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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore teacher candidates' response to young adult literature (prose and comics) featuring fat identified protagonists. The paper considers the textual and embodied resources readers use and reject when imagining and interpreting a character's body. This paper explores how readers' meaning making was influenced when reading prose versus comics. This paper adds to a corpus of scholarship about the relationships between young adult literature, comics, bodies and reader response theory. Design/methodology/approach: At the time of the study, participants were enrolled in a teacher education program at a Midwestern University, meeting monthly for a voluntary book club dedicated to reading and discussing young adult literature. To examine readers' responses to comics and prose featuring fat-identified protagonists, the author used descriptive qualitative methodologies to conduct a thematic analysis of meeting transcripts, written participant reflections and researcher memos. Analysis was grounded in theories of reader response, critical fat studies and multimodality. Findings: Analyses indicated many readers reject textual clues indicating a character's body size and weight were different from their own. Readers read their bodies into the stories, regarding them as self-help narratives instead of radical counternarratives. Some readers were not able to read against their assumptions of thinness (and whiteness) until prompted by the researcher and other participants. Originality/value: Although many reader response scholars have demonstrated readers' tendencies toward personal identification in the face of racial and class differences, there is less research regarding classroom practices around the entanglement of physical bodies, body image and texts. Analyzing reader's responses to the constructions of fat bodies in prose versus comics may help English Language Arts (ELA) educators and students identify and deconstruct ideologies of thin-thinking and fatphobia. This study, which demonstrates thin readers' tendencies to overidentify with protagonists, suggests ELA classrooms might encourage readers to engage in critical literacies that support them in reading both with and against their identities.

Background: People often expect physical education teachers to look fit and athletic, to do lots of physical activity, and to eat well. While ample research exists on physical education teachers' bodies, relatively few scholars have investigated how physical educators relate corporeal expectations to broader ideas about subject content, pedagogy, and the purposes of the school subject. Aim: The specific aim of the paper is to identify the assumptions about content, pedagogy, and educational purposes that teachers make when they talk about a perceived need for physical educators to look fit and athletic. Method: To frame our work theoretically, we draw from a Swedish didaktik of physical education tradition and employ Bakhtin's concept of "speech genres," and Wertsch's concept of "privileging." Our empirical material consists of transcripts generated from 6 focus group and 6 individual interviews (24 teachers in total, average age of 40 years, average teaching experience 11 years). Findings: Data suggest that when teachers use an 'athletic-looking teacher as healthy role model' speech genre, they tend to privilege: (1) a particular version of health as subject content that involves not being too overweight and maintaining physical functionality in sports. This content is based on biomedical conceptions of health which foreground exercise, eating and weight, and a pathogenic reduction of risk; (2) particular pedagogies in PE that put the teacher at the centre of the pedagogical situation, and; (3) a certain educational purpose in PE, which is to educate citizens for healthy lives through participation in sport. With respect to this purpose, increasing body weight enters the genre as a potential obstacle for educational success. Discussion: The findings raise questions concerning appropriate curricular content and its relation to teacher identities. They suggest that learning possibilities may be missed when certain content, pedagogies, and outcomes are privileged. The findings also indicate how wider voices are implicated in the speech genre. Conclusion: The paper is concluded with reflections on the possibility for change regarding expectations of physical education teachers' bodies and pedagogies.

Purpose: This study rigorously explores the intersectional challenges faced by black fat males, emphasizing the amalgamation of anti-fat bias, gender and sexuality and racial discrimination within educational contexts. The purpose of this study is to dissect the complex dynamics of this intersection, shedding light on the nuanced experiences of black men. Central to this exploration is the advocacy for creating inclusive educational sanctuaries, providing a safe space for these individuals to thrive, learn and engage in holistic personal development. Design/methodology/approach: To accomplish our objectives, this paper reviewed existing literature on anti-fatness, intersecting with issues of race, gender and sexuality. Drawing upon qualitative data, this study incorporated personal narratives and experiences to offer a comprehensive perspective. Our research methodology also involved an analysis of metrics like body mass index (BMI) and its impact on health-care practices and policies, particularly concerning the black community. Findings: The research discerns that black fat males encounter multifaceted challenges in educational settings, often rooted in societal prejudices and systemic biases. It highlights the inadequacy of conventional metrics like BMI in capturing the complexity of these experiences. The study identifies the urgent need for safe school spaces, emphasizing the importance of inclusive language, varied seating arrangements and tailored educational content. These findings underscore the imperative for proactive measures in dismantling anti-fatness within academic institutions. Originality/value: This research contributes significantly to the academic discourse by pioneering an in-depth exploration of the intersectional challenges black fat males face in education. This study offers a novel perspective by focusing on the unique amalgamation of anti-fat bias and racial discrimination. The proposal for educational sanctuaries tailored to the needs of this demographic represents an innovative solution, bridging gaps in the existing literature. Through its nuanced approach and advocacy for inclusivity, this study stands as an original and pioneering contribution to the field, urging educators and policymakers to reevaluate their practices and create equitable learning environments.

