久久久无码人妻精品无码_6080YYY午夜理论片中无码_性无码专区_无码人妻品一区二区三区精99

English 中文網(wǎng) 漫畫網(wǎng) 愛新聞iNews 翻譯論壇
中國網(wǎng)站品牌欄目(頻道)
當前位置: Language Tips > Special Speed News VOA慢速

Health insurer hires Watson the computer to help treat patients

[ 2011-10-21 10:53]     字號 [] [] []  
免費訂閱30天China Daily雙語新聞手機報:移動用戶編輯短信CD至106580009009

Health insurer hires Watson the computer to help treat patients

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English. I'm Shirley Griffith.

BOB DOUGHTY: And I'm Bob Doughty. Today, we examine the extremely dry conditions in parts of East Africa. We also tell about a powerful computer getting a new job. And we tell about a link between laughter and good health.

(MUSIC)

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The drought in the Horn of Africa has been called the worst in 60 years. Scientists say the dry weather is at least partly the result of an event half a world away.

The event is calledLa Ni?a, which means "little girl" in Spanish. A La Ni?a begins when waters become cooler than normal in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. Changes in wind currents can then affect weather around the world. Another event, called an El Ni?o, happens when the waters become unusually warm.

La Ni?as and El Ni?os happen about every three to five years. The latest La Ni?a began in July of last year and ended in May. The conditions, however, can last for up to two years.

BOB DOUGHTY: Wassila Thiaw studies Africa for the Climate Prediction Center at the National Weather Service in the United States. With a La Ni?a, Mr Thiaw says the easterly winds that are supposed to bring moisture into East Africa are reduced.

WASSILA THIAW: "There was less moisture coming into East Africa and therefore rainfall is reduced."

BOB DOUGHTY: Starting late last year, rains that were supposed to fall over Somalia, southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya failed. That part of the Horn of Africa has a second rainy season from March through May. Mr Thiaw says that one failed, too, but for different reasons.

WASSILA THAW: "What played out here during the March-April-May season we don't think that is really La Ni?a. But it [is] probably mostly due to the atmospheric conditions that prevailed during that time."

BOB DOUGHTY: Mr Thiaw says La Ni?a conditions might begin again by the end of this year. And if that happens, he says, then the October-through-December rainy season could again be dryer than normal.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Climate researcher Simon Mason at Columbia University in New York says East Africa has been getting drier over about the last 10 years. Mr Mason says this is at least partly the result of global warming. Rising temperatures in the Indian Ocean create conditions that pull moisture away from East Africa.

Claudia Ringler at the International Food Policy Research Institute also points to another issue. She said by Skype that much of the land in the drought-affected areas is not very productive even in good times.

CLAUDIA RINGLER: "It will not get any better. Even if we have a bit more rainfall, the general potential for more food production is not expected to improve dramatically in the region."

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: In the United States, the latest La Ni?a pushed moisture away from the south, causing severe droughts. Texas has suffered billions of dollars in agricultural losses. Changes in the winds pushed the rain toward the northern states, causing floods.

(MUSIC)

BOB DOUGHTY: It appears that Watson will soon get a real job -- in medicine. Watson is best known for appearing on an American television program. Watson, however, is not a person. He, or it, is a very powerful computer.

The International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, created Watson. The company worked for six years to make a computer that could understand the human voice. IBM researchers hoped that it could hear a question and answer it very quickly.

Health insurer hires Watson the computer to help treat patients

IBM tested Watson's ability last February on the television game show "Jeopardy." The computer competed against two very intelligent humans. Watson won by answering the most questions about many subjects. But that was just for fun. Now IBM wants to put Watson to work on more serious things.

Watson's "brain" or computer memory is made up of ten electronic devices. Each is about the size of a home refrigerator. Computer scientists have filled Watson's brain with millions and millions of facts. Lately they have been giving Watson information about medicine and human diseases.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: WellPoint is a large health insurance provider in the United States. Thirty-four million people use it to help pay for their medical costs. WellPoint and IBM plan to use Watson to help doctors find what disease a patient might have, and then suggest a treatment.

When a patient goes to a doctor, he or she explains what the problem is. Watson might be listening to the patient through an electronic device in the doctor's office. Within seconds, the computer can search two hundred million pages of data, and then suggest what treatment the patient needs. Watson can also say that it has found more than one disease that might be responsible for the problem. And the computer can also explain how it reached that finding.

BOB DOUGHTY: One of the most difficult things the scientists at IBM needed to "teach" Watson was how to understand the human voice. Some people speak in a loud voice. Others speak softly. Some people speak quickly or do not talk clearly. Watson also needed to know the difference between two words that sound alike.

For example, a patient might say, "I heard the dog bark, and then it bit me." Or she might say, "I hurt my hand when it hit the bark on a tree." IBM says Watson will know the difference when it starts the new job early next year. After that, scientists hope to use Watson to help fix public safety issues, and even use its "brain" to work on complex banking or financial questions.

If you are wondering why the computer has the name Watson, you need to understand just a small, historical fact. IBM was formed in 1924 by a man named Thomas J. Watson.

(MUSIC)

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: This is fine. [Laughs]

And so is this. [Laughs]

BOB DOUGHTY: This is better. [Laughs]

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: But this -- this is excellent! [Laughs]

You have probably always known it. Laughter is good for you. Poets have said, "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." "Laugh and the world laughs with you." And, finally, "Laughter is the best medicine."

Health insurer hires Watson the computer to help treat patients

BOB DOUGHTY: Scientists in England now think they have evidence that a great, big, long laugh does good things to your body.

Robin Dunbar is an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford University. His study about laughter was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Professor Dunbar tested volunteers to see how their bodies reacted to funny things, and to some nice, but not necessarily funny things. The professor showed videos to his subjects. At first, they watched things like sporting events. Then they were shown 15 minutes of really funny things, like television programs designed to make people laugh really loud.

After the programs ended, Robin Dunbar tested the volunteers to see how they reacted to pain. He put ice on a person's arm to see how long they could take the extreme cold. Some had their arms squeezed -- tighter and tighter. And some were asked to use exercise equipment that made them move faster and faster.

BOB DOUGHTY: Professor Dunbar found that the people who had laughed loudly and long could take up to 10 percent more pain than the others. He thinks that when we have really big laughs -- some call them belly laughs -- our brains release chemicals calledendorphins. Endorphins not only make us feel good, but they also help reduce pain.

The way the subjects laughed was important. Small laughs -- giggles -- or a simple "ha, ha, ha" had little effect. Big belly laughs, however, caused a greater release of endorphins and much greater pain relief. Scientists think that the greatest amount of endorphins are released when laughing causes our stomach muscles to move a lot. When this happens, people often say, "I can't stop laughing. It almost hurts!"

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Professor Dunbar also believes that laughter was important for our early ancestors thousands of years ago. He calls it an "early mechanism to bond social groups." He thinks that laughter helped people to form larger and larger groups.

When ancient humans got together, they ate, danced, sang and laughed. The professor thinks people have not changed that much when it comes to laughing. We all like to be around others who laugh, and who can make us laugh. John may be intelligent. Sue may be nice. But Caty is always a lot of fun!

So if Mr Dunbar is correct, our bodies will feel less pain, and we will feel better if we just laugh! By the way, have you heard the joke about the hurricane and the chicken? It was so windy, the chicken laid the same egg twice! [Laughter]

(MUSIC)

BOB DOUGHTY: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Jerilyn Watson and Jim Tedder. Our producer was June Simms. I'm Bob Doughty.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: And I'm Shirley Griffith. You can find transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our programs at voaspecialenglish.com. And you can find us on Twitter and YouTube at VOA Learning English. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

La Ni?a: a cooling of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America, occurring periodically every 4 to 12 years and affecting Pacific and other weather patterns 拉尼娜現(xiàn)象

El Ni?o: a warming of the eastern tropical Pacific occurring every few years, which alters the weather pattern of the tropics 厄爾尼諾現(xiàn)象(一種氣象現(xiàn)象)

endorphins: any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain 內啡肽;安多芬(體內的一種自然鎮(zhèn)痛藥)

Related Stories:

Drought threatens Turkana way of life in Kenya

Experts link East Africa drought to La Nina in the Pacific

Warnings of Horn drought came early

Experts: La Ni?a, climate change impact East African drought

(來源:VOA 編輯:Rosy)

 
中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津版權說明:凡注明來源為“中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創(chuàng)作品,除與中國日報網(wǎng)簽署英語點津內容授權協(xié)議的網(wǎng)站外,其他任何網(wǎng)站或單位未經(jīng)允許不得非法盜鏈、轉載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯(lián)系;凡本網(wǎng)注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉載,請與稿件來源方聯(lián)系,如產生任何問題與本網(wǎng)無關;本網(wǎng)所發(fā)布的歌曲、電影片段,版權歸原作者所有,僅供學習與研究,如果侵權,請?zhí)峁┌鏅嘧C明,以便盡快刪除。
 

關注和訂閱

人氣排行

翻譯服務

中國日報網(wǎng)翻譯工作室

我們提供:媒體、文化、財經(jīng)法律等專業(yè)領域的中英互譯服務
電話:010-84883468
郵件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn
 
 
久久久无码人妻精品无码_6080YYY午夜理论片中无码_性无码专区_无码人妻品一区二区三区精99

    亚洲视频香蕉人妖| 日本欧美加勒比视频| 91福利视频网站| 怡红院av一区二区三区| 欧美人妇做爰xxxⅹ性高电影| 日韩精品国产欧美| 精品久久久久久久久久久久包黑料 | 亚洲bt欧美bt精品777| 欧美一区二区三区思思人| 国产在线一区观看| 一区视频在线播放| 欧美美女网站色| 精品一区二区免费| 国产精品久久久久久久午夜片 | 欧美一区二区三区日韩| 国产美女娇喘av呻吟久久| 中文字幕一区二区三区色视频 | 日韩欧美久久一区| 成人福利在线看| 亚洲一二三四在线观看| 欧美一区二区女人| 国产91在线看| 亚洲va天堂va国产va久| 久久嫩草精品久久久久| 色偷偷久久人人79超碰人人澡| 日本三级韩国三级欧美三级| 欧美经典一区二区| 欧美日韩日日摸| 国产精品亚洲专一区二区三区 | 亚洲国产日韩一级| 久久视频一区二区| 一本大道av伊人久久综合| 麻豆精品在线播放| 亚洲色图自拍偷拍美腿丝袜制服诱惑麻豆| 欧美理论电影在线| 成人激情电影免费在线观看| 日日嗨av一区二区三区四区| 国产精品免费观看视频| 91精品国产高清一区二区三区| 成人av先锋影音| 久久国产精品色| 一区二区高清视频在线观看| 久久久久免费观看| 91高清视频在线| 国产精品一卡二卡| 天堂成人免费av电影一区| 国产精品二三区| 欧美大尺度电影在线| 色婷婷久久久久swag精品| 韩国一区二区三区| 亚洲成av人片在线观看无码| 国产精品久久久久久久久免费丝袜 | 日韩一区精品字幕| 亚洲欧美国产三级| 久久久蜜臀国产一区二区| 欧美日韩国产一级片| 99精品国产99久久久久久白柏| 久久精品免费看| 午夜视频久久久久久| 18欧美亚洲精品| 国产日韩在线不卡| 日韩天堂在线观看| 欧美人动与zoxxxx乱| 色哟哟国产精品| 成人手机在线视频| 久久99精品国产91久久来源| 午夜伊人狠狠久久| 亚洲人午夜精品天堂一二香蕉| 久久精品亚洲精品国产欧美kt∨| 51精品久久久久久久蜜臀| 色欧美乱欧美15图片| 成人小视频免费观看| 国产在线观看一区二区| 丝袜a∨在线一区二区三区不卡| 综合av第一页| 欧美激情在线观看视频免费| 久久夜色精品一区| 欧美一区二区精品久久911| 欧美日韩亚洲综合一区二区三区| 99久久久无码国产精品| 国产91高潮流白浆在线麻豆| 九一九一国产精品| 久久机这里只有精品| 首页欧美精品中文字幕| 一个色在线综合| 艳妇臀荡乳欲伦亚洲一区| 亚洲欧洲综合另类在线| 一区免费观看视频| ...av二区三区久久精品| 国产精品热久久久久夜色精品三区| 久久这里都是精品| 2欧美一区二区三区在线观看视频| 欧美一区日韩一区| 欧美一二三在线| 欧美一级夜夜爽| 日韩一级高清毛片| 日韩亚洲欧美成人一区| 日韩一级二级三级| 欧美电影免费观看高清完整版在线观看 | 日韩一区二区在线观看视频| 欧美精品高清视频| 欧美精品三级日韩久久| 欧美精品aⅴ在线视频| 91精品国产美女浴室洗澡无遮挡| 欧美一区二区三级| 欧美tickling网站挠脚心| 欧美精品一区二区不卡| 久久亚洲影视婷婷| 国产女主播在线一区二区| 国产精品美女久久久久高潮| 中文字幕一区二区不卡| 亚洲免费观看高清完整版在线观看熊| 亚洲精品成人精品456| 亚洲一区二区欧美日韩| 天天爽夜夜爽夜夜爽精品视频| 香蕉乱码成人久久天堂爱免费| 亚洲国产中文字幕| 五月综合激情日本mⅴ| 日本va欧美va精品发布| 精品系列免费在线观看| 国产成人aaa| 91蜜桃在线观看| 欧美精品少妇一区二区三区| 欧美xingq一区二区| 国产亚洲精品福利| 亚洲欧洲在线观看av| 一区二区三区在线看| 日韩二区三区在线观看| 韩国精品久久久| av午夜精品一区二区三区| 色一区在线观看| 在线成人小视频| 久久婷婷国产综合国色天香| 亚洲欧洲国产日韩| 亚洲成人福利片| 久久黄色级2电影| 成人18精品视频| 欧美日韩国产欧美日美国产精品| 欧美一级国产精品| 国产精品污www在线观看| 亚洲午夜电影在线| 久久成人羞羞网站| av在线免费不卡| 欧美区视频在线观看| 久久综合丝袜日本网| 亚洲欧美日韩精品久久久久| 日韩电影在线观看电影| 粗大黑人巨茎大战欧美成人| 欧美亚洲国产怡红院影院| 日韩三区在线观看| 中文字幕在线视频一区| 性做久久久久久免费观看| 国产一区二区三区美女| 一本久久a久久精品亚洲| 日韩三级电影网址| 成人免费在线视频| 美女视频一区二区三区| 91在线无精精品入口| 欧美精品国产精品| 国产精品私人影院| 午夜精品视频在线观看| 国产美女视频91| 欧美视频在线一区| 国产亚洲欧洲一区高清在线观看| 亚洲图片欧美视频| 国产v日产∨综合v精品视频| 欧美日韩精品一二三区| 国产精品色噜噜| 蜜臀av一区二区在线观看| 一本色道久久综合狠狠躁的推荐| 精品免费视频一区二区| 亚洲一二三区在线观看| 国产福利一区二区| 欧美一区二区视频在线观看2020 | 国产精品福利影院| 久久精品久久99精品久久| 色婷婷久久久久swag精品| 久久午夜羞羞影院免费观看| 亚洲国产精品一区二区尤物区| 成人中文字幕合集| 日韩免费视频一区| 亚洲午夜激情av| 99这里只有精品| 2024国产精品视频| 午夜激情一区二区三区| 91蝌蚪porny成人天涯| 国产午夜精品一区二区三区嫩草| 婷婷夜色潮精品综合在线| 色综合天天综合狠狠| 久久精品人人做人人综合 | 欧美日韩亚洲另类| 亚洲欧美在线aaa| 国产成人免费视频网站| 日韩欧美一二三| 午夜久久福利影院| 色婷婷久久久久swag精品| 亚洲国产精品t66y| 国产精品资源网| 欧美r级在线观看| 日产国产欧美视频一区精品|