Casual video games (CVGs) are becoming increasingly popular among middle-aged and older adults, yet there are few studies documenting why adults of different ages play these games, what benefits they perceive, and how regularly they play. The present study compared the online survey responses of 10,308 adults ranging from 18 to 80 years of age to questions regarding PopCap's popular free online game, Bejeweled Blitz (BJB). All respondents cited playing against friends as their main reason for playing. However, there were differences by age in the second most frequently cited reason. Middle-aged adults cited stress relief, and older adults reported that they seek the game's challenges. As a result of playing CVGs, younger adults noted that they felt sharper and experienced improved memory; older adults were more likely to feel that their visuospatial skills and response time benefited. Adults aged 60 and older had heavier patterns of game play than did adults under the age of 60 years. A significant number of respondents (14.7%) spontaneously noted that they felt that BJB had addictive qualities. CVG players seem to be drawn into this activity by its social nature and to a certain extent by its reinforcing properties. Once involved, however, they believe that they derive a number of benefits that, for older adults, appear to offset declines in age-sensitive cognitive functions.

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Cereal grains such as corn and milo, most of which are imported, are primary livestock feeds in Japan. The climatic condition of the exporting countries, among other factors, may have impact on the concentrations of mycotoxins in these cereals, which may adversely affects health of both livestock and human.The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has established reference values for mycotoxins in feeds, and instructed manufacturers not to distribute feeds which contain mycotoxins above the respective reference values in order to protect the health of consumers who ingest foods of livestock origin such as milk and meat. In addition, the MAFF has conducted surveillance of the current occurrence of mycotoxins and monitoring the conformity to the reference values.This paper provides an overview of the risk management by the MAFF regarding mycotoxins in livestock feeds, including the method to establish reference values in line with the internationally adopted rule, and offering a real example on establishment of the reference value for aflatoxin (AF) B 1 in compound feed for dairy cattle.

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