upi--2020-04-22--Too many processed meats, starches may increase dementia risk

If your diet consists mostly of processed meats , starches and sugary snacks , you may run the risk of developing dementia , a new study suggests .
`` How foods are consumed , not only the quantity consumed , may be important for dementia prevention , '' said lead researcher Cecilia Samieri , a senior researcher in epidemiology at the University of Bordeaux in France .
In other words , it 's the total combination of foods , or `` network , '' that may be damaging , she and her team discovered .
Dementia was more common among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ham and sausages , starches like potatoes , and snacks such as cookies and cakes .
People without dementia were more likely to eat a diverse diet that included fruits , vegetables , seafood and poultry , according to the findings .
This study , however , ca n't prove that these foods cause dementia or that healthier foods prevent it , said Keith Fargo , director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer 's Association .
Still , Fargo noted that dementia , including Alzheimer 's disease , can start developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term diet factors may play a role .
`` Worse eating habits toward charcuterie and snacking were evident years before dementia diagnosis in our cohort .
In contrast , diverse and healthy diets appear to decrease the risk to develop dementia , '' Samieri said .
Charcuterie includes bacon , ham , sausages and salami .
For the study , Samieri and her colleagues looked at 209 people with dementia and 418 without it in France .
Participants were an average of 78 years old and followed for 12 years .
They had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Years before the diagnosis , those who developed dementia during the study had a diet very different from those who did not develop dementia , Samieri said .
In people with dementia , highly processed meats , such as sausages , cured meats and paté , formed the `` hub '' of their diet .
These meats were mostly eaten in combination with potatoes , alcohol and sweet snacks , Samieri said .
Moreover , it was n't the amount of these foods that seemed to increase the risk for dementia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said .
Other studies have found that a diet rich in green leafy vegetables , berries , nuts , whole grains and fish may lower the risk of dementia , Samieri said .
It 's not possible to tell from this study what it is about certain foods that might raise the risk for dementia , she said .
It may be that they 're close to the so-called Western diet that has been linked with heart disease , obesity and diabetes , but that 's only a guess , Samieri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frequency of eating unhealthy foods , rather than the quantity , is important in the risk for dementia , she said .
`` These findings suggest that promoting a diverse and healthy diet rather than diets centered on processed meats and unhealthy foods could lower the risk to develop dementia , although this deserves confirmation in a randomized controlled trial , '' Samieri said .
Fargo said that no one nutrient or kind of food needs to be eliminated from the diet to protect people from dementia .
`` It 's really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're eating , it 's not about one particular food , '' he said .
Fargo said having a cheeseburger once in a while probably wo n't hurt you , but they should n't be the mainstay of your diet .
Skip the fries and cola as the combination may be even unhealthier , he noted .
`` Be thoughtful about your dietary intake , '' Fargo said .
`` It 's not about making sure you 're getting one particular nutrient or cutting out one particular kind of food .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating in general , and making sure you 're getting a broad variety and nutritious foods . ''
The study was funded by the Alzheimer 's Association and published online April 22 in the journal Neurology .
For more on dementia , see the Alzheimer 's Association .

Highly processed meats, such as sausages, cured meats and paté, if they are the "hub" of a diet, can increase risk for dementia, a study says. Photo by Dreblow /Pixabay
If your diet consists mostly of processed meats, starches and sugary snacks, you may run the risk of developing dementia, a new study suggests. "How foods are consumed, not only the quantity consumed, may be important for dementia prevention," said lead researcher Cecilia Samieri, a senior researcher in epidemiology at the University of Bordeaux in France. Advertisement
In other words, it's the total combination of foods, or "network," that may be damaging, she and her team discovered.
Dementia was more common among folks who ate mostly processed meats like ham and sausages, starches like potatoes, and snacks such as cookies and cakes. People without dementia were more likely to eat a diverse diet that included fruits, vegetables, seafood and poultry, according to the findings.
This study, however, can't prove that these foods cause dementia or that healthier foods prevent it, said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer's Association.
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Still, Fargo noted that dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, can start developing decades before any symptoms appear, and long-term diet factors may play a role.
"Worse eating habits toward charcuterie and snacking were evident years before dementia diagnosis in our cohort. In contrast, diverse and healthy diets appear to decrease the risk to develop dementia," Samieri said. Charcuterie includes bacon, ham, sausages and salami.
For the study, Samieri and her colleagues looked at 209 people with dementia and 418 without it in France. Participants were an average of 78 years old and followed for 12 years. They had completed a food questionnaire five years earlier.
Years before the diagnosis, those who developed dementia during the study had a diet very different from those who did not develop dementia, Samieri said.
In people with dementia, highly processed meats, such as sausages, cured meats and paté, formed the "hub" of their diet. These meats were mostly eaten in combination with potatoes, alcohol and sweet snacks, Samieri said.
Moreover, it wasn't the amount of these foods that seemed to increase the risk for dementia, but rather not eating other healthier foods, she said.
Other studies have found that a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains and fish may lower the risk of dementia, Samieri said.
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It's not possible to tell from this study what it is about certain foods that might raise the risk for dementia, she said.
It may be that they're close to the so-called Western diet that has been linked with heart disease, obesity and diabetes, but that's only a guess, Samieri noted.
It's also possible that the frequency of eating unhealthy foods, rather than the quantity, is important in the risk for dementia, she said.
"These findings suggest that promoting a diverse and healthy diet rather than diets centered on processed meats and unhealthy foods could lower the risk to develop dementia, although this deserves confirmation in a randomized controlled trial," Samieri said.
Fargo said that no one nutrient or kind of food needs to be eliminated from the diet to protect people from dementia.
"It's really more about the universe of foods that you're eating, it's not about one particular food," he said.
Fargo said having a cheeseburger once in a while probably won't hurt you, but they shouldn't be the mainstay of your diet. Skip the fries and cola as the combination may be even unhealthier, he noted.
"Be thoughtful about your dietary intake," Fargo said. "It's not about making sure you're getting one particular nutrient or cutting out one particular kind of food. It's more about a healthy approach to eating in general, and making sure you're getting a broad variety and nutritious foods."
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The study was funded by the Alzheimer's Association and published online April 22 in the journal Neurology.
More information
For more on dementia, see the Alzheimer's Association.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-22--Lockheed expects slowed production due to COVID-19, F-35 to be hit hardest

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Lockheed Martin expects lower sales and slower deliveries for some of its programs in in the coming months -- particularly the F-35 .
In an earnings call , Marillyn Hewson , Lockheed 's chairman , president and CEO , said the company has reduced its 2020 sales expectations due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Ken Possenriede , Lockheed 's chief financial officer , said the F-35 program has been the hardest hit by the pandemic due to problems with the supply chain , with workforce disruption and shipping constraints among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's largest defense contractor , supplying aircraft including the F-35 , the C-130J , the C-5 and missiles and fire control programs for the Pentagon and allied militaries around the world .
The company said in a press release ahead of the call that it `` is beginning to experience some issues in each of its business areas related to COVID-19 , primarily in access to some locations and delays of supplier deliveries . ''
Officials added that the company expects that expectations for sales , earnings and cash flows could be impaired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net sales and $ 672 million in operating profit in the first quarter of 2020 , versus $ 56 billion in net sales and $ 585 million operating profit in the first quarter of 2019 .
According to Lockheed , that increase was primarily due to higher net sales of F-35s , which the contractor manufactures for the Air Force , Marine Corps and Navy , as well as several foreign militaries .
On Tuesday , Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks , Alaska , received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021 .
Net sales for the F-35 program were up $ 695 million , and operating profit for the program increased by $ 80 million -- about the amount of money it costs to produce one F-35 .
On Monday , Department of Defense officials said they anticipate a three-month delay across the Major Defense Acquisition program due to the pandemic , with undersecretary of defense acquisitions Ellen Lord saying aviation was `` the most highly impacted '' sector in defense contracting so far .

