Discovery of the oldest known Pterygota in the Lower Carboniferous of the Upper Silesian Basin in the Czech Republic (Insecta: Archaeorthoptera)

The earliest pterygote (winged insect), dated from the Lower Carboniferous (Namurian A/E1, circa 324 millions years ago) is described from the Upper Silesian Basin in the Czech Republic. On the basis of its wing venation, it is attributed to the Archaeorthoptera Béthoux and Nel, 2002, crown group of the “Orthoptera”. Besides Apterygota (Collembola and Archaeognatha) known from the Lower Devonian, extremely rare pterygote insects are known from Lower Carboniferous deposits when they first appeared. The present discovery supports the hypothesis of the presence of the ancestor lineage of the orthopteroid in the Lower Carboniferous ecosystems.     

Westphalian Sporo-Pollen Assemblages from the Upper Carboniferous in Zhongwei,Ningxia

About 98 species of fossil spores and pollen referred to 55 genera from the Upper Carboniferous Yanghugou Formation in Zhongwei, Ningxia have been studied. Two sporopollen assemblage zones are recognized in ascending order as follows: 1. Laevigatosporites medius-Cyclogranisporites aureus (MA) zone: This assemblage corresponds to the lower part of the Yanghugou Formation, and is characterized by the predominance of pteridophyfic spores and the relative abundance of gymnospermous pollen. Azonotriletes and monoletes are dominant, while zonates are of importance. The most common species are Leiotriletes spp., Cyclogranisporites aureus Potoni6 et Kremp, Granulatisporites granulatus Ibrahim, Microreticulatisporites concavus Butterworth et Williams, M. nobilis (Welcher) Knox, Triquitrites bransonii Wilson et Hoffmeister, Dictyotriletes bireticulatus (Ibrahim) Smith et Butterworth, Ahrensisporites guerickei (Horst) Potonie et Kremp, Lycospora spp., Crassispora kosankei (Potonie et Kremp) Bharadwaj, Cirratriradites saturni (Ibrahim) Schopf, Wilson et Bentall, Laevigatosporites spp., Columinisporites ovalis Peppers, Florinites junior Potnie et Kremp and Vesicaspora wilsonii (Schemel) Wilson et Venkatachata. This assemblage is comparable with those of the Yanghugou Formation in Baiyantaohai of Inner Mongolia (Yu, 1983), the 8th zone of North China by Gao (1979), the Triquitrites sinani-Cirratriradites saturni (SS) Zone and the Microreticulatisporites nobilis-Florinites junior (NJ) Zone of West Europe, which are considered corresponding to Westphatian A-B in age. 2. Torispora seuris-Punctatisporites hians (SH) zone: This assemblage is equivalent to the upper part of the Yanghugou Formation, and is also characterized by dominance of pteridophytic spores and subdominance of gymospermous pollen. In addition to the most commen species mentioned above, the important taxas in the present assemblage comprise Punctatisporites hians Wang, Gulisporites cochlearius Imgrund, Verrucosisporites kaipingiensis Imgrund, Endosporites globiformis (Ibrahim) Schopf, Wilson et Bentall, Densosporites anulatus (Loose) Smith et Butterworth, D. reticuloides Ouyang et Li, Simozonotriletes labellatus Wang, Torispora securis Balme, Thymospora thiessenii (Kosanke) Wilson et Venkatachala, Pit yos porites west phalensis Williams and Plat ysaccus, Illinites, C ycadopites, etc. This zone compares closely with those of the upper part of the Yanghugou Formation in Hengshanbu (Wang Hui, 1984) and Ordos Basin (Geng, 1985), the Benxi Formation in Shanxi (Liao, 1987; Ouyang and Li, 1980; Gao, 1979), as welll as Torispora securis-T, laevigata (SL) Zone and Thymospora obscura-T, thiessenii (OT) Zone of West Europe. Therefore, the present SH Zone should be referred to Westphalian C-D in age. The Westphalian palynofiora in Zhongwei is dominated by Filicopsida and pteridospermopsida; Sphenopsida and lycopsida occupy the subdominant position, while Cordaitopsida and Coniferopsida do not develop well. This palynofiora indicates a tropical-subtropical warm and humid paleoclimate.     

