Abstract: Provide a visceral fat reducing agent for reducing the diseases and conditions associated with the metabolic syndrome which represents a condition where various risk factors such as those for hypertension, hyperlipemia, glucose tolerance dysfunction, etc., have accumulated, or simply reducing an accumulation of visceral fat, wherein the effective ingredient of said visceral fat reducing agent includes fungus bodies of lactic bacteria, especially lactic bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus sp. and Lactococcus sp. and/or cultures thereof, while also providing a beverage, food or feed containing said visceral fat reducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides fresh cheese that is significantly reduced in deterioration of taste or flavor and deterioration of texture and has excellent keeping quality, and a process for producing the same. The fresh cheese of the present invention has a whey protein content of 15 mg or lower per g of solid matter and an acetic acid content of 25 to 500 mg per 100 g of the cheese. The fresh cheese is produced by a process characterized by comprising steps of concentrating skim milk by a microfiltration membrane and adjusting the concentrated milk obtained by microfiltration to pH 4.8 to 5.8 by the addition of acetic acid, followed by heating and kneading.

Abstract: Provide a visceral fat reducing agent for reducing the diseases and conditions associated with the metabolic syndrome which represents a condition where various risk factors such as those for hypertension, hyperlipemia, glucose tolerance dysfunction, etc., have accumulated, or simply reducing an accumulation of visceral fat, wherein the effective ingredient of said visceral fat reducing agent includes fungus bodies of lactic bacteria, especially lactic bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus sp. and Lactococcus sp. and/or cultures thereof, while also providing a beverage, food or feed containing said visceral fat reducing agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a spread which contains phospholipids, has a 60% or less than 60% by weight oil phase, and exhibits an increase in conductivity at 36° C. to 0.2 mS/cm or more than 0.2 mS/cm in 300 seconds, and as such, forms a stable emulsion to produce a highly stable product, and when ingested, melts well and rapidly demulsifies to yield a sufficiently satisfying flavor.

Abstract: In preparation of a salt-containing low-fat spread with no more than 40 wt. % fat content, it is possible to provide a salt-containing low-fat spread which melt well in the mouth and the emulsification of which is swiftly broken, thereby releasing a preferable flavor once placed in the mouth and yet causing no problems in manufacturing, by selecting and combining emulsifiers so that a specific demulsification property with an electric conductivity rise of at least 0.1 mS/cm within 300 seconds at approximately 36.degree. C.

Abstract: A heating sensor is disposed within a pipe with a clearance between an inner wall of the pipe and an outer surface of the heating sensor such that a measurement of thermal conductivity is free from any influence of a convective heat transfer. Temperatures of the fluid and the heating sensor are measured and a differential temperature therebetween in steady state heating is determined. A correlation is established between the differential temperature and a thermal conductivity of the fluid and is utilized to obtain the thermal conductivity of this fluid.

Abstract: There is provided a circulating line branched from a solution or suspension tank and returning again to this tank through a pump (15) used to control the flow velocity at a constant level. A fluid temperature is measured by a sensor (16) in said tank or said circulating line (14) while a temperature of a heating sensor (17) employing so-called electrically heating method and placed in said circulating line is measured. Concentration of a given subject in solution or suspension is determined based on a temperature of the heating sensor or a difference between a temperature of the heating sensor and a temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: In a subject fluid, there is placed an apparatus for measuring a change in state of the fluid, said apparatus having a tubular body which, in turn, contains therein at least one heating sensor employing so-called hot wire method. A quantity of the fluid is introduced into the tubular body and a temperature of the heating sensor is measured by the heating sensor itself as the quantity of the fluid having been introduced into the tubular body is maintained in a state of laminar flow or a static state. The laminar flow is generated by fluid impeller means such as impeller vane, screw-type vane or propeller vane assembly or uniaxial eccentric pump. The static state is maintained y providing gateway means for passage of the fluid into or out from the tubular body and closing such gateway means. A temperature of the fluid having been introduced into the tubular body and maintained in said laminar or static state is measured and discharged out from the tubular body upon completion of said temperature measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of encapsulated bodies employing a dropping tank for a fluid to form the cores of the encapsulated bodies and a reaction tank containing a solution capable of forming gel skins upon contact with the core material in communication therewith. Double-walled cylindrical nozzles are arranged in a lower part of the drop tank, the inner and outer walls of the double-walled cylindrical nozzles being coaxial. A pressurized air feed pipe is in communication with an upper part of the dropping tank. The peripheral walls of the reaction tank are in the form of a double-walled cylinder whose upper peripheral portion of its inner wall contains a screen. A liquid feed pipe and a capsule discharge port are provided in communication with the interior of the reaction tank through lower parts of the double-walled cylinder. A liquid discharge port also is provided in communication with an annular spacing of the double-walled cylinder through its outer wall.

Abstract: Here is disclosed a method for measurement of viscosity change in blood or the like comprising steps of disposing a sensor including of an endothermic or exothermic element in blood or the like, stimulating blood or the like so as to cause a viscosity change therein and detecting the viscosity change by continuously measuring any one of changes occurring respectively in an average temperature .theta.w or a surface temperature .theta.s of the sensor containing therein the endothermic or exothermic element, a differential temperature .theta.w-.theta..infin. or .theta.s-.theta..infin. between a temperature .theta..infin. of blood or the like and .theta.w or .theta.s, a kinematic viscosity .nu. of blood or the like and a heat transfer coefficient on the sensor surface.

Abstract: A sensor used for electrical heating measurement comprises a sensor element having a rod, plural through holes provided straightly through the sensor in the longitudinal direction and plural metal thin wires inserted into and passed through the through holes and an electrically insulating member covering the sensor element, preferably the metal thin wires thinner than through holes are used, spaces around the metal thin wires are filled with ceramics powder and the powder is sintered by heating at lower temperature than the sintering temperature thereof.

Abstract: Encapsulated bodies are produced by bringing a fluid, which is to form the cores of the encapsulated bodies, and a solution, which has ability to form gel skins upon contact with the fluid, into contact and including a gelling reaction therebetween. A desired liquid, which is suitable for the utilization of the encapsulated bodies, is introduced successively into the reaction mixture in which the encapsulated bodies formed by the gelling reaction are dispersed. The liquid portion of the reaction mixture is hence substituted with the desired liquid and the resultant encapsulated bodies are therefore recovered in a form dispersed in the desired liquid. An apparatus suitable for use in the practice of the encapsulation is also disclosed.