upi--2020-09-22--U.S. tops 200K deaths; Dr. Anthony Fauci says 'divisive' society hurting COVID-19 fight

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- More than 200,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States , according to data Tuesday from Johns Hopkins University .
The United States added 52,000 cases on Monday , the highest one-day total since the middle of August , updated data showed late Tuesday morning .
The new figures also listed slightly more than 200,000 dead .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have been 6.89 million cases in the United States .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert , said a `` divisive '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hindrance in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic .
Fauci made the remarks Monday night during an interview with Trevor Noah on Comedy Central 's The Daily Show .
`` I try my best ... in giving a consistent message as often as I can get the message out , something that 's just based on the scientific data , based on evidence , which is something that 's really very important , '' he said .
`` One of the things that I think gets in the way is that we are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it tends to get politicized .
It 's almost one side versus the other .
`` What has evolved now is that almost people take sides , like wearing a mask is or not is a political statement , '' said Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
`` And that 's really very unfortunate .
`` Unfortunate because this is a purely public health issue .
It should not be one against the other . ''
Adding to the confusion , he said , are conflicting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention retracting guidance on Monday and President Donald Trump contradicting CDC Director Robert Redfield last week about the timeline for a vaccine .
`` When I 'm telling you wear a mask , keep social distancing , avoid crowds , wash your hands , do things outdoors more than indoors , there 's nothing political about that .
That 's a public health message that we know works , '' he said .
`` We have within our capability the ability to turn this around .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth-largest school district , the Miami-Dade County School Board , voted unanimously Tuesday to allow students the option to return to a full week of in-person school beginning Oct. 21 .
It would make the district the largest school system in the United States to return to five days a week of in-school learning .
Parents still have the option of keeping their children home for remote learning .
About 51 % percent of parents chose to keep their children home at the start of the school year , the Miami Herald reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 680,000 positive coronavirus cases and more than 13,400 deaths as of Tuesday morning .
In California , the number of residents testing positive fell below 3 % for the first time , state health officials said .
The positivity rate for the past week was 2.8 % , according to the California Department of Health Care Services -- the lowest figure since the beginning of the pandemic .
The state also reached a grim milestone , as its overall death toll surpassed 15,000 Monday .
In San Diego County , residents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have fallen a rung into the most restrictive tier in California 's COVID-19 ranking system following at outbreak at San Diego State University .
A surge of positive cases last week contributed to overall totals high enough for San Diego to fall into the `` purple '' tier of the state 's reopening system , meaning that restaurants , churches and gyms would have to close their indoor spaces .
County health officials reported about 300 new cases but no deaths Monday .
In Wisconsin , which has one of the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive Monday , state officials said -- the seventh straight day with at least 1,000 added cases .
Wisconsin 's new caseload has soared by 88 % over the last two weeks , the highest rate in the nation .
Its positivity rate , nearly 19 % , has been driven by cases in the University of Wisconsin system .

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi walks amongst the 200,000 American flags during an event Tuesday commemorating the 200,000 Americans that have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- More than 200,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States, according to data Tuesday from Johns Hopkins University. The United States added 52,000 cases on Monday, the highest one-day total since the middle of August, updated data showed late Tuesday morning. The new figures also listed slightly more than 200,000 dead. Advertisement
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 6.89 million cases in the United States.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said a "divisive" culture in the United States has been a hindrance in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci made the remarks Monday night during an interview with Trevor Noah on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.
"I try my best ... in giving a consistent message as often as I can get the message out, something that's just based on the scientific data, based on evidence, which is something that's really very important," he said.
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"One of the things that I think gets in the way is that we are in such a divisive state in society that it tends to get politicized. It's almost one side versus the other.
"What has evolved now is that almost people take sides, like wearing a mask is or not is a political statement," said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "And that's really very unfortunate.
"Unfortunate because this is a purely public health issue. It should not be one against the other."
Adding to the confusion, he said, are conflicting messages coming from multiple federal sources -- like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention retracting guidance on Monday and President Donald Trump contradicting CDC Director Robert Redfield last week about the timeline for a vaccine.
"When I'm telling you wear a mask, keep social distancing, avoid crowds, wash your hands, do things outdoors more than indoors, there's nothing political about that. That's a public health message that we know works," he said.
"We have within our capability the ability to turn this around."
In Florida, the country's fourth-largest school district, the Miami-Dade County School Board, voted unanimously Tuesday to allow students the option to return to a full week of in-person school beginning Oct. 21.
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It would make the district the largest school system in the United States to return to five days a week of in-school learning. Parents still have the option of keeping their children home for remote learning.
About 51% percent of parents chose to keep their children home at the start of the school year, the Miami Herald reported.
The Florida Department of Health reported nearly 680,000 positive coronavirus cases and more than 13,400 deaths as of Tuesday morning.
In California, the number of residents testing positive fell below 3% for the first time, state health officials said.
The positivity rate for the past week was 2.8%, according to the California Department of Health Care Services -- the lowest figure since the beginning of the pandemic.
The state also reached a grim milestone, as its overall death toll surpassed 15,000 Monday.
In San Diego County, residents and local officials will find out Tuesday if they have fallen a rung into the most restrictive tier in California's COVID-19 ranking system following at outbreak at San Diego State University.
A surge of positive cases last week contributed to overall totals high enough for San Diego to fall into the "purple" tier of the state's reopening system, meaning that restaurants, churches and gyms would have to close their indoor spaces.
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County health officials reported about 300 new cases but no deaths Monday.
In Wisconsin, which has one of the nation's fastest-growing outbreaks, nearly 1,300 people tested positive Monday, state officials said -- the seventh straight day with at least 1,000 added cases.
Wisconsin's new caseload has soared by 88% over the last two weeks, the highest rate in the nation. Its positivity rate, nearly 19%, has been driven by cases in the University of Wisconsin system.


upi--2020-09-22--Norfolk Shipyard commander relieved for 'loss of confidence'

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- The commanding officer of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard was fired Monday , the Navy announced .
Capt .
Kai Torkelson was relieved of his command `` due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command , '' according to a press release from Naval Sea Systems Command .
NAVSEA spokespeople have since told multiple sources that Torkelson 's dismissal was related to `` performance issues that affect Norfolk Naval Shipyard 's ability to meet ship maintenance schedules . ''
Last month the Government Accountability Office released a report saying the Navy spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve the performance of its shipyards , singling out Norfolk as the only shipyard to decrease the number of fully trained production personnel in the last five years .
According to his biography , Torkelson had led the shipyard since 2018 .
Commissioned in 1991 and trained initially in nuclear submarines , Torkelson transitioned to engineering in 2002 and did stints at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii .
Rear Adm. Howard Markle , director of NAVSEA 's industrial operations directorate , will serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dianna Wolfson slated to take command of the shipyard by early 2021 , according to NAVSEA .
Wolfson is currently the commanding officer of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility .
Torkelson is at least the fourth Navy leader to be relieved of command in the last month .

Capt. Kai Torkelson, commander of the Norfolk Naval Shipward in Virginia, was relieved of duty Monday. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The commanding officer of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard was fired Monday, the Navy announced. Capt. Kai Torkelson was relieved of his command "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," according to a press release from Naval Sea Systems Command. Advertisement
NAVSEA spokespeople have since told multiple sources that Torkelson's dismissal was related to "performance issues that affect Norfolk Naval Shipyard's ability to meet ship maintenance schedules."
Last month the Government Accountability Office released a report saying the Navy spent $2.8 billion from 2015 to 2019 to improve the performance of its shipyards, singling out Norfolk as the only shipyard to decrease the number of fully trained production personnel in the last five years.
According to his biography, Torkelson had led the shipyard since 2018.
Commissioned in 1991 and trained initially in nuclear submarines, Torkelson transitioned to engineering in 2002 and did stints at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii.
Rear Adm. Howard Markle, director of NAVSEA's industrial operations directorate, will serve as acting commander, with Capt. Dianna Wolfson slated to take command of the shipyard by early 2021, according to NAVSEA.
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Wolfson is currently the commanding officer of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
Torkelson is at least the fourth Navy leader to be relieved of command in the last month.


upi--2020-09-22--Once exposed to humans, animals start to lose their fear of predators

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- New research suggests animals begin to lose their fear of predators once they start encountering humans on a regular basis .
For the study , scientists surveyed the findings of 173 peer-reviewed papers on predator avoidance behaviors and traits deployed by 102 species of domesticated , captive and urbanized mammals , birds , reptiles , fish and mollusks .
The analysis , published Tuesday in the journal PLOS Biology , showed predator avoidance traits and behaviors , including vigilance , freezing and fleeing , decreased as a result of exposure to humans .
Researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon a species ' initial exposure to humans , but then gradually decreased after generations of human exposure .
`` While it is well known that the fact of being protected by humans decreases anti-predator capacities in animals , we did not know how fast this occurs and to what extent this is comparable between contexts , '' lead researcher Benjamin Geffroy , biologist at the University of Montpellier in France , said in a news release .
The findings suggest behavioral flexibility allows for the initial increase in the variability of anti-predator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidify declines in predator avoidance as subsequent generations adjust to the presence of humans .
In the studies analyzed by Geffroy and his colleagues , domesticated animals lose their anti-predator traits much more quickly than urbanized animals , which can cause problems when domesticated or urbanized species are released back into the wild .
`` We also integrated physiological traits in the study but they were much less numerous that behavioral traits , '' Geffroy said .
`` We believe they should be systematically investigated to draw a global pattern of what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We need more data to understand whether this occurs also with the mere presence of tourists , '' Geffroy said .

