A turtle makes a great pet if you provide the right habitat. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles have their own requirements in terms of water versus land area, lighting, heating, humidity and substrate (material that covers the bottom of the tank) [source: Foster and Smith Educational Staff]. Ask your local pet store for guidance.
Here are some general guidelines for building the right turtle tank:
- Choose an aquarium large enough to give the turtle plenty of room. Remember, while a baby turtle requires a 10-gallon (37.9-liter) aquarium, a fully grown adult will require at least twice that volume, depending on its carapace (outer shell) size.
- Provide enough water for your turtle. Aquatic turtles require more water than do semi-aquatic turtles. Either way, the water should be deep enough for the turtle to swim in [source: CVM.MSU].
- Provide enough land area. Different types of turtles require different amounts of land. Aquatics need less land than do semi-aquatics. The land area should be easy to climb onto, yet high enough to stay dry. There should be enough room for basking. Use bricks, foam, rocks or wood for the dry area.
- Provide adequate lighting. UVA and UVB lighting is best for turtles. Use a timer to simulate a day/night cycle, with 12 to 14 hours of light and 10 to 12 hours of darkness [source: Foster and Smith Educational Staff]. It's best to place the tank out of direct sunlight.
- Use a proper filtering system. The filter should be strong enough to properly clean a tank of your size. If you don't use a filter, you'll have to change the water weekly -- or more often if it's dirty.
- Keep the water at the proper temperature with a heating system and thermometer.
- Decide what substrate to use. Most turtles require a soft substrate on the bottom of the dry area of the tank. Some turtles will eat the substrate, which could be dangerous. Sand or some other soft soil is the best choice for substrate [source: CVM.MSU].

Is peata iontach é an turtar má sholáthraíonn tú an t-áit chónaithe ceart dó. Tá a riachtanais féin ag turtar uisceacha agus leath-uisceacha maidir le limistéar uisce i gcomparáid le limistéar talún, soilsiú, téamh, taise agus substrát (ábhar a chlúdaíonn bun an tanca) [foinse: Foireann Oideachais Foster agus Smith]. Iarr ar do siopa peataí áitiúil treoir a fháil.
Seo roinnt treoirlínte ginearálta maidir leis an tanc ceart turtar a thógáil:
- Roghnaigh uiscíd mhór go leor chun go mbeidh go leor spáis ag an turtar. Cuimhnigh, cé go dteastaíonn 10 galún (37.9 lítear) d'aicéarim ó thortóg óg, beidh méid dhá oiread sin ag teastáil ó dhuine fásta, ar a laghad, ag brath ar mhéid a chárpás (cásca seachtrach).
- Soláthraíonn uisce go leor do do turtar. Éilíonn turtar uisce níos mó uisce ná turtar leath-uisceach. Ar aon nós, ba chóir go mbeadh an t-uisce domhain go leor chun an turtar a shnámh [foinse: CVM.MSU].
- Ar fáil go leor limistéar talún. Éilíonn cineálacha éagsúla turtar méid talún difriúil. Ní gá níos lú talún do uisceach ná do leath-uisceach. Ba cheart go mbeadh an limistéar talún éasca le dreapadh air, ach ard go leor chun fanacht tirim. Ba chóir go mbeadh go leor seomra ann chun an t-am a chaitheamh. Úsáid brící, scamh, carraigeacha nó adhmad don limistéar tirim.
- Solas leordhóthanach a sholáthar. Is é solas UVA agus UVB an ceann is fearr do thorthaí. Úsáid amadóir chun timthriall lá/oíche a shamhlú, le 12 go 14 uair an chloig solais agus 10 go 12 uair an chloig dorchadais [foinse: Foireann Oideachais Foster agus Smith]. Is fearr an tanc a chur amach ó sholas díreach na gréine.
- Úsáid córas scagála ceart. Ba chóir go mbeadh an scagaire láidir go leor chun tanc de do mhéid a ghlanadh i gceart. Mura n-úsáideann tú scagaire, beidh ort an t-uisce a athrú gach seachtain - nó níos minice más salach é.
- Coinnigh an t-uisce ag an teocht cheart le córas téimh agus teirmiméadar.
- Cinntigh cén substrát a úsáid. Éilíonn an chuid is mó de na cnámha clóis bhog ar bhonn na limistéar tirim den chisterna. Ithefaidh roinnt turtar an t-aighneacht, rud a d'fhéadfadh a bheith contúirteach. Is é an gaineamh nó talamh bog eile an rogha is fearr le haghaidh substrate [foinse: CVM.MSU].


July 5, 2017 – A parasitic eel-like fish with a gaping mouth, the rarely seen Pacific lamprey is often vilified. In reality, they provide an important service in our local California waterways. This native creature cleans our rivers, delivers food to the water system with marine nutrients and provides sustenance to tribes.
“They can be scary-looking, slimy, and they are nocturnal, so you don’t know what’s going on; some people see them as ‘blood-sucking lampreys,’” said Damon Goodman, fish biologist with the Arcata U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office. “People think: ‘what if they grab ahold of me?’”
The fact is Pacific lamprey only filter-feed in freshwater systems, eating microorganisms and helping to clean the water. When they are first born, they are about the size of an eyelash and burrow in the stream bottom for five to seven years. Once they are about the size of a pencil, they transform, developing eyes, teeth and a sucker mouth. Then they migrate out to the ocean to feed parasitically on whales, pollock and other fish. They grow to about two feet long before returning to fresh water to spawn.
With their ability to travel farther into the river system than Chinook salmon or steelhead, Pacific lamprey, which can live up to 11 years, also help increase ecosystem productivity.
“When they come up to spawn and die, all that energy is released back into the system, which drives macroinvertebrate production, providing bugs for other fish and birds to eat,” said Goodman who did his Master’s thesis on Pacific lamprey at Humboldt State University (HSU). “They construct these nests in the cobbles, grab rocks using their suctorial disks (mouths) and move them to form a ‘fire ring’ for their eggs, creating topographic diversity in the channel.”
Bald eagles, river otters, bears and raccoons also feed on lampreys.
Unfortunately, the number of lampreys has declined in rivers throughout the state. As recently as the 1990s, Pacific lampreys occupied larger freshwater streams as far south as northern Baja California, Mexico. However, by 2016 they were absent south of Big Sur. To the north, lampreys are still present along the coast to Alaska.
Goodman along with Dr. Stewart Reid from Western Fishes got together to work with partners throughout the state, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, to try and reverse the trend, and avoid placing the species on the federal Endangered Species List.
Van Arsdale Fisheries Station in Potter Valley, California. “People might ask ‘can’t they just get over the dam,’ well they were getting over the dam but it was taking three to four weeks and only a small fraction were successful,” said fisheries biologist Dr. Stewart Reid. “If you had to spend three weeks to get into your house, you’d probably look for a solution as well.” Credit: John Heil/USFWS
“A lot of what we have done is an approach to conservation,” Goodman said. “We’re trying to get ahead of the game, by identifying problems and where we can get the most bang for the buck – practical, low cost approaches to solutions to assist the species.”
Goodman and Reid found a low-cost solution at the Van Arsdale Fisheries Station in Potter Valley, California, where only six percent of lampreys were making it through the fish ladder, and with a great deal of exertion. Fish ladders are designed specifically for fish that jump such as salmon or steelhead, presenting a challenge for a non-jumping fish like the Pacific lamprey.
Bob Clarke, regional fisheries program supervisor (left), and biologist Damon Goodman review the lamprey monitoring system. The project includes a camera and a computer to monitor the number of lampreys going through the migration tube. Credit: John Heil/USFWS
“People might ask ‘can’t they just get over the dam,’ well they were getting over the dam but it was taking three to four weeks and only a small fraction were successful,” Reid said. “If you had to spend three weeks to get into your house, you’d probably look for a solution as well.”
The Van Arsdale project, which cost less than $3,000 in materials, helps lampreys get through to the upper Eel River through four-inch PVC tubing bought at a local hardware store. The project also includes a camera and a computer to monitor the number of lampreys going through the tube.
“All the lampreys that go up the tube get counted and measured, so, for very little cost we get a really effective monitoring system,” Reid said. “This is the first time we are able to get numbers from the monitoring. We already found that the average time to get up the tube is three hours.”
The project which started in 2015 will get a full-year look by July 2017.
“We had no evidence that this would work,” Goodman said. “No one has ever put lampreys up a tube, much less a 50-foot climb across 300 feet of tube. We wondered whether this was going to actually work.
“It was a really cool feeling seeing the first one pop out of the top. There were high-fives all-around. We figured if they are using their suctorial disks to climb up, why couldn’t they climb up a tube.”
The result is near perfect success through the tube.
Scott Harris, California Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist, displays a lamprey at the Van Arsdale Fisheries Station, Potter Valley, Calif. “Their whole life history and biology is just so different from any other fish. We’re learning something different every day,” he said. Credit: CDFW
“I’ve been working with young salmon for 23 years, so when this popped up as something that needed to be addressed, I was really quite happy,” said Scott Harris, environmental scientist in fisheries biology for CDFW who has been at Van Arsdale for eight years. “Their whole life history and biology is just so different from any other fish. We’re learning something different every day, dealing with the lampreys.
“The Eel River is named after lampreys and I think it is pretty cool that we have had a two-year success of giant runs of the river’s namesake.”
Working with the National Marine Fisheries Service and PG&E, the Van Arsdale project started as a process to speed up the timing of juvenile Chinook salmon getting out of the project area. During the first block water release in 2012 Harris became aware of the lampreys.
“They went pretty crazy that very first year and were quiet for a few years and in 2016 it absolutely blew up,” said Harris of the numbers of lampreys that year.
A Pacific lamprey dipped out of the Eel River in Van Arsdale Fisheries Station in Potter Valley, California. “The Eel River is named after lampreys and I think it is pretty cool that we have had a two-year success of giant runs of the river’s namesake,” said Scott Harris, fisheries biologist for CDFW. Credit: Steve Martarano/USFWS
In 2012, Goodman got wind of what was taking place and gave Harris a call to start the process of creating a passage and setting up a process to monitor them.
Sean Ledwin at the Trinity River Restoration Program Bucktail Project. “The Hoopa Valley Tribe have been fishing for salmon, sturgeon and lamprey since time immemorial,” said Sean Ledwin. Credit: Courtesy of David Bandrowski/Yurok Tribe
The importance of this project and efforts made by Goodman, Reid, Harris and the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative, including over 300 partners, cannot be understated. In addition to helping improve river health, the lampreys provide an important cultural benefit to local tribes.
“The Hoopa Valley Tribe have been fishing for salmon, sturgeon and lamprey since time immemorial,” said Sean Ledwin, habitat division lead for Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries.
“Lamprey in particular are of real interest,” he said. “Tribal people start fishing for eels in winter months at the mouth of the Klamath using eel hooks and then in the spring there’s upstream fishing with eel baskets. It is the first push of fish that come in after a long wet winter. Lampreys are incorporated into some of the ceremonies and dances for the tribe.”
Tim Nelson, natural resources director for the Wiyot Tribe, gathers information on Butte Creek, a main tributary to the mainstream of the Eel River recently. “These last couple of years we’ve had some really good runs of Pacific lamprey, and we’ve been able to tell our elders the specific reasons (for it),” he said. Credit: Courtesy of Eddie Koch, Wiyot Tribe
Tim Nelson, natural resources director for the Wiyot Tribe, added, “Our elders tell me stories about how they used to just go down to Benbow dam and fill their gunny sacks up in minutes with lampreys and a couple of years ago we were lucky if we caught one or two at the mouth of the Eel.”
“These last couple of years we’ve had some really good runs of Pacific lamprey, and we’ve been able to tell our elders the specific reasons and more about the life cycle of the lamprey,” he said. “When they go out eeling now, they feel even more of a connection.”
The efforts at Van Arsdale are one of many projects Goodman and Reid are spearheading. For example, a climbing surface made from $300 of recycled material in 2013 helped bring lampreys back into the creek in Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo, California.
Kristine Pepper and Fernando Manzanera, of CalTrans, gathering data on Cedar Creek, a tributary to the South Fork Eel River. “If something is passing through an area I don’t want to be responsible for changing patterns, whether it is endangered or not,” Pepper said. Credit: Wesley Johnson/CalTrans
Also, Caltrans Engineer Kristine Pepper now considers lampreys in design of weirs. After seeing a one-hour presentation in 2013 by Goodman for biologists with Caltrans, Pepper decided to incorporate it in a project at Cedar Creek, a tributary of the South Fork of the Eel River. In collaboration with Goodman, she developed a lamprey fish passage weir to be included for the Cedar Creek project and future projects within Caltrans District 1.
“He put it in my mind that there are other creatures to think about,” said Pepper. “I would not want to inhibit any natural process what-so-ever. If something is passing through an area I don’t want to be responsible for changing patterns, whether it is endangered or not. I believe in looking at the whole system.”
The Cedar Creek project is slated for construction in the summer of 2017.
Service biologist Damon Goodman holds a Pacific lamprey at the Van Arsdale Fisheries Station in Potter Valley, California.“It was a really cool feeling seeing the first one pop out of the top (of the migration tube). There were high-fives all-around. We figured if they are using their suctorial disks to climb up, why couldn’t they climb up a tube,” he said. Credit: John Heil/USFWS
John Heil serves as the deputy assistant regional director for external affairs in the Pacific Southwest Region headquarters in Sacramento, Calif. He writes frequently about the Service’s wildlife conservation activities in California and Nevada.

