Abstract: In a bill processing device, a fake bill profile information acquiring unit acquires, from an external distribution device, fake bill profile information that is used in discriminating fake bills, and a fake bill profile information registration unit registers acquired information, and a bill discriminating unit discriminates, on the basis of the information, whether or not a deposited bill is a fake bill, and a fake bill processing unit does not accept a deposited bill that is discriminated to be a fake bill.

Abstract: A free sample distributing system comprises a plurality of free sample distributing devices and a free sample distribution information server. Each free sample distributing device imports identification information of a user desiring acquisition of a free sample, and sends the identification information to the free sample distribution information server. The free sample distribution information server decides a type of a free sample to be provided for the user, by searching a user information storage unit, by recognizing personal information of the user pertaining to the identification information, and by comparing the personal information with the free sample distribution conditions of free sample types. The free sample distributing device dispenses the free sample of the decided type from a housing unit and provides the user with the free sample.

Abstract: A polymer material containing a repetitive unit having a formula: The polymer material has a higher glass transition temperature and a lower water absorption than those of deuterated PMMA, but has a transparency equivalent with that of deuterated PMMA. The material also shows neither light absorption nor scattering in an operating wavelength region.

Abstract: A polymer pattern forming method including the steps of (a) generating radicals in a pattern forming region of a matrix layer which uniformly contains a radical generating agent, thereby forming a patterned latent image due to the radicals in the pattern forming region; and (b) bringing a monomer which polymerizes by radical polymerization into contact with the matrix layer in which the patterned latent image has been or is being formed, to have the radicals which have been or are being generated induce a chain addition polymerization of the monomer so as to form a polymer pattern on the pattern forming region.

Abstract: An optical waveguide having a clad and a core, the core being made of polymer material containing a repetitive unit having formula (1), (2) or (3): 1

Abstract: An optical waveguide having a clad and a core, the core being made of polymer material containing a repetitive unit having formula (1), (2) or (3): Each of these polymer materials has a higher glass transition temperature and lower water absorption than those of deuterated PMMA, has a transparency equivalent with that of deuterated PMMA, and shows neither light absorption nor scattering in the operating wavelength region. An optical waveguide with a core fabricated using these polymer materials is high in heat resistance and low in water absorption. Thus using the waveguide will successfully provide optical communication elements with an advanced durability against the environment.

Abstract: A diazonium salt for a color-forming layer of a thermosensitive recording medium, having formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having four carbon atoms which is selected from the group consisting of n-butyl, t-butyl, and sec-butyl, and X.sup.- is selected from the group consisting of hexafluorophosphate ion PF.sub.6.sup.-, tetrafluoroborate ion BF.sub.4.sup.- and tetraphenylborate ion (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.4 B.sup.-. In a first embodiment, a thermosensitive recording medium has a color-forming layer which includes a diazonium salt as described above, a basic compound and a coupler. In a second embodiment, a thermosensitive recording medium has a color-forming layer which includes: a diazonium salt, a basic compound, and a coupler, wherein the diazonium salt has a formula (2): ##STR2## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups each having one or more carbon atoms, and X.sup.- is selected from the group consisting of hexafluorophosphate ion PF.sub.6.sup.-, tetrafluoroborate ion BF.sub.4.sup.