New fossil mantidflies (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from the Mesozoic of north‐eastern China

Abstract:  Three new genera and four new species of the extinct mantidfly subfamily Mesomantispinae (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia: Archaeodrepanicus nuddsi gen. et sp. nov., A. acutus gen. et sp. nov., Sinomesomantispa microdentata gen. et sp. nov., (Yixian Formation) and Clavifemora rotundata gen. et sp. nov. (Jiulongshan Formation). The specimens described herein represent the first Mesozoic mantidfly compression fossils to have body parts preserved, including the specialized raptorial forelegs articulated to the prothorax anteriorly, an autapomorphy of the family. These new taxa further confirm the placement of the subfamily Mesomantispinae within the family Mantispidae; however, the monophyly of Mesomantispinae has not been confirmed, and it is likely that it will prove to be paraphyletic.     

New cockroaches from the Upper Carboniferous of Siberia (Insecta: Dictyoptera,Mylacridina)

Cockroaches (Dictyoptera, Mylacridina) from the Chunya locality (Upper Carboniferous of the Central Siberian Plateau) are considered. New representatives of the family Phyloblattidae Schneider, 1983 (Phyloblatta majuscula sp. nov., P. chunyensis sp. nov., Hesperoblatta vishniakovae sp. nov., and H. secunda sp. nov.) are described.     

The ontogeny of cinctans (stem‐group Echinodermata) as revealed by a new genus,GraciaCystis, from the middle Cambrian of Spain

Abstract:  A new cinctan echinoderm, Graciacystis ambigua gen. et sp. nov. from Cambrian Series 3 rocks of Spain, is described based on more than 100 articulated specimens that range from 6 to 14.5 mm in thecal length. This material shows that Graciacystis ambigua, while plastic in thecal shape, is highly conservative in its thecal construction, with a fixed number of marginal plates and very limited addition of plates in the stele and ventral membrane through ontogeny. Ventral swellings on marginal elements are absent from the smallest specimens and become gradually more marked during growth. A cladistic analysis shows Graciacystis to be a basal cinctan, more derived than Sotocinctus and the Trochocystitidae and as sister group to a large clade formed by Sucocystidae + Gyrocystidae. The determinate growth pattern seen in Graciacystis seems to be the general pattern for all cinctans.     

A new coral‐associated decapod assemblage from the Upper Miocene (Messinian) Upper Coralline Limestone of Malta (Central Mediterranean)

Abstract: A rich coral‐associated decapod assemblage is recorded from the ‘Depiru Beds’ of the upper part of the Upper Coralline Limestone (Messinian, Upper Miocene), from the island of Malta. Nineteen species within 17 genera have been discovered, where 14 genera are new for Malta. Four new species are described, namely Micippa annamariae sp. nov., Pilumnus scaber sp. nov., Panopeus muelleri sp. nov. and Herbstia melitense sp. nov. Herbstia melitense sp. nov. constitutes the first record of the genus from the fossil record in the Mediterranean region. This discovery more than doubles the number of known fossil decapod species from Malta. The fossil bivalve Jouannetia (J.) semicaudata Des Moulins, 1830 and the extant decapod Maja goltziana D’Oliveira, 1888, are also recorded for the first time from Malta. Other Neogene coral‐associated decapod assemblages are investigated and correlated with the new assemblage from Malta. The migration of taxa between the Mediterranean region and the Paratethys, particularly during the Lower Badenian (Langhian), is evidenced by the strong affinity of the Maltese decapod assemblage with that of the Middle Miocene Badenian assemblages from Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. Upper Miocene, Messinian assemblages from Spain, Algeria and Morocco are also similar to that from Malta.     

