Perceptions of Current Tipping Customs and Feasibility of a No-Tip Policy in a Micropolitan Area of Texas

The purpose of this research is to examine the issues surrounding the recent trend to establish a no-tipping policy in American full-service restaurants. Most businesses experimenting with alternative tipping policies are in metropolitan areas, so this research attempts to examine a micropolitan city’s perspective on tip and no-tip policies in full-service restaurants in the area

Stern-Gerlach Entanglement in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

Entanglement of spin and position variables produced by spatially inhomogeneous magnetic fields of Stern-Gerlach type acting on spinor Bose-Einstein condensates may lead to interference effects at the level of one-boson densities. A model is worked out for these effects which is amenable to analytical calculation for gaussian shaped condensates. The resulting interference effects are sensitive to the spin polarization properties of the condensate.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

InAs Quantum Dots of Engineered Height for Fabrication of Broadband Superluminescent Diodes

Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Economic opportunities for Mexican women from low socioeconomic status: results from a technical and life skills training program

This study presents the outcomes of a technical and life-skills training program in Mexico aimed to help women from low socioeconomic status (SES) find formal employment in sales, retail, and/ or customer service. To determine the extent to which the program reached its target population and its impacts, researchers analyzed a national database of over sixty-eight thousand Mexican beneficiaries from 2016 to 2020 and conducted telephone surveys with a representative sample of women beneficiaries in Veracruz. Results from the national-level analysis of 5,326 women participants identified as low SES indicate that 23 % found better economic and educational opportunities. The state-level analysis of 94 low SES women in Veracruz was higher, with 40 % reporting to have found better opportunities; of those who reported salary information, roughly half improved their income. Lessons learned are discussed regarding reaching target populations and the potential of job training programs in developing countries.En este estudio, se presentan los resultados de un programa de capacitación técnica y de habilidades para la vida en México, destinado a ayudar a mujeres de bajo nivel socieconómico a encontrar un empleo formal en ventas, en el comercio minorista o en atención al cliente. Para determinar en qué medida el programa llegó a su población objetivo y sus impactos, los investigadores analizaron una base de datos nacional de más de sesenta y ocho mil beneficiarios mexicanos, entre 2016 y 2020, y realizaron encuestas telefónicas con una muestra representativa de mujeres beneficiarias en Veracruz. Los resultados del análisis a nivel nacional de 5326 mujeres participantes identificadas como de bajo nivel socioeconómico indican que el 23 % encontró mejores oportunidades económicas y educativas. El análisis a nivel estatal de 94 mujeres de bajo nivel socieoconómico en Veracruz fue más alto, con un 40 % reportando haber encontrado mejores oportunidades; de quienes informaron sobre la remuneración, aproximadamente la mitad mejoró sus ingresos. Se discute acerca de las lecciones aprendidas sobre cómo llegar a las poblaciones objetivo, así como el potencial de los programas de capacitación laboral en los países en desarrollo

The transition to irreversibility in sheared suspensions: An analysis based on a mesoscopic entropy production

We study the shear-induced diffusion effect and the transition to irreversibility in suspensions under oscillatory shear flow by performing an analysis of the entropy production associated to the motion of the particles. We show that the Onsager coupling between different contributions to the entropy production is responsible for the scaling of the mean square displacement on particle diameter and applied strain. We also show that the shear-induced effective diffusion coefficient depends on the volume fraction and use Lattice-Boltzmann simulations to characterize the effect through the power spectrum of particle positions for different Reynolds numbers and volume fractions. Our study gives a thermodynamic explanation of the the transition to irreversibility through a pertinent analysis of the second law of thermodynamics.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, paper submitted tp phys rev

The burden of oesophageal cancer in Central and South America

AbstractRationale and objectiveOesophageal cancer shows marked geographic variations and is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. We described the burden of this malignancy in Central and South America.MethodsRegional and national level incidence data were obtained from 48 population-based cancer registries in 13 countries. Mortality data were obtained from the WHO mortality database. Incidence of oesophageal cancer by histological subtype were available from high-quality population-based cancer registries.ResultsMales had higher incidence and mortality rates than females (male-to-female ratios: 2–6:1 and 2–5:1). In 2003–2007, the highest rates were in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Mortality rates followed the incidence patterns. Incidence of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was higher than adenocarcinoma (AC), except in females from Cuenca (Ecuador). SCC and AC incidence were higher in males than females, except in the Region of Antofagasta and Valdivia (Chile), Manizales (Colombia) and Cuenca (Ecuador). Incidence and mortality rates tended to decline in Argentina, Chile, Brazil (incidence) and Costa Rica from 1997 to 2008.ConclusionThe geographic variation and sex disparity in oesophageal cancer across Central and South America may reflect differences in the prevalence of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption which highlights the need to implement and/or strengthen tobacco and alcohol control policies. Maté consumption, obesity, diet and Helicobacter pylori infection may also explain the variation in oesophageal cancer rates but these relationships should be evaluated. Continuous monitoring of oesophageal cancer rates is necessary to provide the basis for cancer prevention and control in the region