Patients with severe back deformities can greatly benefit from customized medical seating. Customized medical seating is made by taking measurements of each individual patient and making the seat as per these measurements. The current measuring systems employed by the industry are limited to use in clinics which are generally located only in major population centres. Patients living in remote areas are severely affected by this as the clinics could be far away and inaccessible for these patients. To provide service of customized medical seating requires a new measurement system which is portable so that the system could be transported to the patients in remote areas. The requirements for a new measurement system are analysed to suite the needs of Equipment Technology Services of the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland. Design for a new measurement system was conceptualised by reviewing systems and technologies in various scientific disciplines. Design for a new system was finalised by optimizing each individual component. The final approach was validated by measuring difficult models and repeating the process to check for process variances. This system has now been adopted for clinical evaluation by ETS Suggestions have been made for further improvements in this new measurement approach.

Problems related to apparel fit stem from a variety of factors, such as an outdated anthropometric database from which sizing systems could be developed, lack of and/or inadequate classified body forms, non-standardised communication of sizing and fit and non-standardised fit quality management, amongst the clothing industries (Chun-Yoon&Jasper, 1996; Holzman, 1996; Winks, 1997; Desmarteau, 2000; Anderson, Brannon, Ulrich, Presley; Woronka; Grasso&Stevenson, 2001; Ashdown, 2003; Simmons&Istook, 2004). Anthropometric data in Kenya was taken in 1975 and the measurements were obtained from girls and women of Kenya’s learning institutions and organisations (KEBS, 2001). The source of the original data from which the size tables were derived is obscure, to authenticate the quality of the techniques and instruments used for the data collection. Apparently, there is no known research that has been carried out on clothing anthropometry, sizing (body measurements) and fit (body shape) for women. In the absence of representative sizing systems, wrong styles and sizes based on estimates and not on the actual sizes and body shapes of women consumers in Kenya, contribute to fit problems. Consumers’ lack of knowledge about size (body measurements) and fit (body shape) issues also contributes to the disillusionment, confusion and inappropriate apparel selection. Consumers’ fit preferences contribute to fit problems, if the available styles do not consider consumers’ body shapes, and even further, if the consumers are uninformed about their shapes and how to dress accordingly. The aim of this research was therefore to identify and describe distinctive female body shapes of career women in Kenya using body dimensions and photographs, to describe the differences between the emerging distinctive body shapes (measurements and photographs) and the Western distinctive shapes, and to finally describe and analyse implications for the fit of apparel associated with the emerging distinctive body shapes of Kenya’s career women. It also intended to assess and describe career women’s self-perceived fit issues with the ready-made apparel in Kenya, to determine and describe Kenyan career women’s knowledge about the communication of size (key body dimensions) and fit (body shapes), and also to determine and describe career women’s fit preferences for differently fitted apparel items in Kenya. This research is descriptive as an attempt is made to describe and understand body shape(s) and tendencies in consumers’ behaviour regarding fit issues. It is exploratory as it aims to obtain insight into a relatively new area of study, namely identification of the most prevalent (distinctive) body shape of Kenya’s career women, consumers’ perceived size and fit issues, their knowledge about size and fit, and their fit preferences. Various theories were consulted and adapted in this study, while practical training in anthropometry and photography was undertaken to ensure that measurements and photographs were taken accurately and reliably. Traditional anthropometric-related theories and standards of obtaining body measurements were consulted and applied. Photography rules were set and observed while photographing the women. Phase one of the study focused on the variables in the body characteristics thought to be appropriate for identifying and describing distinctive female body shapes. Phase two applied the quantitative research that focused on the variables obtained from fit problems with apparel, the communication of size and fit, and fit preferences. A structured questionnaire was used to get the broader picture of the respondents’ perceived fit problems, their knowledge about the communication of size and fit, as well as their fit preferences for differently fitted apparel items. The questionnaire measured specific dimensions of fit problems with apparel, the communication of size and fit, as well as fit preferences. The body dimensions that were recorded, body evaluations, and the responses to the questionnaire were coded, captured and analysed. It is apparent from this study that the most dominant body shape is a curvy rectangular shape that differs not only from the ideal (hourglass) body shape, but also from the Western (USA) prevalent straight rectangular shape. The fit problems such as tight hips, crotch, bust and stomach experienced by Kenya’s career women are therefore inevitable, as confirmed by the dissatisfaction with the unavailability of appropriate styles for their sizes and shapes. It is clear that most Kenyan female consumers are familiar with the non-informative lettered and numbered size labels, but unfamiliar with size label terms that represent established body types. They understand neither the meanings of various size and fit descriptions, nor their own key body dimensions; this leads to confusion as to where the cause of their problems lies. Apparently most Kenyan career women consumers prefer fitted and semi-fitted skirts and jackets. In the absence of a distinctive body shape in Kenya, it is possible that the available styles do not cater for their curvy rectangular body shape; hence, they experience fit problems. Consumers’ lack of knowledge about body shape may also lead to inappropriate fit preferences that do not take into account their distinctive body shape and its critical fit points. This study makes certain recommendations to the ready-made apparel industry in Kenya and foreign companies that export their apparel items to Kenya, government agencies such as the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and to consumer-oriented organisations. The results contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the theory of apparel size and fit, Ashdown’s sizing systems theory, research methodology theory, and consumer education theory. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