[Objective] Feasibility study of applying writing paper as sealing materials in oyster mushroom’s cultivation was conducted in or¬der to provide theoretical basis for increasing the safety of oyster mushroomproducts. ' Method】 The experiments and production demonstration were carried out by setting 2 treatments, ie. treatment Awith writing paper as sealing materials and treatment Bwith newspapers! CK) ,and the growth of mycelium, number and fresh weight of fruiting bodies, cost and economic returns as well as heavy metal contents in fruiting bodies were investigated and evaluated. ' Result】 The growth rate of mycelium was 0. 97 cm/d of treatment A, which was significantly higher than that of treatment B (% < 0 . 05 , the same as below), and the average number and fresh weight of fruiting bodies per bag (total of the first flush and second flush, hereafter) were 43.47 ,257. 59 g,5. 57 more and 11 . 7 g higher than that of treatment B, respectively. The results showed that the heavy metal content of Pb, Cd, Hg and As in fruiting bodies of both treatment A and Bwas lower than the limits (1 . 000, 0. 200 ,0. 100,0. 500 mg/kg, respectively) set by both national food safety ytandard and national aaricultural standard for green food mush¬ room, and the content of Pb, Cd, Hg, As of treatment A was only 0. 001, 0. 085 , 0.002 and 0. 037 mg/kg, which was far more lower tlian the safety limits mentioned above, respectively. Besides, Cr was not found in the fruiting bodies of treatment A. The results indicated that the oyster mushroom of treatment A was much safer than that of treatment B. Compared to treatment B， the cost per bag of sealing materials and their processing increased by 0.002 yuan， while the output valiae increased by 0. 140 yuan, thus the eco¬nomic retiams per bag of treatment A was 0. 138 yuan higher than that of treatment B. The results of production demonstra¬tion showed that，when compared witli treatment B，treatment A could shorten the period of spawn running by 3 days and shorten the average harvesting time of the first and second flush by 3 and 4 days, respectively, besides, treatment Acould increase thefresh weight per bag by 24. 00 gin total. ' Conclusion】 Based on the in¬crease of mycelium ’ s growth rate, number and fresh weight of fruiting bodies, economic returns, as well as decrease of heavy metal contents, it is recommended that writing paper could be applied instead of newspapers as sealing materials in oyster mushroom5 s production [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of cyflumetofen (CYF) on non-target organism earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in soil is unclear. In this study, a method was established for detection of CYF in earthworms. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, the lipid in the earthworms was removed by liquid-liquid extraction, and then the concentration of CYF was detected by normal phase-HPLC. The results showed that the recoveries were 84%-88%, and the relative standard deviation was 1.3%-3.1% at the spiking levels of 0.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, which verified the reliability of the method. According to the Biota-soil accumulation factor (BSAF), the enrichment concentration of the two enantiomers reached the maximum on the 7th day that the earthworms were enriched with CYF, and the enrichment ability of (+)-CYF in the earthworms was significantly higher than that of (−)-CYF. Long-term exposure of 0.5-10 mg/kg CYF for 28 days seriously inhibited the body weight of earthworms. The acute toxicity of cyflumetofen to earthworms was detected by filter paper method. The LC50 of rac-CYF, (−)-CYF, and (+)-CYF to earthworms was 162.5, 323.1 and 309.4 mg/L, respectively. According to the combined toxicity analysis, AI = −0.03 was obtained. The simultaneously use of the two enantiomers of CYF will cause additive toxicity to earthworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal effects on the nest sizes constructed by Polistes riparius foundresses, their nesting activities, and colony compositions were determined in laboratory conditions during the pre-emergence period. In this study, foundresses were placed in cold (20°C) and warm conditions (27°C), and ample food and nest materials were supplied. Nest sizes were larger in the cold condition; particularly, the elongation of cells was remarkable. The number of cells between the 2 conditions was not significantly different. Inter-condition colony composition was similar, while more honey drops were observed in the cold condition nests. A positive relation was observed when the relationships between body weight and developmental days were investigated, i.e., small offspring required shorter developmental days in both thermal conditions. In the cold condition, the first offspring were very small, whereas offspring size increased steeply after the second order, and was comparable to that of the foundresses; the size increase in the warm group was slight. This result indicates that the cold condition foundresses manipulated the sizes of their offspring. When inter-condition foundresses activities were compared , cold condition foundresses spent more time and energy on flight activities. Theseresults support the view that foundresses change nesting activities in relation to environmental temperatures, i.e., they can improve the thermal condition of nests by adding extra cells and manipulate the sizes of adult offspring.

In this study, we aimed to investigate static and dynamic balance, reaction time, attention and BMI values at the athletes being in the individual and team sport. 78 individual athletes (karate 17, judo 15, Gymnastics 14, table tennis 12, wrestling 20) and 58 team athletes (handball 23, basketball 13, volleyball 10, football 12) with formal licensed and average ages 13.08±1.36 years were participated as voluntarily. For demographic characteristics, participants have filled in questionnaires and Bass Stick static balance, Y dynamic balance, Nelson hand reaction time and D2 attention test were applied. First, we have applied the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality of the data, the normal distribution is observed and then independent t test was used. In order to see the relationship between data, Pearson's correlation test was applied. The average sporting age of participants was 4.32±1.87 years, height 1.59±0.11m, body weight 50.18±12.74 kg and per week training time 10.33±4.41 hours. In addition, their BMI values were19.49±3.10 kg/m2 which is in the normal range, i.e., no difference between individual and team athletes was observed. It has been observed that for individual athletes, total number of items is 525.42±108.29, total number of errors is 454.04±105.86, concentration performance is 182.14±62.53, reaction rime is 0.29±0.06 sec, static balance is 7.10±4.49 sec, dynamic balance is 208.37±32.20 cm. On the other hand, for team athletes, these values were 500.59±79.70, 382.31±93.60, 168.35±56.51, 0.26±0.05 sec, 5.68±2.67 sec and 187.15±29.99 cm, respectively. We have found that while age increased the static and dynamic balance increased, but training time increased solely the dynamic balance increased. In addition, when taking into account the static and dynamic balance, it has been observed that the individual athletes were better than the team athletes but for the reaction time was contrary, i.e., team athletes were better than the individual ones. [This paper will be presented as an oral presentation at the 17th International Congress of Sport Sciences (Antalya, November 13-16, 2019).]

For the 31st Delphine Hanna Lecture, this paper draws parallels between Dr. Delphine Hanna's approach to establishing physical education's professional legitimacy in the late 1800s to the field's current quest for social and cultural relevance. Drawing on the concept of precarity, the paper outlines society's current challenges and argues that the physical education field remains disconnected from the lived experiences of young people. In the spirit of hope and purpose, the paper suggests physical education professionals can learn from the innovative and interdisciplinary path Dr. Hanna forged during her trailblazing career. As one potential example of what this approach may look like today, the author highlights the lesson learned from the Weight Inclusive Thinking (WIT) project -- an interdisciplinary effort to promote body size diversity across physical activity settings.

Physical activity (PA) habit decreases and Body Image (BI) becomes important during adolescence. This paper focuses on determining two things: whether the level of participation in PA contributes to adolescents' PA attitudes and their quality of life-related body image and to examine whether there is a difference. The study utilized the cross-sectional design. 1281 individuals in the middle adolescence period participated in the study. Participants were between 15 and 17 years. International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Questionnaire (CBPAQ), and Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI) were used as data collection tools. According to the study findings, there were significant differences in the BIQLI total, interaction with the opposite sex, and influence behavior/attitude between those who engaged in regular or irregular PA and those who did not engage in PA at all. Difference in the effect on self-efficacy and daily life sub-dimension was found between those who engaged in regular PA and those who did not. Outcome expectation and self-regulation items of those who engaged in PA were higher than for those who did not. Since adolescents are expected to engage in regular or irregular PA, personal barriers in front of them must be removed. It is therefore important to support their attitudes, which positively affects their PA, because participation in PA contributes positively to their PA and BI-related quality of life.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical used in a wide range of consumer products including photoactive dyes used in thermal paper. Recent studies have shown that dermal absorption of BPA can occur when handling these papers. Yet, regulatory agencies have largely dismissed thermal paper as a major source of BPA exposure. Exposure estimates provided by agencies such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are based on assumptions about how humans interact with this material, stating that ‘typical’ exposures for adults involve only one handling per day for short periods of time (<1 minute), with limited exposure surfaces (three fingertips). The objective of this study was to determine how individuals handle thermal paper in one common setting: a cafeteria providing short-order meals. We observed thermal paper handling in a college-aged population (n = 698 subjects) at the University of Massachusetts’ dining facility. We find that in this setting, individuals handle receipts for an average of 11.5 min, that >30% of individuals hold thermal paper with more than three fingertips, and >60% allow the paper to touch their palm. Only 11% of the participants we observed were consistent with the EFSA model for time of contact and dermal surface area. Mathematical modeling based on handling times we measured and previously published transfer coefficients, concentrations of BPA in paper, and absorption factors indicate the most conservative estimated intake from handling thermal paper in this population is 51.1 ng/kg/day, similar to EFSA’s estimates of 59 ng/kg/day from dermal exposures. Less conservative estimates, using published data on concentrations in thermal paper and transfer rates to skin, indicate that exposures are likely significantly higher. Based on our observational data, we propose that the current models for estimating dermal BPA exposures are not consistent with normal human behavior and should be reevaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) have been found in many packaged food products such as salt, tea bags, milk, and fish. In a previous study by this group, MPs were found to leach into hot water from the plastic lining of disposable paper cups. No studies were found in the literature quantifying health risks or lifetime intake of MPs. At present, it is not possible to quantify health risks due to MPs because dose-response and toxicity assessments are not available. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to assess the intake of MPs and associated contaminants like fluoride that are released into these hot beverages. MPs in the previous study were quantified in terms of particle counts only and a simple method was adopted in the present study to convert the microplastics count into its respective mass. Chronic daily intake (CDI) and lifetime intake (LTI) of MPs through the ingestion pathway were calculated. CDI and Hazard Quotient (HQ) due to fluoride ingestion were also estimated following USEPA guidelines. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to account for the variability in input variables such as concentration of MPs, body weight, averaging time, exposure duration, exposure frequency and ingestion rate to evaluate the impact on CDI and LTI values. The CDI was used to estimate the LTI of MPs and HQ for fluoride ingestion. MC simulations with 100,000 iterations resulted in an average CDI of 0.03 ± 0.025 mg of microplastic per kg of body weight per day and 7.04 ± 8.8 μg fluoride per kg body weight per day. This study takes us one step closer to estimating the human health risk due to the ingestion of microplastics and other contaminants through food items. [Display omitted] • Mass of microplastics from paper cups into hot beverages was estimated. • Chronic daily intake analysed using Monte Carlo simulations. • Average chronic daily intake was 0.03 ± 0.025 mg microplastic/kg body weight day−1. • Chronic daily intake of fluoride was 7.04 ± 8.8 μg/kg body weight per day. • Fluoride levels were higher or close to drinking water standard of 1.5 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Health is an important factor in college student success yet is not as well understood in two-year colleges as it is in traditional, four-year institutions. This systematic literature review aimed to determine the health topics that have been studied in community colleges and what data sources have been used. Additionally, this paper aimed to determine what questions can be answered with the available measurement tools and datasets. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed to screen, assess, and synthesize the current knowledge base on community college student health research. Peer-reviewed articles published after 2010 that demonstrated quantitative or mixed methods approaches to studying community college student health were reviewed and assessed to determine the health topics studied in community colleges, and the data sources used to answer research questions. Results: Twenty-eight articles resulting from the search had a student health focus in community colleges and utilized a quantitative or mixed methods approach. The articles covered a variety of health topics, but most fell into the categories of veteran health and needs, sexual and reproductive health, weight management, mental health, alcohol and substance use, and health programming. Study-specific surveys were a common measurement tool, along with health questionnaires and surveys, the ACHA-NCHA II, Healthy Minds, and the CHOICES study. Contributions: This paper provides a synthesis of the current health topics studied in community colleges, the tools available for such research, and suggestions for facilitating further research to evaluate the relationship between health and academic outcomes in community colleges.

The paper is aimed to determine whether there is a loss of performance by comparing the competition values of the Super League team before and after the COVID-19 epidemic. In order to reduce the performance losses of the athletes due to lack of training, 60-75 minutes of self-weight training was applied during the quarantine period. Paired t test was used for statistical analysis. A statistically significant difference was found in the Total Distance, High Intensity Distance, Sprint Distance, High Speed Distance, Number of High Intensity Runs, Number of Sprints, Number of High Speed Runs, Average Speed, Total Distance in Possession, Total Distance Out of Possession, Total Distance Ball Out of Play, High Intensity Distance in Possession, High Intensity Distance Out of Possession, High Intensity Distance Ball Out of Play, Sprint in Possession, Sprint Out of Possession, Sprint Ball Out of Play, High Speed Distance in Possession, High Speed Distance Out of Possession, High Speed Distance Ball Out of Play values of the athletes compared to p < 0.05. As a result, it has been observed that the training of super league football players with their own body weight during the quarantine period positively affects their performance during the season.

Background and purpose: Messages and initiatives around childhood obesity, health and fitness continue to circulate multiple pedagogical sites (physical education, after-school, media), reproducing a narrow stereotype of the healthy, fit body. While participatory, activist research has offered ways to counter problematic messages that youth receive, much of this scholarship has been set in school contexts. As youth engage with health and fitness across multiple sites, there is a need to investigate possibilities for critical research outside of school. Thus, this paper explores the ways in which five Black and Latinx youth interacted with health and fitness, through visual methods, and the affects produced from these interactions in an urban after-school program in the Northeast region of the United States. Theory: Affect theory, drawing on feminist (Ringrose, Jessica, Katie Warfield, and Shiva Zarabadi. 2019. "Introducing Feminist Posthumanisms/New Materialisms & Educational Research: Response-Able Theory-Practice-Methodology." In "Feminist Posthumanisms," "New Materialisms and Education," 1-15. London: Routledge) and new materialist (Fox, Nick J., and Pam Alldred. 2017. "Sociology and the New Materialism." London: Sage) concepts, frame this paper to consider "all" bodies (human, non-human) in their interactions. In considering relations between all bodies, affective flows of visual methods, materials and participants were examined to illuminate openings and closings produced by and producing other bodies that can lead to possible change. Methods: While part of a larger visual ethnography, data in this paper were generated from work with five Black and Latinx youth who engaged with visual methods (participant-driven diaries, scrapbooks) during the 'mid-point' of the research project. MacLure's (2013. "Classification or Wonder? Coding as an Analytic Practice in Qualitative Research." In "Deleuze and Research Methodologies," edited by R. Coleman, and Jessica Ringrose, 164-183. Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press) notion of coding was adapted in combination with affect theorizing and Saldana's (2015. "Thinking Qualitatively: Methods of Mind." Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage) interpretation of thematic analysis. Themes and discussion: Two themes are presented to illuminate openings and closings that arose from interactions between participants, conversation, visual methods, materials, knowledge and more. These can be considered affective flows and explicate some of the ways that bodies interacted in this research. This research (and these themes), while by no means 'final,' still offer implications for future practice in urban after-school contexts. I specifically suggest flexible methods and innovative practices be used in after-school programs related to health and fitness, emphasizing a critical approach. I also engage with theoretical and methodological possibilities of a feminist new materialist perspective of affect to alter conventional ways of thinking, doing and practicing health and fitness.

