freedomdaily--2020-02-18--Assisted dying is not the easy way out

Assisted dying is not the easy way out

One in every five Americans now lives in a state with legal access to a medically assisted death .
In theory , assisted dying laws allow patients with a terminal prognosis to hasten the end of their life , once their suffering has overcome any desire to live .
While these laws may make the process of dying less painful for some , they don ’ t make it easier .
Of the countries that have aid-in-dying laws , the U.S. has the most restrictive .
Intended to reduce unnecessary suffering , the laws can sometimes have the opposite effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explores the field of medicine from a cultural angle , focusing primarily on birth and death .
Over the past four years , I ’ ve studied how access to a medically assisted death is transforming the ways Americans die .
I have spent hundreds of hours accompanying patients , families and physicians on their road to an assisted death .
And , I have witnessed some of these deaths firsthand .
This research has taught me one thing : An assisted death is not the path of least resistance .
For many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resistance .
Those who pursue it face a range of barriers , at a time when their health is rapidly declining .
Some patients navigate these waters successfully and manage to secure the coveted bottle of life-ending medication .
Others give in to the opposition or simply run out of time .
The country ’ s first right-to-die law , Oregon ’ s Death with Dignity Act ( 1994 ) , came after a fierce , century-long struggle to give terminally ill patients access to some form of medical assistance in dying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first two of these bills in 1906 .
Known as the “ chloroform bills , ” they envisioned the use of chloroform on fatally ill or injured patients to induce their death , but their terms were so flawed that they never saw the light of day .
Other legislative bills – introduced in Nebraska in 1937 , Florida in 1967 and Idaho in 1969 – met similar fates .
When a committee of lawyers , physicians and activists sat down to craft Oregon ’ s Death with Dignity Act in 1993 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington ( 1991 ) and California ( 1992 ) .
To appease vocal opposition , lawmakers laced the Oregon statute with a long list of restrictions and safeguards .
Unlike all previous proposals , the Oregon measure no longer allowed for euthanasia .
That ’ s the act of injecting a patient with a lethal dose of narcotics .
Under the law , patients would have to ingest the lethal dose themselves – a final protection meant to ensure the absolutely voluntary nature of their death .
The act also introduced a 15-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first and second request , intended as a period of reflection .
It worked .
Oregonians narrowly approved the measure , but a three-year legal stay prevented it from being enacted .
In 1997 , Oregonians reaffirmed their support for the act , and it became law .
Since then , each state that has added an assisted dying law to their books has either followed the strict Oregon model or , in the case of Hawaii , added more constraints .
Those include requiring a mandatory mental health exam and a 20-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter of the law Unlike other countries that permit assisted dying , such as Canada , the Netherlands and Belgium , in the U.S. intolerable suffering and an incurable medical condition alone are not enough to qualify someone for an aided death .
A patient must already be within six months of the end of their life – coinciding with the admission criteria for hospice .
That means protracted degenerative diseases with open-ended prognoses like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) don ’ t usually qualify , at least not until a patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every year , dozens of eligible patients who apply for an assisted death are so close to the end of their life that they die during the mandated waiting period .
And by the time a patient becomes eligible for an assisted death , they may have missed the window when they are able to ingest the lethal medication .
In contrast to their Canadian , Dutch and Belgian colleagues , American physicians can not administer these drugs to their patients .
Lou Libby , a pulmonologist from Portland , Oregon , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced neurodegenerative diseases bump up against this requirement .
Again , consider ALS .
Alongside their diminishing ability to breathe , patients with ALS almost always lose their ability to swallow .
“ You have to be able to ingest the medication yourself .
And here you have all these patients who can ’ t even swallow.
” As I learned during my research , the stress over their ability to swallow can provoke a great deal of anxiety in patients , particularly when it comes to correctly timing their death .
Taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a life still worth living ; waiting too long means possibly missing their chance .
To have the kind of death they prefer , some patients choose to die earlier than they would have liked .
Despite popular backing for medical assistance in dying – seven in 10 Americans support it – the cultural stigma and moral ambivalence around these laws remain potent .
Across the country , many religiously owned health systems decline to participate in their state ’ s assisted dying law .
In rural parts of Oregon and along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often run the only hospital in town , patients routinely struggle to find two physicians who will approve their request , or a pharmacist who will fill their prescription .
Many hospices refuse to cooperate with a patient ’ s desire to seek an assisted death , leading patients to feel abandoned .
Many assisted living and nursing facilities still prohibit the practice under their roof , forcing patients to make alternative arrangements , sometimes at a nearby motel .
In trying to reclaim control over the way they die , these patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that control in the process .
Medical aid-in-dying will become an even bigger issue as baby boomers face the end of their lives .
It is mainly older patients who want access to an assisted death .
In Oregon , for example , nearly 80 % of those who sought medical assistance in dying in 2018 were 65 or older .
Boomers , as in many other aspects of their lives , likely will want more say over their deaths .
Assisted dying reframes how we , as a society , understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to extend life but to mitigate the process of dying .
Patients who endure intractable , painful diseases sometimes reach a moment when the prospect of staying alive feels worse than the prospect of dying .
At that point , the idea of having a say over the timing and manner of their death can bring enormous comfort .
But few are aware of all the hurdles they must clear to exercise this kind of control .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-18--Naming the new coronavirus – why taking Wuhan out of the picture matters

Stop calling the novel coronavirus outbreak the “ Wuhan coronavirus , ” and start getting comfortable with “ COVID-19.
” That ’ s the World Health Organization ’ s recommended name for the disease .
While identifying a new disease by its place of origin seems intuitive , history demonstrates that doing so can harm the people who live there .
Consequences can include economic distress , as tourists withdraw , investment cools down and solidarities between people weaken .
Linking a specific disease with a specific place can lead to discrimination and stigmatization and avoidance of a town or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and modern Africa , I study the politics of infectious diseases and the importance of understanding the cultural contexts of epidemics and responses to them .
Past epidemics underscore the social and public health consequences of how people talk about a disease ’ s origins .
In the 19th century , as global trade and mobility allowed cholera to spread worldwide from its origins in the Ganges Delta , the disease quickly became known as “ the Asiatic cholera.
” That label persisted for decades , implicitly blaming an entire continent for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a function of poor sanitation .
For Europeans and Americans of the time , Asia was an exotic , distant somewhere else .
Distinguishing the disastrous illness of cholera as “ Asiatic ” fit with the racialized , imperial views that denigrated the intelligence and the cultures of non-white populations globally and justified colonial overrule .
It also helped justify more stringent quarantine measures and travel restrictions for people read as “ Asian ” and not European .
Muslim pilgrims en route to Mecca from southern Asia , for instance , were subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling the same routes .
Ideas about disease changed after the late 19th century , when scientists could use new laboratory techniques to link specific pathogens – bacteria , parasites , and later on , viruses – to specific diseases .
Sometimes , this gave a scientific name to an age-old problem , such as “ consumption ” becoming the medical entity tuberculosis .
But these new techniques also allowed researchers to correlate pathogens with particular locales .
Naming an illness after a place quickly became the norm .
So Rift Valley Fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bunyaviridae family , got its name from an area of colonial Kenya where it was first reported .
The Hantaviruses are linked to the Hantan River area of South Korea where Dr. Ho-Wang Lee first identified the virus .
Ebola virus disease ( EVD ) got its popular name from a river near the village in the modern nation of Democratic Republic of Congo ( formerly Zaïre ) where U.S. and European scientists identified that pathogen .
Focusing on a specific place creates something particular from something that could have happened anywhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lassa village in Nigeria , compared to any other village five or 50 miles away .
Lassa was just the first place where a white missionary ’ s death drew the attention of authorities .
And yet , in the aftermath of that moment , as “ Lassa fever ” came to identify a fearsome hemorrhagic fever , the town of Lassa became a shadow of its former self .
In the short term , close associations between places and diseases can stigmatize the sick , as well as influence perceptions of risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An outbreak of a serious and deadly respiratory and hemorrhagic disease reported in the U.S. ’ Four Corners region in 1993 was tagged by the press as a “ Navajo flu.
” People in the area assumed incorrectly that the disease was directly contagious and highly localized to the Navajo Nation .
Associating this alarming new disease specifically with the Navajo Nation had a chilling effect on reporting illness to medical authorities because of fear of stigma .
In the end , officials named the new hantavirus that caused that particular outbreak Sin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name ” in Spanish .
Understanding disease ecology and patterns of transmission at a point of origin are important for biologists and epidemiologists .
But permanently naming a disease for a specific place serves to keep public attention on the moment of origin – the “ spillover ” case or known outbreak of an epidemic .
Focusing on how an “ emerging ” disease originally reached human populations can come at the expense of clear messaging about who is at risk of infection or how to prevent the disease in an ongoing epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak moment is often less relevant for a general public looking to stay healthy or public health practitioners trying to control a person-to-person epidemic .
Affixing place to disease also puts a spotlight on specific people , which matters for how a wider public associates a population ’ s perceived culture , foodways or activities with a disease .
These kinds of stereotypes arose , for instance , around Ebola virus disease in 2014-15 , erroneously blaming some people for a wider problem .
Early conversations about EVD , marked as particularly African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ bushmeat , ” a term from the colonial era to describe meat that people hunt , rather than buy in a market .
Talking about “ bushmeat ” allowed people to characterize those suffering from EVD as primitive or exotic .
It also implied that people were responsible for bringing this disease into circulation because of what they ate or how they lived .
In fact , the wider spread of EVD in 2014-15 had everything to do with underfunded health systems in the affected nations and nothing to do with what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfolding now , with rumors that Wuhan ’ s “ wet markets ” are the culprits of zoonotic spillover , where viruses jump from animals to humans .
Scientists don ’ t yet know how relevant Wuhan ’ s live-animal markets truly were for this global epidemic , although they do know that viruses jump from animals to humans ( and back again ) frequently .
Wuhan ’ s historic position as a national high-speed rail and commercial hub is likely to be far more important for the wider dissemination of COVID-19 than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Get used to COVID-19 Public health officials and scientists have come to understand the potentially harmful repercussions of associating place and disease names – for both the immediate public health response and the long-term economic and social future of a given place .
In 2015 WHO announced its official guidelines to avoid the practice .
In the past weeks , as the novel coronavirus has dominated the news and spread around the world , there ’ s been vigorous debate about what to call it .
It ’ s important for both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as for global solidarity with the heavily affected population of Wuhan , to get used to saying “ COVID-19 ” and to insist that others do the same .
After all , Spain had nothing specific to do with the so-called “ Spanish influenza , ” as the devastating H1N1 influenza pandemic of 1918-19 was popularly known for decades .
They just reported it first .
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Mari Webel 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 .

