Abstract: A production method for an edible fermented dairy product using, as a raw material, sterile full fat soy flour and a fermented dairy product produced by the method. A production method for a fermented dairy product includes the steps of: producing sterile full fat soy flour having a grain size of from 100 to 1,000 meshes by pulverizing sterile dehulled soybeans prepared so as to have a bacterial count of 300 cells/g or less by using a method of separating whole soybeans into cotyledons, germs, and hulls; adding water to the sterile full fat soy flour to prepare a powdered soy juice, followed by sterilizing the powdered soy juice by heating; homogenizing the powdered soy juice to prepare a homogenized powdered soy juice; and adding a lactic acid bacterium to the homogenized powdered soy juice, followed by fermentation to prepare fermented milk.

Abstract: Provided are a lactic acid bacterium for a lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff, which takes a short fermentation time even when applied to a soybean raw material and has a wide optimal temperature range, and hence can cause curdling in a short period of time even at low temperature, thus being extremely suited for fermentation of the soybean raw material, a lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff comprising the lactic acid bacterium, and a production method for a lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff. The lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff comprises a lactic acid bacterium belonging to Streptococcus thermophilus and having an accession number of NITE BP-02207. The lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff of the present invention is preferably a soybean yogurt lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes light sources differing from one another in terms of light-emission color and voltage drop when identical current flows therein, switches in one-to-one correspondence with the light sources, a DC power supply circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit performs a first control of the switches through a time division control method such that an on-period of each switch is not overlapped with that of any other switch. The control circuit also performs a second control to individually control at least one of a target current magnitude, flowing through each switch in the switched-on state, and a target on-period length of each switch, and to adjust a ratio of the plurality of light sources in terms of a product of the target current magnitude and the target on-period length.

Abstract: Provided are a lactic acid bacterium for a lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff, which takes a short fermentation time even when applied to a soybean raw material and has a wide optimal temperature range, and hence can cause curdling in a short period of time even at low temperature, thus being extremely suited for fermentation of the soybean raw material, a lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff comprising the lactic acid bacterium, and a production method for a lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff. The lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff comprises a lactic acid bacterium belonging to Streptococcus thermophilus and having an accession number of NITE BP-02207. The lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff of the present invention is preferably a yogurt-like lactic acid bacterium-fermented soybean foodstuff.

Abstract: The light source unit includes a light source circuit including N (N?3) pairs of a light source group including one or more solid light emitting elements and a constant current circuit connected in series with the light source group to keep, constant, current flowing through the light source group, a full-wave rectification circuit for performing full-wave rectification on AC voltage, and a control circuit. The first pair is connected to the full-wave rectification circuit. The k-th (2?k?N) pair is connected in parallel with the constant current circuit of the (k?1)-th pair so that the light source groups of the k-th and (k?1)-th pairs are in series. The control circuit terminates operations of the constant current circuits of the N pairs or limits currents flowing through the light source groups of the N pairs in response to detection of light or a signal.

Abstract: An illumination system includes: a first light-emitting element column including one of a single first light-emitting element or a plurality of first light-emitting elements connected in series; a second light-emitting element column connected in parallel with the first light-emitting element column, and including one of a single second light-emitting element or a plurality of second light-emitting elements connected in series; a constant current supply that supplies a constant current to the first light-emitting element column and the second light-emitting element column which are connected in parallel; a resistor that is connected in series with the first light-emitting element column, and detects a magnitude of current flowing through the first light-emitting element column; and a current adjuster circuit that adjusts the magnitude of the current flowing through the first light-emitting element column, according to the magnitude of the current detected by the resistor.

Abstract: An illumination system includes: a first light-emitting element column in which one or more first light-emitting elements are serially connected; a second light-emitting element column connected in parallel with the first light-emitting element column, and in which one or more second light-emitting elements are serially connected; a constant current supply that supplies constant current to a light source unit including the first and second light-emitting element columns; a resistor that is connected in series with the first light-emitting element column, and detects magnitude of current flowing through at least the first light-emitting element column; a bypass circuit that passes, to the resistor, at least part of current flowing through the second light-emitting element column, when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and a current adjuster circuit that adjusts the magnitude of the current flowing through the first light-emitting element column, according to the magnitude of the current detected by the r

Abstract: A control circuit is configured to convert a DC voltage that is outputted from a DC power supply to a square wave voltage by switching the switching element according to a PWM signal having a duty ratio that corresponds to a light modulation level of the light source unit, and cause the square wave voltage to be outputted to the light source unit. The control circuit includes a voltage controller configured to control an operating voltage for operating the switching element such that at least one of a rising time and a falling time of a current that flows through the switching element is 1 microsecond or more.

Abstract: The light source unit includes a light source circuit including N (N?3) pairs of a light source group including one or more solid light emitting elements and a constant current circuit connected in series with the light source group to keep, constant, current flowing through the light source group, a full-wave rectification circuit for performing full-wave rectification on AC voltage, and a control circuit. The first pair is connected to the full-wave rectification circuit. The k-th (2?k?N) pair is connected in parallel with the constant current circuit of the (k?1)-th pair so that the light source groups of the k-th and (k?1)-th pairs are in series. The control circuit terminates operations of the constant current circuits of the N pairs or limits currents flowing through the light source groups of the N pairs in response to detection of light or a signal.

Abstract: An illumination system includes: a first light-emitting element column including one of a single first light-emitting element or a plurality of first light-emitting elements connected in series; a second light-emitting element column connected in parallel with the first light-emitting element column, and including one of a single second light-emitting element or a plurality of second light-emitting elements connected in series; a constant current supply that supplies a constant current to the first light-emitting element column and the second light-emitting element column which are connected in parallel; a resistor that is connected in series with the first light-emitting element column, and detects a magnitude of current flowing through the first light-emitting element column; and a current adjuster circuit that adjusts the magnitude of the current flowing through the first light-emitting element column, according to the magnitude of the current detected by the resistor.

Abstract: An illumination system includes: a first light-emitting element column in which one or more first light-emitting elements are serially connected; a second light-emitting element column connected in parallel with the first light-emitting element column, and in which one or more second light-emitting elements are serially connected; a constant current supply that supplies constant current to a light source unit including the first and second light-emitting element columns; a resistor that is connected in series with the first light-emitting element column, and detects magnitude of current flowing through at least the first light-emitting element column; a bypass circuit that passes, to the resistor, at least part of current flowing through the second light-emitting element column, when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and a current adjuster circuit that adjusts the magnitude of the current flowing through the first light-emitting element column, according to the magnitude of the current detected by the r

Abstract: Provided are a production method for an edible fermented dairy product using, as a raw material, sterile full fat soy flour, which has a very high nutritional value and has a markedly improved taste evaluation that includes flavor and smooth texture, and a fermented dairy product produced by the method. A production method for a fermented dairy product includes the steps of: producing sterile full fat soy flour having a grain size of from 100 to 1,000 meshes by pulverizing sterile dehulled soybeans prepared so as to have a bacterial count of 300 cells/g or less by using a method of separating whole soybeans into cotyledons, germs, and hulls; adding water to the sterile full fat soy flour to prepare a powdered soy juice, followed by sterilizing the powdered soy juice by heating; homogenizing the powdered soy juice to prepare a homogenized powdered soy juice; and adding a lactic acid bacterium to the homogenized powdered soy juice, followed by fermentation to prepare fermented milk.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes light sources differing from one another in terms of light-emission color and voltage drop when identical current flows therein, switches in one-to-one correspondence with the light sources, a DC power supply circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit performs a first control of the switches through a time division control method such that an on-period of each switch is not overlapped with that of any other switch. The control circuit also performs a second control to individually control at least one of a target current magnitude, flowing through each switch in the switched-on state, and a target on-period length of each switch, and to adjust a ratio of the plurality of light sources in terms of a product of the target current magnitude and the target on-period length.

