Current Events in July 2017

Parents may remember telling their children when they were younger to drink their milk and eat their vegetables so that they can grow up big and strong. But one recent study shows that it’s especially important for older teens to follow a proper diet and take part in physical activities to encourage bone growth.

Researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – along with colleagues from Ohio, Nebraska, New York, and California – have found that the late adolescent years are a key time for bone growth, even after a teen has reached their full height.

"We often think of a child's growth largely with respect to height, but overall bone development is also important," said lead author Dr. Shana E. McCormack. "This study shows that roughly 10 percent of bone mass continues to accumulate after a teenager reaches his or her adult height."

Encouraging healthy behaviors

Using data from the NIH’s Bone Mineral Density in Childhood Study (BMDCS), the researchers found that bones develop at different rates in different parts of the skeleton. According to co-author Dr. Babette S. Zemel, these growth rates are affected by a number of factors, including race.

"We…showed that growth events peak earlier in African-American adolescents than in non-African-American adolescents. When healthcare providers interpret data such as bone density in their patients, they should take into account these patterns in growth trajectories," she said.

McCormack adds that the findings are especially important since late adolescence is a time when many teens adopt more risky behaviors and habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. She suggests that parents and caregivers encourage healthier behaviors during this phase of life to avoid bone-related health complications down the road.

"We've known for a long time that maximizing bone health in childhood and adolescence protects people from osteoporosis later in life," said Zemel. "This study reinforces that understanding, and suggests that late adolescence may be an underrecognized period to intervene in this important area of public health."

The full study has been published in Jama Pediatrics.

It’s summertime, and for many consumers that means plenty of time outside around the grill, hiking favorite trails, or sprawled out on the beach. Unfortunately, it might also mean some pretty nasty sunburn if you forget to apply sunscreen.

While properly protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays is always the preferred option, a recent study from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center shows that taking a healthy dose of vitamin D immediately after getting sunburn can help alleviate skin redness, swelling, and inflammation.

“We hypothesize that vitamin D helps promote protective barriers in the skin by rapidly reducing inflammation,” said senior author Dr Kurt Lu. “What we did not expect was that at a certain dose, vitamin D not only was capable of suppressing inflammation, it was also activating skin repair genes.”

Alleviating symptoms

The double-blind, placebo-controlled study used 20 participants who were randomly given either a placebo pill or 50,000, 100,000, or 200,000 IU of vitamin D one hour after receiving a small UV lamp “sunburn” on their inner arm. Patients were assessed 24, 48, and 72 hours after taking their pill, and then one week later researchers collected skin biopsies for further testing.

The results showed that patients who were given the highest dose of vitamin D had the greatest outcomes, with less skin inflammation 48 hours after receiving the sunburn. These patients also had less skin redness and showed a jump in gene activity related to skin barrier repair when compared to other patients.

The biopsies that were collected also revealed a potential mechanism behind skin repair. The researchers found that vitamin D increased the amount of an anti-inflammatory enzyme called arginase-1, which enhances tissue repair after damage and helps activate other anti-inflammatory enzymes. Lu and his colleagues say their trial is the first to describe the anti-inflammatory benefits of taking vitamin D.

Not so fast...

While the results of the study look promising, the researchers caution that consumers shouldn’t start ingesting large amounts of vitamin D as a cure for sunburn. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only allows for 400 IU of vitamin D intake for adults.

“I would not recommend at this moment that people start taking vitamin D after sunburn based on this study alone. But, the results are promising and worthy of further study,” said Lu.

The full study has been published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

For most people, a digital device is never too far out of reach. And between text message alerts and constantly changing social media feeds, technology begs to be paid attention to.

For some, the desire to dip into the digital world can spiral into an unhealthy relationship with technology, and some age groups may have a more difficult time unplugging than others.

Findings from a new survey conducted by global research experts, GfK, show that teenagers and higher-income households are most susceptible to technology addiction. Younger age groups, the study found, tend to have the most trouble taking a break from technology.

Teenagers most susceptible

Nearly half of 15- to 19-year-olds (44 percent) surveyed agreed with the statement, “I find it difficult to take a tech break, even when I know I should.”

Slightly fewer twenty-somethings (41 percent) agreed that they struggle to take a break from technology (their mobile device, computer, TV, etc). 

