---
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[![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/03/University-at-Albany-Logo-03a8e510.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1690:new-research-investigates-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-terrorism&catid=12)

##  [New Research Investigates the Impact of COVID-19 on Terrorism](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1690:new-research-investigates-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-terrorism&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 03 August 2020.

While government leaders are focused on fighting COVID-19, the threat of terrorism has not gone away. In fact, homeland security experts [have warned](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/homeland-security-warns-terrorists-exploit-covid-19-pandemic/story?id=69770582) that violent extremists may seek to take advantage of the fear and disruption around the pandemic to further their agenda and recruit new members.

Gary Ackerman, an associate professor at the University at Albany’s [College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity](https://www.albany.edu/cehc) (CEHC), who specializes in terrorist ideology, recently teamed up with CEHC graduate student Hayley Peterson to explore both the challenges and opportunities that the COVID-19 crisis presents for terrorist organizations.

Their observational report was recently published in [Perspectives on Terrorism](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/binaries/content/assets/customsites/perspectives-on-terrorism/2020/issue-3/ackerman-and-peterson.pdf).

“During times of crisis, we often see terrorists exploit the situation and use it for propaganda,” said Ackerman. “This is particularly true amongst anti-government groups on both the far-right and far-left. They take advantage of widespread anxiety and distrust in leadership to promote radicalization and violence.”

“Lots of people do not realize that many extreme groups reside, or least operate, in our societies,” added Peterson, who earned a dual undergraduate degree in [Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity](https://www.albany.edu/cehc/programs/ba-bs-emergency-preparedness-homeland-security-and-cybersecurity) (EHC) and [Human Biology](https://www.albany.edu/anthropology/programs/bs-human-biology) in May. “Recent lockdowns, social distancing and other disruptions to daily life due to COVID-19 have presented an interesting case study to analyze how terrorists respond to a global crisis.”

The 15-page report introduces and discusses a “top 10” list of COVID-19’s most significant current and potential impacts on terrorist activity. The list ranges from terrorists leveraging an increased susceptibility to radicalization and inciting a rise in anti-government attitudes to engaging in pro-social activities and even reconsidering the utility of bioterrorism.

Although there could (and likely will) be short- and medium-term impacts, Ackerman and Peterson argue it is the pandemic’s long-term economic damage that is more likely to create heightened psychological stress and anger against the government that could lead to radicalization at dangerous levels.

“The greatest danger from terrorists utilizing COVID-19 itself as a weapon will arise after the first wave is over, but before a vaccine is available,” said Ackerman. “More importantly, it is during the years following the end of the pandemic, which many project will be a lengthy economic stagnation and recovery period, that the gains made through current terrorist efforts to radicalize, recruit and engage in pro-social activities are likely to bear fruit.”

Ackerman’s research focuses on understanding how terrorists and other adversaries make tactical, operational and strategic decisions. Last October, he co-led the launch of CEHC’s [Center for Advanced Red Teaming](https://www.albany.edu/cehc/cart) (CART). Peterson joined CART as an undergraduate intern and is continuing her research now at the graduate-level.

You can learn more about Ackerman by visiting his[ University expert page](https://www.albany.edu/news/experts/87611.php).

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/16/ST---EPA---Coast-Guard-1610884f.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1689:s-t-epa-are-helping-coast-guard-prepare-to-clean-up-following-an-anthrax-attack&catid=12)

##  [S&T, EPA are Helping Coast Guard Prepare to Clean Up Following an Anthrax Attack ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1689:s-t-epa-are-helping-coast-guard-prepare-to-clean-up-following-an-anthrax-attack&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 03 August 2020.

The microorganism that causes anthrax, the bacterium *Bacillus anthracis,* has infected people and animals since ancient times. Even though anthrax is rare, it is a severe infectious disease with a death rate ranging from 25% to 80% if medical treatment is not sought early. [According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MzAuMjUwOTQwNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2FudGhyYXgvYmlvdGVycm9yaXNtL3RocmVhdC5odG1sIn0.iXODuknXut_igICOLtbgNUJ-MGCqbPG8e8is9fzXHY0/s/8289390/br/81716558801-l), anthrax is one of the most likely agents to be used in a biological attack, because the anthrax bacteria exist in the natural environment, can be easily disguised in powders, sprays, food or water, and have been previously used as a biological warfare agent.

Anthrax spores are difficult to kill, as they can remain viable in the environment for decades. When the spores are inhaled by humans or animals, the bacteria awaken and reproduce to a disastrous effect.

If terrorists use anthrax as a bioagent on a ship or in a harbor, the [U.S. Coast Guard](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MzAuMjUwOTQwNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy51c2NnLm1pbC8ifQ.x0XyK4TeOfLwNLT5MkWiIvInZMj_E8LsaBRyxjWu3yw/s/8289390/br/81716558801-l) must decontaminate the impacted area as quickly as possible to reduce the threat to personnel and civilians, while remaining ready to do its mission. The project Analysis for Coastal Operational Resiliency (AnCOR) aims to find the best, safest methods to decontaminate Coast Guard bases, stations, and vessels. The project is a partnership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [Science and Technology Directorate](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MzAuMjUwOTQwNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kaHMuZ292L3NjaWVuY2UtYW5kLXRlY2hub2xvZ3kifQ.qKLmonQHlkwDFWucE6__C9JPGOK7zKfhgBdudjWpX3w/s/8289390/br/81716558801-l) (S&T), the U.S. [Environmental Protection Agency](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MzAuMjUwOTQwNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5lcGEuZ292LyJ9.KuTWHijjRGCK0C7tbKQLVy4p_kfxdfKcCydVVKPt4N0/s/8289390/br/81716558801-l) (EPA) and the Coast Guard. AnCOR, which started in 2018, focuses on addressing the wide-area release of a biological agent such as anthrax and uses non-pathogenic anthrax-like spores or anthrax surrogates in its studies and field demonstrations.

[Read The Full Story Here](https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2020/07/30/feature-article-st-epa-are-helping-coast-guard-prepare-clean-up-following-an-anthrax-attack)

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Decontamination](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/decontamination)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/e0/Sanofi_GSK-e0ed463d.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1688:two-large-contracts-for-sanofi-gsk&catid=12)

##  [Two Large Contracts for Sanofi & GSK](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1688:two-large-contracts-for-sanofi-gsk&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 03 August 2020.

Sanofi and GSK have recently been awarded two large contracts by both the US and EU.

**Under Operation Warp Speed in the USA, Sanofi and GSK have been selected to supply 100 million doses of COVID-19 Vaccine.** The vaccine candidate, developed by Sanofi in partnership with GSK, is based on the recombinant protein technology used by Sanofi to produce an influenza vaccine, and GSK’s established pandemic adjuvant technology. The vaccine candidate, developed by Sanofi in partnership with GSK, is based on the recombinant protein technology used by Sanofi to produce an influenza vaccine, and GSK’s established pandemic adjuvant technology.

Collaborating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense will help fund the development activities and secure scale-up of Sanofi’s and GSK’s manufacturing capabilities in the United States for the recombinant protein-based, adjuvanted vaccine, resulting in a significant increase in capacity.

The U.S. government will provide up to $2.1 billion, more than half of which is to support further development of the vaccine, including clinical trials, with the remainder used for manufacturing scale up and delivery of an initial 100 million doses of the vaccine. Sanofi will receive the majority of the U.S. government funding. The U.S. government has a further option for the supply of an additional 500 million doses longer term. This helps the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed goals of providing millions of doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

**Sanofi and GSK in advanced discussions with European Union to supply up to 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.** Sanofi and GSK are in advanced discussions with the European Commission (EC) for the supply of up to 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine candidate developed by Sanofi in partnership with GSK, is based on the recombinant protein-based technology used by Sanofi to produce an influenza vaccine, and GSK’s established adjuvant technology. The doses would be manufactured in European countries including France, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

This marks a key milestone in protecting and serving the European population against COVID-19.Sanofi and GSK are in advanced discussions with the European Commission (EC) for the supply of up to 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine candidate developed by Sanofi in partnership with GSK, is based on the recombinant protein-based technology used by Sanofi to produce an influenza vaccine, and GSK’s established adjuvant technology. The doses would be manufactured in European countries including France, Belgium, Germany and Italy. This marks a key milestone in protecting and serving the European population against COVID-19.

“Today’s announcement helps to ensure that millions of Europeans will have access to a potential vaccine protecting against COVID-19, once proven safe and effective. It has been our steadfast commitment to provide a vaccine that is affordable and accessible to everyone, and we are grateful to the European Commission for their ongoing engagement and shared support of this effort,” said Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Sanofi Pasteur.

“Together with GSK, we are working relentlessly to develop and produce a vaccine to address this global health crisis.”Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines added "GSK is proud to be working in partnership with Sanofi to make this vaccine available as soon as possible in Europe. Both companies have significant R&D and manufacturing capability in Europe and are already working hard to scale up production across our networks. This announcement from the EC supports our ongoing efforts”

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/b9/Greyscan_logo-b9af3b66.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1686:research-article-by-the-us-national-institute-of-standards-features-the-greyscan-etd-100&catid=12)

##  [Research Article by the US National Institute of Standards features the GreyScan ETD-100](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1686:research-article-by-the-us-national-institute-of-standards-features-the-greyscan-etd-100&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 30 July 2020.