The first F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing lands at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska on Tuesday. Photo by Zade Vadnais/U.S. Air Force
April 22 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin expects lower sales and slower deliveries for some of its programs in in the coming months -- particularly the F-35. In an earnings call, Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed's chairman, president and CEO, said the company has reduced its 2020 sales expectations due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
Ken Possenriede, Lockheed's chief financial officer, said the F-35 program has been the hardest hit by the pandemic due to problems with the supply chain, with workforce disruption and shipping constraints among the issues.
Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor, supplying aircraft including the F-35, the C-130J, the C-5 and missiles and fire control programs for the Pentagon and allied militaries around the world.
The company said in a press release ahead of the call that it "is beginning to experience some issues in each of its business areas related to COVID-19, primarily in access to some locations and delays of supplier deliveries."
Officials added that the company expects that expectations for sales, earnings and cash flows could be impaired.
Lockheed reported $64 billion in net sales and $672 million in operating profit in the first quarter of 2020, versus $56 billion in net sales and $585 million operating profit in the first quarter of 2019.
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According to Lockheed, that increase was primarily due to higher net sales of F-35s, which the contractor manufactures for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as several foreign militaries.
On Tuesday, Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft from Lockheed, with 52 more scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021.
Net sales for the F-35 program were up $695 million, and operating profit for the program increased by $80 million -- about the amount of money it costs to produce one F-35.
On Monday, Department of Defense officials said they anticipate a three-month delay across the Major Defense Acquisition program due to the pandemic, with undersecretary of defense acquisitions Ellen Lord saying aviation was "the most highly impacted" sector in defense contracting so far.


upi--2020-04-22--Majority of Americans support independent Palestinian state, poll says

April 22 ( UPI ) -- For the first time in eight years , a majority of Americans support an independent Palestinian state , a Gallup poll released Wednesday indicates .
The survey found that 55 percent of Americans support an independent state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip , while 34 percent do n't .
Ten percent have no opinion on the matter , the lowest figure in that category since Gallup began asking the question in 1999 .
Support for an independent Palestine has grown over the past several years after reaching 51 percent in 2012 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the middle of the decade .
Fifty percent of Americans supported the cause in 2019 , while 39 percent did not .
Americans showed their highest support in the 2003 poll at 58 percent and lowest support in 2000 at 40 percent .
The greatest increase in support compared to 2019 came from those 55 and older ( 14 percent ) , Republicans ( 11 percent ) , those with some college ( 11 percent ) and those who consider themselves to be moderate ( 10 percent ) .
Democrats are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 percent ) than Republicans ( 44 percent ) and Independents ( 57 percent ) .
Still , all Americans are more likely to sympathize with Israelis than with Palestinians in the Middle East conflict .
Sixty percent of Americans back Israelis , 23 percent Palestinians , and 17 percent support both , neither or are unsure .
Support for Israelis and Palestinians both saw an increase in 2020 compared to 2019 .
Seventy-four percent of Americans view Israel favorably and 23 percent view the Palestinian Authority favorably , both up from 69 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 .
Gallup surveyed 1,028 American adults from Feb. 3-16 for the poll , which has a margin of error of 4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level .

Palestinian Imam Ali Hamdan prays alone at the Al-Abrar Mosque in Rafah southern Gaza, on Frlday. A poll found that 55 percent of Americans support an independent Palestinian state. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo
April 22 (UPI) -- For the first time in eight years, a majority of Americans support an independent Palestinian state, a Gallup poll released Wednesday indicates. The survey found that 55 percent of Americans support an independent state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while 34 percent don't. Ten percent have no opinion on the matter, the lowest figure in that category since Gallup began asking the question in 1999. Advertisement
Support for an independent Palestine has grown over the past several years after reaching 51 percent in 2012 and dropping down to less than 45 percent in the middle of the decade. Fifty percent of Americans supported the cause in 2019, while 39 percent did not.
Americans showed their highest support in the 2003 poll at 58 percent and lowest support in 2000 at 40 percent.
The greatest increase in support compared to 2019 came from those 55 and older (14 percent), Republicans (11 percent), those with some college (11 percent) and those who consider themselves to be moderate (10 percent).
Democrats are more likely to support an independent state (70 percent) than Republicans (44 percent) and Independents (57 percent).
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Still, all Americans are more likely to sympathize with Israelis than with Palestinians in the Middle East conflict. Sixty percent of Americans back Israelis, 23 percent Palestinians, and 17 percent support both, neither or are unsure. Support for Israelis and Palestinians both saw an increase in 2020 compared to 2019.
Seventy-four percent of Americans view Israel favorably and 23 percent view the Palestinian Authority favorably, both up from 69 percent and 21 percent, respectively, in 2019.
Gallup surveyed 1,028 American adults from Feb. 3-16 for the poll, which has a margin of error of 4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.
Palestinians celebrate Ramadan 2020
Devotees pray in the Al-Abrar mosque. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-04-22--Three Ivy League universities turn down CARES Act funding

Harvard, Princeton and Stanford announced Wednesday they would not accept funding allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
April 22 (UPI) -- Harvard, Princeton and Stanford announced on Wednesday they would not accept funding allocated to them in a coronavirus aid package. The universities each issued statements saying they would not accept the funds made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act signed last month. The announcements came after President Donald Trump criticized Harvard for taking the money Tuesday. Advertisement
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he would further explain the certification of the funding and give companies and other institutions an opportunity to return their own loans.
Stanford announced that it contacted the Department of Education on Monday morning to request that the university's application for relief funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Section of the CARES Act be rescinded.
"The combination of lost revenue, increased costs and the market downturn that could have a substantial impact on our endowment are all expected to negatively affect the university's finances for some time to come," Stanford said in a series of tweets. "However, we realize that this crisis represents an existential threat for many of the smaller colleges and universities that are such a critical part of the fabric of higher learning in the United States."
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U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic
Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Harvard and Princeton both stated they had not requested nor received any of the funds.
"Congress allocated CARES Act funding to colleges and universities to ensure that they could support Pell grant recipients and other students impacted by COVID-19," Princeton wrote on Twitter. "Funds were allocated based on a formula determined by the federal government."
In a statement, Harvard said it would inform the Department of Education of its plans to return the funds and request the federal government to act swiftly to reallocate the resources.
"While we understand that any reallocation of these resources is a matter for the Department of Education, we hope that special consideration will be given to Massachusetts institutions that are struggling to serve their communities and meet the needs of their students through these difficult and challenging times," the university said.
All three universities pledged that they would continue to provide various forms of financial aid and grants to students.


upi--2020-04-22--Facebook to add nation of origin to some election content

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Facebook announced Wednesday it will start including the country of origin on certain posts , in part to provide more information on election-related content .
The new effort is an expansion of a policy put in place in 2018 in which Facebook notified users about the primary country location of people who manage a Page .
Now , all posts made by `` high-reach '' Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts will list their location of origin .
Facebook is doing this `` so people have more information to help them gauge the reliability and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their feeds , '' said a blog post by Facebook product manager Anita Joseph and Instagram product manager Georgina Sheedy-Collier .
`` We want to make sure people use our services authentically and can understand who is behind the posts they 're seeing .
This is particularly important when it comes to elections , '' the blog post said .
Facebook said it 's piloting the expanded feature in the United States , focusing primarily on Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts based outside the United States but have largely American audiences .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to protect elections and increase transparency on Facebook and Instagram so people can make more informed decisions about the posts they read , trust and share , '' the blog post said .
Facebook has made a number of changes since the 2016 election after special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation determined Russia used social media sites to attempt to interfere in the election by spreading misinformation .

April 22 (UPI) -- Facebook announced Wednesday it will start including the country of origin on certain posts, in part to provide more information on election-related content.
The new effort is an expansion of a policy put in place in 2018 in which Facebook notified users about the primary country location of people who manage a Page.
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Now, all posts made by "high-reach" Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts will list their location of origin.
Facebook is doing this "so people have more information to help them gauge the reliability and authenticity of the content they see in their feeds," said a blog post by Facebook product manager Anita Joseph and Instagram product manager Georgina Sheedy-Collier.
"We want to make sure people use our services authentically and can understand who is behind the posts they're seeing. This is particularly important when it comes to elections," the blog post said.
Facebook said it's piloting the expanded feature in the United States, focusing primarily on Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts based outside the United States but have largely American audiences.
"These changes are part of our broader efforts to protect elections and increase transparency on Facebook and Instagram so people can make more informed decisions about the posts they read, trust and share," the blog post said.
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Facebook has made a number of changes since the 2016 election after special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation determined Russia used social media sites to attempt to interfere in the election by spreading misinformation.


upi--2020-04-22--As CO2 levels continue to rise, it will get harder to think clearly and make decisions

April 22 ( UPI ) -- As carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to increase , scientists expect humans to struggle with strategic thinking and complex decision making .
New models suggest CO2 levels in indoor environs , whether at work or at home , will reach 1,400 parts per million -- three times the current amounts of carbon dioxide found indoors .
As a result , the human brain will struggle to get the amount of oxygen necessary for high-level thinking .
Researchers shared their analysis in a paper published this week in the journal GeoHealth .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get in enclosed spaces , '' Kris Karnauskas , an associate professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Colorado , Boulder , said in a news release .
`` It affects everybody -- from little kids packed into classrooms to scientists , business people and decision-makers to regular folks in their houses and apartments . ''
At baseline , indoor enclosures feature the same amount of CO2 as outdoor environs , but when indoor spaces are poorly ventilated and host large numbers of people , human exhalation causes CO2 levels to rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor spaces will be more likely to feature especially high concentrations of carbon dioxide .
The phenomenon helps explain why students often become drowsy and easily distracted toward the end of lengthy lessons inside poorly ventilated lecture halls .
When scientists modeled the current trajectory of CO2 emissions , and the effects on indoor environs , they found that if atmospheric CO2 levels reach 930 parts per million , CO2 levels inside some building could reach 1,400 parts per million .
`` At this level , some studies have demonstrated compelling evidence for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-author Anna Schapiro , assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania .
`` Though the literature contains some conflicting findings and much more research is needed , it appears that high level cognitive domains like decision-making and planning are especially susceptible to increasing CO2 concentrations . ''
Scientists looked at previous research on the cognitive effects of oxygen deprivation to better estimate how rising CO2 levels will affect human decision making .
When blood is forced to carry more CO2 , less oxygen gets delivered to vital organs like the brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance can suffer .
The latest research suggests indoor CO2 levels of 1,400 parts per million would likely reduce decision-making performance by 25 percent and complex strategic thinking by as much as 50 percent .
Rising CO2 levels are certain to trigger a variety of dangerous climate effects , including more frequent heat waves , prolonged droughts , bigger storms and rising seas .
The likely reduction in critical thinking revealed by the latest research is just one more reason for leaders and policymakers to spearhead aggressive CO2 emissions reduction efforts .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our study is at the beginning .
It 's not just a matter of predicting global ( outdoor ) CO2 levels , '' said Karnauskas .
`` It 's going from the global background emissions , to concentrations in the urban environment , to the indoor concentrations , and finally the resulting human impact .
We need even broader , interdisciplinary teams of researchers to explore this : investigating each step in our own silos will not be enough . ''

