freedomdaily--2020-05-04--ICE Detainees Refuse Coronavirus Tests, Rush Officers And Trash Detention Center Instead

When asked to be tested for coronavirus , Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) detainees in Massachusetts rushed officers , barricaded themselves inside the facility , and caused more than $ 25,000 worth of damage .
Roughly 10 inmates at an immigration detention center in Dartmouth , Massachusetts reported symptoms of COVID-19 to medical personnel , according to a press release from the Bristol County Sheriff ’ s Office .
However , when the detainees were asked to be tested on Friday , they “ rushed violently ” at Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson and other officers , barricaded themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the sheriff said .
Those inmates proceeded to rip pipes and washing machines off the walls , destroyed windows , and “ trashed the entire unit , ” according to the sheriff ’ s office .
When corrections officers , special response team members , and the K9 unit entered in order to control the situation , they were attacked by the detainees , the release stated .
The Bristol County security team was ultimately able to subdue the violent detainees .
The Sheriff ’ s Office said more than $ 25,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayhem .
It appears the inmates grew violent because they did not want to be transferred to the medical unit of the facility .
“ This all started because a group of 10 detainees each reported having at least two symptoms of COVID-19 , ” said Sheriff Hodgson .
“ The health care professionals told them they had to be tested in the medical unit because of the reported symptoms.
” “ The detainees refused to go to the medical unit for testing .
Our medical team alerted me , and I advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health of fellow detainees and our staff , they needed to be tested at the medical unit , ” Hodgson went on .
“ The detainees refused to comply , became combatant and ultimately put the lives of themselves and many Bristol County officers at risk with their reckless actions , ” he said .
The incident took place at the C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Detention Center , which houses inmates who are under federal immigration custody .
No staff members reported any injuries from the altercation .
Three inmates were hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic attack , ” another for a pre-existing condition and the third for a “ medical incident after being removed from the ICE wing.
” All three are anticipated to be “ fine , ” the sheriff ’ s office said .
The detainees involved in the incident have since been moved to single cells pending disciplinary action , criminal charges , and coronavirus testing .
Todd Lyons , the acting field office director of ICE ’ s Enforcement and Removal Operations ( ERO ) division , applauded the law enforcement officials “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a volatile situation , limiting injuries and further damage to the facility and restoring order , ” according to the Associated Press .
However , not everyone believes the detainees were at fault .
Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal — the executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston , a progressive group that has repeatedly sued ICE — suggested the officers were putting the inmates in a dangerous situation by transferring them to the medical wing of the facility .
“ These individuals were justifiably concerned that doing so would dangerously expose them to risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different individuals from all over the facility who come and go from the medical unit and with many shared surfaces , ” Espinoza-Madrigal said in a statement .


freedomdaily--2020-05-03--Border Patrol Agents Seize 56 Pounds of Meth

— Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 8 checkpoint arrested a man and his adult daughter with more than 56 pounds of methamphetamine inside their car on Friday .
On May 1 , at approximately 1:25 a.m. , a silver 2001 Infiniti QX4 approached the I-8 checkpoint .
While agents questioned the driver , a K9 detection team preformed a sniff of the vehicle .
The driver was referred to secondary inspection after the K9 alerted to the vehicle .
With a further search , agents discovered 39 plastic-wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed inside three duffel bags on the backseat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56.88 pounds and have an estimated street value of $ 62,568 .
The man , a 42-year-old United States citizen and his 18-year-old daughter , were placed under arrest .
The narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol .
San Diego Sector has seized approximately 2,065 pounds of methamphetamine since October 1 , 2019 .
To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans , drugs , and other contraband , the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s borders .
To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol , contact San Diego Sector at ( 619 ) 498-9900 .
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freedomdaily--2020-05-04--DHS Report Says China Lied About Extent Of Pandemic In Order To Hoard Medical Supplies

A report from the Department of Homeland Security says the Chinese government lied to world health agencies about the spread of coronavirus in order to buy time to stock up on medical supplies to deal with the pandemic .
The Homeland Security report assessed that Chinese leaders “ intentionally concealed the severity ” of the novel coronavirus outbreak , which originated in Wuhan in November 2019 , according to the Associated Press , which obtained the report .
Chinese leaders told the World Health Organization as recently as Jan. 14 that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a false sense that the virus would not transmit easily , and that it could be easily contained .
While withholding information about the transmissibility of the virus , the Chinese government was busy ordering medical supplies from abroad , including face masks , gloves and surgical gowns , says the May 1 DHS report obtained by the AP .
The report says that officials determined with a 95 % degree of probability that China ’ s trade activity was not within the normal range , according to the AP .
Chinese officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on exports , while “ obfuscating and delaying ” the release of its trade data .
The Chinese government has come under intense scrutiny for its response to the coronavirus through December and January .
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , has said that Beijing withheld accurate information about human-to-human transmission , and also refused to provide world health officials with live strains of coronavirus , delaying the development of diagnostic tests .
“ China was not truthful with the world at the outset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an April 12 interview on “ Face the Nation.
” “ Had they been more truthful with the world , which would have enabled them to be more truthful with themselves , they might have actually been able to contain this entirely.
” The Chinese government has also been accused of lying about the number of positive coronavirus cases and deaths in the country .
A majority of the 17 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community also believe the coronavirus outbreak originated from an accidental leak from a biological lab in @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-05-04--Mike Pompeo Says There’s ‘Enormous Evidence’ That Coronavirus Came From Wuhan Lab

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there ’ s “ enormous evidence ” backing the theory that the novel coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
“ There ’ s enormous evidence that that ’ s where this began , ” Pompeo said on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ We have said from the beginning , this virus originated in Wuhan , China .
We took a lot of grief for that from the outset .
But I think the whole world can see now.
” “ Remember , China has a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a history of running sub-standard laboratories , ” Pompeo added .
These aren ’ t the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.
” Pompeo was likely referring to the fact that SARS leaked at least twice from the Beijing Institute of Virology in 2004 .
The secretary of state added that China “ did all that it could to make sure the world didn ’ t learn in a timely fashion ” about the coronavirus outbreak at its onset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that they kicked journalists out , we saw the fact that those who were trying to report on this — medical professionals — inside of China were silenced , ” Pompeo said .
“ All the kind of things that authoritarian regimes do.
” “ It ’ s the way communist parties operate , ” he added .
“ This is classic communist disinformation effort.
” Pompeo ’ s comments come after President Donald Trump said Friday he ’ s seen evidence that strongly suggests coronavirus came from a Wuhan lab .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ community agencies believe coronavirus accidentally leaked out of a laboratory in Wuhan , a senior intelligence official told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Saturday .
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a statement Thursday confirming it is “ rigorously examining emerging information and intelligence ” to determine whether the coronavirus outbreak originated through natural human contact with infected animals or through a laboratory accident in Wuhan .
The ODNI made clear in its statement that it agrees with the widespread scientific consensus that the coronavirus “ was not manmade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the conspiracy theory that the virus could be a Chinese-manufactured bioweapon .


freedomdaily--2020-05-04--A majority of vaccine skeptics plan to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, a study suggests, and that could b

A majority of vaccine skeptics plan to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, a study suggests, and that could be a big problem

The availability of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus will likely play a key role in determining when Americans can return to life as usual .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , on April 30 announced that a vaccine could even be available by January 2021 .
Whether a vaccine can end this pandemic successfully , however , depends on more than its effectiveness at providing immunity against the virus , or how quickly it can be produced in mass quantities .
Americans also must choose to receive the vaccine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 70 % of Americans would need to develop immunity to COVID-19 – either naturally , or via a vaccine – in order to thwart the spread of the virus .
If these estimates are correct , that could mean that nearly twice as many Americans would need to elect to receive a COVID-19 vaccine than those who currently opt to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza .
Just 37 % of American adults did so in 2017-2018 , even in the midst of a historically severe flu season .
Making matters more complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skeptical views about vaccine safety – sometimes referred to as “ anti-vaxxers ” – will not opt to receive the coronavirus vaccine .
According to some estimates , about one fifth to two fifths of Americans express reservations about vaccine safety .
If most of these individuals forego receiving a COVID-19 vaccine , they could potentially jeopardize the recovery process .
One of us is a doctoral candidate , and the other is a professor , who both study vaccine resistance .
We conducted a study , which is currently undergoing peer review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans who report being willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine , once it becomes available .
We also investigate the reasons some Americans might refuse the vaccine .
We found that about one fifth of Americans , and more than half of people who hold skeptical views toward vaccine safety , may be unwilling to pursue vaccination .
Although most Americans do plan to get vaccinated , non-compliance rates may be high enough to pose a threat to collective immunity .
On the one hand , a pandemic may be encouraging anti-vaxxers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Americans doubt vaccine safety is due to complacency – the idea that , because high rates of vaccine compliance have kept us safe from diseases that once reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. , segments of the population can hold anti-vaccine views without endangering public health .
Consistent with this view , research finds that when people are concerned that once nearly eradicated diseases might re-emerge to reach epidemic levels , people are more likely to trust recommendations from public health experts .
Additionally , cross-national survey research suggests that people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of epidemics are more likely tend to hold more positive views toward vaccines than the rest of the world .
Studies based on in-depth interviews with parents further suggest that parents who chose not to vaccinate their children are often willing to accept treatments for children with life-threatening illnesses .
On the other hand , however , it could be the case that anti-vaxxers remain suspicious of a COVID-19 vaccine , when it becomes available .
Prominent anti-vaccine websites have already begun circulating misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine – such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years and has been kept from public consumption .
Additionally , recent research suggests that anti-vaccine views are tied to deeply held psychological and moral aversions to inoculation , implying that attitudes may be difficult to change .
What do anti-vaxxers say now ?
We set out to investigate this important question .
In a demographically representative survey of 493 U.S. adults conducted on April 15 , 2020 , we investigated whether people who hold skeptical views toward vaccine safety plan to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 .
Specifically , we asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get vaccinated against COVID-19 once a vaccine becomes available .
Nearly a quarter ( 23 % ) of respondents said that they would not .
Additionally , and consistent with the view that even a global pandemic may not persuade anti-vaxxers to get vaccinated , we find that 62 % of people who are skeptical of vaccines said that they will forego COVID-19 vaccination .
To assess this , we measured vaccine skepticism by asking respondents three questions about whether they find vaccines to be safe , effective , and/or important – which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Respondents indicated whether they thought each characteristic described vaccines “ quite a bit , ” “ a moderate amount , ” “ a little bit , ” or “ not at all.
” We then averaged the score across the three to create a scale of vaccine skepticism .
Nearly one-fifth ( 19 % ) of respondents were more vaccine skeptical than not .
Among vaccine skeptics , 62 % stated that they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19 .
By contrast , just 15 % of those more supportive of vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the COVID-19 vaccine .
We also asked respondents if they self-identified as anti-vaxxers , and nearly 16 % said they did .
For those that identified as anti-vaxxers , 44 % said they would not vaccinate against COVID-19 , compared to 19 % of people who did not identify as anti-vaxxers .
We believe that these findings , although preliminary , suggest that many people who hold anti-vaccine beliefs may jeopardize the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine once it ’ s available , due to issues of non-compliance .
Furthermore , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as widespread as it was before the pandemic began .
We caution that a drawback of this study is that it doesn ’ t directly measure changes in vaccine sentiment over time .
However , the levels of anti-vaccine sentiment found in this data are comparable to similar levels of anti-vaccine sentiment in the American public before the pandemic , according to previousstudies .
Tracking public attitudes toward a COVID-19 vaccine can help public health agencies better understand who plans to receive the vaccine , and why some people might choose to refuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Conversation , every weekend .
Sign up for our weekly newsletter . ]
The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-05-04--Coronavirus medical costs could soar into hundreds of billions as more Americans become infected

As states push to reopen businesses , arguing their economies are losing too much money under current coronavirus precautions , they can ’ t ignore the other side of the economic equation – the one involving human lives and potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in medical costs .
More than 20,000 new COVID-19 cases are still being reported in the U.S. every day , and the coronavirus that causes it is still spreading .
If the U.S. reopens its economy prematurely and COVID-19 cases surge again , medical expenses will surge , too .
Someone has to pay those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pay for health insurance or pay taxes , that someone is you .
To get a better sense of what the nation ’ s COVID-19-related health care costs could be as more and more of the population is infected , our Public Health Informatics , Computational , and Operations Research team at the City University of New York ( CUNY ) Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy developed a computer simulation of the entire United States .
It allows us to quantify what could happen depending on how the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and health care resource needs .
The results were published in the journal Health Affairs .
Our team develops computer simulation models to help decision-makers better understand and address different infectious diseases , including MRSA , the flu , Zika and Ebola .
During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic , the team was embedded in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help with the national response .
These models try to recreate all of the people , processes , resources and systems involved in a given health or public issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as virtual worlds to test different possible scenarios , policies and interventions and calculate the expected costs .
For this latest coronavirus model , we created virtual representations of the entire U.S. population .
Each virtual person had probabilities of becoming infected with the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 .
Like a real person , the virtual person had chances of developing mild or severe symptoms , or having no symptoms at all during the course of the infection .
No symptoms naturally meant no health costs .
If the person developed symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe the symptoms became and what the person ended up doing .
For example , treating a child with only a mild illness requiring no more than a telephone call to a doctor would typically cost around US $ 32 ( in most cases ranging from $ 19 to $ 56 ) .
The cost for an adult in the same situation would be about $ 17 ( in most cases ranging from $ 16 to $ 67 ) .
Our model incorporated the variations in costs that occur , so that two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yet still have different costs .
Not surprisingly , costs increased substantially if the person had more severe symptoms that required hospitalization .
The costs of a hospital bed , health care personnel , medications and potentially the use of medical equipment such as ventilators quickly add up , pushing up the median cost for a person hospitalized to $ 14,366 .
Most COVID-19 patients don ’ t require hospitalization , so the median cost for any person with symptoms turned out to be $ 3,045 during the course of the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still over four times the typical cost of a symptomatic influenza case and around 5.5 times that of a symptomatic pertussis case .
Consider this further evidence that COVID-19 is definitely not “ just like the flu.
” Health care costs for the coronavirus don ’ t end when the patient leaves the hospital .
Patients with severe illness may require follow-up visits to the doctor , imaging such as X-rays and CT scans , lab tests , medications or even additional hospitalizations .
Those with significant lung damage , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The resulting health care costs over the year after the initial infection raise this median cost per patient by 30 % to $ 3,994 .
This shows that you can ’ t ignore what happens after the initial infection .
That would be like walking out of a three-hour movie after just the second hour .
For some patients , the suffering and medical costs don ’ t end once the virus is no longer present .
For example , those who experience lung damage may continue to have breathing problems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ organ failure can have a variety of persistent symptoms .
Given these persistent problems , for some , COVID-19 may become more like a chronic condition .
Herd immunity and the high cost of viral spread Our findings also shed light on what can happen when more and more of the population becomes infected .
We found that if 20 % of the U.S. population gets COVID-19 , it would mean about 11.2 million people would be hospitalized , and the sickest among them would spend a combined 13 million days on ventilators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in direct medical expenses , and that ’ s before accounting for the costs incurred after the infection is over .
It also does not include many other health-related costs , such as physician fees that can vary from doctor to doctor , the costs of public health measures such as widespread testing and the costs of protecting health care workers and other patients .
If half the population becomes infected before a vaccine is ready , the numbers jump to 27.9 million hospitalizations and 32.6 million ventilator days .
The median @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 536.7 billion with a year of follow-up medical costs taken into account .
That ’ s getting close to what ’ s known as herd immunity , the point where enough people are immune that the disease no longer finds hosts to spread it .
With the coronavirus , herd immunity is believed to be reach when at least 60 % of the population has either been infected naturally or vaccinated .
If 80 % of the population gets infected , the numbers rise to 44.6 million hospitalizations , 52.2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct medical expenses .
With a year of follow-up medical expenses included , that median cost rises to $ 1.25 trillion .
All of this shows what could happen if the country allows more people to become infected by prematurely relaxing social distancing or trying “ herd immunity strategies ” that just allow people to get infected .
The costs also go well beyond health care expenses when lives are at stake .
Good decision-making during this pandemic requires good science and data .
Ultimately , not considering the potential associated medical costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the field in a football game .
And that could be a losing proposition .
Bruce Y. Lee received funding for the described work from the City University of New York ( CUNY ) School of Public Health , the Agency for Health care Research and Quality ( AHRQ ) , the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) , the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development ( NICHD ) , and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences ( NIGMS ) .


freedomdaily--2020-05-04--How people react to the threat of disease could mean COVID-19 is reshaping personalities

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic will be “ imprinted on the personality of our nation for a very long time , ” predicted Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
No doubt in the future people will mourn those who ’ ve died and remember the challenges of this period .
But how would COVID-19 shape people ’ s personalities – and into what ?
I am a psychology researcher interested in how people ’ s minds shape , and are shaped by , their life circumstances .
Human beings are born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic problems – forming close relationships , maintaining status in groups , finding mates and avoiding disease .
People are adaptable , though , and react to the circumstances they find themselves in .
Psychological research suggests that concerns about COVID-19 and social distancing are likely to affect how much people want to socialize with others , what they desire in partners and relationships , and their preferences for more conventional thinking over openness to new experiences .
Psychological traits to keep you safe As a result , human beings have evolved a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend against pathogens .
This is the realm of antibodies , white blood cells and fevers .
But combating disease requires a lot of physiological effort .
This can be a costly trade-off for a body , leaving fewer resources for other life demands , including growth and reproduction .
These physiological defenses are also a reactive strategy with risks .
At worst , the immune system can fail , leading to disability or even death .
But it can also weaken and become ineffective or even paradoxically work against you , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogen threats in a proactive and less costly way , human beings also have evolved psychological mechanisms to detect and defend against the threat of infectious disease prior to infection .
This system is vigilant to cues that signal the possibility of infection .
When activated , it triggers strong cognitive , emotional and behavioral reactions to help you avoid pathogens – and the people and situations that may harbor them .
Reactions such as the disgust you ’ d feel upon the sight of a decaying carcass , for example , reflect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steer clear of germs .
Although spending time with others is generally beneficial to mental and physical health , when there ’ s a risk of infectious disease , it might have a downside .
Interacting with others increases exposure to deadly pathogens and could decrease survival .
This , after all , is the impetus for social distancing practices .
Like the physiological immune system , the psychological behavioral immune system is flexible – when you perceive some infection risk , it triggers responses to minimize the danger .
One such response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less social .
An outbreak also affects how people date and mate .
Of all social activities , sexual acts are obviously the most physically intimate , making one most vulnerable to exposure to transmitted diseases ( nonsexual as well as sexual ) .
An outbreak also signals a world that is dangerous and more uncertain , potentially coloring your views of suitable partners .
Psychological studies have found that people who perceive themselves as vulnerable to infection are more likely to report being less extroverted , less open to new experiences and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also more likely to have fewer partners , reflecting a preference for long-term relationships over casual hookups .
But even momentary exposure to information about infectious disease can shape personality , preferences and behavior .
In experiments , psychologists randomly assigned participants to view a slide show featuring information about germs and transmission of contagious disease or , as an innocuous comparison , a presentation about architecture .
Then , ostensibly as part of another , unrelated study , participants completed a personality test .
Those who had been exposed to information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People who perceived themselves as vulnerable to the disease also became less open to experiences and less agreeable after viewing the pathogen information .
In another study , participants who viewed pathogen information , especially those who perceived themselves as vulnerable , showed evidence of automatically avoiding unknown others .
When assessing their reflexive , unconscious responses , the researchers found that heightened concerns about pathogens led participants to evaluate strangers more negatively and have heightened tendencies to avoid them .
Other research has shown that exposure to pathogen information shapes preferences for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed greater attraction to pictures of people with facial symmetry – a cue of good health and a strong immune system .
Psychologists have linked concerns about pathogen infection with a preference for long-term committed relationships over casual flings – an inclination that becomes more pronounced after viewing pathogen information .
These findings are not limited to experimental settings .
Scientists have collected some evidence that these in-the-moment responses seem to settle into longer-lasting personality traits .
For example , psychology researchers have investigated the relationship between regions with many endemic infectious diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a region with a historically high prevalence of infectious disease showed lower levels of extroversion and were less open to new experiences .
In these areas , people also were more restricted in their sociosexual style ; they preferred fewer partners and fewer sexual encounters and generally reported being more cautious and inhibited in their sexual interactions .
Other research also converges on how basic preferences about suitable partners reflect changes in the prevalence of infectious disease .
Psychologists found that across 29 cultures , parasite prevalence predicted the degree to which individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an observable cue signaling that potential partners are pathogen-free and have strong immune systems that can be passed down to offspring .
Findings like these support the idea that personality – the ways in which you interact with others and the world – is shaped by how your behavioral immune system manages the risk of infectious diseases .
Cultural norms and practices provide guidelines for how to behave to prevent the spread of disease .
Whereas prior to COVID-19 a person sneezing in public might receive a polite “ gesundheit , ” now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six feet ” rule and you risk an angry exchange , or worse .
The risk of coronavirus is highlighting people ’ s ability and willingness to follow guidelines for the sake of the community , promoting individuals ’ collectivistic side .
At the same time , the trade-off is less curiosity , experimentation and willingness to deviate from the status quo – all behaviors that in the face of COVID-19 can increase exposure to pathogens and decrease survival .
The U.S. is only a couple months into social distancing .
But COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less social .
Dating patterns are disrupted .
Effects are emerging even in people ’ s closest , most established relationships .
Overall the psychological literature supports Fauci ’ s conclusion that COVID-19 will have enduring effects on the basic ways in which Americans interact with others and the world .
Living during a period with a high risk of infection is likely to shape how people view themselves in relation to their community , their feelings and behaviors about dating and sex , their preferences toward conventional thinking and behaviors and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus threat lingers , the more these changes may reflect not just changes in momentary behaviors , but changes to more enduring aspects of people ’ s personalities .
[ Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]


freedomdaily--2020-05-04--Will we ever be able to shrink and grow stuff?

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 .
Maybe you ’ ve seen “ Ant Man ” or “ Avengers : Endgame , ” where people can grow to the size of buildings or shrink down to the “ Quantum Realm ” and travel through time .
This sounds fun , but unfortunately it can ’ t happen in real life .
To see why , let ’ s look at how things are put together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universe is made of the same things : atoms .
They work similarly to Tinkertoys , where blocks are connected by rods to make things .
The simplest forms objects take are crystals .
You see crystals in your life all the time , from table salt to metals .
These crystals are bunches of atoms connected in repeating shapes , like cubes or hexagons .
If you wanted to grow or shrink something like a crystal , an ant or a person , you ’ d need to change the distance between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the distance must get smaller .
To grow something , the distance must get larger .
The problem is that the rods connecting the atoms really act like tiny springs : they don ’ t want to be pushed together , or pulled apart .
They want to stay at the same length .
This length is so tiny that you could fit a thousand of them inside the width of a single human hair .
How much these tiny springs resist pushing or pulling is determined by the electric force , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far as scientists know , the electric force has the same strength everywhere in the universe , for all time .
To grow or shrink something , we would have to change the strength of the electric force , which is not possible to the best of our knowledge .
There are a few things in the world that do shrink or grow , but the way they do so is not by shrinking or growing at the atomic level .
Usually it involves adding or removing water or something else .
Grapes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and sponges expand when they soak up water .
Many cultures throughout history have removed water from the bodies of people who have died , which is how mummies are made .
However , they don ’ t really shrink all that much .
There are also ways to grow or shrink microscopic things like nano-structures by pushing or pulling their atoms together a little bit , but we can ’ t do the same thing to people , or ants .
Sorry , “ Ant-thony.
” Hello , curious kids !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ d like an expert to answer ?
Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS @ 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 .


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--Internal Chinese Report Warns Beijing To Prepare For Armed Conflict With US Over COVID-19 Backlash,

Internal Chinese Report Warns Beijing To Prepare For Armed Conflict With US Over COVID-19 Backlash, Sources Say

An internal Chinese report warns Beijing officials that backlash from the coronavirus pandemic risks tilting China into a full bore armed conflict with the United States , Reuters reported Monday .
Anti-China sentiment hasn ’ t been this white-hot since the Tiananmen Square crackdown more than three decades ago , sources familiar with the paper told Reuters .
They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the report , which the sources say was presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials in April .
China must be prepared for a confrontation between the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Chinese think tank , the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations ( CICIR ) , which is affiliated with the communist country ’ s top intelligence body , drew up the report as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit the U.S. , where it has killed more than 67,000 people .
China had a responsibility to maintain transparency and warn the world about the virus “ since they were the first to learn of it , ” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told Reuters .
Ortagus , who did not directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added : “ Beijing ’ s efforts to silence scientists , journalists , and citizens and spread disinformation exacerbated the dangers of this health crisis.
” The National Security Council has not returned the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment about the nature of the report .
A Chinese foreign ministry representative did not offer Reuters confirmation about the report , and China ’ s Ministry of State Security could not be reached for comment as it has no contact details , according to Reuters .
The think tank that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reply to Reuter ’ s request for comment .
The Chinese intelligence community believes the report is similar to the “ Novikov Telegram , ” a dispatch the Soviet ambassador to Washington , D.C. sent in 1946 to stress the dangers of U.S. belligerents against the Soviet Union , an unnamed source with information about the report told Reuters .
The Novikov document helped set the stage for what would become the Cold War .
News of the internal report comes as President Donald Trump considers retaliatory measures against China over what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s decision to hold off on warning the world about the severity of the novel coronavirus , or COVID-19 , which originated in Wuhan , China , and has killed nearly 170,000 people worldwide .
“ Personally , I think they made a horrible mistake , and they didn ’ t want to admit it , ” Trump said during a Fox News town hall Sunday , referring to China ’ s handling of the virus .
“ We wanted to go in , but they didn ’ t want us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they tried to cover it , like a fire … They couldn ’ t put out the fire .
”


