Nuclear, Biological And Chemical Research Articles

Disaster Medicine Compendium and the Necessity of Preparation of Medical Techniques for Handling NBC/CBRNE Hazards, for General Surgeons

Introduction:The risks of NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) or CBRNE (R: radiological, E: explosive) hazards are rapidly increasing even in civilian areas, as well as those of natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.). Therefore, one of the most important and emergent issues for medical staff, especially for general surgeons is the necessity of skills to deal with various mega- or major disasters to help people as well as, protecting themselves. This has been a point of emphasis since 2005, when the Disaster Medicine Compendium was published and continues to be updated today.Method:The research focuses on NBC/CBRNE hazards: Pandemics such as COVID-19, Monkeypox, influenza, the Tokyo Subway Sarin Incident, and the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake, followed by Fukushima Plant Incident, Chernobyl, earthquakes with tsunami, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, and the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.Results:The skills that should be accustomed to are protection, prevention, diminution of toxicity, decontamination, as well as routine medical/surgical treatments. The relevant education is varied and not easily performed. For example, it was found that Japan DMAT or disaster medical assistant teams struggled with a lack of techniques to deal with the nuclear plant hazard during the above-mentioned Fukushima plant accident.Conclusion:In the event of hazards including NBC/CBRNE, surgical skills are necessary. However, medical teams require training in advance. Surgical methods and other skills, intensive care, and examinations performed wearing PPE or personal protection equipment is important, as well as the safety and security of the medical teams, in addition, to supporting the vulnerable/weak victims, ensured using an Incident Command System.

Kapabilitas Kompi Zeni Nubika TNI AD Dalam Menghadapi Ancaman Bencana Nubika

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) which consist of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) are becoming prominent issue in the world, especially after biological and chemical terrorism revealed to the face. Based on the development and the use of NBC weapon, by making an NBC Unit, Indonesian Army constantly alert to the possible impact of the danger of NBC weapons. The unit is prepared well dealing with the threats. The research aims to analyse capabilities of Army NBC Unit dealing with the threats of NBC disaster and their barriers and how to improve those capabilities. This research applied qualitative method by interviews, observation, and secondary data. The results showed that the capability of Army NBC Unit is inadequate from the aspect of human resources, equipments, and budget, making its utilization not optimal. To improve the capability of Army NBC Unit takes efforts to improve human resources, equipment, infrastructure and education. The special abilities of Army NBC Unit can be utilized for disaster prevention of accidents or natural disasters. While the increasing threat of NBC disaster in peace condition, it is suggested to establish battalion-level unit supporting Army NBC unit to be able handling more than two trouble spots in the field.

Psychophysiological response to the use of nuclear, biological and chemical equipment with military tasks

The current military training requires the development and optimization of different strategies to improve performance in extreme conditions as well as the possible risk of suffering attacks with chemical and/ or radioactive substances. It turns out mandatory to research the psychophysiological response of soldiers and sanitary personnel when wearing the nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) equipment. A longitudinal prospective experimental quantitative study has been developed, using a pre-treatment and post-treatment design. A total of 20 soldiers (33.3 ± 5.4 years), belonging to the Spanish Armed Forces have been analyzed, divided into two groups, when carrying out different training activities designed to that effect. The following variables were analyzed right before and after accomplishing the different tasks: heart rate, heart variability, thermoregulation, blood glucose, explosive strength, perceived effort and motion performance in a munitioning task. The results showed a significant increase (p < 05) in heart rate, blood glucose, perceived effort and the time required when developing the triage tasks and when putting a tourniquet on other person in the group wearing NBC equipment compared to the other group, as well as a longer time required in a munitioning task. These results highlight the importance of training and preparing the sanitary and military personnel in the use of NBC equipment.

Istraživanje nanofibriranih obloženih traka za hemijsku i biološku zaštitu

Worldwide used Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protective clothing has very limited protection against bacteria. Apart from this, NBC clothing has ample scope of improvements of some important features like comfort, better protection against CWA and weight reduction. The purpose of this research work is to establish process of integrating nanofibrous coated web with adsorbent layer of NBC clothing to achieve required biological protection and better chemical protection with reducing its weight. In this study, the developed activated carbon sphere (ACS) laminated structures are integrated with nanofibrous webs of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA). Design of the PVA integration process with adsorbent layer is strategically decided. PVA nanowebs of different morphological structures and coating densities (0.03-0.61 g/m2) by latest nozzle-less nanospider technology are coated on polypropylene (PP) spun bonded nonwoven fabric. Then coated PP fabric is stitched at the boarder-line with adsorbent layer for formulating the composite layer. The various attributes and functional properties of PVA nanofibrous integrated absorbent layer is characterized by using FESEM, 1,3-Dichloropropane test (stimulant for mustard gas), durability test, pore size, air permeability and water vapour transmission rate. The reported research work showed that by integrating nanofibrous coated web layers into ACS laminated adsorbent layer of NBC clothing, it's now offering various functional properties like additional bacterial filtration and chemical protection at a lighter weight.

Activated Carbon Fabric: An Adsorbent Material for Chemical Protective Clothing

&lt;p class="p1"&gt;Activated carbon fabric or fiber (ACF) is a novel carbonaceous material with exceptionally high adsorption rate and larger adsorption capacity, that has emerged as a rising star in the field of adsorbents. ACF has many advantages over other commercial porous storage materials such as granular activated carbon and powdered activated carbon in terms of adsorption capacity, well defined microporous structure, stability, flexibility and ease of lamination to various substrates. In the last few years, activated carbon fabrics have gained greater choice of interest for use as an adsorbent material in several fields including nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection suit. Viscose rayon, acetate, polyacrylonitrile, pitch, and phenolic based materials are mainly used as precursors for preparation of ACF. ACF or fibres are generally prepared by process comprising stabilisation, carbonisation and activation of precursors. Reviews recent advances and developments in the field of ACF and their utility as an adsorbent material in various fields including NBC scenario. ACF with unmatchable pore structure and surface characteristics at present, with continued innovations and attention to its key challenges, it is expected that ACF will play a pivotal role in diverse environmental, defence&lt;em&gt;, &lt;/em&gt;and civil applications.&lt;/p&gt;

Las Armas de Destrucción Masiva y la Estrategia Global de Seguridad de la Unión Europea

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) is one of the main security challenges facing the international community today. However the new Global Security Strategy of 2016 raises the question of non-proliferation of WMD only as an incidental matter, not addressing directly the threat, a fundamental threat in the regional and global security. This is a clear step backwards for the European common security.

Pressure Swing Adsorption Based Air Filtration/Purification Systems for NBC Collective Protection

The respiratory protection against chemical warfare agents (CWA) has become a worldwide security concern in light of the many recent international threats utilising CWA. Till date the carbon filtration was adequate to protect the soldiers from the threats of CWA. With the advent of further advancements in the CWA a new threat is looming large that is known as the carbon breakers. pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is a well-established gas separation technique in air separation, gas drying, and hydrogen purification separation. Recently, PSA technology has been applied in the area of chem-bio defence by virtue of its unique advantages. This article reviews recent advances and developments in the field of PSA based purification, separation, and its use in defense sector. This emerging and advanced PSA technology can provide regenerative nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) collective protection for ground vehicles, aircraft, ships and shelters. This PSA technology challenges threat scenario developed which includes nerve, blood and blister agents, as well as a “carbon breaker” agent, and proved that this technology will be a viable concept for future NBC collective protection systems. New technological breakthroughs and greater sophistication of PSA technologies will transform the collective protection based PSA technology in real field sense, addressing the escalating threat of CWA. We conclude this review with future prospects and challenges associated with PSA technology.

Creating an Optimization Algorithm for the Minimum Size of the Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are small, battery-powered and each has a large number of sensors to collect and store the environmental information as well as the process is the ability to communicate with other sensors. Without a wireless network, environmental monitoring, nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) attack detection, object tracking, industrial automation, and home automation has its use. A sensor network to operate successfully, the two sensors to maintain a sense of security and network connectivity. A sensor for wireless sensor networks is an important issue that affects the specific field deployment. In both situations, it is very difficult to monitor the sensor field. First, the sensor industry and the second largest in the field of sensor to fully cover the budget that does not provide enough sensors. In this situation, the use of a minimum number of sensors that are fully geared to lead the field of sensors. The purpose of using a limited number of or fewer sensors and sensors to choose from and it is for this reason the proposed approximate Steiner tree algorithm techniques used, based on the increase in the coverage area of the field is set.

OneSAF와 화생방 오염예측모델 간 HLA/RTI 기반 연동 구조 설계

For military training and course-of-action analysis, OneSAF Int'l version being used in ROK Army has a limited capability to simulate NBC(nuclear, biological, and chemical) damages. For high-fidelity NBC combat simulation, it is required to visualize NBC contamination dispersion in consideration of weather conditions and terrain characteristics. However, OneSAF itself handling interaction among thousands of combat entities cannot carry out a simulation of NBC contamination dispersion because it brings about an excess burden. To resolve this problem, this research aims to design simulation federation for analysis on NBC operational effects. After examining design consideration to connect OneSAF and a NBC contamination dispersion model, we design a federation architecture that facilitates the interaction between OneSAF and a NBC contamination dispersion model. Afterwards, we implement a federation interface to share simulation data by publish-subscribe pattern and to translate them into the proprietary format for each model. We prove the possibility of federation between both models, as showing that dispersion of NBC contaminated cloud and changes in concentration are reflected in OneSAF-based engagement simulation.

Physiological tolerance to uncompensated heat stress in soldiers: Effects of various types of body cooling systems

In military services, emergency situations when soldiers are exposed to a combination of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contamination combined with heat stress, are frequent and complex. In these specific conditions, usage of personal body cooling systems may be effective in reducing heat stress. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of four various types of contemporary personal body cooling systems based on the "Phase Change Material" (PCM), and its effects on soldiers' subjective comfort and physiological performance during exertional heat stress in hot environments. Ten male soldiers were voluntarily subjected to exertional heat stress tests (EHSTs) consisted of walking on a treadmill (5.5 km/h) in hot conditions (40 degreesC) in climatic chamber, wearing NBC isolating impermeable protective suits. One of the tests was performed without any additional cooling solution (NOCOOL), and four tests were performed while using different types of cooling systems: three in a form of vests and one as underwear. Physiological strain was determined by the mean skin temperature (Tsk), tympanic temperature (Tty), and heart rate values (HR), while sweat rates (SwR) indicated changes in hydration status. In all the cases EHST induced physiological response manifested through increasing Tty, HR and SwR. Compared to NOCOOL tests, when using cooling vests, Tty and Tsk were significantly lower (on 35th min, for 0.44 +/- 0.03 and 0.49 +/- 0.05 degrees C, respectively; p < 0.05), as well as the average SwR (0.17 +/- 0.03 L/m2/h). When using underwear, the values of given parameters were not significantly different compared to NOCOOL tests. Using a body cooling system based on PCM in the form of vest under NBC protective clothes during physical activity in hot conditions, reduces sweating and alleviates heat stress manifested by increased core and skin temperatures and heart rate values. These effects directly improve heat tolerance, hydration state, decrease in the risk of heat illness, and extends the duration of soldiers' exposure to extreme conditions.

Man-portable personal cooling garment based on vacuum desiccant cooling

A man-portable personal cooling garment based on the concept of vacuum desiccant cooling (VDC) was developed. It was demonstrated with cooling pads that a cooling capacity of 373.1 W/m2 could be achieved in an ambient environment of 37 °C. Tests with human subjects wearing prototype cooling garments consisting of 12 VDC pads with an overall weight of 3.4 kg covering 0.4 m2 body surface indicate that the garment could maintain a core temperature substantially lower than the control when the workload was walking on a treadmill of 2% inclination at 3 mph. The exercise was carried out in an environment of 40 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH) for 60 min. Tests also showed that the VDC garment could effectively reduce the metabolic heat accumulation in body with subject wearing heavily insulated nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) suit working in the heat and allow the participant to work safely for 60 min, almost doubling the safe working time of the same participant when he wore NBC suit only.

Preparedness for Terrorism: Managing Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Threats

The management of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) terrorism events is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality in the next decade; however, initial patient care considerations and protective actions for staff are unfamiliar to most front-line clinicians. High explosive events (bomb and blast) remain the most common type of terrorism and are easy to detect. Conversely, some types of terrorist attacks are more likely to be unsuspected or covert. This paper explains the current threat of terrorism and describes clues for detection that an event has occurred. Specific criteria that should lead to a high suspicion for terrorism are illustrated. The manuscript outlines initial actions and clinical priorities for management and treatment of patients exposed to nuclear/radiological, biological, chemical and combined agents (for example an explosion involving a chemical agent). Examples of terrorist events include: a nuclear explosion, an aerosolised release of anthrax (biological), dissemination of sarin in a subway (chemical), and the detonation of a radiologic dispersion device or "dirty bomb" (combined explosive and radiological). Basic principles of decontamination include potential risks to healthcare providers from secondary exposure and contamination. Unique issues may hinder clinical actions. These include coordination with law enforcement for a crime scene, public health entities for surveillance and monitoring, hazardous materials teams for decontamination, and the media for risk communications. Finally, the importance of personal preparedness is discussed.

In-situ degradation of sulphur mustard using (1R)-(-)-(camphorylsulphonyl) oxaziridine impregnated adsorbents

Bis-2-chloroethyl sulphide (sulphur mustard or HD) is an extremely toxic and persistent chemical warfare agent. For in-situ degradation of HD and its analogues (simulants), i.e., dibutyl sulphide (DBS) and ethyl 2-hydroxyethyl sulphide (HEES), different adsorbents systems loaded with (1R)-(-)-(camphorylsulphonyl) oxaziridine were prepared. Solution of sulphur mustard and its simulants was prepared in carbon tetrachloride and taken for uniform adsorption on the impregnated systems using incipient volume. Degradation kinetics monitored by GC/FID were found to be first-order. The half-life of degradation reactions for simulants was obtained in less than 30 and for HD in 120 min. From the studied kinetics it was observed that reaction was very rapid with simulants and decreased rate was found for HD. The order of reactivity of MgO/Oxa system for HD and simulants was found to be DBS > HEES > HD. Reaction products of the oxidation reaction of simulants and HD on adsorbents were extracted in dichloromethane and analysed by GC–MS. The products were found to be non-toxic sulphoxide. The objective of the study is to develop a reactive adsorbent for in-situ degradation of sulphur mustard which could be used in nuclear biological and chemical (NBC) filtration systems.

Dubins Path Planning of Multiple UAVs for Tracking Contaminant Cloud

Abstract ***: This paper presents cooperative path planning approach for multi UAVs to detect, model and track the shape of a contaminant cloud boundary. The objective of this research study is to manage the resources (airborne sensors) such as to determine the boundary of a cloud and track its motion with minimum information. The dispersing model of the contaminant cloud boundary is based on SCIPUFF. The UAVs are assumed to just have a sensor package which can sense nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contaminants. Therefore as a UAVs fly through a contaminant cloud the NBC sensors will recognise the entry and exit points of the UAVs from the contaminant cloud boundary and give these two points as measurements. Based on the measurements the splinegon approach uses to predict the contaminant cloud boundary and produces a segment for the next UAVs path.

