A study of relation between physical growth and sexual maturity in girls--V.

The findings indicate that sexual maturity would be initiated only after the attainment of requisite morphological body size such as weight on an average nearly 27 kg and height of 137 cm, irrespective of age and SES. The girls from LSES were chronologically older throughout the span of pubertal growth. However, they took lesser time to reach full maturity after the attainment of mid-pubertal growth compared to USES. Menarche appeared after attaining about a minimum weight of 35 kg, height of 143 cm and bicristal breadth is 24 cm. Its appearance followed the attainment of peak height velocity and 3rd developmental stage of breast and/or pubic hair. It, however preceded the attainment of weight and bicristal breadth peak velocities.

A mixed-longitudinal study on the pattern of pubertal growth: relationship to socioeconomic status and caloric-intake--IV.

The pubertal growth pattern was observed on 791 girls belonging to upper and low SES. These girls ranged between 7-16 years. The effect of calorie intake on the pubertal growth was also ascertained. The development of breast was first to appear at the age of 8.25 years. It was followed by pubic and axillary hair development. The mean age of menarche was 12 years and 12.8 years for USES and LSES, respectively. The onset of menarche, breast and pubic hair was significantly delayed in LSES girls by 0.8 years. Menarche was found to correlate better with breast development than pubic or axillary hair. The girls on adequate calories showed early onset of breast, pubic hair and axillary hair development and of menarche. Similarly, these girls attained mature stage (adult) of these variables earlier compared to those who were on inadequate calories. However, intermittent developmental stages of pubic hair and axillary hair showed no consistency with intake of calories. The girls on inadequate calories showed approximately one year late onset of breast and pubic hair development. The present observations suggest that the onset of puberty is strongly influenced by environment but its attainment is under the genetical control.

Evaluation of anthropometric indices for the assessment of nutritional status in girls--III.

Total subjects were regrouped into three, based on the growth velocity indicating pre-adolescent, adolescent and post-adolescent stages. Three nutritional indices based on 4 body measurements (weight, height, triceps, midarm circumference) were calculated for each subject. It was found that the energy protein index was the only reliable and suitable index for evaluating the nutritional level of adolescents and post-adolescents while weight/height2 and arm circumference were more suitable for determining the nutritional status of pre-adolescent girls.

Physical growth in school girls: relationship to socio-economic status and dietary intake--II.

Growth of 955 healthy normal girls between ages 5-16 years was measured with a mixed-longitudinal design to observe variations due to socio-economic status and the dietary intake. Five hundred and thirteen girls belonged to upper socio-economic status (USES) and 442 girls to lower SES. The 24 hours diet-intake of each girl was recorded by 24 hour-recall method. The LSES girls were significantly smaller in every physical measurements compared to USES girls. Annual mean increments for the linear and circumferential measurements were also lower among LSES girls till the peak velocity was attained. The mean increments for triceps were also lower in LSES for all ages. The girls on inadequate calories were significantly smaller in their growth than who consumed adequate or more than adequate calories. The effect of protein was less evident. A higher percentage of LSES girls (91.2%) consumed inadequate calories than those of USES girls 38.2%). The present study thus established that SES and dietary intake had significant bearing on the physical growth of the pre-adolescent and adolescent girls.

A mixed longitudinal study of physical growth in girls--I.

A total of 492 apparently normal healthy Punjabi girls belonging to upper socio-economic status between 5-15 years of age were selected from the schools for the study of physical growth. Twenty one measurements were made on each girl. Girls below the age of 13 years were examined five times at interval of six months each. Beyond 13 years, only those girls who had not attained menarche, were followed-up 6 monthly. The linear and circumferential measurements followed similar pattern while skinfold thicknesses showed different pattern. Each linear and circumferential measurement and weight increased progressively from age 5 to 15 years. Annual growth gain per year was slow upto 9/10 years followed by a rapid growth with a peak velocity between 11-13 years of age. Thereafter, growth rate declined. The skin-fold thicknesses showed decrease in absolute values upto 10 years of age. Beyond 13 years of age, these increased rapidly. However, no peak velocity in either of the skinfold was detected. Thus, three periods of growth rate, viz., preadolescent (age 5-9 years); adolescent (10-13 years) and post adolescent (beyond 13 years) could be identified.

Naked foot marks - a preliminary study of identification factors.

Footprints of 725 apparently healthy subjects (395 males and 330 females) between the ages of 18 and 30 years were obtained. A number of measurements were taken on each footprint and converted into suitable indices to overcome the problems of registration, recording and observation. Minimum and maximum probability values for each index and combined probabilities were calculated. From the data, it was found that the maximum combined frequency of an individual in the population was of the order of 10(-4) and the minimum combined consideration crease marks and other characteristic features. Thus the present study indicates that combined probabilities could provide reasonably reliable circumstantial evidence to link the criminal with the crime. Humps and creases, which often confer individuality on a print, form additional features of the study.