Current Events in June 2021

A new study led by researchers from the Queensland University of Technology explored how kids’ sugar intake can take a toll on their physical and mental health. 

Based on results from a trial conducted on mice, long-term consumption of high-sugar diets can increase the risk of obesity and place a heavier burden on the nervous system. This can ultimately impact attention span, hyperactivity, and decision-making. 

“Our study found long-term sugar consumption (a 12-week period with the mice which started the trial at five weeks of age) at a level that significantly boosts weight gain, elicits an abnormal and excessive stimulation of the nervous system in response to novelty,” said researcher Selena Bartlett. “It also alters both episodic and spatial memory. These results are like those reported in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.” 

Maintaining healthy sugar levels

The researchers examined mice to see if long-term sugar consumption impacted health and wellness. The study began when the mice were five weeks old; one group consumed an unlimited amount of sugar, and the other group was on a sugar-restricted diet. The researchers also conducted behavioral and memory assessments throughout the study to see if these diets affected mental health.

The team found that the mice that consumed large quantities of sugar gained significantly more weight than the mice on the more restricted diet plan. They found that weight gain began roughly four weeks into the trial, though this may be different when thinking about human children. 

The researchers also learned that sugar was associated with many of the symptoms that are indicative of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They found that the mice with high-sugar diets had a harder time with impulse control when presented with food and were more likely to struggle with staying still. 

These findings are important because they highlight how kids can be affected by their diets from a young age. The researchers stated that maintaining healthy sugar levels from childhood can help kids stay on the right track as they grow into adolescence and adulthood. 

“It is increasingly considered that unrestricted consumption of high-sugar food and beverages within the Western Diet might be linked to the obesity epidemic,” Bartlett said. “A strong association between attention-deficits/hyperactivity disorders and being overweight and obese have also been revealed.”

A new study conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health explored the best way for consumers to go about learning a new skill. 

According to their findings, stepping away from practice for a little while might be the answer. They explained that taking short breaks from a lesson or practice session can be an effective way to perform better later on. 

“Our results support the idea that wakeful rest plays just as important a role as practice in learning a new skill,” said researcher Dr. Leonardo G. Cohen. “It appears to be the period when our brains compress and consolidate memories of what we just practiced. Understanding this role of neural replay may not only shape how we learn new skills, but also how we help patients recover skills after neurological injury like stroke.” 

Sharpening our skills

For the study, the researchers had 33 right-handed participants complete an experiment. The group was given a five-digit code, and their goal was to type the code into a computer with their left hand as many times as they could for 10 seconds. They conducted 35 trials, alternating between 10 seconds of the test and 10 seconds of rest. During these trials, the researchers monitored the participants’ brain waves and used a comprehensive computer program to translate their brain activity. 

“We wanted to explore the mechanisms behind memory strengthening seen during wakeful rest,” said researcher Ethan R. Buch, Ph.D. “Several forms of memory appear to rely on the replaying of neural activity, so we decided to test this idea out for procedural skill learning.” 

The researchers learned that during the designated rest periods, the participants’ brains replayed the five-digit code at a rapid pace. Then, when they went to go back in for the experiment, they were often faster and more accurate at punching in the code with their left hands. The team explained that the more times the brain replayed the code during the rest periods, the better the participants performed during the trial. 

“During the early part of the learning curve, we saw that wakeful rest replay was compressed in time, frequent, and a good predictor of variability in learning a new skill across individuals,” said Dr. Buch. “This suggests that during wakeful rest, the brain binds together the memories required to learn a new skill.” 

“Overall, our results support the idea that manipulating replay activity during waking rest may be a powerful tool that researchers can use to help individuals learn new skills faster and possibly facilitate rehabilitation from stroke,” added Cohen. 

There’s good news and bad news if you’re shopping for a used car. The shortage isn’t as severe as earlier in the year with inventories stabilizing in recent weeks. But used car prices began May at all-time highs.

A Cox Automotive analysis of industry data shows the average used car listing price rose to more than $22,000 for the first time ever in April, closing the month at a new high of $22,568. That compares with $21,343 at the end of March.

The average wholesale used-vehicle price -- the price dealers pay -- rose 4.65% in May over April’s average price. That brought the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) to 203.0, a 48.2% increase from a year ago.

Pickups in heavy demand

Compared to 2020, all major market segments saw seasonally adjusted price increases last month. Pickup trucks were in exceptionally heavy demand, outperforming the overall market. Most other major segments underperformed the overall market. 

