On the preparation and NMR spectroscopic characterization of potassium aluminium tetrahydride KAlH4

Potassium aluminium tetrahydride KAlH4 of high phase purity (space group Pnma (62)) was synthesized via a mechanochemical route. The thus obtained material was studied by 27Al and 39K MAS NMR spectroscopy. For both nuclei precise data for the isotropic chemical shift and the quadrupole coupling at T=295 K were derived (27Al: delta_iso=(107.6+-0.2) ppm, C_Q = (1.29+-0.02) MHz and eta = 0.64+-0.02; 39K: delta_iso=(6.1+-0.2) ppm, C_Q = (0.562+-0.005) MHz and eta = 0.74+-0.02). The straightforward NMR spectroscopic approach applied here should also work for other complex aluminium hydrides and for many other materials containing half-integer nuclei experiencing small to medium-sized quadrupole couplings.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures, final version as published in PCCP, with reviewer reports attached to the ES

Hard Homogenous Spaces and Commutative Supersingular Isogeny based Diffie-Hellman

Tema ovog rada jest proces stvaranja 3D stvarnih ili imaginarnih objekata pomoću alata SolidWorks koji je u današnje vrijeme jedan od najpoznatijih alata kod modeliranja mehaničkih i projektnih objekata. Kako bi ga što više približio svakoj osobi, ukratko sam naveo najvažnije činjenice o samom alatu, prošao kroz njegovu povijest, objasnio za što ga možemo koristiti te najvećim dijelom prikazao kako se od jednog tehničkog nacrta dođe do gotovog objekta i modela

Craig M. Klugman and Pamela M. Dalinis, Ethical Issues in Rural Health Care

Review of Ethical Issues in Rural Health Care, by Craig M. Klugman and Pamela M. Dalinis (eds.

A Revision of Tomoceridae (Insecta: Collembola) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Southern Appalachians Using Morphological and Molecular Approaches

Large, heavily scaled tomocerid springtails (Collembola) are abundant in eastern forests, and are important components of the detrital food web. The genus Pogonognathellus predominates in the southern Appalachians While a number of well-delimited tomocerid species have been described, others have vague morphological boundaries and appear to be species complexes. Before this study began in 2005, four species were known to occur in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and the surrounding Appalachians (P. bidentatus, dubius, elongatus, flavescens). Also occurring throughout the area is Tomocerus lamellifera, a widespread and distinctive species. The goals of this project were to correlate scale patterns and colors, ground color, morphology, and DNA sequences for separation of species; to describe any new species detected; and to redescribe known species. Scale patterns and molecular sequences have not been previously studied in North American Tomoceridae. We collected 432 specimens from diverse localities and maintained them in culture containers. After a specimen molted, it was photographed to capture the pristine scale pattern and color, then preserved in 100% ethanol (EtOH). The preserved specimen then was re-photographed for ground color (most scales are dislodged in preservative). Selected specimens were dissected and the various appendages (legs, mouthparts, furcula) were slide-mounted for morphological analysis. The torso was used to obtain DNA, from which the 5’-3’ exoribonuclease II gene was amplified, sequenced, and analyzed phylogenetically. Freshly collected specimens of P. flavescens from the type locality (Sweden), preserved in 100% EtOH, were provided by Arne Fjellberg and included in the analysis. Tomocerus minor and Harlomillsia oculata (Oncopoduridae) were used as outgroups for the phylogenetic analysis. A phylogenetic tree based on the molecular sequences was used to indicate relationships that then were tested with morphological characters, chaetotaxy, scale pattern, and color. Putative P. flavescens from North America were not grouped with Swedish specimens, raising the possibility that P. flavescens does not occur in North America. Pogonognathellus nigritus, previously synonymized with P. elongatus, was determined to be a valid species, and P. elongatus itself was found to be mis-described in most accounts. Two new species were identified: one from a cave in GSMNP which is closely related to a California cave species, and a second from several forest localities (i.e. GSMNP and Mount Mitchell, NC). A group of specimens ascribed to the flavescens/dubius complex also appear to represent several undescribed species, but more specimens are needed for further analysis