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--Trump’s Economic Adviser Won’t Rule Out Blocking Coronavirus Relief To Sanctuary Cities

Larry Kudlow , the director of the U.S. National Economic Council , won ’ t rule out the possibility of prohibiting bailout funds to states that have sanctuary cities .
Appearing Sunday on CNN ’ s State of the Union , Kudlow spoke about a possible “ Phase Four ” of a coronavirus stimulus bill to help Americans struggling economically from the COVID-19 pandemic .
The top White House economic adviser also was asked if a Phase Four would include funds for state and local governments .
“ There may be additional legislation , ” Kudlow began , noting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3 trillion in “ direct federal assistance ” for individuals and struggling businesses in the country .
“ We probably will have some ideas.
” Kudlow then pivoted to a possible bailout for state governments .
President Donald Trump had previously spoken about such a bailout , but said such funds could be contingent upon state governments cracking down on cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities .
The president ’ s economic adviser on Sunday acknowledged Trump ’ s previous comments on sanctuary cities and a possible bailout package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing is official .
“ Regarding the states , as you know , the president has from time to time spoken about linking that to sanctuary cities , ” Kudlow said .
“ I don ’ t think anything ’ s been decided yet.
” “ We have poured hundreds of billions into the states — perhaps there will be more of that , ” he continued .
“ Look , we know the economy is still in a terrible contractionary phase , tremendous hardships everywhere .
That ’ s why we put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and with bipartisan support of Congress.
” Since the dawn of his administration , Trump has made immigration enforcement a top priority .
A massive wall between the U.S. and Mexico , asylum agreements with Latin American countries to help stem the migration crisis , and a host of other immigration measures have all been spearheaded under the Trump administration .
In response , however , many progressive jurisdictions across the country have adopted “ sanctuary ” policies , making it harder for Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawfully in the U.S .
These jurisdictions , colloquially referred to as “ sanctuary cities , ” adopt a host of measures that make it more difficult for federal immigration agents to do their job , such as refusing to honor ICE detainer requests , forbidding local law enforcement from asking about an individual ’ s immigration status , and other similar policies .
Trump has long fought against sanctuary cities .
Most notably , his administration has tried withholding public safety grants from Chicago and other notorious sanctuary cities .
Since conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president suggested relations with federal immigration authorities would be a condition of such a package .
“ The problem with the states is we ’ re not looking to recover 25 years of bad management and give them the money they lost .
That ’ s unfair to other states , ” Trump said Tuesday .
“ If it is COVID-related , we can talk about it , but we want certain things also , including sanctuary city adjustments , ” he went on .
“ We have so many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even think they are popular even by radical left because people are being protected that shouldn ’ t be protected and a lot of bad things are happening with sanctuary cities .
”


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--Court Denies Trump’s Bid To Block Immigrants Who Can’t Afford Health Care

An appeals court has blocked the Trump administration ’ s request to allow for a ban on immigrants who don ’ t have health care or otherwise can not afford health care expenses .
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday rejected the White House ’ s motion for a stay pending appeal of a court order that prevents the administration from enforcing its proclamation on immigrants and health care .
The divided panel found that the administration does not have “ limitless power ” to deny immigrants based on their economic standing .
“ [ T ] he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the form of costs to healthcare providers and taxpayers by uninsured immigrants was not supported by the record , and the court was not required to accept the Proclamation ’ s conclusory findings as true , ” the 97-page ruling stated .
The panel went on to say that the administration failed to demonstrate irreparable harm absent a stay , and that harm is “ purely monetary.
” As for the order itself , the panel deemed that the plaintiffs would likely succeed in their claim that the order conflicts with the Violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Immigration and Nationality Act ( INA ) , Obamacare , and the “ public charge ” provision within the INA .
The Trump administration first introduced the directive — Presidential Proclamation No .
9945 , or the “ Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Will Financially Burden the United States Health Care System ” — in October 2019 .
The order would ’ ve essentially prohibited the entry of any immigrants applying for visas unless they prove they can obtain health insurance within 30 days of entering the U.S. or otherwise indicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the order was immediately challenged in the courtroom by opponents of the president ’ s immigration agenda .
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon in Oregon halted the executive order in November , and the administration has since tried to challenge the ruling .
However , the Ninth Circuit Court deemed today that the ruling would stay in place while the lawsuit plays out in court .
“ [ T ] he panel concluded that the public interest lies with maintaining the status quo while the appeal is pending , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable immigration system has provided for families to be united through a visa system that did not require purchase of selected insurance products , ” the decision on Monday read .
The panel was divided along ideological lines .
Chief Judge Sidney Thomas and Judge Marsha Berzon , both appointees of President Bill Clinton , wrote the majority opinion , and Judge Daniel Bress , a Trump appointee , wrote the dissent .


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--How does a baby ‘breathe’ while inside its mom?

“ Mothering ” is synonymous with “ nurturing , ” probably because moms start providing for their kids even before they ’ re born .
A fetus relies on its mother to provide all the essentials .
The placenta is key here ; this organ develops in the uterus and is like a gateway that lets mom pass baby everything it needs to support its development .
After the mother eats , her body breaks the food down into glucose , amino acids , fatty acids and cholesterol that travel through channels or transporters in the placenta to the fetus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building blocks that the growing fetus uses as it develops organs , tissues and bones .
Vital electrolytes like sodium , chloride , calcium and iron pass through their own specific channels in the placenta or just diffuse from the mother ’ s side to the fetus ’ s .
Fetuses require oxygen for growth , too .
Since their lungs are not exposed to air , they can ’ t breathe on their own .
Instead they rely on their mothers to provide the required oxygen through a remarkable biochemical process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s this process that made me fall in love with the discipline when I was a student .
It ’ s my favorite topic to present to my students today and helps explain why pregnant women can get so easily winded .
Some ingenious biochemistry is at the root of how oxygen travels throughout the human body .
A protein called hemoglobin is responsible for picking up oxygen in your lungs and carrying it via your bloodstream to all of your tissues .
Hemoglobin contains iron , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s made up of four subunits , two each of two different types .
Each subunit contains one iron atom bound to a special compound called a heme that can interact with one oxygen molecule .
It ’ s an all-or-nothing situation ; for hemoglobins in the same vicinity , they ’ re either all holding onto oxygen or have all released their oxygen .
It depends on the concentration of oxygen in the environment the hemoglobin finds itself in .
When you take a good breath , the concentration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hemoglobin in the area automatically picks up oxygen .
Then it travels via your blood to tissues with lower oxygen concentrations , where it gives up the oxygen .
A molecule called 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate , or BPG , facilitates oxygen ’ s release .
It binds to the center cavity between the four subunits of hemoglobin to help the oxygen molecules pop free .
Getting oxygen to the fetus Fetuses are not exposed to air , and their lungs don ’ t fully develop until after they ’ re born , so oxygen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things they must get through the placenta from their mothers .
Hemoglobin proteins are too big to cross the placenta .
The maternal hemoglobins must give up their oxygen molecules on their side so the oxygen can cross over and be picked up by the fetal hemoglobins on the other side .
The predicament is that since this is all happening in such close quarters , the hemoglobins should either all be holding on to oxygen or all be releasing it .
In order to circumvent this problem , fetal hemoglobin differs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few changes to the amino acids in its protein sequence , fetal hemoglobin does not bind well to BPG , the molecule that helps oxygen get loose from adult hemoglobin .
Fetal hemoglobin also has a stronger affinity for oxygen than the adult version does .
So at the placental interface , where there ’ s a lot of BPG , the maternal hemoglobin lets go of the oxygen and the fetal hemoglobin grabs ahold of it tightly .
This process allows for effective and efficient transfer of oxygen from the mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are born , they start making some adult hemoglobin so that when they are breathing on their own , they can perform appropriate oxygen transfer throughout their little bodies .
Usually by the time a baby reaches six months of age , the levels of fetal hemoglobin are very low , replaced almost completely by adult hemoglobin .
Academically , I knew about this remarkable biochemical process .
But it wasn ’ t until I was pregnant with my son that I really understood it .
My miles in spinning class decreased , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our daily walks , and I ran out of breath climbing the three flights of stairs to my office .
My son ’ s hemoglobin was stealing my oxygen , so I had to breathe in more to complete routine tasks .
Once my baby was on the outside , breathing on his own with his mature hemoglobin functioning appropriately , I was more amazed than ever at the perfection of the science .
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You can get it with The Conversation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received research funding from the Virginia Academy of Sciences and the Jeffress Memorial Trust .


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--The mysterious disappearance of the first SARS virus, and why we need a vaccine for the current one

The mysterious disappearance of the first SARS virus, and why we need a vaccine for the current one but didn’t for the other

Some people question why the current coronavirus has brought the world to standstill while a previous deadly coronavirus , SARS , did not .
Others have questioned why a vaccine is so urgently needed now to stop the spread of the current coronavirus when a vaccine was never developed for SARS .
I study viruses and am so fascinated by their complexity that I have written a book about them .
The tale of SARS and its new cousin that causes COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , shows just how unpredictable viruses can be , particularly when they jump from animals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be a priority .
SARS , which killed about one in 10 infected people , turned out to be highly lethal but ultimately , and somewhat mysteriously , disappeared .
SARS , or severe acute respiratory syndrome , was first noted in Guangdong province , China in November of 2002 , when doctors there saw an unusual pneumonia .
But the disease was not reported to the World Health Organization at that time .
In February of 2003 , another outbreak occurred in Hanoi , Vietnam , and a WHO officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient there and reported a large outbreak to the WHO main office on March 10 , 2003 .
Meanwhile , a doctor from Guangdong province traveled to Hong Kong and stayed at the Metropol Hotel , along with a number of other international travelers .
The doctor was infected with what we now know as SARS-CoV-1 .
The virus was transmitted to at least a dozen other hotel guests .
Two returned to Canada and took the virus there .
One returned to Ireland , one to the United States .
Three went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition , a few people were hospitalized in Hong Kong , leading to an outbreak in the hospital there .
From that point , SARS spread to much of the world , although most cases remained in Asia .
The virus was aggressive and lethal .
Patients typically showed symptoms within two to three days .
There were few reports of any infections without symptoms , as there are with COVID-19 .
The masks came out , temperature scanners were placed in all major public gathering places in China and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the virus infection peaked in late May of 2003 and then it disappeared .
The strict quarantine measures paid off , and by July 2003 , the WHO declared the threat over .
In all there were just over 8,000 cases of SARS-CoV-1 , and about 700 deaths .
In the U.S. there were a total of just 29 confirmed cases , and no deaths .
The Hong Kong economy , with a large tourism component , was severely impacted by SARS in 2003 , much as the U.S. tourism industry is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the economy due to SARS-CoV-2 .
SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 are closely related viruses .
Scientists believe that both viruses originated in bats .
The RNA genomes of the viruses are about 80 % identical .
What does that mean ?
Our own genomes are over 98 % identical to those of chimpanzees , so 80 % seems a lot less similar .
For a virus though , especially one with an RNA genome , this is actually very closely related .
That ’ s because viruses can mutate very rapidly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they copy their genomes , and they make thousands of copies in a few hours .
The two viruses have very similar proteins on their exterior and use the same proteins , or receptors , on our cell surfaces to enter the cell .
These receptors are found in a lot of different cell types .
Most studies of SARS-CoV-1 focused on the lungs , because that is where the most severe disease occurred , but both viruses can infect a lot of different organs .
We won ’ t know how often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is time to do proper autopsies and fully understand the way the virus causes disease .
How are they different , and how is that impacting the course of the pandemic ?
SARS-CoV-1 was more aggressive and lethal than SARS-CoV-2 .
However , SARS-CoV-2 spreads faster , sometimes with hidden symptoms , allowing each infected person to infect several others .
The current estimate is about three , but we scientists won ’ t know the real number until we can test a lot more people , and can understand the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important difference is that contact tracing – or finding out who was exposed to someone infected with the virus – was relatively easy : Everyone had severe symptoms in two to three days .
With SARS-CoV-2 , it takes about two weeks for symptoms to appear , and many people don ’ t have any symptoms at all .
Imagine asking someone whom they had contact with for the last two weeks !
You can accurately remember most people you had contact with for the past two days , but two weeks ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very challenging to implement .
This means that the only safe thing to do is to maintain quarantine of everyone until the pandemic is under control .
What about a SARS vaccine ?
Vaccine studies for SARS-CoV-1 were started and tested in animal models .
An inactivated whole virus was used in ferrets , nonhuman primates and mice .
All of the vaccines resulted in protective immunity , but there were complications ; the vaccines resulted in an immune disease in animals .
No human studies were done , nor were the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many factors were involved in the end of SARS-CoV-1 , perhaps including summer weather , and certainly strict quarantine of all those who had contact with infected individuals , but we don ’ t really know why the epidemic ended .
Viruses are like that , unpredictable !
Many of the vaccines being developed for SARS-CoV-2 are quite different , and many use only small portions of the virus , or the virus RNA .
This may circumvent the problems with SARS-CoV-1 vaccines that used more of the virus .
Vaccine development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just have to make educated guesses and try different things and see what works .
Hence , many different avenues for vaccines are being tested by different labs around the world .
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Marilyn J. Roossinck receives funding from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ; National Science Foundation ; US Department of Agriculture .


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--Your genes could determine whether the coronavirus puts you in the hospital – and we’re starting to

Your genes could determine whether the coronavirus puts you in the hospital – and we’re starting to unravel which ones matter

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work .
When some people become infected with the coronavirus , they only develop mild or undetectable cases of COVID-19 .
Others suffer severe symptoms , fighting to breathe on a ventilator for weeks , if they survive at all .
Despite a concerted global scientific effort , doctors still lack a clear picture of why this is .
Could genetic differences explain the differences we see in symptoms and severity of COVID-19 ?
To test this , we used computer models to analyze known genetic variation within the human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modeling suggest that there are in fact differences in people ’ s DNA that could influence their ability to respond to a SARS-CoV-2 infection .
What we did When a virus infects human cells , the body reacts by turning on what are essentially anti-virus alarm systems .
These alarms identify viral invaders and tell the immune system to send cytotoxic T cells – a type of white blood cell – to destroy the infected cells and hopefully slow the infection .
But not all alarm systems are created equal .
People have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called alleles – and some of these alleles are more sensitive to certain viruses or pathogens than others .
To test whether different alleles of this alarm system could explain some of the range in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 , we first retrieved a list of all the proteins that make up the coronavirus from an online database .
We then took that list and used existing computer algorithms to predict how well different versions of the anti-viral alarm system detected these coronavirus proteins .
The part of the alarm system that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , or HLA .
Each person has multiple alleles of the genes that make up their HLA type .
Each allele codes for a different HLA protein .
These proteins are the sensors of the alarm system and find intruders by binding to various peptides – chains of amino acids that make up parts of the coronavirus – that are foreign to the body .
Once an HLA protein binds to a virus or piece of a virus , it transports the intruder to the cell surface .
This “ marks ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immune system will kill the cell .
In general , the more peptides of a virus that a person ’ s HLAs can detect , the stronger the immune response .
Think of it like a more sensitive sensor of the alarm system .
The results of our modeling predict that some HLA types bind to a large number of the SARS-CoV-2 peptides while others bind to very few .
That is to say , some sensors may be better tailored to SARS-CoV-2 than others .
If true , the specific HLA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a factor in how effective their immune response is to COVID-19 .
Because our study only used a computer model to make these predictions , we decided to test the results using clinical information from the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak .
We found similarities in how effective alleles were at identifying SARS and SARS-CoV-2 .
If an HLA allele appeared to be bad at recognizing SARS-CoV-2 , it was also bad at recognizing SARS .
Our analysis predicted that one allele , called B46:01 , is particularly bad with regards to both SARS-CoV-2 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that people with this allele tended to have more severe SARS infections and higher viral loads than people with other versions of the HLA gene .
Based on our study , we think variation in HLA genes is part of the explanation for the huge differences in infection severity in many COVID-19 patients .
These differences in the HLA genes are probably not the only genetic factor that affects severity of COVID-19 , but they may be a significant piece of the puzzle .
It is important to further study how HLA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to test these predictions using real cases .
Understanding how variation in HLA types may affect the clinical course of COVID-19 could help identify individuals at higher risk from the disease .
To the best of our knowledge , this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between viral proteins across a wide range of HLA alleles .
Currently , we know very little about the relationship between many other viruses and HLA type .
In theory , we could repeat this analysis to better understand the genetic risks of many viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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Reid Thompson receives funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs , and the Sunlin and Priscilla Chou Foundation .
Abhinav Nellore and Austin Nguyen do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-05-05--Exercise may help reduce risk of deadly COVID-19 complication: ARDS

