Stature Variables Research Articles

The use of hyoid bone dimensions in age and sex estimation in a Turkish population: a cone-beam computed tomography study.

The aim of the study was to determine sex and age from hyoid bone morphology on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The study sample comprised 130 CBCT images. Eight different measurements were performed for each hyoid bone. Fusion conditions were assigned to each side of the hyoid bone separately as; unfused, partially fused, and totally fused. The hyoid length, width of the left proximal end and stature variables showed sexual dimorphism in all hyoid fusion types (p < 0.05). In young adult age group, a significant difference was found between sex and fusion types (p = 0.025). The body length (81.35%) and stature measurements (76.25%) contributed most significantly to sex estimation. Patient's CBCT scans which enable reproducible and reliable measurements for bone tissues can be used for forensic procedures. Hyoid bone measurements with CBCT are useful methodology for age and sex estimation in forensic sciences with high predictive accuracy.

Predicting Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) curves for ecosystem modeling applications

Vegetation indices derived from remote sensing data provide information about the variability in stature, growth and vigor of the vegetation across a region, and have been used to model plant processes. For example, the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) provides a measure of greenness of the vegetation that can be used to predict net primary production. However, ecosystem models relying on remote sensing data for EVI or other vegetation indices are limited by the time series of the satellite data record. Our objective was to develop a statistical model to predict EVI in order to extend the time series for modeling applications. To explain the functional behavior of the seasonal EVI curves, a two-stage multiple regression fitting procedure within a semi-parametric mixed effect (SPME) model framework was used. First, a linear mixed effect (LME) model was fitted to the EVI with climate indexes, crop and irrigation information as predictor variables. Second, Penalized B-splines were used to explain the behavior of the smooth residuals, which result from a smooth model fit to the smooth EVI data curve, in order to describe the uncertainty of the EVI curve. Individual models were fit within individual Major Land Resources Areas (MLRAs). Predicted seasonal EVI, derived from our regression equations, showed a strong agreement with the observed EVI and was able to capture the site by site and year by year variation in the EVI curve. Out-of-sample prediction produced excellent results for a majority of the sites, except for sites without clear seasonal patterns, which may have resulted from cloud contamination and/or snow cover. Therefore, given the appropriate climate, crop, and irrigation information, the proposed approach can be used to predict seasonal EVI curves for extending the time series into the past and future.

Estudio de los tamaños absolutos de bailarines profesionales de elite de ballet

The similarities and differences in the body dimensions of a group of ballet dancers compared with those of modern or folklore dances are indicators of corporal heterogeneity or homogeneity and of the spatial volume occupied by a group of dancers. The present study aimed to analyze the kinanthropometric similarities and differences among elite professional ballet dancers compared with modern and folklore dancers. The anthropometric profiles of dancers from the National Ballet, National Dance and National Folkloric companies in Cuba were determined. Following the selection criteria of expert teachers on figure and technical-artistic performance, the best dancers, aged between 18 and 40 years, were measured. To determine body dimensions, an anthropometric protocol of 16 measurements was applied. There was lesser variability in stature in both male and female ballet dancers than in modern and folklore dancers. Female ballet dancers occupied a smaller physical space than female modern and folklore dancers, while male folklore dancers occupied a larger physical space than male ballet dancers. The differences found among the three kinds of dancers revealed greater corporal homogeneity among ballet dancers.

Estimation of stature from second metacarpal length in Japanese children.

A relationship between stature and second metacarpal length was examined by means of a linear regression for sex, skeletal age and locality in 2056 children aged 6-19 years in five districts of Japan. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found for the regression of two measurements between immature and mature groups according to the TW2 method. Few significant differences were found in the regression with sex and locality in both immature and mature groups. Stature could be estimated from second metacarpal length with standard errors of 44mm in the immature group and 40mm in the mature group. Furthermore, from the bone length and TW2 age, stature could be estimated with a standard error of 38mm for each sex in combined groups. These figures are similar to the variability in stature at a given age and comparable to reliability of estimates from long bones. The second metacarpal length may be a reliable and practical marker in children for the estimation of stature by means of a general formula regardless of sex and locality in a population.

Stature Variables as Discriminators of Foot Contact during the Squat Exercise in Untrained Females

Previous research indicates that stature variables (height [HT], torso length [TL], femur length [FL] are potent discriminators of complete foot contact with the ground during the parallel squat exercise for males in a beginning weight training program. The purpose of this study was to determine if the same variables are also potent discriminators for untrained females. Females in beginning weight training classes (n = 26, X age = 20.8 ± 2.9 years) were measured for the three stature variables. After two weeks of introductory instruction and familiarization with the exercise, each subject performed three parallel squats with a 20-kg barbell across the top of the trapezius, and with feet shoulder width apart. Those able to maintain complete foot contact with the ground were classified as successful (n = 19), and all others as unsuccessful (n = 7). A correlation matrix revealed that none of the three stature variables shared more than 53 percent common zero-order variance (r2). A full-model multiple discriminant analysis correctly classified only 77 percent of the subjects (N.S., p > 0.05). The relative contribution of each variable to the explained variance from the discriminant function include FL (49.0 percent), TL (29.8 percent) and HT (0.8 percent). These data indicated that stature variables are equally potent discriminators of proper foot contact during the squat exercise for females as for previously investigated males, but that the most potent discriminator for females (femur length) was different than that previously found for males (height). Furthermore, 20.4 percent of the variance was not explained, indicating that factors other than HT, TL or FL contribute to improper foot contact during the squat exercise with untrained females.

Stature Variables as Discriminators of Foot Contact during the Squat Exercise in Untrained Females

Previous research indicates that stature variables (height [HT], torso length [TL], femur length [FL] are potent discriminators of complete foot contact with the ground during the parallel squat exercise for males in a beginning weight training program. The purpose of this study was to determine if the same variables are also potent discriminators for untrained females. Females in beginning weight training classes (n = 26, X age = 20.8 ± 2.9 years) were measured for the three stature variables. After two weeks of introductory instruction and familiarization with the exercise, each subject performed three parallel squats with a 20-kg barbell across the top of the trapezius, and with feet shoulder width apart. Those able to maintain complete foot contact with the ground were classified as successful (n = 19), and all others as unsuccessful (n = 7). A correlation matrix revealed that none of the three stature variables shared more than 53 percent common zero-order variance (r2). A full-model multiple discriminant analysis correctly classified only 77 percent of the subjects (N.S., p > 0.05). The relative contribution of each variable to the explained variance from the discriminant function include FL (49.0 percent), TL (29.8 percent) and HT (0.8 percent). These data indicated that stature variables are equally potent discriminators of proper foot contact during the squat exercise for females as for previously investigated males, but that the most potent discriminator for females (femur length) was different than that previously found for males (height). Furthermore, 20.4 percent of the variance was not explained, indicating that factors other than HT, TL or FL contribute to improper foot contact during the squat exercise with untrained females.

Identification des classes d’âge dans les populations de belettes (Mustela nivalis L. 1766)

King (1980) pointed out how imperfect are age determination methods in the Weasel. She argued that these imperfections mainly result from a great interpopulation variability, a strong sexual dimorphism and the population multivoltine dynamics. Because of the difficulties to find out an appropriate individual age determination method, she proposed to develop a strategy allowing to determine the age structure of the population. According to this point of view, we tried to reinforce the consistency, pertinency and generality of Carolyn King’s strategy, using arguments provided by the study of cranium and mandibula’s morphogenesis. Traits of the chronologically well known natural history of the species were put in relation with morphological changes of its cranium and its mandibula ; in this way, we were able to allocate our animals to 4 age classes (0-3 months ; 3-6 months ; 6 months -1 year ; more than one year). A sample of 565 weasels collected sequentialy, during at least 7 months in 3 localities, was apportioned according to this method. The resulting population structure was consistent with that obtained by the use of several morphometric methods. These French data corroborate the existence of a strong sexual dimorphism in this species, and its great variability in stature on a large area. It also provides circumstantial evidence for two reproductive periods during the year. A strategy of sampling and processing of a numerous sample is proposed.

Patterns in the within-population variability of stature and weight.

An analysis has been undertaken of the comparative magnitudes of the within-population variability in stature and body weight as reported in the recent literature. The distributions of the variability have been investigated for patterns related to latitude, altitude, 'affluence' and the mean value of the measurements. It is shown that differences in stature variability are substantially explained by differences in mean stature only. This however, is not the case with weight variability where, in addition to the mean, there is evidence of independent effects of affluence, altitude, and especially latitude. In most populations the weight of females is more variable than that of males. This is considered to be due to their greater amounts of fat, and differing levels of fat may also explain much of the geographical patterns in weight variability.

Genetic-environmental interactions in physical growth.

Variability in stature among young children is often ascribed to health and nutrition differences in malnourished populations and to genetic differences in well-nourished populations. Hence, it was hypothesized that parent-child correlations in malnourished Guatemalan populations would be markedly lower than those reported for European samples. Instead, it was found that parent-child and sibling correlations were similar in both kinds of populations. The simplest interpretation of these results is that variability in stature among malnourished children is as much as reflection of genetic differences as in developed nations. However, explanations can also be advanced which would attribute the higher than expected correlations to the environment. For instance, it could be that socioeconomic and nutritional status is correlated across generations. In other words, parents who had relatively better conditions as children are more likely to provide a better environment for their children. Consequently, the relative contribution of genetics and environment to variability in height is still unsettled. Nonetheless, it appears that variability in body size in malnourished populations, regardless of the relative importance of its causes, is a useful indicator of health and nutrition.

How large were the australopithecines?

AbstractStature of the African early hominids is estimated from most of the available fragments of fossil long bones by means of regression analysis. The average height of the South African gracile australopithecines is predicted to be 145.1 cm (4′9″) where n = 4 and of the South African robust forms, 152.7 cm (5′) where n = 3. The East African early hominids are somewhat taller (x = 163.0 cm or 5′4″, where n = 7). Variability in stature is high even within the same site which is probably a reflection of fairly strong sexual dimorphism in body size.Evidence is presented which suggests that at least in one form of early hominid the size proportions of fore‐ and hindlimbs are different than in modern man. There is also evidence that average stature may have increased through time.The most significant of these findings is that the two forms of early hominids in South Africa are possibly more similar in stature than is usually cited. This does not imply necessarily that the two forms did not differ significantly in robustness or weight.