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By facile calcination, we successfully prepared CDs@MOF composites via self-carbonization in defect-containing MOFs, achieving photoluminescence fine tuning and effective sensing of picric acid.

Mixed ligand of H2ip and L assembled with Zn(NO3)2 ·6H2O under solvothermal conditions provided a novel Zn(II) compound formulated as [Zn(ip)(L)] (1, H2ip = isophthalic acid, L is 4-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-2, 6-bis(pyridin-4-yl)pyridine). This compound’s emission performances in solid state were also explored at RT. In the biological section, the as-created complex’s application values against tendon bone healing were discussed, and the mechanism was researched simultaneously. First, activation of the Wnt signaling pathway in bone tissue was examined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Second, quantitative computed tomography was performed to measure the bone density of the animal after compound treatment.

Magnaporthe oryzae is known for its genetic diversity and pathogenic variability, leading to rapid breakdown of resistance in rice. Incorporating multiple broad-spectrum blast resistance genes into rice cultivars would extend disease resistance longevity. Effective resistance breeding in rice therefore requires continual enrichment of the reservoir of resistance genes and alleles. We conducted a large-scale screen of rice blast resistance in about 2 000 rice accessions. Among them, 247 accessions showed at least medium resistance to the natural infection of rice blast and 7 novel Pik alleles were identified from them. Variations in gene sequences were then correlated with the phenotypic trait to enable the identification of favorable alleles. Among the seven novel Pik alleles, the resistant rate of Pik-R0/ME/7017 donors was greater than 80%, and the disease score was less than 3. Through molecular marker-assisted backcross breeding, we successfully transferred the three Pik alleles, Pik-R0/ME/7017, into an elite cultivated line Kongyu 131 to obtain BC3F2 lines, which showed enhanced resistance to rice blast compared with the recurrent parent. Assessment of these near-isogenic lines in the greenhouse using 31 isolates of M. oryzae from Heilongjiang Province of China revealed that the resistant levels of the BC3F2 lines with Pik-R0/ME/7017 were significantly higher than those of the established cloned resistance genes Pik-m and Pi1. Exploring such alleles will enrich our gene library for resistance to rice blast.

Aim. We explored the molecular pathway and material basis of GuBen-ZengGu granules (GBZGG) in treating osteoporosis using network pharmacology and animal experiments. Methods. The effective active components and potential targets of GBZGG were obtained from the TCMSP database and BATMAN-TCM database. Disease-related genes were obtained from GeneCard, NCBI, and DisGeNET. Next, a protein interaction network was established using the STRING database, and core genes were screened using the MCODE module. Cytoscape 3.8.0 was used to construct the network of component-disease-pathway-target, and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the clusterProfiler R package to predict the mechanism of GBZGG in treating osteoporosis. An osteoporosis rat model was established by ovarian excision (OVX), and the partial results of network pharmacology were experimentally verified. Results. Pharmacodynamic results showed that GBZGG increased bone mineral density (BMD) and significantly improved the indexes of femur microstructure in model rats. The network pharmacology results showed that quercetin, luteolin, stigmasterol, angelicin, kaempferol, bakuchiol, bakuchiol, 7-O-methylisomucronulatum, isorhamnetin, formononetin, and beta-sitosterol are the major components of GBZGG, with MAPK1, AKT1, JUN, HSP90AA1, RELA, MAPK14, ESR1, RXRA, FOS, MAPK8, NCOA1, MYC, and IL-6 as its core targets for treating osteoporosis. Biological effects could be exerted by regulating the signaling pathways of fluid shear stress and the signaling pathways of atherosclerosis, advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE) of diabetic complications, prostate cancer, interleukin (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), hepatitis B, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), etc. The results of animal experiments showed that GBZGG could reduce the serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, increase the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) protein, and inhibit the activity of extracellular-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) and phosphorylation ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) protein. Conclusion. GBZGG reduces the expression of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 proteins and mRNAs through the inhibitory effects on IL-6 and TNF-α and negatively regulates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. The osteoporosis model showed that it effectively improved the loss of bone mass and destruction of bone microstructure in rats and maintained a positive balance for bone metabolism.

Landscape indices can quantitatively describe the distribution characteristics of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). However, there are too many landscape indices, with high redundancy. We investigated 58 plots of biocrusts with different distribution patterns in the Hegou watershed of Wuqi County, Shaanxi Province, located in the hilly Loess Plateau. First, we calculated 15 common landscape indices, and selected representative landscape indices that could describe the biocrust landscape pattern and had specific ecological significance, based on correlation analysis, factor analysis, and sensitivity analysis. The reliability and rationality of the representative landscape indices were verified with data of the different biocrusts coverage in the Yingwoshanjian watershed of Yangjing Town, Dingbian County, Shaanxi Province. The results showed that 10 of the 15 landscape indices had significant correlations. Total edge (TE) and edge density (ED) were not significantly correlated with number of patches (NP), patch density (PD), clumpiness (CLUMPY), and interspersion juxtaposition index (IJI), respectively. The percentage of landscape (PLAND), ED, patch cohesion index (COHESION), and splitting index (SPLIT) described the spatial distribution characteristics of biocrust from coverage, length, connectivity, and fragmentation, respectively. The cumulative contribution of the three common factors represented in describing the spatial distribution of biocrusts was 91.6%. The study identified the representative landscape indices that could quantify the complexity of biocrusts distribution and thus would provide a theoretical basis for studying the pattern evolution of biocrusts and their relationship with ecological processes.景观指数可量化表征生物结皮的分布特征,但景观指数存在数量众多、冗余度较高的问题。本研究以位于典型黄土丘陵区的陕西省吴起县合沟小流域不同分布格局的58个样方的生物结皮为对象,计算其15个常用景观格局指数,基于相关分析、因子分析和敏感性分析,筛选出可描述生物结皮景观格局、具有特定生态学意义的代表性景观指数,并以陕西省定边县杨井镇鹰窝山涧小流域退耕地不同盖度的生物结皮为例,检验所选景观格局指数的可靠性和合理性。结果表明: 15个景观指数中,10个指数之间具有显著相关关系,而边缘长度(TE)和边缘密度(ED)分别与斑块数量(NP)、斑块密度(PD)、丛生度(CLUMPY)和散布与并列指数(IJI)无显著相关性。斑块占景观比例(PLAND)、ED、斑块连结度(COHESION)和分离度(SPLIT),分别从盖度、长度、连通度和破碎度方面描述了生物结皮空间分布特征,其代表的3个公因子在刻画生物结皮空间分布格局时累计贡献率达91.6%。本研究确定了可量化生物结皮空间分布复杂性的代表性景观指数,为研究生物结皮格局变化及其与生态过程的关系提供了理论依据。.

Modern radar signals mostly use low probability of intercept (LPI) waveforms, which have short pulses in the time domain, multicomponent properties, frequency hopping, combined modulation waveforms and other characteristics, making the detection and estimation of LPI radar signals extremely difficult, and leading to highly required significant research on perception technology in the battlefield environment. This paper proposes a visibility graphs (VG)-based multicomponent signals detection method and a modulation waveforms parameter estimation algorithm based on the time-frequency representation (TFR). On the one hand, the frequency domain VG is used to set the dynamic threshold for detecting the multicomponent LPI radar waveforms. On the other hand, the signal is projected into the time and frequency domains by the TFR method for estimating its symbol width and instantaneous frequency (IF). Simulation performance shows that, compared with the most advanced methods, the algorithm proposed in this paper has a valuable advantage. Meanwhile, the calculation cost of the algorithm is quite low, and it is achievable in the future battlefield.

Visual Dialog requires an agent to engage in a conversation with humans grounded in an image. Many studies on Visual Dialog focus on the understanding of the dialog history or the content of an image, while a considerable amount of commonsense-required questions are ignored. Handling these scenarios depends on logical reasoning that requires commonsense priors. How to capture relevant commonsense knowledge complementary to the history and the image remains a key challenge. In this paper, we propose a novel model by Reasoning with Multi-structure Commonsense Knowledge (RMK). In our model, the external knowledge is represented with sentence-level facts and graph-level facts, to properly suit the scenario of the composite of dialog history and image. On top of these multi-structure representations, our model can capture relevant knowledge and incorporate them into the vision and semantic features, via graph-based interaction and transformer-based fusion. Experimental results and analysis on VisDial v1.0 and VisDialCK datasets show that our proposed model effectively outperforms comparative methods., MULA Workshop, CVPR 2022

Background and aims High-intensity grazing in Mongolian grasslands has led to the general deterioration of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Abundant evidence shows that grazing affects the structure and function of grassland ecosystems, especially under overgrazing. Methods We examined the effects of three grazing intensities (0, 1.92, and 3.08 sheep ha-1 a-1) on plant commu-nities, plant and soil C, N and P contents, and plant and soil C:N:P stoichiometry in a desert grassland in different years. Results Grazing did not affect plant coverage, richness, or N:P, and the plant community biomass, litter bio-mass and C:N and C:P were highest under a zero grazing intensity. Soil C:N changed with the year and grazing intensity. However, soil C:P and N:P were higher in 2018 than in 2016 and 2017. Conclusions Our study suggested that grazing promoted the flow of N between plants and the soil, especially at 3.08 sheep ha-1 a-1. Under grazing stress, plants maintained the potential for compensatory growth. Further-more, N was shown to be the limiting fertilizer component for plants growing in this area among the three grazing intensities.

Flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) has many advantages such as lightweight, low density and high specific strength and is widely used in furniture, automobile industry, construction and transportation. However, FPUF is extremely flammable in the air, and a large amount of toxic gas will be generated when it is burned. The fire protection technology of FPUF has attracted more and more attention. Generally, it is an effective method to improve fire protection of FPUF by introducing additive flame retardant. As a relatively new approach, layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technology is widely used in research fields such as biology, materials and nanoscience. In this work, the research and application of LBL self-assembly technology in the field of flame-retardant FPUF were described, and zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, two-dimensional nanomaterials, one- and two-dimensional nanocomposites systems and other self-assembly systems in flame-retardant FPUF were introduced in detail. The flame-retardant mechanism of flame-retardant FPUF systems was also systematically analyzed, and finally, the development of LBL self-assembly technology in flame-retardant FPUF was prospected.

