Dr Jian Zhou was a molecular biologist and virologist who worked with Professor Ian Frazer to develop the technology toward the Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines (疫苗),
Born in Hangzhou, China, Dr Zhou graduated from Wenzhou Medical College and went on
2 . Scientists from Tufts University have developed tiny groups of human cells that can move on their own-and in a lab experiment, these so-called “anthrobots” inspired sheets of human neurons to repair themselves when damaged. The researchers hope the collections of cells could one day be used to treat diseases or aid with healing in humans.
The study comes on the heels of earlier work from one of its authors, who produced tiny robots by stitching together frog embryo cells. These robots, known as “xenobots”, could assemble themselves, move across surfaces and travel through liquid.
Since they're not made from human cells, xenobots can't be used to treat humans, writes Matthew Hutson, a freelance science writer. But the anthrobots in the new study could theoretically. Each anthrobot started with a single cell from an adult human lung. It then grew into a multicellular biobot after being cultured (培养) for two weeks.
These lung cells are covered in cilia. But at this point in the research, the cilia were growing inside the clumps of cells. So, for the next week, the researchers grew the cells in a solution (溶液) that caused the cilia to face outward instead, enabling these structures to move the anthrobots, which could move in tight loops, travel in straight lines or wiggle in place. Their speed varied as well.
The researchers also tested how these robots might heal wounds. They mimicked (模拟) a wound by scratching a layer of neurons in a dish. Then, they introduced anthrobots to the site of the scratch, and within days, the neurons regrew, bridging the gap created by the wound. The findings show new structures that might have uses in biomedical settings can be developed without gene editing and without having to design the structures manually, the study authors write.
“Unlike xenobots, anthrobots don't require tools to give them shape, and we can use adult cells-even cells from elderly patients-instead of embryonic cells,” says Gizem Gumuskaya, the paper's lead author. "We can produce these robots in large amounts in parallel, which is a good start for developing a therapeutic tool.”
1. How are the advantages of the anthrobot highlighted in the text?A.By showing comments from users. | B.By explaining some terms. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By listing the data of questionnaires. |
A.The weaknesses of the anthrobot. | B.The culture of the anthrobot. |
C.The structure of the anthrobot. | D.The application of the anthrobot. |
A.It can travel both on land and in water. | B.It requires no genetic modification. |
C.It can be applied in a controlled way. | D.It can develop from any cells of humans. |
A.Regenerative medicine. | B.New materials. |
C.Environmental protection. | D.Individualized education. |
An increasing number of people in China and abroad are discovering or rediscovering the benefits of moxibustion (艾灸),
Mugwort, a flowering plant, is the key
There are two methods of moxibustion treatment. One is called the direct treatment
Moxibustion treatment can be used for a wider variety of medical conditions. But TCM fans consider the cure to be
4 . China is one of the first countries to breed a medical culture. In comparison with Western methods, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) adopt a vastly different approach. For thousands of years, Chinese people have accumulated rich experience in fighting all sorts of diseases, therefore forming a unique medical theory under the guidance of ancient Chinese philosophies.
The core behind TCM is that the human body’s life is the consequence of the balance between yin and yang. Yang functions to safeguard us against outer harm, and yin is the inner base to store and provide energy. When the balance between the two aspects is disturbed, people fall ill.
One of the traditional techniques of TCM, acupuncture (针刺疗法), means insertion (插入) of needles into superficial (表皮的) structures of the body—usually at acupoints (穴位)—to restore the yin-yang balance. It is often accompanied by moxibustion (灸法), which involves burning the mugwort (艾叶) on or near the skin at an acupoint.
The first known text that clearly talks about something like acupuncture and moxibustion as it is practiced today is Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon. It is the earliest and most important written work of TCM and is considered the most representative medical text in China.
Acupuncture and moxibustion have aroused the interest of international medical science circles. And TCM is gradually gaining worldwide recognition. The WHO issued a document in 2002 that appealed to more than 180 countries to adopt TCM as an alternative in their medical policies. In 2010, acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine were added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO. Presently, TCM has been back in the news for its effectiveness in improving the cure rate of the COVID-19 since its outbreak in January 2020.
1. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?A.TCM. | B.Acupuncture. | C.Yin-yang balance. | D.Moxibustion. |
A.It distinguishes acupuncture from moxibustion. |
B.It’s a foundation of world medical research. |
C.It stresses the importance of using acupoints. |
D.It greatly contributes to the development of TCM. |
A.To introduce TCM to the world. | B.To review the development of TCM. |
C.To tell TCM and Western medicine apart. | D.To comment on TCM in fighting COVID-19. |
A.Why TCM gets recognition from WHO. | B.Why TCM is gaining popularity. |
C.How TCM helps in the current situation. | D.How other countries adopt TCM well. |
5 . Britain is launching the world’s largest ever clinical trial of the Galleri test, which picks up pieces of genetic code from DNA before symptoms such as lumps (肿块) appear. The test is a game-changer for early cancer detection, which can detect more than 50 types of the disease in the very early stages. It has been developed by GRAIL, a healthcare company focusing on early cancer detection.
National Health Service (NHS) chief executive Amanda Pritchard said, “This quick and simple blood test could mark the beginning of a revolution in cancer detection and treatment here and around the world. By finding cancer before signs and symptoms appear, we have the best chance of treating it and we can give people the best chance of survival.
NHS has sent out invites across the country offering the test to 140,000 people aged 50 to 77 with no cancer symptoms. Another 6,000 with suspected signs have been offered to speed up their diagnosis (诊断). Blood samples will be taken at mobile clinics in retail parks and community locations. Laboratory analysis produces a result in a fortnight. Each test costs € 620 but NHS has negotiated a discounted price. Half the participants will have their blood screened with the Galleri test right away and samples from the rest will be stored and tested in the future. This will allow scientists to compare the stage at which any tumours (肿瘤) are detected between the two groups.
“The Galleri test can not only detect a wide range of cancer types but can also predict where the cancer is in the body with a high degree of accuracy. Earlier trial results showed it can detect 68% of 12 deadly cancers,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. In England 56% of cancers are diagnosed at stage one or two. NHS aims to increase that to three quarters by 2028. If found early there are a broader range of treatment options available, which can be curative and are often less aggressive.
1. What can be learned about the Galleri test?A.It can spot early-stage cancers. | B.It has been developed by NHS. |
C.It is an effective cure for diseases. | D.It has been completed in Britain. |
A.The test is carried out free of charge. |
B.NHS has offered the test to people from home and abroad. |
C.Some blood samples will be saved for future use. |
D.The test results will come out the following night. |
A.To explain the purpose of NHS. | B.To prove the necessity of the test. |
C.To show the testing process. | D.To stress the harm caused by cancer. |
A.GRAIL Developed the Galleri Test | B.NHS Found a Solution to Cancer |
C.Britain Saved Money in Curing Cancer | D.A Blood Test Helps Save Cancer Patients |