upi--2020-01-21--4th person in China dies from new virus as WHO convenes emergency meeting

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Chinese health officials said Tuesday a fourth person has died from a recently identified coronavirus as the World Health Organization calls for an emergency meeting over fears of it becoming an international concern .
Health officials in the central Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , said in a statement the death toll rose to four from the virus after an 89-year-old man named Chen died late Sunday , a day after being admitted to the hospital with severe breathing difficulties .
WHO said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine if the outbreak should be declared `` a public health emergency of international concern . ''
Health officials in Wuhan first confirmed it was treating patients suffering from pneumonia caused by an unknown virus on Dec. 31 .
The disease was soon identified as a coronavirus , similar to the one behind severe acute respiratory syndrome , better known as SARS , which killed hundreds of people in China in the early 2000s , and that it is believed to have originated from a now-closed Wuhan seafood market .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases separated by nearly 1,500 miles in Beijing and Shenzhen .
Confirmed cases have also turned up to hospitals in South Korea , Japan and Thailand with more than 100 suspected cases reported in Hong Kong .
In Australia , one man suffering from symptoms who recently visited Wuhan is under quarantine at his Brisbane residence as health authorities run tests to confirm if he is carrying the virus , Australia 's ABC reported .
By Tuesday , the number of confirmed cases in Wuhan was 198 with 224 cases of pneumonia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least nine patients were described as critically ill .
Fears over the disease 's spread have been stoked following WHO 's revelation that human-to-human transmission is possible after health officials initially said it was believed to be transferable only by animals .
Zhong Nanshan , director of the Guangzhou State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease , said Monday night on state-run television that the disease has been found in patients who lived hundreds of miles from Wuhan .
`` Now we can say it is certain that it is a human-to-human transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to battle the disease is to bar those with symptoms from leaving Wuhan , a city of some 11 million people and home to an international airport , he said .
`` At present , there is no special cure for this new coronavirus and [ we are ] conducting some tests with animals , '' he said .
`` We expect the number of infected cases will increase over the Lunar New Year travel period and we need to prevent the emergence of a super-spreader of the virus . ''
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to stop the spread of the disease .

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As the country braces for the Lunar New Year travel boom, there are concerns over a possible outbreak similar to that of the SARS virus in the early 2000s. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Chinese health officials said Tuesday a coronavirus has killed at least six people and sickened more than 300 as the World Health Organization called for an emergency meeting and confirmed it can be spread by humans. The death toll rose to six Tuesday evening after the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said a 66-year-old man and 48-year-old woman died Monday. Health officials said earlier the toll had risen to four. Advertisement
China's Health Commission announced 291 confirmed cased of the virus, with 77 new cases reported on Monday alone. Municipal health commissions of Zhejiang, Tianjin and Shanghai reported additional cases, pushing the number of infections up to 302.
The number of confirmed cases in Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, has risen to 270; Bejing has five, Guangdong province 14, Shanghai six, Zhejiang five and Tianjin two.
Wuhan announced new measures Tuesday to contain the outbreak, including the cancellation of upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations.
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The new measures follow President Xi Jinping ordering increased efforts to stop the spread of the disease Monday, but there are fears efforts to contain the virus impeded by Chinese bureaucracy have come too late. Hundreds of millions of Chinese are expected to travel across the country in the coming days ahead of the Lunar New Year, raising concerns of a potential increase in cases.
Health officials in Wuhan first confirmed it was treating patients suffering from pneumonia caused by an unknown virus on Dec. 31. Infrared temperature screening areas were installed in the city's airports and stations Jan. 14, according to state media.
The disease was soon identified as a coronavirus, similar to the one behind severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which killed hundreds of people in China in the early 2000s. It is believed to have originated from a now-closed Wuhan seafood market.
The new coronavirus has since spread throughout China with confirmed cases separated by nearly 1,500 miles in Beijing and Shenzhen. Confirmed cases have also turned up to hospitals in South Korea, Japan and Thailand with more than 100 suspected cases reported in Hong Kong.
In Australia, one man suffering from symptoms who recently visited Wuhan is under quarantine at his Brisbane residence as health authorities run tests to confirm if he is carrying the virus, Australia's ABC reported.
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Fears over the disease's spread have been stoked following WHO's revelation that human-to-human transmission is possible after officials initially said it was believed to be transferable only by animals.
Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, said Monday night on state-run television the disease has been found in patients who lived hundreds of miles from Wuhan.
"Now we can say it is certain that it is a human-to-human transmission phenomenon," he said.
The way to battle the disease is to bar those with symptoms from leaving Wuhan, a city of some 11 million people and home to an international airport, he said.
"At present, there is no special cure for this new coronavirus and [we are] conducting some tests with animals," he said. "We expect the number of infected cases will increase over the Lunar New Year travel period and we need to prevent the emergence of a super-spreader of the virus."
Fifteen medical staff treating infected patients have been diagnosed, CNA reported. Airports in Asia, Australia and the United States have introduced mandatory screenings for passengers arriving from Wuhan and those who present pneumonia symptoms will likely be quarantined.
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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for an emergency committee to convene Wednesday to determine if the outbreak should be declared "a public health emergency of international concern."


upi--2020-01-20--Trump, Pence commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with memorial visit

Jan. 20 ( UPI ) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise , unannounced trip to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to pay their respects to the federal holiday 's namesake .
The pair was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers as they arrived at the memorial in the National Mall in Washington , D.C. , on Monday afternoon , hours before Trump was to depart for Davos , Switzerland , to participate in the World Economic Forum .
Both Trump and Pence stood at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Martin Luther King Jr. for a minute of silence with their heads bowed before heading back to the motorcade , smiling and waving to onlookers , some of whom booed while others chanted `` U-S-A ! ''
Earlier Monday , White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters that Trump agreed with much of what the late civil rights icon stood for and that if King were alive today she did n't think he would support impeaching the president .
A reporter asked how the president was to spend the federal holiday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing for Davos and that he `` agrees with many of the things that Dr. Martin Luther King stood for and agreed with for many years , including unity and equality '' and that Trump is not `` the one '' attempting to tear the country apart with an ongoing impeachment process .
Conway made the comments as the White House prepares for Trump 's impeachment trial in the Senate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent it two articles of impeachment in connection to Trump threatening to withhold military aid from an ally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden .
`` I 've held my opinion on it for a very long time but when you see the articles of impeachment that came out , I do n't think it was within Dr. King 's vision to have Americans dragged through a process where the president is not going to be removed from office , is not being charged with bribery , extortion , high crimes or misdemeanors , '' she said .
Trump also tweeted that Monday also marked three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the presidency , stating that it was `` appropriate '' that his anniversary fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day , which is observed on the third Monday in January .
`` It was exactly three years ago today , January 20 , 2017 , that I was sworn into office , '' he said .
`` So appropriate that today is also MLK jr DAY .
African-American unemployment is the LOWEST in the history of our Country , by far .
Also , best Poverty , Youth and Employment numbers , @ @ @ @ @

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On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo by Erin Scott/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise, unannounced trip to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to pay their respects to the federal holiday's namesake. The pair was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers as they arrived at the memorial in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon, hours before Trump was to depart for Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the World Economic Forum. Advertisement
Both Trump and Pence stood at the base of the 30-foot-tall stone statue of Martin Luther King Jr. for a minute of silence with their heads bowed before heading back to the motorcade, smiling and waving to onlookers, some of whom booed while others chanted "U-S-A!"
Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters that Trump agreed with much of what the late civil rights icon stood for and that if King were alive today she didn't think he would support impeaching the president.
A reporter asked how the president was to spend the federal holiday, to which Conway replied that Trump was preparing for Davos and that he "agrees with many of the things that Dr. Martin Luther King stood for and agreed with for many years, including unity and equality" and that Trump is not "the one" attempting to tear the country apart with an ongoing impeachment process.
Conway made the comments as the White House prepares for Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent it two articles of impeachment in connection to Trump threatening to withhold military aid from an ally country unless it investigates his political rival former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
"I've held my opinion on it for a very long time but when you see the articles of impeachment that came out, I don't think it was within Dr. King's vision to have Americans dragged through a process where the president is not going to be removed from office, is not being charged with bribery, extortion, high crimes or misdemeanors," she said.
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Trump also tweeted that Monday also marked three years since he was sworn into the office of the presidency, stating that it was "appropriate" that his anniversary fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is observed on the third Monday in January.
"It was exactly three years ago today, January 20, 2017, that I was sworn into office," he said. "So appropriate that today is also MLK jr DAY. African-American unemployment is the LOWEST in the history of our Country, by far. Also, best Poverty, Youth and Employment numbers, ever. Great!"


upi--2020-01-21--Krystal fast-food chain files for bankruptcy

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Georgia-based Krystal has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but announced no plans for layoffs @ @ @ @ @ chain .
The company filed the documents in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Sunday .
Krystal @ @ @ @ @ , changing consumer tastes , difficulties finding employees and an increase in food delivery services @ @ @ @ @ struggles .
The filing indicates the company has assets between $ 10 million and $ @ @ @ @ @ $ 50 million and $ 100 million .
`` These challenges ( together with company-specific @ @ @ @ @ deteriorating financial performance , '' Krystal 's Chief Restructuring Officer Jonathan Tibus wrote .
Krystal @ @ @ @ @ the South , in states including Alabama , Arkansas , Florida , Georgia , Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ , South Carolina and Tennessee .
The company employs about 4,890 people .

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Georgia-based Krystal has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but announced no plans for layoffs or closures at its fast-food chain.
The company filed the documents in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Sunday.
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Krystal cited a rise in competition, changing consumer tastes, difficulties finding employees and an increase in food delivery services as reasons for its financial struggles. The filing indicates the company has assets between $10 million and $50 million and liabilities between $50 million and $100 million.
"These challenges (together with company-specific challenges) have resulted in deteriorating financial performance," Krystal's Chief Restructuring Officer Jonathan Tibus wrote.
Krystal has some 182 restaurants in the South, in states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company employs about 4,890 people.


upi--2020-01-21--BAE nabs $400.9M contract to deliver armored multi-purpose vehicles to Army

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP has been awarded a $ 400.9 million deal @ @ @ @ @ vehicles for the U.S. Army , according to the Pentagon .
The contract modifies an @ @ @ @ @ armored multi-purpose vehicles , awarded in 2014 and modified in February 2019 .
The vehicles @ @ @ @ @ War-era M113s and operate alongside the M1 Abrams Tank and the M2 Bradley as part @ @ @ @ @ Armored Bridgade Combat Team .
The Army plans to buy 2,897 AMPVs in total , @ @ @ @ @ $ 10.723 billion , or $ 3.7 million per vehicle .
The previous deal obligated @ @ @ @ @ research , development and testing funds for five vehicle variants : general purpose , mission @ @ @ @ @ medical evaluation , and medical treatment vehicles .
Work will be performed in York , @ @ @ @ @ completion date of Feb. 28 , 2023 .

Soldiers from 4th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment "Dark Horse," 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, are escorted by observer controllers from the U.S. Army Operational Test Command after completing field testing of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Sept. 24. (Photo Credit: Maj. Carson Petry (1st CAV))
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP has been awarded a $400.9 million deal to procure 160 armored multipurpose vehicles for the U.S. Army, according to the Pentagon. The contract modifies an earlier deal for procurement of armored multi-purpose vehicles, awarded in 2014 and modified in February 2019. Advertisement
The vehicles are expected to replace Vietnam War-era M113s and operate alongside the M1 Abrams Tank and the M2 Bradley as part of the rest of the Armored Bridgade Combat Team.
The Army plans to buy 2,897 AMPVs in total, at a total cost of $10.723 billion, or $3.7 million per vehicle.
The previous deal obligated $382.7 million in Army research, development and testing funds for five vehicle variants: general purpose, mission command, mortar carrier, medical evaluation, and medical treatment vehicles.
Work will be performed in York, Penn., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2023.


upi--2020-01-21--FEMA approves funds to rebuild hospital in Vieques, Puerto Rico

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday approved $ 39.5 million to help an island off the coast of Puerto Rico rebuild its only hospital after damage caused by Hurricane Maria .
FEMA approved the funding after the Office of Management and Budget agreed to provide money to rebuild the Susan Centeno community health center based on the island of Vieques on its `` replacement value . ''
`` I am extremely happy funds have finally been obligated for the people of Vieques to have a proper medical facility , '' Puerto Rican Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility , known locally as a CDT , historically lacked a formal `` hospital '' designation but was used as a clinic for veterans .
It also provided the only labor delivery room on the island .
Two weeks ago , Jaideliz Moreno Ventura , 13 , died because Vieques lacked proper medical equipment to treat her flu-like symptoms .
U.S. lawmakers had been pushing for FEMA to release aid to rebuild the hospital for months .
`` It is tragic that this funding was not released until after we lost one young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vieques .
I 'll continue watching to see that this project moves forward quickly , '' Rep. Nydia Velazquez , D-N.Y. , said .
FEMA said Tuesday it has also obligated approximately $ 6 million for the temporary health facility currently operating in Vieques that will remain in operation until a permanent facility is available .

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday approved $39.5 million to help an island off the coast of Puerto Rico rebuild its only hospital after damage caused by Hurricane Maria.
FEMA approved the funding after the Office of Management and Budget agreed to provide money to rebuild the Susan Centeno community health center based on the island of Vieques on its "replacement value."
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"I am extremely happy funds have finally been obligated for the people of Vieques to have a proper medical facility," Puerto Rican Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced said.
The facility, known locally as a CDT, historically lacked a formal "hospital" designation but was used as a clinic for veterans. It also provided the only labor delivery room on the island.
Two weeks ago, Jaideliz Moreno Ventura, 13, died because Vieques lacked proper medical equipment to treat her flu-like symptoms.
U.S. lawmakers had been pushing for FEMA to release aid to rebuild the hospital for months.
"It is tragic that this funding was not released until after we lost one young life due to inadequate medical service on Vieques. I'll continue watching to see that this project moves forward quickly," Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said.
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FEMA said Tuesday it has also obligated approximately $6 million for the temporary health facility currently operating in Vieques that will remain in operation until a permanent facility is available.


upi--2020-01-21--Cleveland Browns' Odell Beckham Jr. undergoes core muscle surgery

The surgery was performed by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia , according to the team .
Beckham is expected to make a full recovery .
League sources told NFL Media that Beckham played through the core muscle injury since August .
Despite the injury , the wideout played all 16 regular-season games and recorded 74 receptions for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns .
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters last month that Beckham 's injury `` was n't handled right '' by the franchise .
`` I 'd say it was n't handled right , '' Mayfield said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as he should be able to , as well as he knows .
And that 's frustrating for him .
You can sense that 's some of his frustration , where that comes from .
So it was n't handled the right way in our training room .
So , it is what it is .
His 'not 100 percent ' is still good enough for us . ''
The Browns hope Beckham can return to his former self under new coach Kevin Stefanski in 2020 .
Cleveland hired Stefanski as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Since entering the league in 2014 , Beckham has compiled 464 catches for 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns .

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) played through the core muscle injury since August. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Cleveland Browns star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. underwent a successful procedure to repair a core muscle injury, the team announced Tuesday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia, according to the team. Beckham is expected to make a full recovery. Advertisement
League sources told NFL Media that Beckham played through the core muscle injury since August. Despite the injury, the wideout played all 16 regular-season games and recorded 74 receptions for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters last month that Beckham's injury "wasn't handled right" by the franchise.
"I'd say it wasn't handled right," Mayfield said. "He's not able to run as well as he should be able to, as well as he knows. And that's frustrating for him. You can sense that's some of his frustration, where that comes from. So it wasn't handled the right way in our training room. So, it is what it is. His 'not 100 percent' is still good enough for us."
The Browns hope Beckham can return to his former self under new coach Kevin Stefanski in 2020. Cleveland hired Stefanski as the team's next head coach earlier this month.
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Since entering the league in 2014, Beckham has compiled 464 catches for 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns.


upi--2020-01-21--Bariatric surgery doesn't always help mental health of overweight teens

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Bariatric surgery can help teens struggling with their weight get healthier -- physically .
However , the mental and emotional problems many experience , due at least in part to being overweight , may persist long after successful surgery , says a study published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health .
`` The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a vulnerable time , not least in adolescents with severe obesity , '' study co-author Kajsa Järvholm , of Skåne University Hospital in Sweden , said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caregivers should be given realistic expectations in advance of embarking on a surgical pathway , and that as adolescents begin treatment , long-term mental health follow-up and support should be a requirement . ''
Specifically , Järvholm and her colleagues found that , five years after weight-loss surgery , despite small improvements in self-esteem and moderate improvements in binge eating , adolescents did not see improvements in their overall mental health , compared to peers who received conventional obesity treatment .
The study included 161 adolescents and teens from the Scandinavian country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people undergoing bariatric procedures is rapidly increasing globally , although estimates suggest that fewer than 1,000 are performed annually in this age group in the United States .
Previous research has shown that bariatric surgery is safe and effective in adolescents , and the 2018 guidelines from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery state that this type of surgery should be considered the standard of care in adolescents with severe obesity .
A significant percentage of adolescents with severe obesity have coexisting mental health problems , however , and little is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bariatric surgery .
For example , a 2018 study found no relief from mental health disorders when adolescents were questioned two years following surgery .
The Swedish study takes a longer-term view , using records of psychiatric drug prescriptions and specialist care for mental health disorders , in combination with self-reported data .
For the analysis , the authors recruited 81 Swedish adolescents with severe obesity -- average BMI before treatment was 45 -- who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery between 2006 and 2009 , with 80 others -- who had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controls , who received `` conventional lifestyle obesity management , '' including cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy .
The researchers compared data from a national registry on medication and specialist treatment for mental and behavioral disorders before treatment and five years after treatment with individual study participant data .
In addition , participants in the surgical group reported their mental health problems -- including self-esteem , mood , binge eating and other eating behaviors -- using a series of questionnaires before surgery , and one , two and five years afterwards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescribed psychiatric drugs was similar in both groups and substantially higher than the proportion in the general population -- 20 percent in the surgical group and 15 percent in the control group versus 2 percent in the general population .
Five years after surgery , the adolescents prescribed psychiatric drugs increased in both groups , and both groups also saw an increase in those who received specialist mental health care .
In addition , five years after treatment , self-reported measures of mental health -- including those covering binge eating , emotional eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surgical group , as did self-reported assessments of self-esteem .
However , overall mood did n't improve among most of the participants in the surgical group .
And , 36 percent of adolescents who had surgery went on to have hospital-based inpatient and outpatient care for mental health problems , compared to just 21 percent of those who did n't have surgery .
According to the authors , this does n't necessarily mean that surgery exacerbates mental health problems .
Rather , it could be that adolescents who undergo surgery are monitored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to mental health care .
`` Our results provide a complex picture , but what 's safe to say is that weight-loss surgery does not seem to improve general mental health , '' Järvholm said .

Despite small improvements in self-esteem and moderate improvements in binge eating, adolescents did not see improvements in their overall mental health after surgery. Photo by Mimimi9977 /Pixabay
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Bariatric surgery can help teens struggling with their weight get healthier -- physically. However, the mental and emotional problems many experience, due at least in part to being overweight, may persist long after successful surgery, says a study published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Advertisement
"The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a vulnerable time, not least in adolescents with severe obesity," study co-author Kajsa Järvholm, of Skåne University Hospital in Sweden, said in a statement. "We suggest that adolescents and their caregivers should be given realistic expectations in advance of embarking on a surgical pathway, and that as adolescents begin treatment, long-term mental health follow-up and support should be a requirement."
Specifically, Järvholm and her colleagues found that, five years after weight-loss surgery, despite small improvements in self-esteem and moderate improvements in binge eating, adolescents did not see improvements in their overall mental health, compared to peers who received conventional obesity treatment. The study included 161 adolescents and teens from the Scandinavian country.
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In general, the number of young people undergoing bariatric procedures is rapidly increasing globally, although estimates suggest that fewer than 1,000 are performed annually in this age group in the United States.
Previous research has shown that bariatric surgery is safe and effective in adolescents, and the 2018 guidelines from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery state that this type of surgery should be considered the standard of care in adolescents with severe obesity.
A significant percentage of adolescents with severe obesity have coexisting mental health problems, however, and little is known about the long-term mental health consequences of bariatric surgery. For example, a 2018 study found no relief from mental health disorders when adolescents were questioned two years following surgery.
The Swedish study takes a longer-term view, using records of psychiatric drug prescriptions and specialist care for mental health disorders, in combination with self-reported data.
For the analysis, the authors recruited 81 Swedish adolescents with severe obesity -- average BMI before treatment was 45 -- who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery between 2006 and 2009, with 80 others -- who had an average BMI of 42 -- enrolled as controls, who received "conventional lifestyle obesity management," including cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy.
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The researchers compared data from a national registry on medication and specialist treatment for mental and behavioral disorders before treatment and five years after treatment with individual study participant data. In addition, participants in the surgical group reported their mental health problems -- including self-esteem, mood, binge eating and other eating behaviors -- using a series of questionnaires before surgery, and one, two and five years afterwards.
Before treatment, the proportion of adolescents prescribed psychiatric drugs was similar in both groups and substantially higher than the proportion in the general population -- 20 percent in the surgical group and 15 percent in the control group versus 2 percent in the general population.
Five years after surgery, the adolescents prescribed psychiatric drugs increased in both groups, and both groups also saw an increase in those who received specialist mental health care.
In addition, five years after treatment, self-reported measures of mental health -- including those covering binge eating, emotional eating and uncontrolled eating -- improved slightly in the surgical group, as did self-reported assessments of self-esteem. However, overall mood didn't improve among most of the participants in the surgical group.
And, 36 percent of adolescents who had surgery went on to have hospital-based inpatient and outpatient care for mental health problems, compared to just 21 percent of those who didn't have surgery.
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According to the authors, this doesn't necessarily mean that surgery exacerbates mental health problems. Rather, it could be that adolescents who undergo surgery are monitored more closely, and therefore get better access to mental health care.
"Our results provide a complex picture, but what's safe to say is that weight-loss surgery does not seem to improve general mental health," Järvholm said.


upi--2020-01-21--National Weather Service warns of falling iguanas on cold night in South Florida

The National Weather Service on Tuesday warned people in South Florida of the possibility of falling iguanas in advance of @ @ @ @ @ is n't something we usually forecast , but do n't be surprised if you see @ @ @ @ @ tonight as lows drop into the 30s and 40s , '' the Miami National Weather @ @ @ @ @ tweet .
The NWS noted that iguanas are cold-blooded animals and slow down or become @ @ @ @ @ below 40 degrees .
Iguanas often rest and take shelter in trees and can potentially @ @ @ @ @ in this state .
`` They may fall from trees , but they 're not @ @ @ @ @ said .

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Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The National Weather Service on Tuesday warned people in South Florida of the possibility of falling iguanas in advance of cold weather.
"This isn't something we usually forecast, but don't be surprised if you see iguanas falling from the trees tonight as lows drop into the 30s and 40s," the Miami National Weather Service office wrote in a tweet.
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The NWS noted that iguanas are cold-blooded animals and slow down or become immobile when the weather drops below 40 degrees.
Iguanas often rest and take shelter in trees and can potentially fall from their perches while in this state.
"They may fall from trees, but they're not dead," the NWS said.


upi--2020-01-21--Appeals court partially overturns Sheldon Silver's conviction

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- A federal appeals court on Tuesday partially overturned a corruption conviction of former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver .
The 2nd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of upholding his conviction for honest services wire fraud , extortion and monetary transactions involving crime proceeds .
They vacated another conviction on honest services mail fraud and wire fraud .
Sheldon was sentenced in July 2018 to seven years in prison on all of the counts in which he was accused of taking bribes .
The three-judge appeals panel remanded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resentencing .
Silver , 74 , was convicted of obtaining nearly $ 4 million in illicit payments in return for taking official actions that benefited others .
Silver had obtained payments on behalf of a prominent cancer researcher , Dr. Robert Taub of Columbia University , and two real estate developers , Glenwood Management and the Witkoff Group .
In addition to trading favors with the real estate developers , it was determined that Silver found jobs for two women with whom he had extramarital affairs .
The overturned convictions related to Silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than two decades as state assembly speaker .

The appeals court remanded Sheldon Silver's case back to a lower court for resentencing. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court on Tuesday partially overturned a corruption conviction of former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of upholding his conviction for honest services wire fraud, extortion and monetary transactions involving crime proceeds. They vacated another conviction on honest services mail fraud and wire fraud. Advertisement
Sheldon was sentenced in July 2018 to seven years in prison on all of the counts in which he was accused of taking bribes. The three-judge appeals panel remanded the case back to a lower court for resentencing.
Silver, 74, was convicted of obtaining nearly $4 million in illicit payments in return for taking official actions that benefited others. Silver had obtained payments on behalf of a prominent cancer researcher, Dr. Robert Taub of Columbia University, and two real estate developers, Glenwood Management and the Witkoff Group.
In addition to trading favors with the real estate developers, it was determined that Silver found jobs for two women with whom he had extramarital affairs.
The overturned convictions related to Silver's dealings with Taub.
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Sheldon served more than two decades as state assembly speaker.


upi--2020-01-21--Watch live: Senate opens first day of impeachment trial with debate on rules

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The Senate on Tuesday voted against an amendment introduced by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to subpoena documents and other records from the White House in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
The measure was rejected by a 53-47 party-line vote with Republicans voting against seeking records .
The documents are related to the probe into Trump 's interactions with Ukraine last year .
Trump faces charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
`` Those documents include the records of meetings and calls between President Trump and the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records created or received by ... White House personnel about the decision to hold and release the military assistance to Ukraine , '' Schumer said prior to the vote .
The Senate began its historic impeachment trial of Trump with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell introducing a resolution to establish rules for the proceedings .
McConnell quietly changed how much time each side will have for opening arguments -- 24 hours over the course of three days , up from two days .
The language of the resolution also changed the rules on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless there 's a vote otherwise .
Senators began their debate over the rules , a process that 's expected to occupy the entire first day of the trial .
White House counsel Pat Cipollone opened the discussion , offering support for McConnell 's resolution and saying that Trump has done nothing wrong .
`` We support this resolution .
It is a fair way to proceed with this trial , '' Cipollone said .
`` It is long past time to start this proceeding , and we are here today to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-Calif. , one of the Democratic managers from the House , urged the Senate to allow senators to call witnesses and conduct a `` fair trial . ''
`` Why should this trial be different than any other trial ?
The short answer is it should n't .
But leader McConnell 's resolution would turn the trial process on its head , '' he said .
McConnell issued a blueprint late Monday , which called for House Democratic managers and Trump 's defense to receive 24 hours for opening remarks .
McConnell has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial follow the same structure as that of former President Bill Clinton 's in 1999 , but the majority leader 's outline indicates Republicans want to fast track the trial .
Democrats criticized the plan , with Schumer saying it 's an attempt to `` conceal '' Trump 's misconduct `` in the dark of night '' -- and Schiff calling it a `` rigged '' trial process .
`` I do think by structuring the trial this way it furthers our case that what 's going on here ... is a cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the House intelligence committee , said .
`` It 's clear Sen. McConnell is hell-bent on making it much more difficult to get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through , '' Schumer said .
`` On something as important as impeachment , Senator McConnell 's resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held onto the articles of impeachment for three weeks in an effort to secure assurances the trial would be fair .
Democrats said they want the trial to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has emerged since the House impeached Trump in mid-December .
The trial will go six days per week , from Monday through Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and will last for 4 or 5 hours a day through the end of the trial .
Both sides have said they expect the session Tuesday to run long .
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts , who will preside over the trial , was sworn in last week on the first official day of the trial .
Every member of the Senate also took an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the proceeding .
Trump was in Switzerland on Tuesday , where he spoke at the World Economic Forum .

