Posted: January 8, 2010 at 10:52 pm
On Monday evening after the opening ceremonies delegates and their spouses were feted by the transportation department with a dinner at SMX convention center. They spent time visiting the training ship docked at south harbor pier on their second night, on Wednesday night they were invited to dine at plaza to take part in the 60th anniversary celebration of the Filipino shipowners association. On the following night it was the labor department turn to sponsor their dinner.
The government shelled out about P122 million for the event but many in the industry say the budget is well spent considering the huge foreign exchange earnings that Filipino seafarers are bringing into the national economy. It is the government a way of returning a favor to the international shipping community hence at the press briefing could not have but reiterate is generous appreciation of the host government for giving delegates.
Posted: December 22, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Cavity-enhanced direct optical frequency comb spectroscopy is a long and intimidating name for what is basically a medical breath test. You see the string words and you might think this is too complicated for you to understand. Spectroscopy is the study of spectra which is the case is the distribution of colored light. A pulsed laser beam was aimed into the cavity which was design to bounce laser light back and forth. By the time the laser light exited the cavity, it would have traveled several kilometers struck every molecule breathed into the cavity.
This allowed comparative analysis of the light frequencies that were absorbed and the amounts. From there, the scientist were able to determine the molecules that were originally present in breath and their concentrations. Think of the method as a way of sorting through the different molecules in human breath and finding traces of chemicals that could indicate disease.
Posted: November 10, 2009 at 10:28 pm
When you drink water, think of how it does a square dance. Scientist had discovered that water can dance. The ubiquitous water molecule, which is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and oxygen atom, does a kind of square dance among its fellow molecules. Square dance is an American folk dance where a caller shouts directions to couples dancing on the floor. The couples meet, separate, and move all in a quick, coordinated manner under the lead of the caller.
In this case, the water molecules are the dancers. Because of the unique V shape of the water molecule has a tendency to stick with its fellow water molecules or other molecules. But since the bond is rather weak, the molecules stick and release easily among each other in a constant changing of partners. Since hydrogen is the most abundant element in nature with oxygen coming a close third life was set to begin in water. And is all due to the tendency of a few water molecules to have a little fun by ‘dancing.