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freedomdaily--2020-02-19--‘Not A Winning Formula’: Bloomberg Railed Blasts Democrats’ Fixation On Transgender Issues

Topics in this post : Michael Bloomberg the 2020 Election Newly unearthed footage from March 2019 shows Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg referring to transgender people as “ some guy wearing a dress ” during a panel discussion in which the billionaire derided the Democratic Party ’ s fixation on transgender issues .
“ If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he , she or it can go to the locker room with their daughter , ” Bloomberg said during a panel discussion at the Bermuda Business Development Agency eight months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s not a winning formula for most people.
” “ We ’ re focusing on a lot of things that have little relevance to people who are trying to live in a world that is changing because of technology and communications and things like that , ” the former New York mayor said .
The panel footage was first reported Tuesday by BuzzFeed News .
Bloomberg added during the discussion that the Democratic Party ’ s fixation on social issues created the environment for someone like President Donald Trump to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from , ” he said .
“ You can understand when you look at the Democratic Party , they are so far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions , and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive .
I don ’ t know what progressive means.
” The remarks are sure to put Bloomberg in the crosshairs of his Democratic opponents .
Former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ civil rights issue of our time.
” Bloomberg ’ s remarks about transgender people were unearthed the same day his campaign published a new ad featuring fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi boasting the billionaire ’ s sensitivity to LGBT issues .
“ Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue , ” Mizrahi said in the ad .
A spokesperson for the Bloomberg campaign told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday that the former New York mayor “ understands that the transgender community has been under attack for decades and the advance of rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community , ” the statement read .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-19--Mexican National Arrested for Acting Within the U.S. on Behalf of Russia

Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes , a Mexican citizen residing in Singapore , was arrested based on a complaint charging him with acting within the United States on behalf of a foreign government ( Russia ) , without notifying the Attorney General , and conspiracy to do the same .
According to court documents , a Russian government official recruited Fuentes in 2019 and directed Fuentes to rent a specific property in Miami-Dade County , Florida .
The Russian official told Fuentes not to rent the apartment in Fuentes ’ s own name and not to tell his family about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed the Russian government official about the arrangements .
The official approved and told Fuentes to see him again on his next trip to Russia .
In February 2020 , Fuentes traveled to Moscow again and met with the Russian government official .
At this meeting , the Russian government official provided Fuentes with a physical description of a U.S. Government source ’ s vehicle and told Fuentes to locate the car , obtain the source ’ s vehicle license plate number , and note the physical location of the source ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet the Russian official again in April or May 2020 , to inform him of the results of the search for the source ’ s vehicle .
Furthermore , according to court documents , Fuentes traveled to Miami on Feb. 13 , 2020 , from Mexico City .
The next day , on February 14 , Fuentes ’ s rental car drew the attention of a security guard where the U.S. government source resided because it entered its premises by tailgating another vehicle to gain access .
When a security guard approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s travel companion , who resides and is legally married to Fuentes in Mexico , walked away from Fuentes ’ s rental car to the U.S. Government source ’ s vehicle and took a photograph of the source ’ s vehicle ’ s license plate .
When security questioned Fuentes and his travel companion on the nature of their business in the building , Fuentes provided the name of an individual whom they were purportedly visiting .
Security did not recognize the person as living there and told Fuentes to leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 , 2020 , Fuentes and his travel companion arrived at Miami International Airport to leave the United States , on their way to Mexico City .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected the phone of Fuentes ’ s travel companion and found a close-up image of the license plate of the U.S. Government source ’ s vehicle in the “ recently deleted folder ” of her phone .
When asked about the photo , Fuentes admitted tasking his travel companion to take the photo of the vehicle ’ s license plate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s phone revealed a WhatsApp message from his travel companion sent to Fuentes with the same photograph of the vehicle license plate .
Fuentes admitted to law enforcement officers that he was directed by a Russian government official to conduct this operation .
According to court documents , messages on Fuentes ’ s phone showed that the Russian official initiated and directed the meetings .
A pretrial detention hearing is set for 10:00 a.m. on Friday , February 21 , 2020 .
Fuentes ’ s arraignment is set for 10:00 a.m. on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur in U.S. magistrate court in Miami , Florida .
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Thakur of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Thea Kendler and Matthew McKenzie of the National Security Division ’ s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Coronavirus: We need to start preparing for the next viral outbreak now

The coronavirus outbreak is officially a crisis – let ’ s not waste it .
Undeniably , the international community is taking the matter very seriously , as it should given that the death total from the COVID-19 epidemic already well surpasses that from SARS in the early 2000s .
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern , researchers across the globe are furiously working on vaccines against COVID-19 , and governments including the U.S. and U.K. have allocated more funds to boost research and development .
However , even if the international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it may rightfully be considered too little too late , with the epidemic already underway .
That ’ s a mistake we shouldn ’ t repeat .
As global health researchers , we study the full societal value of vaccination and other interventions to combat infectious disease .
Given the tremendous costs associated with epidemics , it ’ s vital that we begin working to prevent the next outbreak , even as the world struggles to fight COVID-19 .
What ’ s remarkable about the current situation is its predictability .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from contact between humans and animals – and that bats may have been involved .
It was predictable that its epicenter would be in a densely populated urban area and that it spread rapidly via international air travel .
And it was even predictable that an unknown pathogen would be just as likely to spring an epidemic as a known one .
As was the case with SARS and Zika , the pathogen responsible for the current epidemic was not on anyone ’ s radar before it began wreaking havoc in China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rapidly progressing epidemic would have significant and wide-ranging health , economic and social impacts .
Less than two months into the epidemic , China ’ s health system has already experienced major strain , with Wuhan in particular struggling to provide quality care to coronavirus patients .
In addition , this may be crowding out treatment of other conditions .
The economic impacts include major disruptions to manufacturing , supply chains , retail sales , international travel and education .
And the resulting political and social challenges continue to pile up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of misinformation , mistrust in government and extra strain on already tense international relations .
The total costs of this epidemic are already significant and could get much worse .
The predictability of the current situation reflects the inevitability of outbreaks and epidemics .
We may not be able to say with certainty where and when they will occur – or what the causative pathogen will be – but we know that another is always lurking .
There are also many reasons to believe that their frequency will increase .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues apace in the world ’ s most economically and politically fragile regions .
Increasing urbanization is leading to the proliferation of large , dense population centers that act like giant petri dishes for infectious diseases .
And population aging is increasing the share of people who are more susceptible to infection and disease .
The geographic ranges of some pathogens and important disease carriers like mosquitoes are expanding due to climate change .
And humans keep encroaching on animal habitats , increasing the likelihood of cross-species spillovers .
International travel continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the economic effects of an outbreak anywhere will ripple across distant reaches of humanity .
Given all of the costs of epidemics – and all the factors favoring their repeated occurrence – stable and large-scale investments in organizations and activities dedicated to outbreak preparedness , prevention , mitigation and response are likely to pay tremendous dividends .
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations , an alliance to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccines , certainly merits substantial funding , as does development of vaccine platforms generally .
Likewise , greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnostics is desperately needed .
Increased pathogen surveillance in both humans and animals is another urgent priority .
Perhaps what is lacking more than funding , though , is a sufficient level of coordination among the many players in the loose network of international and country-level organizations responsible for controlling and responding to infectious disease outbreaks .
The fragmented nature of the global health system creates the possibility for considerable research and functional gaps as well as wasteful duplications of effort .
We ’ ve argued before for the establishment of a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve collaboration and coordination across organizations , carry out needed research and make high-level , evidence-based recommendations for managing global risks .
Such a council would be composed of experts from a wide range of disciplines – including epidemiology , vaccinology , public policy and economics – and could either be affiliated with the WHO or stand alone .
The bottom line is that more and sustained resources are sorely needed to prevent , or at least mitigate , the next outbreak and its impact – whether caused by another coronavirus , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a pathogen not yet discovered .
Taking these measures may be expensive , but it will be more costly to sit on our hands .
The next outbreak assuredly lies just around the bend .
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David E. Bloom receives funding from the National Institute of Aging , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , UNFPA , the Wellcome Trust , Pfizer , GSK , Sanofi , Merck , and Carnegie Corporation of New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Vaccine Institute .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--What are viruses anyway, and why do they make us so sick? 5 questions answered

Editor ’ s Note : You may sometimes have felt like you “ have come down with a virus , ” meaning that you became sick from being exposed to something that could have been a virus .
In fact , you have a virus – actually , many – all the time .
Some viruses cause the common cold , and some are crucial to human survival .
New viruses can also emerge , and they typically create illness in humans when they have very recently jumped from another species to humans .
As world health leaders try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , virus expert Marilyn J. Roossinck answers a few questions .
Defining a virus has been a challenge , because every time we come up with a good definition someone discovers a virus that breaks the rules .
Viruses are entities that infect cellular life .
They are very diverse .
The simplest just have a couple of genes made of RNA or DNA wrapped up in a protein coat .
Others have hundreds of genes , more than some bacteria .
All viruses are ultimately parasites .
They require a host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own energy like cells can .
When a new human virus disease appears , it is most often because the virus has jumped from a different species into humans .
The worst viruses are often the ones that have very recently jumped into the species .
After jumping species , the virus goes through a process of adjustment to its new host .
The real challenge , however , is to the host .
As it tries to figure out how to adjust to an invasion from something completely new , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes the host sick .
It usually isn ’ t an advantage for the virus to make people sick ; it is an accident of the hosts ’ immune system overreacting to something it doesn ’ t recognize .
Viruses that have been in a host for a long time are less likely to cause disease .
For example , HIV jumped into humans from wild primates , in whose bodies it wasn ’ t causing any disease .
Every virus-host relationship is different .
In most cases , viruses do not cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , in mice a herpes virus prevents infection from the plague bacteria .
3 .
Why is it so important to know the original source ?
If the virus comes from an animal , knowing what that animal is can help break the chain of infection .
Knowing the source also helps scientists understand mutations that might have occurred in the virus ’ genome .
That ’ s because host-jumping affects the variation in a virus genome .
When a virus has been in its host for a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host , and mutations are not tolerated .
4 .
SARS was a formidable foe , and then seemed to disappear .
Why ?
Measures to contain SARS started early , and they were very successful .
The key is to stop the chain of transmission by isolating infected individuals .
SARS had a short incubation period ; people generally showed symptoms in two to seven days .
There were no documented cases of anyone being a source of SARS without showing symptoms .
Stopping the chain of transmission is much more difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or when some people don ’ t get symptoms at all .
This may be the case with the virus causing CoVID-19 , so stopping it may take more time .
5 .
What is the best way to treat viruses ?
Viruses don ’ t respond to antibiotics , and in some cases taking antibiotics can make things worse , because the normal bacteria in the gut are an important part of the immune response .
Antiviral drugs can work with some viruses , but the mutation rate of most viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very quickly .
The best treatment is to give the patient the best tools to allow their own body to fight off the infection .
This usually means rest and keeping hydrated .
Virus infection can suppress the immune system , so patients should be monitored for secondary infections that might require other treatments .
Prevention is important .
Sick people need to be isolated , and healthy people need to take precautions .
Most respiratory viruses are not transmitted just by breathing them in from sick people , but by getting them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick people distribute by coughing or sneezing , and then touching your face .
Good hand-washing is important !
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Marilyn J. Roossinck receives funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Boomers have a drug problem, but not the kind you might think

Baby boomers – that ’ s anyone born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964 – are 20 % of the population , more than 70 million Americans .
Decades ago , many in that generation experimented with drugs that were both recreational and illegal .
Although boomers may not be using those same drugs today , many are taking medications , often several of them .
And even if those drugs are legal , there are still risks of interactions and side effects .
The taking of multiple medications is called polypharmacy , typically four or more at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors , over-the-counter medicines , supplements and herbs .
Sometimes , polypharmacy can be dangerous .
I am a geriatrician , one of only 7,500 in the U.S. That ’ s not nearly enough to accommodate the surging number of elderly boomers who will need medical care over the next two to three decades – or help in dealing with the potential problems of multiple drug use .
Reactions to medications can change over time We geriatricians know that polypharmacy isn ’ t always bad ; multiple medications may be necessary .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you might be on four medications or more – beta-blockers , ACE inhibitors , statins and aspirin , for instance .
And that ’ s appropriate .
But about half of older adults take at least one medication that ’ s not necessary or no longer needed .
Doctors need to periodically reevaluate to make sure each medication is still right for the patient and still the correct dose .
During treatment , the patient ’ s weight may fluctuate , either up or down .
Even if it stays the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurs as people age .
As a result , one may react differently to a drug .
That can happen even with a medication a person has been on for years .
Polypharmacy often means higher health care costs and more drug interactions .
Patients are more likely to miss medications or stop taking them altogether .
Sometimes , physical activity diminshes ; falls , cognitive impairment , malnourishment and urinary incontinence increase ; there may be less ability to do daily tasks .
Those on five or more medications have a much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an adverse drug event – compared to those using fewer meds .
Making matters worse , the symptoms of polypharmacy are sometimes masked and taken as signs of aging .
Studies have suggested solutions , with better coordination among care providers being one .
Making the pharmacist an integral part of routine care is another .
The increasing use of electronic patient records helps .
So do smartphone apps , sometimes an easier way for patients and providers to connect .
But so far , there ’ s no magic pill , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the burden remains on patients and their families .
There are steps you can take to stay safe , however .
Regularly clean out the medicine cabinet and get rid of expired medicines or those you ’ re no longer taking .
Either throw them away or ask your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to dispose of them .
When seeing the doctor , bring in the meds you take and review each one in detail .
Make certain you need to continue taking them all and verify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PIMs list , also known as the Beer ’ s List .
Published by the American Geriatric Society , it ’ s an index of medications potentially harmful to the elderly .
Some are linked to increased risks of side effects , and not a few are sold over-the-counter without prescription .
That includes medicines containing antihistamines like diphenhydramine , or Benadryl .
In the elderly population , Benadryl carries an increased risk of dizziness , confusion and urinary retention .
Medicines that are part of the NSAID family ( nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In some elderly patients , they can cause high blood pressure or kidney failure .
Commonly used medicines in the NSAID family are those containing ibuprofen or naproxen .
Just because a medicine is on the Beer ’ s List doesn ’ t mean your doctor was wrong to prescribe it , or that you should stop using it .
Instead , use the medication with caution and discuss with your doctor to make sure you need it .
Determine with your doctor the lowest useful dose , monitor for side effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any .
As a geriatrician , I see patients in an outpatient setting , either as their primary care provider or as a specialist consultant .
We review medications at every visit : the list , the dose and how often the patient is taking it .
A true and accurate medication list is the critical first step in geriatric care .
This is especially important during care transitions , such as when a patient is coming out of the hospital or nursing home .
Particularly at that time , we find out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as prescribed , or taking it more frequently or less or not at all .
Which leads to my final piece of advice : If you ’ ve strayed with your meds , one way or another , know that we doctors don ’ t judge or punish patients .
Just tell us the truth .
That ’ s all we want to hear .
Then we can move forward together to find the best regimen for you .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-20--The US birth rate keeps declining: 4 questions answered

