Correction: Cost and time-effective method for multi-scale measures of rugosity, fractal dimension, and vector dispersion from coral reef 3D models.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175341.].

Cost and time-effective method for multi-scale measures of rugosity, fractal dimension, and vector dispersion from coral reef 3D models.

We present a method to construct and analyse 3D models of underwater scenes using a single cost-effective camera on a standard laptop with (a) free or low-cost software, (b) no computer programming ability, and (c) minimal man hours for both filming and analysis. This study focuses on four key structural complexity metrics: point-to-point distances, linear rugosity (R), fractal dimension (D), and vector dispersion (1/k). We present the first assessment of accuracy and precision of structure-from-motion (SfM) 3D models from an uncalibrated GoPro™ camera at a small scale (4 m2) and show that they can provide meaningful, ecologically relevant results. Models had root mean square errors of 1.48 cm in X-Y and 1.35 in Z, and accuracies of 86.8% (R), 99.6% (D at scales 30-60 cm), 93.6% (D at scales 1-5 cm), and 86.9 (1/k). Values of R were compared to in-situ chain-and-tape measurements, while values of D and 1/k were compared with ground truths from 3D printed objects modelled underwater. All metrics varied less than 3% between independently rendered models. We thereby improve and rigorously validate a tool for ecologists to non-invasively quantify coral reef structural complexity with a variety of multi-scale metrics.

A Novel Method for Studying the Pharmacokinetics of [(14) C]Umeclidinium After Application to the Axilla or Palm of Healthy Male Subjects.

Umeclidinium (UMEC), a long-acting muscarinic antagonist approved for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was investigated for primary hyperhidrosis as topical therapy. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a single dose of [(14) C]UMEC applied to either unoccluded axilla (UA), occluded axilla (OA), or occluded palm (OP) of healthy males. After 8 h the formulation was removed. [(14) C]UMEC plasma concentrations (Cp) were quantified by accelerator mass spectrometry. Occlusion increased systemic exposure by 3.8-fold. Due to UMEC absorption-limited pharmacokinetics, Cp data from the OA were combined with intravenous data from a phase I study. The data were described by a two-compartment population model with sequential zero and first-order absorption and linear elimination. Simulated systemic exposure following q.d. doses to axilla was similar to the exposure from the inhaled therapy, suggesting that systemic safety following dermal administration can be bridged to the inhaled program, and offering the potential for a reduced number of studies and/or subjects.

Comparison of a 250 kV single-stage accelerator mass spectrometer with a 5 MV tandem accelerator mass spectrometer--fitness for purpose in bioanalysis.

The introduction of 'compact' accelerator mass spectrometers into biomedical science, including use in drug metabolism and bioanalytical applications, is an exciting recent development. Comparisons are presented here between a more established and relatively large tandem accelerator which operates at up to 5 MV and a conventional laboratory-sized 250 kV single-stage accelerator mass spectrometer. Biological samples were enriched with low levels of radiocarbon, then converted into graphite prior to analysis on each of the two instruments. The data obtained showed the single-stage instrument to be capable of delivering comparable results, and thus able to provide similar study support, with that provided by the 5 MV instrument, without the significant overheads and complexities which are inherent to the operation of the larger instrument. We believe that the advent of these laboratory-sized accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) instruments represents a real turning point in the potential for application of AMS by a wider user group.

A validation study comparing accelerator MS and liquid scintillation counting for analysis of 14C-labelled drugs in plasma, urine and faecal extracts.

A comparison has been made between accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) analysis and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) of plasma, urine and faecal samples containing 14C-labelled drugs. In an in vitro study in which human plasma was spiked (the term spiked is used in Section 2.6) with 14C-Fluconazole (14C-FL) over a concentration range of 0.1-2.5 dpm/ml, a correlation coefficient of 0.999 was determined for AMS analysis versus extrapolated LSC data. No significant day to day (or inter-day)variation was seen (P < 0.05 by ANOVA). Coefficients of variation for these analyses ranged from 2.68 to 6.50%. In vivo studies in which rats were given a high (11.5 microCi/kg) or low (18.1 nCi/kg) radioactive dose (to model an exposure of 0.9 microSievert to man) of 14C-Fluticasone propionate(14C-FP) showed that there was also a good correspondence between AMS and LSC data. A mass balance study in a single the faeces by 96 h; less than 1% of the administered dose was excreted in the urine. The limit of reliable measurement of drug related material, above background concentrations, by AMS analysis in this study was approximately 0.1 dpm/ml for plasma, 0.01 dpm/ml for urine without any sample extraction or concentration and 0.01 dpm/ml for faecal extracts. The data reported here demonstrate that AMS is an ultrasensitive and reliable method for analysing 14C-labelled drugs in human and animal body fluids.

The most primitive osteichthyan braincase?

Most living vertebrates, from teleosts to tetrapods, are osteichthyans (bony fishes), but the origin of this major group is poorly understood. The actinopterygians (ray-finned bony fishes) are the most successful living vertebrates in terms of diversity. They appear in the fossil record in the Late Silurian but are poorly known before the Late Devonian. Here we report the discovery of the oldest and most primitive actinopterygian-like osteichthyan braincase known, from 400-million-year-old limestone in southeastern Australia. This specimen displays previously unknown primitive conditions, in particular, an opening for a cartilaginous eyestalk. It provides an important and unique counterpart to the similarly aged and recently described Psarolepis from China and Vietnam. The contrasting features of these specimens, and the unusual anatomy of the new specimen in particular, provide new insights into anatomical conditions close to the evolutionary radiation of all modern osteichthyan groups.

