The respective rates of water absorption and volume increase of rice cooked with water containing 1.35 mM of calcium lactate (Ca rice) were 2.34-fold and 2.61-fold. These were lower than the respective rates of 2.38-fold and 2.78-fold for rice cooked with distilled water (control rice). When 154 mM of sodium chloride was added to the calcium lactate solution, however, the respective increase rates for the cooked rice (Ca/Na rice) were 2.37 and 2.72, these figures not being significantly different from those for the control rice. These results show that, while calcium inhibited the water absorption and swelling of rice, the addition of sodium chloride prevented this inhibition. The breaking stress of the Ca rice was 1.47×10⁵Pa, significantly higher than that of 1.03×10⁵Pa for the control rice. Calcium thus made the cooked rice harder. The breaking stress of the Ca/Na rice, however, was 1.35×10⁵Pa. This figure is significantly lower than that for the Ca rice, and indicates that the rice was softened by the addition of sodium chloride. The adhesiveness of the Ca rice was more than twice that of either the Ca/Na rice or control rice, indicating that calcium made the surface of the cooked rice stickier. There was no significant difference in adhesiveness between the Ca/Na rice and control rice, so the addition of sodium chloride decreased the surface stickiness of the cooked rice. The degree of gelatinization of the Ca rice was 88.4%, significantly lower than the value of 94.1% for the control rice, indicating that calcium suppressed the gelatinization of starch. The degree of gelatinization of the Ca/Na rice was 90.9%; thus, the gelatinization was improved by the addition of sodium chloride. The results of the sensory evaluation show that the stickiness, hardness, and elasticity of the Ca rice were greater than those for the Ca/Na rice. These significant distinctions are in agreement with the results of the physical property measurements. The stickiness and elasticity of the Ca/Na rice were judged to be preferable to those of the Ca rice, indicating that the addition of sodium chloride prevented the deterioration of eating quality caused by calcium.

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The object of this study is to clarify the construction and historical trends of the homes with middle corridors, as found in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The method of investigation was principally a field study of 158 homes in seven districts in Goto City. The study concentrated on analyzing the floor plans and age of the homes as well as the name given to the living space by the occupants. The use of the rooms was analyzed both in daily use as well as on special occasions. Particular attention was given to the relationship between the redidence with middle corridors and the living room. It is to be noted that the analysis was made with four new types of middle corridors in mind. Results of the study are as follows: 1. Of the seven districts, there were 48 houses equipped with middle corridors in 6 districts (The village of Hantomari is not included.), and, of these, 30 households referred to the room as living room. 2. Of the Goto City houses equipped with middle corridors, there were four types of corridors: 14 right-key corridors, 7 left-key corridors, 20 left/right-key corridors, and 7 straight corridors. 3. In the six districts, the oldest house with middle corridor built in 1951 was located in Dozaki and had a straight middle corridor. 4. The living rooms in houses with middle corridors in the six districts had four types which had changed over time from being a middle living space to a house with a middle corridor. And, at the same time, the separation of living rooms and bedrooms was also seen. Also, there were some cases where the middle living space had been transformed into the living room; the rooms were used for two purposes. There were four types of such houses. 5. The Goto City houses with middle corridors were mostly the straight corridor type houses, and the living rooms of these types were located to the rear. It is clear that this type house with a middle corridor is particular to Goto City.

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In order to clarify anti-deposition effects of mukuroji pericarps, deposition of carbon black onto cotton and polyester fabrics has been studied in aqueous solutions of mukuroji pericarps. The rates of deposition were evaluated from the reflectivity of stained fabrics. It was revealed that the rate of deposition of carbon black onto the fabrics in an aqueous solution of mukuroji pericarps was lower than that in an aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate as well as in polyvinyl alcohol, which is a known anti-redeposition agent. In addition, it was revealed that theses effects were not introduced by the saponin component alone, but by the whole mukuroji pericarp which contains the non-saponin component.

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Seasonal changes in the biochemical composition of total tissues and of the visceral, muscle and mantle and gill parts of Mya arenaria oonogai were studied to identify the best season for eating. Specimens were collected for one year from the clam beds on the Wajiro seashore of Fukuoka City for one year. The seasonal variation in the contents of ash, lipid and water were small, while those of protein and sugar, mainly glycogen, were large. Protein and sugar were highest from October to January and from March to June, respectively. The soft body of the clam was separated into the visceral part (gonad, digestive gland, stomach and intestine), muscular part (siphon, foot and adductors) and mantle and gill part (mantle and gills). The wet weight ratio of viscera to total soft body was a maximum in October, a minimum in November and slightly increased until February. The variation of wet weight ratio to total soft body was from 35% to 53% on viscera, 29% to 43% on muscle and 18% to 25% on mantle and gills. The results of the biochemical composition analysis lead us to assume that the best season during which this clam from the Wajiro seashore of Fukuoka City in Northern Kyushu can be eaten is from March to June.

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With a view to furthering high school education on the community to which they belong, this report aims to clarify to what extent each high school identifies itself in relation to the surrounding area. The author sent a questionnaire to all national and public high schools in this country from late August to early September 2002; a total of 4,125 questionnaires were sent and 2,292 schools returned their replies (recovery rate: 55.6%). The results of the research are as follows. 1) Most schools interpret their community as a commuting area rather than an area within specifics distance or time, and the size of the commuting area differs from prefecture to prefecture. 2) As to whether or not the schools recognize the specifics or characteristics of their community, many schools replied in the affirmative while not many schools admitted that their students were aware of the specifics or characteristics of the community. It should be noted that the above is again different from prefecture to prefecture. 3) The Open School has been practiced at more than 90 percent of the high schools, but the contents of the project vary a great deal from prefecture to prefecture.

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