Meeting of minds

Technology developed by particle physicists has already led to a number

of breakthroughs in medical imaging, including positron emission tomography

(PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed X-ray tomography

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(CT) and molecular imaging. In addition, linear accelerators are used to

provide energetic photons for radiotherapy. The London meeting was

organized by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)

to explore new technologies that could be added to this list and discuss

their possible commercialization.

Nathan Hill, PPARC’s industry co-ordinator, says that the council is

keen to encourage collaborations between academics and industry, and that

it has already set up 14 collaborative projects in the field of healthcare.

“Several of these collaborations have resulted in the development of successful

spin-out companies,” he said, “bringing the physics technology to the medical

market place.”

Among the physics-based applications discussed at the meeting were

the use of statistical analysis to improve image quality, a hand-held gamma

camera for cancer diagnosis and the use of artificial neural networks to

analyse cancer survival rates. Another application involves the development

of a microstrip dosimeter that should allow clinicians to target tumour more

precisely and minimize damage to healthy tissue.

(Edwin Cartlidge, Physics World, June 2005)

1.2. Go back to the text and point out the information concerned with:

– the importance of the scientific advance in particle physics;

– the possible practical applications of imaging technologies to radio

therapy;

– the necessity of improving the accuracy of radiotherapy;

– the technological breakthroughs.

– some other physics-based applications of new technologies.

1.3. Summarize the content of the article using the phrases below.

The article reports on … .

Much attention is given to … .

It is reported that … .

It is pointed out that … .

The article claims that … .

The article is of interest … .

Text 2

2.1. Read the article and indicate the paragraphs that describe:

– possible dangerous effects of improper recycling methods on

pollution levels and people’s health;

– harmful effects of modern personal computers;

– safety check results of some recycling centers;

– measures that should be taken to solve the problem of hightech

waste disposal.

Are Recycled PCs Harming the Earth?

For years, environmentalists and responsible PC makers have encouraged

computer users to recycle their old computers instead of simply throwing

them out. Millions of environmentally loyal consumers and businesses have

heeded the call. Instead of tossing their old PCs and other hardware into a

dumpster, these users have donated them to charitable or given them to

recycling centers.

In the United States today, there are thousands of individual computer

recycling centers in operation. Many of them keep the old computers in

house, stripping away parts that can be used, then safely recycling the unusable

parts. More often, however, recyclers ship the old hardware overseas, and

millions of tons end up in China, India, and developing nations. There,

often in impoverished villages with little or no other industry, workers

dismantle old PCs by hand, exposing themselves to harmful chemicals and

releasing thousands of pollutants into the air, water, and the ground.

Now, environmentalists have issued a new plea: that responsible

governments and industries work together to stop this practice. If it continues

unabated, experts argue, we can expect thousands of recycling workers to

become ill, and for pollution levels to rise to unprecedented levels in areas

where improper recycling methods are used.