7-Eleven's Crunch Time Chicken is now available in over 2,000 stores nationwide

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



As a fried chicken-loving nation, a fried chicken meal is part of every Filipino’s weekly diet. With a country eager for a juicy, flavorful bite on the regular, it’s no wonder that a lot of players – from restaurants, fast-food places, and even convenience stores – have claimed leadership in the space from serving size to flavor.

Opening the doors of 7-Eleven’s 2000th Crunch Time store to the fried chicken fans of San Fernando, Pampanga is a big milestone. But making more people happier because a craving-saving chicken is conveniently within reach and can be served in no time is a bigger milestone.

Crispy, juicy, and packed with a winning taste, Crunch Time has become one of the everyday Pinoy’s go-to chicken meals, also thanks to the accessibility and convenience offered by 7-Eleven. On top of being just a short walk away from most fried chicken cravers, Crunch Time, over the years, has also been known for offering interesting spins to its recipe such as the Sriracha Chicken. It has also come up with novel formats to fulfill Pinoys’ cravings as seen in the Crunch Time Concept Store in Angeles, Pampanga, which has nuggets, corn dog, chicken fillet, and fried bread apart from its signature chicken meal.

 

“We're very proud of this amazing feat of being able to be closer to more Filipinos and satisfy their fried chicken cravings. Our Crunch Time brand has always been about delivering on flavor and convenience, things that have made it one of the top choices of busy office workers, students, and regular customers who want to have a bite of crispy, flavorful chicken at a friendly price,” says Armi Cagasan, Strategic Merchandise Division Head of 7-Eleven Philippines.

Becoming widely available means new things for customers to look forward to, as 7-Eleven continues to innovate its food choices in order to keep up with Pinoys’ dynamic tastes and demands. In a chicken hurry? 7-Eleven has chicken ready in over 2,000 stores nationwide and chicken fans can now have a crunchy feast at their newest branch. Those wishing to visit Crunch Time’s 2000th store can drop by at Capitol Boulevard, Mercury St., Brgy. San Pedro, San Fernando, Pampanga.

Like us on 7-Eleven Philippines Facebook, follow @711ph on Instagram, and @711philippines on Twitter for more information.

Melbet casino – games that bring income

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If you want new experiences, vivid emotions and a sense of drive, it's time to discover the fascinating world of online gaming. Such a hobby will suit gamblers who constantly want to feel adrenaline. You should start by looking for a reliable casino. Pay attention to Melbet casino, which will be relevant to both beginners and experienced gamblers. It is possible to play from any country in the world and receive your prizes to your personal details on the first request.

All the entertainment is sorted into categories. You can quickly find what you need with just a couple of clicks. The search is available by name or another known parameter. And now you already make the first bet and plunge into the world of gambling entertainment believing in quick luck.

The first thing you need to do is to register. It can be done on the casino website or in the mobile app in a few minutes. The service offers several ways to create an account. And after the player makes a deposit, it immediately gives him a bonus. There will be many such rewards. The more active the gambler, the more generous the gambling establishment is to him. It is a common practice of platforms of this level.

What players like about the casino on Melbet platform

The selection of games available on the platform attracts users from all over the world. More than 2000 slots, card and table games and other activities are offered to the gamblers who come to the portal. You can get completely new emotions from the gameplay and, of course, win at the casino on Melbet. The advantages of the service are the following:

• a comfortable site with a beautiful interface and simple and clear navigation;
• an impressive animation;
• fascinating plots;
• a diverse bonus policy;
• convenient ways to deposit a game account;
• a good choice of currencies;
• safety and confidentiality of all transactions;
• access to support service 24/7;
• the ability to play at any time of day and night;
• guaranteed payments of money that you managed to win back from the casino.

Now you can safely register in the service and start playing. A Melbet account will be a source of new experiences and additional income. And if considering that the platform has been in operation for more than 10 years, has an international license and an excellent reputation, you can trust it and start cooperating with this service. Millions of gamblers have already done it. Why don't you follow their example?

Be active, choose the most attractive games for yourself, develop your algorithms, gain experience and come out in the top gamblers. Special conditions and a lot of rewards are offered to them. It all depends on you and your desire to succeed in this area.

Skin like butterfly wings: UP scientists investigate rare deadly disease

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



As rare and deadly as it is poetically named, “Butterfly’s Disease” (scientifically known as “epidemolysis bullosa” or simply “EB”) has no known cure. But a handful of Filipino scientists are working their way towards a treatment.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) sufferers have very delicate and fragile skin reminiscent of butterfly wings. The disease has many forms, including EB simplex (pictured) as well as the rarer—and potentially deadly—Junctional EB (JEB) that can affect even internal organs. (PHOTO CREDIT: James Heilman, MD | Wikimedia Commons)

EB is a very serious disease, for those afflicted as well as for their families. Sufferers have severely fragile skin that easily blisters and tears even with the slightest touch, hence the comparison to butterfly wings. EB also varies in form, with mild cases that only affect the outer skin to extreme cases that injure even internal organs—an extreme condition that can lead to severe disability or even death.

To further understand Butterfly’s Disease, scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) have focused on a genetic mutation known to cause an even rarer type of EB called Junctional EB (JEB), which affects more layers of the skin and can be fatal if it happens during early infancy.



Genetic investigators’ surprise discovery

The onset of JEB has been associated with a genetic mutation called G273D that affects how the body produces a protein called ITGA6-ITGB4 integrin (or Integrin A6B4 for short), which plays a vital role in joining together cells and tissues. The G237D mutation causes the production of malfunctioning Integrin A6B4 and decreases the presence of functional Integrin A6B4 on epithelial cell surfaces, leading to weaker cell adhesion in the skin tissue and resulting in severe skin blisters.

Molecular biologist Dr. Neil Andrew Bascos and his graduate students, Kim Ivan Abesamis and Camille Anne Bagoyo, of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB) are investigating just how G237D affects the structure of Integrin A6B4.

“We weren’t looking to study EB when we started this study,” Dr. Bascos narrated. “The main goal of the research has previously been looking at the function of integrins and their roles in cancer. Interestingly though, we’ve found that integrins may be associated with many other relevant diseases. Finding its involvement in this disfiguring disease provides us a means through which our research may be able to help the afflicted people.”

In their computational study, the researchers investigated how the G237D mutation prevents Integrin A6B4 from forming, and from binding their targets properly. Some factors, such as the presence of calcium ions, were also observed to stabilize integrin interactions.



Paving the way for future research

The study sets the direction for further research into factors that can alter the effect of the G237D mutation on Integrin A6B4 function. Exploring these factors can pave the way for discovering cures for EB. “At this point, it’s very much basic research, medyo predictive pa. It would need proof of principle, but these studies give us concrete targets to test in the search for ways to alleviate the disease,” Dr. Bascos said.

Some people with EB die as infants. Others manage to survive, but suffer from chronic illnesses that stem from its effects. Although little is currently known about effective treatments and cures for Butterfly’s Disease, the UP scientists remain steadfast in their quest to gain a deeper understanding of EB, in hopes of improving the quality of life of these patients and their families.





References:

Abesamis, K. I. A., Bagoyo, C. A. S., & Bascos, N. A. D. (2021). Investigating the effect of a non-conservative mutation (G273D) on integrin alpha6-beta4 binding interactions. Biophysical Journal, 120(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.1709

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. (n.d.). Epidermolysis Bullosa. Retrieved from https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/e/epidermolysis-bullosa

EB Research Network. (n.d.). Understanding EB & its classification. Retrieved from https://www.eb-researchnetwork.org/research/what-is-eb/

GMA Integrated News and Public Affairs. (n.d.). Butterfly Child. Brigada. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1693026984165308.



Written by Eunice Jean Patron, UPD-CS SciComm