A wealth of support has shown higher levels of state and trait impulsivity can be found among those individuals prone to developing problematic eating behaviors and obesity. Thus, upon commencing the investigations in this thesis, it was hypothesized that impulsivity is an individual difference implicated in overeating behaviour. Increasing information indicates that there are divisions within impulsivity subtypes. Prior to this thesis, studies in the field of eating behaviour had not distinguished between subtypes of impulsivity. This was problematic because it limited researchers ability to describe how impulsivity is specifically involved in the perpetuation of overeating behaviour. The purpose of this Thesis was to provide a methodical inquiry into the relationship between impulsivity, and its relation with overeating behaviour. This objective was achieved by separating three prioritites, first to determine if impulsivity was higher in women who self report overeating, second to define differences between impulsivity classifications and determine if there was a consistnent pattern between self reported overeating and a relation to a subtype of overeating behaviour, and third to designate a specific impulsivity subtype to individuals who self report overeating behaviour. Six Experimental Chapters explored these three priorities. Two exploratory correlational/regression analysis were used to refine our ability to operationalize measures of self reported overeating and impulsivity (Chapters 2 and 5). Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 were devoted to assess the impact that ingestion of palatable food, and the violation of cognitive boundaries of restraint, have on subsequent impulsivity. The two remaining investigations were structured to assess the impact that environmental factors have on impulsive behaviour. In Chapter 4, a Controlled versus Unrestricted eating environment were manipulated to determine whether overeaters benefit from a structured breakfast meal prior to completing a battery of impulsivity tasks. In Chapter 7, anticipation for a rewarding food item was manipulated in two conditions. In this final Chapter, the impact that anticipation for rewarding food in self reported overeaters was assessed. The battery of impulsivity tasks in this thesis include the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), The Go No Go task, the Matching Familiar Figures task (MFFT), and two versions of the Delay Discounting Task (DDT). Impulsivity was classified along a spectrum of Reward Reactivity versus Inhibition subtypes, based on Evenden´s (1999) classification of impulsive behaviour. Participants tendency to overeat was based on a dual classification of tendency to restrain eating (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire- Restraint) with tendency to overeat (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-Disinhibition subscale). The outcomes of the five experimental investigations in this thesis demonstrated a reliable pattern by which participants with high Disinhibition scores had significantly more impulsive responses on the MFFT task. These results indicated that inhibition impulsivity is the clearest individual difference to be found between healthy volunteers who self-report overeating. The role that Inhibition Impulsivity plays in the perpetuation of overeating behaviour is illustrated and discussed in each Experimental Chapter.

This thesis challenges accounts of individual choice and responsibility where food consumption is concerned, beginning with a critique of government policies to address the health effects of over-consumption of food. Whilst research from psychology and economics has acknowledged the role of habit and automaticity in some behaviours, including eating, the resulting theory of behavioural economics and its operationalisation as ‘nudge' theory does not directly address class differences. I argue that sociological analysis can do so, and discuss the trajectory of social class in social theory in recent decades, bringing together the insights of several theorists to challenge both Giddens's concept of reflexivity and postmodern notions of consumerism as an equalising force. I demonstrate that social theory can provide a solid underpinning to behavioural economics, and at the same time show the weakness of its policy applications to healthy eating. Given the relative inattention to the structures that shape dietary ‘choices', in comparison to the study of behaviour, this thesis examines the nature of the food supply and traces how the food industry develops, markets and sites food, and the ways in which it engages, often interactively, with a highly segmented society. The production and targeted supply of processed foods of varying quality contributes to problematic food consumption, particularly among those of lower social status. This phenomenon is further evidenced by an epidemiological review outlining the food-health-class link. Subsequently, I conduct the first sociological analysis of food industry texts (representing food science, product development and marketing), revealing how actors within these disciplines articulate their role, function and concerns regarding current practice. A critique of marketing emerges from both practitioners and marketing academics, and I apply this and an expanded sociological critique to the role of the food supply in diet-related ill health, in which a social gradient is strongly apparent.

