Abstract: In an exhaust manifold of a four-cylinder engine four cylinders of which line up in order of cylinder #1, cylinder #2, cylinder #3 and cylinder #4, temperature rise performance of a manifold catalyst improves by shortening a total length of the exhaust manifold while preventing exhaust gas interference between the cylinders. Therefore, an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #1 and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #4 in outward sides of the engine that are not fired in succession are made convergent with its convergence angle ?1 being equal to or below 20 degrees to form a first convergent exhaust manifold branch and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #2 and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #3 between the cylinder #1 and cylinder #4 that are not fired in succession are made convergent at a minimum distance having a laterally projected shape to form a second convergent exhaust manifold branch.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold of an engine exhaust apparatus includes a plurality of exhaust branches and a straight pipe section. The exhaust branches extend toward a confluence portion, from respective upstream ends to be connected with cylinders of an engine. The straight pipe section extends from the confluence portion toward a downstream end adapted to be connected to an exhaust purifying catalyst.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold connected to exhaust ports of at least three straightly-arranged cylinders of an internal combustion engine is constructed by a primary exhaust pipe which extends from the foremost cylinder of the cylinders in the rearward direction of the engine along the direction of the straight arrangement of the cylinders and a plurality of secondary exhaust pipes which extend from the other cylinders except for the foremost cylinder to the primary exhaust pipe. The secondary exhaust pipes are collected to the primary exhaust pipe so that downstream end portions of the secondary exhaust pipes are wound into the center axis of the primary exhaust pipe at a plurality of points on the center axis, respectively.

Abstract: A fuel property determination system for an internal combustion engine is arranged to determine a fuel property indicative that fuel in use is heavy or light, on the basis of a degree of change of a revolution speed during a period from an expansion stroke of a first fuel injection cylinder at engine start to an expansion stroke of a final fuel injection cylinder in a first round as to all cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: The invention comprises at least two independent intake ports 14a, 14b connected to a combustion chamber 15, two intake valves 12a, 12b, and two exhaust valves 13a, 13b. Upper and lower channels 22a, 22b which are defined by a partition wall, and an intake control valve 25 for opening and closing the lower side channel 22b are provided in the interior of the first intake port 14a. An intake control valve 26 for opening and closing the first intake port 14b is also provided. The invention further comprises a controller 50 for controlling the opening and closing of the intake control valves 25 and 26, and the degree of opening of these intake control valves 25 and 26 is controlled in accordance with the operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention comprises at least two independent intake ports 14a, 14b connected to a combustion chamber 15, two intake valves 12a, 12b, and two exhaust valves 13a, 13b. A first fuel injection valve 31a is provided in the first intake port 14a and a second intake control valve 26 is provided for opening and closing the second intake port 14b. When the engine is in the cold condition, the second intake control valve 26 is slightly opened and fuel is injected from the first fuel injection valve 31b. Air-fuel mixture from the first intake port 14a and a smaller amount of fresh air from the second intake port 14b are introduced [into the combustion chamber], and the overall air-fuel ratio inside the combustion chamber is controlled to become slightly lean.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold of an engine exhaust apparatus includes a plurality of exhaust branches and a straight pipe section. The exhaust branches extend toward a confluence portion, from respective upstream ends to be connected with cylinders of an engine. The straight pipe section extends from the confluence portion toward a downstream end adapted to be connected to an exhaust purifying catalyst.

Abstract: An engine valve timing controller controls a hydraulically driven variable valve timing mechanism, based on coolant temperature and intake air temperature. If coolant temperature and intake air temperature at engine startup are at least equal to an operation assurance oil temperature and an absolute value of the difference between the two temperatures is less than or equal to a prescribed temperature, then oil temperature is determined to be at least as high as the operation assurance oil temperature. Thus, the valve timing mechanism operates after coolant temperature rises to a first operation permission coolant temperature that is a temperature at which increasing the amount of internal EGR by increasing the amount of valve overlap is permitted.

Abstract: A catalytic converter (9) is interposed in an exhaust passage (3) of an internal combustion engine (1). In the converter (9), a plurality of carriers (21A-21D) are disposed in series with gaps (G1-G3). Each carrier (21A-21D) comprises a hydrocarbon trapping layer (25), a three-way catalyst layer (26) and a number of passages (24) facing the three-way catalyst layer (26). The gaps (G1-G3) interrupts heat transfer between the carriers in order to retard temperature increase in the hydrocarbon trapping layer (25) and promotes a turbulence in exhaust gas flow in the converter (9) in order to homogenize the exhaust gas dispersion in a radial direction, thereby enhancing the hydrocarbon purification performance of the converter (9).

Abstract: A hydrocarbon trapping layer (25) is formed by coating a hydrocarbon trapping material onto a carrier (21A). A number of exhaust gas passages (34) are formed in the carrier (21A) and a plurality of slits (22) are formed on the carrier (21A) to cross the passages (24) in a transverse orientation. The slits (22) delay temperature increases in the downstream hydrocarbon trapping layer (25) and delay the release of trapped hydrocarbons therefrom. This is due to blocking the transmission of heat to the downstream hydrocarbon trapping layer (25) from the upstream hydrocarbon trapping layer (25). The slits (22) further produce a turbulent flow in the flow of exhaust gas and promote diffusion of exhaust gas over the entire surface of the carrier (21A).