1/7
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., makes his way to the Senate chamber in the Capitol as the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump begins on Tuesday. Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Senate passed a resolution early Wednesday to set the rules for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump after hours of contentious debate that saw Republicans thwart all attempts by the Democrats to subpoena witnesses. The resolution was adopted in a party line vote of 53-47 after more than 12 hours of debate that began Tuesday but was dragged into the early hours of Wednesday when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky finally adjourned. Advertisement
Each of the 11 amendments Democrats proposed seeking subpoenas for documents, records and witness testimony, among other rules and regulations, were shot down 53-47.
Under the resolution passed, House managers and White House attorneys will open their arguments Wednesday afternoon. Each will have 24 hours to make their cases for or against impeachment over three days, up from two as McConnell had originally proposed.
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Following that, senators will have 16 hours to ask questions in writing that will be read by Chief Justice John G. Roberts for the appropriate side to answer.
Trump is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of justice in connection to his interactions with Ukraine last year.
The Senate began the trial of Trump on Tuesday with McConnell introducing a resolution to establish rules for the proceedings.
McConnell then quietly increased the time each side will have for opening arguments from 24 hours over the course of two days to three. The language of the resolution also changed the rules on evidence, allowing evidence to be admitted unless there's a vote otherwise.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York cheered the alterations in a brief statement, claiming McConnell's shift signaled that Republican senators were beginning to see "how unfair" his trial rules are.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone opened the discussion, offering support for McConnell's resolution and saying Trump has done nothing wrong.
"We support this resolution. It is a fair way to proceed with this trial," Cipollone said. "It is long past time to start this proceeding, and we are here today to do it."
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Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., one of the Democratic managers from the House, urged the Senate to allow senators to call witnesses and conduct a "fair trial."
"Why should this trial be different than any other trial? The short answer is it shouldn't. But leader McConnell's resolution would turn the trial process on its head," he said.
As the proceedings dragged on, the debates turned acrimonious with Democrats lashing out at Republicans, accusing them of participating in a coverup after the GOP voted down several of their amendments seeking documents and testimony from witnesses.
The Democrats were seeking testimony from former and present White House staff Mick Mulvaney, his aide Robert Blair, Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey and former national security adviser John Bolton.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler chastised the Republicans, stating that if they don't vote in favor of hearing testimony from Bolton then they will be "voting for a coverup."
"Will this Senate do its duty and hear all the evidence, or will it slam this door shut and show it is participating in a coverup?" he asked.
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Cipollone then demanded Nadler apologize to Trump, his family, the Senate and the American people before Roberts admonished both sides "in equal terms to remember they are addressing the world's greatest deliberative body."
McConnell has said he will seek to have the trial follow the same structure as that of former President Bill Clinton's in 1999, but his outline indicated Republicans want to fast-track the proceedings.
Democrats criticized the plan, with Schumer saying it's an attempt to "conceal" Trump's misconduct "in the dark of night" -- and Schiff calling it a "rigged" trial process.
"I do think by structuring the trial this way it furthers our case that what's going on here ... is a coverup," said Schiff, who serves as chairman of the House intelligence committee.
"It's clear Sen. McConnell is hell-bent on making it much more difficult to get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through," Schumer said. "On something as important as impeachment, Sen. McConnell's resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held onto the articles of impeachment for three weeks in an effort to secure assurances the trial would be fair. Democrats said they want the trial to include key administration witnesses and new evidence that has emerged since the House impeached Trump in mid-December.
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The trial will go six days a week, from Monday through Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
Trump was in Switzerland on Tuesday, where he spoke at the World Economic Forum.


upi--2020-01-21--New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman underwent shoulder surgery

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- New England Patriots veteran wide receiver Julian Edelman underwent a procedure last week and is expected to be ready for the team 's off-season program in April .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Tuesday that Edelman had surgery on his shoulder .
He was initially listed on the Patriots ' injury report due to the shoulder ailment on Nov. 27 , and he battled through the injury the rest of the season .
Edelman has been seen with his left arm in a sling in recent days , according to ESPN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 5-foot-10 , 198-pound wideout played most of the 2019 season with partially torn rib cartilage , which resulted from defensive lineman Henry Anderson landing on Edelman during the Patriots ' Week 3 victory over the New York Jets .
Edelman also was impacted by a knee injury that was first noted on the team 's Dec. 11 injury report , but he did n't miss a game .
Despite the injuries , Edelman was the Patriots ' leading receiver with 100 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targets for 137 yards over New England 's last four games , including three catches for 30 yards in the Patriots ' playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans .
Edelman was arrested earlier this month in Beverly Hills , Calif. , for allegedly jumping on a car .
He was cited for misdemeanor vandalism .
Edelman is under contract with the Patriots through the 2021 season .

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman battled shoulder and knee injuries throughout this season. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- New England Patriots veteran wide receiver Julian Edelman underwent a procedure last week and is expected to be ready for the team's off-season program in April. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Tuesday that Edelman had surgery on his shoulder. He was initially listed on the Patriots' injury report due to the shoulder ailment on Nov. 27, and he battled through the injury the rest of the season. Advertisement
Edelman has been seen with his left arm in a sling in recent days, according to ESPN. Along with the shoulder injury, the 5-foot-10, 198-pound wideout played most of the 2019 season with partially torn rib cartilage, which resulted from defensive lineman Henry Anderson landing on Edelman during the Patriots' Week 3 victory over the New York Jets.
Edelman also was impacted by a knee injury that was first noted on the team's Dec. 11 injury report, but he didn't miss a game.
Despite the injuries, Edelman was the Patriots' leading receiver with 100 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season. The 33-year-old caught 13 of 23 targets for 137 yards over New England's last four games, including three catches for 30 yards in the Patriots' playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans.
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Edelman was arrested earlier this month in Beverly Hills, Calif., for allegedly jumping on a car. He was cited for misdemeanor vandalism.
Edelman is under contract with the Patriots through the 2021 season.


upi--2020-01-21--Lebanon forms new 20-minister government amid mass economic protests

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Lebanon formed a new coalition government Tuesday , months after its prime minister resigned amid protests .
The government will be led by university professor Hassan Diab who was chosen by the Iran-backed military and political group , Hezbollah , to replace former Prime Minister Saad Hariri .
It is composed of 20 members agreed upon in a meeting between Diab and other government officials Monday evening .
The announcement of the new government comes after a `` week of rage '' in which hundreds of people were arrested in protests outside banks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption that demonstrators believe has caused the country 's financial crisis .
Diab on Tuesday called the government `` a rescue team '' and said it would be `` fast but not hasty '' in working to rectify the economic crisis .
Hariri resigned in October , two weeks after the protests broke out in response to his government announcing a tax on calls made over the mobile application WhatsApp .
Hezbollah then selected Diab to take on the role of prime minister but he struggled to form an 18-member government while facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Marada Movement and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party .
On Monday , Diab met with leaders from those groups and others and agreed to expand the government to 20 ministers .

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met at the presidential palace on Tuesday after designating a new government made up of 20 ministers. Photo by Wael Hamzeh
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Lebanon formed a new coalition government Tuesday, months after its prime minister resigned amid protests. The government will be led by university professor Hassan Diab who was chosen by the Iran-backed military and political group, Hezbollah, to replace former Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Advertisement
It is composed of 20 members agreed upon in a meeting between Diab and other government officials Monday evening.
The announcement of the new government comes after a "week of rage" in which hundreds of people were arrested in protests outside banks. They called for an end to the corruption that demonstrators believe has caused the country's financial crisis.
Diab on Tuesday called the government "a rescue team" and said it would be "fast but not hasty" in working to rectify the economic crisis.
Hariri resigned in October, two weeks after the protests broke out in response to his government announcing a tax on calls made over the mobile application WhatsApp.
Hezbollah then selected Diab to take on the role of prime minister but he struggled to form an 18-member government while facing calls for greater representation by groups such as the Marada Movement and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.
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On Monday, Diab met with leaders from those groups and others and agreed to expand the government to 20 ministers.


upi--2020-01-21--Arctic seal rescued after long journey to Iceland

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Police in Iceland responded to an unusual call when an Arctic seal wandered far @ @ @ @ @ up in a harbor .
The Southern Peninsula Region Police said in a Facebook post @ @ @ @ @ a report of a seal pup acting strangely in Njarovik harbor .
Police took the @ @ @ @ @ Park and Zoo , where veterinarians said it was suffering from malnutrition and an eye @ @ @ @ @ identified as a ringed seal , a species native to the Arctic .
Experts said @ @ @ @ @ to wander far from their native habitat and have been spotted in Iceland before .
@ @ @ @ @ seal will be released back into the wild once it is recovered .

A ringed seal pup was rescued by police in Iceland after making a long swim from the Arctic. Photo courtesy of the South Peninsula Region Police
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Police in Iceland responded to an unusual call when an Arctic seal wandered far away from home and ended up in a harbor. The Southern Peninsula Region Police said in a Facebook post that officers responded Friday to a report of a seal pup acting strangely in Njarovik harbor. Advertisement
Police took the seal to the Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo, where veterinarians said it was suffering from malnutrition and an eye infection.
The seal was identified as a ringed seal, a species native to the Arctic. Experts said young ringed seals are known to wander far from their native habitat and have been spotted in Iceland before.
The zoo said the young seal will be released back into the wild once it is recovered.


upi--2020-01-21--Boeing trading halted after stock falls 6 percent

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Boeing 's stock trading was temporarily halted Tuesday after shares fell nearly 6 percent amid reports that regulators would keep 737 Max planes grounded longer than expected .
The planes have been grounded since March after two fatal crashed killed 346 people within five months in 2018 and 2019 , with planned timelines to restore the Max repeatedly shifted .
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement on the grounding and trading reopened .
`` The agency is following a thorough , deliberate process to verify that all proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the FAA said .
`` We have set no time frame for when the work will be completed . ''
Boeing also issued its own statement Tuesday .
`` We are informing our customers and suppliers that we are currently estimating that the ungrounding of the 737 Max will begin during mid-2020 , '' Boeing said .
The `` updated estimate , '' takes into consideration `` ongoing attempts to address known schedule risks and further developments that may arise in connection with the certification process , '' Boeing added .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that regulatory authorities are rightly applying at every step of their review of the 737 Max 's flight control system and the Joint Operation Evaluation Board process which determines pilot training requirements . ''
Airline stocks were also affected by the coronavirus , which has killed at least six people and sickened more than 300 in China , with the first U.S. case in a traveler from China confirmed Tuesday .

The logo for Boeing is displayed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Boeing's stock trading was temporarily halted Tuesday after shares fell nearly 6 percent amid reports that regulators would keep 737 Max planes grounded longer than expected. The planes have been grounded since March after two fatal crashed killed 346 people within five months in 2018 and 2019, with planned timelines to restore the Max repeatedly shifted. Advertisement
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement on the grounding and trading reopened.
"The agency is following a thorough, deliberate process to verify that all proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 Max meet the highest certification standards," the FAA said. "We have set no time frame for when the work will be completed."
Boeing also issued its own statement Tuesday.
"We are informing our customers and suppliers that we are currently estimating that the ungrounding of the 737 Max will begin during mid-2020," Boeing said.
The "updated estimate," takes into consideration "ongoing attempts to address known schedule risks and further developments that may arise in connection with the certification process," Boeing added. "It also accounts for the rigorous scrutiny that regulatory authorities are rightly applying at every step of their review of the 737 Max's flight control system and the Joint Operation Evaluation Board process which determines pilot training requirements."
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Airline stocks were also affected by the coronavirus, which has killed at least six people and sickened more than 300 in China, with the first U.S. case in a traveler from China confirmed Tuesday.


upi--2020-01-21--CMV-22B Osprey completes first flight in Texas

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The first CMV-22B Osprey aircraft has completed its first flight at Bell 's Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas , Bell Boeing announced Tuesday .
The CMV-22B is the latest variant of the tiltrotor fleet , joining the MV-22 and the CV-22 used by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force .
It uses twin rotor engines for vertical take-off and landing that can be tilted forward for conventional turboprop flight for higher speeds .
The U.S. Navy plans to use the CMV-22B to replace the C-2A Greyhound for transporting personnel , mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carriers at sea .
It will also ferry major components of the F-35 engine .
`` With the ability to travel up to 1,150 nautical miles , the CMV-22B will be a lifeline for our servicemen and women out at sea , '' Kristin Houston , vice president of Bell Boeing V-22 Program , said in a statement .
`` The quality and safety built into this aircraft will revolutionize the way the U.S. Navy fulfills its critical carrier onboard delivery mission . ''
The Navy established a new wing in October to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which followed a December 2018 held a ceremony to establish its first squadron of the new Ospreys into fleet operations .

The maiden flight of the first CMV-22B Osprey took place in Amarillo, Texas. Test pilots verified product requirements and airworthiness for the U.S. Navy. Photo courtesy of Bell Boeing
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The first CMV-22B Osprey aircraft has completed its first flight at Bell's Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas, Bell Boeing announced Tuesday. The CMV-22B is the latest variant of the tiltrotor fleet, joining the MV-22 and the CV-22 used by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. Advertisement
It uses twin rotor engines for vertical take-off and landing that can be tilted forward for conventional turboprop flight for higher speeds.
The U.S. Navy plans to use the CMV-22B to replace the C-2A Greyhound for transporting personnel, mail, supplies and high-priority cargo to aircraft carriers at sea. It will also ferry major components of the F-35 engine.
"With the ability to travel up to 1,150 nautical miles, the CMV-22B will be a lifeline for our servicemen and women out at sea," Kristin Houston, vice president of Bell Boeing V-22 Program, said in a statement. "The quality and safety built into this aircraft will revolutionize the way the U.S. Navy fulfills its critical carrier onboard delivery mission."
The Navy established a new wing in October to integrate the aircraft into fleet operations, which followed a December 2018 held a ceremony to establish its first squadron of the new Ospreys into fleet operations.


upi--2020-01-21--Benefits of marijuana for sleep assistance may fade, study says

Medical marijuana may not provide long-term relief of sleep issues in people battling chronic pain , a new study finds , mainly because users may develop a tolerance to the drug .
The finding is important `` considering the aging of the population , the relatively high prevalence of sleep problems in this population , along with the increasing use of medicinal cannabis , '' said an Israeli team led by Sharon Sznitman , from the School of Public Health at the University of Haifa .
According to the study authors , chronic pain affects between 19 percent to 37 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many who have sleep problems .
Some are turning to medical marijuana for help getting good shut-eye .
But how well does it work ?
To find out , Sznitman 's group assessed sleep and pain in 128 patients who 'd had chronic pain for at least a year .
All were over age 50 and about half -- 66 -- said they used medical marijuana to help manage their sleep problems .
The type of sleep issues varied : About 1 in 4 patients said they always woke up early and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep ; 1 in 5 said they always had difficulty falling asleep , and 27 percent said they woke up during the night .
Of the patients who used marijuana , average duration of use was four years , using an average of 31 grams of the drug per month .
Most -- 69 percent -- said they smoked marijuana , and about 1 in 5 used either cannabis oil or vapor .
The study found that pot users were less likely to wake during the night , but there were no differences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it took them get to sleep or in the frequency of early awakening .
And there seemed to be a downside : The researchers found that more frequent marijuana use was associated with greater difficulty in falling asleep , plus more frequent awakenings during the night .
`` This may signal the development of tolerance , '' Sznitman 's team wrote .
But the study could n't prove cause-and-effect , so other factors might be at play .
For example , the authors said that more frequent pot use might simply be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain or might be depressed/anxious .
That might explain these participants ' higher propensity for sleep problems .
One U.S. sleep medicine expert said that for some patients with chronic pain , medical marijuana can offer `` some hope . ''
The new study is far from conclusive as to the drug 's benefits or risks , said Dr. Margarita Oks , attending physician in pulmonary , critical care and sleep medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City .
`` There was no mention of the exclusion of sleep-related disorders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can manifest with insomnia , '' she said , `` and this may be a huge confounder . ''
And Oks said the fact that the study was done in Israel makes a difference , too .
In Israel , `` cannabis is legalized and therefore concentrations of THC [ the ingredient in marijuana that produces a high ] can be objectively and reproducibly measured , '' she explained .
`` In the United States this is not yet the case . ''
A second study in the same issue of the journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in medical marijuana ) do not reduce cancer-related pain .
This review pooled the results of five different studies involving more than 1,400 cancer patients .
It was led by Dr. Jason Boland of the University of Hull in England .
Both studies were published Jan 20 in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care .
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on chronic pain .

