- Research Team Reports Longest Successful Transplant of a Pig Kidney into a Human
- Household Cleaning Products Emit Chemicals Associated with Heart Disease, Cancer
- Germans Baffled Over Mystery of Highway Serial Sandwich Thrower
- Female Footprint in India's Workforce
- Birds with More Complex Vocal Skills Are Better Problem-Solvers
- Floating Cows and Giant Storm Barriers: How the Dutch Plan to Survive Rising Sea Levels
Research Team Reports Longest Successful Transplant of a Pig Kidney into a Human
研究團隊報告：成功移植豬腎到人體時間最長的案例
Health
A pig kidney successfully functioned in a human body for about two months, marking the longest documented case of a xenotransplant of its kind. In July, researchers at NYU Langone Health transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into the body of a 58-year-old man named Maurice Miller, who had a brain tumor and was experiencing brain death. In August, another research team published peer-reviewed research on new advancements in transplanting pig kidneys to humans. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine found that transplanted kidneys not only produced urine; they provided the “life-sustaining kidney function” of filtering waste, according to a research letter published in the medical journal JAMA Surgery. Researchers say that more work is needed, including studies in living human recipients, to establish whether pig kidney transplants could be a bridge or destination therapy for people with end-stage kidney disease.
--from CNN health
豬腎在人體中成功發揮作用約兩個月，這是同類異種移植紀錄中時間最長的案例。今年7月，紐約大學Langone健康中心的研究人員將轉基因豬腎移植到58歲男子Maurice Miller體內，這名男子患有腦腫瘤，為腦死狀態。八月，另一個研究小組將豬腎移植到人類的新成果在經同行審議後發表。Alabama大學Birmingham Heersink醫學院的研究人員發現，移植的腎臟不僅能產生尿液，根據發表在醫學期刊《JAMA外科手術》的一篇研究型論文指出，它們提供了過濾廢物之「腎臟維生功能」。研究人員表示，尚需更多包括對活體受測者進行的研究，以確定豬腎移植能否成為腎臟病末期患者的橋接或最終治療。
-摘錄翻譯自CNN health
Household Cleaning Products Emit Chemicals Associated with Heart Disease, Cancer
家用清潔產品釋放的化學物質與心臟病、癌症有關
Health
A study recently published in the journal Chemosphere has found that many cleaning products — including commonly used items such as air fresheners, multipurpose cleaners, and glass cleaners — are capable of emitting hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Dr. Luísa Borges, who is an environmental researcher explained “Extended exposure to VOCs has been associated with health problems, including an elevated risk of lung cancer, and an increased likelihood of cardiovascular diseases.” The researchers found that “green” products and those without fragrances emitted the lowest levels of VOCs. Borges said that the results of this study have important implications for anyone looking to improve indoor air quality. Dr. Kevin Huffman, the CEO and Founder of AmBari Nutrition, said“It’s important to ensure adequate ventilation when using any cleaning products.”
--from healthline
最近發表在《光化層》期刊上的一項研究發現，許多清潔產品，包括空氣清新劑、多功能清潔劑和玻璃清潔劑等常用產品，會釋放數百種揮發性有機化合物。環境研究員Luísa Borges博士解釋說：「長期接觸揮發性有機化合物與健康問題有關，包括提高罹患肺癌的風險和心血管疾病的可能性。」 研究人員發現，「綠色」產品與不含香料產品釋放的揮發性有機化合物含量最低。Borges說，這項研究的結果對任何尋求改善室內空氣質量的人都有重要意義。AmBari Nutrition執行長兼創辦人Kevin Huffman博士表示：「使用任何清潔產品時，確保充分的通風非常重要。」
--摘錄翻譯自healthline
Germans baffled over mystery of highway serial sandwich thrower
德國人對高速公路上連續丟擲三明治的謎團感到困惑
Culture
For six months now, discarded sandwiches have been found between the villages of Königsborn and Heyrothsberge in northwest Germany, apparently thrown by the same driver. The locals are frustrated - and intrigued. Local media report that sometimes they are filled with cheese, and other times with salami or sausages. Sometimes they’re untouched, sometimes there's a bite taken out of them. While some people are clearly frustrated about the continuous littering, the mystery of the sandwich throwing has also fascinated others, with experts weighing in on why somebody would do such a thing. Anke Precht, a psychologist, told Bild that it was possible the driver received the sandwich from someone else, perhaps a loved one, though they actually did not enjoy the snack. The driver might have missed the chance to tell the other person they did not like the sandwich, and now they have to live with the consequences of that misunderstanding. Throwing rubbish out of a moving car is actually a crime in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Which means that, if ever found, the anonymous driver could face not only the locals’ rage - but also a fine of up to €400.
