How to quantify gases in air with an open-path FTIR or a variable pathlength cell / Comment mesurer des gaz dans l'air à l'aide un FTIR à parcours ouvert ou une cellule à parcours variable

Since the middle of the 90’s several FTIR instruments are available to measure and quantify gases in the open atmosphere. Before going outside, it is easier to get spectra in the lab and make sure of the results. When not respecting the Beer-Lambert law, spectra may be distorted and care was taken to avoid it. A usual feature in open atmosphere spectra is the presence of bands in the 1400-1800, 2250 and 3500-4000 cm-1 regions. These bands are due to the ubiquitous presence of H2O and CO2 which were avoided in the lab setup. NH3, SO2 and NO2 were quantified; only the two last ones would lead Einstein A coefficient comparable to the data in the HITRAN public database. NH3 showed almost three orders of magnitude difference mainly due to distorted spectra from saturation of the signal

Saint-Camille : Récit d’une expérience de co-construction de la connaissance

Ce texte présente l’expérience du projet Ateliers des savoirs partagés mené en collaboration par une équipe du Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales (CRISES) et le P'tit bonheur de Saint-Camille, auquel ont participé des leaders et des citoyens de la communauté. Cette expérience s’est déroulée entre septembre 2012 et octobre 2014 avec l'appui financier du ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et des Sports (MELS). L’expérience a cherché à dégager les principales composantes du modèle d'action mis en œuvre à Saint-Camille afin, d'une part, de le transmettre aux nouveaux résidents de cette communauté et, d'autre part, d'identifier les éléments susceptibles d'inspirer d'autres communautés qui éprouvent le besoin d'entamer des processus de revitalisation.This paper presents the experience of the Knowledge Sharing Workshops (“Ateliers des savoirs partagés”) carried out by a team formed by participants from the Center for Research on Social Innovations (Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales, CRISES) and the P'tit bonheur of Saint-Camille. This experience was held on a partnership basis and was attended by academic researchers as well as leaders and citizens of the community. It took place between September 2012 and October 2014 and was financed by the Québec Ministry of Education, leisure and Sports. The experience aimed to identify the main components of the model of action implemented throughout the years by the community of Saint-Camille in order to transfer it to the new residents of the community and to draw out sources of inspiration for other communities that are triggering process of revitalization. Key words: Saint-Camille, Local development, Rural development, Space based development, Community, Distributed leadership, Governanc

Potential of determining moisture content in mineral insulating oil by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Transformer oils are vulnerable to moisture, which can have adverse effects including a dramatic reduction in dielectric strength, accelerating the aging of the solid insulation (cellulose depolymerization) and the formation of decompositional gasses at high temperatures. Moisture may be generated inside the transformer due to degradation of the oil-paper insulation or there may be ingress of moisture due to free-breathing arrangements. A moisture content exceeding 50% of oil saturation greatly reduces the breakdown voltage, resulting in catastrophic failures as well as the potential for transformer fires [1]. The detrimental effect of water within a transformer is not only limited to the breakdown voltage of the oil. The rate of degradation of paper insulation increases in direct proportion to the water content [2], [3]. Moisture also has a decisive effect on the maximum temperature that the transformer can run at before moisture-induced failure occurs. Consequently, transformer life expectancy can be calculated from water content and temperature [3]. A failure of transformer accessories such as condenser bushings sometimes leads to a transformer failure and long-term outage. Often, moisture is a cause of explosion for service-aged bushings

Nine years of in situ soil warming and topography impact the temperature sensitivity and basal respiration rate of the forest floor in a Canadian boreal forest

The forest floor of boreal forest stores large amounts of organic C that may react to a warming climate and increased N deposition. It is therefore crucial to assess the impact of these factors on the temperature sensitivity of this C pool to help predict future soil CO2 emissions from boreal forest soils to the atmosphere. In this study, soil warming (+2–4°C) and canopy N addition (CNA; +0.30–0.35 kg·N·ha-1·yr-1) were replicated along a topographic gradient (upper, back and lower slope) in a boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. After nine years of treatment, the forest floor was collected in each plot, and its organic C composition was characterized through solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Forest floor samples were incubated at four temperatures (16, 24, 32 and 40°C) and respiration rates (RR) measured to assess the temperature sensitivity of forest floor RR (Q10 = e10k) and basal RR (B). Both soil warming and CNA had no significant effect on forest floor chemistry (e.g., C, N, Ca and Mg content, amount of soil organic matter, pH, chemical functional groups). The NMR analyses did not show evidence of significant changes in the forest floor organic C quality. Nonetheless, a significant effect of soil warming on both the Q10 of RR and B was observed. On average, B was 72% lower and Q10 45% higher in the warmed, versus the control plots. This result implies that forest floor respiration will more strongly react to changes in soil temperature in a future warmer climate. CNA had no significant effect on the measured soil and respiration parameters, and no interaction effects with warming. In contrast, slope position had a significant effect on forest floor organic C quality. Upper slope plots had higher soil alkyl C:O-alkyl C ratios and lower B values than those in the lower slope, across all different treatments. This result likely resulted from a relative decrease in the labile C fraction in the upper slope, characterized by lower moisture levels. Our results point towards higher temperature sensitivity of RR under warmer conditions, accompanied by an overall down-regulation of RR at low temperatures (lower B). Since soil C quantity and quality were unaffected by the nine years of warming, the observed patterns could result from microbial adaptations to warming

