upi--2020-04-27--IRS announces enhancements to 'Get My Payment' stimulus payment tracking tool

April 27 ( UPI ) -- The Internal Revenue Service on Monday announced upgrades to its `` Get My Payment '' tool designed to help Americans speed up the delivery of their $ 1,200 economic impact payments .
The IRS issued a statement announcing `` significant enhancements '' to the tool , but did not specify explicitly what had changed after many taxpayers have reported trouble attempting to check payment status or add bank information since the program launched April 15 .
`` We delivered Get My Payment with new capabilities that did not exist during any similar relief program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposit information that accelerates payments to millions of people , '' IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said .
`` These further enhancements will help even more taxpayers .
We urge people who have n't received a payment date yet to visit Get My Payment again for the latest information . ''
The tool requires taxpayers to enter their identification number , partial address and postal code to verify their identity to see the status of their stimulus payment .
It also is designed to allow Americans who have filed tax returns in 2018 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposit information on file with the IRS , to provide their banking information to have the payment sent directly to their bank accounts rather than receiving a check in the mail .
Updated FAQs on the IRS website indicate that the tool now is able to process banking information for taxpayers who requested their 2019 refund be applied to their 2020 taxes by checking either the `` I received a refund '' or `` I owed money '' selections when adding banking information and entering 0 in the `` Refund Amount or Amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also clarified that the Get My Payment tool can not be used to change bank account information that has been altered after filing a tax return .
`` If we issue a direct deposit and the bank information is invalid or the bank account has been closed , the bank will reject the deposit .
We will then mail you your payment as soon as possible to the address we have on file for you , '' the agency said .
Additionally , the IRS said that people who did not file a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Railroad Retirement benefits , can now use the tool to track the status of their payment .

The IRS on Monday announced enhancements to the "Get My Payment" tool seeking to mitigate issues taxpayers experienced checking the status of their stimulus payment or providing direct deposit information to speed up its delivery.
April 27 (UPI) -- The Internal Revenue Service on Monday announced upgrades to its "Get My Payment" tool designed to help Americans speed up the delivery of their $1,200 economic impact payments. The IRS issued a statement announcing "significant enhancements" to the tool, but did not specify explicitly what had changed after many taxpayers reported trouble attempting to check payment status or add bank information since the program launched April 15. Advertisement
"We delivered Get My Payment with new capabilities that did not exist during any similar relief program, including the ability to receive direct deposit information that accelerates payments to millions of people," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said.
"These further enhancements will help even more taxpayers. We urge people who haven't received a payment date yet to visit Get My Payment again for the latest information."
The tool requires taxpayers to enter their tax identification or Social Security number, birth date, partial address and postal code to verify their identity to see the status of their stimulus payment.
It also is designed to allow Americans who have filed tax returns in 2018 and 2019, but do not have direct deposit information on file with the IRS, to provide their banking information to have the payment sent directly to their bank accounts rather than receiving a check in the mail.
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Updated FAQs on the IRS website indicate that the tool now is able to process banking information for taxpayers who requested their 2019 refund be applied to their 2020 taxes by checking either the "I received a refund" or "I owed money" selections when adding banking information and entering 0 in the "Refund Amount or Amount You Owed" section.
The IRS also clarified that the Get My Payment tool cannot be used to change bank account information that has been altered after filing a tax return.
"If we issue a direct deposit and the bank information is invalid or the bank account has been closed, the bank will reject the deposit. We will then mail you your payment as soon as possible to the address we have on file for you," the agency said.
Additionally, the IRS said that people who did not file a tax return, but receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, can now use the tool to track the status of their payment.


upi--2020-04-27--Pentagon formally releases Navy videos of unidentified object encounters

April 27 ( UPI ) -- The Pentagon formally released three videos on Monday taken by Navy pilots which indicate the presence of `` unidentified aerial phenomena .
The videos , one from 2004 and two from 2017 , have been circulating since their unauthorized leaks , and the Navy has attested to their authenticity .
They were officially released on Monday `` in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real , or whether or not there is more to the videos , '' the Pentagon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show what appear to be unidentified flying objects , recorded by infrared cameras , rapidly moving past airborne planes .
Audio in two videos include comments from surprised service members , with one voice suggesting the flying object could be a drone .
The events prompted the Navy to introduce guidelines for pilots ' reports of suspicious or unidentified phenomena .
The photographic evidence was first released in 2017 and 2018 by To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences , a company studying unidentified aerial phenomena and co-founded by Tom DeLonge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As I got close to it ... it rapidly accelerated to the south , and disappeared in less than two seconds , '' retired Navy pilot David Fravor said in 2017 .
Fravor witnessed the movement , captured on video in 2004 , of an unidentified object , about 40 feet long and hovering about 50 feet over the Pacific Ocean .
`` This was extremely abrupt , like a ping pong ball , bouncing off a wall .
It would hit and go the other way , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unknown objects in a classified program from 2007 to 2012 , which closed after it was assessed that higher priorities required funding .

A sailor watches an F/A-18F Super Hornet, from the Flying Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron 122, as it prepares to land on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in 2017. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ian Kinkead/U.S.Navy
April 27 (UPI) -- The Pentagon formally released three videos on Monday taken by Navy pilots which indicate the presence of "unidentified aerial phenomena. The videos, one from 2004 and two from 2017, have been circulating since their unauthorized leaks, and the Navy has attested to their authenticity. Advertisement
They were officially released on Monday "in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos," the Pentagon said in a statement.
The videos show what appear to be unidentified flying objects, recorded by infrared cameras, rapidly moving past airborne planes. Audio in two videos include comments from surprised service members, with one voice suggesting the flying object could be a drone.
The events prompted the Navy to introduce guidelines for pilots' reports of suspicious or unidentified phenomena. The photographic evidence was first released in 2017 and 2018 by To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences, a company studying unidentified aerial phenomena and co-founded by Tom DeLonge, former member of the band Blink-182.
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"As I got close to it ... it rapidly accelerated to the south, and disappeared in less than two seconds," retired Navy pilot David Fravor said in 2017.
Fravor witnessed the movement, captured on video in 2004, of an unidentified object, about 40 feet long and hovering about 50 feet over the Pacific Ocean. "This was extremely abrupt, like a ping pong ball, bouncing off a wall. It would hit and go the other way," he said.
The Pentagon studied recordings of aerial observations of unknown objects in a classified program from 2007 to 2012, which closed after it was assessed that higher priorities required funding.


upi--2020-04-27--Microneedle device could deliver "life-saving" treatment to diseased fruit plants

April 27 ( UPI ) -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers have developed a precision injection system for plants to potentially help orange , olive and banana crops threatened by diseases .
The new system uses silk-based biomaterials to fabricate a microneedle-like device , which can inject nutrients , antibiotics or other pesticides into plants ' circulatory systems , according to a study describing the system , published this month in the journal Advanced Science .
Researchers say the device could be used to start delivering `` life-saving treatments '' to orange , olive and banana crops under threat by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We wanted to solve the technical problem of how you can have a precise access to the plant vasculature , '' graduate student Yunteng Cao , who led the development of the microneedle technology as part of his thesis project , said in a press release .
When pesticides are `` simply sprayed '' on the plant 's leaves or stems , the pesticides barely penetrate to circulatory system if at all , MIT professor and researcher Benedetto Marelli said .
The `` conventional treatment '' may seem to work for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then bacteria comes back to damage the plant since it 's hard for the antibacterial compound to reach the roots .
The new method could target the circulatory system to push the compound down into the roots .
Though needles have already been used to inject pesticides into plants , they have been `` very large and very invasive , '' Cao said , which damages the plant .
The idea of using microneedles as a substitute was based on previous work that developed microneedles from silk-based materials to inject vaccines in humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , researchers said that they had to increase silk 's hydrophilicity to make the silk attract water since plants have far less available water for the material to dissolve .
Researchers used tomato and tobacco plants for testing , but said the system could be adapted for use with almost any crop .

