Abstract: A device for measuring calories of food items includes a food item holding unit on which an inspection-target food item including a plurality of food materials is placed, a light source for radiating near-infrared rays at a specific wavelength region to the food item, and a light reception unit that receives light emitted from the light source and then reflected from the food item. The light receiving device receives light reflected from the food item when the near-infrared rays at the specific wavelength are radiated to the food item. A control unit calculates calories of the food item in accordance with measurement values of absorbances of the near-infrared rays at the specific wavelength region which are received by the light reception unit.

Abstract: The invention makes it possible to measure a calorie by using near-infrared rays, thereby realizing calorie measurement of an object to be quickly and easily performed using a non-destructive method. A device of measuring calorie of an object includes an object holding unit (1) including a table (2) on which an inspection-target object (M) is placed; a light source unit (20) that supplies light in near-infrared regions to irradiate the inspection-target object (M) placed on the turning table (2); a light reception unit (30) that receives light reflected from or transmitted though the object (M); and a control unit (40) that calculates the calorie of the object (M) in accordance with the absorbances of the light received by the light reception unit (30). In the control unit (40), the calorie of object (M) is calculated in accordance with a regression expression and the absorbances of the light received by the light reception unit (30).

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved draft device for a bubble column used in a reaction wherein gas and liquid are mixed such as fermentation. The draft device consists of a plurality of vertical plates coaxially arranged within the bubble column such that each plate has one vertical edge in outwardly spaced overlapping relation to a vertical edge of an adjacent plate and has the other vertical edge in inwardly spaced overlapping relation to a vertical edge of the other adjacent plate.