The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Begonia arachnoidea (Begoniaceae).

There are more than 2035 Begonia species (Begoniaceae) reported currently in the world. Begonia arachnoidea was found as a new species within a small area in Southern China. In this study, we are reporting for the first time its chloroplast genome for the purpose to compare with the chloroplast genomic data from other plant taxa which were closely related to this new species. Our results show that the circular chloroplast genome of B. arachnoidea is 169,725 bp in length, with 35.49% GC content. The whole structure of the genome has 76,431 bp in a large single-copy (LSC) region, 18,146 bp in a small single-copy (SSC) region, and the two inverted repeat (IRs) regions are both 37,574 bp. There are 90 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 42 tRNA genes encoded in this genome. Final phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. arachnoidea is genetically closest to B. pulchrifolia and B. coptidifolia.

[Environmental efficiency evaluation under carbon emission constraint in Western China].

This research used the SBM model based on undesirable outputs to measure the static environmental efficiency of Western China under carbon emission constraint from 2000 to 2012. The researchers also utilized the Malmquist index to further analyze the change tendency of environmental efficiency. Additionally, Tobit regression analysis was used to study the factors relevant to environmental efficiency. Practical solutions to improve environmental quality in Western China were put forward. The study showed that in Western China, environmental efficiency with carbon emission constraint was significantly lower than that without carbon emission constraint, and the difference could be described as an inverse U-shaped curve which increased at first and then decreased. Guang-xi and Inner Mongolia, the two provinces met the effective environmental efficiency levels all the time under carbon emission constraint. However, the five provinces of Guizhou, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang did not. Furthermore, Ningxia had the lowest level of environmental efficiency, with a score between 0.281-0.386. Although the environmental efficiency of most provinces was currently at an ineffective level, the environmental efficiency quality was gradually improving at an average speed of 6.6%. Excessive CO2 emission and a large amount of energy consumption were the primary factors causing environmental inefficiency in Western China, and energy intensity had the most negative impact on the environmental efficiency. The increase of import and export trade reduced the environmental efficiency significantly in Western China, while the increase of foreign direct investment had a positive effect on its environmental efficiency.