Military medicine
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Military trainees are at an increased risk of stress fractures. Vitamin D availability is known to play an important role in both fracture prevention and healing. The purpose of this investigation was to assess 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in soldiers with confirmed lower extremity stress fractures and assess the predictors of fracture location. ⋯ Overall, 74% of patients in military training with lower extremity stress fractures had insufficient or deficient levels of 25(OH)D, highlighting a persistent area of concern in this population. Patients with femoral neck and tibial shaft stress fractures had significantly lower BMI than patients with foot and ankle stress fractures. This suggests that in stress fracture-prone patients, BMI may play a role in predicting fracture location.
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Throughout history, armies of the world have codified grooming standards for their members. In the USA, the Department of Defense (DoD) provides overall guidance for grooming standards and each uniformed military service develops, promulgates, and enforces its own grooming standards. The specific details of each service's grooming standards are revised regularly to conform to contemporaneous notions of professionalism and operational necessity. In light of growing recognition of and respect for the diversity of people serving in the military, specific language used to describe certain hairstyles and hair textures as well as associated grooming policies have gained attention. Efforts have been made to modify the policy and language to be more inclusive, especially of minority groups with physiologic and cultural differences that influence grooming practices. Initial efforts in the DoD toward this endeavor were made possible with advocacy from members of the Congressional Black Caucus. ⋯ The DoD has recognized that former grooming standards, specifically regarding hair and hairstyles, may have introduced inequities in the treatment of military personnel. The DoD and its component military services have long been engaged in programs to ensure equal protections among its workforces. The re-examination and clarification of grooming standards related to hair and hairstyles is another effort to ensure equity and inclusion. The military services are working with great sincerity to implement policies that promote inclusiveness broadly. Steps to remove discrimination on the basis of hair and hairstyle can make the overall work environment more inclusive for people of color. Passage of a federal CROWN Act will promote similar or parallel changes for federal employees outside the military services.
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Cultures that cultivate psychological safety support professional development and personal well-being. Two cases are contrasted to highlight the value of servant leadership in creating psychologically safe cultures through caring and trust. Servant leaders demonstrate humility and vulnerability and invest in those they lead. Caring leaders create a positive workplace.
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Historical Article
Failure to Plan: The Disease That Cost an American Empire.
In 1802, the deadliest recorded epidemic of yellow fever struck a French expeditionary force, permanently destroying Napoleon Bonaparte's ambition to re-conquer Haiti and secure a North American empire. Toussaint L'Ouverture, Haitian revolutionary, effectively used his medical experience to spread this disease among French troops.