upi--2020-01-21--Study: Well visits to pediatricians up, sick visits down

Little Johnny 's cough has lasted for days , leaving Mom and Dad wondering if the symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor .
A new study suggests that such parents may choose to skip that standard pediatric sick visit .
Overall visits to the pediatrician in the United States dropped by 14 percent between 2008 and 2016 .
Sick visits were down 24 percent .
At the same time , well-child visits seemed to buck the trend -- they actually increased by 10 percent .
The researchers pointed to several possible reasons for the change , including increasing out-of-pocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinics , and maybe even healthier kids .
`` I think there may be different things going on , and we have to support the positive changes like the small increase in preventive visits , '' said study lead author Dr. Kristin Ray .
She 's an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine .
`` And , are there ways we can zero in on the negative reasons to create a more ideal system of care -- one with health care that 's affordable , accessible and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ray said .
Since the Affordable Care Act 's debut in 2010 , there have been major shifts in primary care .
Many preventive services , including well-child visits , are covered fully .
That means parents have no out-of-pocket costs for preventive care .
For sick visits , however , costs have often gone up .
Deductibles , co-pays and co-insurance may leave families paying more out of pocket .
There are also more options for care , researchers noted .
If a child complains of a sore throat at 8 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinic instead of waiting until the next day to see their child 's pediatrician .
The study included U.S. insurance claims data from 2008 through 2016 for children 17 years old and younger .
The data came from a commercial insurance plan that covers millions of kids in all 50 states .
Researchers found a decrease in overall pediatric primary care visits for all groups of children .
The decrease was smallest for those 1 year and younger .
More people had to shoulder a deductible for problem-based pediatric visits over the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these visits rose .
Parents did seek alternatives to the standard pediatrician sick visit , including treatment at urgent care and retail clinics as well as telemedicine consults .
These visits accounted for about half of the decrease in pediatric sick visits , the study found .
Vaccinations may also have reduced the need for some sick visits .
And , because many doctors are less likely to prescribe antibiotics for cold symptoms , parents might be waiting longer to see a pediatrician , researchers theorized .
The findings were published Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perrin co-authored an editorial accompanying the study .
He said it 's hard to say whether the changes in pediatric visits are good or bad .
`` These changes fit with other patterns we 're seeing in well-child and care patterns in general .
Consumers are increasingly knowledgeable in the context of pediatric care , and know that many things do n't need an actual visit with the doctor , '' said Perrin , a pediatrician at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston .
`` There are many different ways of communicating with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's more phone call management , '' he said .
Perrin added that less traditional ways of getting care -- phone calls , telemedicine , urgent care clinics -- are very helpful for young parents .
`` Finding time to show up at the doctor 's office is very difficult for young families where both parents work . ''
Still , he recommended having a medical home for your kids .
`` My sense is that the Affordable Care Act did a number of really good and important things .
Preventive care is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their office team to spend more time on preventive care , and to think more holistically about children 's health .
Parents should make use of their preventive care benefits , '' Perrin said .
Learn more about choosing a pediatrician from the American Academy of Pediatrics .

Researchers say they can't understand why parents in recent years have been bringing their children to the pediatrician less often when they're sick. Photo by Semevent /Pixabay
Little Johnny's cough has lasted for days, leaving Mom and Dad wondering if the symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor. A new study suggests that such parents may choose to skip that standard pediatric sick visit. Overall visits to the pediatrician in the United States dropped by 14 percent between 2008 and 2016. Sick visits were down 24 percent. Advertisement
At the same time, well-child visits seemed to buck the trend -- they actually increased by 10 percent.
The researchers pointed to several possible reasons for the change, including increasing out-of-pocket costs, the availability of urgent care clinics, and maybe even healthier kids.
"I think there may be different things going on, and we have to support the positive changes like the small increase in preventive visits," said study lead author Dr. Kristin Ray. She's an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Advertisement
"And, are there ways we can zero in on the negative reasons to create a more ideal system of care -- one with health care that's affordable, accessible and available when families need it," Ray said.
Since the Affordable Care Act's debut in 2010, there have been major shifts in primary care. Many preventive services, including well-child visits, are covered fully. That means parents have no out-of-pocket costs for preventive care.
For sick visits, however, costs have often gone up. Deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance may leave families paying more out of pocket.
There are also more options for care, researchers noted. If a child complains of a sore throat at 8 p.m., parents can visit an urgent care clinic instead of waiting until the next day to see their child's pediatrician.
The study included U.S. insurance claims data from 2008 through 2016 for children 17 years old and younger. The data came from a commercial insurance plan that covers millions of kids in all 50 states.
Researchers found a decrease in overall pediatric primary care visits for all groups of children. The decrease was smallest for those 1 year and younger. More people had to shoulder a deductible for problem-based pediatric visits over the study period. For many, out-of-pocket costs for these visits rose.
Advertisement
Parents did seek alternatives to the standard pediatrician sick visit, including treatment at urgent care and retail clinics as well as telemedicine consults. These visits accounted for about half of the decrease in pediatric sick visits, the study found.
Vaccinations may also have reduced the need for some sick visits. And, because many doctors are less likely to prescribe antibiotics for cold symptoms, parents might be waiting longer to see a pediatrician, researchers theorized. The findings were published Jan. 21 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Dr. James Perrin co-authored an editorial accompanying the study. He said it's hard to say whether the changes in pediatric visits are good or bad.
"These changes fit with other patterns we're seeing in well-child and care patterns in general. Consumers are increasingly knowledgeable in the context of pediatric care, and know that many things don't need an actual visit with the doctor," said Perrin, a pediatrician at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston.
"There are many different ways of communicating with your child's doctor now. There's more phone call management," he said. Perrin added that less traditional ways of getting care -- phone calls, telemedicine, urgent care clinics -- are very helpful for young parents. "Finding time to show up at the doctor's office is very difficult for young families where both parents work."
Advertisement
Still, he recommended having a medical home for your kids.
"My sense is that the Affordable Care Act did a number of really good and important things. Preventive care is essentially free, and it allows pediatricians and their office team to spend more time on preventive care, and to think more holistically about children's health. Parents should make use of their preventive care benefits," Perrin said.
More information
Learn more about choosing a pediatrician from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-21--Derek Jeter, Larry Walker elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and five-time All-Star Larry Walker were selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday .
Jeter , the longtime Yankees captain , was a near unanimous choice for the Hall of Fame , appearing on 396 of 397 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers ' Association of America .
Former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera became the first unanimous selection last year .
Jeter gained 99.7 percent of votes , moving above Ken Griffey Jr. ( 99.3 percent ) for the second highest .
It remains unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The BBWAA will release additional ballots on Feb. 4 of writers who chose a public listing .
Walker appeared on 304 ballots , six votes above the required 75 percent , in his 10th and final appearance on the ballot .
He earned 54.6 percent of votes last year .
Pitcher Curt Schilling was third with 278 votes ( 70 percent ) in his eighth appearance on the ballot , an increase from 60.9 percent .
Roger Clemens ( 61 percent ) and Barry Bonds ( 60.7 percent ) both showed slight increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on July 26 at the Hall in Cooperstown , N.Y. , along with catcher Ted Simmons and ex-players ' association head Marvin Miller .
Simmons and Miller were voted in last month by the Hall of Fame 's Modern Era Committee .

Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter appeared on 396 of 397 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and five-time All-Star Larry Walker were selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Jeter, the longtime Yankees captain, was a near unanimous choice for the Hall of Fame, appearing on 396 of 397 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera became the first unanimous selection last year. Advertisement
Jeter gained 99.7 percent of votes, moving above Ken Griffey Jr. (99.3 percent) for the second highest. It remains unclear which voter didn't select Jeter. The BBWAA will release additional ballots on Feb. 4 of writers who chose a public listing.
Walker appeared on 304 ballots, six votes above the required 75 percent, in his 10th and final appearance on the ballot. He earned 54.6 percent of votes last year.
Pitcher Curt Schilling was third with 278 votes (70 percent) in his eighth appearance on the ballot, an increase from 60.9 percent. Roger Clemens (61 percent) and Barry Bonds (60.7 percent) both showed slight increases.
Jeter and Walker will be inducted on July 26 at the Hall in Cooperstown, N.Y., along with catcher Ted Simmons and ex-players' association head Marvin Miller. Simmons and Miller were voted in last month by the Hall of Fame's Modern Era Committee.


upi--2020-01-21--Re-enlistment numbers down in 2019,  but not by much, Navy says

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The rate at which eligible sailors re-enroll is down a few percentage points from last year , but still clears benchmarks the service set for retention , according to data released by the Navy Overall retention of eligible sailors was 74 percent in Fiscal Year 2019 , a dip from 78 percent from Fiscal Year 2018 .
The Navy 's numbers are broken up by zones based on the number of years sailors had been enlisted .
`` Despite a strong U.S. economy , we have maintained excellent retention since FY-18 , largely accomplished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended to provide Sailors with the choices , flexibility and transparency they have come to expect and could already receive from the private sector , '' said an administrative message preceding the results .
`` Our Sailors are proudly declaring that the Navy remains their employer of choice . ''
Those in Zone A -- that is , in their first six years of service -- re-enlisted at a rate of 64 percent , where those in Zone B -- who had six to 10 years of Navy service under their belts -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sailors in Zone C , who had 10 to 14 years of service , re-enlisted at a rate of 85 percent .
Those numbers clear the benchmarks for each category The Navy set a benchmark of 57 percent for Zone A , 67 percent for Zone B and 82 percent for Zone C. Fleet Master Chief Wes Koshoffer told Military Times the decline stemmed from policy changes during previous years that hiked retention , including changes to physical readiness assessments and tenure policies .
`` We are building the Navy the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nowell , chief of naval personnel .
`` These retention numbers signify that Sailors want to stay Navy .
By retaining our best and brightest , we reduce recruiting and training costs and ultimately make us a better warfighting force . ''

Seaman Leanne Connelly from Denver, Colo., applies gold paint to one of two 30-ton Navy standard stockless anchors aboard USS John C. Stennis. The Navy has announced that in 2019 retained 74 percent of its sailors who were eligible for enlistment -- a slight dip from 2018. Photo by Jayme T. Pastoric/U.S. Navy
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The rate at which eligible sailors re-enroll is down a few percentage points from last year, but still clears benchmarks the service set for retention, according to data released by the Navy Overall retention of eligible sailors was 74 percent in Fiscal Year 2019, a dip from 78 percent from Fiscal Year 2018. Advertisement
The Navy's numbers are broken up by zones based on the number of years sailors had been enlisted.
"Despite a strong U.S. economy, we have maintained excellent retention since FY-18, largely accomplished through our Sailor 2025 initiatives which are intended to provide Sailors with the choices, flexibility and transparency they have come to expect and could already receive from the private sector," said an administrative message preceding the results. "Our Sailors are proudly declaring that the Navy remains their employer of choice."
Those in Zone A -- that is, in their first six years of service -- re-enlisted at a rate of 64 percent, where those in Zone B -- who had six to 10 years of Navy service under their belts -- re-enlisted at a rate of 72 percent.
Sailors in Zone C, who had 10 to 14 years of service, re-enlisted at a rate of 85 percent.
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Those numbers clear the benchmarks for each category
The Navy set a benchmark of 57 percent for Zone A, 67 percent for Zone B and 82 percent for Zone C.
Fleet Master Chief Wes Koshoffer told Military Times the decline stemmed from policy changes during previous years that hiked retention, including changes to physical readiness assessments and tenure policies.
"We are building the Navy the nation needs," said Vice Adm. John Nowell, chief of naval personnel. "These retention numbers signify that Sailors want to stay Navy. By retaining our best and brightest, we reduce recruiting and training costs and ultimately make us a better warfighting force."


upi--2020-01-21--16 executives charged with murder in 2019 Brazil dam collapse

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday charged executives from a Brazilian mining company and a German safety firm with murder and environmental crimes in a 2019 dam collapse that killed 270 people .
Fabio Schvartsman , the former chief executive of the Brazilian mining company Vale , and 10 other senior executives from the company as well as five employees from the German company TUV SUD , which it hired to assess the stability of its dams , were among those charged .
State prosecutor William Garcia Pinto Coelho said Vale officials knew the dam in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least November 2017 and was on an internal list of 10 dams at risk of bursting .
The dam collapsed on Jan. 25 , sending a wall of water and waste sludge slamming into homes , vehicles and a group of about 100 miners taking a lunch break while more than 400 people were working in the mines .
Pinto Coelho added that there was a relationship of `` pressure , collusion , rewards and conflict of interest between Vale and TUV SUD . ''
Vale executives hid evidence of safety concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems while TUV SUD was compensated for presenting Vale misleading reports about the stability of its dams .
`` The object of these omissions was to avoid any negative reputational impacts to Vale that could affect its market value , '' he said .
`` TUV SUD and Vale systematically concealed from society , shareholders and investors the real gravity of the situation . ''
Pinto Coelho also said Schvartsman `` acted directly to create this false impression of complete safety in Vale 's dams . ''
Schvartsman 's lawyer , Pierpaolo Bottini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been made aware of the concerns about the dam and Vale issued a statement saying it was `` perplexed '' by the charges .
`` Vale trusts that the causes of the rupture will be completely determined and reaffirms its commitment to continue cooperating with the authorities , '' the company said .
TUV SUD issued its own statement saying it was cooperating with Brazilian and German authorities and that the causes of the dam bursting `` have not been conclusively ascertained . ''

A general view on damage caused by the breakage of a dam containing mineral waste from Vale, the world's largest iron producer, in Brumadinho, Brazil, on January 25. Sixteen executives from Vale and German safety firm TUV SUD were charged with murder in connection with the collapse. File Photo by Paulo Fonseca/EPA-EFE
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday charged executives from a Brazilian mining company and a German safety firm with murder and environmental crimes in a 2019 dam collapse that killed 270 people. Fabio Schvartsman, the former chief executive of the Brazilian mining company Vale, and 10 other senior executives from the company as well as five employees from the German company TUV SUD, which it hired to assess the stability of its dams, were among those charged. Advertisement
State prosecutor William Garcia Pinto Coelho said Vale officials knew the dam in Brumadinho was at risk of collapse since at least November 2017 and was on an internal list of 10 dams at risk of bursting.
The dam collapsed on Jan. 25, sending a wall of water and waste sludge slamming into homes, vehicles and a group of about 100 miners taking a lunch break while more than 400 people were working in the mines.
Pinto Coelho added that there was a relationship of "pressure, collusion, rewards and conflict of interest between Vale and TUV SUD."
Vale executives hid evidence of safety concerns and retaliated against auditing firms that flagged problems while TUV SUD was compensated for presenting Vale misleading reports about the stability of its dams.
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"The object of these omissions was to avoid any negative reputational impacts to Vale that could affect its market value," he said. "TUV SUD and Vale systematically concealed from society, shareholders and investors the real gravity of the situation."
Pinto Coelho also said Schvartsman "acted directly to create this false impression of complete safety in Vale's dams."
Schvartsman's lawyer, Pierpaolo Bottini, said there was no evidence he had been made aware of the concerns about the dam and Vale issued a statement saying it was "perplexed" by the charges.
"Vale trusts that the causes of the rupture will be completely determined and reaffirms its commitment to continue cooperating with the authorities," the company said.
TUV SUD issued its own statement saying it was cooperating with Brazilian and German authorities and that the causes of the dam bursting "have not been conclusively ascertained."


upi--2020-01-21--L.A. City Council approves resolution asking MLB to strip Astros, Red Sox of titles

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday asking Major League Baseball to strip recent World Series titles from the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros and grant them to the Los Angeles Dodgers .
The resolution , presented by council members Gil Cedillo and Paul Koretz , cited the sign-stealing allegations brought against the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox and urges MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to `` recall the World Series Commissioner 's Trophies and award them to the Los Angeles Dodgers . ''
Manfred released a nine-page statement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal use of a camera-based system to steal signs of opposing teams throughout the 2017 regular season and postseason .
The league issued penalties that included season-long suspensions for manager A.J .
Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow , loss of draft picks and a $ 5 million fine .
Luhnow and Hinch were subsequently fired for their connection to the sign-stealing scheme .
The Red Sox parted ways with Alex Cora , who served as the Astros ' bench coach in 2017 , earlier this month for his role in the operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same with Carlos Beltran , a veteran player with the 2017 Astros who was named the Mets ' manager in November .
The Dodgers , still seeking their first championship since 1988 , lost to the Astros in seven games in the 2017 World Series and fell to the Red Sox in five games in the 2018 season .

The Boston Red Sox parted ways with manager Alex Cora (pictured), who also served as the Houston Astros' bench coach in 2017, after he was named in MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's nine-page statement that detailed the Astros' sign-stealing scheme. File Photo by Howard Simmons/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday asking Major League Baseball to strip recent World Series titles from the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros and grant them to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The resolution, presented by council members Gil Cedillo and Paul Koretz, cited the sign-stealing allegations brought against the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox and urges MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to "recall the World Series Commissioner's Trophies and award them to the Los Angeles Dodgers." Advertisement
Manfred released a nine-page statement on Jan. 13 that detailed the Astros' illegal use of a camera-based system to steal signs of opposing teams throughout the 2017 regular season and postseason. The league issued penalties that included season-long suspensions for manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, loss of draft picks and a $5 million fine.
Luhnow and Hinch were subsequently fired for their connection to the sign-stealing scheme. The Red Sox parted ways with Alex Cora, who served as the Astros' bench coach in 2017, earlier this month for his role in the operation.
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The New York Mets also did the same with Carlos Beltran, a veteran player with the 2017 Astros who was named the Mets' manager in November.
The Dodgers, still seeking their first championship since 1988, lost to the Astros in seven games in the 2017 World Series and fell to the Red Sox in five games in the 2018 season.


upi--2020-01-23--Scientists move 'Doomsday Clock' to latest time in history

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on Thursday moved up its `` Doomsday Clock '' to 100 seconds before midnight -- the closest it 's ever come to symbolic world destruction in the gauge 's 73-year history .
The group set the clock -- which symbolically reflects how close the world is to `` midnight , '' or its destruction -- ahead by 20 seconds during the event Thursday , to 11:58 p.m. , and 20 seconds .
It had been at two minutes to midnight since 2018 .
The group 's moving the clock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Before Thursday , two minutes to midnight had been the closest the clock has been to midnight -- having reached that point just twice since the clock was established .
The first was 1953 during the Cold War and followed the first U.S. test of a thermonuclear weapon .
Former California Gov .
Jerry Brown , the group 's executive chairman , former Irish President Mary Robinson and former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon unveiled the new position at Thursday 's event .
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists President and CEO Rachel Bronson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scientists that the world had entered `` a two-minute warning '' for its survival .
`` When the board kept the clock at two minutes to midnight in 2019 , we argued then that the global situation was abnormal , and that this 'new abnormal ' was simply too volatile and too dangerous to accept as a continuing state of world affairs , '' she said .
`` Today we feel no more optimistic . ''
The decision was made by the group 's science and security board following a year in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as nuclear proliferation and climate change , were hastened by moves away from international cooperation , she said .
The science board found that both nuclear and climate change situations worsened last year .
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists first began the tradition in 1947 as a way to gauge the world 's proximity to nuclear holocaust .
In 2007 the group added climate change as a factor in the clock 's setting .
`` We have seen influential leaders denigrate and discard the most effective methods for addressing complex threats -- international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of their own narrow interests and domestic political gain , '' Bronson said .
The furthest the clock has ever been from midnight was set in 1991 , at 11:43 , or 17 minutes from `` doomsday , '' after the United States signed the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the Soviet Union dissolved .

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Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Executive Chair Jerry Brown announces Thursday the "Doomsday Clock" was moved forward 20 seconds to its latest time in history. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on Thursday moved up its "Doomsday Clock" to 100 seconds before midnight -- the closest it's ever come to symbolic world destruction in the gauge's 73-year history. The group set the clock -- which symbolically reflects how close the world is to "midnight," or its destruction -- ahead by 20 seconds during the event Thursday, to 11:58 p.m., and 20 seconds. It had been at two minutes to midnight since 2018. Advertisement
The group's moving the clock reflects all relative events that occurred in 2019.
Before Thursday, two minutes to midnight had been the closest the clock has been to midnight -- having reached that point just twice since the clock was established. The first was 1953 during the Cold War and followed the first U.S. test of a thermonuclear weapon.
Former California Gov. Jerry Brown, the group's executive chairman, former Irish President Mary Robinson and former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon unveiled the new position at Thursday's event.
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists President and CEO Rachel Bronson said the move reflected the opinion of the scientists that the world had entered "a two-minute warning" for its survival.
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"When the board kept the clock at two minutes to midnight in 2019, we argued then that the global situation was abnormal, and that this 'new abnormal' was simply too volatile and too dangerous to accept as a continuing state of world affairs," she said. "Today we feel no more optimistic."
The decision was made by the group's science and security board following a year in which man-made threats to humanity, such as nuclear proliferation and climate change, were hastened by moves away from international cooperation, she said. The science board found that both nuclear and climate change situations worsened last year.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists first began the tradition in 1947 as a way to gauge the world's proximity to nuclear holocaust. In 2007 the group added climate change as a factor in the clock's setting.
"We have seen influential leaders denigrate and discard the most effective methods for addressing complex threats -- international agreements with strong verification regimes -- in favor of their own narrow interests and domestic political gain," Bronson said.
The furthest the clock has ever been from midnight was set in 1991, at 11:43, or 17 minutes from "doomsday," after the United States signed the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the Soviet Union dissolved.


upi--2020-01-23--Look: Ariana Grande, BTS link up at Grammys rehearsal

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Ariana Grande spent time with South Korean boy band BTS at a rehearsal for the Grammys .
The 26-year-old singer shared a photo with the K-pop group Wednesday while rehearsing for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards , which take place Sunday in Los Angeles .
The black-and-white picture shows Grande sitting on a stage with BTS members Jin , J-Hope , RM , Jimin , V and Jungkook .
Suga did not appear in the photo .
`` look who i bumped into at rehearsal : ) , '' Grande captioned the post .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Grande-BTS collaboration .
Grande will perform at the Grammys , where she is nominated for five awards , including Album of the Year for Thank U , Next .
She most recently released the live album K Bye for Now ( SWT Live ) in December .
The Recording Academy announced in a press release Thursday that BTS will perform in the special segment `` Old Town Road All-Stars '' at the Grammys .
The segment features Lil Nas X , Billy Ray Cyrus , Diplo , Mason Ramse and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth studio album , Map of the Soul : 7 , in February .
The group will promote the album with a new tour , Map of the Soul , which begins in April .

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Ariana Grande spent time with South Korean boy band BTS at a rehearsal for the Grammys.
The 26-year-old singer shared a photo with the K-pop group Wednesday while rehearsing for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, which take place Sunday in Los Angeles.
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The black-and-white picture shows Grande sitting on a stage with BTS members Jin, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. Suga did not appear in the photo.
"look who i bumped into at rehearsal :)," Grande captioned the post.
The photo fueled some fans' hopes for a Grande-BTS collaboration.
"This pic smells collab," one person wrote.
Grande will perform at the Grammys, where she is nominated for five awards, including Album of the Year for Thank U, Next. She most recently released the live album K Bye for Now (SWT Live) in December.
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The Recording Academy announced in a press release Thursday that BTS will perform in the special segment "Old Town Road All-Stars" at the Grammys. The segment features Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, Mason Ramse and other surprise guests.
BTS will release its fourth studio album, Map of the Soul: 7, in February. The group will promote the album with a new tour, Map of the Soul, which begins in April.


upi--2020-01-23--'Captain Marvel' sequel officially enters development

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Marvel Studios has started developing a sequel to 2019 's Captain Marvel which starred @ @ @ @ @ role .
Megan McDonnell , a writer on Disney+ series WandaVision which will follow Scarlet @ @ @ @ @ and Vision ( Paul Bettany ) , is in final negotiations to pen the Captain @ @ @ @ @ and Ryan Fleck who directed and co-write the first Captain Marvel , will not be @ @ @ @ @ The new film will take place in the present day after the first one took @ @ @ @ @ The original Captain Marvel , released in March 2019 , was Marvel 's first female-led @ @ @ @ @ 1.13 billion globally .
Samuel L. Jackson , Ben Mendelsohn , Jude Law and Annette @ @ @ @ @ also appeared as the character in the after-credits scene of Avengers : Infinity War and @ @ @ @ @

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"Captain Marvel" star Brie Larson, Marvel has started developing a sequel to the superhero film. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Marvel Studios has started developing a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel which starred Brie Larson in the title role. Megan McDonnell, a writer on Disney+ series WandaVision which will follow Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), is in final negotiations to pen the Captain Marvel sequel. Advertisement
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck who directed and co-write the first Captain Marvel , will not be returning for the sequel. The new film will take place in the present day after the first one took place in the '90s.
The original Captain Marvel, released in March 2019, was Marvel's first female-led superhero film and grossed $1.13 billion globally. Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law and Annette Bening also starred.
Larson also appeared as the character in the after-credits scene of Avengers: Infinity War and in Avengers: Endgame.


upi--2020-01-23--Ozzy Osbourne, wife Sharon to present at Grammy Awards

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Ozzy Osbourne will present an award at the 2020 Grammys .
The Recording Academy announced in a press release Wednesday that Osbourne , 71 , and his wife , Sharon Osbourne , 67 , will serve as presenters Sunday at the 62nd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles .
The news comes two days after Osbourne went public about his diagnosis with Parkinson 's disease .
Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne discussed the singer 's health Monday on Good Morning America .
`` It 's PRKN 2 , '' Sharon Osbourne said .
`` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; it 's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination , but it does affect certain nerves in your body .
And it 's -- it 's like you have a good day , a good day , and then a really bad day . ''
Osbourne was diagnosed in February 2019 after undergoing surgery after a bad fall at home .
`` I got numbness down this arm for the surgery , my legs keep going cold , '' he said .
`` I do n't know if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , but that 's -- see , that 's the problem .
Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery .
I 'd never heard of nerve pain , and it 's a weird feeling . ''
Osbourne thanked fans for their support in a tweet Monday .
`` Thank you all so much for your well wishes .
It means the absolute world to me .
All my love , Ozzy , '' the post reads .
Dua Lipa , Keith Urban , Common , Cynthia Erivo , Billy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Stevie Wonder , Jim Gaffigan , Trevor Noah , Ava DuVernay , Bebe Rexha , Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker will also present awards at the Grammys , which air on CBS .
The Grammy Awards will feature performances from Aerosmith , Billie Eilish , Lizzo , Ariana Grande , Jonas Brothers , Camila Cabello , Demi Lovato , Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani , and other stars .
In addition , John Legend , DJ Khaled , Meek Mill , Roddy Ricch , YG and Kirk Franklin will perform a tribute @ @ @ @ @ @

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Ozzy Osbourne (L) and Sharon Osbourne will serve as presenters Sunday at the Grammy Awards. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Ozzy Osbourne will present an award at the 2020 Grammys. The Recording Academy announced in a press release Wednesday that Osbourne, 71, and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, 67, will serve as presenters Sunday at the 62nd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Advertisement
The news comes two days after Osbourne went public about his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne discussed the singer's health Monday on Good Morning America.
"It's PRKN 2," Sharon Osbourne said. "There's so many different types of Parkinson's; it's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it's -- it's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day."
Osbourne was diagnosed in February 2019 after undergoing surgery after a bad fall at home.
"I got numbness down this arm for the surgery, my legs keep going cold," he said. "I don't know if that's the Parkinson's or what, you know, but that's -- see, that's the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. I'd never heard of nerve pain, and it's a weird feeling."
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Osbourne thanked fans for their support in a tweet Monday.
"Thank you all so much for your well wishes. It means the absolute world to me. All my love, Ozzy," the post reads.
Dua Lipa, Keith Urban, Common, Cynthia Erivo, Billy Porter, Smokey Robinson, Shania Twain, Stevie Wonder, Jim Gaffigan, Trevor Noah, Ava DuVernay, Bebe Rexha, Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker will also present awards at the Grammys, which air on CBS.
The Grammy Awards will feature performances from Aerosmith, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, and other stars. In addition, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, YG and Kirk Franklin will perform a tribute to late rapper Nipsey Hussle.


upi--2020-01-23--Australian Open: Rafael Nadal hits ballgirl on head with shot, gives her kiss

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Tennis star Rafael Nadal accidentally hit a ballgirl with one of his shots during his second round match at the 2020 Australian Open Friday in Melbourne .
`` Well for her , it was probably not a good moment , '' Nadal said after the match .
`` I was scared for her .
The ball went straight at her .
She is a super brave girl . ''
Nadal apologized for the error by giving the girl a kiss .
The sequence occurred during the third set of his straight sets victory against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set 4-1 at the time .
Delbonis began the exchange with a serve to the world No .
1 .
Nadal sprinted to his left and attempted a forehand return , but the shot sprayed out of bonds and went around the chair umpire .
The ball struck then the ball girl , who could n't see it coming .
The girl briefly held onto her face before Nadal ran over to check on her .
The Spanish tennis star lifted her hat to assess the damage , but the girl smiled and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then kissed her left cheek and gave her a headband .
Nadal won the game to go up 5-1 in the set , before claiming match point on a forehand winner .
`` It was one of the more scary moments I 've had on a tennis court , because the ball went straight at her head ...
I 'm very happy she is OK , '' Nadal said .
Nadal battles Pablo Carreno Busta in his third round match at the 2020 Australian Open .

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal won in straight sets to advance to the third round of the 2020 Australian Open on Friday in Melbourne. Photo by Scott Barbour/EPA-EFE
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Tennis star Rafael Nadal accidentally hit a ballgirl with one of his shots during his second round match at the 2020 Australian Open Friday in Melbourne. "Well for her, it was probably not a good moment," Nadal said after the match. "I was scared for her. The ball went straight at her. She is a super brave girl." Advertisement
Nadal apologized for the error by giving the girl a kiss. The sequence occurred during the third set of his straight sets victory against Argentine Federico Delbonis. Nadal led the set 4-1 at the time. Delbonis began the exchange with a serve to the world No. 1.
Nadal sprinted to his left and attempted a forehand return, but the shot sprayed out of bonds and went around the chair umpire. The ball struck then the ball girl, who couldn't see it coming.
The girl briefly held onto her face before Nadal ran over to check on her. The Spanish tennis star lifted her hat to assess the damage, but the girl smiled and said she wasn't hurt. Nadal then kissed her left cheek and gave her a headband.
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Nadal won the game to go up 5-1 in the set, before claiming match point on a forehand winner.
"It was one of the more scary moments I've had on a tennis court, because the ball went straight at her head ... I'm very happy she is OK," Nadal said.
Nadal battles Pablo Carreno Busta in his third round match at the 2020 Australian Open.


upi--2020-01-23--Look: Puppy rescued from spare tire predicament in California

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Animal rescuers in California said they saved a puppy found with its head stuck @ @ @ @ @ a spare tire .
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services said a crew responded @ @ @ @ @ puppy with its head stuck through the middle of a spare tire Wednesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ to Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms , where veterinarians used a sedative to @ @ @ @ @ calm .
The Riverside County Fire Department was summoned to the clinic and firefighters used @ @ @ @ @ a piece of the tire and free the dog .
The dog , dubbed Wheelie @ @ @ @ @ being monitored by veterinarians while officials attempt to identify her owners .

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Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in California said they saved a puppy found with its head stuck through the middle opening of a spare tire.
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services said a crew responded to a report of a puppy with its head stuck through the middle of a spare tire Wednesday.
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The Australian cattle dog was taken to Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms, where veterinarians used a sedative to keep the canine still and calm.
The Riverside County Fire Department was summoned to the clinic and firefighters used a saw to cut out a piece of the tire and free the dog.
The dog, dubbed Wheelie Pup by rescuers, is being monitored by veterinarians while officials attempt to identify her owners.


upi--2020-01-23--Report: Wreckage found likely bombed Korean Air flight

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- A South Korean television network says the wreckage of Korean Air Flight 858 , which exploded midair on Nov. 29 , 1987 , may have been found in the Andaman Sea near Myanmar following a yearlong investigation .
MBC reported Thursday the plane carrying 115 passengers and crew , bombed by North Korean spy Kim Hyon-hui , was never recovered following the attack .
The wreckage was detected using a 3D sonar .
The South Korean television crew focused on an area after local fishermen spoke of a `` large object '' located about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The crew was able to identify a 33 foot-long wing-shaped object in the shadows of the seabed .
An object that appeared to an engine was also found , according to the report .
The fuselage of a plane , measuring about 90 feet long , was nearby as well , MBC reported .
Other objects were crushed beyond recognition , but appeared to be debris and machine parts .
Kim Sung-jeon , a former civil aircraft pilot and aviation expert , told the network the wing-like object was likely the outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane .
Kim Hyon-hui , the North Korean terrorist who was captured before she attempted suicide , confessed to planting the bomb on the flight .
She later resettled in the South .
Kim was in the news in 2018 for attacking the families of perished victims , calling them pro-Pyongyang collaborators .
Seoul pardoned Kim more than three decades ago , but civic groups want more information on the attack , which is classified , according to Yonhap .
South Korean news service Tongil News has sued Seoul 's national intelligence service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they want to know whether the attack was used for political purposes ahead of a presidential election in 1987 .

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A South Korean television network says the wreckage of Korean Air Flight 858, which exploded midair on Nov. 29, 1987, may have been found in the Andaman Sea near Myanmar following a yearlong investigation.
MBC reported Thursday the plane carrying 115 passengers and crew, bombed by North Korean spy Kim Hyon-hui, was never recovered following the attack.
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The wreckage was detected using a 3D sonar. The South Korean television crew focused on an area after local fishermen spoke of a "large object" located about 164 feet beneath the water's surface.
The crew was able to identify a 33 foot-long wing-shaped object in the shadows of the seabed. An object that appeared to be an engine was also found, according to the report.
The fuselage of a plane, measuring about 90 feet long, was nearby as well, MBC reported.
Other objects were crushed beyond recognition, but appeared to be debris and machine parts.
Kim Sung-jeon, a former civil aircraft pilot and aviation expert, told the network the wing-like object was likely the outside portion of the left wing of the plane.
Kim Hyon-hui, the North Korean terrorist who was captured then attempted suicide, confessed to planting the bomb on the flight. She later resettled in the South.
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Kim was in the news in 2018 for attacking the families of perished victims, calling them pro-Pyongyang collaborators.
Seoul pardoned Kim more than three decades ago, but civic groups want more information on the attack, which is classified, according to Yonhap.
South Korean news service Tongil News has sued Seoul's national intelligence service for not disclosing more information. Plaintiffs say they want to know whether the attack was used for political purposes ahead of a presidential election in 1987.


upi--2020-01-23--Watch: Gwyneth Paltrow weighs in on vagina candle

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Gwyneth Paltrow thinks the `` This Smells Like My Vagina '' candle sold by her company , Goop , is `` punk rock . ''
The 47-year-old actress and Goop founder discussed the product during Wednesday 's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers after the item went viral online .
`` So , it sort of started as a joke , '' Paltrow said .
`` I was with the nose , Douglas Little , for his brand , Heretic , and we were kind of messing around .
And I smelled this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'This smells like my vagina . '
And I was kidding , obviously . ''
`` And we were on mushrooms , '' she jokingly added .
Paltrow said she and Little found the candle `` really funny '' but `` also a little bit punk rock . ''
`` I mean , I think women , a lot of us have grown up feeling certain degrees of shame around our body or whatever .
So this is just a little bit of , you know , subversive candle for all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The candle , created by Heretic and sold on Goop , trended and made headlines last week for its unexpected name and $ 75 price tag .
The product quickly sold out and now has a wait list .
On Late Night , Paltrow also discussed her Netflix series , The Goop Lab , which premieres Friday .
The show features an episode where Paltrow 's team takes psychedelic mushrooms in Jamaica .
`` The psychedelics episode is really interesting , '' Paltrow said .
`` There 's a government-funded study right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of taking psychedelics for PTSD .
I think it will soon be legalized to help various kinds of trauma . ''
In the February issue of Harper 's Bazaar , Paltrow voiced her love for actress Dakota Johnson , who is dating Paltrow 's ex-husband , Chris Martin .
Paltrow and Martin have two children , daughter Apple and son Moses .
Martin said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last week that he recently embarrassed Apple at work .

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Gwyneth Paltrow thinks the "This Smells Like My Vagina" candle sold by her company, Goop, is "punk rock."
The 47-year-old actress and Goop founder discussed the product during Wednesday's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers after the item went viral online.
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"So, it sort of started as a joke," Paltrow said. "I was with the nose, Douglas Little, for his brand, Heretic, and we were kind of messing around. And I smelled this beautiful thing, and I was like, 'This smells like my vagina.' And I was kidding, obviously."
"And we were on mushrooms," she jokingly added.
Paltrow said she and Little found the candle "really funny" but "also a little bit punk rock."
"I mean, I think women, a lot of us have grown up feeling certain degrees of shame around our body or whatever. So this is just a little bit of, you know, subversive candle for all of us out there," Paltrow said.
The candle, created by Heretic and sold on Goop, trended and made headlines last week for its unexpected name and $75 price tag. The product quickly sold out and now has a wait list.
Advertisement
On Late Night, Paltrow also discussed her Netflix series, The Goop Lab, which premieres Friday. The show features an episode where Paltrow's team takes psychedelic mushrooms in Jamaica.
"The psychedelics episode is really interesting," Paltrow said. "There's a government-funded study right now going on to study the effects of taking psychedelics for PTSD. I think it will soon be legalized to help various kinds of trauma."
In the February issue of Harper's Bazaar, Paltrow voiced her love for actress Dakota Johnson, who is dating Paltrow's ex-husband, Chris Martin. Paltrow and Martin have two children, daughter Apple and son Moses. Martin said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last week that he recently embarrassed Apple at work.


upi--2020-01-23--One-third of food in American households is wasted, study finds

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Americans may be guilty of ignoring the old axiom `` waste not , want not , '' a new analysis suggests .
In findings published Thursday in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics , researchers from the College of Agriculture Sciences at Penn State University note that U.S. households waste nearly one-third of the food they acquire .
The researchers estimate that consumers waste $ 240 billion worth of food annually , or an average of roughly $ 1,900 per household .
`` According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization , food waste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greenhouse gas annually , which would be , if regarded as a country , the third-largest emitter of carbon after the U.S. and China , '' study co-author Edward Jaenicke , professor of agricultural economics at Penn State , said in a statement .
This food waste has implications for health , food security , food marketing and climate change , he added .
Jaenicke and his colleagues analyzed data from 4,000 households that participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture 's National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey , known as FoodAPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` input . ''
FoodAPS also collected biological measures of participants -- including height , weight , gender and age -- enabling the team to apply formulas from nutritional science to determine metabolic rates and calculate the energy required for household members to maintain body weight , which was considered the `` output . ''
The difference between the amount of food acquired and the amount needed to maintain body weight in their analysis represented the measure of uneaten , and therefore wasted , food .
In addition , demographic data collected as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to analyze the differences in food waste among households with a variety of characteristics -- for example , households with higher income apparently generate more waste , and those with healthier diets that include more perishable fruits and vegetables also waste more food .
Overall , the team found that the average American household wastes 31.9 percent of the food it acquires .
Additionally , they noted that more than two-thirds of households in the study wasted between 20 percent and 50 percent of the food they acquired .
Even in the least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food acquired goes uneaten .
Households associated with less food waste include those with greater food insecurity -- especially those that participate in the federal SNAP food assistance program , more commonly known as `` food stamps '' -- as well as those households with a larger number of members .
Other households with lower levels of waste included those that use a shopping list when visiting the supermarket and those who must travel farther to reach a grocery store .
`` This suggests that planning and food management are factors that influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jaenicke said .
`` People in larger households have more meal-management options .
More people means leftover food is more likely to be eaten . ''
Avoiding waste is also challenging for consumers because some grocery items are sold in sizes that may influence waste , he added .
`` A household of two may not eat an entire head of cauliflower , so some could be wasted , whereas a larger household is more likely to eat all of it , perhaps at a single meal , '' he explained .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were consistent with earlier studies , which have shown that 30 percent to 40 percent of the total food supply in the United States goes uneaten -- meaning that resources used to produce the uneaten food , including land , energy , water and labor , are wasted as well .
Beyond the economic and nutritional implications , reducing food waste could be a factor in minimizing the effects of climate change , they said , because discarded food is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions .
`` While the precise measurement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be equally important to investigate further how household-specific factors influence how much food is wasted , '' said Jaenicke .
`` We hope our methodology provides a new lens through which to analyze individual household food waste . ''

American households waste nearly one-third of all food they purchase, analysis finds. Image by Mabel Amber/Pixabay
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Americans may be guilty of ignoring the old axiom "waste not, want not," a new analysis suggests. In findings published Thursday in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, researchers from the College of Agriculture Sciences at Penn State University note that U.S. households waste nearly one-third of the food they acquire. Advertisement
The researchers estimate that consumers waste $240 billion worth of food annually, or an average of roughly $1,900 per household.
"According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, food waste is responsible for about 3.3 gigatons of greenhouse gas annually, which would be, if regarded as a country, the third-largest emitter of carbon after the U.S. and China," study co-author Edward Jaenicke, professor of agricultural economics at Penn State, said in a statement.
This food waste has implications for health, food security, food marketing and climate change, he added.
Advertisement
Jaenicke and his colleagues analyzed data from 4,000 households that participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, known as FoodAPS, with food-acquisition data treated as the "input."
FoodAPS also collected biological measures of participants -- including height, weight, gender and age -- enabling the team to apply formulas from nutritional science to determine metabolic rates and calculate the energy required for household members to maintain body weight, which was considered the "output."
The difference between the amount of food acquired and the amount needed to maintain body weight in their analysis represented the measure of uneaten, and therefore wasted, food.
In addition, demographic data collected as part of the FoodAPS survey was used to analyze the differences in food waste among households with a variety of characteristics -- for example, households with higher income apparently generate more waste, and those with healthier diets that include more perishable fruits and vegetables also waste more food.
Overall, the team found that the average American household wastes 31.9 percent of the food it acquires. Additionally, they noted that more than two-thirds of households in the study wasted between 20 percent and 50 percent of the food they acquired.
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Even in the least wasteful households, 8.7 percent of the food acquired goes uneaten.
Households associated with less food waste include those with greater food insecurity -- especially those that participate in the federal SNAP food assistance program, more commonly known as "food stamps" -- as well as those households with a larger number of members. Other households with lower levels of waste included those that use a shopping list when visiting the supermarket and those who must travel farther to reach a grocery store.
"This suggests that planning and food management are factors that influence the amount of wasted food," Jaenicke said. "People in larger households have more meal-management options. More people means leftover food is more likely to be eaten."
Avoiding waste is also challenging for consumers because some grocery items are sold in sizes that may influence waste, he added.
"A household of two may not eat an entire head of cauliflower, so some could be wasted, whereas a larger household is more likely to eat all of it, perhaps at a single meal," he explained.
The Penn State researchers noted that their findings were consistent with earlier studies, which have shown that 30 percent to 40 percent of the total food supply in the United States goes uneaten -- meaning that resources used to produce the uneaten food, including land, energy, water and labor, are wasted as well.
Advertisement
Beyond the economic and nutritional implications, reducing food waste could be a factor in minimizing the effects of climate change, they said, because discarded food is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
"While the precise measurement of food waste is important, it may be equally important to investigate further how household-specific factors influence how much food is wasted," said Jaenicke. "We hope our methodology provides a new lens through which to analyze individual household food waste."


upi--2020-01-23--Copper Age Italy hosted large, complex networks of metal exchange