First crystal structure studies of CaAlH5

A new member of the aluminum hydride family, CaAlH5, is formed during the decomposition of Ca(AlH4)2. The crystal structure of this new compound was calculated by density functional theory band-structure calculations and confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The structure crystallizes in space group P21/n (No. 14), with a = 8.3797(9) Å, b = 6.9293(8) Å, c = 9.8138(11) Å, β = 93.78(1)°, and Z = 8

Do Social Workers Support NASW\u27s Political Activism? Evidence From Texas

According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers are called to engage in political activity at the micro, mezzo and macro levels for the advancement of social justice and human rights. NASW has mechanisms in place to aggregate the voices of individual social workers through political activity. Drawing on a model of civic voluntarism, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of political activity on decisions by Texas social workers to join or re-join NASW, as well as their opinions on the political engagement of NASW/Texas. This study employs a non-experimental, exploratory, cross-sectional survey design to assess political participation of social workers and their view of how politically active NASW as an organization should be. The survey was sent to all attendees of the 2013 NASW/Texas Conference, held in Austin, Texas. The conference attendees (n = 789) included NASW members (n = 643), and non-members (n = 146). A total of 148 responded to the survey, yielding a 19% response rate. The findings of the study suggest that political activity at the organizational level positively impacts social workers’ decisions to join or maintain their NASW membership

Vegetation complexity and nesting resource availability predict bee diversity and functional traits in community gardens

Urban gardens can support diverse bee communities through resource provision in resource poor environments. Yet the effects of local habitat and landscape factors on wild bee communities in cities is still insufficiently understood, nor is how this information could be applied to urban wildlife conservation. Here we investigate how taxonomic and functional diversity of wild bees and their traits in urban community gardens are related to garden factors and surrounding landscape factors (e.g., plant diversity, amount of bare ground, amount of nesting resources, amount of landscape imperviousness). Using active and passive methods in 18 community gardens in Berlin, Germany, we documented 26 genera and 102 species of bees. We found that higher plant species richness and plant diversity as well as higher amounts of deadwood in gardens leads to higher numbers of wild bee species and bee (functional) diversity. Furthermore, higher landscape imperviousness surrounding gardens correlates with more cavity nesting bees, whereas a higher amount of bare ground correlates with more ground‐nesting bees. Pollen specialization was positively associated with plant diversity, but no factors strongly predicted the proportion of endangered bees. Our results suggest that, aside from foraging resources, nesting resources should be implemented in management for more pollinator‐friendly gardens. If designed and managed using such evidence‐based strategies, urban gardens can create valuable foraging and nesting habitats for taxonomically and functionally diverse bee communities in cities

QTLs for Energy Related Traits in a Sweet × Grain RIL Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Population

Recent initiatives for biofuel production have increased research and development of sweet sorghum. Currently, the initial major limitation to integrating sweet sorghum into existing production systems is the lack of sweet sorghum hybrids adapted to industrial production systems. Hybrid development is now underway, and the application of genetic markers can be used to define the genetic basis of sugar yield and its components, as well as reduce the time required to deliver new sweet sorghum hybrids to market. The purpose of this research was to further characterize the genetic components that influence sweet sorghum productivity, agronomics, and composition. Specifically, a grain x sweet sorghum recombinant inbred line (RIL) population developed for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis related to sugar production was evaluated for 24 phenotypic traits including brix, percent moisture, and biomass yield across four environments. The 185 F4 RILs were derived from the parents 'BTx3197' and 'Rio', which are pithy stalk grain and juicy stalk sweet sorghums respectively. Following screening, two genetic maps were constructed with 372 and 381 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) evaluated using an Illumina GoldenGate assay. Analysis of the data in QTL Cartographer revealed a major and previously reported QTL for soluble solids on chromosome 3, but in contrast to previous studies, this QTL co-localized with other QTLs that have a negative influence on biomass and seed production. Therefore, selection for this QTL may not be advantageous. Because only a few QTLs for percent moisture were found, the results indicated that the pithy stalk phenotype does not have a major effect on percent moisture as measured in this study. Thus, breeding for high or low moisture content will be more challenging than previously expected. The absence of dominance effects indicated that brix must be high in both parents to produce high brix in the hybrid