E-books Now Make Up 1/5 of U.S. Book Sales

E-books Now Make Up 1/5 of U.S. Book Sales.

A reader questioned why I did not read E-books several years ago.  I grew up in a dead tree book world and preferred paper books.  This despite a growing dependence upon computers and the internet for work where most of my reading was done.

I am now equipped with a smart phone and an E-book reader.  When reading a book I now have my choice of four different devices.  I like this a lot.  So while I continue my love for paper books, E-books have found a place on my digital shelf.

 

AUA Recommends Against Routine Prostate Cancer Screening – AAFP

In a significant about-face, the American Urological Association (AUA) recently published clinical guidance that recommends against performing all routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer, as well as all screening in men older than 70, men younger than 40 and average-risk men ages 40-54.

via AUA Recommends Against Routine Prostate Cancer Screening — AAFP News Now — AAFP.

Life insurance companies will undoubtedly continue to run PSA tests.  Think about how long it took us to stop ordering CXR’s.

Vital Signs: Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Testing and Reporting — Eight U.S. Sites, 2005–2011

Results: Of 217,755 persons newly reported, 107,209 (49.2%) were HCV antibody positive only, and 110,546 (50.8%) were reported with a positive HCV RNA result that confirmed current HCV infection. In both groups, persons were most likely to have been born during 1945–1965 (58.5% of those who were HCV antibody positive only; 67.2% of those who were HCV RNA positive). Among all persons newly reported for whom death data were available, 6,734 (3.4%) were known to have died; deaths were most likely among persons aged 50–59 years. In 2011, across all sites, the annual rate of persons newly reported with HCV infection (positive HCV antibody only and HCV RNA positive) was 84.7 per 100,000 population.

via Vital Signs: Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Testing and Reporting — Eight U.S. Sites, 2005–2011.

The Myth Of Multitasking – NPR

The research is almost unanimous, which is very rare in social science, and it says that people who chronically multitask show an enormous range of deficits. They’re basically terrible at all sorts of cognitive tasks, including multitasking.

 

So we have scales that allow us to divide up people into people who multitask all the time and people that rarely do, and the differences are remarkable. People who multitask all the time can’t filter out irrelevancy. They can’t manage a working memory. They’re chronically distracted.

 

They initiate much larger parts of their brain that are irrelevant to the task at hand. And even – they’re even terrible at multitasking. When we ask them to multitask, they’re actually worse at it. So they’re pretty much mental wrecks.

via The Myth Of Multitasking : NPR.

For your reading pleasure I’ve offered up just a few quotes from the transcript of a wonderful interview with Clifford Nass, author of “The Man Who Lied to His Laptop,” professor of communications at Stanford University.  Listen to the entire interview.  It is well worth your time.

Poor Medication Adherence Rates Prompt Formation of Broad-Based Coalition – AAFP

Six out of 10 patients do not take their medications as prescribed by their physicians, and patients with multiple chronic conditions have the lowest medication adherence rates, according to AAFP Board member Rebecca Jaffe, M.D., M.P.H.

 

Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, the oldest consumer organization in the United States, talked about barriers to adherence, saying that “there are many reasons why patients are not adherent.”Some patients may be reluctant to remain adherent because of medication side effects, such as sleeplessness or weight gain. Others may be unconvinced about the need to take medications because they do not have symptoms associated with their chronic illness, Greenberg said.Forgetfulness is another issue for some patients, making it difficult for them to remember to take their medications. Out-of-pocket costs may be a challenge for some patients, as well, creating barriers that discourage patients from filling prescriptions, according to Greenberg.

via Poor Medication Adherence Rates Prompt Formation of Broad-Based Coalition — AAFP News Now — AAFP.

My Latest Job Offer – 05.06.13

Good day, Gary. 

I have found your CV located on one of the job sites. So we have an excellent 
job position for you. 

Responsibilities: 
Providing help in carrying out business transactions with clients. 

Qualification: 
An opportunity spending not less than 2-3 hours a day on your work 
Over 22 years of age 
An ability of being available to the manager during the whole working day 
Punctuality 
US residence 

Compensation: 
The agent’s profit includes the fixed monthly salary of $2,5k and the fee of 
five percents for every successfully completed operation. The proximate yearly 
income of each employee will be $40.000 - $50.000. 

You do not need any special qualification for this job. I strongly assume that 
any responsible person fulfilling the list of terms will manage this job quite 
easily. 
If you want to cooperate with us please respond to this e-mail, and we'll get in 
touch with you in the near future to offer some subsidiary information.