Temperature dependence of the dielectric function and critical points of monolayer WSe2.

Monolayer materials typically display intriguing temperature-dependent dielectric and optical properties, which are crucial for improving the structure and functionality of associated devices. Due to its unique photoelectric capabilities, monolayer WSe2 has recently received a lot of attention in the fields of atomically thin electronics and optoelectronics. In this work, we focus on the evolution of the temperature-dependent dielectric function (ε = ε1 + i ε2) of monolayer WSe2 over energies from 0.74 to 6.40 eV and temperatures from 40 to 350 K. We analyze the second derivatives of ε with respect to energy to accurately locate the critical points (CP). The dependence of the observed CP energies on temperature is consistent with the alternative domination of the declining exciton binding energy as the temperature increases.

A Systematic Study of the Temperature Dependence of the Dielectric Function of GaSe Uniaxial Crystals from 27 to 300 K.

We report the temperature dependences of the dielectric function ε = ε1 + iε2 and critical point (CP) energies of the uniaxial crystal GaSe in the spectral energy region from 0.74 to 6.42 eV and at temperatures from 27 to 300 K using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The fundamental bandgap and strong exciton effect near 2.1 eV are detected only in the c-direction, which is perpendicular to the cleavage plane of the crystal. The temperature dependences of the CP energies were determined by fitting the data to the phenomenological expression that incorporates the Bose-Einstein statistical factor and the temperature coefficient to describe the electron-phonon interaction. To determine the origin of this anisotropy, we perform first-principles calculations using the mBJ method for bandgap correction. The results clearly demonstrate that the anisotropic dielectric characteristics can be directly attributed to the inherent anisotropy of p orbitals. More specifically, this prominent excitonic feature and fundamental bandgap are derived from the band-to-band transition between s and pz orbitals at the Γ-point.

Approximate Bayesian computation and ecological niche models elucidate the demographic history and current fragmented population distribution of a Korean endemic shrub.

Climatic fluctuations and geological events since the LGM are believed to have significantly impacted the population size, distribution, and mobility of many species that we observe today. In this paper, we determined the processes driving the phylogeographic structure of the Korean endemic white forsythia by combining the use of genome-wide SNPs and predicting paleoclimatic habitats during the LGM (21 kya), Early Holocene (10 kya), Mid-Holocene (6 kya), and Late Holocene (3 kya). Using a maximum of 1897 SNPs retrieved from 124 samples across nine wild populations, five environmental predictors, and the species' natural occurrence records, we aimed to infer the species' demographic history and reconstruct its possible paleodistributions with the use of approximate Bayesian computation and ecological niche models, respectively. Under this integrated framework, we found strong evidence for patterns of range shift and expansion, and population divergence events from the onset of the Holocene, resulting in the formation of its five distinct genetic units. The most highly supported model inferred that after the split of an ancestral population into the southern group and a larger central metapopulation lineage, the latter gave rise to the eastern and northern clusters, before finally dividing into two sub-central groups. While the use of molecular data allowed us to identify and refine the (phylo)genetic relationships of the species' lineages and populations, the use of ecological data helped us infer a past LGM refugium and the directions of post-glacial range dynamics. The time frames of these demographic events were shown to be congruent with climatic and geological events that affected the central Korean Peninsula during these periods. These findings gave us a better understanding of the consequences of past spatiotemporal factors that may have resulted in the current fragmented population distribution of this endangered plant.

Isolation and Characterization of the Genes Involved in the Berberine Synthesis Pathway in Asian Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum robustum.

