On (n,k)(n,k)-quasi class QQ Operators

Let $T$ be a bounded linear operator on a complex Hilbert space $H$. In this paper we introduce a new class of operators: $(n,k)$-quasi class $Q$ operators, superclass of $(n,k)$-quasi paranormal operators. An operator $T$ is said to be $(n,k)$-quasi class $Q$ if it satisfies $$\| T(T^{k}x)\|^{2} \leq \frac{1}{n+1}\left(\| T^{1+n}(T^{k}x)\|^{2} +n\| T^{k}x\|^{2}\right),$$ for all $x\in H$ and for some nonnegative integers $n$ and $k$. We prove the basic structural properties of this class of operators. It will be proved that If $T$ has a no non-trivial invariant subspace, then the nonnegative operator $$D=T^{*k}\left( T^{*(1+n)}T^{(1+n)}-\frac{n+1}{n}T^{*}T+I\right)T^{k}$$ is a strongly stable contraction. In section 4, we give some examples which compare our class with other known classes of operators and as a consequence we prove that $(n,k)$-quasi class $Q$ does not have SVEP property. In the last section we also characterize the $(n,k)$-quasi class $Q$ composition operators on Fock spaces

The Negativity Bias Predicts Response Rate To Behavioral Activation For Depression

Background and Objectives: This treatment study investigated the extent to which asymmetric dimensions of affective responding, specifically the positivity offset and the negativity bias, at pretreatment altered the rate of response to Behavioral Activation treatment for depression. Method: Forty-one depressed participants were enrolled into 16 weekly sessions of BA. An additional 36 lifetime healthy participants were evaluated prospectively for 16 weeks to compare affective responding between healthy and remitted patients at post-treatment. All participants were assessed at Weeks 0, 8 and 16 using repeated measures, involving a structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders, questionnaires, and a computerized task designed to measure affective responses to unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant images. Results: The negativity bias at pre-treatment predicted the rate of response to BA, while the positivity offset did not. Limitations: Only one treatment condition was used in this study and untreated depressed participants were not enrolled, limiting our ability to compare the effect of BA. Conclusions: Baseline negativity bias may serve as a signal for patients to engage in and benefit from the goal-directed BA strategies, thereby accelerating rate of response

Isolation and Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles from Lactic Acid Bacteria

Extracellular Vesicles, also referred to as EVs, are spherical lipid membrane-bound vesicles produced by both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. These vesicles are secreted into the extracellular space and play important functions in cellular and host communication, elimination of competitors, virulence, detoxification of environmental stress, and nutrition sensing. They are often packed with proteins, enzymes, lipids, and nucleic acids like DNA or RNA molecules among other biological entities. Streptococcus thermophilus is a lactic acid bacterium (LAB), inhabiting the human digestive tract, that has been shown to produce EVs. The bacterial flora has a great impact on the host immune system, metabolism, and neurological processes, however, not a lot is known about the biochemical pathways behind this impact. Since extracellular vesicles are involved in host communication, they play a key role in the impact that bacterial flora has on the biochemical processes of a host. Therefore S. Thermophilus was grown aerobically at 37° C in M17 media, two other LABs were grown including Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The extracellular vesicles will then be isolated through centrifugation, then the EVs content will be analyzed further. Size comparison can be conducted using gel electrophoresis, on various RNA molecules hypothesized to be held within the membranes of EVs. A previous study in this lab isolated the AsdS sRNA molecule, that is 152 base pairs in length, and is involved in quorum sensing. This gene is conserved among Streptococcus species and can be observed in S. pyogenes as the MarS. Since S. thermophilus is a non-pathogenic species the Asd gene cannot be involved in virulence as MarS is responsible for virulence in S. pyogenes. Based on functional predictions, AsdS is responsible for intraspecies communication, biofilm formation, and transport

