Hacking Gut Cells to Produce Insulin – Diabetes 32

At previous post, we mentioned about possibility to produce insulin in the lab (petridish): Can Insulin be Produced from Laboratory Dish? - Diabetes 25 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- A stray cat, just illustration

Now, scientists have developed a new method to produce insulin without “beta cells” from Pancreas. How?

The method is known as “hacking cells.” Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine invented this method.

As reported by David Neil, published in ScienceAlert (2023: Scientists Hacked Human Cells to Make Insulin, And It Reversed Diabetes in Mice) that researchers to use stomach cell to replace roles of “beta cells.”

Why?

Fig 02- Painting by local artist, Brent

It is because both pancreatic and gut cells are close by during early development of human embryo, thus, not big deals to alter stomach steams to be like beta cells functions to produce insulin.

 Fig 03- Hibiscus flower, illustration

Sure, this is just early findings. Scientists might be need several steps further to apply to diabetes patients.

# Previous postings:

- Why is Low Glycemic Index Important? - Diabetes 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Food Sources for Coyote in the City – Critter 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Painting Exhibition in Our State – Sign 33 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Homemade Local Pecan Candy - Part 1 - Food Variety 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Friendly Himalayan Cat – Critter 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Have you Tasted Korean Dumplings? - Food Variety 35

We just bought Korean dumplings, also called as “Mandu” from a nearby Asian restaurant recently.

Fig 01- Korean Dumplings, ready to consume

Based on my knowledge that the well known dumplings come from the countries like Japan, China and Korea. Honestly, we don’t know the differences of Korean, Chinese, Japanese or other countries dumplings.

What we know that Dumpling is a small “cooked dough” with different kinds of filling in it, such as vegetable, seafood, fruit and meat.

At least, there are 3 types of dumplings sold in the markets, they are: frying, steaming and boiling.

Fig 02- Dumplings, ready to be boiled.

From internet sources that a dumpling and noodles were popular since the Han Dynasty about 200 BCE.

Fig 03- Dumplings, could be consumed immediately

We found that fillings of Korean dumpling composed of vegetable, tofu, seafood and meat. We love vegetable dumplings, and seafood dumplings sometimes.

Fig 04- Dumplings with sauce

Have you tasted dumplings? What types and filling do you like?

# Previous postings:

- A Ruby Crowned Kinglet – Critter 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Tasted Tamarind Fruit or Juice? - Part 2 - Food Variety 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What does Dogtopia Mean? - Sign 32 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Differences between Pink and Regular Salts - Part 1 - Food Variety 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why is Low Glycemic Index Important? - Diabetes 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Flowers at the Walking Path side - Gardening and Hobby 35

We saw several flowers at the walking path side about sometimes ago. Quite pretty flowers.

Fig 01- A purple Daylily.

First, we didn't know who take care or do they just grow “volunteer” like our tomatoes and watermelon?:

- A Wild Watermelon Growing at Yards – Food Variety 33 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Ripening Wild Tomatoes from Yards - Gardening and Hobby 34 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Other days, after looking in details, we saw a sign on the flowers (close to bottom) which are ready for blooming.

Fig 02- A yellow Daylily

It means our assumption was wrong, the true is that someone take cares the flowers, they are not wild flowers.

Fig 03- We saw a sign on the flower, ready for blooming

We believe the flowers are “Daylily,” then confirmed by GoogleID, yes, they are Daylily.

Fig 04- A blooming one, Daylily.

Have a wonderful summer.

# Previous postings:

- Crisis of Chicken’s meat and Eggs – Sign 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Could Scientists Develop Unhackable Computers? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Ruby Crowned Kinglet – Critter 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Tasted Tamarind Fruit or Juice? - Part 2 - Food Variety 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What does Dogtopia Mean? - Sign 32 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Eggs of a Bluebird in the Box – Critter 43

We may buy a Bluebird box (BB) from a Home Depot store as an artificial nest for wild bluebirds.

Fig 01- Eggs of bluebird in the box.

People usually put the Bluebird box on their back fence close by to feeder. Our neighbors get some dried meal worms to put in their feeders.

Nesting times for the Bluebird are slightly differences a state by states in the USA. We are in Louisiana as early as February, and continue to the Summer.

If temperature and other conditions are favorable, the nesting season may until August and even September.

However, based on my own observations that we will miss bluebirds from our yards around June to July.

Fig 02- Little Storages in our neighborhood

The bluebird will soon visit our “attractive” feeders, and then put her eggs in the artificial nest.

Just suggestions from neighbors that Bluebird Box should be 5 feet from the ground with no perch so raccoon and squirrels could not reach the eggs or babies.

Fig 03- A lonely Bluebird on the fence

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- The 24 Hour Emergency Service - Sign 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 2 – Critter 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The United States Import Ginger the most – Sign 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Tasted Banana Pepper? - Part 2 - Food Variety 25 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Crisis of Chicken’s meat and Eggs – Sign 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Should We Consume Banana Everyday? - Part 1

I believe, we all eat variety of fruit every day, in case of me, banana is one of my favorite fruits, and eat it almost every day. 

Fig 01- Several organic bananas

Banana is the most favorite fruit in the world. Trade of this fruit in term of value in 2020 was US$14 billion, then slightly decrease to US$13.6 billion in 2021.

In fact, not only me, many of people consume bananas almost everyday, and even some of people, especially in the tropical countries, where bananas are plenty, have eaten banana more than one per day.

Should We Consume Banana Everyday?

Yes, many experts said.

Why?

Fig 02- Banana trees and fruit in a tropical country

The simple answers that It is because bananas have plenty benefits, some of them are:

- improve bowel movements

- maintain healthy cholesterol levels

- control blood sugar

- good for maintaining a healthy weight.

Fig 03- A type of banana, sold in an Asian grocery

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The 24 Hour Emergency Service - Sign 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 2 – Critter 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The United States Import Ginger the most – Sign 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Tasted Banana Pepper? - Part 2 - Food Variety 25 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Monarch Butterfly is Not Protected by Government – Critter 42

We have talked about Monarch butterfly at previous post, in which their population have been decreasing in many places in the last several decades.

Fig 01- A Monarch Butterfly on the Mexican milkweed.

You may read the previous posts about Monarch butterfly:

- From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Butterfly Milkweed Plants - Gardening and Hobby 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Actually, “the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)” has included Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) since July, 2022.

Sadly, no follow up, and this butterfly has not been protected by federal agency called as “Endangered Species Act (ESA),” established in 1973.

Fig 02- Two Monarch butterfly on the hand

Good news, as reported by California State Parks Foundation (2022: The Monarch Butterfly’s Path to Federal Protection) that the Monarch butterfly is in the process to get Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Fig 03- A Monarch butterfly on the flowers of Milkweed

Do you know status of Monarch butterfly in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- We Spotted Coyote in Our Neighborhood – Critter 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The 24 Hour Emergency Service - Sign 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 2 – Critter 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The United States Import Ginger the most – Sign 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Our Neighborhood Getting Ready for Summer – Sign 47

The average temperature in our city, Baton Rouge, LA is about F 86 (C 30) degree, will be warmer and warmer by next coming weeks. 

Fig 01- A goose with outfit

It means summer has been coming, or bikini and swimsuit times at least at our neighborhood.

One of our neighborhood has a sign, a goose with pink outfit to welcome summer season. The sign has been a while, and hopefully nobody messes with it. So the neighbor can continue to dress her for the occasion, and off course, more outfits to come.

Many neighbors love the goose and welcome it to the neighborhood, and said that is a good idea.

Fig 02- The naked Canadian geese at our neighborhood

Actually, the goose, Canadian geese is a symbol of summer because we may saw flock of geese in our neighborhood during warmer season.

Fig 03- A pretty goose with eyeglasses.

What is a sign of summer in your neighborhood?

## Previous postings:

- Have you Tasted Tamarind Fruit or Juice? - Part 1 - Food Variety 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- We Spotted Coyote in Our Neighborhood – Critter 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The 24 Hour Emergency Service - Sign 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 2 – Critter 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update