Researchers say that as animals are exposed to humans, they are less afraid of other predators. Photo by ChristianaT /Pixabay
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- New research suggests animals begin to lose their fear of predators once they start encountering humans on a regular basis. For the study, scientists surveyed the findings of 173 peer-reviewed papers on predator avoidance behaviors and traits deployed by 102 species of domesticated, captive and urbanized mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and mollusks. Advertisement
The analysis, published Tuesday in the journal PLOS Biology, showed predator avoidance traits and behaviors, including vigilance, freezing and fleeing, decreased as a result of exposure to humans.
Researchers found individual variation in anti-predator characteristics increased upon a species' initial exposure to humans, but then gradually decreased after generations of human exposure.
"While it is well known that the fact of being protected by humans decreases anti-predator capacities in animals, we did not know how fast this occurs and to what extent this is comparable between contexts," lead researcher Benjamin Geffroy, biologist at the University of Montpellier in France, said in a news release.
The findings suggest behavioral flexibility allows for the initial increase in the variability of anti-predator traits, but researchers suspect genetic changes solidify declines in predator avoidance as subsequent generations adjust to the presence of humans.
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In the studies analyzed by Geffroy and his colleagues, domesticated animals lose their anti-predator traits much more quickly than urbanized animals, which can cause problems when domesticated or urbanized species are released back into the wild.
"We also integrated physiological traits in the study but they were much less numerous that behavioral traits," Geffroy said. "We believe they should be systematically investigated to draw a global pattern of what is happening at the individual level.
"We need more data to understand whether this occurs also with the mere presence of tourists," Geffroy said.


upi--2020-09-22--Paulette moves further into open Atlantic

Sept. 15 ( UPI ) -- Forecasters with the National Weather Service reclassified Paulette as a `` strong '' post-tropical @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , though the system retained Category 1 hurricane strength .
In its 5 @ @ @ @ @ National Hurricane Center said the storm was located 390 miles east-southeast of the Azores .
@ @ @ @ @ of 40 mph and was moving east at 12 mph .
Paulette is in the @ @ @ @ @ and is projected to take a southwestward path by the end of this week .
@ @ @ @ @ storm to impact any other land .
Paulette became a hurricane last weekend and arrived @ @ @ @ @

Hurricane Paulette was not expected to affect land in the coming days. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Paulette was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone for the second time on Tuesday night. Forecasters with the National Weather Service had previously forecast Paulette to make landfall as a "strong" post-tropical cyclone over the North Atlantic on Wednesday. Advertisement
In its 11 p.m. AST advisory, the National Hurricane Center said the storm was located 445 miles south-southeast of the Azores. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving east at 12 mph.
Paulette is in the center of the Atlantic basin and is projected to take a southwestward path by the end of this week.
Forecasters don't expect the storm to impact any other land.
Paulette became a hurricane last weekend and arrived over Bermuda on Sunday.


upi--2020-09-22--Powell, Mnuchin promise economic support, push more action by Congress

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- While Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday the agency will continue to support the domestic economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a targeted stimulus bill from Congress is still needed .
Appearing before the House financial services committee at a hearing titled `` Oversight of the Treasury Department 's and Federal Reserve 's Pandemic Response , '' Powell said the Fed will provide support following up on some improvement since the start of the crisis .
`` We remain committed to using our tools to do what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes , to ensure that the recovery will be as strong as possible , and to limit lasting damage to the economy , '' Powell testified .
`` Economic activity has picked up from its depressed second-quarter level when much of the economy was shut down to stem the spread of the virus .
Many economic indicators show marked improvement . ''
Powell said the U.S. central bank has taken `` forceful action '' since mid-March by lowering interest rates to near zero , where the Fed expects them to stay until at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asset holdings and standing up 13 emergency lending facilities .
`` We took these measures to support broader financial conditions and more directly support the flow of credit to households , businesses of all sizes , and state and local governments , '' he added .
`` Our actions , taken together , have helped unlock more than $ 1 trillion of funding , which , in turn , has helped keep organizations from shuttering , putting them in a better position to keep workers on and to hire them back as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touted the administration 's efforts to promote economic recovery , including the unemployment rate of 8.4 % -- which he called `` a notable achievement considering some people were expecting up to 25 % unemployment at the height of the pandemic , '' but said that efforts by the Fed and Treasury can only provide so much improvement .
`` I unfortunately think there 's not more we can do , '' Mnuchin said .
Mnuchin said the Trump administration is committed to reaching an agreement with congressional Democrats on a new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for nearly two months , with House Democrats and the administration showing few signs of a willingness to compromise on proposals that are billions of dollars apart .
`` We continue to try to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to pass a Phase IV relief package , '' Mnuchin said .
`` I believe a targeted package is still needed , and the administration is ready to reach a bipartisan agreement . ''
Rep. Maxine Waters , D-Calif. , pressed Powell and Mnuchin on the lack of loans under the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite lowering its minimum loan threshold from $ 500,000 to $ 250,000 .
Mnuchin said he would support lowering the threshold to $ 100,000 but Powell said the program did not generate much interest for loans less than $ 1 million and suggested loans under the Paycheck Protection Program would be more appealing .
`` Trying to underwrite the credit of hundreds of thousands of small businesses would be very difficult , '' Powell said .
`` I think PPP is a better way to address that space in the market . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be expected until the pandemic is brought under control and Americans believe they can resume normal activities without fear .
`` A full recovery is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to re-engage in a broad range of activities , '' he said .
`` The path forward will depend on keeping the virus under control , and on policy actions taken at all levels of government . ''
Powell and Mnuchin testified before the committee in June to update lawmakers on the federal economic @ @ @ @ @ @

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies Tuesday before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on oversight of the Treasury Department's and Federal Reserve's COVID-19 pandemic response on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Pool Photo by Joshua Roberts/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- While Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday the agency will continue to support the domestic economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a targeted stimulus bill from Congress is still needed. Appearing before the House financial services committee at a hearing titled "Oversight of the Treasury Department's and Federal Reserve's Pandemic Response," Powell said the Fed will provide support following up on some improvement since the start of the crisis. Advertisement
"We remain committed to using our tools to do what we can, for as long as it takes, to ensure that the recovery will be as strong as possible, and to limit lasting damage to the economy," Powell testified.
"Economic activity has picked up from its depressed second-quarter level when much of the economy was shut down to stem the spread of the virus. Many economic indicators show marked improvement."
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Powell said the U.S. central bank has taken "forceful action" since mid-March by lowering interest rates to near zero, where the Fed expects them to stay until at least 2022, as well as increasing asset holdings and standing up 13 emergency lending facilities.
"We took these measures to support broader financial conditions and more directly support the flow of credit to households, businesses of all sizes, and state and local governments," he added.
"Our actions, taken together, have helped unlock more than $1 trillion of funding, which, in turn, has helped keep organizations from shuttering, putting them in a better position to keep workers on and to hire them back as the economy continues to recover."
Mnuchin touted the administration's efforts to promote economic recovery, including the unemployment rate of 8.4% -- which he called "a notable achievement considering some people were expecting up to 25% unemployment at the height of the pandemic," but said that efforts by the Fed and Treasury can only provide so much improvement.
"I unfortunately think there's not more we can do," Mnuchin said.
Mnuchin said the Trump administration is committed to reaching an agreement with congressional Democrats on a new coronavirus relief package.
Advertisement
Negotiations have been stalled for nearly two months, with House Democrats and the administration showing few signs of a willingness to compromise on proposals that are billions of dollars apart.
"We continue to try to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to pass a Phase IV relief package," Mnuchin said. "I believe a targeted package is still needed, and the administration is ready to reach a bipartisan agreement."
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., pressed Powell and Mnuchin on the lack of loans under the $600 billion Main Street lending program, despite lowering its minimum loan threshold from $500,000 to $250,000.
Mnuchin said he would support lowering the threshold to $100,000 but Powell said the program did not generate much interest for loans less than $1 million and suggested loans under the Paycheck Protection Program would be more appealing.
"Trying to underwrite the credit of hundreds of thousands of small businesses would be very difficult," Powell said. "I think PPP is a better way to address that space in the market."
Powell noted that a full economic recovery cannot be expected until the pandemic is brought under control and Americans believe they can resume normal activities without fear.
Advertisement
"A full recovery is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to re-engage in a broad range of activities," he said. "The path forward will depend on keeping the virus under control, and on policy actions taken at all levels of government."
Powell and Mnuchin testified before the committee in June to update lawmakers on the federal economic response to the health crisis.


upi--2020-09-22--Kidney damage caused by COVID-19 increases risk for death, study finds

