Exceptional covers and bijections on rational points

We show that if f: X --> Y is a finite, separable morphism of smooth curves defined over a finite field F_q, where q is larger than an explicit constant depending only on the degree of f and the genus of X, then f maps X(F_q) surjectively onto Y(F_q) if and only if f maps X(F_q) injectively into Y(F_q). Surprisingly, the bounds on q for these two implications have different orders of magnitude. The main tools used in our proof are the Chebotarev density theorem for covers of curves over finite fields, the Castelnuovo genus inequality, and ideas from Galois theory.Comment: 19 pages; various minor changes to previous version. To appear in International Mathematics Research Notice

Effects of widowhood on disabled older women (the women's health and aging study)*

Journal ArticleThis study examined the effects of becoming widowed for older women with pre-existing physical disability. Data from three consecutive interviews from the Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS) were used to compare depression, quality of life, and functional difficulty for widowed and nonwidowed women. The two groups of 24 women were matched by age, disability level, domains of disability, and race. Repeated measures of analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed that, for both groups, depression scores were low and remained relatively stable and they were satisfied with their quality of life at all three time points (T1 = 0-6 months pre-bereavement, T2 = 0-6 months bereaved, T3 = 6-12 months bereaved), with no significant group by time interaction effects. The two groups were no different on their levels of functional difficulty at T1 and T2 but by T3, surprisingly, the widows reported slightly less difficulty. Overall, the findings show that disabled women who became widows demonstrate a noticeable degree of resiliency and hardiness

Uniendo Iniciativas Políticas y Perspectivas de Desarrollo en la Atención Temprana

The provision of early intervention services for vulnerable children and their families is now both accepted and expected by the international community. This article considers the importance of a developmental perspective as an essential guide to early intervention service systems. Emphasized in this framework are three critical features: relationship formation, the continuity of interventions, and the comprehensiveness of interventions. Guidance to early intervention systems design with respect to structural and values principles is also discussed. Future advances in early intervention may well depend upon the merging of these perspectives to create policy initiatives to enhance early intervention systems.Proporcionar servicios de Atención Temprana para niños vulnerables y para sus familias es algo actualmente no sólo aceptado sino también esperado por la comunidad internacional. Este artículo considera la importancia de adoptar una perspectiva evolutiva como guía esencial par el sistema de servicios de atención temprana. En este marco destacan tres características cruciales: el establecimiento de relaciones, la continuidad de las intervenciones y la comprensión de las mismas. Asimismo trata sobre la orientación del diseño de los sistemas de atención temprana en cuanto a estructura y principios de valores. Los futuros avances en atención temprana bien pueden depender de la fusión de estas perspec-tivas para la creación de iniciativas políticas de mejora de estos sistemas

Promoting the Peer-Related Social Development of Young Children With Mild Developmental Delays: Effectiveness of a Comprehensive Intervention

To address the unusual peer-related social competence difficulties characteristic of young children with mild developmental delays, we conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive, developmentally oriented, highly individu-alized intervention extending over a 2-year period. Outcome measures emphasized gener-alization of peer interactions in unfamiliar playgroups. Results revealed modest effects of the intervention, with children who had lower cognitive levels benefiting most. Interven-tion effects were best conceptualized as preventative, minimizing the negative features and atypical patterns of children’s social play with peers. Our discussion of future work was focused on alternative implementation models to enhance intervention intensity, inclusion of specific subgroups of children, and direct measurement of children engaging in social tasks. Extensive observations of preschool-age chil-dren with mild developmental (cognitive) delays in settings involving peers have revealed that sub

TRADUÇÃO, ADAPTAÇÃO E VALIDAÇÃO DO CONTEÚDO DA SECÇÃO I DA ESCALA: “ASSESSMENT OF PEER RELATIONS” PARA O IDIOMA PORTUGUÊS

PURPOSE: adaptation and content validation of Section I of the scale “Assessment of Peer Relations” tothe Portuguese language. METHOD: section I was translated and back translated by experienced translators.The version of consensus was used in two pilot studies that indicated the necessity of linguistic improvements.After realizing these modifications, it was possible to gather an expert panel - composed by 8 researchersin early intervention and social interaction – who thoroughly discussed each item of section I. RESULTS: this research process was essential to deeply explore section I allowing, consequently, to perceive which modifications should be done in order to operationalize its use in Portuguese’s language and culture. CONCLUSIONS: the objective of this research was achieved and, consequently, it was possible to do theadaptation and the content validation to the Portuguese language concerning Section I of the scale“Assessment of Peer Relations”.Objetivo: realizar a adaptação e validação do conteúdo da secção I da escala “Assessment of PeerRelations” – Avaliação das Relações com Pares para o idioma Português. Método: a secção I foi traduzidae retro traduzida por tradutores experientes. A versão de consenso resultante desta tradução foi utilizadaem dois estudos piloto que indicaram a necessidade de melhoramentos linguísticos. Realizadas asalterações necessárias, reuniu-se um painel com oito peritos – investigadores na área da intervençãoprecoce e das interações sociais – que procedeu à discussão aprofundada de cada um dos itens secção I.Resultados: todo o processo inerente a este estudo revelou-se de extrema importância para a exploraçãoaprofundada da secção I e para a realização de todas as alterações consideradas necessárias para quea escala possa ser funcional e aplicável na Língua e Cultura Portuguesas. Conclusões: o processo deinvestigação permitiu atingir o objetivo delineado e, assim, foi possível adaptar e validar, para o idiomaportuguês, o conteúdo da secção I da escala Assessment of Peer Relations – Avaliação das Relações comPares

