Size and shape heterodonty in the early Permian synapsid Mesenosaurus efremovi.

Paleozoic synapsids represent the first chapter in the evolution of this large clade that includes mammals. These fascinating terrestrial vertebrates were the first amniotes to successfully adapt to a wide range of feeding strategies, reflected by their varied dental morphologies. Evolution of the marginal dentition on the mammalian side of amniotes is characterized by strong, size and shape heterodonty, with the late Permian therapsids showing heterodonty with the presence of incisiform, caniniform, and multicuspid molariform dentition. Rarity of available specimens has previously prevented detailed studies of dental anatomy and evolution in the initial chapter of synapsid evolution, when synapsids were able to evolve dentition for insectivory, herbivory, and carnivory. Numerous teeth, jaw elements, and skulls of the hypercarnivorous varanopid Mesenosaurus efremovi have been recently discovered in the cave systems near Richards Spur, Oklahoma, permitting the first detailed investigation of the dental anatomy of a Paleozoic tetrapod using multiple approaches, including morphometric and histological analyses. As a distant stem mammal, Mesenosaurus is the first member of this large and successful clade to exhibit a type of dental heterodonty that combines size and morphological (shape) variation of the tooth crowns. Here we present the first evidence of functional differentiation in the dentition of this early synapsid, with three distinct dental regions having diverse morphologies and functions. The quality and quantity of preserved materials has allowed us to identify the orientation and curvature of the carinae (cutting edges), and the variation and distribution of the ziphodonty (serrations) along the carinae. The shape-related heterodonty seen in this taxon may have contributed to this taxon's ability to be a successful mid-sized predator in the taxonomically diverse community of early Permian carnivores, but may have also extended the ecological resilience of this clade of mid-sized predators across major faunal and environmental transitions.

Professional Development in Health Sciences: Scoping Review on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility Interventions.

INTRODUCTION: Equity, diversity, inclusion, indigeneity, and accessibility (EDIIA) are critical considerations in the formation of professional development (PD) programs for health care workers. Improving EDIIA competency in health care serves to enhance patient health, staff confidence and well-being, delivery of care, and the broader health care system. There is a gap in the literature as to the efficacy of EDIIA-based PD programs and their individual components. The present article will review available quantitative data pertaining to EDIIA-based PD programs for health care workers as well as their effectiveness. METHOD: A scoping review of articles published in the EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases was performed. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. RESULTS: A total of 14,316 references were identified with 361 reaching full-text review. A final 36 articles were included in the scoping review with 6552 total participants (72.9% women; 26.9% men; 0.2% nonbinary). EDIIA-based PD interventions were developed around the topics of culture (n = 22), gender (n = 11), sexual orientation (n = 9), indigeneity (n = 6), race (n = 6), ableism (n = 1), and ageism (n = 1). DISCUSSION: Despite an increased interest in developing EDIIA-based PD curricula for health care workers, there are glaring disparities in the quality of care received by marginalized and equity-seeking populations. The present scoping review delineated key features which were associated with increased quantitative efficacy of EDIIA-based PD training programs. Future work should focus on large-scale implementation and evaluation of these interventions across health care sectors and levels of training.

Permian hypercarnivore suggests dental complexity among early amniotes.

The oldest known complex terrestrial vertebrate community included hypercarnivorous varanopids, a successful clade of amniotes with wide geographic and temporal distributions. Little is known about their dentition and feeding behaviour, but with the unprecedented number of specimens of the varanopid Mesenosaurus from cave deposits in Oklahoma, we show that it exhibited serrations on the tooth crowns, and exceptionally rapid rates of development and reduced longevity relative to other terrestrial amniotes. In contrast, the coeval large apex predator Dimetrodon greatly increased dental longevity by increasing thickness and massiveness, whereas herbivores greatly reduced tooth replacement rates and increased dental longevity. Insectivores and omnivores represented the primitive condition and maintained modest replacement rates and longevity. The varied patterns of dental development among these early terrestrial amniotes reveal a hidden aspect of dental complexity in the emerging diverse amniote community, very soon after their initial appearance in the fossil record.

A new varanopid synapsid from the early Permian of Oklahoma and the evolutionary stasis in this clade.

Varanopids are a basal clade of small- to medium-sized non-therapsid synapsids, whose range extends from the late Pennsylvanian to the late middle Permian, and are found in North America, Russia, Europe and South Africa. The greatest varanopid diversity is observed at the fossiliferous cave deposits near Richards Spur, Oklahoma, well known for the preservation of a complex early Permian upland community. Two previously described varanopids, Mycterosaurus and Varanops, are known only from fragmentary disarticulated material at Richards Spur. A third putative varanopid, Basicranodon fortsillensis, represented by a partial parasphenoid, has been synonymized with Mycterosaurus longiceps. This study reports on a new varanopid taxon, represented by substantially more complete material, including three nearly complete skulls. Such comprehensive cranial material allows for a detailed study of the taxon and its relationship to other varanopids. This new varanopid bears great morphological similarity to Mesenosaurus romeri from the middle Permian Mezen River Basin of northern Russia. Phylogenetic analysis recovers a sister relationship between this taxon and Me. romeri. This relationship, in conjunction with a detailed morphological comparison, supports the placement of this taxon within Mesenosaurus, as a new species, Me. efremovi. These results reveal an unexpected extension of the geographical and temporal range of Mesenosaurus, contributing to our understanding of varanopid dispersal. The extended persistence of this basal clade of predatory synapsids, underscored by the apparent evolutionary stasis of this genus, is unusual among Palaeozoic tetrapods. This phenomenon implies an exceptionally high degree of extended ecological resilience across major faunal and environmental transitions.