No description available.

No description available.

Study Objectives. Sleep is regulated by internal mechanisms that respond to environmental cues. Physical activity is one external cue that can affect sleep. It has been suggested that exercise affects sleep in a variety of ways, including influencing neurotransmitter levels and altering circadian rhythms. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported sleep quality both before and after a well- defined exercise protocol. Design, Setting, and Participants. The TIGER study involves a 15-week aerobic exercise intervention conducted in young adults (n=2,027, mean age 21.8 ± 5 y). Participants were required to engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at 65-85% maximal heart rate reserve three times/week. Multivariate regression was used to identify factors associated with sleep quality and duration. Measurements and Results. Multiple measures of body size/composition, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) were obtained on all participants. Sleep quality and duration were accessed via a condensed sleep quality profile (SQP). Prior to exercise, age (p<0.001), gender (p<0.008) and overweight/obesity status (p<0.001), but not race/ethnicity, were all significantly associated with SQP score. Age (p<0.002), and race/ethnicity (p<0.05) were significantly associated with sleep duration, with African Americans and Hispanics having significantly shorter sleep times compared to non-Hispanic whites. SQP score was not significantly different following chronic exercise training. Conclusions. Although overweight/obesity groups had significantly different sleep quality scores before and after exercise, sleep quality did not change for subjects after 15 weeks of aerobic exercise intervention. / text

Orientador: José Carlos Plácido da Silva / Banca: Paulo Kawauchi / Banca: Luis Carlos Paschoarelli / Resumo: Dados antropométricos são os principais parâmetros projetuais para o dimensionamento de produtos e espaços de atividades. Eles permitem predizer alguns aspectos importantes das áreas de interface ainda durante o desenvolvimento projetual, principalmente no que se refere à adequação dimensional para populações específicas. Entretanto, apesar de expressivos, na forma em que são disponibilizados atualmente, estes dados acabam encontrando dificuldades para se difundir, principalmente dentro do setor produtivo onde a velocidade de produção e as exigências do empregador, muitas vezes fazem com que informações essenciais acabem sendo desconsideradas. Outra questão que se levanta refere-se à possível adequação e melhoria no processo de uso desse corpo de conhecimento para o dimensionamento dos projetos atuais, que em sua maioria, caminham para o desenvolvimento tridimensional em ambientes virtuais. Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo propor uma nova abordagem para autilização dos dados antropométricos de populações extremas, através do desenvolvimento de uma interface gráfica de consulta e manipulação, que divulgue e facilite o acesso às medidas, tabulações e parâmetros atualmente disponíveis, fornecendo também, referências e estudos tridimensionais com manequins antropométricos, dimensionalmente confiáveis, da população infantil e de idosos brasileiros, adequando-os desta forma ao contexto tecnológico atual de desenvolvimento de projeto / Abstract: Data anthropometrics are the principal parameters projects for the dimension of products and spaces of activities. They allow stilling predicting some important aspects of the interface areas during the development projects, mainly in what he/she refers to the dimensional adaptation for specific populations. However, in spite of expressive, in the form in that they are now available, these data end up having difficulties to diffuse, mainly inside of the productive section where the production speed and the demands of the employer, a lot of time do with that essential information end up being inconsiderate. Another subject that one lift refers to the possible adaptation and improvement in the process of use of that knowledge body for the dimension of the current projects, that in your majority, they walk for the three-dimensional development in virtual atmospheres. This research has for objetive to propose a new approach for use of the data anthropometrics of extreme populations, through the development of a graphic interface of consultation and manipulation, that it publishes and facilitate the acess now to the measure, tabulations and parameters available, also supplying, references and three-dimensional studies with dolls anthropometrics, reliable dimension, of the infantile population and of Brazilian senior, adapting them this way to the current technological context of project development / Mestre

This thesis examines the influence of inter-generational, early life and behavioural factors on adiposity in young adulthood. The work is based on 951 families who participated in the Barry Caerphilly Growth Study between 1972-9. Children in the study were followed-up at age 25-26 and invited to attend a clinic where anthropometric measurements were taken and details collected of current lifestyle. Their middle aged parents were followed-up for this research project; all parents were sent a health and lifestyle questionnaire and a sub-sample measured clinically. Parent and offspring variables were assessed in multivariable models to determine factors associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in young adulthood. Offspring variables included childhood adiposity from birth to age 5 and behaviours and social class at follow-up; parental variables included maternal BMI during pregnancy and parental adiposity in middle age. BMI at age 5 predicted later BMI, though the strength of the association was reduced after controlling for social class and parental BMI. An inverse relationship between age at puberty and later adiposity was explained by BMI at age 5. Size at birth was not significantly associated with later BMI, but children who were smaller at birth had a higher waist circumference at age 25-26. The BMI of both parents predicted their offspring's BMI in adulthood. Parental adiposity had little influence on offspring fat distribution. Few significant associations were found with parental or offspring behaviours. One exception was parental dietary restraint score; higher restraint was associated with lower BMI and waist circumference in females but not males. Thus, higher BMI around age 5 or higher parental BMI at any age, may identify individuals at risk of raised BMI in young adulthood. Size at birth may influence later fat distribution. Shared family attitudes to weight control may also be important in the development of adiposity.