Over the last few decades , birth rates have decreased across the globe .
The United States is no exception .
Aside from a few years in the mid-2000s , the number of births in the United States have been falling for the last three decades and have now reached their lowest number in 32 years .
The country is now below population replacement rates as a nation .
This means that the population will start to shrink in numbers , generation by generation .
As a specialist in infertility , I see women who live this trend on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions regarding childbearing and fertility .
There can be many reasons , and not all of them are bad .
Certainly the reduction in teenage birth rates – from 41.5 per 1,000 women in 2007 to 17.4 per 1,000 women in 2018 – should be welcome news .
Age plays a role as well .
While birth rates declined for nearly all age groups under 35 , they rose for women in their late 30s and early 40s .
This data shows that women are delaying childbearing .
Indeed , over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention reported an increase in average age at first birth and an eight-fold increase in proportion of first births to women aged 35 years or older .
The mean age at first birth in the U.S. is now at a record high – 26.9 years in 2018 .
Like all choices , having children later in life comes with pros and cons .
At the population level , delayed childbearing results in a slowed pace of population growth .
It changes the distribution of the population by age and reduces the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the working-age population .
On the individual level , delayed childbearing offers the opportunity to seek financial stability before starting a family .
However , delayed childbearing has been implicated in increased rates of multiple births , both with and without assisted reproductive technology , as well as pregnancy-associated complications , such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia .
Similarly , as women get older , they are less likely to become pregnant without medical assistance or to avoid a C-section .
While a woman attempting to conceive in her early 30s has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , a 40-year-old woman has a 5 % chance .
The likelihood is high that many of these women in the older brackets of childbearing will have turned to infertility treatment as a method to build their families .
In the U.S. in 2007 , approximately 6,000 IVF cycles were started in women over 42 using their own eggs .
By 2017 , this number was over 10,000 .
The CDC reports population-level statistics based on births per 1,000 women .
However , these rates do not show the number of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceive , or the reasons why women might have waited .
Female fertility declines with age , but almost one-third of women who visit a fertility clinic report they expected to get pregnant without difficulty at age 40 .
This is simply not the case .
Some studies suggest that relationships and enjoyment of current lifestyle are a major reason for delay .
In my clinic , women frequently cite work and education .
Many of my patients wanted to wait until they were in a better place in their life before starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not ready – what should I do ?
Treatment options for women who have difficulty conceiving with fertility treatment are limited .
Although some women do still conceive with their own eggs , the national average live birth rate in women over the age of 42 is approximately 3 % among women who undergo IVF using their own eggs .
Individual medical history may raise or lower this percentage , but not to a large degree .
For women who are not ready to conceive , but wish to preserve the option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elective oocyte cryopreservation , or egg freezing , has become increasingly available .
Women should understand this is an option to preserve the chance , but not a guarantee , for future childbearing .
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have stressed the need for education and immediate evaluation of age-associated fertility decline .
Whatever the underlying reason , the increased birth rates at later ages are enough to suggest that education on the risks and benefits of delayed childbearing should start early .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur in a general practitioner ’ s setting , the reality with health care today is that a physician office visit has to cover a lot of ground .
By the time a woman is ready to discuss fertility , it may already be more difficult to conceive than she realizes .
As more and more families face declining fertility , the chance to learn and discuss at early stages of family planning have never been more important .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
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Marie Menke does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Do I have to wear a jacket when it’s cold outside?

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 .
The answer to this question is : “ It depends.
” Cold weather does not get you sick .
Feeling chilly because you ’ re not bundled up does not get you sick .
But being cold – like when you ’ re outside in wintry weather wearing just a thin shirt – can actually weaken your body and make it easier for you to get sick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your immune system and thus your ability to fight off infections .
In fact , the longer time you spend in the cold , the higher your risk of actually getting sick .
To get sick , though , you still must be exposed to a germ .
So it ’ s key to avoid coming into contact with germs as well .
Unfortunately , that ’ s easier said then done .
There are over 200 viruses that can cause a cold .
These viruses are all around us .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are closer together in general , which encourages the spread of viruses .
One called rhinovirus is responsible for around a third of the cases of runny noses and congestion , but can also cause more serious lung diseases .
There ’ s another group of germs , called human coronaviruses , that can make you sick .
The new virus named 2019-nCoV is one of these .
The cold , dry weather does play a role in winter sniffles , because it can strengthen these virus invaders .
For example , viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooler regions of your nasal passages .
Cooler temperatures also tend to weaken your body ’ s antiviral immune responses .
In fact , a fever helps your body warm up and invigorates your immune system cells to fight infection .
Viruses live in the environment all around you .
They ’ re on surfaces such as doorknobs .
They ’ re in the air after someone sneezes .
The most common way to expose yourself to these germs is by inhaling virus-filled air or touching your eyes or nose with dirty hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cold is to wash your hands as often as possible , avoid anyone who is clearly sick and keep your immune system strong .
Tips for boosting your body ’ s immune power include eating a well-balanced diet , having a healthy sleep routine , balancing stress with enjoyable activities and keeping warm to minimize susceptibility to infection .
Don ’ t forget vaccines are available to help keep you from getting sick with certain viruses , including influenza .
If you do catch a cold , it is best to rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your doctor for any worsening symptoms .
And if you go outside in the cold , be sure to bundle up and try to stay warm .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer every question , but we will do our best .
Carolyn Kaloostian 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--2020-02-19--CBP Officers Make a Double Play As They Intercept Hard Narcotics Worth More Than $2.9M

—U.S .
Customs and Border Protection , Office of Field Operations ( OFO ) CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry were successful in seizing two separate loads of hard narcotics with a combined value of over $ 2.9 million .
“ Our frontline officers continued their strict vigilance this weekend and their determination and commitment to the border security mission resulted in two significant hard narcotics seizures totaling over $ 2.9 million , ” said Port Director Albert Flores , Laredo Port of Entry .
Both seizures occurred on Sunday , Feb. 16 , at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers seized 140 pounds of alleged methamphetamine , concealed in 120 packages within a 1990 Volkswagen van .
The vehicle was driven by a 54-year-old male Mexican citizen from Monterrey , Nuevo Leon , Mexico .
The second seizure also occurred on Sunday , Feb. 16 , at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when CBP officers referred a 2017 Nissan Sentra .
The vehicle was driven by a 48-year-old female Mexican citizen who resides in Monterrey , Nuevo Leon , Mexico .
During a canine and a non-intrusive imaging inspection , CBP officers discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packages concealed within the vehicle .
The seized narcotics have a combined estimated street value of $ 2,987,447 .
CBP seized the narcotics and the vehicles .
The drivers were arrested and the cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations ( ICE-HSI ) special agents for further investigation .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-19--Massachusetts City Allowing Illegal Aliens To Drive Without A License

City councilors in Cambridge , Massachusetts voted to prohibit police officers from arresting illegal aliens if they are caught operating a vehicle without a license .
Under a newly-passed city ordinance in Cambridge , residents are still legally required to carry a driver ’ s license if they are operating a vehicle , but local law enforcement has been ordered not to arrest illegal aliens caught driving without identification , Boston 25 News first reported .
The city ordinance marks what appears to be the most lenient policy for undocumented immigrants and roadway rules .
The city councilors who passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration enforcement emanating from the White House .
“ We need to protect our community members from a federal government that ’ s out of control , ” Cambridge City Councilor Quinton Zondervan said of the new rule .
“ There are no other reasons for the police to arrest someone , give them a court summons instead which keeps them out of the clutches of the Trump administration.
” Known as the Welcoming City Ordinance , the new rules spell out what is expected of law enforcement if they encounter an illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking action against a person who is found to be driving without a valid driver ’ s license , officers of the Cambridge Police Department shall , whenever possible in the officer ’ s discretion and if there are no other violations causing the person to be arrested , issue a summons to court instead of taking the person into custody , ” text of the ordinance reads .
“ In such circumstances , the law enforcement officer taking action shall endeavor to provide the driver a reasonable opportunity to arrange for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before seeking to impound the vehicle , unless the violation is one subject to a statutory or regulatory requirement of vehicle impoundment , ” the ordinance continues .
The Welcoming City Ordinance is not limited to roadways , but also forbids law enforcement from inquiring about an individual ’ s immigration status , and restricts information sharing and cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) .
A growing number of states have implemented laws allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver ’ s licenses .
New York and New Jersey , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal aliens to earn a license .
However , the ordinance in Cambridge takes the unprecedented step of allowing individuals to operate a vehicle without identification entirely .
Illegal aliens caught driving without a license in the city could still be arrested , but only if there are other circumstances beyond a lack of identification .


freedomdaily--2020-02-19--Customs Seizes Human Brain in Shipment Bound for U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officers seize human brain in international mail at Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron last week .
On February 14 , CBP officers assigned to the Area Port of Port Huron referred a Canadian mail truck that had just crossed the Blue Water Bridge for an inspection at the Centralized Examination Station , in Marysville .
During this routine mail operation , a shipment manifested as an “ Antique Teaching Specimen ” was targeted for inspection .
Upon opening the shipment , CBP officers found the package to contain a human brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jar without any paperwork or documentation in support of its lawful entry into the United States .
The shipment which originated in Toronto , Canada was destined for Kenosha , Wisconsin .
“ Individuals looking to import shipments such as this , need to remember that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a strict Import Permit Program that must be adhered to , ” said Area Port Director Michael Fox .
“ This is just another great example of just one of the many things CBP officers do to protect our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture Specialists in Port Huron are currently in contact with the CDC regarding the brain specimen pursuant to 42 CFR 71.54 , import regulations for infectious biological agents , infectious substances , and vectors for final disposition of the specimen .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-19--Most Asylum Seekers Have Illegitimate Claims, Latest Data Indicate