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- COVID-19 causes acute kidney injury that can lead to death in some people infected with the virus , a study published Tuesday by the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found .
In an analysis of nearly 1,400 patients with the new coronavirus in Wuhan , where the pandemic began , 7 % of those who required hospital care developed acute kidney injury , the data showed .
Of those who experienced this complication , 72 % died of COVID-19 , the researchers said .
Among those without kidney damage , 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to this study , there was limited information concerning ... [ acute kidney injury ] in patients with COVID-19 , '' study co-author Gang Xu , a researcher at Tongji hospital in Wuhan , said in a statement .
`` Our results indicate that acute kidney injury is strongly associated with mortality , and that careful monitoring of acute kidney injury is necessary early in the course of infection , '' Xu said .
Tongji hospital was assigned responsibility for treating severe COVID-19 cases by the local government , researchers said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital .
Those with acute kidney injury were five times as likely to die from COVID-19 while in the hospital compared to those without the complication , the data showed .
Factors associated with a higher risk of acute kidney disease included severe COVID-19 disease and high blood creatinine levels -- an indicator of kidney dysfunction -- as well as low blood levels of certain immune cells and high blood levels of a protein fragment indicative of elevated blood clot formation and breakdown .
In a separate study , researchers at Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cells called type 2 pneumocytes that were infected with COVID-19 , found the virus also initially suppresses the lung cells ' ability to call in the help of the immune system to fight off the disease .
Instead , the virus activates an inflammatory pathway called NFkB , which brings immune cells into lung tissue laden with infected and already dead and dying cells , `` driv [ ing ] up levels of inflammation in the lungs , '' the researchers said in an article published Monday by the journal Cell Stem Cell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 ] blocks cells from activating one of the antiviral branches of the immune system early on after infection has set in , '' Dr. Darrell Kotton , director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Boston University , said in a statement .
`` The signal the cells would typically send out , a tiny protein called interferon that they exude under threat of disease , are instead delayed for several days , giving [ the virus ] plenty of time to spread and kill cells , triggering a buildup of dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kotton said .

Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are at risk for severe kidney damage, a new study has found. Photo by EPA-EFE/Enric Fontcuberta
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- COVID-19 causes acute kidney injury that can lead to death in some people infected with the virus, a study published Tuesday by the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found. In an analysis of nearly 1,400 patients with the new coronavirus in Wuhan, where the pandemic began, 7% of those who required hospital care developed acute kidney injury, the data showed. Advertisement
Of those who experienced this complication, 72% died of COVID-19, the researchers said. Among those without kidney damage, 10% died from the virus.
"Prior to this study, there was limited information concerning ... [acute kidney injury] in patients with COVID-19," study co-author Gang Xu, a researcher at Tongji hospital in Wuhan, said in a statement.
"Our results indicate that acute kidney injury is strongly associated with mortality, and that careful monitoring of acute kidney injury is necessary early in the course of infection," Xu said.
Tongji hospital was assigned responsibility for treating severe COVID-19 cases by the local government, researchers said.
Their study evaluated 1,392 patients treated at the hospital. Those with acute kidney injury were five times as likely to die from COVID-19 while in the hospital compared to those without the complication, the data showed.
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Factors associated with a higher risk of acute kidney disease included severe COVID-19 disease and high blood creatinine levels -- an indicator of kidney dysfunction -- as well as low blood levels of certain immune cells and high blood levels of a protein fragment indicative of elevated blood clot formation and breakdown.
In a separate study, researchers at Boston University, studying human stem cell-derived lung cells called type 2 pneumocytes that were infected with COVID-19, found the virus also initially suppresses the lung cells' ability to call in the help of the immune system to fight off the disease.
Instead, the virus activates an inflammatory pathway called NFkB, which brings immune cells into lung tissue laden with infected and already dead and dying cells, "driv[ing] up levels of inflammation in the lungs," the researchers said in an article published Monday by the journal Cell Stem Cell.
"Our data confirms that [COVID-19] blocks cells from activating one of the antiviral branches of the immune system early on after infection has set in," Dr. Darrell Kotton, director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Boston University, said in a statement.
"The signal the cells would typically send out, a tiny protein called interferon that they exude under threat of disease, are instead delayed for several days, giving [the virus] plenty of time to spread and kill cells, triggering a buildup of dead cell debris and other inflammation," Kotton said.


upi--2020-09-22--In photos: NASA's 16 women astronauts -- one likely to walk on moon

NASA 's 16 women astronauts -- at least one likely to walk on moon Of the 16 women in NASA @ @ @ @ @ of them is likely to make history as the first woman to walk on the @ @ @ @ @ .
The selection probably wo n't be made for some time , but one of @ @ @ @ @ make history more than half a century after the first men walked on the moon @

Jasmin Moghbeli
Moghbeli poses for a portrait in the Systems Engineering Simulator for the International Space Station and advanced spaceflight programs at the Johnson Space Center on July 9, 2019. She will train for the moon mission. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA


upi--2020-09-22--Hillary Clinton podcast, 'You and Me Both' to air Sept. 29

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- Former first lady Hillary Clinton will host an upcoming iHeartRadio original podcast You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton , the podcast publisher said Tuesday .
The former presidential nominee , secretary of state .
U.S. senator and first lady will engage in conversations with a range of guests over the 24-episode show , You and Me Both , on the iHeartPodcast Network beginning Sept. 29 , iHeartMedia said in a statement .
`` Hillary , being the first women on a ballot in a general election for president , is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we are delighted to partner with her on this project , '' iHeartPodcast Network President Conal Byrne said in the statement .
`` You and Me Both will provide listeners with an astute , nuanced look at what 's happening in the world right now - - and Hillary is the perfect moderator for those discussions . ''
Among the guests will be Sarah Cooper , Gloria Steinem , Stacey Abrams , Aminatou Sow , Ann Friedman , Samin Nosrat , Patton Oswald and Tan France .
Issues of discussion will range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to faith , resilience and grief .
`` I 'm excited to bring these eye-opening , powerful , sometimes hilarious conversations to the forefront and open up new avenues of discussion with some of the people I find most fascinating , '' Clinton said in the statement .
`` The podcast is a chance to talk about subjects that are too often overlooked and share the inspiration and education I 've gotten from my guests . ''
You and Me Both joins other iHeartPodcast Network originals , such as Next Question with Katie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio and TV/film partnerships with Shonda Rhimes 's production company Shondaland Audio , Will Ferrell , Charlamagne Tha God , and Blumhouse among others .
Over the summer , another former first lady , Michelle Obama , launched a podcast on Spotify .

Hillary Clinton will host a new iHeartRadio Original podcast to premier on Sept. 29, iHeartMedia said Tuesday. File Photo by Paul Treadway/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Former first lady Hillary Clinton will host an upcoming iHeartRadio original podcast You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton, the podcast publisher said Tuesday. The former presidential nominee, secretary of state. U.S. senator and first lady will engage in conversations with a range of guests over the 24-episode show, You and Me Both, on the iHeartPodcast Network beginning Sept. 29, iHeartMedia said in a statement. Advertisement
"Hillary, being the first women on a ballot in a general election for president, is one of the great political leaders of our time, and we are delighted to partner with her on this project," iHeartPodcast Network President Conal Byrne said in the statement. "You and Me Both will provide listeners with an astute, nuanced look at what's happening in the world right now - - and Hillary is the perfect moderator for those discussions."
Among the guests will be Sarah Cooper, Gloria Steinem, Stacey Abrams, Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman, Samin Nosrat, Patton Oswald and Tan France. Issues of discussion will range from political issues, to cooking, to faith, resilience and grief.
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"I'm excited to bring these eye-opening, powerful, sometimes hilarious conversations to the forefront and open up new avenues of discussion with some of the people I find most fascinating," Clinton said in the statement. "The podcast is a chance to talk about subjects that are too often overlooked and share the inspiration and education I've gotten from my guests."
You and Me Both joins other iHeartPodcast Network originals, such as Next Question with Katie Couric. The network also has co-production audio and TV/film partnerships with Shonda Rhimes's production company Shondaland Audio, Will Ferrell, Charlamagne Tha God, and Blumhouse among others.
Over the summer, another former first lady, Michelle Obama, launched a podcast on Spotify.


upi--2020-09-22--Minorities hit hardest when COVID-19 spreads at nursing homes

Minority residents of U.S. nursing homes and assisted living communities have been especially hard hit in the coronavirus pandemic , two University of Rochester studies show .
The first found that nursing homes with higher percentages of racial and ethnic minority residents reported two to four times more new COVID-19 cases and deaths compared to others for the week of May 25 .
The number of confirmed new COVID-19 cases each week averaged 1.5 in facilities with the highest proportion of minority residents , compared with 0.4 cases per facility among those with a low proportion .
The findings are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Medicare and Medicaid Services by nearly 15,600 nursing homes .
They suggest that persistent inequalities in facilities with limited resources and poor quality of care are being `` exacerbated by the pandemic , '' study leader Yue Li , professor of public health sciences , said in a university news release .
As of July 30 , 362,000 people in U.S. nursing homes were infected with the virus -- about 8 % of all cases nationwide .
At least 62,000 nursing home residents died of COVID-19 , representing 41 % of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that COVID-19 deaths in assisted living communities in seven states were four times higher than in the counties where they 're located .
The findings are based on data from Colorado , Connecticut , Georgia , the Carolinas , New York and Ohio that publicly reported COVID-19 data from nursing homes and residential care settings through May 29 .
In those states , the percentage of COVID-19 deaths ranged from 3.32 % in North Carolina to 9.26 % in Connecticut , while the percentage of COVID-19 deaths in assisted living communities in those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % -- although fewer than 10 % of assisted living communities reported being affected by the pandemic .
Assisted living communities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic residents had more COVID-19 cases , but not more deaths .
`` As in the nursing home study , we also see that assisted living communities with more minority residents have more cases , and we confirm that communities with a higher proportion of residents with dementia , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity , experienced more COVID-19 cases , '' said study leader Helena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unlike nursing homes , assisted living communities are regulated by states , not the federal government , and there are `` varying degrees of rigor '' in their oversight , she said in the release .
The study noted several factors make assisted living communities `` ill-prepared '' to deal with a pandemic .
They 're often short of money , care for increasingly sicker residents , have limited oversight and have staff and personal protective equipment shortages .
The workers providing daily care are often personal care aides rather than certified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they receive little if any training in the use of PPE , the researchers said .
The findings were published Sept. 21 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on nursing homes and COVID-19 .

