Going Organic: POOPeroni

Craving for sausages yet wanting to stay fit and healthy? Don't you worry no more for healthy sausages are on their way - tasty, organic and good for the body. 

Scientist in Spain found out that the trick to making sausages healthier may be baby poop. Bacteria from baby poop can help make delicious sausages, which could transform savory meats into health foods much like probiotic yogurts.

THE SAUSAGE

Fermented sausages including salami, and pepperoni are made from mixtures of ground meat, salt, sugar, spices and curing agents stuffed into casings. They are typically fermented by either bacteria naturally found in the raw meat or commercially available bacteria added to the meat during manufacturing. The lactic acid these fermenting bacteria produce, together with the drying of the meat, suppresses the spread of germs that would otherwise spoil the sausages. Scientists reasoned that probiotic bacteria such as those in yogurts could be used in fermented sausages as well.

Live probiotic bacteria can have a wide variety of health benefits. For instance, these microbes could help burn away belly fat, treat depression, lower inflammation, prevent urinary-tract infections and fight infant gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation.

"Probiotic fermented sausages will give an opportunity to consumers who don't take dairy products the possibility to include probiotic foods to their diet," said study co-author Anna Jofré, a food microbiologist at Catalonia's Institute of Food and Agricultural Research's (IRTA) food-safety program in Girona, Spain.

However for probiotic bacteria to work, they must survive the acids in the digestive tract. As such, the researchers focused on microbes found alive in human feces.

BABY FECES

The scientists concentrated on 43 fecal samples of healthy infants up to 6 months old. The samples were taken from diapers, mostly provided by midwives in support groups for new parents.

The two kinds of bacteria used most often in probiotics, Lactobacillusand Bifidobacterium, are far more abundant in infant poop than in adult excrement. In addition, "infant feces are natural samples, easy to obtain," Jofré said.

The scientists tried fermenting six batches of sausages using three strains of bacteria found in baby poop and three other commercial probiotic strains of bacteria. Studies they had done in the past established the strains they used from infant excrement were safe for people.

VERDICT

Professional tasters confirmed all the sausages tasted like regular fuet (A kind of Mediterranean fermented pork sausage commonly found in Catalonia in northeastern Spain. It resembles the Spanish fermented sausage known as chorizo), even though all were healthier, low-fat, low-salt versions. 

The scientists tried their creations as well. "We ate them, and they tasted very good," said one. Future research needs to confirm if this strain of bacteria actually has probiotic effects. "Meanwhile, they can be used for the production of tasty fermented sausages," Jofré said.

They've also assured that the sausages they made had no feces in them, only bacteria cultured from the poop.
So far, no companies are currently interested in commercializing theses sausages.

Reference: http://news.discovery.com/human/health/pooperoni-baby-poop-bacteria-make-healthy-sausages-140220.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

There is no such thing as Zero Gravity

Recently, bombshell Kate Upton was in a "Zero G" shoot for sports illustrated. GMA news in it's article "

Kate Upton's bikini science: Why there's no such thing as zero gravity" explores the science behind this weightlessness felt on the "Zero G" plane. Kate Upton may have swept many men off their feet, but does weightlessness really exist?

The Zero G plane simulates the feeling of weightlessness. According to the article, one does not experience zero gravity but rather zero weight. Relative to the plane, Kate Upton seems like she is in space because she is falling at the same rate of the plane. The Zero G plane dives at the rate of free-fall. The people inside the plane are weightless relative to the plane since there is no normal force acting against the person in free-fall.

The most surprising part of the article was that Zero G is a myth. An object does not actually experience zero gravity at anytime but can experience microgravity wherein gravity is so small that it is a negligible force.

What interested me in this article, aside from Kate Upton's beauty, was the relation of Kate Upton's experience to Einstein's theory of Relativity. This made me read up more on the topic. The theory's is used to explain Kate Upton's experience - according to Einstein, "being in a free-falling elevator is equivalent to being in an elevator in space." I find the theory of relativity very interesting since it says that space is separate from time and that the experience of the two is relative to the location and speed of the observer.

I liked how GMA New's article talked about the scientific principles behind something as silly as Kate Upton floating half nude in a Zero G plane. It may not be a great example, but this article shows how science can be used to appreciate the things around us that we already appreciate just through knowing how they work scientifically. Now that I know how the Zero G makes one feel weightless, the next thing I want to know, is how Kate is able to make me feel weightless.

by Alberto Oxales III
2012-62271

Anti-heartbreak Drug

It is, again, the time of the year wherein red hearts flutter around every corner, and bright flowers are here and there. It is when lovers can be seen everywhere, and love is in the air. Yes, it is February once again.

