Counselor education in the Counseling Institute of Sophia University,Tokyo, Japan

International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling -     

Combined effects of exposure to hypoxia and cool on walking economy and muscle oxygenation profiles at tibialis anterior

We investigated combined effects of ambient temperature (23°C or 13°C) and fraction of inspired oxygen (21%O₂ or 13%O₂) on energy cost of walking (C_w: J·kg^?1·km^?1) and economical speed (ES). Eighteen healthy young adults (11 males, seven females) walked at seven speeds from 0.67 to 1.67 m s^?1 (four min per stage). Environmental conditions were set; thermoneutral (N: 23°C) with normoxia (N: 21%O₂) = NN; 23°C (N) with hypoxia (H: 13%O₂) = NH; cool (C: 13°C) with 21%O₂ (N) = CN, and 13°C (C) with 13%O₂ (H) = CH. Muscle deoxygenation (HHb) and tissue O₂ saturation (StO₂) were measured at tibialis anterior. We found a significantly slower ES in NH (1.289 ± 0.091 m s^?1) and CH (1.275 ± 0.099 m s^?1) than in NN (1.334 ± 0.112 m s^?1) and CN (1.332 ± 0.104 m s^?1). Changes in HHb and StO₂ were related to the ES. These results suggested that the combined effects (exposure to hypoxia and cool) is nearly equal to exposure to hypoxia and cool individually. Specifically, acute moderate hypoxia slowed the ES by approx. 4%, but acute cool environment did not affect the ES. Further, HHb and StO₂ may partly account for an individual ES.     

Between-limb differences in running technique induces asymmetric negative joint work during running

Negative work, which is mainly generated by eccentric muscle contraction, has an important influence on the associated muscle damage. Generally, mechanical parameters are determined for one side of a lower extremity on the assumption of negligible between-limb differences. However, between-limb differences in the negative work of lower extremity joints during running remain unclear. This study examines between-limb differences in negative work and associated mechanical parameters during the contact phase of running. Twenty-five young adult males voluntarily participated in this study. Each participant was asked to run on a straight runway at a speed of 3.0?m?s^?1. Negative work, amplitude, duration of negative power, moment, and angular velocity were computed for both sides of the lower extremities. Significant differences were found in negative work between limbs for the hip (18.9?±?11.7%), knee (13.6?±?10.4%), and ankle (11.8?±?8.5%) joints. For the hip joint, asymmetric negative work was attributable to the between-limb difference in the amplitude of negative power owing to a corresponding difference in the moment. The between-limb differences concerning the duration and amplitude of negative power could explain the asymmetric negative work in the knee joint. The asymmetric negative work of the ankle joint was attributable to the between-limb difference in the amplitude and duration of the negative power and the moment. These results indicate that asymmetric negative work was generated in each lower extremity joint; however, the major mechanical parameters corresponding to the negative work are not the same across the joints.     

The validity and reliability of relative body fat estimates and the construction of new prediction equations for young Japanese adult males.

The aims of this study were to assess the reliability and validity of three methods of bioelectrical impedance analysis (based on induction between the hand and foot, between one foot and the other foot and between one hand and the other hand) and the skinfold method, and to construct prediction equations for total body density by examining cross-validity in young Japanese adult males. The participants were 50 Japanese males aged 18-27 years (height 1.72 +/- 0.06 m, body mass 64.9 +/- 9.0 kg; mean +/- s), each of whom was measured twice using each of the four methods. Relative body fat based on underwater weighing was used as the criterion for validity. To construct prediction equations for body density, we used multiple regression analysis, whereby all possible combinations were examined. The reliability of all three bioelectrical impedance methods was high (R = 0.999). Three new prediction equations were constructed for the hand-foot method, foot-foot method and skinfold method. The cross-validity of the equations was guaranteed. The relative body fat calculated using the new equations did not differ from that based on the underwater weighing method.     

News audience fragmentation in the Japanese Twittersphere

ABSTRACT

Although computational approaches to ideology-based audience fragmentation are promising, they are not without limitations. First, most existing studies have focused on the US, and the cross-national validity of their results has rarely been tested. Second, previous studies that rely solely on behavioral data from social media tend to make strong analytical assumptions such as that Twitter users prefer to follow media and politicians whose ideological positions are similar to their own, and that the ideologies of political elites can be extrapolated to infer the ideologies of ordinary users. We aim to address these limitations. First, we focus on Japan to test the generalizability of US findings in an Asian context. Second, we do not rely solely on behavioral measurement but combine survey and social media data to infer the ideologies of Twitter users. Results indicate that our classifier built based on these self-reported ideologies produces more valid estimates than naïve extrapolation from views of the elites. Based on these improved estimates of Twitter users’ ideologies, we demonstrate that the ideological distributions of those who follow major Japanese media accounts on Twitter largely overlap, suggesting an absence of ideology-based audience fragmentation.     

A robot is watching me!: Five-year-old children care about their reputation after interaction with a social robot

Since robots are becoming involved in children's lives, it is urgent to determine how children perceive robots. The present study assessed whether Japanese 5-year-olds care about their reputation when interacting with a social robot. Children were given stickers and asked to divide them between themselves and an absent recipient. Results revealed that children (N = 112, 55 boys, 57 girls) strategically shared more stickers when being watched by a social interactive robot than by an attentional but non-interactive robot or a still robot. Additionally, children (N = 36, 18 boys, 18 girls) attributed higher psychological properties to social robots. This study is the first to show that 5-year-olds care about their reputations from social robots.     

Life after Rugby: Issues of Being an ‘Ex’ in Fiji Rugby

Rugby has given Fiji international recognition and reputation. Not only is rugby a source of national pride but it has also become a valuable export, with an estimated 500 Fijian players currently in foreign leagues in, for instance, New Zealand, Australia, France, England and Japan. The economic and sociocultural gains from rugby migration are often considerable, and consequently, many players in Fiji aspire to secure foreign club contracts as their personal and professional goal. However, little is known about the realities and challenges of the players' lives after their active playing career, the burden of which falls largely upon informal, community-/family-based support networks. Such informal structures are increasingly under strain especially in urban areas and, faced with a lack of formal structural support mechanisms, many retired athletes experience a number of socio-economic and emotional problems. Some negotiate their post-rugby life successfully, while many struggle with becoming and being an ‘ex’. Based on semi-structured interviews, the present paper explores these athletes' experiences of ‘life after rugby’ and illuminates the local and international neoliberal power dynamics that intersects Fiji rugby.     

"日本八路"中国行

受中国人民对外友好协会陈昊苏先生的邀请,原在华日人反战同盟老战士访华团一行20人于8月31日到达北京,参加中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利60周年纪念活动。刚下飞机,就见到许多报纸记者以及中央电视台“呼唤和平”摄制组早等在首都机场进行采访,摄下了当年的日本老八路60年后来到中国的镜头。这些日本老八路大多数都已进入耄耋之年,然而来到中国北京,他们一个个精神矍铄。他们胸前佩戴着“日本八路”及自己姓名的胸章,一踏上中国的土地便抚今追昔,感慨万千!他们对中央电视台记者说:“中国是我们贡献青春的地方。从我们被八路军俘…