Jonathan Smoke, the chief economist at Cox Automotive, says used vehicle sales lost momentum in the first week of June, but not all of it may have been due to higher prices.

“Our estimates put used car sales down 14%, but some of the decline may have been due to the timing of the Memorial Day holiday, which landed in the previous week,” Smoke said.

Used car sales have risen sharply in recent months because of a shortage of new cars. Since the start of the pandemic, computer chips have been in short supply and nearly all automakers have had to cut back production of new cars.

Fewer new car incentives

Because of that, dealers are offering fewer incentives. For example, Smoke said the percentage of new car sales carrying 0% financing fell to 6% in May from 9% in April.

“New and used inventory levels are down substantially year over year but new is getting tighter while used continues to modestly improve,” Smoke said.

The supply of new cars and trucks on dealer lots as of May 24 was down 59% compared to 2019, the year before the start of the pandemic.

The list of the 10 used vehicles with the biggest price increases, compiled by iSeeCars.com, is dominated by pickup trucks and luxury cars. The Ram 1500’s price is up 28.8%, the GMC Sierra 1500 sale price is up 28.6%, and the Chevy Silverado 1500 is up 27.1%.

“These used vehicles have proven to be appreciating assets over the past year -- a circumstance not typically associated with used cars,” said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars’ executive analyst. “Shoppers interested in these vehicles should consider holding off on purchasing them, while consumers who have these vehicles in their garage and are willing to part with them can take advantage of these significantly higher trade-in values.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said Wednesday that the total number of home mortgage applications decreased by 3.1% for the week ending June 4 compared to the week prior. 

Analysts said the dip in mortgage applications can be at least partly attributed to high home prices, which have hampered home sales recently. 

The decline in mortgage rates likely impacted refinance applications. Factoring in an adjustment for the Memorial Day holiday, the MBA’s index reflected a 5.1% drop in applications for refinancing.

“With fewer homeowners able to take advantage of lower rates, the refinance share dipped to the lowest level since April,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. “The large annual decline was the result of Memorial Day 2021 being compared to a nonholiday week, as well as the big upswing in applications seen last May once pandemic-induced lockdowns started to lift.” 

The average contract interest rate for traditional 30-year mortgages decreased to 3.15% from 3.17% last week. Applications for a mortgage were 24% lower than the same week a year ago.

"The average loan size on a purchase application edged down to $407,000, below the record $418,000 set in February, but still far above 2020's average of $353,900,” Kan said. "Home-price growth continues to accelerate, driven by favorable demographics, the recovering job market and economy, and housing demand far outpacing supply.” 

Guan’s Mushroom Company of Commerce, Calif., is recalling all cases of its Enoki Mushroom, which was imported from China.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product, which comes in a 200g/7.05-oz, clear plastic package with UPC code 810023170303 and product code RY3428A or RY3434A, was shipped from California, New York and Pennsylvania produce distributors or wholesalers to retail stores nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it, but return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with question may contact the company at (323) 223-1188.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 33,379,300 (33,365,965)

Total U.S. deaths: 598,006 (597,700)

Total global cases: 173,709,075 (173,386,978) 

Total global deaths: 3,739,415 (3,730,939)

Report: Laboratory origin of COVID-19 a ‘plausible theory’

The Wall Street Journal reports that a classified government report produced early in the pandemic concluded that it is “plausible” that the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China.

At the time, Chinese authorities said -- and the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed -- that the virus most likely originated in a live animal market in the Chinese city. The Journal quotes officials who have seen the report as saying it makes a case for studying the idea.

The government document, produced by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in May 2020, is reportedly getting a new look because President Biden has asked intelligence agencies to look into the origin of the virus.

Experts worry that the South could see a summer surge in cases

Cases of the coronavirus continue to fall nationwide. Only a handful of states have seen an increase in positive test results over the last two weeks.

But health experts interviewed by the New York Times worry that southern states could see a summer surge in new cases because vaccinations in that region have lagged behind the national effort. Many of these states have already lifted restrictions.

Dr. Peter Hotez, a specialist in vaccines at Baylor College of Medicine, told the Times that he expects a new wave of infections in the South because “we’re so underachieving in terms of vaccination.”

Biden administration reviews supply chain issues

With everything from chicken wings to computer chips in short supply because of supply chain bottlenecks that occurred during the pandemic, the White House is trying to get things moving again.

Officials announced the results of a review of four areas where the supply chain has bogged down earlier today -- semiconductors, large capacity batteries, minerals, and pharmaceutical products. 

The review calls for a number of steps, including use of the Defense Production Act. That Korean War-era law allows the government to direct certain industries to produce more products to alleviate shortages.

Survey shows parent anxious about finances in wake of pandemic

Despite government stimulus checks and increased unemployment benefits, the pandemic has taken a toll on many families’ finances. A new survey from Policygenius shows that 26% of parents think the pandemic has made them less financially able to care for their families.

In addition to layoffs when businesses shut down, many parents voluntarily left the workforce to care for children who were home because schools were closed. Twenty-three percent of families said at least one of the parents quit or scaled back a job over the last 15 months.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult for parents, who have had to navigate so many emotional and logistical challenges while also facing new financial challenges and uncertainty," said Hanna Horvath, a data analyst and personal finance expert at Policygenius.

Increasingly, Americans see the pandemic as just about over

In a very short period of time, a large number of Americans have shed most of their concerns about the pandemic and have returned to their pre-pandemic lifestyle. A poll by Axios/Ipsos found that 69% of Americans see little risk in returning to their pre-pandemic life. In March, only 39% of people expressed that opinion.

Restaurants are busier as a result. In early March, only 39% of consumers had gone out to eat in the past week. By early June, 61% had decided to dine out.

After months of isolation, people are getting together again. In March, 44% of Americans had recently visited family or friends. By this month, that percentage had risen to 66%.

Around the nation

• Massachusetts: State health officials report that more than 3.8 million people are fully vaccinated. They say the state has administered 8.1 million doses of vaccine -- 4.2 million first doses and 3.6 million second doses.

• Florida: While new cases of the virus continue to fall nationwide, the state is seeing a new surge. State health officials report that new cases increased by nearly 15% last week. Nationwide, cases were down 28%.

• Virginia: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) toured a Central Virginia distillery and other small businesses on Monday to hear how they coped with the pandemic. She said rebuilding efforts have a long way to go for many people. “It’s really put into stark relief how trying things are for many families,” she stated.

When a hacker group shut down the Colonial Pipeline with a ransomware attack last month, it caused a spike in East Coast gasoline prices and resulted in the company paying a ransom in Bitcoin to regain control of its network.

The U.S. Justice Department now reports that it was able to track down the digital wallet containing 63.7 bitcoins and seize the assets. At the time the ransom was paid, the bitcoins were worth $4.4 million.

Colonial said it paid the ransom because it wasn’t sure about the extent to which its network had been compromised. But at the same time, the company was working closely with the FBI and the Department of Justice’s new digital investigations unit to help track the payment to a Russian hacker group known as Darkside.

“Following the money remains one of the most basic, yet powerful tools we have,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Ransom payments are the fuel that propels the digital extortion engine, and today’s announcement demonstrates that the United States will use all available tools to make these attacks more costly and less profitable for criminal enterprises.”

Seizing digital assets

Previously, it was believed that payments made to criminals and scammers using Bitcoin were untraceable and not retrievable -- a major reason that the digital currency is favored by criminal enterprises.

U.S. investigators reviewed the Bitcoin public ledger and were able to track multiple transfers and identify that approximately 63.7 Bitcoins, representing the proceeds of Colonial’s ransom payment, had been transferred to a specific address. 

The FBI has the “private key,” or the rough equivalent of a password needed to access assets accessible from the specific Bitcoin address. Officials said the digital assets it discovered were involved in money laundering and could there be seized under criminal and civil forfeiture statutes. 

The company was a big help

Monaco said the fact that executives at Colonial Pipeline contacted the FBI immediately aided the search for the funds.

“Today’s announcements also demonstrate the value of early notification to law enforcement; we thank Colonial Pipeline for quickly notifying the FBI when they learned that they were targeted by DarkSide,” the attorney general said.

As news of the government’s seizure was announced, the value of Bitcoin plunged 8%. According to CNBC, the move may be related to the discovery that the digital currency may not be as anonymous and untraceable as people thought.

Australian authorities revealed Tuesday that they successfully decrypted communications from a digital space used by criminals to plot crimes. 

The FBI and Australia's Federal Police (AFP) revealed that they arrested hundreds of criminals and seized tens of millions of dollars in assets after monitoring the ANoM app for nearly three years as part of “Operation Ironside.” 

