Einstein vacuum field equations with a single non-null Killing vector

It is shown that, in the case where there is a single non-null Killing vector, the vacuum Einstein field equations imply that there is a Ricci collineation in the quotient 3-space. Using coordinates adapted to the collineation vector, we derive a fourth order partial differential equation involving the metric of the quotient 3-space and we show that if this equation is satisfied, the Ernst potential may be obtained by integrating a total Riccati equation and a straightforward set of total differential equations. We also show that if the collineation vector is null, the metric of the quotient 3-space may be expressed in terms of two real Clebsch potentials. Finally in the special case where the collineation vector is the generator of a timelike homothetic motion we reduce the field equations to a single second order partial differential equation of non-Painlevé type in two independent variables and obtain Petrov type III solution of Robinson-Trautman type.     

Nanoscale surface of carbon nanotube fibers for medical applications: Structure and chemistry revealed by TOF-SIMS analysis

Surface structure and related chemistry understanding is a vital element in the design of high biocompatible materials since adsorption and adhesion of biological components are involved. These features are even more important in the case of nanostructured materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) fibers. In our preliminary work we synthesised CNTs based fibers for medical applications. This new hybrid system combines polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with CNTs and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), a biodegradable copolymer. The surface properties of this material are investigated in order to guarantee a biocompatible response. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was found to be an ideal tool for fiber characterisation owing to its capacity to provide chemical specificity combined with detection limits beyond the reach of techniques previously used. Complementary morphological information is provided by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The corroboration of both data enables us to define the chemistry and structure of this new formulation.     

Converged properties of clean metal surfaces by all-electron first-principles calculations

All-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave calculations of the surface energy, work function, and interlayer spacings of close-packed metal surfaces are presented, in particular, for the free-electron-like metal surfaces, Mg(0 0 0 1) and Al(1 1 1), and for the transition metal surfaces, Ti(0 0 0 1), Cu(1 1 1), Pd(1 1 1), and Pt(1 1 1). We investigate the convergence of the surface energy as a function of the number of layers in the slab, using the Cu(1 1 1) surface as an example. The results show that the surface energy, as obtained using total energies of the slab and bulk from separate calculations, converges well with respect to the number of layers in the slab. Obviously, it is necessary that bulk and surface calculations are performed with the same high accuracy. Furthermore, we discuss the performance of the local-density and generalized gradient approximations for the exchange-correlation functional in describing the various surface properties.     

On Design Models in Stability Problems for Corrugated Cylindrical Shells

Three design techniques for stability analysis of longitudinally corrugated cylindrical shells are examined. The first two account for the true geometry of the shell and the third one replaces the corrugated shell with an equivalent orthotropic shell using reduction formulas. The exact formulations employ classical and Timoshenko-type theories. The techniques are analyzed by an example of sinusoidally corrugated shells. It is shown that the exact formulation permits finding practically important relations for corrugation parameters, which raises considerably the specific critical loads.     

About the focal mechanism of Friuli earthquake occurred on May 6, 1976

Summary We are going to present the focal-mechanism solution of Fruili earthquake occurred on May 6, 1976, as it results from the analysis, on original seismograms, of the polarities of initial longitudinal waves obtained in 92 seismic stations. The polarities so obtained have been reported on the projection which represents the surface of the Earth and the solution has been drawn, directly, from the study of the resulting distribution, by establishing through Gr?fe's theory the two couples of forces considered as the sources of the seism at the focus. At last, a comparison has been carried out with the solution already obtained by other authors.

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Riassunto Si presenta la soluzione del meccanismo focale del terremoto del Fruili del 6/5/1976 ottenuta dallo studio, sui sismogrammi originali, della polarità delle onde longitudinali iniziali, quale si è presentata in 92 stazioni sismiche vicine e lontane. Le polarità ottenute sono state riportate sulla superficie della Terra e la soluzione è stata ricavata direttamente dallo studio della distribuzione così ottenuta, definendo mediante la teoria di Gr?fe le due coppie di forze che hanno agito all'ipocentro. Un confronto è stato infine eseguito con le soluzioni in precedenza ottenute da altri autori.

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Резюме Предлагается решение фокального механизма землетрясения, имевшего место в Фриули 6 мая 1976 г. Решение есть результат анализа исходных сейсмограмм, которые получены на 92 сейсмнческих, удаленнынных и близких. Полученные пояьрности представлены в проекции на поверхность Земли. Решение получено непосредственно из исследования результируюшего распределения, которое следует из теории Грефа для для двух пар сил, представляюших источники землетрясения в фокусе. В заключение проводится сравнение с решением, полученным ранее другими авторами.