Understanding yield potential, yield gap and the priority of management factors for reducing the yield gap in current intensive maize production is essential for meeting future food demand with the limited resources. In this study, we conducted field experiments using different planting modes, which were basic productivity (CK), farmer practice (FP), high yield and high efficiency (HH), and super high yield (SH), to estimate the yield gap. Different factorial experiments (fertilizer, planting density, hybrids, and irrigation) were also conducted to evaluate the priority of individual management factors for reducing the yield gap between the different planting modes. We found significant differences between the maize yields of different planting modes. The treatments of CK, FP, HH, and SH achieved 54.26, 58.76, 65.77, and 71.99% of the yield potential, respectively. The yield gaps between three pairs: CK and FP, FP and HH, and HH and SH, were 0.76, 1.23 and 0.85 t ha–1, respectively. By further analyzing the priority of management factors for reducing the yield gap between FP and HH, as well as HH and SH, we found that the priorities of the management factors (contribution rates) were plant density (13.29%)>fertilizer (11.95%)>hybrids (8.19%)>irrigation (4%) for FP to HH, and hybrids (8.94%)>plant density (4.84%)>fertilizer (1.91%) for HH to SH. Therefore, increasing the planting density of FP was the key factor for decreasing the yield gap between FP and HH, while choosing hybrids with density and lodging tolerance was the key factor for decreasing the yield gap between HH and SH.

The accurate detection of pineapples of different maturity levels in a complex field environment is the key step to achieving the early yield estimation and mechanized picking of pineapple. This study proposes a target detection model based on the improved YOLOv7 to achieve the accurate detection and maturity classification of pineapples in the field. First, the attention mechanism SimAM is inserted into the structure of the original YOLOv7 network to improve the feature extraction ability of the model. Then, the max-pooling convolution (MPConv) structure is improved to reduce the feature loss in the downsampling process. Finally, the non-maximum suppression (NMS) algorithm is replaced by the soft-NMS algorithm, with a better effect at improving the detection effect when pineapple is in occlusion or overlaps. According to the test, the mean average precision (mAP) and recall of the model proposed in this paper are 95.82% and 89.83%, which are 2.71% and 3.41% higher than those of the original YOLOv7, respectively. The maturity classification accuracy of the model and the detection performance under six different field scenarios were analyzed quantitatively. This method provides an effective scheme for the vision system of the field pineapple picking robot.

Objective To establish a simple and rapid method for detecting tumor cells based on multivalent aptamers. Methods Rolling circle amplification was used to form a long single stranded DNA scaffold with repeat sequences of poly T, then the obtained product was hybridized with the fluorescence signal chain of aptamer AS1411 (with poly A bases) which was nucleolin targeting. Then, a Multi-AS1411-LS recognition probe was constructed and characterized. The feasibility of probe Multi-AS1411-LS for cell line identification was analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and the recognition conditions were further optimized. Finally, the malignant tumor cells in clinically collected serous effusions were detected by our constructed probe Multi-AS1411-LS, and the specificity and sensitivity of our probe were evaluated. Results Our constructed probe Multi-AS1411-LS could recognize tumor cells in 5 min at room temperature, with the mean fluorescence intensity of cells higher by about 100 times than that of monovalent formats, and the minimum detection limit of 3 cells in 500 μL samples. The probe distinguished benign and malignant cells in 70 clinical specimens, with a sensitivity of 87.80% and a specificity of 93.10%. Conclusion This detection method is rapid and simple to operate, and has good specificity and sensitivity in the detection of malignant tumor cells in clinical practice.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 85% of lung cancer with high incidence and mortality. Accumulating studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its active ingredients have good anti-tumor activity. However, the anti-tumor effect of Thevebioside (THB), an active ingredient from TCM, is still unknown in NSCLC. In this study, to our best knowledge, it was the first time to report the underlying mechanism of its tumor-suppressive activity in NSCLC based on our previous high-throughput screening data. We further demonstrated that THB effectively inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells (A549 and H460) by inducing cellular apoptosis rather than cell cycle arrest. Notably, it was demonstrated that SRC-3 was significantly down-regulated after THB treatment dependent on ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation, which subsequently inhibited the IGF-1R-PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and promoted apoptosis via both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Collectively, THB exerted inhibitory effect on tumor growth of NSCLC through inhibiting SRC-3 mediated IGF-1R-PI3K-AKT signaling by ubiquitination to induce cellular apoptosis with minimal toxicity no matter in vitro or vivo.

During a small mammal survey in Wanglang National Natural Reserve, Sichuan, China in August–October 2018, we collected four specimens of an Asiatic striped squirrel (genus Tamiops) that could not be assigned morphologically to any described species. Phylogenetic analyses of CYTB and nuDNA sequences strongly supported them in the genus Tamiops. The p-distances of CYTB between these individuals and other species of Tamiops ranged from 17.4 to 19.1%. Morphologically, they differed from their congeners, including T. maritimus, T. mcclellandii, T. rodolphii, and T. swinhoei by pelage, skull, and baculum characteristics. Based on the results of morphological comparisons and molecular analyses, we describe the four specimens as the new species Tamiops minshanica sp. nov.

To conduct a systemic review for guidance regarding the application of templates in mandibular reconstruction with vascularised iliac flaps.By searching PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library and collecting relevant literature, information about the types and accuracy of templates was extracted. Data relating to surgical time were also included for further analysis.Eight studies were included. The data analysis showed that the accuracy of operations with templates was higher than that of conventional surgery. The mean deviation was between 0.70 and 3.72 mm. The operational time was shortened to 314.4 minutes and the graft ischemic time was reduced to 15.6 to 26.8 minutes. Application of functional or specifically designed templates can improve the accuracy and shorten surgical time.Templates can increase the accuracy and efficiency of mandibular reconstruction with vascularised iliac flaps, which will benefit patients' prognosis and subsequent functional restoration. Further studies should be conducted into application of templates to improve the accuracy of reconstructions.

C-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase is a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase kinase, which can initiate a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade by phosphorylating the dual-specific MAP kinase kinases (MEK1/2), and in turn activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2). To study the function of c-Raf in teleost fish, a c-Raf cDNA sequence from orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) was cloned. Ecc-Raf shared 81%–99% amino acid identity with other vertebrate c-Raf molecules, and shared the highest amino acid identity (99%) with Lates calcarifer c-Raf. Genomic structure analysis revealed that grouper c-Raf shared a conserved exon structure with other vertebrates. Tissue distribution showed that Ecc-Raf was mainly transcribed in systemic immune organs. Ecc-Raf was distributed throughout the cytoplasm of transfected GS cells and the overexpression of Ecc-Raf only slightly enhanced the activation of Activator protein 1. The phosphorylation levels of Ecc-Raf can be induced by PMA and H2O2 treatment, in contrast to DMSO or untreated HKLs. Moreover, the phosphorylation level of the Raf-MEK-ERK axis was downregulated after 24 h of SGIV infection. On the other hand, the total level and phosphorylation level of c-Raf significantly increased post C. irritans infection and showed an enhanced level post immunization. The results of this study suggested that the Raf-MEK-ERK cascade was involved in the response to viral or parasitic infections.

Electron sheaths have previously only been measured near a positively biased small electrode, in which a potential dip was often observed. In this paper, we present an experimental study on the electron sheath near a stainless steel plate in the presence of a weak electron beam. It is shown that the electron beam, though its density is much lower than that of the background plasma, will substantially alter the sheath structure, i.e., it causes the disappearance of the potential dip when the beam energy just exceeds the ionization potential of the neutral gas but later enhances the dip for higher energies. It is also shown that proper biases on the plate and chamber wall are the key to the formation of the electron sheath and the dip. For a fixed plate bias but with different electron beam energy, the measured thickness of the ion-free Child–Langmuir sheath agrees well with that of the theoretical model.

Due to their tight structures, it is usually difficult for one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymers (CPs) to form permanent pores unless 2D and 3D topologies are formed via supramolecular interactions, so studies in the field of oxygen sensing on 1D CPs are rarely reported. Here, we report a 1D Cu(I) cluster-based CP with dual sensing characteristics for temperature and oxygen. Even if the porosity is only 6.6%, the quenching rate of this CP reaches 98.4% with 1 bar O2 at room temperature. Its luminescence intensity exhibits a unique thermal “quenching, then activating” behavior during monotonic variations in temperature.

Heavy metal pollution in the environment is mostly manifested as a multi-elemental compound pollution. The effect of the long-term exposure to heavy metal pollution on the gut microbes of insects has remained unknown. For the current work, the population of Eucriotettix oculatus living in mining areas around the Diaojiang River with a history of hundreds of years of pollution, was selected along with the similar species living in non-mining areas to conduct a comparative study of their gut microbes. The microbial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The results showed Proteobacteria to be dominant among gut microbes of E. oculatus, but the abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly increased when the insects were exposed to the environment with heavy metal pollution. The symbiotic bacteria belonging to genus Wolbachia were found to be dominant among the insect population from the non-mining area group, while the pathogenic bacteria belonging to Aeromonas were dominant among the insect population of the mining area group. The diversity analysis showed that the gut microbial community diversity of E. oculatus was reduced in the heavy metal pollution habitat. The analysis of the differences in the gut microbial population and metabolic pathways of the two groups showed that the heavy metal pollution caused the increase in pathogenic bacteria among the gut microbes of E. oculatus, which might have a negative impact on the health of the host. At the same time, probiotics and the beneficial metabolism pathways were also found to increase and enhance, helping the host to resist the damage caused by heavy metal stress. This might be one of the strategies used by E. oculatus to adapt to heavy metal pollution.

Purpose Gastric cancer (GC) has high morbidity and mortality and is a serious threat to public health. The flavonoid compound vitexin is known to exhibit anti-tumor activity. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of vitexin in GC and its underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods The viability, migration, and invasion of GC cells were determined using MTT, scratch wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. Target molecule expression was determined by western blotting. Tumor growth and liver metastasis were evaluated in vivo using nude mice. Protein expression in the tumor tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results Vitexin inhibited GC cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a dose-dependent manner. Vitexin treatment led to the inactivation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) pathway by repressing HMGB1 expression. Vitexin-mediated inhibition in proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of GC cells were counteracted by hyper-activation of PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway or HMGB1 overexpression. Finally, vitexin inhibited the xenograft tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo by suppressing HMGB1 expression. Conclusions Vitexin inhibited the malignant progression of GC in vitro and in vivo by suppressing HMGB1-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α signaling pathway. Thus, vitexin may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of GC.

In recent years, with the development of information technology, a new teaching model based on information technology platform arises at the historic moment. In order to better explore the teaching methods suitable for local application-oriented colleges and universities, the author choses the PAD class teaching mode assisted by Chaoxing Platform in the course of International Trade, and makes a comparative study with the traditional teaching mode. PAD class based on Chaoxing platform has a good effect on improving the overall learning effect of the class and promoting students’ extracurricular learning, but for students who do not want to learn, the effect is not obvious.

