Friday 15 July 2022

Factors Causing the Late Onset Alzheimer's Diseases – Part 2 - Alzheimer’s 7

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Factors Causing the Late Onset Alzheimer's Diseases – Part 1 - Alzheimer’s 7



Image 1- Astrocyte (Neuroscience, Purves et al).

In our brain, APOE is mainly produced by astrocyte. Then, diseases associate with APOE may include:

- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Vascular Dementia
- Type 2 Diabetes Melitus
- Ischemia Stroke
- Type III Hyperlipoproteinemia. 



Image 2- Cloudy in our city

In the late onset Alzheimer's disease, there are three type APOEs:

- APOE2 is associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's
- APOE3 the most common variant and is considered neutral
- APOE4 is associated with a greater risk.



Image 3- A yard, illustration only

The function of APOE is to regulate lipid transport from one cell type or tissue to another.



Image 4- Morning view at the corner

In our brain, APOE is mainly produced by astrocyte and its function is to transport cholesterol to our nerve cell (neuron) in the brain.

Whenever an imbalance between the production and clearance of beta-amyloid peptide in our brain, thus, the accumulation and aggregation of beta-amyloid will be occurred. This become a toxic in our brain.

This toxicity also depends on the paired helical filaments of the microtubuli-associated protein tau.

So, in the in the late onset Alzheimer's disease, the toxic in the brain destroy the nice balancing of healthy brain, prominently the two proteins which are called beta-amyloid and tau.

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Thursday 14 July 2022

Is Rising Price due to Greedflation?

When we are shopping to Walmart grocery, we always pick a bucket of 8 pieces fried chicken.



Image 1- A bucket of fried chicken

8 pieces quite fresh, crunchy and delicious. The bucket of fried chicken consists of:

- two thighs
- two wings
- two breasts
- and two drumsticks

What surprise us that the price increases at unbelievable rate, about 50% compared to few months ago, from just US$ 6 to more than US$ 9 nowadays.

Why?



Image 2- Fried chicken in the bucket



Image 3- Eight pieces fried chicken

Off course, the company or corporate blames to many things that cause rising in price such as: decreasing supply, disturbing in distribution (transportation) and gasoline price

However, the fact shows different story that many companies include in food industries profit billion of dollars.

Then, inflation rate is 9.1% only, even thought the highest in last 40 years. Much less than price increasing.

Corporate get too much profit. Greedy.

Hence, should we call it greedflation? What do you think?

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Wednesday 13 July 2022

Free Coffee at Toyota Car Repair Shop

We visit car repair shop at least twice a year. Since our car is Toyota brand, we always go to Toyota repair shop for many purposes.



Image 1- Free coffee for customers

In addition of car repair shop, we have other two English words with relate meaning:

- a garage
- a car workshop

Some purposes of our regular visit to Toyota car repair shop are:

- oil change after our car travel some thousand miles distances
- general “checkup” for car maintenance
- emission testing



Image 2- Entrance into Toyota repair car



Image 3- Waiting room, not crowded

Oil change is not that long to wait just about less than hour, because I think just easy to do.

If we need to replace car’s “spare parts” because of emission standard or just old one is not work well, then It will be complicated:

- due to extra cost
- and long hours to wait

Luckily, the Toyota repair shop provide free coffee and free lunch boxes sometimes. Hence, we are drinking coffee and reading while waiting in long hours.

How about with car repair shop in your city?

# Previous postings:

Tuesday 12 July 2022

The Proper Times to Take Pills – Part 1 – Healthy Life 22

As you might know that our body has a biological clock. Hence, functions of organs in our body follow circadian rhythms, 24 hour cycles.



Image 1- OTC drugs at a Pharmacy

We may divide the body rhythms in at least 4 different times or activities (please read Emily Anthes, published in The Atlantic, August 18, 2020):

1) Morning

- Increasing of our body temperature, blood pressure, cortisol levels and heart rate.

2) Mid- morning time

- our body at the level of most vigilant



Image 2- A corner of our city



Image 3- A flower of Gerbera Daisy


3) Afternoon hours

- Increasing of body temperature, and reach peak at around 4 PM. Hence, it will drive the performance of our body to the peak point in terms of organization, flexibility, and strength.

4) Night

- pineal gland starts to release melatonin
- when we are sleeping (resting time), circadian rhythms may cause increasing level of gastric acid.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Monday 11 July 2022

Hydrangea Flowers Blooming in the Summer – Nature 32

I know the Hydrangea flowers Blooming in the early Summer through Fall season in my area.



Image 1- Hydrangea blooming.

They are growing well and look healthy under Summer sun, and blooming very beautiful.

One source I read from internet (Igor Viznyy, 2022: Do Hydrangeas Like Sun or Shade?) said that whether Hydrangea loves sun or shade depend very much on its species.

Some species loves sunlight at proper length, other species love to live both under sun and shade.



Image 2- Close up Hydrangea flowers



Image 3- Growing well under the sunlight

There are about 75 species of Hydrangea all over the world. Some popular Hydrangea are:

- Hydrangea paniculata or commonly called as little lime
- Hydrangea arborescens, incrediball
- Hydrangea serrata, called as tuff stuff

Interestingly, since its categorized as friendly plant, Hydrangea could attract many pollinators which may include bees, butterfly and many other important pollinators.

Do you see Hydrangea flowers in your area? What do you think?

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Saturday 9 July 2022

Is It Safe to Consume Foods after Expiration Date? - Part 2 – Food 16

You may read the previous posting (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is It Safe to Consume Foods after Expiration Date? - Part 1 – Food 16



Image 1- Traditional preserved tempeh

Best if use before,” this is not indicating to safety date. It is just the date of the best flavor.

So, if the “phrases” not refer to food safety, then, we may have a question: Is It Safe to Consume Foods after Expiration Date?

The answer is depend on several factors, generally:

- If flavor, odor and color changed, then, we should throw away the foods.
- if foods are preserved in bottles and cans, we may eat after six months of expired date.



Image 2- One of popular cookies



Image 3- Pickle in the bottles

We may consume little bit longer than expired date, if we keep our purchased foods in the refrigerator and or freezer.

In many cases, we always store these following foods in the refrigerator and or freezer:

- eggs
- meat
- chicken
- milk, apple, strawberry and other fresh foods

Did you ever consume expired date foods?

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Friday 8 July 2022

Size of Bluebirds Birdhouse at the Backyard – Nature 31

Many ways to attract bluebirds to visit and stay a while at backyard, for me, one of methods is to design proper birdhouse.



Image 1- Blue bird and her house

Wild birds, especially songbirds like bluebird need right size which comfortable space for:

- adult birds to go and come to bring foods from outside for their new babies and mates

- proper base size to put eggs safely for incubation

- proper large size will accommodate baby birds to grow well until reach time to leave the birdhouse.



Image 2- Yellow flowers in the garden



Image 3- Nesting inside birdhouse

As you might know that there are 3 different types of bluebirds:

- Eastern bluebirds
- Western bluebirds
- and Mountain bluebirds

Based on my knowledge, our state, Louisiana has a lot of Eastern bluebird. Hence, the size of birdhouse is design for this Eastern bluebird.

Entry Hole is important part with diameter size is 3.81 cm (1,5 inches), and box size could be 12.7 x 25.4 cm (5 x 10 inches) square.

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

Is Meat Not a Main Food of Fox? - Nature 129

We have talked briefly about a fox crossing street at our neighborhood recently at previous posting.  Image 01 - A fox, sitting on the stree...