The Mutant Genes in the Early Onset Familial Alzheimer's – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 6

Previously, I posted about chromosomes related to the Alzheimer's disease and gene mutations as the genetic marker that believe to lead to this pathological disease.

Image 1- Simple talks of Alzheimer's patients

You may read previous postings (Part 1 and Part 2):

- In what chromosomes are the gene mutation related to Alzheimer's Disease? - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 5
- In what chromosomes are the gene mutation related to Alzheimer's Disease? - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 5

As we might know that the progressive declined in cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease are associated with depositions of aggregated protein in form of extracellular plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.

Image 2- Plants, just for illustration

Image 3- Dialogs of normal and Alzheimer’s person.

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease appears about in the thirties and mid-sixties of the age which are characterized by the mutation of single gene in any chromosome in chromosome 1, chromosome 14 and chromosome 21.

Long investigations about the mutant gene that causes abundance of amyloid plaques were conducted.

Then the scientists found that this gene, the gene encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP), sits in chromosome 21.

It's an autosomal dominant.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 2 – Nature 16
- The Early Person who Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Diseases - Part 1 – Alzheimer's 2
- Sweet Chocolate Candies and a Yummy Book – Part 2 – Reading 8
- Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 1 – Nature 17

Have You Tried to Consume Any Forms of Coconut Products?

We talked about imported coconut in the USA market, please read at previous post:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Countries which Export Coconut to America

Image 1- Coconut without shells, sold in the Mexican grocery

There are many products made of coconuts, include:

- oil
- milk
- milk beverages
- water (juicy)
- flakes
- flour
- butter
- sugar

Image 2- Coconut oil, sold in the Walmart groceries

Image 3- Coconut charcoal, sold in Amazon

Other well known coconut relate products are charcoal, vinegar, copra, cream, chips, candy and cakes.

I myself love to consume water (juicy) and meat of young coconuts, suitable during hot summer season.

Cans of juicy mixed with young coconut meats also available in many groceries, especially Asian shops.

I often use coconut oil and milk for cooking, especially for traditional foods. Smell good and tasty.

Have you tried to eat coconut? What products of coconut do you like most?

# Previous postings:

- Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to You and Yours
- “The Madness of Crowds” and Omicron – Reading 7
- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 1 – Nature 16
- Sweet Chocolate Candies and a Yummy Book – Part 1 – Reading 8

Tea Made of Hibiscus Flowers

We knew Hibiscus flowers could be processed to be tea, but we never seen its sold commercially in the market.

Image 1- A package of hibiscus tea

When we visit Mexican store a couple weeks ago, we saw the Hibiscus tea in the small plastic packages.

The waitress said that tea made of Jamaican flowers, flowers from a Caribbean country. So, it is mean the grocery imported those tea.

Price is quite cheap compare to other tea sold in other American groceries such as Walmart and Whole Foods Market.

Image 2- A pink Hibiscus flower in the garden

Image 3- Yellow flower at a yard

Image 4- Several packs of Hibiscus tea.

Just for comparison, price of teas per 8 oz (227 gram) in groceries of our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana:

- Hibiscus tea is US$ 4.29 per 8 oz
- others tea is US$ 12.80 per 8 oz

We drink hot hibiscus tea, and love sweet cranberry flavor. Other flavors, just few are:

- spicy
- fruity
- and sour

# Previous postings:

- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 10
- The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 1
- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 2 – Reading 6
- The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 1

Diet of Rose breasted grosbeak in Nature – Nature 25

We have talk about very rare visiting of Rose breasted grosbeak in our neighborhood:

- Rose breasted grosbeak Comes to Our Neighborhood – Nature 23

Image 1- Rose breasted grosbeak sitting on feeder.

As you might know that Rose breasted grosbeak has “quite big size of beak” compared to other birds with similar size. Hence, the birds have ability to consume larger food items.

Wild Bird Unlimited (2022) reported that more than 50% of Rose breasted grosbeak come from larger insects such as:

- crickets
- grasshoppers
- and other insects

Image 2- Pink Caladium in the pot

Image 3- Sunflower at the neighbor garden

Image 4- Rose breasted grosbeak at a neighbor’s feeder

Sure, in backyard of our neighborhood, this “big beak” bird love to eat seed, any kind of seeds.

In nature, in addition to insects, the bird consumes fruit and seed. The favorite seeds are:

- sunflower
- safflower seeds
- weed seeds and peanuts.

Have you ever feed Rose breasted grosbeak in your yards? What kind of food do you provide the bird?

# Previous postings:

- Changes of Parents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 2 - Science 11
- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 1 – Food 10
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 4 – Science 10
- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 1 – Reading 6

Why are We Getting Obese Nowadays? - Part 1 – Healthy Life 20

The fact that Americans are getting obese and obesity generally, whether they are:

- kids

- teenagers
- or adults.

Graph 01- Obesity among younger increase over time.

These data are recorded for more than 50 years in respect to ages and sexes differences.

Data for kids and teenagers were taken several times from period of 1963 to 2014 (please see Graph 01).

In case of adults, both women and men tend to obese. But women more obese than men since 1960.

The data continue to periods of 2013 to 2014 as shown on Graph 02 at below.

Graph 02 – Increasing of obesity between men and women

Image- White azalea, blooming

Surprisingly that the following facts are not changes or static or almost the same for 50 years:

- Eating the same amount of food
- Doing the same amount of physical exercises.

Surprisingly, in average, Americans consume the same quantities of:

- calories
- fat and protein

The question then why are We getting obese nowadays?

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- What Autumn is Like in My Town Baton Rouge LA – Part 1 - Nature 15
- Parents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 1 - Science 11
- What Autumn is Like in My Town, Baton Rouge LA – Part 2 - Nature 15
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 3 – Science 10

Blue Mirror Flowers Blooming Twice in a Season – Nature 24

I just know, plenty flowers blooming more than one in a season. One of them is Delphiniums, also called as Blue Mirror.

The scientific name is a Delphinium elatum, perennial flower.

Image 1- Blue Mirror is blooming.

Blue Mirror always get first blooming in early summer, and blooming again in late summer or early fall.

The color quite beautiful; violet – blue. Flowers could reach 10 inches (25 cm). Look sweet in the garden.

Europe is origin of flowers. They commonly found from southern parts of Europe to Siberia.

Image 2- Some blooming, others not yet

Image 3- Love to see flowers blooming

In addition to Blue Mirror, other flowers which blooming twice a year are many, here some of them:

- Russian Sage, Ice plant
- Salvia, Yarrow
- Beebalm, Echinacea
- Astible, Icelandic poppies and etc

Finally, all flowers genus Delphinium are poisonous both to human and animals. All parts of flowers are poison, include seed. Toxicity may lead to bloat, respiratory failure and even to death.

# Previous postings:

- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 1 – Science 10
- A Memoir of Chasten Buttigieg – Part 2 – Reading 5
- Can a Poet be a Millionaire? - Art 4
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 2 – Science 10

Countries which Export Coconut to America

I believe you know that coconut grow well in tropical regions, hence, coconut producers come from hot temperature countries.

Coconuts with scientific name Cocos nucifera are easily to find in America groceries. Where do they come from?

Image 1- Coconut with shell sold in the USA groceries

Tropical countries known well for growing coconut trees are located in South East Asia, include:

- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Philippine
- and Indonesia.

Moreover, Brazil is the largest coconut producer from Latin America.

Image 2- A coconut tree with fruits

USA import US$ 34 million coconut per year. Most coconuts in the USA are coming from Latin America.

Image 3- Juice in the young coconut.

The countries or regions or territories which export coconuts to America:

- Cuba
- Latin America (central America countries)
- Pacific islands
- Puerto Rico

Image 4- Coconut fruit

However, coconuts are growing in the USA too. Two states have coconut trees are:

- Hawaii
- and Florida.

Hence, it is not difficult to find coconut and some of its products in the USA, include in our state, Louisiana.

I saw the biggest retail in America, Walmart has sold coconuts for sometimes, but I always buy them in ethnic groceries such as Mexico and Asian shops.

Have your countries grown coconut trees?

# Previous postings:

- Overdosing Epidemic Caused 100,000 Died in the USA – Science 9
- Can Texting Make You Shopping More and Fat? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 17
- Annual Christmas Parade in Our Neighborhood
- A Memoir of Chasten Buttigieg – Part 1 – Reading 5