Evaluating LL-functions with few known coefficients

We address the problem of evaluating an $L$-function when only a small number of its Dirichlet coefficients are known. We use the approximate functional equation in a new way and find that is possible to evaluate the $L$-function more precisely than one would expect from the standard approach. The method, however, requires considerably more computational effort to achieve a given accuracy than would be needed if more Dirichlet coefficients were available.Comment: 14 pages; Added a new section where we evaluate L(1/2 + 100 i, Delta) to 42 decimal places using no Dirichlet series coefficients at al

Updated Conservation Status of Protected Minnesota Caddisflies

Seven of the 13 Minnesota Trichoptera species with official protected status were located in the state during 1997-2001, including four species – Agapetus tomus, Asynarchus rossi, Hydroptila novicola, and Polycentropus milaca – not collected in nearly 40 years. Three species – Chilostigma itascae, Oxyethira ecornuta, and Polycentropus milaca – appear rare in Minnesota, two – Agapetus tomus and Asynarchus rossi – appear rare but locally abundant, and two – Hydroptila novicola and Oxyethira itascae – were found throughout northern Minnesota suggesting that they are more abundant than previously thought. Five listed species were not collected during this study and are currently of unknown conservation status. One listed species, Setodes guttatus, almost certainly does not occur in Minnesota and should be delisted

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the Missing Hydrogen Mass in the Universe

It is proposed that when the era of the big-bang nucleosynthesis ended, almost all of the 75 percent of the observed total baryonic matter remained in the form of hydrogen and continued to exist in the form of protons and electrons. They are present today as baryonic dark matter in the form of intergalactic hydrogen plasma. To test our hypothesis we have investigated the effects of Thomson scattering by free electrons on the reported dimming of Type Ia supernovae. The quantitative results of our calculation suggest that the dimming of these supernovae, which are dimmer than expected and hence more distant than predicted by Hubble expansion, is a result of Thomson scattering without cosmic acceleration.Comment: A typographical error in equation (7) page 3 has been correcte

Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Pediatric Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Disorders

Habits, such as hair pulling and thumb sucking, have recently been grouped into a category of clinical conditions called body-focused repetitive behavior disorders (BFRBDs). These behaviors are common in children and, at extreme levels, can cause physical and psychological damage. This article reviews the evidence base for psychosocial treatment of pediatric BFRBDs. A review of academic databases and published reviews revealed 60 studies on psychosocial treatments for pediatric BFRBDs, 23 of which were deemed suitable for review. Based on stringent methodological and evidence base criteria, we provided recommendations for each specific BFRBD. Individual behavior therapy proved probably efficacious for thumb sucking, possibly efficacious for several conditions, and experimental for nail biting. Individual and multicomponent cognitive-behavioral therapy was named experimental for trichotillomania and nail biting, respectively. No treatment met criteria for well-established status in the treatment of any BFRBD. Recommendations for clinicians are discussed. Reasons for the limitations of existing research in children and adolescents are explored. Several recommendations are presented for future pediatric treatment research on BFRBDs