Bringing Nanotechnology to Health Care for the poor                 

  Nanotechnology uses matter at the level of molecules and atoms. Researchers are finding different uses for particles with a length of one nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter. These include things like beauty products¹ and dirt-resistant clothing. But one area where many experts believe nanotechnology holds great promise is medicine.

  Last week, speakers at a program in Washingtondiscussed using nanotechnology to improve health care in developing countries. The program took place at theWoodrowWilsonInternationalCenterfor Scholars. Peter Singer at theUniversityofTorontosays a nanotechnology called quantum dots² could be used to confirm cases of malaria. He says it could offer a better way than the traditional process of looking at a person’s blood under a microscope.

  In poor countries, this process is often not followed. As a result, sick people may get treated for malaria even if they do not have it. Such misuse of medicines can lead to drug resistance. Quantum dots are particles that give off³ light when activated. Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of targeted molecule. ⁴

  Experts say nanotechnology shows promise not just for diagnosing diseases, but also for treating them. Piotr Grodzinski of the National Institutes of Health⁵ talked about how nanotechnology could make drugs more effective. He talked about cancer drugs already developed with nanotechnology. He says if a drug can target a cancer locally in the body, then much less of it might be needed, and that means lower side effects. ⁶

  Andrew Maynard is chief scientist for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at theWoodrowWilsonCenter. He noted thatBrazil,India,ChinaandSouth Africaare currently doing nanotechnology research that could help poor countries. But he also noted that there is some risk in using nano-materials. He says nanometer-sized particles behave differently in the body and the environment compared to larger particles⁷. Experts say more investment in research is needed to better understand these risks.

词汇：

nanotechnology/,nænə(ʊ)tek"nɒlədʒɪ/ n.纳米技术

matter /"mætə/ n.物质

molecule /"mɒlɪkjuːl/ n.分子

atom /"ætəm/ n.原子

nanometer/"nænə,mitɚ/ n.纳米,毫微米(长度单位，=10_9m)one-billionthn.十亿分之一

dirt-resistantadj.防尘的,防污的

promise /"prɒmɪs/ n.希望,前途

program/"prəʊɡræm/ ( = programme)n.节目,节目单；&为……编制程序

scholar /"skɒlə/ n.学者

quantum /"kwɔntəm/ n.量；量子 dotn.(小）点,圆点

confirm /kən"fɜːm/ vt.确认；证实

case /keɪs/ n.病症;病例;患者

malaria /mə"leərɪə/ n.疟（疾）

misuse /misju:s/ vt.误用,滥用;n.误用,滥用

particle/"pɑːtɪk(ə)l/ n.颗粒,微粒;粒子

activate /"æktɪveɪt/ vt.使激活

identify /aɪ"dentɪfaɪ/ vt.辨认

diagnose /"daɪəgnəʊz; -"nəʊz/ vt.诊断（疾病)

Brazil /brə"zil/ n.巴西

investment /ɪn"ves(t)m(ə)nt/ n.投资；投资额

nano-materialn.纳米材料

注释：

1. beauty product:美容产品

2. quantum dot (QD):量子点。可取代传统染色法,成为细胞内的突光标记物,可进行长时间、多分子、同时检测。

3. give off:放出;发出（蒸汽、光线、烟雾、气味等）

4. Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule.研究人员正在研究为它们编程的方法,以便如果有靶分子存在时能通过发光辨认疾病。light up点灯;发光。targeted molecule:靶分子。

5. National Institutes of Health (NIH)：国立卫生研究院

6. side effect:副作用

7. compared to larger particles:如果与大一点的颗粒比较起来的话。这是一个过去分词短语,作条件状语。

How can quantum dots be used to confirm diseases?

A:By traditionally looking at a person’s blood under a microscope B:By letting a person take some kind of medicine C:By lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule D:By subjecting a person to an X-ray examination

对外贸易量（Quantum of Foreign Trade）

光量子产率（quantum yield）

Quantum

QUANTUM PLC与上位机软件PLANTSCAPE的通信是通过（）来实现的。

Assume that an operating system uses a round—robin scheduler. The process's quantum is 20 msec, and the context switch is 5 msec. What percentage of the CPU's time is spent on administrative overhead ( )

A:5% B:15% C:20% D:25%