[en] Differently prepared natural (100)-oriented cleavage planes of the orthorhombic wide-gap (E_o∼4.1 eV) single crystalline CaGa₂S₄ were examined in two symmetric positions at room temperature over the photon energies 0.8-6.5 eV by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Complimentary, polarized transmission intensity technique was applied. The data obtained by both techniques were further treated within standard biaxial approach and the major refraction indices were restored for the practically important range below energy gap. The structure and polarization peculiarities of the obtained pseudo-dielectric function were related with apparently four critical points of interband electronic transitions in ZZ (E₁=4.49 eV, E₃=5.34 eV) and YY (E₂=5.00 eV, E₄=6.21 eV) configurations, respectively

[en] Single crystals of CuGaS₂, CuInS₂ and their solid solutions CuGasub(1-x)Insub(x)S₂ of whole range are grown from In solution. Iodine vapour transports of these crystals are also carried out. The lattice constants ''a'' and ''c'' change almost linearly with the composition x, i.e., obey Vegard's law. Reflection, transmission and photoconduction are measured at 300K and 110K using the polarised light. From the results of reflection and transmission measurements, it is confirmed that CuGaS₂ has two closely spaced valence bands (the higher one is for E parallel to Z and the lower one is for E perpendicular to Z), and CuInS₂ has one degenerated valence band (no polarisation effect). As the composition x is changed from 0 to 1, the separation of the two valence bands is going to be smaller and finally degenerated into one band. This behaviour shows directly that the separation is attributed to the crystal field splitting. In photoconduction, more one band which is always separated from the other two bands is observed mainly for E perpendicular to Z, though any assignment is not made for this new band. Composition dependences of the energy gaps change almost linearly. (auth.)

[en] The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the survival and toxicities associated with chemoradiotherapy using full-dose and weekly regimens in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Consecutive patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy between October 2002 and June 2006 at our institution were enrolled. The prescribed dose for thoracic radiotherapy was 60 Gy in 30 fractions for all the patients. Fifty-nine patients were enrolled; 36% of the patients were treated with full-dose regimens and 64% with weekly regimens. The patient characteristics were similar in the two groups. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, treatment with weekly regimens was associated with a better overall survival than that with full-dose regimens (2-year survival rates: 75% for weekly regimens vs 41% for full-dose regimens). The toxicities and compliance in the two groups were comparable. Weekly regimens exhibited more favorable overall survival as compared to full-dose regimens in this retrospective study. Confirmation of the results by a randomized phase III trial is warranted. (author)

[en] Horonobe Underground Research Center has carried out meteorological observation at Horonobe-cho in northern Hokkaido as a part of the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory project. The meteorological observation data in Hokushin meteorological station from 2003 to 2014 are compiled in this report. Hourly data, daily data and monthly data are included in the data set, which is recorded on CD-ROM. (author)

[en] The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) on ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) within the primary tumor may predict outcome in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it remains uncertain whether the SUV_max of the primary tumor predicts outcome after chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. Thus, we evaluated the ratio of SUV_max of the metastatic tumor to the primary tumor (M/P ratio) to determine whether it could be a useful marker in predicting response and outcome after chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. Chemo-naive patients with advanced NSCLC who had locoregional lymph nodes and/or distant metastases other than brain, were eligible for inclusion in this study. Response and survival were analyzed according to the SUV_max of primary tumor, the ratio of the SUV_max of the tumor to the mean SUV of the mediastinum (T/M ratio) and M/P ratio. One hundred and four consecutive patients were included in the retrospective study. Patients with high M/P ratio exhibited significantly lower response rates. The value of SUV_max and T/M ratio were not associated with the response to initial chemotherapy. In the univariate analysis, T/M ratio and SUV_max were significantly associated with poor outcome. However, the outcome of non-adenocarcinoma was unaffected by T/M ratio and SUV_max. Multivariate analysis confirmed that high M/P ratio was a significant independent factor predicting a poor outcome. High M/P ratio was associated with a poor response to initial chemotherapy and was a significant independent factor in predicting poor outcome in advanced NSCLC patients with metastatic tumors other than in brain. (author)

[en] Development of technologies to investigate properties of deep geological environment and model development of geological environment have been pursued in “Geoscientific Research” in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (Horonobe URL) project. A geochemical model which is a part of geological environment model requires the data of groundwater chemistry around the Horonobe URL for the development. This report summarizes the data obtained for 3 years (i.e., from the fiscal year 2011 to 2013), especially for the results for measurement of physico-chemical parameters and analysis of groundwater chemistry, in the Horonobe URL project. A CD-ROM is attached as an appendix. (J.P.N.)

