ABSTRACT
The extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from nitric acid solution with a triphosphine trioxide (TPO) is presented. Performances of such a ligand in ionic liquids vs. a classical solvent (benzyl ether) are compared. TPO seems to be 10 to 100 times more efficient when it is dissolved in ionic media whatever the concentration of nitric acid involved. Mechanistic investigations reveal that cation exchange classically observed in ionic liquids is not consistent with the experimental data. Moreover, clear differences in the TPO/Ln complexes between classical and ionic media are highlighted. A stable complex of 1 lanthanide for 3 TPO is formed in an ionic liquid whereas a complex of 1 lanthanide for 6 to 9 TPO is formed in benzyl ether. Back extraction is also studied and good recovery of REEs could be obtained. The TPO/ionic liquid system shows remarkable performances i.e. efficiency and selectivity towards lanthanides in a simulated leaching solution of a Nd/Fe/B/Dy magnet.
ABSTRACT
A procedure for the selective removal of uranium traces dissolved in drinking water has been studied. Plate module membrane filtration equipment was operated to evaluate the performance and selectivity of three different nanofiltration flat-sheet membranes. Experiments were carried out using various commercial mineral waters with distinct physicochemical compositions. The membranes were first discriminating by their ability to reject uranium in the presence of the main cations found in mineral waters, using a 2 mg L(-1) (2000 ppb) concentration of uranium. The rejection of U(VI) was dependent on the uranyl speciation and the ionic strength. Second, removal of uranium traces (0.02 mg L(-1), 20 ppb) was performed using the nanofiltration membrane showing the highest selectivity for uranium toward alkaline and alkaline-earth ions. The results showed a high performance of the nanofiltration membrane, Osmonics DL, for selective uranium rejection at low pressure (1 bar), illustrating the advantage of nanofiltration for the selective removal of uranium from drinking water.
Subject(s)
Uranium/isolation & purification , Water Pollutants, Radioactive/isolation & purification , Water Purification/instrumentation , Nylons , Polymers , Sulfones , Ultrafiltration , Water Purification/methods , Water SupplyABSTRACT
Increasing competition, health care complexity, threats to quality, and rapidly changing environments confront nurse practitioners (NPs) as they enter the new millennium. If NPs are to strengthen their positions as health care providers and continue to make a lasting contribution, they must exhibit proficiency in creating and managing change. Lessons gleaned from those who pioneered the NP role can provide the wisdom needed to address contemporary role challenges. The purpose of this study was to identify the strategies employed by NP pioneers who contributed to role survival and growth. This article provides a discussion of the change strategies utilized by NP pioneers and highlights their relevance to current practice issues.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Attitude of Health Personnel , Job Description , Nurse Practitioners/organization & administration , Nurse Practitioners/psychology , Professional Autonomy , Professional Competence , Adult , Competitive Behavior , Conflict, Psychological , Economic Competition , Female , Focus Groups , Humans , Interprofessional Relations , Leadership , Nurse Practitioners/education , Nursing Methodology Research , Organizational Innovation , Surveys and Questionnaires , WashingtonABSTRACT
Recent scientific nursing literature and clinical practice yield important information regarding women's varied responses to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, as well as the multiple pathways women take through the infertility experience. In this article, we examine infertility through women's eyes, explore the influence of the social context on women's infertility experiences, and present ideas for clinical approaches to working with infertile women. Three approaches for nursing practice are suggested: (a) preserving self-esteem, (b) promoting access to social resources, and (c) facilitating use of coping methods to reduce distress.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Infertility, Female/psychology , Female , Humans , Infertility, Female/nursing , Patient Care Planning , Self Concept , Social SupportSubject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Gender Identity , Identification, Psychological , Infertility/psychology , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Infertility has been described as a major developmental crisis. It affects one out of every six couples of childbearing age in the United States. With infertility rates increasing, it is likely that nurse practitioners will encounter patients seeking help for this problem. Although eventual management of these patients requires specialists, nurse practitioners can initiate the workup and provide patient support and education. This article describes the first-level approach to infertility investigation. It provides guidelines for taking the history, doing the physical and ordering laboratory tests. A discussion of infertility as a crisis is included in order to help practitioners provide empathetic support to couples facing fertility problems.
Subject(s)
Infertility/diagnosis , Nursing Assessment , Nursing Process , Adult , Body Temperature , Crisis Intervention , Female , Humans , Infertility/psychology , Male , Physical Examination , Referral and Consultation , Semen/analysis , Social SupportABSTRACT
The health problems of 2,136 patients randomly selected from 8,905 patients seen by 356 family nurse practitioners around the U.S.A. were analyzed. Primary diagnoses were reported on all patients using an adapted H-ICDA/ICHPPC classification. This system allowed for 18 diagnostic categories and 115 diagnoses relevant to primary care. The ten most frequent diagnostic categories were reported and analyzed as to certainty and status (old or new diagnosis). Analysis of diagnostic certainty revealed areas where FNPs felt most accurate. Reporting both diagnoses and diagnostic categories allowed greater understanding of the health problems presented to family nurse practitioners in primary care. This comprehensive data bank of patient care problems adds another dimension to the study of primary care and is a useful tool in further family nurse practitioner research and in curriculum development.
Subject(s)
Family Health , Family , Nurse Practitioners , Nursing Assessment , Nursing Care , Primary Nursing , Adult , Aged , Curriculum , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Nurse Practitioners/education , Nurse Practitioners/standards , Primary Nursing/standards , Specialties, Nursing/education , United StatesABSTRACT
In this nationwide study 8,905 patients were seen by 356 family nurse practitioners (FNPs) during February through April 1977. The ratio of white to black and white to "other" patients was six to one. Racial minorities were seen significantly more often than were whites in public clinics supported predominantly by public tax monies. The smallest number of patients seen was in the "elderly" age group, 65 and over. Elderly patients were located to a greater extent in the South and they used both private and public clinics. The number of infants and children seen was greater in the Western region and in semi-urban areas. The predominant patient problems seen by FNPs were Prevention/Health Supervision and Respiratory. Although there were similarities between top ranking primary care problems seen by FNPs in this study compared with primary care physicians in other studies, proportionately more FNP patient contacts were for Prevention/Health Supervision and the patients tended to be in the younger age group.
