The empty boat

The cocktail boat.

We describe the inspiration, development, and deployment of a novel cocktail device modeled after a class of water-walking insects. Semi-aquatic insects like Microvelia and Velia evade predators by releasing a surfactant that quickly propels them across the water. We exploit an analogous propulsion mechanism in the design of an edible cocktail boat. We discuss how gradients in surface tension l...

Rocking the Boat: Damage to Eelgrass by Swinging Boat Moorings

Seagrass meadows commonly reside in shallow sheltered embayments typical of the locations that provide an attractive option for mooring boats. Given the potential for boat moorings to result in disturbance to the seabed due to repeated physical impact, these moorings may present a significant threat to seagrass meadows. The seagrass Zostera marina (known as eelgrass) is extensive across the nor...

Thinking with the Coleman Boat

The empty follicle syndrome.

The empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a rare complication of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, leading to cycle cancellation. Low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) bioavailability and ovarian dysfunction have been implicated with this condition. This case report illustrates a typical case of EFS and several strategies suggested to overcome this problem.

The empty azygos fissure.

The azygos fissure is typically visible on chest radiography as a right paramediastinal supernumerary line in projection of the right lung apex. The azygos vein, located at the bottom of the fissure, is visible as a teardrop-shaped opacity. The empty azygos fissure is a rare finding. It is the consequence of the displacement of the azygos vein out of the fissure with a close paramediastinal pos...