EUPETAURUS NIVAMONS Q. LI, JIANG, JACKSON & HELGEN SP. NOV. Suggested common name: Yunnan woolly flying squirrel. Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: BE1BF61A-769A-42D6-8B11-56ECC0A871C8 Holotype: KIZ 034190 (field number BS1601), young adult female, skin, skull, and body preserved in ethanol, collected in January 2017. Sequences for 12S (rRNA) (GenBank no. MW 699658), 16S (GenBank no. MW 699662), Cytb (GenBank no. MW 699650) and IRBP (GenBank no. MW 699654) are deposited in GenBank. Type locality: The holotype was collected on Biluo Snow Mountain, behind the village of Nageluo (Oi������) (27��53 ��� 23.54 ��� N, 98��45 ��� 43.90 ��� E), Bangdang Township (���������), Gongshan County, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Paratypes: Five specimens from the type locality: KIZ 034191 (field number BS1602), immature female, whole body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 034192 (field number BS1603), immature female, cleaned skull with body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 035088 (field number 20171101), adult female, skin, skull with body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 035087 (field number 20171102), adult male, skin, skull with body preserved in ethanol; and KIZ 035086 (field number 20171103), adult male, whole body preserved in ethanol. Referred specimens: KIZ 034189 (field number GS16078), immature female, skull, skin, and body preserved in ethanol, collected from Nanmowanshan Pass (������ -��� ��� ��� ����DZ ��� ���), Mount Gaoligong, Gongshan, Yunnan. Two additional skins without skulls (KIZ 003299 and KIZ 003310), purchased at Lijiang or Gongshan, Yunnan in 1973 by Yingxiang Wang (Yang & Wang, 1989) (the original label locality was written as Lijiang, which was later altered to Gongshan). Diagnosis: Eupetaurus nivamons differs from E. cinereus in its more saturated brown dorsal pelage (clearer grey dorsal pelage in E. cinereus) and closely resembles the external appearance of E. tibetensis, but its black tail tip is longer. The rostrum of E. nivamons is wider than in E. cinereus and E. tibetensis; its temporal ridges are parallel rather than posteriorly convergent as in E. cinereus and E. tibetensis (Table 3). Cheekteeth cusps and ridges are weakest among the taxa; the protocone and hypocone are not as developed as in the other two species, making the upper cheek teeth round in shape rather than heart shaped. Its lower molars are subrectangular, as in E. tibetensis, and less robust than the subsquare molars of E. cinereus. Eupetaurus nivamons has two short anterior fosettids in the lower molars (one long anterior fosettid in E. tibetensis; one short anterior fosettid in E. cinereus) (Figs 7, 8). Descriptive notes: Eupetaurus nivamons is slightly smaller than E. cinereus (holotype head-body length 419 mm, tail length 440 mm, hind foot length 90 mm, ear length 44.5 mm and mass 1420 g). The dorsal pelage is grizzled greyish brown. The same colour extends to the forehead, turning pale grey along the cheeks to the throat. Ventral pelage is light ashy, with a median longitudinal line of coarse hairs. The margin of the patagium is black. The dorsal surfaces of the manus and pes are black, mixed with scattered straw-coloured hairs. The ears are pointed and hairy, externally black and internally white washed with khaki. The proximal half of the tail is similar in colour to the back but browner, and the distal half is black. A pale marking round the lower half of the otherwise brown body has been observed in one camera-trapped animal at Mount Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China (Wang Jianhua, pers. obs.). The skull and dentition are as described above for the genus Eupetaurus and diagnosis of the species. Etymology: The specific name is composed of the Latin nivalis, snowy, and mons, mountain. It is a noun in apposition. Distribution: According to specimens, camera-trap images/videos and sightings by local people, E. nivamons is currently known from the alpine zone (3400���4450 m) on Mount Gaoligong [the watershed of the Ayeyarwady (= Irrawaddy) River and the Nu (= Salween) River] and Biluo Snow Mountain (the watershed of the Nu River and the Mekong River) (Fig. 10). Given that the known distribution runs along the Chinese side of the border with Myanmar, the species is likely to occur in suitable habitats immediately across the border in north-eastern Myanmar (similar to the case of the recently described gibbon Hoolock tianxing Fan et al., 2017). It should also be sought in alpine areas of far south-eastern Tibet situated east of the Brahmaputra River (Fig. 10). Natural history: The specimen KIZ 034189 was collected from a cliff at an elevation of 3700 m a.s.l. near the spine of Mount Gaoligong. The surrounding natural vegetation is a mosaic of swamp meadows and dense shrubs ~ 0.5 m high. The main plants are currants (Ribes L.), barberries (Berberis L.), willows (Salix L.), roses (Rosa L.), rhododendron (Rhododendron L.) and juniper (Juniperus squamata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don). The mean annual temperature is 3.9 ��C, ranging from a low of ���12.5 ��C in January to a high of 19.6 ��C in August. Mean annual humidity is 94.4%, ranging from a low of 70% in November to a high of 100% from April to September, except August [data from a nearby combined temperature and humidity meter (ibutton-MAXIM DS1923); Supporting Information, Supplementary Data SD8]. All cameratrap photographs and videos of E. nivamons were taken from similar cliff habitats at 3700���4450 m a.s.l. on Mount Gaoligong (Fig. 11). Large, round faecal pellets and partly eaten plant material were scattered under juniper scrub (Juniperus squamata) near the high-elevation cliff of Mount Gaoligong. Given that no other large rodents were documented in this habitat, we interpret this as evidence that juniper is an important food plant for E. nivamons in the area. Potential predators of E. nivamons include the tawny owl (Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758), leopard cat [Prionailurus bengalensis (Kerr, 1792)] and Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica Pallas, 1773). Camera-trap observations (N = 31) show that E. nivamons is active throughout the year, with a peak in October; and it is active from 19.30 to 06.00 h, with a peak from 19.30 to 00.00 h. Even in winter, fresh faecal pellets can be found on top of the snow under juniper shrubs, indicating that E. nivamons does not hibernate or migrate from the area during the coldest months of the year (Ge Gao, pers. obs.). Conservation: We have documented this species at two principal localities, Mount Gaoligong and Biluo Snow Mountain. Mount Gaoligong is within a nationally protected nature reserve, whereas Biluo Snow Mountain has not been gazetted as a protected area. Owing to its high-elevation cliff habitat, far away from human settlements and covered by heavy snow for more than half of the year, E. nivamons is probably not heavily affected by human activities. The only known direct threat we documented is poaching for meat by herb collectors who visit the area from June to October. Given the apparent rarity of the animal and relatively small habitat area, we recommend an IUCN Red List classification of Near Threatened for this species. The loss of alpine habitats owing to ongoing climate change is a potential threat to the species in the near future., Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M. & Jiang, Xue-Long, 2022, Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species, pp. 502-526 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 on pages 517-520, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018, {"references":["Yang GR, Wang YX. 1989. List of rodents and their relationship with diseases in Yunnan. Chinese Journal of Vector Biology and Control 5: 222 - 229.","Fan P-F, He K, Chen X, Ortiz A, Zhang B, Zhao C, Li Y-Q, Zhang H-B, Kimock C, Wang W-Z, Groves C, Turvey ST, Roos C, Helgen KM, Jiang X-L. 2017. Description of a new species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) based on integrative taxonomy. American Journal of Primatology 79: e 22631."]}

Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M., Jiang, Xue-Long (2021): Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2): 502-526, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF EUPETAURUS 1a. Temporal ridges parallel. Rostrum wide. Upper cheek teeth round in shape; lower molars have two anterior fossettids.................................................................................................... Eupetaurus nivamons 1b. Temporal ridges converge posteriorly. Rostrum narrow. Upper cheek teeth heart shaped; lower molars have one anterior fossettid............................................................................................................................. 2 2a. Cusps and ridges of cheek teeth are robust; P 4 and P4 significantly larger than the following molars; lower molars are subsquare in shape; anterior fossettid short.......................................... Eupetaurus cinereus 2b. Cusps and ridges of cheek teeth are less robust; P 4 and P 4 approximately equal in size to the following molars; lower molars subrectangular in shape; anterior fossettid long............... Eupetaurus tibetensis, Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M. & Jiang, Xue-Long, 2022, Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species, pp. 502-526 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 on page 520, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018

