In the geological disposal system, natural barrier contains many selective flow-paths. Since cement used for the repository construction alters the condition of groundwater to a highly alkaline pH of about 13, such hyperalkaline plume would affect permeabilities of the flow-paths. To obtain more reliable estimate on the migration of radionuclides released from the repository, we must consider the changes in flow-paths with time and/or in space.In this study, the influence of highly alkaline plume on the permeability has been examined, considering also the direction of flow. In order to simulate the flow-paths, the amorphous silica particles were packed in the column, and the NaOH solution (0.1 M) was injected continuously at a constant flow-rate into the column at room temperature. The change in the permeability was traced, and the concentration of silicic acid in the eluted solution was measured by using the silicomolybdenum-yellow method. It was confirmed that the difference of pH values at the inlet and outlet of the column was negligibly small (pH=13.0).The experimental results showed that the change in fraction dissolved with time strongly depended on a flow-rate and a flow-direction. However, in the relation between the permeability and the fraction dissolved, the permeability did not change in the range of up to 0.35 in fraction dissolved. The SEM images of particle surface showed that the inner pores of particle increased in size. This suggested that, in this range of fraction dissolved, the porosity between particles is almost retained, while each particle dissolves mainly through its inner pores. Moreover, the dissolution rate in the column flow system was considered as being remarkably limited by diffusion process, in comparison with that estimated from the batch test.

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BackgroundSocial functioning is an important outcome for patients with schizophrenia. To evaluate the effects of paliperidone extended-release (PAL-ER) on social function, symptomatology, and safety in the routine clinical practice, we conducted a 1-year post-marketing surveillance study of PAL-ER. We also explored relationships between symptomatic improvement and socially functional outcome in patients with schizophrenia.Patients and methodsPatients with an established diagnosis of schizophrenia were allowed flexible 3–12 mg/day dosing during the surveillance. Patients were assessed on social functioning using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and on symptomatology using the Clinical Global Impression–Schizophrenia scale. All adverse events (AEs) were also collected.ResultsA total of 1,429 patients were enrolled in the surveillance study, of whom 1,405 were evaluable for safety and 1,142 were evaluable for efficacy. The treatment discontinuation rate for any reason during the observation period was 34.66%. Significant improvements were observed on both Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale and Clinical Global Impression–Schizophrenia scale during the observation period. The percentage of patients with socially functional remission (SOFAS ≥61) also increased significantly. A significant association between early improvements in positive symptoms, sex, severity of negative symptoms at baseline, and socially functional remission was observed. A total of 33.52% of patients had AEs and 8.75% of patients had serious AEs. Despite the recommendation of monotherapy with PAL-ER, 65.84% of patients were given additional antipsychotics (polypharmacy). Post hoc comparisons of monotherapy versus polypharmacy revealed that the monotherapy group had better outcomes and fewer AEs than the polypharmacy treated group. The improvement in social functioning and the rate of socially functional remission did not differ between groups.ConclusionPAL-ER treatment showed effective symptom control and improvement in social functioning. The data suggest that early response to antipsychotic treatment should be important for functional outcomes.

As theˆrst step of inspection of the applicability of the PRODIA Code for dismantling activities in the decommissioning of FUGEN, manpower needs for dismantling activities in FUGEN conducted in 2008 were calculated with conventional calculation formulas developed from the data obtained from the JPDR decommissioning program. In this inspection, it was found that the actual data for the dismantling of feedwater heaters show the following two characteristic proˆles: 1) the actual data were signiˆcantly smaller than the results of the conventional calculation formulas and 2) the actual data for the dismantling of the 3rd feedwater heater were two times larger than those for the dismantling of the 4th one, although both data were almost of the same weight. In order to use the PRODIA Code for further dismantling activities in the decommissioning of FUGEN, the origin of these results was investigated. This investigation showed that both of the diŠerences in the work description between FUGEN and JPDR and between the 3rd feedwater heater of FUGEN and the 4th one produce these characteristic proˆles. Since this means that the conventional calculation formula for the dismantling of feedwater heaters has no applicability, it was considered necessary to construct a new calculation formula re‰ecting the work description of the dismantling of feedwater heaters in FUGEN. It was found that the calculation results with this new formula showed good agreement with the actual data of both the 3rd and 4th feedwater heaters. Based on theseˆndings, some case studies for the dismantling of feedwater heaters were conducted.

When a person falls overboard at sea, the ship has to return to the scene to help the person. But it is quite hard to steer a ship back to a particular spot in the water, so some manoeuvers that make this easier are proposed.The Williamson turn is one of them. It was named for John Williamson who used it in 1942. This turn is most appropriate at night or in poor visibility, because the ship gets onto a reciprocal course when you take the proposed procedure. However, hull forms and the performance of rudders have changed greatly from when this turn was first proposed. Recent ships find it difficult to effectively use the original procedure. This paper, examines how manoeuvering factors influence the ships track using the training ship and a ship handling simulator.