Virulence of Covid 19 Variants in Japan – Virus 35

Pretty Bougain villae bonsai

When I am writing this post, there are very said facts about Covid 19 in the world and other countries. 93.8 million cases, and 2.01 million deaths in the world

Top 5 countries with cases and deaths (from several sources as of January 16, 2021) are following:

- 23.6 million cases, and 393,000 deaths in the USA

- 10.5 million cases, and 152,000 deaths in India

- 8.39 million cases, and 208,000 deaths in Brazil

- 3.84 million cases, and 63,558 deaths in Russia

- 3.32 million cases, and 87,295 deaths in UK

However, the threaten of new variant of Covid 19 virus creates the condition even worst while inoculation of vaccines just start in many places.

First, the UK’s variant, then South Africa, and lately was from Japan. The question then :

How dangerous those new variants?  

Red chili from backyard

What we know about UK and South Africa Covid 19 variants until now:

- much more dangerous than original strains

- more transmissible

- mutations occurred to “spike protein”

What we know about Japan Covid 19 variants until today:

- Japan strain comes from Brazil

- higher infectiousness

- mutations not only to spike protein, but also on the variant ability to evade of our immune system memory.

Good news that the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine ables to fight effectively the UK and South Africa Covid 19 (Sars Cov 2) variants.

However, studies are underway to observe whether any vaccines will work to fight virus variants in Japan.

If not, we might need to upgrade our current vaccines. Hope, we will know soon.

The Origin of Cup Cake – Food Variety 8

 

Three cup cakes with 3 different decorations.

Honestly, I just realized lately that there is different between two similar form of cakes:

- muffin

- cup cake

It is said that a cup cake is the perfect dessert for lunch or dinner. Its small size is created to serve for one person.

Like other larger cakes, cup cakes are decorated with many items, just for examples:

- fresh fruit

- candy

- chocolate

- ganache

- sugar cage

- caramel ribbons

Similar cup cakes on the table.

I just read from some sources, standard ingredients are used to bake cup cakes includes:

- butter

- sugar

- flour

- eggs

Historically, the cup cake has been consumed in America since 1796 or might be early, more than 200 years ago.

Its name originally was 1234 cakes or called as the number cake, refer to portions of its four basic well known ingredients:

- 1 cup of butter

- 2 cups of sugar

- 3 cups of flour

- 4 eggs

In addition to four basic, people may use other two ingredients:

- 1 cup of milk

- 1 spoon of soda

Which one do you like: cup cakes or muffin?

Was there Virus Outbreak before Covid 19? - Virus 34

White flowers in the winter

We faced with devastating pandemic during 2020, and even until today. Vaccine roll out, might end this pandemic soon.

Unfortunately, America experienced 30 months outbreak of virus called as Hepatitis A virus (HAV) before this recently pandemic.

The infection started from March 2017, and end at August 2019 which caused 244 deaths of 24,952 cases in 30 states.

The virus infects liver, the very important organ. Then lead to liver inflammation or damage, to disturb organ functions as:

- to process nutrients

- to filter the blood

- to fight infections

Hepatitis A virus is very contagious. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that about 7 thousand people dead per year worldwide due Hepatitis A.

Beautiful color of autumn trees

In addition to virus, liver damage may be caused by some factors such as:

- using of alcohol

- some medications

- certain toxins

- medical conditions

People get infected due to consumed contaminated water and food. Many foods could be contaminated by HAV, just examples:

- shellfish

- salads

- vegetables

- fruits

- orange juice

- ice cream

- cheese

- custard

- milk

- bread

- cookies

- raw or under cooked foods.

Good news that this diseases is preventable by vaccines. All children and teenagers are recommended by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to get vaccines in the USA.

Mini Sago Palm at the Corner - Gardening and Hobby 17

Mini Sago palm, sweet at the corner

I know the word “sago,” its tree could reach 50 feet (15 m) in height after 15 years old.

The species of Metroxylon sagu produces starch called as “sago” or “sagu” starch.

Other two species of palm trees produce sago starch are:

- Arenga spp.

- Maurilia spp

One sago tree could produce 90 to 180 kg starch. The starch is used generally as:

- foodstuffs such as noodle

- textile sizing

- adhesives

The trees are found in freshwater swamp areas of South East Asia and Papua New Guinea. 

Fruit from mini sago palm

Here in America, we have another type of sago, mini sago palm with scientific name Cycas revoluta.

The plant native to Asian regions, include southern Japan. Since its small size, it is popular as one of ornamental plants.