Caulophyllum robustum, commonly named Asian blue cohosh, is a perennial herb in the family Berberidaceae. It has traditionally been used for folk medicine in China. We isolated berberine from the leaves, stem, roots, and fruits of C. robustum, and this is the first report on berberine in this species. Transcriptome analysis was conducted for the characterization of berberine biosynthesis genes in C. robustum, in which, all the genes for berberine biosynthesis were identified. From 40,094 transcripts, using gene ontology (GO) analysis, 26,750 transcripts were assigned their functions in the categories of biological process, molecular function, and cellular component. In the analysis of genes expressed in different tissues, the numbers of genes in the categories of intrinsic component of membrane and transferase activity were up-regulated in leaves versus stem. The berberine synthesis genes in C. robustum were characterized by phylogenetic analysis with corresponding genes from other berberine-producing species. The co-existence of genes from different plant families in the deepest branch subclade implies that the differentiation of berberine synthesis genes occurred early in the evolution of berberine-producing plants. Furthermore, the copy number increment of the berberine synthesis genes was detected at the species level.

Clinical Implications of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire and Reflux Symptom Index in Patients With Suspected Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ) and reflux symptom index (RSI) for diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms (cough, hoarseness, globus, and throat pain). Methods: A total of 98 patients with LPR symptoms were incorporated from either gastroenterology or otorhinolaryngology clinic. Patient's laryngoscopic findings were graded by reflux finding score (RFS), and RFS ≥ 7 was considered as positive LPR. Erosive esophagitis on endoscopy or abnormal results on ambulatory impedance-pH monitoring were used as diagnostic criteria for GERD. Esophageal motor function was evaluated using high-resolution esophageal manometry. Results: Ninety-three (94.9%) of the 98 subjects were diagnosed as LPR by RFS, but only 15 (15.3%) had GERD. For GerdQ, the cutoff value of 9 showed the highest area under curve (AUC) to diagnose GERD by receiver operating curve analysis (AUC = 0.565); the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were unsatisfactory (50.0%, 70.7%, 22.6%, and 89.2%, respectively.) RSI also showed poor performance in diagnosing GERD; the cutoff value of 25 showed the highest yield (AUC = 0.581); the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 42.9%, 79.3%, 26.1%, and 89.0%, respectively. Ineffective esophageal motility was frequently observed (69 of 98, 70.4%), but there was no difference in esophageal motility parameters between GERD and non-GERD patients. Conclusions: In patients with LPR symptoms, significant discrepancies are observed between laryngoscopic diagnosis and GERD. In this population, neither GerdQ nor RSI is useful in diagnosing GERD.

Comparative Transcriptomics for Genes Related to Berberine and Berbamine Biosynthesis in Berberidaceae.

Berberine and berbamine are bioactive compounds of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) present in Berberis species. The contents of berbamine are 20 times higher than berberine in leaf tissues in three closely related species: Berberis koreana, B. thunbergii and B. amurensis. This is the first report on the quantification of berberine compared to the berbamine in the Berberis species. Comparative transcriptome analyses were carried out with mRNAs from the leaf tissues of the three-species. The comparison of the transcriptomes of B. thunbergii and B. amurensis to those of B. koreana, B. thunbergii showed a consistently higher number of differentially expressed genes than B. amurensis in KEGG and DEG analyses. All genes encoding enzymes involved in berberine synthesis were identified and their expressions were variable among the three species. There was a single copy of CYP80A/berbamunine synthase in B. koreana. Methyltransferases and cytochrome P450 mono-oxidases (CYPs) are key enzymes for BIA biosynthesis. The current report contains the copy numbers and other genomic characteristics of the methyltransferases and CYPs in Berberis species. Thus, the contents of the current research are valuable for molecular characterization for the medicinal utilization of the Berberis species.

Decoding 'Maximum Entropy' Deconvolution.

For over five decades, the mathematical procedure termed "maximum entropy" (M-E) has been used to deconvolve structure in spectra, optical and otherwise, although quantitative measures of performance remain unknown. Here, we examine this procedure analytically for the lowest two orders for a Lorentzian feature, obtaining expressions for the amount of sharpening and identifying how spurious structures appear. Illustrative examples are provided. These results enhance the utility of this widely used deconvolution approach to spectral analysis.

