upi--2020-02-05--Kirk Douglas, star of 'Spartacus.' dies at 103

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Oscar-winning film star Kirk Douglas , one of the last titans of Hollywood 's Golden Age , died Wednesday , his family announced .
He was 103 .
His son , and fellow actor , Michael Douglas , announced his death on Instagram .
He did n't reveal the elder Douglas ' cause of death .
`` It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103 .
To the world he was a legend , an actor from the golden age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golden years , a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to , '' Michael Douglas wrote .
`` But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad , to Catherine , a wonderful father-in-law , to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather , and to his wife Anne , a wonderful husband . ''
Born Issur Danielovitch in 1916 New York , Douglas was an actor , producer , director , philanthropist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of seven children of Jewish immigrants from what is now Belarus , Douglas began his screen career after he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II .
Best known for his work in the films Champion , Ace in the Hole , 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea , The Bad and the Beautiful , The Big Sky , Gunfight at the O.K .
Corral , Paths of Glory , Spartacus , Tough Guys , Inherit the Wind and Diamonds , his final big-screen role was in 2003 's It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which he co-starred with his real-life son Michael Douglas , grandson Cameron Douglas and ex-wife Diana Douglas .
Despite his status as a beloved cinematic icon , Douglas has candidly spoken about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts after he suffered a devastating stroke in 1996 and had to re-learn how to speak .
`` I was scared to death .
... What 's happening ?
Am I going to die ? ''
he recalled in 2002 at a National Press Club event .
He went on to say he never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But I did experience something far worse -- a very deep depression .
What does an actor do who ca n't talk ?
Wait for silent pictures to come back ? ''
he said , recalling how he cried at the possibility he would never make another movie .
`` And I thought -- suicide , '' he said , recounting how he actually took out a gun and loaded it .
`` I looked at myself in the mirror -- a horrible sight .
My mouth drooping , saliva falling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , coming to the conclusion , `` Suicide is a dumb and selfish act . ''
Steven Spielberg presented Douglas with his honorary Oscar for 50 years `` as a creative and moral force in the film community '' at the 68th annual Academy Awards ceremony in 1996 , not long after Douglas had the stroke .
`` Most stars of this stature are shaped out of mythic clay , '' Spielberg said at the gala .
`` Kirk Douglas never chose that .
He does n't have a singular character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has a singular honesty , a drive to be inimitable .
`` That 's what animates all of his roles from Spartacas to Vincent Van Gogh .
There 's a single thread drawing his characters together and it 's called conscience .
Every person he ever played had one and because Kirk Douglas never made his characters simple -- no good guys or bad guys -- he shaded heroics with self-doubt and shaped his villainy with compassion .
His characters were n't bigger than life , they were life reconverted .
Something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas triumphantly took the stage and accepted his hard-earned award , telling the crowd : `` Thank you .
I see my four sons .
They are proud of the old man .
And I am proud , too .
Proud to be a part of Hollywood for 50 years , but this is for my wife , Anne .
I love you ! ''
Michael Douglas told UPI in 2001 that from the time he was a child he took note of how his father lived as both a man and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself is one of the biggest advantages of being second generation , '' Michael said .
`` You know , you grew up and you saw your dad getting attention and people taking photographs .
You kind of saw how he behaved .
And it gave you more of an understanding about all of the media attention that this business brings . ''
Kirk Douglas is survived by Anne , his wife of more than 60 years , as well as his sons Michael , Joel and Peter .
His son Eric died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensive film legacy , Douglas also penned several books .
Among them are The Ragman 's Son , Dance with the Devil , The Gift , Last Tango in Brooklyn , The Broken Mirror : A Novella , Young Heroes of the Bible , Climbing the Mountain : My Search for Meaning , My Stroke of Luck , Let 's Face It : 90 Years of Living , Loving , and Learning , I Am Spartacus : Making a Film , Breaking the Blacklist and Life Could Be Verse : Reflections on Love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Kirk Douglas (L) and Elizabeth Taylor are pictured during the production the ABC television special "Victory at Entebbe" in Hollywood on November 15, 1976. UPI File Photo | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning film star Kirk Douglas, one of the last titans of Hollywood's Golden Age, died Wednesday, his family announced. He was 103. His son, and fellow actor, Michael Douglas, announced his death on Instagram. He didn't reveal the elder Douglas' cause of death. Advertisement
"It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103. To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to," Michael Douglas wrote.
"But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband."
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Born Issur Danielovitch in 1916 New York, Douglas was an actor, producer, director, philanthropist and author who appeared in nearly 100 movies. One of seven children of Jewish immigrants from what is now Belarus, Douglas began his screen career after he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Best known for his work in the films Champion, Ace in the Hole, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Bad and the Beautiful, The Big Sky, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Tough Guys, Inherit the Wind and Diamonds, his final big-screen role was in 2003's It Runs in the Family, a comedy in which he co-starred with his real-life son Michael Douglas, grandson Cameron Douglas and ex-wife Diana Douglas.
Despite his status as a beloved cinematic icon, Douglas has candidly spoken about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts after he suffered a devastating stroke in 1996 and had to re-learn how to speak.
"I was scared to death. ... What's happening? Am I going to die?" he recalled in 2002 at a National Press Club event.
He went on to say he never suffered physical pain from his stroke.
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"But I did experience something far worse -- a very deep depression. What does an actor do who can't talk? Wait for silent pictures to come back?" he said, recalling how he cried at the possibility he would never make another movie.
"And I thought -- suicide," he said, recounting how he actually took out a gun and loaded it. "I looked at myself in the mirror -- a horrible sight. My mouth drooping, saliva falling out." He ultimately changed his mind, however, coming to the conclusion, "Suicide is a dumb and selfish act."
Steven Spielberg presented Douglas with his honorary Oscar for 50 years "as a creative and moral force in the film community" at the 68th annual Academy Awards ceremony in 1996, not long after Douglas had the stroke.
"Most stars of this stature are shaped out of mythic clay," Spielberg said at the gala. "Kirk Douglas never chose that. He doesn't have a singular character that makes him unique. Instead, he has a singular honesty, a drive to be inimitable.
"That's what animates all of his roles from Spartacas to Vincent Van Gogh. There's a single thread drawing his characters together and it's called conscience. Every person he ever played had one and because Kirk Douglas never made his characters simple -- no good guys or bad guys -- he shaded heroics with self-doubt and shaped his villainy with compassion. His characters weren't bigger than life, they were life reconverted. Something we all could identify with."
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Douglas triumphantly took the stage and accepted his hard-earned award, telling the crowd: "Thank you. I see my four sons. They are proud of the old man. And I am proud, too. Proud to be a part of Hollywood for 50 years, but this is for my wife, Anne. I love you!"
Michael Douglas told UPI in 2001 that from the time he was a child he took note of how his father lived as both a man and an actor.
"Learning how to conduct yourself is one of the biggest advantages of being second generation," Michael said. "You know, you grew up and you saw your dad getting attention and people taking photographs. You kind of saw how he behaved. And it gave you more of an understanding about all of the media attention that this business brings."
Kirk Douglas is survived by Anne, his wife of more than 60 years, as well as his sons Michael, Joel and Peter. His son Eric died in 2004.
In addition to his extensive film legacy, Douglas also penned several books. Among them are The Ragman's Son, Dance with the Devil, The Gift, Last Tango in Brooklyn, The Broken Mirror: A Novella, Young Heroes of the Bible, Climbing the Mountain: My Search for Meaning, My Stroke of Luck, Let's Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning, I Am Spartacus: Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist and Life Could Be Verse: Reflections on Love, Loss, and What Really Matters.
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Actor Kirk Douglas through the years


upi--2020-02-05--Bernie Madoff says he's dying, seeks compassionate release

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Convicted fraudster and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff asked a federal judge in New York for compassionate release from prison Wednesday , saying he 's dying of kidney disease .
His lawyer filed a motion in federal court in Manhattan seeking his release , saying his client has `` less than 18 months to live . ''
In addition to kidney disease , the court document said Madoff has cardiovascular disease and hypertension .
The 81-year-old has served 11 years of a 150-year prison sentence for swindling tens of billions of dollars as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is serving the sentence at a North Carolina prison .
Madoff told The Washington Post he has end-stage kidney disease and has entered into palliative care at the prison .
He said he wishes to have a relationship with his grandchildren before he dies .
`` I 'm terminally ill , '' he told the newspaper by phone .
`` There 's no cure for my type of disease .
So , you know , I 've served .
I 've served 11 years already , and , quite frankly , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously filed a request for compassionate release with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons , but it was denied .
He also requested President Donald Trump to commute his sentence in July .

Bernie Madoff's lawyer said he has about 18 months to live due to kidney disease. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Convicted fraudster and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff asked a federal judge in New York for compassionate release from prison Wednesday, saying he's dying of kidney disease. His lawyer filed a motion in federal court in Manhattan seeking his release, saying his client has "less than 18 months to live." Advertisement
In addition to kidney disease, the court document said Madoff has cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
The 81-year-old has served 11 years of a 150-year prison sentence for swindling tens of billions of dollars as part of the largest Ponzi scheme in history. He is serving the sentence at a North Carolina prison.
Madoff told The Washington Post he has end-stage kidney disease and has entered into palliative care at the prison. He said he wishes to have a relationship with his grandchildren before he dies.
"I'm terminally ill," he told the newspaper by phone. "There's no cure for my type of disease. So, you know, I've served. I've served 11 years already, and, quite frankly, I've suffered through it."
Madoff previously filed a request for compassionate release with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, but it was denied. He also requested President Donald Trump to commute his sentence in July.


upi--2020-02-05--Las Vegas Raiders sign RB Jalen Richard to two-year extension

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The Las Vegas Raiders signed running back Jalen Richard to a two-year contract extension , the team announced Wednesday .
League sources told NFL Media that Richard 's two-year deal is worth $ 7 million .
He can earn up to $ 8 million , with $ 4.6 million fully guaranteed .
Richard , who joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016 , became the fourth pending free agent to re-sign with the team as it finishes the move to Las Vegas this year , joining veteran cornerback Nevin Lawson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Richard , 26 , has been a popular offensive weapon for Raiders head coach Jon Gruden due to his pass-catching ability out of the backfield .
He caught a team-high 68 passes in 2018 and tied for fourth on the team with 36 receptions last season .
The 5-foot-8 , 205-pound Richard has averaged five yards per carry in his NFL career .
He has recorded 1,170 rushing yards on 233 attempts with three touchdowns and has caught 160 passes for 1,380 yards and three receiving scores in 64 career games .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned his first-career carry into a 75-yard touchdown and became only the fourth player in league history to record a touchdown run of 75-plus yards in his NFL debut , joining Oran Pape ( 1930 ) , Alan Ameche ( 1955 ) and Ottis Anderson ( 1979 ) .

Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) joined the Raiders in 2016 as an undrafted free agent. File Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The Las Vegas Raiders signed running back Jalen Richard to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. League sources told NFL Media that Richard's two-year deal is worth $7 million. He can earn up to $8 million, with $4.6 million fully guaranteed. Advertisement
Richard, who joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016, became the fourth pending free agent to re-sign with the team as it finishes the move to Las Vegas this year, joining veteran cornerback Nevin Lawson and offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good.
Richard, 26, has been a popular offensive weapon for Raiders head coach Jon Gruden due to his pass-catching ability out of the backfield. He caught a team-high 68 passes in 2018 and tied for fourth on the team with 36 receptions last season.
The 5-foot-8, 205-pound Richard has averaged five yards per carry in his NFL career. He has recorded 1,170 rushing yards on 233 attempts with three touchdowns and has caught 160 passes for 1,380 yards and three receiving scores in 64 career games.
Advertisement We have signed Jalen Richard to a two-year extension. More » https://t.co/NEVL3JvPQJ pic.twitter.com/1aR82boPYo— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) February 5, 2020
As a rookie in 2016, Richard turned his first-career carry into a 75-yard touchdown and became only the fourth player in league history to record a touchdown run of 75-plus yards in his NFL debut, joining Oran Pape (1930), Alan Ameche (1955) and Ottis Anderson (1979).


upi--2020-02-05--Leidos nabs $7.7 billion deal to provide network support to Navy

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Leidos Inc. has been awarded a $ 7.7 billion contract to provide network services to the U.S. Navy , the Pentagon announced .
According to the contract announcement , Leidos will provide base network services that that are currently under the Next Generation Enterprise Networks Contract and the Marine Corps Enterprise Networks contract .
Services covered under that contract include electronic software delivery , end user core build , endpoint detection , logistics management , network operations , security operations , service desk , transport and virtualization services .
Work will be performed across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to be completed by February 2025 , but the contract includes options that , if exercised , would extend the work through August 2028 .
The first task order obligates $ 10 million to Leidos , with funds to expire at the end of the fiscal year .
According to the DoD the contract was awarded through an open bidding process , with three bids received .
Leidos is a Reston , Va.-based information technology and engineering services provider that provides services to the civil , defense , intelligence and health sectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's website , Leidos reported $ 10.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2018 , $ 3.7 billion of which was from defense and intelligence .
In December Leidos was awarded a $ 6.5 billion contract to provide IT support for the Department of Defense , and in July the U.S. Air Force awarded Leidos with a $ 66.7 million deal to develop sensor and sensor systems .

Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Erika Kinzer repairs a computer in Naval Medical Center San Diego’s information management department in August. Leidos has received a $7.7 contract to provide network support for the Navy, the DoD announced Wednesday. Photo by Jake Greenberg/ U.S. Navy
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Leidos Inc. has been awarded a $7.7 billion contract to provide network services to the U.S. Navy, the Pentagon announced. According to the contract announcement, Leidos will provide base network services that that are currently under the Next Generation Enterprise Networks Contract and the Marine Corps Enterprise Networks contract. Advertisement
Services covered under that contract include electronic software delivery, end user core build, endpoint detection, logistics management, network operations, security operations, service desk, transport and virtualization services.
Work will be performed across the Department of the Navy and is expected to be completed by February 2025, but the contract includes options that, if exercised, would extend the work through August 2028.
The first task order obligates $10 million to Leidos, with funds to expire at the end of the fiscal year.
According to the DoD the contract was awarded through an open bidding process, with three bids received.
Leidos is a Reston, Va.-based information technology and engineering services provider that provides services to the civil, defense, intelligence and health sectors.
According to documents on the company's website, Leidos reported $10.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2018, $3.7 billion of which was from defense and intelligence.
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In December Leidos was awarded a $6.5 billion contract to provide IT support for the Department of Defense, and in July the U.S. Air Force awarded Leidos with a $66.7 million deal to develop sensor and sensor systems.


upi--2020-02-05--U.S. citizen arrested in 'smuggling incident' dies in Border Patrol custody

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- A 32-year-old U.S. citizen who was arrested by Border Patrol agents died in custody , Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Wednesday .
Border Patrol officials sent a statement to Congress saying the man , who was not identified , was arrested as a suspect in an `` alien smuggling incident '' in Texas on Tuesday and died about 6 hours later .
CBP said the man was arrested at about 3:30 p.m. by agents assigned to a station in Brackettville , Texas , and began `` exhibiting signs of distress '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` EMT-certified agents immediately administered first aid and contacted local Emergency Medical Servis as his health deteriorated , '' CBP said .
`` At around 6:40 p.m. , EMS arrived and transported the subject by ambulance to a local hospital .
He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at 9:37 p.m. '' CBP , an agency under the Department of Homeland Security , has faced scrutiny over the deaths of several migrants held in custody in recent years .
In December , an inspector general ruled there was no misconduct by Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of two migrant children while in custody and cleared DHS personnel of malfeasance .

A U.S. citizen died while in Border Patrol custody in Texas after being arrested in a "smuggling incident," officials said in a statement to Congress. File Photo by Earl S. Cryer/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A 32-year-old U.S. citizen who was arrested by Border Patrol agents died in custody, Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Wednesday. Border Patrol officials sent a statement to Congress saying the man, who was not identified, was arrested as a suspect in an "alien smuggling incident" in Texas on Tuesday and died about 6 hours later. Advertisement
CBP said the man was arrested at about 3:30 p.m. by agents assigned to a station in Brackettville, Texas, and began "exhibiting signs of distress" at around 6 p.m. while being processed.
"EMT-certified agents immediately administered first aid and contacted local Emergency Medical Servis as his health deteriorated," CBP said. "At around 6:40 p.m., EMS arrived and transported the subject by ambulance to a local hospital. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at 9:37 p.m."
CBP, an agency under the Department of Homeland Security, has faced scrutiny over the deaths of several migrants held in custody in recent years.
In December, an inspector general ruled there was no misconduct by Department of Homeland Security officials that led to the death of two migrant children while in custody and cleared DHS personnel of malfeasance.
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upi--2020-02-05--Watch: Researchers share footage of coyote, badger playing together

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- A wildlife camera set up by researchers in California captured an unusual scene of @ @ @ @ @ playing together in a tunnel .
Peninsula Open Space Trust researchers said they were reviewing @ @ @ @ @ a road in the Coyote Valley , south of San Jose , for a study @ @ @ @ @ night .
The footage depicted a coyote about to pass through the tunnel when it @ @ @ @ @ at the sight of an approaching badger .
The researchers said the two animals showed @ @ @ @ @ other and their behavior was playful .
Neal Sharma , POST Wildlife Linkages manager , @ @ @ @ @ been known to work together .
`` Badgers like to dig , and they like @ @ @ @ @ there is footage out there of a badger flushing a ground squirrel nest and getting @ @ @ @ @ own .
But there 's another ground squirrel that comes out another entrance to the @ @ @ @ @ nabs that one , '' he told CBS San Francisco .