Identification and Characterization of Small Regulatory RNA in Streptococcus

Background: The human gut is a rich habitat for a diverse population of bacteria. These bacteria play a vital role in a multitude of functions. They affect immune responses, metabolism, and even neurological activities. Some inhabitants of the gut biome include the lactic acid bacteria: Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. These bacteria are essential members of the flora and are non-pathogenic, however, some of their relatives like Streptococcus pyogenes cause severe diseases such as flesh-eating disease. The metabolic functions of these bacteria are mediated by small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which are noncoding RNA sequences that fold into complex stem-loop structures. Goal of Study: The goal of this project was to identify and characterize sRNAs that mediate bacterial metabolism and host interactions in non-pathogenic, lactic acid bacteria with homologous RNAs in pathogenic strains. Methods and Results: A small regulatory RNA that is conserved among different streptococcal species was identified. In S.pyogenes, this conserved sRNA, named MarS, is associated with virulence, however, the function of its homolog found in non-pathogenic bacteria, AsdS sRNA, has not been characterized. Computational methods were used to elucidate the function of this sRNA and predict its 2D and 3D structures. The gene containing the target sRNA was isolated and RNA constructs were designed to characterize regions that are part of it. Conclusions: A conserved sRNA species was successfully identified in S.thermophilus and cloned for synthesis by in-vitro transcription. Future work will be focused on structure determination and characterizing interactions to target sRNA through biophysical methods

Twice The Negativity Bias And Half The Positivity Offset: Evaluative Responses To Emotional Information In Depression

Background and objectives: Humans have the dual capacity to assign a slightly pleasant valence to neutral stimuli (the positivity offset) to encourage approach behaviors, as well as to assign a higher negative valence to unpleasant images relative to the positive valence to equally arousing and extreme pleasant images (the negativity bias) to facilitate defensive strategies. We conducted an experimental psychopathology study to examine the extent to which the negativity bias and the positivity offset differ in participants with and without major depression. Method: Forty-one depressed and thirty-six healthy participants were evaluated using a structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders, questionnaires, and a computerized task designed to measure implicit affective responses to unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant stimuli. Results: The negativity bias was significantly higher and the positivity offset was significantly lower in depressed relative to healthy participants. Limitations: Entry criteria enrolling medication-free participants with minimal DSM-IV comorbidity may limit generalizability of the findings. Conclusions: This study advances our understanding of the positive and negative valence systems in depression, highlighting the irregularities in the positive valence system

Medical ethnobotany of the Albanian Alps in Kosovo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ethnobotanical studies are crucial in South-Eastern Europe for fostering local development and also for investigating the dynamics of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) related to plants in one of the most crucial European hotspots for biocultural diversity. The current medico-ethnobotanical survey was conducted in rural alpine communities in Kosovo. The aims of the study were twofold: 1) to document the state of TEK of medicinal plants in these communities; 2) to compare these findings with that of similar field studies previously conducted among local populations inhabiting the Montenegrin and Albanian side of the same Alpine range.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Field research was conducted in 36 villages on the Kosovar side of the Albanian Alps. Snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 91 elderly informants (≥ 50 years-old) for participation in semi-structured interviews and structured surveys regarding the use of the local flora for medicinal and food purposes. Standard ethnobotanical methods were employed and prior informed consent was obtained for all study participants.</p> <p>Results and Conclusion</p> <p>The uses of 98 plants species belonging to 39 families were recorded; the most quoted botanical families were Rosaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae. Mainly decoctions and infusions were quoted as folk medicinal preparations and the most common uses referred to gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders, as well as illnesses of the uro-genital system. Among the most uncommon medicinal taxa quoted by the informants, C<it>arduus nutans </it>L., <it>Echinops bannaticus </it>Rochel ex Schrad., and <it>Orlaya grandiflora </it>Hoffm. may merit phytochemical and phytopharmacological investigations.</p> <p>Comparison of the data with other ethnobotanical field studies recently conducted on the Albanian and Montenegrin sides of the same Alps has shown a remarkable link between the medical ethnobotany of Montenegrin and Kosovar side of the Albanian Alps. Moreover, folk uses of the most quoted wild medicinal taxa recorded in Kosovo often include those recorded both in Albania and in Montenegro, thus suggesting a hybrid character of the Kosovar local plant knowledge. This may be also explained with the fact that Montenegro and Kosovo, despite their differences in the ethnic composition, have shared a common history during the last Century.</p

Measuring pelvises in 3D surface scans and in MDCT generated virtual environment: Considerations for applications in the forensic context.

Virtual Anthropology (VA) transposes the traditional methods of physical anthropology to virtual environments using imaging techniques and exploits imaging technologies to devise new methodological protocols. In this research, we investigate whether the measurements used in the Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP) and Ischio-Pubic Index (IPI) differ significantly when 3D models of a bone are generated using 3D surface scans (3DSS) and Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scans. Thirty pelvises were selected from the SIMON identified skeletal collection. An equal ratio of females to males was sought, as well as a good preservation of the bones. The pelvises were scanned using an MDCT scanner and a 3D surface scanner. The measurements of the DSP and IPI methods on the dry bones (referred to as macroscopic measurements here), and then to the 3D models. The intra- and interobserver, using the Technical Error of Measurement (TEM) and relative Technical Error of Measurement (rTEM) error was assessed, and we aimed to observe if the measurements made on the MDCT and 3DSS generated models were significantly different from those taken on the dry bones. Additionally, the normality of the data was tested (Shapiro-Wilk test) and the differences in measurements was evaluated using parametric (Student t-tests) and non-parametric (Wilcoxon) tests. The TEM and rTEM calculations show high intra and interobserver consistency in general. However, some measurements present insufficient inter- and intraobserver agreement. Student t and Wilcoxon tests indicate potentially significant differences of some measurements between the different environments. The results show that especially in the virtual environment, it is not easy to find the right angle for some of the DSP measurements, However, when comparing the measurement differences between dry and virtual bones, the results show that most of the differences are less than or equal to 2.5 mm. Considering the IPI, the landmarks are already difficult to determine on the dry bone, but they are even more difficult to locate in the virtual environment. Nevertheless, this study shows that quantitative methods may be better suited for application in the virtual environment, but further research using different methods is needed

Consistent Group and Coset Reductions of the Bosonic String

Dimensional reductions of pure Einstein gravity on cosets other than tori are inconsistent. The inclusion of specific additional scalar and p-form matter can change the situation. For example, a D-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton system, with a specific dilaton coupling, is known to admit a consistent reduction on S^2= SU(2)/U(1), of a sort first envisaged by Pauli. We provide a new understanding, by showing how an S^3=SU(2) group-manifold reduction of (D+1)-dimensional Einstein gravity, of a type first indicated by DeWitt, can be broken into in two steps; a Kaluza-type reduction on U(1) followed by a Pauli-type coset reduction on S^2. More generally, we show that any D-dimensional theory that itself arises as a Kaluza U(1) reduction from (D+1) dimensions admits a consistent Pauli reduction on any coset of the form G/U(1). Extensions to the case G/H are given. Pauli coset reductions of the bosonic string on G= (G\times G)/G are believed to be consistent, and a consistency proof exists for S^3=SO(4)/SO(3). We examine these reductions, and arguments for consistency, in detail. The structures of the theories obtained instead by DeWitt-type group-manifold reductions of the bosonic string are also studied, allowing us to make contact with previous such work in which only singlet scalars are retained. Consistent truncations with two singlet scalars are possible. Intriguingly, despite the fact that these are not supersymmetric models, if the group manifold has dimension 3 or 25 they admit a superpotential formulation, and hence first-order equations yielding domain-wall solutions.Comment: Latex, 5 figures, 45 pages, minor correction

On the Nonlinear Stability of Asymptotically Anti-de Sitter Solutions

Despite the recent evidence that anti-de Sitter spacetime is nonlinearly unstable, we argue that many asymptotically anti-de Sitter solutions are nonlinearly stable. This includes geons, boson stars, and black holes. As part of our argument, we calculate the frequencies of long-lived gravitational quasinormal modes of AdS black holes in various dimensions. We also discuss a new class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter solutions describing noncoalescing black hole binaries.Comment: 26 pages. 5 figure