Colobops: a juvenile rhynchocephalian reptile (Lepidosauromorpha), not a diminutive archosauromorph with an unusually strong bite

Correctly identifying taxa at the root of major clades or the oldest clade-representatives is critical for meaningful interpretations of evolution. A small, partially crushed skull from the Late Triassic (Norian) of Connecticut, USA, originally described as an indeterminate rhynchocephalian saurian, was recently named Colobops noviportensis and reinterpreted as sister to all remaining Rhynchosauria, one of the earliest and globally distributed groups of herbivorous reptiles. It was also interpreted as having an exceptionally reinforced snout and powerful bite based on an especially large supratemporal fenestra. Here, after a re-analysis of the original scan data, we show that the skull was strongly dorsoventrally compressed post-mortem, with most bones out of life position. The cranial anatomy is consistent with that of other rhynchocephalian lepidosauromorphs, not rhynchosaurs. The ‘reinforced snout' region and the ‘exceptionally enlarged temporal region’ are preservational artefacts and not exceptional among clevosaurid rhynchocephalians. Colobops is thus not a key taxon for understanding diapsid feeding apparatus evolution

Cranial morphology of the tanystropheid Macrocnemus bassanii unveiled using synchrotron microtomography

The genus Macrocnemus is a member of the Tanystropheidae, a clade of non-archosauriform archosauromorphs well known for their very characteristic, elongated cervical vertebrae. Articulated specimens are known from the Middle Triassic of Alpine Europe and China. Although multiple articulated specimens are known, description of the cranial morphology has proven challenging due to the crushed preservation of the specimens. Here we use synchrotron micro computed tomography to analyse the cranial morphology of a specimen of the type species Macrocnemus bassanii from the Besano Formation of Monte San Giorgio, Ticino, Switzerland. The skull is virtually complete and we identify and describe the braincase and palatal elements as well the atlas-axis complex for the first time. Moreover, we add to the knowledge of the morphology of the skull roof, rostrum and hemimandible, and reconstruct the cranium of M. bassanii in 3D using the rendered models of the elements. The circumorbital bones were found to be similar in morphology to those of the archosauromorphs Prolacerta broomi and Protorosaurus speneri. In addition, we confirm the palatine, vomer and pterygoid to be tooth-bearing palatal bones, but also observed heterodonty on the pterygoid and the palatine.Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Measuring the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) in buildings : a stakeholder’s survey

The heat transfer coefficient (HTC) is a very important factor influencing the energy performance of a building. Recent studies have shown the importance of on-site measurements of the HTC in reducing the performance gap in buildings. However, its measurement setup and calculation procedures are known to be intense and complex. Due to this, many stakeholders in the building industry find it impractical and insufficient for their needs. This paper presents the results of an international survey that targets such stakeholders with the aim to get their perspectives on HTC measurementson-site. Several stakeholders from 14 countries in Europe participated in the survey. The survey is categorized into four parts: a) basic data about the participants, b) their interest in methods for measured energy performance, c) their views on the characteristics of such a methodology and d) their concerns and opportunities. The results reveal that the stakeholders are highly interested in measuring the HTC on-site. The results also provide interesting insights on the aspects relevant for them and their customers. In particular, we elaborate on their perspective on the time to conduct the measurement, the cost of the setup, the measurement duration and the acceptable error. The assimilated understanding from the survey will help the building and the construction industry to identify opportunities for a progressive assessment campaign involving on-site measurements. This study is part of the International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme (IEA EBC) Annex-71 project titled ‘Building energy performance assessment based on optimized in-situ measurements’

Autologous Lipofilling Improves Clinical Outcome in Patients With Symptomatic Dermal Scars Through Induction of a Pro-Regenerative Immune Response

BACKGROUND: Autologous lipofilling is an emerging procedure to treat and possibly reverse dermal scars and to reduce scar-related pain, but its efficacy and mechanisms are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that repeated lipografts reverse dermal scars by reinitiation of wound healing. METHODS: In a prospective, non-placebo-controlled clinical study, 27 adult patients with symptomatic scars were given 2 lipofilling treatments at 3-month intervals. As primary outcome, clinical effects were measured with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Scar biopsies were taken before and after treatments to assess scar remodeling at a cellular level. RESULTS: Twenty patients completed the study. Patients’ scars improved after lipofilling. The total POSAS scores (combined patient and observer scores) decreased from 73.2  [14.7] points (mean [standard deviation]) pretreatment to 46.1 [14.0] and 32.3 [13.2] points after the first and second lipofilling treatment, respectively. Patient POSAS scores decreased from 37.3 [8.8] points to 27.2 [11.3] and 21.1 [11.4] points, whereas observer POSAS scores decreased from 35.9 [9.5] points to 18.9 [6.0] and 11.3 [4.5] points after the first and second treatment, respectively. After each lipofilling treatment, T lymphocytes, mast cells, and M2 macrophages had invaded scar tissue and were associated with increased vascularization. In addition, the scar-associated epidermis showed an increase in epidermal cell proliferation to levels similar to that normal in skin. Moreover, lipofilling treatment caused normalization of the extracellular matrix organization towards that of normal skin. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous lipofilling improves the clinical outcome of dermal scars through the induction of a pro-regenerative immune response, increased vascularization, and epidermal proliferation and remodeling of scar tissue extracellular matrix. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4: [Image: see text

Aquatic Habits and Niche Partitioning in the Extraordinarily Long-Necked Triassic Reptile Tanystropheus

Tanystropheus longobardicus is one of the most remarkable and iconic Triassic reptiles. Mainly known from the Middle Triassic conservation Lagerstätte of Monte San Giorgio on the Swiss-Italian border, it is characterized by an extraordinarily long and stiffened neck that is almost three times the length of the trunk, despite being composed of only 13 hyper-elongate cervical vertebrae [1-8]. Its paleobiology remains contentious, with both aquatic and terrestrial lifestyles having been proposed [1, 9-12]. Among the Tanystropheus specimens, a small morphotype bearing tricuspid teeth and a large morphotype bearing single-cusped teeth can be recognized, historically considered as juveniles and adults of the same species [4]. Using high-resolution synchrotron radiation microtomography (SRμCT), we three-dimensionally reconstruct a virtually complete but disarticulated skull of the large morphotype, including its endocast and inner ear, to reveal its morphology for the first time. The skull is specialized toward hunting in an aquatic environment, indicated by the placement of the nares on the top of the snout and a "fish-trap"-type dentition. The SRμCT data and limb bone paleohistology reveal that the large morphotype represents a separate species (Tanystropheus hydroides sp. nov.). Skeletochronology of the small morphotype specimens indicates that they are skeletally mature despite their small size, thus representing adult individuals of Tanystropheus longobardicus. The co-occurrence of these two species of disparate size ranges and dentitions provides strong evidence for niche partitioning, highlighting the surprising versatility of the Tanystropheus bauplan and the complexity of Middle Triassic nearshore ecosystems.© 2020 Elsevier Inc. The attached document is the author(’s’) final accepted/submitted version of the journal article. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it

Human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells suppress TGF-β induced fibroblast differentiation of human dermal fibroblasts: implications for scar formation

Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSC) are multipotent stem cells which can be isolated and cultured from white adipose tissues throughout the body. In wound healing and regeneration of the skin, ADSC have already proven to be effective. However, it is not yet known if and how ADSC can prevent or reduce the formation of dermal scars. Scar formation is caused by persisting stimulation of fibroblasts by Transforming Growth Factor- β (TGF-β), which causes them to differentiate to myofibroblasts. The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of ADSC on TGF-β-mediated fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation. We hypothesize that ADSC inhibit fibrotic remodeling by (1) repressing myofibroblast formation and (2) increasing matrix turnover. ADSC were isolated from human adipose tissue. ADSC conditioned medium (ADSC CM) was obtained by incubating ADSC with culture medium for 24h, thus collecting trophic factors from ADSC. Human dermal fibroblasts, adult type (HDFa) were incubated with ADSC CM or co-cultured with ADSC, in presence or absence of TGF-β1. After 4 days, HDFa were collected for gene transcript and immunoblot analysis of collagen I and III, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) and SM22α, a mesenchymal marker. Functionally, contraction of HDFa was measured by means of a gel contraction assay. HDFa proliferation is up regulated by TGF-β1. ADSC CM brings proliferation back to control levels. ADSC CM reduces SM22α gene and protein expression in HDFa to 0.38±0.02 and 0.45±0.09 fold, respectively. After TGF-β1 stimulation, SM22α protein increased to 1.71±0.19 fold which was brought back to 1.11±0.16 fold by ADSC CM. Collagen I and collagen III mRNA expression to 0.49± 0.04 fold and 0.48± 0.06 fold. On protein level, collagen I is reduced to 0.51±0.13 fold. Furthermore, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-14 and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 gene expression in HDFa was up regulated by ADSC CM or direct co-culture with ADSC. Collagen gel contraction by HDFa was significantly reduced after ADSC CM, irrespective of TGF-β1 stimulation. In this study we show ADSC inhibit fibrotic remodeling by repressing myofibroblast formation and by increasing matrix remodeling. In term, inhibition of fibroblast differentiation might lead to prevention or even reduction of dermal scars.

A new phylogenetic hypothesis of Tanystropheidae (Diapsida, Archosauromorpha) and other “protorosaurs”, and its implications for the early evolution of stem archosaurs

The historical clade “Protorosauria” represents an important group of archosauromorph reptiles that had a wide geographic distribution between the Late Permian and Late Triassic. “Protorosaurs” are characterized by their long necks, which are epitomized in the genus Tanystropheus and in Dinocephalosaurus orientalis. Recent phylogenetic analyses have indicated that “Protorosauria” is a polyphyletic clade, but the exact relationships of the various “protorosaur” taxa within the archosauromorph lineage is currently uncertain. Several taxa, although represented by relatively complete material, have previously not been assessed phylogenetically. We present a new phylogenetic hypothesis that comprises a wide range of archosauromorphs, including the most exhaustive sample of “protorosaurs” to date and several “protorosaur” taxa from the eastern Tethys margin that have not been included in any previous analysis. The polyphyly of “Protorosauria” is confirmed and therefore we suggest the usage of this term should be abandoned. Tanystropheidae is recovered as a monophyletic group and the Chinese taxa Dinocephalosaurus orientalis and Pectodens zhenyuensis form a new archosauromorph clade, Dinocephalosauridae, which is closely related to Tanystropheidae. The well-known crocopod and former “protorosaur” Prolacerta broomi is considerably less closely related to Archosauriformes than was previously considered

CEN standards for the EPBD - Calculation of energy needs for heating and cooling

The European Commission has mandated CEN to produce a set of standards to support Member States for the national implementation of the EPBD. This paper focuses on one of these standards, EN ISO 13790, "Energy performance of buildings - Calculation of energy use for space heating and cooling". It describes the history of this standard which started with a simplified calculation of the energy use for heating of residential buildings only. It describes the current methodology, inclusing heating and cooling, also for non-residential buildings and the 'level playing field' for both simple and detailed methods. The paper also discusses the issues involving the implementation of the methods in the EU Member States and the prospects for the future