The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an injury prevention and training programme for elite cricketers in regard to biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric variables over a period of six cricketing off-seasons (1998/1999-2003/2004). A secondary aim was to investigate the injury epidemiology of elite cricket players over a six-season period (1998/1999 – 2003/2004). A total of 93 cricket players, who were part of the North-West professional cricket squad, were evaluated over a six-season period stretching from the 1998/1999 cricket season to 2003/2004 cricket season. The players were all evaluated at the end of the off-season (middle September) of the commencing season and the injury lists were compiled throughout each playing season. This included all players who needed medical attention due to injury sustained while representing the North-West cricket team in a cricket match. An analysis was done of literature sources by making use of electronic media, library search and sports medicine journals. Databases such as Pubmed, EbscoHost (Academic Search Elite), Sciencedirect, Medline, Eric, Health Source - Consumer Edition, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and SPORTDiscus were used. Special consideration was given to cricket injury epidemiology, injury prevention strategies in cricket, biomechanics in cricket and general injury prevention strategies. The recorded data were statistically processed and the practical significances were calculated. Three different protocols were followed to evaluate the effectiveness of the injury prevention and training programme. The recorded data were analysed for the six off-season periods (1998/1999-2003/2004, protocol 1) of the study for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations, as well as for the injury epidemiology. The players were then divided into four exposure times (protocol 2) in the study for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations. Then the players were divided into two groups (protocol 3), with each group consisting of the same players, and over a three off-season period each evaluated for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric variables. Lastly, the results for the last three seasons of protocol 1 were compared with the result of the last three seasons of protocol 3 (group 2) for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations, as well as for the injury epidemiology. The results for this study indicate that the injury prevention and training programme was successful in improving and maintaining the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric profile of the cricketers over the six off-season periods (1998/1999-2003/2004). Although all injuries could not be prevented, injuries resulting from structural vulnerability did decrease. Injuries resulting from structural vulnerability (mechanism of injury) decreased from the 1998/1999 season (67,67% of the total injuries suffered during the 1998/1999 season) to the 2003/2004 season (10% of the total injuries suffered during the 2003/2004 season), indicating that the training and prevention programme played a role in the prevention of these injuries. Injury incidence per 10 000 hours of play was 5,82 injuries for the six-season period (1998/1999- 2003/2004). The injury prevention and training programme used in this study can be utilised to improve the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric profile of cricketers. The biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations can also be used as injury prevention strategies by identifying possible injury risk factors as a result of poor biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric profiles. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Darbo tikslas - įvertinti 13 – 16 metų moksleivių fizinį išsivystymą bei jų aktyvumą 2005 – 2006 metais. Skyriuje „Literatūros apžvalga“ supažindinama su vaiko biologijos tyrimų raida, vaikų augimo ir vystymosi ypatumais, vaik�� augimų ir brendimų, kaip svarbiais bendros sveikatos būklės rodikliais, antropometriniais matavimais, apžvelgiamos moksleivių morfologinės būklės poslinkiais per pastaruosius 20 metų. Nurodomos naujai patvirtintos antropometrinių tyrimų normos. Skyriuje „ Darbo rezultatai „ vertinami 2005 – 2006 metų rugsėjo – spalio mėn. tyrimų metų surinkti 13 – 16 metų moksleivių antropometriniai parametrai, analizuojamas fizinis aktyvumas bei nustatomas ryšys tarp dviejų kintamųjų: ūgio ir šuolio į tolį bei ūgio ir atsilenkimų skaičiaus per 30s, taip pat kūno masės ir šuolio į tolį bei kūno masės ir atsilenkimų skaičiaus per 30s. Išanalizavus duomenis, suformuojamos galutinės išvados. Ryšys tarp moksleivių fizinio išsivystymo bei fizinio aktyvumo kūno kultūros pamokose yra vidutinis. 2006 metais 13 – 16 metų merginų padaugėjo aukštaūgių ir vidutinio ūgio merginų ir sumažėjo žemaūgių, negu buvo 2005 metais. Vaikinų 13 – 16 metų nei 2005, nei 2006 metais nebuvo aukštaūgių, be to 2006 metais padaugėjo žemaūgių, negu buvo 2005 metais. Tyrimų duomenis rodo, kad 2006 metais 13 – 16 metų merginų sumažėjo turinčių per didelę kūno masę, taip pat sumažėjo turinčių vidutinę masę, padaugėjo - mažos kūno masės, negu 2005 metais. Vaikinų 13 – 16 metų, pagal duomenis... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The goal of the work (paper) is to evaluate the physical development and activity of the 13-16- year – old pupils in 2005 – 2006. In the part “The Review of the Literature” it is acquainted with the development of the teenagers’ biological researches, with some peculiarities of teenagers’ growing and development, with the their growing and maturation as the most important parameters of the common health’s condition, with anthropometrical measures; the changing of pupils’ morphological condition during the last 20 years is reviewed. The recently confirmed and recommended standards of pupils’ anthropometrical researches are indicated. In the part “The Results of the Work (Paper)” the collected in September – October 2005 – 2006 anthropometrical parameters of the 13 – 16 - year - old pupils are evaluated; the physical activity during is analyzed and the relation between this component is clarified: the height and the jumping into the length as well as the height the rejections’ number per 30s, in addition to this the weight and the jumping into the length as well as the weight and the rejections’ number per 30s. After analyzing of all the data, the last conclusion were drown. The relation between pupils’ physical development and physical activity is average. The number of the 13 – 16 – year – old high and middle – high girls is increased in 2006 in comparison to 2005. There are not high boys in the group of the 13 – 16 – year – old boys nor in 2006 neither in 2005; in addition... [to full text]

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an injury prevention and training programme for elite cricketers in regard to biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric variables over a period of six cricketing off-seasons (1998/1999-2003/2004). A secondary aim was to investigate the injury epidemiology of elite cricket players over a six-season period (1998/1999 – 2003/2004). A total of 93 cricket players, who were part of the North-West professional cricket squad, were evaluated over a six-season period stretching from the 1998/1999 cricket season to 2003/2004 cricket season. The players were all evaluated at the end of the off-season (middle September) of the commencing season and the injury lists were compiled throughout each playing season. This included all players who needed medical attention due to injury sustained while representing the North-West cricket team in a cricket match. An analysis was done of literature sources by making use of electronic media, library search and sports medicine journals. Databases such as Pubmed, EbscoHost (Academic Search Elite), Sciencedirect, Medline, Eric, Health Source - Consumer Edition, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and SPORTDiscus were used. Special consideration was given to cricket injury epidemiology, injury prevention strategies in cricket, biomechanics in cricket and general injury prevention strategies. The recorded data were statistically processed and the practical significances were calculated. Three different protocols were followed to evaluate the effectiveness of the injury prevention and training programme. The recorded data were analysed for the six off-season periods (1998/1999-2003/2004, protocol 1) of the study for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations, as well as for the injury epidemiology. The players were then divided into four exposure times (protocol 2) in the study for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations. Then the players were divided into two groups (protocol 3), with each group consisting of the same players, and over a three off-season period each evaluated for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric variables. Lastly, the results for the last three seasons of protocol 1 were compared with the result of the last three seasons of protocol 3 (group 2) for the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations, as well as for the injury epidemiology. The results for this study indicate that the injury prevention and training programme was successful in improving and maintaining the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric profile of the cricketers over the six off-season periods (1998/1999-2003/2004). Although all injuries could not be prevented, injuries resulting from structural vulnerability did decrease. Injuries resulting from structural vulnerability (mechanism of injury) decreased from the 1998/1999 season (67,67% of the total injuries suffered during the 1998/1999 season) to the 2003/2004 season (10% of the total injuries suffered during the 2003/2004 season), indicating that the training and prevention programme played a role in the prevention of these injuries. Injury incidence per 10 000 hours of play was 5,82 injuries for the six-season period (1998/1999- 2003/2004). The injury prevention and training programme used in this study can be utilised to improve the biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric profile of cricketers. The biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric evaluations can also be used as injury prevention strategies by identifying possible injury risk factors as a result of poor biomechanical, physical and motor and anthropometric profiles. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

The primary objective of this research was to study the effects of agro-ecological regions (as represented by the veld types in four different areas), sex, season of birth, the interaction between sex and season of birth as well as the interaction between veld type and season of birth on selected anthropometrical measurements (body dimension measurements). The correlations between these selected anthropometrical measurements were also investigated in this study. Data from four herds of Nguni cattle comprising of 416 animals (Loskop South, Fort Hare, Kroonstad and Warmbaths with 115, 106, 97, and 98 animals respectively) was analysed. Measurements were taken in different seasons at each area or location. Statistical analyses of the data were done using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2002). The results of this study indicate that veld type, sex and the interaction between sex and veld type did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect the growth (selected anthropometrical measurements) of Nguni cattle. In all the four agro-ecological regions (veld type in the different regions), season of birth, the interaction between sex and season of birth (Sex*BS) and the interaction between season of birth and veld type (V*BS) showed a significant effect (P< 0.05) on selected body dimensions. Animals that were born during the winter and spring seasons were heavier (P<0.05, 333.37 kg and 336.95 kg respectively) than those born in summer (270.35 kg) and autumn (286.29 kg). The same can be said of other body dimensions (M, L, HW, HG, SH and HH), whereby the animals that were born during winter and spring seasons had higher values (P<0.05) than their counterparts born in summer and autumn. This tendency was also observed for SC although the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the study suggested that season of birth, the interaction between sex and season of birth (Sex*BS) and the interaction between veldtype (agro-ecological region) and season of birth (V*BS) are important sources of variation in growth of beef cattle, with special reference to Nguni cattle. It is therefore recommended that season of birth and its interaction with both veld type and sex should be given considerable attention in any extensive beef production system (with special reference to the Nguni breed) employed in South Africa. Knowledge of the influence of agro-ecological factors on the growth of beef cattle is of great importance for measuring production capacity, designing and implementing strategies to alter the extensive beef production system and thus to increase the output to ensure a more sustainable economic advantage. / Dissertation (Magister Institutionis Agrariae (Animal Production))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

Le cancer du sein et le diabète de type II sont deux pathologies chroniques majeures chez la femme, qui sont suspectées de partager de nombreux facteurs de risque. Mais leurs étiologies demeurent encore partiellement inconnues,notamment en ce qui concerne certains facteurs alimentaires, ou encore certaines composantes du syndrome métabolique. Les données de la cohorte française E3N ont ainsi été utilisées pour évaluer les associations entre la consommation d’alcool, de café, de viande, les apports en vitamine D et les risques de cancer du sein et de diabète de type II. De plus, s’il est avéré que le syndrome métabolique est associé à un sur-risque de diabète, des questions persistent quant à l’influence de certaines composantes du syndrome métabolique, tels que le taux de cholestérol ou certains facteurs anthropométriques, sur le risque de cancer du sein. Dans l’évaluation des risques respectifs de cancer du sein et de diabète de type II, nos travaux ont mis en évidence qu’une consommation élevée de café était associée à une diminution de risque de diabète de type II, qu’un taux sérique élevé de vitamine D, ou un apport élevé en vitamine D alimentaire parmi les femmes résidant dans les zones de forte exposition solaire, étaient associés à une diminution de risque de cancer du sein. Si une consommation nulle ou modérée d’alcool s’est avérée être associée à une absence de sur-risque de diabète de type II, la consommation d’alcool était quant à elle associée à un sur-risque de cancer du sein. Nos résultats sont également en faveur d’une limitation de la consommation de viande préparée industriellement. Par ailleurs, maintenir un indice de masse corporelle et un tour de hanche le plus faible possible, à l’aide d’un régime alimentaire équilibré et une activité physique régulière,permettrait également de réduire les risques de cancer du sein et de diabète de type II. / Breast cancer and type II diabetes are two of the main chronic diseases in women and are suspected to share common risk factors. But their etiologies are still partially unknown, in particular concerning some dietary factors and some parameters of the metabolic syndrome. If evidence is convincing that themetabolic syndrome is associated with an increased type II diabetes risk, questions remain unanswered regarding cholesterol level, anthropometric factors and breast cancer risk. The French E3N cohort database was thus used to evaluate the associations between alcohol, coffee, meat consumption and serum concentration and dietary intake of vitamin D on the risks of breast cancer and type II diabetes. We showed that a high coffee consumption was associated with a decreased risk of type II diabetes, and that a high vitamin D blood level was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer. Whereas null or moderated alcohol consumption was not related to type II diabetes risk, an increase in alcohol consumption was associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Our results suggested limiting processed meat consumption. They also favoured recommendation towards low body mass index ora low hip circumference by a healthy diet and a regular physical activity so as to decrease breast cancer and type II diabetes risks.