freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Americans still trust doctors and scientists during a public health crisis

The coronavirus epidemic is a health crisis that threatens Americans ’ quality of life .
Who do Americans trust to lead them through it ?
The public opinion firm YouGov has reported that public trust of scientists fell from 2013 to 2017 .
But trust in scientists and the benefits of science remains high , according to statistics from the National Science Foundation .
We were interested in whether that trust persisted in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic .
From Feb. 17 through Feb. 25 , we asked 1,279 Americans whether they were liberal or conservative and how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the risk of a coronavirus epidemic in the U.S. Not surprisingly , people ’ s politics predicted their trust in politicians .
Among the 500 conservatives in our sample , 64 % reported moderate to extreme trust in President Donald Trump .
Less than 10 % of the 779 liberals reported similar trust in him .
However , politics did not predict who was most trusted .
Across the political spectrum , the most trusted were the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and doctors .
In fact , 75 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate to extreme levels of trust in the CDC to reduce U.S. risk of a coronavirus epidemic .
Seventy-seven percent of liberals and 80 % of conservatives also trusted doctors and other clinicians .
These groups likely earned the public ’ s trust by providing information that mattered in comprehensible and accessible ways .
These findings are important because messages from trusted sources are typically more persuasive .
People follow recommendations more when they come from a trusted person or group .
As a result , when someone you trust tells you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not touch your face , and cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue , you are more likely to do so .
This suggests that getting messages from nonpartisan experts is more likely to help reduce U.S. and global disease spread .
Our findings also indicated that most people trust their ability to reduce their own coronavirus risk .
But they need accurate and actionable information to know how .
Getting messages from trusted sources likely will have a bigger impact , but the federal government wants control over coronavirus messages sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and groups were less trusted than the CDC and doctors .
We plan to monitor changes in trustworthiness for these individuals and groups and others over time .
We expect perceived trust to change as the situation changes .
With this emerging threat , all Americans need the highest quality science transmitted by trusted sources .
Doing so will encourage healthier decisions as the number of cases around the world continues to rise .
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Ellen Peters receives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Institutes of Health .
Brittany Shoots-Reinhard receives funding from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health .
Raleigh Goodwin does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Do wasps have a queen like bees do?

Do wasps have a queen like bees do?

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages .
If you have a question you ’ d like an expert to answer , send it to CuriousKidsUS @ theconversation.com .
A queen bee is a female bee that is the only bee in the hive to lay eggs .
She is also the largest bee in the hive .
If you think that wasps have queens , as bees do , you are right .
Wasps and bees are similar insects – they are both in the insect group called Hymenoptera , meaning their wings are clear and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes sense that they would share this kind of social structure .
But if you think that wasps do not have queens , then you are also right !
Some wasp species have queens and others don ’ t .
The same is true for bees , actually : Not all bees live in a hive with a queen .
As an ecologist , I study how animals like bees and wasps interact with each other and their environment .
Wasp and bee species with queens are called social insects .
They live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to over 50,000 and work together to raise their young .
Only one or a few members of the group lay eggs – the queens .
The others watch over the eggs and hunt for food like juicy caterpillars , which is what many wasp babies like to eat .
The remaining bees and wasps in the hive do chores such as making wax and cleaning out the hive .
Paper wasps , hornets and yellow jackets are all social wasps .
Honey bees and bumblebees are both social bee species .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solitary insects who live alone .
One female will lay her eggs and bring her offspring food , raising them until adulthood .
Though many people fear bees and wasps because they can sting , both are important for a healthy planet .
Bees pollinate many flowers , including crops people eat , such as apples and almonds .
And by hunting , wasps help keep down populations of pests like caterpillars and flies .
Unfortunately , these useful insects are in decline worldwide .
Pesticides , which are chemicals used to kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like bees and wasps .
There are also fewer places for wasps and bees to live these days because the cities and farmland that serve humans occupy ever more of their habitat .
If you want to help wasps and bees , make sure your family doesn ’ t use pesticides in your yard .
Planting native plants that provide pollen and nectar will aid these amazing insects , too .
Hello , curious kids !
Do you have a question you ’ d like an expert to answer ?
Ask an adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theconversation.com .
Please tell us your name , age and the city where you live .
And since curiosity has no age limit – adults , let us know what you ’ re wondering , too .
We won ’ t be able to answer every question , but we will do our best .
Caralyn Zehnder received funding from the USDA and the National Science Foundation but her work is not currently funded by either organization .

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freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Bloomberg Staffers Brag About Ripping Off His Campaign, Covertly Canvassing For Sanders

Staffers for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s failed presidential campaign say they went rogue and canvassed for Sen. Bernie Sanders after the Nevada debate debacle , The Nation reported Friday , citing anonymous sources .
People who worked with the team knew the campaign was over after Sen. Elizabeth Warren blasted Bloomberg during the Feb. 19 debate in Nevada , the report noted .
They also claimed to have met with hostility from voters on the campaign trail , according to The Nation ’ s Ken Klippenstein .
“ Most people knew this was a grift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Klippenstein ’ s report .
“ At our first office meeting , my [ director ] said , ‘ We don ’ t need to canvass .
We can just make calls , right guys ?
’ And everyone was like , ‘ Yeah , that ’ s sensible.
’ ” The staffers could not go on record because they signed a non-disclosure agreement with the campaign , the report notes .
Klippenstein obtained a leaked copy of the NDA in February — a representative with the campaign confirmed the copy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers said they actively tried to undermine Bloomberg ’ s campaign , even canvassed for Sanders .
“ I would actively canvass for Bernie when I was supposed to be canvassing for Mike .
I know of at least one team of ‘ volunteers ’ that was entirely fabricated by the organizers who had to hit their goals , ” one staffer said , according to Klippenstein ’ s report .
The person added : “ It was easy enough to fudge the data to make it look like real people put in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike was getting nothing out of it.
” Bloomberg ’ s campaign closed up shop shortly after Super Tuesday , when former Vice President Joe Biden won several states .
Biden fleshed out big wins in Minnesota , Alabama , Oklahoma and Tennessee , while Bloomberg managed to scrape together a win in American Samoa .
Bloomberg spent roughly $ 500 million on ads leading up to Super Tuesday , plastering advertisements on Facebook and in the media ecosphere .
The major digital push was all for naught , as it turns out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 234 million into TV , radio and digital ads in the Super Tuesday states .
The billionaire plowed a total of more than $ 500 million into his ill-fated campaign .
He suspended his campaign Wednesday after a poor showing and tossed his unbridled support behind Biden .
His campaign ’ s money pit caught President Donald Trump ’ s attention as well .
“ The biggest loser tonight , by far , is Mini Mike Bloomberg .
His ‘ political ’ consultants took him for a ride .
$ 700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he got nothing for it but the nickname Mini Mike , and the complete destruction of his reputation .
Way to go Mike !
” Trump said Tuesday on Twitter .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment about the veracity of the report .


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Obama-Era DHS Inspector General Indicted on Theft of Govt. Property, Fraud, and Identity Theft

Topics in this post : The Department of Justice A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a 16-count indictment against a former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) and a former subordinate for their alleged theft of proprietary software and confidential databases from the U.S. government as part of a scheme to defraud the U.S. government .
The indictment charges Charles K. Edwards , 59 , of Sandy Spring , Maryland , and Murali Yamazula Venkata , 54 , of Aldie , Virginia , with conspiracy to commit theft of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , theft of government property , wire fraud , and aggravated identity theft .
The indictment also charges Venkata with the destruction of records .
According to the allegations in the indictment , from October 2014 to April 2017 , Edwards , Venkata , and others executed a scheme to defraud the U.S. government by stealing confidential and proprietary software from DHS Office of Inspector General ( OIG ) , along with sensitive government databases containing personal identifying information ( PII ) of DHS and USPS employees , so that Edwards ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could later sell an enhanced version of DHS-OIG ’ s software to the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at a profit .
Although Edwards had left DHS-OIG in December 2013 , he continued to leverage his relationship with Venkata and other DHS-OIG employees to steal the software and the sensitive government databases .
The indictment further alleges that , in addition to stealing DHS-OIG ’ s software and the sensitive government databases , Venkata and others also assisted Edwards by reconfiguring his laptop so that he could properly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided troubleshooting support whenever Edwards required it , and helped him build a testing server at his residence with the stolen software and databases , which contained PII .
As further part of the alleged scheme , Edwards retained software developers in India for the purpose of developing his commercial alternative of DHS-OIG ’ s software .
The indictment is the result of an ongoing investigation by DHS-OIG and USPS-OIG and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Division ’ s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office for the District of Columbia .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Odds Of Contested Democratic Convention Plummet Thanks To Biden’s Dominant Super Tuesday Performance

Former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s dominant performance on Super Tuesday has all but evaporated the odds of a contested Democratic convention in July , according to FiveThirtyEight ’ s forecasting model .
The forecasting model had shown as recently as Monday afternoon a 69 % chance that no Democratic presidential candidate would obtain the 1,991 delegates necessary to clinch the nomination before the convention .
The odds of such an event taking place dipped to just 10 % after the model was updated Friday morning .
Biden now has an 87 % chance of securing enough primary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the convention in July , according to FiveThirtyEight ’ s model .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has just a 3 % chance of upsetting the former vice president , the model shows .
According to polls in the leadup to Super Tuesday ’ s contests , Biden and Sanders were expected to pick up about 450 delegates each , with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren playing spoilers by picking up a few hundred each as well .
Had that been the outcome , it would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amas a simple majority of delegates in what would have been a crowded field of four viable candidates .
On Sunday , Warren campaign manager Roger Lau wrote in a campaign memo that the Massachusetts senator intended to stay in the race all the way through to the convention , writing that “ the reality of this race will be clear ” after Super Tuesday .
“ No candidate will likely have a path to the majority of delegates needed to win an outright claim to the Democratic nomination , ” Lau wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contested convention , saying on Tuesday morning that it was the only way he could win the nomination .
But Tuesday night didn ’ t go as planned for either Bloomberg or Warren , earning just 60 and 56 delegates , respectively , as of Friday morning .
Bloomberg dropped out of the race on Wednesday and Warren followed suit on Thursday .
Biden racked up victories in 10 of 14 Super Tuesday states thanks to a surge of momentum following his Feb. 29 victory in South Carolina and high-profile endorsements from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Texas Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke .
Democratic voters that decided who to support in the days leading up to Super Tuesday overwhelmingly went towards Biden , CNN exit polls showed .
A Morning Consult poll released Friday shows that 54 % of Democratic primary voters support Biden versus 38 % who support Sanders .


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Trump Administration Deploying ‘Crisis Response Force’ At Southern Border In Wake Of Court Decision

The Trump administration is deploying a “ crisis response force ” at the U.S.-Mexico border in preparation for the likelihood of a large influx of migrants .
Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) announced Friday that roughly 160 active-duty soldiers will be deployed at two ports of entry along the southern border to assist the agency .
Around 80 personnel will be sent to El Paso , while another 80 will be sent to California .
The administration ’ s decision to deploy military police support stems from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ’ decision to block Migrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of asylum seekers in Mexico — in California and Arizona beginning March 12 .
Senior CBP officials , in a conference call with reporters on Friday , cited concerns that the court decision will not only instigate a large-scale influx of migrants that the agency will be unable to control , but also pointed to the possible spread of coronavirus at the border .
“ As demonstrated last Friday , following the 9th Circuit ’ s [ Migrant Protection Protocol ] ruling announcement , the balancing between facilitating the flow of legitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border security mission and the safety of the public and our personnel is delicate , ” a senior CBP official said Friday .
“ CBP ports of entry are not designed or equipped to handle extremely large groups of travelers arriving at the same time , and temporary closure of a [ port of entry ] is contemplated as an extreme option as necessary for public safety and border security , ” the official continued .
The move marks a back-and-forth between the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the administration .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration ’ s Migrant Protection Protocols — also known as the Remain in Mexico program — across the entire southern border .
This led to a large number of migrants rushing the border , and prompted U.S. immigration officials to temporarily shut the border down .
The court ruling was quickly put on hold , allowing the program to remain in place .
However , on Wednesday the court ruled that it will block the program down in Arizona and California — two states under its jurisdiction — beginning on March 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beforehand .
The Department of Justice has issued a stay application with the Supreme Court , but it ’ s not clear if the nation ’ s highest court will act before the due date .
“ Based on the pending [ Migrant Protection Protocol ] decision , continued concerns of large groups attempting to enter through [ ports of entry ] , and COVID-19 containment and mitigation concerns , CBP has activated the crisis response force , ” the senior CBP official said .
This force will provide military police support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official noted .
The crisis response force will be deployed “ no later than March 7 ” and last for two weeks .


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Planned Parenthood President Blames American Support For Abortion Safety Requirements On A ‘Campaign

Planned Parenthood President Blames American Support For Abortion Safety Requirements On A ‘Campaign Of Misinformation’ |

Acting Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson said Thursday that American support for abortion safety requirements is due to a “ campaign of misinformation ” about abortion access .
McGill Johnson spoke on “ CBS This Morning ” regarding June Medical Services v. Russo , a Supreme Court case in which an abortion provider is challenging a 2014 Louisiana state law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges in a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility .
Opponents , including Planned Parenthood , say the law would hinder and potentially eliminate abortion access in Louisiana .
Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law protects women from unsanitary or unsafe abortion clinic practices .
McGill Johnson noted that the law is “ essentially an attempt to essentially undercut access to abortion ” and said that if the Supreme Court upholds the Louisiana law , the state will be left with one doctor and one clinic with admitting privileges .
One of the “ CBS This Morning ” hosts referenced Kaiser Family Foundation polling and questioned whether Planned Parenthood and McGill Johnson are out of line with American sentiment on this topic .
“ So there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of Americans , in fact 69 % of Americans , support the idea of doctors having admitting privileges if they are going to be doing abortions , ” he said .
“ Is this a case where public opinion is out of line with the law , is that how you view it , or are you guys out of line with public opinion ?
” McGill Johnson responded by blaming these poll numbers on a “ campaign of misinformation ” and noting that 77 % of Americans believe Roe v. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the land.
” “ With respect to admitting privileges , doctors are credentialed , ” she added .
“ They ’ re credentialed by their medical schools , they ’ re credentialed by the licenses that they get from the states that they practice in.
” “ So I think a lot of that polling , to me suggests that there has been a campaign of misinformation , disinformation , around what it means to access abortion , ” she said , adding , “ It is one of the safest medical procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would call it safe , some people would call it murder , ” one of the hosts asked her .
“ Well for the patient , I think that is what we are talking about , ” the Planned Parenthood president responded .
“ And this was brought up yesterday .
There are moral arguments with respect to accessing abortion but it is the law of the land that a woman seeking abortion has the right to have access to one.
” Planned Parenthood did not respond to a request for comment from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what McGill Johnson meant by a “ campaign of misinformation .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Crisis communication researcher shares 5 key principles that officials should use in coronavirus

Infectious disease outbreaks have killed more people than hurricanes , wildfires or earthquakes .
The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history , with death estimates ranging as high as 50 million worldwide .
Almost 700,000 deaths occurred in the U.S. ; in some cases , entire families died .
Because these events are so outside our understanding of what is normal , they create high levels of uncertainty .
We don ’ t know what is happening .
And we don ’ t know what to do to avoid and mitigate the harm .
Crises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions and actions to reduce and contain the harm .
Delayed evacuations for hurricanes , for example , can lead to more deaths .
Failure to issue advisories to boil water can result in disease outbreaks .
Telling people what to do during a crisis – boil water , evacuate , shelter in place – is critical to limiting and containing the harm .
I have been studying crises and disasters for over 35 years .
Following the 2001 anthrax attacks , I was part of a group of academics that helped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their crisis and emergency risk communication materials for public health .
The anthrax attacks , in which spores of the deadly bacterium were sent through the mail and spread to unwitting recipients , resulted in five deaths .
Coming on the heels of the Sept. 11 attack , the anthrax letters caused great fear , and am immediate need for clear communication .
I also worked with the World Health Organization to develop guidelines for communicating during emergencies .
Significant research over several decades has developed a body of principles and best practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communication resources and competencies for its Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication programs .
This evidence-based framework was born out of the 2001 anthrax letters incident and the demonstrated need for effective crisis communication .
The framework has informed public health crises for more than a decade .
That CDC program and other principles of effective crisis communication share some common features .
First and foremost , effective crisis communication is grounded in credible sources .
Dr. John Agwunobi , who was Florida ’ s Secretary of Health and guided the Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letters , is an example .
His expertise as a public health professional who demonstrated transparency helped manage the public uncertainty .
Dr. Agwunobi had no political agenda and made the health and safety of the public his primary concern .
Credibility is a function of trustworthiness and expertise .
Trustworthiness concerns the intentions , truthfulness and perceived morality of a source .
Expertise reflects the source ’ s credentials , quality of information and lack of bias .
Credibility is necessary for an audience to believe a message and during a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuading people to take protective actions .
In the absence of credible sources people turn to alternative sources .
Dangerous rumors propagate and go viral .
For example , In 2017 , rumors circulated widely that Zika virus could be transmitted through casual contact .
Uncertainty , anxiety and stress increase because the public does not believe they are getting the full story .
Residents of Hong Kong have lost even more confidence in their government for lack of a transparent and rapid response to COVID-10 .
Lack of credible sources may enhance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to a fundamental misunderstanding of the actual risk the public faces .
Effective crisis communication is frequent , honest , and it does not over-reassure .
Frequent , honest communication can reduce rumors , needless anxiety and fear , and help quell dangerous rumors .
This includes communicating both what is known and unknown about the risk .
Irrational anxiety during a crisis is sometimes framed as panic – and used as an excuse for withholding information , offering overly optimistic scenarios , or critiquing or silencing those voices expressing concern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that panic – extreme , groundless and irrational behavior rarely happens rarely happens during a crisis .
Moreover , the chances of irrational responses to crisis actually are greater in the absence of timely and accurate information .
Large , crisis-driven declines in the stock market , for example , are a rational response when there is inadequate credible information about the risks .
The antidote to a risk of irrational responses is frequent , credible , transparent and honest communication .
Effective communication during a crisis involves persuading people to take harm-reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has posted guidelines that recommend frequent hand washing and social distancing strategies to help reduce the risk of infectious diseases such as influenza and COVID-19 .
Credible information is necessary to promote the kinds of behaviors that can protect people .
Effective communication can serve as a kind of social vaccination , encouraging good infectious disease hygiene that reduces harm .
Effective communication during a crisis draws on the knowledge of subject-matter experts .
Individuals who have experience and expertise in managing an event are not only more credible , they also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be done .
They are less likely to make fundamental mistakes or misstatements about the nature of the threat and how it might develop .
Knowing that the experts are in charge is reassuring to a nervous public .
A final factor in effective communication concerns consistency of messages .
Messages that offer very different assessments of risk and variable advice about what actions to take increase uncertainty and limit the likelihood the public will take appropriate actions .
Measures such as clearance procedures , whereby messages are reviewed to insure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consistency can also be enhanced by having clear and frequent communication from credible sources .
Although it is simply impossible to control communication and the flow of information during a crisis , it is possible to influence what is communicated by being credible , honest and frequent .
This responsibility is even more urgent in an era of 24/7 news coverage , multiple social media platforms , and bots and AIs influencing our news feeds .
Crises can not be managed successfully if government and health official do not communicate about them effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read ?
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Matthew Seeger has received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the World Health Organization , the National Science Foundation , and the National Institutes of Health