5 Iúil, 2017  Is iasc cosúil le cnámh parasach é le béal gaping, is minic a dhéantar an lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin a fheictear go searbh a scriosadh. I ndáiríre, soláthraíonn siad seirbhís thábhachtach inár n-uiscebhealaí California áitiúla. Déanann an créatúr dúchasach seo ár n-aibhneacha a ghlanadh, bia a sheachadadh chuig an gcóras uisce le cothaithigh mara agus soláthraíonn sé cothú do threibheanna.
"Is féidir leo a bheith scanrúil, sliamhach, agus tá siad oíche, mar sin ní bhíonn a fhios agat cad atá ar siúl; feiceann daoine áirithe iad mar" lampreasanna a chuireann fola, "a dúirt Damon Goodman, bitheolaí éisc leis an Arcata U.S. Oifig na Seirbhíse Iascaigh agus Fiadhúlra. Tá daoine ag smaoineamh: cad a tharlaíonn má ghlacann siad greim orm?
Is é fírinne an phobail ná go bhfuil lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin ag feistiú ach amháin i gcórais uisce úr, ag ithe micreorganismí agus ag cabhrú leis an uisce a ghlanadh. Nuair a rugadh iad den chéad uair, tá siad thart ar mhéid an tsúil agus bíonn siad ag dul i mbun an srutháin ar feadh cúig go seacht mbliana. Nuair a bhíonn siad thart ar mhéid peann luaidhe, athraíonn siad, ag forbairt súile, fiacla agus béal sucker. Ansin imirceann siad amach go dtí an aigéan chun beatha parasiteach ar bhaláin, pollock agus iasc eile. Fásann siad go dtí thart ar dhá troigh ar fhad sula dtéann siad ar ais go dtí an t-uisce úr chun spawn.
Leis an gcumas atá acu dul níos faide isteach sa chóras abhainn ná an t-salmón Chinook nó an ceann cruach, cuireann lampree an Aigéin Chiúin, a fhéadann maireachtáil suas le 11 bliana, le táirgeacht an éiceachórais a mhéadú.
'Nuair a thagann siad chun spawn agus bás, go léir go bhfuil fuinneamh scaoilte ar ais isteach sa chóras, a thiomáint macroinvertebrate táirgeadh, a sholáthar bugs do iasc eile agus éan a ithe,'a dúirt Goodman a rinne a thesis Máistreachta ar lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin ag Humboldt State University (HSU). Déanann siad na nead seo a thógáil sna cobbles, greim ar charraigí ag baint úsáide as a gcuid dioscaí suctorial (beul) agus iad a bhogadh chun 'geall tine' a dhéanamh dá n-uibheacha, ag cruthú éagsúlacht topagrafach sa chainéal.
Bíonn eireaball bald, otters abhainn, béar agus raccoons ag ithe lampreas freisin.
Ar an drochuair, tá líon na lampreys tar éis titim i n-aibhneacha ar fud an stáit. Go dtí le déanaí sna 1990idí, bhí lampreys an Aigéin Chiúin ina gcónaí i sruthanna uisce milis níos mó chomh fada ó dheas le tuaisceart Baja California, Meicsiceo. Mar sin féin, faoi 2016 bhí siad as láthair ó dheas ó Big Sur. Go tuaisceart, tá lampreys fós i láthair ar feadh an chósta go dtí Alasca.
Tháinig Goodman le chéile leis an Dr. Stewart Reid ó Iasc an Iarthair chun oibriú le comhpháirtithe ar fud an stáit, lena n-áirítear Roinn Iasc agus Fiadhúlra California, chun iarracht a dhéanamh an treocht a aisiompú, agus na speicis a chur ar an Liosta Speiceas i mbaol cónaidhme.
Stáisiún Iascaigh Van Arsdale i Potter Valley, California. "D'fhéadfadh daoine a rá 'Nach féidir leo an dam a shárú ach amháin,'" bhí siad ag dul thar an dam ach bhí trí nó ceithre sheachtain ag teastáil uaidh agus ní raibh ach codán beag acu rathúil, "a dúirt an t-eolaí iascaigh Dr. Stewart Reid. Má chaithfeadh tú trí sheachtain chun dul isteach i do theach, b'fhéidir go mbeadh tú ag lorg réiteach freisin. Creidmheas: John Heil/USFWS
Is cur chuige é cuid mhór den méid a rinneamar maidir le caomhnú,a dúirt Goodman. Táimid ag iarraidh dul ar aghaidh leis an gcluiche, trí fhadhbanna a shainaithint agus trína bhféadfaimis an chuid is mó a fháil don dollar  cur chuige praiticiúil, ar chostas íseal do réitigh chun cabhrú leis an speiceas.
Fuair Goodman agus Reid réiteach ar chostas íseal ag Stáisiún Iascaigh Van Arsdale i Potter Valley, California, áit nach raibh ach sé faoin gcéad de na lampreas ag éirí tríd an scála iasc, agus le go leor iarrachta. Tá léarscáileanna iasc deartha go sonrach le haghaidh iasc a léim mar an salmón nó an ceann cruach, rud a chuireann dúshlán ar fáil do iasc nach léim mar an lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin.
Déanann Bob Clarke, maoirseoir clár iascaigh réigiúnach (ar chlé), agus an bitheolaí Damon Goodman athbhreithniú ar an gcóras faireacháin lamprey. Áirítear ar an tionscadal ceamara agus ríomhaire chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar líon na lampreys a théann tríd an feadán imirce. Creidmheas: John Heil/USFWS
"D'fhéadfadh daoine a rá 'Nach féidir leo an dam a shárú ach amháin,'" a dúirt Reid, "bhí siad ag dul thar an dam ach bhí trí nó ceithre sheachtain ag teastáil uaidh agus ní raibh ach codán beag acu rathúil. Má chaithfeadh tú trí sheachtain chun dul isteach i do theach, b'fhéidir go mbeadh tú ag lorg réiteach freisin.
Cabhraíonn tionscadal Van Arsdale, a chosnaíonn níos lú ná $ 3,000 i n-ábhar, le lampreys dul tríd an Abhainn Eel uachtarach trí thús ceithre orlach PVC a cheannaíodh i siopa crua-earraí áitiúil. Áirítear sa tionscadal ceamara agus ríomhaire freisin chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar líon na lampreys a théann tríd an feadán.
Cuirtear na lampreas go léir a théann suas an feadán i láthair agus déantar iad a thomhas, mar sin, le costas an-íseal faigheann muid córas faireacháin an-éifeachtach, a dúirt Reid. Is é seo an chéad uair a bhfuil muid in ann figiúirí a fháil ón monatóireacht. Fuair muid cheana féin go bhfuil an meán-am chun dul suas an feadán trí uair an chloig.
Beidh an tionscadal a thosaigh in 2015 ag breathnú ar feadh na bliana go hiomlán faoi Iúil 2017.
"Ní raibh aon fhianaise againn go n-oibreoidh sé seo", a dúirt Goodman. Níor chuir aon duine lampreys suas le feadán riamh, gan trácht ar shleamhnú 50 troigh ar fud 300 troigh de theach. Bhíomar ag smaoineamh an mbeadh sé seo ag obair i ndáiríre.
Bhí sé ina mothúchán an-chúramach an chéad cheann a fheiceáil ag popadh amach as an mbarr. Bhí high-fives ar fud. Shíl muid má tá siad ag baint úsáide as a gcuid dioscaí suctorial chun dul suas, cén fáth nach bhféadfadh siad a bheith ag dul suas ar thús.
Tá an toradh beagnach rathúil tríd an feadán.
Taispeánann Scott Harris, bitheolaí iascaigh Roinn Iascaigh agus Fiadhúlra California, lamprey ag Stáisiún Iascaigh Van Arsdale, Potter Valley, Calif.  Tá a stair saoil agus a bitheolaíocht iomlán chomh difriúil ó aon éisc eile. Tá rud éigin nua á fhoghlaim againn gach lá, a dúirt sé. Creidmheas: CDFW
"Tá mé ag obair le salmón óg le 23 bliain, agus mar sin nuair a tháinig sé seo chun cinn mar rud a theastaíonn aghaidh a thabhairt air, bhí mé an-sásta", a dúirt Scott Harris, eolaí comhshaoil i bitheolaíocht iascaigh do CDFW a bhí ag Van Arsdale ar feadh ocht mbliana. Tá a stair saoil agus a bitheolaíocht go léir chomh difriúil le haon éisc eile. Tá rud éigin nua á fhoghlaim againn gach lá, ag déileáil leis na lampreys.
Tá an t-ainm Eel River ar an lampreas agus sílim go bhfuil sé go leor fionnuar go bhfuil rath dhá bhliain againn ar rith ollmhór an abhráin.
Ag obair leis an tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Iascaigh Mhuirí agus le PG&E, thosaigh tionscadal Van Arsdale mar phróiseas chun luas a chur ar an am a d'fhág an t-easnamh óg saillín Chinook limistéar an tionscadail. Le linn an chéad scaoileadh uisce i 2012 tháinig Harris ar an eolas faoi na lampreys.
"Bhí siad go leor dÚsachtach an chéad bhliain sin agus bhí siad ciúin ar feadh cúpla bliain agus in 2016 bhí sé go hiomlán ag pléascadh", a dúirt Harris faoi líon na lampreys an bhliain sin.
D'imigh lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin amach as Abhainn Eel i Stáisiún Iascaigh Van Arsdale i Potter Valley, California. "Tá an t-ainm Eel River ar an lampreas agus sílim go bhfuil sé go leor fionnuar go bhfuil rath dhá bhliain againn ar rith ollmhór an abhráin", a dúirt Scott Harris, bitheolaí iascaigh do CDFW. Creidmheas: Steve Martarano/USFWS
Sa bhliain 2012, fuair Goodman wind of cad a bhí ag tarlú agus thug sé glaoch do Harris chun tús a chur leis an bpróiseas a chruthú pasáiste agus próiseas a chur ar bun chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh orthu.
Sean Ledwin ag an gClár Athchóiriú Abhainn Trinity, Tionscadal Bucktail. "Tá an Tribe Hoopa Valley ag iascaireacht le haghaidh salmón, sturgeon agus lamprey ó am go ham", a dúirt Sean Ledwin. Creidmheas: Ar chúirtéis David Bandrowski/Tríobhlach Yurok
Ní féidir a rá go bhfuil an tionscadal seo agus na hiarrachtaí a rinne Goodman, Reid, Harris agus Tionscnamh Caomhnaithe Lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin, lena n-áirítear níos mó ná 300 comhpháirtí, tábhachtach. Chomh maith le cabhrú le sláinte na habhann a fheabhsú, soláthraíonn na lampreas buntáiste cultúrtha tábhachtach do threibheanna áitiúla.
"Tá an Tribe Gleann Hoopa ag iascaireacht le haghaidh salmón, sturgeon agus lamprey ó am go ham", a dúirt Sean Ledwin, ceann na rannán gnáthóg do Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries.
"Tá spéis mhór ag na Lamprey go háirithe", a dúirt sé. Tosaíonn daoine treibhe ag iascaireacht ar éileanna i míonna an gheimhridh ag béal Klamath ag baint úsáide as gaoithe éile agus ansin i rith an earraigh bíonn iascaireacht suas an sruth ann le ciseáin éileanna. Is é an chéad brú de iasc a thagann isteach tar éis gheimhreadh fada fliuch. Cuirtear lámpáin isteach i roinnt de na searmanais agus na damhsaí don threibh.
Tim Nelson, stiúrthóir acmhainní nádúrtha do Thrioblóid Wiyot, faisnéis a bhailiú ar Butte Creek, príomh-theach do phríomhshrutha Abhainn Eel le déanaí. "Le cúpla bliain anuas, bhí roinnt raonta an-mhaith againn de lampree an Aigéin Chiúin, agus bhíomar in ann na cúiseanna sonracha (do sin) a insint dár seanóirí", a dúirt sé. Creidiúint: Le cúirtéisí Eddie Koch, Wiyot Tribe
Dúirt Tim Nelson, stiúrthóir acmhainní nádúrtha do Thrioblóid Wiyot, "Tá ár seanóirí ag insint scéalta dom faoi conas a bhí siad ag dul síos go damba Benbow agus a gcuid saic gunny a líonadh suas i nóiméad le lampreys agus cúpla bliain ó shin bhí áthas orainn má ghabhadh muid ceann nó beirt ag béal an Eel. "
"Le cúpla bliain anuas, bhí roinnt raonta an-mhaith againn de lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin, agus bhíomar in ann na cúiseanna sonracha agus níos mó faoi timthriall saoil an lamprey a insint dár seanóirí", a dúirt sé. Nuair a théann siad amach ag iascaireacht anois, mothaíonn siad níos mó nasc.
Tá na hiarrachtaí ag Van Arsdale ar cheann de na tionscadail go leor atá Goodman agus Reid ag stiúradh. Mar shampla, chabhraigh dromchla dreapadóireachta a rinneadh as $ 300 de ábhar athchúrsáilte in 2013 le lampreys a thabhairt ar ais isteach sa sruth i Mission Plaza i San Luis Obispo, California.
Kristine Pepper agus Fernando Manzanera, de CalTrans, ag bailiú sonraí ar Cedar Creek, brainseach do Abhainn Eel Fork Theas. 'Má tá rud éigin ag dul trí limistéar ní theastaíonn uaim a bheith freagrach as patrúin a athrú, cibé acu atá sé i mbaol nó nach bhfuil,' a dúirt Pepper. Creidmheas: Wesley Johnson/CalTrans
Chomh maith leis sin, tá Innealtóir Caltrans Kristine Pepper ag smaoineamh anois ar lampreys i ndearadh na ndíon. Tar éis cur i láthair uair an chloig a fheiceáil in 2013 ag Goodman do bithéolaithe le Caltrans, shocraigh Pepper é a ionchorprú i dtionscadal ag Cedar Creek, brainseach de Fork Theas Abhainn Eel. I gcomhar le Goodman, d'fhorbair sí díon pasáiste iasc lamprey a chur san áireamh le haghaidh tionscadal Cedar Creek agus tionscadail sa todhchaí laistigh de Cheantar Caltrans 1.
"Cuir sé i mo intinn go bhfuil créatúir eile le smaoineamh orthu", a dúirt Pepper. Níor mhaith liom aon phróiseas nádúrtha a chosc ar chor ar bith. Má tá rud éigin ag dul trí limistéar ní ba mhaith liom a bheith freagrach as patrúin a athrú, cibé acu atá sé i mbaol nó nach bhfuil. Creidim go bhfuil sé riachtanach féachaint ar an gcóras iomlán.
Tá an tionscadal Cedar Creek sceidealta le tógáil i samhradh 2017.
Tá an bitheolaí seirbhíse Damon Goodman ag coinneáil lamprey an Aigéin Chiúin ag Stáisiún Iascaigh Van Arsdale i Potter Valley, California.  Bhí sé ina mothúchán an-sásta an chéad cheann a fheiceáil ag popadh amach as an mbarr (an feadán imirce). Bhí high-fives ar fud. Shíl muid má tá siad ag úsáid a gcuid dioscaí suctorial chun dul suas, cén fáth nach bhféadfadh siad dul suas ar thús, "a dúirt sé. Creidmheas: John Heil/USFWS
Tá John Heil ina leas-chomh-stiúrthóir réigiúnach le haghaidh gnóthaí seachtracha i gceanncheathrú Réigiún an Aigéin Chiúin Thiar i Sacramento, California. Scríobhann sé go minic faoi ghníomhaíochtaí caomhnaithe fiadhúlra na Seirbhíse i California agus Nevada.


The cold front that swept Tropical Depression Arthur out to sea
in the Bahamas.
A deep closed low developed near the tail end of this frontal trough, and convection
increased on the 7th. Winds increased to tropical storm strength on the 8th, and
the cyclone was designated Diana. After initially drifting westward and threatening
the central Florida coast, the system moved north-northeast ahead of a frontal system
moving out of Canada, essentially along the Gulf Stream. The frontal system bypassed
the hurricane to the north, allowing it to move in a slow anticyclonic loop just offshore
North Carolina. On the morning of the 13th, Diana finally made landfall as a category
two hurricane, and weakened into a tropical storm 12 hours later. The blocking high
moved out to sea, allowing the storm to move out to the east, offshore Oregon Inlet
on the 14th and the system nearly regained hurricane strength. After passing just north
of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, the cyclone became extratropical as it passed through
Newfoundland on the 16th. Below is the track of this cyclone, provided by the
National Hurricane Center.
The graphics below show the storm total rainfall for Diana.
the maximum across North Carolina near
the track of the storm.

An aghaidh fuar a scrios an Depression Trópaiceach Arthur amach ar muir
sna Bahámaí.
Forbraíodh íseal dúnta domhain gar do dheireadh eireaball an trog tosaigh seo, agus comhghabháil
méadaithe ar an 7ú. D'fhás na gaotha go neart stoirm thrópaiceach an 8ú, agus
ainmníodh an ticéid Diana. Tar éis a drileadh go dtí an iarthar ar dtús agus a bhagairt
an chósta lár Florida, ghluais an córas ó thuaidh-northeast os comhair córas tosaigh
ag bogadh amach as Ceanada, go bunúsach ar feadh an Sream na Murascaille. An córas tosaigh a shárú
an hurricane go dtí an tuaisceart, ag ligean dó chun bogadh i lúb anticyclonic mall díreach amach ón gcósta
Carolina Thuaidh. Ar maidin an 13ú, Diana ar deireadh rinne landfall mar chatagóir
dhá hurricane, agus lagú go stoirm thrópaiceach 12 uair an chloig ina dhiaidh sin. An ard-bhac
bhog amach ar muir, ag ligean don stoirm bogadh amach go dtí an oirthear, amach ó Mhuir Oregon
ar an 14ú agus an córas beagnach neart hurricane a fháil ar ais. Tar éis dó dul díreach ó thuaidh
d'Oileán Sable, Nova Scotia, tháinig an t-sioclóin thar-trópaiceach mar a chuaigh sé trí
Newfoundland ar an 16ú. Anseo thíos tá an rian na sioclóin, a sholáthraíonn an
Ionad Náisiúnta na Hurricane.
Taispeánann na grafaicí thíos an báisteach iomlán stoirme do Diana.
an t-uasmhéid ar fud Carolina Thuaidh in aice
an rian na stoirme.


Czech Independence Day Speech
The dramatic changes in Eastern Europe happened so rapidly and over so broad an area that making these events understandable for students can be a challenge. This case study uses a landmark speech by Vaclav Havel as a means to unpack the rapid events of 1989.
President Václav Havel’s “Czech Independence Day Speech” marked the first celebration of Czechoslovak Independence day since the fall of the communist regime during November and December 1989. I included this document in a two-semester sequence of courses (in which students had the option of taking either or both of the courses in the sequence) on Nationalism in Eastern Europe, which was taught almost exclusively on the basis of reading and analyzing primary source documents.
This course was offered within the University Honors Program at my institution (the George Washington University), so it was a small, seminar class of highly motivated and highly qualified students. Throughout the two semesters, by reading and analyzing source texts, we pursued the origins, development, splintering, possible decline and reassertion of Nationalism in the region from the late eighteenth century to the present.
This source illustrated the reappearance of issues related to nationalism in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet imperium, and brought home to the students the fact that the "Velvet Revolution" in Czechoslovakia did not necessarily lead to a "living happily ever after" ending for the common state of Czechs and Slovaks. It also led into wider considerations of the role of commemorations and political rituals in the politics of identity.
By the time the class was discussing this particular text, the students had garnered a semester's worth or more of experience in approaching primary source texts. My practice was to assign context-giving readings from a narrative textbook or textbooks, to provide some framework from which the students could approach the documents. Where necessary I could also intervene to explain important contextual issues that were not clear from the readings.
This source and all the primary sources for the course were included in a course packet distributed at the beginning of the semester and including the primary readings for the entire semester. Students had read other sources related to the problem of nationalism and communism, and indeed had read Václav Havel's essay "The Power of the Powerless," so they had some familiarity with Havel's approaches and style.
Since I taught this document in a small, seminar class, I began discussing it and the other readings for that day's topic jointly with the students, in the typical seminar discussion. By this stage in the semester the students had already markedly developed their ability to read and analyze a primary source text, to identify quickly not only the major points in a given extract, but to recognize their significance to the author, the intended audience, and their setting in the general context both specific and more widely. All of these skills should be transferable to other sources and even other types of sources.
Throughout the semester I tried to limit my role to facilitating (even prodding and pushing) discussion along, rather than lecturing. Still, from time to time, I served as an additional "textbook" as it were, able to throw out significant details of the context that perhaps were not fully developed in the other readings the students had already done, or that they had overlooked. I tried to ask them leading questions when spontaneous discussion flagged, but did not attempt to direct the discussion towards my exclusively pre-determined end point.
For example, one question I asked specific students was how they would react to the speech if they were Czech, Slovak, or a member of a minority community such as a Roma (Gypsy), and why. That stimulated some imaginative discussions and proved productive. Perhaps this sort of approach could be taking within a group context, with groups of students assigned to read the text and formulate responses from various points of view (not just national, but, for example, points of view of other Czechs who were political opponents of Havel).
The broadest conclusion that we all took away from this exercise, I believe, was that every political epiphany is followed by a "morning after" (not to sound too cynical about it). Discussing this speech helped open the students to appreciating the sources and course of the post-communist development of identity politics. Through the contextual reading of such sources, students were also exposed to the more general changes that occurred in the political and social life in Czechoslovakia (and the Czech Republic and Slovakia) following the euphoric moment of liberation. In fact, the Czechoslovak example made a useful contrast and compare case for discussing developments in other countries of the region that experienced somewhat different transitions (Yugoslavia, of course, but also Poland, Hungary or Romania).
The text is a good example of Havel's style, and has a strong effect on the reader. The likeliest future use of this text will not be in a small seminar class, so I will adapt its presentation to a more lecture-oriented class with larger student numbers. In that sort of class, I will adapt more structure-giving techniques, such as formally dividing the class into working teams, perhaps with each being assigned a particular point of view as suggested above. Teams could work on response papers, including questions for discussion, from their assigned point of view, which could be circulated either on paper or using other forms of information technology such as Blackboard or downloadable podcasts, weblogs, or discussion bulletin boards. These technological assets were not available to me when I taught the Honors course, which was several years ago, before my institution even used web-based syllabus delivery.
Document 1: Havel's Independence Day Address, 1990
The Elliott School of International Affairs

Aistriúchán ar Lá Neamhspleáchais na Seice
Bhí na hathruithe suntasacha san Oirthear Eorpach chomh tapa agus chomh mór sin go bhféadfadh sé a bheith ina dhúshlán na himeachtaí seo a dhéanamh tuisceanach do mhic léinn. Úsáidtear sa chás-staidéar seo óráid suntasach ag Vaclav Havel mar mhodh chun na himeachtaí tapa 1989 a phéinteáil.
Bhí an chéad cheiliúradh ar lá neamhspleáchais na Seiceaslóvaice ó thit an réimeas cumannach i mí na Samhna agus i mí na Nollag 1989 le "Tráth ar Lá Neamhspleáchais na Seice". Chuir mé an doiciméad seo isteach i sraith dhá sheimeastar de chúrsaí (ar féidir le mic léinn ceann amháin nó an dá chúrsa sa sraith a ghlacadh) ar Náisiúntachta san Oirthear na hEorpa, a mhúineadh beagnach go heisiach ar bhonn na doiciméid foinse tosaigh a léamh agus a anailísiú.
Bhí an cúrsa seo ar fáil laistigh de Chlár Onóracha na hOllscoile ag mo institiúid (Ollscoil George Washington), mar sin bhí sé ina rang beag, seimineár de mhic léinn ard-spreagtha agus ardcháilithe. Le linn an dá sheimeastar, trí theacsanna foinse a léamh agus a anailísiú, leanamar ar aghaidh le bunús, forbairt, scoilteadh, titim agus athdhéanamh féideartha Náisiúntachta sa réigiún ó dheireadh an ochtú haois déag go dtí an lá atá inniu ann.
Léirigh an fhoinse seo athfhéachaint saincheisteanna a bhaineann le náisiúnachas i ndiaidh titim impireacht na Sóivéide, agus thug sé ar na mic léinn an fíric nach raibh an "Réabhlóid Velvet" sa tSeiceaslóvaic mar thoradh ar "maireachtáil go sona sásta go deo" ag deireadh le stát choiteann na Seice agus na Slovacach. Thug sé aird níos leithne freisin ar ról na gcuimhneacháin agus na deasghnátha polaitiúla i bpolaitíocht na féiniúlachta.
Faoin am a bhí an rang ag plé leis an téacs seo, bhí taithí ag na mic léinn ar luach leathchéad bliain nó níos mó i dtaca le téacsanna bunfhoinse a chur i láthair. Ba é mo chleachtas léitheoireacht a thabhairt i gcomhthéacs ó leabhar nó ó leabhair teagaisc insint, chun creat a sholáthar as ar féidir leis na mic léinn dul i ngleic leis na doiciméid. I gcás inar gá, d'fhéadfainn dul i bhfeidhm freisin chun saincheisteanna comhthéacsúla tábhachtacha nach raibh soiléir ó na léachtaí a mhíniú.
Cuireadh an fhoinse seo agus na foinsí príomhúla go léir don chúrsa san áireamh i bpacáiste cúrsa a d'eisigh siad ag tús na seimeastar agus a raibh na léitheoireachtaí príomhúla don seimeastar iomlán san áireamh iontu. Bhí foinsí eile a bhaineann le fadhb na náisiúntachta agus na cumannachta léite ag mic léinn, agus bhí aiste Václav Havel "The Power of the Powerless" léite acu i ndáiríre, mar sin bhí roinnt eolais acu ar chur chuige agus ar stíl Havel.
Ós rud é gur mhúineadh mé an doiciméad seo i rang beag, seimineár, thosaigh mé ag plé leis agus leis na léitheoireachtaí eile don ábhar an lae sin i gcomhar leis na mic léinn, sa phlé tipiciúil seimineár. Ag an gcéim seo sa seimeastar bhí forbairt suntasach tagtha ar a gcumas ag na mic léinn téacs bunfhoinse a léamh agus a anailísiú, ní hamháin na pointí móra i sliocht áirithe a aithint go tapa, ach a n-iarmhéid don údar, don lucht féachana atá beartaithe, agus a suíomh sa chomhthéacs ginearálta a aithint, ar bhealach sonrach agus níos leithne. Ba cheart go mbeadh na scileanna seo go léir in-aistrithe ar fhoinsí eile agus fiú ar chineálacha eile foinsí.
Le linn na seimeastar seo, rinne mé iarracht mo ról a theorannú chun plé a éascú (fiú ag spreagadh agus ag brú) in éineacht leis, seachas léacht a thabhairt. Mar sin féin, ó am go ham, bhí mé mar "leabhar teagaisc" breise, mar a bhí sé, in ann sonraí suntasacha den chomhthéacs a chur amach nach raibh, b'fhéidir, leagtha amach go hiomlán sna léachtaí eile a bhí déanta ag na mic léinn cheana féin, nó a bhí dearmad déanta acu. Rinne mé iarracht ceisteanna ceannaireachta a chur orthu nuair a tháinig plé spontáineach, ach níor rinne mé iarracht an plé a threorú i dtreo mo phointe deiridh réamhshocraithe go heisiach.
Mar shampla, bhí ceist amháin a d'iarr mé ar mhic léinn ar leith ná conas a dhéanfadh siad leis an óráid dá mbeadh siad ina n-iasacht na Seice, na Slóvaice nó ina mbaill de phobal mionlaigh amhail Roma (Gypsy), agus cén fáth. Chuir sé sin spreagadh ar roinnt plé cruthaitheach agus bhí toradh air sin. B'fhéidir go bhféadfaí cur chuige den chineál seo a ghlacadh laistigh de chuntas grúpa, le grúpaí mac léinn a ceapadh chun an téacs a léamh agus freagraí a fhoirmiú ó phointí éagsúla tuairimí (ní amháin náisiúnta, ach, mar shampla, phointí tuairimí na Seiceach eile a bhí ina n-ionsaitheoirí polaitiúla ar Havel).
Is é an t-ionchur is forleithne a ghlacamar as an tsaothar seo, dar liom, ná go leanann gach epiphany polaitiúil "amárach ina dhiaidh" (gan bheith ró-ciníoch faoi). Chuidigh plé ar an óráid seo leis na mic léinn a chur ar fáil chun meas a bheith acu ar fhoinsí agus ar chúrsa forbartha iar-choimisinéireachta pholaitíocht féiniúlachta. Trí léitheoireacht chomhthéacsúil a dhéanamh ar fhoinsí den sórt sin, bhí na mic léinn nochtaithe freisin do na hathruithe níos ginearálta a tharla sa saol polaitiúil agus sóisialta sa tSeiceaslóvaic (agus sa Phoblacht na Seice agus sa tSlóvaic) tar éis an nóiméad euforach na saoirse. Go deimhin, bhí an sampla Seiceaslóvaice ina chás úsáideach chun comparáid a dhéanamh agus forbairtí a phlé i dtíortha eile sa réigiún a raibh aistriú beagán difriúil acu (an Iúgslaiv, ar ndóigh, ach an Pholainn, an Ungáir nó an Rómáin freisin).
Is sampla maith de stíl Havel é an téacs, agus tá tionchar láidir aige ar an léitheoir. Ní dócha go n-úsáidfear an téacs seo sa todhchaí i rang seimineár beag, mar sin oirionnfidh mé a chur i láthair do rang níos dírithe ar léacht le líon níos mó mac léinn. Sa chineál sin ranga, beidh mé a chur in oiriúint níos mó struchtúr-a thabhairt teicnící, mar shampla go foirmiúil a roinnt an rang i ngrúpaí oibre, b'fhéidir le gach a bheith sannta pointe áirithe de thuairim mar a mholtar thuas. D'fhéadfadh foirne oibriú ar pháipéir fhreagra, lena n-áirítear ceisteanna le haghaidh plé, óna gcuid dearcadh a shanntar, a d'fhéadfaí a scaipeadh ar pháipéar nó ag baint úsáide as cineálacha eile teicneolaíochta faisnéise mar Blackboard nó podchraoltaí in-íoslódála, weblogs, nó painéil buileáin phlé. Ní raibh na sócmhainní teicneolaíochta seo ar fáil dom nuair a mhúin mé an cúrsa Honor, a bhí roinnt blianta ó shin, sula raibh mo institiúid ag úsáid cur i láthair na silabáis ar líne.
Doiciméad 1: Aistriúchán Lá na Saoirse Havel, 1990
Scoil Ghnóthaí Idirnáisiúnta Elliott


From tapeworms to cabbage soup, mind-boggling food crazes litter the world of nutrition like so many discarded cigarette butts.
But, there are gems hidden within the dietary refuse; particular eating plans that provide a key ingredient to living a longer, healthier life.
One such jewel is the "Mediterranean diet," a collection of nutritional and behavioral best-practices typically adhered to by people living in the areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This particular eating regimen also offers a series of benefits specific to the aging population.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
Built on a foundation of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish, the Mediterranean diet has slowly gained prominence as an effective way to increase longevity and stave off chronic illness and cognitive decline.
Recently, the diet nabbed the third place spot (out of 29) on U.S. News and World Report's, "Best Overall Diets," list—receiving four out of five stars from nutritional experts.
"This diet is an example of great nutrition mostly because it is rich in colorful fruits and vegetables. Which means it's rich in a variety of powerful vitamins and minerals," says Gwen Weiss-Numeroff, nutritionist and author of, "Extraordinary Centenarians in America: Their Secrets to Living a Long Vibrant Life."
Here's what science has to say about the positive effects of the eating habits of Mediterranean natives:
- Keeps elders agile: A 2012 study conducted on elderly residents of Tuscany, Italy, found that keeping to a Mediterranean-style diet decreased a senior's odds of developing hallmark signs of frailty (slow walking speed, muscle weakness, generalized exhaustion) by about 70 percent, when compared to those who subscribed to a different nutritional program. Avoiding signs of frailty can help prevent falls, fractures and broken bones in the elderly.
- Fights chronic ailments: Study after study shows how Mediterranean diet foods can help reduce a person's risk for developing chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, dental disease, macular degeneration and Alzheimer's. They may also play a role in helping people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) manage their condition.
- Protects the brain: Adhering to healthy lifestyle practices may reduce a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. "We know that dietary habits can and do have profound effects on our brains both directly, as well as indirectly," says Christopher Ochner, Ph.D., a leading nutrition and brain health researcher and co-author of the book, "The Alzheimer's Diet: A Step-by-Step Nutritional Approach for Memory Loss Prevention and Treatment." Ochner's co-author and colleague, Richard Isaacson, M.D., an Alzheimer's disease specialist says that a good diet is one that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in dairy, saturated fat and refined sugar (a.k.a. the Mediterranean diet). He adds, "The positive effects on memory function associated with a brain-healthy diet may be as effective (or even more effective over time) than those achieved with current FDA-approved medications."
Good nutrition alone isn't enough. To reap the maximum health advantages, Weiss-Numeroff stresses the importance of the non-food elements of the Mediterranean diet.
"The Mediterranean people also remain active well into their platinum years, eat moderate portions and savor their food. Americans tend to be more sedentary, eat way too quickly and in excess—which contributes to digestive disorders and obesity," she says.
Communal meals eaten in the company of family and friends are also an important component of dietary lifestyle of these individuals. Sharing a meal with others strengthens social bonds and is an effective way to help prevent loneliness in the elderly.
Guidelines for going Mediterranean
One of the oft-cited advantages of the Mediterranean diet is that it's relatively easy to follow.
You don't have to forgo any major food groups—even sweets. And, because you're mainly noshing on fiber-rich foods, there's no starvation necessary.
Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when attempting to adopt a Mediterranean-style diet:
- Go fishing for Omega-3s: A central tenant of the Mediterranean Diet is to avoid all but the leanest meats (sirloin, beef round), and even those should be consumed infrequently. Fish is the preferred supplier of animal protein. According to Weiss-Numeroff, the rule of thumb is to eat fish twice a week. She suggests tucking into tuna or salmon—both of which are good sources of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Get friendly with (good) fats: The word, ‘fat' has become taboo in modern society, but there is a crucial difference between "good" fats and "bad" fats. According to Weiss-Numeroff, monounsaturated fats (found in avocados, almond, olives, salmon and tuna) are essential for a heart healthy diet because they play a role in regulating blood pressure and promoting properly functioning blood vessels.
- Know your reds: The Mediterranean Diet allows for moderate consumption of red wine which, research indicates may increase longevity, improve immune and digestive system functioning and help maintain healthy levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
- Fill up on fiber: Fiber-rich foods such as, fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains should be a staple in everyone's diet—regardless of age. But, fiber plays a particularly essential role in regulating the digestive tracts of the elderly.
- Spice things up: The right spices can make a dish delicious without excess salt and fat. Basil, Cardamom, Cumin, Garlic, Nutmeg, Oregano, Paprika, Saffron and Sage are all used in traditional Mediterranean dishes.
List of Mediterranean diet foods:
- Baba Ghanoush
- Feta cheese
- Pita bread
- Red wine
- Whole grains

