upi--2020-11-30--U.S. records 140K new COVID-19 cases as air traffic sets pandemic high

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- The United States recorded nearly 140,000 new COVID-19 infections Sunday as air travel reached its highest point since March despite urgent pleas for Americans to stay home , updated data showed .
Some 139,000 new cases were confirmed , boosting the U.S. total since the start of the pandemic to nearly 13.4 million , according to disease trackers with Johns Hopkins University .
It marked the 27th consecutive day of at least 100,000 new infections .
There were 826 additional deaths , pushing the total death toll to nearly 267,000 , the researchers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another record at more than 93,000 , including 18,000 patients in intensive care , the COVID Tracking Project reported .
Despite the continuing surge and urgent warnings from U.S. health officials to avoid holiday travel , more Americans boarded more flights on Sunday than at any time since the start of pandemic , Transportation Security Administration statistics showed .
Some 1.17 million air passengers passed through airport checkpoints -- the most since March 16 , the TSA said .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning against traveling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert , also pleaded with Americans last week to avoid traveling for family gatherings .
`` A sacrifice now could save lives and illness and make the future much brighter as we get through this , '' he said , warning of `` yet another surge '' if behaviors do n't change .
The race for an effective vaccine gathered momentum Monday when U.S. biotech firm Moderna announced it would seek immediate emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to distribute its vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mRNA-1273 '' vaccine is 94 % effective , the company said .
Distribution of both the Moderna vaccine and another made by Pfizer could begin within weeks of winning the Emergency Use Authorizations , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Monday .
`` We could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people 's arms before Christmas , '' Azar told CBS This Morning .
The FDA 's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet Dec. 10 to review Pfizer 's vaccine and recommend whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and other vulnerable populations .
A review of Moderna 's data is set for a week later .
Meanwhile , a student in Wisconsin 's Madison East High School died from complications related to COVID-19 , the Madison Metropolitan School District said .
`` We are all very heartbroken for his family and MMSD community , '' a spokesperson for the district said .
`` Our community has lost a wonderful young person and when a school family experiences a tragedy , especially the loss of a young life , it deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student was the first person younger than 20 years old known to have died of COVID-19 in the state .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Monday said that the state had entered a `` new phase in the war against COVID '' forcing it to prioritize hospital capacity when considering restrictions .
Specifically , Cuomo said he could impose regional shutdowns in the form of a `` pause '' order like the one he issued in the spring .
`` We are not going to live through the nightmare of overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police authorities in New York City say they broke up an illegal party of nearly 400 people over the weekend despite strict prohibitions on large gatherings .
The New York City Sheriff 's Office said in a tweet they shut down the `` illegal bottle club '' for being in violation of COVID-19 emergency orders and cited four organizers with `` offenses for penal , health , alcohol beverage control laws '' as well as for an outstanding arrest warrant .
In California , Los Angeles County officially enacted stricter COVID-19 restrictions Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 7,400 coronavirus hospitalizations .
Under the new `` Safer at Home '' rules , all public and private gatherings with individuals from different households are prohibited , except for church services and protests , which are deemed constitutionally protected rights .
Occupancy limits at various businesses are also tightened , including 35 % occupancy at essential retail and 20 % occupancy for nonessential retail , which includes indoor malls .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state was considering a new stay-at-home order for counties in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If these trends continue , we 're going to have to take much more dramatic , arguably drastic action , '' he said .

A woman wears a face mask and face shield to protect from and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Central Park in New York City on November 20. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The United States recorded nearly 140,000 new COVID-19 infections Sunday as air travel reached its highest point since March despite urgent pleas for Americans to stay home, updated data showed. Some 139,000 new cases were confirmed, boosting the U.S. total since the start of the pandemic to nearly 13.4 million, according to disease trackers with Johns Hopkins University. It marked the 27th consecutive day of at least 100,000 new infections. Advertisement
There were 826 additional deaths, pushing the total death toll to nearly 267,000, the researchers said.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations, meanwhile, set another record at more than 93,000, including 18,000 patients in intensive care, the COVID Tracking Project reported.
Despite the continuing surge and urgent warnings from U.S. health officials to avoid holiday travel, more Americans boarded more flights on Sunday than at any time since the start of pandemic, Transportation Security Administration statistics showed.
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Some 1.17 million air passengers passed through airport checkpoints -- the most since March 16, the TSA said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning against traveling for Thanksgiving earlier this month, while Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, also pleaded with Americans last week to avoid traveling for family gatherings.
"A sacrifice now could save lives and illness and make the future much brighter as we get through this," he said, warning of "yet another surge" if behaviors don't change.
The race for an effective vaccine gathered momentum Monday when U.S. biotech firm Moderna announced it would seek immediate emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to distribute its vaccine candidate.
Clinical trials confirmed its "mRNA-1273" vaccine is 94% effective, the company said.
Distribution of both the Moderna vaccine and another made by Pfizer could begin within weeks of winning the Emergency Use Authorizations, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Monday.
"We could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people's arms before Christmas," Azar told CBS This Morning.
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The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet Dec. 10 to review Pfizer's vaccine and recommend whether it should be cleared for use in health workers and other vulnerable populations. A review of Moderna's data is set for a week later.
Meanwhile, a student in Wisconsin's Madison East High School died from complications related to COVID-19, the Madison Metropolitan School District said.
"We are all very heartbroken for his family and MMSD community," a spokesperson for the district said. "Our community has lost a wonderful young person and when a school family experiences a tragedy, especially the loss of a young life, it deeply impacts all of us."
The student was the first person younger than 20 years old known to have died of COVID-19 in the state.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said that the state had entered a "new phase in the war against COVID" forcing it to prioritize hospital capacity when considering restrictions.
Specifically, Cuomo said he could impose regional shutdowns in the form of a "pause" order like the one he issued in the spring.
"We are not going to live through the nightmare of overwhelmed hospitals again," he said.
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Police authorities in New York City say they broke up an illegal party of nearly 400 people over the weekend despite strict prohibitions on large gatherings.
The New York City Sheriff's Office said in a tweet they shut down the "illegal bottle club" for being in violation of COVID-19 emergency orders and cited four organizers with "offenses for penal, health, alcohol beverage control laws" as well as for an outstanding arrest warrant.
In California, Los Angeles County officially enacted stricter COVID-19 restrictions Monday after the state broke a record with more than 7,400 coronavirus hospitalizations.
Under the new "Safer at Home" rules, all public and private gatherings with individuals from different households are prohibited, except for church services and protests, which are deemed constitutionally protected rights.
Occupancy limits at various businesses are also tightened, including 35% occupancy at essential retail and 20% occupancy for nonessential retail, which includes indoor malls.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state was considering a new stay-at-home order for counties in the state's highest tier of coronavirus restrictions.
"If these trends continue, we're going to have to take much more dramatic, arguably drastic action," he said.


upi--2020-11-30--Trump COVID-19 adviser Scott Atlas resigns

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Dr. Scott Atlas , a controversial member of President Donald Trump 's coronavirus task force , announced Monday he would step down from his role in the White House .
Atlas thanked `` several selfless colleagues in designing specific policies to heighten protection of the vulnerable while safely reopening schools and society '' in his resignation letter , dated Dec. 1 , which he posted on Twitter Monday .
Atlas was serving a temporary 130-day post , which was about to expire .
Atlas , a professor of neuroradiology with no infectious disease background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the task force .
He served as a personal coronavirus adviser to Trump .
Other members of the task force worried that his influence and inaccurate understanding of the pandemic could endanger the group 's message to U.S. residents .
Atlas repeatedly gave out inaccurate and contradictory health information , prompting Twitter in October to remove one of his tweets that said `` Masks work ?
NO ! ''
Atlas also advocated the concept of `` herd immunity '' and said children were unlikely to catch the virus .
Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overheard on a flight in September complaining that `` Everything [ Atlas ] says is wrong ! ''
Anthony Fauci , the government 's top infectious diseases expert , criticized Atlas 's views on the pandemic earlier this month .
`` I do n't want to say anything against Dr. Atlas as a person , but I totally disagree with the stand he takes .
I just do , period , '' Fauci said on NBC 's Today .
Atlas also urged residents of Michigan to `` rise up '' in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders , in a tweet that was later removed .
This caused discord among his conservative colleagues at Stanford 's Hoover Institution .
Atlas later said his tweet was misinterpreted .
Atlas said in Monday 's resignation letter that he was proud to serve `` without any political consideration or influence . ''
He defended his often controversial recommendations , saying , `` it is the free exchange of ideas that lead to scientific truths , which are the foundation of any civilized society . ''

