THE TITANIC IN 2012

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Unseen Titanic

At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the "unsinkable" R.M.S. Titanic disappeared beneath the waves, taking with her 1,500 souls. One hundred years later, new technologies have revealed the most complete—and most intimate—images of the famous wreck.

By Hampton Sides

Photograph by Walden Media

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IN PICTURES: NODDING DISEASE

More than 3,000 children in northern Uganda are suffering from a debilitating mystery ailment known as nodding disease, which has touched almost every family in the village of Tumangu. The disease affects only children and gradually devastates its victims through debilitating seizures, stunted growth, wasted limbs, mental disabilities and sometimes starvation.

Children suffering from the Nodding Syndrome gather in Akoya-Lamin Omony village in Gulu district, 384 km (238 miles) north of Uganda's capital of Kampala, February 19, 2012. Nodding Syndrome, which mostly affects children between the ages of 5 and 15, was first documented in Tanzania as early as 1962.

Nancy Lamwaka, 12, who suffers from nodding syndrome, is being tied with a rope as she sits out in the open in Lapul, Pader district, 300 km (186 miles) north of Uganda's capital of Kampala February 8, 2012. Despite extensive investigations, researchers are still largely confounded by it. Most of the fatalities attributed to the disease are the result of secondary causes. Children suffering from Nodding Syndrome are prone to accidents such as drowning and burning.

Michael Odongkara walks out of a house with his daughter Nancy Lamwaka. Nodding Syndrome is a fatal, mentally and physically disabling disease.

Nodding Syndrome gets its name from the uncontrollable nodding it causes among those afflicted by it.

Children suffering from the disease suffer from stunted growth and non-development of the brain that causes retardation.

The nodding seizures are not continuous and tend to stop once the child is fed or is warm, but their severity tends to vary from child to child. Severe seizures can cause the child to collapse, leading to further injury.

Speculation has it that the disease could be in some way connected a parasitic worm that causes river blindness.

Scientists are also probing to find if there is a possible link between the disease and exposure to wartime chemicals.

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1. Nodding Syndrome gets its name from the uncontrollable nodding it causes among those afflicted by i

   
   

TRIVIA: THE MYSTERY OF NODDING DISEASE

Nodding disease or nodding syndrome is a new, little-known disease which emerged in Sudan in the 1960s. It is a fatal, mentally and physically disabling disease that only affects young children typically between the ages of 5 and 15. It is currently restricted to small regions in South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Prior to the South Sudan outbreaks and subsequent limited spread, the disease was first described in 1962 existing in secluded mountainous regions of Tanzania, although the connection between that disease and nodding syndrome was only made recently.

Symptoms

The symptoms of nodding disease are very peculiar. When a child is affected by it, his/her growth appears to be completely and permanently stunted. The growth of the brain is also stunted, leading tomental retardation of the victim. The disease is named nodding syndrome since it causes pathological nodding. This is a seizure which often begins when the victim begins to eat food, or sometimes when he/she feels cold. These seizures are brief and halt after the child stops eating or when they feel warm again. These seizures can manifest themselves with a wide degree of severity.Neurotoxicologist Peter Spencer, who has investigated the disease has stated that upon presentation with food, "one or two [children] will start nodding very rapidly in a continuous, pendulous nod. The child next door will suddenly go into a grand-mal seizure, others will freeze." Severe seizures can cause the child to collapse, leading to further injury. Sub-clinical seizures have been identified inelectroencephalograms, and MRI scans have shown brain atrophy and damage to the hippocampus and glia cells.

The nodding is very unusual as the victims don't appear to suffer from seizures when they are given an unfamiliar food, for example a candy bar.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is not very advanced and is based on the telltale nodding seizures of the victims. Stunted growth and mental retardation along with the seizures means there is a high probability that the disease is present. Neurological scans may also be used in attempts to diagnose symptoms of the disease in the future. As there is no known cure for the disease, treatment of the symptoms has included the use of anticonvulsants such as sodium valproate and phenobarbitol. Anti-malaria drugs have also been administered, to unknown effect.

Prognosis

Nodding syndrome is thought to be a very debilitating disease physically and mentally. In 2004, Peter Spencer stated: "It is, by all reports, a progressive disorder and a fatal disorder, perhaps with a duration of about three years or more." While a few children are said to have recovered from it, many have died from the illness. The seizures, as mentioned before, could also cause children to collapse and further injure themselves or die, for example, by falling into an open fire.

Possible causes

It is currently unknown what causes the disease, however it is believed to be connected to infestations of the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, which is prevalent in all outbreak areas. O. volvulus, a nematode, is carried by the black fly and causes river blindness. In 2004, most children suffering from nodding disease lived close to the Yei River, a hotbed for river blindness, and 93% of nodding disease sufferers were found to harbor the parasite--far more than disease-sufferers without it. A link between river blindness and normal cases of epilepsy, as well as retarded growth, has been proposed previously, although the evidence for this link is inconclusive. Of the connection between the worm and the disease, Scott Dowell (the lead investigator into the syndrome for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) stated: "We know that [Onchocerca volvulus] is involved in some way, but it is a little puzzling because [the worm] is fairly common in areas that do not have nodding disease". Andrea Winkler, the first author of a 2008 Tanzanian study has said of the connection: "We could not establish any hint that Onchocerca volvulus is actually going into the brain, but what we cannot exclude is that there is an autoimmune mechanism going on." In the most severely affected region of Uganda, infection with microfilariae in epileptic or nodding children ranged from 70% to 100%.

The CDC is investigating a possible connection with wartime chemical exposure. The team is also investigating whether a deficiency in vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine) could be a cause, noting the seizures ofPyridoxine-dependent epilepsy and this common deficiency in disease sufferers. Older theories include a 2002 toxicology report that postulated a connection with tainted monkey meat, as well as the eating of agricultural seeds provided by relief agencies that were covered in toxic chemicals.

Prevalence and epidemiology

While occurrences of the disease known as "nodding syndrome" have been relatively recent, it appears that the condition was first documented in 1962 in southern Tanzania. More recently, nodding syndrome was previously most prevalent in South Sudan, where in 2003 approximately 300 cases were found in Mundri alone. By 2009, it had spread across the border to Uganda's Kitgum district, and the Ugandan ministry of health declared that more than 2000 children had the disease. As of the end of 2011, outbreaks were concentrated in Kitgum, Pader and Gulu. More than 1000 cases were diagnosed in the last half of that year. The spread and manifestation of outbreaks may further be exacerbated due to the poor health care of the region. 

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TRUE COLOR OF THE SUN

Image of the Sun. Image credit: NASA

In popular culture, the Sun is yellow. But did you know that the color of the Sun is actually white? It’s only when light from the Sun passes through the Earth’s atmosphere that in changes in color, from white, to the yellow we see here on Earth.

All stars have a color. From red dwarfs and red giants, to white and yellow stars to blue giants and supergiants. The color of a starcomes from its temperature. As photons escape the interior of a star out into space, can be emitting infrared, red, blue and ultraviolet light all at the same time. They’re even emitting X-rays and gamma rays.

If a star is cool, less than 3,500 Kelvin, its color will be red. This is because there are more red photons being emitted than any other kind of visible light. If a star is very hot, above 10,000 Kelvin, its color will be blue. Once again, because there are more blue photons streaming from a star.

The temperature of the Sun is approximately 6,000 Kelvin. The Sun, and stars like our Sun appear white. This is because we’re seeing all the different color photons coming from the Sun at the same time. When you add all those colors up, you get pure white.

The white color inside this black box is approximately the color of the Sun.

True color of the Sun

So why does the Sun appear yellow here on Earth? The atmosphere of the Earth scatters sunlight, removing the shorter wavelength light – blue and violet. Once you reduce those colors from the spectrum of light coming from the Sun, it appears more yellow. But if you could fly up and see the Sun from space, the color of the Sun would be pure white.

Related article:

• True or False (Color): The Art of Extraterrestrial Photography

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OKA TOKAT! WHO TURNED ON THE MICROWAVE?

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Ika-limang araw ng bagong taon. Ugali ko nang pumasok ng maaga sa opisina. Marahil ng araw na iyon, mga ala cinco y media o bago pa man ay nasa opisina na ako.

Pagdating ko sa opisina, may mga CS nang nauna sa’kin. Mga apat sila sa bilang ko; dalawang babae at dalawang lalaki. Ilang ilaw palang ang nakabukas sa parte kung nasaan nakapwesto kaming mga CS.  Ngunit sa kabilang banda kung nasaan naman ang ibang department, bukas na ang mga ilaw dahil madaling araw ang kanilang pasok.

Tahimik pa ang parteng iyon ng CS kapag mga ganuong oras. Dumiretso ako sa aking station. Isang hilera pa ng mga station ay ang station naman ng Collections. Mag-isang nakaupo sa hilerang iyon ang isa sa mga leader nila.  Nakapatay din ang mga ilaw sa parteng iyon na kung saan ako nakaupo. Ngunit hindi naman masasabing madilim dahil nga may mga ilan na ring nakabukas na ilaw at naliliwanagan ng mga nakabukas na ilaw mula sa Collections. Ilang hakbang naman mula sa mga hilerang iyon ng station kung saan ako nakaupo ay ang pantry area. Dahil na rin sa katahimikan pa ng mga sandaling iyon, hindi maikakaila na maririnig mo ang mga simpleng kaluskos o tunog na maaaring likhain nino man.

Matapos kong ilapag ang aking almusal at ilang gamit sa aking station, pumunta naman ako sa aking locker para isilid ang aking bag.

Maya-maya pa’y muli akong pumunta sa aking station para kunin ang aking pagkain. Nakita ko namang tumayo at paalis sa kanyang station ang nag-iisang lider ng Collections na kanina’y nakaupo.

Ilang hakbang lang at lumiko ako papasok sa pantry area. Rinig ko ang tunog na likha ng nakabukas na microwave tanda na ito’y ginagamit para initin ang kung ano man. Walang ibang tao sa may pantry area ng mga sandaling iyon. Inakala kong baka umalis lang sandali ang sino mang nag-iinit sa microwave at muling babalik.

Medyo nainip ako sa paghihintay. Sa tingin ko, mahigit sa dalawa o tatlong minuto ang itinagal ng pag-ikot ng microwave hanggang sa kusa itong tumigil. Nakiramdam ako sa aking paligid sa kung sino mang darating sa pantry para buksan ang microwave at kunin ang pagkain mula roon.

Ngunit walang bakas ng kung ano man o sino man para kuhanin ang pagkain mula sa loob ng microwave. Kaya naman, mapangahas kong binuksan ang microwave upang ilabas ang kung ano mang nasa loob nito at para mainit ko ang aking pagkain.

Lubha akong nagtaka at namangha ng malamang walang laman ang microwave. Sumatutal, tumunganga ako ng ilang minuto sa pantry ng mag-isa sa paghihintay sa microwave ngunit wala naman pala itong laman na iniinit.  

Imbes na takot ang pairalin, inunawa ko na lang na may naglalaro na naman sa akin ng sandaling iyon. Imposibleng kanina pa nakabukas ang microwave dahil sa katahimikan ng lugar ng oras na iyon, kanina ko pa sana naririnig ang pag-ikot nito ng ilapag ko ang aking pagkain sa aking station. Ikalawa, walang ibang taong pumunta sa pantry liban sa akin. At ikatlo, wala naman sa mga empleyado ang maglalaro lang ng microwave, magbubukas at paaandarin lang.

Ilang araw lang bago nito ay nakakita ako ng doppelganger.

OKA TOKAT! DOPPELGANGER PART II

Ikatlong araw ng bagong taon. Dahil sa ninanis kong matapos ang iba kong gawain, lagpas ala cinco nang hapon ng ako ay magdesisyong umuwi sa opisina. Si Rachel, katrabaho ko, ay ganoong oras na rin umuwi. Tinanong ko siya kung saan siya sasakay para sabay na kaming maglakad. Sabi niya, doon sa papuntang Megamall. “Sabay na tayo”, sabi ko. “Magyoyosi pa kami ni Kathrina.” Dagdag ni Rachel. “Sa baba kayo magyoyosi?” tanong ko. Ngunit sa taas pala sila magyoyosi ni Kathrina na noo’y nakabreak lang.

Nakapaghanda na ako ng mga oras na iyon. Natapos ko na ang mga bagay na kalimitan kong ginagawa bago umuwi. Habang inaayos ko ang aking gamit sa bag, mula sa pintuang salamin ng opisina, nakita ko si Jomar sa labas na parang may hinihintay. Marahil, inaantay niya sina Rachel at Kathrina para makasama magyosi sa taas.

Kanina’y nagdesisyon akong di na lang sasama kay Rachel dahil magyoyosi pa sila sa taas. Kakain pa ito ng ilang minuto hanggang sa matapos sila. Ngunit nang paakyat na sila ng hagdan, humabol ako kina Rachel. Nakasunod lang ako sa kanila paakyat.

Nang makaakyat kami sa taas na palapag ng opisina, nakipagkamustahan ako kay Grace. Kaya naman nahuli akong makapunta sa sky court. Nang buksan ko ang pinto palabas, may tatlong ibang nagyoyosi. Nagbigay pugay naman ako sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa mga pangalan nila.

Maliit lang ang sky court kaya isang dipa lang siguro, nakatayo na sa kabila sina Rachel at Kathrina habang nagyoyosi. “Asan si Jomar?” tanong ko sabay tingin sa kabilang dako ng sky court. Ang sky court kasi ng building na iyon ay letrang “L” ang istilo.

Nagulat ako sa sagot nila Rachel at Kathrina. Hindi ko maikakailang wala nga sa lugar na iyon si Jomar. Hindi nila kasama at lalong hindi nila nakita si Jomar. Wala ring pang-ala cinco na break sa kanila kaya malabong makasama nila si Jomar. Napag-alaman ko ring naka-leave pala si Jomar ng isang linggo.

Nagpaliwanag naman ako sa dalawa. Mula sa kinatatayuan ko kanina habang nag-aayos ng aking bag, sigurado akong si Jomar nga ang aking nakita mula sa salaming pinto. Nakatingin siya sa loob at sa hitsura niya, hindi ko maikakailang si Jomar nga iyon; ang kanyang taas, ang hulma ng kanyang buhok, ang kanyang pangangatawan at ang kanyang kasuotan.  

Habang pababa sa hagdan, ipinagpipilitan kong nakita ko nga si Jomar. Bumalik na si Kathrina sa loob ng opisina at habang nagkukwento ako kay Rachel habang naghihintay sa elevator, tumitindig ang aking balahibo. Naikwento ko rin sa kanya ang parehong pangyayari nang makita ko naman si Ryan sa opisina ngunit wala palang pasok sa araw na iyon. Si Ryan ay ka-team ni Jomar.

Namalik-mata nga lang ba ako? Ibang tao ba ang aking nakita? O kaya’y isa na namang huwad na multo ang aking nakita; nanggagaya ng taong buhay?

MAALAALA MO KAYA PRESENTS MANOK

MAALAALA MO KAYA

"MANOK"

NOVEMBER 26, 2011

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KABABALAGHAN WITH NOLI DE CASTRO

Naging tradisyon na ng bawat tahanang Pilipino ang pagtunghay sa mga kwentong puno ng misteryo at kababalaghan. Katulad ng mga hindi pangkaraniwang nilalang, mga elementong hindi nakikita at mga misteryosong nagaganap na walang kapaliwanagan. Mga kuwentong nagdudulot ng takot at pangamba at mga karanasang sumusukat sa ating pananalig at pananampalataya. Ngayong gabi, mga panibagong makatindig balahibong istorya ang gigising sa inyong kamulatan. Samahan nyo kaming silipin ang mundo ng KABABALAGHAN.

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