The purpose of this study was to investigate semitendinosus muscle (ST) behavior during isometric knee flexions. Healthy male subjects were directed to exert ramp isometric knee flexion up to a maximum of eight knee flexion angles (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 degrees). Displacement of the tendinous intersection (TI) in ST was measured using ultrasonographic images. TI moved proximally 15.8±4.9mm by maximum isometric contraction at 0 degrees, and the displacement of TI was significant at over 30% ramp maximum. Maximum knee flexion torque significantly correlated to displacement of TI at every knee angle, and decreased as the flexion angle increased. These results suggested that TI moved proximally in accordance with flexion torque, and demonstrated the unique behavior of ST, that is, the proximal part concentrically contracted, whereas the distal part eccentrically contracted.

 Infertility in developing countries is important but neglected, while the issues of population growth control have been paid much attention. Female infertility rates in African countries were about 30 percent, which were three times higher than those of industrialized countries. It was reported that the most common cause of infertility was tubal dysfunction due to sexually transmitted infections, unhygienic delivery management, and unsafe abortion. The second common causes were male factors, which had been underestimated in developing countries. Thus, women were always blamed and often abused by their husbands and in-laws. Furthermore, infertile couples suffered from social discrimination and economic disadvantages.
 Infertilities were often treated without appropriate examinations of both husbands and wives. Inexpensive treatments were commonly applied: e.g., treatment of sexually transmitted infections, encouraging timing intercourse, hormonal therapies. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) would be effective in developing countries where main causes of infertility were tubal dysfunction and male factors. ART has been performed in urban areas in some developing countries. However, it is difficult to promote ART in developing countries, because of high costs and lack of sufficient technical and ethical regulations. To decrease the burden of infertility in developing countries, first, both developing and industrialized countries have to recognize the significance of the issue. Then, it is needed to evaluate accurate rates of infertility, causes of infertility, and effectiveness of current treatment, so that the countries could develop prioritized strategies and interventions.
 Infertility rates could be decreased with relatively low cost through building a system of proper diagnosis and treatment. International assistance might be required to negotiate the drug prices and to establish technical and ethical review mechanisms, which are the prerequisites of promoting ART. It is also important to provide people with knowledge and information regarding infertility, their causes and treatment.

Investigation was made into knee joint problems among tea pickers through a questionnaire. Following this, physical examinations were given and radiography was taken.
Of the male respondents, 18.9% said that they have pains in the knee (s). The corresponding figure for the women was a high as 38.5%. The number of men and women who complained of knee pain increased with age. However, it was not clear whether the incidence of knee pain has any bearing on the number of years they had worked or working hours per day. Rather, it seems to depend on the configuration of the plantation.
Knee pain occurs more frequently in persons working on sloping and hilly lands than those working on flat land. The difference in Q-angle is wider in the hilly area than in the flat land.
X-ray examination of the knee joint of the persons who complained of sensations revealed degenerative changes in the form of the synovial cavity. Changes in the form of the patella were more evident in the persons working on the sloping land than on the flat land.
On the slope, tea pickers have to bend their knees, requring femoral quadriceps and crural triceps to maintain contraction for cours. Thus the level of stress on the kneecaps becomes high.
To prevent knee joint injuries, improvement of footings, mechanization of collecting work, decreases in the frequency of decending and ascending the slop, and having a rest at proper intervals are necessary.
Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen femoral quadriceps by excercise and control weight.

The purpose of this study was to determine the developmental pattern of swing speed in youth baseball players between 6 and 14 years old. A total of 1213 baseball players performed toss batting. Swing speed was measured with a specialized accelerometer. In addition, 618 of the 1213 players were measured for total fat free mass by using Inbody770. In study1, Regression analysis was performed on the relationship between chronological age or height and swing speed, and the extreme values were calculated. Then, an allometric equation based on height was also used to estimate the relative growth of swing speed and total fat free mass and to compare the difference of relative growth patterns between swing speed and total fat free mass in study2. Swing speed was strongly related to both chronological age and height, with cubic regression for the relationship with chronological age and linear for the relationship with height. The regression equation obtained for chronological age was solved and found that developmental rate was maximal at approximately 10.25 years old. Allometric analysis showed that the developmental pattern of swing speed differed from that of fat free mass, with a temporary decline in developmental rate from 153.6 cm to 160.9 cm. Based on the results of this study, further research in youth baseball players would be expected to identify the factors causing sluggish development of swing speed as well as to develop an exercise program for improving batting ability.