As Greyscan continues their important work to re-purpose their breakthrough technology to help fight the COVID-19 crisis, they are pleased to share this thorough and positive review of the ETD-100 inorganic explosives trace detector produced by the US National Institute of Standards.

**Detection of fuel-oxidizer explosives utilizing portable capillary electrophoresis with wipe-based sampling**

Portable analytical instrumentation that can provide an alarm indication for the presence of explosives and related components is critical for the identification of explosives-based hazards and threats. Many explosives incident reports involve an inorganic oxidizer-fuel mixture which can include pyrotechnics, fireworks, flash powders, black powders, black powder substitutes, and improvised or homemade explosives. A portable CE instrument with targeted analysis of common inorganic oxidizer ions, for example, chlorate, perchlorate, and nitrate, was used here as a rapid detection platform. Unlike frequently used gasphase separation and detection instrumentation such as ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), an automated liquid extraction mechanism is required for CE separation using acetate paper sample collection wipes. Target inorganic oxidizers were inkjet-printed onto sample wipes to investigate instrument response relative to the collected analyte spatial distribution. Overall, analyte signal intensities increased with off-center sample deposition due to improved sample extraction from wipes and no change in response was observed for varied array distributions across wipes. The system demonstrated sub 200 ng detection limits for all target analytes, with further improvement when normalizing to an internal standard…. To read more please click [here](https://greyscandetection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Detection-of-fuel%E2%80%90oxidizer-explosives-utilizing-portable-capillary-electrophoresis-with-wipe%E2%80%90based-sampling.pdf)

 [Detection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/detection), [Equipment](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/equipment), [Identification](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/identification)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/75/Vaccine-Syringe-75a7335f.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1685:barda-procures-regeneron-s-investigational-ebola-treatment&catid=12)

##  [BARDA Procures Regeneron's Investigational Ebola Treatment](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1685:barda-procures-regeneron-s-investigational-ebola-treatment&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 30 July 2020.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) announced today that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has entered into an agreement to procure REGN-EB3 as part of the HHS' goal of building national preparedness for public health emergencies.

REGN-EB3 is Regeneron's investigational triple antibody cocktail treatment for Ebola virus infection and is currently under Priority Review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a target action date of October 25, 2020. Contingent on FDA approval, Regeneron expects to deliver an established number of treatment doses over the course of six years and receive compensation of approximately $10 million in 2021 and an average of $67 million per year for each of the next five years (2022-2026).

"Developed using Regeneron's proprietary *VelociSuite*® rapid response technologies, REGN-EB3 was shown to save lives in the PALM trial, which evaluated multiple therapies against the previous standard of care for Ebola," said Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Regeneron. "Regeneron's thirty years of investment in our technology and people enabled the development of REGN-EB3, which reinforces the importance of having at-the-ready tools to fight emerging pathogens. As we push through the current COVID-19 pandemic, it's important for governments and industry to ensure preparedness for the next global health crisis by continuing to invest in innovative science and broad manufacturing capacity."

"The current COVID-19 pandemic provides an important lesson in preparation for potential biological threats to our nation's health security," said BARDA acting director Gary Disbrow, Ph.D. "REGN-EB3 is the result of years of collaboration, which demonstrates the fundamental value of public-private partnership in protecting Americans from global epidemics. Whether the next one is another coronavirus, an Ebola virus or a completely novel disease, we must do everything we can to be prepared."

In 2019, the randomized controlled PALM clinical trial conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was stopped early when preliminary results showed that REGN-EB3 crossed the pre-specified superiority threshold for preventing death compared to the control arm, ZMapp. REGN-EB3 [demonstrated superior efficacy](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2870110-1&h=128540861&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.regeneron.com%2Fnews-releases%2Fnews-release-details%2Fnew-england-journal-medicine-publishes-results-ebola-clinical&a=demonstrated+superior+efficacy) compared to ZMapp across multiple measures, including reduced mortality and fewer days until the Ebola virus was no longer detected in the bloodstream. During the trial, there were three serious adverse events for REGN-EB3, compared to seven for ZMapp. REGN-EB3 is being developed with collaboration and funding provided by BARDA under ongoing USG Contract Nos. HHSO100201700016C and HHSO100201500013C.

