Cultural and Religious Identities in an Era of Information and Communications Globalization

The rapid advances in information and communication technologies coupled with the dominant overarching Neo-liberal/capitalist ideological underpinnings of the dominant Western powers have generated a momentum towards a homogeneous global village. The impact of which has been to expand World conflict and propelled many nations towards losing their national identity and traditions. This article discusses the various impacts from IT globalization and calls for a new global communication awareness

Feasibility study: investigation of car park-based V2G services in the UK central hub

The increasing uptake of electric vehicles, and the established practice of long-term parking at stations and airports, offers an opportunity to develop a flexible approach to help with the energy storage dilemma. This paper investigates the feasibility of using a number of EV batteries as an energy storage and grid balancing solution within the UK Central Hub area. Here, the capital cost of the vehicle is a sunk cost to the EV owner. The potential income generated, or discount on long-term parking, is an additional benefit of ownership. This paper considers the income available to a small and large size car park from the different market mechanisms to offer grid support in the UK and contrasts this with the complexity and costs of the EV charging infrastructure required within these types of scheme

Regular consumption of vitamin D-fortified yogurt drink (Doogh) improved endothelial biomarkers in subjects with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endothelial dysfunction has been proposed as the underlying cause of diabetic angiopathy that eventually leads to cardiovascular disease, the major cause of death in diabetes. We recently demonstrated the ameliorating effect of regular vitamin D intake on the glycemic status of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, the effects of improvement of vitamin D status on glycemic status, lipid profile and endothelial biomarkers in T2D subjects were investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects with T2D were randomly allocated to one of the two groups to receive either plain yogurt drink (PYD; containing 170 mg calcium and no vitamin D/250 mL, n₁= 50) or vitamin D3-fortified yogurt drink (FYD; containing 170 mg calcium and 500 IU/250 mL, n₂= 50) twice a day for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measures, glycemic status, lipid profile, body fat mass (FM) and endothelial biomarkers including serum endothelin-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were evaluated at the beginning and after the 12-week intervention period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The intervention resulted in a significant improvement in fasting glucose, the Quantitative Insulin Check Index (QUICKI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triacylglycerols, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), endothelin-1, E-selectin and MMP-9 in FYD compared to PYD (<it>P </it>< 0.05, for all). Interestingly, difference in changes of endothelin-1, E-selectin and MMP-9 concentrations in FYD compared to PYD (-0.35 ± 0.63 versus -0.03 ± 0.55, <it>P </it>= 0.028; -3.8 ± 7.3 versus 0.95 ± 8.3, <it>P </it>= 0.003 and -2.3 ± 3.7 versus 0.44 ± 7.1 ng/mL, respectively, <it>P </it>< 0.05 for all), even after controlling for changes of QUICKI, FM and waist circumference, remained significant for endothelin-1 and MMP-9 (<it>P </it>= 0.009 and <it>P </it>= 0.005, respectively) but disappeared for E-selectin (<it>P </it>= 0.092). On the contrary, after controlling for serum 25(OH)D, the differences disappeared for endothelin-1(<it>P </it>= 0.066) and MMP-9 (<it>P </it>= 0.277) but still remained significant for E-selectin (<it>P </it>= 0.011).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ameliorated vitamin D status was accompanied by improved glycemic status, lipid profile and endothelial biomarkers in T2D subjects. Our findings suggest both direct and indirect ameliorating effects of vitamin D on the endothelial biomarkers.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01236846">NCT01236846</a></p

Transnational relationships and cultural identity of older migrants

"This article does not exactly replicate the final version published in the journal "GeroPsych". It is not a copy of the original published article and is not suitable for citation."We take a social identity approach to explore the associations between cultural heritage, social class, social support networks, transnational relationships and cultural identity. Data for 815 older people (≥ 55 years) from six ethnic groups living in England and Wales are used to help understand older migrants’ ethnic identity, cultural identity with the family’s country of origin and British identity. Regression models explain a low amount of variance. Different configurations of the independent variables - cultural heritage, social class, social support networks and transnational relationships (with children, siblings, other relatives) - predicted different forms of cultural identity. Transnational relationships provide migrants with a range of alternative identities into which they self-categorize or contrast to their group identity.This work was supported by the Leverhulme Trust (F/00275/Q); and the National Institute of Social Care and Health Research (SCRA/10/02)

