Abstract: To ensure that a biodegradable medical implement dissolves in vivo at an appropriate dissolution rate. The biodegradable medical implement of the present invention is formed of a magnesium material, and, at least in one transverse section, a layer of magnesium crystal grains in which a (0001) plane in a hexagonal crystal structure is oriented toward a surface side is continuous over an entire circumference.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acicular .alpha.-iron oxide hydrate which comprises oxidizing a slurry of ferrous hydroxide having an excessive alkali concentration of 1.0 mol/l or above with an oxygen-containing gas, interrupting oxidation, adding an excessive quantity of an aqueous solution of a salt of aluminate, homogenizing and stirring the resulting mixture, again oxidizing it with an oxygen-containing gas to obtain a slurry containing free aluminate ion and .alpha.-iron oxide hydrate, homogenizing and stirring the slurry, then neutralizing and aging it, and washing and drying it.

Abstract: Functional parts which have a high probability of abnormal operation, e.g., bill jams, are built into a detachable bill container, and the transfer of bills is not performed in the main body of the automatic bill handling machine (i.e., bills are handled only within the detachable bill container). Those parts include the parts which perform mechanical operations such as the picking up of bills, one by one, stacking the bills in a temporary storage area, and conveying them to an outlet or withdrawal bill storage area. The bill container in which a bill jam has occurred may be replaced with a spare bill container, thus allowing the jammed bills to be retained in the replaced container.

Abstract: A discriminating method, wherein a bill pattern is extracted in accordance with signals derived from selected optimum channels out of a plurality of channels connected to sensors disposed in the path across which a bill moves and the bill is discriminated through comparing the bill pattern with a reference pattern set up previously in accordance with the discriminating operational modes and the kind of bill. Bill discriminating units are provided, each having a RAM and a multiplexer. The RAM permits writing of any desired reference pattern therein, while the multiplexer selects any desired channels. Because of this arrangement, it is possible to discriminate bills for different operational modes and different kinds of bills.

Abstract: A paper sheet counting machine for feeding paper sheets, one at a time, and counting the number of the paper sheets, includes a circuit for detecting an abnormal flow of the paper sheets. In the circuit, the lengths of paper sheets are detected. A predetermined number of the detected signals are averaged. The newest length value is compared with the averaged value to provide a difference signal which determines whether an abnormal flow of the paper sheet has occurred. The averaged value is renewed to compensate for deviation of the length values.

Abstract: An optical detection device particularly suitable for use in a bank note counting apparatus is provided. By the use of the optical detection device of this invention, the influence of dust or change in power of the light emitting element due to change in temperature or other factors is excluded to maintain the quantity of light received by the light receiving element at a constant level. The control circuit incorporated in the device of this invention includes a comparator for comparing the quantity of light actually received or sensed by the light receiving element with the pre-set value to generate an output signal instructing to stepwisely lower the power of the light emitting element. In actual operation, the power of the light emitting element is firstly raised to the maximum value and then stepwisely lowered to the same value as that pre-set by the operator.