We have grown the sago in the corner of our house, some people do grow its as an indoor plant.

Several advantages of sago plants:

- easy to take care

- grow well outside and indoors

- free of pests

- available in most nurseries.

- may be grown in pot

Mini sago plants grow slowly, and they reaches about 15 feet (5 m) tall after several years. This is another reason why people chose sago plant to put in their garden.

What are Ingredients in the Biontech-Pfizer Vaccine? – Virus 33

Wild plant at our backyard

About 1 million American, especially seniors (above 75 years old) and medical workers relate to Coronavirus have been shot of covid 19 vaccine.

We might wonder what are ingredient of Covid 19 vaccine, Pfizer – Biontech? Based on several sources, here are inside of vaccine:

1) Active ingredient called mRNA

- mRNA stimulates human cells to produce spike protein, similar protein on the surface of Coronavirus

- immune system then create antibodies in respond. We will have immunity to protect our body from Coronavirus infection.

2) Lipid

- this ingredient is like fat, not soluble in water

- Lipid to encapsulate and protect mRNA with “bubble.” Hence, the mRNA is not easily destroyed.

- there are four kinds of lipid in the vaccine, they are: ALC- 0315; ALC- 0159; 1,2- distearoyl- sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine; and Cholesterol.

Autumn leaves colors

3) Sugar

- sucrose is needed to block nanoparticles in the vaccine from clumping up when stored at minus 70 (-70) degree Celcius in the refrigerator.

4) Salts

- to make vaccine to be accepted by human body’s environment.

- four type of salts in the Covid 19 vaccine: “potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sodium chloride.”

You might know about “conspiracy theory” of microchip or robot in the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine.

Yes, lipid in the vaccine is nanoparticles because of their tiny size. It is not microchip or robot or micro computer. “Nanoparticles are lipid droplets, the fatty molecular.” 

Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully? - Gardening and Hobby 16

Fig 01- Flock of Canadian geese in city garden

The number of Canadian geese is fluctuate from seasons to seasons, quite abundance at Fall and Winter compared to other seasons.

It is because there are two types of geese in the lakes of our city garden:

- permanent geese (local geese), stay forever in the garden.
- migratory geese, just for temporary visits.

The migratory geese came from Canada or Northern America about October, and they stay during winter season every year. Their number much more than local geese.

Our city garden actually locate in the urban areas that might attract the geese to come and stay a while.

Urban areas have several advantages such as:

- abundance of food
- less natural predators

What animals are natural predators of Canadian geese?

Fig 02- Three of Canadian geese

Plenty of natural predators of Canadian geese include their eggs, some of them are:

- coyotes
- raccoon
- skunks
- bobcats
- foxes
- eagles
- crows

Fig 03- Geese and white swan are swimming together

Now, the question: Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully?

Based on several observations that the geese are “very emotional” critter. Why they honking mournfully, it is because:

- they loss their mate
- their eggs are stolen.

Sadly, they could out from flocks, and lonely honking mournfully. They may have aggressive behavior.

Previous post:

- Will Confederate Jasmine Crawl Back After Winter? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Late Harvest of Satsuma Orange in the Yard - Food Variety 7

Fig 01- A ripe Satsuma orange

We have just one tree of Satsuma orange, harvest time was between October to November each year.

Due to uncertain weather, the harvest quite late and bad compared to previous years.

However, in many places, Satsuma seasons are between October to early December, and we may see plenty of them sold in the groceries around December.

Farmers sold their Satsuma oranges between December to January both in the farmer markets, and occasionally in the farm.

Prices are varies between groceries and farmer markets:

- about US$ 2 per pound (½ kg) in groceries

- we saw US$ 1 per pound in some farmer markets

- less than USS 1 per pound in the farm.

Fig 02- Some fruits hang on the branches.

Our Satsuma tree produced less and less fruit since few years ago. The main concern is diseases. We called as a “white spot” diseases.

Fig 03- Two fruits of Satsuma

Several other “well known” diseases may infect Satsuma orange trees are:

1) Bacterial diseases

- one kind of bacteria may cause leaves to curl, dry up and then drop. This bacteria infects tree in the winter and spring seasons.

2) Mandarin Rind Disorder

- I saw brown and sunken areas on the fruit skin, look like fungi diseases. Yes, it occurs during heavy rain time of Fall season.

3) Botrytis Diseases

- This is fungi diseases. I always see white or gray spores on the leaves. They appeared when tree is bearing “baby” fruits, before rain seasons (before Autumn).

Finally, have you tasted Satsuma orange?