Military medicine
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It is important to determine the local forces and moments across the entire cervical spine as dysfunctions such as spondylosis and acceleration-induced injuries are focused on specific levels/segments. The aims of the study were to determine the axial and shear forces and moments at each level under G-x accelerative loading for female and male spines. ⋯ All metrics reached their peaks earlier in female than male spines, representing a quicker loading in the female spine. Peak magnitudes were also lower in the female spines. Moments and axial forces varied differently compared to the shear forces in the female spine, suggesting that intersegmental loads vary nonuniformly. Effects of head inertia contributed to the greatest increase in axial force under this impact acceleration vector. Because female spines have a lower biomechanical tolerance to injury, female spines may be more vulnerable to injury under this load vector.
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Military spouses play a critical role in supporting military service members, and thus, their experiences may have a significant impact on the well-being, readiness, and resilience of the U.S. Armed Forces. Research suggests that military spouses experience unique stressors as a result of military life, but few studies have assessed demographic factors associated with their experiences of military life and perceived support. ⋯ These findings may help guide effective channeling of resources and outreach to potentially vulnerable military families.
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Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a growing public health concern in the USA and globally because of the emergence of lifestyle preferences and environmental exposures to sound levels exceeding safe listening limits for extended periods of time. In the military, hearing and communication are important for survival and the Department of Defense's Hearing Center of Excellence highlights the importance of protection from NIHL. Issuance of the World health organization safe audio listening standards along with existing U.S. federal and military standards provides a framework for developing an accessible tool for promoting safe listening. ⋯ The overall goals of the App are to increase NIHL awareness and to empower users to improve personal listening behaviors that can potentially reduce the risk of NIHL.
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The current model for treating behavioral health patients requires that providers and patients be in the same location for appointments. However, deploying warfighters present a challenge to this current model. Recent advances in technology make telehealth or virtual visits a viable option to replace the current model. This project leveraged mobile technology to see if performing tele-behavioral health visits presented a viable option to the current in-person model for future deployed warfighters. At the time of this publication, the authors note the current pandemic lends all the more urgency to the need for enhancing our video communication platforms for remote monitoring with the Military Health System. ⋯ It is technically feasible to provide desktop Video Tele-Conference capabilities from a .mil computer to a personal mobile device without compromising DoD security and information assurance requirements using future WebRTC systems. Approved ports, protocols, and system settings must be configured to accept both inbound and outbound, encrypted traffic to/from personal mobile devices to maintain consistent quality of service with all DoD networks. Of the current DoD WebRTC options, working with the DISA GVS Program Manager to expand services to support commercial mobile devices has the highest probability of future success.
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Osseointegrated implants for direct skeletal attachment of transtibial prosthesis carry risks that are yet to be fully resolved, such as early loosening, mechanical failure of percutaneous and medullar parts of implant, periprosthetic issues, and infections. Underloading could lead to early loosening and infection. Overloading might compromise the bone-implant interface. Therefore, Goldilocks loading regimen applied by transtibial bone-anchored prostheses is critical for safe and efficient development of osseointegration around the implant during rehabilitation and beyond. We hypothesized that Goldilocks loading could be achieved when ambulating with a so-called anthropomorphic prosthetic ankle showing moment-angle relationship similar to a sound ankle. ⋯ Indexes of anthropomorphicity, while of different magnitude, were positive in control able-bodied group and in the amputee group wearing Free-Flow Foot, which was qualitatively associated with concave shape of their moment-angle curves. The 3 usual feet worn by the participants were classified as nonanthropomorphic as their individual moment-angle curves were convex and the corresponding IAs were negative. Furthermore, this study showed that a foot with anthropomorphic characteristics tends to decrease maximal loads at the bone-implant interface as compared to the nonanthropomorphic feet and possibly may minimize the risks to compromise the integrity of this interface.