upi--2020-05-13--Senate questions tech executives on broadband access amid pandemic

May 13 ( UPI ) -- The Senate on Wednesday questioned tech executives about what the industry is doing to ensure the broadband Internet infrastructure can keep up with the needs of teleworkers and online students amid the COVID-19 pandemic and moving forward .
The Senate Committee on Commerce , Science and Transportation heard testimony from broadband executives both in person and via video conferencing as they sought to examine initiatives to maintain and expand high-speed and reliable broadband connections to all Americans .
Chairman Roger Wicker , R-Miss.
, said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an estimated 47 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage social distancing to prevent the further spread of the virus , normal activities like work , school and healthcare services are now increasingly taking place online , '' Wicker said .
Sen. Maria Cantwell , D-Wash. , noted that Federal Communication Commission reports indicate 18 million Americans lack access to broadband , particularly citing a lack of access in Native American tribal areas .
`` Broadband activity can be a great equalizer in this country , '' Cantwell said .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then we can see right here and now during this COVID crisis the challenges to our education system , our healthcare system and just basic contact with family and loved ones . ''
U.S. Telecom CEO Jonathan Spalter noted that it provided the FCC with a map to pinpoint the locations that remain without broadband and companies have set up additional hotspots to expand access .
Spalter also said that many of U.S. Telecom 's member companies have committed to maintaining connectivity to customers facing financial difficulty due to the pandemic but added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantial cost '' to these companies .
Steven Berry , president and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association , said that providers have faced difficulty obtaining necessary personal protective equipment for workers to perform tasks needed to expand and maintain service .
`` It is imperative to keep these professionals safe and healthy , to maintain connectivity for all and they must have reliable access to PPE , '' Berry said .
Shirley Bloomfield , CEO of NTCA -- The Rural Broadband Association , called on Congress and the Trump administration to clarify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal aid under the Paycheck Protection Program .
`` In the near-term , we need both to make sure that those who are not currently connected , get connected and also to make sure that those who are connected can stay connected , '' Bloomfield said .

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Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of U.S. Telecom, testifies during a Senate commence committee hearing on the state of broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- The Senate on Wednesday questioned tech executives about what the industry is doing to ensure the broadband Internet infrastructure can keep up with the needs of teleworkers and online students amid the COVID-19 pandemic and moving forward. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation heard testimony from broadband executives both in person and via video conferencing as they sought to examine initiatives to maintain and expand high-speed and reliable broadband connections to all Americans. Advertisement
Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an estimated 47 percent uptick in broadband usage.
"As the administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage social distancing to prevent the further spread of the virus, normal activities like work, school and healthcare services are now increasingly taking place online," Wicker said.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., noted that Federal Communication Commission reports indicate 18 million Americans lack access to broadband, particularly citing a lack of access in Native American tribal areas.
"Broadband activity can be a great equalizer in this country," Cantwell said. "But, if access is not there, then we can see right here and now during this COVID crisis the challenges to our education system, our healthcare system and just basic contact with family and loved ones."
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U.S. Telecom CEO Jonathan Spalter noted that it provided the FCC with a map to pinpoint the locations that remain without broadband and companies have set up additional hotspots to expand access.
Spalter also said that many of U.S. Telecom's member companies have committed to maintaining connectivity to customers facing financial difficulty due to the pandemic but added this effort has come at "a substantial cost" to these companies.
Steven Berry, president and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association, said that providers have faced difficulty obtaining necessary personal protective equipment for workers to perform tasks needed to expand and maintain service.
"It is imperative to keep these professionals safe and healthy, to maintain connectivity for all and they must have reliable access to PPE," Berry said.
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA -- The Rural Broadband Association, called on Congress and the Trump administration to clarify whether non-profit cooperatives can qualify to receive federal aid under the Paycheck Protection Program.
"In the near-term, we need both to make sure that those who are not currently connected, get connected and also to make sure that those who are connected can stay connected," Bloomfield said.


upi--2020-05-13--Kawasaki disease-like symptoms identified in Italian children with COVID-19

May 13 ( UPI ) -- Researchers in Italy announced Wednesday that they have identified 10 cases of young children with COVID-19 symptoms that resemble Kawasaki disease , a rare inflammatory disorder .
Their findings , which were published by the Lancet , are similar to reports from New York , where more than 70 children have developed symptoms similar to the rare disease that can cause heart problems after becoming infected with the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 .
Three of the children in New York who experienced these `` Kawasaki-like '' symptoms , as the Italian researchers described them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in the number of children being referred to our hospital with an inflammatory condition similar to Kawasaki disease around the time the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was taking hold in our region , '' Dr. Lucio Verdoni , a pediatrician at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo , Italy , said in a press release .
He co-authored the Lancet report .
`` Although this complication remains very rare , our study provides further evidence on how the virus may be affecting children , '' he said .
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vomiting and severe rash .
These can be managed with anti-inflammatory drugs , but if left untreated , those afflicted and develop heart problems .
Kawasaki disease , however , is rare .
Roughly 4,000 children 5 years old and younger in the United States have been diagnosed with the condition , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
In the Lombardy region of Italy , where Verdoni and his colleagues are based , only 19 children had been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease in the five years before February , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The 10 cases between February and April could represent a 30-fold increase , although the researchers caution that it is difficult to draw firm conclusions with such small numbers .
Verdoni and his colleagues performed a retrospective review of patient notes from all 29 children admitted to their pediatric unit with symptoms of Kawasaki disease between January 2015 and April 20 .
Before the COVID-19 outbreak , the hospital treated roughly one case of the disease every three months , they found .
The increase could not be attributed to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of patients admitted during that time period actually was six-fold lower than before COVID-19 was first reported in the area , they said .
The children admitted to the hospital with Kawasaki-like symptoms since the start of the outbreak -- with a mean age of 7 1/2 -- were up to three years older than those in pre-outbreak cases , and all but two tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 .
They also appeared to experience more severe symptoms than past cases , with more than half suffering heart complications , compared with just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
In all , half of the children had signs of toxic shock syndrome , while none of those treated before February 2020 had the complication .
Toxic shock syndrome -- a release of toxins in the body often caused by a bacterial infection , rather than a viral one , like SARS-CoV-2 -- produces initial symptoms similar to Kawasaki and can lead to multiple organ failure .
Eight of the COVID-19 cases also required additional treatment with steroids , compared with just four of the 19 in the pre-outbreak group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kawasaki-like illness after the start of the outbreak tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on an antibody test , the researchers noted that the test used is not 100 percent accurate , suggesting these could be false negative results .
In addition , one of the children recently had been treated with a high dose of immunoglobulin , a standard regimen for Kawasaki disease , which could have masked any antibodies to the virus .
Taken together , the authors said their findings represent an association between an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 virus and an inflammatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In our experience , only a very small proportion of children infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop symptoms of Kawasaki disease , '' said study co-author Dr. Annalisa Gervasoni , a pediatric specialist at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital .
`` However , it is important to understand the consequences of the virus in children , particularly as countries around the world grapple with plans to start relaxing social distancing policies , '' she said .

More children, in Italy, have been found to have "Kawasaki-like" illness related to COVID-19. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- Researchers in Italy announced Wednesday that they have identified 10 cases of young children with COVID-19 symptoms that resemble Kawasaki disease, a rare inflammatory disorder. Their findings, which were published by the Lancet, are similar to reports from New York, where more than 70 children have developed symptoms similar to the rare disease that can cause heart problems after becoming infected with the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Advertisement
Three of the children in New York who experienced these "Kawasaki-like" symptoms, as the Italian researchers described them, died.
"We noticed an increase in the number of children being referred to our hospital with an inflammatory condition similar to Kawasaki disease around the time the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was taking hold in our region," Dr. Lucio Verdoni, a pediatrician at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo, Italy, said in a press release. He co-authored the Lancet report.
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"Although this complication remains very rare, our study provides further evidence on how the virus may be affecting children," he said.
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease include abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting and severe rash. These can be managed with anti-inflammatory drugs, but if left untreated, those afflicted and develop heart problems.
Kawasaki disease, however, is rare. Roughly 4,000 children 5 years old and younger in the United States have been diagnosed with the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the Lombardy region of Italy, where Verdoni and his colleagues are based, only 19 children had been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease in the five years before February, when the COVID-19 outbreak began, they said.
The 10 cases between February and April could represent a 30-fold increase, although the researchers caution that it is difficult to draw firm conclusions with such small numbers.
Verdoni and his colleagues performed a retrospective review of patient notes from all 29 children admitted to their pediatric unit with symptoms of Kawasaki disease between January 2015 and April 20. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the hospital treated roughly one case of the disease every three months, they found.
The increase could not be attributed to an increase in hospital admissions, as the number of patients admitted during that time period actually was six-fold lower than before COVID-19 was first reported in the area, they said.
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The children admitted to the hospital with Kawasaki-like symptoms since the start of the outbreak -- with a mean age of 7 1/2 -- were up to three years older than those in pre-outbreak cases, and all but two tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
They also appeared to experience more severe symptoms than past cases, with more than half suffering heart complications, compared with just two of the 19 treated before the pandemic.
In all, half of the children had signs of toxic shock syndrome, while none of those treated before February 2020 had the complication. Toxic shock syndrome -- a release of toxins in the body often caused by a bacterial infection, rather than a viral one, like SARS-CoV-2 -- produces initial symptoms similar to Kawasaki and can lead to multiple organ failure.
Eight of the COVID-19 cases also required additional treatment with steroids, compared with just four of the 19 in the pre-outbreak group.
Although two of the patients treated for Kawasaki-like illness after the start of the outbreak tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on an antibody test, the researchers noted that the test used is not 100 percent accurate, suggesting these could be false negative results.
In addition, one of the children recently had been treated with a high dose of immunoglobulin, a standard regimen for Kawasaki disease, which could have masked any antibodies to the virus.
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Taken together, the authors said their findings represent an association between an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 virus and an inflammatory condition similar to Kawasaki disease.
"In our experience, only a very small proportion of children infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop symptoms of Kawasaki disease," said study co-author Dr. Annalisa Gervasoni, a pediatric specialist at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital.
"However, it is important to understand the consequences of the virus in children, particularly as countries around the world grapple with plans to start relaxing social distancing policies," she said.


