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Articles 1 - 22 of 22
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Modeling Radiation Exposure On Flight Missions To Analyze Aircrew Risk, Camila V. Quintero Hilsaca
Modeling Radiation Exposure On Flight Missions To Analyze Aircrew Risk, Camila V. Quintero Hilsaca
Theses and Dissertations
GCR and SPE comprise the majority of the ionizing radiation experienced in the upper atmosphere within flight-altitude environments. Although previous studies have analyzed radiation doses from single sources on civilian flight operations, there is a lack of research focused on dose received by military personnel during flight from both sources simultaneously. In-flight radiation environments are modeled through the MCNP6 for two separate aircraft, an Air Force A-10 and a Boeing 737. Particle fluence values for galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events for four separate flight paths are determined using the CARI-7A software and the SIRE2 toolkit, respectively. MCNP6 code …
Evaluating The Military Medical Evacuation Dispatching And Delivery Problem Via Simulation And Self-Exciting Hawkes Process, Virbon B. Frial
Evaluating The Military Medical Evacuation Dispatching And Delivery Problem Via Simulation And Self-Exciting Hawkes Process, Virbon B. Frial
Theses and Dissertations
The location, allocation, and utilization of military medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) resources significantly impact the quality and timeliness of medical care to injured troops. In 2009, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates introduced the Golden Hour mandate that entails the evacuation of critically-injured troops to military treatment facilities (MTFs) within an hour to prevent further complications. To develop high-quality policies that improve MEDEVAC system performance, several papers in the current literature assume that MTFs have both the capacity and capability of treating any patient, regardless of the type of injury. However, these assumptions are unrealistic when conducting high-intensity operations. While acknowledging MTF …
Survey Of Airflow Around A Heated Manikin As A Simulated Aeromedical Evacuation Patient On A Litter With Computational Fluid Dynamics Models, George P. Lemmer
Survey Of Airflow Around A Heated Manikin As A Simulated Aeromedical Evacuation Patient On A Litter With Computational Fluid Dynamics Models, George P. Lemmer
Theses and Dissertations
Aeromedical Evacuations remain the predominant method used to transport patients from forward deployed areas of operations to secure locations with more robust medical infrastructure. Transportation of chemical warfare casualties and infectious patients require additional attention to prevent cross contamination. Specific airflow characteristics paired with environmental control system settings are a gap in scholarly literature. Based on the available literature computational fluid dynamics models were created to simulate the airflow around a patient represented by human geometry using commercially available software. In order to compare simulated and experimental results a heated manikin was placed in the MURPHEE aerosol exposure chamber and …
Preferred Treatment Methods For Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, James L. Deitschel
Preferred Treatment Methods For Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, James L. Deitschel
Theses and Dissertations
Shared decision making is the concept of physicians involving patients in the treatment planning process. The University of Maryland Medical Center is interested in applying shared decision making to the treatment of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The two treatment methods analyzed in this study were medical management and surgery. To explore patient preferences between these two alternatives, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was employed. The responses for the DCE were binary, so logistic regression models were explored. The conditional logistic regression model was determined to be the most appropriate for this analysis. After step-wise regression was performed, a …
Examining Healthy Community Design Characteristics And Its Influence On Physical Health, Alvin T. Yip
Examining Healthy Community Design Characteristics And Its Influence On Physical Health, Alvin T. Yip
Theses and Dissertations
Current trends in obesity rates associated with the community layout constitutes research towards understanding the interaction between the two in order to improve the public's physical health. Successes in healthy community planning studies for the public can be harnessed and implemented within the microcosm of military bases to yield similar results. Four factors were recognized through an in-depth academic literature review that showed positive influence on physical health and physical activity. They are access to green space, highly connected pedestrian and bicycle networks, access to public transportation, and integrated mixed land use. The four healthy planning strategies formed the necessary …
