【每日阅读训练第四期——速度越障9系列】【9-11】科技

CHRISTINE2010

【计时一】
Revealing a Mini-Supermassive Black Hole
ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) — One of the lowest mass supermassive black holes ever observed in the middle of a galaxy has been identified, thanks to NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and several other observatories. The host galaxy is of a type not expected to harbor supermassive black holes, suggesting that this black hole, while related to its supermassive cousins, may have a different origin.

[attachimg=300,282]108754[/attachimg]
The black hole is located in the middle of the spiral galaxy NGC 4178, shown in this image from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The inset shows an X-ray source at the position of the black hole, in the center of a Chandra image. An analysis of the Chandra data, along with infrared data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and radio data from the NSF's Very Large Array suggests that the black hole is near the extreme low-mass end of the supermassive black hole range.
These results were published in the July 1, 2012 issue of The Astrophysical Journal by Nathan Secrest, from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and collaborators.
The properties of the X-ray source, including its brightness and spectrum -- the amount of X-rays at different wavelengths -- and its brightness at infrared wavelengths, suggest that a black hole in the center of NGC 4178 is rapidly pulling in material from its surroundings. The same data also suggest that light generated by this infalling material is heavily absorbed by gas and dust surrounding the black hole.
A known relationship between the mass of a black hole and the amount of X-rays and radio waves it generates was used to estimate the mass of the black hole. This method gives a black hole mass estimate of less than about 200,000 times that of the sun. This agrees with mass estimates from several other methods employed by the authors, and is lower than the typical values for supermassive black holes of millions to billions of times the mass of the sun.
【330】

【计时二】
NGC 4178 is a spiral galaxy located about 55 million light years from Earth. It does not contain a bright central concentration, or bulge, of stars in its center. Besides NGC 4178, four other galaxies without bulges are currently thought to contain supermassive black holes. Of these four black holes, two have masses that may be close to that of the black hole in NGC 4178. XMM-Newton observations of an X-ray source discovered by Chandra in the center of the galaxy NGC 4561 indicate that the mass of this black hole is greater than 20,000 times the mass of the sun, but the mass could be substantially higher if the black hole is pulling in material slowly, causing it to generate less X-ray emission. A paper describing these results was published in the October 1st, 2012 issue of The Astrophysical Journal by Araya Salvo and collaborators.
The mass of the black hole in the galaxy NGC 4395 is estimated to be about 360,000 times the mass of the sun, as published by Peterson and collaborators in the October 20, 2005 issue of the Astrophysical Journal.
Previously, astronomers have found that observations of a large number of galaxies are consistent with a close correlation between the mass of a supermassive black hole and the mass of the bulge of its host galaxy. Theoretical models developed to explain these results invoke mergers of galaxies, and predict that galaxies without bulges are unlikely to host supermassive black holes. The results found for NGC 4178 and the four other galaxies mentioned run counter to these predictions, and may suggest that more than one mechanism is at work in forming supermassive black holes.
Three other X-ray sources were found in the Chandra image. If they are located in NGC 4178 they are likely to be binary systems containing a black hole or neutron star. The brightest of the three sources may be an intermediate-mass black hole with a mass that is about 6,000 times that of the sun.
【333】

【计时三】
Brain Waves Reveal Video Game Aptitude
ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) — Scientists report that they can predict who will improve most on an unfamiliar video game by looking at their brain waves
[attachimg=419,270]108755[/attachimg]
The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to peek at electrical activity in the brains of 39 study subjects before they trained on Space Fortress, a video game developed for cognitive research. The subjects whose brain waves oscillated most powerfully in the alpha spectrum (about 10 times per second, or 10 hertz) when measured at the front of the head tended to learn at a faster rate than those whose brain waves oscillated with less power, the researchers found. None of the subjects were daily video game players.
The EEG signal was a robust predictor of improvement on the game, said University of Illinois postdoctoral researcher and Beckman Fellow Kyle Mathewson, who led the research with psychology professors and Beckman Institute faculty members Monica Fabiani and Gabriele Gratton.
"By measuring your brain waves the very first time you play the game, we can predict how fast you'll learn over the next month," Mathewson said. The EEG results predicted about half of the difference in learning speeds between study subjects, he said.
The waves of electrical activity across the brain reflect the communication status of millions or billions neurons, Mathewson said.
"These oscillations are the language of the brain, and different oscillations represent different brain functions," he said.
The researchers also found that learning to play the game improved subjects' reaction time and working memory (the ability to hold a piece of information in mind just until it is needed), skills that are important in everyday life.
【275】

