SCIENCE NEWS

DOST’s OL Trap Sites Show Decrease in Dengue Cases

(Krisia Claire D. Estalilla)

            Initial results from various regions revealed decrease in dengue cases after using the Mosquito Ovicidal Larvicidal(OL) Trap, data from the Department of Science and Technology show.

            In Region 2, for example, five schools in Ballesteros and Claveria towns in Cagayan reported “zero case” as of press time, namely the Libag Elementary School, North Centarl School, Caritan Elementary School and Cataggamman National High School and University of Cagayan Valley.

            Official reports showed that in 2010, there were 210 aggregate cases of dengue among schoolchildren in four barangays where these schools were located. After the OL Trap rollout in these barangays, no cases have been reported thus far.

            Ballesteros and Claveria were declared “hotspots” for dengue cases last year with the former having 213 cases and the latter, 15 cases. To date,  there have been no dengue cases reported since the roll out.

            With the decrease in dengue cases reported in the region, Dr. Labasan, municipal health officer of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya said that additional units are needed for other barangays as they found that mosquito eggs and larvae are “killed right there and then”.

            “It is the only way to stop the eggs from hatching”, he added.

            In the Eastern Visayas where the OL Trap was initially launched, results showed that five barangays in Northern Samar, Southern Leyte and Leyte showed zero results after the OL Trap was used in said areas. Brgy. Dalakit in Catarman, for example. Had 44 cases last year while Brgy. Airport had 30 cases. Meanwhile, Brgy 109-A had 64 cases last year. Its neighbor, Brgy 109, also showed significant result having decreased its dengue cases from 122 last year to three this year.

            Similar positive results were also seen in Region 10, Dr. Josephine Ibalo, Department of Health’s dengue coordinator in Bukidnon noted 36 cases in the whole province this year as of August 10, a significant decrease from last year’s 1 087 cases and 16 deaths.

            The use of the trap has increased the awareness of the communities on the nature of the dengue carrying Aedis Aegypti mosquito and how to prevent them from breeding any further.

            The OL Trap works by attracting the said mosquito through the trap’s black color and organic solution, to lay its eggs in the trap. The solution then kills the eggs and the larvae, thus eliminating the next generation of mosquitoes.

            The OL Trap is one of the DIST’s R & D strategies in addressing dengue and is part of the government’s multi-pronged approach in fighting said fatal disease. This month, DOST and the Department of Education are working together in providing OL Traps to elementary and secondary schools, both public and private, that are located in hotspot areas in the National Capital Region.

                                                                                                Source: S & T Media Service

SCIENCE TRIVIA

What Makes the Color of the Sunset?

            The colors of the sunset are caused by different things in Earth’s atmosphere. An atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding a planet. Although, you cannot always see them, there are pieces of dust in the air. Have you seen a ray of sunshine coming in through your window? If you look closely, you can see the pieces of dust in the air. Light shines on these pieces of dust and reflects off of them. To reflect means to bounce off a surface. When light reflects off dust, you see different colors.

            When there is a lot of dust in the air, the sun will appear red at sunset. If it is a very clear day with little dust or clouds, the sun will appear a yellow clear. There is also water in the air that you cannot see. When sunlight reflects on water drops, it creates many colors. Have you ever seen a rainbow? It is made by light reflecting off the water in the air.

                                                                                                Source: Mc Graw Hill

Science Terms and Definitions

Conifers are trees that produce seeds in cones.

Corona is the outermost layer of the thin gases around the sun.

Cytoplasm is a clear jelly-like material in plant cells.

Niche is the job or role an organism has in an ecosystem.

Opaque are materials that do not allow any light to pass through them.

SPORTS EDITORIAL

          It is a yearly event every sports enthusiast is waiting for. Schools of different municipalities in the Cotabato Region are now on the quest, looking for the most valuable players to compete for the upcoming sports events. This opens a very great opportunity for everyone who possesses great skills and abilities to show how good Filipino pupils are in sports.

            Pigcawayan South District is now on its greatest effort in search for the most competitive players. This is an encouragement to all pupils to get involved in all sports activities. With great effort and perseverance, we will surely make it from the local to national sports event.

SPORTS FEATURE

Physical Fitness Tests

           

            Physical Fitness is the ability of a person to use his/her body easily in any vigorous physical activity. It refers to the total condition of a person to perform specific activities efficiently that would make him/her feel good.

            A person is physically fit has developed several activities.

           

            1. Endurance – the ability to sustain an activity or to be active for a long period of time without getting tired.

            2. Coordination - the ability to use two or more body parts harmoniously and easily at the same time.

            3. Flexibility – the ability to bend, twist or stretch muscles easily, or do a wide range of movements without feeling muscular pains.

            4. Strength – the ability to use muscular force and sustain the amount of force without easily getting tired. Many physically fir people have strong muscles and can push, pull and lift things easily.

            5. Agility – the ability of  a person to change direction or position quickly. Agile persons have good muscle and nerve condition.

            6. Speed – the ability to move or perform an activity relatively faster than normal.

            7. Balance – the ability to keep the body in steady condition or position, or the ability to stand or to move upright and not fall over when doing certain activities.

            8. Power – the ability of the muscles to release maximum or full force in the shortest time possible.

            Let’s get physical, let’s get fit!

SPORTS PUZZLE

A	R	N	I	S	T	A	B	D	O	X
L	S	M	G	O	P	T	A	R	S	W
G	W	Q	R	C	D	S	S	O	Y	B
Y	I	M	T	C	D	L	K	P	T	I
M	M	P	P	E	F	Q	E	Q	B	L
N	M	R	M	R	W	B	T	T	L	L
A	I	T	Q	U	R	J	B	N	N	I
S	N	N	T	K	A	R	A	T	E	A
T	G	Y	X	U	C	J	L	N	M	R
I	L	M	T	S	F	L	L	C	B	D
C	E	B	O	X	I	N	G	E	L	S
S	D	O	N	Y	K	R	F	R	Y	P
A	O	L	R	U	N	N	I	N	G	O

Find the following sports events:

Arnis

Basketball

Karate

Soccer

Boxing

Billiards

Gymnastics

Running