Auxal.2

Performing both structural and nonstructural auxological analysis of human growth in standing height or recumbent length, this program provides accurate fitting or smoothing of growth curves for height, velocity, and acceleration. In addition, it displays the height and velocity curves in publication quality graphic output, and velocity maxima and minima are located and described. Data from multiple cases can be analyzed in one pass through the program and the results summarized both longitudinally and cross-sectionally.

Employing Bayesian methods of estimation, the program is able to fit the structural models to incomplete longitudinal data. This facility makes it possible to estimate a structural average curve for the full growth cycle from mixed longitudinal data consisting of a sample of short studies beginning at random ages. It also makes the prediction of height at maturity or any other age possible, from one or more measures of height prior to maturity.

The 170 page program manual includes:

* introduction to analysis procedures,

* data layouts,

* command references,

* sample problem input and output,

* sample plots, and

* technical appendix on structural and nonstructural analysis of multiphasic growth.