This paper was aimed to study the Na⁺ binding capacity of various dietary fibers (DFs) and their feeding effects on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
1) The Na⁺ binding capacity to thirty six DFs or DF-rich food components was measured by equilibrium method in vitro. Acidic polysaccharides having carboxylic group such as alginate (Alg), pectate, carrageenan and gum arabic effectively binded to Na⁺. Similar property was observed also in phytate and cereal brans. Especially, K⁺ in Alg easily exchanged to Na⁺ under excess Na⁺ condition.
2) In SHR fed 1 % NaGl, concomitant feeding on 5 % K-Alg or 5 % Ca-Alg depressed blood pressure by 6-7 %. Fecal excretion of Na increased by 49-95 % in both Alg-fed animals than the control ones.
3) Present results suggest that the changes of blood pressure in SHR fed on K-Alg or Ca-Alg are due to the Na⁺/K⁺ or Na⁺/Ca²⁺ ion-exchanges by Alg in gastro-intestinal tracts, and following inhibition of Na⁺ absorption.

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Microbial transformation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose was studied with immobilized whole cells of bacteria, Gluconobacter suboxydans var. α IFO 3254 which has the strong sorbitol dehydrogenase (SLDH) activity. The resting cells of late logarithmic growth phase were immobilized. The entrapping with Ca-alginate was the most favorable immobilization method. By this method, cells could convert D-sorbitol to L-sorbose constantly through 15th reusing test (20 hr × 15).SLDH of cells could be activated by the addition of small amount of nitrogen sources such as yeast extract and peptone.

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Concerning the formation of a higher molecular fraction (HMF) from α-lactalbumin (α-La) during peptic digestion, the productivity of HMF from α-La which were treated with several proteases and chemical reagents was examined.
HMF was hardly formed when α-La was previously hydrolyzed by trypsin and/or chymotrypsin. The reaction between HMF and anti HMF serum was strongly inhibited by peptides with molecular weight less than 5, 000 dalton prepared from α-La digested with pepsin, trypsin or chymotrypsin.
On the other hand, the formation of HMF was drastically reduced by S-carboxymethylation or amidation of carboxyl groups of α-La, whereas nitration of 45 % hydroxyl groups of tyrosin in α-La decreased the production of HMF. HMF was more stable to peptic or chymotryptic hydrolysis than α-La.

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Anthocyanin pigments (ANs) were extracted from purple yam (UBE) and sweet potato (SP), and compared them with those of marketed AN obtained from grapes (GJ), purple corns (PC) and red cabbages (RC) Each AN was purified by basic lead acetate, precipitating from ether and ion exchange resin.
ANs extracted from UBE were separated into PA, PB and PC with thin layer chromatography. Then it was repeatedly treated with basic lead acetate and precipitated from ether to give three purified ANs.
1) pH : The UBE AN showed the same color as that of Red Colorant No. 2 at pH values of 2. 2 and 3. 2 and showed no decoloration when allowed to stand for a while. It turned to pale red at pH 4. 8 and further changed from purple to blue at pH 7. 0 to 8. 0.
2) Stability to heat : UBE was the most stable to heat among these AN pigments. On the other hand, SP showed the lowest colorant remaining ratio and was more unstable than other.
3) Stability to light : The colorant remaining ratio of each AN was low, i. e., lower than 60 %. UBE showed a particularly lower colorants remaining ratio compared with others while SP was relatively stable.
4) Stability to oxygen : No effect of oxygen was observed on colorant stability.
5) Effects of heat, light and oxygen on three purified ANs were examined.
The ANs decomposed with an increase in the heat and with the elapse of time. These three ANs showed almost the same colorant remaining ratios, although UBE used for comparison was more stable than each one of these purified ANs. UBE and three purified ANs were unstable to light. No effect of oxygen on three purified ANs was observed.

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In order to examine the effect of adding sucrose and konaame on κ-carrageenan gels by freezing-thawing, measurements of syneresis, viscoelasticity and heat of phase-transition were carried out on κ-carrageenan gels at the concentration of 1-5 % and 1 % κ-carrageenan gels containing sucrose or konaame at the concentration of 10-60 %.
The following results were obtained.
1) The syneresis of κ-carrageenan gels was decreased with the increase of the concentration of κ-carrageenan. Especially the syneresis after freezing-thawing was extremely higher compared with that of gels immediately after preparing and keeping at 25°C. The addition of sucrose and konaame showed an excellent inhibitory effect on the syneresis of κ-carrageenan gels.
2) The viscoelasticity of κ-carrageenan gels was depended on the concentration of κ-carrageenan, while that of κ-carrageenan gels with sucrose or konaame was depended on the concentration of substances added.
3) The heat of phase-transition and the peak temperature of the transition by freezingthawing were decreased with the increase of sucrose or konaame. These results are probably due to free water remaining in the gels.

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The purpose of this study is to grasp how giving the children's rooms exerts influence upon how to use the rooms and also upon family's everyday life.
In this paper, the dwellers who live in the apartment houses of 3LDK type, have been inquired.
The following results were obtained.
1) The children's rooms are given priority on using the rooms, and securing the rooms for children prompts to divide the bed rooms of parents and children.
2) The reasons why the mothers have given and want to give the rooms to children are as follows : mothers' stress is laid upon children's studying and their independence in daily life much more than upon the cultivation of children's independent mind and the protection of privacy between parents and children.
3) As for the mothers' valuation of the change caused by giving the children their own rooms, it is found that many mothers place a high value on children's independence both in daily life and in mental life, and the protection of privacy between parents and children, while few of them point out its disadvantages.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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