Spatiotemporal and kinematic changes in gait while carrying an energy harvesting assault pack system

Soldiers are fielded with a variety of equipment including battery powered electronic devices. An energy harvesting assault pack (EHAP) was developed to provide a power source to recharge batteries and reduce the quantity and load of extra batteries carried into the field. Little is known about the biomechanical implications of carrying a suspended-load energy harvesting system compared to the military standard assault pack (AP). Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the impact of pack type and load magnitude on spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters while walking at 1.34 m/s on an instrumented treadmill at decline, level, and incline grades. There was greater forward trunk lean while carrying the EHAP and the heavy load (decline: p < 0.001; level: p = 0.009; incline: p = 0.003). As load increased from light to heavy, double support stance time was longer (decline: p = 0.012; level: p < 0.001; incline: p < 0.001), strides were shorter (incline: p = 0.013), and knee flexion angle at heel strike was greater (decline: p = 0.033; level: p = 0.035; incline: p = 0.005). When carrying the EHAP, strides (decline: p = 0.007) and double support stance time (incline: p = 0.006) was longer, the knee was more flexed at heel strike (level: p = 0.014; incline: p < 0.001) and there was a smaller change in knee flexion during weight acceptance (decline: p = 0.0013; level: p = 0.007; incline: p = 0.0014). Carrying the EHAP elicits changes to gait biomechanics compared to carrying the standard AP. Understanding how load-suspension systems influence loaded gait biomechanics are warranted before transitioning these systems into military or recreational environments.     

Speaking the conflict,or how the Druze became bilingual: a study of Druze translators in the Israeli military courts in the West Bank and Gaza

The Druze community occupies a distinctive niche in the broader context of Israel/Palestine, one which is located in the interstices of various socio-political cross-currents, notably Jewish/Arab and Israeli/Palestinian. Druze Israeli identity is built around a politics of difference and separation from all other population groups residing in this area, yet it is an ambivalent and contradictory designation. This article focuses on those Druze who, through their service in the army, have been used as translators in the military courts in the occupied territories. The preference of Druze for this role relates to the fact that they have both bilingual skills (Hebrew and Arabic) and a socio-political status as 'non-Arab Arabs'. Following a general discussion of the politicization of Druze identity, I analyse the state's uses of Druze bilingualism for the purposes of maintaining and legitimizing the occupation, and the effects that fulfilling such a role have had on those who have functioned in this capacity.     

Impact of Layover Length on Sleep,Subjective Fatigue Levels,and Sustained Attention of Long-Haul Airline Pilots

Long-haul airline pilots often experience elevated levels of fatigue due to extended work hours and circadian misalignment of sleep and wake periods. During long-haul trips, pilots are typically given 1–3 d off between flights (i.e., layover) to recover from, and prepare for, duty. Anecdotally, some pilots prefer long layovers because it maximizes the time available for recovery and preparation, but others prefer short layovers because it minimizes both the length of the trip, and the degree to which the body clock changes from “home time” to the layover time zone. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of layover length on the sleep, subjective fatigue levels, and capacity to sustain attention of long-haul pilots. Participants were 19 male pilots (10 Captains, 9 First Officers) working for an international airline. Data were collected during an 11- or 12-d international trip. The trips involved (i) 4 d at home prior to the trip; (ii) an eastward flight of 13.5?h across seven time zones; (iii) a layover of either 39?h (i.e., short, n?=?9) or 62?h (i.e., long, n?=?10); (iv) a return westward flight of 14.3?h across seven time zones; and (v) 4 d off at home after the trip. Sleep was recorded using a self-report sleep diary and wrist activity monitor; subjective fatigue level was measured using the Samn-Perelli Fatigue Checklist; and sustained attention was assessed using the psychomotor vigilance task for a personal digital assistant (PalmPVT). Mixed-model regression analyses were used to determine the effects of layover length (short, long) on the amount of sleep that pilots obtained during the trip, and on the pilots' subjective fatigue levels and capacity to sustain attention. There was no main effect of layover length on ground-based sleep or in-flight sleep, but pilots who had a short layover at the midpoint of their trip had higher subjective fatigue levels and poorer sustained attention than pilots who had a long layover. The results of this study indicate that a short layover during a long-haul trip does not substantially disrupt pilots' sleep, but it may result in elevated levels of fatigue during and after the trip. If short layovers are used, pilots should have a minimum of 4 d off to recover prior to their next long-haul trip. (Author correspondence: greg.roach@cqu.edu.au)     

