Body Proportions Research Articles

Survodutide for treatment of obesity: rationale and design of two randomized phase 3 clinical trials (SYNCHRONIZE™-1 and -2).

The objective of this study was to describe the rationale and design of two multinational phase 3 clinical trials of survodutide, an investigational glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor dual agonist for the treatment of obesity with or without type 2 diabetes (T2D; SYNCHRONIZE-1 and -2). In these ongoing double-blind trials, participants were randomized to once-weekly subcutaneous injections of survodutide or placebo added to lifestyle modification. Survodutide doses are uptitrated to 3.6 or 6.0 mg, and dose flexibility is permitted. Participants (n = 726) in SYNCHRONIZE-1 (NCT06066515) have a baseline BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2 with at least one obesity-related complication but without T2D; participants (n = 755) in SYNCHRONIZE-2 (NCT06066528) have a baseline BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 and T2D. The primary endpoints are percentage change in body weight and proportion of participants achieving ≥5% body weight reduction from baseline to week 76. Secondary endpoints include change in systolic blood pressure and measures of glycemia. A SYNCHRONIZE-1 substudy is evaluating changes in body composition and liver fat content using magnetic resonance imaging. These trials are designed to provide robust evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of survodutide for the treatment of obesity in the presence or absence of T2D.

Shell Constraints on Evolutionary Body Size-Limb Size Allometry Can Explain Morphological Conservatism in the Turtle Body Plan.

Turtles are a small clade of vertebrates despite having existed since the Late Triassic. Turtles have a conservative body plan relative to other amniotes, characterized by the presence of a shell and quadrupedality. This morphology is even retained in strong ecological specialists, such as sea turtles, which are secondarily adapted to marine locomotion by strong allometric scaling in their hands. It is possible that the body plan of turtles is strongly influenced by the presence of the shell, acting as a constraint to achieving greater diversity of body forms. Here, we explore the evolutionary allometric relationships of fore- and hindlimb stylopodia (i.e., humerus and femur) with one another as well as their relationship with shell size (carapace length) to assess evidence of constraint. All turtles, including Triassic shelled stem turtles, have near-isometric relationships that do not vary strongly between clades, and evolve at slow evolutionary rates. This indeed indicates that body proportions of turtles are constrained to a narrow range of possibilities. Minor allometric deviations are seen in highly aquatic sea turtles and softshell turtles, which modified their shells by bone losses. Our allometric regressions allow accurate body size estimations for fossils. Several independent sea turtle lineages converged on maximum sizes of 2.2 m of shell length, which may be a biological maximum for the group.

The Effects of War-Related Stress on Human Development: Differences in Body Proportions of Polish Women Born Before and During World War II.

This study aims to explore the lasting effects of stress experienced by pregnant women during World War II (WWII) on body and head measurements of their adult daughters. The research sample consists of 336 female university students born in Poland between 1925 and 1951. The data include body measurements and socioeconomic information (parental occupation and number of siblings) acquired from questionnaires collected between the 1950s and 1970s. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test and Analysis of Variance were used to analyze differences in body measurements between groups of women born before and during the war, as well as the possible influences of socioeconomic variables. The mean measurements of body height, symphysion height, and waist circumference were lower in women conceived and born during the war compared to those born in the pre-war period. In contrast, the mean measurements of biacromial (shoulder) width, trunk length, and three head dimensions were higher in women conceived and born during the war. Additionally, the number of siblings appeared to be a significant factor that may have influenced the body measurements of women in both groups. For instance, a higher number of living siblings, particularly sisters, was associated with reduced body dimensions, such as body height and waist circumference, while a greater number of deceased siblings was linked to an increase in certain body dimensions. The results suggest that war-related prenatal conditions may have influenced the postnatal growth and development of women conceived and born during the war. Notably, the direction of these changes varied, which indicates that the growth response to the war-related conditions was a complex adaptation, reflecting both positive and negative changes in different body parts, rather than a uniform pattern of growth suppression.

Assessment of Physiological Signals from Photoplethysmography Sensors Compared to an Electrocardiogram Sensor: A Validation Study in Daily Life.

