Defining the Wingspan of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

This Comment will focus on the widely different interpretations, applications, and enforcement of the MBTA and the consequences that will result if a concrete solution is not implemented soon. Part II will discuss the background, historically and legislatively, that led to the enactment of the MBTA and its current implementation. Part III will discuss the current conflict within the courts regarding how the MBTA is to be applied. In discussing this conflict, this section looks at the particular reasoning behind two of the most recent decisions on this issue and what led each of the courts to different interpretations. Part IV will analyze the correct interpretation of the MBTA and the scope of its liability; explain the need for an immediate and effective solution for the implementation of the statute and why certain other solutions are not workable; and, lastly, analyze the integration of a permit program, like that under the Endangered Species Act, and explain why this will create the best immediate solution

Why a Data Disclosure Law Is (Likely) Unconstitutional

Social media platforms have changed the very structure of communication. These platforms exert significant influence over how we get our news, how we form and join political movements, and how we connect with friends and family. But social media platforms are black boxes. Moderation algorithms are opaque--even to the platforms themselves—and attempts by third parties to research these algorithms are often frustrated. Because platforms withhold data necessary for public interest research, Congress might step in and mandate data access for certain researchers and journalists. I conclude that any such effort would (likely) be unconstitutional under the First Amendment. My purpose in this Note is twofold. First, I provide a framework for evaluating the constitutionality of a data disclosure law and explain which arguments are most likely to succeed. I also provide some analytical categories of platform data. These categories should help practitioners and policymakers evaluate the ways data disclosure might chill the free expression of platform users. Second, I explore how easily the First Amendment can be used to strike down economic regulations. Using a data disclosure law as an exhibit, I hope to illustrate and explain the Supreme Court's shifting understanding of free speech. My Note proceeds in four parts. Part I provides relevant background and outlines a hypothetical data disclosure law; Part II explores the many arguments regulated platforms could deploy to invalidate a data disclosure law; Part III provides a brief recommendation to legislators seeking to draft a data disclosure law; and I conclude in Part IV by arguing for a reinterpretation of free speech jurispruden

Comparative Fate of Chemically Dispersed and Beached Crude Oil in Subtidal Sediments of the Arctic Nearshore

A three-year investigation was conducted to examine the incorporation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) into subtidal sediments following experimental releases of oil during the Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) Project experiments. The concentrations of PHC were determined by synchronous scanning UV/Fluorescence spectroscopy, while the composition of residual saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons was determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatographic mass spectrometry. ... The eroding oil from the Bay 11 beach was compositionally quite heterogeneous, with weathered, biodegraded oil, as well as relatively unweathered oil, found on the beach and in the offshore sediments. Biodegradation of oil appeared to be restricted to the beached oil, with no significant degradation apparently occurring subtidally. After two years, the offshore oil residues still contained low molecular weight alkanes as well as alkylated naphthalenes. The situation in Bay 9, where chemically dispersed oil was discharged near the bottom, was quite different. In spite of a large water column exposure, the bottom sediments never contained more than 10 micro g/g of oil. Of this amount of oil, a significant fraction (20%) of the PHC was initially associated with the surface flocculent layer. Levels of oil in the Bay 9 sediments were on the order of 1-3 micro g/g one year after the release. Sediment PHC levels in the other less exposed bays (Bays 10 and 7) never exceeded 3 micro g/g.Key words: BIOS, experimental oil spill, petroleum hydrocarbons, arctic sediments, oil pollutionMots clés: BIOS, déversement de pétrole expérimental, hydrocarbures pétroliers, sédiments arctiques, pollution par le pétrol

Hydrocarbon Biogeochemical Setting of the Baffin Island Oil Spill Experimental Sites. I. Sediments

A baseline for petroleum residues in the sediments of the Cape Hatt Island in arctic Canada was obtained in anticipation of controlled oil releases of the Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) Project. In subtidal sediments, the existing background of petroleum residues has an upper limit in the low to sub micro g/g concentration range. Petroleum was one of a variety of sources identified, including plant paraffin waxes and combustion products. Beach sediment hydrocarbons were quantitatively and qualitatively similar to those of subtidal sediments. The hydrocarbon baseline in sediments of the BIOS study area was found to be as low as might be found anywhere on earth and therefore ideally suited to the BIOS study.Key words: BIOS, arctic marine Canada, hydrocarbon baseline, sedimentsMots clés: BIOS, Arctique marin canadien, niveau de référence d'hydrocarbures, sédiment

