Ladder operators for subtle hidden shape invariant potentials

Ladder operators can be constructed for all potentials that present the integrability condition known as shape invariance, satisfied by most of the exactly solvable potentials. Using the superalgebra of supersymmetric quantum mechanics we construct the ladder operators for two exactly solvable potentials that present a subtle hidden shape invariance.Comment: 9 pages, based on the talk given at International Conference Progress in Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics (PSQM03), Valladolid, Spain, 15-19 July, 2003, to appear in a Special Issue of J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

Supersymmetric solutions of PT-/non-PT-symmetric and non-Hermitian Screened Coulomb potential via Hamiltonian hierarchy inspired variational method

The supersymmetric solutions of PT-symmetric and Hermitian/non-Hermitian forms of quantum systems are obtained by solving the Schrodinger equation for the Exponential-Cosine Screened Coulomb potential. The Hamiltonian hierarchy inspired variational method is used to obtain the approximate energy eigenvalues and corresponding wave functions.Comment: 13 page

Utilization of the wastes of vital activity

The recycling of wastes from the biological complex for use in life-support systems is discussed. Topics include laboratory equipment, heat treatment of waste materials, mineralization of waste products, methods for production of ammonium hydroxide and nitric acid, the extraction of sodium chloride from mineralized products, and the recovery of nutrient substances for plants from urine

Upper critical magnetic field in Ba_0.68K_0.32Fe_2As_2 and Ba(Fe_0.93Co_0.07)_2As_2

We report measurements of the temperature dependence of the radio-frequency magnetic penetration depth in Ba_0.68K_0.32Fe_2As_2 and Ba(Fe_0.93Co_0.07)_2As_2 single crystals in pulsed magnetic fields up to 60 T. From our data, we construct an H-T phase diagram for the inter-plane (H || c) and in-plane (H || ab) directions for both compounds. For both field orientations in Ba_0.68K_0.32Fe_2As_2, we find a concave curvature of the Hc2(T) lines with decreasing anisotropy and saturation towards lower temperature. Taking into account Pauli spin paramagnetism we can describe Hc2(T) and its anisotropy. In contrast, we find that Pauli paramagnetic pair breaking is not essential for Ba(Fe_0.93Co_0.07)_2As_2. For this electron-doped compound, the data support a Hc2(T) dependence that can be described by the Werthamer Helfand Hohenberg model for H || ab and a two-gap behavior for H || c.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

An Algebraic q-Deformed Form for Shape-Invariant Systems

A quantum deformed theory applicable to all shape-invariant bound-state systems is introduced by defining q-deformed ladder operators. We show these new ladder operators satisfy new q-deformed commutation relations. In this context we construct an alternative q-deformed model that preserve the shape-invariance property presented by primary system. q-deformed generalizations of Morse, Scarf, and Coulomb potentials are given as examples

The impact of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on microbial community dynamics in the rhizosphere

Rising atmospheric CO2 levels are predicted to have major consequences upon carbon cycle feedbacks and the overall functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Photosynthetic activity and the structure of terrestrial macrophytes is expected to change, but it remains uncertain how this will affect soil-borne communities dependent on plant-derived carbon, and their feedbacks on ecosystem function. Our main objective is to assess the impact of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on microbial community dynamics in the rhizosphere. Using a controlled growth system, we examined the short-term and long-term impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 on soil-borne microbial communities by comparing belowground community responses associated with plants grown under ambient versus double ambient CO2 environments. Results on the structure and dynamics of broad and specific microbial groups provided insight into the plant-microbe interactions of the r hizosphere under elevated CO2. We also showed that the specific microbial groups are affected by elevated CO2 and demonstrate that presumably rhizo-competent bacteria and fungi are most highly affected by increased atmospheric CO2. These patterns were consistent with observed changes in the density of antibiotic production genes as well as changes in exudation patterns. The results demonstrate that elevated CO2 influenced different parts of the soil microbial community, but that the effects depend on the plant species and soil type. Pulse labelling studies demonstrates that elevated atmospheric CO2 increases translocation of plant-fixed carbon, via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and that distinct microbial populations incorporate plant-derived carbon under different levels of atmospheric CO2. As opposed to simply increasing the activity of soil-borne microbes resident at ambient CO2 conditions, elevated atmospheric CO2 clearly selects for opportunistic plant-associated microbial communities, with a shift in dominant AMF species, as well as rhizosphere bacterial and fungal populations. These experiments also showed that AMF are the main conduit in the transfer of carbon between plants and soil. The microbial carbon dynamic model derived from our results provides a general framework for reappraising our view of carbon flow paths in soils and their effects on soil biodiversity under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration.NWO and KNAWUBL - phd migration 201

Impacts of coprophagic foraging behaviour on the avian gut microbiome.

Avian gut microbial communities are complex and play a fundamental role in regulating biological functions within an individual. Although it is well established that diet can influence the structure and composition of the gut microbiota, foraging behaviour may also play a critical, yet unexplored role in shaping the composition, dynamics, and adaptive potential of avian gut microbiota. In this review, we examine the potential influence of coprophagic foraging behaviour on the establishment and adaptability of wild avian gut microbiomes. Coprophagy involves the ingestion of faeces, sourced from either self (autocoprophagy), conspecific animals (allocoprophagy), or heterospecific animals. Much like faecal transplant therapy, coprophagy may (i) support the establishment of the gut microbiota of young precocial species, (ii) directly and indirectly provide nutritional and energetic requirements, and (iii) represent a mechanism by which birds can rapidly adapt the microbiota to changing environments and diets. However, in certain contexts, coprophagy may also pose risks to wild birds, and their microbiomes, through increased exposure to chemical pollutants, pathogenic microbes, and antibiotic-resistant microbes, with deleterious effects on host health and performance. Given the potentially far-reaching consequences of coprophagy for avian microbiomes, and the dearth of literature directly investigating these links, we have developed a predictive framework for directing future research to understand better when and why wild birds engage in distinct types of coprophagy, and the consequences of this foraging behaviour. There is a need for comprehensive investigation into the influence of coprophagy on avian gut microbiotas and its effects on host health and performance throughout ontogeny and across a range of environmental perturbations. Future behavioural studies combined with metagenomic approaches are needed to provide insights into the function of this poorly understood behaviour