Radiative Upsilon Decay at the Endpoint

The standard NRQCD power counting breaks down and the OPE gives rise to color-octet shape functions at the upper endpoint of the photon energy spectrum in radiative Upsilon decay. Also in this kinematic regime, large Sudakov logarithms appear in the octet Wilson coefficients, ruining the perturbative expansion. Using SCET, the octet shape functions arise naturally and the Sudakov logarithms can be summed using the renormalization group equations. We derive an expression for the resummed octet energy spectrum.Comment: Talk at 5th International Conference on Hyperons, Charm and Beauty Hadrons (BEACH 2002), Vancouver, Canada, 25-29 Jun 200

A New Mechanism for Light Composite Higgs Bosons

Repeated symmetry-breaking and restoration phase transitions occur as one traverses the parameter space of interactions competing to align the vacuum. This phenomenon, augmented with a topcolor-like interaction, can make a composite Higgs boson's mass and vacuum expectation value naturally much less than its underlying structure scale, without introducing new symmetries and their associated TeV-scale particles. We illustrate it by reconstructing a simple light composite Higgs model of electroweak symmetry breaking proposed by Georgi and Kaplan.Comment: 9 pages, 4 postscript figures, LaTe

A Breast Prosthesis Infection Update: Two-Year Incidence, Risk Factors and Management at Single Institution

Background: Infection following augmentation and prosthetic-based breast reconstruction can cause significant physical and psychological distress for patients. It may delay adjuvant therapies and compromise aesthetic outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify modifiable risk factors for infection and identify common bacterial isolates to achieve optimal outcomes for patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed for patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction over a 2-year period. In each case, we documented demographics, co-morbidities, complications and antibiotic use. We reviewed treatments, infectious species cultured where applicable and all outcomes. Results: A total of 292 patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-five patients (19%) developed an infection. Univariate analysis showed a significantly increased infection rate with longer operative times (P = 0.001) and use of tissue expanders (P = 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed drain use and elevated body mass index (BMI) as risk factors (odds ratio [OR] 2.427 and 1.061, respectively). After controlling for BMI, smoking status and radiation, we found an increased odd of infection with allograft use (OR 1.838) and a decreased odd with skin preparation using 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl (OR 0.554), though not statistically significant. Forty of 55 patients with infections had cultures, with 62.5% of isolates being Gram-positive species and 30% Gram-negative species. The median time to clinical infection was 25 days. Implant salvage with surgical interventions was achieved in 61.5% of patients. Conclusions: This study identified judicious use of drains and efficiency in the operating room as modifiable risk factors for infections following implant-based breast reconstruction. Prospective trials to analyse techniques for infection prevention are warranted. Implant salvage following infection is a possible end-point in the appropriate patient

Mental Health and Psychosocial Functioning in Recently Separated U.S. Women Veterans: Trajectories and Bi-Directional Relationships

Prior research on the relationship between veterans’ mental health and psychosocial functioning has primarily relied on male samples. Here, we investigated prospective longitudinal relationships between mental health and psychosocial functioning in 554 female Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans who were surveyed three times between two- and seven-years following separation from service. Mixed effects modeling revealed that increasing depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity predicted declines in work functioning. Increasing PTSD severity predicted declining parental functioning and worsening depression predicted a decline in relationship functioning. In turn, decreased work and intimate relationship functioning predicted increased PTSD and depression symptom severity suggesting bi-directional effects between mental health and psychosocial functioning. An examination of the effect of deployment stressors on psychosocial functioning revealed that deployment sexual harassment was the strongest predictor of decreased psychosocial functioning across all domains. Evidence for the reciprocal nature of relationships between mental health and psychosocial functioning underscore the need for treatment targeted at PTSD and depression, as well as work and relationship functioning to improve outcomes for women veterans

Session II

Session 2: Poster Session 7:00-8:00pm: Enjoy some coffee and refreshments with the students of ENC 6942 Empirical Research in Composition as they present their empirical research design posters

Predicting in-Hospital Mortality After an in-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Multivariate Analysis

