upi--2020-01-27--China now world's second-largest arms producer after U.S.

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- China is the world 's second-largest arms producer , after the United States , a Swedish research center announced on Monday .
Information on China 's weapons manufacturing has been unreliable in the past because of a lack of transparency , causing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to exclude Chinese companies from consideration until now .
For years , the United States has ranked first and Russia second in the organization 's SIPRI Top 100 list of arms-producing and military services companies .
Credible data from 2015 to 2017 relating to four large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said Monday , allowing development of `` reasonably reliable estimates of the Chinese arms industry . ''
Those estimates put China ahead of Russia in arms sales , behind only the United States .
The four Chinese companies combine for $ 54.1 billion in sales , and would place each among the top 20 armaments producers in the world .
One , Aviation Industry Corp. , would rank sixth in the world with $ 20.1 billion in sales .
Another , China North Industries Group Corp. , would be the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 17.2 billion in sales .
The SIPRI study 's largest arms makers , including the Chinese companies , are , in order : Lockheed Martin , Boeing , Northrop Grumman and Raytheon , all of the United States ; Britain 's BAE Systems ; China 's Aviation Industry Corp. , the United States ' General Dynamics ; the trans-European Airbus ; France 's Thales ; Italy 's Leonardo , and China North Industries and China Electronics Technology Group .
The survey excludes China from its list of arms sales by country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 57.9 percent of the international arms market , followed by the United Kingdom with 9.6 percent and Russia with 7.1 percent .

Visitors observe aircraft at China's Military Museum in Beijing. A study released on Monday indicates that China is the world's second-largest arms producer, ahead of Russia and behind only the United States. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- China is the world's second-largest arms producer, after the United States, a Swedish research center announced on Monday. Information on China's weapons manufacturing has been unreliable in the past because of a lack of transparency, causing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to exclude Chinese companies from consideration until now. Advertisement
For years, the United States has ranked first and Russia second in the organization's SIPRI Top 100 list of arms-producing and military services companies.
Credible data from 2015 to 2017 relating to four large Chinese companies has emerged, a SIPRI statement said Monday, allowing development of "reasonably reliable estimates of the Chinese arms industry."
Those estimates put China ahead of Russia in arms sales, behind only the United States.
The four Chinese companies combine for $54.1 billion in sales, and would place each among the top 20 armaments producers in the world.
One, Aviation Industry Corp., would rank sixth in the world with $20.1 billion in sales. Another, China North Industries Group Corp., would be the world's largest producers of land armaments systems with $17.2 billion in sales.
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The SIPRI study's largest arms makers, including the Chinese companies, are, in order: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, all of the United States; Britain's BAE Systems; China's Aviation Industry Corp., the United States' General Dynamics; the trans-European Airbus; France's Thales; Italy's Leonardo, and China North Industries and China Electronics Technology Group.
The survey excludes China from its list of arms sales by country, but indicates that the United States has 57.9 percent of the international arms market, followed by the United Kingdom with 9.6 percent and Russia with 7.1 percent.


upi--2020-01-27--SpaceX pushes back Starlink launch to Wednesday

ORLANDO , Fla. , Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Weather concerns have prompted SpaceX to push back a launch attempt of Starlink satellites by another day .
The company now is targeting 9:06 a.m. Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , Fla. SpaceX originally said the launch would occur Monday morning , but pushed that to Tuesday because of rain and clouds near the pad .
Then , on Monday evening , the company announced another slip to Wednesday `` due to poor weather in the recovery area '' for the first stage booster landing at sea .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has dealt with a number of winter weather delays for recent launches .
The Starlink delays follow a delay due to high seas in the landing area for an abort test of the company 's Crew Dragon capsule earlier in January .
SpaceX is attempting to beat several competitors into space that have new high-speed internet networks , including OneWeb , Amazon and Telesat .
So far , SpaceX is winning the race .
SpaceX has 182 of its dinner table-size Starlink satellites in orbit , each weighing about 573 pounds .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 more satellites .
SpaceX intends ultimately to launch tens of thousands of satellites to beam broadband around the globe .
SpaceX previously launched 60 Starlink satellites at a time in May and November and Jan. 6 , with two test satellites launched before that .

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised to launch the company's Starlink Satellites in May. A similar rocket is scheduled to carry 60 more of the spacecraft into orbit Wednesday. File Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Weather concerns have prompted SpaceX to push back a launch attempt of Starlink satellites by another day. The company now is targeting 9:06 a.m. Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. SpaceX originally said the launch would occur Monday morning, but pushed that to Tuesday because of rain and clouds near the pad. Then, on Monday evening, the company announced another slip to Wednesday "due to poor weather in the recovery area" for the first stage booster landing at sea. Advertisement
Even while launching from Florida, SpaceX has dealt with a number of winter weather delays for recent launches. The Starlink delays follow a delay due to high seas in the landing area for an abort test of the company's Crew Dragon capsule earlier in January.
SpaceX is attempting to beat several competitors into space that have new high-speed internet networks, including OneWeb, Amazon and Telesat. So far, SpaceX is winning the race.
SpaceX has 182 of its dinner table-size Starlink satellites in orbit, each weighing about 573 pounds. The rocket scheduled to lift off Monday carries 60 more satellites. SpaceX intends ultimately to launch tens of thousands of satellites to beam broadband around the globe.
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SpaceX previously launched 60 Starlink satellites at a time in May and November and Jan. 6, with two test satellites launched before that.


upi--2020-01-27--CDC considers expanded screening for coronavirus, spread risk still low

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said Monday that they are considering increased screenings for travelers from China as cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus continues to increase in the Asian nation , and the world -- though they caution that the risk of spread remains low .
The agency told reporters Monday that there have been no new cases beyond the five currently known and that 110 people from 26 states are currently being tested for the virus .
People coming to the U.S. from China have been funneled through five airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department on Friday issued a travel advisory and ordered Americans to leave Wuhan , China , where the outbreak started .
The State Department issued an updated travel advisory encouraging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to China and to not travel to the Hubei province , where Wihan is located .
She did not provide specifics , noting that the agency is currently evaluating the best course of action during this `` rapidly evolving situation . ''
As of Monday , there have been no confirmed reports of human-to-human transmission in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit of a firestorm over the weekend when they suggested that human-to-human transmission may be possible during the 2- to 14-day `` incubation '' period , when those sickened are still asymptomatic .
However , Messonier said the CDC has `` no clear evidence '' of that at this point .
`` At this time in the U.S. , the virus is not spreading throughout the community , '' she said .
`` The risk remains low at this time . ''
Chinese officials cancelled all flights out of Wuhan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , last week .
Messonier said that the CDC , working with local departments of health , is still screening travelers at five airports across the country .
The agency has opted for a particular focus on those arriving from Hubei , the province in central China where Wuhan is located , or those who have had confirmed contact with someone known to have been sickened by the virus .
To date , screeners have checked more than 2,400 travelers , according to Messonier .
The numbers of those detained for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declining , she added , as Chinese officials have imposed travel restrictions on the affected region .
`` We are considering a broadening of that screening '' to include all travelers from China , Messonier said .
The United States still has only five confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus , or 2019 n-CoV , as of Monday .
However , 110 additional people from 26 states are currently being tested for the virus , and 32 others have been tested , and found to be negative .
They remain in isolation until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes approximately one day , Messonier noted , as the CDC is still recommending that samples be tested in its laboratories in Atlanta .
The agency has developed a testing protocol for local labs , which it made public over the weekend .
It also plans to develop testing `` kits , '' which it will distribute to health departments in `` priority states '' within the next one to two weeks .
However , the agency will continue to recommend that all testing be performed in its labs to ensure accuracy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more important , '' Messonier explained .

The CDC said it is reviewing a change to travel recommendations to and from China because of the now spreading coronavirus outbreak. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday raised its travel warning for China to its highest alert level as they consider increased screenings for travelers from the Asian nation that is dealing with an increasing number of confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The agency raised its travel advisory to a level 3, warning U.S. citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to the country while urging those who must visit China to avoid sick people, animals, animal market and animal products. Advertisement CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to #China due to the ongoing #2019nCoV (#coronavirus) outbreak. The outbreak is growing and there is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas. https://t.co/Km38IKxIAs pic.twitter.com/NHboTImlyr— CDC Travel Health (@CDCtravel) January 27, 2020 Advertisement
Meanwhile, the agency told reporters Monday that there have been no new cases beyond the five currently known and that 110 people from 26 states are currently being tested for the virus.
People coming to the United States from China have been funneled through five airports during the last week-and-a-half, and the State Department on Friday issued a travel advisory and ordered Americans to leave Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started.
The State Department also issued an updated travel advisory encouraging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to China and to not travel to the Hubei province, where Wuhan is located.
As of Monday, there have been no confirmed reports of human-to-human transmission in the United States. Chinese officials caused a bit of a firestorm over the weekend when they suggested that human-to-human transmission may be possible during the 2- to 14-day "incubation" period, when those sickened are still asymptomatic.
However, Nancy Messonnier, director of the agency's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said the CDC has "no clear evidence" of that at this point.
"At this time in the U.S., the virus is not spreading throughout the community," she said. "The risk remains low at this time."
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Chinese officials canceled all flights last week out of Wuhan, the city that has been ground zero for the virus.
Messonnier said that the CDC, working with local departments of health, is still screening travelers at five airports across the country. The agency has opted for a particular focus on those arriving from Hubei, the province in central China where Wuhan is located, or those who have had confirmed contact with someone known to have been sickened by the virus.
To date, screeners have checked more than 2,400 travelers, according to Messonier. The numbers of those detained for screening at the airports has been steadily declining, she added, as Chinese officials have imposed travel restrictions on the affected region.
"We are considering a broadening of that screening" to include all travelers from China, Messonnier said.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told guests during a Lunar New Year event that the United States was conducting screenings at 20 U.S. airports that received 90 percent of all passengers from China and any passengers who are ill will be subject to further screenings.
"And so let me say once again, here in our country, we've taking strong steps to see to the health and the wellbeing of the American people," he said. "But as President [Donald] Trump made clear today, the United States of America stands ready -- stands ready to assist the people of China and around the world as they deal with this virus."
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The United States still has only five confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus, or 2019 n-CoV, as of Monday. However, 110 additional people from 26 states are currently being tested for the virus, and 32 others have been tested, and found to be negative.
They remain in isolation until test results are in. The process takes approximately one day, Messonier noted, as the CDC is still recommending that samples be tested in its laboratories in Atlanta.
The agency has developed a testing protocol for local labs, which it made public over the weekend. It also plans to develop testing "kits," which it will distribute to health departments in "priority states" within the next one to two weeks.
However, the agency will continue to recommend that all testing be performed in its labs to ensure accuracy.
"Speed is important, but accuracy is more important," Messonier explained.


