Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceptions And Effects Of Nutrition On Worker Health And Productivity In Construction, Matthew Scott Howell

Construction Management

Construction workers often have poor dietary habits due to poor nutrition education, lack of nutritious food options, and social stigma. These habits often lead to health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease which can decrease productivity and put workers at risk of on-site injury. This preliminary study examines how nutrition impacts worker safety and productivity. A survey was distributed to six students involved in construction work for Cal Poly’s Residential Construction course. This survey identified their eating habits and inhibitors for healthy eating. Two meals, one with high nutritional value and one with low nutritional value, were given to …

Impact Of Incorporating Intuitive Eating Principles Into A College Nutrition Course On Eating Behaviors, Kira L. Minot

Master's Theses

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of an online introductory college nutrition course that implements evidence-based intuitive eating (IE) concepts and principles on students’ application of IE behaviors. A secondary outcome explored the relationship between student grades and changes in IE behavior implementation. Researchers hypothesized an increase in the average use of IE practices post-intervention.

Methods: This study was a non-randomized pilot intervention using pre- and post-test surveys. Enrolled students completed the intuitive eating scale-2 (IES-2) survey on the first and last days of the 16-week course. Students participated in typical nutrition coursework throughout the semester with the …

Risk Factors For Poor Birth Outcomes In Moderately Malnourished Pregnant Women In Sierra Leone, Candice A. Rodriguez

Master's Theses

Background: Maternal malnutrition in developing countries is associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Malnourished mothers are often faced with additional risk factors as a circumstance of poverty. Supplementary nutrition can improve the outcomes of both mother and infant. Identifying maternal nutritional and socioeconomic risk factors is critical for developing effective interventions.

Objective: A secondary analysis to evaluate maternal risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes including pregnancy loss, low birth weight, stunting, and preterm delivery among moderately malnourished pregnant women in Sierra Leone. Maternal risk factors in the analysis are age, education, parity, BMI, MUAC, gestational weight gain, and …

A Nutrition Guide For Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Student Athletes, Dominic Frasch

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop a nutritional guide for student athletes at California Polytechnic State University that will increase their awareness of proper nutrition before, during, and after exercise so they can maximize their athletic performance.

The Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (Igf1) System As A Potential Biomarker For Nutritional Status And Growth Rate In Pacific Rockfish (Sebastes Spp.), Nicole L. Hack

Master's Theses

Growth performance in vertebrates is regulated by environmental factors including the quality and quantity of food, which influences growth via endocrine pathways such as the growth hormone (GH) / insulin-like growth factor somatotropic axis. In several teleost fishes, circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (Igf1) correlate positively with growth rate, and it has been proposed that plasma Igf1 levels may serve as an indicator of growth variation for fisheries and aquaculture applications. Here, I tested whether plasma Igf1 concentrations might serve as an indicator of somatic growth in olive rockfish (Sebastes serranoides), one species among dozens of rockfishes …

The Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Stress Eating, Emotional Eating, And Binge Eating: A Literature Review, Kira L. Minot

Food Science and Nutrition

This literature review examines the impact of various mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on the obesity-related eating behaviors of stress eating, emotional eating, and binge eating. With the inconsistency of the weight loss industry to provide long-term weight loss results, the United States is in need of alternative methods of weight loss and weight maintenance to combat the current overweight and obesity epidemic. MBIs are thought to be beneficial when targeted at behaviors of weight gain because mindfulness promotes an individual’s awareness of present physical and emotional sensations within the body, including hunger and satiety cues. Self-acceptance and stress reduction are also …

The Response Of A Predatory Fish, Ophiodon Elongatus, To A Marine Protected Area: Variation In Diet, Catch Rates, And Size Composition, Eric S. Anderson

Master's Theses

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a management tool used to protect and sustain many ecologically and economically important fish species from overexploitation by recreational and commercial fishing. Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) and some of its prey species, such as rockfish (Sebastes spp.), are species that are protected from fishing in some California MPAs. Lingcod is an apex predator that consumes a variety of fish and invertebrate species. In this study, I sought to assess the effect of an MPA on the abundance, size and diet of Lingcod. I hypothesized that Lingcod in a no-take MPA would be more …

Nutrition-Related Conditions Among Children Of Migrant And Seasonal Farmworkers In The United States: Causes And Solutions, Rebecca Halvorson

