Benchmarking Quality Management in Hotels

In the early 1980s many hotels in the United States adopted quality assurance as a business strategy. By the late 1980s independent and chain hotels realized that total quality management (TQM) was a more powerful process and they began utilizing many of its components. For over 10 years, hotels have flirted with a variety of tools, processes, and theories to improve service to the guest

Corporate Responsibility on a "Grand" Scale: MGM's Employment Outreach Program

The world's largest hotel, casino, and theme park has demonstrated that corporate responsibility to the community and corporate self-interest need not be mutually exclusive. MGM's human resource department established an employment outreach program that hired 1,462 economically disadvantaged persons from the community. This effort was a "win-win" situation for the both the community and the corporation and the hotel received a significant wage credit from the Job Training Partnership Act.

Fat Absorption in Commercial French Fries Depending on Oil Type and Coating

This study examines the effect of edible coatings, type of oil used, and cooking method on the fat content of commercially available French fries. In contrast to earlier studies that examined laboratory prepared French fries, this study assesses commercially available French fries and cooking oils. This study also measured the fat content in oven baked French fries, comparing the two cooking methods in addition to the comparisons of different coatings’ oil uptake. The findings of this study were that the type of oil used did have a significant impact on the final oil content of the uncoated and seasoned fries. The fries coated in modified food starch and fried in peanut and soy oils had what appeared to be significantly higher oil content than those fried in corn oil or baked, but the difference was not statistically significant. Additionally, fat content in French fries with hydrocollidial coatings that were prepared in corn oil were not significantly different than French fries with the same coating that were baked.

General Managers in Mid-scale Hotels: Are they Plateaued?

This research investigated the career-plateau patterns of general managers (GMs) in mid-scale hotels. In regard to plateau categories, by far the largest number of GMs reported that they were in the productively plateaued category. The hotel industry can use this research to view the career satisfaction and productivity of GMs in light of the plateau pattern into which they are classified.

Menopause, rurlity, and obesity in rural African American women

In the US, one in every eight deaths is due to an obesity-related chronic health condition (ORCHC). More than half of African American women (AAW) 20 years old or older are obese or morbidly obese, as are 63% of menopausal AAW. Many have ORCHC that increase their morbidity and mortality and increase health care costs. In 2013, 42.6 percent of AAs living in South Carolina (SC) were obese. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the cognitive, behavioral, biological, and demographic factors that influence health outcomes (BMI, and ORCHC) of AAW living in rural SC. A sample of 200 AAW (50 in each of the 4 groups of rurality by menopausal status), 18-64 years, completed the: Menopausal Rating Scale (symptoms); Body Image Assessment for Obesity (self-perception of body); Mental Health Inventory; Block Food Frequency Questionnaire; Eating Behaviors and Chronic Conditions, Traditional Food Habits, and Food Preparation Technique questionnaires — and measures for Body Mass Index. Most rural, and premenopausal AAW were single and not living with a partner. Premenopausal women had significantly higher educational levels. Sixty percent of AAW had between 1 and 5 ORCHC. Most AAW used salt based seasonings, ate deep fried foods 1 to 3 times a week, and ate outside the home 1 to 3 times a month. Few AAW knew the correct daily serving for grains and dairy, and most consumed less than the recommended daily serving of fruits, vegetables and dairy. Morbidly obese AAW used more traditional food preparation techniques than obese and normal-weight AAW. Rural, and menopausal AAW had significantly higher morbid obesity levels, consumed larger portions of meats and vegetables, and reported more body image dissatisfaction than very rural AAW, and premenopausal AAW, respectively. Controlling for socioeconomic factors the relationships between perceptions of body images, psychological distress, and psychological wellbeing remained significant for numbers of ORCHC^

Placat, wodurch die Briefposttaxe vom 28ten März 1801 für das Königreich Dänemark und die Herzogthümer Schleswig und Holstein erweitert und näher bestimmt wird : Kopenhagen, den 20sten Juny 1809

