On a counterexample to a conjecture by Blackadar

Blackadar conjectured that if we have a split short-exact sequence 0 -> I -> A -> A/I -> 0 where I is semiprojective and A/I is isomorphic to the complex numbers, then A must be semiprojective. Eilers and Katsura have found a counterexample to this conjecture. Presumably Blackadar asked that the extension be split to make it more likely that semiprojectivity of I would imply semiprojectivity of A. But oddly enough, in all the counterexamples of Eilers and Katsura the quotient map from A to A/I is split. We will show how to modify their examples to find a non-semiprojective C*-algebra B with a semiprojective ideal J such that B/J is the complex numbers and the quotient map does not split.Comment: 6 page

Managing diverse teams by enhancing team identification

Although diversity provides a greater pool of knowledge and perspectives, teams often do not realize the potential offered by these additional informational resources. In this study, we develop a new model seeking to explain when and how teams that are diverse in terms of educational background utilize the afforded informational variety by engaging in deeper elaboration of task-relevant information. We found that collective team identification moderated the rel

Quantum line bundles on noncommutative sphere

Noncommutative (NC) sphere is introduced as a quotient of the enveloping algebra of the Lie algebra su(2). Using the Cayley-Hamilton identities we introduce projective modules which are analogues of line bundles on the usual sphere (we call them quantum line bundles) and define a multiplicative structure in their family. Also, we compute a pairing between certain quantum line bundles and finite dimensional representations of the NC sphere in the spirit of the NC index theorem. A new approach to constructing the differential calculus on a NC sphere is suggested. The approach makes use of the projective modules in question and gives rise to a NC de Rham complex being a deformation of the classical one.Comment: LaTeX file, 15 pp, no figures. Some clarifying remarks are added at the beginning of section 2 and into section

Further results on the cross norm criterion for separability

In the present paper the cross norm criterion for separability of density matrices is studied. In the first part of the paper we determine the value of the greatest cross norm for Werner states, for isotropic states and for Bell diagonal states. In the second part we show that the greatest cross norm criterion induces a novel computable separability criterion for bipartite systems. This new criterion is a necessary but in general not a sufficient criterion for separability. It is shown, however, that for all pure states, for Bell diagonal states, for Werner states in dimension d=2 and for isotropic states in arbitrary dimensions the new criterion is necessary and sufficient. Moreover, it is shown that for Werner states in higher dimensions (d greater than 2), the new criterion is only necessary.Comment: REVTeX, 19 page

Metagenomics: A viable tool for reconstructing herbivore diet

Metagenomics can generate data on the diet of herbivores, without the need for primer selection and PCR enrichment steps as is necessary in metabarcoding. Metagenomic approaches to diet analysis have remained relatively unexplored, requiring validation of bioinformatic steps. Currently, no metagenomic herbivore diet studies have utilized both chloroplast and nuclear markers as reference sequences for plant identification, which would increase the number of reads that could be taxonomically informative. Here, we explore how in silico simulation of metagenomic data sets resembling sequences obtained from faecal samples can be used to validate taxonomic assignment. Using a known list of sequences to create simulated data sets, we derived reliable identification parameters for taxonomic assignments of sequences. We applied these parameters to characterize the diet of western capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) located in Norway, and compared the results with metabarcoding trnL P6 loop data generated from the same samples. Both methods performed similarly in the number of plant taxa identified (metagenomics 42 taxa, metabarcoding 43 taxa), with no significant difference in species resolution (metagenomics 24%, metabarcoding 23%). We further observed that while metagenomics was strongly affected by the age of faecal samples, with fresh samples outperforming old samples, metabarcoding was not affected by sample age. On the other hand, metagenomics allowed us to simultaneously obtain the mitochondrial genome of the western capercaillies, thereby providing additional ecological information. Our study demonstrates the potential of utilizing metagenomics for diet reconstruction but also highlights key considerations as compared to metabarcoding for future utilization of this technique