Medical marijuana may not provide long-term relief of sleep issues in people battling chronic pain, a new study finds, mainly because users may develop a tolerance to the drug.
The finding is important "considering the aging of the population, the relatively high prevalence of sleep problems in this population, along with the increasing use of medicinal cannabis," said an Israeli team led by Sharon Sznitman, from the School of Public Health at the University of Haifa.
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According to the study authors, chronic pain affects between 19 percent to 37 percent of adults in the developed world, many who have sleep problems.
Some are turning to medical marijuana for help getting good shut-eye. But how well does it work?
To find out, Sznitman's group assessed sleep and pain in 128 patients who'd had chronic pain for at least a year. All were over age 50 and about half -- 66 -- said they used medical marijuana to help manage their sleep problems.
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The type of sleep issues varied: About 1 in 4 patients said they always woke up early and weren't able to get back to sleep; 1 in 5 said they always had difficulty falling asleep, and 27 percent said they woke up during the night.
Of the patients who used marijuana, average duration of use was four years, using an average of 31 grams of the drug per month. Most -- 69 percent -- said they smoked marijuana, and about 1 in 5 used either cannabis oil or vapor.
The study found that pot users were less likely to wake during the night, but there were no differences between users and nonusers in the time it took them get to sleep or in the frequency of early awakening.
And there seemed to be a downside: The researchers found that more frequent marijuana use was associated with greater difficulty in falling asleep, plus more frequent awakenings during the night.
"This may signal the development of tolerance," Sznitman's team wrote.
But the study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, so other factors might be at play. For example, the authors said that more frequent pot use might simply be an indicator that these people were in more pain or might be depressed/anxious. That might explain these participants' higher propensity for sleep problems.
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One U.S. sleep medicine expert said that for some patients with chronic pain, medical marijuana can offer "some hope."
The new study is far from conclusive as to the drug's benefits or risks, said Dr. Margarita Oks, attending physician in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
"There was no mention of the exclusion of sleep-related disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that can manifest with insomnia," she said, "and this may be a huge confounder."
And Oks said the fact that the study was done in Israel makes a difference, too.
In Israel, "cannabis is legalized and therefore concentrations of THC [the ingredient in marijuana that produces a high] can be objectively and reproducibly measured," she explained. "In the United States this is not yet the case."
A second study in the same issue of the journal concluded that cannabinoids (the active chemicals in medical marijuana) do not reduce cancer-related pain. This review pooled the results of five different studies involving more than 1,400 cancer patients. It was led by Dr. Jason Boland of the University of Hull in England.
Both studies were published Jan 20 in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
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More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on chronic pain.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-21--Brazil indicts The Intercept founder Glenn Greenwald

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Prosecutors in Brazil have filed charges against American journalist Glenn Greenwald , founder of The Intercept , accusing him of cybercrimes , court documents made public Tuesday indicate .
The government said Greenwald `` helped , encouraged and oriented '' members of a criminal organization that hacked the cellphones of multiple public officials last year , including prosecutors .
The Intercept published articles based on the cellphone records he allegedly helped hackers obtain .
The records included messages the website said provided `` unprecedented insight into the operations of the anti-corruption task force that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The documents included messages from Justice Minister Sergio Moro , who previously led the task force .
The New York Times reported the messages opened the door for scrutiny into the task force 's integrity and Moro 's impartiality .
Greenwald and The Intercept have been critical of the government of new far right President Jair Bolsonaro .
Greenwald said the charges were `` an obvious attempt to attack a free press in retaliation for the revelations we reported about Minister Moro and the Bolsonaro government . ''
`` We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to silence journalists , '' he said .

Investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald said Brazil's charges are an effort to stifle a free press. File Photo by Oliver Dietze/EPA
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Brazil have filed charges against American journalist Glenn Greenwald, founder of The Intercept, accusing him of cybercrimes, court documents made public Tuesday indicate. The government said Greenwald "helped, encouraged and oriented" members of a criminal organization that hacked the cellphones of multiple public officials last year, including prosecutors. Advertisement
The Intercept published articles based on the cellphone records he allegedly helped hackers obtain. The records included messages the website said provided "unprecedented insight into the operations of the anti-corruption task force that transformed Brazilian politics and gained worldwide attention."
The documents included messages from Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who previously led the task force. The New York Times reported the messages opened the door for scrutiny into the task force's integrity and Moro's impartiality.
Greenwald and The Intercept have been critical of the government of new far right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Greenwald said the charges were "an obvious attempt to attack a free press in retaliation for the revelations we reported about Minister Moro and the Bolsonaro government."
"We will not be intimidated by these tyrannical attempts to silence journalists," he said.
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upi--2020-01-21--Lighthouse keeper had to wait two months to collect lottery jackpot

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- A British Columbia man said he had to wait two months to collect his lottery jackpot of over $ 700,000 because he could n't get leave from his job as a lighthouse keeper .
Ivan Dubinsky told the British Columbia Lottery Corp. he buys his tickets online because he has to be present at the lighthouse near Port Hardy to perform duties including keeping the lighthouse grounds and sending weather reports to marine vessels and aircraft .
`` It 's difficult to buy lottery tickets when you 're at the lighthouse all the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be granted leave , and there 's not too many lighthouse keepers available these days . ''
Dubinsky used the lottery 's PlayNow.com website to enter the Nov. 29 Lotto 6/49 drawing and won the top prize of $ 764,856.37 .
`` When I got that e-mail , I could n't believe my eyes , I was n't sure whether to believe it or not , '' he said .
He said it was two months before he could find someone to relieve him so he could collect his prize .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend less time in lighthouses .
`` I 'll slowly begin the retirement process , give some of my winnings to my brothers and sisters and possibly buy a home in the north part of Vancouver Island , '' he said .
`` Though I may still want to be a relief lighthouse keeper . ''

A British Columbia man said he had to wait two months to collect his lottery jackpot because he couldn't leave the lighthouse where he works as a keeper. Photo courtesy of the BCLC
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A British Columbia man said he had to wait two months to collect his lottery jackpot of over $700,000 because he couldn't get leave from his job as a lighthouse keeper. Ivan Dubinsky told the British Columbia Lottery Corp. he buys his tickets online because he has to be present at the lighthouse near Port Hardy to perform duties including keeping the lighthouse grounds and sending weather reports to marine vessels and aircraft. Advertisement
"It's difficult to buy lottery tickets when you're at the lighthouse all the time," Dubinsky said. "You have to be granted leave, and there's not too many lighthouse keepers available these days."
Dubinsky used the lottery's PlayNow.com website to enter the Nov. 29 Lotto 6/49 drawing and won the top prize of $764,856.37.
"When I got that e-mail, I couldn't believe my eyes, I wasn't sure whether to believe it or not," he said.
He said it was two months before he could find someone to relieve him so he could collect his prize. Dubinsky said his winnings will allow him to spend less time in lighthouses.
"I'll slowly begin the retirement process, give some of my winnings to my brothers and sisters and possibly buy a home in the north part of Vancouver Island," he said. "Though I may still want to be a relief lighthouse keeper."


upi--2020-01-21--Watch: Two deer crash through furniture store in Kentucky

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The owner of a Kentucky furniture store said about $ 5,000 worth of damage @ @ @ @ @ that broke through the glass door into the business .
The owner of Maple Leaf @ @ @ @ @ was inside the store with her newborn Saturday when two deer crashed through the glass @ @ @ @ @ Smith said her father was able to shoo the deer out of the store .
@ @ @ @ @ two animals destroyed about $ 5,000 worth of merchandise , in addition to the damage @ @ @ @ @ an inside glass door .
The store 's Facebook page said employees spent the weekend @ @ @ @ @ the shop would be open for its regular hours Monday .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The owner of a Kentucky furniture store said about $5,000 worth of damage was caused by two deer that broke through the glass door into the business.
The owner of Maple Leaf Furnishings said employee Kelly Smith was inside the store with her newborn Saturday when two deer crashed through the glass door into the shop.
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Smith said her father was able to shoo the deer out of the store.
The store owner said the two animals destroyed about $5,000 worth of merchandise, in addition to the damage to the front door and an inside glass door.
The store's Facebook page said employees spent the weekend cleaning up the mess and the shop would be open for its regular hours Monday.


upi--2020-01-21--New molecule harnesses full visible spectrum of sunlight

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have discovered a molecule that can take advantage of the entire visible spectrum of sunlight .
The molecule can both efficiently absorb sunlight and operate as a catalyst , triggering the conversion of solar energy into hydrogen , which can be used as fuel .
In a new paper , published this week in the journal Nature Chemistry , scientists suggest the novel molecule can be used to build more efficient solar cells and accelerate the transition to alternative , climate-friendly fuels like hydrogen .
`` The whole idea is that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it into hydrogen , '' lead researcher Claudia Turro , a chemistry professor at Ohio State University , said in a news release .
`` To put it simply , we are saving the energy from sunlight and storing it into chemical bonds so it can be used at a later time . ''
Turro and her colleagues were able to find a particle that absorbs the sun 's low-energy wavelengths , the infrared portion of the spectrum .
`` What makes it work is that the system is able to put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it absorbs the photon and is able to store two electrons to make hydrogen , '' Turro said .
`` This storing of two electrons in a single molecule derived from two photons , and using them together to make hydrogen , is unprecedented . ''
Most previous efforts to make full use of the sunlight spectrum have focused on ultraviolet light , and most relied on catalysts made of two or more molecules to convert solar energy into hydrogen .
Attempts to use a single-molecule catalyst proved inefficient .
Scientists found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirety of the visible light spectrum , from infrared to ultraviolent , and can catalyze the conversion of low-energy wavelengths into hydrogen without losing much energy .
To do all this , the molecule must be in an excited state .
In the lab , scientists used an LED to excite rhodium molecules suspended in an acid solution .
`` I think the reason it works is because the molecule is difficult to oxidize , '' Turro said .
`` And we have to have renewable energy .
Just imagine if we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coal or gas or oil , what we could do to address climate change . ''
Scientists are now working to find a molecule that behaves similarly to rhodium , as the rare metal is expensive to process .
Researchers also want to find a way to make the single-molecule catalyst produce hydrogen for a longer period of time .