Abstract Good postural stability is needed during most activities in daily life. Balance can be improved with specific training programmes in physiotherapy. The goals of treatment differ, depending on the subject's age and disorders. In clinical practice, postural stability is commonly evaluated by scaled functional tests or by recording body sway on a platform. On the basis of therapeutic modalities, information of separate movements of body segments would be important. The data might be useful in developing balance evaluation and training programmes in physiotherapy. The aim of this project was to present one method and to estimate its reliability and validity in studying the movements of separate body segments in postural control. In addition, the association between age, gender and anthropometric factors and the movements of separate body segments during quiet stance with the eyes open and closed were studied in a group of healthy subjects. A method was developed to measure the body movements during standing with a motion analysis system, and the reliability of body movement measurements was evaluated. The validity of the motion analysis measurements was evaluated to compare the balancing body measurements during stance on two legs and on one leg obtained with a motion analysis system and a platform. In cross-sectional studies, 100 healthy randomly selected subjects were stratified into ten groups (by age and gender). The body movements of all subjects standing on two legs with the eyes open and closed were measured using a motion analysis system and calculated as maximal and total movements. The movement velocities and accelerations were analysed and compared between the eyes open and eyes closed conditions. The associations between movement values and age and gender were analysed. In addition, the body anthropometrics of the subjects were measured and the relations between the body characteristics and the body balancing movements were calculated using regression analysis. The results showed that motion analysis can be used in measuring body movements in postural stability. Better reproducible balance measurement results are obtained with the total movement values than with the maximal amplitude values. In a comparison of the parameters used in a validity study, motion analysis and platform seemed to reflect the same aspect of balance, although the views of measurement were different. During standing on two legs with the eyes open, there was a statistically significant difference in the maximal anterior-posterior head movement and in the vertical navel movement between the age groups, but the results did not show other statistically significant differences between the balancing movements of separate body segments of the groups or between the balance measurement values of men and women in standing on two legs with the eyes open and closed. It seems that healthy female and male subjects control their stance with quite similar ranges of body adjustment. Body characteristics had slight but considerable effects on the variations of body balancing movements in standing on two legs with the eyes open, but almost none in the eyes-closed conditions. There were differences in the results between the male and female groups. In standing on two legs with the eyes closed, all the measured body parts except the ankles had significantly higher maximal velocity and acceleration values than in standing with the eyes open. The effect of visual information on balancing the body seems to be essential. The results indicated that the motion analysis system is also a useful tool in further balance studies, but the methods of analysis need to be developed. Postural stability should be evaluated and practised even in more demanding balance performances. Movement speed and the special role of each body part in maintaining balance should be paid attention.

No description available.

This research compared physical characteristics of bodybuilders to judges' rankings, and compared the judges' rankings across three levels of judges: Elite, Trained, and Untrained. Twenty-nine male and nine female bodybuilding athletes consented to anthropometric and circumference measurements. The independent variables in this study were bodyfat, fat-free weight, and proportionality of muscle. Three groups of judges ranked male and female athletes in the Open, Novice, Collegiate, and Masters divisions. The measurements of proportionality of muscle, bodyfat, girths, and fat-free weight were analyzed using simple and multiple regression. The judges' rankings in each class were compared using reliability coefficients, correlation, repeated measures analysis of variance, and the generalized theory for inter-rater reliability. There were significant correlations between the Elite judges' rankings and bodyfat in the Men's Open lightweight class. The Trained and Elite judges' rankings were significantly correlated with bodyfat in the Women's Novice class. Fat-free weight was significantly correlated with the Untrained and Elite judges' rankings in the Women's Novice division. Proportionality of muscle was significantly correlated with the Elite and Trained judges' rankings in the Men's Open lightweight class. Elite and Trained judges' rankings were significantly correlated with bodyfat and proportionality of muscle. All three groups of judges' were significantly correlated with the Overall rankings. The Trained judges' rankings were more correlated and more reliable with the Elite judges. The inter-rater reliability scores were higher for the Elite and Trained judges than for the Untrained judges. When fat-free weight was substituted for body weight in the calculation of proportionality of muscle, prediction of ranking was enhanced. The education session led to a significant disparity in judges' rankings between Trained and Untrained judges. Bodyfat appears to be a better selection variable when comparing physical measurements to judges' rankings in women. Proportionality of muscle is a better selection variable in predicting judges' rankings in men. Prediction models developed from this investigation need further testing. / Ph. D.

