Science for sale in a free market economy: But at what price? ABA and the treatment of autism in Europe.

Educating the public accurately about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an important undertaking, not least because misconceptions and myths about ABA abound. In this paper we argue that, unfortunately, the efforts of many dedicated professionals and parents to disseminate accurate information about the benefits of ABA for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are damaged by a few behavior analysts whose focus seems to be more on monetary gains than social responsibility. We cite examples of the resulting harm to the public image of behavior analysis from a number of European countries. We conclude by calling upon fellow scientists to unite in their opposition to unscrupulous abuses of free market forces for short-term monetary gains that damage the dissemination of the science of behavior analysis and thereby ultimately disadvantage those who should benefit primarily from our science, i.e., some of the most vulnerable citizens of society.

Resonant positron annihilation in ammonia

Positron annihilation in ammonia is analyzed using the framework of resonant annihilation [G. F. Gribakin and C. M. R. Lee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 193201 (2006)]. In particular, we show that molecular rotations can have a measurable e?ect on the annihilation rates at room temperatures. Rotation leads to broadening of vibrational Feshbach resonances. Rotations also allow a distinct contribution at low positron energies in the form of a rotational Feshbach resonance. This resonance can enhance the annihilation rate for thermalized room-temperature positrons. Comparison of theory and experiment shows that overtone and combination vibrations, including those due to inversion doubling, likely play an important role.

Indirect comparisons of treatments based on systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials

Randomised controlled trials are the most effective way to differentiate between the effects of competing interventions. However, head-to-head studies are unlikely to have been conducted for all competing interventions.

Entanglement entropy dynamics of Heisenberg chains

By means of the time dependent density matrix renormalization group algorithm we study the zero-temperature dynamics of the Von Neumann entropy of a block of spins in a Heisenberg chain after a sudden quench in the anisotropy parameter. In the absence of any disorder the block entropy increases linearly with time and then saturates. We analyse the velocity of propagation of the entanglement as a function of the initial and final anisotropies and compare our results, wherever possible, with those obtained by means of conformal field theory. In the disordered case we find a slower ( logarithmic) evolution which may signal the onset of entanglement localization.