A new species of <i>Cyathocarpus</i> with <i>in situ</i> spores from the lower Permian of Gansu, northwestern China

<p>Well-preserved Marattialean fertile fronds are analyzed in this paper that come from the Cisuralian Shanxi Formation of Yongchang, Gansu Province, northwestern China. In particular, synangium in fronds and <i>in situ</i> spores are analyzed in the lab. Data show that the synangium of this species contains between four and five radially arranged pedicellate sporangia. The spores of this plant are small, between 21 and 30 μm, monolete and microgranulate with no visible annule. The fossils presented in this study are included within the genus <i>Cyathocarpus</i>. Furthermore, these spore masses and spores <i>in situ</i> of this genus are described in detail at the first time as a component of the Cathaysian flora. Based on comparisons with previously reported fossil records of these plants, we determined a series of differences. Thus, the fossils presented here are referred to a new species. In addition, the reproductive organs of the new fossils described in this paper provide some valuable taxonomic information. Based on the paleogeographic distribution of <i>Cyathocarpus</i> and the position of paleoplates in Late Paleozoic, we speculated that one of the possible migrated routes of <i>Cyathocarpus</i> is from the Euramerica to the North China Block and Alashan Terrane, terminating in the South China Block.</p

New fossil leaves and fruits of Lauraceae from the Middle Miocene of Fujian, southeastern China differentiated using a cluster analysis

<p>The fossil record of Lauraceae can be traced back to the Early Cretaceous of eastern Asia based on fossil flowers. Here, we refer a number of new occurrences of leaf and fruit fossils of Lauraceae from the Middle Miocene of Zhangpu, Fujian, China, to seven species. These data provide evidence supporting the fact that a diverse subtropical, or tropical, Lauraceae-dominated evergreen forest surrounded this region 15 million years ago (Mya). The Lauraceae fossils presented in this paper provide evidence for the evolution of this group as well as new materials that enable the study of the Fujian Province Neogene flora. The fossils described in this paper fill in the gaps in studies about Lauraceae pollen in the Middle Miocene from Fotan, Fujian, China. In addition, these fossils also enrich the Middle Miocene fossil records of Lauraceae in eastern Asia, especially improving the study of the macrostructures and reproductive organs of fossil Lauraceae from southern China. The similarity between fossil and modern fruits shows that during the Middle Miocene the fruit morphological of Lauraceae have changed very little. We also identify families where the fossils we report belong to their closest relatives and can be used to reconstruct the paleoenvironment of Fujian in the Middle Miocene.</p

The diversity and paleoenvironmental significance of <i>Calophyllum</i> (Clusiaceae) from the Miocene of southeastern China

<p>Three species within the genus <i>Calophyllum</i> collected from middle Miocene Fotan Group sediments in Zhangpu County, Fujian, southeastern China are described in this paper. These fossils include <i>Calophyllum zhangpuensis</i> sp. nov., <i>Calophyllum striatum</i>, and <i>Calophyllum suraikholaensis</i>. The new fossil species <i>C. zhangpuensis</i> sp. nov. is oval, possesses entire leaves with closely spaced parallel secondary veins and has a round, or slightly retuse, apex. These specimens represent the first known fossil records of this relative wide leaf-type form of <i>Calophyllum</i> from China and have a length:width (L:W) ratio less than 3:1. In combination with the known modern geographic distribution and habitats of this wide leaf-type <i>Calophyllum</i> and other plants, data suggest that the middle Miocene Fotan flora is indicative of a warm climate. Thus, based on available fossil data, we speculate that this genus probably originated in India during the Paleocene before spreading from India to Bangladesh and into China, Sumatra, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Java during the Neogene, leading to its modern distribution. At least, the 3 fossil species in this region can explain floristic exchange between India, Fujian, and South China, which is consistent with previous studies; the occurrence of these 3 species indicates that <i>Calophyllum</i> began to diversity in China no later than the Miocene.</p

High-Performance Epoxy Vitrimers with the Joint Action of Dual Dynamic Covalent Bonds

