Local Out-Tournaments with Upset Tournament Strong Components I: Full and Equal {0,1}-Matrix Ranks

A digraph D is a local out-tournament if the outset of every vertex is a tournament. Here, we use local out-tournaments, whose strong components are upset tournaments, to explore the corresponding ranks of the adjacency matrices. Of specific interest is the out-tournament whose adjacency matrix has boolean, nonnegative integer, term, and real rank all equal to the number of vertices, n. Corresponding results for biclique covers and partitions of the digraph are provided

Experimental observation of lasing shutdown via asymmetric gain

Using a pair of coupled RLC cavities we experimentally demonstrate that amplification action can be tamed by a spatially inhomogeneous gain. Under specific conditions we observe the counterintuitive phenomenon of stabilization of the system even when the overall gain provided is increased. This behavior is directly related to lasing shutdown via asymmetric pumping, recently proposed in M. Liertzer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 173901 (2012)]. The analysis of other simple systems reveals the universal nature of the lasing shutdown phenomenon as having its roots in managing impedance matching

Developmental and Degenerative Cardiac Defects in the Taiwanese Mouse Model of Severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy

We would like to acknowledge the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen, Kevin Mackenzie, Debbie Wilkinson, Gillian Milne and Lucy Wight, for the use of their facilities. G.K.M. was funded by a research award from RGA awarded to S.H.P. E.S. was funded by a University of Aberdeen Elphinstone PhD Studentship and a research award from the Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research. H.K.S. was funded by a Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research PhD Studentship. S.H.P. is funded by Tenovus (Scotland), SMA Trust and Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds. T.H.G. is funded by SMA Trust (UK SMA Research Consortium Award), Muscular Dystrophy UK, and Anatomical Society (PhD Studentship).Peer reviewedPostprin

Experimental observation of lasing shutdown via asymmetric gain

Using a pair of coupled RLC cavities we experimentally demonstrate that amplification action can be tamed by a spatially inhomogeneous gain. Under specific conditions we observe the counterintuitive phenomenon of stabilization of the system even when the overall gain provided is increased. This behavior is directly related to lasing shutdown via asymmetric pumping, recently proposed in M. Liertzer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 173901 (2012)]. The analysis of other simple systems reveals the universal nature of the lasing shutdown phenomenon as having its roots in managing impedance matching

Human Development and Controlled Substance Prescribing in Ohio Counties

Background: Human development is a holistic measure of well-being. The American Human Development Index (AHDI) operationalizes the concept for the American context, using a composite measure of income, education, and health. This work presents the first county-level examination of AHDI for the state of Ohio and examines the relationship between human development and controlled substance prescribing.Methods: Publicly available data from the census and prior publications were compiled to calculate county-level AHDI for all 88 Ohio counties. Correlations were examined between AHDI and 4 classes of controlled substances, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and sedatives, using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient.Results: County AHDI scores ranged from 3.3 to 7.6, with mean and median values of 4.8. At the county level, human development is negatively correlated with opioid (r = -0.46, r2 = 0.22, P <0.0001) and benzodiazepine (r = -0.43, r2 = 0.18, P <0.0001) prescribing and positively associated with stimulant prescribing (r = 0.49, r2 = 0.24, P <0.0001). Neither sedative prescribing practices (r = 0.09, P = 0.40) nor median age (r = -0.09, P = 0.41) were significantly correlated with AHDI.Conclusion: There is a strong correlation between AHDI and prescribing of several classes of controlled substanc-es. Work remains to ascertain mechanisms and directionality of these relationships. Whether higher prescribing in areas with lower human development is an attempt to medicate health inequity or low human development is an additional manifestation of the opioid epidemic, this study underscores the necessity of pursuing equity in all policies

Risk Factors for Pediatric Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease

Invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections can be fatal and can occur in healthy children. A case-control study identified factors associated with pediatric disease. Case-patients were identified when Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from a normally sterile site, and matched controls (≥2) were identified by using sequential-digit dialing. All participants were noninstitutionalized surveillance-area residents <18 years of age. Conditional regression identified factors associated with invasive disease: other children living in the home (odds ratio [OR] = 16.85, p = 0.0002) and new use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (OR = 10.64, p = 0.005) were associated with increased risk. More rooms in the home (OR = 0.67, p = 0.03) and household member(s) with runny nose (OR = 0.09, p = 0.002) were associated with decreased risk. Among children, household-level characteristics that influence exposure to GAS most affect development of invasive disease

Prenatal Exposure to Lead, δ-Aminolevulinic Acid, and Schizophrenia: Further Evidence

Background: A previously conducted study of prenatal lead exposure and schizophrenia using δ-aminolevulinic acid, a biologic marker of Pb exposure, in archived maternal serum samples collected from subjects enrolled in the Childhood Health and Development Study (1959–1966) based in Oakland, California, suggested a possible association between prenatal Pb exposure and the development of schizophrenia in later life. Objectives: In the present study we extend these findings using samples collected from the New England cohort of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959–1966). Using similar methods, in this study we found results that suggest a comparable association in this cohort. Methods: We pooled matched sets of cases and controls from both the California and New England sites using a multilevel random-intercept logistic regression model, accounting for matching and site structure as well as adjusting for maternal age at delivery and maternal education. Results: The estimated odds ratio for schizophrenia associated with exposure corresponding to 15 μg/dL of blood Pb was 1.92 (95% confidence interval, 1.05–3.87; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Although several limitations constrain generalizability, these results are consistent with previous findings and provide further evidence for the role of early environmental exposures in the development of adult-onset psychiatric disorders