省エネルギー型都市計画のための「定石集」の提案について

本論文は、既成市街地とネットワークの形状と規模、交通施設、エネルギー供給基盤施設、緑地と緑化、建設工事等の観点による省エネルギー型都市計画についての研究成果を述べるものである。本稿では可能な限り単純な前提条件下における定量的傾向に基づく省エネルギー型都市計画のための31の「定石集」を提案した。「定石群」は主にA.市街地の基本計画策定に即した定石群とB.市街地の整備計画策定に即した定石群の2つのグループに分類される。日本における現行の法定都市計画制度を「定石集」適用の観点から、主に地域制(ゾーニング)と基本計画(マスタープラン)の手法について検討した。上記の議論の結果より、住宅と職場の組合せ、それらを結ぶ大量輸送機関、用途の異なる建物の複合と混合、コンパクトな既成市街地が省エネルギー型都市形成のために重要であると考えられる。本研究は建設省総合技術開発プロジェクト「省資源・省エネルギー型国土建設技術の開発」(1991-95年度)の一部として都市構造とエネルギー研究会により実施されたものである。なお、都市の微気候と熱環境に関する研究や建築物の日常的利用に関する省エネルギー性の研究は別の研究グループが担当しており、生態学、廃棄物や水循環の分野での検討は研究会メンバーの専門領域が限られていたため、共に本稿の対象外とした。This paper discusses the results of a study on energy-conscious urban planning from the viewpoints of the shape and spread of built-up areas and networks, transportation facilities, infrastructure for energy supply, greenery and vegetation, construction work and so on. The author proposes a set of 31 "formulae" for energyconscious urban planning. "Formulae" are classified into two main groups: a) formulae for basic urban planning, and b) formulae for plan making and improvement of urban areas. The current Japanese legislative urban planning system is reviewed from the viewpoint of applications of "Formulae," mainly in zoning and master plan methods. It is considered that the combination of housing and work space, the mass transit facilities linking them, the mixture of different building uses, and the compactness of built-up are crucial to make our cities energy conscious. This study was conducted as a part of "Research and Development of New Technologies in Building and Planning Field for Sustainable Society" (initiated by The Ministry of Construction, Japan, FY1991 to 95) by the Research Group of Urban Structure and Energy

HFIGMI–VMAT for brain metastases

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) can be used to design hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment plans for multiple brain metastases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment outcomes of hypofractionated image-guided multifocal irradiation using VMAT (HFIGMI–VMAT) for brain metastases. From July 2012 to December 2016, 67 consecutive patients with 601 brain metastases were treated with HFIGMI–VMAT at our institution. The prescribed dose was 50 Gy to a 95% volume of the planning target volume in 10 fractions. Fifty-five of the 67 patients had non-small-cell lung cancer, and the remaining 12 had other types of cancer. The median number of brain metastases was five, and the median maximum diameter was 1.2 cm. The median duration of follow-up was 12.0 months (range, 1.9–44.8 months), and the median survival time 18.7 months. Four patients with six lesions had local recurrences. The local control rate in the 64 assessed patients was 98.4% and 95.3% at 6 and 12 months, respectively (three died before assessment). The local control rate for the 572 assessed lesions was 99.8% and 99.3% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Thirty-nine patients developed distant brain metastases, the distant brain control rate being 59.7% and 40.5% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Acute toxicities were generally mild (Grade 1–2). Three patients (4.5%) developed radiation necrosis requiring corticosteroid therapy. The HFIGMI–VMAT technique with flat dose delivery was well tolerated and achieved excellent local control. This technique is a promising treatment option for patients with multiple and large brain metastases

Electrodeposition of ZnTe Compound Semiconductors from Aqueous Solution

ZnTe compound semiconductors were synthesized in acidic aqueous solution using a pulsed current electrodeposition technique. The optimum condition to obtain ZnTe deposits was determined by the cathodic polarization curves measured at a wide potential range. During the co-deposition of Zn and Te, under potential deposition (UPD) of Zn was observed. Increasing the solution temperature up to 353 K, UPD of Zn was promoted by the formation of Zn(OH)2. Crystal phase, structure and chemical composition of electrodeposited ZnTe was controlled by the solution composition and electrolysis condition. The band gap energy of ZnTe films annealed at 573 K was close to 2.26 eV

Effectiveness of Newly Developed Water-Equivalent Mouthpiece during External Beam Radiotherapy for Oral Cancer

The objective of this study was to research the effectiveness of newly developed water-equivalent mouthpiece during external beam radiotherapy for oral cancer. In external beam radiotherapy for cancer of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and lower gingiva, it is possible to prescribe a low dose to the upper gingiva and hard palate at an open mouth position using a mouthpiece. However, the inhomogeneity correction resulting from the air cavity and the mobility of the tongue produced by an open mouth position should be considered. Therefore, a new mouthpiece was designed to be fixed by the dental arch, and the air cavity of the mouth can be filled with water-equivalent material. In 30 patients with previously treated oral cancer, the simulated homogeneity index of the calculated water-equivalent mouthpiece by a treatment-planning system was significantly better than that of a conventional mouthpiece (p = 0.004). This new mouthpiece facilitates excellent dose distribution while attaining immobilization of the tongue in patients with oral cancer

Effect of dental metal artifact conversion volume on dose distribution in head‐and‐neck volumetric‐modulated arc therapy

Purpose: During treatment planning for head‐and‐neck volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT), manual contouring of the metal artifact area of artificial teeth is done, and the area is replaced with water computed tomography (CT) values for dose calculation. This contouring of the metal artifact areas, which is performed manually, is subject to human variability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze the effect of inter‐observer variation on dose distribution. Methods: The subjects were 25 cases of cancer of the oropharynx for which VMAT was performed. Six radiation oncologists (ROs) performed metal artifact contouring for all of the cases. Gross tumor volume, clinical target volume, planning target volume (PTV), and oral cavity were evaluated. The contouring of the six ROs was divided into two groups, small and large groups. A reference RO was determined for each group and the dose distribution was compared with those of the other radiation oncologists by gamma analysis (GA). As an additional experiment, we changed the contouring of each dental metal artifact area, creating enlarged contours (L), reduced contours (S), and undrawn contours (N) based on the contouring by the six ROs and compared these structure sets. Results: The evaluation of inter‐observer variation showed no significant difference between the large and small groups, and the GA pass rate was 100%. Similar results were obtained comparing structure sets L and S, but in the comparison of structure sets L and N, there were cases with pass rates below 70%. Conclusions: The results show that the artificial variability of manual artificial tooth metal artifact contouring has little effect on the dose distribution of VMAT. However, it should be noted that the dose distribution may change depending on the contouring method in cases where the overlap between PTV and metal artifact areas is large

Prognostic significance of HIF-2 expression on tumor infiltrating macrophages in patients with uterine cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-PAS protein, is the principal regulator of the hypoxic transcriptional response. An immunohistochemical study reported strong HIF-2α expression in the cytoplasm of tumor infiltrative macrophages (TIMs). Thus we assessed the expression of HIF-2α in human cervical cancer tissue before radiation therapy and its relationship to the clinical outcome. Seventy three patients with histologically proven primary advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix underwent radiotherapy in Tokushima University Hospital after biopsy specimens were taken. Among 73 specimens stained for HIF-2α, 53 (72.6%) exhibited HIF-2α immunoreactivity in the TIMs. In only 5 of 73 cases, HIF-2α immunoreactivity was observed in the nuclei of tumor cells. The HIF-2αpositive cell count ratio in TIMs was associated with disease-free survival (DFS) with the worst DFS (p=0.024) being in cases in the group with a high positive cell count ratio. A high HIF-2α positive cell count ratio in TIMs increased the risk of local recurrence (p=0.0142). These findings might suggest that the ratio of the HIF-2α positive cell in TIMs may be a new predictive indicator for prognosis before radiation therapy for uterine cervical cancer

Risk factors for radiation pneumonitis caused by whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery

We evaluated risk factors of radiation pneumonitis (RP) after whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery. Four hundred and seventy-two cases underwent whole breast irradiation with tangential field following breast-conserving surgery in our hospital, between January 2005 and April 2007. Of these cases, we performed statistical analyses for 423 breasts of 413 patients, using a pulmonary dose-volume histogram. Patient characteristics, treatment regimens and irradiation methods were included as variables in the analyses on risk factors of RP. As a result, 89 breasts of 84 cases (21%) were diagnosed with RP. The version 3.0 of the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events was used to evaluate the grade of pneumonitis : 77 cases (18.2%) were diagnosed as Grade 1 RP, 10 cases (2.3%) as Grade 2, and 2 cases (0.5%) as Grade 3. Multivariate analysis indicated that the significant risk factors for RP were central lung distance (CLD) (>1.8 cm) and the short axis length of the radiation field. The incidence of radiationinduced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome significantly correlated only with CLD. The lung volume within the radiation field was shown to be a significant risk factor for RP and radiation-induced BOOP syndrome

Radiotherapy for esophageal cancer

Purpose To assess the treatment results of definitive radiotherapy for esophageal cancer at Tokushima University Hospital and clarify the prognostic factors. Methods Seventy consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent definitive radiotherapy between May 2004 and March 2012 were included in the present study. Local control rate, overall survival rate, and radiation morbidity were examined and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate prognostic factors. Results The 5-yearoverall survival rates of stages I, II, III, and IVA were 81%, 71%, 0%, and 9%, respectively. Performance status, clinical stage, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors. A past history of interstitial pneumonia was associated with severe radiation-induced lung injury. Conclusions Patients who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer in stage I/II showed good prognosis. However, treatment results of the patients in stage III/IV were not satisfactory, and those who could not undergo surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy had the worst prognosis