Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2008. / Principal faculty advisor: Marie Fanelli-Kuczmarski, Dept. of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences. Includes bibliographical references.

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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: Marie Fanelli-Kuczmarski, Dept. of Health, Nutrition, & Exercise Sciences. Includes bibliographical references.

Graduation date: 1993

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are the major insect pollinators of many different crops. A drastic decline in the honey bee populations has been reported over the past decade. While many factors have contributed to this decline, pesticides, poor nutrition, and Varroa mites are the most common concerns noted by scientists and beekeepers. Aside from direct toxicity from pesticides, it has been observed that sublethal pesticide doses have effects on honey bee physiology and behavior such as oxidative stress, disruption of foraging and homing, and changes to honey bee neurophysiology. The primary objectives of this project were to examine honey bee gut microbiome, physiology, and pesticide exposure along an agricultural intensification gradient and to examine the interactive impacts of pesticide exposure and poor nutrition on honey bees in a controlled laboratory cage setting. Sixteen honey bee colonies were placed in four locations across Mississippi with varying degrees of natural forage availability.

Objective. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the COVID-19-related waivers and the number of Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) meals served, accessibility of SFSP sites, and implementation of the SFSP sponsored by the Office of Food and Nutrition Service (OFNS) of the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). Methods. This study is a convergent parallel mixed methods study. In the quantitative component, there are two research questions (“research question 1” and “research question 2”); the design is a non-experimental, one-group, completely within-subjects design; and the unit of analysis is NYC DOE geographic districts (n = 32). Research question 1 is “Among NYC DOE geographic districts, was there a significant difference in the number of SFSP meals served during the summers when the COVID-19-related waivers were used compared to the summers without the waivers?” Research question 2 is “Among NYC DOE geographic districts, was there a significant difference in the accessibility of SFSP sites during the summers when the COVID-19-related waivers were used compared to the summers without the waivers?” Both research questions 1 and 2 compare the first summer of the waivers (2020) to the six summers prior to the waivers (2014-2019) and the second summer of the waivers (2021) to the six summers prior to the waivers (2014-2019). In the qualitative component, there is one research question (“research question 3”); the methods consist of a document analysis of the policy memos for the waivers (n = 8) using the READ approach for document analysis of health policies. Research question 3 is “What were the intended relationships between the COVID-19-related waivers and SFSP participation, site accessibility, and implementation according to the policy memos for the waivers?” Data Analysis. For research question 1, the statistical tests are the repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) omnibus test and post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni adjustment. The primary outcome is the total number of SFSP meals served per student. For research question 2, the statistical tests are the repeated-measures ANOVA omnibus test and post-hoc analysis with the Bonferroni adjustment when the full sample is analyzed (n = 32), and the Friedman test and sign test with the Bonferroni adjustment when high poverty districts (n = 16), high non-White districts (n = 16), and high enrollment districts (n = 16) are analyzed. The primary outcome is the number of SFSP sites per 1,000 students. For research question 3, the analysis consists of deductive coding, inductive coding, and identification of themes. Results. For research question 1, the results show a significant increase in the number of SFSP meals served per student during the first summer of the waivers compared to summers 2016-2019 (p ≤ 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in the number of SFSP meals served per student during the second summer of the waivers compared to summers 2014-2019. Among the secondary outcomes, there was a significant increase in the number of breakfast meals served in August per student during both the first and second summer of the waivers compared to summers 2014-2019 (p < 0.05). For research question 2, the results show a significant decrease in the number of SFSP sites per 1,000 students during the first summer of the waivers compared to summers 2014-2019 (p < 0.01). Similarly, there was a significant decrease during the second summer of the waivers compared to summers 2015-2019 (p < 0.01). For research question 3, the results show that the Meal Service Time Flexibility Waiver may address pre-pandemic barriers in the SFSP, but the Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Waiver may cause implementation issues. Conclusions. Among NYC DOE geographic districts, the waivers may increase the reach of breakfast meals served in August while decreasing the number of SFSP sites and making SFSP implementation easier. There is a need for a pilot study or more controlled study to establish causal relationships. Policymakers should consider making the Meal Service Time Flexibility Waiver and the Non-Congregate Feeding Waiver permanent flexibilities for summer meal programs.

