur de distribution des globules rouges (RDW) ont été significativement diminuées. Les résultats ont montré que T. luwenshuni pouvait provoquer une anémie macrocytaire et une anémie hypochrome chez les chèvres. Cette étude fournit des informations fiables et complètes sur l’épidémiologie des infections parasitaires et le profil hématologique des chèvres infectées à Hainan, ce qui encourage des investigations supplémentaires pour développer des stratégies pratiques de contrôle des infections par Theileria spp. dans les zones tropicales.