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- During the 4th and 3rd millennia BC , the Late Neolithic , Italy was home to complex metalwork exchange networks , according to new isotopic analysis of Copper Age artifacts .
Recent studies have revealed Neolithic populations in Italy were using surprisingly complex technologies to extract copper much earlier than previously thought .
Until now , little was known about the movement of copper across the region .
For the newest study , published this week in the journal PLOS One , scientists wanted to determine how copper was traded across ancient Italy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locals was imported .
Researchers analyzed 20 copper artifacts , including axe-heads , halberds and daggers , collected from important prehistoric sites in central Italy dated to between 3600 and 2200 BC .
By measuring the chemical signatures in each artifact , as well as analyzing the archaeological context , scientists were able to trace their origins .
Most of the artifacts were made using copper extracted from mines in the Tuscany region .
However , some of the artifacts were cast using copper mined from Tyrol , a historical region in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Midi , a historical area in southern France .
`` The first systematic application of lead isotope analysis -- a geological sourcing technique -- to Copper Age metal objects from central Italy , 3600 to 2200 BC , has shed new light on the provenance of the copper used to cast them , '' Andrea Dolfini , senior lecturer in later prehistory at Newcastle University in Britain , said in a news release .
The study both confirmed the importance of Tuscan mining to early copper trading , and also revealed the presence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neolithic populations in the region to access non-Tuscan ores .
`` The research has revealed that , while some of the copper was sourced from the rich ore deposits of Tuscany , as was expected , some is from further afield , '' Dolfini said .
`` This unforeseen discovery demonstrates that far-reaching metal exchange networks were in operation in prehistoric Europe over a thousand years before the Bronze Age . ''

A recent study confirmed the importance of Tuscan mining to early copper trading, as well as revealing the presence of complex metalwork exchanges that allowed Late Neolithic populations in the region to access non-Tuscan ores. Photo by monica_valladares /Pixabay
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- During the 4th and 3rd millennia BC, the Late Neolithic, Italy was home to complex metalwork exchange networks, according to new isotopic analysis of Copper Age artifacts. Recent studies have revealed Neolithic populations in Italy were using surprisingly complex technologies to extract copper much earlier than previously thought. Until now, little was known about the movement of copper across the region. Advertisement
For the newest study, published this week in the journal PLOS One, scientists wanted to determine how copper was traded across ancient Italy and whether or not copper from more distant locals was imported.
Researchers analyzed 20 copper artifacts, including axe-heads, halberds and daggers, collected from important prehistoric sites in central Italy dated to between 3600 and 2200 BC. By measuring the chemical signatures in each artifact, as well as analyzing the archaeological context, scientists were able to trace their origins.
Most of the artifacts were made using copper extracted from mines in the Tuscany region. However, some of the artifacts were cast using copper mined from Tyrol, a historical region in the Alps, and also possibly from French Midi, a historical area in southern France.
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"The first systematic application of lead isotope analysis -- a geological sourcing technique -- to Copper Age metal objects from central Italy, 3600 to 2200 BC, has shed new light on the provenance of the copper used to cast them," Andrea Dolfini, senior lecturer in later prehistory at Newcastle University in Britain, said in a news release.
The study both confirmed the importance of Tuscan mining to early copper trading, and also revealed the presence of complex metalwork exchanges that allowed Late Neolithic populations in the region to access non-Tuscan ores.
"The research has revealed that, while some of the copper was sourced from the rich ore deposits of Tuscany, as was expected, some is from further afield," Dolfini said. "This unforeseen discovery demonstrates that far-reaching metal exchange networks were in operation in prehistoric Europe over a thousand years before the Bronze Age."


upi--2020-01-23--New Lebanon government looking for $5 billion in loans

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Lebanon 's new Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said Wednesday he is looking for up to $ 5 billion in soft loans to purchase wheat , medicine and fuel .
The former defense minister said the loans are among his top priorities since taking over the post .
Lebanon asked for foreign assistance in December but was rejected pending reforms and the formation of the government .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab formed Lebanon 's new government on Tuesday .
`` The economic , financial and monetary situation is very difficult , '' Wanzi said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the whole government to convince both the uprising in the interior and foreign donors of the reform program it will put forward to rescue the country . ''
Persistent protests in Lebanon led its economy to fall toward the end of 2019 .
The protest led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his cabinet .
That administration was accused of large-scale corruption .
The new government currently has the support of the majority Shia groups Hezbollah , the Amal Movement and the Christian Free Patriotic Movement .
Critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hezbollah , which opposes Israel , could lead to the government 's rejection by the West .
Lebanon has struggled to service its current debt because of its shrinking foreign currency reserves .

Lebanon president President Michel Aoun (C) meets with Prime Minister Hassan Diab (R) and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) at the presidential palace in Beirut on Tuesday. The government's new finance minister said the country needs to borrow $5 billion. Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA-EFE
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Lebanon's new Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said Wednesday he is looking for up to $5 billion in soft loans to purchase wheat, medicine and fuel. The former defense minister said the loans are among his top priorities since taking over the post. Advertisement
Lebanon asked for foreign assistance in December but was rejected pending reforms and the formation of the government. Prime Minister Hassan Diab formed Lebanon's new government on Tuesday.
"The economic, financial and monetary situation is very difficult," Wanzi said. "There is a lot of pressure on the whole government to convince both the uprising in the interior and foreign donors of the reform program it will put forward to rescue the country."
Persistent protests in Lebanon led its economy to fall toward the end of 2019. The protest led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his cabinet. That administration was accused of large-scale corruption.
The new government currently has the support of the majority Shia groups Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and the Christian Free Patriotic Movement. Critics have warned that the presence of Iran-backed Hezbollah, which opposes Israel, could lead to the government's rejection by the West.
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Lebanon has struggled to service its current debt because of its shrinking foreign currency reserves.


upi--2020-01-23--'P.S. I Still Love You': Lara Jean is torn over Peter, John in new trailer

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new film To All the Boys : P.S .
I Still Love You .
The streaming service shared a trailer for the teen romantic comedy Wednesday featuring Lana Condor as high school student Lara Jean Covey .
The preview shows Lara Jean ( Condor ) continue her romance with Peter Kavinsky ( Noah Centineo ) .
The pair are now officially dating , although Lara Jean is n't thrilled by Peter 's lingering admirers .
Lara Jean and Peter 's relationship is thrown off track after Lara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crush , John Ambrose McClaren ( Jordan Fisher ) .
Lara Jean and John reunite , and Lara Jean is torn between John and Peter .
`` I thought having a boyfriend meant the idea of other boys left your mind completely , '' Lara Jean says .
`` I did n't want to be thinking about what might have been , but I was . ''
`` I thought I wanted happily ever after , but we 're still at the beginning , '' she adds .
To All the Boys : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sequel to To All the Boys I 've Loved Before , released in August 2018 .
The movies are based on the Jenny Han novels To All the Boys I 've Loved Before and P.S .
I Still Love You .
Netflix released a first trailer for To All the Boys : P.S .
I Still Love You in December that shows Lara Jean and Peter promising to never break each other 's hearts .
The company previously shared first-look photos of Lara Jean with Peter and with John .
To All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Love You is directed by Michael Fimognari and co-stars Janel Parrish , Anna Cathcart , Ross Butler and Holland Taylor .
The movie premieres Feb. 12 on Netflix .

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.
The streaming service shared a trailer for the teen romantic comedy Wednesday featuring Lana Condor as high school student Lara Jean Covey.
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The preview shows Lara Jean (Condor) continue her romance with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). The pair are now officially dating, although Lara Jean isn't thrilled by Peter's lingering admirers.
Lara Jean and Peter's relationship is thrown off track after Lara Jean receives a letter from an old crush, John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher). Lara Jean and John reunite, and Lara Jean is torn between John and Peter.
"I thought having a boyfriend meant the idea of other boys left your mind completely," Lara Jean says. "I didn't want to be thinking about what might have been, but I was."
"I thought I wanted happily ever after, but we're still at the beginning," she adds.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is a sequel to To All the Boys I've Loved Before, released in August 2018. The movies are based on the Jenny Han novels To All the Boys I've Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.
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Netflix released a first trailer for To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You in December that shows Lara Jean and Peter promising to never break each other's hearts. The company previously shared first-look photos of Lara Jean with Peter and with John.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is directed by Michael Fimognari and co-stars Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Ross Butler and Holland Taylor. The movie premieres Feb. 12 on Netflix.


upi--2020-01-23--Copa del Rey soccer: Griezmann scores twice, Barcelona survives underdog Ibiza