A red microinjection device is attached to a citrus tree, which can inject pesticide or other materials directly into the plant's circulatory system. Photo courtesy of MIT
April 27 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers have developed a precision injection system for plants to potentially help orange, olive and banana crops threatened by diseases. The new system uses silk-based biomaterials to fabricate a microneedle-like device, which can inject nutrients, antibiotics or other pesticides into plants' circulatory systems, according to a study describing the system, published this month in the journal Advanced Science. Advertisement
Researchers say the device could be used to start delivering "life-saving treatments" to orange, olive and banana crops under threat by diseases that affect their circulatory systems.
"We wanted to solve the technical problem of how you can have a precise access to the plant vasculature," graduate student Yunteng Cao, who led the development of the microneedle technology as part of his thesis project, said in a press release.
When pesticides are "simply sprayed" on the plant's leaves or stems, the pesticides barely penetrate to circulatory system if at all, MIT professor and researcher Benedetto Marelli said.
The "conventional treatment" may seem to work for a short while, he said, but then bacteria comes back to damage the plant since it's hard for the antibacterial compound to reach the roots. The new method could target the circulatory system to push the compound down into the roots.
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Though needles have already been used to inject pesticides into plants, they have been "very large and very invasive," Cao said, which damages the plant.
The idea of using microneedles as a substitute was based on previous work that developed microneedles from silk-based materials to inject vaccines in humans.
To adapt the microneedles for plants, researchers said that they had to increase silk's hydrophilicity to make the silk attract water since plants have far less available water for the material to dissolve.
Researchers used tomato and tobacco plants for testing, but said the system could be adapted for use with almost any crop.


upi--2020-04-27--Look: Firefighters hoist horse trapped in muddy ditch

April 27 ( UPI ) -- A British fire department said a specialty rescue crew was summoned to a muddy @ @ @ @ @ horse to safety .
Kent Fire and Rescue said the Animal Rescue Unit was summoned @ @ @ @ @ , where the horse was found stuck up to its head in deep mud .
@ @ @ @ @ exhausted from attempting to escape the mud without success .
The team used a truck @ @ @ @ @ harness to hoist the horse back to solid ground and reunite the animal with its @ @

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April 27 (UPI) -- A British fire department said a specialty rescue crew was summoned to a muddy ditch to hoist a trapped horse to safety.
Kent Fire and Rescue said the Animal Rescue Unit was summoned to the ditch in Sandwich, where the horse was found stuck up to its head in deep mud.
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Rescuers said the horse was exhausted from attempting to escape the mud without success.
The team used a truck, some ropes and a harness to hoist the horse back to solid ground and reunite the animal with its owner.


upi--2020-04-27--Later school openings allow teens to get needed sleep, study finds

April 27 ( UPI ) -- Schools may be closed across much of the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic but , when they re-open , a later start to the day could help students get the sleep they need to perform better , according to a new study .
The analysis , published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics , found that adolescents and teens at two high schools that delayed the school day by an hour had around 40 minutes more sleep per night and needed less extra sleep on the weekends compared to those at schools that opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teens require a lot of extra sleep on weekends to payback the 'sleep debt ' they run up during the school week , '' co-author Dr. Rachel Widome , an associate professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota , told UPI .
`` In our study we observed that students in schools that shifted to a later start time did not need to do as much catch-up sleep on weekends , indicating they were less sleep-deprived during their school week . ''
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old get eight to 10 hours of sleep each night .
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , however , suggests that roughly 60 percent of adolescents and teens sleep sufficiently on school nights .
This lack of sleep has been linked with declines in academic performance , as well as mental and physical health problems .
It also impacts behavior and mood , Widome said .
For the study , researchers assessed sleep times among more than 450 students at five high schools in the Minneapolis-St. Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened each day at 7:30 or 7:45 a.m. as of 2016 , but two of the schools modified their start times in 2017 , opting to start the school day 50 and 65 minutes later , respectively .
The researchers used a device called wrist actigraphy to measure sleep duration , timing and quality .
The study population was roughly evenly distributed by gender , and mean age of the participants was approximately 15 years .
The team found that students who attended delayed-start schools had an additional mean of more than 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that delayed start times were not associated with falling asleep later on school nights .
In addition , students attending these schools had a mean change in weekend night sleep of -24 to -34 minutes over the course of the study .
`` You might think that when schools start later , any benefit would be canceled by teens compensating by just going to bed later , but that 's not what we observed , '' Widome said .
`` Students in the later starting schools went to bed at a similar time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
This reflects adolescents ' hard-wired circadian rhythms , she added .
Teens are ready for sleep at around 11 p.m. at night and typically struggle to wake before 8 a.m. , and educators are beginning to recognize this issue , as evidence by recent law in California , which mandates that high schools open no earlier than 8:30 a.m. each day , according to Widome .
`` These policies can be deployed across U.S. communities and have the potential to positively impact students from a variety of racial , ethnic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

April 27 (UPI) -- Schools may be closed across much of the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic but, when they re-open, a later start to the day could help students get the sleep they need to perform better, according to a new study.
The analysis, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, found that adolescents and teens at two high schools that delayed the school day by an hour had around 40 minutes more sleep per night and needed less extra sleep on the weekends compared to those at schools that opened earlier in the morning.
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"Most teens require a lot of extra sleep on weekends to payback the 'sleep debt' they run up during the school week," co-author Dr. Rachel Widome, an associate professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota, told UPI. "In our study we observed that students in schools that shifted to a later start time did not need to do as much catch-up sleep on weekends, indicating they were less sleep-deprived during their school week."
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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that young people between 13 and 18 years old get eight to 10 hours of sleep each night. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, suggests that roughly 60 percent of adolescents and teens sleep sufficiently on school nights.
This lack of sleep has been linked with declines in academic performance, as well as mental and physical health problems. It also impacts behavior and mood, Widome said.
For the study, researchers assessed sleep times among more than 450 students at five high schools in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. All five of the schools opened each day at 7:30 or 7:45 a.m. as of 2016, but two of the schools modified their start times in 2017, opting to start the school day 50 and 65 minutes later, respectively.
The researchers used a device called wrist actigraphy to measure sleep duration, timing and quality. The study population was roughly evenly distributed by gender, and mean age of the participants was approximately 15 years.
The team found that students who attended delayed-start schools had an additional mean of more than 40 minutes of sleep each night, and that delayed start times were not associated with falling asleep later on school nights. In addition, students attending these schools had a mean change in weekend night sleep of -24 to -34 minutes over the course of the study.
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"You might think that when schools start later, any benefit would be canceled by teens compensating by just going to bed later, but that's not what we observed," Widome said. "Students in the later starting schools went to bed at a similar time as students in the early starting schools."
This reflects adolescents' hard-wired circadian rhythms, she added. Teens are ready for sleep at around 11 p.m. at night and typically struggle to wake before 8 a.m., and educators are beginning to recognize this issue, as evidence by recent law in California, which mandates that high schools open no earlier than 8:30 a.m. each day, according to Widome.
"These policies can be deployed across U.S. communities and have the potential to positively impact students from a variety of racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds," she said.


upi--2020-04-27--U.S. stocks rise Monday as more states let businesses reopen

April 27 ( UPI ) -- U.S. stocks climbed Monday to begin the week with early gains amid optimism about reopening businesses following lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 358.51 points , or 1.51 percent , while the S & P 500 climbed 1.47 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.11 percent .
The boost came as several more states permitted some businesses to reopen Monday .
Georgia , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Alaska and Texas were the first to permit some non-essential businesses to reopen Friday .
JPMorgan Chase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent to lead the Dow 's rise on Monday , while the financial sector of the S & P 500 rose more than 3 percent to fuel its gains .
MGM Resorts stock rose 9.18 percent and Carnival stock gained 8.85 percent , while Gap climbed 12.74 percent and Kohls stock increased 17.72 percent .
`` Additional global stimulus measures , slowing COVID-19 cases , and signals of normalcy returning are no doubt good news in the current environment .
That said , the economy is a far cry from even walking shape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to life , '' Mile Loewengart , vice president of investment strategy at E-Trade , told CNBC .
Monday 's gains followed more depression of oil prices .
Brent crude fell to just above $ 20 per barrel Monday and West Texas Intermediate was listed at just below $ 13 .

