Manual Transfer Research Articles

Metabolic and Physiologic Changes in Spinal Cord Injury Following a Diet and Exercise Intervention

0532 Obesity is a contributing risk factor to many health concerns for the able bodied as well as disabled population. Reduction of body weight in this population can be important for the reduction of secondary health concerns including diabetes, cardiovascular health, pressure ulcers, and repetitive stress injuries to the upper limbs incurred from manual propulsion and transfers. Purpose: Determine the efficacy of weight management techniques on physiologic and metabolic parameters in an obese spinal cord injured population. Methods: Four female and five male participants (45+/−4.6 yrs, 84.5+/−14.3kg, 1.72+/−.13m, injury level ranged from T6-L1) were asked to complete a maximal exercise test on a SCI-FIT upper body ergometer. Following a 1 minutes unloaded workload, resistance was increased by 12 watts every minute while pedaling at 60 rpm. Metabolic data were collected via Cosmed K4b2 portable metabolic unit. Participants were randomly assigned to either diet and exercise (n = 5), diet only (n = 2), or control (n = 2). Participants were re-tested after 12 weeks. Participants in the diet and exercise (DE) group received weekly nutritional counseling and three 20 minute exercise sessions on the SCI-Fit UBE. Workload during training sessions were adjusted to maintain target heart rate of 80% of maximal heart rate recorded during initial exercise test. Participants assigned to the diet (D) group received weekly nutritional counseling sessions for 12 weeks. Participants in the diet and control (C) groups were asked to maintain their normal levels of physical activity for the 12 week period. Results: Both the DE and D groups demonstrated weight loss (DE 81.1 +/− 13.3kg vs. 74.8 +/− 11.8kg, D 104.5+/−3.1kg vs. 97.7 +/− 0.6kg), although neither were significant the diet only group demonstrated a trend towards signficance in weight loss. The DE group (6.3+/−1.4 vs 7.7+/− 0.7) demonstrated a trend towards significance in VO2 to body surface area ratio. Conclusion: The more important assessment of changes due to weight loss may be in the area of VO2 to body surface area due to the difficulty in assessing lower extremity muscle mass in the SCI population. A combination of diet and exercise in the SCI population demonstrates a positive trend in this parameter.

The Development of a Competence-Based Physical Test for Dutch Police Recruits

1502 As part of the redesign of general education of Dutch police officers, the evaluation of physical abilities of police recruits was revised. PURPOSE: To develop a physical test and concomitant test criterion based on physical competences that Dutch police officers can meet in daily practice. METHODS: This project had a stepwise character: 1) expert meetings with experienced police officers to make a gross selection of observed tasks and activities, 2) a real-time task and activity analysis using PalmTRAC and a Polar Accurex Plus heart rate monitor during 67 ride along sessions, 3) calculating maximal estimated values of duration and workload (%HRR) of relevant or critical incidents, 4) translation of task-activity combinations into physical competences, on which 5) a field test was constructed and 6) conducting the test to assess a test criterion for police recruits, based on the performance of recently (<3 years) graduated police officers. RESULTS: In general, physical aspects of policing are characterized by intermittent relatively long periods of relatively low-intensity tasks/activities (e.g. patrolling by car) and relatively short periods of high-intensity tasks/activities (e.g. arresting a heavy resisting suspect). Physical competences of Dutch police officers were based on the latter category and found to be: 1) sustained pursuit, 2) controling a (non-cooperative) suspect, 3) manual transfer of a suspect/victim and 4) manual transfer of (heavy) objects. To simulate these competences, they were incorporated in a standardized field test. Context and physical workload of the competences were assessed based on the calculated estimations of maximal duration and workload as assessed during the task and activity analysis. An example of a competence is given below.TableBased on the performance of 47 recently graduated police officers (28 male) on the field test, the test criterion was determined on 3 min 20 sec. CONCLUSIONS: As from 2004 Dutch police recruits will be tested on their physical abilities with a competence-based test which reflects the physical aspects of their future job.

