Novel 3-Hydroxy-2-Naphthoate-Based Task-Specific Ionic Liquids for an Efficient Extraction of Heavy Metals

Ionic liquids (ILs) are per definition salts with melting points below 100°C and might be green alternatives for the extraction of heavy metals from aqueous solutions due to their favorable environmental and physico-chemical properties. Partial solution during extraction, so-called leaching, however, limits their applicability. The present study synthesizes three novel ammonium and phosphonium ILs based on 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid—trihexyltetradecylphosphonium—([P66614]), methyltrioctylphosphonium—([P1888]), and methyltrioctylammonium 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate ([N1888][HNA])—by a deprotonation-metathesis route. The aims were to improve stability during extraction while still achieving high selectivity toward heavy metal ions, as well as to study the impact of different alkyl chains and the central atom of the cation on physico-chemical properties, extraction efficacy, and leaching. Extraction capabilities for the seven heavy metals Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb were studied in pure water at pH 8.0. Further experiments were conducted in water containing 30 g L−1 NaCl to simulate a seawater matrix and/or 30 mg L−1 humic acids, as well as metal-spiked natural water samples. All three ILs showed extraction efficacies ≥90% for Cu and Pb after 24 h. Overall, extraction efficacies for Ag, Cd, Cu, and Pb were highest for drinking water samples. Ag and Cd extraction was increased by up to 41% in (hyper-) saline samples using IL [P66614][HNA] compared with pure water samples. Leaching values were reduced down to 0.07% loss of the applied IL, which can be attributed to the hydrophobic character of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate. Our results represent a positive development toward a greener extraction of heavy metals from natural waters.© 2018 Pirkwieser, López-López, Kandioller, Keppler, Moreno and Jirs

Solvent Bar Micro-Extraction of Heavy Metals from Natural Water Samples Using 3-Hydroxy-2-Naphthoate-Based Ionic Liquids

Developments in the liquid micro-extraction of trace metals from aqueous phases have proven to be limited when extended from pure water to more complex and demanding matrices such as sea water or wastewater treatment effluents. To establish a system that works under such matrices, we successfully tested three task-specific ionic liquids, namely trihexyltetradecyl- phosphonium-, methyltrioctylphosphonium- and methyltrioctylammonium 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate in two-phase solvent bar micro-extraction (SBME) experiments. We describe the influence of pH, organic additives, time, stirring rate and volume of ionic liquid for multi-elemental micro-extraction of Cu, Ag, Cd and Pb from various synthetic and natural aqueous feed solutions. Highest extraction for all metals was achieved at pH 8.0. Minimal leaching of the ionic liquids into the aqueous phase was demonstrated, with values < 30 mg L−1 DOC in all cases. Sample salinities of up to 60 g L−1 NaCl had a positive effect on the extraction of Cd, possibly due to an efficient extraction mechanism of the present chlorido complexes. In metal-spiked natural feed solutions, the selected SBME setups showed unchanged stability under all conditions tested. We could efficiently (≥85%) extract Cu and Ag from drinking water and achieved high efficacies for Ag and Cd from natural sea water and hypersaline water, respectively. The method presented here proves to be a useful tool for an efficient SBME of heavy metals from natural waters without the need to pretreat or modify the sample.© 2018 by the author

Dataset for "Mitigation versus adaptation: Does insulating buildings increase overheating risk?"

Dataset for journal article "Mitigation versus adaptation: Does insulating buildings increase overheating risk?". The dataset contains the summary simulation results of the building simulation parametric study (EnergyPlus v8.9) for overheating, natural ventilation and space heating demand (annual simulations with yearly indicators). The dataset contains the performance of all the buildings that combine the following parameters: dwelling types, insulation levels, thermal mass, window sizes, shading strategies, internal gains, window opening rubrics, algorithms, infiltration levels, building orientations and locations

Evaluation of an integrated system for classification, assessment and comparison of services for long-term care in Europe: the eDESDE-LTC study

Background: The harmonization of European health systems brings with it a need for tools to allow the standardized collection of information about medical care. A common coding system and standards for the description of services are needed to allow local data to be incorporated into evidence-informed policy, and to permit equity and mobility to be assessed. The aim of this project has been to design such a classification and a related tool for the coding of services for Long Term Care (DESDE-LTC), based on the European Service Mapping Schedule (ESMS). Methods: The development of DESDE-LTC followed an iterative process using nominal groups in 6 European countries. 54 researchers and stakeholders in health and social services contributed to this process. In order to classify services, we use the minimal organization unit or “Basic Stable Input of Care” (BSIC), coded by its principal function or “Main Type of Care” (MTC). The evaluation of the tool included an analysis of feasibility, consistency, ontology, inter-rater reliability, Boolean Factor Analysis, and a preliminary impact analysis (screening, scoping and appraisal). Results: DESDE-LTC includes an alpha-numerical coding system, a glossary and an assessment instrument for mapping and counting LTC. It shows high feasibility, consistency, inter-rater reliability and face, content and construct validity. DESDE-LTC is ontologically consistent. It is regarded by experts as useful and relevant for evidence-informed decision making. Conclusion: DESDE-LTC contributes to establishing a common terminology, taxonomy and coding of LTC services in a European context, and a standard procedure for data collection and international comparison

Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Abstract Background Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GEHFX ). Methods In this collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis, clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), the Cochrane COVID-19 register, the LOVE database, and PubMed were searched until April 8, 2021. Investigators of trials registered by March 1, 2021, without published results were contacted via email. Eligible were ongoing, discontinued and completed randomized clinical trials that compared convalescent plasma with placebo or no treatment in COVID-19 patients, regardless of setting or treatment schedule. Aggregated mortality data were extracted from publications or provided by investigators of unpublished trials and combined using the Hartung–Knapp–Sidik–Jonkman random effects model. We investigated the contribution of unpublished trials to the overall evidence. Results A total of 16,477 patients were included in 33 trials (20 unpublished with 3190 patients, 13 published with 13,287 patients). 32 trials enrolled only hospitalized patients (including 3 with only intensive care unit patients). Risk of bias was low for 29/33 trials. Of 8495 patients who received convalescent plasma, 1997 died (23%), and of 7982 control patients, 1952 died (24%). The combined risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92; 1.02) with between-study heterogeneity not beyond chance (I2 = 0%). The RECOVERY trial had 69.8% and the unpublished evidence 25.3% of the weight in the meta-analysis. Conclusions Convalescent plasma treatment of patients with COVID-19 did not reduce all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence that convalescent plasma treatment for patients with COVID-19 should not be used outside of randomized trials. Evidence synthesis from collaborations among trial investigators can inform both evidence generation and evidence application in patient care

46 open clusters GaiaDR2 HR diagrams

VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics with title 'Gaia Data Release 2: Observational Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams.' (bibcode: 2018A&amp;A...616A..10G

Gaia DR2 sources in GC and dSph

VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics with title 'Gaia Data Release 2. Kinematics of globular clusters and dwarf galaxies around the Milky Way' (bibcode: 2018A&amp;A...616A..12G