The most important nutrition goals in rehabilitation nutrition are improving function and quality of life, and they are useful to set body weight goals to further improve these aspects. In this paper, we clarified our position, as the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition, on body weight goal setting. Body weight goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, and Timed). The standard amount of energy accumulation/deficit needed to gain/lose 1 kg body weight is 7500 kcal. In other words, if the nutrition goal is set at 1 kg body weight gain per month, daily energy accumulation can be calculated as approximately 250 kcal. It is necessary to reconcile the rehabilitation goal setting, the content, quantity, and quality of physical activity and exercise therapy, and the patient's general condition and intentions to set nutrition goals. Body weight goal setting is more variable than rehabilitation goal setting, and it is important to confirm the degree of achievement through rehabilitation nutrition monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low physical activity and sedentary lifestyle have been contributing to overweight/obesity in children worldwide. In response to this, school health and physical education (HPE) programmes have been introduced to assist children to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. Teacher education colleges have been introducing training programmes to prepare teachers. Paro College of Education (PCE), Bhutan, is one such college where the HPE training programme was introduced in 2003. This paper reports on the impact of the HPE programme on the preservice teachers of PCE in relation to their personal and professional competencies. The participants were the final and second-year Bachelor of Education (primary) pre-service student teachers and Diploma in Physical Education and Sports Coaching students. Results revealed that the HPE programme had a significant impact on pre-service teachers' personal and professional competencies. Male participants were highly motivated to teach HPE as well as participating regularly in physical activities compared to their female counterparts. Further, the study revealed differences in personal and professional competencies, pedagogical knowledge, and self-efficacy beliefs amongst the pre-service teachers. Implications for the teacher training programme and recommendations for future research are presented.

Despite their negative effects on the emotional, physical, and social wellbeing of students, weight stigma and anti-fat attitudes are rarely systematically addressed in schools or within school psychology. Weight-based oppression is regarded differently than other domains of prejudice. Therefore, implicit and explicit bias continue unimpeded, even when practitioners are attentive to other areas of social injustice. Mental health providers serving schools must acknowledge the prevalence of weight stigma and fatphobia to reduce their deleterious and oppressive effects. This conceptual paper outlines the underpinnings of weight stigma, overviews the necessity of addressing it and body image in educational settings, incorporates interdisciplinary perspectives, and proposes a justice-oriented shift in the conceptualization of weight status within school psychological service delivery.

Abstract: There is little doubt surrounding the benefits of the Nutrition Care Process and International Dietetics and Nutrition Terminology (IDNT) to dietetics practice; however, evidence to support the most efficient method of incorporating these into practice is lacking. The main objective of our study was to compare the efficiency and effectiveness of an electronic and a manual paper-based system for capturing the Nutrition Care Process and IDNT in a single in-center hemodialysis unit. A cohort of 56 adult patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis were followed for 12 months. During the first 6 months, patients received the usual standard care, with documentation via a manual paper-based system. During the following 6-month period (Months 7 to 12), nutrition care was documented by an electronic system. Workload efficiency, number of IDNT codes used related to nutrition-related diagnoses, interventions, monitoring and evaluation using IDNT, nutritional status using the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment Tool of Quality of Life were the main outcome measures. Compared with paper-based documentation of nutrition care, our study demonstrated that an electronic system improved the efficiency of total time spent by the dietitian by 13 minutes per consultation. There were also a greater number of nutrition-related diagnoses resolved using the electronic system compared with the paper-based documentation (P<0.001). In conclusion, the implementation of an electronic system compared with a paper-based system in a population receiving hemodialysis resulted in significant improvements in the efficiency of nutrition care and effectiveness related to patient outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Self-monitoring of eating is associated with successful weight loss, but adherence is imperfect and deteriorates over time. Moreover, intentionally or not, many individuals have difficulty keeping faithful records. We used instrumented paper diaries (IPDs) to study self-monitoring in randomly chosen participants in the PREFER trial, a behavioral treatment for weight-loss study. The diaries they used to self-report eating were periodically replaced with IPDs at various times during an 18-month weight-loss program, consisting of three successive phases: intense treatment (n =35), less-intense treatment (n =13), and maintenance (n =16). We compared electronically documented self-monitoring data, showing when and how often IPDs were used, with self-reported data, then compared the electronically validated adherence and weight loss. Self-reported diary usage exceeded IPD-documented usage while the electronic data demonstrated a significant decline in self-monitoring over time. Diary recording often was not timely. Percentage weight lost correlated significantly with frequency of IPD use (p =.001) and the number of diary entries made within 15 min of opening the IPD (p =.002). This is the first study to document patterns of self-monitoring among participants in a weight-loss program, which demonstrated that individuals may falsify the times and frequency of self-monitoring. Furthermore, our results showed that adherence to self-monitoring and the timeliness of recording significantly correlate with improved weight loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

