upi--2020-03-04--Italy shutters all schools, universities as coronavirus death toll reaches 107

March 4 ( UPI ) -- Italian education officials closed all schools and universities Wednesday in reaction to a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 107 people in the country .
Education Minister Lucia Azzolina made the announcement with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during a news conference at Palazzo Chigi , Conte 's residence in Rome .
`` It was n't a simple decision for the government , we waited for the opinion of the scientific-technical committee and we decided to suspend teaching activities from tomorrow till March 15 , '' Azzolina said .
`` It is a decision of impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to school as soon as possible . ''
Italy 's Civil Protection Agency said that in addition to the deaths , there were 2,706 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease in the country as of Wednesday .
Most were centered in the Lombardy region , with smaller clusters in Emilia-Romagna , Veneto , Piedmont , the Marche , Campania , Liguria , Tuscany , Lazio , Friuli Venezia Giulia , Sicily , Puglia , Abruzzo , Trento , Molise , Umbria , Bolzano , Calabria , Sardinia and Basilicata .
Some 276 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is experiencing the worst European outbreak of the virus , which originated in Wuhan , China , late last year .
Significant clusters have also been reported in South Korea and Iran .
The World Health Organization said COVID-19 spreads less efficiently than the flu but has a higher mortality rate .
South Korea 's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 516 new cases of COVID-19 since the day prior on Wednesday evening , increasing its totals to 5,328 cases and 32 deaths after four people died from the virus in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest epidemic outside China .
And in Iran , where officials were releasing tens of thousands of inmates to slow the disease 's spread among its crowded prison system , health officials recorded 77 deaths and 2,336 confirmed cases .
Meanwhile , in China , where the disease first took hold but has seemingly loosened its grip , health officials reported 119 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday from the previous day and 38 deaths , a continuation of slowing numbers for the Asian nation that has experienced 2,981 deaths and 80,270 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of 3.4 percent , higher than the seasonal flu , which kills about 1 percent of those infected , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters Tuesday during a press briefing .
`` While many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains , COVID-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity , '' he said .
`` That means more people are susceptible to infection , and some will suffer severe disease . ''
COVID-19 also induces more severe disease than the seasonal flu , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , transmit as effectively as the flu , since people carrying the virus without experiencing symptoms seemingly are n't the driving force behind the current epidemics .
`` To summarize , COVID-19 spreads less efficiently than flu ; transmission does not appear to be driven by people who are not sick ; it causes more severe illness than flu ; there are not yet any vaccines or therapeutics ; and it can be contained -- which is why we must do everything we can to contain it , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said fans will be kept out of Serie A professional soccer matches and other big sporting events , which instead will be played behind closed doors .
Meanwhile , hundreds of Hong Kong residents trapped in China began boarding the first of four government-chartered evacuation flights on Wednesday .
Patrick Nip , Hong Kong 's secretary of constitutional and mainland affairs , said in a statement on Facebook that 109 people boarded the Cathay Pacific Airways flight after having their temperatures taken for signs of a fever , which barred one passenger from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothes , masks , etc .
before boarding , '' Nip said in a post that accompanied photos of passengers in masks and plastic ponchos queuing to board the flight .
All those on the flight are Hong Kong residents in Wuhan , a city at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak that has been under lockdown for over a month .
Nip , along with other Hong Kong government officials , landed in China early Wednesday to facilitate the departures .
Priority was given to pregnant women , students preparing to write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exam and patients with urgent medical needs , he said .
Two evacuation flights were expected to depart Wuhan for Hong Kong on Wednesday with two more scheduled for Thursday , repatriating some 522 residents , the South China Morning Post reported .
The evacuees are expected to be quarantined at the Chun Yeong Estate for two weeks , the incubation period of the coronavirus , once returning to the semi-autonomous region of China , which , as of Wednesday morning , had 100 confirmed cases of the disease .
Meanwhile , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , a woman in her 30s who recently returned to Auckland from northern Italy .
The woman was in isolation at home , the Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement .
`` Although we have our second case of COVID-19 , with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low , '' it said .
Air New Zealand confirmed the woman was a passenger on its Feb. 25 Singapore-to-Auckland flight .
She then flew from Auckland to Palmerston North on Monday before flying back to Auckland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is working closely with the Ministry of Health and government agencies to identify and proactively contact customers who traveled on the Singapore service and the two regional flights , '' the airline said in a statement .

1/3
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (L) and Italian Education Minister Lucia Azzolina conduct a news conference about Italy's coronavirus emergency situation at the Chigi Palace in Rome on Wednesday. Photo by Angelo Carconi/EPA-EFE
March 4 (UPI) -- Italian education officials closed all schools and universities Wednesday in reaction to a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 107 people in the country. Education Minister Lucia Azzolina made the announcement with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during a news conference at Palazzo Chigi, Conte's residence in Rome. Advertisement
"It wasn't a simple decision for the government, we waited for the opinion of the scientific-technical committee and we decided to suspend teaching activities from tomorrow till March 15," Azzolina said.
"It is a decision of impact, I hope the pupils will return to school as soon as possible."
Italy's Civil Protection Agency said that in addition to the deaths, there were 2,706 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease in the country as of Wednesday. Most were centered in the Lombardy region, with smaller clusters in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Piedmont, the Marche, Campania, Liguria, Tuscany, Lazio, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo, Trento, Molise, Umbria, Bolzano, Calabria, Sardinia and Basilicata.
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Some 276 people have recovered from the disease.
Italy is experiencing the worst European outbreak of the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, late last year. Significant clusters have also been reported in South Korea and Iran.
The World Health Organization said COVID-19 spreads less efficiently than the flu but has a higher mortality rate.
South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 516 new cases of COVID-19 since the day prior on Wednesday evening, increasing its totals to 5,328 cases and 32 deaths after four people died from the virus in the past 24 hours. It is the largest epidemic outside China.
And in Iran, where officials were releasing tens of thousands of inmates to slow the disease's spread among its crowded prison system, health officials recorded 77 deaths and 2,336 confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, in China, where the disease first took hold but has seemingly loosened its grip, health officials reported 119 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday from the previous day and 38 deaths, a continuation of slowing numbers for the Asian nation that has experienced 2,981 deaths and 80,270 confirmed cases.
The virus has a mortality rate of 3.4 percent, higher than the seasonal flu, which kills about 1 percent of those infected, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters Tuesday during a press briefing.
Advertisement
"While many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains, COVID-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity," he said. "That means more people are susceptible to infection, and some will suffer severe disease."
COVID-19 also induces more severe disease than the seasonal flu, he said, adding it does not, however, transmit as effectively as the flu, since people carrying the virus without experiencing symptoms seemingly aren't the driving force behind the current epidemics.
"To summarize, COVID-19 spreads less efficiently than flu; transmission does not appear to be driven by people who are not sick; it causes more severe illness than flu; there are not yet any vaccines or therapeutics; and it can be contained -- which is why we must do everything we can to contain it," he said.
In Italy, Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said fans will be kept out of Serie A professional soccer matches and other big sporting events, which instead will be played behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Hong Kong residents trapped in China began boarding the first of four government-chartered evacuation flights on Wednesday.
Patrick Nip, Hong Kong's secretary of constitutional and mainland affairs, said in a statement on Facebook that 109 people boarded the Cathay Pacific Airways flight after having their temperatures taken for signs of a fever, which barred one passenger from boarding.
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"Passengers must wear protective clothes, masks, etc. before boarding," Nip said in a post that accompanied photos of passengers in masks and plastic ponchos queuing to board the flight.
All those on the flight are Hong Kong residents in Wuhan, a city at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak that has been under lockdown for over a month.
Nip, along with other Hong Kong government officials, landed in China early Wednesday to facilitate the departures.
Priority was given to pregnant women, students preparing to write the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam and patients with urgent medical needs, he said.
Two evacuation flights were expected to depart Wuhan for Hong Kong on Wednesday with two more scheduled for Thursday, repatriating some 522 residents, the South China Morning Post reported.
The evacuees are expected to be quarantined at the Chun Yeong Estate for two weeks, the incubation period of the coronavirus, once returning to the semi-autonomous region of China, which, as of Wednesday morning, had 100 confirmed cases of the disease.
Meanwhile, New Zealand confirmed its second patient infected with COVID-19, a woman in her 30s who recently returned to Auckland from northern Italy. The woman was in isolation at home, the Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement.
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"Although we have our second case of COVID-19, with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low," it said.
Air New Zealand confirmed the woman was a passenger on its Feb. 25 Singapore-to-Auckland flight. She then flew from Auckland to Palmerston North on Monday before flying back to Auckland that same day.
"The airline is working closely with the Ministry of Health and government agencies to identify and proactively contact customers who traveled on the Singapore service and the two regional flights," the airline said in a statement.


