Recovery of valuable metals from mixed spent lithium-ion batteries by multi-step directional precipitation

Recovery of valuable metals from the leachate of cathode material mechanically separated from mixed spent lithium-ion batteries by sequential precipitation.

Increased interleukin-6 levels in neuron-derived plasma small extracellular vesicles of subarachnoid haemorrhage patients

Background: Aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a serious type of stroke with high mortality and disability. Identifying circulating biomarkers is helpful to improve theranostics of aSAH. In this study, we are for the first time to report circulating interleukin-6(IL-6) in neuron-derived small extracellular vesicles(NDSEVs) were identified to be the potential biomarkers in prognosis of aSAH. Methods: We extracted small extracellular vesicles from the plasma of aSAH patients and healthy controls and were enriched by sequential precipitation and anti-L1CAM antibody immunoabsorption. Subsequently,we determined IL-6 levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: Plasma IL-6 NDSEVs showed distinct pattern differences between aSAH patients and healthy controls. The IL-6 NDSEVs levels were increased and positively associated with disease monitoring and prognosis of aSAH patients. These data suggest an elevated neuroinflammatory cascade in aSAH patients. Conclusion: The IL-6 NDSEVs maybe prospective biomarkers to indicate its progression, and thus may own great potential in applications such as prognostic evaluation of aSAH in the near future.

Increased Interleukin-6 Levels in Neuron-Derived Plasma Small Extracellular Vesicles of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Patients

Background: Aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a serious type of stroke with high mortality and disability. Identifying circulating biomarkers is helpful to improve theranostics of aSAH. In this study, we are for the first time to report circulating interleukin-6(IL-6) in neuron-derived small extracellular vesicles(NDSEVs) were identified to be the potential biomarkers in prognosis of aSAH. Methods: We extracted small extracellular vesicles from the plasma of aSAH patients and healthy controls and were enriched by sequential precipitation and anti-L1CAM antibody immunoabsorption. Subsequently,we determined IL-6 levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: Plasma IL-6 NDSEVs showed distinct pattern differences between aSAH patients and healthy controls. The IL-6NDSEVs levels were increased and positively associated with disease monitoring and prognosis of aSAH patients. These data suggest an elevated neuroinflammatory cascade in aSAH patients.Conclusion: The IL-6NDSEVs maybe prospective biomarkers to indicate its progression, and thus may own great potential in applications such as prognostic evaluation of aSAH in the near future.

A high capacity, automatic and small-volume water sampler

<p>Field deployable and portable automatic water samplers are common tools in hydrology. They allow the unattended collection of water samples at predetermined times or triggered by external sensors, reducing personnel labour and costs. Several automated water samplers have been described in the literature. However, the vast majority of these samplers are not commercialised and their use is very limited or restricted to research applications. We can broadly classify these samplers in three groups: in situ samplers, sequential precipitation samplers and siphon automatic samplers. The latest are commonly used by hydrologists, environmental monitoring agencies and in wastewater treatment plants. They were first patented and commercialized in the 1980s by Teledyne-ISCO (Lincoln, NE, USA). They use a peristaltic pump to transfer water into several containers. However, the siphon automatic samplers are large, heavy and typically collect a maximum of 24 samples of 0.5 or 1 L. Here, we present a new automatic water sampler that has a larger and variable storage capacity (from 64 to 400) of smaller containers (from 2 to 40 mL). We argue that for many applications large sample volumes are no longer required due to the improvement of chemical analytic techniques. Standard laboratory storage boxes are filled with standard laboratory containers and directly placed inside the sampler, reducing the processing time once the samplers are back in the laboratory. Containers remain always closed with a septum cap to prevent evaporation. The sampler allows tub rinsing between sample collection to prevent contamination and memory effects. It is portable, has a low-power consumption and is robust for its use under field conditions. We tested the prototype in the laboratory and in the field. We will present the sampler mechanical functioning, the results of the tests (e.g. sample preservation and memory effects) and the user-friendly interface to define sampling schemes.</p>

Increased interleukin-6 levels in neuron-derived plasma small extracellular vesicles in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a severe type of stroke characterized by high rates of mortality and disability. Identifying circulating biomarkers is helpful to improve prognosis. In this study, for the first time, we identify circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in neuron-derived small extracellular vesicles (NDSEVs) as potential biomarkers in prognosis of aSAH.Methods We extracted small extracellular vesicles from the plasma of aSAH patients and healthy controls and enriched them using sequential precipitation and anti-L1CAM antibody immunoabsorption. Subsequently, we determined IL-6 levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Plasma IL-6 NDSEVs showed distinct pattern differences between aSAH patients and healthy controls. There were significant correlations of IL-6concentrations in plasma with severity in aSAH. The AUCs of IL-6 for distinguishing the severe aSAH patients from mild aSAH patients were 0.961. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, only age, acute hydrocephalus,and the levels of IL-6 NDSEVs enabled prediction of neurological outcome at 1 year. The IL-6 NDSEVs levels were greater and positively associated with disease and prognosis of aSAH patients.Conclusions These data suggest a neuroinflammatory cascade in aSAH patients. IL-6 NDSEVs may be a biomarkers to monitor the progression of aSAH.

Direct Conversion of CO2 into Dimethyl Ether over Al2O3/Cu/ZnO Catalysts Prepared by Sequential Precipitation

Bifunctional Al2O3/Cu/ZnO catalysts with Al composition of between 30 mol% and 80 mol% were prepared by sequential precipitation (SP) for the conversion of CO2 into dimethyl ether (DME). In the SP synthesis, the concentration of a precipitation agent managed to be high enough to induce the complete precipitation of Al3+. The prepared precipitates were composed of zincian malachite and amorphous AlO(OH). Furthermore, the calcined mixed metal oxide materials of 60% and 80% Al exhibited a higher acidity than commercial Al2O3 and the H2-reduced catalysts showed the similar Cu dispersion of 6%–7% at all Cu loadings. In the activity test at 573 K and 50 bar, the SP-derived catalyst of 80% Al (SP-80) displayed the best performance corresponding to CO2 conversion of 25% and DME selectivity of 75% that are close to equilibrium values. In order to overcome the thermodynamic limitation, a dual-bed catalyst system was made up of SP-80 in the first layer and zeolite ferrierite in the next. This approach enabled DME selectivity to be enhanced to 90% while CO2 conversion increased a little. Consequently, the studied catalyst system based on the SP-derived catalysts can contribute greatly to selective DME production from CO2.