Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Really Matters in Designing School Choice Mechanisms

In the last decade, numerous student assignment systems have been redesigned using input from economists in the large American cities and elsewhere. This article reviews some of these case studies and uses practical experiences to take stock on what has really mattered in school choice mechanism design so far. While some algorithm design details are important, many are less practically important than initially thought. What really matters are basic issues that market operators in other contexts would likely be concerned about: straightforward incentives, transparency, avoiding inefficiency through coordination and well-functioning aftermarkets, and influencing inputs to the design, such as applicant decision-making and the quality of schools. INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been a great deal of research activity and excitement among economists who study the design of systems used to assign students to schools. Motivated by Turkish college admissions, Balinski and Sonmez (1999) first defined the student placement problem, and Abdulkadiroglu and Sonmez (2003) defined the closely related school choice problem, motivated by K-12 public school admissions in the United States. Both articles showed how insights from matching theory could be used to re-engineer and potentially improve existing centralized school assignment systems. Abdulkadiroglu and Sonmez (2003) proposed two alternativemechanisms, which are adaptations of widely studied mechanisms in the literature on matching and assignment markets, following seminal contributions by Gale and Shapley (1962) and Shapley and Scarf (1974). Since that article was published, I have been involved in a number of efforts to redesign school choice systems, including those in New York City (2003), Boston (2005), New Orleans (2012), Denver (2012), Washington DC (2013), and Newark (2014). New systems have also been developed in England, Amsterdam, a number of Asian cities, and elsewhere. The purpose of this article is to review some facts from the field about these redesign efforts and to take stock on what I think has been important in practice so far. This article is not a survey of research on school choice market design (for surveys see, e.g., Pathak, 2011 and Abdulkadiroglu and Sonmez, 2013). My inspiration comes from Klemperer (2002), who presents his views on what matters for practical auction design based on his experience in designing auctions and advising bidders. Klemperer concludes that “in short, good auction design is mostly good elementary economics,” whereas “most of the extensive auction literature is of second-order importance for practical auction design. ”
Robust Estimation for Range Image Segmentation and Reconstruction

This correspondence presents a segmentation and fitting method using a new robust estimation technique. We present a robust estimation method with high breakdown point which can tolerate more than 80% of outliers. The method randomly samples appropriate range image points in the current processing region and solves equations determined by these points for parameters of selected primitive type. From K samples, we choose one set of sample points that determines a best-fit equation for the largest homogeneous surface patch in the region. This choice is made by measuring a residual consensus (RESC), using a compressed histogram method which is effective at various noise levels. After we get the best-fit surface parameters, the surface patch can be segmented from the region and the process is repeated until no pixel left. The method segments the range image into planar and quadratic surfaces. The RESC method is a substantial improvement over the least median squares method by using histogram approach to inferring residual consensus. A genetic algorithm is also incorporated to accelerate the random search. >
Joint algal toxicity of phenylurea herbicides is equally predictable by concentration addition and independent action

Photosynthesis‐inhibiting phenylurea derivatives, such as diuron, are widely used as herbicides. Diuron concentrations clearly exceeding the predicted‐no‐effect concentration have been regularly measured in European freshwater systems. The frequently observed exposure to mixtures of phenylureas additionally increases the hazard to aquatic primary producers. Fluctuating numbers and concentrations of individual toxicants make experimental testing of every potential mixture unfeasible. Thus, predictive approaches to the mixture hazard assessment are needed. For this purpose, two concepts are at hand, both of which make use of known toxicities of the individual components but are based on opposite mechanistic suppositions: Concentration addition is based on the idea of similar mechanisms of action, whereas independent action assumes dissimilarly acting mixture components. On the basis of pharmacological reasoning, it was therefore anticipated that the joint algal toxicity of phenylurea mixtures would be predictable by concentration addition. Indeed, we could demonstrate a high predictive power of concentration addition for these combinations. Surprisingly, however, the opposite concept of independent action proved to be equally valid, because both concepts predicted virtually identical mixture toxicities. This exceptional case has previously been derived from theoretical considerations. Now, the tested phenylurea mixtures serve as an example for the practical relevance of this situation for multicomponent mixtures.
Reduction of Infarct Volume by Halothane: Effect on Cerebral Blood Flow or Perifocal Spreading Depression-Like Depolarizations