A view of death and dying among the Chinese and Japanese.

The practices of medicine around the world have been fused into that of faith and religion. In serving our patients' need to accept death, physicians must also be sensitive to this underlying basic human concern as they prepare for this final journey. The Chinese and Japanese, reflecting their belief in Buddhism, perceive death as a natural part and an extension of life itself.

Mental health problems of the Edinburgh 'roofless'.

BACKGROUND: The roofless have not been previously surveyed in detail looking specifically at their psychiatric status. METHOD: All roofless people in a discrete area were interviewed in their 'skippers' using a semi-structured interview. Other roofless people helped in case finding and diagnostic validity was confirmed using a computerised case register. RESULTS: Sixty-five people were interviewed. High rates of substance abuse (n = 48, 75%), and very low rates of psychotic illness (n = 2, 3%) were found. High rates of serious physical morbidity, of imprisonment and of being the victim of a crime were found. CONCLUSION: The roofless have multiple severe medical, social, and psychiatric problems. These all must be addressed when considering the provision of services.

Determination of salmeterol in rat and dog plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Salmeterol (as the hydroxynaphthoate) is the first of a new class of long-acting beta-adrenergic receptor agonists with both bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory actions. A sensitive, accurate, and precise high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of salmeterol in rat and dog plasma is described. Samples are prepared by solid-phase extraction and, after chromatography of the extracts on a reversed-phase styrene/divinylbenzene analytical column, salmeterol is detected by fluorescence monitoring (excitation wavelength, 230 nm; emission wavelength, 305 nm). The method is sensitive to 1 ng/mL, at which concentration the coefficient of variation was 16.3% in a single assay run. Repeated analyses of quality control samples, nominally at 2 ng/mL, were carried out over a number of assay runs with a coefficient of variation of 10.4%. The method is specific for salmeterol with respect to endogenous plasma components and identified metabolites. The assay was applied to the analysis of salmeterol in plasma of rats and dogs from pharmacokinetic studies.

The effectiveness of directed multisensory stimulation versus non-directed stimulation in comatose CHI patients: pilot study of a single subject design.

In view of the difficulties in finding control groups in sensory stimulation research, a single case methodology was explored. A pilot study was conducted on six comatose CHI patients in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. Each patient was given alternating weeks of directed multisensory stimulation (SDS) and non-directed stimulation (NDS) for half an hour a day in an ABAB single subject design. Eye movement, motor and vocal response to stimulation were recorded using the Sensory Stimulation Assessment Measure (Rader Scale). Comparisons of eye movement and motor responses on the Rader Scale appeared to indicate a greater degree of responsiveness to the SDS as compared with the NDS treatment. Overall improvement levels on the GCS, Rancho Scale and Western Neurosensory Stimulation Profile are discussed. The results are interpreted as indicative of the potential value of using single case methodology in this population, and future research directions are also discussed.

A childhood learning disability that predisposes those afflicted to adolescent and adult depression and suicide risk.

A particular subtype of learning disability (nonverbal learning disability) is described. This subtype of individuals with learning disability is seen to be at particular risk for depression and suicide. The origins of the study of this subtype of learning disability, its incidence in various forms of neurological disease, disorder, and dysfunction, and its behavioral and socioemotional manifestations (including its association with significant internalized forms of psychopathology) are described. A case history of a young woman who manifests this disability and who has attempted suicide on three occasions is also presented.

Effect of pairing scanning training with block design training in the remediation of perceptual problems in left hemiplegics.

Twenty-seven left hemiplegics were divided into three groups of nine, matched for age, education, degree of left neglect, and time since onset of stroke. Subjects were pretested and, following the training, posttested on the WAIS Performance subtests, the WRAT Reading subtest, a letter cancellation task, an address-copying task, and a face-counting task. Subjects received 1 hour of occupational therapy (OT) each day for 20 successive days as follows: Group I received 1 hour of routine OT; Group II received 20 minutes of routine OT, 20 minutes of cancellation training, and 20 minutes of visual scanning training; Group III received 20 minutes of block design training, 20 minutes of cancellation training, and 20 minutes of visual scanning training. Groups II and III improved on measures of visual scanning, reading, and writing to a significantly greater extent than did Group I, and Group III improved to a significantly greater extent than did Group II. Few differences among the groups were seen on measures of psychometric intelligence and face counting. The results, for the most part, supported previous findings and, furthermore, indicated that block design training enhances the effect of visual scanning training techniques in the remediation of perceptual problems in left hemiplegics.

Processing of information about self by neurotics.

This article examines the possibility that neurotic people exhibit consistent idiosyncracies of cognitive information processing. Specifically, it was hypothesized that if a subject is presented with both negative and positive information which is said to refer to the subject's personality then neurotic people should exhibit a greater than normal tendency to selectively process the self-depreciatory rather than the self-appreciatory information. An experimental investigation with both clinically neurotic and normal samples employed a variety of experimental measures in conjunction with three personality measures (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Repression-Sensitization scale, and Social Self-esteem), and provided evidence for the existence of such an association.