Chronic disease and unhealthy weight is an epidemic threatening the future wellbeing of Indianapolis. This study identifies how the City, and its partners, can improve fresh produce access and availability in high-risk neighborhoods through urban farming and gardening strategies. Recommendations for the City and allied organizations include: the degree of participation, food production and distribution, land policy and farm/garden location, educational programming, and economic sustainability. Target areas for new farms and gardens are identified through GIS overlay mapping and computational of indicators for chronic illness, food environment, and food insecurity. The intended outcome is a guide for the City of Indianapolis, and others facing similar problems, to implement and sustain City programs that address health in highrisk neighborhoods. / Department of Landscape Architecture

Dissertation (M. Tech. (Food Service Management, Dept. of Hospitality and Tourism)) -- Vaal University of Technology / Very poor families, mostly in developing parts of the world, consume a monotonous staple diet out of need and are least likely to eat healthy diets. This study focussed on how the low income households in the urbanised informal settlement of Eatonside used available income to buy plant staples (situation analysis), the share of the food budget Rand allocated to this (investigative survey), as well as the extent of influence of low income, food prices, and locality on the buying behaviour. The aspects of where, how much, when and how low-income households purchased were examined in order to determine the purchasing patterns for plant staples. From the households surveyed, most (62,2%) received an income of less than R500.00/month. Household size affected food purchasing and varied according to the type of household head. Total food budget expenditure by male-headed households was 83,1 percent, 58,1 percent by female-headed households and 27,9 percent by de facto headed households. The total average share/portion of the food budget allocated to purchasing of plant staples was reported as R64.63 ±(R8.04). While male-headed households spent 15 percent of the total share/portion/month allocated to purchasing of plant staples, female-headed households spent 23,1 percent and de facto-headed households spent 21,1 percent. Total average expenditure allocated to plant staples was 58,1 percent for maize meal, 23,2 percent for rice, 4,6 percent for mabella, 3,9 percent for sugar beans, 3,7 percent for samp, 2,5 percent for split peas and 4 percent on various other plant staples. Price and quantity (63,6%) were main purchasing indicators. Less plant staples were purchased when prices were high and more when prices were low. Normally when prices of other food products are high, people buy more staples to survive. Most frequent purchases for maize meal was 12,5 kg (65%) once a month (41,7%) at an average price of R32.80 per unit from spaza shops. Plant staples were mostly purchased once a month (80,2%) at supermarkets (47%) or spaza shops (42%). The urbanised low income households of Eatonside were poor, leading to the allocation of a major component of the budget to food (plant staples). Purchasing patterns, plant staples, low-income households, Eatonside informal settlement. / Central Research Committee of the Vaal University of Technology

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master Technology: Consumer Science Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Food security is a global concern and the insecurity thereof is prevalent in South Africa even though the country is deemed to be secure in terms of food availability. The study was conducted to determine the socio-economic, health and nutrition and food security status of the community living in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu Natal, in addition to analysing their coping strategies. Two hundred and fifty seven respondents were required to participate in this study. Data were collected by interviewing the respondents using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaires; socio demographic questionnaires, dietary intake questionnaires- namely 24 hour recall and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the coping strategy questionnaires were used. Lastly anthropometric measurements were taken to determine BMI. A prevalence of extreme poverty exists as a magnitude of the high unemployment rate, out of which 75.8% had been unemployed for more than 3 years. The household monthly income was less than R500 per month for 37.3% of the respondents. The mean Food Variety Scores (FVS) (±SD) for all foods consumed from the food groups during seven days was 22.45 (±10.32), indicating a low food variety score. In this study the food group diversity is summarized as the majority of the respondents (91.1%, n=226) being classified with a good dietary diversity score using 6-9 food groups. The mean of the three 24-Hour recall nutrient analysis indicated a deficient intake by both men and women in all of the nutrients (100% of the men and women could not meet the DRI’s for energy and calcium) except for the mean (±SD) carbohydrate intake by men aged 19-50 (214.71 ± 80.22). The main source of food intake was from the carbohydrate food group with an insufficient intake of animal products, dairy products and fruits and vegetables respectively; contributing to the macro and micro nutrient inadequacies. Ninety six percent of this community experienced some level of food insecurity with the worst Coping Strategy Index food insecurity score being 117 out of a possible 175. Four percent of this community was classified as being food secure. Overweight and obesity were the most exceptional anthropometric features by the women respondents with 26.5% (n=66) being overweight and 57% (n=142) obese. The men’s anthropometric features were predominantly normal weight. This study has established poverty and unemployment as being the principal contributors for the food insecurity experienced by the populace and poor dietary intakes. The low food variety diet consumed by the respondents resulted in the DRI’s not achieved for most nutrients. The majority of the respondents only consumed two meals a day, as a coping strategy to reduce/prevent temporary food insecurity. Intervention strategies are needed to improve the food security status and dietary intake of the community members to overcome the crisis of malnutrition. / M