Wearables with photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors are being increasingly used in clinical research as a non-invasive, inexpensive method for remote monitoring of physiological health. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of PPG-derived measurements is critical, as inaccuracies can impact research findings and clinical decisions. This paper systematically compares heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) measures from PPG against an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor in free-living settings. Two devices with PPG and one device with an ECG sensor were worn by 25 healthy volunteers for 10 days. PPG-derived HR and HRV showed reasonable accuracy and reliability, particularly during sleep, with mean absolute error < 1 beat for HR and 6-15 ms for HRV. The relative error of HRV estimated from PPG varied with activity type and was higher than during the resting state by 14-51%. The accuracy of HR/HRV was impacted by the proportion of usable data, body posture, and epoch length. The multi-scale peak and trough detection algorithm demonstrated superior performance in detecting beats from PPG signals, with an F1 score of 89% during sleep. The study demonstrates the trade-offs of utilizing PPG measurements for remote monitoring in daily life and identifies optimal use conditions by recommending enhancements.

The Prevalence of Specific Learning Difficulties in Higher Education: A Study of UK Universities Across 12 Academic Years.

Specific learning and attention difficulties are often first identified in childhood, but they can cause lifelong academic and occupational challenges. We explored the prevalence of these difficulties and the representation of sex and ethnicity amongst all first-year students in UK higher education across 12 years-almost 5.7 million students-and compared course preferences and University destinations of those with and without difficulties. Students declaring learning/attention difficulties were more likely to be White or of Mixed ethnicity and least likely to be Asian. They were more likely to attend specialist HE institutions or newer universities, and more likely to study courses in creative arts and design, agriculture and architecture than law, languages, computer science, and mathematical sciences. The number of students declaring difficulties has increased year on year, in actual terms and as a proportion of the student body, suggesting that efforts to increase diversity and inclusion have been successful. However, differences remain between students with and without learning/attention difficulties in terms of ethnicity, subjects studied, and HE institutions attended, so more needs to be done to identify and address reasons for this. While this paper reports data from UK students, it addresses an international question and invites similar explorations of other national datasets.

Comparative study of the body proportions in Elephantidae and other large herbivorous mammals.

In this study, we aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) to precisely characterize the body plans ofElephantidae and other large herbivorous mammals; (2) based on this analysis, to determine whether the body plans of the extinct woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and steppe mammoth (M. trogontherii) differ from those of modern-day Elephantidae: the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the African bush (Loxodonta africana), and forest (L. cyclotis) elephants; (3) to analyze how the body plans have changed in extant perissodactyls and proboscideans compared with their Paleogene ancestors. To accomplish this, we studied mammoth skeletons from the collections of Russian museums and compared this data with a large number of skeletons of extant elephantids, odd-toed, and even-toed ungulates, as well as their extinct relatives. We showed that three genera of Elephantidae are characterized by a homogeneous body plan, which is markedly different from other large herbivores. Elephantids break the interrelationship, that exists in artiodactyls and perissodactyls, between the total length of the head and neck on one side and the limb's segments on the other. Their limbs are very tall (inferior in this regard among large ungulates only to the giraffe), and, contrary to the other large herbivorous mammals, elongated due to the length of the proximal segments. This allows them to effectively utilize the principle of inverted pendulum (straight-legged walking) in locomotion. The biggest differences in the body plan of mammoths compared with extant elephants are a markedly larger pelvis, elongated fore- and hindlimbs (due to the increased relative length of their proximal segments), and different proportions of the skull. The body plans of plesiomorphic Paleogene proboscideans and perissodactyls differed markedly from their descendants in every body part; these differences are related, on the one hand, to the allometric growth, and on the other hand, to the advancement of the locomotor apparatus in the course of their evolution. The most notable difference in the body plan between Paleogene proboscidean Moeritherium and extant Elephantidae is the ~2-fold increase in relative limb height.

