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Studies of age at menarche in Poland have a long history and consistently show an urban-rural gradient. The objectives of the study were to to estimate the age at menarche among school girls resident in ten rural communities of the Greater Poland province in 2016 and to compare ages at menarche by weight status and by population growth. The sample included 1146 girls, 7–16 years of age, resident in ten rural communities. Menarcheal status was obtained via interview. Heights and weights were measured; the BMI was calculated. Based on the latter, the girls were classified as thin, normal weight and overweight (including the obese) relative to IOTF criteria. Population growth between 1986 and 2016 in each community was estimated from local records. Ages at menarche were estimated with the probit regression protocol (SPSS) using the logistic model with log 10 transformation for the total sample and for the subsamples by weight status and population growth. The median age at menarche for the total sample of rural girls was 13.25±0.20 years. Menarche was earlier among Overweight (13.06±0.32 years) compared to Normal Weight (13.25±0.37 years) and Thin (13.81±0.41 years), and among girls resident in communities with Major population growth (12.58±0.44 years) compared to Little/No growth (13.65±0.14 years). Results of the present survey were generally consistent with recent surveys of age at menarche among rural girls in Poland and among girls classified by weight status. Corresponding comparative data relating menarche to population growth are lacking.

This theoretical article explores the possibilities of integration of the educational relationship entities with tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to establish a conceptual framework that enables the deepest possible integration of these technologies. The analysis extends beyond the traditional boundaries of pedagogical sciences. The achievements of contemporary philosophy - particularly epistemology and philosophy of mind - along with cognitive science, will be examined in relation to how the understanding of the concept of the subject has evolved with the emergence of successive models of cognition and mind (till the concept of the broad/extened cognitive systems). Among these proposals, the concepts of cognition, mind, and the understanding of the category of the subject will be outlined. This approach will allow for the inclusion of material and virtual objects - external to the human body - as elements that co-constitute the subject. In traditional perspectives, such objects would typically be regarded as part of the external world, independent of the knowing subject. The concept of the broad/extended cognitive systems, in turn, creates an opportunity to apply such an understanding of the subject to the educational relationship. Given the rapid development of AI and its implementation in new areas of human activity, this appears increasingly necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate secular changes in the physical fitness of rural school youth, 7–15 years, in west-central Poland between 1986 and 2016. Methods: The fitness of cross-sectional samples of school youth resident in the same 10 communities was evaluated in 4 decennial surveys: 1986—1417 boys/1326 girls; 1996—979 boys/947 girls; 2006—871 boys/843 girls; and 2016—1189 boys/1105 girls. Five tests evaluated speed (5-m run), agility (figure 8 run), explosive power (vertical jump), flexibility (stand and reach), and cardiovascular fitness (modified Harvard step test). Age- and sex-specific descriptive statistics were calculated by survey, while differences among surveys were compared in 3 broad age groups (7–9, 10–12, and 13–15 y) using analysis of variance with age and age squared as covariates. Results: Speed and flexibility declined, while the jump and step test index changed variably across surveys. Although agility improved across surveys, the major improvement occurred between 1986 and 1996. Conclusions: Performances of rural school youth on 5 tests of physical fitness changed significantly, but, variably, between 1986 and 2016. The results were generally consistent with other studies of Polish school youth that spanned a similar interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate secular changes in the heights and weights of rural school youth in west‐central Poland across decennial surveys of the same communities spanning 1986 and 2016. Methods: Heights and weights of school youth 7 to 15 years in 10 rural communities in the vicinity of the city of Poznań were measured in 1986 (1417 boys, 1326 girls), 1996 (979 boys, 947 girls), 2006 (871 boys, 843 girls), and 2016 (1189 boys, 1105 girls). Descriptive statistics for sex‐specific single year chronological age groups were calculated by survey, while the sample was partitioned into three age groups (7‐9, 10‐12, 13‐15 years) for detailed analysis of changes across surveys using sex‐specific ANCOVA with age and age2 as covariates. Pairwise post hoc comparisons between specific surveys, adjusted for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni), were evaluated. Results: Heights and weights of rural school youth increased significantly between 1986 and 2016, but estimated secular gains between adjacent surveys were variable and not linear over time. Conclusion: Significant secular changes occurred in the heights and weights of rural school children in the 10 rural communities between 1986 and 2016, but estimated rates of change across sequential decennial surveys were variable. The results were generally consistent with corresponding studies of Polish youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Training of children and young people is one of the most important stages and subsystems in coaching and determines future achievements of adult athletes. Level of physical fitness determines effectiveness of coaching and development of technical skills, influences the effectiveness of tactical actions and has an impact on current psychical disposition of a person. Aim of Study. The research presented herein focused on establishing trends in the changes of young fencers' motor effects (their structure and level) in the period of 2006-2013 with reference to tasks aimed to comprehensively shape functional, fitness and technical foundations that take account of requirements set by a desired specialisation and regarded as typical for an oriented stage of sport training. Material and Methods. The study was based on the findings of research carried out 2006-2013 among young fencers - members of the Junior Team of the Greater Poland region (KWJ). The analysis involved a total of 200 boys aged 15 to 16. Measurements - designed to determine the level and structure of the fencers' motor effects - were conducted by means of the International Physical Fitness Test. The test was also to assess basic somatic parameters, such as body height and weight, and to calculate the BMI. Results. The research found out that the general physical fitness of young fencers established on the basis of the International Physical Fitness Test - decreases in subsequent age groups. It may be a consequence of a regressive trend in intergenerational motor changes generally observed in the population, or relate to a change in height-and-weight proportions leading to an increase in body corpulence. Conclusions. A significant drop in strength related to overcoming one's body resistance is most likely an outcome of the above-mentioned changes in the body structure. Therefore, as it appears, this fact should not be regarded as confirming a view that the so-called strong types of physical fitness are now more seldom among young people. A rise in endurance abilities in the period under research is a positive phenomenon from the point of view of fencing requirements, but also or even mainly - in the context of reversing the negative trend as regards lower general fitness of the young generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: The present report deals with the analysis of the development, maturity and somatic body proportion of children from Polish country environment during growth. The research allow to describe which factors influence the biological development of children from the village. The aim of the study is the estimation of body build type and body proportions of short village children., Material and Methods: The data were collected in five village schools from Wielkopolska administrative unit and consist of 140 boys and 145 girls aged 7-9. Within the research some morphological parameters were made. The subjects somatotypes were determined using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. The human body proportion also was detected. Short children (with stature deficiency) were recognized if they were under the 10 percentile for the Polish children population. The gathered material was calculated by the use of statistic methods., Conclusion: 1. It may be assumed that in all two groups of children there are some, but not very big differences in the development of the analysed morphological traits. Those characteristics are reflect in somatotypes of children. Short boys and girls differ a little bit than other two groups of children. They are more mesomorphic, in relation to their greater development of muscles. 2. The early period in school is rather stable in the somatic development so it could be notice that also healthy, short children will probably accelerate their growth rate in the puberty period. 3. There is a need for more research and analysis of anthropometric characteristics within the countryside children to assess physical development conditions.

Introduction: In past decades we May observe in Poland the secular trend of somatic features as Wall as the phenomenon of maturity processes acceleration. On the other side physical fitness research results are diversified and are the results of multiple factors influence. From population of children, among which appear the effects of secular trend in somatic parameters we may mark the group of children diversified with body build from, as called "evolutionary norm" which may be described as short children. The aim of this work is determining physical fitness characteristics of short children in rural area of Wielkopolska region, in which we conducted wide population research in 2007., Material and Method: For the analyze were used data of 145 females and 140 males at age 7-9, pupils of five basic schools from rural area of Wielkopolska region. For the estimation of physical fitness of children were used test which describe basic motor abilities. For the estimation of speed was used a 5m run. For the estimation of strength was used the dynamometric measurement of hand strength test. Coordination abilities were determined by a run on the figure of eight. Efficiency was determined on the basis of Montoy's step test., Conclusions: 1. The analyze of data shows a lower level of motor development in comparison to children whose body height is placed over 10th centile. 2. Especially important differences were o observed in the case of muscle strength what may be result of low body height, low body mass as well as low muscle mass level. 3. Low quantity of researched ones characterized with short body height (about 17% among girls and about 13% among boys) points towards delicate concluding, concerning great diversity in this group and strong influation on average values of individual fitness tests.