A child dies in road traffic crashes every fourth minute. Totally were 186 300 children under the age of 18 killed in vehicle accidents in 2012, even more were severely injured [1]. The World Health Organisation (WHO) could conclude that fatalities in traffic accidents are more likely to occur in low- to middle income countries compared to high income countries [1]. Finite element based human body models has enabled the increased understanding of kinematics and injury mechanisms of child occupants. These models sustain higher biofidelity than the previously used crash test dummies. The European project PIPER [6] had the aim to develop a model that, combined with a framework, would simplify positioning and also to offer a scalable HBM child model. The PIPER framework software and the scalable PIPER model offers child HBM:s within the ages 1.5-6-years old and is an useful tool for the analysis of child occupants.    The present study evaluates the kinematics and dummy responses of the 4- and 6-year old PIPER model evaluated. The objective of this master thesis is to evaluate the PIPER model with respect to its sensitivity to seat belt geometries, child restraint system, load cases and child anthropometrics. The aim of the master thesis is to get an increased comprehension of the PIPER model and its capability to evaluate occupant kinematics relevant for safety developments, with a special focus on seat belt geometry and interaction in frontal impacts.   The PIPER model showed good sensitivity to different seatbelt geometries regarding the abdominal part of the shoulder belt and to different CRS. The PIPER framework was perceived as hard to use and with the presence of errors. The kinematic response showed good accuracy compared to other previous studies with other crash test dummies however, reoccurring error termination could not be neglectable.    The PIPER model is limited to its ease to positioning in desired sitting postures within the PIPER framework. It is regardless of its disadvantages believed to be a suitable tool to further understand occupant kinematics, as for different belt routings, child anthropometrics and dummy responses are further studies needed to validate the outputs that the model offers and to conclude its robustness in crashworthiness tests.

Orientador: José Carlos Plácido da Silva / Banca: Luis Carlos Paschoarelli / Banca: Alberto De Vitta / Resumo: A população estudada na presente pesquisa foi de Idosos freqüentadores de atividades físicas em grupos da Terceira Idade na cidade de Bauru. A amostra foi composta por 190 sujeitos, sendo 140 mulheres e 50 homens, selecionados por conveniência. O objetivo do estudo foi reunir 27 variáveis antropométricas (16 em pé e 11 na postura sentada), mais o Índice de Massa Corpórea (IMC), de indivíduos com 50 anos ou mais de idade, verificando a viabilidade da formação de um Banco de Dados Antropométrico, elaborado a partir de levantamentos anteriores realizados pelos pesquisadores da FAAC – Depto. De Desenho Industrial (SILVA, 1995; PASCHOARELLI, 1997; QUEIROZ, 2000; VILLA, 2001). Como regra geral, o presente levantamento antropométrico ateve-se a idosos independentes de auxílio humano ou artificiais. De uma maneira bastante simples, mas abrangente, os resultados coletados foram apresentados em tabelas, nas quais cada variável estudada foi minuciosamente descrita, tanto quantitativa como qualitativamente. Após as observações sistemáticas e análises estatísticas, pode-se averiguar as evidências quanto às características físicas e antropométricas do envelhecimento humano, as possibilidades da utilização dos dados quantitativos apresentados e a necessidade de estudos aprofundados na área que subsidiem procedimentos metodológicos utilizados por pesquisadores e profissionais que investigam e concentram seus trabalhos em projetos, produtos e serviços específicos a população estudada, a pesquisa direcionou os resultados de forma quantitativa, expondo os dados em tabelas e descrevendo criteriosamente os parâmetros morfológicos individualmente. O estudo concentrou-se num levantamento antropométrico visando abranger a faixa etária mais ampla possível, no caso aqui, ateve-se dos 50 anos em diante, alcançado a marca dos 88 anos de idade, em ambos os gêneros. / Abstract: The present study sample comprised elderly attending physical activities in elderly groups in the city of Bauru. The sample included 190 individuals, being 140 females and 50 males, selected according to the convenience. The aim of the study was to gather 27 anthropometric variables (16 standing and 11 sitting), besides the Body Mass Index (BMI) of individuals aged 50 years or more, checking the viability of establishment of an Anthropometric Data Bank based on data of previous surveys performed by investigators of FAAC – Department of Industrial Design (SILVA 1995; PASCHOARELLI 1997; QUEIROZ 2000; VILLA 2001). In general, the present anthropometric investigation was limited to elderly individuals who did not depend on human or artificial aid. In a simple yet thorough manner, the results were presented in tables, in which each variable was described in detail both quantitatively and qualitatively. After systematic observations and statistical analyses, the evidences of physical and anthropometric characteristics of human aging were observed, as well as the possibilities of utilization of the quantitative data presented and the need of deeper studies in the field to provide a basis for methodological procedures employed by investigators and professionals addressing specific projects, products or services specifically for this population; the study directed the results in a quantitative manner, presenting the data in tables and carefully describing the morphological parameters individually. The study focused on an anthropometric survey to include the widest age range as possible, which in the present case was above 50 years, reaching 88 years in both genders. / Mestre