Negotiating Cultural Identities Through Language: Academic English In Jordan

This article discusses how a group of multilingual scholars in Jordan negotiate multiple linguistic and cultural affiliations. These writers\u27 experiences demonstrate the varied ways English\u27s global dominance affects individuals\u27 lives. The scholars find both empowerment and disempowerment in English, viewing English as linked to Western hegemony in some situations and as de-nationalized and de-territorialized in others

How far does the dynamic doctrine go?:Looking for the basis of precontractual liability in the CISG

The inherent conundrums of precontractual liability are familiar in most domestic legal systems, but they also turn overly complex if the parties are located in each their jurisdiction. This article analyses whether the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) governs any precontractual questions. Precontractual liability under the CISG has been discussed sparsely in the literature and since the Convention neither expressly deals with nor excludes precontractual liablity it leaves a gap of knowledge. A further examination of the Convention’s applicability to precontractual liability, what the legal foundation of such precontractual duties may be, and what such duties may consist of is desired

Comparison of Three Sample Preparation Procedures for the Quantification of L-Arginine, Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, and Symmetric Dimethylarginine in Human Plasma Using HPLC-FLD

Increased asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in human plasma has been associated with reduced generation of nitric oxide, leading to atherosclerotic diseases. ADMA may therefore be an important biomarker for cardiovascular disease. In the present study, three sample preparation techniques were compared regarding the quantification of L-arginine and ADMA in human plasma: (A) protein precipitation (PP) based on aqueous trichloroacetic acid (TCA), (B) PP using a mixture of ammonia and acetonitrile, and (C) solid-phase extraction (SPE). The samples were analysed by using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The analytical performance of (A) was comparable with that of (C), demonstrating recoveries of >90%, coefficient of variations (CVs, %) of <8, and a resolution (Rs) between ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) of 1.2. (B) was disregarded due to recoveries below 75%. (A) was validated with good results regarding linearity (>0.994), precision (<5%), and sensitivity (lower limit of quantification (LLOQ)) of 0.14 µM and 12 nM for L-arginine and ADMA, respectively. Due to the simplicity and speed of procedure (A), this approach may serve as preferred sample preparation of human plasma samples before HPLC-FLD in providing important information regarding elevated ADMA concentrations

Determination of reduced and oxidized coenzyme Q₁₀ in canine plasma and heart tissue by HPLC-ECD:Comparison with LC-MS/MS quantification

Coenzyme Q10 (Q10) plays an important role in mammals for energy production in the mitochondria, and as a potent antioxidant. Oxidation ratio (% oxidized in relation to total Q10) has been proposed as an important biomarker. A sensitive and reproducible HPLC-ECD method was developed for determination of reduced and oxidized Q10 in canine plasma and heart tissue. Chromatographic separation was achieved in 10 min using a Waters Nova-pak C18 column and a mobile phase with lithium perchlorate in ethanol/methanol/2-propanol. The validation showed satisfying results. Excellent linear correlation was found (r2 &gt; 0.9997), intra- and inter-day precisions were below 6.5% (n = 5) and recoveries were between 89 and 109% (n = 5). Sensitivity stated as Lower Limit of Quantification (LLOQ) was 10 nM. Acceptable stability of both extracted and un-extracted samples was observed. The plasma concentration range of total Q10 was found to be between 0.64 and 1.24 µg/mL. Comparison with a developed LC-MS/MS method showed a correlation of r = 0.85 for reduced Q10 and r = 0.60 for oxidized Q10 (N = 17). However, average results were around 30% lower for ubiquinol using the LC-MS/MS method as compared with the HPLC-ECD analysis. The two methods are therefore not considered to be interchangeable

Exploring social innovation (SI) within the research contexts of higher education, healthcare and welfare services : a scoping review

ntroduction: Nordic countries face societal challenges for which social innovation may represent solutions. The aim of this scoping review is to explore the concept of social innovation within the research contexts of higher education, ealthcare, and welfare services. Method: A scoping review methodology was used, including a literature search and the identification of eligible studies published between 2007 and 2019, in addition to data extraction and synthesis. Forty-three studies were included in this review. Results: Across the research contexts, social innovation is conceptualized as a set of novel, creative, human-centred, and value-driven processes aiming to bring about change. Qualitative research methods dominate social innovation research. In welfare services, social innovation concerns the relationship between policy and praxis, new forms of leadership and management, and the promotion of societal inclusion and cohesion. Social innovation in healthcare comprises the use of technology to digitalize service, enhance patients’ well-being, and improve service quality. In higher education, social innovation research focuses on educational reforms involving non-profit stakeholders. Discussion: Social innovation is a multifaceted concept related to change at the organizational or societal level, often with various stakeholders working together to create improvements. The lack of a common definition and framework of social innovation makes this concept difficult to measure or quantify, reflecting the dominance of qualitative research methods in the selected research contexts. Across these research contexts, social innovation can be defined and used for various research purposes, which are often political and value-based, with the latter connected to the common good and people’s well-being. Moreover, few social innovation studies have been performed in Nordic countries.publishedVersio

Spatial Memory Dysfunction Induced by Vitamin C Deficiency Is Associated with Changes in Monoaminergic Neurotransmitters and Aberrant Synapse Formation

Vitamin C (vitC) is important in the developing brain, acting both as an essential antioxidant and as co-factor in the synthesis and metabolism of monoaminergic neurotransmitters. In guinea pigs, vitC deficiency results in increased oxidative stress, reduced hippocampal volume and neuronal numbers, and deficits in spatial memory. This study investigated the effects of 8 weeks of either sufficient (923 mg vitC/kg feed) or deficient (100 mg vitC/kg feed) levels of dietary vitC on hippocampal monoaminergic neurotransmitters and markers of synapse formation in young guinea pigs with spatial memory deficits. Western blotting and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to quantify the selected markers. VitC deficiency resulted in significantly reduced protein levels of synaptophysin (p = 0.016) and a decrease in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-hydroxytryptamine ratio (p = 0.0093). Protein expression of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit 1 and monoamine oxidase A were reduced, albeit not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.0898 and p = 0.067, respectively). Our findings suggest that vitC deficiency induced spatial memory deficits might be mediated by impairments in neurotransmission and synaptic development