A host non-coding RNA, nc886, plays a pro-viral role by promoting virus trafficking to the nucleus.

Elucidation of the interplay between viruses and host cells is crucial for taming viruses to benefit human health. Cancer therapy using adenovirus, called oncolytic virotherapy, is a promising treatment option but is not robust in all patients. In addition, inefficient replication of human adenovirus in mouse hampered the development of an in vivo model for preclinical evaluation of therapeutically engineered adenovirus. nc886 is a human non-coding RNA that suppresses Protein Kinase R (PKR), an antiviral protein. In this study, we have found that nc886 greatly promotes adenoviral gene expression and replication. Remarkably, the stimulatory effect of nc886 is not dependent on its function to inhibit PKR. Rather, nc886 facilitates the nuclear entry of adenovirus via modulating the kinesin pathway. nc886 is not conserved in mouse and, when xenogeneically expressed in mouse cells, promotes adenovirus replication. Our investigation has discovered a novel mechanism of how a host ncRNA plays a pro-adenoviral role. Given that nc886 expression is silenced in a subset of cancer cells, our study highlights that oncolytic virotherapy might be inefficient in those cells. Furthermore, our findings open future possibilities of harnessing nc886 to improve the efficacy of oncolytic adenovirus and to construct nc886-expressing transgenic mice as an animal model.

When tropical and subtropical congeners met: Multiple ancient hybridization events within Eriobotrya in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, a tropical-subtropical transition area in China.

Global climate changes during the Miocene may have created ample opportunities for hybridization between members of tropical and subtropical biomes at the boundary between these zones. Yet, very few studies have explored this possibility. The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP) in Southwest China is a biodiversity hotspot for vascular plants, located in a transitional area between the floristic regions of tropical Southeast Asia and subtropical East Asia. The genus Eriobotrya (Rosaceae) comprises both tropical and subtropical taxa, with 12 species recorded in the YGP, making it a suitable basis for testing the hypothesis of between-biome hybridization. Therefore, we surveyed the evolutionary history of Eriobotrya by examining three chloroplast regions and five nuclear genes for 817 individuals (47 populations) of 23 Eriobotrya species (including 19 populations of 12 species in the YGP), plus genome re-sequencing of 33 representative samples. We concluded that: (1) phylogenetic positions for 16 species exhibited strong cytonuclear conflicts, most probably due to ancient hybridization; (2) the YGP is a hotspot for hybridization, with 11 species showing clear evidence of chloroplast capture; and (3) Eriobotrya probably originated in tropical Asia during the Eocene. From the Miocene onwards, the intensification of the Eastern Asia monsoon and global cooling may have shifted the tropical-subtropical boundary and caused secondary contact between species, thus providing ample opportunity for hybridization and diversification of Eriobotrya, especially in the YGP. Our study highlights the significant role that paleoclimate changes probably played in driving hybridization and generating rich species diversity in climate transition zones.

Gene Expression and Isoform Identification of PacBio Full-Length cDNA Sequences for Berberine Biosynthesis in Berberis koreana.

Berberis koreana is a medicinal plant containing berberine, which is a bioactive compound of the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) class. BIA is widely used in the food and drug industry for its health benefits. To investigate the berberine biosynthesis pathway, gene expression analysis was performed in leaves, flowers, and fruits at different stages of growth. This was followed by full-length cDNA sequencing analysis using the PacBio sequencer platform to determine the number of isoforms of those expressed genes. We identified 23,246 full-length unigenes, among which 8479 had more than one isoform. The number of isoforms ranged between two to thirty-one among all genes. Complete isoform analysis was carried out on the unigenes encoding BIA synthesis. Thirteen of the sixteen genes encoding enzymes for berberine synthesis were present in more than one copy. This demonstrates that gene duplication and translation into isoforms may contribute to the functional specificity of the duplicated genes and isoforms in plant alkaloid synthesis. Our study also demonstrated the streamlining of berberine biosynthesis via the absence of genes for enzymes of other BIAs, but the presence of all the genes for berberine biosynthesize in B. koreana. In addition to genes encoding enzymes for the berberine biosynthesis pathway, the genes encoding enzymes for other BIAs were not present in our dataset except for those encoding corytuberine synthase (CTS) and berbamunine synthase (BS). Therefore, this explains how B. koreana produces berberine by blocking the pathways leading to other BIAs, effectively only allowing the pathway to lead to berberine synthesis.

Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. Ethanol Extract Has Anti-Inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Effects In Vitro and In Vivo by Targeting the IRAK1/AP-1 Pathway.

Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. has been used traditionally as a remedy for many diseases, especially inflammation. Therefore, we analyzed and explored the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of a Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. ethanol extract (Dt-EE). Dt-EE clearly and dose-dependently inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells. Also, Dt-EE suppressed the activation of the MyD88/TRIF-mediated AP-1 pathway and the AP-1 pathway related proteins JNK2, MKK4/7, and TAK1, which occurred as a result of inhibiting the kinase activity of IRAK1 and IRAK4, the most upstream factors of the AP-1 pathway. Finally, Dt-EE displayed hepatoprotective activity in a mouse model of hepatitis induced with LPS/D-galactosamine (D-GalN) through decreasing the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and suppressing the activation of JNK and IRAK1. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that Dt-EE could be a candidate anti-inflammatory herbal medicine with IRAK1/AP-1 inhibitory and hepatoprotective properties.

Sauropus brevipes ethanol extract negatively regulates inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro by targeting Src, Syk and IRAK1.

CONTEXT: Sauropus brevipes Müll. Arg. (Phyllanthaceae) has been used as an effective ingredient in a decoction for the treatment of diarrhoea. However, there was no report on its modulatory role in inflammation. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates anti-inflammatory effect of S. brevipes in various inflammation models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aerial part of S. brevipes was extracted with 95% ethanol to produce Sb-EE. RAW264.7 cells pre-treated with Sb-EE were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Griess assay and PCR were performed. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, luciferase assay, Western blotting and kinase assay were employed. C57BL/6 mice (10 mice/group) were orally administered with Sb-EE (200 mg/kg) once a day for five days, and peritonitis was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg). ICR mice (four mice/group) were orally administered with Sb-EE (20 or 200 mg/kg) or ranitidine (positive control) twice a day for two days, and EtOH/HCl was orally injected to induce gastritis. RESULTS: Sb-EE suppressed nitric oxide (NO) release (IC50=34 µg/mL) without cytotoxicity and contained flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol). Sb-EE (200 µg/mL) reduced the mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Sb-EE blocked the activities of Syk and Src, while inhibiting interleukin-1 receptor associated kinases (IRAK1) by 68%. Similarly, orally administered Sb-EE (200 mg/kg) suppressed NO production by 78% and phosphorylation of Src and Syk in peritonitis mice. Sb-EE also decreased inflammatory lesions in gastritis mice. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the inhibitory effect of Sb-EE on the inflammatory response, suggesting that Sb-EE can be developed as a potential anti-inflammatory agent.

Temperature dependence of the dielectric function and critical points of α-SnS from 27 to 350 K.

We report the temperature dependence of the dielectric function ε = ε1 + iε2 and critical point (CP) energies of biaxial α-SnS in the spectral energy region from 0.74 to 6.42 eV and temperatures from 27 to 350 K using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Bulk SnS was grown by temperature gradient method. Dielectric response functions were obtained using multilayer calculations to remove artifacts due to surface roughness. We observe sharpening and blue-shifting of CPs with decreasing temperature. A strong exciton effect is detected only in the armchair direction at low temperature. New CPs are observed at low temperature that cannot be detected at room temperature. The temperature dependences of the CP energies were determined by fitting the data to the phenomenological expression that contains the Bose-Einstein statistical factor and the temperature coefficient for describing the electron-phonon interaction.

Normal-incidence type solution immersed silicon (SIS) biosensor for ultra-sensitive, label-free detection of cardiac troponin I.

Early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) significantly reduce the mortality rate and can be achieved via high-sensitive detection of AMI specific cardiac troponin I (cTnI) biomarker. Here, we present normal-incident type solution-immersed silicon (NI-SIS) ellipsometric biosensor, designed for ultra-high sensitive, high-throughput, label-free detection of the target protein. The NI-SIS sensors are equipped with a specially designed prism that maintains the angle of incidence close to the Brewster angle during operation, which significantly reduces SIS noise signals induced by the refractive index fluctuations of the surrounding medium, improves the signal-to-noise ratio, in-results lowers the detection limit. We applied NI-SIS biosensor for ultra-sensitive detection of cTnI biomarkers in human serum. The optimized sensor chip fabrication and detection operation procedures are proposed. The wide linear concentration ranges of fg/mL to ng/mL is achieved with the detection limit of 22.0 fg/mL of cTnI. The analytical correlation was assessed by linear regression analysis with the results of the Pathfast reference system. These impressive biosensing capabilities of NI-SIS technology have huge potentials for accurate detection of target species in different application areas, such as diagnosis, drug discovery, and food contaminations.

Parameterization of Dielectric Functions and Phase Transitions of SrTiO3 from 26 to 674 K.

We present parameters that allow the dielectric function (ε = ε1 + iε2) of perovskite SrTiO3 (STO) to be calculated for spectral range from 0.74 to 6.42 eV and temperatures from 26 to 674 K. The ε data of STO were reproduced from a previous report. We use the Tauc-Lorentz model to express ε of STO analytically for each temperature. The ε spectra are successfully parameterized with six Tauc-Lorentz components and a pole. To obtain ε data for arbitrary energies and temperatures over the range given above, we interpolated the parameterized results using cubic polynomials. It is well known that STO has phase transitions near 40 and 105 K, which are reflected well in our modeling. Our data allow complex refractive indices to be calculated at any temperature for device design.

Parameterized optical properties of InxAl1-xP alloys.

We report values of parametric-model (PM) parameters that can be used to obtain dielectric functions (refractive indices) from 1.5 to 6.0 eV for ${{\rm In}_x}{{\rm Al}_{1 - x}}{\rm P}$InxAl1-xP alloys of arbitrary compositions $x$x. Using reported pseudo-dielectric data for several In compositions, we extract their dielectric functions by multilayer calculations, then parameterize them with PM lineshapes that well describe the asymmetric nature of their critical point (CP) contributions. We follow the ${E_0}$E0 fundamental bandgap as a function of $x$x, and determine the composition of the indirect-to-direct crossover.

Incorporating differences between genetic diversity of trees and herbaceous plants in conservation strategies.

Reviews that summarize the genetic diversity of plant species in relation to their life history and ecological traits show that forest trees have more genetic diversity at population and species levels than annuals or herbaceous perennials. In addition, among-population genetic differentiation is significantly lower in trees than in most herbaceous perennials and annuals. Possible reasons for these differences between trees and herbaceous perennials and annuals have not been discussed critically. Several traits, such as high rates of outcrossing, long-distance pollen and seed dispersal, large effective population sizes (Ne ), arborescent stature, low population density, longevity, overlapping generations, and occurrence in late successional communities, may make trees less sensitive to genetic bottlenecks and more resistant to habitat fragmentation or climate change. We recommend that guidelines for genetic conservation strategies be designed differently for tree species versus other types of plant species. Because most tree species fit an LH scenario (low [L] genetic differentiation and high [H] genetic diversity), tree seeds could be sourced from a few populations distributed across the species' range. For the in situ conservation of trees, translocation is a viable option to increase Ne . In contrast, rare herbaceous understory species are frequently HL (high differentiation and low diversity) species. Under the HL scenario, seeds should be taken from many populations with high genetic diversity. In situ conservation efforts for herbaceous plants should focus on protecting habitats because the typically small populations of these species are vulnerable to the loss of genetic diversity. The robust allozyme genetic diversity databases could be used to develop conservation strategies for species lacking genetic information. As a case study of reforestation with several tree species in denuded areas on the Korean Peninsula, we recommend the selection of local genotypes as suitable sources to prevent adverse effects and to insure the successful restoration in the long term.