Researchers developed a molecule that can absorb sunlight, as well as act as a catalyst to transform solar energy into hydrogen. Photo by jplenio /Pixabay.com
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Scientists have discovered a molecule that can take advantage of the entire visible spectrum of sunlight. The molecule can both efficiently absorb sunlight and operate as a catalyst, triggering the conversion of solar energy into hydrogen, which can be used as fuel. In a new paper, published this week in the journal Nature Chemistry, scientists suggest the novel molecule can be used to build more efficient solar cells and accelerate the transition to alternative, climate-friendly fuels like hydrogen. Advertisement
"The whole idea is that we can use photons from the sun and transform it into hydrogen," lead researcher Claudia Turro, a chemistry professor at Ohio State University, said in a news release. "To put it simply, we are saving the energy from sunlight and storing it into chemical bonds so it can be used at a later time."
Turro and her colleagues were able to find a particle that absorbs the sun's low-energy wavelengths, the infrared portion of the spectrum.
"What makes it work is that the system is able to put the molecule into an excited state, where it absorbs the photon and is able to store two electrons to make hydrogen," Turro said. "This storing of two electrons in a single molecule derived from two photons, and using them together to make hydrogen, is unprecedented."
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Most previous efforts to make full use of the sunlight spectrum have focused on ultraviolet light, and most relied on catalysts made of two or more molecules to convert solar energy into hydrogen. Attempts to use a single-molecule catalyst proved inefficient.
Scientists found that a single rhodium molecule can absorb the entirety of the visible light spectrum, from infrared to ultraviolent, and can catalyze the conversion of low-energy wavelengths into hydrogen without losing much energy.
To do all this, the molecule must be in an excited state. In the lab, scientists used an LED to excite rhodium molecules suspended in an acid solution.
"I think the reason it works is because the molecule is difficult to oxidize," Turro said. "And we have to have renewable energy. Just imagine if we could use sunlight for our energy instead of coal or gas or oil, what we could do to address climate change."
Scientists are now working to find a molecule that behaves similarly to rhodium, as the rare metal is expensive to process. Researchers also want to find a way to make the single-molecule catalyst produce hydrogen for a longer period of time.


upi--2020-01-21--Hospital computer system changes may reduce opioid prescriptions

Could a simple computer hack help make a dent in the opioid epidemic ?
New research suggests that the number of painkillers prescribed to patients can be reduced just by lowering default computer settings that display a preset number of pills .
That simple change led doctors at two California hospitals to prescribe fewer opioids , and the approach could improve opioid prescribing practices elsewhere and help prevent addiction , the researchers said .
Prescription opioids are a key part of the U.S. opioid crisis , the authors of the new study explained .
`` It 's striking that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know about the risks from opioids and are generally thoughtful about prescribing them , this intervention affected prescribing behavior , '' said senior author Dr. Maria Raven .
She is chief of emergency medicine at the University of California , San Francisco .
`` The findings are really exciting because of their potential to impact patient care at a large level .
Reducing the quantities of opioids prescribed may help protect patients from developing opioid use disorder , '' she said in a university news release .
For the study , Raven 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at UCSF Medical Center and Highland Hospital in Oakland , Calif. , between November 2016 and July 2017 .
Over 20 weeks , the researchers randomly changed default settings on electronic medical records for commonly prescribed opioids such as oxycodone , Percocet and Norco .
They tweaked the settings for four weeks at a time .
The defaults for pain medications had been 12 pills at Highland and 20 pills at UCSF .
The researchers changed those to five , 10 and 15 pills , and also to a blank setting that required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wanted for each patient .
In all , 4,320 opioid prescriptions were analyzed .
The result : Lower defaults were associated with lower amounts of opioids prescribed and fewer orders that exceeded prescribing recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
According to lead study author Dr. Juan Carlos Montoy , assistant professor of emergency medicine at UCSF , `` Every electronic health record throughout the country already has default settings for opioids .
What we 've shown is that default settings matter , and can be changed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that tweaking default settings does n't cost anything and still lets doctors do what they think is best for each patient .
`` The opioid epidemic is complex and this certainly wo n't fix it , '' he added .
`` But it is one more tool we can use to address it . ''
The study was published Jan. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine .
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about prescription opioids .

Could a simple computer hack help make a dent in the opioid epidemic?
New research suggests that the number of painkillers prescribed to patients can be reduced just by lowering default computer settings that display a preset number of pills.
Advertisement
That simple change led doctors at two California hospitals to prescribe fewer opioids, and the approach could improve opioid prescribing practices elsewhere and help prevent addiction, the researchers said.
Prescription opioids are a key part of the U.S. opioid crisis, the authors of the new study explained.
"It's striking that even in the current environment, where doctors know about the risks from opioids and are generally thoughtful about prescribing them, this intervention affected prescribing behavior," said senior author Dr. Maria Raven. She is chief of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
"The findings are really exciting because of their potential to impact patient care at a large level. Reducing the quantities of opioids prescribed may help protect patients from developing opioid use disorder," she said in a university news release.
For the study, Raven's team reviewed opioid prescribing in emergency departments at UCSF Medical Center and Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif., between November 2016 and July 2017.
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Over 20 weeks, the researchers randomly changed default settings on electronic medical records for commonly prescribed opioids such as oxycodone, Percocet and Norco. They tweaked the settings for four weeks at a time.
The defaults for pain medications had been 12 pills at Highland and 20 pills at UCSF. The researchers changed those to five, 10 and 15 pills, and also to a blank setting that required doctors to enter the number of pills they wanted for each patient. In all, 4,320 opioid prescriptions were analyzed.
The result: Lower defaults were associated with lower amounts of opioids prescribed and fewer orders that exceeded prescribing recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to lead study author Dr. Juan Carlos Montoy, assistant professor of emergency medicine at UCSF, "Every electronic health record throughout the country already has default settings for opioids. What we've shown is that default settings matter, and can be changed to improve opioid prescribing."
Montoy noted that tweaking default settings doesn't cost anything and still lets doctors do what they think is best for each patient. "The opioid epidemic is complex and this certainly won't fix it," he added. "But it is one more tool we can use to address it."
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The study was published Jan. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about prescription opioids.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-21--Message in a bottle travels from Quebec to England

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- A woman participating in a beach cleaning event in England found a message in a bottle that had been tossed into the water by a man in Quebec .
Mary Bird said she was participating in the clean-up Saturday on Chesil Beach in Portland , Dorset , when she noticed a dark brown bottle with a cork in it .
`` We noticed it had something in it , a message , so we took it up to Quiddles Cafe , where we pulled out the cork , '' Bird told the Dorset Echo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fetch the contents out , and there was a strange rolled up plastic bag with writing on it . ''
The plastic bag contained a note in French from a man named Andre Huet .
The note said the bottle had been tossed into the water in Quebec .
`` It seems that the bottle traveled across the Atlantic in a year and five days and made its way from Quebec to Portland , '' Bird said .
She said she is working on a handwritten response to Huet .
Huet 's sister-in-law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man had launched the bottle from the Quai de Cloridorme boat club .
She said Huet previously launched a message in a bottle that was later found in Quebec 's Magdalen Islands .

A message in a bottle traveled from Quebec to a beach in England in just over a year. Photo by ariesa66/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A woman participating in a beach cleaning event in England found a message in a bottle that had been tossed into the water by a man in Quebec. Mary Bird said she was participating in the clean-up Saturday on Chesil Beach in Portland, Dorset, when she noticed a dark brown bottle with a cork in it. Advertisement
"We noticed it had something in it, a message, so we took it up to Quiddles Cafe, where we pulled out the cork," Bird told the Dorset Echo. "We found a stick to fetch the contents out, and there was a strange rolled up plastic bag with writing on it."
The plastic bag contained a note in French from a man named Andre Huet. The note said the bottle had been tossed into the water in Quebec.
"It seems that the bottle traveled across the Atlantic in a year and five days and made its way from Quebec to Portland," Bird said.
She said she is working on a handwritten response to Huet.
Huet's sister-in-law said in a Facebook post that the man had launched the bottle from the Quai de Cloridorme boat club.
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She said Huet previously launched a message in a bottle that was later found in Quebec's Magdalen Islands.


upi--2020-01-21--CDC confirms first case of coronavirus in Seattle

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the United States ' first case of coronavirus in a traveler who returned from China .
The patient , a man in his 30s , was diagnosed in Seattle and was in good condition , the CDC said .
The patient was first treated for pneumonia last week , but subsequent tests showed he had coronavirus , which can cause pneumonia .
He returned to Washington state from Wuhan , China , on Wednesday .
The virus , a coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Hubei province .
Chinese health officials said Tuesday the disease has killed at least six people and sickened more than 300 .
Health officials in Wuhan first confirmed it was treating patients suffering from pneumonia caused by an unknown virus on Dec. 31 , but infrared temperature screening areas were not installed in the city 's airports and stations until Jan. 14 .
The disease was soon identified as a coronavirus , similar to the one behind severe acute respiratory syndrome , or SARS , which killed hundreds of people in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak is believed to have originated from a now-closed Wuhan seafood market .
Fears over the disease 's spread have been stoked following the World Health Organization 's revelation that human-to-human transmission is possible after officials initially said it was believed to be transferable only by animals .
In addition to announcing the first U.S. patient , the CDC said it will begin screening travelers at two more airports in the United States -- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago 's O'Hare International Airport .
Officials are already screening at New York 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport .

The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and has spread to other countries, including the United States. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the United States' first case of coronavirus in a traveler who returned from China. The patient, a man in his 30s, was diagnosed in Seattle and was in good condition, the CDC said. Advertisement
The patient was first treated for pneumonia last week, but subsequent tests showed he had coronavirus, which can cause pneumonia. He returned to Washington state from Wuhan, China, on Wednesday.
The virus, a coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV, originated in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province. Chinese health officials said Tuesday the disease has killed at least six people and sickened more than 300.
Health officials in Wuhan first confirmed it was treating patients suffering from pneumonia caused by an unknown virus on Dec. 31, but infrared temperature screening areas were not installed in the city's airports and stations until Jan. 14.
The disease was soon identified as a coronavirus, similar to the one behind severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which killed hundreds of people in China in the early 2000s. The new outbreak is believed to have originated from a now-closed Wuhan seafood market.
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Fears over the disease's spread have been stoked following the World Health Organization's revelation that human-to-human transmission is possible after officials initially said it was believed to be transferable only by animals.
In addition to announcing the first U.S. patient, the CDC said it will begin screening travelers at two more airports in the United States -- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Officials are already screening at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and trouble breathing.


upi--2020-01-21--U.S. new housing supply falls about 4 million homes short of demand

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Realtor.com said Tuesday the building of new U.S. homes has fallen nearly 4 million homes short of demand .
Realtor.com analysts found that 5.9 million single family homes were built from 2012-2019 , which was n't enough to offset 9.8 million new households formed during that time .
Its economists estimated that even if construction moved fast , it would take four to five years to get back on track .
`` Simply put , new home starts are not keeping pace with demand , '' said Realtor.com Director of Economic Research Javier Vivas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need for 3.8 million new homes means a nearly insatiable appetite from potential buyers , especially in the lower end of the market . ''
The inventory shortage can be traced back to the housing crash more than a decade ago .
Loans were made available to the riskiest buyers and builders put up 1.7 million single-family homes at the peak of the construction boom in 2005 , according to the U.S. Census , but after the 2008 financial crisis , home construction plummeted .
Home builders focused on higher end homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a release , making entry-level and mid-range homes the main inventory gap .
Baby boomers are also deciding to hold onto their homes more than previous generations did at their age as many millennials moved back home with their parents unable to rent or buy their own space during the recession .
`` Large populations of renters and well-qualified potential buyers with strong incomes are waiting in the wings , '' Vivas said .
`` Assuming the economy avoids a full-on recession and rates remain low , the window for builders remains wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at adequate price points , absorption will continue to strengthen through the first half of the decade . ''

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Realtor.com said Tuesday the building of new U.S. homes has fallen nearly 4 million homes short of demand.
Realtor.com analysts found that 5.9 million single family homes were built from 2012-2019, which wasn't enough to offset 9.8 million new households formed during that time.
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Its economists estimated that even if construction moved fast, it would take four to five years to get back on track.
"Simply put, new home starts are not keeping pace with demand," said Realtor.com Director of Economic Research Javier Vivas. "The current inventory crisis and the need for 3.8 million new homes means a nearly insatiable appetite from potential buyers, especially in the lower end of the market."
The inventory shortage can be traced back to the housing crash more than a decade ago. Loans were made available to the riskiest buyers and builders put up 1.7 million single-family homes at the peak of the construction boom in 2005, according to the U.S. Census, but after the 2008 financial crisis, home construction plummeted.
Home builders focused on higher end homes with bigger margins, Realtor.com said in a release, making entry-level and mid-range homes the main inventory gap.
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Baby boomers are also deciding to hold onto their homes more than previous generations did at their age as many millennials moved back home with their parents unable to rent or buy their own space during the recession.
"Large populations of renters and well-qualified potential buyers with strong incomes are waiting in the wings," Vivas said. "Assuming the economy avoids a full-on recession and rates remain low, the window for builders remains wide open. If builders can deliver homes at adequate price points, absorption will continue to strengthen through the first half of the decade."


upi--2020-01-21--Clumsy burglar drops dishwasher in road in front of home

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Police in Australia shared footage of a clumsy thief wheeling a pilfered dishwasher away @ @ @ @ @ dropping the appliance on the street .
South Australia Police said in a Facebook post @ @ @ @ @ burglarized Monday morning in Wallaroo and the culprit was caught on camera using a dolly @ @ @ @ @ out of one of the homes .
The security camera footage shows the man wheeling @ @ @ @ @ home and down a sidewalk .
The man goes over the curb into the road @ @ @ @ @ the dolly , landing on its side in the road .
Police said they are @ @ @ @ @ .

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Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Police in Australia shared footage of a clumsy thief wheeling a pilfered dishwasher away from an under-construction home and dropping the appliance on the street.
South Australia Police said in a Facebook post that three under-construction homes were burglarized Monday morning in Wallaroo and the culprit was caught on camera using a dolly to carry a Vento dishwasher out of one of the homes.
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The security camera footage shows the man wheeling the dishwasher out of the home and down a sidewalk.
The man goes over the curb into the road and the dishwasher falls off the dolly, landing on its side in the road.
Police said they are working to identify the suspect.


upi--2020-01-21--8 tourists dead from suspected carbon monoxide gas leak at Nepal resort

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- Eight tourists , including four children , have died after they were found unconscious in a hotel room at a mountain resort in Nepal , authorities said Tuesday .
Officials said the dead were part of a group of 15 tourists who had been staying at the resort in Daman and had all stayed in the same room .
They used a gas heater to stay warm while windows and doors were locked , they noted .
The group had traveled from Kerala in India to Nepal .
A family of five were among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krishnan Nair , 39 ; his wife Saranya , 34 , and their three children Sreebhadra , 9 ; Aarcha , 8 ; Abhi Nair , 7 .
Also identified were Ranjith Punathil , Indu Ragalatha and Vyshnav Ranjith .
Police Superintendent Sushil Singh Rathaur said emergency crews flew all eight to a Kathmandu hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival .
Authorities believe they all lost consciousness due to a carbon monoxide leak from the room 's heater .
India 's Department of Tourism said Tuesday it hopes for a quick @ @

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Eight tourists, including four children, have died after they were found unconscious in a hotel room at a mountain resort in Nepal, authorities said Tuesday.
Officials said the dead were part of a group of 15 tourists who had been staying at the resort in Daman and had all stayed in the same room. They used a gas heater to stay warm while windows and doors were locked, they noted.
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The group had traveled from Kerala in India to Nepal.
A family of five were among the dead, officials said -- Praveen Krishnan Nair, 39; his wife Saranya, 34, and their three children Sreebhadra, 9; Aarcha, 8; Abhi Nair, 7. Also identified were Ranjith Punathil, Indu Ragalatha and Vyshnav Ranjith.
Police Superintendent Sushil Singh Rathaur said emergency crews flew all eight to a Kathmandu hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Authorities believe they all lost consciousness due to a carbon monoxide leak from the room's heater.
India's Department of Tourism said Tuesday it hopes for a quick investigation.


upi--2020-01-21--Look: GFriend shares tracklist for 'Labyrinth'

Jan. 21 ( UPI ) -- South Korean girl group GFriend is sharing new details about its album Labyrinth .
The K-pop stars released a tracklist for the album Tuesday on Twitter .
Labyrinth will feature six songs , including the title track `` Crossroads . ''
The other songs are `` Labyrinth , '' `` Here We Are , '' `` Eclipse , '' `` Dreamcatcher '' and `` From Me . ''
On Monday , GFriend teased its concepts for Labyrinth in the special video `` A Tale of the Glass Bead : Previous Story . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing in harmony , but the group is torn apart by power and envy .
`` Envy is like a seed planted in our hearts , growing on its own without water or care , twisting its vines amongst us , '' the narrator says .
`` We were divided , our backs turned on each other . ''
The narrator reflects on how their power might still be used for good .
`` Wishing we could turn back time , we stand at a crossroads , '' the narrator says .
GFriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group will release the album Feb. 3 .
GFriend consists of Sowon , Yerin , Eunha , Yuju , SinB and Umji .
The group last released the Japanese album Fallin ' Light in November .

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- South Korean girl group GFriend is sharing new details about its album Labyrinth.
The K-pop stars released a tracklist for the album Tuesday on Twitter.
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Labyrinth will feature six songs, including the title track "Crossroads." The other songs are "Labyrinth," "Here We Are," "Eclipse," "Dreamcatcher" and "From Me."
On Monday, GFriend teased its concepts for Labyrinth in the special video "A Tale of the Glass Bead: Previous Story." The video opens with idyllic shots of GFriend existing in harmony, but the group is torn apart by power and envy.
"Envy is like a seed planted in our hearts, growing on its own without water or care, twisting its vines amongst us," the narrator says. "We were divided, our backs turned on each other."
The narrator reflects on how their power might still be used for good.
"Wishing we could turn back time, we stand at a crossroads," the narrator says.
GFriend shared plans for Labyrinth last week. The group will release the album Feb. 3.
GFriend consists of Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB and Umji. The group last released the Japanese album Fallin' Light in November.