Fruit and vegetable sources among ethnic groups

Objectives: Data are limited on how dietary sources of food and nutrients differ among ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to determine the main sources of fruit, vegetables, and vitamins A, C, and E for five ethnic groups. Methods: Dietary data were collected using a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire from participants in the Multiethnic Cohort in Hawaii and Los Angeles County between 1993 and 1996. Data were analyzed for 186,916 participants representing five ethnic groups; African Americans, Japanese Americans, Native Hawaiians, Latinos, and Caucasians. Results: Lettuce was the most consumed vegetable (6.0%-9.9%) in all ethnic-sex groups, except African American women and Mexican-born Latino men and women. Oranges and bananas contributed more than one quarter to total fruit intake among all groups. Overall, more ethnic variation in food choices was observed for the top ten vegetables than fruit. The top sources for vitamins A, C and E were carrots, orange/grapefruit/pomelo and combined dishes, respectively. Between micronutrients studied, the greatest ethnic variation in foods consumed was observed among the top ten food sources of vitamin A. Conclusions: This is the first study providing data on the main types of fruit and vegetables consumed and the major sources of vitamins A, C, and E among these ethnic groups in the U.S. Such data are valuable for developing and implementing public health strategies to meet the USDA dietary recommendations and guiding ethnic-specific nutrition education and intervention programs

Ethnic differences in grains consumption and their contribution to intake of B-vitamins: results of the Multiethnic Cohort Study

Background: Research indicates that a diet rich in whole grains may reduce the risk of prevalent chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers, and that risk for these diseases varies by ethnicity. The objective of the current study was to identify major dietary sources of grains and describe their contribution to B vitamins in five ethnic groups. Methods. A cross-sectional mail survey was used to collect data from participants in the Multiethnic Cohort Study in Hawaii and Los Angeles County, United States, from 1993 to 1996. Dietary intake data collected using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire was available for 186,916 participants representing five ethnic groups (African American, Latino, Japanese American, Native Hawaiian and Caucasian) aged 45-75 years. The top sources of grain foods were determined, and their contribution to thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, and folic acid intakes were analyzed. Results: The top source of whole grains was whole wheat/rye bread for all ethnic-sex groups, followed by popcorn and cooked cereals, except for Native Hawaiian men and Japanese Americans, for whom brown/wild rice was the second top source; major contributors of refined grains were white rice and white bread, except for Latinos. Refined grain foods contributed more to grain consumption (27.1-55.6%) than whole grain foods (7.4-30.8%) among all ethnic-sex groups, except African American women. Grain foods made an important contribution to the intakes of thiamin (30.2-45.9%), riboflavin (23.1-29.2%), niacin (27.1-35.8%), vitamin B6 (22.9-27.5%), and folic acid (23.3-27.7%). Conclusions: This is the first study to document consumption of different grain sources and their contribution to B vitamins in five ethnic groups in the U.S. Findings can be used to assess unhealthful food choices, to guide dietary recommendations, and to help reduce risk of chronic diseases in these populations

Are Private Universities Ready for Implementation of Knowledge Management in Iran? A Case study on Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur Branch

Nowadays, knowledge is the most fundamental and worthwhile capital for any organization. As a result of instantaneous changes and improvements, organizations have to do their best to access knowledge management. Universities which are considered as the pivotal centers of engendering and disseminating of knowledge can gain great advantage of knowledge management. In the direction of the beneficial performance of knowledge management, rudimentary investigation of its implementation is of vital importance; therefore, this study intends to ascertain the amount of basic infrastructures’ readiness to implement the knowledge management system (Organizational Culture, Organizational Structure, technical infrastructure) and rank these elements based on their importance in Islamic Azad University of Neyshabur. The statistical population of research is the faculty members of Islamic Azad university of Neyshabur. Stratified random sampling has been used and the required data collected through questionnaires. The questions, which have been formed the questionnaire, have been designed on the basis of Hurbert Rampersad questionnaire. The findings of the research indicate that Islamic Azad University of Neyshabur is at an average status of readiness for the application of knowledge management in different dimensions of ‘organizational culture’, ‘information technology infrastructure’ and ‘Organizational Structure’. The results of ranking test, Friedman test, also showed that ‘organizational culture’ is the most and ‘information technology’ is the least important element. Keywords: knowledge management, technical infrastructure, Organizational Culture, Organizational Structure, Islamic Azad Universit

Investigating the Knowledge Management Implementation in Distance Education System in Iran

This study intends to ascertain the amount of basic infrastructures’ readiness to implement the knowledge management system (culture and human factors, structure and processes, technical infrastructure) and rank these elements based on their importance in Payame Noor University of Mashhad. It is a survey research and the technique which has been applied is descriptive. The statistical population of research is the faculty members of Payame Noor university of Mashhad. The whole faculty members’ opinions have been studied and the required data has been assembled through questionnaires. The questions, which have been formed the questionnaire, have been designed on the basis of Hurbert Rampersad questionnaire. The findings of the research indicate that Payame Noor University of Mashhad is not ready for the application of knowledge management in different dimensions of ‘culture and human factors’, ‘information technology infrastructure’ and ‘structure and processes’. The results of ranking test (Friedman test) also show that ‘culture and human factors’ is the most and ‘structure and processes’ is the least important element. Keywords: Culture and human factors, knowledge management, Payame Noor University of Mashhad, technical infrastructure, structure and processes

Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective

This Report has a number of inter-related general purposes. One is to explore the extent to which food, nutrition, physical activity, and body composition modify the risk of cancer, and to specify which factors are most important. To the extent that environmental factors such as food, nutrition, and physical activity influence the risk of cancer, it is a preventable disease. The Report specifies recommendations based on solid evidence which, when followed, will be expected to reduce the incidence of cancer