Differences In Body Shape Research Articles

Black shale high geological background potential toxic elements(PTEs) in middle reaches of the Yangtze River tributary basin water environment, China: Distribution, pollution sources, and risk assessment

As a typical high geological background area in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River tributary basin in China, the Loushao Basin in Hunan is covered with high mineral black shale, with an average element value 4.76–8.97 times higher than the world average rock level. The aim of this study is to analyze the water environment pollution in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River tributary basin under high geological background based on the spatial distribution differences of black shale concentration. PCA source analysis is used to track the source of pollution and highlight the differences in body shape to assess regional health risks. The research results show that Cd in water quality exceeds the background value by 7.5 times. There is a strong homology among Pb, Cd, Cr, As, and Hg elements in water bodies, mainly derived from the natural weathering, migration, and enrichment of rocks. Hg element is a pollution caused by human factors, and water pollution is more severe in areas close to high concentrations, with severe exceedance of Cr element in water quality. The main controlling factor for individual health risk differences is body shape, and men's health is more susceptible to threats.

MoMa: Skinned motion retargeting using masked pose modeling

Motion retargeting requires to carefully analyze the differences in both skeletal structure and body shape between source and target characters. Existing skeleton-aware and shape-aware approaches can deal with such differences, but they struggle when the source and target characters exhibit significant dissimilarities in both skeleton (like joint count and bone length) and shape (like geometry and mesh properties). In this work we introduce MoMa, a novel approach for skinned motion retargeting which is both skeleton and shape-aware. Our skeleton-aware module learns to retarget animations by recovering the differences between source and target using a custom transformer-based auto-encoder coupled with a spatio-temporal masking strategy. The auto-encoder can transfer the motion between input and target skeletons by reconstructing the masked skeletal differences using shared joints as a reference point. Surpassing the limitations of previous approaches, we can also perform retargeting between skeletons with a varying number of leaf joints. Our shape-aware module incorporates a novel face-based optimizer that adapts skeleton positions to limit collisions between body parts. In contrast to conventional vertex-based methods, our face-based optimizer excels in resolving surface collisions within a body shape, resulting in more accurate retargeted motions. The proposed architecture outperforms the state-of-the-art results on the Mixamo dataset, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Our code is available at: [Github link upon acceptance, see supplementary materials].

Land of the giants: Body mass estimates of Palaeoloxodon from the Pleistocene of Taiwan

The sea bottom of Taiwan Strait harbors a Late Pleistocene paleo-ecosystem significantly distinct from the present ecosystem structure in Taiwan. The assemblage constitutes fossil remains from the genus Palaeoloxodon, the largest known lineage of proboscideans to have walked on Earth. Body mass holds a pivotal role in our understanding of an organism's biology, ecology, life history, and susceptibility to extinction, and thus, is a key trait while working with extinct taxa. Here we, for the first time, assess the body mass of Palaeoloxodon specimens from Taiwan using well-established allometric scaling equations derived from both extant and extinct species. Our results indicate that Palaeoloxodon individuals from Taiwan exceed 10 tonnes in body mass with a mean body mass of 9.32 tonnes, similar in size to Palaeoloxodon antiquus across Eurasia, and an average shoulder height of 3.49 m. Additionally, our statistical pairwise analysis of body mass distribution shows that Palaeoloxodon specimens from Taiwan significantly differ from the largest species in the genus, Palaeoloxodon namadicus. We further employ equations from extant proboscideans and show notable discrepancies due to differences in body shape between extinct and extant proboscideans. Our estimated body masses offer novel insights into the paleoecology and extinction pressures of the Palaeoloxodon population during the Pleistocene of Taiwan. Further research promises to reveal the habitats capable of sustaining megafaunal populations and extinction events along the easternmost margin of Eurasia.

Odd-Paired is Involved in Morphological Divergence of Snail-Feeding Beetles.

Body shape and size diversity and their evolutionary rates correlate with species richness at the macroevolutionary scale. However, the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying the morphological diversification across related species are poorly understood. In beetles, which account for one-fourth of the known species, adaptation to different trophic niches through morphological diversification appears to have contributed to species radiation. Here, we explored the key genes for the morphological divergence of the slender to stout body shape related to divergent feeding methods on large to small snails within the genus Carabus. We show that the zinc-finger transcription factor encoded by odd-paired (opa) controls morphological variation in the snail-feeding ground beetle Carabus blaptoides. Specifically, opa was identified as the gene underlying the slender to stout morphological difference between subspecies through genetic mapping and functional analysis via gene knockdown. Further analyses revealed that changes in opa cis-regulatory sequences likely contributed to the differences in body shape and size between C. blaptoides subspecies. Among opa cis-regulatory sequences, single nucleotide polymorphisms on the transcription factor binding sites may be associated with the morphological differences between C. blaptoides subspecies. opa was highly conserved in a wide range of taxa, especially in beetles. Therefore, opa may play an important role in adaptive morphological divergence in beetles.