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Antoine Griezmann 's two goals helped FC Barcelona survive underdog Ibiza in the round of 32 at the Copa del Rey soccer tournament .
The French forward scored a 72nd minute equalizer before netting the game winner in stoppage time of the 2-1 triumph Wednesday in Ibiza , Spain .
`` I think it was a team effort in the end , '' Griezmann told FCBarcelona.com .
`` We found it difficult at the start .
In the first half we did n't have a shot on target ...
I think we were better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conviction and desire and turned it around . ''
Pep Caballe put Ibiza ahead with a score in the ninth minute .
Ibiza midfielder J.P. Mateo dribbled down the left flank before finding the striker in the box during the sequence .
Cabelle finished the play with a one-touch shot into the lower right corner of the net , beating Barcelona keeper Neto for first blood .
Ibiza carried the unlikely lead into halftime before Barcelona rallied to avoid an upset .
Frenkie de Jong sparked the equalizer by dribbling up the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounded pass ahead for Griezmann .
The Barcelona striker held off a defender before running into the box and slicing a shot into the near-post netting with his left boot .
Griezmann returned to the net in the 94th minute .
Jordi Alba had the ball about 50 yards from the goal at the start of that scoring sequence .
The Barcelona star grounded a long ball up the left flank , sending Griezmann toward the corner flag .
Greizmann grabbed the pass before using his left boot to send a shot into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German for the decisive score .
`` These things will happen to us , '' Barcelona manager Quique Setien said .
`` You ca n't win a game in 60 minutes .
Having so much of the ball takes it [ energy ] out of your opponents , then they left space and we took advantage of that . ''
Barcelona battles Valencia in La Liga play at 10 a.m. EST Saturday at Mestallla Stadium in Valencia , Spain .
`` I 'm really happy because we never gave up and we kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We knew as the game went on , we would have more chances .
That 's what happened . ''

Antoine Griezmann has scored in all four matches for Barcelona in 2020. Photo by Sergio G. Canizares/EPA-EFE
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Antoine Griezmann's two goals helped FC Barcelona survive underdog Ibiza in the round of 32 at the Copa del Rey soccer tournament. The French forward scored a 72nd minute equalizer before netting the game winner in stoppage time of the 2-1 triumph Wednesday in Ibiza, Spain. Advertisement
"I think it was a team effort in the end," Griezmann told FCBarcelona.com. "We found it difficult at the start. In the first half we didn't have a shot on target ... I think we were better in the second half and showed more conviction and desire and turned it around."
Pep Caballe put Ibiza ahead with a score in the ninth minute. Ibiza midfielder J.P. Mateo dribbled down the left flank before finding the striker in the box during the sequence. Cabelle finished the play with a one-touch shot into the lower right corner of the net, beating Barcelona keeper Neto for first blood.
Ibiza carried the unlikely lead into halftime before Barcelona rallied to avoid an upset.
Frenkie de Jong sparked the equalizer by dribbling up the middle of the field before placing a precise grounded pass ahead for Griezmann. The Barcelona striker held off a defender before running into the box and slicing a shot into the near-post netting with his left boot.
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Griezmann returned to the net in the 94th minute. Jordi Alba had the ball about 50 yards from the goal at the start of that scoring sequence. The Barcelona star grounded a long ball up the left flank, sending Griezmann toward the corner flag. Greizmann grabbed the pass before using his left boot to send a shot into the far-post netting, beating Ibiza keeper German for the decisive score.
"These things will happen to us," Barcelona manager Quique Setien said. "You can't win a game in 60 minutes. Having so much of the ball takes it [energy] out of your opponents, then they left space and we took advantage of that."
Barcelona battles Valencia in La Liga play at 10 a.m. EST Saturday at Mestallla Stadium in Valencia, Spain.
"I'm really happy because we never gave up and we kept on trying," Setien said. "We knew as the game went on, we would have more chances. That's what happened."


upi--2020-01-23--European central bank retains low interest rates amid low inflation

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- The European Central Bank said Thursday it will maintain its historically low interest rate structure , including its main deposit rate of -0.5 percent , until it sees higher inflation levels .
Citing persistently low inflation it sees as damaging to the Eurozone economy , the ECB also retained its current marginal lending facility rate of 0.25 percent and the main refinancing operations rate of 0 percent .
The central bank 's governing council said it expected the key interest rates `` to remain at their present or lower levels until it has seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level sufficiently close to , but below , 2 percent . ''
The ECB estimates that consumer prices need to rise by just below 2 percent annually to foster healthy economic growth .
Inflation spiked to a six-month high of 1.3 percent in December , up from 1 percent in November .
That movement has prompted renewed calls from pensioners , lenders and other for the ECB to change its policies on low interest rates , which they contend are contributing to Europe 's sluggish economic growth .
The low rates were long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose eight-year term ended in October .
His successor , Christine Lagarde , promised last month to institute a full-scale review examining ECB policies -- its first since 2003 -- and Thursday 's ECB announcement indicated the review had been officially launched .
The details were to be announced later in the day during a press conference to be held by Lagarde .
Much like the ECB , the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank is expected to leave interest rates unchanged when it holds its first policymaking meeting of 2020 on Jan. 29-30 @

A full-scale review of European Central Bank policies promised by new president Christine Lagarde is set to get underway, the ECB said Thursday. File photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The European Central Bank said Thursday it will maintain its historically low interest rate structure, including its main deposit rate of -0.5 percent, until it sees higher inflation levels. Citing persistently low inflation it sees as damaging to the Eurozone economy, the ECB also retained its current marginal lending facility rate of 0.25 percent and the main refinancing operations rate of 0 percent. Advertisement
The central bank's governing council said it expected the key interest rates "to remain at their present or lower levels until it has seen the inflation outlook robustly converge to a level sufficiently close to, but below, 2 percent."
The ECB estimates that consumer prices need to rise by just below 2 percent annually to foster healthy economic growth. Inflation spiked to a six-month high of 1.3 percent in December, up from 1 percent in November.
That movement has prompted renewed calls from pensioners, lenders and other for the ECB to change its policies on low interest rates, which they contend are contributing to Europe's sluggish economic growth.
The low rates were long championed by former ECB President Mario Draghi, whose eight-year term ended in October. His successor, Christine Lagarde, promised last month to institute a full-scale review examining ECB policies -- its first since 2003 -- and Thursday's ECB announcement indicated the review had been officially launched.
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The details were to be announced later in the day during a press conference to be held by Lagarde.
Much like the ECB, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank is expected to leave interest rates unchanged when it holds its first policymaking meeting of 2020 on Jan. 29-30.


upi--2020-01-23--Watch: Halsey performs Google translated songs on 'Tonight Show'

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Halsey teamed up with Jimmy Fallon to perform popular songs that had their lyrics changed through Google translate on The Tonight Show .
Each song , on Wednesday , was translated into a different language and then back to English , resulting in completely different lyrics .
Halsey performed `` Like a Virgin '' by Madonna which became `` Unwed Woman . ''
`` Unwed woman/ For the first time explored outdoors/ Unwed woman/ When your chest hurts they 're nearby , '' Halsey sang using the new translated lyrics .
Fallon performed `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became `` Alphabet '' and Halsey performed her song `` Without Me '' which turned into `` You Soft Head . ''
The pair then came together for a duet of `` I Want It That Way '' by The Backstreet Boys which became `` I Desire Roads . ''
`` I have n't ever said whoops/ Say because/ You have failed in hearing/ I desire roads , '' Halsey and Fallon sang .
Halsey also used her New Jersey accent to recite the lyrics to her song `` Graveyard '' and competed @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Halsey teamed up with Jimmy Fallon to perform popular songs that had their lyrics changed through Google translate on The Tonight Show.
Each song, on Wednesday, was translated into a different language and then back to English, resulting in completely different lyrics.
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Halsey performed "Like a Virgin" by Madonna which became "Unwed Woman."
"Unwed woman/ For the first time explored outdoors/ Unwed woman/ When your chest hurts they're nearby," Halsey sang using the new translated lyrics.
Fallon performed "ABC" by the Jackson 5 which became "Alphabet" and Halsey performed her song "Without Me" which turned into "You Soft Head."
The pair then came together for a duet of "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys which became "I Desire Roads."
"I haven't ever said whoops/ Say because/ You have failed in hearing/ I desire roads," Halsey and Fallon sang.
Halsey also used her New Jersey accent to recite the lyrics to her song "Graveyard" and competed against Fallon in a portrait-drawing contest.


upi--2020-01-23--Watch: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita expecting child

Jan. 23 ( UPI ) -- Jesse Tyler Ferguson is going to be a dad .
The 44-year-old actor announced on Wednesday 's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden that he 's expecting his first child with his husband , Justin Mikita .
Ferguson appeared on the show alongside actor Charlie Hunnam , who turns 40 in April .
Ferguson said turning 40 was a big deal for him .
`` Like you said , it 's when you finally become an adult , I feel like , '' Ferguson told Hunnam .
`` Like , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Ferguson then shared his baby news , jokingly asking to keep it between himself , Hunnam , host James Corden and the audience .
`` I 'm actually expecting a baby in July with my husband , '' Ferguson said .
`` Shh , but do n't tell anyone . ''
`` No , but I 'm very excited , '' he added .
`` But it feels like -- I 'm 44 now .
I 'm like , 'Let 's get this show going ! '
I mean , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked by Corden if he 's expecting a baby boy or a baby girl , Ferguson said he 's having a `` human . ''
Ferguson and Mikita married in New York in July 2013 .
Ferguson shared a sweet photo with Mikita Wednesday from what appears to be the couple 's recent trip to Puerto Rico .
`` boat buds 4 lyfe ( even tho I get sea sick ) , '' he captioned the post .
Ferguson and Mikita celebrated the new year in Puerto Rico in December .
`` Bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Puerto Rico with the guy I started dating at the beginning of it !
[ Love ] you @ justinmikita , '' Ferguson wrote Dec. 30 on Instagram .
Ferguson plays Mitchell Pritchett on the ABC series Modern Family .
The series co-stars Eric Stonestreet , Ed O'Neill , Sofia Vergara , Julie Bowen , Ty Burrell , Sarah Hyland , Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould , and is in the midst of an 11th and final season .
On The Late Late Show , Ferguson confirmed he has three episodes left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's incredibly sad , '' the actor said .
`` It 's something I 've been doing for 11 years .
It 's like first through eleventh grade when I was a kid .
It 's a lifetime ; now it 's flown by . ''
`` We 'll never have a job this good , '' he added .

