The Origins and Strategic Objectives of the Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-01

Group Islamic Army (the Armed Islamic Group) GSPC Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat GICM Groupe Islamique de Combat (Moroccan Islamic Combat...the Armed Islamic Group (GIA, Groupe Islamique Armé), emerged. The GIA was a group made up of former militants who always rejected the idea of...French acronym GICM: Groupe Islamique Combatant au Maroc), the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group LIFG . This analysis will determine the nature of the

A randomized clinical trial evaluating silicone earplugs for very low birth weight newborns in intensive care.

PubMed

Abou Turk, C; Williams, A L; Lasky, R E

2009-05-01

To determine whether very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns (<1500 g) wearing silicone earplugs grow larger and perform better on developmental exams than controls. VLBW newborns (n=34) were randomized to wearing earplugs or not. Hospital outcomes were abstracted from medical charts by research staff masked to intervention status. Fourteen extremely low birth weight (ELBW) newborns (<1000 g) were also evaluated at 18 to 22 months. After adjusting for birth weight, 11 surviving newborns in the earplug group were 225 g (95% CI: 45, 405) heavier at 34 weeks post menstrual age than the 13 controls. Six ELBW earplug infants scored 15.53 points (95% CI: 3.03, 28.02) higher than six controls on the Bayley Mental Development Index. Their head circumferences were 2.59 cm (95% CI: 0.97, 4.21) larger. Earplugs may facilitate weight gain in VLBW newborns. Better outcomes may persist at 18 to 22 months at least in ELBW infants.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Silicone Earplugs for Very Low Birth Weight Newborns in Intensive Care

PubMed Central

Turk, Chirine A. Abou; Williams, Amber L.; Lasky, Robert E.

2008-01-01

Objective Determine whether very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns (<1500 g) wearing silicone earplugs grow larger and perform better on developmental exams than controls. Study Design VLBW newborns (n=34) were randomized to wearing earplugs or not. Hospital outcomes were abstracted from medical charts by research staff masked to intervention status. Fourteen extremely low birth weight (ELBW) newborns (<1000 g) were also evaluated at 18−22 months. Result After adjusting for birth weight, 11 surviving newborns in the earplug group were 225 g (95% CI: 45, 405) heavier at 34 weeks post-menstrual age than the 13 controls. Six ELBW earplug infants scored 15.53 points (95% CI: 3.03, 28.02) higher than 6 controls on the Bayley Mental Development Index. Their head circumferences were 2.59 cms (95% CI: 0.97, 4.21) larger. Conclusion Earplugs may facilitate weight gain in VLBW newborns. Better outcomes may persist at 18−22 months at least in ELBW infants. PMID:19194455

Enabling Rapid Integration of Combined Arms Teams into a Brigade Combat Team Organizational Structure

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

organizational structure , fixed vs. mobile forward operating base (FOB) synchronization, prior preparation, and unit capabilities. 5. Ideas to Improve...Technical Report 1356 Enabling Rapid Integration of Combined Arms Teams into a Brigade Combat Team Organizational Structure ...2012 - May 2014 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Enabling Rapid Integration of Combined Arms Teams into a Brigade Combat Team Organizational Structure

26 CFR 49.4253-4 - Exemption for servicemen in combat zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... originating at (Point of origin) within a combat zone from (Name) a member of the Armed Forces of the United... zone, as defined in section 112, from a member of the Armed Forces of the United States performing... which Armed Forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat, and only if it is performed on or...

Hearing loss prevention education using adopt-a-band: changes in self-reported earplug use in two high school marching bands.

PubMed

Auchter, Melissa; Le Prell, Colleen G

2014-06-01

Hearing loss prevention has always been an important issue for audiologists. The importance of hearing loss prevention education for young musicians is now recognized by the National Association for Music Education as well as the National Association of Schools of Music. Adopt-a-Band is a commercial program designed to foster hearing loss prevention behavior in young musicians. This study assessed changes in earplug use, measured using self-report surveys, after Adopt-a-Band training. Participants were members of 2 high school marching bands who viewed an informational DVD and reviewed fact sheets. Flat-attenuation earplugs were distributed, and training was provided. In addition, study participants engaged in discussion of hearing loss with a doctor of audiology student. Before training, 23% of participants reported they had previously used hearing protection. Immediately after training, 94% of participants reported they planned to use hearing protection at least occasionally. In a final end-of-season survey, earplug use had reliably increased; 62% of participants reported they used earplugs at least occasionally. Earplug use increased, but self-reported behavioral change was not as robust as predicted from self-reported participant intentions. Participant comments regarding factors that influenced their earplug use decisions suggest opportunities to improve training.

An objective comparison of leakage between commonly used earplugs.

PubMed

Alt, Jeremiah A; Collins, William O

2012-01-01

We sought to determine the efficacy of commonly used earplugs using an anatomically correct ear model. The total volume and rate of water that leaked past the earplug and subsequent defect in the tympanic membrane over separately measured 30, 60, 120, and 180-second intervals were recorded. Scenarios tested included a control with no earplug, custom molded earplug (Precision Laboratories, Orlando, FL), Mack's plug (Warren, MI), Doc's plug (Santa Cruz, CA), and cotton balls coated with petroleum jelly. All plugs tested resulted in less leakage at all time points when compared with no plug (P < .05). At 30 seconds, the custom molded, Mack's and Doc's plugs all showed significantly less leakage when compared with the cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly (P < .05). At 60, 120, and 180 seconds, Mack's, Doc's, and the cotton plugs all showed significantly less leakage compared with the customized plug (P < .05). At 120 and 180 seconds, Mack's plugs had significant less leakage than the cotton plug (P < .05). Among the types of plugs, the molded variety (Mack's) showed the least volume and lowest leakage rate (f(4,45) = 94 [P < .001]). In addition, Doc's and cotton balls coated with petroleum jelly were more effective than the customized earplugs. If the clinician feels that middle ear and external canal water exposure should be minimized, then use of earplugs, particularly the moldable variety, merits further consideration. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Compendium of the Physiological Demands of the 32 Critical Physically Demanding Tasks of Combat Arms Soldiers

DTIC Science & Technology

As part of the U.S. Army Physical Demands Study (which led to the development of the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT)), 32 physically ...demanding tasks were identified as being critical to combat arms soldiers. In order to identify the most physically demanding of those tests, data were...comprehensive reference of the physiological demands of the critical physically demanding tasks of combat arms Soldiers.

Isolating the auditory system from acoustic noise during functional magnetic resonance imaging: Examination of noise conduction through the ear canal, head, and bodya)

PubMed Central

Ravicz, Michael E.; Melcher, Jennifer R.

2007-01-01

Approaches were examined for reducing acoustic noise levels heard by subjects during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a technique for localizing brain activation in humans. Specifically, it was examined whether a device for isolating the head and ear canal from sound (a “helmet”) could add to the isolation provided by conventional hearing protection devices (i.e., earmuffs and earplugs). Both subjective attenuation (the difference in hearing threshold with versus without isolation devices in place) and objective attenuation (difference in ear-canal sound pressure) were measured. In the frequency range of the most intense fMRI noise (1–1.4 kHz), a helmet, earmuffs, and earplugs used together attenuated perceived sound by 55–63 dB, whereas the attenuation provided by the conventional devices alone was substantially less: 30–37 dB for earmuffs, 25–28 dB for earplugs, and 39–41 dB for earmuffs and earplugs used together. The data enabled the clarification of the relative importance of ear canal, head, and body conduction routes to the cochlea under different conditions: At low frequencies (≤500 Hz), the ear canal was the dominant route of sound conduction to the cochlea for all of the device combinations considered. At higher frequencies (>500 Hz), the ear canal was the dominant route when either earmuffs or earplugs were worn. However, the dominant route of sound conduction was through the head when both earmuffs and earplugs were worn, through both ear canal and body when a helmet and earmuffs were worn, and through the body when a helmet, earmuffs, and earplugs were worn. It is estimated that a helmet, earmuffs, and earplugs together will reduce the most intense fMRI noise levels experienced by a subject to 60–65 dB SPL. Even greater reductions in noise should be achievable by isolating the body from the surrounding noise field. PMID:11206150

Combating Terrorism, Rebel Groups, and Armed Militias in the Face of Economic Prosperity Opportunities

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-04

FINAL 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Combatting Terrorism, Rebel Groups , and Armed...facing many security threats. Al-Shabaab in Somalia, armed rebel groups , and armed militia in South Sudan pose the greatest security challenges to the...these groups . 15. SUBJECT TERMS United States Africa Command, Al-Shabaab, Lamu Oil Pipeline, Security. 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17

[Psychiatric, Cognitive and Emotional Profile in Ex-combatants of Illegal Armed Groups in Colombia].

PubMed

Tobón, Carlos; Aguirre-Acevedo, Daniel Camilo; Velilla, Lina; Duque, Jon; Ramos, Claudia Patricia; Pineda, David

2016-01-01

Exposure to armed conflict produces biological adaptations oriented to handle the highly stressful conditions in war environments. The special features of The Colombian armed create a special scenario to evaluate the human behavior. In this study, psychiatric, cognitive and emotional processing characteristics of a group of Colombian armed illegal forces of ex-combatants are described. Sixty-three ex combatants and 22 controls were assessed with WAIS (IQ), INECO frontal screening (executive functions), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (empathy), emotional features recognition and MINI (psychiatric profile). When compared to the control group, ex-combatants showed higher frequency of antisocial personality disorder (P=.031) and behavioral dissocial disorder (P=.017). In cognitive profile, the ex-combatants showed a lower score in the executive function test (Me=18.50; RQ=4.00), control (Me=23.00; RQ=5.25), with a poor personal distress in emphatic profile (Me=10.00; RQ=5.00) compared to control group (Me=37.00; RQ=7.25). We found differences in cognitive and psychiatric profile in ex-combatants in comparison with controls. Copyright © 2015 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Land Combat Systems Industry. Industry Study, Spring 2009

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

Spring 2009 Industry Study Final Report Land Combat Systems Industry The Industrial College of the Armed Forces...AND SUBTITLE Spring 2009. Industry Study. Land Combat Systems Industry 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6 . AUTHOR(S...Industrial College of the Armed Forces,Washington,DC,20319 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS

Reconstructing Lifetime Chemical Profiles of Baleen Whales Using Earplugs: A Century of Stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trumble, S. J.; Usenko, S.

2016-02-01

The usefulness of an animal as an ecosystem model or sentinel is contingent upon their ecological diversity and the variability inherent in their ecosystem. Marine mammals rely on healthy marine ecosystems for their survival and are uniquely suited to reflect ecosystem variability and degradation. Therefore, they are prime sentinels of marine ecosystem change. Typically used as a measure of aging in cetaceans (order Mysticeti), earplugs can produce alternating dark and light lamina and remain undisturbed during the lifetime of the animal. An earplug is a keratin and lipid matrix in the auditory meatus of mysticetes whales that appears to increase with age. While the literature on earwax plug ageing has often used vague and inconsistent terminology, Roe (1968) clearly established the link between mysticete migration patterns and lamina formation by examining the most recently formed lamina in fin whale earplugs collected in all months of the year, finding a high fat content and keratinized epithelial. Thus, earplugs may provide an excellent repository of lipophilic substances (hormones) and chemicals. Earplugs collected from museum holdings have been analyzed for chemical profiles revealing unprecedented information on stress hormones from as early as the 1870s through present day. For example, a bowhead whale earplug collected in 2013 and aged at 65 years revealed cortisol lifetime profiles (mean, 1.6 ± 5.0 ng/g; range; 0.1-40.0 ng/g) with the largest peaks corresponding to age 13 and 19 (c. 1961 and 1967). Cortisol levels returned to baseline throughout life with increased deviation from baseline occurring post 1990s. Pregnancy hormones revealed approximately 12 possible pregnancy/birth events with an interval mean of 3.8 years (progesterone mean, 3.5 ± 1.7 ng/g; estradiol mean 0.9 ± 0.8 ng/g). The use of a whale earplug to reconstruct lifetime chemical profiles will allow for a more comprehensive examination of stress, development, and contaminant exposure, as well as improve the assessment of response from contaminant use/emission, environmental noise, ship traffic, and climate change on these important marine sentinels.

Militarized sexual violence in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

PubMed

Bartels, Susan; Kelly, Jocelyn; Scott, Jennifer; Leaning, Jennifer; Mukwege, Denis; Joyce, Nina; VanRooyen, Michael

2013-01-01

Eastern DRC has been the site of a protracted conflict in which sexual violence has been a defining feature. The method used was a retrospective registry-based study of sexual violence survivors presenting to Panzi Hospital between 2004 and 2008. This analysis aimed to describe the patterns of sexual violence described by survivors and to analyze perpetrator profiles. As regards results, a total of 4,311 records were analyzed. Perpetrators in this data set were identified as follows: (a) 6% were civilians; (b) 52% were armed combatants; and (c) 42% were simply identified as "assailant(s)" with no further identifying information. Those identified simply as "assailants" perpetrated patterns of sexual violence that were similar to those of armed combatants, suggesting that this group included a large number of armed combatants. Civilian assailants perpetrated a pattern of sexual violence that was distinct from armed combatants. Conclusions are as follows: These data suggest that a high proportion of sexual assaults in South Kivu are perpetrated by armed combatants. Protection of women in South Kivu will require new strategies that take into account the unique nature of sexual violence in DRC. Engaging with local communities, the UN and other aid organizations is necessary to create new context-appropriate protection programs.

Mercy Killings in Combat: Ending the Suffering of Gravely Wounded Combatants -- A Brief History, Applicable Law, Recent Prosecutions, and Proposals for Much Needed Change

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-01

Recent combat-related mercy killings 10 D. Roadmap for change 10 II. Survey of the history of combat-related mercy killings 14 A. General reports of...part of armed conflict for thousands of years ,4 and since the United States is currently engaged in multiple military operations that require long...Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2007 and the Future Years Defense Program: Hearing Before the S. Comm. on Armed Svcs., 109th Cong., 2d Sess

Association of Behavior With Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Attendees of an Outdoor Music Festival: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Kraaijenga, Véronique J C; van Munster, J J C M; van Zanten, G A

2018-06-01

To date, factors associated with noise-induced hearing loss at music festivals have not yet been analyzed in a single comprehensive data set. In addition, little is known about the hearing loss-associated behavior of music festival attendees. To assess which factors are associated with the occurrence of a temporary threshold shift (TTS) after music exposure and to investigate the behavior of music festival attendees. This prospective post hoc analysis gathered data from a randomized, single-blind clinical trial conducted on September 5, 2015, at an outdoor music festival in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Adult volunteers with normal hearing were recruited via social media from August 26 through September 3, 2015. Intention to use earplugs was an exclusion criterion. Of 86 volunteers assessed, 51 were included. This post hoc analysis was performed from October 3, 2016, through February 27, 2017. Music festival visit for 4.5 hours. The primary outcome was a TTS on a standard audiogram for the frequencies 3.0- and 4.0-kHz. Multivariable linear regression was performed to determine which factors are associated with a TTS. A questionnaire on behavior, hearing, and tinnitus was distributed to the participants before and after the festival visit. A total of 51 participants were included (18 men [35%] and 33 women [65%]) with a mean (SD) age of 27 (6) years. Mean (SD) threshold change across 3.0 and 4.0 kHz was 5.4 (5.7) dB for the right ear and 4.0 (6.1) dB for the left ear. Earplug use (absolute difference in the left ear, -6.0 dB [95% CI, -8.7 to -3.2 dB]; in the right ear, -6.4 dB [95% CI, -8.8 to -4.1 dB]), quantity of alcohol use (absolute difference per unit in the left ear, 1.1 dB [95% CI, 0.5 to 1.7 dB]; in the right ear, 0.7 dB [95% CI, 0.1 to 1.4 dB]), drug use (absolute difference in the right ear, 6.0 dB [95% CI, 0.9 to 11.1 dB]), and male sex (absolute difference in the right ear, 4.1 dB [95% CI, 0.3 to 5.9 dB]) were independently associated with hearing loss, with earplug use being the most important factor. Unprotected participants reported significantly worse subjective hearing performance and tinnitus after the festival visit than did participants using earplugs (Cramer V, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.47-0.79] and 0.39 [95% CI, 0.16-0.62], respectively). In the earplug group, the perceived loudness (r = -0.72; 95% CI, -1.00 to -0.43) and appreciation (r = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.78) of music and speech perception (r = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.35) were correlated with the duration of earplug use. The present study identified nonuse of earplugs, use of alcohol and drugs, and male sex as associated with a TTS at an outdoor music festival. Physicians should consider these factors to raise awareness about the combined risk of attending music festivals without using earplugs while consuming alcohol and/or drugs. The intention to use earplugs was correlated with the loudness and appreciation of music with earplugs, which may advocate for the use of personalized earplugs. trialregister.nl Identifier: NTR5401.

Earplug rankings based on the protector-attenuation rating (P-AR).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-01-01

Forty-five attenuation spectra for earplugs were classified according to a simplified method designed to produce single-number ratings of noise reduction. The rating procedure was applied to the mean attenuation scores, to mean-minus-one-standard-dev...

Application of a TiO2 nanocomposite in earplugs, a case study of noise reduction.

PubMed

Ibrahimi Ghavamabadi, Leila; Fouladi Dehaghi, Behzad; Hesampour, Morteza; Ahmadi Angali, Kambiz

2018-03-13

Use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) has become necessary when other control measures cannot reduce noise to a safe and standard level. In most countries, more effective hearing protection devices are in demand. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles on noise reduction efficiency in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) earplug. An S-60 type PVC polymer as main matrix and TiO 2 with 30 nm size were used. PVC/TiO 2 nanocomposite was mixed at a temperature of 160 °C and 40 rounds per minute (rpm) and the samples were prepared with 0, 0.2 and 0.5 wt% of TiO 2 nanoparticle concentrations. Earplug samples with PVC/TiO 2 (0.2, 0.5 wt%) nanoparticles, when compared with raw earplugs, showed almost equal noise attenuation at low frequencies (500- 125 Hz). However, at high frequencies (2-8 kHz), the power of noise reduction of earplugs containing TiO 2 nanoparticles was significantly increased. The results of the present study showed that samples containing nanoparticles of TiO 2 had more noticeable noise reduction abilities at higher frequencies in comparison with samples without the nanoparticles.

Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection

PubMed Central

Bockstael, Annelies; Keppler, Hannah; Botteldooren, Dick

2015-01-01

Recreational music exposure is a potential risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Augmented hearing protectors have been designed with modified attenuation characteristics to combine hearing protection and listening comfort. However, to date, only a few independent studies have assessed the performance of those augmented protectors in realistic exposure conditions. This study compares the listening experience and temporary effects on cochlear status with different types of earplugs after exposure to contemporary club music. Five different types of commercially available hearing protectors were worn, all commonly used during leisure-time music exposure. Four of them were augmented premolded earplugs and the fifth type was an inexpensive, standard earplug frequently distributed for free at music events. During five different test sessions of 30 min each, participants not professionally involved in music wore one particular type of protector. Contemporary club music was played at sound pressure levels (SPLs) representative of concerts and bars. After each listening session, a questionnaire on sound quality and general appreciation was completed. In addition, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were measured directly before and after music exposure. The reported appreciation clearly differed depending on the addressed characteristics and the specific earplug type. In this test group, the reported appreciation mainly depended on comfort and looks, while differences in sound quality were less noticeable. The changes in OAE amplitude before and after noise exposure were small in terms of clinical standards. Nevertheless, the observed temporary shifts differed systematically for the different types of hearing protectors, with two types of musician earplug showing a more systematic decline than the others. Further research with respect to actual use and achieved protection for real, unsupervised music exposure is warranted. PMID:26168950

Mise au point d'un bouchon d'oreille "intelligent"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voix, Jeremie

Many workers are exposed to noise levels high enough to put them at risk of losing their hearing. However, noise reduction at the source, when technically feasible, is often difficult to implement for economical reasons. Therefore, individual hearing protection remains the most widespread solution in practice. Unfortunately, the hearing protectors currently available on the market are seldom worn continuously as they should be (because they are not very comfortable or must be removed to communicate) and do not match the worker's need for protection (because their actual attenuation is generally unknown). This doctorate thesis work, carried out in close collaboration with SONOMAX HEARING HEALTHCARE I NC., had the general objective to develop a smart earplug that would solve the problems associated with current hearing protection devices thereby effectively preventing noise induced hearing loss in the industrial environment. The issues associated to this development have been formulated in details under the Health and Safety aspect (non-continuous wearing of the hearing protector and un-adapted protection), technical aspects (development of an earplug that is comfortable both from the physical and sound perception points of view and whose performances are measurable) and scientific aspects (modeling of physical systems, signal processing, instrumentation and measurement techniques). The technical developments have resulted in a custom earplug that is instantly fitted to the wearer's ear by silicone injection. Its acoustical performance can be measured using a microphone probe while the attenuation can be adapted to the user's need by the insertion through the earplug of passive acoustical filters. The scientific developments have resulted in the prediction of the attenuation of the earplug from the Noise Reduction measurement and in the prediction of the filtered earplug attenuation.

Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection.

PubMed

Bockstael, Annelies; Keppler, Hannah; Botteldooren, Dick

2015-01-01

Recreational music exposure is a potential risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Augmented hearing protectors have been designed with modified attenuation characteristics to combine hearing protection and listening comfort. However, to date, only a few independent studies have assessed the performance of those augmented protectors in realistic exposure conditions. This study compares the listening experience and temporary effects on cochlear status with different types of earplugs after exposure to contemporary club music. Five different types of commercially available hearing protectors were worn, all commonly used during leisure-time music exposure. Four of them were augmented premolded earplugs and the fifth type was an inexpensive, standard earplug frequently distributed for free at music events. During five different test sessions of 30 min each, participants not professionally involved in music wore one particular type of protector. Contemporary club music was played at sound pressure levels (SPLs) representative of concerts and bars. After each listening session, a questionnaire on sound quality and general appreciation was completed. In addition, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were measured directly before and after music exposure. The reported appreciation clearly differed depending on the addressed characteristics and the specific earplug type. In this test group, the reported appreciation mainly depended on comfort and looks, while differences in sound quality were less noticeable. The changes in OAE amplitude before and after noise exposure were small in terms of clinical standards. Nevertheless, the observed temporary shifts differed systematically for the different types of hearing protectors, with two types of musician earplug showing a more systematic decline than the others. Further research with respect to actual use and achieved protection for real, unsupervised music exposure is warranted.

[Management of war orthopaedic injuries in recent armed conflicts].

PubMed

Frank, M; Mathieu, L

2013-01-01

The extremities continue to be the most frequent sites of wounding during armed conflicts despite the change of combat tactics, soldier armour and battlefield medical support. Due to the advances in prehospital care and timely transport to the hospital, orthopaedic surgeons deal with severe and challenging injuries of the limbs. In contrast to civilian extremity trauma, the most combat-related injuries are open wounds that often have infection-related complications. Data from two recent large armed conflicts (Iraq, Afghanistan) show that extremity injuries are associated with a high complication rate, morbidity and healthcare utilization. A systematic approach that consists of sequential surgical care and good transport capabilities can reduce the complication rate of these injuries. New medical technologies have been implemented in the treatment strategy during the last decade. This article reviews the published scientific data and current opinions on combat-related extremity injuries. Key words: extremity, combat, trauma, medical support system.

Noise attenuation characteristics of a foam type earplug measured using a dummy head.

PubMed

Idota, Nozomi; Horie, Seichi; Tsutsui, Takao; Inoue, Jinro

2002-03-01

The attenuation characteristics of the earplug using a dummy head (KEMAR; Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research) were measured, when it was exposed to pure tones or broadband noises at three different sound pressure levels (SPLs) of 70, 80 and 90 dB SPL in the 'wide frequency range from 250 to 20 k Hz. We ascertained the satisfactory capacity of noise attenuation except for from 10 k to 14 k Hz. The noise attenuation level increased with frequency until 2 k Hz, became almost constant until 8 k Hz, then decreased at around 10 k to 14 k Hz, and recovered in the range from 16 k to 20 k Hz. The frequency characteristics were identical among three different sound pressure levels and almost identical between pure tones and broadband noises. The change of frequency characteristics affected by the depth of the earplug that was inserted into the artificial ear canal of the KEMAR was also investigated. Measured sound pressure level by the builetin microphone in the KEMAR revealed a region in which the measured sound pressure levels were relatively higher around 10 k Hz. The frequency of the region moved higher when the earplug was inserted more deeply. Therefore it was considered that this phenomenon was related to the resonance frequency of the cylinder-like cavity made between the end section of the earplug and the diaphragm of the built-in microphone.

Dimensions of operational stress and forms of unacceptable risk taking with small arms and munitions.

PubMed

Ben-Shalom, Uzi

2015-01-01

Accidents with small arms and munitions during deployment is a significant safety concern for leaders and safety specialists in combat units. Operational stress may lead to forms of unacceptable risk taking with small arms that may underlie some of these accidents. The present research studied the correlation between two dimensions of operational stress, two forms of risk taking with small arms among combat unit soldiers and possible mediators. The dimensions of operational threat, negative affect and personality profile from the EPQ-R-S were predictors; "exaggerated preparedness" and "risky games with small arms and munitions" were dependent variables; safety climate of the platoon served as a mediator variable. The participants were 461 compulsory service combat soldiers in 31 companies. This field study was conducted during period of top security alert. The results reveal that perceived threat is indeed correlated with exaggerated operational preparedness whereas general emotional state was correlated with risky games with small arms. Safety climate mediated only the correlation between general emotional state and risky games with small arms and munitions. Preparedness and risky games were predicted by the interaction of Psychoticism and the Lie Scale from the EPQ-R-S. The results may enhance the efforts in reducing risk taking and prevention of accidents with small arms and munitions during and following deployment.

Navy DDG-1000 and DDG-51 Destroyer Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-11

July 31, 2008, hearing before the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Navy officials announced a major...Aegis combat system and the arming of the ship with the SM-3, a version of the Navy’s Standard Missile that is designed for BMD operations.7 The Navy has...the Navy (Ship Programs), before the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces of the House Armed Services Committee, on Surface Combatant

Navy DDG-1000 and DDG-51 Destroyer Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-09

of the House Armed Services Committee, Navy officials announced a major change in the service’s position on what kind of destroyers it wants to...among other things, the addition of a new software program for the Aegis combat system and the arming of the ship with the SM-3, a version of the...Expeditionary Forces of the House Armed Services Committee, on Surface Combatant Requirements and Acquisition Strategies, July 31, 2008, 11 pp., and the spoken

Postdeployment Battlemind Training for the U.K. Armed Forces: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulligan, Kathleen; Fear, Nicola T.; Jones, Norman; Alvarez, Helen; Hull, Lisa; Naumann, Ulrike; Wessely, Simon; Greenberg, Neil

2012-01-01

Objective: Combat exposure can increase the risk of subsequent psychological ill-health in armed forces (AF) personnel. A U.S. postdeployment psycho-educational intervention, Battlemind, showed a beneficial effect on mental health in U.S. military personnel exposed to high combat levels. We evaluated the effectiveness of an anglicized version of…

Becoming Cruel: Appetitive Aggression Released by Detrimental Socialisation in Former Congolese Soldiers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weierstall, Roland; Haer, Roos; Banholzer, Lilli; Elbert, Thomas

2013-01-01

Appetitive aggression--a rewarding perception of the perpetration of violence--seems to be an adaptation common to adverse conditions. Children raised within armed groups may develop attitudes and values that favour harming others when socialized within a combat force. Combatants who joined an armed force early in their lives should, therefore,…

Earplug Usage in Preservice Music Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walter, Jennifer S.

2017-01-01

In the past 10 years, educating university musicians about hearing protection for long-term career stability and success has become more common, as has the adoption of hearing conservation programs. The purpose of this study was to explore preservice music teachers' self-reported use of earplugs. Undergraduate preservice teachers (N = 129) were…

[The demand for blood transfusion agents and blood substitutes in the treatment of wounded patients].

PubMed

Zhiburt, E B; Danil'chenko, V V; Popova, N N; Vil'ianinov, V N

1999-09-01

Modern arms in combat tend to increase sanitary losses, change their structure and make combat traumas more severe. Blood transfusion therapy became a necessity in the wounds treatment. The recent armed conflicts made military medics move the blood transfusion service to the front lines. The authors present some data obtained in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

Sustained Perceptual Deficits from Transient Sensory Deprivation

PubMed Central

Sanes, Dan H.

2015-01-01

Sensory pathways display heightened plasticity during development, yet the perceptual consequences of early experience are generally assessed in adulthood. This approach does not allow one to identify transient perceptual changes that may be linked to the central plasticity observed in juvenile animals. Here, we determined whether a brief period of bilateral auditory deprivation affects sound perception in developing and adult gerbils. Animals were reared with bilateral earplugs, either from postnatal day 11 (P11) to postnatal day 23 (P23) (a manipulation previously found to disrupt gerbil cortical properties), or from P23-P35. Fifteen days after earplug removal and restoration of normal thresholds, animals were tested on their ability to detect the presence of amplitude modulation (AM), a temporal cue that supports vocal communication. Animals reared with earplugs from P11-P23 displayed elevated AM detection thresholds, compared with age-matched controls. In contrast, an identical period of earplug rearing at a later age (P23-P35) did not impair auditory perception. Although the AM thresholds of earplug-reared juveniles improved during a week of repeated testing, a subset of juveniles continued to display a perceptual deficit. Furthermore, although the perceptual deficits induced by transient earplug rearing had resolved for most animals by adulthood, a subset of adults displayed impaired performance. Control experiments indicated that earplugging did not disrupt the integrity of the auditory periphery. Together, our results suggest that P11-P23 encompasses a critical period during which sensory deprivation disrupts central mechanisms that support auditory perceptual skills. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory systems are particularly malleable during development. This heightened degree of plasticity is beneficial because it enables the acquisition of complex skills, such as music or language. However, this plasticity comes with a cost: nervous system development displays an increased vulnerability to the sensory environment. Here, we identify a precise developmental window during which mild hearing loss affects the maturation of an auditory perceptual cue that is known to support animal communication, including human speech. Furthermore, animals reared with transient hearing loss display deficits in perceptual learning. Our results suggest that speech and language delays associated with transient or permanent childhood hearing loss may be accounted for, in part, by deficits in central auditory processing mechanisms. PMID:26224865

Tactics: A Soviet View

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

the greatest revolutionizing influence on the nature of combined arms combat and the methods for conducting it, and on the development of tactics as...their combat employment. Meanwhile, the penetrating radiation of a neutron burst has a destructive effect not only on humans and animals , but on...agents may be most diverse. It has been noted in the foreign press that in the American armed forces the Air Force has the greatest capability for

The Strategic Bomber and Low-Intensity Conflict

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-01

of combat forces can be limited by current capabilities and other constraints. Aplication for Strategic Bombers Although the total United States...labeled the long-range combat aircraft. (31:1) The bomber’s characteristic of long-range provides mobility and mission flexibility which is not available...Summer 1989, pp. 46-55. 47. Ropelewski, Robert R. "Target Mobility , Arms Control Challenge SAC Modernization," Armed Forces Journo-1 £Dt~raflii~1

Illness Behavior and Transitional States: A Study of Outpatient Rates and Symptom Presentation in Relation to Troop Deployment during Peacetime. The Health Consequences of Deployment. Types and Rates of Outpatient Sickcall Visits. June 1980 - May 1981. Combat Arms and Support Troops

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-06

study I are listed In Appendix A. The combat and support groups are different in several ways. They were picked for the vast differences in their I...a week. These differences allow us to Nighlight the Medical problems related to highly stressed soldiers. The clinirs providing first line care to...these two groups were ;lj, different,. The combat arms unit had Battalion Aid "Stations (DAS) to provide medical care to each battalion f (approximately

2005 NDIA Combat Vehicles Conference. Volume 2- Thursday Presentations and Videos

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-22

Mounted Combat System MULE: (Countermine) MULE: (Transport) Class II Class III Class IV Armed Robotic Vehicle ARV RSTA ARV Assault FCS Recovery and...Vehicles – Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) – Armed Robotic Vehicle - Assault (ARV (A)) – Recon & Surveillance Vehicle (RSV)  Training Ammo for AP & AB...Holtz and Mr. Dick Williams, Boeing Mr. Dean Vanderstelt, General Dynamics Land Systems ( GDLS ) Mr. Mike Zoltoski, TARDEC Mr. Peter DeMasi, Program

Synergistic Success: The Power of Mentorship and Reaching the Senior Levels of the U.S. Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-09

the Army can optimize its mentorship efforts in increasing black combat arms officers. Demographics Every segment of American society is...appeal more to the American people . African Americans recognized the opportunities the Army offered as social and environmental conditions changed. The...identifies mentorship and its power in influencing African American Army officers to branch combat arms. One area where the Army can improve its

Selective pressurized liquid extraction of pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a whale earplug (earwax): a novel method for analyzing organic contaminants in lipid-rich matrices.

PubMed

Robinson, Eleanor M; Trumble, Stephen J; Subedi, Bikram; Sanders, Rebel; Usenko, Sascha

2013-12-06

Lipid-rich matrices are often sinks for lipophilic contaminants, such as pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Typically methods for contaminant extraction and cleanup for lipid-rich matrices require multiple cleanup steps; however, a selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) technique requiring no additional cleanup has been developed for the simultaneous extraction and cleanup of whale earwax (cerumen; a lipid-rich matrix). Whale earwax accumulates in select whale species over their lifetime to form wax earplugs. Typically used as an aging technique in cetaceans, layers or laminae that comprise the earplug are thought to be associated with annual or semiannual migration and feeding patterns. Whale earplugs (earwax) represent a unique matrix capable of recording and archiving whales' lifetime contaminant profiles. This study reports the first analytical method developed for identifying and quantifying lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in a whale earplug including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The analytical method was developed using SPLE to extract contaminants from ∼0.25 to 0.5g aliquots of each lamina of sectioned earplug. The SPLE was optimized for cleanup adsorbents (basic alumina, silica gel, and Florisil(®)), adsorbent to sample ratio, and adsorbent order. In the optimized SPLE method, the earwax homogenate was placed within the extraction cell on top of basic alumina (5g), silica gel (15g), and Florisil(®) (10g) and the target analytes were extracted from the homogenate using 1:1 (v/v) dichloromethane:hexane. POPs were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron capture negative ionization and electron impact ionization. The average percent recoveries for the POPs were 91% (±6% relative standard deviation), while limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.00057 to 0.96ngg(-1) and 0.0017 to 2.9ngg(-1), respectively. Pesticides, PCBs, and PBDEs, were measured in a single blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) cerumen lamina at concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 150ng g(-1). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the occlusion effect induced by an earplug: Numerical modelling and experimental validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brummund, Martin

Despite existing limits for occupational noise exposure, professional hearing loss remains a high priority problem both in Quebec and worldwide. Several approaches exist to protect workers from harmful noise levels. The most frequently employed short term solution includes the distribution of hearing protection devices (HPD) such as earplugs and ear muffs. While HPDs offer an inexpensive (e.g. direct cost) and efficient means of protection workers often only tend to wear HPDs for limited amounts of time and, thus, remain at risk of developing professional hearing loss. Discomfort while using HPDs contributes to HPD underutilization and non-use. Two more general categories of discomfort can be distinguished. The category physical discomfort includes, for instance, problems such as heating of the ear and irritation of the ear canal that that occur upon earplug insertion. The category auditory discomfort refers to alterations in the auditory perception of sounds and one's own voice as well as hindered workplace communications. One important auditory discomfort that promotes HPD non-use is the occlusion effect. The occlusion effect occurs upon earplug insertion and describes sound amplification phenomena in the occluded ear canal at the low frequencies. The sound amplification is both perceivable and measurable (e.g., open and occluded sound pressure levels, hearing threshold shift). Additionally, the occlusion effect causes the HPD wearer to perceive his/her own voice as being distorted (e.g. hollow sounding) and physiological noises (e.g. respiration, blood circulation) are amplified also subsequent to earplug insertion. Reducing the occlusion effect has the potential to increase the auditory comfort of HPDs and could help preventing occupational hearing loss in the future. In order to improve this and other shortcomings observed with currently existing HPDs a large research collaboration between the Robert-Sauve research institute in occupational health and safety (IRSST) and the Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) has been launched. The present study represents a part of this collaboration and aims at studying the occlusion effect of the system earplug - ear canal through the development of novel numerical models and experimental methods. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Provision of nutrition support therapies in the recent Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

PubMed

Stankorb, Susan M; Ramsey, Casside; Clark, Heidi; Osgood, Tamara

2014-10-01

This article describes the experience of nutrition support practitioners, specifically dietitians, providing care to combat casualties. It provides a brief overview of dietitians' induction into armed service but focuses primarily on their role in providing nutrition support during the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current system of combat casualty care is discussed with specific emphasis on providing early and adequate nutrition support to U.S. combat casualties from injury, care in theater combat support hospitals (CSHs)/expeditionary medical support (EMEDs), and en route care during critical care air transport (CCAT) up to arrival at treatment facilities in the United States. The article also examines practices and challenges faced in the CSHs/EMEDs providing nutrition support to non-U.S. or coalition patients. Over the past decade in armed conflicts, dietitians, physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals have risen to challenges, have implemented systems, and continue working to optimize treatment across the spectrum of combat casualty care.

No Tail for the Strategic Dog: Marginalization of Logistics during Operation Torch, Invasion of North Africa

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-22

sustain its combat forces. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wrote this monograph in memory of my grandfather, Ralph A. Matson, who commanded a quartermaster...topic. Susan L. Fowler, also at the Combined Arms Library, provided me peace of mind by verifying that I did not violate copyrights. Steven E. Clay... minded combat arms officers in OPD, competed over limited resources. Meanwhile, SoS competed with civilian-led government organizations to control

Evaluation and treatment of severe hyperacusis.

PubMed

Valente, M; Goebel, J; Duddy, D; Sinks, B; Peterein, J

2000-06-01

A 52-year-old male was evaluated by the authors after initially reporting fullness in his left ear while traveling on an airplane. A unique feature of the patient's complaint was the development of severe bilateral hyperacusis (loudness discomfort levels of between 20-34 dB HL) in spite of the fact that the hearing loss was initially reported in the left ear. To achieve loudness comfort, the patient was initially fit with ER-25 musician earplugs that proved to be unsuccessful. The patient next purchased earplugs and earmuffs from a gun shop in order to obtain relief from the pain and discomfort caused by his exposure to everyday environmental sounds. This paper describes the use of hearing devices that proved to be effective in providing attenuation sufficient that the patient rarely needs to rely on earplugs and earmuffs for relief from his hyperacusis.

Attitudes, Risk Behavior, and Noise Exposure among Young Adults with Hearing Problems: Identifying a Typology.

PubMed

Hunter, Abby

2017-11-01

This study explored attitudes toward leisure noise, use of hearing protection, and perceived susceptibility to leisure-noise damage in young adults with hearing problems. Twelve participants aged between 18 and 35 years took part in a semistructured interview. Data were analyzed using framework analysis. The results showed that a positive attitude to noise, a passion for loud music, a lack of knowledge of the consequences of noise damage, and perceived low risk of hearing problems were associated with people not using earplugs. The aesthetics, comfort, perceived effects on music quality and attitude of others were all barriers to earplug use. Of those who had used earplugs, previous hearing-related symptoms and concern about future hearing damage were the main motivators for use. Four types of people were identified to describe the variation in attitudes and behaviors: those who had no change in behavior or concern about damage; those who were concerned and used earplugs; those who were concerned and avoided loud venues; and those who were concerned about communication difficulties only. Considering the wide variability, it may be more effective to shift attention from trying to change individual attitudes and behaviors to considering systemic changes to protect hearing, through ensuring the music industry and relevant authorities take greater responsibility.

Leadership, cohesion, morale, and the mental health of UK Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

PubMed

Jones, Norman; Seddon, Rachel; Fear, Nicola T; McAllister, Pete; Wessely, Simon; Greenberg, Neil

2012-01-01

UK Armed Forces (AF) personnel deployed to Afghanistan are frequently exposed to intense combat and yet little is known about the short-term mental health consequences of this exposure and the potential mitigating effects of military factors such as cohesion, morale, and leadership. To assess the possible modulating influence of cohesion, morale, and leadership on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and common mental disorders resulting from combat exposure among UK AF personnel deployed to Afghanistan, UK AF personnel, during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, completed a self-report survey about aspects of their current deployment, including perceived levels of cohesion, morale, leadership, combat exposure, and their mental health status. Outcomes were symptoms of common mental disorder and symptoms of PTSD. Combat exposure was associated with both PTSD symptoms and symptoms of common mental disorder. Of the 1,431 participants, 17.1% reported caseness levels of common mental disorder, and 2.7% were classified as probable PTSD cases. Greater self-reported levels of unit cohesion, morale, and perceived good leadership were all associated with lower levels of common mental disorder and PTSD. Greater levels of unit cohesion, morale, and good leadership may help to modulate the effects of combat exposure and the subsequent development of mental health problems among UK Armed Forces personnel deployed to Afghanistan. © 2012 Guilford Publications, Inc.

United States Air Force Academy: A Bibliography 2011-2015

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-23

Tactical Arms Training with the Cadet Combat Shooting Team." Checkpoints 39.4 (March 2011): 18-23. Print. 703. Do, James J., et al. "Gender Bias and...34 Checkpoints 41.3 (December 2012): 30-35. Print. 753. ---. "The Line of Fire: Tactical Arms Training with the Cadet Combat Shooting Team." Checkpoints...June 2013): 18-22. Print. 831. Thomas, Bill. " Hearts and Bones: There Was a Problem with the Last Burial in the Tomb of the Unknowns: The Soldier

DoD Simulations: Improved Assessment Procedures Would Increase the Credibility of Results.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-01

Carmonette Designed about 30 years ago, the Carmonette is a combined-arms combat model that simulates small-unit, ground combat involving the actions ...duels, its proper use is for larger engagements of combined-arms actions in which weapon-to- weapon data are used as input. The focus of the Carmonette...their contribution to the force, and their costs in personnel and funds. Its purpose is to assist in the selection of a preferred course of action to meet

Tomorrow’s Handgun: Ensuring the Right Gun for All Military Law Enforcement Officers

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-01

www.military.com/equipment/m9-pistol. 23 Ibid. 24 Russell, Sara M. Soldier Perspectives on Small Arms in Combat. Tech. no. CRM D0015259.A2. Alexandria...pistol-of- choice-1749620057. Russell, Sara M. Soldier Perspectives on Small Arms in Combat. Tech. no. CRM D0015259.A2. Alexandria, VA: CNA...Tech. no. CRM D0015259.A2. Alexandria, VA: CNA, 2006. Print. "The Avalon Project: Laws of War - Declaration on the Use of Bullets Which Expand or

26 CFR 1.112-1 - Combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

.... Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that the incubation period of the disease is one...) Examples of combat zone compensation. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples: Example 1. On January 5, outside of a combat zone, an enlisted member received basic pay for active duty...

26 CFR 1.112-1 - Combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

.... Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that the incubation period of the disease is one...) Examples of combat zone compensation. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples: Example 1. On January 5, outside of a combat zone, an enlisted member received basic pay for active duty...

26 CFR 1.112-1 - Combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

.... Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that the incubation period of the disease is one...) Examples of combat zone compensation. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples: Example 1. On January 5, outside of a combat zone, an enlisted member received basic pay for active duty...

26 CFR 1.112-1 - Combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

.... Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that the incubation period of the disease is one...) Examples of combat zone compensation. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples: Example 1. On January 5, outside of a combat zone, an enlisted member received basic pay for active duty...

26 CFR 1.112-1 - Combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

.... Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that the incubation period of the disease is one...) Examples of combat zone compensation. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples: Example 1. On January 5, outside of a combat zone, an enlisted member received basic pay for active duty...

Basic Combat Unit of the Slovenian Armed Forces

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-09

research offers a review of relevant Slovenian strategic documents, a combined arms concept and the last major U.S. Army transformation that saw the...Armed forces should be. Findings, with other recommendations, should be the foundation for the upcoming transformation of the Slovenian Armed...arms concept and the last major U.S. Army transformation that saw the organization transition from a division to a brigade-centric force. The goal

Effects of Hearing Protection Device Attenuation on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Audio Signatures

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

acoustic signatures of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs). The results could be used to select appropriate HPDs for environments where noise from UASs may be...formed earplugs passively reduce noise by using foam to efficiently absorb sound. Preformed earplugs attenuate by using either level-dependent or non...domain. In this study, a program using these techniques will be created to simulate these HPD ratings and its effects on acoustic signatures of unmanned

Olivocochlear Efferent Control in Sound Localization and Experience-Dependent Learning

PubMed Central

Irving, Samuel; Moore, David R.; Liberman, M. Charles; Sumner, Christian J.

2012-01-01

Efferent auditory pathways have been implicated in sound localization and its plasticity. We examined the role of the olivocochlear system (OC) in horizontal sound localization by the ferret and in localization learning following unilateral earplugging. Under anesthesia, adult ferrets underwent olivocochlear bundle section at the floor of the fourth ventricle, either at the midline or laterally (left). Lesioned and control animals were trained to localize 1 s and 40ms amplitude-roved broadband noise stimuli from one of 12 loudspeakers. Neither type of lesion affected normal localization accuracy. All ferrets then received a left earplug and were tested and trained over 10 d. The plug profoundly disrupted localization. Ferrets in the control and lateral lesion groups improved significantly during subsequent training on the 1 s stimulus. No improvement (learning) occurred in the midline lesion group. Markedly poorer performance and failure to learn was observed with the 40 ms stimulus in all groups. Plug removal resulted in a rapid resumption of normal localization in all animals. Insertion of a subsequent plug in the right ear produced similar results to left earplugging. Learning in the lateral lesion group was independent of the side of the lesion relative to the earplug. Lesions in all reported cases were verified histologically. The results suggest the OC system is not needed for accurate localization, but that it is involved in relearning localization during unilateral conductive hearing loss. PMID:21325517

Defense Headquarters: Geographic Combatant Commands Rely on Subordinate Commands for Mission Management and Execution

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-30

These figures do not include personnel performing contract services. The service component commands , subordinate unified commands , and joint task forces...GAO has previously found that the combatant commands do not have oversight or visibility over authorized manpower or assigned personnel at the...Jack Reed Ranking Member Committee on Armed Services United States Senate Defense Headquarters: Geographic Combatant Commands Rely on Subordinate

Combined Arms Warfare in the 21st Century: Maximizing the Capability of U.S. Army Future Combat System Equipped Brigade Combat Teams to Conduct Combined Arms Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-13

caliber howitzers and mortars (pieces of 300 mm or more) were not always kept in an army’s inventory . One way the Central Powers attempted to initially...missions as these arise. Lift helicopters (primarily the UH-60 Blackhawks and CH-47 Chinooks in the Army’s current inventory ) can potentially...serve many functions at the BCT level, to include: troop transport, medical evacuation, and aerial resupply. In today’s operatio environment, if all

Geluidsexpositie bij gebruik van CEP door F-16 crewchiefs (Sound Exposure Level of F-16 Crew Chiefs Using Communications Earplugs)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-01

Communications Earplugs Auteur (s) dr. ir. M.M.J. Houben Programmanummer Projectnummer J.A. Verhave 032.13072 F.W.M. Geurtsen Rubricering rapport Program...de communicatie kiest men voor een geluidniveau dat luider is dan het waargenomen omgevingsgeluid. In theorie kan bet totale geluidsexpositieniveau...Afdelingshoofd Auteur TNO-rapport I TNO-DV 2008 A054 Bijlage A 1 1/3 A Simulatie Simulatie-omgeving Uit een opname gemaakt op Vhiegbasis Volkel hebben

Combating the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jenkins, Bonnie

1997-01-01

Reveals the growing threat posed to all countries by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Discusses the international effort combating this proliferation including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties, Biological Weapons Convention, and Chemical Weapons Convention. Also considers regional arms…

Combat sports practice favors bone mineral density among adolescent male athletes.

PubMed

Nasri, Raouf; Hassen Zrour, Saoussen; Rebai, Haithem; Neffeti, Fadoua; Najjar, Mohamed Fadhel; Bergaoui, Naceur; Mejdoub, Hafedh; Tabka, Zouhair

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of combat sports practice on bone mineral density (BMD) and to analyze the relationship between bone parameters and anthropometric measurements, bone markers, and activity index (AI). In other words, to detect the most important determinant of BMD in the adolescent period among combat sports athletes. Fifty athletes engaged in combat sports, mean age 17.1±0.2 yr, were compared with 30 sedentary subjects who were matched for age, height, and pubertal stage. For all subjects, the whole-body BMD, lumbar spine BMD (L2-L4), and BMD in the pelvis, arms, and legs was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and anthropometric measurements were evaluated. Daily calcium intake, bone resorption, and formation markers were measured. BMD measurements were greater in the combat sports athletes than in the sedentary group (p<0.01). Weight, body mass index, and lean body mass were significantly correlated with BMD in different sites. Daily calcium consumption lower than daily calcium intake recommended in both athletes and sedentary group. AI was strongly correlated with all BMD measurements particularly with the whole body, legs, and arms. Negative correlations were observed between bone markers and BMD in different sites. The common major predictor of BMD measurements was AI (p<0.0001). AI associated to lean body mass determined whole-body BMD until 74%. AI explained both BMD in arms and L2-L4 at 25%. AI associated to height can account for 63% of the variance in BMD legs. These observations suggested that the best model predicting BMD in different sites among adolescent combat sports athletes was the AI. Children and adolescents should be encouraged to participate in combat sports to maximize their bone accrual. Copyright © 2015 The International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Better protection from blasts without sacrificing situational awareness.

PubMed

Killion, Mead C; Monroe, Tim; Drambarean, Viorel

2011-03-01

A large number of soldiers returning from war report hearing loss and/or tinnitus. Many deployed soldiers decline to wear their hearing protection devices (HPDs) because they feel that earplugs interfere with their ability to detect and localize the enemy and their friends. The detection problem is easily handled in electronic devices with low-noise microphones. The localization problem is not as easy. In this paper, the factors that reduce situational awareness--hearing loss and restricted bandwidth in HPD devices--are discussed in light of available data, followed by a review of the cues to localization. Two electronic blast plug earplugs with 16-kHz bandwidth are described. Both provide subjectively transparent sound with regard to sound quality and localization, i.e., they sound almost as if nothing is in the ears, while protecting the ears from blasts. Finally, two formal experiments are described which investigated localization performance compared to popular existing military HPDs and the open ear. The tested earplugs performed well regarding maintaining situational awareness. Detection-distance and acceptance studies are underway.

Lifetime Stable isotopes profiles in whale earplug: assessment of foraging and migrations in the Northern Hemisphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansouri, F.; Crain, D.; Winfield, Z.; Trumble, S.; Usenko, S.

2017-12-01

Whale earplugs, historically used for aging, were used to reconstruct lifetime stable isotope profiles for carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) for individual whales by delaminating lamina within the earplug. These stable isotope profile, which provide Continuous lifetime records of feeding, foraging ecology, and migration, were determined for 20 individuals from 4 baleen species including fin, minke, humpback, and blue whales spanning more than a century (1869 - 2014) using stable isotope analysis. Approximately 1 mg tissue from each lamina (n=1200) was analyzed for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope using continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS). This research using whale earplugs have combined age estimates with stable isotope measurements to reconstruct lifetime foraging profiles with a 6-month resolution, providing an unprecedented opportunity to assess periods and trends in dietary fluctuations as well as migration between different foraging area which have distinct isotope values. Trends with these profiles suggest long-term changing in migration, while annual variability highlights seasonal fasting and feeding. Isotopic ratios were also used to identify subpopulations of Atlantic fin whales, which enabled us to assign unidentified humpback and minke whales to the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. This historical archive of data provides us an unprecedented tool to assess long term marine ecosystem and subsequently marine organism transition to alternate foraging area and shed light on the whale's population status in the Northern hemisphere.

Technique of Axillary Use of a Combat Ready Clamp to Stop Junctional Bleeding

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

compressed parallel to—but not on—the clavicle (Fig. 4). 5. Adjust the horizontal arm length by using its locking pin. 6. Adjust the vertical arm by...arm adjustment for square disk head contact atop the target. Fig. 4. Placing the square disk head atop the target, parallel to—but not on—the clavicle

Preparing for Combat Readiness for the Fight: Physical Performance Profile of Female U.S. Marines.

PubMed

Kelly, Karen R; Jameson, Jason T

2016-03-01

Females have been restricted from serving in direct combat arms' positions for decades. One reason for the exclusion derives from the perceived physical demands of these positions. As a result, many current efforts are directed toward defining the physical demands of combat arms' positions. The purpose of this study was to develop a physical performance and body composition profile of females who could overcome the physical demands of combat tasks that rely primarily on upper body strength. This study is based on an analysis of archival data from 2 separate samples of active-duty female Marines (n = 802), who had been recruited to participate in heavy lifting tasks. These tasks included lifting a heavy machine gun (HMG) lift (cohort 1, n = 423) and Clean and Press lifts (29.5-52.3 kg) (cohort 2, n = 379). To develop the physical performance profile, data from annual physical fitness tests were collected, which included run times, ammunition can lift, 804. Seven-meter (880-yard) movement to contact, and the maneuver under fire. In cohort 1, 65 females (∼15%; n = 423 females) successfully completed HMG; in cohort 2, 33 females (∼9%; n = 379 females) successfully completed another strength task, a Clean and Press of 52.3 kg. In both samples, female Marines who were successful on these tasks also outperformed their unsuccessful counterparts on the annual physical fitness tests. In addition, larger females typically outperformed their smaller counterparts. Females seeking assignment to closed combat arms' positions would thus be well served by targeting upper body strength, while maintaining overall physical fitness.

Advanced protection technology for ground combat vehicles.

PubMed

Bosse, Timothy G

2012-01-01

Just as highway drivers use radar detectors to attempt to stay ahead of police armed with the latest radar technology, the Armed Forces are locked in a spiral to protect combat vehicles and their crews against the latest threats in both the contemporary operating environment and the anticipated operating environment (ie, beyond 2020). In response to bigger, heavier, or better-protected vehicles, adversaries build and deploy larger explosive devices or bombs. However, making improvements to combat vehicles is much more expensive than deploying larger explosives. In addition, demand is increasing for lighter-weight vehicles capable of rapid deployment. Together, these two facts give the threat a clear advantage in the future. To protect vehicles and crews, technologies focusing on detection and hit avoidance, denial of penetration, and crew survivability must be combined synergistically to provide the best chance of survival on the modern battlefield.