A new lacewing (Insecta: Neuroptera: Grammolingiidae) from the Upper Jurassic of Mongolia

A new lacewing species, Leptolingia shartegica sp. nov., (Grammolingiidae), from the Upper Jurassic of the Mongolian Shar-Teg locality is described.     

A new anobasicrinid (Crinoidea, Cladida) from the Upper Carboniferous of the Moscow Region

A new anobasicrinid genus and species, Parasciadiocrinus lancetospinosus gen. et sp. nov. (Crinoidea, Cladida), is described from the Upper Carboniferous of the Moscow Region. The new genus and Sciadiocrinus Moore et Plummer, 1940 together form a separate branch of anobasicrinids, which is similar to pirasocrinids through parallel evolution. The differences between these two groups are discussed in detail.     

LIPH promotes metastasis by enriching stem‐like cells in triple‐negative breast cancer

Lipase member H (LIPH), a novel member of the triglyceride lipase family. The clinical implications of its expression in breast cancer are still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the associations between LIPH and the tumorigenic behaviours of 144 triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. The ratio and mammosphere‐forming ability of CD44+/CD24? stem‐like cells were tested. The role of LIPH in breast cancer cell migration and invasion was also evaluated. In addition, the effect of LIPH silencing on mitochondrial respiration was determined using the Seahorse assay. Finally, the effect of LIPH silencing on protein expression was determined via tandem mass tag‐based spectrometry and Western blotting. We found that LIPH expression was associated with metastasis in lymph nodes and distant organs (P = 0.025), resulting in poor survival among breast cancer patients (P = 0.027). LIPH knockdown significantly decreased both the ratio of CD44⁺/CD24^? stem‐like cells and their mammosphere‐forming ability. LIPH silencing promoted apoptosis, arrested cell cycle in the G2/M phase, mitigated the oxidation‐related oxygen consumption rate in the mitochondria, and reduced metabolism. LIPH inhibited adhesion between tumour cells and enhanced the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis presented 68 proteins were differentially expressed in LIPH‐silenced cells and LIPH‐mediated modulation of tumour cell adhesion depended on integrin‐related CAPN2 and paxillin signalling. Overall, our findings provided strong evidence that LIPH up‐regulation promoted metastasis and the stemness of TNBC cells. Therefore, targeting LIPH is a potentially viable strategy for preventing metastasis in TNBC.     

A new taxocrinid genus (Crinoidea, Flexibilia) from the Upper Carboniferous of the Moscow Region

A new flexible crinoid, Neotaxocrinus arendti gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) deposits of the Moscow Region is described. The new genus is the latest of the reliable representatives of taxocrinid flexibles and is characterized by the reduction in the number of interradial plates to one large plate and by the absence of interbrachial plates of a higher order, which is usually characteristic of Early Paleozoic forms.     

Establishment and growth responses of Nile tilapia embryonic stem‐like cell lines under feeder‐free condition

Embryonic stem (ES) cells provide an invaluable tool for molecular analysis of vertebrate development and a bridge linking genomic manipulations in vitro and functional analysis of target genes in vivo. Work towards fish ES cells so far has focused on zebrafish (Danio renio) and medaka (Oryzias latipes). Here we describe the derivation, pluripotency, differentiation and growth responses of ES cell lines from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a world‐wide commercial farmed fish. These cell lines, designated as TES1‐3, were initiated from blastomeres of Nile tilapia middle blastula embryos (MBE). One representative line, TES1, showed stable growth and phenotypic characteristics of ES cells over 200 days of culture with more than 59 passages under feeder‐free conditions. They exhibited high alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of pluripotency genes including pou5f3 (the pou5f1/oct4 homologue), sox2, myc and klf4. In suspension culture together with retinoic acid treatment, TES1 cells formed embryoid bodies, which exhibited expression profile of differentiation genes characteristics of all three germ cell layers. Notably, PKH26‐labeled TES1 cells introduced into Nile tilapia MBE could contribute to body compartment development and led to hatched chimera formation with an efficacy of 13%. These results suggest that TES1 cells have pluripotency and differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. In the conditioned DMEM, all of the supplements including the fetal bovine serum, fish embryonic extract, fish serum, basic fibroblast growth factor and non‐protein supplement combination 5N were mitogenic for TES1 cell growth. This study will promote ES‐based biotechnology in commercial fish.     

