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Objective To determine the effect of diets low in saturated fatty acids and high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fatty acids on body composition in participants at risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods This study was a randomized, crossover, controlled feeding study. Participants (n = 101, ages 49.5 ± 1.2, BMI 29.4 ± 0.4 kg/m2) were randomized to five isocaloric diets containing treatment oils: Canola, CanolaOleic, CanolaDHA, Corn/Safflower, and Flax/Safflower. Each diet period was 4 weeks followed by a 2- to 4-week washout period. Results Canola (3.1 kg, P = 0.026) and CanolaOleic oil diets (3.09 kg, P = 0.03) reduced android fat mass compared with the Flax/Saff oil diet (3.2 kg), particularly in men. The decrease in abdominal fat mass was correlated with the reduction in blood pressure after the Canola (systolic blood pressure: r = 0.26, P = 0.062; diastolic blood pressure: r = 0.38, P = 0.0049) and CanolaOleic oil diets (systolic blood pressure: r = 0.39 P = 0.004; diastolic blood pressure: r = 0.45, P = 0.0006). The decrease in abdominal fat mass also was associated with a reduction in triglyceride levels after the CanolaOleic oil diet (r = 0.42, P = 0.002). Conclusions Diets high in MUFA (compared with PUFA) reduced central obesity with an accompanying improvement in MetS risk factors. Diets high in MUFA may be beneficial for treating and perhaps preventing MetS.

Background Hormonal status influences haemostatic factors including fibrinogen, factor VII and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and concentrations differ among men, premenopausal and postmenopausal women. This study examines how phases of the menstrual cycle influence variability of fibrinogen, factor VII and PAI-1. Design We studied 103 subjects (39 premenopausal women, 18 postmenopausal women and 46 men) during three, randomized, 8-week energy- and nutrient-controlled experimental diets in the Dietary Effects on Lipids and Thrombogenic Activity (DELTA) Study. Fasting blood samples were collected weekly during the last 4 weeks of each diet period, and haemostatic factors were quantified. Two linear mixed-effects models were used for fibrinogen, factor VII and PAI-1: one to estimate and compare group-specific components of variance, and the other to estimate additional fixed effects representing cyclical functions of day of menstrual cycle in premenopausal women. Results Systematic cyclical variation with day of menstrual cycle was observed for fibrinogen (P

Inflammation links obesity with the development of insulin resistance. Macrophages and phagocytic immune cells communicate with metabolic tissues to direct an inflammatory response caused by overnutrition and expanding adipose tissue. Marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), modulate inflammatory signalling events, providing various anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective benefits. Moreover, EPA and DHA may improve insulin sensitivity by generating proresolving lipid mediators and promoting alternatively activated macrophages. This review will assess the role of EPA and DHA in ameliorating obesity-induced inflammation, evaluating clinical evidence and mechanisms of action. The pathophysiology of insulin resistance resulting from obesity-induced inflammation will be discussed, highlighting the relationship between metabolism and immunity, and in particular, how EPA and DHA work with both systems to modulate immunometabolic complications and chronic disease.

Several factors were studied as affecting protein degradation and texture of skipjack tuna muscle following ambient pressure thermal processing (precooking). These included degree of mushy tuna syndrome (MTS) evidenced in the raw meat, raw meat pH, abusive thawing/holding, and precooking temperature/time. Slurries and intact pieces from frozen skipjack tuna, either tempered for 2 h or thawed and held at 25 °C for 22 h (abusive treatment) were heated at temperatures ranging from 40 to 80 °C for up to 2 h, and also at 90 °C for 1 h, with or without prior adjustment of pH to 5 or 7 to favor cathepsin or calpain activity, respectively. Proteolysis of precooked samples was monitored by Lowry assay and SDS-PAGE; cooked texture of intact meat was measured using a Kramer shear press and by sensory profile analysis. Proteolysis maximally occurred in slurries of skipjack tuna muscle that had been abusively stored (22 h at 25 °C) and adjusted to pH 5 prior to heating at 55 °C. Intact pieces of tuna abusively thawed/held for 22 h with subsequent heating at 55 °C also evidenced the most proteolysis and were the least firm in texture. Raw fish that evidenced higher severity of MTS when raw displayed higher levels of proteolysis prior to cooking, which were further increased after cooking at 55 °C. Practical application The kinetic data presented here can be used to optimize processing conditions for skipjack tuna canning to minimize textural degradation and optimize quality.