Fluxes, Brane Charges and Chern Morphisms of Hyperbolic Geometry

The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a collection of results which can be found in the mathematical literature and to apply them to hyperbolic spaces that may have a role in physical theories. Specifically we apply K-theory methods for the calculation of brane charges and RR-fields on hyperbolic spaces (and orbifolds thereof). It is known that by tensoring K-groups with the rationals, K-theory can be mapped to rational cohomology by means of the Chern character isomorphisms. The Chern character allows one to relate the analytic Dirac index with a topological index, which can be expressed in terms of cohomological characteristic classes. We obtain explicit formulas for Chern character, spectral invariants, and the index of a twisted Dirac operator associated with real hyperbolic spaces. Some notes for a bivariant version of topological K-theory (KK-theory) with its connection to the index of the twisted Dirac operator and twisted cohomology of hyperbolic spaces are given. Finally we concentrate on lower K-groups useful for description of torsion charges.Comment: 26 pages, no figures, LATEX. To appear in the Classical and Quantum Gravit

Impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Exercise Training-Induced Improvements in Insulin Action in Sedentary Overweight Adults

Exercise training (ET) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are both recognized influences on insulin action, but the influence of HRT on responses to ET has not been examined. In order to determine if HRT use provided additive benefits for the response of insulin action to ET, we evaluated the impact of HRT use on changes in insulin during the course of a randomized, controlled, aerobic ET intervention. Subjects at baseline were sedentary, dyslipidemic, and overweight. These individuals were randomized to six months of one of three aerobic ET interventions or continued physical inactivity. In 206 subjects, an insulin sensitivity index (SI) was obtained with a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test pre- and post-ET. Baseline and post-intervention fitness, regional adiposity, general adiposity, skeletal muscle biochemistry and histology, and serum lipoproteins were measured as other putative mediators influencing insulin action. Two-way analyses of variance were used to determine if gender or HRT use influenced responses to exercise training. Linear modeling was used to determine if predictors for response in SI differed by gender or HRT use. Women who used HRT (HRT+) demonstrated significantly greater improvements in SI with ET than women not using HRT (HRT-). In those HRT+ women, plasma triglyceride change best correlated with change in SI. For HRT- women, capillary density change, and for men, subcutaneous adiposity change, best correlated with change in SI. In summary, in an ET intervention, HRT use appears associated with more robust responses in insulin action. Also, relationships between ET induced changes in insulin action and potential mediators of change in insulin action are different for men, and for women on or off HRT. These findings have implications for the relative utility of ET for improving insulin action in middle-aged men and women, particularly in the setting of differences in HRT use. Address Originally published Metabolism, Vol. 57, No. 7, July 200

Well-being as a Function of Person-Country Fit in Human Values

It is often assumed that incongruence between individuals’ values and those of their country is distressing, but the evidence has been mixed. Across 29 countries, the present research investigated whether well-being is higher if people’s values match with those of people living in the same country or region. Using representative samples, we find that person-country and person-region value congruence predict six well-being measures (e.g., emotional well-being, relationship support; N = 54,673). Crucially, however, value type moderates whether person-country fit is positively or negatively associated with well-being. People who value self-direction, stimulation, and hedonism more and live in countries and regions where people on average share these values report lower well-being. In contrast, people who value achievement, power, and security more and live in countries and regions where people on average share these values, report higher well-being. Additionally, we find that people who moderately value stimulation report the highest well-being

Adolescents' involvement in cyber bullying and perceptions of school: the importance of perceived peer acceptance for female adolescents

Young people are spending increasing amounts of time using digital technology and, as such, are at great risk of being involved in cyber bullying as a victim, bully, or bully/victim. Despite cyber bullying typically occurring outside the school environment, the impact of being involved in cyber bullying is likely to spill over to school. Fully 285 11- to 15-year-olds (125 male and 160 female, M age = 12.19 years, SD = 1.03) completed measures of cyber bullying involvement, self-esteem, trust, perceived peer acceptance, and perceptions of the value of learning and the importance of school. For young women, involvement in cyber bullying as a victim, bully, or bully/victim negatively predicted perceptions of learning and school, and perceived peer acceptance mediated this relationship. The results indicated that involvement in cyber bullying negatively predicted perceived peer acceptance which, in turn, positively predicted perceptions of learning and school. For young men, fulfilling the bully/victim role negatively predicted perceptions of learning and school. Consequently, for young women in particular, involvement in cyber bullying spills over to impact perceptions of learning. The findings of the current study highlight how stressors external to the school environment can adversely impact young women's perceptions of school and also have implications for the development of interventions designed to ameliorate the effects of cyber bullying