               

Time and again, scientists search for the science in love, a neural basis for it, a cure for its ills. Although a cure for heartbreak is a taboo for us, there is a statement saying that such drug could help “people struggling with suicidal or delusional thoughts because of unrequited love, or those in the clutches of unrelenting grief.” And no matter how unethical it sounds to others, this subject is really intriguing.

First, let us define love. Some say that it is when you want to hold his/her hand even if it is sweaty, or when you only see him/her when in a crowd. On the other hand, neuroscientists define love as “a neurobiological phenomenon that falls into three subtypes: lust, attraction and attachment – all of which increase our reproductive and parental success.”

Overlapping chemicals are observed in each aspect and these can be diminished, says Helen Fisher at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Say lust. Obsessing over tiny details of someone resembles the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therefore, in a research made by Donatella Marazziti at the University of Pisa in Italy, she “compared the brains of 20 people in the first throes of love with those of 20 people with OCD. Both groups had unusually low levels of a protein that transports serotonin – a hormone involved in regulating mood – around the brain. Retesting the lovers a year later revealed that their serotonin levels had increased, and that they no longer reported an obsessive focus on their partners.”

“Drugs that boost serotonin can offer relief to people with OCD, so it's reasonable to think that they could also help to dampen lustful feelings. These drugs include antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are known to blunt extreme emotions, and make it harder to form romantic bonds. This is an unwanted side effect for people with depression, but for those seeking to detach from someone, it could be welcome.”

On the other hand, Larry Young of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia studied prairie voles. These rodents are monogamous – it forms one life-long bond. When he “injected female voles with a drug that blocked either dopamine or oxytocin, they became polygamous. ‘This suggests you might be able to block oxytocin and sever a long-term attachment,’ says Young. His team has also shown that blocking corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a hormone involved in the stress response, stops the depressive behaviour that prairie voles exhibit when their partner dies. Young doesn't recommend blocking CRF for unrequited love, but he says it could be helpful to relieve the depression that comes with persistent grief.”

Nonetheless, according to Fisher, time is still the answer. Her team found out that “people pining after a lost love have greater brain activity in the ventral pallidum … than people who were happily in love,” but it also went down with their attachment as time passed by. “One day it might even be possible to use brain stimulation to decrease activity in the ventral pallidum, to speed up the healing effects of time, she says. Until then, it seems what your mother told you about heartbreak still rings true: you can't beat time and a little love from someone new."

Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129564.600-cure-for-love-chemical-cures-for-the-lovesick.html#.Uv9BIWKSwgU

Plastic Beehives?

Photo Courtesy: Google

Humans are known to be  inventors and innovators, constantly thinking of new ways to deal with the same resources. We try to make life much easier and try to do things using faster ways. We continue to alter our environment in order to get what we need.

On the other hand, bees are known to produce delicious honey. They make beehives in which they live and raise their young and have a powerful sting which is now used medically to relieve headaches.

Photo Courtesy: Google

Who knew that humans and bees could be so alike?              

A study published in the science journal  Ecosphere by a University of Guelph graduate shows that some kinds of bees in urban areas are now using plastic to build their beehives. It was also stated in the study that this phenomenon was not really an accident. The bees actually chewed the plastic in a different manner compared to the way they process the usual ingredients that they use which are plastic resins.  In other words, they knew that they were dealing with something else. These bees innovated their beehives.

Although the study actually states that the plastic actually makes the beehives stronger and better, it is still important to take note of the changes we make in our environment and its possible effects. This study greatly exemplifies the effects of human life to other creatures.  It also implies that humans should be critical about the changing environment and the use of technology because they clearly affect other living things around us. We live in one world and we need to make sure that we cause no harm to other things, both living and nonliving.

Journal Reference:

J. Scott MacIvor, Andrew E. Moore. Bees collect polyurethane and polyethylene plastics as novel nest materials. Ecosphere, 2013; 4 (12): art155 DOI: 10.1890/ES13-00308.1

Sources:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140211103340.htm

http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/2014/02/post_261.html

You Give Me Premature Ventricular Contractions

Photo courtesy: Google

It is again that time of the year that all couples look forward to and all single people dread. It is when Facebook walls are full of relationship posts from Thought Catalog or when friends suddenly burst into singing ‘Do you want to be my Boyfriend.’ Insides of malls are practically painted with shades of either pink or red and one should probably prepare their anti histamine medicine because flowers will be sold almost everywhere.  Yes dear reader, it is once again, Valentine’s Day – that special day where we celebrate love and cherish our loved ones.

Why do we love, Love?

Regardless of gender or nationality, all human beings love the idea of love. This is probably the reason why Valentine’s Day or the Day of Love has been celebrated ever since the 19^th century and is massively being marketed by several companies in the world today.

But why do we love, Love?

From a biological perspective, Love has something to with the survival of the human species. Our interaction with the opposite sex makes procreation possible and we do it not only because of our need to reproduce but also our desire for our offspring to survive. But while we think that Love is a process of the heart, it is actually an undertaking of the brain. Did you know that the brain of a person in love is similar to the brain of someone in cocaine? Happy hormones are released from our ventral tegmental area that lowers the threshold of our pleasure centres. In short, it makes us feel pleasure. 

Now that explains why we say ‘para kang adik’ to our friends who are in love.

Happy Hormones

So what are these hormones that make us feel so happy and elated?

Photo courtesy: AsapSCIENCE

Dopamine and Norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that are critical in regulating our mood and behavior. It gives us the motivation, desire and craving to be with the person we love and it also triggers sexual arousal and a racing heart. These two neurotransmitters are also used to treat depression.

Aside from these two, a hormone called Oxytocin also surges in the brain when a person is in love. It helps reinforce attachment or bonding among mammals that’s why it’s also called the Commitment Nueromodulator. Hugging someone is said to release Oxytocins which lowers our cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress.

There are more physiological and psychological components that can be related to the Science of Love but little is still known to explain everything about it. What’s important is that we now know that love doesn't only have positive effects in our outlook in life but to our physical and mental wellness as well. So whether you’re in a relationship or not, find something you can cherish or love starting this Valentine’s Day and keep those happy hormones coming!

Photo courtesy: Google

Posted by: Rielle Alcantara

References:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMwpVUhxAo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

http://www.livestrong.com/article/17497-dopamine-norepinephrine/ http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/hugs-are-awesome-and-good-for-your-health-too

"Damned if you do, damned if you don't"

Photo Courtesy: Google

A study published in the journal Biology Letters on January 28 this year revealed that donors are more likely to be anonymous when giving extremely low or extremely high donations. Individuals opt to hide to avoid violating social norms.

A study published in the journal Biology Letters on January 28 this year revealed that donors are more likely to be anonymous when giving extremely low or extremely high donations. Individuals opt to hide to avoid violating social norms.

It was stated in the research that it is a known fact that the central motivating force for donating is the concern for one's reputation. A 2004 study also discovered that donations increased when donor names were publicized.

The researcher coordinated with a popular British fundraising site, BMyCharity, and analyzed more than 3,000 donations to 36 different charities. Results showed that the median donation was £20 and that about 175 donations (5%) donated anonymously. It was discovered that anonymity was opted when donations were of extremely high or extremely low value.

This suggested that people tend to hide their identity when they fall too far out of the norm. In this case, when donors see previous donations on a certain appeal, they can make a decision on how much they want to donate; And if they fall outside that norm, they can opt for anonymity to avoid social censure.

"They might be in a situation where they're damned if they do or damned if they don't," Raihani said in her research, "They can't really give anything else, because everyone knows they're loaded, but they don't want to come off as showing off."

References:
http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/10/1/20130884.full
http://www.livescience.com/42911-why-people-give-anonymously.html

UP Land Use: “The Erosion of the UP Public Character”

In the recent public forum that I had attended, two of the speakers had claimed that the misuse of the UP lands has been eroding our public character.  I absolutely agree.  

Full swing privatization shows a switch in the priority of the administration from the education and welfare of UP students and employees to income generation by all means. We can see this in many of the UP lands; however, due to its timeliness I’d like to focus on the newly built UP Town Center.

One of the student speakers who is currently part of the University Student Council mentioned that in order to build this establishment, the UP Integrated School’s (UPIS) students as well as staff were relocated into the campus of UP Diliman. This would have been alright if one, Ayala had donated enough money to reconstruct it complete with all the facilities and equipment and if two, if the future establishment would cater to the UP Student and his needs according to the UP Charter.

Sadly, none of those two conditions were satisfied. Ayala asked UPIS to leave with the condition of a 220M donation for a new building in the campus but this was not enough. UPIS had to find means to support themselves and resorted to launching a project to earn money due to the lack of facilities and equipment. In addition to that, the new UP Town Center was not built according to the provisions of section 22 of the UP Charter that focuses on Land Use.

First of all, Section 22 states that the land must be used for Academic purposes. Today, we see that the UP Town Center has absolutely no academic relevance. It only houses numerous food establishments and one clothing store, which have no benefits or special privileges at the very least for students taking up related courses such as Hotel Restaurant Management or Clothing Technology. It is purely for leisure purposes.