upi--2020-01-27--'Lethal Weapon' star Clayne Crawford recounts 'the greatest year of my life'

PARK CITY , Utah , Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- One year after the TV show Lethal Weapon fired him , Clayne Crawford has bounced back with a film he feels his Rectify fans will appreciate , too .
The Killing of Two Lovers , which he produced and in which he starred , is premiering at Sundance Film Festival Monday .
`` This has been the greatest year of my life because I actually went and made something the way that I wanted to make it , '' Crawford told UPI at the festival .
`` Sometimes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the beauty , and I am in the beauty right now .
I told my wife I 'm 41 and this is the happiest I 've ever been with my career , and it only happened because I was backed into a corner . ''
Crawford plays David , a man separated from his wife , Nikki ( Sepideh Moafi ) .
They are trying to reconcile , but Nikki is seeing someone else .
`` I loved Lethal and I really loved playing that action character , but I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Crawford said .
`` So much was what was not said with Rectify and what was underneath . ''
Sundance Channel 's Rectify , created by Ray McKinnon , depicted a death row inmate released after 19 years when DNA evidence clears him .
Crawford played Ted Talbot Jr. , stepbrother to exonerated convict Daniel Holden ( Aden Young ) .
Both Rectify and Killing are set in small towns .
Crawford said the characters dealt with their problems in similarly dramatic ways , even if their problems were different .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowl , so there 's no secrets , '' Crawford said .
`` Everyone in town knows what you 're going through , whether it be good and positive or negative . ''
The Killing of Two Lovers , directed by Robert Machoian , unfolds in long takes , some of which are silent when Crawford simply portrays David 's behavior .
Those long takes were emotionally grueling , but satisfying to Crawford .
`` It felt like being on stage , '' Crawford said . ''
We were all emotionally exhausted at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are so involved in it .
There is no moment to cut .
You have to just do it each and every time . ''
David and Nikki have five children , four played by Machoian 's real children , and the eldest played by Avery Pizzulo .
Crawford said David and Nikki lost sight of their relationship when they focused on their children , yet he can relate to that temptation .
`` As a husband with three kids and my daughter , who 's 22 and just had her first child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find ways to navigate the children so that you are keeping the relationship with your spouse engaged , '' he said .
After Rectify wrapped in 2016 , Crawford took the role of Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon .
Mel Gibson played the wild card Riggs in the film series .
Crawford was seeking a change , but his two years on the Fox drama made him crave something more dramatic again .
`` Coming from Rectify , I thought maybe I want to go do some hood slides and shoot guns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I chased the money and the opportunity to be on the side of a bus and billboards .
I was quite unfulfilled . ''
Crawford said he 'd experienced that feeling earlier in his career , after making studio films like Swimfan , A Walk to Remember and The Great Raid .
`` I was like , 'Ugh , is this what I moved away from my mom and my dad for ? '
'' Crawford said .
`` I left that part of the industry and went and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then I was so fortunate to get on the Sundance channel and I got to do Rectify . ''
Lethal Weapon fired Crawford after its second season citing an incident on the set during which he 'd lashed out at an episode director .
Crawford apologized for the incident .
He did not wish to name the director in question .
`` He was put in an uncomfortable situation , '' Crawford said .
`` He had never directed action , and they should n't have brought him back , but my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It put me in an uncomfortable place . ''
Crawford was concerned about an action scene , having suffered an injury to his arm on a previous job , the Netflix film Spectral .
He wanted to be certain that stunt coordinator Tim Trella would keep him safe , and he was concerned about the director 's approach to stunts .
`` We just were at odds , and I had a day where I was exhausted and I lost my cool , '' Crawford said .
`` I certainly went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I went to anger management , but that was held over my head .
It made it a very uncomfortable work environment . ''
The Lethal Weapon situation also frustrated Crawford artistically .
He says he still is friends with co-stars Jordana Brewster , Hilarie Burton and Chris Coy .
Coy also co-stars in The Killing of Two Lovers .
However , Crawford 's experience taught him that a mainstream network series was not the place for him .
`` I was surrounded by people that did n't care that much about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have known that going in , '' Crawford said .
`` I thought maybe we could make something that 's more cable for Fox .
I should 've known better , [ a show airing ] Tuesday night at seven , I was going to get a cookie cutter . ''
Lethal Weapon lasted one more season .
Season 3 revealed that Riggs died , and Seann William Scott joined the cast as a new partner for Roger Murtaugh ( Damon Wayans ) .
While the show filmed its third season , Crawford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two Lovers .
`` I told my wife I wanted to take all that ill-gotten money and go make something special that made my heart feel good again , inspired me creatively and reminded me why I got into this industry in the first place , '' Crawford said .
`` I certainly did n't navigate that situation as well as I could have , but I 'm grateful that I was able to go back to what it is that I love , which is just filmmaking with someone and other cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as I do . ''
After the best year of his creative life , Crawford is on a roll .
He and Machoian are developing a TV series for Sweden that would be international if it succeeds .
He 's also developing a comedy for Pop and another film with Machoian .
`` It took me getting canned to get my butt in gear to get back on the horse , in a sense , but on a different path , '' Crawford said .
`` I 'll be honest with you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Robert Machoian once a year and it can support my wife and family , buddy , I might not do anything else . ''