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Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A wildlife camera set up by researchers in California captured an unusual scene of a badger and a coyote playing together in a tunnel.
Peninsula Open Space Trust researchers said they were reviewing footage from a tunnel under a road in the Coyote Valley, south of San Jose, for a study on how animals travel at night.
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The footage depicted a coyote about to pass through the tunnel when it turns and wags its tail at the sight of an approaching badger.
The researchers said the two animals showed signs of friendliness toward each other and their behavior was playful.
Neal Sharma, POST Wildlife Linkages manager, said badgers and coyotes have been known to work together.
"Badgers like to dig, and they like to dig fast. So there is footage out there of a badger flushing a ground squirrel nest and getting a ground squirrel of its own. But there's another ground squirrel that comes out another entrance to the den, and the coyote nabs that one," he told CBS San Francisco.


upi--2020-02-05--New York Yankees' James Paxton out 3-4 months after back surgery

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton is expected to be sidelined for three to four months after having back surgery .
The Yankees announced that Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy and also had a peridiscal cyst removed .
Dr. Andrew Dossett performed the procedure Wednesday in Dallas .
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told the New York Post that Paxton experienced back pain at the conclusion of the 2019 regular season .
He initially responded positively to treatment before suffering a setback last month , according to Cashman .
Paxton exited his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Texas Rangers after one inning with what the team called a tight left glute muscle .
The veteran pitcher managed the pain and returned for the postseason , going 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in three starts .
Cashman said Paxton hoped to avoid surgery by getting injections in his back last month but ultimately needed the procedure when the back pain persisted .
Paxton , 31 , posted a 15-6 record and 3.82 ERA in 29 starts last season , his first with the Yankees .
New York acquired him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off-season .
Left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery , who returned to the team in September from Tommy John surgery , is the top candidate to replace Paxton in the Yankees ' rotation at the beginning of the season .
Paxton is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 campaign .

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy and also had a peridiscal cyst removed Wednesday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton is expected to be sidelined for three to four months after having back surgery. The Yankees announced that Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy and also had a peridiscal cyst removed. Dr. Andrew Dossett performed the procedure Wednesday in Dallas. Advertisement
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told the New York Post that Paxton experienced back pain at the conclusion of the 2019 regular season. He initially responded positively to treatment before suffering a setback last month, according to Cashman.
Paxton exited his last regular-season start on Sept. 27 against the Texas Rangers after one inning with what the team called a tight left glute muscle. The veteran pitcher managed the pain and returned for the postseason, going 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in three starts.
Cashman said Paxton hoped to avoid surgery by getting injections in his back last month but ultimately needed the procedure when the back pain persisted.
Earlier today, LHP James Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy with removal of a peridiscal cyst. The surgery was performed by Dr. Andrew Dossett in Dallas, Texas. His approximate timeline to return to Major League action is 3-4 months.— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 5, 2020
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Paxton, 31, posted a 15-6 record and 3.82 ERA in 29 starts last season, his first with the Yankees. New York acquired him in a trade with the Seattle Mariners last off-season.
Left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery, who returned to the team in September from Tommy John surgery, is the top candidate to replace Paxton in the Yankees' rotation at the beginning of the season. Paxton is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 campaign.


upi--2020-02-05--South Carolina man's lottery numbers pay off after 15 years

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- A South Carolina man who has been playing the same lottery numbers for 15 @ @ @ @ @ off when he scored a $ 100,000 jackpot .
The Newberry man told South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ numbers he picked for the Jan. 25 Palmetto Cash 5 drawing at Dorrohs Grocery in @ @ @ @ @ he has been using for years .
The numbers , 3-11-19-27-35 , represent family birthdays @ @ @ @ @ the man said .
The man 's chosen numbers finally paid off for him when @ @ @ @ @ $ 100,000 jackpot .
The winner said he plans to stick with his lucky numbers @ @ @ @ @ playing those numbers this long , so I 'm not going to stop now , @ @ @ @

A South Carolina man won a $100,000 jackpot using the same lottery numbers he has been playing for 15 years. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A South Carolina man who has been playing the same lottery numbers for 15 years had his persistence pay off when he scored a $100,000 jackpot. The Newberry man told South Carolina Education Lottery officials that the numbers he picked for the Jan. 25 Palmetto Cash 5 drawing at Dorrohs Grocery in Silverstreet were the same numbers he has been using for years. Advertisement
The numbers, 3-11-19-27-35, represent family birthdays and other lucky digits, the man said.
The man's chosen numbers finally paid off for him when the ticket earned him a $100,000 jackpot.
The winner said he plans to stick with his lucky numbers.
"I've been playing those numbers this long, so I'm not going to stop now," he said.


upi--2020-02-05--Northeast is next up for barrage of precipitation as storm barrels across nation

A weather battle zone will take place as winter fights back in the northeastern United States with areas of flooding rain , dangerous ice and a blanket of heavy snow from Wednesday night through Friday .
The multifaceted storm will arrive just days after springlike warmth surged in the region and is the same storm system already responsible for heavy snow over the southern Plains and heavy rain in the South .
Mild conditions will hold along the mid-Atlantic coast and in southeastern New England , but colder air has returned to the interior Northeast and will have consequences in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the central Appalachians and the northern tier .
Copious amounts of moisture will be available to a strengthening and slow-moving storm system that moves up from the Southern states .
The storm is coming in two parts with a several-hour pause in between both portions .
Regardless , the complex system is expected to produce enough precipitation either in the form of rain , ice or snow to cause travel disruptions over a broad area .
`` A swath of 3-4 inches of rain with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 5 inches is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Delmarva Peninsula , southern New Jersey , southeastern New York state and southeastern New England , '' said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson .
`` Since much of this rain is likely to occur in a 24-hour period , urban flooding is likely and some small streams may spill out of their banks , '' Anderson said .
The rain will come in multiple rounds but the most intense and problematic rainfall is likely to occur from Thursday evening into early Friday in Washington , D.C. , Baltimore , Philadelphia , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined with water collecting on the roads and runways can substantially slow ground travel and result in airline delays .
A general 1 inch to 3 inches of rain is forecast to fall from the central Appalachians to central New England .
In most cases the ground will be able to absorb the rainfall and storm drains should be able to handle it with few issues .
Overlapping part of this zone and farther inland , a swath of freezing rain and some sleet will affect areas from northern Ohio and northern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine .
Road conditions in this swath will range from wet to icy with black ice most likely to form in areas that are shaded from the sun , as well as bridges , overpasses and other elevated surfaces .
In a few of the stubborn cold pockets , enough ice can glaze trees to weigh down limbs to the point of causing sporadic power outages .
`` In terms of snowfall , areas expected to get enough snow to shovel and plow will extend from Western New York state to northern Maine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` For the northern tier of the Northeast , the second part of the storm from Friday to Friday night will be the real deal with an all-out snowstorm , '' added chief on-air AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno .
`` A general 6-12 inches of snow will fall in the swath from central New York state to central and northern Maine but a 12- to 18- inch band is in store farther to the north where an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 24 inches is likely Rayno said .
As the big snowstorm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northeast , people who live in or travel through Ohio to northern Massachusetts should not write off the storm 's snowfall .
A large backwash of moisture is expected with the storm as colder air returns Thursday night to Friday night .
Snow showers may be frequent enough to cover the ground in portions of Ohio , West Virginia , western Maryland , Pennsylvania , northwestern New Jersey and central New England before the week concludes .
A few inches of snow can pile up in the mountains as far south as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the wake of the storm , colder air will spill into parts of the interior South and along coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England .
This may be an important factor , depending on the strength of a small storm that will race eastward from the Central states this weekend .
If that storm remains weak and moisture-starved , only spotty flurries will streak out from parts of the Ohio Valley Saturday to the central Appalachians , mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night and southern New England early Sunday .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends up being a tad slower and stronger , it could put down a swath of light to moderate snowfall in the same zone .

A weather battle zone will take place as winter fights back in the northeastern United States with areas of flooding rain, dangerous ice and a blanket of heavy snow from Wednesday night through Friday.
The multifaceted storm will arrive just days after springlike warmth surged in the region and is the same storm system already responsible for heavy snow over the southern Plains and heavy rain in the South.
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Mild conditions will hold along the mid-Atlantic coast and in southeastern New England, but colder air has returned to the interior Northeast and will have consequences in terms of wintry precipitation across parts of the central Appalachians and the northern tier.
Copious amounts of moisture will be available to a strengthening and slow-moving storm system that moves up from the Southern states. The storm is coming in two parts with a several-hour pause in between both portions. Regardless, the complex system is expected to produce enough precipitation either in the form of rain, ice or snow to cause travel disruptions over a broad area.
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"A swath of 3-4 inches of rain with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 5 inches is anticipated from central and southern Virginia to the Delmarva Peninsula, southern New Jersey, southeastern New York state and southeastern New England," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson.
"Since much of this rain is likely to occur in a 24-hour period, urban flooding is likely and some small streams may spill out of their banks," Anderson said.
The rain will come in multiple rounds but the most intense and problematic rainfall is likely to occur from Thursday evening into early Friday in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. Poor visibility combined with water collecting on the roads and runways can substantially slow ground travel and result in airline delays.
A general 1 inch to 3 inches of rain is forecast to fall from the central Appalachians to central New England. In most cases the ground will be able to absorb the rainfall and storm drains should be able to handle it with few issues.
Overlapping part of this zone and farther inland, a swath of freezing rain and some sleet will affect areas from northern Ohio and northern and central Pennsylvania to northern Massachusetts and southern Maine.
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Road conditions in this swath will range from wet to icy with black ice most likely to form in areas that are shaded from the sun, as well as bridges, overpasses and other elevated surfaces. In a few of the stubborn cold pockets, enough ice can glaze trees to weigh down limbs to the point of causing sporadic power outages.
"In terms of snowfall, areas expected to get enough snow to shovel and plow will extend from Western New York state to northern Maine," AccuWeather meteorologist Courtney Travis said.
"For the northern tier of the Northeast, the second part of the storm from Friday to Friday night will be the real deal with an all-out snowstorm," added chief on-air AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno.
"A general 6-12 inches of snow will fall in the swath from central New York state to central and northern Maine but a 12- to 18- inch band is in store farther to the north where an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 24 inches is likely Rayno said.
As the big snowstorm ramps up over the northern tier of the Northeast, people who live in or travel through Ohio to northern Massachusetts should not write off the storm's snowfall. A large backwash of moisture is expected with the storm as colder air returns Thursday night to Friday night.
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Snow showers may be frequent enough to cover the ground in portions of Ohio, West Virginia, western Maryland, Pennsylvania, northwestern New Jersey and central New England before the week concludes.
A few inches of snow can pile up in the mountains as far south as those bordering West Virginia and Virginia.
In the wake of the storm, colder air will spill into parts of the interior South and along coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
This may be an important factor, depending on the strength of a small storm that will race eastward from the Central states this weekend.
If that storm remains weak and moisture-starved, only spotty flurries will streak out from parts of the Ohio Valley Saturday to the central Appalachians, mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night and southern New England early Sunday.
On the other hand, if that storm ends up being a tad slower and stronger, it could put down a swath of light to moderate snowfall in the same zone.