The effect of combat exposure on sexually transmitted diseases

Traumatic exposures can affect beliefs and behaviors related to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), a persistent public health problem. I leverage a natural experiment created by variation in US military deployment location assignments to estimate how combat exposure changes a surviving deployed male veteran’s probability of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. I analyze longitudinal data from 1994 to 2008 on 485 deployed veterans with information theoretic methods to reduce the sensitivity of estimates to small samples, an infrequently observed outcome, and highly correlated covariates. For veterans assigned to a combat zone, I estimate combat exposure results in a 5.4 percentage point increase in the probability of acquiring an STD. Additional estimations provide evidence suggesting risky behaviors involving substance use or multiple sexual partners may serve as pathways from combat exposure to STDs. My results are relevant to discussions regarding STD screening and care needs for trauma exposed individuals.     

Cancer incidence among Canadian Veterans: A matched cohort study

IntroductionOccupational exposures related to military service may increase the risk of cancer for military Veterans, while high levels of fitness during service may decrease risk. However, few studies have compared this post-career cancer risk directly to the employed general population.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used linked administrative data. Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans in Ontario, Canada were matched 1:4 on age, sex, geography, and community-level income to a group of non-Veterans most likely to have been employed during a period similar to the Veterans’ military service. Cancer diagnoses were identified using the Ontario Cancer Registry.ResultsDuring the study period, 642 of 30 576 included Veterans (2.1%) and 3408 of the 122 293 matched general population cohort (2.8%) experienced at least one cancer diagnosis. The crude rate of cancer was 153.5 per 100 000 person-years among Veterans vs. 205.9 per 100 000 person-years for the general population cohort. After adjusting for rurality and matching variables, Veterans had an 27% lower risk of developing any cancer than their matched comparators [hazard ratio = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67–0.80)]. Among specific cancer types, the risk of lung and colorectal cancer was significantly lower for Veterans relative to the general population cohort; the risk of breast and prostate cancer was similar.DiscussionThis study adds to the growing international evidence suggesting that risk of many cancers among Veterans is lower or similar to the general population. Further understanding of the complex relationships among occupational exposures, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors is needed.     

军事飞行人员非酒精性脂肪肝病患者白细胞计数、C反应蛋白、尿酸与糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化指标的相关性研究

摘要 目的：研究军事飞行人员非酒精性脂肪肝病（NAFLD）患者白细胞计数（WBC）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、尿酸（UA）与糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化指标的相关性。方法：选择2018年7月至2021年12月期间海军青岛特勤疗养中心收治的100例NAFLD军事飞行人员作为NAFLD组,另取同期健康体检者90例作为对照组。检测并对比两组的WBC、CRP、UA、糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗以及肝纤维化相关指标,采用Pearson相关系数分析WBC、CRP、UA与糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化指标的相关性。结果：NAFLD组的WBC、CRP、UA水平均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。NAFLD组的空腹血糖（FBG）、总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、空腹胰岛素（FINS）、稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）水平均高于对照组,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平低于对照组（P<0.05）。NAFLD组的Ⅲ型前胶原肽（PC-Ⅲ）、层粘连蛋白（LN）、透明质酸（HA）、Ⅳ型胶原（Col-Ⅳ）水平均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示, WBC、CRP、UA与TC、TG、LDL-C、HOMA-IR、PC-Ⅲ、LN、HA、Col-Ⅳ均呈正相关,而与HDL-C呈负相关（P<0.05）; WBC、CRP、UA与FBG、FINS无显著相关性（P>0.05）。结论：军事飞行人员NAFLD患者体内WBC、CRP、UA明显升高,且与糖脂代谢紊乱、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化有关。     

入伍新训中膝关节损伤的特点与防治研究

目的：通过对某部新入伍官兵训练中膝关节损伤发生原因、特点进行流行性病学调查和分析,为合理训练,预防损伤发生和 治疗相关伤病提供指导依据。方法：对某部2013 年度450 名新入伍官兵的训练伤发病情况进行统计分析,重点分析膝关节损伤 发生率、伤病类型和致伤原因,并对其严重者进行关节镜治疗,观察和分析术后随访效果。结果：某部新兵的训练伤发生率为 20.0%。以关节急性扭伤最为多见,占81.1%。其中膝关节损伤共发生32 例,占训练伤发病率为7.1%,占训练伤发病率43.8%,其 中膝关节周围肌肉损伤20 例、交叉韧带损伤1 例、半月板损伤9 例、侧副韧带损伤2 例。致伤率最高的前3 位科目是5000 米负 重跑、跨越障碍训练、格斗训练,共27 例,占膝关节训练伤总数的84.4%。所有受伤患者中,12 例行手术治疗,20 例给予石膏、支具 固定、休息等保守治疗。经随访所有患者均得到较好的功能恢复。结论：对于新兵膝关节训练伤预防工作非常重要,避免致残;关 节镜手术技术的进步对于膝关节军事训练伤治疗有良好的效果。     

军队医院医疗质量管理存在的问题及对策

随着我国医疗体制改革的不断推进,医院面临着自身管理体系和管理方式的重要革新。在新形势下,如何保证医疗质量管理更加规范、管理体系更加完善是医院管理者普遍重视的问题。医疗质量是医疗技术和医疗服务的核心、是医院竞争力的实质、是医院发展的根本。医院医疗质量的水平直接影响着患者的受益程度,也影响着医院自身的声誉和效益。因此,加强医疗质量管理可以有效地保证患者的利益,提高医院竞争力,促进医院可持续发展。随着社会的发展、科技的进步、医学模式的转变及国防建设的需要,军队医院的职能和作用也发生了变化,其不仅为军人提供医疗服务,也为地方群众就医提供便利。军队医院的医疗质量管理直接关系着军人的健康保障,也影响着地方群众的治疗效果。本文通过分析军队医院医疗质量管理存在的问题提出相应的对策,部队医院医疗质量管理部门应与时俱进,顺应国家医药卫生体制改革的同时,着眼于未来发展,建立健全医疗质量管理体系,改进管理模式,从而提高医疗质量,创造更高的经济效益和社会效益,以实现科学的可持续发展。     

军队医院文职人员职业性质及社会地位现状的调查研究

目的:分析军队医院文职人员的社会性质及地位,调查现役干部对文职人员性质地位的认知情况,为开设针对性的教育管理工作提供理论指导。方法:对我院56名现役干部和78名文职人员进行问卷调查,对结果进行汇总研究,分析医院文职人员的现状及干部对其性质地位的认知情况。结果:现役干部对文职人员缺乏足够的理解,存在受阻、延迟和弱化的现象;文职人员本身由于对自身权利义务认识不足以及在情感上难以融入军营,身份认同存在难度。结论:提高对军队文职人员的认识,充分发挥军队文职人员队伍的作用,必须提升文职人员的社会效应,加强教育管理,完善培养机制,多方面提升对军队文职人员的认知。     

军队医院医务工作者潜在的心理问题及影响因素分析*

摘要目的：近年来医务人员工作压力过重而引起的心理疾病日益突出,引起社会各界的关注。本研究针对军队医院医务人员的 心理压力及工作满意度情况展开调查,分析影响该群体心理健康的因素,探讨改善心理环境的有效方法,为提升军队医院管理提 供参考。方法：对我院312 名医务人员的基本资料、心理应激及工作满意度情况进行问卷调查,分析影响军队医院医务人员心理 健康的危险因素。结果：医务人员的心理压力主要表现为焦虑、抑郁、敏感和偏执,工作中普遍不满的是工资福利、工作负荷、晋升 及人际关系。医务人员所处的岗位和职称等级不同,其心理压力与工作满意度也不同。临床医师与护理人员的心理压力均较高, 医技与行政人员的工作满意度较高(P<0.05);初级职称与中级职称医务人员的心理压力较高,副高级职称与高级职称人员的工作 满意度较高,组间数据比较差异显著(P<0.05)。结论：军队医院的管理人员应完善管理机制,创造良好的发展平台,改善军队医院 医务人员的心理环境,促进医院的发展。