A new brontothere from the Eocene of South China

The upper Eocene Youganwo Formation in Maoming Province, Guangdong Province, China, produced abundant remains of turtles and crocodiles, but mammalian remains are rare. The previously found mammals from Youganwo Formation include a nimravid carnivore and an amynodontid perissodactyl. Here we report on a new brontotheriid perissodactyl from the Youganwo Formation. Maobrontops paganus gen. et sp. nov. is described based on a maxillary fragment with P4 and M1–2 (SYSU-M-4). Maobrontops paganus gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of a simple P4 without a hypocone with derived molars having large molar fossae and large anterolingual cingular cusp. A parsimony implied weighting character analysis places Maobrontops gen. nov. in the clade Embolotheriita as a sister taxon to the terminal subclade containing Nasamplus, Protembolotherium, and Embolotherium. Maobrontops paganus gen. et sp. nov. is one of the largest Asian brontotheres. The brontotheriid fauna of South China is endemic and includes at least three valid taxa: Dianotitan from Brontotheriita and Pygmaetitan and Maobrontops gen. nov. from Embolotheriita

TRIM52 promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer cells by regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Purpose: This study aimed to reveal the role and mechanism of tripartite motif-containing 52 (TRIM52) in gastric cancer (GC) progression.Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was utilized to analyze TRIM52 expression in GC samples and para-carcinoma tissue samples, and the results were confirmed by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction. Cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays were used to evaluate cell viability. Wound healing assay was utilized to analyze cell migration, while Transwell assay was utilized to evaluate cell invasion. TRIM52, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, matrix metalloproteinase-2, Wnt5a, β-catenin, and c-Myc protein levels were measured by western blot.Results: TRIM52 was expressed more in GC tissue samples and cells compared to normal tissues and cells (p < 0.001). Overexpression of TRIM52 promoted growth, migration, and invasion of HGC-27 cells, and silencing inhibited growth, migration, and invasion of HGC-27 cells (p < 0.001). In addition, TRIM52 overexpression increased Wnt5a, β-catenin, and c-Myc protein expression, and silencing decreased Wnt5a, β-catenin, and c-Myc protein expression (p < 0.001 or p < 0.01), indicating that TRIM52 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Conclusion: These findings reveal that TRIM52 facilitates GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling

A Reconstruction and Representation System for 3D Digital Archaeological Documentation – A Case Study of Dahecun Archaeological Site in China

[EN] In Dahecun, a famous archaeological site in China, the cultural strata have accumulated up to 12.5 meters, including archaeological remains covering 3,300 years. In order to improve the precision and convenience of archaeological work, a digitally aided 3D archaeological reconstruction and representation system is designed for the support of archaeological work and subsequent research and virtual reconstruction and representation of immediate site information and research output. The system shall benefit archaeologists and researchers as well as the general population with easy access to archaeological information.[ES] En Dahecun, un famoso sitio arqueológico en China, los estratos culturales se han acumulado durante 3.300 años hasta alcanzar los 12,5 metros de altura. Con el fin de mejorar la precisión y la comodidad de los trabajos arqueológicos, ha sido diseñado un sistema digital de representación y reconstrucción arqueológica 3D como herramienta de apoyo de los trabajos arqueológicos y la posterior investigación y representación y reconstrucción virtual de la información del sitio y resultados de la investigación. El sistema beneficiará a arqueólogos e investigadores, así como a la población en general, facilitando el acceso a la información arqueológica.Xiao, J.; Shang, J.; Gao, M.; Zhang, J.; Li, J. (2015). A Reconstruction and Representation System for 3D Digital Archaeological Documentation – A Case Study of Dahecun Archaeological Site in China. Virtual Archaeology Review. 4(8):50-54. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2013.4288OJS505448Zhengzhou Municipal Relics and Archaeology Institute (2001): Zhengzhou Dahecun, Science Press, Beijing. China State Administration of Cultural Heritage (2009): Operationa Specifications for Field Archaeology, Cultural Relics Publishing House, Beijing.BI Shuoben, LV Guonian et al. (2011): "Research Framework and Implementation Procedure of Field Archaeology GIS", in China Association of Science and Technology Annual Youth Sympoisum proceeding.ZHAO Congcang (ed.) (2006): An Introduction to Scientific Archaeology, Higher Education Press, Beijing

Eocene Podocarpium (Leguminosae) from South China and its biogeographic implications

Podocarpium A. Braun ex Stizenberger is one of the most common legumes in the Neogene of Eurasia, including fossil fruits, seeds, leaves, and possible flower and pollen grains. This genus is not completely consistent with any extant genera according to gross morphological characters and poorly preserved cuticular structures reported in previous studies. The fossil pods collected from the coal-bearing series of the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island and Maoming Basin of Guangdong, South China, are examined by morphologically comparative work, with special reference to venation patterns and placental position. These distinctive features, as well as the ovule development of pods from different growing stages and the epidermal structure of the pods, as distinguished from previous records lead to the conclusion that these fossils can be recognized as a new species of Podocarpium, P. eocenicum sp. nov. This new discovery indicates that Podocarpium had arrived in South China by the Eocene. Investigation on the fossil records of this extinct genus shows that P. eocenicum is the earliest and lowest latitude fossil data. The possible occurrence pattern of this genus is revealed as follows: Podocarpium had distributed in the South China at least in the middle Eocene, and then migrated to Europe during the Oligocene; in the Miocene this genus reached its peak in Eurasia, spreading extensively across subtropical areas to warm temperate areas; finally, Podocarpium shrank rapidly and became extinct in Eurasia during the Pliocene

Smart Communication Satellite (SCS) Project Overview

Smart Communication Satellite (SCS) is the first low earth orbit (LEO) mobile communication test satellite of China, whose core mission is to conduct technical exploration and verification for building satellite internet. Launched in September, 2014, SCS completed its whole on-orbit experiments in October, 2014. In order to resolve the contradiction between the coverage area and communication rate of LEO communication satellites, SCS adopts on- board smart antenna, whereby dynamically changing spot beams can be formed. Moreover, SCS has developed payload-centered satellite design technique as well as internet-oriented software satellite technique, and finally accomplished the design for application-oriented micro-satellite which is 100Kg-class weighted and applicable to communication and navigation services. The innovative techniques of SCS verify the new direction of development in the future satellite internet