A man carries groceries near the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on April 20. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 27 (UPI) -- U.S. stocks climbed Monday to begin the week with early gains amid optimism about reopening businesses following lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 358.51 points, or 1.51 percent, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.47 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.11 percent. Advertisement
The boost came as several more states permitted some businesses to reopen Monday. Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Alaska and Texas were the first to permit some non-essential businesses to reopen Friday.
The Dow gained 260 points on Friday.
JPMorgan Chase rose 4.3 percent and Disney increased 4.84 percent to lead the Dow's rise on Monday, while the financial sector of the S&P 500 rose more than 3 percent to fuel its gains.
MGM Resorts stock rose 9.18 percent and Carnival stock gained 8.85 percent, while Gap climbed 12.74 percent and Kohls stock increased 17.72 percent.
"Additional global stimulus measures, slowing COVID-19 cases, and signals of normalcy returning are no doubt good news in the current environment. That said, the economy is a far cry from even walking shape right now -- it's slowly crawling back to life," Mile Loewengart, vice president of investment strategy at E-Trade, told CNBC.
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Monday's gains followed more depression of oil prices. Brent crude fell to just above $20 per barrel Monday and West Texas Intermediate was listed at just below $13.


upi--2020-04-27--PETA: U.S. Marines drinking cobra blood, eating live wildlife risk disease

April 27 ( UPI ) -- A Thailand-based military exercise in which animals , including cobras , are killed and eaten raw puts service men and woman at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases , People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Monday .
Cobras are beheaded and Marine initiates drink their blood during survival training at the annual Cobra Gold jungle survival military exercise .
The training also includes `` killing chickens with their bare hands , skinning and eating live geckos and consuming live scorpions and tarantulas , '' the animal rights group said in a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Participants in the training are at risk of contracting animal-transferred diseases from wildlife , such as COVID-19 , SARS , Ebola , monkeypox and Lassa fever , PETA said .
The group said killing live animals is unnecessary and was removed from survival training in 2011 at the Bridgeport , Calif.-based Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center .
`` Clearly there are precedents for troops to learn food procurement survival skills without having to use live animals in abhorrent training drills that risk the spread of pathogens and disease , '' Shalin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international laboratory methods said in a statement .
About 4,500 military troops participate in the Cobra Gold military exercises yearly including military personnel from from the United States , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Singapore and South Korea .
Drinking cobra blood during joint jungle survival training is seen as building camaraderie .
`` Whether it 's over drinking cobra blood together , coordinating fire support , or just sharing a meal in the field , every year Marines make friendships at every level , and strengthen the bond that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Naval Capt .
Ryan Poitras said in a press release .
PETA cited the emergence of COVID-19 in Chinese wet markets and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research showing that 75 percent of new infectious diseases in people originate in animals .
`` For the sake of our troops , public health , and animals , we urge you to immediately ban the use of live animals in Cobra Gold and instead use more effective and ethical non-animal training method , '' Gala wrote .

U.S. Marines who drink cobra blood during jungle survival training at the yearly Cobra Gold exercises in Thailand are at risk for zoonotic disease, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Monday. File Photo by Markus Castaneda/U.S. Navy
April 27 (UPI) -- A Thailand-based military exercise in which animals, including cobras, are killed and eaten raw puts service men and woman at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Monday. Cobras are beheaded and Marine initiates drink their blood during survival training at the annual Cobra Gold jungle survival military exercise. Advertisement
The training also includes "killing chickens with their bare hands, skinning and eating live geckos and consuming live scorpions and tarantulas," the animal rights group said in a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
Participants in the training are at risk of contracting animal-transferred diseases from wildlife, such as COVID-19, SARS, Ebola, monkeypox and Lassa fever, PETA said.
The group said killing live animals is unnecessary and was removed from survival training in 2011 at the Bridgeport, Calif.-based Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center.
"Clearly there are precedents for troops to learn food procurement survival skills without having to use live animals in abhorrent training drills that risk the spread of pathogens and disease," Shalin Gala, PETA's vice president for international laboratory methods said in a statement.
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About 4,500 military troops participate in the Cobra Gold military exercises yearly including military personnel from from the United States, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
Drinking cobra blood during joint jungle survival training is seen as building camaraderie.
"Whether it's over drinking cobra blood together, coordinating fire support, or just sharing a meal in the field, every year Marines make friendships at every level, and strengthen the bond that the U.S. has with Thailand," U.S. Naval Capt. Ryan Poitras said in a press release.
PETA cited the emergence of COVID-19 in Chinese wet markets and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research showing that 75 percent of new infectious diseases in people originate in animals.
"For the sake of our troops, public health, and animals, we urge you to immediately ban the use of live animals in Cobra Gold and instead use more effective and ethical non-animal training method," Gala wrote.


upi--2020-04-27--Isolation during coronavirus pandemic a trigger for depression

The isolation of social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic could trigger depression , British researchers say .
`` When we are down we tend to choose to do things that cheer us up , and when we are up we may take on activities that will tend to bring us down .
However , in our current situation with COVID-19 , lockdowns and social isolation , our choice of activity is very limited , '' said study co-author Guy Goodwin , a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Oxford .
Goodwin and his colleagues looked at more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-income countries and compared those with low mood or a history of depression to those with high mood .
The study assessed how people regulate their mood through their choice of everyday activities and found that this ability ( mood homeostasis ) is impaired in people with low mood and may be absent in people with a history of depression .
One in 5 people will develop major depression in their lifetime , and pandemic lockdown measures could result in even more cases of depression , according to the researchers .
`` By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeostasis , how someone naturally regulates their mood via their choices of activities , we might be able to prevent or better treat depression , '' said study lead author Maxime Taquet , academic foundation doctor at Oxford .
`` This is likely to be important at times of lockdown and social isolation when people are more vulnerable to depression and when choices of activities appear restricted , '' Taquet said in an Oxford news release .
`` Our research findings open the door to new opportunities for developing and optimizing treatments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treatments in the form of smartphone apps , made available to a large population which sometimes lack access to existing treatments , '' he said .
The study was published April 22 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry .
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on depression .

Pandemic lockdown measures could result in more cases of depression, according to the researchers. Photo by cocoparisienne /Pixabay
The isolation of social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic could trigger depression, British researchers say. "When we are down we tend to choose to do things that cheer us up, and when we are up we may take on activities that will tend to bring us down. However, in our current situation with COVID-19, lockdowns and social isolation, our choice of activity is very limited," said study co-author Guy Goodwin, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Advertisement
Goodwin and his colleagues looked at more than 58,000 people in low-, middle- and high-income countries and compared those with low mood or a history of depression to those with high mood.
The study assessed how people regulate their mood through their choice of everyday activities and found that this ability (mood homeostasis) is impaired in people with low mood and may be absent in people with a history of depression.
One in 5 people will develop major depression in their lifetime, and pandemic lockdown measures could result in even more cases of depression, according to the researchers.
"By training people to increase their own mood homeostasis, how someone naturally regulates their mood via their choices of activities, we might be able to prevent or better treat depression," said study lead author Maxime Taquet, academic foundation doctor at Oxford.
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"This is likely to be important at times of lockdown and social isolation when people are more vulnerable to depression and when choices of activities appear restricted," Taquet said in an Oxford news release.
"Our research findings open the door to new opportunities for developing and optimizing treatments for depression and this could potentially be well-adapted to treatments in the form of smartphone apps, made available to a large population which sometimes lack access to existing treatments," he said.
The study was published April 22 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on depression.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-27--Idaho men pass beach ball 84 times for Guinness record

April 27 ( UPI ) -- A pair of Idaho men spending their COVID-19 lockdown time breaking Guinness World Records @ @ @ @ @ most beach ball passes in 30 seconds : 84 .
David Rush , who has @ @ @ @ @ World Records to promote STEM education , said he and his `` quarantine buddy , @ @ @ @ @ the beach ball passing record as part of their `` hallway series '' of record @ @ @ @ @ .
Rush 's video shows the men were able to complete 84 passes in 30 @ @ @ @ @ record of 68 .
He said an earlier attempt resulted in 82 successful catches , @ @ @ @ @ when he discovered his 1-year-old son had temporarily covered the face of the stopwatch , @ @ @ @ @ be unobstructed for the entirety of a video-recorded record attempt .

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April 27 (UPI) -- A pair of Idaho men spending their COVID-19 lockdown time breaking Guinness World Records said they successfully managed the most beach ball passes in 30 seconds: 84.
David Rush, who has broken more than 100 Guinness World Records to promote STEM education, said he and his "quarantine buddy," Jonathan Hannon took on the beach ball passing record as part of their "hallway series" of record attempts amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Rush's video shows the men were able to complete 84 passes in 30 seconds, beating the previous record of 68.
He said an earlier attempt resulted in 82 successful catches, but the attempt was invalidated when he discovered his 1-year-old son had temporarily covered the face of the stopwatch, which Guinness rules require to be unobstructed for the entirety of a video-recorded record attempt.


upi--2020-04-27--Lost dog found six months later, 50 miles from home

April 27 ( UPI ) -- A dog spotted on the loose in Maine was captured and identified as a @ @ @ @ @ six months earlier from a home 50 miles away .
Dave Townsend , an animal @ @ @ @ @ said volunteers with Maine Lost Dog Recovery helped him set traps and track the movements @ @ @ @ @ wandering in the woods recently in the Calais area .
The canine was successfully caught @ @ @ @ @ week and the 90-pound Great Pyrenees was identified as Nellie , a dog reported missing @ @ @ @ @ , about 50 miles from where the dog was captured .
Townsend said he believes @ @ @ @ @ through the woods on her own with scant food sources for months .
Maine Lost @ @ @ @ @ reunited with her owners .

