Submitted by Edileide Reis (leyde-landy@hotmail.com) on 2015-04-11T01:22:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Hugo Fabiano Fernandes de Novaes.pdf: 538652 bytes, checksum: 783adecb7d1066d3ec1f2807d7abe6d5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T01:22:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Hugo Fabiano Fernandes de Novaes.pdf: 538652 bytes, checksum: 783adecb7d1066d3ec1f2807d7abe6d5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Em algumas situações, correlações entre diferentes estruturas do corpo humano poderiam auxiliar no planejamento de cirurgias intra-abdominais. O conhecimento do comprimento do ureter permitiria um planejamento cirúrgico pré-operatório, reduzindo gastos com exames; auxiliaria também na escolha do cateter duplo-J, reduzindo sintomatologia e morbidade, aumentando a aderência ao tratamento. Objetivo: Avaliar o comprimento ureteral em cadáveres adultos e analisar suas correlações com determinadas medidas antropométricas. Desenho do estudo: estudo transversal, descritivo e analítico. Materiais e métodos: realizamos mensuração do comprimento ureteral de cadáveres adultos, encaminhados para necropsia entre abril de 2009 e janeiro de 2012. Adicionalmente, coletamos as seguintes medidas: altura, distância ombro-punho, cotovelo-punho, xifo-umbilical, distância umbigo-púbis, distância xifo-púbica e distância entre espinhas ilíacas. Analisamos as correlações entre o comprimento ureteral e as demais medidas antropométricas. Resultados: Foram dissecados os ureteres de 115 cadáveres adultos no período entre abril/2009 e janeiro/2012. O comprimento ureteral médio não variou o gênero, nem com a estatura. Não foi encontrada correlação entre o comprimento ureteral e as medidas antropométricas pesquisadas na população geral analisada, bem como nos subgrupos analisados. Não se evidenciou diferenças significantes entre as medidas dos ureteres direito e esquerdo. Conclusões: Não há diferença no comprimento ureteral médio entre as diferentes faixas de altura e entre os gêneros masculino e feminino. Não há correlação significante entre o comprimento ureteral e as demais medidas antropométricas.

Please read the abstract in the section front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Human Movement Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

No description available.

Zetisky Jonathan V 9213052F zeds@telkomsa.net Master of Science in Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences M.Sc (med) Prof Rogers, G / Development in triathlon at the elite level can be improved by knowing the physical, physiological and anthropometrical characteristics of current elite triathletes and single sport athletes, and isolating those factors that contribute to high levels of performance. Much research on this topic has been done with regard to the single sport disciplines of running, swimming and cycling. However, less is known about triathletes. The primary purpose of this study was therefore to see whether and how triathletes differ from the single sport athletes in the disciplines of swimming, cycling and running, and by so doing, to develop a profile of an elite South African triathlete. Thirty-four subjects (triathletes: n = 12; runners: n = 8; swimmers: n = 6 and cyclists: n = 8) were measured for the physical characteristics of age, mass, height, body fat and lean body mass. Anthropometric measurements (skinfolds, bone breadths and girths) were also taken along with the physiological components of VO2 maximum (maximal oxygen consumption) and running economy. Muscle strength and endurance were also measured. The results showed that triathletes do not differ significantly from the single sport athletes (swimmers, cyclists and runners) in any of the components measured. In fact, they are generally most similar to cyclists in all of the categories measured and in each of these, lie between runners and swimmers. Runners and swimmers however, were significantly different (P<0.05) from each other in terms of mass (kg), lean body mass (kg) and maximal oxygen consumption (ml O2/kg.min-1). 3 No significant differences were noted between the triathletes, swimmers, cyclists and runners in endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy somatotype ratings. Swimmers (2 – 3,9 – 2,7) and cyclists (2 – 4 – 2,8) as well as the triathletes (2 – 3,8 – 2,8) fall into the ectomorphic-mesomorph somatotype while runners (1,8 – 3 – 3,5) on the other hand, were classified as mesomorphic-ectomorph. The study therefore suggests that no single physical, physiological or anthropometrical factor determines successful performance. Rather, it is a blend of physical and physiological traits observed in the single sport athletes that makes a successful triathlete.

