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[Purpose] In this study, hypothesizing that balance ability is related to trunk muscle strength, we conducted balance exercises for the trunk muscles, seeking to improve balance ability which is a risk factor of falls, and investigated their effects. [Method] Healthy young subjects performed balance exercises for the trunk muscles, two times a week for 12 weeks, and we investigated the exercise effect. The evaluated items were static and dynamic balance, muscle strength and flexibility. We used a Biodex to evaluate trunk muscle strength, and a Balance Master to evaluate mCTSIB and LOS. We also used performance tests to assess the overall change. [Result] The effect of ES was large on static balance (EOF.SI), dynamic balance (TUG), and trunk muscle strength, confirming the efficacy of the balance exercise. [Conclusion] The results demonstrate the relationship between trunk muscle strength and balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, normative studies on distribution principles have begun to attract the attention of many sociologists. I would like to propose a sociological research program that can contribute to these normative discussions. The research program I propose aims to estimate various social influences that are a result of the application of a certain distribution principle. On the basis of this concept this study aims to stimulate a change in the aggregation of subjective well-being through the virtual redistribution of income using the 2005 Social Stratification and Social Mobility (SSM) Survey dataset. In this article, I apply the egalitarian redistribution method so as to analyze the relationship between the reduction of inequality and aggregation of subjective well-being. At first, the. function Of subjective well-being (life satisfaction score) to income is presumed from the data according to an individual socio-economic profile. Subsequently, using/these functions, the change in the aggregation of subjective well-being by certain redistribution is estimated. As a result of the analysis, two main findings ate obtained. First, in both the redistribution of individual income model and the family income model, the effect of the egalitarian redistribution of income on the aggregation of subjective well-being is restrictive. Second, a moderate equalized redistribution results in maximum increase of the social aggregation of subjective well-being. This suggests that a moderate equal distribution is effective for the purpose of the efficient improvement of societal well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two topics related to intergenerational class mobility: long-term trends in class mobility in post-war Japan and cross-national comparison. First, the trends in relative class mobility, which is the indicator of societal openness, show an overall stability in post-war Japan. There was no evidence to support the notion of increased rigidity and mobility barriers in recent Japan. This notion was probably derived from the changes in class structure and absolute mobility. Both the share of the upper white-collar class and the proportion of upward mobility were reduced: at the same time, both the share of the unskilled manual class and the proportion of downward mobility were increased. These changes probably affected people's perception of increased rigidity in class structure. Second, this paper examined Japan's position in relation to other industrial societies in the 1970s and 1990s. With regard to relative mobility rate. Japan was located in the middle position implying that it is neither more fluid nor less fluid than other industrial societies. With regard to absolute mobility rate, Japan showed a trend of a rapid increase in total mobility rate following the process of industrialization, just like other late-industrializing societies. The paper examined the relative location of all the nations in our analysis by taking into account the trends of both absolute mobility rate and relative mobility rate during the process of industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an objective motion analysis which can be used easily in clinical physical therapy, a two-dimension motion analysis by video camera was considered. We studied the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of physical angle measurement while walking using motion analysis software. We obtained stable reliability both in inter-rater and intrarater reliability, suggesting the possibility of getting high reliability with measurement by experienced investigators. If we can obtain sufficient reproducibility of objective measurement under established shooting conditions, such as model of camera, position of tripod, angle, zoom adjustment and a maker application spot, we consider this method will be spread widely in clinical settings as an easy-to-use two-dimensional motion analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]