upi--2020-03-04--Joe Biden wins Maine primary

Joe Biden wins Maine primary

March 4 ( UPI ) -- Former Vice President Joe Biden won the Maine Democratic presidential primary despite no advertising in the state and little organization .
Maine , with only 24 delegates to the party convention , was an afterthought on Super Tuesday in comparison to larger prizes like California and Texas , but Biden secured 34 percent of the vote .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , received 32.9 percent , and Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, received 15.8 percent .
Candidates needed to win at least 15 percent of votes to qualify for delegates from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially called until Wednesday afternoon .
Biden defeated the two candidates from neighboring New England states in Maine , which delivered 64 percent of its votes to Sanders when he ran against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary .
Maine switched from caucuses to primaries for 2020 .
Sanders and Warren campaigned in the state for months .
The win gave Biden victories in 10 of the 14 states voting Tuesday .
Although he lost to Sanders in California , Biden achieved major victories in Texas , Massachusetts and Virginia .
The Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other low-population states , in favor of primaries in larger states .
It offered few visits by Biden and no advertising within the state on his behalf .
It was , though , energized by a landslide victory last week in the South Carolina primary .
A February poll by Colby College gave him only 12 percent of voters in Maine , behind Pete Buttigieg and Michael Bloomberg , candidates who have since left the race .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden answers a question from a reporter at a campaign event at the W Los Angeles hotel on Wednesday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 4 (UPI) -- Former Vice President Joe Biden won the Maine Democratic presidential primary despite no advertising in the state and little organization. Maine, with only 24 delegates to the party convention, was an afterthought on Super Tuesday in comparison to larger prizes like California and Texas, but Biden secured 34 percent of the vote. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., received 32.9 percent, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., received 15.8 percent. Candidates needed to win at least 15 percent of votes to qualify for delegates from the state. The Maine race was not officially called until Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement
Biden defeated the two candidates from neighboring New England states in Maine, which delivered 64 percent of its votes to Sanders when he ran against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary. Maine switched from caucuses to primaries for 2020. Sanders and Warren campaigned in the state for months. The win gave Biden victories in 10 of the 14 states voting Tuesday. Although he lost to Sanders in California, Biden achieved major victories in Texas, Massachusetts and Virginia.
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The Biden campaign essentially ignored Maine, and several other low-population states, in favor of primaries in larger states. It offered few visits by Biden and no advertising within the state on his behalf. It was, though, energized by a landslide victory last week in the South Carolina primary. A February poll by Colby College gave him only 12 percent of voters in Maine, behind Pete Buttigieg and Michael Bloomberg, candidates who have since left the race.


upi--2020-03-04--'Necrotizing pneumonia' linked to vaping in case study

E-cigarettes were initially thought to be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes , but a recent outbreak of serious lung illnesses and deaths linked to the nicotine delivery devices called that belief into question .
Now , a new case report details another type of lung illness in a 15-year-old girl who regularly used e-cigarettes : necrotizing pneumonia .
Necrotizing pneumonia is an uncommon complication of pneumonia .
It destroys areas of lung tissue , and can occur even if someone has been treated with antibiotics , according to a previous review in Biomed Central .
`` It 's pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get an invasive pneumonia like this , but not impossible , '' said Dr. Ravi Kalhan , a professor of medicine and preventive medicine in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago .
Kalhan was not involved in the current case , but is familiar with the new report .
He said experts ca n't know for sure if vaping caused this particular illness , but animal studies have suggested impaired immune defenses in the lungs .
`` The idea that in this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an individual is a reasonable hypothesis , but a single case does not prove it , '' Kalhan said .
What is already known , however , is that more than 2,800 people across all 50 states have been hospitalized with life-threatening respiratory dysfunction tied to recent e-cigarette use , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Sixty-eight of those patients died .
Research strongly suggests that an additive called vitamin E acetate , sometimes used in pot-laced vapes , may be triggering these illnesses .
But health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm about soaring rates of e-cigarette use among teens .
A CDC report from November reported that about 1 in every 5 high school students had used e-cigarettes within the past month .
The new case report , written by Dr. Joseph Domachowske and colleagues from Upstate Medical University , State University of New York in Syracuse , revealed that the teen patient had a habit of daily nicotine vaping .
She used e-cigarettes several times each hour , and had done so for the past nine months .
Like many people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nicotine , including apple , mango , cotton candy and birthday cake flavors .
She said she used both disposable and refillable penlike vape devices .
She said she had n't altered the devices in any way .
The girl admitted to occasionally smoking marijuana , but not with an e-cigarette .
In September 2019 , she went to the hospital complaining of difficulty breathing .
She had been sick for about a week prior .
Imaging of her lungs showed that lung tissue damage had occurred .
Luckily , she responded well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a week in the hospital , including six days in the ICU .
But she has yet to fully recover .
Before this report , the doctors had seen the teen one month after she completed a three-week course of antibiotics .
She still could n't climb more than a flight of stairs without getting out of breath .
She also could n't walk quickly from one class to another without getting winded .
Dr. Len Horovitz , a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City , was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this appeared to be `` yet another horror story of vaping . ''
He added that this unusual case seems to represent a previously undescribed cause of vaping-related pneumonia .
Kalhan said that this report , published March 4 in the journal Pediatrics , and the many previous lung injury cases , suggest one thing .
`` I think it 's clear that vaping is definitely not good for you , '' he said .
`` Inhaling anything but air is a risky behavior .
We do n't know at all what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaping , and speculation that it 's safe [ or safer than cigarettes ] is just that -- speculation .
The effects have not been carefully studied and need to be .
In the meantime , I 'd just remind people that the lungs were designed to inhale AIR , and that 's it .
Not anything else , '' Kalhan advised .
Learn more about vaping-related lung injuries from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

A teen patient with a habit of daily nicotine vaping was hospitalized with necrotizing pneumonia, raising concerns about the risks of e-cigarettes. Photo by kevsphotos /Pixabay
E-cigarettes were initially thought to be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but a recent outbreak of serious lung illnesses and deaths linked to the nicotine delivery devices called that belief into question. Now, a new case report details another type of lung illness in a 15-year-old girl who regularly used e-cigarettes: necrotizing pneumonia. Advertisement
Necrotizing pneumonia is an uncommon complication of pneumonia. It destroys areas of lung tissue, and can occur even if someone has been treated with antibiotics, according to a previous review in Biomed Central.
"It's pretty unusual for a generally healthy person to get an invasive pneumonia like this, but not impossible," said Dr. Ravi Kalhan, a professor of medicine and preventive medicine in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Kalhan was not involved in the current case, but is familiar with the new report.
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He said experts can't know for sure if vaping caused this particular illness, but animal studies have suggested impaired immune defenses in the lungs.
"The idea that in this case vaping created a setup for severe pneumonia in an individual is a reasonable hypothesis, but a single case does not prove it," Kalhan said.
What is already known, however, is that more than 2,800 people across all 50 states have been hospitalized with life-threatening respiratory dysfunction tied to recent e-cigarette use, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixty-eight of those patients died.
Research strongly suggests that an additive called vitamin E acetate, sometimes used in pot-laced vapes, may be triggering these illnesses.
But health experts have also raised a more general alarm about soaring rates of e-cigarette use among teens. A CDC report from November reported that about 1 in every 5 high school students had used e-cigarettes within the past month.
The new case report, written by Dr. Joseph Domachowske and colleagues from Upstate Medical University, State University of New York in Syracuse, revealed that the teen patient had a habit of daily nicotine vaping. She used e-cigarettes several times each hour, and had done so for the past nine months. Like many people who use e-cigarettes, the girl used flavored nicotine, including apple, mango, cotton candy and birthday cake flavors.
Advertisement
She said she used both disposable and refillable penlike vape devices. She said she hadn't altered the devices in any way. The girl admitted to occasionally smoking marijuana, but not with an e-cigarette.
In September 2019, she went to the hospital complaining of difficulty breathing. She had been sick for about a week prior.
Imaging of her lungs showed that lung tissue damage had occurred.
Luckily, she responded well to treatment and was released after more than a week in the hospital, including six days in the ICU.
But she has yet to fully recover. Before this report, the doctors had seen the teen one month after she completed a three-week course of antibiotics. She still couldn't climb more than a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. She also couldn't walk quickly from one class to another without getting winded.
Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, was not part of the study, but said this appeared to be "yet another horror story of vaping."
He added that this unusual case seems to represent a previously undescribed cause of vaping-related pneumonia.
Kalhan said that this report, published March 4 in the journal Pediatrics, and the many previous lung injury cases, suggest one thing.
Advertisement
"I think it's clear that vaping is definitely not good for you," he said.
"Inhaling anything but air is a risky behavior. We don't know at all what the true short- and long-term effects are of vaping, and speculation that it's safe [or safer than cigarettes] is just that -- speculation. The effects have not been carefully studied and need to be. In the meantime, I'd just remind people that the lungs were designed to inhale AIR, and that's it. Not anything else," Kalhan advised.
More information
Learn more about vaping-related lung injuries from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-04--Climate change raised risk of extreme wildfires in Australia by 30%, researchers say

March 4 ( UPI ) -- Climate change has led to a 30 percent increase in the chance of an extreme wildfire season in southeastern Australia like the one that that burned some 46 million acres over the past several months .
Scientists partnered with the World Weather Attribution organization used a Fire Weather Index to create a computer model to determine the fire risk of southeastern Australia since 1900 .
They compared historic weather conditions , including temperatures , droughts and fire intensity over the decades .
The researchers found that the risk in the 2019-20 season was 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Fire Weather Index noted a `` significant trend towards higher weather risk since 1979 , '' the World Weather Attribution report said .
`` We can attribute part of this trend to climate change , '' the scientists said .
The research also noted an increase in overall temperatures -- about 1 to 2 degrees Celsius higher during this past year 's heatwave compared to one at the beginning of the 20th century .
Such a heatwave is about 10 percent more likely to happen now than it would have around 1900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 21 percent of the country 's temperate forests .
Scientists at Western Sydney University 's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment determined last month that the fires were unprecedented in size .
When researchers surveyed historical records for evidence of comparable wildfire seasons -- not just in Australia , but across the globe .
They found nothing approaching the scope of Australia 's devastation .
The blazes killed at least 34 people , an estimated 1 billion animals and more than 5,900 structures .