Researchers say that minority residents of nursing homes and assisted living communities have been hit harder by COVID-19. Photo by zeevveez/Flickr
Minority residents of U.S. nursing homes and assisted living communities have been especially hard hit in the coronavirus pandemic, two University of Rochester studies show. The first found that nursing homes with higher percentages of racial and ethnic minority residents reported two to four times more new COVID-19 cases and deaths compared to others for the week of May 25. Advertisement
The number of confirmed new COVID-19 cases each week averaged 1.5 in facilities with the highest proportion of minority residents, compared with 0.4 cases per facility among those with a low proportion.
The findings are based on data reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by nearly 15,600 nursing homes. They suggest that persistent inequalities in facilities with limited resources and poor quality of care are being "exacerbated by the pandemic," study leader Yue Li, professor of public health sciences, said in a university news release.
As of July 30, 362,000 people in U.S. nursing homes were infected with the virus -- about 8% of all cases nationwide. At least 62,000 nursing home residents died of COVID-19, representing 41% of coronavirus deaths nationally.
The second study found that COVID-19 deaths in assisted living communities in seven states were four times higher than in the counties where they're located. The findings are based on data from Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, the Carolinas, New York and Ohio that publicly reported COVID-19 data from nursing homes and residential care settings through May 29.
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In those states, the percentage of COVID-19 deaths ranged from 3.32% in North Carolina to 9.26% in Connecticut, while the percentage of COVID-19 deaths in assisted living communities in those states ranged from 12.89% to 31.59% -- although fewer than 10% of assisted living communities reported being affected by the pandemic.
Assisted living communities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic residents had more COVID-19 cases, but not more deaths.
"As in the nursing home study, we also see that assisted living communities with more minority residents have more cases, and we confirm that communities with a higher proportion of residents with dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity, experienced more COVID-19 cases," said study leader Helena Temkin-Greener, professor of public health sciences.
Unlike nursing homes, assisted living communities are regulated by states, not the federal government, and there are "varying degrees of rigor" in their oversight, she said in the release.
The study noted several factors make assisted living communities "ill-prepared" to deal with a pandemic. They're often short of money, care for increasingly sicker residents, have limited oversight and have staff and personal protective equipment shortages.
The workers providing daily care are often personal care aides rather than certified nursing assistants or registered nurses, and they receive little if any training in the use of PPE, the researchers said.
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The findings were published Sept. 21 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on nursing homes and COVID-19.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-22--Man wins lottery jackpot after using same numbers for 12 years

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- A Missouri man who has been using the same set of lottery numbers for more than 10 years won a $ 50,000 jackpot -- just two years after collecting a $ 19,000 prize .
Dan Dampf of Jefferson City told Missouri Lottery officials he has been using the same 10 numbers to play Show Me Cash since the game began in 2008 , and his persistence paid off when the numbers 2-21-27-33-39 came up in the Sept. 8 drawing .
`` It finally hit , so I was really excited , '' Dampf said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally won . ''
He said the win was n't his first brush with lottery luck .
`` Two years ago I was playing Pick 4 , and I won $ 19,000 , which was my biggest win ever , '' Dampf said .
`` So [ now ] , this was the biggest win I 've ever had . ''
Dampf said the jackpot will allow him to pay off his bills and buy some new woodworking equipment .
`` It 's a new hobby I picked , so I 'll have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retirement , '' he said .

Dan Dampf of Jefferson City, Mo., said the numbers that scored him a $50,000 jackpot from the state's Show Me Cash drawing were the same numbers he has used in the game since it began in 2008. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A Missouri man who has been using the same set of lottery numbers for more than 10 years won a $50,000 jackpot -- just two years after collecting a $19,000 prize. Dan Dampf of Jefferson City told Missouri Lottery officials he has been using the same 10 numbers to play Show Me Cash since the game began in 2008, and his persistence paid off when the numbers 2-21-27-33-39 came up in the Sept. 8 drawing. Advertisement
"It finally hit, so I was really excited," Dampf said. "I was blessed that I finally won."
He said the win wasn't his first brush with lottery luck.
"Two years ago I was playing Pick 4, and I won $19,000, which was my biggest win ever," Dampf said. "So [now], this was the biggest win I've ever had."
Dampf said the jackpot will allow him to pay off his bills and buy some new woodworking equipment.
"It's a new hobby I picked, so I'll have something to do when I get closer to retirement," he said.


upi--2020-09-22--Once-a-week insulin for Type 2 diabetes shows promise in trial

Type 2 diabetes can be tough to control without medication .
But for some people , the thought of daily shots makes them delay or avoid starting insulin therapy .
Now , new research offers some hope for those insulin avoiders -- a once-a-week insulin injection may someday replace daily shots .
A phase 2 trial compared the new weekly insulin , called icodec , to the commonly used insulin glargine -- marketed as Lantus and Basaglar -- and found the new insulin led to a similar reduction in blood sugar levels .
The weekly insulin also had a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This is the first once-a-week injectable insulin , and this study suggests it 's as effective as taking insulin daily .
If it does well through scrutiny in phase 3 trials , it could make life easier for people with type 2 diabetes , '' explained Dr. Robert Gabbay , chief science and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association .
`` Getting people to start insulin is often a challenge , but if you only have to do it once a week , that may help , '' he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting weekly injections , Gabbay said , they 'll likely `` be more adherent , have better blood sugar control and then fewer complications . ''
The study was funded by icodec 's manufacturer , Novo Nordisk in Denmark .
HealthDay reached out to the study researchers for comment , but they were unavailable .
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body process sugars from foods .
Insulin ushers sugar from the blood into the body 's cells , where it can be used for fuel .
People with type 2 diabetes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they may not make enough insulin to keep up with the body 's demands .
That 's when people with type 2 diabetes often need to start taking insulin .
In people with type 1 diabetes , the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy insulin-producing cells , destroying most of them .
People with type 1 diabetes have no choice but to take insulin by injection or via an insulin pump .
The latest study included nearly 250 people with type 2 diabetes , aged 18 to 75 .
None had received long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants ' diabetes was considered inadequately controlled , with A1Cs of 7 % to 9.5 % .
A1C is a measure that estimates blood sugar levels over two months or so .
A1C goals vary by individual , but often the goal is to be under 7 % .
During the six-month trial , half of the participants were randomly assigned to take weekly injections of icodec .
The remaining volunteers took insulin glargine daily .
By the end of the trial , people taking icodec saw a 1.33 percentage point drop in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped by 1.15 percentage points .
Both groups had average A1Cs under 7 % after starting insulin therapy .
One concern with any type of insulin therapy is low blood sugar , or hypoglycemia .
Taking insulin is a balancing act .
Too little insulin and your blood sugar levels stay too high , which can eventually lead to complications if that happens regularly .
Too much insulin can cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels that can make you feel awful , and lead to unconsciousness and even death if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulin had similar levels of severe hypoglycemic events .
Most of the adverse events in this trial were mild , however .
Dr. Akankasha Goyal , an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City , said , `` This is a very promising , innovative treatment .
The insulin gradually releases over seven days .
So far , the efficacy and safety are similar between icodec and insulin glargine . ''
Goyal added , `` Right now , insulin is a daily injection and we have a lot of resistance toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the once-a-week injection is a selling point . ''
Both Gabbay and Goyal said they can envision multiple groups that could be helped by a weekly insulin .
One group , Gabbay noted , is older teens and young adults who have unpredictable lifestyles and might miss taking a daily insulin around the same time every day .
Another is elderly patients -- whether they live on their own , have visiting nurse services or live in a nursing home .
`` Making insulin simpler for people facing physical or cognitive challenges who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially a benefit of weekly insulin .
The chance for an error is less if medication is given once a week rather than seven times , '' Gabbay explained .
Goyal said family or friends often assist her elderly patients , which can be tough if they need daily insulin .
She said weekly insulin could certainly help in that situation .
Novo Nordisk hopes to start its phase 3 trials of icodec later this year .
If all goes well in the phase 3 trials , Goyal and Gabbay both expect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes .
The report , by Dr. Julio Rosenstock of the Dallas Diabetes Research Center at Medical City in Dallas , and colleagues was published Sept. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine .
Learn more about insulin from the American Diabetes Association .