【计时四】
"We found that the people who had more alpha waves in response to certain aspects of the game ended up having the best improvement in reaction time and the best improvement in working memory," Mathewson said.
This project is a part of a larger collaborative effort to determine whether measures of brain activity or brain structure can predict one's ability to learn a new video game. One analysis, led by Beckman Institute director Art Kramer (an author on this study as well), found that the volume of specific structures in the brain could predict how well people would perform on Space Fortress. That study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the relative sizes of different brain structures.
But MRI is expensive and requires that subjects lie immobile inside a giant magnet, Mathewson said. With EEG, researchers can track brain activity fairly inexpensively while subjects are engaged in a task in a less constricted, less artificial environment, he said.
The new findings offer tantalizing new clues to the mental states that appear to enhance one's ability to perform complex tasks, Mathewson said. Alpha waves are associated with relaxation, but they also are believed to arise when one is actively inhibiting certain cognitive functions in favor of others, he said. It is possible that everyone could benefit from interventions to increase the strength of their alpha waves in the front of the brain, a region associated with decision-making, attention and self-control.
"You can get people to increase their alpha brain waves by giving them some positive feedback," Mathewson said. "And so you could possibly boost this kind of activity before putting them in the game."
【274】

【计时五】
Moderate Drinking Decreases Number of New Brain Cells
ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) — Drinking a couple of glasses of wine each day has generally been considered a good way to promote cardiovascular and brain health. But a new Rutgers University study indicates that there is a fine line between moderate and binge drinking -- a risky behavior that can decrease the making of adult brain cells by as much as 40 percent.
[attachimg=300,262]108756[/attachimg]
In a study posted online and scheduled to be published in the journal Neuroscience on November 8, lead author Megan Anderson, a graduate student working with Tracey J. Shors, Professor II in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology, reported that moderate to binge drinking -- drinking less during the week and more on the weekends -- significantly reduces the structural integrity of the adult brain.
"Moderate drinking can become binge drinking without the person realizing it," said Anderson."In the short term there may not be any noticeable motor skills or overall functioning problems, but in the long term this type of behavior could have an adverse effect on learning and memory."
Shors and Anderson worked with postdoctoral fellow Miriam Nokia from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland to model moderate to heavy drinking in humans using rodents that reached a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent -- the legal driving limit in the United States and many other countries -- and found that brain cell production was affected negatively.
【243】

【剩余部分】
The researchers discovered that at this level of intoxication in rats -- comparable to about 3-4 drinks for women and five drinks for men -- the number of nerve cells in the hippocampus of the brain were reduced by nearly 40 percent compared to those in the abstinent group of rodents. The hippocampus is a part of the brain where the new neurons are made and is also known to be necessary for some types of new learning.
This level of alcohol intake was not enough to impair the motor skills of either male or female rats or prevent them from associative learning in the short-term. Still, Anderson said, this substantial decrease in brain cell numbers over time could have profound effects on the structural plasticity of the adult brain because these new cells communicate with other neurons to regulate brain health.
"If this area of your brain was affected every day over many months and years, eventually you might not be able to learn how to get somewhere new or to learn something new about your life," said Anderson, a graduate fellow in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology. "It's something that you might not even be aware is occurring."
According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, men who drink 14 drinks a week and women who drink seven are considered at-risk drinkers. Although college students commonly binge drink, according to the institute, 70 percent of binge drinking episodes involved adults age 26 and older.
"This research indicates that social or daily drinking may be more harmful to brain health than what is now believed by the general public," she said.
【276】