Hydrocarbon Biogeochemical Setting of the Baffin Island Oil Spill Experimental Sites. II. Water

A baseline for petroleum residues in the waters of the Cape Hatt region of Baffin Island in arctic Canada was obtained in anticipation of controlled oil releases of the Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) Project. Total aliphatic and aromatic residues reflecting multiple sources were found to be in the low to sub micro g/l concentrations range. Alkylated naphthalenes, phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes were present in the sub ng/l concentrations range. The hydrocarbon baseline for the waters of the BIOS study area was found to be as low as might be found anywhere on earth and therefore ideally suited to the BIOS study.Key words: BIOS, arctic marine Canada, hydrocarbon baseline, waterMots clés: BIOS, Arctique marin canadien, niveau de référence d’hydrocarbures, ea

Mining Twitter data to #educate the public about #sepsis

Introduction Sepsis is not well known. Only 58% of Americans know the word sepsis, less than 1% can identify its symptoms and one-third wrongly believe the disease is contagious (1). What if social media educated users about sepsis? There are at least 500 million tweets worldwide per day on Twitter. Objectives and Approach Early detection of sepsis with early treatment is associated with a decrease in mortality (2). The current study aims to use Twitter to share sepsis patients’ experiences. The approach consisted of using text data mining techniques by randomly extracting tweets (N =150) with the hashtag #sepsissurvivor (3) using R software (4). The study retrieved and quantified sepsis patients’ tweets into word frequency distributions using documentation summarization and word cloud techniques (5) for visual representation of Twitter data. Sepsis patients used images symptoms cards (6) to raise awareness. The study used the R package "tesseract" to extract text from images (6). Results Patients sharing their experiences frequently used the word “sepsis.” Cardiorespiratory compromise (septic shock—the highest mortality risk) was illustrated in the words "my heart stops” or elevated "heart" rate or “low blood pressure.” Several studies have reported increased mortality associated with delays in antibiotic administration (7). Many sepsis survivors had antibiotics exposure, both in a timely manner or delayed in use. Sepsis patients experienced long stays in the hospital. Tweets mentioned "infection" 39 times (8), which supports patients’ diagnoses in addition to high rates of "fever." The clustering technique using word association indicated infection was highly correlated with sepsis (9). Sepsis survivors shared the "pain" they went through. Conclusion/Implications Twitter presents an opportunity for patients to disseminate information about sepsis raising awareness about important symptoms. The information tweeted explores the impact of this diagnosis, and the need for early treatment. The current study demonstrates the opportunity to raise awareness through the learned experiences of patients in a novel medium

Hydrocarbon Biogeochemical Setting of the Baffin Island Oil Spill Experimental Sites. III. Biota

A baseline for petroleum residues in the Cape Hatt region of Baffin Island in arctic Canada was obtained in anticipation of controlled oil releases of the Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) Project. Tissue hydrocarbons in a variety of arctic marine species were dominated by biogenic hydrocarbons. UV/F analysis of tissues indicated an upper limit of petroleum residues in the low to sub micro g/g concentration range. PAHs were detected in samples in the low ng/g concentration range and revealed a distribution of the combustion type. The hydrocarbon baseline in the BIOS study area was found to be as low as might be found anywhere on earth and therefore ideally suited to the BIOS study.Key words: BIOS, arctic marine Canada, hydrocarbon baseline, organismsMots clés: BIOS, Arctique marin canadien, niveau de référence d’hydrocarbures, organisme

Recommendations for observational studies of comorbidity in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To reach consensus about the most relevant comorbidities to study in multiple sclerosis (MS) with respect to incidence, prevalence, and effect on outcomes; review datasets that may support studies of comorbidity in MS; and identify MS outcomes that should be prioritized in such studies. Methods: We held an international workshop to meet these objectives, informed by a systematic review of the incidence and prevalence of comorbidity in MS, and an international survey regarding research priorities for comorbidity. Results: We recommend establishing age- and sex-specific incidence and prevalence estimates for 5 comorbidities (depression, anxiety, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes); evaluating the effect of 7 comorbidities (depression, anxiety, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, chronic lung disease, and autoimmune diseases) on disability, quality of life, brain atrophy and other imaging parameters, health care utilization, employment, and mortality, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disease duration as potential confounders; harmonizing study designs across jurisdictions; and conducting such studies worldwide. Ultimately, clinical trials of treating comorbidity in MS are needed. Conclusion: Our recommendations will help address knowledge gaps regarding the incidence, prevalence, and effect of comorbidity on outcomes in MS