Evaluating the effect of vehicle modification in reducing injuries from landmine blasts. An analysis of 2212 incidents and its application for humanitarian purposes

Introduction

Anti-vehicle (AV) mines have been laid indiscriminately in conflict areas for the past 100 years. With an indeterminate life-span they continue to pose a significant threat to the civilian population, as well as restrict the movement of people, aid and goods to vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was to analyse unique casualty data from 2212 mine incidents to determine if simple vehicle modifications can reduce fatality and injury rates from mine explosions.

Method

We analysed casualty data from the Rhodesian War (1972–1980), to assess the effects of basic vehicle modifications (V-shaped hull, increased ground clearance, widened axles, heavy vehicles and blast deflectors) on injury rates. A multinomial regression statistical model was developed for vehicle modifications and number of alterations to explore these effects.

Results

Incident data was available on 2212 vehicle mine incidents involving 16,456 people. The overall fatality rate was 3.3% (544/16,456) and the overall injury rate was 22.7% (3741/16,456). Explosions against mine-protected vehicles resulted in a fatality rate of 1.2% (150/12,919); occupants in unprotected vehicles sustained a fatality rate of 11.4% (395/3537). The injury rate in mine protected vehicles was 22.2% (2868/12,919) compared to 24.7% in unprotected vehicles (873/3537).Utilising a multinomial logistical-regression model, we show that each design feature significantly reduced fatality rate (from 45% in unprotected vehicles to 0.8% in protected vehicles); each of these designs had a cumulative effect in fatality reduction. In isolation, blast deflectors, whilst reducing fatality rates, increased injury rates.

Conclusions

Our data clearly demonstrates that simple vehicle modifications can have a significant effect on reducing fatality and injury rates from AV mine explosions. Given that the modifications described were produced using commercially available vehicles with basic engineering requirements, we believe that similar processes could be employed in post-conflict environments in a cost-effective manner.     

Fast lithium-ion conducting thin-film electrolytes integrated directly on flexible substrates for high-power solid-state batteries

By utilizing an equilibrium processing strategy that enables co-firing of oxides and base metals, a means to integrate the lithium-stable fast lithium-ion conductor lanthanum lithium tantalate directly with a thin copper foil current collector appropriate for a solid-state battery is presented. This resulting thin-film electrolyte possesses a room temperature lithium-ion conductivity of 1.5 × 10(-5) S cm(-1) , which has the potential to increase the power of a solid-state battery over current state of the art.     

Use of smoothing splines for analysis of backscattered ultrasonic waveforms: application to monitoring of steroid treatment of dystrophic mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disease characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscle; boys present with weakness by the age of 5 years and, if left untreated, are unable to walk without assistance by the age of 10 years. Therapy for DMD has been primarily palliative, with oral steroids emerging as a first-line approach even though this treatment has serious side-effects. Consequently, low-cost imaging technology suitable for improved diagnosis and treatment monitoring of DMD would be of great value, especially in remote and underserved areas. Previously, we reported use of the logarithm of the signal energy, log [E(f)], and a new method for ultrasound signal characterization using entropy, H(f), to monitor prednisolone treatment of skeletal muscle in a dystrophin-deficient mouse model. Three groups were studied: mdx mice treated with prednisolone, a control group of mdx mice treated with saline, and a control group of wild-type mice treated with saline. It was found that both log [E(f)] and H(f) were required to statistically differentiate the three groups. In the current study, we show that preprocessing of the raw ultrasound using optimal smoothing splines before computation of either log [E(f)] or a rapidly computable variant of Hf, denoted I(f,∞), permits delineation of all three groups by either metric alone. This opens the way to the ultimate goal of this study, which is identification and implementation of new diagnostically sensitive algorithms on the new generation of low-cost hand-held clinical ultrasonic imaging systems.     

Territorial innovation models: to be or not to be,that’s the question

Scientometrics - In a recent paper, Hirsch (hα: an index to quantify an individual’s scientific leadership, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-018-2994-1 )  proposes to...     

Analysis of optical waveguide structures by use of a combined finite-difference/finite-difference time-domain method

We present a method for full-wave characterization of optical waveguide structures. The method computes mode-propagation constants and cross-sectional field profiles from a straight forward discretization of Maxwell's equations. These modes are directly excited in a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulation to obtain optical field transmission and reflection coefficients for arbitrary waveguide discontinuities. The implementation uses the perfectly-matched-layer technique to absorb both guided modes and radiated fields. A scattered-field formulation is also utilized to allow accurate determination of weak scattered-field strengths. Individual three-dimensional waveguide sections are cascaded by S-parameter analysis. A complete 10(4)-section Bragg resonator is successfully simulated with the method.     

Multiple predictor smoothing methods for sensitivity analysis: Description of techniques

The use of multiple predictor smoothing methods in sampling-based sensitivity analyses of complex models is investigated. Specifically, sensitivity analysis procedures based on smoothing methods employing the stepwise application of the following nonparametric regression techniques are described: (i) locally weighted regression (LOESS), (ii) additive models, (iii) projection pursuit regression, and (iv) recursive partitioning regression. Then, in the second and concluding part of this presentation, the indicated procedures are illustrated with both simple test problems and results from a performance assessment for a radioactive waste disposal facility (i.e., the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant). As shown by the example illustrations, the use of smoothing procedures based on nonparametric regression techniques can yield more informative sensitivity analysis results than can be obtained with more traditional sensitivity analysis procedures based on linear regression, rank regression or quadratic regression when nonlinear relationships between model inputs and model predictions are present.     

Quantifying benefits of conversion to lean manufacturing with discrete event simulation: A case study

Simulation is used to assist in the decision to implement lean manufacturing principles at an existing assembly operation. Models are developed for the existing assembly system, as well as for a new system (of similar capacity), that employ these principles. In addition to the manufacturing processes, the associated warehousing, inventory management, transportation, and production control/scheduling systems are included in the model to enable the quantification of lean manufacturing's impact on the total system. Simulation experiments measure each system's resource requirements and performance, thereby quantifying benefits to be derived from applying the shop-floor principles of lean manufacturing.     

Antithrombotic therapy in end‐stage renal disease

The delicate balance of risk vs. benefit of using antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents in the general population is well established. The decision to use these agents in the end stage renal disease (ESRD) population remains complex and difficult. The concomitant association of a prothombotic state with high risk of bleeding in the ESRD population requires individualization and careful clinical judgment before implementing such therapy. There remains a paucity of clinical trials and lack of substantial evidence in literature for safe and effective use of antithrombotic drugs in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. The current review summarizes the pros and cons of using antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, evaluate the risks with routine use of anticoagulation for cerebrovascular stroke prevention with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and role of newer oral anticoagulants as alternate agents in the dialysis population.     

Estimation of the Standard Deviation of the Logistic Distribution by the Use of Selectkd Order Statistics

A technique is applied to ohtain unbiased eslimators with minimttm variance among the class of linear estimators for the standard deviation of of logistic. population with known mean. Coefficients for multiplying ordered observations are developed for complete and completc samples for n = 2(1)26. Each sample of size n is censored from above where m ≤ n. Then the smallest subset of l order slatistics from the set of m available order statistics is found which yields at list a 98.5% efficiency relative to the m-order-statistic estimator. The coefficients for the l-order-statistic estimator, the variance and efficiency relative to the estimatot, using all m order statistics are persented.