Schemes plotted on what was created to serve as a safe space for criminals to communicate, but was in reality run by the FBI, allegedly included plots to kill, traffic drugs on a mass scale, and distribute guns. 

“3.7 tonnes of drugs, 104 weapons, $44,934,457 million in cash, and assets expected to run into the millions of dollars, have been seized under Operation Ironside since 2018,” the AFP said in a statement. “The AFP also acted on 20 threats to kill, potentially saving the lives of a significant number of innocent bystanders, with intelligence referred to state police agencies which took immediate action.” 

Criminal takedown

More than 4,000 members from the AFP and state and territory police were involved in Operation Ironside. Authorities said they had been covertly collecting information about the schemes being plotted by criminals within the app since 2018. 

The ANoM app was supposed to be accessible only on mobile phones that were purchased through the black market that had been altered in a way that rendered them unable to make calls or send emails. The phones’ only capability was to send messages to other devices with the app. 

"The devices organically circulated and grew in popularity among criminals, who were confident of the legitimacy of the app because high-profile organized crime figures vouched for its integrity," the AFP statement said.

The AFP said the criminals didn’t use codes or pseudonyms on the app because they believed the app to be impenetrable to authorities. 

More arrests to come 

Authorities said they’re continuing to work on accessing larger encrypted communications apps that criminals use to avoid detection by law enforcement. 

“More arrests are expected domestically and offshore under a coordinated global response connected to Operation Ironside,” the AFP said. 

"The FBI, with our international partners, will continue to adapt to criminal behaviour and develop novel approaches to bring these criminals to justice," said the FBI's Anthony Russo.

The number of posted job listings hit a record high of 9.3 million in April, according to the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). 

Analysts said the surge in job postings is the result of economic upturn set in motion by the nation’s recovery from the pandemic recession of last year. April’s job postings beat a record set in March of 8.3 million and topped analysts’ expectation of around 8.18 million. 

Job postings on the last business day of April were at their highest level since the JOLTS series began in December 2000, the Labor Department said. The hire rate in April remained more or less unchanged at 4.2% from the previous month.

“Hires increased in accommodation and food services (+232,000) and in federal government (+10,000),” the report noted. “Hires decreased in construction (-107,000), durable goods manufacturing (-37,000), and educational services (-32,000). The number of hires was little changed in all four regions.”

More growth coming soon

The quits rate, which is viewed as a way to gauge workers’ confidence that they can find another job, increased substantially to 3.95 million (a 10.8% increase). The retail sector saw a particularly high jump in quits -- from 3.6% to 4.3%. 

Overall, the JOLTS numbers suggest that the job market is poised to see more growth in the months ahead.

"There are still a lot of people unemployed, but there does not seem to be a lot of eagerness to work," Chris Low, chief economist at FHN Financial in New York, told Reuters. "There would have been many more hires if employers could find more people."

Amazon has activated Sidewalk, a new opt-in service that lets users share internet between Amazon devices that are always on. Sidewalk enables compatible Amazon devices, like Echo smart speakers and Ring cameras, to create a larger web of connectivity. 

Amazon said Sidewalk should make the process of setting up new devices faster and easier and allow for more expansive location tracking and notifications from devices. The company also noted that the service should help certain devices stay connected to the internet if they’re prone to being knocked offline because of wireless range issues.

Sidewalk lets customers contribute a small portion of their internet bandwidth to their greater neighborhood network. By pooling it together, users can “create a network that benefits all Sidewalk-enabled devices in a community,” Amazon stated. 

“This can include experiences ranging from finding pets or valuables that may be lost and improving reliability for devices like leak sensors or smart lighting, to diagnostics for appliances and power tools. For example, smart lighting at the edge of a user’s property, or a garage door lock in a poor coverage zone, can receive connectivity support from a participating neighbor’s gateway and continue to operate if the device falls offline for a period of time.”

Privacy and security

The company said privacy and security were of paramount importance when designing Sidewalk. Amazon even released a white paper detailing the protections integrated into the service. However, some security researchers say there’s still a risk that user data could be compromised. 

“Amazon uses layered security and restricts the amount of data that the gateway, application, and cloud can see, but every system has bugs, and it’s really hard to tell until time passes and things are found,” Omar Alrawi, founder of the YourThings project and a Ph.D. candidate at Georgia Tech specializing in security for smart-home Internet of Things devices, told the New York Times. 

“I think the third-party integration is a potential issue. How do you enforce that a third party won’t abuse your information?”