Firefighters stand next to a fire near the Pacific Highway, north of Nabiac, New South Wales, Australia, on November 12, 2019. File Photo by Darren Pateman/EPA-EFE
March 4 (UPI) -- Climate change has led to a 30 percent increase in the chance of an extreme wildfire season in southeastern Australia like the one that that burned some 46 million acres over the past several months. Scientists partnered with the World Weather Attribution organization used a Fire Weather Index to create a computer model to determine the fire risk of southeastern Australia since 1900. They compared historic weather conditions, including temperatures, droughts and fire intensity over the decades. Advertisement
The researchers found that the risk in the 2019-20 season was 30 percent higher than 120 years prior. The Fire Weather Index noted a "significant trend towards higher weather risk since 1979," the World Weather Attribution report said.
"We can attribute part of this trend to climate change," the scientists said.
The research also noted an increase in overall temperatures -- about 1 to 2 degrees Celsius higher during this past year's heatwave compared to one at the beginning of the 20th century. Such a heatwave is about 10 percent more likely to happen now than it would have around 1900.
Australia's 2019-20 wildfire season burned about 21 percent of the country's temperate forests. Scientists at Western Sydney University's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment determined last month that the fires were unprecedented in size.
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When researchers surveyed historical records for evidence of comparable wildfire seasons -- not just in Australia, but across the globe. They found nothing approaching the scope of Australia's devastation.
The blazes killed at least 34 people, an estimated 1 billion animals and more than 5,900 structures.


upi--2020-03-04--Watch: BTS surprises fans with new 'Black Swan' video

March 4 ( UPI ) -- South Korean boy band BTS surprised fans by releasing a new music video for the song `` Black Swan . ''
The K-pop group shared the video Wednesday after releasing an art film for the track in January .
The new `` Black Swan '' video opens with BTS wearing all-white outfits .
The group transforms into `` black swans '' with all-black outfits as they sing and dance on a theater stage .
The original `` Black Swan '' video featured a performance from the MN Dance Company .
BTS also released a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Black Swan '' choreography .
`` Black Swan '' is the lead single from BTS ' album Map of the Soul : 7 , released in February .
BTS will promote the album with a new world tour , but has canceled a series of concerts in Seoul due to concerns about coronavirus .
BTS also released two music videos for its single `` On . ''
The group shared a cinematic video for the song last week that was seeming inspired by Game of Thrones , The Hunger Games and other @ @

March 4 (UPI) -- South Korean boy band BTS surprised fans by releasing a new music video for the song "Black Swan."
The K-pop group shared the video Wednesday after releasing an art film for the track in January.
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The new "Black Swan" video opens with BTS wearing all-white outfits. The group transforms into "black swans" with all-black outfits as they sing and dance on a theater stage.
The original "Black Swan" video featured a performance from the MN Dance Company. BTS also released a dance practice video in February featuring the "Black Swan" choreography.
"Black Swan" is the lead single from BTS' album Map of the Soul: 7, released in February. BTS will promote the album with a new world tour, but has canceled a series of concerts in Seoul due to concerns about coronavirus.
BTS also released two music videos for its single "On." The group shared a cinematic video for the song last week that was seeming inspired by Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games and other media.


upi--2020-03-04--Joe Burrow on Tom Brady comparison: 'Don't do that to me'

March 4 ( UPI ) -- Joe Burrow , the presumed No .
1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft , does n't want to be compared to NFL superstar Tom Brady .
`` Please do n't compare me to the best player of all time , '' Burrow told NFL Network .
`` Let me do my own thing .
Do n't do that to me , please . ''
The former LSU star has been compared to Brady because both have underdog stories and had doubts about their physical traits and abilities as prospects .
Burrow was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferring to LSU and getting more playing time .
He went on to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship this season , while setting the Football Bowl Subdivision record for touchdown passes in a single season ( 60 ) .
Brady was a sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2000 .
He went on to win six Super Bowls .
Brady also was slighted for his lack of positive physical traits , like Burrow has in advance of the 2020 NFL Draft .
Burrow also admitted his physical traits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarterback prospects during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine .
Brady , who is expected to become a free agent in two weeks , wrote about his critics in a 2017 Instagram post .
Scouts said he had a poor build , was skinny , lacked physical stature and strength and lacked mobility before he was selected in 2000 as the 199th player drafted .
`` You can prove 'em right or you can prove 'em wrong , '' Brady wrote in the post , which he posted during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to each other because of throwing mechanics , poise and pocket awareness .
Kevin Faulk , the running backs coach at LSU , was teammates with Brady for 12 years with the Patriots , and has said Burrow reminds him of Brady .
Burrow was compared to Super Bowl champion quarterback Kurt Warner in his NFL Draft profile .
He grew up modeling his game after New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees .
The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to make Burrow the No .
1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow threw a Football Bowl Subdivision record 60 touchdown passes in 2019-2020 for the Tigers. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
March 4 (UPI) -- Joe Burrow, the presumed No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, doesn't want to be compared to NFL superstar Tom Brady. "Please don't compare me to the best player of all time," Burrow told NFL Network. "Let me do my own thing. Don't do that to me, please." Advertisement
The former LSU star has been compared to Brady because both have underdog stories and had doubts about their physical traits and abilities as prospects.
Burrow was a backup quarterback at Ohio State before transferring to LSU and getting more playing time. He went on to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship this season, while setting the Football Bowl Subdivision record for touchdown passes in a single season (60).
Brady was a sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2000. He went on to win six Super Bowls.
Brady also was slighted for his lack of positive physical traits, like Burrow has in advance of the 2020 NFL Draft. Burrow also admitted his physical traits are "limited" compared to other quarterback prospects during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.
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Brady, who is expected to become a free agent in two weeks, wrote about his critics in a 2017 Instagram post. Scouts said he had a poor build, was skinny, lacked physical stature and strength and lacked mobility before he was selected in 2000 as the 199th player drafted.
"You can prove 'em right or you can prove 'em wrong," Brady wrote in the post, which he posted during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
Brady and Burrow also have been compared to each other because of throwing mechanics, poise and pocket awareness. Kevin Faulk, the running backs coach at LSU, was teammates with Brady for 12 years with the Patriots, and has said Burrow reminds him of Brady.
Burrow was compared to Super Bowl champion quarterback Kurt Warner in his NFL Draft profile. He grew up modeling his game after New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to make Burrow the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on April 23 in Las Vegas.


upi--2020-03-04--Children living in poverty more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disabilities are more common in families locked into a cycle of poverty , a new U.S. government report suggests .
Nearly 19 percent of children living in families below the federal poverty level had a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability , compared with about 13 percent of families at or above the poverty level , the new report shows .
A family of four with a household income of $ 26,200 is living at the 2020 federal poverty level .
Children with parents who have a high school education or less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ADHD or a learning disability -- 15 percent , compared with under 13 percent of those with parents who went on to higher education .
That 's particularly true of white children .
About 21 percent of white kids with parents who have a high school diploma or less have a diagnosis of ADHD or learning disability , compared with 16 percent of black children and 11.5 percent of Hispanic children .
`` Poverty is often associated with increased adverse childhood experiences and trauma , '' said Dr. Victor Fornari , vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zucker Hillside Hospital and Cohen 's Children 's Medical Center in Glen Oaks , N.Y. `` It is not about race .
Early childhood trauma changes the brain and our genes , with epigenetic changes that are real . ''
Fornari was not part of the research .
Federal researchers conducted the study to update the data surrounding ADHD , said lead author Benjamin Zablotsky , a health statistician with the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics .
The researchers pulled data from the annual National Health Interview Survey between 2016 and 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a doctor or health professional ever told them their child has ADHD or ADD , or if a school or health professional told them their child had a learning disability .
The survey found that nearly 14 percent of children between 3 and 17 had been diagnosed with either ADHD or a learning disability , according to their parents .
However , parents ca n't be relied upon to accurately report such conditions , said Dr. Scott Benson , a pediatric psychiatrist with Creekside Psychiatric Center in Pensacola , Fla. '' The word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so people are labeling themselves or getting labeled , '' said Benson , who reviewed the report .
`` They 're painting it over a broad array of learning and behavior problems .
It 's no longer a defined condition that has some precision to it .
It 's kind of a loose language where people are throwing words around . ''
The actual number of kids with a solid diagnosis of ADHD has remained fairly stable over the years , Benson said .
`` In the past , every research study that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people doing the evaluations , you come up with an incidence of maybe 7 percent or 8 percent , '' he said .
`` About 25 percent of children have some kind of trouble in school .
Some of them need glasses , some of them need hearing tests , some of them need to get their teeth fixed .
Some of them have severe learning problems .
Then when you do careful evaluations , of the 25 percent you can sort out 7 percent to 8 percent as ADHD kids , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stats related to poverty and education in the new study are far more compelling .
The results reminded Benson of a conversation he 'd had about Florida schools , which are graded based on student performance .
`` Someone pointed out , you know we have another set of data which is average family income by geographic area .
If you take average family income maps and you lay them over the failing school maps , it 's a perfect match , '' Benson said .
`` Children are not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeless , if their family is disorganized or in disarray .
These children are at extraordinarily high risk . ''
More effort needs to be made to accurately identify kids struggling with behavioral problems or learning disabilities and get them the proper treatment , Benson said .
`` Our system is not designed to really sit with these children and try to understand exactly what is it that 's making school difficult with them , '' Benson said .
`` Those are the children we need to identify and treat , because those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NCHS Data Brief report was released March 4 .
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about ADHD .

