Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a health care system in which patients
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 80 percent of the world's population depends for its primary health care needs
Increasingly, however, modern medicines also contain substances from animals and plants. Given growing populations, increasing wealth, and the spreading
2 . Research into social robots has shown that machines that are at the cutting edge of interaction can respond to feelings and emotionally care for the weak, the elderly and children.
Robin was designed as a companion robot to provide emotional support for children receiving medical treatment. Robin explains medical procedures to them, plays games and tells stories, and during treatment distracts them to reduce their sense of pain. The robot uses AI to understand other people’s feelings, remembering facial expressions and conversations to build dialogue for follow-up sessions. In trials at the Wigmore Medical (UK) Pediatric Clinic in Yerevan, Armenia, the team found that Robin led to a 34% decrease in stress and an increase in happiness of 26% in the 120 children who interacted with him at least once.
Healthcare robots could all benefit from displaying emotional intelligence, both recognizing and responding to human emotions, and to some extent, managing them. The problem with this is the fear that human jobs may be lost as robots become better at handling social situations.
Population trends suggest that the demand for robots to work alongside people in care situations will grow over time. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and over globally will be 1.6 billion (17%), roughly twice the proportion of what it is today. An extra 3.5 million care workers will be needed and that will include emotionally intelligent robots.
Today’s simple systems are being trained to meet that demand. This includes a little wheeled robot that can guess how you are feeling from the way you walk, and the robot from the University of Lincoln in the UK —who helps elderly people to stay physically and mentally active.
The impact of social robots on our lives to date has been tiny. But new models are being introduced that could make the breakthrough. Human emotions are difficult to define, but as trust in robots increases, breaking down the psychological barrier becomes easier to imagine.
1. What are social robots uniquely capable of?A.Lifting heavy packages upstairs for weak people. |
B.Teaching mentally ill teens emotional expressions. |
C.Cooking delicious dishes for the disabled at home. |
D.Playing songs for blind people on their request. |
A.Robin’s function to reduce pain. |
B.Robin’s popularity in hospitals. |
C.Robin’s practical application. |
D.Robin’s success in passing tests. |
A.By concluding viewpoints. |
B.By analyzing causes. |
C.By making comparison. |
D.By giving definition. |
A.It is already happening throughout UK. |
B.Humans need to work hard to secure jobs. |
C.Robots can only meet basic human needs. |
D.It’s an unstoppable and beneficial trend. |
3 . An internship (实习) is a great way to gain valuable experience in your chosen future career. Here, we offer some fantastic worldwide internships with opportunities to help you gain some really unique and diverse experience.
Dental Internship in South Africa
Join our dental elective to boost your dental work experience. You'll work with a professional dentist and assist in day-to-day tasks at check-up camps. Compare the dental care between your home country and South Africa.
Requirement: Interns should be studying dentistry(牙科)
Journalism Internship in Ghana
See all aspects of Ghanaian life by reporting on day-to-day life and taking part in a varied journalism internship in Accra. Work for a newspaper, radio or TV station and get hands-on experience in the media industry.
Requirement: Good English speakers and general level of fitness
Medical Internship in Palampur
If you are considering a career in medicine or nursing, this is the medical internship for you. Based in northern India, in the foothills of the Himalayas, you will shadow local doctors and nurses and learn lots about the Indian medical system.
Requirement: Interns should have an interest in, or already be studying, a medical related course
Medical Internship in Romania
Take part in a highly rated medical internship on a mobile medical unit and within a children's hospital. Work in a variety of medical settings and with a mixture of cases, shadowing doctors and nurses and actively contributing to the care of the patients.
Requirement: Minimum requirement of a first aid certificate
1. Where is this text probably taken from?A.A school magazine. |
B.An academic paper. |
C.A public speech. |
D.A travel log. |
A.Dental Internship in South Africa. |
B.Journalism Internship in Ghana. |
C.Medical Internship in Palampur. |
D.Medical Internship in Romania. |
A.They are located in northern India. |
B.They need childcare interns. |
C.They require a first aid certificate. |
D.They encourage learning from old hands. |
4 . Healthy human skin is covered with bacteria (细菌) that are quick to settle in an open wound. To prevent these organisms from spreading through the body, which can permanently injure or kill a person, the infected wound may need to be cleaned and treated with antibiotics. Medical professionals typically identify infections by unwrapping and observing a wound or by swabbing (用拭子擦拭) it and conducting a laboratory test. But removing a wound dressing can slow down the healing process. Plus, observations are subjective, while swab tests take time and require that a patient be physically present.
To address these issues, some research teams are developing devices that sit under bandages and continuously monitor indirect signs of infection, such as changes in wound temperature or acidity. And scientists at the National University of Singapore have now created an even more direct infection sensor.