Abstract: An LED lighting device is provided with output impedance control to stabilize an optical output across a wide current range. A switching power supply generates the output current, with switching control circuitry to determine switching frequency and an ON period for an associated switch, and to turn on/off the switch according to the determined frequency and ON period. An impedance element is coupled across output terminals for the lighting device, with an impedance value set so that a load current is larger than a current flowing to the impedance element at maximum on-duty of the switch and a current flowing to the impedance element is larger than the load current at minimum on-duty. The impedance element may be a variable impedance element, wherein an impedance control circuit adjusts the variable impedance such that an impedance value for minimum on-duty of the switch is smaller than that for a maximum on-duty.

Abstract: An LED lighting device is provided with output impedance control to stabilize an optical output across a wide current range. A switching power supply generates the output current, with switching control circuitry to determine switching frequency and an ON period for an associated switch, and to turn on/off the switch according to the determined frequency and ON period. An impedance element is coupled across output terminals for the lighting device, with an impedance value set so that a load current is larger than a current flowing to the impedance element at maximum on-duty of the switch and a current flowing to the impedance element is larger than the load current at minimum on-duty. The impedance element may be a variable impedance element, wherein an impedance control circuit adjusts the variable impedance such that an impedance value for minimum on-duty of the switch is smaller than that for a maximum on-duty.

Abstract: A ballast is provided for powering either of a fluorescent lamp or an LED lamp. The ballast includes a power supply and a pair of switching elements connected in series and coupled across an output end of the power supply. A voltage is provided across a pair of lamp output terminals coupled to the switching elements during a predetermined time period after startup of the ballast. A current condition is detected across the pair of lamp output terminals during the predetermined time period. Based on the detected current condition, the presence of a fluorescent lamp or an LED lamp connected to the ballast may be determined, and either of a first or second voltage output is provided across the lamp output terminals suitable for powering the appropriate lamp after lapsing of the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An OLED driver possesses a square-wave voltage source, a controller and a detector. In accordance with first control, the source generates square-wave voltage and applies the voltage across at least one organic electroluminescence element to drive the element. The controller controls the source in accordance with the first control. The detector detects equivalent capacitance inherent in the element. The controller also judges whether or not the element is normal based on the equivalent capacitance. If the element is normal, the controller operates in accordance with the first control. If the element is not normal, the controller operates in accordance with predetermined second control for the element which is not normal.

Abstract: 17It is intended to provide Bifidobacterium longum having the following bacteriological properties and microbial powders, foods and beverages containing this Bifidobacterium longum: (1) having such fermentation ability as to make a milk base medium to pH 4.6 or below; (2) showing a survival rate of 50% or more in the case of, after attaining pH 4.4 to 4.6 in a milk base medium, quenching and storing at 10° C. for two weeks; and (3) having such gastric juice tolerance as to yield a survival rate of 10% or more in the case of storing in artificial gastric juice (pH 3.0) at 37° C. for two hours.

Abstract: 17It is intended to provide Bifidobacterium longum having the following bacteriological properties and microbial powders, foods and beverages containing this Bifidobacterium longum: (1) having such fermentation ability as to make a milk base medium to pH 4.6 or below; (2) showing a survival rate of 50% or more in the case of, after attaining pH 4.4 to 4.6 in a milk base medium, quenching and storing at 10° C. for two weeks; and (3) having such gastric juice tolerance as to yield a survival rate of 10% or more in the case of storing in artificial gastric juice (pH 3.0) at 37° C. for two hours.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for hot cathode discharge lamp comprises a DC voltage source, a chopper, and an inverter. The chopper includes a switching element connected in series with an inductor across the DC voltage and driven to turn on and off for providing a periodically interrupted voltage which is smoothed by a capacitor to produce a smoothed DC voltage as a chopper output. The inverter includes at least one switching element which is coupled to the chopper output to produce therefrom a high frequency AC voltage as an inverter output to be applied to cathodes of the discharge lamp for lighting the discharge lamp. The ballast is characterized to include an inverter controller and a delay circuit. The inverter controller controls the inverter to operate selectively in a normal mode of providing the inverter output of a first level and in a limited mode of providing the inverter output of a second level which is lower than the first level and is determined to give a preheating current to the cathodes.