Concentrating during long lectures could get harder as CO2 levels rise. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
April 22 (UPI) -- As carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to increase, scientists expect humans to struggle with strategic thinking and complex decision making. New models suggest CO2 levels in indoor environs, whether at work or at home, will reach 1,400 parts per million -- three times the current amounts of carbon dioxide found indoors. As a result, the human brain will struggle to get the amount of oxygen necessary for high-level thinking. Advertisement
Researchers shared their analysis in a paper published this week in the journal GeoHealth.
"It's amazing how high CO2 levels get in enclosed spaces," Kris Karnauskas, an associate professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said in a news release. "It affects everybody -- from little kids packed into classrooms to scientists, business people and decision-makers to regular folks in their houses and apartments."
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At baseline, indoor enclosures feature the same amount of CO2 as outdoor environs, but when indoor spaces are poorly ventilated and host large numbers of people, human exhalation causes CO2 levels to rise. As CO2 levels outside rise, indoor spaces will be more likely to feature especially high concentrations of carbon dioxide.
The phenomenon helps explain why students often become drowsy and easily distracted toward the end of lengthy lessons inside poorly ventilated lecture halls.
When scientists modeled the current trajectory of CO2 emissions, and the effects on indoor environs, they found that if atmospheric CO2 levels reach 930 parts per million, CO2 levels inside some building could reach 1,400 parts per million.
"At this level, some studies have demonstrated compelling evidence for significant cognitive impairment," said study co-author Anna Schapiro, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. "Though the literature contains some conflicting findings and much more research is needed, it appears that high level cognitive domains like decision-making and planning are especially susceptible to increasing CO2 concentrations."
Scientists looked at previous research on the cognitive effects of oxygen deprivation to better estimate how rising CO2 levels will affect human decision making. When blood is forced to carry more CO2, less oxygen gets delivered to vital organs like the brain. Without sufficient oxygen saturation, brain performance can suffer.
Advertisement
The latest research suggests indoor CO2 levels of 1,400 parts per million would likely reduce decision-making performance by 25 percent and complex strategic thinking by as much as 50 percent.
Rising CO2 levels are certain to trigger a variety of dangerous climate effects, including more frequent heat waves, prolonged droughts, bigger storms and rising seas. The likely reduction in critical thinking revealed by the latest research is just one more reason for leaders and policymakers to spearhead aggressive CO2 emissions reduction efforts.
"This is a complex problem, and our study is at the beginning. It's not just a matter of predicting global (outdoor) CO2 levels," said Karnauskas. "It's going from the global background emissions, to concentrations in the urban environment, to the indoor concentrations, and finally the resulting human impact. We need even broader, interdisciplinary teams of researchers to explore this: investigating each step in our own silos will not be enough."


upi--2020-04-22--Oregon researchers go door-to-door to track COVID-19 spread

A college town in Oregon is embarking on a groundbreaking effort to measure the hidden spread of COVID-19 within the community , thanks to the local university .
Oregon State University researchers will fan out across Corvallis during the next four weekends , going to randomly selected houses and asking folks inside to provide nasal samples for testing .
The TRACE COVID-19 project is one of the first efforts in the nation to attempt to assess an entire community 's COVID-19 activity , officials said .
The team hopes to have just under 4,000 samples by the end , enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how widespread the COVID-19 virus has become in the town of 58,641 , said OSU spokesman Steve Clark .
`` We 'll have an indication of the presence of the virus among those who are symptomatic and asymptomatic , '' Clark said .
`` This will give a community-wide profile of Corvallis ' COVID health . ''
The effort is aimed at providing the kind of data that Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown will need to have in hand when planning how to reopen the state from its weeks-long lockdown , Clark said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of COVID-19 has been that many infected people do n't have any symptoms , while others have symptoms so mild that their infection is missed , said Ben Dalziel , an assistant professor with the OSU College of Science .
`` We are flying blind in many ways because we do not know how many people are infected with the virus and how that is changing over time , '' Dalziel said in a university statement .
`` Without this knowledge , it is much more difficult to implement effective control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
Right now , we are managing the pandemic mostly looking in the rearview mirror . ''
Each weekend , the OSU team aims to gather samples from 960 different people .
Here 's a video of showing how testing is done : Researchers will knock on a household 's door and ask those folks inside to take part .
Each person who volunteers will be given a test kit -- a cotton swab that they run around the inside of their nose themselves , and a tube to store it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never come into physical contact with the individuals in a household .
The kit is returned on the doorstep of the household '' while the researchers wait , Clark explained .
A private lab will test each sample for COVID-19 , and confidentially provide the results to the individual person and to the county health department as required by law , Clark said .
Results are expected to be available in seven to 10 days .
The OSU team will receive aggregated results from the testing lab and report them for each week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final report summing up all of the data for Corvallis , Clark said .
If successful , the OSU researchers plan to expand their work to other Oregon cities and towns , he said .
They also plan to perform random antibody testing in Corvallis and elsewhere in the near future , Clark said .
The current test only can detect the active presence of live virus , but antibody testing can detect whether a person has had COVID-19 in the past .
Dr. Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar with the Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` efforts to do wide-based community sampling for the coronavirus can help aid understanding of where this virus has been and what risk remains in a population . ''
Adalja was not part of the study .
`` This will help us to understand what the true hospitalization rate is , a factor that influences social distancing recommendations and hospital capacity planning , '' he continued .
`` It will also help to determine the true case fatality ratio as well . ''
Governors across the United States will need such data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stemmed the tide of coronavirus that has rolled across the country , Adalja added .
`` Knowing that a community has already been largely impacted by the virus can help to inform decisions regarding the need for continuing specific social distancing measures , '' Adalja said .
Oregon State University has more about the TRACE COVID-19 project .

A TRACE team member collects nasal samples in Corvallis, Ore., as part of an effort to gauge COVID-19 activity there. Photo by Karl Maasdam/HealthDay News
A college town in Oregon is embarking on a groundbreaking effort to measure the hidden spread of COVID-19 within the community, thanks to the local university. Oregon State University researchers will fan out across Corvallis during the next four weekends, going to randomly selected houses and asking folks inside to provide nasal samples for testing. Advertisement
The TRACE COVID-19 project is one of the first efforts in the nation to attempt to assess an entire community's COVID-19 activity, officials said.
The team hopes to have just under 4,000 samples by the end, enough to paint a statistically accurate picture of how widespread the COVID-19 virus has become in the town of 58,641, said OSU spokesman Steve Clark.
"We'll have an indication of the presence of the virus among those who are symptomatic and asymptomatic," Clark said. "This will give a community-wide profile of Corvallis' COVID health."
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The effort is aimed at providing the kind of data that Oregon Gov. Kate Brown will need to have in hand when planning how to reopen the state from its weeks-long lockdown, Clark said.
One of the problems with tracking the spread of COVID-19 has been that many infected people don't have any symptoms, while others have symptoms so mild that their infection is missed, said Ben Dalziel, an assistant professor with the OSU College of Science.
"We are flying blind in many ways because we do not know how many people are infected with the virus and how that is changing over time," Dalziel said in a university statement. "Without this knowledge, it is much more difficult to implement effective control measures and to forecast the spread of the disease. Right now, we are managing the pandemic mostly looking in the rearview mirror."
Each weekend, the OSU team aims to gather samples from 960 different people.
Here's a video of showing how testing is done:
Researchers will knock on a household's door and ask those folks inside to take part. Each person who volunteers will be given a test kit -- a cotton swab that they run around the inside of their nose themselves, and a tube to store it in afterward.
Advertisement
"Our team members never come into physical contact with the individuals in a household. The kit is returned on the doorstep of the household" while the researchers wait, Clark explained.
A private lab will test each sample for COVID-19, and confidentially provide the results to the individual person and to the county health department as required by law, Clark said. Results are expected to be available in seven to 10 days.
The OSU team will receive aggregated results from the testing lab and report them for each week's testing, as well as a final report summing up all of the data for Corvallis, Clark said.
If successful, the OSU researchers plan to expand their work to other Oregon cities and towns, he said.
They also plan to perform random antibody testing in Corvallis and elsewhere in the near future, Clark said.
The current test only can detect the active presence of live virus, but antibody testing can detect whether a person has had COVID-19 in the past.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, agreed that "efforts to do wide-based community sampling for the coronavirus can help aid understanding of where this virus has been and what risk remains in a population." Adalja was not part of the study.
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"This will help us to understand what the true hospitalization rate is, a factor that influences social distancing recommendations and hospital capacity planning," he continued. "It will also help to determine the true case fatality ratio as well."
Governors across the United States will need such data to responsibly relax the lockdowns that have stemmed the tide of coronavirus that has rolled across the country, Adalja added.
"Knowing that a community has already been largely impacted by the virus can help to inform decisions regarding the need for continuing specific social distancing measures," Adalja said.
More information
Oregon State University has more about the TRACE COVID-19 project.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-22--Watch: Large alligator ransacks South Carolina family's yard

April 22 ( UPI ) -- A South Carolina family shared video of a large alligator visiting their back door @ @ @ @ @ The Lossada family said the gator , known locally as `` Big George , '' @ @ @ @ @ door of their Sea Pines home on Monday .
The family said George ransacked their @ @ @ @ @ a fire pit and slammed its tail into their glass door .
They said alligators @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We see those everyday , but never in the back yard knocking everything @ @ @ @ @ told the Hilton Head Island Packet .
`` This is to the next level .
@ @ @ @ @ was eventually escorted back to the lagoon by a team of four security guards .
@ @ @ @ @ does n't hurt anybody , they just put him back in the water , '' @ @ @ @ @ is his home , and he 's not hurting anybody .
We just need to @ @ @ @

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April 22 (UPI) -- A South Carolina family shared video of a large alligator visiting their back door and ransacking the yard.
The Lossada family said the gator, known locally as "Big George," ended up at the back door of their Sea Pines home on Monday.
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The family said George ransacked their patio furniture, knocked over a fire pit and slammed its tail into their glass door.
They said alligators are common in the area.
"We see those everyday, but never in the back yard knocking everything down," Fernando Lossada told the Hilton Head Island Packet. "This is to the next level."
He said the alligator was eventually escorted back to the lagoon by a team of four security guards.
"As long as he doesn't hurt anybody, they just put him back in the water," Lossada said. "This is his home, and he's not hurting anybody. We just need to be careful."


upi--2020-04-22--Suicide attempts, deaths up sharply over last decade

April 22 ( UPI ) -- A rising number of Americans has attempted suicide in recent years -- and increasing numbers have died -- according to a new analysis published Wednesday by JAMA Psychiatry has found .
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there were more than 1.2 million suicide attempts across the country between 2006 and 2015 , and that there was a 10 percent increase in incidents of people attempting suicide over the 10-year period .
In addition , the fatality rate from these incidents increased by 13 percent during the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing more `` lethal '' means in the attempts , the agency said .
`` The pattern of changes in the incidence rates and lethality of suicidal acts varied among demographic groups , '' study co-author Dr. Jing Wang , an epidemiologist with the CDC 's Division of Violence Prevention , told UPI .
`` More people carried out suicidal acts ... and suicidal acts became more lethal in the working age population .
Understanding these population level epidemiological patterns may help guide suicide prevention efforts . ''
The findings echo those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which indicated that the suicide rate in the United States increased by 35 percent between 1998 and 2018 .
It 's been estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 Americans take their own lives each year .
For the new study , CDC researchers analyzed statistics from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and Nationwide Emergency Department Sample databases , and identified suicide-related deaths from the mortality files of the National Vital Statistics System .
They calculated the case fatality rates , or `` lethality , '' of suicidal acts by dividing the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the study period , they found that lethality increased by an average of 2.3 percent annually .
Incidence of suicidal acts increased by an average of 1.1 percent per year among women , while suicide-related deaths among women increased by an average of 5 percent per year between 2010 and 2015 , they noted .
Among adolescents -- defined as those between 10 and 19 years of age -- incidence of suicidal acts remained `` stable '' for the first half of the study period , but increased sharply , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , over the second half , the CDC authors found .
Their analysis also suggests that adults between 20 and 64 years of age chose more lethal means for taking their own lives , with case fatality rates increasing by around 3 percent annually for both groups over the 10 years assessed .
`` To help keep people safe , we can all learn the signs of suicide risk and how to respond to these signs through what 's called gatekeeper training , '' Wang said .
`` Some of the signs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of suicide , expressing thoughts of suicide , increased substance use , and changes in mood , to name just a few . ''

A CDC analysis suggests that Americans are choosing more lethal means for taking their own lives. Photo by rebcenter-moscow /Pixabay
April 22 (UPI) -- A rising number of Americans has attempted suicide in recent years -- and increasing numbers have died -- according to a new analysis published Wednesday by JAMA Psychiatry has found. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there were more than 1.2 million suicide attempts across the country between 2006 and 2015, and that there was a 10 percent increase in incidents of people attempting suicide over the 10-year period. Advertisement
In addition, the fatality rate from these incidents increased by 13 percent during the last decade, which suggests people may be choosing more "lethal" means in the attempts, the agency said.
"The pattern of changes in the incidence rates and lethality of suicidal acts varied among demographic groups," study co-author Dr. Jing Wang, an epidemiologist with the CDC's Division of Violence Prevention, told UPI. "More people carried out suicidal acts... and suicidal acts became more lethal in the working age population. Understanding these population level epidemiological patterns may help guide suicide prevention efforts."
The findings echo those of a CDC report issued earlier this month, which indicated that the suicide rate in the United States increased by 35 percent between 1998 and 2018. It's been estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 Americans take their own lives each year.
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For the new study, CDC researchers analyzed statistics from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and Nationwide Emergency Department Sample databases, and identified suicide-related deaths from the mortality files of the National Vital Statistics System. They calculated the case fatality rates, or "lethality," of suicidal acts by dividing the number of suicides by the total number of attempts.
Over the study period, they found that lethality increased by an average of 2.3 percent annually. Incidence of suicidal acts increased by an average of 1.1 percent per year among women, while suicide-related deaths among women increased by an average of 5 percent per year between 2010 and 2015, they noted.
Among adolescents -- defined as those between 10 and 19 years of age -- incidence of suicidal acts remained "stable" for the first half of the study period, but increased sharply, by an annual average of nearly 8 percent, over the second half, the CDC authors found.
Their analysis also suggests that adults between 20 and 64 years of age chose more lethal means for taking their own lives, with case fatality rates increasing by around 3 percent annually for both groups over the 10 years assessed.
"To help keep people safe, we can all learn the signs of suicide risk and how to respond to these signs through what's called gatekeeper training," Wang said. "Some of the signs to look for include: looking for means of suicide, expressing thoughts of suicide, increased substance use, and changes in mood, to name just a few."


upi--2020-04-22--Actress Shirley Knight dies of natural causes at age 83

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Shirley Knight died on Wednesday of natural causes in the home of her daughter , Kaitlin Hopkins .
She was 83 .
Hopkins posted on Facebook that she was by her mother 's side when she passed , having brought her to Texas 26 days prior .
Hopkins indicated that Knight had declined after a surgery , and had hospice assistance in her final days .
Friends , family and colleagues of Knight 's sent video messages sharing their memories , which Hopkins is keeping .
The Knight family -- including Hopkins and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Shirley Knight Memorial Fund at Texas State University to help young artists attend school .
Knight appeared in films from an uncredited role in 1955 's Picnic to playing Kevin James 's mother in the two Paul Blart : Mall Cop films .
Highlights include The Rain People , Dutchman , Endless Love , As Good As It Gets , Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Our Idiot Brother .
Many of those roles also cast Knight as a mother -- to Brooke Shields in Endless Love , Helen Hunt in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rudd in Our Idiot Brother .
She had Oscar nominations for Sweet Bird of Youth and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs .
On stage , Knight won a Tony Award in 1976 for her role in Kennedy 's Children and another nomination for The Young Man from Atlanta in 1997 .
Other theater credits include the role of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire , Irina in The Three Sisters , and The Vagina Monologues .
On television , Knight appeared in episodes of classic early TV series Rawhide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Fugitive and many more .
She had a recurring role as Bree Van De Kamp ( Marcia Cross ) 's mother-in-law on Desperate Housewives and other appearances on Law & Order : SVU , Hot in Cleveland , Ally McBeal , NYPD Blue , L.A. Law and many more .
She won an emmy for an appearance on Thirtysomething .
A memorial service will be held in 2021 , according to The Hollywood Reporter .