Researchers say once-a-week insulin has shown promise in early trials and may eventually replace daily shots for many with Type 2 diabetes. Photo by Myriams-Fotos /Pixabay
Type 2 diabetes can be tough to control without medication. But for some people, the thought of daily shots makes them delay or avoid starting insulin therapy. Now, new research offers some hope for those insulin avoiders -- a once-a-week insulin injection may someday replace daily shots. Advertisement
A phase 2 trial compared the new weekly insulin, called icodec, to the commonly used insulin glargine -- marketed as Lantus and Basaglar -- and found the new insulin led to a similar reduction in blood sugar levels. The weekly insulin also had a similar safety profile to daily insulin glargine.
"This is the first once-a-week injectable insulin, and this study suggests it's as effective as taking insulin daily. If it does well through scrutiny in phase 3 trials, it could make life easier for people with type 2 diabetes," explained Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief science and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association.
Advertisement
"Getting people to start insulin is often a challenge, but if you only have to do it once a week, that may help," he added.
Once people get over the hurdle of starting weekly injections, Gabbay said, they'll likely "be more adherent, have better blood sugar control and then fewer complications."
The study was funded by icodec's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk in Denmark. HealthDay reached out to the study researchers for comment, but they were unavailable.
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body process sugars from foods. Insulin ushers sugar from the blood into the body's cells, where it can be used for fuel.
People with type 2 diabetes usually don't use insulin efficiently, and they may not make enough insulin to keep up with the body's demands. That's when people with type 2 diabetes often need to start taking insulin.
In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy insulin-producing cells, destroying most of them. People with type 1 diabetes have no choice but to take insulin by injection or via an insulin pump.
The latest study included nearly 250 people with type 2 diabetes, aged 18 to 75. None had received long-term insulin therapy before the trial.
Advertisement
The participants' diabetes was considered inadequately controlled, with A1Cs of 7% to 9.5%. A1C is a measure that estimates blood sugar levels over two months or so. A1C goals vary by individual, but often the goal is to be under 7%.
During the six-month trial, half of the participants were randomly assigned to take weekly injections of icodec. The remaining volunteers took insulin glargine daily.
By the end of the trial, people taking icodec saw a 1.33 percentage point drop in their A1C. The insulin glargine group dropped by 1.15 percentage points. Both groups had average A1Cs under 7% after starting insulin therapy.
One concern with any type of insulin therapy is low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Taking insulin is a balancing act. Too little insulin and your blood sugar levels stay too high, which can eventually lead to complications if that happens regularly. Too much insulin can cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels that can make you feel awful, and lead to unconsciousness and even death if left untreated.
The two types of insulin had similar levels of severe hypoglycemic events. Most of the adverse events in this trial were mild, however.
Dr. Akankasha Goyal, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City, said, "This is a very promising, innovative treatment. The insulin gradually releases over seven days. So far, the efficacy and safety are similar between icodec and insulin glargine."
Advertisement
Goyal added, "Right now, insulin is a daily injection and we have a lot of resistance toward it. Icodec is more convenient and the once-a-week injection is a selling point."
Both Gabbay and Goyal said they can envision multiple groups that could be helped by a weekly insulin. One group, Gabbay noted, is older teens and young adults who have unpredictable lifestyles and might miss taking a daily insulin around the same time every day.
Another is elderly patients -- whether they live on their own, have visiting nurse services or live in a nursing home.
"Making insulin simpler for people facing physical or cognitive challenges who are cared for by another person is potentially a benefit of weekly insulin. The chance for an error is less if medication is given once a week rather than seven times," Gabbay explained.
Goyal said family or friends often assist her elderly patients, which can be tough if they need daily insulin. She said weekly insulin could certainly help in that situation.
Novo Nordisk hopes to start its phase 3 trials of icodec later this year.
If all goes well in the phase 3 trials, Goyal and Gabbay both expect the drug will eventually be available to people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Advertisement
The report, by Dr. Julio Rosenstock of the Dallas Diabetes Research Center at Medical City in Dallas, and colleagues was published Sept. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More information
Learn more about insulin from the American Diabetes Association.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-22--CDC: Americans were more likely to cooperate with contact tracing before COVID-19

The CDC found that up to 48% of people with COVID-19 told contact tracers they haven't had any face-to-face contact with anyone. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Contact tracers in two North Carolina counties have struggled to get COVID-19-positive patients to cooperate with investigations to notify people of their potential exposure to the virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report released Tuesday. Using the contact information the participants provided, contact tracers were unable to reach 25% to 48% of people potentially exposed. Advertisement
The CDC's report is based on a review of contact tracing in Mecklenburg and Randolph counties between June 1 and July 12.
In Mecklenburg County, contact tracers attempted to investigate 5,514 people with confirmed cases of coronavirus, 48% of whom said they didn't come into contact with anyone. For those who did provide contact information of the people they came into contact with, investigators were able to establish contact with 75% of those acquaintances.
In Randolph County, contact tracers investigated 584 people with coronavirus, 35% of whom said they didn't come into contact with anyone. Investigators were able to contact 52% of the acquaintances for whom information was provided.
"The relatively low participation and cooperation with contact tracing suggests a lack of community support and engagement with contact tracing," the CDC said. "This, coupled with delays in testing results are contributing to ongoing transmission."
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The CDC said the percentage of people in both counties who said they didn't come into contact with anyone was high compared with other infectious diseases contact tracers investigated before the pandemic.
The agency said this may be because it's hard for contact tracers to establish a rapport with people over the telephone, and the patients may have worried about subjecting their acquaintances to quarantine measures.
The CDC said the results from its study of the two counties is comparable to other locations in the United States. Maryland and New Jersey, for example, said 50% and 52% of cases, respectively, report having no contacts.
According to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker, the United States has had 6.8 million cases of the virus and surpassed 200,000 dead Tuesday.
COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City


upi--2020-09-22--Watch: Police, firefighters rescue 'butthead' steer stuck in mud pit

Sept. 22 ( UPI ) -- Police and firefighters in Florida teamed up to rescue a `` butthead '' steer @ @ @ @ @ responders as they worked to free it from a mud pit .
The Volusia County @ @ @ @ @ responded alongside firefighters Sunday when the steer was found stuck up to its shoulders in @ @ @ @ @ .
Body camera footage of the rescue shows several emergency responders working to free the @ @ @ @ @ 're trying to help you , butthead , '' one of the rescuers says as @ @ @ @ @ helpers .
One of the rescuers ended up getting into the mud pit to wrap @ @ @ @ @ steer 's body so it could be pulled to dry land .

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Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Police and firefighters in Florida teamed up to rescue a "butthead" steer that struggled against the emergency responders as they worked to free it from a mud pit.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded alongside firefighters Sunday when the steer was found stuck up to its shoulders in mud in the Barberville area.
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Body camera footage of the rescue shows several emergency responders working to free the trapped bovine.
"We're trying to help you, butthead," one of the rescuers says as the steer struggles against its helpers.
One of the rescuers ended up getting into the mud pit to wrap a fire hose around the steer's body so it could be pulled to dry land.


upi--2020-09-23--In photos: Notable deaths of 2020

In photos: Notable deaths of 2020

National Baseball Hall of Fame member Lou Brock waves to the fans as he rides in a car around the @ @ @ @ @ Day in St. Louis on April 5 , 2019 .
The former St. Louis player @ @ @ @ @ to two World Series titles , died on September 6 at the age of 81 @ @ @ @ @

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--2020-09-23--Police evacuate Eiffel Tower in Paris after bomb threat

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- French authorities evacuated the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Wednesday after police received a @ @ @ @ @ .
The company that operates the iconic 131-year-old tower said the evacuation was a precautionary @ @ @ @ @ provide additional information about the specifics of the threat .
Police cordoned off streets around @ @ @ @ @ the bridge that crosses the Seine River to Paris ' Trocadero Plaza .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ per day visit the Eiffel Tower under normal circumstances .
The visits have declined , @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 .
The tower was closed for several months this year following the @ @ @ @ @ begun to reopen .
There have been a number of terrorist attacks in France in @ @ @ @ @ 80 people were killed in a vehicle attack in Nice in 2016 and 130 died @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 .

