A case of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (Ofuji's disease) induced by patch and challenge tests with indeloxazine hydrochloride

A 73-year-old male developed disseminated erythema over his entire body after exposure to indeloxazine hydrochloride, a cerebral activator. Patch testing with indeloxazine hydrochloride showed a positive reaction, and plaques, vesicles and pustules developed on the face after the patch test. These had the pathologic feature of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF, Ofuji's disease). A challenge test also provoked eruptions on the face, trunk, arms and legs, which were compatible with EPF. Moreover, both the patch and challenge tests with indeloxazine hydrochloride induced eosinophilia. This is the first report of drug allergy-induced EPF, where drug sensitivity induced an abnormal eosinophilic response mimicking EPF.     

Ultra light-weight and high-resolution X-ray mirrors using DRIE and X-ray LIGA techniques for space X-ray telescopes

We are developing novel ultra light-weight and high-resolution X-ray micro pore optics for space X-ray telescopes. In our method, curvilinear micro pore structures are firstly fabricated by silicon deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) or X-ray LIGA processes. Secondly, side walls of the micro structures are smoothed by magnetic field assisted finishing and/or hydrogen annealing techniques for high reflectivity mirrors. Thirdly, to focus parallel X-ray lights from astronomical objects, these structures are elastically or plastically bent into a spherical shape. Fourthly, the bent structures are stacked to form a multi-stage X-ray telescope. In this paper, we report on fabrication and X-ray reflection tests of silicon and nickel X-ray mirrors using the DRIE and LIGA processes, respectively. For the first time, X-ray reflections were confirmed on both of the mirrors. Estimated rms roughnesses were 5 nm and 3 nm for the silicon and nickel mirrors, respectively.     

Radiation Tolerance Evaluation of the Ti/Au Bilayer TES Microcalorimeter

We have developed Ti/Au bilayer transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters for future X-ray astrophysical satellite missions such as DIOS. One possible concern on the space use of TES microcalorimeters is its radiation tolerance. We have evaluated the performance of a Ti/Au bilayer (30/40 nm thick) TES microcalorimeter with 1.5  \(\upmu \) m thick Au absorber, before and after irradiation of 150 MeV proton beam with a total dose of 10 krad, corresponding to 10 years in the low Earth orbit. No significant changes on transition temperature, sensitivity, normal resistance, and critical current were observed. The energy resolution for 5.9 keV X-rays was 5.6  \(\pm \)  0.3 eV (FWHM) after the irradiation, which was slightly worse than 5.1  \(\pm \)  0.3 eV before the irradiation. We consider that our TES has sufficient radiation tolerance in orbit.     

Determination of water-soluble vitamins using a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction of water-soluble tetrazolium salts

A method for the determination of water-soluble vitamins using a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction of the tetrazolium salt {2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt (WST-8)} via 2-methyl-1,4-napthoquinone (NQ) was developed. Measurement conditions were optimized for the microbiological determination of water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin B₆, biotin, folic acid, niacin, and pantothenic acid, using microorganisms that have a water-soluble vitamin requirement. A linear relationship between absorbance and water-soluble vitamin concentration was obtained. The proposed method was applied to determine the concentration of vitamin B₆ in various foodstuffs. There was good agreement between vitamin B₆ concentrations determined after 24 h using the WST-8 colorimetric method and those obtained after 48 h using a conventional method. The results suggest that the WST-8 colorimetric assay is a useful method for the rapid determination of water-soluble vitamins in a 96-well microtiter plate.     

Development of Superconducting Multilayer Wiring for Large Arrays of TES X-Ray Microcalorimeters

We are developing TES (Transition Edge Sensor) X-ray Microcalorimeters for future X-ray astronomy missions such as DIOS (Diffuse Intergalactic Oxygen Surveyor). Standard wiring for a large-format array requires narrow and closely-packed configuration. This can cause deleterious crosstalk especially in the Frequency Domain Multiplexing readout. Hence we have employed multilayer wiring technique. In this paper, we tested a deposition of a TES film on the multilayer wiring by sputtering. Our first trial showed that the TES pixels have large residual resistances >50?mΩ and small critical currents of <1?μA. To improve the coverage of the TES film on the wiring, we increased the thickness of TES film (Ti/Au thickness of 100/200?nm). Also to remove an oxidation layer on the Al wiring, we strengthened a reverse-sputtering (150 W, 3?min) before the sputtering of TES. After these treatments, the TES film showed a sharp transition with small residual resistance (～1?mΩ) and large critical current (>30?μA).     

Performance of Used Engine Oil as Gear-Cutting Oil

In Japan, the lubricating oil used for the internal combustion engine of passenger cars is usually exchanged for fresh oil after running a distance in the range from 3,000 to 10,000 km. Refining of the used engine oil is very costly because friction-reducing additives containing sulfur, phosphorus, etc., are included in the oil. Therefore, wasted engine oil (used engine oil) is burned in many cases. This investigation was conducted to effectively re-use wasted engine oil without chemical refining. Performance of used engine oil as a gear-cutting oil was examined by conducting five kinds of experiments: (a) chemical analyses of the oils, (b) measurements of friction coefficients on the four-ball tester, (c) tool wear tests using a lathe, (d) tool life tests using a gear-cutting machine, and (e) accuracy and surface finish of the cut gears. In contrast to general expectations, longer tool lives were obtained when the used engine oils were used instead of a high-grade gear-cutting oil. The reason for this was discussed and it was concluded that used engine oil may be used as a high-performance gear-cutting oil if health risks for workers are removed.     

The High-Resolution X-Ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer, SXS, on Astro-H

The science and an overview of the Soft X-ray Spectrometer onboard the STRO-H mission are presented. The SXS consists of X-ray focusing mirrors and a microcalorimeter array and is developed by international collaboration lead by JAXA and NASA with European participation. The detector is a 6×6 format microcalorimeter array operated at a cryogenic temperature of 50 mK and covers a 3′×3′ field of view of the X-ray telescope of 5.6 m focal length. We expect an energy resolution better than 7 eV (FWHM, requirement) with a goal of 4 eV. The effective area of the instrument will be 225 cm² at 7 keV; by a factor of about two larger than that of the X-ray microcalorimeter on board Suzaku. One of the main scientific objectives of the SXS is to investigate turbulent and/or macroscopic motions of hot gas in clusters of galaxies.     

Minimization of effect of CBN wheel wear on ground gear errors

Resistance to wear of CBN grinding wheels is much higher than that of conventional (Al₂O₃) wheels. However, CBN grinding wheels are seldom used in gear grinding, when production scale is small, due to the difficulty in truing. Moreover, wear of the grinding wheel greatly affects the accuracy of tooth trace, in most cases. Considering this problem, the authors proposed new processes in which the accuracy of the tooth trace and tooth profile was hardly affected by wear of the wheel. While grinding was performed using a conventional method, a concave tooth-trace error of about 2 μm occurred after grinding only 30 teeth. In one of the proposed methods, the concave tooth trace error never occurred even when 2000 teeth were ground by the same wheel. In the third method, the CBN layer is effectively used for gear grinding by giving an additional motion which is independent of the tooth profile generating motion.     

A Superhydrophobic Microvalve for Manipulating Microliquids Containing Biological Molecules

This paper presents a novel microvalve including a superhydrophobic surface that inhibits adsorption of a liquid that contains biological molecules. This microvalve was fabricated by anodizing the Si surface of a microchannel wall and making the channel surface partially superhydrophobic. The superhydrophobicity could be modified by changing the anodization time and current density during the anodization process. Experiments using a cell‐culture medium showed that the fabricated microvalve successfully opened/closed repeatedly by applying a positive/negative pressure from the inlet, and that it could be opened within 0.5 s by an inlet pressure of more than 9 kPa. Also, we could continue switching the microvalve at 1 Hz for about 3 h (10 800 switching) while adjusting the required inlet pressures, which increased with time. © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.