EUPETAURUS NIVAMONS Q. LI, JIANG, JACKSON & HELGEN SP.NOV. Suggested common name: Yunnan woolly flying squirrel. Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: BE1BF61A-769A-42D6-8B11-56ECC0A871C8 Holotype: KIZ 034190 (field number BS1601), young adult female, skin, skull, and body preserved in ethanol, collected in January 2017. Sequences for 12S (rRNA) (GenBank no. MW699658), 16S (GenBank no. MW699662), Cytb (GenBank no. MW699650) and IRBP (GenBank no. MW699654) are deposited in GenBank. Type locality: The holotype was collected on Biluo Snow Mountain, behind the village of Nageluo (DZ格洛) (27°53 ′ 23.54 ″ N, 98°45 ′ 43.90 ″ E), Bangdang Township (棒当乡), Gongshan County, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Paratypes: Five specimens from the type locality: KIZ 034191 (field number BS1602), immature female, whole body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 034192 (field number BS1603), immature female, cleaned skull with body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 035088 (field number 20171101), adult female, skin, skull with body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 035087 (field number 20171102), adult male, skin, skull with body preserved in ethanol; and KIZ 035086 (field number 20171103), adult male, whole body preserved in ethanol. Referred specimens: KIZ 034189 (field number GS16078), immature female, skull, skin, and body preserved in ethanol, collected from Nanmowanshan Pass (Ń山 -巴 坡 人 ½ª AE 丫 口), Mount Gaoligong, Gongshan, Yunnan. Two additional skins without skulls (KIZ 003299 and KIZ 003310), purchased at Lijiang or Gongshan, Yunnan in 1973 by Yingxiang Wang (Yang & Wang, 1989) (the original label locality was written as Lijiang, which was later altered to Gongshan). Diagnosis: Eupetaurus nivamons differs from E. cinereus in its more saturated brown dorsal pelage (clearer grey dorsal pelage in E. cinereus) and closely resembles the external appearance of E. tibetensis, but its black tail tip is longer. The rostrum of E. nivamons is wider than in E. cinereus and E. tibetensis; its temporal ridges are parallel rather than posteriorly convergent as in E. cinereus and E. tibetensis (Table 3). Cheekteeth cusps and ridges are weakest among the taxa; the protocone and hypocone are not as developed as in the other two species, making the upper cheek teeth round in shape rather than heart shaped. Its lower molars are subrectangular, as in E. tibetensis, and less robust than the subsquare molars of E. cinereus. Eupetaurus nivamons has two short anterior fosettids in the lower molars (one long anterior fosettid in E. tibetensis; one short anterior fosettid in E. cinereus) (Figs 7, 8). Descriptive notes: Eupetaurus nivamons is slightly smaller than E. cinereus (holotype head-body length 419 mm, tail length 440 mm, hind foot length 90 mm, ear length 44.5 mm and mass 1420 g). The dorsal pelage is grizzled greyish brown. The same colour extends to the forehead, turning pale grey along the cheeks to the throat. Ventral pelage is light ashy, with a median longitudinal line of coarse hairs. The margin of the patagium is black. The dorsal surfaces of the manus and pes are black, mixed with scattered straw-coloured hairs. The ears are pointed and hairy, externally black and internally white washed with khaki. The proximal half of the tail is similar in colour to the back but browner, and the distal half is black. A pale marking round the lower half of the otherwise brown body has been observed in one camera-trapped animal at Mount Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China (Wang Jianhua, pers. obs.). The skull and dentition are as described above for the genus Eupetaurus and diagnosis of the species. Etymology: The specific name is composed of the Latin nivalis, snowy, and mons, mountain. It is a noun in apposition. Distribution: According to specimens, camera-trap images/videos and sightings by local people, E. nivamons is currently known from the alpine zone (3400–4450 m) on Mount Gaoligong [the watershed of the Ayeyarwady (= Irrawaddy) River and the Nu (= Salween) River] and Biluo Snow Mountain (the watershed of the Nu River and the Mekong River) (Fig. 10). Given that the known distribution runs along the Chinese side of the border with Myanmar, the species is likely to occur in suitable habitats immediately across the border in north-eastern Myanmar (similar to the case of the recently described gibbon Hoolock tianxing Fan et al., 2017). It should also be sought in alpine areas of far south-eastern Tibet situated east of the Brahmaputra River (Fig. 10). Natural history: The specimen KIZ 034189 was collected from a cliff at an elevation of 3700 m a.s.l. near the spine of Mount Gaoligong. The surrounding natural vegetation is a mosaic of swamp meadows and dense shrubs ~ 0.5 m high. The main plants are currants (Ribes L.), barberries (Berberis L.), willows (Salix L.), roses (Rosa L.), rhododendron (Rhododendron L.) and juniper (Juniperus squamata Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don). The mean annual temperature is 3.9 °C, ranging from a low of −12.5 °C in January to a high of 19.6 °C in August. Mean annual humidity is 94.4%, ranging from a low of 70% in November to a high of 100% from April to September, except August [data from a nearby combined temperature and humidity meter (ibutton-MAXIM DS1923); Supporting Information, Supplementary Data SD8]. All cameratrap photographs and videos of E. nivamons were taken from similar cliff habitats at 3700–4450 m a.s.l. on Mount Gaoligong (Fig. 11). Large, round faecal pellets and partly eaten plant material were scattered under juniper scrub (Juniperus squamata) near the high-elevation cliff of Mount Gaoligong. Given that no other large rodents were documented in this habitat, we interpret this as evidence that juniper is an important food plant for E. nivamons in the area. Potential predators of E. nivamons include the tawny owl (Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758), leopard cat [Prionailurus bengalensis (Kerr, 1792)] and Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica Pallas, 1773). Camera-trap observations (N = 31) show that E. nivamons is active throughout the year, with a peak in October; and it is active from 19.30 to 06.00 h, with a peak from 19.30 to 00.00 h. Even in winter, fresh faecal pellets can be found on top of the snow under juniper shrubs, indicating that E. nivamons does not hibernate or migrate from the area during the coldest months of the year (Ge Gao, pers. obs.). Conservation: We have documented this species at two principal localities, Mount Gaoligong and Biluo Snow Mountain. Mount Gaoligong is within a nationally protected nature reserve, whereas Biluo Snow Mountain has not been gazetted as a protected area. Owing to its high-elevation cliff habitat, far away from human settlements and covered by heavy snow for more than half of the year, E. nivamons is probably not heavily affected by human activities. The only known direct threat we documented is poaching for meat by herb collectors who visit the area from June to October. Given the apparent rarity of the animal and relatively small habitat area, we recommend an IUCN Red List classification of Near Threatened for this species. The loss of alpine habitats owing to ongoing climate change is a potential threat to the species in the near future., Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M. & Jiang, Xue-Long, 2021, Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species, pp. 502-526 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on pages 16-19, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018, http://zenodo.org/record/4923100, {"references":["Yang GR, Wang YX. 1989. List of rodents and their relationship with diseases in Yunnan. Chinese Journal of Vector Biology and Control 5: 222 - 229.","Fan P-F, He K, Chen X, Ortiz A, Zhang B, Zhao C, Li Y-Q, Zhang H-B, Kimock C, Wang W-Z, Groves C, Turvey ST, Roos C, Helgen KM, Jiang X-L. 2017. Description of a new species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) based on integrative taxonomy. American Journal of Primatology 79: e 22631."]}

EUPETAURUS TIBETENSIS JACKSON, HELGEN, Q. LI & JIANG SP.NOV. Suggested common name: Tibetan woolly flying squirrel. Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: 19DA79D4-7E20-4EB6-A1C7-2C22C6F21D58 Holotype: NML 19524, adult, skin and skull, collected in ‘ Tibet’. Sequences of Cytb for this specimen are deposited in GenBank (no. AY 331673). This specimen was first discussed by Anderson (1879), who left it taxonomically unidentified. When describing E. cinereus as a new genus and species, Thomas (1888) speculated that Anderson’s Tibetan specimen was also a Eupetaurus, a point later confirmed by Jentink (1890), who figured the skull of this specimen. Little is known about the collection details for this specimen other than that it is ‘said to be from Tibet’ (Jentink, 1890: 143). Corbet & Hill (1992: 314) noted that the association of the skull and skin for this specimen suggest that ‘it is not a trade skin’ (i.e. it is probably a wild-collected animal). To us, this specimen, when considered alongside the paratype skin obtained in a market in the Tibetan town of Gyantse (also spelt Gyangze, 江ở) in 1909, establishes the historical occurrence of this species in the south-central portion of the Tibetan Plateau (see below). Paratype: BMNH 23.11.10.2, skin, with partial skull in situ inside the skin, probably female by examination of the specimen, ‘bought in Gyantze Bazaar’ (earlier tag reads ‘ Gyantsi Bazaar’), Tibet, collected in June 1909 by Colonel F. M. Bailey [Bailey was British Trade Agent at Gyantsi and Chumbi (¤丕) in Tibet at that time; Bailey, 1945]. Referred specimens: Two specimens from the state of Sikkim in north-eastern India: BMNH 88.9.29.1, skin, with skull fragments removed from skin (anterior of mandibular rami, preserving incisors; anteriormost cranium preserving incisors, premaxillae and nasals), from ‘ Sikkim?’, received from W. T. Blanford from the ‘Mandelli collection’ (thus apparently collected by L. Mandelli); and ZSI 19103, skin, from ‘North Sikkim, alt. 3000 m’ (Agrawal & Chakraborty, 1970), elevation also reported as ‘9000 feet’ (Zahler & Woods, 1997). Type locality: Labels associated with the holotype indicate only that it was collected in ‘Tibet’. The paratype specimen at BMNH was obtained from the bazaar at Gyantse (as ‘ Gyantsi Bazaar’). Here, we accordingly fix the type locality as ‘vicinity of Gyantse Town’, Tibet (= Xizang). Gyantse is situated at an elevation of 4000 m a.s.l. in the Nyang Chu Valley (年 楚河â), Shigatse (H喀Nj), southern Tibet. Diagnosis: Eupetaurus tibetensis differs from E. cinereus in having more saturated brown pelage, tinged with reddish tones (typically more clear grey in E. cinereus) and from E. nivamons in having a black tail tip that is much shorter (approximately half the length of the tail in E. nivamons). The rostrum is similar to E. cinereus and narrower than E. nivamons. The temporal ridges are convergent posteriorly, as in E. cinereus, rather than parallel, as in E. nivamons. The cusps and ridges of cheek teeth are more robust than in E. nivamons but less robust than in E. cinereus. Upper cheek teeth are heart shaped, as in E. cinereus, and differ from the rounded shape in E. nivamons. Lower molars are subrectangular, as in E. nivamons, and differ from the subsquare ones in E. cinereus, with only one long anterior fosettid per lower molar (two short anterior fosettids in E. nivamons; one short anterior fosettid in E. cinereus). Overall, the dentition of E. tibetensis resembles that of E. cinereus more than E. nivamons, but the external appearance of E. tibetensis is similar to E. nivamons. Descriptive notes: In the available specimens of E. tibetensis, overall body size is similar to E. cinereus, with a head–body length of 468 mm in the holotype (with the imperfect, broken tail measuring 350 mm). The dorsal pelage is brownish grey, with less extensive frosting of the fur tips than seen in E. cinereus, and with reddish tones sometimes evident along the midline of the dorsum, on the rump and on the proximal portion of the tail. The underparts are greyish, washed with yellow. The dorsal surfaces of the forefeet and hindfeet are brown. The tail is bushy and cylindrical, with coloration similar to the body, except for a short black tip. The skull and dentition are as described above for the genus Eupetaurus and diagnosis of the species. Etymology: The species name is derived from its occurrence in Tibet, where the holotype and paratype originated. Distribution: Records of occurrence that we attribute to E. tibetensis originate from elevations of 2700–4000 m a.s.l. in Tibet (= Xizang) in China, Sikkim in India and (more tentatively) from Bhutan. This species is known for certain from two specimens from Tibet and two specimens from Sikkim, discussed above. Eupetaurus has also been reported from Bhutan (Wangchuk et al., 2004), and given the proximity of Bhutan to vouchered records from south-central Tibet and north Sikkim, we suggest that these Bhutanese observations are likely to represent E. tibetensis. We are not aware of vouchered specimens or specific published records from Bhutan, only general statements about its occurrence: Wangchuk et al. (2004) noted that it was found in coniferous, rhododendron and subalpine forests> 2700 m a.s.l.; Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu (2012) specified that it was known from western Bhutan; and Rinchen (2009) suggested that it might occur in Jigme Dorji National Park in north-western Bhutan. No records of Eupetaurus have yet been noted from Nepal (Mitchell, 1979; Thapa et al., 2016). In summary, we suspect that the distribution of E. tibetensis comprises the far southern portion of the central Tibetan Plateau and the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Sikkim and Bhutan (Fig. 10). Natural history: Currently, there is little known about the ecology of E. tibetensis. Commencing research on this species to understand its distribution, ecology and conservation status is an urgent need. Conservation: The conservation status of E. tibetensis remains unknown. We recommend an IUCN Red List categorization of Data Deficient for the species. Surveys are needed to determine the extent of its distribution, including whether it occurs in protected areas, such as Jigme Dorji National Park in Bhutan, and if it is facing particular threats, such as deforestation or hunting.

