通勤學英語 15Mins Today

每日跟讀#552: Why Hospitals Should Let You Sleep

 

If part of a hospital stay is to recover from a procedure or illness, why is it so hard to get any rest?

 

如果住院的部分原因是要從手術或疾病康復，為什麼想要歇息片刻會這麼難？

 

There is more noise and light than is conducive for sleep. And nurses and others visit frequently to give medications, take vitals, draw blood or perform tests and checkups — in many cases waking patients to do so.

 

噪音和光線多（或強）到足以讓人難以入眠。護理師等人頻繁前來給藥、量取生命徵象、抽血或進行檢測，許多時候是叫醒病人來做。

 

Some monitoring is necessary, of course. Medication must be given; some vital signs do need to be checked. And frequent monitoring is warranted for some patients — such as those in intensive care units. But others are best left mostly alone. Yet many hospitals don’t distinguish between the two, disrupting everyone on a predefined schedule.

 

當然，有的監測有其必要。藥一定要給；有些生命徵象必須檢查。頻繁的監測對某些病人而言也是必要的，例如加護病房的病人，其他病人則最好少去打擾，然而許多醫院並未將二者加以區分，照著預定時程打擾每個病人。

 

Peter Ubel understands the problem as both a physician and patient. When he spent a night in the hospital recovering from surgery in 2013, he was interrupted multiple times by blood draws, vital sign checks, other lab tests, as well as by the beeping of machines. “Not an hour went by without some kind of disruption,” said Ubel, a physician with Duke University. “It’s a terrible way to start recovery.”

 

既是醫師又當過病人的伍柏了解這個問題。2013年他為了從手術恢復而住院一晚，當晚他被抽血、生命徵象檢查、其他檢驗和機器嗶嗶聲打擾多次。現為美國杜克大學內科醫師的伍柏說：「沒有一小時沒受到某種打擾，這是展開復原過程的可怕方式。」

 

It’s more than annoying — such disruptions can harm patients. Short sleep durations are associated with reduced immune function, delirium, hypertension and mood disorders. Hospital conditions, including sleep disruptions, may contribute to “posthospital syndrome” — the period of vulnerability to a host of health problems after hospitalization that are not related to the reason for that hospitalization.

 

這樣的干擾不只惱人，還可能傷害病人。睡眠期間短暫與免疫功能下降、譫妄、血壓高和情感疾患有關。醫院的環境，包括睡眠干擾，可能導致「出院症候群」，就是病人出院後有一段期間容易出現許多健康問題，而這些問題跟住院原因無關。

 

“In addressing a patient’s acute illness, we may inadvertently be causing harm by ignoring the important restorative powers of a healing environment,” said Harlan Krumholz, a Yale University physician who has been calling attention to posthospital syndrome for several years. “The key to a successful recovery after illness may be a less stressful, more supportive, more humane experience during the hospitalization.”

 

耶魯大學醫師克朗霍茲呼籲重視出院症候群已有多年，他說：「在治療病人的急性疾病時，我們可能忽視了有治療功用的環境重要的幫助復原力量，因而在無意中造成傷害。病後順利復原的關鍵，或許正是少點壓力、多點支持、而且更人道的住院經驗。」

 

It’s an environment that, all too often, seems set up for everyone else’s convenience but the patient’s. To help patients deal with the stresses of hospitalization, sedatives are often prescribed. These medications, including opioids, carry their own risks, such as addiction.

 

醫院的環境往往似乎是為所有其他人的方便而設，獨獨忽視了病人的方便。為了幫助病人應付住院的壓力，醫師通常會開鎮靜劑。這些藥劑，包括鴉片類藥物，帶有風險，譬如使人上癮。

 

“Instead, we could make the environment more conducive to rest and reduce the use of sedatives,” Ubel said.

 

伍柏說：「我們大可讓醫院環境更有助於休息，並減少鎮靜劑的使用。」

 

Solutions aren’t hard to fathom. Ubel listed some in 2013. Hospital workers could coordinate so that one disruption serves multiple needs: a blood draw and a vitals check at the same time instead of two hours apart.

 

解決方法並不難懂。伍柏2013年列舉過一些。醫院人員可以協調，使一次打擾滿足多種需求：同時抽血和測量生命徵象，而不是隔兩小時分開做。

 

Or they could allow patients’ needs to guide schedules. If a patient is at low risk and can go six or eight hours without a vitals check, for example, perhaps don’t do that check once every four hours.

 

或者他們可以根據病人的需求安排時程。比方說，如果病人屬於低危險群，可以連續6或8小時無須測量生命徵象，也許就不用每4小時測一次。

 

Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/337387/web/

 

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每日跟讀#551: Revelers across Europe get into the carnival spirit

 

The European carnival season was in full swing Sunday, with revelers from east to west hurling fruit, lampooning political characters or simply giving free rein to their inner child.

 

歐洲的「狂歡節」節期已於週日如火如荼地進行到最高潮──從東歐到西歐，縱酒狂歡的人群猛烈投擲水果、譏諷政治人物，或是單純給予小孩充分的活動自由。

 

The Christian and Orthodox tradition occurs before Lent and also often includes depictions of death or the afterlife while turning conventional rules and customs on their head. It was often a way to shake off the gloom of long winters with reminders that spring would come again.

 

狂歡節是基督教與東正教的傳統，舉行於大齋期之前，慶典中經常出現關於死亡與來世的描繪，同時也會翻轉約定俗成的社會規範和習俗。人們通常藉此擺脫漫長冬日帶來的陰鬱心情，各式節慶活動也提醒著春天將會再臨。

 

Creative costumes level the social playing field, as anonymity is another recurring theme. Food and drink are often consumed in great quantities before the pious give up treats for the long weeks of Lent that end with Easter.

 

充滿創意的各式裝扮，使得人們在社會競技場上的地位趨近平等，而這種「匿名性」正是狂歡節中重複出現的一項主題。眾人經常會消耗大量食物和飲料。之後，虔誠的信徒們會在接下來持續數週的漫長大齋期棄絕美食，直到復活節才告一段落。

 

Italy

Teams threw oranges at each other during the traditional “battle of the oranges” held in Ivrea, near Turin. During the event, which marks the people’s rebellion against tyrannical lords who ruled the town in the Middle Ages, revelers parading on floats represented guards of the tyrant, while those on foot were the townsfolk.

 

義大利

傳統的「柳橙大戰」於杜林市附近的小鎮伊夫雷亞舉行，不同隊伍會互相向對方丟擲柳橙。這場活動是為了紀念中世紀時期人民發動叛亂，反抗統治該地的暴君。乘坐花車遊行的狂歡者代表暴君的侍衛，而徒步遊行的則代表城裡的人民。

 

Spain

“Boteiros” (jumpers) mark the traditional carnival of Viana do Bolo, in the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia. “Zarramaco” characters chase people during the celebration of “El Gallo de Carnaval” (The Carnival’s Cock) in Mecerreyes, in the northern Spanish province of Burgos. The Gallo Carnival is a pagan festival in which people participate in singing, dancing and attacking the “Gallo” (cock) defended by “Zarramacos.”

 

西班牙

在西班牙西北部的加利西亞地區，「Boteiros」（跳躍者）標誌著比亞納多沃洛當地的傳統狂歡節活動。西班牙北部布爾戈斯省的梅塞雷埃斯則舉行「狂歡節公雞」慶典，扮成「Zarramaco」（意指善良的獵人或戰士）角色的人會在活動中追著群眾到處跑。這場「公雞嘉年華」源自於異教信仰，眾人在慶典間載歌載舞，也會攻擊「Zarramaco」保衛的「公雞」。

 

Croatia

A traditional carnival procession is a highlight at the Rijeka Carnival. With more than 10,000 participants, the Rijeka Carnival claims to be one of the biggest in Europe.

 

克羅埃西亞

傳統嘉年華遊行可說是瑞伊卡狂歡節的一大亮點。超過一萬名參與者的瑞伊卡狂歡節堪稱歐洲規模最大的狂歡節之一。

 

Germany

The well-known carnival in Cologne, Germany, often features floats depicting political themes. The Cologne Carnival is a months-long celebration that culminates in the days before Ash Wednesday, which fell on March 6 this year. In Elzach, southern Germany, jesters wore capes and hats decorated with snail shells as they took part in the annual “Schuttigsprung” (Schuttig jump) parade (alternatively “idiots parade”). Masked musicians participated in the “Schellenruehrer” (bell shaker) parade in Mittenwald, southern Germany. The noise is said to help chase away the winter blues.

 

德國

著名的德國科隆狂歡節經常會有描繪各種政治主題的花車遊行。科隆狂歡節歷時長達數月之久，於今年落在三月六日的「聖灰星期三」前幾日達到最高潮。德國南部的埃爾察赫則會有小丑穿上斗篷，戴著用蝸牛殼裝飾的帽子，加入一年一度的「笨蛋跳」遊行（或稱「白癡大遊行」）。戴上面具的音樂家們則參加德國南部米滕瓦爾德的「搖鈴人」遊行。據說，巨大的噪音有助於驅散冬日憂鬱。

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/03/09/2003711104

 

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每日跟讀#551: Revelers across Europe get into the carnival spirit

 

The European carnival season was in full swing Sunday, with revelers from east to west hurling fruit, lampooning political characters or simply giving free rein to their inner child.

 

歐洲的「狂歡節」節期已於週日如火如荼地進行到最高潮──從東歐到西歐，縱酒狂歡的人群猛烈投擲水果、譏諷政治人物，或是單純給予小孩充分的活動自由。

 

The Christian and Orthodox tradition occurs before Lent and also often includes depictions of death or the afterlife while turning conventional rules and customs on their head. It was often a way to shake off the gloom of long winters with reminders that spring would come again.