Evaluation of Land Ecological Status and Diagnosis of Obstacle Factors in Jiangsu, China

By constructing a land ecological evaluation index system at the village scale and using models such as spatial correlation analysis, hotspot analysis, and obstacle factor diagnosis, the basic characteristics, spatial differentiation, and obstacle factors of land ecological status in Jiangsu Province were studied. This study sought to clarify the foundation, structure, function, and benefit characteristics of land ecosystems and optimize land management and policy regulation. The results showed that： ① The spatial distribution of land ecological status in Jiangsu Province was high in the north and low in the south, with multiple high-value areas radiating outward and decreasing, with low value centers radiating outward and increasing. The distribution area of the highest and lower values was relatively small, whereas the area of the middle value area was the largest. The higher values were mainly distributed in the suburbs and edge areas of each county. ② The spatial autocorrelation of land ecological status in Jiangsu Province was significant, with hot spots mainly concentrated in northern Jiangsu and cold spots concentrated in southern Jiangsu, as well as some areas of Taizhou and Nantong. The spatial distribution of cold and hot spots showed a complementary pattern with the level of regional development. The comprehensive index value of land ecology in developed areas was lower, whereas the index value in underdeveloped areas was higher. ③ The natural background conditions of Class Ⅰ land ecological zone in Jiangsu Province were superior, with good ecological construction and benefits and a high level of ecological status. The obstacle factors mainly included the proportion of water bodies and the average annual degradation rate of forest land. The Class Ⅱ land ecological zone was mostly located in the Huainan region and mainly composed of plain landforms. The Class Ⅲ land ecological zone had the largest area, located in the riverside areas of southern Jiangsu. The obstacle factors mainly included the average annual degradation rate of arable land and the proportion of soil pollution area. By controlling land ecological risks, the early warning level of ecological crisis could be improved.

Population dynamics and reproductive features of the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862) in Neotropical reservoirs under drought events

Here, we describe population and reproductive dynamics of four populations of Macrobrachium amazonicum in reservoirs during drought events. Additionally, we analyze possible phenotypic changes in this species promoted by fish predation. Two populations had a large-size phenotype (with large body proportions and morphotypes in males) while a small-size phenotype (with reduced sizes and no morphotypes) was found in the two other populations. Overall, females were larger than males and there were varying sex ratios among the four studied populations. All populations had bimodal or polymodal patterns in their monthly size-class frequency, suggesting a seasonal influence and a potentially great capacity of these populations to adapt to adverse environmental conditions. No major changes were found in the patterns of sex ratio, recruitment, frequency of (larger) male morphotypes and female ovarian development stages during drought events. Macrobrachium amazonicum is a resilient species and undergoes continuous reproduction. Females with immature ovaries were predominant in all populations, performing multiple spawns and exhibiting rapid ovarian development cycles. In males, the initial morphotype (TC - translucent claw) was predominant in populations with a social hierarchy. Males of dominant morphotypes (GC1 and GC2 - green claw 1 and 2) use more energy to carry out and maintain metabolic processes, which could probably one of the explanations why their number in populations are limited. We did not find any clear evidence that fish predation affected phenotypes, suggesting that phenotypic plasticity could be more related to intrinsic factors, which would have to be further investigated.

Arm Length and Height Relationship in Young Indian Adults: A Correlation and Regression Analysis

Abstract Introduction: Anthropometric studies on body proportions such as arm length (AL) and height (Ht) are essential for understanding physical growth patterns and health indicators, particularly amongst young adults. However, limited research exists on this relationship in the Indian population. Materials and Methods: This study examined the correlation and regression between AL and Ht in 500 healthy Indian adults aged 18–23 years. Standard anthropometric tools were used to measure AL and Ht, and statistical analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between these variables. Results: The results showed varying degrees of correlation between AL and Ht across different age groups and genders. Males generally exhibited higher AL to Ht ratios compared to females, with significant gender differences observed in younger age groups. Conclusion: These findings contribute to our understanding of human growth patterns amongst young Indian adults and have important implications for clinical assessments and anthropological research. Further, longitudinal studies are recommended to better understand the dynamics of growth and body proportions over time in this population.

Linear measurements, body proportions, and biomechanical insights: morphological analysis of arabian horses in São Paulo, Brazil

Este estudo, conduzido com meticuloso rigor científico, avaliou medições lineares, proporções corporais e índices corporais em cavalos Árabes para uma melhor compreensão de sua morfologia, aptidão e biomecânica. A amostra foi composta por 168 cavalos Árabes puros adultos (76 machos e 92 fêmeas) alojados em uma fazenda de cavalos no estado brasileiro de São Paulo. Vinte e seis medições lineares foram realizadas usando uma fita métrica, a partir das quais os índices morfométricos foram calculados. Os dados foram meticulosamente analisados utilizando análise de variância e o teste de Tukey, com o nível de significância fixado em 5%. Os resultados deste estudo, respaldados por uma robusta análise estatística, revelaram que os cavalos Árabes são animais geométricos, ligeiramente alongados (ectomorfos), cavalos de trabalho leve e podem suportar cargas equivalentes a 25% de seu peso corporal. O comprimento dorsolombar, da garupa e da coxa mais longos do que as medições lineares dos membros anteriores sugerem uma desproporção corporal. Resultados semelhantes foram relatados em outras raças de cavalos atléticas, como o Quarto de Milha e o Cavalo de Esporte Brasileiro, uma vez que o exercício físico requer mais propulsão do que a equitação de lazer. Os índices dactilo- torácico e de habilidade colocam os cavalos Árabes na categoria de cavalos de trabalho leve, apoiando esta hipótese. Algumas medições e índices diferiram entre os gêneros, com os machos superando as fêmeas na maioria dos casos, exceto no comprimento corporal. As medições lineares se mostraram ferramentas essenciais para a avaliação do movimento e da conformação. Os cavalos Árabes desta amostra não atenderam aos padrões de conforto para equitação, mas foram considerados ter um bom potencial atlético com base em medições lineares e proporções.

Relationship between symptoms and results on spirometry in adults seen in non-tertiary public health facilities presenting with preserved ratio impaired spirometry.

Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), defined by reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) without meeting criteria for airway obstruction, is often encountered in clinical practice. The management of this heterogeneous condition in individuals with chronic respiratory symptoms is challenging, especially under limited diagnostic resources. Since 2020, all consecutive patients referred for spirometry at our institution have been invited to participate in our registry. Other than spirometry, no other physiological lung function testing is available in this public health service. Therefore, we reviewed our databank with the aim of assessing: i) the proportion of symptomatic patients aged 18 years or older referred for spirometry presenting with PRISm; ii) the rate of inhaled medication used in this group, suggesting a referral diagnosis of obstructive airway disease (OAD); and iii) the relationship between symptoms and results on spirometry in PRISM compared to a group with obstruction matched by FEV1. To this end, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) were conjointly responded to by 1032 participants, irrespective of the clinical suspicion. We found that 22% had PRISM, of whom 200 were paired with obstruction by FEV1 (68±10% of predicted). The CAT and ACT results were well-correlated in both groups (r=-0.727 and -0,698, respectively; p<0.001) and used to measure symptoms. Participants in the final sample (n=400) were aged 62±13 years; 70% were ever smokers; and 55% reported household exposure to biomass smoke (at least 5 years). The CAT responses were in the range of moderate symptoms (17±9) and ACT borderline for uncontrolled symptoms (19±5). The main differences were higher body mass index (33±7 versus 29±7 kg/m2; p<0.001) and proportion of females (72 versus 49%; p<0.001) in PRISm compared to obstruction. This group had lower exposure to tobacco (65 versus 76% of ever-smokers) but greater exposure to biomass smoke (61 versus 49%) (p<0.05 for all). The rate of inhaled medication use was as high in PRISm as in obstruction (80%). Notwithstanding matched FEV1, we found less prominent signs of airway disease in PRISM: marginally reduced FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (94±8% of predicted); higher expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity, despite presumed lower lung volumes (lower FVC); and lower rate of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In an identical multivariate model, FEV1 predicted symptoms of obstruction only. In conclusion, these data raise suspicion of a substantial rate of misclassification of individuals with PRISM as having OAD in healthcare facilities with constraints on diagnostic resources.

Volumetric versus Element-scaling Mass Estimation and Its Application to Permo-Triassic Tetrapods.

Size has an impact on various aspects of an animal's biology, including physiology, biomechanics, and ecology. Accurately and precisely estimating size, in particular body mass, is therefore a core objective of paleobiologists. Two approaches for estimating body mass are common: whole-body volumetric models and individual element-scaling (e.g., bones, teeth). The latter has been argued to be more accurate, while the former more precise. Here, we use minimum convex hulls (MCHs) to generate a predictive volumetric model for estimating body mass across a broad taxonomic and size range (127 g - 2735 kg). We compare our MCH model to stylopodial-scaling, incorporating data from the literature, and find that MCH body mass estimation is both more accurate and more precise than stylopodial estimation. An explanation for the difference between methods is that reptile and mammal stylopod circumference and length dimensions scale differentially (slope 1.179±0.102 vs. 1.038±0.031, respectively), such that reptiles have more robust bones for a given size. Consequently, a mammalian-weighted stylopodial-scaling sample overestimates the body mass of larger reptiles, and this error increases with size. We apply both estimation equations to a sample of 12 Permo-Triassic tetrapods and find that stylopodial-scaling consistently estimates a higher body mass than MCH estimation, due to even more robust bones in extinct species (slope=1.319±0.213). Finally, we take advantage of our MCH models to explore constraints regarding the position of the center of mass (CoM) and find that relative body proportions (i.e., skull:tail ratio) influence CoM position differently in mammals, crocodylians, and Permo-Triassic tetrapods. Further, we find that clade-specific body segment expansion factors do not affect group comparisons but may be important for individual specimens with rather disproportionate bodies (e.g., the small-headed and large-tailed Edaphosaurus). Our findings suggest that the whole-body volumetric approach is better suited for estimating body mass than element-scaling when anatomies are beyond the scope of the sample used to generate the scaling equations and provides added benefits such as the ability to measure inertial properties.

Tracking anthropometric dimensions and grip strength among children, adolescents and adults in an indigenous community of southern Mexico: 1968-1978-2000.

To track body size and proportions, arm dimensions and grip strength in children, adolescents, and adults resident in an indigenous community in Oaxaca who were measured on two or three occasions across surveys in 1968, 1978, and 2000. The three cross-sectional surveys included measures of height, weight, sitting height, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and grip strength in surveys of schoolchildren in 1968 and of schoolchildren, adolescents and adults in 1978 and 2000. Cross-checks of surnames, forenames and ages/dates of birth of participants in the three surveys identified three samples of individuals measured on two occasions (1968-1978, two age groups in 1978-2000) and a subsample of individuals measured in the three surveys. Partial correlations controlling for age at each observation were calculated for each variable in the three sex-specific samples measured on two occasions, and for the subsamples of males and females measured on three occasions. Allowing for variation in age among subsamples, inter-age correlations were moderate to high for stature, moderate for sitting height and estimated leg length, and low to moderate for weight, BMI, arm and estimated arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold, and grip strength. Allowing for the relatively broad chronological age intervals, the inter-age correlations for height, weight and BMI were at the low end, while those for grip strength and for strength per unit body weight for males (though not females) were generally in the range of correlations noted in studies of European samples. Likely associated with improved health, nutritional, and sanitation conditions, obesity and overweight were emerging among adults by 2000. Obesity and overweight in adults paralleled the introduction of mechanized agriculture that reduced routine physical work. Among children, the association of obesity and overweight is likely with increased nutritional availability, but poor choices in diet.

Illegally beautiful? The role of trust and persuasion knowledge in online image manipulation disclosure effects

The accessibility of powerful photo editing tools has caused image retouching and manipulation to become widespread among sponsored social media content. Images in sponsored posts featuring influencers are often edited to reflect unrealistic body proportions, potentially harming consumers if they compare themselves to unattainable beauty standards. In response to this trend, regulators in different countries have moved to consider or adopt disclosure policies; however, disclosure practices and their effects have not been extensively studied. An online experimental study (N = 480) identified that low- and high-detail disclosures of image manipulation lowered consumer trust. Decreased trust led consumers to use their persuasion knowledge, resulting in less favorable attitudes toward both the brand and influencer, reduced interest in seeking more information about the brand, and diminished body comparison. Finally, implications for various stakeholders, including content creators, brands, and policy-makers, are discussed.

Comparing morphology and cranial osteology in two divergent clades of dice snakes from continental Europe (Squamata: Natricidae: Natrix tessellata)

Abstract The Western Palearctic harbours a diverse snake fauna, including numerous endemic species and yet unnamed clades, identified through molecular analyses. However, morphological characteristics of these clades, even of common species, often remain relatively unexplored. In this study, we provide an examination of the morphology and cranial anatomy of the semi-aquatic snake species Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768), with a focus on populations of the so-called ‘Europe’ and ‘Greece’ clades. Utilising both museum collections and field data, we first morphologically examined 541 individuals of N. tessellata, categorising them according to previously established clades and lineages that resulted in relatively low morphometric and meristic variation across the species’ range. When assessing the 448 specimens from the ‘Europe’ and the ‘Greece’ clades separately, we similarly observed little variation in meristic characteristics. On the other hand, individuals of the ‘Greece’ clade displayed smaller and more slender body and head proportions compared to those of the ‘Europe’ clade and the pigmentation of the labial scales is distinctively paler in the ‘Greece’ clade, whereas the overall body colouration remains largely similar between the two. Our osteological analysis of 47 N. tessellata skulls also indicated slight differences in the frontoparietal portion of the braincase between the ‘Europe’ and the ‘Greece’ clades, warranting further examination with a larger dataset and extending to other skull components. These findings hold significance for ongoing enquiries into the species’ biogeography, morphology and ecological adaptations. In summary, the integration of morphological and osteological data with genetic information offers a promising avenue for potential taxonomic revisions of N. tessellata in the future.

Parental feeding in the dinosaur Lufengosaurus revealed through multidisciplinary comparisons with altricial and precocious birds

Previous studies arguing for parental care in dinosaurs have been primarily based on fossil accumulations of adults and hatchlings, perinatal and post-hatchlings in nests and nest areas, and evidence of brooding, the majority of which date to the Late Cretaceous. Similarly, the general body proportions of preserved embryonic skeletons of the much older Early Jurassic Massospondylus have been used to suggest that hatchlings were unable to forage for themselves. Here, we approach the question of parental care in dinosaurs by using a combined morphological, chemical, and biomechanical approach to compare early embryonic and hatchling bones of the Early Jurassic sauropodomorph Lufengosaurus with those of extant avian taxa with known levels of parental care. We compare femora, the main weight-bearing limb bone, at various embryonic and post-embryonic stages in a precocious and an altricial extant avian dinosaur with those of embryonic and hatchling Lufengosaurus, and find that the rate and degree of bone development in Lufengosaurus is closer to that of the highly altricial Columba (pigeon) than the precocious Gallus (chicken), providing strong support for the hypothesis that Lufengosaurus was fully altricial. We suggest that the limb bones of Lufengosaurus hatchlings were not strong enough to forage for themselves and would likely need parental feeding.

Innovative air mattress for the prevention of pressure ulcers in neonates.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) severely impact health outcomes in neonatal intensive care, with up to 28% prevalence and doubled mortality rates. Due to their only partially developed stratum corneum, neonates are highly susceptible to PUs because of a lack of adequate support surfaces. The occipital region of the head and hip are the main risk areas due to immobility and newborn body proportions. The main goal of the study was to investigate the impact of reduction in local pressure in these body areas by two air mattress designs and different filling states. Two innovative air-filled mattress prototypes (prototype 1 and prototype 2), consisting of three different segments (head, trunk and feet regions), were developed to reduce local interface pressures by optimising pressure distribution, and were assessed with three air pressure filling states (0.2kPa, 0.4kPa and 0.6kPa). A baby doll was used to investigate pressure distribution and local pressure impact. It measured 51cm and the weight was modified to be 1.3kg, 2.3kg and 3.3kg, representing premature to term newborn weights, respectively. A specialised foam mattress and an unsupported surface were considered as controls. The interface pressures at the hip region for newborn models could be reduced by up to 41% with mattress prototype 1 and 49% with prototype 2 when filled with 0.2kPa air pressure. It was found that the size and the pressure inside air segments was crucial for interface pressure. Our results demonstrated that air mattresses achieved lower interface pressures compared to conventional support surfaces, and that the benefit of the air mattresses depended on their filling status. The importance of using innovative, segmented designs that were tailored to meet the specific needs of highly vulnerable paediatric patients was demonstrated.

Altitude is correlated with body size differences among Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) wasps collected in two mountain ranges

Living at high altitudes impose physiological and ecological challenges to which species may respond altering their body size, body proportions, and the shape of their body parts. Despite the importance of this topic for understanding the origin of species diversity, little attention has been invested in this phenomenon at the populational level. This paper study the relationship between altitude and body size, body proportions, and forewing shape venation of two populations of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes. Wasps were collected from Diatraea spp. larvae from sugarcane crops in two Colombian mountain ranges that cover between 600 m and 2143 m of altitude. Linear measurements of different body regions and geometric morphometrics of the forewing were subject to multivariate comparisons and allometric analyses to assess variation and to compare trends between ranges. Central (600 m to 1704 m) and Eastern Cordillera (877 m to 2143 m) populations showed different trends between body size and altitude. Allometric trends were not uniform within or between populations nor between structures. The allometric slopes of five body measurements from a single altitude differed from these from its own mountain range suggesting that body size trends along the cordilleras are a consequence of altitude and not of intrinsic body resource allocation processes. Wing shape between populations differed; however, these changes were poorly related to altitude. In agreement with recent studies in other groups, the observed allometric and wing shape differences between the two C. flavipes populations could be a plasticity response to altitude with interesting implications for posterior genetic differentiation.

Magnitude and pace of secular trends of body proportions among young adults with different place of origin, between 2001 and 2019.

The aim of this study was to analyse the occurrence and pace of secular trends regarding body proportions among young adults representing different place of origin, studying in Bydgoszcz (Poland). The data constituted of the results of anthropometric measurements of 1,199 young adults (340 male and 859 female) performed between 2001 and 2019. Selected body build parameters were measured and the following indices were calculated on their basis: upper-limb index, lower-limb index, inter-limb index, chest depth-to-breadth ratio, pelvi-acromial index, reciprocal ponderal index. The place of origin was self-reported by the participants and recorded by the researchers. Based on that piece of information the participants were divided into two categories: villages and small cities, big cities. Considering the pace of the changes, they occurred the fastest for the pelvi-acromial index and the slowest in the case of the lower limb index, which concerned both urbanisation categories. Between 2001-05 and 2016-19 analysed changes generally occurred faster in the high-urbanisation category than in the low-urbanisation one, except for chest depth-to-breadth ratio and lower limb index in male participants as well as reciprocal-ponderal index and pelvi-acromial index among women. In conclusion, obtained results allow observing the changes in selected body proportions occurring over the years 2001-2019 in the population of young adults from Poland. Additionally, the findings can help identify and address risk factors related to specific proportions of the body and present in the contemporary population.

The Effect Of Virtual Physical Exercise On Body Mass Index And Waist Circumstances Of Students Faculty Of Medicine

One of the most often utilized measures in calculating body proportion criterion is the BMI. The goal of this study is to see if there is a link between BMI and glucose levels in students who are given virtual physical activity. A high sedentary lifestyle is thought to be linked to the high prevalence of metabolic disorders among students. A rise in BMI or waist circumference levels indicates that a person may be at risk for a variety of metabolic disorders as a result of body mass index. An experimental study was utilized to investigate if there was a difference in the respondents' body mass index and waist circumference before and after the intervention. Before and after the treatment, there were significant variations in waist circumference (76.921.51 vs 74.651.47 cm, p0.001) and BMI (23.540.76 vs 23.050.77 cm, p0.001). Furthermore, with a value of r=0.895 and p0.001, there is a high link between BMI and waist circumference.