Subjects rated 12 female body shapes with respect to their physical attractiveness, and the extent to which they would be expected to possess various personality characteristics. The shapes were varied using 3 levels of overall weight and 4 levels of body shapeliness. The sample was modified to control for socioeconomic factors and results are based on 297 undergraduates from Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic racial backgrounds. Loglinear analyses revealed that men and women, regardless of racial background, rated shapely underweight females as most physically attractive, sexy, and ideal for a woman, followed by normal weight figures of similar proportion. African Americans, women in particular, judged the shapely normal weight figures more favorably than the other subjects. Multidimensional scaling and subsequent frequency analyses showed that those figures judged as most attractive, sexy, and ideal were also expected to be fairly emotionally stable, and most successful and interpersonally competitive, but least faithful, kind, and family-oriented. Overweight female shapes, while rated as least physically attractive, sexy, and emotionally stable, were expected to be most family-oriented, kind, and faithful. Shapely normal weight figures were judged to be attractive and sexy, and were assumed to possess a moderate amount of the personality traits in question. The results suggest that Caucasian and Hispanic subjects prefer shapely underweight women, while African Americans, particularly women, find shapely underweight and shapely normal weight women to be physically appealing. African American women also rate shapely normal weight women favorably with respect to personality traits. This perceptual difference may help inoculate them from developing eating disturbances and account for the low prevalence rate of eating disorders in African Americans compared to women of other racial backgrounds. It is suggested that future research identify those beliefs, values or behaviors that seem to inoculate African American women from developing eating disorders. Once identified, mental health professionals may facilitate their development in those women who are likely to have eating problems.

This study seeks to determine if there are patterns of differences according to college major in terms of the percentage of freshmen women who score in the clinically significant range on a measure of attitude toward body shape. Participants (N = 1,982) completed a demographic questionnaire and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and were divided into subgroups according to their stated college major. Descriptive statistics regarding BSQ scores were calculated for the total sample and subgroups. Results indicated that a greater percentage of participants in Theater, Communications, Psychology, Dance, Business, and Dietetics majors scored within clinically significant ranges on the BSQ. Students in these majors may benefit from targeted intervention and prevention efforts to address possible body image dissatisfaction.

No description available.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-08-15T12:20:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rogério D`Avila Ortiz.pdf: 55411837 bytes, checksum: 5d47f29fda9db072eb3c3a935ce6d7fe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T12:20:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rogério D`Avila Ortiz.pdf: 55411837 bytes, checksum: 5d47f29fda9db072eb3c3a935ce6d7fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study sets out to problematize the expressions “fashionable body shape” and “fashion-conscious body shape” from the hypothesis that media-flooding fashion photography disseminates a homogenizing body standard that functions as a control agent, in a surveillance system, in which the model agency acts as a panopticon (Bentham).The question we raise is: how to make bodies domesticated by what fashion photography disseminates in the media unique again (Foucault, 1975)? The goal is to show that a model-subject can cease to be a mere tool for maintaining what has been cemented in beautiful, lifeless bodies. To that end, a methodology was developed to turn this vulnerability into power. Models and photographers were heard, experiments were conducted, and recent occurrences are narrated within the fashion context, in which the mediatization of a certain body type can be observed. The theoretical foundation is mainly supported by the Bodymedia Theory (KATZ and GREINER) to explain the body-environment relationship, and by Sibila (2016), to deal with some of the body’s communication processes. The relevance of this study is justified by the fact that in order to change the status quo, it is necessary to provide information where it is not available / Esta dissertação propõe-se a problematizar as expressões “corpo da moda” e “corpo na moda” a partir da hipótese de que a fotografia de moda, que inunda as mídias, difunde um padrão de corpo homogeneizante, que funciona como um agente de controle, em um sistema de vigilância, no qual a agência de modelos atua como um panóptico (Bentham). A pergunta da qual se parte é a seguinte: como ressingularizar corpos docilizados (Foucault,) pela obediência ao que está publicamente midiatizado pela fotografia de moda? O objetivo é demonstrar a possibilidade do sujeito-modelo deixar de ser um mero instrumento de manutenção do que se cristalizou em corpos belos e sem vitalidade. Para tal, foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para capacitá-lo a transformar a sua vulnerabilidade em potência. Foram ouvidos modelos e fotógrafos, foram realizados experimentos, e são narradas ocorrências recentes, no contexto da moda, nos quais se pode observar a força da midiatização de um certo tipo de corpo. A fundamentação teórica se apoia, sobretudo, na Teoria Corpomídia (KATZ e GREINER), para explicar a relação corpoambiente, e em Sibila (2016), para lidar com alguns processos comunicacionais do corpo. E a justificativa para a importância da realização desta pesquisa é a de que para mudar o que está posto, é necessário disponibilizar informação onde ela não circula