A dog spotted wandering loose in the woods in the Calais, Maine, area was found to have escaped from a home 50 miles away six months earlier. Photo courtesy of Maine Lost Dog Recovery
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe April 27 (UPI) -- A dog spotted on the loose in Maine was captured and identified as a family pet that went missing six months earlier from a home 50 miles away. Dave Townsend, an animal control officer in Calais, said volunteers with Maine Lost Dog Recovery helped him set traps and track the movements of the loose dog spotted wandering in the woods recently in the Calais area. Advertisement
The canine was successfully caught in a trap late last week and the 90-pound Great Pyrenees was identified as Nellie, a dog reported missing six months earlier in Addison, about 50 miles from where the dog was captured.
Townsend said he believes Nellie had wandered 50 miles through the woods on her own with scant food sources for months.
Maine Lost Dog Recovery said Nellie was reunited with her owners.


upi--2020-04-27--FDA warns of bogus claims by hand sanitizer companies

Some companies are selling hand sanitizers with unproven claims that they 'll protect you from the new coronavirus , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns .
Last week , the agency issued its first warning letter for a hand sanitizer marketed with unproven COVID-19-related claims that violated federal law .
The letter was issued to Prefense LLC for making misleading statements about its hand sanitizer , such as `` Prefense ... protects you from germs with just one application per day !
It 's like wearing an invisible glove . ''
The company 's website also wrongly claims that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 24 hours or for 10 hand washes , '' according to an FDA news release .
There is no evidence that hand sanitizing products can protect consumers for 24 hours or after multiple hand-washings , the FDA said .
`` These types of claims may put consumers at risk by leading to a false sense of security and resulting in infrequent hand-washing or hand sanitizing .
The agency urges consumers to be vigilant of products sold with misleading , unproven claims , by following our updates on our website , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manufacturers in an attempt to meet demand for alcohol-based hand sanitizer .
So far , more than 1,500 additional manufacturers have registered with the FDA to produce the hand cleaners .
But that 's led to safety concerns about false marketing or products that are n't in line with the FDA 's policies .
`` With this increased supply comes our continued mission to ensure safety of these products .
It is important that hand sanitizer be manufactured in a way that makes them unpalatable to people , especially young children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discourage accidental or intentional ingestion , '' said FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn .
`` Additionally , hand sanitizers are not proven to treat COVID-19 , and like other products meant for external use , are not for ingestion , inhalation , or intravenous use , '' he added .
One safety precaution with alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the use of denatured alcohol .
This makes the sanitizer bitter-tasting and less appealing to children .
Consuming just a small amount of hand sanitizer may be potentially deadly in a young child .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a 13-year-old child drinking hand sanitizer that was packaged in a liquor bottle from a distiller .
The sanitizer was not denatured and was reported to taste like normal drinking alcohol .
Hand sanitizer-related calls to the National Poison Data System last month were 79 percent higher than in March 2019 .
The majority of the calls last month were for unintentional exposures in children aged 5 years and younger , the FDA said .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on hand sanitizers .

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its first warning letter last week for a hand sanitizer marketed with unproven COVID-19-related claims that violated federal law. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Some companies are selling hand sanitizers with unproven claims that they'll protect you from the new coronavirus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. Last week, the agency issued its first warning letter for a hand sanitizer marketed with unproven COVID-19-related claims that violated federal law. Advertisement
The letter was issued to Prefense LLC for making misleading statements about its hand sanitizer, such as "Prefense ... protects you from germs with just one application per day! It's like wearing an invisible glove."
The company's website also wrongly claims that Prefense can "protect you from pathogens up to 24 hours or for 10 hand washes," according to an FDA news release.
There is no evidence that hand sanitizing products can protect consumers for 24 hours or after multiple hand-washings, the FDA said.
"These types of claims may put consumers at risk by leading to a false sense of security and resulting in infrequent hand-washing or hand sanitizing. The agency urges consumers to be vigilant of products sold with misleading, unproven claims, by following our updates on our website," FDA regulators said.
The FDA turned to manufacturers in an attempt to meet demand for alcohol-based hand sanitizer. So far, more than 1,500 additional manufacturers have registered with the FDA to produce the hand cleaners. But that's led to safety concerns about false marketing or products that aren't in line with the FDA's policies.
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"With this increased supply comes our continued mission to ensure safety of these products. It is important that hand sanitizer be manufactured in a way that makes them unpalatable to people, especially young children, and that they are appropriately labeled to discourage accidental or intentional ingestion," said FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn.
"Additionally, hand sanitizers are not proven to treat COVID-19, and like other products meant for external use, are not for ingestion, inhalation, or intravenous use," he added.
One safety precaution with alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the use of denatured alcohol. This makes the sanitizer bitter-tasting and less appealing to children.
Consuming just a small amount of hand sanitizer may be potentially deadly in a young child.
This month, the FDA received a report of a 13-year-old child drinking hand sanitizer that was packaged in a liquor bottle from a distiller. The sanitizer was not denatured and was reported to taste like normal drinking alcohol.
Hand sanitizer-related calls to the National Poison Data System last month were 79 percent higher than in March 2019. The majority of the calls last month were for unintentional exposures in children aged 5 years and younger, the FDA said.
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More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on hand sanitizers.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-27--Senators to return to D.C. next week after pandemic recess

April 27 ( UPI ) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Monday that the U.S. Senate would be back in session starting May 4 after a recess since March 26 due to COVID-19 .
Routines in the Senate will be modified in `` ways that that are smart and safe , '' McConnell said in a press statement .
`` This crisis has every part of our society in dire need of stability , clarity and certainty , '' he said .
`` The Senate has already stepped up , but our work is not over . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return .
Lawmakers continue to discuss further coronavirus relief legislation .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Sunday the House would pass a bill that provides state and local funding in a `` very significant way . ''
But McConnell and the GOP-controlled Senate have opposed such funding , with McConnell suggesting Wednesday that states and municipalities declare bankruptcy if they ca n't afford their obligations .
Republicans may move to protect businesses from lawsuits , McConnell suggested .
`` Our nation is facing the worst pandemic in over a century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Great Depression , '' he said .
`` Our response must not be slowed , weakened , or exploited to set up the biggest trial lawyer bonanza in history .
`` The brave healthcare workers battling this virus and the entrepreneurs who will reopen our economy deserve strong protections from opportunistic lawsuits . ''

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the U.S. Senate would reconvene May 4 with "smart and safe" protections for lawmakers. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
April 27 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Monday that the U.S. Senate would be back in session starting May 4 after a recess since March 26 due to COVID-19. Routines in the Senate will be modified in "ways that that are smart and safe," McConnell said in a press statement. Advertisement
"This crisis has every part of our society in dire need of stability, clarity and certainty," he said. "The Senate has already stepped up, but our work is not over."
The House hasn't announced when it will return. Lawmakers continue to discuss further coronavirus relief legislation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday the House would pass a bill that provides state and local funding in a "very significant way."
But McConnell and the GOP-controlled Senate have opposed such funding, with McConnell suggesting Wednesday that states and municipalities declare bankruptcy if they can't afford their obligations.
Republicans may move to protect businesses from lawsuits, McConnell suggested.
"Our nation is facing the worst pandemic in over a century and potentially the worst economic shock since the Great Depression," he said. "Our response must not be slowed, weakened, or exploited to set up the biggest trial lawyer bonanza in history.
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"The brave healthcare workers battling this virus and the entrepreneurs who will reopen our economy deserve strong protections from opportunistic lawsuits."


upi--2020-04-27--App may help clinicians adjust to new ventilators for COVID-19 treatment

April 27 ( UPI ) -- Researchers and caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic have developed a mobile app designed to help their colleagues across the country understand how to use different types of ventilators .
This type of instant education is vital , experts says , as clinicians have found themselves using breathing equipment they may not be familiar with , which has been a problem as the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed .
The Ventilator Mode App from Cleveland Clinic is designed to assist caregivers by providing real-time information about the model of ventilator they are using , at bedside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and model of the ventilator they 're using to get a quick tutorial on the device as well as information on comparable machines they may have worked with in the past .
`` Think of ventilators like cars -- there are many makes and models , but the main functions are the same , '' Dr. Jay Alberts , a biomedical engineer at the Cleveland Clinic and one of the app 's co-creators , said in a press release .
`` By entering information in this app , the caregiver can quickly understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .
To date , nearly 1 million Americans have been infected with the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
It 's been estimated that approximately 20 percent of those infected with COVID-19 , the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 , develop serious illness , including severe pneumonia .
Many of them require supportive care with a ventilator in order to breathe , said Dr. Raj Dasgupta , a pulmonolgist and critical care medicine specialist at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on hospitals where the outbreak has been most severe , like in New York City , as many lack a sufficient number of ventilators to treat these patients .
To address inventory issues , many hospitals have incorporated new breathing devices or devices produced by non-traditional manufacturers , like car-makers .
In addition , states like California , where the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has so far been less than expected , have donated ventilators to hospitals in New York and New Jersey , where the pandemic has hit hardest .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Dasgupta , who was not involved with the Cleveland Clinic project , and many clinicians working in crisis settings at heavily impacted hospitals may find themselves working with a device that 's new to them .
Some have even used makeshift ventilators to ensure that patients receive the lung support they need .
`` Anything that can help respiratory therapists better understand the equipment and how it works can help , '' Dasgupta told UPI .
`` How can education be a bad thing ?
A tool like this could still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over . ''
He sees the app as a logical companion to a video series produced by the American Association for Respiratory Care and Harvard University School of Medicine , which offers instruction on the appropriate use of ventilators in patients with severe COVID-19 .
Medical device manufacturers typically provide customers with how-to videos to educate them on the appropriate use of their equipment .
However , these videos are typically several minutes long -- not fit for viewing in the ER when time is of short supply , Dasgupta said .