EUPETAURUS TIBETENSIS JACKSON, HELGEN, Q. LI & JIANG SP. NOV. Suggested common name: Tibetan woolly flying squirrel. Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: 19DA79D4-7E20-4EB6-A1C7-2C22C6F21D58 Holotype: NML 19524, adult, skin and skull, collected in ��� Tibet���. Sequences of Cytb for this specimen are deposited in GenBank (no. AY 331673). This specimen was first discussed by Anderson (1879), who left it taxonomically unidentified. When describing E. cinereus as a new genus and species, Thomas (1888) speculated that Anderson���s Tibetan specimen was also a Eupetaurus, a point later confirmed by Jentink (1890), who figured the skull of this specimen. Little is known about the collection details for this specimen other than that it is ���said to be from Tibet��� (Jentink, 1890: 143). Corbet & Hill (1992: 314) noted that the association of the skull and skin for this specimen suggest that ���it is not a trade skin��� (i.e. it is probably a wild-collected animal). To us, this specimen, when considered alongside the paratype skin obtained in a market in the Tibetan town of Gyantse (also spelt Gyangze, ���ħ) in 1909, establishes the historical occurrence of this species in the southcentral portion of the Tibetan Plateau (see below). Paratype: BMNH 23.11.10.2, skin, with partial skull in situ inside the skin, probably female by examination of the specimen, ���bought in Gyantze Bazaar��� (earlier tag reads ��� Gyantsi Bazaar���), Tibet, collected in June 1909 by Colonel F. M. Bailey [Bailey was British Trade Agent at Gyantsi and Chumbi (�����) in Tibet at that time; Bailey, 1945]. Referred specimens: Two specimens from the state of Sikkim in north-eastern India: BMNH 88.9.29.1, skin, with skull fragments removed from skin (anterior of mandibular rami, preserving incisors; anteriormost cranium preserving incisors, premaxillae and nasals), from ��� Sikkim?���, received from W. T. Blanford from the ���Mandelli collection��� (thus apparently collected by L. Mandelli); and ZSI 19103, skin, from ���North Sikkim, alt. 3000 m��� (Agrawal & Chakraborty, 1970), elevation also reported as ���9000 feet��� (Zahler & Woods, 1997). Type locality: Labels associated with the holotype indicate only that it was collected in ���Tibet���. The paratype specimen at BMNH was obtained from the bazaar at Gyantse (as ��� Gyantsi Bazaar���). Here, we accordingly fix the type locality as ���vicinity of Gyantse Town���, Tibet (= Xizang). Gyantse is situated at an elevation of 4000 m a.s.l. in the Nyang Chu Valley (��� ���������), Shigatse (n���ffl), southern Tibet. Diagnosis: Eupetaurus tibetensis differs from E. cinereus in having more saturated brown pelage, tinged with reddish tones (typically more clear grey in E. cinereus) and from E. nivamons in having a black tail tip that is much shorter (approximately half the length of the tail in E. nivamons). The rostrum is similar to E. cinereus and narrower than E. nivamons. The temporal ridges are convergent posteriorly, as in E. cinereus, rather than parallel, as in E. nivamons. The cusps and ridges of cheek teeth are more robust than in E. nivamons but less robust than in E. cinereus. Upper cheek teeth are heart shaped, as in E. cinereus, and differ from the rounded shape in E. nivamons. Lower molars are subrectangular, as in E. nivamons, and differ from the subsquare ones in E. cinereus, with only one long anterior fosettid per lower molar (two short anterior fosettids in E. nivamons; one short anterior fosettid in E. cinereus). Overall, the dentition of E. tibetensis resembles that of E. cinereus more than E. nivamons, but the external appearance of E. tibetensis is similar to E. nivamons. Descriptive notes: In the available specimens of E. tibetensis, overall body size is similar to E. cinereus, with a head���body length of 468 mm in the holotype (with the imperfect, broken tail measuring 350 mm). The dorsal pelage is brownish grey, with less extensive frosting of the fur tips than seen in E. cinereus, and with reddish tones sometimes evident along the midline of the dorsum, on the rump and on the proximal portion of the tail. The underparts are greyish, washed with yellow. The dorsal surfaces of the forefeet and hindfeet are brown. The tail is bushy and cylindrical, with coloration similar to the body, except for a short black tip. The skull and dentition are as described above for the genus Eupetaurus and diagnosis of the species. Etymology: The species name is derived from its occurrence in Tibet, where the holotype and paratype originated. Distribution: Records of occurrence that we attribute to E. tibetensis originate from elevations of 2700��� 4000 m a.s.l. in Tibet (= Xizang) in China, Sikkim in India and (more tentatively) from Bhutan. This species is known for certain from two specimens from Tibet and two specimens from Sikkim, discussed above. Eupetaurus has also been reported from Bhutan (Wangchuk et al., 2004), and given the proximity of Bhutan to vouchered records from south-central Tibet and north Sikkim, we suggest that these Bhutanese observations are likely to represent E. tibetensis. We are not aware of vouchered specimens or specific published records from Bhutan, only general statements about its occurrence: Wangchuk et al. (2004) noted that it was found in coniferous, rhododendron and subalpine forests> 2700 m a.s.l.; Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu (2012) specified that it was known from western Bhutan; and Rinchen (2009) suggested that it might occur in Jigme Dorji National Park in north-western Bhutan. No records of Eupetaurus have yet been noted from Nepal (Mitchell, 1979; Thapa et al., 2016). In summary, we suspect that the distribution of E. tibetensis comprises the far southern portion of the central Tibetan Plateau and the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Sikkim and Bhutan (Fig. 10). Natural history: Currently, there is little known about the ecology of E. tibetensis. Commencing research on this species to understand its distribution, ecology and conservation status is an urgent need. Conservation: The conservation status of E. tibetensis remains unknown. We recommend an IUCN Red List categorization of Data Deficient for the species. Surveys are needed to determine the extent of its distribution, including whether it occurs in protected areas, such as Jigme Dorji National Park in Bhutan, and if it is facing particular threats, such as deforestation or hunting., Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M. & Jiang, Xue-Long, 2022, Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species, pp. 502-526 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 on pages 516-517, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018, {"references":["Anderson J. 1879. Anatomical and zoological researches: comprising an account of the zoological results of the two expeditions to western Yunnan in 1868 and 1875; and a monograph of the two cetacean genera, Platanista and Orcella. London: Quaritch.","Thomas O. 1888. Eupetaurus, a new form of flying squirrel from Kashmir. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 57: 256 - 260.","Jentink FA. 1890. Observations relating Eupetaurus cinereus, Oldfield Thomas. Notes from the Leyden Museum 12: 143 - 144.","Corbet GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford: Oxford University Press.","Bailey FM. 1945. China, Tibet, Assam: a journey, 1911. London: Jonathan Cape.","Agrawal V, Chakraborty S. 1970. Occurrence of the woolly flying squirrel, Eupetaurus cinereus Thomas (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in north Sikkim. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 66: 615 - 616.","Zahler P, Woods CA. 1997. The status of the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus) in northern Pakistan. In: Mufti SA, Woods CA, Hasan SA, eds. Biodiversity of Pakistan. Islamabad: Museum of Natural History and Gainesville: Florida Museum of Natural History, 495 - 514.","Wangchuk T, Thinley P, Tshering K, Tshering C, Yonten D. 2004. A field guide to the mammals of Bhutan. Thimphu: Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.","Srinivasulu C, Srinivasulu B. 2012. South Asian mammals: their diversity, distribution, and status. New York: Springer.","Rinchen D. 2009. A habitat survey of the woolly flying squirrel in Bhutan. Available at: https: // wwf. panda. org / wwf _ news /? 156701 / woolly-flying-squirrel-in-Bhutan","Mitchell RM. 1979. The sciurid rodents (Rodentia: Sciuridae) of Nepal. Journal of Asian Ecology 1: 21 - 28.","Thapa S, Katuwal HB, Koirala S, Dahal BV, Devkota B, Rana R, Dhakal H, Karki R, Basnet H. 2016. Sciuridae (order: Rodentia) in Nepal. Kathmandu: Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation."]}

GENUS EUPETAURUS THOMAS, 1888 Eupetaurus are amongst the largest flying squirrels, with fur that is thick, long and soft. Dorsal coloration ranges from pale grey to brownish grey, and ventral coloration is typically whitish grey. The cylindrical, fox-like tail is long and bushy. The palmar and plantar surfaces are thickly furred between naked pads (Fig. 6). The skull is generally similar to other flying squirrels (reviewed in detail by McKenna, 1962), with the following diagnostic features (Fig. 7): (1) the snout is long and constricted at the base; (2) the incisors are ungrooved and relatively small, with pale yellow enamel faces; (3) the glenoid fossa opens posteriorly, with the opening placed high on the skull; (4) the coronoid process of the mandible is weak, not rising above the condyle; (5) the cheek teeth are large, slow to erupt and strongly hypsodont in younger animals (the occlusal surfaces becoming nearly flat after wear); they are enormously expanded vertically (Supporting Information, Supplementary Data SD7), with cusps and their interconnecting ridges combined into lophs and cross-lophs (this remarkable hypsodonty is unlike any other sciurid); (6) the alveolar cavities are strongly swollen to house the unerupted portion of the hypsodont cheek teeth; and (7) ���the pterygoid fossae possess three diagonally elongate pits for the origin of powerful pterygoid musculature��� (McKenna, 1962). These diagnostic features appear to relate to Eupetaurus feeding primarily on abrasive food, with the incisors reduced in functionality and chewing achieved mainly by anteroposterior trituration of the cheek teeth (McKenna, 1962). Limited available natural history information (mainly for E. cinereus) suggests that these squirrels might specialize on eating pine needles (Zahler & Khan, 2003). The upper cheek-tooth row is strongly convergent anteriorly in adults (although it remains more parallel in juveniles). The P 3 is peg-like and strong. The relative size of the upper cheek teeth can be given as P 4 > M 1 ��� M 2 > M 3. The P 4 (and DP 4) and the upper molars have similar structures: the endoloph is strongly folded to form the ���posterolingual diagonal flexus��� (see below); the anteroloph, hypertrophic preparaconule crista, paraloph, metaloph and posteroloph are finger-like and connected, in turn, to the buccal side of the endoloph. The anterior valley is wide and divided by the preparaconule crista. When worn, the preparaconule crista gradually connects with the parastyle to isolate the lingual part of anterior valley into an anterofossette. The central valley is always open. The posterior valley is always closed into a posterofossette, except in the M 3 in early wear. The relative size of the lower cheek teeth can be given as P 4 > M 1 ��� M 2 ��� M 3. The structure of the lower molars is relatively simple, with a ���ring��� at the front and back, connected by the ectolophid in the middle. The anterior ring is formed by the anterolophid between the protoconid and metaconid, and the protolophid between the protoconid and metastylid. The centre of the anterior ring is one (E. cinereus and E.tibetensis) or two (E. nivamons) anterior fossettids. The lingual edge of the anterior fossettid is not closed in early wear. The posterior ring is formed by the entolophid and posterolophid that run between hypoconid and entoconid. The centre of the posterior ring is one posterior fossettid (talonid basin remnant). The posterior fossettid of M3 is not closed in early wear. The mesoconid develops into a buccal cusp as strong as the protoconid and hypoconid on the middle of the ectolophid, which divides the hypoflexid into two folds. The central flexid runs from the posterolingual side of the tooth to the base of the anterior fold of the hypoflexid. Generally, DP 4 is similar to the lower molars, but has two opened anterior fossettids and two extra small cusps:an isolated paraconid in front of the buccal anterior fossettid and an isolated ectostylid on the buccal side of the mesoconid (Fig. 8). Also, P4 possess two open anterior fossettids and an isolated paraconid, but the paraconid will connect with the metaconid and protoconid as the teeth are worn. The mesoconid is very small on P 4 in Eupetaurus (Fig. 9F). The entire crown of P4 is more diagonally oriented than DP 4 and lower molars., Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M. & Jiang, Xue-Long, 2022, Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species, pp. 502-526 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 on pages 508-510, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018, {"references":["Thomas O. 1888. Eupetaurus, a new form of flying squirrel from Kashmir. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 57: 256 - 260.","McKenna MC. 1962. Eupetaurus and the living petauristine sciurids. American Museum Novitates 2104: 1 - 38.","Zahler P, Khan M. 2003. Evidence for dietary specialization on pine needles by the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus). Journal of Mammalogy 84: 480 - 486."]}

EUPETAURUS CINEREUS THOMAS, 1888 Suggested common name: Western woolly flying squirrel. Lectotype: BMNH 88.9.28.1, adult, skin, ��� Astor District��� (= Astore, Pakistan). Type locality: ���Astor District, Kashmir��� (= Astore District, Pakistan). Diagnosis: Eupetaurus cinereus differs from other Eupetaurus species in its overall more grizzled-grey pelage, with more pronounced grey frosting to the dorsal hairs (more saturated brown tones in the pelage of other species). Interspecific distinctions in the skull mainly concern the breadth of the rostrum and the shape of the frontal bones: the rostrum of E. cinereus is similar to that of E. tibetensis and narrower than that of E. nivamons; the interorbital region of E. cinereus is broader than in the other two species, and its postorbital processes is larger; the temporal ridges of E. cinereus and E. tibetensis are convergent posteriorly rather than parallel in E. nivamons (Table 3). The cusps and ridges of cheek teeth of E. cinereus are markedly more robust than in the other two species. The developed protocone and hypocone make the upper cheek teeth heart shaped, similar to E. tibetensis, and differ from the round ones in E. nivamons. Its lower molars are subsquare, also more robust than the subrectangular ones in the other two species. Eupetaurus cinereus preserves only one short anterior fosettid (one long anterior fosettid in E. tibetensis; two short anterior fosettids in E. nivamons) (Figs 7, 8). Descriptive notes: Size large: head-body length 420���510 mm, tail length 430���545 mm, hind foot l e n g t h 8 3���9 3 m m a n d m a s s 2 5 0 0 g (Z a h l e r & Woods, 1997). The dorsal pelage is typically grizzled greyish, although a melanistic example was recorded by Chakraborty & Agrawal (1977) from Chitral, Pakistan. The pointed ears are hairy, with the outer fur black or brown and the fur of the inner ear greyish. The dorsal surface of the patagium is darker brown. The dorsal surfaces of the forefeet are black and those of the hindfeet are brown. The ventral pelage is pale brownish grey, with the hairs slate coloured basally and dirty white terminally. The tail is long, cylindrical and exceedingly bushy, with similar coloration to the body, often with the portion of the black tail tip short. The skull and dentition are as described above for the genus Eupetaurus and diagnosis of the species. Distribution: Until recently, E. cinereus was known only by specimens and sightings from a few localities between 2400 and 3600 m a.s.l. in the western Himalayan region, concentrated around Gilgit in northern Pakistan, where its range appears to fall within a small area where the Himalayan, Karakoram and Hindu Kush Mountain Ranges meet (Zahler, 1996; Zahler & Woods, 1997; Molur et al., 2005; Dinets, 2011; Qamar et al., 2012; Din et al., 2015). More recently, Eupetaurus has been recorded by camera traps from the Upper Bhagirathi Basin, Uttarakhand, north-western India, at elevations of 2700 and 4800 m a.s.l. (Pal et al., 2018, 2020). On the basis of the colour of the animals and their geographical location, we regard these records as representing E. cinereus. This indicates a wider geographical and elevational range of occurrence for this species along the western margins of the Himalayas. The increasing use of camera-trap survey techniques might demonstrate that the species occurs in areas intermediate between the widely separated known localities in the Gilgit region of Pakistan and the Bhagirathi Basin of India, perhaps even extending into western Nepal. Natural history: This species resides on cliffs and rock faces at high elevations, and individuals are not normally tree dwellers except when feeding (Roberts, 1997; Zahler & Woods, 1997). Within Pakistan, the habitat of E. cinereus is characterized by patchy forests, with herbs and shrubs of the genus Artemisia L., juniper (Juniperus excelsa M.Bieb.), Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall. ex D.Don), blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B.Jacks.), Morinda spruce [Picea smithiana (Wall.) Boiss.] and oaks (Quercus L. spp.)> 2000 m a.s.l. (Zahler & Woods, 1997; Zahler & Karim, 1999). In India, alpine vegetation associated with the 2700 m record includes Bistorta affinis (D.Don) Greene, Gentiana L. spp., Potentilla L. spp., Primula L. spp., Rhodiola L. spp. and Rhododendron anthopogon D.Don. The nearest forest was located 4 km downhill of this sighting and was dominated by Abies pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Royle, Betula utilis D.Don and Rhododendron campanulatum D.Don. The 4800 m record was lacking any woody or arborescent vegetation, which contrasts with other records that typically associate the species with scattered conifers (Pal et al., 2018). In the original taxonomic description of the genus, Thomas (1888) speculated that it might feed on fungi, lichens, mosses and other rock-loving plants in its high-elevation environment. Roberts (1997) proposed that the buds and cones of the Morinda spruce (Picea smithiana) may be an important food source for E. cinereus, because buds occur in spring and cones in summer, which are shed in winter. Indeed, Zahler & Woods (1997) found that one captive specimen would eat the buds of Morinda spruce but refused all fruits, nuts and other food offered. More recently, faecal samples from four individuals were found to contain 92���100% pine needles (Zahler & Khan, 2003). Other observations have found this species to consume the buds of blue pine, juniper, spruce, oaks, Chilgoza pine and deodar [Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don]. In August and September, they are also thought to visit walnut trees (Juglans regia L.), although it is not clear what parts of the plants they eat (Mirza & Rasool, 2005). Known predators of E. cinereus include the red fox [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)], snow leopard [Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775)] and eagle owl [Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758)] (Zahler, 1996, 1998; Zahler & Dietemann, 1999; Qamar et al., 2012; Pal et al., 2020). This species appears to be nocturnal, solitary and active all year round (Zahler, 1996). A nest attributed to this species was reported from a shelf in a cave at 3230 m a.s.l. in Jutal Nala, northern Pakistan, which was made of bark and branches of juniper and grasses and looked like a flat bowl measuring 500 mm �� 400 mm (Oshida et al., 2005). A specimen has also been recorded in Sai Nullah (Gilgit, Pakistan) coming out of an old oak tree at ~ 2590 m a.s.l. Thus, there appears to be some flexibility in nesting locations if tree hollows are available (Mirza & Rasool, 2005). An immature specimen at BMNH collected on 17 April suggests that breeding occurs early in spring and that two litters in a year could be produced (Roberts, 1997). This is supported by observations of two or three young being produced per litter, with young observed in spring and in late summer (Zahler & Woods, 1997). Conservation: Eupetaurus cinereus is threatened by habitat loss owing to large-scale clear cutting of forests, particularly the destruction of highelevation pine woodlands (Zahler & Woods, 1997; Zahler & Khan, 2003). It is also threatened to a lesser extent by expansion of agriculture, small-scale logging, infrastructure development and human settlements (Molur et al., 2005). The total population size was estimated to be between 1000 and 3000 individuals within the known range in Pakistan in the mid-1990s (Zahler & Woods, 1997). It is currently classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Zahler, 2010), because it was considered likely to have suffered a recent reduction in population numbers from habitat loss (Rao & Marwat, 2003; Hasan, 2008). The recent discovery of the species in the state of Uttarakhand in north-western India (Pal et al., 2018, 2020) demonstrates that it might have a considerably wider distribution than previously realized and indicates that protection and conservation in India is also fundamental for the long-term survival of E. cinereus. The species is included in Schedule II (Part II) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (Molur et al., 2005; Pal et al., 2018). Hunting is not thought to be a major threat to this species. The species might receive some traditional respect and de facto protection because it is considered be a source of a material called salajit (also spelt salaajeet or shilajit), which is thought to be a mixture of flying squirrel urine and faecal pellets and rock leachate (Zahler, 1996; Zahler & Karim, 1998; Meena et al., 2010). Salajit is important in traditional medicine (Hooper, 1903) and is collected from caves and sold in medicinal potions used to treat various diseases (Zahler, 1996; Zahler & Karim, 1998; Meena et al., 2010). Historical references regarding the collection and use of salajit (e.g. Hooper, 1903) might provide clues concerning the historical distribution of E. cinereus or other Eupetaurus species in the Himalayan region, although other high-elevation species of flying squirrels, including the Kashmir flying squirrel [Eoglaucomys fimbriatus (Gray, 1837)], might also be sources of the substance (Pyke, 2001)., Published as part of Jackson, Stephen M., Li, Quan, Wan, Tao, Li, Xue-You, Yu, Fa-Hong, Gao, Ge, He, Li-Kun, Helgen, Kristofer M. & Jiang, Xue-Long, 2022, Across the great divide: revision of the genus Eupetaurus (Sciuridae: Pteromyini), the woolly flying squirrels of the Himalayan region, with the description of two new species, pp. 502-526 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 on pages 511-516, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab018, {"references":["Thomas O. 1888. Eupetaurus, a new form of flying squirrel from Kashmir. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 57: 256 - 260.","McKenna MC. 1962. Eupetaurus and the living petauristine sciurids. American Museum Novitates 2104: 1 - 38.","Chakraborty S, Agrawal VC. 1977. A melanistic example of woolly flying squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus Thomas (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 74: 346 - 347.","Zahler P. 1996. Rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus). Journal of Mammalogy 77: 54 - 57.","Zahler P, Woods CA. 1997. The status of the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus) in northern Pakistan. In: Mufti SA, Woods CA, Hasan SA, eds. Biodiversity of Pakistan. Islamabad: Museum of Natural History and Gainesville: Florida Museum of Natural History, 495 - 514.","Molur S, Srinivasulu C, Srinivasulu B, Walker S, Nameer PO, Ravikumar L. 2005. Status of non-volant small mammals: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (C. A. M. P.) workshop report. Coimbatore: Zoo Outreach Organisation / CBSG-South Asia.","Dinets V. 2011. Observations of the woolly flying squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus in Pakistan. Mammalia 75: 277 - 280.","Qamar QZ, Ali U, Minhas RA, Dar NI, Anwat M. 2012. New distribution information on woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus Thomas, 1888) in Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 44: 1333 - 1342.","Din JU, Khan M, Ghaznavi M, Shah KA, Younus M. 2015. Note on the giant woolly gliding squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in northern Pakistan. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7: 7602 - 7604.","Pal R, Thakur S, Bhattacharya T, Sathyakumar S. 2018. Range extension and high elevation record for the endangered woolly flying squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus in western Himalaya, India. Mammalia 83: 410 - 414.","Pal R, Bhattacharya T, Sathyakumar S. 2020. Woolly flying squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus: a new addition to the diet of the snow leopard Panthera uncia. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 117. doi: 10.17087 / jbnhs / 2020 / v 117 / 142056.","Roberts TJ. 1997. The mammals of Pakistan, revised edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.","Zahler P, Karim A. 1999. New distribution, elevation, habitat, and diurnal refuge for the Kashmir flying squirrel (Eoglaucomys fimbriatus). Mammalia 62: 588 - 591.","Zahler P, Khan M. 2003. Evidence for dietary specialization on pine needles by the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus). Journal of Mammalogy 84: 480 - 486.","Mirza ZB, Rasool G. 2005. The first report of the post-cranial skeletal measurements of woolly fly [sic] squirrel Eupetaurus cinerius [sic], with observations of its behaviour. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 37: 162 - 164.","Zahler P. 1998. The flap over the woolly flying squirrel. Wildlife Conservation 101: 56 - 57.","Zahler P, Dietemann C. 1999. A note on food habits of the eagle owl (Bubo bubo) in northern Pakistan. Forktail 15: 98 - 99.","Oshida T, Shafique CM, Barkati S. 2005. A note on a new habitat of the woolly flying squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus in the northern area of Pakistan. Mammal Study 30: 73 - 76.","Zahler P. 2010. Eupetaurus cinereus. IUCN red list of threatened species, Version 2013.1. Available at: www. iucnredlist. org","Rao AL, Marwat AH. 2003. Northern areas strategy for sustainable development. Background paper: forestry. Gilgit: IUCN Northern Areas Progamme.","Hasan L. 2008. An anatomy of state failures in the forest management in Pakistan. Pakistan Development Review 46: 1189 - 1203.","Zahler P, Karim A. 1998. Origin of the floristic components of salajit. Hamdard Medicus: Pakistan Quarterly Journal of Science and Medicine 41: 6 - 8.","Meena H, Pandey HK, Arya MC, Ahmed Z. 2010. Shilajit: A panacea for high-altitude problems. International Journal of Ayurveda Research 1: 37 - 40.","Hooper D. 1903. Silajit and ancient eastern medicine. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 72: 98 - 103.","Pyke K. 2001. Giant Himalayan woolly flying squirrels. Alpine Journal 106: 48 - 49."]}

EUPETAURUS NIVAMONS Q. LI, JIANG, JACKSON & HELGEN SP.NOV. Suggested common name: Yunnan woolly flying squirrel. Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: BE1BF61A-769A-42D6-8B11-56ECC0A871C8 Holotype: KIZ 034190 (field number BS1601), young adult female, skin, skull, and body preserved in ethanol, collected in January 2017. Sequences for 12S (rRNA) (GenBank no. MW699658), 16S (GenBank no. MW699662), Cytb (GenBank no. MW699650) and IRBP (GenBank no. MW699654) are deposited in GenBank. Type locality: The holotype was collected on Biluo Snow Mountain, behind the village of Nageluo (DZ格洛) (27°53 ′ 23.54 ″ N, 98°45 ′ 43.90 ″ E), Bangdang Township (棒当乡), Gongshan County, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Paratypes: Five specimens from the type locality: KIZ 034191 (field number BS1602), immature female, whole body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 034192 (field number BS1603), immature female, cleaned skull with body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 035088 (field number 20171101), adult female, skin, skull with body preserved in ethanol; KIZ 035087 (field number 20171102), adult male, skin, skull with body preserved in ethanol; and KIZ 035086 (field number 20171103), adult male, whole body preserved in ethanol. Referred specimens: KIZ 034189 (field number GS16078), immature female, skull, skin, and body preserved in ethanol, collected from Nanmowanshan Pass (Ń山 -巴 坡 人 ½ª AE 丫 口), Mount Gaoligong, Gongshan, Yunnan. Two additional skins without skulls (KIZ 003299 and KIZ 003310), purchased at Lijiang or Gongshan, Yunnan in 1973 by Yingxiang Wang (Yang & Wang, 1989) (the original label locality was written as Lijiang, which was later altered to Gongshan). Diagnosis: Eupetaurus nivamons differs from E. cinereus in its more saturated brown dorsal pelage (clearer grey dorsal pelage in E. cinereus) and closely resembles the external appearance of E. tibetensis, but its black tail tip is longer. The rostrum of E. nivamons is wider than in E. cinereus and E. tibetensis; its temporal ridges are parallel rather than posteriorly convergent as in E. cinereus and E. tibetensis (Table 3). Cheekteeth cusps and ridges are weakest among the taxa; the protocone and hypocone are not as developed as in the other two species, making the upper cheek teeth round in shape rather than heart shaped. Its lower molars are subrectangular, as in E. tibetensis, and less robust than the subsquare molars of E. cinereus. Eupetaurus nivamons has two short anterior fosettids in the lower molars (one long anterior fosettid in E. tibetensis; one short anterior fosettid in E. cinereus) (Figs 7, 8). Descriptive notes: Eupetaurus nivamons is slightly smaller than E. cinereus (holotype head-body length 419 mm, tail length 440 mm, hind foot length 90 mm, ear length 44.5 mm and mass 1420 g). The dorsal pelage is grizzled greyish brown. The same colour extends to the forehead, turning pale grey along the cheeks to the throat. Ventral pelage is light ashy, with a median longitudinal line of coarse hairs. The margin of the patagium is black. The dorsal surfaces of the manus and pes are black, mixed with scattered straw-coloured hairs. The ears are pointed and hairy, externally black and internally white washed with khaki. The proximal half of the tail is similar in colour to the back but browner, and the distal half is black. A pale marking round the lower half of the otherwise brown body has been observed in one camera-trapped animal at Mount Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China (Wang Jianhua, pers. obs.). The skull and dentition are as described above for the genus Eupetaurus and diagnosis of the species. Etymology: The specific name is composed of the Latin nivalis, snowy, and mons, mountain. It is a noun in apposition. Distribution: According to specimens, camera-trap images/videos and sightings by local people, E. nivamons is currently known from the alpine zone (3400–4450 m) on Mount Gaoligong [the watershed of the Ayeyarwady (= Irrawaddy) River and the Nu (= Salween) River] and Biluo Snow Mountain (the watershed of the Nu River and the Mekong River) (Fig. 10). Given that the known distribution runs along the Chinese side of the border with Myanmar, the species is likely to occur in suitable habitats immediately across the border in north-eastern Myanmar (similar to the case of the recently described gibbon Hoolock tianxing Fan et al., 2017). It should also be sought in alpine areas of far south-eastern Tibet situated east of the Brahmaputra River (Fig. 10). Natural history: The specimen KIZ 034189 was collected from a cliff at an elevation of 3700 m a.s.l. near the spine of Mount Gaoligong. The surrounding natural vegetation is a mosaic of swamp meadows and dense shrubs ~ 0.5 m high. The main plants are currants (Ribes L.), barberries (Berberis L.), willows (Salix L.), roses (Rosa L.), rhododendron (Rhododendron L.) and juniper (Juniperus squamata Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don). The mean annual temperature is 3.9 °C, ranging from a low of −12.5 °C in January to a high of 19.6 °C in August. Mean annual humidity is 94.4%, ranging from a low of 70% in November to a high of 100% from April to September, except August [data from a nearby combined temperature and humidity meter (ibutton-MAXIM DS1923); Supporting Information, Supplementary Data SD8]. All cameratrap photographs and videos of E. nivamons were taken from similar cliff habitats at 3700–4450 m a.s.l. on Mount Gaoligong (Fig. 11). Large, round faecal pellets and partly eaten plant material were scattered under juniper scrub (Juniperus squamata) near the high-elevation cliff of Mount Gaoligong. Given that no other large rodents were documented in this habitat, we interpret this as evidence that juniper is an important food plant for E. nivamons in the area. Potential predators of E. nivamons include the tawny owl (Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758), leopard cat [Prionailurus bengalensis (Kerr, 1792)] and Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica Pallas, 1773). Camera-trap observations (N = 31) show that E. nivamons is active throughout the year, with a peak in October; and it is active from 19.30 to 06.00 h, with a peak from 19.30 to 00.00 h. Even in winter, fresh faecal pellets can be found on top of the snow under juniper shrubs, indicating that E. nivamons does not hibernate or migrate from the area during the coldest months of the year (Ge Gao, pers. obs.). Conservation: We have documented this species at two principal localities, Mount Gaoligong and Biluo Snow Mountain. Mount Gaoligong is within a nationally protected nature reserve, whereas Biluo Snow Mountain has not been gazetted as a protected area. Owing to its high-elevation cliff habitat, far away from human settlements and covered by heavy snow for more than half of the year, E. nivamons is probably not heavily affected by human activities. The only known direct threat we documented is poaching for meat by herb collectors who visit the area from June to October. Given the apparent rarity of the animal and relatively small habitat area, we recommend an IUCN Red List classification of Near Threatened for this species. The loss of alpine habitats owing to ongoing climate change is a potential threat to the species in the near future.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of nuciferine on alleviating obesity based on modulating gut microbiota, ameliorating chronic inflammation, and improving gut permeability. In this study, the obese model mice were induced by high-fat diet and then randomly divided into model group, and nuciferine group; some other mice of the same week age were fed with normal diet as normal group. In the modeling process, the mice were administered intragastrically(ig) for 12 weeks. In the course of both modeling and treatment, the body weight and food intake of mice in each group were measured weekly. After modeling and treatment, the Lee's index, weight percentage of inguinal subcutaneous fat, and the level of blood lipid in each group were measured. The pathological changes of adipocytes were observed by HE staining to evaluate the efficacy of nuciferine treatment in obese model mice. 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis was conducted to study the changes in diversity and abundance of gut microbiota after nuciferine treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) were used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and the expression of related genes in adipose tissue of mice in each group, so as to evaluate the effect of nuciferine on chronic inflammation of mice in obese model group. qPCR was used to detect the expression of occludin and tight junction protein 1(ZO-1)gene in colon tissure, so as to evaluate the effect of nuciferine on intestinal permeability of mice in obese group. Nuciferine decreased the body weight of obese mice, Lee's index, weight percentage of inguinal subcutaneous fat(Plt;0.05), and reduced the volume of adipocytes, decreased the level of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)(Plt;0.05) in serum, improved dysbacteriosis, increased the relative abundance of Alloprevotella, Turicibacter, and Lactobacillus, lowered the relative abundance of Helicobac-ter, decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α genes in adipose tissue(Plt;0.01), decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in serum(Plt;0.05), and increased the expression of occludin and ZO-1 genes related to tight junction in colon tissue(Plt;0.01). Nuciferine could treat obesity through modulating gut microbiota, decreasing gut permeability and ameliorating inflammation.

Face recognition technology is an important research field for deep learning. In order to overcome the shortcomings of traditional open-loop face cognition mode and deep neural network structure, and to imitate human cognition model of real-time evaluation of cognitive results to self-optimized regulate feature space and classification cognition criteria, drawing on the theory of closed-loop control theory, this paper explores an intelligent face cognition method with deep ensemble learning and feedback mechanism. Firstly, based on the DEEPID neural network, an unstructured feature space of face images with a determined mapping relationship from the global to the local is established. Secondly, based on feature separability evaluation and variable precision rough set theory, a face cognition decision information system model with unstructured dynamic feature representation is established from the perspective of information theory, to reduce the unstructured feature space. Thirdly, the ensemble random vector functional-link net is used to construct the classification criterion of the reduced unstructured feature space. Finally, the face cognition result entropy measure index is constructed to provide a quantitative basis for the self-optimization adjustment mechanism of face feature space and classification cognition criteria. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the recognition rate of face images compared with the existing methods.

The distribution pattern of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) is one of the main factors affecting runoff and sediment yield. The relationship between runoff and sediment yield and biocrusts' distribution pattern is not clear, which hinders understanding the mechanism underlying the effects of biocrusts on runoff and sediment from slopes. To fill the knowledge gap, we investigated the relationship between the landscape indices of three biocrusts' distribution patterns,生物结皮的分布格局是影响坡面产流产沙的因素之一,但其格局对侵蚀动力的影响机理尚不明确,妨碍了进一步解析生物结皮影响坡面产流产沙的机制。本研究通过室内模拟降雨试验,采用景观生态学方法,对带状、棋盘和随机3种分布格局下生物结皮坡面景观指数和水力学参数的变化规律与裸土坡面进行对比研究。结果表明: 生物结皮显著影响坡面侵蚀动力,其分布格局是影响坡面侵蚀动力的因素之一。与裸土相比,生物结皮显著降低了坡面流速(54.6%)和弗劳德数(67.0%),显著增加了径流深(86.2%)和阻力系数(10.68倍),但对雷诺数和径流功率的影响较小;除径流深外,3种格局的生物结皮坡面的各水力学参数均存在显著差异,其中,随机格局对坡面侵蚀动力的影响最大。基于因子分析和聚类分析,筛选出斑块占景观面积比例、斑块密度、景观形状指数、斑块连结度和分离度5个指标作为描述生物结皮斑块分布特征的指标。其中,生物结皮斑块间的斑块连结度和分离度是影响坡面侵蚀动力的主要格局因子。随着生物结皮斑块间斑块连结度减小、分离度增大,坡面流速增加,阻力减小,坡面侵蚀加剧。.

The extensive application of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) causes their frequent detection in various environments. Nevertheless, the effects of PFASs exposure on environmental microorganisms still remain unknown. In current work, two typical PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are selected to investigate their long-term effects on soil microbes. Microbial community structure and diversity were investigated by high-throughput sequencing and multiple statistical methods. Under 90-days of exposure, PFAS treatments increased the alpha-diversity of soil microbial communities with PFOS treatment, followed by PFOA treatment. The long-term exposure of PFASs substantially changed the compositions of soil microbial communities. The most abundant phylum Proteobacteria decreased from 82.9% (without amended PFASs) to 62.1% (with PFOA treatment) and 77.8% (with PFOS treatment). As a comparison, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Ignavibacteriae increased in the PFOA or PFOS groups. Comparative co-occurrence networks were constructed to investigate the biotic interactions in the two treatments. It was found that most taxonomy nodes in the PFOA and PFOS networks were associated with the genus Hydrogenophaga and Pseudoxanthomonas, respectively. The LEfSe analysis identified a set of core taxonomies (e.g., Azospirillum, Methyloversatilis, Ancylobacter, Hydrogenophaga, and Methylomonas) in the soil microbial communities and suggested their different preferences to PFAS exposures. Functional gene prediction suggested that the microbial metabolism processes, such as nucleotide transport and metabolism, cell motility, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, energy production and conversion, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis transport and catabolism, might be significantly inhibited under PFAS exposure, which may further affect soil ecological services.

The extensive application of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) causes their frequent detection in various environments. In this work, two typical PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are selected to investigate their effects on soil microorganisms. Microbial community structure and microbe–microbe relationships were investigated by high-throughput sequencing and co-occurrence network analysis. Under 90 days of exposure, the alpha-diversity of soil microbial communities was increased with the PFOS treatment, followed by the PFOA treatment. The exposure of PFASs substantially changed the compositions of soil microbial communities, leading to the enrichment of more PFASs-tolerant bacteria, such as Proteobacteria, Burkholderiales, and Rhodocyclales. Comparative co-occurrence networks were constructed to investigate the microbe–microbe interactions under different PFASs treatments. The majority of nodes in the PFOA and PFOS networks were associated with the genus Azospirillum and Hydrogenophaga, respectively. The LEfSe analysis further identified a set of biomarkers in the soil microbial communities, such as Azospirillum, Methyloversatilis, Hydrogenophaga, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Fusibacter. The relative abundances of these biomarkers were also changed by different PFASs treatments. Functional gene prediction suggested that the microbial metabolism processes, such as nucleotide transport and metabolism, cell motility, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, energy production and conversion, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis transport and catabolism, might be inhibited under PFAS exposure, which may further affect soil ecological services.

The nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Lethe confuse was sequenced and analyzed. This mitogenome is 14,945 bp in size and encodes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The most common start codon is ATN (ATA, ATG, and ATT), and the most common termination codon is TAA. In addition, three PCGs have incomplete termination codon T. The overall nucleotide composition is 38.0% of A, 7.8% of G, 42.4% of T, and 11.8% of C. The data will increase the basic information of Satyrinae phylogenetic research and can help to better understand the phylogenetic status of L. confuse in Nymphalidae.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the most common malignancy with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide. In our previous study, we found that a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Ze-Qi-Tang (ZQT), which has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases for thousands of years, could directly inhibit the growth of human NSCLC cells via the p53 signaling pathway. In this study, we explored the immunomodulatory functions of ZQT. We found that ZQT significantly prolonged the survival of orthotopic lung cancer model mice by modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME). ZQT remarkably reduced the number of MDSCs (especially G-MDSCs) and inhibited their immunosuppressive activity by inducing apoptosis in these cells via the STAT3/S100A9/Bcl-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway. When G-MDSCs were depleted, the survival promotion effect of ZQT and its inhibitory effect on lung luminescence signal disappeared in tumor-bearing mice. This is the first study to illustrate the immunomodulatory effect of ZQT in NSCLC and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Mountains of southwest China (MSWC) is a biodiversity hotspot with highly complex and unusual terrain. However, with the majority of studies focusing on the biogeographic consequences of massive mountain building, the Quaternary legacy of biodiversity for the MSWC has long been overlooked. Here, we took a statistical comparative phylogeography approach to examine factors that shaped community-wide diversification. With data from 30 vertebrate species, the results reveal spatially concordant genetic structure, and temporally clustered co-divergence events associated with river barriers during severe glacial cycles. This indicates the importance of riverine barriers in the phylogeographic history of the MSWC vertebrate community. We conclude that the repeated glacial cycles are associated with co-divergences that are themselves structured by the heterogeneity of the montane landscape has of the MSWC. This orderly process of diversifications has profound implications for conservation by highlighting the relative independence of different geographical areas in which some, but not all species in communities have responded similarly to climate changes and calls for further comparative phylogeographic investigations to reveal the connection between biological traits and divergence pulses in this biodiversity hotspot.

Varicocele is one of the common causes of infertility in adult males. Surgical intervention can improve the semen quality of some of the patients and significantly increase the pregnancy rate, but fails to benefit them all. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to identify the patients who can significantly benefit from surgical interventions to maximize the effectiveness of surgery and avoid medical waste. This article summarizes the recent progress in surgical indications and strategies for varicocele in adult males, and provides some reference for the management of the disease.

With the large-scale outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, scientists and medical workers around the world made contributions to reducing the epidemic outbreak, curing patients, and developing vaccines against the epidemic. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic in various countries, many scholars have used machine learning and infectious disease dynamics models to make corresponding predictions for the subsequent development of the epidemic. In order to acquire a more accurate forecast of the global epidemic, this paper used the ARIMA model, Logistic model, SIR model, and improved SEIR model to make predictions. Moreover, we compared these models’ benefits, drawbacks, and the degree of fit between the predicted data of various models and the real data to obtain a highly accurate model. Experiments have proved that among these models, the improved SEIR model can predict the future development trend of the global epidemic more precisely. In addition, the improved SEIR model also provides a certain theoretical basis for the government to issue a series of policies, prevention methods and control measures.