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Dombek T, Poitras E, Hand J, Schichtel B, Harrington JM, Levine KE. Total sulfur analysis of fine particulate mass on nylon filters by ICP-OES. J Environ Qual 2020; 49:762-768. [PMID: 33016392 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur (S) and sulfate (SO4 2- ) in fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) are monitored by the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network at remote and rural sites across the United States. Within the IMPROVE network, S is determined from X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy from a Teflon filter, and SO4 2- is determined via ion chromatography (IC) from a nylon filter. Differences in S and SO4 2- estimates may indicate the presence of organosulfur (OS) species or biases between sampling and analytical methods. To reduce potential biases, an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method was developed to allow for analysis of SO4 2- and S from a single filter extract. Sulfur (ICP-OES) and SO4 2- (IC) estimates from 2016 IMPROVE filters correlated strongly, suggesting that, on average, ICP-OES accurately estimated S. However, observed differences between slopes suggested the presence of water-soluble OS species, especially during summer. Organosulfur species are important indicators of secondary organic aerosols formed through reactions of biogenic and anthropogenic pollutants and can be quantified through laboratory techniques such as reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) or hydrophilic liquid interaction chromatography (HILIC) coupled to electrospray ionization-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC/ESI-HR-MS/MS and HILIC/ESI-HR-MS/MS, respectively), and field techniques using Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS). However, these methods are costly and introduce relatively large uncertainties when scaled for large networks such as IMPROVE. The method described in this report provides an inexpensive complement to XRF, which measures total S (insoluble and water-soluble S) to estimate water-soluble S and OS concentrations in PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Dombek
- Analytical Sciences, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd., PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
| | - Eric Poitras
- Analytical Sciences, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd., PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
| | - Jenny Hand
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Bret Schichtel
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, CO, 80235, USA
| | - James M Harrington
- Analytical Sciences, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd., PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
| | - Keith E Levine
- Analytical Sciences, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Rd., PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
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Nippita S, Paul M, Hacker M, Golen T, Poitras E, Intondi E, Dodge L. Impact of TeamSTEPPS® on clinical efficiency and medical professional liability in U.S. reproductive health centers. Contraception 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2018.07.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Fennell TR, Mortensen NP, Black SR, Snyder RW, Levine KE, Poitras E, Harrington JM, Wingard CJ, Holland NA, Pathmasiri W, Sumner SCJ. Disposition of intravenously or orally administered silver nanoparticles in pregnant rats and the effect on the biochemical profile in urine. J Appl Toxicol 2016; 37:530-544. [PMID: 27696470 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Few investigations have been conducted on the disposition and fate of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in pregnancy. The distribution of a single dose of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized AgNP was investigated in pregnant rats. Two sizes of AgNP, 20 and 110 nm, and silver acetate (AgAc) were used to investigate the role of AgNP diameter and particle dissolution in tissue distribution, internal dose and persistence. Dams were administered AgNP or AgAc intravenously (i.v.) (1 mg kg-1 ) or by gavage (p.o.) (10 mg kg-1 ), or vehicle alone, on gestation day 18 and euthanized at 24 or 48 h post-exposure. The silver concentration in tissues was measured using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The distribution of silver in dams was influenced by route of administration and AgNP size. The highest concentration of silver (μg Ag g-1 tissue) at 48 h was found in the spleen for i.v. administered AgNP, and in the lungs for AgAc. At 48 h after p.o. administration of AgNP, the highest concentration was measured in the cecum and large intestine, and for AgAc in the placenta. Silver was detected in placenta and fetuses for all groups. Markers of cardiovascular injury, oxidative stress marker, cytokines and chemokines were not significantly elevated in exposed dams compared to vehicle-dosed control. NMR metabolomics analysis of urine indicated that AgNP and AgAc exposure impact the carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism. This study demonstrates that silver crosses the placenta and is transferred to the fetus regardless of the form of silver. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Fennell
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Ninell P Mortensen
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Sherry R Black
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Rodney W Snyder
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Keith E Levine
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Eric Poitras
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - James M Harrington
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Christopher J Wingard
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Nathan A Holland
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Wimal Pathmasiri
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Susan C J Sumner
- Discovery - Science - Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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Lajoie SP, Lee L, Poitras E, Bassiri M, Kazemitabar M, Cruz-Panesso I, Hmelo-Silver C, Wiseman J, Chan LK, Lu J. The role of regulation in medical student learning in small groups: Regulating oneself and others’ learning and emotions. Computers in Human Behavior 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Ward P, Poitras E, Leblanc D, Gagnon CA, Brassard J, Houde A. Comparison of different RT-qPCR assays for the detection of human and bovine group A rotaviruses and characterization by sequences analysis of genes encoding VP4 and VP7 capsid proteins. J Appl Microbiol 2013; 114:1435-48. [PMID: 23421708 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this study was to compare the performance of four RT-qPCR assays for the detection of human and bovine group A rotaviruses and to characterize the positive samples by sequence analysis of VP4 and VP7 genes. METHODS AND RESULTS RNA extracted from eight human rotavirus strains, and a panel of 33 human and 25 bovine faecal samples was subjected to different RT-qPCR detection systems. Among these assays, only RT-qPCR primers and probe systems B and C were able to detect all human rotavirus strains from cell culture solutions and faecal samples. However, the results showed that the system C was generally more sensitive by one or two logs than the other RT-qPCR assays tested. With the bovine faecal samples, the most efficient RT-qPCR systems were B and A with the detection in 100 and 92% of samples tested, respectively. Human group A rotavirus G1P[8] and bovine G6P[11] were the most frequently used strains identified in this study. A G3P[9] strain, closely related to a feline rotavirus isolated in the USA, was also discovered in a human rotavirus infection. CONCLUSION The RT-qPCR system B was the only TaqMan assay evaluated in this study able to detect rotavirus RNA in all positive human and bovine faecal samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Utilization of only one RT-qPCR for the detection of human and bovine group A rotaviruses and the possibility of human infection by a feline rotavirus strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ward
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Food Research and Development Centre, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
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Poitras E, Trevors G. Deriving Empirically-Based Design Guidelines for Advanced Learning Technologies that Foster Disciplinary Comprehension / Définir des lignes directrices fondées sur des données empiriques pour les technologies d’apprentissage avancé qui favorisent la compr. CJLT / RCAT 2012. [DOI: 10.21432/t2v30s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Planning, conducting, and reporting leading-edge research requires professionals who are capable of highly skilled reading. This study reports the development of an empirically informed computer-based learning environment designed to foster the acquisition of reading comprehension strategies that mediate expertise in the social sciences. Empirical data were gathered in a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design that examined the reading comprehension strategies used by an expert social scientist while reading a professional-level text. Process data were collected through a concurrent think-aloud protocol and coded according to reading comprehension processes. We combined both quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify, describe, and explain patterns in the expert’s use of reading strategies. Our findings indicate that highly-skilled reading is characterized by critiquing text information, relating information to prior knowledge, and evaluating one’s own understanding of text information. Findings are used to inform the design of worked-examples and a pedagogical agent embedded within the Highly-Skilled Reading Tutor. Le type de planification, de réalisation et l’analyse qui caractérise une recherche d’avant-garde nécessite des professionnels en mesure d’effectuer des lectures hautement spécialisées. La présente étude dresse un rapport sur l’élaboration d’un milieu d’apprentissage informatisé conçu pour favoriser l’acquisition de stratégies de compréhension en lecture permettant d’assurer la transmission des connaissances spécialisées en sciences sociales. La collecte de données empiriques s’est effectuée suivant une conception séquentielle explicative fondée sur une méthode mixte, qui étudiait les stratégies de compréhension de lecture utilisées par un expert en sciences sociales lors de sa lecture d’un texte de calibre professionnel. La collecte des données sur le processus s’est effectuée suivant un protocole concurrent de réflexion à haute voix, et les données ont été codées conformément aux processus de compréhension de la lecture. Nous avons combiné les analyses quantitatives et qualitatives afin d’identifier, décrire et expliquer les tendances de cet expert dans l’utilisation des stratégies de lecture. Nos résultats indiquent que la lecture hautement spécialisée se caractérise par la critique des informations présentées dans le texte, la mise en relation des informations présentées et des connaissances antérieures et l’autoévaluation de la compréhension de ces informations. Les résultats obtenus sont utilisés pour formuler des exemples façonnés et créer un agent pédagogique intégré au Tuteur de lecture hautement spécialisée.
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Brassard J, Gagné MJ, Houde A, Poitras E, Ward P. Development of a real-time TaqMan PCR assay for the detection of porcine and bovine Torque teno virus. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 108:2191-8. [PMID: 19958424 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04624.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The goal of this study was to develop and to optimize molecular tools to detect the presence of Torque teno virus (TTV) in swine and cattle. A novel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a TaqMan probe was developed to detect both genogroups of TTV strains. METHODS AND RESULTS Oligonucleotide primers and hybridization probes were designed based on sequence analysis of the noncoding region, a highly conserved part of the genome. The real-time PCR assay specifically detected bovine and porcine TTV DNA without cross-amplification of other common pathogens. The assay was compared with conventional PCR and nested-PCR assays for the detection of porcine genogroups 1 and 2 and bovine TTV on plasma and faecal samples, and the assay was found faster, more reliable and reduced the risk of false positive results. CONCLUSIONS The real-time PCR assay provided better detection results for the two TTV genogroups in both swine and cattle compared to the conventional PCR assays. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This new TaqMan PCR assay will be a useful tool for the detection of animal TTV strains, to evaluate the viral load from animal host and finally to identify the presence of these viruses in the agri-food continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Brassard
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Food Research and Development Centre, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
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Ward P, Poitras E, Leblanc D, Letellier A, Brassard J, Plante D, Houde A. Comparative analysis of different TaqMan real-time RT-PCR assays for the detection of swine Hepatitis E virus and integration of Feline calicivirus as internal control. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 106:1360-9. [PMID: 19187137 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04104.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this study was to compare the performance of four TaqMan RT-PCR assays with a commonly used nested RT-PCR and to include the Feline calicivirus (FCV) as an internal control. METHODS AND RESULTS RNA extracted from 87 swine faecal samples and 103 swine blood samples was subjected to different detection systems. Faecal samples naturally contaminated with Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and negative samples were artificially inoculated with 3.2 x 10(3) PFU of FCV. Detection results obtained on faecal and plasma samples were 35.6% and 4.9% with the nested RT-PCR assay, 8.0% and 0%, 0% and 0%, 13.8% and 0% and 36.8% and 3.9% with TaqMan systems A, B, C and D respectively. The Ct means obtained with the multiplex TaqMan assay were 30.11 and 30.43 for the detection of FCV with HEV contaminated samples and negative samples. CONCLUSIONS The TaqMan system D was more suitable for the detection of swine HEV strains than the three others and FCV was integrated successfully as an internal control. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY FCV was demonstrated as an efficient control to monitor the RNA extraction process and HEV amplification procedure in a multiplex HEV/FCV TaqMan assay. This control would be helpful in limiting false negative results.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ward
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Food Research and Development Centre, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
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Morin A, Heckert M, Poitras E, Leblanc D, Brion F, Moresoli C. Exopolysaccharide production on low-grade maple sap byEnterobacter agglomeransgrown in small scale bioreactors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1995.tb03120.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Gélinas
- Food Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant Blvd. West, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada J2S 8E3
- Corresponding author. Phone: 450/773-1105; Fax: 450/773-8461; E-mail:
| | - E. Poitras
- The Governor's Foundation, Food Research and Development Centre, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - C. M. McKinnon
- Food Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant Blvd. West, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada J2S 8E3
| | - A. Morin
- Food Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant Blvd. West, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada J2S 8E3
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Poitras E. Intoxication alimentaire par la pyrale du maïs: Quelques cas chez la vache. Can J Comp Med Vet Sci 1943; 7:79-80. [PMID: 17647936 PMCID: PMC1660653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
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Poitras E. La Polyarthrite du Poulain. Can J Comp Med Vet Sci 1940; 4:318-22. [PMID: 17647705 PMCID: PMC1583892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
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