Nearly Gorenstein normal graded rings

We investigate nearly Gorenstein property for a normal graded ring $R = \bigoplus_{n\ge 0}R_n$ finitely generated over a field. For that purpose, we investigate ${K_R}^{-1}$, the inverse of $K_R$ (the canonical module of $R$) and introduce a new invariant $b(R)$ of $R$. We investigate nearly Gorenstein property of $R$ using $a(R)$ and $b(R)$ and $m(R)$, the initial degree of $R$. If $b(R)<0$, (and if $R$ is $\mathbb Q$-Gorenstein), then we believe that $R$ is log-terminal -- this is proved if $\dim R=2$ or $R$ is F-pure (or $F$-pure type). Then we determine the condition for a $2$-dimensional cone singularity over a smooth curve of genus $g\le 3$ to be nearly Gorenstein. We observe that ``almost Gorenstein" property and nearly Gorenstein property are drastically different for such rings.