upi--2020-02-14--NOAA: January 2020 was hottest on record

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Last month was the hottest January in all 141 years of climate records , according to scientists at the National Centers for Environmental Information .
In a Thursday press release , the NOAA said January 2020 also marked the 44th consecutive January and the 421st consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average .
On top of that , the scientists said the four warmest Januaries have occurred since 2016 with the 10 warmest occurring in the last 20 years .
Globally , land and ocean surface temperatures were at a record 2.05 degrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous January record set in 2016 by 0.04 of a degree F. By hemisphere , the world 's northern half established a record January with a 2.70 degrees F above average while the southern half produced its second-warmest January with 1.40 degrees F above average , falling short of its 2016 record .
Meanwhile , Scandinavia , Asia , the Indian Ocean , the central and western Pacific Ocean , the Atlantic Ocean and Central and South America all experienced record-warm temperatures in January , the NOAA said .
The national environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also observed to be 5.3 percent below the average of 2018-2010 , tying the eighth least amount of ice coverage recorded in the past 42 years .
For the United States specifically , it was the fifth warmest January on record for the lower 48 states , and while it was n't a record-breaking month , the heat was widespread , according to the NOAA 's website .
`` This kind of nation-wide warmth in January is n't unique , but it 's rare , '' the NOAA said .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only happened two other times , in 2006 and 2012 . ''
Of the lower 48 , Utah and southern Colorado were cooler than average as was Alaska , it said .
Over the past 30 years , however , only five times has the United States ' coldest month of the year been colder than the 20th-century average .
`` Averaged over the entire historical record ( 1895-2020 ) , January temperature has increased by 0.2 degrees F per decade , but in reality , virtually all of that change has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NOAA said .
`` The January warming trend since 1991 has been nearly triple the longer-term rate . ''

January 2020 was the hottest January on record. Photo courtesy of NOAA/ Twitter
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Last month was the hottest January in all 141 years of climate records, according to scientists at the National Centers for Environmental Information. In a Thursday press release, the NOAA said January 2020 also marked the 44th consecutive January and the 421st consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average. Advertisement
On top of that, the scientists said the four warmest Januaries have occurred since 2016 with the 10 warmest occurring in the last 20 years.
Globally, land and ocean surface temperatures were at a record 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous January record set in 2016 by 0.04 of a degree F.
By hemisphere, the world's northern half established a record January with a 2.70 degrees F above average while the southern half produced its second-warmest January with 1.40 degrees F above average, falling short of its 2016 record.
Meanwhile, Scandinavia, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the central and western Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and Central and South America all experienced record-warm temperatures in January, the NOAA said.
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The national environment center added that arctic sea ice coverage was also observed to be 5.3 percent below the average of 2018-2010, tying the eighth least amount of ice coverage recorded in the past 42 years.
For the United States specifically, it was the fifth warmest January on record for the lower 48 states, and while it wasn't a record-breaking month, the heat was widespread, according to the NOAA's website.
"This kind of nation-wide warmth in January isn't unique, but it's rare," the NOAA said. "In the past 20 years, it's only happened two other times, in 2006 and 2012."
Of the lower 48, Utah and southern Colorado were cooler than average as was Alaska, it said.
Over the past 30 years, however, only five times has the United States' coldest month of the year been colder than the 20th-century average.
"Averaged over the entire historical record (1895-2020), January temperature has increased by 0.2 degrees F per decade, but in reality, virtually all of that change has come in the past 30 years," the NOAA said. "The January warming trend since 1991 has been nearly triple the longer-term rate."


upi--2020-02-14--Fresh donor eggs better for IVF than frozen eggs

Fresh donated eggs appear to be better for in-vitro fertilization than frozen ones , a new study suggests .
Donor eggs provide the best chance of success for many women undergoing IVF , according to the authors .
But it was n't clear whether using fresh or frozen donor eggs in IVF improves the chances of success , so a team from the University of Colorado and Duke University analyzed nearly 30,000 IVF cycles using donor eggs over three years .
Fresh eggs had a much higher likelihood of implantation and birth than frozen eggs , the study found .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were associated with a 25 percent better chance of live birth and a 10 percent higher odds for good outcomes .
Fresh eggs were also associated with a 37 percent higher chance of multiple births .
The authors said that supports the increasing practice of transferring a single embryo during IVF to help avoid multiple births and the complications they often cause to mother and child , according to the authors of the study .
The findings were published Feb. 6 in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology .
`` We can now confidently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eggs along with transferring a single embryo instead of multiple embryos will provide the best chances for a healthy mother and a healthy baby , '' senior author Dr. Alex Polotsky said in a University of Colorado news release .
He 's chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the university 's School of Medicine in Aurora .
Between 1 percent and 2 percent of all births in the United States occur through IVF , and more than 24,000 U.S. women use donated eggs each year , according to the U.S. Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on IVF .

Fresh donated eggs appear to be better for in-vitro fertilization than frozen ones, a new study suggests.
Donor eggs provide the best chance of success for many women undergoing IVF, according to the authors.
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But it wasn't clear whether using fresh or frozen donor eggs in IVF improves the chances of success, so a team from the University of Colorado and Duke University analyzed nearly 30,000 IVF cycles using donor eggs over three years.
Fresh eggs had a much higher likelihood of implantation and birth than frozen eggs, the study found. Compared to frozen eggs, fresh eggs were associated with a 25 percent better chance of live birth and a 10 percent higher odds for good outcomes.
Fresh eggs were also associated with a 37 percent higher chance of multiple births.
The authors said that supports the increasing practice of transferring a single embryo during IVF to help avoid multiple births and the complications they often cause to mother and child, according to the authors of the study. The findings were published Feb. 6 in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
"We can now confidently say that choosing to utilize fresh donor eggs along with transferring a single embryo instead of multiple embryos will provide the best chances for a healthy mother and a healthy baby," senior author Dr. Alex Polotsky said in a University of Colorado news release. He's chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the university's School of Medicine in Aurora.
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Between 1 percent and 2 percent of all births in the United States occur through IVF, and more than 24,000 U.S. women use donated eggs each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on IVF.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-14--Pompeo 'outraged' over U.N. list of companies in West Bank

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday lashed out at the United Nations Human Rights Office over a report published earlier this week listing businesses operating in occupied Palestinian territory , accusing the organization of `` unrelenting anti-Israel bias . ''
On Wednesday , the U.N. office , headed by High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet , published a report identifying 112 business entities including 94 Israeli companies and 18 in six other nations operating in the West Bank .
Six U.S.-based companies , with the majority related to tourism , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was compiled under a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution adopted in 2016 to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the rights of the Palestinian people .
According to a statement from the U.N. Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner , the report is not the result of a judicial process and while the settlements are largely regarded as illegal under international law , it does not provide a legal description of the activities the business are doing .
In his Thursday statement , Pompeo said he was `` outraged '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The United States has long opposed the creation or release of this database , which was mandated by the discredited U.N. Human Rights Council in 2016 , '' he said .
`` Its publication only confirms the unrelenting anti-Israel bias so prevalent at the United Nations .
The United States has not provided , and will never provide , any information to the Office of the High Commissioner to support compilation of these lists and expresses support for U.S. companies referenced . ''
Pompeo 's condemnation followed Israel 's Foreign Affairs Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publishing a `` blacklist '' for targeted boycotts after kneeling under the pressure of countries looking to harm the Middle Eastern nation .
In his strongly worded statement , Katz accused the U.N. Human Rights Office of pursuing an anti-Israel stance and that instead of fostering human rights it serves to `` protect some of the most discriminatory regimes in the world . ''
`` The commissioner wasted an opportunity to preserve the dignity of the U.N. and salvage what was left of the council and Commission 's integrity , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implications for our future relations with the Council and the commissioner . ''
Human rights advocates , on the other hand , welcomed the report as a `` major breakthrough '' to hold business accountable .
The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said the settlements undermine the livelihoods and economy of Palestinians and business activities in those areas contribute to their deepening entrenchment .
`` The long-awaited release of the U.N. settlement business database should put all companies on notice : to do business with illegal settlements is to aid in the commission of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy executive director for advocacy at Human Rights Watch .
`` The database release marks critical progress in the global effort to ensure that businesses end their complicity in rights abuses and respect international law . ''
The list , he said , underscores the international community 's rejection of Israeli and U.S. efforts to `` legitimize Israel 's illegal settlement enterprise and to whitewash the resulting human rights abuses . ''

