First record of Cisuralian–Guadalupian plant fossils from the Shan Plateau,eastern Myanmar

Permian plant fossils have never been reported from the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar. Recently, a black to gray carbonaceous mudstone unit containing abundant plant fossils was discovered just below the lowest part of Thitspin Limestone Formation from the Linwe Area, eastern Myanmar. Although only five taxa were identified, the plant assemblage provides the first evidence of the occurrence of Cathaysian elements in eastern Myanmar and potentially indicates the presence of a highly diverse Permian flora. Among the five species, Cordaites principalis and Annularia mucronata were cosmopolitan species; while Callipteridum cf. koraiense, Taeniopteris crassinervis Mo and Rhipidopsis lobata were mostly recorded in the Cathaysia Flora. Therefore, the present assemblage generally indicates a palaeobiogeographical affinity to the Cathaysian Province. Stratigraphically, Callipteridum cf. koraiense was mainly reported from Cisuralian to Wordian; whereas Taeniopteris crasssnervis Mo and Rhipidopsis lobata were recorded from Capitanian to Changhsingian, which suggests a general Permian age based on the plant assemblage itself only. However, the carbonaceous mudstone at the outcrop is overlain by the Thitspin Limestone Formation containing middle Guadalupian fusulinids. Based on previous faunal analyses, the Sibumasu terrane contains typical Gondwanan cold-water faunas during the early Cisuralian, warm-water faunas occurred after Sakmarian. Thus, age of the fossil-plant-containing carbonaceous mudstone is very likely between late Cisuralian and early Guadalupian as constrained by its overlying fusulinids and its warm Cathaysian palaeobiogeographical affinity.     

The Mississippian Tetrapod Footprint Ichnogenus Palaeosauropus: Extramorphological Variation and Ichnotaxonomy

Palaeosauropus primaevus is a tetrapod footprint ichnotaxon first described from the Upper Mississippian (Visean) Mauch Chunk Formation near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States. Our relocation of the type locality and stratigraphic horizon of P. primaevus, a long-available but unstudied collection of tetrapod footprints from these strata, and our new collections allow a much fuller characterization of this ichnotaxon and the range of extramorphological variation encompassed by it. P. primaevus is characterized as the footprints of a quadruped with a pentadactyl pes and a tetradactyl manus, in which the pes frequently oversteps the manus and with which tail drags are common. In the manus, all digits are relatively broad and have rounded tips, digit III is longest, and digit IV is more widely separated from digit III than the other digits are from each other. The pes has five digits that are also wide and blunt-tipped, digit IV is longest, and digit V projects nearly laterally. P. primaevus is the track of a relatively large temnospondyl (～400 mm gleno-acetabular length) and documents the Mississippian presence of such large amphibians long before their body fossil record. Palaeosauropus also occurs in Mississippian strata in Indiana and is distinguished from the geologically younger but similar temnospondyl footprint ichnogenus Limnopus by its relatively narrower manus and pes that lack broad and rounded sole impressions.     

Possible noncalcareous algae in the upper part of the bell canyon formation (Permian), New Mexico

A new genus and species of alga called Sinoglypha nassichuki is identified and described from Guadalupian rocks of the Delaware Basin, New Mexico. It occurs in tilted to almost upright position in laminites generally accepted as being deposited in deep, anoxic water. The fossils are noncalcareous, having a wavy nature. They are not classed as trace fossils of animals. They are leafy, 2–5 cm long and may be preserved in original position.

If Sinoglypha is an alga it leads to the tentative, but not new, conclusion that perhaps the water was not deep but shallow enough for light penetration—30 meters for the upper part of the Bell Canyon Formation.     