Alternating groups and moduli space lifting Invariants

Main Theorem: Spaces of r-branch point 3-cycle covers, degree n or Galois of degree n!/2 have one (resp. two) component(s) if r=n-1 (resp. r\ge n). Improves Fried-Serre on deciding when sphere covers with odd-order branching lift to unramified Spin covers. We produce Hurwitz-Torelli automorphic functions on Hurwitz spaces, and draw Inverse Galois conclusions. Example: Absolute spaces of 3-cycle covers with +1 (resp. -1) lift invariant carry canonical even (resp. odd) theta functions when r is even (resp. odd). For inner spaces the result is independent of r. Another use appears in, http://www.math.uci.edu/~mfried/paplist-mt/twoorbit.html, "Connectedness of families of sphere covers of A_n-Type." This shows the M(odular) T(ower)s for the prime p=2 lying over Hurwitz spaces first studied by, http://www.math.uci.edu/~mfried/othlist-cov/hurwitzLiu-Oss.pdf, Liu and Osserman have 2-cusps. That is sufficient to establish the Main Conjecture: (*) High tower levels are general-type varieties and have no rational points.For infinitely many of those MTs, the tree of cusps contains a subtree -- a spire -- isomorphic to the tree of cusps on a modular curve tower. This makes plausible a version of Serre's O(pen) I(mage) T(heorem) on such MTs. Establishing these modular curve-like properties opens, to MTs, modular curve-like thinking where modular curves have never gone before. A fuller html description of this paper is at http://www.math.uci.edu/~mfried/paplist-cov/hf-can0611591.html .Comment: To appear in the Israel Journal as of 1/5/09; v4 is corrected from proof sheets, but does include some proof simplification in \S

Methods for broad-scale plant phenology assessments using citizen scientists’ photographs

© 2020 Barve et al. Applications in Plant Sciences is published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the Botanical Society of America Premise: Citizen science platforms for sharing photographed digital vouchers, such as iNaturalist, are a promising source of phenology data, but methods and best practices for use have not been developed. Here we introduce methods using Yucca flowering phenology as a case study, because drivers of Yucca phenology are not well understood despite the need to synchronize flowering with obligate pollinators. There is also evidence of recent anomalous winter flowering events, but with unknown spatiotemporal extents. Methods: We collaboratively developed a rigorous, consensus-based approach for annotating and sharing whole plant and flower presence data from iNaturalist and applied it to Yucca records. We compared spatiotemporal flowering coverage from our annotations with other broad-scale monitoring networks (e.g., the National Phenology Network) in order to determine the unique value of photograph-based citizen science resources. Results: Annotations from iNaturalist were uniquely able to delineate extents of unusual flowering events in Yucca. These events, which occurred in two different regions of the Desert Southwest, did not appear to disrupt the typical-period flowering. Discussion: Our work demonstrates that best practice approaches to scoring iNaturalist records provide fine-scale delimitation of phenological events. This approach can be applied to other plant groups to better understand how phenology responds to changing climate

Quantifying the natural history of post-radical prostatectomy incontinence using objective pad test data

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence (UI) following radical prostatectomy is a well-recognized risk of the surgery. In most patients post-operative UI improves over time. To date, there is limited objective, quantitative data on the natural history of the resolution of post-prostatectomy UI. The purpose of this study was to define the natural history of post radical prostatectomy incontinence using an objective quantitative tool, the 1-hour standard pad test. METHODS: 203 consecutive patients underwent radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon between 03/98 & 08/03. A standardized 1-hour pad test was administered at subsequent postoperative clinic visits. The gram weight of urine loss was recorded and subdivided into four groups defined according to the grams of urine loss: minimal (<1 g), mild (>1, <10 g), moderate (10–50 g) and severe (>50 g). Patients were evaluated: at 2 weeks (catheter removal), 6 weeks, 18 weeks, 30 weeks, 42 weeks and 54 weeks. The data set was analyzed for average urine loss as well as grams of urine loss at each time point, the percentage of patients and the distribution of patients in each category. RESULTS: Mean follow up was 118 weeks. The majority of patients experienced incontinence immediately after catheter removal at 2 weeks that gradually improved with time. While continued improvement was noted to 1 year, most patients who achieved continence did so by 18 weeks post-op. CONCLUSION: While the majority of patients experience mild to severe UI immediately following catheter removal, there is a rapid decrease in leaked weight during the first 18 weeks following RRP. Patients continue to improve out to 1 year with greater than 90% having minimal leakage by International Continence Society criteria