Abstract: The invention provides 2?-hydroxynicotianamine; a method for producing 2?-hydroxynicotianamine comprising the step of obtaining an extract solution from a buckwheat sample followed by obtaining a fraction having an inhibitory activity for the angiotensin-converting enzyme by ion-exchange chromatography using an anion exchange resin; novel substances having an ACE inhibitory activity by preparing an inhibitor for the angiotensin-converting enzyme, a vasodepressor agent and a health food each containing 2?-hydroxynicotianamine; methods for producing the novel substances; an inhibitor for the angiotensin-converting enzyme and a vasodepressor agent having the novel substance as an effective ingredient; and a health food containing the novel substance.

Abstract: A multipoint communication apparatus receives a set of audio signals encoded by gain-shape vector quantization. A gain detector in the multipoint communication apparatus dynamically selects a subset of these audio signals on the basis of gain indices contained in the audio signals. Only the selected subset of audio signals are decoded. The decoded signals are combined to produce an audio output signal.