Although the evolutionary implications of natural differences in flow regime have been well-studied, the evolutionary implications of anthropogenic modification of flow regime are not well understood. To begin to characterize the evolutionary consequences of dam construction for small stream fishes, I conducted four related studies focused on the blacktail shiner (Cyprinella venusta). First, to characterize natural variation in body shape related to stream characteristics, I assessed the extent to which body shape corresponded to three environmental factors, phylogeny, and body size. Morphology was predominantly associated with variation in mean annual runoff; phylogeny was also a strong predictor of morphology. In contrast to previous studies that emphasize the importance of water velocity, these findings indicate that morphological variation is tightly linked to more complex aspects of hydrology and evolutionary history. Second, to initially characterize variation in body shape associated with dam construction, I compared the body shape of C. venusta from pairs of river and reservoir sites. River populations differ from reservoir populations in several aspects of morphology, demonstrating that reservoir characteristics drive changes in the morphology fish populations. Third, to characterize the pace and trajectory of phenotypic responses to impoundment, I examined a chronosequence of museum specimens originating from a reservoir and nearby stream. The rate of change in larger individuals was greatest in the first 15 years following impoundment, with less pronounced shifts in smaller individuals and no shift in the morphology of stream individuals. These results indicate that morphological responses to impoundment are decadal-scale and attenuate. Fourth, to determine if impoundment-related morphological shifts are genetically determined and are functionally significant, I conducted swimming performance trials with common garden C. venusta originating from reservoir and stream parents. Common garden juveniles exhibited differences in morphology similar to those between wild-caught individuals, indicating that morphological divergence following impoundment is an outcome of rapid evolutionary change. Offspring did not differ in swimming performance, suggesting that morphological evolution may be driven by reproductive or trophic shifts following impoundment. Together, these studies demonstrate that impoundment is a potent evolutionary force on fishes, but the mechanisms by which it does so remain relatively unknown. / acase@tulane.edu

<p>This thesis deals with the evolution of individuals within a species adapted to utilize specific resources, i.e. resource polymorphism. Although a well-known phenomenon, the understanding of the mechanisms behind is not complete. Considering the ruling theories, resource polymorphism is suggested to depend on severe competition for resources, the presence of open niches to be occupied leading to a reduction in competition, and disruptive selection where generalist are out-competed due trade-offs in foraging efficiency for different prey. In order to study resource polymorphism, I have used fish as the animal group in focus and the methods I have used range over laboratory experiments, field experiments, literature surveys and theoretical modelling.</p><p>In my work, I have showed that different resource use induces different body shapes and that the rate of change is dependent of the encounter rate of different resources. The induced body changes partly led to increased foraging efficiency but surprisingly I did not find any trade-offs due to specialization. However, when studying predation risk in relation to resource polymorphism, my studies point towards that resource use and predation risk may act as balancing factors in such a way that disruptive selection can take place.</p><p>My work also shows that population feedbacks have to be explored when considering the evolution of resource polymorphism. In pond and field experiments, I found that changes in resource densities affected the actual resource use despite previous adaptations to certain resources. By performing a literature survey, I found that cannibalism indirectly by its effect on population dynamics seems to facilitate the evolution of resource polymorphism. Modelling a size-structured population, I found that resource dynamics were stabilized, and the relative availability of different resources was levelled out due to cannibalism.</p><p>Taken together, my studies strongly suggest that to understand the development of resource polymorphism in consumer populations, future studies have to include the effect of a dynamic environment both with respect to resources and predators.</p>