This sensor can detect an enzyme (酶) called DNase. The enzyme acts as a reliable infection indicator because disease-causing bacteria produce it in large amounts inside wounds, whereas bacteria on healthy skin do not—so testing for the substance reduces the chance of a false positive result. Furthermore, DNase builds up before other infection signs appear. The new alert system, nicknamed the“wireless infection detection on wounds” (WINDOW) sensor, was detailed in Science Advances.
WINDOWs enzyme-sensing parts rely on a material called DNAgel. There searchers developed a particular kind of DNAgel that remains stable in watery environments, such as the human body, but begins to break down in the presence of DNase. They connected this gel (凝胶) to a chip that senses when the gel responds by sending a signal to a smartphone.
Thus far, the team has exposed the DNAgel to wound swabs from 18 people’s wounds to see how much the material degraded in the presence of the bacteria. There searchers also used the device on six living lab mice whose wounds were exposed to the same bacterial species, and it successfully detected infections.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?A.The harm of common wounds. |
B.The treatment of infected wounds. |
C.The intervention on wound healing. |
D.The dilemma of infection observation. |
A.By comparing wound acidity. |
B.By detecting the DNase enzyme. |
C.By measuring the bacteria amount. |
D.By observing changes in wound color. |
A.It will cut down the length of infection-treating. |
B.It could reduce the cost of infection observation. |
C.It can monitor wounds continuously and remotely. |
D.It might help conduct laboratory tests on wounds. |
A.Innovations in Wound Infection Detection |
B.Removing the Dangers of Open Wounds |
C.Recognizing the Role of DNase in Healing |
D.Challenges in Wound Care and Treatment |
5 . Until the 1940s, blood transfusions (输血) often went wrong because some main blood-group systems had yet to be discovered. This phenomenon is now a thing of the past, but finding a well-matched donor can still be difficult, especially for patients with rare blood types. Recently, a team of British researchers announced a step towards solving this problem by successfully transfusing into two healthy volunteers red blood cells grown from appropriate stem cells donated by others.
By now, such manufactured red cells have been given only to those whose own stem cells had been the source. The stem cells used for this experiment, however, were extracted from blood donated in the normal way. Then, the harvested stem cells were grown and multiplied in a nutrient solution for about 20 days, which served to turn them into young versions of red blood cells called reticulocytes, which, once transfused, quickly develop into the real McCoy. The lab-made red blood cells would be expected to last longer in a receiver’s body than those from a normal transfusion, since transfused blood unavoidably contains some cells that are on their last legs. The next step is to measure how long the manufactured cells actually do last.
If they do indeed survive traditionally transfused cells, then receivers will not need frequent transfusions. That will help a lot. At the moment, patients with blood disorders such as sickle-cell disease and thalassemia may require a transfusion as often as every four to six weeks. As a consequence, some develop iron overload, which causes severe complications (并发症). Others end up forming antibodies against many blood types, which makes finding a matching donor harder.
If all goes well, the trial will be extended to more volunteers. But larger tests, including tests on actual patients, will be needed before this approach can be put into practice. Even then, the technique will probably be reserved for a favored few-those possessing rare blood types being at the head of the queue. Unless some unforeseen breakthrough occurs, making the cells in quantity will be challenging.
1. What does the underlined part “the real McCoy” in paragraph 2 refer to?A.Red blood cells. |
B.Stem cells. |
C.Reticulocytes. |
D.Nutrient solutions. |
A.The lab-made red blood cells last longer than those from a normal transfusion. |
B.Those with rare blood types may enjoy priority in the transfusion of lab-made red blood cells. |
C.Most patients with blood disorders may suffer severe complications and form antibodies. |
D.Blood transfusions often go wrong because of people’s ignorance of the main blood systems. |
A.Indifferent. |
B.Optimistic. |
C.Hopeless. |
D.Cautious. |
A.Development of technology in blood transfusions |
B.Transfusion of lab-made red blood cells into humans |
C.Red blood cells coming from stem cells of receivers |
D.Development and promotion of lab-made blood cells |
6 . Researchers say a new electrical device placed in three paralyzed patients has helped them walk again. The lower bodies of the three patients were left paralyzed after they suffered spinal (脊柱的) cord injuries. But a device implanted in the spinal cord was able to send electrical signals to the muscles to permit them to stand, walk and exercise.
Scientists have discovered that neurons—which receive and send signals for muscle movements—often still work in injured patients with serious spinal cord injuries. However, past research into spinal cord injuries has centered on the stimulation of neurons. Now in the latest experiment led by Gregoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, three paralyzed men were implanted a new electrical device designed to copy an action of the brain, in which it sends signals to the spinal cord that result in muscle movement. When the spinal cord receives the brain signals, it stimulates a collection of nerve cells that can activate different muscles.
The researchers reported that all three patients who got the spinal cord implants were able to take their first steps within an hour after receiving them. Over the next six months, the patients regained the ability to take part in more advanced walking activities, the study found. They were also able to ride bicycles and swim in community settings.
Unlike other attempts to help paralyzed patients walk by stimulating nerves through the back of the spine, Courtine said that his team redesigned the devices so signals would enter the spine from the sides. This method permits more direct targeting and activation of spinal cord areas, he said.
The team then developed artificial intelligence (AI) systems linked to the device. The AI controls electrodes on the device to send signals to stimulate individual nerves that control muscles needed for walking and other activities. However, because the patients’ muscles were weak from not being used, they needed help with supporting their weight, the researchers said. It also took some time for them to learn to work with the technology. Still, Bloch said, “The more they train, the more they start lifting their muscles, the more fluid it becomes.”
1. What can be inferred from paragraph 2?A.Courtine and Bloch have found that neurons in paralyzed patients still work. |
B.The new electrical device can imitate the brain to send signals to the spinal cord. |
C.Three paralyzed men recovered with the help of a new electrical device. |
D.Stimulating the neurons is the focus of the latest research into spinal .cord injuries. |
A.By stimulating nerves through the back of the spine. |
B.By using the AI system. |
C.By making signals enter the spine from the sides. |
D.By sending the signals to the brain. |
A.Every garden has its weeds. |
B.Put the cart (运货马车) before the horse. |
C.It's hard to please all. |
D.Practice makes perfect. |
A.To report the consequence of spinal cord injuries. |
B.To introduce the findings of a recent research. |
C.To compare a recent research with other previous researches. |
D.To recommend a treatment for paralyzed patients. |
Berhanu Kedir, 34, is one of the many patients who have been receiving the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treatment at the Tirunesh Beijing Hospital in Ethiopia. Kedir suffered a car accident seven months ago. He
“The Chinese doctors use acupuncture(针灸), cupping and other techniques
According to Liu, the two highly
Kedir, who was in a coma(昏迷) and could not speak for months due to the damage on his head during
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical practice, has been the remedy for
As an ancient Chinese medical practice with a rich history and deep cultural significance, acupuncture is an embodiment of profound cultural heritage and a holistic path to healing.
9 . A walk in the park may be just what the doctor ordered. A new program launched last month in Canada gives some doctors the option of providing patients with a free annual pass to the country's national parks as part of an effort to increase access to nature and the health benefits.
PaRx, a health initiative launched by the BC Parks Foundation in 2019, partnered with Parks Canada to provide doctors across four provinces with an initial run of 100 passes that can be prescribed (开处方). The program allows doctors to write more general prescriptions for time spent out in nature; two hours a week, at least 20 minutes at a time, is what PaRx director Dr. Melissa Lem suggests.
“Given the growing body of evidence that indicates nature time can improve all kinds of different physical and mental health conditions, we’re hoping that our PaRx program not only improves patient health, but reduces costs to the health-care system, and helps to grow the number of people who are more engaged environmental advocates,” said Prama Rahman, a coordinator for the BC Parks Foundation.
Doctors have been catching on, instructing their patients to turn to nature to improve their health and they're getting creative in how they do it. Dr. Robert Zarr, a doctor based in Washington, began prescribing accessible outdoor activities for his young patients and even created a searchable online database of local parks to make it easier.
But getting outside isn’t always as easy as it might sound. Income can affect one’s access to nature, an issue that PaRx is trying to address in Canada. Doctors utilizing the new national parks pass program are urged to prioritize patients who might not otherwise be able to afford these passes.
While only 100 adult passes, which give holders access to more than 80 national parks, historic sites and nature reserves, have initially been made available, organizers plan to routinely reassess this number as the program grows, the BC Parks Foundation told NPR
1. What is PaRx intended to do?A.Qualify doctors to prescribe. | B.Give patients free access to parks. |
C.Promote free admission to parks. | D.Advocate 20 minutes’ walk a day. |
A.Financing. | B.Setting up. | C.Evaluating. | D.Carrying out. |
A.The BC Parks Foundation is expanding rapidly. |
B.The program has signed up 80 national parks. |
C.More people will benefit from the program. |
D.Those living close to parks can gain priority. |
A.PaRx, a Nature Prescription Program. | B.BC Parks Foundation in Canada |
C.Year-long Passes to National Parks | D.A New Study on Benefits of Walk |
For Malian people in West Africa,Chinese doctors are their trusted and
A ceremony was to mark the opening of a Luban Workshop in Bamako, the capital and
The 400-square-meter Luban Workshop at the University of Arts and Humanities of Bamako offers practical courses about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In the TCM sample display area, Sade, a student at the university, finds artemisinin (青蒿素) among over two hundred
In the future, Chinese medicine technology is expected to be incorporated(包含)into the teaching system of Malian institutions of higher