Controversial White House advisor Dr. Scott Atlas announced Monday that he would resign from his role on the coronavirus task force. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Dr. Scott Atlas, a controversial member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, announced Monday he would step down from his role in the White House. Atlas thanked "several selfless colleagues in designing specific policies to heighten protection of the vulnerable while safely reopening schools and society" in his resignation letter, dated Dec. 1, which he posted on Twitter Monday. Atlas was serving a temporary 130-day post, which was about to expire. Advertisement
Atlas, a professor of neuroradiology with no infectious disease background, frequently conflicted with other medical members of the task force. He served as a personal coronavirus adviser to Trump. Other members of the task force worried that his influence and inaccurate understanding of the pandemic could endanger the group's message to U.S. residents.
Atlas repeatedly gave out inaccurate and contradictory health information, prompting Twitter in October to remove one of his tweets that said "Masks work? NO!" Atlas also advocated the concept of "herd immunity" and said children were unlikely to catch the virus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield was overheard on a flight in September complaining that "Everything [Atlas] says is wrong!"
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Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious diseases expert, criticized Atlas's views on the pandemic earlier this month.
"I don't want to say anything against Dr. Atlas as a person, but I totally disagree with the stand he takes. I just do, period," Fauci said on NBC's Today.
Atlas also urged residents of Michigan to "rise up" in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's COVID-19 restriction orders, in a tweet that was later removed. This caused discord among his conservative colleagues at Stanford's Hoover Institution. Atlas later said his tweet was misinterpreted.
Atlas said in Monday's resignation letter that he was proud to serve "without any political consideration or influence."
He defended his often controversial recommendations, saying, "it is the free exchange of ideas that lead to scientific truths, which are the foundation of any civilized society."


upi--2020-11-30--Vanderbilt's Sarah Fuller named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Vanderbilt Commodores kicker Sarah Fuller was named a Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after becoming the first woman to play in a Power Five football game .
Fuller , who was a goalkeeper on Vandy 's conference championship women 's soccer team , served as the Commodores ' kicker during Saturday 's game against the Missouri Tigers due to COVID-19 issues within the Vanderbilt football program .
Fuller 's only action in the 41-0 loss to Missouri came in the third quarter , when she kicked off to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed squib kick to limit the chance of a return .
The ball traveled about 30 yards and was downed at Missouri 's 35-yard line .
With the kickoff , Fuller became only the third woman to appear in a Football Bowl Subdivision game .
She joined Katie Hnida of New Mexico and Kent State 's April Goss .
After the game , Derek Mason -- who was fired as Vanderbilt 's head coach Sunday -- said he would like to keep Fuller on the team 's roster .
`` I would love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys come out of quarantine , I would love to learn from them and their experience , '' Fuller said when asked about remaining with the team .
`` I 've been having a lot of fun doing this .
It 's a challenge for me , but it 's something I know I can do .
`` It 's applicable from doing a goal kick to a field goal kick , so I want to continue learning , and if those guys can help me , I 'm all for it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia on Saturday .

1/5
Vanderbilt Commodores kicker Sarah Fuller kicks off against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo. Photo by Hunter Dyke/Mizzou Athletics/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Vanderbilt Commodores kicker Sarah Fuller was named a Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after becoming the first woman to play in a Power Five football game. Fuller, who was a goalkeeper on Vandy's conference championship women's soccer team, served as the Commodores' kicker during Saturday's game against the Missouri Tigers due to COVID-19 issues within the Vanderbilt football program. Advertisement
Fuller's only action in the 41-0 loss to Missouri came in the third quarter, when she kicked off to begin the second half. It was a designed squib kick to limit the chance of a return. The ball traveled about 30 yards and was downed at Missouri's 35-yard line.
With the kickoff, Fuller became only the third woman to appear in a Football Bowl Subdivision game. She joined Katie Hnida of New Mexico and Kent State's April Goss.
Thank you, Sarah, for helping to prove that women and girls belong on every playing field-quite literally. https://t.co/Ig33gePL08— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 30, 2020
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After the game, Derek Mason -- who was fired as Vanderbilt's head coach Sunday -- said he would like to keep Fuller on the team's roster.
"I would love to learn more, so if those guys come out of quarantine, I would love to learn from them and their experience," Fuller said when asked about remaining with the team. "I've been having a lot of fun doing this. It's a challenge for me, but it's something I know I can do.
"It's applicable from doing a goal kick to a field goal kick, so I want to continue learning, and if those guys can help me, I'm all for it."
Vanderbilt is scheduled to play at Georgia on Saturday.


upi--2020-11-30--Navy will scrap, decommission USS Bonhomme Richard after July blaze

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Navy will scrap the USS Bonhomme Richard , an amphibious assault ship which burned for nearly five days in a San Diego port this summer , officials said .
`` After thorough consideration , the secretary of the Navy and the chief of naval operations have decided to decommission the Bonhomme Richard due to the extensive damage sustained during that July fire , '' Rear Adm. Eric Ver Hage , the commander of Navy Regional Maintenance Center said in a phone call Monday .
`` In the weeks and months since that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material assessment to determine the best path forward for that ship and our Navy . ''
The Navy considered rebuilding and restoring the ship , which has transported U.S. Marines for amphibious maneuvers , but that would have cost between $ 2.5 billion and $ 3.2 billion and would have taken five to seven years , Ver Hage said Monday .
The Navy also rejected a proposal to repurpose the vessel as a hospital ship or submarine tender .
Decommissioning the ship by harvesting parts and towing and scrapping the hull will cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year , Ver Hage said .
The cause of the ship fire is still unknown and multiple investigations are still taking place .
The ship caught fire during a port stop in San Diego for renovations and repairs .
The blaze sent 63 people , including 40 sailors and 23 civilians , to the hospital for smoke inhalation and caused San Diego air pollution to spike dangerously .
One sailor was arrested in connection with the fire .
Investigators suspect the fire was a work of an arsonist , NBC San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite and Admiral Mike Gilday , chief of naval operations decided last week to scrap the ship .
They informed Navy leadership and Congress today .
`` Although it saddens me that it is not cost-effective to bring her back , '' Braithwaite said in a news release , `` I know this ship 's legacy will continue to live on through the brave men and women who fought so hard to save her as well as the sailors and Marines who served aboard her during her 22-year history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Commander , U.S. Pacific Fleet .
The name `` BonHomme Richard '' was first used in 1765 for a 900-ton merchant vessel that was converted in 1789 during the U.S .
Revolutionary War to a Navy frigate under the command of Captain John Paul Jones , according to the Navy 's history archives .
A second ship named Bonhomme Richard was commissioned in 1944 during World War II by Roberta McCain , oil heiress and mother of late U.S. Sen. John McCain and wife of Vice Admiral John McCain Sr. That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii and in Japan and was decommissioned in July of 1971 .
The current ship was commissioned in 1998 .
Decommissioning the ship will allow the U.S. Navy to give a new ship the historic name .

The U.S. Navy announced plans Monday to scrap and decommission the USS Bonhomme Richard, which burned for almost five days in the Port of San Diego in July. File Photo by Lt. John J. Mike/U.S. Navy/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy will scrap the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship which burned for nearly five days in a San Diego port this summer, officials said. "After thorough consideration, the secretary of the Navy and the chief of naval operations have decided to decommission the Bonhomme Richard due to the extensive damage sustained during that July fire," Rear Adm. Eric Ver Hage, the commander of Navy Regional Maintenance Center said in a phone call Monday. "In the weeks and months since that fire, the Navy conducted a comprehensive material assessment to determine the best path forward for that ship and our Navy." Advertisement
The Navy considered rebuilding and restoring the ship, which has transported U.S. Marines for amphibious maneuvers, but that would have cost between $2.5 billion and $3.2 billion and would have taken five to seven years, Ver Hage said Monday. The Navy also rejected a proposal to repurpose the vessel as a hospital ship or submarine tender.
Decommissioning the ship by harvesting parts and towing and scrapping the hull will cost about $30 million and take about a year, Ver Hage said.
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The cause of the ship fire is still unknown and multiple investigations are still taking place.
The ship caught fire during a port stop in San Diego for renovations and repairs.
The blaze sent 63 people, including 40 sailors and 23 civilians, to the hospital for smoke inhalation and caused San Diego air pollution to spike dangerously.
One sailor was arrested in connection with the fire. Investigators suspect the fire was a work of an arsonist, NBC San Diego reported Monday.
Ver Hage said that Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite and Admiral Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations decided last week to scrap the ship. They informed Navy leadership and Congress today.
"Although it saddens me that it is not cost-effective to bring her back," Braithwaite said in a news release, "I know this ship's legacy will continue to live on through the brave men and women who fought so hard to save her as well as the sailors and Marines who served aboard her during her 22-year history."
The USS Bonhomme Richard is assigned to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The name "BonHomme Richard" was first used in 1765 for a 900-ton merchant vessel that was converted in 1789 during the U.S. Revolutionary War to a Navy frigate under the command of Captain John Paul Jones, according to the Navy's history archives.
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A second ship named Bonhomme Richard was commissioned in 1944 during World War II by Roberta McCain, oil heiress and mother of late U.S. Sen. John McCain and wife of Vice Admiral John McCain Sr. That ship served in the Pacific theater, based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and in Japan and was decommissioned in July of 1971.
The current ship was commissioned in 1998.
Decommissioning the ship will allow the U.S. Navy to give a new ship the historic name.


upi--2020-11-30--Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game postponed again due to COVID-19

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers ' game against the Ravens has been postponed again due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns in Baltimore , the league announced Monday .
The Week 12 game between the Ravens and Steelers was moved from Tuesday night to Wednesday and will kick off at 3:40 p.m. EST on NBC .
This will mark the NFL 's first game on Wednesday since the 2012 season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants .
`` These decisions were made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel and in consultation with medical experts , '' the league said in a statement Monday .
The Ravens-Steelers matchup was originally scheduled for Thanksgiving night but was pushed back to Sunday because of coronavirus-related issues .
It was then moved to Tuesday night after more positive COVID-19 tests .
The Ravens have had at least 22 players test positive for COVID-19 or be identified as a high-risk close contact over the last nine days , including star quarterback Lamar Jackson .
As of Monday , Baltimore has only 38 players on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponement , the Steelers ' Week 13 contest against the Washington Football Team was moved from Sunday to Monday at 5 p.m. EST .
The Ravens ' Week 13 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys , which had already been postponed once to Dec. 7 , will now take place Dec. 8 at 8:05 p.m. EST .
The Steelers beat the Ravens 28-24 in the teams ' first meeting earlier this month .

