MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Online Schools
| Find Jobs
Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • Veteran Benefits
    • Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

Machine Learning is Equipping Us for the Unknown

JANUARY 13, 2021 – In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Defense (DoD) offers a glimmer of hope: the ability to warn of an infection up to 48 hours before overt symptoms appear. This infection-warning capability is the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE), and its development was conceptualized and spearheaded by DoD’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Chemical and Biological Technologies Department, in its role as the Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO). RATE has the potential to disrupt the early, invisible progression of disease, and the tool has been publicized by the media. National Public Radio discussed the impact of the new capability on the military. Federal News Network focused on the global, public health effects of learning presymptomatic signs of an infection 48 hours in advance.¹ The Wall Street Journal highlighted the significance of RATE in identifying infections due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),² the virus that causes COVID-19; and Fox 5 Good Day DC explored the commercial potential of RATE.

RATE is a machine-learning algorithm that can explore a large set of data for patterns in how the human body changes when it acquires an infection. RATE is threat agnostic by design, which means the algorithm can identify signs of an infection regardless of the type of pathogen (bacterium or virus) causing the infection. The algorithm is demonstrating that it can analyze data collected by wearable technologies, such as smart watches, to identify individuals who are about to develop overt symptoms due to an exposure to SARS-CoV-2. If military personnel were outfitted with a wearable technology, then RATE’s threat-agnostic, infection-warning capability could help DoD better prepare for surprises in biological warfare.

DTRA-JSTO sought to develop an early infection-warning system that is grounded on the clinical fact that when a person is exposed to a pathogen, that person undergoes certain measurable changes in the body before symptoms the potential to change behavior to mitigate the effects of a disease. For example, military personnel armed with this knowledge can seek medical help and self-quarantine to prevent disease transmission. “While RATE isn’t preventing disease, it informs of an illness about to overwhelm the body, in turn promoting behavior that can assure a quicker return to wellness,” says Dr. John Hannan, Chief of Digital Battlespace Management Division at DTRA-JSTO.

Although RATE was developed using data from patients who developed hospital-acquired infections, it is now being assessed for its ability to indicate early signs of infection in active and otherwise healthy military personnel. The assessment is making use of wearable devices and SARS-CoV-2 as the infection-causing pathogen of interest, the latter because the assessment coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. As mentioned earlier, RATE uses biomarkers that are collected noninvasively, which are also the type of data gathered by readily available, commercial wearable devices. Through the ongoing RATE COVID-19 Demonstration, DTRA-JSTO is evaluating the algorithm’s ability to utilize data gathered in nonclinical settings from wearable technologies, such as the Garmin Fenix 6 smart watch and the Oura Ring, to warn of an infection while maintaining confidentiality of personal identity and physical location.

RATE is the first machine-learning, infection-warning algorithm of its kind, offering DoD a novel opportunity to get ahead of illness among its military personnel. A 48-hour warning of an infection, regardless of the type of pathogen causing it, enables military personnel to initiate self-care, seek medical help, and self-quarantine. After all, with knowledge, action is possible. As the current pandemic continues to incite fear, RATE offers the hope of good health, even after an infection has begun.

1. Temin T. 2020. DoD components team with industry partner on AI project for an infectious disease warning system. Federal News Network website. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/artificial-intelligence/2020/09/dod-components-team-with-industry-partner-on-ai-project-for-an-infectious-disease-warning-system/. Accessed November 6, 2020.

2. Kesling B, Youssef NA. 2020. Thousands of American troops to take part in COVID-19 early-detection study. Wall Street Journal website. https://www.wsj.com/articles/thousands-of-american-troops-to-take-part-in-covid-19-early-detection-study-11600772402. Accessed November 6, 2020.

3. Campos M. 2017. Heart rate variability: A new way to track well-being. Harvard Health Blog. Harvard Health Publishing website. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/heart-rate-variability-new-way-track-well-2017112212789. Accessed November 6, 2020.

Courtesy Story
Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department

Related Posts:

  • A New Road to Rapid Drug DiscoveryA New Road to Rapid Drug Discovery
  • Army Researchers Look for Permanent End to Ebola VirusArmy Researchers Look for Permanent End to Ebola Virus
  • DTRA Scientists Develop Cloud-Based Biosurveillance EcosystemDTRA Scientists Develop Cloud-Based Biosurveillance…
  • CDC Explains Benefits of Vaccine To Navy SailorsCDC Explains Benefits of Vaccine To Navy Sailors
  • DTRA Program Helps Nations Tackle Biological ThreatsDTRA Program Helps Nations Tackle Biological Threats
  • Patent Licensing Agreement Signed at ECBCPatent Licensing Agreement Signed at ECBC

Comments

Filed Under: News

  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

Army Leaders Provide Update of Guard Activities in Washington

JANUARY 26, 2021 – The National Guard will be a force of last resort. Law enforcement will take the lead and be the force of choice should it be necessary, Acting Army Secretary John E. Whitley, said referring to keeping the peace and allowing for peaceful protests in Washington, D.C. Whitley; Army Gen. Daniel R. […]

Answers to Top Questions About ACFT Equipment Fielding

OCTOBER 14, 2019 – As Army Soldiers start preparing for the new Army Combat Fitness Test, behind the scenes Army logisticians are also preparing to distribute more than 36,000 equipment sets to conduct the new test. At a recent Facebook Live event, watched by more than 150,000 viewers, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston […]

The Army Educational Benefit You Aren’t Using

JANUARY 12, 2021 – Nothing is free. Unless it’s actually free. With a few basic requirements and a common access card reader that’s exactly what the Army Credentialing Assistance program’s $4,000 per year is — free educational assistance for soldiers. National Guardsmen have the responsibility of not only progressing in their military career but also […]

Air Force Allows Longer Braids, Ponytails, Bangs for Women

JANUARY 22, 2021 – As an outcome of the 101st Air Force uniform board, Air Force women will be able to wear their hair in up to two braids or a single ponytail with bulk not exceeding the width of the head and length not extending below a horizontal line running between the top of […]

Navy Modernizes Tuition Assistance Debt Payments

JANUARY 4, 2021 – The Navy has modernized the way Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen can pay back tuition assistance (TA) debts beginning in January 2021. The new program provides service members with the option to pay their debt on a mobile device or computer using a debit card, electronic funds transfer (EFT) or via […]

Recent Posts

  • Army Leaders Provide Update of Guard Activities in Washington
  • Next Generation Night Vision Tested Before Equipping Warfighters
  • Biden Administration Overturns Transgender Exclusion Policy
  • New Defender SUVs Provide Cooler, Smoother Ride for Canines
  • USMC Launches New Structure to Support Recruitment and Retention
MAINMENU




SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Contact | Feedback | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2021 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.



 
This is not the official recruiting website of the U.S. Military. The site you are on is run by Sun Key Publishing, a private company, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Military.