Thursday, November 18, 2010

4 Mulia: Scheme for year end examination Biology (JPS)

Hi all,

you can download answer scheme here.... :)
Read More

Can soy milk replace milk?




Soy milk is often the preferred choice for individuals who do not consume animal products or who cannot tolerate the lactose in cow's milk. Soy milk can be used in a variety of ways and in many different resipes. It should be substituted at a ratio of one-to-one with cow's milk making it an easy switch for anything from coffee beverages to casserole recipes.

The major difference between soymilk and "regular" milk (predominantly cow's milk in the United States; goat and sheep's milk are other options) is that one is derived from a plant and the other from an animal. Although ethical, hypothetical, or debatable issues frequently arise when discussing this subject, this answer is going to deal strictly with the nutritional differences between these two kinds of milk.

What's most commonly referred to as milk is cow's milk, which is a product of the mammary gland. As with all other animal-based foods, it's a complete protein; that is, it supplies people with all the necessary amino acids to form proteins. All cow's milk contain 8 grams of protein and 12 grams of carbohydrate per cup. Cow's milk is a rich source of other nutrients as well. One cup provides adults with 30 percent of their daily calcium needs and about 50 percent of their vitamin B12 and riboflavin requirements. Often it's fortified with vitamin D to facilitate the absorption of calcium. Vitamin A is usually added to milk as well. Depending on the selection, cow's milk can have a significant amount of fat. (See the chart at the end of the answer for a comparison of the fat content of some varieties of milk.)

Lactose, the primary carbohydrate in cow's milk, poses a digestive problem for some people. These folks are deficient in the lactase enzyme that's needed to break down this milk sugar, causing gas, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming some forms of dairy products. The solution is to purchase products with the lactose already broken down, to take the enzyme in the form of a pill or drops, or to find a substitute for these foods.

Soymilk is not technically a milk, but a beverage made from soybeans. It is the liquid that remains after soybeans are soaked, finely ground, and then strained. Since it doesn't contain any lactose, soymilk is suitable for lactose intolerant folks. It's also a popular cow's milk substitute for vegetarians since it's based on a plant source (others include rice, oat, almond, coconut, and potato milk).

Soy foods are the only plant-based complete proteins. One cup of unfortified soymilk contains almost 7 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbohydrate, 4½ grams of fat, and no cholesterol. Although soymilk supplies some B vitamins, it's not a good source of B12, nor does it provide a significant amount of calcium. Since many people substitute soy beverages for cow's milk, manufacturers have offered fortified versions. These varieties may include calcium and vitamins E, B12, and D, among other nutrients. If you choose soymilk, read labels carefully to be sure you're getting enough of these important nutrients.

Soymilk may help some people reduce their risk for heart disease. Soy naturally contains isoflavones, plant chemicals that help lower LDL ("bad" cholesterol) if taken as part of a "heart healthy" eating plan. The recommendation is to take in about 25 grams of soy protein per day. One cup of soymilk has about 7 - 10 grams of protein, depending on the brand. Women who have had breast cancer may want to limit their intake of soy protein, as some studies have pointed to possible harm from consuming excess soy in this group.

All in all, what you choose to drink is really a matter of personal preference and your health objectives. You may find this chart helpful in comparing the nutritional qualities between cow's milk and soymilk [per 1 cup (8 oz.) serving]:

Product Calories Fat(g) %fat Calcium(mg)* Vit. B12(mcg)*
Cow's Milk:




Whole milk 150 8 48 290 .87
Reduced fat (2%) 120 5 38 297 .89
Low fat (1%) 100 3 27 300 .90
Skim 85 0.4 4 302 .93
Soy:




Unfortified 79 4.5 51 10 0
Fortified ** 130 4 28 200 1.0

*RDA (men and women) for: Calcium: 1,000 - 1,300 milligrams/day (depending upon age) Vitamin B12: 2.0 micrograms/day

source: http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1861.html

More info?? http://www.waset.org/journals/waset/v57/v57-76.pdf

Read More

Friday, November 5, 2010

Rhinorrhea




"Rhinorrhea" is not a rhinoceros. Rhinorrhea is commonly referred to as runny nose, consists of a significant amount of nasal fluid. It is a symptom of the common cold and of allergies (hay fever). The term is a combination of the Greek words "rhinos" meaning "of the nose" and "-rrhea" meaning "discharge or flow".

while

"Stuffy nose" is a term often used to refer to obstruction to the flow of air in and out of the nose. Both of these conditions are associated with inflammation and swelling (congestion) of the inner lining of the nasal passages and sinuses. A viral infection (the common cold) is the most common cause of a stuffy and/or runny nose, but allergies, influenza, and sinus infections also may cause these symptoms.

