SCIENCE IN THE NEWS #2129 - Digest

17 科技新闻摘要（六）
DATE=6-19-01
TITLE=SCIENCE IN THE NEWS #2129 - Digest
BYLINE=Staff

VOICE ONE:
This is Bob Doughty¹.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Sarah Long with Science in the News, a VOA Special English program about recent developments in science.  Today, we tell about damaged heart (1) tissue that can repair itself. We tell about health problems caused by being (2) overweight.  And we tell about a Russian proposal to import (3) nuclear waste. 
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
For many years doctors have believed that damage to the heart after a heart attack was (4) permanent.  They said the human body could not replace cells killed by a heart attack, injury or disease.  But new research has shown that human heart (5) muscle cells continue to divide and grow after a heart attack.  The New England Journal of Medicine published the study earlier this month. 
Scientists say the new cell growth was not enough to repair the heart.  But some scientists say the research (6) proves a damaged heart may some day repair itself.  This could result in new treatments for heart disease.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and a major killer² throughout the world. 
VOICE TWO:
Piero Anversa of the New York Medical College in Valhalla led the research.   Scientists from the United States and Italy studied muscle cells from the hearts of thirteen heart attack (7) victims.  The people had died from four to twelve days after suffering a heart attack. 
The scientists examined tissue near the area of the heart attack.  They also studied tissue from another part of the heart.  Then they compared these damaged hearts with those of ten patients with normal hearts who had died of other causes.
VOICE ONE:
The researchers measured the activity of a (8) protein in the cells needed for (9) cell division. They also colored the heart tissue with a substance that helps show cells dividing.  They used a special (10) microscope to study the cells. 
They found that the number of muscle cells dividing and growing in the diseased hearts was much higher than in the normal hearts. Doctor Anversa says these results offer an exciting (11) possibility.  He says even a few new heart cells might grow into many cells in several weeks. However, experts say the heart contains more than just muscle cells.  It also includes (12) blood vessels⁴ and (13) connective tissue.  Growth in heart muscle cells alone may not return the heart to normal. 
VOICE TWO:
During a heart attack, a (14) blockage⁵ forms in an (15) artery⁶ carrying blood to the heart muscle.  The heart does not receive needed oxygen and other (16) nutrients⁷.  The tissue dies if blood does not flow again within about twelve hours.  For years, doctors believed this damaged tissue proved the heart could not (17) manufacture new cells. 
Doctor Anversa has been studying cell growth in the heart for about twenty years.  He and his team published a study of heart re-growth two years ago.  At that time a number of other scientists said they did not believe the (18) evidence.  But several experts immediately praised the new research. 
Doctor Anversa and his team have started trying to (19) identify substances that can cause cell division in the heart.  They hope such substances can some day be placed around dying heart tissue. This process might prevent permanent heart damage. 
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE ONE:
You are listening to the Special English program SCIENCE IN THE NEWS on VOA.  This is Bob Doughty with Sarah Long in Washington.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
The Worldwatch Institute warns that the growing number of overweight or (20) obese⁸ people in the world has become an international problem.  The organization says (21) obesity⁹ damages people's health.  It increases the chances of heart disease, some kinds of cancer and (22) diabetes¹⁰.  The Centers for Disease Control in the United States estimates that three-hundred-thousand Americans die each year from sicknesses linked to obesity.  Sixty-one percent of American adults are overweight. 
However, obesity is not just a problem in the United States.  The Worldwatch Institute says that for the first time in history, a (23) majority of adults in several other industrial countries are overweight.  For example, fifty-four percent of the people in Russia are obese.   Fifty-one percent are overweight in Britain.  And in Germany, half the population weighs too much. 
VOICE TWO:
The number of obese people is also increasing in developing countries.  The Worldwatch Institute estimates that thirty-six percent of the population of Brazil is overweight.  Also, fifteen percent of China's population weighs too much. 
The Worldwatch Institute says obesity is more common in cities.  This is because people living in cities are less active.  This causes them to (24) gain weight.  For example, in China and Indonesia, there are two times as many obese people in cities as in farming areas. And in (25) Congo, obesity is six times higher in cities. 
Modern technology has reduced the amount of exercise people get.  Many people drive cars every day instead of walking or riding bicycles.  They also spend their free time watching television.  The Worldwatch Institute says this is especially harmful for children. It says children who watch television at least five hours a day are five times more likely to be overweight than those who watch fewer than two hours a day. 
VOICE ONE:
People gain weight when they eat more (26) calories than they burn.  Calories are a measurement of the heat and energy value of food.  In industrial countries, people eat many foods rich in fat and sugar. The Worldwatch Institute says this is also happening in developing countries, especially in cities. 
Most overweight people must do two things to lose weight.  They must reduce the amount of calories they eat.  And they must burn more calories through exercise.  However, increasing exercise is not easy. 
The Worldwatch Institute says cities today are designed for automobiles¹¹.  It says one answer is to (27) redesign communities with more paths for walking, running and bicycling.  It says cities should have more public transportation.  And there should be more public play areas.  The Worldwatch Institute says exercise should become a daily activity or obesity and health problems will continue to spread around the world.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE TWO:
The lower house of the Russian (28) parliament has approved a plan to (29) import used nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors¹² in other countries. Under the plan, Russia would import and process about twenty-thousand tons of used nuclear fuel over the next thirty years.  Supporters say the plan could help Russia earn up to twenty-thousand-million dollars.  They say about one-third of the money would go to cleaning up areas in Russia where (30) nuclear waste is buried.
Officials from the Russian Nuclear Energy Ministry¹³ say the plan is safe.  They say it provides a service to Russia and other countries.  Reports say the waste would be put in (31) temporary storage for at least ten years. Then it would be reprocessed into fuel. 
VOICE ONE:
Many (32) environmentalists urged Russian lawmakers to vote against the plan.  They say its passage would be a huge mistake for Russia.  They argue that Russia should not receive the nuclear waste of other countries.  They say Russia cannot (33) guarantee the safety of its own nuclear waste. Last year, a public opinion study found that more than ninety percent of Russians questioned opposed importing nuclear waste.
The upper house of the Russian parliament will consider the proposal.  The upper house and President Vladimir Putin would have to approve the measure before it could become law.  Mister Putin has not publicly expressed support for the plan.  Environmentalists say they will continue to urge Mister Putin not to sign the bill. 
VOICE TWO:
The United States has (34) exported nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel to many countries.  Experts say the United States produced about ninety percent of the nuclear fuel covered by the Russian proposal.  Countries that have used the fuel would have to get approval from the United States before sending it to Russia. The environmental group Greenpeace is urging President Bush to block the Russian plan.
 ((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Jerilyn Watson, Jill Moss¹⁴ and George Grow.  It was produced by Caty Weaver¹⁵.  This is Bob Doughty.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Sarah Long.   Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

(1) tissue [ `tisjU] n. [生]组织
(2) overweight [ `[Uv[weit] n.超重
(3) nuclear waste 原子能工业废料
(4) permanent [ `p[:m[n[nt] adj.永久的, 持久的
(5) muscle [`mQsl] n.肌肉, 臂力 [解]肌
(6) prove [prU:v] vt.证明, 证实vi.原来(是), 证明(是)
(7) victim [ `viktim] n.受害人
(8) protein [ `pr[Uti:n] n.[生化]蛋白质
(9) cell division 细胞分裂
(10) microscope [ `maikrEsk[Up] n.显微镜
(11) possibility [9pRsi`biliti] n.可能性, 可能发生的事物
(12) blood vessel³ 血管
(13) connective tissue n.结缔体素
(14) blockage [`blRkidV] n.封锁, 妨碍
(15) artery [ `B:t[ri] n.动脉, 要道
(16) nutrients [`njU:tri[nt] 营养物质
(17) manufacture [9mAnjU`fAktFE] vt.制造, 加工
(18) evidence [ `evid[ns] n. 迹象, 根据, [物]证据, 证物
(19) identify [ai`dentifai] vt.识别, 鉴别
(20) obese [EU`bi:s] adj.肥胖的, 肥大的
(21) obesity [EU`bisiti] n.肥胖, 肥大
(22) diabetes [7daiE`bi:ti:z] n.[医] 糖尿病
(23) majority [mE`dVRriti] n.多数, 大半
(24) gain weight v.体重增加
(25) Congo [`kCn^EU] n. 刚果
(26) calorie [ `kAlEri] n.卡路里
(27) redesign [9ri:di`zain] v.重新设计
(28) parliament [ `pa:lEmEnt] n.国会, 议会
(29) import [im`pR:t] vt.输入, 进口
(30) nuclear waste 原子能工业废料
(31) temporary [ `tempErRri] adj.暂时的, 临时的, 临时性
(32) environmentalist [in9vai[r[n`mentlist] n.环境保护论者
(33) guarantee [9gAr[n`ti:] vt.保证, 担保
(34) export [ `ekspR:t] vt.输出 v.出口

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

3 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

4 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 blockage   

n.障碍物；封锁

参考例句：

• The logical treatment is to remove this blockage.合理的治疗方法就是清除堵塞物。
• If the blockage worked,they could retreat with dignity.如果封锁发生作用，他们可以体面地撤退。

6 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

7 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

9 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

10 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

11 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 reactors   

起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆

参考例句：

• The TMI nuclear facility has two reactors. 三哩岛核设施有两个反应堆。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The earliest production reactors necessarily used normal uranium as fuel. 最早为生产用的反应堆，必须使用普通铀作为燃料。

13 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

14 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

15 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。