Scientists are constantly revealing newly discovered benefits of exercise .
In experiments over the past 10 years , my research has found that exercise can help with a respiratory problem known as ARDS .
ARDS is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs that prevents oxygen from reaching the organs .
It has been reported in many COVID-19 patients .
I am an exercise physiologist with training in medicine .
More than 30 years ago , I gave up my career in general surgery in China and came to the U.S. to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise physiology , as I was intrigued by the superb health benefits of regular exercise .
Most recently I ’ ve been thinking about the potential impact of regular exercise in preventing this deadly complication of COVID-19 .
I have not done any experiments specifically around COVID-19 , but my work with mice may inform other researchers exploring ways to protect people that suffer from ARDS .
A cause of death for 3 % -17 % of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is ARDS .
COVID-19 patients with this dismal clinical complication have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Specifically , ARDS can occur when viral infection of the cells in the lungs activates the immune system and attracts white blood cells to travel through the bloodstream to the lung tissue to fight off the viral infection .
However , when too many white blood cells appear in the lung tissue at once , it can cause lung tissue damage .
This is because they produce too much of damaging molecules called free radicals which break proteins , the cell membrane and DNA .
As a consequence , the blood vessels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accumulation of the fluid in the lung tissue , and the air sacs of the lung fill up with fluid .
This prevents those same air sacs , called alveoli , from filling with air , blocking oxygen in the air from getting into the blood .
Patients die of oxygen deprivation .
The cells that line our blood vessels are flat-shaped endothelial cells .
One early step in this complicated ARDS disease process is the lining of the blood vessel becomes sticky to white blood cells by making sticky proteins on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell activation .
This triggers a vicious cycle ; the greater endothelial cell activation , the more free radicals the white blood cells release .
This in turn destroys the endothelial cells , making the blood vessel leak more and damages lung tissue .
An exercise-induced antioxidant in our body More than 10 years ago , I started to study the protective role of exercise-induced antioxidant enzymes against loss of muscle size .
My research has shown that endurance exercise promotes production of an antioxidant called extracellular superoxide dismutase ( EcSOD ) that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cells .
EcSOD is the only antioxidant enzyme that is secreted into the blood that reaches other vital organs and binds to the endothelial cells and other cells through a unique binding structure of the enzyme .
This makes EcSOD unlike any supplemental antioxidant pill or food rich in antioxidants that we may consume .
An oral antioxidant , once absorbed into the blood , does not target a given organ to provide protection , while EcSOD sticks to specific organs .
When I first saw the evidence of increased EcSOD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was inspired to do an experiment in which I tested whether just increasing the amount of this enzyme through genetic engineering , instead of naturally through exercise , would provide protection from various diseases in which free radicals are known to play important roles , such as muscle atrophy and heart failure .
I engineered a mouse that produced more EcSOD in skeletal muscle than would the typical mouse to mimic the effects of aerobic exercise training .
We obtained clear evidence that these mice were protected from muscle atrophy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered ARDS in mice by injecting mice with a chemical produced by bacteria that are known to cause this condition .
To my pleasant surprise , genetically engineered mice with higher concentrations of EcSOD in their blood were far more likely to survive the severe ARDS and multiple organ failure compared with a dismal mortality in the typical mice .
This mimics the situation in intensive care where more than 80 % of the patients die when they suffer from the failure of multiple organs , including ARDS .
I then confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genetically engineered mice that provided the protection .
When I performed an experiment in which a genetically engineered mouse shared blood with a normal mouse following a surgical procedure called parabiosis , or I took blood from a mouse with high EcSOD and transfused it into a normal mouse suffering from ARDS , the normal mouse had reduced severity of ARDS and clinical blood markers of multiple organ failure .
Using various biochemical and imaging technologies , we saw the evidence of reduced endothelial cell activation and reduced protein , cell membrane and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lung tissue .
These studies have provided proof-of-principle evidence that delivery of the EcSOD gene or protein to elevate the amount of EcSOD in the blood and vital organs may be an effective intervention for protection of the lungs and other vital organs against damages caused by ARDS and multiple organ failure .
My findings in mice may inspire other researchers to come up with innovative ways to prevent and treat the deadly complication of COVID-19 .
For example , future studies may identify the exercise type , intensity and duration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other vital organs in humans to build up the defense against deadly complications of COVID-19 or other disease conditions .
Of course , the findings may inspire research to foster pharmacological , protein and or gene therapies to treat COVID-19 patients with ARDS .
The EcSOD antioxidant story is just one of many about the health benefits of exercise .
I believe we can learn from exercise to develop effective therapies to treat ARDS caused by COVID-19 and other disease conditions .
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freedomdaily--2020-05-05--Coronavirus is giving smokers incentive to quit, and social distancing could help them do it

The coronavirus pandemic is giving smokers more reasons to give up the habit , and it ’ s creating a unique window of opportunity to do so .
As a medical doctor working in addiction psychiatry , I work with a lot of patients who smoke or vape .
I ’ ve been hearing from many of them that the coronavirus pandemic is the extra motivation that they need to finally quit .
Some have told me they want to eliminate that trip to the corner store to buy cigarettes because they ’ re worried about catching or spreading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have fewer work hours now and need to eliminate the expense .
Many of them tell me that they want their lungs to be as healthy as possible in case they become infected with the coronavirus .
The medical research coming in about coronavirus and smoking backs up those fears .
A study in China looked at the differences between early COVID-19 patients who were smokers and nonsmokers and found a higher percentage of smokers had severe COVID-19 illnesses compared to non-severe symptoms .
It also found that of the people who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a higher percentage of smokers were in this group compared with the percentage of people who smoke in general .
There are many reasons why smoking or vaping nicotine or other products might make coronavirus illnesses worse .
( There are a lot of people who vape non-nicotine products , thinking it ’ s healthier .
It ’ s not . )
People who smoke are more likely to have heart disease and chronic lung conditions like COPD , and these conditions make the prognosis for the infection worse .
People with chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a type of inflammation caused by COVID-19 called a cytokine storm , which can damage blood vessels and lead to blood clots .
Simply the fact that smokers bring their hands to their faces , often touching or coming close to touching their face , can also increase the likelihood of infection .
European doctors who reviewed the data and research on connections between smoking and COVID-19 severity suggested that smoking may cause direct biochemical changes to the lung cells that can cause smokers to develop more severe illnesses from coronavirus infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people have tried to promote tobacco use in the context of COVID-19 .
One study at a hospital in France found that a smaller percentage of COVID-19 patients were smokers as compared with the country ’ s general population .
That drew attention , but the study , published without peer review , has several weaknesses , including a small sample size that excluded the sickest patients – those in ICU – and probably underestimated the number of smokers who were hospitalized .
Quitting is hard , even under normal circumstances .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a way they deal with stress , and these are stressful times .
On the other hand , smoking is often a social activity .
With offices and factories closed and people away from friends and colleagues , old social patterns of smoking with friends and in certain places at certain times of day are disrupted .
Social distancing can effectively take away the social aspect of smoking , particularly if no one else in the home smokes .
With less social pressure , smokers have a window of opportunity to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources to support people who are trying to quit smoking , and taking advantage of these can be an opportunity to connect socially and develop a new support system during these times .
Nicotine Anonymous offers telephone meetings for people trying to quit smoking that follow the 12-step format , similar to the one used by Alcoholics Anonymous .
Their website also has links to internet-based meetings and support lines .
There are also several apps for quitting smoking on the National Institutes of Heath website smokefree.gov that can be downloaded to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Massachusetts , can get smoking cessation support through text or live chat through the website MyLifeMyQuit.com .
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health operates the Quitworks program , which begins with either a phone call or an online referral and offers support .
Medications and telemedicine can help Doctors can also prescribe different types of medication to help people quit smoking .
Nicotine patches are just one form of medication that can help someone to quit smoking .
These patches are in the category of nicotine replacement therapy , which also includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement therapy helps to reduce cravings by providing nicotine through a safer route .
Other medications affect the areas of the brain that make nicotine rewarding , so smokers are left with just the unpleasant effects of tobacco .
These medications include varenicline , which binds to the nicotine receptor and activates it to reduce cravings .
Another is bupropion , which reduces cravings for nicotine and may also help prevent the minor weight gain some people experience when they quit smoking .
Many doctors have added telemedicine to their practices during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform to develop a smoking cessation strategy with your doctor without leaving your home .
Once smokers and their doctors have decided on a strategy , there are some basic things they can do to increase their likelihood of success in quitting smoking .
Start by getting rid of the things that might trigger the urge to smoke , like lighters or ashtrays .
Tell friends and family that you are quitting so they can hold you accountable .
Finally , remember that quitting smoking is one of the most important things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
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Amy Harrington 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--2020-05-06--EU Let China Censor Ambassador’s Op-Ed By Removing Reference To Coronavirus Originating In China

