In this paper, we attempted to clarify how a good quality could be produced in half-dried vegetables (30％ weight decrease) using Japanese radishes and the pumpkins. Tissues for samples were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the relationship between them and their antioxidant capacity, rupture properties and taste characteristics were investigated. A membranous tissue at the surface of a sun-dried sample was observed by SEM. A half-dried sample showed that the tissue easily deformed and was hard to bite into, and it had different physical properties from a fresh sample. This result indicates the presence of the above-mentioned structure. Salinity of all of the samples boiled in salt water was comparable. However, antioxidant activity and sugar content of the sun-dried sample after boiling were higher than the fresh sample, indicating that elution of the components of the sample are inhibited by membranous tissues. In conclusion, it is suggested that the membranous tissue of vegetables formed by sun-dried treatment is involved in producing good quality vegetables.

  Existing alcohol antiseptics remove sebum excessively and cause rough hands. In diseases with strong itchiness such as senile xerosis and atopic dermatitis, invisible wounds caused by scratching the skin accelerate the growth of bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus, and this condition of skin protracts wound healing. Therefore, we developed an acidic alcohol-based hand antiseptic with added functional oligosaccharides that does not remove sebum excessively even if used frequently. This antiseptic is multifunctional; it prevents rough skin on the hands, and it has a bactericidal effect with 70％ alcohol and an S. aureus growth inhibitor of acidic oligosaccharides. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this antiseptic is longer than that of existing alcohol antiseptics because the oligosaccharides are nonvolatile and have hydrogen bonds with alcohol. We have concluded that this antiseptic is safe for the skin and more effective in wound healing of the skin than existing alcohol.