Occupational Noise Dose Reduction Via Behavior Modification Using In-Ear Dosimetry Among Usaf Personnel Exposed To Continuous Impulse Noise, Jesse A. Trawick
Occupational Noise Dose Reduction Via Behavior Modification Using In-Ear Dosimetry Among Usaf Personnel Exposed To Continuous Impulse Noise, Jesse A. Trawick
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to investigate the use of in-ear noise dosimetry and worker feedback to reduce noise exposures among combat arms instructors and heavy equipment operators in the Air Force. Specifically, this thesis sought to determine how effectively hearing protection devices (HPDs) are being utilized currently, and whether providing at-ear noise exposure data to workers results in reduced noise exposures or changes in worker attitude. These questions were addressed by performing a six-month field study using dosimeters to record worker noise exposures under HPDs. Subjects served as their own control, receiving feedback in only the latter half …
Characterization Of Jet Fuel Combustion Emissions During A C-130 Aeromedical Evacuation Engines Running Onload, Michelle L. Page
Characterization Of Jet Fuel Combustion Emissions During A C-130 Aeromedical Evacuation Engines Running Onload, Michelle L. Page
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to characterize jet fuel combustion emissions (JFCE) in an occupational setting. Prior research demonstrated that aircraft emit hazardous species, especially at engine start-up and ground idle. Complaints of eye, nose, and throat irritation from occupational exposures near aircraft exist. In this study JFCE were tested during an aeromedical evacuation engines running patient onload (ERO) on a C-130 Hercules at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield-Lahm Air National Guard. Ultrafine particles, VOC, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfuric acid, and metals were sampled simultaneously in approximate crew and patient breathing zones. Testing methods were portable condensation …
Optimal Configurations For Aerosol Monitoring With Multi-Rotor Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Inna D. Chavez
Optimal Configurations For Aerosol Monitoring With Multi-Rotor Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Inna D. Chavez
Theses and Dissertations
Applicability of aerosol sampling on multi-rotor unmanned aerial systems (UAS) platform was investigated. Multi-rotor UAS have impacts of wind speed, turbulence, and orientation possibly contributing to sampling bias. The SKC IMPACT sampler, Tecora C.A.Th.I.A., and modified three-dimensionally printed Universal Inlet for Airborne-Particle Size-Selective Sampling were selected based on particle size-selectivity and operational independence to wind. Airflow visualizations concluded that below UAS fuselage was optimal sampler placement. Tests were conducted with Arizona Road Dust in a still-air chamber, and aerosolized sugar in a wind tunnel. Inlet mounting was evaluated in, upright, upside-down, and horizontal orientations. Horizontal orientations of all inlets resulted …
Spectral Detection Of Acute Mental Stress With Vis-Swir Hyperspectral Imagery, Elizabeth K. Norvell
Spectral Detection Of Acute Mental Stress With Vis-Swir Hyperspectral Imagery, Elizabeth K. Norvell
Theses and Dissertations
The ability to identify a stressed person is becoming an important aspect across different work environments. Especially in higher-stress career fields, such as first responders and air traffic controllers, mental stress can inhibit a person's ability to accomplish their job. A person's efficiency and psychological state in the work environment can be impeded due to poor mental health. Stress can result in harmful effects on the body, both physically and mentally, including depression, lack of sleep, and fatigue, which can lead to reduced work productivity. Research is being conducted to detect stress in workload-intensive environments. This thesis implements an imaging …
Urgent Aeromedical Evacuation Network Capacity Planning, Scott C. Finkbeiner
Urgent Aeromedical Evacuation Network Capacity Planning, Scott C. Finkbeiner
Theses and Dissertations
Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) has been steadily utilized during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. AE is a global enterprise. The current structure of AE is facing changes as forces scale down from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. AE will, however, continue to be important in its domestic use in the continental USA (CONUS). Current practice is to pull aircraft (e.g. C-17, C-130 or KC-135) from their normal operations to meet Urgent and Priority patient needs when local alternatives are infeasible. An alternative to the current system would be having a centralized "bed-down" location for AE operations that would house …
Characterization Of Graphite Composite Material Particulates From Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Operations, Richard E. Yon
Characterization Of Graphite Composite Material Particulates From Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Operations, Richard E. Yon
Theses and Dissertations
