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April 01, 2008

Eureka !

Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon

displace1

A Thai barge displaces water as it hauls construction material on the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya. Wat Phutthaisawan, built in 1352, can be seen in the background. PHOTOS BY KEN MAY

It is staggering when we think about great scientists and mathematicians and how they uncovered the facts about how nature works.

One of the great discoveries about nature is Archimedes’s theory of displacement and buoyancy. Actually, we do experience the law of displacement and buoyancy everyday.

Take this summer for example. Most of us feel like we are burning in the strong sun and sticky weather, so one of our favorite activities at this time is swimming. Once we jump into the pool and reach the bottom, we slowly rise up to the surface of the cool blue water. That is not just because we can swim. Even those who cannot swim—if they don't panic, will gradually be lifted up to the surface of water, too.

eureka - useed when you are very pleased becasue you avhe found the answer to a problem
staggering - so great, shocking or surprising that is difficult to believe; astounding น่าตกตะลึง แทบไม่น่าเชื่อ
uncovered – to discover something that was previously hidden or secret ไขความลับ
relevant – closely connected with the subject you are discussing or the situation you are thinking about เกี่ยวข้องกัน
gradually – slowly, over a long period of time ค่อยเป็นค่อยไป

บทความวันนี้เกี่ยวกับประวัติของ Archimedes ผู้ค้นพบทฤษฎี Eureka ที่เราได้เรียนกันมาตั้งแต่ชั้นมัธยม นั่นคือการแทนค่าเพื่อวัดน้ำหนักของวัตถุด้วยของเหลว หลายต่อหลายคนมักมองว่าการเรียนหรืออ่านบทความทางวิทยาศาสตร์เป็นเรื่องยุ่งยากและไกลตัว แต่อันที่จริงแล้่ววิทยาศาสตร์คือกฎของธรรมชาติ และเราอยู่ในโลกที่ทุกอย่างเกี่ยวข้องกันเนื่องด้วยกฎธรรมชาติทั้งนั้น ดังนั้นดิฉันจึงอยากให้คุณลองอ่านและคิดกันเล่นๆ ในช่วงปิดเทอมว่ามีอะไรบ้างในชีวิตประจำวันของเราที่สามารถเอาทฤษฎีของ Archimedes มาใช้ได้

Whatever floats your boat

An explanation of how ships stay afloat

Dave Canavan

displace2

A Thai barge of the same style and size as the one above floats high on the water after being emptied of cargo.

It amazes me that airplanes can fly, but in the same way, I am amazed by how ships can float. It is especially staggering when you consider that the largest ship ever built, a Supertanker named “Knock Nevis”, is 458.45 meters long and 68.9 meters wide. The ship has a mass of 564,763,000kg, which doesn’t include the weight of over four million barrels of petroleum that it can carry. The fact that a ship this size can still float is astonishing!

The explanation, however, is relatively simple and is based on work by a renowned mathematician known as Archimedes.

Archimedes
Archimedes was born about 287BC in Syracuse, an independent Greek state in Sicily. He is known for many inventions and theories and is surely one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. He is widely known for accurately approximating Pi.

Archimedes also created a water-pump known as the Archimedes screw, developed principles of levers and invented many war machines. However, one of his most famous ideas was his theory on displacement.

When an object is immersed in a fluid, the fluid gets pushed out of the way. The volume of fluid displaced is equal to the volume of the immersed object.

A popular story describes Archimedes’ discovery of how to measure the volume of an object by means of displacement. Archimedes was commissioned by King Hiero II to find out if a crown made by a local goldsmith was pure gold. The King suspected that the goldsmith had stolen some of the gold and replaced it with cheaper and less dense silver.

Archimedes could not damage the crown, but he needed to calculate the density of the crown. While getting into a bathtub, the water level rose because his body displaced the water. He therefore deduced that the displaced water was equal to the volume of his own body weight, and this observation was key to solving the problem.

He then jumped out of the bath and ran through the streets naked, having forgotten to get dressed, shouting “Eureka!” -- meaning “I have found it” -- in Greek.

He placed the crown in water and measured its volume, which he then compared to a known quantity of gold. He recorded the volume of water displaced, and then by dividing the mass of the crown by the volume of the crown, he worked out the density.

He found out that the density of the crown was less than the density of gold; therefore Archimedes could prove that the goldsmith had cheated the King by adding silver to the crown.

staggering - so great, shocking or surprising that is difficult to believe; astounding น่าตกตะลึง แทบไม่น่าเชื่อ
mass - a large amount of a substance that does not have a definite shape or form มวลสาร
renowned - famous and respected; celebrated, noted มีชื่อเสียง
independent (state) - having their own government; self-governing รัฐอิสระ
accurately - อย่างแม่นยำ
lever - a long piece of wood, metal, etc. used for lifting or opening something by somebody placing one end of it under an object and pushing down on the other end ไม้คาน เหล็กงัด
displacement - the amount of a liquid moved out of place by something floating or put in it, especially a ship floating in water การแทนที่ การเปลี่ยนตำแหน่ง หรือปริมาณการขับน้ำ
immerse - to put somebody /something into a liquid so that they or it are completely covered แช่หรือจุ่มทิ้งไว้
commission - to officially ask somebody to write, make or create something or to do a task for you ได้รับหน้าที่ งานที่ได้รับการจ้างทำ
goldsmith - a person who makes, repairs or sells articles made of gold ช่างทอง
calculate - o use numbers to find out a total number, amount, distance, etc.; work out การคิดคำนวน
density - the quality of being dense; the degree to which something is dense ความหนาแน่น
quantity - an amount or a number of something ปริมาณ

Buoyancy

Buoyancy is an upward force exerted on an object placed in a fluid (usually water) by the surrounding fluid. Every time you immerse yourself in water, such as when you swim, you experience buoyancy. This is why you feel lighter when you swim, despite your mass remaining the same.

To feel the pressure of buoyancy, simply place a deep plastic bowl in a full sink and push down. You will clearly feel the force pushing back against your hand.

It is this upward thrust that keeps boats afloat. Archimedes stated, "A body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid." Therefore, a ship will continue to sink until it has displaced its weight in terms of water mass.

However, the shape of an object is a factor that should be taken in consideration. A solid lump of metal will clearly sink. This is due to the density of the metal being much greater then the density of water. If, however, the metal is shaped into the design of a ship, the density will change. The inside of a ship is comprised mostly of air, which is less dense than water. Therefore, the average density of a ship includes a combination of both steel and air.

This allows the ship to be submerged only slightly into the water before the mass of the ship has been displaced -- making the ship float. Every square centimeter of the ship that is submerged in the water has the upward water pressure, buoyancy, acting upon it. If the ship sinks into the water before the mass of the ship is displaced, then the ship will continue to sink until it hits the bottom of the sea.

The density will change depending on the type of water. Salt water exerts a greater upward pressure than fresh water, making objects more buoyant. Warm water works in the opposite way because it is less dense, so ships are less buoyant in the tropics.

You can try buoyancy yourself at home if you have any plasticine. Roll the plasticine into a ball and place it in water. You will see that it sinks. Now mold the plasticine into a boat shaped model and try again. If you get the design right, your plasticine will float because you have displaced the amount of water to an mass equal to the plasticine without totally submerging it. Clever!

David Canavan has an MSc in Behavioral Ecology and teaches science, math and ICT at Garden International School. David is fascinated by science and loves animals, especially the dangerous kind; the more dangerous the better. You may contact David at davidc@gardenbangkok.vcom .

buoyancy - the act of floating, able to float or able to keep things floating กำลังลอยตัว (buoy [v] - ทำให้ลอยขึ้น)
exert - to use power or influence to affect somebody /something ใช้กำลังความสามารถอย่างเต็มที่
thrust - sudden strong movement that pushes something /somebody forward ผลัก ดันไปข้างหน้า
lump - a piece of something hard or solid, usually without a particular shape ก้อน
comprise of - consist of ประกอบด้วย
submerge - to go under the surface of water or liquid; to put something or make something go under the surface of water or liquid จมลงใต้น้ำ
plasticine - a soft substance like clay that is made in different colors, used especially by children for making models ดินน้ำมัน
get something right - true or correct as a fact ทำได้อย่างถูกต้อง

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March 25, 2008

Commemorating the 175th Years of US - Thai friendship

See 'US presence in Southeast Asia' from the Education section
Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon

March 20, 2008 marks the 175th anniversary of the establishment of formal relations between the United States and Thailand. The strong relationship between the United States and Thailand is found in many areas of the society. I was fortunate to witness one such contributions from the United States. It made a difference to less fortunate children in Isan through one of the non-profit organizations, The American Chamber of Commerce, where my mother used to work. There, the diplomats, expatriates and businesspersons, apart from carrying out their career responsibilities, joined together to help develop the remote areas across our country.
In addition, there are scholarships distributed from US-based foundations, and there are also charities, fund-raising fairs and donations made to Thailand. Most of you in the younger generation, might not be familiar with such terms as 'PEACE CORPS', but I am sure that you would have heard about AFS foundation and its grants and, probably, the Fulbright Scholarship. These are all education and cultural exchange programmes initiated by the US government agencies and the non-profit organisations alike.