Targeting lung cancer stem‐like cells with TRAIL gene armed oncolytic adenovirus

Lung cancer stem cell (LCSC) is critical in cancer initiation, progression, drug resistance and relapse. Disadvantages showed in conventional lung cancer therapy probably because of its existence. In this study, lung cancer cell line A549 cells propagated as spheroid bodies (named as A549 sphere cells) in growth factors‐defined serum‐free medium. A549 sphere cells displayed CSC properties, including chemo‐resistance, increased proportion of G0/G1 cells, slower proliferation rate, ability of differentiation and enhanced tumour formation ability in vivo. Oncolytic adenovirus ZD55 carrying EGFP gene, ZD55‐EGFP, infected A549 sphere cells and inhibited cell growth. Tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) armed oncolytic adenovirus, ZD55‐TRAIL, exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity and induced A549 sphere cells apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway. Moreover, small molecules embelin, LY294002 and resveratrol improved the cytotoxicity of ZD55‐TRAIL. In the A549 sphere cells xenograft models, ZD55‐TRAIL significantly inhibited tumour growth and improved survival status of mice. These results suggested that gene armed oncolytic adenovirus is a potential approach for lung cancer therapy through targeting LCSCs.     

宁夏枸杞属（茄科）一新种和一新变种

描述了宁夏茄科枸杞属一新种小叶黄果枸杞和一新变种密枝枸杞。小叶黄果枸杞与宁夏枸杞相接近,但前者枝条成"之"字形曲折,叶片较小,条形、条状披针形、条状倒披针形或狭椭圆形,花1～2朵与叶一起簇生于短枝顶端,花萼杯状或筒状,常2浅裂,裂片边缘无毛;花冠筒部与冠檐近等长,雄蕊着生于花冠筒的喉部,花丝连同花冠无毛或在基部仅被稀疏短柔毛,浆果扁球形或椭圆球形,常为淡黄色,近透明,长6～10mm,直径6～8mm,种子5～8枚而与后者明显不同。在外部形态上,小叶黄果枸杞与新疆枸杞和土库曼枸杞也比较接近,但新疆枸杞和土库曼枸杞的枝条不成"之"字形曲折,花常2～3朵或更多与叶一起簇生于短枝顶端,花冠筒部长约为檐部裂片长的2倍,雄蕊着生于花冠筒的近中部,浆果红色。尤其是土库曼枸杞的花萼为宽钟形,常4～5裂,花冠裂片边缘有短而稀疏的缘毛而明显有异于小叶黄果枸杞。宁夏枸杞的变种密枝枸杞与原变种的区别在于前者植株分枝多而密,叶片小,狭长椭圆形、倒披针形或匙形,长1～1.8cm,宽1.5～2.5mm;雄蕊着生于花冠喉部,长短不等,其中两枚较短,其余3枚较长,花丝连同花冠无毛或在基部仅被稀疏短柔毛;浆果卵球形或椭圆形,长5～8mm,直径3～6mm,淡紫色,近透明,多汁,味甜,种子2～4粒。     

microRNA‐124 inhibits stem‐like properties and enhances radiosensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via direct repression of expression of JAMA

