Autism and the Recovery Act
Service in the Field: National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
The NHSC is a network of primary health care professionals working in underserved communities across the country. To support their service, the Recovery Act allocated funding to the NHSC to provide more than 4,000 clinicians with financial support in the form of loan repayment.
One NHSC loan repayor receiving Recovery Act funds has become involved in treatment/support of ASD patients. Andrea Kinlen, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist working in McPherson, Kansas, is working with patients and families to provide testing and therapy services for ASD patients. As Dr. Kinlen continued to spend time with patients, learning about their struggles and telling them they weren’t alone, an idea for a local support group emerged. Encouraged by the support of her supervisor and funding provided by a partial community grant, Dr. Kinlen engaged the families she counseled, other clinics, and local schools. As families came together, they were able to share stories and discuss challenges. Although the ages of the children and levels of severity vary, members of the group have found much common ground.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social impairments; communication difficulties; and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. These characteristics can range in impact from mild to significantly disabling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an average of 1 in 110 children in the United States has ASD. Symptoms usually begin to appear before age three and can cause delays or problems that continue through adulthood. Early detection of ASD and intervention can greatly increase a child’s ability to learn new skills and improve overall quality of life.
The cost of ASD to affected people, their families, and society is enormous. Children with ASD have a wide range of healthcare and services needs, and their families typically lose income, often as a result of one parent leaving the workforce in order to care for and meet his or her child’s special health and educational needs. A great majority of adults with ASD struggle with ongoing and mostly unmet needs for employment, housing, services, and supports. Lifetime costs to care for an individual with ASD have been estimated to be $3.2 million.
With funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been able to accelerate work in promising areas of ASD research.*
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH invested $122 million in Recovery Act funds for groundbreaking research on ASD that otherwise would not have been possible, in areas such as screening, early detection, potential interventions and therapeutics, and in revealing the precise causes and mechanisms underlying this disorder (which are still largely unknown). Research area highlights include:
- Aiding Diagnosis: A two-site study at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is adapting the interview tool that is the current gold standard for diagnosing ASD into a brief parent interview that can be done over the telephone. This new tool may help reduce screening costs, which could mean that more children are able to be screened, and that screening could occur earlier in a child’s life, leading to starting treatments sooner for the child. Additionally, reduced costs would help researchers to quickly identify potential participants for ASD studies. As part of the research process, study investigators performed free ASD screenings in Ohio and Michigan to test their changes to the interview tool. These screenings have reached children from many families for whom a screening might otherwise have been too costly to afford. Read more.
- Addressing Disparities: Investigators at Florida State University are exploring the significant racial and ethnic minority disparities that exist in the early diagnosis of ASD, often delaying minority access to beneficial early interventions and services. The results of this research will lead to culturally sensitive screening and evaluation methods that may decrease the age at which all children with ASD are diagnosed. Read more.
- Possible Causes: Although the exact causes of ASD are still unknown, research suggests an interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition. A number of Recovery Act-funded studies are using advanced DNA sequencing technology that allows for quick study of many genes at a time, while others are focusing on a variety of other potential causes. For example, one study at the University of California-Davis is exploring the role of infection during pregnancy on raising the risk of ASD in a mouse model. Research suggests that a mother’s immune response to infection may affect levels of immune molecules in the fetal brain, impacting brain development and possibly contributing to ASD. Read more.
- Improving Interactions: Most children with ASD seem to have no reaction to other people or may respond atypically to others’ emotions. Such behavior can isolate children with ASD from their peers. NIH awarded a Challenge grant to support the development and testing of a new computer-assisted program at the University of California, San Diego to train children with ASD how to respond to others’ facial expressions (for example, widening one’s eyes, wrinkling one’s nose, etc.), and how to produce facial expressions conveying particular emotions to others. Read more.
- Potential Therapeutics: In another study, researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine will determine whether a certain hormone improves social cognition in adults with ASD—a potentially new treatment for social impairment linked to ASD. There has been little headway in the development of pharmacological treatments for social impairment, and it is widely acknowledged that such treatments are needed as an alternative or addition to behavioral interventions. Read more.
- Skill Development: Employment can provide greater independence to people with ASD, but symptoms of the disorder often pose major social and communication barriers. In response to this issue, researchers at Do2Learn.com developed the free JobTIPS website. JobTIPS presents job-seeking resources to youth with ASD, and also provides detailed explanations of how to behave in specific situations, such as what to say and not say to a potential employer, and how to disclose their diagnosis. Two autism research centers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University, Atlanta, will help evaluate the effectiveness of JobTIPS in helping teens and young adults with ASD to learn new job-related skills and apply them in real world situations. Read more.
Read more about NIH’s Recovery Act-funded investments in ASD and learn how these investments are moving science forward sooner than anticipated in addressing some of the most significant challenges to understanding and treating ASD.
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)
AHRQ is using $1.4 million in Recovery Act funding for research that seeks to provide patients, clinicians, and others with evidence-based information to make informed decisions about health care—including research on ASD intervention strategies:
- Communicating ASD Treatments: There is no cure and no consensus regarding which intervention strategy is most effective for treating ASD. Given the complexity of ASD and associated therapies, it is clear that teachers, clinicians, and families need guidance in selecting appropriate treatments. AHRQ-funded research is developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies for disseminating information online about treatments for autism and ASD to over 16,000 individuals in important clinician, parent and teacher audiences. This novel approach will accelerate the translation of new scientific evidence on ASD therapeutics into practice and decision-making in families, the education system, the health care system, and public policy. Read more.
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summaries. December 2009;58(10):1-20.
 Montes G, Halterman JS. Association of childhood autism spectrum disorders and loss of family income. Pediatrics. April 2008;121(4):e821-6.
 Ganz ML. The lifetime distribution of the incremental societal costs of autism. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. April 2007;161(4):343–9.
*Projects cited in this report are examples of Recovery Act funding being applied to autism, not a comprehensive listing of Recovery Act-funded projects.

An t-aitseachas agus an tAcht um Athshlánú
Seirbhís sa Chéim: An Chór Seirbhíse Sláinte Náisiúnta (NHSC)
Is líonra de ghairmithe cúraim sláinte bunscoile atá ag obair i bpobail faoi sheirbhís ar fud na tíre é an NHSC. Chun tacú lena seirbhís, d'eagraigh an tAcht um Athshlánú maoiniú don NHSC chun tacaíocht airgeadais a sholáthar do níos mó ná 4,000 cliceach i bhfoirm aisíocaíochta iasachta.
Tá duine amháin a íocann aisíocaíocht iasachta NHSC a fhaigheann cistí an Achta um Athshlánú bainteach le cóireáil/tacaíocht d'othair ASD. Tá Andrea Kinlen, Ph.D., síceolaí cliniciúil ceadúnaithe ag obair i McPherson, Kansas, ag obair le hothair agus teaghlaigh chun seirbhísí tástála agus teiripe a sholáthar do othair ASD. De réir mar a lean an Dr. Kinlen ag caitheamh ama le hothair, ag foghlaim faoina gcuid streachailtí agus ag insint dóibh nach raibh siad ina n-aonar, tháinig smaoineamh ar ghrúpa tacaíochta áitiúil. Arna spreagadh ag tacaíocht a mhaoirseora agus maoiniú a sholáthraíodh le deontas páirteach pobail, chuir an Dr. Kinlen na teaghlaigh a chomhairliú sí, clinicí eile, agus scoileanna áitiúla i mbun oibre. De réir mar a tháinig teaghlaigh le chéile, bhí siad in ann scéalta a roinnt agus dúshláin a phlé. Cé go bhfuil éagsúlacht ann i aois na leanaí agus i leibhéil na déine, tá go leor a bhfuil a lán comhthéacs ag baill an ghrúpa.
Is grúpa neamhoird choimpléasta neurodegenerative é neamhoird speictrim autaisme (ASD) a bhfuil saintréithe aige le lagú sóisialta; deacrachtaí cumarsáide; agus patrúin iompair srianta, athdhéanta agus steiriotíopaí. Is féidir leis na tréithe seo dul ó thorthaí éadrom go suntasacha a bheith ina gcumas. Measann na Lárionaid um Rialú agus Cosc ar Ghalair go bhfuil ASD ag 1 leanbh as gach 110 sa Mheiriceá. De ghnáth tosaíonn na hairíonna ag teacht chun cinn roimh thrí bliana d'aois agus d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh moill nó fadhbanna ann a leanann ar aghaidh go dtí an fásta. Is féidir le braithleacht agus idirghabháil luath ASD cumas leanbh scileanna nua a fhoghlaim agus cáilíocht iomlán a shaol a fheabhsú go mór.
Tá costas mór ag ASD ar dhaoine a bhfuil tionchar aige orthu, ar a dteaghlaigh, agus ar an tsochaí. Tá réimse leathan riachtanais cúraim sláinte agus seirbhísí ag leanaí le ASD, agus is gnách go gcailltear ioncam ag a dteaghlaigh, go minic mar thoradh ar thuismitheoir amháin a fhágann an lucht saothair chun aire a thabhairt do riachtanais speisialta sláinte agus oideachais a linbh nó a cuid a shásamh agus a chomhlíonadh. Tá tromlach mór na ndaoine fásta le ASD ag streachailt le riachtanais leanúnacha agus go príomha gan chomhlíonadh maidir le fostaíocht, tithíocht, seirbhísí agus tacaíochtaí. Meastar go bhfuil costas $3.2 milliún ar feadh an tsaoil chun aire a thabhairt do dhuine le ASD.
Le maoiniú ón Acht um Athshlánú agus Athinfheistíocht Mheiriceá (Acht Athshlánúcháin), tá an Roinn Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Daonna na Stát Aontaithe in ann obair a luathachadh i réimsí dóchúla taighde ASD. *
Institiúidí Náisiúnta Sláinte (NIH)
Chuir an NIH $122 milliún i gcistí an Achta um Athshlánú chun taighde ceannródaíoch a dhéanamh ar ASD nach mbeadh indéanta dá mba rud é, i réimsí amhail scagadh, braith amach go luath, idirghabhálacha féideartha agus teiripe, agus chun na cúiseanna agus na meicníochtaí beacht atá bunosubstainte don neamhoird seo a nochtadh (nach bhfuil ar eolas go mór fós). I measc na bpríomhchúrsaí taighde tá:
- Aithint Cúnta: Tá staidéar dhá shuíomh in Ollscoil Michigan-Ann Arbor agus in Ospidéal Leanaí Cincinnati ag oiriúnú an uirlis agallaimh is é an caighdeán óir reatha chun ASD a dhiagnóisiú ina agallamh gairid le tuismitheoirí is féidir a dhéanamh ar an teileafón. D'fhéadfadh an uirlis nua seo cabhrú le costais scagthástála a laghdú, rud a d'fhéadfadh a chiallaíonn go bhféadfaí níos mó páistí a scagthástáil, agus go bhféadfadh scagthástáil a bheith ann níos luaithe i saol an linbh, rud a d'fhéadfadh tús a chur le cóireálacha níos luaithe don leanbh. Ina theannta sin, d'fhéadfadh costais laghdaithe cuidiú le taighdeoirí rannpháirtithe féideartha a aithint go tapa le haghaidh staidéir ASD. Mar chuid den phróiseas taighde, rinne imscrúdaitheoirí staidéir scagthástálacha saor in aisce ASD in Ohio agus Michigan chun a gcuid athruithe ar an uirlis agallaimh a thástáil. Tá na scagthástálacha seo tar éis teacht ar leanaí ó go leor teaghlaigh a d'fhéadfadh scagthástáil a bheith ró-chostasach dá mba rud é. Léigh tuilleadh.
- Díospóireachtaí a Dhíriú: Tá imscrúdaitheoirí in Ollscoil Stáit Florida ag iniúchadh na difríochtaí suntasacha a bhaineann le mionlaigh chineasacha agus eitneacha a bhíonn ann i dtráth diagnóis luath ASD, rud a chuireann moill go minic ar rochtain mhionlaigh ar idirghabhálacha agus seirbhísí luath tairbheacha. Beidh torthaí an taighde seo mar thoradh ar mhodhanna scagthástála agus meastóireachta atá íogair ó thaobh cultúir de a d'fhéadfadh an aois a laghdaítear ag a ndéantar diagnóis le gach leanbh le ASD a laghdú. Léigh tuilleadh.
- Cúiseanna féideartha: Cé nach bhfuil na cúiseanna beacht le ASD ar eolas go fóill, léiríonn taighde go bhfuil idirghníomhú idir fachtóirí comhshaoil agus claonadh géiniteach. Tá roinnt staidéir a mhaoinítear le hAcht na hAisghabhála ag baint úsáide as teicneolaíocht shíneála DNA chun cinn a cheadaíonn staidéar tapa ar go leor géiní ag an am, agus tá daoine eile ag díriú ar chúiseanna féideartha éagsúla eile. Mar shampla, tá staidéar amháin ag Ollscoil California-Davis ag iniúchadh an ról a bhíonn ag ionfhabhtú le linn toirchis maidir le riosca ASD a ardú i múnla luch. Tugann taighde le fios go bhféadfadh freagairt imdhíonachta na máthar ar ionfhabhtú tionchar a bheith aige ar leibhéil mhóilíní imdhíonachta i mbraon an fhéata, ag dul i bhfeidhm ar fhorbairt na hinchinne agus ag cur le ASD b'fhéidir. Léigh tuilleadh.
- Feabhas a chur ar Idirghníomhaíochtaí: Is cosúil nach bhfuil aon imoibriú ag an gcuid is mó de na páistí le ASD ar dhaoine eile nó d'fhéadfadh siad freagairt go neamhghnách ar mhothúcháin daoine eile. Is féidir le hiompar den sórt sin leanaí le ASD a leithéid a dhéanamh dá gcairde. Thug an NIH deontas Déantúsaíochta chun tacú le forbairt agus tástáil clár nua ríomhaire-chabhrach in Ollscoil California, San Diego chun leanaí le ASD a oiliúint ar conas freagairt do dhaoine eile mothúcháin aghaidh (mar shampla, a shúile a leathnú, srón a chrócaireacht, etc. ), agus conas a léiriú a dhéanamh ar a ngnéithe facial a thugann mothúcháin ar leith do dhaoine eile. Léigh tuilleadh.
- Teiripeachtas féideartha: I staidéar eile, cinnfidh taighdeoirí ó Scoil Leighis Mount Sinai an bhfeabhsaíonn hormón áirithe cognition sóisialta i ndaoine fásta le ASD - cóireáil nua féideartha le haghaidh lagú sóisialta a bhaineann le ASD. Ní raibh mórán dul chun cinn déanta i bhforbairt cóireálacha cógaisíochta le haghaidh lagú sóisialta, agus aithnítear go forleathan go bhfuil gá le cóireálacha den sórt sin mar mhalairt nó mar bhreis ar idirghabhálacha iompraíochta. Léigh tuilleadh.
- Forbairt scileanna: Is féidir le fostaíocht neamhspleáchas níos mó a sholáthar do dhaoine le ASD, ach is minic a bhíonn constaicí móra sóisialta agus cumarsáide mar thoradh ar chomharthaí an neamhoird. Mar fhreagra ar an gceist seo, d'fhorbair taighdeoirí ag Do2Learn.com an suíomh Gréasáin saor in aisce JobTIPS. Cuireann JobTIPS acmhainní chun post a lorg ar fáil do dhaoine óga le ASD, agus soláthraíonn sé míniú mionsonraithe freisin ar conas iad féin a iompar i gcásanna sonracha, amhail cad atá le rá agus nach bhfuil le rá le fostóir ionchasach, agus conas a dtuigtear a diagnóis. Cuideoidh dhá ionad taighde ar uathachas in Ollscoil Carolina Thuaidh ag Chapel Hill agus in Ollscoil Emory, Atlanta, le héifeachtúlacht JobTIPS a mheas chun cabhrú le déagóirí agus le daoine fásta óga le ASD scileanna nua a bhaineann le post a fhoghlaim agus iad a chur i bhfeidhm i gcásanna fíor-domhanda. Léigh tuilleadh.
Léigh tuilleadh faoi infheistíochtaí NIH a mhaoinítear le hAcht na hArd-Aiscí i ASD agus foghlaim conas a chuireann na hinfheistíochtaí seo an eolaíocht chun cinn níos luaithe ná mar a bhíothas ag súil leo chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar chuid de na dúshláin is suntasaí chun ASD a thuiscint agus a chóireáil.
Gníomhaireacht um Thaighde agus Cáilíocht Sláinte (AHRQ)
Tá AHRQ ag úsáid $1.4 milliún ó mhaoiniú an Achta Athshlánaithe le haghaidh taighde a chuireann faisnéis fhianaise-bhunaithe ar fáil do othair, do chliniceoirí, agus do dhaoine eile chun cinntí eolasacha a dhéanamh faoi chúram sláinte lena n-áirítear taighde ar straitéisí idirghabhála ASD:
- Cóireálacha ASD a chur in iúl: Níl aon leigheas ann agus níl aon chomhthoil maidir leis an straitéis idirghabhála is éifeachtaí chun ASD a chóireáil. Ós rud é go bhfuil an ASD agus na teiripeanna gaolmhara casta, is léir go dteastaíonn treoir ó mhúinteoirí, ó chliniceoirí, agus ó theaghlaigh chun cóireálacha oiriúnacha a roghnú. Tá taighde arna mhaoiniú ag AHRQ ag forbairt, ag cur i bhfeidhm, agus ag meastóireacht straitéisí chun faisnéis a scaipeadh ar líne faoi chóireálacha le haghaidh autism agus ASD do níos mó ná 16,000 duine i lucht féachana cliniceach, tuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí tábhachtacha. Cuirfidh an cur chuige nua seo luas ar aistriú fianaise eolaíoch nua ar theiripeach ASD go cleachtas agus go cinnteoireacht i dteaghlaigh, i gcóras oideachais, i gcóras cúraim sláinte agus i mbeartas poiblí. Léigh tuilleadh.
Na hIonaid um Rialú agus Cosc ar Ghalair. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders - Líonra Monatóireachta Aistíce agus Míchumas Forbartha, Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, 2006. Gearrthóga Faireachais na Tuarascála Seachtaine um Mórlathas agus Mórlathas (MMWR). Nollaig 2009;58(10):1-20.
Montes G, Halterman JS. Comhlachas neamhoird speictrim autism óige agus caillteanas ioncaim teaghlaigh. Pediatrics. Aibreán 2008;121(4):e821-6.
Ganz ML. An dáileadh ar feadh an tsaoil ar chostais shóisialta mhéadaithe an uathachais. Cláir na Leighis Leanaí agus Óige. Aibreán 2007;161
*Is samplaí iad na tionscadail a luaitear sa tuarascáil seo de mhaoiniú an Achta um Athshlánú a úsáidtear le haghaidh aistí, ní liosta cuimsitheach de thionscadail a mhaoinítear le hAcht um Athshlánú.


The proper disposal of e-waste products is becoming more and more critical. Not only is it essential for the protection of the environment, but as the rates of identity theft grow, it is becoming ever more vital to ensure that sensitive data is protected from those who might seek to use it for illegal purposes.
Environmentally, many people do not understand the damage which is done by poor e-waste disposal. Many Western countries ship their recycled goods to less economically developed areas. There, the people strip items for their reusable parts, such as the copper or other metal components with resale value. The remaining parts are left to disintegrate. In China, the city of Guiyu was once known for its rice farming. Now, however, it is a major hub of the e-waste industry and the pollution generated has not only made the ground incapable of supporting crops, but it has also poisoned the supply of drinking water. According to statistics, up to 88% of children suffer from lead poisoning as a consequence of this work, where circuit boards are ‘cooked’ to remove electrical chips and solder, wires and plastics are burnt to get to the inner metal parts and corrosive acid baths are established alongside the riverbank to help the extraction of gold from the microchips or to clear out printer toners.
However, the consequences also come much closer to home. There is a growing market for criminal organizations who can ‘comb’ the electronic waste for hard drives and other data sources, looking for stores of personal data which can be used to commit identity fraud. These groups are targeting the waste exported from the UK and America, according to research. When this data can include online banking details, credit card information from online shopping accounts, or social networking information regarding personal details of one’s life and activities, there are several openings from which criminals might be able to exploit an innocent person’s data for their purposes. The level of personal information stored on the average computer is incredibly high: in the wrong hands, it can be used to cause severe damage. Safe destruction of e-waste is therefore crucial. If you are seeking e-waste recycling services in Irvine, be sure to contact a professional e-waste company!

Tá sé ag éirí níos ríthábhachtach táirgí e-dhramhaíl a dhiúscairt i gceart. Ní hamháin go bhfuil sé ríthábhachtach chun an comhshaol a chosaint, ach de réir mar a mhéadaíonn rátaí na ghoid aitheantais, tá sé ag éirí níos ríthábhachtach a chinntiú go bhfuil sonraí íogaire cosanta ó dhaoine a d'fhéadfadh a bheith ag iarraidh iad a úsáid chun críocha mídhleathacha.
Go comhshaoil, ní thuigeann go leor daoine an damáiste a dhéantar le droch-dhíothú e-dhramhaíl. Seolann go leor tíortha san Iarthar a gcuid earraí athchúrsáilte chuig limistéir nach bhfuil an-fhorbartha go heacnamaíoch. Anseo, déanann na daoine earraí a bhaint as a gcuid codanna in-úsáidte, mar shampla na codanna copair nó miotail eile a bhfuil luach athdhíola acu. Fágtar na codanna atá fágtha chun dí-iompórtáil. Bhí cáil ar chathair Guiyu sa tSín uair amháin as a fheirmeoireacht ríse. Anois, áfach, is príomh-ionad é do thionscal an e-dhramhaíl agus ní amháin go bhfuil an truailliú a ghintear ag déanamh an talamh neamh-incháilithe chun cothú a dhéanamh, ach tá sé tar éis soláthar uisce óil a phéinteáil freisin. De réir staitisticí, bíonn suas le 88% de leanaí ag fulaingt ó thimptheacht luaidhe mar thoradh ar an obair seo, áit a ndéantar boird chiorcaid a "cócaireacht" chun sceallóga leictreacha agus solder a bhaint, déantar sreangacha agus plaisteach a dhó chun na codanna miotail inmheánacha a fháil agus bunaítear folctha aigéid creimteacha in aice leis an abhainn chun cuidiú le hearraí a bhaint as na micreaclaí nó chun toners printéir a ghlanadh.
Ach, tá na hiarmhairtí i bhfad níos gaire don bhaile freisin. Tá margadh ag fás do eagraíochtaí coiriúla ar féidir leo "scrú" a dhéanamh ar dhramhaíl leictreonach le haghaidh dioscaí crua agus foinsí sonraí eile, ag lorg stóranna sonraí pearsanta ar féidir iad a úsáid chun calaois aitheantais a dhéanamh. Tá na grúpaí seo dírithe ar an dramhaíl a onnmhairítear ón RA agus ó Mheiriceá, de réir taighde. Nuair is féidir leis na sonraí seo sonraí baincéireachta ar líne, faisnéis chárta creidmheasa ó chuntais siopadóireachta ar líne, nó faisnéis líonraithe sóisialta a bhaineann le sonraí pearsanta ar shaol agus gníomhaíochtaí duine a áireamh, tá roinnt oscailtí ann as a bhféadfadh coiriúla sonraí duine neamhchiontach a shaothrú dá gcríoch. Tá an leibhéal faisnéise pearsanta atá stóráilte ar an meán-chompútóir thar a bheith ard: i lámha mícheart, is féidir é a úsáid chun damáiste tromchúiseach a dhéanamh. Tá sé ríthábhachtach, dá bhrí sin, go ndéantar e-dhramhaíl a dhíchumasú go sábháilte. Má tá tú ag lorg seirbhísí athchúrsála e-dhramhaíola in Irvine, bí cinnte teagmháil a dhéanamh le cuideachta gairmiúil e-dhramhaíola!


SECTION 1: WHO ARE THE CHRISTIANS?—a History
Albert Schweitzer once said "One truth stands firm. All that happens in world history rests on something spiritual. If the spiritual is strong, it creates world history. If it is weak, it suffers world history.” Section one of Where are the Christians? takes on the daunting task of providing a concise and compelling history of Christianity to give readers a background of where it all began as a foundation moving forward. To help the reader navigate an otherwise complicated history Shuster divides the 2000 year period into four segments, one for each of the four chapters in section 1.
Chapter 1: They Were Evangelizers and Builders (up to AD 299)
While some might think Christianity began the day Christ was born, Christianity was long prophesied in the Old Testament. The over two centuries that followed during the Evangelization and Formation Period were defined by seven major categories of events: persecution of the church, martyrdom of its early leaders, the spreading of the gospel outside of Palestine, the conversion of Paul, the formation of the church, early heresies, and the writing of the New Testament.
Chapter 2: They were Legitimized and Codified (AD 300-999)
The Legitimacy and Codification Period from AD 300 to 999 was a time for Christianity to continue its global proliferation, while codifying its doctrines and legitimizing its place in religion and politics. This period of Christianity was defined by seven categories of events: the continuation of persecution and evangelization, increased heresies, doctrinal codification, hierarchy and politics, validation, and the seeds of corruption.
Chapter 3: They were Corrupted and Divided (1000-1499)
As the Christian Church neared the millennial landmark it began to be faced with significant issues of leadership that would rupture its unity. Although Christianity was still spreading throughout the world, the organization of the Church would be challenged by its integration with the political structure and an increasingly corrupt leadership. The Corruption and Division period (1000-1499) is marked by four categories of events including doctrinal evolution, church and state integration, corruption and division.
Chapter 4: They were Reformed and Scattered (1500 to the Present)
The final segment of Christian history covers the year1500 to the present and is called the Reform and Denominational Proliferation Period. During this period individuals came forward to challenge the established Christian Church to reform itself from corruption. This period is marked by five major activities including the carryover of corruption, the emergence of refiners, reformers and restorers, Christian movements and influencers, the propagation of published scripture and the proliferation of denominations.
Modern-day Christians are influenced by the past and are products of their own history. It is a history that produced the best and worst of humanity over a 2,000 year period. Our faith walk today is affected by and reflects these four periods of Christian history. Having a better understanding of where we came from as a Christian people we are now ready for the next leg of our journey to answers the question: “What is a Christian?”
Go to www.findyourchristianity.com to watch the book trailer, find out what type of Christian you are, and to order the book

CÁIT 1: Cé iad na Críostaithe?  stair
Dúirt Albert Schweitzer uair amháin "Tá fírinne amháin seasmhach. Gach rud a tharlaíonn i stair an domhain ag brath ar rud éigin spioradálta. Má tá an spioradálta láidir, cruthaíonn sé stair an domhain. Má tá sé lag, tá sé ag fulaingt stair an domhain.  An chéad chuid de Cá bhfuil na Críostaithe? Glacann an tasc daunting a sholáthar concis agus tarraingteach stair na Críostaíochta a thabhairt do léitheoirí cúlra de áit a thosaigh sé go léir mar bhunús ag bogadh ar aghaidh. Chun cabhrú leis an léitheoir dul i ngleic le stair chasta eile, roinnfidh Shuster an tréimhse 2000 bliain ina cheithre chuid, ceann amháin do gach ceann de na ceithre chaibidil i gcatagóir 1.
Caibidil 1: Bhí siad ina n-eangeileoirí agus ina bhfoirgnóirí (go dtí 299 AD)
Cé go bhféadfadh daoine a cheapann an Chríostaíocht thosaigh an lá a rugadh Críost, bhí an Chríostaíocht fada prophesied sa Sean-Tiomna. Bhí na seacht gcineál mór imeachtaí ag sainmhíniú na breis agus dhá chéad bliain a lean le linn na Tréimhse Soiscéalaithe agus Forbartha: géarleanúint na heaglaise, martaireacht a cheannairí tosaigh, scaipeadh an soiscéil lasmuigh de Phailistín, tiontú Pól, foirmiú na heaglaise, heresies luath, agus scríbhneoireacht an Tiomna Nua.
Caibidil 2: D'fhág siad go raibh siad dlisteanach agus go raibh siad códaithe (AD 300-999)
Ba é an tréimhse dlisteanachta agus códithe ó AD 300 go 999 an t-am a lean an Chríostaíocht lena leathnú domhanda, agus a chuid teagasc á gcódú agus a áit sa reiligiún agus sa pholaitíocht á dlisteanachtú. Sainmhíníodh an tréimhse seo den Chríostaíocht trí sheacht chatagóir imeachtaí: leanúint na géarleanúna agus na soiscéalaithe, méadú ar an éireannacht, códaitheacht dochtúrtha, ordlathas agus polaitíocht, bailíochtú, agus síolta na truailliú.
Caibidil 3: Bhí siad truaillithe agus roinnte (1000-1499)
De réir mar a bhí an Eaglais Chríostaí ag druidim le ceannródaíocht na mílte bliain, thosaigh sé ag tabhairt aghaidh ar shaincheisteanna suntasacha faoi cheannaireacht a d'fhéadfadh a aontacht a bhriseadh. Cé go raibh an Chríostaíocht fós ag scaipeadh ar fud an domhain, bheadh dúshlán ar eagraíocht na hEaglaise as a chomhtháthú leis an struchtúr polaitiúil agus le ceannaireacht atá ag éirí níos truaillithe. Tá an tréimhse Corruption and Division (1000-1499) marcáilte ag ceithre chatagóir imeachtaí lena n-áirítear éabhlóid dochtúrtha, comhtháthú eaglais agus stáit, éabhlóid agus roinn.
Caibidil 4: Bhí siad athchóirithe agus scaipthe (1500 go dtí an lá atá inniu ann)
Clúdaíonn an chuid dheireanach de stair na Críostaíochta an bhliain 1500 go dtí an lá atá inniu ann agus tugtar an t-am athchóirithe agus an tréimhse leathnaithe ainmníochta air. Le linn na tréimhse seo tháinig daoine chun cinn chun dúshlán a thabhairt don Eaglais Chríostaí bunaithe chun í féin a athchóiriú ó éilliú. Tá cúig phríomhghníomhaíocht ag an tréimhse seo lena n-áirítear an truailliú a iompar, teacht chun cinn na n-athshlánitheoirí, na n-athchóiritheoirí agus na n-athchóiritheoirí, gluaiseachtaí agus tionchair Chríostaí, scaipeadh scrioptúr foilsithe agus méadú na n-ainmníochtaí.
Tá tionchar ag an am atá caite ar Chríostaithe na n-am atá inniu ann agus is iad na táirgí dá stair féin iad. Is stair í a tháirg an chuid is fearr agus is measa den chine daonna thar thréimhse 2,000 bliain. Tá tionchar ag na ceithre thréimhse seo den stair Chríostaí ar ár gcúrsaí creidimh inniu agus léiríonn siad iad. Agus tuiscint níos fearr againn ar an áit a tháinig muid mar phobal Críostaí, táimid réidh anois don chéad chéim eile dár thuras chun freagraí a fháil ar an gceist: Cad é Críostaí?
Téigh chuig www.findyourchristianity.com chun féachaint ar an trealaimh leabhair, a fháil amach cén cineál Críostaí atá tú, agus an leabhar a ordú


