Hydrogen fluoride and inorganic fluorine compounds (fluorides) – Addendum: Evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value

In 2005, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of hydrogen fluoride [7664-39-3] and fluorides [16984-48-8]. If the MAK values of 1 ml hydrogen fluoride/m3 (0.83 mg/m3) or 1 mg fluoride/m3, respectively, are not exceeded, prenatal toxic effects are not to be expected. Therefore, hydrogen fluoride and fluorides were classified in Pregnancy Risk Group C. In 2013, the biological tolerance value (BAT value) for hydrogen fluoride and inorganic fluorine compounds (fluorides) of 4 mg fluoride/l urine was established which protects against the long-term effects of fluoride such as skeletal fluorosis. The BAT value was not derived in correlation to the MAK value. For this reason, it is to be evaluated whether no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected when the BAT value is adhered to. By extrapolating the NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for developmental toxicity in rodent studies to fluoride concentrations in urine it could be concluded that Pregnancy Risk Group C is also valid for the BAT value

Fisher information and multiparticle entanglement

The Fisher information $F$ gives a limit to the ultimate precision achievable in a phase estimation protocol. It has been shown recently that the Fisher information for a linear two-mode interferometer cannot exceed the number of particles if the input state is separable. As a direct consequence, with such input states the shot-noise limit is the ultimate limit of precision. In this work, we go a step further by deducing bounds on $F$ for several multiparticle entanglement classes. These bounds imply that genuine multiparticle entanglement is needed for reaching the highest sensitivities in quantum interferometry. We further compute similar bounds on the average Fisher information $\bar F$ for collective spin operators, where the average is performed over all possible spin directions. We show that these criteria detect different sets of states and illustrate their strengths by considering several examples, also using experimental data. In particular, the criterion based on $\bar F$ is able to detect certain bound entangled states.Comment: Published version. Notice also the following article [Phys. Rev. A 85, 022322 (2012), DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.85.022322] by Geza T\'oth on the same subjec

A Multi-Area Stochastic Model for a Covert Visual Search Task

Decisions typically comprise several elements. For example, attention must be directed towards specific objects, their identities recognized, and a choice made among alternatives. Pairs of competing accumulators and drift-diffusion processes provide good models of evidence integration in two-alternative perceptual choices, but more complex tasks requiring the coordination of attention and decision making involve multistage processing and multiple brain areas. Here we consider a task in which a target is located among distractors and its identity reported by lever release. The data comprise reaction times, accuracies, and single unit recordings from two monkeys’ lateral interparietal area (LIP) neurons. LIP firing rates distinguish between targets and distractors, exhibit stimulus set size effects, and show response-hemifield congruence effects. These data motivate our model, which uses coupled sets of leaky competing accumulators to represent processes hypothesized to occur in feature-selective areas and limb motor and pre-motor areas, together with the visual selection process occurring in LIP. Model simulations capture the electrophysiological and behavioral data, and fitted parameters suggest that different connection weights between LIP and the other cortical areas may account for the observed behavioral differences between the animals

Isopropylbenzene – Addendum: evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value

In 2012, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of isopropylbenzene (cumene) [98-82-8]. If the MAK value of 10 ml iso-propylbenzene/m3 (50 mg/m3) is observed, no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected. Therefore, Pregnancy Risk Group C was confirmed. In 2013, the biological tolerance value (BAT value) of 10 mg 2-phenyl-2-propanol (after hydrolysis)/g creatinine was derived in correlation to the MAK value. Pregnancy Risk Group C is also similarly valid for the BAT value. In adherence with the BAT value of 10 mg 2-phenyl-2-propanol (after hydrolysis)/g creatinine, no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected

2-Propanol – Addendum: evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value

In 2018, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated and confirmed the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of 2-propanol [67-63-0]. If the MAK value of 200 ml 2-propanol/m3 (500 mg/m3) is observed, no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected. Therefore, Pregnancy Risk Group C was likewise confirmed. In 2010, biological tolerance values (BAT values) of 25 mg acetone/l blood and 25 mg acetone/l urine were derived in correlation to the MAK value. Pregnancy Risk Group C is therefore similarly valid for the BAT value. In adherence with the BAT values of 25 mg acetone/l blood and 25 mg acetone/l urine, no prenatal toxic effects are to be expecte