Shirley Knight died Wednesday of natural causes at age 83. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
April 22 (UPI) -- Shirley Knight died on Wednesday of natural causes in the home of her daughter, Kaitlin Hopkins. She was 83. Hopkins posted on Facebook that she was by her mother's side when she passed, having brought her to Texas 26 days prior. Hopkins indicated that Knight had declined after a surgery, and had hospice assistance in her final days. Advertisement
Friends, family and colleagues of Knight's sent video messages sharing their memories, which Hopkins is keeping. The Knight family -- including Hopkins and her half sister Sophie C. Hopkins -- created the Shirley Knight Memorial Fund at Texas State University to help young artists attend school.
Knight appeared in films from an uncredited role in 1955's Picnic to playing Kevin James's mother in the two Paul Blart: Mall Cop films. Highlights include The Rain People, Dutchman, Endless Love, As Good As It Gets, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Our Idiot Brother.
Many of those roles also cast Knight as a mother -- to Brooke Shields in Endless Love, Helen Hunt in As Good As It Gets and Paul Rudd in Our Idiot Brother. She had Oscar nominations for Sweet Bird of Youth and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs.
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On stage, Knight won a Tony Award in 1976 for her role in Kennedy's Children and another nomination for The Young Man from Atlanta in 1997. Other theater credits include the role of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Irina in The Three Sisters, and The Vagina Monologues.
On television, Knight appeared in episodes of classic early TV series Rawhide, Maverick, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive and many more. She had a recurring role as Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross)'s mother-in-law on Desperate Housewives and other appearances on Law & Order: SVU, Hot in Cleveland, Ally McBeal, NYPD Blue, L.A. Law and many more. She won an emmy for an appearance on Thirtysomething.
A memorial service will be held in 2021, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-04-22--Dow climbs 456 points as U.S. stocks get boost from rallying oil prices

April 22 ( UPI ) -- U.S. stocks rallied on Wednesday after three consecutive days of losses , as oil prices rebounded a bit after sinking to historic lows this week .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average , which lost more than 1,200 points Monday and Tuesday , closed up 456.94 points , or 1.99 percent .
The S & P 500 climbed 2.29 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.81 percent .
Rises in oil prices influenced the markets Wednesday .
International benchmark Brent crude climbed to more than $ 20 per barrel after an 18 percent decline Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intermediate , the U.S. benchmark , rose 19 percent to $ 13.78 -- two days after the May contract , which expired on Tuesday , fell below $ 0 for the first time in history .
A global decrease in demand has driven oil prices down in recent weeks , as did a dispute between OPEC and Russia concerning production cuts .
Analyst Magnus Nysveen told CNBC the oil market is not out of the woods because demand remains low and a lack of storage space poses a challenge .
`` The world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the oil , '' he said .
`` When the supply and demand balance is positive or negative , then you can build or draw from storage .
But when the storage gets full , then there is no buffer for this very strong imbalance that we 're seeing . ''
The S & P 500 's energy sector rose 3 percent as Halliburton stock soared 10.47 percent , while Diamondback Energy rose 9.04 percent and Noble Energy increased 7.81 percent .
The market rise was also driven by positive quarterly reports as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P 500 companies that have reported earnings have exceeded analysts ' profit estimates .
Snap Inc. stock skyrocketed 36.63 percent after the social media company released its quarterly earnings report and Chipotle stock rose 12.15 percent .

The New York Stock Exchange is seen Monday on Wall Street in New York City. All three major U.S. indices rose at the end of trading Wednesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 22 (UPI) -- U.S. stocks rallied on Wednesday after three consecutive days of losses, as oil prices rebounded a bit after sinking to historic lows this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which lost more than 1,200 points Monday and Tuesday, closed up 456.94 points, or 1.99 percent. The S&P 500 climbed 2.29 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.81 percent. Advertisement
Rises in oil prices influenced the markets Wednesday. International benchmark Brent crude climbed to more than $20 per barrel after an 18 percent decline Tuesday. The June contract for West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, rose 19 percent to $13.78 -- two days after the May contract, which expired on Tuesday, fell below $0 for the first time in history.
A global decrease in demand has driven oil prices down in recent weeks, as did a dispute between OPEC and Russia concerning production cuts.
Analyst Magnus Nysveen told CNBC the oil market is not out of the woods because demand remains low and a lack of storage space poses a challenge.
"The world is running out of places to store the oil," he said. "When the supply and demand balance is positive or negative, then you can build or draw from storage. But when the storage gets full, then there is no buffer for this very strong imbalance that we're seeing."
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The S&P 500's energy sector rose 3 percent as Halliburton stock soared 10.47 percent, while Diamondback Energy rose 9.04 percent and Noble Energy increased 7.81 percent.
The market rise was also driven by positive quarterly reports as 67 percent of the 84 S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings have exceeded analysts' profit estimates.
Snap Inc. stock skyrocketed 36.63 percent after the social media company released its quarterly earnings report and Chipotle stock rose 12.15 percent.


upi--2020-04-22--Ticket-buying mistake leads to $1.4 million lottery jackpot

April 22 ( UPI ) -- A pair of Australian friends are splitting a $ 1.4 million lottery jackpot thanks to one of the women making a mistake in their agreed-upon ticket-purchasing schedule .
The Canberra woman contacted by The Lott on Wednesday morning told officials she had purchased her ticket for Tuesday 's Oz Lotto drawing by mistake .
`` I 'm in it with a friend , '' the woman said .
`` We take turns buying Oz Lotto tickets every week .
It was n't even my turn this week , I mistakenly bought the ticket thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so glad I did ! ''
The woman said she and her friend have been playing the lottery together for about 20 years , and each year they save their winnings until December .
`` For the past 20 years we always save up our winnings throughout the year for a beautiful Christmas lunch and then spoil ourselves with a shopping spree , '' she said .
`` But this Christmas is going to be a little different . ''
The friends are splitting a Division One jackpot of $ 1,445,922.15 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsagency .

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April 22 (UPI) -- A pair of Australian friends are splitting a $1.4 million lottery jackpot thanks to one of the women making a mistake in their agreed-upon ticket-purchasing schedule.
The Canberra woman contacted by The Lott on Wednesday morning told officials she had purchased her ticket for Tuesday's Oz Lotto drawing by mistake.
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"I'm in it with a friend," the woman said. "We take turns buying Oz Lotto tickets every week. It wasn't even my turn this week, I mistakenly bought the ticket thinking it was my week. I'm so glad I did!"
The woman said she and her friend have been playing the lottery together for about 20 years, and each year they save their winnings until December.
"For the past 20 years we always save up our winnings throughout the year for a beautiful Christmas lunch and then spoil ourselves with a shopping spree," she said. "But this Christmas is going to be a little different."
The friends are splitting a Division One jackpot of $1,445,922.15. The winning ticket was purchased from the Waramanga Newsagency.


upi--2020-04-22--Watch: Dirt bikers make use of sand-covered skate park in California

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Officials in a California city buried a popular skate park in sand to deter @ @ @ @ @ orders , but the sand-covered park ended up attracting a new crowd : dirt bikers @ @ @ @ @ video to YouTube showing how he and some friends visited Ralph 's Skate Park in @ @ @ @ @ dirt bikes across the 37 tons of sand dumped onto the park by city officials @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic .
The video shows Ericsson and his friends helping a group of skateboarders @ @ @ @ @ use the park for its originally intended purpose .
`` I think it 's a @ @ @ @ @ are cooped up inside their house and just want to go out and have some @ @ @ @ @ KUSI-TV .

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April 22 (UPI) -- Officials in a California city buried a popular skate park in sand to deter skateboarders from violating coronavirus lockdown orders, but the sand-covered park ended up attracting a new crowd: dirt bikers.
Conner Ericsson posted a video to YouTube showing how he and some friends visited Ralph's Skate Park in San Clemente to ride their dirt bikes across the 37 tons of sand dumped onto the park by city officials to prevent gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The video shows Ericsson and his friends helping a group of skateboarders clear away some sand to use the park for its originally intended purpose.
"I think it's a big joke, these kids are cooped up inside their house and just want to go out and have some fun," Ericcson told KUSI-TV.


upi--2020-04-22--Watch: Dutch police surveillance video of Vincent van Gogh painting theft yields tips

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Dutch police on Wednesday said they received dozens of tips into the theft of a Vincent van Gogh painting after airing surveillance footage of last month 's robbery on television .
Criminal justice program Opsporing Verzocht aired the video Tuesday night , showing a suspect arriving at and later leaving the Singer Laren museum in North Holland province .
The video also included footage inside the museum showing the suspect using a sledge hammer to break multiple glass doors to access the exhibit space before leaving with the painting March 30 .
The suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to a balaclava , hiding their features .
Dutch police said they received 56 tips regarding the crime after airing the footage .
The painting , De Lentetuin , which , in English is known as Spring Garden , the vicarage garden in Nuenen in the spring , was on loan to the museum from the Groninger Museum .
Officials at the Singer Laren museum said there were no lapses in the facility 's security procedures that could have allowed the theft to happen .
The suspect tripped a burglar alarm when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painting , which is about 15 inches by 28 inches , depicts the garden of the Dutch Reformist Church in Nuenen , which is where van Gogh 's father was a vicar .