The Development of a Competence-Based Physical Test for Dutch Police Recruits

1502 As part of the redesign of general education of Dutch police officers, the evaluation of physical abilities of police recruits was revised. PURPOSE: To develop a physical test and concomitant test criterion based on physical competences that Dutch police officers can meet in daily practice. METHODS: This project had a stepwise character: 1) expert meetings with experienced police officers to make a gross selection of observed tasks and activities, 2) a real-time task and activity analysis using PalmTRAC and a Polar Accurex Plus heart rate monitor during 67 ride along sessions, 3) calculating maximal estimated values of duration and workload (%HRR) of relevant or critical incidents, 4) translation of task-activity combinations into physical competences, on which 5) a field test was constructed and 6) conducting the test to assess a test criterion for police recruits, based on the performance of recently (<3 years) graduated police officers. RESULTS: In general, physical aspects of policing are characterized by intermittent relatively long periods of relatively low-intensity tasks/activities (e.g. patrolling by car) and relatively short periods of high-intensity tasks/activities (e.g. arresting a heavy resisting suspect). Physical competences of Dutch police officers were based on the latter category and found to be: 1) sustained pursuit, 2) controling a (non-cooperative) suspect, 3) manual transfer of a suspect/victim and 4) manual transfer of (heavy) objects. To simulate these competences, they were incorporated in a standardized field test. Context and physical workload of the competences were assessed based on the calculated estimations of maximal duration and workload as assessed during the task and activity analysis. An example of a competence is given below.TableBased on the performance of 47 recently graduated police officers (28 male) on the field test, the test criterion was determined on 3 min 20 sec. CONCLUSIONS: As from 2004 Dutch police recruits will be tested on their physical abilities with a competence-based test which reflects the physical aspects of their future job.

Increasing the efficiency of pharmacokinetic sample procurement, preparation and analysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

The movement towards a 96-well format has greatly increased productivity and throughput in bioanalytical laboratories. Improvements in automated sample preparation and analytical methods have further contributed to increased productivity. We have focused on sample collection and transfer to the bioanalyst and have found improvements to the current available methods. The problem of manual transfers and plasma clotting issues can be overcome with the use of microtainers. Specifically, for illustrative purposes, three proprietary Theravance compounds were tested for stability, non-specific binding, and electrospray ion suppression in microtainers. There were no issues with stability, non-specific binding or ion suppression for the above compounds even after leaving plasma samples in the microtainers over long periods of time. The microtainers are robot-compatible and the resulting plasma can be transferred without clotting issues. To date, all in-house compounds successfully analyzed and tested using the microtainers have mass ranges between 200 and 1800 Da, pK(a) ranges between 3.8 and 10.3, and logD ranges between -1.7 and 4.2. Once samples are transferred into 96-well plates, flexibility in preparation and analysis is available. Together with automated sample preparation and the use of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) as an analytical tool, the use of microtainers as sample collection tubes and for sample storage saved considerable time, cost and effort in both of our pharmacokinetic (PK) and bioanalytical groups. This in turn has led to an increased efficiency and overall throughput in support of our drug discovery effort.

Muscle activity during patient transfers: a preliminary study on the influence of lift assists and experience

The purpose of this study was to examine muscle activity patterns during patient handling during manual transfers, and transfers using floor and ceiling lifts. EMG patterns during transfers from bed to wheelchair and wheelchair to bed as well as patient repositioning in novices and experienced participants were examined. Surface EMG was recorded from the upper and lower erector spinae, latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles bilaterally. Overall, normalized mean and peak muscle activity were lowest using the ceiling lift, increasing with the floor lift, which were lower than manual transfers (novices: all p < 0.01). Experienced patient handlers demonstrated approximately two times greater trapezius and latissimus dorsi activity than novices, combined with lower mean erector spinae activity (p < 0.05, for most tasks). Integrated EMG for all muscles was directly proportional to the transfer time and was lowest during the manual transfer followed by the ceiling lift, with the floor lift being highest. The difference between the muscle activity patterns between the experienced and novice patient handlers may suggest a learned behaviour to protect the spine by distributing load to the shoulder. Further examination of the muscle activation patterns differences between experience levels could improve training techniques to develop better patient handling strategies.

