ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsi... more ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsistencies in its definition and use. Furthermore, culture has become a ready, but not necessarily accurate, explanation for many problems in health care settings. We suggest that one reason the attention to culture has not had a greater impact on the quality of health care is because many have an inadequate understanding of the concept. This paper presents an analysis of 86 occupational therapists' and 20 physiotherapists' definitions. It explores how practicing therapists define and articulate the concept, and it compares their definitions with those from health science students discussed in an earlier paper published in this journal. Our analyses suggest that although both groups tend to use a materialist definition, there are differences in their understandings of culture. We considered three potential explanations: methodological; differences in the occupational roles of students and therapists; and historical.
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2006
We previously found high carotenoid levels in Karat and other Micronesian bananas, indicating pot... more We previously found high carotenoid levels in Karat and other Micronesian bananas, indicating potential importance for alleviating vitamin A deficiency and other nutritionally related health problems in the Federated States of Micronesia. Past work focused on carotenoid and mineral analyses, whereas here we investigated 16 cultivars (most not previously analysed) for a broader micronutrient profile, including seven vitamins. Karat carotenoid levels were higher than in previous analyses, confirming Karat as exceptionally carotenoid-rich. We identified an additional 10 carotenoid-rich cultivars, expanding the range having potential for alleviating vitamin A deficiency. A striking finding is the high riboflavin level in Karat, including high levels of uncharacterized flavonoids. Niacin and alpha-tocopherol are at levels that may contribute importantly to dietary intake within normal patterns of consumption. These data present a more complete basis for promoting the nutritional benefits of these banana cultivars where they are consumed in the Pacific, and potential benefits for promoting elsewhere.
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Sep 1, 2006
As Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI),... more As Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), it is important to identify locally grown, acceptable sources of vitamin A. Pandanus fruit, a traditional Marshallese staple food, has a yellow-orange colouration suggesting ...
Consumption beyond homeostatic needs, referred to here as reward-based feeding behavior, is a cen... more Consumption beyond homeostatic needs, referred to here as reward-based feeding behavior, is a central contributor to the current obesity epidemic worldwide. Importantly, reward-based feeding can be driven by palatability, the taste and texture of the food, as well as cues associated with the consumption of palatable foods. The hypothalamic orexin system regulates both diet preference and anticipation of food rewards making it a likely target to modulate reward-based feeding behavior. In the current manuscript we hypothesized that orexin signaling mediates food-motivated behaviors and reward-based feeding behavior. We further hypothesized that orexin neurons and targets of the orexin system become activated in response to cues associated with the consumption of palatable food. Data from these studies suggest that orexin signaling promotes progressive ratio responding for palatable foods while blockade of orexin signaling attenuates reward-based feeding of a high fat diet. In addition...
This review article points out that bananas are an important food for many people in the world. T... more This review article points out that bananas are an important food for many people in the world. Thus, banana cultivars rich in provitamin A carotenoids may offer a potential food source for alleviating vitamin A deficiency, particularly in developing countries. Many factors are associated with the presently known food sources of vitamin A that limit their effectiveness in improving vitamin A status. Acceptable carotenoid-rich banana cultivars have been identified in Micronesia, and some carotenoid-rich bananas have been identified elsewhere. Bananas are an ideal food for young children and families for many regions of the world, because of their sweetness, texture, portion size, familiarity, availability, convenience, versatility, and cost. Foods containing high levels of carotenoids have been shown to protect against chronic disease, including certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Because the coloration of the edible flesh of the banana appears to be a good indicat...
As part of an overall study to identify vitamin A-rich foods, a study was carried out in the Fede... more As part of an overall study to identify vitamin A-rich foods, a study was carried out in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to provide information on production, acquisition, consumption and cultural acceptability of edible pandanus cultivars, Pandanus tectorius, and to identify their carotenoid content. Samples of five pandanus cultivars were collected and analyzed for a- and b-carotene by HPLC. The results showed that the two cultivars with yellow fruit coloration contained low levels of carotenoids, while the orange fruits, which were also well liked as a food in the community, contained higher levels at maxima of 190mg/100 g and 393mg/100 g for a- and b-carotene, respectively. Common patterns of intake when the fruit is available show that pandanus can provide a large proportion of estimated requirements of retinol equivalents. Local people were generally unaware that pandanus had health benefits, although the food was very popular. Nevertheless, key informants report that...
Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, mediates progesterone-negative feedback on gonadotropin-... more Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, mediates progesterone-negative feedback on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in other species. The role of dynorphin in humans is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if dynorphin fibers have close contacts with GnRH neurons in humans. Dual-label immunocytochemistry was performed on postmortem human hypothalamic tissue. The majority of GnRH neurons, 87.5%, had close contacts with dynorphin fibers and multiple close contacts were common, 62.5%. There were no regional differences between the hypothalamus and preoptic area in the distribution of close contacts. More close contacts were identified on the GnRH dendrites compared to the cell bodies (P < .001), but this difference was not significant when corrected for length. In conclusion, dynorphin fibers form close contacts with GnRH neurons in humans. This neuroanatomical evidence may suggest that dynorphin has effects on GnRH regulation in humans as seen in other species.
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 1999
ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsi... more ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsistencies in its definition and use. Furthermore, culture has become a ready, but not necessarily accurate, explanation for many problems in health care settings. We suggest that one reason the attention to culture has not had a greater impact on the quality of health care is because many have an inadequate understanding of the concept. This paper presents an analysis of 86 occupational therapists' and 20 physiotherapists' definitions. It explores how practicing therapists define and articulate the concept, and it compares their definitions with those from health science students discussed in an earlier paper published in this journal. Our analyses suggest that although both groups tend to use a materialist definition, there are differences in their understandings of culture. We considered three potential explanations: methodological; differences in the occupational roles of students and therapists; and historical.
The ability of optical oxygen sensors to monitor the levels of oxygen in raw and cooked beef was ... more The ability of optical oxygen sensors to monitor the levels of oxygen in raw and cooked beef was investigated. Raw and cooked beef slices were vacuum packaged and cooked beef slices were modified atmosphere packaged MAP, (60% N(2): 40% CO(2)) and held under refrigerated display (4 °C) for 15 or 35 days for MAP and vacuum packed samples, respectively. Oxygen sensors attached to the inside of the lidding material in modified atmosphere packages, or inserted into vacuum packages, were capable of monitoring changes in oxygen levels in all packaged samples. Lipid oxidation of samples was measured at regular intervals. Oxygen contents detected, ranged from 1.15 to 1.26% and 0.07-0.55% in MAP and vacuum packed samples, respectively. Samples containing greatest levels of oxygen were most oxidised and cooked samples were significantly (P<0.05) more oxidised than raw samples.
ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsi... more ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsistencies in its definition and use. Furthermore, culture has become a ready, but not necessarily accurate, explanation for many problems in health care settings. We suggest that one reason the attention to culture has not had a greater impact on the quality of health care is because many have an inadequate understanding of the concept. This paper presents an analysis of 86 occupational therapists' and 20 physiotherapists' definitions. It explores how practicing therapists define and articulate the concept, and it compares their definitions with those from health science students discussed in an earlier paper published in this journal. Our analyses suggest that although both groups tend to use a materialist definition, there are differences in their understandings of culture. We considered three potential explanations: methodological; differences in the occupational roles of students and therapists; and historical.
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2006
We previously found high carotenoid levels in Karat and other Micronesian bananas, indicating pot... more We previously found high carotenoid levels in Karat and other Micronesian bananas, indicating potential importance for alleviating vitamin A deficiency and other nutritionally related health problems in the Federated States of Micronesia. Past work focused on carotenoid and mineral analyses, whereas here we investigated 16 cultivars (most not previously analysed) for a broader micronutrient profile, including seven vitamins. Karat carotenoid levels were higher than in previous analyses, confirming Karat as exceptionally carotenoid-rich. We identified an additional 10 carotenoid-rich cultivars, expanding the range having potential for alleviating vitamin A deficiency. A striking finding is the high riboflavin level in Karat, including high levels of uncharacterized flavonoids. Niacin and alpha-tocopherol are at levels that may contribute importantly to dietary intake within normal patterns of consumption. These data present a more complete basis for promoting the nutritional benefits of these banana cultivars where they are consumed in the Pacific, and potential benefits for promoting elsewhere.
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Sep 1, 2006
As Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI),... more As Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), it is important to identify locally grown, acceptable sources of vitamin A. Pandanus fruit, a traditional Marshallese staple food, has a yellow-orange colouration suggesting ...
Consumption beyond homeostatic needs, referred to here as reward-based feeding behavior, is a cen... more Consumption beyond homeostatic needs, referred to here as reward-based feeding behavior, is a central contributor to the current obesity epidemic worldwide. Importantly, reward-based feeding can be driven by palatability, the taste and texture of the food, as well as cues associated with the consumption of palatable foods. The hypothalamic orexin system regulates both diet preference and anticipation of food rewards making it a likely target to modulate reward-based feeding behavior. In the current manuscript we hypothesized that orexin signaling mediates food-motivated behaviors and reward-based feeding behavior. We further hypothesized that orexin neurons and targets of the orexin system become activated in response to cues associated with the consumption of palatable food. Data from these studies suggest that orexin signaling promotes progressive ratio responding for palatable foods while blockade of orexin signaling attenuates reward-based feeding of a high fat diet. In addition...