Halothane is a strong inhibitor of potassium evoked spreading depression (SD) in cats. In the current study, we investigate halothane effects on induction of perifocal SD-like depolarizations, CBF, and infarct evolution in focal ischemia. Calomel and platinum electrodes measured cortical direct current potential and CBF in ectosylvian, suprasylvian, and marginal gyri. Left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced permanent focal ischemia for 16 hours in artificially ventilated cats (30% oxygen, 70% nitrous oxide) under halothane (0.75%, n = 8) or α-chloralose anesthesia (60 mg/kg intravenously, n = 7). Under α-chloralose, MCAO induced severe ischemia in ectosylvian and suprasylvian gyri(mean CBF <10 mL/100 g/min), and direct current potentials turned immediately into terminal depolarization. In marginal gyri, CBF reduction was mild (more than 20 mL/100 g/min), and in six of seven animals, frequent SD-like depolarizations turned into terminal depolarization at a later stage of the experiments. Under halothane, MCAO induced severe ischemia (less than 10 mL/100 g/min) and immediate terminal depolarization only in ectosylvian gyrus. In suprasylvian gyrus, residual CBF remained significantly higher (more than 10 mL/100 g/min) than under α-chloralose, whereas in marginal gyri, CBF did not differ between groups. Compared with chloralose, the number of transient depolarizations was significantly reduced in marginal gyrus, and in suprasylvian gyrus transient but significantly longer depolarizations than in marginal gyrus were recorded. Except for one animal, transient depolarizations did not turn into terminal depolarization under halothane, and infarct volume reduction was particularly seen in suprasylvian gyrus. We conclude that halothane, the most commonly used anesthetic in studies of experimental brain ischemia, has protective properties, which may depend on both cerebrovascular and electrophysiologic influences.
Essential Functions of the Human Self Model Are Implemented in the Prefrontal Cortex

The human self model comprises essential features such as the experiences of ownership, of body-centered spatial perspectivity, and of a long-term unity of beliefs and attitudes. In the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, it is suggested that clinical subsyndromes like cognitive disorganization and derealization syndromes reflect disorders of this self model. These features are neurobiologically instantiated as an episodically active complex neural activation pattern and can be mapped to the brain, given adequate operationalizations of self model features. In its unique capability of integrating external and internal data, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) appears to be an essential component of the neuronal implementation of the self model. With close connections to other unimodal association cortices and to the limbic system, the PFC provides an internally represented world model and internal milieu data of the organism, both serving world orientation. In the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, it is the dysfunction of the PFC that is suggested to be the neural correlate for the different clinical schizophrenic subsyndromes. The pathophysiological study of psychiatric disorders may contribute to the theoretical debate on the neuronal basis of the self model.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implanted by Nonthoracotomy Approach: Initial Clinical Experience with the Redesigned Transvenous Lead System

Standard implantation procedure for the implantable Cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has traditionary required a thoracotomy approach. A newly revised nonthoracotomy defibrillator lead system that uses a single transvenous tripolar endocardial lead alone or in combination with a subcutaneous/submuscular patch lead was introduced into clinical trials in September, 1990. Fourteen patients requiring a Cardioverter defibrillafor for recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia (eight patients) or aborted sudden cardiac death (six patients) were evaluated for implantation of this lead system. Primary successful lead system implantation was obtained in nine patients. The remaining five patients had unacceptably high defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) for implantation. One of the nine initially successful implants demonstrated unacceptable DFTs and cross‐talk inhibition from a permanent pacemaker necessitating removal of the nonthoracotomy lead system and replacement with a conventional lead system via thoracotomy. All remaining primary implanted patients experienced successful conversion of induced ventricular fibrillation prior to hospital discharge. Continued follow‐up and greater experience to confirm the durability and efficacy of the nonthoracotomy AICD lead system are needed.
Short-and long-term prognosis for stroke patients 149 alteplase treatment of acute ischemic stroke

