The Dutch are using an ingenious, low cost, totally
organic solution to the country's increasing drone
problem – they're having eagles trained to attack
the flying machine as they would their usual prey.
Drones are becoming a major problem all over the world – they block airspace and interfere
with official operations like emergency air ambulance landings. Despite regulations, drone
operators are able to get away with misuse. They're often hidden from view, making it very
difficult for authorities to detect their exact position and take action against them.
The Dutch police were looking at tech based solutions like remotely taking control of drone
operating systems, but forcing a drone to autoland could backfire as it could go completely
out of control. Thankfully, raptor training company 'Guard From Above' came up with a much
better idea – to make use of eagles' natural hunting instincts.
Guard From Above claims to be the first company in the world to use birds of prey to
intercept hostile drones. They're now assisting the Dutch police force to create a fleet of
police eagles that are trained to attack and snatch drones in midair using their strong talons.
“The eagle sees the drone as its prey,” explained Sjoerd Hoogendoorn, who works for the
company. “So he tries to take it to a safe location and guard it once he gets there.”
In Hindu mythology Garuda is known as the king of birds. He transports the God Vishnu and is eager to help humanity fight against demons. The word is usually rendered into English as "eagle," though according to one dictionary the name literally means "devourer," because Garuda was originally identified with the "all-consuming fire of the sun's rays".
A student surnamed Lin and 12 of his schoolmates set off for the mountains at the trail head near Han Si Elementary School in Yilan County’s Datong Township on Wednesday last week. In the afternoon of Friday last week, while they were on their way to Cuifeng Lake by way of Kulu Forest Trail, Lin is thought to have used his hands to make a way through the undergrowth, startling a bamboo viper hiding inside. He was then bitten by the snake on his right wrist, causing his forearm to become swollen. His schoolmates immediately tied rope around his right upper arm and telephoned for help.
After receiving the appeal for help, the National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) dispatched a helicopter to pick Lin up at Dongshan in Datong Township and contacted the Yilan fire department, which arranged to pick him up from the NASC on the athletics track of Yilan’s Luodong Sports Park and transport him to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Luodong.
Lin was the only student transported by the helicopter down the mountain, during which time he was conscious but experiencing intermittent pain. He was reluctant to give details about what caused the snake bite. After Lin arrived in the hospital, he was very concerned with his physical well-being and asked the doctor questions such as whether his arm would need to be amputated.
Lee Chi-chung, chief of emergency medicine at Saint Mary’s Hospital Luodong, said an injection should, of course, be given as soon as possible, and that, following a medical evaluation, it was decided that Lin did not need an amputation. He also said that Lin was very fortunate, for he was transported by helicopter down the mountain and received prompt treatment. As for whether the snake bite would endanger his life, he said that it depended on how much venom made its way into the body, and how long it was in there: The greater the volume and the longer it stays in the body, the more risky it becomes, but an individual’s physiology is also a relevant factor.
(Liberty Times, Translated By Ethan Zhan)
TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字
1. dispatch v. 出動; 派遣
例: The Pentagon dispatched two fighter jets to send a message to a country in Asia. (五角大廈出動兩架戰機向亞洲的一個國家傳遞訊息。)
2. reluctant adj.不願
例: He said he loved her, but he was reluctant to kiss her.
(他說他愛她，只是不願吻她。)
3. endanger v. 危及
例: Your smoking habit might endanger your children’s health.
A study has found that high glycemic index foods, like white bread, bagels and rice, increase the risk of lung cancer. The study confirms that carbohydrates are a contributing factor in increasing the risk of the lung disease. 研究發現，白麵包、百吉餅、米飯等血糖指數偏高的食物，會增加患肺癌的幾率。該研究證實，患肺部疾病的人群數量正在增加，而碳水化合物是這種趨勢的一個誘因。
According to the study, while high glycemic index (GI) foods increase the risk of lung cancer by 49%, low GI foods, like fruits and vegetables were found to lower the risk. The study's lead author Dr Stephanie Melkonian of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center said: "We observed a 49% increased risk of lung cancer among subjects with the highest daily GI compared to those with the lowest daily GI. 該研究稱，血糖指數（GI）偏高的食物會使肺癌的患病率增加49%，而蔬菜水果等低血糖指數的食物則能降低患肺癌的幾率。該研究的第一作者是德克薩斯大學安德森癌症中心的斯蒂芬妮·梅爾克尼安教授。她說：“我們對接受調研的人進行對比後發現，攝入GI食物最高的群體，其肺癌的患病率比低GI群體高出了49%。”
"Diets high in glycemic index result in higher levels of blood glucose and insulin, which promote perturbations in the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). Previous research suggests increased levels of IGFs are associated with increased lung cancer risk. However, the association between glycemic index and lung cancer risk was unclear." “日常飲食攝入大量高GI食物，會導致血液中葡萄糖和胰島素的濃度增加，從而擾亂胰島素樣生長因數（IGFs）的平衡。之前已有研究顯示，人體內IGF含量的增加，與肺癌患病率升高有關。但是，當時血糖指數與肺癌患病率之間的關係尚不明確。”
As a part of the study that has been published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, some 1,905 patients diagnosed with lung cancer were surveyed. Comparisons were made with 2,413 healthy patients. The study's senior author Dr Xifeng Wu said it is the "average quality" and not the quantity of carbohydrates that determines the risk of lung cancer. Non-smokers consuming high GI foods, like bagels, white bread, popcorn and cornflakes, were found to be more at risk compared to smokers.
Meanwhile, latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that cancer is on the rise in England, with at least 813 new cases registered every day. The ONS statistics found that breast cancer accounted for the greatest proportion of cancer registrations in England, making up 15.6% of cancer cases. Prostate cancer followed behind at 13.4% and lung cancer was in the third place making up 12.6% of cancer cases. 同時，英國統計局發佈的最新資料表明：英國的患癌人數正持續增加，每日新增病例至少813人。而且，該資料還發現，在英國所有癌症病例中，乳腺癌患者所占比重最大，高達全部患癌人口的15.6%；前列腺癌緊隨其後，所占比重為13.4%；肺癌位列第三，占比12.6%。
menstrual cycle: 月經週期 Competing in the Olympics is stressful at the best of times - but imagine doing so while having your period. 參加奧運比賽，即使在最佳狀態下也會壓力山大——可若是處在生理期呢？ Fu Yuanhui, one of China's swimming stars, became an overnight social media sensation thanks to her frank post-race interviews and exaggerated expressions.中國游泳隊小將傅園慧因賽後採訪中的耿直言論和誇張表情迅速走紅社交媒體。
Now, she's become a talking point online again - for breaking a sporting taboo by talking about her period. 這次，她又打破體壇禁忌，談論自己的生理期，再次引爆網路話題。
China missed out on a medal in the women's 4x100m medley relay on Sunday, coming fourth. 周日的女子4x100米混合泳接力賽，中國隊獲得第四名，未能登上領獎臺。
After the match, team-mates Lu Ying, Shi Jinglin and Zhu Menghui were interviewed by a reporter - but Fu was initially nowhere to be found.賽後，隊員陸瀅、史婧琳和朱夢慧接受了採訪，而傅園慧則不見蹤影。 It turns out she was crouched behind a board, doubled over in pain.後來發現，她蹲在看板後痛苦地蜷縮著。
When the journalist asked her (in Chinese) if she was OK, Fu said: "I didn't swim well enough this time," and apologised to her team-mates. 記者問她還好嗎，傅園慧說：“這次沒有遊好。”還向隊友表示歉意。
"It's because my period came yesterday, so I felt particularly tired - but this isn't a reason, I still didn't swim well enough." “我昨天來例假了，所以感覺特別累。但這也不是理由，還是自己沒遊好。”
It was a poignant moment for many Chinese viewers, who took to social media to express their support for her. 許多中國網友深受觸動，紛紛在社交媒體上表達了對她的支持。
"I really admire Fu Yuanhui, for swimming while she was on her period - women can be affected during their periods, especially with period pain... she felt guilty for coming fourth, but Fu Yuanhui we're still very proud of you," user TAO wrote on Sina Weibo. 新浪微博用戶TAO表示：“我真的很敬佩傅園慧生理期還去比賽游泳。女性會受到生理期的影響，尤其是痛經的話……中國隊拿了第四，她很內疚。但是傅園慧，我們依然為你驕傲。”
Tampons are relatively unknown in China
在中國，衛生棉條少有人知
It's also sparked a discussion about tampons - which are not widely used in China. According to one industry survey, only 2% of women in China use tampons -compared to 42% of US women. 關於衛生棉條的討論也由此引爆。衛生棉條在中國並未得到廣泛使用。一項業內調查顯示，只有2%的中國女性使用衛生棉條，而美國女性的使用比例是42%。
Many women weren't familiar with how to use them, or had not heard of them before, the survey by Cotton Inc said. 美國棉花公司的調查稱，許多女性不熟悉衛生棉條的使用方法，甚至從未聽說過。
"Someone accused Fu of lying, asking how she could have gone in the water on her period," weibo user Dvingnew wrote. "Chinese people have prejudices about tampons - as a woman over 30, I'd been ignorant, and full of fear, about tampons until now too."
