Could your iPad be making you itch?

Unexplained rash? Check your iPad. It turns out the tablet computer may contain nickel, one of the most common allergy-inducing metals. Recent reports in medical journals detail nickel allergies from a variety of personal electronic devices, including laptops and cellphones. But it was an Apple iPad that caused an itchy body rash in an 11-year-old boy recently treated at a San Diego hospital, according to a report in Monday's Pediatrics. Nickel rashes aren't life-threatening, but they can be very uncomfortable, and they may require treatment with steroids and antibiotics if the skin eruptions become infected, said Dr. Sharon Jacob, a dermatologist at Rady Children's Hospital, where the boy was treated. Whether all iPad models and other Apple devices contain nickel is uncertain. Amy Storey, a spokeswoman for CTIA-The Wireless Association trade group, said nickel isn't widely used in the industry's products' outer coatings because it can block radio-frequency signals from reaching the devices. She said she didn't know which makers use it.

Cleveland does the math, makes peace

Landing LeBron James will mean hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefit to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga County officials said. The return of the star forward to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers will mean $500 million a year in additional ticket sales and spending, County Executive Ed FitzGerald said Monday. The 2016 Republican National Convention in the city will bring an additional one-time windfall of $200 million, he said. Based on calculations by the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office, James' return will generate $215 million from games alone. James grew up in Akron, about 40 miles south of Cleveland, and said he was drawn to return. While some Cavaliers fans may still harbor resentment for how James left the team with a special television program that featured his announcement, money is a powerful palliative, said Nathan Kelly, county deputy chief of staff for economic development. "If there's anyone willing to forgive LeBron, it's our fiscal officer," Kelly said.

World's appetite for chicken is soaring

Poultry is expected to become the world's most consumed meat over the next five years, according to a report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development last week. The world's appetite for chicken is growing faster than any other meat, while pork consumption is slowing even in its most popular markets. "Currently, pork accounts for the greatest share in world total meat production, however, a comparatively slower growth rate through the next decade will result in it being surpassed by poultry by 2020," the report says. The trend is expected to hold true for just about every region and country — developed or developing.

LinkedIn acquires start-up Newsle

LinkedIn, the business-oriented service, announced that it had acquired Newsle, a start-up that combs the Internet for new articles and blogs that mention a user's friend, professional contact or public figure. The move is LinkedIn's latest attempt to establish itself as more than just a digital résumé service. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a post on its blog, LinkedIn emphasized Newsle's algorithms, which allow the company to provide relevant content quickly to its users.

News services