【越障】
New Gene Therapy Method Tested in Human Cells ... and It Works, Researchers Report
ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) — Oregon Health & Science University's development of a new gene therapy method to prevent certain inherited diseases has reached a significant milestone. Researchers at the university's Oregon National Primate Research Center and the OHSU Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology have successfully demonstrated their procedure in human cells. It's believed that this research, along with other efforts, will pave the way for future clinical trials in human subjects.
[attachimg=439,706]108757[/attachimg]
The OHSU gene therapy method was initially devised through research in nonhuman primates led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Ph.D., associate scientist in the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences at ONPRC, Oregon Stem Cell Center and OHSU School of Medicine departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Molecular and Medical Genetics.
The procedure was specifically developed to prevent diseases related to gene defects in the cell mitochondria. Mitalipov's previous work was published in the August 2009 edition of Nature. In the current study, Mitalipov, in collaboration with Paula Amato, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU Center for Women's Health, demonstrated efficacy of this therapy in human gametes and embryos.
"Cell mitochondria contain genetic material just like the cell nucleus and these genes are passed from mother to infant," explained Mitalipov. "When certain mutations in mitochondrial DNA are present, a child can be born with severe conditions, including diabetes, deafness, eye disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, dementia and several other neurological diseases. Because mitochondrial-based genetic diseases are passed from one generation to the next, the risk of disease is often quite clear. The goal of this research is to develop a therapy to prevent transmission of these disease-causing gene mutations."

To conduct this research, Mitalipov and his colleagues obtained 106 human egg cells from study volunteers recruited through OHSU's Division of Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology. The researchers then used a method developed in previous nonhuman primate studies, to transfer the nucleus from one cell to another. In effect, the researchers "swapped out" the cell cytoplasm, which contains the mitochondria. The egg cells were then fertilized to determine whether the transfer was a success and whether the cells developed normally. Upon inspection, it was demonstrated that it was possible to successfully replace mitochondrial DNA using this method.
"Using this process, we have shown that mutated DNA from the mitochondria can be replaced with healthy copies in human cells," explained Mitalipov. "While the human cells in our study were allowed to develop to the embryonic stem cell stage, this research shows that this gene therapy method may well be a viable alternative for preventing devastating diseases passed from mother to infant."
The current Nature paper also expanded upon the previously reported nonhuman primate work by demonstrating that the method was possible using frozen egg cells. Mitochondria were replaced in a frozen/thawed monkey egg cell, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby monkey named Chrysta.
The second portion of the study, which was completed at ONPRC, is also considered an important achievement because egg cells only remain viable for a short period of time after they are harvested from a donor. Therefore, for this therapy to be a viable option in the clinic, preservation through freezing likely is necessary so that both the donor cell and a mother's cell are viable at the time of the procedure.
While this form of therapy has yet to be approved in the United States, the United Kingdom is seriously considering its use for treating human patients at risk for mitochondria-based disease. It's believed that this most recent breakthrough, combined with earlier animal studies, will help inform that decision-making process.
Because the research involved the use of human egg cells and there are restrictions to the use of federal funding for some work in human egg cells, private funding was obtained to accomplish the work.
In addition, researchers consulted with ethicists and other experts within OHSU's Institutional Review Board and the OHSU Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (OSCRO) prior to embarking on this research. The OSCRO reviews research involving human embryonic stem cells at OHSU to ensure that all federal and state regulations governing the conduct of stem cell research are met and that all human embryonic stem cell research is conducted in accordance with the general principles expressed in the National Academies' Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The OHSU IRB reviews biomedical and behavioral research that involves humans in order to protect the rights and welfare of the research subjects.
【753】

miffyhui

1’36”
1’47”
1’16”
1’16”
1’06”
1’04"
越障：OHSU therapy method was applied in the nonhuman primates by s
        recently, M and A have tried to use this method in human egg cells
       reason: the mutation of mitochondrial cells brings out many genetic diseases
1: M and other researchers obtained 106 human egg cells and then transfer the nucleus from one cell to another 2: use the frozen egg cells : the eggs can only be use in the shortest time ,so the freezing is necessary

yqhpsyche

speed

1'39
1'26
1'05
1'24
1'12

obstacle  4'48
1.An organization has reached a significant milestone in the development of a new method to prevent certain inherited diseases.
2.The procedure focused on preventing the transfer of disease related to gene defects in the cell mitchondrial.
3.To reache the goal, the organization used frozen human egg cell for experiment.
4.There are some ethics problems using human egg cell for experiments, so the organization used private funding and spared some efforts to make it legal.

