Predictability of catastrophic events: material rupture, earthquakes, turbulence, financial crashes and human birth

We propose that catastrophic events are "outliers" with statistically different properties than the rest of the population and result from mechanisms involving amplifying critical cascades. Applications and the potential for prediction are discussed in relation to the rupture of composite materials, great earthquakes, turbulence and abrupt changes of weather regimes, financial crashes and human parturition (birth).Comment: Latex document of 22 pages including 6 ps figures, in press in PNA

Involving experts by experience in craniofacial research

Many areas of health research increasingly involve end users of research (typically patients and their families/caregivers) in study design, management, and dissemination. Beyond recruiting patients as research participants, the shift is towards engaging patients, parents and caregivers as active partners on the research team, who are recognised and valued as ‘experts-by-experience’ (EbyE). Currently, involving EbyE is not routine in global craniofacial research. This paper highlights the value of EbyE involvement, addresses how to incorporate EbyE at all stages of research and discusses key considerations in facilitating positive experiences for EbyE

Laser-induced fluorescence diagnosis of plasma processing sources

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) may be used to make non-perturbing diagnoses of ions in plasma processing sources. Among the measurements possible are ion density profiles, distribution functions, convection and diffusion. Plasma processing sources such those used for etching, sputtering and thin film deposition may be diagnosed. In this review of LIF, examples of argon ion distributions and flow velocities in filament, hollow cathode and radio frequency plasma processing system are presented. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Experimental Measurements of Phase Space

Direct measurements of integrated phase-space densities, e.g., f(x,vy,t), have been made in an experiment. Using spectroscopically active ions, measurements in a plasma show the ion response, fi(x,v,t), to linear and nonlinear waves and phase-space particle bunching. Time-resolved measurements show coherent and incoherent phase-space density changes in the presence of waves, indicating that transitions to turbulence and chaos may be studied. The time, space, and velocity-space resolution may allow experimental tests of predictions from the Boltzmann equation

Ultrasonic locating devices for central venous cannulation: meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: To assess the evidence for the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound guided central venous cannulation. DATA SOURCES: 15 electronic bibliographic databases, covering biomedical, science, social science, health economics, and grey literature. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. POPULATIONS: Patients scheduled for central venous access. INTERVENTION REVIEWED: Guidance using real time two dimensional ultrasonography or Doppler needles and probes compared with the anatomical landmark method of cannulation. DATA EXTRACTION: Risk of failed catheter placement (primary outcome), risk of complications from placement, risk of failure on first attempt at placement, number of attempts to successful catheterisation, and time (seconds) to successful catheterisation. DATA SYNTHESIS: 18 trials (1646 participants) were identified. Compared with the landmark method, real time two dimensional ultrasound guidance for cannulating the internal jugular vein in adults was associated with a significantly lower failure rate both overall (relative risk 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.06 to 0.33) and on the first attempt (0.59, 0.39 to 0.88). Limited evidence favoured two dimensional ultrasound guidance for subclavian vein and femoral vein procedures in adults (0.14, 0.04 to 0.57 and 0.29, 0.07 to 1.21, respectively). Three studies in infants confirmed a higher success rate with two dimensional ultrasonography for internal jugular procedures (0.15, 0.03 to 0.64). Doppler guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein in adults was more successful than the landmark method (0.39, 0.17 to 0.92), but the landmark method was more successful for subclavian vein procedures (1.48, 1.03 to 2.14). No significant difference was found between these techniques for cannulation of the internal jugular vein in infants. An indirect comparison of relative risks suggested that two dimensional ultrasonography would be more successful than Doppler guidance for subclavian vein procedures in adults (0.09, 0.02 to 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Evidence supports the use of two dimensional ultrasonography for central venous cannulation

Using Life History and Ecology as Tools to Manage a Threatened Salamander Species

Selected aspects of the life history and ecology of the small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma texanum Matthes) relevant to the management of this threatened species in Iowa are presented. The population studied utilizes flooded woodland habitat during courtship, breeding and egg laying, and during the entire larval period. Larval foraging strategies in this habitat included ontogenetic but no diel shifts in prey selection. Synchronous, nocturnal breeding migration allowed effective use of drift fences fur capture of adults used in captive breeding, courtship behavior studies, and the estimation of breeding population size. Large numbers of spennatophores, apparently indiscriminate mate choice, and the relatively large number of eggs produced by females makes captive breeding programs potentially very successful. Because larvae are particularly vulnerable to predation by fish and larval tiger salamanders, ephemeral ponds are required for breeding and larval habitat. The primary management objective should be to preserve ephemeral woodland ponds and adjacent terrestrial habitat favorable for larval and adult survival