About rBST

I wanted to write about my discussion on the allegedly popular organic milk as compared to regular rBST cow-treated milk. This talk happened between me and my friend. My friend was of the opinion that there is a hype of organic things now a days (2015) and that why would an organic gallon stay much longer in the fridge as compared to a regular rBST derived milk, assuming that organic milk does not have any preservatives....mt friend suspected that something doesn't add up as natural organic milk should naturally get stale sooner. Well, we both figured the answer:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-organic-milk-lasts-longer/

Now lets move over to another statement "No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbST-treated and non-rbST-treated cows." advised by the FDA.

On Nov 05, 1993 FDA approved the use of rBST and it is stated at its website that:
"FDA believes that the available data confirm that biologically significant amounts of rbGH are not absorbed in humans following the consumption of milk from cows treated with rbGH. Oral toxicity studies of longer duration are not necessary because rbGH at dietary levels found in the milk of rbGH-treated cows is not significantly biologically available."

In contrast, a Canadian study found that rBST increased the risks of mastitis, failure to conceive, and lameness in cows. Use of rBST increased the risk of a cow failing to conceive by approximately 40%. For cows which did conceive, there was no effect on services per conception and only a small increase in average days open (5 days). Use of the drug had no effect on gestation length, but the information about a possible effect on the risk of twinning was equivocal. Cows treated with rBST had an estimated 55% increase in the risk of developing clinical signs of lameness. Few studies reported data on culling, but based on those that did, there appeared to be an increase risk of culling evident in multiparous cows. Use of the drug in 1 lactation period appeared to reduce the risk of metabolic diseases (particularly ketosis) in the early period of the subsequent lactation.

Currently,  rBST is banned in Canada, Europe, and Japan.

And then you have Monsanto (the producer of rBST) striking back the use of "rBST-free" term. Monsanto Company is striking back against a trend among dairy processors to ban the use of the company’s genetically engineered hormone, recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), and to label their products as rBST-free.

In the US, on Sept 29th 2010, the 6th circuit found rBST milk “materially different”  and noted that "The court cites three reasons milk produced by rbST-treated cows is different: increased levels of the hormone IGF-1, a period of milk with lower nutritional quality during each lactation, and increased somatic cell counts in the milk. The court further noted that higher somatic cell counts indicate milk is poor quality and will turn sour more quickly."

Spring 2014 Opening SST Meeting hosted by Dean SST

 Student enrollment for various disciplines.

                             Fall2012               Fall2013

Gen Bio:              703                      775

Cell Bio:              238                       209

BioChem:              302                     352

Pre-bio teach cert   8                            7            

Ex Sc                     346                     377       

Digital Media          37                       132

System&Security   209                       226

S/W Dev               321                       325

Pure Math            34                          37

Applied Math      55                          58

Pre-math Teacher cert    69                          39

Math teacher cert            19                          13

Dean’s survey feedback

87 respondendents

Better campus wide advocate (21%)

Improve communications (11%)

Organization SST better (10%)

Delegate more: 7%

Active Learning Strategies (ALS) website

·        What ALS are you using in your class

·        SST is creating a repository of ALS

·        Why? Share ideas. Support our PT faculty

ALS committee: Anatoly Kurkovsky

·        Gerald Agbegha – Math

·        Leonard Anagho – Chem

·        Jeff Pasley – Ex Science

·        Lijun Pang – Physics

·        Chris Brown – Biology

·        Cuilan Wang – IT

·        David Kerven – Dean Office.

Changes for Fall 2014

·        1000 more students (9900 currently)

·        New AHSB bldg.

·        Office moves

·        New academic services and offices in D bldg.

·        New classrooms

·        New undergrad research suite

·        New faculty

·        Block scheduling for all new full-time freshman

·        Disconnect registration from bear essentials

·        33 new SST our of 68 new GGC faculty

·        Faculty in B, A, will move to D, I, RL, or H

·        Rearrangement of I-bldg office assignments to facilitate disciplinary grouping

Weekend Cohort Programs

Zero Day Initiative: March  through the arch,

Miscellaneous Reminders:

·        Book selection policy: all sections use the same text book, exceptions are theme-based courses.

·        Laptop cart data

·        Copying

·        Finals

·        Feels like a million wellness program

·        whiteboard