SUMMARY Purpose: We examined the efficiency of lexical and semantic processing and associated brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods: Twenty patients with left TLE (10 with hippocampal sclerosis, the HS group; and 10 with nonlesional MR scans, the NL group) and 12 healthy controls underwent an event-related fMRI analysis during a lexical decision task (LDT). Lexical and semantic processing were examined by comparing behavioral and imaging data associated with words and nonwords (lexicality) or with concrete and abstract words (concreteness). Key Findings: Although the control group showed greater activation associated with word stimuli than with nonword stimuli in a bilateral language network, both TLE groups showed greater activation for nonword stimuli than word stimuli, including greater activation of inferior frontal language areas (bilaterally in the HS group and left-lateralized in the NL group). The TLE groups also exhibited differential activation patterns during the processing of abstract and concrete words compared to controls, and compared to each other. For abstract words, in particular, the HS group showed activation of frontal areas typically associated with executive functions, whereas the NL group showed activation of more posterior semantic processing regions. Significance: These results suggest that left TLE is associated with altered functional organization of cortical networks involved in lexical and semantic processing. In addition, the organization observed varies as a function of hippocampal pathology.

Food scientists and nutrition scientists (dietitians and nutrition communicators) are tasked with creating strategies to more closely align the American food supply and the public's diet with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). This paper is the result of 2 expert dialogues to address this mandate, which were held in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., in early October 2010 between these 2 key scientific audiences. It is an objective that has largely eluded public health experts over the past several decades. This document takes the perspective of food scientists who are tasked with making positive modifications to the food supply, both in innovating and reformulating food products, to respond to both the DGA recommendations, and to consumer desires, needs, and choices. The paper is one of two to emerge from those October 2010 discussions; the other article focuses on the work of dietitians and nutrition communicators in effecting positive dietary change.

When incorporated into the diet, pistachios have a beneficial effect on lipid and lipoprotein profiles. However, little is known about potential anti-inflammatory properties. This study was conducted to determine whether pistachio oil and an organic extract from pistachio oil extract (PE) regulated expression of inflammation-related genes. A mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7 cells) was treated with pistachio oil and gene expression microarray analyses were performed. Pistachio oil significantly affected genes involved in immune response, defense response to bacteria, and gene silencing, of which INF-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 2 (Ifit-2) was the most dramatically reduced. PE reduced the LPS-induced Ifit-2 by 78% and the bioactive molecules contained in PE, linoleic acid, and beta-sitosterol recapitulated this inhibition. Promoter analysis identified two adjacent IFN-stimulated response elements, which lie between -110 and -85bp of the 5'-flanking region of the Ifit-2 promoter, as being responsive to LPS activation and inhibition by PE. Our results indicate that pistachio oil and bioactive molecules present therein decrease Ifit-2 expressions, and due to the sensitivity of this effect, this gene is a potential biomarker for monitoring diet-induced changes in inflammation.

Women play a critical but inadequate role in the political life of Kentucky. The intermittent impact of Kentucky women as voters, appointed officeholders, members of boards and commissions, party activists, lobbyists, and campaign contributors historically has lagged behind national averages. And the role Kentucky women play as elected representatives remains among the most muted in the nation. Despite the success of large numbers of women as local elected officials, at the highest level, women are, in effect, second-class citizens. Only 12 percent of the state legislature “looks like” 52 percent of the population, despite the disproportionately high percentage of women who are active in the campaigns of the other 88 percent. The traditionalistic political culture, the powerful inertia of incumbency at all levels, and the entrenched “good old boy network” keep many women from office.

Although a large number of studies both in and out of the tourism literature have examined perceived risk, the risk categories utilized are often too broad and are not generated from the perspective of current and potential travellers. This deficiency in the travel research is addressed in this study by asking more than 2,000 respondents to identify their concerns when travelling. All respondent concerns were content analyzed to derive ten travel-specific risks and the relationship of the identified risks with demographic characteristics of the respondents was examined. The identification of these potential and actual traveller-driven travel-risks allows tourism officials to better understand how to respond to alleviate traveller concerns and encourage travel. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We evaluated the effects of 5 dietary oils on RHI: corn/safflower oil (69.3% LA, 17.6% MUFA), canola oil (62.8% MUFA, 29.3% PUFA: 19.5% LA, 10% ALA), high-oleic canola oil (72% MUFA, 17% PUFA: 15% LA, 2% ALA), high-oleic canola oil with DHA (63.8% MUFA, 13% LA, 6% DHA), and flax/safflower oil (69.4% PUFA: 37.5% LA, 32% ALA, 17.9% MUFA). We conducted a multi-center, randomized, 5-period crossover, controlled feeding study. RHI was measured after isocaloric, heart-healthy diets containing one of 5 oils for 4 weeks, followed by >2 week break. In adults at risk of MetS, there was no significant treatment effect for RHI, an index of endothelial function. There was a treatment x period interaction (p=0.03). Because of known menstrual changes in RHI, we made an a priori decision to separately analyze effects excluding premenopausal women. In this subsample (n = 85), there was a significant treatment effect (P=0.048). RHI on the corn/safflower diet was significantly greater than on the flax/safflower diet (mean R...

