47 research outputs found
The Recognition of Fires Originating from Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Systems
No full textThere has been an observable increase in the fitting of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roofs
of buildings in the UK over the last decade. The origin of some fires in domestic and commercial
properties has been attributed to PV systems. This thesis examines the ability of fire examiners to
recognise and record details of fires believed to have originated from PV systems, as well as
investigating the effect of internal heating in direct current (DC) isolators to the point at which they
fail.
National fire data was examined along with the methods for collecting and collating these data.
This clarified that national fire data cannot identify the specifics of electrical fires. Validity of these
data was then tested by identifying the confidence and competence in the recognition of the origin
of fire, (especially when associated with PV systems), of some fire staff responsible for collecting
fire data. This suggests that some fire scenes examiners are not confident in their own ability to
recognise fires originating from PV systems. Evidence for fires occurring in PV systems in Kent
between 2009 and 2014 was then examined, including a cold case forensic review of the
evidence. This provided an indication that a potential common point of failure, which may lead to
fire originating from a PV system, was to be found within the DC section of the PV circuits and
probably within the DC isolator switch itself. Experimentation revealed that internal heating of a
terminal connection can lead to changes of the phase of the insulating material, causing failure of
structural integrity and therefore allowing an arc to be established. Observable post fire indicators
associated with this mechanism of failure have been identified as well as hydrocarbons evolved
from pyrolysis of isolator insulating material.
Finally, areas for further experimental research and training of fire staff are suggested as well as
the modification of recording mechanisms and building regulations
Current directions in videoconferencing tele-mental health research
No full textThe provision of mental health services via videoconferencing tele-mental health has become an increasingly routine component of mental health service delivery throughout the world. Emphasizing the research literature since 2003, we examine (a) the extent to which the field of tele-mental health has advanced the research agenda previously suggested and (b) implications for tele-mental healthcare delivery for special clinical populations. Previous findings have demonstrated that tele-mental health services are satisfactory to patients, improve outcomes, and are probably cost effective. In the very small number of randomized controlled studies that have been conducted to date, tele-mental health has demonstrated equivalent efficacy compared to face-to-face care in a variety of clinical settings and with specific patient populations. However, methodologically flawed or limited research studies are the norm, and thus the research agenda for tele-mental health has not been fully maximized. Implications for future research and practice are discussed
Forensic project management: An exploratory examination of the causal behaviour of design-induced rework
No full textThe determination as to why projects fail to meet
planned schedule, cost, and quality parameters is a leitmotiv within
the construction, engineering, and project management literature.
Yet, the interrelatedness and behavior of key factors that influence
these project performance indicators, particularly regarding
design-error-induced rework, have received limited academic examination.
Design-induced rework has been reported to contribute
more than 70% of the total amount of rework experienced in construction
and engineering projects. To address this situation, a
forensic management approach to determining how and why rework
occurred in a commercial construction project is undertaken.
Using findings from this case study along with knowledge from
the literature, a systemic causal model for design-error-induced
rework is developed. Underlying behavioral dynamics that contributed
to design errors (principally related to the management
of the design documentation process) were modeled and simulated
using system dynamics. The results of such an analysis yield insights
about architectural and engineering professionals’ decisionmaking
and work practices that can influence the occurrence of
design errors. The mitigation of design-induced errors would significantly
reduce the amount of rework that architectural and engineering
firms experience. This would bring with it greater profitability
for such firms and improved project performance parameters
(schedule, cost, and quality)
The quality of forensic mental health assessments of juvenile offenders: an empirical investigation
No full textMental health professionals have long been involved in the forensic mental health assessment of adult and juvenile offenders. Despite their extensive contribution of services in forensic settings, researchers and practitioners have focused their attention on the quality of services for juvenile offenders to a much lesser extent than they have adult offenders. With the numbers of adolescents entering the juvenile system over the last fifteen years increasing, mental health professionals have been called upon to address issues concerning juveniles. Although there is no empirically validated “gold standard” for conducting forensic mental health assessments, Heilbrun (2001) has proposed a model for the practice of forensic mental health assessment based on evidence from empirical, ethical, legal, and practice areas.This study examined the content and quality of forensic mental health assessments of juvenile offenders in a sample of 180 psychological evaluations requested by juvenile courts in the Philadelphia metropolitan area using an instrument created by this author and based upon Heilbrun’s proposed model (2001). This study evaluated differences in the overall quality and content of these evaluations based upon the type of mental health professional conducting the evaluation. Further, this study also investigated the overall quality and content of forensic mental health evaluations, measuring the disparity between elements perceived to be important in forensic mental health evaluation and the actual practice of mental health professionals.Results reflected a continuing disparity between aspirational and actual report content. Only 6.1% of reports identified the legal question being addressed and only 3.4% of the reports included complete information about notification of purpose and limits of confidentiality. Limited clinical information was typically provided, and psychological testing was rarely conducted. There was no significant difference in the overall quality of forensic mental health assessments across disciplines. Further, the overall quality of forensic mental health assessments differed significantly according to the referral source, with reports requested by judges significantly better in quality than those requested by other referral sources (or without referral source specified). Implications of these findings for research, practice, and policy are discussed.Ph.D., Clinical Psychology -- Drexel University, 200
Art psychotherapy with adult offenders who have intellectual and developmental disabilities
No full textObjectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of art psychotherapy with adult offenders who have intellectual and developmental disabilities within an inpatient setting. The research looked at significant events taking place within the treatment that supported therapeutic outcomes. The aims of the research were to investigate a range of explanations for measurable therapeutic change that could be plausibly related to the processes observed in therapy.
