Docu.Siyensiya 2011

science digest for students

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science digest for students

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table of contents Student safety thru text: Dorm management with SMS notification for parents

Lightening the load with natural fiber composites

One for the books: a digital card catalog for bookworms

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Weight Watchers: Fish binge on beans for growth

Phytoremediation: Helping nature heal itself

Mudbloods: Wielding gastronomical magic with the alimango

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The noble thief: Ingenious device powers cell phones

Through a lens: Hobbyists meld passion with photography with science

Beauty glows skin deep for the sea cucumber

Grades online: A fool-proof academic performance system

Avian army revitalizes forests

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Foreword........................................................... 1 Docu.Siyensiya Timeline................................... 2 Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science.............. 4 Shared experiences: 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair Student Summit............ 12 Telling the tech: Creating an effective poster............................ 16 Sustaining Technology and the Environment....................................... 32 When Posters Go Public: Sharing Knowledge with the Community........ 63

Science Mysteries Bermuda Triangle......................................... 24 Dolphin Stranding........................................ 42 Monarch Migration....................................... 50 The Meaning of Dreams............................... 58 Galleries Community Fair: 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair................................... 65 PSHS Student-Scientists with their Technical Posters......................... 69

foreword

O

ur very first Science Digest MMLDC Docu.

Siyensya 2009 generated very good feedback and affirmed our intention to build a culture of science and research among the youth by featuring winning projects. Encouraged by this success, we bring to you MMLDC Docu.

Siyensya 2011, which features science research projects of the students of the Philippine Science High School System.

Our long relationship with renowned scientisteducator Dr. Josette Biyo (PSHS Western Visayas) led to the PSHS System-MMLDC National Science Fair in November 16-18, 2010. Held in our Antipolo training center, selected PSHS students and science teachers from its eleven campuses attended learning sessions and put up the exhibit.

Alongside science projects, MMLDC Docu.

Siyensya 2011 continues to feature science mysteries; a centerfold on the sustainability of technology and environment; and our tips on how to make a good science poster. 2011 also captures the students in action while doing their own researches and experiments, as well as inspiring stories and

tales which unfolded over the three-day science fair.

A culmination of fulfilled dreams for us and our partners! We wish to thank the following who made this possible: • The Philippine Science High School System, its directors, students and teachers, • Our partners from the Department of Education, • The Editorial Board, headed by Mr. Arthur Florentin, original Docu.Siyensya dreamer and Dr. Josette Biyo, who shared the dream.

Happy reading!

Ma. Vivien C. Arnobit Director for Academic Services MMLDC Foundation Inc.

science digest for students

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• First engagement of Dr. Josette T. Biyo with Meralco Management and Leadership Development Center (MMLDC) Educators’ Forum

• First Batch of Science Investigative Research Workshop – May 2008 • Second Batch of Science Investigative Research Workshop – December 2008 • Third Batch of Science Investigative Research Workshop – April 2009 • Conceptualization of an MMLDC Science Publication with Dr. Biyo

timeline • Coverage of 6th ASEP National Science Fair Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

• Coverage of 7th ASEP National Science Fair Tabaco City, Albay

• Publication of Docu.Siyensya 2009

• Coverage of ISEF in UP Diliman

• Launch of Docu.Siyensya 2009 at MMLDC’s 4th Educ Forum, November 5, 2009

• Coverage of PSHSSWV Science Congress and Science Fair

• Conceptualization of an MMLDC Science Congress

• First Working Committee Planning for 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair, MMLDC, Antipolo City.

• Final Planning for the 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair, Goa, Camarines Norte • The 1st PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair 2010 November 16-18, 2010 MMLDC Antipolo City

Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

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by Erwin A. Baluyot

istory, philosophy and science are replete with stories celebrating individual genius.

When Socrates, the infamous bad boy of classical philosophy, proclaimed “The only thing I know is that I know nothing,� he outlined the qualities each critical thinker must possess: an open and agile mind tempered by a humble heart.

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science digest for students

Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

‘Hey man of science with your perfect rules of measure, Can you improve this place with the data that you gather?’

— “I Want to Conquer the World,” by Bad Religion When the Meralco Management and Leadership Development Center (MMLDC) and the Philippine Science High School System (PSHS) embarked on their dream of conducting a science fair, they envisioned one that did not glorify individual achievement, but instead cultivated camaraderie and fellowship among the country’s leading young scientists.

The 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC Science Fair, which had the theme “Building a Culture of Science,” seeks to raise the interest of students in science as well as research and investigative projects. The fair, held at the MMLDC grounds in Antipolo City, served as an avenue to provide young scientists with an opportunity to showcase their research works, inventions and breakthroughs in an environment

science digest for students

that promoted camaraderie and cooperation instead of competition.

“The difference between the PSHSS-MMLDC Science Fair from other science fairs is that we have the country’s creme de la creme working in collaboration with their peers, under the guidance of experts recognized for their expertise to promote research as a valuable tool, in building a culture of science instead of competing for some prize,” said MMLDC Academic Services Director Ms. Vivien Arnobit.

For the second day, 26 research projects from PSHSS’s nine campuses were presented to their fellow PSHS students, public high school students from the divisions of Rizal, Antipolo and Pasig, as well as to a panel of experts who critiqued their

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Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

‘The difference between the PSHSS-MMLDC Science Fair from other science fairs is that we have the country’s creme de la creme working in collaboration with their peers, under the guidance of experts recognized for their expertise to promote research as a valuable tool, in building a culture of science instead of competing for some prize.’ ­MMLDC Academic Services Director Ms. Vivien Arnobit

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science digest for students

Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

The 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC Science Fair, which had the theme ‘Building a Culture of Science,’ seeks to raise the interest of students in science as well as research and investigative projects. Students from all over the PSHSS gathered at the MMLDC grounds in Antipolo City.

research projects in the Student Congress held last November 17.

For MMLDC Executive Director Ms. Agnes Fidelino, the Science Congress was an opportunity to “discover, learn and appreciate science and research.”

More importantly, it was an avenue for students to listen to the experience of expert researchers and what they had learned for themselves.

The projects were clustered into Math and Engineering, Computer Science, Animal Science, Plant Science and Microbiology and Chemistry and Biochemistry categories, with each cluster having an expert to assess the research done by the

science digest for students

PSHS students during the first part of the Student Congress.

Among the illustrious speakers invited were Rowena Cristina Guevara of the UP Electrical and Electronics Institutes for the Math and Engineering cluster, Edna Amparado of the UP Institute of Biology for the Animal Science cluster, Asian Institute of Management professor and Hybridigm Consulting founder Maoi Arroyo for Chemistry and Biochemistry cluster, Crimson Tayco of the UP Marine Science Institute for Plant Science cluster, and Jason Alcarez of the PSHS Main Campus for the Computer Science cluster.

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Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

In his keynote message to the Congress participants, Mario Montejo, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), said the event was an opportune time to recognize both the hard work and ingenuity of the students, two qualities he believed were essential to paving productivity, and ultimately, a better life for Pinoys.

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science digest for students

Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

While the experts were impressed with the research works presented by the students, they had the consensus that the works could be further improved. A speaker urged researchers to choose topics that had practical and beneficial uses to the community.

In his keynote message to the Congress participants, Mario Montejo, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), said the event was an opportune time to recognize both the hard work and ingenuity of the students, two qualities he believed were essential to paving productivity, and ultimately, a better life for Pinoys.

“Intimidated,” PSHS Central Mindanao campus student said when asked about his reaction to showing off their research work to both peers and experts in their field. He added that his anxiety was relieved when he heard the comments to their research were both positive and constructive.

science digest for students

Back to Basics “I am amazed with the different researches and the students were very brave to talk about their work,” Guevara said.

While the experts were genuinely impressed with the research works presented by the students, they were one in saying that the works could be further improved. According to them, among the improvements that researchers could undertake was the selection of research topics. While some topics might appeal to the interests of the youth, Amparado urged the researchers to choose topics that had practical and beneficial uses to the community.

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Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

On the other hand, Tayco pointed out that data presentation could help researchers reach their audience immediately by organizing their data more efficiently. Guevara also reminded the students to practice intellectual honesty by properly citing their references, a habit which she said should be reinforced among students, particularly in the secondary level.

“Relax.”

This summed up Arroyo’s advice to the youngsters when presenting their research to peers and experts. She added that the students should not be afraid when they “defend” their research. Montejo added that students should be creative in answering questions regarding their works.

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‘The first thing I blew my salary on was a lightsaber’ The first part of the Congress was followed by a plenary session with the panel of experts, joined

by Maria Corazon de Ungria, head of the UP DNA Analysis Laboratory, where they shared their own research works and gave the students a glimpse of emerging trends in their respective fields of expertise.

The overall theme of the plenary session was building a culture of science, a culture with the end view of empowering the community.

In her talk, Amparado stressed the need for the country’s scientists to patent their works. While the country boasts of a wide diversity of flora, some

science digest for students

Agile minds, humble hearts: Scholars help build culture of science

of which may be the key to numerous medical breakthroughs, the Philippines has been constantly raided by biopirates or foreign drug companies who make money out of the country’s resources.

Fortunato dela Peña, DOST undersecretary, sees science as a means for the country to rise out of the mire it is stuck in. For him, harnessing the Filipino’s ingenuity and creativity through science and coupling these with his inherent entrepreneurial skills can boost the productivity of the country's economy.

For her part, Arroyo urged the students to embrace their geekiness and use it as a means to help their country. Echoing dela Peña’s remarks, she said that high impact technology, harnessed through research,

science digest for students

can give Filipinos the solution to end poverty. She added that the young scientists should use their talents to give their countrymen unique advantages, in terms of economic competition — ones that could not be easily imitated by other countries.

Ultimately, the success of the Science Fair will not be measured in the awards and accolades of its participants in the future. It will be measured in the consciousness of the young scientists who will build a culture of science geared towards fulfilling a dream of a self-sufficient and prosperous country.

And this is just the beginning. n

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Shared experiences:

2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair Student Summit

by Janeth Morata-Fuentes

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he first few hours of the PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair saw PSHS scholars sticking to their campus-mates. Venturing a shy smile here and there, they did not really come off as young scientists on training: confident and intelligent. But that was only for a few hours.

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science digest for students

Shared experiences: 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair Student Summit

They had to tell stories of their journey for others to hear (and perhaps learn from). These stories painted the same scenarios — sleepless nights, frustrating results, eureka moments, and still more sleepless nights

On that same afternoon, they were forced to work together through an activity called the Students Summit. These scholars had to sit with fellow researchers from different campuses all over the PSHS System. That was the prod they needed to come out of their shells. They had to tell stories of their journey for others to hear (and perhaps learn from). These stories painted the same scenarios — sleepless nights, frustrating results, eureka moments, and still more sleepless nights.

