8581 research outputs found
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Contraband tobacco: Systematic profiling of cigarette packs for forensic intelligence
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Tobacco smuggling remains a widespread illegal activity in Canada, associated with important social and economic impacts, and often linked to organized crime. This study explores the application of forensic profiling as an intelligence tool to support the analysis of contraband cigarette production and distribution. Physical and chemical manufacturing characteristics of seized contraband cigarette packs, provided by police forces, were observed and coded using macroscopic, microscopic, and spectroscopic techniques. Multivariate statistical analyses were then conducted to compare manufacturing characteristics between packs and identify potential links. The analyses highlighted links between cigarette packs and seizures based on shared manufacturing characteristics. The results and the identified groups were also compared with seizure data provided by our collaborator. The results demonstrate the relevance of forensic profiling to formulate hypotheses regarding shared production processes or supply networks. These hypotheses provide information that contributes to understanding tobacco smuggling and aim to examine how forensic intelligence can support law enforcement and measures to prevent and disrupt this criminal activity. A preliminary optimal procedure for applying forensic profiling in operational contexts targeting contraband tobacco was finally proposed. Despite limitations in the dataset creation that were beyond our control, this study represents a starting point for applying this scientific approach to tobacco smuggling
Design of experiments (DOE) analysis of the effects of environmental conditions on bloodstain degradation using spectroscopic methods
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Blood is one of the most common types of trace found at crime scenes. However, from a forensic point of view, the potential of blood traces is still not fully exploited, as there is as yet no reliable technique for dating blood traces found at scenes. The same difficulties are cited in the literature for published research on blood traces: the mechanisms of blood degradation are known and validated, but traces found at scenes are not controlled samples. Traces therefore need to be evaluated in the light of this uncertainty and the factors that can influence the blood trace dating model. In the course of this project, we assessed the significance of the environmental effects of temperature (10–40°C), humidity (25–75 %) and radiation (none and maximum) using three different spectroscopic techniques: Raman spectroscopy, MicroNIR spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging. The use of a climatic chamber with the addition of LED lamps (daylight and UV) enabled parameters to be controlled during a 3-day aging period for each sample. By means of a 2-level experimental screening design of the three factors, we were able to observe complementarity between the methods used. Raman spectroscopy highlighted the influence of temperature, MicroNIR spectroscopy provided information on the influence of temperature and relative humidity, and hyperspectral imaging demonstrated the influence of temperature and the presence of radiation. These results provide a better understanding of the factors that cause the blood degradation model to deviate, enabling us to develop a more comprehensive model of these factors
Le lien entre l’autodétermination et la qualité de vie chez les personnes présentant une déficience intellectuelle
Get PDFRenforcement des Systèmes de Détection d’Intrusions : approche basée sur les techniques Avancées d'Apprentissage Automatique
Get PDFPerspectives pratiques sur le fonctionnement des RIS passifs autonomes : approche de Adversarial Bandit assisté par algorithme génétique
Get PDFAssessing the readiness and feasibility to implement a model of care for spine disorders and related disability in Cross Lake, an indigenous community in northern Manitoba, Canada: A research protocol
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Background
Since the 1990s, spine disorders have remained the leading cause of global disability, disproportionately affecting economically marginalized individuals, rural populations, women, and older people. Back pain related disability is projected to increase the most in remote regions where lifestyle and work are increasingly sedentary, yet resources and access to comprehensive healthcare is generally limited. To help tackle this worldwide health problem, World Spine Care Canada, and the Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI) launched a four-phase project aiming to address the profound gap between evidence-based spine care and routine care delivered to people with spine symptoms or concerns in communities that are medically underserved. Phase 1 conclusions and recommendations led to the development of a model of care that included a triaging system and spine care pathways that could be implemented and scaled in underserved communities around the world.