Participation optional

Starting Tuesday, Amazon devices will automatically start participating in the service. It is, however, completely optional for users to keep it activated. Sidewalk can be turned on or off at any time through a simple change in settings. 

Here’s how to turn it off on Ring and Echo devices: 

• On Echo speakers. Open the Alexa mobile app and go to More, Settings, Account Settings, Amazon Sidewalk, and choose ‘Disable.’

• Ring app. Go to the Control Center, Amazon Sidewalk, Disable, Confirm.

Cyberattacks have recently affected everything from meat producers to gasoline pipelines, and the potential impact of these online attacks is significant. Now, experts from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are developing new cybersecurity technology that’s designed to trick hackers and prevent serious cyberattacks. 

Experts designed a new tool called Shadow Figment, which creates a fake online world that mimics the way real online portals would respond to hackers. The system depends on software engineers who work behind the scenes to trick hackers into interacting with imaginary sites so that they can’t harm real targets. This gives time for experts to come in so they can face the threat.

“Our intention is to make interactions seem realistic, so that if someone is interacting with our decoy, we keep them involved, giving our defenders extra time to respond,” said researcher Thomas Edgar. 

Preventing cyberattacks

Electricity grids, pipelines, and water systems are all controlled by intricate online systems. A cyberattack on any one of these systems, which are often controlled by a multitude of devices, could put consumers’ health and safety at serious risk. 

With Shadow Figment, the system creates a distraction for the attacker that will interact much in the same way that the intended system is designed to respond. Using machine learning techniques, the software studies the actual system and then comes up with a harmless replica for hackers on-screen; this deceives criminals into thinking they’ve easily gotten into their desired point of attack. 

The technology is successful because it tricks the hackers into thinking their maneuvers are successful, which keeps them engaged in the “attack” for longer periods of time. The researchers gave the example of tampering with the temperature in a server room that needs to remain cool to function properly; Shadow Figment will indicate that the temperature in the room has gone up, which would prompt the hacker to continue on with their attack. 

The goal is to keep the hackers involved in the fake world so that software engineers can study their behaviors and work to prevent a serious attack. The more time the hacker spends in Shadow Figment, the more time that engineers have to work on the defense. 

“We’re buying time so the defenders can take action to stop bad things from happening,” said Edgar. “Even a few minutes is sometimes all you need to stop an attack. But Shadow Figment needs to be one piece of a broader program of cybersecurity defense. There is no one solution that is a magic bullet.” 

While there is still a patent pending for Shadow Figment, the technology is designed to benefit and protect everyone. 

“The development of Shadow Figment is yet another example of how scientists are focused on protecting the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure,” said researcher Kannan Krishnaswami. “This cybersecurity tool has far-reaching applications in government and private sectors -- from city municipalities, to utilities, to banking institutions, manufacturing, and even health providers.” 

Over the last few years, major retailers like Denny’s, Pizza Hut, Subway, and White Castle have rolled out plant-based options for traditionally meat-based products. This came on the heels of reports suggesting that consumers are likely to gain health benefits when they eat more plant-based foods. 

Now, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst explained that they’re working on ways to make these choices taste better and be healthier for consumers. They explained that the goal is to make more plant-based proteins; however, there are several factors that come into play in the research process, and more work needs to be done. 

“With Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods and other products coming on the market, there’s huge interest in plant-based foods for improved sustainability, health, and ethical reasons,” said researcher David Julian McClements. 

“A lot of academics are starting to work in this area and are not familiar with the complexity of animal products and the physicochemical principles you need in order to assemble plant-based ingredients into these products, each with their own physical, functional, nutritional, and sensory attributes.”

Innovations in plant-based food science

Plant-based food options have gained popularity in recent years, and the researchers say there is interest and demand for eating fewer animal-based products; they cited statistics that show a nearly 30% increase in sales of plant-based items between 2017 and 2019. The goal now is to continue developing healthier products that taste good. 

Despite how well-received meatless options have been, McClements explained that many of these products aren’t as nutrient-dense as they could be. Rather than using plant-based proteins, which is the team’s goal for the future, these products are full of fats and sugars that can negatively impact consumers’ health. 

“Our research has pivoted toward this topic,” said McClements. “There’s a huge amount of innovation and investment in this area, and I get contacted frequently by different startup companies who are trying to make plant-based fish or eggs or cheese, but who often don’t have a background in the science of foods.” 

