BinaxNOW - Quick, Cheap and Accuracy of Covid 19 Test – Virus 18

Card and application for an antigen test (credit to Alere)

We talked about tools or instruments for testing of Corona virus on several previous posts:

- Is there Affordable Kit to Detect Corona Virus? - Virus 2

- The Fastest Test with RT-PCR Technology Based – 5 Minutes Result - Virus 7

- Should We Get Covid-19 Antibody Test to Avoid Lock-down? - Virus 10

What are important different between the available test methods?

1) Old Fashion PCR test

- this “Polymerase Chain Reaction” test is based on detection of virus (SARS Cov2) genetic sequences.

- using expensive and complicated instruments, and run by professional.

- take several days to know the result

Beautiful cat, just for illustration

2) Antibody test

- after exposing to SARS Cov2 virus, the antibodies may be detected in the blood.

- the same with PCR test in term of expensive, complicated machine and long hours result to know

3) “BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card”

- this is a new test based on detection of antigen on Corona virus or detection of molecular structure of antigen on Corona virus surface.

- simple, quick result and very cheap.

The “BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card” is created by Abbott Laboratories, and has been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The card, credit card size is accompanied with nasal swab and extraction reagent. Nasal swab is stuck to card, then connect to mobile (Cell Phone) application called as Navica.

Result can be seen in 15 minutes with cost US$ 5 only. The accuracy of test is 97.1% to 98.5%.

We may show our test results to enter public buildings such as schools, offices and even groceries. Make everybody convenient. 

Red Amaryllis is a Flower which to Grow – Gardening and hobby 2

 

Red flowers in the yard

Blooming period of Red Amaryllis has been over, usually from January to July, about 7 to 10 weeks duration.

It is need about 6 to 8 or 10 weeks to grow plants from beginning until they produce flowers. We should begin as late as December to have flower blooming in the Spring.

We know, Amaryllis plants (Hippeastrum sp.) have many varieties, some of well known are:

- Red Lion

- Summertime

- Fairy Tale

- Matterhorn

- Ice Queen

- Apple Blossom

Flowers surround the old big tree

Plant could grow well in pot with:

- good soil with little bit fertilizer

- indirect, but bright light

- watering every day.

Flowers are common to be used as decoration during holiday, and cut flowers for gifts on a special day.

Be careful that Amaryllis plants are poisonous for humans and pets. The toxic parts are:

- leaves

- stem

- bulb.

Red Amaryllis is good both for indoor and outdoor. However, the plant is easy to grow in yard or garden.

The flower is perennial (tend to perennial). Its life span is quite longer, could reach to 75 years.

Have you ever known about Amaryllis flowers? What varieties do you like?

How Immune System Work to Fight Covid 19? – Virus 17

Fig-01- The summer hat for women, just for illustration

We might wonder why some people could survive after infected of Corona virus, Sar Cov 2, Covid 19?

The simple answer is that because they have “very good” immune system. We have at least 7 component of immune systems:

- antibodies

- white blood cells

- the lymphatic system

- the spleen

- the thymus

- the bone marrow

- the complement system

Of these 7, the white blood cells are a major component of the body's immune system.

Fig-02- White bulb, flowers, just for illustration

White blood cells have sub-type called a Lymphocyte. Sub-type Lymphocyte have crucial cells:

- natural killer cells

- T cells

- B cells

When corona virus infected our body, our immune system produced antibodies and T cells to fight corona virus, Sar Cov 2.

Unfortunately, those who dead, it is because their immune system not react properly, not enough to produce antibodies and no or less respond of T cells to combat corona virus.

These facts are supported by research from several institutions:

- Erasmus University Medical Center and La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), Holland, by observed 10 infected patients of Covid 19.

- the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne hospital, Australia showed that a 40 years old, healthy woman was able to survive from corona virus infection.

Hope, our own immune system is in “perfect” condition to fight virus, while we are waiting vaccine and drugs.

Cutting Down Trees Due to Fungus Diseases - Gardening and hobby 1

Chunk of woods

Our neighborhood and some Southern states trees have been attacked by diseases in the last 3 years.

We may know some diseases which could cause sick, and eventually dead of trees. The diseases are:

1) Dutch Elm diseases

The diseases caused by beetle, originally from Europe, and spread in many cities in the USA now days.

2) Armillaria Root Rot

It is a fungal diseases on rotting woods. This kind of fungi may infect living trees as well.