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin (L) and the Steelers beat John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 in the teams' first meeting earlier this month. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Ravens has been postponed again due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns in Baltimore, the league announced Monday. The Week 12 game between the Ravens and Steelers was moved from Tuesday night to Wednesday and will kick off at 3:40 p.m. EST on NBC. This will mark the NFL's first game on Wednesday since the 2012 season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Advertisement
"These decisions were made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of our players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts," the league said in a statement Monday.
The Ravens-Steelers matchup was originally scheduled for Thanksgiving night but was pushed back to Sunday because of coronavirus-related issues. It was then moved to Tuesday night after more positive COVID-19 tests.
The Ravens have had at least 22 players test positive for COVID-19 or be identified as a high-risk close contact over the last nine days, including star quarterback Lamar Jackson. As of Monday, Baltimore has only 38 players on its 53-man roster.
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Due to the latest postponement, the Steelers' Week 13 contest against the Washington Football Team was moved from Sunday to Monday at 5 p.m. EST. The Ravens' Week 13 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, which had already been postponed once to Dec. 7, will now take place Dec. 8 at 8:05 p.m. EST.
The Steelers beat the Ravens 28-24 in the teams' first meeting earlier this month.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-30--Houston Texans WR Will Fuller suspended six games for PEDs

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller announced Monday that he has received a six-game suspension for violating the NFL 's policy on performance-enhancing substances .
In a post on social media , Fuller said the violation resulted from taking a prescribed medication that was n't permitted under the league 's policy .
`` Earlier this year , I sought treatment from a medical professional who prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL 's drug policy , '' Fuller wrote Monday on Instagram .
`` As it turns out , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this medication was not a permitted substance under the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances .
`` As a result of this mistake , I have been suspended for six games for taking this prohibited medication .
I want to sincerely apologize to the Texans organization and all of my fans for this mistake .
I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021 . ''
Fuller will miss the Texans ' final five games of this season and the first matchup of the 2021 season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fuller , the No .
21 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame , is coming off his best game of the season .
He recorded six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans ' Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions .
In 11 games this season , Fuller notched 53 receptions for 879 yards and eight touchdowns .
He has caught 209 passes for 3,110 yards and 24 scores in his NFL career .
Fuller , who was playing on his fifth-year option , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (R) will miss the remainder of the 2020 season due to the suspension. He also will sit out the first game of next season. File Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller announced Monday that he has received a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. In a post on social media, Fuller said the violation resulted from taking a prescribed medication that wasn't permitted under the league's policy. Advertisement
"Earlier this year, I sought treatment from a medical professional who prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL's drug policy," Fuller wrote Monday on Instagram. "As it turns out, my trust in this professional was misplaced because this medication was not a permitted substance under the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
"As a result of this mistake, I have been suspended for six games for taking this prohibited medication. I want to sincerely apologize to the Texans organization and all of my fans for this mistake. I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021."
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Fuller will miss the Texans' final five games of this season and the first matchup of the 2021 season as a result of the six-game ban.
Fuller, the No. 21 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, is coming off his best game of the season. He recorded six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans' Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions.
In 11 games this season, Fuller notched 53 receptions for 879 yards and eight touchdowns. He has caught 209 passes for 3,110 yards and 24 scores in his NFL career.
Fuller, who was playing on his fifth-year option, will become a free agent after the season.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-30--Canada blocks prescription drug imports to U.S.

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- U.S. drug wholesalers who want to import Canadian prescription drugs starting Monday were blocked by a preemptive move last week by Canada 's health ministry .
On Friday , Canada moved to block the export of drugs intended for the Canadian market citing the risk of drug shortages .
`` Canada is a small market , representing 2 % of global drug sales , that sources 68 % of its drugs internationally , '' a statement from Health Canada said .
`` The need for vigilance in maintaining the national drug supply continues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration 's final rule went into effect , allowing Canadian drugs to be imported for sale by states , Indian tribes , pharmacists and wholesalers after President Donald Trump pushed the measure forward in a July executive order .
But Canadian health officials said they would prohibit drug exports without paperwork showing that sending drugs to the United States would n't cause a shortage .
`` Our healthcare system is a symbol of our national identity and we are committed to defending it , '' Patty Hajdu , minister of health said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... will help protect Canadians ' access to the medication they rely on . ''
Since 2017 , 44 % of all marketed drugs in Canada have been in shortage status at least once , a situation made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic , the Canadian government said .
Patients report that drug prices have increased in the past four years , an April Gallup and West Health survey of 1,000 U.S. residents showed .
In June , a study from JAMA Network Open showed that about 2 % of Americans already buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Florida and Oregon have already tried and failed to set up import programs with Canadian drug makers , after pushback from large pharmaceutical companies .

The Canadian government blocked a U.S. proposal to export lower cost prescription drugs into the United States just as the Food and Drug Administration green-lighted the program. File Photo by frolicsomepl/Pixabay
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. drug wholesalers who want to import Canadian prescription drugs starting Monday were blocked by a preemptive move last week by Canada's health ministry. On Friday, Canada moved to block the export of drugs intended for the Canadian market citing the risk of drug shortages. Advertisement
"Canada is a small market, representing 2% of global drug sales, that sources 68% of its drugs internationally," a statement from Health Canada said. "The need for vigilance in maintaining the national drug supply continues."
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration's final rule went into effect, allowing Canadian drugs to be imported for sale by states, Indian tribes, pharmacists and wholesalers after President Donald Trump pushed the measure forward in a July executive order.
But Canadian health officials said they would prohibit drug exports without paperwork showing that sending drugs to the United States wouldn't cause a shortage.
"Our healthcare system is a symbol of our national identity and we are committed to defending it," Patty Hajdu, minister of health said. "The actions we are taking ... will help protect Canadians' access to the medication they rely on."
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Since 2017, 44% of all marketed drugs in Canada have been in shortage status at least once, a situation made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government said.
Patients report that drug prices have increased in the past four years, an April Gallup and West Health survey of 1,000 U.S. residents showed.
In June, a study from JAMA Network Open showed that about 2% of Americans already buy prescription drugs from overseas.
Several states including Florida and Oregon have already tried and failed to set up import programs with Canadian drug makers, after pushback from large pharmaceutical companies.


upi--2020-11-30--Supreme Court hesitant to rule on Trump's plan for census count

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Supreme Court appeared hesitant to rule on whether undocumented immigrants should not be counted in the U.S. Census report after hearing arguments from the Trump administration Monday .
Several of the court 's conservative justices suggested they should wait on the ruling that could shift power from migrant-rich states to smaller , and typically more Republican , states .
`` We do n't know what the president is going to do , we do n't know how many aliens will be excluded , '' Cheif Justice John Roberts said .
The administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the census count , including sending Congress a report that excludes immigrants for the purpose of determining how many members each state gets in the House of Representatives along with votes in the Electoral College .
Trump said in July that states with policies `` that encourage illegal aliens to enter this country and that hobble federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws passed by the Congress should not be rewarded with greater representation in the House of Representatives . ''
The court could potentially rule the case is premature and avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be a `` monumental task '' for the government to complete its count by Dec. 31 .
According to an analysis by the Pew Research Center , Alabama , Minnesota and Ohio would each keep a seat they would otherwise lose because of population shifts , with states like Arizona , California and Texas losing seats and Montana likely gaining one .
A three-panel judge of the Ninth Circuit Court rejected an appeal from the Trump administration concerning a lower court 's ruling against its efforts .
The once-a-decade census count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Constitution .
The Supreme Court 's decision will hinge on their interpretation of what founders meant by the phrase `` counting the whole number of persons in each state . ''
Since the country 's founding , all residents , regardless of immigration status , have been counted .
Barbara D. Underwood , New York 's solicitor general , who is leading a group of state and local governments fighting Trump 's efforts , pointed out that the founders have already weighed in since the count has been done the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Justice Amy Coney Barrett appeared to suggest that Trump exceeded his authority by making the order as the founders intended for all residents should be counted in the census .
`` A lot of the historical evidence and longstanding practice really cuts against your position , '' she told a lawyer for the Trump administration .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that while the challengers `` advanced forceful constitutional statutory arguments '' against the `` categorical exclusion of all unlawful non-citizens '' he was not sure that the government 's actions had reached @ @ @

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on whether undocumented immigrants should be excluded from census. File Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court appeared hesitant to rule on whether undocumented immigrants should not be counted in the U.S. Census report after hearing arguments from the Trump administration Monday. Several of the court's conservative justices suggested they should wait on the ruling that could shift power from migrant-rich states to smaller, and typically more Republican, states. Advertisement
"We don't know what the president is going to do, we don't know how many aliens will be excluded," Cheif Justice John Roberts said.
The administration has argued that Trump has broad authority over the census count, including sending Congress a report that excludes immigrants for the purpose of determining how many members each state gets in the House of Representatives along with votes in the Electoral College.
Trump said in July that states with policies "that encourage illegal aliens to enter this country and that hobble federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws passed by the Congress should not be rewarded with greater representation in the House of Representatives."
The court could potentially rule the case is premature and avoid a decision as Justice Samuel Alito said it would be a "monumental task" for the government to complete its count by Dec. 31.
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According to an analysis by the Pew Research Center, Alabama, Minnesota and Ohio would each keep a seat they would otherwise lose because of population shifts, with states like Arizona, California and Texas losing seats and Montana likely gaining one.
A three-panel judge of the Ninth Circuit Court rejected an appeal from the Trump administration concerning a lower court's ruling against its efforts.
The once-a-decade census count to establish congressional representation is required by the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court's decision will hinge on their interpretation of what founders meant by the phrase "counting the whole number of persons in each state."
Since the country's founding, all residents, regardless of immigration status, have been counted.
Barbara D. Underwood, New York's solicitor general, who is leading a group of state and local governments fighting Trump's efforts, pointed out that the founders have already weighed in since the count has been done the same way since the census was first taken.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett appeared to suggest that Trump exceeded his authority by making the order as the founders intended for all residents should be counted in the census.
"A lot of the historical evidence and longstanding practice really cuts against your position," she told a lawyer for the Trump administration.
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Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that while the challengers "advanced forceful constitutional statutory arguments" against the "categorical exclusion of all unlawful non-citizens" he was not sure that the government's actions had reached that level.


upi--2020-11-30--Iranian leaders allege 'remote-controlled' assassination of nuclear scientist

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Iranian leaders said Monday that Israel used a `` remote control '' device to assassinate top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in a sophisticated attack .
`` Unfortunately , the operation was very complicated and was done using electronic equipment and no [ perpetrators ] were at the scene , '' Ali Shamkhani , secretary of Iran 's Supreme National Security Council , said Monday at a burial ceremony for Fakhrizdeh .
Fakhrizdeh , a fixture in the Iranian nuclear hierarchy who led the Iranian Defense Ministry 's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province of Damavand .
Iranian officials said the attack was carried out by a satellite-controlled machine gun hidden in a pickup truck which later exploded .
Iran 's state-run English language Press TV reported that the weapon collected from the site `` bears the logo and specifications of the Israeli military industry . ''
Iranian officials have pointed the finger at Israel 's Mossad secret intelligence agency , which had long targeted Fakhrizdeh as the keynote scientist of Iran 's nuclear program .
Shamkhani also accused the Mujahedin-e Khalq ( MEK ) -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group -- of helping with the assassination .
Iranian officials have threatened retaliation for the attack and demanded that Israel be sanctioned on the world stage .
`` There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a calculated and categorical response to those criminals who took Fakhrizadeh from the Iranian nation , '' Kamal Kharrazi , head of Iran 's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations , said Sunday .
Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami , chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps , said there will be `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for Fakhrizdeh 's death .
`` The blind-hearted enemies of the Iranian nation , especially those who designed , perpetrated and supported this crime , should know that such crimes will not undermine the Iranians ' will and determination to continue this glorious and powerful path , and that severe revenge and punishment is put on the agenda , '' Salami said .
Iran 's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested that its enemies have taken action against the country that goes beyond any diplomacy .
`` Some say through dialogue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put an end to such hostility , '' Khamenei said in a statement read at Fakhrizadeh 's .
`` This is not possible , because our enemies oppose the nature of the Islamic Republic establishment .
.
.
.
They will never put an end to their hostilities toward us . ''

1/3
The coffin of slain Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is shown during a funeral procession inside the Iranian Defense Ministry in Tehran Monday. Photo by Iranian Defense Ministry/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Iranian leaders said Monday that Israel used a "remote control" device to assassinate top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in a sophisticated attack. "Unfortunately, the operation was very complicated and was done using electronic equipment and no [perpetrators] were at the scene," Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Monday at a burial ceremony for Fakhrizdeh. Advertisement
Fakhrizdeh, a fixture in the Iranian nuclear hierarchy who led the Iranian Defense Ministry's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, died in an attack in the Tehran province of Damavand.
Iranian officials said the attack was carried out by a satellite-controlled machine gun hidden in a pickup truck which later exploded. Iran's state-run English language Press TV reported that the weapon collected from the site "bears the logo and specifications of the Israeli military industry."
Iranian officials have pointed the finger at Israel's Mossad secret intelligence agency, which had long targeted Fakhrizdeh as the keynote scientist of Iran's nuclear program.
Shamkhani also accused the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) -- a ex-pat Iranian "regime change" group -- of helping with the assassination.
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Iranian officials have threatened retaliation for the attack and demanded that Israel be sanctioned on the world stage.
"There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a calculated and categorical response to those criminals who took Fakhrizadeh from the Iranian nation," Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said Sunday.
Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, said there will be "a severe revenge and punishment" for those responsible for Fakhrizdeh's death.
"The blind-hearted enemies of the Iranian nation, especially those who designed, perpetrated and supported this crime, should know that such crimes will not undermine the Iranians' will and determination to continue this glorious and powerful path, and that severe revenge and punishment is put on the agenda," Salami said.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested that its enemies have taken action against the country that goes beyond any diplomacy.
"Some say through dialogue and negotiations actions can be taken in order to put an end to such hostility," Khamenei said in a statement read at Fakhrizadeh's. "This is not possible, because our enemies oppose the nature of the Islamic Republic establishment. . . . They will never put an end to their hostilities toward us."
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upi--2020-11-30--Recycled concrete could reduce pressure on landfills

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- In a new study , researchers have confirmed recycled concrete works just as well as concrete , and for some purposes , even better .
The findings , published Monday in the journal Construction and Building Materials , could help keep rubble out the landfill .
For the study , engineers poured recycled cement to lay a building 's foundation and a pave a municipal sidewalk .
Researchers kept tabs on the material structures over a five year period .
Both the foundation and sidewalk proved as strong and durable as similar structures built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a world where we are constantly in search of sustainable solutions that remove waste from our landfills , '' lead researcher Shahria Alam said in a news release .
`` A number of countries around the world have already standardized the use of recycled concrete in structural applications , and we hope our findings will help Canada follow suit , '' said Alam , co-director of the University of British Columbia 's Green Construction Research and Training Center .
According to a Alam , refuse from construction and demolition accounts for 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recycling rubble into concrete could alleviate the burden of demolition and construction activities on landfill .
In addition to filling up landfills , the creation of concrete contributes to carbon emissions .
However , some studies have shown concrete acts as a carbon sink once poured .
To make concrete , a fine or coarse aggregate , usually made up of sand and small rocks , is mixed with water and cement paste .
To make a more sustainable material , researchers replaced natural aggregate with rubble from demolished concrete .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product additional flexibility and adaptability , '' said Alam .
`` Typically , recycled concrete can be used in retaining walls , roads and sidewalks , but we are seeing a shift towards its increased use in structures . ''
Researchers found the strength and durability of the building foundation made using recycled concrete was equal to that of a foundation built with traditional concrete .
`` As innovations continue in the composition of recycled concrete , we can envision a time in the future where recycle concrete can be a substitute within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alam said .

Shahria Alam, co-director of the Green Construction Research and Training Center at the University of British Columbia, is the lead author of a new paper showing recycled concrete is just as strong and durable as traditional concrete. Photo by UBC Okanagan
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- In a new study, researchers have confirmed recycled concrete works just as well as concrete, and for some purposes, even better. The findings, published Monday in the journal Construction and Building Materials, could help keep rubble out the landfill. Advertisement
For the study, engineers poured recycled cement to lay a building's foundation and a pave a municipal sidewalk. Researchers kept tabs on the material structures over a five year period.
Both the foundation and sidewalk proved as strong and durable as similar structures built using traditional cement.
"We live in a world where we are constantly in search of sustainable solutions that remove waste from our landfills," lead researcher Shahria Alam said in a news release.
"A number of countries around the world have already standardized the use of recycled concrete in structural applications, and we hope our findings will help Canada follow suit," said Alam, co-director of the University of British Columbia's Green Construction Research and Training Center.
According to a Alam, refuse from construction and demolition accounts for 40 percent of the world's waste. Recycling rubble into concrete could alleviate the burden of demolition and construction activities on landfill.
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In addition to filling up landfills, the creation of concrete contributes to carbon emissions. However, some studies have shown concrete acts as a carbon sink once poured.
To make concrete, a fine or coarse aggregate, usually made up of sand and small rocks, is mixed with water and cement paste. To make a more sustainable material, researchers replaced natural aggregate with rubble from demolished concrete.
"The composition of the recycled concrete gives that product additional flexibility and adaptability," said Alam. "Typically, recycled concrete can be used in retaining walls, roads and sidewalks, but we are seeing a shift towards its increased use in structures."
Researchers found the strength and durability of the building foundation made using recycled concrete was equal to that of a foundation built with traditional concrete.
"As innovations continue in the composition of recycled concrete, we can envision a time in the future where recycle concrete can be a substitute within more structural applications as well," Alam said.


upi--2020-11-30--Dow records best single month since 1987 despite falling 271 points Monday

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 200 points on Monday but still recorded its best single month in more than 30 years .
The blue chip index dropped 271.73 points , or 0.91 % , while the S & P 500 dropped 0.46 % and 0.058 % as stocks that helped lead the Dow 's strong November performance faltered .
Overall the Dow climbed 11.7 % in November , putting it on pace for its best monthly performance since January 1987 , while the S & P 500 rose 10.5 % and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely rose in November amid the 2020 presidential election and following the announcement of multiple vaccine candidates reporting high efficacy , seeing the Dow surpass 30,000 points for the first time .
The positive vaccine news helped to boost stocks that would benefit from the widespread lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions as Boeing and American Express helped to lead the Dow higher rising 47.6 % and 31.6 % respectively , while Chevron , JPMorgan Chase , Disney , IBM and Honeywell each climbed more than 20 % during the month .
Airline and cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead November growth , struggled on Monday , however .
Carnival fell 7.41 % and Norwegian dropped 3.42 % , while American Airlines slid 5.57 % and Delta declined 1.97 % .
Tony Dwyer , chief marketing strategist at Cannacord Genuity warned Monday that November 's gains could lead to market struggles in December , noting the National Association of Active Independent Manager Exposure Index hit a reading of 106.1 , its highest since Aug. 26 , 2020 .
Dwyer said he believes a figure above 100 marks `` excessive optimism '' that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market .
`` The length and strength of the current rally suggests to us that the market could be vulnerable to some pullback at these levels , '' John Stoltzfus , chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer Asset Management , wrote Monday .
`` That said , the bull market that has emerged from the lows on March 23 of this year has shown similarities to its predecessor . ''

The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its best single monthly gain since January 1987 in November despite falling 271 points on Monday to close the month. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 200 points on Monday but still recorded its best single month in more than 30 years. The blue chip index dropped 271.73 points, or 0.91%, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.46% and 0.058% as stocks that helped lead the Dow's strong November performance faltered. Advertisement
Overall the Dow climbed 11.7% in November, putting it on pace for its best monthly performance since January 1987, while the S&P 500 rose 10.5% and the Nasdaq grew 11.4%.
Stocks largely rose in November amid the 2020 presidential election and following the announcement of multiple vaccine candidates reporting high efficacy, seeing the Dow surpass 30,000 points for the first time.
The positive vaccine news helped to boost stocks that would benefit from the widespread lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions as Boeing and American Express helped to lead the Dow higher rising 47.6% and 31.6% respectively, while Chevron, JPMorgan Chase, Disney, IBM and Honeywell each climbed more than 20% during the month.
Airline and cruise line stocks, which also helped to lead November growth, struggled on Monday, however.
Carnival fell 7.41% and Norwegian dropped 3.42%, while American Airlines slid 5.57% and Delta declined 1.97%.
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Tony Dwyer, chief marketing strategist at Cannacord Genuity warned Monday that November's gains could lead to market struggles in December, noting the National Association of Active Independent Manager Exposure Index hit a reading of 106.1, its highest since Aug. 26, 2020.
Dwyer said he believes a figure above 100 marks "excessive optimism" that may lead to a retreat in the market.
"The length and strength of the current rally suggests to us that the market could be vulnerable to some pullback at these levels," John Stoltzfus, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer Asset Management, wrote Monday. "That said, the bull market that has emerged from the lows on March 23 of this year has shown similarities to its predecessor."


upi--2020-11-30--Woman discovers lottery 'scam' is a real $150,000 jackpot

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- An Australian woman who won a lottery jackpot of nearly $ 150,000 said she was unaware of her win for 10 days because she thought the emails from lottery officials were `` scams . ''
The Bullaburra , New South Wales , woman told The Lott officials she bought a ticket for the Nov. 20 Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot drawing on TheLott.com , but she did n't realize she won despite receiving emails alerting her to the prize .
`` I actually had no idea I 'd won .
No idea whatsoever , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received some emails about the win , but I just thought they were just scams , so I deleted them . ''
`` It was n't until I received the letter in the mail , that I decided to actually check my online The Lott account , '' she said .
`` I was surprised how calm I was when I saw the win pop up on my phone . ''
The woman discovered she had won a jackpot of $ 146,879 .
The winner said she and her husband are making plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to keep most of it for our retirement , '' she said .
`` I would also like to do a few things to our bathroom and kitchen as well . ''

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Nov. 30 (UPI) -- An Australian woman who won a lottery jackpot of nearly $150,000 said she was unaware of her win for 10 days because she thought the emails from lottery officials were "scams."
The Bullaburra, New South Wales, woman told The Lott officials she bought a ticket for the Nov. 20 Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot drawing on TheLott.com, but she didn't realize she won despite receiving emails alerting her to the prize.
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"I actually had no idea I'd won. No idea whatsoever," the woman said. "I'd received some emails about the win, but I just thought they were just scams, so I deleted them."
"It wasn't until I received the letter in the mail, that I decided to actually check my online The Lott account," she said. "I was surprised how calm I was when I saw the win pop up on my phone."
The woman discovered she had won a jackpot of $146,879.
The winner said she and her husband are making plans for their winnings.
"We are going to keep most of it for our retirement," she said. "I would also like to do a few things to our bathroom and kitchen as well."


upi--2020-11-30--Ventilators may leave COVID-19 survivors with windpipe injuries

COVID-19 patients who end up on a ventilator may be at risk of rare but serious injuries to the throat , a new study suggests .
The study , at one hospital in Italy , found a high rate of the injuries among COVID-19 patients treated early on in the pandemic .
Of 30 who spent at least two weeks on a ventilator , nearly half sustained injuries to the trachea -- or windpipe -- that are normally rare .
Experts said it 's not clear how common the injuries might have been at other hospitals earlier in the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , as doctors have learned more about treating COVID-19 .
`` The management of COVID-19 patients in the second wave is quite different from the first wave , '' said Dr. Giacomo Fiacchini , the lead author on the study .
At his hospital -- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana , in Pisa -- fewer patients end up on ventilators now .
`` There is no longer the rush to mechanically ventilate these patients , '' Fiacchini said .
`` So the number of intubated patients who need many days of invasive mechanical ventilation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply potentially life-saving air to patients who can not breathe on their own , via a tube threaded down the trachea .
But that tube can sometimes place too much pressure on the tracheal tissue , leading to large lesions or even fistulas -- abnormal tissue connections between the trachea and the esophagus -- the tube that takes water and food from the mouth to the stomach .
The pandemic , however , has not been a normal time .
Of the 30 COVID-19 patients Fiacchini 's team studied , 47 % suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators for two weeks or more .
But that alone did not explain the high injury rate : The researchers compared their COVID-19 patients with a control group of 45 patients who 'd been on ventilators for a similarly long time the year before -- when no one had COVID-19 .
And only 2 % of those patients suffered a tracheal injury , the findings showed .
U.S. critical-care specialists said they were not aware of any hospitals in the United States reporting similar patterns .
`` This is a pretty small study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who directs the intensive care unit at Saint Joseph Hospital/National Jewish Health in Denver .
`` This gives us a signal , '' Lockhart said .
`` There could be some fire behind the smoke , but it 's hard to know if this is seen more broadly . ''
Dr. Greg Martin , president-elect of the Society of Critical Care Medicine , agreed .
He noted that the patients , all hospitalized between March and May 2020 , fell ill earlier in the pandemic , in a country that was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` learning curve '' in managing COVID-19 patients , Martin said .
And during the initial surge , staff and resources at some hospitals were stretched thin .
It 's not clear how much of a factor that was in the United States , he added .
The Italian doctors speculate on some potential reasons for the tracheal injuries .
For one , all of their COVID-19 patients were given anti-inflammatory corticosteroid drugs , at high doses .
Lockhart agreed that could have been a factor .
The drugs suppress the immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any tissue breakdown caused by the ventilator tube .
It 's also possible that placing ventilator patients in the prone position ( on the stomach ) contributed , according to Fiacchini .
During the pandemic , doctors have found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients can get more oxygen if they spend time in the prone position .
But maneuvering ventilator patients into position might contribute to tracheal injuries , the Italian team speculated .
No one suggested the prone position be abandoned , since it appears generally beneficial .
Instead , Martin said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigated by , for example , closely monitoring the pressure in the ventilator tube and adjusting it so it 's not continuously resting in the same place .
The findings highlight a broader point , Martin and Lockhart said : Patients who survive a serious COVID-19 infection can face complications and a long recovery .
The experience of a long intensive care unit stay , alone , can cause so-called `` post-ICU syndrome , '' Martin noted .
Those problems range from lost muscle mass and strength , to issues with memory and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even for those who recover [ from COVID-19 ] , '' Lockhart said , `` it 's often not a smooth road .
Your life may not be the same afterward . ''
The findings were published online this month in JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19 's long-term effects .