Endothelial dysfunction is important in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. Postprandial hyperlipidemia is associated with an impairment (i.e. reduction) of endothelial function. We evaluated the effect of acute peanut consumption on postprandial lipids and endothelial function as assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery in fifteen overweight males (BMI 31.4±0.8). Participants were randomized to either a peanut meal contain 3 oz. of ground peanuts (1198 kcal, 40.0% CHO, 47.7% FAT: 19.4% SFA, 13.2% PRO) or a control meal with matched energy and macronutrients, followed by the alternative meal scheduled at least one week apart. The meals were delivered as shakes. The lipid profile, glucose and insulin were measured postprandially at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4h. FMD was measured at baseline and at 4h. Acute peanut consumption resulted in a blunted triglyceride response 2h after consumption compared with the control meal (94.5±13.4 mg/dL vs. 117.1±13.4 mg/dL, p=0.034). The c...

While studies have shown an inverse relationship between dairy consumption and metabolic abnormalities such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, the mechan...

The term innovation orientation has been frequently used in the innovation literature, but with a mix of conceptualizations and meanings. Drawing from work found in the innovation, management, and marketing literatures over the past 35 years, the concept of innovation orientation as a system is conceptualized and defined in this article. The domain of innovation orientation is delineated as a multidimensional knowledge structure and a framework for understanding innovation orientation and its consequences in an organizational context are developed. The framework defines the innovation orientation knowledge structure as composed of a learning philosophy, strategic direction, and transfunctional beliefs within an organization that define and direct the organizational strategies and actions toward specific innovation-enabling competencies and processes. These innovation-oriented firm competencies are in the areas of resource allocation, technology, employees, operations, and markets. The framework then explains that these appropriately developed innovation-enabling competencies lead to innovation outcomes, specifically ideal innovation form, type, and rate that, in turn, affect firm performance. An inventory of propositions for future research that correspond to the innovation orientation concept is also presented in this comprehensive framework. This study provides two important contributions to the existing innovation literature. First, the article examines the vast innovation literature to arrive at a clear definition of the innovation orientation construct to provide a consistent conceptualization for future research. Second, the article develops a comprehensive, organized framework for understanding innovation orientation and its effects. In doing this, the framework extends the dynamic capabilities research stream by offering an explanation of how innovation orientation fosters the development of organizational competencies and makes it possible for a firm to recognize and respond to shifts in market dynamism.

Individual FA have diverse biological effects, some of which affect the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the context of food-based dietary guidance designed to reduce CVD risk, fat and FA recommendations focus on reducing saturated FA (SFA) and trans FA (TFA), and ensuring an adequate intake of unsaturated FA. Because stearic acid shares many physical properties with the other long-chain SFA but has different physiological effects, it is being evaluated as a substitute for TFA in food manufacturing. For stearic acid to become the primary replacement for TFA, it is essential that its physical properties and biological effects be well understood.

Objective: The energy density (kilocalories per gram) of foods influences short-term energy intake. This 1-year clinical trial tested the effect on weight loss of a diet incorporating one or two servings per day of foods equal in energy but differing in energy density. Research Methods and Procedures: Dietitians instructed 200 overweight and obese women and men to follow an exchange-based energy-restricted diet. Additionally, subjects were randomized to consume daily either one or two servings of low energy-dense soup, two servings of high energy-dense snack foods, or no special food (comparison group). Results: All four groups showed significant weight loss at 6 months that was well maintained at 12 months. The magnitude of weight loss, however, differed by group (p = 0.006). At 1 year, weight loss in the comparison (8.1 ± 1.1 kg) and two-soup (7.2 ± 0.9 kg) groups was significantly greater than that in the two-snack group (4.8 ± 0.7 kg); weight loss in the one-soup group (6.1 ± 1.1 kg) did not differ significantly from other groups. Weight loss was significantly correlated with the decrease in dietary energy density from baseline at 1 and 2 months (p = 0.0001) but not at 6 and 12 months. Discussion: On an energy-restricted diet, consuming two servings of low energy-dense soup daily led to 50% greater weight loss than consuming the same amount of energy as high energy-dense snack food. Regularly consuming foods that are low in energy density can be an effective strategy for weight management.

Chanks of freshwater tront muscle were immersed in sorbitol solutions (0% to 60%), under different vacuum conditions, for up to 30 min at 5 °C, Molsture loss, weight change, and sorbitol uptable were measured or calculated by mass balance, and cryoprotection during subsequent freezing and thawing was monitored as change in myosin Ca 3+ ATPase activity. Vacuum treatment had no effect on measured parameters. Initial sorbinal uptake and weight loss were greater at higher sorbitol concentrations, but adequate cryoprotection was achieved by all treatments when diffusion time following immersion was extended sufficiently. Injection of 60% sorbitol was fasier in achieving desired levels of sorbital in flsh ment and induced excellent cryoprotection. diffesion, vacuum, trout, sorbitol, ATPase.

Textural properties of gels from Atlantic croaker surimi recovered by isoelectric precipitation, following acid (AC) or alkaline (AL) solubilization, were compared with that of conventionally washed (CW) surimi. Gel strengths were in the order of AL > AC > CW, with higher gel strength and deformability induced by microbial transglutaminase addition. None of the surimi treatments evidenced endogenous TGase activity. Salt (2% NaCl) addition had variable effects. Proteolysis was evident by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in gels from all treatments when preincubated at 30°C or 40°C., This work was also sponsored in part by the Univ. of North Carolina Sea Grant College Program by Projects R/SST-24 and R/SST-26 from the Natl. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture/Fulbright Program for Ms.Perez-Mateos’ postdoctoral fellowship awarded at NCSU, as well asthe Center for Marine Sciences and Technology at Morehead City, N.C., for their help with procurement and preparation of the fishused in this study.

SUMMARY In the past, commonly used supplier evaluative criteria have focused on quality, service or delivery, and price. In recent years, the channels literature has indicated other areas, such as relationship factors, that may affect channel partner performance; yet, no known research has examined either the extent of formal supplier evaluation programs or the factors currently used in channel evaluation. The purpose of this research is to fill that void by determining the number of firms that have systematic evaluation systems and to examine the currently used supplier evaluation instruments — with a focus on whether or not channel relationship factors are considered — from a wide cross-section of industries. Findings indicate that less than half of the responding firms have a formal supplier evaluation process in place, and that quality, supplier certification, facilities, continuous improvements, physical distribution factors, and channel relationship factors were the factors most commonly included in supplier evaluation programs.

Almonds are an energy-dense food that do not promote weight gain or increased waist circumference (WC); however, the effects of almond consumption on total body and sub-regional fat and lean mass d...

Cholesterol efflux (CEx) from peripheral tissues is thought to be cardioprotective. Vegetable oils with different unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) profiles and low in saturated fatty acids (SFA) (

Dietary n-9 monounsaturated fatty acids (FA) decrease metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors; however, whether consumption of novel vegetable oils high in MUFA affect LDL binding characteristics has not been determined. We utilized the Canola Oil Multi-Centre Intervention Trial (COMIT), a human intervention study consisting of five dietary treatments differing in qualitative fat content, each treatment fed for 29 days and separated by a 4 week washout period. We evaluated the efficacy of three vegetable oil treatments from COMIT including corn/safflower oil (control), high oleic canola oil, and high oleic canola oil with DHA on plasma FA profiles, LDL cholesterol ester FA composition and in vitro LDL proteoglycan binding affinity. A multi-centre, double blind, randomized, 3-period crossover, controlled feeding study was conducted where subjects with MetS criteria (n=50) were fed isocaloric diets (50% CHO, 15% PRO, 35% FAT) containing three of the five treatments, each for 29 days. Plasma FA profiles at da...

Evidence suggests that probiotic bacteria modulate both innate and adaptive immunity; however the immune response varies by type of organism. Probiotics in the genera Bifidobacterium may stimulate ...

We evaluated the effects of a moderate fat diet high in MUFA provided by one avocado per day on lipoprotein particle number and lipoprotein subfractions compared to a moderate fat diet (with equivalent fatty acid content) and a lower fat diet. A randomized 3-period cross-over, controlled feeding study was conducted in healthy, overweight and obese men and women (n=45, 21-70 years, BMI 25-35 kg/m2) with LDL-C in the 25-90th percentile. Following a 2 wk run-in average American diet (AAD), 3 isocaloric diets (5 wk each) were fed: 1) a lower-fat diet (LF: 24% fat, 59% CHO, 16% PRO); 2) a moderate fat diet providing one HASS avocado/day (136g) (AV: 34% fat, 49% CHO, 16% PRO); and 3) a moderate fat diet using high oleic acid oil as the main source of MUFA (MF: 34% fat, 49% CHO, 16% PRO). Fasting blood samples were collected after each diet. Lipoprotein subfractions were measured by the vertical auto profile (VAP), lipoprotein particle number was measured directly by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscop...