The Wondernut

By: Kate M. Serrano

I grew up in a place where coconut trees are more bountiful than apples and oranges and I cannot help but marvel at how this plant is so useful from head to toe. There’s an endless list of products and by-products derived from its various parts hence the nickname “Tree of Life.” In the Philippines, the coconut industry provides livelihood to one-third of the country's population. So here are the many uses of this versatile plant.

Coconut meat. From the meat we obtain coco flour, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut chips, candies, fertilizer and animal feeds. Coco chips, which are wrinkled coconut meat, are very popular in Hawaii. The dried meat, called copra, contains over 60% oil. This oil is used in making soap, cooking fat, margarine, cosmetics, lubricants, and many other products. Coconut flour can be used as a wheat extender in baking without affecting appearance or acceptability.

Coconut milk. This is used to make Virgin Coconut Oil which helps prevent and treat minor ailments. Coconut milk is a good protein source. Whole coco milk contains about 22% oil, which accounts for its laxative property.

Coconut oil. Probably the most known use of the tree, coconut oil is not only used for culinary purposes but also for beauty and wellness. Coconut oil is used for frying, with soya bean oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil as its main competitors. Coconut oil also retards aging by counteracting the heart, colon, pancreatic and liver tumor inducers. In the detergent industry, an important use of the coconut oil was discovered in a May 1951 study where it was found to be an effective sanitizer. Other products from coconut oil are soap, lard, coco chemicals, crude oil, pomade, shampoo, margarine and butter. It’s also used as hairdressing and as massage oil.

Coconut juice. This is a nutritious refreshing drink especially for those with renal disorders. Coconut juice is highly alkaline. For preventive medication, water from one mature coconut consumed daily, could guarantee the avoidance of stone formations in the kidney. To those who already have it, coconut water therapy is proven to be an inexpensive and effective cure. It is also for fighting tooth decay and gum disease, taming menopause symptoms, improving cholesterol levels and boosting the immune system.

Coconut husk. Mats, brushes, fishing nets, cordage and packaging material for plant, and in some countries the coconut husk is used as floor polisher because of the abundance of its fiber. Coir yarn, coir rope, bags, rugs, mannequin wig, brush, coir flex, and fishnets are other products that can be obtained from coco husk.

Coconut shell. For ladles and cups, souvenirs, household products, accessories, handicrafts and decorative objects. It’s also a potting medium for forest tree saplings in Thailand. The most important benefit of the coconut shell is activated carbon produced from its charcoal. It is utilized in air purification systems such as cooker hoods, air conditioning, industrial gas purification and industrial and gas masks.

Coconut leaves. Young leaves and shoots may be eaten as salad. The leaves of the tree are used as roofing thatch and temporary sheds and to make hats, baskets, brooms and fans. The ribs of the leaves are used for spears, arrows, and torches.

Coconut sap. A sweetish fluid from the bud of the coconut tree’s inflorescence called toddy is fermented into an alcoholic beverage or into vinegar. After being left for five days then distilled, coconut toddy produces an alcoholic spirit known locally in the Philippines as lambanog which is more or less 98% proof.

Coconut trunk. In Hawaii, the trunk is used for canoes, drums, posts, rafters, and fences. The trunk is also a great source of hardy and durable wood used to make benches, tables, carvings, picture frames, tables, tool boxes, and construction materials. Paper pulp can also be extracted from the coconut trunk and other woody parts of the tree.

Coconut roots. A frayed piece of coconut root can be used as a toothbrush. The roots are also used as a mouthwash and in some countries medicine, beverages and dyestuff are obtained from the coconut roots.

These are just a few off the known benefits from the wonder tree. It’s amazing how varied the uses are. Now may be a good time to start sipping my coco juice. I don’t want to be missing the coconut’s miracle health benefits.

Antibiotic Resistance Enzyme on the Move

By: Jessica Robertson

Antibiotic resistance is increasingly common in the world of bacteria. Every day, more and more strains develop ways to avoid death by our medicines.
One gene recently isolated from a strain of E. coli is attributed to the increasing resistance to the class of antibiotics known as aminoglycosides. Aminoglycosides are a common class of antibiotic, including streptomycin for example. Though decreasing in popularity because of their occasional side effects, aminoglycosides are an entire important class of drug in our medical era, acting as a first line of defense in patients with diseases like tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. The recently isolated gene, known as NpmA, is mobile, and it is responsible for encoding a protein that alters the ribosome (the cell’s protein factory), making the bacteria immune to the effects of the antibiotic. 
Many genes are passed from bacteria to bacteria. The mobility characteristic of the gene is not surprising. However, if more bacteria is unnecessarily exposed to the mobile gene, or unnecessarily exposed to the drug, the resistance of more bacteria could increase exponentially. 
Happily, since researchers have identified this mobile gene and its mechanism of creating resistance, investigation can proceed to identify steps to avoid resistance. 
Let this story serve as a reminder. Dispose properly of unused antibiotics by returning them to a pharmacy. Do not discontinue use of a course of antibiotics unless directed to do so by your doctor. And do not expose antibiotics to the water supply or sewage system. Let’s all do our part to decrease the occurrence of drug-resistant disease. 

Sharing is Not Always Loving

Kate M. Serrano

That’s correct. Sharing may not always mean loving. Such is the case for sharing a bed with your pets. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), roughly half of all dogs and 62 percent of cats in the U.S. sleep with their owners. While humans do benefit with this arrangement, there are a few factors to consider when sharing a bed with one’s pet.

Pets offer physical comfort. Animal company provides a positive result and may mean a more restful night. Having pets around lowers blood pressure while reducing loneliness and stress. These benefits are magnified when your dog is allowed to sleep with you. Cats are also cuddly and therapeutic but it may be a little trickier to sleep with. Because of their nocturnal nature and hunting instincts, a little of your tossing and turning may be enough to provoke a playful kitty. It can be harder to fall back to sleep after booting it out of the bedroom  as cats do not react well if you take away territory.

The risk of getting sick is another consideration. In rare cases for example, pet owners can become ill after making mouth-to-mouth contact with their pets which can easily occur while sleeping. Children can contract diseases after sharing beds with a flea-ridden cat. Or people who are sensitive to dust, pollen and fur may develop pet allergies. Kids, the elderly, and individuals with unstable immune systems will have to consider this as they are most vulnerable to diseases.

Dogs shed fur, cats may have dirty paws. If you don’t mind changing sheets or sending the comforter to the dry cleaner, then it shouldn’t be an issue. If you worry about the sheets being ruffled or the pillows scratched then it may be a good idea to make room for your pet in another spot.

There is no harm letting your pet share a bed with you but if this causes sleep-related issues then it is best to reconsider your night time arrangements. You may want construct a designated sleeping space for your dog or cat in another part of the house, somewhere warm and comfortable for them so you don’t feel as guilty booting them out of the bedroom.

                            

Potential New Class of Antibiotic

            

By: Jessica Robertson

All currently marketed antibiotics are slowly but steadily losing their power against the bacteria of our time. Bacteria have been exposed to our drugs for decades now, and they continue to develop resistance mechanisms. It is absolutely essential that new agents be developed to war against the infections of our day if we plan to remain victorious against modern disease.

            An international team of researchers from Germany, Austria, and Canada has been busy studying a promising new antimicrobial mechanism. They are observing a small peptide known as MP196, which represents a class of very small peptides with a positive charge; composed of just four to ten amino acids, these peptides are showing themselves effective against a wide array of bacteria, even those that are considered multi-drug resistant and are common causes of sepsis. In order for a drug to be approved for use, its mechanism must be fully and deeply understood; after much thorough research, this team has finally answered that question, making the path to a new antibiotic a little easier.

The team showed that the peptide forces its way into the membrane of the bacterial cell, causing major disruptions in some of the crucial proteins located in the cell wall. The bacterial cell cannot continue the synthesis of its cell wall, an ongoing process that lends protection and stability to the cell, and the cell can no longer efficiently produce its own energy, making all cell mechanisms impossible.

The processes by which the peptide disarm the bacteria are special in nature, and the researchers predict that the peptide will be particularly difficult for bacteria to develop a resistance against. The nature of the process also ensures that the peptides will not harm human cells, since human cells lack the cell wall that the peptides are designed to attack.

Findings such as these establish hope that even in the face of numerous multi-drug resistant diseases, the age of the antibiotic is not over. We can all do our part to prolong the efficacy of our current drugs by following the directions of our prescriber's. Do not stop taking a series of antibiotic drugs unless directed by your doctor, and always properly dispose of unused antibiotics by returning the leftover pills to a participating pharmacy, instead of throwing them in trash or flushing them through the water system.

Up with Good Food, Down with Bad Livestock Practices

By: Jessica Robertson

A team of scholars at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Science has begun to address the challenge of making ruminant livestock a sustainable part of the planet’s food supply. The challenge holds more difficulties than may first come to mind; with a growing worldwide population, a changing climate, and an astounding one in seven people malnourished across the world, the environmental and economic costs of current livestock-keeping practices are far too high. Ruminant livestock are a major contributor to total methane gas production annually, which is a strain on the environment; and, overall, they do not serve as a high quantity food producer, making them a poor choice for feeding a growing population. Honestly, current livestock practices end up taking more from the food supply and environment than they give. The academics offer eight strategies for improving the current practices to a more sustainable level and to boost the quality and quantity of overall food production. 
• Keep human food for humans.
As of today, livestock consume about one-third of global cereal grain while that grain could act as a resource to feed people directly. Ruminant livestock can digest foods like hay that humans cannot digest, suggesting a more resourceful and efficient alternative.
• Raise animals in their appropriate region.
Local breeds of livestock are appropriately adapted to their environment, translating into their optimal yields of milk. Costs and disease increase dramatically in breeds that are relocated, and their productivity declines proportionally.
• Prevent animal disease.
Animal disease is a huge human concern; approximately 2.2 million people die annually from zoonosis (diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans). Assuring healthy animals by improving hygiene and surveillance can help control disease.
• Implement appropriate supplements.
Using supplements to encourage the bacteria in the digestive systems of livestock can increase the animals’ nutrition and decrease their production of methane.
• Keep quality above quantity.
Milk and meat may seem greedy options when considering how to provide food for a world population. However, including these animal products into a balanced diet in undernourished populations is a health benefit.
• Fit practices to culture.
Nearly one-seventh of the world relies on livestock for their daily needs. Supplying not only food, but also wealth, status, dowry payments, livestock cannot always simply be replaced with industrial systems.
• Record costs and benefits.
Even though livestock contribute to greenhouse gas accumulation, they can also contribute to biodiversity, a healthy ecosystem, and improved carbon capture by plants and soil due to their fertilization capabilities when grazing is managed sustainability.
• Study best practice.
Research farms, a global network of them, purpose to evaluate the advantages of certain farming practices for the environment and economy. They are designed to serve as an example of responsible farming practice for both farmers and policymakers.
With these informative and thorough suggestions, hopefully sustainable changes can help make world hunger a thing of the past.