Aim of the study: Most survivors of an in-hospital cardiac arrest do not leave the hospital alive, and there is a need for a more patient-centered, holistic approach to the assessment of prognosis after an arrest. We sought to identify pre-, peri-, and post-arrest variables associated with in-hospital mortality amongst survivors of an in-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients ≥18 years of age who were resuscitated from an in-hospital arrest at our University Medical Center from January 1, 2013 to September 31, 2016. In-hospital mortality was chosen as a primary outcome and unfavorable discharge disposition (discharge disposition other than home or skilled nursing facility) as a secondary outcome. Results: 925 patients comprised the in-hospital arrest cohort with 305 patients failing to survive the arrest and a further 349 patients surviving the initial arrest but dying prior to hospital discharge, resulting in an overall survival of 29%. 620 patients with a ROSC of greater than 20 min following the in-hospital arrest were included in the final analysis. In a stepwise multivariable regression analysis, recurrent cardiac arrest, increasing age, time to ROSC, higher serum creatinine levels, and a history of cancer were predictors of in-hospital mortality. A history of hypertension was found to exert a protective effect on outcomes. In the regression model including serum lactate, increasing lactate levels were associated with lower odds of survival. Conclusion: Amongst survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest, recurrent cardiac arrest was the strongest predictor of poor outcomes with age, time to ROSC, pre-existing malignancy, and serum creatinine levels linked with increased odds of in-hospital mortality

Predictions for nonleptonic Lambda_b and Theta_b decays

We study nonleptonic Lambda_b -> Lambda_c pi, Sigma_c pi and Sigma_c^* pi decays in the limit m_b, m_c, E_pi >> Lambda_{QCD} using the soft-collinear effective theory. Here Sigma_c = Sigma_c(2455) and Sigma_c^* = Sigma_c(2520). At leading order the Lambda_b -> Sigma_c^{(*)} pi rates vanish, while the Lambda_b -> Lambda_c pi rate is related to Lambda_b -> Lambda_c\ell\bar\nu, and is expected to be larger than Gamma(B -> D^{(*)} pi). The dominant contributions to the Lambda_b -> Sigma_c^{(*)} pi rates are suppressed by Lambda_{QCD}^2/E_pi^2. We predict Gamma(Lambda_b -> Sigma_c^* pi) / Gamma(Lambda_b -> Sigma_c pi) = 2 + O[Lambda_{QCD}/m_Q, alpha_s(m_Q)], and the same ratio for Lambda_b -> Sigma_c^{(*)} rho and for Lambda_b -> Xi_c^{(',*)}K. ``Bow tie'' diagrams are shown to be suppressed. We comment on possible discovery channels for weakly decaying pentaquarks, Theta_{b,c} and their nearby heavy quark spin symmetry partners, Theta_{b,c}^*.Comment: 12 pages, added references, corrected typo

Analysis of Genes (\u3ci\u3eTMEM106B\u3c/i\u3e, \u3ci\u3eGRN\u3c/i\u3e, \u3ci\u3eABCC9\u3c/i\u3e, \u3ci\u3eKCNMB2\u3c/i\u3e, and \u3ci\u3eAPOE\u3c/i\u3e) Implicated in Risk for LATE-NC and Hippocampal Sclerosis Provides Pathogenetic Insights: A Retrospective Genetic Association Study

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is the most prevalent subtype of TDP-43 proteinopathy, affecting up to 1/3rd of aged persons. LATE-NC often co-occurs with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) pathology. It is currently unknown why some individuals with LATE-NC develop HS while others do not, but genetics may play a role. Previous studies found associations between LATE-NC phenotypes and specific genes: TMEM106B, GRN, ABCC9, KCNMB2, and APOE. Data from research participants with genomic and autopsy measures from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC; n = 631 subjects included) and the Religious Orders Study and Memory and the Rush Aging Project (ROSMAP; n = 780 included) were analyzed in the current study. Our goals were to reevaluate disease-associated genetic variants using newly collected data and to query whether the specific genotype/phenotype associations could provide new insights into disease-driving pathways. Research subjects included in prior LATE/HS genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were excluded. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) within 10 kb of TMEM106B, GRN, ABCC9, KCNMB2, and APOE were tested for association with HS and LATE-NC, and separately for Alzheimer’s pathologies, i.e. amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Significantly associated SNVs were identified. When results were meta-analyzed, TMEM106B, GRN, and APOE had significant gene-based associations with both LATE and HS, whereas ABCC9 had significant associations with HS only. In a sensitivity analysis limited to LATE-NC + cases, ABCC9 variants were again associated with HS. By contrast, the associations of TMEM106B, GRN, and APOE with HS were attenuated when adjusting for TDP-43 proteinopathy, indicating that these genes may be associated primarily with TDP-43 proteinopathy. None of these genes except APOE appeared to be associated with Alzheimer’s-type pathology. In summary, using data not included in prior studies of LATE or HS genomics, we replicated several previously reported gene-based associations and found novel evidence that specific risk alleles can differentially affect LATE-NC and HS

Discovery of Endangered Mexican Blindcat, Prietella phreatophila, in Texas: Implications for International Groundwater Management and Evolution of the Regional Karst Aquifer Biota

Paper presented July 15, 2017 at the annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Austin, Texas, USA (http://conferences.k-state.edu/JMIH-Austin-2017/). The oral presentation of this content mentioned questions about the taxonomy and phylogenetic position of Prietella lundbergi and the only specimens attributed to P. lundbergi apart from the holotype. Since the presentation, we obtained high resolution CT scans of both the holotype and a specimen (TNHC 25767) from Cueva del Nacimiento del Río Frio, not far north of the type locality. The anatomy revealed in those CT scans suggests that these specimens represent a single species, and that P. lundbergi is only remotely related to Prietella phreatophila, which would be consistent with results of Wilcox, T.P., F.J. Garcı́a de León, Dean A. Hendrickson, and D.M. Hillis. 2004. “Convergence among Cave Catfishes: Long-Branch Attraction and a Bayesian Relative Rates Test.” Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31 (3): 1101–13. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2003.11.006). Thus, further research is in progress by Hendrickson, Lundberg, Luckenbill and Arce that may result in taxonomic revision removing P. lundbergi from Prietella.Mexican blindcat, Prietella phreatophila, described in 1954 from a cave system near the town of Múzquiz in central Coahuila state, and considered a Mexican endemic, was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a foreign endangered species (protected "wherever found") in 1970. Explorations in the 1990s discovered many new localities extending nearly to the international border, and in 2016 the species was discovered in Amistad National Recreation Area (ANRA) in Texas, just north of the international border near Del Rio. Not only does the discovery support the aquifer of this fish being an internationally shared resource, but the stygobitic invertebrate biota found with the fish indicates a potentially large extent of the aquifer, and thus possibly the fish, in Texas. Invertebrate faunal connections (historic or current) extend from the Amistad Lake area of the new occurrence west into the Trans-Pecos region and east into the Edwards Aquifer of central Texas. We explore implications of this for both water management and evolutionary history of this and other blind ictalurids, and suggest that population genetic studies of both stygobitic fishes and invertebrates could help hydrogeologists better define often difficult to map aquifer extents and interconnections. While NPS is continuing to support the cave explorations of ANRA that produced the Texas discovery, we propose a broader bi-national sampling effort for both the fish and invertebrates extending well beyond the current known distribution of P. phreatophila. We also pointed out questions about phylogenetic relatedness of P. phreatophila and P. lundbergi further south, as well as the possibility of a monophyletic clade of blindcats, including those of the Edwards Aquifer, Satan and Trogloglanis. If substantiated, that evolutionary history would imply broader historic inter-aquifer connections ranging from the San Antonio area as far south as southernmost Tamaulipas. Finally, we report establishment of a small captive population of Prietella phreatophila at San Antonio Zoo for research and possibly eventual conservation applications.U.S. National Park Service; San Antonio Zoo; University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences and Department of Integrative BiologyIntegrative Biolog