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[Technological Advancements, Ancient History, and Environmental Insights: A Weekly Review]-[China sets up first medical large model application testing center in Shanghai]

Special English · B1 · 2025-01-13

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📋 Summary

Innovations in China's AI Infrastructure and Medical Research

China has made significant strides in the integration of artificial intelligence within healthcare and industrial sectors. In Shanghai, the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has inaugurated the first application testing and verification center for medical large models. This facility aims to bridge the gap between model training and real-world clinical application. By leveraging 12 leading healthcare institutions as validation units, the center provides a comprehensive evaluation process, including qualifications verification, safety assessment, and medical scenario evaluation. Director Joel Bohin emphasized that the center ensures these AI applications remain "safe, compliant, and efficient."

Simultaneously, the development of AI in western China received a boost with the launch of a cross-regional computing power service by the Tianfu Intelligent Computing Center in Sichuan. As the first multifunctional computing hub in the region, it utilizes local wind and hydropower resources to power its nodes. With a capacity exceeding 1,000 petaflops, the center facilitates the training of complex large-scale models, supporting diverse sectors such as transportation, education, and government administration.

Paleontological Discoveries in Gansu

Scientific research in Northwest China has yielded fascinating insights into the social behaviors of ancient creatures. Researchers identified 67 fossilized, three-toed tracks in Wulan Town, Gansu Province, dating back over 120 million years. Analysis of these tracks suggests they were made by flesh-eating dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period. Associate Professor Xin Lida noted that the discovery of 12 parallel tracks indicates gregarious behavior, likely serving as a defensive strategy against predators. This study, published in Historical Biology, provides critical evidence regarding the distribution and social dynamics of small bipedal dinosaurs.

Ecological Impact of Microplastics

A collaborative international study published in Trends in Plant Science has shed light on the "emerging threat" posed by micro and nanoplastics to terrestrial ecosystems. Researchers found that these tiny particles, ranging from one nanometer to five millimeters, accumulate in plants and biota, transferring along food webs. By disrupting the interactions between plants, herbivores, and pollinators, these plastics pose a risk to biodiversity. The study calls for urgent research to develop strategies to mitigate the ecological consequences of plastic waste in soil and plant systems.

The Evolution of China’s Holiday Systems

The history of Chinese vacations reflects a long-standing cultural emphasis on family and work-life balance. Ancient systems for government officials, such as the "shionmu" (bath day) leave during the Han Dynasty, were designed not only for physical hygiene but also for "cultivating and enriching the official's inner spirit." Over centuries, through the Tang Dynasty and beyond, these systems evolved to include traditional festivals like the Spring Festival and the Winter Solstice.

Historical records reveal that the necessity for breaks is universal; for instance, when Emperor Wu Zong of the Tang Dynasty forced laborers to work during a holiday, the resulting protest highlighted the human need for rest. Today, China's holiday structure—including "golden weeks" and weekends—represents a unique blend of traditional values and modern global practices, serving as a "window to understand its culture."

🎯Key Sentences

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The world is changing fast that you can learn it at a slower pace.
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Here's the news.
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You're listening to Special English.
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The study results have been published in the International journal Historical Biology.
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The story bears a striking resemblance to the labor movement in British history
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📝Key Phrases

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bridge the gap
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serve as
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leverage the abundant resources
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tailored to
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enhance technical breakthroughs
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📖 Transcript

The world is changing fast that you can learn it at a slower pace.
Special English You're listening to Special English.
Here's the news. China has established its first application testing and verification center for medical large models in Shanghai aimed at advancing the integration of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector.
The center was inaugurated by the Shanghai artificial intelligence laboratory to bridge the gap between training, evaluation, and application of medical large models.
12 leading health care institutions in Shanghai will serve as the centre's first validation units.
Medical large models are currently being explored for their potential in disease prediction, diagnostic assistance, personalized treatment, and drug discovery in China.

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