Due to the benefits of their material properties, advanced composite materials (ACM) are increasingly being used as structural components on aircraft, especially within the United States Air Force. As a result, the potential exists for occupational exposures to structural maintenance employees while repairing and fabricating aircraft components. Two field studies were conducted for this thesis in order to characterize ACM aerosol size distribution, determine the feasibility of utilizing direct reading instruments (DRIs) in the field, and ensure workers are protected with adequate controls. In order to characterize exposure, traditional integrated air sampling and DRIs were positioned together near an ACM …
A Primary Care Workload Production Model For Estimating Relative Value Unit Output, Rachel G. Murphy
A Primary Care Workload Production Model For Estimating Relative Value Unit Output, Rachel G. Murphy
Theses and Dissertations
Health care costs have grown to unsustainable levels nationally and within the Department of Defense. Military health care costs have historically been difficult to isolate, causing budget cuts to be the vehicle for cost control. Maximum efficiency, therefore, is the goal in order to show improvement. With the Air Force’s new preventive health plan, they aim to drive a long-term posture for cost reduction through prevention. This research effort aimed to develop a tool to assist in future efforts to understand and improve efficiency in workload output, and whether a relationship exists between patient workload demand and the per-encounter variables …
Retrospective Geospatial Modeling Of Pm10 Exposures From Open Burning At Joint Base Balad, Iraq, John P. Rinker
Retrospective Geospatial Modeling Of Pm10 Exposures From Open Burning At Joint Base Balad, Iraq, John P. Rinker
Theses and Dissertations
Predicting, determining, and linking theater-related source-specific exposures to health effects has proven difficult. The purpose of this research is to delineate retrospective exposure zones using spatially interpolated particulate air sampling point data from Joint Base Balad, create burn pit exposure isopleths from dispersion model outputs, and merge into a combined exposure model in GIS. Interpolated monitoring results and dispersion modeled results were combined to compare modeled exposures across base. Burn pit contribution to total PM10 was also modeled. The combined dispersion and interpolation map showed elevated concentrations within a 1 kilometer buffer of the burn pit. Buildings within this area …
Development Of A Novel Noise Delivery System For Jp-8 Ototoxicity Studies, John E. Stubbs
Development Of A Novel Noise Delivery System For Jp-8 Ototoxicity Studies, John E. Stubbs
Theses and Dissertations
Numerous chemicals with ototoxic properties may cause hearing loss directly, potentiate noise-induced hearing loss, or produce additive effects. Of interest to the US Air Force are studies showing ototoxic effects of JP-8 jet fuel and its hydrocarbon constituents. The Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in conjunction with the USAF, is studying the ototoxic effects of JP-8 in rats. The study requires a white noise source that is one octave band wide, centered at 8 kHz frequency, delivered from outside of exposure chambers. Sound pressure levels must be within ± 2 dB at all exposure points within …
Micro-Etched Platforms For Thermal Inactivation Of Bacillus Anthracis And Bacillus Thuringiensis Spores, Leslie S. Hawkins
Micro-Etched Platforms For Thermal Inactivation Of Bacillus Anthracis And Bacillus Thuringiensis Spores, Leslie S. Hawkins
Theses and Dissertations
This research developed and applied microlithography techniques to etch microscope slide platforms in order to measure thermal inactivation of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus anthracis spores, two closely related Bacillus species. B.t. is widely used as a surrogate for B.a. in response studies and in some field studies. This work addressed the previously identified problem of measuring both spore growth and spore thermal kill threshold using the traditional method of spreading a diluted spore solution on a plate. The micro-etched platforms forced spore separation thereby preventing neighbor growth from obscuring germination and initial vegetative growth measurements using a microscope. The technique …
Analysis Of Patient Information: An Empirical Modeling Approach, Tony A. Murphy
Analysis Of Patient Information: An Empirical Modeling Approach, Tony A. Murphy
Theses and Dissertations
With rising costs and increasing complexities, many hospitals seek to better understand the intricate details of their operations. Increasingly, these organizations have a strong desire to accurately predict the resources required to effectively treat their patient load. This research investigates patient length-of-stay in a hospital neurological unit using an empirical modeling approach. Factors significantly affecting patient length of stay were identified and used to construct a regression model. The predictive model provides hospital decision makers with a compact tool to input what-if scenarios and predict future patient treatment lengths, thus, allowing the hospital to properly allocate resources.
