CP Violation in τ→3πντ\tau\rightarrow 3\pi\nu_\tau

We consider CP violating effects in the decays $\tau\rightarrow (3\pi)\nu_\tau$ where both the ${\rm J}^{\rm P}=1^+$ resonance, $a_1$, and ${\rm J}^{\rm P}=0^-$ resonance, $\pi^\prime$, can contribute. The interference between the $a_1$ and $\pi^\prime$ resonances can lead to enhanced CP-violating asymmetries whose magnitudes depend crucially on the $\pi^\prime$ decay constant, $f_{\pi^\prime}$. We make an estimate of $f_{\pi^\prime}$ with a simplified chiral Lagrangian coupled to a massive pseudoscalar field, and we compare the estimates from the non-relativistic quark model and from the QCD sum rule with the estimate from the `mock' meson model. We then estimate quantitatively the size of CP-violating effects in a multi-Higgs-doublet model and scalar-leptoquark models. We find that, while CP-violating effects in the scalar-leptoquark models may require more than $10^{10}$ $\tau$ leptons, CP-violating effects from the multi-Higgs-doublet model can be seen at the $2\sigma$ level with about $10^7$ $\tau$ leptons using the chiral Lagrangian estimate of $f_{\pi^\prime}=(1\sim 5)\times 10^{-3}$ GeV.Comment: Latex, 30 pages, 2 figures (not included). Three compressed postscript files of the paper available at ftp://ftp.kek.jp/kek/preprints/TH/TH-419/kekth419.ps.gz, Tau1.ps.gz, Tau2.ps.g

Finished Genome of the Fungal Wheat Pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola Reveals Dispensome Structure, Chromosome Plasticity, and Stealth Pathogenesis.

The plant-pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola (asexual stage: Septoria tritici) causes septoria tritici blotch, a disease that greatly reduces the yield and quality of wheat. This disease is economically important in most wheat-growing areas worldwide and threatens global food production. Control of the disease has been hampered by a limited understanding of the genetic and biochemical bases of pathogenicity, including mechanisms of infection and of resistance in the host. Unlike most other plant pathogens, M. graminicola has a long latent period during which it evades host defenses. Although this type of stealth pathogenicity occurs commonly in Mycosphaerella and other Dothideomycetes, the largest class of plant-pathogenic fungi, its genetic basis is not known. To address this problem, the genome of M. graminicolawas sequenced completely. The finished genome contains 21 chromosomes, eight of which could be lost with no visible effect on the fungus and thus are dispensable. This eight-chromosome dispensome is dynamic in field and progeny isolates, is different from the core genome in gene and repeat content, and appears to have originated by ancient horizontal transfer from an unknown donor. Synteny plots of the M. graminicola chromosomes versus those of the only other sequenced Dothideomycete, Stagonospora nodorum, revealed conservation of gene content but not order or orientation, suggesting a high rate of intra-chromosomal rearrangement in one or both species. This observed “mesosynteny” is very different from synteny seen between other organisms. A surprising feature of the M. graminicolagenome compared to other sequenced plant pathogens was that it contained very few genes for enzymes that break down plant cell walls, which was more similar to endophytes than to pathogens. The stealth pathogenesis of M. graminicola probably involves degradation of proteins rather than carbohydrates to evade host defenses during the biotrophic stage of infection and may have evolved from endophytic ancestors

Two-Loop O(alpha_s G_F M_Q^2) Heavy-Quark Corrections to the Interactions between Higgs and Intermediate Bosons

By means of a low-energy theorem, we analyze at O(alpha_s G_F M_Q^2) the shifts in the Standard-Model W^+W^-H and ZZH couplings induced by virtual high-mass quarks, Q, with M_Q >> M_Z, M_H, which includes the top quark. Invoking the improved Born approximation, we then find the corresponding corrections to various four- and five-point Higgs-boson production and decay processes which involve the W^+W^-H and ZZH vertices with one or both of the gauge bosons being connected to light-fermion currents, respectively. This includes e^+e^- -> f anti-f H via Higgs-strahlung, via W^+W^- fusion (with f = nu_e), and via ZZ fusion (with f = e), as well as H -> 2V -> 4f (with V = W, Z).Comment: 20 pages (Latex); Physical Review D (to appear

Intersectional disparities in climate vulnerability and cancer risk

Despite significant progress in the early detection, treatment, and survivorship of cancer in recent decades, cancer disparities continue to plague segments of the US population. Many of these cancer disparities, especially those among historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups and those with lower socioeconomic resources, are caused and perpetuated by social and structural barriers to health. These social and structural barriers, which operate beyond the framework of cancer control, also systematically increase vulnerability to and decrease adaptive capacity for the deleterious effects of anthropogenic climate change. The established and emerging overlap between climate vulnerability and cancer risk presents complex challenges to cancer control, specifically among populations who suffer compounding hazards and intersectional vulnerabilities. By embracing these intersections, we may be able to conceptualize promising new research frameworks and programmatic opportunities that decrease vulnerability to a wide range of climate and health threats to advance health equity

Abstract C083: Exploring relationships between neighborhood social vulnerability and cancer screening in Miami-Dade County

Abstract Purpose: Social and structural contributors to social vulnerability have been associated with cancer disparities across the continuum. This study aimed to explore relationships between indicators of neighborhood social vulnerability and participation in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening in Miami-Dade County. Methods: Data were obtained at the census tract level from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (2014-2018), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (2018), and the CDC PLACES dataset (2018). This analysis was restricted to Miami-Dade census tracts for which PLACES data was available on mammography (n=135), cervical cancer screening (n=115), and colorectal screening (n=136) participation. Census tracts were stratified into tertiles based on screening participation, then social vulnerability indicators were assessed among the tertiles. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify characteristics responsible for most variability in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening. Results: Mammography participation was 51.76%, 58.80%, and 65.65% in the lower, middle, and upper tertiles, respectively. Among these tracts, per capita income (p<.001), earning an income below poverty (p<.001), educational attainment below earning an HS diploma (p<.001), the proportion of non-Hispanic White residents (p<.001), unemployed residents (p<.001), residents with a disability (p<.001), and people with no computer or limited access to the internet (p<.001) were significantly different between the tertiles. Cervical cancer screening participation was 79.60%, 84.36%, and 87.80% in the lower, middle, and upper tertiles, respectively. Among these tracts, per capita income (p<.001), earning an income below poverty (p<.001), educational attainment below earning an HS diploma (p<.001), and proportion of single-parent households with children under age 17 (p<.001), non-Hispanic White residents (p<.001), unemployed residents (p<.001), residents with a disability (p<.001), and people with no computer or limited access to the internet (p<.001) were significantly different between the screening tertiles. Colorectal cancer screening participation was 79.26%, 81.06%, and 85.26% in the lower, middle, and upper tertiles, respectively. Among these tracts, per capita income (p<.01), earning an income below poverty (p<.004), educational attainment below earning an HS diploma (p<.001), the proportion of residents with a disability (p<.001), and people with no computer or limited access to the internet (p<.001) were significantly different between the screening tertiles. Conclusions: These data suggest that social vulnerability is associated with cancer screening uptake, namely mammography, cervical cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening. Further investigation of the social and structural factors contributing to disparities in cancer screening will help appropriately allocate resources and craft effective interventions to reduce the burden of cancer among those most vulnerable. Citation Format: Kilan C. Ashad-Bishop, Jordan A. Baeker-Bispo, Zinzi D. Bailey, Erin K. Kobetz. Exploring relationships between neighborhood social vulnerability and cancer screening in Miami-Dade County [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C083

Hyperlocal disparities in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening: An ecological study of social vulnerability in Miami-Dade county

Neighborhoods have been identified as important determinants of health-related outcomes, but limited research has assessed the influence of neighborhood context along the cancer continuum. This study used census tract-level data from the United States Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to characterize Miami-Dade County census tracts (n = 492) into social vulnerability clusters and assess their associated breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening participation rates. We identified disparities by social vulnerability cluster in cancer screening participation rates. Further investigation of geographic disparities in social vulnerability and cancer screening participation could inform equity-focused cancer control efforts