Viscoelasticity and Morphology of Soft Polycarbonate as a Substitute for Poly(vinyl chloride) (FUNDAMENTAL MATERIAL PROPERTIES-Molecular Rheology)

The soft polycarbonate resins, SPC, were newly developed as a substitute for soft poly(vinyl chloride). The soft polycarbonates are multiblock copolymers composed of bisphenol A polycarbonate, PC, and polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS. SPC resins are clear, transparent, and tough. Viscoelasticity and morphology of the resins were investigated to control physical properties of the resin. Electron microscope and small angle X-ray scattering experiments revealed that the SPC formed microdomain structures. Rheological measurements were used to discuss continuity of PC-rich phase domain, which determined the modulus around the room temperature

State of the Art of Pyroprocessing Technology in Japan

AbstractMinor actinide recycling in a fuel cycle is a potential technology to minimize the environmental radioactivity burden in waste disposal in the fast reactor era after 2050. Pyroprocessing technology with metal electrorefining expects that no additional process is required to separate minor actinides and short- cooled fuels can be treated due to no-use of organic solvent that degrades by radiation. Pyroprocessing has been explored for metal fuel cycle and nitride fuel cycle in Japan. Metal fuel fast reactor, which can achieve a high breeding ratio over 1.3, and its fuel cycle is a compact system by integrating pyroprocessing. Oxide fuel can be also treated by converting to metals by reduction. Separation of transuranium elements from high level liquid waste originating from aqueous reprocessing has been challenged. Verification of the process and development of an engineering scale device are the current interests for study. In addition, irradiation study of metal fuel with minor actinides currently much advances from the point of fundamental investigation. Accelerator-driven system (ADS) for transmutation of minor actinides is integrated with pyroprocessing for recycling system. The denitriding at anode and azotizing at cathode together with electrorefining have been fundamentally studied by use of plutonium

A Case of Bilateral Permanent Subluxation of the Lateral Meniscus

We report a case of bilateral, permanent subluxation of the lateral meniscus. To our knowledge, the present case is the first reported description of bilateral irreducible anterior dislocation of the posterior segment of the lateral meniscus. This disorder is characterized by a flipped meniscus sign of the lateral meniscus on sagittal magnetic resonance images of the knee joint, with no history of trauma or locking symptoms. A detailed examination of serial magnetic resonance images of the lateral meniscus can help differentiate this condition from malformation of the lateral meniscus, that is, a double-layered meniscus. We recommend two-stage treatment for this disorder. First, the knee joint is kept in straight position for 3 weeks after the lateral meniscus is reduced to the normal position. Second, if subluxation of the lateral meniscus recurs, meniscocapsular suture is then performed. Although subluxation of the lateral meniscus without locking symptoms is rare, it is important to be familiar with this condition to diagnose and treat it correctly

Molecular Rheology of Glassy Polymers (FUNDAMENTAL MATERIAL PROPERTIES-Molecular Rheology)

Molecular origin of the viscoelasticity around the glass transition zone is investigated by means of dynamic birefringence and dynamic viscoelasticity measurements. The present study show that the viscoelasticity around the glass transition zone has two molecular origins: One is the orientation relaxation of main chain axis and the other one is the rotational motion of structure units about the main chain axis

Feasibility and Efficacy of Definitive Radiotherapy with 66 Gy and Concurrent Carboplatin-Paclitaxel Chemotherapy for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose/Objectives : This study was conducted to assess the feasibility and efficacy of definitive radiotherapy (RT) with a total dose of 66 Gy and concurrent carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy for patients (pts) with stage Ⅲ non-small celllung cancer. Materials/Methods : Between April 2007 and December 2013，99 pts with non-small cell lung cancer were treated using RT with concurrent carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy in our hospital. Sixty-eight of them received RT with a total dose of 66 Gy. We analyzed 46 Stage Ⅲ pts who had been treated with RT using three-dimensional radiotherapy treatment planning. The prophylactic mediastinal lymph nodes were included in the clinical target volume for RT. The survival rate after the start of RT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. We estimated the cumulative local failure and distant metastasis rates with the Fine-Gray method. Adverse events were evaluated according to the CTCAE (v.4.0). Results : The median age of the pts was 70.9 (52.8-78.7) years old (y.o.). The performance status (PS) of each pt was fairly good (ECOG PS 0: 25, PS 1: 20, PS 3:1), and their clinical stages (UICC 7th) were twenty-nine Ⅲ A and seventeen Ⅲ B. Diagnoses were pathologically confirmed in 32 pts. The median follow-up period was 35.7 (2.0-82.2) months among all pts, and 55.9 (40.1-82.2) months among survivors. The 3- and 5-year Kaplan-Meier overall survival rates were 52.2 and 34.0%，respectively, and the median survival time was 36.6 months. The 3- and 5-year Kaplan-Meier progression-free survival rates were 29.1 and 21.9%，respectively, and the median progression-free survival time was 9.9 months. The 5-year local failure rate was 37.6%, and the 5-year distant metastasis rate was 49.7%. Sixteen (34.8%) pts required steroid administration because of radiation pneumonitis (CTCAE Grade 2 or higher) and two of them died (Grade 5). No other severe non-hematologic toxicity (Grade 3 or higher) was observed. Conclusion : These results suggest that definitive RT with a total dose of 66 Gy and concurrent carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy is feasible and may be promising for pts with Stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer