Medical advances on the rise

Medical advances are on the rise around the world. Here are five to watch.

People in fact, get very enthusiastic about 3D printers and many believe it won’t be long before kids are using them to print out their personally signed toys. But medical researchers have already turned to 3D printing to create human body parts. Last year, Cornell scientists printed out an artificial(人造的) outer ear that looks and works like the real thing. But it isn’t suitable to put into human body.

   Another surprising breakthrough is in gene therapy, in which a person’s genes are re-engineered to fight diseases and put back into his or her body. This therapy is still considered experimental, but it’s been effective recently in treating patients with some cancers. And researchers think that one day it can become a new way to treat early stages of the disease, without requiring surgery, chemotherapy(化疗) or radiation.

   Gut reaction(本能反应) research is another breakthrough that it showing a lot of promise and has to do with our guts(肠), specifically with all the bacteria staying. Researchers have suggested there may be a direct physiological connection between the mix of bacteria in our digestive tract(消化道) and how our brain functions, and that the mix can also be a factor（因素） in whether a person is thin or fat.

   In regard to cancer research, there have been definite breakthroughs. Cancer immunotherapy (免疫疗法)is using drugs that encourage the body’s immune system to battle cancer cells directly. Researchers discovered that have been able to cover themselves in a protective shield. New drugs are being tested that have been able to empower the immune system to break through that protection and allow the body to fight cancer cells on its own.

   There are also already plenty of devices and apps out there that track you steps, you sleep, and your calorie consumption. But the next wave of wearable health tech will focus on gathering personal data more meaningful to a doctor and send the data directly to his or her office.

   Also, devices that monitor our personal behaviour will be getting more and more advanced. For example, a device being developed by TellSpec will supposedly be able to analyze the chemical composition of food in real time and let you know on your smart phone just what you’re eating.

Literature is a term used to describe written as well as spoken material. Generally speaking, it is often used to describe anything from creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama and fiction.

   Then why read literature, since it is often imaginary and seems unconnected with real life?

   A lot of us read literature for pleasure and relaxation. It’s always pleasant to read some interesting books, such as comedies and novels, in our spare time. In a modern life full of pressure, it is our common desire to read some imaginary works and seek relaxation from the stress in life.

   Reading literature is more than fun; it also enables us to acquire knowledge. As a general rule, literature represents a language or a people, and it often gives us an insight(洞察)into the traditions, customs, beliefs, attitudes and values of the age in which it was written.

   Sometimes literature can even offer us new, creative ways to understand the world better. It helps us make sense of the world around us. It introduces us to new worlds of experiences. We enjoy the comedy and the tragedy of poems, stories and plays; and we may even grow through our literary journey with books. Eventually, we may discover meaning in literature by looking at what the author says and how he/she says it. In a sense, we explore the human condition and analyse how and why people think the way the think and feel the way they feel. Literature enables us to think analytically and open our minds. We see the world through the eyes of different cultures and in turn learn the ways to deal with things that happen around.

   So we can definitely say literature is of great importance to us. Why not get going with one poem, drama or fiction at once?

Hypnosis(催眠) is the ability to control your own mind and get rid of any negative emotions or habits that keep getting in your way. Hypnosis has a long history of helping human beings to be the very best they can be. It can be used to control anything controlled by the unconscious (无意识) mind—pain, blood pressure, fear, confidence levels, moods and it is also regarded as the key to unlocking your creativity, focusing your energy and understanding yourself.

    I know what you're thinking—what on earth does stress management have to do with hypnosis? Well, quite a lot,actually! You see, when you know self-hypnosis, you can put yourself into a deeply calm meditative (沉思) state. Stress is fed on stress, so when you break the cycle—even with only ten minutes of deep trance(催眠状态)—you'll feel full of energy and ready to take on the day. Regularly doing this means you'll be able to see tasks so much more clearly and be able to organize yourself without the fog that stress traps you in.

    Time stands still at those magical moments because you're absorbed in something creative. Whether it's writing, playing a musical instrument, or even working on a business idea, being creative is a deep and pleasurable trance state(昏睡状态). With self-hypnosis, you can learn how to tap into it regularly and just see how bursts of creativity improve your life.

    Ever feel like your kids or your partner doesn't get the best out of you? We can all feel tired, moody, or stressed sometimes and then cry to those we love most. But with hypnosis, you won't get emotionally hijacked(控制). And with the new understanding of psychology hypnosis gives you, you'll be able to communicate much better with that tough colleague(同事) or neighbor.

    Dealing with the workplace bully (欺凌弱小者). Standing your ground with your mother-in-law,handling a fear,being confident in face of that "friend" who always seems to get his own way… When you learn how to use self-hypnosis, you can emotionally prepare for the encounter (遭遇), taking over these stressful situations. Life is so much easier when you feel like you can face anything!

    You know that feeling when you're reading a book or watching a film and you're so concentrated on it, yu're barely aware time is passing? When you know hypnosis, you can quickly go into that trance state. Just think of what you could achieve if you spend an hour a day completely "in the zone". There's a reason why so many top athletes use hypnosis for sporting success.

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Population Change

Why is the world’s population growing? The answer is not what you might think. The reason for the explosion is not that people have been reproducing like rabbits, but that people have stopped dropping dead like flies. In 1900, people died at the average age of 30. By 2000 the average age was 65. But while increasing health was a typical feature of the 20^th century, declining birth rate could be a defining one of the 21^st.

Statistics show that the average number of births per woman has fallen from 4.9 in the early 1960s to 2.5 nowadays. Furthermore, around 50% of the world’s population live in regions where the figure is now below the replacement level (i.e.2.1 births per woman) and almost all developed nations are experiencing sub-replacement birth rate. You might think that developing nations would make up the loss (especially since 80% of the world’s people now live in such nations), but you’d be wrong. Declining birth rate is a major problem in many developing regions too, which might cause catastrophic global shortages of work force within a few decades.

A great decline in young work force is likely to occur in China, for instance. What does it imply? First, China needs to undergo rapid economic development before a population decline hits the country. Second, if other factors such as technology remain constant, economic growth and material expectations will fall well below recent standards and this could invite trouble.

Russia is another country with population problems that could break its economic promise. Since 1992 the number of people dying has been bigger than that of those being born by a massive 50%. Indeed official figures suggest the country has shrunk by 5% since 1993 and people in Russia live a shorter life now than those in 1961.Why is this occurring? Nobody is quite sure, but poor diet an above all long-time alcoholism have much to do with it. If current trends don’t bend, Russia’s population will be about the size of Yemen’s by the year 2050.

In the north of India, the population is booming due to high birth rates, but in the south, where most economic development is taking place, birth rate is falling rapidly. In a further twist, birth rate is highest in poorly educated rural areas and lowest in highly educated urban areas. In total, 25% of India’s working-age population has no education. In 2030, a sixth of the country’s potential work force could be totally uneducated.

One solution is obviously to import foreign workers via immigration. As for the USA, it is almost unique among developed nations in having a population that is expected to grow by 20% from 2010-2030. Moreover, the USA has a track record of successfully accepting immigrants. As a result it’s likely to see a rise in the size of its working-age population and to witness strong economic growth over the longer term.

Acting is the activity of performing in plays or films. It’s about living an alternative reality. It lets you explore all kinds of possibilities of what you could be. Just being your own self can be boring sometimes, and acting gives you an opportunity to be someone else for a while. It is voluntarily entering the psyche (心灵) of another personality and thinking according to a different set of values and constraints (约束). It lets you explore many parts of you, which you thought never existed. It lets you deeply explore what it means to be a human being.

One of the best ways to begin your own acting studies is to start reading some good plays. Choose your favorite role from one of your favorite plays and prepare to act it out in front of the audience. To learn to act, you must act. Here are some tips on how to become an actor with no experience:

To play a role, you must understand the character that you are going to play with open arms. Understand the plot of the play, as well as the psyche of your character. Understand the conditions in which your character lives. Try to understand why your character behaves in that way. So you must learn the lines or dialogues thoroughly and explore the thought behind every sentence. This will help you picture the circumstances in which the character finds himself/herself. Some actors go as far as “living” as that person for a while, to understand him or her. The idea is to go as close as possible to being that person. More importantly, only through practice can you get close to actually being that person. So seize every chance and perform as frequently as you can. This will help you develop confidence and overcome stage fright.

As a student of acting, you need to always be a sponge (海绵), ready to absorb, learn, and observe the performances of great actors, to learn the slight differences of the art. While you watch movies, plays and any other performance, study the differences of a role played by any actors, especially the masters. By just keeping your eyes open, you can pick up a lot of things.

Why do you want to act? Is it for money, fame, or genuine love for the art? Would you do it if you were not paid for it? If the answer and y our motivation is love for acting, you are sure to eventually succeed.

How Arts Promote Our Economy

    When most people think of the arts， they imagine the end product， the beautiful painting， a wonderful piece of music， or an award﹣winning performance in the theater． But arts groups bring broader value to our communities． The economic impact of the arts is often overlooked and badly judged．

    The arts create jobs that help develop the economy． Any given performance takes a tour bus full of artists， technical experts， managers， musicians， or writers to create an appealing piece of art． These people earn a living wage for their professional knowledge and skills．

    Another group of folks is needed to help market the event． "If you build it they will come" is a misleading belief． Painters， digital media experts， photographers， booking agents and promoters are hired to sell tickets and promote the event． According to the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition， arts agencies employ more than 10，000 people as full﹣or part﹣time employees or independent contractors．

    A successful arts neighborhoods creates a ripple effect（连锁反应）throughout a community． In 2005， when the Bishop Arts Theatre was donated to our town， the location was considered a poor area of town． After investing more than﹩1 million in reconstructing the building， we began producing a full season of  theater performances， jazz concerts， and year﹣round arts education programs in 2008． Nearly 40 percent of jazz lovers live outside of the Dallas city limits and drive or fly in to enjoy an evening in the Bishop Arts District．

    No doubt the theater has contributed to the area's development and economic growth． Today， there are galleries， studios， restaurants and newly built work spaces where neighbors share experiences， where there is renewed life and energy． In this way， arts and culture also serve as a public good．

    Teco Theatrical Productions Inc． made use of Bloomberg's investment of﹩35，000 to get nearly﹩400，000 in public and private sector support during the two﹣year period． Further， Dallas arts and arts﹣based businesses produce﹩298 for every dollar the city spends on arts programming and facilities． In Philadelphia， a metro area smaller than Dallas， the arts have an economic impact of almost﹩3 million and support 44，000 jobs， 80 percent of which actually lie outside the arts industry， including accountants， marketers， construction workers， hotel managers， printers， and other kinds of art workers．

    The arts are efficient economic drivers and when they are supported， the entire small﹣business community benefits．

    It is wrong to assume arts groups cannot make a profit． But in order to stay in business， arts groups must produce returns． If you are a student studying the arts， chances are you have been ill﹣advised to have a plan B． But those who truly understand the economic impact and can work to change the patterns can create a wide range of career possibilities．