Morphology and metabolic traits related to swimming performance in Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) selected for fast growth.

Changes in body shape are linked to swimming performance and become relevant for selective breeding programmes in cultured finfish. We studied how the selection for fast growth could affect phenotypes by investigating the relationship between swimming performance and body shape. We also investigated how swimming might affect plasma metabolite concentrations. Critical swimming speed (UCrit), body traits (e.g., BW, body weight; BL, body length; K, condition factor), and plasma lactate and glucose concentrations were evaluated in two cohorts of Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus): one derived from wild broodstock (F1), and the other selected for fast growth (F4). UCrit tests (n = 8) were applied in groups of 10 snapper of similar BW (71.7 g) and BL (14.6 cm). The absolute or relative UCrit values of both cohorts were similar (0.702 m⋅s-1 and 4.795 BL⋅s-1, respectively), despite the F4 cohort displaying a higher K. A positive correlation between K and absolute UCrit (Pearson's r = 0.414) was detected in the F4 cohort, but not in the F1 cohort, which may be linked to differences in body shape. A negative correlation between relative UCrit and body size (Pearson's r between -0.682 and -0.501), but no correlation between absolute UCrit and body size, was displayed in both cohorts. Plasma lactate and glucose concentrations were higher in the F4 cohort at UCrit. Whether a longer selective breeding programme could result in more changes in body shape, potentially affecting swimming performance, should be explored, along with the potential outcomes of the differences in metabolic traits detected.

Are Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) populations in the eastern Indian Ocean truly homogeneous? Insights from geometric morphometric analysis

The boundaries of Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) populations/stocks in the three Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) in the eastern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Andaman Sea) are not clearly discriminated or delineated, resulting in conflicting population boundaries. Inherent limitations of the methodologies adopted could be the major reason behind this lack clarity in the population boundaries. Geometric morphometric analysis (GMA) using landmarks has been found to be the most appropriate approach under these conditions. Thus, the present study aims to differentiate between the populations of R. kanagurta in the eastern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Andaman Sea) by employing GMA of body shape. The results indicate significant differences in body shape between the populations of R. kanagurta inhabiting the eastern Indian Ocean. The variations are primarily observed in the relative sizes of body depth, head, dorsal and anal fins, and the position of eyes, mouth, pectoral, anal, and dorsal fins. The Bay of Bengal populations were mainly characterized with a deeper body, large heads, dorsally oriented eyes, posterior pectoral fins and longer anal and second dorsal fin. Andaman populations were characterized with a more streamlined body, anterior pectoral fins, ventral eyes and shorter anal and second dorsal fins. Arabian Sea population possess an intermediate shape between Bay of Bengal and Andaman populations. These observed variations confirm that R. kanagurta constitutes a discrete population in the eastern Indian Ocean. This study provides valuable information on the population structure of R. kanagurta in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Andaman Sea, which can be useful in fisheries management and conservation efforts.

Neglected patterns of variation in transgenerational plasticity: The importance of different sources of environmental variation differs across ages and sexes in a cyprinid fish

Abstract Adaptive transgenerational plasticity (TGP) requires individuals to integrate environmental experience across multiple sources. However, few empirical studies have considered that the relative relevance of certain sources might vary across ontogeny and sexes. Here, we address this knowledge gap by studying inducible antipredator defences, one of the most convincing examples of TGP. We assessed individual and combined effects of perceived high predation risk in mothers, fathers, caring males and personal environments on the morphology of juvenile, adult male and adult female cyprinids Pimephales promelas. Parental rather than personal environmental experience determined morphological defence expression across ages and sexes, likely because parents had a longer sampling period. In juveniles and adult males, egg‐mediated environmental experience outweighed sperm‐mediated environmental experience in the induction of body shape differences, likely because eggs can transmit information beyond epigenomes. However, in adult females, where body shape responses can be interpreted as life‐history plasticity, information from egg and sperm were equally important, likely resulting from different integration mechanisms between morphological and life‐history plasticity. The importance of care‐mediated relative to gamete‐mediated variation changed between juveniles and adult males, likely because they represent short‐ and long‐term environmental experience, respectively. Instead, in adult females, both sources were again equally important, potentially owing to lag‐times of life‐history plasticity. Parental care intensity only contributed marginally to defence formation. These results highlight age‐ and sex‐specific prioritization of different environmental experiences so as to generate optimal phenotypes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Determination of anthropometric measurements and their application in the development of clothing sizing systems for women in the regions of the Republic of Croatia

Abstract The aim of this article is to determine the differences in the physical dimensions of the female body that form the basis of the clothing size system and compare their deviations within the three regions of the Republic of Croatia. Due to the changes in the dimensions and shape of the human body, there is a need to adjust clothing in order to achieve the best possible fit. A systematic consideration of the fit of clothing includes investigation of a number of elements and factors, especially those based on anthropometric knowledge. The results of anthropometric measurements performed on a representative sample determine the body dimensions of the measured population. By sorting and grouping the data of body measurements, clothing sizes are created, with significant differences in body shape and body proportions of individual population groups. In the clothing size system, individual body dimensions define the clothing size and form a scale determined by a norm that prescribes body shape based on two dimensions of girths, where the measurement of bust girth is the basic measurement, and the body height is the dependent variable. This research was carried out on a sample of 940 women from the region of Slavonia, 1,109 women from the region of Dalmatia, and 799 women from the City of Zagreb, classified into seven age groups. The statistical processing of the results, i.e., the method of principal components, the values of the observed body measurements, and the representation of certain categories of bust girth and body size in the measured population of each region were determined.

Stock identification of the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Carangidae: Trachurus mediterraneus) in the Marmara and Black Seas using body and otolith shape analyses

The Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) has been managed as a single stock in the Black Sea and adjacent regions, and its genetic structure has been under debate for decades, emphasising the necessity for additional research to validate the stock structure. This study used geometric morphometrics for body shape, shape indices, and elliptical Fourier analysis for otolith shape to explore their morphological differences in the Eastern Black Sea, Middle Black Sea, and Sea of Marmara. The findings revealed considerable differences in body and otolith shapes across the examined regions, suggesting the existence of three separate stocks. The geometric morphometrics revealed evident differences in the snout, followed by the caudal peduncle and body depths. Both otolith shape indices and elliptic Fourier analysis revealed significant directional bilateral asymmetry between the left- and right-sided otoliths. The elliptic Fourier analysis revealed a non-overlapping surface difference of 2.12% between the reconstructed left and right otolith outline shapes. However, no significant differences in otolith shape were observed between males and females using either otolith side. In addition, otolith shape analysis using shape indices and elliptic Fourier analysis reliably supported the presence of three distinct stocks of T. mediterraneus. This study provides evidence supporting the recognition of multiple phenotypic stocks of T. mediterraneus.

Determination of Sexual Dimorphism and Morphological Variation of Pool Barb, Puntius sophore (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), Using Landmark Based Geometric Morphometric Analysis

Geometric morphometrics is an efficient way to quantify biological shape variation and its covariation with other biotic or abiotic factors. The geometric information of an object is measured in a non-linear shape space after removing size, orientation, and position-related effects. This study was aimed to determine sexual dimorphism and morphological variation in body shape using landmark-based morphometrics by means of relative warp analysis. The indigenous freshwater fish Puntius sophore (Cyprinidae) was selected as the model organism for the study. Adult male and female individuals were collected during July-August 2019 (breeding season) and March–April 2019 (non-breeding season) from the ponds of Bolpur, West Bengal, India. Prior to analysis, the images were digitised using the appropriate fourteen landmarks and relative wrap analysis was performed using appropriate software. The results were then analysed, and the maximum relative displacements of adjacent landmarks were interpreted using canonical variate analysis (CVA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Significant body shape differences were found to be present in the non-breeding season and breeding season (male and female) populations of the species. Thus, geometric morphometrics can be used to understand the sexual dimorphism in natural populations of small fish species.

Intraspecific Shape Analysis of Bali Sardinella (Sardinella lemuru) Using Geometric Morphometrics Collected in the Coast of Cabadbaran, Agusan Del Norte, Philippines

Modern techniques are often applied to analyze the body shape differences among biological organisms. Also, taxonomy and systematics are two essential fields of Biology concerning shape discrimination. This study aims to identify the shape variations of Sardinella lemuru (Bali sardinella) using Symmetry Asymmetry Geometric Data (SAGE) Software Application. A total of 70 fish samples consisting of 35 males and 35 females were collected in Barangay Caasinan, Cabadbaran, Agusan Del Norte, Philippines. Standard laboratory procedures were done and fish samples were subjected to the analysis. Procrustes ANOVA revealed a highly significant difference (P<0.0001) among the components analyzed (individuals, sides, and individuals vs. sides). This implied that each of the fish samples exhibited different body shapes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) obtained a high rate of Interaction/Fluctuating Asymmetry (76.79%) in males when compared to female samples (74.08%). The shape dissimilarities within the populations were associated with genetic components, ecological adaptations-swimming, predator escape, and resource competition. Thus, the present study identified shape disparity within the fish populations. The development of employing modern techniques enhances scientific methods to quantify shape dissimilarities among species individuals and assemblages.

Morphological and functional trait divergence in endemic fish populations along the small-scale karstic stream

BackgroundOrganisms with broad distribution ranges, such as fish, often exhibit local ecological specializations based on their utilization of food and habitat. Populations of species that live in different habitat types (lotic vs. lentic) show morphological variations. However, the phenotypic differences of endemic fish populations in a small karst river basin under anthropogenic pressure are still not fully understood. In this study, the functional traits and morphological variations of the populations of endemic Pseudophoxinus antalyae Bogutskaya, 1992, in the Düden Stream basin, which is subjected to various anthropogenic disturbances and habitat types in southwestern Anatolia of Türkiye, were examined using linear measurements and geometric morphometric analysis.ResultsDifferences have been identified in functional traits, particularly those related to food acquisition between populations. Results of both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in body shape and size among populations living at sites along the stream with different habitat and environmental characteristics.ConclusionsThe reason for these differences determined in the morphology and traits of the populations may depend on habitat types, ecological, or environmental, and obstruction of gene flow. More detailed studies are needed to explain the mechanisms (genetic and ecological) that cause these differences.

Morphometric variations of Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis Cantor, 1849) in Malaysian and Yemeni waters

Abstract. Binashikhbubkr K, Setyawan AD, Naim DM. 2023. Morphometric variations of Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis Cantor, 1849) in Malaysian and Yemeni waters. Nusantara Bioscience 15: 269-278. Euthynnus affinis Cantor, 1849 (Kawakawa), a small epipelagic tuna that migrates, is one of the most commercially significant tunas in Indo-Pacific subtropical and tropical waters. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge on the region's stock structure and management of the particular migratory species. The present investigation aimed to distinguish body shape differences among 20 populations of E. affinis across Malaysian and Yemen coastal waters. A total of 416 specimens of E. affinis were sampled from five central geographic regions: the South China Sea, Straits of Malacca, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and the Arabian Sea. Multivariate analyses, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA), and Cluster Analysis (CA) of 12 morphometric variables, were conducted to differentiate 20 populations of E. affinis. The findings revealed significant differences in the body form among 20 populations. Morphological homogeneity was observed among populations from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak). As expected, Yemen's (Mukalla City) populations were clearly segregated and formed a separate cluster. The highest percentage of correctly classified specimens (100%) came from populations in Pulau Tenggol (Terengganu) and Kukup (Johor). In contrast, the highest percentage of misclassified specimens (100%) came from populations in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Bintawa (Sarawak), Lumut (Perak), and Endau (Johor). Based on the Mahalanobis distances, hierarchical cluster analyses revealed that 20 populations of E. affinis could be clustered into three distinct groups. This is the first report on E. affinis from Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak), and the waters of Yemen using morphometric techniques.

Development of an integrated body size table accommodating the diversity of body types and sizes of various countries

Understanding human body type and shape variations is of fundamental importance in various ergonomic applications in a wide range of industries. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the body types in various countries using the most recent national sizing standards. A set of integrated and internationally compatible size tables are then derived, which provide a valuable reference for analysis of body shape variation. This study covered both female and male sizing standards of the US, Europe, China, Japan and some other countries. The statistical analysis showed that size frequency varies from various countries with significant differences in body types and shapes. The standards of China and Japan covered the smaller body dimensions and sizes, as reflected in the relatively narrow torso and hips. The Europe and US standards covered the relatively large body dimensions and size ranges; the body shapes are plumper and wider than those of other countries.

Aerodynamic Drag Reduction Analysis of Race Walking Formations Based on CFD Numerical Simulations and Wind Tunnel Experiments

Drafting formations have been long recognized as highly effective for reducing drag and enhancing athletic performance, particularly in race walking events. The precise spacing and positioning of the race walkers are critical to optimizing the effectiveness of drafting. In this study, drag reduction in 15 drafting formations is investigated using wind tunnel experiments and CFD numerical simulations. The results show excellent consistency in drag reduction rate between the two methods, with differences being within 10%. This can be attributed to spacing replacing body shape differences as the primary factor influencing drag reduction. Optimal double, triple, and quadruple drafting formations produce the same results in both the wind tunnel experiments and CFD simulation, resulting in drag reductions of 67%, 66%, and 81% (wind tunnel) and 65%, 72%, and 85% (CFD). The sources of drag differences in the two methods are discussed from various aspects. The flow field obtained through CFD analysis is used to examine the mechanism of drag reduction, revealing that drafting formations have a significant shielding effect on incoming air, which reduces the number and speed of airflow impacting the core race walker. This shielding effect is identified as the primary cause of drag reduction. Using an empirical model for mechanical power output, optimal double, triple, and quadruple drafting formations enhance sports economy (4.4–5.7%), speed (3.61–4.67%), and performance (173.8–223.3 s) compared to race walking alone. The findings can serve as a reference for race walkers’ positioning strategies and provide insights for considering drafting formations in various running events.

Is shape in the eye of the beholder? Assessing landmarking error in geometric morphometric analyses on live fish.

Geometric morphometrics is widely used to quantify morphological variation between biological specimens, but the fundamental influence of operator bias on data reproducibility is rarely considered, particularly in studies using photographs of live animals taken under field conditions. We examined this using four independent operators that applied an identical landmarking scheme to replicate photographs of 291 live Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from two rivers. Using repeated measures tests, we found significant inter-operator differences in mean body shape, suggesting that the operators introduced a systematic error despite following the same landmarking scheme. No significant differences were detected when the landmarking process was repeated by the same operator on a random subset of photographs. Importantly, in spite of significant operator bias, small but statistically significant morphological differences between fish from the two rivers were found consistently by all operators. Pairwise tests of angles of vectors of shape change showed that these between-river differences in body shape were analogous across operator datasets, suggesting a general reproducibility of findings obtained by geometric morphometric studies. In contrast, merging landmark data when fish from each river are digitised by different operators had a significant impact on downstream analyses, highlighting an intrinsic risk of bias. Overall, we show that, even when significant inter-operator error is introduced during digitisation, following an identical landmarking scheme can identify morphological differences between populations. This study indicates that operators digitising at least a sub-set of all data groups of interest may be an effective way of mitigating inter-operator error and potentially enabling data sharing.

Development of a body condition index to estimate adiposity in ponies and horses from morphometric measurements.

There is a high prevalence of obesity in ponies and pleasure horses. This may be associated with equine metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of laminitis. Body condition scoring (BCS) systems are widely used but are subjective and not very sensitive. To derive a body condition index (BCI), based on objective morphometric measurements, that correlates with % body fat. Retrospective cohort study. Morphometric measurements were obtained from 21 ponies and horses in obese and moderate body condition. Percentage body fat was determined using the deuterium dilution method and the BCI was derived to give the optimal correlation with body fat, applying appropriate weightings. The index was then validated by assessing inter-observer variation and correlation with % body fat in a separate population of Welsh ponies; and finally, the correlation between BCI and BCS was evaluated in larger populations from studies undertaken in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The BCI correlated well with adiposity in the ponies and horses, giving a Pearson r value of 0.74 (P < 0.001); however, it was found to slightly overestimate the % body fat in leaner animals and underestimate in more obese animals. In field studies, the correlation between BCI and BCS varied particularly in Shetlands and miniature ponies, presumably due to differences in body shape. Further work may be required to adapt the BCI to a method that is more applicable for Shetlands and miniature ponies. This BCI was able to provide an index of adiposity which compared favourably with condition scoring in terms of accuracy of estimating adiposity; and was more consistent and repeatable when used by inexperienced assessors. Therefore, this may be a useful tool for assessing adiposity; and may be more sensitive than condition scoring for tracking weight gain or weight loss in individual animals.

MENGATASI BODY DISSATISFACTION PADA WANITA DEWASA AWAL MELALUI KONSELING REALITA DI KABUPATEN KUDUS

The research objectives in this study are: (1) To find the factors that influence Body Dissatisfaction in early adult women. (2) Helping to overcome Body Dissatisfaction through Reality counseling . Body dissatisfaction is a negative evaluation of the body that occurs because of the difference in body size and shape that you currently have with other people's body sizes and shapes that are more ideal. Indirectly, many women are dissatisfied with the shape and size of their bodies caused by physical changes at every stage of development and the prevailing beauty standards. Reality Counseling is a form of practical, relatively simple help relationship and a form of direct assistance to the counselee that the counselor can do in order to develop and foster the counselee's personality/mental health. The process of providing assistance is carried out by giving responsibility to the counselee concerned. Body dissatisfaction is a negative evaluation of the body that occurs because of the difference in body size and shape that you currently have with other people's body sizes and shapes that are more ideal. Indirectly, many women are dissatisfied with the shape and size of their bodies caused by physical changes at every stage of development and the prevailing beauty standards This research was conducted in the Kudus area. The research approach used is a qualitative case study. The research subjects or counselees are NP and AK. Data collection techniques using observation, interviews and home visits. Analysis of the data used is the bacon system. The results showed that the internal body dissatisfaction factors for counselee I (NP) were: biological and physical. The external factors are: body comparison. Counsel II (AK) on the internal factors that cause body dissatisfaction, namely: individual psychological and cognitive characteristics. While external factors are: exposure to social media and film shows. After giving Reality counseling, the counselee I and counselee II can be more confident with their appearance and physical form, do not compare their physique with others, and evaluate their body shape positively

Weight- and Health-focused Conversations in Racially/Ethnically Diverse Households With and Without a Child with Overweight/Obesity.

Studies indicate parent conversations focused on child weight, shape, or size are associated with unhealthy child weight and weight-related behaviors, whereas health-focused conversations are not. Little research has examined what these types of conversations sound like, how parents respond to them, and whether households with or without a child with overweight/obesity approach these conversations differently. This study used qualitative data to identify the weight- and health-focused conversations occurring in racially/ethnically diverse households. Children ages 5-7 and their families (n=150) from six racial/ethnic groups (i.e., African American, Hispanic, Hmong, Native American, Somali, White) participated in this mixed-methods study. Results showed that parents from households with and without a child with overweight/obesity engaged in similar weight- and health-focused conversations (qualitative themes = focus on growth; health consequences of having overweight/obesity; focus on dietary intake and physical activity; being direct about weight, shape or size; mixing weight- and health-focused conversations). In addition, findings showed that parents also engaged in different types of weight- and health focused conversations depending on whether the household had a child with overweight/obesity (qualitative themes = weight-based teasing; critiquing own weight) or without overweight/obesity (qualitative themes = differences in body shape and size are the norm; focus on modeling rather than talking). Results may be useful for informing public health interventions and for health care providers working with parents regarding weight- and health-focused conversations occurring in home environments of diverse children.

Morphometric Variations of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Linnaeus, 1758) Local Strains Collected from Different Fish Farms in South Western Highland Agro-Ecological Zone (SWHAEZ), Uganda: Screening Strains for Aquaculture

Despite the global contribution of aquaculture as an important pillar for food and nutritional security, its rapid growth has been hampered by inadequate and poor-quality seed due to inbreeding, hybridization of related stocks, and poor-quality broodstock. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Nile tilapia in natural water bodies of Uganda has been studied but research gaps remain on the morphometric characterization of farmed O. niloticus in Uganda, which hinders selective breeding initiatives. This study characterized O. niloticus from various farmers in Uganda’s Southwestern Highland Agro-Ecological Zone using their morphometric traits. In this study, 8 morphometric traits were taken on each of the 258 fish samples collected with at least 30 samples sampled from each pond system in the zone. The morphometric data generated were analyzed using multivariate analysis. In order to delineate the populations from the different ponds, Discriminant Function analysis (DFA) was performed on the dataset and distribution plots generated to test on the purity of the strains. There were significant differences in the morphometric traits among the populations with the Victoria fish population having the highest standard length while the Kyoga population had the highest weight. Morphometric characterization grouped the fish into three clusters, indicative that fish farms in the zone possibly had different sources of fish seed. The condition factor, which is a measure of wellbeing of the fish, showed that all the populations displayed an isometric growth which is indicative of the fish growing in length as it is in weight. The results of this study provide evidence that local O. niloticus from different farms display differences in body shape as a result of using fish seed from different sources. This aspect can be applied in selective breeding programs after establishing the genetic structure of the farmed Nile tilapia stock.