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Numerous geoemydid turtle fossils from the extinct genus Echmatemys have been recovered from the middle Eocene Uinta Formation, Uinta Basin, Utah over the past several decades. Here, we tested whether co-occurring Uintan species Echmatemys callopyge and E. uintensis can be reliably differentiated based on epiplastral morphology, and whether their geospatial distributions overlapped significantly. The geographic spatial and stratigraphic distributions of Uinta Basin E. callopyge and E. uintensis specimens were compared using ArcGIS and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The analysis revealed overlapping geographic distributions of these two species, and no significant differences in stratigraphic dispersal. This finding of extensive geospatial overlap between the two Uintan Echmatemys species highlights the need for accurate taxonomic identification, such as the gular scale morphology validated here. In addition, we sought to address a methodological question regarding the relative efficacy of data complexity in this context. Using epiplastra from three additional Eocene species of Echmatemys, we employed hierarchical analyses of increasing data complexity, from standard linear dimensions to 2D geometric morphometrics to 3D laser scans, to determine the degree to which data complexity contributes to taxonomic assessments within this genus. Uintan species E. callopyge and E. uintensis were found to differ significantly in epiplastral shape as captured by all three categories of data. These findings verify that these two co-occurring species can be differentiated consistently using the shape of the gular scale, and that the use of geometric morphometrics can improve identification of fragmentary specimens. Among the non-Uintan species, dorsal and ventral 2D landmark data reliably differentiated among species, but the linear dimensions were less useful.

BackgroundAnosteira pulchra is one of two species of the obligately-aquatic freshwater clade Carettochelyidae (pig-nosed turtles) from the Eocene of North America. Anosteira pulchra is typically rare in collections, and their distribution is poorly documented. The Uinta Formation [Fm.] contains a diverse assemblage of turtles from the Uintan North American Land Mammal Age. Whereas turtles are abundantly preserved in the Uinta Fm., A. pulchra has been reported only from a few specimens in the Uinta C Member.MethodsWe describe new records of Anosteira pulchra from the Uinta Basin and analyze the distribution of 95 specimens from multiple repositories in the previously published stratigraphic framework of the middle and upper Uinta Fm.ResultsHere we report the first records of the species from the Uinta B interval, document it from multiple levels within the stratigraphic section and examine its uncommon appearance in only approximately 5% of localities where turtles have been systematically collected. This study details and extends the range of A. pulchra in the Uinta Fm. and demonstrates the presence of the taxon in significantly lower stratigraphic layers. These newly described fossils include previously unknown elements and associated trace fossils, with new anatomical information presented. This study provides insight into the taxonomy of Anosteira spp. in the middle Eocene, and suggests the presence of a single species, though no synonymy is defined here due to limits in Bridger material.

We report new data on the type locality of the hadrosaurid ornithischian Adelolophus hutchisoni Gates et al., 2014 from the Campanian-aged Wahweap Formation of southern Utah, and the remainder of the vertebrate assemblage from the site. The type locality (UCMP V98173) is a previously-reported U.S. Geological Survey locality (USGS D815) and is stratigraphically low in the upper member of the Wahweap Formation. Additional taxa from the same site include acipenseriforms (sturgeon), amiiforms (bowfin), and lepisosteiforms (gar fish), baenid and trionychid turtles, and both theropod and ornithischian dinosaurs.

A small smooth-shelled kinosternoid from the late Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation and the early Maastrichtian Canyon del Tule Formation of Coahuila, Mexico that is abundantly represented by isolated elements is described as Yelmochelys rosarioae gen. et sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis concludes that Y. rosarioae is a representative of the stem lineage of the Kinosternidae. Inclusion of Y. rosarioae in Kinosternidae is supported by presence of a groove for the musk duct, the loss of the eleventh peripheral and twelfth marginal, reduced articulation between the plastron and carapace, and diamond-shaped vertebral scales. A basal position within Kinosternidae is indicated by the presence of distinct abdominal scales that meet at the midline and the presence of a relatively long costiform processes. The inclusion of Y. rosarioae in Kinosternidae supports the hypothesis that Kinosternidae and Dermatemydidae had diverged by the Late Campanian.

