The anthropometric profile of elite roller figure skaters

Although the anthropometric profiles of Olympic athletes, as a group, are well known, there is still a need for specific reference data for each sport given that each discipline has its own characteristics. This study has been designed considering the limited number of articles that focus on the anthropometric characteristics of artistic roller skating and, more specifically, the figures discipline. The aim of this study is twofold: firstly, to define the anthropometric profile, body composition and somatotype of male and female artistic roller figure skaters in order to establish specific profiles; and, secondly, to establish the differences between the anthropometric profiles, body compositions and somatotypes of male and female skaters. Twenty-nine professional roller skaters (male = 15, female = 14) underwent measurements of standard anthropometry (height, body mass, arm span, 8 skinfolds, 3 breadths and 11 girths). The somatotype was measured using the Heath-Carter methods. A T-Student test for independent samples was conducted in order to assess the differences between male and female skaters. Significant statistical differences were found between male and female skaters in terms of body mass, height, arm span, the sum of four and six skinfolds and all skinfold measurements. Male skaters have a BMI of 21.4± 1.6 and female skaters have a BMI of 21.5 ± 2.4. The results indicate that arm span is an important characteristic for skaters. Mesomorphy is the most important component, followed by endomorphy, for male and female skaters. Male skaters have an endomesomorphic somatotype (3.5-4.5-2.5) and female skaters have a balanced mesomorphic somatotype (3.3-4.1-2.9).

Transformation of Nine-Accelerometer-Package (NAP) data for replicating headpart kinematics and dynamic loading. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Analysis of head response to torso acceleration. Volume II - description of data retrieval, analysis and display software. Final report.

Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Performance evaluation of the NHTSA advanced "S" series 50th percentile anthropomorphic dummy. Volume II - accelerator sled test data. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Prevalence and factors associated with anthropometric failure, vitamin A and iron deficiency among adolescents in a Nigerian urban community.

Background: Under nutrition is a problem of severe magnitude in low income countries like Nigeria. Adolescent school children might also be vulnerable. The dearth of data hinders planning of school health and nutrition programmes for school children. Objective: To determine the prevalence of stunting, thinness; vitamin A and iron deficiencies among adolescent students in Nsukka urban, Nigeria and to determine factors that are associated with these nutritional problems. Methods: A total of 400 participants were randomly selected from 717 students aged 12 – 18 years in 3 randomly selected secondary schools. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood analyses were the data collection methods employed. Results: The prevalence of stunting was 33.3% and thinness 31.0%. Neither overweight nor obesity was observed. While 64.0% were anaemic; 44.0% had vitamin A deficiency (VAD). A total of 48.0% had both anaemia and stunting, 42% had VAD + thinness; while 40% had anaemia + VAD. Household income was a predictor of vitamin A status. Children from medium/ high income households had higher odds of having VAD than those from low income households (AOR=0.14; 95% CI=0.031, 0.607; P=0.009). Household income (AOR=0.12; 95% CI=0.021, 0.671; P=0.016), and age (AOR=0.09; 95% CI=0.014, 0.587; P=0.012) were independent determinants of height-for-age status. Conclusion: Among urban adolescent students in Nigeria, stunting, thinness, anaemia and VAD were problems of public health significance. Age and household monthly income played major roles.

A Petrov-Galerkin method for a singularly perturbed ordinary differential equation with non-smooth data

In this paper, a singularly perturbed ordinary differential equation with non-smooth data is considered. The numerical method is generated by means of a Petrov-Galerkin finite element method with the piecewise-exponential test function and the piecewise-linear trial function. At the discontinuous point of the coefficient, a special technique is used. The method is shown to be first-order accurate and singular perturbation parameter uniform convergence. Finally, numerical results are presented, which are in agreement with theoretical results.