Sensory-specific satiety (SSS) is a significantly greater pleasantness decline for a consumed (Eaten) food, than foods that are tasted but not consumed (Uneaten). SSS occurs during consumption, reaches optimal magnitude immediately afterwards, and returns to baseline within two to three hours. The phenomenon is dependent on the sensory properties, rather than the energy or macronutrient content of the food. To the extent that an Uneaten food shares similar sensory properties with the Eaten food, the Uneaten food may be subject to pleasantness decline: a transfer effect. Repeated exposure to a food stimulus may alter liking in the long-term, through mere exposure, monotony, and dietary learning paradigms resulting in an association between the novel target food and either a known food stimulus, or a consequence of consumption. Novel foods are more susceptible to these effects than familiar foods, for which learned associations may have already formed. Repeated consumption alone does not modulate SSS, but to date such studies have not tested novel foods. Through six experiments this research explores the influences of long-term pleasantness changes of novel foods and the number and type of Uneaten foods present during SSS testing, on the magnitude of SSS for snack foods. While no evidence of mere exposure or dietary learning was found, and in some instances experiments failed to induce SSS, these negative results are likely due to methodological, and sometimes procedural issues in the design and conduct of experimental testing. Findings revealed SSS to be vulnerable to a number of procedural and methodological factors, such as: portion size; baseline novelty and pleasantness ratings; hunger; perceived ambiguity of measurement scales; and expectations raised by the type and number of Uneaten foods present during testing.

Hu, Yong. / Thesis submitted in: October 2007. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-129). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Background and Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Objectives of the Thesis --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3. --- Scope of the Thesis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4. --- Structure of the Thesis --- p.6 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Review of Related Technologies --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1. --- Scope and Requirements of the Supply Chain Traceability --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2. --- Automatic Identification and Data Collection Technologies --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Introduction to the AIDC Technologies --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1.1. --- The Barcode --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1.2. --- The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.1.3. --- The Sensors for Food --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.1.4. --- The Global Positioning System (GPS) --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Frequencies of the RFID Systems --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Encoding Mechanisms for the RFID Tags and Barcode Labels --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3. --- Standards and Specifications of the EPCglobal --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- The EPCglobal Architecture Framework --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- The EPCglobal EPCIS Specification --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.3. --- The EPCglobal Tag Data Standards --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4. --- RFID Applications in Food Supply Chain Management --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5. --- Anti-counterfeit Technologies and Solutions --- p.45 / Chapter 2.6. --- Data Compression Algorithms --- p.47 / Chapter 2.7. --- Shelf Life Prediction Models --- p.49 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Architecture and Scope of the Application System --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1. --- Application System Architecture --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2. --- Application System Scope --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- The Tracking and Tracing Management Module --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1. --- Overview --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2. --- AIDC Technologies Adopted for the Traceable Items --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3. --- Mechanism to Achieve the Nested Visibility --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4. --- Information Integration in the EPCIS --- p.75 / Chapter 4.5. --- Anti-counterfeit Mechanism --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- The Storage and Transportation Monitoring Module --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1. --- Overview --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2. --- Compression of the Sensor Data --- p.93 / Chapter 5.3. --- Management of the Sensor Data --- p.95 / Chapter 5.4. --- Responsive Warning Mechanism --- p.102 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- The Sensor Networks Enabled Assessment Module --- p.108 / Chapter 6.1. --- Overview --- p.108 / Chapter 6.2. --- Management of the Sensor Network Data --- p.110 / Chapter 6.3. --- Active Warning Mechanism --- p.114 / Chapter Chapter 7. --- Conclusions --- p.122 / Chapter 7.1. --- Contributions --- p.122 / Chapter 7.2. --- Future Work --- p.124

This thesis analyses the food crisis in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s and 1990s, identifies roots of the problem, and proposes strategies of sustainable development based on self-sufficiency in food production for domestic needs. The main goal of this research has been to devise development strategies centered on development of the food production sector. The thesis strongly suggests that countries of the region should consider developing the food production sector to experience any meaningful development, and to escape a dark future of food shortages and food dependency on developed economies. Investigation into Development Economics, Dependency, Underdevelopment, and Modernization theories has provided a basis to justify that improvement of the food production sector is an urgent necessity for sub-Saharan African countries. The thesis uses a comparative analytical methodology based on a historical study of Kenya from the colonial period to the 1990s. The food crisis is identified as a common problem for many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its general causes are investigated: ( 1) low output productivity of traditional methods and technology, (2) harsh ecological environment with frequent droughts and soil erosion, (3) neglect of food production in the policies and priorities of governments, ( 4) poor marketing and distribution of foodstuffs, (5) fast population growth. Kenya is then used as a model to confirm the hypothesis that roots of the crisis are strongly linked to the colonial setting of these economies as cash crop and raw material producers. Also, neglect of the food production sector in government policy is matched in the Kenyan case. Kenya's food crisis can be explained by two sets of factors. On the input side of the food production sector, reasons found were ( 1) government emphasis on cash crops to the neglect of food production, and (2) underdeveloped technology and agricultural methods used in food production. On the output side, food shortages are due to ( 1) an inefficient marketing and distribution system, (2) inefficient pricing policies, and (3) fast population growth. A model of five solutions is presented which puts emphasis, on the input side, on (1) a shift of policies from cash crop production to accommodate food crop production as a viable economic development policy, (2) curbing food imports, and (3) boosting domestic food production by empowering women, attracting men to the food production activity, reorganizing production, and improving agricultural technology and methods. On the output side the solutions call for ( 4) reorganizing and improving the distribution, and marketing, and pricing of foodstuffs, and (5) developing rural economies around the food production sector and the agribusiness industry.