To Determine the Impact of OPMS on the Development of Commanders.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-19

and training policies are designed to promote the development of leadership , managerial, and technical skills.5 In spite of the foregoing, there is...corps into commanders and staff, with the in- evitable consequence of each group convinced the other does not under- stand its problems . Further, the...developing leadership skills needed to effec- tively command troops* Caterory Label Combat Arms Combat Support Combat Svc Spt Strongly agree/agree 65% 58

2007 Joint Services Small Arms Systems Annual Symposium, Exhibition and Firing Demonstration

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-10

CAN Chairman Combat Clothing Individual Equipment & Protection Henk Reulink – NLD Chairman Dan Fitzgerald – USA Deputy C4I & Systems Architecture Rune ...Chairman Combat Clothing Individual Equipment & Protection Henk Reulink – NLD Chairman Dan Fitzgerald – USA Deputy C4I & Systems Architecture Rune

Arming Commanders to Combat PTSD: A Time for Change - Attacking the Stressors Vice the Symptoms

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

using psychiatric, developmental, psychodynamic, family support, cognitive-behavioral, and existential - humanistic approaches either individually or in...relates to coping with the fiscal, and humanistic challenges that manifest within a nation at war, and those who experience the trauma of combat. The

U.S. Army physical demands study: Identification and validation of the physically demanding tasks of combat arms occupations.

PubMed

Sharp, Marilyn A; Cohen, Bruce S; Boye, Michael W; Foulis, Stephen A; Redmond, Jan E; Larcom, Kathleen; Hydren, Jay R; Gebhardt, Deborah L; Canino, Maria C; Warr, Bradley J; Zambraski, Edward J

2017-11-01

In 2013, the U.S. Army began developing physical tests to predict a recruit's ability to perform the critical, physically demanding tasks (CPDTs) of combat arms jobs previously not open to women. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology and results of analyses of the accuracy and inclusiveness of the critical physically demanding task list. While the job analysis included seven combat arms jobs, only data from the 19D Cavalry Scout occupation are presented as the process was similar for all seven jobs. Job analysis METHODS: As the foundation, senior subject matter experts from each job reviewed materials and reached consensus on the CPDTs and performance standards for each job. The list was reviewed by Army leadership and provided to the researchers. The job analysis consisted of reviewing job and task related documents and field manuals, observing >900 soldiers performing the 32 CPDTs, conducting two focus groups for each job, and analyzing responses to widely distributed job analysis questionnaires. Of the 32 CPDTs identified for seven combat jobs, nine were relevant to 19D soldiers. Focus group discussions and job analysis questionnaire results supported the tasks and standards identified by subject matter experts while also identifying additional tasks. The tasks identified by subject matter experts were representative of the physically demanding aspects of the 19D occupation. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Operational Test to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Communication Earplug and Active Noise Reduction Devices when used with the HGU-56P Aviator Helmet

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-01-01

notice of discomfort, earseal fit, limitation of "hot spots, perspiration, and headaches, as well as overall comfort (Mozo, Murphy and Ribera , 1995...crewmembers showed dramatic improvements ( Ribera and Mozo, 1996). Individuals wearing the SPH-4B went from 1 percent to 40 percent SI with ANR, and to 65...USAARL Report 95-26. Mozo, Ben T., Murphy, Barbara A., and Ribera , John E. 1995. User acceptability, and comfort of the communications earplug (CEP

U.S. Army Physical Demands Study: Reliability of Simulations of Physically Demanding Tasks Performed by Combat Arms Soldiers.

PubMed

Foulis, Stephen A; Redmond, Jan E; Frykman, Peter N; Warr, Bradley J; Zambraski, Edward J; Sharp, Marilyn A

2017-12-01

Foulis, SA, Redmond, JE, Frykman, PN, Warr, BJ, Zambraski, EJ, and Sharp, MA. U.S. Army physical demands study: reliability of simulations of physically demanding tasks performed by combat arms soldiers. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3245-3252, 2017-Recently, the U.S. Army has mandated that soldiers must successfully complete the physically demanding tasks of their job to graduate from their Initial Military Training. Evaluating individual soldiers in the field is difficult; however, simulations of these tasks may aid in the assessment of soldiers' abilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of simulated physical soldiering tasks relevant to combat arms soldiers. Three cohorts of ∼50 soldiers repeated a subset of 8 simulated tasks 4 times over 2 weeks. Simulations included: sandbag carry, casualty drag, and casualty evacuation from a vehicle turret, move under direct fire, stow ammunition on a tank, load the main gun of a tank, transferring ammunition with a field artillery supply vehicle, and a 4-mile foot march. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement (SEMs), and 95% limits of agreement. Performance of the casualty drag and foot march did not improve across trials (p > 0.05), whereas improvements, suggestive of learning effects, were observed on the remaining 6 tasks (p ≤ 0.05). The ICCs ranged from 0.76 to 0.96, and the SEMs ranged from 3 to 16% of the mean. These 8 simulated tasks show high reliability. Given proper practice, they are suitable for evaluating the ability of Combat Arms Soldiers to complete the physical requirements of their jobs.

Gender Issues. Trends in the Occupational Distribution of Military Women. Report to the Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

General Accounting Office, Washington, DC. National Security and International Affairs Div.

Since 1993 and 1994, significant changes in legislation and policy allow women to fly combat aircraft, serve on combat ships, and serve in combat-related occupations. As was the case in the early 1990s, a large percentage of military women continue to work in the areas of health care, administration, personnel, and supply occupations. However,…

The role of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in committing violence during combat: A cross-sectional study with former combatants in the DR Congo.

PubMed

Haer, Roos; Hermenau, Katharin; Elbert, Thomas; Moran, James K; Hecker, Tobias

2017-05-01

It has been postulated that the violent behavior that characterizes armed conflict is reinforced by the possibility of receiving rewards. The present study examined the potential influence of two types of rewards in an ongoing setting of conflict: extrinsic and intrinsic rewards. Former combatants active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (N = 198) were interviewed and questioned about the way they were recruited, the offenses they committed during combat, their level of perceived intrinsic rewards (i.e., appetitive perception of violence), and the number of received extrinsic rewards during their time in the armed group (e.g., money, extra food, alcohol, or drugs). A moderated multiple regression analysis showed that the number of received extrinsic rewards and the level of intrinsic rewards were significantly positively related to the number of different types of offenses committed. In contrast to our expectations and previous findings, the recruitment type (forced conscription vs. voluntary enlistment) did not moderate this relation. Our findings suggest that both types of rewards play a role in committing violence during combat. We suggest, therefore, that reintegration programs should not only consider the influence of extrinsic rewards, but also need to address the influence of intrinsic rewards to counter violent behavior among former combatants. Aggr. Behav. 43:241-250, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transforming Mechanized Reconnaissance: How the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) Cavalry Squadron Should be Structured for Reconnaissance and Security Operations in the Near Future

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-13

Squadron ( BFV /HMMWV, Current) .................................................. 93 Description...Evaluation Criteria ........................................................ 106 Comparison to Validation Criteria: ABCT Cavalry Squadron ( BFV /HMMWV...Brigade Combat Team BFV Bradley Fighting Vehicle BRT Brigade Reconnaissance Troop CAB Combined Arms Battalion CFV Cavalry Fighting Vehicle FM

76 FR 49650 - Private Security Contractors (PSCs) Operating in Contingency Operations, Combat Operations or...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-11

...] Private Security Contractors (PSCs) Operating in Contingency Operations, Combat Operations or Other..., ``Contractor Personnel Authorized to Accompany the U.S. Armed Forces,'' which provides guidance for all DoD contractors operating in contingency operations. This Rule was published as an Interim Final Rule on July 17...

Experiences and perceptions of sexual harassment in the Canadian forces combat arms.

PubMed

Gill, Ritu; Febbraro, Angela R

2013-02-01

Recent studies examining sexual harassment in the military indicate a decrease in reports of harassment, which may be attributed to several factors, including zero-tolerance policies or anti-harassment programs. However, the decrease may also be attributed to fears of losing one's job or of being derogated by colleagues if harassment is reported. This qualitative study of women employed in the Canadian combat arms examined spontaneously shared perceptions and experiences of sexual harassment. Six of the 26 women interviewed shared their experiences or perceptions of harassment, including concerns about potential repercussions of reporting. Implications for gender integration in military organizations are discussed.

32 CFR 842.110 - Claims not payable.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE CLAIMS AND LITIGATION... International Agreements Claims Act. (4) The Air Force Admiralty Claims Act and the Admiralty Extensions Act. (5...) Claims from the combat activities of the armed forces during war or armed conflict. (c) Claims for...

2005 NDIA Combat Vehicles Conference. Volume 1. Wednesday

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-22

supporting arms under armor (FO/FAC) helpful • Mobile Data Automated Communications Terminal (MDACT) • Useful if connectivity can be maintained • Consider...other uses • Ability to coordinate supporting arms under armor (FO/FAC) helpful • Mobile Data Automated Communications Terminal (MDACT) • Useful if

Army Logistician. Volume 37, Issue 4, July-August 2005

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-01

Galaxy , and the C–17 Globe- master can only lift one M1 tank at a time. The C–17 can lift up to four UH–60 Black Hawk helicopters, two AH–64 Apache...SOLDIERS MAY ATTEND RANGER SCHOOL Soldiers in combat support (CS) and combat ser- vice support (CSS) branches of the Army may now attend Ranger School...In the past, attendance at Ranger School was limited to combat arms soldiers and those who were assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment or the Ranger

[Polymeric hearing protectors in sport shooting].

PubMed

Lwow, Felicja; Szmigiero, Leszek

2007-01-01

Using hearing protectors during exposition to noise is fundamental to hearing loss prevention. The optimal choice of hearing protectors should take into consideration not only the physical characteristics of the acoustic environment which imply the traumatic action of noise, but also some individual preferences of the user. All contemporary produced hearing protectors both earmuffs as well as earplugs are made of synthetic polymers e.g. ABS, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polyurethathane, silicone rubbers. The type of the material used determines hardness, incompressibility and plasticity of the hear protector and may cause some discomfort. A special group of individuals exposed to noise are sport shooters in which (whose) case the exposition to impact noise is several times higher above standards. The aim of this work was an appraisal of the individual preferences in the choice of hearing protectors. The properties of polymers used for the production of hearing protectors were also taken into consideration. 104 females and 93 males representing master class were interviewed in this study. The analysis of the answers indicated that abandoning of hearing protectors by some shooters is due to the frequent skin irritations, overheating in the ear canal and allergy. Shooters linked these problems with the materials used for the production of hearing protectors. Earplugs were preferred by females, whereas males indicated earmuffs as their preferred choice. Females preferred earplugs made of soft materials which can be easily fitted to ear canal. Those males who used earplugs preferred protectors made of hard plastics as they thought this make better insulation. It can be concluded that the choice of the hearing protectors should not be done on the basis acoustic signal characteristics only, but also should reduce some discomforts resulting from properties of the materials used for their production.

Effectiveness evaluation of existing noise controls in a deep shaft underground mine.

PubMed

Lutz, Eric A; Reed, Rustin J; Turner, Dylan; Littau, Sally R; Lee, Vivien; Hu, Chengcheng

2015-01-01

Noise exposures and hearing loss in the mining industry continue to be a major problem, despite advances in noise control technologies. This study evaluated the effectiveness of engineering, administrative, and personal noise controls using both traditional and in-ear dosimetry by job task, work shift, and five types of earplug. The noise exposures of 22 miners performing deep shaft-sinking tasks were evaluated during 56 rotating shifts in an underground mine. Miners were earplug-insertion trained, earplug fit-tested, and monitored utilizing traditional and in-ear dosimetry. The mean TWA8 noise exposure via traditional dosimetry was 90.1 ± 8.2 dBA, while the mean in-ear TWA8 was 79.6 ± 13.8 dBA. The latter was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personal exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dBA. Dosimetry mean TWA8 noise exposures for bench blowing (103.5 ± 0.9 dBA), jumbo drill operation (103.0 ± 0.8 dBA), and mucking tasks (99.6 ± 4.7 dBA) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other tasks. For bench blowing, cable pulling, grinding, and jumbo drill operation tasks, the mean in-ear TWA8 was greater than 85 dBA. Those working swing shift had a significantly higher (p < 0.001) mean TWA8 noise exposure (95.4 ± 7.3 dBA) than those working day shift. For percent difference between traditional vs. in-ear dosimetry, there was no significant difference among types of earplug used. Reflective of occupational hearing loss rate trends across the mining industry, this study found that, despite existing engineering and administrative controls, noise exposure levels exceeded regulatory limits, while the addition of personal hearing protection limited excessive exposures.

Social Sciences Support to Military Personnel Engaged in Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism Operations (Soutien en sciences sociales apporte au personnel militaire engage dans des operations de contre-insurrection et de contre-terrorisme)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-11-01

Aleksanin, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Nikiforov Russian Centre of Emergency and Radiation Medicine: Dr. Aleksanin has worked as a therapist and served as a...four components of being combat ready: psychological health, physical health, combat skills and physical training. The combat potential of the...clear that participation in armed conflict affects mental and physical health adversely. Studies have shown that certain personality changes take

US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941. Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919-41

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

Author for the Contemporary Operations Study Team at the Combat Studies Institute . Combat Studies Institute The Combat Studies Institute (CSI) is an...organization that produces timely and relevant military history publications and contemporary operational history for the US Army. The institute’s...instructors. The Past is Prologue! AD 1979 TAB M O C T U DIE SS INSTIT U T E E ST SUGOPR O L AN TEAC TU S U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919–1941 Unlike

Airland Battle Combat Airdrop Doctrine and Requirement

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-11

ample. One the most demanding and interse combat scenerioc . the Army faces in the world today, it will also be the st demanding for airl ift forces...Secoind, we will =surn,. hat U.S. ?nd NATO armed forces are engaced it) combat in this .-gion against forces from the Union of Soviet Sociali t...theater ended on. Back in Europe, the f i r-st a i r bore rip opei at -n iti..ERLORC" , ca code named ’ RUGBY -. The Rujgb- f c. 42 a- ’ ’ i i IIIIS

In Order to Win, Learn How to Fight: The US Army in Urban Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-05-23

Arms MOUT Task Force, “Mission Need Statement For Urban Operations Training Capability.” Annex A, 23 Feb 2001, 5-6. 93 Mr. John Bastone , Combined Arms...John Bastone , Combined Arms MOUT Task Force, Phone interview with author on Feb.5, 2002. 100 “A Concept for Future Military Operations on Urbanized...conduct close quarters combat with enemy forces. For this 108 Mr. John Bastone , Phone Interview, Feb.5

[Survey on individual occupational health protection behaviors of welding workers using theory of reasoned action].

PubMed

Xing, Ming-luan; Zhou, Xu-dong; Yuan, Wei-ming; Chen, Qing; Zhang, Mei-bian; Zou, Hua; Zhao, Hai-ying

2012-03-01

To apply theory of reasoned action at survey on welding workers occupational health protection behaviors and explore related influencing factors. nine companies were randomly selected from areas with many welding works in Zhejiang Province. All welding workers were surveyed using a questionnaire based on theory of reasoned action. 10.06%, 26.80% and 37.50% of the respondents never or seldom used eyeshade, mask and earplug, respectively. After controlling the socio-demographic factors, welding workers' behavioral belief was correlated with the behaviors of eyeshade-mask and earplug use (χ(2) = 31.88, 18.77 and 37.77, P < 0.01). the subjective norm of company was correlated with all protection behaviors (χ(2) = 20.60, 10.98 and 19.86, P < 0.01), the subjective norm of colleague was correlated with mask and earplug use, (χ(2) = 27.43, 36.39, P < 0.01), and the subjective norm of family was correlated with mask use (χ(2) = 5.73, P < 0.05). Theory of reasoned action is suitable for welding worker occupational health related behaviors. It is useful to improve occupational health education, to effectively select health education objective and to tailor health education contents.

Effect of oral melatonin and wearing earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep in healthy subjects in a simulated intensive care unit environment: which might be a more promising strategy for ICU sleep deprivation?

PubMed

Huang, Hua-Wei; Zheng, Bo-Lu; Jiang, Li; Lin, Zong-Tong; Zhang, Guo-Bin; Shen, Ling; Xi, Xiu-Ming

2015-03-19

Sleep deprivation is common in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Noise and light in the ICU and the reduction in plasma melatonin play the essential roles. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of simulated ICU noise and light on nocturnal sleep quality, and compare the effectiveness of melatonin and earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality in these conditions in healthy subjects. This study was conducted in two parts. In part one, 40 healthy subjects slept under baseline night and simulated ICU noise and light (NL) by a cross-over design. In part two, 40 subjects were randomly assigned to four groups: NL, NL plus placebo (NLP), NL plus use of earplugs and eye masks (NLEE) and NL plus melatonin (NLM). 1 mg of oral melatonin or placebo was administered at 21:00 on four consecutive days in NLM and NLP. Earplugs and eye masks were made available in NLEE. The objective sleep quality was measured by polysomnography. Serum was analyzed for melatonin levels. Subjects rated their perceived sleep quality and anxiety levels. Subjects had shorter total sleep time (TST) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, longer sleep onset latency, more light sleep and awakening, poorer subjective sleep quality, higher anxiety level and lower serum melatonin level in NL night (P <0.05). NLEE had less awakenings and shorter sleep onset latency (P <0.05). NLM had longer TST and REM and shorter sleep onset latency (P <0.05). Compared with NLEE, NLM had fewer awakenings (P = 0.004). Both NLM and NLEE improved perceived sleep quality and anxiety level (P = 0.000), and NLM showed better than NLEE in perceived sleep quality (P = 0.01). Compared to baseline night, the serum melatonin levels were lower in NL night at every time point, and the average maximal serum melatonin concentration in NLM group was significantly greater than other groups (P <0.001). Compared with earplugs and eye masks, melatonin improves sleep quality and serum melatonin levels better in healthy subjects exposed to simulated ICU noise and light. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IPR-14005458 . Registered 10 November 2014.

UNEQUAL RISK: COMBAT OCCUPATIONS IN THE VOLUNTEER MILITARY

PubMed Central

MacLEAN, ALAIR; PARSONS, NICHOLAS L.

2011-01-01

This study evaluates the characteristics of the men who served in the volunteer military in combat occupations. It examines whether these characteristics stem from supply-side or demand-side decisions, or reflect class bias. The findings suggest that, on the supply side, men who had greater academic abilities were more likely to go to college, thereby avoiding military service and the possibility of serving in a combat occupation. On the demand side, the armed forces were more likely to exclude men with lower academic abilities but were more likely to assign such men in the military to combat occupations. Net of the impacts of these supply-side and demand-side decisions, men who served in combat occupations still differed from those who did not in terms of their family background. The impact of family background was stronger on entering the military than on being assigned to combat occupations once in the military. PMID:21691446

Navy DDG-1000 and DDG-51 Destroyer Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-04

Aegis combat system and the arming of the ship with the SM-3, a version of the Navy’s Standard Missile that is designed for BMD operations.6 Total...and assigning the construction of those ships to GD/BIW and/or NGSB; • procuring AGS- armed versions of the basic LPD-17 class hull—another option...subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.24 22 Christopher P. Cavas, “All

Blended Training for Combat Medics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fowlkes, Jennifer; Dickinson, Sandra; Lazarus, Todd

2010-01-01

Bleeding from extremity wounds is the number one cause of preventable death on the battlefield and current research stresses the importance of training in preparing every Soldier to use tourniquets. HapMed is designed to provide tourniquet application training to combat medics and Soldiers using a blended training solution encompassing information, demonstration, practice, and feedback. The system combines an instrumented manikin arm, PDA, and computer. The manikin arm provides several training options including stand-alone, hands-on skills training in which soldiers can experience the actual torque required to staunch bleeding from an extremity wound and be timed on tourniquet application. This is more realistic than using a block of wood to act as a limb, which is often how training is conducted today. Combining the manikin arm with the PDA allows instructors to provide scenario based training. In a classroom or field setting, an instructor can specify wound variables such as location, casualty size, and whether the wound is a tough bleed. The PDA also allows more detailed feedback to be provided. Finally, combining the manikin arm with game-based technologies, the third component, provides opportunities to build knowledge and to practice battlefield decision making. Not only do soldiers learn how to apply a tourniquet, but when to apply a tourniquet in combat. The purpose of the paper is to describe the learning science underlying the design of HapMed, illustrate the training system and ways it is being expanded to encompass other critical life-saving tasks, and report on feedback received from instructors and trainees at military training and simulation centers.

An Evaluation of the Media Coverage Concerning the Mission to Secure the Dog Kennel during the Panama Invasion on December 20, 1989

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-01

34 Reflections, Winter 1989, 13. Matthews, William. "Commanders Downplay Women In Combat," Army Times, February 26, 1990, 9. Maze, Rick . "Byron: No Women in...Combat," Army Times, March 26, 1990. 18. Maze, Rick . "Women Need To Learn Infantry Skills, Warner Says," Arm7y Times, February 5, 1990, 10. McCarthy...January 4, 1990, 3. Yancey , Matt. "Women-Combat," Associated Press, January 14, 1990. Yarbrough, Jean. "The Feminist Mistake," Policy Review, 1983, 48

Navy DDG-1000 and DDG-51 Destroyer Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-22

House Armed Services Committee, Navy officials announced a major change in the service’s position on what kind of destroyers it wants to procure over the...software program for the Aegis combat system and the arming of the ship with the SM-3, a version of the Navy’s Standard Missile that is designed for BMD...Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Ship Programs), before the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces of the House Armed Services Committee, on

Land Combat Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

systems many key automation and robotic technologies necessary for the autonomous operations desired of future systems. GDLS is in charge of the AAAV...TITLE AND SUBTITLE 2002 Industry Studies: Land Combat Systems 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6 . AUTHOR(S) 5d...PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) The Industrial College of the Armed Forces

The Management of Combat Wounds: The British Military Experience

PubMed Central

Jeffery, Steven L.A.

2016-01-01

The concept of the military wound is not an easy entity to define as the wounds seen in conflict can be of many types: those caused by recognized or improvised weapon systems may have similarities to civilian wounds as well as the wounds soldiers sustain outside of battle. This article will focus on the current treatment approaches to combat wounds sustained by the deployed UK Armed Forces personnel. PMID:27785380

Development of a Leader Training Model and System

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

recognition--are (a) the free - play , two-sided engagement which incorporates the crucial elements of complexity and uncertainty, (b) objective and real-time...changing conditions, many created by opposition action. In such a dynamic free - play environ- ment, further complicated by the confounding conditions...the ISD model with its emphasis on task analysis was considered less than adequate for the combat arms. The free - play character of the combat setting

Evolution of the U.S. Army aviation during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-12

my chair, thank you for your continued support and dedicated persistent efforts to guide me through from the beginning till the end of this...ADAM Air Defense and Airspace Management AGI Air Ground Integration AI Air Interdiction AO Area of Operation AVCATT Aviation Combined Arms...Tactical Trainer AW Army Warrior BAE Brigade Aviation Element BAO Brigade Aviation Officer BCT Brigade Combat Team CAB Combat Aviation Brigade

Spectral analysis of hearing protector impulsive insertion loss.

PubMed

Fackler, Cameron J; Berger, Elliott H; Murphy, William J; Stergar, Michael E

2017-01-01

To characterise the performance of hearing protection devices (HPDs) in impulsive-noise conditions and to compare various protection metrics between impulsive and steady-state noise sources with different characteristics. HPDs were measured per the impulsive test methods of ANSI/ASA S12.42- 2010 . Protectors were measured with impulses generated by both an acoustic shock tube and an AR-15 rifle. The measured data were analysed for impulse peak insertion loss (IPIL) and impulsive spectral insertion loss (ISIL). These impulsive measurements were compared to insertion loss measured with steady-state noise and with real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT). Tested HPDs included a foam earplug, a level-dependent earplug and an electronic sound-restoration earmuff. IPIL for a given protector varied between measurements with the two impulse noise sources, but ISIL agreed between the two sources. The level-dependent earplug demonstrated level-dependent effects both in IPIL and ISIL. Steady-state insertion loss and REAT measurements tended to provide a conservative estimate of the impulsively-measured attenuation. Measurements of IPIL depend strongly on the source used to measure them, especially for HPDs with less attenuation at low frequencies. ISIL provides an alternative measurement of impulse protection and appears to be a more complete description of an HPD's performance.

Spectral analysis of hearing protector impulsive insertion loss

PubMed Central

Fackler, Cameron J.; Berger, Elliott H.; Murphy, William J.; Stergar, Michael E.

2017-01-01

Objective To characterize the performance of hearing protection devices in impulsive-noise conditions and to compare various protection metrics between impulsive and steady-state noise sources with different characteristics. Design Hearing protectors were measured per the impulsive test methods of ANSI/ASA S12.42-2010. Protectors were measured with impulses generated by both an acoustic shock tube and an AR-15 rifle. The measured data were analyzed for impulse peak insertion loss (IPIL) and impulsive spectral insertion loss (ISIL). These impulsive measurements were compared to insertion loss measured with steady-state noise and with real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT). Study Sample Tested devices included a foam earplug, a level-dependent earplug, and an electronic sound-restoration earmuff. Results IPIL for a given protector varied between measurements with the two impulse noise sources, but ISIL agreed between the two sources. The level-dependent earplug demonstrated level-dependent effects both in IPIL and ISIL. Steady-state insertion loss and REAT measurements tended to provide a conservative estimate of the impulsively-measured attenuation. Conclusions Measurements of IPIL depend strongly on the source used to measure them, especially for hearing protectors with less attenuation at low frequencies. ISIL provides an alternative measurement of impulse protection and appears to be a more complete description of an HPD’s performance. PMID:27885881

[The role of information and training for workers on the correct use of earplugs in assessing real noise attenuation with E-A-RfitTM system].

PubMed

Cassano, Filippo; Aloise, Ingrid; Labianca, Graziano; Gaccione, Vincenzo; Mazzotta, Cosimo; Cardascia, Francesco; Garavaglia, Michela; Germano, Candida; Dentamaro, Antonella; Di Lorenzo, Luigi

2015-07-08

Laboratory levels of perceived noise attenuation as heard using earplugs are always higher than the real levels that can be achieved at the workplace. The employer is bound by law to supply individual hearing protection devices (HPDs), to assess their efficiency and efficacy, and also to inform and train workers on the correct use of HPDs. This study assessed the real "personal attenuation rating" (PAR) of HPDs  used by workers at the workplace, before (PAR A) and after (PAR B) specific and individual training. These values were also compared with the theoretical  "single number rating" (SNR) provided by the manufacturer. The study covered all the 65 male employees of an awnings factory, using the E-A-RfitTM computerized method, which can measure PARs, based on the difference between sound pressures recorded by an "outside" microphone and an "inside" microphone placed in the auditory canal, with earplugs inserted, before (PAR A) and after (PAR B), i.e., the specific and individual training described above. PARs B were always definitely higher than PARs A, both for all tested frequencies and the corresponding average values, which were automatically detected by E-A-RfitTM. Furthermore the same PARs B were  decidedly lower than the respective SNRs supplied by the manufacturer on the basis of laboratory assessments. These data prove that specific and individual training for workers improves the performance of earplugs, contributing to a more appropriate secondary prevention of the effects of noise on hearing; they also prove that the real attenuation recorded in workers are always lower than those supplied by the manufacturer of the devices. It is recommended that the E-A-RfitTM system, which allowed these results to be achieved objectively, should be normally used to assess exposure to noise in workers, when HPDs are worn.

Effect of sleep-inducing music on sleep in persons with percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography in the cardiac care unit.

PubMed

Ryu, Min-Jung; Park, Jeong Sook; Park, Heeok

2012-03-01

The study compared the effect of earplug-delivered sleep-inducing music on sleep in persons with percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography in the cardiac care unit. Diverse types of music have been claimed to improve sleeping elsewhere, but relatively little is known in South Korea. Most studies investigating the effect of sleep-inducing music on sleep have involved persons with insomnia, even though many persons with cardiovascular disease in the intensive care unit suffer from sleeping problems. There is a need to investigate the effect of sleep-inducing music on sleep disorders in persons with percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography in the cardiac care unit. An experimental research design was used. Data collection was conducted in the cardiac care unit of K University Hospital in D city, from 3 September-4 October 2010. Fifty-eight subjects participated and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (earplug-delivered sleep-inducing music for 52 min beginning at 10:00 pm, while wearing an eyeshield, n = 29) and the control group (no music, but earplugs and eyeshield worn, n = 29). The quantity and quality of sleep were measured using questionnaires at 7 am the next morning for each group. Participants in the experimental group reported that the sleeping quantity and quality were significantly higher than control group (t = 3·181, p = 0·002, t = 5·269, p < 0·001, respectively). Sleep-inducing music significantly improved sleep in patients with percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography at a cardiac care unit. Offering earplugs and playing sleep-inducing music may be a meaningful and easily enacted nursing intervention to improve sleep for intensive care unit patients. Nurses working at cardiac care unit can use music to improve sleeping in clients with percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Caffeine and energy drink use by combat arms soldiers in Afghanistan as a countermeasure for sleep loss and high operational demands.

PubMed

McLellan, Tom M; Riviere, Lyndon A; Williams, Kelly W; McGurk, Dennis; Lieberman, Harris R

2018-03-11

Combat deployments are characterized by high operational demands with limited opportunities for sleep leading to fatigue and degraded cognitive and operational performance. Caffeine in moderate doses is recognized as an effective intervention for physical and cognitive decrements associated with sleep loss. This report is based on data collected by two separate, independently conducted surveys administered in Afghanistan in 2011-2012. It assessed caffeine use and sleep disruption among U.S. Army combat soldiers (J-MHAT 8; n = 518) and among deployed soldiers with different military assignments (USARIEM Deployment Survey; n = 260). Daily caffeine intake assessed in the J-MHAT 8 survey averaged 404 ± 18 mg. In the USARIEM Deployment Survey, intake was 303 ± 29 mg and was significantly higher among combat arms soldiers (483 ± 100 mg) compared to combat service support personnel (235 ± 23 mg). In both surveys, over 55% of total caffeine intake was from energy drinks. Additional sources of caffeine included coffee, tea, sodas, gum, candy, and over-the-counter medications. Higher caffeine intake was not associated with ability to fall asleep at night or wake-up in the morning (J-MHAT 8 survey). Higher caffeine consumption was associated with disrupted sleep from high operational tempo and nighttime duties of combat operations. Overall caffeine consumption and energy drink use in Afghanistan was greater than among non-deployed soldiers and civilians. Caffeine was frequently used as a countermeasure during night operations to offset adverse effects of sleep loss on physical and cognitive function, consistent with current Department of the Army recommendations.

Grip strength is a predictor of bone mineral density among adolescent combat sport athletes.

PubMed

Nasri, Raouf; Hassen Zrour, Saoussen; Rebai, Haithem; Fadhel Najjar, Mohamed; Neffeti, Fadoua; Bergaoui, Naceur; Mejdoub, Hafedh; Tabka, Zouhair

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was firstly to investigate the correlation between bone parameters and grip strength (GS) in hands, explosive legs power (ELP), and hormonal parameters; second, to identify the most determinant variables of bone mineral density (BMD) among adolescent combat sport athletes. Fifty combat sport athletes aged 17.1 ± 0.2 year were compared with 30 sedentary subjects matched for age, height, and pubertal stage. For all subjects, the BMD in deferent sites associated with anthropometric parameters were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (TESTO) concentrations were tested. The GS in dominant (GSDA) and nondominant arms (GSNDA) and ELP were evaluated. All BMD measured were greater in athletes than in sedentary group (p<0.01). The GS and ELP showed higher values in athletes than in sedentary group (p<0.01). The BMD in all sites were correlated with weight, but without correlation with height. The GSNDA and ELP were significantly correlated with BMD of both spine and legs. The GH was correlated with the BMD of whole body and spine (p<0.05). The TESTO was only correlated with BMD of the arms (p<0.01). The best predictor of BMD measurements is GSNDA. This study has proved the osteogenic effect of combat sports practice, especially judo and karate kyokushinkai. Therefore, children and adolescent should be encouraged to participate in combat sport. Moreover, it suggested that the best model predicting BMD in different sites among adolescent combat sports athletes was the GSNDA. Copyright © 2013 The International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Just War Theory and Presidential Discourse Prior to Conflict

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-04

Case for Combat , Edward J. Lordan lists last resort as a theme, among others, that has been used to persuade Americans to enter conflicts from the...Topic This paper studies the public statements of US presidents to ascertain justifications for war or armed intervention. Edward J. Lordan used a...similar approach in his book The Case for Combat : How Presidents Persuade Americans to go to War. In it, he examines presidential messaging and the

What explains post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK service personnel: deployment or something else?

PubMed

Jones, M; Sundin, J; Goodwin, L; Hull, L; Fear, N T; Wessely, S; Rona, R J

2013-08-01

In previous studies an association between deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and an overall increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK armed forces has not been found. The lack of a deployment effect might be explained by including, in the comparison group, personnel deployed on other operations or who have experienced traumatic stressors unrelated to deployment. The sample comprised 8261 regular UK armed forces personnel who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or other operational areas or were not deployed. Participants completed the PTSD CheckList-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and provided information about deployment history, demographic and service factors, serious accidents and childhood experiences. Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan [odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-2.2] or elsewhere (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6-2.0) was unrelated to PTSD although holding a combat role was associated with PTSD if deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-3.9). Childhood adversity (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1-5.0), having left service (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-4.0) and serious accident (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.0) were associated with PTSD whereas higher rank was protective (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.12-0.76). For the majority of UK armed forces personnel, deployment whether to Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere confers no greater risk for PTSD than service in the armed forces per se but holding a combat role in those deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan is associated with PTSD. Vulnerability factors such as lower rank, childhood adversity and leaving service, and having had a serious accident, may be at least as important as holding a combat role in predicting PTSD in UK armed forces personnel.

Naval Law Review. Volume 63, 2014

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

stating that chaplains may not bear arms.46 Current Marine Corps doctrine states quite succinctly: “Chaplains are noncombatants and will not bear arms...47 Past Marine Corps doctrine , though more verbose, was quite emphatic and clear in stating:   Chaplains must never engage in combat. If they...Bush administration’s executive authority doctrine and stresses rather that it has power to detain individuals under prevailing laws of war

Assessment of the Combat Developer’s Role in Post-Deployment Software Support (PDSS) 30 June 1980 - 28 February 1981. Volume II.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-30

systems is provided by the Intelligence School, Fort Devens , Massachusetts. 3. TRADOC System Manager for specified Corps Tactical EW/Intelligence...UNITED STATES ARMY COMBINED ARMS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY E, FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS 66027 BOM SERVICES COMPANY LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS 66048 SION...ATZLCA-CI-M, Mr. R. K. Schwabe UNCLASSIFIED Fort eavenorth Kanss 6607I15. DECLASSI FICATION/ DOWNGRADINGFortLeaenwothKanss 6027SCHEDULE 16

Improved characterization of combat injury.

PubMed

Champion, Howard R; Holcomb, John B; Lawnick, Mary M; Kelliher, Timothy; Spott, Mary Ann; Galarneau, Michael R; Jenkins, Donald H; West, Susan A; Dye, Judy; Wade, Charles E; Eastridge, Brian J; Blackbourne, Lorne H; Shair, Ellen Kalin

2010-05-01

Combat injury patterns differ from civilian trauma in that the former are largely explosion-related, comprising multiple mechanistic and fragment injuries and high-kinetic-energy bullets. Further, unlike civilians, U.S. armed forces combatants are usually heavily protected with helmets and Kevlar body armor with ceramic plate inserts. Searchable databases providing actionable, statistically valid knowledge of body surface entry wounds and resulting organ injury severity are essential to understanding combat trauma. Two tools were developed to address these unique aspects of combat injury: (1) the Surface Wound Mapping (SWM) database and Surface Wound Analysis Tool (SWAT) software that were developed to generate 3D density maps of point-of-surface wound entry and resultant anatomic injury severity; and (2) the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2005-Military that was developed by a panel of military trauma surgeons to account for multiple injury etiology from explosions and other high-kinetic- energy weapons. Combined data from the Joint Theater Trauma Registry, Navy/Marine Combat Trauma Registry, and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System Mortality Trauma Registry were coded in AIS 2005-Military, entered into the SWM database, and analyzed for entrance site and wounding path. When data on 1,151 patients, who had a total of 3,500 surface wounds and 12,889 injuries, were entered into SWM, surface wounds averaged 3.0 per casualty and injuries averaged 11.2 per casualty. Of the 3,500 surface wounds, 2,496 (71%) were entrance wounds with 6,631 (51%) associated internal injuries, with 2.2 entrance wounds and 5.8 associated injuries per casualty (some details cannot be given because of operational security). Crude deaths rates were calculated using Maximum AIS-Military. These new tools have been successfully implemented to describe combat injury, mortality, and distribution of wounds and associated injuries. AIS 2005-Military is a more precise assignment of severity to military injuries. SWM has brought data from all three combat registries together into one analyzable database. SWM and SWAT allow visualization of wounds and associated injuries by region on a 3D model of the body.

Hybrid feedforward-feedback active noise reduction for hearing protection and communication.

PubMed

Ray, Laura R; Solbeck, Jason A; Streeter, Alexander D; Collier, Robert D

2006-10-01

A hybrid active noise reduction (ANR) architecture is presented and validated for a circumaural earcup and a communication earplug. The hybrid system combines source-independent feedback ANR with a Lyapunov-tuned leaky LMS filter (LyLMS) improving gain stability margins over feedforward ANR alone. In flat plate testing, the earcup demonstrates an overall C-weighted total noise reduction of 40 dB and 30-32 dB, respectively, for 50-800 Hz sum-of-tones noise and for aircraft or helicopter cockpit noise, improving low frequency (<100 Hz) performance by up to 15 dB over either control component acting individually. For the earplug, a filtered-X implementation of the LyLMS accommodates its nonconstant cancellation path gain. A fast time-domain identification method provides a high-fidelity, computationally efficient, infinite impulse response cancellation path model, which is used for both the filtered-X implementation and communication feedthrough. Insertion loss measurements made with a manikin show overall C-weighted total noise reduction provided by the ANR earplug of 46-48 dB for sum-of-tones 80-2000 Hz and 40-41 dB from 63 to 3000 Hz for UH-60 helicopter noise, with negligible degradation in attenuation during speech communication. For both hearing protectors, a stability metric improves by a factor of 2 to several orders of magnitude through hybrid ANR.

Combating Military Sexual Assault Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA

2013-05-07

Senate - 06/04/2013 Committee on Armed Services. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-320. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Optoelectronics applications in multimedia shooting training systems: SPARTAN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glogowski, Tomasz; Hlosta, Pawel; Stepniak, Slawomir; Swiderski, Waldemar

2017-10-01

Multimedia shooting training systems are increasingly being used in the training of security staff and uniformed services. An advanced practicing-training system SPARTAN for simulation of small arms shooting has been designed and manufactured by Autocomp Management Ltd. and Military Institute of Armament Technology for the Polish Ministry of National Defence. SPARTAN is a stationary device designed to teach, monitor and evaluate the targeting of small arms and to prepare soldiers for: • firing the live ammunition at open ranges for combat targets and silhouettes • detection, classification and engagement of real targets upon different terrains, weather conditions and periods during the day • team work as a squad during the mission by using different types of arms • suitable reactions in untypical scenarios. Placed in any room the training set consists of: • the projection system that generates realistic 3D imaging of the battlefield (such as combat shooting range) in high-resolution • system that tracks weapons aiming points • sound system which delivers realistic mapping of acoustic surroundings • operator station with which the training is conducted and controlled • central processing unit based on PC computers equipped with specialist software realizing individual system functions • units of smart weapons equipped with radio communication modules, injection laser diodes and pneumatic reloading system. The system make possible training by firing in dynamic scenarios, using combat weapons and live ammunition against visible targets moving on a screen. The use of infrared camera for detecting the position of impact of a projectile.

Noise

MedlinePlus

... traffic on a busy street. Listening to loud music, especially on headphones, is a common cause of ... by Keeping the volume down when listening to music Wearing earplugs when using loud equipment NIH: National ...

The Integration of Women Into Combat Arms Units

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-05

it is important to gain further insight into both sides of the argument through a variety of sources to include: surveys, interviews, research...military service are so important to women and homosexuals. The opportunity to earn citizenship through service in the armed forces also motivates...and Defense and Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, drives home the importance of having a military that reflects the

CACDA JIFFY III War Game. Volume II. Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

Devens , MA 01433 Commandant USA Air ,Defense School ATTN:’ ATSA-CD-SC-S Fort Bliss, TX 79916 Commandant USA Intelligence Center and School Fort Huachuca...RELEASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED 0 801030o 033 1 Technical Report TR 6-80, Septenber 1980 US Army Combined Arms Studies and Analysis Activity Fort ...manual war game developed and operated at the USATRADOC Combined Arms Combat Developments Activity (CACDA),, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for scenzrio

Combat Service Support (CSS) Enabler Functional Assessment (CEFA)

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-07-01

CDR), Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) with a tool to aid decision making related to mitigating E/I peacetime (programmatic) and wartime risks...not be fielded by Fiscal Year (FY) 10. Based on their estimates, any decisions , especially reductions in manpower, which rely on the existence of the E...Support (CSS) enablers/initiatives (E/I), thereby providing the Commander (CDR), Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) with a tool to aid decision

Effects of training and simulated combat stress on leg tourniquet application accuracy, time, and effectiveness.

PubMed

Schreckengaust, Richard; Littlejohn, Lanny; Zarow, Gregory J

2014-02-01

The lower extremity tourniquet failure rate remains significantly higher in combat than in preclinical testing, so we hypothesized that tourniquet placement accuracy, speed, and effectiveness would improve during training and decline during simulated combat. Navy Hospital Corpsman (N = 89), enrolled in a Tactical Combat Casualty Care training course in preparation for deployment, applied Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) and the Special Operations Forces Tactical Tourniquet (SOFT-T) on day 1 and day 4 of classroom training, then under simulated combat, wherein participants ran an obstacle course to apply a tourniquet while wearing full body armor and avoiding simulated small arms fire (paint balls). Application time and pulse elimination effectiveness improved day 1 to day 4 (p < 0.005). Under simulated combat, application time slowed significantly (p < 0.001), whereas accuracy and effectiveness declined slightly. Pulse elimination was poor for CAT (25% failure) and SOFT-T (60% failure) even in classroom conditions following training. CAT was more quickly applied (p < 0.005) and more effective (p < 0.002) than SOFT-T. Training fostered fast and effective application of leg tourniquets while performance declined under simulated combat. The inherent efficacy of tourniquet products contributes to high failure rates under combat conditions, pointing to the need for superior tourniquets and for rigorous deployment preparation training in simulated combat scenarios. Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Your Ears

MedlinePlus

... Protect your hearing by wearing earplugs at loud music concerts and around noisy machinery, like in wood ... More on this topic for: Kids Can Loud Music Hurt My Ears? What Is an Ear Infection? ...

Prevention of combat-related infections: antimicrobial therapy in battlefield and barrier measures in French military medical treatment facilities.

PubMed

Mérens, Audrey; Rapp, Christophe; Delaune, Deborah; Danis, Julien; Berger, Franck; Michel, Remy

2014-01-01

Infection is a major complication associated with combat-related injuries. Beside immobilization, wound irrigation, surgical debridement and delayed coverage, post-injury antimicrobials contribute to reduce combat-related infections, particularly those caused by bacteria of the early contamination flora. In modern warfare, bacteria involved in combat-related infections are mainly Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the late contamination flora. These bacteria are frequently resistant or multiresistant to antibiotics and spread through the deployed chain of care. This article exposes the principles of war wounds antimicrobial prophylaxis recommended in the French Armed Forces and highlights the need for high compliance to hygiene standard precautions, adapted contact precautions and judicious use of antibiotics in French deployed military medical treatment facilities (MTF). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

To ensure that members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who were killed or wounded in certain attacks in 2009 and 2011 directed at members or employees outside of a combat zone are treated in the same manner as members and employees who are killed or wounded in combat zones.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-16

2011-03-10

House - 03/18/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Report to Congress on the Review of Laws, Policies and Regulations Restricting the Service of Female Members in the U.S. Armed Forces

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

of vessels on which enlisted women can serve are more limited than those of their male counterparts. Women in occupations such as yeoman, culinary ...Marine Corps training in skills necessary for managing combat trauma casualties and operating with Marine forces in a combat environment. After this...commanders in dealing [with] the management of military forces and the requirements of military discipline.” Id. at 69. In Rostker, the Court

Investigating the correlation of the U.S. Air Force Physical Fitness Test to combat-based fitness: a women-only study.

PubMed

Mitchell, Tarah; White, Edward D; Ritschel, Daniel

2014-06-01

The primary objective in this research involves determining the Air Force Physical Fitness Test's (AFPFT) predictability of combat fitness and whether measures within the AFPFT require modification to increase this predictability further. We recruited 60 female volunteers and compared their performance on the AFPFT to the Marine Combat Fitness Test, the proxy for combat fitness. We discovered little association between the two (R(2) of 0.35), however, this association significantly increased (adjusted R(2) of 0.56) when utilizing the raw scores of the AFPFT instead of using the gender/age scoring tables. Improving on these associations, we develop and propose a simple ordinary least squares regression model that minimally impacts the AFPFT testing routine. This two-event model for predicting combat fitness incorporates the 1.5-mile run along with the number of repetitions of a 30-lb dumbbell from chest height to overhead with arms extended during a 2-minute time span. These two events predicted combat fitness as assessed by the Marine Combat Fitness Test with an adjusted R(2) of 0.82. By adopting this model, we greatly improve the Air Force's ability to assess combat fitness for women. Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Inter-laboratory Comparison of Three Earplug Fit-test Systems

PubMed Central

Byrne, David C.; Murphy, William J.; Krieg, Edward F.; Ghent, Robert M.; Michael, Kevin L.; Stefanson, Earl W.; Ahroon, William A.

2017-01-01

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sponsored tests of three earplug fit-test systems (NIOSH HPD Well-Fit™, Michael & Associates FitCheck, and Honeywell Safety Products VeriPRO®). Each system was compared to laboratory-based real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) measurements in a sound field according to ANSI/ASA S12.6-2008 at the NIOSH, Honeywell Safety Products, and Michael & Associates testing laboratories. An identical study was conducted independently at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), which provided their data for inclusion in this report. The Howard Leight Airsoft premolded earplug was tested with twenty subjects at each of the four participating laboratories. The occluded fit of the earplug was maintained during testing with a soundfield-based laboratory REAT system as well as all three headphone-based fit-test systems. The Michael & Associates lab had highest average A-weighted attenuations and smallest standard deviations. The NIOSH lab had the lowest average attenuations and the largest standard deviations. Differences in octave-band attenuations between each fit-test system and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sound field method were calculated (Attenfit-test - AttenANSI). A-weighted attenuations measured with FitCheck and HPD Well-Fit systems demonstrated approximately ±2 dB agreement with the ANSI sound field method, but A-weighted attenuations measured with the VeriPRO system underestimated the ANSI laboratory attenuations. For each of the fit-test systems, the average A-weighted attenuation across the four laboratories was not significantly greater than the average of the ANSI sound field method. Standard deviations for residual attenuation differences were about ±2 dB for FitCheck and HPD Well-Fit compared to ±4 dB for VeriPRO. Individual labs exhibited a range of agreement from less than a dB to as much as 9.4 dB difference with ANSI and REAT estimates. Factors such as the experience of study participants and test administrators, and the fit-test psychometric tasks are suggested as possible contributors to the observed results. PMID:27786602

Employment of the El Salvador Armed Forces for Internal Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-02

and in which the familiar life develops undressed of the fear; a country where a climate exists that favors the investment and the opportunities of...armed forces the experience and familiarize them with the roots of the problems, causes, and conditions that generate the violence in the country...police, military and fiscal members, and members of other institutions involved in the combating of crime have to be familiar with the legal procedures

Gangs in El Salvador

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

job.6 3 In cities the familiarity with the handling of arms and armed combat were the only tools. Some of them were incorporated into...April 17, 2012. 40 Douglas Moreno, “Buscan apoyo para prevención de violencia en El Salvador,” June 22, 2012, http://hoylosangeles.com/news/2012/jun/22...buscan-apoyo-para-prevencion-de- violencia - en-el-sa/, (accessed December 10, 2012). 41 Cámara de Comercio e Industria de El Salvador “Propuesta

[Epidemiological health surveillance among the troops during combat operations in armed conflicts].

PubMed

Mel'nichenko, P I

1997-08-01

With local wars and armed conflicts the sanitary-epidemiological situation for the troops and local population shows a tendency to worsen. The main objects of the military medical service at the period of deployment are the preventive measures against troops infection from local sources by virus hepatitis A, bacterial dysentery, typhoid, cholera etc. As a rule, combat actions result in communal service destruction, low quality of potable water, soil contamination and worsening sanitary norms and standards. Also, there is a danger of reactivation of the natural centres of infection due to large-scale defence earthworks in the region of operations. The experience of the military medical service in Afghanistan and Chechnya proves, that a multimedia approach to preventive antiepidemic measures is necessary together with the emphasis on the most important actions against infections that represent the biggest danger for the land troops.

How Loud Is Too Loud?

MedlinePlus

... turn Javascript on. Protect Your Hearing Know which noises can cause damage. Wear earplugs when you are ... to 12 about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. 110 Decibels Regular exposure of ...

Appetitive Aggression and Adverse Childhood Experiences Shape Violent Behavior in Females Formerly Associated with Combat

PubMed Central

Augsburger, Mareike; Meyer-Parlapanis, Danie; Bambonye, Manassé; Elbert, Thomas; Crombach, Anselm

2015-01-01

This study investigated the impact of violent experiences during childhood, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and appetitive aggression on everyday violent behavior in Burundian females with varying participation in war. Moreover, group differences in trauma-related and aggression variables were expected. Appetitive aggression describes the perception of violence perpetration as fascinating and appealing and is a common phenomenon in former combatants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 158 females, either former combatants, supporters of armed forces or civilians during the civil war in Burundi. The PTSD Symptom Scale Interview was used to assess PTSD symptom severity, the Appetitive Aggression Scale to measure appetitive aggression and the Domestic and Community Violence Checklist to assess both childhood maltreatment and recent aggressive behavior. Former combatants had experienced more traumatic events, perpetrated more violence and reported higher levels of appetitive aggression than supporters and civilians. They also suffered more severely from PTSD symptoms than civilians but not than supporters. The groups did not differ regarding childhood maltreatment. Both appetitive aggression and childhood violence predicted ongoing aggressive behavior, whereas the latter outperformed PTSD symptom severity. These findings support current research showing that adverse childhood experiences and a positive attitude toward aggression serve as the basis for aggressive behavior and promote an ongoing cycle of violence in post-conflict regions. Female members of armed groups are in need of demobilization procedures including trauma-related care and interventions addressing appetitive aggression. PMID:26635666

Epidemiology of U.K. Military Burns 2008-2013.

PubMed

Page, Felicity; Hamnett, Nathan; D'Asta, Federica; Jeffery, Steven

After sustaining burn injuries overseas, U.K. Armed Forces personnel are evacuated to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. The objective was to review the etiology of U.K. Military burns managed at the center between 2008 and 2013. Analysis will aid provision planning and assist in the prevention of burn injuries for future tours. The International Burn Injury Database database of all U.K. Armed Forces burn injured patients evacuated to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Analysis included patient demographics, injury mechanism, burn severity, management, and mortality. There were 65 military personnel with burn injuries requiring repatriation to the United Kingdom. Percentage of 78.5 were sustained in Afghanistan. The mean age was 25 (18-46) years. Percentage of 70.8 were considered noncombat burn injuries. Of the noncombat burns, the mechanism of injury most commonly involved burning waste and misuse of fuels and scalds. The mean TBSA for all patients was 6% (0.05-51%). Areas most commonly affected included arms, legs, and face. The length of hospital stay for combat vs noncombat burn injury patients was 10 vs 7 days. There were no fatalities. In conclusion, substantially fewer military personnel sustained combat burns between 2008 and 2013 than in preceding study period (19 vs 79). The number of accidental noncombat burns remained constant. The decrease in combat burns may reflect a relative decrease in military intensity and effective protective equipment and safety measures. Further education may allow for an additional decrease in preventable burn injuries.

Navy Expeditionary Support

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-27

Officer, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobil Unit TWO, conversation with author, March 2010. 12 Marc Carmichael , Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, Deputy...Combat Service Support Reorganization Conference, 17-27 Jan 1977. Washington, D. C.: Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, January 17, 1977. "Armed

Reorganizing Geographic Combatant Command Headquarters for Joint Force 2020

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

Corps General James N. Mattis , U.S. Central Command Commander, before the House Armed Services Committee on March 7, 2012, about the posture of U.S...Prentice Hall, 2002. Legal Organization of Defense. http://www.ndu.edu/library/pbrc/36L52.pdf (accessed January 21, 2013). 99 Mattis , James N...Statement of U.S. Marine Corps General James N. Mattis , U.S. Central Command Commander, before the House Armed Services Committee on March 7, 2012

Changing the Officer Promotion System to Support Unit Focused Stability (UFS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-05-26

arms officers will be reduced by one-third.78 This decrement is far from trivial. Since many combat arms officers define career success by these two...their own priorities and definitions of career success , or by inventing informal “work-arounds” to regain the status quo of the old personnel...progression models so that its members are not forced to choose between personal career success and unit cohesion? Perhaps a study of the officer

When do Armed Revolts Succeed: Lessons from Lanchester Theory

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-01

When do Armed Revolts Succeed: Lessons from Lanchester Theory Michael P. Atkinson 1, Alexander Gutfraind 2, Moshe Kress 1 Abstract Major revolts have...classic Lanchester theory of combat. The model accounts for the split in the population between those loyal to the regime and those favoring the...Lessons from Lanchester Theory 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f

Ear-protector ratings.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-12-01

Twenty-one brands of ear protectors, including custom-molded, wearer-molded, and pre-molded types, were evaluated according to American-standard procedures. Earplugs are described and are listed in the order of their low-frequency (below 1000 Hz) att...

Listen Up! Noises Can Damage Your Hearing

MedlinePlus

... Shortened Understanding Aphasia Wise Choices It’s a Noisy Planet: Protect Your Hearing Your ears can be your ... the noise (wear earplugs or earmuffs). Links Noisy Planet Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Interactive Sound Ruler AgePage: ...

Women in the Military. Hearings before the Military Personnel and Compensation Subcommitee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives. One Hundredth Congress, First and Second Sessions (October 1, November 19, 1987 and February 4, 1988).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. House Committee on Armed Services.