This thesis deals with the evolution of individuals within a species adapted to utilize specific resources, i.e. resource polymorphism. Although a well-known phenomenon, the understanding of the mechanisms behind is not complete. Considering the ruling theories, resource polymorphism is suggested to depend on severe competition for resources, the presence of open niches to be occupied leading to a reduction in competition, and disruptive selection where generalist are out-competed due trade-offs in foraging efficiency for different prey. In order to study resource polymorphism, I have used fish as the animal group in focus and the methods I have used range over laboratory experiments, field experiments, literature surveys and theoretical modelling. In my work, I have showed that different resource use induces different body shapes and that the rate of change is dependent of the encounter rate of different resources. The induced body changes partly led to increased foraging efficiency but surprisingly I did not find any trade-offs due to specialization. However, when studying predation risk in relation to resource polymorphism, my studies point towards that resource use and predation risk may act as balancing factors in such a way that disruptive selection can take place. My work also shows that population feedbacks have to be explored when considering the evolution of resource polymorphism. In pond and field experiments, I found that changes in resource densities affected the actual resource use despite previous adaptations to certain resources. By performing a literature survey, I found that cannibalism indirectly by its effect on population dynamics seems to facilitate the evolution of resource polymorphism. Modelling a size-structured population, I found that resource dynamics were stabilized, and the relative availability of different resources was levelled out due to cannibalism. Taken together, my studies strongly suggest that to understand the development of resource polymorphism in consumer populations, future studies have to include the effect of a dynamic environment both with respect to resources and predators.

Traditional three-dimensional (3D) photonic scanning (3DPS) can be used to obtain body volume data and to enable visualization of 3D body shape in one rapid scan, which is helpful for determining people’s obesity level, health risk and sport performance as well as motivating individuals to reduce weight efficiently. Nevertheless, traditional 3DPS is restricted to expensive and fixed hardware and specific software that requires specialist interpretation in laboratory settings, which reduces possible applications. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to develop a fast, inexpensive, portable and automatic 3DPS system to measure body volume data and to display body shape in 3D. To ensure that the system could be used for monitoring changes over time, the accuracy and reliability of the estimated body volumes were also established. Four studies and one technical description were conducted to achieve the purpose of this research. In the first three studies, a new technique, DScan, was developed that could generate individual 3D human models and calculate body volume. In Study 1, the reliability of the body dimension features obtained by four extraction methods was compared to find an appropriate method to improve the quality of extracted body dimension features. In Study 2, two different parameter groups were compared to enable subsequent selection of appropriate parameters to generate realistic 3D human models. A procedure and a program were presented which can set the parameters to match the extracted features and generate individual 3D human models effectively. In Study 3, Blender scripts and shell scripts were used to develop a customized program which can obtain body volume data from generated 3D human models. In Study 4, the accuracy and the reliability of the body volume data acquired from DScan were examined by comparing with the traditional 3DPS and the geometric modelling technique, elliptical zone (E-Zone). In the technical description, a Body Shape Monitoring System (BSMS) which can help non-expert users complete the DScan procedure and visualize body shape changes was introduced. The processing speed, cost and portability of the introduced BSMS were also shown in the technical description. The accuracy of the BSMS for whole-body volume indicated by an inter-method relative technical error of measurement was within 5% of that obtained from the traditional 3DPS. The repeated reliability expressed as an intra-method relative technical error of measurement was under 3% for whole-body volume. The accuracy and the reliability of the BSMS for segmental volumes (upper torso, lower torso, upper arm, lower arm, thigh and shank) indicated by inter-method and intra-method relative technical error of measurements were less than 10% and 5% respectively. These were similar to those obtained by the E-Zone. The BSMS reduces the requirement of hardware, software and expert knowledge as well as the processing time compared to other techniques of quantifying whole-body volume and segmental volumes. The GUI of the BSMS enables it to be used without specific training in computer programing or machine operation. The system is highly portable, and its components are inexpensive (under £700). Each analysis can be completed in three minutes without requiring subjective interpretations. The results showed that the system has the potential to be applied in the domains of health and medicine, the fashion industry, ergonomics, and sports science. Further studies should be conducted to develop a complete system which is consequently suitable for home use.