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who require a ventilator may be left with longer-term windpipe injuries, researchers say. File Photo by Enric Fontcuberta/EPA-EFE
COVID-19 patients who end up on a ventilator may be at risk of rare but serious injuries to the throat, a new study suggests. The study, at one hospital in Italy, found a high rate of the injuries among COVID-19 patients treated early on in the pandemic. Of 30 who spent at least two weeks on a ventilator, nearly half sustained injuries to the trachea -- or windpipe -- that are normally rare. Advertisement
Experts said it's not clear how common the injuries might have been at other hospitals earlier in the pandemic. And the risks may be different now, as doctors have learned more about treating COVID-19.
"The management of COVID-19 patients in the second wave is quite different from the first wave," said Dr. Giacomo Fiacchini, the lead author on the study.
At his hospital -- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, in Pisa -- fewer patients end up on ventilators now.
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"There is no longer the rush to mechanically ventilate these patients," Fiacchini said. "So the number of intubated patients who need many days of invasive mechanical ventilation has been reduced."
Mechanical ventilators supply potentially life-saving air to patients who cannot breathe on their own, via a tube threaded down the trachea.
But that tube can sometimes place too much pressure on the tracheal tissue, leading to large lesions or even fistulas -- abnormal tissue connections between the trachea and the esophagus -- the tube that takes water and food from the mouth to the stomach.
Normally, that's a rare risk.
The pandemic, however, has not been a normal time. Of the 30 COVID-19 patients Fiacchini's team studied, 47% suffered a tracheal injury.
All were on ventilators for two weeks or more. But that alone did not explain the high injury rate: The researchers compared their COVID-19 patients with a control group of 45 patients who'd been on ventilators for a similarly long time the year before -- when no one had COVID-19.
And only 2% of those patients suffered a tracheal injury, the findings showed.
U.S. critical-care specialists said they were not aware of any hospitals in the United States reporting similar patterns.
Advertisement
"This is a pretty small study," said Dr. Gabriel Lockhart, who directs the intensive care unit at Saint Joseph Hospital/National Jewish Health in Denver.
"This gives us a signal," Lockhart said. "There could be some fire behind the smoke, but it's hard to know if this is seen more broadly."
Dr. Greg Martin, president-elect of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, agreed.
He noted that the patients, all hospitalized between March and May 2020, fell ill earlier in the pandemic, in a country that was one of the earliest hit.
There has been a "learning curve" in managing COVID-19 patients, Martin said. And during the initial surge, staff and resources at some hospitals were stretched thin. It's not clear how much of a factor that was in the United States, he added.
The Italian doctors speculate on some potential reasons for the tracheal injuries. For one, all of their COVID-19 patients were given anti-inflammatory corticosteroid drugs, at high doses.
Lockhart agreed that could have been a factor. The drugs suppress the immune system, which might impede healing of any tissue breakdown caused by the ventilator tube.
It's also possible that placing ventilator patients in the prone position (on the stomach) contributed, according to Fiacchini.
Advertisement
During the pandemic, doctors have found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients can get more oxygen if they spend time in the prone position.
But maneuvering ventilator patients into position might contribute to tracheal injuries, the Italian team speculated.
No one suggested the prone position be abandoned, since it appears generally beneficial.
Instead, Martin said, the risk of tracheal injuries can be mitigated by, for example, closely monitoring the pressure in the ventilator tube and adjusting it so it's not continuously resting in the same place.
The findings highlight a broader point, Martin and Lockhart said: Patients who survive a serious COVID-19 infection can face complications and a long recovery.
The experience of a long intensive care unit stay, alone, can cause so-called "post-ICU syndrome," Martin noted. Those problems range from lost muscle mass and strength, to issues with memory and thinking, to post-traumatic stress.
"Even for those who recover [from COVID-19]," Lockhart said, "it's often not a smooth road. Your life may not be the same afterward."
The findings were published online this month in JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19's long-term effects.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-11-30--Watch: Leopard wanders into girls' hostel in India, hides under couch

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Wildlife officials and zookeepers responded to a girls ' hostel in India to capture @ @ @ @ @ the building and crawled under a sofa .
Mousumi Bora , owner of the hostel @ @ @ @ @ Guwahati , said she thought there was a piece of cloth stuck under a sofa @ @ @ @ @ but just before she touched the object she realized it was a wild animal .
@ @ @ @ @ 15 residents barricaded themselves in a room while waiting for police to respond with officials @ @ @ @ @ and personnel from the Wildlife Division and Territorial Division .
Officials said it took about @ @ @ @ @ leopard and shoot it with a tranquilizer dart .
The leopard fled after being hit @ @ @ @ @ up in a neighboring home before the sedative took effect .
The leopard was taken @ @ @ @ @ to be examined by veterinarians .
Officials said it will be microchipped and returned to @ @ @

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Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Wildlife officials and zookeepers responded to a girls' hostel in India to capture a leopard that wandered into the building and crawled under a sofa.
Mousumi Bora, owner of the hostel in the Hengerabari area of Guwahati, said she thought there was a piece of cloth stuck under a sofa inside the building Monday, but just before she touched the object she realized it was a wild animal.
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Bora and the hostel's 15 residents barricaded themselves in a room while waiting for police to respond with officials from the Assam State Zoo and personnel from the Wildlife Division and Territorial Division.
Officials said it took about four hours to corner the leopard and shoot it with a tranquilizer dart. The leopard fled after being hit with the dart and ended up in a neighboring home before the sedative took effect.
The leopard was taken to the Assam State Zoo to be examined by veterinarians. Officials said it will be microchipped and returned to the wild.


upi--2020-11-30--Documentary to feature journey of 'world's loneliest elephant' greeted by Cher

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- A Smithsonian documentary will feature Kaavan , dubbed the `` world 's loneliest elephant , '' who Cher greeted Monday in Cambodia after her charity 's rescue flight .
Kaavan was sent to Pakistan more than three decades ago as a gift from former Sri Lanka dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq .
In 2012 , his mate for 22 years , Saheli , died , leaving him alone for eight years and leading to him becoming known as `` world 's loneliest elephant . ''
Grammy-winning singer Cher , 74 , had campaigned for Kaavan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital , Islamabad , where he was on occasion restrained in chains , and suffered malnourishment and negligence leading to cracked nails and behavioral issues .
In May , the Islamabad Hight Court ruled the elephant could be released from the zoo .
Cher greeted the 36-year-old elephant on the tarmac at an airport in Cambodia Monday after his flight from Pakistan in a custom-made crate with more than 440 pounds of food after her charity , Free the Wild , assisted the move .
Animal rescue organization Four Paws said Kaavan would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday to a sanctuary in Cambodia with space to roam and 600 fellow pachyderms .
The documentary to air on the Smithsonian Channel in 2021 is tentatively titled `` Cher 's Elephant Airlift . ''
The rescue was a first for the charity Free the Wild , which Cher co-founded to help stop captive animals suffering .
`` This is Free the Wild 's first big rescue and I am so proud , '' Cher said .
`` We are thrilled to partner with the Smithsonian Channel who will be helping to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week Cher arrived in Pakistan to thank the government for Kaavan 's release and join him for his flight .
`` I found out about Kaavan from the people on my Twitter , '' Cher said in a statement regarding the upcoming documentary .
`` They would not stop saying , 'Cher , you have to do something , you have to fix this , you have to save him . '
I thought , how can I fix this ? ''

Singer Cher (C) greeted the "world's loneliest elephant" Monday as he arrived at Siem Reap Airport in Siem Reap province, Cambodia to be transported to a sanctuary. Photo by Mak Remissa/EPA-EFE
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A Smithsonian documentary will feature Kaavan, dubbed the "world's loneliest elephant," who Cher greeted Monday in Cambodia after her charity's rescue flight. Kaavan was sent to Pakistan more than three decades ago as a gift from former Sri Lanka dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. In 2012, his mate for 22 years, Saheli, died, leaving him alone for eight years and leading to him becoming known as "world's loneliest elephant." Advertisement
Grammy-winning singer Cher, 74, had campaigned for Kaavan's freedom from a zoo in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, where he was on occasion restrained in chains, and suffered malnourishment and negligence leading to cracked nails and behavioral issues.
In May, the Islamabad Hight Court ruled the elephant could be released from the zoo.
Cher greeted the 36-year-old elephant on the tarmac at an airport in Cambodia Monday after his flight from Pakistan in a custom-made crate with more than 440 pounds of food after her charity, Free the Wild, assisted the move. Animal rescue organization Four Paws said Kaavan would be released from the crate in daylight Tuesday to a sanctuary in Cambodia with space to roam and 600 fellow pachyderms.
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The documentary to air on the Smithsonian Channel in 2021 is tentatively titled "Cher's Elephant Airlift."
The rescue was a first for the charity Free the Wild, which Cher co-founded to help stop captive animals suffering.
"This is Free the Wild's first big rescue and I am so proud," Cher said. "We are thrilled to partner with the Smithsonian Channel who will be helping to bring our story to the world."
Last week Cher arrived in Pakistan to thank the government for Kaavan's release and join him for his flight.
"I found out about Kaavan from the people on my Twitter," Cher said in a statement regarding the upcoming documentary. "They would not stop saying, 'Cher, you have to do something, you have to fix this, you have to save him.' I thought, how can I fix this?"


upi--2020-11-30--Watch: Pizza with 254 kinds of cheese breaks Guinness record

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- A French chef captured a Guinness World Record by cooking up a pizza that @ @ @ @ @ .
Benoit Bruel combined 254 cheeses to top a pizza cooked up in the city @ @ @ @ @ Records said .
Guinness shared a video showing Bruel weighing out the portions of cheese @ @ @ @ @ enough of each variety to qualify for the world record .
Benoit told Guinness officials @ @ @ @ @ that the record be held by France , which is known for its cheeses .