The percentage of respondents who admitted they struggle to put down their device dropped to 38% for those in their thirties and dropped even more for the older age groups -- 29 percent of those in their forties and 23 percent for those in their fifties. Just 15 percent of people aged 60 and over said that they had a problem turning off their technology.

Differences across incomes

Additional findings from the study suggested that members of high-income households are the most likely of all income brackets to find it difficult to take a break from technology.

According to the report, 39 percent of people living in high-income households find it difficult to take a break from technology even when they know they should; 30 percent of low-income households said they grappled with the same dilemma.

Overall, one in three people who responded to the online survey of 17 countries said they find it difficult to unplug, even temporarily.

Dealing with internet addiction

Although it’s not officially recognized as a disorder in the latest edition of the DSM, technology addiction (also called internet addiction) has been on the radar of health professionals for some time.

The results of a 2006 phone survey conducted by Stanford University researchers showed that one out of eight Americans have at least one possible sign of problematic internet use.

Some experts say people who use their phones or browse the internet for many hours a day experience a “high” similar to addiction and feel withdrawal when cut off.

When excessive internet use begins to adversely affect a user’s mental and physical health, daily life, relationships, and academic or job performance, it may be time to seek help.

While only a professional can diagnosis an internet addiction, this online screening tool can help you find out if you have an unhealthy relationship with the internet.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 24,754 model year 2016-2017 Audi Q3s.

If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate.

As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2017.

Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6.

Foods and supplements that are rich in probiotics are becoming increasingly popular, so much so that some companies have even started making probiotic supplements for children. But are all these products created equal?

Independent supplement tester Labdoor wanted to find out, so it tested 11 of the most popular children’s probiotic supplements to check for safety and effective bacteria. While several brands received high overall scores, the researchers say that many others had questionable effectiveness and were vague or uninformative about their bacterial make-up.

“Even though we’re used to seeing total bacterial counts on labels, researchers now advocate for displaying specific strain quantities as this determines what conditions a product is good for,” the researchers wrote in a release.

“Out of the 11 products in this analysis, however, 7 claimed proprietary blends where this information was left out. Only 2 products specifying strains had effective amounts according to pediatric guidelines developed by the World Gastroenterology Organization.”

Top brands

The leading brand according to the analysis was Pedia-Lax Probiotic Yums, which received a score of 96.6 out of a possible 100 points. It received full marks for product purity, nutritional value, and projected efficacy, and good scores in label accuracy and ingredient safety.

Garden Of Life Organic Kids+ came in at a close second with a score of 92.6. While it scored well in product purity, nutritional value, ingredient safety, and projected efficacy, a low score of 48 on label accuracy dragged down its overall score. Researchers said that the product measured 38% less viable bacteria than the label claimed.

Rounding out the top three was Hyperbiotics PRO-Kids with a score of 84.8. It received full marks for product purity and nutritional value and a good score for ingredient safety, but its projected efficacy and label accuracy scores only received scores in the 70s. Researchers said that the product measured 17% more viable bacteria than the label claimed.

The full list of products and their ratings can be found here.

Serious health implications

The researchers said that labelling inaccuracies were a major issue for many of the products that placed lower on the list, with an average deviation of 160% for claims on total bacteria. These differences hit extremes in both directions, with one product having 7 times the bacteria it claimed and another having practically no living bacteria at all.

“Even though probiotic supplements for children are taking over retail shelves, research and quality-testing are still catching up,” the researchers explain. While research has confirmed that probiotics help us digest and absorb food, we’re only just discovering how they affect metabolism, immunity, and mood, even in developing children.”

“These links have implications for a child’s risk in a number of major diseases, including diabetes, affective disorders, and autoimmune diseases like eczema.”

Economists trying to figure out why the economy isn't growing any faster may be overlooking a couple of obvious factors.

Consumers are paying on $1.3 trillion in student loan debt and another $1 trillion in credit card debt. That takes a big bite out of millions of consumers' disposable income.

Helene Raynaud is CEO of Guidewell Financial Solutions, a non-profit credit counselor in Maryland. She says that credit card number is particularly troubling since credit card interest rates are on the rise.

"If interest rates rise again this year, these consumers may find themselves struggling to make ends meet," she said.

Get out of debt safely

Raynaud says there are three steps consumers can take to begin to safely get out of debt, and build up their credit scores at the same time. The first is to seek help and advice from a non-profit credit counselor.