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/Biofactura_Logo.png#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1684:biofactura-awarded-1-million-sbir-contract-for-development-of-a-marburg-virus-therapeutic&catid=12)

##  [BioFactura Awarded $1 Million SBIR Contract for Development of a Marburg Virus Therapeutic](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1684:biofactura-awarded-1-million-sbir-contract-for-development-of-a-marburg-virus-therapeutic&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 29 July 2020.

BioFactura, Inc. today announced a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract awarded by the Joint Science & Technology Office—Chemical and Biological Defense (JSTO-CBD) of the Department of Defense (DoD). The goal of this project is to develop, optimize, and scale-up a highly efficient mammalian cell culture-based bioprocess suitable to meet surge requirement needs for rapid manufacture of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutic against the Marburg virus (MARV) biothreat.

MARV is a member of the same family as Ebola virus, causes lethal viral hemorrhagic fever, and is classified as a Category A priority pathogen by the NIH, due to high case fatality rates and suspected weaponization. There are currently no MARV vaccines or therapeutics approved for human use. With so much focus on Ebolavirus over the last few years, MARV antibody development efforts have lagged considerably and few MARV-specific mAbs have been described. This problem leaves the U.S. in a vulnerable situation to treat and manage a MARV outbreak. Under the contract, BioFactura will use its proprietary StableFastTM Biomanufacturing Platform to develop a process for this crucial therapy against MARV that is easily scalable for production at large manufacturing cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) facilities.

Dr. , President and CEO of BioFactura, stated, "This Chem-Bio Defense Phase II award builds upon our successful early development of a highly productive StableFast cell line during the SBIR Phase I contract. We look forward to working with our partners at the DoD to develop the drug manufacturing process for advanced testing and clinical readiness to meet threats to the warfighter."

"This government contract for the development of a novel Marburg virus therapeutic countermeasure is the
result of continued efforts to create highly effective therapeutics that can be deployed in the event of a biological threat. The current COVID pandemic has taught us a valuable lesson: Strategic preparedness in conjunction with an organized effort at containment and treatment, can mitigate the effects of these deadly pathogens. We applaud the JSTO-CBD and DoD for their foresight," said MD. MBA., Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of BioFactura, Inc.

This project is supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency under Contract No. HDTRA1-20-C-0033. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this press release are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

About BioFactura, Inc.

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/03/MIT-Respirator-03792ae2.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1683:engineers-design-a-reusable-silicone-rubber-face-mask&catid=12)

##  [Engineers design a reusable, silicone rubber face mask](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1683:engineers-design-a-reusable-silicone-rubber-face-mask&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 27 July 2020.

MIT News Office

The prototype mask, which includes an N95 filter, can be easily sterilized and worn many times.

Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have designed a new face mask that they believe could stop viral particles as effectively as N95 masks. Unlike N95 masks, the new masks were designed to be easily sterilized and used many times.

As the number of new Covid-19 cases in the United States continues to rise, there is still an urgent need for N95 masks for health care workers and others. The new mask is made of durable silicone rubber and can be manufactured using injection molding, which is widely used in factories around the world. The mask also includes an N95 filter, but it requires much less N95 material than a traditional N95 mask.

“One of the key things we recognized early on was that in order to help meet the demand, we needed to really restrict ourselves to methods that could scale,” says Giovanni Traverso, an MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering and a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We also wanted to maximize the reusability of the system, and we wanted systems that could be sterilized in many different ways.”

The team is now working on a second version of the mask, based on feedback from health care workers, and is working to establish a company to support scaled-up production and seek approval from the FDA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Traverso is the senior author of a paper describing the new masks, which appears today in the *British Medical Journal Open*. The lead authors of the study are James Byrne, a radiation oncologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and research affiliate at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Adam Wentworth, a research engineer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a research affiliate at the Koch Institute; Peter Chai, an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; and Hen-Wei Huang, a research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a postdoc at the Koch Institute.

**Easy sterilization**

The N95 masks that health care workers wear to protect against exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses are made from polypropylene fibers that are specially designed to filter out tiny viral particles. Ideally, a health care worker would switch to a new mask each time they see a different patient, but shortages of these masks have forced doctors and nurses to wear them for longer than they are meant to be worn.

In recent months, many hospitals have begun sterilizing N95 masks with hydrogen peroxide vapor, which can be used up to 20 times on a single mask. However, this process requires specialized equipment that is not available everywhere, and even with this process, one mask can be worn for only a single day.

The MIT/BWH team set out to design a mask that could be safely sterilized and reused many times. They decide on silicone rubber — the material that goes into silicone baking sheets, among other products — because it is so durable. Liquid silicone rubber can be easily molded into any shape using injection molding, a highly automated process that generates products rapidly.

The masks are based on the shape of the 3M 1860 style of N95 masks, the type normally used at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Most of the mask is made of silicone rubber, and there is also space for one or two N95 filters. Those filters are designed to be replaced after every use, while the rest of the mask can be sterilized and reused.

“With this design, the filters can be popped in and then thrown away after use, and you’re throwing away a lot less material than an N95 mask,” Wentworth says.

The researchers tested several different sterilization methods on the silicone masks, including running them through an autoclave (steam sterilizer), putting them in an oven, and soaking them in bleach and in isopropyl alcohol. They found that after sterilization, the silicone material was undamaged.

**Fit test**

To test the comfort and fit of the masks, the researchers recruited about 20 health care workers from the emergency department and an oncology clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. They had each of the subjects perform the standard fit test that is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for N95 masks. During this test, the subject puts the mask on and then performs a series of movements to see if the mask stays in place. A nebulized sugar solution is sprayed in the room, and if the subject can taste or smell it, it means the mask is not properly fitted.

All 20 subjects passed the fit test, and they reported that they were able to successfully insert and remove the N95 filter. When asked their preference between the new mask, a typical N95 mask, and a standard surgical mask, most either said they had no preference or preferred the new silicone mask, Byrne says. They also gave the new mask high ratings for fit and breathability.

The researchers are now working on a second version of the mask, which they hope to make more comfortable and durable. They also plan to do additional lab tests measuring the masks’ ability to filter viral particles.

As many regions of the United States have seen a surge in Covid-19 cases over the past month, hospitals in those areas face the possibility of mask shortages. There is also a need for more masks in parts of the world that don’t have the equipment needed for hydrogen peroxide sterilization.

“We know that Covid is really not going away until a vaccine is prevalent,” Byrne says. “I think there’s always going to be a need for masks, whether it be in the health care setting or in the general public.”

The research was funded, in part, by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the National Institutes of Health, E-Ink Corporation, Gilead Sciences, Philips Biosensing, and the Hans and Mavis Lopater Psychosocial Foundation.

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/70/Chemical_Factory-70ac5ec8.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1682:cfats-extenison-signed-into-law&catid=12)

##  [CFATS Extenison Signed Into Law](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1682:cfats-extenison-signed-into-law&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 27 July 2020.

On July 22nd, President Trump signed into law a bill, [S.4148](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4148), to extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program to July 27, 2023. The CFATS program focuses on preventing chemicals of interest from being stolen, diverted, sabotaged or deliberately released by terrorists or other bad actors.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implements the CFATS program under a variety of short-term authorizations by Congress. The last extension was part of the initial [*Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act* (CARES Act)](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748), signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. At that time, authorization for the CFATS program was set to expire on April 18, 2020.

Under CFATS, chemical facilities possessing more than a threshold amount of specific explosive, toxic, or other “chemicals of interest” determined by DHS, are required to complete a “top-screen,” notifying DHS that they possess such chemicals on site. Once a facility submits its top-screen, DHS can direct the facility to submit a Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA). The SVA provides the basis for DHS to assign the facility to one of four tiers: Tiers 1 and 2 being the highest risk, and Tiers 3 and 4 being the lowest. Tier assignment triggers a requirement to submit a Site Security Plan (SSP) or an Alternative Security Plan (ASP) to DHS for authorization and approval.

 [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/News-Images/NTI_Logo.png#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1681:nti-launch-hair-trigger-game&catid=12)

##  [NTI Launch Hair Trigger Game](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1681:nti-launch-hair-trigger-game&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 27 July 2020.

### Nuclear weapons are on hair-trigger alert, ready to be fired at a moment’s notice. As President, can you change the game?

At the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union put their nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, ready to retaliate against a surprise attack. Even now, decades later, the United States and Russia combined have about 1,700 missiles armed, aimed, and ready to fire in minutes.

What if a warning of an incoming attack turns out to be false—but a U.S. or Russian president doesn’t learn that until after ordering a retaliatory strike? What if a command-and-control system is hacked to spoof an incoming attack?

As President of the United States, you’ll navigate competing pressures to build domestic support and manage international relations, in a race against time to cooperate with Russia to remove all nuclear weapons from hair-trigger status. The game offers a fun and engaging challenge designed to generate curiosity, conversation, and action—but the risks couldn’t be more real.

**This is a game, but nuclear threats are real.**

Join the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonpartisan, non-profit global security organization reducing nuclear and biological threats imperiling humanity. Get our updates or visit our [Safer World Action page](https://hairtriggergame.org/action/) to see how you can help build a safer world.

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/9c/FLIR-occupancy-brickstream.jpg-9c30b5e0.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1680:flir-systems-releases-occupancy-management-solution-for-brickstream-3d-gen2-people-counting-system&catid=12)

##  [FLIR Systems Releases Occupancy Management Solution for Brickstream 3D Gen2 People Counting System](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1680:flir-systems-releases-occupancy-management-solution-for-brickstream-3d-gen2-people-counting-system&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 27 July 2020.

FLIR Systems, Inc. today announced availability of the FLIR Occupancy Management Solution for [FLIR Brickstream 3D Gen2](https://www.flir.co.uk/products/brickstream-3d-gen2/) to automate occupancy counting within high-traffic and capacity-limited areas. To support social distancing guidelines during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Occupancy Management Solution provides organizations with an easy-to-use, real-time capacity counting and display tool for multiple entries and exits.

“Many organizations are manually measuring occupancy, but this process is often inaccurate, cumbersome and expensive,” said Paul Clayton, General Manager, Components Business at FLIR Systems. “FLIR addressed this challenge by introducing a cost-effective, scalable, self-contained, and automated monitoring solution suitable for a variety of locations from grocery stores, stadiums, theaters, transportation hubs, to manufacturing plants, and office spaces.”

The Occupancy Management Solution is platform agnostic with an integrated IoT architecture, which can be implemented within existing Wi-Fi access points, offering a complete edge-based solution with the Brickstream 3D Gen2 hardware. It provides a simple display dashboard for capacity updates that can be viewed by staff or customers on devices with a web browser. It may be used as a stand-alone or integrated into existing perimeter systems, making it ideal for most environments where occupancy must be closely managed. Current [Brickstream 3D Gen2](https://www.flir.co.uk/products/brickstream-3d-gen2/) customers can purchase and add this feature with via a remote firmware upgrade.

This solution is part of FLIR Systems’ COVID-19 response product portfolio, which includes the FLIR EST camera series, to help organizations improve safety in public places and other high traffic areas. The FLIR Occupancy Management Solution for [Brickstream 3D Gen2](https://www.flir.co.uk/products/brickstream-3d-gen2/) is available today from FLIR and its global Brickstream distribution partners. For more information, please visit [www.flir.com/occupancy](https://www.flir.co.uk/discover/iis/how-to-track-retail-occupancy-for-social-distancing/).

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/47/DHS_ST-47bed3b1.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1679:preparing-state-and-local-leaders-for-an-explosive-attack&catid=12)

##  [Preparing State and Local Leaders for an Explosive Attack](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1679:preparing-state-and-local-leaders-for-an-explosive-attack&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 27 July 2020.

Explosives are a popular choice among terrorists for causing disruption, casualties and destruction. Although chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons may cause much more damage, explosives can still be the first choice because they are relatively easy to make, transport and use. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [Science and Technology Directorate](https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology) (S&T) wants to make sure that state and local leaders have choices, too, by arming them with technology to plan for worst-case scenarios and mitigate the fallout of terrorist attacks.

“Explosives work and are effective weapons,” said Dr. David Reed, a chemist at S&T’s [Chemical Security Analysis Center](https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/csac) (CSAC). “The trade-off between difficulty to build and use versus the ability to cause harm is a decision that a terrorist probably considers. On the flip side, a decision-maker like a mayor might ask, ‘What are the most damaging scenarios that can occur and how can I protect against them?’ An analysis that considers the different buildings, explosive types, injuries and medical response can provide the information that begins to answer that question.”

With the very real possibility of explosive attacks in public spaces—like stadiums, special event routes, airports, places of worship, theaters, and others—the U.S. needs to be prepared by having security measures in place to stop them and effective medical response for attacks that do occur. With limited resources, knowing which security measures to use and which medical capabilities to emphasize are critical questions to answer before an attack happens.

S&T’s CSAC is developing a modeling tool called Homeland Explosive Consequence and Threat (HExCAT) that estimates the hazard and related human health consequences from thousands of plausible scenarios. HExCAT is currently focused on single event assessments of special events such as parades. After validation and further development, it will be integrated into national- and regional-level risk analysis.

“HExCAT is a holistic risk assessment that informs decision-makers like governors and mayors how to invest in security, plan for operations and mitigation, and make important decisions for securing public spaces,” said Reed, who works with CSAC’s Chemical Threat Characterization Team. “If a terrorist were to detonate a bomb in a building vs. a bomb during a marathon vs. a car bomb near a stadium, what physical security and medical countermeasures will be most effective?”

