“Real-Life Situations in the United States” A Cross-Cultural Handbook

People traveling in the United States as tourists, on business, or for study often lack confidence in dealing with everyday real-life situations, such as ordering food in a restaurant, buying tickets in the bus stations, using public transportation and communication systems. This handbook presents very simple but important information for first time travelers. It also contains lots of cultural information. In this handbook, I have used a series of dialogues in each lesson which provide appropriate vocabulary and phrases. My intention in presenting these dialogues is also to familiarize newcomers with the kind of language spoken differently by people of different occupations. For example: I have tried to include sentences similar to those a cab driver would speak. The second and third part of each lesson is focused on illustrating cultural aspects through comprehension and open discussion topics. This handbook can be used in training centers as a text for travelers or it can also be used as an information booklet by individuals

Cognition in prostate cancer patients before undergoing androgen deprivation therapy and elderly males

Deleterious cognitive effects of testosterone deprivation in prostate cancer (PC) patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy have been reported. However, due to methodological limitations of past research, there is mixed consensus of the cognitive domains affected. The current study therefore aimed to assess cognition before ADT through a comprehensive battery of cognitive and neuroimaging investigations which previous undertakings have lacked. A cross sectional study of 30 ageing PC patients before ADT and 29 age and intelligence matched healthy controls underwent neuropsychological and neuroimaging investigations. While there were generally no differences, some significant differences were revealed where patients had higher testosterone levels and better spatial reasoning accuracy compared to controls suggesting some compensatory effect of testosterone in patients. A second study was conducted to assess the reliability of cognition in controls in a longitudinal six month study. Controls were confirmed to have reliable and stable cognition with intact underlying neural correlates confirming their appropriateness for future longitudinal assessments in PC patients. In conclusion, this research facilitated development and management of cognition in PC patients before therapy. If side-effects can be resolved before therapy, then they may be prevented during ADT. Moreover, it provides a basis for a longitudinal future research

Identity issues surrounding American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and an optimised high performance liquid chromatography method to authenticate commercially available products

Traditional use of American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) for anxiety and related conditions is well documented. There is evidence of flavonoid instability in S. lateriflora and a high rate of substitution with other skullcap species or adulteration with potentially hepatotoxic germanders (Teucrium spp.). It is therefore essential for the identity, quality and safety of a commercial S. lateriflora product to be verified prior to clinical use. The objective was to review the literature relating to substitution and adulteration of S. lateriflora and to present a simple, optimised high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to verify the absence of adulterants in a commercial sample of S. lateriflora, by comparing its chromatographic profile with that of authenticated S. lateriflora. S. lateriflora reference material and a freeze-dried commercial sample were extracted with methanol and water (80:20, v/v) and compared by HPLC analysis. The commercial sample showed reproducible retention times (RTs) of the flavonoid biomarkers baicalin (RT = 14.8 min; mean ± SD = 11.71 ± 1.16 mg/g); baicalein (RT = 20.4 min; 7.67 ± 0.89 mg/g); wogonin (RT = 23.7 min; 0.65 ± 0.06 mg/g). It appeared to be free from adulteration with germander (verbascoside was not detected; RT = 9.1 min) and its phytochemical profile was consistent with that of the S. lateriflora reference material. It is crucial that commercial products are adequately identified prior to use. The reported HPLC method has shown the potential to compare non-authenticated S. lateriflora samples with authenticated voucher specimens – essential when conducting any phytochemical analysis of the herb

Antioxidant Capacity of Fresh and Dry Leaf Extracts of Sixteen Scutellaria Species

The antioxidant capacity of 16 Scutellaria species was examined using Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Total polyphenol, antioxidant capacity estimation and flavonoid content measurements were conducted on fresh and air dried leaf extracts. The highest total polyphenol content was obtained in dry leaf extracts of S. ocmulgee at 732.41 67 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent. Dry leaf extracts of S. ocmulgee registered 2480.93 μmol/g of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and the highest total flavonoid content with 200.63 μg/mL from fresh leaf extracts of S. alpina. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a common herb with known high antioxidant potential, was used as a standard for comparison with the Scutellaria species

The use of Scutellaria lateriflora: a pilot survey amongst herbal medicine practitioners

American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a popular herb in traditional medicine systems and western Materia medica for anxiety and related disorders. It is reported to be one of the most widely used medicinal herbs, with anecdotal evidence for minimal side-effects and with no known toxicity. This article summarises the results of a pilot survey conducted amongst herbal medicine practitioners on their use of S. lateriflora. An email survey was conducted amongst herbal medicine practitioners in the UK and Ireland. It aimed to gather information on the extent of, and indications for, current use of S. lateriflora, its perceived effectiveness and its safety. Herbal medicine practitioners were selected from the membership list of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH). All members with identifiable email addresses were contacted (n = 377) and responses were received from 62 (a 16% response rate). The results of the survey suggested that S. lateriflora is highly regarded among herbal medicine practitioners as an effective intervention for reducing anxiety and stress and is commonly prescribed for these conditions and related co-morbidities. The results were not conclusive as the response rate was low and respondents were only those with email access

Effect of particle size, coupling agent and DDGS additions on Paulownia wood polypropylene composites

Studies aimed at improving the tensile, flexural, impact, thermal, and physical characteristics of wood–plastic composites composed of Paulownia wood flour derived from 36-month-old trees blended with polypropylene were conducted. Composites of 25% and 40% w/w of Paulownia wood were produced by twin-screw compounding and injection molding. Composites containing 0–10% by weight of maleated polypropylene were evaluated and an optimum maleated polypropylene concentration determined, i.e., 5%. The particle size distribution of Paulownia wood filler is shown to have an effect on the tensile and flexural properties of the composites. Novel combination composites of dried distiller’s grain with solubles mixed with Paulownia wood (up to 40% w/w) were produced and their properties evaluated. Depending on the composite tested, soaking composites for 872 h alters mechanical properties and causes weight gain

Discovering, recovering, and covering-up Canada: Tracing historical citizenship discourses in K–12 and adult immigrant citizenship education

In Canada, cultural diversity has always been a contested cornerstone of citizenship and of citizenship education. In the last decade, a number of provinces, including Alberta and Ontario, have published citizenship and character education documents and social studies curricula in which ideas of cultural diversity are central and shape dominant understandings of nationhood. Meanwhile, the federal government produced its own citizenship education text: a study handbook for adult immigrants taking the citizenship test. Recognizing an interesting opportunity to compare how citizenship and diversity are presented to youth and to adult immigrants, we offer a critical analysis of the extent to which current discourses reflect, revise, or reassert those that were prominent in the past. We find that within educational curricula, liberal social justice discourses are taking a background to those that promote social cohesion and a narrow vision of Canadian identity and history and that de-emphasize progressive ideals of engaging with difference and committing to social action policies. At the provincial K–12 level, a neoliberal understanding of individual development and economic rationales is dominant, while at the federal level, there is also a shift toward neoconservatism that recovers the imperial roots of Canadian citizenship ideals while covering up the strong history of equity, diversity, and civic action