The Homeland Defense (HD) Digest is a curated bi-weekly news summary from worldwide sources, showing headlines of innovative, emerging technologies in HDIAC's eight focus areas.

HDIAC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

In Case You Missed It: The HDIAC Podcast – Military Anthropology – Parts 1 and 2 - HDIAC.org

Anthropology studies humankind in all its aspects, through archeological, biological, ethnological, and linguistic research - it can trace its roots to ancient Greek historical and philosophical writings about human nature and the organization of human society. However, few people are familiar with the concept of military anthropology, and those who are have widely differing opinions about its role. In these podcasts, Dr. Robert Rubinstein discusses with Steve Redifer both the anthropological study of military organizations, such as militaries of nation states, insurgencies, and guerrilla warfare, as well assistance that may be provided by anthropologists to military organizations, such as teaching at military educational institutions or service in areas of operation. Dr. Rubinstein presents a brief history of military anthropology, including participation by anthropologists in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as covering the role of anthropological science during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Rubinstein discusses the pros and cons of this involvement and presents a list of principles developed from anthropological literature that can serve to inform military interactions with local populaces.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Argonne Scientists Track Community Spread of COVID-19 in Wastewater - ANL.gov

In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, finding ways to improve testing has been key to addressing the spread of disease. While much effort has focused on testing individual people, scientists have begun to explore large-scale sampling of wastewater to understand patterns of viral transmission over larger areas.

DOE Awards $46 Million for Geothermal Initiative Projects with Potential to Power Millions of U.S. Homes - Energy.gov

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that its Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) Initiative at the University of Utah has selected 17 projects to receive up to $46 million in funding for cutting-edge, domestic, and carbon-free geothermal projects with potential to supply power to homes in the United States.

New Army Initiative Helps Identify Infectious Disease Threats - Army.mil

This spring, Public Health Command-Pacific's Entomology and Environmental Molecular Biology Laboratory service lines will launch the first ever Pre-Exercise Vector Surveillance program for the Indo-Pacific region.

FDA Authorizes Marketing of Novel Device to Help Protect Athletes’ Brains During Head Impacts - FDA.gov

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized marketing of a new device intended to be worn around the neck of athletes aged 13 years and older during sports activities to aid in the protection of the brain from the effects associated with repetitive sub-concussive head impacts. The non-invasive device, called Q-Collar, is a C-shaped collar that applies compressive force to the neck and increases blood volume to help reduce movement of the brain within the cranial space which may occur during head impacts. The device may reduce the occurrence of specific changes in the brain that are associated with brain injury.

NIH to Evaluate COVID-19 at Home Testing System - NIH.gov

A research team funded by the National Institutes of Health has launched a study to assess performance and usability of a smartphone app paired with the Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test, which just received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with a prescription. The home test was supported by NIH through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative, which has spurred the development and commercial availability of millions of COVID-19 tests over the past year.

Army Scientists Partner with DARPA to Develop COVID-19 Sensor - Army.mil

Army researchers joined an 18-month effort led by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to identify and combine a suite of technologies that would form a stand-alone bio-aerosol monitor capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2.

DARPA Announces Research Teams Selected to Semantic Forensics Program - Darpa.mil

Researchers to develop automated tools that aid analysts as they tackle the looming rise of automated multimodal media manipulation.

AFRL Launches Collaborative Biosensor Effort to Detect Stress, Fatigue Biomarkers - AFMC.AF.mil

The Air Force Research Laboratory recently kicked off a $2 million partnership with Case Western Reserve University. The joint project will accelerate biosensor development, with an emphasis on the detection of biomarkers for stress and fatigue.

AHRQ Safety Program Helps Hospitals Decrease Antibiotic Use and Reduce Infections, Study Finds - AHRQ.gov

A new study found that hospitals using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program decreased their use of antibiotic medications and reduced C. difficile infections-a potentially deadly condition of the colon and digestive system.

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