A mobile app developed at the Cleveland Clinic designed to assist clinicians in ventilator use for patients with COVID-19. Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic
April 27 (UPI) -- Researchers and caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic have developed a mobile app designed to help their colleagues across the country understand how to use different types of ventilators. This type of instant education is vital, experts says, as clinicians have found themselves using breathing equipment they may not be familiar with, which has been a problem as the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed. Advertisement
The Ventilator Mode App from Cleveland Clinic is designed to assist caregivers by providing real-time information about the model of ventilator they are using, at bedside. Clinicians can simply enter the make and model of the ventilator they're using to get a quick tutorial on the device as well as information on comparable machines they may have worked with in the past.
"Think of ventilators like cars -- there are many makes and models, but the main functions are the same," Dr. Jay Alberts, a biomedical engineer at the Cleveland Clinic and one of the app's co-creators, said in a press release.
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"By entering information in this app, the caregiver can quickly understand how to operate that specific ventilator," he added.
To date, nearly 1 million Americans have been infected with the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, according to Johns Hopkins University. It's been estimated that approximately 20 percent of those infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, develop serious illness, including severe pneumonia.
Many of them require supportive care with a ventilator in order to breathe, said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a pulmonolgist and critical care medicine specialist at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. These needs have placed a significant burden on hospitals where the outbreak has been most severe, like in New York City, as many lack a sufficient number of ventilators to treat these patients.
To address inventory issues, many hospitals have incorporated new breathing devices or devices produced by non-traditional manufacturers, like car-makers. In addition, states like California, where the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has so far been less than expected, have donated ventilators to hospitals in New York and New Jersey, where the pandemic has hit hardest.
However, not all ventilators are the same, said Dasgupta, who was not involved with the Cleveland Clinic project, and many clinicians working in crisis settings at heavily impacted hospitals may find themselves working with a device that's new to them. Some have even used makeshift ventilators to ensure that patients receive the lung support they need.
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"Anything that can help respiratory therapists better understand the equipment and how it works can help," Dasgupta told UPI. "How can education be a bad thing? A tool like this could still be helpful long after the pandemic is over."
He sees the app as a logical companion to a video series produced by the American Association for Respiratory Care and Harvard University School of Medicine, which offers instruction on the appropriate use of ventilators in patients with severe COVID-19.
Medical device manufacturers typically provide customers with how-to videos to educate them on the appropriate use of their equipment. However, these videos are typically several minutes long -- not fit for viewing in the ER when time is of short supply, Dasgupta said.


upi--2020-04-27--Impromptu coffee run leads to $1.2 million lottery jackpot

April 27 ( UPI ) -- An Australian man said he owes his $ 1.2 million lottery jackpot to a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy coffee for himself and a coworker .
The Salisbury Downs , South Australia , man told The Lott officials that he was making a stop for coffee at OTR Salisbury Downs when he realized he had n't bought a ticket for the April 25 Saturday X Lotto drawing .
`` I was out and about and thought I 'd stop and grab a coffee for myself and my workmate .
While I was there , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am glad I stopped because I would have missed out otherwise , '' the man said .
The man said he discovered Sunday morning that he had won a $ 1.2 Division One jackpot .
`` It 's a big shock to be honest .
We have worked hard for everything we 've got and struggled at times , and when a gift like this comes along you think to yourself 'bloody hell , ' it 's mind blowing , '' the winner said .
`` We 've got a few bills to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards those , but then me and my wife will have to sit down and think about the rest , '' he said .
`` I 'll give some to the kids and I think when the time is right , we 'll go on a bit of a holiday . ''

An Australian man said he owes his $1.2 lottery jackpot to a spur-of-the-moment decision to stop for coffee. Photo courtesy of The Lott
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe April 27 (UPI) -- An Australian man said he owes his $1.2 million lottery jackpot to a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy coffee for himself and a coworker. The Salisbury Downs, South Australia, man told The Lott officials that he was making a stop for coffee at OTR Salisbury Downs when he realized he hadn't bought a ticket for the April 25 Saturday X Lotto drawing. Advertisement
"I was out and about and thought I'd stop and grab a coffee for myself and my workmate. While I was there, I also picked up my ticket. I am glad I stopped because I would have missed out otherwise," the man said.
The man said he discovered Sunday morning that he had won a $1.2 Division One jackpot.
"It's a big shock to be honest. We have worked hard for everything we've got and struggled at times, and when a gift like this comes along you think to yourself 'bloody hell,' it's mind blowing," the winner said.
"We've got a few bills to pay off so we'll put it towards those, but then me and my wife will have to sit down and think about the rest," he said. "I'll give some to the kids and I think when the time is right, we'll go on a bit of a holiday."


upi--2020-04-27--Home run happy Uni-Lions beat Monkeys in Chinese professional baseball

April 27 ( UPI ) -- Kuo Fu-Lin hit two home runs to lead the Uni-Lions over the Rakuten Monkeys in a slugfest as the two teams played in one of the only active live sports leagues in the world during the coronavirus pandemic .
Kuo hit the two bombs during a 12-5 Chinese Professional Baseball League win Sunday at Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium in Tainan , Taiwan .
The league is being played without fans in the stands due to the pandemic .
Kuo hit his first home run in the bottom of the fourth frame .
The powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 10-0 advantage .
Kuo returned to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning .
He hit an opposite field solo shot to right field during that at-bat .
He finished the game with three RBIs .
Kuo ran to the bench for a team dance after both of his homers .
He faced his teammates as they stood up an did a synchronized chant and dance .
Kuo was named MVP after the game .
The Uni-Lions star did another dance number with cheerleaders and mascots during that celebration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even sign for the New York Yankees , when he agreed to join the Major League Baseball franchise in 2009 .
Kuo hit .232 with eight home runs and 73 RBIs in four seasons in the minors .
He had n't homered in his nine previous games before Sunday 's performance .
Four teams play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League , including the Monkeys , Uni-Lions , Fubon Guardians and Chinatrust Brothers .
Fans can watch the games on the Eleven Sports Taiwan Twitter account with first pitches typically set for 6:35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games start at 5:05 a.m. EDT .
Several former MLB and Minor League Baseball players are in the league , but none of them were All-Star caliber players .
The Guardians face the Monkeys at 6:35 a.m. EDT Tuesday .
Former Miami Marlins pitcher Justin Nicolino will start the game for the Monkeys .
Former Houston Astros pitcher Henry Sosa is on the Guardians ' roster .
Former Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla and Detroit Tigers pitcher Ryan Carpenter are on the Monkeys roster .