Ó thineas-ghream go súp cabáiste, tá na bianna a bhfuil an t-intinn ag dul in olcas orthu ag cur isteach ar an saol cothaithe mar a bheadh go leor cadhnraí tobac scartha.
Ach, tá seodra i bhfolach taobh istigh den dhramhaíl aiste bia; pleananna bia ar leith a sholáthraíonn príomh-chomhábhar chun saol níos faide, níos sláintiúla a bheith agat.
Ceann de na seodra sin is ea "aiste bia na Meánmhara", bailiúchán de na cleachtais is fearr cothaithe agus iompair a leanann daoine a chónaíonn i gceantair timpeall na farraige Meánmhara de ghnáth. Cuireann an aiste bia áirithe seo sraith tairbhí ar fáil freisin atá sonrach don daonra atá ag dul in aois.
Cad é an aiste bia Meánmhara?
Bunaithe ar thorthaí, glasraí, gráin iomlána agus iasc, tá an aiste bia Mheánmhuirí ag éirí suntasach go mall mar bhealach éifeachtach chun fad saoil a mhéadú agus galar ainsealach agus titim cognaíoch a chosc.
Le déanaí, fuair an aiste bia an tríú háit (ar 29 as) ar liosta "Na hIontrálacha Iomlán is Fearr", de chuid US News and World Report, ag fáil ceithre as cúig réalta ó shaineolaithe cothaithe.
"Is sampla den chothú iontach é an aiste bia seo den chuid is mó toisc go bhfuil sé saibhir i dtorthaí agus glasraí datha. Ciallaíonn sé go bhfuil sé saibhir i réimse vitimíní agus mianraí cumhachtach", a deir Gwen Weiss-Numeroff, cothaitheach agus údar, "Chunta bliain sa Mheiriceá: A n-ailt chun saol fada beoga a bheith acu".
Seo a deir an eolaíocht faoi éifeachtaí dearfacha nósanna itheacha na ndaoine dúchasacha sa Mheánmhuir:
- Coinníonn sé daoine scothaosta áille: Fuair staidéar 2012 a rinneadh ar chónaitheoirí scothaosta na Toscana, an Iodáil, gur laghdaigh coinníocht ar aiste bia stíl Mheánmhuirí seans na seanóirí comharthaí sainithe na laige a fhorbairt (luath a shiúl, laige matáin, tuirse foriomlán) thart ar 70 faoin gcéad, i gcomparáid leo siúd a shínigh clár cothaithe difriúil. Is féidir le comharthaí lagú a sheachaint titim, briseadh agus cnámha briste a chosc i ndaoine scothaosta.
- Déileálann sé le tinneas ainsealach: Léiríonn staidéar i ndiaidh staidéir conas is féidir le bianna aiste bia na Meánmhara cabhrú le riosca duine a laghdú chun tinneas ainsealach a fhorbairt, lena n-áirítear tinneas croí, diaibéiteas, ailse, artritis, tinneas fiacla, díghrádú macúla agus Alzheimer. D'fhéadfadh ról a bheith acu freisin chun cabhrú le daoine a bhfuil asthma agus galar plúmach cosanta ainsealach (COPD) acu a riar a riar.
- Cosnaíonn sé an inchinn: D'fhéadfadh cleachtais stíl mhaireachtála sláintiúla a bheith ag cloí le riosca duine galar Alzheimer agus neamhoird chognaíocha eile a laghdú. "Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil tionchar mór ag nósanna aiste bia ar ár n-inchinn go díreach, chomh maith le go hindíreach", a deir Christopher Ochner, Ph.D., taighdeoir meáchain agus sláinte inchinn agus comh-údar an leabhair, "The Alzheimer's Diet: A Step-by-Step Nutritional Approach for Memory Loss Prevention and Treatment". Deir comh-údar agus comhghleacaí Ochner, Richard Isaacson, M.D., speisialtóir ar ghalar Alzheimer go bhfuil aiste bia maith ina cheann atá ard i dtorthaí, glasraí agus gráin iomlána, agus íseal i déiríochta, saill shásta agus siúcra scagtha (a.k.a. an aiste bia Mheánmhuirí). Agus é ag cur leis, "D'fhéadfadh na héifeachtaí dearfacha ar fheidhm chuimhne a bhaineann le aiste bia sláintiúil don inchinn a bheith chomh héifeachtach (nó níos éifeachtaí fós le himeacht ama) ná iad siúd a baintear amach le cógais atá ceadaithe ag an FDA faoi láthair".
Ní leor cothú maith ina n-aonar. Chun na buntáistí sláinte is mó a bhaint amach, leagann Weiss-Numeroff béim ar thábhacht na n-eilimintí neamh-bhia a bhaineann le réim bia na Meánmhara.
"Fágann daoine na Meánmhara gníomhach go maith ina gcuid blianta platanam, itheann siad codanna measartha agus blasann siad a gcuid bia. Tá Meiriceánaigh i dteideal a bheith níos suíochánaí, ithe ró-luath agus i bhfad níos mó, rud a chuireann le neamhoird díleá agus murtall, "a deir sí.
Tá béilí comhchoiteanna a itheann daoine i gcuideachta an teaghlaigh agus na gcairde ina gcomhpháirt thábhachtach de stíl mhaireachtála aiste bia na ndaoine seo. Déantar béile a roinnt le daoine eile chun na ceangail shóisialta a neartú agus is bealach éifeachtach é chun cabhrú le haontacht a chosc i measc na ndaoine scothaosta.
Treoirlínte maidir le dul go Meánmhara
Ceann de na buntáistí a luaitear go minic maidir le aiste bia na Meánmhara ná go bhfuil sé réasúnta éasca a leanúint.
Ní gá duit aon phríomhghrúpaí bia a sheachaint - fiú milseoga. Agus, toisc go bhfuil tú ag snacking go príomha ar bianna saibhir snáithín, níl aon ocras riachtanach.
Seo roinnt treoirlínte le coinneáil i gcuimhne nuair a bhíonn tú ag iarraidh aiste bia de chineál na Meánmhara a ghlacadh:
- Téigh ag iascaireacht le haghaidh Omega-3s: Is é príomh-chónaitheoir an Chothaithe Mheánmhara ná gach feoil ach na feola is leanúnaí (sirloin, mairteola cruinn) a sheachaint, agus fiú iad sin ba chóir a ithe go neamhchoitianta. Is é an t-iasc an soláthraí is fearr de phróitéin ainmhíoch. De réir Weiss-Numeroff, is é an riail mhóil é iasc a ithe dhá uair sa tseachtain. Molann sí go n-ithfí tuinnín nó salmón, is foinsí maithe iad de aigéid shailleacha Omega-3 atá sláintiúil don chroí.
- Bí cairdiúil le saill (mhaith): Tá an focal, "saill" tar éis éirí ina taboo sa tsochaí nua-aimseartha, ach tá difríocht ríthábhachtach idir saill "mhaith" agus saill "mhioc". De réir Weiss-Numeroff, tá saillte monounsaturated (a fhaightear i avocados, almond, ológa, salmón agus tuna) riachtanach le haghaidh aiste bia sláintiúil croí toisc go bhfuil ról acu i rialú brú fola agus i gcur chun cinn na soithigh fola a fheidhmíonn i gceart.
- Bíodh a fhios agat cad iad do chuid fíon dearga: Ceadaíonn an aiste bia Mheánmhuirí tomhaltas measartha fíon dearg a d'fhéadfadh, de réir taighde, fad saoil a mhéadú, feabhas a chur ar fheidhmiú an chórais imdhíonachta agus díleá agus cabhrú le leibhéil sláintiúla de chholesterol maith (HDL) a chothabháil.
- Líon na snáithín: Ba cheart go mbeadh bianna saibhre snáithín mar thorthaí, glasraí, cnónna agus gráin iomlána ina bpríomh-aiste bia i réim bia gach duine, beag beann ar a aois. Ach, tá ról ríthábhachtach ag snáithín go háirithe i rialaithe na bpáirteanna díleá ag daoine scothaosta.
- Spice suas rudaí: Is féidir leis na spíosraí ceart a dhéanamh ar mhias delicious gan salann iomarcach agus saill. Úsáidtear basil, cardamom, cumin, garlic, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, saffron agus sage i miasa traidisiúnta na Meánmhara.
Liosta de bhianna aiste bia na Meánmhara:
- Baba Ghanoush
- Óst Feta
- Arán pita
- Fíon dearg
- Gráin iomlána


Better batteries mean better products. They give us longer-lasting smartphones, anxiety-free electric transport, and potentially, more efficient energy storage for large-scale buildings like data centers. But battery tech is frustratingly slow to advance, due to both the chemical processes involved and the challenges that exist around commercializing new battery designs. It remains incredibly tough for even the most promising battery experiments to find their way out of research labs and into the devices we carry.
That hasn't stopped people from trying. In recent years researchers and technologists have presented a variety of ways in which the materials in rechargeable lithium batteries—the kind in your phone right now—can be tweaked to improve battery density and, more importantly, battery safety. These technologies aren't going to make it to market in time for the Next Big Product Launch, but as we watch our phones slurp up the last dribble of power at the end of a long day, we can dream about the future.
Complex battery technology can make even the most tech-savvy person feel like they need a PhD in chemistry to make sense of it, so here's an attempt to break it down. Most handheld and portable electronics use lithium ion batteries, which are made up of an anode, a cathode, a separator, an electrolyte, a positive current, and a negative current. The anode and cathode are the "ends" of the battery; a charge is generated and stored when the lithium ions (carried by the electrolyte) move between the two ends of the battery.
Lithium ion is still considered to be one of the lightest and most efficient battery solutions. But because it only has so much physical energy density, there are limits to how much of a charge it can hold. It's also sometimes dangerous: if something goes awry with the separator, and electrodes come in contact with one another, the battery starts to heat up. And liquid electrolytes are highly flammable. This often is what leads to exploding batteries. "[Electric] car crashes, Samsung phones–those are mostly thermal runaway problems," says Partha Mukherjee, who researches energy storage and conversion at Purdue University's school of mechanical engineering.
Some of the solutions being worked on now introduce alternative materials that increase the efficiency and thermal stability of batteries—for example, using silicon nanoparticles for the anode instead of commonly-used carbon graphite, or using solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones.
Typically, graphite anode materials are used in lithium ion batteries. But microscopic silicon particles have been emerging as a more efficient replacement for graphite–and at least one company thinks this technology will come to market within the next year.
"An atom of silicon can store about 20 times more lithium than atoms of carbon," says Gene Berdichevsky, the CEO of California-based Sila Nanotechnologies and an early Tesla employee. "Essentially, it takes fewer atoms to store the lithium, so you can have a smaller volume of material storing the same amount of energy" as a typical graphite material. He says Sila Nano will launch its first battery product for the consumer market early next year. At launch, Berdichevsky expects to see 20 percent improvement in battery life over traditional lithium ion batteries.
Others have already pursued a silicon anode as a solution to today's battery problems; there's an entire consortium dedicated to the cause, which includes the Argonne, Sandia, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. Berdichevsky and Sila co-founder and CTO Gleb Yushin say what sets their research apart is that they believed they've solved the "expansion" problem. Silicon has a tendency to swell, essentially destroying batteries with every charge. Sila's tech involves tucking the microscopic silicon particles into tiny spherical structures inside the battery that leave some room for the silicon to expand.

Ciallaíonn cadhnraí níos fearr táirgí níos fearr. Tugann siad fón cliste níos buan dúinn, iompar leictreach gan imní, agus go bhféadfadh, stóráil fuinnimh níos éifeachtaí do fhoirgnimh ar scála mór cosúil le hionaid sonraí. Ach tá teicneolaíocht na ceallraí go frustrach mall chun cinn, mar gheall ar na próisis cheimiceacha a bhaineann leis agus na dúshláin atá ann maidir le dearadh ceallraí nua a thrádáil. Tá sé fós an-deacair fiú do na turgnaimh cadhnraí is geallta a mbealach a fháil amach as saotharlanna taighde agus isteach sna feistí a iompraíonn muid.
Níor chuir sin cosc ar dhaoine iarracht a dhéanamh. Le blianta beaga anuas, tá taighdeoirí agus teicneolaithe tar éis bealaí éagsúla a chur i láthair inar féidir na hábhair i mbatraí lítiam athchúrsáilte - an cineál atá i do ghuthán anois - a chur in oiriúint chun dlús an bhaitéire a fheabhsú agus, níos tábhachtaí fós, sábháilteacht an bhaitéire. Ní bheidh na teicneolaíochtaí seo ar fáil ar an margadh in am don chéad seoladh eile den táirge mór, ach nuair a fheicimid ár bhfón ag cur suas an chumhacht deireanach ag deireadh an lae fada, is féidir linn aisling a dhéanamh faoin todhchaí.
Is féidir le teicneolaíocht chustaiméara casta a dhéanamh go mbraitheann fiú an duine is mó a bhfuil eolas aige ar theicneolaíocht go bhfuil PhD sa cheimic ag teastáil chun ciall a bhaint as, mar sin seo iarracht é a bhriseadh síos. Baineann an chuid is mó de leictreonaic láimhe agus iomlána le ceallraí liotáiniam, a chuimsítear as anód, catód, scaradhóir, leictreal, sruth dearfach, agus sruth diúltach. Is iad an anód agus an catód "deireadh" an charbóin; déantar muirear a ghiniúint agus a stóráil nuair a ghluaiseann na heiúin litiam (a iompróidh an leictreal) idir an dá cheann den charbóin.
Meastar go bhfuil ion-liotáim fós ar cheann de na réitigh ceallraí is éadroime agus is éifeachtúla. Ach toisc nach bhfuil ach an oiread sin dlús fuinnimh fisiciúil, tá teorainneacha ann maidir le cé mhéad muirear is féidir leis a shealbhú. Tá sé contúirteach uaireanta freisin: má théann rud éigin mícheart leis an scaradhóir, agus má thagann leictreoga i dteagmháil lena chéile, tosaíonn an ceallraí ag téamh suas. Agus tá leictreolaithe leachtacha in-athlasta. Is minic a bhíonn sé seo mar thoradh ar charrthóirí ag pléascadh. "Tá [charr] leictreach, fóin Samsung - is fadhbanna teiripeacha iad sin den chuid is mó", a deir Partha Mukherjee, a dhéanann taighde ar stóráil agus ar thiontú fuinnimh in scoil innealtóireachta meicniúla Ollscoil Purdue.
Tá roinnt de na réitigh atá á n-oibreacht anois ag tabhairt isteach ábhair mhalartacha a mhéadaíonn éifeachtúlacht agus cobhsaíocht teirmeach na mbatraí - mar shampla, nanoparticles síleacain a úsáid don anód in ionad grafait charbóin a úsáidtear go coitianta, nó leictrealít soladach a úsáid in ionad na ndíolaí.
De ghnáth, úsáidtear ábhair anód grafait i mbatraí iain lithiam. Ach tá deighiltí siliciam micreascópacha ag teacht chun cinn mar athsholáthar níos éifeachtaí do ghrafíit agus creideann cuideachta amháin ar a laghad go dtiocfaidh an teicneolaíocht seo ar an margadh i mbliana.
"Is féidir le h-aon adamh síleacóin thart ar 20 uair níos mó liatham a stóráil ná adamh carbóin", a deir Gene Berdichevsky, POF Sila Nanotechnologies atá lonnaithe i gCeilfíornia agus fostaí Tesla luath. "Go bunúsach, ní thógann sé níos lú adamh an litiam a stóráil, mar sin is féidir leat méid níos lú ábhar a stóráil an méid céanna fuinnimh" mar ábhar tipiciúil graifíte. Deir sé go seolfaidh Sila Nano a chéad táirge ceallraí don mhargadh tomhaltóra go luath an bhliain seo chugainn. Ag seoladh, tá súil ag Berdichevsky feabhas 20 faoin gcéad a fheiceáil ar shaolré na ceallraí i gcomparáid le ceallraí ion lithiam traidisiúnta.
Tá daoine eile tar éis anód siliciam a shaothrú mar réiteach ar fhadhbanna ceallraí an lae inniu; tá comhchoiste iomlán tiomanta don chúis, lena n-áirítear na Saotharlanna Náisiúnta Argonne, Sandia, agus Lawrence Berkeley. Deir Berdichevsky agus comhbhunaitheoir agus CTO Sila Gleb Yushin gurb é an rud a chuireann a gcuid taighde ar leith ná go gcreideann siad go bhfuil an fhadhb "fhorleathnú" réitithe acu. Tá claonadh ag sileacain a dhúnadh, ag scriosadh ceallraí go bunúsach le gach muirear. Baineann teicneolaíocht Sila leis na cáithníní síleacnamacha microscópacha a chur isteach i struchtúir sféarach beaga taobh istigh den charbad a fhágann roinnt seomra don síleacnama chun leathnú.


