New Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) sauropod remains from the Valtos Formation, Isle of Skye, Scotland

The discovery of a sauropod tooth and a single sauropod footprint from the Valtos Formation supplements our knowledge of these dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic of the Isle of Skye. Although the family cannot be determined from this single tooth, it is thought that it represents a primitive eusauropod and may belong to a similar sauropod to that previously described from limited isolated osteological evidence (caudal vertebra, damaged humerus and a rib). The characteristics that suggest this affinity include evidence of denticles on one edge of the tooth, wrinkling and granulation of the enamel, wear suggesting crown-to-crown occlusion, and the spatulate tooth shape. The single sauropod footprint is the oldest record of a sauropod footprint from the Middle Jurassic of Skye

Review of: Félix Pérez-Lorente 2015. Dinosaur Footprints and Trackways of La Rioja. Indian University Press. ISBN: 978-0-253-01515-0.

Book review: Félix Pérez-Lorente 2015. Dinosaur Footprints and Trackways of La Rioja. 376 pp. Indiana University Press. Hardcover. ISBN: 978-0-253-01515-0. Price $85.00/£61.00; e-book$84.99

Review of the Dinosaur Remains from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland, UK

Dinosaurs are rare from the Middle Jurassic worldwide. The Isle of Skye, is the only place in Scotland thus far to have produced dinosaur remains. These remains consist mainly of footprints, but also several bones and teeth. These Bajocian and Bathonian remains represent an important collection of a basal eusauropod, early examples of non-neosauropod and possible basal titanosauriform eusauropods, and theropod remains that may belong to an early coelurosaur and a possible megalosaurid, basal tyrannosauroid, or dromaeosaurid. The footprints from here also suggest a rich and diverse dinosaur fauna for which further better diagnosable remains are likely to be found

How we see fossils: developments in palaeontological imaging and visualisation techniques

As a student at the University of Glasgow, I remember that there was a book that was heavily thumbed entitled Handbook of Paleontological Techniques by Kummel and Raup (1965). It was an epic volume of technical information ranging from the collecting of material, to their preparation and photography. It mentioned the possibility of the use of X-rays and electron microscopy, the use of infra-red and ultra-violet and how to produce a plate of images for publication. All the techniques mentioned are still used today, although with the advent of digital technologies, the possibilities now available have increased substantially. Although this was not the only technical book available for palaeontologists, it was the one that I consulted frequently when using vibro-tools, airbrasive blasters and chemical preparations. I still use the same techniques, but have been attempting to use new, or improved, techniques inspired from watching TV programmes such as Tomorrow’s World and subsequently the Gadget Show. Although this presentation is not going to be a holistic overview of palaeontological techniques, I hope that it will provide an insight into what is possible now and perhaps a little into the future

The discovery of <i>Isocrinus</i> cf. <i>robustus</i> from the Lias Group (Lower Jurassic) near Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland, Scotland

A single stem section (pluricolumnal) belonging to a post-Palaeozoic crinoid (sea lily) is reported from a small outcrop of Lower Jurassic Lias Group strata exposed in low cliff near Dunrobin Castle. This is the first Jurassic crinoid recorded from Eastern Scotland and the small fragment has enough diagnostic characters to be assigned to the species Isocrinus cf. robustus; a crinoid found commonly in the Lower Jurassic of England. The Scottish form collected has unusual morphology that is atypical of the genus

New information on the Madagascan Middle Jurassic sauropod Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis

The systematic position of the Middle Jurassic sauropod Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis is not fully understood due to a lack of useful anatomical detail. Despite many new bone fragments from the axial skeleton, post-cranial skeleton, and a hind limb having been previously unearthed, its systematic position has not yet been satisfactorily established. Although this Malagasy taxon is only recognised by two autapomorphies located in the scapula and coracoid, two features of the neural spine, which are reported here, provide additional information on the common autapomorphies shared with the British genus Cetiosaurus. A full description of the femur and neural spine helps to determine some aspects of its relationship to other similar taxa. Remains of Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis have been recovered from mixed facies that may have been deposited in a shallow water lagoon during a transgressive period in the Isallo IIIb subunit in the Majunga Basin

Caridoid crustaceans from the Ballagan Formation (Tournaisian, Lower Carboniferous) of Willie's Hole, Chirnside, Scottish Borders, UK

The descriptions of two co-occurring cardioid crustaceans from the Ballagan Formation (Tournaisian, Lower Carboniferous) of Chirnside, Scottish Borders, help to resolve the taxonomy of the genus Tealliocaris. Tealliocaris robusta Peach, 1908 is assigned to Schramocaris to form S. robusta (Peach, 1908) comb. nov. on the basis of morphological characters such as the rugosity and position of the branchial carinae as well as the nature of the pleon, and becomes the earliest representative of this genus in Scotland. A new species of Tealliocaris is also recognised from this locality and is described as T. briggsi sp. nov., based on the smooth carapace, lack of pleonic grooves and the number of spines on the scaphocerite and lateral margin of the anterior carapace. The systematic position of the Pendleian specimens identified by Peach (1908) as ‘Tealliocaris robusta var.’ is finally resolved and described as T. weegie sp. nov