Less commonly, anatomical obstructions (e.g. a deviated nasal septum, foreign bodies) may lead to nasal congestion. Other causes of a stuffy or runny nose include environmental factors, hormonal changes, and some medications. Rarely, tumors of the nasal passages or chronic medical conditions may be the cause of a stuffy or runny nose.

CAUSES

Rhinorrhea may be due to allergic conditions such as hay fever or foreign materials within the nostril. Bacterial or viral infections such as the common cold, influenza or sinusitis may also be accompanied by a runny nose. Nasal discharges may also be present in cases of vasomotor, a non-infectious and non-allergenic condition.

Head injuries may also cause excess nasal discharges. Basilar skull fracture may result in cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.

Environmental causes include contact with strong smelling substances such as disulphide compounds found in onions and garlic, both of the genus Allium. CS gas, which provides an especially intense pepper-like odor, also results in this symptom. This phenomenon is caused by the same mechanism that causes a runny nose when crying: tears drain through the inner corner through the nasolacrimal duct, and finally into the nasal cacity, where they manifest as a runny nose. Spicy food can also be to blame, as well as exposure to cold air, both of which can cause tearing.

Additional factors are temperature related: if the climate is dry or the air in one's vicinity becomes especially dry, the nose reacts by producing more mucus. The nose also tends to run when one is exposed to very cold temperatures; this is because air in the nose is warmer than outside air and a steam-like effect is brought on inside the nose; water drops then condense, mix with mucus, and run out of the nose.

Baby Colds, cough and flu

Every year a new round of viruses hits, and babies, with their untested immune systems, are prime targets. But there are plenty of ways to help babies avoid colds and the flu – and to make your baby more comfortable and happy if he develops a cough, congestion, or runny nose.

One reason that babies get a lot of colds is that their immune systems are immature, making them more vulnerable to illness. Also, your child can develop immunity to only one of the more than 200 different viruses that cause the common cold at a time. Think of all the colds you've had in your lifetime. Your baby would have to get all of those — and more — to be immune to all cold viruses.

Why does my baby get so many colds?

Sick baby with caring mom

As your baby grows, he's likely to be exploring a lot and touching (and licking!) everything, so it's easy for him to pick up a cold virus on his hands. Then all he has to do is put his fingers in his mouth or nose or rub his eyes, and the virus will get a chance to set up shop.

Your baby may get sick more often during the fall and winter months because cold air and indoor heating dry out his nasal membranes, making it easier for a cold virus to get a foothold there. He also spends more time during cold weather cooped up indoors, where viruses can spread more easily from one person to another.

Most children average between six and ten colds per year. In families with children in daycare or school, the number of colds can reach 12 per year! (The average adult gets two to four colds annually.)

How can I tell if he has a cold and not the flu or some other illness, or even allergies?

It can be tricky. If your baby has a cold, he might have a runny nose with clear mucus that may thicken and turn gray or yellow or green over the next week or so. He might have a cough or a low-grade fever.

If your baby is running a fever, watch him when his fever comes down. If he plays and eats normally (or almost normally — he might eat a bit less and drag a little), then it's probably a cold. If he acts ill even when his temperature drops, though, he may have something more serious than a cold. Also, a flu or other illness is more likely to have an abrupt onset, and is more likely to be accompanied by diarrhoea or vomitting. On the other hand, if congestion or coughing shows up before any fever, it's more likely that your child has a cold.

Itchy, watery eyes and nose are hallmarks of an allergy, as are repeated sneezing attacks and itchy skin that lasts for weeks or months. Also, the mucus coming out of your baby's nose will continue to run clear, rather than thickening and turning yellow or green as it tends to in children with colds. Allergies won't cause your child to run a fever, and they tend to show up in the spring, summer, and early fall.

[Shared to all parents and parents to be..]

Read More

Friday, October 15, 2010

CHAPTER 8: Dynamic Ecosystem

DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM?

Click here for details (8.4)

Click here for details (8.5)
Read More

Saturday, October 9, 2010

CHAPTER 7: Respiration


Respiration may refer to:

definition by: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiration

click here for subtopics: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4
Read More

CHAPTER 5: Cell Division


Cell division
is the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells. Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle. This type of cell division in eukaryotes is known as mitosis, and leaves the daughter cell capable of dividing again. The corresponding sort of cell division in prokaryotes is known as binary fission. In another type of cell division present only in eukaryotes, called meiosis, a cell is permanently transformed into a gamete and cannot divide again until fertilization. Right before the parent cell splits, it undergoes DNA replication.

For simple unicellular organisms such as the amoeba, one cell division is equivalent to reproduction-- an entire new organism is created. On a larger scale, mitotic cell division can create progeny from multicellular organisms, such as plants that grow from cuttings. Cell division also enables a sexually reproducing organisms to develop from the one-celled zygote, which itself was produced by cell division from gametes. And after growth, cell division allows for continual construction and repair of the organism. A human being's body experiences about 10,000 trillion cell divisions in a lifetime.

The primary concern of cell division is the maintenance of the original cell's genome. Before division can occur, the genomic information which is stored in chromosomes must be replicated, and the duplicated genome separated cleanly between cells. A great deal of cellular infrastructure is involved in keeping genomic information consistent between "generations".


*Definition from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_division

Click here for slide show (Meiosis)

Click here for slide show (Mitosis)


Read More

Saturday, May 1, 2010

CHAPTER 4: Chemical Composition of the Cell


Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus normally makeup more
than 99% of the mass of living cells.
  • Ninety-nine percent of the molecules inside living cells are water molecules.
  • Cells normally contain more protein than DNA.
  • Homogenous polymers are non-informational.
  • All non-essential lipids can be generated from acetyl-CoA.
  • Like certain amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids, various inorganic elements are dietarily "essential".
  • Most all diseases in animals are manifestations of abnormalities in biomolecules, chemical reactions, or biochemical pathways.
Click here for slides
Read More

Sunday, April 18, 2010

difference between seizures and epilepsy


Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. Epilepsy is the underlying tendency of the brain to produce a sudden burst of electrical energy that disrupts other brain functions. Having a single seizure does not necessarily mean a person has epilepsy. A number of factors, including high fever, severe head injury and lack of oxygen, can affect the brain enough to cause a single seizure. Epilepsy, on the other hand, is an underlying condition that affects the delicate systems that

govern how electrical energy behaves in the brain, making the brain susceptible to recurring seizures. While any seizure is cause for concern, having a seizure does not by itself mean a person has epilepsy. First seizures, febrile seizures, nonepileptic events, and eclampsia are examples of seizures that may not be associated with epilepsy.

First Seizures: Many people have a single seizure at some point in their lives. Often these seizures occur in reaction to anesthesia or a strong drug, but they also may be unprovoked, meaning that they occur without any obvious triggering factor. Unless the person has suffered brain damage or there is a family history of epilepsy or other neurological abnormalities, these single seizures usually are not followed by additional seizures. One recent study that followed patients for an average of 8 years found that only 33 percent of people have a second seizure within 4 years after an initial seizure. People who did not have a second seizure within that time remained seizure-free for the rest of the study.

Febrile Seizures: Sometimes a child will have a seizure during the course of an illness with a high fever. These seizures are called febrile seizures (febrile is derived from the Latin word for "fever") and can be very alarming to the parents and other caregivers. In the past, doctors usually prescribed a course of anticonvulsant drugs following a febrile seizure in the hope of preventing epilepsy. However, most children who have a febrile seizure do not develop epilepsy, and long-term use of anticonvulsant drugs in children may damage the developing brain or cause other detrimental side effects. Experts at a 1980 consensus conference coordinated by the National Institutes of Health concluded that preventive treatment after a febrile seizure is generally not warranted unless certain other conditions are present: a family history of epilepsy, signs of nervous system impairment prior to the seizure, or a relatively prolonged or complicated seizure.

Nonepileptic Events: Sometimes people appear to have seizures, even though their brains show no seizure activity. This type of phenomenon has various names, including nonepileptic events and pseudoseizures. Both of these terms essentially mean something that looks like a seizure but isn't one. Nonepileptic events that are psychological in origin may be referred to as psychogenic seizures. Psychogenic seizures may indicate dependence, a need for attention, avoidance of stressful situations, or specific psychiatric conditions. Some people with epilepsy have psychogenic seizures in addition to their epileptic seizures. Other people who have psychogenic seizures do not have epilepsy at all. Psychogenic seizures cannot be treated in the same way as epileptic seizures. Instead, they are often treated by mental health specialists. Other nonepileptic events may be caused by narcolepsy, Tourette syndrome, cardiac arrythmia, and other medical conditions with symptoms that resemble seizures.

Eclampsia: Eclampsia is a life-threatening condition that can develop in pregnant women. Its symptoms include sudden elevations of blood pressure and seizures. Pregnant women who develop unexpected seizures should be rushed to a hospital immediately. Eclampsia can be treated in a hospital setting and usually does not result in additional seizures or epilepsy once the pregnancy is over.


source: http://neurology.health-cares.net/epilepsy-seizures-difference.php
Read More

Saturday, April 10, 2010

CHAPTER 3: Movement of Substances Across the Plasma Membrane


The plasma membrane or cell membrane surrounds the cell contents in all types of cells. It is a multipurpose covering composed of phospholipids and proteins.



Apart from the plasma membrane, an eukaryotic cell also shows intracellular and subcellular membranes around its organelles and vacuoles. Such membranes are also found all over the cytoplasm as a network called endoplasmic reticulum. These membranes thus, compartmentalize the cell into discrete functional units. The plasma membrane and the subcellular membranes are involved in the flow of selected materials across the cell, as and when the cell needs them.

Click here for the slides
Read More