In the middle of Asgard, where the Gods and Goddesses lives, is Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil is the tree of life, and it is an eternal green Ash tree; the branches stretch out over all of the nine worlds in Norse mythology, and extend up and above the heavens. Yggdrasil is carried by three enormous roots, the first root from Yggdrasil is in Asgard, the home of the Gods it is just next to the well-named Urd, this is where the Gods and Goddesses have their daily meetings.
The second root from Yggdrasil goes all the way down to Jotunheim, the land of the giants, next to this root is Mimir’s well. The third root from Yggdrasil goes down to Niflheim, close to the well Hvergelmir. It is here the dragon Nidhug is chewing on one of Yggdrasil’s roots. Nidhug is also known to suck the blood out of the dead bodies, that arrives at Hel. At the very top of Yggdrasil lives an eagle, the eagle and the dragon Nidhug are bitter enemies, they truly despise each other. There is a squirrel named Ratatosk, and he spending almost the entire day, by running up and down the ash tree.
Ratatosk does whatever he can, to keep the hatred between the eagle and the dragon alive. Every time Nidhug says a curse or an insult about the eagle, Ratatosk will run up to the top of the tree, and tell the eagle what Nidhug just said. The eagle is equally rude in his comments about Nidhug. Ratatosk just loves to gossip which is the reason why the eagle and the dragon remain constant foes.
Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, is not only one of the most prominent Viking symbols/Norse symbols but an important element of the Norse faith itself.
According to Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is the Great Tree that connects the nine worlds/nine realms of the universe, namely Asgard, Midgard, Muspelheim, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Niflheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim.
That is why Yggdrasil is considered the symbol of the interconnectedness of all things in the universe.
Yggdrasil stands in a spring according to the Norse faith which suggests all life comes from water. That is one of the reasons why it is called the Tree of Life.
The second reason is that it is believed for Yggdrasil’s fruits to provide youth for the gods, ‘giving them life’.
According to Norse mythology, the world will end with Ragnarok, a battle between gods with only a man and a woman surviving it by hiding inside the hollow of a tree. The couple will leave the tree to bring life back again to the world.
Although the tree in question is not mentioned specifically or Yggdrasil is not clearly associated with the myth, it is believed by some to be the tree that will protect life from Ragnarok.

I lár Asgard, áit a bhfuil na Déithe agus Goddesses cónaí, Is Yggdrasil. Is é Yggdrasil crann na beatha, agus is crann Ash glas síoraí é; síneann na brainsí amach thar na naoi saol i miotaseolaíocht na Seice, agus síneann siad suas agus os cionn na bhflaitheas. Tá Yggdrasil i dtrí fréamhacha ollmhóra, tá an chéad fréamhach ó Yggdrasil i Asgard, baile na nDiaigh tá sé díreach in aice leis an Urd dea-ainmnithe, is é seo an áit a bhfuil na Déithe agus na Goddesses a gcruinnithe laethúla.
Téann an dara fréamh ó Yggdrasil go léir an bealach síos go Jotunheim, an talamh na giants, in aice leis an fréamh seo Mimirs maith. Téann an tríú fréamh ó Yggdrasil síos go Niflheim, gar don tobar Hvergelmir. Tá sé anseo an dragan Nidhug ag chewing ar cheann de Yggdrasil's fréamhacha. Tá a fhios ag Nidhug freisin go gcuireann sé an fhuil as na comhlachtaí marbh, a thagann go Hel. Ar an barr is airde de Yggdrasil cónaí ar eagle, an eagle agus an dragan Nidhug Is naimhde bitter, siad i ndáiríre despise a chéile. Tá squirrel ainmnithe Ratatosk, agus chaitheann sé beagnach an lá ar fad, ag rith suas agus síos an crann ash.
Ratatosk dhéanann gach rud is féidir leis, chun an fuath idir an eagle agus an dráma beo. Gach uair a deir Nidhug mallacht nó insult faoi an eallach, rithfidh Ratatosk suas go barr an chrainn, agus inis don eallach cad a dúirt Nidhug díreach. Tá an t-eagla chomh neamhchinnte ina chuid tuairimí faoi Nidhug. Ratatosk loves ach le gossip a bhfuil an chúis go bhfuil an eagle agus an Dragon fanacht naimhde seasmhach.
Ní amháin go bhfuil Yggdrasil, Crann na Beatha, ar cheann de na siombailí Vicighne/Siombailí Norse is suntasaí ach tá sé ina ghné thábhachtach den chreideamh Norse féin.
De réir miotaseolaíocht na Searcainne, is é Yggdrasil an Crann Mór a nascann na naoi saol / naoi ríocht den chruinne, is é sin Asgard, Midgard, Muspelheim, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Niflheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim.
Sin é an fáth go meastar go bhfuil Yggdrasil ina siombail de idirnascadh gach rud sa chruinne.
Yggdrasil Seasann i earrach de réir an chreideamh Norse a thugann le tuiscint go dtagann gach saol ó uisce. Sin ceann de na cúiseanna go dtugtar Crann na Beo air.
An dara cúis ná go gcreidtear go soláthraíonn torthaí Yggdrasil óige do na déithe, "ag tabhairt beatha dóibh".
De réir miotaseolaíocht na hIorua, beidh deireadh leis an domhan le Ragnarok, cath idir na déithe agus ní maireann ach fear agus bean é trí bheith i bhfolach taobh istigh de bholl crann. Fágfaidh an lánúin an crann chun an saol a thabhairt ar ais ar an domhan.
Cé nach luaitear an crann i gceist go sonrach nó nach bhfuil Yggdrasil nasctha go soiléir leis an miotas, creideann cuid gur crann é a chosnóidh an saol ó Ragnarok.


Titanic's Youngstown Connection
The city of Youngstown has had a strong connection with the sinking of the Titanic. The maritime disaster, which occurred 100 years ago this weekend, claimed the life of one of the city’s most prominent citizens.
George Dennick Wick was one of the founders of Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and served as its president. The company went on to become the largest locally-owned steel company in America. Wick, along with his wife and daughter and some cousins, were touring Europe in 1912, and were returning home on the Titanic.
When the ship, called in press coverage “the acme of luxury and bigness,” struck an iceberg, Wick assured his family that it was nothing more than a glancing blow. He was last seen waving to them from the deck as they got into a lifeboat. His body was never recovered, but a memorial stone was placed in Youngstown's Oak Hill Cemetery.
I first heard the story of Wick’s death on the Titanic during a tour of the Arms Museum while growing up in Youngstown. He was not the only passenger on the ship headed to Youngstown, but the most prominent. Titanic aficionados and local history buffs can learn more about the sinking of the Titanic and local coverage and effects at “Titanic: Tragedy in the Headlines,” an exhibit at the Arms Museum through June.
The exhibit includes news coverage from Youngstown’s two daily newspapers at the time, the Vindicator and the Telegram. Many of the headlines focused on the Wicks and their traveling party, but there was also mention of the immigrants in third class who were bound for Youngstown, many to find work in the mills and factories in the area. Some of the immigrants were from Eastern Europe. There were a sizeable number of Lebanese people on board, estimated around 165, including several headed to Youngstown. They had their own dining room.
Jessica Trickett, Ann Kilcawley Christman Memorial Collections manager, assembled the exhibit and was amazed at the early accounts, which claimed not only that George Wick survived the crash, but that the ship itself was safe.
“It’s kind of amazing how fast and furious the information was published without fact checking,” she said.
The Arms Museum, open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, is operated by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, whose offices and archives are on the grounds as well. It's dedicated to exhibits on local history and people.
The museum is at 648 Wick Avenue near the campus of Youngstown State University. It's not far from the Butler Institute of American Art, and a short walk from the MVR, a local restaurant started by Italian immigrants on Walnut Street in the neighborhood called Smoky Hollow. The MVR, which stands for Mahoning Valley Restaurant, boasts one of the oldest liquor licenses in Mahoning County.

Ceangal Youngstown Titanic
Bhí nasc láidir ag cathair Youngstown le titim an Titanic. An tubaiste muirí, a tharla 100 bliain ó shin an deireadh seachtaine seo, a éilíodh saol ar cheann de na cathracha is suntasaí saoránach.
Bhí George Dennick Wick ar cheann de bhunaitheoirí Youngstown Sheet and Tube, agus bhí sé ina uachtarán air. D'éirigh leis an gcuideachta a bheith ar an gcuideachta cruach is mó faoi úinéireacht áitiúil i Meiriceá. Bhí Wick, lena bhean chéile agus a iníon agus roinnt seantuismitheoirí, ag taisteal san Eoraip i 1912, agus bhí siad ag filleadh abhaile ar an Titanic.
Nuair a bhuail an long, ar a dtugtar sa chlúdach preasa "an cúis is mó de luxury and bigness", le haisbheirg, chinntigh Wick dá theaghlach nach raibh ann ach buaic glantach. Chonacthas é den uair dheireanach ag cur lámh orthu ón dromchla nuair a chuaigh siad isteach i mbád saoil. Níor aimsíodh a chorp riamh, ach cuireadh cloch chuimhneacháin i gCléibh Oak Hill Youngstown.
Chuala mé an scéal faoi bhás Wick ar an Titanic den chéad uair le linn cuairt a thabhairt ar Mhúsaem na nArm agus mé ag fás suas i Youngstown. Ní raibh sé an paisinéir amháin ar an long a bhí ag dul go Youngstown, ach an ceann is suntasaí. Is féidir le lucht leanúna Titanic agus le buffs staire áitiúla níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi thuit an Titanic agus faoin gcumhdacht agus na héifeachtaí áitiúla ag Titanic: Tragedy in the Headlines, taispeántas ag an Músaem Armáin go dtí Meitheamh.
Áirítear sa taispeántas clúdach nuachta ó dhá nuachtán laethúil Youngstown ag an am, an Vindicator agus an Telegram. D'fhógródh go leor de na cinn-scéala ar na Wicks agus a ngrúpa taistil, ach luaitear freisin na himirceoirí sa tríú rang a bhí i gceannas ar Youngstown, go leor acu chun obair a fháil sna muilte agus sna monarchana sa cheantar. Bhí cuid de na hinimircigh ó Oirthear na hEorpa. Bhí líon suntasach daoine Liobáineacha ar bord, a mheastar a bheith thart ar 165, lena n-áirítear roinnt a bhí ag dul go Youngstown. Bhí seomra bia acu féin.
Chuir Jessica Trickett, bainisteoir Ann Kilcawley Christman Memorial Collections, an taispeántas le chéile agus bhí iontas uirthi na cuntas luatha, a mhaígh ní amháin gur chaill George Wick an timpiste, ach go raibh an long féin sábháilte.
"Tá sé iontach cé chomh tapa agus chomh furious a foilsíodh an fhaisnéis gan fíricí a sheiceáil", a dúirt sí.
Oibríonn an t-Músaem Arm, atá ar oscailt ó 1 go 5 p.m. Dé Máirt go Dé Domhnaigh, ag an Mahoning Valley Historical Society, a bhfuil a hoifigí agus a gcuid cartlanna ar na forais freisin. Tá sé tiomanta do thaispeántais ar stair agus ar dhaoine áitiúla.
Tá an músaem ag 648 Wick Avenue in aice le campa na hOllscoile Stáit Youngstown. Níl sé i bhfad ó Institiúid Butler d'Ealaín Mheiriceá, agus siúlóid ghearr ó MVR, bialann áitiúil a thosaigh inimircigh Iodálacha ar Walnut Street sa chomharsanacht ar a dtugtar Smoky Hollow. Tá an MVR, a sheasann do Mahoning Valley Restaurant, ar cheann de na ceadúnais deochanna alcóil is sine i gContae Mahoning.