 

狂歡節是基督教與東正教的傳統，舉行於大齋期之前，慶典中經常出現關於死亡與來世的描繪，同時也會翻轉約定俗成的社會規範和習俗。人們通常藉此擺脫漫長冬日帶來的陰鬱心情，各式節慶活動也提醒著春天將會再臨。

 

Creative costumes level the social playing field, as anonymity is another recurring theme. Food and drink are often consumed in great quantities before the pious give up treats for the long weeks of Lent that end with Easter.

 

充滿創意的各式裝扮，使得人們在社會競技場上的地位趨近平等，而這種「匿名性」正是狂歡節中重複出現的一項主題。眾人經常會消耗大量食物和飲料。之後，虔誠的信徒們會在接下來持續數週的漫長大齋期棄絕美食，直到復活節才告一段落。

 

Italy

Teams threw oranges at each other during the traditional “battle of the oranges” held in Ivrea, near Turin. During the event, which marks the people’s rebellion against tyrannical lords who ruled the town in the Middle Ages, revelers parading on floats represented guards of the tyrant, while those on foot were the townsfolk.

 

義大利

傳統的「柳橙大戰」於杜林市附近的小鎮伊夫雷亞舉行，不同隊伍會互相向對方丟擲柳橙。這場活動是為了紀念中世紀時期人民發動叛亂，反抗統治該地的暴君。乘坐花車遊行的狂歡者代表暴君的侍衛，而徒步遊行的則代表城裡的人民。

 

Spain

“Boteiros” (jumpers) mark the traditional carnival of Viana do Bolo, in the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia. “Zarramaco” characters chase people during the celebration of “El Gallo de Carnaval” (The Carnival’s Cock) in Mecerreyes, in the northern Spanish province of Burgos. The Gallo Carnival is a pagan festival in which people participate in singing, dancing and attacking the “Gallo” (cock) defended by “Zarramacos.”

 

西班牙

在西班牙西北部的加利西亞地區，「Boteiros」（跳躍者）標誌著比亞納多沃洛當地的傳統狂歡節活動。西班牙北部布爾戈斯省的梅塞雷埃斯則舉行「狂歡節公雞」慶典，扮成「Zarramaco」（意指善良的獵人或戰士）角色的人會在活動中追著群眾到處跑。這場「公雞嘉年華」源自於異教信仰，眾人在慶典間載歌載舞，也會攻擊「Zarramaco」保衛的「公雞」。

 

Croatia

A traditional carnival procession is a highlight at the Rijeka Carnival. With more than 10,000 participants, the Rijeka Carnival claims to be one of the biggest in Europe.

 

克羅埃西亞

傳統嘉年華遊行可說是瑞伊卡狂歡節的一大亮點。超過一萬名參與者的瑞伊卡狂歡節堪稱歐洲規模最大的狂歡節之一。

 

Germany

The well-known carnival in Cologne, Germany, often features floats depicting political themes. The Cologne Carnival is a months-long celebration that culminates in the days before Ash Wednesday, which fell on March 6 this year. In Elzach, southern Germany, jesters wore capes and hats decorated with snail shells as they took part in the annual “Schuttigsprung” (Schuttig jump) parade (alternatively “idiots parade”). Masked musicians participated in the “Schellenruehrer” (bell shaker) parade in Mittenwald, southern Germany. The noise is said to help chase away the winter blues.

 

德國

著名的德國科隆狂歡節經常會有描繪各種政治主題的花車遊行。科隆狂歡節歷時長達數月之久，於今年落在三月六日的「聖灰星期三」前幾日達到最高潮。德國南部的埃爾察赫則會有小丑穿上斗篷，戴著用蝸牛殼裝飾的帽子，加入一年一度的「笨蛋跳」遊行（或稱「白癡大遊行」）。戴上面具的音樂家們則參加德國南部米滕瓦爾德的「搖鈴人」遊行。據說，巨大的噪音有助於驅散冬日憂鬱。

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/03/09/2003711104

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

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每日跟讀#550: Plastic found in deepest ocean animals

 

Animals living in the deepest ocean trenches have been found with plastic fragments in their gut, according to new research published on Feb. 27 showing how manmade pollution reaches into the bowels of the planet.

 

發表於二月二十七日的一篇新研究顯示，科學家在棲息於海溝最深處的動物內臟中發現塑膠碎片，該研究同時也指出人造汙染物是如何到達地球深處的。

 

More than 300 million tonnes of plastics are produced annually, and there are at least five trillion plastic pieces floating in our oceans. Because deep-sea exploration is expensive and time-consuming, most studies on plastic pollution up until now had been close to the surface, showing a widespread level of plastic contamination in fish, turtles, whales and sea birds.

