Vitamin D May Prolong Lives of Cancer Patients

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. remission /rɪˈmɪʃən/ (n.) – the period in which a disease subsides, resulting in a temporary or permanent recovery

Example: After following the recommended diet, her cancer went into remission.

2. catalyst /ˈkætlɪst/ (n.) – a substance that speeds up a (chemical) reaction without being affected

Example: Sunshine was the catalyst for the cancer patient’s sudden recovery.

3. meta-analysis /ˈmɛtə əˈnæləsɪs/ (n.) – a statistical method that collects results from various studies and compares these results with one another

Example: The meta-analysis shows that most patients in Japan prefer organic medicine to artificial medicine.

4. prognosis /prɒgˈnoʊsɪs/ (n.) – the probable outcome of a disease, especially in terms of recovery

Example: Patients who lead a healthy lifestyle have a chance of getting a good prognosis.

5. deficiency /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/ (n.) – the state of not having enough of something

Example: Doctors should not ignore the deficiency of nutrients in hospital meals.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A new study suggests that vitamin D may prolong the life expectancy of cancer patients. Nutritional scientists in China claim that vitamin D not only improves the survival chances but also extends remission of those suffering from certain types of cancer. As a natural nutrient, vitamin D can be produced in the body from exposure to sunlight or consumption of certain foods like sardines, mackerel, salmon, eggs, and fortified milk. This vitamin also serves as a catalyst for absorbing other nutrients that enrich the bones as well as other bodily parts and functions.   The research found its results through a meta-analysis of 25 previous studies that collectively tested the vitamin D levels of about 17,000 cancer patients. Researchers measured the Vitamin D levels during diagnosis and before the patients underwent treatments to determine each of their survival rates. The study discovered that high levels of vitamin D resulted in a four-percent increase in survival for patients with breast cancer, bowel cancer, and lymphoma. However, the nutrient is less effective with the prognosis of other serious types of cancer, such as lung cancer and leukemia. Professor Hui Wang, one of the research authors, emphasized the significance of the study in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. She said that many people around the world are experiencing a deficiency in vitamin D, which must be addressed immediately. Wang further stressed that it is also vital for doctors to monitor the vitamin D levels of patients diagnosed with cancer.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         What do you think cancer patients can do to get more vitamin D?

·         Would you consider changing your lifestyle and diet after reading the article? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         Which do you think is better, natural medicine or man-made medicine/treatments? Please explain your answer.

·         If you were to conduct a meta-analysis study on health, what would you focus on?

Students Learn Better by Writing Instead of Typing

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. longhand /ˈlɔŋˌhænd/ (adj.) – referring to the act of manual writing in which words are written out completely

Example: She prefers longhand writing because she has a nice handwriting.

2. impairment /ɪmˈpɛərmənt/ (n.) – the condition in which the strength or value of something is declining

Example: Teaching students with hearing impairment may be difficult.

3. verbatim /vərˈbeɪtɪm/ (adv.) – using the exact same words that were originally used

Example: The teacher instructed the students not to write the lecture verbatim.

4. outshine /ˌaʊtˈʃaɪn/ (v.) – to be better than others

Example: She outshined all the other students because she paid attention in class.

5. transcribe /trænˈskraɪb/ (v.) – to make a printed or written copy of something that is spoken

Example: She transcribed the interview and published it on the magazine.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Students process information better when they manually write down their notes instead of typing them on a laptop, a study revealed. Researchers Pam Mueller [MUHL-er] and Daniel Oppenheimer [OP-uh n-hahy-mer] assessed the academic efficiency of longhand note-takers with that of laptop note-takers through a series of experiments. Their study suggests that using laptops to take down notes can result in learning impairment. The researchers conducted three separate experiments on three different groups of college students. In all these experiments, the students watched TED videos about a variety of interesting topics. Each participant was given either an offline laptop or a notebook for taking down notes. Afterwards, the researchers asked the students to answer a quiz with two sets of questions based on the videos. The first experiment required students to complete mental tasks for 30 minutes before they can take the quiz. In the second experiment, the researchers directly warned the subjects that using laptops for note-taking may compel them to write in verbatim. Participants in the final experiment took the test one week later and were given the chance to study their notes before answering the quiz. Results showed that both longhand and laptop note-takers excelled in answering questions that involved recalling facts. However, longhand note-takers outshined the laptop note-takers in answering questions that involved explaining concepts. Mueller explained that the laptop note-takers were more engaged in transcribing the videos. In contrast, those who manually took down notes were able to summarize and conceptualize the information in a way that they could best understand it.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you think students should be discouraged to use their laptops in taking down notes? Why or why not?

·         What are your thoughts about the result of the study?

Discussion B

·         What are the benefits of using laptops instead of pen and paper in writing?

·         How can students avoid distractions when using computers in class? 

Facebook Releases Anonymous Login

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. log in /lɔgˈɪn/ (v.) – to enter a username or email address and password to access a personal account

Example: Not everyone can log in to my computer.

2. compromise /ˈkɒmprəˌmaɪz/ (v.) – to put something into a less desirable situation

Example: The unclear plans of the manager compromised the project.

3. filter /ˈfɪltər/ (v.) – to remove something unwanted

Example: He used a program to filter out offensive posts on the website.

4. regain /riˈgeɪn/ (v.) – to get back something that one has previously lost

Example: The brand regained the trust of its consumers with its improved features.

5. independent /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ (adj.) – not handled or aided by others

Example: Independent companies sometimes struggle with their sales.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Facebook has introduced a more secure way of logging in to an application without compromising personal information.      Before, developers of third-party apps allow its users to log in using their Facebook accounts. That means third-party app developers can have access to data shared on Facebook. However, nowadays users are wary that developers might excessively access their private information. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg [ZUHK-er-burg] talked about this issue at the F8 developer conference in San Francisco. The new version of Facebook’s login tool, called Anonymous Login, lets users filter what information will be shared on the apps they access. Zuckerberg said the new login tool will help users regain their trust in apps outside of Facebook. Through Anonymous Login, only the user’s name and gender will be publicly available while using a certain app. Users can decide which details they want to share in public, such as e-mail address, birthday, or posts that they liked. Gigya’s chief executive Patrick Salyer said Facebook’s new login tool serves as a huge step towards transparency between the developers and the users. He emphasized that brands should always value consumers’ trust.  In addition to the new login tool, Zuckerberg announced the company’s mobile ad network called Audience Network. Advertisers will be able to display their ads using a technology that Facebook uses on its own ads. The Audience Network will let advertisers display its ads on a wider range of independent mobile apps unrelated to Facebook.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         How do you think Anonymous Login will affect app developers?

·         In your opinion, will more people join Facebook and use third-party apps now that Anonymous Login was developed? Kindly explain.

Discussion B

·         Why is personal information important in social media sites?

·         What can happen if too much personal data is shared in public? Please discuss.