Background: The multiplicities of factors, which may contribute to injury from sporting activity, and the complexity of the relations among them, indicate that identifying causal mechanisms poses a challenge to epidemiologists. The identification of risk factors associated with the effect of the injury on subsequent participation may be as important in understanding how to reduce the burden of injuries on sports participants, as identifying factors associated with the injury incidence rate. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a biomechanical, antbropometrical, physical, motor and injury epidemiology profile for elite U/19 rugby players. Design: A prospective cohort study. Subiects: In this study 77 elite rugby players were used during the first testing episode (October 2005). These players had just completed their school career and were selected to form part of the Rugby Institute of the University of North West. The U/19 first team members were (n = 31) tested again in July 2006. Two different profiles were established. Method: Once approval had been granted by both the players and by the Rugby Institute of the North West University, the players were submitted to a test battery. Anthropometric, Physical and Motor tests were done at the beginning of the season and the players re-tested at the end of the season. A Biomechanical and Postural Evaluation was done once-off at the beginning of the season. The necessary steps were taken to address existing shortcomings identified in the test subjects. After the results had been analysed, individual programmes were formulated, explained and implemented. The aim was to minimize the possible risk areas indicated by screening. Results: The results were statistically processed, recorded and compared with previous literature studies, according to both the total group and the different player positions - these are the tight five, the loose forwards, the halfbacks and the backs. The Anthropometrical, Physical and Motor testings showed a low or nil practical significant difference for the total group after a season of professional training and coaching, with slight differences between the player groups. The Biomechanical and Postural Evaluation proved the group to be dynamically overloaded with poor regional stability and musculature as far as the upper and lower limbs were concerned, with asymmetry and weak core stability of the spinal and pelvic region. A total of 184 injuries were reported over the season, with the lower limbs (58%) and upper limbs (23%) as the most commonly injured body parts; and sprains (22%) and strains (17%) the type of injury which occurred most often. The tight five (32%) had the highest injury rate, with the flanker (13%) the least injured player position. Conclusion: A profile for elite U/19 rugby players has been determined. This profile can be implemented in conjunction with similar findings in existing literature for future guidelines by coaches and the management to select a better team, to ensure a higher quality of performance and to prevent injuries. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Human Systems Integration Capstone / Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Current ejection seat certified aircrew weight ranges (136 to 213 lbs.), such as for the F/A-18, prohibited over one third (38%) of women and (8%) of men from accessing the naval aviation strike pipeline (carrierbased aviation) between 2008 and 2013. This is deleterious to the Naval Aviation Enterprise to restrict access of otherwise qualified and talented applicants to the strike aviation pipeline due to an outdated anthropometric survey based specification. The acceptable level of risk that was utilized by the Naval Aviation Systems Command was overly conservative and needs to be updated to align with current operational risk management principles, actual ejection seat performance mishap data and the naval aviation anthropometric population. This research is a deep exploration of all aspects of this issue and makes recommendations that can be used by Commander of Naval Air Forces in establishing an operational weight limit for all ejection seat aircraft.

Background: Globally, the number of schoolboy adolescents playing highly competitive rugby is increasing even in countries such as Zimbabwe hardly known for dominating international rugby events. Given the increased participation rates, burgeoning talent identification and recruitment programs and the reportedly high injury risk associated with competitive youth rugby in Zimbabwe and globally, the minimal qualities or skills defining good male adolescent rugby players need further clarification. This study assembled a testing battery and compared the anthropometric variables, physiological characteristics and rugby-specific game skills of Zimbabwean schoolboys to identify qualities and/or skills discriminating elite from sub-elite male adolescent rugby players and non-rugby players within and between Under 16 (U16) and U19 age categories. Methods: This study was structured in three phases. Phase I developed the School Clinical Rugby Measure (SCRuM) test battery based on amalgamated information derived from narrative literature review, qualitative study and two systematic reviews. Using mixed methods sequential explanatory study designs, Phase II refined the test battery through the evaluation of face and logical validity using key informants (n=5) and rugby experts (n=20), respectively. Subsequently, rugby coaches (n=30) assessed the practical feasibility of implementing each SCRuM test item in the local context considering test equipment, procedural and acceptability issues. Phase III evaluated the test-retest reliability of each SCRuM test item among a sample of elite U16s (n=41) and U19s (n=41). The final study in Phase III compared cross-sectional test performances of 208 athletes from different playing standards and age category to identify SCRuM test items discriminating (i) older (U19) players from younger (U16) players regardless of playing standards, and (ii) elite from both sub-elite and nonrugby players regardless of age. Results: Phase I produced the first version of the SCRuM test battery with 23 variables. Phase II reduced the constituent components to 15 variables. The test-retest reliability study showed high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC>0.70) for all SCRuM test items except for the 5-m, 10-m speed tests and passing-for-accuracy test. Age category had a significant main effect on all SCRuM test items except for sum of seven skinfolds (p=0.45, η2 p=0.003). Playing standard had a significant main effect ii on all variables except for height (p=0.40, η2 p=0.01) and sum of seven skinfolds (p=0.11, η2 p =0.02). Upper-and-lower body muscular strength and power, prolonged high-intensity intermittent running ability, repeated high-intensity exercise performance ability, tackling, passing and catching significantly improved with increasing playing standards. However, the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test, vertical jump test, tackling proficiency test and running-and-catching ability skills test demonstrated greater discriminative ability across playing standards among U16s. The 40-m speed test, 2-kg medicine ball chest throw test, repeated high-intensity exercise test, one-repetition maximum bench press and back squat tests, and passing ability skills test showed better discriminative validity for differentiating U19s by playing standards. Conclusion: Irrespective of playing standard and consistent with previous studies, all SCRuM test items significantly increased with age except for skinfolds measures. These results highlight the sensitivity of component SCRuM test items in discriminating younger (U16s) from older (U19s) athletes. U16 coaches should consider these differences when designing training interventions to assist with the development of prospective U19 players. However, prolonged high-intensity intermittent running ability, lower-body muscular power, tackling proficiency and running-andcatching ability demonstrated greater discriminative ability among U16s only, indicating a possible link to higher playing standards for that age category. Upper-body muscular power, upper-and-lowerbody muscular strength, 40-m sprinting ability, repeated high-intensity exercise performance ability, and passing ability significantly improved with playing standards among U19s, highlighting the physiological characteristics and game skills capable of differentiating elite male adolescent rugby players from both sub-elite or non-rugby players at that age category. Collectively, these findings provide insight to the high school rugby coaches into the qualities and skills contextually relevant for training for the attainment of higher playing standards in schoolboy rugby at distinct age categories.

<p>Current evidence suggests that both prediabetes and diabetes can reverse to normoglycemia; however, predictors of remission of these conditions are poorly understood. We performed analyses on 1,209 people with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance treated with placebo rosiglitazone and placebo ramipril in the DREAM trial. Normoglycemia was defined as a fasting plasma glucose <5.6 mmol/L and 2-hour plasma glucose <7.8 mmol/L on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).</p> <p>The effects of baseline ALT and waist to hip ratio (WHR) on regression of prediabetes to normoglycemia 2 years later were found to be interdependent (p-value for interaction 0.01). Adjusted odds ratios ORs (95% CI) of regression to normoglycemia per 10 U/L increase in ALT were 0.79 (0.66-0.94) when WHR was at the mean minus 1 standard deviation (SD), 0.90 (0.80-1.02) when WHR was at the mean of 0.91, and 1.03 (0.90-1.18) when WHR was at the mean plus 1 SD. Adjusted ORs of regression to normoglycemia per 0.1 unit increase in WHR were 0.75 (0.60-0.95) when ALT was at the mean minus 1 SD, 0.91 (0.76-1.08) when ALT was at the mean of 25 U/L, and 1.09 (0.89-1.35) when ALT was at the mean plus 1 SD.</p> <p>Similarly, the effects of baseline ALT and WHR on AUC_{glucose0-120 min} obtained from the OGTT were found to be interdependent (p-value for interaction 0.056). A 10 U/L increase in ALT was associated with an adjusted AUC_{glucose0-120 min} increase of 19.5 (95% CI 5.3 to 33.7) min*mmol/L when WHR was at the mean minus 1 SD, 11.0 (1.4 to 20.6) min*mmol/L when WHR was at the mean of 0.91, and 2.5 (-9.2 to 14.1) min*mmol/L when WHR was at the mean plus 1 SD. A 0.1 unit increase in WHR was associated with an adjusted AUC_{glucose0-120 min} increase of 30.3 (10.2 to 50.3) min*mmol/L when ALT was at the mean minus 1 SD, 18.3 (3.8-32.9) min*mmol/L when ALT was at the mean of 25 U/L, and 6.4 (-11.5 to 24.3) min*mmol/L when ALT was at the mean plus 1 SD.</p> <p>In conclusion, high baseline ALT and WHR predict a lower likelihood of regression of prediabetes to normoglycemia and an increase in AUC_{glucose0-120 min} 2 years later; however, the effects of ALT and WHR on these outcomes are interdependent.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Early life factors play important roles in disease susceptibility in later life. However, the relationship between dietary factors in early life on childhood growth, especially linear growth, remains unclear. This research aimed to improve our understanding of the associations between dietary factors in early life (i.e., infant feeding practices and age of introduction of solid foods) and childhood growth, especially using ulnar length as a surrogate measure of length/height, in a cross-sectional study of 1634 mother-child dyads across eight study centers in the National Children's Study Formative Research in Anthropometry in the United States from 2011-2012 (Chapter 1). Chapter 2 described the data acquisition and preprocessing procedures used in this research and provide practical guidelines of data quality control. In Chapter 3, predictive models for exclusive breastfeeding (XBR) initiation and duration was developed. Discriminant analysis revealed maternal sociodemographic factors had greater discriminating abilities to predict XBR initiation and XBR for 6 months, compared to child birth characteristics and maternal perinatal factors. Chapter 4 demonstrated that ulnar length can serve as an accurate and reliable surrogate measure of recumbent length in healthy infants/children aged 0-1.9 years and of height in healthy children aged 2-5.9 years, respectively. Bland-Altman plots and mixed-effects linear regression analyses showed that the three simple and portable tools (i.e., caliper, ruler, and grid) used to measure ulnar length could be used interchangeably in terms of prediction accuracy. Chapter 5 focused on assessing the interplay among gestational weight gain (GWG), birthweight, infant feeding practices, and childhood anthropometrics. Longer duration of breastfeeding reduced the positive associations of GWG and birthweight with weight-for-age z-scores, weight-for-height/length z-scores, and body mass index-for age z-scores in non-Hispanic Whites. These findings underscore the importance of promoting breastfeeding among women with excessive GWG to mitigate childhood obesity. Longer breastfeeding and a later age at introduction of solid foods had positive effects on ulnar length, a linear growth parameter of upper extremity, in Hispanics. Future prospective research aiming to investigate the underlying mechanisms that drive ethnic variation in these associations between early life dietary factors and childhood growth is warranted (Chapter 6). / text

The overall aim of this thesis was to assess measurement properties of methods suitable for screening or monitoring of physical capacity and physical activity in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore factors associated with physical activity levels. Methods: Four observational studies were conducted. Participants in studies I-III (sample sizes) (n=49, n=15, n=73) were recruited from specialist clinics, and in study IV from a population-based cohort (COPD n=470 and Non-COPD n=659). Psychometric properties of methods assessing physical capacity (study I) and physical activity (study II) were investigated in laboratory settings. Daily physical activity and clinical characteristics were assessed with objective methods (study III) and with subjective methods (study IV). Results: Physical capacity as measured by walking speed during a 30-metre walk test displayed high test-retest correlations (ICC&gt;0.87) and small measurement error. The accuracy for step count and body positions differed between activity monitors and direct observations. In study III 92% of subjects had an activity level below what is recommended in guidelines. Forty five percent of subjects’ activity could be accounted for by clinical characteristics with lung function (22.5%), walking speed (10.1%), quadriceps strength (7.0%) and fat-free mass index (3.0%) being significant predictors. In study IV, low physical activity was significantly more prevalent in COPD subjects from GOLD grade ≥II than among Non-COPD subjects (22.4 vs. 14.6%, p = 0.016). The strongest factors associated with low activity in COPD subjects were a history of heart disease, OR (CI 95%) 2.11 (1.10-4.08) and fatigue, OR 2.33 (1.31-4.13) while obesity was the only significant factor in Non-COPD subjects, OR 2.26 (1.17-4.35). Conclusion: The 30 meter walk test and activity monitors are useful when assessing physical capacity and physical activity, respectively in patients with COPD. Impaired physical activity in severe COPD is related to low lung function, low walking speed, low muscle strength and altered body composition, whereas comorbidities and fatigue are linked to insufficient physical activity in patients with moderately severe COPD.

No description available.

No description available.

Submitted by Kamila Costa (kamilavasconceloscosta@gmail.com) on 2015-06-12T18:44:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento.pdf: 953270 bytes, checksum: 7bcfb7a650507ae46cf903137a77cc69 (MD5) Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento 1.pdf: 105067 bytes, checksum: 3983e46cb592271ad45ac9cefbcf5bc6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-15T17:46:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento.pdf: 953270 bytes, checksum: 7bcfb7a650507ae46cf903137a77cc69 (MD5) Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento 1.pdf: 105067 bytes, checksum: 3983e46cb592271ad45ac9cefbcf5bc6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-15T17:51:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento.pdf: 953270 bytes, checksum: 7bcfb7a650507ae46cf903137a77cc69 (MD5) Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento 1.pdf: 105067 bytes, checksum: 3983e46cb592271ad45ac9cefbcf5bc6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-15T17:51:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento.pdf: 953270 bytes, checksum: 7bcfb7a650507ae46cf903137a77cc69 (MD5) Dissertação-Ozanildo V do Nascimento 1.pdf: 105067 bytes, checksum: 3983e46cb592271ad45ac9cefbcf5bc6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-08-30 / BASA - Banco da Amazônia / The present study evaluated Athletes Amazonenses Nutritional State, participants of the program Amazon Champion 2005. The descriptive and traverse research was constituted of 90 voluntary adult athletes of the masculine gender of different sporting modalities classified as athletes of high income. In the diagnosis of the nutritional state they were used measured anthropometrics and of the body composition. To diagnose the anemia the hemoglobin dosage it was used. In the obtaining of the information of the basic pattern of the feeding addressed questionnaire was used, to the frequency of the daily, weekly and monthly alimentary consumption trying to identify the dietary behavior. In the analysis of IMC the overweight presence was evidenced in 47,8%, mainly among the youngest athletes. For to you varied related with the caloric reservation, 94, .4% of the athletes presented deficits, having declined of his/her intensity in function of the ages. In the reservation protease 34, 4% presented an inadequacy profile among the athletes having a lineal influence in function of the ages. Those results evidence divergence in the values of the variables anthropometrics in function of the different modalities. Anemia occurrence was not verified. independently of the investigated age group. The investigation of the socioeconomic factors evidenced that the athletes in his/her majority are constituted by bachelors, studying the fundamental teaching gaining an income monthly medium equal or superior to 2 minimum wages. In the decisive factors of the athletes' relatives' health significant values of occurrence of degenerative chronic diseases were registered. The alimentary pattern characterized as main foods of origin protein and carbohydrate, being incorrect his/her consumption, delineating like this a diet that can interfere in the health and those athletes' performance / O presente estudo avaliou do Estado Nutricional dos Atletas Adultos Amazonenses, participantes do programa Amazonas Campeão 2005. A pesquisa descritiva e transversal foi constituída de 90 atletas adultos voluntários do gênero masculino de diferentes modalidades esportivas classificados como atletas de alto rendimento. No diagnóstico do estado nutricional foram utilizadas medidas antropométricas e da composição corporal. Para diagnosticar a anemia utilizou-se a dosagem de hemoglobina. Na obtenção das informações do padrão básico da alimentação foi utilizado questionário direcionado, à freqüência do consumo alimentar diário, semanal e mensal procurando identificar o comportamento dietético. Na análise do IMC ficou evidenciado a presença de sobrepeso em 47,8%, principalmente entre os atletas mais jovens. Para as variáveis relacionadas com a reserva calórica, 94,4% dos atletas apresentaram déficits, havendo declíneo da sua intensidade em função das idades. Na reserva protéica 34, 4% apresentaram um perfil de inadequação entre os atletas havendo uma influência linear em função das idades. Esses resultados evidenciam divergências nos valores das variáveis antropométricas em função das diferentes modalidades. Não se constatou ocorrência de anemia, independentemente da faixa etária investigada. A investigação dos fatores socioeconômicos evidenciou que os atletas na sua maioria é constituída por solteiros, cursando o ensino fundamental auferindo uma renda média mensal igual ou superior a 2 salários mínimos. Nos fatores determinantes da saúde dos familiares dos atletas foram registrados valores significativos de ocorrência de doenças crônicas degenerativas. O padrão alimentar caracterizou como principais alimentos os de origem protéica e carboidratos, sendo incorreto seu consumo, delineando assim uma dieta que pode interferir na saúde e performance desses atletas.

ABSTRACT Background: Recent literature suggests preschool children regardless of income, age, ethnicity, and gender are subject to future cardiometabolic risk. Dietary intake, when analyzed can indicate diversity and lack of meeting adequate nutrient standards. A combination of anthropometric and blood analysis with dietary intake assessment can provide practitioners the knowledge for adequate early nutrition intervention and education. Objectives: This descriptive, cross-sectional study describes the relationship between dietary intake and cardiometabolic indicators in preschool children. There is also a comparison of mean subject values and referenced national standards. Study Sample: Four hundred seventy-one preschool children, between the ages of three and five, and parents were recruited via the Head Start program in seven different rural schools in Northeast Florida. Each parent was provided an Individual Dietary Diversity Score questionnaire. Children underwent blood sampling from a finger prick to assess lipids, glucose, hemoglobin and hematocrit. Body measurements including height, weight, waist circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, and blood pressure were taken. Statistical Analysis: Variables of interest were uploaded into SPSS software for quantitative analysis. Means and standard deviations were calculated for the continuous variables and frequencies and percent were calculated for the categorical variables. One-way analysis of variance was used to assess the relationship between the cardiometabolic variables as dependent variables and the dichotomous explanatory variables. One-sample t-tests were used to compare the mean values of the cardiometabolic variables with national standards by age and gender. Results: Of the 471 subjects, 86 assessed via one-way ANOVA showed that lower diversity scores were significantly associated with lower blood triglycerides and higher hemoglobin (n = 137) and hematocrit % (n = 65) levels. Higher 100% fruit juice consumption was significantly associated with lower triglyceride levels. A higher intake of fresh vegetables was significantly associated with lower waist circumference and lower sagittal abdominal diameter. A higher soda consumption was significantly associated with greater waist circumference, greater sagittal abdominal diameter and higher triglyceride levels. When the cardiometabolic parameters in the study sample were compared with national standards, it was found that the height of study subjects was shorter (cm) than national standards for males and females. Waist circumference of 4 and 5-year-old males was smaller (cm) than national standards, BMI of 4-year-old females was lower than national standards, blood pressure in both male and female subject age groups was higher (mmHg) than national standards, and hematocrit % in both males and females was a higher percentage than national standards. Conclusion: This study does support the belief that a diet with a higher intake of fresh vegetables, fruits and 100% fruit juice and a lower consumption of sugary beverages such as soda promotes a decrease in body composition, specifically measurements of adiposity around the abdominal area. Lowering abdominal adiposity decreases cardiometabolic risk.