A hydrogen generator having one or more actuators coupled to one or more heating elements in which the actuator are used to improve the transfer of thermal energy from heating element to one or more fuel units contained within the generator. A tensile specimen measuring method is also disclosed. The Hamming distance between k1 and k2 is at least 2. The inorganic insulating layer 35 on the gate electrode 20g functions as a gate insulating film 30, and the semiconductor layer 40 between the sourcedrain electrodes 20s, 20d on the inorganic insulating layer 35 functions as a channel. The pressure regulating valve is operatively arranged to maintain a predetermined pressure at the pressure port regardless of the direction of flow through the pressure port. The gas introducing tube is connected to the second gas inlet and to the quartz boat.