184 research outputs found
Entanglement Entropy of Random Fractional Quantum Hall Systems
The entanglement entropy of the and quantum Hall
states in the presence of short range random disorder has been calculated by
direct diagonalization. A microscopic model of electron-electron interaction is
used, electrons are confined to a single Landau level and interact with long
range Coulomb interaction. For very weak disorder, the values of the
topological entanglement entropy are roughly consistent with expected
theoretical results. By considering a broader range of disorder strengths, the
fluctuation in the entanglement entropy was studied in an effort to detect
quantum phase transitions. In particular, there is a clear signature of a
transition as a function of the disorder strength for the state.
Prospects for using the density matrix renormalization group to compute the
entanglement entropy for larger system sizes are discussed.Comment: 29 pages, 16 figures; fixed figures and figure captions; revised
fluctuation calculation
Responses to salt stress in Juncus acutus and J. maritimus during seed germination and vegetative plant growth
[EN] Responses to increasing salinity, during seed germination and vegetative plant growth, were studied in two related species of Juncus, J. maritimus and J. acutus. In both species, germination was optimal in the absence of salt, reduced by about 50% in the presence of 200 mM NaCl, and completely inhibited by NaCl concentrations above 300 mM. Previous exposure of the seeds to salt, up to 500 mM NaCl, did not affect the germination capacity in J. acutus, and clearly enhanced it in J. maritimus. A concentration-dependent inhibition of plant growth was observed in the presence of NaCl for both species, together with the parallel accumulation of sodium ions in the leaves, as determined by cation exchange HPLC. Regarding the levels of divalent cations, in J. acutus Ca2+ and Mg2+ increased up to about two-fold in plants treated with 500 mM NaCl, as compared to control plants, whereas in J. maritimus they were three-to four-fold higher than in J. acutus in the absence of salt, and did not change significantly with increasing NaCl concentrations. These results suggest that Ca2+ and Mg2+ participate in defence mechanisms against salt stress, which would be constitutive in J. maritimus and salt-inducible in J. acutus.Boscaiu Neagu, MT.; Ballesteros Amat, G.; Naranjo Olivero, MA.; Vicente Meana, Ó.; Boira Tortajada, H. (2011). Responses to salt stress in Juncus acutus and J. maritimus during seed germination and vegetative plant growth. Plant Biosystems. 145(4):770-777. doi:10.1080/11263504.2011.628446S770777145
Ground states and dynamics of population-imbalanced Fermi condensates in one dimension
By using the numerically exact density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG)
approach, we investigate the ground states of harmonically trapped
one-dimensional (1D) fermions with population imbalance and find that the
Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) state, which is a condensed state of fermion pairs with
nonzero center-of-mass momentum, is realized for a wide range of parameters.
The phase diagram comprising the two phases of i) an LO state at the trap
center and a balanced condensate at the periphery and ii) an LO state at the
trap center and a pure majority component at the periphery, is obtained. The
reduced two-body density matrix indicates that most of the minority atoms
contribute to the LO-type quasi-condensate. With the time-dependent DMRG, we
also investigate the real-time dynamics of a system of 1D fermions in response
to a spin-flip excitation.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in New Journal of
Physic
Quantum Quench from a Thermal Initial State
We consider a quantum quench in a system of free bosons, starting from a
thermal initial state. As in the case where the system is initially in the
ground state, any finite subsystem eventually reaches a stationary thermal
state with a momentum-dependent effective temperature. We find that this can,
in some cases, even be lower than the initial temperature. We also study
lattice effects and discuss more general types of quenches.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures; short published version, added references, minor
change
Effect of supplemental Ca2+ on NaCl-stressed castor plants (Ricinus communis L.)
Greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effects of supplemental Ca2+ in salinised soil on germination and plant growth response of castor plant (Ricinus communis L. Var. Avani-31, Euphorbiaceae). NaCl amounting to 390 g was thoroughly mixed with soil of seven lots, of 100 kg each, to give electrical conductivity of 4.1 dS m–1. Further, Ca(NO3)2 × 4H20 to the quantity of 97.5, 195, 292.5, 390, 487.5, and 585 g was separately mixed with soil of six lots to give 1:0.25, 1:0.50, 1:0.75, 1:1, 1:1.25, and 1:1.50 Na+/Ca2+ ratios, respectively. The soil of the seventh lot contained only NaCl and its Na+/Ca2+ ratio was 1:0. Soil without addition of NaCl and Ca (NO3)2 × 4H20 served as control, with a 0:0 Na+/Ca2+ ratio. Salinity significantly retarded seed germination and plant growth, but the deleterious effects of NaCl on seed germination were ameliorated and plant growth was restored with Ca2+ supply at the critical level (1:0.25 Na+/Ca2+ ratio) to salinised soil. Supply of Ca2+ above the critical level further retarded seed germination and plant growth due to the increased soil salinity. Salt stress reduced N, P, K+ and Ca2+ content in plant tissues, but these nutrients were restored by addition of Ca2+ at the critical level to saline soil. In contrast, Na+ content in plant tissues significantly increased in response to salinity, but significantly decreased with increasing Ca2+ supply to saline soil. The results are discussed in terms of the beneficial effects of Ca2+ supply on the plant growth of Ricinus communis grown under saline conditions
Transcriptional Downregulation of Rice rpL32 Gene under Abiotic Stress Is Associated with Removal of Transcription Factors within the Promoter Region
Background: The regulation of ribosomal proteins in plants under stress conditions has not been well studied. Although a few reports have shown stress-specific post-transcriptional and translational mechanisms involved in downregulation of ribosomal proteins yet stress-responsive transcriptional regulation of ribosomal proteins is largely unknown in plants. Methodology/Principal Findings: In the present work, transcriptional regulation of genes encoding rice 60S ribosomal protein L32 (rpL32) in response to salt stress has been studied. Northern and RT-PCR analyses showed a significant downregulation of rpL32 transcripts under abiotic stress conditions in rice. Of the four rpL32 genes in rice genome, the gene on chromosome 8 (rpL32_8.1) showed a higher degree of stress-responsive downregulation in salt sensitive rice variety than in tolerant one and its expression reverted to its original level upon withdrawal of stress. The nuclear run-on and promoter:reporter assays revealed that the downregulation of this gene is transcriptional and originates within the promoter region. Using in vivo footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), cis-elements in the promoter of rpL32_8.1 showing reduced binding to proteins in shoots of salt stressed rice seedlings were identified. Conclusions: The present work is one of the few reports on study of stress downregulated genes. The data revealed that rpL32 gene is transcriptionally downregulated under abiotic stress in rice and that this transcriptional downregulation i
Genotypic and environmental interaction in advanced lines of wheat under salt-affected soils environment of Punjab
Gadolinium and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: time to tighten practice
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a relatively new entity, first described in 1997. Few cases have been reported, but the disease has high morbidity and mortality. To date it has been seen exclusively in patients with renal dysfunction. There is an emerging link with intravenous injection of gadolinium contrast agents, which has been suggested as a main triggering factor, with a lag time of days to weeks. Risk factors include the severity of renal impairment, major surgery, vascular events and other proinflammatory conditions. There is no reason to believe that children have an altered risk compared to the adult population. It is important that the paediatric radiologist acknowledges emerging information on NSF but at the same time considers the risk:benefit ratio prior to embarking on alternative investigations, as children with chronic kidney disease require high-quality diagnostic imaging
Water quality assessment and hydrochemical characterization of Zamzam groundwater, Saudi Arabia
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