School-based body mass index (BMI) screening is required in 50% of states with parent notification letters distributed among 11 of those states. Additional research is needed to effectively communicate screening results to parents. We conducted a pilot investigation of parent acceptability of an electronic, interactive BMI parental notification letter (e-BMI) along with the feasibility of implementing an e-BMI letter in the school setting. In addition, we assessed parental attitudes and practices regarding their child's weight-related behaviors. Electronic letter distribution and parent receipt were consistent with traditional paper letter mailings; however, we did not observe any significant behavioral impacts with either letter format. Parents reported interest in wellness programming offered by the school, a potential opportunity for schools to engage families in healthful practices. Additional research is needed to understand the impact of e-BMI letters and accompanying web-based resources specifically for parents of students with overweight or obesity.

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the methods and results used and conclusions found in available published papers on childhood overweight and obesity in Europe. SURVEYS:: This paper compares the two available published papers on the prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity in Europe. The first paper was published in November 2003 and was based on 20 previously conducted surveys performed from 1992 to 2001. The other paper was published in January 2004 and was based on data from the WHO collaborative survey‘Health Behaviour in School Children’, which collected the data in 1997-1998 within a period of 9 months. Height and weight were included as optional questions and 13 European countries, Israel and United States participated. METHODS:: In both papers, body mass index (BMI) was used. In the first paper, measured BMI was used and prevalence of overweight was calculated using IOTF cutoff points. In the other paper, overweight and obesity prevalences were calculated from self-reported height and weight using an internal study reference standard. RESULTS:: The first paper found a north-south trend in overweight in Europe, whereas the second found a more equal distribution of overweight in European children. Thus, overweight was significantly increased among 13?y olds of both sexes in Finland, Ireland, and Greece, and in Portuguese girls. Among 15?y olds, the prevalence of overweight was significantly increased in Greek boys, and in Danish and Portuguese girls. On the contrary, in Lithuania, there was a significantly low prevalence of overweight among both ages and both sexes. CONCLUSION:: Critical reviews of the results of the two published papers show that the year of data collection, methods and use of appropriate statistics are of critical importance for the conclusion drawn from comparative epidemiological surveys on the prevalence of overweight.International Journal of Obesity (2004) 28, S10-S15. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802822 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study is to describe the neuromotor development of preterm and low birth weight infants at 1 and 2 years of corrected age, and to examine the extent to which perinatal, neonatal, socio-demographic, and neuromotor development indices measured at the age of 1 are able to predict infants' development indices at the age of 2. Our sample consisted of 140 infants; developmental examinations were carried out using Bayley-III Screening and Diagnostic Tests. We gathered information by retrospectively reviewing newborns' hospital discharge papers as well by applying a self-devised questionnaire. Our statistical analyses suggest that our multivariate linear regression models possess adequate explanatory power (R[superscript 2] = 50-90%): it can be established that, of all development indices at year 1, for all outcome variables (Cognitive, Language, Motor, Social-Emotional, and Adaptive Behaviour Scales at the age of 2), Receptive and Expressive language communication showed outstanding explanatory power.

Objective The aim of this research was to compare the risk of all-cause mortality and mortality from all cancers combined, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus between normal-weight smokers and overweight or obese ex-smokers. Methods Data were from 1997 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey (with response rates ranging from 70% to 80%) which were linked to records in the National Death Index. Mortality follow-up was through 31 December 2006. The sample was limited to normal-weight smokers and overweight/obese ex-smokers 25 years of age and older (n=52 819). HR from Cox regression was computed to represent mortality effect. Results Results showed that in both women and men, normal-weight smokers, relative to overweight or obese ex-smokers, had a higher risk of mortality from all causes combined, all cancers combined, lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Among women, there was no difference in mortality risk from diabetes mellitus between normal-weight smokers and overweight or obese ex-smokers. Among men, there was some evidence that the risk of mortality was higher in obese ex-smokers than normal-weight smokers. Conclusions This article concludes that, overall, mortality risk is smaller in overweight or obese ex-smokers than normal-weight smokers. Smoking cessation interventions can tailor messages that highlight the greater reduction in mortality associated with quitting, compared with potential weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, comparison of somatotype characteristics and anthropometric proportional relations of elite wrestlers at the level of styles and weights and, contribution to improvement and orientation of sport is aimed. 57 elite wrestlers took place in the European Championship Preparatory Camp of Turkish National Adults Wrestling Team (31 greco-roman style with 7 light weight, 14 medium weight and 10 heavy weight--with av. height: 168.9 cm. and av. weight: 81.1 kg.; 26 free style with 8 light weight, 12 are medium weight and 6 heavy weight--with av. height: 173.0 cm. and av. weight: 87.9 kg), analyzed in this study. As a result of anthropometric measurements, there are no meaningful differences between free style and greco-roman elite wrestlers both in style and weigh. Wrestlers, as evaluated in somatotype, free and greco-roman styles are characterized as endomorphic mesomorphy, lightweight wrestlers are measured as balanced mesomorphy, medium-weight wrestlers are found endomorphic mesomorphy and heavy-weight wrestlers are characterized as endomorphic mesomorphy. Meaningful difference have found between weights. In spite of there is no differentiate effect of styles for wrestlers, partake in the similar training, nutrition and competition programs from childhood, weight, leaning on differentiates of somatotypes in the frame of the components like height, weight, length of bust and arm etc., emanates differences.

Mongoose is a common name for 30 species of the family Herpestidae found in a vast area of southwestern Asia, especially Iran. Morphometric studies of the brain have been topics of interest to anatomy researchers due to their high importance in veterinary and zoology fields. The present study was conducted to better understand the brain's morphometric features in Mongoose because of the lack of information about the brain structure in wild carnivores. For this purpose, eight carcasses of adult mongooses were used. They were found in different Fars province areas in Iran, which were dead due to natural causes. The brain was then carefully separated from the skull, and all the measurements and observations related to different parts of the brain were recorded. The values entered the computer separated by gender, and SPSS 22 and T. student tests were used for statistical analysis while the significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was considered. This study showed that the ratio of brain weight to body weight (EQ) and the ratio of cerebellum weight to total brain weight in mongoose are higher than other carnivores. All the brain's morphometric findings in mongooses are in unparalleled harmony with their lifestyle. Also, no difference was found between the mongoose and other carnivores such as dogs and cats regarding the gyri and sulci's number and pattern. The current work is a preliminary assessment, and new imaging methods are suggested for more advanced studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large portion sizes contribute to weight gain in western societies. Portion-size interventions, aids and education can be effective in helping prevent weight gain, but consumers are unsure what appropriate portions are and express confusion about existing guidelines. A lack of clarity about suggested serving size recommendations is a major barrier to food portion-size control. Therefore, standardised measurement units and unambiguous terminologies are required. This position paper summarises the evidence regarding the impact and importance of portion-size education and estimation, and outlines strategies for improving consumer understanding and application of this through the development of an international food measurement system and a range of appropriate portion control tools. In this position paper, the authors call for the standardisation of food volume measurement terminologies, units, implementation recommendations, as well as consumer education. The target audience for this paper includes nutrition and behavioural researchers, policy makers, and stakeholders who potentially influence and implement changes in national food measurement systems, which in turn impact on consumer choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity prevention and control have been identified as top public health priorities in modern societies. Sport and exercise science researchers from multiple perspectives (e.g. behavioral, pedagogical, psychological, and physiological) have been active contributors addressing this topic. This paper examines the importance of energy balance (EB) knowledge in enabling behaviors associated with weight management in youth (e.g. physical activity and dietary behaviors). Relevant research studies were searched using ERIC, Proquest, PubMed, and Scopus. A total of 48 articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified and retrieved. The research findings of the included articles were summarized after being thoroughly reviewed. The paper reveals mixed findings about the association between EB knowledge and behaviors, reinforcing the importance of developing knowledge through education. The literature review further identifies that there is inadequate knowledge about EB among youth, coinciding with a national call for action to enhance EB education in schools. The knowledge inadequacy is related to two plausible reasons: the science of EB is still evolving and systematic EB education is lacking in schools. In addition, while some school-based EB education programmes are available, many of these programmes are expensive and lack generalizability and sustainability over time. The paper concludes with a proposal to enhance EB education using concept-based physical education.

Objective: The aim of the study was to use a meta-analysis to identify the correlation between linear body measurements, including body length (BL), wither height (WH), heart girth (HG), and body volume (BV), and body weight in beef cattle by breed, sex, and age as categories. Materials and Methods: These results can be used as a method for predicting beef cattle body weight. This study used systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines to create a checklist. The first stage was searching for papers relevant to the study objectives. The second stage was searching using the keywords beef cattle, body weight, body measurement, and correlation. The third stage was reviewing the title and abstract. The fourth stage was abstracting information from selected papers, and the last stage was tabulating data. Results: The results from this study were obtained, and 32 papers were eligible for the meta-analysis stage. The correlation between linear body measurement and body weight of beef cattle showed that HG (r = 0.88) and BV (r = 0.97) were significantly (p < 0.05) different compared to BL (r = 0.74) and WH (r = 0.72). The correlation between HG and body weight, and the categorization of cattle breeds showed significantly (p < 0.05) different results. The correlation between BV and body weight of cattle according to breed categories showed results that were not significantly (p > 0.05) different, while age was significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, to predict beef cattle body weight, it is necessary to use HG or BV, with breed, sex, and age of cattle as categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal research is often interested in identifying correlates of heterogeneity in change. This paper compares three approaches for doing so: the mixed-effects model (latent growth curve model), the growth mixture model, and structural equation model trees. Each method is described, with special focus given to how each structures heterogeneity, attributes that heterogeneity to covariates, and the kinds of research questions each can be used to address. Each approach is used to analyze data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to understand the similarities and differences between methods in the context of empirical data. Specifically, changes in weight across adolescence are examined, as well as how differences in these change patterns can be explained by sex, race, and mother's education. Recommendations are provided for how to select which approach is most appropriate for analyzing one's own data.