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Judge Accuses AG Barr Of ‘Lack Of Candor,’ Orders Review Of Full Mueller Report

A federal judge on Thursday accused Attorney General William Barr of displaying a “ lack of candor ” regarding his public statements about the special counsel ’ s report on the Russia probe .
In a surprisingly harsh statement , Judge Reggie Walton ordered the Justice Department to allow him to privately review an unredacted copy of the report in order to determine whether previously redacted portions of the document can be released to the public .
Walton asserted in his memo that he does not trust Barr ’ s comments about the contents of the report , or his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from its investigation into whether President Trump attempted to obstruct the Russia probe .
Walton asserted that “ inconsistencies ” between Barr ’ s public statements and what is laid out in a redacted version of the special counsel ’ s report “ cause the Court to seriously question whether Attorney General Barr made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller Report in favor of President Trump.
” Walton , who was appointed to the bench in 2001 by George W. Bush , made the ruling as part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Electronic Privacy Information Center and reporter Jason Leopold .
Walton said that his comments were based on a review of the redacted version of the special counsel ’ s report and statements that Barr made in an April 18 , 2019 press conference , as well as a letter he wrote the previous day .
“ And , the Court can not reconcile certain public representations made by Attorney General Barr with the findings in the Mueller Report , ” said Walton .
“ These circumstances generally , and Attorney General Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call into question Attorney General Barr ’ s credibility.
” Walton ’ s statements echo those of Democrats who have criticized Barr over his handling of the special counsel ’ s report .
Barr ’ s supporters , which include Republicans , have said that his summary of the report was accurate .
Barr said that Robert Mueller , the special counsel , concluded that there was no evidence of collusion involving Trump or members of his campaign in their dealings with Russians .
Barr said that Mueller did not make a determination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Mueller did not exonerate Trump on the question , but left it up to the Justice Department to decide whether to pursue an obstruction case .
Barr and then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decided against pursuing a case against the president .
The report is much more definitive on the question of collusion , which was the catalyst for the FBI ’ s investigation into the Trump campaign , which began on July 31 , 2016 .
Mueller said that investigators were unable to establish that any Trump associates conspired with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that there was insufficient evidence that anyone affiliated with the campaign worked as an agent of Russia .
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Autonomous vehicles can be fooled to ‘see’ nonexistent obstacles

Nothing is more important to an autonomous vehicle than sensing what ’ s happening around it .
Like human drivers , autonomous vehicles need the ability to make instantaneous decisions .
Today , most autonomous vehicles rely on multiple sensors to perceive the world .
Most systems use a combination of cameras , radar sensors and LiDAR ( light detection and ranging ) sensors .
On board , computers fuse this data to create a comprehensive view of what ’ s happening around the car .
Without this data , autonomous vehicles would have no hope of safely navigating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems both work better and are safer – each system can serve as a check on the others – but no system is immune from attack .
Unfortunately , these systems are not foolproof .
Camera-based perception systems can be tricked simply by putting stickers on traffic signs to completely change their meaning .
Our work , from the RobustNet Research Group at the University of Michigan , has shown that the LiDAR-based perception system can be comprised , too .
By strategically spoofing the LiDAR sensor signals , the attack is able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perception system into “ seeing ” a nonexistent obstacle .
If this happens , a vehicle could cause a crash by blocking traffic or braking abruptly .
LiDAR-based perception systems have two components : the sensor and the machine learning model that processes the sensor ’ s data .
A LiDAR sensor calculates the distance between itself and its surroundings by emitting a light signal and measuring how long it takes for that signal to bounce off an object and return to the sensor .
This duration of this back-and-forth is also known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A LiDAR unit sends out tens of thousands of light signals per second .
Then its machine learning model uses the returned pulses to paint a picture of the world around the vehicle .
It is similar to how a bat uses echolocation to know where obstacles are at night .
The problem is these pulses can be spoofed .
To fool the sensor , an attacker can shine his or her own light signal at the sensor .
That ’ s all you need to get the sensor mixed up .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoof the LiDAR sensor to “ see ” a “ vehicle ” that isn ’ t there .
To succeed , the attacker needs to precisely time the signals shot at the victim LiDAR .
This has to happen at the nanosecond level , since the signals travel at the speed of light .
Small differences will stand out when the LiDAR is calculating the distance using the measured time-of-flight .
If an attacker successfully fools the LiDAR sensor , it then also has to trick the machine learning model .
Work done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine learning models are vulnerable to specially crafted signals or inputs – what are known as adversarial examples .
For example , specially generated stickers on traffic signs can fool camera-based perception .
We found that an attacker could use a similar technique to craft perturbations that work against LiDAR .
They would not be a visible sticker , but spoofed signals specially created to fool the machine learning model into thinking there are obstacles present when in fact there are none .
The LiDAR sensor will feed the hacker ’ s fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will recognize them as an obstacle .
The adversarial example – the fake object – could be crafted to meet the expectations of the machine learning model .
For example , the attacker might create the signal of a truck that is not moving .
Then , to conduct the attack , they might set it up at an intersection or place it on a vehicle that is driven in front of an autonomous vehicle .
To demonstrate the designed attack , we chose an autonomous driving system used by many car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has over 100 partners and has reached a mass production agreement with multiple manufacturers including Volvo and Ford .
By using real world sensor data collected by the Baidu Apollo team , we demonstrated two different attacks .
In the first , an “ emergency brake attack , ” we showed how an attacker can suddenly halt a moving vehicle by tricking it into thinking an obstacle appeared in its path .
In the second , an “ AV freezing attack , ” we used a spoofed obstacle to fool a vehicle that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain stopped after the light turns green .
By exploiting the vulnerabilities of autonomous driving perception systems , we hope to trigger an alarm for teams building autonomous technologies .
Research into new types of security problems in the autonomous driving systems is just beginning , and we hope to uncover more possible problems before they can be exploited out on the road by bad actors .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can read us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--How to stop using food to reward and punish your kids

At one time or another , just about every parent uses food to reward their kids for good behavior and achievements – or to console them when they ’ re sad or disappointed .
When children make honor roll , win a big game or persevere through a struggle , a parent might express their pride and joy with candy or ice cream .
Likewise , when kids feel down and out , pick-me-ups can take the form of a treat .
The reasons for this are simple : Using food as an incentive might get results , and salty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within easy reach .
You may figure there ’ s no harm in doing this kind of thing .
But as a dietitian and nutritionist focused on family nutrition , I consider regularly using food as an incentive for kids to be risky .
Rewarding and comforting kids with food can lead to overeating when they are not hungry .
It also increases the chances they will try to deal with their emotions through what they eat .
I spend a lot of my time at work helping clients break this cycle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics like bribery , judgment and shame that involve foods and drinks that can range from a bowl of chocolate pudding to a big glass of soda .
I also teach parents other ways to celebrate and soothe that don ’ t depend on food .
Plenty of research shows kids consume more total calories , carbohydrates and fat daily when parents use food to reward behavior .
For example , when the mothers of preschool-age children use food to ease their kids ’ emotions , those children eat more sweets when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that moms who used food as rewards for their children stimulated their kids ’ tendency to overeat – even when their children aren ’ t hungry .
Of course , it ’ s not just moms and dads using food in this way but caregivers of all kinds , from babysitters to grandparents .
And while it ’ s a big problem at school too , changing patterns at home is key .
To help parents get the hang of kicking this habit , I ’ ve zeroed in on four steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food as a reward .
Think about how you celebrate after performances or if you often promise a treat when your kids finish a task .
Do you prod your kids to clean their room by dangling the possibility of dessert ?
Do you take them out for pizza to help them cope when they don ’ t make the team ?
Recognizing common scenarios is an essential first step toward breaking this pattern .
You are not alone if food is ingrained in how you interact with kids when you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most is your willingness to explore a new path without stewing in self-judgment .
Using food to reward kids undermines healthy habits you ’ re trying to instill , so any effort toward change may have long-term benefits .
3 .
Name the feeling you aim to convey Separating your intent from your actions will help you stop using food as a way to soothe or praise .
To do this , imagine your child in a situation where you might use food that way .
Play the scene out in your mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food .
As you envision your child in the scenario , ask yourself what feeling you would like to convey .
For example , your kid falls down on the sidewalk and skins their knee .
You crouch to comfort them and tend their wound as the wailing escalates .
You keep consoling after you ’ ve carefully stuck a Band-Aid on them but they just can ’ t calm down .
If you ’ re like many of my clients , you ’ ll be tempted to say , “ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can go get ice cream.
” Ask yourself at that point what feeling you want them to perceive .
In this case I ’ ll wager that it ’ s comfort and relief – rather than a delicious dairy product .
Becoming mindful of your specific feelings enables two things to happen .
First , you ’ ll see how food stands in for various emotions .
Second , it will help you separate your feelings from food – making it easier to deliver something else that ’ s truly needed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your feelings out loud .
For example , when your child doesn ’ t get invited to a friend ’ s party , say , “ This feels sad .
My wish for you is knowing how much you are loved.
” That can help you remember to try something else besides food to console them .
4 .
Do something else There are plenty of ways to comfort your kid that don ’ t involve food .
You can hug them or give them a bubble bath , for example .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , taking the time to say what makes you feel most proud of them .
If you ’ re trying to motivate or inspire your child , you can crank up their favorite song , then dance and sing along with the music .
When you want to compel or encourage kids to , say , do their homework , give praising their effort a try .
Tell them that you see them working hard and ask : “ How can I support you right now ?
” With small children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the playground or get into a bath , try engaging them with a stuffed animal or squishy toy to fidget with .
Try to get your child to help choose some alternatives .
They might have good ideas that don ’ t occur to you .
Using food to reward or console kids is pervasive enough that the American Academy of Pediatrics and five other professional organizations recommend that parents not use food this way .
But no one , including doctors , is suggesting that you should never make a birthday cake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any situation .
Food is an integral part of cultures everywhere and meant to be fully enjoyed .
Should you find that you regularly rely on food to express emotions with your kids , I believe you ought to try to switch gears .
It ’ s all about finding ways and words , instead of using food , to show your kids how much you love them .
[ Like what you ’ ve read ?
Want more ?
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s daily newsletter . ]
Stephanie Meyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-06--Stop using food to reward and punish your kids

At one time or another , just about every parent uses food to reward their kids for good behavior and achievements – or to console them when they ’ re sad or disappointed .
When children make honor roll , win a big game or persevere through a struggle , a parent might express their pride and joy with candy or ice cream .
Likewise , when kids feel down and out , pick-me-ups can take the form of a treat .
The reasons for this are simple : Using food as an incentive might get results , and salty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within easy reach .
You may figure there ’ s no harm in doing this kind of thing .
But as a dietitian and nutritionist focused on family nutrition , I consider regularly using food as an incentive for kids to be risky .
Rewarding and comforting kids with food can lead to overeating when they are not hungry .
It also increases the chances they will try to deal with their emotions through what they eat .
I spend a lot of my time at work helping clients break this cycle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics like bribery , judgment and shame that involve foods and drinks that can range from a bowl of chocolate pudding to a big glass of soda .
I also teach parents other ways to celebrate and soothe that don ’ t depend on food .
Plenty of research shows kids consume more total calories , carbohydrates and fat daily when parents use food to reward behavior .
For example , when the mothers of preschool-age children use food to ease their kids ’ emotions , those children eat more sweets when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that using food as rewards for their children stimulated their kids ’ tendency to overeat – even when their children aren ’ t hungry .
Of course , it ’ s not just moms and dads using food in this way but caregivers of all kinds , from babysitters to grandparents .
And while it ’ s a big problem at school too , changing patterns at home is key .
To help parents get the hang of kicking this habit , I ’ ve zeroed in on four steps to purge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reward .
Think about how you celebrate after performances or if you often promise a treat when your kids finish a task .
Do you prod your kids to clean their room by dangling the possibility of dessert ?
Do you take them out for pizza to help them cope when they don ’ t make the team ?
Recognizing common scenarios is an essential first step toward breaking this pattern .
You are not alone if food is ingrained in how you interact with kids when you ’ re not at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your willingness to explore a new path without stewing in self-judgment .
Using food to reward kids undermines healthy habits you ’ re trying to instill , so any effort toward change may have long-term benefits .
3 .
Name the feeling you aim to convey Separating your intent from your actions will help you stop using food as a way to soothe or praise .
To do this , imagine your child in a situation where you might use food that way .
Play the scene out in your mind , stopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As you envision your child in the scenario , ask yourself what feeling you would like to convey .
For example , your kid falls down on the sidewalk and skins their knee .
You crouch to comfort them and tend their wound as the wailing escalates .
You keep consoling after you ’ ve carefully stuck a Band-Aid on them but they just can ’ t calm down .
If you ’ re like many of my clients , you ’ ll be tempted to say , “ I ’ ll help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get ice cream.
” Ask yourself at that point what feeling you want them to perceive .
In this case I ’ ll wager that it ’ s comfort and relief – rather than a delicious dairy product .
Becoming mindful of your specific feelings enables two things to happen .
First , you ’ ll see how food stands in for various emotions .
Second , it will help you separate your feelings from food – making it easier to deliver something else that ’ s truly needed in the moment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out loud .
For example , when your child doesn ’ t get invited to a friend ’ s party , say , “ This feels sad .
My wish for you is knowing how much you are loved.
” That can help you remember to try something else besides food to console them .
4 .
Do something else There are plenty of ways to comfort your kid that don ’ t involve food .
You can hug them or give them a bubble bath , for example .
To celebrate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the time to say what makes you feel most proud of them .
If you ’ re trying to motivate or inspire your child , you can crank up their favorite song , then dance and sing along with the music .
When you want to compel or encourage kids to , say , do their homework , give praising their effort a try .
Tell them that you see them working hard and ask : “ How can I support you right now ?
” With small children , when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or get into a bath , try engaging them with a stuffed animal or squishy toy to fidget with .
Try to get your child to help choose some alternatives .
They might have good ideas that don ’ t occur to you .
Using food to reward or console kids is pervasive enough that the American Academy of Pediatrics and five other professional organizations recommend that parents not use food this way .
But no one , including doctors , is suggesting that you should never make a birthday cake or use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Food is an integral part of cultures everywhere and meant to be fully enjoyed .
Should you find that you regularly rely on food to express emotions with your kids , I believe you ought to try to switch gears .
It ’ s all about finding ways and words , instead of using food , to show your kids how much you love them .
[ Like what you ’ ve read ?
Want more ?
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s daily newsletter . ]
Stephanie Meyers does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-08--Surprise: Sanctuary Authorities Release Illegal Alien Charged With Child Sexual Assault, Now They Ca

Surprise: Sanctuary Authorities Release Illegal Alien Charged With Child Sexual Assault, Now They Can’t Find Him

The Daily Caller News Foundation has exclusively learned that a Boulder County , Colorado , man charged with child sexual assault and wanted by local law enforcement is living in the U.S. illegally .
The Lafayette Police Department and the Boulder County District Attorney ’ s office are asking the public for help in locating Francisco Barraza-Porras , a 47-year-old man who was released from custody , skipped his court date , and is at large .
ICE revealed to the DCNF that Barraza-Porras is an illegal alien , and Boulder County officials confirmed that they do not honor ICE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences when sanctuary jurisdictions fail to transfer custody of an illegal alien over to federal immigration authorities .
Barraza-Porras , who was last known to be living in Lafayette , Colorado , was arrested on January 2 and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault on a child .
Instead of keeping him in custody or handing him over to ICE , local law enforcement released him back into the public with an order to appear to appear before court on March 2 .
However , Barraza-Porras never showed up to his court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know where he is .
The Colorado state legislature and the governor ’ s office , which are under complete control of the Democratic Party , has dramatically curtailed ICE ’ s ability to enforce immigration laws in recent years .
Law enforcement in the state are prohibited from arresting or detaining a suspected illegal alien solely on the basis of an ICE request .
A law signed by Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis last year also bars officers from providing a suspected illegal immigrant ’ s personal information to ICE , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aliens their Miranda rights when coordinating an ICE interview .
Boulder County is no exception to this statewide sanctuary platform .
“ Per state law , we only accept detaining someone if there is a warrant signed by a judge .
So we don ’ t accept just general ICE detainers , ” an administrative official with the Boulder County government told the DCNF .
This policy is typical among sanctuary jurisdictions in regard to immigration detainer requests .
If an illegal alien is arrested by local law enforcement for an unrelated crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with that agency , asking that they hold onto that individual for no longer than 48 hours in order for an ICE agent to arrive and assume custody .
Sanctuary states and jurisdictions claim that detainer requests are worthless unless signed by a judge .
However , federal immigration authorities vehemently push back against this claim , arguing that Congress has given explicit authority to ICE to issue administrative arrest warrants .
The Immigration and Nationality Act , in particular , gives federal immigration authorities the ability to lodge detainer requests .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that certain judges have the authority to sign a warrant for civil immigration violations — but no such judicial authority exists , ” ICE spokeswoman Justine Whelan told the DCNF in August .
“ This idea is a myth created by those who either oppose immigration enforcement efforts , are misinformed , or who do not understand how the immigration system work.
” ICE spokeswoman Alethea Smock confirmed that Boulder County does not cooperate with the agency , and that ICE is conducting an active investigation into Barraza-Porras .
Lafayette Police told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still at large .
The Boulder County District Attorney ’ s office , and the Lafayette Police Department , according to local reports , are urging the public to help them locate him , and have encouraged them to contact an investigator if they have any information about his whereabouts .


freedomdaily--2020-03-08--CBP Rochester Uncovers a Royal Hoax

CBP Rochester Uncovers a Royal Hoax

– U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) discovered mislabeled products that contained anomalies within the description and a Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) public health notification .
On February 28 , a shipment was seized that had arrived at the DHL Express Facility in Rochester that was manifested as Sample Royal Jelly .
CBP officers who were working commercial inspections then discovered 240 boxes that contained 2,880 sachets of Royal Honey Vitomax-VIP .
Unsure of the specific ingredients within the product , a sample was sent to a CBP lab for analysis .
A return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained Tadalafil , a prescription drug that is used to treat erectile dysfunction .
The FDA was then contacted in order to complete a further inspection of the products and a determination was made that the product violated the Federal Food , Drug , and Cosmetic Act for being adulterated or misbranded .
Seized product banned by the Food and Drug Administration .
“ We continue to work hard to protect the economy and American public from products that misrepresent or otherwise could harm consumers , ” stated Port Director , Rochester Ronald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause serious health problems to consumers who are treated for diabetes , high blood pressure , or heart disease.
” CBP determined that domestic value of the items were valued at approximately $ 7,200 .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-09--Trump Campaign Says Nearly 40% Of Audience At A South Carolina Rally Were Dems, Independents

President Donald Trump ’ s re-election campaign suggested Monday that more than 15,000 people who attended the president ’ s rallies this year were Democrats and independents .
Roughly 16 % of attendees at a North Charleston , South Carolina rally were black people , 28 % of the audience didn ’ t vote in 2016 , and nearly 40 % of them were either Democrats or Independents , the Washington Examiner reported , citing campaign sources .
“ We know from data gathered from rallies that a significant percentage of rally registrants and attendees have voted infrequently in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out to see President Trump , ” campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told the Examiner .
“ We also know that the president ’ s record of accomplishment on behalf of all Americans appeals to a wide swath of voters , including men and women , in all demographics , in all regions .
He also speaks to the ‘ forgotten Americans ’ who politicians have left behind for decades , ” he added .
Murtaugh has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for data breaking down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vs. those who identified as Independents .
Data also show that 18,500 of the 67,000 people who attended Trump rallies over the last two months were Democrats and independents .
“ It is definitely a big deal , ” Trump campaign pollster John McLaughlin told the Examiner .
Campaign manager Brad Parscale explained in a 60 Minutes interview in October how the president manages to collect identifying information on voters .
Most of the campaign ’ s success was in matching individual preferences with ad content or microtargeting his constituents .
The campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , changing things because certain people like a green button better than a blue button , ” Parscale told CBS ’ s Lesley Stahl , adding that the campaign tested who would like what type of ad .
Monday ’ s Washington Examiner report comes after former Vice President Joe Biden won 10 Super Tuesday races in February .
South Carolina was effectively Biden ’ s Maginot line , or the blue wall upon which he staked his much of his 2020 presidential campaign .
Biden outpaced Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take control of at least 20 of South Carolina ’ s 54 pledged delegates .
South Carolina was the first time in the former Delaware senator ’ s three presidential runs that he won a state primary or caucus .


freedomdaily--2020-03-09--DC Priest With Coronavirus Gave Communion To More Than 500

A priest in Washington , D.C. has been diagnosed with the coronavirus after reportedly giving communion to more than 500 worshipers .
Rev .
Timothy Cole attended three different services at Christ Church Georgetown in Washington , D.C. between Feb. 24 and March 3. , according to the CBS affiliate WUSA .
Services at the church were cancelled this past Sunday , CBS News ’ Nancy Chen reports , and the church is attended by “ many government officials and prominent Washingtonians.
” D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser announced Monday that those who attended these services should self-quarantine as they may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Visitors to Christ Church , Georgetown Episcopal on Feb 24th , and between Feb 28th and Mar 3rd could ’ ve been exposed to COVID-19 , and DC Health recommends that anyone who visited on those dates isolate themselves at home for 14 days from the last time they visited the church , ” Bowser announced in a Monday morning tweet .
The mayor ’ s office also emphasized in a statement that DC Health recommends anyone who visited the church should self isolate , not go to work or school , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend any large or public gatherings .
Rev .
Cole said in a March 8 statement posted on the church ’ s website that the church had “ suspended all services and meetings at Christ Church.
” “ As we said before , we did not make the decision to close our doors lightly , but out of an abundance of caution for the most vulnerable among us , ” Cole added .
“ There is no need to panic .
Following sensible precautions provided by the CDC will go a long way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community.
” Cole also confirmed that he was the first patient in D.C. to be diagnosed with the coronavirus .
“ I can now confirm that I am the individual who tested positive for the Coronavirus , ” he said , emphasizing that he will “ be okay ” is “ receiving excellent care , ” and “ am in good spirits under the circumstances.
” “ I will remain quarantined for the next 14 days as will the rest of my family , ” the priest added .
The Clergy and Wardens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement the previous day in which they let worshipers know that all services would be cancelled on Sunday and urged parishioners to alert one another .
“ God is with us .
And , God ’ s message is clear : ‘ Do not fear , ’ ” the statement said .
“ Fear can be a right and natural response , one that can lead us to take appropriate actions to the benefit of those most vulnerable .
And , it is a response that may be difficult to control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelm us or consume us .
Not one of us is alone while we have each other .
Not one of us is alone because God walks with us .
Christ Church , Georgetown did not yet respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .


freedomdaily--2020-03-09--How technology can combat the rising tide of fake science