Food Science and Nutrition

The purpose of this literature review is to determine the prevalence of nutrition-related conditions among children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) compared to national averages, as well as effectiveness of strategies for minimizing any health discrepancies. MSFW live under harsh conditions, engage in long hours of physically demanding labor, and receive insufficient income. Compounding demographic characteristics create insurmountable barriers to quality health care and nutrition education resulting in disproportionately unhealthy children within the MSFW population as compared to the greater US population. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and numerous infections is higher among MSFW children. …

Best Management Practices For Raising Dairy Calves From Birth To Weaning, Alexa Cabral

Dairy Science

There are many different ways to raise calves on dairy farms in the United States. The way calves are raised can depend on the resources, natural environment and operation of the farm. There is no right or wrong way to raise calves. However, the aim of raising calves is to find the best way to raise a healthy calf so that she will become a productive cow. The objective of this literature review was to determine the ideal management practices for raising a healthy calf from birth to weaning. This literature analyzed numerous articles that covered all aspects of calf …

Hungry No More: A Food System Study & Hunger-Free Community Plan For San Luis Obispo County, Jenny Cadigan

Master's Theses

This project examines food systems and hunger in relation to city planning, and results in a draft strategic plan to address the food security and nutritional needs of San Luis Obispo County’s most vulnerable residents. This Draft Plan is submitted to the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County as part of the Hunger-Free Community Project.

The Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County was the lead agency of a USDA Hunger-Free Communities planning grant awarded in 2011. With this grant, the Food Bank convened a group of stakeholders to form the San Luis Obispo County Food System …

Supplementing Transition Cow Rations With Prequel21 And Stratag To Improve Breeding Efficiency In Jersey Cattle During Summer Months, Brenton Wickstrom

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to determine if supplementing transition rations with the Omega system produced by Virtus Nutrition could improve breeding efficiency in jersey cattle, with a focus on the summer months of the California central valley. Beginning in March of 2011 the rations for the close up pen, all animals 21 days and under pre-fresh, was supplemented with Prequel21 at a rate to supply each animal with .25 pounds daily. When those animals that were supplemented during the pre-fresh period began calving, the ration for the fresh pen was supplemented with the rumen bypass fatty acid StrataG …

Intake, Apparent Digestibility, And Digesta Passage In Leopard Tortoises (Geochelone Pardalis) Fed A Complete, Extruded Feed, Laura Evelyn Lickel

Master's Theses

The influence of feeding juvenile female leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis, n=18) a commercially available, complete, extruded feed three (3) or seven days (7) per week on dry matter and digestible energy intake, apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy and fiber fractions, animal body weight and measurements, digesta transit time, rate of passage, and indigestible fill was evaluated. Both feeding frequencies are commonly practiced with captive tortoises. When fed 7 compared to 3 days per week, dry matter and digestible energy intake was greater. Tortoises gained more g BW, but not when adjusted per kg initial …

Effects Of Nitrogen And Potassium Fertilizer On Willamette Spider Mite (Eotetranychus Willamettei) (Acari: Tetranychidae), Whitney Ann Geddes

Master's Theses

The spider mite family (Tetranychidae) is a well known pest group in agriculture. Within this family, Willamette spider mite (Eotetranychus willamettei) causes physical harm and potential damage to grapevines (Vitis vinifera) along the central and north coast of California as well as Washington and Oregon. Willamette spider mite prefers cooler climates and feeds by puncturing the plant leaf tissue; therefore removing plant nutrients in the early stages of plant growth. Amending soils with fertilizer is a common cultural practice used in commercial vineyards, but no study has documented the interaction between the effects fertilizer concentrations have on Willamette spider mite. …

Algae As An Economical Protein Source For Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Brian Azevedo

Dairy Science

Dairying continues to change with economic and environmental demands of today’s fast moving society. Feed costs continue to rise and now account for a large majority of expenses on dairies; especially protein, which has become expensive to purchase. I believe that Algae can serve as a possible solution to aid in alleviating this problem. Algae grow rapidly and consume undesirable carbon dioxide to release oxygen to the environment, making it an environmentally friendly source of feed. There are particular strands of algae that are high in protein. During the course of this project, I intend to discover how effective protein …

Group Feeding For The Lactating Cow, Anthony Joseph Martin

Dairy Science

Feeding individualized rations for lactating dairy cattle in the commercial herd based on dietary needs is a popular issue. This has been a debating topic since evolution of the Total Mixed Ration (TMR). Since dairymen were able to mix grain in a feed wagon and mix a specific dietary ration to meet the demand for an organized group, there has been an issue in which protocol cow pen grouping should take. Dairymen have always feed cattle based on if lactating or late in their gestation, nonlactating. With the evolution of the TMR dairymen are then allowed to go into more …