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[Display omitted] • Data-based analysis confirms former empirical studies about the complicated mechanisms towards erosion. • Clustering of the dataset is consistent with the separation of Inner and Peripheral of Tibetan Plateau. • Fitting of quadratic polynomials suggests non-linear and multi-factor coupling relation with erosion. Understanding the mechanisms and influential parameters of erosion rates is of great significance to comprehend landscape evolution and surface process. For years, many scientists have dedicated themselves into investigating the controlling factors of erosion rates over different spatial–temporal scales and various erosion mechanisms have been proposed, such as tectonics, climate, lithology, vegetation and etc., solely or coupled. Here, we exert data-based analysis of the catchment-wide 10Be erosion rates around the Tibetan Plateau (TP) (n = 289) to establish the correlation between erosion rates and other geological and topographic indices with bivariate analysis (Pearson and Spearman correlation), polynomial fitting (linear and quadratic) and data-based clustering (K-medoids). The results show that it is better to cluster the whole TP into two parts (the Inner Group (n = 176) and the Peripheral Group (n = 113)) where the quadratic fitting polynomials can reach an acceptable fitting (R2 > 0.6 and RMSE < 0.23) for erosion rates. This relationship is non-linear and multi-factor-coupling, indicating complex mechanisms towards erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise doses of antibiotics are necessary to prevent bacterial drug resistance. Although fluorescent sensors are promising for quantitative analyses of antibiotics, improvements in feasibility, selectivity, and sensitivity are needed. In this study, a dual-emission fluorescence biosensor platform was developed for simple, selective, and sensitive determination of vancomycin (Van) based on a peptide conjugated with blue-emitting aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgen) and aptamer-modified red-emitting gold nanoclusters (AuNCs-apt). The peptide and aptamer together recognized Van with high affinity, thus changing the fluorescence intensity at 470 nm and 650 nm, respectively. This platform displayed excellent linear correlation between the fluorescence response and a Van concentration ranging 0.01–100 μg mL−1, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 2.79 ng mL−1. In addition to the ability to accurately distinguish Van from glycopeptide antibiotics, the newly developed biosensor allowed for naked-eye detection of 1 μg mL−1 Van. These results and those of serum samples and microdialysate samples support the application of this newly developed method for Van monitoring and clinical diagnosis. Image 1 • An AIEgen-Peptide/AuNCs-apt fluorescent sensor was developed for Van detection. • The system showed good sensitivity and selectivity in the range of 0.01–100 μg mL−1. • Dual-emitting ratiometric fluorescent sensing of Van was demonstrated. • The sensor effectively distinguishes Van from glycopeptide antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• T. mongolica and Z. xanthoxylum are close relatives with different cuticle characters. • Chemical composition of their cuticle is significantly different. • Their cuticle-associated genes expression was compared through transcriptome sequencing. • Their different leaf cuticle is associated with different drought tolerance. Tetraena mongolica Maxim, a relic shrub of the paleo-Mediterranean flora, is normally accompanied in the Western Ordos desert by another plant species in the same taxonomic family, Zygophyllum xanthoxylum (Bunge) Maxim, and together they play a vital role in the ecology of the local environment. Z. xanthoxylum has been identified as having stronger drought tolerance than T. mongolica. As an important water barrier, cuticles were compared between these two relatives to better reveal the mechanism of their different drought tolerance. Z. xanthoxylum possesses more flattened wax crystals, lower epidermal permeability and higher water use efficiency (WUE) than T. mongolica. The composition of cuticular lipids were analyzed, and the results showed that Z. xanthoxylum had significantly higher total amounts of both cuticular wax and cutin monomers than T. mongolica , with all wax class (especially alkanes) and cutin monomer amounts being much higher in Z. xanthoxylum. Cuticle-associated genes were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing, and the results showed that more alkane synthesis genes were up-regulated in Z. xanthoxylum. These findings provide different cuticles on these two succulent xerophytes and reveal the relationships with their different drought tolerance. This study is helpful to reveal the function of plant cuticle in adaptability to extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cuticle morphology was viewed by SEM of five organs of Thellungiella. • Cuticular lipids (wax and cutin) composition was determined in Thellungiella. • Cuticle-associated genes expression was performed by transcriptome sequencing. • Relationship between cuticle and adaptation to extreme environments was discussed. The cuticle plays a critical role as barrier between plant and environment. Here, cuticular wax morphology, cuticular wax and cutin monomer composition, and expression of associated genes in five above ground organs were examined in model extremophyte Thellungiella salsugineum. Alkanes, ketones, and 2-alcohols were the predominant wax constitutes in rosette leaves, inflorescence stem leaves, stems, and siliques, whereas alkanes and acids were the predominant cuticular lipids in whole flowers. Unsubstituted acids were the most abundant cutin monomers in vegetative organs, especially C18:2 dioic acids, which reached the highest levels in stems. Hydroxy fatty acids were the predominant cutin monomers in flowers, especially 16−OH C16:0 and diOH C16:0. High-throughput RNA-Seq analysis using the Hiseq4000 platform was performed on these five above organs of T. salsugineum , and the differentially expressed lipid-associated genes and their associated metabolic pathways were identified. Expression of genes associated in previous reports to cuticle production, including those having roles in cuticle lipid biosynthesis, transport, and regulation were examined. The association of cuticle lipid composition and gene expression within different organs of T. salsugineum , and potential relationships between T. salsugineum 's extreme cuticle and its adaptation to extreme environments is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]