The vast majority of asylum applications are being denied in the U.S. immigration court system , supporting a narrative by border hawks that most asylum seekers are lodging bogus claims .
A total of 33,194 asylum cases have been adjudicated so far this fiscal year from October 2019 to January , according to data Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse ( TRAC ) released Tuesday .
However , immigration judges granted 8,828 individuals asylum in this four-month time period .
The denial rate for asylum cases , which hovered at 69 % in fiscal year 2019 , stands at 72 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deciding cases at a faster rate , the immigration court system is still seeing its backlog increase as new claims continue to outnumber case completions .
An immigration judge grants protected status to any applicant that is deemed to be lodging a legitimate asylum claim .
Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) agents saw an unprecedented number of family units and others appearing at the southern border to claim asylum in 2019 , pushing U.S. resources to the breaking point .
The Trump administration , however , has long argued that most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process in a bid to enter the country .
The latest data suggest that asylum seekers are , by and large , making illegitimate claims .
“ There is a consensus among enforcement professionals and analysts that most asylum seekers arriving at the border are really economic migrants with asylum claims that are flimsy at best .
The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to decrease the incentive for fake asylum claims , and it is long overdue , ” Dale L. Wilcox , the executive director of Immigration Reform Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .
“ Asylum is meant for those in fear of persecution by their government based on race , religion , nationality , membership in a particular social group , and political opinion in their home countries .
It was never intended as a back-door into America , ” Wilcox continued .
Asylum status is granted to individuals who face persecution in their homeland .
However , many migrants from Central America — a top source of U.S. illegal immigration — say they left for better job opportunities .
A 2017 survey by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico , for example , found that 72 % of respondents citing economic conditions as their sole reason for leaving .
The Trump administration , in response to the immigration crisis that has been taking place at the U.S.-Mexico border , has implemented a number of measures aimed at mitigating abuse of the U.S. immigration system .
Namely , the administration launched Migrant Protection Protocols , or “ Remain in Mexico , ” a program that requires most foreign nationals who appear at the southern border to wait in Mexico for the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program is largely designed to prevent asylum applicants from being released into the interior of country — a major incentive for would-be asylum applicants .
Metering , a policy that controls the number of migrants who can cross the border a day and make a claim , as well as asylum agreements with several Central American countries have also been implemented by the White House to mitigate the immigration crisis .
Asylum is not the sole form of relief given to foreign nationals who appear at the border .
Data TRAC compiled found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some other type of relief from deportation during the first four months of fiscal year 2020 .


freedomdaily--2020-02-19--ICE arrests drug dealer despite Philadelphia officials’ refusal to cooperate

PHILADELPHIA – On Feb. 12 , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ’ s ( ICE ) Enforcement and Removal Operations ( ERO ) officers arrested an illegally present Jamaican man , who was released from Philadelphia custody , despite the presence of an ICE detainer filed with local authorities .
On May 24 , 2009 , Travas Anthony Vassell , 30 , was admitted into the United States in New York on a non-immigrant visitor with authorization to remain in the United States until Nov. 23 , 2009 ; However , Vassell failed to lawfully depart the United States as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Philadelphia Police Department arrested Vassell for the criminal offenses of possession with intent to distribute narcotics , possession of narcotics , carrying a firearm without a license , and carrying a firearm in the city of Philadelphia .
ICE lodged an immigration detainer with Philadelphia Police Department that same day .
On April 2 , 2018 , the Philadelphia prison system released him into the community despite the active ICE detainer .
On Oct. 31 , 2018 , the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Philadelphia convicted Vassell of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possession of narcotics , carrying a firearm without a license , and carrying a firearm in the city of Philadelphia and sentenced him to six months to 23 months incarceration and a period of three years of probation .
ERO Philadelphia arrested Vassell and he remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings before a federal immigration judge .
“ Unfortunately , this is another example of how Philadelphia policies limiting cooperation with ICE result in significant public safety concerns , ” said Simona L. Flores-Lund .
“ ERO deportation officers are committed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our legislators , although the City of Philadelphia releases inmates with active ICE detainers back into their community , the women and men of ICE will remain undeterred in its responsibility to find those in violation of immigration law and ultimately have them removed from the country.
” ICE lodges detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and who ICE has probable cause to believe are removable aliens .
The detainer asks the other law enforcement agency to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that ICE can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting upon release from that agency ’ s custody .
When law enforcement agencies fail to honor immigration detainers and release serious criminal offenders onto the streets , it undermines ICE ’ s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission .
This negatively impacts public safety and ICE ’ s efficiency in the apprehension of criminal aliens .
Federal immigration laws authorize DHS to issue detainers and provide ICE broad authority to detain removable aliens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or expectation directing ICE to seek a judicial warrant from already overburdened federal courts before taking custody of an alien on civil immigration violations .
This idea is simply a figment created by those who wish to undermine immigration enforcement and excuse the ill-conceived practices of sanctuary jurisdictions that put politics before public safety .
When law enforcement agencies don ’ t honor ICE detainers , these individuals , who often have significant criminal histories , are released onto the street , presenting a potential public safety threat .
• Any local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICE will result in a decrease in local immigration enforcement is mistaken .
Local jurisdictions that choose to not cooperate with ICE are likely to see an increase in ICE enforcement activity , as the agency has no choice but to conduct more at-large arrest operations .
A consequence of ICE being forced to make more arrests on the streets , the agency is likely to encounter other unlawfully present foreign nationals who would not have been encountered had we been allowed to take custody of a criminal target within the confines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once these criminals are out on the street , confirming their whereabouts is often time consuming and resource intensive .
Many of our arrest targets are seasoned criminals who are savvy about eluding law enforcement .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Roger Stone Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison

A federal judge in Washington , D.C. , sentenced Roger Stone to 40 months in prison Thursday .
On Feb. 10 , prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in Washington recommended that Stone serve between 87 months and 108 months in jail for his crimes .
President Donald Trump responded hours later , saying the recommendation was “ disgraceful ” and a “ miscarriage of justice.
” The Justice Department signaled through statements to the media that officials at headquarters were also unhappy with the recommendation and that the government would be revising its court filing to lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Stone ’ s case in protest over the revision .
In a filing Feb. 11 , the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office recommended that Stone face “ substantial ” jail time , but a sentence that was “ far less ” than what was initially recommended .
Attorney General William Barr said in an interview Feb. 13 that he did not speak with Trump about Stone ’ s case , and that he independently believed that the Trump ally ’ s sentence was “ very excessive.
” The main difference between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail time prosecutors wanted to give Stone for a series of text messages that he sent in 2018 to his longtime associate , Randy Credico .
Prosecutors alleged at Stone ’ s trial that he threatened Credico in order to prevent him from cooperating with the House Intelligence Committee ’ s Russia investigation .
Stone had asserted to the committee and publicly that Credico was a source of information for him regarding WikiLeaks ’ activities in 2016 .
Credico , a left-wing comedian and radio show host , vehemently denied it .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 , 2018 , Stone wrote to Credico , “ Prepare to die , cocksucker.
” He also told Credico that he would “ take that dog from you , ” a reference to Credico ’ s service dog .
Based on federal sentencing guidelines , characterizing Stone ’ s messages as a physical threat would add as much as five years to his prison sentence .
In their revising sentencing recommendation , prosecutors noted that Credico testified that he never felt in physical danger from Stone ’ s text messages .
Credico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Jan. 20 asking her to spare Stone of jail time .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Deep learning AI discovers surprising new antibiotics

Imagine you ’ re a fossil hunter .
You spend months in the heat of Arizona digging up bones only to find that what you ’ ve uncovered is from a previously discovered dinosaur .
That ’ s how the search for antibiotics has panned out recently .
The relatively few antibiotic hunters out there keep finding the same types of antibiotics .
With the rapid rise in drug resistance in many pathogens , new antibiotics are desperately needed .
It may be only a matter of time before a wound or scratch becomes life-threatening .
Yet few new antibiotics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even these are just minor variants of old antibiotics .
While the prospects look bleak , the recent revolution in artificial intelligence ( AI ) offers new hope .
In a study published on Feb. 20 in the journal Cell , scientists from MIT and Harvard used a type of AI called deep learning to discover new antibiotics .
The traditional way of discovering antibiotics – from soil or plant extracts – has not revealed new candidates , and there are many social and economic hurdles to solving this problem , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tackle it by searching the DNA of bacteria for new antibiotic-producing genes .
Others are looking for antibiotics in exotic locations such as in our noses .
Drugs found through such unconventional methods face a rocky road to reach the market .
The drugs that are effective in a petri dish may not work well inside the body .
They may not be absorbed well or may have side effects .
Manufacturing these drugs in large quantities is also a significant challenge .
Enter deep learning .
These algorithms power many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-driving cars .
They mimic how neurons in our brains operate by learning patterns in data .
An individual artificial neuron – like a mini sensor – might detect simple patterns like lines or circles .
By using thousands of these artificial neurons , deep learning AI can perform extremely complex tasks like recognizing cats in videos or detecting tumors in biopsy images .
Given its power and success , it might not be surprising to learn that researchers hunting for new drugs are embracing deep learning AI .
Yet building an AI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trivial task .
In large part , this is because in the field of AI there ’ s no free lunch .
The No Free Lunch theorem states that there is no universally superior algorithm .
This means that if an algorithm performs spectacularly in one task , say facial recognition , then it will fail spectacularly in a different task , like drug discovery .
Hence researchers can ’ t simply use off-the-shelf deep learning AI .
The Harvard-MIT team used a new type of deep learning AI called graph neural networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AI stone age of 2010 , AI models for drug discovery were built using text descriptions of chemicals .
This is like describing a person ’ s face through words such as “ dark eyes ” and “ long nose.
” These text descriptors are useful but obviously don ’ t paint the entire picture .
The AI method used by the Harvard-MIT team describes chemicals as a network of atoms , which gives the algorithm a more complete picture of the chemical than text descriptions can provide .
Yet deep learning alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It needs to be coupled with deep biological knowledge of infections .
The Harvard-MIT team meticulously trained the AI algorithm with examples of drugs that are effective and those that aren ’ t .
In addition , they used drugs that are known to be safe in humans to train the AI .
They then used the AI algorithm to identify potentially safe yet potent antibiotics from millions of chemicals .
Unlike people , AI has no preconceived notions , especially about what an antibiotic should look like .
Using old-school AI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates for treating tuberculosis , including an anti-psychotic drug .
In the study by the Harvard-MIT team , they found a gold mine of new candidates .
These candidate drugs do not look anything like existing antibiotics .
One promising candidate is Halicin , a drug being explored for treating diabetes .
Halicin , surprisingly , was potent not only against E. coli , the bacteria the AI algorithm was trained on , but also on more deadly pathogens , including those that cause tuberculosis and colon inflammation .
Notably , Halicin was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This bacterium tops the list of most deadly pathogens compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Unfortunately , Halicin ’ s broad potency suggests that it may also destroy harmless bacteria in our body .
It may also have metabolic side effects , since it was originally designed as an anti-diabetic drug .
Given the dire need for new antibiotics , these may be small sacrifices to pay to save lives .
Given the promise of Halicin , should we stop the search for new antibiotics ?
Halicin might clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it still needs to overcome an unrelenting foe that ’ s the main cause of the drug resistance crisis : evolution .
Humans have thrown numerous drugs at pathogens over the past century .
Yet pathogens have always evolved resistance .
So it likely wouldn ’ t be long until we encounter a Halicin-resistant infection .
Nevertheless , with the power of deep learning AI , we may now be better suited to quickly respond with a new antibiotic .
Many challenges lie ahead for potential antibiotics discovered using AI to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which these drugs are tested are different from those inside the human body .
New AI tools are being built by my lab and others to simulate the body ’ s internal environment to assess antibiotic potency .
AI models can also now predict drug toxicity and side effects .
These AI technologies together may soon give us a leg up in the never-ending battle against drug resistance .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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Sriram Chandrasekaran receives funding from the National Institute of Health , USA .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Bloomberg Wants Biden, Buttigieg And Others To Bail, So He Can Take On Sanders — One On One

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s campaign team wants the rest of his Democratic opponents to drop out of the presidential race so he can take on Sen. Bernie Sanders , man to man .
Sanders will become unstoppable if former Vice President Joe Biden doesn ’ t bow out , Kevin Sheekey , Bloomberg ’ s top strategist , told Axios Wednesday .
The self-avowed Democratic socialist will have too many delegates after Super Tuesday if the race does not winnow down , he explained .
“ The fact is if the state of this race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pete and Amy in the race on Super Tuesday — Bernie is likely to open up a delegate lead that seems nearly impossible to overcome , ” Sheekey said .
Bloomberg has not yet appeared in a debate or participated in a caucus or primary this election season .
He added : “ I don ’ t think many people understand the dire circumstances here.
” Sheekey was remarking about the current state of the campaign after receiving a State of the State memo Monday from Bloomberg ’ s senior adviser Mitch Stewart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kanninen ’ s memo suggests that Biden and the other candidates risk propelling “ Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead by siphoning votes away from [ Bloomberg ] .
” Bloomberg , a former Republican , is pulling out all the stops to wipe out his Democratic opponents .
Sanders leads the field in Nevada with 25 % of the vote , according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal Feb. 14 poll published Friday .
Sanders is also doing well in California .
He is polling at 32 % among likely Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s March 3 contest , according to a Public Policy Institute of California survey published Wednesday .
He is 18 percentage points ahead of Biden .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-20--DEA Announces Launch of Operation Crystal Shield

Attorney General William Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon today announced that the DEA will direct enforcement resources to methamphetamine “ transportation hubs ” — areas where methamphetamine is often trafficked in bulk and then distributed across the country .
While continuing to focus on stopping drugs being smuggled across the border , DEA ’ s Operation Crystal Shield will ramp up enforcement to block their further distribution into America ’ s neighborhoods .
DEA has identified eight major methamphetamine transportation hubs where these efforts will be concentrated : Atlanta , Dallas , El Paso , Houston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phoenix , and St. Louis .
Together , these DEA Field Divisions accounted for more than 75 percent of methamphetamine seized in the U.S. in 2019 .
“ While meth is not a new drug , it has seen a troubling resurgence over the past few years , ” said Attorney General William P. Barr .
“ Manufactured mostly in Mexican labs and smuggled into the United States across the southwest border , meth is a drug that is both cheap and potent , creating a deadly combination .
Just as the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tide of opioid fatalities , it will use every weapon in its arsenal – such as the DEA ’ s Operation Crystal Shield – to stop dangerous methamphetamine from reaching American neighborhoods and harming American families.
” Operation Crystal Shield builds on existing DEA initiatives that target major drug trafficking networks , including the Mexican cartels that are responsible for the overwhelming majority of methamphetamine trafficked into and within the United States .
From FY 2017 to FY 2019 , DEA domestic seizures of methamphetamine increased 127 percent from 49,507 pounds to 112,146 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of DEA arrests related to methamphetamine rose by nearly twenty percent .
“ For decades , methamphetamine has been a leading cause of violence and addiction – a drug threat that has never gone away , ” said Acting Administrator Dhillon .
“ With a 22 percent increase in methamphetamine-related overdose deaths , now is the time to act , and DEA is leading the way with a surge of interdiction efforts and resources , targeting regional transportation hubs throughout the United States .
By reducing the supply of meth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and death it spreads.
” Virtually all methamphetamine in the United States comes through major ports of entry along the Southwest Border and is transported by tractor-trailers and personal vehicles along the nation ’ s highways to major transfer centers around the country .
It is often found in poly-drug loads , alongside cocaine , heroin , and fentanyl .
DEA Announces Launch of Operation Crystal Shield is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news , current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Former DIA Employee Pleads Guilty to Leaking Classified National Defense Information to Journalists

An employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency ( DIA ) pleaded guilty today to charges related to his disclosure of classified national defense information ( NDI ) to two journalists in 2018 and 2019 .
“ Frese violated the trust placed in him by the American people when he disclosed sensitive national security information for personal gain , ” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers .
“ He alerted our country ’ s adversaries to sensitive national defense information , putting the nation ’ s security at risk .
The government takes these breaches seriously and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposal to apprehend and prosecute those who jeopardize the safety of this country and its citizens.
” “ Henry Kyle Frese was entrusted with Top Secret information related to the national defense of our country , ” said G. Zachary Terwilliger , U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia .
“ Frese violated that trust , the oath he swore to uphold , and engaged in felonious conduct at the expense of our country .
This case should serve as a clear reminder to all of those similarly entrusted with National Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal gain , or that of others , is not selfless or heroic , it is criminal.
” “ Mr .
Frese violated his sworn oath to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States by using his access to the United States ’ most sensitive information and steal state secrets for nothing more than personal gain , ” said Robert Wells , Acting Assistant Director of the FBI ’ s Counterintelligence Division .
“ The men and women of the FBI who investigated this case swore the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose to uphold it .
I am proud of the work they did to hold Mr. Frese accountable for his actions.
” “ By disseminating the same classified information he had pledged to protect , Henry Kyle Frese put the US and our national defense equities in danger , ” said Timothy R. Slater , Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI ’ s Washington Field Office .
“ The US Government and the American public depend on trusted government employees to keep such information out of the hands of our adversaries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm .
The FBI ’ s counterintelligence mission is to protect our country ’ s information and secrets in order to safeguard our future ; and the men and women of the FBI will continue to work hard to preserve that information.
” According to court documents , Henry Kyle Frese , 31 , of Alexandria , was employed by DIA as a counterterrorism analyst from February 2018 to October 2019 , and held a Top Secret//Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance .
United States government agencies have confirmed that in the spring and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published eight articles , all authored by the same journalist ( Journalist 1 ) that contained classified NDI that related to the capabilities of certain foreign countries ’ weapons systems .
These articles contained classified intelligence from five intelligence reports ( the Compromised Intelligence Reports ) made available to appropriately cleared recipients in the first half of 2018 .
The topic of all of these initial five Compromised Intelligence Reports – foreign countries ’ weapons systems – was outside the scope of Frese ’ s job duties as an analyst covering CT topics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence reporting from which they were derived , both contained information that is classified up to the TS//SCI level , indicating that its unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to result in exceptionally grave damage to the national security .
The intelligence reporting was marked as such .
According to court documents , Frese and Journalist 1 lived together at the same residential address from January 2018 to November 2018 .
Throughout 2018 and 2019 , Frese and Journalist 1 “ followed ” each other on Twitter , and on at least two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tweets announcing the publications of articles containing NDI classified at the Top Secret level .
In or about April of 2018 , Journalist 1 introduced Frese to a second journalist ( Journalist 2 ) .
Subsequently , Frese began texting and speaking with Journalist 2 by telephone .
Between mid-2018 and late September 2019 , Frese orally transmitted NDI classified at the Top Secret level to Journalist 1 on 12 separate occasions , and orally transmitted NDI classified at the Secret level to Journalist 1 on at least four occasions .
Frese knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Top Secret levels because the intelligence products from which he had learned the classified information had visible classification markings as to the classification level of the information , and the intelligence products accessed by Frese were stored on secure , classified government information systems .
In relation to one of the 12 times Frese orally transmitted Top Secret NDI to Journalist 1 , in or about mid-April to early May 2018 , Frese accessed an intelligence report unrelated to his job duties on multiple occasions , which contained NDI classified at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
A week after Frese accessed Intelligence Report 1 for the second time , Frese received an April 27 , 2018 Twitter Direct Message ( DM ) from Journalist 1 asking whether Frese would be willing to speak with Journalist 2 .
Frese stated that he was “ down ” to help Journalist 2 if it helped Journalist 1 “ progress.
” During the same April 27 , 2018 , Twitter exchange , Journalist 1 indicated that a certain United States military official told Journalist 2 that the official was not aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Report 1 .
Frese characterized the official ’ s denial as “ weird ” and commented on the source of information contained within Intelligence Report 1 .
Several days after the April 27 , 2018 , Twitter exchange , Frese searched on a classified United States government computer system for terms related to the topics contained in Intelligence Report 1 .
A few hours after searching for terms related to the topic of Intelligence Report l , Frese spoke by telephone with Journalist 1 , and several hours later he spoke by telephone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call with Journalist 2 , Journalist 1 called Frese .
During at least one of the calls with Journalist 1 and Journalist 2 , Frese orally passed Top Secret NDI derived from Intelligence Report 1 .
Approximately 30 minutes after Frese spoke with the two journalists , Journalist 1 published an article ( Article 1 ) which contained Top Secret NDI , orally communicated by Frese and derived from Intelligence Report 1 classified at the Top Secret//SCI level .
On at least 30 separate occasions in 2018 , Frese conducted searches on classified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topics he discussed with Journalists 1 and 2 .
On multiple occasions in 2018 and 2019 , Frese conducted searches on classified government systems because of specific requests for information from Journalists 1 and 2 .
Additionally , between early 2018 and October 2019 , Frese communicated with an employee of an overseas CT consulting group ( Consultant 1 ) via social media .
On at least two occasions , Frese transmitted classified NDI related to CT topics to Consultant 1 , using a social media site ’ s direct messaging feature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Top Secret national defense information , and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on June 18 , 2020 , at 9:30 am .
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties .
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S .
Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors .
Former DIA Employee Pleads Guilty to Leaking Classified National Defense Information to Journalists is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news , current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political Cartoons and more .


freedomdaily--2020-02-20--Elizabeth Warren, Who Said She Wouldn’t Take ‘A Dime’ From Super PACs, Is Now Accepting Support From

Elizabeth Warren, Who Said She Wouldn’t Take ‘A Dime’ From Super PACs, Is Now Accepting Support From A Super PAC

Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who vowed when she announced her White House bid last year not to take “ a dime of PAC money in this campaign , ” refused Thursday to disavow a super PAC raising money to support her candidacy .
“ Do you want the super PAC supporting you to stand down ?
” a reporter asked Warren outside of a campaign stop in Nevada .
The super PAC in question , Persist PAC , formed this week to support the Massachusetts Democrat .
“ So look , ” Warren replied , “ the first day I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , I said I hope every presidential candidate that comes in will agree , no super PACs for any of us.
” “ I ’ ve renewed that call dozens of times , and I couldn ’ t get a single Democrat to go along with it.
” Warren defended her about-face on super PAC money in terms of gender , telling reporters that she and fellow Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar were the only Democrats who did not have super PACs supporting their candidacies .
“ We reached a point a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were still in this race and on the debate stage all had either super PACs or they were multi-billionaires and they could just rummage in their sock drawers and find enough money to be able to fund a campaign , ” Warren said .
“ And the only people that didn ’ t have them were the two women.
” Warren has run largely on opposing support from lobbyists , billionaires , and super PACs , which can receive unlimited donations from individual donors as long as they do not coordinate directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve already said that I will run my campaign differently — no Washington lobbyist money , no PAC money , no auditioning billionaires to run a super PAC for me , and no dark-money groups devoted to supporting this campaign , ” Warren wrote in a post on Medium on Feb. 25 , 2019 .
“ I ’ m not taking a dime of PAC money in this campaign , ” Warren vowed during her campaign announcement on Feb. 9 , 2019 .
“ I ’ m not taking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not taking applications from billionaires who want to run a Super PAC on my behalf .
And I challenge every other candidate who asks for your vote in this primary to say exactly the same thing.
” But Warren ’ s idealism has seemingly been tested by lackluster campaign fundraising , and disappointing showings at the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary , where she finished third and fourth , respectively .
Elizabeth Warren , Who Said She Wouldn ’ t Take ‘ A Dime ’ From Super PACs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAC is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news , current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political Cartoons and more .


freedomdaily--2020-02-21--Pro-Abortion, Pro-Gay Marriage Biden Touts His Catholic Faith In Campaign Video: ‘I Pray The Rosary’

Pro-abortion 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden touted his Catholic faith in a February campaign video saying , “ I go to mass , I pray the rosary.
” The former vice president released a campaign video Tuesday titled “ Faith , ” in which Biden discusses Catholicism and discusses how his Catholic faith helped him through deaths of loved ones in his immediate family .
“ Faith is what has gotten me through difficult times in my life , ” he says , mentioning the death of his first wife , eldest daughter , and his son Beau Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s all about hope and purpose and strength , and for me , my religion is just an enormous sense of solace , ” Biden says , as the video pans over images of Biden praying .
One image shows Biden speaking to Pope Francis .
“ I go to Mass and I say the rosary .
I find it to be incredibly comforting , ” he adds .
Biden is a baptized Catholic but supports multiple political stances , including abortion and gay marriage , which contradict Catholic teaching .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard left stance on abortion access during the 2020 presidential campaign , a major shift from his past positions on the issue .
Biden formerly said that Roe v. Wade had gone “ too far ” and that a woman should not have the “ sole right to say what should happen to her body.
” Biden now fully supports abortion as a constitutional right , though the Catholic Church teaches that abortion “ constitutes a grave offense ” and that a person who obtains an abortion is automatically excommunicated from the Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied Biden Holy Communion in October because of his support for abortion .
Biden has also officiated two different gay weddings : a wedding service for two men over Memorial Day Weekend 2017 , and another wedding service for two White House staffers in April 2016 .
Biden officiating at these weddings here contradicts the Catholic Church teaching that marriage should be between a man and a woman .
The former vice president said Jan. 25 that “ there is no room for compromise ” on transgender equality , though the Catholic Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are only two genders : male and female .
“ Let ’ s be clear : Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time , ” Biden tweeted .
“ There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.
” The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .


freedomdaily--2020-02-21--Bloomberg Office Vandalized, Campaign Immediately Suggests Bernie Sanders Is To Blame

Michael Bloomberg ’ s campaign office in Knoxville , Tennessee was vandalized Thursday evening with “ Fuck Bloomberg ” spraypainted on its door .
Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey issued a statement Friday saying the vandalism “ echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters , ” but also saying that they don ’ t know who ’ s responsible for the action .
“ We call on Bernie Sanders to immediately condemn these attacks and for his campaign to end the Trump-like rhetoric that is clearly encouraging his behaviors to engage in behavior that has no place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Knoxville Police Department told WVLT that the office was vandalized sometime between 6 p.m. on Thursday and 7 a.m. on Friday and that there ’ s an active investigation into the case .
There are no security cameras at the vandalized office and there are currently no suspects , WVLT reported .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign office was vandalized just one day after Sanders was criticized during the Democratic debate on Wednesday over the aggressive behavior of some of his online supporters .
“ I ’ ve said many times before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we need to step up , ” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in reference to threatening emails sent by ostensibly Sanders supporters to leaders of the Culinary Workers Union .
“ That ’ s what leadership is all about.
” Sanders said he millions of followers , 99.9 percent of which are “ decent human beings , are working people , are people who believe in justice , compassion and love.
” “ And if there are a few people who make ugly remarks , who attack trade union leaders , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Sanders campaign did not immediately return a request for comment .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-21--‘Putin’s Puppet’: Hillary Clinton Takes Shot At Trump Based On Vague Reports About Russian Election

