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Large racial gaps in rigorous math coursework enrollment are a barrier to improving college completion rates and access to careers in STEM. Perceptions of the math abilities of underrepresented minority students, whether by themselves or their schools, may contribute to such gaps. A regression discontinuity design with data on all Massachusetts public school students shows how receiving a positive ability signal affects subsequent enrollment in advanced high school math coursework. For Black or Hispanic students, particularly those with low reading scores, being labeled as "Advanced" on a 10th grade math test substantially increases the likelihood of later Advanced Placement Calculus course- and exam-taking. White or Asian students and those from higher income high schools show no such effects. Understanding how ability signals affect students' and schools' decisions about assignment to coursework may suggest further ways to address gaps in such enrollment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the efficacy of text messaging campaigns to support students with key steps in the college search, application, selection and transition process with concurrent cluster randomized control trials. Collaborating with national non-profit organizations, we implemented text-message based outreach to students in the high school graduating class of 2016 in over 700 high schools that primarily serve low-income students. Collaborating with several Texas school districts, we implemented a school-based version of the intervention. In contrast to the national version which produced null and negative effects, the school-based intervention yielded positive and significant impacts on several college-going steps but still only yielded significant impacts on college enrollment and second-year persistence for certain subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sialocele formation is a recognised complication of parotid surgery. The initial management is usually conservative and often effective. We present a novel method that utilises an intra-oral approach and pig-tail catheter for safely and rapidly draining a large persistent sialocele. It is particularly appropriate when other methods have failed and the skin is at risk of breakdown. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A variety of the flaps used to reconstruct defects of the head and neck region following surgery for malignant disease contain hair follicles that may result in unwanted hair growth. This can cause significant distress to the patients in a variety of ways. We report 5 cases of significant intraoral hair growth of which 4 cases were successfully managed with long-pulsed alexandrite laser. One patient was not treated due to technical difficulties. We review the literature on the management of hair growth on intraoral flaps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]