Within this document is the testimony delivered by 15 individuals at congressional hearings. Among the issues spoken to are: the combat exclusion law and its effect on the careers of women in the military; the kinds of jobs open to female armed services personnel; special problems that women in the military face; their promotion and retention…

Infections in Combat Casualties During Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-01

bacteria other 39 112.1 Vulva/vaginal candidiasis 1 381.4 Nonsuppurative otitis media 1 451.82 Superficial phlebitis arm 2 451.83 Deep phlebitis arm 1...Coding by Pathogen Pathogen Code Code Description Number Fungus 112.1 Vulva/vaginal candidiasis 1 112.3 Candidiasis of skin/nails 1 112.5 Disseminated... candidiasis 3 112.89 Candidiasis site not available 6 112.9 Candidiasis site unspecified 13 117.3 Aspergillus 5 117.9 Mycoses 14 Gram-negative 003.8

A Study of Simulation Effectiveness in Modeling Heavy Combined Arms Combat in Urban Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-01

Printing Office, 1987), 51. 2The old FM 17-15 (Tank Platoon) described bypassing urban areas. The new manual, FM 3-20.15 (dtd. 22 February 2007...hardened positions and counter the German’s crew-served weapons and armored counter-attacks.15 In addition to the moderately successful M4 tanks...the successful urban operations since and during WWII, it involved the use of heavy armor and combined arms. When the NVA and Vietcong captured Hue

Mission Impossible? Never. or Beep...Beep...Beep

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grady, William F.

1971-01-01

Described and recommended is a method for preventing members of travelling study groups from missing any of their guides' remarks. Basically the system consists of a wireless microphone for the guide and earplugs for each traveler. (LS)

Biomedical Simulation Models of Human Auditory Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bicak, Mehmet M. A.

2012-01-01

Detailed acoustic engineering models that explore noise propagation mechanisms associated with noise attenuation and transmission paths created when using hearing protectors such as earplugs and headsets in high noise environments. Biomedical finite element (FE) models are developed based on volume Computed Tomography scan data which provides explicit external ear, ear canal, middle ear ossicular bones and cochlea geometry. Results from these studies have enabled a greater understanding of hearing protector to flesh dynamics as well as prioritizing noise propagation mechanisms. Prioritization of noise mechanisms can form an essential framework for exploration of new design principles and methods in both earplug and earcup applications. These models are currently being used in development of a novel hearing protection evaluation system that can provide experimentally correlated psychoacoustic noise attenuation. Moreover, these FE models can be used to simulate the effects of blast related impulse noise on human auditory mechanisms and brain tissue.

22 CFR 121.15 - Surface vessels of war.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... (battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, cruisers, corvettes, littoral combat ships, mine sweepers, mine hunters, mine countermeasure ships, dock landing ships, amphibious assault ships), or Coast... support naval nuclear propulsion plants; (5) Are armed or are specially designed to be used as a platform...

Soviet Military Intentions in the German Democratic Republic

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-06-01

Designated Elements of East European Armed Forces Groups of Soviet Forces in the GDR, Poland... Comparativ ~ Data on Soviet and East European Military Capabilities, 19~:-19𔃿 lnt·t>rnal :’liumber Total Security Tota l of Sov iet Regular Combat

Aggression inoculates against PTSD symptom severity—insights from armed groups in the eastern DR Congo

PubMed Central

Hecker, Tobias; Hermenau, Katharin; Maedl, Anna; Schauer, Maggie; Elbert, Thomas

2013-01-01

Background In the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), combatants are exposed to massive forms of violence and other traumatic stressors. Nevertheless, many combatants do not suffer from trauma-related disorders, although they have experienced numerous traumatizing events. Perceiving aggressive behavior as fascinating and arousing might be a defense against trauma-related disorders in the violent environment of war and conflict. Objective Thus, in this study we investigated the relationship between the exposure to traumatic stressors, appetitive aggression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. We hypothesized that cumulative traumatic experiences correlated positively and appetitive aggression negatively with PTSD symptom severity. Method In total, 105 voluntary male combatants from different armed groups in the eastern DRC took part in this study. In a semistructured interview, respondents were questioned about their exposure to traumatic stressors, the extent of appetitive aggression (Appetitive Aggression Scale) and their PTSD symptom severity (PTSD Symptom Scale - Interview). Results A multiple sequential regression analysis showed that traumatic events were positively related to PTSD symptom severity. For participants with low to medium PTSD symptom severity, appetitive aggression correlated negatively with PTSD symptom severity. Conclusions The results of this study provide further support for earlier findings that repeated exposure to traumatic stressors cumulatively heightens the risk of PTSD and revealed that appetitive aggression buffers the risk of developing PTSD symptoms under certain circumstances. Thus, the perception of aggressive behavior as fascinating and arousing seem to help combatants to adapt to violent environments but may also be one reason for recurrent failure of reintegration programs for excombatants. PMID:23671766

Alcohol Use after Combat-Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury: What We Know and Don’t Know

PubMed Central

ADAMS, RACHEL SAYKO; CORRIGAN, JOHN D.; LARSON, MARY JO

2012-01-01

Military personnel engage in unhealthy alcohol use at rates higher than their same age, civilian peers, resulting in negative consequences for the individual and jeopardized force readiness for the armed services. Among those returning from combat deployment, unhealthy drinking may be exacerbated by acute stress reactions and injury, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Combat-acquired TBI is common among personnel in the current conflicts. Although research suggests that impairments due to TBI leads to an increased risk for unhealthy drinking and consequences among civilians, there has been little research to examine whether TBI influences drinking behaviors among military personnel. This article examines TBI and drinking in both civilian and military populations and discusses implications for clinical care and policy. PMID:22485074

Maintaining the Legal High Ground: The Legal Implications of Using Armed Force to Combat Terrorists

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-07

21 Yemen Predator Strike – 2002..................................................................................... 23 What Does It All Mean ? - Lessons...window of opportunity,”118 the criteria of necessity and imminence were both met in this situation. What Does It All Mean ? - Lessons Learned

50 CFR 21.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... not limited to, artificial housing, waste removal, health care, protection from predators, and... operations of the Armed Forces that relate to combat, and the adequate and realistic testing of military... population is “biologically viable” when its ability to maintain its genetic diversity, to reproduce, and to...

50 CFR 21.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... not limited to, artificial housing, waste removal, health care, protection from predators, and... operations of the Armed Forces that relate to combat, and the adequate and realistic testing of military... population is “biologically viable” when its ability to maintain its genetic diversity, to reproduce, and to...

50 CFR 21.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... not limited to, artificial housing, waste removal, health care, protection from predators, and... own. Hybrid means any bird that results from a cross of genetic material between two separate taxa... and operations of the Armed Forces that relate to combat, and the adequate and realistic testing of...

50 CFR 21.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... not limited to, artificial housing, waste removal, health care, protection from predators, and... operations of the Armed Forces that relate to combat, and the adequate and realistic testing of military... population is “biologically viable” when its ability to maintain its genetic diversity, to reproduce, and to...

50 CFR 21.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... not limited to, artificial housing, waste removal, health care, protection from predators, and... operations of the Armed Forces that relate to combat, and the adequate and realistic testing of military... population is “biologically viable” when its ability to maintain its genetic diversity, to reproduce, and to...

Infectious disease complications of combat-related injuries.

PubMed

Murray, Clinton K

2008-07-01

: Strategies currently used to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with combat-related injuries include better training of frontline medical personnel, improved personal protective equipment, and deployment of fast-forward surgical assets with state-of-the-art equipment. These strategies allow patients to survive near-catastrophic injuries, placing a greater emphasis on the medical infrastructure to mitigate short- and long-term complications associated with these injuries. : Wounds have certain characteristics that promote the development of infections: the presence of devitalized tissue, foreign bodies, clots, fluid collections, and contamination of wounds with bacteria from the casualty's skin, the environment, and the hospital. All of these factors culminate in placing the casualty at risk of developing an infection. : This article reviews the lessons learned from combat-related wound infections throughout history and in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the management strategies used to prevent infections of combat-related injuries are applicable to the management of civilian trauma, whether associated with small arms fire or related to natural disasters such as earthquakes or tornadoes.

Atypical Modulations of N170 Component during Emotional Processing and Their Links to Social Behaviors in Ex-combatants.

PubMed

Trujillo, Sandra P; Valencia, Stella; Trujillo, Natalia; Ugarriza, Juan E; Rodríguez, Mónica V; Rendón, Jorge; Pineda, David A; López, José D; Ibañez, Agustín; Parra, Mario A

2017-01-01

Emotional processing (EP) is crucial for the elaboration and implementation of adaptive social strategies. EP is also necessary for the expression of social cognition and behavior (SCB) patterns. It is well-known that war contexts induce socio-emotional atypical functioning, in particular for those who participate in combats. Thus, ex-combatants represent an ideal non-clinical population to explore EP modulation and to evaluate its relation with SCB. The aim of this study was to explore EP and its relation with SCB dimensions such as empathy, theory of mind and social skills in a sample of 50 subjects, of which 30 were ex-combatants from illegally armed groups in Colombia, and 20 controls without combat experience. We adapted an Emotional Recognition Task for faces and words and synchronized it with electroencephalographic recording. Ex-combatants presented with higher assertion skills and showed more pronounced brain responses to faces than Controls. They did not show the bias toward anger observed in control participants whereby the latter group was more likely to misclassify neutral faces as angry. However, ex-combatants showed an atypical word valence processing. That is, words with different emotions yielded no differences in N170 modulations. SCB variables were successfully predicted by neurocognitive variables. Our results suggest that in ex-combatants the links between EP and SCB functions are reorganized. This may reflect neurocognitive modulations associated to chronic exposure to war experiences.

Atypical Modulations of N170 Component during Emotional Processing and Their Links to Social Behaviors in Ex-combatants

PubMed Central

Trujillo, Sandra P.; Valencia, Stella; Trujillo, Natalia; Ugarriza, Juan E.; Rodríguez, Mónica V.; Rendón, Jorge; Pineda, David A.; López, José D.; Ibañez, Agustín; Parra, Mario A.

2017-01-01

Emotional processing (EP) is crucial for the elaboration and implementation of adaptive social strategies. EP is also necessary for the expression of social cognition and behavior (SCB) patterns. It is well-known that war contexts induce socio-emotional atypical functioning, in particular for those who participate in combats. Thus, ex-combatants represent an ideal non-clinical population to explore EP modulation and to evaluate its relation with SCB. The aim of this study was to explore EP and its relation with SCB dimensions such as empathy, theory of mind and social skills in a sample of 50 subjects, of which 30 were ex-combatants from illegally armed groups in Colombia, and 20 controls without combat experience. We adapted an Emotional Recognition Task for faces and words and synchronized it with electroencephalographic recording. Ex-combatants presented with higher assertion skills and showed more pronounced brain responses to faces than Controls. They did not show the bias toward anger observed in control participants whereby the latter group was more likely to misclassify neutral faces as angry. However, ex-combatants showed an atypical word valence processing. That is, words with different emotions yielded no differences in N170 modulations. SCB variables were successfully predicted by neurocognitive variables. Our results suggest that in ex-combatants the links between EP and SCB functions are reorganized. This may reflect neurocognitive modulations associated to chronic exposure to war experiences. PMID:28588462

The Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) in the Future: An Assessment of Capabilities Against the Hybrid Threat in the Future Operational Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-13

reconnaissance squadron costs. The ABCT was calculated based on two combined arms battalions and one reconnaissance squadron equipped with M2A3 /M3A3...ABCT Deployment Cost Data to the NTC SRC TITLE W_VEHICLES 06385R001 FIRES BN 155SP (HBCT) (M109A6) $712,009.00 07205R101 COMBINED ARMS BN ( M2A3 ...07205R101 COMBINED ARMS BN ( M2A3 /M3A3/M1A2) $503,852.00 17205R101 RECON SQUADRON (HBCT) (M3A3) $239,804.00 63325R001 BRIGADE SUPPORT BN (HBCT

Physical Training Strategies for Military Women's Performance Optimization in Combat-Centric Occupations.

PubMed

Nindl, Bradley C

2015-11-01

The physiological differences, particularly of upper-body strength and power, between women and men, and the rigors of combat-centric occupational demands would seem to place women at a significant disadvantage, as the U.S. military opens up previously closed combat-arms military occupational specialties (MOSs) to women. This inherent disadvantage can be significantly mitigated by implementing effective and comprehensive physical training (PT) regimens for women targeting those fitness components most critical for those tasks considered most essential for solider warfighting duties (i.e., strength and power). Regrettably, the military historical and legacy overemphasis on aerobic fitness and on "field expediency" as the major criteria for implementing training have limited the extent to which the military has fully operationalized state-of-the-science PT policies. This continued legacy approach could be problematic regarding fully enhancing women's abilities to perform physically demanding combat-centric occupations and could place the successful integration of women into ground combat MOSs at significant risk. Seminal studies from the literature indicate that (a) a minimum of 6 months of periodized combined resistance/endurance training preparedness is recommended for untrained women considering entering combat-arms MOS training; (b) any comprehensive PT program should incorporate and emphasize progressive load carriage training; (c) a greater emphasis on upper body on strength/power development in military women is needed; (d) heavy resistance training in the range of 3-8 repetition maximum sets should be incorporated into training programs to target type II motor units and muscle fibers (those fibers that produce the most force and have the greatest capacity to hypertrophy); (e) low-volume, high-intensity interval training should be considered as a time-efficient training method to improve aerobic fitness while protecting against lower-body musculoskeletal injuries; (f) flexible nonlinear periodized programs should be considered to best accommodate the unpredictability and operational functional needs of the military training environment; and (g) serious consideration should be given to revamping the manner in which the military conducts physical readiness training, with a departure from "field expediency" as the major criteria for determining PT policies. With an increased emphasis on the human dimension of soldiering and concerted strategic, operational, and tactical efforts to maximize individual physical readiness and performance, the science of training physiology exists to leverage and better physically prepare women as they enter more combat-centric occupations.

The epidemiology of lethal violence in Darfur: using micro-data to explore complex patterns of ongoing armed conflict.

PubMed

de Waal, Alex; Hazlett, Chad; Davenport, Christian; Kennedy, Joshua

2014-11-01

This article describes and analyzes patterns of lethal violence in Darfur, Sudan, during 2008-09, drawing upon a uniquely detailed dataset generated by the United Nations-African Union hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID), combined with data generated through aggregation of reports from open-source venues. These data enable detailed analysis of patterns of perpetrator/victim and belligerent groups over time, and show how violence changed over the four years following the height of armed conflict in 2003-05. During the reference period, violent incidents were sporadic and diverse and included: battles between the major combatants; battles among subgroups of combatant coalitions that were ostensibly allied; inter-tribal conflict; incidents of one-sided violence against civilians by different parties; and incidents of banditry. The conflict as a whole defies easy categorization. The exercise illustrates the limits of existing frameworks for categorizing armed violence and underlines the importance of rigorous microlevel data collection and improved models for understanding the dynamics of collective violence. By analogy with the use of the epidemiological data for infectious diseases to help design emergency health interventions, we argue for improved use of data on lethal violence in the design and implementation of peacekeeping, humanitarian and conflict resolution interventions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the German Armed Forces: a retrospective study in inpatients of a German army hospital.

PubMed

Bandelow, Borwin; Koch, Manuel; Zimmermann, Peter; Biesold, Karl-Heinz; Wedekind, Dirk; Falkai, Peter

2012-09-01

In 2006 and 2007, around 0.4 and 0.7% of all German soldiers involved in missions abroad were registered as suffering from PTSD. The frequency of PTSD in the German Armed Forces was assessed from army records. All soldiers admitted to the German Military Hospital in Hamburg, Germany, with PTSD (n = 117) in the years 2006 and 2007 were assessed by using questionnaires and structure interviews. Risk factors associated with PTSD were identified. Of the 117 soldiers with PTSD, 39.3% were in missions abroad, and 18.0% had participated in combat situations. Five (4.3%) were wounded in combat, and 4 of them had a serious irreversible injury. In total, 53.8% of the PTSD cases were related to injuries or physical/sexual abuse, while 46.2% were due to psychological traumatization. Among soldiers with PTSD who were not abroad, sexual or physical abuse were the most common traumas. In 35.9% of the patients, there was evidence for psychiatric disorders existing before the traumatic event. The percentage of women among sufferers from PTSD was significantly higher than the proportion of women in the armed forces (30.8% vs. 5.17%). A careful psychiatric screening before recruitment might help to identify persons at risk of PTSD.

Improvised explosive device-related lower genitourinary trauma in current overseas combat operations.

PubMed

Banti, Matthew; Walter, Jack; Hudak, Steven; Soderdahl, Douglas

2016-01-01

The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has had a profound effect on battlefield trauma in the 21st century. Historically, wounds to the genitourinary (GU) structures have been less common than extremity and penetrating abdominal trauma in combat operations. GU injury incidence, severity, and associated injuries secondary to the use of this weapon in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom has not been described. Data from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry was reviewed for combat-related GU injuries in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2011. All wounded US armed service members are included in this database. Subjects were selected by a query of current procedural terminology and DRG International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev. codes related to traumatic injury of the penis, scrotum, testicles, and urethra. A retrospective chart review was performed for each patient to identify the date of injury, the mechanism of injury, and the associated traumatic wounds. Subjects' follow-up records were reviewed until present time or separation from active duty. A total of 501 soldiers sustained lower GU trauma, with a total of 729 injuries. Of these casualties, 448 (89%) were wounded by IEDs. Dismounted injuries (87%) made up more of the cohort than did vehicular. Specific trauma sites include 149 (20%) penile, 260 (36%) testicular, 284 (39%) scrotal, and 36 (5%) urethral injuries. The 180 limb amputations (36%) and 86 fractures (17%) were the most encountered concomitant skeletal wounds among service members with GU injuries. This is the first review of all lower GU trauma sustained by all US armed service members in current overseas combat operations. Combat-related lower GU trauma is primarily caused by IEDs in the spectrum of complex dismounted blast injuries. The mechanism primarily results in multisystem injury, with isolated GU involvement being uncommon. Continued evaluation of long-term sequelae, including sexual, urinary, and reproductive dysfunction, is needed. Epidemiologic study, level V.

Occupational differences in US Army suicide rates.

PubMed

Kessler, R C; Stein, M B; Bliese, P D; Bromet, E J; Chiu, W T; Cox, K L; Colpe, L J; Fullerton, C S; Gilman, S E; Gruber, M J; Heeringa, S G; Lewandowski-Romps, L; Millikan-Bell, A; Naifeh, J A; Nock, M K; Petukhova, M V; Rosellini, A J; Sampson, N A; Schoenbaum, M; Zaslavsky, A M; Ursano, R J

2015-11-01

Civilian suicide rates vary by occupation in ways related to occupational stress exposure. Comparable military research finds suicide rates elevated in combat arms occupations. However, no research has evaluated variation in this pattern by deployment history, the indicator of occupation stress widely considered responsible for the recent rise in the military suicide rate. The joint associations of Army occupation and deployment history in predicting suicides were analysed in an administrative dataset for the 729 337 male enlisted Regular Army soldiers in the US Army between 2004 and 2009. There were 496 suicides over the study period (22.4/100 000 person-years). Only two occupational categories, both in combat arms, had significantly elevated suicide rates: infantrymen (37.2/100 000 person-years) and combat engineers (38.2/100 000 person-years). However, the suicide rates in these two categories were significantly lower when currently deployed (30.6/100 000 person-years) than never deployed or previously deployed (41.2-39.1/100 000 person-years), whereas the suicide rate of other soldiers was significantly higher when currently deployed and previously deployed (20.2-22.4/100 000 person-years) than never deployed (14.5/100 000 person-years), resulting in the adjusted suicide rate of infantrymen and combat engineers being most elevated when never deployed [odds ratio (OR) 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-4.1], less so when previously deployed (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.1), and not at all when currently deployed (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8-1.8). Adjustment for a differential 'healthy warrior effect' cannot explain this variation in the relative suicide rates of never-deployed infantrymen and combat engineers by deployment status. Efforts are needed to elucidate the causal mechanisms underlying this interaction to guide preventive interventions for soldiers at high suicide risk.

Occupational differences in US Army suicide rates

PubMed Central

Kessler, R. C.; Stein, M. B.; Bliese, P. D.; Bromet, E. J.; Chiu, W. T.; Cox, K. L.; Colpe, L. J.; Fullerton, C. S.; Gilman, S. E.; Gruber, M. J.; Heeringa, S. G.; Lewandowski-Romps, L.; Millikan-Bell, A.; Naifeh, J. A.; Nock, M. K.; Petukhova, M. V.; Rosellini, A. J.; Sampson, N. A.; Schoenbaum, M.; Zaslavsky, A. M.; Ursano, R. J.

2016-01-01

Background Civilian suicide rates vary by occupation in ways related to occupational stress exposure. Comparable military research finds suicide rates elevated in combat arms occupations. However, no research has evaluated variation in this pattern by deployment history, the indicator of occupation stress widely considered responsible for the recent rise in the military suicide rate. Method The joint associations of Army occupation and deployment history in predicting suicides were analysed in an administrative dataset for the 729 337 male enlisted Regular Army soldiers in the US Army between 2004 and 2009. Results There were 496 suicides over the study period (22.4/100 000 person-years). Only two occupational categories, both in combat arms, had significantly elevated suicide rates: infantrymen (37.2/100 000 person-years) and combat engineers (38.2/100 000 person-years). However, the suicide rates in these two categories were significantly lower when currently deployed (30.6/100 000 person-years) than never deployed or previously deployed (41.2–39.1/100 000 person-years), whereas the suicide rate of other soldiers was significantly higher when currently deployed and previously deployed (20.2–22.4/100 000 person-years) than never deployed (14.5/100 000 person-years), resulting in the adjusted suicide rate of infantrymen and combat engineers being most elevated when never deployed [odds ratio (OR) 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–4.1], less so when previously deployed (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.1), and not at all when currently deployed (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8–1.8). Adjustment for a differential ‘healthy warrior effect’ cannot explain this variation in the relative suicide rates of never-deployed infantrymen and combat engineers by deployment status. Conclusions Efforts are needed to elucidate the causal mechanisms underlying this interaction to guide preventive interventions for soldiers at high suicide risk. PMID:26190760

Injuries associated with combat sports, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2010-2013.

PubMed

2014-05-01

The practice of combat sports creates a potential for training- and sports-related injuries among military members. During the 4-year surveillance period, there were 12,108 cases of injuries associated with combat sports among active component service members; the overall incidence rate was 21.0 per 10,000 person-years (p-yrs). The rates were higher among service members who were male, Hispanic, in the youngest age groups, in the Army, junior enlisted, and in combat-specific occupations. The rate among recruit/ trainees (779.4 per 10,000 p-yrs) was more than 165 times the rate among all other active component service members (non-recruits) (4.7 per 10,000 p-yrs). Sprains, strains, and contusions accounted for more than one-half of the primary (first-listed) diagnoses associated with combat sports cases. More serious conditions such as concussions/head injuries and skull/face fractures/intracranial injuries were reported among 3.9% and 2.1% of all cases and were more common among boxing-related cases. Hand/wrist fractures were also common among boxing cases. Wrestling had comparatively greater proportions of dislocations and open wounds. Although the combat sport training provides many physical and mental benefits to the individual, safety practices should be enforced to reduce the most frequent and serious injuries.

78 FR 54242 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-03

... elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $1.2 billion. This proposed sale will... support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. (iv) Military Department... logistical support to sustain the combat and operational readiness of its existing aircraft fleet. The...

32 CFR 552.160 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Purpose. 552.160 Section 552.160 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MILITARY RESERVATIONS AND NATIONAL CEMETERIES... use of training areas is vital to the maintenance of US and Allied Armed Forces combat readiness. In...

Unlawful Combatants at the Controls: The CIA, Armed RPAS and LOAC

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-16

career judge advocate, beginning military service with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Navy . After a brief stint in private...of Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater , the private security firm that has been at the forefront of other allegations concerning civilians

Developing close combat behaviors for simulated soldiers using genetic programming techniques.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pryor, Richard J.; Schaller, Mark J.

2003-10-01

Genetic programming is a powerful methodology for automatically producing solutions to problems in a variety of domains. It has been used successfully to develop behaviors for RoboCup soccer players and simple combat agents. We will attempt to use genetic programming to solve a problem in the domain of strategic combat, keeping in mind the end goal of developing sophisticated behaviors for compound defense and infiltration. The simplified problem at hand is that of two armed agents in a small room, containing obstacles, fighting against each other for survival. The base case and three changes are considered: a memory of positionsmore » using stacks, context-dependent genetic programming, and strongly typed genetic programming. Our work demonstrates slight improvements from the first two techniques, and no significant improvement from the last.« less

The Defense Policy of the Soviet Union

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-08-01

aims, the probable methods of waging armed combat, the tasks to be performed by the Armed Forces, and the measures required for the all-around social ...organ that exercises ultimate decisional authority on all issues of consequence in the Soviet Union. This small body, whose exact size varies slightly...attit) T. Y P E O F E P O R T & M P f tI O C O V E R C O The Defense Policy of the Soviet Union interim 4. PERFORMING ORG. AEPOA1 44juaER 7. Aurimom

[Dimensions of Empathy in Ex-Combatants of the Colombian Armed Conflict Using a Standardized Scale].

PubMed

Pineda, David A; Aguirre-Acevedo, Daniel Camilo; Trujillo, Natalia; Valencia, Ana María; Pareja, Ángela; Tobón, Carlos; Velilla, Lina; Ibáñez, Agustín

2013-03-01

Empathy is one of the main concepts of in social neurosciences. It is defined as a trait with multiple dimensions allowing individuals to place themselves in the emotional states of others. Colombia has an irregular, internal and long-lasting armed conflict which has been increasing its cruelty levels. to assess the empathy dimensions of 285 ex-combatants from the internal Colombian conflict, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index(IRI) in Spanish. METHODOLOGY AND SUBJECTS: a sample of 285 male ex-combatants, 241 (84, 6%) males: 85,3% paramilitaries, and 14,7% guerillas. The 28 Item IRI questionnaires were administered. 3 exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were performed. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were developed using structural equation procedures. The first EFA obtained 9 factors (KMO=0,74, variance 54,7% and internal consistency (IC): 0,22 - 0,63). The second EFA produced 20 items with burdens above 0,4 and showed a 6-factor structure (KMO=0,70, variance 50,3%, IC: 0,37 - 0,63). The third EFA forced the 4 original IRI dimensions (KMO=0,74, variance 33,77, IC: 0,44 - 0,77. CFAs showed goodness of adjustment indexes adequate for the three models. The 4-factor model obtained the lowest value, while the 6-factor model obtained the highest. The 4- factor model showed the best IC. The Spanish IRI administered to ex-combatants of the Colombian conflict has possible structures of 4, 6 and 9 factors. The best adjustment was for the 6-fctor. The 4-factor model exhibited the best IC. Copyright © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Virtual reality pain control during burn wound debridement of combat-related burn injuries using robot-like arm mounted VR goggles.

PubMed

Maani, Christopher V; Hoffman, Hunter G; Morrow, Michelle; Maiers, Alan; Gaylord, Kathryn; McGhee, Laura L; DeSocio, Peter A

2011-07-01

This is the first controlled study to explore whether adjunctive immersive virtual reality (VR) can reduce excessive pain of soldiers with combat-related burn injuries during wound debridement. Patients were US soldiers burned in combat attacks involving explosive devices in Iraq or Afghanistan. During the same wound care session using a within-subject experimental design, 12 patients received half of their severe burn wound cleaning procedure (~6 minutes) with standard of care pharmacologies and half while in VR (treatment order randomized). Three 0 to 10 Graphic Rating Scale pain scores for each of the treatment conditions served as the primary variables. Patients reported significantly less pain when distracted with VR. "Worst pain" (pain intensity) dropped from 6.25 of 10 to 4.50 of 10. "Pain unpleasantness" ratings dropped from "moderate" (6.25 of 10) to "mild" (2.83 of 10). "Time spent thinking about pain" dropped from 76% during no VR to 22% during VR. Patients rated "no VR" as "no fun at all" (<1 of 10) and rated VR as "pretty fun" (7.5 of 10). Follow-up analyses showed VR was especially effective for the six patients who scored 7 of 10 or higher (severe to excruciating) on the "worst pain" (pain intensity) ratings. These preliminary results provide the first evidence from a controlled study that adjunctive immersive VR reduced pain of patients with combat-related burn injuries during severe burn wound debridement. Pain reduction during VR was greatest in patients with the highest pain during no VR. These patients were the first to use a unique custom robot-like arm mounted VR goggle system.

Virtual Reality Pain Control During Burn Wound Debridement of Combat-Related Burn Injuries Using Robot-Like Arm Mounted VR Goggles

PubMed Central

Maani, Christopher V.; Hoffman, Hunter G.; Morrow, Michelle; Maiers, Alan; Gaylord, Kathryn; McGhee, Laura L.; DeSocio, Peter A.

2015-01-01

Background This is the first controlled study to explore whether adjunctive immersive virtual reality (VR) can reduce excessive pain of soldiers with combat-related burn injuries during wound debridement. Methods Patients were US soldiers burned in combat attacks involving explosive devices in Iraq or Afghanistan. During the same wound care session using a within-subject experimental design, 12 patients received half of their severe burn wound cleaning procedure (∼6 minutes) with standard of care pharmacologies and half while in VR (treatment order randomized). Three 0 to 10 Graphic Rating Scale pain scores for each of the treatment conditions served as the primary variables. Results Patients reported significantly less pain when distracted with VR. “Worst pain” (pain intensity) dropped from 6.25 of 10 to 4.50 of 10. “Pain unpleasantness” ratings dropped from “moderate” (6.25 of 10) to “mild” (2.83 of 10). “Time spent thinking about pain” dropped from 76% during no VR to 22% during VR. Patients rated “no VR” as “no fun at all” (<1 of 10) and rated VR as “pretty fun” (7.5 of 10). Follow-up analyses showed VR was especially effective for the six patients who scored 7 of 10 or higher (severe to excruciating) on the “worst pain” (pain intensity) ratings. Conclusions These preliminary results provide the first evidence from a controlled study that adjunctive immersive VR reduced pain of patients with combat-related burn injuries during severe burn wound debridement. Pain reduction during VR was greatest in patients with the highest pain during no VR. These patients were the first to use a unique custom robot-like arm mounted VR goggle system. PMID:21795888

Can an Ankle-Foot Orthosis Change Hearts and Minds?

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

the commercial brace in both comfort and function. He continued to progress in his therapy, returning to recre- ational softball with a local team of...this design, we have been able to return patients with fused ankles to running, basketball, softball , skydiving, and combat arms deployments. We have

32 CFR 700.202 - Mission of the Department of the Navy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... of the Navy, shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained combat... organized, trained, and equipped to provide fleet marine forces of combined arms, together with supporting... organized. (d) The Marine Corps shall develop, in coordination with the Army and the Air Force, those phases...

Intelligence Architecture, Echelons Corps and Below (ECB): Some Near Term Alternatives

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-05

intelligence missions. - Failure to have an annual "MI Table VIII" type evaluation system keeps MI units in the business of supporting other Table...Division) CAC: Combined Arms Center (Ft Leavenworth) CEWI: Combat Electronic Warfare Inteligence C&GSC: Command and General Staff College CI

Prohibiting the President from deploying or maintaining United States Armed Forces in a sustained combat role in Iraq without specific, subsequent statutory authorization.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2

2014-07-11

Senate - 07/28/2014 Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Noise-induced hearing loss caused by gunshot in South Korean military service.

PubMed

Moon, In Seok

2007-04-01

Noise-induced hearing loss is a preventive disease and yet the effective treatment modality has not been established. Acute acoustic traumas caused by an exposure to gunshot noise are common in young South Korean males in military service. Considering the significant lack of awareness on this serious issue as well as the absence of proper protective gear, an in-depth analysis is desperately needed. All 3650 soldiers performed regular periodic gunfire exercise without any hearing protective measures. Seven patients with hearing impairment after periodic gunfire visited the aeromedical squadron; all were right-handed males. Six were tested with the K-2 rifle and one was tested with a K-5 revolver. History taking, physical examination, pure-tone audiometry, and impedance audiometry were conducted. In the next periodic gunfire exercise, all 3650 soldiers performed gunfire with unilateral hearing protection. The average outcome of postexposure air conduction thresholds was 6.5 dB in the right ear and 33.1 dB in the left ear. After medical treatment, hearing impairment was much improved; however, tinnitus was not diminished. In the next periodic gunfire exercise, the result of a supplement of unilateral earplug protection proved its effectiveness on acoustic trauma caused by gunfire noise. Asymmetry in hearing loss is related to the position of the head during gunfire. A unilateral hearing protection device was enough to protect hearing from gunfire noise. At the same time, it can effectively prevent a potential firearm accident that can be caused by trainees mishearing the instruction of a firearm instructor if both earplugs are worn. Thus, providing a unilateral earplug for protection against acoustic trauma must be taken into serious consideration.

Sound Practice—improving occupational health and safety for professional orchestral musicians in Australia

PubMed Central

Ackermann, Bronwen J.; Kenny, Dianna T.; O'Brien, Ian; Driscoll, Tim R.

2014-01-01

The Sound Practice Project is a 5-year study involving baseline evaluation, development, and implementation of musician-specific work health and safety initiatives. A cross-sectional population physical and psychological survey and physical assessment were conducted at the same time, with an auditory health assessment conducted later. The results were used to guide the development of a series of targeted interventions, encompassing physical, psychological, and auditory health components. This paper provides an overview of the project but focuses on the health findings arising from the cross-sectional survey. Three hundred and seventy-seven musicians from the eight professional symphony orchestras in Australia took part in the cross-sectional study (about 70% of eligible musicians). Eighty-four percent (84%) of musicians reported past performance-related musculoskeletal disorder (PRMD) episodes; 50% were suffering a current PRMD. Of the 63% who returned hearing surveys, 43% believed they had hearing loss, and 64% used earplugs at least intermittently. Noise exposure was found to be high in private practice, although awareness of risk and earplug use in this environment was lower than in orchestral settings. Improved strategic approaches, acoustic screens and recently developed active earplugs were found to provide effective new options for hearing protection. With respect to psychosocial screening, female musicians reported significantly more trait anxiety, music performance anxiety, social anxiety, and other forms of anxiety and depression than male musicians. The youngest musicians were significantly more anxious compared with the oldest musicians. Thirty-three percent (33%) of musicians may meet criteria for a diagnosis of social phobia; 32% returned a positive depression screen and 22% for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PRMDs and trigger point discomfort levels were strongly associated with increasing severity of psychological issues such as depression and music performance anxiety. PMID:25249990

Selective prevention of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder using attention bias modification training: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Wald, I; Fruchter, E; Ginat, K; Stolin, E; Dagan, D; Bliese, P D; Quartana, P J; Sipos, M L; Pine, D S; Bar-Haim, Y

2016-09-01

Efficacy of pre-trauma prevention for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has not yet been established in a randomized controlled trial. Attention bias modification training (ABMT), a computerized intervention, is thought to mitigate stress-related symptoms by targeting disruptions in threat monitoring. We examined the efficacy of ABMT delivered before combat in mitigating risk for PTSD following combat. We conducted a double-blind, four-arm randomized controlled trial of 719 infantry soldiers to compare the efficacy of eight sessions of ABMT (n = 179), four sessions of ABMT (n = 184), four sessions of attention control training (ACT; n = 180), or no-training control (n = 176). Outcome symptoms were measured at baseline, 6-month follow-up, 10 days following combat exposure, and 4 months following combat. Primary outcome was PTSD prevalence 4 months post-combat determined in a clinical interview using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Secondary outcomes were self-reported PTSD and depression symptoms, collected at all four assessments. PTSD prevalence 4 months post-combat was 7.8% in the no-training control group, 6.7% with eight-session ABMT, 2.6% with four-session ABMT, and 5% with ACT. Four sessions of ABMT reduced risk for PTSD relative to the no-training condition (odds ratio 3.13, 95% confidence interval 1.01-9.22, p < 0.05, number needed to treat = 19.2). No other between-group differences were found. The results were consistent across a variety of analytic techniques and data imputation approaches. Four sessions of ABMT, delivered prior to combat deployment, mitigated PTSD risk following combat exposure. Given its low cost and high scalability potential, and observed number needed to treat, research into larger-scale applications is warranted. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT01723215.

Mental health consequences of overstretch in the UK armed forces: first phase of a cohort study

PubMed Central

Fear, Nicola T; Hull, Lisa; Greenberg, Neil; Earnshaw, Mark; Hotopf, Matthew; Wessely, Simon

2007-01-01

Objective To assess the relation between frequency and duration of deployment of UK armed forces personnel on mental health. Design First phase of a cohort study. Setting UK armed forces personnel. Participants Operational history in past three years of a randomly chosen stratified sample of 5547 regulars with experience of deployment. Main outcome measures Psychological distress (general health questionnaire-12), caseness for post-traumatic stress disorder, physical symptoms, and alcohol use (alcohol use disorders identification test). Results Personnel who were deployed for 13 months or more in the past three years were more likely to fulfil the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (odds ratio 1.55, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 2.32), show caseness on the general health questionnaire (1.35, 1.10 to 1.63), and have multiple physical symptoms (1.49, 1.19 to 1.87). A significant association was found between duration of deployment and severe alcohol problems. Exposure to combat partly accounted for these associations. The associations between number of deployments in the past three years and mental disorders were less consistent than those related to duration of deployment. Post-traumatic stress disorder was also associated with a mismatch between expectations about the duration of deployment and the reality. Conclusions A clear and explicit policy on the duration of each deployment of armed forces personnel may reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. An association was found between deployment for more than a year in the past three years and mental health that might be explained by exposure to combat. PMID:17664192

Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Temporal Processing Deficits In Parkinson’s Disease

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

Foam padding was used to limit head motion. Auditory stimuli were delivered binaurally through a headphone that together with earplugs attenuated...core timer.’ Specifically, by the striatal beat frequency (SBF) model, Figure 5. Percent signal change in regions showing abnormal activation OFF

Anger in the UK Armed Forces: strong association with mental health, childhood antisocial behavior, and combat role.

PubMed

Rona, Roberto J; Jones, Margaret; Hull, Lisa; MacManus, Deirdre; Fear, Nicola T; Wessely, Simon

2015-01-01

We assessed the strength of the association of several mental health problems, childhood difficulties, and combat role with anger, as well as the contribution of these factors to explain anger assessed by population attributable fraction (PAF). A total of 9885 UK service personnel, some of them deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, participated in the study. There was a strong or intermediate association between cases and subthreshold cases of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, multiple physical symptoms and alcohol misuse, having a combat role, childhood adversity, and childhood antisocial behavior with anger. The PAF for any mental health problem and combat role and childhood difficulties was 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.70) and increased to 0.77 (95% CI, 0.69-0.83) if subthreshold cases were included. Anger is a frequent component of mental disorders; health care professionals need to be aware of the interference of anger in the management of mental illness and that anger infrequently presents as an isolated phenomenon.

The Influence of Strategic and Organizational Cultures on the Revolution in Military Affairs Within the U.S. Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

37 118 Heeresdienstvorshrift 487, Fuhrung und Gefecht der verbundenen Waffen , Berlin: Verlag Offene Worte, 1921, 1923, 1925, Part 1, 47 in The...und Gefecht der verbundenen Waffen [Army service instructions 487. Command and combat of the combined arms]. Berlin: Verlag Offene Worte, 1921, 1923

Countering Gray-Zone Hybrid Threats: An Analysis of Russias New Generation Warfare and Implications for the US Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-18

education ...Publication (JP) 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States, there are two forms of warfare, traditional and irregular, and...combat mission in 2010. Looking at OIF, the US Army participated in both traditional and irregular warfare and the characterization of

Compilation of Theses Abstracts

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

Lieutenant, United States Navy Master of Business Administration–December 2004 Jonathan C. Byrom–Captain, United States Army Master of Business...Hyperspectral Imagery, Principal Components Analysis, Minimum Noise Transform ALTERNATE CONFIGURATIONS FOR BLOCKED-IMPURITY-BAND DETECTORS Jonathan C...Yew Sing Quek –Captain, Republic of Singapore Armed Forces B.E., Nanyang Technological University-Singapore, 1999 Master of Science in Combat

Security of the Homeland (A National Guard Perspective)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-13

other than typical war fight missions. Since the Guard had non- deployed combat arms or maneuver structure, “in lieu” missions became a norm . A New...Page 4. 14 Beverly Bell, NEMA Sr Policy Analyst, “The Future of EMAC,” available at http://www.emacweb.org, Internet accessed January 2008, Page

Frequent Binge Drinking After Combat-Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury Among Active Duty Military Personnel with a Past Year Combat Deployment

PubMed Central

Adams, Rachel Sayko; Larson, Mary Jo; Corrigan, John D.; Horgan, Constance M.; Williams, Thomas V.

2013-01-01

Objective To determine whether combat-acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with post-deployment frequent binge drinking among a random sample of active duty military personnel (ADMP). Participants ADMP who returned home within the past year from deployment to a combat theater of operations and completed a survey health assessment (N = 7,155). Methods Cross-sectional observational study with multivariate analysis of responses to the 2008 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Military Personnel, an anonymous, random population-based assessment of the Armed Forces. Main Measures Frequent binge drinking: five or more drinks on the same occasion, at least once per week, in the past 30 days. TBI-AC: self-reported altered consciousness only; loss of consciousness of less than 1 minute (TBI-LOC<1); and LOC of 1 minute or greater (TBI-LOC 1+) after combat injury event exposure. Results Of ADMP who had a past year combat deployment, 25.6% were frequent binge drinkers and 13.9% reported experiencing a TBI on the deployment, primarily TBI-AC (7.5%). In regression models adjusting for demographics and positive screen for posttraumatic stress disorder, ADMP with TBI had increased odds of frequent binge drinking compared to those with no injury exposure or without TBI: TBI-AC (AOR 1.48, 95% CI, 1.18–1.84); TBI-LOC 1+ (AOR 1.67, 95% CI, 1.00–2.79). Conclusions TBI was significantly associated with past month frequent binge drinking after controlling for posttraumatic stress disorder, combat exposure, and other covariates. PMID:22955100

Millimeter Wave-based Fatigue Countermeasure Research for Improving Performance and Prolonging Combat Effectiveness of Warfighters

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-07

5 silk suture attached to the arm of an Aurora Scientific model 300 servo-motor to register contractions. The distal end of the muscle is held taut...that use specially designed glass sleeves and Sylgard (184 silicone elastomer, Dow Corning Corp.) sealant to allow for precise positioning of the

Missing in Action: African American Combat Arms Officers in the United States Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-22

person in b al concerns of a highly efficient and enthusiastic protégé and transmit lucid messages that war is as coming from a strong...objectives and goals as being within their reach. The role model serves as a living dream . He embodies dreams that provide inspiration for his own

Posttraumatic Stress and Growth in Student Service Members and Veterans: The Role of Personal Growth Initiative

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borowa, Dominika; Robitschek, Christine; Harmon, Kevin Andrew; Shigemoto, Yuki

2016-01-01

Objective: This study explored the extent to which personal growth initiative (PGI) may predict posttraumatic stress and growth in student service members/veterans (SSM/V). Participants: Participants were 136 SSM/V (79% men) representing multiple branches of the armed forces. Forty-four percent of participants reported having combat experience.…

Small Combat Arms Unit Leader Training Techniques: Rules of Play for Two Player/Multiplayer Infantry Mapboard Games.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-01-01

exercises for leadership training. Initial efforts led to the development of a mapboard game. The ’board game’ initially developed was a two-sided, free ... play map exercise for teaching infantry tactics to small unit leaders at the platoon level organizations. It was found, however, that for the benefits

Implementation of Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) Algorithm in COMBATXXI using JDAFS

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-31

ManyStochasticDuelModelforaMountainBattle.pdf. [10] M Kress and I Talmor. “A new look at the 3: 1 rule of combat through Markov stochastic Lanchester ...00000007/2600758. [11] FW Lanchester . Aircraft in warfare: The dawn of the fourth arm. London: Constable, 1916. url: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en\\&lr

Individual Differences in Neurobehavioral Effects of Pyridostigmine

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-02-01

Combat Casualty Care Course, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 1982. Forensic Accident Investigation, Armed Forces Institute of...Occupational Medicine-Diplomate January 31,1989 Medical Review Officer Certification Council-June 13,1993 American Board of Forensic Examiners-Sept, 1996...Medicine Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association Fellow, International Association of Aviation and Space Medicine Fellow, American College of Forensic

2007 Precision Strike Annual Programs Review

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-25

Adapting our methods • Remaining a flexible combined-arms force • Enabling a generation of combat- experienced decision-makers by distributing...Sustain Propulsion Network RadioMEMS IMU Flexible Engagement Options Requirements Capabilities Precision Attack Missile (PAM) 67” (with Canister...Aimpoint 6 PAM Seeker Modes PAM’s Multiple Targeting Modes Increase Flexibility , Improve Lethality PAM’s Multiple Targeting Modes Increase Flexibility

An Empirical Assessment of an Activity to Teach Sensory Change in Aging

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickinson, Paige E.; Schwarzmueller, April; Martin, Bret

2014-01-01

This study empirically tested the effectiveness of a brief, inexpensive aging simulation activity to educate traditional-aged students about sensory declines and their potential causes in older adulthood development. Students in a life-span development course wore specific props (e.g., thick gloves, earplugs, and obscured glasses) to simulate…

Estimation of Dog-Bite Risk and Related Morbidity Among Personnel Working With Military Dogs.

PubMed

Schermann, H; Eiges, N; Sabag, A; Kazum, E; Albagli, A; Salai, M; Shlaifer, A

Soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Force Military Working Dogs (MWD) Unit spend many hours taming dogs' special skills, taking them on combat missions, and performing various dogkeeping activities. During this intensive work with the aggressive military dogs, bites are common, and some of them result in permanent disability. However, this phenomenon has not been quantified or reported as an occupational hazard. This was a retrospective cohort study based on self-administered questionnaires. Information was collected about soldiers' baseline demographics, duration of the experience of working with dogs, total number of bites they had, circumstances of bite events, and complications and medical treatment of each bite. Bite risk was quantified by incidence, mean time to first bite, and a Cox proportional hazards model. Rates of complications and the medical burden of bites were compared between combat soldiers and noncombat dogkeepers. Bite locations were presented graphically. Seventy-eight soldiers participated and reported on 139 bites. Mean time of working with dogs was 16 months (standard deviation, ±9.4 months). Overall bite incidence was 11 bites per 100 person-months; the mean time to first bite event was 6.3 months. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that none of baseline characteristics significantly increased bite hazard. About 90% of bites occurred during routine activities, and 3.3% occurred on combat missions. Only in 9% of bite events did soldiers observed the safety precautions code. Bite complications included fractures, need for intravenous antibiotic treatment and surgical repair, prominent scarring, diminished sensation, and stiffness of proximal joints. Bite complications were similar between combat soldiers and dogkeepers. Most bites (57%) were located on hands and arms. MWD bites are an occupational hazard resulting in significant medical burden. Hands and arms were most common bite locations. Observance of safety precautions may be the most appropriate first-line preventive intervention. Barrier protection of upper extremities may reduce bite severity and complication rates. 2017.

The effects of experimentally induced conductive hearing loss on spectral and temporal aspects of sound transmission through the ear.

PubMed

Eric Lupo, J; Koka, Kanthaiah; Thornton, Jennifer L; Tollin, Daniel J

2011-02-01

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is known to produce hearing deficits, including deficits in sound localization ability. The differences in sound intensities and timing experienced between the two tympanic membranes are important cues to sound localization (ILD and ITD, respectively). Although much is known about the effect of CHL on hearing levels, little investigation has been conducted into the actual impact of CHL on sound location cues. This study investigated effects of CHL induced by earplugs on cochlear microphonic (CM) amplitude and timing and their corresponding effect on the ILD and ITD location cues. Acoustic and CM measurements were made in 5 chinchillas before and after earplug insertion, and again after earplug removal using pure tones (500 Hz to 24 kHz). ILDs in the unoccluded condition demonstrated position and frequency dependence where peak far-lateral ILDs approached 30 dB for high frequencies. Unoccluded ear ITD cues demonstrated positional and frequency dependence with increased ITD cue for both decreasing frequency (±420 μs at 500 Hz, ±310 μs for 1-4 kHz) and increasingly lateral sound source locations. Occlusion of the ear canal with foam plugs resulted in a mild, frequency-dependent conductive hearing loss of 10-38 dB (mean 31 ± 3.9 dB) leading to a concomitant frequency dependent increase in ILDs at all source locations. The effective ITDs increased in a frequency dependent manner with ear occlusion as a direct result of the acoustic properties of the plugging material, the latter confirmed via acoustical measurements using a model ear canal with varying volumes of acoustic foam. Upon ear plugging with acoustic foam, a mild CHL is induced. Furthermore, the CHL induced by acoustic foam results in substantial changes in the magnitudes of both the ITD and ILD cues to sound location. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of experimentally induced conductive hearing loss on spectral and temporal aspects of sound transmission through the ear

PubMed Central

Lupo, J. Eric; Koka, Kanthaiah; Thornton, Jennifer L.; Tollin, Daniel J.

2010-01-01

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is known to produce hearing deficits, including deficits in sound localization ability. The differences in sound intensities and timing experienced between the two tympanic membranes are important cues to sound localization (ILD and ITD, respectively). Although much is known about the effect of CHL on hearing levels, little investigation has been conducted into the actual impact of CHL on sound location cues. This study investigated effects of CHL induced by earplugs on cochlear microphonic (CM) amplitude and timing and their corresponding effect on the ILD and ITD location cues. Acoustic and CM measurements were made in 5 chinchillas before and after earplug insertion, and again after earplug removal using pure tones (500 Hz to 24 kHz). ILDs in the unoccluded condition demonstrated position and frequency dependence where peak far-lateral ILDs approached 30 dB for high frequencies. Unoccluded ear ITD cues demonstrated positional and frequency dependence with increased ITD cue for both decreasing frequency (± 420 µs at 500 Hz, ± 310 µs for 1–4 kHz ) and increasingly lateral sound source locations. Occlusion of the ear canal with foam plugs resulted in a mild, frequency-dependent conductive hearing loss of 10–38 dB (mean 31 ± 3.9 dB) leading to a concomitant frequency dependent increase in ILDs at all source locations. The effective ITDs increased in a frequency dependent manner with ear occlusion as a direct result of the acoustic properties of the plugging material, the latter confirmed via acoustical measurements using a model ear canal with varying volumes of acoustic foam. Upon ear plugging with acoustic foam, a mild CHL is induced. Furthermore, the CHL induced by acoustic foam results in substantial changes in the magnitudes of both the ITD and ILD cues to sound location. PMID:21073935

Crippling Violence: Conflict and Incident Polio in Afghanistan.

PubMed

Norris, Alison; Hachey, Kevin; Curtis, Andrew; Bourdeaux, Margaret

2016-01-01

Designing effective public health campaigns in areas of armed conflict requires a nuanced understanding of how violence impacts the epidemiology of the disease in question. We examine the geographical relationship between violence (represented by the location of detonated Improvised Explosive Devices) and polio incidence by generating maps of IEDs and polio incidence during 2010, and by comparing the mean number of IED detonations in polio high-risk districts with non polio high-risk districts during 2004-2009. We demonstrate a geographic relationship between IED violence and incident polio. Districts that have high-risk for polio have highly statistically significantly greater mean numbers of IEDs than non polio high-risk districts (p-values 0.0010-0.0404). The geographic relationship between armed conflict and polio incidence provides valuable insights as to how to plan a vaccination campaign in violent contexts, and allows us to anticipate incident polio in the regions of armed conflict. Such information permits vaccination planners to engage interested armed combatants to co-develop strategies to mitigate the effects of violence on polio.

Postdischarge Cause-of-Death Analysis of Combat-Related Burn Patients

PubMed Central

Escolas, Sandra M.; Orman, Jean A.; Chung, Kevin K.; Renz, Evan M.

2017-01-01

Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in up to 8.8% of combat-related casualties suffering burns. From World War I through Desert Storm, burns have been associated with approximately 4% of the combat-related deaths. Experiencing a blast injury and exposure to killing and death while deployed has been shown to increase suicide risk. Although several studies of military populations have investigated risk factors for death among burn patients during the acute phase, no studies have reported mortality rates, cause-of-death, or the prevalence of suicide after hospital discharge. This study examined the case fatality rate, causes of death, and the prevalence of suicide among 830 combat burn patients discharged from the sole burn center in the U.S. Department of Defense, between March 7, 2003 and March 6, 2013. Cause-of-death was determined through the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s National Death Index. A total of 11 deaths occurred among the 830 burn survivors, for an overall case fatality rate of 1.3%. Of the 11 who died, five deaths were related to accidental poisoning by exposure to drugs; three were related to operations of war (two after returning to the war zone), and the remaining three died from other accidental causes (one explosion and two vehicle crashes). There was no indication of suicide or suspicion of suicide as a cause-of-death for the former patients included in this study, suggesting that combat burn injury did not appear to increase the risk of death by suicide in our study population. Further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to the apparent resilience of combat burn survivors. PMID:26629656

Depression in Female Veterans Returning from Deployment: The Role of Social Factors.

PubMed

Sairsingh, Holly; Solomon, Phyllis; Helstrom, Amy; Treglia, Dan

2018-03-01

Women are serving in the armed forces and deployed to areas of conflict in increasing numbers. Problems such as depressive symptoms and risks related to combat exposure can have negative effects on adjustment following service; understanding the relationship between these problems may contribute to strategies providers can use to facilitate healthy adjustment after deployment. The purpose of this study is to examine social factors as they relate to mental health adjustment, namely depressive symptoms among female veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OND). We hypothesized that combat exposure would predict higher levels of depressive symptoms and that social support would moderate the relationship between combat exposure and depression. In a cross-sectional design, 128 female Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans completed an online survey about combat experience, social support, depression, demographic characteristics, and behavioral health symptom history. We conducted multiple regression analyses to examine linear and moderating relationships. There was no significant relationship between combat exposure and depression; social support did not significantly moderate the relationship between combat exposure and depression. However, higher levels of social support and financial comfort were significantly related to lower levels of depression. This study highlights the role of social factors, specifically social support and perceived financial status, as potential barriers to healthy emotional readjustment following deployment. These findings suggest that it may be beneficial for mental health providers to screen female veterans and refer them to appropriate services to reduce financial stressors and strengthen their use of social support. More research should continue to examine more fully the impact of combat exposure on female service members' mental health and work to isolate the factors most strongly related to depression.

Frequent binge drinking after combat-acquired traumatic brain injury among active duty military personnel with a past year combat deployment.

PubMed

Adams, Rachel Sayko; Larson, Mary Jo; Corrigan, John D; Horgan, Constance M; Williams, Thomas V

2012-01-01

To determine whether combat-acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with postdeployment frequent binge drinking among a random sample of active duty military personnel. Active duty military personnel who returned home within the past year from deployment to a combat theater of operations and completed a survey health assessment (N = 7155). Cross-sectional observational study with multivariate analysis of responses to the 2008 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Military Personnel, an anonymous, random, population-based assessment of the armed forces. Frequent binge drinking: 5 or more drinks on the same occasion, at least once per week, in the past 30 days. TBI-AC: self-reported altered consciousness only; loss of consciousness (LOC) of less than 1 minute (TBI-LOC <1); and LOC of 1 minute or greater (TBI-LOC 1+) after combat injury event exposure. Of active duty military personnel who had a past year combat deployment, 25.6% were frequent binge drinkers and 13.9% reported experiencing a TBI on the deployment, primarily TBI-AC (7.5%). In regression models adjusting for demographics and positive screen for posttraumatic stress disorder, active duty military personnel with TBI had increased odds of frequent binge drinking compared with those with no injury exposure or without TBI: TBI-AC (adjusted odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.84); TBI-LOC 1+ (adjusted odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.79). Traumatic brain injury was significantly associated with past month frequent binge drinking after controlling for posttraumatic stress disorder, combat exposure, and other covariates.