April 27 (UPI) -- Kuo Fu-Lin hit two home runs to lead the Uni-Lions over the Rakuten Monkeys in a slugfest as the two teams played in one of the only active live sports leagues in the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kuo hit the two bombs during a 12-5 Chinese Professional Baseball League win Sunday at Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium in Tainan, Taiwan. The league is being played without fans in the stands due to the pandemic.
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Kuo hit his first home run in the bottom of the fourth frame. The powerful shot to left field gave the Uni-Lions a 10-0 advantage. Kuo returned to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. He hit an opposite field solo shot to right field during that at-bat. He finished the game with three RBIs.
Kuo ran to the bench for a team dance after both of his homers. He faced his teammates as they stood up an did a synchronized chant and dance.
Kuo was named MVP after the game. The Uni-Lions star did another dance number with cheerleaders and mascots during that celebration. Kuo was the second Taiwanese player to even sign for the New York Yankees, when he agreed to join the Major League Baseball franchise in 2009.
Kuo hit .232 with eight home runs and 73 RBIs in four seasons in the minors. He hadn't homered in his nine previous games before Sunday's performance.
Four teams play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, including the Monkeys, Uni-Lions, Fubon Guardians and Chinatrust Brothers.
Fans can watch the games on the Eleven Sports Taiwan Twitter account with first pitches typically set for 6:35 a.m. EDT throughout the week. Weekend games start at 5:05 a.m. EDT. Several former MLB and Minor League Baseball players are in the league, but none of them were All-Star caliber players.
The Guardians face the Monkeys at 6:35 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Former Miami Marlins pitcher Justin Nicolino will start the game for the Monkeys. Former Houston Astros pitcher Henry Sosa is on the Guardians' roster. Former Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla and Detroit Tigers pitcher Ryan Carpenter are on the Monkeys roster.


upi--2020-04-27--Global military spending nearly $2T in 2019, U.S. accounts for one-third

April 27 ( UPI ) -- Global military spending grew 3.6 percent in 2019 to $ 1.9 trillion , with the United States accounting for $ 732 billion , or 38 percent of the global total .
U.S. military spending grew by 5.3 percent , equivalent to Germany 's entire military budget for the year , the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Monday in its annual report .
The five largest buyers were the United States , China , India , Russia and Saudi Arabia , whose purchases accounted for 62 percent of the total figure .
The global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a decade , representing 2.2 percent of global gross domestic product , or about $ 249 per person .
By the benchmarks of SIPRI , military spending includes all government spending on current military forces and activities , including salaries and benefits , operational expenses , arms and equipment purchases , military construction , research and development , and central administration , command and support .
The dollar figures include the cost of more than weapons and armaments .
`` Global military expenditure was 7.2 per cent higher in 2019 than it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that military spending growth has accelerated in recent years , '' SIPRI researcher Nan Tian said in a press release .
`` This is the highest level of spending since the 2008 global financial crisis and probably represents a peak in expenditure . ''
The study noted that China 's military expenditures rose 5.1 percent to about $ 261 billion in 2019 , or only about one-third of the U.S. figure .
India 's grew 6.8 percent to $ 71.1 billion .
Russia saw a 4.5 percent increase to $ 65.1 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Beyond the top five , however , military spending increased all over the world .
Bulgaria 's military budget increased by 127 percent , largely because of payments for new fighter planes to replace its Soviet-era fleet .
The 29 nations of NATO combined to spend more than $ 1.035 trillion in 2019 , the report said .
Spending by South American countries was little changed , but armed conflict in central Africa increased Burkina Faso 's military budget by 22 percent and Uganda 's by 52 percent .

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said on Monday that global military spending reached $1.9 trillion in 2019. Photo by Jesper Sundstrom/Swedish Armed Forces
April 27 (UPI) -- Global military spending grew 3.6 percent in 2019 to $1.9 trillion, with the United States accounting for $732 billion, or 38 percent of the global total. U.S. military spending grew by 5.3 percent, equivalent to Germany's entire military budget for the year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Monday in its annual report. Advertisement
The five largest buyers were the United States, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia, whose purchases accounted for 62 percent of the total figure. The global expenditure was the largest annual percentage increase in a decade, representing 2.2 percent of global gross domestic product, or about $249 per person.
By the benchmarks of SIPRI, military spending includes all government spending on current military forces and activities, including salaries and benefits, operational expenses, arms and equipment purchases, military construction, research and development, and central administration, command and support. The dollar figures include the cost of more than weapons and armaments.
"Global military expenditure was 7.2 per cent higher in 2019 than it was in 2010, showing a trend that military spending growth has accelerated in recent years," SIPRI researcher Nan Tian said in a press release. "This is the highest level of spending since the 2008 global financial crisis and probably represents a peak in expenditure."
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The study noted that China's military expenditures rose 5.1 percent to about $261 billion in 2019, or only about one-third of the U.S. figure. India's grew 6.8 percent to $71.1 billion. Russia saw a 4.5 percent increase to $65.1 billion, or nearly four percent of its GDP.
Beyond the top five, however, military spending increased all over the world. Bulgaria's military budget increased by 127 percent, largely because of payments for new fighter planes to replace its Soviet-era fleet. The 29 nations of NATO combined to spend more than $1.035 trillion in 2019, the report said.
Spending by South American countries was little changed, but armed conflict in central Africa increased Burkina Faso's military budget by 22 percent and Uganda's by 52 percent.


upi--2020-04-27--Scientist calls for renewed debate on plant breeding technologies

April 27 ( UPI ) -- A German scientist has called for renewed debate on new plant breeding technologies such as genetic engineering and gene editing because they could increase food production in a more environmentally friendly way .
The controversial technologies could increase food production to help fight global hunger , a study published this month in the journal of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy shows , but have been subject to debate over negative environmental effects and perceived safety issues with genetically modified organisms .
`` The problem is that the regulatory authorities in Europe treat plants developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as genetically modified plants where foreign genes are introduced , '' Matin Qaim , an agricultural economist and professor at the University of Gottingen , said in a press release .
`` This fuels public fears and prevents the further development and use of the technology in agriculture . ''
In particular , new breeding technologies `` invented a few years ago '' are able to `` make better use of soil nutrients '' so that they do n't need as much fertilizer , he said .
And the new technologies can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adapt to climate change .
Qaim , who evaluated 50 years of global research for the study , also said that scientific studies have classified GMOs as safe , but there has still been concern over possible health and environmental risks .
This controversy has largely centered around `` the fact that GMOs contain genes introduced from other species , '' he added .
However , Qaim said that unlike GMOs , which are especially controversial in Europe , gene-editing does n't usually rely on transfer of foreign genes .
`` Unfortunately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many poor countries , especially in Africa , where new agricultural technologies are particularly important for small farms , '' Qaim said .
`` We urgently need a different and more evidence-based public disclosure about new breeding technologies , because they can make an important contribution to sustainable agriculture and food security . ''
`` The low public acceptance has led to high regulatory hurdles that are not scientifically justified and seriously slow down the development of the technology , '' he added .

Gene-editing technologies can help small farms in Africa hard hit by economic and climate challenges to become more productive, researchers say. Photo by Stefan Koppmair/University of Gottingen
April 27 (UPI) -- A German scientist has called for renewed debate on new plant breeding technologies such as genetic engineering and gene editing because they could increase food production in a more environmentally friendly way. The controversial technologies could increase food production to help fight global hunger, a study published this month in the journal of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy shows, but have been subject to debate over negative environmental effects and perceived safety issues with genetically modified organisms. Advertisement
"The problem is that the regulatory authorities in Europe treat plants developed using gene editing in the same way as genetically modified plants where foreign genes are introduced," Matin Qaim, an agricultural economist and professor at the University of Gottingen, said in a press release. "This fuels public fears and prevents the further development and use of the technology in agriculture."
In particular, new breeding technologies "invented a few years ago" are able to "make better use of soil nutrients" so that they don't need as much fertilizer, he said. And the new technologies can also help crops develop new traits faster to adapt to climate change.
Qaim, who evaluated 50 years of global research for the study, also said that scientific studies have classified GMOs as safe, but there has still been concern over possible health and environmental risks.
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This controversy has largely centered around "the fact that GMOs contain genes introduced from other species," he added.
However, Qaim said that unlike GMOs, which are especially controversial in Europe, gene-editing doesn't usually rely on transfer of foreign genes.
"Unfortunately, the European attitude has far-reaching implications for many poor countries, especially in Africa, where new agricultural technologies are particularly important for small farms," Qaim said. "We urgently need a different and more evidence-based public disclosure about new breeding technologies, because they can make an important contribution to sustainable agriculture and food security."
"The low public acceptance has led to high regulatory hurdles that are not scientifically justified and seriously slow down the development of the technology," he added.