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Modify Cardiometabolic Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in T2DM Patients

There is conflicting evidence on the favorable effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic profile in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and this might be due to genetic variations in vitamin D receptors (VDRs). Thus, we studied the metabolic effects of a 12-month vitamin D supplementation in T2DM patients according to VDR polymorphisms. A total of 204 T2DM subjects received 2000 IU vitamin D3 daily for 12 months. Serum 25(OH)D and metabolic profiles were measured at baseline and after 12 months. VDR polymorphisms (Taq-I, Bsm-I, Apa-I and Fok-I) were identified using TaqMan genotyping assays. Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased HOMA β-cell function (p = 0.003) as well as significantly decreased triglycerides, total and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001). The lowest increment in 25(OH)D levels was detected in patients with Fok-I CC genotypes (p < 0.0001). With vitamin D supplementation, Taq-I GG genotype carriers showed significant improvements in triglycerides, LDL- and total cholesterol, insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR (p < 0.005, 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.005, 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Similarly, Bsm-I TT genotype carriers showed significant improvements in triglycerides (p = 0.01), insulin and HOMA-IR (p-values < 0.05). In conclusion, improvements in metabolic profile due to vitamin D supplementation is influenced by VDR polymorphisms, specifically for carriers of Taq-I GG and Bsm-I TT genotypes

SIMPLE AND RAPID GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR QUANTITATION OF TOTAL AND FREE VALPROIC ACID IN HUMAN SERUM

Valproic acid (VPA) is one of the mostly used antiepileptic drugs that may have some side effects so, it is highly recommended to evaluate its serum concentrations. The aim of this study was to develop a simple, fast and economic method using gas-chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and VPA analysis. To do this, 200 µl of serum was mixed with an aliquot of caproic acid (200 µL, methanolic solution) as internal standard and extracted by stepwise addition of hydrochloric acid and chloroform with slight agitation between each step. After centrifugation, 1.0 µl of the bottom layer was injected into a wide-bore nonpolar capillary column. Injectable samples for analysis of unbonded VPA were prepared by ultra filtration followed by solid phase extraction (SPE). Caproic acid and VPA were eluted after 1.5 min and 3.0 min, respectively (total GC run time about 3.2 minutes). This GC/FID method was linear over a range of 2.5-6400 µg/ml with the mean recovery of 92%. The intra- and inter-assay precision in the range of 25-100 µg/ml was 1.50-, 2.95, and 2.35- 3.22%, respectively. The simplicity of sample preparation with no derivatization, short run-time and high sensitivity sufficient to detect low concentrations of the drug makes this method suitable for research as well as routine use

Study of Methionine, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid Status in Coronary Atherosclerotic Male Patients

Background: Increased level of serum homocysteine is one of the risk factor of atherosclerosis. Its production related in some sulfur amino acids such as methionine. Some important cofactors that are involved in metabolic pathways of this amino acid are folate and vitamin B12. We have assessed the status of methionine, folic acid, and vitamin B12 in some coronary atherosclerotic male patients.Methods: In this case-control study, 46 cases of coronary atherosclerosis were selected from male patients aged 37 to 66 years undergoing coronary angiography. Of these, 21 had history of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in previous 3 to 36 months and 25 had angina pectoris. The controls were selected from male healthy volunteers. Inclusion criteria for all study participants required that they had no history of diabetes, hypertension, renal, hepatic, or gastrointestinal dis&amp;shy;ease, endocrinal disorders, or psychiatric illness. Nutritional status was assessed using biochemistry methods and estima&amp;shy;tion of nutrient intake. Serum methionine was determined by HPLC methods.Results: Mean serum levels of vitamin B12, and folate, also erythrocyte folate concentration are significantly lower in these patients than in control subjects, but not for methionine. The ratios of serum methionine to vitamin B12 and folate were higher in patients than controls. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies, both, were higher in patients than controls.Conclusion: In summary, it is concluded that, despite normal level of serum methionine, coenzymes deficiencies may be one of the factors accounting for atherosclerosis