upi--2020-05-13--Rocket Crafters concludes tests of 3D-printed hybrid engine

ORLANDO , Fla. , May 13 ( UPI ) -- A Florida rocket development company , Rocket Crafters , said Wednesday it concluded a new round of test-firings of its hybrid rocket engine , and plans a test flight with a small rocket in New Mexico later this year .
`` We 're excited about the data we 've seen and to fly a rocket soon , '' said Rob Fabian , the company president .
`` The engine performance for the tests were on track with models . ''
The tests were conducted over the last few months at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fla. , about 20 miles south of Kennedy Space Center .
The company test-fired the largest experimental version of the engine yet , which it calls the Comet and emits 5,000 pounds of thrust .
By comparison , small launch company Rocket Lab provides satellite launches with an Electron rocket that has 34,000 pounds of thrust .
Two tests were flawless , Fabian said , while a third saw a small explosion , but the company determined the problem was with an ancillary part of the test engine and not in the core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3D printers for parts , but Rocket Crafters believes it is the first to 3D-print its patented plastic fuel core .
The plastic is stable until it mixes with liquid propellant to power the company 's STAR-3D engine .
Rocket Crafters plans to test-launch a sounding rocket , or small rocket , to about 60,000 feet from New Mexico 's Spaceport America , Fabian said .
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , a date has n't been set .

Rocket Crafters, a startup rocket development company in Florida, completed a new round of tests on its hybrid rocket engine. Photo courtesy of John Kraus/Rocket Crafters
ORLANDO, Fla., May 13 (UPI) -- A Florida rocket development company, Rocket Crafters, said Wednesday it concluded a new round of test-firings of its hybrid rocket engine, and plans a test flight with a small rocket in New Mexico later this year. "We're excited about the data we've seen and to fly a rocket soon," said Rob Fabian, the company president. "The engine performance for the tests were on track with models." Advertisement
The tests were conducted over the last few months at the company's facility in Cocoa, Fla., about 20 miles south of Kennedy Space Center. The company test-fired the largest experimental version of the engine yet, which it calls the Comet and emits 5,000 pounds of thrust.
By comparison, small launch company Rocket Lab provides satellite launches with an Electron rocket that has 34,000 pounds of thrust.
Two tests were flawless, Fabian said, while a third saw a small explosion, but the company determined the problem was with an ancillary part of the test engine and not in the core design.
Several space companies are using 3D printers for parts, but Rocket Crafters believes it is the first to 3D-print its patented plastic fuel core. The plastic is stable until it mixes with liquid propellant to power the company's STAR-3D engine.
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Rocket Crafters plans to test-launch a sounding rocket, or small rocket, to about 60,000 feet from New Mexico's Spaceport America, Fabian said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a date hasn't been set.


upi--2020-05-13--'New Mutants' to open in theaters on Aug. 28

May 13 ( UPI ) -- Disney announced Wednesday it will release the action movie The New Mutants in theaters on Aug. 28 .
Josh Boone co-wrote and directed the X-Men spinoff , which stars Maisie Williams , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlie Heaton , Alice Braga , Blu Hunt and Henry Zaga as teenage superheroes-in-training .
The Marvel Comics adaptation had been scheduled for theatrical release in April , but the date was postponed when theaters shut down as social-distancing practices were enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus , which has killed about 300,000 people worldwide .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 , but the project was delayed several times even before the pandemic -- first because of Disney 's acquisition of Fox , then by the subsequent re-shoots needed to satisfy the new owner .
Disney announced Wednesday that it would release the filmed version of the stage musical Hamilton on July 3 on its Disney+ streaming service .
It originally had been slated to run in movie theaters next year .
The studio also released animated blockbusters Onward and Frozen 2 on Disney+ months earlier than planned .
The company has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families ordered to shelter in place during the pandemic .

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Maisie Williams' filme "The New Mutants" is set to open in theaters on August 28. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- Disney announced Wednesday it will release the action movie The New Mutants in theaters on Aug. 28. Josh Boone co-wrote and directed the X-Men spinoff, which stars Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga, Blu Hunt and Henry Zaga as teenage superheroes-in-training. Advertisement
The Marvel Comics adaptation had been scheduled for theatrical release in April, but the date was postponed when theaters shut down as social-distancing practices were enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed about 300,000 people worldwide.
New Mutants was filmed by 20th Century Fox in 2017, but the project was delayed several times even before the pandemic -- first because of Disney's acquisition of Fox, then by the subsequent re-shoots needed to satisfy the new owner.
Disney announced Wednesday that it would release the filmed version of the stage musical Hamilton on July 3 on its Disney+ streaming service. It originally had been slated to run in movie theaters next year.
The studio also released animated blockbusters Onward and Frozen 2 on Disney+ months earlier than planned. The company has been trying to provide entertainment for housebound families ordered to shelter in place during the pandemic.


upi--2020-05-13--Scientists make sense of pulsating stars using NASA's TESS satellite

May 13 ( UPI ) -- A team of scientists in Australia said they used a NASA space telescope to identify the pulsating rhythm of nearby stars , allowing them to learn more about the age and structure of the stellar objects .
The researchers said they were able to make sense of the jumble of pulsations from nearby stars using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Survey satellite , or TESS , according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature .
Tim Bedding , professor at University of Sydney and lead author of the study , compared pulsations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding too many jumbled up notes to understand these pulsating stars properly , '' he said .
`` It was a mess , like listening to a cat walking on a piano .
`` The incredibly precise data from NASA 's TESS mission have allowed us to cut through the noise .
Now we can detect structure , more like listening to nice chords being played on the piano . ''
The Australian team narrowed down their research to a group of 60 stars between 60 light years and 1,400 light years away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are known as delta Scuti stars .
By making sense of the pulsations , the researchers were able to determine the masses , ages and internal structures of the stars and how they moved .
Previously , that information was largely a mystery .
The study of the inner workings of stars is known as asteroseismology .
`` Asteroseismology is a powerful tool by which we can understand a broad range of stars , '' Bedding said .
`` This has been done with great success for many classes of pulsators including low-mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars and white dwarfs .
`` The delta Scuti stars had perplexed us until now . ''
Isabel Colman , study co-author and doctoral student at the University of Sydney , said the discovery allows scientists to learn more about how the stars affect their planets .
The researchers said it could prove useful in the hunt for dark matter .
`` Some of the stars in our sample host planets , including beta Pictoris , just 60 light years from Earth and which is visible to the naked eye from Australia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know about stars , the more we learn about their potential effects on their planets . ''

Understanding the pulsating rhythm of stars could help researchers determine their make-up, and effects on other stellar objects, according to new research. Photo by NASA/ESO/UPI | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- A team of scientists in Australia said they used a NASA space telescope to identify the pulsating rhythm of nearby stars, allowing them to learn more about the age and structure of the stellar objects. The researchers said they were able to make sense of the jumble of pulsations from nearby stars using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Survey satellite, or TESS, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Advertisement
Tim Bedding, professor at University of Sydney and lead author of the study, compared pulsations to musical notes.
"Previously we were finding too many jumbled up notes to understand these pulsating stars properly," he said. "It was a mess, like listening to a cat walking on a piano.
"The incredibly precise data from NASA's TESS mission have allowed us to cut through the noise. Now we can detect structure, more like listening to nice chords being played on the piano."
The Australian team narrowed down their research to a group of 60 stars between 60 light years and 1,400 light years away from earth. This group of stars are known as delta Scuti stars.
By making sense of the pulsations, the researchers were able to determine the masses, ages and internal structures of the stars and how they moved.
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Previously, that information was largely a mystery. The study of the inner workings of stars is known as asteroseismology.
"Asteroseismology is a powerful tool by which we can understand a broad range of stars," Bedding said. "This has been done with great success for many classes of pulsators including low-mass Sun-like stars, red giants, high-mass stars and white dwarfs.
"The delta Scuti stars had perplexed us until now."
Isabel Colman, study co-author and doctoral student at the University of Sydney, said the discovery allows scientists to learn more about how the stars affect their planets. The researchers said it could prove useful in the hunt for dark matter.
"Some of the stars in our sample host planets, including beta Pictoris, just 60 light years from Earth and which is visible to the naked eye from Australia," Colman said. "The more we know about stars, the more we learn about their potential effects on their planets."


upi--2020-05-13--Stocks fall after Fed chief Jerome Powell says more help may be needed to revive economy

May 13 ( UPI ) -- U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the U.S. government may need to throw more help at the coronavirus crisis .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 516.81 points , or 2.17 percent , while the S & P 500 dropped 1.75 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.55 percent .
In prepared remarks for a webcast with the Peterson Institute for International Economics , Powell said more policy efforts might be needed to pull the U.S. economy out of the downturn that 's so far cost more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` While the economic response has been both timely and appropriately large , it may not be the final chapter , given that the path ahead is both highly uncertain and subject to significant downside risks , '' Powell wrote in the remarks .
Powell did n't specify exactly which additional measures might help , but he indicated that it includes more financial support from Congress .
He also said the Fed will not consider negative interest rates .
`` For now it 's not something that we 're considering . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are without modern precedent , significantly worse than any recession since World War II , '' he added .
`` We are seeing a severe decline in economic activity and in employment , and already the job gains of the past decade have been erased . ''
The Federal Reserve has already taken a number of actions to stem the negative impact of the health crisis , convening multiple emergency sessions that lifted certain regulations to stimulate growth and cut key interest rates to near zero .
Walgreens Boots Alliance fell 5.38 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead the Dow to its third day of consecutive losses .
Wells Fargo stock also dropped 6.20 percent , Bank of America fell 4.57 percent , Citigroup slid 4.13 percent and JPMorgan Chase declined 3.45 percent .
The S & P 500 's energy sector fell 4.4 percent while the financial sector dropped 3 percent to drag the index down Wednesday .
The Nasdaq on Monday closed out six straight days of gains before falling 2 percent Tuesday .
On Tuesday , House Democrats unveiled a $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber will vote on Friday .
The 1,800-page proposal includes money for state and local governments , rent and mortgage relief , hazard pay for front-line workers and funds to aid mail-in voting programs .

New York City's Times Square appears a virtual ghost town on Monday with little foot and vehicle traffic due to ongoing restrictions to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the U.S. government may need to throw more help at the coronavirus crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 516.81 points, or 2.17 percent, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.75 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.55 percent. Advertisement
In prepared remarks for a webcast with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Powell said more policy efforts might be needed to pull the U.S. economy out of the downturn that's so far cost more than 30 million U.S. workers their jobs.
"While the economic response has been both timely and appropriately large, it may not be the final chapter, given that the path ahead is both highly uncertain and subject to significant downside risks," Powell wrote in the remarks.
Powell didn't specify exactly which additional measures might help, but he indicated that it includes more financial support from Congress. He also said the Fed will not consider negative interest rates.
"For now it's not something that we're considering."
"The scope and speed of this downturn are without modern precedent, significantly worse than any recession since World War II," he added. "We are seeing a severe decline in economic activity and in employment, and already the job gains of the past decade have been erased."
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The Federal Reserve has already taken a number of actions to stem the negative impact of the health crisis, convening multiple emergency sessions that lifted certain regulations to stimulate growth and cut key interest rates to near zero.
Walgreens Boots Alliance fell 5.38 percent and American Express stock plummeted 6.15 percent to lead the Dow to its third day of consecutive losses. Wells Fargo stock also dropped 6.20 percent, Bank of America fell 4.57 percent, Citigroup slid 4.13 percent and JPMorgan Chase declined 3.45 percent.
The S&P 500's energy sector fell 4.4 percent while the financial sector dropped 3 percent to drag the index down Wednesday.
The Nasdaq on Monday closed out six straight days of gains before falling 2 percent Tuesday.
On Tuesday, House Democrats unveiled a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package, the HEROES Act, which the chamber will vote on Friday. The 1,800-page proposal includes money for state and local governments, rent and mortgage relief, hazard pay for front-line workers and funds to aid mail-in voting programs.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-13--Fruits, tea, red wine may help fend off Alzheimer's disease

If you 're worried about developing Alzheimer 's disease , new research suggests that eating more fruits or drinking more tea or red wine might help protect your brain .
People who had the lowest amounts of fruits -- like apples and berries -- and red wine and tea in their diets were two to four times more likely to develop Alzheimer 's disease or another related dementia , the study found .
`` Diet matters .
And the good news is you do n't have to make dramatic changes .
Modest changes like going from not eating any berries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week can make a difference , '' explained the study 's senior author , Paul Jacques .
He 's a senior scientist and director of nutritional epidemiology at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston .
The researchers suspect that flavonoids -- substances naturally found in plant foods -- are providing these potential benefits in brain health .
One major health benefit associated with flavonoids is reduced inflammation .
Inflammation has been linked to Alzheimer 's disease and other forms of dementia .
Jacques noted , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between fruits and teas and wine in the diet and dementia .
It 's possible that people who eat more fruits or drink more tea or wine may have other healthy habits that affect their dementia risk .
But Jacques said the researchers attempted to control for as many of those factors as possible , such as smoking , physical activity and obesity levels .
The research included 2,800 people who were 50 or older when the study began in 1970 .
Their average age was 59 .
About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were white and of European descent .
The study volunteers answered questions about their dietary habits approximately every four years .
The information was collected for an average of nearly 20 years .
If someone was diagnosed with Alzheimer 's disease or a related dementia , like vascular dementia , the researchers did n't include diet information in the years leading up to the diagnosis .
Jacques explained that as memory and thinking abilities decline , the ability to accurately report what you 've eaten goes down .
Also , people with dementia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different foods .
The researchers sorted the diet information into four categories of flavonoids intake .
They compared people with the lowest intake to those with the highest intake .
On the low end , people had no berries , about 1.5 apples and no tea during the month .
On the highest end , people ate about 7.5 cups of blueberries or strawberries , eight apples or pears and had about 19 cups of tea ( green or black ) each month .
The researchers found that folks consuming the lowest amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice the risk of developing Alzheimer 's dementia or other related dementias .
Consuming the lowest level of blueberries , strawberries and red wine was associated with a fourfold risk of developing Alzheimer 's or other related dementias .
Jacques said a number of factors are suspected in Alzheimer 's disease , including genetics and environmental considerations .
Previous research has suggested that diet is a strong environmental factor , and this study adds to that evidence .
`` This study also seems to tell us that the risk of dementia varies with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Heather Snyder , vice president of medical and scientific operations for the Alzheimer 's Association , agreed that many factors contribute to Alzheimer 's and other related dementias .
`` Alzheimer 's disease is complex .
Brains are complex .
Looking across the life course , genetics , nutrition , education and other factors are all part of a puzzle .
This study is another piece in that puzzle , '' she said .
Snyder said a strength of this study is its long-term follow-up .
But she said it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a larger , more diverse population .
Both experts said it 's better to have a healthy diet throughout your life .
But both also said there are likely brain-health benefits if you change your diet to healthier fare no matter what your age .
The study was published online recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition .
Learn more about diet and the prevention of Alzheimer 's disease from the U.S. National Institute on Aging .

Flavonoids found in plant foods are associated with reduced inflammation and may help protect against Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Frozen raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. File Photo courtesy of Pixabay
If you're worried about developing Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests that eating more fruits or drinking more tea or red wine might help protect your brain. People who had the lowest amounts of fruits -- like apples and berries -- and red wine and tea in their diets were two to four times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia, the study found. Advertisement
"Diet matters. And the good news is you don't have to make dramatic changes. Modest changes like going from not eating any berries to eating a cup or two a week can make a difference," explained the study's senior author, Paul Jacques. He's a senior scientist and director of nutritional epidemiology at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.
The researchers suspect that flavonoids -- substances naturally found in plant foods -- are providing these potential benefits in brain health. One major health benefit associated with flavonoids is reduced inflammation. Inflammation has been linked to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
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Jacques noted, however, that the study cannot prove a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between fruits and teas and wine in the diet and dementia. It's possible that people who eat more fruits or drink more tea or wine may have other healthy habits that affect their dementia risk. But Jacques said the researchers attempted to control for as many of those factors as possible, such as smoking, physical activity and obesity levels.
The research included 2,800 people who were 50 or older when the study began in 1970. Their average age was 59. About half were women, and most participants were white and of European descent.
The study volunteers answered questions about their dietary habits approximately every four years. The information was collected for an average of nearly 20 years. If someone was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, like vascular dementia, the researchers didn't include diet information in the years leading up to the diagnosis. Jacques explained that as memory and thinking abilities decline, the ability to accurately report what you've eaten goes down. Also, people with dementia often change their dietary habits, preferring different foods.
The researchers sorted the diet information into four categories of flavonoids intake. They compared people with the lowest intake to those with the highest intake.
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On the low end, people had no berries, about 1.5 apples and no tea during the month. On the highest end, people ate about 7.5 cups of blueberries or strawberries, eight apples or pears and had about 19 cups of tea (green or black) each month.
The researchers found that folks consuming the lowest amounts of apples, pears and tea had twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia or other related dementias.
Consuming the lowest level of blueberries, strawberries and red wine was associated with a fourfold risk of developing Alzheimer's or other related dementias.
Jacques said a number of factors are suspected in Alzheimer's disease, including genetics and environmental considerations. Previous research has suggested that diet is a strong environmental factor, and this study adds to that evidence.
"This study also seems to tell us that the risk of dementia varies with people's dietary intake," Jacques said.
Heather Snyder, vice president of medical and scientific operations for the Alzheimer's Association, agreed that many factors contribute to Alzheimer's and other related dementias.
"Alzheimer's disease is complex. Brains are complex. Looking across the life course, genetics, nutrition, education and other factors are all part of a puzzle. This study is another piece in that puzzle," she said.
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Snyder said a strength of this study is its long-term follow-up. But she said it's important to learn the effect of diet in a larger, more diverse population.
Both experts said it's better to have a healthy diet throughout your life. But both also said there are likely brain-health benefits if you change your diet to healthier fare no matter what your age.
The study was published online recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
More information
Learn more about diet and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease from the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-13--Anti-vaxxers on social media more persuasive than experts, study finds

Groups that spread vaccine misinformation on social media have more impact than government health agencies and other expert organizations on undecided people , a new study finds .
The spread of false information could have significant public health consequences if an effective COVID-19 vaccine is developed , the researchers noted .
For the study , investigators developed an innovative tool to map vaccine conversations among 100 million Facebook users during the height of the 2019 measles outbreak .
`` There is a new world war online surrounding trust in health expertise and science , particularly with misinformation about COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments , '' said lead author Neil Johnson , a professor who heads a new initiative in Complexity and Data Science at George Washington University in Washington , D.C. `` Nobody knew what the field of battle looked like , though , so we set to find out . ''
While vaccine supporters outnumber users with anti-vaccine views on Facebook , the platform has nearly three times as many anti-vaccination communities , according to the study .
That makes it far more likely that their views will reach people who are undecided .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be putting their focus in the wrong place .
Those concentrating on larger anti-vaccination communities be missing chances to influence medium-sized communities that are growing under the radar , researchers suggested .
Another takeaway : Anti-vaccination groups offer lots of content about vaccines and other proven health treatments -- such as safety concerns , conspiracy theories or individual choice , for example .
These increase their chance of influencing Facebook users who are undecided .
About 3 billion people use the social media platform .
Pro-vaccination communities typically focused their messages on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the study published May 13 in the journal Nature .
`` We thought we would see major public health entities and state-run health departments at the center of this online battle , but we found the opposite .
They were fighting off to one side , in the wrong place , '' Johnson said in a university news release .
`` Instead of playing whack-a-mole with a global network of communities that consume and produce [ mis ] information , public health agencies , social media platforms and governments can use a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set of strategies to identify where the largest theaters of online activity are and engage and neutralize those communities peddling in misinformation so harmful to the public , '' he added .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on vaccines .

The spread of false information could have significant public health consequences if an effective COVID-19 vaccine is developed, researchers say. File Photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz/U.S. Air Force
Groups that spread vaccine misinformation on social media have more impact than government health agencies and other expert organizations on undecided people, a new study finds. The spread of false information could have significant public health consequences if an effective COVID-19 vaccine is developed, the researchers noted. Advertisement
For the study, investigators developed an innovative tool to map vaccine conversations among 100 million Facebook users during the height of the 2019 measles outbreak.
"There is a new world war online surrounding trust in health expertise and science, particularly with misinformation about COVID-19, but also distrust in big pharmaceuticals and governments," said lead author Neil Johnson, a professor who heads a new initiative in Complexity and Data Science at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. "Nobody knew what the field of battle looked like, though, so we set to find out."
While vaccine supporters outnumber users with anti-vaccine views on Facebook, the platform has nearly three times as many anti-vaccination communities, according to the study. That makes it far more likely that their views will reach people who are undecided.
And researchers found that pro-vaccine communities may be putting their focus in the wrong place. Those concentrating on larger anti-vaccination communities be missing chances to influence medium-sized communities that are growing under the radar, researchers suggested.
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Another takeaway: Anti-vaccination groups offer lots of content about vaccines and other proven health treatments -- such as safety concerns, conspiracy theories or individual choice, for example. These increase their chance of influencing Facebook users who are undecided. About 3 billion people use the social media platform.
Pro-vaccination communities typically focused their messages on the public health benefits of vaccination, according to the study published May 13 in the journal Nature.
"We thought we would see major public health entities and state-run health departments at the center of this online battle, but we found the opposite. They were fighting off to one side, in the wrong place," Johnson said in a university news release.
"Instead of playing whack-a-mole with a global network of communities that consume and produce [mis]information, public health agencies, social media platforms and governments can use a map like ours and an entirely new set of strategies to identify where the largest theaters of online activity are and engage and neutralize those communities peddling in misinformation so harmful to the public," he added.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on vaccines.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-13--In photos: U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic

The novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , pandemic is spreading across the United States .
People are discouraged ( even banned @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings , public spaces are closed , store shelves are empty , with long @ @ @ @ @ and travel is limited .
Here are some scenes from across America .

Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-05-13--One-third of humans could live in hottest Sahara conditions by 2070, study says

May 13 ( UPI ) -- The World Economic Forum warned Wednesday that one-third of the world 's population could be living in locations as hot as the Sahara desert in the next 50 years if world leaders do n't take `` decisive action '' on climate change .
The WEF 's findings are based on the research of a team of scientists who studied global temperatures over the past 6,000 years .
Their research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this month .
The organization said that most humans live within a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earth , but rising global temperatures could threaten those conditions .
The WEF 's senior writer , Sean Fleming , noted that this band of climactic fluctuations has an average annual temperature of 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit .
`` And the crops , livestock and irrigation that are the bedrock of the planet 's food production system were developed , discovered and designed within those constraints , '' he wrote in a blog post .
These critical systems , Fleming said , ca n't operate normally outside those normal environmental conditions , like those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desert in northern Africa .
Those hottest parts of the desert in northern Africa account for less than 1 percent of the Earth 's land surface .
But those conditions will spread to about 20 percent of the land surface if global warming is left unchecked .
The study also noted that by 2070 , population growth is expected to be greatest in already-hot locations on earth .
The areas hardest hit by the rising temperatures will be Africa , South America and Australasia .
Oxfam has said that climate-fueled natural disasters have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of their homes over the past decade .
Mass migration could increase the burden on host countries .
`` This study underscores why a holistic approach to tackling climate change that includes adapting to its impacts , addressing social issues , building governance , and empowering development as well as compassionate legal pathways for those whose homes are affected , is crucial to ensuring a world in which all humans can live with dignity , '' said Marten Scheffer , a professor at Wageningen University who coordinated the research .

A dust storm from the Sahara desert is caught on camera from the International Space Station. File Photo courtesy of NASA | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- The World Economic Forum warned Wednesday that one-third of the world's population could be living in locations as hot as the Sahara desert in the next 50 years if world leaders don't take "decisive action" on climate change. The WEF's findings are based on the research of a team of scientists who studied global temperatures over the past 6,000 years. Their research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this month. Advertisement
The organization said that most humans live within a "narrow band" of environmental conditions on earth, but rising global temperatures could threaten those conditions.
The WEF's senior writer, Sean Fleming, noted that this band of climactic fluctuations has an average annual temperature of 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit.
"And the crops, livestock and irrigation that are the bedrock of the planet's food production system were developed, discovered and designed within those constraints," he wrote in a blog post.
These critical systems, Fleming said, can't operate normally outside those normal environmental conditions, like those in the hottest part of the Sahara desert in northern Africa.
Those hottest parts of the desert in northern Africa account for less than 1 percent of the Earth's land surface. But those conditions will spread to about 20 percent of the land surface if global warming is left unchecked.
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The study also noted that by 2070, population growth is expected to be greatest in already-hot locations on earth. The areas hardest hit by the rising temperatures will be Africa, South America and Australasia.
Oxfam has said that climate-fueled natural disasters have pushed more than 20 million per year out of their homes over the past decade. Mass migration could increase the burden on host countries.
"This study underscores why a holistic approach to tackling climate change that includes adapting to its impacts, addressing social issues, building governance, and empowering development as well as compassionate legal pathways for those whose homes are affected, is crucial to ensuring a world in which all humans can live with dignity," said Marten Scheffer, a professor at Wageningen University who coordinated the research.


