Kinetic investigations on AC and FeAC (a) pseudo–first order (b) pseudo–second order models.

<p>Kinetic investigations on AC and FeAC (a) pseudo–first order (b) pseudo–second order models.</p

Regeneration studies of spent adsorbents using (a) H₂SO₄ (b) NaOH (c) NaNO₃ (d) distilled water.

<p>Regeneration studies of spent adsorbents using (a) H₂SO₄ (b) NaOH (c) NaNO₃ (d) distilled water.</p

Adsorbent dosage effect on the sorption of Methylene Blue by AC and FeAC.

<p>Adsorbent dosage effect on the sorption of Methylene Blue by AC and FeAC.</p

Determination of the pH of zero point of charge (pH_<i>ZPC</i>) for AC and FeAC.

<p>Determination of the pH of zero point of charge (pH_<i>ZPC</i>) for AC and FeAC.</p

FTIR spectra of AC and FeAC before (a,b) and after MB adsorption (c,d) respectively.

<p>FTIR spectra of AC and FeAC before (a,b) and after MB adsorption (c,d) respectively.</p

Dimensionless characteristic curves of MB sorption by (a) AC and (b) FeAC at various temperatures.

<p>Dimensionless characteristic curves of MB sorption by (a) AC and (b) FeAC at various temperatures.</p

Elovich equation’s dimensionless parameter for the kinetics of MB by different types of adsorbents.

<p>Wherein, raw materials for a, b and c were corncob, fir wood and cane pith, respectively.</p><p>Elovich equation’s dimensionless parameter for the kinetics of MB by different types of adsorbents.</p

Effect of ionic strength on the MB uptake by (a) AC and (b) FeAC.

<p>Effect of ionic strength on the MB uptake by (a) AC and (b) FeAC.</p

MB uptake by AC and FeAC (a) at different pH (b) represents removal efficiency and pH changes.

<p>MB uptake by AC and FeAC (a) at different pH (b) represents removal efficiency and pH changes.</p

Vitamin D status and mortality from SARS CoV-2: a prospective study of unvaccinated Caucasian adults

COVID-19 and a low vitamin D state share common risk factors, which might explain why vitamin D deficiency has been linked with higher COVID-19 mortality. Moreover, measures of serum vitamin D may become lower during systemic inflammatory responses, further confounding the association via reverse causality. In this prospective study (recruited over 12 months), we examined whether the association between a low vitamin D state and in-hospital mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in unvaccinated subjects is explained by (i) the presence of shared risk factors (e.g., obesity, advanced age) or (ii) a reduction in serum 25(OH)D due to COVID-19 (i.e., reverse causality). In this cohort of 232 (mean age = 56 years) patients (all had SARS-CoV-2 diagnosed via PCR AND required supplemental oxygen therapy), we failed to find an association between serum vitamin D and levels of CRP, or other inflammatory markers. However, the hazard ratio for mortality for subjects over 70 years of age (13.2) and for subjects with a serum 25(OH)D level less than 30 nmol·L-1 (4.6) remained significantly elevated even after adjustment for gender, obesity and the presence of diabetes mellitus. Subjects 70 years had significantly higher mortality with a serum 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol·L-1 (11.8% and 55%), than with a serum 25(OH)D greater than 30 nmol·L-1 (2.2% and 25%). Unvaccinated Caucasian adults with a low vitamin D state have higher mortality due to SARS CoV-2 pneumonia, which is not explained by confounders and is not closely linked with elevated serum CRP. </p