"Spring Garden" was stolen from the Singer Laren museum on March 30. File Photo by Marten de Leeuw/EPA-EFE
April 22 (UPI) -- Dutch police on Wednesday said they received dozens of tips into the theft of a Vincent van Gogh painting after airing surveillance footage of last month's robbery on television. Criminal justice program Opsporing Verzocht aired the video Tuesday night, showing a suspect arriving at and later leaving the Singer Laren museum in North Holland province. Advertisement
The video also included footage inside the museum showing the suspect using a sledge hammer to break multiple glass doors to access the exhibit space before leaving with the painting March 30.
The suspect appears to be wearing a face mask similar to a balaclava, hiding their features.
Dutch police said they received 56 tips regarding the crime after airing the footage.
The painting, De Lentetuin, which, in English is known as Spring Garden, the vicarage garden in Nuenen in the spring, was on loan to the museum from the Groninger Museum.
Officials at the Singer Laren museum said there were no lapses in the facility's security procedures that could have allowed the theft to happen. The suspect tripped a burglar alarm when they entered the building.
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The 1884 painting, which is about 15 inches by 28 inches, depicts the garden of the Dutch Reformist Church in Nuenen, which is where van Gogh's father was a vicar.


upi--2020-04-22--Tectonic plates began shifting much earlier than geologists thought

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Clues hiding in ancient rocks from Australia and South Africa suggest Earth 's tectonic plates began shifting earlier than scientists previously thought .
While some geologists have estimated that tectonic shifts emerged some 4 billion years ago , many estimate the process first began just 1 billion years ago .
New analysis , published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances , suggests Earth 's tectonic plates began to move at least 3.2 billion years ago .
`` To get plate tectonics started , it 's thought that two conditions have to be satisfied , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one of the paper 's lead authors , told UPI in an email .
`` One is that the crust needs to 'feel ' the friction of the mantle flowing and moving underneath it .
This 'mantle traction ' is one of the major driving forces behind plate tectonics . ''
`` The other is that the crust needs to be relatively strong -- except between plates -- so that the plates hold together as they move around on Earth 's surface , '' Brenner said .
Early Earth 's interior was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely limiting the mechanical strength of the planet 's crust .
For geologists , figuring out exactly when conditions became favorable for plate tectonics has proven difficult .
Ancient rock samples from Earth 's interior are so rare they are virtually nonexistent .
Ancient rocks forged closer to the surface are also hard to come by .
`` Rocks of any kind that formed during the first half of Earth 's history cover less than five percent of the surface today , '' Brenner said .
`` Those that remain have been pummeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so studying them can raise questions about whether the information they preserve is truly ancient or related to more recent reprocessing . ''
Analysis of ancient rocks has previously produced a wide range of possibilities for when plates first started to shift , but new technologies -- specifically , a device called the Quantum Diamond Microscope -- allowed Brenner and his research partners to more precisely measure the magnetic history of ancient rock samples sourced from Australia and South Africa .
The Quantum Diamond Microscope , developed by physicists at Harvard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples .
`` This allows us to pinpoint exactly what magnetic mineral grains are those that preserve the magnetic field , '' Brenner said .
`` The placement and relationships between these magnetic minerals and those around them tell us a great deal about how and when they formed , and in this case that analysis indicated the magnetic minerals formed shortly after the rocks erupted onto the ancient seafloor .
This confirmed that our results were truly telling us about the early Earth . ''
Scientists used the microscope , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trace the history of 3.5-billion-year-old rock cores drilled from Pilbara Craton in Western Australia .
By comparing the magnetic history of the rock samples to those of nearby rocks that have been previously demagnetized by scientists , Brenner and his colleagues were able to estimate how much the ancient rocks shifted .
The data showed the crust was moving 2.5 centimeters a year some 3.2 billion years ago .
`` The success of this study was thanks to a mix of careful field work planning , new magnetic microscopy techniques and luck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right rocks to sample -- based on the reports of other geologists -- goes a long way toward making sure we focus on rocks that are well-preserved and are of the correct age . ''
Understanding the origins of Earth 's tectonic activity is essential for understanding the planet 's evolution .
The movement of Earth 's tectonic plates produced mountains and accelerated weathering and other geochemical processes that helped stabilized Earth 's climate , ultimately paving the way for the development of life .
For planetary scientists working to understand the evolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of alien life -- an improved understanding of Earth 's early geologic history would be extremely helpful .
Moving forward , Brenner and his research partners hope additional magnetic analysis of ancient rock samples will offer additional clues as to how plate movements varied during the earliest days of tectonic shifts .
`` We 've sampled and started analyzing many more volcanic rocks from both the Pilbara Craton in Australia and the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa , '' Brenner said .
`` Each of these cratons is a stable , ancient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 3-plus billion years .
We hope to get a sense for the motion of each craton over the period from 3.5 to 3.2 billion years ago , when the first life was evolving and when plate tectonics is still in question . ''

Based on an analysis of rocks from the Pilbara Craton in Australia, Earth's tectonic plates began to move at least 3.2 billion years ago. Photo by Wikimedia
April 22 (UPI) -- Clues hiding in ancient rocks from Australia and South Africa suggest Earth's tectonic plates began shifting earlier than scientists previously thought. While some geologists have estimated that tectonic shifts emerged some 4 billion years ago, many estimate the process first began just 1 billion years ago. New analysis, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, suggests Earth's tectonic plates began to move at least 3.2 billion years ago. Advertisement
"To get plate tectonics started, it's thought that two conditions have to be satisfied," Alec Brenner, Harvard graduate student and one of the paper's lead authors, told UPI in an email. "One is that the crust needs to 'feel' the friction of the mantle flowing and moving underneath it. This 'mantle traction' is one of the major driving forces behind plate tectonics."
"The other is that the crust needs to be relatively strong -- except between plates -- so that the plates hold together as they move around on Earth's surface," Brenner said.
Advertisement
Early Earth's interior was likely hotter than it is today, likely limiting the mechanical strength of the planet's crust. For geologists, figuring out exactly when conditions became favorable for plate tectonics has proven difficult.
Ancient rock samples from Earth's interior are so rare they are virtually nonexistent. Ancient rocks forged closer to the surface are also hard to come by.
"Rocks of any kind that formed during the first half of Earth's history cover less than five percent of the surface today," Brenner said. "Those that remain have been pummeled by three billion years of geologic history, so studying them can raise questions about whether the information they preserve is truly ancient or related to more recent reprocessing."
Analysis of ancient rocks has previously produced a wide range of possibilities for when plates first started to shift, but new technologies -- specifically, a device called the Quantum Diamond Microscope -- allowed Brenner and his research partners to more precisely measure the magnetic history of ancient rock samples sourced from Australia and South Africa.
The Quantum Diamond Microscope, developed by physicists at Harvard, can capture high-resolution magnetic images of rock samples.
"This allows us to pinpoint exactly what magnetic mineral grains are those that preserve the magnetic field," Brenner said. "The placement and relationships between these magnetic minerals and those around them tell us a great deal about how and when they formed, and in this case that analysis indicated the magnetic minerals formed shortly after the rocks erupted onto the ancient seafloor. This confirmed that our results were truly telling us about the early Earth."
Advertisement
Scientists used the microscope, as well as magnetometers and demagnetizing equipment, to trace the history of 3.5-billion-year-old rock cores drilled from Pilbara Craton in Western Australia.
By comparing the magnetic history of the rock samples to those of nearby rocks that have been previously demagnetized by scientists, Brenner and his colleagues were able to estimate how much the ancient rocks shifted. The data showed the crust was moving 2.5 centimeters a year some 3.2 billion years ago.
"The success of this study was thanks to a mix of careful field work planning, new magnetic microscopy techniques and luck," Brenner said. "Selecting the right rocks to sample -- based on the reports of other geologists -- goes a long way toward making sure we focus on rocks that are well-preserved and are of the correct age."
Understanding the origins of Earth's tectonic activity is essential for understanding the planet's evolution. The movement of Earth's tectonic plates produced mountains and accelerated weathering and other geochemical processes that helped stabilized Earth's climate, ultimately paving the way for the development of life.
For planetary scientists working to understand the evolution of faraway planets -- and gauge the possibility of alien life -- an improved understanding of Earth's early geologic history would be extremely helpful.
Advertisement
Moving forward, Brenner and his research partners hope additional magnetic analysis of ancient rock samples will offer additional clues as to how plate movements varied during the earliest days of tectonic shifts.
"We've sampled and started analyzing many more volcanic rocks from both the Pilbara Craton in Australia and the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa," Brenner said. "Each of these cratons is a stable, ancient piece of crust that held together over the last 3-plus billion years. We hope to get a sense for the motion of each craton over the period from 3.5 to 3.2 billion years ago, when the first life was evolving and when plate tectonics is still in question."


upi--2020-04-22--Protesters rally against Virginia's stay-at-home order

Demonstrators with Reopen Virginia protested the statewide stay-at-home order at the Virginia state Capitol in Richmond on April 16 and @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
The order is in place to limit the spread of coronavirus .