### HExCAT is part of a suite of hazard and response models

HExCAT is based on the[ Homeland Security Presidential Directive-19](https://www.dhs.gov/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hsdl.org%2F%3Fabstract%26did%3D471864), which establishes a national policy and requires the development of a national strategy and plan for combatting terrorist use of explosives in the U.S.

This tool is standalone, but it is planned to be part of a suite of models called the Countermeasure Assessment and Planning Tool (CAPT WEB). These models, covering CBRN hazards, help federal agencies analyze threats, vulnerabilities and consequences of potential attacks to prioritize resources for the most effective defense and response. S&T collaborated with the Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others, on the development of HExCAT.

When considering a terrorist attack, thinking of only CBRN leaves out a frequently-used tactic by terrorists.

“The obvious missing piece was explosives—we needed to create something that could easily integrate with the other models and fill in the missing piece,” said Reed. “With the suite of CAPT WEB models, we can compare different types of weapons of mass destruction attacks against each other to prioritize planning decisions. Then with HExCAT specifically, we can assess specific scenarios in terms of consequence, chokepoints in the response, or particular vulnerabilities.”

### HExCAT helps cities calculate hazards and medical response

HExCAT maintains a library of 25 different types of military and homemade explosives including combinations of fuels and oxidizers, which increase the effect of the explosion. The tool can also model different scenarios based on a variety of indoor and outdoor public spaces. For general areas, such as city centers or parade routes, HExCAT can simulate city layouts and buildings to model potential damage to representative buildings and determine medical response according to local capabilities.

HExCAT also estimates the human health impact from the simulated explosions and determines the predicted medical response based on local capabilities. A key feature is that its medical mitigation model is fully integrated with the blast effects and injury model. The medical mitigation model can estimate the effectiveness of the medical response using EMT and hospital data (typical equipment, coordinates, trauma center level, number of beds, etc.) for both immediate onsite care and hospital-based care, and the logistical weak points connecting the two. While tracking the delivery of medical care in critical time, the model will look for alternative treatments if the preferred treatments are unavailable or exhausted. By capturing the severity of injuries and tracking the personnel, countermeasures and facility resources throughout the simulation, potential chokepoints in the system could be identified and improvements can be made. So, the current ability to respond, both onsite and in the hospital, is captured for every scenario.

“Scenarios can be assessed proactively before major events. The specific locality, staging and location of the event could indicate some explosives and explosive configurations could be more damaging than others,” Reed explained. “We can model the blast, overpressure, thermal and fragmentation effects, as well as building failure and collapse,”

Reed pointed out that the tool could identify particularly impactful scenarios to guide mitigation and security strategies, such as barrier placement, package and person screening, and the medical resources needed if an explosion occurred. All these measures are designed to limit the severity of an attack.

Integration with the medical mitigation model allows a clear assessment of the critical onsite and hospital-based medical response. In a real emergency, if victims are seriously wounded, they have very little time. So, the availability of equipment, location of medical response and location of trauma centers is critical. For special events, HExCAT can assist with an assessment of the required resources needed to respond to an attack and provide lifesaving operations in time.

It only takes milliseconds to run a single simulation of a venue, and a full range of variables that characterize a venue can be run in a few minutes.

“A very important difference between HExCAT and more traditional, single scenario, models lies in probabilistic treatment of key variables that define a scenario, including building and device configuration,” said CSAC Research Scientist Alex Dolan.

Dolan explained that CSAC is not modeling a single explosive or the path of shrapnel but thousands of different explosion scenarios to predict consequences from an event, including variations in building construction, device placement, device enhancements (such as nails or ball bearings), population density, barriers, etc. This way, HExCAT can identify the most damaging sets of conditions that lead to maximum casualties. Focusing on reducing or eliminating these conditions can improve public safety.

It is important to note that HExCAT does not calculate risk. DHS considers a terrorist risk assessment as including a terrorist decision model—the what, how and where they would strike—as well as potential for failure or interdiction by law enforcement at any step in the process. In the future, HExCAT could be integrated with S&T’s [Probabilistic Analysis for National Threats Hazards and Risk](https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/panthr) program to generate a full risk assessment for explosives.

### HExCAT will work with decision makers

Ultimately, HExCAT can help decision makers evaluate the potential severity of an event and the impact of various response and mitigation strategies.

“We can’t know exactly what a terrorist will do, so we need to plan for all of the reasonable possibilities,” said Dolan. “By analyzing the impact from the thousands of possibilities, we can work with officials to identify opportunities to eliminate or minimize the results of an explosive attack.” And this can help save more lives.

CSAC is very interested in working with local planners to validate the model and evaluate its capabilities for modeling specific localities and/or events.