Clayne Crawford appears in "The Killing of Two Lovers " by Robert Machoian, an official selection of the NEXT program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Oscar Ignacio Jiminez/Courtesy of Sundance Institute
PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- One year after the TV show Lethal Weapon fired him, Clayne Crawford has bounced back with a film he feels his Rectify fans will appreciate, too. The Killing of Two Lovers, which he produced and in which he starred, is premiering at Sundance Film Festival Monday. "This has been the greatest year of my life because I actually went and made something the way that I wanted to make it," Crawford told UPI at the festival. "Sometimes, you have to walk through fire to get to the beauty, and I am in the beauty right now. I told my wife I'm 41 and this is the happiest I've ever been with my career, and it only happened because I was backed into a corner." Advertisement
Crawford plays David, a man separated from his wife, Nikki (Sepideh Moafi). They are trying to reconcile, but Nikki is seeing someone else.
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"I loved Lethal and I really loved playing that action character, but I was missing that Rectify [work]," Crawford said. "So much was what was not said with Rectify and what was underneath."
Sundance Channel's Rectify, created by Ray McKinnon, depicted a death row inmate released after 19 years when DNA evidence clears him. Crawford played Ted Talbot Jr., stepbrother to exonerated convict Daniel Holden (Aden Young).
Both Rectify and Killing are set in small towns. Crawford said the characters dealt with their problems in similarly dramatic ways, even if their problems were different.
"Both communities are somewhat of a fish bowl, so there's no secrets," Crawford said. "Everyone in town knows what you're going through, whether it be good and positive or negative."
The Killing of Two Lovers, directed by Robert Machoian, unfolds in long takes, some of which are silent when Crawford simply portrays David's behavior. Those long takes were emotionally grueling, but satisfying to Crawford.
"It felt like being on stage," Crawford said." We were all emotionally exhausted at the end of this film because you are so involved in it. There is no moment to cut. You have to just do it each and every time."
Advertisement
David and Nikki have five children, four played by Machoian's real children, and the eldest played by Avery Pizzulo. Crawford said David and Nikki lost sight of their relationship when they focused on their children, yet he can relate to that temptation.
"As a husband with three kids and my daughter, who's 22 and just had her first child ... you do have to try to find ways to navigate the children so that you are keeping the relationship with your spouse engaged," he said.
After Rectify wrapped in 2016, Crawford took the role of Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon. Mel Gibson played the wild card Riggs in the film series. Crawford was seeking a change, but his two years on the Fox drama made him crave something more dramatic again.
"Coming from Rectify, I thought maybe I want to go do some hood slides and shoot guns and jump off of buildings," Crawford said. "I chased the money and the opportunity to be on the side of a bus and billboards. I was quite unfulfilled."
Crawford said he'd experienced that feeling earlier in his career, after making studio films like Swimfan, A Walk to Remember and The Great Raid.
Advertisement
"I was like, 'Ugh, is this what I moved away from my mom and my dad for?'" Crawford said. "I left that part of the industry and went and did Steel City and Wristcutters and Perfect Host. Then I was so fortunate to get on the Sundance channel and I got to do Rectify."
Lethal Weapon fired Crawford after its second season citing an incident on the set during which he'd lashed out at an episode director. Crawford apologized for the incident. He did not wish to name the director in question.
"He was put in an uncomfortable situation," Crawford said. "He had never directed action, and they shouldn't have brought him back, but my co-star demanded that he be brought back. It put me in an uncomfortable place."
Crawford was concerned about an action scene, having suffered an injury to his arm on a previous job, the Netflix film Spectral. He wanted to be certain that stunt coordinator Tim Trella would keep him safe, and he was concerned about the director's approach to stunts.
"We just were at odds, and I had a day where I was exhausted and I lost my cool," Crawford said. "I certainly went to my cast and crew and apologized. I went to anger management, but that was held over my head. It made it a very uncomfortable work environment."
Advertisement
The Lethal Weapon situation also frustrated Crawford artistically. He says he still is friends with co-stars Jordana Brewster, Hilarie Burton and Chris Coy. Coy also co-stars in The Killing of Two Lovers. However, Crawford's experience taught him that a mainstream network series was not the place for him.
"I was surrounded by people that didn't care that much about the artistry of it, and I should have known that going in," Crawford said. "I thought maybe we could make something that's more cable for Fox. I should've known better, [a show airing] Tuesday night at seven, I was going to get a cookie cutter."
Lethal Weapon lasted one more season. Season 3 revealed that Riggs died, and Seann William Scott joined the cast as a new partner for Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans). While the show filmed its third season, Crawford was free to pursue The Killing of Two Lovers.
"I told my wife I wanted to take all that ill-gotten money and go make something special that made my heart feel good again, inspired me creatively and reminded me why I got into this industry in the first place," Crawford said.
Advertisement
"I certainly didn't navigate that situation as well as I could have, but I'm grateful that I was able to go back to what it is that I love, which is just filmmaking with someone and other cast[members] who love it as much as I do."
After the best year of his creative life, Crawford is on a roll. He and Machoian are developing a TV series for Sweden that would be international if it succeeds. He's also developing a comedy for Pop and another film with Machoian.
"It took me getting canned to get my butt in gear to get back on the horse, in a sense, but on a different path," Crawford said. "I'll be honest with you. If I could make a movie with Robert Machoian once a year and it can support my wife and family, buddy, I might not do anything else."


upi--2020-01-27--Suppressing puberty safe for child questioning gender, study says

Suppressing puberty in a child who 's questioning their gender identity might seem extreme , but the therapy is relatively safe and could significantly lower their risk of suicide , a new study reports .
Adolescents who wanted and received puberty suppression were 60 percent less likely to have considered suicide within the past year and 30 percent less likely to consider suicide throughout life , according to findings published in the February issue of Pediatrics .
`` This study is the first to show that access to pubertal suppression for transgender youth is associated with lower odds of suicidality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turban , a resident psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and McLean Hospital in Belmont , Mass .
Puberty suppression is reversible , relying on medications that tell the brain to stop releasing the gender-related hormones that set off sexual maturity , he said .
`` This allows transgender youth more time to decide what they want to do next in terms of their gender affirmation , '' Turban said .
`` If they ultimately decide they want to undergo their endogenous puberty , the medication can be stopped and puberty resumes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health risks associated with puberty suppression are impaired future fertility and low bone density that could slightly increase risk of broken bones , said Dr. John Lantos , senior author of an ethics analysis that accompanies the suicide risk study .
`` Figuring out the best approach to a child or a teenager with gender dysphoria is difficult , because it requires balancing the risks of medical treatment with the psychological benefits that go with gender-affirming therapy , '' said Lantos , director of pediatric bioethics at Children 's Mercy Hospital in Kansas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , we do n't have good long-term outcome data on either the risks or the benefits .
We 're trying to make our best guesses . ''
As many as four out of 10 transgender adults have attempted suicide , researchers said in background notes .
While children might question their gender identity at a young age , their anguish tends to increase as they near puberty , Lantos said .
`` Once puberty starts , the stakes are raised because puberty unleashes all these bodily changes that people do n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Turban 's team surveyed more than 20,600 transgender adults , aged 18 to 36 , asking questions about their use of puberty suppression and their mental health .
About 17 percent said they had wanted puberty suppression , but only 2.5 percent received hormone-blockers , the researchers found .
Those who received the treatment had a significantly lower risk of suicidal thoughts , after adjusting for other variables including the level of family support they received , the survey found .
`` Many transgender youth have intense dysphoria as their bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not match who they know themselves to be , '' Turban said .
`` Pubertal suppression pauses those changes to allow youth more time to decide what to do next . ''
In their accompanying analysis , Lantos and his colleagues discuss the case of a 15-year-old who was born male but has displayed gender-diverse behaviors since preschool .
`` Children often have a clear sense of their gender identity as young as 3 or 4 years old , '' said senior study author Dr. Alex Keuroghlian , director of the Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` However , no medical intervention occurs for younger children , and the best practice is to provide psychological and social affirmation until very early puberty . ''
The child , called `` EF '' in the paper , presented as male at school but identified and dressed as a girl at home .
But neither felt quite right , the researchers said .
EF began to identify as agender -- neither boy nor girl .
EF preferred being referred to by gender-neutral pronouns `` they '' and `` them . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's anxiety , as they became concerned about their voice deepening and body hair appearing .
The preteen started puberty-suppression treatment at age 12 .
`` What made this case more complex than that typical case is that after several years , doctors said OK , we 've delayed puberty for long enough now , which gender do you want to be ? ''
Lantos said .
`` The patient said neither .
I 'm perfectly happy like this .
Keep me on puberty-blocking drugs . ''
EF 's bone density has fallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , and it can be expected to continue falling , the researchers noted .
Gender-based hormones like testosterone and estrogen play an important role in maintaining bone health .
But while EF is at increased risk of fractures , that risk needs to be put into perspective , the researchers said .
A 50-year-old man with bone density similar to EF 's has a 0.2 percent to 0.3 percent risk of hip fracture and a 1 percent to 2 percent risk of other fractures within the next decade .
Dr. Joshua Safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City , explained that `` the greatest known risk for puberty suppressants is the risk to bone development .
That said , the osteoporosis risk is so small that it has been hard to demonstrate . ''
Safer said he would be `` very relaxed '' about using puberty blockers in a child who might be transgender , arguing that the medications are a conservative treatment that give kids time to reflect on their identity .
`` They have been used in numerous circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least for a couple of years , '' he said .
`` They are easy to discontinue .
In the majority of cases , the children using them are transgender after all and use of puberty blockers can mean less surgery later for these children , which is a huge benefit . ''
Lantos said parents with a child questioning their gender identity should take the matter seriously and not minimize it .
They should discuss it as a family with their doctor , and seek a referral to a center with expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's hospitals now have gender identity clinics , so as long as people can get to a children 's hospital they usually can find people with this expertise , '' he said .
Keuroghlian added that strong family support is a key factor in transgender youths ' mental health .
`` Parents of transgender kids ought to connect with local services and programs dedicated to helping families learn to support their child 's gender affirmation at home , at school , and in their community , '' he said .
More information The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dysphoria .