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Jesse Tyler Ferguson is going to be a dad.
The 44-year-old actor announced on Wednesday's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden that he's expecting his first child with his husband, Justin Mikita.
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Ferguson appeared on the show alongside actor Charlie Hunnam, who turns 40 in April. Ferguson said turning 40 was a big deal for him.
"Like you said, it's when you finally become an adult, I feel like," Ferguson told Hunnam. "Like, I need to start getting serious about things."
Ferguson then shared his baby news, jokingly asking to keep it between himself, Hunnam, host James Corden and the audience.
"I'm actually expecting a baby in July with my husband," Ferguson said. "Shh, but don't tell anyone."
"No, but I'm very excited," he added. "But it feels like -- I'm 44 now. I'm like, 'Let's get this show going!' I mean, it's already tick tock."
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When asked by Corden if he's expecting a baby boy or a baby girl, Ferguson said he's having a "human."
Ferguson and Mikita married in New York in July 2013. Ferguson shared a sweet photo with Mikita Wednesday from what appears to be the couple's recent trip to Puerto Rico.
"boat buds 4 lyfe (even tho I get sea sick)," he captioned the post.
Ferguson and Mikita celebrated the new year in Puerto Rico in December.
"Bringing in the last days of the decade in Puerto Rico with the guy I started dating at the beginning of it! [Love] you @justinmikita," Ferguson wrote Dec. 30 on Instagram.
Ferguson plays Mitchell Pritchett on the ABC series Modern Family. The series co-stars Eric Stonestreet, Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould, and is in the midst of an 11th and final season.
On The Late Late Show, Ferguson confirmed he has three episodes left to film of Modern Family.
"It's incredibly sad," the actor said. "It's something I've been doing for 11 years. It's like first through eleventh grade when I was a kid. It's a lifetime; now it's flown by."
"We'll never have a job this good," he added.


upi--2020-01-23--New drug may stop blindness from thyroid eye disease

The newly approved drug teprotumumab can offer hope to adults with thyroid eye disease , a rare and potentially blinding condition .
It 's the first treatment specifically approved for thyroid eye disease .
The drug was approved Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
It will be marketed under the brand name Tepezza .
`` This may be a drug that offers a new approach and a paradigm shift , '' said Dr. Raymond Douglas , lead author of a study the FDA considered when making its final decision .
`` Currently , we use supportive therapy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but their quality of life is diminished by their symptoms .
`` Teprotumumab was extraordinarily effective .
We hope that people with thyroid eye disease wo n't have to suffer as they have in the past .
With treatment , they 're not going to be blind .
They 're not going to be disfigured .
They can even watch their kids playing soccer when it 's windy , '' Douglas explained .
Without treatment , wind could be too drying to the eyes .
In people with the condition , inflammation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyes to bulge .
The swelling may also squeeze the optic nerve , causing vision problems , said Douglas , a professor of surgery in the division of ophthalmology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles .
Thyroid eye disease typically develops in people with an overactive thyroid gland caused by Graves ' disease .
The disorder can cause redness , swelling and a gritty feeling in the eyes , the American Thyroid Association says .
It can also cause dry eyes or excessive tearing , double vision and sensitivity to light .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulging of the eyes , and it may be difficult to completely close the eyes .
Because thyroid eye disease is rare , the FDA gave this drug `` orphan drug '' status .
This means companies are provided incentives to encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases .
The medication was also given the FDA 's priority review , fast track and breakthrough therapy designations to assist the manufacturer in bringing the drug to market .
The drug 's approval was based on results of two studies that included 170 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent study was a phase 3 clinical trial released Jan. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine and led by Douglas .
This study included more than 80 people with active thyroid disease who were randomly assigned to receive either teprotumumab or a placebo .
The drug was administered intravenously once every week for three weeks over a 21-week period .
Douglas said the IV infusions take about an hour .
Teprotumumab started working after just two doses , Douglas said .
After 24 weeks , 83 percent of people on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulge -- more than 2 millimeters -- versus just 10 percent of those on a placebo .
The overall response rate was 78 percent among those taking the drug compared to 7 percent of people taking a placebo .
Quality of life was much higher for people taking the drug , the study found .
Douglas said treatment with the drug reversed double vision as well as surgery does .
Side effects were minimal and well-tolerated , according to Douglas .
Some of the more common side effects included muscle cramps , nausea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug should not be used in pregnancy .
Dr. Harsha Reddy , an ophthalmic plastic surgeon at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai , was n't involved in the current study , but is familiar with the findings .
`` I believe this will be a revolution in treating thyroid eye disease , '' he said .
`` Until now , [ doctors ] could only wait until thyroid eye disease had taken its toll on their patients , and both patients and physicians were frustrated by the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Reddy explained .
`` Now , for the first time , physicians will have the option of treating thyroid eye disease in its early phase and preventing many of the devastating eye changes from occurring in the first place , '' Reddy added .
Learn more about thyroid eye disease from the American Thyroid Association .

The newly approved medication teprotumumab could prevent blindness for people with the rare thyroid eye disease. Photo by SofieZborilova /Pixabay
The newly approved drug teprotumumab can offer hope to adults with thyroid eye disease, a rare and potentially blinding condition. It's the first treatment specifically approved for thyroid eye disease. The drug was approved Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It will be marketed under the brand name Tepezza. Advertisement
"This may be a drug that offers a new approach and a paradigm shift," said Dr. Raymond Douglas, lead author of a study the FDA considered when making its final decision. "Currently, we use supportive therapy for people with thyroid eye disease, but their quality of life is diminished by their symptoms.
"Teprotumumab was extraordinarily effective. We hope that people with thyroid eye disease won't have to suffer as they have in the past. With treatment, they're not going to be blind. They're not going to be disfigured. They can even watch their kids playing soccer when it's windy," Douglas explained. Without treatment, wind could be too drying to the eyes.
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In people with the condition, inflammation in the back of the eye causes the eyes to bulge. The swelling may also squeeze the optic nerve, causing vision problems, said Douglas, a professor of surgery in the division of ophthalmology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Thyroid eye disease typically develops in people with an overactive thyroid gland caused by Graves' disease. The disorder can cause redness, swelling and a gritty feeling in the eyes, the American Thyroid Association says. It can also cause dry eyes or excessive tearing, double vision and sensitivity to light. One of the most noticeable symptoms is bulging of the eyes, and it may be difficult to completely close the eyes.
Because thyroid eye disease is rare, the FDA gave this drug "orphan drug" status. This means companies are provided incentives to encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases. The medication was also given the FDA's priority review, fast track and breakthrough therapy designations to assist the manufacturer in bringing the drug to market.
The drug's approval was based on results of two studies that included 170 people with active thyroid disease. The most recent study was a phase 3 clinical trial released Jan. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine and led by Douglas. This study included more than 80 people with active thyroid disease who were randomly assigned to receive either teprotumumab or a placebo.
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The drug was administered intravenously once every week for three weeks over a 21-week period. Douglas said the IV infusions take about an hour.
Teprotumumab started working after just two doses, Douglas said. After 24 weeks, 83 percent of people on the drug had a measurable reduction in eye bulge -- more than 2 millimeters -- versus just 10 percent of those on a placebo.
The overall response rate was 78 percent among those taking the drug compared to 7 percent of people taking a placebo. Quality of life was much higher for people taking the drug, the study found.
Douglas said treatment with the drug reversed double vision as well as surgery does.
Side effects were minimal and well-tolerated, according to Douglas. Some of the more common side effects included muscle cramps, nausea, hair loss and fatigue. The drug should not be used in pregnancy.
Dr. Harsha Reddy, an ophthalmic plastic surgeon at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, wasn't involved in the current study, but is familiar with the findings.
"I believe this will be a revolution in treating thyroid eye disease," he said.
"Until now, [doctors] could only wait until thyroid eye disease had taken its toll on their patients, and both patients and physicians were frustrated by the lack of treatment options during that waiting period," Reddy explained.
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"Now, for the first time, physicians will have the option of treating thyroid eye disease in its early phase and preventing many of the devastating eye changes from occurring in the first place," Reddy added.
More information
Learn more about thyroid eye disease from the American Thyroid Association.
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