The process is fairly simple. The counselor, who charges a very small fee, helps clients review their income, expenses and debt.

After an assessment, the two sides work together to establish a household budget. Just a small decrease in spending can help, and a small increase in income helps even more. Once a household isn't living paycheck to paycheck, it reduces the stress level. Any extra money can be divided between savings and increased debt reduction.

Rebuilding credit

A second step is to use non-profit tools to rebuild credit, which may have become damaged by mounting debt. Raynaud recommends a program like the one offered by non-profit Credit Building Nation.

The tool, called Save 2 Build, is simple. The consumer receives a loan for $300, which is locked away in a savings account where he or she can't access it. The consumer then makes payments of $26 a month on the loan, with each payment reported to the three credit bureaus.

Once the $300 loan is repaid, the consumer gets access to the $300, which can then be used to establish a secured credit card, enabling the credit-building process to continue. An improved credit score carries many financial benefits, including a lower credit card rate and in most states a lower car insurance rate.

Use caution with credit repair

Finally, Raynaud says a for-profit credit repair company may be able to provide further help, though she advises caution is selecting a company. She notes the Federal Trade Commission has said there are reputable companies in this business, but they really can only do things consumers can do for themselves.

These companies can take the time you might not have to deal with credit reporting agencies to remove inaccurate information from your credit report. But she stresses that if the negative information is accurate, it cannot be removed by anyone.

There's not a lot Republicans and Democrats agree on, but during last year's presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump promised to work for a solution to the student debt crisis that he said was a crushing burden on families.

According to government data, the student loan debt is now more than $1.3 trillion, much of it owed by young families. Bearing the weight of student loan debt can put a halt on a young person’s aspirations to purchase a home or raise a family.

Now, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) has proposed legislation to try to ease the burden. Nelson's bill seeks to cut student loan interest rates and allow borrowers to refinance their existing federal student loans.

Would counteract recent rate hike

The federal government recently increased rates for new loans from 3.76 percent to 4.45 percent. However, the bill would permanently cap interest rates for undergraduate students at 4 percent.

The proposal spells good news to students like Michael Silurso, a student at the University of Central Florida, who acknowledges that it must be difficult for kids who are graduating -- “They are trying to find a job, and they already have debt that they have to pay off," he told WFTV News, Orlando.

Sen. Nelson's bill would also eliminate the "loan origination fees" charged to students to process their loans. This fee is taken out of a student's loan before they receive it, but they are still responsible for paying back the full amount.

The Florida Democrat says capping interest rates, ending loan origination fees, and allowing borrowers to refinance existing loans would help to make education more affordable. 

“If we really want to make higher education more accessible in this country, we have to make it more affordable,” Nelson said in a news release. “If you can get a home loan at 4 percent, why can’t students get an education for the same rate?” 

Tool for paying down debt

While the legislation may or may not have a chance at passage, families still must find ways to pay down student loan debt. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers a tool for getting started.

While everyone's situation is different, the tool will try to point you in the right direction. To get started, have a list of your monthly loans and required monthly payment amounts at the ready. Then, simply choose "your situation" and answer a series of 'yes' or 'no' questions to figure out your best course of action. 

Cars and trucks are built better than in the past, but consumers can still run the risk of getting stuck with a lemon.

That's a vehicle with several manufacturing defects that could affect the car's safety, value, or use.

YourMechanic, an online car repair site, contacted consumers who purchased lemons to see what it could learn from their experience. It found that two-thirds said their lemon started showing signs of trouble in the first month of ownership.

While the risk of purchasing a clunker would seem to be higher in a private sale, the YourMechanic survey found that wasn't the case. Of the consumers who got stuck with a lemon, 44% said they purchased it from a used car dealer and 21% said it came from a new car dealer.

Lemons tend to be lower-priced

Lemons tend to be in a lower price range, but that hardly makes them a bargain. Thirty-six percent of those who bought one said the price of the vehicle was $5,000 or less and 27% spent between $5,000 and $10,000. Only 15% of lemon owners said their vehicle cost more than $20,000.

The comments section of the survey revealed numerous tales of woe. One owner claimed all the doors fell off the car. Another reported a large oil leak. Other problems included faulty airbags, inaccurate odometer readings, and unreported collision damage. The most common problem was faulty brakes.

