Abstract: Compositions for improving gut microbiota, improving behavioural pattern and alpha-synuclein levels, and improving sleep pattern and serum melatonin, especially in children with autism, are provided. Methods are also included for control of gut enterobacteria in children with autism, reconstitution of gut microbiota, and control of enterobacteria in autism and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preventing and/or treating fibrosis with a beta-blucan are provided.

Abstract: A beta-glucan, a composition comprising the beta-glucan, and a method of using the beta-glucan for improving, preventing and/or treating muscular dystrophy are provided.

Abstract: Methods for inducing, enhancing and/or balancing an immune response are provided. The methods include administering a beta-glucan produced by Aureobasidium pullulans AFO-202 (FERM BP-19327). The methods include administering a beta-glucan produced by Aureobasidium pullulans AFO-202 (FERM BP-19327) as a vaccine adjuvant.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus includes a variable gain amplifier (VCA) (32), and the VCA applies a radial push-pull signal including an address signal and an FCM leakage-in signal to a switch (38). The switch outputs only the address signal to a peak-hold circuit (40) on the basis of an FCM mask signal from a mask signal generation circuit (36). The peak-hold circuit generates a peak-hold signal of the address signal so as to be output to a DSP (30), and the DSP controls a gain of the VCA on the basis of the peak-hold signal. Then, the radial push-pull signal in which the gain is controlled on the basis of the address signal is applied to an address detection circuit (42), and the address signal is detected therein.

Abstract: Aureobasidium ?-1,3-1,6 glucans and compositions containing such glucans, as well as methods of their preparation. Aureobasidium medium that contains ?-1,3-1,6 glucans, particularly medium produced by Aureobasidium strain FERM P-18099. The ?-glucans of the present invention have a variety of industrial and commercial uses, including applications in pharmaceutical or medical products or treatments, for the removal or control of environmental or microbiological contaminants, in cosmetics, and in nutritional products and foods.

Abstract: The present invention provides an yeast capable of making bread excellent in flavor and taste and weak in fermentation smell, a dough containing the yeast, a process for making bread using the yeast or the dough and the bread made by the method. The present invention relates to the yeast which belongs to the genus Saccharomyces and generates 35 ppm or less of isoamyl alcohol, a ratio of 2 or less of isoamyl alcohol to isobutyl alcohol, 1.5 ppm or more of diacetyl in the bread and 2 ml or more of carbon dioxide gas per 1 g of the dough, a screening method for selecting the yeast, a process for making bread containing the yeast and the dough and bread made by the method.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus includes a variable gain amplifier (VCA) (32), and the VCA applies a radial push-pull signal including an address signal and an FCM leakage-in signal to a switch (38). The switch outputs only the address signal to a peak-hold circuit (40) on the basis of an FCM mask signal from a mask signal generation circuit (36). The peak-hold circuit generates a peak-hold signal of the address signal so as to be output to a DSP (30), and the DSP controls a gain of the VCA on the basis of the peak-hold signal. Then, the radial push-pull signal in which the gain is controlled on the basis of the address signal is applied to an address detection circuit (42), and the address signal is detected therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an yeast capable of making bread excellent in flavor and taste and weak in fermentation smell, a dough containing the yeast, a process for making bread using the yeast or the dough and the bread made by the method. The present invention relates to the yeast which belongs to the genus Saccharomyces and generates 35 ppm or less of isoamyl alcohol, a ratio of 2 or less of isoamyl alcohol to isobutyl alcohol, 1.5 ppm or more of diacetyl in the bread and 2 ml or more of carbon dioxide gas per 1 g of the dough, a screening method for selecting the yeast, a process for making bread containing the yeast and the dough and bread made by the method.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a DSP core. When turning on power to the apparatus main body or exchanging the MO disk, setting processing of focus offset (offset) values is performed. The DSP core extracts fine clock mark (FCM) signals out of the reproduced signal through tracking on the land/groove. Specifically, in a range that mean value of FCM signal levels is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, FCM signal levels are detected at positions shifted left and right by a predetermined amount from a present offset value. In this manner, scanning is made throughout the range while being shifted by a predetermined amount, each time of which a difference is detected. An offset value where the difference assumes a minimum is determined as an optimal offset value. The optimal offset values are determined respectively for the land and the groove, which are switched according to a track (land/groove) upon reproduction.

Abstract: Aureobasidium &bgr;-1.3-1.6glucans and compositions containing such glucans, as well as methods of their preparation. Aureobasidium medium that contains &bgr;-1.3-1.6glucans, particularly medium produced by Aureobasidium strain FERM P-18099. The &bgr;-glucans of the present invention have a variety of industrial and commercial uses, including applications in pharmaceutical or medical products or treatments, for the removal or control of environmental or microbiological contaminants, in cosmetics, and in nutritional products and foods.

Abstract: The present invention provides an yeast capable of making bread excellent in flavor and taste and weak in fermentation smell, a dough containing the yeast, a process for making bread using the yeast or the dough and the bread made by the method. The present invention relates to the yeast which belongs to the genus Saccharomyces and generates 35 ppm or less of isoamyl alcohol, a ratio of 2 or less of isoamyl alcohol to isobutyl alcohol, 1.5 ppm or more of diacetyl in the bread and 2 ml or more of carbon dioxide gas per 1 g of the dough, a screening method for selecting the yeast, a process for making bread containing the yeast and the dough and bread made by the method.