Pixabay Nearly 19 percent of children living in families below the federal poverty level had a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability, compared with about 13 percent of families at or above the poverty level, the new report shows. Photo by Patrice Audet
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disabilities are more common in families locked into a cycle of poverty, a new U.S. government report suggests. Nearly 19 percent of children living in families below the federal poverty level had a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability, compared with about 13 percent of families at or above the poverty level, the new report shows. A family of four with a household income of $26,200 is living at the 2020 federal poverty level. Advertisement
Children with parents who have a high school education or less were also more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability -- 15 percent, compared with under 13 percent of those with parents who went on to higher education.
That's particularly true of white children. About 21 percent of white kids with parents who have a high school diploma or less have a diagnosis of ADHD or learning disability, compared with 16 percent of black children and 11.5 percent of Hispanic children.
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"Poverty is often associated with increased adverse childhood experiences and trauma," said Dr. Victor Fornari, vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital and Cohen's Children's Medical Center in Glen Oaks, N.Y. "It is not about race. Early childhood trauma changes the brain and our genes, with epigenetic changes that are real." Fornari was not part of the research.
Federal researchers conducted the study to update the data surrounding ADHD, said lead author Benjamin Zablotsky, a health statistician with the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.
The researchers pulled data from the annual National Health Interview Survey between 2016 and 2018. The survey specifically asked parents if a doctor or health professional ever told them their child has ADHD or ADD, or if a school or health professional told them their child had a learning disability.
The survey found that nearly 14 percent of children between 3 and 17 had been diagnosed with either ADHD or a learning disability, according to their parents.
However, parents can't be relied upon to accurately report such conditions, said Dr. Scott Benson, a pediatric psychiatrist with Creekside Psychiatric Center in Pensacola, Fla.
"The word is out in the community about ADHD so people are labeling themselves or getting labeled," said Benson, who reviewed the report. "They're painting it over a broad array of learning and behavior problems. It's no longer a defined condition that has some precision to it. It's kind of a loose language where people are throwing words around."
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The actual number of kids with a solid diagnosis of ADHD has remained fairly stable over the years, Benson said.
"In the past, every research study that's been done where you have qualified people doing the evaluations, you come up with an incidence of maybe 7 percent or 8 percent," he said. "About 25 percent of children have some kind of trouble in school. Some of them need glasses, some of them need hearing tests, some of them need to get their teeth fixed. Some of them have severe learning problems. Then when you do careful evaluations, of the 25 percent you can sort out 7 percent to 8 percent as ADHD kids," Benson said.
He and Fornari said the stats related to poverty and education in the new study are far more compelling.
The results reminded Benson of a conversation he'd had about Florida schools, which are graded based on student performance.
"Someone pointed out, you know we have another set of data which is average family income by geographic area. If you take average family income maps and you lay them over the failing school maps, it's a perfect match," Benson said. "Children are not going to succeed at school if their family is homeless, if their family is disorganized or in disarray. These children are at extraordinarily high risk."
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More effort needs to be made to accurately identify kids struggling with behavioral problems or learning disabilities and get them the proper treatment, Benson said.
"Our system is not designed to really sit with these children and try to understand exactly what is it that's making school difficult with them," Benson said. "Those are the children we need to identify and treat, because those treatments work amazingly well." The NCHS Data Brief report was released March 4.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about ADHD.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-04--General Motors rolls out its electric vehicle future

March 4 ( UPI ) -- General Motors presented its electric vehicle future Wednesday , displaying a dozen new products , a modular platform and an innovative battery .
The multi-day presentation in Warren , Mich. , is meant to show employees , investors and analysts that the company has a strategy to profitably compete in the electric vehicle market .
It centers on what it calls the Ultium battery and a single platform , similar to Volkswagen 's MEB system , to which a variety of body types can be attached .
`` Our team accepted the challenge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our company for an all-electric future , '' said Mary Barra , GM chairman and CEO .
`` What we have done is build a multi-brand , multi-segment EV strategy with economies of scale that rival our full-size truck business with much less complexity and even more flexibility . ''
The battery content includes aluminum , in addition to the common nickel , magnesium and a reduced amount of cobalt .
With a reduction in necessary wiring , GM expects the cost of the Ultium battery to be under $ 100 per kilowatt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The battery is also formed like a pouch , instead of the more common cylindrical shape , allowing multiple batteries to be stacked or installed side by side .
Motors in the platform will support , front-wheel , rear-wheel or all-wheel drive .
The `` global platform '' will allow trucks , SUVs , crossovers and cars to be installed with minimal modification , bringing down the costs of production .
GM noted that it plans 19 different battery and drive unit configurations in its electric vehicle program , compared with 550 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engines .
The company also announced 23 new electric models for sale by 2023 .
The rollout is intended to persuade investors that GM can catch up to other manufacturers offering electric vehicles , notably Tesla .
Despite a currently jittery stock market , Tesla 's market cap is around $ 144 billion , or over three times GM 's $ 45 billion in stock investment .

With the platform of General Motors' electric vehicle in the background, General Motors CEO Mary Barra explained the company's future in electric vehicles on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of General Motors
March 4 (UPI) -- General Motors presented its electric vehicle future Wednesday, displaying a dozen new products, a modular platform and an innovative battery. The multi-day presentation in Warren, Mich., is meant to show employees, investors and analysts that the company has a strategy to profitably compete in the electric vehicle market. It centers on what it calls the Ultium battery and a single platform, similar to Volkswagen's MEB system, to which a variety of body types can be attached. Advertisement
"Our team accepted the challenge to transform product development at GM and position our company for an all-electric future," said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. "What we have done is build a multi-brand, multi-segment EV strategy with economies of scale that rival our full-size truck business with much less complexity and even more flexibility."
The battery content includes aluminum, in addition to the common nickel, magnesium and a reduced amount of cobalt. With a reduction in necessary wiring, GM expects the cost of the Ultium battery to be under $100 per kilowatt hour, an industry goal and benchmark. The battery is also formed like a pouch, instead of the more common cylindrical shape, allowing multiple batteries to be stacked or installed side by side. Motors in the platform will support, front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
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The "global platform" will allow trucks, SUVs, crossovers and cars to be installed with minimal modification, bringing down the costs of production. GM noted that it plans 19 different battery and drive unit configurations in its electric vehicle program, compared with 550 available powertrains currently available with internal combustion engines.
The company also announced 23 new electric models for sale by 2023.
The rollout is intended to persuade investors that GM can catch up to other manufacturers offering electric vehicles, notably Tesla. Despite a currently jittery stock market, Tesla's market cap is around $144 billion, or over three times GM's $45 billion in stock investment.


upi--2020-03-04--Mischa Barton, Caroline D'Amore clash over 'The Hills' revival casting

March 4 ( UPI ) -- Mischa Barton and Caroline D'Amore are clashing over The Hills revival casting shakeup .
Barton , an actress known for The O.C.
, slammed D'Amore , a DJ and the co-owner of D'Amore 's Pizza , in an Instagram post Wednesday following reports D'Amore will replace Barton in Season 2 of The Hills : New Beginnings .
Barton laughed off an Us Weekly report that D'Amore is joining the MTV series .
`` Lol .
Where do people get their reporting from ?
As if anyone would watch @ carolinedamore try to hoc her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greasy pizza on tv .
Tried that it was like watching paint dry .
Get the story straight first , '' she wrote .
D'Amore responded by appearing to confirm her casting .
`` The Hills are alive with the taste of @ pizzagirlofficial and the sudden surge in sales this morning .
# sellingout # notstoopingtoyourlevel @ mischabarton REAL women do n't bully other women # thehillsnewbeginnings , '' she wrote .
Us Weekly said Tuesday that Barton will not return in Season 2 .
Sources told TMZ that Barton was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storyline `` bland . ''
Entertainment Tonight confirmed Wednesday that Barton will not be returning .
Season 2 has reportedly begun filming .
The Hills : New Beginning is a revival of the The Hills , which had a six-season run on MTV from 2006 to 2010 .
The new series premiered in June and stars Brody Jenner , Audrina Patridge , Heidi Montag , Spencer Pratt , Justin Brescia , Stephanie Pratt , Frankie Delgado , Whitney Port and Brandon Thomas Lee .