 

人類每年製造出超過三億噸的塑膠，而今日至少有五兆件塑膠垃圾在我們的海洋中載浮載沉。由於深海探勘既昂貴又費時，因此目前大部分關於塑膠污染物的研究聚焦於海洋表面附近，並顯示出塑膠污染擴及魚類、海龜、鯨魚以及海鳥體內的廣泛程度。

 

Now a British team of researchers say they have discovered cases of plastic ingestion among tiny shrimp in six of the world’s deepest ocean trenches. In the Mariana Trench east of the Philippines, the deepest depression on Earth, 100 percent of the animals studied had plastic fibers in their digestive tracts. “Half of me was expecting to find something but that is huge,” said Alan Jamieson, from Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

 

直到現在，一組英國的研究團隊表示，他們在世界最深的六個海溝中，都發現極小蝦子攝食塑膠物的案例。位於菲律賓東邊的馬里亞納海溝是地球上最深的凹陷處，於該處採集的動物消化道中全都發現含有塑膠纖維。英國紐卡索大學自然與環境科學院的艾倫‧傑米森表示：「我當時一半的心情是期待找到某些東西的，但這項發現實在讓人震驚。」

 

Jamieson and his team normally spend their time looking for new species in the depths of the ocean. But they realized that during the course of expeditions dating back a decade they had accumulated dozens of specimens of a species of tiny shrimp that lives between 6,000-11,000m beneath the surface. They decided to look for plastic. “We are sitting on the deepest dataset in the world, so if we find (plastics) in these, we are done,” Jamieson told AFP.

 

傑米森和他的團隊通常都把時間花在尋找海洋深處的新物種。然而，有一天他們意識到，在這十年來進行探勘的過程中，他們已經累積了數十個相同小蝦物種的標本，這類小蝦棲息於海平面底下六千到一萬一千公尺深處。他們遂決定從中尋找塑膠物。傑米森告訴法新社說：「我們已經位於世界最深處的資料庫，所以如果在其中找到（塑膠物），那人類就完蛋了。」

 

The team was astonished by just how widespread the plastic contamination at extreme depths proved to be. For instance, the Peru-Chile Trench in the southeast Pacific is around 15,000km from the Japan Trench. Yet plastic was found in both. “It’s off Japan, off New Zealand, off Peru, and each trench is phenomenally deep,” Jamieson said. “The salient point is that they are consistently found in animals all around the Pacific at extraordinary depths so let’s not waste time. It’s everywhere.”

 

該團隊震驚地發現，塑膠污染被證實如此廣泛地分布在極端的深處。舉例而言，太平洋東南方的秘魯-智利海溝距離日本海溝大概一萬五千公里遠，但是兩地都發現塑膠。傑米森說：「這個情況發生在日本外海、紐西蘭外海、秘魯外海，而且每一個海溝都極度深邃。」傑米森進一步指出：「重點在於，遍布太平洋、位於非常深處的動物體內都持續發現塑膠存在，所以不要浪費時間了，塑膠真的到處都是。」

 

Of the 90 individual creatures the team dissected, 65 — over 72 percent — contained at least one plastic microparticle. The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, said it was unclear if the particles had been ingested by fish at higher depths which then died and sank. But when the team analyzed the fibers — most of which appeared to be clothes fabrics such as nylon — they found that the plastics’ atomic bonds had shifted compared to brand new material, suggesting they were several years old.

 

在研究團隊解剖的九十個生物個體中，就有六十五個──超過百分之七十二──含有至少一個塑膠微粒。這份發表於期刊《皇家學會開放科學》的研究指出，目前無法確知這些分子是否是被深度較淺的魚類攝食，然後這些魚死亡後沉入深海。不過，當研究團隊分析這些塑膠纖維時──絕大部分似乎是尼龍等衣物織料──他們發現，跟全新的塑料材質相比，海底生物體內發現的塑膠原子鍵已經改變，表示它們已經存在多年。

 

Microplastic particles are either dumped directly into the seas via sewers and rivers or form when larger chunks of plastic break down over time. Once they start gathering bacteria, they get heavier and eventually sink. “So even if not a single fiber were to enter the sea from this point forward, everything that’s in the sea now is going to eventually sink, and once it’s in the deep sea, where is the mechanism to get it back?” asked Jamieson. “We are piling all our crap into the place we know least about.”

 

微塑膠分子可能是經由下水道或是河川直接排放到海中，或可能因為大塊的塑膠隨時間分解而產生。一旦細菌開始聚集在這些分子上，它們就會變重，最後往下沉。傑米森問道：「所以，就算從現在開始完全不再有任何一條塑膠纖維進入海中，目前在海裡的一切最後都會往下沉，而一旦進入深海，還有什麼機制能把它們取回來？」他表示：「我們正不斷把所有垃圾堆進所最不了解的地方。」

 

Because plastic contamination is now so widespread, even at extreme depths, the team cautioned that it was nearly impossible to know what effect plastic ingestion was having on bottom-dwelling species. “These particles could just pass straight through the animal, but in the animals we looked at they must be blocking them. The equivalent would be for you to swallow a 2m polypropylene rope and expect that not to have an adverse effect on your health,” said Jamieson. “There’s no good aspect to this.”

