Defence Equipment and Support

ABSTRACTThe urgent need for environmentally benign initiators is driving the innovation of nitrogen‐ and oxygen‐rich materials that serve as powerful oxidizing agents, minimizing particulate emissions and replacing toxic metals such as lead. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new copper complex based on the trinitropyrazolate (TNP–) ligand—ammonium copper (tetrakis)trinitropyrazolate [(NH4+)2CuII(TNP−)4]. The complex was fully characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, single crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, and small‐scale hazard testing. Notwithstanding its rather high sensitivity to impact, based on its high thermal stability, high energy output, low hygroscopicity, and its relatively low sensitivity to friction and electrostatic discharge, it offers the potential as a replacement material for current lead‐based initiators for particular applications.

<h3>Objective</h3> Stress fractures (SF) occur more frequently in military recruits than in the general population, causing morbidity, training delays, and costly rehabilitation. We aimed to report the incidence of SFs and identify characteristics associated with SF in male Royal Marines recruits <h3>Material and Methods</h3> We studied 1,815 male RM recruits (aged 16-33 years) starting a 32-week training programme at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, UK, between November 2017 and March 2020. Baseline exposures included age, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, smoking status, estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), and physical fitness measures (sit-ups, press-ups, pull-ups). Incident SFs were determined through radiography or MRI. Associations between baseline exposures and SF were examined using univariate logistic regression. <h3>Results</h3> The median age at entering training was 21 years. Baseline cardiorespiratory fitness was high (median VO₂max of 52.2 mL/kg/min), and mean BMI was 24.5 kg/m2. Most recruits (85.6%) had healthy central adiposity (waist-to-height ratio: 0.4–0.49), with none classified as high (≥0.6), and 10.4% were smokers. The incidence of SF was 5.6%, with 102 recruits sustaining at least one; the highest rate was among those aged 16–18 years (7.2%). The highest quintiles of BMI (odds ratio 0.16, 95% CI 0.06-0.42, p&lt;0.001), weight (0.50, 0.26-0.95, p=0.036), waist circumference (0.40, 0.19-0.83, p=0.014), and waist-to-height ratio (0.37, 0.18-0.78, p=0.009) demonstrated significantly lower odds of SF compared to respective lowest quintiles. No other baseline exposures were associated with SF risk. <h3>Conclusions</h3> SFs were common in Royal Marines recruits, especially those who were less skeletally mature. Higher BMI appeared protective against SF risk, and we hypothesise that greater BMI is likely related to reduced SF risk via greater muscle mass rather than greater adiposity. Further validation in other cohorts is planned.

Military Combat Eye Protection (CEP) is a form of personal protective equipment designed to protect the eyes and surrounding structures. A review of 67 586 US and UK personnel wounded during Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated that eye injuries were present in 8% of survivors or those who died of wounds. CEP was first introduced to UK military personnel in Iraq during 2006 and has been shown to reduce both the incidence and severity of eye injury, with the current CEP issued as part of the VIRTUS body armour and load carriage system. To assess user perception and experience of issued CEP by UK service personnel, a voluntary survey was returned by 200 UK personnel deployed on Operation TORAL, the UK contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan post Op HERRICK, from 2014. In total, 10 questions were asked about CEP, including two that allowed users to offer 'free-text' comments. 193 out of 200 (97%) responded that they regularly wore the issued low-impact spectacles, while 54 out of 198 (27%) responded that they regularly changed their lenses. Goggles were worn by only 25 out of 200 (13%), with 64 out of 200 (32%) stating they perceived that there was no requirement for their use. Excellent wearer uptake of low-impact spectacles was found, likely reflecting mandatory use in conjunction with a well-established predeployment educational programme. The poor uptake of medium-impact goggles reflected that either users perceived that there was no requirement to wear them or did not believe they had been issued them. Further research is recommended to identify the optimal colour of lens that should be used. If multiple lens colours are required, lenses should either be easier to change or multiple sets should be issued, along with appropriate training provided for when each lens should be used.

In light of the prevalent reliance on manual loading and multi-magazine configurations in the loading process of naval guns, which leads to significant workloads for crew members and low space utilization aboard vessels, this study proposes a composite lever-type projectile pushing device aimed at enhancing both thrust and displacement efficiency.A kinematic description of the device is provided using planar assumptions and multi-link mechanism synthesis analysis methods. The kinematic model is established to describe the relationship between the push board extension length, the link angle, and the small link length, thereby deriving a simplified calculation of the projectile pushing distance.Multirigid-body dynamics simulation software was used to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the device, revealing that when the up board and down board pushing forces on the projectile are both 80N, the projectile can be smoothly transported out of the projectile tray and disengaged from the draw texturing machine. The results indicate that the projectile pushing device ensures proper projectile motion under various operating conditions, confirming the design’s reliability and effectiveness.

Sport participation affects body composition and bone health, but the association between sport, body composition, and bone health in female athletes is complex. We compared areal bone mineral density (aBMD, DXA) and tibial volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), geometry, microarchitecture, and estimated strength (HR-pQCT) in cross-country runners (n = 22), gymnasts (n = 23) and lacrosse players (n = 35), and investigated associations of total body lean mass (TBLM), team, and their interaction with tibial bone outcomes. Total body (TB), total hip (TH), femoral neck (FN), and lumbar spine (LS) aBMD were higher in gymnasts than runners (p < 0.001); FN and LS aBMD were higher in gymnasts than lacrosse players (p ≤ 0.045); and TB, TH, FN, and LS aBMD were higher in lacrosse players than runners (p ≤ 0.013). At the distal tibial metaphysis, total area (Tt.Ar) was higher in gymnasts than runners (p = 0.004); cortical area and thickness (Ct.Ar, Ct.Th) were higher in lacrosse players than runners (p ≤ 0.044); trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) was higher in runners than gymnasts (p = 0.031); and failure load was higher in both gymnasts and lacrosse players than runners (p ≤ 0.012). At the tibial diaphysis, Tt.Ar, Ct.Ar, cortical perimeter (Ct.Pm), and failure load were higher in gymnasts than runners (p ≤ 0.040). In multiple linear regression analyses, TBLM was significantly associated with metaphyseal failure load (ß = 0.30, p = 0.042), and diaphyseal Tt.Ar and Ct.Pm (ß = 6.17, p = 0.003; ß = 0.59, p = 0.010). Bone health can vary among different sport types and is associated with TBLM, which may be a modifiable factor to maintain or improve bone health.