upi--2020-02-05--Large fireball lights up night sky over England

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Astronomers said an unusually bright fireball that streaked across the night sky in England @ @ @ @ @ ball of light was caught on video by Derby , England , resident Gary Rodgers @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Monday .
`` I thought it was a firework at first , but I @ @ @ @ @ you could n't hear any noise , '' he told the Derby Telegraph .
The @ @ @ @ @ object appeared to be an unusually bright meteor .
A spokesman said it was a @ @ @ @ @ sight . ''

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Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Astronomers said an unusually bright fireball that streaked across the night sky in England was a meteor.
The ball of light was caught on video by Derby, England, resident Gary Rodgers' doorbell camera about 11:35 p.m. Monday.
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"I thought it was a firework at first, but I listened to the sound and you couldn't hear any noise," he told the Derby Telegraph.
The Royal Astronomical Society said the object appeared to be an unusually bright meteor. A spokesman said it was a "fairly rare and spectacular sight."


upi--2020-02-05--Sheriff's office serves search warrants in 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff 's Office announced Wednesday that it served four search warrants related to the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart .
The sheriff 's office announced that it served warrants for specific items of evidence including two in San Luis Obispo County , one in Los Angeles County and one in Washington state .
`` Due to the high-profile nature of the investigation into the disappearance and whereabouts of Kristin Smart and to avoid the dissemination of misinformation , the sheriff 's office is announcing this morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items of evidence inside four separate locations in California and Washington , '' it said .
Smart , a 19-year-old student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo , disappeared after attending a party at an off-campus residence May 25 , 1996 .
She was declared dead in 2002 after her body was not found in an extensive search effort including K-9 units , helicopters and ground-penetrating radar .
In 2016 , San Luis Obispo County authorities said they found `` items of interest '' while digging at three excavation sites in central California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be buried there .
Since San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson took office , investigators have collected 140 new items of evidence , searched nine locations , served 18 search warrants , resubmitted 37 pieces of evidence for more current DNA testing and conducted more than 90 face-to-face interviews .
Investigators recently discovered trucks belonging to the family of Paul Flores , a long-time person of interest in the case , in another state .
Witnesses said Flores was last seen with an intoxicated Smart the night she vanished , walking her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year before her disappearance a female student called police saying that an apparently drunk Flores climbed a trellis outside her apartment and refused to leave her balcony but was gone by the time police arrived .

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff issued search warrants in California and Washington seeking evidence connected to the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart. Photo courtesy Find Kristin Smart/Facebook
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that it served four search warrants related to the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart. The sheriff's office announced that it served warrants for specific items of evidence including two in San Luis Obispo County, one in Los Angeles County and one in Washington state. Advertisement
"Due to the high-profile nature of the investigation into the disappearance and whereabouts of Kristin Smart and to avoid the dissemination of misinformation, the sheriff's office is announcing this morning it has served search warrants for specific items of evidence inside four separate locations in California and Washington," it said.
Smart, a 19-year-old student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, disappeared after attending a party at an off-campus residence May 25, 1996.
She was declared dead in 2002 after her body was not found in an extensive search effort including K-9 units, helicopters and ground-penetrating radar.
In 2016, San Luis Obispo County authorities said they found "items of interest" while digging at three excavation sites in central California after a new lead suggested she may be buried there.
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Since San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson took office, investigators have collected 140 new items of evidence, searched nine locations, served 18 search warrants, resubmitted 37 pieces of evidence for more current DNA testing and conducted more than 90 face-to-face interviews.
Investigators recently discovered trucks belonging to the family of Paul Flores, a long-time person of interest in the case, in another state.
Witnesses said Flores was last seen with an intoxicated Smart the night she vanished, walking her home after the party ended. A year before her disappearance a female student called police saying that an apparently drunk Flores climbed a trellis outside her apartment and refused to leave her balcony but was gone by the time police arrived.


upi--2020-02-05--Pete Buttigieg holds narrow lead as more Iowa Caucus results released

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Pete Buttigieg held onto his narrow lead over fellow presidential contenders Wednesday afternoon as the Iowa Democratic Party released another batch of caucus results .
With 86 percent of precincts reporting -- up from the 62 percent released Tuesday -- the former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor had 26.7 percent of delegates .
It was a slight dip from figures released earlier Wednesday .
The field was largely unchanged with the release of the new numbers , with Sen. Bernie Sanders receiving 25.4 percent , Sen. Elizabeth Warren receiving 18.3 , former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Amy Klobuchar receiving 12.1 percent .
Andrew Yang has 1.1 percent and Tom Steyer has 0.3 percent .
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , Rep. Tulsi Gabbard , Sen. Michael Bennet and former Mass .
Gov .
Deval Patrick were n't on the Iowa ballot .
Results from Iowa have been delayed for nearly two days after the state 's Democratic Party had difficulties using a new app designed to report delegates Monday night .
The candidates have since moved on to campaigning in New Hampshire , which is scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The release of more Iowa caucus results didn't significantly change the placement of the candidates Wednesday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Pete Buttigieg held onto the slightest of leads over fellow presidential contender Bernie Sanders Wednesday night with only a few precincts left uncounted in the Iowa Democratic primary. With 97 percent of precincts reporting -- up from the 62 percent released Tuesday -- the former South Bend, Ind., mayor had 550 state delegate equivalents, or 26.2 percent, to Vermont Sen. Sanders' 546, or 26.1 percent. Advertisement
The field was largely unchanged with the release of the new numbers, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren receiving 18.2, former Vice President Joe Biden receiving 15.8 percent and Sen. Amy Klobuchar receiving 12.2 percent. Andrew Yang has 1 percent and Tom Steyer has 0.3 percent.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Michael Bennet and former Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick weren't on the Iowa ballot.
Results from Iowa have been delayed for nearly two days after the state's Democratic Party had difficulties using a new app designed to report delegates Monday night. The candidates have since moved on to campaigning in New Hampshire, which is scheduled to hold the first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday.
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Democrats campaign in Iowa ahead of caucus


upi--2020-02-05--Tough veneer could complicate PTSD in veterans

Traits relating to traditional masculinity -- such as self-reliance and stoicism -- are associated with more severe and difficult-to-treat post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) in military veterans , researchers say .
`` Overall , we found that strict adherence to masculine norms was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms in veterans , but more detailed analysis suggests that the association may specifically be caused by the veterans ' belief that they should control and restrict their emotions .
In other words , they should be tough , '' said study lead author Elizabeth Neilson , of Morehead State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be true for male and female veterans .
The researchers analyzed data from 17 studies conducted over the last 25 years .
They included more than 3,500 military veterans .
Most of the studies were done in the United States ; others were from Canada , the United Kingdom , Israel and Vietnam .
Just one included female veterans .
The paper was published Jan. 27 in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinities .
`` These findings suggest that veterans with rigid adherence to traditional masculinity may be at increased risk for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PTSD symptoms and may be less likely to seek mental health treatment for PTSD , '' Neilson said in a journal news release .
She noted that while ideas about traditional masculinity are common in the general population , the ideas are instilled , normalized and reinforced in members of the military as part of their training .
`` Previous research has found that military personnel report high levels of conformity to traditional masculine norms , such as emotional control , self-reliance and the importance of one 's job , '' Neilson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and skill-building in the field , but when a service member is confronted with physical or mental trauma , they can also contribute to more severe PTSD , '' she said .
As many as 23 percent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD , research suggests .
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on PTSD .