All the evidence demonstrates that Scotland is a wealthy nation. Scotland would be the 14th wealthiest nation in the developed world by GDP per head of population. Scotland’s wealth is also built on solid financial foundations, a diverse economy and substantial economic potential in new industries such as biotechnology and renewables, as well as current key sectors like food and drink, tourism and oil and gas
Voting for independence – to have control over taxation, regulation and global promotion – will give the Scottish government the tools to create greater opportunities for growth and a better business climate for Scottish business. In short, a Yes vote will improve Scotland’s economy. This will make people in Scotland financially better off.
Here are 10 key economic facts for why Scotland will be a wealthy independent nation.
1) Scotland has a rich and diverse economy
Scotland’s economy includes £21.4 billion in construction which employs 170,000 people, £11.6 billion in tourism which supports 292,000 jobs, £39 billion yearly turnover in manufacturing with a value added of £12.7 billion and 127,000 people employed. Scotland also has world leading expertise in life science, world class universities (5 in the world’s top 200), a multi-billion pound creative sector and vast energy (oil, gas, tidal, wave, wind and solar), fishing and agricultural resources.
In a broad context it is already clear that Scotland has vast economic wealth in resources, talent and business ingenuity.
2) Scotland is a net contributor to the UK
Last year Scotland provided £800 more in tax per person that the UK average. This means Scotland would have been £8.3 billion better off as an independent country over the past 5 years. We could have spent that money investing in our economy with the same debt levels as the rest of the UK or saved it and had £8.3 billion less debt.
3) Scotland generates far more tax than the UK average
Scotland generated £800 more in tax per person than the UK as a whole in 2012-13. Scotland has generated more tax per head than the UK every year for the past 33 years. The graph below is for a shorter time period but produced by the UK Government. Even in the years where oil prices were lowest, Scotland tax generation was always been considerably higher than the UK average and England in particular.
4) Westminster has cost Scotland £64 billion in the past 30 years
Scotland has paid £64 billion in UK debt interest that Scotland didn’t need. An independent Scotland would have been far better off economically. This was reported recently in the Sunday Times after bespoke Business for Scotland research showed that Scotland has been subsidising the failings of Westminster economic mismanagement.
5) Scotland has a lower deficit and lower public spending than the UK
Over the past 5 years Scotland had lower deficits than the UK. Scotland’s average deficit has been 7.2%, while the UK deficit has been 8.4%. Scotland only spends 42.7% of Scotland’s GDP on public spending. The UK spends 45.4%. (also over the past 5 years) This demonstrates that Scotland’s public finances are in a stronger position than the UK as a whole.
6) Scotland has strong exports
Scotland’s top export markets are USA, Netherlands, France and Germany, which are worth a combined total worth of £9.5 billion. (Table 9.1) Scottish whisky exports are valued at £4.27 billion last year. This is because Scotland exports 40 bottles every second! The food and drink market is key to Scotland’s exports across the world. Other key industries include chemical manufacturing, computer products, finance and insurance and other forms of equipment. (Table 9.1) With the powers of independence combining with the Scottish Government gaining direct control over international relations, there is a target to increase exports by 50%, which would create over 100,000 new jobs.
7) Scotland’s oil fields remain a massive financial asset
The oil in the North Sea is worth over £1 trillion. There are at least 15-24 billion barrels of oil remaining which will continue long into the 21st century. Over 90% of the tax revenue will go to an independent Scotland which can help to establish a national oil fund for future investment. Recently, Business for Scotland explained the potential for a West coast oil boom that is currently blocked by Westminster. Independence could revitalise the economies of Ayrshire and the Strathclyde region as a whole. Most oil price forecasts are upward, with one of the exceptions being the UK Government’s OBR which has a political motivation to underestimate oil revenue.
8) Scotland has huge potential in renewable energy
Scotland has 25% of Europe’s total tidal energy potential, 25% of total wind energy potential and 10% of total wave energy potential. This has the power to reindustrialise Scotland bringing more jobs and greater prosperity. Key examples include the Pentland Firth – the Saudi Arabia of renewable tidal energy – and the Moray Firth – a substantial offshore wind energy project. Small scale and often community owned renewable projects also have huge potential to provide low cost energy to revitalise Scotland’s rural communities.
9) Scotland is one of the top UK locations for inward investment
Inward investment into Scotland’s economy has hit a 15 year high. Last year Ernst & Young ranked Scotland as the most popular UK destination for global investment outside of London. Scotland secured 11% of all UK Foreign and Direct Investment despite being only 8.4% of the UK population. The report confirmed that far from uncertainty over Scotland referendum causing a slow down in inward investment that “it seemed to have the opposite effect”. A combination of tax incentives combined with a raft of other economic measures such as significant government investment in fast growing sectors should ensure FDI continues to be a strong contributor to Scotland’s economy. Indeed evidence suggests that newly independent nations enjoy significantly increased FDI.
10) An independent Scotland can support Scottish business in tax, regulation, the labour market, innovation and global exports
An independent Scotland will prioritise the interests of business in Scotland following decades of Westminster prioritising London and the South East. This includes the opportunity to create a simpler tax system that supports Scottish business; reforming the labour market to improve employer/employee relations; encouraging migration to Scotland to balance Scotland’s unique demographic needs; and supporting Scottish exports globally through a Scottish diplomatic and trade service. The opportunities of independence are vast and long-term.
11) More reasons?
These points provide a starting point for analysing Scotland’s numerous economic strengths and the reasons Scotland will be financially better off as an independent country.
There are 1000s of pages of detailed research by the Fiscal Commission, the Jimmy Reid Foundation, Scottish Government Papers like ‘Scotland’s Future’ or ‘Economic Policy Choices in an Independent Scotland‘, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Jim and Margaret Cuthbert, which agree that Scotland is a wealthy nation that can do even better with independence.
There are also hundreds of other positive economic reasons for independence that can’t be covered in just 10 points such as controlling air passenger duty, retail support, Scotland’s independence asset windfall of £109 billion, the economic defence dividend that will save Scotland at least £500 million a year, improving Scotland’s pension system, the benefits to business of improving social mobility and equality or the Common Agricultural Policy dividend that Scotland would gain with independence.
There is overwhelming evidence that Scotland will be economically better off as an independent country. Even opponents of independence have conceded that Scotland can be a successful independent country. Their own negative economic forecast estimated that Scots would be just £1 worse off a year.
In contrast every single Government Expenditure and Revenue report for the last 30 years – compiled with official statistics – finds that Scotland generated more tax per head than the UK.
If voters are convinced that Scotland will do better economically a majority support independence. Yet astonishingly around 34% of the electorate currently believe that Scotland would fare worse economically as an independent country; while 37% believe Scotland is incapable of independence. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest this. Not a single economic expert supports such a doom laden proposition.
This demonstrates that truthful economic information like the facts contained in this article will change the result of the independence referendum.
With the knowledge that Scotland will benefit economically from independence, business and citizens will move towards voting Yes as it is the only way to ensure progress for themselves, their businesses and their communities.
Scotland will vote for independence because the economic case for independence is unanswerable.
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Léiríonn na fianaise go léir gur náisiún saibhir í an Albain. Bheadh an Albain an 14ú náisiún is saibhre sa domhan forbartha de réir OTI in aghaidh an daonra. Tá saibhreas na hAlban tógtha freisin ar bhunús láidir airgeadais, ar gheilleagar éagsúil agus ar acmhainneacht eacnamaíoch suntasach i dtionscail nua amhail biththeicneolaíocht agus in in-athnuaite, chomh maith le príomh-earnálacha reatha amhail bia agus deoch, turasóireacht agus ola agus gáis
Beidh vótáil ar son neamhspleáchais - chun smacht a bheith aige ar chánachas, rialachán agus cur chun cinn domhanda - ag tabhairt na huirlisí do rialtas na hAlban chun deiseanna níos mó fáis agus aeráid ghnó níos fearr a chruthú do ghnó na hAlban. Go hachomair, cuirfidh vóta "Tá" feabhas ar gheilleagar na hAlban. Cuirfidh sé seo daoine in Albain ar fheabhas ó thaobh airgeadais de.
Seo 10 fíricí eacnamaíocha is tábhachtaí ar an gcúis go mbeidh Albain ina náisiún saibhir neamhspleách.
1) Tá geilleagar saibhir agus éagsúil ag Albain
Áirítear le geilleagar na hAlban £21.4 billiún i dtógáil a fhostaíonn 170,000 duine, £11.6 billiún i turasóireacht a thacaíonn le 292,000 post, £39 billiún de láimhdeachas bliantúil i ndéantúsaíocht le breisluach de £12.7 billiún agus 127,000 duine fostaithe. Tá saineolas ceannródaíoch ar domhan ag Albain freisin i eolaíocht na beatha, ollscoileanna den chéad scoth ar domhan (5 i measc 200 barr an domhain), earnáil chruthaitheach il-bhilliúnta punt agus acmhainní ollmhóra fuinnimh (ola, gáis, tuilte, tonn, gaoth agus gréine), iascaireachta agus talmhaíochta.
I gcomhthéacs leathan, tá sé soiléir cheana féin go bhfuil saibhreas eacnamaíoch ollmhór ag Albain i acmhainní, i dteideal agus i ndea-ghnóthach gnó.
2) Is cáiníocóir glan é Albain don RA
An bhliain seo caite, chuir Albain £800 níos mó ar fáil i gcáin in aghaidh an duine ná meán na Ríochta Aontaithe. Ciallaíonn sé seo go mbeadh £8.3 billiún níos fearr ag Albain mar thír neamhspleách le 5 bliana anuas. D'fhéadfaimis an t-airgead sin a chaitheamh ag infheistiú inár ngeilleagar leis na leibhéil fiachais céanna leis an gcuid eile den Ríocht Aontaithe nó é a shábháil agus £ 8.3 billiún fiach níos lú a bheith againn.
3) Gineann Albain i bhfad níos mó cánacha ná meán na Ríochta Aontaithe
Ghlac Albain £800 níos mó i gcáin in aghaidh an duine ná an RA ina iomláine in 2012-13. Tá níos mó cánacha a ghineann an Albain in aghaidh an duine ná an Ríocht Aontaithe gach bliain le 33 bliain anuas. Tá an graif thíos le haghaidh tréimhse ama níos giorra ach a d'eagraigh Rialtas na Ríochta Aontaithe. Fiú sna blianta nuair a bhí praghsanna ola is ísle, bhí an ghnéas cánach in Albain i gcónaí i bhfad níos airde ná meán na Ríochta Aontaithe agus na Sasana go háirithe.
4) Tá Westminster tar éis costas £64 billiún a chur ar an mBéarla don Albain le 30 bliain anuas
Tá £64 billiún d'ús fiach na Ríochta Aontaithe a d'íoc Albain nach raibh gá leis. Bheadh Albain neamhspleách i bhfad níos fearr go heacnamaíoch. Tuairiscíodh é seo le déanaí sa Sunday Times tar éis do thaighde a rinneadh ar nós Business for Scotland a thaispeáint go bhfuil Albain ag fóirdheontas a thabhairt do mhífheidhmiú eacnamaíoch Westminster.
5) Tá easnamh níos ísle ag Albain agus caiteachas poiblí níos ísle ná an RA
Le cúig bliana anuas bhí easnamh níos ísle ag Albain ná an RA. Is é an meán-easnaimh in Albain ná 7.2%, agus is é an meán-easnaimh sa RA ná 8.4%. Ní chaitheann Albain ach 42.7% de OTI na hAlban ar chaiteachas poiblí. Caitheann an Ríocht Aontaithe 45.4%. (arna 5 bliana anuas freisin) Léiríonn sé seo go bhfuil staid níos láidre ag airgeadas poiblí na hAlban ná an Ríocht Aontaithe ina iomláine.
6) Tá onnmhairí láidre ag Albain
Is iad na príomhmhargaí onnmhairithe in Albain na Stáit Aontaithe, an Ísiltír, an Fhrainc agus an Ghearmáin, a bhfuil luach iomlán comhcheangailte £9.5 billiún acu. (Tábla 9.1) Meastar go raibh £4.27 billiún ar luach onnmhairí uiscí na hAlban an bhliain seo caite. Tá sé seo mar go n-onnmhairíonn Albain 40 buidéal gach soicind! Tá an margadh bia agus deochanna ríthábhachtach d'onnmhairí na hAlban ar fud an domhain. I measc na n-aimsir phríomhghnéithe eile tá déantúsaíocht cheimiceach, táirgí ríomhaireachta, airgeadas agus árachas agus cineálacha eile trealaimh. (Tábla 9.1) Le cumhachtaí neamhspleáchais ag teacht le chéile agus Rialtas na hAlban ag fáil smacht dhíreach ar chaidreamh idirnáisiúnta, tá sprioc ann chun onnmhairí a mhéadú 50%, rud a chruthaíonn breis agus 100,000 post nua.
7) Tá réimse ola na hAlban fós ina sócmhainn mhóra airgeadais
Is fiú an ola sa Mhuir Thuaidh níos mó ná £1 trilliún. Tá 15-24 billiún bairille ola ar a laghad fágtha a leanfaidh ar aghaidh go fada isteach sa 21ú haois. Beidh níos mó ná 90% de na hioncam cánach ag dul chuig Albain neamhspleách a d'fhéadfadh cabhrú le ciste náisiúnta ola a bhunú le haghaidh infheistíochta sa todhchaí. Le déanaí, mhínigh Business for Scotland an fhéidearthacht go mbeadh borradh ola ar chósta an Iarthair atá faoi bhac ag Westminster faoi láthair. D'fhéadfadh neamhspleáchas geilleagair Ayrshire agus réigiún Strathclyde ina iomláine a athbheochan. Tá an chuid is mó de na réamhaisnéisí ar phraghas na ola ag dul suas, agus ceann de na heisceachtaí ná OBR Rialtas na Ríochta Aontaithe a bhfuil mothúchán polaitiúil aige chun ioncam ola a mhí-mheas.
8) Tá acmhainneacht ollmhór ag Albain i réimse na n-fhuinneamh in-athnuaite
Tá 25% de chumas fuinnimh na tuile san Eoraip ag Albain, 25% de chumas fuinnimh na gaoithe agus 10% de chumas fuinnimh na tonnta san Eoraip. Tá sé seo in ann an Albain a ath-ghnóthachadh, rud a thabharfaidh níos mó post agus rathúnas níos mó. I measc na n-eispéiris is mó ná Pentland Firth  an t-Arabaigh Shádach d'fhuinneamh athnuachanaithe na loinge  agus Moray Firth  tionscadal mór fuinnimh gaoithe amach ón gcósta. Tá acmhainn ollmhór ag tionscadail in-athnuaite ar scála beag agus a bhíonn faoi úinéireacht phobail go minic chun fuinneamh ar chostas íseal a sholáthar chun pobail thuaithe na hAlban a athbheochan.
9) Tá Albain ar cheann de na háiteanna is fearr sa Ríocht Aontaithe le haghaidh infheistíochta isteach
Tá an t-infheistíocht inmheánach i ngeilleagar na hAlban tar éis a airde le 15 bliana. An bhliain seo caite, rinne Ernst & Young an Albain a rangú mar an ceann scríbe is mó tóir ar infheistíocht dhomhanda sa Ríocht Aontaithe lasmuigh de Londain. D'éirigh le hAlban 11% d'infheistíocht dhíreach agus eachtrach na Ríochta Aontaithe a fháil cé nach raibh ann ach 8.4% de dhaonra na Ríochta Aontaithe. Deimhníodh sa tuarascáil gur cosúil go raibh an éifeacht eile ag an neamhchinnteacht maidir le reifreann na hAlban, seachas go raibh sé ina chúis le mallú san infheistíocht inmheánach. Ba cheart go n-áiritheofaí, le hairíonna cánach a chur le racht de bhearta eacnamaíocha eile amhail infheistíocht shuntasach rialtais i earnálacha atá ag fás go tapa, go leanfaidh CID de bheith ina ranníocóir láidir d'eacnamaíocht na hAlban. Go deimhin, tugann fianaise le fios go bhfuil méadú suntasach tagtha ar FDI i náisiúin nua-eisimeileach.
10) Is féidir le hAlban neamhspleách tacú le gnó na hAlban i gcúrsaí cánach, rialála, an mhargaidh saothair, nuálaíochta agus onnmhairí domhanda
Cuirfidh Albain neamhspleách leasanna gnó na hAlban ar thús tar éis blianta de Westminster ag cur Londan agus an Oirdheisceart ar thús. Áirítear leis seo an deis córas cánach níos simplí a chruthú a thacaíonn le gnóthas na hAlban; an margadh saothair a athchóiriú chun caidreamh fostóirí/fhostaithe a fheabhsú; imirce go hAlban a spreagadh chun riachtanais daonlathais uathúla na hAlban a chothromú; agus easpórtálacha na hAlban a thacú go domhanda trí sheirbhís taidhleoireachta agus trádála na hAlban. Tá deiseanna neamhspleáchais ollmhór agus fadtéarmach.
11) Cúiseanna eile?
Soláthraíonn na pointí seo tús le anailís a dhéanamh ar neart eacnamaíoch iomadúil na hAlban agus ar na cúiseanna a mbeidh Éire níos fearr ó thaobh airgeadais de mar thír neamhspleách.
Tá 1000s de leathanaigh de thaighde mionsonraithe ag an gCoimisiún Ciste, an Jimmy Reid Foundation, Páipéir Rialtais na hAlban cosúil le Scotland's Future nó Economic Policy Choices in an Independent Scotland, an Institiúid um Staidéar Ciste, Jim agus Margaret Cuthbert, a aontaíonn go bhfuil an Albain náisiún saibhir a d'fhéadfadh a dhéanamh níos fearr le neamhspleáchas.
Tá na céadta cúiseanna eacnamaíocha dearfacha eile ann freisin le haghaidh neamhspleáchais nach féidir a chumhdach i 10 phointe amháin, amhail dleacht ar phaisinéirí aeir a rialú, tacaíocht miondíola, £109 billiún de mhaoin neamhspleáchais na hAlban, an díbhidéal cosanta eacnamaíoch a shábhálfaidh ar a laghad £500 milliún sa bhliain don Albain, feabhas a chur ar chóras pinsin na hAlban, na buntáistí do ghnó a bhaineann le soghluaisteacht shóisialta agus comhionannas a fheabhsú nó an díbhidéal Comhbheartas Talmhaíochta a gheobhaidh an Albain le neamhspleáchas.
Tá fianaise mhór ann go mbeidh Éire níos fearr ó thaobh eacnamaíochta de mar thír neamhspleách. Fiú is iad na daoine a bhí i gcoinne neamhspleáchas na hAlban a admhaigh gur féidir leis an mBéarla a bheith ina thír neamhspleách rathúil. Measadh ina réamh-mheastachán eacnamaíoch diúltach féin nach mbeadh na hAlbanaigh ach £1 níos measa in aghaidh na bliana.
I gcodarsnacht leis sin, tá sé le feiceáil i ngach tuarascáil ar Chaiteachas agus Ioncam Rialtais na 30 bliain anuas - arna chomhlánú le staitisticí oifigiúla - go raibh níos mó cánacha in aghaidh an duine ag Albain ná sa Ríocht Aontaithe.
Má tá vótálaithe cinnte go ndéanfaidh an Albain níos fearr go heacnamaíoch, tacóidh tromlach leis an neamhspleáchas. Ach go hiontach, creideann thart ar 34% den eagarthóras faoi láthair go mbeadh droch-cháil eacnamaíoch ag Albain mar thír neamhspleách; agus creideann 37% nach bhfuil Albain in ann a bheith neamhspleách. Níl aon fhianaise ar chor ar bith ann a thugann le tuiscint go bhfuil. Ní thacaíonn aon saineolaí eacnamaíoch amháin le moladh den sórt sin atá lán de bhrón.
Léiríonn sé seo go n-athróidh faisnéis eacnamaíoch fíor mar na fíricí atá san alt seo toradh an reifrinn neamhspleáchais.
Agus a fhios acu go mbainfidh Albain tairbhe eacnamaíoch as neamhspleáchas, gluaiseoidh gnólachtaí agus saoránaigh i dtreo vótáil "Tá" mar is é an t-aon bhealach chun dul chun cinn a chinntiú dóibh féin, dá ngnólachtaí agus dá bpobail.
Vótálfaidh an Albain ar son neamhspleáchais toisc nach bhfuil an cás eacnamaíoch maidir le neamhspleáchas in-fhreagrach.
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Boston, MA, September 09, 2011 --(PR.com
)-- The Mexican Foundation for Health (FUNSALUD) used SIMUL8 simulation software to understand the economic burden of obesity in Mexican children. FUNSALUD used the findings of their research to determine the shape their health services will need to be to cope with the future demand and costs of associated treatments.
In a recent series of research articles published in The Lancet, obesity was highlighted as a major issue for governments across the world and without state action, health systems would be unable to cope with demand.
The research predicts that by 2030 treatment costs for obesity-associated diseases such as diabetes would increase by $66 billion per year in the US and £2 billion per year in the UK.
While a large part of the research focuses on the prevention of obesity, health systems must prepare now for an increase in demand and re-shape services to cope with impact of treatment costs and delivery.
The use of new technologies was highlighted in the research as key to meeting this future challenge. It states, “Science is a driver of technological innovation and a medium to influence public policy – we need to ensure that the very best science helps us make the best decisions about our future health.”
FUNSALUD has used SIMUL8 simulation software to not only project the future costs of obesity in Mexican children, but to visualize the impact the demand would have on service requirements in the health system and highlight areas for improvement.
Claire Cordeaux, SIMUL8 Lead for Healthcare, said, “With tightening budgets in health systems across the world it is not surprising that Governments are questioning investment in strategies to prevent obesity. Simulation software gives them the ability to understand the impact of the continuing rise in obesity on services and to test prevention interventions.”
The FUNSALUD study projected an incremental increase in costs of 108% and will continue to develop the simulation further to include disease complications and gain a better understanding of the impact on their health system.
Read the full case study at www.SIMUL8.com/FUNSALUD.

