【推荐1】One major issue in contemporary medical science is the use of humans in clinical trials of medical products. These trials occur frequently to determine the best way to manage diseases.

People are invited randomly and paid to take part in trials of an experimental drug, or new surgical procedure, in a number of countries at the one time. For example, up to a quarter of patients in some fields like breast cancer may be engaged. Other projects, one of which is to determine whether new scanning techniques can detect Alzheimer’s disease, are under way. They may be given the drug or a placebo (安慰剂), or the best existing treatment, and results compared. The trials may be ”blind” with the patient not knowing which group they are in or they may be a “double-blind” with the doctors not knowing either.

Actually, so many people offer themselves willingly. Patients take the views that at least they will get special attention from the doctor if they participate and they may get access to new drugs before they become available in chemists’ shops. In some countries people are paid to participate, especially in poorer countries where they may be told little of what is actually happening.

Yet there are significant risks too. One US study estimated that one in 30 people suffered side effects from such trials, and one in 10, 000 dies. Doctors say that the risk is not so great during the trial itself, where patients are closely monitored, but comes when the drug is released on the market place. For example, in 2004 a US company recalled an arthritis drug, when it was found that after 18 months of use, the risk of heart attack and stroke increased.

People who support testing claim the risks to the individual are small compared with the benefits. Even if the individual has adverse outcomes and their condition worsens, that is valuable information for the drug company. While the drug companies usually pay for the hospital trials, government has set up medical committees to handle the issue.

【推荐1】You’re asleep on a Saturday morning when the sound of an alarm clock erupts from your device. You turn over to see the word SNOOZE projected in the air above your device. You reach out and touch the virtual button with your finger—a slight feeling on your fingertip—before falling back to sleep.

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan are working on a technology that could make this possible. Led by associate professor Yoichi Ochiai, the team creates shapes in the air using a laser(激光) that releases short pulses(脉冲) of light. The high-intensity light can break down air molecules(分子), which produces short-lived spots of light. The system polishes images by rapidly adjusting the central point of the laser in three dimensions.

A previous version of the technology used nano-second laser pulses, which have the unfortunate side effect of burning human skin. Ochiai’s system, named Fairy Lights, employs much shorter laser pulses that are much less dangerous despite having a high peak intensity, Ochiai says. The tiny hearts, stars and fairies that the system projects are not only safe to touch, but they are sensitive to contact. In one test, the system projects a checkbox that can be filled in with your finger. “It feels like sandpaper or a mild electric shock,” Ochiai says.

Ochiai also predicts large-scale emergency monitors that could be projected high over a city to warn residents about a natural disaster or direct them toward an escape route. While the initial images were not large, Ochiai says the flexibility of the system depends on the size and power of the equipment used. Large systems are currently expensive, he says, adding that technologies that draw images will likely become more achievable over the next 10 to 20 years as the multi-million-dollar price decreases.

【推荐2】The Carter Center said recently that only 13 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide last year. That is a major drop from 3.5 million cases of infected people in 1986, in which year the Atlanta-based Carter Center joined the World Health Organization( WHO) in the fight against Guinea worm disease. The center said the remaining infection occurred in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Six human cases were reported in Chad, five in South Sudan, one in Ethiopia and one in the Central African Republic. And the Central African Republic case remains under investigation.

Guinea worm disease is a disease that affects poor communities in distant parts of Africa and Asia where people do not have safe water to drink. People who drink unclean water can get parasites (寄生虫) that can grow up to 1 meter. The worm grows in people for up to a year before painfully coming out, often through the feet or other sensitive parts of the body.

The WHO says there is neither a drug treatment for Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it. But it can be prevented by training people to filter (过滤) and drink clean water.

Guinea worm disease could be the second human disease to be ended after smallpox, according to the Carter Center. Adam Weiss, a director of a program to fight against the disease, says that eradicating the disease finally could be difficult, for the populations where Guinea worm disease still exists often face insecurity, including conflict, which can prevent workers and volunteers from going house to house to offer support.

Weiss warns, “If support for these communities slows or stops, there’s no question that you’re going to see a sudden increase in Guinea worm.” However, he adds, “We’re continuing to make progress — even if it is not as fast as we all want it to be, that progress continues.”

【推荐3】Regrets are known for leaving people in the past, trapped in an unhappy state. Over time, maybe you blame yourself for ending an old romantic relationship, making a bad career choice or being too afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

“The regrets that really haunt people are unresolved regrets, things they could never fix,” Bruine de Bruin, an expert in psychology says. “If you feel like you should have gone to university, you can fix that when you’re relatively young. That can be harder to do when you’re older.” Fortunately, many older adults are better equipped to handle their emotions. “They have the wisdom that comes with life experience,” says Pär Bjälkebring, senior psychology lecturer at Gothenburg University in Sweden. “When they encounter a situation a younger person would regret, they can handle it.” For his research, Bjälkebring asked younger and older adults to record their regrets for a week. “The older participants look at regrets in a different way, and try to accept what is happening,” Bjälkebring says. “Over a week, older adults have less regret and use strategies to handle them. They’re more functional.”

Research shows that the most common reason for regret is missed opportunity. People fantasise about benefits they believe they’ve missed while ignoring the disadvantages that would have naturally arisen. Never got that promotion? You likely think about the missed income without considering the extra stress that the position would have brought. Instead of imagining an alternate reality, focus on the good in your life. “Avoid making comparisons.” Bruine de Bruin says. “Making comparisons undermines the happiness you have. Try to rejoice instead of regret.” “People tend to forget inaction — you may have fewer regrets if you act more and avoid things less.”

Regrets have a tendency to make you feel terrible, but those negative feelings aren’t always harmful. Research shows that initially, regrets help you learn from mistakes. Those who express regret over a decision they’ve made tend to make a better decision next time. Changing your thought process can free you from feelings of guilt, shame and sorrow.