The effects of the head and shell on the components and taste of shrimp soup were investigated. Three kinds of soup, made from the head and shell, shrimp muscle and whole shrimp, were prepared and analyzed. The contents of dried solids, nucleotides and such free amino acids Gly, Pro and Arg in the muscle soup were more than those in the head and shell soup. Taurine, Lys, Glu and Leu were detected more in the head and shell soup than in the muscle soup. The high contents of Ca²⁺ sugar and lactate are thought to be characteristic of the head and shell soup. A taste evaluation panel significantly differentiated the shrimp muscle soup from both the head and shell soup and whole shrimp soup, although they could not reach a decision on which soup was more tasty than others. These results show that the soup from the head and shell of shrimp contained particular components that are useful for improving the taste of shrimp muscle soup.

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The mental health of younger generations has become a matter of great social concern, and the problem has been also discussed in relation to eating habits. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the life style focusing on eating habits and the scores of UPI (University Personality Inventory) scale which measure the degree of mental health, of junior and high school students and of university students by a questionnaire survey.
There were no significant differences in the mean scores of each UPI scale between male and female students, except for physical complaint items. Significant relationships between the scores of UPI and their daily lives and eating habits were more found in male junior and high school students and female university students. Stress, health and sleeping patterns were correlated with the UPI scores in junior and high school students as well as university students. The high scores of UPI were more observed among the students of the low intake frequencies of meat, milk, dairy products and vegetables.

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The following are the results of a study of the introduction and the spread of edible burdock into Japan as a food material for Japanese cooking.
The edible burdock was first used for medicinal purpose, but in the Heian Period, “nisime-gobou” and “tataki-gobou” appeared. In modern times, “nisime-gobou” becomes popular as a nationwide dish prepared for New Year's, whereas “kinpira-gobou” is popular in the northern part of Kantou, and “tataki-gobou” in the Kinki area. These dishes are thought to have originated from “nanukadaki-gobou, ” “kara-gonbo” and “denbugobou” which had been handed down throughout Japan. The edible burdock was used in folk remedies and was highly evaluated for nutritious and medicinal food.
From the facts combined with previous reserch, it is inferred that the edible burdock which formed an indispensable part of New Year's festivals in ancient times becomes an important food of the Japanese New Year's as one of “osechi ryouri (special dishes with simbolic meanings of longevity and good fortune).”
Also, the eating of the edible burdock in Japan was influenced by the eating of the foreign edible burdock which was similar to Japanese wild thistles generally eaten at that time.

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We conducted a survey of cases in which clothes are stored away or disposed of because of spot soil. In addition, we found what kind of spot soil remover is used most frequently by referring to the literature, as we had thought that more clothes would be made use of if spot soil was removed properly.
Both the female students and the middle-aged to elderly women surveyed indicated that soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup were the most common sources of spot soil. Most of the female students get spot soil out in the home, whereas many of the middle-aged to elderly women also have their soiled clothes dry-cleaned. When the women try to remove spot soil in the home, they find it hard to remove Indian ink, and when they have their clothes dry-cleaned, it is usually to have food stains removed. This result was common to both the female students and the middle-aged to elderly women.
Among the cases in which spot soil could not be removed or cases in which problems occurred (discoloration and fading, a ring forming around the spot soil, expansion and contraction, and damage to the fabric), most involved combinations of cotton and Indian ink. Among the latter problems, discoloration and fading was most common, regardless of the treatment method. Furthermore, it was found that more female students continue to wear clothes with spot soil-related problems than do the middle-aged to elderly women, many of whom store them away or dispose of them.
From these results, it could be expected that fewer clothes would be wasted if consumers learned the proper method of removing spot soil. However methods vary from book to book, and it is hoped that a guidebook for spot soil removal will be made available.

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Up to the present time, there have not been many studies carried out to determine an effective method for systematical conditional setting for polka-dot patterns, because most previous studies have used commercial printed polka-dot patterns. Therefore, we prepared thirty samples with different patterns wherein two kinds of patterns (i.e., an oblong and a square) each with polka-dot diameters of 1.6, 1.4 and 0.8 cm were respectively combined with five different colors by means of CG (computer graphics). In addition, in these samples, area ratios of the polka-dots to the background area were consistently maintained at 1 : 7 for the rectangular pattern and at 1 : 5.8 for the square pattern.
Characteristic values of these samples were obtained by means of optical measurements and a sensory evaluation to try to determine those factors, which controlled images expressed by the polka-dot patterns set in different conditions. The following results were objectively proved.
1. From the results of the SD method, a more significant distinction was found in the evaluation of color samples of different color values for each polka-dot size than in that of different dot sizes on each color sample.
2. From the results of the t-test, a more significant distinction was found in the evaluation of the two design patterns in the case of the polka-dot diameter of 1.6 cm. In addition, it was found that yellow and green had relatively profound effects on the arrangement of the polka-dots.
3. It was also proved by the method of paired comparison that the variation of polka-dot colors distinguished more remarkably differences in pattern images than their sizes did.
4. From the results of the method of paired comparison, for most of the evaluation items, values of evaluation in the case of oblong patterns were higher than those in the case of square patterns.
5. There was a correlation between visual evaluation and relative value and chrome on polka-dot patterns.
It was found that the sensory test is quite an effective way to study polka-dot patterns.

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The authors regard a children's hall as community play space where a play leader is stationed. This study aims at clarifying the actual use of these facilities and the relation between children and their play leader. The authors selected three children's halls in Kobe and conducted questionnaire researches on the children who visited the halls. The findings are as follows :
1) Half of the children visit the hall as often as more than twice a week. Some make no arrangements with friends; they visit the hall of their own accord. Most come to play with friends or take part in various events offered by the play leader.
2) Children regard the hall as an attractive place. They get to meet their playmates; a rich variety of plays is offered there : and new plays are introduced by the play leader.
3) The relationship between children and the play leader mainly depends upon how much children approach the play leader. Frequent visitors have stronger ties with the play leader. It should be pointed out that visitors need a play leader who is willingly to be involved with children's play while supporting their activities.
4) The children's halls should make more efforts to approach the children in the community, and the play leader's role should be strengthened, in order to make the hall as play base that children would want to visit and have a nice opportunity.

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The vitamin C (VC) content of garden pea pods was higher than that of kidney bean or yard bean pods. The activity of L-galactonolactone dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.2.3, GLDH), which catalyzes the last step of ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthesis, of garden pea pods was also higher than that of kidney bean pods, while the ascorbate oxidase (EC 1.10.3.3, AAO) activity of garden pea pods was lower than that of kidney bean pods. Young pods of improved varieties of kidney bean (Morocco) and yard bean (Kegon) are generally preferred, the VC contents of these pods being higher than those of the original varieties even after storing for 7 days. Storing kidney beans at 4°C was better than at 15°C to maintain a high level of VC. The smaller pods of kidney bean had a higher level of VC and retained more VC during storage than the larger pods. The VC content and GLDH activity of small kidney bean pods increased during the first 2 or 3 days of 4°C storage and then decreased. It is suggested that the VC content in the stored pods of immature legumes was positively correlated with the GLDH activity and negatively correlated with the AAO activity.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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