The present invention provides a lactic acid bacterial fermentation-promoting agent suitable for use in food production. The present invention relates to a fermentation promoting agent for Streptococcus thermophilus, comprising a solution prepared by exposing an alkaline solution comprising a reducing sugar to a temperature in the range of 5° C. or more and 135° C. or less to induce a color reaction of sugar, and a production method thereof; and a method for promoting fermentation for Streptococcus thermophilus using the fermentation promoting agent and a method for producing a fermented food such as fermented milk.

Methods and compositions comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion for use treating an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase, a solvent, a surfactant comprising alkyl polyglycoside, an alcohol, and, optionally, one or more additives.

Methods and compositions comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion for use treating an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase, a solvent, a surfactant comprising alkyl polyglycoside, an alcohol, and, optionally, one or more additives.

A protein-binding product comprising one or more porous polymer beads, wherein at least one ligand is bound to the surfaces of said polymer beads via a spacer (R), and wherein said at least one ligand is Gal1-3HexNAcO, Gal1-4GlcNAcO and/or a derivative thereof, is disclosed as well as a device containing said protein-binding product and a method for reduction of the level of at least one galactose-binding protein and optionally at least one other protein in human blood plasma.

A protein-binding product comprising one or more porous polymer beads, wherein at least one ligand is bound to the surfaces of said polymer beads via a spacer (R), and wherein said at least one ligand is Gal1-3HexNAcO, Gal1-4GlcNAcO and/or a derivative thereof, is disclosed as well as a device containing said protein-binding product and a method for reduction of the level of at least one galactose-binding protein and optionally at least one other protein in human blood plasma.

Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol (HTO), 1,6 hexanediol (HDO) and other reduced polyols from C5 and C6 sugar alcohols or R glycosides. The methods include contacting the sugar alcohol or R-glycoside with a copper catalyst, most desirably a Raney copper catalyst with hydrogen for a time, temperature and pressure sufficient to form reduced polyols having 2 to 3 fewer hydoxy groups than the starting material. When the starting compound is a C6 sugar alcohol such as sorbitol or R-glycoside of a C6 sugar such as methyl glucoside, the predominant product is HTO. The same catalyst can be used to further reduce the HTO to HDO.

Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol (HTO), 1,6 hexanediol (HDO) and other reduced polyols from C5 and C6 sugar alcohols or R glycosides. The methods include contacting the sugar alcohol or R-glycoside with a copper catalyst, most desirably a Raney copper catalyst with hydrogen for a time, temperature and pressure sufficient to form reduced polyols having 2 to 3 fewer hydoxy groups than the starting material. When the starting compound is a C6 sugar alcohol such as sorbitol or R-glycoside of a C6 sugar such as methyl glucoside, the predominant product is HTO. The same catalyst can be used to further reduce the HTO to HDO.

Methods and compositions comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion for use treating an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase, a solvent, a surfactant comprising alkyl polyglycoside, an alcohol, and, optionally, one or more additives.

Methods and compositions comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion for use treating an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase, a solvent, a surfactant comprising alkyl polyglycoside, an alcohol, and, optionally, one or more additives.

The present invention provides a lactic acid bacterial fermentation-promoting agent suitable for use in food production. The present invention relates to a fermentation promoting agent for Streptococcus thermophilus, comprising a solution prepared by exposing an alkaline solution comprising a reducing sugar to a temperature in the range of 5 C. or more and 135 C. or less to induce a color reaction of sugar, and a production method thereof; and a method for promoting fermentation for Streptococcus thermophilus using the fermentation promoting agent and a method for producing a fermented food such as fermented milk.