Development of an experimental method for well-controlled blast induced traumatic limb fracture in rats

Heterotopic ossification(HO)is a consequence of traumatic bone and tissue damage,which occurs in 65%of military casualties with blast-associated amputations.However,the mechanisms behind blast-induced HO remain unclear.Animal models are used to study blast-induced HO,but developing such models is challenging,particularly in how to use a pure blast wave(primary blast)to induce limb fracture that then requires an amputation.Several studies,including our recent study,have developed platforms to induce limb fractures in rats with blast loading or a mixture of blast and impact loading.However,these models are limited by the survivability of the animal and repeatability of the model.In this study,we developed an improved platform,aiming to improve the animal's survivability and injury repeatability as well as focusing on primary blast only.The platform exposed only one limb of the rat to a blast wave while providing proper protection to the rest of the rat's body.We obtained very consistent fracture outcome in the tibia(location and pattern)in cadaveric rats with a large range of size and weight.Importantly,the rats did not obviously move during the test,where movement is a potential cause of uncontrolled injury.We further conducted parametric studies by varying the features of the design of the platform.These factors,such as how the limb is fixed and how the cavity through which the limb is placed is sealed,significantly affect the resulting injury.This platform and test setups enable well-controlled limb fracture induced directly by pure blast wave,which is the fundamental step towards a complete in vivo animal model for blast-induced HO induced by primary blast alone,excluding secondary and tertiary blast injury.In addition,the platform design and the findings presented here,particularly regarding the proper protection of the animal,have implications for future studies investigating localized blast injuries,such as blast induced brain and lung injuries.

Progression of intervention-focused research for Gulf War illness

The Persian Gulf War of 1990 to 1991 involved the deployment of nearly 700,000 American troops to the Middle East.Deployment-related exposures to toxic substances such as pesticides,nerve agents,pyridostigmine bromide(PB),smoke from burning oil wells,and petrochemicals may have contributed to medical illness in as many as 250,000 of those American troops.The cluster of chronic symptoms,now referred to as Gulf War Illness(GWI),has been studied by many researchers over the past two decades.Although over$500 million has been spent on GWI research,to date,no cures or condition-specific treatments have been discovered,and the exact pathophysiology remains elusive.Using the 2007 National Institute of Health(NIH)Roadmap for Medical Research model as a reference framework,we reviewed studies of interventions involving GWI patients to assess the progress of treatment-related GWI research.All GWI clinical trial studies reviewed involved investigations of existing interventions that have shown efficacy in other diseases with analogous symptoms.After reviewing the published and ongoing registered clinical trials for cognitivebehavioral therapy,exercise therapy,acupuncture,coenzyme Q10(CoQ10),mifepristone,and carnosine in GWI patients,we identified only four treatments(cognitive-behavioral therapy,exercise therapy,CoQ10,and mifepristone)that have progressed beyond a phase II trial.We conclude that progress in the scientific study of therapies for GWI has not followed the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research model.Establishment of a standard case definition,prioritized GWI research funding for the characterization of the pathophysiology of the condition,and rapid replication and adaptation of early phase,single site clinical trials could substantially advance research progress and treatment discovery for this condition.

Preliminary Investigation of Sex Differences in Procedural Skill Learning in Veterans with Co-Morbidities

Sex differences in procedural skill learning have not been well characterized. Skill learning is an important area to explore in clinical settings that involve rehabilitation and deficit remediation, especially for returning Veterans that have a range of co-morbid conditions (traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression) and possess impairments in multiple domains. Sixty-five (55 males, 10 females) Veterans completed two procedural learning tasks and answered self-report questionnaires. Participants’ performance and total learning slope were analyzed to determine sex differences in learning. Our results revealed sex differences in both tasks demonstrating females tend to perform better than males with a large effect size for these mean differences. While females performed better on the procedural learning tasks compared to males, their rate of learning was equivalent. Skill learning is an important requisite for rehabilitation, as skill learning is necessary to perform daily activities in new settings. Ultimately, these results provide insight into skill learning in Veterans with a range of co-morbid conditions and provide support for further investigation of sex differences in procedural learning.

Walking as soft mobility:A multi-criteria GISbased approach for prioritizing tourist routes

Walking,as the main mode of soft mobility,has become an integral aspect of urban tourism.The development of pedestrian tourist routes plays a crucial role in enhancing the positive walking experience in urban tourist destinations.This research employs a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)with GIS to rank street segments,establishing walking-oriented tourist paths in Shiraz’s historic district,Iran.The initial steps involve identifying pivotal criteria through literature reviews and expert surveys.The Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)establishes criteria and sub-criteria weights using input from 30 experts.The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS)then prioritizes street segments based on sub-criteria such as traffic safety,image ability and heritage assets,security,land use and activity,accessibility,comfort and convenience,and human scale.Furthermore,a Space Syntax analysis(SSA)is conducted to evaluate the morphology of the street network in the study area and identify streets with potential for pedestrian movement.By integrating these analyses,a prime corridor for a pedestrian tourist route is identified.This study offers planners and policymakers a valuable tool for pre-investment decision-making,aiding the promotion of walkability in tourist-centric areas.

Street network patterns for mitigating urban heat islands in arid climates

This study explores the impact of street pattern measurements on urban heat islands(UHI)in the arid climate of Mashhad,Iran.The Landsat-8 top-of-the-atmosphere(TOA)brightness images from 2013 to 2021,average values of normalized difference vegetation index(NDvI)and land surface temperature(LST)were calculated.Street pattern measurements,including closeness-centrality,straightness,and street orientation,were employed to analyse the patterns in each district.The results indicated that districts with higher straightness and lower closeness-centrality exhibit,cooler surface temperatures.Strong correlations were observed between LST and NDVl,straightness,and local closeness-centrality.The research highlighted the importance of considering street network measurements in long-term urban planning and design to mitigate the UHI effect in arid regions.A moderate grid street pattern with a reasonable distribution of green spaces throughout the region is suggested to reduce surface temperatures sustainably.Street pattern indexes,such as straightness and local closeness-centrality,are identified as significant factors in urban design to mitigate UHl.These findings have implications for urban planners,who can use this information to create street network patterns with lower UHI effects by reducing local closeness-centrality and increasing straightness.