Cosmological Phase Transitions and their Properties in the NMSSM

We study cosmological phase transitions in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) in light of the Higgs discovery. We use an effective field theory approach to calculate the finite temperature effective potential, focusing on regions with significant tree-level contributions to the Higgs mass, a viable neutralino dark matter candidate, 1-2 TeV stops, and with the remaining particle spectrum compatible with current LHC searches and results. The phase transition structure in viable regions of parameter space exhibits a rich phenomenology, potentially giving rise to one- or two-step first-order phase transitions in the singlet and/or $SU(2)$ directions. We compute several parameters pertaining to the bubble wall profile, including the bubble wall width and $\Delta\beta$ (the variation of the ratio in Higgs vacuum expectation values across the wall). These quantities can vary significantly across small regions of parameter space and can be promising for successful electroweak baryogenesis. We estimate the wall velocity microphysically, taking into account the various sources of friction acting on the expanding bubble wall. Ultra-relativistic solutions to the bubble wall equations of motion typically exist when the electroweak phase transition features substantial supercooling. For somewhat weaker transitions, the bubble wall instead tends to be sub-luminal and, in fact, likely sub-sonic, suggesting that successful electroweak baryogenesis may indeed occur in regions of the NMSSM compatible with the Higgs discovery.Comment: 49 pages + 2 appendices, 6 figures. v2: Minor corrections; matches version published in JHE

An Ecological Risk Model for Early Childhood Anxiety: The Importance of Early Child Symptoms and Temperament

Childhood anxiety is impairing and associated with later emotional disorders. Studying risk factors for child anxiety may allow earlier identification of at-risk children for prevention efforts. This study applied an ecological risk model to address how early childhood anxiety symptoms, child temperament, maternal anxiety and depression symptoms, violence exposure, and sociodemographic risk factors predict school-aged anxiety symptoms. This longitudinal, prospective study was conducted in a representative birth cohort (n=1109). Structural equation modeling was used to examine hypothesized associations between risk factors measured in toddlerhood/preschool (age=3.0 years) and anxiety symptoms measured in kindergarten (age=6.0 years) and second grade (age= 8.0 years). Early child risk factors (anxiety symptoms and temperament) emerged as the most robust predictor for both parent-and child-reported anxiety outcomes and mediated the effects of maternal and family risk factors. Implications for early intervention and prevention studies are discussed

Bacterial Causes of Empyema in Children, Australia, 2007–2009

Most infections were caused by non–7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes

The double ABCX model of adaptation in racially diverse families with a school-age child with autism

In this study, the Double ABCX model of family adaptation was used to explore the impact of severity of autism symptoms, behavior problems, social support, religious coping, and reframing, on outcomes related to family functioning and parental distress. The sample included self-report measures collected from 195 families raising school-age children with autism from racially diverse backgrounds throughout the United States. Hierarchical regression results revealed that the Double ABCX model of family adaptation accounted for a substantial amount of the variance in family functioning (28%) and parental distress (46%). Findings suggest that child behavior problems and reframing are most strongly associated with family outcomes. Clinical implications for working with these families, including the use of strength-based approaches, are discussed

A bedside assay to detect streptococcus pneumoniae in children with empyema

Background Empyema is a complication of pneumonia, commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Aims To validate the utility of an immunochromatographic test for the detection of S. pneumoniae antigen in the pleural fluid of children with empyema. Methods Empyema patients had blood and pleural fluid cultured, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the S. pneumoniae autolysin gene, lytA, in pleural fluid. Pleural fluid was tested using the Binax NOW S. pneumoniae antigen detection assay and compared with lytA PCR results and/or culture in blood or pleural fluid. Results S. pneumoniae was detected by PCR in pleural fluid of 68 of 137 (49.6%) patients, by culture in 11 of 135 (8.1%) pleural specimens and 16 of 120 (13.3%) blood specimens. Pleural fluid Binax NOW testing from 130 patients demonstrated a sensitivity of 83.8% and specificity of 93.5% (positive predictive value of 93.4% and negative predictive value of 84.1%). Conclusions In pediatric empyema, high predictive values of pleural fluid Binax NOW S. pneumoniae antigen test suggest that this test may help rationalize antibiotic choice in these patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011; 46:179-183. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc