An aqueous dispersion of fructan-containing particles, wherein the D.sub.50 of the fructan-containing particles lies between 2 μm and 50 μm and the solids content of the aqueous dispersion lies between 61 wt. % and 80 wt. %. Also described is a process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion of fructan-containing particles comprising: bringing fructan and water together to form a mixture; optionally hydrolyzing a portion of the fructans in the mixture, such that at the end of this step between 5 wt. % and 25 wt. % of all fructans in the mixture are essentially non-soluble at room temperature; optionally bring the mixture into contact with a purification agent, followed by removal of the purification agent from the mixture; and concentrating the mixture such that the solids content lies between 61 and 80%.

Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

A transportable device for heating food is provided. The device includes a container for receiving the food, a heating compartment, which is thermally coupled to the container by way of a heat-conducting wall, calcium oxide being present in the heating compartment, and a liquid supply unit including a liquid reservoir chamber, in which a water-containing liquid is present, wherein the liquid supply unit is designed so that, based on actuation on the part of a user, the water-containing liquid is brought into contact with the calcium oxide, or the substance mixture including calcium oxide. The water-containing liquid has an elevated dynamic viscosity, in comparison with water, of between 2 and 30000 mPas, and preferably between 50 and 1000 mPas or, alternatively, the liquid supply unit comprises a water retention agent. In both alternatives, the reaction between calcium oxide and water is damped and delayed.

A transportable device for heating food is provided. The device includes a container for receiving the food, a heating compartment, which is thermally coupled to the container by way of a heat-conducting wall, calcium oxide being present in the heating compartment, and a liquid supply unit including a liquid reservoir chamber, in which a water-containing liquid is present, wherein the liquid supply unit is designed so that, based on actuation on the part of a user, the water-containing liquid is brought into contact with the calcium oxide, or the substance mixture including calcium oxide. The water-containing liquid has an elevated dynamic viscosity, in comparison with water, of between 2 and 30000 mPas, and preferably between 50 and 1000 mPas or, alternatively, the liquid supply unit comprises a water retention agent. In both alternatives, the reaction between calcium oxide and water is damped and delayed.

The present invention relates to an improved variant of a D-psicose 3-epimerase and its uses.

There are provided microorganisms having a property of producing a lipid containing unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids and extracellularly secreting the produced lipid encapsulated in lipid particles, methods of screening said microorganisms, as well as methods of efficiently producing a fatty acid-containing lipid using said microorganisms. Furthermore, there are provided lipid particles encapsulating a lipid containing unsaturated fatty acids, and foods, cosmetics, and animal feeds comprising said lipid particles added thereto. Artificially treated microorganisms or microorganisms collected from nature are grown on a solid medium, and microbial strains that form lipid particles at the periphery of the colonies and/or microbial strains that, when cultured in a transparent liquid medium, make the culture liquid cloudy are selected. The microorganisms obtained are cultured, lipid-containing lipid particles secreted in the culture liquid, are separated from the culture liquid, and the lipid is separated and purified.

Hyper-branched maltodextrins having a dextrose equivalent (DE) between at least 8 and at most 15 and a molecular weight or Mw between at least 1,700 and at most 3,000 daltons, characterized in that same have: a 1,6 glucoside bond content between at least 30 and at most 45%; a soluble indigestible fiber content, which is determined according to the AOAC No. 2001-03 method, between at least 75 and at most 100%; and a hypoglycemic capacity expressed according to a test A, which:—in vitro, results in an 80 to 90% reduction of the α-amylase hydrolysis of standard maltodextrins, and—in situ, by a 30 to 45% reduction in the intestinal digestive activity of standard maltodextrins.

The invention proposes a nutritional composition comprising selected oligosaccharides that reduces the abundance of Streptococcus bacteria in the gut of infants or young mammals. The infants are preferably infants in needs presenting a relatively high count of Streptococcus. Ultimately the reduction of streptococcus and the related microbiota balance affects and lowers the risk of adiposity or obesity later in life.

The invention describes sweetening compositions and methods to prepare sweetening compositions containing steviol glycosides, salts, and other natural or synthetic sweeteners with improved solubilities and sensory profiles.