Awake percutaneous tracheostomy as an alternative to open emergency tracheostomy in a threatened airway

No Abstrac

A Schrödinger Equation for Light

In this chapter we examine the quantised electromagnetic (EM) field in the context of a Schrödinger equation for single photons. For clarity we consider only a one-dimensional system. As a universal tool for calculating the time-evolution of quantum states, a Schrödinger equation must exist that describes the propagation of single photons. Being inherently relativistic, however, critical aspects of both special relativity and quantum mechanics must be combined when quantising the EM field. By taking the approach of a Schrödinger equation for localised photons, we will show how novel and previously overlooked features of the quantised EM field become a necessary part of a complete description of photon dynamics. In this chapter, I shall provide a thorough examination of new features and discuss their significance in topics such as quantum relativity and photon localisation

Minimizing Lmax for the single machine scheduling problem with family set-ups

A procedure for the single machine-scheduling problem of minimizing the maximum lateness for jobs with sequence independent set-ups is presented. The procedure provides optimal/near-optimal solutions over a wide range of problems. It performs well compared with other heuristics, and it is effective in finding solutions for large problems

Satisfying due-dates in a job shop with sequence-dependent family set-ups

This paper addresses job shop scheduling with sequence dependent family set-ups. Based on a simple, single-machine dynamic scheduling problem, state dependent scheduling rules for the single machine problem are developed and tested using Markov Decision Processes. Then, a generalized scheduling policy for the job shop problem is established based on a characterization of the optimal policy. The policy is combined with a 'forecasting' mechanism to utilize global shop floor information for local dispatching decisions. Computational results show that performance is significantly better than that of existing alternative policies

Starch safety in resuscitation

The Western Cape Department of Health (WC DoH) has taken a decision to withdraw all intravenous fluids (IVFs) containing hydroxyethyl starch (HES) from hospitals in the Western Cape, with similar action contemplated in the Free State and Gauteng. This was in response to recommendations from: The European Medicines Agency's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (EMA PRAC) that HES IVFs be withdrawn from clinical use. The United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has issued a recall of all HES IVFs in the UK. The United States Food and Drug Administration which advises that HES IVFs be used with caution in ICU, cardiac surgery and patients with known kidney disease or coagulopathy. Further advice was that HES should be stopped if coagulopathy or renal dysfunction develops, as well as that renal function should be monitored for 90 days after HES administration.http://www.samj.org.zaam2013ay201

Svestka's Research: Then and Now

Zdenek Svestka's research work influenced many fields of solar physics, especially in the area of flare research. In this article I take five of the areas that particularly interested him and assess them in a "then and now" style. His insights in each case were quite sound, although of course in the modern era we have learned things that he could not readily have envisioned. His own views about his research life have been published recently in this journal, to which he contributed so much, and his memoir contains much additional scientific and personal information (Svestka, 2010).Comment: Invited review for "Solar and Stellar Flares," a conference in honour of Prof. Zden\v{e}k \v{S}vestka, Prague, June 23-27, 2014. This is a contribution to a Topical Issue in Solar Physics, based on the presentations at this meeting (Editors Lyndsay Fletcher and Petr Heinzel

A note on the Sagnac effect and current terrestrial experiments

We focus on the Sagnac effect for light beams in order to evaluate if the higher-order relativistic corrections of kinematic origin could be relevant for actual terrestrial experiments. Moreover, we discuss to what extent the analogy with the Aharonov-Bohm effect holds true in a fully relativistic framework. We show that the analogy with the Aharonov-Bohm is not true in general, but is recovered in a suitable low-order approximation, and that even though the Sagnac effect is influenced by both the position of the interferometer in the rotating frame and its extension, these effects are negligible for current terrestrial experiment

Variety of Methodological Approach in Economics

It has been argued by some that the distinction between orthodox economics and heterodox economics does not fit the growing variety in economic theory, unified by a common methodological approach. On the other hand, it remains a central characteristic of heterodox economics that it does not share this methodological approach, but rather represents a range of alternative methodological approaches. The paper explores the evidence, and arguments, for variety in economics at different levels, and a range of issues which arise. This requires in turn a discussion of the meaning of variety in economics at the different levels of reality, methodology, method and theory. It is concluded that there is scope for more, rather than less, variety in economic methodologies, as well as within methodologies. Further, if variety is not to take the form of “anything goes”, then critical discussion by economists of different approaches to economics, and of variety itself, is required