Police stand guard at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on Wednesday after receiving a bomb threat against the landmark. Photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA-EFE
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- French authorities evacuated the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Wednesday after police received a bomb threat, officials said. The company that operates the iconic 131-year-old tower said the evacuation was a precautionary measure, but did not provide additional information about the specifics of the threat. Advertisement
Police cordoned off streets around the Eiffel Tower and barricaded the bridge that crosses the Seine River to Paris' Trocadero Plaza.
It's estimated that about 25,000 tourists per day visit the Eiffel Tower under normal circumstances. The visits have declined, however, in recent months due to COVID-19.
The tower was closed for several months this year following the pandemic, but has gradually begun to reopen.
There have been a number of terrorist attacks in France in recent years. More than 80 people were killed in a vehicle attack in Nice in 2016 and 130 died in coordinated attacks in Paris in 2015.


upi--2020-09-23--Warmer air, soil temperatures are driving greening in the Arctic

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- New data , collected and analyzed by scientists with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey , suggests rising air and soil temperatures are accelerating plant growth across tundra ecosystems , causing much of the Arctic to green , according to a study published this week in the journal Nature Communications .
`` The Arctic tundra is one of the coldest biomes on Earth , and it 's also one of the most rapidly warming , '' lead researcher Logan Berner said in a news release .
`` This Arctic greening we see is really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a biome-scale response to rising air temperatures , '' said Berner , a global change ecologist with Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff .
Greening can encompass new colonization by tundra grasses or by already present grasses becoming thicker .
The phenomenon can also involve the encroachment of shrubs into acreage typically dominated by grasses and moss .
To measure greening trends , researchers used images collected by NASA 's Landsat spacecraft .
The satellites have been imaging tundra across Alaska , Canada and western Eurasia for the past several decades .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of measurements because it gathers data on a much finer scale than what was previously used , '' said Scott Goetz , a professor at Northern Arizona University .
Using computer algorithms , researchers randomly selected plots to measure greening trends .
They found more 38 percent of the plots imaged between 1985 and 2016 showed evidence of greening , and just 3 percent showed signs of declining plant growth , or browning .
Beginning in 2000 , Landsat craft also began imaging eastern Eurasian tundra sites .
Analysis showed 22 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last two decades , while 4 percent showed signs of browning .
`` Whether it 's since 1985 or 2000 , we see this greening of the Arctic evident in the Landsat record , '' Berner said .
`` And we see this biome-scale greening at the same time and over the same period as we see really rapid increases in summer air temperatures . ''
Researchers used climate data as well as measurements made in field study sites in the Arctic to provide context for their new analysis .
The research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures , greening trends were associated warming soil temperatures , as well as higher soil moisture , the scientists said .

More than a third of Arctic tundra has experienced greening over the last few decades. Photo by Logan Berner/Northern Arizona University
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- New data, collected and analyzed by scientists with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, suggests rising air and soil temperatures are accelerating plant growth across tundra ecosystems, causing much of the Arctic to green, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature Communications. "The Arctic tundra is one of the coldest biomes on Earth, and it's also one of the most rapidly warming," lead researcher Logan Berner said in a news release. Advertisement
"This Arctic greening we see is really a bellwether of global climatic change -- it's a biome-scale response to rising air temperatures," said Berner, a global change ecologist with Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
Greening can encompass new colonization by tundra grasses or by already present grasses becoming thicker. The phenomenon can also involve the encroachment of shrubs into acreage typically dominated by grasses and moss.
To measure greening trends, researchers used images collected by NASA's Landsat spacecraft. The satellites have been imaging tundra across Alaska, Canada and western Eurasia for the past several decades.
"Landsat is key for these kinds of measurements because it gathers data on a much finer scale than what was previously used," said Scott Goetz, a professor at Northern Arizona University.
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Using computer algorithms, researchers randomly selected plots to measure greening trends. They found more 38 percent of the plots imaged between 1985 and 2016 showed evidence of greening, and just 3 percent showed signs of declining plant growth, or browning.
Beginning in 2000, Landsat craft also began imaging eastern Eurasian tundra sites. Analysis showed 22 percent of eastern Eurasian tundra sites have greened over the last two decades, while 4 percent showed signs of browning.
"Whether it's since 1985 or 2000, we see this greening of the Arctic evident in the Landsat record," Berner said. "And we see this biome-scale greening at the same time and over the same period as we see really rapid increases in summer air temperatures."
Researchers used climate data as well as measurements made in field study sites in the Arctic to provide context for their new analysis.
The research confirms that in addition to rising air temperatures, greening trends were associated warming soil temperatures, as well as higher soil moisture, the scientists said.


upi--2020-09-23--Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers dies at 77

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Gale Sayers , the Hall of Fame running back who starred for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s , died on Monday .
He was 77 .
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Sayers ' death .
His cause of death was not disclosed .
Sayers was diagnosed with dementia in 2013 .
`` All those who love the game of football mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever play this game with the passing of Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers , '' Hall of Fame President David Baker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a team player -- quiet , unassuming and always ready to compliment a teammate for a key block .
Gale was an extraordinary man who overcame a great deal of adversity during his NFL career and life . ''
Sayers entered the NFL as the No .
4 overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft .
He played his entire seven-year career with the Bears .
The five-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection dealt with numerous injuries , which shortened his professional football tenure .
He was the 1965 Offensive Rookie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rushing yards in 1966 and 1969 before he was limited to just four games from 1970 through 1971 due to knee injuries .
Sayers was the league 's all-time leader in kickoff return yards at the time of his retirement .
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and remains the youngest person in history ( 34 ) to receive the honor .
Sayers ' friendship with Bears teammate Brian Piccolo -- who died of cancer in 1970 -- inspired Sayers book I am Third .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Song .
The Wichita , Kan. , native was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977 .
His jersey No .
48 is retired at the University of Kansas and his jersey No .
40 is retired by the Bears .
Sayers also served as the athletic director at Southern Illinois University from 1976 to 1981 after he retired from the NFL .
`` The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Gale , '' Baker said .
`` Our thoughts and prayers are with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations .
`` The Hall of Fame flag will fly at half-staff until he is laid to rest . ''

Former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers, who died Wednesday after a battle with dementia, last appeared at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2019 to celebrate the team's 100th anniversary. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Gale Sayers, the Hall of Fame running back who starred for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s, died Monday at age 77. The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Sayers' death. His son, Guy Bullard, told the New York Times that his father dad died as the result of complications of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Sayers died at his home in Wakarusa, Ind. Advertisement
"All those who love the game of football mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever play this game with the passing of Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers," Hall of Fame president David Baker said.
"He was the very essence of a team player -- quiet, unassuming and always ready to compliment a teammate for a key block. Gale was an extraordinary man who overcame a great deal of adversity during his NFL career and life."
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Sayers was diagnosed with dementia in 2013. He used a wheelchair when he appeared at the Bears' 100 year anniversary celebration in 2019 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
"Sayers amplified what it meant to be a Chicago Bear both on and off the field," the Bears said. "He was regarded as an extraordinary teammate, leader, husband and father."
Sayers entered the NFL as the No. 4 overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft and played his seven-year career with the Bears. The five-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection dealt with numerous injuries, which shortened his professional football tenure.
"Will miss a great friend who helped me become the player I became because after practicing and scrimmaging against Gale I knew I could play against anybody," Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus said in a statement.
"We lost one of the best Bears ever and more importantly we lost a great person."
Sayers was the 1965 Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the NFL in rushing yards in 1966 and 1969 before he was limited to just four games from 1970 through 1971 due to knee injuries. He was the league's all-time leader in kickoff return yards at the time of his retirement.
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Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and remains the youngest person in history (34) to receive the honor.
Sayers' friendship with Bears teammate Brian Piccolo -- who died of cancer in 1970 -- inspired Sayers' autobiography I am Third. The book inspired the 1971 movie Brian's Song. Actor Billy Dee Williams portrayed Sayers in the film.
"My heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend, Gale Sayers," Williams tweeted Wednesday. "Portraying Gale in Brian's Song was a true honor and one of the highlights of my career.
"He was an extraordinary human being with the the kindest heart."
Sayers, a Wichita, Kan., native was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. His jersey, No. 48, is retired at the University of Kansas and his jersey, No. 40, is retired by the Bears.
"The NFL family lost a true friend today with the passing of Gale Sayers," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Gale was one of the finest men in NFL history and one of the game's most exciting players."
Sayers also served as the athletic director at Southern Illinois University from 1976 to 1981 after he retired from the NFL. He also founded a computer supply company.
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He is survived by his wife, Ardythe Elaine Bullard, five sons and a daughter.
"The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Gale," Baker said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, 'Ardie,' and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations.
"The Hall of Fame flag will fly at half-staff until he is laid to rest."
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-09-23--South Korean likely marooned in North Korea waters, reports say

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- A South Korean national who went missing on Monday is believed to be in North Korean territory .
A source with the South Korean National Assembly 's National Defense Committee told local news service News 1 on Wednesday South Korean military authorities have confirmed the presence of a `` moving object '' in North Korean waters not far from the disputed Northern Limit Line , a maritime border on the western side of the Korean Peninsula .
News 1 's source said the moving object is likely to be a person on a boat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual is the missing South Korean national , an officer with Seoul 's fisheries ministry .
A defense ministry source told South Korean news service Money Today on Wednesday the missing person was `` first detected '' on Tuesday afternoon in North Korean waters .
Fellow crewmembers of the missing man noticed their colleague had disappeared , along with his 499-ton fishery patrol boat , about 11:30 a.m. Monday , Money Today reported .
A search only turned up slippers , presumably belonging to the 47-year-old officer .
The crewmembers notified South Korean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed police , naval ships , other marine vessels and even aircraft , more than 20 carriers in total , in response to the call .
The search did not turn up survivors .
According to News 1 , it is likely the officer , who disappeared about a mile from Soyeonpyeong Island , in the Ongjin County of Incheon , did not defect to the North .
`` It is not within swimming distance .
It does not appear to be an intentional crossing into the North , '' sources said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disputed NLL .

