Extensive Reading Lesson 33

科学家将在上海世博会展示人畜共患病科研成果

来自利物浦大学的科学家们将在上海世博会展示有关人畜共患病的研究成果。

此次活动是利物浦大学在上海世博会举行的科学专题讨论会的一部分。整个科学专题讨论会将持续一个月，专题涵盖材料化学、城市设计、航运物流、绿色经济以及人畜共患病等领域。

人畜共患病是一种起源于动物，但可以跨越物种并传染人类的疾病。大约四分之三新发现的人类传染病属于人畜共患病。届时，来自世界各地的研究人员将聚集世博会，共同讨论禽流感、传染病的演变以及中国新发传染病例等一系列话题。

科学家们还将展示“Fluscape”项目的初步研究成果。“Fluscape”是一项投资一千三百万英镑，着重于研究中国广东省流行性感冒发病率的科研项目。该项目由利物浦大学人畜共患病国家研究中心、香港大学、汕头大学、广州市第十二人民医院和美国约翰霍普金斯大学彭博公共卫生学院合作研发，旨在探讨流行性和季节性流感的传播与人类接触方式、旅行方式以及农村-城市位置等因素的相关性。

初步结果表明，在排除了广州市区和附近郊区年龄差异和人口差异的影响后，不同的居住地点仍对当地人口接触到何种季节性流感具有影响。这也表明流感的感染可能在小范围内就出现差异，而这范围可能远远小于我们之前的估计。

全球人畜共患病研究中心主任马尔科姆•贝内特教授说：“人畜共患病和新出现的传染疾病对全球人类健康存在重大威胁。预防和控制这类疾病是全球各医疗机构首先要应对的。医疗专家、兽医学家、流行病专家和特定疾病专家将共同讨论一系列疾病预防及治疗问题，包括经由食物传染的人畜共患病以及控制疾病传染的新方法。”

该专题讨论会将于八月在上海世博会利物浦案例馆举行。八月被选定为利物浦案例馆的“知识月”。利物浦大学将展示一些重要领域的研究成果，这些领域包括：

未来城市设计
2010年8月4日

上海和利物浦在城市设计上有着紧密的联系，它们共同具有充满活力的海滨及与海滨直接相连的腹地。此次城市设计研讨会将讨论如何设计开发一个充满文化背景的地域。

材料化学的前沿
2010年8月11日和12日

此次研讨会由利物浦大学和上海复旦大学共同主办，并由英国西北部几所大学联合支持。该研讨会将聚集世界顶尖材料研究专家，着重展示材料化学的高端科研成果，包括分子组成、功能性高聚物、金属有机框架、纳米电子学、催化剂和太阳能利用。

利物浦绿色经济孵化网络
2010年8月16日和17日

该网络的目的在于促进孵化新的跨学科研究课题，关注更广泛的绿色经济议程，以便创造大量科研收入和高品质的科研成果。此次研讨会将重点关注发展默西塞德郡的低碳经济、绿色大使和绿色企业。

航运物流
2010年8月18日和19日

航运业是全球贸易链的重要组成部分。约90%的国际贸易在海上进行。此次研讨会将涵盖海运物流教育、财务管理、物流管理、供应链管理、港口管理、安全管理和安全决策。

新发传染性疾病和人畜共患病
2010年8月31日和9月1日

从动物感染到人类的新发传染病具有全球影响意义，尤其对中国具有特殊的重要性和紧迫性。此次研讨会将汇集来自英国、中国和其他国家的优秀科研人员，分享专家们的成果和观点，以制定新的科研伙伴关系。会上发言人将包括医疗专家、兽医学家、生态学家以及特殊病原体专家。
 

Scientists present research in zoonotic disease at Expo

Scientists from the University of Liverpool will present research findings into the study of animal-borne human diseases at Shanghai World Expo.

The event is part of a programme of scientific symposia and conferences being held by the University at Expo throughout August that will also cover Materials Chemistry, Urban Design, Maritime Logistics and the Green Economy, as well as Zoonotic Disease.

Zoonoses are diseases that originate in animals but can jump species and infect humans. They comprise of approximately three quarters of all emerging and new infections in human beings. Researchers from all over the world will come together at Expo to discuss issues such as avian flu, the evolution of infectious diseases and emerging infections in China.

Scientists will also present initial findings from the 'Fluscape' study, a £1.3 million project focusing on incidences of influenza in the Guangdong province of China. The research – a collaboration involving the University's National Centre for Zoonosis Research, the University of Hong Kong, Shantou University, Guangzhou Number 12 Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US – aims to investigate how the spread of pandemic and seasonal influenza is associated with contact and travel patterns of people and households and their rural-urban location.

Initial results suggest that even after accounting for differences in age and demography, the area where people live in Guangzhou city and nearby rural areas affects which recent seasonal influenza strains they have been exposed to. This indicates that differences in influenza infections may occur at a much smaller scale than previously thought.

Professor Malcolm Bennett, Director of the National Centre for Zoonosis Research, said: "Zoonoses and emerging infections are major global threats to human health and wellbeing. The prediction and control of such diseases is now an international priority. Medical and veterinary scientists, as well as epidemiologists and experts in particular diseases, will discuss a range of issues, including research in food-borne zoonoses and new methods of studying the transmission and control of disease."

The symposia and conferences will take place in the Liverpool Pavilion at Expo in August - the pavilion's 'Knowledge Sector' themed month in which the University will highlight a number of key research areas. They include:

Urban Design Futures 
August 4, 2010

There is a strong connection between the urban design issues that Shanghai and Liverpool share - in particular the dynamic and influential waterfront and its immediate hinterland. The urban design symposium will address issues such as the challenges of design against the backdrop of a culturally rich environment and context.

New Frontiers in Materials Chemistry
August 11-12, 2010

Organised by the University of Liverpool and Fudan University and supported by the Northwest Universities in England, this symposium will bring together world-leading scientists in materials research, aiming to highlight state-of-the-art research in materials chemistry, ranging from molecular assembly, functional polymers, through metal-organic frameworks and nanoelectronics, to designer catalysts and solar energy utilisation.

Liverpool Green Economy Incubation Network
August 16-17, 2010

The purpose of the network is to foster the incubation of new interdisciplinary research themes, focused on the wider Green Economy agenda, in order to lead to significant research income and high quality research outputs. The symposia will focus on areas such as developing the low carbon economy on Merseyside as well as green ambassadors and businesses.

Maritime Logistics
August 18-19, 2010

The maritime industry forms a vital link in the chain of the global trade with some 90 percent of international trade conducted by sea. The symposium will include maritime logistics education, finance management, logistics management, supply chain management, port management, safety and security management and policy making.

Emerging Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses 
August 31-September 1, 2010

The issue of new infectious diseases emerging from animals is of global significance, and has particular importance and urgency in China. The conference and workshop will bring together leading researchers from the UK, China and elsewhere to share their findings and ideas and to develop new research partnerships. Speakers will include medical and veterinary scientists as well as ecologists and experts in particular pathogens.