 

由於塑膠污染現在分布如此廣泛，甚至蔓延到極端的深處，研究團隊提出警告，人類幾乎不可能知道攝食塑膠會對底棲生物造成什麼樣的影響。傑米森指出：「這些分子可能直接通過動物排出，但在我們研究的動物中，它們一定有造成堵塞。這就等同於要你吞下兩公尺長的聚丙烯繩索，然後期待它不會對健康造成任何負面影響。」他表示：「這不會有什麼好處的。」

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/03/10/2003711169/2

 

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每日跟讀#550: Plastic found in deepest ocean animals

 

Animals living in the deepest ocean trenches have been found with plastic fragments in their gut, according to new research published on Feb. 27 showing how manmade pollution reaches into the bowels of the planet.

 

發表於二月二十七日的一篇新研究顯示，科學家在棲息於海溝最深處的動物內臟中發現塑膠碎片，該研究同時也指出人造汙染物是如何到達地球深處的。

 

More than 300 million tonnes of plastics are produced annually, and there are at least five trillion plastic pieces floating in our oceans. Because deep-sea exploration is expensive and time-consuming, most studies on plastic pollution up until now had been close to the surface, showing a widespread level of plastic contamination in fish, turtles, whales and sea birds.

 

人類每年製造出超過三億噸的塑膠，而今日至少有五兆件塑膠垃圾在我們的海洋中載浮載沉。由於深海探勘既昂貴又費時，因此目前大部分關於塑膠污染物的研究聚焦於海洋表面附近，並顯示出塑膠污染擴及魚類、海龜、鯨魚以及海鳥體內的廣泛程度。

 

Now a British team of researchers say they have discovered cases of plastic ingestion among tiny shrimp in six of the world’s deepest ocean trenches. In the Mariana Trench east of the Philippines, the deepest depression on Earth, 100 percent of the animals studied had plastic fibers in their digestive tracts. “Half of me was expecting to find something but that is huge,” said Alan Jamieson, from Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

 

直到現在，一組英國的研究團隊表示，他們在世界最深的六個海溝中，都發現極小蝦子攝食塑膠物的案例。位於菲律賓東邊的馬里亞納海溝是地球上最深的凹陷處，於該處採集的動物消化道中全都發現含有塑膠纖維。英國紐卡索大學自然與環境科學院的艾倫‧傑米森表示：「我當時一半的心情是期待找到某些東西的，但這項發現實在讓人震驚。」

 

Jamieson and his team normally spend their time looking for new species in the depths of the ocean. But they realized that during the course of expeditions dating back a decade they had accumulated dozens of specimens of a species of tiny shrimp that lives between 6,000-11,000m beneath the surface. They decided to look for plastic. “We are sitting on the deepest dataset in the world, so if we find (plastics) in these, we are done,” Jamieson told AFP.

 

傑米森和他的團隊通常都把時間花在尋找海洋深處的新物種。然而，有一天他們意識到，在這十年來進行探勘的過程中，他們已經累積了數十個相同小蝦物種的標本，這類小蝦棲息於海平面底下六千到一萬一千公尺深處。他們遂決定從中尋找塑膠物。傑米森告訴法新社說：「我們已經位於世界最深處的資料庫，所以如果在其中找到（塑膠物），那人類就完蛋了。」

 

The team was astonished by just how widespread the plastic contamination at extreme depths proved to be. For instance, the Peru-Chile Trench in the southeast Pacific is around 15,000km from the Japan Trench. Yet plastic was found in both. “It’s off Japan, off New Zealand, off Peru, and each trench is phenomenally deep,” Jamieson said. “The salient point is that they are consistently found in animals all around the Pacific at extraordinary depths so let’s not waste time. It’s everywhere.”

 

該團隊震驚地發現，塑膠污染被證實如此廣泛地分布在極端的深處。舉例而言，太平洋東南方的秘魯-智利海溝距離日本海溝大概一萬五千公里遠，但是兩地都發現塑膠。傑米森說：「這個情況發生在日本外海、紐西蘭外海、秘魯外海，而且每一個海溝都極度深邃。」傑米森進一步指出：「重點在於，遍布太平洋、位於非常深處的動物體內都持續發現塑膠存在，所以不要浪費時間了，塑膠真的到處都是。」

 

Of the 90 individual creatures the team dissected, 65 — over 72 percent — contained at least one plastic microparticle. The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, said it was unclear if the particles had been ingested by fish at higher depths which then died and sank. But when the team analyzed the fibers — most of which appeared to be clothes fabrics such as nylon — they found that the plastics’ atomic bonds had shifted compared to brand new material, suggesting they were several years old.

 

在研究團隊解剖的九十個生物個體中，就有六十五個──超過百分之七十二──含有至少一個塑膠微粒。這份發表於期刊《皇家學會開放科學》的研究指出，目前無法確知這些分子是否是被深度較淺的魚類攝食，然後這些魚死亡後沉入深海。不過，當研究團隊分析這些塑膠纖維時──絕大部分似乎是尼龍等衣物織料──他們發現，跟全新的塑料材質相比，海底生物體內發現的塑膠原子鍵已經改變，表示它們已經存在多年。

 

Microplastic particles are either dumped directly into the seas via sewers and rivers or form when larger chunks of plastic break down over time. Once they start gathering bacteria, they get heavier and eventually sink. “So even if not a single fiber were to enter the sea from this point forward, everything that’s in the sea now is going to eventually sink, and once it’s in the deep sea, where is the mechanism to get it back?” asked Jamieson. “We are piling all our crap into the place we know least about.”

 

微塑膠分子可能是經由下水道或是河川直接排放到海中，或可能因為大塊的塑膠隨時間分解而產生。一旦細菌開始聚集在這些分子上，它們就會變重，最後往下沉。傑米森問道：「所以，就算從現在開始完全不再有任何一條塑膠纖維進入海中，目前在海裡的一切最後都會往下沉，而一旦進入深海，還有什麼機制能把它們取回來？」他表示：「我們正不斷把所有垃圾堆進所最不了解的地方。」

 

Because plastic contamination is now so widespread, even at extreme depths, the team cautioned that it was nearly impossible to know what effect plastic ingestion was having on bottom-dwelling species. “These particles could just pass straight through the animal, but in the animals we looked at they must be blocking them. The equivalent would be for you to swallow a 2m polypropylene rope and expect that not to have an adverse effect on your health,” said Jamieson. “There’s no good aspect to this.”

 

由於塑膠污染現在分布如此廣泛，甚至蔓延到極端的深處，研究團隊提出警告，人類幾乎不可能知道攝食塑膠會對底棲生物造成什麼樣的影響。傑米森指出：「這些分子可能直接通過動物排出，但在我們研究的動物中，它們一定有造成堵塞。這就等同於要你吞下兩公尺長的聚丙烯繩索，然後期待它不會對健康造成任何負面影響。」他表示：「這不會有什麼好處的。」

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/03/10/2003711169/2

 

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每日跟讀#549: Beating back the worms: intravenous injections for trees

 

National Central University (NCU) has set aside an annual budget for regular treatment to deal with the “pine wood nematode” worm invasion that attacks the 1,500 pine trees on the campus. As part of this treatment, the trees are given an intravenous drip, with the medicine being injected into their trunks.

 

中央大學為了搶救校內約一千五百棵松樹免於「松材線蟲」入侵，每年編列預算，定期將藥劑加壓灌注入樹幹內，猶如為松樹「打點滴」。

 

According to the university, the worms, transmitted into the branches of the trees by insects, cause the leaves to wilt and die. Agricultural experts advise the use of a “trunk injection,” which infuses the medicine into the trunk, and from there throughout the entire tree. This process can take three to four months for the agent to take effect.

 

中大表示，昆蟲傳播將松材線蟲帶入松樹的枝幹上，導致樹葉萎淍枯死，目前農業學者的建議是利用「樹幹注射法」，將藥劑加壓灌注入樹幹，讓藥劑運行全株運行，至少要三至四個月才能讓藥劑在松樹內發酵。

 

Last year, some of the coral trees — which are indigenous to Taiwan — along the streets in Taichung were harmed by Quadrastichus erythrinae, an exotic wasp species. National Chung Hsing University’s (NCHU) Plant Teaching Hospital launched a rescue operation, opting for trunk injections instead of the traditional spraying approach. As a result, 133 dying trees were brought back to life.

 

去年台中市部份行道樹「台灣原生種刺桐」出現受外來種刺桐釉小蜂危害，中興大學植物教學醫院也展開搶救大作戰，用樹幹注射法取代傳統噴藥，讓一百三十三棵奄奄一息的病樹起死回生，重現盎然綠意。

 

Plant Teaching Hospital director Tang Li-cheng said that, in the past, spraying was the only option available, but the chemicals stayed on the surface of the leaves and would not penetrate into the diseased tissue. As a result, the treatment was mostly ineffective.

 

興大植物醫院院長唐立正指出，以往的防治或治療方式均採噴藥去病，但藥劑只留在樹葉表面，根本未能深入病害組織，因此防治成效有限。

 

The “plant doctors” at the hospital now use a more precise, targeted method, applying trunk injections to infuse the medicine into the trunk through a borehole. After this, through capillary action, the medication is transported to the infected leaves by water absorbed by the tree. Tang compared it to treating a sick person: applying ointment on the skin has limited effect, while injecting the drug into the blood vessels allows it to be absorbed more efficiently.