A South Korean man went missing in waters near North Korea about a mile from Soyeonpyeong Island, in the Ongjin County of Incheon, South Korea, on Monday. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A South Korean national who went missing on Monday is believed to be in North Korean territory. A source with the South Korean National Assembly's National Defense Committee told local news service News 1 on Wednesday South Korean military authorities have confirmed the presence of a "moving object" in North Korean waters not far from the disputed Northern Limit Line, a maritime border on the western side of the Korean Peninsula. Advertisement
News 1's source said the moving object is likely to be a person on a boat, but it is unclear whether the individual is the missing South Korean national, an officer with Seoul's fisheries ministry.
A defense ministry source told South Korean news service Money Today on Wednesday the missing person was "first detected" on Tuesday afternoon in North Korean waters.
The evidence is undergoing "detailed analysis," Money Today reported Wednesday.
Fellow crewmembers of the missing man noticed their colleague had disappeared, along with his 499-ton fishery patrol boat, about 11:30 a.m. Monday, Money Today reported. A search only turned up slippers, presumably belonging to the 47-year-old officer. The crewmembers notified South Korean maritime police.
Authorities have so far deployed police, naval ships, other marine vessels and even aircraft, more than 20 carriers in total, in response to the call. The search did not turn up survivors.
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According to News 1, it is likely the officer, who disappeared about a mile from Soyeonpyeong Island, in the Ongjin County of Incheon, did not defect to the North.
"It is not within swimming distance. It does not appear to be an intentional crossing into the North," sources said.
Soyeonpyeong Island is about six miles from the disputed NLL.


upi--2020-09-23--Watch: Teddi Mellencamp confirms 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' exit

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Teddi Mellencamp is leaving The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills .
In an Instagram post Tuesday , the 39-year-old television personality confirmed her exit from the Bravo series after three seasons .
`` You heard it here last , '' Mellencamp wrote .
`` Yes , it 's true , I am not coming back to # RHOBH .
Thank you @ bravotv , @ evolutionusa , @ bravoandy and all of the amazing women for the support ( and the shade ) for the past three years .
Back to the shadows I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video featuring her daughter Dove , 6 months .
Mellencamp told fans she was not asked back for RHOBH Season 11 .
`` I recently found out that my contract as a housewife is not being renewed , '' the star said .
`` Of course I could give you the standard response of 'we both came to the decision that it would be best ' ... nah .
I 'm not going to do that . ''
`` Of course when I got the news I was sad , '' she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost , because you develop such strong relationships with the cast , with the crew , and you get to do incredible things that you probably never get to experience without the show . ''
Mellencamp said she is `` really looking forward to the future '' and is focusing on her family and friends .
`` I really feel like I have some exciting things ahead .
And you know what ?
I 'm pretty busy with this lil ' nuggs , '' she said , referencing Dove .
Mellencamp joined RHOBH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the # PuppyGate scandal in Season 9 and in the drama over Denise Richards ' alleged affair with Brandi Glanville in Season 10 .
Richards confirmed earlier this month that she is leaving RHOBH after two seasons .
Mellencamp , the daughter of singer John Mellencamp , married Edwin Arroyave in July 2011 .
In addition to Dove , the couple are parents to daughter Slate , 7 , and son Cruz , 6 .

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Teddi Mellencamp is leaving The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
In an Instagram post Tuesday, the 39-year-old television personality confirmed her exit from the Bravo series after three seasons.
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"You heard it here last," Mellencamp wrote. "Yes, it's true, I am not coming back to #RHOBH. Thank you @bravotv, @evolutionusa, @bravoandy and all of the amazing women for the support (and the shade) for the past three years. Back to the shadows I go."
Mellencamp elaborated in a video featuring her daughter Dove, 6 months. Mellencamp told fans she was not asked back for RHOBH Season 11.
"I recently found out that my contract as a housewife is not being renewed," the star said. "Of course I could give you the standard response of 'we both came to the decision that it would be best' ... nah. I'm not going to do that."
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"Of course when I got the news I was sad," she added. "It feels like a breakup almost, because you develop such strong relationships with the cast, with the crew, and you get to do incredible things that you probably never get to experience without the show."
Mellencamp said she is "really looking forward to the future" and is focusing on her family and friends.
"I really feel like I have some exciting things ahead. And you know what? I'm pretty busy with this lil' nuggs," she said, referencing Dove.
Mellencamp joined RHOBH in Season 8. She was involved in the #PuppyGate scandal in Season 9 and in the drama over Denise Richards' alleged affair with Brandi Glanville in Season 10.
Richards confirmed earlier this month that she is leaving RHOBH after two seasons.
Mellencamp, the daughter of singer John Mellencamp, married Edwin Arroyave in July 2011. In addition to Dove, the couple are parents to daughter Slate, 7, and son Cruz, 6.


upi--2020-09-23--Buccaneers coach Arians 'not concerned' with lack of catches for Rob Gronkowski

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Rob Gronkowski has just two catches for 11 yards and has n't scored through two weeks this season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
But coach Bruce Arians says he is n't concerned with the tight end 's lack of production .
Gronkowski , 31 , was targeted just once and did not have a catch in the Buccaneers ' win over the Carolina Panthers Sunday in Tampa , Fla. '' We 're not throwing the ball 50 times to tight ends -- that 's what we have receivers for [ and ] that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Arians told reporters .
`` 'Gronk ' [ had ] great run blocking in the fourth quarter , so I 'm not concerned with his pass catches or his targets . ''
Gronkowski came out of retirement this off-season to join quarterback Tom Brady on the Buccaneers ' new-look roster .
He had 47 catches for 682 yards and three scores in 13 games during his final season with the New England Patriots in 2018 before he skipped the 2019 season .
The five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during most of his tenure in New England , but is much lower on the target priority list for the Buccaneers .
His role is unlikely to increase going forward as Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are now healthy ahead of Week 3 .
`` I do n't think they 're paying that much attention to him , '' Arians said of opposing teams that defend Gronkowski .
`` Tom [ Brady ] has the ball [ and ] he decides where it 's going , so he 's reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're giving him .
`` We do n't force passes to anybody . ''
The Buccaneers face the Denver Broncos in Week 3 .
Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell downplayed Tampa Bay 's tight end talent when asked about the unit on Tuesday .
The Buccaneers also have O.J .
Howard and Cameron Brate at tight end on their depth chart .
Howard has five catches for 47 yards and a score despite being out-snapped by Gronkowski .
Brate has yet to make a catch this season after a 36-catch , four-touchdown campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're pretty good .
I do n't know about best , '' Jewell told reporters .
`` I 'd have to really look back at that .
'Gronk ' is good , really good .
He 's tall , a tall big guy .
`` You have to get your hands on [ them ] and reroute and stuff like that .
Looking into this week , we 're really going to have to look into tight ends and how to defeat them with maybe getting more pressure on them or getting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's going to be a fun week .
I 'm excited for it . ''
The Buccaneers face the Broncos at 4:25 p.m. EDT Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver .

Rob Gronkowski (pictured) failed to make a catch in Week 2, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians praised the tight end's blocking ability against the Carolina Panthers instead of criticizing his lack of production. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Rob Gronkowski has just two catches for 11 yards and hasn't scored through two weeks this season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But coach Bruce Arians says he isn't concerned with the tight end's lack of production. Gronkowski, 31, was targeted just once and did not have a catch in the Buccaneers' win over the Carolina Panthers Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Advertisement
"We're not throwing the ball 50 times to tight ends -- that's what we have receivers for [and] that's the way our offense is built," Arians told reporters. "'Gronk' [had] great run blocking in the fourth quarter, so I'm not concerned with his pass catches or his targets."
Gronkowski came out of retirement this off-season to join quarterback Tom Brady on the Buccaneers' new-look roster. He had 47 catches for 682 yards and three scores in 13 games during his final season with the New England Patriots in 2018 before he skipped the 2019 season.
The five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro was the No. 1 option for Brady during most of his tenure in New England, but is much lower on the target priority list for the Buccaneers. His role is unlikely to increase going forward as Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are now healthy ahead of Week 3.
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"I don't think they're paying that much attention to him," Arians said of opposing teams that defend Gronkowski. "Tom [Brady] has the ball [and] he decides where it's going, so he's reading the defenses and he's taking whatever they're giving him.
"We don't force passes to anybody."
The Buccaneers face the Denver Broncos in Week 3. Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell downplayed Tampa Bay's tight end talent when asked about the unit on Tuesday. The Buccaneers also have O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate at tight end on their depth chart.
Howard has five catches for 47 yards and a score despite being out-snapped by Gronkowski. Brate has yet to make a catch this season after a 36-catch, four-touchdown campaign in 2019.
"I think they're pretty good. I don't know about best," Jewell told reporters. "I'd have to really look back at that. 'Gronk' is good, really good. He's tall, a tall big guy.
"You have to get your hands on [them] and reroute and stuff like that. Looking into this week, we're really going to have to look into tight ends and how to defeat them with maybe getting more pressure on them or getting more physical with them and stuff like that. It's going to be a fun week. I'm excited for it."
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The Buccaneers face the Broncos at 4:25 p.m. EDT Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-09-23--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Sept. 20, 2020

