The oxalic acid content of spinach has become a major human health concern due to its toxicity. We investigated in this study the residual oxalic acid content in spinach and the free oxalic acid content in the cooking solution. The water temperature and duration of boiling were important factors for the residual oxalic acid content of spinach, while the water volume and salt concentration had no influence. However, the content of free oxalic acid in the cooking solution was influenced by the water volume, salt concentration, water temperature, and duration of boiling. In particular, the oxalic acid content in the cooking solution decreased with increasing salt concentration. Cooking spinach by boiling was demonstrated, and a follow-up questionnaire survey of junior high school students was conducted. The results of the questionnaire survey clarified that there was insufficient understanding of the preparation of vegetables by boiling as studied at the elementary school level. However, most students understood how to boil spinach after the teaching demonstration, and the results of a cluster analysis showed that the students' interest as well as knowledge about spinach had increased

View full abstract

  The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the reflection characteristics of woven and knitted fabrics which commonly induce the cognition of specific textures. Fourteen undyed fabrics made of different fiber materials with various weaves and a knit structure were selected for the experimental samples. Images of the surfaces of the samples were recorded through a microscope with incident light and 45 degrees and receiving light of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees. The reflected light was separated into specular and diffuse components using polarized filters, based on the dichromatic reflection model. The reflected light separated were visualized to show anisotropy reflections.
  For the cotton fabrics, the specular reflection was observed only at the specular angle. For silk fabrics and other filaments, however, the specular component appeared at all receiving light angles, and the intensities obtained from synthetic fabrics and rayon were remarkable.
  The intensities of the reflected components showed anisotropy depending on the observation direction of the fabrics. The apparent separation of yarns was narrower for the larger receiving light angles for various structures of weave and knit. This phenomenon may induce the change of the specular components of the light reflected from various surfaces with different normal direction, depending on the yarn and fibers, into the diffuse component of the reflected light. It is thus presumed that the main reason for the intense reflection observed at the receiving light angle, which is larger than the specular angle, must be due to the light reflection from the local surfaces present on the fabric textures, which is unlikely to occur on metal having a smooth surface.

View full abstract

  Housing modification is an effective means for elderly and disabled people to continue living in their home. However, it is difficult for renters to modify rental housing in Japan. Sometimes housing modification by the renter is referred to a judicial court.
  The purpose of this study is to collect and analyze information about housing modifications that have been done in rented houses. Forty-eight such cases were investigated. The following results were obtained. In 42 cases, contract cancellation was contested for the reason of housing modification by the renter. In 6 cases, the cost related to modification was contested. The contracts of 20 of the 42 cases where housing modifications had been carried out were rescinded, while those of the other 22 were not. Renters were not required to give up their lease if the following conditions were met: 1) the modification work did not affect the structure of the building; 2) the modifications met social demands; 3) the modifications restored the house to its original condition; 4) the value of the housing unit had increased and it was possible to restore the unit to its original condition.
  It was concluded that modifications could be carried out without the authorization of the lessor if these four conditions were met.

View full abstract

  This study investigates the relationship between eating behavior and adolescent resilience, together with providing the scale of both, of 311 male and 416 female high school students. A factor analysis of the eating behavior identified six dimensions: (1) eating as a diversion, (2) fear of getting fat, (3) worry for the lack of food, (4) content of meals, (5) irregular eating, and (6) eating quickly. A factor analysis of the adolescent resilience identified three dimensions: (1) positive future orientation, (2) novelty seeking, and (3) emotional regulation. Weak negative correlations were found between some combinations of the component factors for eating behavior and adolescent resilience.

View full abstract