Protesters demonstrate from vehicles as they call on Gov. Ralph Northam to "reopen Virginia" near the State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on April 22. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-04-22--Sheep take over parking lot of closed McDonald's in Wales

April 22 ( UPI ) -- A flock of sheep descended on a McDonald 's restaurant closed due to the @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Thomas said he was leaving the Aldi store in Ebbw Vale on Saturday when @ @ @ @ @ 's parking lot was full of sheep .
`` Even the sheep in Ebbw Vale @ @ @ @ @ McDonald 's withdrawals , '' Thomas wrote in a Facebook post about the unusual scene @ @ @ @ @ restaurant had been closed due to COVID-19 .
`` I saw the sheep and took @ @ @ @ @ Facebook as a joke after everyone has been posting [ about ] cravings and withdrawals @ @ @ @ @ '' Thomas told CNN .
`` It 's normal south Wales valley life to see @ @ @ @ @ of Ebbw Vale .
Or even horses or cows . ''

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April 22 (UPI) -- A flock of sheep descended on a McDonald's restaurant closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Wales.
Andrew Thomas said he was leaving the Aldi store in Ebbw Vale on Saturday when he noticed the nearby McDonald's parking lot was full of sheep.
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"Even the sheep in Ebbw Vale, Wales, are having McDonald's withdrawals," Thomas wrote in a Facebook post about the unusual scene.
Thomas said the fast-food restaurant had been closed due to COVID-19.
"I saw the sheep and took a pic to put on Facebook as a joke after everyone has been posting [about] cravings and withdrawals for McDonald's food," Thomas told CNN. "It's normal south Wales valley life to see sheep wandering down the streets of Ebbw Vale. Or even horses or cows."


upi--2020-04-23--Tua Tagovailoa passes Dolphins pre-draft physical

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Some of the Miami Dolphins ' medical concerns regarding Tua Tagovailoa were likely silenced after the former Alabama quarterback passed a physical facilitated by the team .
League sources told the Miami Herald and NFL Network Tagovailoa passed the medical examination in February at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis .
Tagovailoa sustained season-ending hip injuries in November .
He did not work out at the combine or have a pro day but has posted videos of himself on the run and throwing .
He has also declared himself 100 percent recovered after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medically cleared for all football activity March 9 .
Tagovailoa had a medical recheck -- with all 32 teams providing input on what tests they wanted to see performed -- in early April in Nashville .
His representatives -- Steinberg Sports and Entertainment -- said the results of the exams were `` overwhelmingly positive '' and shared with all NFL teams .
Tagovailoa or former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert will likely be the second quarterback selected Thursday in the 2020 NFL Draft .
Former LSU star Joe Burrow is expected to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati Bengals .
Tagovailoa and Herbert have been mostly linked to the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers , who own the No .
5 and No .
6 picks , respectively .
Both quarterbacks are expected to be top 10 selections .
Oddsmakers suggest both players will be picked in the top six .
Tagovailoa was considered a candidate to be the No .
1 overall pick in the draft before the 2019-20 season and prior to his injury .
Reports surfaced in early April that Tagovailoa failed at least one physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later called teams ' injury concerns `` overblown . ''
`` [ His doctors ] have been very clear that Tua 's health is fine , '' Leigh Steinberg told 790 The Ticket .
`` There 's no recurrence that 's going to happen here .
...
These health concerns are overblown . ''
NFL teams have not been able to examine , work out and converse with players in typical in-person fashion this off-season due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Prospects were not allowed to visit team facilities in the month before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also were not allowed to examine the prospects privately due to new league rules in response to the outbreak .
The draft will be conducted virtually .
The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday and airs on ESPN , NFL Network and ABC .

The Miami Dolphins were one of the teams to give former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a passing grade on a physical performed in February at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Some of the Miami Dolphins' medical concerns regarding Tua Tagovailoa were likely silenced after the former Alabama quarterback passed a physical facilitated by the team. League sources told the Miami Herald and NFL Network Tagovailoa passed the medical examination in February at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Advertisement
Tagovailoa sustained season-ending hip injuries in November. He did not work out at the combine or have a pro day but has posted videos of himself on the run and throwing.
He has also declared himself 100 percent recovered after surgery on the hip. He was medically cleared for all football activity March 9.
Tagovailoa had a medical recheck -- with all 32 teams providing input on what tests they wanted to see performed -- in early April in Nashville. His representatives -- Steinberg Sports and Entertainment -- said the results of the exams were "overwhelmingly positive" and shared with all NFL teams.
Tagovailoa or former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert will likely be the second quarterback selected Thursday in the 2020 NFL Draft. Former LSU star Joe Burrow is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Tagovailoa and Herbert have been mostly linked to the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers, who own the No. 5 and No. 6 picks, respectively.
Both quarterbacks are expected to be top 10 selections. Oddsmakers suggest both players will be picked in the top six.
Tagovailoa was considered a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft before the 2019-20 season and prior to his injury. Reports surfaced in early April that Tagovailoa failed at least one physical at the combine, but his agent later called teams' injury concerns "overblown."
"[His doctors] have been very clear that Tua's health is fine," Leigh Steinberg told 790 The Ticket. "There's no recurrence that's going to happen here. ... These health concerns are overblown."
NFL teams have not been able to examine, work out and converse with players in typical in-person fashion this off-season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Prospects were not allowed to visit team facilities in the month before the draft. Team doctors and trainers also were not allowed to examine the prospects privately due to new league rules in response to the outbreak.
The draft will be conducted virtually.
The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday and airs on ESPN, NFL Network and ABC.


upi--2020-04-23--In Photos: Notable deaths of 2020

In Photos: Notable deaths of 2020

Shirley Knight arrives on the red carpet at the Rome Film Festival in Rome on October 22 , 2007 .
@ @ @ @ @ her roles in `` As Good As It Gets '' and `` Divine Secrets of @ @ @ @ @ died of natural causes on April 22 .
She was 83 .
Photo by David @

Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells poses with the original, fully restored S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island" to meet and greet fans and visitors at the Vancouver International Boat Show in Vancouver on January 23, 2014. Best known for her role as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," Wells died of COVID-19 on December 30 at the age of 82. Photo by Heinz Ruckemann/UPI


upi--2020-04-23--Another 4.4M in U.S. file for unemployment, wiping out all jobs added since 2010

1/3
John Boyle stands Wednesday outside his popular Harry's Bar and Restaurant that is now closed in Washington, D.C., due to the coronavirus crisis. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Another 4.4 million Americans filed for new unemployment claims, the Labor Department said Thursday in its weekly report. The figure was a decrease of 810,000 from the previous week, which the department revised down by 8,000 claims. It placed the unemployment rate at 11 percent, a rise of nearly 3 percent from the previous week. Advertisement
Economists were expecting between 4 million and 5.2 million new claims for the week ending April 18.
All told, nearly 30 million Americans have now filed jobless claims in the last five weeks. The previous four saw new claims of 5.3 million, 6.6 million, 6.9 million and 3.3 million, respectively.
The surge has completely wiped out all of the job gains, about 22 million, that were added since 2010 following the Great Recession.
Analysts expect layoffs in the millions to continue in the coming months before the recovery begins. They projected Thursday's report would show unemployment at around 15 percent. Just two months ago, it was at a 50-year low of 3.5 percent.
The reporting of new claims has been hampered by their sheer volume that's overwhelming state filing systems. Michigan and Pennsylvania have been the most affected states, where one in five workers have filed for unemployment benefits.
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The federal government's $2.2 trillion relief package last month included hundreds of billions to protect Americans' paychecks, but the fund ran out of money a week ago and Congress this week has been working on a deal to replenish it.
The fund was intended for small businesses, or those with fewer than 500 employees, but in recent days it's been reported that a number of larger businesses took money out of the fund.
Large restaurant chains such as Shake Shack, Potbelly and Ruth's Chris Steak House all received federal funds before announcing they would be returned.
Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the Trump administration has established "very clear guidance" on the Paycheck Protection Program to prevent its abuse by larger businesses, and promised to investigate potential cases of abuse.
Mnuchin told Fox Business the eligibility of some companies receiving loans was "questionable."
"I think they should review it," he said.
Mnuchin said ineligible companies receiving loans can pay the money back "quickly" with no liability.
"If they don't," he warned, "They could be subject to investigation."
U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic
Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-04-23--WWE NXT: Velveteen Dream, Dexter Lumis team up

