Atomic 4f states have been found to be essential players in the physical behavior of lanthanide compounds, at the Fermi level EF as in the proposed topological Kondo insulator SmB6, or further away as in the magnetic superconductor system RNi2B2C (R=rare earth ion) and in Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O7, where the 4f shell of Pr has a devastating effect on superconductivity. In hole-doped RNiO2, the R=Nd member is found to be superconducting while R=La is not, in spite of the calculated electronic structures being nearly identical. We report first principles results that indicate that the Nd 4f moment affects states at EF in infinite-layer NdNiO2, an effect that will not occur for LaNiO2. Treating 20% hole-doping in the virtual crystal approach indicates that 0.15 holes empty the Γ-centered Nd-derived electron pocket while leaving the other electron pocket unchanged; hence Ni only absorbs 0.05 holes; the La counterpart would behave similarly. However, coupling of 4f states to the electron pockets at EF arises through the Nd intra-atomic 4f − 5d exchange coupling K ≈ 0.5 eV and is ferromagnetic (FM), i.e. anti-Kondo, in sign. This interaction causes spin-disorder broadening of the electron pockets and should be included in models of the normal and superconducting states of Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2. The Ni moments differ by 0.2µB for FM and antiferromagnetic alignment (the latter are larger), reflecting some itineracy and indicating that Heisenberg coupling of the moments may not provide a quantitative modeling of Ni-Ni exchange coupling.

This article reviews the application of metal-containing nanoparticles and nano-structured particles to fingermark detection. This area of research is attracting significant interest as advances in nanoscience are being incorporated into the field of forensic fingermark detection. Although more research is needed before some of the techniques presented can be implemented in routine casework, nanotechnology is likely to play a major role in the future to deliver more selective and more sensitive ways to detect and enhance fingermarks.

Curcumin nanoemulsions (Cur-NEs) were developed with various surfactant concentrations by using high pressure homogenization and finally applied to the commercial milk system. Characterization of Cur-NEs was performed by measuring the droplet size and polydispersity index value at different Tween 20 concentrations. The morphology of the Cur-NEs was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Antioxidant activity and in vitro digestion ability were tested using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, pH-stat method, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assays. Cur-NEs were found to be physically stable for 1 mo at room temperature. The surfactant concentration affects particle formation and droplet size. The mean droplet size decreased from 122 to 90 nm when surfactant concentration increased 3 times. Cur-NEs had shown an effective oxygen scavenging activity. Cur-NEs-fortified milk showed significantly lower lipid oxidation than control (unfortified) milk and milk containing curcumin-free nanoemulsions. These properties make Cur-NEs suitable systems for the beverage industry.

Purpose: This study was done to develop and test a scale to measure the partnership between pediatric nurses and hospitalized children's parents. Methods: Instrument development process included construct identification based on concept analysis using the hybrid model of Shuwartz-Barcott and Kim (2000), a process which generated 42 initial items. This number was reduced to 35 items through content validity tests by 5 experts and face validity tests by 5 pediatric nurses and 5 parents of hospitalized children. The preliminary Pediatric Nurse Parent Partnership Scale (PNPPS) was administered to 186 pediatric nurses and 163 parents at eleven children's wards in four hospitals. Data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's alpha. Results: Thirty-four items were selected for the final scale. Seven factors evolved from the factor analysis, which explained 68.4% of the total variance. The internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha, was .96 and reliability of the subscales ranged from .66 to .93. Conclusion: The PNPPS demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability. It can be used to assess the partnership of pediatric nurses and parents in practice and research.

Zinc oxide is evaluated as a fluorescent powder for the detection of fingermarks on nonporous surfaces. Pure and lithium-doped nanostructured zinc oxide powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The zinc oxide powders were applied to fresh and aged fingermarks deposited on non-porous surfaces such as glass, polyethylene and aluminium foil. Zinc oxide was found to produce clear fluorescent impressions of the latent fingermarks when illuminated with long-wave UV light.

A new, highly fluorescent dye was synthesised using oleylamine combined with a perylene dianhydride compound. The new dye was characterised by 1H NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as quantum yield. The dye was absorbed onto titanium dioxide nanoparticles for use as a fingerprint detection powder. The new fluorescent powder was applied to latent fingermarks deposited onto different non-porous surfaces and compared with commercial fluorescent powders. The powder exhibits strong fluorescence at 650-700 nm under excitation at 505 nm. On glass surfaces, the new powder gave images showing tertiary-level detail of the fingermark ridges with almost no background development. Compared with current magnetic fluorescent powders, the new powder was slightly weaker in fluorescence intensity but produced significantly less background development, resulting in good contrast between the fingermark and the substrate.

The discovery that Nd 1−x Sr x NiO 2 , with the CaCuO 2 infinite-layer structure, superconducts up to 15 K around the hole-doping level x = 0.2 raises the crucial question of its fundamental electronic and magnetic processes. The unexplained basic feature that we address is that, for x = 0 and as opposed to strongly antiferromagnetic (AFM) CaCuO 2 , NdNiO 2 with the same structure and formal d 9 configuration does not undergo AFM order. We study this issue not in the conventional manner, as energetically unfavored or as frustrated magnetic order, but as an instability of the AFM phase itself. We are able to obtain the static AFM ordered state, but find that a flat band, one-dimensional-like van Hove singularity (vHs) is pinned to the Fermi level. This situation is unusual in a non-half-filled, effectively two-band system. The vHs makes the AFM phase unstable to spindensity disproportionation, breathing, and half-breathing lattice distortions, and (innate or parasitic) chargedensity disproportionation. These flat band instabilities, distant relatives of single-band cuprate models, thereby inhibit but do not eliminate incipient AFM tendencies at low temperature. The primary feature is that a pair of active bands (d x 2 −y 2 , d z 2) eliminate half-filled physics and, due to instabilities, preclude the AFM phase seen in CaCuO 2. This strongly AFM correlated, conducting spin-liquid phase with strong participation of the Ni d z 2 orbital forms the platform for superconductivity in NdNiO 2 .

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of cellular phone videos and games on dry eye syndrome in university students. Methods: A randomized comparison group pre-post design is used. Sixty university students were randomly assigned to either a video or a game group. Frequencies of blinking, dry eye symptoms scores and amounts of tears were measured. Thirty subjects watched cellular phone video programmes and the other 30 subjects played cellular phone games for 61 minutes. In addition, frequencies of blinking were measured three times during treatment, once immediately after a treatment and twice at an interval of 20 minutes after subsequent treatments. Results: Post-test scores of frequencies of blinking significantly decreased, dry eye symptoms scores including amounts of tears significantly increased greater than pre-test scores in both groups. But there were no significant differences between the groups. Frequencies of blinking were significantly different with respect to the time spent using cellular phone. In both groups, the lowest frequencies of blinking were shown after 40 minutes of cellular phone use. Conclusion: This study shows that using cellular phone has negative influence on dry eye syndrome and eyes require a resting period after cellular phone use over 40 minutes.