The influence of mapped hazards on risk beliefs: a proximity-based modeling approach.

Interview findings suggest perceived proximity to mapped hazards influences risk beliefs when people view environmental hazard maps. For dot maps, four attributes of mapped hazards influenced beliefs: hazard value, proximity, prevalence, and dot patterns. In order to quantify the collective influence of these attributes for viewers' perceived or actual map locations, we present a model to estimate proximity-based hazard or risk (PBH) and share study results that indicate how modeled PBH and map attributes influenced risk beliefs. The randomized survey study among 447 university students assessed risk beliefs for 24 dot maps that systematically varied by the four attributes. Maps depicted water test results for a fictitious hazardous substance in private residential wells and included a designated "you live here" location. Of the nine variables that assessed risk beliefs, the numerical susceptibility variable was most consistently and strongly related to map attributes and PBH. Hazard value, location in or out of a clustered dot pattern, and distance had the largest effects on susceptibility. Sometimes, hazard value interacted with other attributes, for example, distance had stronger effects on susceptibility for larger than smaller hazard values. For all combined maps, PBH explained about the same amount of variance in susceptibility as did attributes. Modeled PBH may have utility for studying the influence of proximity to mapped hazards on risk beliefs, protective behavior, and other dependent variables. Further work is needed to examine these influences for more realistic maps and representative study samples.

Achieving aesthetic balance in the brow, eyelids, and midface.

An approach to the brow, eyelids, and midface emphasizing release and advancement of the orbicularis oculi muscle, conservative removal of orbital fat, preservation of the nerve supply to the orbicularis oculi muscle, and avoidance of canthal division was evaluated in 100 consecutive patients. The technique describes the selected release of three key retaining ligaments to the forehead, brow, and upper eyelid; mobilization of the lateral retinaculum and division of the lower lid retaining ligament; and division of the midface malar retaining ligament (zygomatic-cutaneous ligament). Preservation of motor branches to the lower lid orbicularis is stressed. Of significance to this series of patients is the inclusion of 50 patients with morphologically prone lower eyelids defined as atonic lower lids, exorbitism, and/or negative vector orbits. Three sites had failure of brow fixation, two patients had midface asymmetry requiring revision, and three patients failed to have complete correction of their preoperative lower lid retraction. There was zero incidence of scleral show or lower lid retraction that was not present preoperatively. No patients required division of the lateral commissure with canthoplasty, taping or suture suspension, massage, or steroid injections. Only two patients required division of the deep head of the lateral canthus, and these patients were noted to have had lateral canthal malposition preoperatively.

Extraction of lanthanides from aqueous solution by using room-temperature ionic liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide in conjunction.

For the first time, the study of a three-step extraction system of water/ionic liquid/supercritical CO2 has been performed. Extraction of trivalent lanthanum and europium from an aqueous nitric acid solution to a supercritical CO2 phase via an imidazolium-based ionic liquid phase is demonstrated, and extraction efficiencies higher than 87 % were achieved. The quantitative extraction is obtained by using different fluorinated beta-diketones with and without the addition of tri(n-butyl)phosphate. The complexation phenomenon occurring in the room-temperature ionic-liquid (RTIL) phase was evidenced by using luminescence spectroscopy.