  The connection between the thermodynamics of charged finite nuclear systems
and the asymptotically measured partitions is presented. Some open questions,
concerning in particular equilibrium partitions are discussed. We show a
detailed comparison of the decay patterns in Au+ C,Cu,Au central collisions and
in Au quasi-projectile events. Observation of abnormally large fluctuations in
carefully selected samples of data is reported as an indication of a first
order phase transition (negative heat capacity) in the nuclear equation of
state.