Epoxy vitrimers have attracted increasing research attention owing to their stable physical properties, reprocessability, recyclability, and degradability. Among them, rapid self-healing can be achieved in dual dynamic covalent epoxy vitrimers. However, research on the performance and high-strength surface welding of dual dynamic covalent epoxy vitrimers with flexibility is still insufficient. Herein, we report a dual dynamic covalent epoxy vitrimer cocross-linked by dimer acid (DAA) and 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid (DTDA), named E51-DAAx-DTDAy. The results suggest that the stress relaxation and self-healing speed of vitrimers is improved and the mechanical properties can be restored by 81.2% after 24 h of healing. Additionally, significant recyclability is found in E51-DAAx-DTDAy, with a maximum recovery rate of 119.4% in tensile strength and 124.8% in elongation at break after three times of recycling. Furthermore, Tv of E51-DAAx-DTDAy was above 140 °C; meanwhile, E51-DAAx-DTDAy had better insulation properties, making them more suitable for use as thermosetting materials at moderate temperatures in electronic equipment. E51-DAAx-DTDAy can be recycled by chemical reagents, and green cycling can be achieved. These are attributed to the contributions of disulfide bonds and hydroxyl ester bonds in the network topology

Effects on histological analysis and MPO activity measurement by sinomenine.

<p>Slices were inspected by a certified pathologist and the inflammatory severity of colonic tissues from survived mice in each group was scored and filmed. Samples from mice that were given sinomenine exhibited minor inflammatory reaction when compared with the TNBS group. <b>A.</b> Representative cross sections of the transversing colon. Magnifications of the images are 100-fold and 400-fold. Scale bar, 100 µm. <b>B.</b> Histological scores are depicted as means ± SEM. <b>C. </b><b>Effect of sinomenine on MPO activity in TNBS-induced colitis.</b> Sinomenine significantly reduced the increased MPO activity in colon tissues induced by TNBS when compared with the vehicle. n = 6 per group, *<i>p</i><0.05 versus the vehicle group and ^#<i>p</i><0.05 versus the TNBS group.</p

The detailed experimental design in the study.

<p>Animals were divided into four experimental groups of vehicle, TNBS, 100 mg/kg sinomenine, and 200 mg/kg sinomenine group. PO oral, IP intraperitoneal.</p

The gene-specific primer list in the study.

<p>The gene-specific primer list in the study.</p

Effects of sinomenine on body weight, survival rate and diarrhea score in TNBS-induced colitis in mice. A. Efficacy of sinomenine on body weight.

<p>Body weight increased during administration of different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) of sinomenine over 7 days. <b>B. Improvement of survival rate in TNBS-induced colitis by sinomenine.</b> TNBS-induced colitis resulted in animal death over the course of the whole experiment when compared with the vehicle group, however the sinomenine group showed a much lower mortality rate. <b>C. Effect on diarrhea signs of colonic inflammation by sinomenine.</b> TNBS-induced colitis showed serious diarrhea symptoms until day 6, but administration of sinomenine significantly reduced the diarrhea score over the course of the experiment. n = 15 per group, *<i>p</i><0.05 versus the vehicle group and ^#<i>p</i><0.05 versus the TNBS group.</p

Correlation of miR-155 expression with c-Maf, TNF-α and IFN-γ. A, B, C.

<p>MiR-155 transcript expression had positive correlations with c-Maf protein, TNF-α protein, and IFN-γ protein expressions. <b>D, E.</b> The protein expression of c-Maf had positive correlations with TNF-α protein and IFN-γ protein expressions. Each data point represents one mouse in each panel, and each panel includes data from all mice in our experiments. Data were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient.</p

Effect of sinomenine on the protein levels of c-Maf.

<p>The protein levels of c-Maf increased in the TNBS group compared to the vehicle; however, c-Maf protein expression was significantly inhibited by sinomenine at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg when compared with the TNBS-induced colitis in mice. n = 6 per group, *<i>p</i><0.05 versus the vehicle group and ^#<i>p</i><0.05 versus the TNBS group.</p