Boston, MA, Meán Fómhair 09, 2011 --
) -- D'úsáid Fondúireacht Sláinte Mheicsiceo (FUNSALUD) bogearraí samhlaíochta SIMUL8 chun an t-ualach eacnamaíoch a bhaineann le murtall a thuiscint i leanaí Mheicsiceo. Ba é FUNSALUD a bhain úsáid as torthaí a gcuid taighde chun a chinneadh an cruth a bheidh ar a seirbhísí sláinte chun déileáil leis an éileamh amach anseo agus costais na gcóireálacha gaolmhara.
I sraith de na hailt taighde a foilsíodh le déanaí in The Lancet, leagadh béim ar murtall mar mhórcheist do rialtais ar fud an domhain agus gan gníomhú an stáit, ní bheadh córais sláinte in ann déileáil leis an éileamh.
Táthar ag súil go dtiocfaidh méadú $66 billiún in aghaidh na bliana ar chostais chóireála galair a bhaineann le murtall mar shampla diaibéiteas sna Stáit Aontaithe agus £2 billiún in aghaidh na bliana sa Ríocht Aontaithe faoi 2030.
Cé go bhfuil cuid mhór den taighde dírithe ar chosc ar murtall, ní mór do chórais sláinte ullmhú anois le haghaidh méadú ar éileamh agus seirbhísí athmhúnlú chun déileáil le tionchar na gcostas cóireála agus na seachadta.
Bhí sé tábhachtach go mbeadh na teicneolaíochtaí nua á n-úsáid sa taighde chun dul i ngleic leis an dúshlán seo sa todhchaí. Deirtear ann, Is tiománaí nuálaíochta teicneolaíochta agus meán é an eolaíocht chun tionchar a imirt ar bheartas poiblí  ní mór dúinn a chinntiú go gcabhróidh an eolaíocht is fearr linn na cinntí is fearr a dhéanamh maidir lenár sláinte sa todhchaí.
D'úsáid FUNSALUD bogearraí samhlaíochta SIMUL8 chun ní amháin costais sa todhchaí a bhaineann le murtall i leanaí Mheicsiceo a phleanáil, ach chun an tionchar a bheadh ag an éileamh ar riachtanais seirbhíse sa chóras sláinte a shamhlú agus chun réimsí a bhfuil feabhas le déanamh a chur i bhfios.
Dúirt Claire Cordeaux, Ceann SIMUL8 um Chúram Sláinte, "Le buiséid a shrianadh i gcórais sláinte ar fud an domhain, ní haon ionadh go bhfuil Rialtais ag ceistiú infheistíocht i straitéisí chun murtall a chosc. Tugann bogearraí samhlaíochta an cumas dóibh tuiscint a fháil ar thionchar an méadú leanúnach ar murtall ar sheirbhísí agus idirghabhálacha coscála a thástáil.
Bhí méadú 108% ar chostais ag an staidéar FUNSALUD agus leanfar leis an samhlaíocht a fhorbairt chun deacrachtaí galar a áireamh agus tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar an tionchar ar a gcóras sláinte.
Léigh an cás-staidéar iomlán ar www.SIMUL8.com/FUNSALUD.