Polyurethane composite adsorbent using solid phase extraction method for preconcentration of metal ion from aqueous solution

Polyurethane composite adsorbent polymeric material was prepared and investigated for selected solid-phase extraction for metal ions, prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The surface characterisation was done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The separation and preconcentration conditions of the analytes investigated includes influence of pH, sample loading flow rate, elution flow rate, type and concentration of eluents. The optimum pH for the highest efficient recoveries for all metal ions, which ranged from 70 to 85 %, is pH 7. The metal ions were quantitatively eluted with 5 mL of 2 mol/L HNO3. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation. The percentage recovery of the metal ions ranged between 70 and 89 %, while the results for the limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged from 0.249 to 0.256 and 0.831 to 0.855, respectively. The experimental tests showed good preconcentration results of trace levels of metal ions using synthesised polyurethane polymer adsorbent composite

Removal of nickel(II) and palladium(II) from surface waters

A new sorbent was prepared using alumina and 5-Br-PADAP, and its adsorption ability for the removal of Ni(II) and Pd(II) from different waters was investigated. The procedure is based on retention of the analytes on the alumina load with 5-Br-PADAP at pH ~ 6. The separation/preconcentration conditions for the quantitative recoveries were investigated. The limit of detections (LOD) based on three times the standard deviations of the blank, were 0.187 and 0.253 ng mL^-1 for Ni(II) and Pd(II), respectively. Obtained sorption capacities for 1 g sorbent were 6.0 mg Ni(II) and 11.0 mg Pd(II). The linearity was maintained in the concentration range of 0.625 to 6.0 ng mL^-1 for Ni(II) and 0.416 to 7.0 ng mL^-1 for Pd(II) in the original solution. Eight replicate determinations of a mixture containing 2.0 µg mL^-1 each of the elements in the final solution gave relative standard deviation of ±0.82 and ±1.12% for Ni(II) and Pd(II), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination trace amounts of Ni(II) and Pd(II) in the surface water samples.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v27i1.

Out-of-Pocket Costs and Importance of Nonmedical and Indirect Costs of Inpatients

Objectives: Out-of-pocket (OOP) costs are a major part of the expenditures for healthcare services. In most cases, patient financial protection plans cover only direct medical costs and not other expenses by patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 800 patients referring medical centers of Kerman to analyse all aspects of OOP, especially after the Health Transformation Plan in Iran. Using the probability proportional to the size of the medical center, samples from each ward in each medical center were determined in accordance with the previous year's patient number. Randomly selected medical records of the last 2 weeks of patients discharged were collected, information was extracted, and telephone interviews were conducted. Results: The mean total OOP costs of a one-time hospitalization in all medical centers in Kerman was equal to 7 561 977 Iranian rials. Assuming a 5 threshold, 37 of patients in public centers were faced with catastrophic health expenditures for a one-time hospitalization. Based on the results of the regression model, reduction of length of stay, elimination of the need for the presence of next of kin, and provision of healthcare services out of hospitals can greatly reduce OOP expenditures. Conclusion: Although direct medical costs are of special importance, and it is very necessary to protect patients against such costs, patients usually incur a variety of costs when receiving inpatient services. Inattention to direct nonmedical costs and indirect costs due to patients� and their next of kin's absenteeism may cause households to face catastrophic expenditures. © 2020 ISPOR�The professional society for health economics and outcomes researc

Hospital nurses� disaster competencies

Background: Natural and man-made disasters have significant effects on the physical, psychological, and emotional health of society. Nurses play an essential role in disaster management. Therefore, nurses should have specific core competencies to provide care for affected people during disaster situations. Objectives: This study aimed to assess hospital nurses� disaster competencies in such situations. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted using a self-report questionnaire that included 50 questions on NCDS (Nurse Competence Disaster Scale) in four domains. The questionnaires were distributed among 142 nurses working in three teaching hospitals in Kerman, Iran, in 2018. Results: The average percentage scores of nurses on their responses to questions in the domains of management, ethical aspects, personal aspects, and technical aspects of disaster competencies were 39.76, 19.53, 32.02, and 75.06, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, nurses� participation in maneuvers and their work experience exerted the strongest influence on disaster nursing core competencies. Nurses who had practice during maneuvers had higher competency scores by 19.63 units than those who had no practice (p=0.0001). Moreover, the competency scores of nurses with more than 11 years of work experience were higher by 11.42 units than the others (p=0.0001). Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, strategies such as disaster drills and continuing education programs need to be developed for nurses to improve their disaster core competency. © 2020 The Author(s)