1. A process for the preparation of freeze dried micro-organism composition, comprising the step of
(i) subjecting a frozen composition comprising micro-organisms to a drying pressure of from 133 Pa 1000 mT to 338 Pa 2540 mT such that at the drying pressure the frozen composition is dried by sublimation of water present in the frozen composition to provide a freeze dried composition comprising the micro-organisms.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the micro-organisms are selected from the group consisting of yeasts, moulds, fungi, bacteria and mixtures thereof.
3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the micro-organisms are selected from one or more strains of bacteria.
4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the one or more strains of bacteria are selected from lactic acid bacteria
5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the lactic acid bacteria are selected from Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the frozen composition is in the form of frozen pellets.
7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the process comprises the additional step of (i\u2032) freezing, a composition comprising micro-organisms to provide the frozen composition of step (i).
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the freeze dried micro-organism composition comprises the one or more strains of bacteria in an amount of 1E8 to 5E12 CFUg of freeze dried micro-organism composition.
9. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (i) the frozen composition is subjected to a drying pressure of from 133 Pa 1000 mT to 300 Pa 2222 mT.
10. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (i) the frozen composition is subjected to a drying, pressure of from 133 Pa 1000 mT to 275 Pa 2000 mT.
11. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (i) the frozen composition is subjected to a drying pressure of from 133 Pa 1000 mT to 200 Pa approx 1500 mT.
12. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (i) the composition is subjected to a temperature of from 10 to 40\xb0 C.
13. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (i) the composition is subjected to a temperature of approximately 25\xb0 C.
14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the drying pressure is applied to the frozen composition comprising micro-organisms for a period of from 24 to 72 hours.
15. A process according to claim 1 wherein the freeze dried composition is subsequently milled.
16. A process for the preparation of a food or feed, the process comprising
(a) preparing a freeze dried micro-organism composition in accordance with claim 1;
(b) combining the freeze dried micro-organism composition with a foodstuff or feedstuff.
17. A freeze dried micro-organism composition obtainable by or prepared by a process as defined in claim 1.
18. A food or feed comprising
(a) a freeze dried micro-organism composition as defined in claim 17; and
(b) a foodstuff or feedstuff.
19. Use of drying pressure to prepare a freeze dried micro-organism composition having improved stability andor improved cell count andor increased density andor improved dispersibility,
wherein a drying, pressure of from 133 Pa 1000 mT to 338 Pa 2540 mT is applied to a frozen composition comprising micro-organisms to dry the frozen composition by sublimation of water present in the frozen composition.
20.-23. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for operating a vehicle navigation system having a digital map database and a processor to output data records from the digital map database based on input data records entered by the user, the method comprising:
structuring a set of data records present in the digital map database via a tree structure having nodes arranged in multiple hierarchical levels, wherein nodes of the lowest hierarchical level are terminal nodes;
assigning nodes of the tree structure, which are not terminal nodes, search criteria and filter information items, wherein each node which is not a terminal node includes multiple search criteria, and wherein each one of the multiple search criteria within a respective node which is not a terminal node is assigned multiple filter information items within the respective node which is not a terminal node, and wherein the filter information items are information for additional selection criteria, and wherein each terminal node includes (i) a first information item corresponding to a search criterion and (ii) a second information corresponding to a filter information item;
performing, by the processor, a search of the digital map database using the input data records entered by the user; and
outputting, via a display unit, data records selected from the digital map database in the search.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria are names, and wherein the filter information items include information items selected from at least one of the following categories: countries, states, cities, parts of cities, directions, postal codes, and types of point of interest.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter information items are assigned to a node as a query of the additional information.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter information items are assigned to a node as bit masks of the additional information items.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter information items are assigned to a node as filter information codes of the additional information items.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the filter information is also assigned an information item related to a number of one of search criteria and filter information items in a next lower node.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the filter information is also assigned an information item related to a number of filter information codes.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data records are entered by a user via an input element.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data record is also an incomplete data record of one of a database and a data record set.
10. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:
a memory storing a digital map database;
a display element; and
a control unit including a hardware processor which enables data records to be output from the digital map database based on input data records entered by a user;
wherein a set of data records present in the digital map database is structured via a tree structure having nodes arranged in multiple hierarchical levels, wherein nodes of the lowest hierarchical level are terminal nodes, and wherein search criteria and filter information items are assigned to nodes in the tree structure which are not terminal nodes, and wherein each node which is not a terminal node includes multiple search criteria, and wherein each one of the multiple search criteria within a respective node which is not a terminal node is assigned multiple filter information items within the respective node which is not a terminal node, and wherein the filter information items are information for additional selection criteria, and wherein each terminal node includes (i) a first information item corresponding to a search criterion and (ii) a second information corresponding to a filter information item; and
wherein the control unit performs a search of the digital map database using the input data records entered by the user, and wherein the display element outputs data records selected from the digital map database in the search.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program having program codes which, when executed on a computer, a method for operating a vehicle navigation system having a digital map database to output data records from the digital map database based on input data records entered by the user, the method comprising:
structuring a set of data records present in the digital map database via a tree structure having nodes arranged in multiple hierarchical levels, wherein nodes of the lowest hierarchical level are terminal nodes;
assigning nodes of the tree structure, which are not terminal nodes, search criteria and filter information items, wherein each node which is not a terminal node includes multiple search criteria, and wherein each one of the multiple search criteria within a respective node which is not a terminal node is assigned multiple filter information items within the respective node which is not a terminal node, and wherein each terminal node includes (i) a first information item corresponding to a search criterion and (ii) a second information corresponding to a filter information item;
performing a search of the digital map database using the input data records entered by the user; and
outputting, via a display unit, data records selected from the digital map database in the search.