Abstract: Provided is a means for accurately analyzing a protease by electrophoresis. Disclosed is an electrophoretic analysis method for analyzing a protease-containing sample, is characterized by exposing a sample containing a protease to be analyzed, to pH conditions under which the protease is rapidly deactivated, and then subjecting the sample to electrophoresis.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an NMIS transistor including a first gate insulating film containing a high-k dielectric and a first gate electrode provided on the first gate insulating film and containing a metal material and a PMIS transistor including a second gate insulating film containing a high-k dielectric and a second gate electrode provided on the second gate insulating film and containing a metal material. A side surface of the first gate insulating film is located at an inner side of a side surface of the first gate electrode. A ratio of a length of the first gate insulating film along a gate length direction to a length of the first gate electrode along the gate length direction is lower than a ratio of a length of the second gate insulating film along the gate length direction to a length of the second gate electrode along the gate length direction.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine injects fuel from a fuel injection valve in each cylinder in a fuel injection mode in which an amount of fuel in the combustion chamber corresponds to a required value for starting the internal combustion engine when fuel in the combustion chamber is combusted in each cylinder after a crankshaft angle is determined through cranking for starting the internal combustion engine. When the fuel has a high alcohol concentration and is combusted after the determination of the crankshaft angle, the control apparatus sets the fuel injection mode for fuel with a high alcohol concentration as the fuel injection mode in which the amount of fuel in the combustion chamber corresponds to the required value for starting the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: When it is detected in a fuel supply device for a flexible-fuel internal combustion engine that a refueling operation has been performed for a fuel tank, a return suppression process in which fuel in a delivery pipe is prohibited from returning to the fuel tank through a high-pressure return passage is executed until a concentration learning process is started. After the concentration learning process is started, a compulsory return process in which fuel in the delivery pipe is compulsorily returned to the fuel tank through the high-pressure return passage is executed.

Abstract: In an ignition timing control apparatus for an engine, a KCS learning value learned when the engine is in a given operating state is used in an ignition timing control executed when the engine is in the other operating state. An estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing is set based on a most retarded ignition timing using the KCS learning value. A final ignition timing is set by changing a KCS feedback correction value based on whether knocking occurs when ignition is performed at the estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing. When a point indicating the engine operating state moves into a region where it is difficult to set the estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing, the KCS feedback correction value is changed to retard the final ignition timing, and the final ignition timing is set using the KCS learning value and the changed KCS feedback correction value.

Abstract: When it is detected in a fuel supply device for a flexible-fuel internal combustion engine that a refueling operation has been performed for a fuel tank, a return suppression process in which fuel in a delivery pipe is prohibited from returning to the fuel tank through a high-pressure return passage is executed until a concentration learning process is started. After the concentration learning process is started, a compulsory return process in which fuel in the delivery pipe is compulsorily returned to the fuel tank through the high-pressure return passage is executed.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine injects fuel from a fuel injection valve in each cylinder in a fuel injection mode in which an amount of fuel in the combustion chamber corresponds to a required value for starting the internal combustion engine when fuel in the combustion chamber is combusted in each cylinder after a crankshaft angle is determined through cranking for starting the internal combustion engine. When the fuel has a high alcohol concentration and is combusted after the determination of the crankshaft angle, the control apparatus sets the fuel injection mode for fuel with a high alcohol concentration as the fuel injection mode in which the amount of fuel in the combustion chamber corresponds to the required value for starting the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: In an ignition timing control apparatus for an engine, a KCS learning value learned when the engine is in a given operating state is used in an ignition timing control executed when the engine is in the other operating state. An estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing is set based on a most retarded ignition timing using the KCS learning value. A final ignition timing is set by changing a KCS feedback correction value based on whether knocking occurs when ignition is performed at the estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing. When a point indicating the engine operating state moves into a region where it is difficult to set the estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing, the KCS feedback correction value is changed to retard the final ignition timing, and the final ignition timing is set using the KCS learning value and the changed KCS feedback correction value.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a first transistor, a first stress-inducing film, a first insulating film, and a second insulating film. The first transistor is formed in a first active region of a semiconductor substrate, and includes a first gate electrode. The first stress-inducing film is formed so as to cover the first gate electrode, and applies a stress to the channel region of the first transistor. The first insulating film is formed on the first stress-inducing film and has a planarized upper surface. The second insulating film is formed on the first insulating film.

Abstract: In a process of pouring molten metal under pressure into a die cavity C through a pouring gate G, a molten metal pressure in a part of the die cavity to be filled with the molten metal later than the rest thereof, or in the vicinity of the part, is detected by a first pressure sensor S5, and a cavity backpressure in the part of the die cavity to be filled with the molten metal later than the rest thereof, or in the vicinity of the part is detected by a backpressure sensor 12. Then, a pouring rate of the molten metal is controlled in accordance with changes in the respective detected pressures.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an entrance face that is optically coupleable with a device for transmitting a light beam through the optical fiber. The entrance face includes a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region. The cladding region is at least partially covered with a coating, which is made of metal, for example. That is, the coating is formed over a whole area of the cladding region or the coating is formed on an area of the cladding region defined in a vicinity of the core region. The coating has a mirror surface to increase the reflectivity thereof and enhances the reflectivity of the entrance face.