An Investigation Into The Noninvasive Assessment Of Bone Density Using Multiplexed Compton Scattered Tomography, Marc J. Sands
An Investigation Into The Noninvasive Assessment Of Bone Density Using Multiplexed Compton Scattered Tomography, Marc J. Sands
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research is to investigate the application of a Compton scatter imaging technique to measure bone density. A demonstration Multiplexed Compton Scatter Tomograph (MCST) was assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting osteoporosis by modifying a system originally designed to detect hidden corrosion in aluminum aircraft wings. Measurements were performed on an aluminum phantom representing a wrist bone containing varying densities in the center and varying thickness of the cortical shell. The densities in the center are comparable to normal trabecular bone, sixty-percent of normal trabecular bone and a void. The MCST images of the phantom were …
Clustered Microcalcification Detection Using Optimized Difference Of Gaussians, Edward M. Ochoa
Clustered Microcalcification Detection Using Optimized Difference Of Gaussians, Edward M. Ochoa
Theses and Dissertations
The objective of this thesis is to design an automated microcalcification detection system to be used as an aid in radiologic mammogram interpretation. This research proposes the following methodology for clustered microcalcification detection. First, preprocess the digitized film mammogram to reduce digitization noise. Second, spatially filter the image with a difference of Gaussians (DoG) kernel. To detect potential microcalcifications, segment the filtered image using global and local thresholding. Next, cluster and index these detections into regions of interest (ROIs). Identify ROIs on the digitized image (or hardcopy printout) for final radiologic diagnosis.
Three Dimensional Localization Of Lesions From Digitized Mammograms, Amy L. Magnus
Three Dimensional Localization Of Lesions From Digitized Mammograms, Amy L. Magnus
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis describes new algorithms to localize regions-of-interests (ROIs) three dimensionally from a pair of digitized mammograms. This work is intended to add a layer of sophistication to computer aided diagnosis by putting to use the fixed and measurable parameters of mammographic imaging. The fixed parameters are the source to film orientation and the podium-image distance. Measurable parameters are the rotation angle of the x-ray tube from the horizontal and the compression depth (the distance from compression paddle to contact podium distance) at the time of imaging. As an additional benefit, three dimensional localization algorithms alleviate the confusion radiologists may …
Development Of A Mammographic Image Processing Environment Using Matlab, John L. Kelley
Development Of A Mammographic Image Processing Environment Using Matlab, John L. Kelley
Theses and Dissertations
Breast cancer is a disease that accounts for a disturbingly large number of deaths in females each year. Its prevalence is a topic of concern to all of us since it can affect our families, friends, and coworkers. Although mammographic screening is the most effective method currently available for the early detection of breast cancer, it is far from being an infallible procedure. Mammographic reading is error prone, partly because of the complexity of the task and partly because of the variability in human performance. Computers offer high reproducibility, and when used as an adjunct by the radiologist, may improve …
A Risk Assessment Of The Health Liabilities From Exposure To Toxic Metals Found In The Composted Material Of Air Force Municipal Solid Waste, Timothy L. Merrymon
A Risk Assessment Of The Health Liabilities From Exposure To Toxic Metals Found In The Composted Material Of Air Force Municipal Solid Waste, Timothy L. Merrymon
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis assesses the risk of the health liabilities from exposure to toxic metals found in the composted material of Air Force municipal solid waste (MSW). The goal is to determine the probability that the composted MSW could be a health hazard if it were used as a soil amendment. The research limited the assessment of the exposure risk to heavy metals found in raw MSW and its resulting compost. The thesis uses reviews of present literature to examine the food and soil ingestion exposure pathways. These pathways are assessed using the heavy metal concentrations found in MSW compost and …
Neutron Fluence And Dose From A Varian Clinic 1800 Accelerator, Richard A. Jackson
Neutron Fluence And Dose From A Varian Clinic 1800 Accelerator, Richard A. Jackson
Theses and Dissertations
The goals of this study were (1) to verify calibration factors determined by previous experiment for relating counts from activated gold foils to neutron fluences, and (2) to use the method to determine neutron fluences under various operating conditions of the Varian Clinac 1800 (18-MeV) electron accelerator at the WPAFB Medical Center. For comparison similar measurements were made of the CGM Saturne 1 at Kettering Memorial Hospital, Dayton, Ohio. Cadmium-difference pairs in a standard graphite pile were employed to verify the counting efficiency of the Geiger-Mueller beta counting system used to count the foil activity. They were also used to …