Design: Four single-case studies were conducted with pre-treatment, treatment, and post treatment assessment using multiple measures of change and observations of process.
Participants: Four male participants with mild intellectual and developmental disabilities from an NHS medium-low secure forensic hospital in the UK.
Intervention: Each participant completed up to 20 individual art psychotherapy sessions within six months. The treatment sought to engage each participant in making personally generated art work which was then discussed with the therapist.
Main outcome measures: Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT); Daily Self-Rating Scale for specific symptoms; Personal Problem Scale; Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS); Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18); Glasgow Anxiety Scale for adults with Intellectual Disabilities (GAS-ID); Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability (GDS-LD); Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).
Results: The main outcomes show a post-treatment reduction in aggressive styles of interacting with others for two participants in a medium secure unit. Daily Self-Rating Scale measures show an improved post-therapy trend for three participants, with all participants reporting improvement on the Personal Problem Scale and positive changes in CCRT interpersonal schemas. Behavioural and relational outcomes were observed to promote pro-social responses towards others three months following the end of treatment. Art psychotherapy was found to have positive therapeutic benefits for each of the four participants
An investigation into violence against nurses in the southern region of Malawi Chimwemwe Chikoko.
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.Incidences of violence in nursing have been reported in local media in Malawi. Although violence in the health sector is not a new concept, it has become a global concern in the 21st century (Needham, Kingma, O'Brien-Pallas, McKenna, Tucker & Oud, 2008:6). The aim of the study was to investigate and describe the nature and extent of violence against nurses and the perceived effects thereof on nurses in selected health facilities in the southern region of Malawi
Breaking the 'Glass Ceiling' of Risk Prediction in Recidivism: An Application of Connectionist Modelling to Offender Data
No full textThe present thesis explored the capability of connectionist models to break through the ‘glass ceiling’ of accuracy currently in operation in recidivism prediction (e.g., Yang, Wong, & Coid, 2010). Regardless of the inclusion of dynamic items, all risk measures rarely exceed .75 in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (Hanley & McNeil, 1982). This may reflect the emphasis of multiple regression equations on main effects of a few key variables tapping long-term anti-social potential. Connectionist models, not used in criminal justice, represent a promising alternative means of combining predictors given their ability to model interactions automatically. To promote learning from other fields a systematic review of the literature on the application of connectionist models to operational data is presented. Lessons were then taken forward in the development of a connectionist model suitable for the present data which comprised fields from the Offender Assessment System (OASys) (Home Office, 2002) relating to 4,048 offenders subject to probation supervision. Included in the items for modelling was the Offender Group Reconviction Scale (OGRS) (Copas & Marshall, 1998; Taylor, 1999). Combining static and dynamic items using conventional statistical methods showed a maximum cross-validated AUC of .82. Using the connectionist model however a substantial increase in accuracy was observed, AUC=.98, and this largely maintained when variations in time to recidivism were controlled. Variation to model parameters suggested that performance linked to the resources in the middle layer, responsible for modelling rare patterns and interactions between items. Model pruning confirmed that while the connectionist model exploited a wide range of variables in its classification decisions, the linear model was affected mainly by OGRS and a limited number of other variables. Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and practical benefits of developing the use of connectionist models for better incorporating individuals’ dynamic risk and protective factors in recidivism assessments, and reducing the costs associated with false classifications
ASD and offending: reflections of practice in from a New Zealand perspective
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Purpose
There is growing awareness in New Zealand (NZ) of the impact that Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has on individuals and their families and the ability to engage in health services. Although it is a relatively rare condition, approximately 1 per cent of the population will have ASD, directly affecting approximately 40,000 individuals in NZ. The purpose of this paper is to provide some reflections and questions on what we can learn from a NZ perspective. This is based on an overview of the limited literature around ASD and offending and the author’s experience in the UK working in a medium secure unit.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a past site visit as part of the annual international conference on the Care and Treatment of Offenders with an Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability in the United Kingdom (UK), the author became aware of the medium secure forensic unit for male patients with ASD at the Roseberry Park Hospital (UK’s Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust). During the author’s advanced training in forensic psychiatry with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists the author was privileged to be able to apply and be accepted for a four-month sabbatical training position at this hospital.
Findings
Outlined is background information about ASD and review findings from the limited literature on ASD and offending. Also outlined is the author’s learning as a trainee working in medium secure unit for people with ASD who have offended, and finally how this experience may help in the development of services in NZ, given that at this stage such services are under-developed.
Originality/value
To be able to share the valuable experience and learning opportunity the author was able to have, as well as raise the awareness of ASD generally, and specifically the need for specialist services for the small number of people with ASD who come into contact with Justice Services.
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Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff
No full text© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the
posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.Purpose There is a lack of research informing service requirements for older (aged≥55 years) forensic mental health patients. The aim of this research was to increase knowledge about older forensic mental health patients’ quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress, in order to make recommendations of how to facilitate and enhance these factors. Methods In-depth interviews with patients (N = 37) and staff (N = 48) were undertaken; data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Environmental (e.g., physical, structural and facilities), relational (staff, family and friends) and individual (characteristics, feelings, behaviours) factors were identified as enablers and/or obstacles to wellbeing, recovery, progress and quality of life. Conclusions The physical and psychological environment of services needs to be adapted to meet the needs of patients. Therapeutic relationships with staff should be encouraged and a person-centred and individual recovery approach adopted. Prosocial relationships with peers, friends and family need to be fostered to enable positive recovery outcomes. Older patients should be empowered to develop a sense of autonomy to enable quality of life, wellbeing, and recovery, and progress.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2023.220297
What are You Thinking? Who Has the Right to Know?:Brain Imaging and its Impact on Society
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