PurposeMobility limitation in older age reduces quality of life, generates substantial health and social care costs, and increases mortality. The REtirement in ACTion (REACT) trial established that a community-based, active ageing intervention can prevent decline in physical functioning in older adults already at increased risk of mobility limitations documenting significant savings in health and social care costs.Project descriptionRecruitment: We recruited 777 older adults (mean age 77.6 yrs (SD 6.8 yrs); 66% female; with reduced lower limb physical functioning (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] mean score 7.37, (SD 1.56) from three sites (Bristol/Bath; Birmingham; Exeter) in England. In terms of ethnicity (95.11% white) and deprivation, the sample was representative of the UK population of people 65+.InterventionParticipants were randomly assigned to receive three healthy ageing sessions (n = 367) or a 12-month, group-based, multimodal programme including 64x1hr exercise, 43x20 min social and 21x45-min behavioural maintenance sessions (n = 410) delivered by qualified exercise specialists.ImplementationThe intervention was funded and delivered by community organisations including city councils, third sector organisations/charities, leisure industry providers. Currently REACT is implemented as a community programme in Bristol, UK while a strategy for rolling-out nationally is developed.EvaluationA multicentre, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial with process and health economic evaluations at baseline, six, 12 and 24 months. At the 24-month follow-up, the SPPB score was significantly greater in the intervention arm than in the control arm. Difference in lower limb function between intervention and control participants was clinically meaningful at both 12 and 24 months. Attrition rates were low (19%). Engagement with the REACT intervention was associated with positive changes in exercise competence, relatedness, enjoyment and perceived well-being benefits.The health economic analysis indicated substantial quality-of-life and health economic benefits within the 24-month trial window and across a lifetime horizon.ConclusionsThis study adds robust evidence that a relatively low-resource, 1-year multimodal exercise,social and behavioural maintenance intervention helps older adults to improve and retain physical functioning for at least 24 months. There are great opportunities and some challenges for a national and international roll-out of this evidence-based active ageing programme.

Heat illnesses (HI) define a continuum of conditions where patients become incapacitated due to uncompensable heat stress. In the military, HI has a significant health, financial and operational burden that requires vigilant management. Military training and operations regularly expose personnel to known HI risk factors, meaning that prevalence remains high despite stringent attempts to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable. While prepubertal children and elderly adults are widely demonstrated to be at greater risk of classic HI than young adults due to impaired physiological and/or behavioural thermoregulation, in military personnel, it is young recruit-age individuals (16–19 years) who consistently experience the highest prevalence of exertional HI. Mechanistically, controlled laboratory studies have never directly compared thermoregulation between young recruit-age individuals and other groups of adults, though research highlighting impaired thermoregulation in prepubertal children potentially has some relevance to late-developing young recruit-age personnel. Aside from potential age-related differences in thermoregulation, a major consideration must also be given to the increased prevalence of organisational risk factors for HI in younger military personnel (eg, education, physical load, rank, job roles), which is likely to be the primary explanation behind age-related trends in HI prevalence, at least in the military. The aims of this article are to review: (i) the epidemiology of HI between young recruit-age individuals and older military personnel; (ii) the theoretical basis for age-associated differences in thermoregulatory function and (iii) pertinent areas for future research.

ADMP-03 (Allied Dependability Management Publications #3) [1] is a recently published (2021) NATO standard that provides guidance for classification and analysis of dependability (or RAM) events. ADMP-03 provides a means to compare the reliability as well as other dependability aspects of NATO defense systems. Some significant contributions of ADMP-03 are:•the structured approach it proposes for classifying RAM events (cause, impact),•definitions and examples of RAM metrics that can be assessed using the classified event data.

IntroductionIt is important to collate the literature that has assessed dietary intake within military settings to establish which methods are commonly used and which are valid so that accurate nutrition recommendations can be made. This scoping review aims to identify which methods are typically used to assess dietary intake in military settings and which of these have been validated. This review also aims to provide a recommendation as to which method(s) should be used in military settings.MethodsThis scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus with the most recent search executed on 12th June 2020. Eligible studies had to report original data, assess and quantify dietary intake and have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. The reporting bias was calculated for each study where possible.ResultsTwenty-eight studies used a single method to assess dietary intake and seven studies used a combination of methods. The most commonly used methods were the gold standard food intake/waste method, Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) or a food diary (FD). The only method to date that has been validated in military settings is weighed food records (WFR).ConclusionsThe food intake/waste method or WFR should be used where feasible. Where this is not practical the FFQ or FD should be considered with control measures applied. There is currently not sufficient evidence to state that using multiple methods together improves validity.

Abstract The first demonstration of laser action in ruby was made in 1960 by T. H. Maiman of Hughes Research Laboratories, USA. Many laboratories worldwide began the search for lasers using different materials, operating at different wavelengths. In the UK, academia, industry and the central laboratories took up the challenge from the earliest days to develop these systems for a broad range of applications. This historical review looks at the contribution the UK has made to the advancement of the technology, the development of systems and components and their exploitation over the last 60 years.