Science gets a lot of respect these days .
Unfortunately , it ’ s also getting a lot of competition from misinformation .
Seven in 10 Americans think the benefits from science outweigh the harms , and nine in 10 think science and technology will create more opportunities for future generations .
Scientists have made dramatic progress in understanding the universe and the mechanisms of biology , and advances in computation benefit all fields of science .
On the other hand , Americans are surrounded by a rising tide of misinformation and fake science .
Take climate change .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the primary cause of global warming .
Yet polls show that a third of the public disagrees with this conclusion .
In my 30 years of studying and promoting scientific literacy , I ’ ve found that college educated adults have large holes in their basic science knowledge and they ’ re disconcertingly susceptible to superstition and beliefs that aren ’ t based on any evidence .
One way to counter this is to make it easier for people to detect pseudoscience online .
To this end , my lab at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence-based pseudoscience detector that we plan to freely release as a web browser extension and smart phone app .
Americans are prone to superstition and paranormal beliefs .
An annual survey done by sociologists at Chapman University finds that more than half believe in spirits and the existence of ancient civilizations like Atlantis , and more than a third think that aliens have visited the Earth in the past or are visiting now .
Over 75 % hold multiple paranormal beliefs .
The survey shows that these numbers have increased in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pet peeve of my colleagues in astronomy .
It ’ s long had a foothold in the popular culture through horoscopes in newspapers and magazines but currently it ’ s booming .
Belief is strong even among the most educated .
My surveys of college undergraduates show that three-quarters of them think that astrology is very or “ sort of ” scientific and only half of science majors recognize it as not at all scientific .
Allan Mazur , a sociologist at Syracuse University , has delved into the nature of irrational belief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their political impact .
Conspiracy theories are , by definition , resistant to evidence or data that might prove them false .
Some are at least amusing .
Adherents of the flat Earth theory turn back the clock on two millennia of scientific progress .
Interest in this bizarre idea has surged in the past five years , spurred by social media influencers and the echo chamber nature of web sites like Reddit .
As with climate change denial , many come to this belief through YouTube videos .
However , the consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In matters of health and climate change , misinformation can be a matter of life and death .
Over a 90-day period spanning December , January and February , people liked , shared and commented on posts from sites containing false or misleading information about COVID-19 142 times more than they did information from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization .
Combating fake science is an urgent priority .
In a world that ’ s increasingly dependent on science and technology , civic society can only function when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must roll up their sleeves and do a better job of teaching critical thinking to young people .
However , the problem goes beyond the classroom .
The internet is the first source of science information for 80 % of people ages 18 to 24 .
One study found that a majority of a random sample of 200 YouTube videos on climate change denied that humans were responsible or claimed that it was a conspiracy .
The videos peddling conspiracy theories got the most views .
Another study found that a quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bots and they preferentially amplified messages from climate change deniers .
The recent success of machine learning and AI in detecting fake news points the way to detecting fake science online .
The key is neural net technology .
Neural nets are loosely modeled on the human brain .
They consist of many interconnected computer processors that identify meaningful patterns in data like words and images .
Neural nets already permeate everyday life , particularly in natural language processing systems like Amazon ’ s Alexa and Google ’ s language translation capability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have trained neural nets on handpicked popular articles about climate change and biological evolution , and the neural nets are 90 % successful in distinguishing wheat from chaff .
With a quick scan of a site , our neural net can tell if its content is scientifically sound or climate-denial junk .
After more refinement and testing we hope to have neural nets that can work across all domains of science .
The goal is a web browser extension that would detect when the user is looking at science content and deduce whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake .
If it ’ s misinformation , the tool will suggest a reliable web site on that topic .
My colleagues and I also plan to gamify the interface with a smart phone app that will let people compete with their friends and relatives to detect fake science .
Data from the best of these participants will be used to help train the neural net .
Sniffing out fake science should be easier than sniffing out fake news in general , because subjective opinion plays a minimal role in legitimate science , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and verification .
Experts can readily distinguish legitimate science from conspiracy theories and arguments motivated by ideology , which means machine learning systems can be trained to , as well .
“ Everyone is entitled to his own opinion , but not his own facts.
” These words of Daniel Patrick Moynihan , advisor to four presidents , could be the mantra for those trying to keep science from being drowned by misinformation .
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Chris Impey does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-09--What’s the difference between pandemic, epidemic and outbreak?

The coronavirus is on everyone ’ s minds .
As an epidemiologist , I find it interesting to hear people using technical terms – like quarantine or super spreader or reproductive number – that my colleagues and I use in our work every day .
But I ’ m also hearing newscasters and neighbors alike mixing up three important words : outbreak , epidemic and pandemic .
Simply put , the difference between these three scenarios of disease spread is a matter of scale .
By tracking diseases over time and geography , epidemiologists learn to predict how many cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a defined period of time , place and population .
An outbreak is a noticeable , often small , increase over the expected number of cases .
Imagine an unusual spike in the number of children with diarrhea at a daycare .
One or two sick kids might be normal in a typical week , but if 15 children in a daycare come down with diarrhea all at once , that is an outbreak .
When a new disease emerges , outbreaks are more noticeable since the anticipated number of illnesses caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the cluster of pneumonia cases that sprung up unexpectedly among market-goers in Wuhan , China .
Public health officials now know the spike in pneumonia cases there constituted an outbreak of a new type of coronavirus , now named SARS-CoV-2 .
As soon as local health authorities detect an outbreak , they start an investigation to determine exactly who is affected and how many have the disease .
They use that information to figure out how best to contain the outbreak and prevent additional illness .
An epidemic is an outbreak over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places outside of Wuhan began testing positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 ( which causes the disease known as COVID-19 ) , epidemiologists knew the outbreak was spreading , a likely sign that containment efforts were insufficient or came too late .
This was not unexpected , given that no treatment or vaccine is yet available .
But widespread cases of COVID-19 across China meant that the Wuhan outbreak had grown to an epidemic .
International and out of control .
In the most classical sense , once an epidemic spreads to multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is considered a pandemic .
However , some epidemiologists classify a situation as a pandemic only once the disease is sustained in some of the newly affected regions through local transmission .
To illustrate , a sick traveler with COVID-19 who returns to the U.S. from China doesn ’ t make a pandemic , but once they infect a few family members or friends , there ’ s some debate .
If new local outbreaks ensue , epidemiologists will agree that efforts to control global spread have failed and refer to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are political , not just medical Epidemiologists are principally concerned with preventing disease , which may be fundamentally different than the broader concerns of governments or international health organizations .
As of this writing , the World Health Organization classifies the risk of global COVID-19 spread as “ very high , ” the highest level in their risk classification scheme and one step below an official pandemic declaration .
This means that the WHO remains hopeful that , by taking aggressive steps now , containment of localized outbreaks may still be possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials are already calling this a pandemic .
The official numbers count an excess of 100,000 cases in almost 100 countries , and community spread has been documented in the U.S. and elsewhere .
By the classical definition , it ’ s a pandemic .
A formal declaration of COVID-19 or any other infectious disease as pandemic tells governments , agencies and aid organizations worldwide to shift efforts from containment to mitigation .
It has economic , political and societal impacts on a global scale .
Formal declaration needn ’ t incite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
It doesn ’ t mean the virus has become more infectious or more deadly , nor that your personal risk of getting the disease is greater .
But it will be a historical event .
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Rebecca SB Fischer is a recipient of a research grant from the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center .


freedomdaily--2020-03-09--How big will the coronavirus epidemic be? An epidemiologist updates his concerns

The Harvard historian Jill Lepore recounted recently in The New Yorker magazine that when democracies sink into crisis , the question “ where are we going ?
” leaps to everyone ’ s mind , as if we were waiting for a weather forecast to tell us how healthy our democracy was going to be tomorrow .
Quoting Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce , Lepore writes that “ political problems are not external forces beyond our control ; they are forces within our control .
We need solely to make up our own minds and to act.
” And so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big will this epidemic be ?
How many people will it infect ?
How many Americans will die ?
The answers to these questions are not written in stone .
They are partially within our control , assuming we are willing to take the responsibility to act with commitment , urgency and solidarity .
I am an epidemiologist with eight years of field experience , including time on the front lines of the isolation and quarantine efforts during the 2009 swine flu pandemic .
One month ago , I was under the impression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulation in China were giving us an unfair picture of its mortality rate .
I wrote a piece saying that the death rate of an emerging disease always looks bad in the early stages of an outbreak , but is likely to drop once better data become available .
After waiting for eight weeks , I am now worried that these new data – data indicating that the virus has a low fatality rate – may not arrive .
By Jan. 31 2020 , China had reported a total of 11,821 cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s about a 2 % case fatality rate .
Two weeks later , the tally had risen to more than 50,000 cases and 1,524 deaths , corresponding to about 3 % case fatality ( the rise in the case fatality is expected as deaths always get counted later than cases ) .
For an easily transmissible disease , a 2 % or 3 % fatality rate is extremely dangerous .
However , case fatality rates are computed using the officially reported numbers of 11,821 cases or 50,000 cases , which only include individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( b ) decide that their symptoms are bad enough to merit a hospital visit ; and ( c ) choose a hospital or clinic that is able to test and report cases of coronavirus .
Surely , there must have been hundreds of thousands cases , maybe a million cases , that had simply gone uncounted .
First , some definitions from Steven Riley at Imperial College .
The infection fatality rate ( IFR ) gives the probability of dying for an infected person .
The case fatality rate ( CFR ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected person who is sick enough to report to a hospital or clinic .
CFR is larger than IFR , because individuals who report to hospitals are typically more severely ill .
If China ’ s mid-February statistic of 1,524 deaths had occurred from 1 million infections of COVID-19 ( counting all symptomatic and asymptomatic infections ) , this would mean that the virus had an infection fatality rate of 0.15 % , about three times higher than seasonal influenza virus ; this is a concern but not a crisis .
The IFR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CFR .
The reason is that it is hard to count people who are mildly ill or who show no symptoms at all .
If you are able to count and test everybody – for example , on a cruise ship , or in a small community – then you may be able to paint a picture of what fraction of infections are asymptomatic , mild , symptomatic and severe .
Scientists working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Imperial College London and the Institute for Disease Modeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection fatality rate .
Currently , these estimates range from 0.5 % to 0.94 % indicating that COVID-19 is about 10 to 20 times as deadly as seasonal influenza .
Evidence coming in from genomics and large-scale testing of fevers is consistent with these conclusions .
The only potentially good news is that the epidemic in Korea may ultimately show a lower CFR than the epidemic in China .
Impact of the epidemic in the US Now that new COVID-19 cases are being detected in the U.S. every day , it is too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
The epidemic is likely to spread across the U.S .
The virus appears to be about as contagious as influenza .
But this comparison is difficult to make since we have no immunity to the new coronavirus .
On balance , it is reasonable to guess that COVID-19 will infect as many Americans over the next year as influenza does in a typical winter – somewhere between 25 million and 115 million .
Maybe a bit more if the virus turns out to be more contagious than we thought .
Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place that minimize our travel and our social and professional contacts .
The bad news is , of course , that these infection numbers translate to 350,000 to 660,000 people dying in the U.S. , with an uncertainty range that goes from 50,000 deaths to 5 million deaths .
The good news is that this is not a weather forecast .
The size of the epidemic , i.e.
, the total number of infections , is something we can reduce if we decrease our contact patterns and improve our hygiene .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total number of deaths will also decrease .
What science can not tell us right now is exactly which measures will be most effective at slowing down the epidemic and reducing its impact .
If I stop shaking hands , will that cut my probability of infection by a half ?
A third ?
Nobody knows .
If I work from home two days a week , will this reduce my probability of infection by 40 % ?
Maybe .
But we don ’ t even know the answer to that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reducing our exposures – i.e.
, our chances of coming into contact with infected people or infected surfaces – any way that we can .
For some people this will mean staying home more .
For others it will mean adopting more stringent hygiene practices .
An extreme version of this exposure reduction – including mandatory quarantine , rapid diagnosis and isolation , and closing of workplaces and schools – seems to have worked in Hubei province in China , where the epidemic spread appears to have slowed down .
For now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next 12 months are going to look very different .
Vacations may have to be canceled .
Social interactions will look different .
And risk management is something we ’ re going to have to think about every morning when we wake up .
The coronavirus epidemic is not going to extinguish itself .
It is not in another country .
It is not just the cold and flu .
And it is not going away .
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Maciej Boni receives funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , the National Institutes of Health , and Pennsylvania State University .
In the past , Maciej Boni has received funding from the Wellcome Trust .


freedomdaily--2020-03-10--Bernie Sanders Stokes Coronavirus Fear as Fundraising Tool

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is using public fears about the coronavirus as a fundraising tool for his 2020 presidential campaign .
Sanders sent out a campaign email to supporters Monday asking them to sign a petition demanding the government guarantee that a potential coronavirus vaccine will be free of charge .
The petition asks supporters for “ contributions to fight back against drug companies who want to profit off of health care.
” “ I am not very confident in the president ’ s ability to manage this crisis , ” he wrote in the email .
“ Health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely get worse before it gets better , ” Sanders added .
“ Donald Trump must stop spreading lies and fear , and leave the science to scientists and health professionals , not politicians.
” The petition linked in the email includes three questions , counting the donation pitch .
The other two questions ask respondents if they “ believe that vaccines , tests , treatment , and quarantines related to the coronavirus should be FREE ?
” and if they “ know that drug companies are spending BIG money in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ campaign didn ’ t immediately return a request for comment on the email .
Sanders is trailing frontrunner former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary .
Data analytics site FiveThirtyEight currently gives Biden a 95 % chance of securing a majority of delegates before the Democratic National Convention in July .
Sanders is given less than a one percent chance to do the same .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-10--Hunter Biden Says Coronavirus Is Keeping Him From Attending Child Support Deposition

Hunter Biden ’ s lawyers told an Arkansas judge on Tuesday that he is unable to attend a child support deposition scheduled for this week due to coronavirus and his pregnant wife ’ s imminent due date .
“ It is unsafe for the Defendant to travel , as travel restrictions have been implemented both domestically and internationally , particularly on airlines , due to the Coronavirus , ” Hunter Biden ’ s lawyer wrote in a court filing .
“ Setting aside personal endangerment , Defendant reasonably believes that such travel unnecessarily exposes his wife and unborn child to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , Melissa Cohen Biden , is due to deliver his unborn child in two and a half weeks or less , according to the court filing .
The couple is currently renting a $ 3.9 million home in Los Angeles at $ 12,000 per month .
Hunter Biden , the son of former Vice President Joe Biden , is being sued in Arkansas for child support by former stripper Lunden Alexis Roberts .
A DNA test in November confirmed that Hunter Biden was the father of Roberts ’ s child .
Arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be physically present in Arkansas for the March 11 deposition was “ unduly burdensome and oppressive , ” his lawyers also cited the “ intense media scrutiny ” surrounding the child support case due to his father ’ s status as the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary .
“ The tremendously elevated media scrutiny creates some physical risks and logistics difficult with travel to Arkansas , ” the filing states .
Lawyers for Roberts have filed multiple motions in court asking for Hunter Biden to be held in contempt for failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a motion in February seeking to delay his child support deposition , but the request was shot down by Circuit Judge Holly Meyer .
“ He needs to make himself available and unless his hair is on fire , he needs to be in Arkansas and he needs to be in a deposition , ” Meyer told Hunter Biden ’ s lawyer in reaction to the request , the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-10--House Can Access Mueller Grand Jury Info, Appeals Court Rules

Topics in this post : The Mueller Report The House of Representatives can review secret grand-jury information cited and redacted from former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s report into Russian election interference in 2016 , a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday .
In a 2-1 ruling , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a previous ruling by a D.C. District Court judge who sided with the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee ’ s request to review redacted materials from the Mueller report , The Wall Street Journal reported .
In her majority opinion , Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an established need to evaluate the redacted materials because Mueller didn ’ t issue a definitive conclusion about whether President Donald Trump committed an impeachable offense during his investigation .
“ The committee has established that it can not fairly and diligently make a final determination about the conduct described in both volumes of the Mueller Report without the grand jury material referenced therein , ” Rogers wrote .
The lone dissenting judge , Neomi Rao , argued that the Judiciary Committee doesn ’ t have standing to obtain a court order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already been impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate .
If the ruling stands , members of the House would have access to a fully unredacted version of the Mueller report , as well as underlying interviews and memos cited in the report , Politico reported .
It ’ s unclear if the Justice Department will ask the appeals court to reevaluate its ruling or if it will appeal to the Supreme Court .
The Justice Department did not immediately return a request for comment .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-10--How a tech-based program on health brought African American kids and parents together

The mere act of growing up brings special challenges to young African Americans , particularly those living in rural areas .
Resources there are often limited , compared to what ’ s offered in the city .
There ’ s more chronic poverty and economic stress , and less of almost everything else : employment opportunities , public transportation , recreational facilities , families with discretionary income , and health care , both physical and mental .
There are bright spots , however , as I ’ ve learned from over 20 years of research .
One was the caregiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That nurturing has helped their children avoid major problems , including behaviors that place them at risk for HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancies .
With that in mind , I developed the Strong African American Families Program ( SAAF ) in 2000 .
Its purpose was to bolster positive parenting and promote competence and good decision-making among youth .
Most of all , we wanted the program to dissuade young people from early sexual engagement , drug use and drinking .
We tested its effectiveness with 677 families recruited from nine counties in rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least one thing in common : each had an 11-year-old child .
I can report that SAAF effectively steered those young people from risky behaviors from middle childhood through young adulthood .
And the primary reason for the positive outcomes was our support of those very strengths already present in those African American communities .
The program fostered “ involved-vigilant parenting practices.
” Sessions brought families together to discuss norms and values , while developing solutions regarding behavior and risk .
Children need to think about the consequences of their behavior ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s whereabouts and friends , and the places in the community to avoid .
Mutual problem-solving and increased monitoring was emphasized , and young people were encouraged to honor their racial heritage and embrace optimism .
The success of SAAF led me to consider ways to increase accessibility of the program .
Sometimes , there are logistical issues , such as transportation and work conflicts , when delivering programs that take families from home into a community setting .
Using technology , we thought , might be one possible solution ; it offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access the program information at their convenience .
So I developed another program – Pathways for African American Success ( PAAS ) – to test what was best : Should youth and their caregivers receive the information through technology that was self-directed , without human interaction to guide them through the program ?
Through print materials ( booklets , brochures and informational sheets ) mailed to them ?
Or as part of a small group led by facilitators ?
More than 400 African American families participated .
Less drinking , drug use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAAS program through small group settings and technology reported positive changes .
Youth who used PAAS through technology alone were more likely to delay sexual onset , and avoid friends who were drinking or sexually active .
Indeed , risk-avoidant behaviors lasted longest for those receiving PAAS through the tech-based platform .
Discussions about puberty , peer pressure , bullying and racial slurs were easier to talk about , for both young people and their parents or caregivers .
Notably , those positive changes did not occur for those who received materials mailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , the data showed the SAAF and PAAS programs produced changes beyond slowing or stopping alcohol , drug and sexual activity among youth .
Among the spillover effects : increased skills in child rearing among caregivers and reduced symptoms of depression .
Which makes sense – witnessing positive changes in your child creates good feelings that improve mental health .
PAAS and SAAF also prevented young people from disruptive and delinquent behaviors , increased academic aspiration , encouraged friendships with academically oriented peers , and improved school bonding .
Collectively , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children would graduate high school .
These are only the first steps .
Other intervention programs , also drawing on the strengths of African American families , hold great promise for creating change .
There is enormous potential to address the disparities disproportionately impacting African Americans : HIV/AIDS , teen pregnancy , mental health , juvenile justice and the widening academic gap .
With these two studies , I ’ m hopeful that technology is one answer to providing effective , evidence-based prevention programs to American citizens who need it the most .
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Velma McBride Murry receives funding from National Institute of Mental Health ; National Institute of Drug Abuse


freedomdaily--2020-03-10--A geriatrician offers 4 tips for seniors to stay connected during coronavirus outbreak

As the numbers climb for those infected with the novel coronavirus , the dangers rise for vulnerable populations .
People who are older or with underlying medical conditions risk the severest consequences , including organ failure and death .
The latest data from China indicates the great majority of reported cases were in older people ; elders also had the highest risk of respiratory illness and death .
Should the spread of COVID-19 continue – and every indication suggests it will – people must make sure they are protected .
I am a geriatrician and an associate professor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far , the disease is not present at my hospital or clinic .
But our staff is already making preparations to minimize COVID-19 ’ s impact , particularly on the people imperiled the most .
Along with other hospitals across the country , we stay informed on local and national recommendations for screening , testing and protective equipment .
We make sure staff and patients know about proper hand hygiene .
We take extra steps to keep the facility clean , like removing magazines from the waiting rooms and implementing a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And we encourage all of our patients to call a doctor if they develop a fever or new respiratory symptoms .
Most of all , we are doing our best to get the right information out to the community , particularly the elderly .
For those most at risk for severe infection : do everything you can to reduce exposure to the virus .
Keep space between you and anyone who is sick .
Avoid crowds .
Limit your time in public by consolidating trips to get supplies .
When out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wash your hands often .
And if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community , stay home as much as possible .
“ Social distancing ” is the new phrase that describes most of this , and it goes against what we typically advocate for our older patients .
As geriatricians , we promote the benefits of social engagement to our patients ; we remind them of the poor health outcomes associated with social isolation .
Now , with COVID-19 , the times have changed .
But along with the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation .
How should older people balance these competing recommendations ?
During a time of social distancing , here are four ways for elders to stay socially connected .
FaceTime , Zoom , Skype , Facebook , Twitter , Snapchat and lots more .
All sorts of online options exist to talk with family and friends .
And you don ’ t have to be tech-savvy .
Doing the basics is easy , and for most people , fun .
If setting up an account is daunting , ask a neighbor , niece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tutorial .
2 .
Stay active in the community from home It may sound counterintuitive .
How can you remain a part of the community if the goal is to separate from the community ?
But maybe there ’ s a remote option .
Many organizations — political parties , faith-based groups , nonprofits — rely on volunteers to make phone calls .
You can do that clearly community-based activity right at home .
Stay informed , know what ’ s going on but don ’ t get locked into endlessly watching “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channels .
Typically , not much changes hour to hour .
But enduring the repetitious pummeling from TV all day long can bring needless anxiety .
My patients have found the following advice helpful : Watch a news update in the morning , then check in again at night .
Don ’ t stay with it all evening — 30 minutes or an hour is plenty .
4 .
Reach out to family and friends Stay in touch with the people close to you , especially those who are social distancing too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is recommending that communities create “ buddy systems ” to make sure vulnerable and hard-to-reach people stay connected , particularly to news about COVID-19 .
This can be done through your church , social group or daily neighborhood email blasts .
And for those of you who are not elderly – why not make it a point to check in on your older friends and relatives ?
Such thoughtfulness is always greatly appreciated .
Social distancing does not mean social isolation , and even a potentially deadly virus should not force us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever , people need to find smart ways to stay connected .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-10--Does screening travelers for disease and infection really work?

Following the emergence of a new coronavirus late last year , China closed its borders to prevent the disease from traveling .
Yet many people had already left Wuhan , which allowed the virus to move with people as they traveled around the world .
As a result , by Jan. 23 , cases had emerged in Thailand , Japan and the U.S. , with France , Australia , South Korea , Vietnam and Taiwan isolating cases soon after .
Subsequently , the U.S. government issued a “ Do Not Travel ” alert , Level 4 , advising citizens not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing epidemic .
By mid-January , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conjunction with state and local public health authorities established screening protocols at three U.S. airports for passengers arriving from China .
These entry points were expanded to 20 airports .
As of March 6 , the United States reported 129 confirmed cases and nine deaths linked to the virus , unrelated to recent travel outside of the U.S. Can restricting the flow of people across national borders stop a new pathogen from causing a pandemic in a world of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe in 24 hours ?
I am an epidemiologist , and my research focuses primarily on infectious disease and how our culture and history is shaped by disease transmission in populations .
My recent research provides some insight into how well screening efforts work .
Many countries are screening passengers at airports with limited success .
Despite improved technology in the past decade , passengers who are incubating a disease and have no clinical signs or symptoms may pass through the checkpoints undetected .
Passengers who fly to the U.S. from China arrive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screened at these entry points .
They complete a short questionnaire about their travel , symptoms and contact information .
CDC employees will take the temperature of the passengers using a hand-held scanner that doesn ’ t touch the skin and assess travelers for any signs of coughing or breathing difficulties .
There are many studies that have taken a retrospective look at the success of using entry/exit screenings .
One of the most recent points-of-entry screenings was used in an attempt to slow the spread of Ebola from western Africa in 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300,000 passengers were screened in the three countries where the epidemic emerged .
No cases were detected , yet four cases actually were exported .
Those individuals had no symptoms at the time of screening .
The emergence of another coronavirus in 2003 also tested the effectiveness of screening people ’ s arrival into a country in an effort to stop the spread of an infectious agent .
During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic , officials used thermal scanners and the public health concepts of isolation and quarantine .
A follow-up study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , systems can be influenced by human activity , such as skin temperature versus body core temperature .
In addition , environmental and other equipment variables prevented accurate readings .
The public health response to the current pandemic is much improved compared to the SARS pandemic in 2003 .
Communication with China is moving more quickly , allowing the public health infrastructure in different countries to respond using case identification , isolation and quarantine efforts .
This was evident in the relatively low number of person-to-person infections and transmitted cases in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ containing disease Screening to control infectious diseases isn ’ t a new idea .
It has been around for more than 500 years .
In an attempt to control the Black Death , or plague , during the 14th century , government officials created a sanitary cordon , or barrier , in Venice to limit the movement of people and goods into and out of the city in an effort to stop the deadly disease .
In this instance , the strategy wasn ’ t successful because no one understood , yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the disease transmission cycle .
At the beginning of the 20th century , during an outbreak of plague in San Francisco , California , the government attempted to implement a barrier around Chinatown in an effort to stop plague from leaving the neighborhood , again unsuccessfully .
This led to fear and a lack of trust of the government and medical community as well as racism and xenophobia .
Border screening for SARS and the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic were equally unsuccessful due to the inability of the testing methodologies to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained personnel to screen people and the challenge of how to identify passengers who may be incubating a disease but don ’ t exhibit symptoms .
While screening doesn ’ t stop the spread of disease , this is one step that can be taken to slow its spread and provide valuable time to put in place other measures , such as distributing test kits .
Screening travelers has proved beneficial in other ways .
It can help discourage ill travelers from traveling .
In addition , screenings have raised awareness and education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that travelers can protect themselves .
Passengers who don ’ t have any symptoms may be given cards at points of entry with instructions by health officials on what to do if a problem develops .
The importance of public health is also a noteworthy finding from these studies .
Are there services that need to be wrapped around these screening efforts if a case were to be detected , such as transportation , isolation , quarantine , contact tracing and outbreak management ?
Having strategies like these in place prior to screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficient .
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Tom Duszynski does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-12--Senate To Remain In Session To Fight Coronavirus

Topics in this post : coronavirus The U.S. Senate The U.S. Senate will remain in session next week to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday afternoon that the Senate will cancel the scheduled recess and remain in session to focus on combating coronavirus .
The announcement came as Congress attempts to pass legislation mitigating the outbreak of the disease .
“ Notwithstanding the scheduled state work period , the Senate will be in session next week , ” McConnell tweeted Thursday .
“ I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong.
” The announcement came after Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse called Thursday morning on the Senate to cancel its upcoming recess in light of coronavirus , issuing a statement in which he warned that the Senate has work to do .
“ Nursing home operators in Nebraska are telling me they ’ re worried because they have patients who might have coronavirus , but they don ’ t have enough testing kits to find out , ” Sasse said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Senate ought to keep working on the people ’ s business — both addressing the obvious deficiencies in our diagnostic testing pipeline , and debating the President ’ s call last night for economic legislation .
” He added : “ The Senate has work to do .
Let ’ s get to it.
” Sasse ’ s statement came less than a day after President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office and announced a near-total ban on travel from Europe to the United States .
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