Where does Aloe Vera Come From?

Aloe vera is a plant species that is speculated to originate in the Mediterranean area of Africa. This plant is also known as the ‘harmonious remedy’ by the Chinese people, the ‘elixir of youth’ by the Russians and the ‘herb/plant of immortality’ by the ancient Egyptians.

Where does it grow?

It now can be found in many warm climates in the U.S. as well as all the islands of the Caribbean and South America.

The Ingredients

The leaf is filled with a gel containing at least 75 nutrients, 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, and 200 active enzymes. These compounds have a great benefit and potential in external and internal applications to the body.

Gel from the inside of the leaves of Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds, skin infections, burns, and conditions.

Aloe Vera Gel being prepared as a desert

Aloe vera plants produce a number of substances with antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and antioxidant properties. Vitamins present in Aloe Vera include Vitamin B, A, C, E and folic acid. It also contains calcium, selenium, zinc, magnesium, chromium and magnesium. Peptides found in Aloe Vera help strengthen the immune system.

The compounds found in Aloe Vera are also able to activate the white blood cells necessary to fight against the growth of cancer cells.  It enhances the growth of new skin cells and is also able to reduce the appearance of blemishes or scars on the skin. Aloe Vera is able to reduce the appearance of fine lines and skin wrinkles, as well as to help heal sores and lesions found in the mouth.

How much Aloe Vera should you use?

• Creams and gels with Aloe Vera vary in dosage. Some creams for minor burns have just 0.5% aloe vera.
• Psoriasis may contain as much as 70% aloe vera.
• As an oral supplement, aloe vera has no set dose.
• For constipation, some use 100-200 milligrams of aloe juice — or 50 milligrams of aloe extract — daily as needed.
• For diabetes, 1 tablespoon of the gel has been used daily.
• High oral doses of aloe or aloe latex are dangerous.

What are the medical uses and advantages?

This plant can be used to heal and treat a large number of medical conditions, such as skin wounds, blisters, jaundice, sunburn, acne, frostbite, constipation, fungal infections, asthma, heartburn, expelling intestinal worms, conjunctivitis, herpes, skin rashes, hepatitis, cirrhosis, insect bites and eczema. It is also able to help protect the body against radiation received through x-rays. Aloe Vera can rejuvenate dry skin, heal fungal and vaginal infections, heal psoriasis and urticaria, reduce the appearance of warts and reduce rosacea. Those suffering from shingles can also benefit a great deal from using it.

Side Effects of Usage

The side effects of aloe vera are few, and are mostly related to individuals who are allergic to the plant. Aloe vera may cause redness or stinging when applied to the skin. When consumed orally, aloe vera may possibly cause abdominal cramps, either diarrhea or increased constipation, or a red tint to urine color. The laxative effect of aloe vera may cause potassium levels to become low.

Aloe vera is not recommended for pregnancy because of the remote possibility of triggering uterine contractions. It is also not recommended for breastfeeding mothers, because it may cause the baby’s gastrointestinal system to become upset.(And Trust Me, NO ONE WANTS THAT!!!)

May cause electrolyte imbalances in the blood of people who ingest aloe for more than a few days. It can also stain the colon, thus making it difficult to visualize the colon during a colonoscopy. So avoid it for a month prior.

Do not apply topical Aloe Vera to deep cuts or severe burns. People allergic to garlic, onions, and tulips are more likely to be allergic to aloe. High doses of oral aloe are dangerous. Long-term use may increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Don’t take oral aloe if you have intestinal problems, heart disease, hemorrhoids, kidney problems, diabetes, or electrolyte imbalances.

References: www.naturalnews.com, www.webmd.com,www.globalhealingcenter.com, and www.thejakartapost.com

References for Tobacco: http://apocalypsecometh.com, http://www.nytimes.com, http://www.businessinsider.com, http://www.cdc.gov

References for Marijuana:  http://adai.uw.edu , http://norml.org, http://www.nlm.nih.gov, http://www.howstuffworks.com

What is Tobacco?

• Tobacco is a product processed from the dried leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana.
• product manufactured from the leaf used in cigars and cigarettes, snuff, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and flavored shisha.
  

  Tobacco Flower

• The tobacco plant is a member of the nightshade family called Solanaceae.
• There are more than sixty-four species of tobacco.

Where does Tobacco grow?

