836 research outputs found
Wear particle dynamics drive the difference between repeated and non-repeated reciprocated sliding
The dependence of the sliding mode (repeated vs. non-repeated reciprocated sliding) on the friction and wear behavior of ball-on-flat, brittle non-metallic interfaces in ambient air conditions is evaluated. Repeated sliding promotes the formation of a third body (compressed wear particles) that stabilizes the friction. Non-repeated sliding shows reduced evidence of third body formation, and instead a steady increase in friction. The proposed mechanism driving the non-repeated friction behavior is attributed to a gradual reduction in the ball surface roughness, leading to an increased area of real contact and greater capillary bridge forming across non-contact regions of the interface
Results of a randomized trial of partner notification in cases of hiv infection in north carolina
Background: We sought to compare two methods of notifying sex partners of subjects infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or persons who had shared needles with them (needle-sharing partners):“patient referral,”in which the responsibility for notifying partners was left to the patient, and“provider referral,”in which providers attempted to notify partners.Methods: Names of sex partners and needle-sharing partners and information on how to locate them were obtained from consenting HIV-infected subjects identified in the HIV-testing programs at three public health departments in North Carolina. The subjects were randomly assigned to a patient-referral group (in which patients had the initial responsibility for notifying their partners) or a provider-referral group (in which the study counselor notified the partners). The success of attempts to notify partners was monitored by means of interviews with counselors conducted both in the field and at the health department.Results: Of 534 HIV-positive persons identified at the health departments, 247 (46 percent) did not return for counseling after the test, 8 were counseled outside the study, and 117 (22 percent) were ineligible. Of the 162 invited to participate, 88 (54 percent) declined and 74 (46 percent) agreed. The subjects were mostly male (69 percent), black (87 percent), homosexual or bisexual (76 percent of the men), and had a median age of 30 years. Thirty-nine were assigned to the provider-referral group and 35 to the patient-referral group. In the provider-referral group 78 of 157 partners (50 percent) were successfully notified, whereas in the patient-referral group only 10 of 153 (7 percent) were notified. Of the partners notified by the counselors, 94 percent were not aware that they had been exposed to HIV. Overall, 23 percent of the partners notified and tested were HIV-positive.Conclusions: In this trial, leaving the notification of partners up to the subjects (patient referral) was quite ineffective, despite the North Carolina law requiring that partners be notified. Partner notification by public health counselors (provider referral) was significantly more effective. Although the effectiveness of notification procedures is constrained by the accuracy of the information provided by HIV-infected patients, counselors who notify the partners of an infected patient can refer them to educational, medical, and support services targeted to persons at high risk for HIV infection and may encourage the adoption of less-risky behavior
Phonons and specific heat of linear dense phases of atoms physisorbed in the grooves of carbon nanotube bundles
The vibrational properties (phonons) of a one-dimensional periodic phase of
atoms physisorbed in the external groove of the carbon nanotube bundle are
studied. Analytical expressions for the phonon dispersion relations are
derived. The derived expressions are applied to Xe, Kr and Ar adsorbates. The
specific heat pertaining to dense phases of these adsorbates is calculated.Comment: 4 PS figure
Langevin Simulations of Two Dimensional Vortex Fluctuations: Anomalous Dynamics and a New -exponent
The dynamics of two dimensional (2D) vortex fluctuations are investigated
through simulations of the 2D Coulomb gas model in which vortices are
represented by soft disks with logarithmic interactions. The simulations
trongly support a recent suggestion that 2D vortex fluctuations obey an
intrinsic anomalous dynamics manifested in a long range 1/t-tail in the vortex
correlations. A new non-linear IV-exponent a, which is different from the
commonly used AHNS exponent, a_AHNS and is given by a = 2a_AHNS - 3, is
confirmed by the simulations. The results are discussed in the context of
earlier simulations, experiments and a phenomenological description.Comment: Submitted to PRB, RevTeX format, 28 pages and 13 figures, figures in
postscript format are available at http://www.tp.umu.se/~holmlund/papers.htm
Magnetism of small V clusters embedded in a Cu fcc matrix: an ab initio study
We present extensive first principles density functional theory (DFT)
calculations dedicated to analyze the magnetic and electronic properties of
small V clusters (n=1,2,3,4,5,6) embedded in a Cu fcc matrix. We consider
different cluster structures such as: i) a single V impurity, ii) several
V dimers having different interatomic distance and varying local atomic
environment, iii) V and iv) V clusters for which we assume compact
as well as 2- and 1-dimensional atomic configurations and finally, in the case
of the v) V and vi) V structures we consider a square pyramid and a
square bipyramid together with linear arrays, respectively. In all cases, the V
atoms are embedded as substitutional impurities in the Cu network. In general,
and as in the free standing case, we have found that the V clusters tend to
form compact atomic arrays within the cooper matrix. Our calculated non
spin-polarized density of states at the V sites shows a complex peaked
structure around the Fermi level that strongly changes as a function of both
the interatomic distance and local atomic environment, a result that
anticipates a non trivial magnetic behavior. In fact, our DFT calculations
reveal, in each one of our clusters systems, the existence of different
magnetic solutions (ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and antiferromagnetic) with
very small energy differences among them, a result that could lead to the
existence of complex finite-temperature magnetic properties. Finally, we
compare our results with recent experimental measurements.Comment: 7 pages and 4 figure
Partner Notification in Cases of HIV Infection
To the Editor: Landis et al. (Jan. 9 issue)1 have provided additional support for the concept and practice of partner notification — specifically, the provider-referral approach used in cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Our experiences2 were quite similar to those of Landis et al., and involved a quite different and more heterogeneous population that has been described elsewhere.3 The standardized approach combining referrals by patients and by providers that our staff routinely used with patients closely resembled the provider-referral approach described by Landis et al
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