VOA标准英语2012--New Texas Institute Coordinates Space Medicine Research

New Texas Institute Coordinates² Space Medicine Research

Since the human space flight adventure began more than 50 years ago, scientists have learned a lot about things like the effects of weightlessness on bones and muscles, and the danger of increased radiation exposure in space.

The primary mission of the non-profit National Space Biomedical Research Institute, located at Rice University, is to coordinate¹ and support research projects designed to assist the U.S. space program.

Institute Director is Dr. Jeffrey Sutton said, “What we are basically doing is serving as a hub where the research and development in biomedical research for space that is taking place at a distributed network of institutions then comes to this entity³ for testing and evaluation⁴.”

Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison had a firsthand look at the institute at its official opening in March, trying out a small ultrasound device that researchers say could be used not only for diagnosis⁵, but also for treating kidney stones and other ailments⁶.

One of the institute's key functions is sponsoring lectures and conferences on aerospace⁷ medical research, like this one at the nearby Baylor School of Medicine.

Jennifer Law, an aerospace medicine specialist, says doctors in this field describe it as “normal physiology⁸ in an abnormal environment.” “By studying the body in a different environment, essentially⁹ we are taking away the constant here of gravity and you are seeing how the different body systems adapt to microgravity," she said. 

Law says a lot of research done in space has helped develop treatments for people on earth suffering from such ailments as osteoporosis. 

But NASA's longterm goal of sending humans millions of kilometers to Mars, on a roundtrip mission lasting¹⁰ more than a year, raises all sorts of health concerns, especially radiation.

There are also concerns about what psychological and social problems could result from having a crew crowded together in a small vehicle for a long period, soaring through a place where no humans have ever gone before.

“What we are trying to do is push the frontiers of medicine, of space... to move us to the next step... and it is certainly not risk free, at all. It is a very risky¹¹ enterprise," said Sutton. 

But Sutton says humanity's future could depend on the ability to travel safely beyond our native planet. 

1 coordinate   

adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调

参考例句：

• You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
• Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。

2 coordinates   

n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• The town coordinates on this map are 695037. 该镇在这幅地图上的坐标是695037。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

4 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

5 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

6 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

7 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

8 physiology   

n.生理学，生理机能

参考例句：

• He bought a book about physiology.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• He was awarded the Nobel Prize for achievements in physiology.他因生理学方面的建树而被授予诺贝尔奖。

9 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

10 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

11 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。