This thesis is a documentation of the author's learning journey with the farmers, researchers and development agents in the eastern hills of Nepal.The purpose of the study was to find a solution to the problem of food security faced by the farmers in this area. The basic assumptions underpinning agricultural development in Nepal are that food security can be improved through the application of agricultural technologies and increasing production. The findings of this research question these assumptions.The study demonstrated that external changes which take place in the real world are connected to the internal changes which occur within the individuals and groups involved.An action research methodology was chosen to find alternative strategies to examine the current approaches to addressing the food security situation. The findings revealed three dimensions needing to be addressed to deal with food security at the farming household level. The fact that a collaborative partnership must be established between all the stakeholders involved in order to bring about improvements in the situation was revealed.This called for the conversion of 'experts' into 'co-partners' in the learning process. The learning journey showed that it is possible to initiate change, and the changes achieved indicate a huge potential for researchers and those interested in food security to make a real and lasting difference / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis is about the dynamics of eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) populations and their food supplies in temperate grasslands of south-eastern Australia. It is based on the study of three populations of eastern grey kangaroos inhabiting �warm dry�, �cold dry�, and �warm wet� sites within the Southern Tablelands climatic region. After a pilot survey and methods trial in early 2001, the main period of study was from August 2001 to July 2003. The study populations were found to have the highest densities of any kangaroo populations, 450 to 510 km-2. Their density was the same at the end of the two year study period as at the beginning, in spite of a strong decline in herbage availability due to drought. The eastern grey kangaroo populations were limited according to the predation-sensitive food hypothesis. Fecundity, as the observed proportion of females with late pouch young in spring, was high, in spite of the high kangaroo density and restricted food availability. Age-specific fecundity of a kangaroo sample shot on one of the sites in 1997 to avert starvation was the highest reported for kangaroos. Thus, limitation acted through mortality rather than fecundity. Population growth rate was most sensitive to adult survival but the demographic rate that had the greatest effect in practice was mortality of juveniles, most likely sub-adults. The combination of high fecundity with high mortality of immatures would provide resilience to low levels of imposed mortality and to fertility control. The normal pattern of spring pasture growth was not observed in the drought conditions and few of the recorded increments of growth were of the magnitude considered typical for sites on the southern and central tablelands. Temperature was necessary to predict pasture growth, as well as rainfall, over the previous two months. The best model of pasture growth (lowest AICc) included negative terms for herbage mass, rainfall over the previous two months, and temperature, and a positive term for the interaction between rainfall and temperature. It accounted for 13% more of the variation in the data than did the simpler model of the type used by Robertson (1987a), Caughley (1987) and Choquenot et al. (1998). However this was only 63% of total variation. Re-evaluation of the model based on measurements of pasture growth in more typical (non-drought) conditions is recommended. Grazing had a powerful influence on the biomass of pasture due to the high density of kangaroos. This is a marked difference to many other studies of the type which have been conducted in semi-arid environments where rainfall dominates. The offtake of pasture by kangaroos, as estimated on the research sites by the cage method, was linear on herbage mass. It was of greater magnitude than the more exact estimate of the (curved) functional response from grazedowns in high�quality and low�quality pastures. The widespread recognition of three forms of functional response is inadequate. Both the theoretical basis, and supporting data, have been published for domed, inaccessible residue, and power forms as well (Holling 1966; Noy-Meir 1975; Hassell et al. 1976, 1977; Short 1986; Sabelis 1992). Eastern grey kangaroos had approximately the same Type 2 functional response when consuming either a high quality artificial pasture (Phalaris aquatica), or dry native pasture (Themeda australis) in autumn. Their functional response rose more gradually than those published for red kangaroos and western grey kangaroos in the semi-arid rangelands, and did not satiate at the levels of pasture available. This gradual behaviour of the functional response contributes to continuous stability of the consumer-resource system, as opposed to discontinuous stability. The numerical response was estimated using the ratio equation, assuming an intrinsic rate of increase for eastern grey kangaroos in temperate grasslands of 0.55. There is indirect evidence of effects of predation in the dynamics of the kangaroo populations. This is demonstrated by the positive relationship between r and kangaroo density. Such a relationship can be generated by predation. A desirable future task is to compile estimates of population growth rate and simultaneous estimates of pasture, in the absence of predation, where kangaroo population density is changing, so that the numerical response can be estimated empirically. The management implications arising from this study are numerous and a full account would require a separate report. As one example, kangaroos in these temperate grasslands are on average smaller, eat less, are more numerous, and are more fecund, than would be predicted from other studies (e.g. Caughley et al. 1987). Thus the benefit of shooting each kangaroo, in terms of grass production, is less, or, in other words, more kangaroos have to be shot to achieve a certain level of impact reduction, and the population will recover more quickly, than would have been predicted prior to this study. Secondly, of much importance to managers, the interactive model which can readily be assembled from the products of Chapters 4, 5 and 8, can be used to test a range of management options, and the effect of variation in weather conditions, such as increased or decreased rainfall. For example, the model indicates that commercial harvesting (currently under trial in the region), at the maximum level allowed, results in a sustainable harvest of kangaroos, but does not increase the herbage mass, and only slightly reduces the frequency of crashes when herbage mass falls to low levels. (To demonstrate this with an ecological experiment would require an extremely large investment of research effort.) However, an alternative �national park damage mitigation� formula, which holds kangaroo density to about 1 ha-1, is predicted to increase herbage mass considerably and to reduce the frequency of crashes in herbage mass, but these effects would be achieved at the cost of having to shoot large numbers of kangaroos. Thus, aside from many specific details of kangaroo ecology, the knowledge gained in this study appears to have useful potential to illustrate to managers the dynamic properties of a resource-consumer system, the probabilistic nature of management outcomes, and the consequences of particular kangaroo management proposals.

"May 2003" / Bibliography: leaves 161-180. / x, 180 leaves : ill., map ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This study analyses driving forces, determinants and implications of emerging contractual arrangements in the Chinese agri-food system based on the transaction cost approach. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Economics, 2003

Personal preparedness and self-�����reliance have been themes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-�����day Saints since its early days as an organized religion. These themes are still strong and vibrant today and one of their key aspects is the practice of food storage. Personal and familial preparation for problems that may be encountered in the course of life are an integral part of the discourse around food storage, as well as the need to be obedient to the admonitions of their church leaders. Though most informants involved in this study would agree that obedience is a key aspect behind their keeping of a storage, there is great variation in their commitment and interpretation of the "Word" as they see it pertaining to their own families. Other key themes that emerged from the data were that a food storage offers peace of mind and security, and that it will be needed to help others as well as their own families. These themes and others are what comprise the Unofficial Word of food storage. This thesis specifically presents research on the differences between the Official and Unofficial Word as they pertain to the practice of food storage by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-�����day Saints. As the practice of food storage among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-�����day Saints has not been previously studied anthropologically, this thesis will attempt to show how an overarching hierarchy, such as religion, can so deeply affect the way people view, think about, and practice common tasks such as food choice, food consumption, and food preservation. / Graduation date: 2013

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