One of the roadblocks in this area is the nutrient make-up of plant-based foods. While there are benefits to eating plant-based foods, eliminating all animal-based products can leave consumers lacking some vital nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D. 

“We’re trying to make processed foods healthier,” said McClements. “We aim to design them all to have the vitamins and minerals you need and have health-promoting components like dietary fiber and phytochemicals so that they taste good and they’re convenient and they’re cheap and you can easily incorporate them into your life. That’s the goal in the future, but we’re not there yet for most products.” 

McClements and his team have received funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Good Food Institute so that they can continue working on more diverse options of plant-based proteins. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aduhelm, whose generic name is aducanumab, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. But the action is not without controversy.

The agency approved the drug using “accelerated” approval, similar to the consideration it gave the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines that received emergency use authorization (EUA) last year.

The FDA said the accelerated approval pathway can be used for a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides “a meaningful therapeutic advantage over existing treatments.”

The drug is intended to reduce amyloid plaque, a substance in the brain that has been associated with Alzheimer’s. Scientists tested the drug in three separate studies representing a total of 3,482 patients. The studies consisted of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled dose-ranging studies in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. 

The FDA said patients receiving the treatment had a significant reduction of amyloid beta plaque but patients in the control arm of the studies had no reduction of amyloid beta plaque.

‘Victory for people living with Alzheimer’s’

“This approval is a victory for people living with Alzheimer’s and their families,” said Harry Johns, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “This is the first FDA-approved drug that delays decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. This means individuals may have more time to actively participate in daily life, have sustained independence, and hold on to memories longer.”

The drug is produced by Biogen and Eisai, Co., Ltd., a Japanese biopharma firm. Biogen CEO Michel Vounatsos called the FDA approval “a historic moment.”

“We believe this first-in-class medicine will transform the treatment of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and spark continuous innovation in the years to come,” Vounatsos said. “We are grateful for the contributions of thousands of patients and caregivers who participated in our clinical trials, as well as for the dedication of our scientists and researchers. 

Critics’ concerns

The accelerated path Adihelm followed to its FDA approval has drawn concern from some critics who noted that it is an abrupt departure from how other drugs are brought to the market. The nonprofit group Public Citizen was particularly scathing in its rebuke.

“The FDA’s decision shows a stunning disregard for science and eviscerates the agency’s standards for approving new drugs,” said Dr. Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. “Because of this reckless action, the agency’s credibility has been irreparably damaged.”

In addition, some doctors interviewed by the Wall Street Journal cautioned that the drug won’t be effective for every Alzheimer’s patient.

It will also be an expensive medicine. Biogen said that the typical patient would pay about $56,000 a year before insurance coverage for treatment with the drug. Cigna has estimated eligible patients may face $10,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs.

In 2021, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates about 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is a progressive cognitive illness for which there is no cure.

General Motors is recalling 196 model year 2019-2020 Chevrolet 6500HD vehicles.

The engine control module (ECM) was calibrated incorrectly, allowing the vehicle to exceed the tires' maximum speed rating of 75 mph.

Tire failure can occur if the vehicle speed exceeds the maximum tire speed rating, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the ECM software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 28, 2021.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202325530.

Trek Bicycle Corporation of Waterloo, Wis., is recalling about 345,000 sets of Bontrager Satellite City Bicycle Pedals in the U.S. and Canada.

If the pedals are incorrectly installed by the retailer during assembly, they can fall off the crank arm of the bicycle, posing fall and injury hazards to the rider.

The firm has received 132 reports of the recalled pedals loosening, locking up or falling off, including seven reports of riders falling and experiencing injuries, including scrapes, bruises and road rash.

This recall involves Bontrager Satellite City Pedals, which were installed as original equipment on Trek “Allant+,” “Dual Sport+,” “FX 2,” “FX 3,” “Verve 2,” “Verve 3,” and “Verve+” model bicycles.

“ZTR02” is stamped on the bicycle’s pedal and on the pedals that were sold separately as a replacement part.

The pedals have orange reflectors on the outside edges.

The pedals, manufactured in China, were sold at Trek Bicycle stores and other bicycle stores nationwide, and online at trekbikes.com from January 2018, through April 2021, for between $600 and $6,000. The pedals were also sold separately for about $30.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using bicycles equipped with the recalled pedals and contact their local authorized Trek retailer for instructions on receiving free installation of replacement pedals.

Consumers may contact Trek at (800) 373-4594 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.trekbikes.com and click on “Recalls” under “Legal” at the bottom of the page for more information.