The influence of thermal history on the hot ductility of Ti containing C Mn Al and C Mn Nb Al steels

A series of C-Mn-Al and C-Mn-Al-Nb steels having nominal composition 0.1 %C, 1.4%Mn, 0.3% Si and 0.005%N with Ti additions from 0 to 0.013% have had their hot ductility determined over the temperature range 700-1100°C. Tensile specimens were cast (melted) in situ and cooled at a rate of 100°C/min to the test temperature. They were subsequently strained to failure using a strain rate of 3x 10-3 s '. The influence of the addition of a 100°C undercooling step into the test cycle with a subsequent re-heat to the test temperature (at 500°C/min) was investigated. It has been shown that Ti additions, both to C-Mn-Al and C-Mn-Nb-Al steels impair hot ductility. Also, Nb containing steels give worse hot ductility with or without Ti additions for the steels examined. Thermal history was seen to have a small but significant effect on the hot ductility of steel. The addition of a 100°C undercooling step generally resulting in worse ductility due to additional precipitation of AIN and in the case of Nb containing steels probably both AIN and NbCN. TiN precipitation has been shown to have a more significant detrimental effect on hot ductility than AIN precipitation when one thermal cycle is introduced. Two regression equations have been obtained which may show that P is beneficial to ductility in Nb, Ti containing steels but detrimental to ductility in CMn-AI-Ti steels. Results have shown that increasing the test temperature (which will encourage coarser particles) generally leads to an increase in the dimple size and to better ductility. Interestingly, adding Ti to steels causes a larger dimple size to occur even though ductility deteriorates as the formation of TiN removes small AIN particles from solution. Thus the dimple size increases as it relates more and more to the presence of the larger MnS inclusions. The addition of an undercooling step in the test cycle reduces the dimple size in accordance with more precipitation taking place, most likely from AIN. During the work program it was discovered that there was potential for Ti to be lost should tensile samples be melted within silica tubes. Re-testing with an alumina based sheath ensured no Ti loss could occur

Using Malaise traps to assess aculeate Hymenoptera associated with farmland linear habitats across a range of farming intensities

The intensification of farming practices, along with the loss and fragmentation of semi-natural habitats within agricultural areas, has contributed significantly to insect decline worldwide including flower-visiting aculeate Hymenoptera. In this study aculeate Hymenoptera were collected using bi-directional Malaise traps placed along farmland linear habitats across a range of farming intensities. The aim was to further our understanding of the value of farmland linear habitats to this insect group and in particular the Vespinae, an understudied subfamily. Overall, significantly greater aculeate Hymenoptera species richness was found on extensive than on intermediate and intensive farms. Significantly more species and specimens were collected on the side of the traps adjacent to the linear habitats compared to the side which opened onto the fields. Aculeate Hymenoptera species richness was also significantly greater in dense hedgerows than in open hedgerows. Furthermore, two out of six Vespinae species, Vespula rufa and Vespula vulgaris, had significantly more individuals on extensive than intensive farms. This study highlights that low-intensity farming practices and farmland linear habitats, especially dense hedgerows, may enhance aculeate Hymenoptera occurrence in agricultural areas. It also demonstrates that Malaise traps set up along linear habitats across a range of farming intensities can make a significant contribution to knowledge regarding the biodiversity value of such areas. Given that selected Vespinae species follow similar trends to aculeate Hymenoptera, the possibility of using them as simple biodiversity indicators is worthy of further exploration.© 2019 The Royal Entomological Societ

Rising temperatures advance the main flight period of Bombus bumblebees in agricultural landscapes of the Central European Plain

Funder: Poznan University of Life SciencesAbstractThis study examined shifts over a 35-year period in the phenology of the four most important bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris, B. lapidarius, B. pascuorum and B. hortorum) in Central Europe. The species showed similar temporal trends, significantly advancing components of their main flight period in association with rising temperatures such that, for example, mid-dates of the main flight period advanced by 10–23 days over the study period. Drivers of this change differed between the four species. Trends in, and drivers of, the timing of first queens, first workers and first males were less consistent. Aspects of the phenology of the least common species, B. hortorum, were up to a month earlier than the other species and climatic effects less clear cut. There were some suggestions of differences between species trends. These results stress the importance of considering changes and drivers of change for the Bombus family on a species-specific basis with the need to pay more attention to the life history traits of the study organisms.</jats:p

Combination of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis with Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Improves Screening for Monoclonal Gammopathies.