1/2
Mischa Barton slammed Caroline D'Amore online following reports D'Amore will replace Barton in "The Hills: New Beginnings" Season 2. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 4 (UPI) -- Mischa Barton and Caroline D'Amore are clashing over The Hills revival casting shakeup. Barton, an actress known for The O.C., slammed D'Amore, a DJ and the co-owner of D'Amore's Pizza, in an Instagram post Wednesday following reports D'Amore will replace Barton in Season 2 of The Hills: New Beginnings. Advertisement
Barton laughed off an Us Weekly report that D'Amore is joining the MTV series.
"Lol. Where do people get their reporting from? As if anyone would watch @carolinedamore try to hoc her boring [expletive] pasta bowls and greasy pizza on tv. Tried that it was like watching paint dry. Get the story straight first," she wrote.
D'Amore responded by appearing to confirm her casting.
"The Hills are alive with the taste of @pizzagirlofficial and the sudden surge in sales this morning. #sellingout #notstoopingtoyourlevel @mischabarton REAL women don't bully other women #thehillsnewbeginnings," she wrote.
Us Weekly said Tuesday that Barton will not return in Season 2.
Sources told TMZ that Barton wasn't asked to return because producers found her storyline "bland."
Entertainment Tonight confirmed Wednesday that Barton will not be returning. Season 2 has reportedly begun filming.
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The Hills: New Beginning is a revival of the The Hills, which had a six-season run on MTV from 2006 to 2010. The new series premiered in June and stars Brody Jenner, Audrina Patridge, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Justin Brescia, Stephanie Pratt, Frankie Delgado, Whitney Port and Brandon Thomas Lee.


upi--2020-03-04--Look: 'The Batman': Robert Pattinson gets a new ride in first Batmobile images

`` The Batman '' director Matt Reeves shared a photo of Robert Pattinson 's Batmobile on Twitter Wednesday .
Reeves @ @ @ @ @ car that also feature Pattinson in full costume as Batman .
The Batmobile resembles a @ @ @ @ @ an exposed rear engine .
The design is a departure from previous Batmobiles that have @ @ @ @ @ Affleck 's more comic book-like car from Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice and @ @ @ @ @ , tank-like vehicle from The Dark Knight trilogy .
The Batman is set for release @ @ @ @ @ .
Production on the superhero epic began in January .
Zoe Kravitz stars as Catwoman @ @ @ @ @ Pennyworth , Colin Farrell as The Penguin , Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey @ @ @ @ @

March 4 (UPI) --
"The Batman" director Matt Reeves shared a photo of Robert Pattinson's Batmobile on Twitter Wednesday.
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Reeves uploaded three photos of the car that also feature Pattinson in full costume as Batman.
The Batmobile resembles a modified muscle car that has an exposed rear engine.
The design is a departure from previous Batmobiles that have appeared on film including Ben Affleck's more comic book-like car from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Christian Bale's military grade, tank-like vehicle from The Dark Knight trilogy.
The Batman is set for release on June 25, 2021. Production on the superhero epic began in January.
Zoe Kravitz stars as Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon.


upi--2020-03-04--Erratic sleep habits may increase heart risks

People with irregular sleep patterns may be at increased risk for heart attack and stroke , a new study suggests .
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 Americans between 45 and 84 years of age who did not have heart disease .
Participants wore a wrist device that monitored their sleep for seven days , including bedtime , sleep duration and wake time .
They were then followed for an average of nearly five years .
During that time , 111 participants had a heart attack , stroke or other heart event .
Those whose sleep varied two hours or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have heart events as those whose sleep varied by fewer than 60 minutes .
Over one year , eight of every 1,000 people with the most consistent sleep patterns had a heart event , compared with 20 in 1,000 of those with the most irregular sleep , according to the study published in the March issue of The Journal of the American College of Cardiology .
`` When we talk about interventions to prevent heart attacks and stroke , we focus on diet and exercise , '' said lead author Tianyi Huang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women 's Hospital in Boston .
`` Even when we talk about sleep , we tend to focus on duration -- how many hours a person sleeps each night -- but not on sleep irregularity and the impact of going to bed at different times or sleeping different amounts from night to night , '' he noted in a hospital news release .
This study suggests that healthy sleep is n't just about quantity but about consistency and that it can have an important effect on heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it only shows an association , rather than a cause-and-effect link .
`` In the future , '' Huang said , `` we 'd like to explore whether changing one 's sleep patterns by going to bed consistently each night may reduce a person 's risk of future cardiovascular events . ''
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on sleep .

People whose sleep varied two hours or more a night were twice as likely to have heart events as those whose sleep varied by fewer than 60 minutes, a new study found. Photo by StockSnap/Pixabay
People with irregular sleep patterns may be at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 Americans between 45 and 84 years of age who did not have heart disease. Participants wore a wrist device that monitored their sleep for seven days, including bedtime, sleep duration and wake time. Advertisement
They were then followed for an average of nearly five years. During that time, 111 participants had a heart attack, stroke or other heart event.
Those whose sleep varied two hours or more a night were twice as likely to have heart events as those whose sleep varied by fewer than 60 minutes.
Over one year, eight of every 1,000 people with the most consistent sleep patterns had a heart event, compared with 20 in 1,000 of those with the most irregular sleep, according to the study published in the March issue of The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"When we talk about interventions to prevent heart attacks and stroke, we focus on diet and exercise," said lead author Tianyi Huang, an associate epidemiologist in the Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "Even when we talk about sleep, we tend to focus on duration -- how many hours a person sleeps each night -- but not on sleep irregularity and the impact of going to bed at different times or sleeping different amounts from night to night," he noted in a hospital news release.
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This study suggests that healthy sleep isn't just about quantity but about consistency and that it can have an important effect on heart health, Huang said. However, it only shows an association, rather than a cause-and-effect link.
"In the future," Huang said, "we'd like to explore whether changing one's sleep patterns by going to bed consistently each night may reduce a person's risk of future cardiovascular events."
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on sleep.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-05--Light-activated coating kills bacteria

Light-activated coating kills bacteria

March 5 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have developed a new light-activated coating that kills bacteria .
The coating could be applied to phone screens and keyboards to curb the spread of harmful bacteria .
More importantly , the coating could be used on medical equipment like catheters and breathing tubes , the main sources of of healthcare-associated infections .
The most common healthcare-associated infections are caused by Clostridioides difficile , methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , or MRSA , and E. coli .
In lab tests , the new antimicrobial coating successfully killed bacteria when exposed to low intensity , ambient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in hospital wards .
The coating 's antibacterial properties were activated by light levels as low as 300 Lux .
Most light-activated antimicrobial coatings require lights as bright as 3,000 Lux .
Researchers created the coating by embedding chemically modified gold in a polymer with crystal violet , a medical dye boasting antibacterial and antifungal properties .
The dye is also antihelmintic , which means it is hostile to small parasites .
Scientists described the novel coating Thursday in the journal Nature Communications .
`` Dyes such as crystal violet are promising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sterile as they are widely used to disinfect wounds , '' first author Gi Byoung Hwang , a chemist at University College London , said in a news release .
`` When exposed to bright light , they create reactive oxygen species , which in turn kill bacteria by damaging their protective membranes and DNA .
This is amplified when they are paired with metals such as silver , gold and zinc oxide . ''
During the initial test phases , scientists found a control coating of crystal violet in a polymer was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or E. coli bacteria under ambient light .
However , the new bactericidal coating slowed the proliferation of each bacteria .
Tests showed the coating took longer to curb E. coli growth .
`` E. coli was more resistant to the bactericidal coating than S. aureus as it took longer to achieve a significant reduction in the number of viable bacteria on the surface , '' said Elaine Allan , UCL researcher and study co-author .
`` This is presumably because E. coli has a cell wall with a double membrane structure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ membrane barrier . ''
The tests results showed the coating 's production of hydrogen peroxide was responsible for killing the bacteria .
`` The gold clusters in our coating are key to generating the hydrogen peroxide , through the action of light and humidity , '' said senior study author Asterios Gavriilidis , professor of chemical engineering at UCL .
`` Given the clusters contain only 25 atoms of gold , very little of this precious metal is required compared to similar coatings , making our coating attractive for wider use . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ incorporated into a variety of healthcare environments in the near future .

