Complete plastid genome (plastome) sequences and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) regions have been proposed as candidates for the next generation of DNA barcodes for plant species discrimination. However, the efficacy of this approach still lacks comprehensive evaluation. We carried out a case study in the economically important but phylogenetically and taxonomically difficult genus Panax (Araliaceae). We generated a large data set of plastomes and nrDNA sequences from multiple accessions per species. Our data improved the phylogenetic resolution and levels of species discrimination in Panax, compared to any previous studies using standard DNA barcodes. This provides new insights into the speciation, lineage diversification and biogeography of the genus. However, both plastome and nrDNA failed to completely resolve the phylogenetic relationships in the Panax bipinnatifidus species complex, and only half of the species within it were recovered as monophyletic units. The results suggest that complete plastome and ribosomal DNA sequences can substantially increase species discriminatory power in plants, but they are not powerful enough to fully resolve phylogenetic relationships and discriminate all species, particularly in evolutionarily young and complex plant groups. To gain further resolving power for closely related species, the addition of substantial numbers of nuclear markers is likely to be required.

Semiconducting carbon nanotubes under high electric field stress (~10 V/µm) display a striking, exponential current increase due to avalanche generation of free electrons and holes. Unlike in other materials, the avalanche process in such 1D quantum wires involves access to the third sub-band, is insensitive to temperature, but strongly dependent on diameter ~exp(-1/d 2 ). Comparison with a theoretical model yields a novel approach to obtain the inelastic optical phonon emission length, λ OP,ems ≈ 15d nm. The combined results underscore the importance of multi-band transport in 1D molecular wires.

The combustion characteristics and heat release of a direct injection (DI) compression ignition engine fuelled with diesel-dimethyl carbonate blends were investigated on a compression ignition engine. The study showed that the premixed combustion is prolonged and the duration of the diffusive combustion is shortened with increase in the dimethyl carbonate (DMC) addition. For a specific brake mean effective pressure (b.m.e.p.), the maximum cylinder gas pressure, the maximum rate of pressure rise and the maximum rate of heat release increase with increase in the DMC addition at medium and high loads, while they exhibit less variation with the DMC addition at small load. Meanwhile, the maximum gas temperature decreases with increase in the DMC addition. The ignition delay increases while the rapid combustion duration and the total combustion duration show less variation with the DMC addition. The brake specific fuel consumption (b.s.f.c.) increases while the diesel equivalent b.s.f.c. decreases and the thermal efficiency increases with increase in the DMC addition. The CO and smoke decrease with increase in the DMC addition, and NOx does not increase with increase in DMC.

BackgroundParis (Melanthiaceae) is an economically important but taxonomically difficult genus, which is unique in angiosperms because some species have extremely large nuclear genomes. Phylogenetic relationships within Paris have long been controversial. Based on complete plastomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) sequences, this study aims to reconstruct a robust phylogenetic tree and explore historical biogeography and clade diversification in the genus.ResultsAll 29 species currently recognized in Paris were sampled. Whole plastomes and nrDNA sequences were generated by the genome skimming approach. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Based on the phylogenetic framework and molecular dating, biogeographic scenarios and historical diversification of Paris were explored. Significant conflicts between plastid and nuclear datasets were identified, and the plastome tree is highly congruent with past interpretations of the morphology. Ancestral area reconstruction indicated that Paris may have originated in northeastern Asia and northern China, and has experienced multiple dispersal and vicariance events during its diversification. The rate of clade diversification has sharply accelerated since the Miocene/Pliocene boundary.ConclusionsOur results provide important insights for clarifying some of the long-standing taxonomic debates in Paris. Cytonuclear discordance may have been caused by ancient and recent hybridizations in the genus. The climatic and geological changes since the late Miocene, such as the intensification of Asian monsoon and the rapid uplift of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as well as the climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene, played essential roles in driving range expansion and radiative diversification in Paris. Our findings challenge the theoretical prediction that large genome sizes may limit speciation.