While many people are afraid of spiders, not all of these eight-legged creatures are actually vermin. The brown huntsman spider, for example, is quite adept at killing cockroaches. Around 450 spider species have been recorded in Taiwan, but the estimated number of arachnid species to be found in the wild actually exceeds a thousand. The Endemic Species Research Institute (ESRI) has set up a Web page on Facebook — The Spider Club: Taiwan Spider Studies — to encourage the public to help create a platform for sharing data on various spider species.
ESRI says that relatively few spiders pose any apparent threat to humans, adding that the few highly poisonous spiders found in Taiwan include Macrothele taiwanensis and the female redback spider. You can avoid putting yourself in harm’s way by not trying to catch any of these spiders, the institute says. There is no shortage of uniquely shaped spiders out there, including the Cyrtarachne bufo, which disguises itself as bird excrement, the ant-like Myrmarachne formosana, or the crab spider which exhibits an eyeshade-like feature and the Ariamnes with its adorably long, slender body.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
Photo courtesy of the Endemic Species Research Institute
照片由特有生物研究保育中心提供
許多人雖然怕蜘蛛，但這些八條腿的動物不見得都是害蟲，像是白額高腳蛛，可是剋蟑高手。目前台灣記錄到的蜘蛛有四百五十種，但野外估計應有千種以上。特有生物研究保育中心成立臉書社團「蛛式會社—台灣蜘蛛研究」，號召民眾協助建立蜘蛛物種時空分布資訊。
特生中心指出，僅有極少數蜘蛛對人體有顯著危害，在台灣僅長尾蛛、赤背寡婦蛛等具較強毒性，只要不徒手捕捉，就能避免傷害。其實有不少蜘蛛造型特殊，如偽裝成鳥糞的鳥糞蛛、擬態成螞蟻的蟻蛛、戴著眼罩的蟹蛛、身體細長的蚓腹蛛等，模樣可愛。
（自由時報記者鍾麗華）
Photo courtesy of the Endemic Species Research Institute
照片由特有生物研究保育中心提供
Photo courtesy of the Endemic Species Research Institute
照片由特有生物研究保育中心提供
A: Apart from Taiwanese-language pop diva Jody Chiang’s comeback, South Korean girl group (G)I-dle is also performing in Taiwan this weekend. B: I know. They have concerts at the Taipei Arena on Saturday and Sunday. A: Actually, to meet their fans’ high demand, they’ve added one more show on Friday. B: They’re even adding a show? That shows how popular they are. A: My favorite group member is Taiwan’s Susan Yeh, known by her stage name “Shuhua.” Let’s go cheer her on. A: 本週末除了江蕙復出，南韓熱門女團(G)I-dle也將開唱唷。 B: 我知道，他們本週六、日將在小巨蛋開唱。 A: 應粉絲的要求，他們本週五還會加場。 B: 還加場？不愧是韓流人氣女團。 A: 我最喜歡台灣團員葉舒華！我們快去幫她加油吧。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park is a great example of how art can be combined with environmental conservation. __1__ on the ocean floor of the Caribbean Sea, this aquatic gallery was the brainchild of British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006. The park features sculptures that function as man-made coral reefs, with holes and shelters to attract marine life, thus forming a strikingly beautiful __2__. The sculptures are placed in a way that diverts visitors from nearby natural reefs. This creative approach to ecological preservation demonstrates how art can inspire, educate, and contribute to the sustainability of our environment. The
City life moves fast, and escalators are a lifesaver for busy commuters. __1__ It is widely believed that this practice keeps traffic flowing smoothly and avoids congestion. While on the road, drivers of slower vehicles are required to remain within the outside lane so that those traveling at faster speeds may pass in the inside lane. Similar to traffic lanes that separate vehicles driving at different speeds, this convention on escalators allows for both efficiency and courtesy. __2__ This system reflects an unspoken understanding that facilitates shared use of the space. However, the city of Nagoya, Japan, has
臨床表現 (clinical picture)、咳嗽有痰 (productive cough) 與不實消息 (misinformation/ disinformation) 有些醫學用語，如：「咳嗽有痰」，中文一目了然，但對應的英文 productive cough，可能就較難從字面理解。澳洲的 myDr.com.au 解釋 productive cough 如下： A productive (wet) cough is when you have a cough that produces mucus(黏液) or phlegm (痰). 因此 productive cough（咳嗽有痰），就是因為它produces phlegm， 有別於沒有痰的 cough（乾咳），productive cough 又稱為 wet cough （濕咳）。 醫學術語「臨床表現」 (clinical picture) 無論中文、英文，一般人都不易了解。其實， 臨床 (clinical)是「實際觀察及治療，有別於理論或實驗」： . . . pertaining to or founded on actual observation and treatment of patients, as distinguished from theoretical or basic sciences. 譬如：解剖學、生理學是基礎醫學 (basic medicine)，內科、外科是臨床醫學 (clinical medicine)。所以，臨床表現就是「直接觀察病患呈現的症狀」。 「臨床表現」英文也可說 clinical presentation 或 clinical manifestation。雖然也有人主張 clinical picture， clinical presentation 和 clinical manifestation 不完全相等，不過所有同義詞都會有不完全等義的問題，在此就不細述了。 網路常有「不實消息」俗稱「假消息」 (fake news) 流傳，「假消息」如果是「錯誤訊息」英文叫 misinformation 如果是刻意「扭曲訊息」則是 disinformation。 防疫必備詞彙：新冠常見症狀 發燒 fever 乾咳 cough 肌肉痠痛 myalgia 四肢乏力 fatigue 咳嗽有痰 productive cough A productive
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