Digital Commons Network^™

Serum Concentrations Of Inflammatory Markers And Selected Nutrient Metabolites In Holstein And Jersey Cows Across The Transition Period, Avery Orr

Master's Theses

The transition period, spanning the weeks surrounding parturition, requires dairy cows to undergo synchronized metabolic, endocrine, and immunological adjustments that support the onset of lactation but also heighten disease susceptibility. Although individual inflammatory or metabolic biomarkers have been extensively studied, the integrated immunometabolic dynamics that occur across this period and the difference between breeds is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to characterize longitudinal patterns in key nutrient metabolites and inflammatory markers in Holstein and Jersey cows and assess how these systems interact across the transition period.

A total of 63 Holstein and Jersey cows were sampled …

A Study On Deepsea Fish Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Poojitha Priyadarshini Madari

Master's Theses

This study investigates automated deep-learning methodologies for two primary tasks, firstly fish and its habitat classification and deep-sea fish detection using the DeepFish dataset. A pretrained ResNet-50 model attained a validation accuracy of 82.8% for multi-class habitat classification, demonstrating robust performance in most habitats based on 6,517 images, although exhibiting lower recall for visually similar or underrepresented classes. A binary ResNet-50 classifier achieved 99.8% accuracy in distinguishing fish from. no-fish images using approximately 40,000 images. The YOLOv5s model, trained on 4,505 images containing 15,463 bounding-box annotations, achieved a mean average precision ([email protected]) of 98.2% All models were trained on the …

The Potential Co-Occurrence Of Perfectionism, Food Insecurity, And Gpa With Orthorexia Nervosa Risk, Samantha Kay Gould

Master's Theses

There are indeterminate risk, prevalence, and correlation data on orthorexia nervosa (ON) as shown by current literature on disordered eating (Rodgers et al., 2021). As a roughly defined disordered eating pattern, ON may be better understood after identifying associations among other attributes in a college student sample (Abdullah et al., 2020; Mavrandrea & Gonidakis, 2023; Parra-Fernández, 2019; Rogowska et al., 2021). A cooccurrence and influence of perfectionism, food insecurity, and grade point average (GPA) with ON risk was hypothesized since current literature suggests college students exhibit each of these characteristics independently (Abdullah et al., 2020; Ambwani et al., 2019; Caferoglu …

Food Neophobia And Its Prevalence Among College Students In The United States, Joanne Mwendi Ponnappa

Master's Theses

Food neophobia “the reluctance to try unfamiliar foods” may influence diet variety and cultural food acceptance among young adults. College students represent a critical group for studying this behavior, as they are developing independent eating habits that can persist into adulthood. This study examined the prevalence of food neophobia among U.S. college students and evaluated how academic background, travel, cultural exposure, and demographic factors influence openness to trying unfamiliar foods. A cross-sectional online survey was administered via Qualtrics to 264 college students across the United States. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS; Pliner & Hobden, 1992) was used to assess reluctance …

Dietary Intake And Changes In Body Composition Over The Course Of One Season In Ncaa Division 1 Football Players, Blayke W. Harrison

Master's Theses

Energy intake and macronutrient composition of an athlete’s diet is highly important when considering performance. Additionally, having a favorable body composition (i.e. low levels of fat mass and high levels of lean body mass) is crucial in high-level athletes.The role of nutrition-related support personnel is highly needed by many collegiate athletics programs to achieve these outcomes, yet this resource seems to be undervalued and underused in many settings. The present thesis investigates the effects of providing nutritional support to improve dietary habits and compare changes in specific body composition metrics over the course of one season (pre- and post-season) among …

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Beef Cattle Grazing Activity Traits And Conception Methods During The Breeding Season, Jason Dubowsky

Master's Theses

Efficient use of native rangelands and improved reproductive success are primary objectives in beef cattle production. Grazing behavior during the breeding season may be influenced by pasture characteristics, including size and water availability, as well as physiological differences due to reproductive status. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between grazing activity and conception method in crossbred Angus cows over a 2-year period. The study was conducted during the winter months (December – February) on the Central Coast of California with a mean temperate of 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Cows (n = 76) were blocked by age and then randomly assigned …

Blenderized Tube Feeding Formulas: Attitudes, Barriers, And Clinical Benefits As Perceived By Registered Dietitians In Pediatric Care, Savannah Smiley Keeler

Master's Theses

Blenderized tube feeding formulas (BTFF) are increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to conventional commercial tube feeding formulas (CTFF) for pediatric patients requiring enteral nutrition. This cross-sectional, exploratory study aimed to assess the experiences, attitudes, and perceived clinical benefits of BTFF use among Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) working with gastrostomy-tube-dependent pediatric populations in the United States. A total of 146 RDNs completed a 45-item online survey, which gathered quantitative and qualitative data on BTFF familiarity, feasibility, clinical outcomes, caregiver factors, and institutional barriers. Findings revealed that while BTFF use remains variable across clinical settings, 55.8% of RDNs reported increased utilization …

Eating Habits, Eating Behavior Mediators, Body Composition And Physical Fitness Among Rotc Cadets, Kaitlin Renee Hanks

Master's Theses

The physical and mental demands of the military and the requirement to maintain body composition standards make healthful eating essential to military service. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are a unique subgroup of the United States military, and the combined demands of their military training and educational pursuits may increase their susceptibility to unhealthy eating patterns. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between eating habits, eating behavior mediators, body composition, and physical fitness among ROTC cadets. This study used a cross-sectional design that included an online survey, an inperson body composition assessment, and carotenoid measurements …

Analyzing The Relationship Between Diabetes Duration And Self-Management In Adults With Diabetes, Caroline Noel Stroo

Master's Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that affects 14.7% of adults in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Prevalence of diabetes increases with age, with rates for adults aged 65 and older reaching 29.2% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Factors such as age, race, obesity, physical activity level, and genetics strongly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 2016). Diabetes requires complex and comprehensive management to reduce the risk of developing comorbidities (Al-Shabeeb et al., 2021). Factors such as education, familial support, …

Lactation Management Training In Graduate Nutrition And Dietetics Programs: A Preliminary Report, Laura Ashton Gillin

Master's Theses

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding (BF) for the first six months and continued breastfeeding for at least two years with complementary food. Despite this recommendation, only 24.9% of infants in the United States are exclusively breastfed at six months (Breastfeeding Report Card 2022). Breastfeeding support and lactation management are critical to promoting a successful breastfeeding experience. Specifically, qualified support from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is recommended, yet graduate students in Nutrition and Dietetics do not receive adequate training regarding breastfeeding intervention. This study aimed to evaluate graduate Nutrition and Dietetic programs to determine the amount of …

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Confidence, Perspectives, And Practices Among Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Avery Miller Adams

Master's Theses

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in the United States, occurring in 20% of adults aged 60 and above (Andres et al., 2004). Veterans are susceptible to B12 deficiency due to tobacco product usage, alcohol consumption, and poor diet quality. Megaloblastic anemia is the second most prevalent vitamin deficiency disorder recorded in military personnel from 1997 to 2015 (Knapik et al., 2021). This exploratory, analytic research aims to assess registered dietitian RDN nutritionists’ (RDN) knowledge, perceptions, and intentions regarding treating vitamin B12 deficiency in a clinical setting. Due to population prevalence differences, responses from VA and non-VA practicing registered dietitian-nutritionists (RDNs) …

Is There An Association Between Food Literacy And Diet Quality In Young Adult College Men?, Morgan Claire Mayeux

Master's Theses

Food literacy skills can improve dietary intake in young adults as it provides them with the tools they need to make healthier food-related decisions. The benefits of improving food literacy includes the reduction in the risk of prevalent, preventable dietrelated diseases such as obesity, T2DM, heart disease, and other chronic diseases that plague the Unites States today. Previous literature reports primarily on college female samples. Because a large proportion of the samples in the available studies are female, the current literature may not reflect young adult men’s food literacy and its comparison to their overall diet quality. The purpose of …

Demographic Characteristics And Selected Personality Traits Of Women In Competitive Bodybuilding, Chloe A. Zeeuw

Master's Theses

This study investigated demographic characteristics and measures of personality (dimensions of performance perfectionism and five-factor model characteristics) in women in competitive bodybuilding between 18-25 years old. A total of 24 women completed an online survey which included a demographic questionnaire, the Five Factor Model Rating Form (FFMRF), and the Performance Perfectionism Scale for Sport (PPSS) inventories. Descriptive results for the FFMRF were Openness (18.17±3.12), Conscientiousness (25.58±3.33), Extraversion (19.96±3.46), Agreeableness (19.88±4.58), and Neuroticism (15.67±4.94), and for the PPS-S were Self-oriented performance perfectionism (20.96±3.53), Socially prescribed performance perfectionism (13.96±4.26), and Other-oriented performance perfectionism (10.54±4.23). Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Shapiro-Wilk tests revealed that …

A Pilot Study Exploring Vitamin D, Mental Health, And Gastrointestinal Health In Humans, Brianna C. Williams

Master's Theses

Mental disorders are experienced by nearly one billion people worldwide. Depression is one of the most common. Treatments exist, yet a devastating 75% of individuals suffering from depression do not receive adequate treatment. An emerging treatment strategy includes exploring the connection between mental health and nutrition, which includes the areas of gut health and nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin D is obtained through food, supplements, and sunlight. Many individuals are considered deficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 12 ng/mL) or insufficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 20 ng/mL). Purpose: This study aimed to explore mental and gastrointestinal (GI) health using surveys and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) concentrations, a biomarker of GI health, in individuals considered 25(OH)D deficient (DEF) vs not deficient (N-DEF). Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited physically active participants aged 18-45 years who underwent three evaluations in one visit. Health was assessed using surveys to evaluate mental health, GI symptoms, and vitamin D intake. Serum from fasting blood samples was used with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine 25(OH)D and LBP concentrations. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare DEF vs N-DEF and significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Thirty-two participants (mean age 25.3 ± 6.3 years) with mean and body fat percentage of 24.0% ± 10.7%, were placed into DEF (n=16) and N-DEF (n=16) categories. Interestingly, five of the 16 participants in DEF (31%) showed some level of depression (scores ranging from mild to severe) and only two of the 16 participants in N-DEF iv (13%) scored positively in the depression category (scores ranging from mild to moderate). Additionally, the participant with the lowest 25(OH)D concentration (5.42 ng/mL) was the only participant to meet the “severe” depression category criteria, with a score of 24 compared to other participants who scored within 0-16. Also, the only participant who scored “severe” in the stress category, was in the bottom 20% of 25(OH)D concentrations. As for GI health, the difference between average GI scores and average serum LBP concentrations between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between DEF and N-DEF in perceived depression (p = 0.16), anxiety (p = 1.0), stress (p = 0.96), GI symptoms (P values ranged from 0.27 to 1.00), nor in LBP concentrations (p = 0.77). Funding: Support was received from the Graduate Student Association and College of Natural Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.

Effects Of Chronic Marijuana Use On Postural Control During Quiet Standing, Johnathon S. Ashcraft

Master's Theses

Marijuana, Cannabis Sativa, is the most commonly used recreational drug in the United States, with more than 60 million people reporting use in 2022 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023). As marijuana consumption has increased, so have questions surrounding its acute and long-term effects. Its acute effects are well documented; however, the long-term effects are not as well understood. It is hypothesized that chronic marijuana users will exhibit a decrease in postural stability during quiet standing when compared to non-users, so the purpose of this study was to compare postural control of chronic marijuana users and non-users in …

Investigating The Influence Of Experimental Parameters On The Formation Of Gold Nanoparticles: A Green Synthesis And Design Of Experiments Approach, Isaac Opeyemi Subuloye

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using catechin, a naturally occurring plant-derived compound, as both a reducing and capping agent. The synthesis process was guided by a structured Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology to ensure systematic investigation and optimization. A two-phase experimental approach was adopted. First, a full factorial screening design was used to evaluate the effects of catechin concentration, NaOH concentration, and pre-reaction time. This was followed by an optimization phase using a face-centered composite design to identify conditions that produce nanoparticles with ideal characteristics. The nanoparticles were analyzed using UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering …

Reflecting On Racial Microaggressions: The Impact On Food Consumption In Minority Women, Khadiza Akter

Master's Theses

U.S. laws, policies, and practices have been implemented to reduce forms of overt racism and discrimination. These structural barriers have been effective (e.g., Dovido & Gaertner, 2000; McConahay, 1986; Sue & Sue, 2007). Covert forms of racism, however, including racial microaggressions, are more difficult to address using structural changes and, therefore, continue to thrive (Omi & Winant 1994; Sue et al., 2007). Racist attitudes and discriminatory behaviors are sources of anxiety and stress (Kogan et al., 2014; Pascoe & Richman, 2009) with long-term anxiety and stress leading to elevated risks for mental and …

High-Resolution Event Stratigraphy Of Ostracods In The Ozan Formation Of Texas And Arkansas, Denali L. John