Strict adherence to masculine norms was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms in veterans, the study's lead author said. Photo courtesy of The Marines/Flickr
Traits relating to traditional masculinity -- such as self-reliance and stoicism -- are associated with more severe and difficult-to-treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans, researchers say. "Overall, we found that strict adherence to masculine norms was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms in veterans, but more detailed analysis suggests that the association may specifically be caused by the veterans' belief that they should control and restrict their emotions. In other words, they should be tough," said study lead author Elizabeth Neilson, of Morehead State University in Kentucky. Advertisement
This was found to be true for male and female veterans.
The researchers analyzed data from 17 studies conducted over the last 25 years. They included more than 3,500 military veterans.
Most of the studies were done in the United States; others were from Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel and Vietnam. Just one included female veterans. The paper was published Jan. 27 in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinities.
"These findings suggest that veterans with rigid adherence to traditional masculinity may be at increased risk for developing PTSD, may have more severe PTSD symptoms and may be less likely to seek mental health treatment for PTSD," Neilson said in a journal news release.
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She noted that while ideas about traditional masculinity are common in the general population, the ideas are instilled, normalized and reinforced in members of the military as part of their training.
"Previous research has found that military personnel report high levels of conformity to traditional masculine norms, such as emotional control, self-reliance and the importance of one's job," Neilson said.
"These values can promote self-confidence and skill-building in the field, but when a service member is confronted with physical or mental trauma, they can also contribute to more severe PTSD," she said.
As many as 23 percent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD, research suggests.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on PTSD.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-05--Watch: Baboon cub-naps, carefully grooms lion cub in South Africa

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- A safari guide in South Africa captured photos and videos of an unusual incident @ @ @ @ @ a young lion and was seen grooming it on a tree branch .
Kurt Schultz @ @ @ @ @ Safari company , said he was on his way to a meeting Feb. 1 when @ @ @ @ @ wildlife photos at Kruger National Park .
Schultz ended up capturing photos and video of @ @ @ @ @ cub across a road and climbing up a marula tree with the apparently stolen baby @ @ @ @ @ young male baboon was grooming the lion cub and appeared to be caring for it @ @ @ @ @ how female baboons care for their young .
Many online observers compared the scene to @ @ @ @ @ film The Lion King .
Schultz said it 's not unusual for baboons to kill @ @ @ @ @ , but he has been leading safari groups for about 20 years and had never @ @ @ @ @ for a lion cub .

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Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A safari guide in South Africa captured photos and videos of an unusual incident involving a baboon that cub-napped a young lion and was seen grooming it on a tree branch.
Kurt Schultz, director of the Kurt Safari company, said he was on his way to a meeting Feb. 1 when he stopped to take some wildlife photos at Kruger National Park.
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Schultz ended up capturing photos and video of a baboon carrying a lion cub across a road and climbing up a marula tree with the apparently stolen baby.
The photographer said the young male baboon was grooming the lion cub and appeared to be caring for it in a way similar to how female baboons care for their young.
Many online observers compared the scene to the opening of Disney animated film The Lion King.
Schultz said it's not unusual for baboons to kill young leopard and lion cubs, but he has been leading safari groups for about 20 years and had never before seen a baboon caring for a lion cub.


upi--2020-02-05--Many household drinking water filters fail to totally remove PFAS

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Most municipal water systems do n't filter out PFAS , a unique class of toxic chemicals , leaving citizens to remove the pollutants on their own .
Unfortunately , new research suggests the majority of household water filters fail to entirely remove PFAS from water .
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances , or PFAS , are a class of synthetic compounds used in a variety of industrial processes and found in dozens of household items .
They have been linked to a variety of health problems , including cancer and high cholesterol , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are accumulating in municipal drinking water all over the United States .
For the latest study , published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters , scientists wanted to find out how well household water filters protect drinkers from these harmful toxins .
`` We tested 76 point-of-use filters and 13 point-of-entry or whole-house systems and found their effectiveness varied widely , '' lead researcher Heather Stapleton , professor of environmental health at Duke University , said in a news release .
`` All of the under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemicals we were testing for , '' Stapleton said .
`` In contrast , the effectiveness of activated-carbon filters used in many pitcher , countertop , refrigerator and faucet-mounted styles was inconsistent and unpredictable .
The whole-house systems were also widely variable and in some cases actually increased PFAS levels in the water . ''
Scientists tested water samples , before and after filtration , at homes in central and southeastern North Carolina .
The tests screened for the presence of 16 different PFAS .
There are 600 PFAS compounds currently being used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are most prevalent in the environment -- and feature the most well-documented toxicity -- mostly originate from fire-fighting foams and stain- and water-repellents .
Because the chemical bonds in these unique human-made chemicals are so strong , they do n't degrade .
Natural processes do n't break them down , which is why they 're sometimes called `` forever chemicals . ''
They persist in the environment , and also in human blood .
`` Certain ones stick to proteins in our blood , '' Rick Rediske , professor at the Annis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UPI last month .
`` DDT and pesticides go in to our fat .
Lead goes into our bones .
Mercury goes into muscle .
Because PFAS are carried around in our blood and are n't discarded , they naturally concentrate over time .
And they attach to the proteins that carry antibodies , cholesterol and hormones , that 's why you get so many different health effects caused by these compounds . ''
The study carried out by Duke researchers showed the best ways to remove PFAS from drinking water at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two stage filters .
The two techniques removed 94 percent of PFAS , while activated-carbon filters removed an average of 74 percent of PFAS .
`` The under-sink reverse osmosis filter is the most efficient system , '' Knappe said .
`` Unfortunately , they also cost much more than other point-of-use filters .
This raises concerns about environmental justice , since PFAS pollution affects more households that struggle financially than those that do not struggle . ''

Most household water filters don't remove all of the PFAS from drinking water. Photo by Piqsels /CC
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Most municipal water systems don't filter out PFAS, a unique class of toxic chemicals, leaving citizens to remove the pollutants on their own. Unfortunately, new research suggests the majority of household water filters fail to entirely remove PFAS from water. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of synthetic compounds used in a variety of industrial processes and found in dozens of household items. They have been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer and high cholesterol, and a report published last month found the toxins are accumulating in municipal drinking water all over the United States. Advertisement
For the latest study, published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, scientists wanted to find out how well household water filters protect drinkers from these harmful toxins.
"We tested 76 point-of-use filters and 13 point-of-entry or whole-house systems and found their effectiveness varied widely," lead researcher Heather Stapleton, professor of environmental health at Duke University, said in a news release.
"All of the under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters achieved near-complete removal of the PFAS chemicals we were testing for," Stapleton said. "In contrast, the effectiveness of activated-carbon filters used in many pitcher, countertop, refrigerator and faucet-mounted styles was inconsistent and unpredictable. The whole-house systems were also widely variable and in some cases actually increased PFAS levels in the water."
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Scientists tested water samples, before and after filtration, at homes in central and southeastern North Carolina. The tests screened for the presence of 16 different PFAS. There are 600 PFAS compounds currently being used by various industries, but the chemicals that are most prevalent in the environment -- and feature the most well-documented toxicity -- mostly originate from fire-fighting foams and stain- and water-repellents.
Because the chemical bonds in these unique human-made chemicals are so strong, they don't degrade. Natural processes don't break them down, which is why they're sometimes called "forever chemicals." They persist in the environment, and also in human blood.
"Certain ones stick to proteins in our blood," Rick Rediske, professor at the Annis Water Resources Institute in Michigan, told UPI last month. "DDT and pesticides go in to our fat. Lead goes into our bones. Mercury goes into muscle. Because PFAS are carried around in our blood and aren't discarded, they naturally concentrate over time. And they attach to the proteins that carry antibodies, cholesterol and hormones, that's why you get so many different health effects caused by these compounds."
The study carried out by Duke researchers showed the best ways to remove PFAS from drinking water at home is to use either reverse osmosis or two stage filters. The two techniques removed 94 percent of PFAS, while activated-carbon filters removed an average of 74 percent of PFAS.
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"The under-sink reverse osmosis filter is the most efficient system," Knappe said. "Unfortunately, they also cost much more than other point-of-use filters. This raises concerns about environmental justice, since PFAS pollution affects more households that struggle financially than those that do not struggle."


upi--2020-02-05--12th U.S. coronavirus case confirmed in Wisconsin

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The 12th confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus case in the United States was identified in an adult in Wisconsin , public health officials in the state revealed Monday , as U.S. officials work to evacuate more Americans from China , where the outbreak has been centered .
The person is believed to have been exposed to the virus after coming into contact with an infected individual while traveling to China , the Wisconsin Department of health and CDC confirmed in a press release .
So far , officials said , the person seems to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and has not required hospitalization .
Currently , the patient remains in isolation at home .
Wisconsin is now the fifth state with at least one confirmed case of 2019-nCoV , joining California , which has six , Illinois , which has two , and Arizona , Massachusetts and Washington , which have one confirmed case .
Overall , 206 people screened for the virus have tested negative , and another 76 have tests pending , with some currently in transit to CDC labs .
The CDC said it has started to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , and another 200 to labs in partner countries , to speed testing up and prevent samples from having to be sent to the its lab in Atlanta .
Each of the kits can process 700 to 800 test samples .
`` We expect to see additional cases among returning travelers and their close contacts , '' Nancy Messonnier , director of the CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , said in a press briefing on Wednesday , adding that `` current risk to the American public remains low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trapped in Wuhan , China -- ground zero for the ongoing 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak -- have also started to arrive at various military bases across the country .
Two planes , both with more than 100 passengers , already arrived Wednesday morning at Travis Air Force Base in Sacramento , U.S. officials said .
Additional flights , chartered by the U.S. State Department , are expected to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego , Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and Eppley Airfield in Omaha , Neb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday .
All arriving flights have been and will be met by a team of CDC personnel deployed to assess the health of the passengers , the agency said .
Passengers are also screened , monitored and evaluated by medical and public health personnel before takeoff and during the flights .
Once on the ground in the U.S. , CDC staff will conduct risk assessments to ensure the health of each traveler , including temperature checks and observing for respiratory symptoms .
As with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Base in Ontario , Calif. last week , passengers on all new flights will be issued quarantine orders upon arrival .
This legal order is intended to protect the travelers , their families , and the community , the CDC said , and will begin on the day each flight left Wuhan and will continue for up to 14 days after arrival in the U.S. Messonnier said evacuees already quarantined at March Air Reserve Base who have tested negative for 2019-nCoV can expected to be released on or about February 11 .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other movement , she said .
CDC staff will work with the state and local public health departments to transport any passenger exhibiting symptoms to a hospital for further evaluation , the agency said .

About 200 American evacuees from China are taken off of a Kalitta Air Boeing 747-400 freighter and shuttled onto waiting busses (R) at the March Air Reserve Base on Jan. 29, 2020. File photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The 12th confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus case in the United States was identified in an adult in Wisconsin, public health officials in the state revealed Monday, as U.S. officials work to evacuate more Americans from China, where the outbreak has been centered. The person is believed to have been exposed to the virus after coming into contact with an infected individual while traveling to China, the Wisconsin Department of health and CDC confirmed in a press release. Advertisement
So far, officials said, the person seems to have contracted a mild form of the disease, and has not required hospitalization. Currently, the patient remains in isolation at home.
Wisconsin is now the fifth state with at least one confirmed case of 2019-nCoV, joining California, which has six, Illinois, which has two, and Arizona, Massachusetts and Washington, which have one confirmed case.
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Overall, 206 people screened for the virus have tested negative, and another 76 have tests pending, with some currently in transit to CDC labs.
The CDC said it has started to distributed test kits to 100 labs around the U.S., and another 200 to labs in partner countries, to speed testing up and prevent samples from having to be sent to the its lab in Atlanta. Each of the kits can process 700 to 800 test samples.
"We expect to see additional cases among returning travelers and their close contacts," Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that "current risk to the American public remains low."
Flights carrying additional American citizens trapped in Wuhan, China -- ground zero for the ongoing 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak -- have also started to arrive at various military bases across the country.
Two planes, both with more than 100 passengers, already arrived Wednesday morning at Travis Air Force Base in Sacramento, U.S. officials said.
Additional flights, chartered by the U.S. State Department, are expected to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb. over the next few days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
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All arriving flights have been and will be met by a team of CDC personnel deployed to assess the health of the passengers, the agency said. Passengers are also screened, monitored and evaluated by medical and public health personnel before takeoff and during the flights.
Once on the ground in the U.S., CDC staff will conduct risk assessments to ensure the health of each traveler, including temperature checks and observing for respiratory symptoms.
As with the charter that arrived at March Air Reserve Base in Ontario, Calif. last week, passengers on all new flights will be issued quarantine orders upon arrival. This legal order is intended to protect the travelers, their families, and the community, the CDC said, and will begin on the day each flight left Wuhan and will continue for up to 14 days after arrival in the U.S.
Messonnier said evacuees already quarantined at March Air Reserve Base who have tested negative for 2019-nCoV can expected to be released on or about February 11.
There will be no restrictions on their travel or other movement, she said.
CDC staff will work with the state and local public health departments to transport any passenger exhibiting symptoms to a hospital for further evaluation, the agency said.


upi--2020-02-05--Coaching parents on how to talk to babies may boost language skills

Teaching parents how to talk to their babies could help boost their children 's language development , researchers say .
The University of Washington study did n't look at so-called baby talk , which typically consists of silly sounds and nonsense words .
Instead , the researchers focused on what 's called parentese .
This is proper speech with elongated vowels and exaggerated tones of voice that attract babies ' attention and encourage them to respond .
`` We 've known for some time that the use of parentese is associated with improved language outcomes .
But we did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences .
`` We believe parentese makes language learning easier because of its simpler linguistic structure and exaggerated sounds .
But this new work suggests a more fundamental reason , '' Kuhl said in a university news release .
The study found that parents who were given individual coaching used parentese more often than parents who were not coached .
Coaching led to more parent-child `` conversations '' and increased the child 's language skills months later .
`` We now think parentese works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the baby brain -- its high pitch and slower tempo are socially engaging and invite the baby to respond , '' Kuhl explained .
Parents willingly altered their speech once told the way they speak could help their baby learn , the researchers noted .
At 18 months , parent surveys estimated that the children 's vocabulary averaged around 100 words among kids of coached families , compared to 60 words among children with no parent coaching .
`` Language evolved to facilitate the social communication skills that are essential for survival of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we observe firsthand how parents ' language and social engagement can promote baby 's initial responsive coos , which become words , and then sentences -- educating infants in the art of human communication , '' Kuhl said .
The study followed up on a 2018 project .
Coaching occurred at 6 , 10 and 14 months , with families tracked until 18 months .
The results were published online Feb. 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
The American Academy of Pediatrics outlines the milestones of early literacy .

Pixabay Coaching led to more parent-child "conversations" and increased the child's language skills, the study found. Photo by Luidmila Kot
Teaching parents how to talk to their babies could help boost their children's language development, researchers say. The University of Washington study didn't look at so-called baby talk, which typically consists of silly sounds and nonsense words. Advertisement
Instead, the researchers focused on what's called parentese. This is proper speech with elongated vowels and exaggerated tones of voice that attract babies' attention and encourage them to respond.
"We've known for some time that the use of parentese is associated with improved language outcomes. But we didn't know why," said Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences.
"We believe parentese makes language learning easier because of its simpler linguistic structure and exaggerated sounds. But this new work suggests a more fundamental reason," Kuhl said in a university news release.
The study found that parents who were given individual coaching used parentese more often than parents who were not coached. Coaching led to more parent-child "conversations" and increased the child's language skills months later.
"We now think parentese works because it's a social hook for the baby brain -- its high pitch and slower tempo are socially engaging and invite the baby to respond," Kuhl explained.
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Parents willingly altered their speech once told the way they speak could help their baby learn, the researchers noted.
At 18 months, parent surveys estimated that the children's vocabulary averaged around 100 words among kids of coached families, compared to 60 words among children with no parent coaching.
"Language evolved to facilitate the social communication skills that are essential for survival of the species. In this study, we observe firsthand how parents' language and social engagement can promote baby's initial responsive coos, which become words, and then sentences -- educating infants in the art of human communication," Kuhl said.
The study followed up on a 2018 project. Coaching occurred at 6, 10 and 14 months, with families tracked until 18 months. The results were published online Feb. 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics outlines the milestones of early literacy.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-05--Lesotho's first lady charged with murder of predecessor

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Maesaiah Thabane , the first lady of Lesotho , faced a murder charge Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ in connection with the slaying of her husband 's previous wife .
The 42-year-old turned @ @ @ @ @ after they issued an arrest warrant for her on Jan. 10 .
Investigators accused her @ @ @ @ @ Thabane , Prime Minister Thomas Thabane 's estranged wife .
She died in 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ 's inauguration .
The Thabanes had been in the process of divorcing at the time @ @ @ @ @ prime minister married Maesaiah Thabane less than three months after his former wife 's death @ @ @ @ @ Maesaiah Thabane became the primary suspect in the slaying after she refused to submit herself @ @ @ @ @ She also faces an attempted murder charge related to the shooting of Thato Sibolla , @ @ @ @ @ traveling with Lipolelo Thabane at the time of her death .
The prime minister announced @ @ @ @ @ , though no date has been set .

Lesotho's prime minister, Thomas Thabane, announced plans to retire last month. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Maesaiah Thabane, the first lady of Lesotho, faced a murder charge Wednesday when she appeared in court in connection with the slaying of her husband's previous wife. The 42-year-old turned herself in to police Tuesday after they issued an arrest warrant for her on Jan. 10. Advertisement
Investigators accused her of shooting to death Lipolelo Thabane, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's estranged wife. She died in 2017, two days before her husband's inauguration.
The Thabanes had been in the process of divorcing at the time of her death. The prime minister married Maesaiah Thabane less than three months after his former wife's death.
Police told CNN that Maesaiah Thabane became the primary suspect in the slaying after she refused to submit herself to questioning in January.
She also faces an attempted murder charge related to the shooting of Thato Sibolla, a friend who had been traveling with Lipolelo Thabane at the time of her death.
The prime minister announced plans last month to retire, though no date has been set.


upi--2020-02-05--MIT study: 70 percent chance of recession within six months

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- A new study used a scientific approach developed to measure human skulls to predict a 70 percent chance of economic recession in the next six months .
Researchers at MIT Sloan School of Business and Boston 's State Street Associates applied economic data from four factors to the principles of the Mahanobis distance , a measurement tool for human skulls .
They created an index combining industrial production , non-farm payrolls , stock market return and the slope of the yield curve [ the interest rates of bonds having equal credit quality but differing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formula to economic conditions as far back as 1916 , researchers discovered the index , called the KKT Index , to be a reliable indicator or upcoming recessions .
When it went above 70 percent , the likelihood of a recession within six months rose to 70 percent .
The index was 76 percent in November 2019 .
The methodology was published last week as `` A New Index of the Business Cycle , '' by William Kinlaw , Mark Kritzman and David Turkington .
Other economic indicators suggest that the current U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of weakening industrial production and the slope of the yield curve is disturbing , Kinlaw said .
He added that the odds of a recession occurring in any six-month period , without conditions , are only 17 percent .

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. A paper by the MIT Sloan School of Business and State Street Associates predicts a 70 percent chance of an economic recession within six months. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A new study used a scientific approach developed to measure human skulls to predict a 70 percent chance of economic recession in the next six months. Researchers at MIT Sloan School of Business and Boston's State Street Associates applied economic data from four factors to the principles of the Mahanobis distance, a measurement tool for human skulls. They created an index combining industrial production, non-farm payrolls, stock market return and the slope of the yield curve [the interest rates of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates]. Advertisement
Applying the measurement formula to economic conditions as far back as 1916, researchers discovered the index, called the KKT Index, to be a reliable indicator or upcoming recessions. When it went above 70 percent, the likelihood of a recession within six months rose to 70 percent. The index was 76 percent in November 2019.
The methodology was published last week as "A New Index of the Business Cycle," by William Kinlaw, Mark Kritzman and David Turkington.
Other economic indicators suggest that the current U.S. economy is strong, but the combination of weakening industrial production and the slope of the yield curve is disturbing, Kinlaw said. He added that the odds of a recession occurring in any six-month period, without conditions, are only 17 percent.


upi--2020-02-05--Lab discovery shows promise for treating multiple sclerosis

A new discovery could lead to better treatments for multiple sclerosis ( MS ) and other autoimmune diseases , such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis , researchers report .
MS occurs when immune cells get into the central nervous system ( the brain and spinal cord ) , causing nerve damage that results in neurological problems .
However , the cause is unclear .
Studies in a mouse model of MS -- called experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ( EAE ) -- have shown that immune T-cells , which secrete an immune molecule called IL-17 , damage the myelin sheath surrounding nerves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Drugs that block IL-17 have shown promise in early clinical trials for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS .
The drugs have already been licensed for treating psoriasis .
In this new study , researchers at Trinity College Dublin , in Ireland , identified another role that IL-17 plays in EAE , and possibly in MS .
However , research in animals does n't always pan out in humans .
`` A key role of IL-17 is to mobilize and activate an army of disease-causing immune cells in the lymph nodes that then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nerve damage , '' study co-leader Kingston Mills said in a college news release .
He 's a professor of experimental immunology .
Study co-leader Aoife McGinley said the findings suggest that drugs that block IL-17 may not need to cross the blood-brain barrier to effectively treat MS. She 's a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology .
`` So , as well as shedding new light on the importance of IL-17 as a drugs target in [ relapsing-remitting ] MS , our research highlights the huge potential of drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other autoimmune diseases , such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis , '' she said in the news release .
The study was published Feb. 4 in the journal Immunity .
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on multiple sclerosis .

Pixabay Drugs that block an immune molecule called IL-17 have shown promise in early clinical trials for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Photo by Tibor Janosi Mozes
A new discovery could lead to better treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, researchers report. MS occurs when immune cells get into the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), causing nerve damage that results in neurological problems. However, the cause is unclear. Studies in a mouse model of MS -- called experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) -- have shown that immune T-cells, which secrete an immune molecule called IL-17, damage the myelin sheath surrounding nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). Advertisement
Drugs that block IL-17 have shown promise in early clinical trials for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. The drugs have already been licensed for treating psoriasis.
In this new study, researchers at Trinity College Dublin, in Ireland, identified another role that IL-17 plays in EAE, and possibly in MS. However, research in animals doesn't always pan out in humans.
"A key role of IL-17 is to mobilize and activate an army of disease-causing immune cells in the lymph nodes that then migrate to the CNS to cause the nerve damage," study co-leader Kingston Mills said in a college news release. He's a professor of experimental immunology.
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Study co-leader Aoife McGinley said the findings suggest that drugs that block IL-17 may not need to cross the blood-brain barrier to effectively treat MS. She's a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology.
"So, as well as shedding new light on the importance of IL-17 as a drugs target in [relapsing-remitting] MS, our research highlights the huge potential of drugs that block IL-17 in the treatment of other autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis," she said in the news release.
The study was published Feb. 4 in the journal Immunity.
MS affects about 2.3 million people worldwide.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on multiple sclerosis.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-05--Detroit casino not liable after $6 million is gambled away

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- A Detroit casino is not liable for $ 6 million earmarked for construction projects but lost in gambling , Michigan 's Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday .
The three-judge panel upheld an earlier ruling in Wayne County Circuit Court , which rejected a case in which 12 investors sued the MGM Grand Detroit casino , saying it could have stopped Gino Accettola from gambling with money given him for construction projects in 2014 in Florida and Michigan .
He was convicted of a different crime of fraud in 2018 and is currently serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years for financial crimes .
It was revealed in his trial that he gambled away the investment at the Detroit casino .
The judges ruled that , although the casino extended credit and other hospitality to Accettola and could have initiated a credit check , it is not liable for the investors ' losses .
`` According to plaintiffs , a background check would have revealed that Accettola had no employment or other source for the millions he used to gamble at defendant 's casino , '' the 11-page ruling read in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had a criminal history involving identity theft and larceny by conversion , among other crimes , and that he had served significant time in prison . ''
The judges ruled that the casino acted in good faith , was unaware of Accettola 's lack of gambling competence and did not know the money gambled was obtained for other purposes and thus indicated fraud .
Although Corey Silverstein , the investors ' attorney , referred to Accettola in court as `` the worst gambler on the planet , '' the judges agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalent value , '' indicating that the casino is not accountable for judging a gambler 's skill level before wagers are placed or accepted .

A three-judge Michigan Court of Appeals panel ruled Wednesday that the MGM Grand Detroit casino was not liable for the loss of $6 million investors gave for construction projects to Gino Accettola, who gambled it away at the casino. Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Corrections
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A Detroit casino is not liable for $6 million earmarked for construction projects but lost in gambling, Michigan's Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday. The three-judge panel upheld an earlier ruling in Wayne County Circuit Court, which rejected a case in which 12 investors sued the MGM Grand Detroit casino, saying it could have stopped Gino Accettola from gambling with money given him for construction projects in 2014 in Florida and Michigan. Advertisement
He was convicted of a different crime of fraud in 2018 and is currently serving a prison sentence of seven to 30 years for financial crimes. It was revealed in his trial that he gambled away the investment at the Detroit casino. The judges ruled that, although the casino extended credit and other hospitality to Accettola and could have initiated a credit check, it is not liable for the investors' losses.
"According to plaintiffs, a background check would have revealed that Accettola had no employment or other source for the millions he used to gamble at defendant's casino," the 11-page ruling read in part. "It also would have revealed that he had a criminal history involving identity theft and larceny by conversion, among other crimes, and that he had served significant time in prison."
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The judges ruled that the casino acted in good faith, was unaware of Accettola's lack of gambling competence and did not know the money gambled was obtained for other purposes and thus indicated fraud.
Although Corey Silverstein, the investors' attorney, referred to Accettola in court as "the worst gambler on the planet," the judges agreed that the casino provided him "reasonably equivalent value," indicating that the casino is not accountable for judging a gambler's skill level before wagers are placed or accepted.