• The tobacco plant grows naturally in various parts of North and South America, Australia, a few South Pacific islands, and one species in Namibia, in southwestern Africa. Major Producers include China, Pakistan, Brazil, and India

Consumptions of Tobacco

• smoking
• chewing
• snuffing
• dipping

Good Facts About Tobacco

• Strong appetite suppressant and many use it to self-treat compulsive overeating disorders or obesity
• Cigarette smoking has also been linked to a decrease in risk of certain inflammatory disorders, since nicotine itself appears to be an anti-inflammatory agent
• Tobacco smoke’s anti-inflammatory effects may actually provide some benefits to children who are exposed to secondhand smoke
• Nicotine found in cigarettes reduces psychiatric, cognitive, sensory, and physical effects of schizophrenia, and also provides relief of common side effects from antipsychotic drugs
• Put a cigarette in a quart of water and let it stand overnight. The nicotine will release a poison into the water that you can use to spray and kill insects with. (But important to know you’re smoking the same poison.

Bad Facts About Tobacco

• nicotine activates some pro-carcinogenic activities, thus potentially increasing the carcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke
• The harms caused by using tobacco include diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancers).
• Smoking tobacco causes such side effects as coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and troubled breathing
• More than 4000 ingredients are in every cigarette, creating 200 “compound chemicals.”

Deaths from Tobacco

• 400,000 deaths yearly in the United States, and has a significant negative effect on health in general.
• over 140,000 lung-related deaths in 2001 were attributed to tobacco smoke
• 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century
• The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004

What is Marijuana?

• Cannabis, also known as marijuana (from the Mexican Spanish marihuana), is derived from the cannabis plant (cannabis sativa).
• The main active ingredient in cannabis is called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC. This is the part of the plant that gives the “high.”
  

  Cannabis Sativa

•  There is a wide range of THC potency between cannabis products.
• Marijuana is made from dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. It is the least potent of all the cannabis products and is usually smoked.

Where does Marijuana Grow?

• It grows wild in many of the tropical and temperate areas of the world.
•  It can be grown in almost any climate, and is increasingly cultivated by means of indoor hydroponic technology.

Good Facts About Marijuana

• Feeling of well-being;

• Compounds found in cannabis have been shown to kill numerous cancer types including: lung cancer, breast and prostate, leukemia and lymphoma, glioma, skin cancer, and pheochromocytoma.
• The THC present in cannabis smoke should exert a protective effect against pro-carcinogens that require activation.

• Decreased nausea;

Bad Facts About Marijuana

• Talkativeness (not deadly just annoying);
• Drowsiness;
• Loss of inhibitions(self-consciousness );
• Increased appetite;
• Loss of co-ordination;
• Bloodshot eyes;
• Dryness of the eyes, mouth, and throat;
• Anxiety and paranoia.
• Short-term memory loss
• Delays Reaction Time

Consumption

• Cannabis is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (known as “joints”) or in special water pipes (“bongs”). These pipes or bongs can be bought or made from things such as orange juice containers, soft drink cans or even toilet rolls. Vaporizers are also used for consumption, but not often for all users.

 Deaths From Marijuana

Crystal Cave

The Crystal Cave was made as a result of its glacier meeting the Icelandic coastline. This ice cave is on the edge of the glacier where it enters into an lagoon near Svínafellsjökull.  Access is via a 22-foot entrance at the water’s edge, though height clearance tapers down to only about 4 feet at the far end, about 150 feet in. This ice cave is on the edge of the glacier where it enters into an lagoon near Svínafellsjökull. It is only possible to access it when the lagoon is frozen. Ice caves are unstable and can collapse at any time. They are more stable in winter when the cold temperatures harden the ice. Each time the glacier moves a millimeter inside the cave, you can hear constant cracking sounds, because the cave is moving along with the glacier itself.

Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni is 4,086 sq miles long, making it the largest salt flat in the world. It is located in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is elevated 11,995 ft above the sea level.  It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, with the average altitude of one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine (Water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt), which is rich in lithium. It contains 50 to 70% of the world’s lithium reserves, which is in the process of being extracted. In the wet season,when a lake overflows onto the salt, Salar becomes the largest mirror on earth.

The Door To Hell, Turkmenistan

The Door to Hell is a natural gas field in Derweze, Ahal Province, Turkmenistan . The Door to Hell is known for its natural gas which has been burning continuously since it was lit by a petrochemical Soviet  scientist in 1971. The  smell of burning sulfur engulfs the area for long distances. The gas reserve is one of the largest in the world. The name, “Door to Hell”, was given to the field by the locals, referring to the fire, boiling mud and orange flames in Derweze’s large crater with a diameter of 230 ft.

Lake Retba, Senegal

It is named for its pink waters, caused by algae in the waters that produce a red pigment that uses sunlight to create more energy, turning the waters pink. The color is better viewed during the dry season. The lake is also known for its high salt content, which allows people to float relatively easily. Many salt collectors work long hours a day in the lake, which has a salt content of up to 40% in some areas. In order to protect themselves, they rub their skin with “Beurre de Karité” (shea butter, produced from shea nuts obtained from the Shea nut tree), which is used to avoid tissue damage.

 Dan’s Cave

Dan’s cave is located in Abaco, Bahamas and also one of the most renowned caves in the Bahamas. The cave has well over 25,000 ft of underwater passages and structures extending from the floor and rooftops of the dating from 10,000 years ago.

Mars

Mt Sharp: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS ; Mars: NASA, Curiosity Rover: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mars aka The Red Planet fits the classic definition of a planet in the Habitable Zone. Mars is close enough to the sun to be effected by solar energy, but far enough so water and organic compounds will not be broken down by heat coming from the sun. The Curiosity Rover landed on Mars in 2012 and has found traces of many molecules that could have supported life millions of years ago. No organic life has been found on the planet yet.

Europa

Artist Renditions of Europa: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Another candidate for alien life is one of Jupiter’s moons known as Europa. Europa is a little smaller than Earth’s moon, and is believed to have a liquid water ocean below its ice covered surface. Any alien life on this moon may be in these subsurface oceans where temperatures may be warm due to heat released by underwater volcanoes(all hypothetical). The atmosphere of Europa is mostly made of Oxygen, but the temperature at the hottest region of Europa is a freezing −160 °C (−260 °F). The freezing temperatures confirm that any Earth-like life must exist in the liquid oceans and lakes thought to be below the surface of Europa.

Titan

Image1: NASA/JPL-Caltech/USGS; Image2: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI; Image3: NASA

Titan is the largest Moon of Saturn but is still larger than Mars. It is the only body besides Earth that has clear evidence of stable bodies of liquid on its surface. These stable bodies of liquid are not made of water. The lakes and rivers are made of hydrocarbons.One river is 400 kilometers (250 miles) long. Similar to how we depend on water on earth,  life may be methane based in the lakes and rivers on Titan. However promising this sounds NASA says no form of methane based life has ever been discovered (this is still hypothetical).

So my question to you is do you think there is life in our solar systems? Are they advanced like us or very primitive like bacteria?

Cellular Respiration

A simplified approach to remembering cellular respiration is to break it down into 3 major steps and learn them separately. Each step further break down sugar and make molecules that are needed in the next step. Some simple rules you will need to accept right now are(this will make sense later):

• Cellular respiration makes energy from sugar.
• Cellular Respiration needs Oxygen to occur.
• Cellular Respiration takes place in the mitochondria; the powerhouse of the cell.

Glycolysis

Glycolysis is the first step of cellular respiration and commonly begins with the simple sugar glucose. Through a series of steps a single molecule of glucose is broken down into 2 molecules of Pyruvic Acid to be used in Step 2 of Cellular Respiration.

The simplified steps of Glycolysis are show below but there is a more detailed description in my article about memorizing Glycolysis. The importance of glycolysis is the breakdown of a molecule of sugar. Not much energy is produced in this step.

[table caption="Steps of Glycolysis"]
Stage,Molecules
Investment,Glucose
Investment,Glucose-6-Phosphate
Investment,Fructose-6-Phosphate
Splitting,Fructose-1 6-Bispohsphate
Splitting,G3P and DAP
Splitting,(2 molecules)G3P
Energy Generation,(2x) 13-Bisphosphoglycerate
Energy Generation,(2x) 3-Phosphoglyercerate
Energy Generation,(2x) 2-Phosphoglycerate
Energy Generation,(2x) Phosphoenolpyruvate
Energy Generation,(2x) Pyruvic Acid
[/table]

Glycolysis starts with glucose and ends with Pyruvic Acid

[table caption="Products of Glycolysis"]

2 ATP

2 NADH

Pyruvic Acid(used in the next step of cellular respiration)

[/table]

Citric Acid Cycle

The second step of Cellular Respiration has many names; Citric Acid Cycle, Krebs Cycle, or TCA Cycle. Pyruvic Acid from Glycolysis is modified and brought inside of the Mitochondria where the rest of cellular respiration occurs. The Citric Acid Cycle is a repeating process that will make a majority of the molecules that are needed to make cellular energy. The Citric Acid Cycle makes the necessary precursors for the final step of cellular respiration.

The numbers represent the amount of Carbons in a molecule. Essentially the number of carbons tells you how big the molecule is as it is being broken down.

If you remember that 2 molecules of Pyruvic Acid where made in Glycolysis, this should let you know that the Citric Acid Cycle does 2 cycles for every molecule of Glucose. ATP is energy while FADH2 and NADH are precursors that make multiple molecules of ATP in the final step of cellular respiration.

Here is a summary of the end products, but a more detailed article with more pictures and details can be found here: Memorize Krebs Cycle.

[table]

1 cycle, 2 CO2; 1 ATP; 1 FADH2; 3 NADH

2 cycles, 4 CO2; 2 ATP; 2 FADH2; 6 NADH

[/table]

Electron Transport Chain

The electron transport chain is the final step of cellular respiration that uses the oxygen that we inhale to produce energy in the form of ATP. The electron transport chain occurs on the membrane of the mitochondria, and uses the molecules made in Glycolysis and the Citric Acid Cycle to power the creation of ATP.

The NADH2 makes 3 ATP while FADH2 will produce 2 ATP. NADH2 makes more ATP because it enters the electron transport chain at an earlier stage and provides more momentum for ATP production. Think about this like a staircase in the image below. Whoever starts higher up will be moving faster and have more energy when it reaches the bottom.

Original image of stairs by Hansueli Krapf

As you can see from the image the NADH2 and FADH2 bring electrons with them. The electrons powers the hydrogen atoms to build up in one location. The hydrogen atoms then use there large numbers to create ATP. The oxygen we breath comes in to play by accepting the electrons after they have done their job. This is important because free electron floating around the body can cause harm to DNA and other molecules. For a detailed description of this see my article about the Electron Transport Chain.

 Summary

The over goal of cellular respiration is to make energy in the form of ATP. Below I have an image that summarizes how much ATP is produced in each stage with 1 molecule of ATP.

Simply put, a blood type can be defined as a red blood cell that contains a specific surface antigen (surface marker).

Differences in human blood are due to the presence or absence of certain protein molecules called
antigens and antibodies. The antigens are located on the surface of the red blood cells and the antibodies are in the blood plasma.

An antibody is a large Y-shaped protein that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses.

Blood group A
If you belong to the blood group A, you have A antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and B antibodies in your blood plasma.

The cells in your body make antibodies only to type B antigens. The A-type surface antigens on the cells are not recognized. These surface antigens can be attached to the surface of your blood cells or to proteins or lipids anywhere in your body.

Blood group B
If you belong to the blood group B, you have B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and A antibodies in your blood plasma.

Your cells have type B antigens attached, so your body makes antibodies against only type A. Once the type A antigens are kept away, your blood cells “show” type B as the dominant type. You can receive type B or type O blood, and you can donate to those with type B or type AB blood.

Blood group AB
If you belong to the blood group AB, you have both A and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and no A or B antibodies at all in your blood plasma.

You can receive blood from a donor with any blood type (universal recipient), but you can donate blood only to other people with type AB blood.

Blood group O
If you belong to the blood group O (null), you have neither A or B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells but you have both A and B antibodies in your blood plasma.

This means that if you need blood, you can only receive more type O blood. But, you can donate your blood to anybody; thus, you are a universal donor. Type O blood is the most common.

The Rh proteins are grouped into two families – either positive or negative.
The Rh factor refers to a protein found on the covering of the red blood cells. A person is Rh positive if the protein is present and Rh negative if the protein is absent.

For Example:

• If a person has the genes + +, the Rh factor in the blood will be positive.
• If a person has the genes + -, the Rh factor will also be positive.
• If a person has the genes – -, the Rh factor will be negative.

Blood used in transfusions much match donors for Rh status as well as for ABO blood group

You should be thinking about the meteorite that plummeted into Russia and injured nearly 1000 people on Friday. This large impact occurred the same day an unrelated asteroid was supposed to pass close by the Earth.

Quick Facts from NASA

The Impact Videos

Dashboard cameras are very popular in Russia so this entire event was caught on camera. LOUND Sound Warning.

So do you believe this event was related to 2012 DA14 asteroid? If not what should we do about events like this in the future?

Human red blood cells have structures on their plasma membrane known as surface antigens, which are constructed from several sugar molecules that are connected to form a carbohydrate tree.

Antigens are substances that are recognized as foreign by antibodies produced by the immune system. Three types of surface antigens, known as A, B, and O, are found on red blood cells.

The synthesis of these antigens is determined by enzymes that are encoded by a gene that exists in three alleles designated I^A, I^B, i.

The i allele is recessive to both I^A and I^B.

A person who is ii homozygous will have red blood cells with the surface antigen O (blood type O).

The red blood cells of an I^AI^A heterozygous individual will have surface antigen A (blood type A).

A homozygous I^BI^B or heterozygous I^Bi individual will produce surface antigen B (blood type B).

A person who is heterozygous makes both antigens, A and B, on every red blood cell (blood type AB). The term in which a single individual expresses both alleles is called codominance.

There are several “ key phrases” that are useful in order to start unraveling a word problem. The word “of” indicates an amount, an object, and a unit of measure nearby.  For example, you might see a word problem that says “7 buckets of lemons” or “0.5 moles of iron (III) oxide.” In these cases, “0.5” or “7” are the quantities, “buckets” or “moles” are the units of measurement, and “lemons” or iron (III) oxide particles are the objects.

These are often followed by sentences containing the word “per” or  “for each”: “there are 9 lemons per bucket.” In word problems, the word “per” indicates a way to change between 2 different types of units. To change units of buckets into units of individual lemons, write the number of lemons per bucket as a fraction, replacing the word “per” with the division sign: 9 lemons/bucket. This is called a conversion factor. Multiply the number of buckets by your conversion factor; units will cancel the same way that numbers do. Seven buckets times 9 lemons/bucket gives you 63 lemons in total.

In chemistry, these “per” sentences are often not given. They must be figured out from the context of the problem. In this case, there are 6.02 x 10^23 particles per mole.  Since iron (III) oxide has the formula Fe2O3, there are 2 atoms of iron per particle of iron (III) oxide or 2 moles of iron per mole of iron (III) oxide. Using the strategy outlined above, your conversion factor could be:

6.02 x 10^23 particles/mole iron (III) oxide,

2 atoms Fe / particle of iron (III) oxide, or

2 moles of iron/mole of iron (III) oxide.

Choose the lower portion of the fraction according to what you have, and the higher portion of the fraction according to what you want. Since we have moles of iron (III) oxide, we can only start with the 1st or the 3rd conversion factor, not the 2nd. In the top portion of those conversion factors, we can access information about particles of iron (III) oxide or moles of iron by multiplying.

Notice that particles of iron (III) oxide appear in the lower portion of the 2nd conversion factor. If we are willing to use two conversion factors in a row, we can convert our starting amount into particles of iron (III) oxide, then convert that into atoms of iron. You can visualize this type of problem as a game of dominoes, played by matching tiles end-to-end, where each domino represents a conversion factor. If you can start from the information in the problem and construct a bridge of dominoes to the information you want, then you can solve the problem. To create a “domino,” find a conversion factor in the text of the problem, using reference information like molar mass, or using the ratios of the reactions and chemicals involved. To add it to your “bridge,” multiply by it.

Notice that each of our “dominoes” has a direction. If you multiply 100 miles by 25 miles per gallon, you end up with 2500 miles times miles per gallon. The problem is that you failed to cancel units properly.  To reverse a domino, turn the fraction upside down: 25 miles/gallon turns into 1 gallon/25 miles or 1/25 gallon per mile. The true solution here is that you used 100 miles times 1/25 gallon per mile, or 4 gallons.

A Complete Example

The following example is typical of chemistry: the initial amounts are given in grams, but the calculations must be carried out in moles. This is an important strategy, because chemistry on paper is done with mole ratios but chemistry and practices done with scales and masses.

Suppose a 0.257 kg block of iron (Fe) is completely combusted. How many grams of oxygen gas (O2) were used?

First, we outline some conversion factors. To help do this, we set up the combustion reaction: 4Fe + 3O2 gives 2Fe2O3.

Second, we identify our target units: grams of oxygen.   Finally, we arrange our conversion factors and multiply. A sample pair of canceling units is in bold.

0.257 kg iron *

1000 g/kg *

(1/55.847 mol iron/g iron)*

(2 moles iron (III) oxide per mol iron)*

(3/2 moles oxygen gas per mol iron (III) oxide)*

(2 atoms oxygen per mole oxygen gas)*

(15.999grams/atom of oxygen)

=  110.4g oxygen.

It’s a good idea to check your answer intuitively at the end.  For example, here we used about 40% as much oxygen as iron.  This makes sense because oxygen (though more moles are used) is much lighter.