Congratulations Across Cultures: English Versus Armenian and Persian Speakers

AbstractThe proper use of speech acts plays a vital role in the development of pragmatic competence. Whereas some speech acts such as apologies, requests, compliments and complaints have been extensively studied, the speech act of congratulations has not been as widely perused. The present study compared the strategies native Americans utilize for offering congratulations with the ones used by Armenians and Iranians. To this end, the data were gleaned through a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) to which 40 native Americans responded. Analysis of the data revealed several similarities and differences between the three groups which will be discussed in the paper

Remedial effect of Boswellia serrata on thermal burn injuries

Background: It has been shown that inflammation and insufficient blood vessel formation delay wound healing، whereas Boswellia serrata، besides anti-inflammatory activity، increases blood vessel formation.. Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effect of Boswellia serrata in promoting burn injuries healing in BALB/c mice.. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study، a burn wound was created by placing a 1.5 cm2 hot plate on the back of animals. Fifty four mice were designated in four equal groups، counting 14 each. Three groups of animals were treated with Boswellia 2%، silver sulfadiazine and vaseline two times per day for 21 days. The fourth group represented the control group. The total percentage of wound healing and time required for complete healing were evaluated and compared between groups، using the ANOVA test.. Results: Results showed that the effect of Boswellia on wound healing was statistically significant compared to the control group (P Conclusions: Boswellia serrata is clearly effective for burn injuries healing and might be used i

Turmeric: A spice with multifunctional medicinal properties

Curcuma longa (Turmeric), belonging to Zingiberaceae family is one of the most useful herbal medicinal plants. Extensive researches have proven that most of the turmeric activities of the turmeric are due to curcumin. It has various useful properties with antioxidant activities and is useful in conditions such as inflammation, ulcer and cancer. It also has antifungal, antimicrobial renal and hepatoprotective activities. Therefore, it has the potential against various cancer, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic and hard curable diseases. The purpose of this review was to provide a brief summary of the new and current knowledge of the effects of curcumin. The recently published papers in international cites such as PubMed/Medline, Science Citation Index and Google Scholar about turmeric were searched. Recent studies have authenticated the use of turmeric for various diseases especially oxidative stress induced ones such as cancer, diabetes mellitus and inflammatory disorders. It also is used as hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anticoagulant and anti-HIV to combat AIDS. Curcumin, as a spice, exhibits great promise as a therapeutic agent. It has very low toxicity, too. As the global scenario is now changing towards the use of non-toxic plant products having traditional medicinal use, development of modern drugs from turmeric should be emphasized for the control of various diseases. Further evaluation needs to be carried out on turmeric in order to explore the concealed areas and their practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of mankind

Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Review of Recent Evidences

Context: Acne vulgaris affects about 85% of teenagers and may continue to adulthood. There are about two million visits to physicians per year for teenagers and the direct cost of acne treatment in the US exceeds $1 billion per year. Evidence Acquisition: A wide variety of treatment regimens exist for acne vulgaris including benzoil peroxide, retinoids, isotretinoids, keratolytic soaps, alpha hydroxy acids, azelaic acid, salicilic acid as well as hormonal, anti-androgen or antiseborrheic treatments. However, none of these methods is free of side effects and their exact role in therapy is not clear. In this paper apart from presenting the possible causes of acne vulgaris and its available drugs, recently published papers about medicinal plants used in the treatment of acne vulgaris were reviewed. Results: Consumption of alternative and complementary medicine, including medicinal plants, is increasing and is common amongst patients affected by acne and infectious skin diseases. Medicinal plants have a long history of use and have been shown to possess low side effects. These plants are a reliable source for preparation of new drugs. Conclusions: Many plants seem to have inhibitory effects on the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses in vitro. However, there are a few clinical evidences about the effectiveness and safety of these plants in the treatment of acne and other skin infections

Suppressive impact of anethum graveolens consumption on biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Background: We aimed to determine the effects of Anethum graveolens (Dill) powder on postprandial lipid profile, markers of oxidation and endothelial activation when added to a fatty meal. Methods: In an experimental study, 32 rabbits were randomly designated into four diet groups: normal diet, high cholesterol diet (1), high cholesterol diet plus 5 (w/w) dill powder and high cholesterol diet plus lovastatin (10 mg/kg, bw). The concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (alt), aspartate aminotransferase (ast), fibrinogen, factor VII, apolipoprotein B (ApoB), nitrite and nitrate were measured in blood samples following 15 h of fasting and 3 h after feeding. Results: Concurrent use of A. graveolens powder or lovastatin significantly decreased ALT, TC, glucose, fibrinogen and LDL-C values in comparison with hypercholesterolemic diet group (P < 0.05). Consumption of A. graveolens or lovastatin did not change factor VII, ApoB, nitrite and nitrate levels significantly in comparison with hypercholesterolemic diet group. Intake of A. graveolens significantly decreased serum AST compared to hypercholesterolemic diet. Conclusions: A. graveolens might have some protective values against atherosclerosis and that it significantly affects some biochemical risk factors of this disease. Our findings also confirm the potential harmful effects of oxidized fats and the importance of dietary polyphenols in the meal

DEVELOPING EFL ELEMENTARY LEARNERS’ WRITING SKILLS THROUGH MOBILE-ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING (MALL)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) as compared to paper-based instruction in the development of Iranian EFL elementary learners’ writing skills. The research purpose was threefold: 1) to investigate the effect of MALL on elementary learners’ writing skills; 2) to make a comparison between the obtained results of MALL and pencil-and-paper methods, and 3) to assess elementary students’ attitudes about learner involvement in collaborative learning (CL) settings through mobile phone (MPh) interactions. For this purpose, 30 Iranian EFL elementary students were selected and randomly assigned to two groups: one experimental and one control. While the experimental sample received mobile-based instructions on their writing assignments, the students in the placebo group were provided with only paper-based instruction. The findings revealed that the participants in both groups showed considerable improvement on the immediate and delayed writing post-tests; however, on average, those in the experimental MALL group were shown to have outperformed the students in the control group significantly. Not surprisingly, the learners in the treatment group had made fewer errors on the targeted grammatical structures like the use of adjectives, possessives and simple present tense compared to those in the control sample. Finally, the results of the post hoc interview reflected that MALL learners felt positively about the utility of mobile technology in writing classes. Essentially, the findings could be of great help to EFL teachers, EFL learners, and course designers

Genetic algorithms-based optimal site selection of solar PV in the north of Afghanistan

This study evaluates the renewable energy potential in northern Afghanistan by employing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a genetic optimization algorithm. Eleven geodata layers, including factors like solar radiation, elevation, and proximity to various infrastructures, were considered for assessing suitable solar energy development sites across nine provinces. The research combines AHP and genetic algorithm approaches to determine optimal locations for solar energy projects, aiming to aid policymakers and investors in decision-making. Morphological factors such as slope, elevation, and solar radiation were identified as significant determinants of site suitability for solar photovoltaic systems. The study revealed that Afghanistan's northwest and western regions have the most promising areas for solar PV systems due to their lower topographic complexity. The genetic algorithm accurately outperformed AHP, identifying over 29,000 square kilometers of suitable land for solar power plants in northern Afghanistan. The outputs of genetic algorithm are classified into strongly suitable (4504 km²), moderately suitable (5899 km²), and suitable (7088 km²) categories for solar energy development. Balkh province demonstrated the highest potential with an area of 7960 km², while Badakhshan showed the lowest capacity. These findings offer valuable insights for stakeholders interested in solar energy development in northern Afghanistan, aiding them in making well-informed decisions and investments

The renal toxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl in Wistar rats

Stachys lavandulifolia is used as the herbal tea in gastrointestinal disorders. It is believed that this plant has beneficial curative properties. However, more studies are needed to determine the toxic effects of plant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nephrotoxicity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl on male Wistar rats. In this experimental study, 100 adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into 5 groups of 20; including one control and 4 experimental groups, and injected i.p saline or Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl extract (50,100,150 and 200 mg/kg) for 1 month. Then sampling was done from half of the animas of each group. The left animals in each group were held without injection for one more month and then sampling was done. In the groups that Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl extract were used for one month, a mild degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cell was observable. However, in the second month of the study, the histologic lesions were significantly more (P<0.05). Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl extract has renal tubular toxicity and this toxicity may continue even following drug discontinuation. However, further studies need to evaluate renal complications of this drug in human. Taghikhani M, Nasri H, Asgari A, Afrough H, Namjoo AR, Ansari-Samani R, Shahinfard N and Rafieian-kopaei. The renal toxicity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl in Wistar rats. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):3025-3031] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 44