Objective: This cross-sectional study sought to conduct a spatially analysis of the distribution of dental caries and the nutritional status (NS) of 5-year-old preschool children of public schools in the city of Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: The sample was selected in a stratified probabilistic manner. A dental examination was conducted to investigate the dmft index. The anthropometric indicators of the weight/ height (W/H), height/age (H/A), weight/age (W/ A) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated to estimate the NS. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted and a thematic map was created. At the end of the study 491 children had full address codification. A GPS device was used to ascertain the geographic reference points. A pluridirectional semi-variogram was elaborated. Results: It was revealed that both variables presented a pure nugget effect showing the absence of a spatial correlation, in other words the dmft and nutritional status are not regionalized variables, and their values do not reveal direct spatial dependence. Conclusions: Dental caries and nutritional status are health conditions that do not reveal spatial dependence. Ultimately, the combination of these indicators with others can produce spatial dependence effects.

Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivos: 1) analisar a associac¸ão do estado maturacional com o desempenho nas provas de coordenac¸ão motora em crianc¸as e 2) examinar se a relac¸ão entre o estado maturacional e o desempenho no KTK é mediada por alguma medida antropométrica. Métodos: A amostra de conveniência foi composta por 73 crianc¸as do sexo masculino com 8 anos. A antropometria considerou a estatura, massa corporal, altura sentado, o perímetro de cintura, índice de massa corporal, as estimativas de massa gorda e massa livre de gordura. A maturac¸ão biológica foi avaliada pelo percentual da estatura matura predita. A coordenac¸ão motora foi testada pela bateria Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. Foi feita a correlac¸ão parcial entre as medidas antropométricas, z-escore da maturac¸ão e as provas de coordenac¸ão motora, com controle para idade cronológica. Por último, a análise de mediac¸ão causal foi feita. Resultados: Estatura, massa corporal, perímetro de cintura e massa gorda apresentaram correlac¸ão inversa de magnitude pequena a moderada com as provas de coordenac¸ão motora. A maturac¸ão biológica associou-se significativamente à prova de equilíbrio em marcha à retaguarda (r=−0,34). Foi identificada mediac¸ão total do perímetro de cintura na relac¸ão do estado maturacional com o equilíbrio em marcha à retaguarda (77%). Conclusões: Foi possível identificar a associac¸ão entre o estado físico maturacional e o desem-penho em uma prova de bateria de coordenac¸ão motora em crianc¸as do sexo masculino e, ainda,afirmar que há mediac¸ão do perímetro de cintura. Recomenda-se que estudos sejam feitos comindivíduos de outras idades e do sexo feminino.

The main purpose of this study was to follow-up the intra- and inter-individual variability of young swimmers' performance and determinant factors over two competitive seasons. Thirty young swimmers (14 boys: 12.33±0.65 years-old; 16 girls: 11.15±0.55 years-old) were followed-up throughout two consecutive seasons (seven evaluation moments). Performance (100m freestyle), anthropometric, kinematic, hydrodynamic and efficiency features were evaluated. A gender and skill-level effect was observed. Boys improved in a higher amount (%) comparing to girls. Overall, swimmers in skill-level 2 (both genders) presented a higher intra-individual variability. Performance and anthropometrics showed a significant inter-individual variability in most moments, but hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency did not. Within each skill-level hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency were the variables that showed a high inter-individual variability. As a gender and skill-level effect was noticed in an age-group of young swimmers, coaches and practitioners should put the focus in specific and customized training plans for each skill-level of swimmers.

To develop a performance predictor model based on swimmers’ biomechanical profile, relate the partial contribution of the main predictors with the training program, and analyze the time effect, sex effect, and time × sex interaction. 91 swimmers (44 boys, 12.04 ± 0.81 y; 47 girls, 11.22 ± 0.98 y) evaluated during a 3-y period. The decimal age and anthropometric, kinematic, and efficiency features were collected 10 different times over 3 seasons (ie, longitudinal research). Hierarchical linear modeling was the procedure used to estimate the performance predictors. Performance improved between season 1 early and season 3 late for both sexes (boys 26.9% [20.88;32.96], girls 16.1% [10.34;22.54]). Decimal age (estimate [EST] –2.05, P < .001), arm span (EST –0.59, P < .001), stroke length (EST 3.82; P = .002), and propelling efficiency (EST –0.17, P = .001) were entered in the final model. Over 3 consecutive seasons young swimmers’ performance improved. Performance is a multifactorial phenomenon where anthropometrics, kinematics, and efficiency were the main determinants. The change of these factors over time was coupled with the training plans of this talent identification and development program.

The main purpose of this study was to follow-up the intra- and inter-individual variability of young swimmers’ performance and determinant factors over two competitive seasons. Thirty young swimmers (14 boys: 12.33±0.65 years -old; 16 girls: 11.15±0.55 years-old) were followed-up throughout two consecutive seasons (seven evaluation moments). Performance (100m freestyle), anthropometric, kinematic, hydrodynamic and efficiency features were evaluated. A gender and skill-level effect was observed. Boys improved in a higher amount (%) comparing to girls. Overall, swimmers in skill-level 2 (both genders) presented a higher intra-individual variability. Performance and anthropometrics showed a significant inter-individual variability in most moments, but hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency did not. Within each skill-level hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency were the variables that showed a high inter-individual va- riability. As a gender and skill-level effect was noticed in an age-group of young swimmers, coaches and practitioners should put the focus in specific and customized training plans for each skill-level of swimmers

The aim of this study was to analyse the detraining process that occurs during a season break, and its influence on the performance, anthropometrics, and biomechanics of young swimmers. The sample included 54 young swimmers (22 boys: 12.79 +/- 0.71 years; 32 girls: 11.78 +/- 0.85 years). Performance for the 100 m freestyle and anthropometric and biomechanical variables were evaluated as main determinants. Performance impaired significantly for boys (2.17%) and girls (1.91%). All anthropometric variables increased between moments of assessment for boys and girls. Overall, the boys enhanced all biomechanical variables during the detraining period, and girls showed mixed results. For both sexes, the stroke index was the variable with the highest increase (boys: Delta = 16.16%; d = 0.89; p = 0.001; girls: Delta = 19.51%; d = 1.06; p = 0.002). Hierarchical linear modelling showed that the height retained the amount of impairment in the performance. One unit of increase in the height (cm) led to less 0.41 s impairment in the performance. Present data indicated that during an 11-weeks detraining period, young swimmers impaired their performance, but the determinant factors showed an impaired relationship. This increase in the determinant factors is mainly related to the increase in the swimmers' anthropometrics. Moreover, the increase in height was responsible for retaining the performance impairment.

The aim of the current study was to develop a structural equation modeling (i.e., path-flow analysis model) for active drag force based on anthropometric, hydrodynamic and biomechanical variables in young swimmers. The theoretical model was developed according to main review papers about these determinants. Sixteen male swimmers (12.50±0.51 years-old; Tanner stages’ 1-2) were evaluated. It was assessed: (i) anthropometrical variables such as body mass, height, frontal surface area; (ii) hydrodynamic variables including drag coefficient and active drag with the velocity perturbation method; (iii) the biomechanical variables stroke length, stroke frequency and swimming velocity after a maximal 25-m bout. Path-flow analysis was performed with the estimation of linear regression standardized coefficients between exogenous and endogenous variables. To verify the model fit, root mean square residual was computed. The active drag presented significant association with all exogenous variables, except for stroke length and stroke frequency. Confirmatory model excluded the frontal surface area (RMSR>0.1). Even so, 95% of active drag was explained by remaining variables in the model. Confirmatory path-flow model can be considered as not suitable of the theory. In order to increase the model fit, in a near future it is advice to develop new frontal surface area estimation equations specific for young swimmers rather than using models developed with adult/elite swimmers.

Portugal's real income per head grew by a factor of eight during the second half of the twentieth century, a period of fast convergence towards Western European living standards. We use a new sample of about 3,400 infants and children living in Lisbon to document trends in the prevalence of stunting and wasting between 1906 and 1994. We find that stunting and wasting fell quickly from around 1950, for both males and females. We additionally use a sample of more than 26,000 young adult males covering the entire country, which shows a consistent decrease in wasting and stunting with the expected time lag. We discuss these trends in relation to changes in income and public policy, which affected the ontogenetic environment of children. Sustained progress began well before the introduction of democracy.

Anthropometry has been used extensively for designing safe and sustainable products and workplaces. However, it is common that designers need straightforward guidelines and dimensions, which they often lack, for specific design situations. Anthropometric data are usually presented in tables that summarize percentile values, separated by gender, of a specific population, which makes it difficult for designers to generate applications for mixed populations, such as industrial settings. Using a recently collected anthropometric database of Chilean workers (male and female), international standards of dimensions for working height, depth, and ideal manual handling height are tested with univariate and bivariate methods. Alternative dimensions are presented for both adjustable and non-adjustable designs. Additionally, procedures to combine samples, and for knowing how many users match with a particular design are explained using the sample data. As expected, adjustable designs proved to match with higher numbers of users, while non-adjustable dimensions recommended by ISO presented low levels of matching. Furthermore, the non-adjustable design achieved 83% of matching, which increased to the desired levels (90%) with the inclusion of a 50 mm increase platform. Finally, the Z-Score equation proved to be a useful tool to know the percentages of the population that are matched with a particular design dimension. Relevance for the industry: Dimensions for working height, depth, and ideal manual handling heights, which are currently not available, are provided for Chilean workers. A method to determine the matching percentage in a population is explained, in order to assess matching probabilities when having only summarized anthropometric tables and the dimensions for the design itself.

This paper describes the development of ergonomic clothing suitable for the corporal characteristics of the care-dependent elderly women at four institutions: two located in the city of Guimaraes (Portugal) and two in the city of Teresina (Brazil). The prototypes were developed based on the needs of the elderly according to some functional factors as well as their physical conditions, aiming at easier handling by the caregiver and comfort for the user. Below, the functional properties of the applied fabrics and accessories, the modeling process, and the garment assembly are described.