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A superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter is an ideal X-ray detector for experiments at accelerator facilities because of good energy resolution and high efficiency. To study the performance of the TES detector with a high-intensity pulsed charged-particle beam, we measured X-ray spectra with a pulsed muon beam at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) in Japan. We found substantial temporal shifts of the X-ray energy correlated with the arrival time of the pulsed muon beam, which was reasonably explained by pulse pileup due to the incidence of energetic particles from the initial pulsed beam.

High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the highly charged muonic atoms/ions isolated in vacuum is an ideal probe to explore quantum electrodynamics under extremely strong electric fields, which is one of the major topic in fundamental atomic physics. A feasibility test measurement with a low-density neon gas target was performed by observing X-rays emitted by muonic neon via the $$5 \rightarrow 4$$ transition, $$\sim$$ 6.3 keV, using a multi-pixel array of superconducting transition-edge-sensor (TES) microcalorimeters at the J-PARC muon facility. We successfully demonstrated the feasibility of muonic atom X-ray spectroscopy with a gas target at a pressure as low as 0.1 atom using TES array under an intense pulsed muon beam.

A useful function, called group trigger, is implemented in a data acquisition system of a 240-pixel X-ray transition-edge sensor array to store simultaneous waveforms from any desired set of pixels. It works as a diagnostic tool which can record both primary pulses and associated crosstalk events with enough freedom to optimize the data output. Under a high rate of charged particle background, such as in an accelerator, investigating signals from any combination of trigger patterns for a particular event is of high importance. We utilized this function throughout an entire experiment at J-PARC, measuring kaonic atom X-rays in 2018. This was the first time a group trigger was applied to exotic-atom spectroscopy. In this experiment, the primary trigger was distributed to the four physical nearest neighbor pixels for practical purposes. The function clarified the effect of thermal and electrical cross talk from X-rays and charged particles, resulting in a better understanding of the behavior of the TES array in such a high-background environment.

We have measured the 3d→2p transition x rays of kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He atoms using superconducting transition-edge-sensor microcalorimeters with an energy resolution better than 6 eV (FWHM). We determined the energies to be 6224.5±0.4(stat)±0.2(syst) eV and 6463.7±0.3(stat)±0.1(syst) eV, and widths to be 2.5±1.0(stat)±0.4(syst) eV and 1.0±0.6(stat)±0.3(stat) eV, for kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He, respectively. These values are nearly 10 times more precise than in previous measurements. Our results exclude the large strong-interaction shifts and widths that are suggested by a coupled-channel approach and agree with calculations based on optical-potential models.

We integrated a TES X-ray spectrometer with a charged kaon beam line at J-PARC to perform X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic helium atoms. Limited beam intensity and a broad beam spot size made it crucial to increase the detector acceptance angle as much as possible, requiring significant development. To this end, our TES system shared the same vacuum with a cryogenic system of the liquid helium experimental target. We also specially developed a target cell for liquid helium and a thinned aperture array on top of the TES detector. Additionally, thermal and magnetic shields and infrared filters were optimized in terms of a larger acceptance angle and energy resolution of the detector. The scientific campaign was performed in June, 2018, where the whole system was stably operated for almost one month.

International audience; We observed electronic K x rays emitted from muonic iron atoms using superconducting transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters. The energy resolution of 5.2 eV in FWHM allowed us to observe the asymmetric broad profile of the electronic characteristic Kα and Kβ x rays together with the hypersatellite Khα x rays around 6 keV. This signature reflects the time-dependent screening of the nuclear charge by the negative muon and the L-shell electrons, accompanied by electron side feeding. Assisted by a simulation, these data clearly reveal the electronic K- and L-shell hole production and their temporal evolution on the 10–20 fs scale during the muon cascade process.

Tin sulfide (SnS) thin films were deposited on glass slides in a chemical solution that was prepared by mixing stannous dichloride, acetone, triethanolamine (TEA), thioacetamide, and liquid ammonia in water. Then solution was heated by oil bath stirrer (OBS) or microwave oven (MW). Thin films were deposited on glass slides in the solution heated by the OBS or MW. The SnS films deposited in the solutions with various amounts of TEA were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and photocurrent measurements. SEM revealed that films prepared using OBS and MW showed different dependence of film-thickness on the amount of TEA in the solution. Flat SnS films with few holes and grooves were obtained at optimized TEA contents using MW. The dark conductivity and the photocurrent of SnS films prepared with chemical bath deposition using OBS decreased with decreasing TEA, whereas those prepared using MW increased with decreasing TEA. The sample prepared with optimized TEA content using MW showed a photocurrent 20 times higher than that of the sample prepared with optimized TEA using OBS.

Exotic atom experiments place transition-edge-sensor (TES) microcalorimeter arrays in a high-energy charged particle rich environment. When a high-energy charged particle passes through the silicon substrate of a TES array, a large amount of energy is deposited and small pulses are generated across multiple pixels in the TES array due to thermal crosstalk. We have developed analysis techniques to assess and reduce the effects of charged particle events on exotic atom X-ray measurements. Using this technique, the high-energy and low-energy components of the X-ray peaks due to pileup are eliminated, improving the energy resolution from 6.6 eV to 5.7 eV at 6.9 keV., Proceedings of the LTD18 conference, accepted

We have succeeded in operating a transition-edge sensor (TES) spectrometer and evaluating its performance at the SPring-8 synchrotron x-ray light source. The TES spectrometer consists of a 240 pixel National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) TES system, and 220 pixels are operated simultaneously with an energy resolution of 4 eV at 6 keV at a rate of ∼1 c/s pixel-1. The tolerance for high count rates is evaluated in terms of energy resolution and live time fraction, leading to an empirical compromise of ∼2 × 103 c/s (all pixels) with an energy resolution of 5 eV at 6 keV. By utilizing the TES's wideband spectroscopic capability, simultaneous multi-element analysis is demonstrated for a standard sample. We conducted x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis in fluorescence mode using the TES spectrometer. The excellent energy resolution of the TES enabled us to detect weak fluorescence lines from dilute samples and trace elements that have previously been difficult to resolve due to the nearly overlapping emission lines of other dominant elements. The neighboring lines of As Kα and Pb Lα2 of the standard sample were clearly resolved, and the XANES of Pb Lα2 was obtained. Moreover, the x-ray spectrum from the small amount of Fe in aerosols was distinguished from the spectrum of a blank target, which helps us to understand the targets and the environment. These results are the first important step for the application of high resolution TES-based spectroscopy at hard x-ray synchrotron facilities.

We report very-low-noise, fast-response, middle-scale multiplexing in a microwave superconducting quantum interference device multiplexer (MW-Mux) as a transition-edge sensor (TES) readout. Our MW-Mux is able to read 40 channels with 500 kHz sampling and has a low readout noise of 0.9 μ Φ 0 / Hz (where Φ 0 is the magnetic flux quantum), equivalent to 9 pA / Hz. By contrast, a multiplexer of less than 10 pixels with 500 kHz sampling and ∼ 2 μ Φ 0 / Hz readout noise has so far been reported in the literature. Owing to the 500 kHz sampling, our MW-Mux exhibits a fast response to detect a TES pulse with a rise time around 12 μ s. We demonstrated simultaneous readout of 38 pixels from an array of x-ray TES microcalorimeters. The measured full-width values at half-maximum spectral resolution ranged from 2.79 to 4.56 eV, with a median value of 3.30 eV at 5.9 keV, including a ∼ 10 % contribution of readout noise, i.e., 0.9–1.7 eV.

We are working on an updated program of the future Japanese X-ray satellite mission DIOS (Diffuse Intergalactic Oxygen Surveyor), called Super DIOS. We keep the main aim of searching for dark baryons in the form of warmhot intergalactic medium (WHIM) with high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. The mission will detect redshifted emission lines from OVII, OVIII and other ions, leading to an overall understanding of the physical nature and spatial distribution of dark baryons as a function of cosmological timescale. We are working on the conceptual design of the satellite and onboard instruments, with a provisional launch time in the early 2030s. The major changes will be improved angular resolution of the X-ray telescope and increased number of TES calorimeter pixels. Super DIOS will have a 10-arcsecond resolution and a few tens of thousand TES pixels. Most contaminating X-ray sources will be resolved, and the level of diffuse X-ray background will be reduced after subtraction of point sources. This will give us very high sensitivity to map out the WHIM in emission. The status of the spacecraft study will be presented: the development plan of TES calorimeters, on-board cooling system, X- ray telescope, and the satellite system. The previous study results for DIOS and technical achievements reached by the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission provide baseline technology for Super DIOS. We will also consider large scale international collaboration for all the on-board instruments.

