Military Safety Research Articles

Evaluation of the Potential of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of Chemical Warfare Agents and Their Toxic Degradation Products

The determination of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and their toxic degradation products (DPs) has become increasingly important for public and military safety in recent years. We focused on assessing the possibility of the HPLC-ICP-MS analytical technique to verify the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This technique enables the identification and determination of minimal concentrations (ppt range) of elements in various matrices. This fact is important for the determination of CWAs and other highly harmful compounds, even small amounts of which can have serious consequences for living organisms. We have critically analysed the results of scientific research on the identification and quantitative determination of extremely toxic organophosphorus, organosulfur and organoarsenic CWAs, their derivatives and their degradation products using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

The military gear microbiome: risk factors surrounding the warfighter.

Combat extremity wounds are highly susceptible to contamination from surrounding environmental material. This bioburden could be partially transferred from materials in immediate proximity to the wound, including fragments of the uniform and gear. However, the assessment of the microbial bioburden present on military gear during operational conditions of deployment or training is relatively unexplored. Opportunistic pathogens that can survive on gear represent risk factors for infection following injury, especially following combat blasts, where fibers and other materials are embedded in wounded tissue. We utilized 16S rRNA sequencing to assess the microbiome composition of different military gear types (boot, trouser, coat, and canteen) from two operational environments (training in Hawai'i and deployed in Indonesia) across time (days 0 and 14). We found that microbiome diversity, stability, and composition were dependent on gear type, training location, and sampling timepoint. At day 14, species diversity was significantly higher in Hawai'i samples compared to Indonesia samples for boot, coat, and trouser swabs. In addition, we observed the presence of potential microbial risk factors, as opportunistic pathogenic species, such as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus, were found to be present in all sample types and in both study sites. These study outcomes will be used to guide the design of antimicrobial materials and uniforms and for infection control efforts following combat blasts and other injuries, thereby improving treatment guidance during military training and deployment.IMPORTANCECombat extremity wounds are vulnerable to contamination from environments of proximity to the warfighter, leading to potential detrimental outcomes such as infection and delayed wound healing. Therefore, microbial surveillance of such environments is necessary to aid the advancement of military safety and preparedness through clinical diagnostics, treatment protocols, and uniform material design.

Application of aza-BODIPY as a Nitroaromatic Sensor.

Nitroaromatic explosive detection with high sensitivity and selectivity is requisite for civilian and military safety and the ecosystem. In this study, aza boron dipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) dye was selected as a fluorescent-based chemosensor against nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) including 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid, TNP), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). This dye molecule exhibits sharp fluorescent behavior with high quantum yields beyond the near-infrared region (NIR) and is considered as a potential candidate for the detection of NACs. O'Shea's approach was used to synthesize tetraphenyl-conjugated aza-BODIPY molecules. Quenching of fluorescence emission of aza-BODIPY at 668 nm after the exposure to NACs was investigated under acetonitrile-water and acetonitrile-ethanol solvent conditions. The quenching responses and its mechanism were examined by considering the Stern-Volmer relationship Stern-Volmer constants (Ksv) for TNP (in water), TNP (in ethanol), TNT, and DNT, which are predicted to be 1420, 1215, 1364, and 968 M-1, respectively, all of which are sufficiently above the limit of detection (LOD) values. Thus, the present study opens up the possibility of the usage of aza-BODIPY molecules as a low-cost, light-weight sensor for the detection of NAC explosives.

Lower Extremity Validation of a Human Body Model for High Rate Axial Loading in the Underbody Blast Environment.

While the use of Human Body Models (HBMs) in the underbody blast (UBB) environment has increased and shown positive results, the potential of these models has not been fully explored. Obtaining accurate kinematic and kinetic response are necessary to better understand the injury mechanisms for military safety applications. The objective of this study was to validate the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) M50 lower extremity using a combined objective rating scheme in vertical and horizontal high-rate axial loading. The model's lower extremity biomechanical response was compared to Post Mortem Human Subjects (PMHS) subjects for vertically and horizontally-applied high rate axial loading. Two distinct experimental setups were used for model validation, comprising a total of 33 distinct end points for validation. A combined Correlation and Analysis (CORA) score that incorporates CORA, time-to-peak (TTP) and peak magnitude of the experimental signals and ISO TS 18571 was used to evaluate the model response. For the horizontal impacts, the combined CORA scores were 0.80, 0.84, and 0.81 for compression, force, and strain respectively. For the vertical impacts combined CORA scores for the knee Z force, compression and heel Z displacement ranged from 0.70-0.81, 0.87-0.91, and 0.82-0.99 respectively. The GHBMC lower extremity model showed good agreement with PMHS experimental data in the horizontal and vertical loading environment in 33 unique tests. The accuracy is demonstrated by using the ISO TS 18571 standard and a combined CORA score that takes into consideration the peak and time to peak of the signal. The results of this study show that GHBMC v 6.0 HBM lower extremity can be used for kinetic and kinematic predictions in the UBB environment.

Multiplier Effects of Photodetectors—Source of Gain

A photodetector is a type of optoelectronic device with excellent photoelectric conversion abilities, which has especially important applications in many fields such as optical communication, image sensing, aerospace/environmental detection, and military safety. Among these applications, the multiplier effect of optoelectronic devices has been widely explored because photodetectors can convert a very weak optical signal into electrical signal output and offer amazing electron multiplication abilities. To date, hundreds of multiplier effects of photodetectors have been reported. However, there are few reviews on the multiplier effects of such devices. Here, a review of the multiplier effects of photodetectors covering detection spectra from ultraviolet to infrared is presented, including photodetectors based on inorganic materials, organic materials, and organic/inorganic materials. First, we provide brief insights into the detection mechanisms of multiplier effects of photodetectors and introduce the merits that represent key factors for a reasonable comparison of different photodetectors. Then, the multiplier effect on different types of material photodetectors is reviewed. Notably, we summarize the optimization directions of the performance of the multiplier photodetectors, including improving the external quantum efficiency, reducing the dark current, and increasing the response speed and spectral regulation. Finally, an outlook is delivered, the challenges and future directions are discussed, and general advice for designing and realizing novel high-performance photodetectors with multiplier effects is given to provide a guideline for the future development of this fast-developing field. The bottlenecks of existing multiplier technology are also analyzed, which has strong reference significance for the future development of this field.

The influence of Work Health Safety on Australia’s military aviation regulatory framework

In 2016, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Defence Aviation Safety Regulations (DASR) came into being, in part to harmonise with the Australian Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHSA). Defence aviation is too complex to be regulated completely by Work Health Safety (WHS) legislation; therefore, amplification is required to ensure safe and legal outcomes. The DASR provides the necessary amplification, managing aviation safety through technical and operational airworthiness. ADF technical airworthiness is based on the European Military Airworthiness Requirements (EMAR), with an overlaid Aviation Safety Management System (ASMS) modelled by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Australian WHS legislation directly influences Safety Risk Management (SRM), mandating how hazards and risks must be controlled by duty holders in all industries. For ADF aviation, this means a shift from a standards-based SRM to a legislative-based SRM, culminating in implementing a seven-step process integrated into all risk management activities. This paper examines how WHS legislation can directly influence the safety regulation of a high-risk industry such as military aviation. Further, safety management from a military perspective is a novel area of research, as military and civil safety management have historically been non-aligned and disparate. This research helps close the knowledge gap and offers an opportunity to disseminate and explore military safety management processes resulting from changes to the overarching WHS legislation. The authors believe such insights may prove useful to other states transitioning to an EMAR-based regulatory structure.

NATIONAL SAFETY AND THE STRATEGY OF THE PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: ANALYTICAL POINT OF VIEW TO INNOVATIVE TENDENCIES

This article considers the strategy of the professional military education development in Ukraine in context of the threats for national safety. The analytical point of view to innovative tendencies in this sphere is presented. Making accent to institutional leaders who encourage innovation through protecting academic freedom and who are open to learning through experimentation and reflection, becoming most important in contemporary conditions warfighting, such new forms of war, as “hybrid” war like main threat for national and military safety. Keywords: development, national safety, professional military education, military education military-safety, strategy, threat.

Fabrication of CuS/Fe3O4@polypyrrole flower-like composites for excellent electromagnetic wave absorption

Recently, electromagnetic radiation is a serious threat to equipment accuracy, military safety and human health. The combination with different materials to fabricate absorber composites with well-designed morphology is expected to ameliorate this issue. In here, CuS/Fe3O4@polypyrrole (CuS/Fe3O4@PPy) flower-like composites are constructed by the combination of hydrothermal method, solvothermal method and in-situ polymerization. CuS with flower-like structure consisting of nanosheets can provide a conductive backbone and large specific surface area. Hollow Fe3O4 microspheres play a key role in deciding magnetic loss, and electromagnetic waves can penetrate their hollow structure, result in multiple reflection and refraction. PPy coating can enhance the combined strength of composite, and effectively consume microwaves by scattering and multiple refraction in the intercalated structure. As expected, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of CuS/Fe3O4@PPy composites is −74.12 dB at 8.16 GHz with a thickness of 2.96 mm, and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 4.6 GHz (13.4–18.0 GHz) at 1.68 mm. The excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performances are attributed to the synergy effect of different components. This work provides a unique strategy for the structural design of flower-like microspheres in the field of electromagnetic wave absorption.

Military presence of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus

A military presence on the territory of the Republic of Belarus is highly significant for the Russian Federation geopolitically. Russia is very particular about having buffer zones, client and neighbouring states with limited sovereignty on its borders. The aim of this article is to analyse the specificity of the Russian Federation’s military presence in Belarus. In the following article, two hypotheses have been verified using factor analysis. Firstly, sustaining control over the territory of Belarus is of particular importance for the military safety of Russia, while at the same time, it detrimentally affects the stability of the Central and Eastern Europe countries. Secondly, the Russian Federation does not have a permanent military base within Belarusian territory and its military presence is solely confined to the use of military and transport infrastructure, which is indispensable for rapid accommodation and deployment of the Armed Force formations as well as for the rotation of strike forces. Due to political reasons, a permanent military presence enables Russia to keep Belarus within its area of influence. Nevertheless, in military terms, the utilisation of military and transport infrastructure in order to rapidly deploy strike forces within the territory of the Republic is far more important.

GNSS Multiparameter Spoofing Detection Method Based on Support Vector Machine

The vulnerability of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) to spoofing limits its vast application in military safety and the national economy. Therefore, it is significantly important to rapidly and accurately detect GNSS spoofing. The traditional spoofing detection mainly detects spoofing signal intrusion by individual parameters such as signal power and signal quality. The single-parameter detection method can no longer manage complex and changing scenarios with the continuous development of spoofing technology. This paper proposes a GNSS multi-parameter joint detection method based on the support vector machine (SVM). The effects of spoofing on the signal acquisition, signal tracking, and position, velocity and time (PVT) solution processes are analyzed, and the composite signal quality monitoring (SQM), carrier-to-noise ratio C/N <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> , pseudo-range Doppler consistency, PVT solving residuals, and clock difference and clock drift are extracted as detection features for training and testing of the support vector machine binary classification model. The F1-score of all nine-types parameter detection methods on TEXBAT and OAKBAT datasets improved by 22.95% and 19.6% (reach 93.97% and 97%), respectively, compared with only SQM parameters selected method. The obtained results demonstrate significant improvement in the spoofing detection performance compared with the traditional single-parameter methods.

Risk and Respirators: The Hazardous Trajectories of Soviet Occupational Safety, 1940s-80s.

This article explores a distinct Soviet policy of occupational care that emerged after World War II, when Soviet industry invented an array of respiratory protective equipment (RPE). The annual production of millions of devices highlighted the development of a complex Soviet transinstitutional system for insuring safe occupational breathing. Following key premises of respiratory safety policies in the activities of Soviet organizations, this article traces a biopolitical shift from mortality to vitality. By showing the curial role of RPE in the history of occupational rather than military safety in the twentieth century, the article fills a major research gap to feature Soviet modernity through the unique lens of industrial respiratory care in postwar Soviet Union between the late 1940s and the early 1990s.

A Multi-Domain instrument for safety Climate: Military safety climate questionnaire (MSCQ) and NOSACQ-50

The purpose of this study is to adjust and develop Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50) specifically for the military domain. Many safety climate instruments have been developed for complex organizations but few with a military perspective including military exercises and physical training. Data were collected during two separate occasions, experiment one (n = 956) and experiment two (n = 377). The questionnaire was distributed to civilian and military personnel working in the Swedish Armed Forces and to military cadets. The results of experiment one was then analyzed using principal component analyses and confirmatory factor analyses, the factor structure was reproduced in experiment two. The results from the study confirmed the reliability and validity of NOSACQ-50 as a safety climate instrument in the military organization. However, several new factors were identified with the military safety climate questionnaire (MSCQ). Physical fitness and exercises are important activities in the military but are less important in other organizations which could explain why it isn’t present in traditional safety climate instruments. This study identifies several limitations one being the design of questions suitable for both military and civilian personnel. Another limitation is combat operations, this data collection recognizes the field but was unable to capture data from actual combat operations. Further research is needed to fully develop more dimensions for both exercises and combat operations.

Human pelvis injury risk curves from underbody blast impact

IntroductionUnderbody blast loading can result in injuries to the pelvis and the lumbosacral spine. The purpose of this study was to determine human tolerance in this region based on survival...