Abstract: The invention comprises at least two independent intake ports 14a, 14b connected to a combustion chamber 15, two intake valves 12a, 12b, and two exhaust valves 13a, 13b. A first fuel injection valve 31a is provided in the first intake port 14a and a second intake control valve 26 is provided for opening and closing the second intake port 14b. When the engine is in the cold condition, the second intake control valve 26 is slightly opened and fuel is injected from the first fuel injection valve 31b. Air-fuel mixture from the first intake port 14a and a smaller amount of fresh air from the second intake port 14b are introduced [into the combustion chamber], and the overall air-fuel ratio inside the combustion chamber is controlled to become slightly lean.

Abstract: The invention comprises at least two independent intake ports 14a, 14b connected to a combustion chamber 15, two intake valves 12a, 12b, and two exhaust valves 13a, 13b. Upper and lower channels 22a, 22b which are defined by a partition wall, and an intake control valve 25 for opening and closing the lower side channel 22b are provided in the interior of the first intake port 14a. An intake control valve 26 for opening and closing the first intake port 14b is also provided. The invention further comprises a controller 50 for controlling the opening and closing of the intake control valves 25 and 26, and the degree of opening of these intake control valves 25 and 26 is controlled in accordance with the operating conditions.

Abstract: In an exhaust manifold of a four-cylinder engine four cylinders of which line up in order of cylinder #1, cylinder #2, cylinder #3 and cylinder #4, temperature rise performance of a manifold catalyst improves by shortening a total length of the exhaust manifold while preventing exhaust gas interference between the cylinders. Therefore, an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #1 and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #4 in outward sides of the engine that are not fired in succession are made convergent with its convergence angle &thgr;1 being equal to or below 20 degrees to form a first convergent exhaust manifold branch and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #2 and an exhaust manifold branch of cylinder #3 between the cylinder #1 and cylinder #4 that are not fired in succession are made convergent at a minimum distance having a laterally projected shape to form a second convergent exhaust manifold branch.

Abstract: A gene coding for a peptidoglycan recognition peptide (PGRP) is cloned, a recombinant vector into which said gene is introduced is obtained, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant vector is cultivated, thereby producing the PGRP in large amounts at high purity.

Abstract: An engine valve timing controller controls a hydraulically driven variable valve timing mechanism, based on coolant temperature and intake air temperature. If coolant temperature and intake air temperature at engine startup are at least equal to an operation assurance oil temperature and an absolute value of the difference between the two temperatures is less than or equal to a prescribed temperature, then oil temperature is determined to be at least as high as the operation assurance oil temperature. Thus, the valve timing mechanism operates after coolant temperature rises to a first operation permission coolant temperature that is a temperature at which increasing the amount of internal EGR by increasing the amount of valve overlap is permitted.

Abstract: A gene coding for a peptidoglycan recognition peptide (PGRP) is cloned, a recombinant vector into which said gene is introduced is obtained, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant vector is cultivated, thereby producing the PGRP in large amounts at high purity.

Abstract: A gene coding for a peptidoglysan recognition peptide (PGRP) is cloned, a recombinant vector into which said gene is introduced is obtained, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant vector is cultivated, thereby producing the PGRP in large amounts at high purity.

Abstract: A rotation speed is feedback controlled to a target rotation speed during idle running of an engine. When an automatic transmission is in a travel range, a brake is being operated and a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value, the target rotation speed is decreased. A required vehicle creep force is different according to whether the vehicle has substantially stopped such as when it is waiting on a crossing, or whether it is moving in the idle running state as when it is being garaged or is following a vehicle in front of it in a traffic jam. By decreasing the target rotation speed according to the vehicle speed, an optimum creep force is obtained in both cases.

Abstract: A method for assaying an activity of a prophenoloxidase activating enzyme (PPAE), comprising assaying at least X-Arg or Y produced upon contact of the PPAE with a peptide chain of the formulaX-Arg-Ywherein X is an optionally labeled amino acid residue or peptide residue, having an optionally protected .alpha.-amino group or N-terminal, provided that the amino acid residue adjoining Arg is not Gly or Ala, and Y is an organic residue capable of binding to a carboxyl group of Arg by acid amide bonding or ester bonding, or an optionally labeled amino acid residue or peptide residue, having an optionally protected .alpha.-carboxyl group or C-terminal, the peptide chain capable of being hydrolyzed into X-Arg and Y by a PPAE derived from an insect. According to the present invention, PPAE activity can be quantitatively assayed with precision and a highly precise method for determining .beta.-1,3-glucan and/or peptidoglycan, wherein said PPAE activity is used as an index, can be provided.

Abstract: A reagent comprising a fraction obtained from plasma of an insect such as silkworm larvae and capable of reacting specifically with .beta.-1,3-glucan or peptidoglycan can be used for determining .beta.-1,3-glucan or peptidoglycan.