WASH interventions in emergencies and outbreaks: two systematic reviews and impact analyses

There is a lack of evidence-base for WASH interventions in emergencies, although many agencies collect various types of evidence that is not formally published or widely shared. The aim of this work is to help provide policy relevant evidence of WASH interventions by summarizing the information collected by NGOs, UN agencies, or local governments responding to humanitarian emergencies and disease outbreaks. A systematic search covered academic databases, agency websites, and direct solicitation of humanitarian actors. Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, as well as, both published and grey literature were eligible for review. More than 15,000 manuscripts were identified, 1,500 abstracts assessed, and 500 full texts reviewed. Final included manuscripts will be summarized using the GRADE summary of findings around the themes of: use of service; health-related outcomes; non-health related outcomes; barriers and facilitators to implementation; and cost-effectiveness. This work will establish a real-world evidence-base for humanitarian WASH policy

Evaluation of household drinking water filter distribution programmes in Haiti

Household water treatment can reduce diarrhoeal disease in populations without safe water access. We evaluated five programmes that distributed biosand, ceramic, or Sawyer household water filters in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. We conducted household surveys, collected water samples, and tested water quality at ~50 houses from each programme. Across programmes, self-reported filter use ranged from 27-78%; confirmed use (met reported use and showed the filter with water in it) ranged from 20-76%; and, effective use (stored water quality was improved to international guideline values using the filter) ranged from 0-54%. More successful programmes: 1) distributed an effective technology; 2) provided safe storage; 3) required cash investment; 4) provided initial training; 5) provided follow-up; 6) provided supply-chain access; 7) targeted households relying on contaminated water sources; and, 8) had experience working in the local context. These findings suggest that well implemented programmes can result in sustained filter use in Haiti

Complexation Behavior of the Tri‑<i>n</i>‑butyl Phosphate Ligand with Pu(IV) and Zr(IV): A Computational Study

Tri-<i>n</i>-butyl phosphate (TBP), used as the extractant in nuclear fuel reprocessing, shows superior extraction abilities for Pu­(IV) over a large number of fission products including Zr­(IV). We have applied density functional theory (DFT) calculations to explain this selectivity by investigating differences in electronic structures of Pu­(NO₃)₄·2TBP and Zr­(NO₃)₄·2TBP complexes. On the basis of our quantum chemical calculations, we have established the lowest energy electronic states for both complexes; the quintet is the ground state for the former, whereas the latter exists in the singlet spin state. The calculated structural parameters for the optimized geometry of the plutonium complex are in agreement with the experimental results. Atoms in Molecules analysis revealed a considerable amount of ionic character to M–O­{TBP} and M–O­{NO₃} bonds. Additionally, we have also investigated the extraction behavior of TBP for metal nitrates and have estimated the extraction energies to be −73.1 and −57.6 kcal/mol for Pu­(IV) and Zr­(IV), respectively. The large extraction energy of Pu­(IV) system is in agreement with the observed selectivity in the extraction of Pu

Media 1: Artificially-induced organelles are optimal targets for optical trapping experiments in living cells

Originally published in Biomedical Optics Express on 01 July 2014 (boe-5-7-1993