On Oanducystis (col.) Stukalina (Crinoidea) from the Craighead Limestone Formation, Girvan district, Ayrshire

Only two nominal species of crinoid, the diplobathrid camerates Diabolocrinus craigheadensis Ramsbottom and Diabolocrinus globularis (Nicholson &amp; Etheridge), have been described from the Ordovician (Chatfieldian; Sandbian) Craighead Limestone Formation, Craighead quarry, near Girvan, Ayrshire. In contrast, columnal morphotaxa are represented by over 20 taxa including those in open nomenclature. Two thecae from Craighead quarry and referred to Diabolocrinus sp. or spp. preserve features of the stem facet that are similar to specimens referred to Oanducystis (col.) spp. from the same locality. These columnal morphotaxa are synonymised with Diabolocrinus and left in open nomenclature. However, Diabolocrinus is limited to Laurentia, whereas the remaining morphospecies of Oanducystis (col.) Stukalina are limited to Kazakhstan and Estonia

Redescription of Americlus rankini (Woodward, 1868) (Pancrustacea: Cyclida: Americlidae) and interpretation of its systematic placement, morphology, and paleoecology

The best-preserved Scottish species of a cyclidan is reinterpreted, based upon recent advances in cyclidan paleobiology. Americlus rankini (Woodward, 1868) is one of the best-preserved members of this crustacean group, and its morphology suggests that it and related forms exhibited a unique and distinct morphology within Multicrustacea. Paleoecological evidence suggests that the animal was most likely free living, possibly as a scavenger, in a marginal marine environment. Americlus lived in Laurentia during the Middle Mississippian (Visean) to Middle Pennsylvanian (Moscovian)

A novel formulation of inhaled sodium cromoglicate (PA101) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic cough: a randomised, double-blind, proof-of-concept, phase 2 trial

Background Cough can be a debilitating symptom of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is difficult to treat. PA101 is a novel formulation of sodium cromoglicate delivered via a high-efficiency eFlow nebuliser that achieves significantly higher drug deposition in the lung compared with the existing formulations. We aimed to test the efficacy and safety of inhaled PA101 in patients with IPF and chronic cough and, to explore the antitussive mechanism of PA101, patients with chronic idiopathic cough (CIC) were also studied. Methods This pilot, proof-of-concept study consisted of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with IPF and chronic cough and a parallel study of similar design in patients with CIC. Participants with IPF and chronic cough recruited from seven centres in the UK and the Netherlands were randomly assigned (1:1, using a computer-generated randomisation schedule) by site staff to receive PA101 (40 mg) or matching placebo three times a day via oral inhalation for 2 weeks, followed by a 2 week washout, and then crossed over to the other arm. Study participants, investigators, study staff, and the sponsor were masked to group assignment until all participants had completed the study. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in objective daytime cough frequency (from 24 h acoustic recording, Leicester Cough Monitor). The primary efficacy analysis included all participants who received at least one dose of study drug and had at least one post-baseline efficacy measurement. Safety analysis included all those who took at least one dose of study drug. In the second cohort, participants with CIC were randomly assigned in a study across four centres with similar design and endpoints. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02412020) and the EU Clinical Trials Register (EudraCT Number 2014-004025-40) and both cohorts are closed to new participants. Findings Between Feb 13, 2015, and Feb 2, 2016, 24 participants with IPF were randomly assigned to treatment groups. 28 participants with CIC were enrolled during the same period and 27 received study treatment. In patients with IPF, PA101 reduced daytime cough frequency by 31·1% at day 14 compared with placebo; daytime cough frequency decreased from a mean 55 (SD 55) coughs per h at baseline to 39 (29) coughs per h at day 14 following treatment with PA101, versus 51 (37) coughs per h at baseline to 52 (40) cough per h following placebo treatment (ratio of least-squares [LS] means 0·67, 95% CI 0·48–0·94, p=0·0241). By contrast, no treatment benefit for PA101 was observed in the CIC cohort; mean reduction of daytime cough frequency at day 14 for PA101 adjusted for placebo was 6·2% (ratio of LS means 1·27, 0·78–2·06, p=0·31). PA101 was well tolerated in both cohorts. The incidence of adverse events was similar between PA101 and placebo treatments, most adverse events were mild in severity, and no severe adverse events or serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation This study suggests that the mechanism of cough in IPF might be disease specific. Inhaled PA101 could be a treatment option for chronic cough in patients with IPF and warrants further investigation