And there may also be cultural factors at play too - some Chinese women have been told to avoid using tampons because it could stop them from being virgins, despite health experts pointing out that the two things are unrelated. 這可能也有文化因素的作用——一些中國女性被告知不要使用衛生棉條，因為那會破壞處女膜。而健康專家指出，兩者並沒有什麼關係。
One poster defending tampons wrote: "Who told you virgins can't use tampons? Come on, it's the 21st Century." 支援使用棉條一方的帖子寫道：“誰跟你說處女不可以用棉條的？拜託，這都21世紀了。”
According to reports, China's first domestic tampon brand may be launched soon - which may encourage more women to swim while on their periods. 據報導，中國首家本土衛生棉條品牌很快就要成立，這或許能鼓勵更多女性在生理期游泳。 So can menstrual cycles affect sporting performance? 那麼，生理期會影響運動表現嗎？The subject of competing while menstruating is "definitely a taboo", Georgie Bruinvels, a sports scientist, tells the BBC. 運動學專家喬吉•布魯威爾斯告訴BBC，生理期參與比賽這個話題是“絕對的禁忌”。
"A lot of [elite] sport coaches are men, and that makes it harder for women, who don't want to say 'I'm on my menstrual cycle'. “許多（傑出的）體育教練都是男性。因此，對於不願說自己來例假的女性，其處境變得更為艱難。”
"We need incidents like this to raise the issue" and encourage more research, she says.
她表示，“我們需要類似的事件來引發這一話題”並且鼓勵更多的研究。
Ms Bruinvels surveyed over 1,800 sportswomen as part of her work as a researcher at the Female Athlete Health Group - a collaborative project between St Mary's University and University College London. 布魯威爾斯作為女性運動員健康研究組的成員，對1800名女運動員進行了調查。該研究組是聖瑪麗大學和倫敦大學學院的合作項目。
"More than half the sportswomen I surveyed said they felt their menstrual cycle affected their performance." “調查中，超過一半的女運動員認為生理期影響了她們的表現。”
While there is not enough research into the impact of periods on sport, Ms Bruinvels says, one potential factor she was researching was iron deficiency. 但布魯威爾斯稱，生理期對體育運動的影響尚未得到充分研究，她在探索的一個可能因素是鐵的缺乏。
"Menstruation is the leading cause of iron deficiency in the developed world, but many women are not aware they have it. “在發達國家，生理期是缺鐵的主要原因，但許多女性並不清楚這一點。”
"There could be an impact on the amount of time you can exercise, and the maximum amount of oxygen" an athlete can use, and she recommends that sportswomen who feel they've been affected get their iron levels tested. “運動時間長短，還有運動員可消耗的最大氧氣量都可能受到缺鐵的影響”。她建議認為自己受了影響的女運動員去檢查一下身體的鐵含量。
Exercising for as little as two-and-a-half hours a week can undo damage done by sitting down all day, a study has found. 研究發現，每週僅需2.5小時的鍛煉，就可抵消終日久坐帶來的危害。The study by the University of Leicester found that even moderate activity can be enough for a health boost.這項由英國萊斯特大學主持的研究發現，適度鍛煉足以保持身體健康。
Sedentary behavior – any waking behavior with low energy expenditure while in a sitting or reclining posture – has been linked to ill health.久坐行為指清醒狀態下任何坐著或靠著的低能量消耗行為，這種行為與不佳的健康狀況直接掛鉤。But medics are concerned as many British adults now spend between half and nearly three quarters of waking hours sitting.
然而，令醫療工作者擔心的是，如今許多英國成年人二分之一到四分之三的清醒時間都是坐著的。
Dr Thomas Yates, who worked on the study, said: "It is possible for an individual, over the course of a day, to have high levels of physical activity and still accumulate large amounts of sedentary time." 湯瑪斯·耶茨博士參與了此次研究，他表示：“個體可以在一天中既進行高強度的運動又保持長時間的久坐。”The study published in BMC Public Health used data from the 2008 Health Survey to paint a representative sample of English adults. 這份發表在《英國醫學會公共衛生》期刊上的研究報告引用了《2008年健康調查》中的資料，列舉了英國成年人的代表類型。
They were grouped as "Busy Bees" – physically active with low sedentary levels; "Sedentary Exercisers" – physically active with high sedentary levels; "Light Movers" – physically inactive, had low sedentary; and "Couch Potatoes" – physically inactive, high sedentary. 研究物件被歸為四個類型，他們分別是：“忙碌蜜蜂”——運動充足且久坐時間短；“久坐鍛煉者”——運動充足但久坐時間長；“輕量行者”——缺乏運動但久坐時間短；以及“沙發土豆”——缺乏運動且久坐時間長。
Dr Yates said: “Overall, adults who engaged in at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, including 'Sedentary Exercisers', had more favorable health profiles compared to 'Couch Potatoes'.耶茨博士表示：“總的來說，包括'久坐鍛煉者'在內的成年人每週至少進行150分鐘中高等強度的運動，就能擁有比'沙發土豆'更加理想的健康狀況。”
“By suggesting that being physically active may offset some of the deleterious consequences of routinely engaging in high levels of sedentary behavior, this study further emphasizes the importance of physical activity in the promotion and maintenance of health. “運動可以抵消日常久坐帶來的消極影響，通過揭示這一點，此次研究進一步強調了運動對保持和促進身體健康的重要性。”
PhD student Kishan Bakrania added: "This research is significant because it demonstrates yet again why physical activity and exercise is so important.基尚·巴克讓尼亞是一名在讀博士生，他補充道：“這項研究意義重大，因為它再次證明了運動鍛煉的重要性。”
"It shows that people who spend large amounts of time not moving either through work, leisure or lifestyle can counteract some of the negative effects of sedentary behaviour by regularly exercising." “它表明人們即便在工作或閒暇時不經常活動，仍能通過定期鍛煉抵消久坐帶來的消極影響。”
Can a tree help prevent crime? It just might. Two
new studies, led by US Forest Service
researchers, took a closer look at urban green
space in Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Youngstown, Ohio. In each of these cities, adding
green space to crime ridden areas helped
reduce crime rates, the researchers found.
種樹可以預防犯罪嗎？有可能哦。美國林務局研
究員做的兩項最新研究仔細調查了費城、巴爾的摩和俄亥俄州揚斯敦的市區綠化情況。研究
人員發現，在這三個城市中，在治安糟糕的區域增加綠化面積可以有效減少犯罪率。
In 2000, Philadelphia launched a program to plant vegetation along roadways to help soak up
rainwater. Researchers looked at 52 of these vegetation plots and compared them with
control plots that didn't receive the greenery upgrade. After tracking 14 types of crime in
nearby areas, researchers found that narcotics possession in those areas decreased by 18
to 27 percent, even as the rate for the rest of the city rose by 65 percent.
2000年，費城啟動了一個項目，在道路兩旁種植綠化帶吸收雨水。研究者們觀察了52處綠
化點，與沒有進行綠化改造的對照區進行對比。在追蹤了附近14種犯罪手段之後，研究者
發現，這些區域的毒品持有量下降到27%，下降了18個百分點，儘管這一數位在城市的其
它地區還上漲了65個百分點。
Michelle Kondo, a social scientist and lead researcher with the forest service, speculated the
increased presence of city trucks and vans in the landscaped areas — for planting and
maintenance — was enough to deter illicit activity.
林務局首席研究員、社會學家蜜雪兒•近藤推測，在這些區域負責綠化和養護的市政車輛增
加，有效阻止了違法活動。
A similar effect was noted in Youngstown, Ohio — a depressed Midwestern town known for
its high rates of crime and unemployment. From 2010 to 2014, city officials embarked on a
project to reclaim some of the city's empty lots and derelict buildings by converting them into
green space. In 2011, they added another initiative that gave local communities funding to
plant green space in vacant lots in whatever method they chose — lawns, community
gardens, playgrounds and more.
在俄亥俄州的揚斯敦也發現了類似的情況。這是一座經濟蕭條的中西部城市，以高犯罪率和
失業率聞名。從2010年到2014年，政府開啟了一項回收城市空地和無主建築的計畫，把這
些區域改造成綠地。2011年，他們又啟動了一項綠地基金計畫，鼓勵當地民眾以各種形式
綠化空地——無論是草坪、社區花園、運動場還是其它。
When Kondo and her team compared crime around these vegetation plots with undeveloped
plots in nearby areas, they found the areas around new green spaces had lower crime rates
than elsewhere in the city. Interestingly, the crime reduction was different depending upon the
type of green space that was developed. For example, lots that were planted with grass and
maintained by contractors saw a reduction in property crimes such as theft and burglary,
whereas community maintained plots saw a sharp reduction in violent crime. This suggests
that different types of green space could be developed to deter certain types of crime.
近藤和她的團隊對比了這些綠化區域和附近未綠化區域的犯罪情況，發現新綠化區域的犯罪
率比城市其它地區的犯罪率低。有趣的是，開發的綠地類型不同，所減少的犯罪類型也不
同。比如，種植了草坪並由承包商維護的綠地，周圍盜竊和入室行竊之類的財產犯罪就減少
了，而由社區維護的綠地附近，暴力犯罪大幅下降。這就表明可以通過開發不同類型的綠地
來阻止特定類型的犯罪活動。
Kondo's study collaborates another forest service study conducted by researcher Morgan
Grove on the link between lawn care and crime in downtown Baltimore. Grove's study looked
at the level of lawn maintenance in 1,000 residential yards throughout Baltimore County. His
team looked at everything from tree cover to litter to the presence of garden hoses. Not
surprisingly, Grove found that well maintained lawns were linked to lower crime rates than
lawns that were given less care.
與近藤的研究相合作的林務局另外一項研究中，研究員摩根•格魯夫研究了巴爾的摩市中心
犯罪率與草坪維護情況之間的關聯。他調查了整個巴爾的摩郡1000戶人家院子的草坪維護
情況。他的團隊查看了所有細節，包括林木植被、垃圾和花園的澆水管。果然，格魯夫發
現，維護良好的草坪周圍的犯罪率比維護欠佳的草坪周圍的犯罪率要低。
It's tempting to use income as the connection. After all, if you have the time and money to
water your lawn, you probably live in a neighborhood that sees less crime. But Grove argued
that the greenery itself helped to deter crime, by announcing to would be criminals that there
are "eyes on the street" that care for their neighborhood and would be more likely to report a
crime.
當然你很容易把這個與收入聯繫起來。畢竟，如果你有時間和金錢為草坪澆水，那麼你很有
可能住在較為安全的社區。但是格魯夫認為，是綠化本身減少了犯罪，綠地是一種宣示，警
告潛在的罪犯“街上有眼睛”照看著社區，並且發生了犯罪會更有可能上報。
The takeaway from these two studies is that urban green space may help to deter crime and
could be a useful tool in city wide crime prevention policies. We already know greenery is
beautiful to look at and can help improve mood and health while reducing pollution. Now we
can add crime fighting to the list of vegetation's many benefits.
這兩項研究的重要發現是，城市綠地有助於阻止犯罪，可以作為整個城市預防犯罪政策的有
力工具。我們已經知道，綠色植物既養眼，又有助於改善情緒、提升健康狀況、減少污染。
現在我們又可以給植物的種種好處再加上一條“打擊犯罪”。
Need a better reason to plant a tree?
這難道還不是種樹的最好理由嗎？
Tseng Yi-hsuan, a student at National Hsin Hua Industrial Vocational High School who has mild learning disabilities, recently traveled to the US to participate in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, winning one gold and one bronze medal in swimming events.
Tseng’s mother says her daughter initially dabbled in swimming to improve her fragile physique, hoping to exercise her body and grow up healthy, but she surprisingly developed a hidden talent. When she started learning, Tseng was held back by her innate learning disability and was therefore a late starter. However, through diligence and hard hard work, after mastering the basics Tseng made rapid strides, even surprising her coach.
When she was younger, Tseng was often laughed at for being “stupid” and “silly,” which caused her to feel extremely hurt. However, Tseng’s mother encouraged her daughter, saying “Everyone has their own strengths. Whatever you do, don’t feel discouraged.” During swimming class at school, Tseng’s outstanding performance left those sneering students speechless and she gradually became accepted.
