6 . Kate’s unique and infectious smile can brighten anyone’s day. It’s a _________ she’s always had and, coupled with her optimistic outlook, it has helped Kate bravely face many _________ in life.

Born with the rare genetic disorder Crouzon syndrome. Kate has_________138 operations to date. She was once in such a _________ condition that her doctor even refused to conduct further treatment on her. However, instead of being _________ to despair, Kate rose the challenges, for the thought of _________ school had always been encouraging her will to live. “School has been important to keep me going and to help me with my _________,” she tells. “Through school, I found my abilities and talents, like writing and drama. I’ve also_________ how to be enthusiastic and passionate.” As Kate turned 20, the_________of the operations she needed had been done, so she could focus on her future. “The surgeries are getting fewer and now I can just focus on living a life outside of the __________ world.”

Her determination __________. Now 22, Kate has just graduated with a degree in the creative arts and media from Edgewater College. “__________ all of the adversities (逆境) in my life is like my superpower,” she says __________. “Going through the hard challenges makes everything __________ because it makes all of the good things __________!”

8 . In the modern age, a significant number of people suffer with chronic (慢性的) back pain and discomfort, which not only affects their quality of life but also puts a substantial economic burden on society.

BackHug, a pioneering health-tech company, has risen to the challenge of alleviating this crisis by introducing a solution that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to tackle the root causes of back pain.

AI holds the promise to revolutionize (彻底改变) healthcare, including back care. With its ability to analyse vast amounts of medical data, AI can assist in early detection and diagnosis of back issues, leading to faster and more accurate treatment. It enables the creation of personalized treatment plans, taking into account individual patient factors for improved outcomes. AI-driven predictive analytics can help identify at-risk individuals and take preventive measures, reducing the burden of back pain. In essence, AI is set to transform back care by offering more effective, personalized, and accessible solutions.

This technology allows users to track changes in their back tension over time, providing them with evidence of the device’s therapeutic benefits after each session. This new data will be combined with other data collected on the BackHug App, notably from its in-app physiotherapy questionnaire, which generates a personalized treatment programme for each user. This is where AI comes in to analyse the data and generate continuously updated personal treatment programmes on BackHug for users. As Chongsu Lee has noted, this groundbreaking solution not only addresses a pressing issue but also introduces a new data category — back tension measurement.

When it comes to back care, traditional options such as massage therapy sessions can often be a huge load. Many individuals find themselves facing large bills and waiting lists for relief from their back problems, which is why BackHug offers an accessible solution through a subscription model starting at just £89 per month. It, without doubt, has the potential to reshape the landscape of back care.

9 . A patient and I are working on an eating disorder, trying to find out the cause. It turned out to be a relationship break-up in high school. The unpleasant experience led to not eating for a couple of weeks. Then comes a compliment (赞美) from a friend that totally has the opposite effect. “Wow, you look great!” Suddenly, this praise inspires an inner thought: “Oh, people care more about me if I lose weight. So I can control people’s affection by not eating.”

Consider busy parents who don’t notice their child until a good grade appears. In the absence of attention and connection, a sudden strong expression of well-intended praise can bring about the thought, “Wow, my grades make me valuable. I’m noticed when I achieve!” The result can be a twisted view of self-value and an anxiety around grades, exams, and performance. A similar situation occurs with athletic success or high praise for being “nice”. The result is a false mindset: “My worth is totally tied to this desirable behavior.”

So what’s a better way? One answer is to exit the game of “right and wrong” and enter a focus on what needs are present. Returning to our example above, when you see someone has lost weight and you want to give them a compliment, just pause and simply ask, “How are you doing?” See them and hear them. Appreciate them as a person of great value. There may be much more to their inner world than meets the eye.

Similarly, when you see someone’s success, appreciate the hard work they put into it. Ask with gentle curiosity, “How’s it been for you?” Listening with full attention can be a rare gift in today’s world. See if you can understand them from the bigger frame of what they’ve experienced, how they’re feeling, and what they’re needing now.

10 . New York—like Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington—sits underneath the “Atlantic Flyway”, an ancient migration (迁徙) route travelled by millions of birds, every spring and autumn. Up to a quarter of a million of them die crashing into windows in New York every year, according to New York City Audubon, the bird charity that organizes Project Flight Safe. Birds confuse reflections of sky or plants for the real thing and fly straight for them.

In 2021, however, new laws came into force in New York requiring all new buildings and restoration work to be made bird-friendly. It is the strictest such laws in America. The case of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in west Manhattan is a good example. It used to be a top bird-killer, but after swapping its glasses for bird-friendly glass, strikes dropped by 90%. The centre has now fully embraced bird life. Its green roof is home to a breeding seagull group, and as of October 18th, 62 different species have been spotted there.

At night, artificial light draws birds into the city, where they are more likely to crash. Some studies suggest birds can fail to tell direction because artificial light prevents them from sensing the Earth’s magnetic (磁的) field effectively. Last year the city passed a law that requires all city owned and managed buildings to switch their lights off at night during birds’ migration seasons. The law will extend the requirement to privately owned commercial buildings next year. Though exceptions would be allowed for landmarks such as the Empire State and the Chrysler Building, the change would still transform the world’s most famous skyline.

Jessica Wilson of NYC Audubon says that would be a good thing for birds, energy consumption and people. New York is on track to become the most bird-friendly big city in America.