“We are looking for actual explosive cases to see how the model compares to reality and adjust the model as needed to better reflect reality,” said Reed. “Once validated, decision makers like mayors or police chiefs could ask CSAC to run HExCAT and adjust it for their specific cities’ first response and medical response capabilities depending on various aspects like medical infrastructure and transportation systems. They could also ask to modify the parameters of scenarios to simulate the effects of additional hazards.”

After the validation, CSAC will finalize the medical mitigation component and integrate HExCAT into the CAPT platform. Future plans include adding advanced analytics to allow tracking medical resource use, time resolution for scenarios, and refinement of device and material characteristics. HExCAT is expected to be available for use mid-2021.

*For more information about HExCAT, please contact* [](https://cbrneworld.com/javascript:/*%20This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.*/)*[](https://cbrneworld.com/javascript:/*%20This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.*/).*

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Explosive](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/explosive)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/3a/Threat-Scan-3a262b7d.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1678:3dx-ray-supply-threatscan-ls1-scanner-to-a-counter-terrorist-unit&catid=12)

##  [3DX-Ray supply ThreatScan-LS1 scanner to a Counter-Terrorist Unit](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1678:3dx-ray-supply-threatscan-ls1-scanner-to-a-counter-terrorist-unit&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 27 July 2020.

The flexibility of ThreatScan-LS1 flat screen scanner allows counter terror officers to rapidly examine and assess threats and suspect items on site, such as; bags, laptops, furniture and even enables them to locate and identify hidden cameras and surveillance equipment.

Each system consists of a portable X-ray generator, a detection panel and an operators workstation running 3DX-Rays market-leading image processing software, together with a customer-specific range of ancillary equipment.

ThreatScan is lightweight, incredibly thin, has a large imaging area of 600 x 460mm, enabling bags and objects to be scanned in one scan. This system can penetrate up to 34mm steel at 120kV while producing high quality, sub-millimetre resolution images.

ThreatScan® can be used to inspect suspect bags and packages in mass transit areas, such as; rail and bus stations, shopping malls, airports, stadia, and sports arenas. It is also best suited for general security inspection by first responders such as Police, Military and Private and Government Security agencies.

3DX-RAY LTD, Sales and Marketing Director, Vincent Deery said: *“We are very pleased with this contract because it demonstrates how versatile and flexible the systems are in protecting and enabling police officers in the pursuit of their duties.”*

 [Detection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/detection), [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Equipment](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/equipment)

       [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/events/sponsor_logos/FR-Full-Logo_002.png#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1677:federal-resources-continues-supporting-covid-19-response-providing-gloves-for-medical-personnel&catid=12)

##  [Federal Resources Continues Supporting COVID-19 Response Providing Gloves for Medical Personnel](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1677:federal-resources-continues-supporting-covid-19-response-providing-gloves-for-medical-personnel&catid=12)

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 22 July 2020.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) recently awarded Federal Resources a multi-million dollar contract to provide over 4.5 billion gloves to America’s national strategic stockpile. Federal Resources Supply Company was selected by the DLA to continue delivering life-saving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), in this instance medical gloves, in support of the federal government’s ongoing COVID-19 response efforts.

The DLA announced the award to Federal Resources on July 2, 2020, under the Special Operations Equipment (SOE) contract, which is a firm-fixed price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract that rapidly fields various equipment including lifesaving products to the military, federal government and first responders. The award for over 4.5 billion gloves is the largest award let through the contract to date and the largest single award received in Federal Resources’ 34-year history.

This contract will enable Federal Resources to expand upon its commitment to those on the front lines of the pandemic plaguing the globe. The nation’s first responders and healthcare organizations are in urgent need of proper PPE in order to prevent transmission and lower the risk of infection. Among a global shortage of these vital supplies, Federal Resources has been successful in obtaining and enabling optimization of supplies, such as gloves, masks, eye protection, and gowns, to organizations in desperate need.

“Federal Resources is honored to continue to provide necessary PPE including medical gloves to our nation’s first responders. The current pandemic has created a shortfall of necessary disposable types of PPE, and we have rapidly found solutions. In supporting those who protect us all , our team emulates the persistence, grit, and determination of these first responders,” said Larry Gwaltney, Federal Resources’ CEO. “This contract comes in addition to Federal Resources’ everyday mission of protecting the military, first responders, and health care workers in the fight against various threats, including COVID-19.”

Federal Resources is proud to continue its support of the DLA and its customers through not only this award but with multiple mission critical solutions. For a more comprehensive review of Federal Resources’ equipment and procurement solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit us at [www.federalresources.com/COVID](http://www.federalresources.com/COVID).

 [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [Equipment](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/equipment), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological)

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