Investigating the performance of TiN and TiAIN coatings on milling cutter used for machining bimetal steel strip

Surface engineering of cutting tools (single point or multipoint) through advanced coatings (e.g., TiN) has contributed towards considerable improvement of tool life, productivity and machining quality [1] by modifying the tool substrate. New coating species (e.g., TiAlN) are also being developed to further improve the performance of cutting tools. In this study, milling tests were carried out with a TiN and TiAlN coated milling cutter to compare their performance. Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) technique was used to deposit the coatings after carefully preparing the cutting edges. Flank wear measurement in the milling cutter teeth was used as the criterion for assessing performance of the coatings. It has been found that TiAlN coating has significantly reduced the flank wear in the milling cutter teeth compared to TiN coating both at new and reground conditions of the cutter. Abrasive and adhesive wear were identified as the main mechanisms of the flank wear in both TiAlN and TiN coated teeth. The information should be useful for tool designers, coating suppliers and manufacturing engineers

The relationship between oestrogen receptor-alpha phosphorylation and the tumour microenvironment in patients with primary operable ductal breast cancer

Aims: Although the role of phosphorylation of oestrogen receptor (ER) at serines 118 (p-S118) and 167 (p-S167) has been studied, the relationship between p-S118, p-S167 and the tumour microenvironment in ER-positive primary operable ductal breast cancers have not been investigated. The aims of this study are to investigate (i) the relationship between p-S118/p-S167 and the tumour microenvironment, and (ii) the effect of p-S118/167 on survival and recurrence in ER-positive primary operable ductal breast cancers. Methods and results: Patients presenting at three Glasgow hospitals between 1995 and 1998 with invasive ductal ER-positive primary breast cancers were studied (n = 294). Immunohistochemical staining of p-S118 and p-S167 was performed and their association with clinicopathological characteristics, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free interval (RFI) were examined. In the whole cohort, tumour size (P < 0.05) and microvessel density (P < 0.05) were associated with high p-S118 while increased micovessel density (P < 0.05), apoptosis (P < 0.05), general inflammatory infiltrate measured using the Klintrup–Makinen score (P < 0.05) and macrophage infiltrate (P < 0.05) were found to be associated with high p-S167. Only high p-S167 was associated with shorter CSS (P < 0.005) and shorter RFI in the whole cohort (P = 0.001) and separately in the luminal A (P < 0.05) and B tumours (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that both p-S118 and p-S167 were associated with several microenvironmental factors, including increased microvessel density. In particular, p-S167 was associated with reduced RFI and CSS in the whole cohort and RFI in luminal A and B tumours and could possibly be employed to predict response to kinase inhibitors

Product Enhancement with a systems approach, utilising Time Compression Technologies

In the current competitive market of introducing new products and processes it is absolutely vital to reduce lead times, produce a prototype which is right first time and produce design specifications which will ensure that the products are eventually produced to a quality requirement at a competitive price. In order to achieve this the Centre For rapid Product Development at Northumbria University has undertaken a number of assignments to assist SME’s in the region using a traditional systems approach combining modern engineering technologies such as Rapid Prototyping , Reverse Engineering , Computer Aided Design , Computer Aided manufacturing and Surface engineering

Genetic Variants of Serum Alpha 1 Antitrypsin

Complete absence of data on alpha 1 antitrypsin in this country prompted us to determine serum levels using radial immunodiffusion (RID) and phenotypes by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in 100 healthy adults (52 males and 48 females). Mean serum alpha 1 antitrypsin concentration in healthy subjects was 2.47±0.08 g/l and the main phenotypes MM (70%), M1 M2 (28%) and FM 3(2%) are infrequent in our population (JPMA 45:245,1995)

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus among people of South Asian origin in Glasgow: results from a community based survey and laboratory surveillance

Background South Asians often present late with HCV or HBV related liver disease which could have been avoided with early diagnosis and subsequent treatment; however the prevalence of HCV/HBV among South Asians in Glasgow is not known. Accordingly, to inform the need for case finding among this group we aimed to examine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) among South Asians living in Glasgow. Methods A community-based survey recruited individuals at six mosques and four community centres serving the South Asian community during 2009-2010; participants had predominantly never been HCV tested. Laboratory surveillance data involving all individuals tested for HCV during 1993-2009 were examined and South Asians were identified using Nam Pehchan software. Results In the community-based survey, 2.6% of 1288 participants tested HCV-antibody positive; the prevalence ranged from 0.6% among those born in the UK to 3.1% among those born in Pakistan. The odds of testing HCV-antibody positive were significantly raised among those who had surgery in South Asia (aOR: 5.0, 95% CI: 2.0-12.3) and had either medical/dental treatment or an injection in South Asia (aOR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.0-5.0). Of 6404 South Asians identified from laboratory surveillance data, 9.3% tested HCV positive. An estimated 38% (330/870) of HCV-infected South Asians living in Glasgow remain undiagnosed. Conclusions South Asians living in Glasgow, particularly those born outside the UK are at greater risk of HCV infection than the general population. Efforts to increase awareness and testing in this population are warranted.</p

Serum Alpha 1 Antitrypsin and Pulmonary Emphysema

Using isoelectric focusing (lEE) and radial immunodiffusion (RID) techniques, serum samples from 100 normal healthy adults and 21 patients with pulmonary emphysema were analysed to identify varioud alpha 1 antitrypsin phenotypes and the Seru m concentrations,Ten percent of the patients had low serum values. The normal or most common genetic form, MM, is the predominant phenotype in both controls and patients (JPMA 46:102, 1996)