Today articles talks gives the views of Christopher R. Hill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on the North Korean nuclear issue. The interesting thing is that Hill regards Thailand as a good example where a strong sense of community has been built and this should be widely recognised. To explain the relationship between the United States and the Southeast Asian region, particularly Thailand, to us all, Hill referrs to the aid projects the US has been involved in. Read on to find out what they are.

mark - to celebrate or officially remember an event that you consider to be important ฉลอง
expatriate - a person living in a country that is not their own ชาวต่างชาติ
contribution - a sum of money that is given to a person or an organization in order to help pay for something; donation การอุทิศ / บริจาค
distribute - to give things to a large number of people; to share something between a number of people แจกจ่าย
charity - an organization for helping people in need องค์กรการกุศล
donation - something that is given to a person or an organization such as a charity, in order to help them; the act of giving something in this way เงินหรือสิ่งของที่บริจาค
grant - a sum of money that is given by the government or by another organization to be used for a particular purpose ทุนการศึกษา
initiate - to make something begin; set in motion ริเริ่ม
recognise - to admit or to be aware that something exists or is true
regard - to think about something / somebody in a particular way คิด

สหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นประเทศหนึ่งที่มีบทบาทเด่นชัดในการใช้ความช่วยเหลือประเทศที่ด้อยพัฒนา หรือประเทศที่กำลังพัฒนา ความช่วยเหลือจากสหรัฐอเมริกาสามารถพบได้ในแทบทุกหน่วยของสังคม เช่น ทางด้านการศึกษา สหรัฐมีหน่วยงานอิสระ และมูลนิธิต่างๆ ที่สนับสนุนให้เด็กต่างชาติได้มีโอกาสไปเรียนรู้และแลกเปลี่ยนประสบการณ์ในสหรัฐ เช่น AFS, หรือมูลนิธิ Fulbright เป็นต้น
ทางด้านการเมือง เราจะเห็นได้จากข่าวในแต่ละวันว่านโยบายต่างๆ ทางการเมืองและความมั่นคงของสหรัฐมีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับหลายประเทศทั่วโลก ในบางทรรศนะก็ถือว่าเป็นการช่วยเหลือที่เต็มไปด้วยความปรารถนาดี แต่บางทรรศนะก็มองว่าภายใต้การให้ความช่วยเหลือต่างๆ นั้นสหรัฐก็เก็บเกี่ยวผลประโยชน์ให้กับประเทศตนไม่ใช่น้อย
แต่ในวันนี้บทความที่เลือกมา สะท้อนให้เห็นความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมโลกของสหรัฐ และประเทศต่างๆ อีกหลายประเทศรวมถึีงประเทศไทยที่ร่วมกันสร้างความสมานฉันท์ของสังคมโลกและพยายามลดอาวุธนิวเคลียร์ซึ่งถือว่าเป็นอาวุธร้ายแรงที่อาจก่อให้เกิดความเสียหายใหญ่หลวง
เมื่อตกอยู่ในการครอบครองของผู้ที่เสี่ยงต่อความมั่นคงของประชาคมโลก

US presence in Southeast Asia

A group of academics and diplomats joined a special public lecture given by Christopher Hill, famed for his effort in negotiating the North Korean nuclear issue

Story and photo by Weena Noppakunthong

ustahi

Eric John, US Ambassador to Thailand, left, and Christopher Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, right, are seen on state at Chulalongkorn University on February 29.

The newly established American Studies Program at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science welcomed Christopher R Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to give a public lecture to more than 300 academics, diplomats, students and other guests from the public and private sector.

With a lecture titled, “Perspectives on the United State’s relations with Thailand and Southeast Asia”, Hill praised the sense of community in Southeast Asia and signaled countries in Northeast Asia to achieve similar relationships.

Dr Werasak Udomkichdecha, vice president of Chulalongkorn University, highlighted Hill’s past contribution as a US special envoy who dealt with peace negotiations in Kosovo between 1998 to 1999; his service as US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Poland and the Republic of Macedonia; and his key diplomatic role in Europe and Asia over the past two decades.

His more recent efforts include contributing to the six-party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

Thailand and the US

Thailand and the US have cooperated in the spirit of friendship ever since the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was mutually signed on March 20, 1833 -- and to commemorate the 175th anniversary of bilateral ties, 175 trees were planted at Chatuchak park.

Hill points out that education is part of what makes the relationship between Thailand and the US special. Many Thai students study in the United States and some American students study in Thailand. “We have strong cultural ties, symbolized by our educational institutions,” says Hill.

In terms of an economic relationship, there is $20 billion (623.6 trillion baht) in direct foreign investment from the US to Thailand and $30 billion in bilateral trade, he adds. The US also provides a large market for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) exports, he says, purchasing more than $110 billion of Asean goods.

The US plays a major role in the region with its humanitarian aid, and it made positive contributions when the recent tsunami affected Thailand. The country has also strengthened ties throughout Asia with security agreements and treaty alliances.

sense – a feeling about something important ความตระหนักถึงความสำคัญ
contribution – an action or a service that helps to cause or increase something การอุทิศตน
envoy – a person who represents a government or an organization and is sent as a representative to talk to other governments and organizations นักการทูต
diplomatic – connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy) ทางการทูต
mutually – felt or done equally by two or more people ร่วมกันสองฝ่าย
commemorate – to remind people of an important person or event from the past with a special action or object; to exist to remind people of a person or an event from the past ฉลอง เพื่อระลึกถึง
tie – a strong connection between people or organizations ความสัมพันธ์
bilateral – involving two groups of people or two countries สองฝ่าย
humanitarian aid – money, food, etc. that is sent to help countries in difficult situation ความช่วยทางมนุษยชน
strengthen – to become stronger เสริมให้เข้มแข็ง
treaty – a formal agreement between two or more countries สนธิสัญญา
alliance – an agreement between countries, political parties, etc. to work together in order to achieve something that they all want พันธมิตร

Thailand and Asean

Thailand was a founding member when Asean first formed on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok. The country’s position of leadership was recently magnified as Thailand’s Surin Pitsuwan was endorsed as the Asean Secretary-General for years 2008-2012.

Thailand will also become a focal point in November when it hosts the next Asean summit. We really look forward to seeing Thailand in its leadership role throughout the region,” says Hill.

Hill praises Asean for building a sense of community in the region. However, he acknowledges that Asean has ongoing issues, such as the recent human rights violations in Myanmar. Hill points out the geo-strategic importance of Myanmar, saying it would be advantageous for the country to work better with Asean.

A charter is needed to solve the ongoing issues, Hill believes, and to make Asean alliances stronger.

Sense of community

Hill says he has been working hard to develop the sense of community in Asean countries over the last 30 years, and he wants to see that same sense of community also established in Northeast Asia.

He believes that a serious problem is North Korea’s desire to build nuclear weapons, and he reiterates that Northeast Asia needs to solve this crisis before a stable sense of community can be built. “We need to make other countries understand that the nuclear weapons held by North Korea are not just a US problem; they are problems for all in North Korea’s neighborhood,” adds Hill.

The six-party talks, comprising China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the US is an attempt to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The US has been working on incentives to get North Korea not only to shut down, but to also disable its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon. The US is also asking North Korea to make a declaration of all its nuclear programs and facilities, he says.

Despite talk that the US is drifting away from Southeast Asia as China becomes more economically important, Hill says, “more of China does not mean less of the US.” We feel that the US and China aren’t in competition for Southeast Asia, he says, both countries can work together in the region.

found – to start something, such as an organization or an institution, especially by providing money; establish ก่อตั้ง
magnify – to make something bigger, louder or stronger ขยาย
endorse – to say publicly that you support a person, statement or course of action ประกาศ
focal point – a thing or person that is the centre of interest or activity จุดสดใจ
acknowledge – to accept that somebody /something has a particular authority or status; recognize ตระหนักรู้
violation - an act that goes against or refuses to obey a law, an agreement, etc. ฝ่าฝืน
ongoing – continuing to exist or develop ที่พัฒนา
issue – an important topic that people are discussing or arguing about ประเด็น
reiterate – to repeat something that you have already said, especially to emphasize it
comprise – o have somebody /something as parts or members; consist of ประกอบด้วย
incentive – something that encourages you to do something แรงกระตุ้น
facility – buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for a particular purpose
declaration – an official written statement giving information ประกาศ
drift away – a slow steady movement from one place to another; a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to something bad

Exercise:

1. Apart from being a former envoy in peace talks in Kosovo, what has been Christopher R. Hill's contribution to world peace?
2. What was done in order to commemorate the 175th year of the U.S.-Thailand relations?
3. What important role did Thailand play in the establishment of the Asean?
4. Where will the next Asean summit be held?
5. Does North Korea declare its production of nuclear weapon? What is the attempt the six countries making in dealing with North Korean nuclear programme?

