Article: Identify the saw palmetto by its small size of 7 to 10 feet (2.1 to 3.0m), horizontal snaking trunk, and round crown of large, fan shaped leaves. Find the saw palmetto bush located in lowlands and savanna scrubs of the subtropical Southeastern United States, most commonly along the south Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Saw palmetto is especially common in Florida. Look for berries in the fall months of September and October when the fruits are ripe. You will know they are ripe by their dark brown to black color. Make sure you find a plant that is wild and growing on public land. Saw palmettos are a cash crop in Florida and you can be fined if you are caught picking berries that are being commercially farmed. You can find the berries at the base of the palm fronds. Be careful when you reach in to pick the berries. The "saw" of saw palmetto refers to the sharp prickly frond stalks. Saw palmetto berries are similar in size and oiliness to a black olive. Like an olive, they have a pit. Take small nibbles of the sweet, peppery, and pungent fruit. If you do pop the whole fruit into your mouth, remember that there is a pit. The strong flavor of the berries was described in 1692 by shipwrecked Quakers as the flavor of rotten cheese steeped in tobacco juice. Others say the taste is like a sweet, especially strong bleu cheese.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find a saw palmetto plant growing wild. Pick a few of the ripe black berries. Eat the berry slowly to get used to the strong flavor.
Article: Newborns and adults can be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis using a sample of blood. Your doctor will prick your finger and take a sample of your blood on a card. If your doctor is testing a newborn, they will take a sample when the baby is 5-8 days old by pricking their foot. The doctor will look for higher than normal levels of a chemical called immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) in your blood. This chemical is released by your pancreas and too much of it can be a sign that your pancreas is not working properly. If you suspect your child may have cystic fibrosis, your doctor will test your blood sample for a defective gene that can cause cystic fibrosis to develop in your offspring. Carriers usually do not develop cystic fibrosis, but they will pass on the faulty gene to their children, putting them at a high risk of developing the disorder. Your doctor may suggest getting a carrier gene test done if you are considering having children or if cystic fibrosis runs in your family.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Let your doctor take a blood sample. Get the blood sample tested for high levels of immunoreactive trypsinogen. Let your doctor test the blood sample for a defective carrier gene.
Article: Deep scratches in leather furniture may be scuffed and dirty, so before you attempt to repair the area, make sure it's clean first. Take a clean cloth and dip it in rubbing alcohol, then lightly buff the scratched area. Rubbing alcohol dries quickly. Let the area sit for about 10 minutes, and it should be dry. This method works most effectively with finished leather. If you have a deep cut in aniline leather, it may be irreparable. Unlike with a minor scratch, if your leather furniture is deeply scratched, the leather may be uneven, scuffed, or torn around the fringe of the scratch. Take a pair of scissors, and clip away any loose threads so that the area around the cut is smooth. Alternately, take a piece of fine-grit sandpaper (around 1200 grit) and sand the area surrounding the cut until it's smooth. Called "filler" for short, this material has the consistency of putty and will fill the gaps or cracks in the scratched section of your furniture. Using your finger or a small spatula, cover the scratch with heavy filler, until the scratched surface is even with the rest of the furniture's surface. Once you have applied the heavy filler, let it dry for about 30 minutes. Once the filler has been applied, take another sheet of 1200 grit sandpaper and smooth the surface of the filler. Leather heavy filler should be available at your local hardware store, or at a leather-goods store. Additionally, the furniture manufacturer may sell bonder or filler, or even send you some for free. Now that the scratch has been sealed and covered with heavy filler, you'll need to color the material to match the rest of the furniture piece. Apply the colorant to a sponge, and dab it evenly across the area covered by the heavy filler. Apply as many coats as necessary to match the color of the furniture, but remember to let each coat dry before applying a new one. To purchase leather colorant, you'll likely need to visit a leather-goods store or a furniture store that specializes in leather. This will seal and protect the dyed heavy filler, and should prevent the same area from being scratched again. Pour a small amount of the finish onto a sponge or clean cloth, and then lightly rub onto the scratched area of your furniture. Apply up to 3 or 4 coats for a consistent finish. As for the leather colorant, you'll probably need to purchase the leather finish at leather-goods store or a furniture store that specializes in leather. You may be able to purchase the heavy filler, colorant, and finish all together in a leather-repair set.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Clean the area with rubbing alcohol. Sand or clip loose fibers around the edges of the cut. Apply leather heavy filler to the scratched area. Apply the correct shade of leather colorant. Apply a leather finish to the colored area.