No description available.

The accuracy of modern digital human models has led to the development of human simulation engines capable of performing a complex analysis of the biometrics and kinematics / dynamics of a digital model. While the capabilities of these simulations have seen much progress in recent years, they are hindered by a fundamental limitation regarding the diversity of the models compatible with the simulation engine, which in turn results in a reduction in the scope of the applications available to the simulation. This is typically due to the necessary implementation of a musculoskeletal structure within the model, as well as the inherent mass and inertial data that accompany it. As a result a significant amount of time and expertise is required to make a digital human model compatible with the simulation. In this research I present a solution to this limitation by outlining a process to develop a set of mutually compatible human models that spans the range of feasible body shapes and allows for a “free” exploration of body shape within the shape manifold. Additionally, a method is presented to represent the human body shapes with a reduction of dimensionality, via a spectral shape descriptor, that enables a statistical analysis that is both more computationally efficient and anthropometrically accurate than traditional methods. This statistical analysis is then used to develop a set of representative models that succinctly represent the full scope of human body shapes across the population, with applications reaching beyond the research-oriented simulations into commercial human-centered product design and digital modeling.

<p>The interaction between nutritional status and malaria disease is complex and often controversial. Nutritional deficiencies (macro- or micro-nutrient) are thought to lead to malnutrition with subsequent susceptibility to malaria infection. On the other hand severe malaria or repeated malaria infections lead to malnutrition. While the cause and effect are difficult to attribute, micronutrient deficiencies such as iron deficiency and malaria infection often co-exist and show complex interactions leading to mutually reinforced detrimental clinical effects.</p><p>That iron deficiency has adverse effects on human health is widely recognized. Iron plays a crucial role in processes of growth and cell division and in the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It is also important for the proliferation of cells of the immune system as well as for microorganisms including the malaria parasite. Iron deficiency results in a decrease in hemoglobin concentrations and subsequent anemia. However, the etiology of anemia is multi-factorial and may be affected, in addition, by several factors including malaria and host factors, especially hemoglobinopathies such as alpha-thalassemia and sickle cell trait. These hemoglobinopathies are also common in malaria endemic areas.</p><p>In this thesis, we have investigated the relationship between nutritional status, immunity, hemoglobinopathies and <i>falciparum</i> malaria in a cohort of children less than 8 years old living on the coast of Kenya. We have found that malaria was associated with malnutrition in an age-dependent fashion. Malaria was associated with subsequent underweight or stunting in children under the age of 2 years, but this effect was not there in older children. Also, we observed that iron deficiency was associated with protection of children against clinical malaria. Children who were iron deficient had a lower incidence of malaria episodes as compared to those who were iron replete.</p><p>While studies on the effects of single micronutrient deficiencies on components of the immune system are difficult to design and interpret, there is ample evidence that micronutrient deficiencies, in general, affect all components of immunity. In line with this, we found that nutritional iron status was associated with certain malaria-specific immunoglobulins and interleukin-4 mRNA levels. Iron deficient children had lower levels of malaria-specific IgG2 and IgG4 but higher expression levels of IL-4 mRNA as compared to the iron replete children. Finally, we observed a tendency towards a higher prevalence of iron deficiency in children carrying either alpha-thalassemia or sickle cell trait.</p>