Master's Theses

This study focuses on the high-resolution event stratigraphic framework of the lower Campanian Ozan Formation in Northeast (NE) Texas and Southwest AR which is richly fossiliferous in ostracods. Little research has been published on the Ozan Formation and even less dealing with Ozan ostracods. Additionally, correlation of Upper Cretaceous units between Texas and AR is controversial due to the general lack of good exposures in both regions and extensive faulting in Northeast Texas despite similar depositional environment across the region. This study calibrates the ranges of ostracods and creates an event stratigraphic composite that is orders of magnitude higher in …

Inside The Walls Of The Asylum: Exploring The Lives Of Individuals In The Mississippi State Asylum (1855-1935), Savannah V. Logan

Master's Theses

The Mississippi State Asylum (MSA), established in 1855, was the first such institution in but has been largely forgotten about since its closure in 1935. The cemetery associated with the facility, which is located on the University of Mississippi Medical Center campus, was recently rediscovered with new construction. As part of the Asylum Hill project, the remains of seven of the 7000 burials along with their mortuary artifacts were analyzed and allowed these forgotten individuals to once again regain their voice and tell a portion of their life story through osteobiographies.

The sample, dating to 1855-1899, included five males and …

Experienced Latinx Urban Gardeners In San Jose, Ca, Offer Strategies For Climate Justice And Resilience, Claudia S. Damiani Fontana

Master's Theses

Low-income and underinvested communities will be disproportionately affected by climate change due to limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient support systems. Urban gardeners are responding to the need to adapt to new climate conditions while sustaining their food sources and cultural practices. Many have adapted thanks to local interventions led by the government and non-profit agencies. For this study, I partnered with La Mesa Verde (LMV), a gardening and food justice program that works with low-income Latinx families in San José, and I documented the contributions of experienced Latinx gardeners, especially those with agricultural backgrounds, to climate-resilient gardening in San …

Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uass) In Rangeland Ecosystem Management: Assessing Grazing Impacts At Willits, California, Pramil Khanal

Master's Theses

California's rangelands, vital for biodiversity and cattle production, face threats from land use changes and climate changes, necessitating robust management strategies. While overgrazing has been studied extensively, the effects of light rotational grazing on vegetation have seldom been assessed. This study used Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) and multispectral imagery to assess the seasonal impacts of light rotational grazing on vegetation health and coverage in wetland mitigation areas near Willits, California. Data were collected in May (spring) and November (fall) 2024 using a DJI M3M drone and MicaSense camera capturing RGB and Near-Infrared (NIR) bands. Green Chromatic Coordinate (GCC) and Normalized …

Chemical And Physical Characterization Of Verbenaceae Essential Oils Using Modern Analytical Methods And Chemometrics, Aleksandra N. Hilliard

Master's Theses

Essential oils have been used for generations to treat various health issues, including mitigating insomnia, reducing stress, inflammation, and preserving foods, to mention a few. Essential oils have complex chemistry, which defines the essence of the host plant. Recently, increased commercial uses of essential oils have prompted attention at the governmental level to monitor the chemical, physical, or biological activity of essential oils. This study is an attempt to add new information for consumers to the understanding of the composition of essential oils.

Modern analytical techniques including FTIR-ATR, GC-MS, LC-MS-MS, multivariate analysis statistics, and physio-chemical techniques (electrochemistry, DPPH, TRC, and …

Loss Of Neuropeptide F (Npf) Signaling Reduces The Strength Of Circadian Rest-Activity Rhythms But Not Feeding-Fasting Rhythms, Katelyn Ann Wendt

Master's Theses

The circadian system governs crucial physiological and behavioral processes, dictating activities like movement, hormone release, and sleep patterns over a 24-hour cycle. Disruptions to these rhythms can lead to various health problems, including cardiometabolic dysfunction. Research has demonstrated the presence of circadian rhythms of feeding behavior in diverse organisms, but the specific molecules involved are not yet identified. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) influences metabolic activity in mammals, and its counterpart, NPF, affects locomotor activity and feeding in Drosophila melanogaster. Our study aims to investigate whether NPF, its receptor (NPFR), and NPF-expressing cells play a role in regulating circadian rest-activity and feeding-fasting …

