When two macroscopic bodies in contact slide, energy is dissipated. However, at the nanoscale, tiny amounts of energy can also be dissipated when the sliding bodies are not in contact with each other. Such non-contact form of friction — the origin of which has been associated with van der Waals (vdW) forces — has been measured with highly sensitive atomic force microscopy (AFM). In a friction f...

BACKGROUND Needle stick and sharps injuries are occupational hazards to healthcare workers. Every day healthcare workers are exposed to deadly blood borne pathogens through contaminated needles and other sharp objects. About twenty blood borne pathogens can be transmitted through accidental needle stick and sharp injury. The study was conducted to determine the lifetime and past one year preval...

To the Editor—It is common but erroneous practice among the general public to insert an object into the patient’s mouth during a convulsion to prevent him or her from biting the tongue or lips. This can actually cause more harm than good. Using a metal object, such as a spoon, may cause injury to the mouth or result in broken teeth, while objects like pencils or sticks may be bitten into pieces...