upi--2020-02-05--In-depth cancer gene sequencing reveals specific key mutations

Cancer is a genetically driven disease , and a mother lode of new genetic data on dozens of different cancers is promising to break open fresh avenues of prevention and treatment .
Nineteen out of 20 cancers now can be tracked back to one or more specific genetic mutations , based on data gathered from in-depth sequencing of thousands of whole-cancer genomes , researchers say .
`` We can now identify in more than 95 percent of patients at least one genetic change that 's biologically responsible for the tumor , and in many patients five to 10 or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call driver mutations , '' said project co-chair Peter Campbell .
He 's head of cancer , aging and somatic mutation at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England .
On average , cancer genomes contain four to five driver mutations , researchers report .
This knowledge will help researchers and doctors develop and choose from precise treatments targeting the specific mutations that are causing cancer in individual patients , Campbell said .
These findings take us `` one step further down the road of understanding all the complexities of cancer , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific officer for the American Cancer Society .
`` Ultimately , we want to make a cancer therapy precise for that person 's individual cancer , '' he said .
`` We 're moving toward what we call a tumor-agnostic approach , meaning that we want to look more at the genetic composition of an individual 's tumor rather than treating every breast or colon cancer the same way because they are that type of a cancer . ''
Prior to this research , doctors were able to detect one or more genetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of patients , Campbell said .
That 's because previous genetic research into cancer focused solely on the exome -- the portion of a person 's DNA that encodes proteins , said Dr. Lincoln Stein , head of adaptive oncology at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research in Toronto .
`` That 's a mere 1 percent of the whole genome , '' said Stein , a member of the project .
`` Assembling an accurate portrait of the cancer genome using just the exome data is like trying to put together a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99 percent of the pieces , and there 's no puzzle box with a completed picture to guide you . ''
This project -- the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium -- analyzed 2,658 whole genomes of cancer samples across 38 types of tumors .
Such analysis includes all the ways DNA and RNA influence our personal biology .
The first results appeared Feb. 5 in six papers published in the journal Nature .
Campbell said the data show why two patients with the same type of cancer who get the same treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one dying and the other surviving .
It all comes down to how different each person 's cancer genetics are compared to other patients ' , and how those genetics have been influenced by events over a lifetime , Campbell said .
Mutations come into play , as well as factors like smoking , sun exposure or obesity .
`` We see thousands of different combinations of mutations that can cause the cancer , and more than 80 different underlying processes generating the mutations in a cancer , '' Campbell said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tear of aging .
Some reflect inherited causes .
Some reflect the lifestyles that people have engaged in .
All of these shape and mold the genome during cancer development . ''
Throughout our lives , people accumulate genetic mutations from the simple act of living , he said .
Every blood cell gains a mutation about once every two weeks on average .
The important thing is to figure out which mutations are key to cancer .
The level of genetic understanding created by this project can allow doctors to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking it back to the first events in a person 's life that put them on the road to eventually developing cancer , Campbell said .
`` Many of the tumor types we 've studied in this project show that the first key events in cancer development occur often decades before the patient presents with a tumor , sometimes even as far back as childhood , '' he said .
`` It shows that the window for opportunity for early intervention is much wider than we might have expected before doing this work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of genetic data , researchers hope that one day a doctor will be able to feed a patient 's cancer genetics and lifestyle factors into a computer and come up with precise cures for their disease .
`` The difficulty with preventing and treating cancer is that there are so many pathways that are involved in its creation , '' Cance said .
`` I think of cancer as a Darwinian phenomenon , where the cells can constantly change and survive . ''
But these researchers found that while mutations contribute to cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still about the same number of genes that cause cancer and ways that people develop it .
`` Although we greatly expanded the number of mutational events that contribute to cancer , we did n't expand in any dramatic fashion the number of cancer-related genes or cancer-related pathways , '' Stein said .
`` We found the same pathways that had been identified , but many more ways to change those pathways . ''
Using existing targeted therapies and ones still to come , it becomes possible to `` more accurately diagnose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's tumor , identify the dysregulated pathways in that patient , and assign that patient to the therapy most likely to be effective and least likely to have toxic effects , '' he said .
That day is n't here yet because genetic sequencing and computer processing costs remain too expensive to build up the sort of comprehensive genetic data that 's required , Campbell said .
`` Whole-cancer genome sequencing wo n't be available tomorrow in your average commercial provider , but there 's every reason to think within a matter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now and much more widely used , '' Campbell said .
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about cancer genetics .

Cancer is a genetically driven disease, and a mother lode of new genetic data on dozens of different cancers is promising to break open fresh avenues of prevention and treatment.
Nineteen out of 20 cancers now can be tracked back to one or more specific genetic mutations, based on data gathered from in-depth sequencing of thousands of whole-cancer genomes, researchers say.
Advertisement
"We can now identify in more than 95 percent of patients at least one genetic change that's biologically responsible for the tumor, and in many patients five to 10 or more of these causal mutations, which we call driver mutations," said project co-chair Peter Campbell. He's head of cancer, aging and somatic mutation at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England.
On average, cancer genomes contain four to five driver mutations, researchers report.
This knowledge will help researchers and doctors develop and choose from precise treatments targeting the specific mutations that are causing cancer in individual patients, Campbell said.
Advertisement
These findings take us "one step further down the road of understanding all the complexities of cancer," said Dr. William Cance, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society.
"Ultimately, we want to make a cancer therapy precise for that person's individual cancer," he said. "We're moving toward what we call a tumor-agnostic approach, meaning that we want to look more at the genetic composition of an individual's tumor rather than treating every breast or colon cancer the same way because they are that type of a cancer."
A shift of focus
Prior to this research, doctors were able to detect one or more genetic drivers of cancer in only about two-thirds of patients, Campbell said.
That's because previous genetic research into cancer focused solely on the exome -- the portion of a person's DNA that encodes proteins, said Dr. Lincoln Stein, head of adaptive oncology at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research in Toronto.
"That's a mere 1 percent of the whole genome," said Stein, a member of the project. "Assembling an accurate portrait of the cancer genome using just the exome data is like trying to put together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle when you're missing 99 percent of the pieces, and there's no puzzle box with a completed picture to guide you."
Advertisement
This project -- the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium -- analyzed 2,658 whole genomes of cancer samples across 38 types of tumors. Such analysis includes all the ways DNA and RNA influence our personal biology.
The first results appeared Feb. 5 in six papers published in the journal Nature.
Campbell said the data show why two patients with the same type of cancer who get the same treatment can have completely different outcomes, with one dying and the other surviving.
How genetics and lifestyles play a part
It all comes down to how different each person's cancer genetics are compared to other patients', and how those genetics have been influenced by events over a lifetime, Campbell said. Mutations come into play, as well as factors like smoking, sun exposure or obesity.
"We see thousands of different combinations of mutations that can cause the cancer, and more than 80 different underlying processes generating the mutations in a cancer," Campbell said. "Some of these processes reflect the wear and tear of aging. Some reflect inherited causes. Some reflect the lifestyles that people have engaged in. All of these shape and mold the genome during cancer development."
Throughout our lives, people accumulate genetic mutations from the simple act of living, he said. Every blood cell gains a mutation about once every two weeks on average. The important thing is to figure out which mutations are key to cancer.
Advertisement
The level of genetic understanding created by this project can allow doctors to "carbon date" a cancer, essentially tracking it back to the first events in a person's life that put them on the road to eventually developing cancer, Campbell said.
"Many of the tumor types we've studied in this project show that the first key events in cancer development occur often decades before the patient presents with a tumor, sometimes even as far back as childhood," he said. "It shows that the window for opportunity for early intervention is much wider than we might have expected before doing this work."
The quest for precision medicine
By building on this base of genetic data, researchers hope that one day a doctor will be able to feed a patient's cancer genetics and lifestyle factors into a computer and come up with precise cures for their disease.
"The difficulty with preventing and treating cancer is that there are so many pathways that are involved in its creation," Cance said. "I think of cancer as a Darwinian phenomenon, where the cells can constantly change and survive."
But these researchers found that while mutations contribute to cancer in a multitude of ways, there are still about the same number of genes that cause cancer and ways that people develop it.
Advertisement
"Although we greatly expanded the number of mutational events that contribute to cancer, we didn't expand in any dramatic fashion the number of cancer-related genes or cancer-related pathways," Stein said. "We found the same pathways that had been identified, but many more ways to change those pathways."
Using existing targeted therapies and ones still to come, it becomes possible to "more accurately diagnose what changes have occurred in a patient's tumor, identify the dysregulated pathways in that patient, and assign that patient to the therapy most likely to be effective and least likely to have toxic effects," he said.
That day isn't here yet because genetic sequencing and computer processing costs remain too expensive to build up the sort of comprehensive genetic data that's required, Campbell said.
"Whole-cancer genome sequencing won't be available tomorrow in your average commercial provider, but there's every reason to think within a matter of years it will more accessible than it is now and much more widely used," Campbell said.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about cancer genetics.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-05--Watch: Mamamoo shares Japanese 'Hip' video

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- South Korean girl group Mamamoo has released a Japanese version of its `` Hip @ @ @ @ @ K-pop group shared a video Tuesday for the Japanese-language version of the single .
The @ @ @ @ @ scenes as the original video .
The Mamamoo members are seen dancing in coordinating red @ @ @ @ @ out on stage .
`` Hip , '' co-written by Mamamoo member Hwasa , encourages @ @ @ @ @ who they are .
Mamamoo released the original `` Hip '' music video in November @ @ @ @ @ the group 's second studio album , Reality in Black .
Mamamoo announced in January @ @ @ @ @ version of Reality in Black on March 11 .
The album will feature new original @ @ @ @ @ consists of Solar , Moonbyul , Wheein and Hwasa .
The group released its debut @ @ @ @ @ in August .

Feb. 5 (UPI) -- South Korean girl group Mamamoo has released a Japanese version of its "Hip" music video.
The K-pop group shared a video Tuesday for the Japanese-language version of the single.
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The new video features the same scenes as the original video. The Mamamoo members are seen dancing in coordinating red and black outfits and rocking out on stage.
"Hip," co-written by Mamamoo member Hwasa, encourages fans to embrace themselves for who they are.
Mamamoo released the original "Hip" music video in November. The song appears on the group's second studio album, Reality in Black.
Mamamoo announced in January it will release a Japanese version of Reality in Black on March 11. The album will feature new original songs in Japanese.
Mamamoo consists of Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein and Hwasa. The group released its debut Japanese album, 4colors, in August.