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Science News for April 25, 2015


Use of pocket-sized ultrasound device reduces need for further testing in clinical settings

A study found that using a pocket-sized ultrasound device (PUD) with physical examination can improve diagnosis accuracy and reduce the number of tests needed. The PUD was found to be comparable in performance to standard ultrasonography, but improved the accuracy of physical examinations, resulting in a 37% reduction in further testing.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver·DateApr 25, 2015

Cell phones take parents' attention away from kids on playgrounds

Research reveals that children aged 14 and younger are treated in US emergency rooms for playground-related injuries over 200,000 times annually. When caregivers are distracted by electronic devices, including cell phones, their children are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors on the playground.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015

Babies as young as 6 months using mobile media

A study found that babies as young as 6 months are being exposed to mobile devices, and by 1 year, one in seven toddlers is using them for at least an hour a day. Most 2-year-olds were also using mobile devices regularly.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015

'Summer slide' reduced by letting kids pick their own summer reading

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that allowing kids to pick their own summer reading materials significantly reduces literacy loss, particularly among low-income students. More than 75% of students who selected some or all of their books maintained or improved their reading levels.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·DateApr 25, 2015
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Two treatments yield similar results for children after cardiac arrest

A large-scale study showed that emergency body cooling does not improve survival rates or reduce brain injury in infants and children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Therapeutic hypothermia, however, has been shown to be effective for adults and newborns after cardiac arrest.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 25, 2015

Giving books to kids before summer break can stem reading losses

A new study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting found that providing students with a collection of self-selected books at the end of the school year can improve reading achievement, particularly for low-income students. Results showed no significant difference in reading scores between intervention and control ...

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

State laws dampen texting by teen drivers but rates still high

New research shows that state laws banning texting while driving led to a significant reduction in teens using their cell phones behind the wheel, but 30% of teens still admitted to texting. Experienced drivers, especially those over 16, were more likely to use their phones while driving.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015

Youths who survive self-poisoning continue to be at risk of suicide for years

A recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that teenagers who survive self-poisoning are at a significantly increased risk of dying by suicide in the following decade. Half of all suicides among these teens occurred more than three years after their initial episode, highlighting the need for targeted prevention efforts.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015

Drinking just 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks a day linked to liver disease

A worldwide study shows that daily drinking is a significant predictor of liver disease burden, with heavy drinkers having the highest risk. The study highlights the need for reducing heavy drinking as an important target for public health monitoring and policies.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver·DateApr 25, 2015

Use of direct-antiviral agents helps overcome hepatitis C recurrence in liver transplant patients

A new study presented at The International Liver Congress 2015 showed high rates of sustained virologic response and good tolerance when using sofosbuvir and daclatasvir-based regimens in patients with recurrent hepatitis C. These results support the use of interferon-free regimens in managing liver transplant patients infected with HCV.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver·DateApr 25, 2015
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

MRI shows association between reading to young children and brain activity

A recent study found that exposure to books and stories in early childhood is associated with differences in brain activity. Greater home reading was linked to stronger activation of areas critical for oral language and later for reading. Visualization also plays a key role in narrative comprehension, allowing children to 'see' the story.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015

How hospitals can improve outcomes of weekend surgeries

A new study identifies five resources that help hospitals overcome the 'weekend effect' in urgent general surgery procedures. Hospitals with increased nurse-to-bed ratios, electronic medical records, inpatient physical rehabilitation programs, home-health programs, and pain management programs are more likely to improve patient outcomes.

SourceLoyola Medicine·DateApr 25, 2015
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Magazine, Internet images fail to promote infant sleep safety

A study found that many magazine images and stock photos of infants show them sleeping on their stomachs or with soft objects, increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Only about half of the stock photos and a third of magazine pictures depicted safe sleep environments according to AAP guidelines.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateApr 25, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.