[en] Two-dimensional transport code is developed to analyzed the heat pulse propagation in the scrape-off layer plasma. The classical and anomalous transport models are considered as a thermal diffusivity perpendicular to the magnetic field. On the other hand, the classical transport model is chosen as a thermal diffusivity parallel to the magnetic field. The heat deposition profiles are evaluated for various kinds of transport models. It is found that the heat pulse which arrives at the divertor plate due to the classical transport is largest compared with other models. The steady state temperate profiles of the electron and ion are also discussed. (author)

[en] Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) proceeds with the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (Horonobe URL) Project. This project is now on the phase of investigations during construction of the underground facility (Phase 2) and in the current phase, several in-situ mechanical and hydrological tests were carried out during excavation of 140m gallery. These tests brought several facts of rock’s mechanical and hydrological behavior in Excavation Disturbed/Damaged Zone (EdZ/EDZ), such as the fact that the rock has large number of fractures which might affect the mechanical and hydrological behavior in EdZ/EDZ. To improve the accuracy of evaluation of the EDZ, in this study, we conducted a post analysis and preanalysis of the mechanical-hydrological analysis using the Micromechanics-Based Continuum (MBC) model which can consider the behavior of fracture. In the early stages excavation of GL-140m level experiment drift, analysis is performed using the survey data of ground and underground, in the preanalysis, we have compared with the result of the measurement in situ. As a result, we have confirmed that the opening of the crack and hydraulic conductivity in analysis using the MBC model is synchronous, the present analysis can be applied to predict the behavior of the rock around the tunnel excavation. At the stage of excavation of GL-140m level experiment drift has been completed, along with the revised initial stress, mechanical and hydraulic properties of joint rock mass based on survey data newly obtained from the stage of preanalysis, in post analysis, the data on the joint properties analysis is performed to add, we were compared with the results measured in situ. As a result, we confirmed that the result of the analysis is also in correlation to the hydraulic and mechanical measurement results, predict the behavior of the rock around the tunnel excavation close to the actual phenomena is possible. (author)

[en] To investigate the muscle activity patterns of the glenohumeral joint during internal rotation both with the arm at 0° and 90° of abduction using 2-deoxy-2-[${}^{18}$F] fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six healthy male volunteers underwent PET examination after performing active glenohumeral internal rotation exercise using an elastic band both with the arm at 0° and 90° of abduction. As a control, PET scan under resting condition was also performed. The exercise was performed before and after 18 fluorodeoxyglucose injection. Each PET image was fused to the corresponding MRI to identify each muscle. The standardized uptake value (SUV) of each muscle was compared between the two arm positions. With the arm at 0° of abduction, the SUV increased significantly after exercise both in the middle and inferior 1/3 of the subscapularis, which were significantly higher than that of the superior 1/3 of the subscapularis (P < 0.05). The SUV of the inferior 1/3 of the subscapularis was significantly higher at 90° of abduction than at 0° of abduction and was significantly higher than that of the superior 1/3 at 90° of abduction (P < 0.01). The SUV after exercise in the inferior infraspinatus and teres minor increased. The middle and inferior parts of the subscapularis are the main shoulder internal rotators in 0° of abduction, whereas the inferior part of the subscapularis is the main internal rotator in 90° of abduction.

[en] Throughout the entire world, prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is the standard care for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in whom a favorable therapeutic effect is achieved after front-line treatment, regardless of whether the disease is in the limited stage or extensive stage. In the EORTC study, PCI was shown to confer a survival benefit for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who experienced any positive response after initial chemotherapy. However, the Japan study failed to confirm a survival benefit. As a result, the guidelines in Japan recommend that PCI should not be carried out in cases of ES-SCLC. Complete response (CR) subset analysis in the Japan study suggested that PCI did not provide a survival benefit for patients with ES-SCLC. PCI with a risk of adverse events has poor significance, even if the patients show CR to chemotherapy.