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Results for “Food Dispensers, Automatic”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Experiences with standardized feeding of rats with an automatic food dispensing apparatus.

A simple automatic food dispensing machine can be used to train rats to a regime of meal-feeding during one hour at night. Apart from some 20% of the animals which fail to adapt but can be recognized early during training on the basis of weight curve, a population of animals is obtained which show a high degree of standardization of rhythmic changes related to food intake and apparently have an adequate supply of food as shown by the protein mass of liver cells.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1985

Cytochemical determination of acid phosphatase activity in isolated rat hepatocytes during starvation-induced proteolysis.

Acid phosphatase activity in isolated rat liver parenchymal cells has been investigated with quantitative histochemical means during short-term starvation, which leads to a considerable loss in protein mass in the parenchyma. Animals trained to a meal-feeding regime in which food was available during 1 h only per 24 h (using an automatic food dispensing machine), were sacrificed 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 h after food had been withheld at the time point (23.00 h) of meal feeding. Acid phosphatase activity was analysed cytophotometrically in isolated hepatocytes incorporated into polyacrylamide gels before the enzyme reaction technique with the post-azo coupling was carried out. No indication could be found for any significant changes in the amount of acid phosphatase activity per individual hepatocyte during the entire period of fasting, as compared with two time points (11.00 and 23.00 h) before the theoretical onset of fasting. It is concluded that the considerable enhancement of protein degradation in the lysosomal apparatus during fasting is not reflected by changes in the cellular acid phosphatase activity.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1980

Schedule-induced ethanol polydipsia: function of ethanol concentration.

Rats were maintained in cages with automatic food dispensers that provided a 24 hr feeding regimen known to produce schedule-induced ethanol polydipsia. For ten days water was the only available fluid; then for 17 days either 5% or 10% ethanol replaced water. The ethanol concentrations were then switched between groups for a final 13 days. Ethanol intake increased for both groups over the first seven days and then reached asymptote. The daily intake (ml) of 5% ethanol was two times that of 10%, resulting in no difference between groups in g/kg ethanol consumed. When the concentrations were switched, g/kg/day dropped, but returned to previous levels within seven days. Again intake (ml) of 5% was two times that of 10% but groups did not differ in g/kg/day. Mean blood ethanol concentration at 9:30 hr was 75.0 mg/100 ml with 5% ethanol and 127.8% mg/100 ml with 10% ethanol.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2004

Effects of promotional materials on vending sales of low-fat items in teachers' lounges.

This study examined the impact of an environmental intervention in the form of promotional materials and increased availability of low-fat items on vending machine sales. Ten vending machines were selected and randomly assigned to one of three conditions: control, or one of two experimental conditions. Vending machines in the two intervention conditions received three additional low-fat selections. Low-fat items were promoted at two levels: labels (intervention I), and labels plus signs (intervention II). The number of individual items sold and the total revenue generated was recorded weekly for each machine for 4 weeks. Use of promotional materials resulted in a small, but not significant, increase in the number of low-fat items sold, although machine sales were not significantly impacted by the change in product selection. Results of this study, although not statistically significant, suggest that environmental change may be a realistic means of positively influencing consumer behavior.

Advertising↗
PubMed2005

Soft drinks, candy, and fast food: what parents and teachers think about the middle school food environment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the opinions and beliefs of parents and teachers of middle school students regarding the school food environment. DESIGN: Surveys mailed to parents and placed in teachers' school mailboxes included questions about adolescents' eating practices, food choice at school, and school-related food policies and practices. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS: A convenience sample of parents (n=350; response rate: 350/526=66%) and teachers (n=490; response rate: 490/701=70%) of middle school students from 16 schools in the St Paul-Minneapolis metropolitan area who participated in the Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics examined the prevalence of parents' and teachers' opinions and beliefs about adolescents' eating practices, food choice at school, and school-related food policies and practices. RESULTS: Most parents and teachers agreed that the nutritional health of students should be a school priority. However, only 18% of parents and 31% of teachers believed schools give adequate attention to student nutrition. Among both parents and teachers, 90% agreed that more healthy snacks and beverages should be available in school vending machines and on school a la carte lines. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that parents and teachers are concerned about the nutritional health of students and the "state of health" of the school food environment. Dietetic and other health professionals who work in school settings should actively engage parents and teachers in the process of affecting and monitoring policies and practices that foster a healthy school food environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Competitive foods available in Pennsylvania public high schools.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the types and extent of competitive foods available in public high schools in Pennsylvania. DESIGN: We developed, pilot tested, and distributed surveys to school foodservice directors in a random sample of 271 high schools in Pennsylvania. SUBJECTS: Two hundred twenty-eight surveys were returned, for a response rate of 84%. Statistical analyses were performed: Descriptive statistics were used to examine the extent of competitive food sales in Pennsylvania public high schools. The survey data were analyzed using SPSS software version 11.5.1 (2002, SPSS base 11.0 for Windows, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). RESULTS: A la carte sales provide almost dollar 700/day to school foodservice programs, almost 85% of which receive no financial support from their school districts. The top-selling a la carte items are "hamburgers, pizza, and sandwiches." Ninety-four percent of respondents indicated that vending machines are accessible to students. The item most commonly offered in vending machines is bottled water (71.5%). While food items are less often available through school stores and club fund-raisers, candy is the item most commonly offered through these sources. CONCLUSIONS: Competitive foods are widely available in high schools. Although many of the items available are low in nutritional value, we found several of the top-selling a la carte options to be nutritious and bottled water the item most often identified as available through vending machines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Factors associated with the offering and sale of competitive foods and school lunch participation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify factors that predict offering and sale of competitive foods, as well as factors that predict average daily participation in school lunch. DESIGN: Surveys were distributed to 271 school foodservice directors in a random sample of high schools in Pennsylvania that were selected to be representative of the entire population of high schools in Pennsylvania based on chosen demographic characteristics. SUBJECTS: Two hundred twenty-eight school foodservice directors (84%) returned surveys. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were done using SPSS version 11.5 (2002, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals and timing of lunch were significant predictors of a la carte sales. Enrollment was negatively associated with number of vending machines per student. The number of less nutritious food items offered in vending machines and existence of soft drink machines owned by soft drink companies, for which the school receives a percent of sales, both predicted number of vending machines per student. Enrollment was inversely related to average daily participation in school lunch. The percentage of students eligible for free/reduced-price meals and enforcement of a policy prohibiting parents or students from bringing food into the cafeteria from local fast-food establishments positively predicted average daily participation in school lunch. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be useful to school wellness councils in developing wellness policies as mandated by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, as well as in structuring school environments to promote more healthful food choices by students.

Adolescent↗