Abstract Introduction: Screening for multiple myeloma requires both serum and urine protein electrophoresis, because in about 20% of patients with myeloma, monoclonal free light chain (FLC) is the only paraprotein found, and it is commonly missed by serum protein electrophoresis. However, many requests for testing do not include a urine sample (&gt;80% of requests in our experience). This risks missing clinically significant disease. Recent availability of serum FLC assays has raised the possibility that these assays may replace testing for urinary FLC in screening for monoclonal gammopathies, and that the serum kappa:lambda light chain ratio (LCR) may be more sensitive for detecting monoclonal FLC than serum and urine protein gel electrophoresis. Aims: To identify how many additional patients with monoclonal gammopathies would be detected if serum FLC assays were incorporated into the routine myeloma screen. To evaluate the ability of serum FLC assays to identify all patients identified by urine protein electrophoresis. Method and Setting: We analysed data from a consecutive cohort of 753 serum blood samples submitted for myeloma screening to Hull Royal Infirmary Immunology Laboratory between 03/23/07 and 05/31/07. During this period all myeloma screen requests received serum capillary zone protein electrophoresis (CE) (SEBIA Capillarys 2, Analytical Technologies) and serum FLC analysis using a latex-enhanced immunoassay (The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK on a Beckman-Coulter IMMAGE nephelometric analyzer). When available, urine protein CE was also perfomed (SEBIA Capillarys 2). Samples with an abnormal serum CE or serum LCR were tested by immunofixation (SEBIA Hydrasys, Analytical Technologies). Repeat samples were requested from patients with LCR outside the reference interval (0.26–1.65) before referral, but an immediate hematology referral was recommended if LCR &gt;3.5 sd from the mean (ie 0.18–2.01). Results: Of 753 patients, 118 had features on serum CE requiring immunofixation. Of these, 76 had a monoclonal paraprotein identified. A further 46 samples had normal serum CE with abnormal LCR and 25 of these had LCR outide mean±3.5 sd. Of 6 patients so far referred as a result of abnormal LCR but normal serum CE, 4 (67%) had a lymphoproliferative disease (free kappa myeloma, free kappa MGUS, free lambda MGUS, and a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia). Urine samples were received from 128 (17%) patients, of whom 8 (6%) had a monoclonal FLC identified in the urine. All of these patients had an abnormal serum LCR, though in one patient with acute renal failure and raised kappa and lambda results the LCR was borderline abnormal (1.75), with a very small band in the urine, visible only by agarose gel immunofixation. For the 2 patients with normal serum CE, but with urinary monoclonal FLC present, serum LCR was abnormal (LCR= 33 and 1.75). Discussion and Conclusions: Use of serum FLC assays increased the detection of monoclonal paraproteins (by 5% so far but further follow up is required to quantify this exactly). Serum FLC analysis had a sensitivity of 100% for identifying patients with urinary FLC.</jats:p

Prevalence of Abnormal Serum Free Light Chain Ratio in Monoclonal Gammopathies at Presentation and Sensitivity for Bence Jones Proteinuria.

Abstract Introduction: Recent data suggest that serum monoclonal free light chain ratio (LCR) may have prognostic significance in monoclonal gammopathies. We routinely assay serum free light chains (FLC) in all new patients with a monoclonal gammopathy with the primary aim of identifying patients with a significant level of free light chain. We made a retrospective analysis of these data in order to establish the range of results observed in our patients and to establish a cohort of patients who will be followed up to evaluate the prognostic significance of LCR abnormalities. Aims: To identify the proportion of patients with monoclonal gammopathies that have abnormal serum LCR at presentation. To identify how many patients have abnormal serum LCR but no other evidence of excess light chain production. To establish the sensitivity of serum LCR for the presence of Bence Jones proteinuria. Method and Setting: We analyzed data from a consecutive cohort of 496 patients with a newly identified paraprotein (by serum or urine protein electrophoresis and immunofixation), who had samples referred to the Immunology Department at Hull Royal Infirmary between 05/03/06 and 07/31/07. Serum FLC analysis was performed by a latex-enhanced immunoassay (The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK on a Beckman-Coulter IMMAGE nephelometric analyzer). Serum (SPE) and urine (UPE) protein electrophoresis were perfomed by SEBIA Hydrasys gel system or Capillarys 2 capillary electrophoresis system. Results: Paraproteins were evident by SPE in 98% of patients (488 of 496). In the remaining 8 patients (2%) the paraprotein was only visible by UPE. Serum LCR was outside the standard reference interval (0.26–1.65) in 272 (55%) of all patients and in 124 (36%) of the 343 patients who had no FLC detected by SPE or UPE. Urines were received from 281 (57%) patients and a paraprotein was detected in 151 (54%) of these by UPE. FLC was detected in 126 (83%) of urines containing a paraprotein and in 89 (59%) was the sole paraprotein present in the urine. Of the 126 patients who had FLC detected by UPE, 124 (98%) had serum LCR outside the standard reference interval, and 119 (94%) had serum LCR outside the mean±3.5 sd range (0.18–2.01). The remaining two patients with normal LCR both had IgG-kappa paraproteins with a small free kappa band in the urine. The molecular weight of these free kappa bands has not yet been confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Conclusions: Raised serum LCR was present in 55% of patients with a paraprotein at diagnosis. 36% of patients with no other evidence of excess light chain production had abnormal LCR. Using the LCR standard reference interval had a sensitivity of 98% for the presence of Bence Jones proteinuria. This high sensitivity of LCR for Bence Jones proteinuria supports the cessation of UPE and its replacement with serum LCR. Our cohort of newly presenting, unselected patients with monoclonal gammopathies will be followed to determine the prognostic value of LCR for these patients.</jats:p