expressing the dose as soil labile concentrations and using the concentration addition concept in these mixed polluted environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Multiple linear regression (MLR) models for predicting chronic aluminum toxicity to a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia) and a fish (Pimephales promelas) as a function of three toxicity modifying factors (TMFs) - dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH, and hardness - were previously published. However, the range over which data for these TMFs were available was somewhat limited. To address this limitation, additional chronic toxicity tests with these species were subsequently conducted to expand the DOC range up to 12 mg/L, the pH range up to 8.7, and the hardness range up to 428 mg/L. The additional toxicity data were used to update the chronic MLR models. The adjusted R2 for the C. dubia EC20 (20% effect concentration) model increased from 0.71 to 0.92 with the additional toxicity data, and the predicted R2 increased from 0.57 to 0.89. For P. promelas, the adjusted R2 increased from 0.87 to 0.92 and the predicted R2 increased from 0.72 to 0.87. The high predicted R2 relative to adjusted R2 indicates that the models for both species are not overly parameterized. When data for C. dubia and P. promelas were pooled, the adjusted R2 values were comparable to the species-specific models (0.90 and 0.88 for C. dubia and P. promelas, respectively). This indicates that chronic aluminum EC20s for C. dubia and P. promelas respond similarly to variation in DOC, pH, and hardness. Overall, the pooled model predicted EC20s that were within a factor of two of observed in 100% of the C. dubia tests and 94% of the P. promelas tests. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Caenorhabditis elegans is an established model organism in neurodegeneration and aging research. Oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), as they occur under hyperglycemic conditions in diabetes mellitus, contribute to neuronal damage and lifespan reduction. Sulforaphane (SFN) is an indirect antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) is a direct antioxidant that acts as a free radical scavenger. Aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of SFN and vitamin E against glucotoxic damages to the neuronal system and lifespan in C. elegans. Culture conditions that mimic clinical hyperglycemia increased the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p less then 0.001) and the accumulation of methylglyoxal-derived advanced glycation endproducts (MG-derived AGEs) (p less then 0.01) with subsequent neuronal damage and neuronal dysfunction, ultimately leading to a significant shortening of lifespan (p less then 0.01). Treatment with both, 20 µmol/l SFN and 200 µg/ml vitamin E, completely prevented the increase in ROS and MG-derived AGEs, abolished the glucotoxic effects on neuronal structure and function, and preserved lifespan, resulting in a life expectancy similar to untreated controls. These data emphasize the relevance of indirect and direct antioxidants as potential therapeutic options for the prevention of glucotoxic pathologies.Background Anterior communicating artery (AComA) aneurysms are the most common intracranial aneurysm, accounting for 25 to 38% of all cases. In spite of the advent of modern neurointerventional treatments, they still represent a strong indication for clipping in certain anatomical and clinical conditions. However, AComA aneurysms are the deepest located aneurysms of the anastomotic circle of Willis, with a complex spatial orientation, and they are fed by bilateral branches of the anterior circulations. Although, on one hand, these aneurysms represent the most complex ones of the anterior circulation, on the other hand, the experience of young neurosurgeons is increasingly limited. Therefore, respecting operative guidelines is crucial to achieve the best aneurysm exclusion and avoid fatal intraoperative complications.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/bindarit.html  Study objective We describe the technical algorithm we use to teach young neurosurgeons how to approach AComA aneurysms and help them to develop a procedural memory needed to perform an efficient and safe surgery. Materials and methods We reviewed our last 10 years of institutional experience of > 200 cases of clipping ruptured and unruptured AComA aneurysms, analyzing our technical refinements and the difficulties in teaching residents and young neurosurgeons how to establish fundamental key points and design a didactic algorithm that includes operative instructions and safety rules. Results We identified seven pragmatic technical key points regarding craniotomy, cisternostomy, gyrus rectus corticectomy, proximal control, perforators and Heubner preservation, aneurysm neck dissection, and clipping to use in a didactic algorithm for teaching residents and as operative instructions for inexperienced neurosurgeons. Conclusion In the setting of clipping AComA aneurysms, respect for surgical rules is of paramount importance to perform an efficacious and safe procedure and ensure the best aneurysm exclusion and preservation of neurovascular structures.Objective Auditory localisation is part of central auditory processing. The study examined the impact of hearing aids on the auditory localisation ability of non-linguistic stimuli in hearing impaired schoolchildren. Patients and methods Above threshold acoustic signals were presented to 20 children (7-17 years) in a free field condition with 45 loudspeakers placed on a semicircular array. All participants had a bilaterally symmetric moderate sensorineural hearing loss (WHO grade 2) and used behind the ear style (BTE) hearing aids with conventional earmolds. The children had to indicate the position of the signal by a laser pointer. Both high- and low-frequency noise bursts were employed in the tests to separately address spatial auditory processing based on interaural time differences and interaural intensity differences. The examination was performed with and without BTE hearing aids. Results There was no significant difference between results in the aided and the unaided condition neither for the different frequency bands nor for the signal positions.