It was actually funny and heartwarming listening to the tales of these young researchers. One group from Iloilo showed a picture of the Visayan hornbill.

They talked about how they had to court the bird so it wouldn’t turn aggressive. They also shared that they had to wait for the hornbill’s excreta to determine the effectiveness of their treatments.

And the Davao girls complained about the bites and scratches they had to suffer from their rabbits

science digest for students

(which they were balding to see if bignay was an efficient hair grower). The students from Ilocos did not want to be outdone. They spoke of how they had to search for the perfect seashell for their study on mathematical sequences (and how they spent a whole day sawing this seashell to half!).

I gleaned others’ experiences from the photo stories they prepared. A group doing robotics tagged their picture “dugo’t pawis ang puhunan,” referring to their blood specimen-staining robot’s function. Another talked about frustration in their detective work looking for fluorescent protein from sea cucumbers. A group from Cebu shared their teabagging skills. It was also amusing seeing a group’s reaction to a girl from Diliman explaining “analysis of organisms using fractal dimensional statistics.”

At first, one would actually just hear the “complaints.” But the beauty of the Students Summit was in the processing aspect the moderators did.

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Shared experiences: 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair Student Summit

When they voiced out their realizations that it was actually through the progression of their projects that they learned so much more about science, I almost had to keep myself from bawling out in happiness.

The students were successful in drawing out lessons they learned while doing their research projects.

The Sharing Portion was not merely an airing out of “grudges.” I was moved to tears when I heard these young scientists’ resolve to continue doing research (Ok, I am a Research Supervisor so you should understand my drama). When they voiced out their realizations that it was actually through the progression of their projects that they learned so much more about science, I almost had to keep myself from bawling out in happiness. The more practical ones decided that they should know how to manage their time well and exercise discipline to avoid missed requirements. One other insight shared by a student was about research NOT being the search for the ultimate data but about research being an appreciation of what they find out.

The shy scientists then shed off their inhibitions in just a matter of a few hours. Moderators told about kids having to be cut short because obviously,

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they were enjoying the sharing too much they didn’t want to stop. Others were piping in “Me Ma’am! Haven’t talked yet!” I saw it as a sort of catharsis for these young students. Spending the past two years (well, almost) of their high school looking for problems to solve, solving the problems and worrying about the solutions, dealing with a lot of obstacles (like reagents not arriving on time, animals not cooperating, funding concerns, thought about not graduating because of a failed research) — everything on top of the usual Pisay academic load — may be too much for a lesser soul. But the perseverance of these kids is amazing.

This is why the last part of the Summit was a fitting tribute to this perseverance. Each group was then assigned to a particular study. The students had to sit with the researchers, ask about the impact of the study to the wider community, and in the end recommend a title that could recognize strengths of the project critiqued.

science digest for students

Shared experiences: 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair Student Summit

What I appreciated about this exercise was the positivity of it all. It may not have been the Nobel Prize but the intention was similar — to praise the worthiness of a project.

The most creative citation was “Pebbles-toBuild-a-Castle” Award. Another was “Most Unique Bio-math Connection” for the study on Fibbonacci series in shells. The list also includes “Librarian’s Stress-Reliever Award” for a program designed to streamline a library’s operations; “Pisay for Pisay Award,” pointing to a program’s usefulness in the PSHS setting; most futuristic study for a robot entry; a spattering of “Most Innovative” awards; and a sprinkling of environment-friendly citations.

What I appreciated about this exercise was the positivity of it all. It may not have been the Nobel Prize but the intention was similar — to praise the worthiness of a project. It may have been a bit disconcerting for these kids to get recognition when for so long, all they would hear from their research advisers are points on how to improve their study or weak aspects that need strengthening. Even for those who have attended science fairs, of judges

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interrogating students like there is no tomorrow, stripping one of the iotas of confidence one might have put into the project.

Thus, getting an “innovative” certification is not lame — it actually becomes a sweet memory.

It is an affirmation of the students’ hard work and inventiveness. Because it is awarded by their peers (just like in many professional awards in scientific research), it also becomes a confirmation that one is on the right track. And instead of getting turned off from continuing, one is encouraged to create more of these endeavors in the future.

And that’s what a Science Fair should be about — a cultivation of the seeds of interest in science. The Students Summit certainly attained that goal. Who knows? The cathartic and affirmative exercises could act as catalysts to a more productive science culture. With those students going home with pats on the back and lighter hearts, that actually wouldn’t be far from the truth. n

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Telling the tech:

Creating an effective poster

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o you’ve finally made your scientific breakthrough after countless hours of research and sleepless nights. What’s next? More than being a means to celebrate individual genius, research work is collaborative process between the researcher, his peers, funding organizations and the community which will ultimately benefit from the study.

There is a wide range of techniques one can use to present research work, each suited for a particular setting and audience.

Written materials work best with peers who are familiar with the jargon of one’s field and those who have a sufficient knowledge of the concepts presented in the work.

Research posters, on the other hand are visual communications tools that encourage conversation with colleagues. They summarize and advertise your work.

Imagine words as fairies gently nudging its readers into a labyrinth of jargon and technical terms. Posters, on the other hand, are like a more visually-appealing ogre, grabbing its viewers by the collar, telling them “LOOK AT ME!” Effective posters are compact and visual. Compact posters focus on one, clearly stated question with a clear take-home message. Visual posters use

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diagrams, arrows, and other graphics rather than text to direct attention.

There are several basic considerations in making a poster.

1. AUDIENCE – Your audience determines the tone of your poster. Are they likely to be specialists in one field? Do they belong to wide-ranging disciplines?

Or is your audience the general public? The tone of your poster must complement the audience you are most likely to face. The beauty of using posters is that they appeal to a wide range of audience: from experts to newbies with little tweaking required.

2. CONTENT – Your central research question should be reflected in the content of your Title, Text, Graphics and Conclusions. Identify your take home message and think what is the most logical and interesting way for you to tell your story.

– e.g., methods, results, implications, conclusions – e.g, focus, justification, findings, conclusions

science digest for students

Posters always have too much text. So minimize text and use images and graphics instead. Avoid needlessly complex words and unnecessary words.

3. GRAPHICS – The graphics in your poster should be simple and clean, be self explanatory, require a minimum of supplemental text and be readable from 6 feet away. Let your graphics tell your story and remove any fancy graphics and unnecessary text which will just confuse your audience. A compelling graphic is more than enough to drive your idea home instead of piling up unnecessary details.

4. TEXT (Language) – Posters always have too much text. So minimize text and use images and graphics instead. When using text SIMPLE LANGUAGE IS BEST and use short sentences. Avoid needlessly complex words and unnecessary words.

Use strong verbs and active voice. Try looking at the most compelling advertisement you’ve seen and notice how words take a backseat to the graphics. It wouldn’t hurt if you’d come up with some catchy or killer lines for your poster.

5. COLORS – Use dark letters on a light background.

Avoid dark background with light letters which are very tiring to read. Stick to a theme of only 2-3 colors, no more! Overly bright colors attract attention, but are tiring. The idea here is to sustain the attention of the audience, not give them sore eyes.

6. LAYOUT – Heed reader gravity. People naturally read left to right, top to bottom. A column format is easy to read in a crowd. Use headings to direct readers to key sections. Use blank space effectively and balance it with text.You should strive for 20% text, 40% graphics, and 40% empty space. Condense and delete anything you can. Leave out detailed methods and vast tables of data. If it doesn’t focus on your central question, leave it out! If someone is interested or asks, you can always talk about it.

Finally, always acknowledge other contributors and funding organizations and SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK!

science digest for students

Technical poster for the study “Apparent Digestibility of Thraustochytrids-supplemented Layer Mash for Coturnix japonica (Japanese Quail) Layers” of PSHS Western Visayas.

Just remember, keep your posters focused on a single message, make it graphic and keep the sequence well-ordered and obvious.

References: Hess, G.R., K. Tosney, and L. Liegel. 2006. Creating Effective Poster Presentations. http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters.

Accessed [7 December 2010].

Ogren, Marilee. 2008. Making Great Posters.

Cranor LF. 2004. Research Posters 101. Crossroads The ACM Student Magazine. http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds3-2/ posters.html. Accessed [7 December 2010].

Glas P. [no date]. How do you prepare a research poster?. http://www.the-aps.org/careers/careers1/gradprof/glas.htm.

Accessed [7 December 2010].

Purrington CB. 2006. Advice on designing scientific posters. http://www.Swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/posteradvice. htm. Accessed [7 December 2010].

Tham MT. 1997. Poster presentation of research work. http:// lorien.ncl.ac.uk /ming/dept / Tips/present /copypost.htm.

Accessed [7 December 2010].

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NTS’ E D U ST OICE CH

Student safety thru text:

Dorm management with SMS notification for parents

Dormitory Electronic Management System (DEMS) | PSHS Bicol

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eing able to study at the Philippine Science High School is a rare privilege. As with most things, Pisay students and their families must make certain sacrifices so the scholars can obtain the best secondary education the government can offer. Among the sacrifices include students being away from their families for the greater part of

by Erwin A. Baluyot the school year.

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science digest for students

Dormitory Electronic Management System (DEMS) | PSHS Bicol

Through the use of a USB modem, text messages are automatically sent to the resident’s parents as they check in or out of their residence hall.

With the majority of the students of the PSHS Bicol campus hailing from different parts of the province, some of these students need to stay at dormitories.

And while staying at the dormitory provides Pisay students a measure of freedom and independence, their parents can’t help but feel worried about the well-being of their children.

When PSHS Bicol Campus students Elner M. Sapo II, Joselito B. Jesalva Jr. and Gisela Isabel R. Mirandilla conceptualized the idea of automating the dormitory management system at their own dorm, they specifically wanted a way by which to give a sense of security for the parents of students who reside in dorms.

“We chose this topic because of the problems we encountered in the dormitory. We needed an organized way of making dormitory transactions,” the three explained.

Automating the dorm management system provided users with ease of use and at the same time,

science digest for students

enabled dormitory managers to manage, review, and record transactions efficiently.

“Compared to other projects, ours is the only one that is a management system with SMS sending,” the three said with pride. Through the use of a USB modem, text messages are automatically sent to the resident’s parents as they check in or out of their residence hall.

Using MS Access™, the three created a database containing information about the residents, dormitory managers and the residence hall.

MS Access™ is a popular database program among hobbyists and professionals. It enables nonprofessionals to create advanced programs with little or no use of program codes. It is also flexible enough to use with other programs such as Sybase, Oracle, and in this project’s case, Visual Basic.

The three then proceeded to make a computer program with Visual Basic that enabled users to perform different tasks using the electronic database

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Dormitory Electronic Management System (DEMS) | PSHS Bicol

To ensure that their program was working properly, they enlisted the help of computer experts as well as residents of the dorm to rate their project based on aesthetics and functionality.

they first created. Visual Basic is a user-friendly program wherein a project can be easily created using drag-and-drop techniques.

“When the program didn’t function properly, we had to re-check and re-type the codes for that specific part that went wrong. We had to ask help from our methodology adviser and computer experts to fix it,” the three recalled.

To ensure that their program works properly, they enlisted the help of computer experts as well as residents of the dorm to rate their project based on aesthetics and functionality. The testers gave outstanding ratings for the program in terms of visual appeal, accuracy of data, and overall stability

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of the program. The special function of the program, which enabled it to send text messages to the parents/guardians of the dorm's residents, worked without hitches. The system sent SMS messages to the right recipients.

“There were times that we stayed up late or didn’t sleep at all to accomplish our tasks for this project,” recounted the three. And it all paid off with a unique and very useful computer program.

While there is no substitute with being able to be physically present to look after their children, the parents of PSHS Bicol dorm residents can sleep a little more soundly, secure in the knowledge that their kids have reached their dorms safely. n

science digest for students

Lightening the load with natural fiber composites Natural fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite from snake plant and water hyacinth | PSHS Ilocos

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e live in a lightweight world where computers can be carried even in Manila envelopes, where Olympic records are broken with state-of-the-art athletic gear, and where people ride in nifty cars that zoom in speeds

by Michael S. Bala unimaginable fifty years ago.

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Natural fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite from snake plant and water hyacinth | PSHS Ilocos

In their mission to find a cheaper yet effective and environment-friendly alternative, the researchers experimented on snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to fortify an unsaturated polyester matrix.

Even the list of tallest buildings constantly changes in the wake of fast-evolving improvements in lightweight materials and structural design.

Googling “tallest skycraper” five years from now may bring up news of structures threatening the title currently held by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

These lightweight examples just prove that the current trend of technology clearly looks geared towards improving the performance of products without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

With this mindset, three future scientists from the Bicol Campus of the Philippine Science High School System came up with the idea of finding a stronger yet lighter alternative to reinforced composites.

So what exactly are composites?

In their paper, “Natural fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite from snake plant and water hyacinth,” Carlo Jonas Cariño, Angeline Faustino, and April Dawn Lanuza explained that composites are materials made up of two components — the matrix and its reinforcements — to produce a stronger, more durable product.

These composites are present in our everyday lives, though we may not even know it. Laptop exteriors, various sports apparel, and automobile

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parts all make use of certain composites to maximize overall function yet still retain, if not improve, the level of comfort we've been accustomed to.

What’s most interesting in their study is that the students used natural fiber from plants as opposed to more conventional artificial fibers like glass or carbon.

To provide a more visual explanation, the students playfully suggested a reference to the hugely popular Flash-designed computer game Plants vs. Zombies.

Among the game’s mini-games is Zombotany, where a zombie (the matrix) is combined with a plant head (natural fiber composite) to produce a tougher challenge for the pea-shooting guardians of your lawn (for the uninitiated, though they definitely look friendlier, these zombie-plant hybrids will still love to eat your brains).

In their mission to find a cheaper yet effective and environment-friendly alternative, the researchers experimented on snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to fortify an unsaturated polyester matrix. The ornamental snake plant and free-growing water hyacinth were chosen primarily for their fiber content, but the students added that they chose natural fibers

science digest for students

Natural fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite from snake plant and water hyacinth | PSHS Ilocos

The students readily admitted that their methodology had extremely tested their patience. They said they had encountered problems with the labor-intensive procedures of laying out the fibers and perfecting the molds, which were prone to leakage.

because they were low-density, low-cost, recyclable, and most importantly, biodegradable. Natural fibers also consume less energy, and do not pose a risk to people’s health.

In their methodology, the students aimed to test three composites — two materials composed of each plant and a third material composed by the two plants. The students then experimented by varying fiber content, orientation (unidirectional and bi-directional), and position (vertical-horizontal, horizontal-vertical). They then evaluated the composites according to tensile strength, water absorption and thickness swelling.

Results of the study showed the snake plant beating the water hyacinth and snake plant-water hyacinth composites. The snake plant composite performed best in preventing penetration of water and had the highest capacity to withstand stress.

Also, the unidirectional orientation showed great promise in terms of tensile strength and thickness swelling.

The students readily admitted that their difficult methodology had extremely tested their patience.

They said they had encountered problems dealing with the labor-intensive procedures of laying out the

science digest for students

fibers and perfecting the molds, which were prone to leakage.

They cited their experience with the experts at the National Science Fair as a highlight of their project. “These people inspired us to pursue the study and let us realize the beauty of investigation.

They taught us the importance of research in real life, which enlightened us about the ways of science,” the students said.

The greatest significance of their work comes in the use of natural resources as a substitute for composites, which greatly lessens the impact on the environment. The students, therefore, did not entirely focus on doing research — they also recognized that the application of their findings is equally important to the whole process.

With the recent increase of global awareness on environmental issues and concerted efforts to counter the dangerous effects of industrialization on the environment, their research will definitely make a mark in an eco-conscious world.

With a little research luck and some support from the government, an online query in the future of the “next tallest skyscraper” may just hint about a revolutionary “Uragon Tower.” n

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science mysteries

bermuda triangle

In 1945, five bomber planes of the United States Navy disappeared without a trace over the Atlantic Ocean. Reports say the flight leader was last heard on the radio saying, “We are entering white water, nothing seems right. We don’t know where we are, the water is green, no, white.”

by Michael S. Bala Thus started the myth of the Bermuda Triangle.

The lost planes, collectively known as Flight 19, were on a training mission on navigation. After they were confirmed missing, a flying boat — PBM 5 — was sent to search for the missing planes.

However, the flying boat, receiving the same fate as the bombers, also mysteriously vanished. Two seaplanes said they received a routine message from the flyer, but never heard from it again and one sea vessel reportedly saw an enormous explosion from the coordinates where it was last located.

Their tragedy made its way into national dailies and magazines. Adding to the growing intrigue was the supposed statement of Navy officials that Flight 19 “flew off to Mars.” An investigation also confirmed that the loss of PBM 5 was due to a midair blast.

Several other stories were said to have happened in the same area of the bombers’ disappearance, most of them without a clue to the whereabouts of the remains or what caused the mishaps. Tales date back to as early as the time of Christopher Columbus who recorded in his logbooks compass malfunctions in the area and a bolt of fire that fell into the sea.

The triangle’s location varies according to different sources. Generally, its three points lie on the coast of Florida in the United States, then east to the Bahamas, then San Juan, Puerto Rico to the south. Authors of stories surrounding the Bermuda Triangle have documented a list of ships and planes that have gone missing in the area.

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Among the vessels involved in the history of the Bermuda Triangle is about an abandoned schooner seen floating in the middle of the Atlantic with its compass and the ship’s papers missing. Evidence pointed out that the passengers left in a hurry, although all lifeboats were left onboard. In 1880, a British ship with 290 cadets went missing without remnants of a wreckage and accounts of corpses dressed in white added to its lore. Another incident involves the largest number of lives lost (in noncombat) in the U.S. Navy’s history when the USS Cyclops vanished at sea on its way to Baltimore.

To this day, theories on the mysterious disappearances in the region are attributed to a host of supernatural explanations. Some say the Bermuda Triangle is where the lost city of Atlantis once existed. Another connected the phenomena to aliens and unidentified flying objects. Others blame it on anomalous or unexplained forces.

There are also those who have refuted the mystery in the triangle, countering it with natural and plausible causes to the disappearances and tragedies. Still, the debate remains whether the incidences are really cause for concern or just mere coincidences. n References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_Triangle http://www.bermuda-triangle.org/ http://www.skepdic.com/bermuda.html http://www.unmuseum.org/triangle.htm http://www.byerly.org/bt.htm

science digest for students

One for the books:

a digital card catalog for bookworms

Development of a Library Organization Program for the PSHS-CVisC Library Using PHP and MySQL

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he aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the scent and rustle of pages of a new book.

These are but some of the few simple pleasures a number of people value in these frenetic times. Even with the advent of e-books and e-book readers such as the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Apple iPad, any bookworm can attest to the different pleasure and experience that

by Erwin A. Baluyot a “real� book gives.

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science digest for students

Development of a Library Organization Program for the PSHS-CVisC Library Using PHP and MySQL

And while the Internet empowers people by making a wide array of information readily available at the click of a mouse, the library still remains as the top destination for both researchers and bibliophiles.

Yet a trip to the library doesn’t have to be a game of hide and seek as one wades through countless books looking for that one literary gem.

The research project of Paulinko Kiel Labian, Emmanuel Lodovice, Michael Steven Molion to develop a library organization system for their school library perfectly blends the ease and comfort afforded by the use of new technology with the pleasure of leafing through the pages of a book.

Instead of searching for a book by manually wading through a thick card catalog system, the three students from the Central Visayas Campus of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) came up with the idea of using computer scripting languages, in this case, PHP and MySQL, to provide an efficient and convenient access to available books, as well as to new arrivals, at their school library. Their design also helps school librarians to provide a preview of the contents of the books, to approve the borrowing of books, and to manage as well the status of books from borrowed to available.

MySQL is a programming language used to manage information-driven databases while PHP is

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a programming language that serves as a framework to access databases created with MySQL. These are the same programming languages that drive popular websites such Google, Wikipedia, and Facebook.

The first step the three took in constructing the website was to draft a requirement analysis document, where they outlined a site map detailing the information needed to provide ease of access for target users. This included setting up a browsing tool with the use of keywords or by manual scanning of titles arranged in categories; new arrivals; as well as the information and history of their campus library.

The next step was to design the website, to strike a balance between functionality, ease of use and aesthetic appeal using HyperText Markup Languange (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). HTML enables programmers to create a framework for the visual structure, which includes the website’s text and related images. CSS is used to tweak the design of the website like layout, colors and fonts.

The next order of business was the gargantuan task of coding, which consisted of two phases: organizing the database using MySQL, encoding titles, authors, locations in library and control numbers, and then using PHP for the interface for users to access this database.

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Development of a Library Organization Program for the PSHS-CVisC Library Using PHP and MySQL

Instead of searching for a book by manually wading through a thick card catalog system, the three students from the PSHS-CVisC came up with the idea of using PHP and MySQL.

Afterwards, they put the first version of their project under quality control, asking 15 people to test their website. Bugs and other problems were taken note of, and were eventually corrected, leading to a much improved version of their project.

The final output of the students’ work is a fully functional, offline version of the program, which is good news for PSHS Central Visayas students doing research for their assignments and projects or looking into the availability of one of the Twilight books.

This can save time and effort on the part of library users, especially when an online version of the project is made available. A user can search

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for the book he is looking for at the comfort of his own house, on the virtual library on the web, before making a trip to the real library. The online library catalog can also provide ease of access for persons with disabilities.

Labian, Lodovice and Molion’s research project is a clear example of how technology can improve the performance and ease of doing even the most menial task, such as looking up a book. Unlike using the conventional card catalog where one has to wade through different files for categories, such as names of author or titles of books, the program created by these students gives instant information about a book through the simple use of keywords. n

science digest for students

By Niall Crotty (Niall Crotty) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Weight Watchers:

Fish binge on beans for growth Compensatory growth reversion of female Nile Tilapia by induced endocrine stimulation | PSHS Cagayan Valley

“Fish are friends, not food!”

Thus said Bruce, a shark bent on changing his image from being a mindless eating machine into one of the nicest creatures in the sea in Disney

by Erwin A. Baluyot Pixar’s Finding Nemo. science digest for students

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Compensatory growth reversion of female Nile Tilapia by induced endocrine stimulation | PSHS Cagayan Valley

For Filipinos, tilapia is one of the staples at the family dining table, providing a combo of nutritional value and taste perfect for the Pinoy’s palate at a fraction of the cost of other protein sources such as pork and beef. Cooked fried, grilled, sinigang or paksiw, this versatile fish is a rich source of phosphorous, niacin, selenium, vitamin B12 and potassium.

For fish farmers, tilapia is a viable source of income with their hardiness, omnivorous diet, fast growth and reproductive capabilities.

Hailing from the country’s tilapia capital, Joi Mirdanne R. Dumaoang, Danika Perl M. Bautista and Larry Xerxex B. Capuno from PSHS Cagayan Valley Campus are quite familiar with tilapia and its value to the average Filipino family and to the local economy.

Through government interventions such as the distribution of fast-growing species and provision of free fingerlings to newly-opened fish farms, Cagayan Valley has established itself as the center for tilapia aquaculture. The Cagayan Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reports that in 2008, tilapia production increased by 37.25% from 2003 to 2007.

In commercial farms, almost all tilapia cultivated are males, being much larger than their female

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counterparts, thus inspiring the PSHS students to look into the idea of finding a means to increase tilapia farmers’ yield by looking into ways for the female of the species to catch up with the growth rate of the males. Previous researches have looked into inducing the sex reversal of the fish by feeding them with hormone-treated feeds.

The research of Dumaoang, Bautista and Capuno centers on the idea of increasing economic viability of tilapia farming through two means: increasing growth rate of the female tilapia and finding a cheaper alternative food source for the fish. For their research work, the three looked into mixing powdered kidney beans, a resource both cheap and readily available in their community, with commercial feeds and their effect on the growth rate of the female tilapia vis-avis their male counterparts.

For their study, the students prepared three setups with one two-month old male tilapia and one two-month old female each in a 1m x 0.33m x 0.5m (length x width x depth) fish cage, increasing the amount of powdered kidney beans supplemented to commercial feeds. In the first set-up, female tilapia are fed exclusively on commercial feeds; in the second set-up, the fish were fed with 50% kidney beans and 50% commercial feeds; in the third setup, the fish were fed with 75% kidney beans and

science digest for students

Compensatory growth reversion of female Nile Tilapia by induced endocrine stimulation | PSHS Cagayan Valley

The research focused on increasing the economic viability of tilapia farming through two means: increasing growth rate of the female tilapia and finding a cheaper alternative food source for the fish.

25% commercial feeds. The fish were fed three times a day (9 AM, 12 PM and 3 PM) during the course of their study. The students then observed in the period of five weeks the weekly growth of the fish, measuring weekly the increase in mass, length and girth of their tests subjects.

Data gathered from the observation of the three set-ups revealed that fish fed with a mixture of kidney beans and commercial feeds exhibited significant growth rate posting higher mass, length and girth increase compared with those fed with commercial feeds alone. The study also revealed that the amount of kidney beans mixed with commercial feeds has a significant impact in the growth rate of female tilapia with those fed with higher amounts

science digest for students

of kidney beans having higher increase in their length and girth.

Dumaoang, Bautista and Capuno’s research is good both for fish farmers and consumers. On one hand, the study advocates looking into indigenous products such as kidney beans to lessen reliance on commercial feeds. On the other hand, the research also reveals means to increase production yield by farming both sexes of tilapia instead of relying solely on the male of the species. In simpler terms, this means higher production yield and lesser production cost and ultimately, lower selling price for consumers.

Good news for Filipinos, bad news for Nemo’s tasty, tasty cousins. n

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Hazardous electronic waste strewn in a landfill in Ghana. Image courtesy of Greenpeace.

Sustaining Technology and the Environment

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t the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, tech companies launched new gadgets and technologies for consumers to feast their eyes on. From slim smartphones to tantalizing tablets, to surreal HDTVs and wireless technologies, there was some

by Ronald B. Escanlar new gadget for someone to wish for.

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science digest for students

Old electronic devices, such as discarded television sets and monitors, wait in a junkyard in the U.S.

I’ve been monitoring the RSS feeds for any sign of an ecologically sound technology, or any environmental pronouncement of a major tech company. Perhaps I’ll make do with the news of General Motors’ investment of a hefty five million US dollars into a tech start-up company that works with wireless chargers.

Sadly, there was no break-out news of some new composite material, of some new technology to recycle, reuse, or reduce the electronic waste generated by the computer industry.

Recycling against Moore’s law As early as the 1970s, Moore’s Law was set in computing circles. Wikipedia says that, “The law is named after Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore, who described the trend in his 1965 paper. The paper noted that number of components in integrated circuits had doubled every year from the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958 until 1965 and predicted that the trend would continue ‘for at least ten years.’ His prediction has proved to be uncannily accurate, in part because the law is now used in the semiconductor industry to guide long-term planning and to set targets for research and development.”

We are definitely reaping the benefits of Moore’s law as we use our smartphones, our tablets, our

science digest for students

netbooks, our laptops, our desktop computers — basically everything that has a computer chip in it. As automation creeps into our daily lives and the Internet becomes more accessible, our reality overlaps that of our virtual reality.

But the truth is far from reality, so to speak.

As we bask in the increasing number of gadgets and other electronic devices, and the technologies they’re bringing into the market, the issue of recycling old computers and other electronic items continues to be neglected.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that although consumer electronics make up just 2% of the municipal solid waste stream, this rate will certainly increase with the annual explosion of consumer electronics. In 2005, the agency records that used or unwanted electronics weighed in at 1.9 to 2.2 million tons (a ton is equivalent to a thousand kilos).

“For each new product that comes along, one or more becomes outdated or obsolete. Consequently, we’re storing or discarding older electronic products faster than ever,” says the EPA in their report, Fact Sheet: Management of Electronic Waste in the United States.

In 2007, out of the 157.3 million units of computer products thrown in landfills, only 18% was recycled,

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Workers in India and China sort electronic waste for precious metals.

Images courtesy of Greenpeace.

the EPA records. These computer products include CPUs, monitors, notebooks, keyboards, mice, printers and printer cartridges.

Is eighteen percent significant? I don’t think so.

Sustainability efforts in the country As we know more about the health effects of toxic substances, especially those used in electronic devices, the government and the private sector have started implementing awareness and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to address environmental hazards brought by old electronic items.

In 2010, the Department of Health began banning mercury thermometers in government hospitals, replacing these medical equipment with safer digital thermometers.

Shopping mall giant SM has a Trash to Cash program, set every first Friday and Saturday of the month. The recycling market, established three years ago, enables mall goers to sell used lead batteries, computer monitors, empty toner ink cartridges, PET bottles, aluminum and tin cans, and other junk items to recyclers.

One of the world’s largest handset manufacturers, Nokia, has an ongoing program of recycling old cellphones and batteries in the country. Their website

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says that if every owner of a mobile phone were to recycle one old cellphone, as much as 240,000 tons of raw materials would be saved. At select shopping malls, Nokia has set up bins where old cellphones, batteries, chargers, and other accessories can be dropped in for proper disposal.

International efforts Worldwide, environmental advocates are using multimedia to create and raise awareness about the hazards of electronic waste.

The U.S.-based organization As You Sow (asyousow.org), founded in 1992, works to pressure companies into complying with environmental laws to achieve greater environmental sustainability.

Four Green Steps (fourgreensteps.com) is a Canadian website that caters to eco-friendly and sustainable products for consumers. As stated in their website, “We provide every type of eco-friendly and sustainable product on the market, up-to-date information on environmental topics, corporate responsibility, as well as a unique environmental curriculum for schools worldwide. With Four Green Steps, you can showcase your green products, ideas, opinions, blogs, projects, and videos with the world.

Together, we can all make a difference, one step at a time.”

science digest for students

An average mobile phone has US$1 worth of precious metals, mostly gold.

In 2007, the EPA says 126.3 million cellphones were disposed in the U.S. Only 14 million were recycled.

The research of PSHS students about composites is of special interest, since the industry has made strides in incorporating biodegradable composites into their products. One example is technology giant Asus, which has released a line of laptops that use mature, two-year old Moso bamboo as laptop shells. Their Bamboo series of laptops is available in 11- and 12-inch models.

Electronic waste We have no idea where all our electronic junk go, but Americans and Canadians have an inkling where all their electronic wastes go: Ghana in Africa, then off to China and India in Asia.

“Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground” is a short documentary written by a freelance journalist and a group of graduate students. The documentary follows the trail of electronic wastes, such as old CPUs, keyboards and printers, from Vancouver, Canada, to Ghana then China and India.

The documentary can be seen online at this link: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/ ghana804/video/video_index.html.

Compliance is still a problem that compounds our garbage woes. The enforcement of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, officially known as Republic Act 9003, is still a big headache for our local government officials. The tragedy that struck Metro

science digest for students

Manila at the height of typhoon Ondoy’s onslaught reflects the magnitude of our environmental problem.

Perhaps more from less Perhaps, in a few years from now, the iPad will be as ubiquitous as the mobile cellphone. Perhaps, in a few years from now, the latest iteration of the iPod will be the Nokia 5110 of our time.

In just a few years, technology has leaped beyond our wildest imaginations, so wild that our landfills are filling up with the gadgets and electronic devices of just five years ago. Last year’s model is already outdated — just compare the first generation of an iPhone to their latest release, which sports a camera and has video telephone capability.

We must always be conscious about how technology impacts our lives. Asbestos was a darling of the industry before it was discovered that it was toxic and hazardous to its users. Mercury, an important industrial metal, is also considered one of the most toxic metals.

New gadgets. New technologies. But is there new wisdom? Where do we put all of our old devices?

Where do we put all of our broken gadgets? Surely, our resources are not that enough to supply every individual with his or her own cellphone, laptop, multimedia player, or electronic what-not. n

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Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=18947

The noble thief:

ingenious device powers cell phones Improvised Mobile Charger with Joule-Thief Circuit Integration for Nokia 2mm Phone Interface | PSHS Central Mindanao

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yphoon Ondoy (Ketsana) of 2009 is carved in our consciousness as one of the most devastating storms in recent history, wreaking damage worth US$100M and destroying government and commercial facilities. With power and communication lines down, families stuck in flood-struck areas were isolated, worrying about their relatives stranded in the wake of the super

by Erwin A. Baluyot howler.

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science digest for students

Improvised Mobile Charger with Joule-Thief Circuit Integration for Nokia 2mm Phone Interface | PSHS Central Mindanao

Kevin Lloyd Bernal and Edward Christopher Paler’s research on finding an alternative power source is significant during emergencies, when open lines of communication is of vital importance.

Being able to communicate with relatives during emergencies provides families with a sense of connection and security during calamitous times.

Beyond this, and more importantly, their study raises consciousness about the proper disposal of batteries. Batteries contain toxic metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and nickel, which can pose an environmental threat if they are not disposed properly. Instead of just mindlessly disposing spent batteries, the duo’s study offers a way to maximize the utility of batteries.

The study of the PSHS students from Central Mindanao Campus was inspired by a project posted in the DIY website <http://www.emanator.demon. co.uk/bigclive/joule.htm>. The project described a way to extract electricity from a spent 1.5V battery.

The extracted energy was reportedly enough to continuously light an LED bulb for a week.

Households usually dispose batteries after failing to power everyday gadgets. Unknown to

science digest for students

many, these batteries still have enough energy left.

The “Joule Thief” circuit posted in the website provides a means to harness the remaining energy in the batteries, enough to power simple devices and maximize their utility.

With this inspiration and a little ingenuity, the two students hatched a plan to retrofit the project posted on the website into one that will power a Nokia cellular phone with a 2 mm interface.

Bernal and Paler’s project integrates three circuits to power Nokia cell phones: the Joule Thief circuit which harnesses the remaining energy from the battery cell; the bridge rectifier circuit that converts the battery’s alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) for households; and an electronic filter circuit which amplifies the energy output of the batteries, enough to power a cell phone.

After constructing the composite circuit, the duo collected AA batteries. These batteries are commonly found in a typical household. Collected batteries that were leaking or had exploded were not included in the experiment.

The duo then measured the initial voltage output of the batteries, taking note of the time until the

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Improvised Mobile Charger with Joule-Thief Circuit Integration for Nokia 2mm Phone Interface | PSHS Central Mindanao

The students were able to construct a device that could absorb the remaining power of spent batteries.

The absorbed power is made to pass through filters, which is then safely passed to the cell phone.

batteries were capable of providing energy as well as the output of the composite circuit.

In layman terms, the students were able to construct a device that could absorb the remaining power of spent batteries. The absorbed power is made to pass through filters, which is then safely passed to the cell phone, in this case, a Nokia 3120 Classic. The power supplied to the cell phone was enough to start re-charging the phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery.

The two recorded an average initial battery voltage of just a measly 1.31 volts. With the use of the Joule Thief and the electronic filter circuit, they were able to amplify the scant power from the batteries into a more powerful 8.91 volts. The

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range of power required to power a 2 mm interface phone is between 5.5 volts to 9.3 volts. They also recorded that their device can continuously charge a cell phone at an average time of 9.36 minutes, with voltage output dropping to 5.5 volts beyond ten minutes of charging.

The modern age is characterized both by mobility and interconnectivity with gadgets such as cell phones playing a vital role. More than being a being a status symbol, cell phones have been proven to be important tools in times of emergency. Bernal and Palerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research displays a keen understanding of this and showcases the modern Filipino youthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ingenuity and environmental consciousness. n

science digest for students

Photo by Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR. Image courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce, U.S.A.

Beauty glows skin deep for the sea cucumber

Extraction, isolation and identification of fluorescent protein from Holothuroidea species | PSHS Eastern Visayas

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ea cucumbers probably come last in most peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s list of favorite animals. Long and worm-like, these ugly bottom-dwellers often disrupt a beautiful day at the beach or garner a shrieking response from the uninformed. by Michael S. Bala science digest for students

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Extraction, isolation and identification of fluorescent protein from Holothuroidea species | PSHS Eastern Visayas

Sea cucumbers are responsible for providing a profitable livelihood to people living in coastal areas. Our abundant water resources are home to these organisms, which makes us the world’s second largest exporter of sea cucumbers.

Still, despite all the offensive remarks thrown at these creatures, a few people find them attractive.

Because of their many uses and benefits, they command a great deal of respect from scientists, researchers, pharmacists and doctors. Even your friendly, knife-wielding kitchen connoisseur might show a great appreciation for the lowly sea cucumber.

In China and Japan, the sea cucumber is served as a delicacy that is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. Its distinctive phallic appearance contributes to this notion, together with its peculiar reaction to kneading. For Malaysians, the sea cucumber is revered for its medicinal properties. It is processed into oil, cream and oral products.

Here in the Philippines, sea cucumbers are responsible for providing a profitable livelihood to people living in coastal areas. Our country’s abundant water resources are home to these organisms, which makes us the world’s second largest exporter of sea cucumbers. In the field of science, researchers from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños found out that sea cucumbers have components that have the potential to kill cancer cells.

This abundance in sea cucumbers and their valuable research potential prompted three students from the Eastern Visayas Campus of the Philippine Science High School System to explore these animals as a source for fluorescent proteins in their research, “Extraction, isolation and identification of fluorescent protein from Holothuroidea species.”

Sea cucumbers come from the class Holothuroidea under the phylum Echinodermata. Since echinoderms are known models of bioluminescence, or the production of light by living things, Theo Victor Cavite, Alyssa Fuentebella and Ma. Sergia Fatima Sucaldito tested the sea cucumbers for the elusive flourescent protein (FP).

FPs are, to put it simply, proteins that glow.

This uncommon feature makes them significant in the scientific community as they are used “to

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watch processes that were previously invisible, such as the development of nerve cells in the brain or how cancer cells spread.” They are also utilized as reporters of gene expression and as bacterial biosensors. Unfortunately for researchers in the country, these FPs are not available locally and are currently imported at a steep price. The research of the three students aims to solve that perennial problem with locally-produced FPs. Fluorescent proteins first came to consciousness in the 60s and 70s when Osamu Shimomura separated and studied the luminescent Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from jellyfish. Decades later, two other scientists, Martin Chalfie and Roger

science digest for students

Extraction, isolation and identification of fluorescent protein from Holothuroidea species | PSHS Eastern Visayas

Results of the study showed that the sea cucumber indeed has the potential to contain fluorescent protein, which emitted light in the 400-700 nm range. This range covers visible light ­— it can be seen by the naked eye.

Tsien, independently made progress with studies on the protein’s properties. The former expressed the coding sequence of the protein while the latter made success in engineering mutants of the FP. In 2008, Shimomura, Chalfie and Chien were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of GFPs. This fact inspired the student-researchers from PSHS-EV to come up with their own study on FPs. They shared that they were “fascinated by the wide array of uses in many scientific fields (the) GFP and its cousin fluorescent proteins display”.

Apart from this, they recognized that this type of biochemistry work was an unexplored topic in their

science digest for students

campus. The three thus chose to trod the unknown path in trying to make a mark in their school’s research history. “We wanted to ‘leave a legacy’ for our junior peers, since our study is the first attempt at protein isolation,” they disclosed.

To achieve their objective, the students collected sea cucumbers and sorted them according to species.

The specimens were then dissected and the skin treated with ethanol. A crude solution, prepared after the treatment, was then viewed under ultraviolet light. Afterwards, a spectrofluorometer was used to identify the peaks with which the glow occurred in the spectrum.

Results of the study showed that the sea cucumber indeed has the potential to contain fluorescent protein, which emitted light in the 400-700 nm range. This range of the FP peaks fall under visible light, meaning the luminescence can be observed with the naked eye.

However, the researchers were quick to note, though, that they observed faint and non-distinct glows in the experiment, which led them to recommend a more thorough processing of the sea cucumber skin extracts.

Though they are still unsatisfied with their work, their findings still contribute greatly to the growing importance of the sea cucumber in medical research. Not to mention the impact it will have on local fishermen and all communities which depend on the industry.

Never mind that sea cucumbers look slimy and gross. Never mind that they eject a white mucus-like substance when threatened or that they can push out their innards through their anus in self-defense.

Never mind that some have tentacles that extend from their mouths. Just remember it has qualities the world will benefit from. Consider it vindication for the much-maligned creature.

Say beauty is skin deep. And in the case of the oft-misunderstood sea cucumber, this beautiful cliche glows nicely. n

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science mysteries

dolphin stranding

In September of 2010, a crack team was formed to study marine mammal stranding. The team, composed of scientists, veterinarians and policymakers, reported that more than 500 dolphins, dugongs and whales have been stranded on Philippine shores between 1998 and 2009.

by Erwin A. Baluyot The team, receiving a grant from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development of the University of the Philippines, has been tasked to put together a database of marine mammal stranding incidents.

While the team says that it is not surprising to document a large number of incidences of stranded of marine mammals due to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long coastline, the strandings continue to baffle experts.

In June 2008, one of the biggest mass strandings of marine animals was reported in Southwestern England, with 26 dolphins dead. Post-mortem analysis found out that the dolphins were well-fed and in otherwise good physical condition.

In February 2009, more than 200 dolphins were beached in Pilar, Bataan.

Experts have put forward a few theories explaining this phenomenon. Among these are weather conditions, diseases, sea quakes, magnetic field anomalies, and unfamiliarity with underwater topography. Some have identified global warming and climate change as possible causes, too.

The use of sonar by both commercial and military ships has been found to have an adverse effect on marine mammals, confusing them and interfering with their feeding and mating functions.

The use of sonar by the English navy prior to the stranding of the dolphins in 2008 has been pinpointed as a possible cause of the incident.

The incident of beached dolphins in Bataan, on the other hand, has been linked to the widespread

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practice of dynamite fishing in the area, confounding the aquatic mammals.

One interesting theory of scientists relates to the close-knit relationship of marine mammals with their pods (family unit). Family members of a pod will not leave a sick member in shallow waters.

Marine mammals may be considered the most intelligent species in the water and yet, as the most intelligent species and as stewards of Mother Nature, it is our sacred duty to take action. Now. n References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beached_whale http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2008/jun/11/ whatreallycausedthecornwal http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/ view/20090.211.188754/Dynamite-use-eyed-in-dolphinstranding http://www.iloiloriver.com/lessons-from-the-dolphinstranding.html http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17321-mass-dolphinstranding-linked-to-navy-exercises.html http://articles.cnn.com/2008-06-12/world/stranded.dolphin_1_ common-dolphins-mass-dolphin-marine-life-rescue?_ s=PM:WORLD http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/ cornwall/7445456.stm http://environment.about.com/od/biodiversityconservation/f/ whale_stranding.htm http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/ view/20100.927.294638/Dolphin-stranding-in-RP-unusuallyhigh

science digest for students

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Common_Water_hyacinth.jpg

Phytoremediation:

Helping nature heal itself Morpho-anatomical study in water hyacinth under the influence of lead | PSHS Ilocos

I

f you had any chance to alter your DNA to attain some sort of uncanny ability or stare at an eclipse to awaken your hidden powers, what power would you choose? How about

by Michael S. Bala regeneration?

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science digest for students

Morpho-anatomical study in water hyacinth under the influence of lead | PSHS Ilocos

The ability to heal oneself has been made popular by fictional figures like the X-men’s Wolverine or Heroes’ cheerleader, Claire Bennett. In real life, nature offers a host of organisms that actually display this trait. From the common house lizard, earthworms, and starfishes, self-regeneration has aroused our curiosity and have led us to further investigate the science behind it.

On a larger scale, nature, as a complex conundrum of physical processes, has the ability to heal itself, too. Notice how coasts are cleaned from oil spills after one or two storms, or how the atmosphere distributes heat to achieve equilibrium.

As with everything in life, self-healing has a limit. Unless we do something about it, a number of nature’s resources will either be on the brink of total destruction or on the verge of irreversible consequences.

With this in mind, Karen Louise Bangsal, Kyrsten Jannae Bigay, and Fides Myles Caliwag from the Philippine Science High School-Ilocos Region Campus ventured into research to offer their share in healing the environment. In their paper, “Morpho-anatomical study in water hyacinth under

science digest for students

the influence of lead,” they explored the possibility of relieving the Agno River from its harmful metal pollutants, particularly lead, by making use of the locally-abundant aquatic plant.

The Agno River, because of the presence of mining concessionaires in its upper reaches, has been subjected to mining contaminants, posing a danger not only to the fishes and organisms that thrive in it, but also to the communities which depend on it for sustenance.

The student-researchers chose the topic so they could help their community. They considered a natural way of healing the river — without much of the complicated procedures, but of great significance and impact to the environment.

They looked at the process of phytoremediation, or simply put, treatment using plants.

Phytoremediation involves treating pollutants in contaminated soils, water or air with plants that are able to contain harmful chemicals. This method costs lower than traditional treatments and it is less harmful since it uses naturally-occurring organisms which do not disturb the natural flow of the environment.

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Morpho-anatomical study in water hyacinth under the influence of lead | PSHS Ilocos

Their study focused on the river’s lead content and its effects on water hyacinth as an initial step to use for remediation.

For their research, the students used locallyabundant water hyacinths (Eichhorna crassipes), which have been known to absorb cadmium, lead, copper, zinc and nickel. In phytoremediation, the water hyacinth absorbs the contaminants through its roots thereby reducing the metals’ occurrence in the environment.

To measure the efficacy of the water hyacinths in the remediation process, the young scientists set up the plants along the Agno River for a month then measured lead concentrations before and after the experiment. They also noted changes in the leaves and in roots — changes in the cellular level of the water hyacinths.

Interestingly, results of their experiment showed higher traces of lead in the river set-up. They explain, though, that this may be due to an increase in upstream water flow, which may have affected the movement of metal contaminants.

On the other hand, analysis of the exposed hyacinths presented significant changes, which

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proved that the plants effectively absorbed the heavy metals flowing through the river.

Getting relevant results were rewarding for the three researchers, considering the gargantuan problems they had to face and eventually, to overcome. With support and motivation from their adviser, teachers, classmates, and their respective families, they overcame unpredictable weather conditions, difficulties in the statistical treatment of their data set, and the anatomical characterization of the specimens.

Their efforts will definitely go a long way in rehabilitating the Agno River, which has been polluted with heavy metals. The students’ research will open the door for further studies on the river. It also starts a culture of awareness for people living around mining areas and river environments.

Looking at the significance of their project, it is but fitting to view these future scientists as heroes in their community. Not exactly the awesome comic book-type characters everyone dreams to be, but real-life protagonists destined to make a difference.

Just doing their best to try and save the world.

Minus the tights. n

science digest for students

Through a lens:

Hobbyists meld passion for photography with science

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/971889

Improving the scratch resistance property of photographic filters | PSHS Diliman

by Erwin A. Baluyot

P

hotography has risen in popularity in recent years, especially among the youth. With advancements in Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras (DSLR), photography is no longer the exclusive domain of hipster fashion photographers.

Try going to a toy or anime convention, and you will see throngs of photography enthusiasts toting their DSLRs, hoping to take pictures of cosplayers clad as War Machine or as Haruhi Suzumiya. science digest for students

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Improving the scratch resistance property of photographic filters | PSHS Diliman

The research work of the students aims to find a suitable material for photographic filters, one that is both cheap and scratch-resistant. A photographic filter is an accessory mounted on the lens of a DSLR.

Unlike its analog brother, it is far more easier to use the DSLR, doing away with the tedious process of loading film. At the same time, one can easily preview shots taken instead of processing a film before getting a glimpse of the picture. The advent of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, has also helped boost the hobbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popularity, making it easier for anyone to upload, tag, and share pictures among friends and relatives.

The research work of photography enthusiasts and PSHS Diliman Campus students Anna Larisa Viktoria Vega, Denise Marie Bautista, and Lance Gilbert Yap aims to find a suitable material for photographic filters, one that is both cheap and

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scratch-resistant. A photographic filter is an accessory mounted on the lens of a camera for a variety of effects, including color correction, color enhancement, and polarization.

Even with the rising popularity of computer software for modification and enhancement of photographs such as Adobe PhotoShop, hardcore photographers insist on using filters since these lens accessories produce far better results than tweaking pictures with the computer.

Filters are usually made of glass, resin plastics, polyester and polycarbonates. One major issue among hobbyists with the use of filters is that they tend to lose the quality of producing good images

science digest for students

The three acknowledged that their results were inconclusive. The quest for finding a material for a cheap and durable photographic filter continues. as they degenerate due to scratches made from constant cleaning.

For their experiment, the three obtained from different manufacturing plants eight thermoplastics: Blow-Molding Grade Polypropylene (PP), Thermoforming Grade Polypropylene, Injection Grade Polypropylene, Extrusion Grade Polyethylene (PE), Blown Film Grade Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

Thermoplastics are commonly used for photographic filters because of their ability to turn into glassy state when cooled sufficiently after undergoing heating. In addition to this, a large number of this plastics can be recycled because they can be remelted and remoulded for other uses.

The thermoplastics were then heated, shaped and cooled into three sets of photographic filters, following the mass of 25 g, 15 g, and 10 g. Initially, the group allowed the thermoplastics to cool by themselves after wrapping and heating them to temperatures between 150 C – 200 C for an hour.

This resulted in the materials being either translucent or opaque.

After reviewing related literature for their project, the trio found out that the time set to cool the thermoplastics has a direct effect on their transparency.

For their next setup, the three immediately cooled the heated thermoplastics in ice-water, allowing only

science digest for students

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1087588

Improving the scratch resistance property of photographic filters | PSHS Diliman

less than a second for the heated material to have contact with air. Afterwards, the thermoplastics were then graded according to transparency.

Of the eight materials used, Vega, Bautista and Yap discovered that Thermoforming Grade Polypropylene (PP) was the least translucent material and had the highest potential as an alternative to commercially available photographic filters.

At the end of their study, the three were quick to acknowledge that the results they came upon were inconclusive and that the quest for finding a material for photographic filter that was both cheap and durable was still on.

“Because of an acquired translucency in the manufacturing of thermoplastics, the control variable will be changed to thermoplastic polycarbonate, which is primarily used for commercially available filters,” the three added.

Thermoplastic polycarbonate, commonly known as Lexan, is a popular material because it can be easily molded, durable and scratch-resistant.

In the animated movie Ratatouille, Gusteau, the lead character Remy’s imaginary chef-friend, tells him “Anyone can cook!”

Similarly, with the advancements in technology in photography, almost anybody can call himself a photographer. But only those with passion for their craft can call themselves artists. It is this passion for their hobby that reflects in the research of Vega, Bautista and Yap, using science as a means to hone their skill in photography. n

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science mysteries

monarch migration

Monarch butterflies begin their long and arduous journey by August to flee the harsh winter of their North American homes towards the temperate climate of Mexico. These butterflies lead solitary lives but usually mass up in swarms as they begin their epic journey.

by Erwin A. Baluyot Displaying economy in their movement, these butterflies do not flutter their wings. They flap their wings once or twice, gliding through the air, flying long stretches without stopping. In about three to four weeks, they complete their more than 2,000mile journey.

What baffles scientists is the way that the butterflies complete their journey. Unlike herds of mammals or flocks of birds, which have members who have at least completed one migration cycle, monarchs do not have a migration leader. Monarch butterflies have a lifespan of about nine months and a complete cycle of migration southwards and back north spans three to four generations.

Migratory birds have an uncanny ability to orient themselves via stars, landmarks, or by the earth's magnetism. On the other hand, monarchs, with simple anatomy, have displayed superior skill in orienting themselves both in latitude and longitude.

Dr. Orley Taylor of the Monarch Watch project of the University of Kansas conducted a test on how monarchs orient themselves using the rising of the sun. In one of his tests, he moved a batch of the insects from their home in Kansas to Washington, D.C. After releasing one group immediately, the butterflies moved south as they were likely to do if they were still in Kansas. On the other hand, he let one group settle in, letting the insects observe the rising and setting of the sun. As Taylor released this group, he observed that they made due adjustments to their paths.

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Dr. Barrie Frost of the Queens University of Canada has ruled out the butterflies’ use of the earth’s magnetic field or polarized light from the sky.

He believes that the monarchs use the sun to orient themselves towards the south and the scent emitted by corpses of butterflies from the previous year’s journey guide them towards their destination.

Taylor disputes Frost’s theory by saying that odiferous fatty acids from the corpses of butterflies are unlikely guideposts for the next generation of butterflies as the acids would not survive for a year.

So how do they really do it? No one knows for sure. What is clear is the impact of climate change and the use of pesticides on these amazing creatures.

Being picky eaters, monarch butterflies feed only on milkweed. Climate change has led to the shift in the season for milkweed. On the other hand, new formulations of herbicides have flooded the market, enabling farmers to get rid of more milkweed patches.

The confluence of these two has led to the dwindling population of these magnificent butterflies. n References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterfly http://scienceray.com/biology/the-incredible-migration-of-themonarch-butterfly-a-regal-journey/ http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/science/Monarch+ butterfly+migration+mystery+mapped/3334134/story.html http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/eastern-butterflies-revealtheir-midwestern-roots-0378/ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/science/03butter.html?_ r=1

science digest for students

A fool-proof academic performance system

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1208422

Grades online:

Academic Performance Calculation and Information System (APCIS) | PSHS Southern Mindanao

Y

ou think skipping school is cool as you trod to the nearest Internet cafe for your daily dose of network gaming. You tell your parents that CS stands for Computer Science and “flash bang” is the most popular anti-virus application. You argue that Defense of the Ancients is a new alternative class subject and that you and your friends enjoy it a lot. To make matters worse, you falsely assure your parents you’re doing great

by Michael S. Bala in school.

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science digest for students

Academic Performance Calculation and Information System (APCIS) | PSHS Southern Mindanao

The program allows parents and students to view grades, to report errors, to get updates on class standings, and to identify subjects that need work on. Not only that — the program also helps teachers compute grades.

Well now, Moms and Dads have Angelo Nikko Catapang, Reynard Divinagracia, and Gerico Sy to thank for.

These junior researchers from the Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus (PSHS-SMC) have developed an easy, accessible, and secure way to check on students’ grades without the hassle of going to his/her homeroom adviser. For their research, “Academic Performance Calculation and Information System (APCIS) for PSHS-SMC,” the three computer science and programming enthusiasts aimed to create a “user-friendly database that automatically calculates student grades and contains records of the grading systems of all subjects” in their campus.

Aside from allowing parents to view their children’s grades, the program allows students to report errors, get updates on their class standing, and identify subjects they need to work on. These features significantly help students and their parents monitor their academic performance.

At the same time, teachers benefit from the application through less time and effort spent in recording and computing their students’ grades.

Final grades and general weighted averages (GWA) become readily available after the input of individual test and assessment scores. No more late nights working, no more calculators, no more red ballpens.

All that teachers need to do is to feed the scores into the system, which routinely does all the work for them.

Moreover, the students add that the system eliminates the hassle in printing out hard copies of

science digest for students

grades and exchanging of these print-outs between subject teachers and advisers. Thus, the APCIS provides a faster and efficient way of handling class records. It also shifts the workload to a paperless system, thereby saving the school from additional costs and contributing to a more environmentconscious community.

In the study, the researchers built a program using the PHP platform with MySQL database query language. Generally, PHP takes in a file containing text and instructions and processes it to present a new set of data, usually in web-page or HTML form, while MySQL collects and organizes all the data for users. In this particular case, the input are the students' grades and pertinent information and the output is a user-friendly web page where students, teachers, and homeroom advisers can register. The system also enables students to access their grades, make error reports, and send suggestions.

In their methodology, the researchers started with a design of their system, where they specifically laid out what they wanted to do with the APCIS. They then proceeded to design and write the program, handling errors and syntax corrections along the way. Finally, they did program testing to check for the validity of the program output.

For the testing part, they created sample data which consisted of grade, student, subject teacher and homeroom adviser information which were fed into the APCIS program. They then checked the main functions of the application according to subject grade computation, GWA calculation, error report and suggestion, and student access. All trial

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Academic Performance Calculation and Information System (APCIS) | PSHS Southern Mindanao

The relevance of the APCIS is highlighted by its ease of use and the simplicity of its design, which allows for easy sharing. Because of this, other schools may adopt a similar scheme for automating their grading system.

output were accurate, returning no errors, which attested to the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efficiency .

The relevance of the APCIS is highlighted by its ease of use and the simplicity of its design, which allows for easy sharing. Because of this, other schools may adopt a similar scheme for automating their grading system.

Currently, only top universities in the country like the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and the University of Santo Tomas employ a similar student information system.

These information management systems cost a lot, and is especially untenable for smaller schools with limited budgets. The APCIS presents a more

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practical alternative yet still performs as efficiently as commercially-available software packages.

Although the student-researchers acknowledge that there is still room for improvement in their program, the fact that they have started something significant verifies the success of their project and provides a feasible proposal for our education system.

In the future, with just a few mouse clicks and a trusty network connection, students and their parents can monitor their academic performance any day of the school year. No more waiting for quarterly report cards. No more shocked remarks.

And hopefully, no more traumatic red scores. n

science digest for students

Mudbloods:

STUD E CHOI NTS’ CE

Wielding gastronomical magic with the alimango

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1231869

Blood meal replacement of fish meal in pelleted feeds for juvenile Scylla serrata (mud crabs) | PSHS Western Visayas

T

ong tong tong tong…

Pakitong-kitong… Alimango…

You may very well know the rest of the song. You know that they’re yummy and big and that they’ll snap at you without warning. Still, you disregard that last part of the lyrics because your brain got stuck at the teasing “malaki at masarap”

by Michael S. Bala part.

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Blood meal replacement of fish meal in pelleted feeds for juvenile Scylla serrata (mud crabs) | PSHS Western Visayas

The students found feeds account for almost 50% of total production costs for mud crabs. These feeds are mostly based on trash fish. Their study aimed to find a more economical source of protein for mud crabs.

The alimango, or mud crab, is a staple in Filipino feasts. They can be steamed, served with butter, cooked in gata, stir-fried in garlic or chili, flaked into a sumptuous relleno, or even whipped up into a wondrous adobo. These tough-looking gastronomic delights come at a price, though. They usually sell for PHP400 a kilo and are not easily available in every market or town.

With today’s economy, more and more people shy away from alimango and opt for other “swak sa budget” alternatives. Consumers of these crabs have now become limited to the upper class and some of the middle class who, once in a while, get to afford it. This may be a troublesome thought for mud crab farmers because an exclusive market coupled with the rising costs of feeds starts to paint a bleak future for the mud crab industry.

Thanks to a few young, bright minds from Western Visayas, we just might have the solution to the alimango industry’s woes. Philippine Science High School students Shaynne Laurice Dimafiles, Nina Ruth Martinez and Mariel Reynoso came up with a study centered on a cheaper alternative for

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mud crab feeds entitled, “Blood meal replacement of fish meal in pelleted feeds for juvenile Scylla serrata (mud crabs).”

In their study, the researchers stressed that feeds compose the most expensive item in marine culture, accounting for almost 50% of total production costs. In mud crab cultures, these feeds are mostly “natural diets based on marine animals such as trash fish.” Their study aimed to replace the fish diet into something more economical yet still provided the needed protein requirements of crabs.

For substitutes, the students considered coagulated chicken blood because of its high protein content (80.55%), which is greater than other locally-available supplements. Another advantage is that chicken blood does not have uses other than as street food (Betamax in street parlance or simply dugo), making it cheaper and readily available in great amounts.

To measure the effectiveness of the blood meal (BM) replacements, they noted the growth of young mud crabs fed with pellet feeds varying in BM concentrations — 0, 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 and

science digest for students

Blood meal replacement of fish meal in pelleted feeds for juvenile Scylla serrata (mud crabs) | PSHS Western Visayas

Results of their study revealed that mud crabs fed with five percent chicken blood for a month got consistently bigger and heavier. Interestingly, crabs fed with ten and fifty percent chicken blood had the lowest survival rates.

50 percent of the usual fish meal. Mean internal carapace width and carapace length were then recorded in centimeters after 15, 30 and 45 days.

Additionally, weight gain in grams and specific growth rate were measured. For the different bloodfish meal combinations, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion ratio, and survival rates were recorded within the same time periods.

Data from the different experiments were then compared to identify the best concentration and length of feeding time for the BM-fortified pellets.

Results of the comparisons revealed that mud crabs on 5 percent BM replacement diet for 30 days had consistently higher growth performance. The dimensions of the shells and average weight of the crabs weaned using those specifications all returned significant increases, which meant the test specimen got larger and heavier. Also, crabs fed with 0 and 15 percent BM replacement diets had the highest survival rate while those on 10 and 50% diets had the lowest.

The students acknowledged that the idea of including chicken blood in the feed pellets

science digest for students

provided their study with a fresh perspective. They considered this aspect of their research as the thing that made it different from previous studies. They even amusingly exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why would people feed crabs with blood?â&#x20AC;? when asked about the uniqueness of the project.

Unfortunately, this advantage also caused some problems for the three because they found it hard to look for literature regarding incorporating blood in feeds. Their enthusiasm towards their research and the help of an expert and people from the crab culture industry aided them in overcoming this obstacle.

Looking back, Shaynne, Nina and Mariel relish the hardships they endured in the completion of their project. Through adversity, they realized they had teachers, friends and family to help them through.

They also realized that what they were doing was not just a school project but a grand endeavor which could ultimately benefit a lot of people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; people in the mud crab industry and people salivating at them yummy and big alimangos. n

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science mysteries

the meaning of dreams

Since the time of Joseph in Egypt, dreams have been subjected to different views and meanings. His interpretation of “seven years of bounty and seven years of famine” of the Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams has been retold for generations.

We ourselves try to interpret our own dreams, often wondering about what our dreams had wanted to tell us.

by Michael S. Bala We have associated these reflections of the subconscious with superstition, prophecy and manifestations of a previous life. Their interpretations may vary depending on one’s culture, religion, and beliefs. As a matter of fact, many books have been written to try and define one person’s dreams.

However, as enigmatic as the meaning behind the reason of these nightly wanderings, no one really knows why or how they happen.

The influential psychologist Sigmund Freud believed that these markers of sleep were a wishful fulfillment of one’s desires. In his classic text, “The interpretation of dreams,” he proposes the idea of dreams as an interaction between the unconscious and conscious states. He suggests that people are driven by aggressive and sexual instincts that are repressed while awake. Because these thoughts were restrained, Freud commented that a person entertained and processed these restrained thoughts while asleep.

Other scientists theorize that a dream is nothing more than a feast of flashing images as a consequence of the brain’s attempt to “reboot” during the course of the night. Francis Crick and Graeme Mitchison stressed this idea in their research, “The function of dream sleep.” According to their research, a person goes through a state of dreaming so the mind forgets or wipes out unwanted experiences or thoughts of the day. They called it “reverse learning,” which they

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likened to a computer going offline and refreshing its memory.

More scientific studies are expressed through neurobiology in an apparent effort to understand the dream state through a sleeping person’s brain waves.

First attempts to explain this led to the identification of rapid eye movement (REM), a phenomenon where a sleeping person’s eyes fluttered when dreaming.

Further research showed that brain activity is strong during REM, almost like when a person is awake.

In the Activation-synthesis model, it is proposed that circuits of the brain are activated during REM sleep. These brain signals are then interpreted by the body as external stimuli, causing specific areas of the body to respond to them. The brain then processes the body’s reaction and creates a subjective interpretation, sort of like picking up a brush and painting on a blank canvas.

There are still a number of other ideas that can be picked up from these theories. But none are closer to a convincing answer. With current advancements in technology, it is baffling to know that something as common as a dream still remains a mystery. n References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream http://why-we-dream.com/remstate.htm http://www.guidetopsychology.com/dreams.htm http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/p/ dream-theories.htm

science digest for students

Avian army

revitalizes forests Germination of Antedesma bunius, Syzygium cumini, Syzygium currani and Terminalia microcarpa processed by Aceros waldeni (Visayan Writhed Hornbill) | PSHS Western Visayas

T

he Philippines boasts of a wide diversity of plant and animal species, with some being endemic to the country. With more and more rainforest areas, which have been previously untouched by civilization, being encroached for agricultural, commercial and residential purposes, the endangered species watch list continues to

by Erwin A. Baluyot grow.

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science digest for students

Germination of seeds processed by Aceros waldeni (Visayan Writhed Hornbill) | PSHS Western Visayas

One of the species of birds on the endangered watch list is the Visayan Writhed Hornbill (Aceros waldeni) or Dulungan found in Negros and Panay. It is believed to be extinct in Guimaras.

Due to the encroachment of their habitats, coupled with slow reproduction of the species, estimates report that the current population of these hornbills stands less than 160.

PSHS Western Visayas students Clareen Mae T. Juanico, Pearl Joy Linas and Juan Miguel Manzanillo were inspired to conduct a research on the Visayas Writhed Hornbills and their interrelation to their habitat after a visit to the Mari-it Wildlife Conservation Park in Lambunao, Iloilo.

Visayan Writhed Hornbills are frugivorous, which means these birds subsist mainly on fruits.

Because of this and their nature to travel wide distances, hornbills contribute to the dispersion and germination of plant species, highlighting their symbiotic relationship with fruit-bearing trees which serve as their food source. Hornbills also use the hollow part of trees as nests.

science digest for students

For their research, Juanico, Linas and Manzanillo delved into the role of the hornbills not only as seed disseminators but as well as their role in the germination of seeds. In this research, the three selected the seeds from Lumboy, Lipote and Bugnay, representing the sizes of seeds hornbills can consume in their natural habitat.

In order to determine how hornbills increase the germination rate of the seeds, the students prepared three set-ups. In the first set-up, they left the fruits intact before planting them. In the second, they manually removed the pulp before planting the seeds. In the third, they fed the hornbills with the fruits, patiently waiting for the birds to either regurgitate or defecate the seeds, planting the seeds afterwards.

Afterwards, they determined the number of seeds which germinated under the the three setups. The results of the study show that Lumboy and Lipote seeds germinated faster when they were depulped manually or processed by the hornbills with a germination percentage of 71.47% compared

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Germination of seeds processed by Aceros waldeni (Visayan Writhed Hornbill) | PSHS Western Visayas

The research work of the three urges us to take action now if we do not want the next generation to know of Philippine species of plants and animals from Wikipedia or other internet archives.

to the 53.06% germination rate of fruits left intact.

Previous studies have shown that pulp can decrease or even hinder the germination of seeds, blocking factors which affect water uptake such as light and soil moisture. The pulp of fruits also makes the seed prone to microbial and fungal attack.

On the other hand, the Bugnay seeds did not germinate. Bugnay trees are multiplied through cutting, grafting or air-layering.

The conclusion of the trioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s study reinforces the idea that everything in nature has a design and each creature has a role in preserving its vitality. Global warming, climate change and extinction of both plant and animal species are ultimately rooted in

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the radical shift of the role of humans. From being stewards of nature, man has upset the inherent balance in nature and its design to revitalize itself through symbiosis because of his shift into being a consumer, taking more than what is needed.

More than shedding light on the plight of the hornbills and their relationship with the rapidly deteriorating state of rainforests, the research of Juanico, Linas and Manzanillo highlights the pressing need to shift our mindset to the idea that natural resources are not limitless. The research work of the three urges us to take action now if we do not want the next generation to know of Philippine species of plants and animals from Wikipedia or

science digest for students

When Posters Go Public: Sharing Knowledge with the Community

O

n the third day of the 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair (NSF), the studentresearchers were given the opportunity to present their posters to a group of high school students from various public high schools in the Rizal and Pasig areas. The goal of the activity was to challenge the student-researchers to present their

by John Dalupang studies to an audience of lay people.

They needed to show how their findings and innovations could help improve the lives of people in their respective communities. At the same time, the community fair gave visiting students a glimpse of the current trends in research in the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) Campuses â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a glimpse that will hopefully inspire them to pursue their own research.

Learning from each other One of the main goals of the NSF was to foster camaraderie among students of the 11 PSHSS

science digest for students

Campuses and to create an environment that encourages the sharing of best research practices.

During the community fair, the student-researchers pooled their ideas on how to present their studies in a way that would be most understandable for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;man-on-the-street.â&#x20AC;? For one, their posters for the community fair were written and formatted differently. Instead of a text-heavy layout, the posters had more pictures that showed the methodology of their studies, coupled with catchy phrases that provided the gist of their research. Another effective

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When your research goes public, be proud and show everyone what you’ve got.

Your good intention may also bring good tidings to others.

Community poster for the study “Apparent Digestibility of Thraustochytrids-supplemented Layer Mash for Coturnix japonica (Japanese Quail) Layers” of PSHS Western Visayas.

idea was to use non-technical words to describe their studies and to speak in the vernacular during presentations and interactions.

Larry Xerxex B. Capuno, a student from the Cagayan Valley Campus who researched on feeds for tilapia, relates that the best way he found to make the audience appreciate his study was to focus on the economic viability of his findings. “It was all about the profit,” he adds. Other student researchers shared the same experience.

A Fun Learning Experience Most people had the impression of PSHSS students as rather dry-humored, sometimes aloof, nerdy teenagers who had their noses in their books all the time. During the community fair, though, the student-researchers completely showed a totally different image. They enjoyed the company of the guests, had fun presenting their work, warmly welcomed the discussions, and even exchanged Facebook accounts.

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The visiting public had the same sentiment. Carl, a sophomore from PSHS Central Luzon, relates, “I really enjoyed the presentations, particularly on the study of fractals and bacterial growth. You would think it’s boring because it’s related to Mathematics, but Moper (the student-researcher) did a great job explaining the study to us. I think I might do my research in math as well.” Mr. Almendarez, a biology teacher from Pasig City Science High School, also says, “This is a rewarding experience for my students. The studies, particularly in biology, roused the interest of my students about their own research.”

This year’s studies were clustered around five categories: (1) Math and Engineering; (2) Computer Science; (3) Animal Science; (4) Plant Science/ Microbiology; and (5) Biochemistry/Chemistry.

Studies featured hair growth stimulators from the bignay plant, ants as electromagnetism indicators, school inventory information systems, and a robot for biological research, among other very interesting topics. Each cluster was put under a tent provided by MMLDC and Smart Communications..

Aside from the poster presentations and demonstrations, the visiting students and teachers participated in a scavenger hunt and trivia contest.

Dr. Josette T. Biyo, a renowned science educator, also posed for pictures and signed autographs with the students and teachers. MMLDC provided snacks for everyone and opened their aviary to visitors.

The day opened with a good sprinkling of rain.

The organizing team was quite worried about the outdoor venue. However, just in the time for the participants to come in, the sun came out and the fair was on. As Dr. Biyo puts it, “When your intentions are good, good things also happen.”

So when it’s time for your research to go public, be proud and show everyone what you’ve got.

Your good intention may also bring good tidings to others. n

science digest for students

Community Fair 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair

In pictures

The Community Fair was held on the third day of the 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair, on the grounds of the MMLDC compound in Antipolo City. Students from various public high schools from Pasig City and Rizal province were invited to see the latest research of their fellow students from the PSHSS. science digest for students

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Community Fair | 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair

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science digest for students

Community Fair | 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair

science digest for students

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Community Fair | 2010 PSHSS-MMLDC National Science Fair

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science digest for students

PSHS student-scientists with their technical posters

science digest for students

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PSHS student-scientists with their technical posters

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science digest for students

PSHSS Working Committee Arfe G. Castillo Catherine Joy A. Addauan Ferly J. Lovete Sharon M. Dejarme John Paolo C. Dalupang Edman H. Gallamaso Rose Mary B. Butaran Sherry P. Ramayla Dr. Ronnalee N. Orteza Janeth Morata-Fuentes Edward C. Albaracin Harold P. Mediodia

Editorial Board Dr. Josette T. Biyo Mr. Arthur “Turok” Florentin

Editorial Staff Ma. Vivien C. Arnobit Editor-in-Chief Ma. Amor C. Curaming Managing Editor Diowayne V. Dacayan Associate Editor Ana Grace Alcañices-Dacayan Joji Manalac Bea Quilingan Editors Ronald B. Escanlar Art Director / Editor Erwin A. Baluyot Michael S. Bala Writers COLOPHON Body copy set in 10/12 Stempel Schneidler Std by Adobe Type.

Headlines set in Swiss 721 by Bitstream.

Designed using Adobe Creative Suite 3 on Mac OS X 10.5.8 on a white MacBook powered by a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Cover design by Ronald B. Escanlar.

Sherwin Laygo Edwin Batay Carla Jean Duque Photographers Special Thanks to the Academic Services L.E.A.D Team