Abstract: There are provided a method of identifying the longum species alone, such as Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum alone, and measuring the viable cell count thereof, amongst the bacterial cells to be tested which include a microorganism belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium by using a culture medium that contains L-arabinose as a sole sugar source; and also a culture medium which is useful as a selective medium for the above measurement method and which is also easy to prepare.

Abstract: The electrolysis water-making apparatus (A) which is an apparatus for making electrolysis water (W5) by electrolyzing a raw material solution (W1, W3) including a chlorine ion includes: an electrolytic cell (2); a raw material solution feed pump (3) used to supply the raw material solution (W1, W3) to the electrolytic cell (2); and a pipe (32, 36) connecting an outlet (3b) of the raw material solution feed pump (3) allowing the raw material solution (W1, W3) to be discharged therefrom and an inlet (26) allowing the raw material solution (W1, W3) to flow into the electrolytic cell (2). In addition, the raw material solution feed pump (3) is provided so that the outlet (3b) is disposed on a lower side of the inlet (26).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a low-phosphorus whey, the method including subjecting a raw whey liquid to a demineralization treatment using a nanofiltration method to obtain a low-chloride whey liquid in which the chloride content has been reduced to not more than 30 mmol per 100 g of solids, and passing the low-chloride whey liquid through an ion exchange resin to obtain an ion-exchanged whey liquid having a reduced phosphorus content, wherein the ion exchange resin is composed of an anion exchange resin, and at least an anion exchange resin in chloride form is used as the anion exchange resin. The method of manufacturing a low-phosphorus whey can reduce the phosphorus content within the whey while suppressing reduction in the calcium and magnesium content.

Abstract: The electrolysis water-making apparatus (A) includes: an electrolytic cell (2); a raw material solution feed pump (3) used to supply the raw material solution (W1, W3) to the electrolytic cell (2); a raw material solution pipe (32, 36) connecting an outlet (3b) of the raw material solution feed pump (3) and an inlet (26) of the electrolytic cell (2); and an electrolyzed solution advection-deterring portion (40) formed in the raw material solution pipe (32, 36) between the outlet (3b) and the inlet (26). The raw material solution feed pump (3) is provided so that the outlet (3b) is disposed on an upper side of the inlet (26). A pitched pipe (32c) in which an end thereof near the inlet (26) is disposed on an upper side of another end thereof near the outlet (3b) is provided in at least a part of the electrolyzed solution advection-deterring portion (40).

Abstract: An antimicrobial activity enhancing agent for lactoferrin or a lactoferrin hydrolysate, which contains ribonuclease-4 as an active ingredient, and a method for producing an antimicrobial activity enhancing agent for lactoferrin or a lactoferrin hydrolysate, which comprises (a) the step of contacting raw milk with a cation exchange resin to adsorb proteins in the raw milk to the cation exchange resin, (b) the step of washing the cation exchange resin having undergone the adsorption treatment, and flowing an elution solvent to elute a protein fraction having an isoelectric point of 8.0 to 10.0, and (c) the step of subjecting the eluted protein fraction to gel filtration using a gel filtration carrier to collect a fraction of a molecular weight of 30 kDa or less.

Abstract: An Aloe vera extract is provided that can be safely ingested and, can be used as a food material for treating lifestyle diseases such as hyperglycemia. The Aloe vera extract contains an extremely low level of an anthraquinone (anthraquinone-based compound), and can be added to foods. The Aloe vera extract is produced by a supercritical fluid extraction method and contains a mixture of a cyclolanostane compound and a lophenol compound in an amount of 1.0% by mass or more. The mass mixing ratio of cyclolanostane compound:lophenol compound is 5.1:4.9 to 6.3:2.7 and/or the content of an anthraquinone-based compound is 0.001% by mass or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for estimating survival cell count, which is able to calculate an accurately estimated result of the survival cell count of a specific strain in a probiotic product with respect to its storage period, and to shorten the time for developing the product, and a method for setting a guaranteed cell count, which is able to readily calculate a guaranteed cell count of a specific strain in a probiotic product within its quality guarantee period. The method for estimating the survival cell count is characterized by estimating the survival cell count nt (CFU/g) of a specific strain contained in a composition after storage, in accordance with the following equation (I).

Abstract: A method for screening for a foodstuff providing production of milk having an immunoregulatory action, a foodstuff having an immunoregulatory action, and a method for producing it are provided. A diet or substance that increases or decreases an amount of microRNA present in milk of a mammal is identified by using correlation of microRNA profiles in the milk and a diet ingested by the mammal or a substance contained in the diet as an index to screen for a diet or a substance providing production of breast milk having an immunoregulatory action.

Abstract: A spout member including a base portion which is fixed to a bag body, a cylindrical portion which protrudes upward from the base portion, and a sealing portion which seals a front end of the cylindrical portion through a breakable thin portion is disposed between two sheets of film forming the bag body. A sealing chamber accommodating the cylindrical portion and the sealing portion is opened by tearing the two sheets of film along an opening assisting line. An opening assisting plate protruding to at least one of a left side and a right side of the sealing portion is disposed above the opening assisting line. A sandwiching reinforcement seal portion for reinforcing the two sheets of film by sealing inner surfaces thereof is provided between the opening assisting plate and the opening assisting line.

Abstract: The invention is a bipolar-electrode electrolytic cell (1) which includes a chassis (2), an electrode plate (3) and a plate-shape spacer (4) having a concavity (25) disposing the electrode plate (3), wherein an unit cell (C), which is formed by connecting a plurality of spacers (4) in which the electrode plate (3) is disposed on the concavity (25) so that one plate surface of the electrode plate (3) is directed to one direction, is disposed inside the chassis (2). The bipolar-electrode electrolytic cell (1) includes engaged portions (35, 50 and 51) which are provided on any one of the concavity (25) of the spacer (4) or the electrode plate (3) and engaging portions (10A and 10B) which are formed the other portion with respect to the one portion.

Abstract: A packaging material 1 is configured to pack a viscous product having one surface, an opposite surface, and side surfaces. The packaging material 1 includes a sheet 2 having a first surface portion 7 configured to cover the one surface of the viscous product, side surface portions 8-1 to 8-4 configured to cover the side surfaces, and second surface portions 9-1 to 9-4 disposed at the opposite surface, and tear tape 3 adhered to the sheet to cut the sheet. The tear tape is provided to start from the side surface portion or the second surface portion and to be branched into a first branched tape 3a and a second branched tape 3b across the first surface portion.

Abstract: To inhibit production of adipocytokines, in particular, adipocytokines that elicit insulin resistance and to prevent onset of pathosis caused by the insulin resistance or ameliorate the pathosis, the present invention provides an agent or a food or drink which contains a compound having a lophenol skeleton, or an organic solvent extract or a hot water extract of a Liliaceae plant or, a fraction thereof containing the compound as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A diet or a substance providing production of breast milk having an immunoregulatory action is screened for by identifying a diet or a substance that increases or decreases amount of mRNA present in milk of a mammal using correlation of mRNA profile in the milk and a diet ingested by the mammal or a substance contained in the diet as an index.

Abstract: A packaging material 1 is configured to pack a viscous product having one surface, an opposite surface, and side surfaces. The packaging material 1 includes a sheet 2 having a first surface portion 7 configured to cover the one surface of the viscous product, side surface portions 8-1 to 8-4 configured to cover the side surfaces, and second surface portions 9-1 to 9-4 disposed at the opposite surface, and tear tape 3 adhered to the sheet to cut the sheet. The tear tape is provided to start from the side surface portion or the second surface portion and to be branched into a first branched tape 3a and a second branched tape 3b across the first surface portion.

Abstract: To reduce amounts of fat accumulated in abdominal cavity and to prevent or ameliorate visceral fat type obesity, considered to be a main factor of metabolic syndrome, the present invention provides an agent or a food or drink which contains a compound having a lophenol skeleton, or an organic solvent extract or a hot water extract of a Liliaceae plant, or a fraction thereof containing the compound as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An anti-obesity agent or a glucose tolerance-ameliorating agent containing a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium as an active ingredient, wherein the bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium exhibits a conversion rate from linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid of not more than 10%. The present invention is able to provide an anti-obesity agent and a glucose tolerance-ameliorating agent that are effective for the prevention or treatment of obesity or the amelioration of glucose tolerance and also exhibit superior safety, as well as providing foods or beverages containing these agents. Further, the present invention is also able to provide a bacterium of the genus Bifidobacterium, and in particular a Bifidobacterium breve, that is effective for the prevention or treatment of obesity or the amelioration of glucose tolerance and also exhibits superior safety, as well as providing a pharmaceutical composition containing this bacterium.

Abstract: A milk raw material is fermented by using Lactococcus lactis not having cell wall-enveloped proteinase and a Bifidobacterium bacterium. The Lactococcus lactis is, for example, a Lactococcus lactis having a property that, when this bacterium and the Bifidobacterium bacterium are inoculated into a medium containing 1% (W/W) of glucose and 10% (W/W) of reduced skim milk powder in amounts of 5.0×106 to 2.0×108 CFU and 1.0×107 to 3.0×109 CFU per 1 ml of the medium, respectively, and cultured, and the medium is rapidly cooled to 10° C. from culture temperature when pH of the medium becomes 4.6 to 5.5, and stored at 10° C. for 2 weeks, survival rate of the Bafidobacterium bacterium is maintained to be 30% or more.

Abstract: 3-O-?-D-Glucopyranosyl-4-methylergost-7-en-3-ol or a composition containing 0.001% by mass or more of the aforementioned compound, which is an extract of a plant of the family Liliaceae containing the compound or a fraction thereof, is used as an active ingredient of a hyperglycemia improving agent.

Abstract: To provide an antioxidant which is highly safe, inhibits oxidation of a biological component, in particular, a lipid, and is used as a drug, food or drink, a food additive, an external preparation for skin, or the like. The antioxidant contains 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-4-methylergost-7-en-3-ol as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is an antioxidant which is highly safe, inhibits oxidation of a biological component, in particular, a lipid, and may be used as a drug, food or drink, a food additive, an external preparation for skin, or the like. The antioxidant contains a compound selected from a cyclolanostane compound and a lophenol compound as an active ingredient.