These problems, the unhappy consumers reported, showed up within a week 36% of the time and within a month 32% of the time.

How to avoid a lemon

You can save a lot of money and heartache by avoiding the purchase of a lemon. Consumer Reports advises car shoppers to first consider a make and model's reliability record, whether buying new or used.

You can easily find that information from sources like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com.

If you are purchasing the car from a dealer, pay attention to the window sticker. Dealers are required to reveal whether the vehicle carries any type of warranty or is being sold "as is." If it is the latter, be careful.

These days, you can also check out the vehicle's history, obtaining a report from Carfax or Experian Automotive. The report can alert you to previous damage or other issues, although Consumer Reports notes these reports can have gaps here and there.

Before buying any used vehicle, it's probably a good idea to obtain an objective, third-party inspection of the vehicle by a qualified mechanic.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a $104 million settlement with a lead generation business on Wednesday over charges that it misled consumers and unlawfully shared and sold consumers’ private information.

The original complaint alleged that Blue Global, LLC had consumers fill out loan applications that it then sold to other entities as “leads.” FTC officials said that CEO Christopher Kay ran dozens of websites that operated in this manner and gave no consideration to where the information ultimately ended up.

“Defendants shared loan applications with and sold them to other entities without regard to loan terms, whether the other entity was a lender, or whether the other entity secured the application data in any fashion,” the complaint said.

Selling private information

The FTC further alleged that Blue Global made several false promises to consumers who filled out loan applications. According to the complaint, consumers were told that the information in their loan application would help the company find a loan with the lowest interest rate and other favorable terms, as well as help match applicants to a lender selected from a network of 100 or more loan providers.

Additionally, Blue Global allegedly told applicants that they were “very likely” to receive a loan by completing the online application and that the information they provided would “always be safe and secure” because it was only shared with “trusted lending partners.”

However, the FTC alleged that the company provided the sensitive information to any potential buyer without the knowledge or consent of the applicant. The complaint also says that Kay and his company did nothing to investigate or take preventative actions when confronted by affected consumers.

Settlement terms

Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants are barred from misrepresenting that they can assist consumers with getting favorable loan rates or terms. They must also ensure that personal information collected from consumers is protected and secured in the future.

The defendants must also investigate and verify the identity of businesses that they give consumer information to and obtain consent from consumers before doing so. The $104 million judgment against Blue Global will be suspended based on its inability to pay.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have filed suit against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over her delay of regulations meant to provide new protections for federal student loan borrowers, particularly those at for-profit colleges.

“The Trump Administration should do everything in its power to protect our students,”said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, one of those joining the action. “At the California Department of Justice, we will continue working to ensure that all who seek higher education can do so without worrying that their American Dream will be stolen by unscrupulous purveyors of a sham college education. These regulations should be implemented because they’re good for students and because that’s what the law requires.”

The lawsuit accuses DeVos of illegally delaying the regulations, known as the “Borrower Defense Regulations.” They were set to take effect on July 1, but DeVos announced last month that the Department of Education would refuse to implement them as part of a “regulatory reset” while looking to develop alternative regulations that would likely leave victimized borrowers with far less protection.

Becerra said the refusal is a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act because the Department improperly relied upon a legal challenge to the regulations as a basis for delay and also failed to provide the public with the required notice and opportunity to comment on the delay.

Echoes of Corinthian

Becerra noted the case of California-based Corinthian Colleges, accused of targeting low-income, vulnerable individuals through false advertisements that misrepresented job placement rates and the value of school programs.

The Attorney General's Office obtained a $1.1 billion judgement against Corinthian on March 26, 2016, and worked with the Obama Administration to ensure that tens of thousands of former Corinthian students were entitled to federal student loan relief. The process led to the creation of the Borrower Defense Regulations, which provide for:

• Automatically canceling eligible loans for students who were defrauded;
• Taking greater steps to ensure a school’s financial viability; and
• Banning schools from including or enforcing certain arbitration provisions or class-action waivers in their enrollment agreements. 

Awnings are fairly simple. Their purpose is to keep solar energy out of your home or away from outdoor living areas like desks and patios.

But a new breed of awning is not only providing shade, but harnessing that solar energy and turning it into electricity.

SunModo is introducing the SunShield awning system, which replaces traditional metal and fabric awnings with solar panels that generate electricity. 