Chemical agent detector placement methodology

Terrorism is a threat to global peace in our world today and in the future this terrorist threat is surely going to be important. Global terrorist groups have highly sophisticated weapon systems with them to terrorize the humanity. Asymmetric warfare which is accepted especially by rough states against free nations is also a threat to humanity. It includes terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, electronic and information war. In this concept, nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons are the most preferred ones in asymmetric warfare strategy because of their special characteristics. According to this strategy; cities, urban territories, critical military and civilian facilities are the main targets of terrorist attacks. In many developing countries, military zones which were located out of cities at first, happened to be surrounded by urban territories. This situation made the military zones more vulnerable to attacks by terrorists hiding amongst civilians. Another reason for military zones to be a possible target for attacks is the great terror on civilians which will be probably caused by such an attack. In this kind of sensational attacks, chemical agents and chemical weapons will be probably used because of their characteristics. This analytical research is done because key military zones mentioned above must be defensed against these kinds of attacks. While formulating the problem, to find the best locations for the point and the line of sight detectors which are used to identify chemical hazard and warn friendly forces about approaching danger, two models are structured and proposed on the basis of The Maximal Covering and The Maximal Expected Covering Models. In the proposed models, the optimum locations for detectors and alarms are found and the best matching between these detectors and alarms is given. In this research, for a threat point to be covered by a detector, that point must be in the detection range and an alarm must be linked to that detector. Additionally, for the line of the sight detection systems, a threat point must be in the line of sight of detectors. According to the method of this research, chemical defence systems are tried to be optimally set in key military zones during peace time well before attacks. With the proposed models, a solution and an analysis are done in a selected military zone as an example and that zone is tried to be defensed against a possible chemical terrorist attack.

The Legislator of Last Resort: Security Council's Emerging Role in WMD Proliferation Crises

This paper seeks to describe the United Nations Security Council's evolving legal role in regulating the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons. For all its formal power the Security Council is still bound by law and its actions are still framed in terms of international law, not pure political considerations. The Security Council is a waking giant in the field of non-proliferation and the implications and opportunities for its involvement have yet to be explored. Even if there is plenty of room for disagreement on more general policy perspectives - whether to strengthen or delimit the Security Council's capabilities in the area of non-proliferation or simply to increase its legitimacy - attention to the relevant legal architecture is the place to start.

Quartz Micromass Balance as a sensor for Chemical Warfare Agents

Chemical warfare agents are deadly toxic and their even one gram quantity can kill around hundreds of soldiers. Such chemicals are potential threats, for civil population, if used by terrorists, as these toxic agents are colorless, odorless, highly vaporizable, and can be dispersed easily in air. For protection, detection of such chemical vapours at extremely low concentration (Sub PPM Level) is necessary. DRDE, Gwalior is a pioneer DRDO Lab, doing R & D for chemical detection and protection, against chemical warfare Agents, and has developed a large number of technologies, for detection as well as 1 protection from CWA threats. Quartz Micromass Balance (QMB) works on the principle of piezo electric effect. A differential quartz crystal oscillator made from Quartz crystal, coated with chemically active interface, provides a reversible, and rapid detection signal for sub PPM level concentration of toxic chemical agent Sarin and its simulant DMMP. Quartz Micromass Balance sensors are quite sensitive and rapid. The science associated with such a sensor , its functional and design aspect and representative practical results are being described. DRDE, Gwalior has developed a large number of technologies for NBC protection of the armed forces from a NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) attack. For protection, Face mask Canisters, based on active charcoal filtering have been made, which can absorb toxic chemicals, biological bacteria, & spores, radioactive dust particles etc and provide breathable air in a toxic chemical environment. Such filtering canisters and high volume filers are in use of Indian forces for civil preparedness.

Kinetics of degradation of sulphur mustard on impregnated carbons

Kinetics of degradation of sulphur mustard (HD) on the surface of NaOH/CrO 3/C, NaOH/CrO 3/EDA/C and RuCl 3/C systems has been examined by using gas chromatography technique by extracting and analyzing the residual HD periodically. The carbons were prepared by impregnating activated carbon with 4% sodium hydroxide plus 3% Cr(VI) as CrO 3 with and without 5% ethylene diamine (EDA) and 5% ruthenium chloride by using their aqueous solutions. Obtained carbons were characterized for surface area analysis by BET conventional method. Kinetic plots reveal that the observed reactions are fast at the initial stages, slow at the later stages and progress to a steady state indicating the first order behavior. Effect of moisture on kinetic rate is also observed. In the case of NaOH/CrO 3/C system the rate constant is decreased from 13.36 to 5.53 × 10 −2 h −1 and half life is increased from 5.2 to 12.54 h while moisture content is increased from 1.9% to 11.2%. Whereas, the rate constant of HD degradation reaction is decreased from 10.4 to 4.14 × 10 −2 h −1 and half life is increased from 6.7 to 16.72 h while moisture content is increased from 2.1% to 10.8% on NaOH/CrO 3/EDA/C. Reaction on RuCl 3/C system also behaves in the similar manner. Extracted reaction products were characterized by GC/MS and it is found that on NaOH/CrO 3/C, HD degrades to hemisulphur mustard, thiodiglycol and 1,4-oxathiane. Whereas, on NaOH/CrO 3/EDA/C, HD is degraded to 1,4-thiazane and it is degraded to divinyl sulphone on RuCl 3/C. All these investigations reveal that above mentioned carbons can be used in nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) filtration systems for protection against sulphur mustard.

Disrupting Escalation of Terror in Russia to Prevent Catastrophic Attacks

The recent spate of deadly terrorist attacks in Russia has plunged the country into what President Vladimir Putin has rightfully described as a “total war” against the networks of terror. This article will analyze the trends in this war, and will conclude that the logical outcome of the ongoing escalation in number, scope, and cruelty of terrorist attacks in Russia will be an act of catastrophic terrorism. The horrendous hostage-taking drama in the North Ossetian town of Beslan—in which more than 330, including 160 children, were killed—clearly demonstrates that ideologically-driven extremists have already passed the moral threshold between conventional terror acts and catastrophic terrorism. We will demonstrate that networks of these extremists are constantly expanding their capabilities, both organizational and operational, in this total war to inflict damage of catastrophic proportions on Russia either by conventional means or through the use of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) materials. We will also demonstrate that the most violent and organized of these networks—the anti-Russian insurgents in the Northern Caucasus—are becoming increasingly motivated to resort to acts of catastrophic terrorism, as their current tactics of conventional attacks have failed to have any impact on the Kremlin’s staunch refusal to negotiate either with the Islamist or secular wings of separatists in the region. The hostage-taking drama in Beslan in September 2004 is the latest evidence of the Islamist wing’s preparedness to kill hundreds of noncombatants, including children, as well as sacrifice their own lives as they strive to win

Modeling the Chemical Protective Performance of NBC Clothing Material

The heat load, imposed by air-permeable NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical)-protective suits, can be reduced by improving the air permeability of the suit. However, increased air permeability will reduce the chemical protective performance, since increasing the air permeability of the NBC-protective material will result in higher air velocities through the material. In this study the relation between the chemical protective performance and air velocity through NBC-clothing is evaluated. A theoretical model was developed that describes the chemical protection of air permeable NBC-protective clothing material under various conditions. The initial breakthrough concentration and the 50% breakthrough time are modeled as function of parameters like the air velocity and the challenge concentration. Using this model, the effect of airflow through the material on the breakthrough concentration of mustard vapor was calculated and compared with results of breakthrough experiments. The predictions of the model are in good agreement with the experimental results. The air velocity through the material and thus the air permeability of the material appear to be parameters of critical importance. High air velocity through the material results in high breakthrough concentrations, and therefore poor protective performance of the material. To describe the total breakthrough curve, a semiempirical model of experimental breakthrough results was made. This model describes the total breakthrough concentration of vapor through NBC-protective material as a function of parameters like the air velocity and the challenge concentration. This model can be used as a tool to optimise the protective performance of NBC-protective clothing material.