Pig Trauma Models: A Civilian Perspective on AR-15 Skeletal Trauma

In the last decade, our country has seen an unprecedented wave of terror punctuated by increasing events of gun-related violence. Consequently, the use of firearms against civilians or upon targets containing civilians has inevitably had a direct impact on the health of those affected, and in many cases these events have concluded with mass number fatalities. The driving force for this research falls to the lack of available literature regarding the skeletal trauma associated with high-velocity firearms outside of realm of the military. Trauma from high-velocity firearms encountered in the civilian setting differ from what is seen in military combatants in terms of the epidemiology, mechanism of wounding, and pathophysiologic trajectory. The effects of these types of weapons on civilians, which result from their specific design and the context in which they are utilized, cannot be neglected any further. This research attempts to investigate the skeletal tissue trauma inflicted by a high-velocity firearm, specifically the AR-15, in a civilian context. For the experiment, two post-mortem pigs were positioned upright and safely fired upon using an AR-15 with Remington .223 55 grain full-metal jacket ammunition from varying distances of 25 yards and 50 yards, respectively. The targeted areas of impact included the right and left extremities, right and left innominate of the pelvis, as well as portions of the thorax and the abdominal regions. After exposure to high-velocity AR-15 gunfire, the severity of the trauma to bone was analyzed taking into consideration the significant amount of bone obliteration. Examination and analysis was completed on the trauma present, including the location, dimensions, and fracture type (if available). Small bone fragments were weighed together using a digital scale and were considered as a whole. Larger fragments were measured using digital calipers and were counted. Bullet fragments were also counted, if present. The results demonstrate that when subjected to high-velocity AR-15 fire, the severity of the trauma to the skeletal tissues is so significant that reconstruction due to complete fragmentation of the targeted areas is nearly impossible. When the variable of distance is applied to such a high-velocity weapon, the severity of the trauma to the skeletal tissues was so significant that no determination or correlation of the distance was be able to be interpreted from the trauma. Bullet fragments were present only in the examination of the pig exposed to the 25 yard AR-15 fire. However, due to the small sample size, the presence or absence of bullet fragmentation could not be correlated to distance. While the sample size for this research is small, it is with hope that its importance is demonstrated due to the fact that there is inevitably much to be gained from the understanding of the patterns and type of high-velocity firearm trauma, especially when they are used against civilians. The recognition of the differences could be applicable to the study of trauma in an anthropological context, which in turn could be beneficial to future humanitarian efforts and research involving civilians in mass atrocity events around the world

PIG TRAUMA MODELS: A CIVILIAN PERSPECTIVE ON AR-15 POST-CRANIAL SKELETAL TRAUMA

In the last decade, our country has seen an unprecedented wave of terror that has been punctuated by increasing events of gun-related violence. Consequently, the use of firearms against civilians or upon targets containing civilians has inevitably had a direct impact on the health of the individuals affected, and in many cases these events have concluded with mass number fatalities. The driving force for this research falls to the lack of available literature regarding traumatic skeletal injuries associated with high-velocity firearms outside of realm of the military. The effects of these types of weapons on civilians, which result from their specific design and the context in which they are utilized cannot be neglected any further. This research will attempt to investigate the skeletal tissue trauma inflicted by high-velocity weapon in a civilian context. Two post-mortem pigs were positioned upright and safely fired upon using an AR-15 with Remington .223/55 grain full-metal jacket ammunition from varying distances of 25 yards and 50 yards, respectively. The targeted areas of impact included the right and left extremities, right and left os coxa, portions of the thorax and abdominal regions. A traditional ballistics analysis was completed on the trauma present, including the location, dimensions, fracture type, fracture lines, and beveling (if available). Small bone and bullet fragments were counted and considered as a whole for each sample (if available). While the sample size for this research is small, the results demonstrate that when subjected to high-velocity AR-15 projectile impact, the trauma to the skeletal tissues is so significant due to complete and comminuted fracturing, that reconstruction is nearly impossible. When the variable of distance is applied to such a high-velocity weapon, the severity of the trauma to the skeletal tissues is so significant that no determination or correlation of the distance was be able to be interpreted from the trauma. Bullet fragments were present only in the examination of the pig exposed to the 25-yard AR-15 impact. However, due to the small sample size, the presence or absence of bullet fragmentation cannot be correlated to distance