Scientists have developed a new coating that kills bacteria under ambient light conditions. Photo courtesy of University College London
March 5 (UPI) -- Scientists have developed a new light-activated coating that kills bacteria. The coating could be applied to phone screens and keyboards to curb the spread of harmful bacteria. More importantly, the coating could be used on medical equipment like catheters and breathing tubes, the main sources of of healthcare-associated infections. The most common healthcare-associated infections are caused by Clostridioides difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and E. coli. Advertisement
In lab tests, the new antimicrobial coating successfully killed bacteria when exposed to low intensity, ambient light, the kind of light commonly found in hospital wards. The coating's antibacterial properties were activated by light levels as low as 300 Lux. Most light-activated antimicrobial coatings require lights as bright as 3,000 Lux.
Researchers created the coating by embedding chemically modified gold in a polymer with crystal violet, a medical dye boasting antibacterial and antifungal properties. The dye is also antihelmintic, which means it is hostile to small parasites.
Scientists described the novel coating Thursday in the journal Nature Communications.
"Dyes such as crystal violet are promising candidates for killing bacteria and keeping surfaces sterile as they are widely used to disinfect wounds," first author Gi Byoung Hwang, a chemist at University College London, said in a news release. "When exposed to bright light, they create reactive oxygen species, which in turn kill bacteria by damaging their protective membranes and DNA. This is amplified when they are paired with metals such as silver, gold and zinc oxide."
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During the initial test phases, scientists found a control coating of crystal violet in a polymer was not enough to kill either S. aureus or E. coli bacteria under ambient light. However, the new bactericidal coating slowed the proliferation of each bacteria. Tests showed the coating took longer to curb E. coli growth.
"E. coli was more resistant to the bactericidal coating than S. aureus as it took longer to achieve a significant reduction in the number of viable bacteria on the surface," said Elaine Allan, UCL researcher and study co-author. "This is presumably because E. coli has a cell wall with a double membrane structure, whereas S. aureus only has a single membrane barrier."
The tests results showed the coating's production of hydrogen peroxide was responsible for killing the bacteria.
"The gold clusters in our coating are key to generating the hydrogen peroxide, through the action of light and humidity," said senior study author Asterios Gavriilidis, professor of chemical engineering at UCL. "Given the clusters contain only 25 atoms of gold, very little of this precious metal is required compared to similar coatings, making our coating attractive for wider use."
Researchers suggest the new coating could be incorporated into a variety of healthcare environments in the near future.


upi--2020-03-05--South Korea’s approach to secretive church could backfire, analyst says

NEW YORK , March 5 ( UPI ) -- A mysterious religious organization in South Korea is in the hot seat following the massive outbreak of the new strain of coronavirus in the country , but placing members of the church under a harsh spotlight may be a counterproductive move , an analyst told UPI .
John Grisafi , a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and a Ph.D. candidate in religious studies at Yale University , said the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony , may be being singled out in a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to contain COVID-19 .
That does not mean Shincheonji should not bear responsibility for widespread infections that began with South Korea 's Patient No .
31 , who is believed to have attended services while sick , Grisafi said .
Slightly more than half of COVID-19 cases in South Korea can be traced back to the Daegu branch of the church , according to officials .
Actions taken by South Korean authorities , including what local media described as a `` 007-style '' forced entry into Shincheonji headquarters , however , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about possible infections .
`` The group already feels marginalized , '' Grisafi said .
`` Suspicion of them and the feeling they are being persecuted could drive them further underground and have the reverse effect of what [ the South Korean government ] is trying to accomplish . ''
The church has reportedly hesitated to disclose a complete list of its members .
Shincheonji 's secrecy , claims regarding the church 's strict attendance requirements -- which may have contributed to the outbreak -- have roiled South Koreans who , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of a government-led raid of the church .
But the group , believed to retain 300,000 members worldwide -- with 200,000 in South Korea alone -- could also be attracting South Koreans in their 20s and 30s who may be struggling , according to local reports .
Grisafi says diminished prospects for young people could be playing a role in the rise of groups like Shincheonji .
`` Social anxieties , social stresses , economic stresses are a big part of why younger South Koreans , or young people in any country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group like that , '' he said .
`` Maybe belonging to a closed special group makes them feel better , feels right to them . ''
The focus on Shincheonji has shifted the spotlight in South Korea .
China , the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , has largely faded into the background as COVID-19 has become framed as a `` Shincheonji problem . ''
While more than 2,000 cases in Korea remain unrelated to the church , little attention is being paid to those cases as infections continue to rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jae-in dismissed the idea of stricter quarantine measures against travelers from China , citing possible trade reprisals from Beijing .
Chinese regions , meanwhile , have been actively quarantining South Koreans regardless of health status , according to local reports .
Kyle Ferrier , fellow and director of academic affairs at Korea Economic Institute in Washington , told UPI South Korea is heavily dependent on the global economy .
Moon 's approach to tackling the coronavirus has also yielded no discernible change in support for his administration ahead of general elections in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even temporarily , because of the coronavirus would disproportionately impact Korea , '' Ferrier said .
Matthew Shapiro , an associate professor of political science at the Illinois Institute of Technology , has studied trans-boundary pollution affecting both countries .
Shapiro says past negotiations demonstrate the challenges of tackling environmental and public health problems affecting the region .
`` There 's been a lot of finger pointing from Korea to China , '' Shapiro said of pollution negotiations .
South Korea has said a significant portion -- about 30 percent -- of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two sides have been unable to agree even on the science of air pollution .
`` China does n't acknowledge it at all , '' Shapiro said .
Shapiro also said South Korea learned from its experience with deploying U.S. missile defense system THAAD on the peninsula .
China may have retaliated by either discouraging or preventing Chinese tourists from visiting Korea ; tourism dropped by 70 percent at one point in 2017 .
On the coronavirus , China has begun to indicate it is not interested in accepting responsibility for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese city of Wuhan and had killed more than 3,200 people worldwide by Wednesday .
Last week , Chinese scientist Zhong Nanshan , dubbed the `` SARS hero '' by Chinese state media , said the virus might have not originated in China .
His statement has since been followed by comments from the Chinese foreign ministry , which claimed there is no confirmation about the origins of the virus .
`` Confirmed cases of # COVID19 were first found in China , but its origin is not necessarily in China .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ministry said on Twitter on Wednesday .

Lee Man-hee, founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, apologized for the role his organization has played in the COVID-19 epidemic in South Korea on Monday. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
NEW YORK, March 5 (UPI) -- A mysterious religious organization in South Korea is in the hot seat following the massive outbreak of the new strain of coronavirus in the country, but placing members of the church under a harsh spotlight may be a counterproductive move, an analyst told UPI. John Grisafi, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and a Ph.D. candidate in religious studies at Yale University, said the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, may be being singled out in a way by local authorities that is counterproductive to efforts to contain COVID-19. Advertisement
That does not mean Shincheonji should not bear responsibility for widespread infections that began with South Korea's Patient No. 31, who is believed to have attended services while sick, Grisafi said.
Slightly more than half of COVID-19 cases in South Korea can be traced back to the Daegu branch of the church, according to officials.
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Actions taken by South Korean authorities, including what local media described as a "007-style" forced entry into Shincheonji headquarters, however, could be deterring church members from coming forward about possible infections.
"The group already feels marginalized," Grisafi said. "Suspicion of them and the feeling they are being persecuted could drive them further underground and have the reverse effect of what [the South Korean government] is trying to accomplish."
The church has reportedly hesitated to disclose a complete list of its members.
Shincheonji's secrecy, claims regarding the church's strict attendance requirements -- which may have contributed to the outbreak -- have roiled South Koreans who, according to a recent poll, are overwhelmingly in favor of a government-led raid of the church.
But the group, believed to retain 300,000 members worldwide -- with 200,000 in South Korea alone -- could also be attracting South Koreans in their 20s and 30s who may be struggling, according to local reports. Grisafi says diminished prospects for young people could be playing a role in the rise of groups like Shincheonji.
"Social anxieties, social stresses, economic stresses are a big part of why younger South Koreans, or young people in any country, are being motivated to join a group like that," he said.
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"Maybe belonging to a closed special group makes them feel better, feels right to them."
The focus on Shincheonji has shifted the spotlight in South Korea.
China, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has largely faded into the background as COVID-19 has become framed as a "Shincheonji problem."
While more than 2,000 cases in Korea remain unrelated to the church, little attention is being paid to those cases as infections continue to rise in the country.
Last week President Moon Jae-in dismissed the idea of stricter quarantine measures against travelers from China, citing possible trade reprisals from Beijing. Chinese regions, meanwhile, have been actively quarantining South Koreans regardless of health status, according to local reports.
Kyle Ferrier, fellow and director of academic affairs at Korea Economic Institute in Washington, told UPI South Korea is heavily dependent on the global economy. Moon's approach to tackling the coronavirus has also yielded no discernible change in support for his administration ahead of general elections in April.
"Shutting off the borders, even temporarily, because of the coronavirus would disproportionately impact Korea," Ferrier said.
Advertisement
Matthew Shapiro, an associate professor of political science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, has studied trans-boundary pollution affecting both countries. Shapiro says past negotiations demonstrate the challenges of tackling environmental and public health problems affecting the region.
"There's been a lot of finger pointing from Korea to China," Shapiro said of pollution negotiations.
South Korea has said a significant portion -- about 30 percent -- of all fine dust originates from China, but the two sides have been unable to agree even on the science of air pollution.
"China doesn't acknowledge it at all," Shapiro said.
Shapiro also said South Korea learned from its experience with deploying U.S. missile defense system THAAD on the peninsula. China may have retaliated by either discouraging or preventing Chinese tourists from visiting Korea; tourism dropped by 70 percent at one point in 2017.
On the coronavirus, China has begun to indicate it is not interested in accepting responsibility for the global outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan and had killed more than 3,200 people worldwide by Wednesday.
Last week, Chinese scientist Zhong Nanshan, dubbed the "SARS hero" by Chinese state media, said the virus might have not originated in China. His statement has since been followed by comments from the Chinese foreign ministry, which claimed there is no confirmation about the origins of the virus.
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"Confirmed cases of #COVID19 were first found in China, but its origin is not necessarily in China. We are still tracing the origin," the ministry said on Twitter on Wednesday.