Abstract: An optical communication device includes a light source that emits a light beam and an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The optical fiber has a light entrance face having a core region and a cladding region. The light beam emitted by the light source is converged by a converging lens on the core region and is transmitted through the optical fiber. The entrance face is configured to generate a light intensity distribution in light reflected by the light entrance face depending on a position where the light beam is incident on the entrance face, a converging lens arranged between the light source and the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical communication device includes a light source that emits a light beam and an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The optical fiber has a light entrance face having a core region and a cladding region. The light beam emitted by the light source is converged by a converging lens on the core region and is transmitted through the optical fiber. The entrance face is configured to generate a light intensity distribution in light reflected by the light entrance face depending on a position where the light beam is incident on the entrance face, a converging lens arranged between the light source and the optical fiber.

Abstract: In a process of pouring molten metal under pressure into a die cavity C through a pouring gate G, a molten metal pressure in a part of the die cavity to be filled with the molten metal later than the rest thereof, or in the vicinity of the part, is detected by a first pressure sensor S5, and a cavity backpressure in the part of the die cavity to be filled with the molten metal later than the rest thereof, or in the vicinity of the part is detected by a backpressure sensor 12. Then, a pouring rate of the molten metal is controlled in accordance with changes in the respective detected pressures.

Abstract: There is provided a two-dimensional position control method which carries out two-dimensional position control fast at a minimum wobbling frequency. The method includes a step of oscillating at least either a space propagation energy distributed in a substantially limited range on a predetermined two-dimensional plane or energy input system to which the energy is input such that a locus of a relative movement thereof forms an ellipse on the two-dimensional plane, a step of detecting energies at least two pairs of points on the elliptic locus on both sides of the center of the ellipse, and a step of calculating differences between the detected energies at the respective pairs of points, thereby detecting a displacement between the energy and the energy input system on the two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an entrance face that is optically coupleable with a device for transmitting a light beam through the optical fiber. The entrance face includes a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region. The cladding region is at least partially covered with a coating, which is made of metal, for example. That is, the coating is formed over a whole area of the cladding region or the coating is formed on an area of the cladding region defined in a vicinity of the core region. The coating has a mirror surface to increase the reflectivity thereof and enhances the reflectivity of the entrance face.

Abstract: There is provided a reactor building of steel concrete construction, which comprises a steel concrete containment vessel constructed on the center of a footing slab and also composed of a pair of relatively confronting steel plates and concrete placed in a space between the steel plates. The reactor building is constructed on the outer circumference of the same footing slab and is also composed of a pair of relatively confronting steel plates and concrete placed in a space between the steel plates. The containment vessel is separated from partial slabs among a plurality of slabs of the reactor building placed around the containment vessel or all the slabs of the reactor building.

Abstract: An abnormality detector apparatus for an engine water-cooling apparatus has an electronic control unit (ECU) for precisely and quickly determining and detecting an operation abnormality of a thermostat or a water temperature sensor. After the engine is started, the ECU calculates, over time, an engine heat generation quantity, an estimated cooling water temperature or the like on the basis of various engine operating condition parameters, such as cooling water temperature, intake temperature, engine revolution speed, amount of intake air, and the like. After the elapse of a predetermined time, the ECU compares the estimated cooling water temperature and the cooling water temperature actually detected by the water temperature sensor. If the relationship therebetween meets a predetermined condition, the ECU determines whether there is an abnormality in the operating condition of the thermostat and/or the cooling water temperature sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting misfires in an internal combustion engine that is mounted on a vehicle. A plurality of cylinders is defined in the engine, and a piston accommodated in each cylinder to reciprocate in the cylinder. A crankshaft is connected with the piston, the crankshaft is rotated by the reciprocal movement of the piston. An engine speed sensor is provided for detecting the rotating speed of the crankshaft. An electronic control unit (ECU) computes the deviation of rotating speed of the crankshaft corresponding to each cylinder based on the detected engine speed, and the deviation is proportional to the engine load. The ECU costs a leaning value based on the computed deviation, wherein the learning value is used for detecting the misfires in the engine. A memory is provided for storing the learning value. Several sensors are provided for detecting a running condition of the engine, wherein the condition is included the engine load.

Abstract: In the present invention, the fuel injection amount of the engine is determined by an air-fuel ratio feedback correction factor FAF and a feedback learning correction factor KG and a fuel vapor learning correction factor FGPG. When the fuel vapor is supplied to the engine, the value of FGPG is adjusted so that the center value of the fluctuation of FAF agrees with 1.0 while the value of KG is held at the value before the fuel vapor supply started. On the other hand, when the fuel vapor is not supplied to the engine, the value of KG is adjusted so that the center value of the fluctuation of FAF agrees with 1.0 while the value of FGPG is set at 0. Therefore, the value (FAF+KG) indicates whether a failure has occurred in the fuel supply system regardless of the fuel vapor supply to the engine. Further, if the value (FAF+KG) becomes larger than or smaller than a predetermined range when the fuel vapor is supplied to the engine, i.e.