Incorporación de diferencias de diversidad genética entre árboles y plantas herbáceas en estrategias de conservación Resumen Las revisiones que resumen la diversidad genética de las plantas en relación con sus características ecológicas y biológicas muestran que los árboles forestales tienen más diversidad genética a nivel de población y de especie que las plantas anuales o las perennes herbáceas. Sumado a esto, la diferenciación genética entre poblaciones es significativamente más baja en los árboles que en la mayoría de las perennes herbáceas y las anuales. Hasta la fecha no se han discutido críticamente las posibles explicaciones de estas diferencias entre los árboles y las perennes herbáceas y las plantas anuales. Varias características, como las tasas altas de alogamia, la dispersión a gran distancia de polen y semillas, el gran tamaño de la población efectiva (Ne ), la estatura arbórea, la baja densidad poblacional, la longevidad, el solapamiento de generaciones y la presencia dentro de comunidades sucesionales tardías, pueden generar en los árboles una menor sensibilidad a los cuellos de botella genéticos y una mayor resistencia a la fragmentación del hábitat o al cambio climático. Recomendamos que las directrices para las estrategias de conservación genética estén diseñadas de manera diferente para las especies arbóreas que para otro tipo de plantas. Ya que la mayoría de las especies arbóreas encajan dentro de un escenario LH (baja [L] diferenciación genética y alta [H] diversidad genética), las semillas de los árboles podrían tomarse de unas cuantas poblaciones dispersas a lo largo del área de distribución de la especie. Por lo anterior, para la conservación in situ de los árboles, la translocación es una opción viable para incrementar la Ne . Al contrario de esta situación, las especies herbáceas raras del sotobosque con frecuencia son especies HL (alta diferenciación y baja diversidad). En el escenario HL, las semillas deberían ser recolectadas de muchas poblaciones con diversidad genética alta y los esfuerzos de conservación in situ para las plantas herbáceas deberían enfocarse en la protección del hábitat ya que las poblaciones típicamente pequeñas de estas especies son vulnerables a la pérdida de la diversidad genética. Las robustas bases de datos de diversidad genética aloenzimática podrían usarse para desarrollar estrategias de conservación para las especies que carecen de información genética. Como caso de estudio de reforestación con varias especies arbóreas en áreas deforestadas de la Península de Corea, recomendamos la selección de genotipos locales como fuente adecuada para prevenir los efectos adversos y para asegurar la restauración exitosa a largo plazo.