upi--2020-03-05--U.S. men's soccer great Tim Howard un-retires to play for team he owns

March 5 ( UPI ) -- United States Men 's National Team great Tim Howard is coming out of retirement to play for Memphis 901 FC of the USL Championship , a second-division soccer league .
`` Since my retirement in October , my obsession for football has grown , '' Howard said in a statement .
`` The desire to win continues to drive me .
I love to play and I love to compete , this gives me the opportunity to do both . ''
Howard 's spot on the team is pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner of the Tennessee-based franchise .
He will maintain that role , as well as serving as sporting director , while playing for the club .
`` When he 's in the locker room as a player , he will act as a player , '' Memphis 901 FC coach Tim Mulqueen said .
`` His focus is only going to be on winning .
There will be very clear lines that the players will recognize . ''
Howard , 40 , debuted in Major League Soccer in 1998 for the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 399 appearances for Manchester United and Everton .
He returned to MLS in 2016 to play for the Colorado Rapids and made 121 appearances for the U.S. men 's team , including three World Cups , before retiring in 2019 .
The star goalkeeper will make his first appearance for Memphis 901 FC at 5 p.m. EST Saturday at AutoZone Park in Memphis .
`` I 've made a commitment to the city and people of Memphis to build a perennial playoff team , '' Howard said .
`` One whose goal continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ultimately bringing the USL Cup to AutoZone Park . ''

Former United States Men's National Team goalie Tim Howard played in 121 games internationally, including three World Cups. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
March 5 (UPI) -- United States Men's National Team great Tim Howard is coming out of retirement to play for Memphis 901 FC of the USL Championship, a second-division soccer league. "Since my retirement in October, my obsession for football has grown," Howard said in a statement. "The desire to win continues to drive me. I love to play and I love to compete, this gives me the opportunity to do both." Advertisement
Memphis 901 FC announced the signing Wednesday.
Howard's spot on the team is pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation approval, as he is a minority owner of the Tennessee-based franchise. He will maintain that role, as well as serving as sporting director, while playing for the club.
"When he's in the locker room as a player, he will act as a player," Memphis 901 FC coach Tim Mulqueen said. "His focus is only going to be on winning. There will be very clear lines that the players will recognize."
Howard, 40, debuted in Major League Soccer in 1998 for the New York MetroStars. He went on to collect 399 appearances for Manchester United and Everton. He returned to MLS in 2016 to play for the Colorado Rapids and made 121 appearances for the U.S. men's team, including three World Cups, before retiring in 2019.
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The star goalkeeper will make his first appearance for Memphis 901 FC at 5 p.m. EST Saturday at AutoZone Park in Memphis.
"I've made a commitment to the city and people of Memphis to build a perennial playoff team," Howard said. "One whose goal continues to be lifting the Eastern Conference trophy and ultimately bringing the USL Cup to AutoZone Park."


upi--2020-03-05--ICC authorizes investigations of war crimes in Afghanistan

March 5 ( UPI ) -- Judges of the International Criminal Court ruled Thursday that investigations can go forward into whether forces of the United States , Afghanistan and the Taliban committed war crimes .
The judges voted unanimously to authorize the inquiries , which cover purported war crimes committed since 2003 , as well as other crimes that `` have a nexus to the armed conflict in Afghanistan '' and were `` committed on the territory of other States Parties '' since 2002 .
The ICC 's pre-trial body had initially rejected the request because of a lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taliban and the United States .
`` The Appeals chamber considers it appropriate to ... authorize the investigation , '' Judge Piotr Hofmanski wrote in the 35-page ruling .
The Trump administration had rebuffed ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda 's request to investigate the actions of U.S. troops in Afghanistan a year ago , and the State Department revoked Bensouda 's visa and said it would deny access to other ICC staffers investigation the U.S. military .
`` Having considered the prosecutor 's grounds of appeal against the pre-trial chamber 's decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , representatives of victims and other participants , the appeals chamber found that the pre-trial chamber erred in considering the 'interests of justice factor ' when examining the prosecutor 's request for authorization to open an investigation , '' the ICC said in a statement .
The ICC investigates and rules on cases involving war crimes , genocide and crimes against humanity suspected by nationals of a signatory state or supposedly happened on the territory of one of its member states .

U.S. Army soldiers lead a military training exercise for Afghan National Police officers in Herat, Afghanistan. The ICC ruling Thursday authorizes investigations into potential war crimes committed by U.S. personnel. File Photo by Hossein Fatemi/UPI | License Photo
March 5 (UPI) -- Judges of the International Criminal Court ruled Thursday that investigations can go forward into whether forces of the United States, Afghanistan and the Taliban committed war crimes. The judges voted unanimously to authorize the inquiries, which cover purported war crimes committed since 2003, as well as other crimes that "have a nexus to the armed conflict in Afghanistan" and were "committed on the territory of other States Parties" since 2002. Advertisement
The ICC's pre-trial body had initially rejected the request because of a lack of cooperation from the Afghanistan government, the Taliban and the United States.
"The Appeals chamber considers it appropriate to ... authorize the investigation," Judge Piotr Hofmanski wrote in the 35-page ruling.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the ICC's decision "a truly breathtaking action by an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body."
He made the comment during a press conference, calling the move "reckless" as it was announced days after the United States signed a peace deal to end the nearly two-decade war in Afghanistan.
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"This is yet another reminder of what happens when multilateral bodies lack oversight and responsible leadership and become, instead, a vehicle for political vendettas," Pompeo said. "The ICC today stumbled into a sorry affirmation of every denunciation made by its harshest critics over the last three decades."
The Trump administration had rebuffed ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's request to investigate the actions of U.S. troops in Afghanistan a year ago, and the State Department revoked Bensouda's visa and said it would deny access to other ICC staffers investigation the U.S. military.
"Having considered the prosecutor's grounds of appeal against the pre-trial chamber's decision, as well as the observations and submissions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, representatives of victims and other participants, the appeals chamber found that the pre-trial chamber erred in considering the 'interests of justice factor' when examining the prosecutor's request for authorization to open an investigation," the ICC said in a statement.
The ICC investigates and rules on cases involving war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity suspected by nationals of a signatory state or supposedly happened on the territory of one of its member states.


upi--2020-03-05--AEW Dynamite: Chris Jericho, Inner Circle get revenge on Jon Moxley

March 5 ( UPI ) -- Jon Moxley 's first Dynamite as AEW World Champion was ruined by Chris Jericho and The Inner Circle when they exacted their revenge .
Moxley , who had defeated Jericho for the title at the Revolution pay-per-view event on Saturday , kicked off Dynamite on Wednesday and was given a hero 's welcome from the live audience .
The new champ praised AEW for bringing back real professional wrestling and dared The Inner Circle to attack him .
Jericho and his crew arrived onto the scene and said Moxley won the match unfairly because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading up to and during the championship bout .
Jericho put the entire AEW roster on notice and said that if Moxley can walk out of the arena on his own following the main event , he will take a leave of absence for 60 days .
The main event of the night featured Jericho and Sammy Guevara of The Inner Circle against Moxley and Darby Allin .
Jake Hager , Santana and Ortiz of The Inner Circle violently attacked Moxley before he could make it to the ring , ambushing him inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone to face Jericho and Guevara in a Handicap match .
Allin fought hard , however , turning the bout into a highly-competitive match .
Allin was able to take out the entire Inner Circle when he performed a Coffin Drop from the top rope onto the group .
Allin continued his assault by nailing Guevara with a Stunner followed by a second Coffin Drop but it was n't enough .
Jericho ended things by striking Allin with the Judas Effect in mid-air as Allin leaped towards him .
Guevara then pinned Allin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moxley would return as The Inner Circle celebrated but he was quickly outnumbered .
The Inner Circle brought Moxley up to the entrance ramp and Powerbombed him off the ramp and right through a table as Dynamite went off the air .
Also on Dynamite , professional wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Jake 'The Snake ' Roberts made a surprise appearance to confront Cody as he was discussing his lost to MJF at Revolution .
Roberts warned Cody about a mysterious client of his who will arrive to AEW and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then stated that has returned to take away Cody 's share of the company .
Hager was in one-on-one action against QT Marshall who was accompanied to the ring by Brandi Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes .
Hager arrived with his Inner Circle partners Santana and Ortiz .
Hager won the match after placing Marshall into the Standing Arm Triangle submission hold , which put Marshall to sleep .
Hager would not let get of the hold after the match which prompted Dustin Rhodes to jump into the ring , causing a huge brawl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife Brandi Rhodes and brother Dustin Rhodes but he was taken out by The Inner Circle .
Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks also came to help but it still was n't enough until AEW World Tag Team Champion Hangman Adam Page made an appearance .
Page , who was drinking beer as he walked to the ring , took out Hager with a well-timed Buckshot Lariat which sent The Inner Circle packing .
Page then gave a middle finger to Jackson following their match at Revolution and grabbed some beers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Dynamite included SCU and Colt Cabana in his AEW debut defeating The Dark Order who once again warned that The Exalted One would soon arrive ; Big Swole defeating The Librarian Leva Bates ; and Pac defeating Chuck Taylor of The Best Friends .

