Journal of Home Economics of Japan
Online ISSN : 1882-0352
Print ISSN : 0913-5227
ISSN-L : 0913-5227
Volume 64, Issue 5
Displaying 1-6 of 6 articles from this issue
  • Megumi YONAHA, Yumi AOKI, Mari IWABUCHI, Tomomi NAGAHATA, Yoko FUJIWAR ...
    2013 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 215-224
    Published: 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: June 14, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      The leaves of the shell ginger (Alpinia speciosa K. Schum.), a common plant in Okinawa, Japan, are often fermented prior to healthy food use. In this study, we investigated the effects of the hotwater extract of fermented shell ginger (HFS) on melanogenesis in B16 mouse melanoma cells. HFS dose-dependently inhibited melanogenesis without affecting cell growth. While HFS did not have an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in a cell-free system, intracellular tyrosinase activity was decreased by HFS-treatment. HFS also reduced tyrosinase expression at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, HFS decreased mRNA levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the major transcription factor in tyrosinase expression. These results indicate that HFS inhibits melanogenesis and that its inhibitory effect on melanogenesis involves a reduction of tyrosinase expression at the transcript level.
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  • Noriko OGAWA, Yumi KOBAYASHI, Natsumi YAMANAKA, Yoshinori TANAKA
    2013 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 225-231
    Published: 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: June 14, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      The properties of rice cooked in ion-exchanged water (2.5 mg/L of Ca2+ and 36.2 mg/L of Na+) and in tap water (15.7 mg/L of Ca2+ and 15.7 mg/L of Na+) were compared to clarify the effect of ion exchange by a domestic water- softener. The respective water content and rate of volume increase of the rice cooked in ion-exchanged water (ion-exchanged water rice) were 64.12% and 4.03-fold. These are significantly higher than the respective values of 62.03% and 3.83-fold for the rice cooked in tap water (tap water rice). The hardness of ion-exchanged water rice was significantly lower than that of tap water rice. The sensory evaluation judged the ion-exchanged water rice to be significantly softer and sweeter than the tap water rice. These results show that the water absorption and volume increase of rice were facilitated by cooking in ion-exchanged water from which Ca has been removed by the water- softener, giving softer rice. Scanning electron micrographs show starch granules on the surface of tap water rice, but not on ion-exchanged water rice.
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  • Masayo IKEDA, Ayumi KATO, Chiemi TAKEDA, Junko YAMAGATA, Hiroyuki IYOT ...
    2013 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 233-242
    Published: 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: June 14, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      We examined the kitchen appliances used and gas consumed in training for food service management to enable the design of energy-conservation education programs in training courses for registered dietitians. The average gas consumption per day was 6.32±0.39㎥ , of which 73% was used by cooking appliances, and 27%, by the dish washer. The gas consumption per minute was most for the tilting kettle (0.0320±3.0176㎥ /min) and least for the combination oven (0.0131±1.0049㎥ /min). The gas consumed per meal was most for the main dish, although differing according to the menu and cooking appliance. The amount of energy consumed at a training institution was influenced by the experience of the cooks, equipment used, food menu, and number of cooks involved in the kitchen. An analysis of the energy consumed in every institution will enable a cost-effective technique for energy conservation to be established, and the fuel, lighting, and water costs to be reduced.
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  • Hiroko KAWABATA, Yoshiko YAMADA, Taeko NARUMI
    2013 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 243-251
    Published: 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: June 14, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      Sales trends were obtained from market research conducted through the Internet. Four types of half top nursing bras were chosen for the research: crossover style, front button style, and a combination type for each with flip clips.
      Fourteen lactating females wore the nursing bras for a continuous period of time and compared them for size fit and ease of breast feeding. Nursing could be easily started when wearing either the crossover style or the front button style, but some found the opening and shutting of the flip clips too inconvenient for use.
      Product tests showed that there was no mention of under busts but only the top bust range on most of the size tags, a lack of uniformity in the size of the individual finished bras, shrinkage after frequent use and laundering, disconnection of straps due to deficiency in sewing, and impairment of tensile strength in the under tape after approximately 15 uses. These results show that the durability of nursing bras is insufficient.
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  • Tomoko TAKAOKA, Midori TAKAHASHI, Kazuyo KAMACHI, Yuriko AKANE
    2013 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 253-262
    Published: 2013
    Released on J-STAGE: June 14, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      This research examines the relationship between clothing behavior of young males and self-monitoring and its relationship with lifestyle attitudes as manifested in the “herbivore pattern” (sōshokuka) phenomenon. A questionnaire was presented to 290 male university students. The results were as follows:
    (1) There was a weakening of awareness of separate gender-specific roles in lifestyle attitudes. The subjects were consumer-oriented and fastidious about cleanliness. Cluster analysis revealed that they were “positive independence in romantic relationships,” “subconscious awareness” and “sound and negative approach to romantic relationships” types.
    (2) Factor analysis of clothing behaviour revealed the first factor as “valuing fashion and external appearance,” the second as “femininity” and the third as “emphasising sensitivity.”
    (3) As to the relationship between attitudes of lifestyle and clothing behaviour, we found that members of the type characterised by “positive independence in romantic relationships” valued fashion and external appearance, and those with “sound and negative approach to romantic relationships” tended to demonstrate feminine patterns of clothing behaviour and to value sensitivity.
    (4) As to the relationship between clothing behaviour and self-monitoring, subjects who “value fashion and external appearance” highly showed a high degree of orientation towards otherdirectedness and acting. Subjects who put great importance on “value sensitivity” showed extroversion, other-directedness and acting.
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