upi--2020-04-27--CTE may be misdiagnosed in some NFL players, study says

The brain damage that may occur in football players has received a lot of attention in recent years .
But a new study suggests that former players who get a diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ) when they 're still alive may well be getting the wrong diagnosis .
CTE can only be diagnosed with an autopsy , the researchers explained .
Other conditions could cause the symptoms leading to a mistaken CTE diagnosis .
`` There is currently no universally agreed upon way to clinically diagnose a living player , yet our study found that many former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnoses from their medical care providers , '' said the study 's lead author , Rachel Grashow .
She 's a research scientist at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , in Boston .
`` This is disconcerting , because there are many other conditions that are very common to football players -- such as sleep apnea , hypertension , obesity , diabetes , use of prescription pain medication -- that can cause cognitive symptoms exactly like those attributed to CTE , '' Grashow explained .
Her team surveyed nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) players and found nearly 3 percent had received a CTE diagnosis .
Grashow said the researchers were concerned that `` clinicians are quick to diagnose CTE . ''
Instead , she added , doctors should focus on a broad array of possibilities , particularly conditions that can be treated and may improve a player 's quality of life .
CTE started to get a lot more attention in 2015 after the family of NFL legend Frank Gifford said he had suffered from mental issues caused by CTE .
The brain condition has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which can be common in professional football players .
CTE is also believed to have contributed to the suicide of retired NFL great Junior Seau at age 43 .
The current research included data from the ongoing Football Players Health Study .
Investigators surveyed 3,913 former NFL players who played from 1960 or later .
In 1960 , the league moved from using soft leather helmets to hard plastic .
The players who responded to the researchers were between 24 and 89 years old .
In players under 60 , 2.3 percent reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those over 60 said they had been diagnosed with CTE , according to the report published online April 13 in the Annals of Neurology .
Symptoms of mental impairment , such as difficulty concentrating , forgetfulness and mood changes were more common among the athletes with a CTE diagnosis .
And players diagnosed with CTE were more likely than those without the diagnosis to have one or more of these conditions : sleep apnea , abnormal cholesterol , high blood pressure , depression , obesity , heart diseases , low testosterone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a possible misdiagnosis are significant , Grashow said .
`` Believing that someone has this diagnosis -- currently impossible to confirm during life and for which there are no treatments -- could lead to despair , depression and suicidal thoughts in players , '' she said .
`` Such a diagnosis may also encourage passive health behaviors , whereby players stop proactively working to improve their diet , sleep habits and physical activity habits . ''
Dr. Ira Goldstein is director of neurotrauma at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not something else , is that you may be missing out on an opportunity to treat something else , '' Goldstein said .
`` CTE is not reversible , but there are other conditions that are , like nutritional deficits , '' he said .
Goldstein also noted that there are some brain conditions that can be treated with surgery that mimic CTE symptoms , including tumors and a buildup of fluid in the brain .
Another condition that could be mistaken for CTE is vascular dementia .
And while that condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments , such as controlling blood pressure and taking aspirin to prevent blood clots , that can help prevent it from getting worse , he explained .
Goldstein said researchers are studying new ways to diagnose CTE in people while they 're still alive .
PET scans , spinal fluid analysis and a blood test that looks for certain substances in the blood are all being evaluated .
Grashow said the researchers hope their study 's findings help educate medical providers about the limits and potential consequences in diagnosing CTE in someone living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players and their families to advocate for themselves in medical settings , and push back on clinicians who suggest CTE without exploring other health conditions that affect cognition , '' she said .
Learn more about CTE from the Alzheimer 's Association .

Some clinicians may be too quick to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in football players, a new study suggests. File Photo by Khaled Sayed/UPI | License Photo
The brain damage that may occur in football players has received a lot of attention in recent years. But a new study suggests that former players who get a diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when they're still alive may well be getting the wrong diagnosis. CTE can only be diagnosed with an autopsy, the researchers explained. Other conditions could cause the symptoms leading to a mistaken CTE diagnosis. Advertisement
"There is currently no universally agreed upon way to clinically diagnose a living player, yet our study found that many former players are reporting that they received CTE diagnoses from their medical care providers," said the study's lead author, Rachel Grashow. She's a research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston.
"This is disconcerting, because there are many other conditions that are very common to football players -- such as sleep apnea, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, use of prescription pain medication -- that can cause cognitive symptoms exactly like those attributed to CTE," Grashow explained.
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Her team surveyed nearly 4,000 former National Football League (NFL) players and found nearly 3 percent had received a CTE diagnosis.
Grashow said the researchers were concerned that "clinicians are quick to diagnose CTE." Instead, she added, doctors should focus on a broad array of possibilities, particularly conditions that can be treated and may improve a player's quality of life.
CTE started to get a lot more attention in 2015 after the family of NFL legend Frank Gifford said he had suffered from mental issues caused by CTE. The brain condition has been linked to repeated head trauma, which can be common in professional football players. CTE is also believed to have contributed to the suicide of retired NFL great Junior Seau at age 43.
The current research included data from the ongoing Football Players Health Study. Investigators surveyed 3,913 former NFL players who played from 1960 or later. In 1960, the league moved from using soft leather helmets to hard plastic.
The players who responded to the researchers were between 24 and 89 years old.
In players under 60, 2.3 percent reported a CTE diagnosis, and 3.7 percent of those over 60 said they had been diagnosed with CTE, according to the report published online April 13 in the Annals of Neurology.
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Symptoms of mental impairment, such as difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and mood changes were more common among the athletes with a CTE diagnosis. And players diagnosed with CTE were more likely than those without the diagnosis to have one or more of these conditions: sleep apnea, abnormal cholesterol, high blood pressure, depression, obesity, heart diseases, low testosterone and prescription pain medicine use.
The ramifications of a possible misdiagnosis are significant, Grashow said. "Believing that someone has this diagnosis -- currently impossible to confirm during life and for which there are no treatments -- could lead to despair, depression and suicidal thoughts in players," she said. "Such a diagnosis may also encourage passive health behaviors, whereby players stop proactively working to improve their diet, sleep habits and physical activity habits."
Dr. Ira Goldstein is director of neurotrauma at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
"The biggest worry in saying you have CTE and not something else, is that you may be missing out on an opportunity to treat something else," Goldstein said.
"CTE is not reversible, but there are other conditions that are, like nutritional deficits," he said.
Goldstein also noted that there are some brain conditions that can be treated with surgery that mimic CTE symptoms, including tumors and a buildup of fluid in the brain. Another condition that could be mistaken for CTE is vascular dementia. And while that condition can't be reversed, there are treatments, such as controlling blood pressure and taking aspirin to prevent blood clots, that can help prevent it from getting worse, he explained.
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Goldstein said researchers are studying new ways to diagnose CTE in people while they're still alive. PET scans, spinal fluid analysis and a blood test that looks for certain substances in the blood are all being evaluated.
Grashow said the researchers hope their study's findings help educate medical providers about the limits and potential consequences in diagnosing CTE in someone living.
"We also want to empower players and their families to advocate for themselves in medical settings, and push back on clinicians who suggest CTE without exploring other health conditions that affect cognition," she said.
More information
Learn more about CTE from the Alzheimer's Association.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-28--Tony Romo, Deron Williams to compete in golf fundraiser in Texas

April 28 ( UPI ) -- Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will compete in a golf tournament in Texas with the proceeds going to full-time caddies who are unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Tournament officials informed Golf Channel and ESPN of the details for the 54-hole Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational .
The field will include Dallas-area professionals , top amateurs and club members .
Golfers will tee up Tuesday through Thursday at the Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton , Texas .
`` Maridoe is thrilled to host the Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational and to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance while keeping our players safe and in good health , '' Maridoe Golf Club owner Albert Huddleston told Golf Channel .
The tournament will be played without fans .
It will likely be one of the largest fields for a golf tournament since the PGA Tour suspended play in mid-March due to the pandemic .
Players and officials will review social-distancing guidelines before play .
There will not be any bunker rakes , carts or caddies used at the tournament .
The tournament 's $ 270 entry fee will go toward the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work .
Players will also compete for a $ 27,000 prize purse .
The field also includes PGA Tour pros Viktor Hovland , Scottie Scheffler and Harry Higgs .
Former NBA star Deron Williams and college golfers Pierceson Coody , Parker Coody , Austin Eckroat and Cooper Dossey are also in the field .
PGA Tour star and Texas native Jordan Spieth is expected to attend the tournament .
Romo has played in four PGA Tour events after his NFL career .
The tournament tees off at 9 a.m. EDT Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans can follow for live scores at GolfStat.com .
`` We 're a caddie-only club , and our caddies have not been working because of COVID-19 , '' Maridoe Golf Club managing member Alison Morrison told ESPN .
`` We thought , why do n't we have a little bit of a match , so to speak , sharpen our blades , put on a 54-hole , social distancing event .
Leave the pins .
No rakes in bunkers .
Let 's play for them , basically .
And within a day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The PGA Tour season is also scheduled to resume in Texas with the June 11 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth .

April 28 (UPI) -- Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will compete in a golf tournament in Texas with the proceeds going to full-time caddies who are unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tournament officials informed Golf Channel and ESPN of the details for the 54-hole Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational. The field will include Dallas-area professionals, top amateurs and club members. Golfers will tee up Tuesday through Thursday at the Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
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"Maridoe is thrilled to host the Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational and to set and represent the new standard in tournament performance while keeping our players safe and in good health," Maridoe Golf Club owner Albert Huddleston told Golf Channel.
The tournament will be played without fans. It will likely be one of the largest fields for a golf tournament since the PGA Tour suspended play in mid-March due to the pandemic.
Players and officials will review social-distancing guidelines before play. There will not be any bunker rakes, carts or caddies used at the tournament. The tournament's $270 entry fee will go toward the club's caddies, who are out of work. Players will also compete for a $27,000 prize purse.
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The field also includes PGA Tour pros Viktor Hovland, Scottie Scheffler and Harry Higgs. Former NBA star Deron Williams and college golfers Pierceson Coody, Parker Coody, Austin Eckroat and Cooper Dossey are also in the field.
PGA Tour star and Texas native Jordan Spieth is expected to attend the tournament. Romo has played in four PGA Tour events after his NFL career.
The tournament tees off at 9 a.m. EDT Tuesday. It will not air on TV but fans can follow for live scores at GolfStat.com.
"We're a caddie-only club, and our caddies have not been working because of COVID-19,'' Maridoe Golf Club managing member Alison Morrison told ESPN. "We thought, why don't we have a little bit of a match, so to speak, sharpen our blades, put on a 54-hole, social distancing event. Leave the pins. No rakes in bunkers. Let's play for them, basically. And within a day, I had 24 members who said yes.''
The PGA Tour season is also scheduled to resume in Texas with the June 11 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.


upi--2020-04-28--Ashley 'Minnie' Ross, 'Little Women: Atlanta' star, dead at 34

April 28 ( UPI ) -- Ashley 'Minnie ' Ross , who starred on Lifetime reality series Little Women : @ @ @ @ @ the age of 34 following a hit and run car accident .
The car accident @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta .
Ross died from injuries sustained from the accident at Grady Memorial Hospital on @ @ @ @ @ her death on the television star 's Instagram page on Tuesday .
`` It was @ @ @ @ @ confirm on behalf of the family of Ashley Ross aka 'Ms Minnie ' of Little @ @ @ @ @ to injuries from a tragic hit and run car accident today at the age of @ @ @ @ @ said alongside a photo of Ross .
`` The family respectfully asks for their privacy @ @ @ @ @ difficult time , '' the statement continued .
Ross has appeared on Little Women : @ @ @ @ @ is survived by her mother , grandmother , aunt , uncle and other family members @

April 28 (UPI) -- Ashley 'Minnie' Ross, who starred on Lifetime reality series Little Women: Atlanta, has died at the age of 34 following a hit and run car accident.
Ross' publicist Liz Dixson confirmed her death to CNN.
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The car accident took place Sunday night in Atlanta. Ross died from injuries sustained from the accident at Grady Memorial Hospital on Monday.
Dixson also confirmed her death on the television star's Instagram page on Tuesday.
"It was with profound sadness that we confirm on behalf of the family of Ashley Ross aka 'Ms Minnie' of Little Women: Atlanta has succumbed to injuries from a tragic hit and run car accident today at the age of 34," the statement said alongside a photo of Ross.
"The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this difficult time," the statement continued.
Ross has appeared on Little Women: Atlanta since 2016. She is survived by her mother, grandmother, aunt, uncle and other family members.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-04-28--Virus helps infected bees slip past the guards of healthy hives

April 28 ( UPI ) -- Bees guarding healthy hives regularly grant entrance to foreign intruders infected with the Israeli acute paralysis virus , a deadly pathogen linked with colony collapse disorder , according to a new study .
In fact , bees infected with IAPV were more likely to gain entrance to foreign hives than healthy would-be intruders .
The research , published Monday in the journal PNAS , suggests the virus alters the behavior and physiology of infected bees in a way that helps them spread the pathogen to other hives .
`` The most important finding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the likelihood that infected bees are accepted by foreign colonies , '' lead researcher Adam Dolezal , a professor of entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , said in a news release .
`` Somehow , the infected bees are able to circumvent the guards of foreign colonies , which they should n't be able to do . ''
Previous studies have shown IAPV-infected honey bees are more likely to get lost traveling to and from the hive and nearby food sources .
The latest research suggests lost bees with IAPV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To study the spread of IAPV , scientists used precise tracking technology to follow the movements of individual bees and their interactions with one another .
Each bee was tagged with the equivalent of a QR code .
The method was originally developed to study the movements and interactions of individual bees during trophallaxis , the process through which honey bees swap regurgitated food and other liquids .
`` Honey bees use trophallaxis to share food with each other , as well as hormones and other signaling molecules that can affect their physiology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gene Robinson .
`` They do it in pairs by touching their mouth parts and antennae , and each bee does this with hundreds of partners a day . ''
`` Trophallaxis is essential to the spread of information and nutrition throughout the hive , but unfortunately , a behavior performed with such close social contact also allows viral infections to be transmitted through a hive , '' Robinson said .
Inside their own hives , IAPV infection inspires more cautious behavior .
Though equally mobile , infected bees are less likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scientists also artificially stimulated an immune response in some uninfected bees , but failed to observe the same kind of social distancing .
Outside their own hive , sick bees were less cautious .
When scientists placed IAPV-infected bees near the entrance of foreign hives , they readily engaged in trophallaxis with the guards .
The gate guards regularly allowed entrance to infected bees while declining access to healthy bees or bees whose immune systems had been stimulated .
When scientists studied the chemical makeup of the odors emitted by sick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each featured distinct hydrocarbon profiles .
`` Something about them must be different , '' Dolezal said .
`` It seems that the virus is changing how the bees smell , and perhaps the infected bees also are behaving in a way that is meant to appease the guards by engaging more in trophallaxus . ''
The latest research suggests IAPV has evolved to augment bee behavior in a way that encourages the pathogen 's spread .
`` If you 're a virus , it 's much more valuable to get transmitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from one city to a new city , '' Dolezal said .
`` And so how do you get there ?
You increase the chances that the sick bees leaving colony A are more likely to get into colony B . ''

To study the spread of IAPV, scientists used precise tracking technology to follow the movements of individual bees and their interactions with one another. Each bee was tagged with a the equivalent of a QR code. Photo by Fred Zwicky/University of Illinois
April 28 (UPI) -- Bees guarding healthy hives regularly grant entrance to foreign intruders infected with the Israeli acute paralysis virus, a deadly pathogen linked with colony collapse disorder, according to a new study. In fact, bees infected with IAPV were more likely to gain entrance to foreign hives than healthy would-be intruders. Advertisement
The research, published Monday in the journal PNAS, suggests the virus alters the behavior and physiology of infected bees in a way that helps them spread the pathogen to other hives.
"The most important finding of our study is that IAPV infection increases the likelihood that infected bees are accepted by foreign colonies," lead researcher Adam Dolezal, a professor of entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said in a news release. "Somehow, the infected bees are able to circumvent the guards of foreign colonies, which they shouldn't be able to do."
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Previous studies have shown IAPV-infected honey bees are more likely to get lost traveling to and from the hive and nearby food sources. The latest research suggests lost bees with IAPV are readily accepted by foreign hives.
To study the spread of IAPV, scientists used precise tracking technology to follow the movements of individual bees and their interactions with one another. Each bee was tagged with the equivalent of a QR code. The method was originally developed to study the movements and interactions of individual bees during trophallaxis, the process through which honey bees swap regurgitated food and other liquids.
"Honey bees use trophallaxis to share food with each other, as well as hormones and other signaling molecules that can affect their physiology and behavior," said Illinois entomologist Gene Robinson. "They do it in pairs by touching their mouth parts and antennae, and each bee does this with hundreds of partners a day."
"Trophallaxis is essential to the spread of information and nutrition throughout the hive, but unfortunately, a behavior performed with such close social contact also allows viral infections to be transmitted through a hive," Robinson said.
Inside their own hives, IAPV infection inspires more cautious behavior. Though equally mobile, infected bees are less likely to participate in trophallaxis than their healthy peers. Scientists also artificially stimulated an immune response in some uninfected bees, but failed to observe the same kind of social distancing.
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Outside their own hive, sick bees were less cautious. When scientists placed IAPV-infected bees near the entrance of foreign hives, they readily engaged in trophallaxis with the guards. The gate guards regularly allowed entrance to infected bees while declining access to healthy bees or bees whose immune systems had been stimulated.
When scientists studied the chemical makeup of the odors emitted by sick, healthy and immuno-stimulated bees, they found each featured distinct hydrocarbon profiles.
"Something about them must be different," Dolezal said. "It seems that the virus is changing how the bees smell, and perhaps the infected bees also are behaving in a way that is meant to appease the guards by engaging more in trophallaxus."
The latest research suggests IAPV has evolved to augment bee behavior in a way that encourages the pathogen's spread.
"If you're a virus, it's much more valuable to get transmitted to a new family group, like traveling from one city to a new city," Dolezal said. "And so how do you get there? You increase the chances that the sick bees leaving colony A are more likely to get into colony B."
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