Secondly, the UP Charter indicates that the use of UP lands must not act as a substitute for state subsidy. However, the main reason for launching the UP Town in the first place is so that the university will have income to support itself and its students which is lacking from the government. This is another direct violation of the provisions of section 22.

Thirdly, there must be transparency and accountability regarding all transactions and the cash flow of the institution. According to the speaker, the University Student Council has continuously requested for financial reports from UP lands however no breakdown has ever been given. They are only able to see summaries and do not know whether the income generated indeed goes to the UP community.

Lastly, one of its provisions is that there must be student consultation regarding the matter. Sadly, there was no comprehensive consultation that took place regarding the establishment of the UP Town Center. If so, then it would not have ended up as infamous with majority of the UP students today. Most people only knew about it when it was already being built and were surprised at the type of market it caters to. Several iskos and iskas now believe that it does not even deserve to be called the UP Town Center because it only caters to people of the upper brackets and mostly Ateneans or students from the Miriam College.

With all of this said, we see how the establishment of the UP Town Center clearly reflects the current orientation of our government as well as the administration. They claim that we have no money and can no longer provide for ourselves in UP but we have seen recently through the PDAF scam that we do in fact have enough for the country and for the university. Therefore, it is NOT true that we do not have the sufficient budget, and we must start looking for other more correct ways on how to solve this problem without degrading the public’s image of the UP community. We have to prove to the people that we have not become slave to commercialization and we have not become the next Ateneo de Manila or De La Salle University. We have to show others that we are still Iskolars ng Bayan who tirelessly fight for equality and opportunity for all. We have to establish that we are still the University of the Philippines, for the Philippines.

This essay was written in response to the public forum "Kapeeconomiya: UP Land Use"

 Posted by:

Aitana Kaw

Moonstruck?

Photo from: Google

Filipinos were left awestruck as a halo around the moon was spotted in the night sky last Monday, January 13, 2013. The planet Jupiter also found its way in the photos with its special appearance inside the halo. With this, Facebook news feeds and Twitter timelines were flooded with posts and photos of the picturesque sight that was seen across the country. 

So what was the hype all about? The halo, or specifically 22° halo, is a phenomenon caused by light reflected and refracted in millions of tiny ice crystals present in high altitude cirro-stratus clouds. As lights passes through these hexagon-shaped ice crystals, it is bent at a 22 degree angle (thus the 22° halo), creating a halo 22 degrees in radius.

Lunar halos are mostly colorless since moonlight isn’t very bright – colors are more noticeable in solar halos. In it, red is more prominent on the inside and blue on the outside – this is because blue light refracts more than red. Also, the said phenomenon usually happens in cold months, which our country currently experiencing.

Here’s a fun fact: the said crystals have to be oriented and positioned with respect to one’s eye. This means that everyone sees their own unique halo, made by their own particular ice crystals which are different from the ice crystals making the halo of the person standing next to you. Awesome, isn’t it?

Mixed feelings were shared by the Filipino netizens because at the same time that the posts stating how amazing and breathtaking this occurrence is, are posts that state that this is an omen - a bad sign of a disaster coming. Legend says that if you count the number of stars inside the lunar halo, that’s the number of days before it will rain.

There is truth in this as high cirrus clouds often come before a storm, but the said event does not necessarily signal a storm. But nonetheless, there’s no harm in preparing – after all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?

References:

http://earthsky.org/space/what-makes-a-halo-around-the-moon

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/pinoys-dazzled-by-haloed-moon-055411790.html

http://scoopboy.com/lunar-halo-causes-stir-online/

Posted by: Stephanie Cabana

Baby, It’s REALLY Cold Outside: The Polar Vortex

Photo of a Chicago Deep freeze by Pilot Hank Cain

This January, Americans in at least two dozen states have been shivering for a couple of weeks brought about by a distorted polar vortex. The cold air it is sending southward is said to be the biggest visitor from the North Pole since Santa Claus. The gifts it brings, however, are too cold and completely unwelcome. Until today, much of the United States suffers from record low temperatures.

What really is this polar vortex that everyone seems to be talking about? A polar vortex is a strong area of low pressure around the Arctic that is composed of a circulation of strong, upper-level winds. These winds tend to keep intensely cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere but occasionally, counterclockwise winds around it become distorted and push waves of bitter cold air into the USA. 

The distortion leading to a massive winter storm on Jan. 2

This distortion of the vortex is something normal and occurs naturally. However, it never happened with this intensity. This is why the possibility of this current phenomenon as a side effect of global warming has become a hot research topic. 

According to CNN International senior meteorologist Brandon Miller, some research shows that it could be possible. Different types of extreme weather are consequences from the overall warming of the planet, melting of the Arctic Sea ice, etc. and this includes extreme distortions of the jet stream, which can cause heat waves in summer and cold outbreaks in winter.

Now a polar vortex can only lead to major cold outbreaks in countries in the Northern Hemisphere such as North America, Europe, and Asia, so the Philippines will never really be greatly affected by this. However, this occurrence is a call for all of us to be responsible citizens and to strive to alleviate global warming. These extreme weather conditions pose a great risk to the lives of our fellow men and we must start living green now.

__

This blog entry was written in response to the collection of photographs of the first major winter storm of 2014 found on NYDailynews.com

Webpage: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/winter-storm-hercules-pummels-major-u-s-cities-gallery-1.1564642?pmSlide=1.1567000

Works Cited:

-       Roston, Eric. "Why Is It So Cold? The Polar Vortex, Explained." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 08 Jan. 2014. Web. 09 Jan. 2014.

-    Duke, Alan. "Frigid Air from the North Pole: What's This Polar Vortex?" CNN. Cable News Network, 06 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

-         Rice, Doyle. "What Is the Polar Vortex?" USA Today. Gannett, 06 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

Image Sources:

-         http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/01/polar-vortex-2014-photos-of-a-chicago-deep-freeze/

-         http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-07/why-is-it-so-cold-the-polar-vortex-explained.html

Posted By: Aitana Kaw

Kapekonomiya 2.0.: UP Land Use

As a stakeholder of the University, it is important that we are aware of how the assets of the institution including land is being utilised to further improve its provision of quality education. During the educational discussion, it was presented that UP land use has eventually changed due to the construction of new infrastructure including the National Science Complex, as well as the attempt of the university to enter in lease contracts with private organisations in order to generate more income to fund the university's operations.

From the administration side, these lease contracts are not new and that these are significant source of income for the university. Also, all these contracts are in conformity with the university's land use and mandate. However, from the other view, the contracts are seen as not in full conformity with the land use plan and that leasing the university's land to private entities is not in consonance with the primary service function of the university - academic and scholarship.

On a personal note, I am not against the lease contracts for as long as land allocated for academic purposes are not reduced and that services and facilities are being improved due to the resources generated from the lease contracts. Otherwise, I see the lease agreements to be against the UP mandate - to become a research, graduate and public service university.

Sources of Light, Sources of Hope

The recent typhoon Yolanda (inter nation name: Haiyan) cost the Philippine so much. It damaged most of Visayas and some parts of Mindanao. Some towns are partly damaged while some are totally washed out. Evacuees are in 'tent cities' while damaged infrastructures and other properties are being recovered and rehabilitated. Among the most important issue in the devastated area is electricity - for some household appliances, light, mobile phone and flashlight charging. But with the extent of destruction in the power lines and posts, authorities and power companies have yet to provide the area with the electricity that they need.

The tenure of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla has also been endangered by this issue, as people called the official's resignation after failing to meet his earlier pronouncement that power in some areas will be 100% operating by Christmas. But the Palace kept the Secretary in his post saying that the latter has been performing well even if he did not meet his earlier target due to actual challenges in the area.

Project EnKindle

In these times of calamities and destruction, we Filipino are not hesitant to extend whatever help we can give. We also harness our creativity and innovativeness to create something that will be of benefit to us and for others. This is why a number of individuals was able to help families in the devastated areas to have access to power from other sources and means while waiting for the reinstallation of power lines.

A Liter of Light

A group named Project EnKindle lend solar panels that help people capture and utilise the power from sunlight. Another project named A Liter of Light utilised pet bottles, water and detergent as an alternative lighting. Using a small solar panel-chip that captures sunlight in the morning, the bottle illuminates a household just like an electrically-powered light bulb. From simple materials found home, the bottles have become not only a container of water but also a container of light, a source of hope.

With these innovations, it is proven that Filipinos are not just resilient and symphatetic during disasters. Our creative sides are also evident during these times and we are getting not only personal gains from these but also societal gains as we are able to help others. With concerned and innovative Filipinos, we can never be defeated by the challenges that we will be facing. The solar panel and the bottles are not just sources of light for the families, but they are also sources of hope that we will rise again.



Sources:
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/47662-project-enkindle-yolanda-solar-panels;
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/43998-petilla-resign-if-power-not-restored-by-dec-24;
http://www.gov.ph/2013/12/26/statement-the-presidential-spokesperson-on-the-retention-of-energy-secretary-jericho-petilla;
http://lightup.justworks.me;

http://aliteroflight.org