100-year-old Alfred Larson has been through a lot in his lifetime, but one thing that keeps him going is bluebirds.
When Alfred retired in 1978, he wanted to find a hobby or something to do that would keep him busy and provide him with a sense of purpose. When he read a National Geographic article about crafting wooden nest boxes for bluebirds to help improve their populations, he decided to give it a try. Alfred explained that he started building nest boxes on his ranch (大牧场) using left-over pieces of wood.
More than four decades later, Alfred is still going strong and promoting bluebird conservation efforts. Alfred is now monitoring nearly 350 nest boxes on six different trails (小路) in Southwest Idaho. He said, "I settled on a simple design that was easy to build and easy to monitor. I kept adding more boxes on these trails, and these birds responded." Alfred's boxes give bluebirds a lot of help in survival. "Without his work, we can't see so many bluebirds now," said Pearman, the author of Mountain Bluebird Trail Monitoring Guide.
To celebrate his achievements, filmmaker Matthew Podolsky worked with Alfred for weeks to create a 30-minute documentary—Bluebird Man. The film explores how everything led him to the work he does today and his efforts in bluebird protection. "I remember the first trip I took to the bluebird trail with Alfred, and I was very surprised by the speed with which he moved from box to box," said Podolsky. "He was hiking across difficult and uneven terrain (地形). I often struggled to keep up with him. Sometimes we'd check more than 100 boxes and be driving home in the dark."
The impact he's had on the populations of bluebirds in North America will continue.
With the widespread use of smartphones, emojis(表情符号)have become a popular medium for expressing emotions and ideas. Researchers now believe these expressive symbols can play a significant role in medicine, increasing the response rate of health surveys(调查).
Scientists say that employing emojis in healthcare communications has several benefits, such as general recognition across diverse populations. So the study authors strongly support the use of emojis to bolster communication between patients and physicians.
"By promoting more effective communication between patients and care providers, as well as between physicians themselves, an emoji-based language system with a common agreement of meanings can be developed," says Professor Kendrick Davis, who is an associate professor at the UCR School of Medicine. The professor has been working on creating an emoji-based measurement system for the past two years. And he has even conducted a study using emojis to measure health among college students.
Davis further explains that a significant part of medical communication includes surveys, which are often areas of communication breakdown. "Surveys are usually passed to patients in a variety of different stages of their care. But many surveys are explained with language that can introduce an obstacle. This is where emojis, which are friendly and widely used, come into play by replacing survey language that can be hard for some patients to understand," he says. The authors also point out that while effective communication is important for successful treatment and care, certain health conditions such as brain injury can cause major obstacles. In such cases, emojis could be helpful.
However, Davis also acknowledges the importance of qualitative(定性的)methods. He expresses an interest in partnering researchers whose methodologies are heavily qualitative.
Joseph Frederick Engelberger, the Father of Robotics, was born on July 26, 1925. He received his degree in Electric Engineering in 1949 from Columbia University. He worked as an engineer in a company and then he met George Devol at a party in 1956, two years after Devol had designed and patented (获得专利权) an industrial robotic arm. However, the company where Engelberger worked was closed in the year he met Devol.
Finding himself jobless but with a business partner and an idea, Engelberger co-founded Unimation with Devol, creating the world's first robotics company. Over the next two decades, the Japanese took the lead by investing (投资) heavily in robots to replace people performing certain tasks. In Japan, Engelberger was widely recognized as a key player in Japanese manufacturing quality and efficiency.
After observing his aging parents, Engelberger saw the robotics automation could be used in the medical field. In 1984, Engelberger introduced HelpMate and hoped to start a new industry for in-home robots. He sold his first HelpMate to Danbury Hospital in 1988. The medical robot was so successful that the hospital ended up purchasing another, and within a decade, well over 100 hospitals worldwide operated HelpMates.
Senator Joseph Lieberman delivered a speech in the U. S. Senate in praise and recognition of the inventor, calling HelpMate an example that shows the federal investment in science and technology for patients can lead to new products that create jobs for Americans and make for a better quality of life.
Engelberger liked working. So even after he got into his 80s, he remained active in the promotion and development of robots for use in elder care.
A. Another is to read to them. Researchers found that 80%of children surveyed say they love being read to. Children aged 6 to 11 whose parents do not read to them anymore say they miss it.
B. The researchers also suggest permitting children to choose their own books. Of all the 6-to 17-year-olds in the study, over 90%said their favorite books are those they chose for themselves.
C. For some people, the warmest memories from childhood come from being read a great story. But reading to children does more than create warm memories. It develops children's language skills and increases their ability to succeed in school.
D. The researchers identify some ways to develop a love of reading in a child. One is simply to have books at home. Elizabeth once wrote and illustrated children's books, so the family always have plenty to read. All her children learn from books.
E. A new report says reading aloud is so important that parents should start as soon as their children are born and continue to read aloud even after their children can read by themselves. For young children, parents should ask questions about the book.
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In some countries, many families are choosing camping as an affordable way to vacation due to the cost-of-living crisis (危机). Here are several tips to help make your first camping trip a success.
Camping needs careful planning. Making a detailed list of what to bring ensures nothing important is forgotten. It is advised to pack light and easy-to-set-up tents (帐篷). It's also important to choose equipment suitable for the season. For families, bringing comfort items like favorite books or toys can make the new environment more welcoming for kids. Other necessaries like wet wipes (湿巾) are must-haves.
Camping is more than just setting up a tent. Group camping trips can simplify things, especially when it comes to meals. Sharing meal responsibilities with other families not only reduces the load but also improves the shared experience. Choosing simple and easy-to-prepare foods helps too.
Activities like treasure hunts, campfire stories can turn camping into an adventure. Nature itself offers endless enjoyment, from bird watching to plant recognizing. Moreover, camping is also an opportunity to teach kids valuable life skills and safety lessons. From cooking over a campfire to learning about nature, these experiences are both educational and enjoyable. Safety lessons are also important, like staying within campsites and recognizing dangerous plants.
All in all, camping is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with family.
A. Use the experience to teach life skills.
B. Camping should be an enjoyable adventure.
C. It also includes preparing and planning meals.
D. Allow the kids to take part in planning process.
E. Since children can get untidy, packing extra clothes is necessary.
F. With the right preparation and attitude, it can be an unforgettable experience.
G. However, for first-time campers, especially those with kids, the experience can be challenging.
Jonathan Tiong came into the world with a rare disease that gradually damages muscles over time. A doctor1 a prediction to his parents that he wouldn't live beyond his second birthday.
Yet, Tiong not only surpassed (超出) the doctor's2 but also made great achievements. On the day of his 24th birthday in October, he gave a speech3 at his graduation ceremony. What's more, Tiong got a(n)4 as an editorial writer at a famous wealth fund. However, all these amazing honors were not easily5 , for which Tiong went all out.
Beginning his6 journey during the rise of remote work has also7 the effect of his disability. Tiong finds8 in the virtual field, stating, "Having everyone work online feels really great. Because when everyone is together online, I don't feel like there's actually much of a9 . "
Despite the10 he has earned, Tiong remains a supporter for reshaping society's opinion of success. "We must admit that living with a disability is a (n)11 challenge in itself. Every day, countless individuals with disabilities12 difficulties all over the world without media coverage, fighting their battles13 , " Tiong stresses.
His goal is not to lower expectations for individuals with disabilities but to14 the traditional idea about success. "If we reconsider what it means to succeed, you'll find that everyone out there who is doing their jobs quietly is15 . "
April Fool's Day, (celebrate) on the first day of April each year, is a day filled with laughter and pranks (恶作剧). It is a day people play practical jokes on one another. Although the origin of April Fool's Day is uncertain, it has become a beloved tradition in the world.
On this day, people engage in jokes with friends, family and even co-workers, It is a chance for everyone to show off their sense of humor and bring smiles to others' (face). Common pranks involve harmless tricks like fake spiders and surprise balloons. The goal is (create) light-hearted moments of laughter and amusement.
One popular prank on April Fool's Day is the "fake news" joke. People come up surprising stories or announcements. and trick others into believing them at first. However, it is important to remember the boundary of a joke and avoid (cause) harm to others.
The joy and laughter shared on April Fool's Day help strengthen relationships. It is a time for people to come together and enjoy the light side of life. Laughter (know) to reduce stress and improve mood, making this day perfect opportunity to spread some cheer.
In a word, April Fool's Day is a reminder of the (important) of finding joy and taking a break from the seriousness of everyday life. So, on April Fool's Day, let's follow the spirit of fun and enjoy the laughter it (bring).