Two new genera (Derrisemys and Plastomenoides) and three new species (D. sterea, P. lamberti, P. tetanetron) of plastomenine trionychids from Montana and Wyoming are described. They are unique within the Trionychidae in having the entoplastron locked into notches in the hyoplastra and restricting midline kinesis. D. sterea occurs in the Lancian NALMA (North American Land Mammal Age) of Montana and Wyoming and Puercan NALMA of Montana. P. tetanetron occurs in the Puercan NALMA of Montana. P. lamberti occurs in the Torrejonian NALMA of Montana and Tiffanian NALMA of Wyoming and Utah. Plastomenus acupictus Hay 1907 from New Mexico is referred to Derrisemys. The age of D. acupictus is uncertain but is likely from early Paleocene (Torrejonian NALMA).

Targeted enrichment of specific loci of the human genome is a promising approach to enable sequencing-based studies of genetic variation in large populations. Here we describe an enrichment approach based on microdroplet PCR, which enables 1.5 million amplifications in parallel. We sequenced six samples enriched by microdroplet or traditional singleplex PCR using primers targeting 435 exons of 47 genes. Both methods generated similarly high-quality data: 84% of the uniquely mapping reads fell within the targeted sequences; coverage was uniform across approximately 90% of targeted bases; sequence variants were called with >99% accuracy; and reproducibility between samples was high (r(2) = 0.9). We scaled the microdroplet PCR to 3,976 amplicons totaling 1.49 Mb of sequence, sequenced the resulting sample with both Illumina GAII and Roche 454, and obtained data with equally high specificity and sensitivity. Our results demonstrate that microdroplet technology is well suited for processing DNA for massively parallel enrichment of specific subsets of the human genome for targeted sequencing.

ObjectiveA pilot open label, single dose trial of fenobam, an mGluR5 antagonist, was conducted to provide an initial evaluation of safety and pharmacokinetics in adult males and females with fragile X syndrome (FXS).MethodsTwelve subjects, recruited from two fragile X clinics, received a single oral dose of 50-150 mg of fenobam. Blood for pharmacokinetic testing, vital signs and side effect screening was obtained at baseline and numerous time points for 6 h after dosing. Outcome measures included prepulse inhibition (PPI) and a continuous performance test (CPT) obtained before and after dosing to explore the effects of fenobam on core phenotypic measures of sensory gating, attention and inhibition.ResultsThere were no significant adverse reactions to fenobam administration. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that fenobam concentrations were dose dependent but variable, with mean (SEM) peak values of 39.7 (18.4) ng/ml at 180 min after the 150 mg dose. PPI met a response criterion of an improvement of at least 20% over baseline in 6 of 12 individuals (4/6 males and 2/6 females). The CPT did not display improvement with treatment due to ceiling effects.ConclusionsClinically significant adverse effects were not identified in this study of single dose fenobam across the range of dosages utilised. The positive effects seen in animal models of FXS treated with fenobam or other mGluR5 antagonists, the apparent lack of clinically significant adverse effects, and the potential beneficial clinical effects seen in this pilot trial support further study of the compound in adults with FXS.

Late middle Eocene fossils from the Pondaung Formation of central Myanmar document Southeast Asia’soldest Cenozoic turtle fauna. Although the material is fragmentary, seven distinct turtle taxa are recognized. Theseinclude a podocmenid pleurodire, anosteirine and carettochelyine carettochelyids, two or more trionychine trionychids,and a testudinid. Of these, only the carettochelyine carettochelyid is complete enough to recognize as a newtaxon, Burmemys magnifica, gen. et sp. nov. The Pondaung turtle fauna is one of the best known of its age fromSoutheast Asia but comparisons with the limited literature of the Eocene faunas from China, Mongolia, and the Indiansubcontinent indicate it is probably biogeographically unique. Among the recognized genera, only Anosteira is knownfrom other Eocene Asian localities, and the presence of pleurodires is unusual.