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Abstract. In this study, subjective well-being of 81 adult cerebral palsy (CP) patients who had been discharged from our hospital was evaluated using the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. They were questioned about their life and physical condition. The results were as follows: 1) The subjective wellbeing of CP patients in their late 30 years to early 40 years was lower than that of these in their early 30 years.2) The subjective well-being of CP patients whose physical health was deteriorating, due to falling stamina, appearance of pains and gait disturbance, was lower. 3) Subjective well-being was determined by the convenience of social environment and job integration. These results suggest that age and progression of disability are important factors for life satisfaction in middle-aged and elderly out-patients with CP.

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Abstract. Children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) have a strictly individual gait with numerous variations, which is also characterized by increased tonus and hyperreflexion of the muscles. These factors lead to a gait pattern that is inefficient in terms of consumption of energy. The purpose of this study was to clarify the major factor of the deterioration of walking ability on patients with cerebral palsy. Eighteen children (ten boys, eight girls, average age 12.7 years) with CP participated in the study. The children were divided into groups: the independent walking group and the walking aid group (walking with crutches and wheeled walkers); and the diplegia group and the hemiplegia group. The physiological cost index (PCI) for a 3 minute walk at comfortable speed was measured. PCI was compared to the reaction of the cardio-pulmonary system in basic motions (standing up from a table and 10 m walking). Through this test, the whole heart rate and 10 m walking time were measured. PCI and 10 m walking time in the independent walking group and the hemiplegia group were significantly lower than in the walking aid group and the diplegia group, but there was no difference in the endurance index between them. PCI had a significantly positive correlation with the 10 m walking time. However, PCI did not correlate with repetitions and difference in heart rate between before and after standing ups. From these results, it was concluded that the contracture, muscles weakness in the lower limbs, had a strong influence on ambulation level and energy expenditure in spastic CP.

The amplitude of track geometry waveforms is normally used as an index to estimate the geometrical quality of tracks because it is known that track geometry has a correlation with vehicle dynamic responses, such as acceleration, dynamic wheel load and lateral force. To ensure higher quality track maintenance work, however, it is desirable that the index have a higher correlation with vehicle responses. Therefore, we suggest that the dynamic behavior of the vehicle, predicted by means of measured track geometry, can be useful as an index.There are several ways to predict a dynamic system. The theoretical method that involves solving kinematic equations is the most popular 1) , but spectral analysis is also used. However, putting these methods into practice for track maintenance work is beset with problems because of the inherent difficulties in deciding on an accurate mathematical model to use and, for example, in determining the vehicle's stiffness and suspension damper rates. Because these values change over time, the solution to a kinematic equation tends to be different from the measured value when these parameters are inaccurate, and the cost of calculation is high. Another factor is that high-capacity computers are needed for theoretical methods, which is not realistic for practical work carried out at track maintenance depots.Thus, we applied system identification theory to identify the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle to predict how track geometry affected its vertical vibration and dynamic wheel load. The system identification is one of the stochastic signal processing theories similar to spectral analysis, and we can identify the vehicle dynamic characteristics with fewer observed signals than when we use spectral analysis. The main feature of these models is the simplicity of their predictive calculation, which makes it easy to handle these models at track maintenance depots.The predicted vehicle behavior has higher correlation with actual responses and will provide a more suitable track geometry index than amplitude.2. System identification theory 2. System identification theory 2. System identification theory 2. System identification theory 2. System identification theory 2) 2) 2) 2) 2) 2.1 Outline of the system identification 2.1 Outline of the system identification 2.1 Outline of the system identification 2.1 Outline of the system identification 2.1 Outline of the system identification We can approximate most dynamic systems as linear systems. By so doing, we can express the relationship between system input and output signals by using Equation (1).where u(n) is the input signal; y(n) is the output signal; and g(k) is the system impulse response value. The following function G(q) is termed the system's transfer function:where q is the delay operator that has its function expressed by Equation (3).The task of system identification is to estimate a mathematical model of a system based on observed input-output signals. In the case of the estimation of a dynamic vehicle model, the input signal is...