Puberty suppression is reversible, relying on medications that tell the brain to stop releasing the gender-related hormones that set off sexual maturity, experts say. Photo by sweetlouise /Pixabay
Suppressing puberty in a child who's questioning their gender identity might seem extreme, but the therapy is relatively safe and could significantly lower their risk of suicide, a new study reports. Adolescents who wanted and received puberty suppression were 60 percent less likely to have considered suicide within the past year and 30 percent less likely to consider suicide throughout life, according to findings published in the February issue of Pediatrics. Advertisement
Balancing potential risks
"This study is the first to show that access to pubertal suppression for transgender youth is associated with lower odds of suicidality," said lead researcher Dr. Jack Turban, a resident psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.
Puberty suppression is reversible, relying on medications that tell the brain to stop releasing the gender-related hormones that set off sexual maturity, he said.
"This allows transgender youth more time to decide what they want to do next in terms of their gender affirmation," Turban said. "If they ultimately decide they want to undergo their endogenous puberty, the medication can be stopped and puberty resumes itself."
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The most notable long-term health risks associated with puberty suppression are impaired future fertility and low bone density that could slightly increase risk of broken bones, said Dr. John Lantos, senior author of an ethics analysis that accompanies the suicide risk study.
"Figuring out the best approach to a child or a teenager with gender dysphoria is difficult, because it requires balancing the risks of medical treatment with the psychological benefits that go with gender-affirming therapy," said Lantos, director of pediatric bioethics at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. "In many cases, we don't have good long-term outcome data on either the risks or the benefits. We're trying to make our best guesses."
As many as four out of 10 transgender adults have attempted suicide, researchers said in background notes.
Questioning starts early
While children might question their gender identity at a young age, their anguish tends to increase as they near puberty, Lantos said.
"Once puberty starts, the stakes are raised because puberty unleashes all these bodily changes that people don't want and are psychologically distressing," he said.
Turban's team surveyed more than 20,600 transgender adults, aged 18 to 36, asking questions about their use of puberty suppression and their mental health.
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About 17 percent said they had wanted puberty suppression, but only 2.5 percent received hormone-blockers, the researchers found.
Those who received the treatment had a significantly lower risk of suicidal thoughts, after adjusting for other variables including the level of family support they received, the survey found.
"Many transgender youth have intense dysphoria as their bodies start to develop in a way that does not match who they know themselves to be," Turban said. "Pubertal suppression pauses those changes to allow youth more time to decide what to do next."
One child's personal story
In their accompanying analysis, Lantos and his colleagues discuss the case of a 15-year-old who was born male but has displayed gender-diverse behaviors since preschool.
"Children often have a clear sense of their gender identity as young as 3 or 4 years old," said senior study author Dr. Alex Keuroghlian, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Gender Identity Program. "However, no medical intervention occurs for younger children, and the best practice is to provide psychological and social affirmation until very early puberty."
The child, called "EF" in the paper, presented as male at school but identified and dressed as a girl at home. But neither felt quite right, the researchers said. EF began to identify as agender -- neither boy nor girl. EF preferred being referred to by gender-neutral pronouns "they" and "them."
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The onset of puberty at 11 increased EF's anxiety, as they became concerned about their voice deepening and body hair appearing. The preteen started puberty-suppression treatment at age 12.
"What made this case more complex than that typical case is that after several years, doctors said OK, we've delayed puberty for long enough now, which gender do you want to be?" Lantos said. "The patient said neither. I'm perfectly happy like this. Keep me on puberty-blocking drugs."
EF's bone density has fallen to very low levels compared to other people, and it can be expected to continue falling, the researchers noted. Gender-based hormones like testosterone and estrogen play an important role in maintaining bone health.
But while EF is at increased risk of fractures, that risk needs to be put into perspective, the researchers said. A 50-year-old man with bone density similar to EF's has a 0.2 percent to 0.3 percent risk of hip fracture and a 1 percent to 2 percent risk of other fractures within the next decade.
Dr. Joshua Safer, executive director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City, explained that "the greatest known risk for puberty suppressants is the risk to bone development. That said, the osteoporosis risk is so small that it has been hard to demonstrate."
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Time to reflect on identity
Safer said he would be "very relaxed" about using puberty blockers in a child who might be transgender, arguing that the medications are a conservative treatment that give kids time to reflect on their identity.
"They have been used in numerous circumstances and appear to be exceedingly safe at least for a couple of years," he said. "They are easy to discontinue. In the majority of cases, the children using them are transgender after all and use of puberty blockers can mean less surgery later for these children, which is a huge benefit." Lantos said parents with a child questioning their gender identity should take the matter seriously and not minimize it. They should discuss it as a family with their doctor, and seek a referral to a center with expertise in gender issues.
"Most children's hospitals now have gender identity clinics, so as long as people can get to a children's hospital they usually can find people with this expertise," he said.
Keuroghlian added that strong family support is a key factor in transgender youths' mental health.
"Parents of transgender kids ought to connect with local services and programs dedicated to helping families learn to support their child's gender affirmation at home, at school, and in their community," he said.
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More information The American Psychiatric Association has more about gender dysphoria.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-27--Supreme Court allows 'public charge' immigration restriction

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday lifted a lower court injunction against a Trump administration immigration rule that expands the `` public charge '' rule , making it harder for low-income immigrants to get green cards to enter the country .
In August , President Donald Trump 's administration expanded the term `` public charge , '' allowing officials to deny visas and green cards to individuals who could be considered an economic burden on society for their reliance on public assistance benefits including food stamps , Medicaid , and government subsidized housing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as financial resources , health and education in determining eligibility for green cards .
Federal Judge George Daniels for the Southern District of New York issued an injunction in October , calling the new rules `` repugnant to the American Dream of the opportunity for prosperity and success through hard work and upward mobility , '' and a federal appeals court upheld the injunction earlier this year .
The conservative-leaning Supreme Court lifted the injunction Monday , allowing the new rule to be applied .
Four of the nine justices , Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sotomayor and Elena Kagan , dissented .
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court earlier this month to set aside the one remaining nationwide injunction against the rule , with circuit courts lifting three other injunctions in recent weeks .
U.S. immigration officials will now be able to use the new restrictions in every part of the country except Illinois , where the rule is blocked under a statewide injunction .
Federal officials say the stricter rules ensure immigrants do not become a tax burden .
They noted that the changes are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted asylum in the United States .
The State of New York had argued the expansion of the `` public charge '' rule will make it harder for poor immigrants , the disabled , and people of color to enter the country .
Millions of immigrants `` will be frightened and confused about the potential consequences of applying for benefits and will forgo public assistance altogether , '' N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James argued in a complaint .
The term `` public charge '' dates back to 1882 , the same year the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barring mostly Chinese immigrants on the claim it `` endangered the good order of certain localities . ''
Over a century later , under then-President Bill Clinton , the administration issued guidance that only cash welfare benefits or `` institutionalization for long-term care '' be considered in determining the `` public charge . ''

The Supreme Court on Monday lifted a nationwide injunction against stricter immigration rules for those who could be on public assistance, making it easier for U.S. officials to deny poor immigrants entry to the country. File Photo by Michael Kleinfeld/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday lifted a lower court injunction against a Trump administration immigration rule that expands the "public charge" rule, making it harder for low-income immigrants to get green cards to enter the country. In August, President Donald Trump's administration expanded the term "public charge," allowing officials to deny visas and green cards to individuals who could be considered an economic burden on society for their reliance on public assistance benefits including food stamps, Medicaid, and government subsidized housing. Officials could also look at other factors such as financial resources, health and education in determining eligibility for green cards. Advertisement
Federal Judge George Daniels for the Southern District of New York issued an injunction in October, calling the new rules "repugnant to the American Dream of the opportunity for prosperity and success through hard work and upward mobility," and a federal appeals court upheld the injunction earlier this year.
The conservative-leaning Supreme Court lifted the injunction Monday, allowing the new rule to be applied. Four of the nine justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented.
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The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court earlier this month to set aside the one remaining nationwide injunction against the rule, with circuit courts lifting three other injunctions in recent weeks. U.S. immigration officials will now be able to use the new restrictions in every part of the country except Illinois, where the rule is blocked under a statewide injunction.
Federal officials say the stricter rules ensure immigrants do not become a tax burden. They noted that the changes are not retroactive and exempt refugees and persons already granted asylum in the United States.
The State of New York had argued the expansion of the "public charge" rule will make it harder for poor immigrants, the disabled, and people of color to enter the country.
Millions of immigrants "will be frightened and confused about the potential consequences of applying for benefits and will forgo public assistance altogether," N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James argued in a complaint.
The term "public charge" dates back to 1882, the same year the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted, barring mostly Chinese immigrants on the claim it "endangered the good order of certain localities."
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Over a century later, under then-President Bill Clinton, the administration issued guidance that only cash welfare benefits or "institutionalization for long-term care" be considered in determining the "public charge."


upi--2020-01-27--U.S. attorney: Prince Andrew has offered 'zero cooperation' in Jeffrey Epstein probe

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Britain 's Prince Andrew has provided `` zero cooperation '' in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein , the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said Monday .
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said the FBI and federal prosecutors have reached out to the prince 's lawyer after he publicly stated he would cooperate in the investigations but have yet to receive any assistance .
`` To date Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation , '' Berman said .
Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan Correctional Center cell in August while being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trafficking with girls as young as age 14 in the early 2000s at his residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach , Fla. Andrew faced accusations as part of a 2015 civil case against Epstein in which Virginia Guiffre said she was forced to have sex with the prince in London , New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein three times between 2001 and 2002 , including once when she was 17 .
The prince has denied those allegations and said he has `` no recollection of meeting '' Guiffre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the allegations , Andrew said he was `` willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigation if required . ''
Berman said the office does n't typically comment on whether a particular individual is cooperating in an investigation but made an exception due to Andrew 's public declaration .
`` In Prince Andrew 's case , he publicly offered , indeed in a press release , offered to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators , '' Berman said .
He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enabled Epstein 's behavior is ongoing .
`` Epstein could n't have done what he did without the assistance of others and I can assure you that our investigation is moving forward , '' he said .

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said Monday that Britain's Prince Andrew has provided "zero cooperation" in its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Photo by Richard Wainwright/EPA-EFE
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Britain's Prince Andrew has provided "zero cooperation" in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said Monday. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said the FBI and federal prosecutors have reached out to the prince's lawyer after he publicly stated he would cooperate in the investigations but have yet to receive any assistance. Advertisement
"To date Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation," Berman said.
Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan Correctional Center cell in August while being held on charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking with girls as young as age 14 in the early 2000s at his residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Fla.
Andrew faced accusations as part of a 2015 civil case against Epstein in which Virginia Guiffre said she was forced to have sex with the prince in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein three times between 2001 and 2002, including once when she was 17.
The prince has denied those allegations and said he has "no recollection of meeting" Guiffre.
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In an interview with the BBC following the allegations, Andrew said he was "willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigation if required."
Berman said the office doesn't typically comment on whether a particular individual is cooperating in an investigation but made an exception due to Andrew's public declaration.
"In Prince Andrew's case, he publicly offered, indeed in a press release, offered to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators," Berman said.
He added that the probe into the people who enabled Epstein's behavior is ongoing.
"Epstein couldn't have done what he did without the assistance of others and I can assure you that our investigation is moving forward," he said.


upi--2020-01-27--Appeals court strikes down EPA refinery waivers of biofuel blending requirements

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Corn growers and biofuel producers are praising a federal appeals court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency `` exceeded its statutory authority '' in exempting three small refineries from biofuel blending requirements .
The ruling , delivered late Friday by 10th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Mary Beck Briscoe in Denver came in a lawsuit filed by four renewable fuel and farm groups in May 2018 .
The suit accused the EPA of violating the Renewable Fuel Standard by granting exemptions to three small refineries that did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory for us after a string of disappointments from the EPA and the administration on the enforcement of the Renewable Fuel Standard and how they decided to handle the small refinery waivers , '' said Brian Jennings , chief executive officer of the American Coalition for Ethanol , one of the groups that brought the suit .
`` And this decision can have a clear impact on future waiver requests . ''
It is unclear if the EPA will appeal .
In response to the ruling , the EPA said : `` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion in this case as we continue to implement the Renewable Fuel Standard consistent with the statute . ''
The American Coalition for Ethanol , along with the Renewable Fuels Association , National Corn Growers Association and National Farmers Union , filed the lawsuit in response to a sharp spike in the number of small refinery waivers being granted by the EPA under the Trump administration .
Under the Clean Air Act , the Renewable Fuel Standard sets a yearly minimum for the amount of renewable fuels that must be blended into American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for exemptions if they demonstrate they will suffer disproportionate economic hardship under the blending requirements .
But , there is a catch .
`` After the law was enacted , every single small refinery was granted an exception between 2010 and 2013 , '' Jennings said .
`` After 2013 , if a refinery wanted to continue being exempt , it would have to ask the EPA for an extension to the exemption . ''
President Barack Obama 's EPA granted eight exemptions in 2013 and 2014 , and seven in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first year the Trump administration oversaw the extensions , the number more than doubled to 19 .
The next year it more than quadrupled to 35 .
`` The amended Clean Air Act allows the EPA to grant an 'extension ' of the small refinery exemption -- not a stand-alone 'exemption ' -- in response to a convincing petition , '' the appellate court ruling said .
`` The statue limits exemptions to situations involving 'extensions , ' with the goal of forcing the market to accept escalating amounts of renewable fuels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small refineries here consistently received an exemption in the years preceding its petition [ so ] there was nothing for the agency to 'extend . '
'' The court ruling vacated three exemptions named in the suit , and biofuel groups hope the decision will reduce the number of exemptions in coming years .
Such an outcome could help bolster corn and ethanol prices , the groups said .
`` Due in large part to EPA 's rampant and ongoing abuse of the SRE program , 2019 was one of the most challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biofuel sectors , '' Roger Johnson , the National Farmers Union president , said in a statement .
`` We believe this ruling will help restore the ability of the RFS to drive demand and expand markets for renewable fuels , as Congress intended , providing a badly needed shot in the arm for rural America . ''

Corn growers praised a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that vacated three small refinery exemptions to federal biofuel blending requirements. File photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
EVANSVILLE, Ind., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Corn growers and biofuel producers are praising a federal appeals court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency "exceeded its statutory authority" in exempting three small refineries from biofuel blending requirements. The ruling, delivered late Friday by 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Mary Beck Briscoe in Denver came in a lawsuit filed by four renewable fuel and farm groups in May 2018. Advertisement
The suit accused the EPA of violating the Renewable Fuel Standard by granting exemptions to three small refineries that did not qualify.
"This is a clear victory for us after a string of disappointments from the EPA and the administration on the enforcement of the Renewable Fuel Standard and how they decided to handle the small refinery waivers," said Brian Jennings, chief executive officer of the American Coalition for Ethanol, one of the groups that brought the suit.
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"And this decision can have a clear impact on future waiver requests."
It is unclear if the EPA will appeal.
In response to the ruling, the EPA said: "The Administration continues to review and examine the opinion in this case as we continue to implement the Renewable Fuel Standard consistent with the statute."
The American Coalition for Ethanol, along with the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association and National Farmers Union, filed the lawsuit in response to a sharp spike in the number of small refinery waivers being granted by the EPA under the Trump administration.
Under the Clean Air Act, the Renewable Fuel Standard sets a yearly minimum for the amount of renewable fuels that must be blended into American gasoline and diesel. Small refineries are eligible for exemptions if they demonstrate they will suffer disproportionate economic hardship under the blending requirements.
But, there is a catch.
"After the law was enacted, every single small refinery was granted an exception between 2010 and 2013," Jennings said. "After 2013, if a refinery wanted to continue being exempt, it would have to ask the EPA for an extension to the exemption."
President Barack Obama's EPA granted eight exemptions in 2013 and 2014, and seven in 2015.
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However, beginning in 2016, the first year the Trump administration oversaw the extensions, the number more than doubled to 19. The next year it more than quadrupled to 35.
"The amended Clean Air Act allows the EPA to grant an 'extension' of the small refinery exemption -- not a stand-alone 'exemption' -- in response to a convincing petition," the appellate court ruling said.
"The statue limits exemptions to situations involving 'extensions,' with the goal of forcing the market to accept escalating amounts of renewable fuels over time. None of the three small refineries here consistently received an exemption in the years preceding its petition [so] there was nothing for the agency to 'extend.'"
The court ruling vacated three exemptions named in the suit, and biofuel groups hope the decision will reduce the number of exemptions in coming years.
Such an outcome could help bolster corn and ethanol prices, the groups said.
"Due in large part to EPA's rampant and ongoing abuse of the SRE program, 2019 was one of the most challenging years in history for the agriculture and biofuel sectors," Roger Johnson, the National Farmers Union president, said in a statement.
"We believe this ruling will help restore the ability of the RFS to drive demand and expand markets for renewable fuels, as Congress intended, providing a badly needed shot in the arm for rural America."


upi--2020-01-27--Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett approves five-year military readiness plan

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- A five-year readiness overhaul of the Israel Defense Force , known as the Momentum Plan , was approved by Defense Minister Naftali Bennett .
The plan , known in Hebrew as Tenufa , was designed by Defense Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochlavi to make the Israeli military `` more flexible , smarter and deadlier . ''
It calls for quick deployment of troops and equipment , and wars won as rapidly as possible .
The plan was deliberately composed to counter perceived potential threats to Israel in the next decade , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constantly updated list of targets and the means to strike them .
`` The multi-year Momentum Plan will make an IDF that is more flexible , intelligent and lethal , '' Bennett said in a statement on Sunday .
`` The plan takes advantage of the strengths of the State of Israel and its powers , while looking realistically at the challenges and dangers , chief among them the Iranian threat . ''
`` At the heart of the plan is the principle of defeating the enemy quickly and powerfully , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added Bennett signed the order on Sunday .
It will go to Israel 's Security Cabinet , and later to the Knesset 's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee , for approval , which is expected .
He also approved a series of decisions on Sunday to increase IDF readiness , including weapons purchases , development of new capabilities and changes in military structure .
Israel already spent $ 3.2 billion on the plan in 2019 , which technically began its rollout at the start of 2020 .
Significant portions of the defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies to pay for upgrades to ground forces , communication and intelligence , logistics and the Israeli navy and air force .
It was announced last week that another $ 580 million will be spent immediately to accelerate the program .
The Momentum Plan will require a significant increase in Israel 's defense budget , but Bennett 's order offers no budgetary approvals .
The IDF relies on last year 's budget , cost-saving structural realignments and a grant of $ 3.8 billion per year , until 2028 , from the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air defense batteries are on the shopping list .

| License Photo An Israel Defense Force tank drives along the security wall just north of the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Natfali Bennett signed an order on Sunday calling for an five-year overhaul of IDF capabilities in light of expected threats. File Photo by Joerg Waizmann/UPI
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A five-year readiness overhaul of the Israel Defense Force, known as the Momentum Plan, was approved by Defense Minister Naftali Bennett. The plan, known in Hebrew as Tenufa, was designed by Defense Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochlavi to make the Israeli military "more flexible, smarter and deadlier." Advertisement
It calls for quick deployment of troops and equipment, and wars won as rapidly as possible. The plan was deliberately composed to counter perceived potential threats to Israel in the next decade, and calls for the military to have a constantly updated list of targets and the means to strike them.
"The multi-year Momentum Plan will make an IDF that is more flexible, intelligent and lethal," Bennett said in a statement on Sunday. "The plan takes advantage of the strengths of the State of Israel and its powers, while looking realistically at the challenges and dangers, chief among them the Iranian threat."
"At the heart of the plan is the principle of defeating the enemy quickly and powerfully, in the face of many complex arenas," he added
Bennett signed the order on Sunday. It will go to Israel's Security Cabinet, and later to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, for approval, which is expected. He also approved a series of decisions on Sunday to increase IDF readiness, including weapons purchases, development of new capabilities and changes in military structure.
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Israel already spent $3.2 billion on the plan in 2019, which technically began its rollout at the start of 2020. Significant portions of the defense budget have been diverted to Israeli defense companies to pay for upgrades to ground forces, communication and intelligence, logistics and the Israeli navy and air force.
It was announced last week that another $580 million will be spent immediately to accelerate the program.
The Momentum Plan will require a significant increase in Israel's defense budget, but Bennett's order offers no budgetary approvals. The IDF relies on last year's budget, cost-saving structural realignments and a grant of $3.8 billion per year, until 2028, from the United States. Midsized drones, precision-guided missiles and air defense batteries are on the shopping list.


upi--2020-01-27--Colon cancer hits poor, city dwellers the hardest

Young Americans who live in urban areas or live with low income or low education levels are more likely to die if they get colon cancer , a new study finds .
`` There are a lot of disparities in health care , '' said lead investigator Dr. Ashley Matusz-Fisher , an internist at the Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte , N.C. `` It is important to look at the sociodemographic disparities so that we can learn more and try to eliminate them . ''
She and her colleagues analyzed information from nearly 27,000 U.S. patients from a national database @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were diagnosed with colon cancer between 2004 and 2016 .
Those patients who lived in areas with the lowest income -- under $ 38,000 per year -- and least education -- high school graduation rate below 79 percent -- had a 24 percent higher risk of premature death than those from areas with the most income and education , the study found .
Patients in urban areas had a 10 percent higher risk of death than those in the suburbs , regardless of income .
Among patients diagnosed with stage 4 cancer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall survival than others , according to the researchers .
They also found that patients in the lowest income areas were more likely to be black , lack private health insurance , have a greater number of other health problems , and to be diagnosed with more-advanced cancer .
The study is scheduled for presentation Saturday at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology , in San Francisco .
Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal .
`` Although awareness of health care disparities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist , particularly among young adults with cancer , '' said study senior author Dr. Mohamed Salem , a gastrointestinal oncologist at the Levine Cancer Institute .
`` Therefore more effort to increase awareness regarding health care disparities is warranted to provide access and remove barriers to care so that we can eliminate disparities and achieve health equity , '' Salem said in a meeting news release .
Every year , more than 16,000 people under 50 are diagnosed with colon cancer in the United States .
Rates in this age group are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sharpest increase among those in their 20s .
The American Cancer Society has more on colon cancer .

Young Americans who live in urban areas or live with low income or low education levels are more likely to die if they get colon cancer, a new study finds.
"There are a lot of disparities in health care," said lead investigator Dr. Ashley Matusz-Fisher, an internist at the Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, N.C. "It is important to look at the sociodemographic disparities so that we can learn more and try to eliminate them."
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She and her colleagues analyzed information from nearly 27,000 U.S. patients from a national database, aged 40 and younger, who were diagnosed with colon cancer between 2004 and 2016.
Those patients who lived in areas with the lowest income -- under $38,000 per year -- and least education -- high school graduation rate below 79 percent -- had a 24 percent higher risk of premature death than those from areas with the most income and education, the study found.
Patients in urban areas had a 10 percent higher risk of death than those in the suburbs, regardless of income.
Among patients diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, those in the poorest areas had worse overall survival than others, according to the researchers.
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They also found that patients in the lowest income areas were more likely to be black, lack private health insurance, have a greater number of other health problems, and to be diagnosed with more-advanced cancer.
The study is scheduled for presentation Saturday at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, in San Francisco. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
"Although awareness of health care disparities has increased, considerable knowledge gaps still exist, particularly among young adults with cancer," said study senior author Dr. Mohamed Salem, a gastrointestinal oncologist at the Levine Cancer Institute. "Therefore more effort to increase awareness regarding health care disparities is warranted to provide access and remove barriers to care so that we can eliminate disparities and achieve health equity," Salem said in a meeting news release.
Every year, more than 16,000 people under 50 are diagnosed with colon cancer in the United States. Rates in this age group are up 51 percent since 1994, with the sharpest increase among those in their 20s.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more on colon cancer.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-27--Antarctica’s biggest glacier still losing ice, thinning in a totally new way

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Pine Island Glacier , Antarctica 's biggest glacier , continues to lose ice , but its thinning patterns are evolving in increasingly complex and unexpected ways .
New research suggests the glacier is now shedding ice mass in a manner opposite of what was previously observed .
Using fresh data collected by the European Space Agency 's CryoSat , scientists at the University of Bristol , in Britain , analyzed the patterns of ice loss within Pine Island Glacier during the last 10 years .
CryoSat 's data allowed scientists to produce high-resolution maps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping researchers to estimate where the glacier is losing its ice and how quickly .
Their findings , published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience , showed ice loss rates within the previously fast-flowing central trunk of the glacier have slowed by a factor of five .
Meanwhile , ice losses among the glacier 's slow-flow margins have increased dramatically .
Over the past 40 years , Pine Island Glacier has contributed more to sea level rise than any other Antarctic glacier .
How much the glacier will contribute to sea level rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and different computer models have offered conflicting predictions .
The latest research suggests the glacier 's grounding line , the line where Pine Island Glacier rises from bedrock and meets the Antarctic Ocean , is unlikely to move much over the next several decades .
Instead , the newest data suggests the glacier will continue to lose ice at current rates for the foreseeable future .
`` This could seem like a 'good news story , ' but it 's important to remember that we still expect this glacier to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that trend to increase over time , just not quite as fast as some model simulations suggested , '' Bristol geoscientist and lead study author Jonathan Bamber said in a news release .
`` It 's really important to understand why the models are producing different behavior in the future and to get a better handle on how the glacier will evolve with the benefit of these new observations , '' Bamber said .
`` In our study , we did n't make projections , but with the aid of these new data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of Antarctica . ''

1/2
New research suggests Pine Island Glacier has adopted a new pattern of ice loss. Photo by NAS/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica's biggest glacier, continues to lose ice, but its thinning patterns are evolving in increasingly complex and unexpected ways. New research suggests the glacier is now shedding ice mass in a manner opposite of what was previously observed. Using fresh data collected by the European Space Agency's CryoSat, scientists at the University of Bristol, in Britain, analyzed the patterns of ice loss within Pine Island Glacier during the last 10 years. Advertisement
CryoSat's data allowed scientists to produce high-resolution maps of the glacier's elevation changes, helping researchers to estimate where the glacier is losing its ice and how quickly.
Their findings, published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, showed ice loss rates within the previously fast-flowing central trunk of the glacier have slowed by a factor of five. Meanwhile, ice losses among the glacier's slow-flow margins have increased dramatically.
Over the past 40 years, Pine Island Glacier has contributed more to sea level rise than any other Antarctic glacier. How much the glacier will contribute to sea level rise moving forward is a much debated topic, and different computer models have offered conflicting predictions.
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The latest research suggests the glacier's grounding line, the line where Pine Island Glacier rises from bedrock and meets the Antarctic Ocean, is unlikely to move much over the next several decades. Instead, the newest data suggests the glacier will continue to lose ice at current rates for the foreseeable future.
"This could seem like a 'good news story,' but it's important to remember that we still expect this glacier to continue to lose mass in the future and for that trend to increase over time, just not quite as fast as some model simulations suggested," Bristol geoscientist and lead study author Jonathan Bamber said in a news release.
"It's really important to understand why the models are producing different behavior in the future and to get a better handle on how the glacier will evolve with the benefit of these new observations," Bamber said. "In our study, we didn't make projections, but with the aid of these new data we can improve model projections for this part of Antarctica."


upi--2020-01-27--Look: Firefighters free woman's finger from sink overflow drain

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home where a woman had put her finger in a bathroom sink overflow drain and became stuck .
The London Fire Brigade said crews responded to a home in Hither Green to assist a woman whose finger was stuck in her bathroom sink 's overflow drain pipe .
`` The lady had been told she could clean out the sink waste pipe by pulling it out -- but she could n't and got her finger stuck , '' Station Officer Gary Deacon said .
`` She had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived and called us once she 'd got over the embarrassment and realized her finger was starting to hurt . ''
Deacon said firefighters ended up destroying the sink to free the woman .
`` We did try to dismantle the whole base unit but in the end we had to use a disc cutter to smash the basin up and get the whole thing out .
We used wire snips to cut the plastic pipe from her finger , '' he said .
`` She was uninjured apart from her pride .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever been called to this particular type of rescue , '' Deacon said .

Firefighters in Britain responded to a home in London where a woman's finger was stuck in the overflow drain pipe of her bathroom sink. Photo courtesy of the London Fire Brigade
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home where a woman had put her finger in a bathroom sink overflow drain and became stuck. The London Fire Brigade said crews responded to a home in Hither Green to assist a woman whose finger was stuck in her bathroom sink's overflow drain pipe. Advertisement
"The lady had been told she could clean out the sink waste pipe by pulling it out -- but she couldn't and got her finger stuck," Station Officer Gary Deacon said. "She had been stuck for about 20 minutes before we arrived and called us once she'd got over the embarrassment and realized her finger was starting to hurt."
Deacon said firefighters ended up destroying the sink to free the woman.
"We did try to dismantle the whole base unit but in the end we had to use a disc cutter to smash the basin up and get the whole thing out. We used wire snips to cut the plastic pipe from her finger," he said.
"She was uninjured apart from her pride. It's the first time I've ever been called to this particular type of rescue," Deacon said.


upi--2020-01-27--Companies chosen to pitch ideas for Army's artillery autoloader program

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Six companies were selected to prepare concepts and designs for an Extended-Range Cannon Artillery autoloader , the U.S. Army announced .
The companies chosen by the Army for the program are Actuate ; Apptronik , Inc. ; Carnegie Robotics LLC ; Pratt & Miller Engineering ; Neya Systems , LLC ; and Hivemapper , Inc .
The goal is for the companies , not familiar choices for artillery contracts , to work under the Army Capability Accelerator and the Army Applications Laboratory and emerge with atypical concepts for the autoloader .
Their specialties include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , self-driving technology and computer mapping .
`` Sourced from across the country , the selected companies represent a range of technologies and expertise all aimed at developing autonomous resupply capabilities , '' a statement on Friday by the Army Futures Command said .
The goal is completion of an automatically-loading and self-propelled howitzer by 2023 , although the autoloader feature has a 2024 deadline .
A platform for the ERCA is already under development at Picatinny Arsenal , N.J. , and will be moved next month to proving grounds in Yuma , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to check 20 to 30 performance measures .
Despite an eight-week delay because of the `` normal challenges '' of building the prototype , Brig .
Gen. John Rafferty said on Friday that the program remains on schedule .
The prototype will arrive at Yuma in the second or third week of February .
In tests , the ERCA howitzers have demonstrated an ability to strike targets with XM-1113 high-explosive rounds 37 to 43 miles away .

The U.S. Army announced on Friday that six companies will offer design expertise in the development of an autoloader for the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program. Photo be Edward Lopez/U.S. Army/UPI
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Six companies were selected to prepare concepts and designs for an Extended-Range Cannon Artillery autoloader, the U.S. Army announced. The companies chosen by the Army for the program are Actuate; Apptronik, Inc.; Carnegie Robotics LLC; Pratt & Miller Engineering; Neya Systems, LLC; and Hivemapper, Inc. Advertisement
The goal is for the companies, not familiar choices for artillery contracts, to work under the Army Capability Accelerator and the Army Applications Laboratory and emerge with atypical concepts for the autoloader. Their specialties include robotics, mobility technology, artificial intelligence, self-driving technology and computer mapping.
"Sourced from across the country, the selected companies represent a range of technologies and expertise all aimed at developing autonomous resupply capabilities," a statement on Friday by the Army Futures Command said.
The goal is completion of an automatically-loading and self-propelled howitzer by 2023, although the autoloader feature has a 2024 deadline. A platform for the ERCA is already under development at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., and will be moved next month to proving grounds in Yuma, Ariz., for a "transition assessment" to check 20 to 30 performance measures.
Despite an eight-week delay because of the "normal challenges" of building the prototype, Brig. Gen. John Rafferty said on Friday that the program remains on schedule. The prototype will arrive at Yuma in the second or third week of February.
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In tests, the ERCA howitzers have demonstrated an ability to strike targets with XM-1113 high-explosive rounds 37 to 43 miles away.


upi--2020-01-27--Croatian city seeks young authors of message found in bottle

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Officials in a Croatian city are trying to find the young authors of a @ @ @ @ @ washed up on an island .
Filip Bozic , 8 , said he was playing @ @ @ @ @ island of Vis when he found a bottle that contained handwritten messages from sisters Matea @ @ @ @ @ Novi .
Matea 's message , addressed to `` pirates , '' said she was @ @ @ @ @ to launch the message into the Adriatic Sea .
Bozic found the message Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ on Matea 's note .
The City of Kastela shared the saga on its website @ @ @ @ @ on Matea and Mia , who did not include their last name or any contact @ @ @ @ @

A city in Croatia is trying to identify two young girls whose message in a bottle washed up on the island of Vis. Photo by ariesa66/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Officials in a Croatian city are trying to find the young authors of a message in a bottle that washed up on an island. Filip Bozic, 8, said he was playing on a beach on the island of Vis when he found a bottle that contained handwritten messages from sisters Matea and Mia, from Kastel Novi. Advertisement
Matea's message, addressed to "pirates," said she was a third-grader and was preparing to launch the message into the Adriatic Sea.
Bozic found the message Saturday, 15 days after the date on Matea's note.
The City of Kastela shared the saga on its website, asking for more information on Matea and Mia, who did not include their last name or any contact information in the message.


upi--2020-01-27--North Carolina $1 million winner was already a lottery millionaire

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina woman is celebrating a $ 1 million lottery jackpot she won @ @ @ @ @ collecting a $ 4 million prize .
Linda Tate of Durham told North Carolina Education @ @ @ @ @ the Family Fare store in Durham when she selected the $ 30 Colossal Cash scratch-off @ @ @ @ @ to do when she uncovered the massive jackpot -- she previously visited lottery headquarters in @ @ @ @ @ $ 4 million top prize from a Millionaire Bucks scratch-off .

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Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman is celebrating a $1 million lottery jackpot she won less than two years after collecting a $4 million prize.
Linda Tate of Durham told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she was at the Family Fare store in Durham when she selected the $30 Colossal Cash scratch-off ticket.


upi--2020-01-27--In photos: Highlights from the week of January 27, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump moves into its second week in the U.S. Senate , and Israeli Prime @ @ @ @ @ White House during the week of January 27 , 2020 in Washington , D.C .

President Donald Trump signs an executive order to create the office of a human trafficking czar after delivering remarks during the White House Summit on Human Trafficking: The 20th Anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 in the East Room of the the White House on Tuesday. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI


upi--2020-01-27--Watch: Firefighters run hose through vehicle parked next to hydrant

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters in New Jersey shared a video reminding residents why they should n't park @ @ @ @ @ Camden Fire Officers Local # 2578 posted a video to Facebook showing what happened when @ @ @ @ @ flames at an occupied residence .
The video shows a vehicle with both windows broken @ @ @ @ @ could run their house through the vehicle .
The fire was extinguished and no injuries @ @ @

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Firefighters in New Jersey shared a video reminding residents why they shouldn't park next to fire hydrants.
Camden Fire Officers Local #2578 posted a video to Facebook showing what happened when crews had to extinguish the flames at an occupied residence.
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The video shows a vehicle with both windows broken out by firefighters so they could run their house through the vehicle.
The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported.


upi--2020-01-27--Prostate cancer overtakes breast cancer as most common in England

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England in 2018 , marking @ @ @ @ @ has been overtaken , according to the latest cancer registration statistics released Monday by Public @ @ @ @ @ , 316,680 newly diagnosed cases of all cancers were reported , including 49,029 cases prostate @ @ @ @ @ cases of breast cancer .
The next most commonly diagnosed were lung and bowel cancers @ @ @ @ @ diagnoses of prostate cancer in 2018 than the previous year , the figures show .
@ @ @ @ @ number increased mainly because of the `` Fry and Turnbull effect , '' referring to @ @ @ @ @ writer Stephen Fry and journalist and former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull , who both @ @ @ @ @ with prostate cancer diagnoses , encouraging more people to get tested .
The report was @ @ @ @ @ said , and a full release will be published in the spring .

British actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry went public with his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI. | License Photo
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England in 2018, marking the first time breast cancer has been overtaken, according to the latest cancer registration statistics released Monday by Public Health England. In 2018, 316,680 newly diagnosed cases of all cancers were reported, including 49,029 cases prostate cancer, followed by 47,476 cases of breast cancer. The next most commonly diagnosed were lung and bowel cancers. Advertisement
There were 7,828 more diagnoses of prostate cancer in 2018 than the previous year, the figures show.
Public Health England said the number increased mainly because of the "Fry and Turnbull effect," referring to British actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry and journalist and former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull, who both went public in early 2018 with prostate cancer diagnoses, encouraging more people to get tested.
The report was provisional, Public Health England said, and a full release will be published in the spring.


upi--2020-01-27--Model contradicts scientists, predicts future phytoplankton boom in tropics

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- Contrary to the expectations of many environmental scientists , a new model has predicted a likely boom in tropical phytoplankton abundance as the century progresses .
Phytoplankton anchor the aquatic food web .
Most scientists assumed this community of photosynthesizing bacteria and plant-like diatoms would struggle in the tropics as the oceans become increasingly stratified , with heavier cold water situated deep beneath the surface and lighter warm water isolated on top .
Phytoplankton relies on ocean mixing to bring nutrients to the surface where they live .
But in a stratified ocean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and thus , smaller phytoplankton populations .
`` All the climate models have this mechanism built into them , and it has led to these well-established predictions that phytoplankton productivity , biomass and export into the deep ocean will all decline with climate change , '' lead researcher Adam Martiny , professor of oceanography at the University of California , Irvine , said in a news release .
`` Earth system models are largely based upon laboratory studies of phytoplankton , but of course laboratory studies of plankton are not the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phytoplankton abundance by measuring the concentration of chlorophyll in the water .
Previous studies have revealed lower levels of chlorophyll in warmer , tropical waters and higher concentrations in ocean water collected farther away from the equator .
`` The problem is that chlorophyll is not everything that 's in a cell , and actually in low latitudes , many plankton are characterized by having a very small amount of it ; there 's so much sunlight , plankton only need a few chlorophyll molecules to get enough energy to grow , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have had so far very little data to actually demonstrate whether or not there is more or less biomass in regions undergoing stratification .
As a result , the empirical basis for less biomass in warmer regions is not that strong . ''
To build a more accurate ocean systems model , Martiny and his colleagues sampled phytoplankton communities at thousands of locations all over the globe .
Their efforts revealed surprising levels of phyotplankton abundance in tropical waters .
Most of the phytoplankton living in the tropics are tiny cells called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phytoplankton living in cooler climates , picophytoplankton are abundant in warm water .
When scientists provided ocean models with their new phytoplankton survey data , the simulations showed increases in ocean temperature are likely to boost phytoplankton abundance .
`` In many regions there would be an increase of 10 to 20 percent of plankton biomass , rather than a decline , '' Martiny said .
`` Machine learning is not biased by the human mind .
We just give the model tons and tons of data , but they can help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of their new model in a new paper published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience .
Though ocean warming is likely diminishing the levels of ocean mixing that bring nutrients to the surface , scientists suspect warm water phytoplankton will find new ways to get the nutrients they need to proliferate .
`` When plankton die -- especially these small species -- they sit around for a while longer , and maybe at high temperature other plankton can more easily degrade them and recycle the nutrients back to build new biomass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their findings are n't proof that climate change wo n't negatively impact marine ecosystems , only that phytoplankton communities are more resilient than previously suggested .
And if climate change continues unabated , scientists warned that the results could be catastrophic for all kinds of marine organisms .
`` We could obviously let climate change get out of hand and go into completely uncharted territory , and then all bets are off , '' Martiny said .
`` But at least for a while , I think the adaptive capabilities in these diverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biomass despite these environmental changes . ''

Phytoplankton relies on ocean mixing to bring nutrients to the surface where they live. But in a stratified ocean, there is likely to be less mixing, and thus, smaller phytoplankton populations. Photo by NOAA MESA Project /Wikimedia
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Contrary to the expectations of many environmental scientists, a new model has predicted a likely boom in tropical phytoplankton abundance as the century progresses. Phytoplankton anchor the aquatic food web. Most scientists assumed this community of photosynthesizing bacteria and plant-like diatoms would struggle in the tropics as the oceans become increasingly stratified, with heavier cold water situated deep beneath the surface and lighter warm water isolated on top. Advertisement
Phytoplankton relies on ocean mixing to bring nutrients to the surface where they live. But in a stratified ocean, there is likely to be less mixing, and thus, smaller phytoplankton populations.
"All the climate models have this mechanism built into them, and it has led to these well-established predictions that phytoplankton productivity, biomass and export into the deep ocean will all decline with climate change," lead researcher Adam Martiny, professor of oceanography at the University of California, Irvine, said in a news release. "Earth system models are largely based upon laboratory studies of phytoplankton, but of course laboratory studies of plankton are not the real ocean."
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Traditionally, scientists measure phytoplankton abundance by measuring the concentration of chlorophyll in the water. Previous studies have revealed lower levels of chlorophyll in warmer, tropical waters and higher concentrations in ocean water collected farther away from the equator.
"The problem is that chlorophyll is not everything that's in a cell, and actually in low latitudes, many plankton are characterized by having a very small amount of it; there's so much sunlight, plankton only need a few chlorophyll molecules to get enough energy to grow," Martiny said. "In reality, we have had so far very little data to actually demonstrate whether or not there is more or less biomass in regions undergoing stratification. As a result, the empirical basis for less biomass in warmer regions is not that strong."
To build a more accurate ocean systems model, Martiny and his colleagues sampled phytoplankton communities at thousands of locations all over the globe. Their efforts revealed surprising levels of phyotplankton abundance in tropical waters.
Most of the phytoplankton living in the tropics are tiny cells called picophytoplankton. Though tiny compared the the phytoplankton living in cooler climates, picophytoplankton are abundant in warm water.
When scientists provided ocean models with their new phytoplankton survey data, the simulations showed increases in ocean temperature are likely to boost phytoplankton abundance.
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"In many regions there would be an increase of 10 to 20 percent of plankton biomass, rather than a decline," Martiny said. "Machine learning is not biased by the human mind. We just give the model tons and tons of data, but they can help us challenge existing paradigms."
Scientists described the results of their new model in a new paper published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Though ocean warming is likely diminishing the levels of ocean mixing that bring nutrients to the surface, scientists suspect warm water phytoplankton will find new ways to get the nutrients they need to proliferate.
"When plankton die -- especially these small species -- they sit around for a while longer, and maybe at high temperature other plankton can more easily degrade them and recycle the nutrients back to build new biomass," Martiny said.
Researchers said their findings aren't proof that climate change won't negatively impact marine ecosystems, only that phytoplankton communities are more resilient than previously suggested.
And if climate change continues unabated, scientists warned that the results could be catastrophic for all kinds of marine organisms.
"We could obviously let climate change get out of hand and go into completely uncharted territory, and then all bets are off," Martiny said. "But at least for a while, I think the adaptive capabilities in these diverse plankton communities will help them maintain high biomass despite these environmental changes."


upi--2020-01-27--Look: Selena Gomez celebrates Demi Lovato's 'inspirational' Grammys performance

Gomez , 27 , showed her support for Lovato , her friend and fellow singer and actress , Sunday on Instagram Stories after Lovato performed an emotional rendition of her new song `` Anyone '' at the Grammy Awards .
Gomez shared a screenshot of Lovato onstage at the awards show Sunday in Los Angeles .
`` I wish there were words to describe how beautiful , inspirational and DESERVED this moment was .
Demi I 'm so happy for you .
Thank you for your courage and bravery , '' Gomez wrote .
The Grammys marked Lovato 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalization .
Lovato started her performance over after being overcome with emotion , and cried as she performed .
Lovato previously said in an interview with Zane Lowe that she wrote and recorded `` Anyone '' prior to her overdose .
`` I almost listen back and hear these lyrics as a cry for help , '' she said .
`` You kind of listen back to it and you kind of think , how did nobody listen to this song and think , 'Let 's help this girl . '
'' Gomez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Music Awards in November , her first awards show performance in two years .
She reflected on her personal struggles , including her split from Justin Bieber and her health issues , in an interview with NPR 's Weekend Edition Sunday .
`` The reason why I 've become so vocal about the trials and tribulations of my life is because people were already going to narrate that for me , '' Gomez said .
`` I want to be able to tell my story the way that I want to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened , and I was n't going to deny that , I was n't going to pretend to put a smile on when it actually was awful -- a few of the worst moments of my life . ''
Gomez said she experienced emotional abuse during her past relationship but has `` found the strength in it '' and moved on .
`` It 's dangerous to stay in a victim mentality .
And I 'm not being disrespectful , I do feel I was a victim to certain abuse , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's something that -- I had to find a way to understand it as an adult .
And I had to understand the choices I was making , '' she added .
`` As much as I definitely do n't want to spend the rest of my life talking about this , I am really proud that I can say I feel the strongest I 've ever felt and I 've found a way to just walk through it with as much grace as possible . ''
Gomez released her third studio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She thanked fans last week after the album debuted at No .
1 on the Billboard 200 .

Selena Gomez showed her support after Demi Lovato performed an emotional rendition of her new song "Anyone" at the Grammy Awards. Screenshot via selenagomez/Instagram Stories
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Selena Gomez is celebrating Demi Lovato's "inspirational" Grammys performance. Gomez, 27, showed her support for Lovato, her friend and fellow singer and actress, Sunday on Instagram Stories after Lovato performed an emotional rendition of her new song "Anyone" at the Grammy Awards. Advertisement
Gomez shared a screenshot of Lovato onstage at the awards show Sunday in Los Angeles.
"I wish there were words to describe how beautiful, inspirational and DESERVED this moment was. Demi I'm so happy for you. Thank you for your courage and bravery," Gomez wrote.
The Grammys marked Lovato's first public performance since her 2018 overdose and hospitalization. Lovato started her performance over after being overcome with emotion, and cried as she performed.
Lovato previously said in an interview with Zane Lowe that she wrote and recorded "Anyone" prior to her overdose.
"I almost listen back and hear these lyrics as a cry for help," she said. "You kind of listen back to it and you kind of think, how did nobody listen to this song and think, 'Let's help this girl.'"
Gomez herself returned to the stage at the American Music Awards in November, her first awards show performance in two years. She reflected on her personal struggles, including her split from Justin Bieber and her health issues, in an interview with NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.
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"The reason why I've become so vocal about the trials and tribulations of my life is because people were already going to narrate that for me," Gomez said. "I want to be able to tell my story the way that I want to tell it. And all of these things happened, and I wasn't going to deny that, I wasn't going to pretend to put a smile on when it actually was awful -- a few of the worst moments of my life."
Gomez said she experienced emotional abuse during her past relationship but has "found the strength in it" and moved on.
"It's dangerous to stay in a victim mentality. And I'm not being disrespectful, I do feel I was a victim to certain abuse," the star said.
"I think that it's something that -- I had to find a way to understand it as an adult. And I had to understand the choices I was making," she added. "As much as I definitely don't want to spend the rest of my life talking about this, I am really proud that I can say I feel the strongest I've ever felt and I've found a way to just walk through it with as much grace as possible."
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Gomez released her third studio album, Rare, this month. She thanked fans last week after the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Selena Gomez turns 30: a look back