FIFA Bans Barcelona Football Club from Player Trades until 2015

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. acquisition [ak-wuh-ZISH-uh n] (n.) – the process of getting something valuable

Example: The team’s recent acquisition of new players will be beneficial in the next tournament.

2. underage [uhn-der-EYJ] (adj.) – not yet of proper or legal age

Example: The league’s policy does not allow underage players.

3. connive [kuh-NAHYV] (v.) – to secretly work together for an illegal activity

Example: The referees connived to help the other team win.

4. stipulate [STIP-yuh-leyt] (v.) – to cite something according to the rules or agreement

Example: The agreement stipulates that teams cannot sign underage foreign players.

5. committee [kuh-MIT-ee] (n.) – group of people that handles and decides on specific issues

Example: The committee will soon announce the punishment on the players involved.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

FIFA banned the Barcelona Football Club (FC Barcelona or Barca [bar-ka] from any player acquisitions until 2015 because of its violation of rules on underage players. FIFA reported that Barca seriously violated rules on underage players after signing up 10 non-Spanish minor players. Aside from the one-year ban that prohibits Barcelona from releasing or signing players, a fine worth $509,000 was also imposed on the team. The football organization gave Barca 90 days to fix the issue concerning this illegal act. The Spanish Football Association (FA) was also fined $560,000 for conniving in the illegal transactions and was given one year to revise the association’s rules on the transfer of international minors. FIFA’s rules stipulate that international players must be 18 before they can transfer and play in another country. However, minors can still be allowed to transfer if they fall under one of the three specific conditions: the player’s parents transferred to the country for personal reasons; the player moved within the European Union only and is at least 16 years old; or the player’s home is less than 50 kilometers from the destination. FIFA’s players’ status committee also needs to evaluate the situation before granting approval of a minor’s transfer. According to FIFA, they impose such sanctions to protect minors from the risk of abuse and manipulation in a foreign country. This punishment is a new challenge to the image of Europe’s football industry. A prior incident was the alleged tax evasion concerning Brazilian star athlete Neymar, who also plays for FC Barcelona.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think FIFA’s sanctions on Barca and the Spanish Football Association are enough? Why or why not?

         Is FIFA also at fault for FC Barcelona’s violation of the rules? Why or why not?

Discussion B

         Why do you think some teams like Barca include minors in their group despite the restrictions?

         How can sports organizations ensure that rules are properly followed?

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Zebras’ Stripes Repel Parasites, Study Says

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. repel [ri-PEL] (v.) – to keep or force away something unwanted

Example: Insecticides help repel mosquitoes.

2. intrigue [in-TREEG] (v.) – to draw someone’s interests or to arouse curiosity

Example: The latest discovery intrigued many scientists.

3. camouflage [KAM-uh-flahzh] (n.) – a method used to be less noticeable; often by disguising as a part of nature

Example: The tigers’ stripes act as camouflage in the high grass.

4. rule out [rool out] (v.) – to no longer consider something as a possibility

Example: The scientists ruled out the disease as the lion’s cause of death.

5. conundrum [kuh-NUHN-druh m] (n.) – a problem that is difficult or hard to solve

Example: The origin of striped skin in animals is a big scientific conundrum.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) claims that the main purpose of zebras’ black and white stripes is to repel biting insects. The reason why zebras have black and white stripes has long been intriguing many scientists. About 120 years ago, geologists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace tried to solve this mystery. One of their theories is that these stripes confuse predators, thus helping zebras escape. Another theory says the pattern serves as a camouflage to hide from enemies. Lastly, the geologists thought the stripes are for heat management and that it has a social purpose. Researchers from UC Davis studied seven different species of zebras, horses, donkeys, and the animals’ subspecies. They recorded the thickness, location, and intensity of the stripes. In addition, they compared the stripes’ details to the animals’ geographical location, distance of predators, temperatures, and population of parasites like tsetse [TSET-see, TET-, TSEE-tsee, TEE-] flies and horse-flies. After the observations, the researchers ruled out all the previous theories and concluded that the stripes serve as protection from blood-sucking flies. Tim Caro, lead author of the study, said that zebras located in areas with large number of biting flies have greater stripe markings. However, Caro noted that the reason why flies avoid the striped pattern is still unknown. One possible explanation is that the insects’ compound eye makes the stripes harmful to their vision. On another note, Caro cited that no studies yet have proven the origin of zebras’ unique color. Nonetheless, he hopes that the recent discovery will help solve other evolutionary conundrums of nature.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think this study is relevant? Why or why not?

         How do you think this study can help future studies about zebra?

Discussion B

         Can you name other animals that use their appearance for self-defense?