Military Safety and Surveillance Robot with Two-Way Communication

This paper focuses on developing an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) wireless robot. It can sense the different parameters of the surroundings; transmit the data through a wireless medium and display data in LCD as well as on a Remote PC. It controls the direction of the robot from a remote location using wireless communication and thereby performing military surveillance and analysing the battlefield environment and challenges that the soldiers may potentially face. By using a Wi-Fi camera and many sensors the robot can help the soldiers in the war fields to examine various environmental conditions and challenges. The arduino and NRF (Nordic Radio Frequency) technologies are used to achieve the above tasks. The different sensors and the robotic arm are connected to the Arduino Uno which in turn is connected to the Nordic Radio Frequency module. Data transmission and receiving are done through Nordic Radio Frequency communication technology. The proposed model eliminates the limitations of the existing models and thus provides better assistance to the soldiers and enables them to handle their missions better.

A Study on Job Analysis of Military Security Officer by DACUM

To establish a safety culture in the Army, this study aims to establish a combat preparation safety group and establish a new position of safety management officer in all units through job analysis to establish their responsibilities and tasks. Therefore, Among the job analysis techniques, this study derived the responsibilities and tasks of the safety management officer using DACUM, and verified the validity and reliability of the tasks derived from the survey. The findings of the analysis were as follows. First, four responsibilities and 81 tasks for the military safety management officer were derived. Second, the analysis of the importance of the duties and tasks of the safety management officer showed that the establishment and implementation of safety policies and safety education, unit safety diagnosis activities, support of subordinate units, and tasks within the responsibilities were important. This study is meaningful in that it has clearly identified the work of the military safety management officer by deriving the core tasks of the military safety management officer on the wartime/peacetime.

The 1926 Lake Denmark Explosion: An Extraordinary Mishap That Changed Military Safety Standards

Prior to 1926, the American Table of Distances did not adequately take into consideration the potential for munition storage facilities to exceed capacities. This study aims to provide an overview of the construction and use of munition storage facilities and examine how the American Table of Distances would dramatically change due to the 1926 explosion at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunitions Depot. The historical literature examining the correlation between the American Table of Distances and storage capacities is limited, and independent inquiries by the United States Government and first-person accounts of the explosion exist. However, these sources had not been collectively assembled into a study to provide historical context. From this research, it can be determined that it was only a matter of “when” would a disaster strike, as storage facilities up and down the eastern seaboard were experiencing exceeded capacities. This disaster, while unnecessary, provided an opportunity for the Army to respond, make changes, and ultimately allow the government to update outdated safety standards. Additionally, this study serves the dual purpose of highlighting the newly established Navy Hill Historic District associated with the unfortunate disaster and its important legacy.

Analysis of Military Training Security Risk Assessment Method Based on F-ANP

Combining the arm training practice after the Strong Army Reform, this paper put forwards using the F-ANP method for military training security risks to semi- quantitative evaluation, builds the safety risk assessment index system of military training, semi-quantitative calculation and analysis, and put forwards the opinions of the security risk prevention and control suggestions. This paper enriches the military training of security risk assessment methods, and provides the reference to the research of military training safety risk assessment.

A Study on Establishment of Safety Training Center Based on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Technology for Military Safety and Suicide Accident Prevention

A Study on Establishment of Safety Training Center Based on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Technology for Military Safety and Suicide Accident Prevention

Risk Propensity and Risk Factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Canadian Armed Forces Recruits

Recent reported increases in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members prompt a need to better understand risky sexual behaviors. Although CAF members may be more prone to engage in certain risks as expected given their career choice, they may also be more prone to engage in behaviors that could compromise their health. CAF recruits (n = 8,686) reported their number of sexual partners, frequency of condom use, history of STI diagnosis, and measures of health and safety, and recreational risk propensity. Results indicated that recruits with a higher propensity to engage in health and safety risks were more likely to report having engaged in riskier sexual behaviors. Although recruits higher in recreational risk propensity were more likely to have more sexual partners, they were also more likely to engage in more frequent condom use. Although openness to recreational risk can be desirable in military members, health and safety risk propensity can lead to health compromising behaviors, which could, in turn, impair operational fitness. Better understanding of how risk propensity may contribute to unsafe sexual practices can inform the development of screening tools to identify segments of the recruit population that would benefit from targeted interventions and programing.

Military Safety: A Systems Perspective on Lariam

Lariam is an antimalarial drug that has a safety profile characterised by a predominance of neuropsychiatric adverse reactions. It is still prescribed within the British armed forces. A purposive survey (n = 28) of serving and ex-serving British military personnel with experience of operations where Lariam was used revealed that 82% experienced side effects and 85.71% considered the drug unsuitable for use during military operations. An additional online survey (n = 50) provided supporting results. Using system theory analysis, Peta Bathie argues that Lariam use degrades decision-making, damages unit morale and erodes cohesiveness. Because it undermines fighting power, the consumption of such antimalarials appears inconsistent with current UK military doctrine.