Abstract: A waste treatment system includes: at least one reformer for hydrolyzing waste; and a microbial reactor for microbially degrading a reformed material containing at least a solid among the waste hydrolyzed in the at least one reformer.

Abstract: A sleep determination apparatus includes a heart rate data obtainer that obtains, based on data regarding a heart rate of a body of a user, a very low frequency component (VLF), a ratio of a low frequency component (LF) to a high frequency component (HF), a mean heartbeat interval (RRI), and a standard deviation of each heartbeat interval (RRI) of the heart rate as heart rate variability parameters indicating a heart rate state; and a sleep state determiner that determines which of a plurality of sleep stages the user is in, using the heart rate variability parameters, in such a manner as to distinguish between a first non-REM sleep stage and a second non-REM sleep stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to maintaining the fundamental physical properties of a liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles which is such that nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed and mixed in a liquid alkali metal used in heat exchange, cooling and other applications, and suppressing the reaction of the liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles. Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles by dispersing nanoparticles in a liquid alkali metal. In this method, the nanoparticles are made of a metal having a large atomic bonding due to a combination with the liquid alkali metal compared to the atomic bonding of atoms of the liquid alkali metal and a metal having a large amount of charge transfer is used in the nanoparticles. The liquid alkali metal is selected from sodium, lithium and sodium-potassium alloys, and the nanoparticles to be dispersed are made of transition metals, such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper.

Abstract: A nanoparticle manufacturing device capable of particle size control of nanoparticles made of a raw material metal powder and control of the occurrence condition of chaining of nanoparticles and of necking. The device 1 is provided for manufacturing nanoparticles by heating and melting a mixture of a raw material metal powder and a carrier gas in a heating space, cooling the mixture in a cooling space and collecting the mixture in a collection space. The heating space, the cooling space and the collection space form a continuous flow path without a back flow, and the cross-sectional area of the collection space is set at a large value compared to the cross-sectional area of the heating space and the cooling space. Further, there is provided a method of manufacturing a nanoparticle-dispersed liquid alkali metal by dispersing nanoparticles in a liquid alkali metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to maintaining the fundamental physical properties of a liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles which is such that nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed and mixed in a liquid alkali metal used in heat exchange, cooling and other applications, and suppressing the reaction of the liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles. Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles by dispersing nanoparticles in a liquid alkali metal. In this method, the nanoparticles are made of a metal having a large atomic bonding due to a combination with the liquid alkali metal compared to the atomic bonding of atoms of the liquid alkali metal and a metal having a large amount of charge transfer is used in the nanoparticles. The liquid alkali metal is selected from sodium, lithium and sodium-potassium alloys, and the nanoparticles to be dispersed are made of transition metals, such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper.

Abstract: A breather plug assembly for a gear box utilized in an automobile or other machine. The breather plug has a deflector member of tubular shape, having a cylindrical portion contacting the flow of lubricant formed along the inner surface of the gear box. The cylindrical portion is provided with at least one hole located downstream of the flow. Said hole allows ventilation of the interior of the box to the atmosphere.