Using SPM normalization for lesion analysis in spatial neglect

Traditionally, the neglect syndrome has been associated with damage to the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and the right temporoparietal junction (Heilman et al ., 1983; Vallar and Perani, 1986). Thus, it was surprising when a recent study found that the centre of lesion overlap covered the right superior temporal gyrus and planum temporale, suggesting that the superior temporal cortex rather than the inferior parietal lobule is the critical substrate for spatial neglect in humans (Karnath et al ., 2001). In that study, the authors used a new tool for lesion analysis (MRIcro; www.mricro.com), which allows more precise lesion localization than ever before. Lesions are mapped manually on a T1‐weighted template MRI that is aligned with stereotaxic space (Rorden and Brett, 2000). The template scan provides various anatomical landmarks for precisely plotting the size and localization of the lesion. Moreover, automatic three‐dimensional rendering of the lesion data derived from the transverse slices is available (Rorden and Brett, 2000). This reduces significantly the uncertainty brought in by the paper‐and‐pencil procedures used in previous anatomical studies on spatial neglect (Heilman et al ., 1983; Vallar and Perani, 1986). In a recent article by Mort et al . (2003), the authors noted that the lesions in the study of Karnath et al . (2001) were still demarcated by hand onto standard template images. To overcome this limitation, Mort et al . (2003) used a lesion analysis method that did not rely on the manual transfer of lesions to standard template slices, employing a technique in which the location of the lesion is drawn directly onto the patient’s own MRI scan, and both the scan and the lesion shape are then mapped into stereotaxic space using an automated normalization process (Brett et al ., 2001). This procedure avoids the need for …

Accidents in materials handling at construction sites

The aim of this study is to examine those occupational accidents at construction sites that are related to materials handling as compared with all reportable occupational accidents at construction sites. The main concern is to define the kinds of accidents that occur in materials handling. The data were gathered from two sources: a large Finnish construction company and the database of reports of serious occupational accidents (Sammio). One third of all the reported accidents in the studied construction company occurred during materials transfer and 36% of the absenteeism days resulted from these accidents. Materials handling thus caused more serious accidents than other work activities (t = −2.44, df = 351, p < 0.005). Minor accidents were mostly due to over‐exertion whereas serious accidents were mostly falling from a height and injuries caused by falling and collapsing objects. The manual transfer of materials caused most of the materials transfer accidents in the company and mechanical transfer most of the serious materials handling accidents. Over‐exertion can, therefore, be decreased by reducing manual materials handling. On the other hand, replacing manual transfers with mechanical transfers means that there arises a risk of serious accidents.

Lifting Teams in Health Care Facilities: A Literature Review

1. Manual lifting and transfer activities are job tasks frequently associated with back injuries in nursing personnel. One approach with potential to decrease these injuries is the lifting team. 2. In program evaluations completed to date, there have been numerous benefits and several limitations attributed to use of lifting teams in health care facilities. 3. Benefits of lifting teams include reductions in lost time workdays, restricted workdays, workers' compensation claims, and injuries to lifting team members; satisfaction of patients, staff, and lifting team members; and capacity of the lifting team to absorb the majority of high risk lifts and transfers on shifts in which they operate. 4. Lifting teams may not be appropriate for all settings, require infrastructure and lifting team equipment to support their use, and require careful consideration related to staffing. However, when their use is appropriate, efforts to overcome their limitations can be accomplished with careful evaluation of outcome measures and indicators.

Manual 768 or 384 well microplate gel 'dry' electrophoresis for PCR checking and SNP genotyping.

Electrophoresis continues to be a mainstay in molecular genetic laboratories for checking, sizing and separating both PCR products, nucleic acids derived from in vivo or in vitro sources and nucleic acid-protein complexes. Many genomic and genetic applications demand high throughput, such as the checking of amplification products from many loci, from many clones, from many cell lines or from many individuals at once. These applications include microarray resource development and expression analysis, genome mapping, library and DNA bank screening, mutagenesis experiments and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. PCR hardware compatible with industry standard 96 and 384 well microplates is commonplace. We have previously described a simple system for submerged horizontal 96 and 192 well polyacrylamide or agarose microplate array diagonal gel electrophoresis (MADGE) which is microplate compatible and suitable for PCR checking, SNP typing (restriction fragment length polymorphism or amplification refractory mutation system), microsatellite sizing and identification of unknown mutations. By substantial redesign of format and operations, we have derived an efficient 'dry' gel system that enables direct 96 pin manual transfer from PCR or other reactions in microplates, into 768 or 384 well gels. Combined with direct electrode contact in clamshell electrophoresis boxes which plug directly to contacts in a powered stacking frame and using 5-10 min electrophoresis times, it would be possible (given a sufficient supply of PCRs for examination) for 1 million gel tracks to be run per day for a minimal hardware investment and at minimal reagent costs. Applications of this system for PCR checking and SNP genotyping are illustrated.

Rapid and Accurate Detection of Monoclonal Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene Rearrangement by DNA Melting Curve Analysis in the LightCycler System

The detection of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement (IgH-R) is a standard tool for distinguishing polyclonal from monoclonal B-cell populations. Current DNA-based polymerase chain reactions (PCR) strategies can diagnose monoclonal IgH-R either by measuring the length of the amplicon or by detecting gel mobility variations owing to sequence-dependent conformational changes. However, amplification and analysis remain sequential operations usually requiring manual transfer. We have developed a novel PCR strategy for detecting monoclonal IgH-R that monitors fluorescence of the specific double-stranded DNA binding dye SYBR Green I during melting curve analysis using the LightCycler System. We compared polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) versus melting curve analysis in 130 clinical DNA samples from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues (mostly skin biopsies) of 128 patients. The identical FR3 primers were used to amplify the IgH variable region for both analytic techniques. We detected IgH-R in 24 DNA samples from FFPE tissue of 22 patients. Melting curve analysis, compared to PAGE, revealed no false negative and no false positive results, yielding both sensitivity and specificity equal to 100%. We also compared Southern blot analysis versus melting curve analysis in 23 clinical DNA samples from fresh-frozen lymph nodes of 23 patients. We detected IgH-R by melting curve analysis in 7 DNA samples from fresh-frozen lymph nodes. Melting curve analysis, compared to Southern blot analysis, revealed sensitivity equal to 58.3% (7 of 12) and specificity equal to 100% (11 of 11). We conclude that continuous fluorescence monitoring of PCR products with DNA melting curve analysis can rapidly and reproducibly distinguish polyclonal from monoclonal B-cell populations.

Growth and characterization of CdSe single crystals by modified vertical vapor phase method

Good quality, large single crystals of CdSe were grown by the modified growth method (i.e., vertical unseeded vapor phase growth with multi-step purification of the starting material in the same quartz ampoule without any manual transfer between the steps). Lower temperature gradients (8–9°C/cm) at the growth interface were used for the crystal growth. As-grown CdSe crystals was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analyzer of X-rays, high-resistance instrument measurement, and etch-pit observation. It is found that there are two cleavage faces of (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) orientations on the crystal, the resistivity is about 10 8 Ω cm, and the density of etch pits is about 10 3–4/cm 2. The crystal was cut into wafers and was fabricated into detectors. The detectors were tested using an 241Am radiation source. γ-ray spectra at 59.5 keV were obtained. The results demonstrated that the quality of the as-grown crystals was good. The crystals were useful for fabrication of room-temperature-operating nuclear radiation detectors. Therefore, the modified growth technique is a promising, convenient, new method for the growth of high-quality CdSe single crystals.

In-Tube DNA Methylation Profiling by Fluorescence Melting Curve Analysis

Most PCR assays for detection of 5-methylcytosine in genomic DNA entail a two-step procedure, comprising initial PCR amplification and subsequent product analysis in separate operations that usually require manual transfer. These methods generally provide information about methylation of only a few CpG dinucleotides within the target sequence. An in-tube methylation assay is described that integrates amplification of bisulfite-treated DNA and melting analysis by using a thermal cycler coupled to a fluorometer (LightCycler). DNA melting curves were acquired by measuring the fluorescence of a double-stranded DNA-binding dye (SYBR Green I) during a linear temperature transition. Analysis of a region comprising 11 CpG sites at the SNRPN promoter CpG island showed that the melting temperature (T(m)) differed by approximately 3 degrees C between unmethylated and fully methylated alleles. This assay could easily distinguish patients with Prader-Willi syndrome or Angelman syndrome from individuals without these conditions. Melting curve analysis also allowed resolution of methylation "mosaicism" at the p15(Ink4b) promoter in bone marrow samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML samples representing pools of heterogeneously methylated p15(Ink4b) alleles showed broadened melting peaks with overall T(m)s between those of the unmethylated and fully methylated alleles. Integration of PCR and fluorescence melting analysis may be useful for simple and cost-effective detection of aberrant methylation patterns.

Resource modeling for the integration of the manufacturing enterprise

Abstract Researchers are beginning to develop taxonomies of different knowledge domains in order to specify the requirements of engineering functions in various manufacturing enterprises. These interrelated functions include product design, process planning, capacity planning, production costing, quality control, acquisition or reconfiguration of resources, planning and scheduling of shop activities, and execution of shop activities. These taxonomies and functions are not typically integrated in today's manufacturing enterprise. This results in inefficient manual transfer of knowledge between domains and the unavailability of critical information required for decision making. Object-oriented design methodologies are useful for modeling diverse information and behavior. Furthermore, planning, analysis, and control of resources such as machine tools, fixtures, and tooling increasingly dominate the engineering functions. This paper demonstrates how to ingrate these functions with an object-oriented resource model that links information from different knowledge domains. These functions are implemented using different software packages that can easily access the common resource data because the data are embedded in the resource class structure. This resource model is based on software objects that have a one-to-one correspondence with physical objects. This resource model is illustrated using object-oriented software, but the model may also be applied to distributed object and agent architectures.

Psychophysical assessment of assistive devices for transferring patients/residents

This article reports the psychophysical assessment of nine battery-powered lifts, a sliding board, a walking belt, and a baseline manual method for transferring nursing home patients/residents from a bed to a chair. A separate article reports the biomechanical evaluation of the same task and devices. The objectives of the psychophysical assessment were to investigate the effects of resident-transferring methods on the psychophysical stress to nursing assistants performing the transferring task, and to identify transfer methods that could reduce the psychophysical stress reported by nursing assistants. Nine nursing assistants served as test subjects. Two elderly persons participated as residents. The results indicated that the psychophysical stresses on nursing assistants were significantly lower when performing resident transfers with some of the assistive devices than when performing transfers with the baseline manual transfer method. The nursing assistants generally preferred the basket-sling lift and stand-up lift to other methods. The residents’ comfort and security ratings indicated the comfort and security with most of the assistive devices were greater than or equal to the baseline manual method. Most of the comments of the nursing assistants and residents on the assistive devices were favourable.

Liquid helium transfer using a mass-flow controller

An automated liquid helium transfer method using a mass-flow controller, by means of which an empty cryostat at room temperature can be filled with liquid helium without thermal shock, has been developed. Before liquid helium collection is initiated, mass flow is controlled to be constant. After the start of liquid helium collection, mass flow is controlled so that the differential pressure of the empty cryostat against the storage Dewar containing the liquid helium is of the proper value to overcome the height difference due to the transfer tube. A mass-flow controller, a vacuum pump, a differential pressure sensor, a liquid helium level sensor and a computer with suitable software are required to replace the conventional manual transfer by this method.

The use of logs to assess exposure to manual handling of patients, illustrated in an intervention study in home care nursing

This article approaches the option of logging lifting activities by nurses in patient care. Practical problems in nursing limit the use of direct observation and measurements to assess exposure to lifting in real life settings. Indications were found that logs registering the frequency of manual handling could be an option in nursing. The development of a log is accounted for and its use during an intervention, introducing 40 patient hoists in home care, is described. The exposure to manual handling was reduced significantly in the intervention group (average number of patient transfers per nurse/week (ptn/w) 35–21). The control group remained stable (ptn/w 24–24). The reduction of exposure was only partly due to the hoists substituting manual transfers, suggesting the presence of an elimination effect. Possible explanations indicating that the hoists were partly responsible for this are: 1. The patients’ relatives could now perform the transfers with the hoist; 2. Hoists combine several manual transfers into one mechanical transfer; 3. Hoists require only one operator for manual transfers that require two nurses. The log pointed to unpredicted elimination effects in addition to the substitution effects, and provided detailed information for evaluating the intervention. Relevance to industry Assessment of exposure to manual handling, using a frequency-oriented log, appears to provide relevant information for designing back pain prevention policies in nursing. Insight is given into the effects of an intervention using hoists. With some adaptations, the log could monitor ergonomic policies in nursing practice on a routine basis.

Differences in target outline delineation from CT scans of brain tumours using different methods and different observers

Purpose: To assess errors resulting from manual transfer of contour information for three-dimensional (3-D) target reconstruction, and to determine variations in target volume delineation of brain tumours by different radiation oncologists. Materials and methods: Images of 18 patients with intracranial astrocytomas were used for retrospective treatment planning by five radiation oncologists. In this study, the target outline was delineated on sequential CT slices by an experienced radiation oncologist. Thereafter, the target outline was manually reconstructed by five radiation oncologists onto an A-P or lateral scout film. The same target outline was also reconstructed as a projection using the Beam's-eye view capability on a CT simulator unit. The two target outlines were compared by encompassing each shape with the smallest rectangle. The manually-reconstructed radiation field was termed ‘Field manually established on X-ray film (F-X)’, and the automatically-established field was termed ‘Field established by CT simulator (F-CT)’. In a second part of this study, four radiation oncologists defined contours from contrast enhanced CT images of nine patients with intracranial astrocytomas. The CT images of these nine cases included five pre-operative cases and four post-operative cases. Both gross tumour volume (GTV) and clinical target volume (CTV) were outlined on sequential CT slices. The target outlines for the four radiation oncologists were compared by identifying the smallest rectangular field surrounding the projection of these contours. The field established by each radiation oncologist was termed ‘Field of target volume (F-TV)’, and the overlapping portion of the four F-TVs for each case was termed ‘Overlapped field of the target volume (Fo-TV)’. Results: The average distance between the isocentres of F-X and F-CT was 0.6±0.4 cm (mean±SD). The average ratio of the area of F-X divided by the area of F-CT was 1.04±0.12. The area of F-X was wider than the area of F-CT for four of the five oncologists. The ratio of the area of F-TV divided by the area of Fo-TV was calculated. The average ratio was relatively greater for CTV (2.07 in pre-operative cases and 2.11 in post-operative cases) than for GTV (1.12 in pre-operative cases and 1.41 in post-operative cases). Among radiation oncologists, variations in the delineation of GTV were smaller than those of CTV. Conclusions: When using an X-ray simulator in treatment planning, errors resulting from the manual transfer of CT contour information to planar radiographs must be considered. When computer techniques are used to project contours onto radiographs errors resulting from individual variations when performing the contouring must be considered.

Repositioning a Slumped Person in a Wheelchair

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of three lifting techniques (unassisted lift, vertically assisted lift, and horizontally assisted lift) and two patient masses (65 kg and 75 kg) on loads acting on the lifter's spine when repositioning a wheelchair bound patient to a more upright sitting position. A static biomechanical model was used in conjunction with ground reaction force and videographic data to estimate compression and shear forces at the lumbosacral (L5/S1) joint. Results indicated that: L5/S1 compression forces associated with both unassisted and assisted transfers were of sufficient magnitude to warrant mechanical assistance; the two person technique with the assistant pushing the legs toward the back of the chair was associated with the lowest spinal loads; and L5/S1 compression forces were significantly greater for the vertically assisted lift compared to the unassisted lift. If a manual transfer is to be performed, the horizontally assisted lift is recommended to minimize loads on the lumbar spine of the lifter.

Automated sample preparation for the determination of budesonide in plasma samples by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

An automated bioanalytical method for the determination of the glucocorticosteroid drug budesonide in plasma samples at p M levels was investigated. The method was built using three separate automated analytical steps with manual transfer of samples between them. In the first step, a Tecan RSP150 (Genesis) pipetting robot was used to transfer 1 ml of centrifuged plasma samples and deuterated budesonide internal standard solutions into tubes and to homogenise the resulting admixture. In the second step, a solid-phase extraction was performed using an ASPEC Xli (Gilson) with 100 mg Isolute C 18 columns. In order to avoid conventional time-consuming evaporation and reconstitution steps, the solid-phase extraction was coupled on-line to a trace enrichment system for further purification and concentration of the sample extracts. The concentrated samples were eluted in 300 μl ethanol into injection vials, which were capped and transferred to the autosampler in the detection system. In the third step, the pre-treated samples were chromatographed in a gradient LC system and detected using a tandem MS system (Finnigan TSQ 7000), with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation interface. The described Analytical System consisting of one Tecan robot, two ASPEC systems and one LC–MS–MS system may analyse up to about 800 samples a week with less routine work for the analyst. The concentration range studied was 15 to 2500 p M in 1 ml spiked plasma samples and the limit of quantitation for the described method was determined as 15 p M, as defined by accuracy and precision better than 20%.

A Device for Sampling and Determination of Total Particulate Mercury in Ambient Air

A miniaturized device, which serves as both particulate trap and pyrolyzer for airborne particulate mercury species, is described. It has been used in combination with amalgamation/thermal desorption/cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry detection for the determination of total particulate mercury (TPM) associated with atmospheric aerosols. A standard reference material (SRM 1633b, NIST) has been used for validating of the pyrolysis technique, and a relative error smaller than 3% has been obtained. Contrary to most methods currently employed, this new technique does not require any sample preparation (e.g., extraction/digestion), no manual sample transfer or sample handling, and no addition of chemicals or reagents. Hence the risk of contamination is low. The time for complete analysis is less than 10 min per sample. The concentrations of TPM determined in metropolitan Toronto ranged from 3 to 91 pg m(-)(3) with standard deviations of <±2 pg m(-)(3) for simultaneous sets of four samples. These atmospheric TPM concentration values fall within the range reported in the literature. Good agreement was obtained by the three methods compared in a field study at Ny-Ålesund (78°54'N, 11°53'E), Svalbard. The elevated values of TPM concentrations obtained using the method developed in this work may arise from the Arctic springtime conversion of atmospheric mercury from gas-phase to particulate-phase Hg species.