From left to right , Cleveland Indians Jose Ramirez , Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor celebrate after Ramirez hit a @ @ @ @ @ Sox Dane Dunning in Cleveland on Monday .
The Indians defeated the White Sox 7-4 @ @ @ @ @

Miami Marlins players celebrate with a team photo on the mound after defeating the New York Yankees 4-3 and clinching a playoff birth in New York City on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-09-23--Johnson & Johnson begins final trial phase for COVID-19 vaccine

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Johnson & Johnson announced Wednesday that it has begun the third and final phase of clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine .
The pharma company said the late-stage trial for its JNJ-78436735 candidate will include 60,000 adult volunteers in 215 locations worldwide .
Code-named `` Ensemble , '' the third-phase trial follows positive results in an earlier study in which the vaccine -- which is being developed by Johnson & Johnson 's Janssen Pharmaceutic Companies subsidiary -- was shown to be safe , company officials said .
The results of that trial will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky .
`` This pivotal milestone demonstrates our focused efforts toward a COVID-19 vaccine that are built on collaboration and deep commitment to a robust scientific process , '' Gorsky said in a statement .
`` We are committed to clinical trial transparency and to sharing information related to our study , including details of our study protocol . ''
The vaccine is among four that have been supported by the Trump administration 's Operation Warp Speed program to reach Phase 3 trials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pfizer and AstraZeneca .
The Ensemble trial is partly funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and will seek to enroll participants in the United States , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru and South Africa .
`` Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the United States just over eight months after [ the novel coronavirus ] was identified , '' NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a statement Wednesday .
`` This is an unprecedented feat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of progress in vaccine technology and a coordinated , strategic approach across government , industry and academia . ''
Multiple COVID-19 vaccines will likely be needed to meet global demand , Fauci said , adding that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine `` may be especially useful in controlling the pandemic if shown to be protective after a single dose . ''
A number of potential coronavirus vaccines are now in various stages of development .
Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker .

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may ultimately be "especially useful in controlling the pandemic." File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Johnson & Johnson announced Wednesday that it has begun the third and final phase of clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine. The pharma company said the late-stage trial for its JNJ-78436735 candidate will include 60,000 adult volunteers in 215 locations worldwide. Advertisement
Code-named "Ensemble," the third-phase trial follows positive results in an earlier study in which the vaccine -- which is being developed by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceutic Companies subsidiary -- was shown to be safe, company officials said.
The results of that trial will be published for peer review "imminently," said Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky.
"This pivotal milestone demonstrates our focused efforts toward a COVID-19 vaccine that are built on collaboration and deep commitment to a robust scientific process," Gorsky said in a statement.
"We are committed to clinical trial transparency and to sharing information related to our study, including details of our study protocol."
The vaccine is among four that have been supported by the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed program to reach Phase 3 trials, along with candidates in development at Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
The Ensemble trial is partly funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and will seek to enroll participants in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and South Africa.
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"Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the United States just over eight months after [the novel coronavirus] was identified," NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a statement Wednesday.
"This is an unprecedented feat for the scientific community made possible by decades of progress in vaccine technology and a coordinated, strategic approach across government, industry and academia."
Multiple COVID-19 vaccines will likely be needed to meet global demand, Fauci said, adding that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine "may be especially useful in controlling the pandemic if shown to be protective after a single dose."
A number of potential coronavirus vaccines are now in various stages of development. Click here for our COVID-19 vaccine tracker.


upi--2020-09-23--Watch: Chelsea Clinton says love of sports led to new 'She Persisted' book

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Chelsea Clinton appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed her newly released children 's book , She Persisted in Sports .
The book is the third in Chelsea Clinton 's She Persisted series and is centered on the accomplishments of women in sports .
Chelsea Clinton wrote the book , which features illustrations by Alexandra Boiger .
`` I 've always loved sports .
Loved like watching the Olympics as a kid .
It was the only time my parents let me watch unlimited television so I watched every sport , '' Chelsea Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have always found such personal inspiration from watching the achievements and the persistence of women on the field , on the court , on a mat , in a pool .
And those stories have meant so much to me in my life that I wanted to share some of the ones that had meant so much to me , '' she continued .
Chelsea Clinton , 40 , is the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former first lady 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton .
Chelsea Clinton also discussed spending time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how her parents are as grandparents to her children , 5-year-old Charlotte , 4-year-old Aidan and 1-year-old Jasper .
`` Aidan is obsessed with numbers and so he was super excited to find out that his pop-pop was like the 42nd president .
Like that there was a number attached to him just made my dad that much cooler in his eyes , '' Chelsea Clinton said .

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Chelsea Clinton appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed her newly released children's book, She Persisted in Sports.
The book is the third in Chelsea Clinton's She Persisted series and is centered on the accomplishments of women in sports. Chelsea Clinton wrote the book, which features illustrations by Alexandra Boiger.
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"I've always loved sports. Loved like watching the Olympics as a kid. It was the only time my parents let me watch unlimited television so I watched every sport," Chelsea Clinton said on Tuesday.
"I just have always found such personal inspiration from watching the achievements and the persistence of women on the field, on the court, on a mat, in a pool. And those stories have meant so much to me in my life that I wanted to share some of the ones that had meant so much to me," she continued.
Chelsea Clinton, 40, is the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former first lady 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Chelsea Clinton also discussed spending time with family during the COVID-19 pandemic and how her parents are as grandparents to her children, 5-year-old Charlotte, 4-year-old Aidan and 1-year-old Jasper.
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"Aidan is obsessed with numbers and so he was super excited to find out that his pop-pop was like the 42nd president. Like that there was a number attached to him just made my dad that much cooler in his eyes," Chelsea Clinton said.
Chelsea Clinton turns 40: A look back


upi--2020-09-23--Watch live: Afghan, Ukraine, Saudi, Iraq leaders speak at U.N. General Assembly

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani are among the leaders who will speak Wednesday at the 75th United Nations General Assembly .
Both leaders will speak in the afternoon session , which begins at 3 p.m. EDT .
The morning session begins at 9 a.m. Zelensky was at the center of the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump last year , which grew out of phone calls between the leaders in which they discussed investigating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son Hunter , a former Ukrainian gas company executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abused his power and obstructed a congressional investigation .
He was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House last December and acquitted in the Republican-held Senate in February .
Ghani 's U.S.-backed Afghanistan government is currently in peace talks with the Taliban , which could lead to the total withdrawal of U.S. forces .
The morning session will feature prerecorded addresses from Iraq President Barham Salih , whose country has seen protests over corruption and influence by Iran , and Lebanon President Michel Aoun .
Lebanon has been facing a severe economic crisis for years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires and explosions that have occurred over the past month , including one in early August in the Port of Beirut that killed almost 200 people .
Also giving remarks Wednesday are Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro , Poland President Andrzej Duda and Saudi Arabia King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud .
This year 's General Assembly is mostly virtual due to COVID-19 .
Secretary-general Antonio Guterres opened the high-level debate on Tuesday at U.N. headquarters in New York City , but all of the addresses , including that of U.S. President Donald Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jae-in , were made remotely .
Only one mask-wearing diplomat from each of the nations that make up the United Nations is permitted to sit in the General Assembly Hall during this year 's debate .

The United Nations building is seen Monday in New York City. Scheduled to speak Wednesday are dozens of leaders, including the presidents of Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iraq. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani are among the leaders who will speak Wednesday at the 75th United Nations General Assembly. Both leaders will speak in the afternoon session, which begins at 3 p.m. EDT. The morning session begins at 9 a.m. Advertisement
Zelensky was at the center of the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump last year, which grew out of phone calls between the leaders in which they discussed investigating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son Hunter, a former Ukrainian gas company executive.
The articles of impeachment said Trump abused his power and obstructed a congressional investigation. He was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House last December and acquitted in the Republican-held Senate in February.
Ghani's U.S.-backed Afghanistan government is currently in peace talks with the Taliban, which could lead to the total withdrawal of U.S. forces.
The morning session will feature prerecorded addresses from Iraq President Barham Salih, whose country has seen protests over corruption and influence by Iran, and Lebanon President Michel Aoun.
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Lebanon has been facing a severe economic crisis for years and is grappling with a series of fires and explosions that have occurred over the past month, including one in early August in the Port of Beirut that killed almost 200 people.
Also giving remarks Wednesday are Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Poland President Andrzej Duda and Saudi Arabia King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
This year's General Assembly is mostly virtual due to COVID-19. Secretary-general Antonio Guterres opened the high-level debate on Tuesday at U.N. headquarters in New York City, but all of the addresses, including that of U.S. President Donald Trump and a speech by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, were made remotely.
Only one mask-wearing diplomat from each of the nations that make up the United Nations is permitted to sit in the General Assembly Hall during this year's debate.


upi--2020-09-23--In photos: NASA's 16 women astronauts -- one likely to walk on moon

Tracy Caldwell Dyson pauses for a portrait in her spacesuit before going underwater in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at NASA @ @ @ @ @ Houston on July 8 , 2019 .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI

Jasmin Moghbeli
Moghbeli poses for a portrait in the Systems Engineering Simulator for the International Space Station and advanced spaceflight programs at the Johnson Space Center on July 9, 2019. She will train for the moon mission. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA