A Tropical Plant Called Pineapple – Food 1

 

A pineapple fruit, ready to consume.

I called a “nanas” or pineaple in English when I was a kid. Pineapple is a plant, actually, and plant has a fruit.

But, we just call fruit as a pineaple for simplicity. There are many pineapple fruit in American groceries.

Price is less than US$2 each, quite reasonable, since its may come from far away, from tropical countries.

Pineapple is believed native to South America with scientific name Ananas comosus, then distributed and cultivated worldwide, especially to other tropical regions.

World produced about 28 million tons per year. Top 5 producer countries are:

- Costa Rica

- Philippines

- Brazil

- Thailand

- India

The pineapples in the grocery store

I like a pineapple because of its sweetness, and the taste might be combination of apple and orange citrus.

The ripe pineapple seems less bitter, the same with zesty and orange fruit.

From internet sources, here some benefit of pineapple by eating a slice pineapple per day:

- helping digesting

- increasing energy intake

- boosting metabolism

- nourishing skin, hair, teeth and nails

- keeping health in general.

Have you tasted pineapple? What do you think?

Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Fig 01- Mardi Gras wreath with words of Happy Mardi Gras

We have February carnival called as Mardi Gras party, usually 47 days before Easter every year in Louisiana.

Interesting part of Mardi Gras celebration for me is its decorations. Some important items to be decorated are:

- parade float

- team colors in parade float

- Beads

- Mask

Wreaths are hung on doors to greet party friends, guests and family members during Mardi Gras season.

The combination colors of wreaths are:

- metallic purple

- gold

- green

- purple polka

Fig 02- Mask as part of wreath

Mask is one of important items in Mardi Gras celebration. Women and men use mask for at least three purposes:

- hiding their identity

- fuel their imagination

- excitement   

Fig 03- Simple wreath on a white door.

Using mask in celebration, actually come from Italian tradition since centuries ago, hence called as “carnevale.” It is just called as “Mardi Gras face mask” now days.

People also decorate their wreath with mask with include:

- feathers

- streamers

- ribbon trimmings

Have you known Mardi Gras celebration?

Wild Flowers in the Backyards – Nature 1

Fig 01- A flower blooming through Autumn

As a southern state of USA, we may find wild flowers blooming almost at all 4 seasons in Louisiana.

However, the blooming of wild flowers reach peak in the two seasons of the year:

- Fall
- Spring

As usual, there are plenty of wild flower colors. There are 6 dominant colors which include:

- golden
- yellow
- purple
- lavender
- blue
- pink

Fig 02- White flower with yellow in the center.

I always find white flower, look like Daisy in my backyard. The white petal so smooth with yellow in the center make its very beautiful.

Fig 03- Wild flower resemble to fungi.

Asters are common wild flower in my area, their colors are:

- white
- lavender
- pink

Fig 04- Wild flower with red color

Other common wild flowers are plenty in my areas, and blooming from Spring to Autum. Just for examples are:

- golden yellow sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
- purple blazing-star (Liatris sp.).
- American beauty berry (Callicarpa americana).
- ironweed (Vernonia altissima)
- Goldenrods (Solidago sp.)
- giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
- narrow-leaved sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
- the blue mist-flower (Conoclinium coelestinum).

Many more wild flower in our states from small to medium to larger size in term of flowers and trees.

Do you love wild flowers? What are common wild flowers in your areas?

I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 1

Fig 01- Christmas decoration at one of city corners

Then, in term of effectiveness, just for comparison of effective rate for other two familiar vaccines are:

- 50% for H1N1 flu vaccine
- 90% for varicella vaccine.

Immediately after getting shot, nothing happen to my body, feeling and whatever. Then, I was asked by a nurse to stay in the specific room for about 15 minutes.

Image 2- Pfizer vaccine (credit to BBC)

Image 3- Plants, just for illustration

I was observed to see “adverse reaction.” No “anaphylaxis,” a serious allergic reaction. Nothing happens at all.

You might wonder that why I could be included as first recipients of covid 19 vaccine?

No, I am not older than 75 years old.

I am a healthcare personnel “who worked directly with Covid 19 patients.” 100% of my patients are survive.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you!!

# Previous postings:

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2
- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

*** 24 December 2020

Important of Microorganisms in Food Industry – Healthy Life 1

 

Lactobacillus casei, Shirota is used for enumeration of 

Bifidobacterial in fermented milks

Our life might not exist without microorganisms, since these “tiny” unseen creatures help human being in many ways.

They are digesting our food, fixing gases, decomposing waste and involving in may cycles like to break down dead organisms then to be used as fertilizer by living organism as part of food chain.

In industry, microorganisms are widely used in many industries, from small to large scale ones, and from traditional to cutting edge technology industries.

Bacteria, yeast, molds, combination of several microorganisms and even virus are commonly used in many types of industries.

The types of industry include food industry (industrial products), pharmaceutical industry, biotech industry, agriculture industry and waste treatment (reduce toxic pollutants).

In food processing, our ancestors routinely used microorganisms for production of beverages, sausages and dairy products.

Ornaments in the parking lot

Currently, we could use microorganisms of naturally occurring and genetically modified microorganism to increase food production.

These products (beverages, sausages and dairy products) could be improved their health benefit to public by attaching probiotic microorganisms.

The health benefits include to improve digestion, to protect body from pathogens, increase peristaltic activity in intestine and stimulate immune system.  

Above figure (top of this article) shown an example of probiotic microbes from lactic acid bacteria group.

The bacteria called Lactobacillus casei, Shirota is used in dairy product to improve nutritional and health benefit.

The Japan company, Honsha used this bacterium to produce Yakult. The Yakult is believed nutrient rich drink and could improve immune system.

I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 1

Luckily, I got first shot of Covid 19 vaccine on December 18, 2020, few days ago. The date was exactly with vice president of USA, Mike Pence.

Image 1- Entrance to vaccine shots administration

The difference that Mike Pence was injected in Washington DC, while me in my city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I was included as first recipients in the city. Vaccine brand called as Biontech – Pfizer needs two shots.

In my cases, two shots and dates are:

- Primary shot, done on December 18, 2020
- Booster shot will be on January 8, 2021.

Image 2- An interior building, just for illustration

Image 3- A public building

The interval between primary shot and booster shot is 21 days. Quite shorter compared to another vaccine (Moderna vaccine).

As you might know that the effective rate of both Biontech – Pfizer and Moderna are higher:

- 95% for Biontech – Pfizer
- 94.5% for Moderna

Then, you might wonder: what happen to my body after getting Biontech – Pfizer vaccine shots?

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2
- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

** 22 December 2020

The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

Image 1- The cartoon of coronavirus (Credit: Murray et al)

Normally, corona virus infects the epithelial cells of respiratory tract of human. The reason is this place has the optimum temperature for the corona virus to grow in optimal condition.

This virus is believed to well develop in the temperature range of 33 – 35 degree Celsius.

China had been ready for the biggest festival to celebrate their New Year, called as Spring Festival.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Cute cat, illustration only

In their faith, to welcome the new year, they decorate their to against demons and evil, put calligraphy to welcome the fortune, and prepare the red envelopes to health of their children.

Those things seem do not help for this year. The new coronavirus from Wuhan have come over the China and now spread to other countries.

On January 27, the Day of Rat, which is the day that rats marry, the virus had killed at least 80 people in China and infected about 3000 people around the world and the most is in China.

The Rat looks mourn.

# Previous postings:

- Visitor My Blogger - 12 Countries in 3 Days
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA
- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1

# December 16, 2020