Thursday, December 29, 2011

moderately sleep-deprived perform just as badly as those who are legally intoxicated

Friday, December 16, 2011

12/15/2011 05:08 PM CST


U.S. Forces-Iraq Ceremony
As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, December 15, 2011


DOD Iraq: Part Two

Thursday, December 15, 2011

DOD ARMED WITH SCIENCE Research Remote Control of Brain Activity Using Ultrasound

Ultrasonic NeuromodulationDr. William J. Tyler is an Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, is a co-founder and the CSO of SynSonix, Inc., and a member of the 2010 DARPA Young Faculty Award class.

Every single aspect of human sensation, perception, emotion, and behavior is regulated by brain activity. Thus, having the ability to stimulate brain function is a powerful technology.

Recent advances in neurotechnology have shown that brain stimulation is capable of treating neurological diseases and brain injury, as well as serving platforms around which brain-computer interfaces can be built for various purposes. Several limitations however still pose significant challenges to implementing traditional brain stimulation methods for treating diseases and controlling information processing in brain circuits.

For example, deep-brain stimulating (DBS) electrodes used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease require neurosurgery in order to implant electrodes and batteries into patients. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) used to treat drug-resistant depression and other disorders do not require surgery, but have a low spatial resolution of approximately one centimeter and cannot stimulate deep brain circuits where many diseased circuits reside.

These illustrations show the surgical invasiveness of deep-brain  stimulating electrodes (left) and depict the low spatial resolutions  conferred by transcranial magnetic stimulation (right). (Image: Tyler  Lab)

These illustrations show the surgical invasiveness of deep-brain stimulating electrodes (left) and depict the low spatial resolutions conferred by transcranial magnetic stimulation (right). (Image: Tyler Lab)

To overcome the above limitations, my laboratory has engineered a novel technology which implements transcranial pulsed ultrasound to remotely and directly stimulate brain circuits without requiring surgery. Further, we have shown this ultrasonic neuromodulation approach confers a spatial resolution approximately five times greater than TMS and can exert its effects upon subcortical brain circuits deep within the brain.

A portion of our initial work has been supported by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) where we have been working to develop methods for encoding sensory data onto the cortex using pulsed ultrasound.

Through a recent grant made by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award Program, our research will begin undergoing the next phases of research and development aimed towards engineering future applications using this neurotechnology for our country’s warfighters. Here, we will continue exploring the influence of ultrasound on brain function and begin using transducer phased arrays to examine the influence of focused ultrasound on intact brain circuits. We will also be investigating the use of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) for use in brain stimulation. Finally, to improve upon spatial resolution, we will examine the use of acoustic metamaterials and hyperlenses to study how subdiffraction limited ultrasound influences brain wave activity patterns.

How can this technology be used to provide our nation’s Warfighters with strategic advantages? We have developed working and conceptual prototypes in which ballistic helmets can be fitted with ultrasound transducers and microcontroller devices to illustrate potential applications as shown below. We look forward to developing a close working relationship with DARPA and other Department of Defense and U.S. Intelligence Communities to bring some of these applications to fruition over the coming years depending on the most pressing needs of our country’s defense industries.

Above illustrations show a ballistic helmet fitted with four  ultrasound transducers (left) and another functional prototype for  achieving human brain stimulation using a single element transducer  (bottom-right), as well as a list of potential applications relevant to  the defense industry. (Image: Tyler Lab)

Above illustrations show a ballistic helmet fitted with four ultrasound transducers (left) and another functional prototype for achieving human brain stimulation using a single element transducer (bottom-right), as well as a list of potential applications relevant to the defense industry. (Image: Tyler Lab)

Iraq Logistics Part One

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Nurse case managers help wounded warriors receive optimal health care

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

DOD As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, Washington, DC, Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Seventy years ago on a December morning, our nation sustained a cruel and destructive attack at Pearl Harbor Our enemies thought that by this sudden and deliberate raid, they could weaken America Instead, they only strengthened it.That day truly awoke a sleeping giant.

As we join you in remembering the events of December 7, 1941, we honor you and your fallen comrades for your indomitable will and we remember the sacrifice and shared purpose of the American people, as well as the strength of our elected and military leaders during the war.

December 7, 1941 was indeed a day that will live in infamy. But in the memories of that day we continue to draw determination and conviction to protect our freedoms, to sacrifice for our fellow citizens, and to serve a purpose larger than self. You, the survivors of Pearl Harbor and of the war that followed, embody this conviction, this determination to raise high the torch of freedom and sacrifice. From your stories, posterity records for all subsequent generations the emotion, the heroism, and the tragedy of a harrowing attack and the titanic struggle that would later unfold.

As a young boy, I remember seeing troops move through Fort Ord during the war years in Monterey, California. My parents would invite soldiers into our home for Christmas dinner, and I remember seeing young men from all over the country about to go to war. And I remember thinking in that uncertain time: "This is going to be the last opportunity these young men have to enjoy the comforts of home for a long time."

You are the veterans of that greatest generation.You have lived full lives and witnessed years of great prosperity because of the freedom you helped to secure for America and her allies. I know you take great pride, as I do, that your legacy lives on in today's men and women in uniform, who have borne the burden of a decade of war, and who are truly this nation's next greatest generation. The 9/11 generation, like you, has stepped forward in your image of service and sacrifice, volunteering for military duty after another sudden and terrible attack on our shores.

We treasure you.You have brought everlasting credit to your fallen comrades.The men and women in today's military stand on the shoulders of your individual and combined sacrifice and service to our nation. Your example inspires those in uniform today, strengthens our nation's moral fiber, and proves that with united resolve our country can surmount any challenge. Thank you for your service, for your sacrifice, and for your endless zeal to see to it that our children and grandchildren can pass along a better life to the next generation. This has always been the American dream, a dream we can realize because of the determination of our citizens to defend it.....

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

DOD...President Barack Obama delivered a clear message when he signed two new tax credits into law to increase the hiring of military veterans and wounded warriors, saying “it's the right thing to do for them, and it's the right thing to do for our economy,” in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2011.

Monday, November 14, 2011

President Urges Nation to Serve Veterans Who Served

President Barak  Obama greets Navy Petty 3rd Class Donald Brazeal before the tip-off of  the inaugural Quicken Loans Carrier Classic aboard the Nimitz-class  aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, Nov. 11, 2011. Brazeal is  an electronic's technician.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

President Obama visits France thanks servicemembers attends G20 summit ...

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

DOD Seeks Balanced ‘Cloud’ Computing Solution

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=65267

Thursday, October 13, 2011

U.S. forces “have met all our obligations” in Iraq , Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan said during a briefing for Pentagon reporters delivered from Baghdad.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2011 – The Taliban have failed to recapture population centers secured by NATO forces in Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command's chief planner told Pentagon reporters today.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

(FROM DOD WEBSITE)Panetta Marks 50th Anniversary of Defense Intelligence Agency

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left,  affixes the Joint Meritorious Unit streamer to the Defense Intelligence  Agency's flag with Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess Jr., DIA director,  during the 50th Anniversary commemoration ceremony at Joint Base  Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Sept. 29, 2011.

DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, affixed the Joint Meritorious Unit streamer to the Defense Intelligence Agency's flag along with Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess Jr., DIA director, during the 50th Anniversary commemoration ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Sept. 29, 2011.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

DOD Prepares to Support Japanese Earthquake Relief

Tuesday, January 4, 2011