upi--2020-05-13--Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford fitted to serve 1,000 more personnel

May 13 ( UPI ) -- The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford completed readiness projects to board 1,000 personnel for an upcoming assignment -- which will include integrating with a carrier air wing and carrier strike group -- the Navy said on Wednesday .
The ship underwent required maintenance and new construction tasks in its `` window of opportunity '' in Norfolk , Va. , to prepare it for an at-sea period , Independent Steaming Event , or ISE , 10 .
The action will involve personnel and aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 8 and Carrier Strike Group 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft will be aboard the ship than usual .
`` This will be the first time Ford has brought on an air wing and our CSG staff , so we 're intentionally going to stress the ship 's systems and the crew to see how well we integrate as one cohesive unit , '' Capt .
J.J. Cummings , the ship 's commanding officer , said in a statement .
`` This is our first opportunity to conduct cyclic flight operations with an air wing .
Our crew continues to work hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training , and remain healthy to ensure we are ready to carry out our mission to fully support integrated air wing operations , '' Cummings said .
The aircraft carrier was improved to provide over 125 offices and berthing spaces for officers , and its food stores sections were expanded .
With the addition of new personnel , the ship will carry about 3,700 sailors .
`` To sustain the full complement of Ford and air wing personnel , Ford 's supply department on-loaded more than 400 pallets of stores and began coordination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vegetables while underway , '' said Cmdr .
Carl Koch , the ship 's supply officer .
The work comes with an eye toward reducing exposure to the coronavirus , Cummings noted .
`` There 's value in being able to provide specialized training to Sailors , '' he said .
`` Like many industries across the nation , we 've had to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic , and we 've found innovative ways to provide quality training while keeping in compliance with COVID-19 mitigation protocols and best practices . ''

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford underwent maintenance and construction to accommodate 1,000 additional personnel and fixed-wing and rotary aircraft for its next mission. Photo by MCS Seaman Apprentice Sawyer Connally/U.S. Navy/UPI
May 13 (UPI) -- The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford completed readiness projects to board 1,000 personnel for an upcoming assignment -- which will include integrating with a carrier air wing and carrier strike group -- the Navy said on Wednesday. The ship underwent required maintenance and new construction tasks in its "window of opportunity" in Norfolk, Va., to prepare it for an at-sea period, Independent Steaming Event, or ISE, 10. Advertisement
The action will involve personnel and aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 8 and Carrier Strike Group 12, meaning that more fixed-wing and rotary aircraft will be aboard the ship than usual.
"This will be the first time Ford has brought on an air wing and our CSG staff, so we're intentionally going to stress the ship's systems and the crew to see how well we integrate as one cohesive unit," Capt. J.J. Cummings, the ship's commanding officer, said in a statement.
"This is our first opportunity to conduct cyclic flight operations with an air wing. Our crew continues to work hard to make preparations, maintain equipment, conduct training, and remain healthy to ensure we are ready to carry out our mission to fully support integrated air wing operations," Cummings said.
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The aircraft carrier was improved to provide over 125 offices and berthing spaces for officers, and its food stores sections were expanded. With the addition of new personnel, the ship will carry about 3,700 sailors.
"To sustain the full complement of Ford and air wing personnel, Ford's supply department on-loaded more than 400 pallets of stores and began coordination for a Replenishment-at-Sea to refresh fruits and vegetables while underway," said Cmdr. Carl Koch, the ship's supply officer.
The work comes with an eye toward reducing exposure to the coronavirus, Cummings noted.
"There's value in being able to provide specialized training to Sailors," he said. "Like many industries across the nation, we've had to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, and we've found innovative ways to provide quality training while keeping in compliance with COVID-19 mitigation protocols and best practices."


upi--2020-05-13--Citizen scientist discovers a new comet

Citizen scientist discovers a new comet

May 13 ( UPI ) -- A new comet was discovered by a citizen scientist analyzing online photographs taken from a satellite , NASA announced on Wednesday .
An Australian amateur astronomer , Michael Mattiazzo , spotted the comet while reviewing images taken by the Solar Wind Anisotropies , or SWAN , instrument aboard the satellite .
The finding marks the 3,932nd comet discovered using data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory , or SOHO , launched in 1995 to study the sun .
The instrument , designed to map variations in the flow of charged particles released from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are typically a source of hydrogen in water .
Twelve comets have been discovered using SWAN instruments -- and Mattiazzo can claim credit for finding eight of them .
The new comet , officially called C/2020 FB ( SWAN ) but referred to as Comet SWAN , can be seen in an ultraviolet wavelength , called Lyman alpha , as emitting water at a rate of about 1.3 tons per second .
The flow of water , which is made of hydrogen and oxygen , made the comet visible to SOHO 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at 53 million miles , occurred on Wednesday .
Although the route of comets can be unpredictable , it is expected to make its perihelion , or closest approach to the sun , on May 27 .
The comet is faintly visible to the unaided eye only in the Southern Hemisphere and immediately after sunrise , a rare example of a comet bright enough to be seen without a telescope .

Comet SWAN, visible at the arrow at the lower left of the field of view of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite, was discovered by an Australian citizen scientist, NASA announced on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of NASA
May 13 (UPI) -- A new comet was discovered by a citizen scientist analyzing online photographs taken from a satellite, NASA announced on Wednesday. An Australian amateur astronomer, Michael Mattiazzo, spotted the comet while reviewing images taken by the Solar Wind Anisotropies, or SWAN, instrument aboard the satellite. Advertisement
The finding marks the 3,932nd comet discovered using data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO, launched in 1995 to study the sun.
The instrument, designed to map variations in the flow of charged particles released from the sun, can also identify comets, which are typically a source of hydrogen in water.
Twelve comets have been discovered using SWAN instruments -- and Mattiazzo can claim credit for finding eight of them.
The new comet, officially called C/2020 FB (SWAN) but referred to as Comet SWAN, can be seen in an ultraviolet wavelength, called Lyman alpha, as emitting water at a rate of about 1.3 tons per second. The flow of water, which is made of hydrogen and oxygen, made the comet visible to SOHO's instruments.
Its closest approach to earth, at 53 million miles, occurred on Wednesday. Although the route of comets can be unpredictable, it is expected to make its perihelion, or closest approach to the sun, on May 27.
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The comet is faintly visible to the unaided eye only in the Southern Hemisphere and immediately after sunrise, a rare example of a comet bright enough to be seen without a telescope.


upi--2020-05-13--New MRI approach mighty speed diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's, study finds

May 13 ( UPI ) -- Measuring glucose levels in the brain by magnetic resonance imaging could lead to earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer 's disease , according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances .
The approach , developed by researchers at City University of Hong Kong and Johns Hopkins University , is non-invasive and relies on magnetic resonance imaging , or MRI , to analyze glucose level changes in the brain 's glymphatic system .
Recent research has suggested that abnormal glucose levels in the brain might be an early sign of Alzheimer 's disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' our imaging method can sensitively detect the distinctive changes of glymphatic system function at the molecular level at an early stage of the disease , helping us to differentiate it from normal ageing , '' co-author Kannie Chan Wai-yan , an associate professor of biomedical engineering at City University , said in a press release .
`` Glucose is natural , biodegradable and commonly used in hospitals , such as the glucose tolerance test , so using it as a contrast agent for MRI is non-invasive and safe , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alzheimer 's disease , according to the Alzheimer 's Association .
The condition is challenging to diagnose , particularly in the roughly 5 percent who suffer from the early-onset form under age 65 .
Typically , doctors perform tests designed to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills , measure functional abilities and spot any behavior changes .
However , these tests do n't always lead to a definitive diagnosis , because many of the symptoms of Alzheimer 's overlap with changes that occur normally as part of aging .
This includes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clusters of proteins -- in the brain , which is considered a telltale sign of Alzheimer 's when it 's spotted on MRI tests .
`` The tricky part of identifying Alzheimer 's disease is that early abnormalities , such as the emergence of protein plaques , are similar to normal aging in the human brain , '' Chan said .
`` Patients diagnosed with symptoms ... are most likely already in the middle or late stage of the disease . ''
Chan 's team has developed a new imaging approach based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEST MRI , which can assess glucose uptake and clearance in the glymphatic system of the brains non-invasively .
The glymphatic system is effectively a drain that allows cerebrospinal fluid to flow through brain tissue called brain parenchyma , removing glucose and protein waste .
Glucose levels and metabolism in the brain can be assessed by positron emission tomography , or PET , scans in hospitals .
However , PET scans with radioactive tracers are expensive and invasive , and concerns over radiation exposure limit the number of times they can be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mice , using a 3T MRI animal scanner .
They injected glucose into genetically modified mice with Alzheimer 's disease and healthy mice between 6 and 16 months old .
Measurements of dynamic response of glucose both in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain parenchyma revealed that the mice with Alzheimer 's disease had significantly slower cerebrospinal fluid clearance rates than the healthy mice .
In addition , researchers detected significantly higher glucose levels in the brain parenchyma of the 6-month-old mice with Alzheimer 's disease compared to the healthy mice of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Alzheimer 's disease , significantly lower glucose levels were found in both brain parenchyma and cerebrospinal fluid compared to healthy mice .
Historically , CEST MRI has been used in the diagnosis of brain tumors .
However , the authors believe its use may now help in identifying Alzheimer 's disease at early stages so that treatments can start as soon as possible to halt or slow its progression .
Researchers expect to complete clinical trials in humans within three years .
`` This can help in reducing the care burden of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We have already obtained positive results on identifying changes in the tiny brains of mice with a 3T low magnetic field scanner .
`` We expect changes in human brains are more detectable at 3T clinical scanner since human brains are much larger . ''

A new MRI approach may help detect early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Photo by Gerd Altmann/Pixabay
May 13 (UPI) -- Measuring glucose levels in the brain by magnetic resonance imaging could lead to earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. The approach, developed by researchers at City University of Hong Kong and Johns Hopkins University, is non-invasive and relies on magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to analyze glucose level changes in the brain's glymphatic system. Advertisement
Recent research has suggested abnormal clearance of waste in the brain is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, and that it may be indicated by glucose levels in the organ.
"By using glucose as a 'tracer,' our imaging method can sensitively detect the distinctive changes of glymphatic system function at the molecular level at an early stage of the disease, helping us to differentiate it from normal ageing," co-author Kannie Chan Wai-yan, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at City University, said in a press release.
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"Glucose is natural, biodegradable and commonly used in hospitals, such as the glucose tolerance test, so using it as a contrast agent for MRI is non-invasive and safe," she said.
About 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The condition is challenging to diagnose, particularly in the roughly 5 percent who suffer from the early-onset form under age 65.
Typically, doctors perform tests designed to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, measure functional abilities and spot any behavior changes.
However, these tests don't always lead to a definitive diagnosis, because many of the symptoms of Alzheimer's overlap with changes that occur normally as part of aging.
This includes the development of beta amyloid plaques -- or clusters of proteins -- in the brain, which is considered a telltale sign of Alzheimer's when it's spotted on MRI tests.
"The tricky part of identifying Alzheimer's disease is that early abnormalities, such as the emergence of protein plaques, are similar to normal aging in the human brain," Chan said. "Patients diagnosed with symptoms ... are most likely already in the middle or late stage of the disease."
Chan's team has developed a new imaging approach based on Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI, or CEST MRI, which can assess glucose uptake and clearance in the glymphatic system of the brains non-invasively.
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The glymphatic system is effectively a drain that allows cerebrospinal fluid to flow through brain tissue called brain parenchyma, removing glucose and protein waste.
Glucose levels and metabolism in the brain can be assessed by positron emission tomography, or PET, scans in hospitals. However, PET scans with radioactive tracers are expensive and invasive, and concerns over radiation exposure limit the number of times they can be used.
The researchers tested the CEST-based approach in mice, using a 3T MRI animal scanner. They injected glucose into genetically modified mice with Alzheimer's disease and healthy mice between 6 and 16 months old.
Measurements of dynamic response of glucose both in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain parenchyma revealed that the mice with Alzheimer's disease had significantly slower cerebrospinal fluid clearance rates than the healthy mice.
In addition, researchers detected significantly higher glucose levels in the brain parenchyma of the 6-month-old mice with Alzheimer's disease compared to the healthy mice of the same age.
For the 16-month-old mice with Alzheimer's disease, significantly lower glucose levels were found in both brain parenchyma and cerebrospinal fluid compared to healthy mice.
Historically, CEST MRI has been used in the diagnosis of brain tumors. However, the authors believe its use may now help in identifying Alzheimer's disease at early stages so that treatments can start as soon as possible to halt or slow its progression.
Advertisement
Researchers expect to complete clinical trials in humans within three years.
"This can help in reducing the care burden of the aging society," Chan said. "We have already obtained positive results on identifying changes in the tiny brains of mice with a 3T low magnetic field scanner.
"We expect changes in human brains are more detectable at 3T clinical scanner since human brains are much larger."


upi--2020-05-13--Most people go to work with flu-like symptoms, survey shows

Most people around the world say they would continue to work if they had flu-like symptoms , an online survey finds .
In the face of the coronavirus pandemic , researchers called the findings disturbing .
The survey -- conducted online between October 2018 and January 2019 , before the emergence of COVID-19 -- included responses from 533 workers in 49 countries .
Respondents included 249 health care workers and 284 others .
Large majorities -- over 99 percent of health care workers and 96.5 percent of others -- said they 'd work through `` minor '' symptoms , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or cough .
And 58.5 percent said they 'd work with flu-like symptoms , including major ones such as muscle aches and fever .
In fact , nearly 27 percent of health care workers said they would go to work with a fever , as did 16 percent of others .
And nearly 46 percent of health care workers would avoid a colleague with flu-like symptoms , compared with about 61 percent of other workers .
Health care workers were more willing to get a flu shot , at 81 percent , than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 57 percent .
The study was published May 13 in the journal PLOS One .
Ermira Tartari , of the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Infection and Prevention Control Working Group , led the study .
In a journal news release , she and her co-authors called the findings concerning .
`` At the time of the present COVID pandemic it is important to realize that health care workers , despite feeling moderately sick during flu seasons , feel the obligation to work , '' they said .
They said strategies to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial , especially in health care , where workers often care for patients with weakened immune systems .
Major cultural change is required , along with sufficient sick leave and access to flu vaccination , the researchers added .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on influenza .

Most people around the world say they would continue to work if they had flu-like symptoms, an online survey finds.
In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, researchers called the findings disturbing.
Advertisement
The survey -- conducted online between October 2018 and January 2019, before the emergence of COVID-19 -- included responses from 533 workers in 49 countries. Respondents included 249 health care workers and 284 others.
Large majorities -- over 99 percent of health care workers and 96.5 percent of others -- said they'd work through "minor" symptoms, such as a sore throat, sneezing/runny nose or cough. And 58.5 percent said they'd work with flu-like symptoms, including major ones such as muscle aches and fever.
In fact, nearly 27 percent of health care workers said they would go to work with a fever, as did 16 percent of others.
And nearly 46 percent of health care workers would avoid a colleague with flu-like symptoms, compared with about 61 percent of other workers. Health care workers were more willing to get a flu shot, at 81 percent, than workers in other fields, at nearly 57 percent.
The study was published May 13 in the journal PLOS One.
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Ermira Tartari, of the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Infection and Prevention Control Working Group, led the study. In a journal news release, she and her co-authors called the findings concerning.
"At the time of the present COVID pandemic it is important to realize that health care workers, despite feeling moderately sick during flu seasons, feel the obligation to work," they said.
They said strategies to prevent transmission of flu-like illnesses in workplaces are crucial, especially in health care, where workers often care for patients with weakened immune systems.
Major cultural change is required, along with sufficient sick leave and access to flu vaccination, the researchers added.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on influenza.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-13--PGA Tour to require golfers' COVID-19 tests for June return

May 13 ( UPI ) -- The PGA Tour will require golfers to be tested for the coronavirus before they are allowed to participate in the Charles Schwab Challenge from June 11 to 14 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth , Texas .
The tournament will mark the return of the PGA Tour season after it was suspended in March due to the pandemic .
No spectators will be allowed on the course for at least the next four PGA Tour events .
Golf Digest , Golfweek and ESPN obtained a 37-page document from the PGA Tour that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include a questionnaire , thermal reading and nasal swab or saliva test .
Caddies and players will be screened before they travel , when they arrive in Fort Worth and during the tournament .
Nasal swab test results will take 24 to 48 hours .
Players will be allowed to practice or play on-site -- but have no access to course facilities -- while they await the results .
If a player tests positive , he will be required to self-isolate for at least 10 days or have two negative tests results at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players who test positive will not be allowed to participate in tournaments .
If a player tests positive after he makes the cut , he will receive money for a last-place finish .
Caddies will be required to wipe off flag sticks and bunker rakes .
The PGA Tour will provide disinfectant wipes and masks for all personnel .
PGA Tour staff , media , security and player relations , tournament staff , player and caddie services and others will also be tested at each event .
Clubhouse access will be limited to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Family , agents and managers will not be allowed on site .
The PGA Tour plans to provide charter flights between events for players and caddies , with a limit of 170 players and caddies allowed .
PGA Tour players will be charged $ 600 per seat , while caddies will pay $ 300 per seat .
The RBC Heritage will follow the Charles Schwab Challenge .
The second tournament of the PGA Tour 's return will be played from June 18 to 21 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head @ @ @ @

Brooks Koepka (R) and other star golfers will be required to take tests for the coronavirus if they want to participate in tournaments when the PGA Tour resumes in June. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 13 (UPI) -- The PGA Tour will require golfers to be tested for the coronavirus before they are allowed to participate in the Charles Schwab Challenge from June 11 to 14 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The tournament will mark the return of the PGA Tour season after it was suspended in March due to the pandemic. No spectators will be allowed on the course for at least the next four PGA Tour events. Golf Digest, Golfweek and ESPN obtained a 37-page document from the PGA Tour that had been given to players. Advertisement
Testing protocols include a questionnaire, thermal reading and nasal swab or saliva test. Caddies and players will be screened before they travel, when they arrive in Fort Worth and during the tournament.
Nasal swab test results will take 24 to 48 hours. Players will be allowed to practice or play on-site -- but have no access to course facilities -- while they await the results.
If a player tests positive, he will be required to self-isolate for at least 10 days or have two negative tests results at least 24 hours apart. Caddies or players who test positive will not be allowed to participate in tournaments. If a player tests positive after he makes the cut, he will receive money for a last-place finish.
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Caddies will be required to wipe off flag sticks and bunker rakes. The PGA Tour will provide disinfectant wipes and masks for all personnel.
PGA Tour staff, media, security and player relations, tournament staff, player and caddie services and others will also be tested at each event. Clubhouse access will be limited to those who test negative for the coronavirus. Family, agents and managers will not be allowed on site.
The PGA Tour plans to provide charter flights between events for players and caddies, with a limit of 170 players and caddies allowed. PGA Tour players will be charged $600 per seat, while caddies will pay $300 per seat.
The RBC Heritage will follow the Charles Schwab Challenge. The second tournament of the PGA Tour's return will be played from June 18 to 21 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C.


upi--2020-05-14--3 million more Americans file new unemployment claims, Labor Dept. says

May 14 ( UPI ) -- About 3 million more Americans have filed new unemployment claims , the Labor Department said in its weekly report Thursday .
The increase pushes the eight-week total to more than 33 million .
Economists had expected an increase of 2.7 million new claims .
The peak was 6.9 million new claims in late March .
The unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent last month , the highest since World War II .
If adjusted to include furloughed workers who have not made insurance claims , the figure is nearly 20 percent .
Some experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , suggests the United States is past the worst period of job losses .
`` However , the damage that has been done is unprecedented .
Our estimates imply that , at the end of April , roughly 1 in 4 people who were working in February are no longer working , '' said Adam Blandin of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business .
A survey conducted by Blandin and Alexander Bick , an economist at Arizona State University , found that for the week ending May 2 , the employment rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults .
Most of those losing jobs recently , however , believe they can return if the economy reopens quickly .
Goldman Sachs economist Jan Hatzius warned Wednesday that U.S. economic growth may fall at a 39 percent annualized rate in the second quarter , followed by a rebound of 29 percent growth in the third .
Goldman revised its peak unemployment upwards from 15 percent to 25 percent .

A mask covers the face of the Fearless Girl Statue on Wednesday outside of The New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 14 (UPI) -- About 3 million more Americans have filed new unemployment claims, the Labor Department said in its weekly report Thursday. The increase pushes the eight-week total to more than 36 million. The report said the new weekly figure of 2.98 million is a decrease of 195,000 from the previous week, which the department revised up by 7,000 claims. Advertisement
Economists had expected an increase of 2.7 million new claims. The peak was 6.9 million new claims in late March.
The unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent in April, the highest since World War II. Thursday's report said the rate increased to 15.7 percent by May 2. If adjusted to include furloughed workers who have not made insurance claims, the figure is nearly 20 percent.
Some experts say the slowing pace of losses, however, suggests the United States is past the worst period of job losses. With Thursday's report, the four-week average declined by more than a half-million claims.
"However, the damage that has been done is unprecedented. Our estimates imply that, at the end of April, roughly 1 in 4 people who were working in February are no longer working," said Adam Blandin of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business.
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A survey conducted by Blandin and Alexander Bick, an economist at Arizona State University, found that for the week ending May 2, the employment rate was more than 51 percent among working-age adults.
"While employment fell in the most recent wave, the decline has slowed noticeably," they wrote.
Most of those losing jobs recently, however, believe they can return if the economy reopens quickly.
Goldman Sachs economist Jan Hatzius warned Wednesday that U.S. economic growth may fall at a 39 percent annualized rate in the second quarter, followed by a rebound of 29 percent growth in the third. Goldman revised its peak unemployment upwards from 15 percent to 25 percent.


upi--2020-05-14--Religious freedom is under threat in the courtroom

May 14 ( UPI ) -- There is growing concern in our nation about the unconstitutional overreach of the judiciary in religious affairs .
In courtrooms around the country , activist judges are rendering judgments that are collectively eroding the right to religious freedom protected by the First Amendment .
The commissions formed to oversee the appointments of these judges are often failing to hold them accountable .
One such travesty is playing out in our nation 's capital .
Judge Laura Cordero of the Washington , D.C. Superior Court issued an unconstitutional summary judgment ruling in the case 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimacy to one religious faction over another in an ongoing schism within the Unification Movement founded by the Rev .
Sun Myung Moon .
Entering its ninth year , the case explicitly involves questions of religious polity , structure and theology .
Historically , courts have properly abstained from any involvement in the internal affairs of religious entities , as required by the First Amendment .
Yet , despite the facts being disputed by both parties , Cordero issued a ruling that decided the issues in question without a jury trial .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hearing to consider evidence and arguments of the parties involved and should have followed proper protocol for summary judgment , which requires the party seeking summary judgment to show there is no genuine dispute of any material fact .
Cordero also ignored the appellate court 's caution that the case must be dismissed if `` it becomes apparent to the trial court that this dispute does in fact turn on matters of doctrinal interpretation or church governance . ''
As such , Cordero set a dangerous legal precedent by unilaterally ruling on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a religious entity .
Not only has she trampled on the First Amendment by involving herself in a religious schism , but she also engaged in religious discrimination by favoring one side 's unproven claims over the other 's evidence-backed claims .
Compounding this injustice , the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure issued its report to President Donald Trump awarding Cordero a `` well qualified '' reappointment on April 27 .
This decision was rendered despite numerous factual misrepresentations and 5,000 emails to the commission objecting to her reappointment due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the above case .
Though thousands of people of faith collectively decried her discrimination against their faith , their voices were callously dismissed by the commission .
But the commission 's report reveals a government agency contradicting itself and issuing falsehoods to the president .
One example of the report 's many contradictions pertains to the 5,000 emails referenced above .
The report says the emails the commission received `` sharply criticized Judge Cordero 's legal reasoning , '' but that legal reasoning `` is not within the commission 's purview to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very same paragraph , the commission states Cordero 's ruling was `` quite persuasive , '' as well as `` well-reasoned , clear and concise and meticulous as to the facts and the law . ''
By what parameters , other than `` legal reasoning , '' can the commission say her opinion was `` quite persuasive '' and `` well-reasoned '' ?
It is contradictory , dishonest and disrespectful for the commission to give this praise to Cordero , while , in the same paragraph , dismissing thousands of emails with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` not within the commission 's purview to consider . ''
And , it is simply irresponsible and inappropriate for the commission to praise the opinion issued by a judge against a party in a case that is ongoing .
The report contains many other falsehoods .
According to the report , `` Judge Cordero originally dismissed the case on lack of subject matter jurisdiction due to religious abstention . ''
This is false .
The case was dismissed by Judge Anita Josey-Herring in 2013 , not by Cordero .
The report claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on appeal . ''
This is another outright falsehood .
A cursory glance at the docket of the case reveals that Cordero 's decision was never appealed .
As such , there was no way for it to be `` affirmed . ''
Since no punitive action ever took place , there could have been no appeal .
All this information about judicial activity that is blatantly false or misattributed is being utilized to exaggerate the performance of a judge and to give her the highest possible rating .
The report on Cordero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst elements of cronyism .
Not only is the report riddled with contradictions and outright falsehoods , but it demonstrates a willingness to go to any length to rubber-stamp the reappointments of sitting judges , regardless of their performance .
The examples here are a few of the misrepresented facts that aided in giving Cordero the highest possible rating ; but one can only wonder what other facts were twisted to make her case .
A quick check on this commission 's record concerning reappointments shows that 31 judges have come up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that every single judge was given the `` well qualified '' designation .
According to the commission 's own policy , the `` well qualified '' designation is reserved only for those judges `` whose work product , legal scholarship , dedication , efficiency and demeanor are exceptional . ''
If a judge ignores due process and violates the First Amendment and is yet considered `` exceptional , '' what does that say about the integrity of our judicial system ?
Judges should uphold the Constitution and follow proper judicial procedure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct due diligence on judges ' cases before reappointing them to the bench .
We must hold judges and the judicial appointment process accountable so that this nation can continue to be an exemplar of religious freedom and the rule of law .
Howard C. Self is the president of Right To Believe , a not-for-profit organization fighting to protect the right to believe in one 's religion without undue governmental interference .
He has also held leadership roles at the Family Peace Association and in the Unification Movement , which are affiliated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UPI .