The European Union allowed the Chinese government to censor part of an op-ed by the EU ambassador to China published in a state newspaper China Daily .
China ’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) insisted on censoring an op-ed by the EU ambassador to China to remove a reference to the COVID-19 coronavirus originating in China , an EU spokesman said Wednesday , adding that the EU acquiesced to the censorship rather than withdrawing the op-ed .
The EU ’ s ambassador to China and the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states co-authored a China Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China .
The original version of the op-ed , which was published on the EU ’ s website , shows the offending passage noted “ the outbreak of the coronavirus in China , and its subsequent spread to the rest of the world , ” before it was removed .
“ The EU Delegation to China was informed that the publication could only take place with the agreement of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , ” an EU spokesman told BuzzFeed .
The EU delegation “ made known its concerns ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they “ considered it important to communicate very important messages on EU policy priorities , notably on climate change and sustainability , human rights , multilateralism and the global response to Coronavirus , ” the spokesman added .
The censorship of the China Daily op-ed isn ’ t the first time that the EU has apparently let China control the coronavirus narrative .
The EU reportedly watered down a report on coronavirus disinformation following pressure from China last month .
The EU reportedly nixed a reference to China ’ s “ global disinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure from Chinese authorities .
China has waged an aggressive propaganda campaign meant to absolve itself from blame for the coronavirus pandemic .
A majority of the 17 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community believe that the coronavirus accidentally leaked from laboratory in Wuhan , China , a senior intelligence official previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
China meanwhile has shut out other countries and the China-aligned World Health Organization from its investigation in the coronavirus ’ s origins .
China ’ s stonewalling on the investigation appears likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the United Nations said the communist nation won ’ t allow international experts to investigate the virus ’ s origins until after China has secured the “ final victory ” over COVID-19 , the South China Morning Post reported Wednesday .


freedomdaily--2020-05-06--A mysterious illness is striking children amid the coronavirus pandemic – but don’t be too quick to

A mysterious illness is striking children amid the coronavirus pandemic – but don’t be too quick to tie it to Kawasaki disease

Critically ill children have been ending up in intensive care units with shock-like symptoms in recent weeks , adding yet another mysterious layer to the coronavirus pandemic .
New York health officials issued an alert on May 4 , describing 15 of these cases in New York City .
The young patients , ages 2 to 15 , had inflammation in multiple organ systems and were described as having features of Kawasaki disease , a rare childhood illness of unclear origin .
A few days earlier , officials in the United Kingdom notified doctors of similar cases there , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome .
Several of the children had tested positive for COVID-19 .
Drawing connections to Kawasaki disease , however , may be premature .
Although there are some similarities between the illnesses , there are also many differences .
My clinical practice is as a pediatric infectious disease physician .
I also do biomedical research using the body ’ s immune responses , particularly the antibodies produced , to help find the cause of illness and to help design vaccines .
Our group has been collecting samples from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic , we responded to the call for researchers and began developing tests to assess the antibody response during COVID-19 .
When we started on this path , I did not think these interests would overlap so directly .
However , with recent reports of certain COVID-19 cases looking like Kawasaki disease , we are now running tests to see if there is a similar immune response between COVID-19 and Kawasaki disease cases .
Kawasaki disease is an inflammatory condition in children who develop a prolonged fever , inflammation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the hands and feet , inflamed eyes , and lymph node swelling that typically is only on one side of the neck .
There can also be incomplete cases that do not have all these symptoms .
Kawasaki disease can have serious consequences : Roughly one-quarter of children diagnosed with it will have inflammation in the vessels that feed the heart , and rarely children will present with heart attacks or shock and need prolonged intensive care .
Unfortunately , we don ’ t know what causes Kawasaki disease .
A litany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental factors have been proposed in the past , including other members of the coronavirus family .
Despite not knowing what causes Kawasaki disease , we have found that timely treatments with pooled human antibody preparations – intravenous immunoglobulin , or IVIG – can significantly reduce the heart vessel inflammation .
For the new COVID-19-associated cases showing a significant inflammatory response , many of the reports reflected in the media and public health announcements have not been published in medical journals .
Instead , details have been shared among the medical community in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings .
Only one case I know of describing Kawasaki disease associated with COVID-19 has been published .
This case , like many of the cases being discussed informally , had no cardiac vessel involvement and lacked a number of clinical symptoms of classic Kawasaki disease .
Some overlap , but different symptoms There are a number of reasons why the new COVID-19-associated inflammatory disorder and Kawasaki disease seem to be different entities .
Although there is some overlap , these COVID-19-associated cases have fairly different laboratory results .
There also tends to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vomiting in new cases than would be usual for Kawasaki disease .
The impact on the patient ’ s heart is focused more on the vessels in Kawasaki disease .
The COVID-19-associated cases , in comparison , are globally dysfunctional with only a few describing any vessel inflammation .
The ages and locations of the described new cases are also not typical for Kawasaki disease .
Many of the children with severe COVID-19-associated shock are outside the typical age range for Kawasaki disease , which primarily targets children under 7 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also much higher in Asian countries , particularly in Japan , where it is roughly 10 times the rate in North America .
I would have expected an association to be described during the first reports of the pandemic , but informal reports from Japan and China don ’ t appear to describe this severe inflammation in children .
That being said , some children with Kawasaki disease will test positive for the new coronavirus .
In North America , there are estimated to be 5,000-6,000 annual cases of Kawasaki disease .
Overlaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the United States , there will be some overlap .
What we still need to learn Reports about these new pediatric COVID-19-associated cases are very preliminary .
We will learn more as research and details about ongoing and future cases are compiled by the medical community and published for more complete review .
Perhaps studying these new cases will shed much needed light on the cause of Kawasaki disease , a disorder that has perplexed pediatricians for a half-century .
As both conditions appear to incite a large inflammatory response in certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide the “ how ” for the new COVID-19-associated cases and the “ what causes it ” for Kawasaki disease .
States such as New York are making the right move by formally gathering data on severely inflamed children during this pandemic , as proper treatments for these new COVID-19-associated cases need to be found .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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Mark Hicar does not work for , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-05-06--Grenell To Schiff: Release The Secret Russia Probe Transcripts Or I Will

Richard Grenell , the acting director of national intelligence , told Rep. Adam Schiff on Monday that 53 transcripts from the House Intelligence Committee ’ s investigation into possible Trump-Russia collusion are ready to be released to the public .
In the letter , Grenell urged Schiff to publish the documents , but said that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ( ODNI ) is prepared to release them if the California Democrat refuses to do so .
“ I urge you to honor your previous public statements , and your committee ’ s unanimous vote on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transcripts to Members of Congress and the American public as soon as possible , ” Grenell said in the letter , first reported by The Washington Examiner .
“ I am also willing to release the transcripts directly from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , as to ensure we comply with the unanimous and bipartisan vote to release the transcripts.
” Republicans have in recent weeks upped pressure on Schiff to release the transcripts .
The House Intelligence Committee voted in September 2018 to release the documents .
The panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 6,000 pages , to ODNI for a review of classified material .
ODNI completed a review of 43 of the transcripts in June 2019 , Grenell told Schiff , the chairman of the House Intelligence panel .
The other 10 were recently completed , the letter says .
On Tuesday , Republicans on the House Judiciary and House Oversight Committees sent a letter to Schiff asserting that he has been “ blocking ” the release of the transcripts .
It is unclear why Schiff has withheld the documents from public view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment on Tuesday .
“ All of the transcripts , with our required redactions , can be released to the public without any concerns of disclosing classified material , ” Grenell wrote to Schiff .
The Intelligence Committee conducted an investigation through April 2018 into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Republicans on the committee released a report on April 27 , 2018 that said there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia .
The special counsel ’ s office , which released a report on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same conclusion .
The transcripts are of interviews with several Obama administration officials , including Susan Rice , Ben Rhodes , and Samantha Power , former Trump White House officials , and several Trump associates .
The committee also interviewed the two lawyers at the firm Perkins Coie who financed the infamous Steele dossier .
Transcripts for the lawyers , Marc Elias and Michael Sussmann , are included in the yet-to-be-released tranche of documents .


freedomdaily--2020-05-06--Gov Gavin Newsom Sued Over $75 Million Stimulus For Illegal Aliens

A lawsuit seeks to stop Democratic California Gov .
Gavin Newsom from doling out roughly $ 75 million in taxpayer funds to foreign nationals living unlawfully in the country .
Judicial Watch , a conservative legal firm , filed a temporary restraining order against Newsom to keep him from spending about $ 75 million of state taxpayer funds on direct cash benefits to illegal aliens , the firm announced on Tuesday .
Judicial Watch is arguing that an emergency restraining order is necessary because Newsom ’ s administration will imminently begin distributing the cash benefits .
“ Judicial Watch ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restraining order because Governor Newsom plans to rush plainly illegal direct cash payments , using taxpayer dollars , to illegal aliens , ” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement .
He continued : “ The governor has no legal authority on his own to spend state taxpayer money for cash payments to illegal aliens , and coronavirus doesn ’ t give him or any other politician a pass to violate the law.
” Newsom in April announced that his administration would distribute $ 125 million in coronavirus-related assistance funds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program is a public-private partnership initiative , with California taxpayers ponying up $ 75 million and another $ 50 million covered by philanthropic donations .
The relief program is intended for illegal aliens living in the state who don ’ t qualify for the stimulus package Congress passed in March .
Recipients can receive a one-time cash benefit of up to $ 500 and households can receive up to $ 1,000 to deal with the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Newsom ’ s administration anticipates to dole out cash to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when announcing the program , said 10 % of California ’ s workforce is undocumented .
Judicial Watch on Tuesday argued that the governor is overstepping his authority in trying to give taxpayer funds to illegal aliens , and took particular umbrage with the fact that Newsom launched the program without input from California ’ s state legislature .
“ These benefits are not to be provided to U.S. citizens or legal aliens residing in the state , according to an April 17 fact sheet issued by the California Department of Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Immigrants Fact Sheet , ’ which reiterates that only unlawfully present aliens are eligible for direct assistance , ” the legal firm stated .
Federal immigration law generally forbids illegal aliens from being eligible for state or local public benefits .
Only through laws enacted by a state legislature can a state government provide such benefits to undocumented aliens — something Newsom did not do .


freedomdaily--2020-05-06--Border Agents Intercept Narcotics and Currency Totaling $1.1 Million

—U.S .
Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) , Office of Field Operations ( OFO ) officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge intercepted cocaine and currency totaling $ 1.1 million in value during two separate , unrelated incidents over the weekend .
“ CBP conducts enforcement operations to protect against the illegal importation of narcotics and unreported exportations of bulk currency , ” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez , Laredo Port of Entry .
“ These interceptions exemplify CBP ’ s commitment to stop the illegal importation and exportation of contraband.
” Packages containing nearly 141 pounds of cocaine seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Entry .
The first enforcement action occurred on Friday , May 1st , after CBP officers assigned to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge intercepted a commercial bus arriving from Mexico .
The 1994 Viaggio bus was referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection resulting in the discovery of 54 packages containing 140.92 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the conveyance .
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $ 1,086,640 .
On Sunday , May 3rd , officers conducting outbound operations stopped a 2007 Ford E35 van for inspection .
Upon physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 55,000 of undeclared currency were discovered .
The vehicle and currency were seized by CBP .
The seized narcotics and currency have an estimated combined value of $ 1,141,640 .
Both cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations ( ICE-HSI ) special agents for further investigation .
It is not a crime to carry more than $ 10,000 , but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $ 10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evade reporting requirements .
Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest .
An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers , but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate .
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freedomdaily--2020-05-06--Why do kids call their parents ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’?

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 .
Once , a long time ago , one of us , Bethany , fell behind at the grocery store and was trying to catch up .
She called out her mom ’ s name , “ Mom !
, ” and to her frustration , half the women there turned around and the other half ignored Bethany , assuming it was someone else ’ s child .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attention ?
She knew a secret trick that would work for sure : Her mom had another name .
She called “ Denise !
” and magically , just her mom ( the other one of us ) turned around .
But why do almost all kids use the same name for their parents ?
This is the kind of question we enjoy investigating as scientists who study families and human development .
All around the world , the words for “ mom , ” “ dad , ” “ grandma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same .
Other words aren ’ t nearly as similar .
Take “ dog , ” for example .
In French , “ dog ” is “ chien ” ; in Dutch , it is “ hond ” ; and in Hungarian , it is “ kutya.
” But if you needed to get your mother ’ s attention in France , the Netherlands or Hungary , you ’ d call “ Maman , ” “ Mama ” or “ Mamma.
” You can say “ Mom ” in any country in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know who you meant .
And did you notice that “ Dad ” is also similar across languages – “ Papa , ” “ Baba , ” “ Tad ” and “ Dad ” ?
Scientists have noticed the same thing .
George Peter Murdock was an anthropologist , which is a scientist who studies people and cultures .
Pete , as his friends called him , traveled the globe back in the 1940s and collected information about families from all over .
He discovered 1,072 similar words for “ mom ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to linguists , the scientists who study language , and challenged them to figure out why these words sound the same .
Roman Jakobson , a famous linguist and literary theorist , then wrote an entire chapter on “ mama ” and “ papa.
” The first sounds infants make are those that are made with the lips and are easily seen : m , b and p. These sounds are quickly followed by other sounds that can be easily seen : t and d. It ’ s possible that as infants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) or produce these sounds while nursing or drinking from a bottle , the mother hears “ mama.
” She then smiles with joy and says , “ Mama !
You said Mama !
” Of course , the baby is happy to see the mother happy , so the baby says it again .
Bingo , “ Mama ” is born .
Similarly , the baby may practice “ dadadadada ” or “ papapapa ” and the parents ’ reactions result in the baby repeating “ dada ” or “ papa.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important people in most babies ’ lives , followed closely by similar words for grandparents – nana , tata , bobcia , nonno , opa , omo – who often play important roles , as well .
But there ’ s more to this story .
Once children can say many sounds , why don ’ t they call their parents Ella , Zoheb , Dipankar or Denise ?
It ’ s because we all have rules that most of us follow .
These are rules related to our cultures , our societies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules for how to greet people ( shake hands , hug ) , how to use forks or chopsticks , what to call our teacher ( “ Mrs .
Bell ” ) and even where to sit at the dinner table .
We don ’ t think of these things as “ rules ” ; they ’ re just there .
One of these kinds of rules in most families around the world is that parents are the heads of the household and children are supposed to listen to them .
By calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” it helps everyone stick to their roles .
Some parents feel that if you call them by their first name , you don ’ t think they are the boss anymore ( and parents generally don ’ t like that ) .
But every family is different , which is part of what makes life so interesting .
Some families have their own rules that might differ from your family ’ s rules .
Most kids call their mom “ Mom , ” but some kids don ’ t and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our family rules , our kids may occasionally call us “ Denise ” and “ Mom Bethany.
” The next time you call out “ Mom !
” in the store , whether in New York , Paris , Hong Kong or Durban , watch how many mothers turn around .
It ’ s all because of a mixture of biology ( easy sounds to see and make ) , environment ( parents being happy you said this and smiling ) and culture ( rules ) .
If you have children when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to call you ?
Hello , curious kids !
Do you have a question you ’ d like an expert to answer ?
Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS @ 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 .
The authors do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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--2020-05-06--The puzzling questions of the coronavirus: A doctor addresses 6 questions that are stumping physicia

The puzzling questions of the coronavirus: A doctor addresses 6 questions that are stumping physicians

Editor ’ s Note : As researchers try to find treatments and create a vaccine for COVID-19 , doctors and others on the front lines continue to find perplexing symptoms .
And the disease itself has unpredictable effects on various people .
Dr. William Petri , a professor of medicine at the University of Virginia Medical School , answers questions about these confusing findings .
Some evidence suggests that patients experience low oxygen saturation days before they appear in the ER .
If so , is there a way to treat patients earlier ?
Even before symptoms arise , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lungs .
This is likely why low oxygen saturation – that is , below-normal oxygen levels in their blood – occurs before the patient goes to the ER .
Restoring those levels to normal is presumed , though not proven , to be beneficial ; giving patients supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula , a flexible tube that delivers oxygen , placed just inside the nostrils , will restore oxygen to normal levels unless disease worsens to the extent that mechanical ventilation is needed .
Young adults are having strokes with COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a vascular disease than a lung disease in that age group ?
COVID-19 can be a devastating disease to multiple organs and systems in the body , including the vascular and immune systems .
A lung infection is the primary cause of disease and death .
There are examples of the clotting system being activated and causing strokes , perhaps caused by an immune system responding abnormally to COVID-19 .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its official list of symptoms .
Does this suggest anything unusual about COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a greater number of infected individuals being studied .
The update simply reflects a better understanding of the full spectrum of illness due to COVID-19 , from asymptomatic to presymptomatic to severe and fatal infections .
How can so many people experience such mild symptoms and others quickly die from it ?
One of the most fascinating aspects of these diseases is the huge difference that individuals experience with an infection .
In our own research , we have found that many children in the U.S. infected with cryptosporidia have no symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infants in the developing world .
After an infection of SARS-CoV-2 , the severity of the illness is likely due in part to how the patient ’ s immune system responds ; an overzealous immune response may cause death through what is called colloquially a “ cytokine storm.. ” We do not know yet if cytokine storms occur more in one group than another – for example , older versus younger .
The disease appears now to affect various other organs – heart and kidney , for example .
What does this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that infection starts only in human cells with the ACE2 receptor – that is , in a cell that is capable of receiving the virus .
That is present not only in the lungs , but in other cells as well , including those in the intestine and in the nasal mucosa , which lines the nasal cavity .
When those cells are infected , the immune system is activated .
A consequence is that both the heart and kidney are affected .
Why are some countries not experiencing as much COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
I think it ’ s too early in the pandemic to know if certain countries or populations are relatively less susceptible .
The younger overall age of a population could be a primary factor .
Or perhaps the virus , so far at least , has not had time to spread more widely in these countries .
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William Petri does not work for , consult , own shares in or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .