Provided is a method of manufacturing porous ceramic bodies with gradient of porosity, in which a gradient that is continuous to a pore size and porosity is precisely controlled in a simple way. A laser beam is radiated a plurality of times from a main surface side of leads and also a plurality of times from a back surface side of the leads to intra-dam resin formed in a dam portion, the dam portion being enclosed with adjacent leads, a dam bar and a sealing body, thereby removing all the intra-dam resin formed on lead side faces and lead lower portions. A column direction selection circuit selects predetermined memory cell groups in a column direction in response to a column input address signal. The rod end not inserted to the casing will have three preferred forms of embodiment, such as a ring or a loop which closes on itself or on a small hole on which the outer ring is coupled. The flap can be moved using a variety of actuators to position, translate and stow the flap. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure andor flow rate of reformate flowing from the fuel processor to the purification unit are also disclosed.