‘Putin’s Puppet’: Hillary Clinton Takes Shot At Trump Based On Vague Reports About Russian Election Interference

Topics in this post : Hillary Clinton the 2020 Election Failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton criticized President Trump as “ Putin ’ s puppet ” on Friday in response to reports that U.S. intelligence officials told lawmakers that Russia is meddling in the 2020 presidential campaign to help Trump .
“ Putin ’ s Puppet is at it again , taking Russian help for himself , ” Clinton wrote on Twitter in response to an NBC News report that confirmed a New York Times story about the intelligence briefing .
The reports in question was vague , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Congress .
CNN anchor Jake Tapper poured cold water on the reports , saying that a source familiar with the congressional briefing said that the intelligence provided to Congress was being “ mischaracterized.
” “ What ’ s been articulated in the news is that the intelligence community has concluded that the Russians are trying to help Trump again .
But the intelligence doesn ’ t say that , ” Tapper said on Twitter , citing an anonymous but “ reliable ” source .
But that didn ’ t stop Clinton from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knows he can ’ t win without it .
And we can ’ t let it happen , ” Clinton said of Trump .
Clinton has long blamed Russian involvement in the 2016 election for her stunning loss to Trump .
The intelligence community has said that Russian military intelligence was behind hacks of Democrats ’ emails during the 2016 campaign .
Other intelligence reports have said that Russian operatives used social media sites to sow discord in the U.S. political system .
An intelligence community assessment released on Jan. 6 , 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal was to help Trump defeat Clinton .
Trump has begrudgingly acknowledged that Russia meddled in the election , but he has denied that the Kremlin did so specifically to help him .
He has also denied that Russian interference altered the outcome of the election .
U.S. intelligence officials have also not claimed that Russia ’ s actions changed the election results .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-21--Pregnant Illegal Immigrant Gives Birth ‘Approximately 30 Minutes’ After Crossing Border

A young Guatemalan woman went into labor almost immediately after Border Patrol apprehended her , indicating how far some migrants will go to have a child on U.S. soil .
Border Patrol arrested a pregnant , 27-year-old Guatemalan woman Sunday after she was spotted illegally entering the U.S. at about 2:30 p.m. that day , a Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
The unidentified woman crossed the California-Mexico border with her husband and two children , and they were all taken to the Chula Vista Border Patrol station shortly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visibly pregnant , the Border Patrol agent who made the arrest said she didn ’ t appear agonized and did not request medical attention at the time .
The 27-year-old mother went into labor while the family was receiving a medical evaluation at the Chula Vista Border Patrol station .
After staff prepared an area , she gave birth at about 3:00 p.m. , and she was later transferred to a nearby hospital for additional care .
A CBP spokesman confirmed how the entire process — between being spotted to giving birth — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The woman crossed into the U.S. illegally with her husband and two children , ages 2 and 12 .
The family walked around the end of the primary wall near the base of the Otay Mountain , ” Jeff Stephenson , supervisory Border Patrol agent of the San Diego sector , told the DCNF .
“ They did not climb over the border wall .
She gave birth approximately 30 minutes after being originally encountered by agents , ” Stephenson said .
This is far from the first time Border Patrol agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for illegal aliens who give birth shortly after being apprehended .
In the San Diego sector alone , there have been a total of 33 cases of pregnancy-related hospital visits since Oct. 1 , 2019 , the beginning of the current fiscal year , according to the San Diego Union-Tribune .
While every pregnancy case has its own individual details , the arrival of pregnant foreign nationals for the sole purpose of giving birth on American soil , a phenomenon known as birth tourism , is well documented .
The Center for Immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of thousands of foreign nationals on temporary visas give birth in the U.S. every year .
These parents wish to give birth on U.S. soil in order for their children to earn automatic citizenship , a right given under the 14th Amendment .
President Donald Trump , however , has expressed interest in issuing an executive order that would birthright citizenship .


freedomdaily--2020-02-21--What the Trump budget says about the administration’s health priorities

The Trump administration recently released its budget blueprint for the 2021 fiscal year , the first steps in the complex budgetary process .
The final budget will reflect the input of Congress , including the Democratic House of Representatives , and will look significantly different .
However , budget drafts by presidential administrations are not meaningless pages of paper .
They are important policy documents highlighting goals , priorities and visions for the future of the country .
As a health policy expert , I find the vision brought forward by the Trump administration deeply concerning .
Cuts to virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations future .
To make things worse , ancillary programs that are crucial for good health are also on the chopping block .
To be sure , most of the proposed damage will find it hard to pass muster with Congress .
Yet given the nation ’ s ever-growing debt Congress may soon be amenable to rolling back the nation ’ s health safety net .
Rolling back the ACA and the safety net To no one ’ s surprise , some of the biggest cuts in the proposed budget focus on health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of terms to disguise its true intentions .
Yet a closer look indicates that terms like “ rightsizing government , ” “ advancing the President ’ s health reform vision , ” “ modernizing Medicaid and the Children ’ s Health Insurance Program , ” and “ reforming welfare programs ” all come down to the same end result : cuts to the safety net .
One of the main targets remains the Affordable Care Act , or ACA .
In 2017 , after several failed attempts to repeal and replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scaled back its open hostility .
Instead of asking directly to repeal the ACA , this year ’ s budget proposal calls for initiatives to “ advance the president ’ s health reform vision , ” by cutting more than half a trillion dollars from the budget .
These initiatives come on top of actions the Trump administration has already taken to roll back the Affordable Care Act , including the repeal of the individual mandate penalty , severely limiting outreach and enrollment efforts , and creating a parallel insurance market by expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and association health plans .
The Trump administration has also targeted Medicaid , the nation ’ s largest safety net program serving mostly low-income Americans , pregnant women , children , the disabled and those in need of long-term care , as well as its cousin , the Children ’ s Health Insurance Program .
Overall “ modernization ” for these two programs alone would entail cuts of almost US $ 200 billion .
Medicare , the program serving America ’ s seniors , technically would not undergo significant restructuring .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” would reduce the program by more than half a trillion dollars or 6 % .
All put together , cuts to the ACA , Medicaid and Medicare will exceed a trillion dollars over a decade .
Coverage losses , mostly affecting lower-income Americans , would range in the millions of dollars .
Health is more than just medical care In the U.S , , we often equate health with access to medical care .
However , researchers have long recognized that medical care contributes only about 10 % to 20 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ component of good health is access to education .
However , the Trump budget includes cuts of more than $ 300 billion across the entire education spectrum from Head Start to grants that support college education .
Access to food and nutrition also plays a major role in maintaining good health .
However , two programs providing important food security to millions of Americans would face significant cuts .
For one , the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) , which supplements food budgets for 34 million Americans with an annual budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 22 billion in cuts over a decade .
There are also cuts exceeding $ 2 billion over a decade to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women , Infants , and Children ( WIC ) , which reaches more than 6 million Americans with an annual budget of $ 6.4 billion .
Cuts to nutritional benefits would be further compounded by a 15.2 % reduction to the Department of Housing and Urban Development .
The department provides a range of housing assistance programs to needy individuals .
Moreover , the Temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program which provides cash benefits to needy families , faces 10 % in cuts .
A healthy environment and access to clean air and water unquestionably are crucial to living a healthy life .
However , the proposed budget would trim spending on the agency tasked with protecting the nation ’ s environment , the Environmental Protection Agency , by more than 40 % , or $ 36 billion .
A myriad of public health crises have been slowly but steadily harming communities all across the country .
Much of the attention has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More recently , the coronavirus and the seasonal flu epidemic have caught the headlines .
Yet , there are countless other epidemics harming communities around the country including syphilis , hepatitis C and gonorrhea .
Yet the nation ’ s major public health agency , the Centers for Disease Control , would see its budget decline by 9 % .
The Trump administration is also proposing to significantly reduce funding for health-related research programs .
One target is the National Science Foundation , which would see a reduction by 6.5 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the nation ’ s premier medical research agency , is set for 7.2 % in cuts .
Both agencies play crucial roles in positioning the nation to tackle current and future health challenges .
Since the Kennedy administration , taxes have generally been cut and only rarely increased .
Particularly large tax cuts under the George W. Bush administration , without commensurate budget cuts , have created a systemic imbalance in the federal budget .
This imbalance was further exacerbated by the recent tax cuts under the Trump administration .
So far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eventual reckoning because of strong economic growth and our ability to borrow heavily .
Eventually , it seems inevitable that this massive imbalance will catch up with us .
Faced with the choice to either raise taxes or cut programs , Congress may choose the latter .
With defense spending largely untouchable , health programs and other social support systems will likely bear the brunt .
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Simon F. Haeder is a Fellow in the Interdisciplinary Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to equip teams of researchers and community partners in applying research to solve real community problems .