Balance Assessment Of Disc Golf Players By A Smartphone, Joshua Paul Kannankunni

Master's Theses

Disc golf is an underrepresented sport in biomechanics research, even though it could have effects on gait and balance. Forward and side lunges performed while throwing discs can improve static and dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of playing disc golf on various static and dynamic balance metrics. Static and dynamic balance experiments were done on 20 disc golf players and 20 control participants to record their RMS of acceleration during the double leg, tandem, and single leg static poses, as well as their gait speed, cadence, stride length, right step length, left step …

Effects Of Spirulina And Nannochloropsis Supplementations On The Meat Quality And Sensory Properties Of Broiler Carcasses, Shreyash S. Patel

Master's Theses

Microalgae are a promising feed ingredient due to their high content of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, vitamins, pigments, and enzymes. This study evaluated the effects of algae as a dietary supplementation on the appearance, quality, and sensory attributes of broiler carcasses. In each of experiment I and II, a total of 54 Ross-708 broilers were randomly obtained from the pool of 270 broilers in the 18 floor pens of soybean-mealbased diets at 0, 2.5%, and 5% Spirulina (Experiment I) and Nannochloropsis (Experiment II) supplements in the Poultry Unit at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA). Broiler carcasses …

Effectiveness Of Nutrition Education On Male Student Veterans From Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo University, Keith S. Kim

Master's Theses

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a 13-week nutrition education intervention designed to improve dietary patterns, physical health, and mental health outcomes among 10 student male military veterans at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The intervention, grounded in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, included a one-time educational presentation and periodic recap videos to reinforce key messages. Outcome measures included dietary intake, body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength, depressive symptoms (via the Beck Depression Inventory), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (via the PCL-5). Results revealed no statistically significant changes in dietary patterns, BMI, handgrip strength, …

A Case Study Of Leveraging Auxiliary Data To Improve Treatment Effect Estimation Precision In An Hiv Clinical Trial, Lana Mai Huynh

Master's Theses

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are typically the gold standard for evaluating treatment efficacy in the medical field, yet they can have small sample sizes due to logistical, ethical, and financial constraints. This limitation can result in imprecise treatment effect estimates. Recent methods have sought to enhance the precision of RCT estimates by incorporating information from large, observational, “auxiliary” datasets. An auxiliary dataset includes units that were not randomized in the trial itself, but may be similar to the RCT sample. By leveraging predictive models trained on these auxiliary data, researchers can adjust for potentially more powerful covariates, thereby reducing variance …

The Effects Of Sirulina And Nannochloropsis Supplementation On Broiler Performance, Intestinal Morphology, And Gut Microbiology, Emily Beckerman

Master's Theses

The poultry industry is constantly searching for new nutritional strategies and better feed conversion ratio to enhance broiler growth and productivity. Microalgae have been shown to improve broiler performance and health depending on species and supplementation levels. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Spirulina supplementation (Experiment I) and Nannochloropsis supplementation (Experiment II) on broiler production performance, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiology. In Experiment I, a total of 270 broiler chicks (one-day-old Ross 708) were obtained from a local hatchery after vaccinating against Newcastle, Marek’s disease, and Infectious Bronchitis. They were weighed and sorted into 18 …

Optimization Of Downy Mildew Management And Baby Kale Production On The Central Coast Of California, Emily M. Locke-Paddon

Master's Theses

Baby kale (Brassica oleracea and other species) is a vital commodity as a salad green in spring mix and is widely produced on the Central Coast of California. Downy mildew, caused by Hyaloperonospora brassicae, is a devastating disease infecting economically important crops like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, horseradish, rapeseed, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, and kale. This foliar disease causes plant tissue to exhibit chlorotic and necrotic flecking and gray-white sporulation, affecting both the yield and quality of the crop and rendering the affected leaves unmarketable. The Central Coast’s cool climate and nighttime moisture, combined with dense plantings and sprinkler irrigation, …

The Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris) Of The Piedras Blancas Colony: A Story Of Recolonization, Monitoring And Movement, Mackenzie Davidson

Master's Theses

Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are large, ocean migrating carnivores that have a wide distribution along the west coast of North America. Like other pinniped species, northern elephant seals spend considerable time out at sea foraging and return to land to molt and breed. Northern elephant seals were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s. Due to conservation efforts they have since rebounded, and they currently occupy 27 known terrestrial breeding colonies. Much literature has documented the recolonization, population dynamics, and dispersion of this species. Currently, Piedras Blancas (San Simeon, California) is the largest mainland breeding colony of northern …