In today's classrooms, digital technologies and digital media enable an unlimited number of learning resources. Digital tools are one type of digital technology used in pedagogical settings. By digital tools we mean software that is not produced for educational purposes, but which may be used to support learning. Using theoretical concepts from Basil Bernstein and analytical tools from Critical Discourse Studies, the paper provides an in-depth critical analysis of two digital tools that are free of charge and recommended for teaching Physical Education in upper secondary schools in Denmark. The main intention is to discuss the educational problems related to the use of digital tools as learning resources and especially to challenge the idea that they are "for free".

The association between General Mental Ability (GMA) and whole brain size was almost accepted universally. Association between the Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ) score with anatomical characteristics such as gender, height, weight, and brain size are also focused on many research articles. However, very little study has been made to establish the association of PIQ with physical characteristics, Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), and Verbal IQ (VIQ). The present paper aims to establish the association of PIQ with physical characteristics, FSIQ and VIQ. It is derived that PIQ is heteroscedastic random variable, and its mean is positively associated with FSIQ (P < 0.0001) and brain size (P < 0.0001), while it is negatively associated with VIQ (P = 0.0001). Variance of PIQ is negatively associated with FSIQ (P = 0.0634), brain size (P = 0.0240), and gender (P = 0.0992). PIQ is also independent of height, weight, and body mass index. PIQ is higher for the individuals who are having higher FSIQ, larger brain size and lower VIQ.

Monitoring and evaluating fish growth and health relies on accurate aquaculture body size and weight data. Pearl's gentian grouper has tender flesh and rapid growth, and the scale of aquaculture is increasing yearly. Moreover, it is inefficient to measure body size and weight data manually regularly, so in this paper, taking pearl gentian grouper as the research object, we propose a body size and weight estimation method based on machine vision and improve DeepLabV3 + algorithm, with the MIoU reaching 97.37% on the self-constructed dataset, to extract the closed contour of the fish body curve, then apply the algorithm for measuring body scale traits. This paper determines the critical points of body scale calculation. It uses the calibration coefficients to calculate the body scale parameters and then estimate fish body weight. In the established body weight estimation model, the coefficient of determination of the CatBoost regression model based on the total length, body height, body thickness, and area of the fish was R2 of 0.987 which realized the high-precision estimation of the body weight of the pearl gentian grouper and provided the basis for intelligent grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem Statement: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the relationship established between self-esteem and body image dissatisfaction, as subjective variables among young, female Romanian university students. Purpose of Study: We hypothesize that young women's body dissatisfaction is related to their self-esteem level. The second purpose of this study is to verify whether self-esteem level and body size acceptance, which are subjective variables, are significantly correlated with BMI as an objective variable. Subsequently, we intend to estimate which range self-esteem in our research group is determined by self-perception of the body and what role BMI plays in this equation. Methods: The data were collected using measurements and questionnaires from a random sample of 160 female students (19-21 y.o.) assumed to be healthy and educated, with constant physical activity and having an urban lifestyle. Using descriptive statistics for each variable, we analyzed summaries of the sample and the collected data. For pairs of variables we calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient (r), and we tested its statistical significance using the "t" test. Findings and Results: The BMI mean value--20.93 kg/cm[superscript 2] (SD = 3.30) is equivalent to a slander figure, corresponding to an average height of 1.65 m (SD = 0.06) and an average weight of ~ 57 kg (56.99 kg; SD = 9.70). A prevalence of body dissatisfaction was reported, with 79% of girls reporting being unpleased with their physical appearance. Self-esteem and body dissatisfaction were in a significant negative correlation: r (158) = -0.36, p < 0.0005. We found a consistent, statistically significant correlation between BMI and body dissatisfaction (r (158) = 0.56, p < 0.0005). An important part (31%) of body dissatisfaction is determined by BMI and subsequently by weight and fat deposits. Conclusions and Recommendations: Due the statistical correlations calculated for self-esteem, body image dissatisfaction and BMI, we can conclude that self-esteem is better correlated with other subjective parameters (body image) than with objective and relatively stable measurements (BMI in our research). BMI values are useful predictors of body dissatisfaction risk among young females. Physical activity results in certain improvements in the physical and psychological parameters researched in the present paper. Therefore, we made some recommendations regarding motivation, exercise enjoyment and communication techniques aimed at promoting physical activities among young women.

The development of desert areas in the industrial and tourist and educational purposes related to the implementation of physical activity in extreme conditions. A complex set of hot climate causes the body deep adaptive adjustment, impact on health, human physical performance. Optimization of physical activity in hot climates is of particular importance for the tourists and military personnel, the specific activity of which is related to the foot movement with different masses carried goods on different terrain. The methodology is based on the analysis of the results of experimental studies of the optimum speed of movement of a person walking in a desert area, taking into account temperature and weight of cargo carried. The purpose of the study--assessment of the severity of muscle work, depending on the weight of transported cargo, the nature of the soil and the air temperature at the time of walking alone in a desert area. The paper presents experimental data to evaluate the severity of muscle work, depending on the weight of transported cargo, the nature of the soil and the air temperature at the time of walking alone in a desert area.