         What other issues concerning wild animals should be studied about? Kindly discuss your answer.

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Crime: Older eye witnesses less reliable

The criminal investigative technique of putting an eye witness on the stand to positively identify a criminal is proving through research to be fairly unreliable, frequently causing innocent people to be charged with a crime despite the care investigators take to not prejudice an identification.

Now, according to new research out of Britain, older people are more likely to make mistakes in identifying suspects in police line-ups.

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One hundred thirty four people (aged 22 to 66 years old) watched video footage of a mugging in which two men scuffled over a bag.  Participants were then asked to identify suspects from two different video line-ups. In the first line-up the perpetrator was present, but in the second he was absent. In both scenarios it was made clear that the suspect may or may not be present. How confident participants were that they had identified the suspect in both line-ups was then assessed.

The results showed that older people were more likely to mistakenly identify the suspect in the second line-up, even though he was actually absent.

Dr Kaye said: "It's interesting that older people felt more confident about their selection when they were wrong -- to the point where they had imagined someone to be in the line-up who wasn't there. As we age our accuracy as an eye-witness changes which is something police professionals should take into consideration in these circumstances."

So should the authors of crime fiction.

*  *  *  *  *

Story Source:  Materials provided by British Psychological Society (BPS). "Older eyewitnesses make mistakes identifying suspects in police line-ups." ScienceDaily

Russia to Create Its Own Credit Card System

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. sanction [SANGK-shuh n]  (v.) – to penalize someone for breaking a law or an agreement

Example: Fishermen caught fishing outside the Philippine territory will be sanctioned.

2. back up [bak uhp] (v.) – to show support to someone

Example: The citizens backed up the government’s new plan.

3. halt [hawlt] (v.) – to make a stop either temporarily or permanently

Example: The company’s operation was halted because of financial violations.

4. annexation [an-ik-SEY-shuh n, -ek-] (n.) – the act of acquiring another territory as an annex

Example: Russia’s annexation of Crimea sparked criticism among many people.

5. autonomous [aw-TON-uh-muh s] (adj.) – independent and having the ability and power to rule on its own

Example: Hong Kong wanted to be autonomous from China.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

President Vladimir Putin [VLAD-uh-meer pooh-tin] announced that Russia will set up its own credit card system after being sanctioned by the US and the European Union (EU). In a meeting, Putin backed up the proposal to create a local credit card system in Russia after Master Card and Visa put restrictions on some of the banks in the country. Both payment systems halted their services because of the issue over Russia’s annexation of Crimea. This suspension happened after Putin signed a legislation to take Crimea from Ukraine and make it a part of Russia. Some Western countries reacted to this negatively as they consider this act a violation of Ukraine’s constitution. According to some Western states, they do not recognize Crimea as part of Russia. Despite this, the president remained firm and vowed to make a domestic-based credit card system. In fact, Putin said that the sanctions would put the US in an unfavorable circumstance as this will make them lose a very profitable market. More than 85 percent of Russians are Master Card and Visa card holders. On the other hand, the US and the EU said they will not hold off giving further sanctions should Russia aggravates the situation. Crimea is internationally recognized as an autonomous republic of Ukraine. Because of conflict of interests, Crimeans voted to become separated from their mother country. A March 16 referendum states Crimea’s withdrawal from Ukraine and its decision to join Russia. Putin further said that he will do everything he can as quickly as possible so that Crimeans will feel like full-fledged citizens of the Russian federation.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think the sanctions given by the US and the EU are fair enough? Why or Why not?

         Do you think it is necessary for the US and the EU to be involved in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine?

Discussion B

         Why do you think territorial disputes are common today?

         What would happen if conflicts among different countries are not resolved immediately?

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The Simpsons Crazy Cat Lady and Her Psychiatric Illness

Well, the writers and producers of the Simpsons show have done it again.  Identified a bizarre behavior, turning it in a readily identifiable character that any of us recognizes on some level.

We're speaking of Crazy Cat Lady, a recurring character on the eternally running Simpsons television program.  Who is the Crazy Cat Lady?  Before her breakdown, she was Dr Eleanor Abernathy MD JD,  (left, at age 24) now a mentally-ill woman who surrounds herself with a large number of cats.  She's not just a hoarder, she is an Animal Hoarder, and that is recognized as a psychiatric disorder in its own right.

When she was eight, Eleanor Abernathy was a smart and ambitious young girl who wanted to be both a lawyer and a doctor "because a woman can do anything". She was studying for law school at 16, and by 24, she had earned an MD from Harvard Medical School and a JD from Yale Law School. However, by 32, suffering from burnout, she had turned to alcohol, became obsessed with her pet cat, and would randomly take to cutting pieces of her own hair. By the time she was 40, she had assumed her present state, suffering from the defined psychiatric illness of animal hoarding.*

Animal hoarding is a psychiatric disorder that consists of accumulating large numbers of animals at home, usually cats and dogs, without providing them with a minimal standard of care. The disorder is largely unknown despite its negative effect on the health of both the people who suffer from it and the animals involved.

Currently, when a case is detected, the animals are removed but no attention is given to the person suffering the disorder.  We all tut and tsk, and are outraged at a person doing this to animals.  To the animal hoarder, his pets are well cared for, he or she does not realize is that his or her animals are in poor health and so, soon begins to hoard them again. It's heartbreaking to see animals found obviously suffering malnutrition, dehydration and parasitic infestation, with illnesses or uncontrolled breeding, all in a very unhygienic space.  Yet to the person suffering the disorder, why anyone would take the "pets" they love and care for bewilders them.  It is a symptom of their disorder, perhaps part of their overall delusion.

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The researchers believe that this disorder has implications for mental health, animal welfare and public health and therefore that recognizing its presence in our society is the first step in identifying and detecting cases early and dealing with them in the most efficient possible way. 

As writers, we can help spread the word about this disorder through our fiction and non-fiction, blogs and comments.  So Write On!, and spread the word.  Thanks to the creators and writers of the Simpsons for providing a convenient point of reference for getting this message to the people.

*  *  *  *  *

This is the first study to provide data on this syndrome in Europe and it has been possible thanks to the relationships of the researchers with organizations dedicated to the protection of animals. This put them in contact with various cases of the disorder and aroused their interest in the issue. Seeing that there was a vacuum in Europe they decided to contact the National Association of Friends of Animals (ANAA) and to retrospectively analyze the cases that they had collected in their database between 2002 and 2011. They created a questionnaire for the experts who had participated in these cases and all the information that the organization had available was classified and standardized.

Until now all existing research on the issue has been carried out in the US, Canada and Australia, but with this study it has been demonstrated for the first time that this mental disorder also occurs in Europe and with similar characteristics. For the time being the data is not sufficient to know the percentage of the population which suffers from the disorder, nor to better understand the profile of those who hoard.

Story Source:  Materials provided by IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute).  P Calvo, C Duarte, J Bowen, A Bulbena, J Fatj. Characteristics of 24 cases of animal hoarding in Spain. Animal Welfare, 2014

*  Illustration and information source:  simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Eleanor_Abernathy

Early Morning Sunshine and Weight Loss

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. assess [uh-SES]  (v) – to examine a person or situation carefully

Example: The doctor will assess my calorie intake.

2. prior to [PHRAY-er to] (prep.) – before a specific time

Example: I have to give my medical history prior to the consultation with the doctor.

3. regulate [REG-yuh-leyt] (v.) – to control or adjust something

Example: Drinking lots of water regulates the body’s metabolism.

4. outcome [OUT-kuhm]  (n.) –  result of an activity

Example: The outcome of the study is very significant.

5. essential [uh-SEN-shuh l] (adj.) – very important and necessary

Example: Regular exercise is essential to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Scientists discovered that getting exposed to early morning sunshine can be linked to having a lower body mass index (BMI). BMI assesses whether a person’s weight is normal, too high, or too low. A person with a BMI of 18-25 falls on the healthy category while a person between 25 and 30 is considered overweight. An obese person has between 30-35 BMI while an extremely obese individual has 35-40. Prior to this discovery, other studies have already claimed that sunlight helps regulate metabolism, hunger, and the sense of feeling full after a meal. But now, a recent study suggests that people have more reasons to stay outside and get more sunshine early in the morning. The study involved 26 males and 28 females. Researchers asked the participants to wear wrist monitors to determine their light exposure. For seven days, researchers tracked the sleeping patterns, food intake, and sun exposure of the participants. The outcome of the study shows that light exposure early in the morning lowers BMI compared to exposure later in the afternoon. This result remained true even when  the participants’ age, activity level, calorie intake, and sleep timing were taken into consideration. The study also found that the light level of 500 lux is perfect for weight loss. A lux is a unit to measure the brightness level. A 20-30 minute sunlight between 8 am until noon is also enough to have an effect in one’s BMI. Aside from contributing to weight loss, sunlight is also essential for the body’s rhythm and metabolism.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Would you expose yourself to more morning sunlight after reading the article? Why or why not?

         Do you know any other benefits of morning sunlight? Please explain.

Discussion B

         What do you think are the major factors related to a person’s weight?

         How can people avoid gaining too much weight?

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