Generalpostdirection zu Kopenhagen

Resposta da batata cv. Cupido à fertilização organomineral

Potato crop cycle is relatively short and presents high yield per area; therefore, it is a very demanding culture for available nutrients in the soil solution. Despite its importance and the large number of studies about the crop, there is little research on plant nutrition regarding the use of organomineral fertilizer. This study evaluated potato, cv. Cupid, development and productivity as a function of fertilization with pelletized organomineral fertilizer. The experiment was done in Perdizes, Minas Gerais, in the rainy season of 2014/2015. The experimental design was a randomized blocks, with factorial arrangement of 4 x 2 (doses x management) and a control with mineral fertilizer, with 3 repetitions. Organomineral fertilizer doses were 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the conventional mineral dose, which was 600 kg ha-1 K2SO4, 850 kg ha-1 NH4H2PO4, and 300 kg ha-1 (NH4)2SO4 of topdressing 19 days after planting (DAP). Fertilization managements were with or without topdressing at 19 DAP, when the potato was hilled. Two plants per plot were sampled at 36, 50, 64 and 81 DAP and analyzed for leaf, stem and dry matter contents. DRIS - Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System was applied at 36 DAP and the potatoes were harvested 112 DAP and subjected to tuber classification. Throughout the cycle, stem, leaf and tuber dry mass showed no significant differences between the fertilization managements. The doses of organomineral fertilizer and topdressing management does not affect productivity, and the lower doses (25%) were similar the greater ones and the control, with an average of 16.8 t ha-1, demonstrating that it is viable to make a single application of organomineral fertilizer at planting due to operational efficiency. The low yields observed were due to high rainfall and temperature, creating favorable conditions for the incidence of pests and diseases. According to DRIS, the organomineral dose 75% for topdressing, presented the best nutritional balance.

Avaliação nutricional de estudantes do Instituto Politécnico de Santarém

O estudo apresentado avaliou a adequabilidade da ingesta de nutrientes e energia de estudantes do Instituto Politécnico de Santarém (IPS), através do preenchimento de um relatório alimentar de 24 horas, preenchido on line. Foram obtidas 103 respostas válidas para avaliação, maioritariamente do género feminino (77%), com uma idade média de 21 anos e valores de IMC normoponderais (78%). Cerca de metade dos participantes apresentou um estilo de vida sedentário. No geral, a alimentação caracterizou-se por elevados consumos de arroz, massa, batatas ou cereais de pequeno-almoço, de carne ou ovos, e consumos reduzidos de peixe, leguminosas e hortícolas crus ou cozinhados. O consumo de frutos e vegetais foi maioritariamente inferior ao recomendado, assim como a ingesta de energia e fibra. Ao contrário, a ingesta de lípidos totais e lípidos saturados foi superior ao recomendado na maioria dos participantes. A prevalência de inadequação de micronutrientes como cálcio, vitamina A, vitamina C e folatos foi próxima dos 50% ou superior. Perante os dados obtidos sugere-se uma melhoria dos hábitos alimentares e de estilo de vida, nomeadamente, o aumento do número de refeições realizadas, o aumento do consumo de frutos, hortícolas e leguminosas e o aumento da prática de atividade física.

Eating habits of a population undergoing a rapid dietary transition: portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods and beverages consumed by Inuit adults in Nunavut, Canada

Background: To determine the portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods being consumed by Inuit adults in three remote communities in Nunavut, Canada. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and October, 2008. Trained field workers collected dietary data using a culturally appropriate, validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) developed specifically for the study population. Results: Caribou, muktuk (whale blubber and skin) and Arctic char (salmon family), were the most commonly consumed traditional foods; mean portion sizes for traditional foods ranged from 10 g for fermented seal fat to 424 g for fried caribou. Fried bannock and white bread were consumed by >85% of participants; mean portion sizes for these foods were 189 g and 70 g, respectively. Sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods were also widely consumed. Mean portion sizes for regular pop and sweetened juices with added sugar were 663 g and 572 g, respectively. Mean portion sizes for potato chips, pilot biscuits, cakes, chocolate and cookies were 59 g, 59 g, 106 g, 59 g, and 46 g, respectively. Conclusions: The present study provides further evidence of the nutrition transition that is occurring among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. It also highlights a number of foods and beverages that could be targeted in future nutritional intervention programs aimed at obesity and diet-related chronic disease prevention in these and other Inuit communities.

Menopause, Rurality, And Obesity in Rural African American Women

In the US, one in every eight deaths is due to an obesity-related chronic health condition (ORCHC). More than half of African American women (AAW) 20 years old or older are obese or morbidly obese, as are 63% of menopausal AAW. Many have ORCHC that increase their morbidity and mortality and increase health care costs. In 2013, 42.6 percent of AAs living in South Carolina (SC) were obese. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the cognitive, behavioral, biological, and demographic factors that influence health outcomes (BMI, and ORCHC) of AAW living in rural SC. A sample of 200 AAW (50 in each of the 4 groups of rurality by menopausal status), 18-64 years, completed the: Menopausal Rating Scale (symptoms); Body Image Assessment for Obesity (self-perception of body); Mental Health Inventory; Block Food Frequency Questionnaire; Eating Behaviors and Chronic Conditions, Traditional Food Habits, and Food Preparation Technique questionnaires – and measures for Body Mass Index. Most rural, and premenopausal AAW were single and not living with a partner. Premenopausal women had significantly higher educational levels. Sixty percent of AAW had between 1 and 5 ORCHC. Most AAW used salt based seasonings, ate deep fried foods 1 to 3 times a week, and ate outside the home 1 to 3 times a month. Few AAW knew the correct daily serving for grains and dairy, and most consumed less than the recommended daily serving of fruits, vegetables and dairy. Morbidly obese AAW used more traditional food preparation techniques than obese and normal-weight AAW. Rural, and menopausal AAW had significantly higher morbid obesity levels, consumed larger portions of meats and vegetables, and reported more body image dissatisfaction than very rural AAW, and premenopausal AAW, respectively. Controlling for socioeconomic factors the relationships between perceptions of body images, psychological distress, and psychological wellbeing remained significant for numbers of ORCHC

Sostenibilidad de modos ancestrales de producción agrícola en el Perú : ¿conservar o sustituir?

Frente al éxito de algunos productos andinos como la quinua, la papa o la maca en el comercio agroalimentario internacional y ante la creciente degradación ambiental que afrontan los países en desarrollo producto de actividades de explotación intensiva; nuestra investigación busca evidenciar la tendencia que se asume desde la comunidad académica/científica y los funcionarios públicos del sector agroalimentario en el Perú, frente a la necesidad de mantener sostenible diversos modos ancestrales de producción agrícola (caso quinua), para ello analizamos información cuantitativa y cualitativa obtenida de las instituciones públicas y las universidades peruanas.

Sostenibilidad de modos ancestrales de producción agrícola en el Perú : ¿conservar o sustituir?

Frente al éxito de algunos productos andinos como la quinua, la papa o la maca en el comercio agroalimentario internacional y ante la creciente degradación ambiental que afrontan los países en desarrollo producto de actividades de explotación intensiva; nuestra investigación busca evidenciar la tendencia que se asume desde la comunidad académica/científica y los funcionarios públicos del sector agroalimentario en el Perú, frente a la necesidad de mantener sostenible diversos modos ancestrales de producción agrícola (caso quinua), para ello analizamos información cuantitativa y cualitativa obtenida de las instituciones públicas y las universidades peruanas.

Sostenibilidad de modos ancestrales de producción agrícola en el Perú : ¿conservar o sustituir?

Frente al éxito de algunos productos andinos como la quinua, la papa o la maca en el comercio agroalimentario internacional y ante la creciente degradación ambiental que afrontan los países en desarrollo producto de actividades de explotación intensiva; nuestra investigación busca evidenciar la tendencia que se asume desde la comunidad académica/científica y los funcionarios públicos del sector agroalimentario en el Perú, frente a la necesidad de mantener sostenible diversos modos ancestrales de producción agrícola (caso quinua), para ello analizamos información cuantitativa y cualitativa obtenida de las instituciones públicas y las universidades peruanas.

Thermal degradation studies on Edible Oil during Deep Fat Frying Process

Deep fat frying process is one of the widely followed cooking practices throughout the world. Cooking oils serve as a medium for frying food for transferring heat and makes fried food tasty and palatable. Frying process is a most complex process involving numerous physicochemical changes which are complicated to understand. Frying leads to thermal degradation of oil through thermo-oxidation, hydrolysis, and polymerization. Hydrolysis results in formation of free fatty acids whereas oxidation process produces hydroperoxides and small molecular carbonyl compounds. This whole process leads to the formation of polar compounds and degradation of antioxidants that further degrades frying oil. Eventually, through mass transfer process these degradation products accumulate into fried food and reduce the nutritional quality of both oil and food. Thus, the frying process is of research interest calls for detailed systematic study which is chosen for the present study. The primary objective of this study is to understand the mechanism of degradation and characterization ofdegraded products which helps in arriving at the limits for frying oil utilization in terms of number of frying cycles. The mechanistic studies and the knowledge on the degraded products help to understand the way to retard the deterioration of oil for stability and enhancement of frying cycles. The study also explores the formation of the predominant polar compounds and their structural elucidation through mass spectrometry. Oxidation of oil is another important factor that ignites the degradation phenomena. One of the best ways to increase thermal stability of any oil is addition of potent antioxidants. But, most of the natural and synthetic antioxidants are unstable and ineffective at frying temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to screen alternative antioxidants for their activity in the refined oils which are devoid of any added antioxidants. In this context, this study discussed the efficacy of several natural and synthetic antioxidants to retard the formation of polar compounds and thermooxidation during prolonged frying conditions. Similarly, the advantage of blending of two different oils to improve the thermal stability was explored. The present study brings out the total picture on the type of degradation products formed during frying and the ways of retarding the determination to improve upon the stability of the oil and enhancement of frying cycles.

Use of farmer-prioritized vertisol management options for enhanced green gram and tomato production in central Kenya

Green grams (Phaseolus aures L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) are widely grown in the vertisols of the Mwea Irrigation Scheme alongside the rice fields. Green grams can fix nitrogen (biological nitrogen fixation) and are grown for its highly nutritious and curative seeds while tomatoes are grown for its fruit rich in fibres, minerals and vitamins. The two can be prepared separately or together in a variety of ways including raw salads and/or cooked/fried. They together form significant delicacies consumed with rice which is the major cash crop grown in the black cotton soils. The crops can grow well in warm conditions but tomato is fairly adaptable except under excessive humidity and temperatures that reduce yields. Socio-economic prioritization by the farming community and on-farm demonstrations of soil management options were instituted to demonstrate enhanced green gram and tomato production in vertisol soils of lower parts of Kirinyaga County (Mwea East and Mwea West districts). Drainage management was recognized by the farming community as the best option although a reduced number of farmers used drainage and furrows/ridges, manure, fertilizer and shifting options with reducing order of importance. Unavailability of labour and/or financial cost for instituting these management options were indicated as major hindrances to adopt the yield enhancing options. Labour force was contributed to mainly by the family alongside hiring (64.2%) although 28% and 5.2% respectively used hired or family labour alone. The female role in farming activities dominated while the male role was minimal especially at weeding. The youth role remained excessively insignificant and altogether absent at marketing. Despite the need for labour at earlier activities (especially when management options needed to be instituted) it was at the marketing stage that this force was directed. Soils were considered infertile by 60% but 40% indicated that their farms had adequate fertility. Analysis showed that ridging and application of farm yard manure and fertilizer improved fertility, crop growth and income considerably. Phosphate and zinc enhancement reduced alkalinity and sodicity. Green gram and tomato yields increased under ridges and farm yard manure application by 17-25% which significantly enhanced household income.