Guide to identifying alert thresholds for heat waves in Canada based on evidence

Among natural-disaster risks, heat waves are responsible for a large number of deaths, diseases and economic losses around the world. As they will increase in severity, duration and frequency over the decades to come within the context of climate change, these extreme events constitute a genuine danger to human health, and heat-warning systems are strongly recommended by public health authorities to reduce this risk of diseases and of excessive mortality and morbidity. Thus, evidence-based public alerting criteria are needed to reduce impacts on human health before and during persistent hot weather conditions.\ud The goal of this guide is to identify alert thresholds for heat waves in Canada based on evidence, and to propose an approach for better defining heat waves in the Canadian context in order to reduce the risks to human health and contribute to the well-being of Canadians. This guide is the result of the collaboration among various research and public institutions working on: 1) meteorological and climate aspects, i.e. the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC, Environment and Climate Change Canada), and the ESCER centre at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and 2) public health, i.e. Health Canada and the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec

Intérêt des balados dans la formation continue en pharmacie hospitalière : revue narrative, balisage et phase pilote

Objectif : L’objectif principal du projet est de recenser les données sur les balados. Les objectifs secondaires sont de vérifier l’utilisation des balados par les chefs des départements de pharmacie et de tester la faisabilité de produire quatre balados. Méthode : Revue de littérature. Sondage auprès des chef de département de pharmacie du Québec. Faisabilité et réalisation de quatre balados auprès de quatre pharmaciens exerçant au Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine. Résultats : Dix-neuf articles portant sur les balados dans le domaine de la santé ont été recensés, notamment des initiatives hétérogènes, particulièrement en médecine et en pharmacie. Seulement 21 % (5/24) des chefs des départements de pharmacie des établissements de santé du Québec avaient écouté plus de six balados. Vingt pour cent (4/20) des hôpitaux sondés au Québec en avaient produit un, mais aucun département de pharmacie de ces mêmes établissements de santé. Notre équipe a produit quatre balados entre juin et août 2022. Quinze des 16 membres ciblés (94 %) du département ont répondu au sondage d’appréciation après l’écoute des balados pilotes. Près de la moitié (40 %) considéraient que leur durée était trop longue et tous les répondants considéraient que les balados étaient utiles aux étudiants en réflexion de carrière. Conclusion : Il existe peu de données entourant l’utilisation des balados dans le domaine de la santé. Cette étude descriptive met en évidence le peu de données publiées dans la littérature. Un balisage auprès des chefs de département de pharmacie du Québec confirme un recours limité aux balados en pratique, mais un intérêt pour ce mode de diffusion pour la formation continue des pharmaciens hospitaliers. Abstract Objective: The primary objective of the project was to compile data on podcasts. The secondary objectives were to assess the use of podcasts by chief pharmacists and to examine the feasibility of producing four podcasts. Method: Literature review. Survey distributed to chief pharmacists in Quebec health-care centres. Feasibility and development of four podcasts with four Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine pharmacists. Results: Nineteen articles on podcasts in health-care were identified, notably pertaining to a wide variety of initiatives specifically in medicine and pharmacy. Only 21% (5/24) of chief pharmacists in Quebec’s health-care centres had listened to more than six podcasts. Twenty percent (4/20) of the hospitals surveyed in Quebec had produced one podcast, but none of the pharmacy departments in these centres had produced any. Our team created four podcasts between June and August 2022. Fifteen of the sixteen department members who were approached (94%) responded to the satisfaction survey after listening to the pilot podcasts. Nearly half (40%) of respondents felt that the podcasts were too long, and all of them felt that they were useful for students planning their career. Conclusion: There are few data on the use of podcasts in the health-care field. This descriptive study highlights the paucity of published data. A survey among chief pharmacists in Quebec health-care centres confirmed the limited use of podcasts in practice, but also revealed an interest in using podcasts for hospital pharmacists’ continuing education

Recensement des ressources et des activités des pharmacies de recherche en établissement de santé au Québec

Objectif : Dresser un portrait des ressources et des activités des pharmacies de recherche au Québec. Méthode : Un questionnaire a été créé pour évaluer les types de recherches menées dans les départements de pharmacie ainsi que les ressources et les activités des services pharmaceutiques de soutien à la recherche. Il a été envoyé aux départements de pharmacie des établissements de santé du Québec par l’entremise de la communauté de pratique du soutien pharmaceutique à la recherche clinique et par courriel aux chefs des départements de pharmacie. Des statistiques descriptives ont été effectuées. Résultats : Le taux de participation était de 83 % (25/30 établissements). Vingt (80 %) établissements offraient un service pharmaceutique de soutien à la recherche. Une médiane [min–max] de 1,8 [0–11,3] équivalent temps plein était consacrée au service pharmaceutique de soutien à la recherche, dont 0,4 [0–4] pharmacien. Plusieurs titres d’emploi distincts étaient formés dans les services pharmaceutiques de soutien à la recherche, soit au moins un pharmacien (100 %, 25/25), un assistant technique (58 %, 14/24), un agent de planification, de programmation et de recherche, un spécialiste en activités cliniques ou un assistant de recherche (n = 8) ou autre (n = 3). Les services pharmaceutiques de soutien à la recherche avaient une médiane [min–max] de 29 [1–187] protocoles ouverts et effectuaient 425 [0-2582] dispensations de produits de recherche annuellement. Les centres hospitaliers universitaires et les instituts avaient une charge de travail plus élevée, soit 80 [23-187] protocoles et 1000 [252-2582] dispensations. Conclusion : Les établissements de santé du Québec sont nombreux à offrir un service pharmaceutique de soutien à la recherche. Les charges de travail et les ressources consacrées à la recherche varient. La gestion de la recherche nécessite également des ressources. En outre, le financement de ces activités constitue un enjeu pour les départements de pharmacie du Québec. Abstract Objective: To describe the resources and activities of Quebec’s investigational drug services. Method: A questionnaire was created to identify the types of research conducted in pharmacy departments as well as the resources and activities of investigational drug services. The survey was sent to pharmacy departments in Quebec’s health-care centres via the community of practice on pharmaceutical support for clinical research and by e-mail to chief pharmacists. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: The participation rate was 83% (25/30 centres). Twenty (80%) centres provided an investigational drug service. A median [min-max] of 1.8 [0-11.3] full-time equivalents were devoted to this service, including 0.4 [0-4] pharmacists. Several different job titles were trained to provide pharmaceutical research support services, including at least one pharmacist (100%, 25/25), one technical assistant (58%, 14/24), one planning, programming, and research officer, one clinical activities specialist or research assistant (n = 8) or other (n = 3). Investigational drug services were involved in a median [min-max] of 29 [1-187] ongoing trials and dispensed 425 [0-2582] orders for investigational products annually. Institutes and teaching hospitals had a higher workload, with involvement in 80 [23-187] ongoing trials and 1 000 [252-2582] investigational products dispensed. Conclusion: Many of Quebec’s health-care centres offer pharmaceutical services which support research. The workload and resources devoted to research vary. The management of research activities also requires resources. In addition, funding for these activities is an issue for pharmacy departments in Quebec

La recherche partenariale au CRISES

Vocation Recherche et sociétéLa présente note de recherche est issue d’une réflexion et d’une étude menées par un groupe réuni sous l’égide de la vocation Recherche et société du CRISES. La première section du document permet de contextualiser la recherche partenariale au CRISES. Dès ses débuts, le Centre a fait une place importante dans sa programmation aux interactions entre le milieu académique et les acteurs sociaux. Dans la deuxième section, nous avons effectué une problématisation de la recherche partenariale. Nous situons ici la recherche partenariale plus globalement dans le contexte de la recherche à l’échelle internationale, et notamment européenne. La troisième section présente des données sur des activités de recherche partenariales menées au CRISES. Nous commençons par présenter un survol des recherches partenariales menées au CRISES à partir d’un questionnaire qui fut envoyé aux membres. Nous présentons aussi dans cette section une étude approfondie de trois expériences de recherche partenariale menées au CRISES. Finalement, la dernière section propose un modèle d’analyse des processus et des modalités de coconstruction d’un espace partenarial de recherche. Nous nous intéressons à trois configurations des dynamiques relationnelles, que nous avons qualifiées comme suit : la collaboration, la tension et la figure de la contractualisation, ou de la négociation contractuelle.This research brief evolved from a reflection and a study led by a group of researchers working under the auspices of the Recherche et société module of CRISES. The first section of the document contextualizes partnershipbased research at CRISES. Since its beginnings, the Centre has provided considerable room in its programming for interactions between academia and social actors. In the second section, we seek to provide a definition and description of partnershipbased research. Here, our approach is to view partnershipbased research within its international, and in particular European, scale and context. The third section presents data on partnershipbased research activities performed at CRISES. We begin with an overview of those studies that were based on a questionnaire sent to the members, and further present an indepth examination of three partnershipbased case studies conducted at CRISES. The last section of the brief proposes a model for analyzing the processes and modalities of the coconstruction of a partnershipbased research space. We are interested in three configurations of relational dynamics, namely, collaboration, tension and contractualization, i.e., contract negotiation