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday lashed out at the United Nations Human Rights Office over a report published earlier this week listing businesses operating in occupied Palestinian territory, accusing the organization of "unrelenting anti-Israel bias."
On Wednesday, the U.N. office, headed by High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, published a report identifying 112 business entities including 94 Israeli companies and 18 in six other nations operating in the West Bank. Six U.S.-based companies, with the majority related to tourism, were listed in the report.
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The report was compiled under a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution adopted in 2016 to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the rights of the Palestinian people.
According to a statement from the U.N. Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, the report is not the result of a judicial process and while the settlements are largely regarded as illegal under international law, it does not provide a legal description of the activities the business are doing.
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In his Thursday statement, Pompeo said he was "outraged" at Bachelet for publishing the list.
"The United States has long opposed the creation or release of this database, which was mandated by the discredited U.N. Human Rights Council in 2016," he said. "Its publication only confirms the unrelenting anti-Israel bias so prevalent at the United Nations. The United States has not provided, and will never provide, any information to the Office of the High Commissioner to support compilation of these lists and expresses support for U.S. companies referenced."
Pompeo's condemnation followed Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz accusing the United Nations of publishing a "blacklist" for targeted boycotts after kneeling under the pressure of countries looking to harm the Middle Eastern nation.
In his strongly worded statement, Katz accused the U.N. Human Rights Office of pursuing an anti-Israel stance and that instead of fostering human rights it serves to "protect some of the most discriminatory regimes in the world."
"The commissioner wasted an opportunity to preserve the dignity of the U.N. and salvage what was left of the council and Commission's integrity," he said. "This decision will have serious implications for our future relations with the Council and the commissioner."
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Human rights advocates, on the other hand, welcomed the report as a "major breakthrough" to hold business accountable.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said the settlements undermine the livelihoods and economy of Palestinians and business activities in those areas contribute to their deepening entrenchment.
"The long-awaited release of the U.N. settlement business database should put all companies on notice: to do business with illegal settlements is to aid in the commission of wars," said Bruno Stagno, deputy executive director for advocacy at Human Rights Watch. "The database release marks critical progress in the global effort to ensure that businesses end their complicity in rights abuses and respect international law."
The list, he said, underscores the international community's rejection of Israeli and U.S. efforts to "legitimize Israel's illegal settlement enterprise and to whitewash the resulting human rights abuses."


upi--2020-02-13--Coronavirus: Death toll hits 1,486 as Japan records first victim

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- China 's Hubei Province on Friday announced an additional 4,823 new cases of COVID-19 over the previous 24-hours .
Of the new cases , 3,095 were `` clinically diagnosed , '' meaning patients who exhibit symptoms of the virus but have not been confirmed through a blood test to be infected .
The new diagnostic criteria was adopted Thursday and resulted in the province recording a nine-fold increase of nearly 15,000 new cases compared to Wednesday and more than 240 deaths from the virus .
World Health Organization officials said the spike in diagnoses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hubei province using CT scans to confirm the presence of `` lower respiratory infections . ''
Mike Ryan , executive director of WHO 's Health Emergencies Program , said that while there is more than one cause for such infections , the change in approach means patients can be treated for COVID-19 while awaiting confirmation from blood tests .
This , Ryan said , could help keep some patients from progressing to severe disease or from spreading it further .
He said , however , that diagnoses outside of China continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the province also recorded an additional 116 deaths , including eight clinically diagnosed cases , with 88 of them reported in Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , raising the death toll for mainland China to at least 1,483 .
The news comes after Japan reported its first death from the virus and the third outside of mainland China after two men died earlier this month in Hong Kong and the Philippines , raising the global death toll to 1,486 .
Japan 's Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died Thursday from the disease .
According to the ministry 's statement , the woman had no travel history but began to suffer symptoms from the virus on Jan. 22 .
She was admitted to the hospital Feb. 1 and she was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the day of her death .
Japan also announced three other confirmed cases , none of whom had been to China within the virus ' 14-day incubation period prior to the onset of symptoms , increasing its number of confirmed cases to 30 .
The ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus on its Diamond Princess vessel , which has been under quarantine in Yokohama port since early this month , bringing the total number of infected to 218 -- the highest number of infected outside of China .
Health Minister Kastsunobu Kat told reporters Thursday that five passengers have been sent to the hospital with severe symptoms and were on artificial respirators .
In a statement , the Ministry of Health said it has asked the 3,700 passengers and crew on the ship to stay in their private rooms and that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Many of the passengers on the ship are elderly and being confirmed to their windowless rooms may worsen chronic conditions and the ministry said it is working to have them relocated from the vessel to at a mainland accommodation until the 14-day quarantine has elapsed .
Princess Cruises confirmed in an update that Japanese health officials were planning a voluntary disembarkation for guests to finish their quartine on shore .
`` From the information available , it is our understanding that this will be a phased approach , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase , including older adults with pre-existing health conditions . ''
The ship has been moored off Japan 's coast since Feb. 3 after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong last month was later diagnosed with the virus .
Meanwhile , the Chinese Communist Party has replaced key government figures , including its heads in Hubei , its capital city of Wuhan and at its office that overseas Hong Kong and Macau , in connection to the coronavirus .
The party said Thursday that Jiang Chaoliang , its secretary in Hubei , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ma Guoqiang , the party 's chief in Wuhan , was ousted and Wang Zhonglin would be taking over , China 's Global Times reported .
According to the state-run newspaper , their firings were over problems that were allegedly exposed by the ongoing outbreak that is believed to have emerged from a Wuhan seafood market in early December .
At China 's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office , Zhang Xiaoming was demoted to deputy director and Xia Baolong was appointed the office 's new director , the party said without offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jinping also approved Thursday the deployment of 2,600 additional medical personnel from the armed forces to two hospitals in Wuhan to treat patients carrying the disease , according to a statement carried by Xinhuanet .
The military has so far dispatched 4,000 support personnel in three batches to Wuhan , it said .
In Shiyan , the Hubei government implemented wartime control measures baring people from a single district from leaving their homes after 137 confirmed cases were diagnosed with the virus .
Those who disobey the order will be detained , according @ @ @ @

Chinese wear protective face masks due to the threat of the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19) in Beijing on Thursday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- China's Hubei Province on Friday announced an additional 4,823 new cases of COVID-19 over the previous 24-hours. Of the new cases, 3,095 were "clinically diagnosed," meaning patients who exhibit symptoms of the virus but have not been confirmed through a blood test to be infected. Advertisement
The new diagnostic criteria was adopted Thursday and resulted in the province recording a nine-fold increase of nearly 15,000 new cases compared to Wednesday and more than 240 deaths from the virus.
World Health Organization officials said the spike in diagnoses was the result of health personnel in Hubei province using CT scans to confirm the presence of "lower respiratory infections."
Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program, said that while there is more than one cause for such infections, the change in approach means patients can be treated for COVID-19 while awaiting confirmation from blood tests.
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This, Ryan said, could help keep some patients from progressing to severe disease or from spreading it further. He said, however, that diagnoses outside of China continue to be based on blood tests.
On Friday, the province also recorded an additional 116 deaths, including eight clinically diagnosed cases, with 88 of them reported in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, raising the death toll for mainland China to at least 1,483.
The news comes after Japan reported its first death from the virus and the third outside of mainland China after two men died earlier this month in Hong Kong and the Philippines, raising the global death toll to 1,486.
Japan's Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare said that a Kanagawawa Prefecture woman in her 80s died Thursday from the disease.
According to the ministry's statement, the woman had no travel history but began to suffer symptoms from the virus on Jan. 22. She was admitted to the hospital Feb. 1 and she was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the day of her death.
Japan also announced three other confirmed cases, none of whom had been to China within the virus' 14-day incubation period prior to the onset of symptoms, increasing its number of confirmed cases to 30.
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The ministry also announced an additional 44 cases of the coronavirus on its Diamond Princess vessel, which has been under quarantine in Yokohama port since early this month, bringing the total number of infected to 218 -- the highest number of infected outside of China.
Health Minister Kastsunobu Kat told reporters Thursday that five passengers have been sent to the hospital with severe symptoms and were on artificial respirators.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said it has asked the 3,700 passengers and crew on the ship to stay in their private rooms and that those with COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus.
Many of the passengers on the ship are elderly and being confirmed to their windowless rooms may worsen chronic conditions and the ministry said it is working to have them relocated from the vessel to at a mainland accommodation until the 14-day quarantine has elapsed.
Princess Cruises confirmed in an update that Japanese health officials were planning a voluntary disembarkation for guests to finish their quartine on shore.
"From the information available, it is our understanding that this will be a phased approach, with the most medically vulnerable guests in the first phase, including older adults with pre-existing health conditions."
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The ship has been moored off Japan's coast since Feb. 3 after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong last month was later diagnosed with the virus.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party has replaced key government figures, including its heads in Hubei, its capital city of Wuhan and at its office that overseas Hong Kong and Macau, in connection to the coronavirus.
The party said Thursday that Jiang Chaoliang, its secretary in Hubei, was fired for Ying Yong, and Ma Guoqiang, the party's chief in Wuhan, was ousted and Wang Zhonglin would be taking over, China's Global Times reported.
According to the state-run newspaper, their firings were over problems that were allegedly exposed by the ongoing outbreak that is believed to have emerged from a Wuhan seafood market in early December.
At China's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Zhang Xiaoming was demoted to deputy director and Xia Baolong was appointed the office's new director, the party said without offering an explanation.
China's President Xi Jinping also approved Thursday the deployment of 2,600 additional medical personnel from the armed forces to two hospitals in Wuhan to treat patients carrying the disease, according to a statement carried by Xinhuanet.
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The military has so far dispatched 4,000 support personnel in three batches to Wuhan, it said.
In Shiyan, the Hubei government implemented wartime control measures baring people from a single district from leaving their homes after 137 confirmed cases were diagnosed with the virus. Those who disobey the order will be detained, according to state-run media.


upi--2020-02-13--Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman apologize for sign-stealing scandal

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- Houston Astros star players Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman offered public apologies for their roles in the team 's illegal sign-stealing scheme used in 2017 and 2018 .
Players and team officials were made available at a press conference Thursday as the Astros began spring training in West Palm Beach , Fla .
The apologies from Bregman and Altuve were a change from their comments at the Astros ' fan fest last month , when neither player showed guilt for the team 's sign-stealing operation .
`` I am really sorry about the choices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the organization and by me , '' Bregman said Thursday .
`` I have learned from this and I hope to regain the trust of baseball fans . ''
Altuve said the Astros had a `` great team meeting '' on Wednesday night , saying the `` whole Astros organization feels bad for what happened in 2017 . ''
`` [ We ] especially feel remorse for the impact on the fans and the game of baseball , '' Altuve said .
`` And our team is determined to move forward .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was hired at the end of January , said he hopes MLB fans and other players from around the league will forgive the players and coaches that were involved with the sign-stealing scheme .
`` I ask the baseball world to forgive them for the mistakes that they made , '' he said .
Astros owner Jim Crane also offered another apology and vowed `` that this will never again happen on my watch . ''
He pointed out that he went beyond the league 's decision to suspend former Astros manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luhnow by firing them .
Crane said he agreed with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred 's decision not to discipline players for the operation .
He called the team `` a great group of guys '' who did n't receive proper guidance from Hinch and Luhnow .
When asked whether Houston should keep its World Series championship from 2017 after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers , Crane said that Major League Baseball made it clear the Astros were n't being stripped of the title and agreed with the league 's decision .
`` Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game , '' Crane said .
`` We had a good team .
We won the World Series and we 'll leave it at that .
... [ We ] can not change the actions of the past but [ are ] fully committed in moving forward in the right way . ''
Major League Baseball announced last month that a league investigation confirmed the Astros cheated during the regular season and postseason of their World Series-winning 2017 campaign .
According to Manfred , the Astros used a camera-based system to steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season and parts of the 2018 campaign .
The sign-stealing scandal led to the suspension and subsequent firing of Hinch and Luhnow .
The Astros organization was also fined a record $ 5 million and had multiple draft picks taken away .
The league 's investigation also impacted other MLB franchises .
Former Astros bench coach Alex Cora lost his job as manager of the Boston Red Sox on Jan. 14 , and ex-Astros player Carlos Beltran was removed from his managerial position with the New York Mets two days later .
Cora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league 's investigation as the ringleaders of the sign-stealing scheme in 2017 .

Houston Astros infielder Jose Altuve (pictured) and Alex Bregman each offered an apology Thursday for the Astros' illegal sign-stealing operation used in 2017 and 2018. Altuve and Bregman previously showed no remorse for the team's actions. File Photo by Trask Smith/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Houston Astros star players Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman offered public apologies for their roles in the team's illegal sign-stealing scheme used in 2017 and 2018. Players and team officials were made available at a press conference Thursday as the Astros began spring training in West Palm Beach, Fla. The apologies from Bregman and Altuve were a change from their comments at the Astros' fan fest last month, when neither player showed guilt for the team's sign-stealing operation. Advertisement
"I am really sorry about the choices that were made by my team, by the organization and by me," Bregman said Thursday. "I have learned from this and I hope to regain the trust of baseball fans."
Altuve said the Astros had a "great team meeting" on Wednesday night, saying the "whole Astros organization feels bad for what happened in 2017."
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"[We] especially feel remorse for the impact on the fans and the game of baseball," Altuve said. "And our team is determined to move forward."
New Astros manager Dusty Baker, who was hired at the end of January, said he hopes MLB fans and other players from around the league will forgive the players and coaches that were involved with the sign-stealing scheme.
"I ask the baseball world to forgive them for the mistakes that they made," he said.
Astros owner Jim Crane also offered another apology and vowed "that this will never again happen on my watch." He pointed out that he went beyond the league's decision to suspend former Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow by firing them.
Crane said he agreed with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's decision not to discipline players for the operation. He called the team "a great group of guys" who didn't receive proper guidance from Hinch and Luhnow.
When asked whether Houston should keep its World Series championship from 2017 after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers, Crane said that Major League Baseball made it clear the Astros weren't being stripped of the title and agreed with the league's decision.
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"Our opinion is that this didn't impact the game," Crane said. "We had a good team. We won the World Series and we'll leave it at that. ... [We] cannot change the actions of the past but [are] fully committed in moving forward in the right way."
Major League Baseball announced last month that a league investigation confirmed the Astros cheated during the regular season and postseason of their World Series-winning 2017 campaign.
According to Manfred, the Astros used a camera-based system to steal signs of opposing teams during the 2017 season and parts of the 2018 campaign.
The sign-stealing scandal led to the suspension and subsequent firing of Hinch and Luhnow. The Astros organization was also fined a record $5 million and had multiple draft picks taken away.
The league's investigation also impacted other MLB franchises. Former Astros bench coach Alex Cora lost his job as manager of the Boston Red Sox on Jan. 14, and ex-Astros player Carlos Beltran was removed from his managerial position with the New York Mets two days later.
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Cora and Beltran were singled out in the league's investigation as the ringleaders of the sign-stealing scheme in 2017.


upi--2020-02-13--ExxonMobil fire released harmful chemicals, none detected outside of facility

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- The fire at an ExxonMobil Refinery in Louisiana on Tuesday released harmful chemicals in unknown quantities , but no dangerous chemicals were detected outside of the facility , authorities reported .
A report by the Louisiana State Police said that cancer-causing chemicals benzene and 1,3 butadiene were released during the blaze along with other chemicals that are toxic at high levels of concentration .
The estimated amounts of the chemicals that were released are likely to remain unclear until ExxonMobil provides state regulators with a so-called seven-day report , but state officials said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combust , converting them into other materials including some that are also toxic .
Air monitoring inside , around and away from the plant did not detect harmful concentrations of chemicals being released into the air or to the broader public , officials said .
Exxon reported to authorities that an estimated 10,000 pounds of butadiene was released during the fire and an amount of Benzene likely exceeding 10 pounds was also released .
Sulfur dioxide was also released hours after the incident began and the incident could have caused `` flammable vapor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released into the nearby community .
The state police report said the fire was discovered at 11 p.m. but Exxon did n't notify police until 58 minutes later just short of the 1-hour deadline to report emergency incidents .
A Baton Rouge Fire Department hazmat unit initially began monitoring the air quality outside of Exxon 's fence line before being joined by Exxon staff .
The company said workers with the Environmental Protection Agency arrived at the facility but did not conduct their own air quality testing because they were `` impressed '' @ @ @ @ @

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The fire at an ExxonMobil Refinery in Louisiana on Tuesday released harmful chemicals in unknown quantities, but no dangerous chemicals were detected outside of the facility, authorities reported.
A report by the Louisiana State Police said that cancer-causing chemicals benzene and 1,3 butadiene were released during the blaze along with other chemicals that are toxic at high levels of concentration.
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The estimated amounts of the chemicals that were released are likely to remain unclear until ExxonMobil provides state regulators with a so-called seven-day report, but state officials said the fire likely caused the harmful chemicals to combust, converting them into other materials including some that are also toxic.
Air monitoring inside, around and away from the plant did not detect harmful concentrations of chemicals being released into the air or to the broader public, officials said.
Exxon reported to authorities that an estimated 10,000 pounds of butadiene was released during the fire and an amount of Benzene likely exceeding 10 pounds was also released. Sulfur dioxide was also released hours after the incident began and the incident could have caused "flammable vapor" such as natural gas to be released into the nearby community.
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The state police report said the fire was discovered at 11 p.m. but Exxon didn't notify police until 58 minutes later just short of the 1-hour deadline to report emergency incidents.
A Baton Rouge Fire Department hazmat unit initially began monitoring the air quality outside of Exxon's fence line before being joined by Exxon staff.
The company said workers with the Environmental Protection Agency arrived at the facility but did not conduct their own air quality testing because they were "impressed" with Exxon's testing.


upi--2020-02-13--Ex-Blue Jays OF Kevin Pillar agrees to one-year deal with Red Sox

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox .
League sources told the Boston Globe and MassLive.com on Thursday that Pillar 's one-year contract is worth about $ 4 million .
The deal is pending a physical .
Pillar will provide the Red Sox with much-needed depth in the outfield after the loss of Mookie Betts via trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the uncertain status of Alex Verdugo , whom Boston acquired in the deal .
Verdugo may miss the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that affected him toward the end of the 2019 campaign , according to the Boston Globe .
He did n't play after Aug. 4 due to the back injury .
Pillar started last season with the Blue Jays before he was traded to the San Francisco Giants as part of a four-player swap in April .
In the 2019 campaign , the 31-year-old outfielder posted career highs in multiple offensive categories , including home runs ( 21 ) , RBIs ( 88 ) , runs scored ( 83 ) , triples ( three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Piller , who earned $ 5.8 million last season , was n't tendered a contract by the Giants after the season .
He would have become eligible for arbitration and likely could have commanded about $ 10 million .
The Blue Jays selected Pillar in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft .
In 851 career regular-season games , he has a .261 batting average with 76 home runs and 318 RBIs .

Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar (L) was traded to the San Francisco Giants last season in a four-player deal. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. League sources told the Boston Globe and MassLive.com on Thursday that Pillar's one-year contract is worth about $4 million. The deal is pending a physical. Advertisement
Pillar will provide the Red Sox with much-needed depth in the outfield after the loss of Mookie Betts via trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the uncertain status of Alex Verdugo, whom Boston acquired in the deal.
Verdugo may miss the start of the regular season because of a back injury that affected him toward the end of the 2019 campaign, according to the Boston Globe. He didn't play after Aug. 4 due to the back injury.
Pillar started last season with the Blue Jays before he was traded to the San Francisco Giants as part of a four-player swap in April. In the 2019 campaign, the 31-year-old outfielder posted career highs in multiple offensive categories, including home runs (21), RBIs (88), runs scored (83), triples (three) and slugging percentage (.432).
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Piller, who earned $5.8 million last season, wasn't tendered a contract by the Giants after the season. He would have become eligible for arbitration and likely could have commanded about $10 million.
The Blue Jays selected Pillar in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft. In 851 career regular-season games, he has a .261 batting average with 76 home runs and 318 RBIs.


upi--2020-02-14--Manchester City receives two-year UEFA competition ban over FFP violations

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Manchester City , the reigning Premier League champions , was banned from UEFA club competitions for the next two seasons and fined about $ 33 million for breaching financial fair play rules , the governing body announced Friday .
Manchester City was disciplined for `` overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts '' and failing `` to cooperate in the investigation , '' according to findings by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber .
The club will be excluded from the Champions League for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons .
Manchester City announced it will appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from European competition .
In a statement released Friday by the club , Manchester City said it was `` disappointed but not surprised '' by the ruling .
`` Simply put , this is a case initiated by UEFA , prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA , '' Manchester City said in a statement .
`` With this prejudicial process now over , the club will pursue an impartial judgement as quickly as possible and will therefore , in the first instance , commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City will face Real Madrid in the last-16 round of this season 's Champions League on Feb. 26 and March 17 .

Manchester City was banned from the Champions League for the next two seasons for having broken financial fair play rules. The club was also fined about $33 million. File Photo by Jon Super/EPA-EFE
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, was banned from UEFA club competitions for the next two seasons and fined about $33 million for breaching financial fair play rules, the governing body announced Friday. Manchester City was disciplined for "overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts" and failing "to cooperate in the investigation," according to findings by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber. The club will be excluded from the Champions League for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Advertisement
Manchester City announced it will appeal UEFA's decision to ban the club from European competition. In a statement released Friday by the club, Manchester City said it was "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling.
"Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA," Manchester City said in a statement. "With this prejudicial process now over, the club will pursue an impartial judgement as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity."
Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the last-16 round of this season's Champions League on Feb. 26 and March 17.


upi--2020-02-14--BAE Systems awarded $24.6M for post-shakedown availability for Freedom-class ship

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- The Navy has award BAE Systems with a $ 24.6 million contract for post-shakedown availability for one Freedom-variant littoral combat ship , the Pentagon announced Friday .
A post-shakedown availability takes place in a period of about 16 weeks between the transfer of a ship to the Navy and the shipbuilding conversion date .
Freedom-class littoral combat ships , which are built by Lockheed Martin , carry a variety of light weapon systems as well as short-range missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes .
BAE 's post-shakedown availability will include correction of trial card deficiencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time of the availability and incorporation incorporation of approved engineering changes not addressed under the building yard 's construction contract .
The contract also encompasses all the manpower , support services , material , non-standard equipment and associated technical data and documentation to prepare for the availability .
Work will be performed in Mayport , Fla. , with an expected completion date of March 2021 .
The contract includes options for up to seven post-shakedown events .
If exercised , they would bring the cumulative value of the contract up to $ @ @ @

The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Little Rock departs Mayport, Fla. for the ship’s maiden deployment. BAE Systems has won a $24.6 million contract for post-shakedown availability for another Freedom-class vessel. Photo by Devin Bowser/U.S. Navy
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The Navy has award BAE Systems with a $24.6 million contract for post-shakedown availability for one Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, the Pentagon announced Friday. A post-shakedown availability takes place in a period of about 16 weeks between the transfer of a ship to the Navy and the shipbuilding conversion date. Advertisement
Freedom-class littoral combat ships, which are built by Lockheed Martin, carry a variety of light weapon systems as well as short-range missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes.
BAE's post-shakedown availability will include correction of trial card deficiencies, new work identified between custody transfer and the time of the availability and incorporation incorporation of approved engineering changes not addressed under the building yard's construction contract.
The contract also encompasses all the manpower, support services, material, non-standard equipment and associated technical data and documentation to prepare for the availability.
Work will be performed in Mayport, Fla., with an expected completion date of March 2021.
The contract includes options for up to seven post-shakedown events. If exercised, they would bring the cumulative value of the contract up to $203.9 million.


upi--2020-02-14--Kobe Bryant among eight finalists for Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2020

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant , who was among nine killed in a helicopter crash less than three weeks ago , was named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame .
Bryant , an 18-time All-Star selection and five-time NBA champion during his illustrious 20-year career with the Lakers , was one of four players and four coaches selected as finalists for the Hall of Fame 's class of 2020 on Friday .
San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan , former Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coaches Eddie Sutton , Rudy Tomjanovich , Kim Mulkey and Barbara Stevens , joined Bryant on the list of finalists .
`` When the nominees for the Class of 2020 were announced in December , we knew this class had the potential of being one of the most historic of all time , '' Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Friday .
`` The untimely passing of Kobe Bryant has left us in a state of reflective mourning and we 're proud to honor his legacy while also recognizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much to our game .
`` We congratulate our finalists and those who have supported them on their journeys , and we look forward to revealing the Class of 2020 at the Final Four in Atlanta . ''
Bryant , 41 , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and seven others were killed Jan. 26 when their helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Calabasas , Calif .
The group was headed to Mamba Sports Academy , a facility that Bryant created and coached at , for a girls basketball tournament when the aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains under investigation .
There were no survivors .
Bryant , an 11-time All-NBA first-teamer , was the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and a two-time winner of the NBA Finals MVP award .
He ranks fourth on the league 's career points lists ( 33,643 ) and scored a historic 81 points in a single game , the second-most in NBA history .
Duncan was a 15-time All-Star choice and won five NBA titles during his 19-year career with the Spurs .
He also won two NBA MVP awards and was named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a 15-time All-Star in his 21 seasons between the Celtics and T-Wolves .
The nine-time All-Defensive first-team selection won the 2008 championship as a member of the Celtics and secured the league 's MVP award in 2004 after leading the NBA in points and rebounds .
The Hall of Fame 's 2020 class will be finalized and announced April 4 during the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta .
Those who are inducted will be enshrined during ceremonies from Aug. 28-30 in Springfield , Mass .

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant (R) hugs San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan (L) before a game on Jan. 22, 2016, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Bryant was an 18-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion with the Lakers. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, who was among nine killed in a helicopter crash less than three weeks ago, was named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Bryant, an 18-time All-Star selection and five-time NBA champion during his illustrious 20-year career with the Lakers, was one of four players and four coaches selected as finalists for the Hall of Fame's class of 2020 on Friday. Advertisement
San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan, former Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett and ex-WNBA standout Tamika Catchings, along with coaches Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey and Barbara Stevens, joined Bryant on the list of finalists.
"When the nominees for the Class of 2020 were announced in December, we knew this class had the potential of being one of the most historic of all time," Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Friday. "The untimely passing of Kobe Bryant has left us in a state of reflective mourning and we're proud to honor his legacy while also recognizing seven other individuals who have meant so much to our game.
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"We congratulate our finalists and those who have supported them on their journeys, and we look forward to revealing the Class of 2020 at the Final Four in Atlanta."
Your 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists. #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/FC5vjUyHdG— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 14, 2020
Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were killed Jan. 26 when their helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Calabasas, Calif. The group was headed to Mamba Sports Academy, a facility that Bryant created and coached at, for a girls basketball tournament when the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances.
The crash remains under investigation. There were no survivors.
Bryant, an 11-time All-NBA first-teamer, was the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and a two-time winner of the NBA Finals MVP award. He ranks fourth on the league's career points lists (33,643) and scored a historic 81 points in a single game, the second-most in NBA history.
Duncan was a 15-time All-Star choice and won five NBA titles during his 19-year career with the Spurs. He also won two NBA MVP awards and was named NBA Finals MVP three times.
Garnett was a 15-time All-Star in his 21 seasons between the Celtics and T-Wolves. The nine-time All-Defensive first-team selection won the 2008 championship as a member of the Celtics and secured the league's MVP award in 2004 after leading the NBA in points and rebounds.
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The Hall of Fame's 2020 class will be finalized and announced April 4 during the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta. Those who are inducted will be enshrined during ceremonies from Aug. 28-30 in Springfield, Mass.


upi--2020-02-14--U.S. Pfc. Walter Lewark dies of non-combat-related incident in Djibouti

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- A U.S. Army service member died this week in a non-combat-related incident in Djibouti @ @ @ @ @ announced Friday .
The Pentagon identified the soldier as Pfc .
Walter Lewark , 26 @ @ @ @ @ A statement said he died Thursday at Camp Lemonnier .
Lewark was assigned to Company @ @ @ @ @ 200th Infantry Regiment , 93rd Troop Command , New Mexico Army National Guard based in @ @ @ @ @ He was in Djibouti supporting Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa .
The mission there is @ @ @ @ @ of Africa nations and support regional organizations .
Troops also provide humanitarian aid and crisis @ @ @ @ @ personnel are stationed at Camp Lemonnier .
The Pentagon said Lewark 's death was under @ @ @ @ @ death was n't reported .

Pfc. Walter Lewark died Thursday at Camp Lemonnier. File Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army service member died this week in a non-combat-related incident in Djibouti, the Department of Defense announced Friday. The Pentagon identified the soldier as Pfc. Walter Lewark, 26, from Mountainair, N.M. A statement said he died Thursday at Camp Lemonnier. Advertisement
Lewark was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Troop Command, New Mexico Army National Guard based in Rio Rancho, N.M.
He was in Djibouti supporting Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa. The mission there is to provide security in Horn of Africa nations and support regional organizations. Troops also provide humanitarian aid and crisis response.
About 4,000 U.S. personnel are stationed at Camp Lemonnier.
The Pentagon said Lewark's death was under investigation. His cause of death wasn't reported.


upi--2020-02-14--Baltimore Ravens release veteran S Tony Jefferson; OL James Hurst suspended

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- The Baltimore Ravens released veteran safety Tony Jefferson after three seasons , the team announced Friday .
Jefferson , 28 , had his 2019 season cut short due to a torn ACL in his left knee .
After his injury in Week 5 , the Ravens ' defense performed better when Chuck Clark replaced him in the lineup .
`` This is the worst part of this business , '' Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement .
`` Tony is the consummate teammate and someone who is respected by everyone for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toughness .
He 's a friend to all and a true Raven .
`` We know he 's going to beat this injury , and we will be cheering for him all along the way .
We wish the very best to Tony and his family . ''
According to Spotrac , Jefferson received $ 19 million guaranteed on a four-year contract with the Ravens in 2017 , but the defensive back struggled during his time in Baltimore .
He recorded two interceptions , two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed in 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to save $ 7 million in cap space following the roster move .
`` Tony is a tremendous leader , a true competitor , a team player and a family man , '' Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement .
`` His time here has been a blessing .
We have the utmost respect for his professionalism and positive contributions to our team and the Baltimore community .
We wish he and his family the best going forward . ''
After going undrafted in 2013 , Jefferson played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona Cardinals .
In his seven-season career , he has tallied 451 total tackles , four interceptions , 8.5 sacks , 22 passes defensed and one defensive touchdown .
Meanwhile , the NFL announced Friday that it suspended Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst for the first four games of the 2020 season for a violation of the league 's policy on performance-enhancing drugs .
Hurst is eligible to take part in all preseason practices and games .
He will be allowed to return to the team 's active roster on the Monday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Baltimore Ravens strong safety Tony Jefferson (R) tore his left ACL in Week 5 last season. File Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens released veteran safety Tony Jefferson after three seasons, the team announced Friday. Jefferson, 28, had his 2019 season cut short due to a torn ACL in his left knee. After his injury in Week 5, the Ravens' defense performed better when Chuck Clark replaced him in the lineup. Advertisement
"This is the worst part of this business," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. "Tony is the consummate teammate and someone who is respected by everyone for his leadership, determination, humility and toughness. He's a friend to all and a true Raven.
"We know he's going to beat this injury, and we will be cheering for him all along the way. We wish the very best to Tony and his family."
According to Spotrac, Jefferson received $19 million guaranteed on a four-year contract with the Ravens in 2017, but the defensive back struggled during his time in Baltimore. He recorded two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed in 35 games with the team.
The Ravens are expected to save $7 million in cap space following the roster move.
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"Tony is a tremendous leader, a true competitor, a team player and a family man," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "His time here has been a blessing. We have the utmost respect for his professionalism and positive contributions to our team and the Baltimore community. We wish he and his family the best going forward."
After going undrafted in 2013, Jefferson played his first four NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. In his seven-season career, he has tallied 451 total tackles, four interceptions, 8.5 sacks, 22 passes defensed and one defensive touchdown.
Meanwhile, the NFL announced Friday that it suspended Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst for the first four games of the 2020 season for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Hurst is eligible to take part in all preseason practices and games. He will be allowed to return to the team's active roster on the Monday after the Ravens' fourth regular-season game.


upi--2020-02-14--1 in 3 child cancer survivors develop serious health problem later in life, study finds

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for severe health problems later in life compared to the general population , according to a study published Friday in The Lancet Oncology .
The analysis found that more than one in three people diagnosed during adolescence or early adulthood develop a serious , life-threatening health condition when they get older .
The study focused on people diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1999 , so it 's not clear whether adolescents and young adults diagnosed today can expect similar outcomes , particularly given that more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While previous studies have examined long-term outcomes for people who survive five years or more after cancer diagnosis in childhood or adulthood , our study is the first to specifically investigate health consequences for those diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood , '' co-author Eugene Suh , a pediatric oncologist Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences , said in a press release .
`` These survivors have the potential to live long , healthy lives but they remain at risk of health problems as a consequence of their previous cancer treatments . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 2019 in the journal Circulation , which noted that child cancer survivors are 10 times more likely to develop heart failure than children without cancer .
For their research , Suh and his colleagues reviewed data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study , which has been tracking the health of more than 24,000 people across the United States who were diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1999 and survived for five or more years following diagnosis .
They focused specifically on 5,804 cancer survivors between 15 and 21 years of age at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and randomly selected 5,804 people who were diagnosed with cancer when they were 15 years old or younger for comparison .
Finally , they recruited a third group of 5,059 siblings of similar ages to serve as controls .
These participants had no history of childhood cancer .
The researchers tracked the death rates and causes of death for each of the three groups and reviewed medical records for recurrences of cancer and severe health problems associated with the heart , lungs , and musculoskeletal systems , as well as metabolic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they estimated that the likelihood of a young adult cancer survivor developing a severe health condition by age 45 was 39 percent versus 12 percent for cancer-free siblings of the same age .
The risks for people diagnosed as adolescents were lower than those of childhood cancer survivors diagnosed before age 15 , for which the likelihood of developing a severe condition by age 45 was 56 percent .
The risk of mortality from any cause among young adult survivors was almost six times higher than in the general population .
Early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly twice as likely to die from recurrence or progression of their primary cancer compared with childhood cancer survivors .
In general , the differences in health outcomes between childhood survivors and young adults were most notable 20 years after diagnosis , the authors added , suggesting that their findings underscore the importance of long-term health screening for child and young adult cancer survivors .
`` Focused efforts are needed to ensure young adult cancer survivors receive long-term health monitoring , with a focus on cancer screening , to reduce their risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said co-author Tara Henderson , associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago .
`` Studies have shown that adherence to such programs is poor , so we need to do more to highlight the importance of lifelong care to survivors and their families , as well as primary health care providers . ''

Survivors of cancer diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood more likely to have severe health problems later in life. Photo by Bessi/Pixabay
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for severe health problems later in life compared to the general population, according to a study published Friday in The Lancet Oncology. The analysis found that more than one in three people diagnosed during adolescence or early adulthood develop a serious, life-threatening health condition when they get older. Advertisement
The study focused on people diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1999, so it's not clear whether adolescents and young adults diagnosed today can expect similar outcomes, particularly given that more effective treatments have become available.
"While previous studies have examined long-term outcomes for people who survive five years or more after cancer diagnosis in childhood or adulthood, our study is the first to specifically investigate health consequences for those diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood," co-author Eugene Suh, a pediatric oncologist Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences, said in a press release. "These survivors have the potential to live long, healthy lives but they remain at risk of health problems as a consequence of their previous cancer treatments."
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The findings echo those of research published in August 2019 in the journal Circulation, which noted that child cancer survivors are 10 times more likely to develop heart failure than children without cancer.
For their research, Suh and his colleagues reviewed data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, which has been tracking the health of more than 24,000 people across the United States who were diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1999 and survived for five or more years following diagnosis.
They focused specifically on 5,804 cancer survivors between 15 and 21 years of age at the time of their initial cancer diagnosis, and randomly selected 5,804 people who were diagnosed with cancer when they were 15 years old or younger for comparison.
Finally, they recruited a third group of 5,059 siblings of similar ages to serve as controls. These participants had no history of childhood cancer.
The researchers tracked the death rates and causes of death for each of the three groups and reviewed medical records for recurrences of cancer and severe health problems associated with the heart, lungs, and musculoskeletal systems, as well as metabolic and neurological conditions.
Based on their analysis, they estimated that the likelihood of a young adult cancer survivor developing a severe health condition by age 45 was 39 percent versus 12 percent for cancer-free siblings of the same age. The risks for people diagnosed as adolescents were lower than those of childhood cancer survivors diagnosed before age 15, for which the likelihood of developing a severe condition by age 45 was 56 percent.
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The risk of mortality from any cause among young adult survivors was almost six times higher than in the general population. Early adolescent and young adult cancer survivors were nearly twice as likely to die from recurrence or progression of their primary cancer compared with childhood cancer survivors.
In general, the differences in health outcomes between childhood survivors and young adults were most notable 20 years after diagnosis, the authors added, suggesting that their findings underscore the importance of long-term health screening for child and young adult cancer survivors.
"Focused efforts are needed to ensure young adult cancer survivors receive long-term health monitoring, with a focus on cancer screening, to reduce their risk of health problems and early death," said co-author Tara Henderson, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago. "Studies have shown that adherence to such programs is poor, so we need to do more to highlight the importance of lifelong care to survivors and their families, as well as primary health care providers."


upi--2020-02-14--Oshkosh Defense nabs $407.3M to procure JLTVs for Army

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Oshkosh Defense was awarded a $ 407.3 million contract modification to procure joint light @ @ @ @ @ Army , the Pentagon announced Friday .
The JLTV was developed by the U.S. Marines @ @ @ @ @ replacement for Humvee .
They vehicles , the first of which were made ready for @ @ @ @ @ different variants with multiple mission package configurations , including packages for personnel , heavy guns @ @ @ @ @ The contract is funded by fiscal 2018 and 2020 Army and Marine Corps procurement funds @ @ @ @ @ sales funds , which were obligated at the time of the award .
Work on @ @ @ @ @ in Oshkosh , Wis. , with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31 , 2022 @

Soldiers participate in JLTV Training at Ft. Mcoy in August. Photo by Russell Gamache/U.S. Army
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Oshkosh Defense was awarded a $407.3 million contract modification to procure joint light tactical vehicles for the U.S. Army, the Pentagon announced Friday. The JLTV was developed by the U.S. Marines and the Army as a replacement for Humvee. Advertisement
They vehicles, the first of which were made ready for use in August, offer different variants with multiple mission package configurations, including packages for personnel, heavy guns and close combat weapons.
The contract is funded by fiscal 2018 and 2020 Army and Marine Corps procurement funds as well as foreign military sales funds, which were obligated at the time of the award.
Work on the contract will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022.


upi--2020-02-14--NASA taps Rocket Lab to launch CubeSat to lunar orbit

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- NASA announced Friday it selected Rocket Lab of Huntington Beach , Calif. , to launch a small satellite , or CubeSat , that will orbit the moon to help prepare for lunar missions .
Rocket Lab is a new space company known mostly for launching small satellites from New Zealand , but it has a new launchpad in Virginia .
The mission , called Capstone , is set to launch from the Virginia location in early 2021 .
NASA plans to have the CubeSat enter the same orbit around the moon as the planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spacecraft will allow NASA to study the planned orbit for Gateway .
`` In the same way we opened access to low Earth orbit for small satellites , we 're proud to be bringing the Moon within reach to enable research and exploration , '' Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive Officer Peter Beck said in an announcement .
The 55-pound Capstone CubeSat will sit atop an Electron rocket launched from NASA 's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia .
After launch , the company 's Photon platform will carry the spacecraft on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own propulsion system will guide it into an elliptical orbit over the moon 's poles .
NASA said the fixed-price launch contract is valued at $ 9.95 million .
In September , NASA awarded a $ 13.7 million contract to Advanced Space of Boulder , Colo. , to develop and operate the CubeSat .

An image depicts space company Rocket Lab's Photon platform pushing NASA's Capstone CubeSat toward the moon. Image courtesy of Rocket Lab
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- NASA announced Friday it selected Rocket Lab of Huntington Beach, Calif., to launch a small satellite, or CubeSat, that will orbit the moon to help prepare for lunar missions. Rocket Lab is a new space company known mostly for launching small satellites from New Zealand, but it has a new launchpad in Virginia. The mission, called Capstone, is set to launch from the Virginia location in early 2021. Advertisement
NASA plans to have the CubeSat enter the same orbit around the moon as the planned Lunar Gateway space station. The Capstone spacecraft will allow NASA to study the planned orbit for Gateway.
"In the same way we opened access to low Earth orbit for small satellites, we're proud to be bringing the Moon within reach to enable research and exploration," Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive Officer Peter Beck said in an announcement.
The 55-pound Capstone CubeSat will sit atop an Electron rocket launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
After launch, the company's Photon platform will carry the spacecraft on a three-month journey to the moon, where its own propulsion system will guide it into an elliptical orbit over the moon's poles.
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NASA said the fixed-price launch contract is valued at $9.95 million. In September, NASA awarded a $13.7 million contract to Advanced Space of Boulder, Colo., to develop and operate the CubeSat.


upi--2020-02-14--Woman accused of trespassing at Mar-a-Lago gets 6 months in jail

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- A Palm Beach County , Fla. , judge on Friday sentenced a Chinese national to six months in jail for resisting arrest after she was accused of trespassing at President Donald Trump 's Mar-a-Lago residence .
County Judge Mark Eissey handed down the sentence to Jing Lu two days after a jury acquitted her on trespassing charges but found her guilty of resisting arrest .
Jing was arrested Dec. 18 after she refused to leave Mar-a-Lago , where she was taking photographs .
She told the court she does n't speak English and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her to leave .
Eissey gave Jing credit for the 59 days she 's been in jail since her arrest .
Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Dorman sought a one-year sentence , saying the judge needs to send a message .
`` There 's great concern for this type of [ incident ] happening on Mar-a-Lago property , '' she said .
Jing is the second Chinese national to receive prison time for offenses related to alleged trespassing at Mar-a-Lago , Trump 's part-time residence .
In November , a federal judge sentenced Yujing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying to a federal officer and entering the restricted grounds in September .
Prosecutors said she misrepresented herself to initially get by Secret Service officers and staff members until a receptionist denied her access .

The jury acquitted the woman of trespassing at Mar-a-Lago but found her guilty of resisting arrest. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A Palm Beach County, Fla., judge on Friday sentenced a Chinese national to six months in jail for resisting arrest after she was accused of trespassing at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. County Judge Mark Eissey handed down the sentence to Jing Lu two days after a jury acquitted her on trespassing charges but found her guilty of resisting arrest. Advertisement
Jing was arrested Dec. 18 after she refused to leave Mar-a-Lago, where she was taking photographs. She told the court she doesn't speak English and didn't understand the security guards who told her to leave.
Eissey gave Jing credit for the 59 days she's been in jail since her arrest.
Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Dorman sought a one-year sentence, saying the judge needs to send a message.
"There's great concern for this type of [incident] happening on Mar-a-Lago property," she said.
Jing is the second Chinese national to receive prison time for offenses related to alleged trespassing at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's part-time residence.
In November, a federal judge sentenced Yujing Zhang to eight months in prison for lying to a federal officer and entering the restricted grounds in September. Prosecutors said she misrepresented herself to initially get by Secret Service officers and staff members until a receptionist denied her access.
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upi--2020-02-14--Pearl Harbor prepares for shipyard upgrade under Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- The Navy 's assistant secretary for research , development and acquisition visited Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility this week to see sites that will be affected by the Navy 's $ 21 billion Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program .
`` The Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan is recapitalizing these shipyards , putting in new facilities , improving efficiency , improving the quality of life for the shipyard workers so they can continue to get our ships in and out on time , '' Secretary James F. Geurts said in a press release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undergo maintenance infrastructure upgrades through the program , which will make changes to the nation 's four public shipyards over the next 20 years .
The planned upgrades at Pearl Harbor include upgrading the dry dock to support modern ship classes , restore needed shipyard facilities and replace aging equipment .
The Navy said it has accommodated the added workload by adding more than 1,000 employees between 2010 and 2018 .
Pearl Harbor is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and a regional maintenance center for the Navy 's surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii with a combined civilian and military workforce of about 6,500 , according to the Navy .
In January , Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia broke ground on the renovation of its historic Dry Dock 4 , a $ 200 million project expected to last four years .

James F. Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, looks into Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility’s Dry Dock #3. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The Navy's assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition visited Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility this week to see sites that will be affected by the Navy's $21 billion Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program. "The Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan is recapitalizing these shipyards, putting in new facilities, improving efficiency, improving the quality of life for the shipyard workers so they can continue to get our ships in and out on time," Secretary James F. Geurts said in a press release. Advertisement
Pearl Harbor will be the first shipyard to undergo maintenance infrastructure upgrades through the program, which will make changes to the nation's four public shipyards over the next 20 years.
The planned upgrades at Pearl Harbor include upgrading the dry dock to support modern ship classes, restore needed shipyard facilities and replace aging equipment.
The Navy said it has accommodated the added workload by adding more than 1,000 employees between 2010 and 2018.
Pearl Harbor is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and a regional maintenance center for the Navy's surface ships and submarines. It is the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii with a combined civilian and military workforce of about 6,500, according to the Navy.
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In January, Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia broke ground on the renovation of its historic Dry Dock 4, a $200 million project expected to last four years.


upi--2020-02-14--Use of ketamine among partygoers could be underreported

Ketamine use among electronic dance music partygoers is much higher than previously thought .
And unintentional use appears to play a role , a new study finds .
Ketamine is known as Special K on the party scene .
The operating room anesthetic was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 as a treatment for depression .
But it has long been used as a club drug .
`` Intentional underreporting of drug use is common , but the underreporting we found here is higher than expected , considering that many party attendees reported use of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author Joseph Palamar .
He 's an associate professor of population health at New York University in New York City .
`` Since it is unlikely that someone would disclose the use of drugs such as ecstasy and intentionally not report using ketamine , we believe many cases of positive detection may be due to unknown exposure through the use of adulterated drugs , '' Palamar said in a university news release .
For the study , researchers surveyed hundreds of adults entering electronic dance music parties in New York City about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided hair samples that were analyzed to detect drug use in the past 12 months .
While almost 15 percent of the partygoers said they 'd used ketamine in the past year , the hair analyses showed that about 37 percent tested positive for ketamine .
This suggests that when both self-reported use and hair testing are taken into consideration , actual ketamine use among these partygoers is closer to 41 percent .
That 's almost three times higher than self-reported use , according to the authors of the study .
The researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reporting using the drug was associated with confirmed exposure to ecstasy .
`` Ecstasy has a long history of being adulterated with other drugs -- including ketamine -- but people who use ecstasy or other synthetic drugs may now be at an even higher likelihood of being exposed to ketamine without realizing it , '' Palamar said .
He said ketamine is `` by no means the most dangerous drug , '' but he added that `` accidentally being exposed to the drug can lead to a pretty unpleasant dissociative experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine .
More information The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has more on ketamine .

Pixabay While almost 15 percent of the partygoers said they'd used ketamine in the past year, the hair analyses showed that about 37 percent tested positive for ketamine, a new study found. Photo by Winston Williams
Ketamine use among electronic dance music partygoers is much higher than previously thought. And unintentional use appears to play a role, a new study finds. Ketamine is known as Special K on the party scene. The operating room anesthetic was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 as a treatment for depression. But it has long been used as a club drug. Advertisement
"Intentional underreporting of drug use is common, but the underreporting we found here is higher than expected, considering that many party attendees reported use of other synthetic drugs," said lead study author Joseph Palamar. He's an associate professor of population health at New York University in New York City.
"Since it is unlikely that someone would disclose the use of drugs such as ecstasy and intentionally not report using ketamine, we believe many cases of positive detection may be due to unknown exposure through the use of adulterated drugs," Palamar said in a university news release.
For the study, researchers surveyed hundreds of adults entering electronic dance music parties in New York City about their past-year drug use. More than 200 provided hair samples that were analyzed to detect drug use in the past 12 months.
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While almost 15 percent of the partygoers said they'd used ketamine in the past year, the hair analyses showed that about 37 percent tested positive for ketamine.
This suggests that when both self-reported use and hair testing are taken into consideration, actual ketamine use among these partygoers is closer to 41 percent. That's almost three times higher than self-reported use, according to the authors of the study.
The researchers found that testing positive for ketamine after not reporting using the drug was associated with confirmed exposure to ecstasy.
"Ecstasy has a long history of being adulterated with other drugs -- including ketamine -- but people who use ecstasy or other synthetic drugs may now be at an even higher likelihood of being exposed to ketamine without realizing it," Palamar said.
He said ketamine is "by no means the most dangerous drug," but he added that "accidentally being exposed to the drug can lead to a pretty unpleasant dissociative experience."
The report was published online Jan. 29 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
More information The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has more on ketamine.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-14--Trans-Eurasian crop exchange began 3,000 years earlier than thought

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Agricultural crops were traded between European and Asian populations 3,000 years earlier than thought , a scientific study published this week indicates .
A cave excavation by Chinese scientists in the eastern Altai Mountains -- which border China , Mongolia , Kazakhstan and Russia -- yielded cereal grains radiocarbon-dated to be 5,200 years old .
The samples are the oldest recorded examples of wheat and barley farming ever recorded in that area of Asia , and move the dates for early farming in the region backward by at least 1,000 years .
The discovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European cross-development of agriculture and technology long predates the Silk Road network of trade routes , which began around the 2nd century .
The early exchanges played a crucial role in shaping cultural development across Europe and Asia , researchers say The study , led by Dr. Xinying Chou , with the involvement of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Germany 's Max Planck Institute for the Study of Human History , was published this week in the scholarly journal Nature Plants .
Researchers reveal how humans cultivated crops at relatively northern latitudes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The precursors of modern wheat and barley were normally grown at lower altitudes and in warmer climates , and the study indicates the crops ' adaptability to harsher conditions .
Millet , made from cereal grains , later became an important crop in ancient Europe , and wheat became a staple crop in Asia during China 's Han Dynasty , which began in the 2nd century B.C .
`` This discovery is a testament to human ingenuity and the amazing co-evolutionary bond between people and the plants that they maintain in their cultivated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release .

Researchers discovered grain samples 5,200 years old in a cave in Altai Mountains, indicating that Eurasian crop exchanges occurred considerably earlier in history than originally thought. Photo by Xinying Zhou
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Agricultural crops were traded between European and Asian populations 3,000 years earlier than thought, a scientific study published this week indicates. A cave excavation by Chinese scientists in the eastern Altai Mountains -- which border China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia -- yielded cereal grains radiocarbon-dated to be 5,200 years old. Advertisement
The samples are the oldest recorded examples of wheat and barley farming ever recorded in that area of Asia, and move the dates for early farming in the region backward by at least 1,000 years.
The discovery also reinforces the theory that Asian and European cross-development of agriculture and technology long predates the Silk Road network of trade routes, which began around the 2nd century. The early exchanges played a crucial role in shaping cultural development across Europe and Asia, researchers say
The study, led by Dr. Xinying Chou, with the involvement of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Germany's Max Planck Institute for the Study of Human History, was published this week in the scholarly journal Nature Plants.
Researchers reveal how humans cultivated crops at relatively northern latitudes, and how they did so. The precursors of modern wheat and barley were normally grown at lower altitudes and in warmer climates, and the study indicates the crops' adaptability to harsher conditions.
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Millet, made from cereal grains, later became an important crop in ancient Europe, and wheat became a staple crop in Asia during China's Han Dynasty, which began in the 2nd century B.C.
"This discovery is a testament to human ingenuity and the amazing co-evolutionary bond between people and the plants that they maintain in their cultivated fields," Zhou said in a press release.


upi--2020-02-14--Artificially infecting mosquitoes could cut spread of dengue

Scientists say that 90 percent of dengue cases could be slashed by artificially infecting mosquitoes .
Dengue viruses are spread to people by infected mosquitoes .
But infecting the insects with Wolbachia bacteria blocks the dengue virus from replicating in mosquitoes and being transmitted between people , the international researchers said in a new study .
Wolbachia is found naturally in about 60 percent of insect species , including some mosquitoes , butterflies and moths .
`` Dengue is a leading cause of illness and death among children across the globe , '' said study lead author Lorenzo Cattarino , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analysis at Imperial College London .
The team of scientists created the first worldwide map of dengue transmission intensity -- a measure of how easily dengue is transmitted to people .
Using this map , they predicted the effectiveness of two methods of combating dengue , vaccination and the release of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia .
In trials , scientists are infecting the mosquito species ( Aedes aegypti ) that carry dengue with Wolbachia and releasing them into areas where dengue is prevalent .
The trials suggest the bacteria does n't pose a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available data and their new transmission intensity map , the study authors concluded that the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes could eliminate nearly all cases of dengue worldwide .
They also assessed a newly licensed dengue vaccine that reduces the intensity of subsequent dengue infections .
They concluded that the vaccine could reduce the number dengue cases by up to 30 percent .
The researchers noted that the vaccine reduces the risk of becoming severely ill , rather than lowering the risk of virus transmission .
`` Our research not only produces the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can act as a tool to inform the World Health Organization , local governments and policymakers on the effectiveness of prevention strategies , such as the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes and vaccination programs , '' Cattarino said in a college news release .
Dengue infects more than 100 million people each year , and it 's believed that half of the world 's population is at risk .
The virus typically causes fever , headache , muscle and joint pain .
In some cases it can lead to a life-threatening condition called hemorrhagic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and serious illness among children in some Asian and Latin American countries .
There is no specific treatment for dengue .
Prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites .
The study was recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine .
The World Health Organization has more on dengue .

Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria blocks the dengue virus from replicating in the insects and being transmitted between people, international researchers said in a new study. Photo courtesy of the CDC
Scientists say that 90 percent of dengue cases could be slashed by artificially infecting mosquitoes. Dengue viruses are spread to people by infected mosquitoes. But infecting the insects with Wolbachia bacteria blocks the dengue virus from replicating in mosquitoes and being transmitted between people, the international researchers said in a new study. Advertisement
Wolbachia is found naturally in about 60 percent of insect species, including some mosquitoes, butterflies and moths.
"Dengue is a leading cause of illness and death among children across the globe," said study lead author Lorenzo Cattarino, of MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London.
The team of scientists created the first worldwide map of dengue transmission intensity -- a measure of how easily dengue is transmitted to people.
Using this map, they predicted the effectiveness of two methods of combating dengue, vaccination and the release of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia.
In trials, scientists are infecting the mosquito species (Aedes aegypti) that carry dengue with Wolbachia and releasing them into areas where dengue is prevalent. The trials suggest the bacteria doesn't pose a threat to animals or people.
Using available data and their new transmission intensity map, the study authors concluded that the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes could eliminate nearly all cases of dengue worldwide.
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They also assessed a newly licensed dengue vaccine that reduces the intensity of subsequent dengue infections. They concluded that the vaccine could reduce the number dengue cases by up to 30 percent.
The researchers noted that the vaccine reduces the risk of becoming severely ill, rather than lowering the risk of virus transmission.
"Our research not only produces the first world map of dengue transmission, but can act as a tool to inform the World Health Organization, local governments and policymakers on the effectiveness of prevention strategies, such as the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes and vaccination programs," Cattarino said in a college news release.
Dengue infects more than 100 million people each year, and it's believed that half of the world's population is at risk. The virus typically causes fever, headache, muscle and joint pain. In some cases it can lead to a life-threatening condition called hemorrhagic fever, a leading cause of death and serious illness among children in some Asian and Latin American countries.
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites.
The study was recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
More information
The World Health Organization has more on dengue.
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Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-14--WWI-era Army helmets as good for shock wave protection as modern versions

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- A French army helmet used in World War I was as valuable in protecting from shock waves as modern counterparts , a Duke University study revealed on Friday .
The Adrian helmet , designed to deflect shrapnel and used by French military forces in a war which ended in 1918 , actually performed better than modern helmet designs in protection from the shock from overhead blasts .
The study , published Friday in PLOS ONE , was part of research into blast waves and the value of helmets designed to protect from bullets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or shock waves , can cause pulmonary trauma , known as chest trauma , an issue corrected with improved body armor and the reason behind a decline in pulmonary trauma incidents in combat .
The waves can also cause brain damage , and no current research suggests that modern helmets are designed to specifically offer blast protection .
The vintage helmets were compared to modern combat helmets in tests involving helmet-wearing dummies and exploding overhead tubes pressurized with helium to simulate shock waves .
When the results were compared with the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found to offer a reduction in moderate brain bleeding .
The French Adrian helmet tested , manufactured in 1915 , offered the least risk for brain bleeding of all helmets tested .
`` The result is intriguing because the French helmet was manufactured using similar materials as its German and British counterparts , and even had a thinner wall , '' lead researcher Joost Op't Eynde said in a press release .
`` The main difference is that the French helmet had a crest on top of its crown .
While it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might also be deflecting shock waves . ''
The finding , researchers say , proves that continued research into protection from shock waves is essential for preventing the effects of sustaining them .

A World War I-era helmet used by French soldiers underwent shock wave tests and was proven to be superior to modern combat helmets, a study released on Friday concluded. Photo courtesy of PLOS ONE
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A French army helmet used in World War I was as valuable in protecting from shock waves as modern counterparts, a Duke University study revealed on Friday. The Adrian helmet, designed to deflect shrapnel and used by French military forces in a war which ended in 1918, actually performed better than modern helmet designs in protection from the shock from overhead blasts. Advertisement
The study, published Friday in PLOS ONE, was part of research into blast waves and the value of helmets designed to protect from bullets and other penetrating objects.
Blast waves, or shock waves, can cause pulmonary trauma, known as chest trauma, an issue corrected with improved body armor and the reason behind a decline in pulmonary trauma incidents in combat. The waves can also cause brain damage, and no current research suggests that modern helmets are designed to specifically offer blast protection.
The vintage helmets were compared to modern combat helmets in tests involving helmet-wearing dummies and exploding overhead tubes pressurized with helium to simulate shock waves.
When the results were compared with the use of brain-injury charts, all tested helmets were found to offer a reduction in moderate brain bleeding. The French Adrian helmet tested, manufactured in 1915, offered the least risk for brain bleeding of all helmets tested.
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"The result is intriguing because the French helmet was manufactured using similar materials as its German and British counterparts, and even had a thinner wall," lead researcher Joost Op't Eynde said in a press release. "The main difference is that the French helmet had a crest on top of its crown. While it was designed to deflect shrapnel, this feature might also be deflecting shock waves."
The finding, researchers say, proves that continued research into protection from shock waves is essential for preventing the effects of sustaining them.