University News and Communications publishes VUToday, a compilation of Vanderbilt mentions in the media, each weekday. Read a selection of Vanderbilt news stories for the week of July 24.
NSF’s Science 360: Ultrathin device harvests electricity from human motion
The news website features research led by Cary Pint, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, to develop an ultrathin energy harvesting system that can generate small amounts of electricity when it is bent or pressed, even at the very low frequencies that characterize human motion. The device could lead to clothing that uses motion to generate energy that could be used to charge a cell phone or other small electronic devices.
The Washington Post: Clinical trials for cancer could use more older people
More than 60 percent of cancer patients are older adults—and that will rise to 70 percent by 2040. Yet seniors are underrepresented in clinical trials, making it difficult to assess how treatments are likely to help or harm them. Consuelo Wilkins, associate professor of medicine, is quoted. The article also mentions two Vanderbilt efforts to help people search for clinical trials to participate in: Trials Today, which helps make the NIH site ClinicalTrials.gov more consumer-friendly, and ResearchMatch, which lets people who want to participate in studies sign up to be matched with clinical trial sponsors.
The Atlantic: The algorithm that makes preschoolers obsessed with YouTube
Toddlers crave power. Too bad for them, they have none—hence the tantrums and absurd demands. This desire for autonomy clarifies so much about the behavior of a very small human. It also begins to explain the popularity of YouTube among toddlers and preschoolers, according to several development psychologists. Georgene Troseth, associate professor of psychology, is quoted.
The New York Times: Which metrics on hospital quality should patients pay attention to?
The relatively recent movements toward transparency and quality in health care have collided to produce dozens of publicly available hospital quality metrics. You might consider studying them in advance of your next hospital visit. But how do you know if the metrics actually mean anything? The article mentions a recent study co-authored by John Graves, assistant professor of health policy and medicine, who found that hospitals that score better on patient satisfaction scores reduce mortality.
Associated Press: O.J. Simpson will get his freedom, but then what?
When O.J. Simpson gets out of prison in October for his first taste of freedom in nine years, he will have the mementos he was convicted of stealing in a Las Vegas heist, his guaranteed NFL pension and, with any luck, certain life skills he says he acquired behind bars. Beyond that, the 70-year-old sports legend faces an uncertain future. John Vrooman, senior lecturer in economics, is quoted.