Extending the footprint record of Pareiasauromorpha to the Cisuralian : earlier appearance and wider palaeobiogeography of the group

Pareiasauromorpha is one of the most important tetrapod groups of the Permian. Skeletal evidence suggests a late Kungurian origin in North America, whereas the majority of occurrences come from the Guadalupian and Lopingian of South Africa and Russia. However, Pareiasauromorpha footprints include the ichnogenus Pachypes, which is unknown from strata older than late Guadalupian. A revision of several Pachypes-like footprints from the Cisuralian-Guadalupian of Europe and North America confirm the occurrence of this ichnogenus and of the ichnospecies Pachypes ollieri comb. nov. beginning in the Artinskian. This is the earliest known occurrence of Pachypes and it coincides with the Artinskian reptile radiation. Based on a synapomorphy-based track-trackmaker correlation, P. ollieri can be attributed to nycteroleter pareiasauromorphs such as Macroleter. Therefore, the earliest occurrences of pareiasauromorph footprints precede by at least 10 myr the earliest occurrence of this group in the skeletal record. Moreover, the palaeobiogeography of the group is extended to the Cisuralian and Guadalupian of western Europe

First occurrence of the lungfish Sagenodus (Dipnoi, Sarcopterygii) from the Carboniferous Lagerstätte of Montceau-les-Mines, France

New material of the dipnoan genus Sagenodus is described from the Carboniferous of the Barrat quarry (Blanzy-Creuzot coal basin, Montceau-les-Mines, France). This is the first occurrence of this lungfish in France, which enlarges its distribution within Europe (Fritsch, 1888; Schultze, 1993; Watson and Gill, 1923). This material is Stephanian B in age, the previously established geological range of this Euramerican (Schultze and Chorn, 1997) genus. Remains consist of skull, lower jaw and shoulder girdle elements, closely set together with many ribs. This material, considered as belonging to a single disarticulated specimen, presents affinities with the material of Sagenodus sp. from Germany (Schultze, 1993) and appears significantly different to all other known Sagenodus species. However this new material can only be attributed to Sagenodus sp. because of its incompleteness. Montceau-les-Mines is interpreted as a freshwater environment deposit and the presence of Sagenodus in this locality confirms that most of the localities of Sagenodus are freshwater deposits. The strong affinities, existing between the material from France and Germany, indicate that there were solid hydrographic links between both basins during the Stephanian B–Upper Rotliegend period

Evaluating A Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference Checklist: Practice Versus Perceptions

Background: Presentation to multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) supports optimal treatment of young women with breast cancer (YWBC). However, research shows barriers to MCC practice, and variation in professional attendance and referral patterns. A checklist may help overcome these barriers and support MCC practice with YWBC. Methods: We developed, piloted and evaluated an MCC checklist in sites participating in a pan-Canadian study (RUBY; Reducing the bUrden of Breast cancer in Young women). A survey assessed checklist processes and impacts, and checklist data were analysed for checklist uptake, MCC presentation rates and MCC processes including staff attendance. Results: Fifteen RUBY sites used the checklist (~50%), mostly for data collection/tracking. Some positive effects on clinical practice such as increased presentation of YWBC at MCC were reported, but most survey participants indicated that MCC processes were sufficient without the checklist. Conversely, checklist data show that only 31% of patients were presented at MCC. Of those, 41% were recommended treatment change. Conclusion: Despite limited checklist uptake, there was evidence of its clinical practice benefit. Furthermore, it supported data collection/quality monitoring. Critically, checklist data showed gaps in MCC practice and low MCC presentation rates for YWBC. This contrasts with overall provider perceptions that MCCs are working well. Findings suggest that supports for MCC are needed but may best take the form of clear national practice recommendations and audit and feedback cycles to inform awareness of good MCC practice and outcomes. In this setting, tools like the MCC checklist may become helpful in supporting MCC practice