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a source of tumour recurrence in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, the function of microRNA‐124 (miR‐124) in NPC CSCs has not been clearly defined. In this study, we investigated the role of miR‐124 in NPC CSCs. qRT‐PCR was performed to measure miR‐124 expression in NPC tissues and cell lines and the effects of miR‐124 on stem‐like properties and radiosensitivity of NPC cells measured. Luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments were used to investigate the interaction of miR‐124 with the 3′UTR of junctional adhesion molecule A (JAMA). Finally, we examined the effects of miR‐124 in an animal model and clinical samples. Down‐regulation of miR‐124 was detected in cancer tissues and was inversely associated with tumour stage and lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of miR‐124 inhibited stemness properties and enhanced radiosensitivity of NPC cells in vitro and in vivo via targeting JAMA. Up‐regulation of miR‐124 was correlated with superior overall survival of patients with NPC. Our study demonstrates that miR‐124 can inhibit stem‐like properties and enhance radiosensitivity by directly targeting JAMA in NPC. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying therapy failure in NPC.     

On the phylogenetic position of the palaeopteran Syntonopteroidea (Insecta: Ephemeroptera), with a new species from the Upper Carboniferous of England

A new syntonopterid, Anglolithoneura magnifica gen. et sp. n., is described from a siderite concretion (nodule) from the Late Carboniferous (Langsettian) of Lancashire County (UK). The new genus is diagnosed on hind wing venation and compared with other syntonopterid genera. The new species is the first syntonopterid formally described from the Late Carboniferous of Europe. The systematic positions of other potential Syntonopteroidea (Miracopteron mirabile, Bojophlebia prokopi, and specimens described in 1985 by J. Kukalová-Peck from Obora in the Czech Republic) are reconsidered. Wing venation synapomorphies are proposed for the Syntonopteroidea (sensu novo), and for a potential clade ((Ephemeroptera+Syntonopteroidea)+Odonatoptera) separated from the Palaeodictyopterida. The close relations of the new species with Lithoneura lameerei Carpenter, 1938 from Mazon Creek (Illinois, USA) provide additional support for a Euramerican connection during the Late Carboniferous.     

Stem tissue mass density is linked to growth and resistance to a stem‐boring insect in Alternanthera philoxeroides

To investigate how stem anatomical structure is linked to growth and resistance to stem‐boring insects in a herbaceous species, six populations of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) were grown in a common garden. Stem growth rate (GR) of A. philoxeroides and pupation rate as an estimate of resistance to a stem‐boring insect (Agasicles hygrophila) were quantified. Stem tissue mass density (TMD) was measured and stem anatomical traits were analysed on cross‐sectional areas (CSA). Stem TMD was positively correlated with resistance (i.e. negatively correlated with pupation rate) and negatively correlated with GR. Stem cortex CSA (%) and vascular bundle (VB) density (no./mm²) were positively related to stem TMD and negatively related to pupation rate. The GR was positively related to VB CSA (%) and negatively related to VB density. These results suggest that stem TMD, which results from a high fraction in cortex CSA and high VB density, is a key determinant of resistance to a stem‐boring specialist in A. philoxeroides. The high resistance of plants with higher stem TMD may partially impose a cost to plant growth.     

A new,three‐dimensionally preserved enantiornithine bird (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from Gansu Province,north‐western China

In recent years, the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation has yielded approximately 100 avian partial skeletons, many with soft‐tissue traces, from sites in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, north‐western China. The most abundant taxon amongst these is the ornithuromorph Gansus yumenensis, but enantiornithines have also been identified in the sample. Here we describe two incomplete, semi‐articulated appendicular skeletons, the first consisting of a partial left pelvic girdle and complete pelvic limb, and the second comprised of a nearly complete right pelvic limb. Both specimens bear characteristics diagnostic of Enantiornithes, and are referred to a new taxon, Qiliania graffini gen. et sp. nov. The exceptional, three‐dimensional preservation of these specimens (compared to the crushed, nearly two‐dimensional condition of most other Early Cretaceous avian fossils) reveals new information regarding enantiornithine anatomy, evolution, and diversity. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 201–219.