2012Michelle

1'49"
A new black hole in the center of Galaxy was found lately, by using NASA's X-ray technology. The result was published in July 2012.
1'48"
The black hole is far away from Earch, millions light year. It make materials and X-rays surround slow. Three other X-rays are also found around the black hole.
1'36"
Researchers use EEG tested on 39 subjects to study how vedio games work on brains. The EEG (electronic signal generated in different strength) can predict how well people can learn vedio games after one month.
1'30"
Furthermore, this result benefit the researchers in studying people's working performance. Comparing with EEG, MRI is too expensive and inconvinient to study on brain structure. By studying on how well brain works under EEG, the researchers said Alpha wave worked on in front of brain takes important role for decision-making, self-control...
Sending positive message to people before put them to complex and difficult tasks is helpful.
1'20"
New research finds out dring glasses of wine everyday effects negtively on adult brain for learning and remembering, which is totally different from the old believes. Before this finding released, people think daily drinking benefit their cardio system and brain.
Rest 1'21"
Researchers discovered that people who have drinking habits is bad. The effection takes place inside adult brains, which make them reduce their ability of learning and remembering.

越障 5'10" 这一段好多生词，虽然不会对理解影响特别大，不过很影响阅读的心情，嘿嘿~
Researchers have new found on genetic theropy in human cell, which can be used for clinical trial.
There are 7 types of diseases can be transferred from mother to infants, the research aims to do theropy in egg cell to avoid the transferring.
Around 100 human egg cells collected from subjects, researchers finish their job in labories already. Earlier than this study, there are already some researchers have done their experiments on nonhuman subjects, such as monkeys.
The research is going on well in the Unisted States, but British experts won't do it. THE British experts think this method might effect on egg cells in bad way, such as effect the decision-making ability of new generation.
In United States, the researchers study this topic under a serious guidlines and regulations. Even though they cannot get enough funding from federal, private fundings invest to them.

fightfor700

谢谢Christine分享，内容、排版都很好！个人黑洞那两段读的不如后面的和越障读的顺。

速度：2:11, 2:12, 1:54, 2:02, 1:35 + 1:55

越障：未计时，边读边记。除一些词不懂用首字母代替外，结构和意思感觉不太难。

1, A new gene therapy reached a milestone. will pave the way for future clinical trials in humans;
2, PHD M's research initially in nonhuman, 2009 published. currently study, shows efficacy in human gametes and embryos.
3, cell - problems - pass from mom to infant because mito-based genetic disease is passed..
4, research goal: prevent transmission
5, how to do the research: 106 human egg cells, transfer nucleus A to B (swapped out the cell cytoplasm), egg cells fertilize, using this method, mutated DNA from the mito- can be replaced with healthy ones. frozen eggs also work.
6, 2nd part of the research, because short time egg cells remain viable, preservation is necessary
7, US not yet approved, UK is eager to implement. because restrictions on human egg cells, private funding instead federal. consults in advance to protect rights and welfare of research.

spencerX

谢谢christine，文章很有意思

1’29    
1’44    
1’21    
1’28    
1’16    

4’44

objectz

第一次读，没有抓住obstacle阅读与回忆的方法，明天训练前应该先研究一下小安阅读法与active回忆的技巧，再做训练，今天的成绩太丢人了啊。。一定要坚持做下去才行！

2'24''
2'36''
1'58''
1'48''
1'31''

1.There is a research in some universities, to build something in the egg shells, and grow new human cells to prevent the mitchiogy disease transport from mother to an infant.
2.He once published an article, now do the experienment along with some people together,get the eggshells from the donors,and it was successful
3.It was successful using in monkeys.if going public, the clinic would have an alternative choices for preventing the diseases from mother to infant
4.US not pass it, UK highly consider to accept it
5.ask some opinions from ethicist

合欢树

2'09''
2'04''
2'00''
1'47''
1'36''
5'45''

映雪瑶渊

占一环~

peill

2'30 132
2'31 133
2'09 127
1'43 160
1'31 162
太困了，越障明天了

4'47 158 5
1. there's a break trough finding which will help to prevent the mutation in DNA (serious disease) from passing from Mother to babies.
2. the original finding is about how to remove a DNA from a human cell. And now they have new finding that this way can be used on embryo.
3. basically the method is to remove the mutated DNA out of an egg. Then replace it with the  healthy one from a donor. and because the DNAs are alive only for a certain time. Frozen is required.
4.US has not make any steps in take it into reality. But UK is seriously considering to help people by this new method.
5.Some organization will make sure all the DNA science work will comply with the principles.