3) Black Knot Disease

A kind of fungi, attack on branches. Spreading from one tree to other trees during rainy season.

Branches and twigs

4) Bur Oak blight

This diseases caused by fungus called Tubakia dryina. We may see spots on leaves, then make leaves fall off the trees.

5) Spruce Decline

Fungus caused bald branches of blue spruce trees, then gradually make branches die, and fall. Diseases spreading to many parts of America.

Wood trunks, ready to pick up

6) Fruit tree diseases

One of well known diseases infects fruit trees is “Apple Scab.” Yes, the fungi caused green or brown spots of apple trees. Fallen leaves in great number may followed by tree death later on.

Moreover, we believed that our trees and neighborhood trees are infected by diseases called as “white powder.”

White spots are everywhere: roots, trunk, branches and twigs. We tried to save some trees by fungicide. It seems not work well.

Do you have trees in your backyard or garden? Do they have diseases?

Blue Crab from Gulf of Mexico

 Small size blue crab

We just got discount offer of boiled crabs from our neighborhood restaurant, bargaining price a big size crab US$ 12 a dozen.

Original price is US$ 36 a dozen, so we got a lot of discount, at least 70% of market price.

Many people love crabs or crustaceans or seafood, but, except fish, I got “allergic” if consume too much.

The crab is come from Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic Ocean, and called in different names:

- the blue crab

- Atlantic blue crab

- Chesapeake blue crab

Fresh blue crabs

Their population are spreading from Canada (Nova Scotia) to Maine (USA) to Latin America (Argentina).

Adult crab breeding in offshore waters, then larvae swim into coastal lines, and even into estuary waters to grow to consume size:

- weight, 5 to 16 oz (142 to 454 gr)

- length, include claws is 7.1 to 7.9 inches (18 to 20 cm).

Do you like crab? Why?

Two Countries with Zero New Cases of Covid 19 – Virus 16

 Two Peacocks, just for illustration

Americans have faced worse Corona virus crisis compared to some other countries such as:

- Brazil

- India

- Russia

- Mexico.

As of today, not like other industry countries, gloomy data shown on pandemic of Covid 19 in the USA:

- 5.6 million infected cases

- 174.6 thousand total deaths

- 171 infected cases per 1 million people

However, the virus had affected to almost all countries of the world with 23.3 million total infection cases and 806 thousand death.

The wall art, illustration only

Luckily, two countries have no new cases in recently, they are:

- Saint Lucia

- Mauritius

Saint Lucia is an island in Caribbean, no dead record due to Covid 19. The total cases 25 only. No new infection cases recently.

Population is 183,000, thus 0 (zero) cases per 1 million people. The lowest in the world.

Another country with no new cases of Corona virus is Mauritius. You might not know this country where about.

Mauritius is a country consists of 16 islands, locates in Indian ocean, by the coast off Madagascar.

Total population is about 1.27 million. In term of Covid 19, total infected cases are 344 with total death was 10. Hence, almost 0 (zero) cases per 1 million people

These two countries have a very good health system to overcome Covid 19 pandemic crisis. Industry countries such as USA should learn from these two developing nations.

Hope, Corona virus disappear soon.

Why Box Turtles Come in My Backyard?

Small size of box turtle

Box turtle is not ocean turtle, but considered as a pond turtle. The turtle might be found in areas such as:

- shrubby grasslands

- woodlands

- forest edges

- rainfall or watery areas

- stream or small river

We may distinguish sex different in box turtles by see their eye and size. Red eyes for males, and yellow brown eyes for females.

Males larger than females. These turtles could reach 5 inches (13 cm) long, and 2 pounds (1 kg) weight. You may easily handle this turtle with your hand. I mean with one hand only. 

Shell of right up a box turtle

Why Box Turtles Come in My Backyard? There are many reasons, one of them that my backyard is close to their habitat.

It is common to box turtle to roaming around, especially in summer season. However, they will travel no more than 1 mile (1.6 km) from their home.

Bottom (upside down) shell of a box turtle

Summer is the peak time to lay eggs. Box turtle may lay eggs about 5, but could be 11 eggs in one season.

A box turtle crawl on the grass of backyard

Incubating period for eggs to hatch is 60 days, about the same incubating periods with sea turtles.

Unfortunately, there are many predators for both eggs and new hatch-ling box turtles, some of predators:

- skunks,

- snakes

- owls

- coyotes

- foxes

- raccoon

- chipmunks

Have you seen box turtles? Where?