An Experimental Trial of a Dog-Training Program in a Juvenile Detention Center

Objectives This research examines the effect of a dog-training program among juveniles ordered to a county juvenile detention facility in a large, Midwestern city. Methods A pre-test, post-test experimental design was constructed to examine changes in self-esteem, empathy, optimism, pessimism, compassion, and social competence between juveniles who were randomly assigned to the canine-assisted activity program and to the standard conditions of the detention center without access to the program. Two-way and repeated measures ANOVA models are used to assess the differential effect of the program. Results The dog-training program evaluated in this study did not differentially benefit nor did it harm participants in relation to juveniles who received the standard operating practices and procedures of the detention center. Conclusions Generalized conclusions about the effectiveness of dog-training programs in secure correctional facilities should not be made from this study. Despite the unique program model structure used in this study, the results demonstrate that once selection effects are mitigated through randomization, the mere exposure to a dog-training program does not translate to improved outcomes. The results raise more questions about the influence of selection effects on reported findings and stimulate inquiry on dog-training program models, research designs used to assess program effects, and the importance of intermediate interventions

Third year health care students’ knowledge, surrounding genital warts and cervical cancer risks, the association and role of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and their perceptions of acceptability concerning the HPV vaccine: An empirical study

A review of the literature surrounding the human papillomavirus (HPV), suggested that a vaccine to prevent infection was not readily accepted. Inadequate knowledge regarding cervical cancer, genital warts and HPV infection was identified from the existing literature. However, the majority of research focused on parental views and was conducted outside of the UK. With this in mind, the purpose of this study was to investigate third year health care students‟ knowledge, surrounding genital warts and cervical cancer risks, the association and role of HPV and their perceptions of acceptability concerning the HPV vaccine. Such a study was considered important, to determine whether health care students had enough sexual health knowledge, to utilise public health policies once qualified. The study adopted a quantitative methodology. An online questionnaire was made available via an emailed web link, to all third year health care students studying midwifery, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medicine and MNurSci at the University of Nottingham. The data was then collected from a sample of 152 respondents and analysed statistically. The findings from this research provided evidence that: 1) Knowledge surrounding the risk factors for developing cervical cancer was relatively high; 2) There was generally a poor understanding of HPV infection; 3) The majority of participants looked favourably upon the HPV vaccine, despite incomplete sexual health knowledge. The main conclusion drawn from this study was that, once qualified, health care students would be able to implement health policies, regardless of their sexual health knowledge. This dissertation suggests that more widespread sexual health education may be valuable for promoting vaccine acceptance. However, further research exploring the perceptions of the younger age groups, which the vaccine is aimed at, may be beneficial (Racktoo and Coverdale, 2009)

Food insecurity and the role of food assistance programs in supporting diet quality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts

BackgroundEconomic and supply chain shocks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to substantial increases in the numbers of individuals experiencing food-related hardship in the US, with programs aimed at addressing food insecurity like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and food pantries seeing significant upticks in utilization. While these programs have improved food access overall, the extent to which diet quality changed, and whether they helped mitigate diet quality disruptions, is not well understood.ObjectiveTo evaluate food insecurity, food pantry and/or SNAP participation associations with both diet quality as well as perceived disruptions in diet during the COVID-19 pandemic among Massachusetts adults with lower incomes.MethodsWe analyzed complete-case data from 1,256 individuals with complete data from a cross-sectional online survey of adults (ages 18 years and above) living in Massachusetts who responded to “The MA Statewide Food Access Survey” between October 2020 through January 2021. Study recruitment and survey administration were performed by The Greater Boston Food Bank. We excluded respondents who reported participation in assistance programs but were ineligible (n = 168), those who provided straightlined responses to the food frequency questionnaire component of the survey (n = 34), those with incomes above 300% of the federal poverty level (n = 1,427), those who completed the survey in 2021 (n = 8), and those who reported improved food insecurity (n = 55). Current dietary intake was assessed via food frequency questionnaire. Using Bayesian regression models, we examined associations between pandemic food insecurity, perceived disruption in diet, diet quality, and intakes of individual foods among those who completed a survey in 2020. We assessed interactions by pantry and SNAP participation to determine whether participation moderated these relationships.ResultsIndividuals experiencing food insecurity reported greater disruption in diet during the pandemic and reduced consumption of healthy/unhealthy foods. Pantry participation attenuated significant associations between food insecurity and lower consumption of unhealthy (b = −1.13 [95% CI −1.97 to −0.31]) and healthy foods (b = −1.07 [−1.82 to −0.34]) to null (unhealthy foods: −0.70 [−2.24 to 0.84]; healthy foods: 0.30 [−1.17 to 1.74]), whereas SNAP participation attenuated associations for healthy foods alone (from −1.07 [−1.82 to −0.34] to −0.75 [−1.83 to 0.32]). Results were robust to choice of prior as well as to alternative modeling specifications.ConclusionAmong adults with lower incomes, those experiencing food insecurity consumed less food, regardless of healthfulness, compared to individuals not experiencing food insecurity. Participation in safety-net programs, including SNAP and pantry participation, buffered this phenomenon. Continued support of SNAP and the food bank network and a focus on access to affordable healthy foods may simultaneously alleviate hunger while improving nutrition security