Answers:
Exercise:
1. Making efforts in six-party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
2. 175 trees were planted in Chatuchak Park.
3. Thailand was the founding member and the Asean was formed in Bangkok.
4. In Bangkok
5. No, she does not. The six countries including China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the US are trying to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The US has been working on incentives to get North Korea not only to shut down, but to also disable its facilities in Yongbyon.

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March 18, 2008

A deadly puff

See 'The truth behid smoking' from Education page E6
Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon

cigs When I graduated, Anne, a good friend of mine, and I took a gap year getting ourselves ready for studying abroad. We always went out for live jazz on weekends. In the bar, jazz lovers enjoyed music while puffing on cigarettes and cigars. Anne was one of the smokers. She just started smoking, making excuses that she was a second-hand smoker, anyway. It was after almost two years of heavy smoking that I noticed Anne's deteriorating health. She became exhausted easily. Her bright face and moisturized skin became dry and darkened. She had hard time breathing and had a cold every other week. With her asthma attacks, Anne became very weak and no longer looked so young and bright as 23 year-old-girl should. I wonder what her health is like now.

When I saw young kinds buying themselves their first pack of cigarettes at 7-Eleven store in Pattaya a few days ago, I wanted so much to tell them not too, but I was in no position to do so. Seeing them, I thought of Anne and could see what it will be like for these kids. Read today’s article about smoking and its deadly effects. You might want to put out that cigarette you just lit up.

puff - to smoke a cigarette
making excuses - try to think of reasons for one's behaviour
deteriorating - to become worse
exhuasted - become tired
asthma - a medical condition of the chest that makes breathing difficult

The truth behind smoking

Why Thailand is beginning a ban
Dave Canavan
Carbon monoxide is present in cigarette smoke and binds to our red-blood cells, reducing the cell’s ability to bind with oxygen that is critical for life.

My two friends and I play in a band and at a gig the other day it was refreshing to find that the bar had a non-smoking policy. Not only could I breathe and see better, I also didn’t have the smell of smoke lingering on my clothes and hair, which is often the case. But besides the general unpleasantness of the effects of smoking, my health was not being deteriorated as a result of second hand smoke.

Why so dangerous?
Smoking has certain ingredients that make it dangerous to your health. The main ‘‘hook’’ of smoking and the reason people keep smoking is because of the drug nicotine.

Nicotine is a chemical found in cocoa and tobacco plants, as well as in the tomato and potato in very low quantities. It is a natural insecticide and is used by the plant to prevent it being eaten by insects.

When taken by humans (and other mammals) in low dosages such as in cigarettes, it becomes one of the most addictive drugs in the world. When you are exposed to nicotine, you have a short-term increase in blood pressure and heart rate. It affects your brain and triggers the release of adrenalin which therefore makes nicotine a stimulant. It also increases dopamine levels in the brain which gives the smoker feelings of pleasure.

As well as the chemical effects mentioned, from a psychological point of view it can produce feelings of calmness, alertness and can repress the appetite. These effects are the reason smoking is so addictive, but it is the withdrawal from nicotine where the problems are compounded.

Around 4,000 chemicals
If you smoke regularly, when the nicotine levels in your blood fall, you may experience cravings, anxiety, restlessness, hunger, irritability, and many other unpleasant feelings. The problem is that the symptoms are relieved by having another cigarette, which is where the addictiveness comes in.

If the only way you can feel ‘‘normal’’ is by having a cigarette, then it must be very hard to quit. Sadly, nicotine is not the only danger with cigarettes. Cigarettes also contain tar, and this is one of the main killers.

Tar is a collection of solid particles that smokers inhale and is basically a cocktail of around 4000 chemicals of which over 50 are known carcinogens; the cancer-containing chemicals.

Tar is also responsible for the yellow-brown stains found on many smoker’s teeth, fingers and lungs. Many cigarette companies are trying to produce reduced tar cigarettes, but tar is not the only lethal part of a cigarette.

bind - to stick together or to make things stick together in a solid mass รวมเข้าด้วยกัน
gig - a performance by musicians playing pop music or jazz in front of an audience; a similar performance by a comedian การแสดงดนตรีแจ๊ส
lingering - slow to end or disappear อย่างอ้อยอิ่ง
deteriorate - to become worse ทำให้เสื่อมโทรม ทรุดโทรม
expose to - to put somebody /something in a place or situation where they are not protected from something harmful or unpleasant สูดดมควัน
trigger - to make something happen suddenly; set off จุดชนวน กระตุ้น
stimulant - a drug or substance that makes you feel more awake and gives you more energy สารกระตุ้น
withdrawal - the period of time when somebody is getting used to not taking a drug that they have become addicted to, and the unpleasant effects of doing this (สิ่งเสพติด)
compound - to make something bad become even worse by causing further damage or problems ก่อตัวขึ้น
craving - a strong desire for something ความกระหาย ความอยาก / ปรารถนาอย่างรุนแรง
irritability - the state that you get annoyed easily; showing your anger ความระคายเคือง
come in - to become involved in something มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้อง
inhale - breathe in หายใจเข้า
carcinogen - a substance that can cause cancer สารก่อมะเร็ง
stain - a dirty mark on something , that is difficult to remove คราบ

More deadly chemicals
Cigarettes contain many deadly chemicals as well as those found in tar, including:
•    Arsenic -- one of the world’s most dangerous chemicals;
•    Benzene -- a known deadly carcinogen;
•    Cadmium -- a carcinogen also found in batteries;
•    Formaldehyde -- a carcinogen and major lung disease factor;
•    Polonium -- a radioactive, and therefore highly dangerous, chemical; and
•    Chromium -- yet another carcinogen, and many more.

The chemicals listed above are all carcinogenic, but there are many other chemicals which, although not cancer-causing, are nevertheless incredibly harmful. One main culprit is carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is present in cigarette smoke and binds to our red-blood cells, reducing the cell’s ability to bind with oxygen that is critical for life. It therefore deprives our body from getting oxygen and can also inhibit our lungs from clearing toxins.

Other harmful substances include the incredibly poisonous and harmful hydrogen cyanide, as well as nitrous oxide and ammonia. Again, as before with the carcinogens, the list goes on.

The Killers
In Britain, smoking related diseases are responsible for about 80 percent of deaths, which I found truly staggering! The seemingly endless list of diseases includes lung cancer, heart disease, mouth, throat, nose, larynx, blood, pancreatic and other cancers, other lung disease, and more.

And the related diseases that don’t kill you will make your life truly miserable. This list is long, but it includes many fertility problems, premature ageing, sexual problems, premature menopause, tooth loss, osteoporosis, reduced sense of smell, cataract, chest infections and, of course, emphysema.

To try and experience emphysema, which can result from a smokers cough due to the alveoli walls breaking down in your lungs resulting in a reduced surface area for gas exchange, take a deep breath and hold it. Now, breathe in that little extra air that you can. Now breathe that little extra air out, then in again, and then out again. This is what breathing is like for someone with emphysema.

Smoking during pregnancy is extremely harmful to the unborn child. Miscarriages, still births and congenital defects are all related to smoking, as well as low birth weight which makes the baby prone to illness and infection.

The filter is not the end
Despite the innumerable health risks with smoking, there are even more issues! The worst I believe is the appalling fact that an estimated six trillion -- that’s 6,000,000,000 --cigarette butts are disposed of worldwide every year!

When a cigarette is flicked out of a car window or dropped in the street, it generally finds its way into the drains. From here it is washed into rivers, which inevitably lead to the sea. Here, many fish, birds and other animals eat the butts and become poisoned by the toxins.

The filter of a cigarette is there to reduce the amount of toxins inhaled by the smoker so these toxins accumulate in the filter, which then manifests in sea creatures. If people only saw the long term effects I’m sure it would be enough for them to be responsible smokers, but it is only aided by Hollywood movies where actors dispose of their butts in the same way.

I honestly have no positive word to say about smoking. I am fortunate that I have never been a smoker, but surely in this day in age nobody should be. Science is here to inform us of the innumerable dangers so people who smoke really are depleting their life. I am just glad Thailand has decided to take a stand.

David Canavan has an MSc in Behavioral Ecology and teaches science, math and ICT at Garden International School. David is fascinated by science and loves animals, especially the dangerous kind; the more dangerous the better. You may contact David at davidc@gardenbangkok.com .

culprit - a person or thing responsible for causing a problem สาเหตุของปัญหา
deprive - to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important ทำให้สูญเสีย
inhibit - to prevent something from happening or make it happen more slowly or less frequently than normal ยับยั้ง
toxin - poisonous
poisonous - causing death or illness if swallowed or absorbed into the body; toxic เป็นพิษ
staggering - so great, shocking or surprising that it is difficult to believe น่าตกใจ ไม่น่าเชื่อ
miserable - very unhappy or uncomfortable เศร้าหมอง
fertility problem - the problem of having difficulty in pregnancy การมีลูกยาก
premature - happening before the normal or expected time ก่อนเวลาอันควร
aging - the process of growing old ชราภาพ
menopause - the time during which a woman gradually stops menstruating, usually at around the age of 50 วัยทอง
osteoporosis - a condition in which the bones become weak and are easily broken, usually when people get older or because they do not eat enough of certain substances โรคกระดูกพรุน
emphysema - a condition that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe
อาการผิดปกติอย่างเรื้อรังของปอดโดยที่ถุงลมโป่งพองและขาดการยืดหยุ่น
alveoli wall - one of the many small spaces in each lung where gases can pass into or out of the blood ถุงลม
miscarriage - the process of giving birth to a baby before it is fully developed and able to survive; an occasion when this happens แท้ง
congenital defect - born with a particular illness ความบกพร่องทางร่างกาย หรือ โรคที่เป็นตั้งแต่เกิด
innumerable - too many to count นับไม่ถ้วน
appalling - extremely bad; shocking น่าตกใจ
dispose of - to get rid of somebody /something that you do not want or cannot keep ทิ้ง
accumulate - collect สะสม
manifest - appear ปรากฏ พบ
aid - to help somebody /something to do something , especially by making it easier ช่วย
butt - the part of a cigarette or cigar that is left after it has been smoked ก้นบุหรี่
deplete - to reduce something by a large amount so that there is not enough left บั่นทอน ทำให้ (อายุ) สั้นลง

Exercise:
1. __________ is a chemical found in cocoa and tobacco plants.
2. Plants have their natural ____________ to prevent themselves from being eaten by insects.
3. You would notice that addictiveness occurs when you feel ___________, _______________, _____________, etc.
4. If you feel you are not getting enough oxygen for your lungs (notice that you are feeling exhausted), it might be possible that you have inhaled too much _______________.

Answer:
1. nicotine 2. insecticide 3. cravings, anxiety, restlessness, hunger, irritability, other unpleasant feelings, etc. 4. carbon monoxide

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

March 11, 2008

Why do we keep forgetting?

See 'Brain’s storage bin limited to five items, study says' from page E4
Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon

What is a ‘working memory’? There are two basic categories of memory—long-term memory and short-term, or what we now call ‘working’ memory. Working memory is the ability to remember events in the recent past, for example, the names of someone you met at the party last night. It is a key indicator of your ability in learning and IQ. I remember reading that ‘working memory’ is often challenged by stress, illness, and aging. That happens to people in general.

Today, however, this article from Reuters talks about ‘working memory’ of children with learning difficulties in particular. These children have difficulties processing the information they learn and that results in their inabilty to even remember things they have just read.

Read more to find out if there any concrete evidence of the cause of such problems and if there is any solution for them. What is more interesting about this article is that the writer also mentions about working memory among adults. Why do we keep forgetting something even when we try hard not to?

category – a group of people or things with particular features in common ประเภท
key – most important ที่สำคัญมาก
indicator – a sign that shows you what something is like or how a situation is changing เครื่องบ่งชี้
aging – the process of growing old ความชราภาพ
learning difficulty – the Problems with memory occurring in the area of short-term memory, which can make it difficult to learn new material without many more repetitions than is usual.

บทความนี้แบ่งออกเป็น 2 part ในครึ่งแรกนั้น ผู้เขียนอธิบายว่า working memory คืออะไร เกิดขึ้นด้วยสาเหตุใด และ กับคนกลุ่มใดบ้าง ผู้เขียนได้มีการให้ตัวอย่างที่ชัดเจนและเข้าใจง่าย ในการอ่านครั้งแรก ดิฉันขอแนะนำให้คุณอ่านเพื่อจับใจความสำคัญก่อน ยังไม่ต้องลงรายละเอียด
การอ่านจับใจความสำคัญทำอย่างไร ? ในแต่ละย่อหน้าผู้เขียนจะพูดถึงสิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุด ส่วนสิ่งอื่นๆ ที่ถูกรวมไว้ในย่อหน้านั้น เป็นคำอธิบาย ตัวอย่างและรายละเอียดเท่านั้น
ส่วนที่ 2 ของบทความ เป็นการพูดถึงรายละเอียดของ working memory ในกลุ่มเด็กที่มีปัญหาในการเรียน ในส่วนนี้ ผู้เขียนให้ตัวอย่างและได้อ้างอิงถึงการทดลองในการแก้ปัญหา หรือลดข้อบกพร่องในการเรียนรู้และจดจำของเด็กกลุ่มนี้
เมื่ออ่านและทำแบบฝึกหัดท้ายเรื่องแล้ว ดิฉันอยากแนะนำให้คุณเขียนสรุปสั้น ว่า working memory คืออะไร สาเหตุของการหลงลืมของคนในแต่ละวัยนั้นมีอะไรบ้าง ส่งงานเขียนของคุณมาให้ตรวจแก้ไขได้ที่ missboonbkk@gmail.com ค่ะ

There is further information on 'working memory' here.

Brain’s storage bin limited to five items, study says

By Julie Steenhuysen
Reuter

Defects in working memory -- the brain's temporary storage bin -- may explain why one child cannot read her history book and another gets lost in algebra, new research suggests.

As many as 10 percent of school age children may suffer from poor working memory, British researchers said in a report last week, yet the problem remains rarely identified.

"You can think of working memory as a pure measure of your child's potential," Dr. Tracey Alloway of Britain's Durham University said in a telephone interview.

"Some psychologists consider working memory to be the new IQ because we find that working memory is the single most important predictor of learning," Alloway said.

Many children with poor working memory are considered lazy or dim. But Alloway said with early identification and memory training, many of these underachievers can improve.

Working memory allows people to hold and manipulate a few items in their minds, such as a telephone number. Alloway compares working memory to a box.

For adults, the basic box size is thought to be three to five items. People who have more than that on a mental grocery list are likely to forget something.

"Since there is this limit, it is important to put in the right thing. Irrelevant information will clutter up working memory," Nelson Cowan, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Missouri, said in a telephone interview.

The question many researchers are struggling with is how to help people with this problem, which appears to be closely tied with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

"In children with learning difficulties, it becomes a huge issue, especially around middle school where the demands on working memory grow dramatically," said Dr. Mel Levine, co-founder of All Kinds of Minds, a nonprofit institute in Durham, North Carolina, that studies learning differences.

storage - the process of keeping information, etc. on a computer; the way it is kept กระบวนการบันทึกข้อมูล
defect - a fault in something or in the way it has been made which means that it is not perfect ข้อบกพร่อง
temporary - lasting or intended to last or be used only for a short time; not permanent ชั่วคราว
remian - to continue to be something; to be still in the same state or condition คงสภาพ คงอยู่
potential - that can develop into something or be developed in the future; possible: ศักยภาพ
single - only one หนึ่งเดียว
predictor - something that can show what will happen in the future เครื่องบ่งชี้ ตัวกำหนด
dim - not intelligent โง่เขลา
underachiever - a person who can do less well than you could do, especially in school work ผู้ที่เรียนไม่เก่ง
manipulate - to control or use something in a skilful way ควบคุมอย่างชำนาญ
grocery list - the to do list--it is used as to compare to the list of things you need to do, to get when you go shopping รายการที่ต้องทำ
irrelevant - not important to or connected with a situation ไม่เกี่ยวเนื่องกัน
cognitive - connected with mental processes of understanding เกี่ยวกับกระบวนการการรับรู้

LOST IN THE MIDDLE

Levine said working memory allows a reader to remember what is at the beginning of the page when reaching the end of the page. Kids with trouble with active working memory get lost in the middle.

"One little girl told me recently, 'Every time I read a sentence it erases the one that was before it,"' Levine said in a telephone interview. "That's a perfect example of an active working memory dysfunction."

Memory training may help improve working memory. "The claims that are being made are that all of the attention-related aspects of processing and working memory can be trained," Cowan said.

Alloway's tool for teachers to assess working memory capacity in children as early as age 4 has been used in 35 schools across Britain.

Levine's institute trains teachers through a program called Schools Attuned, which is working with several thousand schools across the United States, Canada and Europe.

While he is not sure working memory can be expanded, Levine said children can be taught ways to function better in school.

For the girl with the reading problem, Levine's solution was for her to own a set of school books so she could underline key points when she reads. Then she can read those points into a digital tape recorder and play them back.

"While it did not fix her problem, it prevents it from causing too much trouble," he said. "She was very interested because she was telling her mother she was the stupidest kid in her class.

"Now she's telling people, 'I've got to work on expanding my active working memory,"' he said.

[get] lost - unable to find your way; not knowing where you are หลงทาง ในที่นี้หมายถึง ความจำหายไป
aspect - a particular part or feature of a situation, an idea, a problem, etc.; a way in which it may be considered แง่มุม
assess - to make a judgement about the nature or quality of somebody or something ประเมิณผล
expand - to become greater in size, number or importance; to make something greater in size, number or importance เพิ่มพูน
underline - to emphasize or show that something is important or true เน้นความสำคัญ
key point - a thing that makes you able to understand or achieve something ประเด็นสำคัญ

Exercise:
1. What is working memory?
2. What is its effect on the learning ability of a child?
3. Describe in detail what it is like when a child has a problem with working memory.
4. How many items can an adult generally remember about the recent past?
5. What is the solution for children with an active working memory dysfunction?

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 12:55 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

	Weeklies
Words in the News General News Business, Economics, and Technology News Business Words in the News Teaching with the Bangkok Post Feature Focus From the Weeklies Mainly for Fun Hey kids! Weekend Practice Lessons on H.M.the King 60 years ago World Cup English About Site General suggestions for teachers Building your vocabulary Suggestions for learners Suggestions for parents Who is Acharn Terry? Who is Acharn Jon?	April 01, 2008 Eureka ! Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon A Thai barge displaces water as it hauls construction material on the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya. Wat Phutthaisawan, built in 1352, can be seen in the background. PHOTOS BY KEN MAY It is staggering when we think about great scientists and mathematicians and how they uncovered the facts about how nature works. One of the great discoveries about nature is Archimedes’s theory of displacement and buoyancy. Actually, we do experience the law of displacement and buoyancy everyday. Take this summer for example. Most of us feel like we are burning in the strong sun and sticky weather, so one of our favorite activities at this time is swimming. Once we jump into the pool and reach the bottom, we slowly rise up to the surface of the cool blue water. That is not just because we can swim. Even those who cannot swim—if they don't panic, will gradually be lifted up to the surface of water, too. eureka - useed when you are very pleased becasue you avhe found the answer to a problem staggering - so great, shocking or surprising that is difficult to believe; astounding น่าตกตะลึง แทบไม่น่าเชื่อ uncovered – to discover something that was previously hidden or secret ไขความลับ relevant – closely connected with the subject you are discussing or the situation you are thinking about เกี่ยวข้องกัน gradually – slowly, over a long period of time ค่อยเป็นค่อยไป บทความวันนี้เกี่ยวกับประวัติของ Archimedes ผู้ค้นพบทฤษฎี Eureka ที่เราได้เรียนกันมาตั้งแต่ชั้นมัธยม นั่นคือการแทนค่าเพื่อวัดน้ำหนักของวัตถุด้วยของเหลว หลายต่อหลายคนมักมองว่าการเรียนหรืออ่านบทความทางวิทยาศาสตร์เป็นเรื่องยุ่งยากและไกลตัว แต่อันที่จริงแล้่ววิทยาศาสตร์คือกฎของธรรมชาติ และเราอยู่ในโลกที่ทุกอย่างเกี่ยวข้องกันเนื่องด้วยกฎธรรมชาติทั้งนั้น ดังนั้นดิฉันจึงอยากให้คุณลองอ่านและคิดกันเล่นๆ ในช่วงปิดเทอมว่ามีอะไรบ้างในชีวิตประจำวันของเราที่สามารถเอาทฤษฎีของ Archimedes มาใช้ได้ Whatever floats your boat An explanation of how ships stay afloat Dave Canavan A Thai barge of the same style and size as the one above floats high on the water after being emptied of cargo. It amazes me that airplanes can fly, but in the same way, I am amazed by how ships can float. It is especially staggering when you consider that the largest ship ever built, a Supertanker named “Knock Nevis”, is 458.45 meters long and 68.9 meters wide. The ship has a mass of 564,763,000kg, which doesn’t include the weight of over four million barrels of petroleum that it can carry. The fact that a ship this size can still float is astonishing! The explanation, however, is relatively simple and is based on work by a renowned mathematician known as Archimedes. Archimedes Archimedes was born about 287BC in Syracuse, an independent Greek state in Sicily. He is known for many inventions and theories and is surely one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. He is widely known for accurately approximating Pi. Archimedes also created a water-pump known as the Archimedes screw, developed principles of levers and invented many war machines. However, one of his most famous ideas was his theory on displacement. When an object is immersed in a fluid, the fluid gets pushed out of the way. The volume of fluid displaced is equal to the volume of the immersed object. A popular story describes Archimedes’ discovery of how to measure the volume of an object by means of displacement. Archimedes was commissioned by King Hiero II to find out if a crown made by a local goldsmith was pure gold. The King suspected that the goldsmith had stolen some of the gold and replaced it with cheaper and less dense silver. Archimedes could not damage the crown, but he needed to calculate the density of the crown. While getting into a bathtub, the water level rose because his body displaced the water. He therefore deduced that the displaced water was equal to the volume of his own body weight, and this observation was key to solving the problem. He then jumped out of the bath and ran through the streets naked, having forgotten to get dressed, shouting “Eureka!” -- meaning “I have found it” -- in Greek. He placed the crown in water and measured its volume, which he then compared to a known quantity of gold. He recorded the volume of water displaced, and then by dividing the mass of the crown by the volume of the crown, he worked out the density. He found out that the density of the crown was less than the density of gold; therefore Archimedes could prove that the goldsmith had cheated the King by adding silver to the crown. staggering - so great, shocking or surprising that is difficult to believe; astounding น่าตกตะลึง แทบไม่น่าเชื่อ mass - a large amount of a substance that does not have a definite shape or form มวลสาร renowned - famous and respected; celebrated, noted มีชื่อเสียง independent (state) - having their own government; self-governing รัฐอิสระ accurately - อย่างแม่นยำ lever - a long piece of wood, metal, etc. used for lifting or opening something by somebody placing one end of it under an object and pushing down on the other end ไม้คาน เหล็กงัด displacement - the amount of a liquid moved out of place by something floating or put in it, especially a ship floating in water การแทนที่ การเปลี่ยนตำแหน่ง หรือปริมาณการขับน้ำ immerse - to put somebody /something into a liquid so that they or it are completely covered แช่หรือจุ่มทิ้งไว้ commission - to officially ask somebody to write, make or create something or to do a task for you ได้รับหน้าที่ งานที่ได้รับการจ้างทำ goldsmith - a person who makes, repairs or sells articles made of gold ช่างทอง calculate - o use numbers to find out a total number, amount, distance, etc.; work out การคิดคำนวน density - the quality of being dense; the degree to which something is dense ความหนาแน่น quantity - an amount or a number of something ปริมาณ Buoyancy Buoyancy is an upward force exerted on an object placed in a fluid (usually water) by the surrounding fluid. Every time you immerse yourself in water, such as when you swim, you experience buoyancy. This is why you feel lighter when you swim, despite your mass remaining the same. To feel the pressure of buoyancy, simply place a deep plastic bowl in a full sink and push down. You will clearly feel the force pushing back against your hand. It is this upward thrust that keeps boats afloat. Archimedes stated, "A body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid." Therefore, a ship will continue to sink until it has displaced its weight in terms of water mass. However, the shape of an object is a factor that should be taken in consideration. A solid lump of metal will clearly sink. This is due to the density of the metal being much greater then the density of water. If, however, the metal is shaped into the design of a ship, the density will change. The inside of a ship is comprised mostly of air, which is less dense than water. Therefore, the average density of a ship includes a combination of both steel and air. This allows the ship to be submerged only slightly into the water before the mass of the ship has been displaced -- making the ship float. Every square centimeter of the ship that is submerged in the water has the upward water pressure, buoyancy, acting upon it. If the ship sinks into the water before the mass of the ship is displaced, then the ship will continue to sink until it hits the bottom of the sea. The density will change depending on the type of water. Salt water exerts a greater upward pressure than fresh water, making objects more buoyant. Warm water works in the opposite way because it is less dense, so ships are less buoyant in the tropics. You can try buoyancy yourself at home if you have any plasticine. Roll the plasticine into a ball and place it in water. You will see that it sinks. Now mold the plasticine into a boat shaped model and try again. If you get the design right, your plasticine will float because you have displaced the amount of water to an mass equal to the plasticine without totally submerging it. Clever! David Canavan has an MSc in Behavioral Ecology and teaches science, math and ICT at Garden International School. David is fascinated by science and loves animals, especially the dangerous kind; the more dangerous the better. You may contact David at davidc@gardenbangkok.vcom . buoyancy - the act of floating, able to float or able to keep things floating กำลังลอยตัว (buoy [v] - ทำให้ลอยขึ้น) exert - to use power or influence to affect somebody /something ใช้กำลังความสามารถอย่างเต็มที่ thrust - sudden strong movement that pushes something /somebody forward ผลัก ดันไปข้างหน้า lump - a piece of something hard or solid, usually without a particular shape ก้อน comprise of - consist of ประกอบด้วย submerge - to go under the surface of water or liquid; to put something or make something go under the surface of water or liquid จมลงใต้น้ำ plasticine - a soft substance like clay that is made in different colors, used especially by children for making models ดินน้ำมัน get something right - true or correct as a fact ทำได้อย่างถูกต้อง Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 12:16 PM \| Permalink \| TrackBacks (0) March 25, 2008 Commemorating the 175th Years of US - Thai friendship See 'US presence in Southeast Asia' from the Education section Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon March 20, 2008 marks the 175th anniversary of the establishment of formal relations between the United States and Thailand. The strong relationship between the United States and Thailand is found in many areas of the society. I was fortunate to witness one such contributions from the United States. It made a difference to less fortunate children in Isan through one of the non-profit organizations, The American Chamber of Commerce, where my mother used to work. There, the diplomats, expatriates and businesspersons, apart from carrying out their career responsibilities, joined together to help develop the remote areas across our country. In addition, there are scholarships distributed from US-based foundations, and there are also charities, fund-raising fairs and donations made to Thailand. Most of you in the younger generation, might not be familiar with such terms as 'PEACE CORPS', but I am sure that you would have heard about AFS foundation and its grants and, probably, the Fulbright Scholarship. These are all education and cultural exchange programmes initiated by the US government agencies and the non-profit organisations alike. Today articles talks gives the views of Christopher R. Hill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on the North Korean nuclear issue. The interesting thing is that Hill regards Thailand as a good example where a strong sense of community has been built and this should be widely recognised. To explain the relationship between the United States and the Southeast Asian region, particularly Thailand, to us all, Hill referrs to the aid projects the US has been involved in. Read on to find out what they are. mark - to celebrate or officially remember an event that you consider to be important ฉลอง expatriate - a person living in a country that is not their own ชาวต่างชาติ contribution - a sum of money that is given to a person or an organization in order to help pay for something; donation การอุทิศ / บริจาค distribute - to give things to a large number of people; to share something between a number of people แจกจ่าย charity - an organization for helping people in need องค์กรการกุศล donation - something that is given to a person or an organization such as a charity, in order to help them; the act of giving something in this way เงินหรือสิ่งของที่บริจาค grant - a sum of money that is given by the government or by another organization to be used for a particular purpose ทุนการศึกษา initiate - to make something begin; set in motion ริเริ่ม recognise - to admit or to be aware that something exists or is true regard - to think about something / somebody in a particular way คิด สหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นประเทศหนึ่งที่มีบทบาทเด่นชัดในการใช้ความช่วยเหลือประเทศที่ด้อยพัฒนา หรือประเทศที่กำลังพัฒนา ความช่วยเหลือจากสหรัฐอเมริกาสามารถพบได้ในแทบทุกหน่วยของสังคม เช่น ทางด้านการศึกษา สหรัฐมีหน่วยงานอิสระ และมูลนิธิต่างๆ ที่สนับสนุนให้เด็กต่างชาติได้มีโอกาสไปเรียนรู้และแลกเปลี่ยนประสบการณ์ในสหรัฐ เช่น AFS, หรือมูลนิธิ Fulbright เป็นต้น ทางด้านการเมือง เราจะเห็นได้จากข่าวในแต่ละวันว่านโยบายต่างๆ ทางการเมืองและความมั่นคงของสหรัฐมีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับหลายประเทศทั่วโลก ในบางทรรศนะก็ถือว่าเป็นการช่วยเหลือที่เต็มไปด้วยความปรารถนาดี แต่บางทรรศนะก็มองว่าภายใต้การให้ความช่วยเหลือต่างๆ นั้นสหรัฐก็เก็บเกี่ยวผลประโยชน์ให้กับประเทศตนไม่ใช่น้อย แต่ในวันนี้บทความที่เลือกมา สะท้อนให้เห็นความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมโลกของสหรัฐ และประเทศต่างๆ อีกหลายประเทศรวมถึีงประเทศไทยที่ร่วมกันสร้างความสมานฉันท์ของสังคมโลกและพยายามลดอาวุธนิวเคลียร์ซึ่งถือว่าเป็นอาวุธร้ายแรงที่อาจก่อให้เกิดความเสียหายใหญ่หลวง เมื่อตกอยู่ในการครอบครองของผู้ที่เสี่ยงต่อความมั่นคงของประชาคมโลก US presence in Southeast Asia A group of academics and diplomats joined a special public lecture given by Christopher Hill, famed for his effort in negotiating the North Korean nuclear issue Story and photo by Weena Noppakunthong Eric John, US Ambassador to Thailand, left, and Christopher Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, right, are seen on state at Chulalongkorn University on February 29. The newly established American Studies Program at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science welcomed Christopher R Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to give a public lecture to more than 300 academics, diplomats, students and other guests from the public and private sector. With a lecture titled, “Perspectives on the United State’s relations with Thailand and Southeast Asia”, Hill praised the sense of community in Southeast Asia and signaled countries in Northeast Asia to achieve similar relationships. Dr Werasak Udomkichdecha, vice president of Chulalongkorn University, highlighted Hill’s past contribution as a US special envoy who dealt with peace negotiations in Kosovo between 1998 to 1999; his service as US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Poland and the Republic of Macedonia; and his key diplomatic role in Europe and Asia over the past two decades. His more recent efforts include contributing to the six-party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Thailand and the US Thailand and the US have cooperated in the spirit of friendship ever since the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was mutually signed on March 20, 1833 -- and to commemorate the 175th anniversary of bilateral ties, 175 trees were planted at Chatuchak park. Hill points out that education is part of what makes the relationship between Thailand and the US special. Many Thai students study in the United States and some American students study in Thailand. “We have strong cultural ties, symbolized by our educational institutions,” says Hill. In terms of an economic relationship, there is $20 billion (623.6 trillion baht) in direct foreign investment from the US to Thailand and $30 billion in bilateral trade, he adds. The US also provides a large market for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) exports, he says, purchasing more than $110 billion of Asean goods. The US plays a major role in the region with its humanitarian aid, and it made positive contributions when the recent tsunami affected Thailand. The country has also strengthened ties throughout Asia with security agreements and treaty alliances. sense – a feeling about something important ความตระหนักถึงความสำคัญ contribution – an action or a service that helps to cause or increase something การอุทิศตน envoy – a person who represents a government or an organization and is sent as a representative to talk to other governments and organizations นักการทูต diplomatic – connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy) ทางการทูต mutually – felt or done equally by two or more people ร่วมกันสองฝ่าย commemorate – to remind people of an important person or event from the past with a special action or object; to exist to remind people of a person or an event from the past ฉลอง เพื่อระลึกถึง tie – a strong connection between people or organizations ความสัมพันธ์ bilateral – involving two groups of people or two countries สองฝ่าย humanitarian aid – money, food, etc. that is sent to help countries in difficult situation ความช่วยทางมนุษยชน strengthen – to become stronger เสริมให้เข้มแข็ง treaty – a formal agreement between two or more countries สนธิสัญญา alliance – an agreement between countries, political parties, etc. to work together in order to achieve something that they all want พันธมิตร Thailand and Asean Thailand was a founding member when Asean first formed on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok. The country’s position of leadership was recently magnified as Thailand’s Surin Pitsuwan was endorsed as the Asean Secretary-General for years 2008-2012. Thailand will also become a focal point in November when it hosts the next Asean summit. We really look forward to seeing Thailand in its leadership role throughout the region,” says Hill. Hill praises Asean for building a sense of community in the region. However, he acknowledges that Asean has ongoing issues, such as the recent human rights violations in Myanmar. Hill points out the geo-strategic importance of Myanmar, saying it would be advantageous for the country to work better with Asean. A charter is needed to solve the ongoing issues, Hill believes, and to make Asean alliances stronger. Sense of community Hill says he has been working hard to develop the sense of community in Asean countries over the last 30 years, and he wants to see that same sense of community also established in Northeast Asia. He believes that a serious problem is North Korea’s desire to build nuclear weapons, and he reiterates that Northeast Asia needs to solve this crisis before a stable sense of community can be built. “We need to make other countries understand that the nuclear weapons held by North Korea are not just a US problem; they are problems for all in North Korea’s neighborhood,” adds Hill. The six-party talks, comprising China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the US is an attempt to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The US has been working on incentives to get North Korea not only to shut down, but to also disable its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon. The US is also asking North Korea to make a declaration of all its nuclear programs and facilities, he says. Despite talk that the US is drifting away from Southeast Asia as China becomes more economically important, Hill says, “more of China does not mean less of the US.” We feel that the US and China aren’t in competition for Southeast Asia, he says, both countries can work together in the region. found – to start something, such as an organization or an institution, especially by providing money; establish ก่อตั้ง magnify – to make something bigger, louder or stronger ขยาย endorse – to say publicly that you support a person, statement or course of action ประกาศ focal point – a thing or person that is the centre of interest or activity จุดสดใจ acknowledge – to accept that somebody /something has a particular authority or status; recognize ตระหนักรู้ violation - an act that goes against or refuses to obey a law, an agreement, etc. ฝ่าฝืน ongoing – continuing to exist or develop ที่พัฒนา issue – an important topic that people are discussing or arguing about ประเด็น reiterate – to repeat something that you have already said, especially to emphasize it comprise – o have somebody /something as parts or members; consist of ประกอบด้วย incentive – something that encourages you to do something แรงกระตุ้น facility – buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for a particular purpose declaration – an official written statement giving information ประกาศ drift away – a slow steady movement from one place to another; a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to something bad Exercise: 1. Apart from being a former envoy in peace talks in Kosovo, what has been Christopher R. Hill's contribution to world peace? 2. What was done in order to commemorate the 175th year of the U.S.-Thailand relations? 3. What important role did Thailand play in the establishment of the Asean? 4. Where will the next Asean summit be held? 5. Does North Korea declare its production of nuclear weapon? What is the attempt the six countries making in dealing with North Korean nuclear programme? Answers: Exercise: 1. Making efforts in six-party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. 2. 175 trees were planted in Chatuchak Park. 3. Thailand was the founding member and the Asean was formed in Bangkok. 4. In Bangkok 5. No, she does not. The six countries including China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the US are trying to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The US has been working on incentives to get North Korea not only to shut down, but to also disable its facilities in Yongbyon. Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 05:26 AM \| Permalink \| TrackBacks (0) March 18, 2008 A deadly puff See 'The truth behid smoking' from Education page E6 Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon When I graduated, Anne, a good friend of mine, and I took a gap year getting ourselves ready for studying abroad. We always went out for live jazz on weekends. In the bar, jazz lovers enjoyed music while puffing on cigarettes and cigars. Anne was one of the smokers. She just started smoking, making excuses that she was a second-hand smoker, anyway. It was after almost two years of heavy smoking that I noticed Anne's deteriorating health. She became exhausted easily. Her bright face and moisturized skin became dry and darkened. She had hard time breathing and had a cold every other week. With her asthma attacks, Anne became very weak and no longer looked so young and bright as 23 year-old-girl should. I wonder what her health is like now. When I saw young kinds buying themselves their first pack of cigarettes at 7-Eleven store in Pattaya a few days ago, I wanted so much to tell them not too, but I was in no position to do so. Seeing them, I thought of Anne and could see what it will be like for these kids. Read today’s article about smoking and its deadly effects. You might want to put out that cigarette you just lit up. puff - to smoke a cigarette making excuses - try to think of reasons for one's behaviour deteriorating - to become worse exhuasted - become tired asthma - a medical condition of the chest that makes breathing difficult The truth behind smoking Why Thailand is beginning a ban Dave Canavan Carbon monoxide is present in cigarette smoke and binds to our red-blood cells, reducing the cell’s ability to bind with oxygen that is critical for life. My two friends and I play in a band and at a gig the other day it was refreshing to find that the bar had a non-smoking policy. Not only could I breathe and see better, I also didn’t have the smell of smoke lingering on my clothes and hair, which is often the case. But besides the general unpleasantness of the effects of smoking, my health was not being deteriorated as a result of second hand smoke. Why so dangerous? Smoking has certain ingredients that make it dangerous to your health. The main ‘‘hook’’ of smoking and the reason people keep smoking is because of the drug nicotine. Nicotine is a chemical found in cocoa and tobacco plants, as well as in the tomato and potato in very low quantities. It is a natural insecticide and is used by the plant to prevent it being eaten by insects. When taken by humans (and other mammals) in low dosages such as in cigarettes, it becomes one of the most addictive drugs in the world. When you are exposed to nicotine, you have a short-term increase in blood pressure and heart rate. It affects your brain and triggers the release of adrenalin which therefore makes nicotine a stimulant. It also increases dopamine levels in the brain which gives the smoker feelings of pleasure. As well as the chemical effects mentioned, from a psychological point of view it can produce feelings of calmness, alertness and can repress the appetite. These effects are the reason smoking is so addictive, but it is the withdrawal from nicotine where the problems are compounded. Around 4,000 chemicals If you smoke regularly, when the nicotine levels in your blood fall, you may experience cravings, anxiety, restlessness, hunger, irritability, and many other unpleasant feelings. The problem is that the symptoms are relieved by having another cigarette, which is where the addictiveness comes in. If the only way you can feel ‘‘normal’’ is by having a cigarette, then it must be very hard to quit. Sadly, nicotine is not the only danger with cigarettes. Cigarettes also contain tar, and this is one of the main killers. Tar is a collection of solid particles that smokers inhale and is basically a cocktail of around 4000 chemicals of which over 50 are known carcinogens; the cancer-containing chemicals. Tar is also responsible for the yellow-brown stains found on many smoker’s teeth, fingers and lungs. Many cigarette companies are trying to produce reduced tar cigarettes, but tar is not the only lethal part of a cigarette. bind - to stick together or to make things stick together in a solid mass รวมเข้าด้วยกัน gig - a performance by musicians playing pop music or jazz in front of an audience; a similar performance by a comedian การแสดงดนตรีแจ๊ส lingering - slow to end or disappear อย่างอ้อยอิ่ง deteriorate - to become worse ทำให้เสื่อมโทรม ทรุดโทรม expose to - to put somebody /something in a place or situation where they are not protected from something harmful or unpleasant สูดดมควัน trigger - to make something happen suddenly; set off จุดชนวน กระตุ้น stimulant - a drug or substance that makes you feel more awake and gives you more energy สารกระตุ้น withdrawal - the period of time when somebody is getting used to not taking a drug that they have become addicted to, and the unpleasant effects of doing this (สิ่งเสพติด) compound - to make something bad become even worse by causing further damage or problems ก่อตัวขึ้น craving - a strong desire for something ความกระหาย ความอยาก / ปรารถนาอย่างรุนแรง irritability - the state that you get annoyed easily; showing your anger ความระคายเคือง come in - to become involved in something มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้อง inhale - breathe in หายใจเข้า carcinogen - a substance that can cause cancer สารก่อมะเร็ง stain - a dirty mark on something , that is difficult to remove คราบ More deadly chemicals Cigarettes contain many deadly chemicals as well as those found in tar, including: • Arsenic -- one of the world’s most dangerous chemicals; • Benzene -- a known deadly carcinogen; • Cadmium -- a carcinogen also found in batteries; • Formaldehyde -- a carcinogen and major lung disease factor; • Polonium -- a radioactive, and therefore highly dangerous, chemical; and • Chromium -- yet another carcinogen, and many more. The chemicals listed above are all carcinogenic, but there are many other chemicals which, although not cancer-causing, are nevertheless incredibly harmful. One main culprit is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is present in cigarette smoke and binds to our red-blood cells, reducing the cell’s ability to bind with oxygen that is critical for life. It therefore deprives our body from getting oxygen and can also inhibit our lungs from clearing toxins. Other harmful substances include the incredibly poisonous and harmful hydrogen cyanide, as well as nitrous oxide and ammonia. Again, as before with the carcinogens, the list goes on. The Killers In Britain, smoking related diseases are responsible for about 80 percent of deaths, which I found truly staggering! The seemingly endless list of diseases includes lung cancer, heart disease, mouth, throat, nose, larynx, blood, pancreatic and other cancers, other lung disease, and more. And the related diseases that don’t kill you will make your life truly miserable. This list is long, but it includes many fertility problems, premature ageing, sexual problems, premature menopause, tooth loss, osteoporosis, reduced sense of smell, cataract, chest infections and, of course, emphysema. To try and experience emphysema, which can result from a smokers cough due to the alveoli walls breaking down in your lungs resulting in a reduced surface area for gas exchange, take a deep breath and hold it. Now, breathe in that little extra air that you can. Now breathe that little extra air out, then in again, and then out again. This is what breathing is like for someone with emphysema. Smoking during pregnancy is extremely harmful to the unborn child. Miscarriages, still births and congenital defects are all related to smoking, as well as low birth weight which makes the baby prone to illness and infection. The filter is not the end Despite the innumerable health risks with smoking, there are even more issues! The worst I believe is the appalling fact that an estimated six trillion -- that’s 6,000,000,000 --cigarette butts are disposed of worldwide every year! When a cigarette is flicked out of a car window or dropped in the street, it generally finds its way into the drains. From here it is washed into rivers, which inevitably lead to the sea. Here, many fish, birds and other animals eat the butts and become poisoned by the toxins. The filter of a cigarette is there to reduce the amount of toxins inhaled by the smoker so these toxins accumulate in the filter, which then manifests in sea creatures. If people only saw the long term effects I’m sure it would be enough for them to be responsible smokers, but it is only aided by Hollywood movies where actors dispose of their butts in the same way. I honestly have no positive word to say about smoking. I am fortunate that I have never been a smoker, but surely in this day in age nobody should be. Science is here to inform us of the innumerable dangers so people who smoke really are depleting their life. I am just glad Thailand has decided to take a stand. David Canavan has an MSc in Behavioral Ecology and teaches science, math and ICT at Garden International School. David is fascinated by science and loves animals, especially the dangerous kind; the more dangerous the better. You may contact David at davidc@gardenbangkok.com . culprit - a person or thing responsible for causing a problem สาเหตุของปัญหา deprive - to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important ทำให้สูญเสีย inhibit - to prevent something from happening or make it happen more slowly or less frequently than normal ยับยั้ง toxin - poisonous poisonous - causing death or illness if swallowed or absorbed into the body; toxic เป็นพิษ staggering - so great, shocking or surprising that it is difficult to believe น่าตกใจ ไม่น่าเชื่อ miserable - very unhappy or uncomfortable เศร้าหมอง fertility problem - the problem of having difficulty in pregnancy การมีลูกยาก premature - happening before the normal or expected time ก่อนเวลาอันควร aging - the process of growing old ชราภาพ menopause - the time during which a woman gradually stops menstruating, usually at around the age of 50 วัยทอง osteoporosis - a condition in which the bones become weak and are easily broken, usually when people get older or because they do not eat enough of certain substances โรคกระดูกพรุน emphysema - a condition that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe อาการผิดปกติอย่างเรื้อรังของปอดโดยที่ถุงลมโป่งพองและขาดการยืดหยุ่น alveoli wall - one of the many small spaces in each lung where gases can pass into or out of the blood ถุงลม miscarriage - the process of giving birth to a baby before it is fully developed and able to survive; an occasion when this happens แท้ง congenital defect - born with a particular illness ความบกพร่องทางร่างกาย หรือ โรคที่เป็นตั้งแต่เกิด innumerable - too many to count นับไม่ถ้วน appalling - extremely bad; shocking น่าตกใจ dispose of - to get rid of somebody /something that you do not want or cannot keep ทิ้ง accumulate - collect สะสม manifest - appear ปรากฏ พบ aid - to help somebody /something to do something , especially by making it easier ช่วย butt - the part of a cigarette or cigar that is left after it has been smoked ก้นบุหรี่ deplete - to reduce something by a large amount so that there is not enough left บั่นทอน ทำให้ (อายุ) สั้นลง Exercise: 1. __________ is a chemical found in cocoa and tobacco plants. 2. Plants have their natural ____________ to prevent themselves from being eaten by insects. 3. You would notice that addictiveness occurs when you feel ___________, _______________, _____________, etc. 4. If you feel you are not getting enough oxygen for your lungs (notice that you are feeling exhausted), it might be possible that you have inhaled too much _______________. Answer: 1. nicotine 2. insecticide 3. cravings, anxiety, restlessness, hunger, irritability, other unpleasant feelings, etc. 4. carbon monoxide Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:05 PM \| Permalink \| TrackBacks (0) March 11, 2008 Why do we keep forgetting? See 'Brain’s storage bin limited to five items, study says' from page E4 Lesson by Boon Boonprayoon What is a ‘working memory’? There are two basic categories of memory—long-term memory and short-term, or what we now call ‘working’ memory. Working memory is the ability to remember events in the recent past, for example, the names of someone you met at the party last night. It is a key indicator of your ability in learning and IQ. I remember reading that ‘working memory’ is often challenged by stress, illness, and aging. That happens to people in general. Today, however, this article from Reuters talks about ‘working memory’ of children with learning difficulties in particular. These children have difficulties processing the information they learn and that results in their inabilty to even remember things they have just read. Read more to find out if there any concrete evidence of the cause of such problems and if there is any solution for them. What is more interesting about this article is that the writer also mentions about working memory among adults. Why do we keep forgetting something even when we try hard not to? category – a group of people or things with particular features in common ประเภท key – most important ที่สำคัญมาก indicator – a sign that shows you what something is like or how a situation is changing เครื่องบ่งชี้ aging – the process of growing old ความชราภาพ learning difficulty – the Problems with memory occurring in the area of short-term memory, which can make it difficult to learn new material without many more repetitions than is usual. บทความนี้แบ่งออกเป็น 2 part ในครึ่งแรกนั้น ผู้เขียนอธิบายว่า working memory คืออะไร เกิดขึ้นด้วยสาเหตุใด และ กับคนกลุ่มใดบ้าง ผู้เขียนได้มีการให้ตัวอย่างที่ชัดเจนและเข้าใจง่าย ในการอ่านครั้งแรก ดิฉันขอแนะนำให้คุณอ่านเพื่อจับใจความสำคัญก่อน ยังไม่ต้องลงรายละเอียด การอ่านจับใจความสำคัญทำอย่างไร ? ในแต่ละย่อหน้าผู้เขียนจะพูดถึงสิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุด ส่วนสิ่งอื่นๆ ที่ถูกรวมไว้ในย่อหน้านั้น เป็นคำอธิบาย ตัวอย่างและรายละเอียดเท่านั้น ส่วนที่ 2 ของบทความ เป็นการพูดถึงรายละเอียดของ working memory ในกลุ่มเด็กที่มีปัญหาในการเรียน ในส่วนนี้ ผู้เขียนให้ตัวอย่างและได้อ้างอิงถึงการทดลองในการแก้ปัญหา หรือลดข้อบกพร่องในการเรียนรู้และจดจำของเด็กกลุ่มนี้ เมื่ออ่านและทำแบบฝึกหัดท้ายเรื่องแล้ว ดิฉันอยากแนะนำให้คุณเขียนสรุปสั้น ว่า working memory คืออะไร สาเหตุของการหลงลืมของคนในแต่ละวัยนั้นมีอะไรบ้าง ส่งงานเขียนของคุณมาให้ตรวจแก้ไขได้ที่ missboonbkk@gmail.com ค่ะ There is further information on 'working memory' here. Brain’s storage bin limited to five items, study says By Julie Steenhuysen Reuter Defects in working memory -- the brain's temporary storage bin -- may explain why one child cannot read her history book and another gets lost in algebra, new research suggests. As many as 10 percent of school age children may suffer from poor working memory, British researchers said in a report last week, yet the problem remains rarely identified. "You can think of working memory as a pure measure of your child's potential," Dr. Tracey Alloway of Britain's Durham University said in a telephone interview. "Some psychologists consider working memory to be the new IQ because we find that working memory is the single most important predictor of learning," Alloway said. Many children with poor working memory are considered lazy or dim. But Alloway said with early identification and memory training, many of these underachievers can improve. Working memory allows people to hold and manipulate a few items in their minds, such as a telephone number. Alloway compares working memory to a box. For adults, the basic box size is thought to be three to five items. People who have more than that on a mental grocery list are likely to forget something. "Since there is this limit, it is important to put in the right thing. Irrelevant information will clutter up working memory," Nelson Cowan, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Missouri, said in a telephone interview. The question many researchers are struggling with is how to help people with this problem, which appears to be closely tied with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. "In children with learning difficulties, it becomes a huge issue, especially around middle school where the demands on working memory grow dramatically," said Dr. Mel Levine, co-founder of All Kinds of Minds, a nonprofit institute in Durham, North Carolina, that studies learning differences. storage - the process of keeping information, etc. on a computer; the way it is kept กระบวนการบันทึกข้อมูล defect - a fault in something or in the way it has been made which means that it is not perfect ข้อบกพร่อง temporary - lasting or intended to last or be used only for a short time; not permanent ชั่วคราว remian - to continue to be something; to be still in the same state or condition คงสภาพ คงอยู่ potential - that can develop into something or be developed in the future; possible: ศักยภาพ single - only one หนึ่งเดียว predictor - something that can show what will happen in the future เครื่องบ่งชี้ ตัวกำหนด dim - not intelligent โง่เขลา underachiever - a person who can do less well than you could do, especially in school work ผู้ที่เรียนไม่เก่ง manipulate - to control or use something in a skilful way ควบคุมอย่างชำนาญ grocery list - the to do list--it is used as to compare to the list of things you need to do, to get when you go shopping รายการที่ต้องทำ irrelevant - not important to or connected with a situation ไม่เกี่ยวเนื่องกัน cognitive - connected with mental processes of understanding เกี่ยวกับกระบวนการการรับรู้ LOST IN THE MIDDLE Levine said working memory allows a reader to remember what is at the beginning of the page when reaching the end of the page. Kids with trouble with active working memory get lost in the middle. "One little girl told me recently, 'Every time I read a sentence it erases the one that was before it,"' Levine said in a telephone interview. "That's a perfect example of an active working memory dysfunction." Memory training may help improve working memory. "The claims that are being made are that all of the attention-related aspects of processing and working memory can be trained," Cowan said. Alloway's tool for teachers to assess working memory capacity in children as early as age 4 has been used in 35 schools across Britain. Levine's institute trains teachers through a program called Schools Attuned, which is working with several thousand schools across the United States, Canada and Europe. While he is not sure working memory can be expanded, Levine said children can be taught ways to function better in school. For the girl with the reading problem, Levine's solution was for her to own a set of school books so she could underline key points when she reads. Then she can read those points into a digital tape recorder and play them back. "While it did not fix her problem, it prevents it from causing too much trouble," he said. "She was very interested because she was telling her mother she was the stupidest kid in her class. "Now she's telling people, 'I've got to work on expanding my active working memory,"' he said. [get] lost - unable to find your way; not knowing where you are หลงทาง ในที่นี้หมายถึง ความจำหายไป aspect - a particular part or feature of a situation, an idea, a problem, etc.; a way in which it may be considered แง่มุม assess - to make a judgement about the nature or quality of somebody or something ประเมิณผล expand - to become greater in size, number or importance; to make something greater in size, number or importance เพิ่มพูน underline - to emphasize or show that something is important or true เน้นความสำคัญ key point - a thing that makes you able to understand or achieve something ประเด็นสำคัญ Exercise: 1. What is working memory? 2. What is its effect on the learning ability of a child? 3. Describe in detail what it is like when a child has a problem with working memory. 4. How many items can an adult generally remember about the recent past? 5. What is the solution for children with an active working memory dysfunction? 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