 

興大植物醫院植物醫師「對症下藥」，採樹幹注射法，把治療藥物施打進入鑽孔的樹幹，隨著樹木自體吸收水份後的毛細現象，讓藥劑慢慢被吸收到病灶葉片治療。唐立正說，這就像是人體內生病，以往只在皮膚表面塗藥，效果有限，於是改以針劑注射藥劑到血管，漸被人體吸收達到治療效果。

 

Tang says that two doses are sufficient for a whole year for trees with a diameter an adult can put their arms around. In addition, the treatment is inexpensive and does not carry the risks associated with pesticide spraying, such as harming non-targeted plants or creatures, or even people out for a stroll in the park.

 

唐立正指出，一般成人可圈抱的樹木，約施打兩劑即可維持近一年的藥效，成本低廉，更不像噴灑殺蟲劑一樣可能會波及其他植物或生物，甚至危害前往公園活動的民眾。

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/03/06/2003710907

 

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每日跟讀#549: Beating back the worms: intravenous injections for trees

 

National Central University (NCU) has set aside an annual budget for regular treatment to deal with the “pine wood nematode” worm invasion that attacks the 1,500 pine trees on the campus. As part of this treatment, the trees are given an intravenous drip, with the medicine being injected into their trunks.

 

中央大學為了搶救校內約一千五百棵松樹免於「松材線蟲」入侵，每年編列預算，定期將藥劑加壓灌注入樹幹內，猶如為松樹「打點滴」。

 

According to the university, the worms, transmitted into the branches of the trees by insects, cause the leaves to wilt and die. Agricultural experts advise the use of a “trunk injection,” which infuses the medicine into the trunk, and from there throughout the entire tree. This process can take three to four months for the agent to take effect.

 

中大表示，昆蟲傳播將松材線蟲帶入松樹的枝幹上，導致樹葉萎淍枯死，目前農業學者的建議是利用「樹幹注射法」，將藥劑加壓灌注入樹幹，讓藥劑運行全株運行，至少要三至四個月才能讓藥劑在松樹內發酵。

 

Last year, some of the coral trees — which are indigenous to Taiwan — along the streets in Taichung were harmed by Quadrastichus erythrinae, an exotic wasp species. National Chung Hsing University’s (NCHU) Plant Teaching Hospital launched a rescue operation, opting for trunk injections instead of the traditional spraying approach. As a result, 133 dying trees were brought back to life.

 

去年台中市部份行道樹「台灣原生種刺桐」出現受外來種刺桐釉小蜂危害，中興大學植物教學醫院也展開搶救大作戰，用樹幹注射法取代傳統噴藥，讓一百三十三棵奄奄一息的病樹起死回生，重現盎然綠意。

 

Plant Teaching Hospital director Tang Li-cheng said that, in the past, spraying was the only option available, but the chemicals stayed on the surface of the leaves and would not penetrate into the diseased tissue. As a result, the treatment was mostly ineffective.

 

興大植物醫院院長唐立正指出，以往的防治或治療方式均採噴藥去病，但藥劑只留在樹葉表面，根本未能深入病害組織，因此防治成效有限。

 

The “plant doctors” at the hospital now use a more precise, targeted method, applying trunk injections to infuse the medicine into the trunk through a borehole. After this, through capillary action, the medication is transported to the infected leaves by water absorbed by the tree. Tang compared it to treating a sick person: applying ointment on the skin has limited effect, while injecting the drug into the blood vessels allows it to be absorbed more efficiently.

 

興大植物醫院植物醫師「對症下藥」，採樹幹注射法，把治療藥物施打進入鑽孔的樹幹，隨著樹木自體吸收水份後的毛細現象，讓藥劑慢慢被吸收到病灶葉片治療。唐立正說，這就像是人體內生病，以往只在皮膚表面塗藥，效果有限，於是改以針劑注射藥劑到血管，漸被人體吸收達到治療效果。

 

Tang says that two doses are sufficient for a whole year for trees with a diameter an adult can put their arms around. In addition, the treatment is inexpensive and does not carry the risks associated with pesticide spraying, such as harming non-targeted plants or creatures, or even people out for a stroll in the park.

 

唐立正指出，一般成人可圈抱的樹木，約施打兩劑即可維持近一年的藥效，成本低廉，更不像噴灑殺蟲劑一樣可能會波及其他植物或生物，甚至危害前往公園活動的民眾。

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/03/06/2003710907

 

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每日跟讀#548: AI technology causing sensation in translation world

 

Through artificial intelligence (AI), there may be another kind of imagination for translation, said Nicolas Bousquet, the scientific director of Quantmetry, a French consulting firm specializing in AI. The expert made the comment when attending a forum, titled “Translation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” at the 2019 Taipei International Book Exhibition on Feb. 15.