At its base, the system features a triangular aluminum frame, which serves as a structural truss. It expands to a 35-degree angle once it is installed on a building. The triangle frame then is covered with either 60 or 72 cell solar panels.

Qualifies for tax credits

The awnings do the job of traditional awnings -- block the sun. But they also harness the sun's energy, and in so doing open up the awning industry to 30% tax credits for solar energy installations.

"We believe awnings are the next big frontier that will further accelerate the adoption of solar, which will reduce our society's carbon footprint while providing an elegant yet functional shield from sun, wind and weather," said Rick Campfield, CEO of SunModo.

Other manufacturers have also combined the awning with solar power generation. Florian offers a wide range of solar products, using solar panels to create attractive canopies, carports, and solar powered rooms.

Integrated Solar Design offers systems it says provide up to 30% more power than conventional solar system.

And of course, awnings can reduce current energy costs, whether they generate electricity or not. By keeping direct sunlight from entering a buildings, the interior temperature stays more comfortable without requiring the increased use of electricity.

What's the best smartphone on the market at the moment? It's a highly subjective question, since consumers value different things.

But to get a handle on which devices are doing the most to satisfy their customers, the Consumer Sentiment Analysis (CSA) service at Strategy Analytics scanned smartphone reviews posted by U.S. consumers.

It found that early adopters have given the Samsung S8, which was introduced in April, an average rating of 4.57 out of 5, making it the highest rated smartphone on the market.

The phone boasts new screen dimensions and an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant called Bixby. In the first 40 days the phone was on the market, the study found more than 1,500 buyer reviews.

Display is winning fans

Reviewers specifically commented positively on the Galaxy S8 display. The term "display" appeared in almost one-third of all reviews of the device.

Reviewers also had good things to say about the camera. The survey gauged sentiment "very positive" and noted that the camera got a mention in 19% of all reviews.

On the other hand, users didn't seem all that impressed with Bixby. The survey found the AI assistant got a mention in only 4% of reviews, and those that mentioned it were marginally negative.

"Based on our analysis of the first 40 days of buyer reviews, Strategy Analytics believes that Samsung's Brand Equity and an impressive new display are the primary reasons that the Galaxy S8 has achieved Apex Product status in the US smartphone market," said Adam Thorwart, lead analyst and author of the report.

He also said the phone's display, which is 14% larger than previous models, is a big selling point with early adopters.

Comeback

It would suggest the phone is helping Samsung recover from its disastrous launch last year of the Galaxy Note 7, whose battery tended to overheat and catch fire, requiring a complete product recall. But until that defect emerged, the Note 7 was at the top of Consumer Reports' smartphone rankings.

Samsung is preparing the release of the follow-up device, the Galaxy Note 8, which TechRadar calls "the biggest comeback story in phones." Samsung has not revealed a release date but confirmed that it will occur later this year, which could coincide with an expected Autumn release of Apple's iPhone 8.

Since this is the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone release, tech sites like CNET expect Apple to pull out all the stops, with major redesigns and features.

In the days before Amazon became a juggernaut and eBay had taken off in the online marketplace, shopping from home meant tuning into dedicated TV programs and buying up the products they had on display.

Now, two of the biggest rivals in that industry will be merging. QVC announced on Thursday that it will be combining with the Home Shopping Network in an all-stock deal worth $2.1 billion, according to The New York Times. The deal will give Liberty Interactive Corporation, QVC’s parent company, an additional 62% of shares in HSN Inc., which expands on the 38% of shares it already owned.

“We are excited to announce the acquisition of HSNi. The addition of HSN will enhance QVC’s position as the leading global video eCommerce retailer,” said Liberty Interactive President and CEO Greg Maffei in a press release.

More competitive

Liberty Interactive is hoping that its acquisition of HSN will help increase QVC’s scale and make it more competitive in an ever-changing retail marketplace. QVC President and CEO Mike George says that the merger will also benefit consumers.

“By creating the leader in discovery-based shopping, we will enhance our customer experience, accelerate innovation, leverage our resources and talents to further strengthen our brands, and redeploy savings for innovation and growth,” he said. “As the prominent global video commerce retailer and North America’s third largest mobile and eCommerce retailer, the combined company will be well-positioned to help shape the next generation of retailing.”