--from Euronews
六個月來，在德國西北部的 Königsborn 村和 Heyrothsberge 村之間不斷發現被丟棄的三明治，顯然是同一位司機扔的。當地人感到既沮喪又好奇。 據當地媒體報導，三明治裡，有時候裡面包的是乳酪，有時候是義大利臘腸或香腸。有時候是原封不動，也有時候是被咬了一口。 雖然有些人對亂丟垃圾感到沮喪，但丟三明治的神祕之處也讓人著迷，專家們就對為什麼有人會做這樣的事情發表了意見。 心理學家安克·普雷希特 (Anke Precht) 告訴《圖片報》，司機有可能從其他人那裡拿到了三明治，也許是一個親人，儘管他們實際上並不喜歡這種食物。司機可能沒有告訴對方，他不喜歡三明治，但他們必須承擔這種誤會的後果。 在德國薩克森-安哈特州，從行駛中的汽車中丟出垃圾實際上是一種犯罪行為。這意味著，如果被發現，司機不僅要面對當地人的憤怒，還會面臨高達 400 歐元的罰款。
--摘錄翻譯自Euronews
Female footprint in India's workforce
印度勞動力中的女性足跡
Culture/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/VLBG7XTL75NXPA6UYGFJSSHTJ4.jpg)
The Indian government introduced a bill to reserve a third of seats in the lower house of parliament and state assemblies for women, raising hopes in a nation with a female workforce of about 25%, the lowest among emerging economies. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), doubling the percentage of women in the workforce could boost India's growth rate from 7.5% to 9% and raise the country's GDP to $700 billion by 2025. India has had one woman prime minister and two female presidents since independence in 1947. Fifteen women have served as chief ministers so far. The percentage of women lawmakers elected to parliament stood at 14.94% for the lower house, 14.05% for the upper house, and about 10% of state legislatures. India's Supreme Court has not had a single female chief justice so far. As of August 2023, there were three women judges in the apex court of a sanctioned strength of 34, 106 women judges out of 788 in the 25 high courts and 7,199 in the lower courts. India has the highest proportion of female pilots to males in the world, making up 15% out of a total of about 10,000 pilots in the South Asian country, against 5% globally. With 62.9% female participation, agriculture has the highest percentage of women workers, followed by manufacturing, at 11.2% in 2022. Millions of Indian women are employed in unorganised sectors such as domestic and daily wage labourers.
--from Reuters
印度政府提出了一項法案，為女性保留下議院和州議會三分之一的席次，這項措施給這個在新興經濟體中女性勞動力比例最低-僅占25%的國家-帶來了希望。 根據國際勞工組織 (ILO) 的數據，若將女性勞動力比例提高一倍，可將印度的經濟成長率從 7.5% 提高到 9%，並在 2025 年將該國的 GDP 提高到 7,000 億美元。 自 1947 年獨立以來，印度已有1位女總理和2位女總統。迄今為止，已有 15 名女性擔任首席部長。 當選議會議員的女性議員比例，分別是下議院的 14.94%、上議院的 14.05%，以及州立法機構的10%左右。 到目前為止，印度最高法院還沒有一位女性首席大法官。截至 2023 年 8 月，在最高法院34 名法官中，有 3 名女法官；在25 個高等法院 788 名法官中，有 106 名女法官；在下級法院中，有 7,199 名女法官。 印度是世界上女性飛行員比例最高的國家，在這個南亞國家約 10,000 名飛行員中，女性飛行員佔 15%，而全球比例為 5%。 女性在農業的參與率最高，為 62.9%，其次是製造業， 2022 年是 11.2%。 數以百萬計的印度婦女不受機構雇用，例如從事家務或擔任日薪工人。
--摘錄翻譯自Reuters
Birds with more complex vocal skills are better problem-solvers
具有更複雜聲音技能的鳥類是更好的問題解決者
Sciences
Among the brainiest feats that birds are capable of is vocal learning, or the ability to learn to mimic sounds and use them to communicate. In birds, this leads to beautiful calls and songs; in humans, it leads to language. Now, a massive analysis of 214 birds from 23 species shows that there is indeed a link between vocal learning and at least one advanced cognitive ability — problem-solving. The study, described in the Sept. 15 Science, is the first to analyze multiple bird species instead of just one. “The more advanced vocal learning ability, the more advanced problem-solving skills,” says study coauthor Erich Jarvis, a biologist at Rockefeller University.
--from Science News
鳥類最聰明的能力之一是發聲學習，或者學習模仿聲音、並用以溝通的能力。對鳥類來說，由此發展成美妙的叫聲和歌曲；對於人類來說，則發展成為語言。現在，一項對23個物種的214隻鳥類的大規模分析顯示，聲音學習至少與一種進階認知能力（解決問題的能力）之間確實有關。這項研究發表在9月15日的《科學》期刊上，是第一個分析多種鳥類而非單一鳥類的研究。該研究的合著者Rockefeller大學的生物學家Erich Jarvis說：「聲音學習能力越強，解決問題的能力就越強」。
--摘錄翻譯自Science News
Floating Cows and Giant Storm Barriers: How the Dutch Plan to Survive Rising Sea Levels
漂浮的牛與巨大暴風的防潮堤：荷蘭規劃如何在海平面上升中生存
Sciences
For years, Netherlands has faced the threat of rising sea levels with ambitious infrastructure designed to keep the waters at bay. One such example is the Maeslant storm surge barrier on the Nieuwe Waterweg in South Holland. The barrier closes automatically when Rotterdam is threatened by floods, protecting one and a half million people. The gates shut if the water is expected to rise three metres or more. According to Marc Walraven, Senior Stormsurge Barrier Advisor, the barrier was designed with rising sea levels in mind. It was built to have a lifespan of around 100 years. "In reality, we have closed twice in 25 years. We expect to be closing more often in the future,” he says. However, the centuries-old strategy of dams, dikes and storm surges may not be the only solution to protecting the future of the Netherlands. Innovation is also seen as the answer by a local entrepreneur. Rotterdam's Floating Farm is the world's first floating farm and is considered one of the many examples of green innovation in the Netherlands.
--from Euronews
多年來，荷蘭面臨海平面上升的威脅，以其宏偉的基礎設施抵禦海水入侵。其中一例是荷蘭南部Nieuwe Waterweg上的Maeslant暴風防潮堤。當鹿特丹受到洪水威脅時，防潮堤會自動關閉，以保護150萬人。若水位預估上升3米以上，閘門就會關閉。風暴防潮堤資深顧問Marc Walraven表示，防潮堤的設計考量到海平面上升的情況。其使用壽命約100年。他說：「實際上，我們在25年內已關閉了2次。我們預計未來會更頻繁地關閉」。歷經數百年規劃的水庫、堤壩和風暴潮也許並非保護荷蘭未來的唯一解方。鹿特丹的飄浮農場是世界上第一個漂浮農場，被視為荷蘭眾多綠色新創案例之一。
--摘錄翻譯自Euronews