Your mom-to-be self may be pretty busy these days choosing a baby name, picking paint colors for the nursery, and spelling out your birth plan. And while all those decisions are important, there's another consideration that has to be made as well: Making the once-in-your-baby's-lifetime choice about banking his cord blood. Read on to demystify the process of cord-blood banking so you can determine what's right for your family.
What is cord blood?
Cord blood, also called placental blood, is the blood that stays in your baby's umbilical cord following birth (after your doctor cuts and clamps the umbilical cord). Your baby no longer needs this blood, but it still has value — particularly as a source of stem cells, which can be used as an alternative to bone marrow to treat diseases.
What can cord blood do?
Cord blood can provide life-saving stem cells to patients with catastrophic diseases like leukemia and lymphoma, which account for the vast majority of stem-cell transplants. Stem cells have also been used to treat more than 80 other illnesses and cancers, including bone-marrow-failure syndromes; blood, metabolic, and immune-system disorders; and other inherited diseases. How do stem cells work? When a patient receives chemotherapy or radiation, stem cells from healthy donors can be transplanted into that individual; once implanted they can reproduce to strengthen the recipient's own blood and immune system, thus boosting the patient's chances of survival.
How is my baby's cord blood collected — and does it hurt?
Your healthcare provider will collect your baby's cord blood a few minutes after you deliver. Collection will not hurt you or your baby in any way, regardless of whether you have a vaginal or cesarean delivery. The entire process takes fewer than ten minutes. The procedure varies somewhat from hospital to hospital, but typically involves clamping the umbilical cord on both sides and cutting it (either before or after you delivery the placenta). Cord blood is then gathered via a syringe or by elevating the cord so that the blood drains into a collection bag. From there, the blood is sent to a lab where it is blood-typed, tested for infection, frozen, and shipped to a bank for storage.
Will my baby be able to use his own cord blood?
It's unlikely your child will ever need cord-blood treatment. But if the worst should happen, his own cord blood would probably not be used. (Estimates place the odds at one in 2,700.) The reason? If your child does get sick, the stem cells extracted at birth may carry the same disease for which treatment is needed. However, your baby's cord-blood stem cells can be saved in a private cord-blood bank for another family member. If you choose to donate cord blood to a public facility, the stem cells go to anyone who needs them.
What are the advantages of private over public cord-blood banking?
If you decide to save your baby's cord blood in a private facility, you — and only you — "own" the blood and have access to it whenever you need it. This is an especially important factor if you have a family history of certain illnesses since you get to determine whether it goes to your own children or someone else in need. Private cord-blood banking involves fees, however. Rates vary from bank to bank, but typically range from $1,000 to $2,000 for the initial collection plus an annual storage charge of around $100.
How would I choose a private cord-blood bank?
Ask savvy friends or your practitioner for recommendations, and then do your homework. Contact the facility and ask about their financial stability — you'll want to store with a bank that will be open when you need your baby's cord blood in the future, so weigh the pros and cons of choosing a newer, smaller bank over a larger, established bank with a well-known reputation. Get details on its informed consent process, which is the agreement that confirms you've had an open exchange of information about storing your baby's cord blood with this particular bank. Ensure that the cord-blood bank you're choosing is accredited with the American Association of Blood Banks, which will make sure that its processing and storage protocols are up to the standards developed by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Trade Commission.
What are the advantages of public over private cord-blood banking?
The main reason to donate to a public cord-blood bank is altruistic. It's available for others to use, and there is no cost to you for collection and storage. Be aware that the blood may not be there if your family ever needs it. Unlike private banks, public facilities work on a first-come, first-served basis. You don't "own" the blood, so it can be offered to someone else without your permission. It can also be discarded or used for medical research without your knowledge. Finding a donor via public banking is sometimes complicated for a patient in need — it can take weeks or months in certain cases, and in some instances banks can't locate a matched donor.
How do I donate my baby's cord blood?
At least three months before your due date, tell your health-care provider that you want to donate your baby's cord blood. Find out if you meet cord-donation guidelines (your health-care provider should be able to discuss these strict quality standards, which involve your health and your family's history of diseases), and call to make sure that the hospital or facility where you plan to deliver is familiar with collection and donation procedures.

D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh do mháthair-a-bair féin an-ghnóthach na laethanta seo ag roghnú ainm leanbh, ag roghnú dathanna péinte don seomra leanaí, agus ag litreáil do phlean breithe. Agus cé go bhfuil na cinntí sin go léir tábhachtach, tá cúram eile ann a chaithfear a dhéanamh freisin: an rogha a dhéantar uair amháin i saol do pháiste a dhéanamh maidir lena fhuil clóis a bhaincáil. Léigh ar aghaidh chun an próiseas a bhaineann le baincáil fola cordán a dhímhíniú ionas gur féidir leat a chinneadh cad atá ceart do do theaghlach.
Cad é fola cord?
Is éard atá i ndíon cordon cordon, ar a dtugtar fola placenta freisin, an fhuil a fhanann i gcord cordon do pháiste tar éis breith (tar éis do dhochtúir an cordon cordon a ghearradh agus a chlamadh). Ní gá don leanbh an fhuil seo a thuilleadh, ach tá luach aige fós - go háirithe mar fhoinse cealla bun, ar féidir iad a úsáid mar mhalairt ar mhear cnámh chun galair a chóireáil.
Cad is féidir le fuil cord a dhéanamh?
Is féidir le fola cordal bunchill a shábháil ar shláinte othair a bhfuil galair tubaisteach orthu cosúil le leicéim agus limfóma, a chuireann an chuid is mó de na trasphlandú bunchill. Tá cealla bun-úsáidte freisin chun cóireáil a dhéanamh ar níos mó ná 80 tinneas agus ailse eile, lena n-áirítear siondrómí easpa méirch-chnámh; neamhord fola, meitibileach, agus imdhíonachta; agus galair oidhreachta eile. Conas a oibríonn cealla bunchloch? Nuair a fhaigheann othair ceimiteiripe nó radaíocht, is féidir cill mháthair ó dheontóirí sláintiúla a phlandaí isteach sa duine sin; nuair a chuirtear isteach iad is féidir leo a athrá chun fuil agus córas imdhíonachta an fhaighteora féin a neartú, rud a mhéadaíonn seans na bpaisinéara maireachtáil.
Conas a bhailítear fuil cord mo pháiste  agus an ndéanann sé pian?
Bainfidh do sholáthraí cúraim sláinte le fola cord do leanbh cúpla nóiméad tar éis duit a sheachadadh. Ní dhéanfaidh an bailiú dochar duit féin ná do do leanbh ar bhealach ar bith, is cuma an bhfuil breith coirp nó cíosaire agat. Tógann an próiseas iomlán níos lú ná deich nóiméad. Athraíonn an nós imeachta go beagán ó ospidéal go ospidéal, ach de ghnáth baineann sé le clampáil ar an gcord umbilical ar an dá thaobh agus é a ghearradh (ceachtar roimh nó tar éis duit an placenta a sheachadadh). Ansin bailítear fola cordóige trí shriangán nó trí an cordóige a ardú ionas go dtéann an fhuil isteach i mála bailiúcháin. Ón áit sin, seoltar an fhuil go dtí saotharlann ina ndéantar cineál fola a mheas, a thástáil le haghaidh ionfhabhtaithe, a reoite, agus a sheoladh chuig banc chun a stóráil.
An mbeidh mo leanbh in ann a fhuil clóbhuailte féin a úsáid?
Is beag seans go mbeidh gá le cóireáil fola cordán ag do leanbh. Ach má tharlaíonn an rud is measa, is dócha nach mbainfí úsáid as a chuid fola clóbhuailte féin. (De réir meastacháin, is é an seans go dtarlóidh sé ná duine amháin in 2,700.) Cén fáth? Má fhaigheann do leanbh tinn, d'fhéadfadh na cealla bun a bhaintear amach ag breith an galar céanna a bheith acu a bhfuil cóireáil de dhíth air. Mar sin féin, is féidir na cealla bunchloí fola cordal do pháiste a shábháil i mbainc fola cordal príobháideach do chomhalta eile den teaghlach. Má roghnaíonn tú fuil cnámh cnámh a bhronnadh ar áis phoiblí, téann na cealla bunchloiche chuig duine ar bith a bhfuil gá leo.
Cad iad na buntáistí a bhaineann le baincáil fola cordal príobháideach i gcomparáid le baincáil fola cordal poiblí?
Má chinneann tú fuil cord do pháiste a shábháil i saoráid phríobháideach, is tú  agus tú amháin  "a bhfuil" an fhuil agat agus go bhfuil rochtain agat air aon uair is gá duit é. Tá sé seo tábhachtach go háirithe má tá stair teaghlaigh agat de ghalair áirithe ós rud é go bhfaigheann tú cinneadh a dhéanamh an rachaidh sé chuig do pháistí féin nó chuig duine eile atá i ngátar. Mar sin féin, tá táillí i gceist le baincáil phríobháideach fola cord. Athraíonn rátaí ó bhanc go banc, ach de ghnáth bíonn siad idir $ 1,000 agus $ 2,000 don bhailiúchán tosaigh móide táille stórála bliantúil de thart ar $ 100.
Conas a roghnaigh mé banc príobháideach fola cord-?
Iarr ar chairde saineolaithe nó ar do chleachtóir moltaí a thabhairt duit, agus ansin déan do chuid obair bhaile. Déan teagmháil leis an saoráid agus fiafraigh faoina seasmhacht airgeadais  ba mhaith leat a stóráil le banc a bheidh ar oscailt nuair a bheidh gá le fuil cord do pháiste sa todhchaí, mar sin meáchain na buntáistí agus na míbhuntáistí a bhaineann le banc níos nuaí, níos lú a roghnú thar banc níos mó, bunaithe le cáil aitheanta. Faigh sonraí ar a phróiseas toiliú eolaithe, is é sin an comhaontú a dheimhníonn go raibh tú ag malartú oscailte faisnéise faoi stóráil fola cord do leanbh leis an mbanc áirithe seo. Déan cinnte go bhfuil an banc fola cordán atá á roghnú agat creidiúnaithe leis an gCumann Meiriceánach um Bhaincí Fuil, a chinnfidh go bhfuil a phróiseáil agus a phrótacail stórála suas leis na caighdeáin a d'fhorbair an Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, Riarachán Bia agus Drugaí na Stát Aontaithe, agus an Coimisiún Trádála Cónaidhme.
Cad iad na buntáistí a bhaineann le baincáil phoiblí fola cordal thar baincáil phríobháideach?
Is é an príomhchúis a thugann tú do bhanc fola cordóige poiblí ná go bhfuil tú dílse. Tá sé ar fáil do dhaoine eile é a úsáid, agus níl aon chostas ort as a bhailiú agus a stóráil. Bíodh a fhios agat go bhféadfadh an fhuil a bheith ann má theastaíonn sé ó do theaghlach riamh. Murab ionann agus bainc phríobháideacha, oibríonn saoráidí poiblí ar bhonn an chéad duine a thagann, an chéad duine a sheirbheáiltear. Ní "úinéir" duit an fhuil, mar sin is féidir é a thairiscint do dhuine eile gan do chead. Is féidir é a dhiúscairt nó a úsáid le haghaidh taighde leighis gan do fhios agat. Uaireanta bíonn sé deacair d'othair atá i ngátar deontóir a aimsiú trí bhaincíocht phoiblí  d'fhéadfadh sé seachtainí nó míonna a thógáil i gcásanna áirithe, agus i gcásanna áirithe ní féidir le bainc deontóir comhoiriúnaithe a aimsiú.
Conas a dhéanfaidh mé fuil cord mo pháiste a bhronnadh?
Ar a laghad trí mhí roimh do dháta réamhíoctha, inis do sholáthraí cúraim sláinte gur mhaith leat fuil cordán do pháiste a bhronnadh. Faigh amach an gcomhlíonann tú treoirlínte maidir le cordon a thabhairt (ba cheart go mbeadh do sholáthraí cúraim sláinte in ann na caighdeáin cháilíochta déine seo a phlé, a chuimsíonn do shláinte agus stair ghalar do theaghlaigh), agus glaoigh ar an ospidéal nó ar an saoráid ina bhfuil sé ar intinn agat breith a thabhairt chun a chinntiú go bhfuil eolas acu ar nósanna imeachta bailithe agus deonaithe.


