Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint includes a thigh connection part, a lower leg part coupled to the thigh connection part rotatably around an axis of a knee, an actuator coupled to the thigh connection part and the lower leg part, where the actuator is configured to restrict or assist movement of the thigh connection part, a detector unit for obtaining information about how the thigh connection part and the lower leg part are relatively positioned, a control unit for controlling driving of the actuator based on a result detected by the detector unit, and an estimating unit for estimating a state of the user's movement based on the result detected by the detector unit. When the estimating unit estimates that the user is not walking, the control unit sets a longer control cycle for the driving of the actuator than when the estimating unit estimates that the user is walking.

Abstract: Disclosed is an excipient comprising white powdery microcrystalline cellulose having an average degree of polymerization of from 100 to 375 and an acetic acid holding capacity of 280% or more, and having a specific compression characteristic satisfying an equality of formula (1): ##EQU1## wherein a is from 0.85 to 0.90, b is from 0.05 to 0.10, P represents the compression pressure (kgf/cm.sup.2) applied to the microcrystalline cellulose, V.sub.o represents the apparent specific volume (cm.sup.3 /g) of the microcrystalline cellulose, and V.sub.p represents the specific volume (cm.sup.3 /g) of the microcrystalline cellulose at the compression pressure P. The excipient of the present invention exhibits not only high compactability but also high rate of disintegration. The excipient of the present invention can be advantageously obtained by heat-treating an aqueous dispersion of purified cellulose particles, which has a solids content of 40% or less by weight, at 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A water-dispersible complex comprising from 50 to 98% fine cellulose particles and from 2 to 50% water-soluble gum and/or hydrophilic material, as solid component ratio by weight. An aqueous dispersion of this complex includes particles having a particle size of at least 10 .mu.m, in a particle size distribution of not more than 40%. The aspect ratio in terms of the particles having a particle size of at least 10 .mu.m is not higher than 3.0 when the ratio of the particles having a particle size of at least 10 .mu.m in the particle size distribution is from 5 to 40%, and has the colloid fraction of at least 65%.