Wound ballistic evaluation of the TASER® XREP ammunition

The Taser® eXtended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP®) is a wireless conducted electrical weapon (CEW) designed to incapacitate a person from a larger distance. The aim of this study was to analyze the ballistic injury potential of the XREP. Twenty rounds were fired from the Taser®X12 TM shotgun into ballistic soap covered with artificial skin and clothing at different shooting distances (1–25 m). One shot was fired at pig skin at a shooting distance of 10 m. The average projectile velocity was 67.0 m/s. The kinetic energy levels on impact varied from 28–52 J. Depending on the intermediate target, the projectiles penetrated up to 4.2 cm into the ballistic soap. On impact the nose assembly did not separate from the chassis, and no electrical activation was registered. Upon impact, a skin penetration of the XREP cannot be excluded. However, it is very unlikely at shooting distances of 10 m or more. Clothing and a high elasticity limit of the target body area can significantly reduce the penetration risk on impact.     

The orienting of attention during eye and hand movements: ERP evidence for similar frame of reference but different spatially specific modulations of tactile processing

To investigate which frames of reference guide shifts of attention triggered during eye and hand movement preparation and the specificity of their effects on somatosensory processing, we recorded event-related brain potentials (ERPs) in a Go/Nogo task where a cue indicated to prepare an eye movement toward - or a hand movement with - the left or right hand. Before the imperative stimulus, a tactile probe was presented to one hand. Spatially selective modulations of tactile processing were more sustained for hand than eye movements, indicating stronger attentional modulations for the modality of the effector's sensory organ. Importantly, attentional modulations of somatosensory processing as well as lateralized ERP components in the preparation interval were virtually identical under uncrossed and crossed hands conditions, suggesting that shifts of attention triggered during hand and eye movement preparation are guided by a common external reference frame.     

Plant surfaces with cuticular folds and their replicas: Influence of microstructuring and surface chemistry on the attachment of a leaf beetle

Plant surfaces covered either with epicuticular wax crystals or cuticular folds have been shown to strongly reduce the ability of insects to attach to them. However, the relative impact of surface structuring vs. surface chemistry on insect attachment remains unclear. To understand the mechanisms reducing adhesion of insects on plant surfaces in more detail, we performed traction experiments (i) on plant surfaces covered with cuticular folds of different dimensions, and on their (ii) untreated and (iii) hydrophobized replicas. As a reference, measurements were performed on replicas of smooth plant surfaces and of glass. Traction forces were measured with a highly sensitive force transducer, using tethered male Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) as a model insect species. Contact angle measurements with water and diiodomethane were also performed to examine the physicochemical properties of the test surfaces. We found that surface structuring has a strong influence on the magnitude of the attachment force. In contrast, under the chosen experimental conditions, surface chemistry had no significant influence. Our results indicate that attachment of the beetles is reduced solely by the dimensions of the folds, with cuticular folds of about 0.5 μm in both height and width being the most effective. Contrary to the attachment of beetles, the wettability of the surfaces was considerably influenced by both surface structuring and chemistry. These results contribute to a better understanding of plant–insect interactions and the function of microstructured surfaces, and may facilitate the development of biomimetic anti-adhesive surfaces.     

African American prostate cancer survivorship: Exploring the role of social support in quality of life after radical prostatectomy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the African American prostate cancer survivorship experience following radical prostatectomy and factors contributing to quality of life during survival. Design: African American men who were part of a larger prostate cancer cohort were invited to participate in a focus group. Eighteen open-ended questions were designed by the study team and an experienced moderator to elicit participants' survivorship experiences. Results: Twelve men consented to participate in the study. Emergent themes included views of prostate cancer in the African American community, perceptions of normalcy, emotional side effects following radical prostatectomy, and social support involvement and impact during recovery. Conclusions: Previous findings suggest that African American men may experience more distress than Caucasian men when facing typical prostate cancer side effects. Traditional masculine role norms and negative perceptions of “disease disclosure” in the African American community could be contributing to the distress reported by some in this study. Strengthening social support systems by promoting more prosocial coping and help-seeking behaviors early in the survivorship journey may help bypass the detrimental health effects associated with masculine role identification, resulting in improved quality of life throughout the lengthy survival period anticipated for these men.     

Outpatient Care: Planning a Satellite Laboratory for Ambulatory Patient Care

Peripheral neuropathy is a common consequence of diabetes that often results in loss of protective sensation. Early identification of this loss is critical to minimize secondary complications. The authors’ purpose was to assess the behavior patterns of physical therapists as to their opinions and behaviors related to sensory testing for individuals with diabetes. A questionnaire was sent to physical therapists across the United States with the following results: a high level of agreement concerning the benefits of sensory testing, but with a far less agreement as to the actual performance of sensory testing by those same physical therapists.