Definition - What does Adesha mean?
Adesha is a Sanskrit word that means “order,” “command,” “rule” or “instruction.” In the context of yoga, adesha is a divine or inner command, or it can be the spiritual leader's instruction that assists the yogi in their search for the higher truth.
Similarly, adesha may be used to describe the yogi's spiritual purpose. It also is considered the realization, or the point at which the yogi realizes, that the Self and the Higher Self (the universal source or divine) are one.
Yogapedia explains Adesha
When combined with the Sanskrit karin (“doing,” “producing”), adesha-karin means “obedient.”
The Hindu scriptures, known as the Upanishads, describe four mahavakyas (great utterances), each of which has a corresponding practice. Adesha is associated with the mahavakya “tatvamasi” or “tat tvam asi,” which is found in the Chandogya Upanishad and means “I am that” or “Thou art that.” In this case, the adesha is the spiritual realization that the yogi's divine nature (Absolute Reality or Brahman) is the essence of the Self, not the worldly identity.

Sainmhíniú - Cad a chiallaíonn Adesha?
Is focal Sanscrait é Adesha a chiallaíonn ordú,  ordú,   riail  nó  teagasc. I gcomhthéacs an iógá, is é adesha an t-ordú diaga nó inmheánach, nó is féidir é a bheith ina threorú an cheannaire spioradálta a chabhraíonn leis an yogi ina cuardach ar an bhfírinne níos airde.
Ar an gcaoi chéanna, d'fhéadfaí adesha a úsáid chun cuspóir spioradálta an yogis a thuairisciú. Meastar freisin gurb é an réadú, nó an pointe a réadaíonn an yogi, gurb é an Féin agus an Féin Mhór (an foinse uilíoch nó diaga) ceann amháin.
Míníonn Yogapedia Adesha
Nuair a chuirtear an adesha-karin le Sanskrit karin ( ag déanamh,  ag táirgeadh), ciallaíonn sé  obedient.
Déanann na scrioptúir Hindúcha, ar a dtugtar na Upanishads, cur síos ar cheithre mahavakya (cainteanna móra), a bhfuil cleachtas comhfhreagrach ag gach ceann acu. Tá baint ag Adesha leis an mahavakya tatvamasi nó tat tvam asi, a fhaightear san Chandogya Upanishad agus a chiallaíonn I am that nó Thou art that. Sa chás seo, is é an adesha an réadú spioradálta go bhfuil nádúr diaga an yogi (Réaltacht Absolut nó Brahman) is é bunús an Féin, ní an féiniúlacht dhomhanda.


What is Patellofemoral Syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain behind the kneecap. It has been given many names, including Patellofemoral disorder, patellar malalignment, runner`s knee, and chondromalacia.
Symptoms of Patellofemoral Syndrome: Pain behind the kneecap, occasional swelling or snapping, popping, or grinding in the knee.
What Causes Patellofemoral Syndrome : Patellofemoral pain syndrome can occur from overuse of the knee in sports and activities such as running, walking, jumping, or bicycling. It also may result from the way the hips, legs, knees, or feet are aligned. This alignment problem can be caused by having wide hips or under developed thigh muscles, being knock-kneed, or having feet with arches that collapse when walking or running (a condition called overpronation).
Why It Works: Cho-Pat`s Original Knee Strap and the patented Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap are designed to place slight pressure on the tendons attached to the kneecap. This redistributes the forces applied by the thigh muscles and alleviates some of the symptoms associated with overuse syndromes.
Consult with your medical professional as to the cause of your discomfort.

Cad é Síndróm Patellofemoral?
Is é siondróm pian patellofemoral pian taobh thiar den chlúdach glúine. Tugadh go leor ainmneacha dó, lena n-áirítear neamhoird Patellofemoral, mí-ailíniú patellar, glúine rithire, agus chondromalacia.
Comharthaí Síndróm Patellofemoral: Páirc taobh thiar den chlúdach glúine, tuirse nó crapadh, popping, nó creim sa ghlúine ó am go ham.
Cad a Chúisíonn Síndróm Patellofemoral: Is féidir siondróm pian Patellofemoral a bheith ann mar gheall ar ró-úsáid an ghlúine i spóirt agus i ngníomhaíochtaí mar rith, siúl, léim, nó rothaíocht. D'fhéadfadh sé a bheith mar thoradh ar an mbealach a bhfuil na hips, na cosa, na glúine, nó na cosa ar líne. Is féidir an fhadhb ailíniú seo a bheith mar thoradh ar chléithe leathan nó ar fhéilireí cnámh faoi fhorbairt, a bheith ag cnagadh ar a ghlúine, nó a bheith ag cosa le hairse a thiteann nuair a bhíonn siad ag siúl nó ag rith (suidheachadh a dtugtar overpronation).
Cén fáth a n-oibríonn sé: Tá an Cho-Pat ̋s Original Knee Strap agus an Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap paitinnithe deartha chun brú beag a chur ar na tendons atá ceangailte leis an gcloigeann. Athdháileadh sé seo na fórsaí a chuireann na matáin thigh i bhfeidhm agus laghdaíonn sé cuid de na hairíonna a bhaineann le siondrómanna ró-úsáid.
Déan dul i gcomhairle le do ghairmí leighis maidir leis an gcúis a bhfuil do chuid míchompord agat.


NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A robot developed by scientists at Yale University in Connecticut could soon pass a landmark test by recognizing itself in a mirror, the researchers say.
Such a feat would be considered evidence of self-awareness and represent an advance toward robots that can think for themselves, they said.
The robot, dubbed Nico, will take the test in coming months, Justin Hart, the doctoral student leading the research, told BBC News.
"It is a spatial reasoning task for the robot to understand that its arm is on it, not on the other side of the mirror," he said.
While Nico has been programmed to recognize a reflection of its arm, Hart said, it still has to pass the "full mirror test," developed in 1970 and considered the classic test of self-awareness.
The test is more usually performed on an animal that is allowed time to get used to the mirror and is then anesthetized while an odorless dye is applied to its face. The creature's subsequent reaction to its reflection is deemed a measure of its self-awareness, determined by whether the animal inspects the mark on its own body or reacts as if it is only on the "mirror" animal but not on itself.
Only a few non-human species -- including some primates, elephants and dolphins -- have managed to pass the mirror "self-awareness" test, the researchers said.
|Additional Science News Stories|
OKLAHOMA CITY, May 20 (UPI) --A huge tornado cut a devastating path in suburban Oklahoma City Monday, slamming schools, a hospital, businesses and homes, and killing at least 51 people.
PASADENA, Calif., May 20 (UPI) --NASA says its Mars rover Curiosity has drilled a hole in a second rock target to gather samples for analysis in the rover's internal science lab instruments.
PAINESVILLE, Ohio, May 20 (UPI) --Police in Ohio said they arrested a man charged with child endangerment for allegedly allowing his 9-year-old daughter to drive a car, which she crashed.

NEW HAVEN, Conn., 23 Lúnasa (UPI) -- D'fhéadfadh robot a d'fhorbair eolaithe in Ollscoil Yale i Connecticut a thástáil go luath trí aithint é féin i scáthán, a deir na taighdeoirí.
D'admhaigh siad go mbeadh feachtas den sórt sin mar fhianaise ar fhéiniúlacht agus go mbeadh sé ina chur chun cinn i dtreo róbataí a d'fhéadfadh smaoineamh ar a son féin.
Beidh an robot, dar teideal Nico, ag dul ar an tástáil sna míonna amach romhainn, a dúirt Justin Hart, an mac léinn dochtúireachta a bhí i gceannas ar an taighde, le BBC News.
"Is tasc réasúnaíochta spásúil é don róbat a thuiscint go bhfuil a lámh air, ní ar an taobh eile den scáthán", a dúirt sé.
Cé go bhfuil Nico cláraithe chun léargas a lámh a aithint, a dúirt Hart, ní mór dó fós an "tástáil scáthán iomlán", a forbraíodh i 1970 a rith agus a mheastar gurb é an tástáil clasaiceach ar fhéiniúlacht féin é.
Is gnách go ndéantar an tástáil ar ainmhí a thugtar am dó dul i dtaithí ar an scáthán agus a chuirtear ansin faoi mhíchumas agus dath gan boladh á chur ar a aghaidh. Meastar go bhfuil an imoibriú ina dhiaidh sin ar an gcruth ar a léiriú mar thomhas ar a féin-fhiosrúchán, arna chinneadh ag cibé an ndéanann an t-ainmhí an marc a iniúchadh ar a chorp féin nó a imoibríonn sé amhail is dá mba ar an ainmhí "speaclaí" amháin é ach ní air féin.
Níl ach cúpla speiceas neamh-dhaonna - lena n-áirítear roinnt primates, elephants agus dolphins - d'éirigh leo an tástáil "fhiosrúcháin féin" scáthán a rith, a dúirt na taighdeoirí.
Stóireachtaí Nuachta Eolaíochta Breise
Tá an t-am ag teacht chun na cathrach a chur ar ceal, agus tá an t-am ag teacht chun na cathrach a chur ar ceal.
PASADENA, Calif., 20 Bealtaine (UPI) --Deir NASA gur thréig a róbhair Mars Curiosity tollán i dara sprioc carraige chun samplaí a bhailiú le haghaidh anailíse in ionstraimí saotharlainne eolaíochta inmheánacha an róbhair.
PAINESVILLE, Ohio, 20 Bealtaine (UPI) --D'fhógair póilíní in Ohio gur gabhadh fear a cúisíodh le leanaí a chur i mbaol mar gheall ar a ligean a iníon 9 mbliana d'aois a thiomáint carr, a thit sí.


September 24, 2019 by Jody White
Like it is in many parts of the country, late summer can be a tough time to catch bass on the East Coast’s tidal rivers. As we’ve seen pretty much every year in the FLW Cup, which is usually held in the South, going way up creeks to find slightly cooler water is a productive pattern in the heat of late summer. The same strategy can pay off on tidal fisheries such as the Potomac River and James River as well, albeit with some tweaks for the situation.
WHY IT HAPPENS
Come August and September, Bryan Schmitt knows that the traditional grass beds at the mouths of creeks can begin to get a bit stale on the tidal fisheries near his Maryland home. They’ve been beaten on by scores of anglers through the spring and summer, so a change of strategy can be called for.
“It was years ago when I figured this out,” says Schmitt. “This is actually a time of year when it condenses the fish; hence, why it’s tough to figure out. Tidal water is always connected to the ocean, so it always has some kind of salt influence. When you get into the summer, generally speaking, the rainfall is very minimal. When you get that it pushes this particular scenario even more because the bass want to get away from the salt.
“So, what happens is, I would say the bulk of the fish transition to seek cooler, cleaner water with less salinity and more oxygen,” he adds. “Where that happens is in the headwaters of creeks. The whole life system seems to go there. The bait, the fish, the catfish, the bass – everything migrates there. For some reason it’s a littler cooler, it has more oxygen and less salinity.”
Schmitt believes low flow and higher salinity are major factors in the move, but not the only factors. The summer of 2019 on the Potomac has provided a good example of that. Plenty of rain has kept the salinity low, but some fish have still moved to the backs of the creeks to escape the heat. So it’s always worth checking.
The one thing that will hold the fish in the main river and prevent or reduce the migration into the creeks is milfoil. In years with strong milfoil growth, Schmitt says grass patterns can continue to reign supreme all through the summertime.
LOOKING FOR THEM
Luckily, finding bass in the backs of creeks isn’t particularly difficult, though it may take a fair bit of time to reach them.
“The farthest back you can go is where they go,” outlines Schmitt. “They’ll go to the absolute stream of it, to where you can’t even get your boat. If you take a place like Aquia Creek [on the Potomac], where it’s five or six miles long, I guarantee there’s going to be a good population of fish up where it becomes a stream.”
Because it is pretty skinny water, Schmitt relies heavily on his eyes.
“When I’m on that particular pattern, I’m looking for clean water – No. 1,” he says. “I might not catch them as easy, but I like to see them. A lot of times on tidal fisheries you can do a lot of fishing and scouting with your eyes. Usually these headwaters are clean. On low tide there will just be a narrow channel, and you can see fish swimming up and down the edges.”
Schmitt says that catching creek bass late in the summer is usually a finesse game. A drop-shot or a wacky rig will do a lot of his work when the tide is low and falling. With an incoming tide and fish pushing up toward the banks, he says a vibrating jig, a frog or a buzzbait can come into play.
One key is stealth. Moving slowly and not muddying up the water is very important. Power-Poles help a lot. They let him stop on a dime when he needs to really pick apart his areas.
Reigning as the best tournament angler on tidal fisheries isn’t easy, but it has taught Schmitt plenty of lessons. If you’re going to run the backs of creeks on a tournament day, you need to be careful.
“It can really hurt if you’re on that pattern and you get behind somebody else doing it,” says Schmitt. “It’s almost one of those deals that depends on your boat number. And even if the tide isn’t right, you might have to go stake your claim because some of these places are so narrow that if you get midway back nobody can really get past you.”
Schmitt says that the tactic is probably best when there isn’t a lot of pressure. After all, folks trying to be John Cox have smartened the bass up over the years.
“It’s a gamble,” adds Schmitt. “In my opinion, the last few years the fish in these particular places have gotten a lot smarter. But it’s a quick way to locate fish. There’s always a population in them, hands down. I have seen where it could be a winning deal if you find the right creek, but I think more so anymore it might not be a winning deal, but you can make a top 10 doing it.”
Originally posted at FLW

24 Meán Fómhair, 2019 ag Jody White
Cosúil le go leor áiteanna sa tír, is féidir go mbeadh sé deacair am a bheith ag gabháil le bass ag deireadh an tsamhraidh ar na haibhneacha tuilteach ar an gCósta Thoir. Mar a chonaic muid beagnach gach bliain i gCorn FLW, a bhíonn ar siúl de ghnáth sa Deisceart, tá sé ina patrún táirgiúil dul suas go dtí na clóis chun uisce beagán níos fionnuar a fháil i dteas an tsamhraidh déanach. Is féidir leis an straitéis chéanna a íoc ar iascaigh tide mar Abhainn Potomac agus Abhainn James chomh maith, cé go bhfuil roinnt tweaks don staid.
CÉ DÁ FÉIDIGÍÓ
Tar éis mhí Lúnasa agus Meán Fómhair, tá a fhios ag Bryan Schmitt go bhféadfadh na leapacha féir traidisiúnta ag béal na sruthanna tosú ag dul beagán stale ar na hiascaigh tuilte in aice lena theach i Maryland. Bhí na heascairí ag bualadh leo i rith an earraigh agus an tsamhraidh, agus mar sin is féidir athrú straitéise a iarraidh.
"Bhí sé blianta ó shin nuair a shíl mé é seo amach", a deir Schmitt. Is é seo an t-am den bhliain i ndáiríre nuair a thiomsaíonn sé an t-iasc; dá bhrí sin, tá sé deacair a fháil amach cén fáth. Tá uisce na tuilte ceangailte leis an aigéan i gcónaí, mar sin bíonn tionchar salann éigin aige i gcónaí. Nuair a thagann tú isteach sa samhradh, go ginearálta, tá an báisteach an-íseal. Nuair a fhaigheann tú go brúíonn sé an cás ar leith seo fiú níos mó toisc go bhfuil an bass ag iarraidh a fháil ar shiúl ón salann.
"Mar sin, is é a tharlaíonn, ba mhaith liom a rá go dtéann formhór an iasc ar aghaidh chun uisce níos fuaraí, níos glaine a lorg le níos lú salann agus níos mó ocsaigine", a deir sé. Tá sé sin i mbéal na sruthanna. Is cosúil go dtéann an córas saoil ar fad ann. An bait, an t-iasc, an catfish, an bass  gach rud a imirceann ann. Ar chúis éigin tá sé níos fionnuar, tá níos mó ocsaigine agus níos lú salann ann.
Creideann Schmitt go bhfuil srian ar an sreabhadh agus salannas níos airde ina fhachtóirí móra sa ghluaiseacht, ach ní iad na fachtóirí amháin. Tá an samhradh 2019 ar an Potomac ina shampla maith de sin. Tá go leor báistí tar éis an salannas a choinneáil íseal, ach tá roinnt iasc fós ag bogadh go dtí cúl na sruthanna chun teas a sheachaint. Mar sin is fiú é a sheiceáil i gcónaí.
Is é an rud amháin a choimeádfaidh an t-iasc sa phríomh-aibhne agus a chosc nó a laghdú ar imirce isteach sna sruthanna milfoil. I mblianta ina bhfuil fás láidir milfoil, deir Schmitt gur féidir le patrúin féir a leanúint ag ríocht uachtarach i rith an tsamhraidh.
Ag Breathnú Dóibh
Ar an dea-shástacht, ní bhíonn sé deacair go háirithe an t-asraon a aimsiú i gcúl na gclár, cé go dtógfaidh sé tamall maith chun teacht orthu.
'An áit is faide ar ais is féidir leat dul ná an áit a dtéann siad,' a deir Schmitt. Iadgo an sruth iomlán de go, go dtí an áit nach féidir leat fiú a fháil do bhád. Má ghlacann tú áit cosúil le Aquia Creek [ar an Potomac], áit a bhfuil sé cúig nó sé míle fada, ráthaím go mbeidh daonra maith éisc ann nuair a thiocfaidh sé ina sruth.
Toisc go bhfuil sé go leor uisce tanaí, Schmitt ag brath go mór ar a shúile.
Nuair a bhíonn mé ar an bpatrún áirithe sin, tá mé ag lorg uisce glan Níl. 1, a deir sé. B'fhéidir nach bhfaighidh mé iad chomh héasca, ach is maith liom iad a fheiceáil. Go leor uaireanta ar iascaireacht tide is féidir leat a dhéanamh go leor iascaireachta agus scouting le do shúile. De ghnáth bíonn na fo-uisceanna seo glan. Ag an t-airgead íseal ní bheidh ann ach cainéal caol, agus is féidir leat a fheiceáil iasc ag snámh suas agus síos na imeall.
Deir Schmitt go mbíonn sé ina chluiche finesse de ghnáth an bass creek a ghabháil go déanach sa samhradh. Déanfaidh scaoll-scaoileadh nó rig wacky a chuid oibre go leor nuair a bhíonn an t-airgead íseal agus ag titim. Le tide iontrála agus iasc ag brú suas i dtreo na mbanc, deir sé gur féidir le jig vibrating, frog nó buzzbait teacht isteach.
Is é an eochair amháin ná stealth. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dul go mall agus gan an t-uisce a dhúshlánú. Cuidíonn Pools Cumhachta go leor. Lig siad dó stopadh ar dime nuair is gá dó a roghnú i ndáiríre amach a chuid áiteanna.
Ní hé go héasca a bheith ar an iascaire is fearr sa chomórtas iascaireachta marthanais, ach d'fhoghlaim Schmitt go leor ceachtanna as sin. Má tá tú ag dul chun rith ar chúl na creeks ar lá tournament, ní mór duit a bheith cúramach.
'Is féidir go mbeadh sé i ndáiríre dochar má tá tú ar an bpatrún sin agus má fhaigheann tú taobh thiar de dhuine eile ag déanamh é,' a deir Schmitt. Tá sé beagnach ar cheann de na déileálacha sin a bhíonn ag brath ar do uimhir báid. Agus fiú mura bhfuil an t-airgead ceart, b'fhéidir go mbeidh ort dul chun do thogra a chur i gcrích toisc go bhfuil cuid de na háiteanna seo chomh caol sin mura bhfaighidh tú leathbhealach ar ais ní féidir le duine ar bith dul thart ort.
Deir Schmitt go bhfuil an tactic is fearr is dócha nuair nach bhfuil go leor brú. Tar éis an tsaoil, daoine ag iarraidh a bheith John Cox Tá smarter an bass suas thar na blianta.
"Is geimhridh é", a dúirt Schmitt. Is é mo thuairim, le cúpla bliain anuas, go bhfuil na hiasc sna háiteanna áirithe seo tar éis a bheith i bhfad níos cliste. Ach is bealach tapa é chun iasc a aimsiú. Tá daonra i gcónaí iontu, gan amhras. Chonaic mé nuair a d'fhéadfadh sé a bheith ina déileáil buaiteoir má fhaigheann tú an creek ceart, ach sílim níos mó mar sin ní fhéadfadh sé a bheith ina déileáil buaiteoir, ach is féidir leat a dhéanamh ar an 10 barr ag déanamh é.
Seoladh é ar dtús ag FLW