 

法國「人工智慧」(AI)諮詢公司Quantmetry科學主任尼可拉布斯格說，透過AI翻譯也許有另一種想像！這位專家在參與二○一九年台北國際書展時，於二月十五日的「AI人工智慧時代的翻譯論壇」作此表示。

 

Earlier last year, Quantmetry and German start-up DeepL shocked the industry by completing the translation of an 800-page book in 12 hours using AI. It would take a translator about five to six months to translate a book that thick. However, translator Mu Zhuo-yun believes that since humans and machines comprehend sentences differently, only the former is able to truly capture the more artistic conception of literature that an author wants to convey.

 

在去年，Quantmetry和德國新創公司DeepL共同藉由AI技術，僅花了十二小時就翻譯完一本八百頁的書籍，翻譯界對此大感震驚，因為一位譯者要翻那麼厚的書，可能要花上五、六個月。不過譯者穆卓芸認為，人類與機器了解句子的方式是不同的，只有人類才能真正掌握作者想傳達的「文學性意境」。

 

In addition to the evolution of written translation, the demand for real-time language translation devices that translate speech, images and street signs is on the rise. Some AI-powered gadgets even boast that they are capable of interpreting 30 to 40 languages.

 

除了筆譯的進化之外，對於可以即時翻譯談話，圖像或街道標誌的語言翻譯機，需求也在成長。有些AI支援的翻譯機，甚至宣稱能口譯三十至四十多種外語。

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/02/28/2003710519

 

更多跟讀練習單元，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing

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每日跟讀#548: AI technology causing sensation in translation world

 

Through artificial intelligence (AI), there may be another kind of imagination for translation, said Nicolas Bousquet, the scientific director of Quantmetry, a French consulting firm specializing in AI. The expert made the comment when attending a forum, titled “Translation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” at the 2019 Taipei International Book Exhibition on Feb. 15.

 

法國「人工智慧」(AI)諮詢公司Quantmetry科學主任尼可拉布斯格說，透過AI翻譯也許有另一種想像！這位專家在參與二○一九年台北國際書展時，於二月十五日的「AI人工智慧時代的翻譯論壇」作此表示。

 

Earlier last year, Quantmetry and German start-up DeepL shocked the industry by completing the translation of an 800-page book in 12 hours using AI. It would take a translator about five to six months to translate a book that thick. However, translator Mu Zhuo-yun believes that since humans and machines comprehend sentences differently, only the former is able to truly capture the more artistic conception of literature that an author wants to convey.

 

在去年，Quantmetry和德國新創公司DeepL共同藉由AI技術，僅花了十二小時就翻譯完一本八百頁的書籍，翻譯界對此大感震驚，因為一位譯者要翻那麼厚的書，可能要花上五、六個月。不過譯者穆卓芸認為，人類與機器了解句子的方式是不同的，只有人類才能真正掌握作者想傳達的「文學性意境」。

 

In addition to the evolution of written translation, the demand for real-time language translation devices that translate speech, images and street signs is on the rise. Some AI-powered gadgets even boast that they are capable of interpreting 30 to 40 languages.

 

除了筆譯的進化之外，對於可以即時翻譯談話，圖像或街道標誌的語言翻譯機，需求也在成長。有些AI支援的翻譯機，甚至宣稱能口譯三十至四十多種外語。

 

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/02/28/2003710519

 

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Summary:

When you get a tattoo, even if the image is embedded on your body, it is owned by the tattoo artist. Tattoos used to be a label or a stigma for people, but now it is becoming more prominent. Tattoos in Japan were meant for firemen, so that they could be identified if they were burnt. Thereafter, tattoos were more associated with the Yakuza and frowned upon in the public baths. Gavin's advice: never get a tattoo on a place that you cannot cover it up. According to the article, game-makers now are concerned about the copyright of the tattoos on their game avatars. Since the copyright belongs to tattoo artists and not the athletes, game-makers have to get permission from the tattoo artist.

 

Article referred: https://www.15mins.today/blog/524-athletes-don-t-own-their-tattoos-that-s-a-problem-for-video-game

 

Sample vocabulary and sentence:

 

Transcendent ( adj. surpassing the ordinary, extraordinary)

Michael Jordan was a transcendent athlete.

Wayne Gretzky was a transcendent ice hockey player.

Warren Buffett is a transcendent investor.

 

Tangible (adj. can be felt by touch)

Love is intangible, but the act of love is tangible.

Intangible assets of a company includes trademark, copyright, intellectual property, and knowledge of employees.

Tangible assets of a company includes property and machinery.

 

Dope (informal - adj. cool ; formal - n. drugs v. to use drugs)

Taylor Swift's new music video is dope.

My new Apple Watch is dope!

It is illegal to smoke dope in Taiwan, but it is legal in the United States.

 

15分鐘跟著John and Gavin探索世界時事趣聞的單字與詞彙

 

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