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Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A French chef captured a Guinness World Record by cooking up a pizza that contains 254 varieties of cheese.
Benoit Bruel combined 254 cheeses to top a pizza cooked up in the city of Lyon, Guinness World Records said.
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Guinness shared a video showing Bruel weighing out the portions of cheese to make sure there was enough of each variety to qualify for the world record.
Benoit told Guinness officials he thought it was important that the record be held by France, which is known for its cheeses.


upi--2020-11-30--BAE Systems wins $3.2B contract for British munitions

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- BAE Systems was awarded a $ 3.2 billion munitions contract for Britain 's Next Generation Munitions Solution program , the defense ministry announced Monday .
The British-based company will manufacture 39 different munitions for the Royal Navy , Army , Royal Air Force and Strategic Command for front-line use , including small arms ammunition , mortars , medium-caliber gun rounds and large-caliber artillery and tank shells .
The 15-year contract calls for manufacturing improvements in five BAE facilities in Britain , and is part of a $ 22 billion , four-year increase in British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This vital multi-billion-pound contract will provide our service men and women with fire power on the front line for years to come whilst investing in British industry , British jobs and British infrastructure , '' Defense Minister Jeremy Quin said in a press release .
The single-source contract will deliver about 50 percent , by value , of the defense ministry 's total general munitions portfolio and will maximize military capability , the ministry statement said .
Both the ministry and BAE also noted increases in manufacturing and supply chain jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reduced costs to taxpayers .
In announcing the growth of the defense budget earlier this month , Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited a need to `` upgrade our capabilities across the board . ''
`` This is our chance to end the era of retreat , transform our armed forces , bolster our global influence , unite and level up our country , pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life , '' Johnson said .

BAE Systems and the British defense ministry on Monday announced a 15-year, $3.2 billion contract for munitions, including explosives, ammunition and tank shells. Photo courtesy of BAE Ordnance Systems Inc.
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- BAE Systems was awarded a $3.2 billion munitions contract for Britain's Next Generation Munitions Solution program, the defense ministry announced Monday. The British-based company will manufacture 39 different munitions for the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Strategic Command for front-line use, including small arms ammunition, mortars, medium-caliber gun rounds and large-caliber artillery and tank shells. Advertisement
The 15-year contract calls for manufacturing improvements in five BAE facilities in Britain, and is part of a $22 billion, four-year increase in British defense spending announced on Nov. 19.
"This vital multi-billion-pound contract will provide our service men and women with fire power on the front line for years to come whilst investing in British industry, British jobs and British infrastructure," Defense Minister Jeremy Quin said in a press release.
The single-source contract will deliver about 50 percent, by value, of the defense ministry's total general munitions portfolio and will maximize military capability, the ministry statement said.
Both the ministry and BAE also noted increases in manufacturing and supply chain jobs, as well as investment in new technology and reduced costs to taxpayers.
In announcing the growth of the defense budget earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited a need to "upgrade our capabilities across the board."
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"This is our chance to end the era of retreat, transform our armed forces, bolster our global influence, unite and level up our country, pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life," Johnson said.


upi--2020-11-30--England sees 30% drop in new COVID-19 infections amid lockdowns

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Recent lockdown restrictions imposed in England to reduce the spread of COVID-19 appear to be working , with a 30 % drop in new infections over the past month , according to research released Monday by Imperial College London .
Since the implementation of new protocols -- including business closures and limits on public gatherings -- based on local infection rates earlier in November , the country has seen its new coronavirus reproduction , or R , number fall to 0.88 , the data showed .
The R number measures how many people infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so lower figures suggest reduced transmission , the researchers said .
Although it is not among the official statistics used to track the epidemic , the R number for some parts of the United States may be more than twice as high , based on recent estimates .
The findings suggest England 's epidemic is shrinking rather than growing .
`` Our robust data offer encouraging signs for England 's epidemic , where we 're seeing a fall in infections at the national level and in particular across regions that were previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a press release .
`` As we approach a challenging time of year , it 's even more vital that through our actions and behaviors we all play our part in helping to keep the virus at bay , '' said Elliott , who heads the REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission , or REACT 1 , program at Imperial .
The REACT program is a series of studies designed to monitor how the virus is spreading across England by testing more than 150,000 randomly selected people each month over a two-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swabs at home , which are then analyzed in a laboratory by RT-PCR , the standard approach used globally to confirm COVID-19 infection .
Of 105,123 swabs analyzed for this latest round of testing , 821 were positive -- for an estimated prevalence of just under 1 % , the data showed .
This marks a roughly 30 % drop in the number of infections compared to the last round of REACT 1 testing , completed on Nov. 2 , in which more than 1 in 80 people , or 1.3 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people becoming infected was found to be halving every 37 days , with a corresponding R number of 0.88 , meaning that each infected person passes the virus on to fewer than one other person on average , the data showed .
`` This data illustrates the power of physical distancing with people outside of your household in preventing the spread of COVID-19 , '' public health specialist Brandon Brown told UPI .
`` We have the tools that work for prevention [ but ] a unified national strategy is important for avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agencies , '' said Brown , an associate professor of social medicine population and public health at the University of California-Riverside who was not part of the REACT 1 study .

New research suggests recent lockdowns in Britain have reduced the spread of COVID-19 during the last month. File Photo by Will Oliver/EPA-EFE
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Recent lockdown restrictions imposed in England to reduce the spread of COVID-19 appear to be working, with a 30% drop in new infections over the past month, according to research released Monday by Imperial College London. Since the implementation of new protocols -- including business closures and limits on public gatherings -- based on local infection rates earlier in November, the country has seen its new coronavirus reproduction, or R, number fall to 0.88, the data showed. Advertisement
The R number measures how many people infected with the virus spread it to others, so lower figures suggest reduced transmission, the researchers said.
Although it is not among the official statistics used to track the epidemic, the R number for some parts of the United States may be more than twice as high, based on recent estimates.
The findings suggest England's epidemic is shrinking rather than growing.
"Our robust data offer encouraging signs for England's epidemic, where we're seeing a fall in infections at the national level and in particular across regions that were previously worst affected," researcher Paul Elliott said in a press release.
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"As we approach a challenging time of year, it's even more vital that through our actions and behaviors we all play our part in helping to keep the virus at bay," said Elliott, who heads the REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission, or REACT 1, program at Imperial.
The REACT program is a series of studies designed to monitor how the virus is spreading across England by testing more than 150,000 randomly selected people each month over a two-week period.
Volunteers take nose and throat swabs at home, which are then analyzed in a laboratory by RT-PCR, the standard approach used globally to confirm COVID-19 infection.
Of 105,123 swabs analyzed for this latest round of testing, 821 were positive -- for an estimated prevalence of just under 1%, the data showed.
This marks a roughly 30% drop in the number of infections compared to the last round of REACT 1 testing, completed on Nov. 2, in which more than 1 in 80 people, or 1.3%, had the virus.
The number of people becoming infected was found to be halving every 37 days, with a corresponding R number of 0.88, meaning that each infected person passes the virus on to fewer than one other person on average, the data showed.
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"This data illustrates the power of physical distancing with people outside of your household in preventing the spread of COVID-19," public health specialist Brandon Brown told UPI.
"We have the tools that work for prevention [but] a unified national strategy is important for avoiding mixed messaging between city, state and federal agencies," said Brown, an associate professor of social medicine population and public health at the University of California-Riverside who was not part of the REACT 1 study.


upi--2020-11-30--Cyber Monday online shopping expected to break holiday records

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Online holiday shoppers are expected to break Cyber Monday records with $ 12.7 billion worth of potential sales and many shoppers using their smartphones to buy and ship gifts , Internet analysts said .
Shoppers avoiding in-person shopping during the pandemic are rushing to have packages delivered from online stores like Amazon.com , Target and Walmart , ringing up about $ 189 billion over the holiday season , according to Adobe Analytics 's Holiday Forecast .
Sales will be 33 % higher than last year , the company predicts .
More than 40 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smartphones , up 55 % from last year , Adobe predicted .
Buyers will purchase $ 28 billion more in items with their phones than last year , the Internet analytic team said .
Even as Black Friday crowds in retail stores the day after Thanksgiving were muted due to health concerns of the coronavirus , buyers were still online , consumers still spent $ 6.3 million per minute online , or $ 27.50 per person , Adobe found .
Cyber Monday is on track to break all previous records for online sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Adobe Digital Insights , told CNBC in a statement .
Shoppers will look for discounted toys , TVs and computers , Schreiner said .
But items ordered on Tuesday , Dec. 1 will take advantage of the `` golden day '' for shipping , Adobe predicted .
Shopping should peak between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday , the L.A. Times reported .
Shoppers will spend for the holidays even though their economic situation may be more precarious , predicted Jack Kleinhenz , chief economist at the National Federation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a difficult year but will likely spend more than anyone would have expected just a few months ago , '' Kleinhenz said in a statement earlier in November .
`` After all they 've been through , we think there 's going to be a psychological factor that they owe it to themselves and their families to have a better-than-normal holiday . ''
The trade association said that shoppers already started holiday shopping in early November , with almost 60 % of surveyed shoppers getting started early , a 21 % increase from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll released Wednesday said that shoppers were planning to buy slightly less this holiday season compared to 2019 .
In a survey of 1,000 people , respondents said they intend to spend an average of $ 852 on holiday gifts , less than the $ 942 average Americans spent on gifts last year .

Holiday shoppers on Cyber Monday are expected to order $12.7 billion worth of online items from Amazon.com and other online stores, Internet analysts said. File Photo by Friedemann Vogel/ EPA-EFE
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Online holiday shoppers are expected to break Cyber Monday records with $12.7 billion worth of potential sales and many shoppers using their smartphones to buy and ship gifts, Internet analysts said. Shoppers avoiding in-person shopping during the pandemic are rushing to have packages delivered from online stores like Amazon.com, Target and Walmart, ringing up about $189 billion over the holiday season, according to Adobe Analytics's Holiday Forecast. Sales will be 33% higher than last year, the company predicts. Advertisement
More than 40% of online shopping will be done on smartphones, up 55% from last year, Adobe predicted. Buyers will purchase $28 billion more in items with their phones than last year, the Internet analytic team said.
Even as Black Friday crowds in retail stores the day after Thanksgiving were muted due to health concerns of the coronavirus, buyers were still online, consumers still spent $6.3 million per minute online, or $27.50 per person, Adobe found.
Cyber Monday is on track to break all previous records for online sales," Taylor Schreiner, the director at Adobe Digital Insights, told CNBC in a statement. Shoppers will look for discounted toys, TVs and computers, Schreiner said.
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But items ordered on Tuesday, Dec. 1 will take advantage of the "golden day" for shipping, Adobe predicted.
Shopping should peak between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, the L.A. Times reported.
Shoppers will spend for the holidays even though their economic situation may be more precarious, predicted Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist at the National Federation of Retailers.
"Consumers have experienced a difficult year but will likely spend more than anyone would have expected just a few months ago," Kleinhenz said in a statement earlier in November.
"After all they've been through, we think there's going to be a psychological factor that they owe it to themselves and their families to have a better-than-normal holiday."
The trade association said that shoppers already started holiday shopping in early November, with almost 60% of surveyed shoppers getting started early, a 21% increase from a decade ago.
But a Gallup poll released Wednesday said that shoppers were planning to buy slightly less this holiday season compared to 2019. In a survey of 1,000 people, respondents said they intend to spend an average of $852 on holiday gifts, less than the $942 average Americans spent on gifts last year.
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upi--2020-11-30--Genes controlling warbler colors evolved through two separate processes

Nov. 30 ( UPI ) -- Two genes that dictate the unique colors and plumage patterns of New World warbler species evolved via two distinct processes , researchers have found .
These divergent pathways , described Monday in the journal Current Biology , could explain with this group of passerine birds evolved so rapidly .
`` Wood warblers are an incredibly colorful and diverse group of birds , with more than a hundred species in total , '' lead study author Marcella Baiz said in a news release .
`` These species arose very quickly in evolutionary time in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better understand this radiation , we studied genetic regions related to plumage coloration within a particularly colorful subset of warblers , '' said Baiz , a postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University .
Identifying connections between genes and animal traits remains quite difficult , complicating the task of linking genes with the evolutionary processes underlying speciation .
`` But many species of warblers readily interbreed , producing hybrid offspring with a mix of the parent species ' traits , so we were previously able to link certain color patterns with their underlying genetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toews .
`` In this study , we focused on two coloration genes , but were able to study them across all the species in this large genus , to give us a window into the rest of the radiation , '' said Toews , an assistant professor of biology at Penn State .
For the study , scientists sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 34 species within the Setophaga genus of wood warblers , which allowed them to construct a detailed phylogenetic tree of the New World warblers .
By untangling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species , researchers were able to identify a variety of sister species -- pairs of species that diverged from a common ancestor .
Through their analysis , Toews and company determined that brown and black plumage among wood warbler species is controlled by the Agouti-signaling protein gene , or ASIP gene .
When researchers compared sister species with significant differences in the amount or positioning of their black and brown feathers , they found discernible genetic differences near the ASIP gene .
`` We created an evolutionary tree based solely on the ASIP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the gene has changed across the genus , '' said Baiz .
`` The patterns in this gene tree mirror patterns in the phylogenetic tree based on what we see across the whole genome .
This implies that the differences we see in ASIP resulted from mutations that arose independently in different species , '' Baiz said .
However , when researchers created an evolutionary tree based on the BCO2 gene region , or beta-carotene oxygenate 2 , the patterns failed to match up with the genome tree .
The discrepancy suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , red , and orange plumage in warblers -- evolved through a different process .
Researchers suspect the distribution of genetic changes in BCO2 came about through introgression , the exchange of genes between species that evolved separately .
`` Introgression can occur when two separate species hybridize , and the hybrid offspring go on to mate with one of the original species , '' said Baiz .
`` After several generations , genetic material from one species can be incorporated into the other .
The signal of this kind of ancient introgression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living individuals -- like how ancestry tests can reveal how many Neanderthal genes you have . ''
`` In this instance , we unexpectedly found evidence for ancient introgression at BCO2 in two otherwise distantly related warblers in this genus , '' Baiz said .
Researchers identified evidence of introgression between the yellow warbler and magnolia warbler , as well as between the prairie warbler and vitelline warbler .
However , scientists were unable to determine the direction of the gene transfer .
`` One possibility is that the magnolia warbler version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this 'new to them ' version produced a broader deposition of carotenoids in the feathers of the yellow warbler , '' said Toews .
`` It is fun to think that ancient introgression is what made the yellow warbler so yellow ! ''
The new research suggests both inheritable mutations and introgression combined to produce the tremendous diversity of colors and plumage patterns displayed by warbler species .
Scientists suspect these two modes of evolutionary development could have also fueled the rapid radiation of warbler species .
In followup studies , scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mutations and gene transfers that led to changes in pigment production .
`` There 's a possibility that there may be introgression from another genus entirely , '' said Toews .
`` Expanding to other warblers would allow us to explore this possibility , and to more broadly understand the radiation of these fascinating birds . ''

New research suggests distinct evolutionary processes explain the diversity of two color-related genes that account for diversity of color and pattern among wood warblers. Photo by Darrell Cochran/Penn State
Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Two genes that dictate the unique colors and plumage patterns of New World warbler species evolved via two distinct processes, researchers have found. These divergent pathways, described Monday in the journal Current Biology, could explain with this group of passerine birds evolved so rapidly. Advertisement
"Wood warblers are an incredibly colorful and diverse group of birds, with more than a hundred species in total," lead study author Marcella Baiz said in a news release.
"These species arose very quickly in evolutionary time in what biologists call a species radiation. To better understand this radiation, we studied genetic regions related to plumage coloration within a particularly colorful subset of warblers," said Baiz, a postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University.
Identifying connections between genes and animal traits remains quite difficult, complicating the task of linking genes with the evolutionary processes underlying speciation.
Advertisement
"But many species of warblers readily interbreed, producing hybrid offspring with a mix of the parent species' traits, so we were previously able to link certain color patterns with their underlying genetic regions," said lead researcher David Toews.
"In this study, we focused on two coloration genes, but were able to study them across all the species in this large genus, to give us a window into the rest of the radiation," said Toews, an assistant professor of biology at Penn State.
For the study, scientists sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 34 species within the Setophaga genus of wood warblers, which allowed them to construct a detailed phylogenetic tree of the New World warblers.
By untangling the evolutionary relationships among the group's many species, researchers were able to identify a variety of sister species -- pairs of species that diverged from a common ancestor.
Through their analysis, Toews and company determined that brown and black plumage among wood warbler species is controlled by the Agouti-signaling protein gene, or ASIP gene.
When researchers compared sister species with significant differences in the amount or positioning of their black and brown feathers, they found discernible genetic differences near the ASIP gene.
"We created an evolutionary tree based solely on the ASIP gene region, which more clearly shows how the gene has changed across the genus," said Baiz.
Advertisement
"The patterns in this gene tree mirror patterns in the phylogenetic tree based on what we see across the whole genome. This implies that the differences we see in ASIP resulted from mutations that arose independently in different species," Baiz said.
However, when researchers created an evolutionary tree based on the BCO2 gene region, or beta-carotene oxygenate 2, the patterns failed to match up with the genome tree.
The discrepancy suggests BCO2 -- which codes for bright yellow, red, and orange plumage in warblers -- evolved through a different process.
Researchers suspect the distribution of genetic changes in BCO2 came about through introgression, the exchange of genes between species that evolved separately.
"Introgression can occur when two separate species hybridize, and the hybrid offspring go on to mate with one of the original species," said Baiz. "After several generations, genetic material from one species can be incorporated into the other. The signal of this kind of ancient introgression can be maintained in the genomes of living individuals -- like how ancestry tests can reveal how many Neanderthal genes you have."
"In this instance, we unexpectedly found evidence for ancient introgression at BCO2 in two otherwise distantly related warblers in this genus," Baiz said.
Advertisement
Researchers identified evidence of introgression between the yellow warbler and magnolia warbler, as well as between the prairie warbler and vitelline warbler. However, scientists were unable to determine the direction of the gene transfer.
"One possibility is that the magnolia warbler version of BCO2 introgressed into the yellow warbler, and this 'new to them' version produced a broader deposition of carotenoids in the feathers of the yellow warbler," said Toews. "It is fun to think that ancient introgression is what made the yellow warbler so yellow!"
The new research suggests both inheritable mutations and introgression combined to produce the tremendous diversity of colors and plumage patterns displayed by warbler species. Scientists suspect these two modes of evolutionary development could have also fueled the rapid radiation of warbler species.
In followup studies, scientists hope to precisely pinpoint the specific genetic mutations and gene transfers that led to changes in pigment production.
"There's a possibility that there may be introgression from another genus entirely," said Toews. "Expanding to other warblers would allow us to explore this possibility, and to more broadly understand the radiation of these fascinating birds."