However, the newly formed entity may still face a tough road if sales continue to move to online retailers. HSN’s sales declined by 3% last year alone, and sales at traditional brick-and-mortar locations continue to fade.

As part of the deal, investors will receive 1.65 shares of QVC Series A stock for each stock of HSN stock they own, which comes out to around $40.36 per share as of closing time on Wednesday. The new QVC Group will also acquire flash sale website zulily as part of the transaction.

The deal is expected to close in the last quarter of 2017 pending a regulatory review by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

Its name may hint at the presence of a healthful component, but fruit juice is often anything but healthy -- and it shouldn’t be included in the diet of children under age 1, experts argue.

According to a new policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), fruit juice offers “no nutritional benefit” to tots who haven’t yet celebrated their first birthday.

Sugary fruit juice contributes to the rising rates of obesity and concerns about dental health, the AAP contends in its statement -- the first revision to its stance on fruit juice since 2001.

“Parents may perceive fruit juice as healthy, but it is not a good substitute for fresh fruit and just packs in more sugar and calories,” said Dr. Melvin B. Heyman, co-author of the statement. “Small amounts in moderation are fine for older kids, but are absolutely unnecessary for children under 1.”

Age-based recommendations

Per the new recommendations, children older than 1 year can consume 100% fruit juice as part of a well-balanced diet. However, the amount a child consumes should be limited based on his or her age.

The Academy offers the following guidelines for consumption:

• Toddlers. Parents and caregivers should restrict fruit juice intake to 4 ounces daily (at most) for toddlers age 1-3. Additionally, toddlers shouldn’t be given juice from bottles or “sippy cups.” The group argues that doing so could lead to tooth decay.
• Age 4-6. Limit fruit juice intake to 4-6 ounces daily.
• Ages 7-18. Limit fruit juice intake to 8 ounces or 1 cup of the recommended 2 to 2 ½ cups of fruit servings per day.

First 1,000 days critical

Previously, the Academy advised against offering fruit juice to children under the age of 6 months. Now, the group says children shouldn’t have fruit juice at all during their entire first year of life.

A separate report, “The First 1,000 Days: Nourishing America’s Future,” suggests nutrition during the 1,000 days between a child’s conception and their second birthday plays a huge role in their overall brain and physical development.

The report found that at least 40% of parents introduce sugary drinks to their children too early.

The AAP says children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and be educated about the benefits of fruit as compared with juice, which lacks fiber and may contribute to excessive weight gain.

“We know that excessive fruit juice can lead to excessive weight gain and tooth decay,” said Dr. Steven A. Abrams, co-author of the statement. “Pediatricians have a lot of information to share with families on how to provide the proper balance of fresh fruit within their child’s diet.”

The full statement has been published online in the journal Pediatrics.

Three of six large cars recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -- the Lincoln Continental, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the Toyota Avalon -- have qualified for TOP SAFETY PICK+, the Institute’s highest award.

The other three -- the Tesla Model S, the Chevrolet Impala, and the Ford Taurus -- didn't get any award because they earned only an acceptable rating in the small overlap front test.

“This group of large cars includes some with stellar ratings, but our small overlap front test remains a hurdle for some vehicles,” said David Zuby, IIHS chief research officer.

To qualify for either the TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, vehicles must have good ratings from IIHS in five crashworthiness tests: small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. In addition, they must have an available front crash prevention system that earns a superior or advanced rating.

To qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles also must come with good or acceptable headlights.

The evaluations of all six vehicles are as follows:

Journalists and consumer advocates like to think that when outrages are revealed, the glare of publicity will put a stop to them. Everyone knows this isn't true, but they like to believe it anyway.

Case in point: payments by the drug industry to doctors. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) started gathering data on drug companies' munificence towards doctors -- consulting payments, speaking fees, trips, free meals, and so forth -- there was speculation that the public disclosure would put an end to the practice.

Surely, earnest reformers thought, when the kickbacks (let's be honest here) were revealed, doctors would recoil in shame and stop accepting them and the drug companies would begin to act more responsibly.

Of course, neither of those things happened and the latest entries in the CMS Open Payments database show the flow of money and favors was uninterrupted in 2016, when Big Pharma handed out $2.8 billion to doctors, up from $2.68 billion in 2015, as FiercePharma reported today.

Just for starters

Of course, that's not the whole picture. The $2.8 billion was just for what we might call effluvia -- little favors, hardly more than tips. Drug companies also pay doctors and the businesses doctors own for research, royalties, licensing fees, and so forth. All told, drug companies and medical device manufacturers paid a total of $8.2 billion to doctors when those expenses are added in.

Allergan topped the list, with $66.4 million in payments, followed by Sanofi, Celgene, and Valeant. 

The data collection and publication of the results came about as a result of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, part of the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare.

Whether the data will continue to be made public if Congress succeeds in repealing Obamacare isn't clear at this point.

In summer, a homeowner's thoughts often turn to that expanse of grass, weeds and debris known as the back yard. What if all the sweaty toil associated with keeping the yard in reasonable shape could be replaced with lazy days floating around your very own swimming pool or spa?

It's an appealing notion but like all such stuff that dreams are made of, there is a downside. Besides being expensive and requiring more than a little upkeep, pools are inherently dangerous for humans and other species that have evolved beyond living underwater.

In short, you can drown in your pool or spa. Even worse, someone else can drown there. Drowning is the fifth most common cause of accidental death in the United States -- and the leading cause of death for children age 1 to 2. While drownings are tragedies for the victims and their families, they are also a legal and financial disaster for the homeowner.

Attractive nuisance

In most states, a pool is regarded as an "attractive nuisance," a legal term that basically means it is inherently dangerous and requires pro-active safety measures above and beyond what might normally be expected.

Most states and cities require minimum safety standards, usually including a fence around the pool. The homeowner is also responsible for promptly repairing any defects that might make the pool unsafe, including ensuring that the water is purified to the locally required standard.

The basic problem with home pools is that, like cars, we see them everyday and become accustomed to them, forgetting that a second's inattention can result in tragedy.

The danger is amplified when there are small children in the home. As any parent knows, it is nearly impossible to watch a child every second. While the parent is on the phone, checking the roast in the oven or feeding the dog, a small child can wander outside, jump or fall into the pool and drown in less than five minutes. 

Safety measures

The National Safety Council recommends taking these steps to keep kids safe:

• Always watch your child while he or she is bathing, swimming or around water.
• Gather everything needed (towel, bath toys, sunscreen) before the child enters the water; if you must leave the area, take the child with you.
• Empty all buckets, bathtubs and kiddie pools of water immediately after use and store them upside down and out of your child's reach.
• Do not allow your child to play or swim in canals or streams.
• Install a 5-foot-tall fence with self-closing gate latches around your pool or hot tub.
• Consider installing door alarms to alert adults when a child has unexpectedly opened a door leading to a pool or hot tub.
• Keep a phone and life preserver near the pool or hot tub in case of emergency.
• Use snug-fitting life jackets instead of floaties, but remember that a child can still drown with a lifejacket on if not carefully watched/
• Become certified in first aid and CPR.
• Find age-appropriate swim lessons for your child, but keep in mind that lessons do not make your child "drown-proof."

Don't have small children yourself? Doesn't matter. If a neighbor's child or a visitor drowns in your pool, you will still face potentially ruinous litigation if you haven't taken these basic safety steps. 

Extra insurance

Not surprisingly, having a pool or spa may add to the cost of your homeowners insurance.

Most homeowners policies include a minimum of $100,000 worth of liability protection but the Insurance Information Institute suggests you consider increasing that amount to at least $300,000 or $500,000.  

Better yet, look into an umbrella liability policy. For a few hundred dollars per year, it will provide $1 million of liability insurance over and above your homeowners policy. An accidental death or serious injury in your pool or spa could well result in a multi-million dollar claim, so it's vital to have additional coverage.

You should also check with your agent about covering the pool and surrounding deck furniture against loss. A hurricane, tornado or other disaster can do a lot of damage that may not be covered by your existing policy. If you live in earthquake country, make sure your earthquake policy covers your pool. 

Don't even think of having a diving board. The risk of someone breaking his or her neck is too great. Most insurance companies will not even consider writing a policy if you allow diving. 

Oh, and one more thing: You do know how to swim, yes? If not, a few lessons at the Y are in order before you take the plunge. 

Keep these common-sense safety guidelines in mind and everything should go swimmingly. A good place to start looking for the right pool is the ConsumerAffairs Pool & Spa Buyer's Guide.