Soft-armor Vest Effectiveness and Intrathoracic Biomechanics in Rodents Exposed to Primary Blast.

The biomechanics and efficacy of personal protective equipment in mitigating injuries from blast overpressure remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to define intrathoracic pressures in response to blast wave (BW) exposure and biomechanically evaluate a soft-armor vest (SA) at diminishing these perturbations. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with pressure sensors in the thorax and were exposed laterally to multiple exposures ranging from 33 to 108 kPa BW with SA and without SA.

COVID-19 Is Becoming A '9/11 Moment' For Borders And Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the cross-border movement of people. As governments begin to reopen their borders and cautiously restart travel, their attention is shifting to border procedures that could facilitate travel while protecting the homeland from travelers who may be infected. This is not the first time in recent memory that border management has had to be rethought under the pressure of large external forces.