Medicinal plants for gastrointestinal diseases among the Kuki-Chin ethnolinguistic groups across Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar: A comparative and network analysis study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Kuki-Chin is a composite ethnolinguistic group made up of many distinct groups and subgroups that are linked by a common history, culture, and population distribution in the Kuki-Chin region, shared geopolitically by Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. This region is shown to be in a hotspot of digestive disease activity based on official reports and in concordance with data from related ethnopharmacological field surveys. Our work provides a comparative analysis of medicinal plant knowledge for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (GAS-Ds) among the Kuki-Chin ethnic groups found across the three countries. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objectives were (1) to identify the medicinal plants and herbal therapies for the treatment of GAS-Ds reported in related Kuki-Chin ethnobotanical publications, (2) to find the similarities and differences in medicinal plant knowledge among the country-affiliated groups by comparing plant and disease information, and (3) to determine significant plant taxa and their pattern(s) of use as digestive disease herbal remedies by analyzing disease-plant networks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Secondary data were gathered from 34 related studies through internet search of ethnobotanical information from field studies published in journals, reports, books, and dissertations/theses. These data represented 22 Kuki-Chin ethnolinguistic groups inhabiting 23 districts across six states comprising the Kuki-Chin region: the Chittagong Division (Bangladesh); Mizoram, Assam, Manipur, and Tripura States (India); and Chin State (Myanmar). Scientific names of plants and digestive diseases collated from secondary sources were validated and standardized following the Plant List and the International Classification of Primary Care Second Edition, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 482 species in 330 genera and 118 families of vascular plants were recorded for the treatment of 29 standardized GAS-Ds. On the basis of the number of use-reports, regional native species Phyllanthus emblica, Centella asiatica, and Aegle marmelos, as well as the non-natives Carica papaya, Portulaca oleracea, and Psidium guajava were found to be the most preferred. Comparative analysis of medicinal species showed that groups in India revealed the highest number of medicinal plant taxa, followed by those in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The most prevalent GAS-Ds were shown to be abdominal pain epigastric, gastroenteritis presumed infections, and diarrhoea, as supported by the number of use-reports and medicinal taxa used for their treatment, and their informant consensus factor values. Analyses of disease-plant networks graphically showed both GAS-Ds distribution patterns in the region and potential medicinal plant (group) candidates for further studies. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study revealed an astonishingly rich diversity of medicinal plants used to treat digestive diseases among the Kuki-Chin. A comparative analysis showed variations and remarkable distinctions in medicinal plant knowledge among country-affiliated groups, as likely influenced by external sociocultural factors and geopolitical barriers, as well as the availability of ethnobotanical data. The use of network analysis reflected not only shared common affinities and patterns of plant use based on the taxonomic composition and species selection, but also disease prevalence and distribution patterns. The information found here can hopefully spur interest among future researchers and policy makers to better improve both the (ethno) medicinal research capacity and healthcare system in the region.

Plastome evolution and phylogeny of subtribe Aeridinae (Vandeae, Orchidaceae).

Subtribe Aeridinae (Vandeae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) consists of 83 genera and 2,345 species. The present study completely decoded the plastomes and nuclear ribosomal (nr) RNA gene clusters of seven species of Aeridinae belonging to Gastrochilus, Neofinetia, Pelatantheria, and Thrixspermum and compared them with existing data to investigate their genome evolution and phylogeny. Although no large structural variations were observed among the Aeridinae plastomes, 14 small inversions (SI) were found in Orchidaceae for the first time. Therefore, the evolutionary trends and usefulness of SI as molecular identification markers were evaluated. Since all 11 ndh genes in the Aeridinae plastome were lost or pseudogenized, the evolutionary trends of ndh genes are discussed at the tribe and family levels. In the maximum likelihood tree reconstructed from 83 plastome genes, the five Orchidaceae subfamilies were shown to have diverged in the following order: Apostasioideae, Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae, Orchioideae, Epidendroideaeae. Divergence times for major lineages were found to be more recent, 5-10 Mya, than previous studies, which only used two or three genes. Vandeae, which includes Aeridinae, formed a sister group with Cymbidieae and Epidendreae. The Vandeae, Cymbidieae, and Epidendreae lineages were inferred to have diverged at 25.31 Mya; thus, numerous speciation events within Aeridineae occurred since then. Furthermore, the present study reconstructed a phylogenetic tree from 422 nrITS sequences belonging to Aerdinae and allied taxa and uses it to discuss the phylogenetic positions and species identities of five endangered species.

A new species of Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae) from Northeastern China.

This study describes and illustrates Chrysosplenium macrospermum Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim, a new plant species from Changbaishan Mt. (Baekdusan Mt.) in northeastern China. The species is most similar to Chrysosplenium valdepilosum in the series Pilosa but is readily distinguishable by short arching sterile branches, multiple (up to 3) flowering stems, and smooth surfaced seeds (without tubercles), which are ca. 30-50% larger than those of other members in the series.