Abstract: Method of enhancing a resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the method comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant startch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microogranisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilised by the resident and/or the probiotic microogranisms thereof causing an increase in number and/or activity of the microogranisms.

Abstract: Improved method of enhancing a population of one or more target micoorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improvement comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, such that the one or more microorganisms will selectively utilize the starch and/or increase in number and/or activity in the gastrointestinal tract, either uniformly throughout the gastrointestinal tract or at specific site or regions.

Abstract: Method of enhancing a resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the method comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microorganisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilized by the resident and/or the probiotic microorganisms thereof causing an increase in number and/or activity of the microorganisms.

Abstract: Improved method of enhancing a population of one or more target microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improvement comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, such that the one or more microorganisms will selectively utilise the starch and/or increase in number and/or activity in the gastrointestinal tract, either uniformly throughout the gastrointestinal tract or at specific site or regions.

Abstract: Probiotic composition comprising one or more probiotic microorganisms, a carrier which will function to transport the one or more probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the carrier comprising a modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract, and an oligosaccharide. Method of increasing the number of probiotic or resident microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal comprising providing to the animal the probiotic composition.

Abstract: A probiotic composition is disclosed which is particularly useful for inclusion in food products to enhance their nutritional value. The composition comprises one or more probiotic microorganisms such as Bifidobacterium and a carrier to transport the microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The carrier is a modified or unmodified resistant starch, particularly a high amylose starch, which acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tact.

Abstract: A method of making a fermented milled grain substrate to be used in bakery products is disclosed, the process comprising:(i) providing a pumpable, aqueous slurry of milled grain;(ii) delivering a volume of said slurry into a fermentation vessel;(iii) fermenting said slurry subsequent to an initial inoculation with lactic acid-providing bacteria;(iv) monitoring a condition of said slurry, which condition is a function of the fermenting of said slurry;(v) removing a portion of said slurry when said condition reaches a predetermined value;(vi) adding further slurry of milled grain to said vessel to replace the portion removed, which further slurry is non-sterile and wherein;(vii) steps (iv), (v) and (vi) are repeated to maintain steady state fermentation conditions within the vessel, with the bacteria levels within the vessel being substantially maintained by bacteria growth within the vessel, without addition of further lactic acid-providing bacteria.

Abstract: A screen simulator window having a window aperture through which a scene may be viewed with a partial screen arranged immediately behind the window. The screen consists of alternately opaque screen portions and transparent screen portions. The adjacent screen portions are transposed at a speed such that the presence of the screen is not apparent to the eye of the viewer. A projector projects a scene onto rear sections of the opaque screen portions extending away from the window. A mirror behind the partial screen is viewable through the window. The scene projected onto the rear surface of the opaque screen portions is visible in the mirror and viewable through the window.