The interaction between nutritional status and malaria disease is complex and often controversial. Nutritional deficiencies (macro- or micro-nutrient) are thought to lead to malnutrition with subsequent susceptibility to malaria infection. On the other hand severe malaria or repeated malaria infections lead to malnutrition. While the cause and effect are difficult to attribute, micronutrient deficiencies such as iron deficiency and malaria infection often co-exist and show complex interactions leading to mutually reinforced detrimental clinical effects. That iron deficiency has adverse effects on human health is widely recognized. Iron plays a crucial role in processes of growth and cell division and in the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It is also important for the proliferation of cells of the immune system as well as for microorganisms including the malaria parasite. Iron deficiency results in a decrease in hemoglobin concentrations and subsequent anemia. However, the etiology of anemia is multi-factorial and may be affected, in addition, by several factors including malaria and host factors, especially hemoglobinopathies such as alpha-thalassemia and sickle cell trait. These hemoglobinopathies are also common in malaria endemic areas. In this thesis, we have investigated the relationship between nutritional status, immunity, hemoglobinopathies and falciparum malaria in a cohort of children less than 8 years old living on the coast of Kenya. We have found that malaria was associated with malnutrition in an age-dependent fashion. Malaria was associated with subsequent underweight or stunting in children under the age of 2 years, but this effect was not there in older children. Also, we observed that iron deficiency was associated with protection of children against clinical malaria. Children who were iron deficient had a lower incidence of malaria episodes as compared to those who were iron replete. While studies on the effects of single micronutrient deficiencies on components of the immune system are difficult to design and interpret, there is ample evidence that micronutrient deficiencies, in general, affect all components of immunity. In line with this, we found that nutritional iron status was associated with certain malaria-specific immunoglobulins and interleukin-4 mRNA levels. Iron deficient children had lower levels of malaria-specific IgG2 and IgG4 but higher expression levels of IL-4 mRNA as compared to the iron replete children. Finally, we observed a tendency towards a higher prevalence of iron deficiency in children carrying either alpha-thalassemia or sickle cell trait.

In spite of the number of participants in soccer, it would appear that there is no specific physical, motor, anthropometric and sport psychological profile by which soccer players can be evaluated to determine whether they comply with the specific requirements of soccer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine which physical, motor performance, anthropometric and sport psychological variables distinguish soccer teams of different participation levels. Fifteen Uniwest (classed as successful), twelve Vaal Triangle Technikon (classed as less successful) and sixteen North-West Sports Academy players (classed as the developmental team) were subjected to a test battery that consisted of 8 physical and motor tests as well as 14 anthropometric measurements. Only two teams (Uniwest and Vaal Triangle Technikon) completed the CSAI-2, AMSSE, ACSI-28 and PVI sport psychological questionnaires. The results of the stepwise forward discriminant analysis showed that isokinetic dorsi and plantarflexion peak torque, together with right hamstring flexibility, agility, muscle mass percentage, speed over 5m and abdominal muscle strength, were the physical, motor performance and anthropometric test variables which significantly (p ≤0.05) and accurately (94.74%) distinguish between soccer teams of different participation levels. The results of the sport psychological variables revealed that goal directedness, concentration, optimal performance under pressure, goal setting, performance motivation and activation control are the variables that have an 86.1 1% success rate in discriminating between successful and less-successful soccer players. In conclusion, although the potential of a physical, motor performance, anthropometric and sport psychological test battery to discriminate accurately between soccer players of different participation levels can not be discounted, it appears that the successful soccer team will not necessarily achieve better test battery results than players of other participation levels. The successful group only obtained significantly better results in 4 variables (speed over 5, 10 and 20m as well as striving for success) when compared to the less successful group, who achieved significantly better results in 16 variables. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Thesis studied correlations between swallowing accelerometry parameters and anthropometrics in 50 healthy participants. Anthropometrics include: age, gender, weight, height, body fat percent, neck circumference and mandibular length. Dual-axis swallowing signals, from a biaxial accelerometer were obtained for 5-saliva and 10-water (5-wet and 5-wet chin-tuck) swallows per participant. Two patient-independent automatic segmentation algorithms using discrete wavelet transforms of swallowing sequences segmented: 1) saliva/wet swallows and 2) wet chin-tuck swallows. Extraction of swallows hinged on dynamic thresholding based on signal statistics. Canonical correlation analysis was performed on sets of anthropometric and swallowing signal variables including: variance, skewness, kurtosis, autocorrelation decay time, energy, scale and peak-amplitude. For wet swallows, significant linear relationships were found between signal and anthropometric variables. In superior-inferior directions, correlations linked weight, age and gender to skewness and signal-memory. In anterior-posterior directions, age was correlated with kurtosis and signal-memory. No significant relationship was observed for dry and wet chin-tuck swallowing