Trauma Care Training for National Police Nurses in Colombia

PubMed Central

Rubiano, Andrés M.; Sánchez, Álvaro I.; Guyette, Francis; Puyana, Juan C.

2010-01-01

Introduction In response to a requirement for advanced trauma care nurses to provide combat tactical medical support, the antinarcotics arm of the Colombian National Police (CNP) requested the Colombian National Prehospital Care Association to develop a Combat Tactical Medicine Course (MEDTAC course). Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of this course in imparting knowledge and skills to the students. Methods We trained 374 combat nurses using the novel MEDTAC course. We evaluated students using pre-and postcourse performance with a 45-question examination. Field simulations and live tissue exercises were evaluated by instructors using a Likert scale with possible choices of 1 to 4. Interval estimation of proportions was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Differences in didactic test scores were assessed using a t-test at 0.05 level of statistical significance. Results Between March 2006 and July 2007, 374 combat nursing students of the CNP were trained. The difference between examination scores before and after the didactic part of the course was statistically significant (p < 0.01). After the practical session of the course, all participants (100%) demonstrated competency on final evaluation. Conclusions The MEDTAC course is an effective option improving the knowledge and skills of combat nurses serving in the CNP. MEDTAC represents a customized approach for military trauma care training in Colombia. This course is an example of specialized training available for groups that operate in austere environments with limited resources. PMID:19947877

Theoretical Dimensions of Small Unit Resilience

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-01

ending process and everyday and every experience offers a new education. Keep learning and keep moving forward. To my brother and sister Soldiers...strategies and coping mechanisms. 13 Unit Leadership and Coping Willingness to Seek Care Reducing Barriers to Care Family and Marital Support...identifies the following 10 combat skills: Buddies (Cohesion) Accountability Targeted Aggression 14 15 Tactical Awareness Lethally Armed Emotional

Women Veterans and Their Families: Preparing School and Agency Counselors to Address Their Mental Health Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stickel, Sue A.; Callaway, Yvonne L.; Compton, Emily A.

2011-01-01

Women have historically served as members of the armed forces and today the numbers of women are increasing and their roles are expanding. Increasingly women are experiencing combat related mental health concerns as well as issues unique to serving within a military culture. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) will be eligible for jobs as…

Company Level Commander Development In The US Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

pedagogy and andragogy in instruction can have a significant positive impact on developing combat arms officers to be successful company level commanders...Recommendations to achieve these improvements using andragogy are discussed. In the United States (US) Army, when an officer...use Malcom Knowles’ andragogy framework for understanding adults as learners in order to analyze the trainees and maximize the training outcomes for

The Underrepresentation of African Americans in Army Combat Arms Branches

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-04

a starting point for the Army to determine true causality. This monograph is simply reviewing data and identifying correlation, and based on...correlation, assigning causality based on historical information and scholarly literature. These potential causes are not fact, and provide a starting ...1988 is the starting point for the commissioning statistics. Subject matter experts hypothesized that the number African American officers

The Integration of Operations and Intelligence Getting Information to the Warfighter

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-03-01

strike missions in the Negev Desert against highly accurate replicas of the missile sites. On the day of the attack, Syrian airspace was scanned by E-2C...With F-15 and F-16 pilots flying combat air patrols, IAF F-4s armed with SHRIKE anti- radiation missiles, and F-16s loaded with standoff Maverick

COMBATXXI: Usage and Analysis at TACOM

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-20

Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 Operational Effectiveness UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Outline  Who We Are  Our Equipment  Our Customers  COMBATXXI Model ...Research, Development and Engineering Center Our Customers 5 Operational Effectiveness UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Model Overview  Combined Arms...Analysis Tool for the 21st Century (COMBATXXI) - Developed jointly by TRAC- White Sands Missle Range (WSMR) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command

Facing Uncertainty: The Role of the M1 Abrams Tank in the U.S. Army of 2015-2025

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-12

surrounding the role of the main battle tank has in fact been a defining feature of the Anglo -American attitude since World War I.20 The modern main...training to high-intensity combined arms training. To replicate combat operations in complex terrain, IDF soldiers trained in a mock Arab city in

Ground System Survivability Overview

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-27

Avoidance Blast Mitigation Optimization Customer ILIR RDT&E Funding 5.0 % 0.5% GSS has a proven, technically proficient workforce that meets...Evaluation of Defensive-Aid Suites (ARMED) Common Automatic Fire Extinguishing System ( CAFES ) Transparent Armor Development Ground Combat Vehicle...Survey TRADOC (WFO, CNA, etc) Voice of the Customer Sy st em s En gi ne er in g Publish overarching MIL-STD, design guidelines, technical

Fires, A Joint Professonal Bulletin for US Field and Air Defense Artillerymen, May-June 2007

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

branch journals and branch insignia have served to give individual combat arms a sense of identity. Even though the Army’s ADA and FA branches are not...that the enemy has used these weapons against civilian pop- ulations. Some examples are the events of 9/11, Nazi Germany’s bombardment of England by V

An Analysis of the Perceptions of Division Senior Combat Arms Leaders of the Tactical Competence of Division Signal Officers and Assistant Division Signal Officers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-05

field the equipment ( Valletta , 1980). The need for signal officers to be trained to employ new communications systems in support of the tactical...Gordon, GAO 30905). Valletta , A. M. (1980). Tactical automnation-communications: Supporting corps rear to front line. Army Magazine, 1(4), 25-28

Variation of gunshot injury patterns in mortality associated with human rights abuses and armed conflict: an exploratory study.

PubMed

Baraybar, Jose Pablo

2015-09-01

The analysis of the distribution of gunshot injuries in a sample of 777 sets of human remains of proven human rights abuse from Somaliland, the Balkans and Peru is compared to frequencies of injuries sustained by combatants in contemporary conflicts reported in the literature. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduced the data to three components accounting for 82.94% of the variance. The first component with 38.31% of variance shows segments Arms and thorax/abdomen to be positively correlated (0.887 and 0.662, respectively); the segment head/neck is strongly correlated (0.951) to the second component while the segment thorax/abdomen shows a low, negative correlation (-0.388). Finally in the third component only the legs are strongly correlated (0.991). Data was further subjected to a K-means cluster analysis to determine the likely groupings combining the four types of injuries. Each of the three clusters reproduced similar patterns observed in the PCA: Cluster 1 shows the prevalence of injuries to the thorax/abdomen and extremities in addition to injuries to the head/neck; Cluster 2 shows injuries to the head/neck and Cluster 3 injuries to the thorax/abdomen and a lower representation of the arms and legs. Most of the cases (70.5%), irrespective of geography and type of site (attack or detention), were grouped into Cluster 2. Such comparison shows that in human rights abuse, irrespective of their geography, gunshot injuries tend to follow a pattern favouring the head/neck and thorax/abdomen areas over the extremities, the reverse pattern observed in contemporary combat operations. In those settings gunshot wound trauma is the second cause of mortality/morbidity (after fragmenting ammunition) and its distribution concentrates on the extremities, thorax/abdomen and head; following the pattern of protective armour when it is used. Considering that human rights abuses are often presented as encounters between two armed groups in the context of counter-insurgency operations, a careful analysis of gunshot injury patterns could serve as an indicator that in fact murder, rather than combat, took place and the intention was to kill rather than to maim or render people unfit for battle. To compare the variation of gunshot injury patterns between mortality associated with human rights abuses and armed conflict in selected samples from different countries. Literature review and case analysis. Original statistical analysis of gunshot injuries on human remains (n=777) recovered from mass or clandestine graves associated with human rights abuses in countries in Somaliland, the Balkans and Peru (1983-1995) and literature review of mortality caused by armed conflicts. Mechanism of gunshot injury and wound distribution pattern in geographically diverse samples of human rights abuse. Copyright © 2015 The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Military Hearing Conservation Workshop Director Handbook,

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-11-01

r HaigCnerainDrctrHnbo (b*T scp -asgnetsorrspniblt.s -:.--3 .’..................................................................an. HSHB-OB November...Approved Hearing Protective Devices and Related Equipment. a. Nonstandard. (NOT APPROVED). (I) Fingers (bi-digital earplugs). - - (2) Palms . (3...a) Single-flange (5-10 percent have different sizes between ears): () extra small (white) - 5 percent (ii) small (green) - 25 percent . oil . 5-26 9

Death on the battlefield (2001-2011): implications for the future of combat casualty care.

PubMed

Eastridge, Brian J; Mabry, Robert L; Seguin, Peter; Cantrell, Joyce; Tops, Terrill; Uribe, Paul; Mallett, Olga; Zubko, Tamara; Oetjen-Gerdes, Lynne; Rasmussen, Todd E; Butler, Frank K; Kotwal, Russ S; Kotwal, Russell S; Holcomb, John B; Wade, Charles; Champion, Howard; Lawnick, Mimi; Moores, Leon; Blackbourne, Lorne H

2012-12-01

Critical evaluation of all aspects of combat casualty care, including mortality, with a special focus on the incidence and causes of potentially preventable deaths among US combat fatalities, is central to identifying gaps in knowledge, training, equipment, and execution of battlefield trauma care. The impetus to produce this analysis was to develop a comprehensive perspective of battlefield death, concentrating on deaths that occurred in the pre-medical treatment facility (pre-MTF) environment. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner Service Mortality Surveillance Division was used to identify Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom combat casualties from October 2001 to June 2011 who died from injury in the deployed environment. The autopsy records, perimortem records, photographs on file, and Mortality Trauma Registry of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Service were used to compile mechanism of injury, cause of injury, medical intervention performed, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) on all lethal injuries. All data were used by the expert panel for the conduct of the potential for injury survivability assessment of this study. For the study interval between October 2001 and June 2011, 4,596 battlefield fatalities were reviewed and analyzed. The stratification of mortality demonstrated that 87.3% of all injury mortality occurred in the pre-MTF environment. Of the pre-MTF deaths, 75.7% (n = 3,040) were classified as nonsurvivable, and 24.3% (n = 976) were deemed potentially survivable (PS). The injury/physiologic focus of PS acute mortality was largely associated with hemorrhage (90.9%). The site of lethal hemorrhage was truncal (67.3%), followed by junctional (19.2%) and peripheral-extremity (13.5%) hemorrhage. Most battlefield casualties died of their injuries before ever reaching a surgeon. As most pre-MTF deaths are nonsurvivable, mitigation strategies to impact outcomes in this population need to be directed toward injury prevention. To significantly impact the outcome of combat casualties with PS injury, strategies must be developed to mitigate hemorrhage and optimize airway management or reduce the time interval between the battlefield point of injury and surgical intervention.Understanding battlefield mortality is a vital component of the military trauma system. Emphasis on this analysis should be placed on trauma system optimization, evidence-based improvements in Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines, data-driven research, and development to remediate gaps in care and relevant training and equipment enhancements that will increase the survivability of the fighting force.

Social Cognitive Training Improves Emotional Processing and Reduces Aggressive Attitudes in Ex-combatants

PubMed Central

Trujillo, Sandra; Trujillo, Natalia; Lopez, Jose D.; Gomez, Diana; Valencia, Stella; Rendon, Jorge; Pineda, David A.; Parra, Mario A.

2017-01-01

Emotional processing (EP) is a complex cognitive function necessary to successfully adjust to social environments where we need to interpret and respond to cues that convey threat or reward signals. Ex-combatants have consistently shown atypical EP as well as poor social interactions. Available reintegration programs aim to facilitate the re-adaptation of ex-combatants to their communities. However, they do not incorporate actions to improve EP and to enhance cognitive-emotional regulation. The present study was aimed at evaluating the usefulness of an intervention focused on Social Cognitive Training (SCT), which was designed to equip ex-combatants enrolled in the Social Reintegration Route with EP and social cognition skills. A group of 31 ex-combatants (mean age of 37.2, 29 men) from Colombian illegal armed groups were recruited into this study. Of these, 16 were invited to take part in a SCT and the other continued with the conventional reintegration intervention. Both groups underwent 12 training sessions in a period 12–14 weeks. They were assessed with a comprehensive protocol which included Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Emotion Processing instruments. The scores on these instruments prior to and after the intervention were compared within and between groups. Both groups were matched at baseline. Ex-combatants receiving the SCT experienced significant improvements in EP and a reduction in aggressive attitudes, effects not observed in those continuing the conventional reintegration intervention. This is the first study that achieves such outcomes in such a population using SCT intervention. We discuss the implications of such results toward better social reintegration strategies. PMID:28428767

Social Cognitive Training Improves Emotional Processing and Reduces Aggressive Attitudes in Ex-combatants.

PubMed

Trujillo, Sandra; Trujillo, Natalia; Lopez, Jose D; Gomez, Diana; Valencia, Stella; Rendon, Jorge; Pineda, David A; Parra, Mario A

2017-01-01

Emotional processing (EP) is a complex cognitive function necessary to successfully adjust to social environments where we need to interpret and respond to cues that convey threat or reward signals. Ex-combatants have consistently shown atypical EP as well as poor social interactions. Available reintegration programs aim to facilitate the re-adaptation of ex-combatants to their communities. However, they do not incorporate actions to improve EP and to enhance cognitive-emotional regulation. The present study was aimed at evaluating the usefulness of an intervention focused on Social Cognitive Training (SCT), which was designed to equip ex-combatants enrolled in the Social Reintegration Route with EP and social cognition skills. A group of 31 ex-combatants (mean age of 37.2, 29 men) from Colombian illegal armed groups were recruited into this study. Of these, 16 were invited to take part in a SCT and the other continued with the conventional reintegration intervention. Both groups underwent 12 training sessions in a period 12-14 weeks. They were assessed with a comprehensive protocol which included Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Emotion Processing instruments. The scores on these instruments prior to and after the intervention were compared within and between groups. Both groups were matched at baseline. Ex-combatants receiving the SCT experienced significant improvements in EP and a reduction in aggressive attitudes, effects not observed in those continuing the conventional reintegration intervention. This is the first study that achieves such outcomes in such a population using SCT intervention. We discuss the implications of such results toward better social reintegration strategies.

Performance differences between male and female marines on standardized physical fitness tests and combat proxy tasks: identifying the gap.

PubMed

Jameson, Jason; Pappa, Leon; McGuire, Brian; Kelly, Karen R

2015-01-01

For decades women have been restricted from direct assignment to certain military occupational specialties such as infantry. These restrictions can limit the advancement of women through the ranks of military leadership. Thus, the purpose of this effort was to identify those physical requirements most likely to serve as barriers for women wanting to enter closed combat arms positions, and to evaluate the quality of existing physical fitness tests as potential measures of assessment of combat readiness. Data were collected from 3 different sites within the US Marine Corps Training and Education Command. All participants (409 male, 379 femaile) were active-duty Marines who recently completed the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and Combat Fitness Test (CFT). Participants completed 6 physical tasks: 120-mm tank loading drill, 155-mm artillery round carry, negotiating an obstacle course wall while wearing a fighting load (≈30 lb), pull-ups, deadlift, and clean and press. Overall, there was a high rate of successful completion on the combat proxy tasks (men, ≈80% to 100%; women, ≈70% to 100%), with the notable exception being the clean and press (men, 80%; women, 9%) and pull-ups (men, 16±4; women, 4±2). The PFT and CFT components tasks were also related, strongly in some cases, with performance on combat-related proxy tasks (Spearman's ρ typically ranged from 0.60 to 0.80). Estimates of fat-free mass and VO2max were also strongly related to an overall measure of combat readiness (Spearman's ρ=0.77 and ρ=0.56, respectively). The primary physical obstacle for women is upper body strength. However, some women could successfully complete all of the proxy tasks and thus are physically capable of meeting the demands of closed combat occupations. The fact that some female Marines could complete the most challenging upper body strength tasks suggests that these barriers are not inherent but may be due to a lack of training specificity.

26 CFR 1.692-1 - Abatement of income taxes of certain members of the Armed Forces of the United States upon death.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., disease, or injury incurred while he was serving in a combat zone. (2) If an individuals dies as described... tax (including interest, additions to the tax, and additional amounts) is assessed, the assessment... laws, remaining unpaid as of the date of death. If any such unpaid tax (including interest, additions...

Combatting the Terrorist Threat.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-05-22

tomorrow. Today terrorist actions carried out against US interests occur primarily in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru , and Chile...provided arms, financial support, and safehavens for revolutionary groups from El Salvador and Honduras. 9 In Peru the Maoist guerrilla group Sendero...I DTIC TAB U --anoinced El Justificatio By Distributi-,n/ WtI3ATIN THE TERRORIST THREAT Availability CodesAvail and/or A GRUP SIJDY PPOEC Dist Special

Army Officers’ Attitudes of Conflict Management.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-06-11

The purpose of this study was to measure the attitudes of the middle level career Army officers relative to the concepts of conflict management . The...the literature concerning conflict management and its related fields of study, an exploratory analysis employing Hierarchical Clustering Schemes, and... conflict management . (2) No difference exists in the attitudes of conflict management according to the sample’s three branch groups: combat arms

A resolution commemorating and honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces and their families as the official combat mission in Iraq draws to a close.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI

2011-12-17

Senate - 12/17/2011 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A SIMULATION OF HELICOPTER AIRCRAFT IN AN ARMED RECONNAISSANCE MODE, FOR THE CDC 1604 DIGITAL COMPUTER.

DTIC Science & Technology

A model is presented which is a computer simulation of a duel involving two helicopter sections, a scout and an attack section, and an armored mobile...constructed in an attempt to include the possible effects of terrain on tactics used by the combatants in the duel . The computer program, logic and model results are included. (Author)

The Blurring of Lines Between Combatants and Civilians in Twenty-First Century Armed Conflict

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-28

concern for retirement, pensions , placement, or medical care. Speed, technical expertise, continuity, and flexibility are advantages gained by using...including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems , and embedded processors and controllers.”42 Cyberspace and the technologies that... systems . Additionally, the Department of Defense relies heavily on its National Security Agency to defend the United States from attacks against its

[Loyalty to professional and military duty].

PubMed

Chizh, I M

1995-01-01

The author of this article--Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Medical Service--analyses the trends of optimization of medical support of the Army and Navy, taking into account the experience of combat casualty care during Chechen crisis. In order to enhance the efficiency of medical support during combat activities all the personnel is supplied with first-aid kits. Each company is reinforced with a medical assistant or army physician; battalion medical posts--with physicians, medical assistants, aidmen, mobile dressing room and ambulances; regiment medical posts--with two surgeons, an anaesthesiologist, an instrument nurse and nurse-anaesthetist. The primary medical care is provided at the battalion medical post; qualified (secondary) surgical care--at regiment medical posts, and specialized (tertiary) medical care--at special medical detachments (SMD) and military hospitals. The wounded are evacuated from the zone of combat actions by APC or MICV, and then by helicopters. The further evacuation of wounded is realized by transport or medical aircraft, including "Skalpel" flight surgery plane. The experience of army physicians has proved the necessity of multilateral development of Mobile Forces Medical Service and the formation of aeromobile hospitals. An airborne infantry battalion must have a medical company in its organic structure, and respectively a separate medical battalion must have an aeromobile medical company. The SMD which are assigned to act in the emergency situations of peaceful time also can be effective in providing medical care (including specialized care) during local military conflicts. Thinking over the further development of medical support in the Armed Forces the author assigns a number of tasks throughout all the chain of medical command, including medical establishments, medical examination boards, the Corps of Senior medical specialists (in surgery, internal medicine, pathologicoanatomy, sanitary supervision, etc). A special attention is paid to the formation of an efficient system of sanitary-epidemiological supervision in the Armed Forces; the improvement of medical assistance for servicewomen, retired officers and their dependents; the enforcement of military and labour discipline in the units and establishments of medical service; training and education of medical personnel; the strict adherence to the principles of medical ethics, deontology, and oath of physician.

Collective stories and well-being: using a dialogical narrative approach to understand peer relationships among combat veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Caddick, Nick; Phoenix, Cassandra; Smith, Brett

2015-03-01

Using a dialogical narrative approach, this original research explored how combat veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder made sense of peer relationships with other veterans and what effects these relationships had on their well-being. Interviews and participant observations were conducted with 15 male combat veterans (aged 27-60 years) and one member of the civilian emergency services, the majority of whom were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following traumatic exposure in a range of armed conflicts. All participants were part of a surfing charity for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Data were rigorously analysed using a dialogical narrative analysis (DNA). Findings revealed the collective story that veterans used to make sense of peer relationships within the group. This collective story worked for the veterans to shape their experiences of well-being by fostering camaraderie, stimulating deeper connections and countering the negative effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Potential therapeutic effects of the collective story were also identified. This article extends previous knowledge on combat veterans and social relationships and advances the field of narrative health psychology through the empirical application of a sophisticated dialogical narrative approach. © The Author(s) 2015.

Combat and herbicide exposures in Vietnam among a sample of American Legionnaires

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stellman, S.D.; Stellman, J.M.; Sommer, J.F. Jr.

A cross-sectional survey of 6,810 randomly selected members of The American Legion in six states who served in the US Armed Forces during the Vietnam Era was conducted by a mailed questionnaire. Combat stress was evaluated by a previously validated eight-item scale. Exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides was estimated via exposure probability index previously developed by the authors which uses an algorithm based on the combined Air Force and Joint Services HERBS files of spray data. Two-fifths of the men had served in Southeast Asia, generally at the same time during which the major proportion of herbicides weremore » used; the remaining subjects served elsewhere. Both combat and Agent Orange exposure exhibited distinct, meaningful distributions among Vietnam veterans with service in Southeast Asia and were also correlated with each other. Our analysis demonstrates conclusively that mere presence in Vietnam cannot be used as a proxy for exposure to Agent Orange. Categorization of Vietnam veterans according to herbicide exposure can be successfully accomplished, based on an existing detailed herbicide application data base. This analysis, together with the consistent dose-related results obtained in this series of papers on health and behavioral effects, demonstrates the utility of questionnaire-derived herbicide and combat exposure measures for epidemiologic study of Vietnam veterans.« less

Winds of War: Enhancing Civilian and Military Partnerships to Assure Readiness: White Paper.

PubMed

Schwab, C William

2015-08-01

This White Paper summarizes the state of readiness of combat surgeons and provides action recommendations that address the problems of how to train, sustain, and retain them for future armed conflicts. As the basis for the 2014 Scudder Oration, I explored how to secure an improved partnership between military and civilian surgery, which would optimize learning platforms and embed military trauma personnel at America's academic medical universities for trauma combat casualty care (TCCC). To craft and validate these recommendations, I conducted an integrative and iterative process of literature reviews, interviews of military and civilian leaders, and a survey of military-affiliated surgeons. The recommended action points advance the training of combat surgeons and their trauma teams by creating an expanded network of TCCC training sites and sourcing the cadre of combat-seasoned surgeons currently populating our civilian and military teaching hospitals and universities. The recommendation for the establishment of a TCCC readiness center or command within the Medical Health System of the Department of Defense includes a military and civilian advisory board, with the reformation of a think tank of content experts to address high-level solutions for military medicine, readiness, and TCCC. Copyright © 2015 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

77 FR 59643 - Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: San Francisco State University NAGPRA Program, San...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-28

... chert tools, 84 ground stone tools, 90 bone tools, 1 ear spool, and 4 earplugs. Radiometric dating... tools, 13 chert tools, 40 obsidian tools, 77 bone tools, 1 shell tool, 1 lithic pendant, 2 steatite ear... obsidian tools, 1 chert tool, 12 ground stone tools, and 6 bone tools. The artifact assemblage indicates...

Prehospital injury severity of children evacuated by helicopters from combat zones: a retrospective report.

PubMed

Samuel, Nir; Hirschhorn, Gil; Chen, Jacob; Steiner, Ivan P; Shavit, Itai

2013-03-01

In Israel, the Airborne Rescue and Evacuation Unit (AREU) provides prehospital trauma care in times of peace and during times of armed conflict. In peacetime, the AREU transports children who were involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVC) and those who fall off cliffs (FOC). During armed conflict, the AREU evacuates children who sustain firearm injuries (FI) from the fighting zones. To report on prehospital injury severity of children who were evacuated by the AREU from combat zones. A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted on indicators of prehospital injury severity for patients who had MVC, FOC, and FI. It included the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on scene, and the number of procedures performed by emergency medical personnel and by the AREU air-crew. From January 2003 to December 2009, 36 MVC, 25 FOC, and 17 FI children were transported from the scene by the AREU. Five patients were dead at the scene: 1 (2.8%) MVC, 1 (4%) FOC, and 3 (17.6%) FI. Two (11.7%) FI patients were dead on arrival at the hospital. MVC, FOC, and FI patients had mean (±SD) NACA scores of 4.4 ± 1.2, 3.6 ± 1.2, and 5 ± 0.7, respectively. Mean (±SD) GCS scores were 8.9 ± 5.6, 13.6 ± 4, and 6.9 ± 5.3, respectively. Life support interventions were required by 29 (80.6%) MVC, 3 (12%) FOC, and 15 (88.2%) FI patients. In the prehospital setting, children evacuated from combat zones were more severely injured than children who were transported from the scene during peacetime. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A dynamic model for generating actuator specifications for small arms barrel active stabilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathak, Anupam; Brei, Diann; Luntz, Jonathan; Lavigna, Chris

2006-03-01

Due to stresses encountered in combat, it is known that soldier marksmanship noticeably decreases regardless of prior training. Active stabilization systems in small arms have potential to address this problem to increase soldier survivability and mission effectiveness. The key to success is proper actuator design, but this is highly dependent on proper specification which is challenging due to the human/weapon interaction. This paper presents a generic analytical dynamic model which is capable of defining the necessary actuation specifications for a wide range of small arms platforms. The model is unique because it captures the human interface--shoulder and arm--that introduces the jitter disturbance in addition to the geometry, inertial properties and active stabilization stiffness of the small arms platform. Because no data to date is available for actual shooter-induced disturbance in field conditions, a method is given using the model to back-solve from measured shooting range variability data the disturbance amplitude information relative to the input source (arm or shoulder). As examples of the applicability of the model to various small arms systems, two different weapon systems were investigated: the M24 sniper weapon and the M16 assault rifle. In both cases, model based simulations provided valuable insight into impact on the actuation specifications (force, displacement, phase, frequency) due to the interplay of the human-weapon-active stabilization interface including the effect of shooter-disturbance frequency, disturbance location (shoulder vs. arm), and system parameters (stiffness, barrel rotation).

[Endovascular surgery in the war].

PubMed

Reva, V A; Samokhvalov, I M

2015-01-01

Rapid growth of medical technologies has led to implementation of endovascular methods of diagnosis and treatment into rapidly developing battlefield surgery. This work based on analysing all available current publications generalizes the data on using endovascular surgery in combat vascular injury. During the Korean war (1950-1953) American surgeons for the first time performed endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta - the first intravascular intervention carried out in a zone of combat operations. Half a century thereafter, with the beginning of the war in Afghanistan (2001) and in Iraq (2003) surgeons of central hospitals of the USA Armed Forces began performing delayed endovascular operations to the wounded. The development of technologies, advent of mobile angiographs made it possible to later on implement high-tech endovascular interventions in a zone of combat operations. At first, more often they performed implantation of cava filters, somewhat afterward - angioembolization of damaged accessory vessels, stenting and endovascular repair of major arteries. The first in the theatre of war endovascular prosthetic repair of the thoracic aorta for severe closed injury was performed in 2008. Russian experience of using endovascular surgery in combat injuries is limited to diagnostic angiography and regional intraarterial perfusion. Despite the advent of stationary angiographs in large hospitals of the RF Ministry of Defence in the early 1990s, endovascular operations for combat vascular injury are casuistic. Foreign experience in active implementation of endovascular technologies to treatment of war-time injuries has substantiated feasibility of using intravascular interventions in tertiary care military hospitals. Carrying out basic training courses on endovascular surgery should become an organic part of preparing multimodality general battlefield surgeons rendering care on the theatre of combat operations.

Crippling Violence: Conflict and Incident Polio in Afghanistan

PubMed Central

Norris, Alison; Hachey, Kevin; Curtis, Andrew; Bourdeaux, Margaret

2016-01-01

Background Designing effective public health campaigns in areas of armed conflict requires a nuanced understanding of how violence impacts the epidemiology of the disease in question. Methods We examine the geographical relationship between violence (represented by the location of detonated Improvised Explosive Devices) and polio incidence by generating maps of IEDs and polio incidence during 2010, and by comparing the mean number of IED detonations in polio high-risk districts with non polio high-risk districts during 2004–2009. Results We demonstrate a geographic relationship between IED violence and incident polio. Districts that have high-risk for polio have highly statistically significantly greater mean numbers of IEDs than non polio high-risk districts (p-values 0.0010–0.0404). Conclusions The geographic relationship between armed conflict and polio incidence provides valuable insights as to how to plan a vaccination campaign in violent contexts, and allows us to anticipate incident polio in the regions of armed conflict. Such information permits vaccination planners to engage interested armed combatants to co-develop strategies to mitigate the effects of violence on polio. PMID:26958854

Land Combat Systems Industry Report, Industrial College of the Armed Forces Academic Year 2004-2005

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

international members of selected industries in both defense and non -defense environments, and prepare specific policy options to enhance industrial... policy implications. Consistent with the ICAF’s non -attribution policy , this report presents industry composite information only, disclosing neither...European firms regard these U.S. export control policies as protectionist and, indeed, many seek out partnership arrangements to circumvent U.S

Materials for Ground Platform Survivability

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-17

Purpose: Protect the Soldier!!! • Soldier Body Armor – Vest – Helmet – SAPI Plate (Small Arms Protective Insert) – ESAPI Plate (Enhanced SAPI...public release UNCLASSIFIED: Dist A. Approved for public release Traditional Armor Material’s • Metal’s: – Steel • Armor Plate , Steel, Wrought...Homogeneous (for Use in Combat- Vehicles and for Ammunition Testing) (MIL-DTL-12560) • Armor Plate , Steel, Wrought, Ultra-High-Hardness (MIL-DTL- 32332

The United States Army 1995 Modernization Plan. Force 21

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-04-06

being modified to support the requirements and new dangers of our changing times. It is often said that we study history so as not to repeat thu...intuitive sense of battle gained from study and expertise. Training remains the key to modem, combat-ready Light Forces. Effective modemization and...Devices, Simulators and Simulations (TADSS) Light Forces training is supported by the Combined Arms Training Strategy (CATS). CATS is a descriptive

The DTIC Review, Urban Warfare. Volume 4, Number 4

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-08-01

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Handbook on the Law of War for Armed Forces, by Frederic de Mulinen (Geneva: International Committee of the Red...or developing logistical stabilizing force within a volatile region - or as Cupporfornatng oravopng logistica demonstration of US political...attack. It can be described as an in combat formations. After seizing the objec- arrow or dagger thrust into the enemy de -in ombt frmaion

Atmospheric Data Requirements for Battlefield Obscuration Applications.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-01

34 ECOM-5572, August 1975. 9. Miers, B., G. Blackman, D. Langer, and N. Lorimier, " Analysis of SMS/GOES Film Data," ECOM-5573, September 1975. 10...ATEC-PL-M Combined Arms Combat Developments Activity; ATZLCA-RS Concepts Analysis Agency; CSCA-SMC Dugway Proving Ground; STEDP-PP Electronic Warfare...CS-SA Materiel Systems Analysis Activity, Ground Warfare Division; DRXSY-GS Missile Research and Development Command, Research Directorate; DRDMI-TRA

Environmental Assessment for Expansion of Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Range Moody AFB, Georgia

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-09-01

TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE RANGE AT MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...1999). 3.1.3 Soils Soils found within Moody AFB are associated with the Tifton Upland District of the Lower Coastal Plain. Characteristics of...dominant soil associations on Moody AFB include the Tifton -Pelham-Fuquay and the Dasher associations. The majority of the main base consists of the

Wanat: Combat Action in Afghanistan, 2008

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources , gathering and maintaining the...fled to Pakistan, not to return until the later years of the Soviet war. With that area pacified, most significant heavy fighting was centered along...Northern Alliance. Neither side attempted to lay a heavy hand on the region out of fear of driving the local population into the arms of its enemies

Every Airman a Fighter

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

uneven ground. The training is several times a week. Gichin Funakoshi, a Japanese Karate instructor, remarked that combatives training, " ..was like...ofmartial artists visit each ofthe Air Force bases under Ills command. Experts in Aikido, Judo, and Karate demonstrated their arts to the Airmen. Many of...reach, Lieutenant Sijan knocked the guard out with a Karate -strike with his good arm and escaped by crawling away into the jungle. He was soon

Under-armed, Overtorqued, Unafraid: A Study of the Aeroscout Employment Evolution in Vietnam

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-10

General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to this study should include the foregoing statement.) iv ABSTRACT UNDER...regarding the development and fielding of new equipment, and personal and government accounts of application in combat, no narratives bridge the gap and...arguments over the separate Air Force to the agreements between services that early on served to restrict Army rotary-wing aviation. Government

Command Dysfunction: Minding the Cognitive War

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-06-01

failure sometimes resulted from the physical test of arms in combat, leading to a mortal wound. At other times the fall was psychological , brought...for the attack and protection of command and control. The doctrinal definition follows: C2W is the integrated use of psychological operations (PSYOP... psychological , components of C2W. The problem of emphasizing direct attack C2W targeting is that it potentially underplays the complementary aspect of

Environmental Assessment for a Security Forces Armory/Combat Arms Facility

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-21

tener), Contra Costa goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens), and the San Joaquin spearscale (Atriplex joaquiniana) – that are listed by the California Native...Plant Society as rare. The akali milkvetch and the San Joaquin spearscale are also listed as federal species of concern (Travis AFB, 2002a). The...following federally listed species have been identified at Travis AFB: • Contra Costa goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens), a federally endangered plant

Yemen: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-06

socio-economic problems. Congress and U.S. policymakers may be concerned with prospects for stabilizing Yemen and establishing strong bilateral...watchers suggest that security problems emanating from Yemen may persist in spite of increased U.S. or international efforts to combat them. Overall, the...by this Act for assistance for Yemen may be made available for the Armed Forces of Yemen if such forces are controlled by a foreign terrorist

Saksenaea erythrospora Infection Following Combat Trauma

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-01

partial-thickness and full-thick- ness burns affecting his head, arms, and legs. No evidence of significant smoke inhalation injury was noted on...extract-water culture at 35°C. The water culture remained sterile after 4 weeks; however, a few fruiting structures were seen on the CZA plate and the...weeks of incubation at 25°C. (B) Fruiting structure of S. erythrospora depicting lateral rhizoids; a brown, straight, encrusted sporangiophore; the

The Advancement of Women in Post-Conflict Nepal

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-01

DANIEL K. INOUYE ASIA PACIFIC CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES OCCASIONAL PAPER, APRIL 2017 The Advancement of Women in Post -Conflict Nepal Lily Thapa1...in the lack of access to appropriate services and compensation, and in the way that female ex -combatants are treated and reintegrated...5,912 2,985 The Advancement of Women in Post -Conflict Nepal 2 reparation of victims of armed conflict and the provision of mechanisms for

Advancement of Women in Post-Conflict Nepal

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-01

DANIEL K. INOUYE ASIA PACIFIC CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES OCCASIONAL PAPER, APRIL 2017 The Advancement of Women in Post -Conflict Nepal Lily Thapa1...in the lack of access to appropriate services and compensation, and in the way that female ex -combatants are treated and reintegrated...5,912 2,985 The Advancement of Women in Post -Conflict Nepal 2 reparation of victims of armed conflict and the provision of mechanisms for

Translations on USSR Military Affairs No. 1360.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-07-03

grown many times. A future war , if it should come, will inevitably be transformed into a clash between two world systems. An uncompromising nature...direction of combat activities of the armed forces—was created in Russia at the beginning of World War I. A war ministry carried out military...commanders in chief and unit (soyedineniye) commanders. The supreme military and political power in Germany during World War I belonged to the Kaiser

Two faces of death: fatalities from disease and combat in America's principal wars, 1775 to present.

PubMed

Cirillo, Vincent J

2008-01-01

Throughout America's first 145 years of war, far more of the country's military personnel perished from infectious diseases than from enemy action. This enduring feature of war was finally reversed in World War II, chiefly as a result of major medical advances in prevention (vaccines) and treatment (antibiotics). Safeguarding the health of a command is indispensable for the success of any campaign. Wars are lost by disease, which causes an enormous drain on the military's resources and affects both strategy and tactics. Disease and combat mortality data from America's principal wars (1775-present) fall into two clearly defined time periods: the Disease Era (1775-1918), during which infectious diseases were the major killer of America's armed forces, and the Trauma Era (1941-present), in which combat-related fatalities predominated. The trend established in World War II continues to the present day. Although there are currently more than 3,400 U.S. military fatalities in Iraq, the disease-death toll is so low that it is exceeded by the number of suicides.

Growing up in armed groups: trauma and aggression among child soldiers in DR Congo

PubMed Central

Hermenau, Katharin; Hecker, Tobias; Maedl, Anna; Schauer, Maggie; Elbert, Thomas

2013-01-01

Background Child soldiers are often both victims and perpetrators of horrendous acts of violence. Research with former child soldiers has consistently shown that exposure to violence is linked to trauma-related disorders and that living in a violent environment is correlated with enhanced levels of aggression. Objective To gain more insight into the experiences and the mental health status of former child soldiers, we conducted a survey with N=200 former child soldiers and adult combatants in the DR Congo. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews concerning military experiences, experienced and perpetrated violence, and mental health. Results Former child soldiers reported more experienced and perpetrated violence, a greater severity of trauma-related suffering, as well as higher appetitive aggression than adult ex-combatants. Appetitive aggression was related to more perpetrated violence, higher military ranks, voluntary recruitment and higher rates of reenlistments in former child soldiers. Conclusions Our results indicate that growing up in an armed group is related to higher levels of trauma-related disorders and aggressive behavior. This may explain the challenge of reintegrating former child soldiers. It is thus important to consider mental health problems, particularly trauma-related disorders and aggressive behavior, of former child soldiers for designing adequate reintegration programs. PMID:24224078

Assessment of the Influence of Background Noise on Escape-Maintained Problem Behavior and Pain Behavior in a Child with Williams Syndrome.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Reilly, Mark F.; Lacey, Claire; Lancioni, Giulio E.

2000-01-01

A study examined the influence of background noise on levels of problem behavior and pain behavior under functional analysis conditions for a 5-year-old with Williams syndrome and hyperacusis. When the child was fitted with earplugs, there were substantial decreases in both problem and pain behavior under the background noise condition. (Contains…

Evaluation of Extended-wear Hearing Aid Technology for Operational Military Use

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-07-01

for a transparent hearing protection device that could protect the hearing of normal-hearing listeners without degrading auditory situational...method, suggest that continuous noise protection is also comparable to conventional earplug devices. Behavioral testing on listeners with normal...associated with the extended-wear hearing aid could be adapted to provide long-term hearing protection for listeners with normal hearing with minimal

[The medico-psychological rehabilitation of participants in combat actions in a general hospital].

PubMed

Belinskiĭ, A V; Liamin, M V

2000-01-01

There were investigated 453 servicemen--participants of fighting actions in Chechnya [correction of Chechenskaya] Republic in whom the incidence of psychologic stress reactions nearly twice exceeded disorders of other types of psychic dysfunction. 5 groups of combatants were selected and severity of psychic disorders depending on duration of participation in fighting actions was determined. Posttraumatic stress disorders were revealed in 14.5% of servicemen, no signs of psychologic desadaptation were detected in 16.6%, 16.9% had pathologic psychogenic reactions, 18.6% showed pathologic level of psychic disorders, and psychologic stress reactions were noted in 33.4%. The developed individual programs of medico-psychologic rehabilitation depending on type and severity of psychic disorders will allow to reduce the period of restorative treatment and significantly decrease servicemen discharge from the Armed Forces because of psychic disorders.

Did a "lucky shot" sink the submarine H.L. Hunley?

PubMed

Lance, Rachel M; Warder, Henry; Bass, Cameron R Dale

2017-01-01

The H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to be successful in combat, sinking the Union vessel Housatonic outside Charleston Harbor in 1864 during the Civil War. However, despite marking a milestone in military history, little is known about this vessel or why it sank. One popular theory is the "lucky shot" theory: the hypothesis that small arms fire from the crew of the Housatonic may have sufficiently damaged the submarine to sink it. However, ballistic experiments with cast iron samples, analysis of historical experiments firing Civil War-era projectiles at cast iron samples, and calculation of the tidal currents and sinking trajectory of the submarine indicate that this theory is not likely. Based on our results, the "lucky shot" theory does not explain the sinking of the world's first successful combat submarine. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Attrition in the United States Army: An Exploratory Data Analysis Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

4Y0 ENUSTEE THIS BATCH CONSISTS OF THE MOST PREVALENT 4YO i ENLISTEE: 18 YR OLD COMBAT ARMS, SINGLE WITH NO DEPSWHITE.MALE P(LOSហ)-0.334 P(LOS-48...0.238 0.238 25.86 78 ,p TAIBLE I Results of Survivor Punction Analysis for. 4YO Variale P (ICSហ) P (LoS=48- P (LOS>48) Ave. LOS All vai;iables 0.441

Supporting the Air Mobility Needs of Geographic Combatant Commanders: An Evaluation Using the Principal-Agent Construct

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

had reached over 500,000. Another important aspect of this disaster was the damage sustained by several Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant reactors.3...The damage, resulting from the constant battering of tsunami waves, affected the cooling systems of the nuclear plant and resulted in several ... Nuclear Regulatory Commission & DoE nuclear expertise to help with the emerging Fukushima crisis. All branches of the US armed forces actively

The Integration of Women into Combat Arms Units

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-05

brother- sister bonds rather than sexual ones. Experience has shown that actual integration diminishes prejudice and fosters group cohesiveness more...greater likelihood of being raped . In the 1992 Report to the President “The commission heard testimony from the DoD representatives and POWs who...called us Night Witches because we never let them get any sleep ’, she says.”50 In addition to Soviet women, Allied women demonstrated that they were

Firepower in Limited War

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-04-01

Bananas " began ferrying Vietnamese troops into combat. Later in that same year, armed Hueys began escorting the vulnerable trans- ports into landing...region of Afghani- stan in an open vehicle. Flying lazily above were two Hinds, each taking turns peeling off to attack a destroyed, obviously deserted...58number used by NVA. 154 H-21 (Flying Banana ), 20-21siege, 5-7 HC-I B transport, 20-21Gunships. See also Aerial rocket Marine Corps observation

A Simulation on Organizational Communication Patterns During a Terrorist Attack

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

and the Air Support Headquarters. The call is created at the time of attack, and it automatically includes a request for help. Reliability of...communication conditions. 2. Air Support call : This call is produced for just the Headquarters of Air Component, only in case of armed attacks. The request can...estimated speed of armored vehicles in combat areas (West-Point Organization, 2002). When a call for air support is received, an information

Joint Interagency Task Forces; the Right Model to Combat Transnational Organized Crime

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-18

of predicting drug movements with incredible accuracy. 8 JIATF-South started life as one of three Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Task...on terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling; a JIATF Africa /Middle East focused on terrorism, arms smuggling, infectious diseases; and, a JIATF...narco terrorist threats within the prescribed JOA.” 72 As previously mentioned, JIATF-South has by necessity already started to widen its focus to TCO

History of the Combat Zone Tax Exclusion

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

and Accounting Service (DFAS), Military Pay Tables, 1943 and 1945. Note: Minimum and maximum pay values vary within grades due to a member’s years of...Horowitz, Task Leader Log: H 11-001279 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The Institute for Defense Analyses is a non- profit ...instrumental to the functioning of a fair tax system for members of the armed services. Despite its historical ties to wartime finance, the income tax

Forecasting in Military Affairs. A Soviet View,

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-01-01

particular, forecasting models must take adequate account of time. This applies especially to models of processes of armed conflict, as the most complex and...too varied for permanently fixed rules to be applied to them."’ Combat situations are always more complex and varied than thosereferred to in various...writing this book was to make up for the lack of Soviet literature on the subject of forecasting as it applies specifically to military activities

Maintaining Peace - The Threat, the Force, and the Nation

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-03

that properly managed, the central theme enunciated variously by Hobbes and Locke, Rousseau and the Federalists remains valid today, namely: "As...combat, in all its forms, is a secondary by-product of the defense effort. The real product of defense is, and must remain , the production of peace...reshape the American military represents a threat to peace. 5. Global Hostilities: The threat of U.S. involvement in an armed conflict remains a distinct

Performance Assessment of the 3M Combat Arms Generation 4.0 Tactical Military Shooter’s Ear Plug

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-24

blast , impulsive noise attenuation, REAT, IPIL 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 19a. NAME OF...fire could eventually result in permanent hearing loss. Noise exposures from larger weapons and blasts could instantly cause permanent hearing loss... noise . The general approach for this assessment was to use American National Standards Institute (ANSI) measurement procedures for continuous

SOF Integration with Conventional Forces: A Doctrine Gap?

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

close tolerances, friction in an engine can be reduced considerably. However, there will always be energy lost in the system as heat. The goal is to...armed peshmerga. The combat power analysis favored the Iraqis on the ground. JSOTF planners only recourse was to rely on air power to close this gap . A...Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited SOF Integration with Conventional Forces: A Doctrine Gap ? A Monograph by MAJ Gregory M

Special Warfare: A Selected Bibliography.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-10-01

G8234 1982) 31. Chaliand, Gerard. Revolution in the Third World: Myth and Prosnects. New York: Viking Pres, 1977. (D842 .C45) 32. Clutterbuck, Richard ...L. Guerrillas and Terrorists. London: Faber and Faber, 1977. (HV6431 .C61) 33. Clutterbuck, Richard L. The Long. Lona War: Counterinsurgency in Malaya...Boulder: Panther, 1965. (U240 D3) 39. Darnell, Richard J. Civic Action Program in the Armed Forces. Fort Belvoir: US Army Combat Developments Command

Fractal Effects in Lanchester Models of Combat

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-08-01

Lanchester models. 8. References 1 Aircraft in Warfare : The Dawn of the Fourth Arm, F W Lanchester , Constable & Co., London, 1916. 2 The Calculus of...Intermediate Asymptotics, G I Barenblatt, CUP, 1996. 14 Lanchester Models of Warfare Volumes 1 and 2, J G Taylor, Operations Research Society of America...Nagabhushana, Computers and Operations Research, 21, 615-628, 1994. 20 DSTO-TR-2331 18 Lanchester Type Models of Warfare , H K Weiss, Proc.First

Military Medical Revolution: Military Trauma System

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

receive state-of-the-art physical therapy and occupational therapy , in- cluding demanding and challenging sports equipment and virtual reality systems...Knudson MM. Into the theater: perspectives from a civilian trauma sur- geon’s visit to the combat support hospital in Balad, Iraq. Bull Am Coll Surg...following type III open tibia fracture . J Orthop Trauma. 2012;26:43 47. 52. U.S Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Armed Forces In- stitute of

Planning U.S. General Purpose Forces: The Theater Nuclear Forces

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-01-01

usefulness in combat. All U.S. nuclear weapons deployed in Europe are fitted with Permissive Action Links (PAL), coded devices designed to impede...may be proposed. The Standard Missile 2, the Harpoon missile, the Mk48 tor- pedo , and the SUBROC anti-submarine rocket are all being considered for...Permissive Action Link . A coded device attached to nuclear weapons deployed abroad that impedes the unauthorized arming or firing of the weapon. Pershing

An Electroacoustic Hearing Protector Simulator That Accurately Predicts Pressure Levels in the Ear Based on Standard Performance Metrics

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-01

earplug and earmuff showing HPD simulator elements for energy flow paths...unprotected or protected ear traditionally start with analysis of energy flow through schematic diagrams based on electroacoustic (EA) analogies between...Schröter, 1983; Schröter and Pösselt, 1986; Shaw and Thiessen, 1958, 1962; Zwislocki, 1957). The analysis method tracks energy flow through fluid and

Returning home: resettlement of formerly abducted children in Northern Uganda.

PubMed

Corbin, Joanne N

2008-06-01

This exploratory qualitative study considers the subjective resettlement experiences of children forced into armed conflict in Northern Uganda from the perspectives of 11 former child combatants and 11 adult community members. A thematic analysis was performed on the narrative data. The bioecological model was used to provide a conceptual framework for key themes. Major findings included the overarching impact of ongoing armed conflict on returnees' lives, the important role of the family in supporting children's resettlement, the harassment of former child soldiers by community members, and the community's inability to support systematically the returning children in tangible ways. This study recommends that humanitarian services at all levels strengthen the capacity of families to care for the material and psychoemotional needs of former child soldiers within their communities.

Power Pack: U.S. Intervention in the Dominican Republic, 1965-1966 (Leavenworth Papers, Number 15)

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-07-01

Center (Centro de Entrenamiento de las Fuerzas 22 Elias Wessin y Wessin Armadas, or CEFA), an elite group of nearly 2,000 specially trained infan- try...battalion combat team battalion landing team Centro de Entrenamiento de las Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces Training Cen- ter) Central Intelligence...operations. As with Lebanon in 1958, the Domin- ican intervention was a joint operation. In general terms, many of the de - ficiencies revealed in joint

Close to Kill: Vestigial Technologies and Combat Arms

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-01

greater distances. The mere thought of ramming a several-thousand-ton ship into another vessel, stabbing a blade into the chest of an adversary, or...Not until six months into the war did it contract for a third.41 The shortage in production capacity led to a significant iron deficit by the end...wind and sea, influence of wakes , and rates and acceleration and deceleration of ships of different displacements.” Robison, A History of Naval

Society and the Soldier’s Soul: Is the Warrior’s Purification Ritual Needed or Possible in Modern America

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

spiritual components, which may provide a starting point for discussion of how such a mechanism fits into military culture. Thesis . In various...counsel others” after earning a PhD in psychology , felt both blood guilt and an altered relationship with God as a result of killing in combat.52...armed forces…[It] consists of eight distinct domains: physical, environmental, medical, nutritional, spiritual , psychological , behavioral, and social

Japan’s Battle of Okinawa, April-June 1945 (Leavenworth Papers, Number 18)

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-01

and close combat to prevail over its lightly armed adversaries, the Chinese and Euro- pean colonial garrisons. Beginning with Guadalcanal, however...Army on 8 July 1944. 55 Cho drank generously and when intoxicated would perform a dance with his samurai sword. He liked having fine cuisine and good...the sentries outside managed to forage some tomatoes and Chinese cabbage from neighboring gardens. Beer and sake were plentiful, and the commander’s

Private Contracting of U.S. Air Force Combat Capabilities in Future Conflicts

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

any person who: (a) is specially recruited locally or abroad in order to fight in an armed conflict; (b) is motivated to take part in the...IGFs. This confusion ultimately led to a policy letter from the White House that called for the Director of the OMB to issue a policy letter that...some cases, civilizations. This thesis is concerned only with the current state of war, fighting between governments. Since the Vietnam War, and

Combatting Terrorism: A Guide for U. S. Naval Forces Afloat

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-12-01

weaponry at an alarming rate . Because of this progress "large numbers of these new weapons will quickly become obsolete and disposed of through arms... rate qualification processes. Consequently, it is many times given to an -: inexperienced, new individual while "more important" posi- 0A * tions are...so as not to unduly tax the regular training schedule. While the training of the crew in anti-terrorist and counterterrorist techniques is in progress

Embedded Journalists Are Uniquely Qualified to Convey the Experience of a Combat Soldier

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

endangered themselves for the group by getting pregnant and giving birth. I’m sure the mortality rate among women , among our ancestors, was...you, old men with their talk, women who offer chai—and any one of them may dance over your body tomorrow.”6 Turner is describing the disturbing...armed force was necessary for survival. Individual sacrifice for the group was absolutely a prerequisite for belonging to the group. Women , of course

Workshop on Critical ORI Issues Held in Bordeaux, France on OCtober 27 - 29, 1992. Program and Abstracts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-10-29

These people try to make their robotic vehicle as intelligent and autonomous as possible with the current state of technology. The robot only interacts... Robotics Peter J. Burt David Sarnoff Research Center Princeton, NJ 08543-5300 U.S.A. The ability of an operator to drive a remotely piloted vehicle depends...RESUPPLY - System which can rapidly and autonomously load and unload palletized ammunition. (18) AUTONOMOUS COMBAT EVACUATION VEHICLE - Robotic arms

Representation of Small-Arms Effects in Aggregated Force-on-Force Combat Models.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-03-01

CONPUTATICY OF FORCE RATIO AND FRACTIONAL VALUE LOST 54 ***** 0 G. SCALING* COMPUTATION OF CASUALTIES AND WlAPCN LOSSES .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .56 VI...ammo because cf its weight or his adversary with an AK-47 capable of rapid rates of accurate fire? The argument for the long- range kill capability of...LEVEL INDEPENDENT 8. IRE ALLOCATION ICT EXPLICITY CONSIDERED 9. SYMB!TRIC 10. 30 CCNSIDERXTION CF NONCOMBAT LOSSES (E.G. DESERTIONS, S URRENDERS) 11

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the interment in national cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration of individuals who served in combat support of the Armed Forces in the Kingdom of Laos between February 28, 1961, and May 15, 1975, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK

2013-01-31

Senate - 06/12/2013 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-111. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Global Demands: Limited Forces. US Army Deployment

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

will remain a perennial problem . The administration does not want to provide potential adver- saries with details of national strategy. Nor do the...deployments ana tactical operations exacerbate this shortfall. In a crisis, the national command authorities will be faced with a serious problem , choosing be...the planned usa of available Arm combat forces to maxium their 00oWta i the most crii" theats. The nation will hae to deal w1th this shortfall i

The Importance of Enduring Partnership Between the US and Pakistan in Combating Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

Hundreds of Pakistanis including armed forces members have so far been killed in these terrorist attacks. The most high profile personality that has so...far been killed in such attacks was Mrs Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s ex Prime Minister. Pakistan has so far provided following assistance to the US: a...Pakistan Army conducted operation in South Waziristan in 2004, during which 302 militants were killed while 656 were detained. Some 80% of these

The Evolving Role of Lyophilized Plasma in Remote Damage Control Resuscitation in the French Armed Forces Health Service

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

severely bleeding combat casualties with the following interventions: tourniquets applied immediately in the field, hemo- static dressings, tranexamic ... acid within the first 3 hours, transfusion of FLYP and RBCs in a 1:1 ratio, fresh whole blood (FWB) use, correction of acidosis with bicarbonate...products: hemoglobin, ABO-Rh-Kell grouping, HIV 1 and 2 antibodies and nucleic acid testing (NAT), HCV antibodies and NAT, hepatitis B virus antigen and

Investing In The Army Organic Industrial Base To Operate And Win In A Complex And Austere Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-26

Complex and Austere Environment Sb. GRANT NUMBER Sc. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Sd. PROJECT NUMBER MAJ Sun Ryu Se. TASK NUMBER Sf...supports the United States Armed Forces to project combat power during hostilities. In 2014, TRADOC published the new Army Operating Concept (AOC...Sustaining the Army Organic Industrial Base in the Post- Afghanistan Conflict Era” (Civilian Research Project , US Army War College, 2014), 1. 8

Economic Returns to Military Service

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-07-01

Married Women." Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 14, No. 4, Fall 1979, pp. 563-78. Joseph, Toni, "Rude Awakening: Many Veterans Find Military Jobs No Road...leave the service. Proponents of this view often point to what might be termed "low-tech" jobs in the Army, especially in the combat arms, where...consistent with the existing job matching hypothesis models. Negative images of t.e military resulting from the Vietnam War and the recruiting scandals in the

Report of the Army Scientific Advisory Panel Ad Hoc Group on Fire Suppression

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-07-01

initially should be provided a nucleus of a seven- person technical staff composed of one 0-6 combat arme officer as Director, two senior behavioral ...If the suppressee perceives the fire as being reactive to his own behavior then the personal danger factor will be reinforced,1 Fire...that is not periodic hut also not reactive to his behavior may be like periodic fire in its personal threat except more difficult to

Sexual violence in armed conflict: the least condemned of war crimes.

PubMed

O'Connor, Mike

2014-03-01

Sexual violence in armed conflict has traditionally received poor attention until recent years. It has been the "least condemned of war crimes" although, with the inception of the International Criminal Court and various other international courts and tribunals, convictions of high-profile aggressors are increasing. Only recently Charles Taylor, the President of Liberia, was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity which included rape and sexual slavery. He was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. Is prosecution of these crimes sufficient to minimise sexual violence in war? That seems unlikely given the potential for such violence to be a cheap and effective strategy to terrorise a civilian population and "ethnically cleanse" the newly won territory. However, there is a remarkable variation in the levels of sexual violence in armed conflicts. Some, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have extremely low levels, whereas in Bosnia and many African states the prevalence of sexual violence is at epidemic levels. The reasons for such differences are many, however, some precipitating factors may be improved by strong military discipline, improved gender balance in armed forces, better political awareness by combatants of the aims of a campaign and pre-deployment ethical training.

Visible and thermal spectrum synthetic image generation with DIRSIG and MuSES for ground vehicle identification training

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

May, Christopher M.; Maurer, Tana O.; Sanders, Jeffrey S.

2017-05-01

There is a ubiquitous and never ending need in the US armed forces for training materials that provide the warfighter with the skills needed to differentiate between friendly and enemy forces on the battlefield. The current state of the art in battlefield identification training is the Recognition of Combat Vehicles (ROCV) tool created and maintained by the Communications - Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (CERDEC NVESD). The ROC-V training package utilizes measured visual and thermal imagery to train soldiers about the critical visual and thermal cues needed to accurately identify modern military vehicles and combatants. This paper presents an approach that has been developed to augment the existing ROC-V imagery database with synthetically generated multi-spectral imagery that will allow NVESD to provide improved training imagery at significantly lower costs.

[Principles of surgical care organization and structural characteristics of sanitary casualties in counter-terrorist operations in the Northern Caucasus (Report I)].

PubMed

Gumanenko, E K; Samokhvalov, I M; Trusov, A A; Severin, V V

2005-01-01

Two operational-and-tactical factors had the main influence on organization of the surgical care rendered to the casualties on the Northern Caucasus: the fulminant and maneuverable nature of combat operations at the beginning of both armed conflicts and rather small territory of war theatre. The main special features of organization of surgical care to the casualties were the use of Medical Squads of Special Purpose in the combat conditions and maximal approximation of the specialized surgical care to the wounded by echelonment of medical units and wide use of helicopter evacuation. The structure of sanitary losses was characterized by the increase in the frequency of mechanical traumas, thermal and combined injuries, by the high share of the casualties with head injuries. Besides the number of seriously wounded and critical casualties has increased.

The Introduction of Custom Earplugs Aboard LCS-1

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-10

reports on the use of foam and custom HPDs, and provides interim recommendations. Custom-molded HPDs were judged by users to be superior in comfort...and able to be worn for longer periods of time than other devices ( foam ). Based on data from LCS and other related studies, the performance...acceptance, and cost of the custom-molded product are comparable, or better, than foam HPDs. The interim recommendation is to provide multiple types of

High Level Impulse Sounds and Human Hearing: Standards, Physiology, Quantification

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

a result of this change the piston-like movements of the stapes are replaced by a tilting action, which is much less effective in pushing cochlear ...Above this threshold, high noise levels result in a turbulent flow of air through the nonlinear element of the protector, effectively dissipating the...electrical diagrams of earplug and earmuff models (Kalb, 2011). In the model shown, the energy flow through the HPD propagates along three parallel

Profiteering on the Iran-Iraq war

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brzoska, M.

1987-06-01

The military gear delivered from the US in the Iran-contra affair represents only a minor portion of arms sales to the combatants in the Iraq-Iran war. That war has now lasted more than six years and has deeply influenced the international arms market. Occurring during a period when other demand for arms has been relatively low, the war has nourished new suppliers and has revived both the legal and illegal private arms market. The erratic behavior of the USSR and the US, until recently by far the most important arms suppliers to the Third World, has pushed Iran and Iraqmore » toward more commercially oriented sources, including many in the Third World. Both countries have had ample supplies of weapons during the war, and these weapons have served their purpose. Mainly because of its duration, the war already ranks third among post-World War II wars - after the Vietnam war and the Biafra war - in battlefield victims, with 300,000-500,000 casualties. The economic cost has risen to nearly $500 billion in weapons, destruction, and lost income. While it is hard to see anything but losers on the battlefield, the arms traffickers are profiting. Total Iranian arms imports since August 1980 have been higher than $10 billion, while Iraq has imported more than $30 billion worth. It is difficult to know whether making arms more difficult to obtain would have stopped the war, but judging from other recent wars, such as those between India and Pakistan, between Uganda and Tanzania, and in the Middle East, it seems likely that hostilities could have been stopped long ago. 12 references.« less

Evaluation, Analysis, and Documentation Support for the 10kW Signature Suppressed Lightweight Electric Energy Plant (SLEEP)

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-14

HAEMP. This issue will be resolved during the Technical Test. (8) Will the 10kW SLEEP handle brief overload conditions? Air conditioners and other...signal units; air defense units; combat arms command, control, and commnunications units; and logistics functions in the brigade area. Priority...Skid mounting o Lifting attachments and tiedowns o Transportable by USAF C-130, C-141 and all US Army aircraft o Capability for low velocity air drop

Heterotopic Ossification in Combat Amputees from Afghanistan and Iraq wars: Five Case Histories and Results from a Small Series of Patients

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

symptoms. This patient also had severe soft-tissue injuries to his nonamputated left arm that required a skin graft . Subse- quent to surgery, the...illustrates the use of preventive medi- cation and symptomatic HO following breakdown of a skin graft . This patient had bilateral transfemoral amputa...United States. He was fitted with prostheses and successfully learned to walk. This patient had a split-thickness skin graft on his right residual

Wasting Time: Black Participation in the Combat Arms Branches

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-15

thirty years only two of the nine Black men selected to command Army Divisions have been slated to do so in CONUS. Young Black men and women can...Divisions have been slated to do so in CONUS. Young Black men and women can derive inspiration in pursuit of a given vocation, by seeing someone of their...Strategic Leaders, COL (ret) James E. Gordon, USWAC Class of 1996, (5 April 1996).  Mentoring Women and Minority officers in the US Military, Major Darrell

Getting the Next War Right: Beyond Population-centric Warfare

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

respectively: Che Guevara and Mao Tse -tung. Che’s foco theory, as we have discussed, advocates mobilizing from the top. The armed challenger chooses an...example, Thomas A. Marks, “Guerrillas in the Mist: Hmong Resistance Continues in Laos ,” Combat and Survival 8, no. 5 (August 1996), 4–11. 12 Theory and...Mao Tse -tung, On Guerrilla Warfare, trans. and ed. Samuel B. Grif!th (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2005). The book is available from a wide

Building (Family) Muscle: How Prolonged Conflicts Can Strengthen Military Families

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-12

deployments in combat zones. Approximately 1.5 million American troops have been deployed in support of the war effort; one-third of them have served at...officers killed in battle.”9 Globally recognized today as the world ‟s premier war fighting force, the United States Armed Forces owes a debt of gratitude...the back seat to the needs of the military services. As the military continued to evolve and transform through the First World War , there was no

Enhancing Combat Effectiveness, The Evolution of the United States Army Infantry Rifle Squad Since the End of World War II

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-05-01

some officers continued to search for better solutions. In 1994, Colonel Galen B. Jackman , the Director of the Infantry School’s Combined Arms and...to an analysis of the changing operational environment and the US Army’s current trend toward force reduction. Colonel Jackman believed that his...recommended organization would return to the infantry rifle squad the capability to conduct fire and maneuver. Colonel Jackman advocated smaller fire

Soviet Nationalities in German Wartime Strategy, 1941-1945.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

their respective nations be allowed to form larger national forces under ’ 3George H. Stein, The Waffen SB: Hitler’s Elite Guard at War, 1939-1945...be carried out until the end of the war by the notorious SS Einsatzgruppen, the SS also had a military arm known as the Waffen SS that engaged in...front-line combat. The Waffen SS underwent a reorganization in 1943 that brought about a major expansion of the SS forces. One of the results of the

Initiative Within the Philosophy of Auftragstaktik: Determining Factors of the Understanding of Initiative in the German Army, 1806-1955

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

Führung und Gefecht der verbundenen Waffen (Com- mand and Combat Employment of the Combined Arms).7 Part One of the manual was published in 1921 and...der verbundenen Waffen mar- ked the German Army’s transition into modern doctrine. No longer was the capstone doctrine predominantly an infantry...the Führung und Gefecht der verbundenen Waffen according to contemporary levels of technological development achieved by 1933.17 More significant from

Horizon Scan of Emerging Technologies and Trends for ADF Combat Service Support 2016

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

Autonomous Robot (SMART) for stitching [315], Flex Robotic System and Flex arm for operating through non-linear winding paths (like the throat) [314...knows-about-customers-habits.html?referer=&_r=0. 15. Singer, P. W. (2009) Wired for War. The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century...spotlight/spotid=40493.php. 61. Chandler, D. L. (2015) Tiny wires could provide a big energy boost. MIT via Nanowerk News, 7 July 2015 [Last accessed 16

Constant Challenges and Evolution of US Military Transfusion Medicine and Blood Operations in Combat

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

James Dunne, Greg J. Beilman, Robert J. O’Connell, Matthew A. Borgman, Andrew P. Cap, and Francisco Rentas BACKGROUND: Blood operations are...O’Connell R. J., Borgman M. A., Cap A. P., Rentas F., 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S...6. Rentas F. Armed services blood program operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (monograph on the Internet). 2011. [cited 2012 Feb 21]. Available from

Combat Engineers of World War II: Lessons on training and Mobilization

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-13

Arms Research Library Digital Library, 142- 143 . 18Blanche D. Coll, Jean E. Keith, and Herbert H. Rosenthal, eds., The United States Army in World...defense of Luzon and Corregidor. While discussing his plan with Major General Richard K . Sutherland, Chief of Staff, USAFFE, in Casey’s office, MacArthur...75Ibid., 208. 76Ibid., 208-209. 77Ibid., 143 . 78Ibid. 79Ibid. 80Casey, 221. 43 81Ibid. 82Ibid. 83Ibid., 221-222. 84Meidling, vol. 2

Field Artillery and the Combined Arms Team: A Case for the Continued Relevance of American Fire Support

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-23

integrate with maneuver forces to meet future threats. Several former brigade combat team commanders mentioned the field artillery’s “identity crisis ” in...September 2008): 35. 5 Sean MacFarland, Michael Shields, and Jeffrey Snow, “White Paper: The King and I: The Impeding Crisis in Field Artillery’s Ability...Michael S. Coombes , “Agile Fires and Decisive Action: Achieving Pervasive Agility by Focusing On Fundamentals,” NTC Decisive Action Training

A Project Officer’s Guide for Elementary Excellence-in-Competition Rifle and Pistol Matches

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-04-01

content by HQ AFMPC. Force pamphlet MAJUR VIC MARTIN Air Command and Staff College Class of 1984 iii ■: ,5 en For GFU&I TAB ;iicatlon_ G...profession o-f arms! In this age o-f computerized war-fare and electronic wizardry it seems that this is often over- looked. Technology has forced ...for individual combat is still the firearm - probably the type on which we qualified when we first came into the Air Force . In order to re-emphasize

Air Force Operational Medicine: Using the Enterprise Estimating Supplies Program to Develop Materiel Solutions for the Thoracic/Vascular Surgery Team (FFGKT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-10

asset, including combat wounds, non-battle injuries , and illnesses. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coded patient...patient conditions and the frequency at which they would present. The resulting illness and injury frequencies characterize the expected patient...The scenario is shown in Table 1. Table 1 Thoracic/Vascular Scenario ICD-9 ICD-9 description No. patients 903.9 INJURY ARM VESSEL NOS 2 904.8

Non-Lethal Weapons Effectiveness Assessment Development and Verification Study (Etude d’evaluation, de developpement et de verification de l’efficacite des armes non letales)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

will guarantee a solid base for the future. The content of this publication has been reproduced directly from material supplied by RTO or the...intensity threat involving a local population wanting to break into the camp to steal material and food supplies ; and • A higher intensity threat...combatant evacuation opeations, distribute emergency supplies , and evacuate/ relocate refugees and displaced persons. Specified NLW-relevant tasks are

Middle East Security Issues: In the Shadow of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-12-01

same t ime, Iran’s confrontation with Afghanistan pits a Shi’ite religious regime against a much more extreme Tal i- ban reg ime in Afghanistan...I ran has increasingly suppl ied arms and aid to the opposi t ion to the Tal iban, and deployed several hundred thousand t roops for exercises...rapidly deploy a few combat strength bat tal ions to defend i ts terr i tory, and Saudi Arabia would take days to deploy even one heavy brigade into

Virtual Reality Pain Control During Burn Wound Debridement of Combat-Related Burn Injuries Using Robot-Like Arm Mounted VR Goggles

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

naturally contracts as it heals. Physical therapy stretches help to counteract contraction, increasing skin elasticity, and en- hancing range of motion.3...excru- ciating pain during medical procedures such as wound clean- ing and physical therapy .4 Although opioids are the cornerstone analgesic for patients...Used at low doses, ketamine is a non-barbiturate intravenous anesthetic that is used as part of a multi-modal therapy . Ketamine does not cause

History of the Army Ground Forces. Study Number 11. Training in the Ground Army 1942-1945

DTIC Science & Technology

1948-01-01

beingmodified by the Replace- ment and School Commnd to relax controls and to nake it tactically realistic, -beqam& a prototype for the combat-in-cities exercise...of fillers would nake possible initiation of training soon after activation day), the unit period from 13 to 11 weeks, and the ooabine& period from i...Final Major Revision of the AGF Training Program, 7 June 193 Before 193, an previously noted, Arm Ground Forces had Teen oceeled by the limited use

Women in Combat Arms: A Study of the Global War on Terror

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-23

Discus Throw Javelin Throw 11.9 sec 1.68 meters 5.695 meters 13.75 meters 41.92 meters 45.57 meters 10.3 sec 1.98 meters 7.825 meters 17.12 meters...in the development of this product. Among them, I must include all those who subjected themselves to interviews: BG Hutmacher, COL Evans, and COL...15 Table 2. KIA and WIA for OIF and OEF 2001- Present Table 3. Primary Diagnosis Groups by Gender for All Soldiers

USAF Support to Low Intensity Conflict: Three Case Studies From the 1980s

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-06-01

included armed reconnaissance provided by AC- 130H gunships, and an airdrop of USAF Combat Control Teams and Army Rangers . The main body for the...performance of elite units such as Delta Force, SEALS, Rangers , etc. did not justify the money spent or their claims of eliteness. AU Library Document M-43828...48Adkin, 132. 23 Figure 1 Task Organization for Joint Task Force 120. CJTF 120 Carribean Peacekeeping Force CTF 121 Airborne CTF 123 Rangers

Electric and Magnetic Activity of the Central Nervous System: Research and Clinical Applications in Aerospace Medicine. Held in Trondheim, Norway on 25-29 May 1987

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-01

research dealing with the pharmacological control of states of vigilance, in the context of maximizing the operational value of combat arms personnel...brain activity of human subjects while they process cognitive information, with the research based on care- ful stimulus control , systematic task... control in man-machine interaction. Annual Technical Report 1975-1976, Report # UCLA-ENG-7J51 for Advanced Research Projecto Agency. University of

Evaluating the Effect of Holding Time and Storage Temperature on the Chemical Stability of Drinking Water Samples Collected from Military Forward Deployed Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-30

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Public Health 2013...1 UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE GRADUATE PROGRAMS Graduate Education Office (A 1045), 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814...Since 1991 the US military has deployed Service Members in various overseas contingency operations from armed combat to peacekeeping missions. During

U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Network Centric Warfare (NCW): Impacts on Combat Aviation Tactics from Gulf War I Through 2007 Iraq

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-01

early warning AIM Air-intercept missile AJCN Adaptive, joint, C4ISR node AOR Area of responsibility ARM Anti-radiation missile ATARS Advanced...Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System ( ATARS ) on F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft, and satellites. Manned platforms were adapted to multiple mission scenarios... Psychological Ops X Tern/Leaflet Dispensing, 2004 All Weather/ Night Strike X DASH/Vietnam, 1960s Predator/Afghanistan/Iraq, 2001 36

[Improvement of the system of medical equipmet rationing for military units during the wartime].

PubMed

Miroshnichenko, Iu V; Goriachev, A B; Popov, A A; Morgunov, V A; Ryzhikov, M V; Merkulov, A V

2013-07-01

The authors analyze new legal regulatory document--Medical equipment and reserves supply rate for military units and organisations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, developed in the process of modernization of the system of medical equipment rationing for military units. New legal regulatory document was developed with the aim to replace the similar document d.d 1996-1997. The authors came to conclusion that costs of new medical equipment and reserves supply rates are similar to previous rates. At the same time costs new medical equipment supply rates for medical service increased more than 25%. It is related to change of the role of medical service in the system of medical supply of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Modernization of the system of medical equipment supply rates for military unit of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, performed for the purpose of medical supplement for military unit in accordance with new state of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, allowed to actualize the regulatory framework of medical supply by means of development and adoption of new Supply and reserves rates be the Ministry of defence. Use if these rates will increase effectiveness and quality of medical supply during the wartime, provide a commonality of reserves of medical equipment and maintenance of established level of combat readiness of medical service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Embracing a Revolution - Telemedicine.

PubMed

Dheer, Ajay; Chaturvedi, R K

2005-01-01

The recent advances in information and communication technologies offer real and practical opportunities to health professionals to share expertise and resources in health care over distances. For a country like India with pockets of medical excellence surrounded by a vast number of badly equipped hospitals with limited specialists, telemedicine could revolutionize health care. The potential of telemedicine seem to be vital in avoiding the frame of travel, in timely getting specialist advise to remote areas, minimizing the cost and of course an opportunity to learn from each other. In developed countries the technological advancement and research aims primarily to satiate the needs of their armed forces and to ensure tactical and technical supremacy. The medical community in the Indian Armed Forces should harness the technologies and embrace this revolution of the information age to provide world class combat casualty care.

Noise Exposure and Hearing Capabilities of Quarry Workers in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Gyamfi, Charles Kwame R.; Amankwaa, Isaac; Owusu Sekyere, Frank; Boateng, Daniel

2016-01-01

Introduction. Although quarry operations have high economic significance, the effects they cause to the workers in terms of excessive noise production cannot be overlooked. This cross-sectional study assessed the extent of noise exposure and its influence on hearing capabilities among quarry workers in Ashanti region. Methods. The study involved 400 workers randomly selected from five quarries in Ashanti region from April to June 2012. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, physical examination, and audiological assessments. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess independent predictors of hearing loss. Results. All the machines used at the various quarries produced noise that exceeded the minimum threshold with levels ranging from 85.5 dBA to 102.7 dBA. 176 (44%) of study respondents had hearing threshold higher than 25 dBA. 18% and 2% of these were moderately (41–55 dBA) and severely (71–90 dBA) impaired, respectively. Age, duration of work, and use of earplugs independently predicted the development of hearing loss. Use of earplugs showed a protective effect on the development of hearing loss (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.25, 0.84). Conclusion. This study provides empirical evidence on the extent of damage caused to quarry workers as a result of excessive noise exposure. This will support the institution of appropriate protective measures to minimize this threat. PMID:26904137

Health Care Providers in War and Armed Conflict: Operational and Educational Challenges in International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions, Part I. Historical Perspective.

PubMed

Burkle, Frederick M; Kushner, Adam L; Giannou, Christos; Paterson, Mary A; Wren, Sherry M; Burnham, Gilbert

2018-04-30

Since 1945, the reason for humanitarian crises and the way in which the world responds to them has dramatically changed every 10 to 15 years or less. Planning, response, and recovery for these tragic events have often been ad hoc, inconsistent, and insufficient, largely because of the complexity of global humanitarian demands and their corresponding response system capabilities. This historical perspective chronicles the transformation of war and armed conflicts from the Cold War to today, emphasizing the impact these events have had on humanitarian professionals and their struggle to adapt to increasing humanitarian, operational, and political challenges. An unprecedented independent United Nations-World Health Organization decision in the Battle for Mosul in Iraq to deploy to combat zones emergency medical teams unprepared in the skills of decades-tested war and armed conflict preparation and response afforded to health care providers and dictated by International Humanitarian Law and Geneva Convention protections has abruptly challenged future decision-making and deployments. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;page 1 of 7).

Can mental health and readjustment be improved in UK military personnel by a brief period of structured postdeployment rest (third location decompression)?

PubMed

Jones, Norman; Jones, Margaret; Fear, Nicola T; Fertout, Mohammed; Wessely, Simon; Greenberg, Neil

2013-07-01

Third Location Decompression (TLD) is an activity undertaken by UK Armed Forces (UK AF) personnel at the end of an operational deployment which aims to smooth the transition between operations and returning home. We assessed whether TLD impacted upon both mental health and postdeployment readjustment. Data collected during a large cohort study was examined to identify personnel who either engaged in TLD or returned home directly following deployment. Propensity scores were generated and used to calculate inverse probability of treatment weights in adjusted regression analyses to compare mental health outcomes and postdeployment readjustment problems. TLD had a positive impact upon mental health outcomes (post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and multiple physical symptoms) and levels of harmful alcohol use. However, when the samples were stratified by combat exposure, although postdeployment readjustment was similar for all exposure levels, personnel experiencing low and moderate levels of combat exposure experienced the greatest positive mental health effects. We found no evidence to suggest that TLD promotes better postdeployment readjustment; however, we found a positive impact upon alcohol use and mental health with an interaction with degree of combat exposure. This study suggests that TLD is a useful postdeployment transitional activity that may help to improve PTSD symptoms and alcohol use in UK AF personnel.

Global Comparison of Warring Groups in 2002–2007: Fatalities from Targeting Civilians vs. Fighting Battles

PubMed Central

Hicks, Madelyn Hsiao-Rei; Lee, Uih Ran; Sundberg, Ralph; Spagat, Michael

2011-01-01

Background Warring groups that compete to dominate a civilian population confront contending behavioral options: target civilians or battle the enemy. We aimed to describe degrees to which combatant groups concentrated lethal behavior into intentionally targeting civilians as opposed to engaging in battle with opponents in contemporary armed conflict. Methodology/Principal Findings We identified all 226 formally organized state and non-state groups (i.e. actors) that engaged in lethal armed conflict during 2002–2007: 43 state and 183 non-state. We summed civilians killed by an actor's intentional targeting with civilians and combatants killed in battles in which the actor was involved for total fatalities associated with each actor, indicating overall scale of armed conflict. We used a Civilian Targeting Index (CTI), defined as the proportion of total fatalities caused by intentional targeting of civilians, to measure the concentration of lethal behavior into civilian targeting. We report actor-specific findings and four significant trends: 1.) 61% of all 226 actors (95% CI 55% to 67%) refrained from targeting civilians. 2.) Logistic regression showed actors were more likely to have targeted civilians if conflict duration was three or more years rather than one year. 3.) In the 88 actors that targeted civilians, multiple regressions showed an inverse correlation between CTI values and the total number of fatalities. Conflict duration of three or more years was associated with lower CTI values than conflict duration of one year. 4.) When conflict scale and duration were accounted for, state and non-state actors did not differ. We describe civilian targeting by actors in prolonged conflict. We discuss comparable patterns found in nature and interdisciplinary research. Conclusions/Significance Most warring groups in 2002–2007 did not target civilians. Warring groups that targeted civilians in small-scale, brief conflict concentrated more lethal behavior into targeting civilians, and less into battles, than groups in larger-scale, longer conflict. PMID:21915272

Design Issues for Helmet-Mounted Display Systems for Rotary-Wing Aviation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-07-01

have been examined (Mozo and Murphy, 1997a; Mozo, Murphy, and Ribera , 1995) and have been determined to be within a manageable range. The device also...usefulness for the helicopter environment ( Ribera and Mozo, undated). SI results of SPH-4B with and without ANR and CEP used in the "normal" verses "waivered...USAARL Report No. 97-36. Mozo, B. T., Murphy, B. A., and Ribera , J. E. 1995. User acceptability and comfort of the Communications Earplug (CEP) when

Risk factors for colostomy in military colorectal trauma: a review of 867 patients.

PubMed

Watson, J Devin B; Aden, James K; Engel, Julie E; Rasmussen, Todd E; Glasgow, Sean C

2014-06-01

Limited data exist examining the use of fecal diversion in combatants from modern armed conflicts. Characterization of factors leading to colostomy creation is an initial step toward optimizing and individualizing combat casualty care. A retrospective review of the US Department of Defense Trauma Registry database was performed for all US and coalition troops with colorectal injuries sustained during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan over 8 years. Colostomy rate, anatomic injury location, mechanism of injury, demographic data, and initial physiologic parameters were examined. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. We identified 867 coalition military personnel with colorectal injuries. The overall colostomy rate was 37%. Rectal injuries had the highest diversion rate (56%), followed by left-sided (41%) and right-sided (20%) locations (P < .0001). Those with gunshot wounds (GSW) underwent diversion more often than blast injuries (43% vs 31% respectively, P < .0008). Injury Severity Score ≥16 (41% vs 30%; P = .0018) and damage control surgery (DCS; 48.2% vs 31.4%; P < .0001) were associated with higher diversion rates. On multivariate analysis, significant predictors for colostomy creation were injury location: Rectal versus left colon (odds ratio [OR], 2.2), rectal versus right colon (OR, 7.5), left versus right colon (OR, 3.4), GSW (OR, 2.0), ISS ≥ 16 (OR, 1.7), and DCS (OR, 1.6). In this exploratory study of 320 combat-related colostomies, distal colon and rectal injuries continue to be diverted at higher rates independent of other comorbidities. Additional outcomes-directed research is needed to determine whether such operative management is beneficial in all patients. Published by Mosby, Inc.

Gender-specific intervention to reduce underage drinking among early adolescent girls: a test of a computer-mediated, mother-daughter program.

PubMed

Schinke, Steven P; Cole, Kristin C A; Fang, Lin

2009-01-01

This study evaluated a gender-specific, computer-mediated intervention program to prevent underage drinking among early adolescent girls. Study participants were adolescent girls and their mothers from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Participants completed pretests online and were randomly divided between intervention and control arms. Intervention-arm girls and their mothers interacted with a computer program aimed to enhance mother-daughter relationships and to teach girls skills for managing conflict, resisting media influences, refusing alcohol and drugs, and correcting peer norms about underage drinking, smoking, and drug use. After intervention, all participants (control and intervention) completed posttest and follow-up measurements. Two months following program delivery and relative to control-arm participants, intervention-arm girls and mothers had improved their mother-daughter communication skills and their perceptions and applications of parental monitoring and rule-setting relative to girls' alcohol use. Also at follow-up, intervention-arm girls had improved their conflict management and alcohol use-refusal skills; reported healthier normative beliefs about underage drinking; demonstrated greater self-efficacy about their ability to avoid underage drinking; reported less alcohol consumption in the past 7 days, 30 days, and year; and expressed lower intentions to drink as adults. Study findings modestly support the viability of a mother-daughter, computer-mediated program to prevent underage drinking among adolescent girls. The data have implications for the further development of gender-specific approaches to combat increases in alcohol and other substance use among American girls.

Do stigma and other perceived barriers to mental health care differ across Armed Forces?

PubMed Central

Gould, Matthew; Adler, Amy; Zamorski, Mark; Castro, Carl; Hanily, Natalie; Steele, Nicole; Kearney, Steve; Greenberg, Neil

2010-01-01

Summary Objectives Military organizations are keen to address barriers to mental health care yet stigma and barriers to care remain little understood, especially potential cultural differences between Armed Forces. The aim of this study was to compare data collected by the US, UK, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian militaries using Hoge et al.'s perceived stigma and barriers to care measure (Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems and barriers to care. New Engl J Med 2004;351:13–22). Design Each member country identified data sources that had enquired about Hoge et al.'s perceived stigma and perceived barriers to care items in the re-deployment or immediate post-deployment period. Five relevant statements were included in the study. Setting US, UK Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Armed Forces. Results Concerns about stigma and barriers to care tended to be more prominent among personnel who met criteria for a mental health problem. The pattern of reported stigma and barriers to care was similar across the Armed Forces of all five nations. Conclusions Barriers to care continue to be a major issue for service personnel within Western military forces. Although there are policy, procedural and cultural differences between Armed Forces, the nations studied appear to share some similarities in terms of perceived stigma and barriers to psychological care. Further research to understand patterns of reporting and subgroup differences is required. PMID:20382906

Exploiting Combat Experience: The U.S. Forces European Theater Study of Mechanized Cavalry Units

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-19

as diverse as campaign strategy and graves registration. The President of the General Board regarded the mechanized cavalry study as one of the two...5.FM 100-5 (1944), 8-10. 19 113th Cavalry Group, Operations, 2-10 July 44, 6. A 145-man reconnaissance troop had ninety- one men armed with the M1...was also forced to dismount and assault like infantry, but had too few men to hold the ground it gained. A counterattack forced the squadron to

The Changing Demographics of the Black American Male Population in 2010 and its Impact on the United States Army Officer Corps

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-07

over 20 million blacks gravitate to the northern industrial cities for better jobs and equality. 2 0 As a result 57 percent of blacks live in central...if there is a valid problem, to determine the inpact of the problem on the U.S. Army; and third, to discuss possible solutions . As the nation...officers in the ccmbat arms branches: infantry, armor, field artillery, air defense artillery, aviation, and combat engineers .41 Females are generally

The Armed Forces and the Fight against Drug-Trafficking in Honduras (Las FUERZAS ARMADAS EN EL COMBATE AL NARCOTR FICO EN HONDURAS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-13

Estado Mayor del Ejército de EE. UU. En cumplimiento parcial de los requisitos para la obtención del grado de MAESTRÍA EN CIENCIAS Y ARTES MILITARES...Estudios Generales Por WALTER D. HERNANDEZ CARVAJAL, MAYOR DEL EJÉRCITO DE HONDURAS Licenciado en Ciencias Militares...Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18 ii MAESTRÍA EN ARTES Y CIENCIAS MILITARES PÁGINA DE APROBACIÓN DE LA TESIS Nombre del

Evaluation of Impacts of JP-8+100 on Army Aviation and Ground Vehicles: Phase I Impact Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-11-01

Lee VA Newsome, T, MAJ (804) 734-0609 Directorate of Combat Development Combined Arms Support Command Ft. Lee VA Perdue, William (804) 734-0572...151 43,215 McClellan AFB CA 84 42,915 Fairford RAF United Kingdom 17 42,275 Wright- Patterson AFB OH 146 42,058 Eielson AFB AK 103 41,556 Little Rock... WILLIAMS GA 44 20032 340 141830 KJAN JACKSON IAP 2 550 75 22363 KJAX JACKSONVILLE IAP 89 27095 49 40484 KJST CAMBRIA CO. APT/JOHN 801 169445 3 3691 KJUN

The German Debate Over Military Peacekeeping Missions: The First Step Toward an Eventual Combat Role

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

3Clay Clemens , "Opportunity or Obligation? Redefining Germany’s Military Role Outside of NATO," in Armed Forces and Soci&L, vol. 19, No. 2, Winter 1993, p...ranged from 79 fuchs NBC detection vehi-les, an excess of 315,000 rounds of tank and artillery ammunition, 2,000 radio sets, 600 shower-bath vehicles...Tale," p. 96. ’ 59Ibid., p. 92. The three activists were Franz Josef Strauss (CSU) from 1956 to 1962, Helmut Schmidt (SPD) from 1969 to 1972 and Manfred

From the battlefields to the states: the road to recovery. The role of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in US military casualty care.

PubMed

Tenuta, Joachim J

2006-01-01

The transformation of the modern battlefield with respect to weaponry, modes of transportation, enemy capabilities and location, as well as technological advances, has greatly altered the tactical approach to the mission. Combat casualty care must continually evolve in response to the differences in types of injury, the number and triage of casualties, timing of treatment, and location of care. These battlefield changes have been demonstrated on a large scale in the global war on terrorism, which includes the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The medical response has kept pace with this 21st-century conflict. Even in the new environment of armed conflict and with the advent of new technologies, the principles of managing orthopaedic combat casualties remain clear: preservation of life and limb, skeletal stabilization, and aggressive wound débridement. For United States service members wounded in the current conflicts, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is a crucial stop along the road to recovery.

Influence of childhood adversity on health among male UK military personnel.

PubMed

Iversen, Amy C; Fear, Nicola T; Simonoff, Emily; Hull, Lisa; Horn, Oded; Greenberg, Neil; Hotopf, Matthew; Rona, Roberto; Wessely, Simon

2007-12-01

Exposure to childhood adversity may explain why only a minority of combatants exposed to trauma develop psychological problems. To examine the association between self-reported childhood vulnerability and later health outcomes in a large randomly selected male military cohort. Data are derived from the first stage of a cohort study comparing Iraq veterans and non-deployed UK military personnel. We describe data collected by questionnaire from males in the regular UK armed forces (n=7937). Pre-enlistment vulnerability is associated with being single, of lower rank, having low educational attainment and serving in the Army. Pre-enlistment vulnerability is associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. Two main factors emerge as important predictors of ill health: a 'family relationships' factor reflecting the home environment and an 'externalising behaviour' factor reflecting behavioural disturbance. Pre-enlistment vulnerability is an important individual risk factor for ill health in military men. Awareness of such factors is important in understanding post-combat psychiatric disorder.

Smoking among troops deployed in combat areas and its association with combat exposure among navy personnel in Sri Lanka

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Among military personnel alcohol consumption and binge-drinking have increased but cigarette smoking has declined in the recent past. Although there is a strong association between smoking and PTSD the association between combat exposure and smoking is not clear. Methods This cross sectional study was carried out among representative samples of SLN Special Forces and regular forces deployed in combat areas. Both Special Forces and regular forces were selected using simple random sampling. Only personnel who had served continuously in combat areas during the one year period prior to end of combat operations were included in the study. Females were not included in the sample. The study assessed several mental health outcomes as well as alcohol use, smoking and cannabis use. Sample was classified according to smoking habits as never smokers, past smokers (those who had smoked in the past but not within the past year) and current smokers (those smoking at least one cigarette within the past 12 months). Results Sample consisted of 259 Special Forces and 412 regular navy personnel. Prevalence of current smoking was 17.9% (95% CI 14.9-20.8). Of the sample 58.4% had never smoked and 23.7% were past smokers. Prevalence of current smoking was significantly higher among Special Forces personnel compared to regular forces. (OR 1.90 (95% CI 1.20-3.02). Personnel aged ≥35 years had the lowest prevalence of smoking (14.0%). Commissioned officers had a lower prevalence (12.1%) than non commissioned officers or other ranks. After adjustment for demographic variables and service type there was significant association between smoking and combat experiences of seeing dead or wounded [OR 1.79 (95%CI 1.08-2.9)], handling dead bodies [OR 2.47(95%CI 1.6-3.81)], coming under small arms fire [OR 2.01(95%CI 1.28-3.15)] and coming under mortar, missile and artillery fire [OR 2.02(95%CI 1.29-3.17)]. There was significant association between the number of risk events and current smoking [OR 1.22 (95%CI1.11-1.35)]. Conclusions There was significant association between current smoking and combat experiences. Current smoking was strongly associated with current alcohol use. Prevalence of current smoking was less among military personnel than in the general population. Prevalence of smoking was significantly higher among Special Forces personnel. PMID:22776004

Molded Communication Earplugs in Military Aviation.

PubMed

Lahtinen, Taija M M; Leino, Tuomo K

2015-09-01

Radio communication remains important for the delivery of safety-critical information in military aviation. Pilots are exposed to high noise levels. Noise attenuation provided by certain helmets is not sufficient, and resulting noise exposure can deteriorate operational effectiveness and flight safety. A need for hearing protection that enables efficient communication is obvious, especially for fighter and helicopter pilots. One possible solution for this issue is molded communication earplugs (m-CEP). Data about the advantages and disadvantages of m-CEPs are limited. To determine the usage rates, advantages, disadvantages and pilot opinions about m-CEPs, an anonymous survey study including 31 questions was conducted in fighter, fighter trainer, helicopter, and transport aircraft units of the Finnish Defense Forces. Of the pilots who responded, 136 (93%) had used or tried m-CEPs and 90 (62%) were currently using them. There are many benefits to m-CEPs: they seem to enhance experienced speech intelligibility, since 85% of the pilots who had experience about them reported improved speech intelligibility under difficult hearing conditions, and 93% would recommend them to other pilots. It seems m-CEPs provide equal benefits to pilots with and without current hearing problems. They were also considered better than previously used hearing protectors. Still, problems were common: 82% of the pilots reported m-CEP related drawbacks, of which technical problems and discomfort issues were the most prevalent. Most military pilots hold a positive opinion on m-CEPs and are willing to recommend their use. Technical problems and discomfort issues are, however, relatively common.

Psychosocial hearing disadvantage and associated factors among construction workers in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

PubMed

Santos, Andréia Cristina Munzlinger Dos; Silva, Ageo Mário Cândido da; Luccia, Gabriela Coelho Pereira de; Botelho, Clóvis; Riva, Delma Regina Della

2017-01-01

To estimate the prevalence and to analyze the factors associated with self-reported hearing handicap by construction workers in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 866 construction and heavy construction workers. Participants responded to an epidemiological survey subdivided in: identification data, sociodemographic data; lifestyle; work environment characteristics; occupational exposure factors; hearing protection measures; and hearing handicap inventory to quantify the psychosocial consequences of work-related hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing impairment among workers in the construction sector was 14.43% (n = 125). There were 311 emotional and social complaints related to hearing problems. Hearing handicap was associated with: 60 or over age group (PR = 1.94, 95%CI 1.01 - 3.71); alcohol consumption (PR = 1.94, 95%CI 1.38 - 2.73); direct exposure to noise (PR = 1.75; 95%CI 1.03 - 2.97); exposure to dust (PR = 1.59, 95%CI 1.13 - 2.24); non-use of earplugs (PR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.00 - 1.93); and non-use of neck flap cap (PR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.09 - 2.13). We observed a high prevalence of hearing impairment among workers in the construction sector associated with: individuals aged 60 years or older; alcoholism; exposure to noise and dust; non-use of earplugs; and non-use of neck flap cap. Therefore, it is necessary to implement policies aimed at preserving the hearing health of construction and heavy construction workers.

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet improves variables of metabolic syndrome in women, and addition of a phytochemical-rich medical food enhances benefits on lipoprotein metabolism.

PubMed

Jones, Jennifer L; Fernandez, Maria Luz; McIntosh, Mark S; Najm, Wadie; Calle, Mariana C; Kalynych, Colleen; Vukich, Clare; Barona, Jacqueline; Ackermann, Daniela; Kim, Jung Eun; Kumar, Vivek; Lott, Michelle; Volek, Jeff S; Lerman, Robert H

2011-01-01

The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has highlighted the need for effective dietary interventions to combat this growing problem. To assess the impact of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet (control arm, n = 44) or the same diet plus a medical food containing phytosterols, soy protein, and extracts from hops and acacia (intervention arm, n = 45) on cardiometabolic risk variables in women with MetS. In this 12-week, 2-arm randomized trial, baseline, week 8 and 12, fasting blood samples were drawn to measure plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, and homocysteine. Dietary records were also collected and analyzed. There were decreases in fat and sugar intake (P < .001 for both) and increases in docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intake (P < .001 for both) over time, consistent with the prescribed diet. Regarding MetS variables, there were decreases in waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and plasma triglycerides in all subjects (P < .001 for all) with no differences between arms. Plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B, and apo B/apo A1 were reduced over time but to a greater extent in the intervention arm (P < .05 for all), indicating the medical food had a greater effect in altering lipoprotein metabolism. Further, medical food intake was associated with reduced plasma homocysteine (P < .01) compared to the control arm. A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet effectively reduces the variables of MetS. Addition of the medical food results in a less atherogenic lipoprotein profile and lower plasma homocysteine. Copyright © 2011 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in settings affected by armed conflicts in Africa, Asia and the Middle East: systematic review.

PubMed

McAlpine, Alys; Hossain, Mazeda; Zimmerman, Cathy

2016-12-28

Sex trafficking and sexual exploitation has been widely reported, especially in conflict-affected settings, which appear to increase women's and children's vulnerabilities to these extreme abuses. We conducted a systematic search of ten databases and extensive grey literature to gather evidence of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in conflict-affected settings. International definitions of "sexual exploitation" and "sex trafficking" set the indicator parameters. We focused on sexual exploitation in forms of early or forced marriage, forced combatant sexual exploitation and sexual slavery. We extracted prevalence measures, health outcomes and sexual exploitation terminology definitions. The review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and includes quality appraisal. The search identified 29 eligible papers with evidence of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in armed conflict settings in twelve countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The evidence was limited and not generalizable, due to few prevalence estimates and inconsistent definitions of "sexual exploitation". The prevalence estimates available indicate that females were more likely than males to be victims of sexual exploitation in conflict settings. In some settings, as many as one in four forced marriages took place before the girls reached 18 years old. Findings suggest that the vast majority of former female combatants were sexually exploited during the conflict. These studies provided various indicators of sexual exploitation compatible to the United Nation's definition of sex trafficking, but only 2 studies identified the exploitation as trafficking. None of the studies solely aimed to measure the prevalence of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation. Similar descriptions of types of sexual exploitation and trafficking were found, but the inconsistent terminology or measurements inhibited a meta-analysis. Findings indicate there are various forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in conflict-affected settings, primarily occurring as early or forced marriage, forced combatant sexual exploitation, and sexual slavery. The studies highlight the extraordinary vulnerability of women and girls to these extreme abuses. Simultaneously, this review suggests the need to clarify terminology around sex trafficking in conflict to foster a more cohesive future evidence-base, and in particular, robust prevalence figures from conflict-affected and displaced populations.

Hierarchically Self-Assembled Supramolecular Host-Guest Delivery System for Drug Resistant Cancer Therapy.

PubMed

Cheng, Hongwei; Fan, Xiaoshan; Wang, Xiaoyuan; Ye, Enyi; Loh, Xian Jun; Li, Zibiao; Wu, Yun-Long

2018-06-11

In this report, a new star-like copolymer β-CD- g-(PNIPAAm- b-POEGA) x , consisting of a β-CD core, grafted with temperature-responsive poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and biocompatible poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate) (POEGA) in a block copolymer of the arms, was used to deliver chemotherapeutics to drug resistant cancer cells and tumors. The first step of the self-assembly process involves the encapsulation of chemotherapeutics through host-guest inclusion complexation between the β-cyclodextrin cavity and the anticancer drug. Next, the chain interaction of the PNIPAAm segment at elevated temperature drives the drug-loaded β-CD- g-(PNIPAAm- b-POEGA) x /PTX inclusion complex to hierarchically self-assemble into nanosized supramolecular assemblies at 37 °C, whereas the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains in the distal end of the star-like copolymer arms impart enhanced stability to the self-assembled structure. More interestingly, this supramolecular host-guest nanocomplex promoted the enhanced cellular uptake of chemotherapeutics in MDR-1 up-regulated drug resistant cancer cells and exhibited high therapeutic efficacy for suppressing drug resistant tumor growth in an in vivo mouse model, due to the increased stability, improvement in aqueous solubility, enhanced cellular uptake, and partial membrane pump impairment by taking the advantage of PEGylation and supramolecular complex between this star-like copolymer and chemotherapeutics. This work signifies that temperature-sensitive PEGylated supramolecular nanocarriers with good biocompatibility are effective in combating MDR-1 mediated drug resistance in both in vitro and in vivo models, which is of significant importance for the advanced drug delivery platform designed to combat drug resistant cancer.

Arms races and the evolution of big fierce societies.

PubMed

Boswell, G P; Franks, N R; Britton, N F

2001-08-22

The causes of biological gigantism have received much attention, but only for individual organisms. What selection pressures might favour the evolution of gigantic societies? Here we consider the largest single-queen insect societies, those of the Old World army ant Dorylus, single colonies of which can have 20 million workers. We propose that colony gigantism in Dorylus arises as a result of an arms race and test this prediction by developing a size-structured mathematical model. We use this model for exploring and potentially explaining differences in colony size, colony aggression and colony propagation strategies in populations of New World army ants Eciton and Old World army ants Dorylus. The model shows that, by determining evolutionarily stable strategies (ESSs), differences in the trophic levels at which these army ants live feed forwards into differences in their densities and collision rates and, hence, into different strategies of growth, aggression and propagation. The model predicts large colony size and the occurrence of battles and a colony-propagation strategy involving highly asymmetrical divisions in Dorylus and that Eciton colonies should be smaller, non-combative and exhibit equitable binary fission. These ESSs are in excellent agreement with field observations and demonstrate that gargantuan societies can arise through arms races.

The National Institute of Justice's Technology Efforts to Meet the Evolving Needs of the Responder Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyd, D.

2002-05-01

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research arm of the Department of Justice. Through its Office of Science & Technology (OS&T), NIJ has actively pursued development of better tools for public safety agencies to combat terrorism since 1997, when, pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Penalty Act of 1996 (P.L. 104 -132), it began development of technology to better enable law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. NIJ quickly realized that effectively combating terrorism required a multi disciplinary, multi agency response. Additionally, it came to understand that, as noted by the Gilmore Commission, the best way to prepare the responder community to deal with the consequences of terrorist incidents, was to ``emphasize programs and initiatives that build appropriately on existing State and local capabilities for other emergencies and disasters.'' For example, an effective critical incident management system is just as important to the ability to deal with a terrorist attack, such as occurred at the World Trade Center, as with a major natural disaster or the crash of a commercial airliner or passenger train. Consequently, NIJ's efforts have evolved to focus on the responder community's common, unaddressed needs for better tools to deal with critical incidents. The Institutes efforts focus on five technology areas: infrastructure security, personnel location, explosives detection and remediation, communications and information technology and training, and development of standards.

Health hazards in areas of military operations conducted in different climatic and sanitary conditions.

PubMed

Korzeniewski, Krzysztof

2011-01-01

This paper reviews the most common health hazards occurring among personnel of peacekeeping and stabilization missions functioning within armed conflicts in the contemporary world. Military operations have been executed in diverse climatic and sanitary conditions, which are frequently unfamiliar for their participants. Some of them, e.g. the UN peacekeeping missions in the Middle East (Lebanon, the Golan Heights), have been carried out in a relatively stable geopolitical environment; whereas, stabilization missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are actually combat activities, undoubtedly fall into the group of the most perilous military operations in the world. Hot or cold climate, poor sanitary and hygienic conditions along with warfare facilitate the occurrence of numerous diseases and body injuries not only among the local people but also among peacekeepers, who represent the population of immigrants. Health hazards which pose major epidemiological threats in combat zones are arthropod-borne, food and water-borne, respiratory tract diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, enzootic diseases, battle injuries, and non- -battle injuries, e.g. traffic accidents. Another considerable health problem are psychiatric disorders, which can either appear directly after the occurrence of a traumatic event in a combat zone or indirectly, after some time had elapsed. In addition to the health hazards listed above, environmental factors such as changeable weather conditions and local fauna may also be life threatening.

Geluidsexpositie bij Gebruik van Otoplastieken met Communicatie (Sound Exposure Level of F-16 Crew Chiefs Using Custom Molded Communications Earplugs)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

346 35 39 77 lnfo-DenV@tno nl Datum oktober 2008 Auteur (s) dr. ir. MM..I. Houben J.A. Verhave Rubricering rapport Ongerubriceerd Vastgesteld... Auteur (s) dr. ir. M.M.J. Houben J.A. Verhave Rubricering rapport Ongerubriceerd TNO-rapport | TNO-DV 2008 A395 4/19 Summary Sound exposure level...ontwikkeld om de geluidsexpositie van CEPs te bepalen (TNO-project 032.13072, rapport TNO-DV 2008 A054) [1], In theorie kan het totale

An investigation of the Attenuation Provided by the Surefire EP3 Sonic Defender (Trademark) Earplug

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2008 DRDC Toronto TR 2008-040 i Abstract...Surefire chez cinq hommes et cinq femmes. Selon le fabricant, un orifice percé dans le bouchon permet aux sons dont le niveau est sans danger de ...dispositif avec l’orifice ouvert et fermé en l’absence de bruits impulsifs. Cinq hommes et cinq femmes y ont participé. Le seuil d’audibilité de chaque

The battle against noise in industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iudin, E. Ia.

The physiological effects of noise in manufacturing plants and other industrial facilities are discussed, and several common noise abatement methods are described. Consideration is given to the acoustic properties of three types of noise which are present in industrial plants: aerohydrodynamic noise; mechanical noise; and electromagnetic noise. Among the specific noise abatement techniques discussed are: sound isolation by means of noise-absorbant screens; insulation or noise-emitting media; and acoustic interference. The use of earplugs and external ear protectors for protection of individual workers in noisy work environments is also considered.

Gender-Specific Intervention to Reduce Underage Drinking Among Early Adolescent Girls: A Test of a Computer-Mediated, Mother-Daughter Program*

PubMed Central

Schinke, Steven P.; Cole, Kristin C. A.; Fang, Lin

2009-01-01

Objective: This study evaluated a gender-specific, computer-mediated intervention program to prevent underage drinking among early adolescent girls. Method: Study participants were adolescent girls and their mothers from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Participants completed pretests online and were randomly divided between intervention and control arms. Intervention-arm girls and their mothers interacted with a computer program aimed to enhance mother-daughter relationships and to teach girls skills for managing conflict, resisting media influences, refusing alcohol and drugs, and correcting peer norms about underage drinking, smoking, and drug use. After intervention, all participants (control and intervention) completed posttest and follow-up measurements. Results: Two months following program delivery and relative to control-arm participants, intervention-arm girls and mothers had improved their mother-daughter communication skills and their perceptions and applications of parental monitoring and rule-setting relative to girls' alcohol use. Also at follow-up, intervention-arm girls had improved their conflict management and alcohol use-refusal skills; reported healthier normative beliefs about underage drinking; demonstrated greater self-efficacy about their ability to avoid underage drinking; reported less alcohol consumption in the past 7 days, 30 days, and year; and expressed lower intentions to drink as adults. Conclusions: Study findings modestly support the viability of a mother-daughter, computer-mediated program to prevent underage drinking among adolescent girls. The data have implications for the further development of gender-specific approaches to combat increases in alcohol and other substance use among American girls. PMID:19118394

Social Sciences Support to Military Personnel Engaged in Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism Operations (Soutien en sciences sociales apporte au personnel militaire engage dans des operations de contre-insurrection et de contre-terrorisme)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-11-01

much more negative about Muslims, became jumpy, felt the world is less safe, found it hard to sleep, found it hard to detach, becoming emotionally ...the impact of military posture and ways to minimize the negative impact of military operations, disengagement and deradicalization efforts, as well as...combat is difficult. After armed conflict, 70% of participants have a negative outlook toward military service and choose to resign. A key factor in this

Prolonged Preservation of Human Platelets for Combat Casualty Care.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-04-15

membrane fluidity. 5) Flurbiprofen : Flurbiprofen is an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase enzyme and thus blocks this arm of the arachidonic acid cascade...were previously demonstrated individually to effectively block agonist stimulated activation. These agents are quinacrine, flurbiprofen and...1 0 02 1 Quinacrine 0 0 25 13 0 67 28 5nM 0 25 38 0 67 56 50nM 0 25 37 0 44 61 .5M 0 6 25 0 38 28 Flurbiprofen 0 0 6 0 0 63 13 10nM 0 6 0 0 56 19 .lM

A Flying Ejection Seat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollrock, R. H.; Barzda, J. J.

1972-01-01

To increase aircrewmen's chances for safe rescue in combat zones, the armed forces are investigating advanced escape and rescue concepts that will provide independent flight after ejection and thus reduce the risk of capture. One of the candidate concepts is discussed; namely, a stowable autogyro that serves as the crewman's seat during normal operations and automatically converts to a flight vehicle after ejection. Discussed are (1) the mechanism subsystems that the concept embodies to meet the weight and cockpit-packaging constraints and (2) tests that demonstrated the technical feasibility of the stowage, deployment, and flight operation of the rotor lift system.

Development of the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) for Combat Arms Soldiers

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

Direct Fire - x x 2 I 2 2 11 Prepare Dismounted TOW Firinq Position x 12 Enqaqe Tarqets with a Caliber .50 M2 Machine Gun x 13 Lav a 120mm Mortar...Lift and Hold Round, Place in Tube) x 17 Mount M2 .50 Cal Machine Gun Receiver on an Abrams Tank 18 Stow Ammunition on an Abrams Tank I (Load 120mm...ammo on an Abrams, transfer ammo on a FAASV, and load the main gun . 12 TESTING OVERVIEW Testing consisted of the two to six criterion tasks and up to

Power capacity from earcanal dynamic motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carioli, Johan; Delnavaz, Aidin; Zednik, Ricardo J.; Voix, Jérémie

2016-12-01

In-ear devices, such as a hearing aids, electronic earplugs, and wearables, need electrical power to operate. Batteries are the current solution, but unfortunately they also create other problems. For example, several hundred million users, mostly elderly, must change their hearing aid batteries on a weekly basis, which represents not only significant financial costs but a negative environmental impact. A promising alternative involves harvesting energy by converting the dynamic jaw movements into electrical energy via the earcanal. The extent that jaw movements distort the earcanal is still unknown, making it difficult to design the appropriate energy harvesting system for the earplug. Moreover, the finite element methods are barely capable to model the behavior of the earcanal distortion because of the complexity of mechanisms that deform the earcanal. However, this paper presents an alternative method, based on analytical considerations, to understand in-ear mechanical quasi-static deformations using earcanal point clouds. This model quantifies the bending and compressive movements of the earcanal. It can therefore be used to select an appropriate deformation mode for harvesting energy from the earcanal's dynamic motion. The value of this approach was illustrated by calculating the obtainable mechanical energy from 12 human subjects. On average, the bending energy in a human earcanal was found to be three times greater than the radial compression energy. This key finding will need to be considered in the design of future in-ear energy harvesting devices. Such an energy harvesting device has the potential to revolutionize the market for in-ear wearable devices and hearing aids by complementing or replacing battery technology.

The study of attenuation levels and the comfort of earplugs.

PubMed

Samelli, Alessandra G; Gomes, Raquel F; Chammas, Tiago V; Silva, Bárbara G; Moreira, Renata R; Fiorini, Ana C

2018-01-01

This study aimed to analyze and compare four different types of earplugs, divided into premolded plugs and foam plug models, in relation to the level of attenuation, comfort, and the size of the external acoustic meatus (EAM) in an attempt to identify how these variables influence the choice of specific hearing protection devices (HPDs). A cross-sectional observational study was performed in a sample of 49 participants, oriented toward the ideal placement of four HPDs, two premolded and two foam plugs (3M™). The procedures included otoscopy, EAM diameter measurement using an otometer, EAM volume measurement via an acoustic impedance test, and the obtainment of the bilateral personal attenuation rating (PAR) for each HPD using the E-A-Rfit™ Validation System (3M™). The Bipolar Comfort Rating Scale (BCRS) instrument was applied twice for each individual: once after the evaluations with the premolded HPDs and again after the evaluations with the foam plug HPDs. Then, each participant was asked which was his/her favorite protector. The volume of the EAM was not directly related to the diameter of the EAM. The attenuation did not interfere with the HPD preference, and the PAR of the foam plug was significantly higher regardless of the preferred HPD. Regarding the BCRS, the variables "Placement," "Complexity," and "Occlusion Effect" had higher scores for premolded HPDs and had a direct relationship with the type of preferred HPD. Attention to the use of HPDs should be personalized, taking into account the needs of each individual, considering not only the attenuation, but also the user's reported well-being.

Non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in the intensive care unit.

PubMed

Hu, Rong-Fang; Jiang, Xiao-Ying; Chen, Junmin; Zeng, Zhiyong; Chen, Xiao Y; Li, Yueping; Huining, Xin; Evans, David J W

2015-10-06

Adults in intensive care units (ICUs) often suffer from a lack of sleep or frequent sleep disruptions. Non-pharmacological interventions can improve the duration and quality of sleep and decrease the risk of sleep disturbance, delirium, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the length of stay in the ICU. However, there is no clear evidence of the effectiveness and harms of different non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in adults admitted to the ICU. To assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in critically ill adults in the ICU.To establish whether non-pharmacological interventions are safe and clinically effective in improving sleep quality and reducing length of ICU stay in critically ill adults.To establish whether non-pharmacological interventions are cost effective. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, 2014, Issue 6), MEDLINE (OVID, 1950 to June 2014), EMBASE (1966 to June 2014), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, 1982 to June 2014), Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science (1956 to June 2014), CAM on PubMed (1966 to June 2014), Alt HealthWatch (1997 to June 2014), PsycINFO (1967 to June 2014), the China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc, 1979 to June 2014), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI Database, 1999 to June 2014). We also searched the following repositories and registries to June 2014: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (www.clinicaltrials.gov), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (ISRCTN Register) (www.controlled-trials.com), the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn), the Clinical Trials Registry-India (www.ctri.nic.in), the Grey Literature Report from the New York Academy of Medicine Library (www.greylit.org), OpenGrey (www.opengrey.eu), and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry platform (www.who.int/trialsearch). We handsearched critical care journals and reference lists and contacted relevant experts to identify relevant unpublished data. We included all randomized controlled trials (RCT) and quasi-RCTs that evaluated the effects of non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in critically ill adults (aged 18 years and older) during admission to critical care units or ICUs. Two authors independently screened the search results and assessed the risk of bias in selected trials. One author extracted the data and a second checked the data for accuracy and completeness. Where possible, we combined results in meta-analyses using mean differences and standardized mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes. We used post-test scores in this review. We included 30 trials, with a total of 1569 participants, in this review. We included trials of ventilator mode or type, earplugs or eye masks or both, massage, relaxation interventions, foot baths, music interventions, nursing interventions, valerian acupressure, aromatherapy, and sound masking. Outcomes included objective sleep outcomes, subjective sleep quality and quantity, risk of delirium, participant satisfaction, length of ICU stay, and adverse events. Clinical heterogeneity (e.g., participant population, outcomes measured) and research design limited quantitative synthesis, and only a small number of studies were available for most interventions. The quality of the evidence for an effect of non-pharmacological interventions on any of the outcomes examined was generally low or very low. Only three trials, all of earplugs or eye masks or both, provided data suitable for two separate meta-analyses. These meta-analyses, each of two studies, showed a lower incidence of delirium during ICU stay (risk ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 0.80, P value = 0.002, two studies, 177 participants) and a positive effect of earplugs or eye masks or both on total sleep time (mean difference 2.19 hours, 95% CI 0.41 to 3.96, P value = 0.02, two studies, 116 participants); we rated the quality of the evidence for both of these results as low.There was also some low quality evidence that music (350 participants; four studies) may improve subjective sleep quality and quantity, but we could not pool the data. Similarly, there was some evidence that relaxation techniques, foot massage, acupressure, nursing or social intervention, and sound masking can provide small improvements in various subjective measures of sleep quality and quantity, but the quality of the evidence was low. The effects of non-pharmacological interventions on objective sleep outcomes were inconsistent across 16 studies (we rated the quality of the evidence as very low): the majority of studies relating to the use of earplugs and eye masks found no benefit; results from six trials of ventilator modes suggested that certain ventilator settings might offer benefits over others, although the results of the individual trials did not always agree with each other. Only one study measured length of stay in the ICU and found no significant effect of earplugs plus eye masks. No studies examined the effect of any non-pharmacological intervention on mortality, risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, or cost-effectiveness; the included studies did not clearly report adverse effects, although there was very low quality evidence that ventilator mode influenced the incidence of central apnoeas and patient-ventilator asynchronies. The quality of existing evidence relating to the use of non-pharmacological interventions for promoting sleep in adults in the ICU was low or very low. We found some evidence that the use of earplugs or eye masks or both may have beneficial effects on sleep and the incidence of delirium in this population, although the quality of the evidence was low. Further high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base.

[The first and foremost tasks of the medical service].

PubMed

Chizh, I M

1997-07-01

Now in connection with common situation in Russian Federation the problem of reinforcements of army and fleet by healthy personnel, scare of a call-up quota and its poor quality are the main problems of the Armed Forces at the state level. The uniform complex program of medico-social maintenance of the citizens during preparation for military service is necessary. The modern situation is difficult due to many infectious diseases, so the role and the place of military-medical service grows. In last years structure of quota, served by the military doctors, and number of other parameters have greatly changed, that require revision of some priorities. A problem of reinforcements of the Armed Forces by medical service officers remains actual, for decision of which a full-bodied admission on military medical faculty is required, as well as admission of the officers under contract and calling-up of reserve officers. In article the main lessons, received by the medical service during combat actions in Republic of Chechnya are also formulated.

[Peculiarities of course of extramural pneumonia among military servicemen in conditions of local war and armed conflicts].

PubMed

Kuchmin, A N; Kharitonov, M A; Shevelev, A A; Rezvan, V V; Butikov, V P; Sergeev, S M

2010-03-01

The aim of work was examination of peculiarities of outhospital pneumonia (OHP) among military servicemen, participants of local armed conflicts in areas of Prodnestrovie, Tadjikistan, North Ossetia, Abkhazia. There were retrospectively analyzed 139 archive patient histories of military servicemen, got pneumonia during 1990-1993. In structure of OHP of military servicemen predominating was pneumonia with not hard course of disease. Was educes a clear season dependence of appearance of pneumonia in described conditions with it's peculiarities. Each fifth patient form call-up contingent had deficit of weight. It influenced on course of disease. In 40% of cases of OHP there were coexistent diseases. Peculiarities in clinical forms of disease were not found. Using of antibacterial measures in treatment of OHP was empirical, during therapy of acute pneumonia were used 3 antibiotics simultaneously. For a more long-term of treatment had a need soldiers, participants of combat actions on the Northern Caucasus.

‘This place isn't worth the left boot of one of our boys’: Geopolitics, militarism and memoirs of the Afghanistan war

PubMed Central

Woodward, Rachel; Jenkings, K. Neil

2012-01-01

This paper argues for the continued significance of the text as a source and focus in critical geopolitical inquiry. It establishes the utility of the military memoir in explorations of popular contemporary geopolitical imaginaries, and considers the memoir as a vector of militarism. The paper examines the memoirs written by military personnel about service in Afghanistan with the British armed forces, specifically about deployments to Helmand province between 2006 and 2012. The paper explores how Afghanistan is scripted through these texts, focussing on the explanations for deployment articulated by their authors, on the representations they contain and promote about other combatants and about civilian non-combatants, and the constitution and expression of danger in the spaces and places of military action which these texts construct and convey. The paper then turns to consider how a reading of the military memoir with reference to the genre of testimonio might extend and inform our understanding and use of these texts as a source for exploring popular geopolitics and militarism. PMID:23805031

Home Advantage in Judo: Analysis by the Combat Phase, Penalties and the Type of Attack

PubMed Central

Brito, Ciro José; Miarka, Bianca; de Durana, Alfonso López Díaz; Fukuda, David H

2017-01-01

Abstract Previous studies indicate positive home advantage in judo; however, the factors that influence home advantage have yet to be fully explored. This study investigated the potential differences in technical-tactical variables between home and visiting athletes. A total of 1411 video recorded matches were analyzed (123 home, 1288 away) from 36 international judo competitions contested in 2011-12. The matches were analyzed by the following criteria: combat phases (approach, gripping, attack, defense, groundwork and pause), penalties (by the athlete or the opponent) and the types of attacks (with or without a score). Elite judo athletes competing in their home country attacked more frequently using trunk/leg couple techniques (p < 0.011) and scored more frequently with arm/leg couple techniques (p < 0.001), while visiting judo athletes received fewer scores from penalties (p < 0.001) and engaged in more frequent pauses during competition (p < 0.01). The results of this study provide an outline of technical-tactical differences that may contribute to home advantage in judo. PMID:28713473

Does Combat Hearing Preservation Equipment Affect Balance?

PubMed

Ambrosio, Art; Hoffer, Ali N; Hoffer, Michael

2017-03-01

(1) To investigate whether the occlusion effect and hearing attenuation produced by 3M Combat Arms Ear Plugs (CAEP) affects balance when compared to no hearing protection and (2) to investigate whether the occlusion effect and noise-canceling capabilities of the Nacre QuietPro system affects balance when compared to no hearing protection. This prospective study collected pilot data for investigation of mechanisms of balance. 20 subjects with normal hearing and no vestibular dysfunction were tested with blackened goggles in three conditions-no hearing protection, CAEP, and with the Nacre QuietPro. A static posturogrpahy forceplate was used to measure center of gravity angular acceleration for a period of 20 seconds. The order of the conditions tested was randomized for each individual. Mean angular acceleration and standard deviation (degrees/second) of the three conditions were: (1) no hearing protection (control), 0.65 + 0.19, (2) CAEP, 0.69 + 0.23, and (3) QuietPro, 0.70 + 0.20 (one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA], df = 2, F = 0.38, p = 0.706). The components of an intact balance system include a variety of neural inputs, to include vesitbuloocular, vestibulospinal, and labyrinthine afferents. Both the CAEP and Nacre QuietPro are hearing preservation devices utilized during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Our pilot data show no decrement in balance with utilization of these combat hearing preservation devices. Reprint & Copyright © 2017 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Optical bullet-tracking algorithms for weapon localization in urban environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberts, R S; Breitfeller, E F

2006-03-31

Localization of the sources of small-arms fire, mortars, and rocket propelled grenades is an important problem in urban combat. Weapons of this type produce characteristic signatures, such as muzzle flashes, that are visible in the infrared. Indeed, several systems have been developed that exploit the infrared signature of muzzle flash to locate the positions of shooters. However, systems based on muzzle flash alone can have difficulty localizing weapons if the muzzle flash is obscured or suppressed. Moreover, optical clutter can be problematic to systems that rely on muzzle flash alone. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has developed a projectile trackingmore » system that detects and localizes sources of small-arms fire, mortars and similar weapons using the thermal signature of the projectile rather than a muzzle flash. The thermal signature of a projectile, caused by friction as the projectile travels along its trajectory, cannot be concealed and is easily discriminated from optical clutter. The LLNL system was recently demonstrated at the MOUT facility of the Aberdeen Test Center [1]. In the live-fire demonstration, shooters armed with a variety of small-arms, including M-16s, AK-47s, handguns, mortars and rockets, were arranged at several positions in around the facility. Experiments ranged from a single-weapon firing a single-shot to simultaneous fire of all weapons on full automatic. The LLNL projectile tracking system was demonstrated to localize multiple shooters at ranges up to 400m, far greater than previous demonstrations. Furthermore, the system was shown to be immune to optical clutter that is typical in urban combat. This paper describes the image processing and localization algorithms designed to exploit the thermal signature of projectiles for shooter localization. The paper begins with a description of the image processing that extracts projectile information from a sequence of infrared images. Key to the processing is an adaptive spatio-temporal filter developed to suppress scene clutter. The filtered image sequence is further processed to produce a set of parameterized regions, which are classified using several discriminate functions. Regions that are classified as projectiles are passed to a data association algorithm that matches features from these regions with existing tracks, or initializes new tracks as needed. A Kalman filter is used to smooth and extrapolate existing tracks. Shooter locations are determined by solving a combinatorial least-squares solution for all bullet tracks. It also provides an error ellipse for each shooter, quantifying the uncertainty of shooter location. The paper concludes with examples from the live-fire exercise at the Aberdeen Test Center.« less

CArbon dioxide surgical field flooding and aortic NO-touch off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting to reduce Neurological injuries after surgical coronary revascularisation (CANON): protocol for a randomised, controlled, investigator and patient blinded single-centre superiority trial with three parallel arms.

PubMed

Krzysztof, Szwed; Wojciech, Pawliszak; Zbigniew, Serafin; Mariusz, Kowalewski; Remigiusz, Tomczyk; Damian, Perlinski; Magdalena, Szwed; Marta, Tomaszewska; Lech, Anisimowicz; Alina, Borkowska

2017-07-10

Neurological injuries remain a major concern following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) that offsets survival benefit of CABG over percutaneous coronary interventions. Among numerous efforts to combat this issue is the development of off-pump CABG (OPCABG) that obviates the need for extracorporeal circulation and is associated with improved neurological outcomes. The objective of this study is to examine whether the neuroprotective effect of OPCABG can be further pronounced by the use of two state-of-the-art operating techniques. In this randomised, controlled, investigator and patient blinded single-centre superiority trial with three parallel arms, a total of 360 patients will be recruited. They will be allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to two treatment arms and one control arm. Treatment arms undergoing either aortic no-touch OPCABG or OPCABG with partial clamp applying carbon dioxide surgical field flooding will be compared against control arm undergoing OPCABG with partial clamp. The primary endpoint will be the appearance of new lesions on control brain MRI 3 days after surgery. Secondary endpoints will include the prevalence of new focal neurological deficits in the first 7 days after surgery, the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction at either 1 week or 3 months after surgery and the incidence of delirium in the first 7 days after surgery. Data will be analysed on intention-to-treat principles and a per protocol basis. Ethical approval has been granted for this study. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed media. NCT03074604; Pre-results. 10-Mar-2017 Original. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Proceedings from the DRG Seminar on Robotics in the Battlefield (31st) Held in Paris, France on 6-8 March 1991 (Acetes du 31ieme Seminaire sur la Robotique du Champ de Bataile)

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-06-01

8217Energie.4romnique) et GIAT-Industries (Groupern.ent Indusrriei dles Armements Terrestres ) ant 6t retenus ensemble par la DAT / SEFT (Direction des...Armements Terrestres , Sections d’Erudes et Fabrications des Tilicommunications ) pour une ’Etude de concepts de robots d-~ combat". Cette t6tude de dix...d’identification des amis utiusable par los ongins terrestres . *La t6l~opdration des armes utilisera des proc~dds sp~cifiques, no reprenant qu’en p

Risk of Suicide Attempt Associated with Previous Attempts in One’s Army Unit

PubMed Central

Ursano, Robert J.; Kessler, Ronald C.; Naifeh, James A.; Mash, Holly Herberman; Fullerton, Carol S.; Bliese, Paul D.; Zaslavsky, Alan M.; Ng, Tsz Hin Hinz; Aliaga, Pablo A.; Wynn, Gary H.; Dinh, Hieu M.; McCarroll, James E.; Sampson, Nancy A.; Kao, Tzu-Cheg; Schoenbaum, Michael; Heeringa, Steven G.; Stein, Murray B.

2017-01-01

Objective Soldiers’ mental health is adversely affected by the death and injury of other unit members, but it is not known if risk of suicide attempt is influenced by previous suicide attempts in one’s unit. Method Using administrative data from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS), we identified person-month records for all active duty Regular Army enlisted soldiers who attempted suicide from 2004–2009 (n=9,650) and an equal-probability sample of control person-months (n=153,528). Logistic regression analyses examined the number of past-year suicide attempts in one’s unit as a predictor of subsequent suicide attempt, controlling for socio-demographics, service-related characteristics, prior mental health diagnosis, and other unit variables, including suicide-, combat-, and accident-related unit deaths. We also examined whether the influence of previous unit suicide attempts varied by military occupational specialty (MOS) and unit size. Results In adjusted models, soldiers were more likely to attempt suicide if one or more suicide attempts occurred in their unit during the past year (OR=1.4–2.3; p<0.001), with odds increasing as the number of unit attempts increased. The odds of suicide attempt among soldiers in a unit with five or more past-year attempts was more than twice that of soldiers in a unit with no previous attempts (OR=2.3; 95% CI=2.1–2.6). The association of previous unit suicide attempts with subsequent risk was significant whether soldiers had a combat arms MOS or other MOS (OR=1.4–2.3; p<0.001). It was also significant regardless of unit size, with the highest risk for those in smaller units (1–40 soldiers) (OR=2.1–5.9; p<0.001). The population-attributable risk proportion for one or more unit suicide attempts in the past year indicated that if this risk could be reduced to no unit attempts, 18.2% of attempts would not occur. Conclusions Soldiers’ risk of suicide attempt increased as the number of past-year suicide attempts within their unit increased. This was true for both combat arms and other MOSs, and for units of any size, but particularly for smaller units. Units with a history of suicide attempts may be important targets for preventive interventions. PMID:28746705

The neurophysiological and evolutionary considerations of close combat: A modular approach.

PubMed

Dervenis, Kostas; Tsialogiannis, Evangelos

2017-01-01

Close Combat may be identified as a physical confrontation involving armed or unarmed fighting, lethal and/or non-lethal methods, or even simply escape from and/or de-escalation of the confrontation. Our model hypothesizes that distinct areas of the brain are utilized for specific levels of violence, based on evolutionary criteria, and that these levels of violence bring into effect distinct physiological criteria and kinesiology. This model is outlined similar to Paul D. MacLean's triune brain theory, but incorporates distinct processes inherent to the autonomic nervous system (i.e. a "quadrune brain"), and correlates the observed level of violence to a particular response to a specific neural complex associated with very specific reactive kinesiology in the body. Our hypothesis is that the reverse also holds true: specific movements, scenarios and breathing will "activate" corresponding neural centres that in turn correlate to a respective level of violence. Moreover, socio-historic records bear out the premise that specific behavioural violations of social protocols act as "triggers" for assaultive and lethal force involving weapons, and it is very likely that these triggers (and the concomitant decision to engage in assault or lethal force) are processed through neural centres in what McLean has described as his "limbic system." A modular system of close combat is being researched and developed in accord with the above, readily adaptable to the level of violence professional peacekeepers and law enforcement officers may encounter in the course of their duties, but also directly relevant to the self-protection needs of civilians and youth. Distinct modular training regimes have been identified and developed for situations involving escape from a threat, submission of an adversary, and assaultive/lethal force, with the hope of strengthening neural bridges between the four neural complexes postulated in our model, and therefore via these bridges limiting adverse reactions to the psyche from combat stress.

Update: Exertional rhabdomyolysis, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2012-2016.

PubMed

2017-03-01

Among active component service members in 2016, there were 525 incident diagnoses of rhabdomyolysis likely due to physical exertion and/or heat stress ("exertional rhabdomyolysis"). The crude incidence rate in 2016 was 40.7 cases per 100,000 person-years. Annual rates of incident diagnoses of exertional rhabdomyolysis increased 46.2% between 2013 and 2016, with the greatest percentage change occurring between 2014 and 2015. In 2016, relative to their respective counterparts, the highest incidence rates of exertional rhabdomyolysis affected service members who were male; younger than 20 years of age; and black, non-Hispanic. During the surveillance period, annual incidence rates were highest among service members of the Marine Corps, intermediate among those in the Army, and lowest among those in the Air Force and Navy. Most cases of exertional rhabdomyolysis were diagnosed at installations that support basic combat/recruit training or major ground combat units of the Army or the Marine Corps. Medical care providers should consider exertional rhabdomyolysis in the differential diagnosis when service members (particularly recruits) present with muscular pain or swelling, limited range of motion, or the excretion of dark urine (possibly due to myoglobinuria) after strenuous physical activity, particularly in hot, humid weather.

Greasy tactics in the plant-pathogen molecular arms race.

PubMed

Boyle, Patrick C; Martin, Gregory B

2015-03-01

The modification of proteins by the attachment of fatty acids is a targeting tactic involved in mechanisms of both plant immunity and bacterial pathogenesis. The plant plasma membrane (PM) is a key battleground in the war against disease-causing microbes. This membrane is armed with an array of sensor proteins that function as a surveillance system to detect invading pathogens. Several of these sensor proteins are directed to the plasma membrane through the covalent addition of fatty acids, a process termed fatty acylation. Phytopathogens secrete effector proteins into the plant cell to subvert these surveillance mechanisms, rendering the host susceptible to infection. The targeting of effectors to specific locales within plant cells, particularly the internal face of the host PM, is critical for their virulence function. Several bacterial effectors hijack the host fatty acylation machinery to be modified and directed to this contested locale. To find and fight these fatty acylated effectors the plant leverages lipid-modified intracellular sensors. This review provides examples featuring how fatty acylation is a battle tactic used by both combatants in the molecular arms race between plants and pathogens. Also highlighted is the exploitation of a specific form of host-mediated fatty acid modification, which appears to be exclusively employed by phytopathogenic effector proteins. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Buried treasure: evolutionary perspectives on microbial iron piracy

PubMed Central

Barber, Matthew F.; Elde, Nels C.

2015-01-01

Host-pathogen interactions provide valuable systems for the study of evolutionary genetics and natural selection. The sequestration of essential iron has emerged as a critical innate defense system termed nutritional immunity, leading pathogens to evolve mechanisms of `iron piracy' to scavenge this metal from host proteins. This battle for iron carries numerous consequences not only for host-pathogen evolution, but also microbial community interactions. Here we highlight recent and potential future areas of investigation on the evolutionary implications of microbial iron piracy in relation to molecular arms races, host range, competition, and virulence. Applying evolutionary genetic approaches to the study of microbial iron acquisition could also provide new inroads for understanding and combating infectious disease. PMID:26431675

Pseudofolliculitis barbae: review and update on new treatment modalities.

PubMed

Garcia-Zuazaga, Jorge

2003-07-01

Pseudofolliculits barbae, PFB, is a common cutaneous disease encountered frequently in medical practice. PFB represents a chronic inflammatory condition of the hair follicle caused by ingrown hairs producing an inflammatory foreign body reaction. The pathogenesis of PFB is multifactorial. Factors such as hair type and direction of hair growth play a role in the initial inflammatory reaction. In the armed forces, PFB represents a real challenge for both the physician and the patient. The combat environment, with the recent threat of biological and chemical weapons, requires the servicemen to be clean-shaven for appropriate gas mask fitting around the face. This article will review the etiology, pathogenesis, classification, and newer treatment modalities in the management of PFB.

Psychotherapeutic Intervention in the Demobilization Process: Addressing Combat-related Mental Injuries with Narrative Exposure in a First and Second Dissemination Stage.

PubMed

Köbach, Anke; Schaal, Susanne; Hecker, Tobias; Elbert, Thomas

2017-07-01

Depending on the exposure to traumatic stressors and combat, 20% to 50% of ex-combatants present with trauma-related disorders, and more than half of the members of armed groups have a proclivity to violence. Therefore, psychotherapeutic assistance should address both, trauma-related suffering and the lowered threshold for aggressive behaviour. Supporting the demobilization process of ex-combatants in the eastern DR-Congo, we implemented a version of Narrative Exposure Therapy adapted for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation (FORNET). In two successive dissemination stages (DS), local counsellors conducted FORNET. In DS1, they were trained by clinical experts, and in DS2, the by then experienced counsellors trained and supervised a second group of local counsellors (DS2). The training consisted of a 3-week workshop covering theoretical concepts and practical therapeutic skills. In DS1 and DS2, a total of 98 demobilizing combatants received an intervention; treatment-as-usual served as the control condition. Posttraumatic stress disorder, appetitive aggression, depression severity and drug dependence were assessed prior to the intervention and 6 and 12 months later; additionally, we assessed reintegration success. Six months post-intervention, FORNET significantly reduced Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms but had less effect on the trait of appetitive aggression; moreover, beneficial effects were found for depression severity and drug dependence as well as for reintegration indices. Treatment gains were retained at 12 months. Individuals without previous training in psychotherapy can learn to effectively apply the brief intervention FORNET and support the demobilization process in ongoing conflicts. The study suggests that it is possible to pass down psychotherapeutic techniques over generations of counsellors. © 2015 The Authors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression and clinically relevant levels of drug dependence can effectively be reduced with a version of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) adapted for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation (FORNET). The intervention is effective in the context of ongoing conflict. Individuals without previous training in psychotherapy can learn to effectively apply the brief intervention FORNET. It is possible to pass down psychotherapeutic techniques like FORNET over generations of counsellors. Psychotherapeutic interventions like FORNET may facilitate the transition to peace in war-torn regions. © 2015 The Authors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The efficacy of novel anatomical sites for the assessment of muscle oxygenation during central hypovolemia.

PubMed

Sprick, Justin D; Soller, Babs R; Rickards, Caroline A

2016-11-01

Muscle tissue oxygenation (SmO 2 ) can track central blood volume loss associated with hemorrhage. Traditional peripheral measurement sites (e.g., forearm) may not be practical due to excessive movement or injury (e.g., amputation). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three novel anatomical sites for the assessment of SmO 2 under progressive central hypovolemia. 10 male volunteers were exposed to stepwise prone lower body negative pressure to decrease central blood volume, while SmO 2 was assessed at four sites-the traditional site of the flexor carpi ulnaris (ARM), and three novel sites not previously investigated during lower body negative pressure, the deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and trapezius. SmO 2 at the novel sites was compared to the ARM sensor and to stroke volume responses. A reduction in SmO 2 was detected by the ARM sensor at the first level of lower body negative pressure (-15 mmHg; P = 0.007), and at -30 (the deltoid), -45 (latissimus dorsi), and -60 mmHg lower body negative pressure (trapezius) at the novel sites (P ≤ 0.04). SmO 2 responses at all novel sites were correlated with responses at the ARM (R ≥ 0.89), and tracked the reduction in stroke volume (R ≥ 0.87); the latissimus dorsi site exhibited the strongest linear correlations (R ≥ 0.96). Of the novel sensor sites, the latissimus dorsi exhibited the strongest linear associations with SmO 2 at the ARM, and with reductions in central blood volume. These findings have important implications for detection of hemorrhage in austere environments (e.g., combat) when use of a peripheral sensor may not be ideal, and may facilitate incorporation of these sensors into uniforms. © 2016 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Sound reduction management in the neonatal intensive care unit for preterm or very low birth weight infants.

PubMed

Almadhoob, Abdulraoof; Ohlsson, Arne

2015-01-30

Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are subjected to stress, including sound of high intensity. The sound environment in the NICU is louder than most home or office environments and contains disturbing noises of short duration and at irregular intervals. There are competing auditory signals that frequently challenge preterm infants, staff and parents. The sound levels in NICUs often exceed the maximum acceptable level of 45 decibels (dB), recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Hearing impairment is diagnosed in 2% to 10% of preterm infants versus 0.1% of the general paediatric population. Noise may cause apnoea, hypoxaemia, alternation in oxygen saturation, and increased oxygen consumption secondary to elevated heart and respiratory rates and may, therefore, decrease the amount of calories available for growth. Elevated levels of speech are needed to overcome the noisy environment in the NICU, thereby increasing the negative impacts on staff, newborns, and their families. High noise levels are associated with an increased rate of errors and accidents, leading to decreased performance among staff. The aim of interventions included in this review is to reduce sound levels to 45 dB or less. This can be achieved by lowering the sound levels in an entire unit, treating the infant in a section of a NICU, in a 'private' room, or in incubators in which the sound levels are controlled, or reducing the sound levels that reaches the individual infant by using earmuffs or earplugs. By lowering the sound levels that reach the neonate, the resulting stress on the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and endocrine systems can be diminished, thereby promoting growth and reducing adverse neonatal outcomes. Primary objectiveTo determine the effects of sound reduction on growth and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of neonates. Secondary objectives1. To evaluate the effects of sound reduction on short-term medical outcomes (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity).2. To evaluate the effects of sound reduction on sleep patterns at three months of age.3. To evaluate the effects of sound reduction on staff performance.4. To evaluate the effects of sound reduction in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on parents' satisfaction with the care. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, abstracts from scientific meetings, clinical trials registries (clinicaltrials.gov; controlled-trials.com; and who.int/ictrp), Pediatric Academic Societies Annual meetings 2000 to 2014 (Abstracts2View(TM)), reference lists of identified trials, and reviews to November 2014. Preterm infants (< 32 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) or < 1500 g birth weight) cared for in the resuscitation area, during transport, or once admitted to a NICU or a stepdown unit. We performed data collection and analyses according to the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. One small, high quality study assessing the effects of silicone earplugs versus no earplugs qualified for inclusion. The original inclusion criteria in our protocol stipulated an age of < 48 hours at the time of initiating sound reduction. We made a deviation from our protocol and included this study in which some infants would have been > 48 hours old. There was no significant difference in weight at 34 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA): mean difference (MD) 111 g (95% confidence interval (CI) -151 to 374 g) (n = 23). There was no significant difference in weight at 18 to 22 months corrected age between the groups: MD 0.31 kg, 95% CI -1.53 to 2.16 kg (n = 14). There was a significant difference in Mental Developmental Index (Bayley II) favouring the silicone earplugs group at 18 to 22 months corrected age: MD 14.00, 95% CI 3.13 to 24.87 (n = 12), but not for Psychomotor Development Index (Bayley II) at 18 to 22 months corrected age: MD -2.16, 95% CI -18.44 to 14.12 (n =12). To date, only 34 infants have been enrolled in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing the effectiveness of reducing sound levels that reach the infants' ears in the NICU. Based on the small sample size of this single trial, we cannot make any recommendations for clinical practice. Larger, well designed, conducted and reported trials are needed.

Women and Men Together in Recruit Training.

PubMed

Orme, Geoffrey J; Kehoe, E James

2018-05-01

Although men and women recruits to the Australian Army have trained in mixed-gender platoons since 1995, restrictions on women joining the combat arms were only removed in 2016. As part of a longitudinal study starting with recruit training, this article examined recruit records collected before 2016 with the aims of delineating (1) the relative performance of women versus men in mixed-gender platoons and (2) the relative performance of men in mixed-gender platoons versus all-male platoons. De-identified instructor ratings for 630 females and 4,505 males who completed training between 2011 and 2015 were obtained. Recruits were distributed across 128 platoons (averaging 41.6 members, SD = 8.3) of which 75% contained females, in proportions from 5% to 45%. These analyses were conducted under defense ethics approval DPR-LREP 069-15. Factor analyses revealed that instructor ratings generally loaded onto a single factor, accounting 77.2% of the variance. Consequently, a composite recruit performance score (range 1-5) was computed for 16 of 19 competencies. Analyses of the scores revealed that the distributions of the scores for females and males overlapped considerably. Observed effects were negligible to small in size. The distributions were all centered between 3.0 and 3.5. In mixed-gender platoons, 51% of the females and 52% of the males fell in this band, and 44% of recruits in all-male platoons had scores in this band. The lower three bands (1.0-3.0) contained a slightly greater proportion of females (18%) than males in either mixed-gender platoons (12%) or all-male platoons (12%). Conversely, the upper three bands (3.5-5.0) contained a slightly smaller percentage of females (31%) than males in either mixed-gender platoons (36%) or all-male platoons (44%). Although scores for females were reliably lower than those of males in mixed-gender platoons, χ2 (4) = 16.01, p < 0.01, the effect size (V = 0.07) did not reach the criterion for even a small effect (0.10). For male recruits, those in mixed-gender platoons had scores that were reliably lower than in all-male platoons, χ2 (4) = 48.38, p < 0.001; its effect size (V = 0.11) just exceeded the criterion for a small effect (0.10). Further analyses revealed that male scores had a near-zero correlation (r = -0.033) with the proportion of females in platoons (0-45%). This large-scale secondary analysis of instructor ratings of female and male recruits provides a platform for monitoring the integration of women into the combat arms. The analyses revealed nearly complete overlap in the performance of female versus male recruits. The detected gender-related differences were negligible to small in size. These small differences must be viewed with considerable caution. They may be artifacts of rater bias or other uncontrolled features of the rating system, which was designed for reporting individual recruit performance rather than aggregate analyses. Even with these limitations, this baseline snapshot of recruit performance suggests that, at recruit training, women and men are already working well together, which bodes well for their subsequent integration into the combat arms.

Combat high or traumatic stress: violent offending is associated with appetitive aggression but not with symptoms of traumatic stress

PubMed Central

Köbach, Anke; Schaal, Susanne; Elbert, Thomas

2015-01-01

Former members of armed groups in eastern DR Congo had typically witnessed, experienced, and perpetrated extreme forms of violence. Enhanced trauma-related symptoms had been shown in prior research. But also lashing out in self-defense is a familiar response to threat defined as reactive aggression. Another potential response is appetitive aggression, in which the perpetration of excessive violence is perceived as pleasurable (combat high). What roles do these forms of aggressive behavior play in modern warfare and how are they related to posttraumatic stress symptoms? To answer the question, we sought to determine predictors for appetitive aggressive and trauma-related mental illness, and investigated the frequency of psychopathological symptoms for high- and low-intensity conflict demobilization settings. To this end, we interviewed 213 former members of (para)military groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in regard to their combat exposure, posttraumatic stress, appetitive aggression, depression, suicidality, and drug dependence. Random forest regression embedded in a conditional inference framework revealed that perpetrated violent acts are not necessarily stressful. In fact, the experience of violent acts that typically implicated salient cues of hunting (e.g., blood, suffering of the victim, etc.) had the strongest association with an appetite for aggression. Furthermore, the number of lifetime perpetrated violent acts was the most important predictor of appetitive aggression. However, the number of perpetrated violent acts did not significantly affect the posttraumatic stress. Greater intensity of conflict was associated with more severe posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression. Psychotherapeutic interventions that address appetitive aggression in addition to trauma-related mental illness, including drug dependence, therefore seem indispensible for a successful reintegration of those who fought in the current civil wars. PMID:25709586

Risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder following combat trauma: a semiprospective study.

PubMed

Zohar, Joseph; Fostick, Leah; Cohen, Ayala; Bleich, Avi; Dolfin, Dan; Weissman, Zeev; Doron, Miki; Kaplan, Zeev; Klein, Ehud; Shalev, Arieh Y

2009-12-01

When positioned in a combat situation, soldiers may be subjected to extreme stress. However, only a few combat-exposed soldiers develop long-term disturbance, namely, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to explore risk factors for developing PTSD in order to improve the psychiatric screening process of new recruits. In a semiprospective design, we compared 2,362 war veterans who developed PTSD (according to DSM-IV criteria) with an equal number of war veterans who did not develop PTSD. Controls were matched on the basis of sequential army identification numbers, that is, the soldier drafted immediately after the index PTSD veteran (usually on the same day). This method ensured similar demographic variables such as socioeconomic level and education. Data were collected from the Israeli Defense Force database and used in a comprehensive survey conducted between January 2000 and March 2001. Comparisons were made on predrafting personal factors (behavioral assessment, cognitive assessment, linguistic ability, and education) and pretrauma army characteristics (ie, rank and training). Neither behavioral assessment nor training were found to predict PTSD. The predictive factors that were found were essentially nonspecific, such as cognitive functioning, education, rank, and position during the trauma, with little effect from training. In an armed force that uses universal recruitment, carefully structured predrafting psychological assessment of social and individual qualifications (including motivation) failed to identify increased risk factors for PTSD. However, nonspecific factors were found to be associated with an increased risk for PTSD. This study suggests that the focus of future research on risk factors for PTSD should incorporate other domains rather than behavioral assessment alone. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00229359. Copyright 2009 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Multiple physical symptoms in a military population: a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Medically unexplained symptoms have been reported among both civilians and military personnel exposed to combat. A large number of military personnel deployed to the Gulf War in 1991 reported non-specific symptoms. These symptoms did not constitute a clearly defined syndrome. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to a lesser degree exposure to combat are associated with physical symptoms. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of representative samples of Sri Lanka Navy Special Forces and regular forces deployed in combat areas continuously during a 1-year period. Multiple physical symptoms were elicited using a checklist of 53 symptoms. Cases were defined as individuals with ten or more symptoms. Symptoms of common mental disorder were identified using the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). PTSD was diagnosed using the 17-item National Centre for PTSD checklist civilian version. Results Prevalence of multiple physical symptoms was 10.4% (95% CI 8.11–12.75). Prevalence was significantly less in the Special Forces (5.79%) than in the regular forces (13.35%). The mean number of symptoms reported by those who met the criteria for PTSD was 12.19 (SD 10.58), GHQ caseness 7.87 (SD 7.57) and those without these conditions 2.84 (SD 3.63). After adjusting for socio-demographic and service variables, ‘thought I might be killed’ , ‘coming under small arms fire’ , and ‘coming under mortar, missile and artillery fire’ remained significant. Multiple physical symptoms were associated with functional impairment and poor perceived general health. Conclusions Prevalence of multiple physical symptoms was significantly lower in the Special Forces despite high exposure to potentially traumatic events. More multiple physical symptoms were reported by personnel with PTSD and common mental disorders. Multiple physical symptoms were associated with functional impairment. PMID:23866109

Died of wounds on the battlefield: causation and implications for improving combat casualty care.

PubMed

Eastridge, Brian J; Hardin, Mark; Cantrell, Joyce; Oetjen-Gerdes, Lynne; Zubko, Tamara; Mallak, Craig; Wade, Charles E; Simmons, John; Mace, James; Mabry, Robert; Bolenbaucher, Rose; Blackbourne, Lorne H

2011-07-01

Understanding the epidemiology of death after battlefield injury is vital to combat casualty care performance improvement. The current analysis was undertaken to develop a comprehensive perspective of deaths that occurred after casualties reached a medical treatment facility. Battle injury died of wounds (DOW) deaths that occurred after casualties reached a medical treatment facility from October 2001 to June 2009 were evaluated by reviewing autopsy and other postmortem records at the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiners (OAFME). A panel of military trauma experts classified the injuries as nonsurvivable (NS) or potentially survivable (PS), in consultation with an OAFME forensic pathologist. Data including demographics, mechanism of injury, physiologic and laboratory variables, and cause of death were obtained from the Joint Theater Trauma Registry and the OAFME Mortality Trauma Registry. DOW casualties (n = 558) accounted for 4.56% of the nonreturn to duty battle injuries over the study period. DOW casualties were classified as NS in 271 (48.6%) cases and PS in 287 (51.4%) cases. Traumatic brain injury was the predominant injury leading to death in 225 of 271 (83%) NS cases, whereas hemorrhage from major trauma was the predominant mechanism of death in 230 of 287 (80%) PS cases. In the hemorrhage mechanism PS cases, the major body region bleeding focus accounting for mortality were torso (48%), extremity (31%), and junctional (neck, axilla, and groin) (21%). Fifty-one percent of DOW casualties presented in extremis with cardiopulmonary resuscitation upon presentation. Hemorrhage is a major mechanism of death in PS combat injuries, underscoring the necessity for initiatives to mitigate bleeding, particularly in the prehospital environment.

Preparing for Combat Readiness for the Fight: Physical Performance Profile of Female US Marines

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

22.6 6 1.9 22.6 6 1.9 0.76 0.02 FFM , kg 45.5 6 4.2 44.9 6 4.3 0.05 0.14 3-mile run, min:sec 24:11 6 1:58 24:30 6 2:10 0.07 20.15 Sit-ups, reps 98.5 6...0.01 20.36 MTC, min:sec 3:28 6 0:18 3:31 6 0:22 0.04 20.14 *BMI = body mass index; FFM = fat-free mass; FAH = flexed-arm hang; AL = ammunition can...fat was calculated using the Gallagher equation (5). Fat-free mass ( FFM ) was then calculated for each individual. Owing to the testing environ- ment

Smart army helmet: a glance in what soldier helmets can become in the near future by integrating present technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Betancur, J. Alejandro; Osorio-Gómez, Gilberto; Mejía, Alejandro; Rodriguez, Carlos A.

2014-05-01

Nowadays, technologies like improved reality systems, sensing systems and communication systems, are moving forward with a high rate. This situation is very convenient for military groups that are trying to access modern technologies. According to that, it is very feasible to propose the development of electronic devices that increase the possibilities for soldiers to be alive during an armed conflict, providing them with information that can bring strategic benefits on the combat field, which is the main goal of this research. Therefore, it is proposed in this paper the early design stages of a smart army helmet, focusing in their low cost production; however, all the electronics stages specified here are proposed as prototypes.

Pilot study of Internet-based early intervention for combat-related mental distress.

PubMed

Van Voorhees, Benjamin W; Gollan, Jackie; Fogel, Joshua

2012-01-01

This article evaluates an Internet-based early intervention combining online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with electronic peer-to-peer support intended to promote mental health and well-being among combat veterans. We conducted a phase 1 clinical trial of 50 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans using a pre and post single-arm design. We evaluated feasibility and changes in mental health symptoms (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), functional status, and attitudes toward treatment seeking at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12. A diverse group of veterans was enrolled (26% ethnic minority, 90% male, 66% with income <$30,000/year, 88% with no prior treatment for depression). Participants completed a mean of 4 of 6 lessons (standard deviation = 2.54). From baseline to week 12, there were significant declines in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale score (effect size [ES] = 0.41) and PTSD Checklist-Military version score (ES = 0.53). There were significant improvements in willingness to accept diagnosis (ES = 1.08) and perceived social norms and stigma regarding friends (ES = 1.51). Although lack of a control group is a limitation, the Internet-based program combining CBT-based coping skills training and peer-to-peer support demonstrated potential feasibility and evidenced benefit in symptom remediation for depression and PTSD.

[Ocular findings in Polish Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, a review of medical examinations by The Military Medical Commission in Łodz].

PubMed

Pastuszka, Mirosław; Goś, Roman; Jurowski, Piotr; Chrzaszcz, Agnieszka; Smigielski, Janusz; Nowak, Michał S

2013-01-01

To determine the prevalence of ocular disorders among Polish soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan military campaigns. A retrospective review of medical records of the Military Medical Commission of Lodz, Poland was performed. Records of 296 randomly selected soldiers, including 98 who returned from Iraq in 2004 and in 198 who returned from Afghanistan in 2012, were assessed. All subjects underwent comprehensive ocular examinations according to the military regulations. We used statistical analysis to review the results. The incidence of ocular disorders in Iraq and Afghanistan groups was 17.3% and 15.1%, respectively. The study revealed that the most common disorders among soldiers were refractive errors affecting 6.8% subjects, followed by defective color vision (4.7%) and solar retinopathy (3.0%). Combat injuries were diagnosed in 3 subjects, including 2 cases of corneal injury and 1 case of retinal detachment due to blast exposure. Combat injuries occurred in 1% of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan military campaigns. There were no statistically significant differences between Iraq and Afghanistan groups in the incidence of ocular disorders. Solar retinopathy was the most common problem related to the long-term exposure to rough climate conditions in both groups. ocular findings, Iraq, Afghanistan.

The Role of Leadership and Peer Behaviors in the Performance and Well-Being of Women in Combat: Historical Perspectives, Unit Integration, and Family Issues.

PubMed

Segal, Mady Wechsler; Smith, David G; Segal, David R; Canuso, Amy A

2016-01-01

This article analyzes how the behaviors of leaders and peers affect the performance and well-being of military women. Locating our analysis within the conceptual model in this issue, we summarize the empirical literature and make practice and policy recommendations. We synthesize results about unit integration, such as research on the conditions for successful integration of previously excluded groups and on the relationship between cohesion and performance. We apply lessons learned from the history of diversity integration in military and civilian organizations, analyzing the treatment of military personnel by race, gender, and sexual orientation. The opening of ground combat specialties and units to women is the latest step in personnel policy changes broadening the recruitment base. We analyze research on gender integration in contemporary armed forces, focusing on positive and negative effects on women of leader and peer behaviors. We discuss conditions for successfully integrating women and those that tend to lead to failure. We analyze military women's family issues, including the effects of deployments and how leaders and peers can help ameliorate problems-or exacerbate them with inappropriate or unsupportive behavior. Reprint & Copyright © 2016 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Sunburn among active component service members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2002-2013.

PubMed

2014-07-01

Sunburn is caused by acute overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation directly from the sun or from artificial UV sources. Service members are at risk of excessive exposure to sunlight due to the nature of their military duties, which often involve working and training outdoors, and deployment to environments where UV radiation is more intense. From January 2002 through December 2013, a total of 19,172 incident cases of clinically significant sunburn were diagnosed among active component service members. Most of the cases (80.2%) were first degree sunburn. The incidence rates of sunburn diagnoses were higher among females, white non-Hispanics, younger age groups, individuals in the Marine Corps or Army, and among enlisted service members. Additionally, the rate among recruits was more than 3.5 times the rate for non-recruits. Sixty-one percent of all diagnosed cases occurred from May through July. Sunburn cases occurred in all areas of the U.S., particularly near major recruit and combat training locations. Service members are strongly advised to practice sun safety as a part of heat illness prevention, including properly using broad-spectrum sunscreen, finding or constructing shade during work and rest, wearing protective clothing and military combat eye protection items, and avoiding tanning booths and sun lamps.

Urinary isotopic analysis in the UK Armed Forces: no evidence of depleted uranium absorption in combat and other personnel in Iraq

PubMed Central

Bland, D; Rona, R; Coggon, D; Anderson, J; Greenberg, N; Hull, L; Wessely, S

2007-01-01

Objectives To assess the distribution and risk factors of depleted uranium uptake in military personnel who had taken part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Methods Sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) was used to determine the uranium concentration and 238U/235U isotopic ratio in spot urine samples. The authors collected urine samples from four groups identified a priori as having different potential for exposure to depleted uranium. These groups were: combat personnel (n = 199); non-combat personnel (n = 96); medical personnel (n = 22); and “clean-up” personnel (n = 24) who had been involved in the maintenance, repair or clearance of potentially contaminated vehicles in Iraq. A short questionnaire was used to ascertain individual experience of circumstances in which depleted uranium exposure might have occurred. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the 238U/235U ratio between groups. Mean ratios by group varied from 138.0 (95% CI 137.3 to 138.7) for clean-up personnel to 138.2 (95% CI 138.0 to 138.5) for combat personnel, and were close to the ratio of 137.9 for natural uranium. The two highest individual ratios (146.9 and 147.7) were retested using more accurate, multiple collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) and found to be within measurement of error of that for natural uranium. There were no significant differences in isotope ratio between participants according to self-reported circumstances of potential depleted uranium exposure. Conclusions Based on measurements using a SF-ICP-MS apparatus, this study provides reassurance following concern for potential widespread depleted uranium uptake in the UK military. The rare occurrence of elevated ratios may reflect the limits of accuracy of the SF-ICP-MS apparatus and not a real increase from the natural proportions of the isotopes. Any uptake of depleted uranium among participants in this study sample would be very unlikely to have any implications for health. PMID:17609224

Special issues in hearing loss prevention in the Canadian military environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giguère, Christian; Laroche, Chantal

2005-04-01

Noise can be particularly noxious to hearing in the military. The personnel regularly face a wide range of noise-hazardous situations, many of which are seldom encountered in other work environments. High noise levels are associated with the operation of small arms and large caliber weapons, combat vehicles, aircrafts, ships and vessels, and industrial equipment. This can induce permanent and temporary hearing loss, compromise speech communication, interfere with the detection and localization of sound sources and warning sounds and thus, can jeopardize life or safety of the personnel. This paper will review the essential elements of a hearing loss prevention program proposed for the Canadian Armed Forces. The ultimate goal is to preserve hearing health as well as all hearing abilities necessary for effective operations. The program has been designed to meet the noise measurement and hazard investigation procedures, limits on noise exposure, use of hearing protection and other regulatory measures contained in the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety (COHS) Regulations (Part VII: Levels of Sound), while addressing the particular nature of the military environment. The paper will focus on issues that are not typically found in other occupational environments (variable work schedules, excessive impulse noise, extended exposures, communication devices).

Controlled artificial upwelling in a fjord to combat toxic algae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McClimans, T. A.; Hansen, A. H.; Fredheim, A.; Lien, E.; Reitan, K. I.

2003-04-01

During the summer, primary production in the surface layers of some fjords depletes the nutrients to the degree that some arts of toxic algae dominate the flora. We describe an experiment employing a bubble curtain to lift significant amounts of nutrient-rich seawater to the light zone and provide an environment in which useful algae can survive. The motivation for the experiment is to provide a local region in which mussels can be cleansed from the effects of toxic algae. Three 100-m long, perforated pipes were suspended at 40 m depth in the Arnafjord, a side arm of the Sognefjord. Large amounts of compressed air were supplied during a period of three weeks. The deeper water mixed with the surface water and flowed from the mixing region at 5 to 15 m depth. Within a few days, the mixture of nutrient-rich water covered most of the inner portion of Arnafjord. Within 10 days, the plankton samples showed that the artificial upwelling produced the desired type of algae and excluded the toxic blooms that were occurring outside the manipulated fjord arm. The project (DETOX) is supported by the Norwegian ministries of Fisheries, Agriculture and Public Administration.

"It's what we're here for:" nurses caring for military personnel during the Persian Gulf Wars.

PubMed

Rushton, Patricia; Scott, Jared E; Callister, Lynn Clark

2008-01-01

Military nursing service during wartime represents significant contributions to a unique type of health care. The purposes of this study were to: (1) generate themes that elucidate combat nursing experiences, (2) honor nurses who served by sharing their stories, and (3) permanently archive accounts of nursing personnel who served during the Persian Gulf Wars during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Eleven military nurses who provided health care to American troops in the Persian Gulf participated in a historical study as part of the ongoing Nurses at War oral history project documenting the experiences of nurses during times of armed conflict. The overriding theme, "It's what we're here for," demonstrates the commitment of nurses: a commitment to care and to sacrifice. Other themes drawn from the study included lessons learned from their wartime nursing experiences, sacrifices made, and chronicles of caring. During armed conflict in the Persian Gulf Wars, military nurses' personal stories demonstrated the importance of being engaged in making meaningful professional and historical contributions. These nurses displayed professional commitment and hardiness in the face of difficult life circumstances, saying, "We did what we had to do."

Searching for non-genetic molecular and imaging PTSD risk and resilience markers: Systematic review of literature and design of the German Armed Forces PTSD biomarker study.

PubMed

Schmidt, Ulrike; Willmund, Gerd-Dieter; Holsboer, Florian; Wotjak, Carsten T; Gallinat, Jürgen; Kowalski, Jens T; Zimmermann, Peter

2015-01-01

Biomarkers allowing the identification of individuals with an above average vulnerability or resilience for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would especially serve populations at high risk for trauma exposure like firefighters, police officers and combat soldiers. Aiming to identify the most promising putative PTSD vulnerability markers, we conducted the first systematic review on potential imaging and non-genetic molecular markers for PTSD risk and resilience. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically screened the PubMed database for prospective longitudinal clinical studies and twin studies reporting on pre-trauma and post-trauma PTSD risk and resilience biomarkers. Using 25 different combinations of search terms, we retrieved 8151 articles of which we finally included and evaluated 9 imaging and 27 molecular studies. In addition, we briefly illustrate the design of the ongoing prospective German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) PTSD biomarker study (Bw-BioPTSD) which not only aims to validate these previous findings but also to identify novel and clinically applicable molecular, psychological and imaging risk, resilience and disease markers for deployment-related psychopathology in a cohort of German soldiers who served in Afghanistan. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reported stress and its relationship to tobacco use among U.S. military personnel.

PubMed

Stein, Risa J; Pyle, Sara A; Haddock, C Keith; Poston, W S Carlos; Bray, Robert; Williams, Jason

2008-03-01

In addition to common stressors, members of the U.S. Armed Forces experience a high level of stress unique to their status as service members. In an effort to combat stress, many military personnel report high levels of nicotine use. This study investigated the relationship between tobacco use and perceived stress among military members in all four armed services. Results indicate that those who use tobacco products specifically to reduce stress report significantly higher stress levels than those who do not use tobacco. Moreover, current users and those who both smoked and used smokeless tobacco were far more likely to report experiencing "a lot" of stress from a variety of sources than former or never users. Tobacco users also engaged more frequently in negative coping behaviors and relied less on the positive coping strategies used more often by former or never smokers. These findings are consistent with the larger body of literature suggesting that tobacco is not only an ineffective stress-reducing strategy, it also likely perpetuates a stress response in users. It is, therefore, critical that the military improve effective means of coping among nicotine-using troops.

Analysis of evacuations from areas of operation to the Spanish Role 4 medical treatment facility (2008-2013).

PubMed

Navarro Suay, Ricardo; Tamburri Bariain, Rafael; Gutiérrez Ortega, Carlos; Hernández Abadía de Barbará, Alberto; López Soberón, Edurne; Rodríguez Moro, Carlos

2014-01-01

Since 1987, the Spanish Armed Forces have deployed their troops in a multitude of conflicts and natural disasters worldwide. The Spanish Military Medical Corps has the ability to deploy Role 1, Role 2, and one Role 3 medical treatment facilities. It also has a Role 4 in operation, the "Gómez Ulla" Central Hospital of Defense, in Madrid. The aim of this study is to describe the type of Spanish casualties evacuated from different areas of operation to the Role 4 from 2008 to 2013. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 232 patients. Among these, 211 (91%) were noncombat casualties: 126 because of illness, 53 because of an accident, and 32 because of sports injuries. The remaining 21 (9%) were combat casualties: 11 from improvised explosive devices and 10 from gunfire. Afghanistan, followed by Lebanon, is the operational area where most evacuees originate. The authors consider it essential that the Spanish Armed Forces rely on a Role 4 medical treatment facility as part of their medical support to international operations. Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Measurement of hearing protection devices performance in the workplace during full-shift working operations.

PubMed

Nélisse, Hugues; Gaudreau, Marc-André; Boutin, Jérôme; Voix, Jérémie; Laville, Frédéric

2012-03-01

The effectiveness of hearing protection devices (HPDs), when used in workplace conditions, has been shown over the years to be usually lower than the labeled values obtained under well-controlled laboratory conditions. Causes for such discrepancies have been listed and discussed by many authors. This study is an attempt to understand the issues in greater details and quantify some of these factors by looking at the performance of hearing protectors as a function of time during full work shift conditions. A non-invasive field microphone in the real ear (F-MIRE)-based method has been developed for measuring the effectiveness of different HPDs as a function of time in the workplace. Details of the test procedures, the equipment used, and the post-processing operations are presented and discussed. The methodology was developed in such a way that a complete time and frequency representation are possible. The system was used on a total of 24 workers in eight different companies. Work shifts of up to 9-h long were recorded. Various types of earmuffs and one type of molded earplugs were tested. Attenuation data reported as a function of time showed, for most workers tested, considerable fluctuations over entire work shift periods. Parts of these fluctuations are attributed to variations in the low-frequency content in the noise (in particular for earmuffs) as well as poor insertion and/or fitting of earplugs. Lower performances than laboratory-based ones were once again observed for most cases tested but also, important left and right ear differences were obtained for many individuals. When reported as a function of frequency, the attenuation results suggested that the few approximations used to relate the measurements to subjective real-ear-attenuation-at-threshold (REAT) data were realistic. The use of individualized attenuation data and performance ratings for HPDs as well as a good knowledge of the ambient noise in the workplace are key ingredients when evaluating the performance of hearing protectors in field conditions.

Predictive factors of occupational noise-induced hearing loss in Spanish workers: A prospective study

PubMed Central

Pelegrin, Armando Carballo; Canuet, Leonides; Rodríguez, Ángeles Arias; Morales, Maria Pilar Arévalo

2015-01-01

The purpose of our study was to identify the main factors associated with objective noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), as indicated by abnormal audiometric testing, in Spanish workers exposed to occupational noise in the construction industry. We carried out a prospective study in Tenerife, Spain, using 150 employees exposed to occupational noise and 150 age-matched controls who were not working in noisy environments. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic data, noise-related factors, types of hearing protection, self-report hearing loss, and auditory-related symptoms (e.g., tinnitus, vertigo). Workers with pathological audiograms had significantly longer noise-exposure duration (16.2 ± 11.4 years) relative to those with normal audiograms (10.2 ± 7.0 years; t = 3.99, P < 0.001). The vast majority of those who never used hearing protection measures had audiometric abnormalities (94.1%). Additionally, workers using at least one of the protection devices (earplugs or earmuffs) had significantly more audiometric abnormalities than those using both protection measures simultaneously (Chi square = 16.07; P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis indicates that the use of hearing protection measures [odds ratio (OR) = 12.30, confidence interval (CI) = 4.36-13.81, P < 0.001], and noise-exposure duration (OR = 1.35, CI = 1.08-1.99, P = 0.040) are significant predictors of NIHL. This regression model correctly predicted 78.2% of individuals with pathological audiograms. The combined use of hearing protection measures, in particular earplugs and earmuffs, associates with a lower rate of audiometric abnormalities in subjects with high occupational noise exposure. The use of hearing protection measures at work and noise-exposure duration are best predictive factors of NIHL. Auditory-related symptoms and self-report hearing loss do not represent good indicators of objective NIHL. Routine monitoring of noise levels and hearing status are of great importance as part of effective hearing conservation programs. PMID:26356377

Predictive factors of occupational noise-induced hearing loss in Spanish workers: A prospective study.

PubMed

Pelegrin, Armando Carballo; Canuet, Leonides; Rodríguez, Ángeles Arias; Morales, Maria Pilar Arévalo

2015-01-01

The purpose of our study was to identify the main factors associated with objective noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), as indicated by abnormal audiometric testing, in Spanish workers exposed to occupational noise in the construction industry. We carried out a prospective study in Tenerife, Spain, using 150 employees exposed to occupational noise and 150 age-matched controls who were not working in noisy environments. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic data, noise-related factors, types of hearing protection, self-report hearing loss, and auditory-related symptoms (e.g., tinnitus, vertigo). Workers with pathological audiograms had significantly longer noise-exposure duration (16.2 ± 11.4 years) relative to those with normal audiograms (10.2 ± 7.0 years; t = 3.99, P < 0.001). The vast majority of those who never used hearing protection measures had audiometric abnormalities (94.1%). Additionally, workers using at least one of the protection devices (earplugs or earmuffs) had significantly more audiometric abnormalities than those using both protection measures simultaneously (Chi square = 16.07; P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis indicates that the use of hearing protection measures [odds ratio (OR) = 12.30, confidence interval (CI) = 4.36-13.81, P < 0.001], and noise-exposure duration (OR = 1.35, CI = 1.08-1.99, P = 0.040) are significant predictors of NIHL. This regression model correctly predicted 78.2% of individuals with pathological audiograms. The combined use of hearing protection measures, in particular earplugs and earmuffs, associates with a lower rate of audiometric abnormalities in subjects with high occupational noise exposure. The use of hearing protection measures at work and noise-exposure duration are best predictive factors of NIHL. Auditory-related symptoms and self-report hearing loss do not represent good indicators of objective NIHL. Routine monitoring of noise levels and hearing status are of great importance as part of effective hearing conservation programs.

The effects of war on the Colombian population.

PubMed

Arboleda, Nelson

2002-01-01

In the last decade, more than 1.5 million children have died as victims of war and 2000 over 300,000 children were being used as combatants. Colombia, the fourth largest country in Latin America in terms of population and second in area, has been the site of conflict between the government and guerrilla groups, which has created over 200,000 victims and has worsened in the last five years. There is severe poverty and illegal trading in arms and narcotics is closely linked to the conflict. Kidnapping, both individual and mass and often of children, has been a particular feature. Colombia urgently needs programmes to eradicate poverty and violence and must be fully supported by international organizations. Research to suggest effective interventions is an essential part of such programmes.

Yemen's Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis: Implications for International Humanitarian Law, the Geneva Convention, and the Future of Global Health Security.

PubMed

Ripoll Gallardo, Alba; Burkle, Frederick M; Ragazzoni, Luca; Della Corte, Francesco

2016-10-01

The current humanitarian crisis in Yemen is unprecedented in many ways. The Yemeni War tragedy is symptomatic of gross failures to recognize, by combatants, existing humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention that have become the new norm in unconventional armed conflicts and are increasingly replicated in Africa, Afghanistan, and other areas of the Middle East with dire consequences on aid workers and the noncombatant population. The health and humanitarian professions must take collective responsibility in calling for all belligerent parties to cease the massacre and commit to guaranteed medical assistance, humanitarian aid, and the free flow of information and respect for the humanitarian principles that protect the neutrality and impartiality of the humanitarian workforce. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;page 1 of 3).

Yesterday's war; tomorrow's technology: peer commentary on 'Ethical, legal, social and policy issues in the use of genomic technologies by the US military'.

PubMed

Evans, Nicholas G; Moreno, Jonathan D

2015-02-01

A recent article by Maxwell J. Mehlman and Tracy Yeheng Li, in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences , sought to examine the ethical, legal, social, and policy issues associated with the use of genetic screening and germ-line therapies ('genomic technologies') by the US Military. In this commentary, we will elaborate several related matters: the relationship between genetic and non-genetic screening methods, the history of selection processes and force strength, and the consequences and ethics of, as Mehlman and Li suggest, engineering enhanced soldiers. We contend, first, that the strengths of genomic testing as a method of determining enrollment in the armed forces has limited appeal, given the state of current selection methods in the US armed forces. Second, that the vagaries of genetic selection, much like other forms of selection that do not bear causally or reliably on soldier performance (such as race, gender, and sexuality), pose a systematic threat to force strength by limiting the (valuable) diversity of combat units. Third, that the idea of enhancing warfighters through germ-line interventions poses serious ethical issues in terms of the control and ownership of 'enhancements' when members separate from service.

Wearable Pulse Oximetry Measurements on the Torso, Arms, and Legs: A Proof of Concept.

PubMed

Kramer, Marcus; Lobbestael, Aaron; Barten, Emily; Eian, John; Rausch, Gregory

2017-03-01

For decades pulse oximeters designed for use on the head, hands, or feet have provided invaluable estimates of oxygen saturation to medical personal attending to combat casualties. However, traditional placement sites are not ideal for the relatively new paradigm of continuous battlefield telemonitoring. To assess the feasibility of oximetry on nontraditional body sites, 42 healthy volunteers were enrolled, consented, and underwent an industry standard induced-hypoxia study. During the study volunteers used prototype wearable oximeters, designed for the torso, arms, and legs. Subsets (size n) of the volunteers had the wearables placed at the following body sites, and achieved accuracies (A RMS , root-mean-square difference) of the following: calf 1.7% (n = 26); bicep 3.1% (n = 12); forearm 3.4% (n = 11); pectoral 2.9% (n = 42); sternum 2.9% (n = 13). In keeping with regulatory guidance calibrations with an A RMS of less than 3.5% are acceptable for potential future development. Additionally, a new method was developed to enable accurate reporting of respiration rate from the pectoral oximeter, A RMS of 1.1 breaths per minute (n = 10). This study demonstrates the feasibility of monitoring oxygen saturation and respiration rate from nontraditional sites via a wearable pulse oximeter. Reprint & Copyright © 2017 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Safety and efficacy of sildenafil citrate in treating erectile dysfunction in patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Safarinejad, Mohammad Reza; Kolahi, Ali Asgar; Ghaedi, Gholamhossein

2009-08-01

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sildenafil citrate for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In all, 266 combat-exposed war veterans with ED (aged 37-59 years) were recruited. They met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria for PTSD according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Patients, Investigator Version. The patients were also evaluated with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, both to establish the diagnosis of PTSD and to measure symptom severity. Only patients with psychogenic ED were included in the study. Patients with comorbid conditions (diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, Peyronie's disease) and smokers of more than five cigarettes daily were excluded. The patients were randomly divided into a group of 133 who received 100 mg of on-demand sildenafil 0.75-2 h before sexual stimulation, and 133 who received placebo. Patients were asked to use > or =16 doses or attempts at home. The efficacy of the treatments was assessed every four attempts during treatment, and at the end of the study, using responses to the 15-question International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Sexual Encounter Profile diary questions 2 and 3, Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction questionnaire, patients' event logs of sexual activity, and a Global Assessment Question about erections. Sildenafil did not produce significantly and substantially greater improvement than placebo in each of the primary and secondary outcome measures (P = 0.08). A normal EF domain score (> or =26) at endpoint was reported by 13 (9.8%), and 11 (8.3%) of patients on the sildenafil and placebo regimens, respectively (P = 0.09). Patients treated with sildenafil had no statistically significantly greater improvement in the five sexual function domains of the IIEF questionnaire than those treated with placebo (P = 0.08). The incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events were significantly greater in the sildenafil arm than in the placebo group (P = 0.01). Sildenafil is no better than placebo in treating PTSD-emergent ED. Further randomized clinical trials are warranted in combat veterans and other populations with PTSD to better elucidate the role of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in treating PTSD-emergent ED.

Psychotherapeutic Intervention in the Demobilization Process: Addressing Combat‐related Mental Injuries with Narrative Exposure in a First and Second Dissemination Stage

PubMed Central

Schaal, Susanne; Hecker, Tobias; Elbert, Thomas

2015-01-01

Background Depending on the exposure to traumatic stressors and combat, 20% to 50% of ex‐combatants present with trauma‐related disorders, and more than half of the members of armed groups have a proclivity to violence. Therefore, psychotherapeutic assistance should address both, trauma‐related suffering and the lowered threshold for aggressive behaviour. Objective Supporting the demobilization process of ex‐combatants in the eastern DR‐Congo, we implemented a version of Narrative Exposure Therapy adapted for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation (FORNET). Method In two successive dissemination stages (DS), local counsellors conducted FORNET. In DS1, they were trained by clinical experts, and in DS2, the by then experienced counsellors trained and supervised a second group of local counsellors (DS2). The training consisted of a 3‐week workshop covering theoretical concepts and practical therapeutic skills. In DS1 and DS2, a total of 98 demobilizing combatants received an intervention; treatment‐as‐usual served as the control condition. Posttraumatic stress disorder, appetitive aggression, depression severity and drug dependence were assessed prior to the intervention and 6 and 12 months later; additionally, we assessed reintegration success. Results Six months post‐intervention, FORNET significantly reduced Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms but had less effect on the trait of appetitive aggression; moreover, beneficial effects were found for depression severity and drug dependence as well as for reintegration indices. Treatment gains were retained at 12 months. Conclusions Individuals without previous training in psychotherapy can learn to effectively apply the brief intervention FORNET and support the demobilization process in ongoing conflicts. The study suggests that it is possible to pass down psychotherapeutic techniques over generations of counsellors. © 2015 The Authors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression and clinically relevant levels of drug dependence can effectively be reduced with a version of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) adapted for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation (FORNET).The intervention is effective in the context of ongoing conflict.Individuals without previous training in psychotherapy can learn to effectively apply the brief intervention FORNET.It is possible to pass down psychotherapeutic techniques like FORNET over generations of counsellors.Psychotherapeutic interventions like FORNET may facilitate the transition to peace in war‐torn regions. PMID:26676201

Non-battle injury among repatriated UK armed forces since cessation of combat operations: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Toman, Emma; Beaven, A; Naumann, D N; Myatt, R W; Parker, P J; Kay, A R

2018-02-01

To describe the mechanisms, burden of injury, inpatient management and rehabilitation requirements of wounded military personnel at the UK Role 4 (R4) facility within the first 12 months following cessation of combat operations in Afghanistan. All aeromedical evacuations were recorded prospectively between October 2014 and October 2015. Demographic, logistical and clinical data were derived manually from referring medical unit and patient movement requests in addition to host nation and R4 medical records. Ninety-five patients were repatriated to R4 following traumatic injury: 98.9% (n=94) were male, and median age was 27 years (IQR 25-36 years). The most common mechanisms of injury (MOIs) were sports 26.3% (n=25), falls <2 m 11.6% (n=11) and road traffic collisions 9.8% (n=9). The most common anatomical regions of injury were isolated lower limb 24.1% (n=22), isolated hand 20.0% (n=19) and polytrauma 14.7% (n=14). Median Injury Severity Score was 4 (IQR 4-9), mean 8 (range 1-41). Eleven patients (11.6%) were discharged to rehabilitation units, of whom 7 (63.6%) required neurorehabilitation. Although service personnel sustain civilian-type injuries, the specific rehabilitation goals and shift in the acute rehabilitation requirements for military personnel must be considered in the absence of enduring combat operations. It is notable that permanent medical downgrading secondary to trauma still occurs outside of warfare. The colocation of civilian major trauma services and R4 has ensured a mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to institutional memory and improves the coordination of patient pathways. The importance of relevant resource allocation, training, support and logistical considerations remain, even during the current scale of military activity overseas. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

The nature and extent of war injuries sustained by combat specialty personnel killed and wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, 2003-2011.

PubMed

Schoenfeld, Andrew J; Dunn, John C; Bader, Julia O; Belmont, Philip J

2013-08-01

Previous studies regarding combat wounding have a limited translational capacity due to inclusion of soldiers from all military branches and occupational specialties as well as a lack of information regarding soldiers who died in theater. A search was performed of the Department of Defense Trauma Registry and Armed Forces Medical Examiner data set for the years 2003 to 2011 to identify all injured personnel with the military specialty 19D (cavalry scout). A manual search was conducted for each record identified, and age, rank, location and manner of injury, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and extent of wounding were abstracted. The incidence of injuries by body region and rates for specific types of wounds were determined. Statistically significant associations between rank, location of injury, manner of injury, body region involved, and injury mechanism were assessed using χ2 analysis. Associations between ISS, rank, manner of injury, and survival were evaluated by t test with Satterthwaite correction. A total of 701 casualties were identified with 3,189 distinct injuries. Mean (SD) age of injured personnel was 25.9 (6.0) years. Thirty-five percent of the cohort was composed of soldiers who died in theater. Explosions were the most common mechanism of injury (70%), while 18% of wounds occurred owing to gunshot. Extremity wounds and injuries to the head and neck represented 34% of casualty burden. Thoracic trauma occurred in 16%, and abdominal injuries occurred in 17%. Wounds with a frequency exceeding 5% included skin, extremity, facial, brain, and gastrointestinal injuries. Vascular injury occurred in 4%. Gunshot wounds were a greater cause of injury in Afghanistan (p = 0.001) and resulted in a higher percentage of thoracic injuries (p < 0.001). The nature and extent of trauma sustained by combat-specific personnel seems to be different from that experienced by all soldiers deployed to a war zone.

Violent behaviour in U.K. military personnel returning home after deployment.

PubMed

Macmanus, D; Dean, K; Al Bakir, M; Iversen, A C; Hull, L; Fahy, T; Wessely, S; Fear, N T

2012-08-01

There is growing concern about an alleged rise in violent behaviour amongst military personnel returning from deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of violence in a sample of U.K. military personnel following homecoming from deployment in Iraq and to examine the impact of deployment-related experiences, such as combat trauma, on violence, and the role of sociodemographics and pre-enlistment antisocial behaviour. This study used baseline data from a cohort study of a large randomly selected sample of U.K. Armed Forces personnel in service at the time of the Iraq war (2003). Regular personnel (n=4928) who had been deployed to Iraq were included. Data, collected by questionnaire, included information on deployment experiences, sociodemographic and military characteristics, pre-enlistment antisocial behaviour, post-deployment health outcomes and a self-report measure of physical violence in the weeks following return from deployment. Prevalence of violence was 12.6%. This was strongly associated with pre-enlistment antisocial behaviour [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9-4.4]. After controlling for pre-enlistment antisocial behaviour, sociodemographics and military factors, violence was still strongly associated with holding a combat role (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6-2.5) and having experienced multiple traumatic events on deployment (aOR for four or more traumatic events 3.7, 95% CI 2.5-5.5). Violence on homecoming was also associated with mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (aOR 4.8, 95% CI 3.2-7.2) and alcohol misuse (aOR 3.1, 95% CI 2.5-3.9). Experiences of combat and trauma during deployment were significantly associated with violent behaviour following homecoming in U.K. military personnel. Post-deployment mental health problems and alcohol misuse are also associated with increased violence.

Comparison of combat and non-combat burns from ongoing U.S. military operations.

PubMed

Kauvar, David S; Cancio, Leopoldo C; Wolf, Steven E; Wade, Charles E; Holcomb, John B

2006-05-15

Military burns result from either combat or non-combat causes. We compared these etiologies from patients involved in ongoing conflicts to evaluate their impact and provide prevention recommendations. All military patients with significant burns treated at the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research from April 2003 to May 2005 were reviewed. Injuries were categorized as having resulted from combat or non-combat causes. Demographics, burn severity and pattern, mortality, and early outcomes were compared. There were 273 burn patients seen with 63% injured in combat. A high early rate of non-combat injuries was noted. Feedback on non-combat burn prevention was provided to the combat theater, and the incidence of non-combat burns decreased. Mean age and time from injury to admission did not differ. The majority of combat injuries resulted from explosive device detonation. Waste burning, ammunition handling, and gasoline caused most non-combat injuries. Combat casualties had more associated and inhalation injuries and greater full-thickness burn size; total body surface area burned was equivalent. The hands and the face were the most frequently burned body areas. Mortality was 5% in combat and 2% in non-combat patients. The majority of survivors in both groups returned to military duty. The disparity in full-thickness burn size and incidence of inhalation and associated injuries resulted from differing mechanisms of injury, with explosions and penetrating trauma more common in combat wounds. Despite the severity of combat burns, mortality was low and outcomes generally good. Non-combat burns are preventable and have decreased in incidence.

Women in war: operational issues of menstruation and unintended pregnancy.

PubMed

Christopher, Leslie A; Miller, Leslie

2007-01-01

With rapid and frequent deployments around the world, the current high level of military operations demands combat readiness of every military member. In the U.S. Armed Forces, women represent 15% of active duty troops and 17% of reserve and Guard troops and are a critical component for mission accomplishment. The operational issues of menstruation and unintended pregnancy, unique to this population, can decrease a female member's military readiness and affect her ability to deploy. Strategies to mitigate and even eliminate these concerns include the optional use of hormonal medications to induce reversible menstrual cycle suppression. These medications, traditionally indicated for contraception, should be considered essential for female troops during training and deployment. This article, tailored specifically for military women, provides valuable information regarding the risks and benefits, as well as the various options available for menstrual cycle suppression.

[Psychophysiological support for the professional activities of servicemen].

PubMed

Pogodin, Iu I; Novikov, V S; Bochenkov, A A

1998-11-01

Optimal solution of the personnel replenishment problem, the necessity of training and education process improvement in the training centers and schools, the outcome of social, psychological and medical measures greatly depend on the overall physical and mental health state of the servicemen and their professional training quality. On the basis of their long standing experience the authors discuss the traits of the psychophysiological maintenance of the military professional activities of servicemen, in particular--the methodology and theory of professional psychological selection, the importance of body functional indications for the estimation of the fighting capabilities of military units. They examine some prospects for the psychophysiological expertise in the promotion procedures of commanding officers and make a suggestion that psychophysiological maintenance in the Armed Forces would increase its combat capabilities and help to avoid some negative effects in military groups.

Acute closed radial nerve injury

PubMed Central

Tuncel, Umut; Turan, Aydin; Kostakoglu, Naci

2011-01-01

We present a 45-year-old patient who had acute radial nerve palsy following a blunt trauma without any fracture or dislocation. He was injured by strucking in a combat three months ago. The patient has been followed by application of a long-arm plaster cast before referred to our clinic. Preoperative electromyoneurography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that there was a radial nerve injury on humeral groove. The British Medical Research Council (MRC) grade was 2/5 on his wrist preoperatively. The patient underwent an operation under general anesthesia. It was seen to be a second-degree nerve injury. The patient has subsequently regained full movement on his wrist and finger extension in six months. We suggest that a detailed clinical and electrodiagnostical evaluation is necessary in patients who have radial nerve injury when deciding the treatment, conservative or surgical. PMID:22347334

Combat musculoskeletal wounds in a US Army Brigade Combat Team during operation Iraqi Freedom.

PubMed

Belmont, Philip J; Thomas, Dimitri; Goodman, Gens P; Schoenfeld, Andrew J; Zacchilli, Michael; Burks, Rob; Owens, Brett D

2011-07-01

A prospective, longitudinal analysis of musculoskeletal combat injuries sustained by a large combat-deployed maneuver unit has not previously been performed. A detailed description of the musculoskeletal combat casualty care statistics, distribution of wounds, and mechanisms of injury incurred by a US Army Brigade Combat Team during "The Surge" phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom was performed using a centralized casualty database and an electronic medical record system. Among the 4,122 soldiers deployed, there were 242 musculoskeletal combat wounds in 176 combat casualties. The musculoskeletal combat casualty rate for the Brigade Combat Team was 34.2 per 1,000 soldier combat-years. Spine, pelvis, and long bone fractures comprised 55.9% (33 of 59) of the total fractures sustained in combat. Explosions accounted for 80.7% (142 of 176) of all musculoskeletal combat casualties. Musculoskeletal combat casualty wound incidence rates per 1,000 combat-years were as follows: major amputation, 2.1; minor amputation, 0.6; open fracture, 5.0; closed fracture, 6.4; and soft-tissue/neurovascular injury, 32.8. Among musculoskeletal combat casualties, the likelihood of a gunshot wound causing an open fracture was significantly greater (45.8% [11 of 24]) when compared with explosions (10.6% [15 of 142]) (p = 0.0006). Long bone amputations were more often caused by explosive mechanisms than gunshot wounds. A large burden of complex orthopedic injuries has resulted from the combat experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is because of increased enemy reliance on explosive devices, the use of individual and vehicular body armor, and improved survivability of combat-injured soldiers.

Vertical accelerator device to apply loads simulating blast environments in the military to human surrogates.

PubMed

Yoganandan, Narayan; Pintar, Frank A; Schlick, Michael; Humm, John R; Voo, Liming; Merkle, Andrew; Kleinberger, Michael

2015-09-18

The objective of the study was to develop a simple device, Vertical accelerator (Vertac), to apply vertical impact loads to Post Mortem Human Subject (PMHS) or dummy surrogates because injuries sustained in military conflicts are associated with this vector; example, under-body blasts from explosive devices/events. The two-part mechanically controlled device consisted of load-application and load-receiving sections connected by a lever arm. The former section incorporated a falling weight to impact one end of the lever arm inducing a reaction at the other/load-receiving end. The "launch-plate" on this end of the arm applied the vertical impact load/acceleration pulse under different initial conditions to biological/physical surrogates, attached to second section. It is possible to induce different acceleration pulses by using varying energy absorbing materials and controlling drop height and weight. The second section of Vertac had the flexibility to accommodate different body regions for vertical loading experiments. The device is simple and inexpensive. It has the ability to control pulses and flexibility to accommodate different sub-systems/components of human surrogates. It has the capability to incorporate preloads and military personal protective equipment (e.g., combat helmet). It can simulate vehicle roofs. The device allows for intermittent specimen evaluations (x-ray and palpation, without changing specimen alignment). The two free but interconnected sections can be used to advance safety to military personnel. Examples demonstrating feasibilities of the Vertac device to apply vertical impact accelerations using PMHS head-neck preparations with helmet and booted Hybrid III dummy lower leg preparations under in-contact and launch-type impact experiments are presented. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Two-Year Outcomes of the Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity Through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER) Randomized Control Trial.

PubMed

Knowlden, Adam P; Conrad, Eric

2018-04-01

Childhood overweight and obesity is a public health epidemic with far-reaching medical, economic, and quality of life consequences. Brief, web-based interventions have received increased attention for their potential to combat childhood obesity. The purpose of our study was to evaluate a web-based, maternal-facilitated childhood obesity prevention intervention dubbed Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity Through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER), for its capacity to elicit sustained effects at the 2-year postintervention follow-up mark. Two interventions were evaluated using a randomized controlled trial design. The experimental, EMPOWER arm received a social cognitive theory intervention ( n = 29) designed to improve four maternal-facilitated behaviors in children (fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, sugar-free beverage intake, screen time). The active control arm received a knowledge-based intervention dubbed Healthy Lifestyles ( n = 28), which also targeted the same four behaviors. We identified a significant group-by-time interaction of small effect size for child fruit and vegetable consumption ( p = .033; Cohen's f = 0.139) in the EMPOWER group. The construct of maternal-facilitated environment was positively associated to improvements in child fruit and vegetable behavior. We also found significant main effects for child physical activity ( p = .024; Cohen's f = 0.124); sugar-free beverage intake ( p < .001; Cohen's f = 0.321); and screen time ( p < .001; Cohen's f = 0.303), suggesting both groups improved in these behaviors over time. The EMPOWER arm of the trial resulted in an overall increase of 1.680 daily cups of fruits and vegetables consumed by children, relative to the comparison group ( p < .001, 95% confidence interval = [1.113, 2.248]). Web-based maternal-facilitated interventions can induce sustained effects on child behaviors.

Understanding the Importance and Practice of Credible Leadership at Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS) and Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS and CSS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-30

and Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) Chad P. Stocker March 30, 2017 Submitted to...to Defense Acquisition University in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the Senior Service College Fellowship CREDIBLE LEADERSHIP AT PEO...of Credible Leadership at Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS) and Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service

Mixed-Handedness in Identical Twins Discordant for Combat Exposure in Vietnam: Relationship to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

PubMed

Goetz, Jared M; Pitman, Seth R; Tanev, Kaloyan S; Pitman, Roger K; Chemtob, Claude M

2016-01-01

This study evaluated the degree of mixed-handedness in predominantly right-handed Vietnam combat veteran twins and their identical, combat-unexposed cotwins. The "high-risk" cotwins of combat veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had more mixed-handedness (i.e., less right-handedness) than the "low-risk" cotwins of combat veterans without PTSD. Self-reported combat exposure in combat-exposed twins was a mediator of the association between handedness in their unexposed cotwins and PTSD in the twins themselves. We conclude that mixed-handedness is a familial risk factor for combat-related PTSD. This risk may be mediated in part by a proclivity for mixed-handed soldiers and Marines to experience heavier combat.

United States Air Force Statistical Digest, Fiscal Year 1966, Twenty First Edition

DTIC Science & Technology

1966-09-30

Economic Repair "m.. Abnor- Normal Ene "", Flying Cause Ene "", Aban- MISSION, DESIGN,Tested Fair ""’ Storage AND SERIESum to De - Deter- Deter- Action... De - Wear Deter- Deter- on on on Non- mentor struc- and Iore- tors- Combat Combat Combat Combat Ene ""School tion Tear tion tion Mission Mission...AND SERIESFairum to De - .Deter- Deter- on on on Non- mentWearor strue- iora- tore- Combat Combat Combat Combat Ene "\\YandSchool tion tion tion Mission

[Medical support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: the results of the activities and the main tasks for 2015].

PubMed

Fisun, A Ia

2015-01-01

Presented the directions of activity of the medical service in the past year, including improving the legal framework, the optimization of medical management software, improving combat and mobilization readiness of units of the army, the optimization of therapeutic and preventive activities, implementation of innovative technologies, increasing mobility of units and subunits, their level of equipping with modern samples of property, training of qualified personnel, intensify research and etc. Analyzed and formulated directions of development of military medicine in 2015, including improvement of combat and mobilization readiness of the management body, military and medical organizations and departments, improving the legal framework of the military health care, holding among the troops interventions for the prevention morbidity of personnel by pneumonia and meningitis, work with commanders at all levels to ensure the preservation and strengthening of health of servicemen, improving of the system of early and active detection of diseases in the military, providing a guaranteed level of care to all contingent Ministry of Defense, improving the quality and accessibility of sanatorium treatment, maintaining constant readiness of medical special forces to carry out tasks for the purpose, improvement of professional training of personnel of the medical service, providing qualitative preparation of government medical service to participate in the training of troops, implementation of unexpected problems, equipping of army medical service with modern medical equipment finishing of the construction and renovation of military medical organizations facilities, improvement of social protection of personnel and many others.

Prevalence of, risk factors for, and consequences of posttraumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems in military populations deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

PubMed

Ramchand, Rajeev; Rudavsky, Rena; Grant, Sean; Tanielian, Terri; Jaycox, Lisa

2015-05-01

This review summarizes the epidemiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related mental health problems among persons who served in the armed forces during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, as reflected in the literature published between 2009 and 2014. One-hundred and sixteen research studies are reviewed, most of which are among non-treatment-seeking US service members or treatment-seeking US veterans. Evidence is provided for demographic, military, and deployment-related risk factors for PTSD, though most derive from cross-sectional studies and few control for combat exposure, which is a primary risk factor for mental health problems in this cohort. Evidence is also provided linking PTSD with outcomes in the following domains: physical health, suicide, housing and homelessness, employment and economic well-being, social well-being, and aggression, violence, and criminality. Also included is evidence about the prevalence of mental health service use in this cohort. In many instances, the current suite of studies replicates findings observed in civilian samples, but new findings emerge of relevance to both military and civilian populations, such as the link between PTSD and suicide. Future research should make effort to control for combat exposure and use longitudinal study designs; promising areas for investigation are in non-treatment-seeking samples of US veterans and the role of social support in preventing or mitigating mental health problems in this group.

Tracking illicit small arms trafficking: implementation of Intentional Firearm Microstamping (IFM) to small arms and light weapons imports and exports

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lizotte, Todd E.; Ohar, Orest P.

2009-09-01

The illicit trafficking in small arms is an international problem with grave consequences to those who live in less developed nations. To stop any form of trafficking it is important to ensure the ability to track weapons to their sources, there must be a common international system for the marking and tracing of weapons. Under current international law, states may adopt various different weapons marking systems, complicating the identification of the country-of-origin of a weapon [1]. However, these marking technologies are only good for those firearms that are recovered or captured. By instituting Intentional Firearm Microstamping (IFM) a technology that provides a link to a serial or production build number, by embossing the IFM code on to the cartridge that is fired and ejected at the scene. IFM will provide critical forensic intelligence in regions of conflict by helping to identify patterns, trafficking routes and ultimately shut down illicit arms sources and markets that fuel the violence associated with regional genocide, terrorism and/or insurgency groups within warzones. Intentional Firearm Microstamping (IFM) technology will provide a rapid and accurate cartridge-to-firearm identification process, enabling law enforcement both national and international to quickly pursue international arms dealers and other illicit firearm markets. Intentional Firearm Microstamping (IFM) is a patented technology and trace solution where intentional tooling marks are formed or micromachined onto firearms interior surfaces that come into contact or impact the surfaces of cartridge casings. The IFM tooling marks can take the form of alphanumeric codes or encoded geometric codes, such as a barcode. As the firearm is discharged the intentional tooling marks transfer a code to the cartridge casing before it is ejected out of the firearm. When recovered at the scene of an incident, the intentional firearm microstamped cartridge can indentify a specific firearm, without the need to recover that firearm. This paper will explain the key attributes of Intentional Firearm Microstamping technology; including its implementation and application benefits such as developing border security controls and law enforcement capacity world wide to combat illicit trafficking of firearms to terrorists, gangs and/or fueling regional conflicts. The data generated by IFM will be discussed and its application to spatial and temporal mapping of trafficking patterns and other criminal patterns.

The Impact of Combat Status on Veterans' Attitudes Toward Help Seeking: The Hierarchy of Combat Elitism.

PubMed

Ashley, Wendy; Brown, Jodi Constantine

2015-01-01

Many veterans do not seek assistance for mental health concerns despite the staggering prevalence of trauma-related symptomatology. Barriers to service provision include personal and professional stigma and inter-veteran attitudes that dictate who is more or less deserving of services. Veteran attitudes are shaped by military culture, which promotes a hyper-masculine paradigm upholding combat experience as the defining feature of the "ideal soldier." The stratification of soldiers into combat or non-combat status creates a hierarchy of combat elitism that extends far beyond active duty. This pilot study surveyed veterans (n = 24) to explore how combat experience may affect attitudes toward help seeking. Findings indicate combat and non-combat veterans are less accepting of non-combat veterans' help-seeking behavior, supporting the notion that veterans' attitudes toward help seeking are influenced by combat status. Despite limitations, the results of this study reflect a need for increased attention to the attitudes veterans have about each other and themselves.

Physiological stress and performance analysis to karate combat.

PubMed

Chaabene, Helmi; Hellara, Ilhem; Ghali, Faten B; Franchini, Emerson; Neffati, Fedoua; Tabben, Montassar; Najjar, Mohamed F; Hachana, Younés

2016-10-01

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physiological, and parameters of performance analysis during karate contest. Nine elite-level karate athletes participated in this study. Saliva sample was collected pre- and post-karate combat. Salivary cortisol (sC) post-combat 2 raised significantly compared to that recorded at pre-combat 1 (Δ%=105.3%; P=0.04; dz=0.78). The largest decrease of the salivary T/C ratio (sR) compared to pre-combat 1 was recorded post-combat 2 (Δ%=-43.5%; P=0.03). Moreover, blood lactate concentration post-combat 1 correlated positively to sCpost-combat 1 (r=0.66; P=0.05) and negatively to both salivary testosterone (sT) (r=-0.76; P=0.01) and sRpost-combat 1 (r=-0.76; P=0.01). There was no significant relationship between hormonal measures and parameters of match analysis. Although under simulated condition, karate combat poses large physiological stress to the karateka. Additionally, physiological strain to karate combat led to a catabolic hormonal response.

Monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis and treatment.

PubMed

Dunn, D L

1993-11-01

One of the marvels of the host immune response is its response to antigenic foreign substances by manufacturing proteins that bind tenaciously to their targets. These proteins are antibodies or immunoglobulins produced in vast diversity during an individual's lifetime. By virtue of this process, the mammalian host possesses the innate ability to mount an initial response to antigens to which there has been no prior experience and to develop an even more effective response on reexposure to these same substances. This capacity to distinguish self from nonself is one of the most basic aspects of the cellular and humoral arms of the immune response and is one of the primary means by which the host combats infection caused by many different types of pathogens. In this context, antibodies have long been recognized as a critical component of host defenses and are capable of binding to invading microbes and microbial toxins.

The kinship or k-index as an antidote against the toxic effects of h-indices.

PubMed

Molinié, Antoinette; Bodenhausen, Geoffrey

2011-01-01

In a bilingual paper entitled 'Bibliometrics as weapons of mass citation--La bibliométrie comme arme de citation massive', recently translated into English, we have argued that the current fashion of ranking people, papers and journals is anything but harmless. The point was forcefully supported by Richard Ernst in a post-face entitled 'The Follies of Citation Indices and Academic Ranking Lists. We received a surprising number of passionate responses, such as 'It's written out of my heart' (TH); 'Je soutiens cette entreprise courageuse de tout coeur' (VT); 'Impact Faktoren sind ein Marktinstrument gewisser Verlage (FS); 'II y a un combat à mener' (SB). Some thoughtful responses have been incorporated into this Essay, albeit in attenuated form. We suggest that the 'fertility' of individual scientists be appreciated in terms of kinship rather than through personalized indices.

Whole blood transfusion closest to the point-of-injury during French remote military operations.

PubMed

Daniel, Yann; Sailliol, Anne; Pouget, Thomas; Peyrefitte, Sébastien; Ausset, Sylvain; Martinaud, Christophe

2017-06-01

To improve the survival of combat casualties, interest in the earliest resort to whole blood (WB) transfusion on the battlefield has been emphasized. Providing volume, coagulation factors, plasma, and oxygenation capacity, WB appears actually as an ideal product severe trauma management. Whole blood can be collected in advance and stored for subsequent use, or can be drawn directly on the battlefield, once a soldier is wounded, from an uninjured companion and immediately transfused.Such concepts require a great control of risks at each step, especially regarding ABO mismatches, and transfusion-transmitted diseases. We present here the "warm and fresh" WB field transfusion program implemented among the French armed forces. We focus on the followed strategies to make it applicable on the battlefield, even during special operations and remote settings, and safe for recipients as well as for donors.

Brachial Plexus Injury from CT-Guided RF Ablation Under General Anesthesia

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shankar, Sridhar, E-mail: shankars@ummhc.org; Sonnenberg, Eric van; Silverman, Stuart G.

2005-06-15

Brachial plexus injury in a patient under general anesthesia (GA) is not uncommon, despite careful positioning and, particularly, awareness of the possibility. The mechanism of injury is stretching and compression of the brachial plexus over a prolonged period. Positioning the patient within the computed tomography (CT) gantry for abdominal or chest procedures can simulate a surgical procedure, particularly when GA is used. The potential for brachial plexus injury is increased if the case is prolonged and the patient's arms are raised above the head to avoid CT image degradation from streak artifacts. We report a case of profound brachial plexusmore » palsy following a CT-guided radiofrequency ablation procedure under GA. Fortunately, the patient recovered completely. We emphasize the mechanism of injury and detail measures to combat this problem, such that radiologists are aware of this potentially serious complication.« less

Using a social marketing approach to advertise Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) services to college students.

PubMed

Konradi, Amanda; DeBruin, Patty L

2003-01-01

The authors report on an advertising campaign to communicate the availability and desirability of using Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) services. They used social marketing precepts to develop posters to educate college students about using SANE as a health service and as an arm of prosecution. After 2 advertising campaigns, they conducted an anonymous survey of 1,051 college students. The findings indicated that posters placed in residence halls and public bathrooms reached students, produced a statistically significant increase in students' understanding of SANE services, and were significantly associated with their hypothetical encouragement of others to use SANE. Gender mediated some results. Posters placed in private viewing spaces were found to be a viable way to communicate information about SANE. Funding to combat violence against women on campus should be aimed at increasing students' access to SANE and should include the costs of advertising the program.

Adjusting to military life--servicemen with problems coping and their outcomes.

PubMed

Cheok, C S; Ang, Y G; Chew, W M; Tan, H Y

2000-05-01

A small proportion of servicemen enlisting for compulsory National Service in Singapore experience problems adjusting to military life. This paper aims to profile the servicemen who experience such problems. There is a paucity of literature addressing this issue internationally and none published locally. Servicemen who were referred to the Psychological Medicine Branch of the Singapore Armed Forces within six months of enlistment were retrospectively studied. In the work year July 1995 to June 1996, 77 cases were seen. The main classes of diagnoses were stress-related disorders, anxiety, mood and psychotic disorders. The main stressor was problems adapting to the military environment. There were 10 cases of parasuicide, significantly less than US Army statistics. At Operationally Ready Date, 20.7% were able to hold a combat vocation, similar to the US Army situation. This paper hopes to document the local figures and act as a reference for evaluating future therapies and policies.

An Army dentist in the combat zone during WWII.

PubMed

Orden, C Q

2001-11-01

It is 60 years since the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of World War II for the United States. Some of the men and women who served in the armed forces at the time are willing to share some of their reminiscences with those of us who could not serve for one reason or another or who may not even have been born at the time. One of the dentists who is willing to share some of his memories is Dr. Charles Q. Orden of New York. Unless these people share their memories much history will be lost forever in the next years, and we will all be poorer for it. We sincerely thank Dr. Orden for his offer of information and for allowing us to reproduce Fig. 1 in which he is seen as the dentist using a field dental chair, a foot-powered drill, and with a black dental corpsman as his assistant.

Urban Combat Advanced Training Technology Architecture (Architecture de technologie avancee pour l’entrainement au combat urbain)

DTIC Science & Technology

2018-01-01

REPORT TR-MSG-098 Urban Combat Advanced Training Technology Architecture (Architecture de technologie avancée pour l’entraînement au combat urbain...REPORT TR-MSG-098 Urban Combat Advanced Training Technology Architecture (Architecture de technologie avancée pour l’entraînement au combat...3 1-2 1.3 Illustration of the Need for UCATT by Contemporary Example Situations 1-3 1.3.1 RNLA: Connection of NLD Mobile Combat Training Centre to

[Organization and contents of the specialized surgical care in multiprofile military hospitals of the 1st level during counter-terrorist operations on the northern Caucasus (report V)].

PubMed

Gumanenko, E K; Samokhvalov, I M; Trusov, A A; Badalov, V I

2006-03-01

The principle difference of the work of multiprofile military hospitals (MMH) of the Ist level during the armed conflicts on the Northern Caucasus, particularly during the second, was rendering specialized surgical care to the primary contingent of the wounded, evacuated during the nearest hours after a wound. The incoming flow to MMH of the 1st level - in connection with the primary entering of the wounded practically from a battle field - was characterized by severity (one third of the wounded had severe and extremely severe wounds) and the significant number of the wounded with multiple and combined injuries (up to 60% of the wounded). Effective treatment of the above-mentioned wounded can only be carried by specially trained surgeons in appropriately-equipped multiprofile medical hospitals. The rendered volume of specialized surgical care in MMH of the 1st level included the following operations: neurosurgical (2,4%), thoracoabdominal (19,8%), traumatologic (17,0%), angiosurgical (8,2%), special (otorhinolaryngologic, maxillofacial, ophthalmologic, urologic) - 17,7%, general surgery (35,4%). During the armed conflict of 1999-2002 due to the introduction of the early specialized surgical care concept three MMH of the 1st level in the advanced way executed 86,4 % of all complex operations in medical units and hospitals of the combat zone.

Extremity war injuries: collaborative efforts in research, host nation care, and disaster preparedness.

PubMed

Pollak, Andrew N; Ficke, Col James R

2010-01-01

The fourth annual Extremity War Injuries (EWI) Symposium addressed ongoing challenges and opportunities in the management of combat-related musculoskeletal injury. The symposium, which also examined host-nation care and disaster preparedness and response, defined opportunities for synergy between several organizations with similar missions and goals. Within the Department of Defense, the Orthopaedic Extremity Trauma Research Program (OETRP) has funded basic research related to a series of protocols first identified and validated at prior EWI symposia. A well-funded clinical research arm of OETRP has been developed to help translate and validate research advances from each of the protocols. The Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a consortium of academic research institutions, employs a tissue-engineering approach to EWI challenges, particularly with regard to tissue loss. Programs within the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and throughout the National Institutes of Health have also expanded tissue-engineering efforts by emphasizing robust mechanistic basic science programs. Much of the clinical care delivered by US military medical personnel and nongovernmental agencies has been to host-nation populations; coordinating delivery to maximize the number of injured who receive care requires understanding of the breadth and scope of resources available within the war zone. Similarly, providing the most comprehensive care to the greatest number of injured in the context of domestic mass casualty requires discussion and planning by all groups involved.

Efficacy of tourniquets exposed to the afghanistan combat environment stored in individual first aid kits versus on the exterior of plate carriers.

PubMed

Weppner, Justin; Lang, Michael; Sunday, Robert; Debiasse, Nicholas

2013-03-01

Between February and May 2010, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines reported a 10% (10/92) breakage rate for tourniquets. One theory suggested was that tourniquets were weakened by exposure to the Afghan environment. Our study was designed to compare three groups of Afghanistan-exposed tourniquets to unexposed tourniquets. The three experimental arms were: (1) Afghan-exposed tourniquets worn on the plate carrier, (2) Afghan-exposed tourniquets carried in the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) and wrapped in manufacturer plastic wrapping, and (3) Afghan-exposed tourniquets carried in the IFAK with the manufacturer plastic wrapping removed. The outcome measures of this study were efficacy, breakage, and number of turns required to successfully stop the distal pulse. Tourniquets worn on the plate carrier had an efficacy of 57%, which was significantly lower than the control efficacy rate of 95.2%. When compared to the control arm, there were no significant differences in efficacy between the tourniquets stored in the IFAK with or without manufacturing packaging. No control tourniquets or tourniquets stored in IFAKs broke; however, 46 (12%) of the plate carrier-exposed tourniquets did break. No statistically significant differences were found between the four groups with regard to the median number of turns required to stop the distal pulse. Reprint & Copyright © 2013 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

The Just War Theory and the ethical governance of research.

PubMed

Malsch, Ineke

2013-06-01

This article analyses current trends in and future expectations of nanotechnology and other key enabling technologies for security as well as dual use nanotechnology from the perspective of the ethical Just War Theory (JWT), interpreted as an instrument to increase the threshold for using armed force for solving conflicts. The aim is to investigate the relevance of the JWT to the ethical governance of research. The analysis gives rise to the following results. From the perspective of the JWT, military research should be evaluated with different criteria than research for civil or civil security applications. From a technological perspective, the boundaries between technologies for civil and military applications are fuzzy. Therefore the JWT offers theoretical grounds for making clear distinctions between research for military, civil security and other applications that are not obvious from a purely technological perspective. Different actors bear responsibility for development of the technology than for resorting to armed force for solving conflicts or for use of weapons and military technologies in combat. Different criteria should be used for moral judgment of decisions made by each type of actor in each context. In addition to evaluation of potential consequences of future use of the weapons or military technologies under development, the JWT also prescribes ethical evaluation of the inherent intent and other foreseeable consequences of the development itself of new military technologies.

Thermoresponsive Supramolecular Chemotherapy by "V"-Shaped Armed β-Cyclodextrin Star Polymer to Overcome Drug Resistance.

PubMed

Fan, Xiaoshan; Cheng, Hongwei; Wang, Xiaoyuan; Ye, Enyi; Loh, Xian Jun; Wu, Yun-Long; Li, Zibiao

2018-04-01

Pump mediated drug efflux is the key reason to result in the failure of chemotherapy. Herein, a novel star polymer β-CD-v-(PEG-β-PNIPAAm) 7 consisting of a β-CD core, grafted with thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the multiple "V"-shaped arms is designed and further fabricated into supramolecular nanocarriers for drug resistant cancer therapy. The star polymer could encapsulate chemotherapeutics between β-cyclodextrin and anti-cancer drug via inclusion complex (IC). Furthermore, the temperature induced chain association of PNIPAAm segments facilitated the IC to form supramolecular nanoparticles at 37 °C, whereas the presence of PEG impart great stability to the self-assemblies. When incubated with MDR-1 membrane pump regulated drug resistant tumor cells, much higher and faster cellular uptake of the supramolecular nanoparticles were detected, and the enhanced intracellular retention of drugs could lead to significant inhibition of cell growth. Further in vivo evaluation showed high therapeutic efficacy in suppressing drug resistant tumor growth without a significant impact on the normal functions of main organs. This work signifies thermo-responsive supramolecular chemotherapy is promising in combating pump mediated drug resistance in both in vitro and in vivo models, which may be encouraging for the advanced drug delivery platform design to overcome drug resistant cancer. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

An iterative algorithm for soft tissue reconstruction from truncated flat panel projections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langan, D.; Claus, B.; Edic, P.; Vaillant, R.; De Man, B.; Basu, S.; Iatrou, M.

2006-03-01

The capabilities of flat panel interventional x-ray systems continue to expand, enabling a broader array of medical applications to be performed in a minimally invasive manner. Although CT is providing pre-operative 3D information, there is a need for 3D imaging of low contrast soft tissue during interventions in a number of areas including neurology, cardiac electro-physiology, and oncology. Unlike CT systems, interventional angiographic x-ray systems provide real-time large field of view 2D imaging, patient access, and flexible gantry positioning enabling interventional procedures. However, relative to CT, these C-arm flat panel systems have additional technical challenges in 3D soft tissue imaging including slower rotation speed, gantry vibration, reduced lateral patient field of view (FOV), and increased scatter. The reduced patient FOV often results in significant data truncation. Reconstruction of truncated (incomplete) data is known an "interior problem", and it is mathematically impossible to obtain an exact reconstruction. Nevertheless, it is an important problem in 3D imaging on a C-arm to address the need to generate a 3D reconstruction representative of the object being imaged with minimal artifacts. In this work we investigate the application of an iterative Maximum Likelihood Transmission (MLTR) algorithm to truncated data. We also consider truncated data with limited views for cardiac imaging where the views are gated by the electrocardiogram(ECG) to combat motion artifacts.

Mechanical, physical, and physiological analysis of symmetrical and asymmetrical combat.

PubMed

Clemente-Suárez, Vicente J; Robles-Pérez, José J

2013-09-01

In current theaters of operation, soldiers had to face a different situation as symmetrical (defined battlefield) and asymmetrical combat (non-defined battlefield), especially in urban areas. The mechanical and organic responses of soldiers in these combats are poorly studied in specific literature. This research aimed to analyze physical, mechanical, and physiological parameters during symmetrical and asymmetrical combat simulations. We analyzed 20 soldiers from the Spanish Army and Spanish Forces and Security Corps (34.5 ± 4.2 years; 176.4 ± 8.4 cm; 74.6 ± 8.7 kg; 63.3 ± 8.0 kg muscular mass; 7.6 ± 3.2 kg fat mass) during a symmetric combat (traditional combat simulation) and during an asymmetrical combat (urban combat simulation). Heart rate (HR), speed, sprints, distances, impact, and body load parameters were measured by a GPS system and a HR belt. Results showed many differences between symmetrical and asymmetrical combat. Asymmetrical combat presented higher maximum velocity movement, number of sprints, sprint distance, and average HR. By contrary, symmetric combat presented higher number of impact and body load. This information could be used to improve specific training programs for each type of combat.

An Evaluation of an Attitudinal Model to Measure the Potential for Combat Effectiveness of U.S. Air Force Organizations.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-09-01

Fight Combat Effectiveness Organizational Assessment Package Morale Combat Effectiveness Model Cohesion Leadership 20. AIISTRACT (COe/Mie do ,eae aide If...of combat readiness. The major psychosocial dimensions which contribute to combat effectiveness of a military unit (morale leadership , cohesion, and...psychosocial dimensions in the combat effectiveness model (morale, leadership , and cohesion) in addition to training, logistics, alienation, and work group

Impact of Cumulative Combat Stress on Learning in an Academic Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shea, Kevin Peter; Fishback, Sarah Jane

2012-01-01

The stress of multiple combat tours has created a combat-tested but combat-weary Army. While most soldiers have coped successfully with combat stress, many return home with problems that include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior, insomnia, and reduced memory and concentration skills. Education is…

Why Does Military Combat Experience Adversely Affect Marital Relations?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gimbel, Cynthia; Booth, Alan

1994-01-01

Describes investigation of ways in which combat decreases marital quality and stability. Results support three models: (1) factors propelling men into combat also make them poor marriage material; (2) combat causes problems that increase marital adversity; and (3) combat intensifies premilitary stress and antisocial behavior which then negatively…

Analysis of a combat problem - The turret game

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ardema, M.; Heymann, M.; Rajan, N.

1987-01-01

The turret game is defined and solved to illustrate the nature of games of combat. This game represents a highly simplified version of air combat, yet it is sufficiently complex so as to exhibit a rich variety of combat phenomena. A review of the formulation of delta-combat games is included.

Preliminary Evidence for the Impact of Combat Experiences on Gray Matter Volume of the Posterior Insula

PubMed Central

Clausen, Ashley N.; Billinger, Sandra A.; Sisante, Jason-Flor V.; Suzuki, Hideo; Aupperle, Robin L.

2017-01-01

Background: Combat-exposed veteran populations are at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula have been implicated in both autonomic arousal to emotional stressors and homeostatic processes, which may contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction in combat veteran populations. The aim of the present study was to explore the intersecting relationships of combat experiences, rostral ACC and posterior insula volume, and cardiovascular health in a sample of combat veterans. Method: Twenty-four male combat veterans completed clinical assessment of combat experiences and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Subjects completed a magnetic resonance imaging scan and autosegmentation using FreeSurfer was used to estimate regional gray matter volume (controlling for total gray matter volume) of the rostral ACC and posterior insula. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was conducted to assess cardiovascular health. Theil-sen robust regressions and Welch's analysis of variance were used to examine relationships of combat experiences and PTSD symptomology with (1) FMD and (2) regional gray matter volume. Results: Increased combat experiences, deployment duration, and multiple deployments were related to smaller posterior insula volume. Combat experiences were marginally associated with poorer cardiovascular health. However, cardiovascular health was not related to rostral ACC or posterior insula volume. Conclusion: The present study provides initial evidence for the relationships of combat experiences, deployment duration, and multiple deployments with smaller posterior insula volume. Results may suggest that veterans with increased combat experiences may exhibit more dysfunction regulating the autonomic nervous system, a key function of the posterior insula. However, the relationship between combat and cardiovascular health was not mediated by regional brain volume. Future research is warranted to further clarify the cardiovascular or functional impact of smaller posterior insula volume in combat veterans. PMID:29312038

Abductive networks applied to electronic combat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montgomery, Gerard J.; Hess, Paul; Hwang, Jong S.

1990-08-01

A practical approach to dealing with combinatorial decision problems and uncertainties associated with electronic combat through the use of networks of high-level functional elements called abductive networks is presented. It describes the application of the Abductory Induction Mechanism (AIMTM) a supervised inductive learning tool for synthesizing polynomial abductive networks to the electronic combat problem domain. From databases of historical expert-generated or simulated combat engagements AIM can often induce compact and robust network models for making effective real-time electronic combat decisions despite significant uncertainties or a combinatorial explosion of possible situations. The feasibility of applying abductive networks to realize advanced combat decision aiding capabilities was demonstrated by applying AIM to a set of electronic combat simulations. The networks synthesized by AIM generated accurate assessments of the intent lethality and overall risk associated with a variety of simulated threats and produced reasonable estimates of the expected effectiveness of a group of electronic countermeasures for a large number of simulated combat scenarios. This paper presents the application of abductive networks to electronic combat summarizes the results of experiments performed using AIM discusses the benefits and limitations of applying abductive networks to electronic combat and indicates why abductive networks can often result in capabilities not attainable using alternative approaches. 1. ELECTRONIC COMBAT. UNCERTAINTY. AND MACHINE LEARNING Electronic combat has become an essential part of the ability to make war and has become increasingly complex since

A formulation and analysis of combat games

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heymann, M.; Ardema, M. D.; Rajan, N.

1985-01-01

Combat is formulated as a dynamical encounter between two opponents, each of whom has offensive capabilities and objectives. With each opponent is associated a target in the event space in which he endeavors to terminate the combat, thereby winning. If the combat terminates in both target sets simultaneously or in neither, a joint capture or a draw, respectively, is said to occur. Resolution of the encounter is formulated as a combat game; namely, as a pair of competing event-constrained differential games. If exactly one of the players can win, the optimal strategies are determined from a resulting constrained zero-sum differential game. Otherwise the optimal strategies are computed from a resulting non-zero-sum game. Since optimal combat strategies frequencies may not exist, approximate of delta-combat games are also formulated leading to approximate or delta-optimal strategies. To illustrate combat games, an example, called the turret game, is considered. This game may be thought of as a highly simplified model of air combat, yet it is sufficiently complex to exhibit a rich variety of combat behavior, much of which is not found in pursuit-evasion games.

Reliability and validity of a combat exposure index for Vietnam era veterans.

PubMed

Janes, G R; Goldberg, J; Eisen, S A; True, W R

1991-01-01

The reliability and validity of a self-report measure of combat exposure are examined in a cohort of male-male twin pairs who served in the military during the Vietnam era. Test-retest reliability for a five-level ordinal index of combat exposure is assessed by use of 192 duplicate sets of responses. The chance-corrected proportion in agreement (as measured by the kappa coefficient) is .84. As a measure of criterion-related validity, the combat index is correlated with the award of combat-related military medals ascertained from the military records. The probability of receiving a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge is associated strongly with the combat exposure index. These results show that this simple index is a reliable and valid measure of combat exposure.

Field and en route resuscitative endovascular occlusion of the aorta: A feasible military reality?

PubMed

Reva, Viktor A; Hörer, Tal M; Makhnovskiy, Andrey I; Sokhranov, Mikhail V; Samokhvalov, Igor M; DuBose, Joseph J

2017-07-01

Severe noncompressible torso hemorrhage remains a leading cause of potentially preventable death in modern military conflicts. Resuscitative endovascular occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has demonstrated potential as an effective adjunct to the treatment of noncompressible torso hemorrhage in the civilian early hospital and even prehospital settings-but the application of this technology for military prehospital use has not been well described. We aimed to assess the feasibility of both field and en route prehospital REBOA in the military exercise setting, simulating a modern armed conflict. Two adult male Sus Scrofa underwent simulated junctional combat injury in the context of a planned military training exercise. Both underwent zone I REBOA in conjunction with standard tactical combat casualty care interventions-one during point of injury care and the other during en route flight care. Animals were sequentially evacuated to two separate forward surgical teams by rotary wing platform where the balloon position was confirmed by chest x-ray. Animals then underwent different damage control thoracic and abdominal procedures before euthanasia. The first swine underwent immediate successful REBOA at the point of injury 7 minutes and 30 seconds after the injury. It required 6 minutes total from initiation of procedure to effective aortic occlusion. Total occlusion time was 60 minutes. In the second animal, the REBOA placement procedure was initiated immediately after take off (17 minutes and 40 seconds after the injury). Although the movements and vibration of flight were not significant impediments, we only succeeded to put a 6-French (Fr) sheath into a femoral artery during the 14 minutes flight due to lighting and visualization challenges. After the sheath had been upsized in the forward surgical team, the REBOA catheter was primarily placed in zone I followed by its replacement to zone III. Both animals survived to study completion and the termination of training. No complications were observed in either animal. Our study demonstrates the potential feasibility of REBOA for use during tactical field and en route (flight) care of combat casualties. Further study is needed to determine the optimal training and utilization protocols required to facilitate the effective incorporation of REBOA into military prehospital care capabilities.

The mental health of the UK Armed Forces: where facts meet fiction

PubMed Central

Hunt, Elizabeth J. F.; Wessely, Simon; Jones, Norman; Rona, Roberto J.; Greenberg, Neil

2014-01-01

A substantial amount of research has been conducted into the mental health of the UK military in recent years. This article summarises the results of the various studies and offers possible explanations for differences in findings between the UK and other allied nations. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates are perhaps surprisingly low amongst British forces, with prevalence rates of around 4% in personnel who have deployed, rising to 6% in combat troops, despite the high tempo of operations in recent years. The rates in personnel currently on operations are consistently lower than these. Explanations for the lower PTSD prevalence in British troops include variations in combat exposures, demographic differences, higher leader to enlisted soldier ratios, shorter operational tour lengths and differences in access to long-term health care between countries. Delayed-onset PTSD was recently found to be more common than previously supposed, accounting for nearly half of all PTSD cases; however, many of these had sub-syndromal PTSD predating the onset of the full disorder. Rates of common mental health disorders in UK troops are similar or higher to those of the general population, and overall operational deployments are not associated with an increase in mental health problems in UK regular forces. However, there does appear to be a correlation between both deployment and increased alcohol misuse and post-deployment violence in combat troops. Unlike for regular forces, there is an overall association between deployment and mental health problems in Reservists. There have been growing concerns regarding mild traumatic brain injury, though this appears to be low in British troops with an overall prevalence of 4.4% in comparison with 15% in the US military. The current strategies for detection and treatment of mental health problems in British forces are also described. The stance of the UK military is that psychological welfare of troops is primarily a chain of command responsibility, aided by medical advice when necessary, and to this end uses third location decompression, stress briefings, and Trauma Risk Management approaches. Outpatient treatment is provided by Field Mental Health Teams and military Departments of Community Mental Health, whilst inpatient care is given in specific NHS hospitals. PMID:25206948

Sleep quality affects cognitive functioning in returning combat veterans beyond combat exposure, PTSD, and mild TBI history.

PubMed

Martindale, Sarah L; Morissette, Sandra B; Rowland, Jared A; Dolan, Sara L

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine how sleep quality affects cognitive functioning in returning combat veterans after accounting for effects of combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history. This was a cross-sectional assessment study evaluating combat exposure, PTSD, mTBI history, sleep quality, and neuropsychological functioning. One hundred and nine eligible male Iraq/Afghanistan combat veterans completed an assessment consisting of a structured clinical interview, neuropsychological battery, and self-report measures. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, combat experiences and mTBI history were not directly associated with sleep quality. PTSD was directly associated with sleep quality, which contributed to deficits in neuropsychological functioning independently of and in addition to combat experiences, PTSD, and mTBI history. Combat experiences and PTSD were differentially associated with motor speed. Sleep affected cognitive function independently of combat experiences, PTSD, and mTBI history. Sleep quality also contributed to cognitive deficits beyond effects of PTSD. An evaluation of sleep quality may be a useful point of clinical intervention in combat veterans with cognitive complaints. Improving sleep quality could alleviate cognitive complaints, improving veterans' ability to engage in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

A formulation and analysis of combat games

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heymann, M.; Ardema, M. D.; Rajan, N.

1984-01-01

Combat which is formulated as a dynamical encounter between two opponents, each of whom has offensive capabilities and objectives is outlined. A target set is associated with each opponent in the event space in which he endeavors to terminate the combat, thereby winning. If the combat terminates in both target sets simultaneously, or in neither, a joint capture or a draw, respectively, occurs. Resolution of the encounter is formulated as a combat game; as a pair of competing event constrained differential games. If exactly one of the players can win, the optimal strategies are determined from a resulting constrained zero sum differential game. Otherwise the optimal strategies are computed from a resulting nonzero sum game. Since optimal combat strategies may frequently not exist, approximate or delta combat games are also formulated leading to approximate or delta optimal strategies. The turret game is used to illustrate combat games. This game is sufficiently complex to exhibit a rich variety of combat behavior, much of which is not found in pursuit evasion games.

Rapid Network Design

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

control GCE ground combat element LCE logistics combat element MAGTF Marine Air Ground Task Force MWCS Marine Wing Communications Squadron NPS Naval...elements: command element (CE), ground combat el- ement ( GCE ), aviation combat element (ACE), and logistics combat element (LCE). Each ele- ment...This layer provides unimpeded high-speed connectivity between remote sites and the Internet. Limited security policies are applied at this level to

Combat veterans: impressions of an analytic observer in a non-analytic setting.

PubMed

Stein, Herbert H

2007-01-01

The hallmark presentation of combat trauma-nightmares, waking hallucinations, intrusive traumatic memories, and extreme affective reactions to environmental triggers-may best be conceptualized as part of an adaptive mechanism intended to protect the individual against a repetition of trauma. Combat veterans continuously must cope with the extreme affects that combat induced. Fear, rage, guilt, and grief predominate. Their mental and emotional life is complicated by a conscience split between war zone and civilian morality and by the special group dynamics of combat. Optimal clinical understanding of combat-related trauma, whether in a psychoanalytic or general mental health setting, requires an awareness of the interaction of the personal dynamics of each individual with the specific characteristics of their combat situation.

Temporary Hearing Threshold Shift in Healthy Volunteers with Hearing Protection Caused by Acoustic Noise Exposure during 3-T Multisequence MR Neuroimaging.

PubMed

Jin, Chao; Li, Huan; Li, Xianjun; Wang, Miaomiao; Liu, Congcong; Guo, Jianxin; Yang, Jian

2018-02-01

Purpose To determine whether a single 51-minute exposure to acoustic noise during 3-T multisequence magnetic resonance (MR) neuroimaging could affect the hearing threshold of healthy adults with earplugs and sponge mats as hearing protection. Materials and Methods With earplugs and motion-refraining sponge mats as hearing protection, 26 healthy young adults underwent 3-T MR neuroimaging imaging that included T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence, T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence, diffusion-tensor imaging, diffusion-kurtosis imaging, T2*-weighted three-dimensional multiecho gradient-echo sequence, and blood oxygen level-dependent imaging. Automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to measure the hearing thresholds within 24 hours before, within 20 minutes after, and 25 days after the MR examination. One-way repeated-measure analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare automated ABR results among the three tests and partial η 2 (η p 2 ) was reported as a measure of effect size. Results Automated ABR results showed significantly increased mean threshold shift of 5.0 dB ± 8.1 (standard deviation) (left ear: 4.8 dB ± 9.2 [95% confidence interval: 1.09, 8.53], η p 2 = 0.221, P = .013; right ear: 5.2 dB ± 6.9 [95% confidence interval: 2.36, 8.02], η p 2 = 0.364, P = .001) immediately after the MR examination compared with the baseline study. This shift is below the temporary threshold shift of 40-50 dB that is associated with cochlea nerve changes. Automated ABR obtained at day 25 after MR imaging showed no significant differences from baseline (left ear: -2.3 dB ± 8.6 [95% confidence interval: -5.79, 1.78], η p 2 = 0.069, P = .185; right ear: 0.4 dB ± 7.3 [95% confidence interval: -3.35, 2.58], η p 2 = 0.003, P = .791). Conclusion A 3-T MR neuroimaging examination with the acoustic noise at equivalent sound pressure level of 103.5-111.3 dBA lasting 51 minutes can cause temporary hearing threshold shift in healthy volunteers with hearing protection. © RSNA, 2017.

Use of a modified bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) device for children in respiratory distress in low- and middle-income countries: a safety study.

PubMed

Bjorklund, Ashley R; Odongkara Mpora, Beatrice; Steiner, Marie E; Fischer, Gwenyth; Davey, Cynthia S; Slusher, Tina M

2018-06-18

While bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) is commonly used in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to support neonates with respiratory distress, there are limited non-invasive support options for non-neonatal children. To demonstrate safety of a new device designed to support children during respiratory distress in LMIC. A paediatric bCPAP device was designed called SEAL-bCPAP (Simplified Ear-plug Adapted-bCPAP). SEAL-bCPAP is constructed from inexpensive, easily obtainable materials. The nasal prong interface was modified from previously described neonatal bCPAP set-ups using commercial ear-plug material to improve nasal seal. A prospective interventional study was conducted to evaluate safety in children with respiratory distress treated with SEAL-bCPAP. Patients aged 30 days to 5 years presenting to a hospital in northern Uganda from July 2015 to June 2016 were screened. Those with moderate-severe respiratory distress and/or hypoxia despite nasal cannula oxygen were eligible for study. Enrolled patients were supported with SEAL-bCPAP until respiratory improvement or death. Complications attributable to SEAL-bCPAP were recorded. Clinical outcomes were compared with historical control pre-trial data. Eighty-three of 87 enrolled patients were included in the final analysis. No patients had significant SEAL-bCPAP complications. Five patients had mild complications which resolved (four with nasal irritation and one with abdominal distention). Trial patients had significant (p < 0.0001) improvement in their TAL score, respiratory rate and O 2 sat after 2 h of SEAL-bCPAP. Fifty-two of 64 patients (62.7%) with severe illness at Time1 did not have severe illness at Time2 (after 2 h of SEAL-bCPAP) (p < 0.0001). Unadjusted mortality rates were 12.2% (6/49) and 9.6% (8/83), respectively, for pre-trial (historical control) and trial patients (p = 0.64); the study was not powered to show efficacy. The SEAL-bCPAP device is safe for treatment of respiratory distress in non-neonatal children in LMIC. There is a trend toward decreased mortality that should be evaluated with adequately powered clinical trials.

Combating terrorism : how five foreign countries are organized to combat terrorism

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-04-01

In fiscal year 1999, the federal government spent about $10 billion to combat terrorism. Over 40 federal departments, agencies, and bureaus have a role in combating terrorism. Recognizing that other governments have had more experience dealing with t...

Combat and Operational Stress: Minimizing Its Adverse Effects on Service Members

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-18

munitions. Combat stress has received many labels since the First World War. These labels include “shell shock, war neurosis , psychoneurosis, combat...war neurosis and psychoneurosis carried an inherently negative connotation because they implied by their name that a mental illness or disorder...who became combat stress casualties. In 1916, the term war neurosis replaced shell shocked as the number of combat stress casualties continued due

Caffeine Reduces Reaction Time and Improves Performance in Simulated-Contest of Taekwondo

PubMed Central

Santos, Victor G. F.; Santos, Vander R. F.; Felippe, Leandro J. C.; Almeida, Jose W.; Bertuzzi, Rômulo; Kiss, Maria A. P. D. M.; Lima-Silva, Adriano E.

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine on reaction time during a specific taekwondo task and athletic performance during a simulated taekwondo contest. Ten taekwondo athletes ingested either 5 mg·kg−1 body mass caffeine or placebo and performed two combats (spaced apart by 20 min). The reaction-time test (five kicks “Bandal Tchagui”) was performed immediately prior to the first combat and immediately after the first and second combats. Caffeine improved reaction time (from 0.42 ± 0.05 to 0.37 ± 0.07 s) only prior to the first combat (P = 0.004). During the first combat, break times during the first two rounds were shorter in caffeine ingestion, followed by higher plasma lactate concentrations compared with placebo (P = 0.029 and 0.014, respectively). During the second combat, skipping-time was reduced, and relative attack times and attack/skipping ratio was increased following ingestion of caffeine during the first two rounds (all P < 0.05). Caffeine resulted in no change in combat intensity parameters between the first and second combat (all P > 0.05), but combat intensity was decreased following placebo (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, caffeine reduced reaction time in non-fatigued conditions and delayed fatigue during successive taekwondo combats. PMID:24518826

Occupational risk factors for ill health in Gulf veterans of the United Kingdom

PubMed Central

Ismail, K.; Blatchley, N.; Hotopf, M.; Hull, L.; Palmer, I.; Unwin, C.; David, A.; Wessely, S.

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVES—To study the association between occupational factors specific to the Armed Forces (rank, functional roles, Service, regular or reservist status and deployment factors) and symptomatic health problems in Gulf veterans, after sociodemographic and lifestyle factors have been accounted for.
DESIGN—A postal cross sectional survey of randomly selected UK Gulf veterans was conducted six to seven years after the Gulf conflict. Physical ill health was measured using the Fatigue Questionnaire and a measure of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) multi-symptom syndrome. Psychological ill health was measured using the General Health Questionnaire and a post-traumatic stress measure.
SETTING—Population of servicemen who were serving in the UK Armed Forces during the Gulf conflict between 1 September 1990 and 30 June 1991.
PARTICIPANTS—3297 Gulf veterans.
MAIN RESULTS—In multivariate logistic regression, there was an inverse relation between higher rank and psychological and physical ill health (test of trend: General Health Questionnaire, p=0.004 ; post-traumatic stress, p=0.002; fatigue, p=0.015; CDC case, p=0.002). Having left the Armed Forces was associated with a two to three times increase in reporting ill health. Of the deployment factors, there was a weak association between being deployed as an individual reinforcement in a combat role and post-traumatic stress but there was no association between receiving pre-deployment training or post-deployment leave and ill health. Marital status and smoking were associated with psychological and physical ill health.
CONCLUSIONS—Rank was the main occupational factor associated with both psychological and physical ill health in Gulf veterans. This may parallel the associations between socioeconomic status and morbidity in civilian populations. Ill health seems to be greater in those who return to civilian life. Sociodemographic factors also seem to be important in ill health in Gulf veterans.


Keywords: military; Gulf veterans; rank PMID:11027197

The Combat-Exclusion Policy for Military Women.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneider, Dorothy; Schneider, Carl J.

1986-01-01

Reviews the history and meaning of the combat exclusion policy for United States servicewomen. Noting that combat duty is often essential to career advancement in the military, this article describes several cases of discrimination resulting from the effects of the combat exclusion. (JDH)

A Pilot Project Demonstrating that Combat Medics Can Safely Administer Parenteral Medications in the Emergency Department.

PubMed

Schauer, Steven G; Cunningham, Cord W; Fisher, Andrew D; DeLorenzo, Robert A

2017-12-01

Introduction Select units in the military have improved combat medic training by integrating their functions into routine clinical care activities with measurable improvements in battlefield care. This level of integration is currently limited to special operations units. It is unknown if regular Army units and combat medics can emulate these successes. The goal of this project was to determine whether US Army combat medics can be integrated into routine emergency department (ED) clinical care, specifically medication administration. Project Design This was a quality assurance project that monitored training of combat medics to administer parenteral medications and to ensure patient safety. Combat medics were provided training that included direct supervision during medication administration. Once proficiency was demonstrated, combat medics would prepare the medications under direct supervision, followed by indirect supervision during administration. As part of the quality assurance and safety processes, combat medics were required to document all medication administrations, supervising provider, and unexpected adverse events. Additional quality assurance follow-up occurred via complete chart review by the project lead. Data During the project period, the combat medics administered the following medications: ketamine (n=13), morphine (n=8), ketorolac (n=7), fentanyl (n=5), ondansetron (n=4), and other (n=6). No adverse events or patient safety events were reported by the combat medics or discovered during the quality assurance process. In this limited case series, combat medics safely administered parenteral medications under indirect provider supervision. Future research is needed to further develop this training model for both the military and civilian setting. Schauer SG , Cunningham C W, Fisher AD , DeLorenzo RA . A pilot project demonstrating that combat medics can safely administer parenteral medications in the emergency department. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):679-681.

Women Warriors: Why the Robotics Revolution Changes the Combat Equation

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

combat. U.S. Army RDECOM PRISM 6, no. 1 FEATURES | 91 Women Warriors Why the Robotics Revolution Changes the Combat Equation1 BY LINELL A. LETENDRE...underappreciated—fac- tor is poised to alter the women in combat debate: the revolution in robotics and autonomous systems. The technology leap afforded by...developing robotic and autonomous systems and their potential impact on the future of combat. Revolution in Robotics: A Changing Battlefield20 The

Combat Stories Map: A Historical Repository and After Action Tool for Capturing, Storing, and Analyzing Georeferenced Individual Combat Narratives

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

of technology and near-global Internet accessibility, a web -based program incorporating interactive maps to record personal combat experiences does...not exist. The Combat Stories Map addresses this deficiency. The Combat Stories Map is a web -based Geographic Information System specifically designed...iv THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK v ABSTRACT Despite the proliferation of technology and near-global Internet accessibility, a web

Combat Experience and Mental Health in the Israel National Health Survey.

PubMed

Lubin, Gadi; Barash, Igor; Levinson, Daphna

2016-01-01

To compare the mental health status of those who participated in combat related activities during their service with that of soldiers whose army service did not include combat related activities Method: A representative sample extracted from the National Population Register of non-institutionalized residents aged 21 or older of Israel was used in this crosssectional survey. Data on mental health disorders, sociodemographic background and army service were collected using face-to-face computer-assisted interviews. Combat experience per se was not associated with lifetime diagnosis of PTSD. Former combat soldiers had significantly lower lifetime prevalence and 12 months prevalence of any mood or anxiety disorders including PTSD. This work is in line with previous literature showing that combat exposure, as such, has limited contribution to lifetime PTSD in some groups of veterans. The inverse relationship between combat exposure and PTSD might be explained by the selection of potential combatants among all recruits and by the heightened preparedness to military life stressors.

Understanding Combat-Related PTSD Symptom Expression Through Index Trauma and Military Culture: Case Studies of Filipino Soldiers.

PubMed

Dela Cruz Fajarito, Cariñez; De Guzman, Rosalito G

2017-05-01

Few studies demonstrate how the index trauma may influence subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, especially among soldiers. There is still no consensus on specific trauma types and their corresponding PTSD symptom profiles. Furthermore, varied PTSD symptom manifestations that may yield to PTSD trauma subtypes are yet to be known. Importantly, the significance of the military culture's possible influence on soldiers' PTSD has also been underexplored. And the dominant PTSD construct may possibly be unable to capture the essential aspects of the military context in understanding combat-related PTSD. Hence, this study aims to reach an understanding into how index trauma and military culture may possibly shape participants' PTSD expressions. Case study design was used, wherein multiple sources of data-such as PTSD assessments, and interviews with the participants and key informants-enabled data triangulation. The three case reports are the outcomes of the corroboration of evidences that reveal an enriched and holistic understanding of the phenomenon under study. The Ethics Review Board Committee of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center approved the study. The participants were three Filipino active duty combat soldiers. Although all participants had similar index traumas, their PTSD symptom expressions are unique from one another, in that they differ in terms of their most incapacitating PTSD symptoms and other symptoms that have been potentially shaped by military culture. Their most incapacitating symptoms: hypervigilance (case 1), negative belief in oneself and negative emotions (case 2), prolonged distress, and marked physiological reactions to trauma-related cues (case 3), may be understood in the light of how they personally experienced different circumstances of their index traumas. The way participants have anchored specific components of their sworn soldier's creed (i.e., not leaving a fallen comrade) into some of their PTSD symptoms (i.e., feeling guilty for the comrade's death) may be understood in the light of their military culture and how they were personally traumatized by the details of their index traumas. The participants' index trauma and military culture potentially shaped their PTSD symptom expressions that were distinct from one another. The details of the index trauma, including the level of exposure and proximity; and the salience of military culture, such as the soldier's creed, are important elements into understanding how participants experience their PTSD. Limitations of the study include findings that do not give causal interpretations, use of self-report measures, retrospective accounts from interviews, and participants who are all Filipino active soldiers and enlisted army military personnel. Nevertheless, the study provides an enriched and holistic understanding of personal experiences of soldiers with combat-related PTSD. The findings may inform tailored treatments to soldiers whose experiences may be similar to the settings and concepts discovered in the study. Possible clinical and treatment implications were provided in the study. Future researchers may explore on: possible existence of PTSD subtypes within combat-related PTSD category, other facets of military culture that may mitigate or influence PTSD symptoms, and potential roles of index trauma and military culture using national representative samples. Reprint & Copyright © 2017 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Circumstances around weapon injury in Cambodia after departure of a peacekeeping force: prospective cohort study

PubMed Central

Meddings, David R; O’Connor, Stephanie M

1999-01-01

Objective To examine the circumstances surrounding weapon injury and combatant status of those injured by weapons. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Northwestern Cambodia after departure of United Nations peacekeeping force. Subjects 863 people admitted to hospital for weapon injuries over 12 months. Main outcome measures Annual incidence of weapon injury by time period; proportions of injuries inflicted as a result of interfactional combat (combat injuries) and outside such combat (non-combat injuries) by combatant status and weapon type. Results The annual incidence of weapon injuries was higher than the rate observed before the peacekeeping operation. 30% of weapon injuries occurred in contexts other than interfactional combat. Most commonly these were firearm injuries inflicted intentionally on civilians. Civilians accounted for 71% of those with non-combat injuries, 42% of those with combat related injuries, and 51% of those with weapon injuries of either type. Conclusions The incidence of weapon injuries remained high when the disarmament component of a peacekeeping operation achieved only limited success. Furthermore, injuries occurring outside the context of interfactional combat accounted for a substantial proportion of all weapon injuries, were experienced disproportionately by civilians, and were most likely to entail the intentional use of a firearm against a civilian. Key messagesThe study took place in Cambodia after a United Nations peacekeeping operation that achieved only limited success in disarmamentA substantial proportion of weapon injuries was inflicted in contexts unrelated to interfactional combatThese injuries were most commonly firearm injuries inflicted intentionally on civiliansWidespread availability of weapons can facilitate social violence PMID:10445922

An Investigation of Combat Knowledge and Attitudes of Women in the United States Air Force

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-09-01

66 How well are military. women educated on their combat role? . . . . . . 66 What are the attitudes of military women toward the...military women educated on their combat role? 5 , H . . ., I I I 2. What are the attitudes of military women toward the physical, psychological and...activities do not include actual combat, as a chaplain; any civilian in iýartime. B L.i Womeli in Combat; The- -Ia This chapter focuses on the history of the

Stakeholder Analysis of Integrating Women Into Ground Combat Units

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

article posted on SaukValley.com titled “Sources: Pentagon Rules Shift on Women in Combat,” Lolita C. Baldor cites Bhagwati regarding news about plans...Jan-13 AP Sources: Pentagon Open Combat Roles to Women Lolita C. Baldor Associated Press 17-Jan-14 Military Women in Combat Nancy Carol Squidoo...Security Journal 9-Feb-12 Sources: Pentagon rules shift on women in combat Lolita C. Baldor SaukValley.com 24-Oct-13 A Voice for Men None named

Role of natural killer cells in antibacterial immunity.

PubMed

Schmidt, Stanislaw; Ullrich, Evelyn; Bochennek, Konrad; Zimmermann, Stefanie-Yvonne; Lehrnbecher, Thomas

2016-12-01

Bacteria are a significant cause of infectious complications, in particular in immunocompromised patients. There is an increasing understanding that Natural Killer (NK) cells not only exhibit direct activity against bacteria, but also exert indirect antibacterial activity through interaction with other immune cells via cytokines and interferons. Areas covered: This review seeks to give a global overview of in vitro and in vivo data how NK cells interact with bacteria. In this regard, the review describes how NK cells directly damage and kill bacteria by soluble factors such as perforin, the impact of NK cells on other arms of the immune system, as well as how bacteria may inhibit NK cell activities. Expert commentary: A better characterization of the antibacterial effects of NK cells is urgently needed. With a better understanding of the interaction of NK cells and bacteria, NK cells may become a promising tool to prevent or to combat bacterial infections, e.g. by adoptively transferring NK cells to immunocompromised patients.

Insects as weapons of war, terror, and torture.

PubMed

Lockwood, Jeffrey A

2012-01-01

For thousands of years insects have been incorporated into human conflict, with the goals of inflicting pain, destroying food, and transmitting pathogens. Early methods used insects as "found" weapons, functioning as tactical arms (e.g., hurled nests) or in strategic habitats (e.g., mosquito-infested swamps). In the twentieth century the relationship between insects and disease was exploited; vectors were mass-produced to efficiently deliver pathogens to an enemy. The two most sophisticated programs were those of the Japanese in World War II with plague-infected fleas and cholera-coated flies and of the Americans during the Cold War with yellow fever-infected mosquitoes. With continued advances, defenses in the form of insecticides and vaccines meant that insects were no longer considered as battlefield weapons. However, in recent times sociopolitical changes have put insects back into the realm of human conflict through asymmetrical conflicts pitting combatants from nonindustrialized regions against forces from militarily and economically superior nations. Copyright © 2012 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.

[Rehabilitation of war disabled people in the tropics: example from Colombia].

PubMed

Lagauche, D

2011-12-01

The purpose of this report is to describe collaboration between the health services of the Colombian and French armed forces. Colombia is a democratic country that has been undergoing a long period of insurrection resulting in a significant number of deaths and injuries. Permanent functional disabilities have taken high toll at both the individual and community level. Due to the use of landmines, civilians pay a heavier price than military personnel. In Columbia, a country of eternal snows and rain forests, disabilities are often compounded by concurrent diseases such as malaria or leishmaniasis. Otherwise, rehabilitation of soldiers wounded during a combat is fundamentally the same in tropical zones and Europe. Management of wounded servicemen takes place in teaching hospital where therapy is carried out at the same time as training in mine clearance. Reinsertion begins with job apprenticeship in conjunction with psychological support and prosthetic training. Current focus is on developing disability rights legislation modeled on the 2005 French law.

Developing UGVs for the FCS program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamsickas, Gary M.; Ward, John N.

2003-09-01

The FCS Operational Requirements Document (ORD) identifies unmanned systems as a key component of the FCS Unit of Action. FCS unmanned systems include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV), Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) and Unattended Munitions (UM). Unmanned systems are intended to enhance the Unit of Action across the full range of operations when integrated with manned platforms. Unmanned systems will provide the commander with tools to gather battlespace information while significantly reducing overall soldier risk. Unmanned systems will be used in some cases to augment or replace human intervention to perform many of the dirty, dull and dangerous missions presently performed by soldiers and to serve as a combat multiplier for mission performance, force protection and survivability. This paper focuses on the application of UGVs within the FCS Unit of Action. There are three different UGVs planned to support the FCS Unit of Action; the Soldier Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV); The Multi-role Utility Logistics Equipment (MULE) platform; and the Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV).

Linguistic geometry for technologies procurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stilman, Boris; Yakhnis, Vladimir; Umanskiy, Oleg; Boyd, Ron

2005-05-01

In the modern world of rapidly rising prices of new military hardware, the importance of Simulation Based Acquisition (SBA) is hard to overestimate. With SAB, DOD would be able to test, develop CONOPS for, debug, and evaluate new conceptual military equipment before actually building the expensive hardware. However, only recently powerful tools for real SBA have been developed. Linguistic Geometry (LG) permits full-scale modeling and evaluation of new military technologies, combinations of hardware systems and concepts of their application. Using LG tools, the analysts can create a gaming environment populated with the Blue forces armed with the new conceptual hardware as well as with appropriate existing weapons and equipment. This environment will also contain the intelligent enemy with appropriate weaponry and, if desired, with a conceptual counters to the new Blue weapons. Within such LG gaming environment, the analyst can run various what-ifs with the LG tools providing the simulated combatants with strategies and tactics solving their goals with minimal resources spent.

Exploring positive pathways to care for members of the UK Armed Forces receiving treatment for PTSD: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

Murphy, Dominic; Hunt, Elizabeth; Luzon, Olga; Greenberg, Neil

2014-01-01

Objective To examine the factors which facilitate UK military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to engage in help-seeking behaviours. Methods The study recruited active service personnel who were attending mental health services, employed a qualitative design, used semi-structured interview schedules to collect data, and explored these data using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results Five themes emerged about how participants were able to access help; having to reach a crisis point before accepting the need for help, overcoming feelings of shame, the importance of having an internal locus of control, finding a psychological explanation for their symptoms and having strong social support. Conclusions This study reported that for military personnel who accessed mental health services, there were a number of factors that supported them to do so. In particular, factors that combated internal stigma, such as being supported to develop an internal locus of control, appeared to be critical in supporting military personnel to engage in help-seeking behaviour. PMID:24624262

Medication-induced acute dystonic reaction: the challenge of diagnosing movement disorders in the intensive care unit.

PubMed

Digby, Geneviève; Jalini, Shirin; Taylor, Sean

2015-09-21

A 62-year-old man presented with left middle cerebral artery stroke. 1 h postadministration of tissue plasminogen activator, he received a total of 4 mg of haloperidol for combativeness. He developed partial complex status epilepticus, requiring benzodiazepines, phenytoin, propofol and intubation. 5 h later, he developed recurrent stereotyped tonic movements involving arching of the back, extension of the arms and contraction of opposing muscle groups. Repeat CT scan of the head showed evolving insular infarct. Differential diagnoses for these movements included tonic/clonic seizures, extensor (decerebrate) posturing from haemorrhagic conversion, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, or dystonic reaction. Given the lack of response to antiseizure medications, the recent administration of haloperidol, and the prompt resolution of movements following diphenhydramine administration, an acute dystonic reaction was considered. This atypical case of a critically ill patient with stroke highlights the fact that these patients may have multiple abnormal movements requiring careful analysis to guide diagnosis-specific management. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

A Study of the Attraction Forces of Lunar Dust Simulant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradley, Robert Kelley; Jeevarajan, Antony; Thomas, Valor

2007-01-01

In previous manned lunar missions little work was done on countermeasures to combat the spread of lunar dust onto equipment and into the habitat because the astronauts were not scheduled to stay on the lunar surface for extended periods of time. However, as NASA prepares to return to the moon for longer durations than before developing materials that can help in the fight against lunar dust is important. The purpose of this project is to examine the attraction forces between lunar dust and various materials in an effort to discover materials which have a low affinity for lunar dust. The adhesion forces present between individual grains of dust and various materials were analyzed using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The AFM probes were calibrated by the added-mass technique to find the spring constant of the cantilever. The probes were modified by attaching a particle of lunar dust stimulant to the cantilever arm. The adhesion force between the dust particle and various materials were determined by analysis of AFM force spectra.

The stratification of military service and combat exposure, 1934–1994*

PubMed Central

MacLean, Alair

2010-01-01

Previous research has suggested that men who were exposed to combat during wartime differed from those who were not. Yet little is known about how selection into combat has changed over time. This paper estimates sequential logistic models using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine the stratification of military service and combat exposure in the US during the last six decades of the twentieth century. It tests potentially overlapping hypotheses drawn from two competing theories, class bias and dual selection. It also tests a hypothesis, drawn from the life course perspective, that the processes by which people came to see combat have changed historically. The findings show that human capital, institutional screening, and class bias all determined who saw combat. They also show that, net of historical change in the odds of service and combat, the impact of only one background characteristic, race, changed over time. PMID:21113325

Former combatants in Liberia: the burden of possible traumatic brain injury among demobilized combatants.

PubMed

Johnson, Kirsten; Asher, Jana; Kisielewski, Michael; Lawry, Lynn

2012-05-01

To provide a better understanding of any associations between Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration, previous head injury, and mental health symptoms among former combatants in Liberia. A cluster-sampled national survey of the adult household-based Liberian population. Former combatants with reported head injury were more likely to experience major depressive disorder symptoms, suicidal ideation and attempts, and current substance abuse. Former combatants with head injury are 2.83 times more likely to have major depressive disorder symptoms, and those with suspected traumatic brain injury are five times more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder. The poor mental health of former combatants in Liberia, both child and adult, might be mitigated if Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration programming assessed participants for head trauma and traumatic brain injury using simple screening methods. The specific health and mental health needs of ex-combatants--a highly vulnerable group--will need to be addressed by Liberia. If left untreated, ex-combatants with high rates of suicidal ideation and post-traumatic stress disorder might be susceptible to re-recruitment into new conflicts in the region.

Cumulative trauma and midlife well-being in American women who served in Vietnam: effects of combat exposure and postdeployment social support.

PubMed

Park, Crystal L; Wachen, Jennifer Schuster; Kaiser, Anica Pless; Mager Stellman, Jeanne

2015-01-01

Research increasingly demonstrates that trauma exposure can have cumulative effects, yet much remains to be learned about effects of cumulative trauma, particularly regarding longer term adjustment. One such trauma, combat exposure, is insufficiently understood, especially for women, who are increasingly engaged in professional combat activities. The study comprised a cross-sectional survey assessing multiple aspects of current well-being in women approximately 25 years after their service in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Participants were 1374 women (78% military and 22% nonmilitary; mean age = 59.7). This study investigated the relations between three separate categories of trauma exposure (childhood, adulthood, and combat) and well-being and examined whether perceived social support at return from Vietnam moderated the association between combat exposure and well-being. While both childhood and adulthood trauma exposure related to midlife well-being, combat exposure still uniquely predicted outcomes. Further, postdeployment perceived social support moderated the association of combat and well-being: recollected higher perceived social support at homecoming buffered participants from the links between combat exposure and well-being. These results may have important implications for interventions to reduce the impact of traumatic experiences, particularly in light of the increasing exposure of women to direct combat events.

The 274th Forward Surgical Team experience during Operation Enduring Freedom.

PubMed

Peoples, George E; Gerlinger, Tad; Craig, Robert; Burlingame, Brian

2005-06-01

The 274th Forward Surgical Team (FST) was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from October 14, 2001 to May 8, 2002. During this period, the FST was asked to perform many nondoctrinal missions. The FST was tasked with functioning as a mini-combat support hospital during the earlier phases of Operation Enduring Freedom, performing in-flight surgical procedures and resuscitation of combat wounded, conducting split operations with surgical coverage of both Karshi and Khanabad, Uzbekistan, and Bagram, Afghanistan, and leading the multinational medical coalition assembled for Operation Anaconda and other combat operations staged from Bagram. Overall, the 274th FST took care of approximately 90% of U.S. combat casualties during this period and treated a total of 221 combat casualties. The FST treated 103 total surgical cases, including 73 with combat wounds. At the time, this experience with combat casualties and the surgical care of combat wounds was the largest since the Persian Gulf War. More importantly, this account describes the flow, frequency, and type of combat casualties seen in a low-intensity conflict like that being waged currently in Afghanistan. It is hoped that this depiction will aid in the preparation, equipping, and overall utilization of surgical assets in similar future conflicts.

Two decades later: The resilience and post-traumatic responses of Indigenous Quechua girls and adolescents in the aftermath of the Peruvian armed conflict.

PubMed

Suarez, Eliana Barrios

2013-01-01

In comparison to other traumatic events, the impact of a childhood during war on resilience later in life has been seldom examined. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the long term outcomes of post-traumatic responses and resilience of a sample of adult Indigenous Quechua women, who were girls or adolescents during the Peruvian armed conflict (1980-1995). The study instruments (Harvard trauma questionnaire part I and IV; Connor-Davidson resilience scale; life stress questionnaire) were translated to Quechua and cross-culturally validated. A cross sectional survey design was used in 2010 to collect data from a convenience sample of 75 participants (25-45 years old) in Ayacucho, Peru, the region most affected by the conflict. Data was examined using hierarchical regression analyses. Participants reported extreme exposure to violence (e.g., sexual violence, torture, combat, death of family members, and forced displacement) during the armed conflict, but surprisingly, only 5.3% reported a current level of symptoms that may indicate a possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Resilience scores and number of years exposed to conflict as a child were not associated with PTSD symptoms; instead only the degree of exposure to violence, and current level of stress contributed to the variance of PTSD-related symptoms. Conversely, resilience and current stress contributed to the variance of trauma symptoms when measured by local idioms of distress. Findings should be interpreted with caution, due to limitations in the content validity of instruments, risk of inaccurate recall, use of individual explanations of distress (such as PTSD) for collective experiences of violence, use of non-indigenous frameworks to examine Indigenous resilience, and other methodological concerns. The study however highlights the high degree of traumatic exposure of these former war children. While the prevalence of potential PTSD was astonishingly low in this sample, a number of women still suffer from significant distress two decades after the traumatic events. Therefore, post-conflict interventions should renew efforts to foster the resilience of marginalized populations disproportionately targeted by violence and advocate for enhanced protection of women and children in current armed conflicts. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Repeated Exposure to Taekwondo Combat Modulates the Physiological and Hormonal Responses to Subsequent Bouts and Recovery Periods.

PubMed

Bridge, Craig A; Sparks, Andy S; McNaughton, Lars R; Close, Graeme L; Hausen, Matheus; Gurgel, Jonas; Drust, Barry

2018-05-17

Bridge, CA, Sparks, SA, McNaughton, LR, Close, GL, Hausen, M, Gurgel, J, and Drust, B. Repeated exposure to taekwondo combat modulates the physiological and hormonal responses to subsequent bouts and recovery periods. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-This study examined the physiological and hormonal responses to successive taekwondo combats using an ecologically valid competition time structure. Ten elite male international taekwondo competitors (age 19 ± 3 years) took part in a simulated championship event. The competitors performed 4 combats that were interspersed with different recovery intervals (63 ± 4, 31 ± 3 and 156 ± 5 minutes, respectively). Heart rate (HR) was measured during the combats and venous blood samples were obtained both before and after each combat to determine the plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations. The plasma noradrenaline (21.8 ± 12.8 vs. 15.0 ± 7.0 nmol·l) and lactate (13.9 ± 4.2 vs. 10.5 ± 3.2 mmol·l) responses were attenuated (p < 0.05) between combat 1 and 4. Higher (p < 0.05) HR responses were evident in the final combat when compared with the earlier combats. Higher (p < 0.05) resting HR (139 ± 10 vs. 127 ± 12 b·min), plasma lactate (3.1 ± 1.2 vs. 2.0 ± 0.7 mmol·l), glycerol (131 ± 83 vs. 56 ± 38 μmol·l) and nonesterified free fatty acid (0.95 ± 0.29 vs. 0.71 ± 0.28 mmol·l) concentrations were measured before combat 3 compared with combat 1. Repeated exposure to taekwondo combat using an ecologically valid time structure modulates the physiological and hormonal responses to subsequent bouts and recovery periods. Strategies designed to assist competitors to effectively manage the metabolic changes associated with the fight schedule and promote recovery between the bouts may be important during championship events.

Incidence and epidemiology of combat injuries sustained during "the surge" portion of operation Iraqi Freedom by a U.S. Army brigade combat team.

PubMed

Belmont, Philip J; Goodman, Gens P; Zacchilli, Michael; Posner, Matthew; Evans, Clifford; Owens, Brett D

2010-01-01

A prospective, longitudinal analysis of injuries sustained by a large combat-deployed maneuver unit has not been previously performed. A detailed description of the combat casualty care statistics, distribution of wounds, and mechanisms of injury incurred by a U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team during "The Surge" phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom was performed using a centralized casualty database and an electronic medical record system. Among the 4,122 soldiers deployed, there were 500 combat wounds in 390 combat casualties. The combat casualty rate for the Brigade Combat Team was 75.7 per 1,000 soldier combat-years. The % killed in action (KIA) was 22.1%, and the %died of wounds was 3.2%. The distribution of these wounds was as follows: head/neck 36.2%, thorax 7.5%, abdomen 6.9%, and extremities 49.4%. The percentage of combat wounds showed a significant increase in the head/neck region (p < 0.0001) and a decrease in the extremities (p < 0.03) compared with data from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The percentage of thoracic wounds (p < 0.03) was significantly less than historical data from World War II and Vietnam. The %KIA was significantly greater in those soldiers injured by an explosion (26.3%) compared with those soldiers injured by a gunshot wound (4.6%; p = 0.003). Improvised explosive devices accounted for 77.7% of all combat wounds. There was a significantly higher proportion of head/neck wounds compared with previous U.S. conflicts. The 22.1% KIA was comparable with previous U.S. conflicts despite improvements in individual/vehicular body armor and is largely attributable to the lethality of improvised explosive devices. The lethality of a gunshot wound in Operation Iraqi Freedom has decreased to 4.6% with the use of individual body armor.

C/sup 3/ and combat simulation - a survey

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erickson, S.A. Jr.

1983-01-04

This article looks at the overlap between C/sup 3/ and combat simulation, from the point of view of the developer of combat simulations and models. In this context, there are two different questions. The first is: How and to what extent should specific models of the C/sup 3/ processes be incorporated in simulations of combat. Here the key point is the assessment of impact. In which types or levels of combat does C/sup 3/ play a role sufficiently intricate and closely coupled with combat performance that it would significantly affect combat results. Conversely, when is C/sup 3/ a known factormore » or modifier which can be simply accommodated without a specific detailed model being made for it. The second question is the inverse one. In the development of future C/sup 3/ systems, what rule should combat simulation play. Obviously, simulation of the operation of the hardware, software and other parts of the C/sup 3/ system would be useful in its design and specification, but this is not combat simulation. When is it necessary to encase the C/sup 3/ simulation model in a combat model which has enough detail to be considered a simulation itself. How should this outer combat model be scoped out as to the components needed. In order to build a background for answering these questions a two-pronged approach will be taken. First a framework for C/sup 3/ modeling will be developed, in which the various types of modeling which can be done to include or encase C/sup 3/ in a combat model are organized. This framework will hopefully be useful in describing the particular assumptions made in specific models in terms of what could be done in a more general way. Then a few specific models will be described, concentrating on the C/sup 3/ portion of the simulations, or what could be interpreted as the C/sup 3/ assumptions.« less

Combat injury coding: a review and reconfiguration.

PubMed

Lawnick, Mary M; Champion, Howard R; Gennarelli, Thomas; Galarneau, Michael R; D'Souza, Edwin; Vickers, Ross R; Wing, Vern; Eastridge, Brian J; Young, Lee Ann; Dye, Judy; Spott, Mary Ann; Jenkins, Donald H; Holcomb, John; Blackbourne, Lorne H; Ficke, James R; Kalin, Ellen J; Flaherty, Stephen

2013-10-01

The current civilian Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), designed for automobile crash injuries, yields important information about civilian injuries. It has been recognized for some time, however, that both the AIS and AIS-based scores such as the Injury Severity Score (ISS) are inadequate for describing penetrating injuries, especially those sustained in combat. Existing injury coding systems do not adequately describe (they actually exclude) combat injuries such as the devastating multi-mechanistic injuries resulting from attacks with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). After quantifying the inapplicability of current coding systems, the Military Combat Injury Scale (MCIS), which includes injury descriptors that accurately characterize combat anatomic injury, and the Military Functional Incapacity Scale (MFIS), which indicates immediate tactical functional impairment, were developed by a large tri-service military and civilian group of combat trauma subject-matter experts. Assignment of MCIS severity levels was based on urgency, level of care needed, and risk of death from each individual injury. The MFIS was developed based on the casualty's ability to shoot, move, and communicate, and comprises four levels ranging from "Able to continue mission" to "Lost to military." Separate functional impairments were identified for injuries aboard ship. Preliminary evaluation of MCIS discrimination, calibration, and casualty disposition was performed on 992 combat-injured patients using two modeling processes. Based on combat casualty data, the MCIS is a new, simpler, comprehensive severity scale with 269 codes (vs. 1999 in AIS) that specifically characterize and distinguish the many unique injuries encountered in combat. The MCIS integrates with the MFIS, which associates immediate combat functional impairment with minor and moderate-severity injuries. Predictive validation on combat datasets shows improved performance over AIS-based tools in addition to improved face, construct, and content validity and coding inter-rater reliability. Thus, the MCIS has greater relevance, accuracy, and precision for many military-specific applications. Over a period of several years, the Military Combat Injury Scale and Military Functional Incapacity Scale were developed, tested and validated by teams of civilian and tri-service military expertise. MCIS shows significant promise in documenting the nature, severity and complexity of modern combat injury.

LG tools for asymmetric wargaming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stilman, Boris; Yakhnis, Alex; Yakhnis, Vladimir

2002-07-01

Asymmetric operations represent conflict where one of the sides would apply military power to influence the political and civil environment, to facilitate diplomacy, and to interrupt specified illegal activities. This is a special type of conflict where the participants do not initiate full-scale war. Instead, the sides may be engaged in a limited open conflict or one or several sides may covertly engage another side using unconventional or less conventional methods of engagement. They may include peace operations, combating terrorism, counterdrug operations, arms control, support of insurgencies or counterinsurgencies, show of force. An asymmetric conflict can be represented as several concurrent interlinked games of various kinds: military, transportation, economic, political, etc. Thus, various actions of peace violators, terrorists, drug traffickers, etc., can be expressed via moves in different interlinked games. LG tools allow us to fully capture the specificity of asymmetric conflicts employing the major LG concept of hypergame. Hypergame allows modeling concurrent interlinked processes taking place in geographically remote locations at different levels of resolution and time scale. For example, it allows us to model an antiterrorist operation taking place simultaneously in a number of countries around the globe and involving wide range of entities from individuals to combat units to governments. Additionally, LG allows us to model all sides of the conflict at their level of sophistication. Intelligent stakeholders are represented by means of LG generated intelligent strategies. TO generate those strategies, in addition to its own mathematical intelligence, the LG algorithm may incorporate the intelligence of the top-level experts in the respective problem domains. LG models the individual differences between intelligent stakeholders. The LG tools make it possible to incorporate most of the known traits of a stakeholder, i.e., real personalities involved in the conflict with their specific individual style.

[Etiology and prognosis of the eye traumas by war weapons in the Senegalese army].

PubMed

Seck, S M; Diakhaté, M; Ndiaye Sow, M N; Dieng, M; Agboton, G; Guèye, N N

2017-02-01

The aim of this work is to identify the main weapons causing eye injuries during the campaigns of the Senegalese army in the south of the country, as well as the prognosis of these traumas. This study is retrospective and concerns soldiers wounded by the weapons of war during the exercise of their mission within the Senegalese armed forces of 1991 in 2005. They are mainly soldiers affected in the south of the country during a war, clashes with the rebels or in Guinea-Bissau during operation Gabou in 1998. And they were evacuated to the ophthalmology department of the Principal Hospital in Dakar, which is a level 3. Thirty-seven military all male, with an average age of 30.5 years. Forty-six eyes including 9 bilateral cases. The trauma agent is a burst of RPG7 shells in 62% of cases, mine explosion in 13.5%, offensive grenade 10.8%, assault rifle 5.7% and flame lance-roquette anti-char (LRAC) accounts for 8%. We noted a phthisis of the globe for 14 eyes (30.43%) and for 15 eyes (32.60%) a functional loss of the affected globe. Inability to fight was decided by 29 wounded soldiers (78.37% of the cases), sedentary employment in 27 cases (72.97%) and 10 cases (27.03%) of reformed soldiers. In the conflict in southern Senegal, the RPG7 shell burst causes 62% of eye injuries. This RPG7 shell called "rebel weapon" is frequently used in conflicts in Africa. The prognosis of trauma with these types of weapons is severe. The combat goggles systematically integrated in the equipment of the Senegalese combatant, would be an invaluable contribution on the prevention of the traumatisms of the eye. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Posttraumatic Stress in U.S. Marines: The Role of Unit Cohesion and Combat Exposure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armistead-Jehle, Patrick; Johnston, Scott L.; Wade, Nathaniel G.; Ecklund, Christofer J.

2011-01-01

Combat exposure is a consistent predictor of posttraumatic stress (PTS). Understanding factors that might buffer the effects of combat exposure is crucial for helping service members weather the stress of war. In a study of U.S. Marines returning from Iraq, hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that unit cohesion and combat exposure…

An Introduction to Human Factors and Combat Models

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-03-01

Combat Models by Timothy F. Schroth Captain, United States Army B . A., Temple University, 1982 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for...INTRODUCTION .......... ................. 4 B . DEFINING HUMAN FACTORS - AN HISTORICAL APPROACH 4 C. BEFORE/AFTER THE BATTLE ...... ........... 8 1. Culture...16 III. COMBAT MODELS ....... .................. 18 A. INTRODUCTION ....... ................. 18 B . PURPOSE OF COMBAT MODELS ... ........... 20 1

Objective Versus Subjective Measurement of Stress and Social Support: Combat-Related Reactions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solomon, Zahava; And Others

1987-01-01

Studied combat intensity, social support, and related stress reactions among soldiers who fought in the 1982 Israeli-Lebanon War, comparing those who experienced combat stress reaction (N=382) and those who did not (N=344). Subjective indicators were found to be stronger predictors than were objective indicators. Combat stress reaction was clearly…

Exploring the Experiences of Combat Veterans' Degree Attainment in Online Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warren, Ester

2017-01-01

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the essence of the experiences of combat veterans with significant combat exposure who successfully completed their bachelor's degree through a private online program despite the presence of challenges related and unrelated to their combat exposure. For the purpose of this…

Temporal indiscriminateness: the case of cluster bombs.

PubMed

Cavanaugh, T A

2010-03-01

This paper argues that the current stock of anti-personnel cluster bombs are temporally indiscriminate, and, therefore, unjust weapons. The paper introduces and explains the idea of temporal indiscriminateness. It argues that to honor non-combatant immunity-in addition to not targeting civilians-one must adequately target combatants. Due to their high dud rate, cluster submunitions fail to target combatants with sufficient temporal accuracy, and, thereby, result in avoidable serious harm to non-combatants. The paper concludes that non-combatant immunity and the principle of discrimination require a moratorium on the use of current cluster munitions.

Study on combat effectiveness of air defense missile weapon system based on queuing theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Z. Q.; Hao, J. X.; Li, L. J.

2017-01-01

Queuing Theory is a method to analyze the combat effectiveness of air defense missile weapon system. The model of service probability based on the queuing theory was constructed, and applied to analyzing the combat effectiveness of "Sidewinder" and "Tor-M1" air defense missile weapon system. Finally aimed at different targets densities, the combat effectiveness of different combat units of two types' defense missile weapon system is calculated. This method can be used to analyze the usefulness of air defense missile weapon system.