Abstract: A method for producing malts, including steeping barley in steeping water containing phosphoric acid, and a method for producing foodstuff (for example, a fermented beverage, a malts-applicable beverage, a beer-taste beverage, and whisky), including using malts prepared by the method as a raw material According to the method of the present invention, rooting-suppressed malts can be efficiently produced, so that the productivity of malting (an yield of malting) can be improved. In addition, foodstuff using the malts obtained has an enhanced rich taste while suppressing acridity, so that the foodstuff can provide a new taste as luxury products.

Abstract: A method for processing a sprouted cereal in which an enzymatic activity in the sprouted cereal is reduced by bringing the sprouted cereal into contact with water vapor.

Abstract: Xylobiose-containing skin preparations for external use are disclosed. Skin preparations for external use into which xylobiose may be incorporated include cosmetics such as clear lotions, milky lotions, packs and lip treatments, drugs or quasidrugs such as ointments and cataplasms, hair-care products such as rinses and hair conditions, and detergents such as hair shampoos and body shampoos. Xylobiose is typically contained in an amount of 0.0001-20 wt %, preferably 0.1-10 wt %, of the total amount of the skin preparation on a dry solids basis. The incorporation of xylobiose is effective not only in preventing the occurrence of stickiness, color change and malodor in the skin preparations but also in providing enhanced moisture retention and reducing excessive roughness and dryness of the skin and hair.

Abstract: A memory is provided in a tape cassette and it consists of a program information area for recording information on each program recorded on a tape and a tape information area for recording information on the entire tape. If this tape cassette is used by a video cassette recorder having a full function to drive the memory and by a video cassette recorder having a limited function to drive it, the program information recorded in the memory is consistent with the programs actually recorded on the tape. For example, a tape erasing prevention flag is set in the tape information area, while a program erasing prevention flag is set for each program in the program information area. In a different example, a tape inconsistency flag is set in the tape information area, while a program inconsistency flag is set for each program in the program information area. The data in the memory can be corrected by using such flags according to the programs actually recorded on the tape.