The mediating role of physical self-concept on relations between biological maturity status and physical activity in adolescent females

The current study examined the mediating role of physical self-concept on relations between biological maturity status and self-reported physical activity in adolescent British females. Biological maturity status, physical self-concept and physical activity were assessed in 407 female British year 7-9 pupils (M age = 13.2 years, SD = 1.0). Participants completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (Kowalski, Crocker, & Donen, 2004) and the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perceptions Profile (Whitehead, 1995). Percentage of predicted adult height attained at measurement was used as an estimate of biological maturity status. Structural equation modelling using maximum likelihood estimation and bootstrapping procedures revealed that perceptions of sports competence, body attractiveness and physical self-worth mediated an inverse relation between maturity status and physical activity. The results provide partial support for Petersen and Taylor's (1980) Mediated Effects Model of Psychological and Behavioural Adaptation to Puberty within the context of physical activity

Confounding effect of biologic maturation on sex differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior in adolescents

Sex differences in physical activity (PA) through pubertal maturation and the growth spurt are often attributed to changing interests. The contribution of sex differences in biological maturation to the adolescent decline has received limited attention. This study examined the contribution of somatic maturation to sex differences in objective assessments of sedentary behavior and PA in Portuguese adolescents (N = 302, aged 13-16 years). Maturation was estimated from the percentage of predicted mature stature and physically active and inactive behaviors assessed with Actigraph GT1M accelerometers. The influence of age, sex and their interaction on body size, maturation and physical behaviors were examined using factorial ANOVA and, subsequently, ANCOVA (controlling for maturation) tested the effect of sex. Males spent more time in MVPA and less time in sedentary behavior than females. However, sex differences were attenuated when maturation was controlled; thus suggesting that maturity may play an important role in adolescent behaviors

RAD_genos_Kovach_etal_2016

The attached .xls file contains genotypes for the 9380 putatively diagnostic SNPs used in Kovach et al. 2016. Each row is a different individual. The first column is is population of origin for each individual. The following columns are genotypes for each locus. Locus names designate genomic position within the rainbow trout reference genome (see Hand et al. 2016): chr_chromosome#; chrUn - are loci on unanchored scaffolds; the final number is an identifier. Some RAD contigs have multiple SNPs. NA is missing data. At each locus, a 0 is a homozygote for the westslope cutthroat trout alleles, a 1 is a heterozygote (one rainbow trout allele and one westslope cutthroat trout allele) and a 2 is a rainbow trout homozygote

Genomic Analysis Reveals Genetic Distinctiveness of the Paiute Cutthroat Trout <i>Oncorhynchus clarkii seleniris</i>

<p>The Paiute Cutthroat Trout (PCT) <i>Oncorhynchus clarkii seleniris</i> is classified as a subspecies within the greater Cutthroat Trout <i>O. clarkii</i> ssp. complex and is federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. However, genetic studies to date have revealed very little genetic differentiation between the PCT and its closest relative, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) <i>O. clarkii henshawi</i>. These results casted doubt on whether the PCT is a genetically distinct subspecies or merely a phenotypic variant of the LCT. Here, we present a genomic analysis of Cutthroat Trout subspecies and populations to resolve the genetic and phylogenetic relationship between PCT and LCT. Our results demonstrate substantial genetic structure and differentiation between PCT and LCT populations. In contrast to current thinking, our phylogenetic reconstructions show the PCT to be a distinct evolutionary lineage that diverged from LCT before the LCT differentiated into its current populations (i.e., rather than PCT divergence due to geographic isolation from an LCT population in the Carson River). We conclude that the PCT is genetically distinct from the LCT.</p> <p>Received May 3, 2017; accepted July 12, 2017Published online October 19, 2017 </p