April 23 ( UPI ) -- The Velveteen Dream and Dexter Lumis formed an unlikely team to take on The Undisputed Era on WWE NXT .
Dream was originally scheduled to face Finn Balor on Wednesday , however , the announcers noted that The Prince went missing following an incident in the locker room .
The bout was then canceled .
The Purple One called out Balor inside the ring and said he did n't appreciate being stood up .
NXT Champion Adam Cole entered the arena and confronted Dream , who he has been feuding with for weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Bobby Fish attacked Dream from behind , leading to a three-on-one assault .
Dream was saved by North American Champion Keith Lee who cleared The Undisputed Era out of the ring .
A tag team match was set up for the main event with Dream and Lee set to battle Cole and Strong .
The Undisputed Era rushed Lee and Dream when the match started but they were quickly taken out .
Fish was thrown out of the ringside area by the referee due to interfering in the match .
Lee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was attacked by his rival Damian Priest who used his signature nightstick to strike the North American Champion in the throat , making him unable to compete .
The mysterious Lumis eventually came to Dream 's aid as Dream attempted to take on Cole and Strong alone .
Lumis quietly and suddenly appeared in Dream 's corner and waited to be tagged in .
Dream nailed Strong with a Dream Valley Driver and was able to tag in Lumis .
The referee was confused at Lumis entering the match but allowed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Era and took them all out .
Dream tagged himself back in and hit Cole with the Purple Rainmaker for the three count , giving himself a victory over the NXT Champion .
Also on NXT , married couple Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae sat down for a candlelit dinner together inside their home .
Gargano ranted about the state of NXT , calling it a toxic wasteland where good people such as himself was taken advantage of .
LeRae agreed with Gargano and also aired out her grievances about the black and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to destroy NXT and then rebuild it in their image .
Other moments from NXT included Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez defeating Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart ; Jake Atlas defeating Drake Maverick to advance in the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title tournament ; Kushida defeating Tony Nese to advance in the tournament ; El Hijo del Fantasma defeating Gentleman Jack Gallagher to advance in the tournament and Mia Yim defeating Jessi Kamea .
NXT Women 's Champion Charlotte Flair confronted Yim after the match .
The Queen said that Yim was the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to NXT .
Yim accepted Flair 's challenge but then looked upset after the champ said that their bout next week will turn Yim into a star .

April 23 (UPI) -- The Velveteen Dream and Dexter Lumis formed an unlikely team to take on The Undisputed Era on WWE NXT.
Dream was originally scheduled to face Finn Balor on Wednesday, however, the announcers noted that The Prince went missing following an incident in the locker room. The bout was then canceled.
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The Purple One called out Balor inside the ring and said he didn't appreciate being stood up. NXT Champion Adam Cole entered the arena and confronted Dream, who he has been feuding with for weeks.
Cole's Undisputed Era teammates Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish attacked Dream from behind, leading to a three-on-one assault. Dream was saved by North American Champion Keith Lee who cleared The Undisputed Era out of the ring. A tag team match was set up for the main event with Dream and Lee set to battle Cole and Strong.
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The Undisputed Era rushed Lee and Dream when the match started but they were quickly taken out. Fish was thrown out of the ringside area by the referee due to interfering in the match.
Lee, as he followed Strong outside the ring, was attacked by his rival Damian Priest who used his signature nightstick to strike the North American Champion in the throat, making him unable to compete.
The mysterious Lumis eventually came to Dream's aid as Dream attempted to take on Cole and Strong alone. Lumis quietly and suddenly appeared in Dream's corner and waited to be tagged in.
Dream nailed Strong with a Dream Valley Driver and was able to tag in Lumis. The referee was confused at Lumis entering the match but allowed it. Lumis hammered away at The Undisputed Era and took them all out.
Dream tagged himself back in and hit Cole with the Purple Rainmaker for the three count, giving himself a victory over the NXT Champion.
Also on NXT, married couple Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae sat down for a candlelit dinner together inside their home.
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Gargano ranted about the state of NXT, calling it a toxic wasteland where good people such as himself was taken advantage of. LeRae agreed with Gargano and also aired out her grievances about the black and gold brand.
The unhinged duo promised to destroy NXT and then rebuild it in their image.
Other moments from NXT included Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez defeating Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart; Jake Atlas defeating Drake Maverick to advance in the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title tournament; Kushida defeating Tony Nese to advance in the tournament; El Hijo del Fantasma defeating Gentleman Jack Gallagher to advance in the tournament and Mia Yim defeating Jessi Kamea.
NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair confronted Yim after the match. The Queen said that Yim was the first competitor she wanted to face since returning to NXT. Yim accepted Flair's challenge but then looked upset after the champ said that their bout next week will turn Yim into a star.


upi--2020-04-23--Map of tectonic stresses in North America could help assess tremor risk

April 23 ( UPI ) -- For the first time , scientists have produced a comprehensive map of the tectonic stresses acting on the North American continent .
In the short term , the map of North American faults -- published Thursday in the journal Nature Communications -- could help scientists assess the risk of major tremors , as well as take steps to mitigate human-caused earthquakes .
In the long term , the map could inspire and inform modeling efforts aimed at better understanding North America 's geologic past , as well as the continent 's present day tectonic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Earth 's crust is fundamental science , '' study co-author Mark Zoback , professor of geophysics at Stanford University , said in a news release .
`` In some cases , it has immediate application , in others , it may be applied decades later to practical questions that do not exist today . ''
To build the map , researchers compiled localized data on fault features using measurements from boreholes drilled across the continent .
Scientists used historic seismic data to estimate the types of faults found in different parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of faults are extensional , strike-slip or thrust .
On extensional faults , crust extends horizontally .
Landmasses slip past each other along strike-slip faults .
On thrust faults , landmasses move over and under the other .
Most earthquake hazard maps contain little to no information on the types of tectonic mechanisms that might fuel the next big one .
The new map could help risk models better account for the kinds of earthquakes likely to strike across varying parts of the continent .
In addition to aiding risk assessment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed its compilation could help scientists better understand the behavior of North America 's subsurface .
`` If you know an orientation of any fault and the state of stress nearby , you know how likely it is to fail and whether you should be concerned about it in both naturally-triggered and industry-triggered earthquake scenarios , '' said lead study author Jens-Erik Lund Snee , a former Stanford doctoral student and now a postdoctoral fellow with the United States Geological Survey .
`` We 've detailed a few places where previously published geodynamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data , and others where the models do n't agree well at all . ''
Across the Eastern United States , scientists expected rebound forces to dominate the region 's crustal stress .
It was only 20,000 years ago that the weight of massive glaciers receded from atop the region .
But the new mapping effort showed the region 's crustal stress is mostly caused by the stored energy of tectonic shifts .
On the other side of the continent , scientists were surprised to find a diversity of stress types and shifts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kinds of localized changes that are missed by current geologic models .
`` It 's just much clearer now how stress can systematically vary on the scale of a sedimentary basin in some areas , '' Zoback said .
`` We see things we 've never seen before that require geologic explanation .
This will teach us new things about how the Earth works . ''

A new map of North America shows the different types and directions of stress that influence the continent's crust. Photo by Jens-Erik/Lund Snee/Mark Zoback
April 23 (UPI) -- For the first time, scientists have produced a comprehensive map of the tectonic stresses acting on the North American continent. In the short term, the map of North American faults -- published Thursday in the journal Nature Communications -- could help scientists assess the risk of major tremors, as well as take steps to mitigate human-caused earthquakes. Advertisement
In the long term, the map could inspire and inform modeling efforts aimed at better understanding North America's geologic past, as well as the continent's present day tectonic intricacies.
"Understanding the forces in the Earth's crust is fundamental science," study co-author Mark Zoback, professor of geophysics at Stanford University, said in a news release. "In some cases, it has immediate application, in others, it may be applied decades later to practical questions that do not exist today."
To build the map, researchers compiled localized data on fault features using measurements from boreholes drilled across the continent. Scientists used historic seismic data to estimate the types of faults found in different parts of North America.
The three most common types of faults are extensional, strike-slip or thrust. On extensional faults, crust extends horizontally. Landmasses slip past each other along strike-slip faults. On thrust faults, landmasses move over and under the other.
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Most earthquake hazard maps contain little to no information on the types of tectonic mechanisms that might fuel the next big one. The new map could help risk models better account for the kinds of earthquakes likely to strike across varying parts of the continent.
In addition to aiding risk assessment, the new map and the data that informed its compilation could help scientists better understand the behavior of North America's subsurface.
"If you know an orientation of any fault and the state of stress nearby, you know how likely it is to fail and whether you should be concerned about it in both naturally-triggered and industry-triggered earthquake scenarios," said lead study author Jens-Erik Lund Snee, a former Stanford doctoral student and now a postdoctoral fellow with the United States Geological Survey. "We've detailed a few places where previously published geodynamic models agree very well with the new data, and others where the models don't agree well at all."
Across the Eastern United States, scientists expected rebound forces to dominate the region's crustal stress. It was only 20,000 years ago that the weight of massive glaciers receded from atop the region. But the new mapping effort showed the region's crustal stress is mostly caused by the stored energy of tectonic shifts.
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On the other side of the continent, scientists were surprised to find a diversity of stress types and shifts in stress directions over short distances -- the kinds of localized changes that are missed by current geologic models.
"It's just much clearer now how stress can systematically vary on the scale of a sedimentary basin in some areas," Zoback said. "We see things we've never seen before that require geologic explanation. This will teach us new things about how the Earth works."