Physical Growth Variables Research Articles

Effects of Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Carbon Dioxide Concentration on Growth and Glucosinolate Content of Kale Grown in a Plant Factory.

The growth of plants and their glucosinolate content largely depend on the cultivation environment; however, there are limited reports on the optimization of ambient environmental factors for kale grown in plant factories. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature, relative humidity, and the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on kale growth and glucosinolate content in different growth stages of cultivation in a plant factory. Kale was grown under different temperatures (14, 17, 20, 23, and 26 °C), relative humidities (45, 55, 65, 75, and 85%), and CO2 concentrations (400, 700, 1000, 1300, and 1600 ppm) in a plant factory. Two and four weeks after transplantation, leaf samples were collected to evaluate the physical growth and glucosinolate contents. The statistical significance of the treatment effects was determined by two-way analysis of variance, and Duncan’s multiple range test was used to compare the means. A correlation matrix was constructed to show possible linear trends among the dependent variables. The observed optimal temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 range for growth (20–23 °C, 85%, and 700–1000 ppm) and total glucosinolate content (14–17 °C, 55–75%, and 1300–1600 ppm) were different. Furthermore, the glucosinolate content in kale decreased with the increase of temperature and relative humidity levels, and increased with the increase of CO2 concentration. Most of the physical growth variables showed strong positive correlations with each other but negative correlations with glucosinolate components. The findings of this study could be used by growers to maintain optimum environmental conditions for the better growth and production of glucosinolate-rich kale leaves in protected cultivation facilities.

Physical Growth and Biological Maturation of Children and Adolescents: Proposed Reference Curves

Background/Aim: The study of physical growth variables in terms of chronological age and biological maturation may provide a common reference point to reflect on the occurrence of body dimensions in and between individuals. The objectives of this study were as follows: (a) verify if the observed gender differences in the variables of physical growth by chronological age are confounded by physical maturation, (b) compare physical growth patterns with the reference of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-2012, and (c) develop regional curves to assess physical growth in terms of biological maturation. Methods: Researchers studied 3,674 children and adolescents. Weight, standing height, and sitting height were measured. Biological maturation was determined by using the age of peak velocity growth. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Growth variables were compared with the CDC-2012 reference. Percentiles were calculated by the LMS method. The students differed in weight and BMI when compared to the reference individuals. The differences in weight, standing height, and BMI between both genders are more pronounced when they are aligned with biological age rather than chronological age. Conclusion: Weight and BMI differ from the reference. Furthermore, the assessment of the physical growth trajectory should be analyzed in terms of biological maturation. The proposed regional curves may be used in and applied to clinical and epidemiological contexts.

Comparison between the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents and the reference growth charts: data from a Brazilian Project

ABStrACtobjective: to compare the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents with reference growth charts. Methods: School-based cross-sectional study involving 41,654 students (23,328 boys and 18,326 girls) aged 7 to 17 years. Physical growth variables (body weight, height) and body mass index (Bmi) were measured. height, 50th percentile, and Bmi, 85th percentile, were compared with the World health organization (Who) reference values, and weight, 50th percentile, was compared with the centers for Disease control and Preven-tion (cDc) growth charts. results: mean height and body weight of Brazilian schoolchildren were generally higher than the Who and cDc reference values for both genders at most ages. Bmi values of Brazilian schoolchildren were significantly lower than the WHO obesity values at all ages. Conclusion: the growth in body weight, height, and Bmi of children and adolescents in the urban area of Brazil is increasingly similar to those reported in developed countries. further prospective studies should be conducted in Brazil comparing their results with the international growth charts to enable more accurate inferences.(

Comparação do crescimento de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros com curvas de referência para crescimento físico: dados do Projeto Esporte Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To compare the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents with reference growth charts. METHODS: School-based cross-sectional study involving 41,654 students (23,328 boys and 18,326 girls) aged 7 to 17 years. Physical growth variables (body weight, height) and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Height, 50th percentile, and BMI, 85th percentile, were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) reference values, and weight, 50th percentile, was compared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. RESULTS: Mean height and body weight of Brazilian schoolchildren were generally higher than the WHO and CDC reference values for both genders at most ages. BMI values of Brazilian schoolchildren were significantly lower than the WHO obesity values at all ages. CONCLUSION: The growth in body weight, height, and BMI of children and adolescents in the urban area of Brazil is increasingly similar to those reported in developed countries. Further prospective studies should be conducted in Brazil comparing their results with the international growth charts to enable more accurate inferences.

Comparison between the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents and the reference growth charts: data from a Brazilian project

To compare the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents with reference growth charts. School-based cross-sectional study involving 41,654 students (23,328 boys and 18,326 girls) aged 7 to 17 years. Physical growth variables (body weight, height) and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Height, 50th percentile, and BMI, 85th percentile, were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) reference values, and weight, 50th percentile, was compared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. Mean height and body weight of Brazilian schoolchildren were generally higher than the WHO and CDC reference values for both genders at most ages. BMI values of Brazilian schoolchildren were significantly lower than the WHO obesity values at all ages. The growth in body weight, height, and BMI of children and adolescents in the urban area of Brazil is increasingly similar to those reported in developed countries. Further prospective studies should be conducted in Brazil comparing their results with the international growth charts to enable more accurate inferences.

AVALIAÇÃO DO CRESCIMENTO FÍSICO EM ESCOLARES DE 7 A 10 ANOS DA REDE PÚBLICA DE ENSINO DE ARACAJU-SE

Studies on physical growth variables involving body mass and height of children and adolescents have been developed in several countries. Its importance is related to primary prevention and health promotion of children, which raises the interest of researchers around the world. The aim of this study was to study the physical growth of students from the state schools in the city of Aracaju - SE. We evaluated 487 students, 237 males and 250 females, separated by School Unit (SU). The age range was worked from 7 to 10 years with a mean of 8.75 ± 1.08 for boys and 8.72 ± 1.05 for girls. For data analysis we used descriptive statistics, with a significance level of 5% (p ≤ 0.05). Growth was assessed by measuring height and body mass. Additionally we assessed the body mass index (BMI). The girls had a mean height was statistically superior to boys at age 8 in the SU B (p = 0.01) and greater body mass compared to men at 10 years of age, also in the SU B ( p = 0.01). According to BMI, at age 10, girls also showed significant superiority over the boys again in the SU B (p = 0.03). The values found in the variables height and weight are similar to those seen in the literature. It is necessary to encourage the regular practice of physical exercise in children and adolescents, especially in the school environment, but also produce longitudinal studies to confirm that statement. DESCRIPTORS: Child. Growth. Education, Primary and Secondary

Physical growth and body adiposity of students

Physical growth can be assessed through anthropometric variables which allow for verification of modifications in body components, such as stature, body mass and body fat. The aim of this research was to compare the physical growth and body adiposity of students from 8 to 11 years old, from the City of Ijui – RS (South of Brazil) with National and International references. The sample was constituted by 694 students (319 males and 375 females), according to the schools, accessibility, considering three different neighborhoods (Central, North and South), and schools with the largest number of students in the elementary school. Physical growth variables (stature, body mass and BMI) were analyzed and compared with normative tables of American and Brazilian children. Body adiposity was estimated by a regression equation of Lohman. Descriptive statistics and One- Sample “t” test were used, with significant level of p<0.05. The results showed that, in general, students from Ijui presented greater stature, body mass and BMI values compared with the American (NCHS) and Sergipanas (Brazilian) children, except for girls (9 and 11 years-old), and boys (10 year-old) that presented similar values for stature with the other studies. The classification of body adiposity, in both sexes, showed that most of the students between 8 and 11 years-old were in appropriate level. However, in the ages of 9 and 11 for boys the percentile was considered as being classified as excess body fat (32,3% and 31,7%, respectively). Thus, the girls had bigger percentile at the ages of 8 and 11 (33,9% and 39,7%, respectively). It was concluded that almost one third of boys and girls were classified as having excess body fat. The authors recommend caution when utilizing growth charts from other countries or small data sets from specific region.

Predictors of Disruptive Behavior, Developmental Delays, Anxiety, and Affective Symptomatology Among Institutionally Reared Romanian Children

To examine the associations between duration of institutionalization, age at abandonment, and mental and physical health outcomes of young institutionalized children in Romania and to examine patterns of associations between placement history, physical growth variables, and psychiatric symptoms. Institutionalized children (ages 2-6 years) in a Romanian orphanage were studied through caregiver reports. Orphanage staff completed questionnaires on the children's psychiatric symptoms and physical growth measurements and placement histories on the children. Children showed high rates of developmental delays, anxiety/affective symptoms, and physical growth delays. Patterns of associations between history and growth variables (duration of institutionalization, age at abandonment, and physical stature) and psychiatric symptom clusters were examined using three sequential multiple regressions. Longer duration of institutionalization and shorter physical stature were significantly associated with anxiety/affective symptoms (F3,47=6.49, p <.01). Physical stature was significantly associated with developmental delays (F3,47=5.603, p <.01) and disruptive behaviors (F3,47=2.832, p <.05), with smaller stature being associated with greater developmental delays and fewer disruptive behavior problems. Institutionalized children demonstrate high rates of psychiatric symptoms. Duration of institutionalization, physical stature, and age at abandonment differentially relate to psychiatric symptoms. Findings are interpreted in light of implications for intervention and social policy.

The Relation of Growth to Cognition in a Well-Nourished Preschool Population

This paper focuses on the nature of the physical growth-behavioral development association in well-nourished as compared with undernourished populations. Multiple regression analyses were calculated to determine the magnitude of IQ variance accounted for by physical growth variables and socioeconomic status indicators in a group of 3- to 6-year-old children from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The prevalence of malnutrition within this sample was negligible. Weight-for-height percentile was the only physical growth measure that explained a significant portion of the IQ variance. This finding contrasts with what is found in undernourished populations where height is generally the most potent explanatory variable of mental test score variance. In undernourished populations height is a reflection of nutritional history; in well-nourished populations weight-for-height is an indicator of physiological maturation.

Force-Time Parameters and Physical Growth of Boys Ages 6 to 12 Years

Abstract Boys (N = 59) in the 6 to 12 yr age range served as subjects in a study to ascertain the influence of body size and composition on peak force and maximal rate of static strength exertion as measured from force-time (F-T) curves. Weight, fat free weight, standing height, sitting height, and sitting/standing height ratio were assessed as representative physical growth variables. Maximal exertion of static muscular force for elbow flexors and grip squeezing muscle groups were recorded using a Linear Voltage Differential Transformer (LVDT) with 1 millisec samples analyzed through a series of computer programs. The design included repeat testing of the growth measures and static force tasks for each subject on two different days 1 wk apart. High reliability coefficients were found for all variables. Dividing the subjects into 5 age groups yielded significant age-wise developmental trends for all variables. ANCOVA, using the physical growth variables as the covariates, yielded no significant age-wise trend for either peak force or maximal rate for the elbow flexion and grip squeezing tasks. The results indicated that rate of force production is somewhat independent of peak force, yet influenced by body size and composition as is peak force.