—We are developing a new technique to apply transition-edge sensors (TESs) to X-ray spectroscopy of exotic atoms, especially of kaonic atoms. To demonstrate the feasibility of this pioneering project, performance of a TES-based X-ray detector was evaluated in pion- and kaon-beam environments at particle accelerators. We successfully observed X- rays from pionic-carbon atoms with a resolution as good as 7 eV FWHM at 6 keV. Also at a kaon beamline, we confirmed that the TES spectrometer will be able to achieve our resolution goal, 6 eV, in our first scientific campaign to measure X-rays from kaonic- helium atoms.

The interplay between nuclear rotation and the pairing correlations is studied in the single-{ital j} shell model space with {ital j}=13/2. For this study, we employ both the cranking model and the particle-rotor model, the Hamiltonians of which are exactly diagonalized to avoid the ambiguity of the number-nonconserving pair field approximation. The discussions on the merit of the two models show that the particle-rotor model is more reliable than the cranking model. Through the investigations of the spin alignments, the pairing energy gap, and the wave functions, it is shown that the pairing vibrational modes play very important roles. The processes of the collapse of nucleon pairs due to the nuclear rotation are also discussed.

We report 4 cases of photocontact dermatitis due to ketoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug derived from propionic acid. We carried out a skin biopsy to examine the amount of ketoprofen in the eruptive skin. We investigated the cross-reactions between tiaprofenic acid, suprofen and ketoprofen by patch and photopatch testing. In case no. 1, 17 days after the discontinuance of Mohrus poultice (containing ketoprofen as an active ingredient), we detected ketoprofen 312.5 ng/g in the area of skin where the poultice was applied. All 4 cases reacted positively to the causative medicaments containing ketoprofen and ketoprofen 1% pet. 3 out of 4 cases reacted positively to tiaprofenic acid 1% pet. Only 1 case out of the ketoprofen and tiaprofenic acid positive cases reacted positively to suprofen 1% pet. Vehicles of patients' medicaments were negative in all 4 cases. We suspected that the key structure of the cross-reaction between ketoprofen and tiaprofenic acid and suprofen was the benzoyl radical.

In screening patch testing of hairdressers with occupational contact dermatitis, multiple positive reactions to hair dye-related chemicals, such as p-phenylenediamine (PPD), p-toluenediamine x 2HCl (PTD) and p-aminophenol (PAP), a fabric dye p-aminoazobenzene (PAB), and a tar dye Sudan III, were frequently encountered. To investigate individual skin sensitization potency and the cross-reactivities among above chemicals, a guinea pig maximization test with the above 5 chemicals was performed. In each group, 6 animals were induced with one of the chemicals at 0.1% concentration by intradermal injection and at 1.0% by topical application. The animals were challenged with all 5 chemicals in concentrations of dilution by 10 from 0.1% to 0.001%. Under the conditions of 0.1% challenges, similar sensitization potencies were observed in PPD (6/6), PTD (6/6), PAP (5/6) and PAB (6/6) groups, but no positive reactions were elicited in the Sudan III group. The cross-reactivities to PPD were confirmed in the animals challenged with PTD (6/6), PAP (6/6), PAB (6/6) and Sudan III (3/6). In the PTD-induced group, positive responses to cross-challenges were elicited by PPD (5/6), PAP (3/6), PAB (5/6) and Sudan III (1/6). The cross-reactivities to PAP were observed only with PPD (2/5) and PAB (5/5). PAB-induced animals responded only to PPD (1/6). The results indicate that all these chemicals except Sudan III are strong sensitizers. Their cross-reactivities are different in sensitized conditions, respectively. The cross-reactivities to PPD were higher than those to PTD, PAP and PAB.

We have succeeded in the establishment of a human endothelial cell line derived from a human angiosarcoma. These cells grew as monolayers with a "cobble stone" morphology. The cells produced endothelin and showed Weibel-Palade bodies in their cytoplasm. These findings show that the cells have specific differenciated functions, and might be useful for both fundamental endothelial cell biology and biological investigation of angiosarcoma.

Summary form only given. The single-chain dynamics of a typical soluble conducting polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), has been studied in solutions by the frequency-domain electric birefringence (FEB) spectroscopy. From the results, we obtained information on the intrachain conduction mechanism exclusively without the interference from the interchain one as well as on a close correlation between the conduction mechanism and the main-chain conformation. As the fraction of toluene in solvents mixed with methylene chloride increased, the polymer conformation changed from an extended form to a coiled one (the rod-coil transition). On the other hand, it was clearly revealed that there exist two kinds of transports of carriers along the polymer chain with different diffusion distances and diffusion constants in the intrachain conduction of P3HT in pure methylene chloride. Although the faster diffusion constant D/sub H/ within the shorter range has been reported for other conducting polymers by NMR and ESR measurements, the slower diffusion constant D/sub M/ within the longer distance up to the contour length of the conducting polymer is first revealed in the present study by the FEB technique. Thus the FEB spectroscopy is a useful technique for the investigation of the conduction mechanism in the conducting polymers.

The d. c. component of birefringence of aqueous carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) under an a. c. electric field was measured at frequencies ranging from 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz. Three samples of different molecular weights were studied with varying degree of neutralization, polymer concentration and added salt concentration. The dispersion curve of birefringence consists of three relaxation bands,A, B andC in order of decreasing frequency. RelaxationB with a negative relaxation strength is ascribed to end-over-end rotation of almost rodlike CMC molecules. RelaxationA with a positive strength is attributed to the relaxation of electrical polarizability along the minor axis of molecule. RelaxationC possesses also a positive strength and is induced by clusters of CMC molecules.

The methods which have been used for the determination of zinc in water are not adequate in the sensibility and procedure. It was found that the application of zincon (2-carboxy-2'-hydroxy-5-sulfoformazyl-benzene) introduced by Yoe and Rush is most suitable for the determination of zinc in water. Copper also forms a blue complex with zincon. Good result was obtained by the addition of 1 g of thiourea for masking 100 μg of copper presented with 10μg of zinc. In the presence of much iron (III), aluminium, copper and mercury (II), it is necessary to extract zinc from a weakly ammonical solution with dithizon-CCl4 solution, and to shake the extract with dilute HCl (0.02 N) to bring zinc into the aqueous phase.

A multi-clinical double-blind study on therapeutic effect of combination preparation of vitamins E and C was undertaken in comparison with single preparation of vitamin E and vitamin C in the treatment of chloasma or pigmented contact dermatitis (PCD). Combination treatment resulted in significantly better clinical improvement than vitamin C alone in both diseases. Objective data compiled from color difference measurements and color photographs revealed significantly better results with combination treatment in chloasma than vitamin C alone and, in PCD, than vitamin E or C alone. Differences in skin luminosity between hyperpigmented and normal areas significantly decreased in all three groups, with the combination group producing the most significant change. The total serum lipoperoxide level and its ratio to total serum lipids tended to decline in the combination group, and decreased significantly in vitamin E group. The sebum lipoperoxide level decreased significantly only in the combination group (EC).

In 1983, a questionnaire study was carried out to ascertain the types and principal causes of diaper dermatitis. Questionnaires were sent to 3,942 nursery personnel, and 1,773 responses were received. Diaper dermatitis was classified into six types according to distribution of skin lesions: type I was rash on the whole area in contact with the diaper; type II, eruptions on pubis, external genitalia, and intergluteal folds; type III, peridiaper rashes; type IV, psoriasis-like dermatitis; type V, perianal noduli; and type VI, partial eruptions of infantile dermatitis. According to questionnaire responses, type II dermatitis was seen most frequently (73.6%), followed by type I and type III (17.3%), type V (4.5%), type IV (1.7%), and type VI (1.5%). Erythema blastomyceticum infantile (EBI) must be differentiated from diaper dermatitis. EBI is due to Candida infection. Topical steroids are assumed to be a promoting factor of EBI.

Calcium pantetheine-S-sulfonate (PaSSO3Ca) is one of the pantothenic acid derivatives. We examined PaSSO3Ca inhibition capacity of tyrosinase activity in vitro. For the safety evaluation when it will be applied to the human skin, we tested PaSSO3Ca creams to the fifty one patients with skin diseases by 48 hours closed patch test method. And clinical evaluation of PaSSO3Ca creams were performed in fifty patients with chloasma by half side method. Results were as follow: 1, PaSSO3Ca was proved to inhibit the tyrosinase activity in vitro. 2, PaSSO3Ca cream was shown to be safe to human skin. 3, 10% PaSSO3Ca cream lightened the skin hyperpigmentation.