"We brought pro wrestling back!" - @JonMoxley *mic drop* ...anyone else have shivers right now? #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/MdS8PYsjk2— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) March 5, 2020
March 5 (UPI) -- Jon Moxley's first Dynamite as AEW World Champion was ruined by Chris Jericho and The Inner Circle when they exacted their revenge.
Moxley, who had defeated Jericho for the title at the Revolution pay-per-view event on Saturday, kicked off Dynamite on Wednesday and was given a hero's welcome from the live audience.
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The new champ praised AEW for bringing back real professional wrestling and dared The Inner Circle to attack him.
Jericho and his crew arrived onto the scene and said Moxley won the match unfairly because he lied about needing an eye patch leading up to and during the championship bout.
Jericho put the entire AEW roster on notice and said that if Moxley can walk out of the arena on his own following the main event, he will take a leave of absence for 60 days.
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The main event of the night featured Jericho and Sammy Guevara of The Inner Circle against Moxley and Darby Allin.
Jake Hager, Santana and Ortiz of The Inner Circle violently attacked Moxley before he could make it to the ring, ambushing him inside the arena concourse. This left Allin alone to face Jericho and Guevara in a Handicap match.
Allin fought hard, however, turning the bout into a highly-competitive match. Allin was able to take out the entire Inner Circle when he performed a Coffin Drop from the top rope onto the group. Allin continued his assault by nailing Guevara with a Stunner followed by a second Coffin Drop but it wasn't enough.
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Jericho ended things by striking Allin with the Judas Effect in mid-air as Allin leaped towards him. Guevara then pinned Allin inside the ring to win the match. Moxley would return as The Inner Circle celebrated but he was quickly outnumbered.
The Inner Circle brought Moxley up to the entrance ramp and Powerbombed him off the ramp and right through a table as Dynamite went off the air.
Also on Dynamite, professional wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Jake 'The Snake' Roberts made a surprise appearance to confront Cody as he was discussing his lost to MJF at Revolution.
Roberts warned Cody about a mysterious client of his who will arrive to AEW and slay The American Nightmare. The Snake then stated that has returned to take away Cody's share of the company.
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Hager was in one-on-one action against QT Marshall who was accompanied to the ring by Brandi Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes. Hager arrived with his Inner Circle partners Santana and Ortiz.
Hager won the match after placing Marshall into the Standing Arm Triangle submission hold, which put Marshall to sleep. Hager would not let get of the hold after the match which prompted Dustin Rhodes to jump into the ring, causing a huge brawl.
Cody would return to help out his wife Brandi Rhodes and brother Dustin Rhodes but he was taken out by The Inner Circle. Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks also came to help but it still wasn't enough until AEW World Tag Team Champion Hangman Adam Page made an appearance.
Page, who was drinking beer as he walked to the ring, took out Hager with a well-timed Buckshot Lariat which sent The Inner Circle packing. Page then gave a middle finger to Jackson following their match at Revolution and grabbed some beers from fans in the audience.
Other moments from Dynamite included SCU and Colt Cabana in his AEW debut defeating The Dark Order who once again warned that The Exalted One would soon arrive; Big Swole defeating The Librarian Leva Bates; and Pac defeating Chuck Taylor of The Best Friends.


upi--2020-03-05--Pamela Adlon found more true stories for 'Better Things' Season 4

LOS ANGELES , March 5 ( UPI ) -- While writing the fourth season of her FX comedy , Better Things , Pamela Adlon found room to include incidents she witnessed in real life .
In Episode 3 of the new season , Sam Fox ( Adlon ) and her oldest daughter , Max ( Mikey Madison ) , help a distraught mother locate her missing son in a department store .
`` I was at a store with my youngest daughter and a mom was screaming , looking for her son , frantically , '' Adlon said on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left their place in line , except for me and my daughter .
That just stayed with me , and so I wanted to talk about that . ''
However , Adlon is quick to explain that Better Things is not a documentary .
Although she plays a divorced single mother who is an actor , and she is a single mother in real life , Sam is not directly based on her life .
`` I am not doing a reality show , '' Adlon said .
`` It 's very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find that little details that stick with me work in the show and have a lot more traction than something that you 're creating from out of the ether . ''
Adlon said she began the fourth season by outlining themes she wanted to address .
Then she opened it up to her four-writer staff .
`` I knew I wanted to call the first episode 'Rain , ' '' Adlon said .
`` I wanted rain to be a theme through the season .
Couples , togetherness , being alone , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build on . ''
The writing sessions Adlon describes sound more like brainstorming than formal pitches .
Those are where she and others can share real-life stories that could be useful to scripts .
`` The process of writing is more about just talking and socializing , '' Adlon said .
`` It 's little tiny details that I would walk in with and say , 'This thing happened . '
'' Another example of a story from Adlon 's real life was in the Season 3 premiere .
Sam returned home from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child , Frankie ( Hannah Alligood ) , had to read A Raisin in the Sun for school the next morning .
`` I was really tired , and my daughter did n't read an entire play that was due the next day , '' Adlon said .
`` So I put that into the show , and then I can illustrate a way to do things . ''
Sam read the play with Frankie .
Adlon says other parents have taken a cue from her show .
`` I remember showing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole crew , '' Adlon said .
`` Celia Imrie was there , and she came up to me after , and she said , 'Oh , God .
I wish I had done that with Angs , ' her son Angus . ''
In addition to writing , producing and starring , Adlon directs every episode of Season 4 .
She says she still is learning technical aspects of directing , with which her cinematographer helps her .
However , Adlon said she thrives working with actors .
`` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have been through film school and always knew they wanted to be a director do , '' Adlon said .
`` What I do have is something else that is as powerful , if not more so -- the power of being an actor 's director .
The difference between a good actor and a bad actor is the director . ''
Better Things returns Thursday at 10 p.m on FX , and becomes available on Hulu on Friday .

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Pamela Adlon says some "Better Things" stories are inspired by real life, but not all. Photo courtesy of FX | License Photo
LOS ANGELES, March 5 (UPI) -- While writing the fourth season of her FX comedy, Better Things, Pamela Adlon found room to include incidents she witnessed in real life. In Episode 3 of the new season, Sam Fox (Adlon) and her oldest daughter, Max (Mikey Madison), help a distraught mother locate her missing son in a department store. "I was at a store with my youngest daughter and a mom was screaming, looking for her son, frantically," Adlon said on a Television Critics Association panel. "Nobody left their place in line, except for me and my daughter. That just stayed with me, and so I wanted to talk about that." Advertisement
However, Adlon is quick to explain that Better Things is not a documentary. Although she plays a divorced single mother who is an actor, and she is a single mother in real life, Sam is not directly based on her life.
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"I am not doing a reality show," Adlon said. "It's very much constructed just for this show. I find that little details that stick with me work in the show and have a lot more traction than something that you're creating from out of the ether."
Adlon said she began the fourth season by outlining themes she wanted to address. Then she opened it up to her four-writer staff.
"I knew I wanted to call the first episode 'Rain,'" Adlon said. "I wanted rain to be a theme through the season. Couples, togetherness, being alone, these were all things that I wanted to build on."
The writing sessions Adlon describes sound more like brainstorming than formal pitches. Those are where she and others can share real-life stories that could be useful to scripts.
"The process of writing is more about just talking and socializing," Adlon said. "It's little tiny details that I would walk in with and say, 'This thing happened.'"
Another example of a story from Adlon's real life was in the Season 3 premiere. Sam returned home from a trip to find out her middle child, Frankie (Hannah Alligood), had to read A Raisin in the Sun for school the next morning.
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"I was really tired, and my daughter didn't read an entire play that was due the next day," Adlon said. "So I put that into the show, and then I can illustrate a way to do things."
Sam read the play with Frankie. Adlon says other parents have taken a cue from her show.
"I remember showing that first episode of last season to the whole crew," Adlon said. "Celia Imrie was there, and she came up to me after, and she said, 'Oh, God. I wish I had done that with Angs,' her son Angus."
In addition to writing, producing and starring, Adlon directs every episode of Season 4. She says she still is learning technical aspects of directing, with which her cinematographer helps her. However, Adlon said she thrives working with actors.
"I don't have the technical prowess that other people who have been through film school and always knew they wanted to be a director do," Adlon said. "What I do have is something else that is as powerful, if not more so -- the power of being an actor's director. The difference between a good actor and a bad actor is the director."
Better Things returns Thursday at 10 p.m on FX, and becomes available on Hulu on Friday.
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