Background and purpose: the very old are expected to become a growing part of the stroke population in the industrialised part of the world. The aims of this study were to evaluate clinical characteristics of patients aged 85 years or more at stroke onset and to investigate very old age as an independent predictor of shortand long-term outcome. Methods: in the community-based Copenhagen Stroke Study we recorded admission clinical characteristics in 1,197 consecutive stroke patients. Patients were stratiWed according to age groups on admission. Follow-up was performed at a mean of 7 years after stroke onset. By way of multiple logistic regression and survival analyses very old age was independently related to shortand long-term mortality and nursing home placement independent of other clinical characteristics. Results: 16% of patients were 85 years or older at the time of stroke onset. More of the very old were women (75% versus 50%, P<0.0001), living alone (84% versus 54%, P<0.0001), had atrial Wbrillation (37% versus 15%, P<0.0001), had pre-existing disability (29% versus 22%, P=0.04), and had more severe strokes (Scandinavian Stroke Scale score 31 versus 37 points, P=0.004). L. P. Kammersgaard et al. 150 Fewer very old had hypertension (25% versus 34%, P = 0.02) and diabetes (14% versus 22%, P = 0.01). In adjusted multiple regression models, very old age predicted short-term mortality (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.5–4.2), and discharge to nursing home or in-hospital mortality (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.7–4.4). Five years after stroke very old age predicted mortality or nursing home placement (OR 3.9; 95% CI 2.1–7.3), and long-term mortality (HR 2.0; 95% CI 1.6–2.5). However, other factors such as onset stroke severity, pre-existing disability and atrial Wbrillation were also signiWcant independent predictors of prognosis after stroke. Conclusions: in this study very old age per se was a strong predictor of outcome and mortality after stroke. Apart from very old age, factors such as prestroke medical and functional status, and onset stroke severity should be taken into consideration when planning treatment and rehabilitation after stroke.
Optimization of EGFR mutation detection by the fully-automated qPCR-based Idylla system on tumor tissue from patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Treatment with EGFR inhibitors is limited to patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have known EGFR mutations. Currently, patient care has to respond to several imperatives to make these inhibitors broadly available to all patients; fast and accurate detection of EGFR mutations by a sensitive and specific standardized cost-effective method, easy-to-implement in settings with limited expertise in molecular diagnostics. We evaluated the Idylla™ EGFR Mutation Assay (Biocartis) for the detection of EGFR mutations in archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples from a series of 55 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and compared these results with those obtained by a pyrosequencing ISO-15189 accredited laboratory method. The comparison was made on both whole surgical tumor sections and on three artificially constructed small biopsies (∼1 mm) from the same FFPE blocks. Cost-effectiveness and turnaround time comparison between the two methods was performed. On both whole tissue sections and on biopsy cores, the Idylla™ and pyrosequencing had an agreement of 95% (52/55). The Idylla™ EGFR Assay produced results faster and more cost-effective than pyrosequencing. The Idylla™ system showed a good sensitivity and was cost-saving in our setting. Because of the easy workflow, the Idylla™ system has the potential to expand EGFR testing to more pathology laboratories in a reliable and fast manner.
Severe steroid-resistant anti-PD1 T-cell checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatotoxicity driven by biliary injury

Introduction Hepatotoxicity from T-cell checkpoint blockade is an increasingly common immune-related adverse event, but remains poorly characterised and can be challenging to manage. Such toxicity is generally considered to resemble autoimmune hepatitis, although this assumption is extrapolated from limited clinicopathological reports of anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods Here we report, with full clinicopathological correlation, three cases of T-cell checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatotoxicity associated with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 agents. Results We find that a major feature of these cases is biliary injury, including a unique case of vanishing bile duct syndrome, and that such toxicity was poorly responsive to long-term immunosuppression (corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil). Any potential benefits of long-term immunosuppression in these cases were outweighed by therapy-related complications. Discussion We discuss potential aetiologies and risk factors for immune-mediated biliary toxicity in the context of the limited literature in this field, and provide guidance for the investigation and supportive management of affected patients.
Impact of painful physical symptoms on depression outcomes in elderly Asian patients

ABSTRACT Background: Painful physical symptoms (PPS) are prevalent among elderly patients with depression. We describe the impact of PPS on depression outcomes and quality of life (QOL) of elderly Asian patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This post hoc analysis of data from a three-month prospective observational study of East Asian MDD in- or out-patients focused on elderly patients aged ≥60 years. Depression severity was evaluated using the Hamilton depression (HAMD-17) and clinical global impression of severity (CGI-S) scales, while QOL was measured using EuroQOL (EQ-5D and EQ-VAS) instruments. PPS were rated using the modified somatic symptom inventory (SSI). Results: At baseline, depression was moderate to severe and 49% of the 146 elderly patients were painful physical symptom positive (PPS+). Bivariate analysis showed significant correlations between PPS and depression severity and QOL at baseline. Linear regression models showed the baseline factor most significantly associated with depression severity at three months was baseline PPS status. PPS+ patients had a mean increase of 2.87 points in their HAMD-17 rating and 0.77 points in their CGI-S score. Response and remission were significantly lower in PPS+ patients; response was 60% and remission was 40% in PPS+ patients while 82% and 66% in painful physical symptom negative (PPS−) patients. QOL at endpoint was lower in PPS+ patients. Conclusions: PPS are common in elderly Asian patients with MDD and negatively influence depression outcomes and QOL. Patients with PPS had lower QOL at baseline, lower response and remission rates, higher severity of depression, and lower QOL after three months of treatment.
Low-grade gliomas: do changes in rCBV measurements at longitudinal perfusion-weighted MR imaging predict malignant transformation?

PURPOSE To prospectively perform longitudinal magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion imaging of conservatively treated low-grade gliomas to determine whether relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) changes precede malignant transformation as defined by conventional MR imaging and clinical criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients gave written informed consent for this institutional ethics committee-approved study. Thirteen patients (seven men, six women; age range, 29-69 years) with biopsy-proved low-grade glioma treated only with antiepileptic drugs were examined longitudinally with susceptibility-weighted perfusion, T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and high-dose contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging at 6-month intervals to date or until malignant transformation was diagnosed. Student t tests were used to determine differences in rCBV values between "transformers" and "nontransformers" at defined time points throughout study follow-up. RESULTS Seven patients showed progression to high-grade tumors between 6 and 36 months (mean, 22.3 months), and disease in six patients remained stable over a period of 12-36 months (mean, 23 months). Transformers had a slightly (but not statistically significantly) higher group mean rCBV than nontransformers at the point of study entry (1.93 vs 1.31). In nontransformers, the rCBV remained relatively stable and increased to only 1.52 over a mean follow-up of 23 months. In contrast, transformers showed a continuous increase in rCBV up to the point of transformation, when contrast enhancement became apparent on T1-weighted images. The group mean rCBV was 5.36 at transformation but also showed a significant increase from the initial study at 12 months (3.14, P = .022) and at 6 months (3.65, P = .049) before transformation. Rates of rCBV change between two successive time points were also significantly higher in transformers than in nontransformers. CONCLUSION In transforming low-grade glioma, susceptibility-weighted MR perfusion imaging can demonstrate significant increases in rCBV up to 12 months before contrast enhancement is apparent on T1-weighted MR images.
Diabetes preventive gluten‐free diet decreases the number of caecal bacteria in non‐obese diabetic mice

A gluten‐free diet reduces the incidence of diabetes mellitus in non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice, but the mechanism is not known. The aim of this study was to examine the possible influence of the diet on the caecal bacterial flora, which may affect the intestinal physiology and mediate disease prevention.
Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness and Case-control Study on Risk Factors for Breakthrough Infections in Germany, 2010–2011

Background: In the German federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, routine rotavirus (RV) vaccination in infants has been recommended since 2009. The effectiveness of RV vaccination was investigated after an unexpectedly high number of RV infections in fully vaccinated children occurred. Methods: Intensified RV surveillance was performed in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania between 2010 and 2011. The screening method was applied to assess vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children up to 24 months after vaccination. To identify risk factors for breakthrough infections, a case-control study and genotyping were conducted in vaccinated and unvaccinated RV-infected children. Results: VE for the prevention of RV infection requiring medical attention or hospitalization was 68% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 61–71) and 80% (95% CI: 77–83), respectively. VE for preventing hospitalization but not medical attention remained stable over 2 years. Vaccinated were less often hospitalized (23%) than unvaccinated RV-infected children (61%; P < 0.001). Breastfeeding (odds ratio, 3.99; 95% CI: 1.92–8.27) and attending daycare (odds ratio, 3.42; 95% CI: 1.64–7.12) were independently associated with breakthrough infections. Genotype G1P[8] was detected more frequently in RotaTeq-vaccinated (44% versus 11%; P < 0.03) and G2P[4] in Rotarix-vaccinated children (42% versus 6%; P < 0.02). Conclusions: RV vaccination protects young children effectively from RV disease and can reduce disease severity. Breastfeeding might impair VE, but further research is needed to identify the critical time window for this interference and to develop appropriate recommendations.
Dietary Cholesterol in the Elderly Chinese Population: An Analysis of CNHS 2010–2012

Dietary cholesterol intake increased dramatically over the past two decades in the elderly Chinese population. However, the nationwide dietary cholesterol intake and its related factors seldom been investigated. Based on data from 16,594 participants aged 60 years or older (49.0% male, 54.8% urban residents) from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNHS) 2010–2012, we aimed to describe the intake of cholesterol and major food contributions, as well as its association with serum cholesterol level and relationship with protein intake. Mean daily cholesterol intake for all participants was 217.4 mg, the mean cholesterol intakes in urban and rural areas were 264.0 mg and 168.8 mg, respectively. Cholesterol intake levels varied by age, gender, BMI and region (p < 0.001). In addition, the proportion of all participants who consumed greater than 300 mg of cholesterol per day was 26.6%. Eggs, red meats, and seafood were the top three food sources and their contributions to total daily cholesterol intake were 57.7%, 24.0% and 10.9% respectively. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were related to dietary cholesterol intake, with each 100 mg increase in dietary cholesterol intake apparently leading to a 0.035 mmol/L (p = 0.001) increase in serum TC and a 0.038 mmol/L (p < 0.001) increase in LDL-C. The partial correlation coefficients between dietary cholesterol and total protein, high-quality protein, intake of protein per kilogram body weight (BW), and high-quality protein percentage were 0.538, 0.580, 0.426, and 0.548, respectively, after adjusting for age, gender, and energy, fat and carbohydrate intakes (p < 0.001). In conclusion, there was a substantial urban-rural difference in cholesterol intake. Eggs and red meat were the main sources of dietary cholesterol intake. Serum TC and LDL-C were associated with dietary cholesterol and the response was linear. Dietary cholesterol intake was closely related to the intake of high-quality protein.