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A 44-year-old woman with a history of an open ganglionectomy 2 years prior presented with a recurrent ganglion cyst. The ganglion cyst, extending from the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath, was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. The patient declined another surgical incision. An experimental procedure was performed: ultrasound-guided ganglionectomy using a coablation wand. She achieved full symptom resolution, with no recurrence 1 year afterwards. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in the literature describing the use of this instrument for treating a ganglion cyst.

This paper discusses the application of multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) to the processing of ground target data collected with a long range surveillance radar. A key element in the successful tracking of ground targets is the use of road networks. Thus, the paper begins with an overview of the alternative approaches that have been considered for incorporating road data into a ground target tracker and then it gives a detailed description of the methods that have been chosen. The major design issues to be addressed include the manner in which road filter models are included into a Variable-Structure Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) filtering scheme, how the road filter models are chosen to handle winding roads and intersections, and the tracking of targets that go on and off-road. Performance will be illustrated using simulated data and real data collected from a large surveillance area with a GMTI radar. The area considered contains regions of heavy to moderate target densities and clutter. Since the real data included only targets of opportunity (TOO), it was necessary to define metrics to evaluate relative performance as alternative tracking methods/parameters are considered. These metrics are discussed and comparative results are presented.

It is widely accepted that feature data will be necessary in order to aid the data association for ground target tracking systems that are required to maintain continuous tracks on important targets. It is also recognized that target behavior as determined by a tracking system can aid target type identification. Thus, noting that the tracking and ID functions are complementary, a joint tracking and identification architecture has been developed. These methods are being tested using simulated dynamic ground targets and radar High Range Resolution (HRR) data provided by the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) project. The paper begins by giving an overview of the IMM/MHT tracker that has been designed to handle the unique characteristics (such as on-off road behavior) of the ground target tracking problem. Then, a joint tracking identification methodology is described. Implementing this approach, target behavior (such as being part of a group, speed, and on/off road motion) can be used both in the data association and for target type information. A Dempster-Shafer method is used for combining all classification-related data. The track score, incorporated in all MHT data association decisions, is augmented with a feature-related term derived from the conflict term computed from an application of Dempster's Rule. Finally, the paper illustrates the proposed methods using results from a detailed simulation of target convoys that perform on and off road maneuvers. Results using MSTAR HRR data are presented for both Signature-Aided (SAT) and Classification-Aided (CAT) approaches to feature-aided tracking.

Evolution is a function of energy itself, and all energetic systems, including societies, evolve within the bounds of thermodynamic laws. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, joined with ecological energetic analysis, will reveal a strong analogy between chemical, biological, social and ecosystem evolution In the context of energy and evolution, recent self-organization theories are reviewed, synthesized and extended by the Theory of Radially Evolving Energy (TREE). Radial evolution, describing the increasing concentration of energy density in successively emerging systems, is dimensionally distinct from, yet consistent with, Darwinian theory Human acceleration of a natural feedback between energy consumption and technology threatens the health of our populations and those of other species. This feedback, formation of intergovernmental systems, mortality of social systems, and loss of individual human freedom to governmental control are predicted by the theory of radial evolution. To understand the adaptive co...