May 14 (UPI) -- There is growing concern in our nation about the unconstitutional overreach of the judiciary in religious affairs. In courtrooms around the country, activist judges are rendering judgments that are collectively eroding the right to religious freedom protected by the First Amendment. The commissions formed to oversee the appointments of these judges are often failing to hold them accountable.
One such travesty is playing out in our nation's capital. Judge Laura Cordero of the Washington, D.C. Superior Court issued an unconstitutional summary judgment ruling in the case 2011 CA 003721 B, which effectively gave legitimacy to one religious faction over another in an ongoing schism within the Unification Movement founded by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Entering its ninth year, the case explicitly involves questions of religious polity, structure and theology.
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Historically, courts have properly abstained from any involvement in the internal affairs of religious entities, as required by the First Amendment. Yet, despite the facts being disputed by both parties, Cordero issued a ruling that decided the issues in question without a jury trial. At a minimum, Cordero should have held a hearing to consider evidence and arguments of the parties involved and should have followed proper protocol for summary judgment, which requires the party seeking summary judgment to show there is no genuine dispute of any material fact.
Cordero also ignored the appellate court's caution that the case must be dismissed if "it becomes apparent to the trial court that this dispute does in fact turn on matters of doctrinal interpretation or church governance."
As such, Cordero set a dangerous legal precedent by unilaterally ruling on the doctrine, hierarchy and leadership of a religious entity. Not only has she trampled on the First Amendment by involving herself in a religious schism, but she also engaged in religious discrimination by favoring one side's unproven claims over the other's evidence-backed claims.
Compounding this injustice, the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure issued its report to President Donald Trump awarding Cordero a "well qualified" reappointment on April 27. This decision was rendered despite numerous factual misrepresentations and 5,000 emails to the commission objecting to her reappointment due to First Amendment violations and her religious bias in the above case. Though thousands of people of faith collectively decried her discrimination against their faith, their voices were callously dismissed by the commission. But the commission's report reveals a government agency contradicting itself and issuing falsehoods to the president.
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One example of the report's many contradictions pertains to the 5,000 emails referenced above. The report says the emails the commission received "sharply criticized Judge Cordero's legal reasoning," but that legal reasoning "is not within the commission's purview to consider." Yet, in the very same paragraph, the commission states Cordero's ruling was "quite persuasive," as well as "well-reasoned, clear and concise and meticulous as to the facts and the law."
By what parameters, other than "legal reasoning," can the commission say her opinion was "quite persuasive" and "well-reasoned"? It is contradictory, dishonest and disrespectful for the commission to give this praise to Cordero, while, in the same paragraph, dismissing thousands of emails with the claim that "legal reasoning" is "not within the commission's purview to consider." And, it is simply irresponsible and inappropriate for the commission to praise the opinion issued by a judge against a party in a case that is ongoing.
The report contains many other falsehoods. According to the report, "Judge Cordero originally dismissed the case on lack of subject matter jurisdiction due to religious abstention." This is false. The case was dismissed by Judge Anita Josey-Herring in 2013, not by Cordero. The report claims that Cordero's decision "was affirmed on appeal." This is another outright falsehood. A cursory glance at the docket of the case reveals that Cordero's decision was never appealed. As such, there was no way for it to be "affirmed." Since no punitive action ever took place, there could have been no appeal.
Advertisement
All this information about judicial activity that is blatantly false or misattributed is being utilized to exaggerate the performance of a judge and to give her the highest possible rating.
The report on Cordero's reappointment by the commission reveals the worst elements of cronyism. Not only is the report riddled with contradictions and outright falsehoods, but it demonstrates a willingness to go to any length to rubber-stamp the reappointments of sitting judges, regardless of their performance. The examples here are a few of the misrepresented facts that aided in giving Cordero the highest possible rating; but one can only wonder what other facts were twisted to make her case.
A quick check on this commission's record concerning reappointments shows that 31 judges have come up for review in the last 13 years, and that every single judge was given the "well qualified" designation. According to the commission's own policy, the "well qualified" designation is reserved only for those judges "whose work product, legal scholarship, dedication, efficiency and demeanor are exceptional." If a judge ignores due process and violates the First Amendment and is yet considered "exceptional," what does that say about the integrity of our judicial system?
Judges should uphold the Constitution and follow proper judicial procedure. Oversight commissions should make every effort to conduct due diligence on judges' cases before reappointing them to the bench. We must hold judges and the judicial appointment process accountable so that this nation can continue to be an exemplar of religious freedom and the rule of law.
Advertisement
Howard C. Self is the president of Right To Believe, a not-for-profit organization fighting to protect the right to believe in one's religion without undue governmental interference. He has also held leadership roles at the Family Peace Association and in the Unification Movement, which are affiliated with the ultimate holding company that owns UPI.


upi--2020-05-14--WWE NXT: Imperium win Tag Team Championships, Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher implode

May 14 ( UPI ) -- Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel of Imperium won big on WWE NXT by earning the NXT Tag Team Championships .
Aichner and Barthel faced off against Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher for the title on Wednesday .
Thatcher has been wrestling in place of Riddle 's real partner , Pete Dunne , who is unable to compete .
Riddle and Thatcher 's partnership fell apart after The Original Bro performed a Monkey Flip that sent Barthel flying into Thatcher .
The incident caused Thatcher to walk out on Riddle who then had to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then defeated Riddle with the European Bomb to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions .
Imperium is also in possession of the NXT United Kingdom Championship which sits around the waist of Walter .
Thatcher , backstage , said he was tired of Riddle 's antics and brawled with his former partner which led to a main event match between the two .
Riddle and Thatcher had a highly-competitive match filled with hard hits , submission holds and mat-based wrestling .
Riddle was able to reverse a knee lock by Thatcher into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory .
Thatcher responded by locking in his Fujiwara Armbar onto Riddle after the match , causing him to scream in pain .
Also on NXT , Finn Balor battled Cameron Grimes in a match that also saw the appearance of Damian Priest .
Priest arrived onto the scene and attacked Balor 's knee with his signature nightstick while the referee was distracted .
Grimes took advantage of the situation and delivered the Cave-In for the three count , giving him the biggest win of his career .
Priest then entered the ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Prince with The Reckoning onto the chair .
Other moments from WWE NXT included Tegan Nox defeating Indi Hartwell ; Jake Atlas defeating Tony Nese as part of the NXT Cruiserweight Title Tournament ; Jack Gallagher defeating Isaiah 'Swerve ' Scott as part of the tournament ; Kayden Carter defeating Aliyah ; Rhea Ripley promising to take back the NXT Women 's Championship from Charlotte Flair ; The Undisputed Era stating they will go after Dexter Lumis next ; and the announcement of a new NXT pay-per-view event .
NXT head Triple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that NXT TakeOver : In Your House will take place live on June 7 .
The event will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the In Your House series , a former brand of WWE pay-per-view events .

May 14 (UPI) -- Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel of Imperium won big on WWE NXT by earning the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Aichner and Barthel faced off against Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher for the title on Wednesday. Thatcher has been wrestling in place of Riddle's real partner, Pete Dunne, who is unable to compete.
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Riddle and Thatcher's partnership fell apart after The Original Bro performed a Monkey Flip that sent Barthel flying into Thatcher. The incident caused Thatcher to walk out on Riddle who then had to deal with Imperium alone.
Aichner and Barthel then defeated Riddle with the European Bomb to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions. Imperium is also in possession of the NXT United Kingdom Championship which sits around the waist of Walter.
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Thatcher, backstage, said he was tired of Riddle's antics and brawled with his former partner which led to a main event match between the two.
Riddle and Thatcher had a highly-competitive match filled with hard hits, submission holds and mat-based wrestling. Riddle was able to reverse a knee lock by Thatcher into a roll up pin for the surprise victory.
Thatcher responded by locking in his Fujiwara Armbar onto Riddle after the match, causing him to scream in pain.
Also on NXT, Finn Balor battled Cameron Grimes in a match that also saw the appearance of Damian Priest.
Priest arrived onto the scene and attacked Balor's knee with his signature nightstick while the referee was distracted. Grimes took advantage of the situation and delivered the Cave-In for the three count, giving him the biggest win of his career.
Priest then entered the ring with a steel chair and further punished The Prince with The Reckoning onto the chair.
Other moments from WWE NXT included Tegan Nox defeating Indi Hartwell; Jake Atlas defeating Tony Nese as part of the NXT Cruiserweight Title Tournament; Jack Gallagher defeating Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott as part of the tournament; Kayden Carter defeating Aliyah; Rhea Ripley promising to take back the NXT Women's Championship from Charlotte Flair; The Undisputed Era stating they will go after Dexter Lumis next; and the announcement of a new NXT pay-per-view event.
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NXT head Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Road Dogg announced that NXT TakeOver: In Your House will take place live on June 7. The event will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the In Your House series, a former brand of WWE pay-per-view events.