Methods
The current research protocol describes a site-specific customization and pre-implementation study (Phase 2), as well as a feasibility study (Phase 3) to be conducted in Cross Lake, an Indigenous community in northern Manitoba, Canada. Design: Observational pre-post design using a participatory mixed-methods approach. Relationship building with the community established through regular site visits will enable pre- and post-implementation data collection about the model of spine care and provisionally selected implementation strategies using a community health survey, chart reviews, qualitative interviews, and adoption surveys with key partners at the meso (community leaders) and micro (clinicians, patients, community residents) levels. Recruitment started in March 2023 and will end in March 2026. Surveys will be analyzed descriptively and interviews thematically. Findings will inform co-tailoring of implementation support strategies with project partners prior to evaluating the feasibility of the new spine care program.
Discussion
Knowledge generated from this study will provide essential guidance for scaling up, sustainability and impact (Phase 4) in other northern Canada regions and sites around the globe. It is hoped that implementing the GSCI model of care in Cross Lake will help to reduce the burden of spine problems and related healthcare costs for the local community, and serve as a scalable model for programs in other settings
Can a Recovery College be implemented online? Multi-perspective case study documenting the process of adapting courses online
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Purpose
This study aims to document the process of adapting Recovery College (RC) courses into an online format and assess whether online adaptation meets learners’ goals. The study describes the challenges encountered, the strategies deployed and the factors influencing implementation from the perspectives of four interested parties: coordination team, partners advisory committee, trainers and learners.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a descriptive single-case study design. Several sources of data were collected: focus groups, implementation daybook, meeting minutes, interviews and satisfaction survey. Simple descriptive content analysis was used for all qualitative data, and simple descriptive statistical analyses were used for the online satisfaction survey with learners.
Findings
The results highlight challenges and strategies for adapting content and facilitation, as well as challenges and strategies for respecting RC key principles. Internal, organizational and technological factors have influenced the implementation. Most learners were satisfied with the courses attended and felt that it met their goals. Three overarching aspects of online implementation are discussed based on findings: training and supporting trainers, facilitation and pedagogical methods and ongoing monitoring and feedback to interested parties.
Research limitations/implications
Findings encourage further research to determine the extent to which online RC courses align with recommended strategies for reducing digital inequalities and implementing digital health interventions.
Originality/value
Few studies have focused on implementing RC online. This case study offers insights for organizations pursuing similar initiatives
Production, disponibilité et consommation de ressources satisfatoires à caractère sexuel pour hommes au Japon
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Developing generic skills for future health professionals: Student and faculty perceptions of a recovery college curriculum and courses
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Purpose
As health-care systems worldwide grapple with complex challenges such as limited resources, qualified personnel shortages and rapid technological advancements, there is an urgent need for educational transformation in health-care professions. This urgency arises from the necessity for health-care professionals to evolve beyond traditional roles and acquire essential generic skills such as adaptative, epistemic, relational, ethical and citizenship skills – areas identified as gaps in conventional university curricula. This study aims to investigate the potential of the recovery college (RC) model, integrated into a Canadian university’s health-care curriculum, to address these gaps.
Design/methodology/approach
Through qualitative group interviews with eight students and three faculty members and subsequent descriptive content analysis, the authors explored the perceived outcomes of this model.
Findings
The authors discerned 15 themes within the five core categories of generic skills (epistemic, ethical, relational, adaptative and citizenship skills), with “experiential knowledge acquisition” central to the training input and other significant themes including “ethical sensitivity,” “collaborative communication,” “self-care” and “open-mindedness to diversity.” The findings highlight the RC model’s potential in fostering these crucial skills among future health-care professionals and challenging prevailing epistemic injustices in health care.
Research limitations/implications
Further investigations are needed to understand the long-term effects of this model on health-care practice and to explore its potential integration into wider health-care education programs.
Originality/value
This study enriches understanding of the RC model’s role in health-care education, thereby proposing a significant shift toward more inclusive and effective health-care professional training