A Parvancorina-like arthropod from the Cambrian of South China

Constraining the origin of animal groups is allowed, to some extent, by discoveries of Cambrian Lagerstätten that preserve both mineralizing and nonmineralizing organisms. A new species is reported here of the Cambrian arthropod Skania, which bears an exoskeleton that shares homologies with the Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran) organism Parvancorina and firmly establishes a Precambrian root for arthropods. A new monophyletic group, Parvancorinomorpha, is proposed as the first clade within the arthropod crown group demonstrably ranging across the Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic transition. The Parvancorinomorpha is interpreted to be the sister group of the Arachnomorpha. Incipient cephalization in Skania and related genera represents a step in the progression toward division of a cephalon from a large posterior trunk as shown in Cambrian arachnomorphs such as naraoiids and the addition of a pygidium and thoracic tergites as shown in the arachnomorph clade basal to trilobites. This evidence can serve as a new calibration point for estimating the divergence time for the last common ancestor of arthropods and priapulids based on molecular clock methods.     

Global biostratigraphic comparison and correlation of an early Cisuralian palynoflora from Bolivia

This paper presents new data about Early Permian (Cisuralian) strata, palynostratigraphy and absolute dating from the Copacabana Formation in central Bolivia. Recent stratigraphic and palynologic data from marine and transitional rocks at Apillapampa refine the age of Cisuralian palynomorphs in South America. Twelve samples interbedded with five volcanic ashes (processed and productive) yielded 94 palynomorph species arranged in two informal palynoassemblages: the lower assemblage Vittatina costabilis corresponds to one sample near the base of the Copacabana Formation and the upper Lueckisporites virkkiae assemblage occurs in overlying marine and coal-bearing transitional intervals. Ages were also independently refined by a modern review of conodonts, fusulinids, along with those U–Pb radiometric ages (Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry [ID-TIMS] of zircon-bearing interbedded tuffs). These data suggest that the lower marine member of the Copacabana Formation at this location is Asselian and Sakmarian. Lueckisporites virkkiae is a key species of palynomorph utilised in South American and global Permian biostratigraphic reconstructions. Hence, a thorough global comparison of these palynofloras and correlations is addressed in this contribution, considering first appearances of mainly cosmopolitan diagnostic taxa. Correlations are established with many similar Permian palynofloras, some also constrained with radiometric data, in South America (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina) and elsewhere.     

Taphonomic signatures,ichnofacies analysis and depositional dynamics of fossil macro-invertebrate assemblages of the San Juan Raya Formation,Zapotitlán Basin,Puebla, Mexico

In this paper, we describe the taphofacies and ichnofacies from Aptian strata of the San Juan Raya Formation in the Santa Ana Teloxtoc area, Puebla, Mexico. A composite stratigraphic section was analysed on a bed-by-bed scale up to a total thickness of 765.5 m. Our results show the presence of 10 taphofacies and 3 ichnofacies. The taphofacies and ichnofacies interpretation, and its correlation with the sedimentary lithofacies, enabled the determination of a palaeoenvironmental model for the study area that corresponds to a shallow marine, open-coast, clastic system with episodic sedimentation as a product of storm events. This system had several variations in sub-environments, from foreshore to offshore. Foreshore and shoreface environments are characterised by taphofacies Tf1, Tf2, Tf3 and Tf10 and PsI and SkI ichnofacies, representing lower faunal diversity moments (with the exception of Tf3 taphofacies). Meanwhile, taphofacies Tf4, Tf5, Tf6, Tf7, Tf8 and Tf9 were representative of shelf environments and are described as moments of medium-to-high faunal diversity (with the exception of Tf5 taphofacies).     

New fossil hangingflies (Insecta: Mecoptera: Raptipedia: Cimbrophlebiidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia,China

Abstract: Two new genera with six new species of hangingflies (Mecoptera: Raptipedia: Cimbrophlebiidae) are described. They were collected from the Middle Jurassic nonmarine sedimentary strata of the Jiulongshan Formation in Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, north‐eastern China. This report of Cimbrophlebiidae from the Yanliao Biota provides detailed morphological information and evidence of a broad diversity of Cimbrophlebiidae during the Middle Jurassic. A key to the known species of Cimbrophlebiidae is provided.     

Reassessment of cf. Halticosaurus orbitoangulatus from the Upper Triassic (Norian) of Germany – a pseudosuchian,not a dinosaur

The holotype of cf. Halticosaurus orbitoangulatus Huene, 1932, comprises an incomplete and macerated but associated skull of an archosaurian reptile from the middle (second) Stubensandstein (middle Löwenstein Formation; Upper Triassic: Norian) of Baden‐Württemberg, Germany. It was originally interpreted as a theropod dinosaur but more recently it has been suggested that this taxon has crocodylomorph affinities. Detailed preparation of the holotype of cf. H. orbitoangulatus has revealed much new anatomical information and permitted reassessment of its affinities. The maxilla lacks both a distinct antorbital fossa and a medial bony lamina bordering the antorbital fenestra. The lateral surface of the dentary bears a pronounced horizontal ridge. The squamosal differs from that of basal crocodylomorphs in being L‐shaped rather than arcuate in dorsal view, lacking a dorsolateral overhang, and lacking an interlocking contact with the paroccipital process as, for example, in the basal crocodylomorph Saltoposuchus connectens from the same horizon and locality. Phylogenetic analysis placed cf. H. orbitoangulatus amongst loricatan pseudosuchians (but not amongst Crocodylomorpha) rather than amongst theropod dinosaurs. The holotype of cf. H. orbitoangulatus represents a previously unrecognized taxon of loricatan pseudosuchian, which is here named Apatosuchus orbitoangulatus and set apart from other known Norian‐age non‐crocodylomorph loricatans by its apparently much smaller size. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

The first Praesiricidae (Hymenoptera) from Northeast China

A new subfamily Rudisiricinae Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. subfam. and a new genus Rudisiricius Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. gen. with three new species R. belli Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih n. sp., R. crassinodus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp., and R. celsus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp. are described and illustrated from the family Praesiricidae. The type specimens were collected from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, northeastern China. The new subfamily also includes Aulidontes Rasnitsyn from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan. This is the first record of Praesiricidae in China. These well-preserved nearly-complete new fossils reported here provide additional material and structure characters about this family, which helps filling some gap in the evolution of Lower Hymenoptera.     

LY2228820 Dimesylate,a Selective Inhibitor of p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase,Reduces Angiogenic Endothelial Cord Formation in Vitro and in Vivo

LY2228820 dimesylate is a highly selective small molecule inhibitor of p38α and p38β mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that is currently under clinical investigation for human malignancies. p38 MAPK is implicated in a wide range of biological processes, in particular those that support tumorigenesis. One such process, angiogenesis, is required for tumor growth and metastasis, and many new cancer therapies are therefore directed against the tumor vasculature. Using an in vitro co-culture endothelial cord formation assay, a surrogate of angiogenesis, we investigated the role of p38 MAPK in growth factor- and tumor-driven angiogenesis using LY2228820 dimesylate treatment and by shRNA gene knockdown. p38 MAPK was activated in endothelial cells upon growth factor stimulation, with inhibition by LY2228820 dimesylate treatment causing a significant decrease in VEGF-, bFGF-, EGF-, and IL-6-induced endothelial cord formation and an even more dramatic decrease in tumor-driven cord formation. In addition to involvement in downstream cytokine signaling, p38 MAPK was important for VEGF, bFGF, EGF, IL-6, and other proangiogenic cytokine secretion in stromal and tumor cells. LY2228820 dimesylate results were substantiated using p38α MAPK-specific shRNA and shRNA against the downstream p38 MAPK effectors MAPKAPK-2 and HSP27. Using in vivo models of functional neoangiogenesis, LY2228820 dimesylate treatment reduced hemoglobin content in a plug assay and decreased VEGF-A-stimulated vascularization in a mouse ear model. Thus, p38α MAPK is implicated in tumor angiogenesis through direct tumoral effects and through reduction of proangiogenic cytokine secretion via the microenvironment.