This review article points out that bananas are an important food for many people in the world. T... more This review article points out that bananas are an important food for many people in the world. Thus, banana cultivars rich in provitamin A carotenoids may offer a potential food source for alleviating vitamin A deficiency, particularly in developing countries. Many factors are associated with the presently known food sources of vitamin A that limit their effectiveness in improving vitamin A status. Acceptable carotenoid-rich banana cultivars have been identified in Micronesia, and some carotenoid-rich bananas have been identified elsewhere. Bananas are an ideal food for young children and families for many regions of the world, because of their sweetness, texture, portion size, familiarity, availability, convenience, versatility, and cost. Foods containing high levels of carotenoids have been shown to protect against chronic disease, including certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Because the coloration of the edible flesh of the banana appears to be a good indicat...
As part of an overall study to identify vitamin A-rich foods, a study was carried out in the Fede... more As part of an overall study to identify vitamin A-rich foods, a study was carried out in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to provide information on production, acquisition, consumption and cultural acceptability of edible pandanus cultivars, Pandanus tectorius, and to identify their carotenoid content. Samples of five pandanus cultivars were collected and analyzed for a- and b-carotene by HPLC. The results showed that the two cultivars with yellow fruit coloration contained low levels of carotenoids, while the orange fruits, which were also well liked as a food in the community, contained higher levels at maxima of 190mg/100 g and 393mg/100 g for a- and b-carotene, respectively. Common patterns of intake when the fruit is available show that pandanus can provide a large proportion of estimated requirements of retinol equivalents. Local people were generally unaware that pandanus had health benefits, although the food was very popular. Nevertheless, key informants report that...
Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, mediates progesterone-negative feedback on gonadotropin-... more Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, mediates progesterone-negative feedback on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in other species. The role of dynorphin in humans is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if dynorphin fibers have close contacts with GnRH neurons in humans. Dual-label immunocytochemistry was performed on postmortem human hypothalamic tissue. The majority of GnRH neurons, 87.5%, had close contacts with dynorphin fibers and multiple close contacts were common, 62.5%. There were no regional differences between the hypothalamus and preoptic area in the distribution of close contacts. More close contacts were identified on the GnRH dendrites compared to the cell bodies (P < .001), but this difference was not significant when corrected for length. In conclusion, dynorphin fibers form close contacts with GnRH neurons in humans. This neuroanatomical evidence may suggest that dynorphin has effects on GnRH regulation in humans as seen in other species.
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 1999
ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsi... more ABSTRACT Although there is a growing familiarity with the concept of “culture,” there are inconsistencies in its definition and use. Furthermore, culture has become a ready, but not necessarily accurate, explanation for many problems in health care settings. We suggest that one reason the attention to culture has not had a greater impact on the quality of health care is because many have an inadequate understanding of the concept. This paper presents an analysis of 86 occupational therapists' and 20 physiotherapists' definitions. It explores how practicing therapists define and articulate the concept, and it compares their definitions with those from health science students discussed in an earlier paper published in this journal. Our analyses suggest that although both groups tend to use a materialist definition, there are differences in their understandings of culture. We considered three potential explanations: methodological; differences in the occupational roles of students and therapists; and historical.
The ability of optical oxygen sensors to monitor the levels of oxygen in raw and cooked beef was ... more The ability of optical oxygen sensors to monitor the levels of oxygen in raw and cooked beef was investigated. Raw and cooked beef slices were vacuum packaged and cooked beef slices were modified atmosphere packaged MAP, (60% N(2): 40% CO(2)) and held under refrigerated display (4 °C) for 15 or 35 days for MAP and vacuum packed samples, respectively. Oxygen sensors attached to the inside of the lidding material in modified atmosphere packages, or inserted into vacuum packages, were capable of monitoring changes in oxygen levels in all packaged samples. Lipid oxidation of samples was measured at regular intervals. Oxygen contents detected, ranged from 1.15 to 1.26% and 0.07-0.55% in MAP and vacuum packed samples, respectively. Samples containing greatest levels of oxygen were most oxidised and cooked samples were significantly (P<0.05) more oxidised than raw samples.
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